Therese Gilardi - Narvla's Celtic New Year

12. Narvla's Celtic New Year by Therese Gilardi (2014)
Length: 275 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 10 March 2017
Finished: 30 March 2017
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Therese Gilardi for sending me a copy of this book to read from Netgalley, although she also sent me a physical copy of this book to read as well.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 10 February 2015 as an ebook; Since 10 May 2015 as a physical book.
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and have read and enjoyed Matching Wits With Venus by this author in the past.

Narvla believes that she has everything going for her back home in Connecticut. Her life has always been as precisely choreographed as one of the routines that has made her a national step-dancing champion. Actually, Narvla's life is as close to perfection as it gets; and she wouldn't have it any other way. She has a loyal best friend named Gabby, a devoted boyfriend named Derek, and a definite lock on admission to her dream college - the University of Notre Dame.

Everything is perfect - until her mother is named United States Ambassador to Ireland, and then Narvla's life slowly begins to unravel. First her father has to stay in Connecticut for work, so just she and her mother move to Dublin. Then she receives a disturbing picture of Derek and Gabby; from someone who wants to remain anonymous. Next she struggles to qualify for the Irish elite step-dancing squad, and her grades plummet.

Narvla isn't quite sure if her life could possibly get much worse than it has already; and then she meets Colin McPherson. Known on the local music scene as Dublin Boy, he presents perhaps the biggest obstacle in Narvla's young life. While Colin loves to play the guitar, he disdains academics and has an obvious distrust of Americans - a feeling that borders on downright animosity. So, Narvla is utterly devastated when she is unexpectedly paired with Dublin Boy for the most important semester of her life.

Although she is genuinely upset with this particular situation, she knows that she can't really do anything much to change it. However, Narvla is truly alarmed by her burgeoning attraction to Dublin Boy. In reality after all, Dublin Boy is most definitely not her type: he has a reputation for being a 'lady's man'; he obviously has no desire to focus on his studies; and of course, there is his deep resentment of Americans. Yet Narvla can't seem to help her growing feelings for him...

So as the Celtic New Year unfolds for her, Narvla slowly begins to discover the true charm of embracing the unexpected. She will come to understand that not everything in life can be organized quite so perfectly as one of her dance routines. Soon she will learn that not everything in life should go as planned, and that she can abandon her lifelong need for control in every single aspect of her future.

This book has actually been on my TBR pile for a little over two years and I have just gotten around to reading it. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In my opinion, this was a fast-paced and intriguing story. I have always enjoyed reading books about Ireland and Irish culture and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would give the book a definite A!

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Annabel Hertz - Seeing Green

27. Seeing Green by Annabel Hertz (2014)
Length: 223 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 17 April 2014
Finished: 26 April 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Samantha at JKS Communications for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 2 April 2014
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and Annabel Hertz is a new author for me.

Arcani Kirsch - a recent college graduate with Jewish-Hopi roots - is convinced that, just as her name implies, she is a woman who is 'destined for greatness'. Having attended the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, Arcani is subsequently compelled to do her part to make the world a better place after she witnesses the plight of the indigenous peoples.  

To that end, Arcani leaves her west coast cocoon and joins Environ Mentality - an international conglomeration of green-minded businesses in Washington, DC, that are committed to getting the Earth Treaty ratified. The first step in implementing their plan is ensuring that the next US President attends a Ministerial meeting in Paris. Arcani sets the wheels in motion, and spearheads a campaign to do just that. 

There are, however, various potholes along Arcani's environmental path: One of her former ultra nationalist professors has plagiarized her thesis; then there's the man who could derail her with his lustiness; the one who wants her to come to Christ; and the one she'd written off as dead. Not to mention having to cope with Caroline, her albatross of a sister. Yes, the path to Paris is indeed muddy. 

But Arcani plows ahead, trying to stay true to her vision, making sure that her methods are kosher, and that her doting Aunt Lillian is proud of her. En route to the Ministerial, Arcani makes her mark on the world in totally unexpected ways. Against a backdrop of world events that are highly relevant to today, Seeing Green by Annabel Hertz explores the lighter side to dedicating oneself to changing a world that's rather resistant to change; as well as drawing on themes of individuality and enlightenment. 

I wasn't entirely sure what I was expecting when I first started this book - although the synopsis certainly was very intriguing. I must say that I found this story extremely funny. Arcani's personality shone through to me, I sympathized with her and appreciated that she stayed true to her principles. I give Seeing Green by Annabel Hertz a definite A! 

A! - (90-95%)              

May you read well and often

David Dennis - Why She Left Us

9. Why She Left Us by David Dennis (2012)
Length: 434 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 23 February 2013
Finished: 8 March 2013
Where did it come from? Many thanks to David Dennis for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 26 December 2012
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and David Dennis is a new author for me.

It was the summer of 1985, and Betsy as the oldest of three sisters, was still young and inexperienced. However, she was longing to love someone and to be loved in return, when Wayne entered her life. Quiet, painfully shy, and lacking in proper social skills, he came across as a shady person to others because he was unable to look anyone in the eye. At the same time, while Betsy was desperately seeking the love and approval of a mother who never wanted her in the first place, events totally beyond her control claimed Betsy as their victim.

In the wake of these catastrophic events, those who were left behind are unable to cope with the enormity of her absence. Why She Left Us is written as a series of diary entries, the events seen through the eyes of several different people. But at its center, Why She Left Us by David Dennis is a love story that chronicles a romance that transforms the lives of two people who, for too brief a period of time, experienced the greatest happiness they had ever known.

After experiencing minor trouble getting into the story because of the multiple points of view, as well as the shifts back and forth in time from the summer of 1985 to the winter of 1986, I really started to enjoy this book. My difficulty with reading the story only lasted for the first couple of chapters or so, and then I got into  the style of writing and was completely drawn into the story. I have to say that while reading this book I found exactly three characters to be entirely likable - the rest were characters that I became infuriated with, and wanted to slap or shake some sense into - figuratively, of course - at various points in the story.

Overall, I found this book to be truly haunting and give it an A! Why She Left Us by David Dennis does contain strong language, implied sexual situations and drug usage, and is not for the faint of heart. However, I do recommend this book to others and look forward to reading more from David Dennis in the future.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Alyssa K. Harrell and Marlene Siegal, DVM - Demi and the Dolphins: A Lesson in Ecology

26. Demi and the Dolphins: A Lesson in Ecology by Alyssa K. Harrell and Marlene Siegal, DVM (2011)

Length: 108 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Started: 13 November 2011

Finished: 14 November 2011

Where did it come from? Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book to read.

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 12 October 2011.

Why do I have it? I have always considered myself an animal lover with a special love for dolphins.

Captain Demi is the youngest tuna boat captain ever. She is smart, stubborn and as such willing to break the laws protecting dolphins from tuna fishing nets on the ocean. Demi's mind and heart is changed due to the intervention of the mythical god Neptune who turns her into a dolphin so that she can see life from the sea creatures perspective.

I really enjoyed this story written by a ten year old animal lover. It is a wonderful opening lesson on ecology. I give it an A!

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

Alice Hoffman - Practical Magic

26. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (1995)
Length: 336 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Started: 16 December 2008
Finished: 22 December 2008
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 12 October 2008
Why do I have it? I like contemporary fiction and Alice Hoffman is a new author for me.


For two hundred years the Owens women have been seen as witches - blamed for everything that went wrong in their tiny Massachusetts community. As children, Sally and Gillian Owens suffered the stigma of living with their aunts and thus being viewed as different.

As adults, they sought to escape Massachusetts - Sally by marriage and Gillian by running away. However, sooner or later the Owens sisters must come home as if by magic. I give this story a B+!

B+! - (89-94%)

May you read well and often