An Unfinished Score by Elise Blackwell

When Suzanne Sullivan learns of her lover Alex's death over the radio, it takes every ounce of willpower to continue making dinner for her family without letting on that something is out of the ordinary. Within a couple of weeks, she is contacted by Alex's wife Olivia, who demands she finish the musical composition her late husband was writing when he was having his affair with her. This proves to be a difficult task, one Suzanne has to complete while simultaneously tending to both her unhappy marriage and her best friend's sensitive needs. And what she discovers along the way may pose more questions than answer them.

AN UNFINISHED SCORE is rich with musical history and theories (including how you can read a person through the music they write). Blackwell writes with flowing, poetic prose that will grab you and drop you smack in the middle of Suzanne's sad emotions. The story is one of heavy burden- the reader will have their own strong opinion of what is right and wrong and yet will still find themselves rooting for Suzanne throughout her decisions. The last 60 pages in particular kept me up into the wee hours of the morning!

Tagged by Mara Purnhagen

Kate Morgan arrives to her small town high school one January morning to commotion over a giant graffiti gorilla that has been spray painted on the side of the building. When more gorilla grafitti shows up around town, it sparks a debate in class over art versus vandalism. The students of Cleary High spend the next few weeks debating and trying to figure out who did it- the tension culminating at an MTV televised birthday party for rich social snob Tiffany Werner. And the whole time, Kate finds clues linking the culprit to someone she is starting to like romantically.

TAGGED is a great book that will get teen readers to think about what defines art. The main character Kate can sometimes be annoying, but Kate's best friend Lan is a strong secondary character, as well as both of Kate's parents, who play their own central roles in the community. Eli is especially dreamy. The story is very realistic, with real-life consequences and real-time reactions to events. This could have happened to anyone's high school, anywhere in the US.

Debut author Mara Purnhagen writes smoothly in the teenage girl voice, especially when it came to Kate's thoughts and concerns over Eli. TAGGED is a short book with a colorful cover that is sure to get teen girls to pick it up.

For a sequel, I found myself craving more of mean girl Tiffany. It would be neat to have a book from her point-of-view!

INTERVIEW with Christine Lynxwiler

Christine Lynxwiler has written many books including Promise Me Always, Along Comes a Cowboy, and Forever Christmas. Most recently, she has written about the McCord sisters with The Reluctant Cowgirl and Cowgirl at Heart (reviewed on this site). I personally enjoyed all of these books, and look forward to more. Today we are honored to have her join us for a quick chat!


CW: Cowgirl at Heart features some very cute dogs. Are any of them based on dogs you know in real life?
CL: Yes, Chelsea! They are all loosely based on dogs I've known in real life. My own dogs, plus my sister's and niece's. Yet in the book, just like in real life, each dog developed her own unique personality as she became real to me.

CW: Do you have a favorite character from the McCord Sisters or Pinky Promise Sisters book?
CL: That's a tough one. I love the whole McCord family dynamics and at this point, they're all like good friends. Kaleigh (the youngest) is probably my favorite, but that may be because I'm working on her book now (Cowgirl's Don't Cry - coming Fall, 2010)

CW: When I am not writing, I am...
CL: Spending time with my family, raising my daughters, loving being married to my best friend, and thankful to still have my parents in good health, even though they're at the 90 year mark. For fun, we do a lot of thinks together as a family - summer league softball, kayaking, visiting our horses (hubby and daughters ride, I don't... much, but I like to pet them). Our oldest daughter is in choir, and right now, our lives are consumed with All-State tryouts and preparation for a trip to Denver so she can participate in a national level honor choir.

CW: I see that you are on Facebook. How is it connecting with your readers through this and similar channels?
CL: It's so much fun! I love to connect with readers at any level and Facebook makes it easy. I enjoy the Christine Lynxwiler Readers group on Facebook. We have well over 300 members and some cool wall posts that encourage me when I'm struggling to write. There is a place for Discussion, but so far no posts. That's my hope and dream - to reach the level of writing that makes people want to discuss my books and characters. The characters are real to me. I think having readers talk about why they like or dislike certain ones and their storylines would means I've been able to make them real for readers, too.

CW: Could you please tell us what is in store for you next? What can fans look forward to reading in the future?
CL: As I mentioned above, Kaleigh's book is next - Cowgirl's Don't Cry (Fall, 2010). After that, the three McCord Brothers get their turns. Matthew first, then Luke, then Chance. I know their stories, but so far no titles. I haven't really looked beyond that. Right now, the thought of leaving the McCord family makes me feel a little lost.


Wow, thanks for taking the time to stop by and answer some questions for us! Keep up the good work!

Cowgirl at Heart by Christine Lynxwiler

Elyse McCord is a local legend dog-whisperer. When she follows a lead about an abused dog and ends up on the wrong side of a gun, Andrew Stone comes to her rescue. Then it turns out Elyse may have not one, but TWO vile men pursuing her, and Andrew decides to stick around and offer his protection. What neither Elyse nor Andrews realizes though, is their growing feelings for each other.

I enjoyed COWGIRL AT HEART immensely. There was plenty of romance, tension, action, and intrigue to keep my nose stuck in the book all night. It was nice to read about the lives of other McCord sisters Crystal (from THE RELUCTANT COWGIRL) and Kaleigh, as their own stories continue. Lynxwiler creates a thrilling atmosphere with pursuers out to get Elyse, but keeps many tender moments alive throughout. I also like how Lynxwiler's books deal with tough life issues in a manner that makes the story come alive and feel very real. It makes me want to read more, more, more!

Stay tuned for an interview with Christine, coming soon!

The Reluctant Cowgirl by Christine Lynxwiler

If there is one thing Christine Lynxwiler has a real talent for, it's turning the ordinary into something much more magical.

In THE RELUCTANT COWGIRL, we meet Crystal McCord, aspiring Broadway actress, and Jeremy Buchanan, budding rancher. When Crystal heads home to Arkansas to tend to the family ranch, she finds it as easy to sink into the life she once knew as it is hard to keep her mind off her career and New York City. Enter Jeremy - with plenty of baggage of his own - to help her run her daily chores, and naturally sparks fly.

Readers will find themselves invested in Jeremy's heartache almost instantly, watching both him and Crystal move through their troubles towards a blossoming romance and a rewarding ending. This familiar story is a fun, contemporary, light-weight romance with no slow-moving parts. Additionally, fans of Lynxwiler will enjoy the bit part cameos by the other Pinky Promise Sisters, as they help Crystal figure out what she wants from life. With so many McCord brothers and sisters, we can look forward to more in this entertaining series!

One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

I bumped this book up to the top of my list after recent news of the 7.0 to hit Haiti. Definitely relevant.

Following a devastating earthquake, nine strangers find themselves buried in an underground room in the Indian visa office they are in when the earthquake hits. As things go from bad to progressively worse, each member takes a turn telling a story from their life. What starts as a simple distraction for them turns into a way for each to confront their past and find the one amazing thing that has made them who they are today.

ONE AMAZING THING is written from rotating points of view; any other way would not have provided as much story for the reader to become invested in. However, I always feel that a common problem with having stories within stories is that one always comes out the stronger one, making the others feel more like an interruption of the main plot. The individual stories are each engaging in their own right, but I only wanted to go back to the present moment and see what would happen next as they try to survive the earthquake disaster. Chitra Divakaruni excels at character building, and it glows even brighter in ONE AMAZING THING.

The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens

On the eve of their 25 year anniversary, Mary Gooch's husband leaves for work and never comes home. Weighing in at 302 pounds, she finds herself suddenly alone and clueless as to what to do next. The one thing she knows for sure is that she needs to find her husband and bring him home. And so she sets out with a few clues to find him. But what she finds instead is the little bit of herself that she was missing.

THE WIFE'S TALE is slightly slow to start, but once Mary has momentum, the book will carry you along with a will of it's own. It is uplifting to read about Mary's adventure and the extremely trusting and nice people she meets along the way. Lansens writes with flowing prose and soft tones that make for a very enjoyable read. I wanted Mary's story to continue for another 200 pages!

Kyle's Island by Sally Derby

Kyle Cook can't wait to get to the lake house with his mom and three siblings this summer. His father left earlier in the year and the family hasn't quite been the same ever since. When he learns his Mom has to sell the lake house, Kyle sets out to earn enough money to try and save this important piece of his childhood. Along the way, Kyle will find he has more to learn about the people around him than he thinks.

KYLE'S ISLAND is a short and breezy read and evokes memories of summer on the lake from my own childhood. Derby tunes into Kyle's young voice with ease and grace. The story is a familiar one - Kyle coping with losing a piece of his childhood is something everyone has to go through at some point in their young adult lives. Detailed descriptions of fishing and life on the lake are a bonus. Highly recommended for that male reluctant reader!

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

This is her newest book since 2005's hit THE HISTORIAN, and unfortunately, I do not think she was quite as powerful this time around. Of course, I still loved it and devoured it in three days.

Andrew Marlow is the psychiatrist assigned to artist Robert Oliver, after he is arrested for attempting to stab a painting in the National Gallery of Art. Oliver refuses to speak, and so Marlow begins to contact those in his life around him for answers. We learn about the man Robert was then and is now through the voices of these people - mostly women who loved him - and watch as Marlow becomes enveloped in the life of his new patient.

THE SWAN THIEVES is full of very interesting characters, with well written mini histories as part of a larger story. Learning about Robert from the women who loved him was a bit like watching a car crash - I knew it was not going to end well and yet I could not keep from turning the pages. Mental illness is never easy to read about, but Kostova writes with grace and beauty that brings new life and even a certain amount of cleanliness to Oliver's decline.

Elizabeth Kostova proves again that she is a master at storytelling.

The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy

Belle Tanner has been married more times than she cares to remember. So when her latest husband Anthony passes away, she swears off men forever. Unfortunately, she can't do this year's cattle drive with only the help of her hard-working daughters. She needs to find some men to aid them. When she goes into town, she meets Silas Harden, who instantly convinces her he is the help she is looking for. Still wary about all men, Belle tries to keep her distance. And yet Silas is not like the others...

In book one, MONTANA ROSE (reviewed here), I felt Belle was a fascinating character, as she was so incredibly tough-willed and strong-hearted. I could not wait to read more about her curious life. It was nice to see glimpses from Cassie and Red Dawson, and following along with Wade Sawyer was also a pleasure. I enjoyed reading about ranch life - Connealy writes with such vivid detail that it is easy to imagine yourself there.

No one else can write a story quite like Mary Connealy. She has a knack for writing harsh and frightening scenes side by side with tender, humorous ones. Look for the third book in the Montana Marriages series, THE WILDFLOWER BRIDE, due out in May 2010!

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

It might be cliche to say that this book had me hooked from page one, but it most definitely had my undivided attention at page 6.

Grace and Jude Divine haven't seen their childhood friend Daniel ever since he disappeared one mysterious night three years ago. Then he turns up one day in Grace's AP art class, and she is immediately reminded of how much she liked him. But then terrible things start happening in the neighborhood and it looks like Daniel may know more about that than he lets on. Grace will have to figure out her feelings for Daniel while she avoids the growing danger and learns the truth about what happened to her brother that fateful night.

THE DARK DIVINE is extremely gripping and engaging mystery unfolds. The characterization and dialog is so realistic and natural that it makes you believe it could really have happened, despite the paranormal elements. There is a delicious brooding man in Daniel that will appeal to all Edward Cullen fans. Despain is a debut author to watch!

Plus, the ARC came with matching nail polish, which is now on my toes!

The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley

Peter and Ann Brooks are married but separated when H5N1 Avian Flu hits the global human race. The virus travels and mutates so quickly that is kills 1 out of every 2 people it touches and causes communities all over the world to take drastic matters in order to survive. When their own sleepy town goes into quarantine, their two girls, Kate and Maddie, have a hard time dealing with the isolation and many deaths around them.

This is a gripping story- very sad, and all too close to home, thanks to the recent H1N1 news. The story quickly builds to the pace of a feverish thriller and keeps you on edge until the very end. The Things That Keep Us Here deals with a distinctly scary issue that makes you think about your own family and how you would react if someday this shocking situation was a reality.

Buckley will make you believe in the triumph of the human spirit through the worst of times.