Book Review/Give-Away: Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts by Janet DeLee

Throughout the month of January, I will be featuring a few books that for a myriad of reasons, I didn't have time to review by the end of 2015. Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts by Janet DeLee is one of them.

Also, while there are two cats, (Minnie and Sally),  who make an appearance in the book, they are not core characters. Normally I wouldn't agree to review a book on this blog where a cat (or cats), aren't the main characters, but in this case, I made an exception because the subject matter greatly interested me. I am GLAD that I made an exception because I thoroughly enjoyed this book!


  As luck would have it, the times I had to change the date of the review turned out to be beneficial, because this delightful and and engrossing mystery  that has a clear message that with planning and faith and by taking action, what you hope to attain in your life CAN come to fruition, turned out to be perfectly suited for ringing in the New Year. It also was perfectly suited for ME, and may prove to be the kick in the butt that I need to make some much-needed changes in 2016!

ABOUT TAKING LEAPS AND FINDING GHOSTS by Janet DeLee:

Dreams aren’t just for the young, and baby boomer Ginny Lawther

is happy to prove that she can still brave a leap of faith…she just

needs a little prodding from like-minded individuals. Step one: place

an ad in the local newspaper inviting other dreamers to form an

Ideal Life Club. Step two: see if anyone shows up.

When Ginny meets four hopeful strangers at the first club meeting,

she thinks they’re off to a great start. Now it's only a matter of time

before the sixty-something widow Hilda, turns her crafting into a

full-time career; the twenty-something Jerry becomes a professional

musician; and the thirty-something housewife Lydia publishes her

cookbook. That is, until the rugged divorcée, Lee, sets a goal to solve

his ghost problem—and upends all their lives!

Suddenly the support group isn’t just trying to navigate the ups and

downs of pursuing their dreams; they’re also wrestling with a strange

cast of spirits who keep interrupting their endeavors. What do these

apparitions want? And why have they latched on to the Ideal Lifers?

 Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts is a part of a new genre, (Ghost Mysteries),  that I normally would never think I would enjoy reading, but I found it to be a thoroughly engrossing read. Just as can be found in traditional mysteries there are "clues and red herrings", but unlike traditional mysteries, the perpetrator in Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts is NOT a murderer, but instead is a GHOST!

 I found the idea of the "Ideal Lifers" club to be innovative and brilliant, so much so that I am thinking of applying what I have learned from reading this book  to my OWN life and I would LOVE to be a member of a group such as this!

Each of the members of the "Ideal Lifers" club  are believable and easy to relate to. I loved that they were all at different stages of their lives, which makes this book perfect for those who are young (20s) and those who are more "seasoned", like me!

 "Hair-raising, hilarious, inspiring and always surprising, Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts by Janet DeLee follows the visionary quintet as they struggle to maintain their resolve, support one another, and solve the mystery behind these strange specters before they derail the group's efforts.

But can their hopes and dreams possibly survive all the unexpected challenges they will face?"

You will have to read it to find out!

Available on Amazon

Author Janet DeLee

About The Author:

"Janet DeLee is a self-appointed, self-actualization guinea pig who firmly believes in leaps of faith and is committed to creating an ideal life for herself.

The Texas author, who lives in the Dallas area, was inspired to write ghost stories after experiencing unsettling events during stays at several bed-and-breakfasts, as well as an old New Orleans hotel.

In addition to having a hint of mystery, DeLee’s novels also tend to follow characters struggling to pursue their dreams."
http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Leaps-Finding-Ghosts-Novel/dp/1511656220/

DeLee's first book titled, "Creating an Ideal Life"
http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Ideal-Life-Janet-DeLee/dp/1452570183/

 Author Janet DeLee is generously offering a give-away to my readers!!! ONE winner located anywhere in the world will win a kindle copy of Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts and ONE winner located in the U.S. will win a signed paper-back copy (An approximate $14 value)!  Entering is easy! Simply enter on the rafflecopter below! Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

In full disclosure: I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts by Janet DeLee in exchange for my always honest review.

Winner: Plan Bea"by Hilary Grossman

Thanks to all who entered our give-away for:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review/Give-Away:" Plan Bea" by Hilary Grossman

Back in October we celebrated the release of the latest book by author Hilary Grossman:

At that time I hadn't read Plan Bea but after having read and reviewed Hilary's first book, (Dangled Carat), I was full of anticipation about Plan Bea. Let's suffice it to say that at that time I had NO IDEA just how crazy I would be about this book! 

I contacted Hilary on Facebook when I just had a few pages left to read, because I could hardly contain my excitement/delight with this book, here is my EXACT message:

OMG I am almost done...just a few more pages...I know the two concepts are totally different (the first book and the second), I loved them both, BUT...I am INSANELY in love with this one! OMG!!! I could NOT put it down!!!!! I read it the past two nights and just have a few more pages to go. I LOVE IT!! You are soooooooo talented! heart emoticon heart emoticon heart emoticon

It is rare for me to write to an author when I have finished a book to tell them how much I loved it, but with Plan Bea, I felt a huge compulsion to do so!


ABOUT PLAN BEA: FROM AMAZON:

Could falling in love allow a cold, stubborn, and selfish woman to open her heart back up to her family? 

Beatrice Buchanan has spent more years than she can remember distancing herself from everyone close to her. She has no relationship with her grandchildren and the only time she speaks to her daughter is during her weekly fifteen-minute commute to the nail salon. When Bea meets Walter on a cruise she realizes there may be more to life than designer clothes and impressing the ladies at her country club. 

We live our entire lives thinking we know those closest to us. But do we ever really? 

On the outside, Annabel O'Conner has it all - the perfect husband, two adorable children, and an amazing job. The only thing missing is her mother's love. When Bea begs her daughter to help plan her wedding, Annabel reluctantly agrees. Little does she know the impact of her decision or the surprise that is in store for her! 

This emotional and honest women's contemporary fiction novel will tug at your heartstrings and the twist ending will shock you. 

When I first agreed to review Plan Bea, I must confess my first thought was "oh great. I have virtually no relationship with my mother and I have to review a book about mother/daughter relationships. How will I ever pull this one off?"

You know the saying "art imitates life?" well, in reference to Plan Bea (except for the fact that my mother never frequented country clubs), it couldn't be more true. I spent my entire life from childhood until a few weeks ago, feeling as if I was not ever loved by my mother.

Let's just suffice it to say that my relationship with my mother, (for me AND my siblings), has been "challenging" to put it mildly. There have been multiple estrangements. Just before I was scheduled to read and review Plan Bea my mother reached out to me, (something she has NEVER, EVER done), and we have since been working on our relationship and things are going quite well.

When I sat down to begin reading Plan Bea I found myself saying "Oh My God" multiple times throughout this book, because there are  so many things about Beatrice Buchanan, that are like my mother.

The feelings that Annabel has about her mother that Hilary conveyed brilliantly, rang true with me, and will resonate with many who have a  mother/daughter relationship that is less than stellar.

Hilary Grossman has a keen understanding of people and what makes them tick. She has a particularly good take on women. Her attention to detail in both the conversations that the characters have, and their nuances is superb. Even simple descriptions like someone twirling their hair around their finger while they are thinking, or clutching a pillow and blankets to their chest, or the annoyance that Annabel feels when she speaks to her mother,  are described in such a way that makes her characters leap from the pages, full of life. The characters that Hilary has so skillfully crafted are believable. They seem so real, so honest, so approachable. They are all characters that we can relate to. It doesn't surprise me, because  Hilary is as honest, real and approachable as the characters she has painstakingly created. Hilary is one of maybe a handful of authors that I actually know, but had never had the honor of meeting in person, until I met her a few weeks ago. She is even more delightful in person than I imagined her as being.


The "Twist":
Let me tell you, I NEVER saw it coming!! I pride myself on being one of those annoying readers who THINKS they can predict an ending to a book (and is often correct). In reference to Plan Bea? I had NO CLUE. Let's just say that the title Plan B is a BRILLIANTLY CLEVER play on words!


There Are Lessons To Be Learned:
When you read Plan Bea.
I learned about myself AND my mother. Sometimes we are so wrapped-up and immersed in our OWN "reality", that we have no idea as to what is truly REAL.  How those we may find it difficult to love often need the most love, how people have reasons for things that they have done. How our parents are flawed, as we are.

When I read Plan Bea I laughed, I cried, I was angry, I looked closer into myself and my relationship with my own mother, I ran the gamut of emotions. I did NOT want to put this book down, and I have a feeling that even if your own relationship with your mother is "perfect" (Newsflash, NO mother/daughter relationship is!!), you will be as immersed and in love with Plan Bea as I was.

TO PURCHASE:

Amazon US 

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble 
Goodreads 



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hilary Grossman loves to find humor in everyday life. She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She likens life to a game of dodge ball - she tries to keep as many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. When she isn't writing, blogging, or shoe shopping she is the CFO of a beverage alcohol importer. She lives on the beach in Long Island. 

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ENTER TO WIN!!! Hilary has generously offered ONE OF OUR READERS WHO IS 18 AND OVER AND WHO RESIDES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD the chance to win Plan Bea in ebook format. Entering is easy, simply enter on the rafflecopter below. Good luck!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway







In full disclosure:I was not compensated for sharing this info. I received a copy of the manuscript for Plan Bea in exchange for my always honest review. I normally ONLY review books on this blog that feature cats and that still holds true. Hilary Grossman is also a blogger who has a CAT. The fact that I am blessed to know Hilary had no influence on my opinion of Plan Bea whatsoever.