MrsK Books: 01/01/2016

Sunday, January 10, 2016

The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay

ISBN: 9781401689759

Publisher's Synopsis:

When Lucy’s secret is unearthed, her world begins to crumble.

But it may be the best thing that has ever happened to her.

Lucy Alling makes a living selling rare books, often taking suspicious liberties to reach her goals. When her unorthodox methods are discovered, Lucy’s secret ruins her relationship with her boss and her boyfriend, James—leaving Lucy in a heap of hurt and trouble.Something has to change; she has to change.

In a sudden turn of events, James’s wealthy grandmother, Helen, hires Lucy as a consultant for a London literary and antiques excursion. Lucy reluctantly agrees and soon discovers Helen holds secrets of her own. In fact, Helen understands Lucy’s predicament better than anyone else.

As the two travel across England, Lucy benefits from Helen’s wisdom as Helen confronts ghosts from her own past. Everything comes to a head at Haworth, home of the Brontë sisters, where Lucy is reminded of the sisters’ beloved heroines who, with tenacity and resolution, endured—even in the midst of impossible circumstances.

Now Lucy must face her past in order to move forward. And while it may hold mistakes and regrets, she will prevail—if only she can step into the life that’s been waiting for her all along.

MrsK's Review:
You know when you open a box of chocolates, how that anticipation of your first choice leads to apprehension as you take that first bite. The overwhelming goodness of that first bite always leads to the next and then the next. This book is like a box of chocolates in that every chapter provides literary delights.

Wednesday is Book Day at Sid McKenna Antiques and Design. For Lucy, this was the day that she savored. Lucy delighted in checking her favored online book sellers. It was her day to monitor auctions for her clientele's requests. It was a day spent revisiting the treasured titles in the locked cabinet, while providing special "TLC" by dusting gilded pages and oiling leather covers.

On the day that James enters her "antiqued" world, Lucy is swept away like any grand romance novel. Their witty bantering over literary lines is just as endearing as any Austen novel. For Lucy, James is the beginning of a hope-filled future. For James, he has fallen for his "book-girl." Even his grandmother, Helen, is delighted with Lucy. So what could possibly go wrong?

Lucy has a secret that a lawyer should not discover. Lucy has a past that was passed down through generations of con-men. Eventually James will need to make a choice about Lucy. Does everyone deserve a second chance? Is it true that "you must go back in order to go forward?"

Grandmother Helen believes in second chances and in making things right. In life or in literature, there is a cross roads, "a time when you don't know where you'll be, but you can't stay as you are." So when she insists on hiring Lucy as a companion for a literary excursion in Europe, everyone is against the travel plans. Yet, Helen must make things right and now is the time. As soon as Lucy is "enticed" into the travel plans, she begins organizing destinations by their shared literary favorites. In London's Trafalgar Square there are many reasons to sit and ponder the literary greats, especially if one is sitting with Mr. Wilde. At Tavistock House a Dicken's tidbit is awaiting, "...Dickens loved people best. He always gave the little man a way out." In Westminster Abbey, there are so many literary morsels engaging you with anticipation-expectation or pure delight as you experience with Lucy the Poet's Corner (gosh, what would I be feeling...). Not only is there a great adventurous spirit within Lucy, she is as any first time traveler. In awe of the sights she has only read about. Filled with dear character voices she walks through museums, manor homes, towns, up cobblestone paths, across the moors, and into future free from shackled secrets.

What ever you decide about Lucy, James, and Helen... I know that I will never forget the grand adventure I had touring literary sights and savoring the delectable literary quotes. This novel is crafted for every reader who has stepped into a book and found friends, love, enemies, and family,

So, venture into Lucy's journey, "Come Further up, Come further in."
MrsK

“I mean that reading forms your opinions, your worldview, especially childhood reading, and anything that does that has an impact. So call them friends, call some stories enemies if you want, but don’t deny their influence.”

“I mean that reading forms your opinions,

your worldview,

especially childhood reading,

and anything that does that has an impact.

So call them friends, call some stories enemies if you want, but don’t deny their influence.”

Uniquely Delightful!

A literary smorgasbord filled with delicious tidbits.

Meet the Author:

Katherine Reay: I started my professional career in marketing and I’ve morphed into a novelist. I like this much better. Fiction is powerful stuff, I think. It allows us to convey truth in meaningful and palatable ways — one reading of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and you’ve got the whole gospel Narnia-style without ever leaving an amazing adventure.

But to have a really good story — you have to engage a complex and authentic character. If I can relate to/empathize with/care about a character, then her journey becomes mine and I learn about myself and the world around me — perhaps in ways I never imagined. And that’s provocative…

Read an Excerpt

"Katherine Reay is a remarkable author who has created her own sub-genre, wrapping classic fiction around contemporary stories.

Her writing is flawless and smooth, her storytelling meaningful and poignant.

You’re going to love The Bronte Plot."

Debbie Macomber #1 NYT author

"I received this book for free from the Fiction Guild for this review."

MrsK's Reading Bio

Reading is important! No questions asked, not even a blink of the eye from any student I grew up with. On the first day of the First grade, we were given our first books. Day two we all read aloud, round robin of course. Day three we were place in our first basal, now known as a lit circle group. Books were so important, publishers designed new curriculum so that every student was reading by the end of the first week. These early readers had images that looked like what we could see in the classroom, beyond the classroom, even on the big screen. Reading is important, throughout history every generation has believed that “Reading” opens up the world for endless possibilities.

I adore the 1950’s Dick and Jane books. Actually, most reading specialists and experienced (45+) educators believe that every student learned to read with Dick and Jane. Since these books are being re-issued, I have heard many parents, grandparents, and students claim that Dick and Jane stories of repetition does teach students to read.

Early influences from my mother influenced my desire to read. I would watch her read and we would go on “secret” excursions to the library. The library became my playground. I owned every book I could carry home, of course they needed to be taken back to their home after visiting with me for a week or two. My first book that I could pull off of the library shelf and read was, Father Bear Comes Home. I only saw my dad on Sundays for a few hours. I would pull this beginning reader off of the library shelf every week. Every week I would try to read the first chapter. Every week I got further in the story. My mom would let me check it out, only if I could read it myself (She didn’t like the illustrations therefore she didn’t want to take time to read it to me). One day, I pulled the book from the shelf and when mom came to get me from the children’s corner, I realized that I had read the whole story. I ran to the check out desk and the Librarian KERCHUNKED the checkout card. My mother, brother and neighbors read. My teachers read. We all read aloud all day long in school. The Priest read aloud every day at mass, even in Latin. Everybody in the Doctor’s office read. People on the bus read. Dad’s waiting in their cars as the Mom’s and children grocery shopped, read. In fact, once you could read and write, Sunset Magazine considered you a reader and sent you mail every day.

Reading is important; I’ve spent my life reading. I’ve traveled around the world and into space through books. My favorite genre is whichever book I have open at the time. Children’s Literature is my passion. Book clubbing is one of the best past times, especially if food is involved. In fact my friends of old are in a book club and we are about to embark on a beach trip to “read” and discuss our newest selection.

My “home-run” book story has helped every student find his or her own “home-run” reads. Every year, I have shared my, Father Bear Comes Home, and every year my students have brought in their “home-run” books. That’s the “diving board” into our Lit. Studies.

In “Growing Up Digital,” Tapscott’s insights into the new generations enthusiasm for the Net reminded me of my generation’s enthusiasm for reading, movies, TV, parties and our driving permits. The Net-Generation, as Tapscott describes, “are learning, playing, communicating, working, creating communities, and enforcing a social transformation.”
N-Geners are interactive “techies” who are always looking for a way to “work it” verses the TV Generation of “Baby Boomers” who started out looking for “how it works.” Reading development is tougher today, society moves too fast to invest their “non-working” free time into a book or even “home work.” Since I stepped into my own classroom, I have seen students being told to read, being forced to read, and threatened into reading. Homework is not any longer the vehicle for students to gain their future lifestyles or careers with. Yet, the Internet does create an enthusiasm for learning. Since I have been enrolled in these courses, I have used the computers in every subject. My students are using the newest technology in the classroom because I am giving them investigative sites to use as they learn from each other and books. I agree with Tapscott, in order to bridge the gap with this up and coming generation we must “live and learn with them.”

FTC Required Disclaimer: I receive these books from the publishers. I did not receive monetary compensation for these reviews. These reviews have been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)