We cry for so many reasons…sadness, grief, heartache, loss, pain, suffering…so many heartbreaking reasons but there are other times that we cry as well…the good times the happy times and these are the best kinds of tears.

I cried when I got married tears of absolute joy and again when my son was born. These were wonderful events in my life but I have to admit it’s not often that I can say I cried because something was so beautiful so breathtaking that the beauty of it brought me to tears…this book is one of those times for me.

I’m not going to talk about the story and what happened in it because honestly my goal here is to share with you my fellow reader how beautiful I thought this story was so that hopefully when you get done reading what I sincerely hope won’t be a pitifully inadequate review the first thing you’ll want to do is get your hands on a copy of this book so you can read it as well.

I’m not sure that I’ve ever read a story that wrapped itself around my heart so tightly in so few pages. ‘Dear Mona Lisa’ is about love. It’s about Tom’s love for Loz, for his beautiful daughter Lou and for the other wonderful and not so wonderful people in his life and it’s about their love for him. Yes, there is sadness in Tom’s life and it’s shared with us through his memories and truthfully if not for the pain and heartache how would we truly know to appreciate and treasure the good. It’s all part of life. Thankfully Tom’s heartache is in his past and while it’s shard with us it’s not the focus of this story…it’s his life in the here and now that’s important.

Have you ever felt like your life is leading up to one moment, that one pivotal event that will make everything else fall into place…this is the moment that we are being led to in Tom’s life and we view it through his eyes. Much of what happens may at times seem inconsequential but for Tom it’s not and it’s all leading him to that one moment that everything else hinges on.

I could easily go on and on about this book, I loved it that much and when it came time to do my review I was torn because I wanted to find the words all the words that said this is one of the most beautiful stories I have read in a long time and I know I’ll read it again…probably more than once or I could share with you the review that I told my husband I wanted to write…it went something like this…

READ THIS BOOK, IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO READ THIS F*ING BOOK. IT’S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STORY I’VE READ IN I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG!!!

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An ARC of ‘Dear Mona Lisa’ was graciously provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.

“Triangulation: a tactic used by narcissistic parents to change the balance of power in a family system. For example, rather than allowing two siblings to work together, the Narcissistic Parent insists that he or she be the go-between. This controls the way the information flows, the way it is interpreted, and adds nuances to the conversation.” – Band Back Together, adult children of narcissistic parents resources

“Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself.” -- Walter Anderson

What do we naturally forget, and what do we force from our minds, wipe the slate clean, when it comes to our childhood? Where in our minds is the blackness and pain packed away, hidden? Behind locked doors? Or in solid chests, pushed to the back of the mind, covered in dust and ashes, only to crack open, leaking out poisons that eat away at body, mind and soul, tiny currents, lapping away at the foundations of life until it is simply not worth living any longer. Crippled lives, crippled relationships. And the pain. The pain, constant and unyielding, thrumming in the background, dark drums in the night, throbbing … throbbing … throbbing …

But the guilt? The guilt is, in a way, can be even more debilitating. You are never enough. Never good enough, never sane enough, never pretty enough or smart enough not  not      not. . .

The thing is, Dani Wilde doesn’t even know she is damaged. You see, she doesn’t remember. She thinks things are fine.  Her life is finally opening up. The four younger brothers she raised are taken care of, all grown up, have good positions, and even the youngest is graduating from college. Finally, finally she can reach for her own dreams. She can take her skills at marketing and accept the position at a New York firm that has been following her through her career as a freelance marketing specialist in Montana. Dani is responsible for keeping the cherry farm her family owns financially stable. She cooks and cleans for a family of six, runs a store featuring local products, runs an online business selling the stores wares, and has a separate business as a marketing specialist for local businesses. She never stops working, never stops caring for others. Just. Never. Stops. But now? Now she can have the life she gave up when her mother died in a car accident, a death that brought Dani back from her full ride at Columbia to take over the household on their cherry farm and raise the four brothers that her mother left behind. These are good time, wonderful times. Dani can finally have a life which doesn’t include having to be everything to everyone else.

But.

Something is happening inside her. Flashes of memory, scenes in her mind that can’t possibly be real.
 
Can they?

The door is opening, the chest creaking as the top rises.  The dust is blowing away. And what crawls out of the darkness, pale and ephemeral, could very well destroy Dani. And the larger that shadowy presence grows in her mind, the wider the opening, the darker the memories . . . Memories that will literally rip her life to shreds, destroying everything she ever thought about herself, her family, her very life.

The pain .  .   .

I am not ashamed to say that I cried like a baby over this book. It took me a couple of days to even write this review. Looking back, this almost sounds like a horror story, doesn’t it? And in a way, it is. But it is also a story of incredible inner strength, a story of just how devastating the actions of one member of a family can be upon the lives of all around them. Especially the lives of their own children. This book hurt on a level that is hard for me to even explain.

But that isn’t a bad thing. You see, it is nearly impossible for anyone who hasn’t been there to understand just how Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a parent can shatter the very soul of a child. And that is what this family has suffered, though Dani doesn’t even remember it. And when she does, when her memories finally return, here it becomes not just Dani’s story, but the story of a family so deeply damaged that they may never be completely healed. But it is also a story of a family finding their way towards that healing, towards understanding and relearning how to love one another.

This is, on the surface, a ‘sweet, home town romance.’ And yes, there is romance here. But what makes it SO much better than a ‘boy meets girl’ romance is the cast of characters. Armed with a sharp and unrelenting pen, Kim Law draws a picture of family life that is far from perfect. And it isn’t just Dani’s family that is far from Norman Rockwellesque. Ben was Dani’s first love, first lover, and best friend ten years ago. But one single night separated them. Now Ben, who had his own issues with the coldness and disregard of his famous actress mother finds himself the single father of a four-year-old little girl who is dropped off on his doorstep one day like a load of laundry by a mother who never looks back. Bringing her back to Montana where he spent as much time as possible at one time with the Wilde family, he is looking for some way to connect with the child.

Yes, all of these people are heartbreaking. And all of them – all of them – even the ones I wanted to hit over the head with a very large rock, are worth spending time with. Worth coming to know, coming to understand – if for no other reason than to understand your own heart, your own pain. And some of them? Some of them are worth loving so very much simply for their ability to continue to survive, continue to love, to even know how to love under the crushing weight of betrayals beyond comprehension. This is what makes this book so very heartbreaking – and so very, very worth reading.

This is a six tissue read, and I have to say, when I finished it? I felt, well, cleaner. Like one of the many wounds in my soul had been lanced and bled, and can now heal. Not all, but you know what? As Ms. Law says in her postscript, “You’re not alone. You’re a survivor. You got dealt a rotten hand in life. But you can move on.” Watching her characters do just that? Well, that is the very definition of cathartic.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a realistic review. Here is the skinny. If you are looking for a ‘simple’ romance story, this isn’t it. If you are looking for a well written book with a strong story, wonderful characters, a realistic look at the damage a serious but under acknowledged disorder can cause, well, you are in for a true treat. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

If you like my review, I would really appreciate it if you would click to “Like” my review here and on Amazon when the book is published on the 28th. It helps draw attention to my reviews, which helps the authors I review garner more readers. Thank you!

“To Yelena, our newest food taster. May you last longer than your predecessor.”

I absolutely devoured this book - pretty much in one sitting, which of late is pretty impressive for me.

For me this book is what Throne of Glass attempted to achieve but just couldnt quite reach. Im not sure if its because Yelena started off low in life as we entered the book and worked her way up tooth and nail, (i think the rat talk synced it for me)

“I did what any good rat would do. I bit down on the guard's hand until I tasted blood.” 

 

or because i just preferred her personality more, or maybe it was even the side characters? (who were fucking amazing! - pardon my french). Or maybe it was just the fact that i spent a good portion of this book laughing my ass off?

"i swirled the amber liquid and inhaled the sharp odor. Taking a small sip, I rolled the cognac around my tongue, then spat it onto the floor. Gagging and retching with the effort, I tried to expel every last bit of it from my mouth. Valek stared in alarm.
I chocked out, "My Love."

Valek knocked over the other two glasses, spilling their contents on the table. As my body reacted to the poison, I watched Valek turn into a black ink spot, and the walls run with blood.
I floated on a crimson sea, colors dancing and whirling around my head. The sound of broken glass raining on stones created an odd melody in my mind. I drifted on a raft made of curly white hair, carried along by a strong current. Irys's soothing voice spoke amidst the tempest of colors, "you'll be fine, just hold on to your life raft. You can ride out this storm."

 

This book to me was just simply amazing.

I loved Yelena's spunk, she had been defeated, in soul and heart, Yes. but every now and then this wonderful rebilious streak popped up and when it did i could never help but smile and cheer her on more.

“I balled my hands into tight fists to keep them from wrapping around Mr. I-Know-Everything's superior neck.” 

 

Now the side characters, Janco and Ari.

Now these guys just warmed my heart nearly everytime they popped up, especially Ari - i have a major soft spot for that big guy. I have no doubt without these two on Yelena's side she wouldnt had made it. plus who could resist Janco dorkiness?

“One, and two, and three, four, five. Keep fighting like this and you will die," Janco sang.” 

 

"Why, Janco, I didnt know you could read," I teased. My voice was hoarse, my throat sore and a dull ache resided deep in my head.

"I'm a man on many unknown talents." Janco smiled. "Welcome back."

 

"Janco scratched at his goatee. "Well, they and Ari. He had his eye on you all night, so when you went down, we were on our way. We slipped behind the head table during the toast and he carried you here. He'd still be here, but i forced him at knifepoint to get some sleep."

Ah, that explained my curly-haired raft.[...]"

 

I only have one remark. that was the end between Yelena and Valek. Their relationship slowly and painfully (in a good way) became something special, you just got hints here and there of something more, a lingering look, a certain facial expression.

“Besides, thinking kind thoughts about Valek could be extremely dangerous. I could admire his skills, and be relieved when he was on my side in a fight. But for a rat to like the cat? That scenario ended only one way. With one dead rat.”

and that was a slow precious build up that i was immensely enjoying than all of a sudden BAM! declaration of love. 

“Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath in my ear sent a shiver down my spine.

"But you’ve slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart.”

“That sounds more like a poison than a person,” was all I could say. His confession had both shocked and thrilled me.

“Exactly,” Valek replied. “You have poisoned me.” 

I was like 'wait what?' and in a god damn dungeon for christ sakes! i get it the end kind of seemed like it would need it just to give it that extra something.... but seriously? couldnt of it been done... smoother than that?

I'm pretty sure Valek is about 32 (no idea how old Yelena is, pretty bloody young though, my best guess being 17/18??) surely he's had partners in the past and wouldnt be so overcome with emotion all of a sudden just to blurt it out like that? though to be fair he did it way smoother than Yelena did. lol. maybe he's usually such a hard cold bastard he didnt understand he had emotions till they swamped him?? nah im not believing that. Valek is suave, i just think he would of handle it with more... class?

otherwise thats my single and only objection. Fantastic job Maria V. Snyder < i have loved many of your books and i believe im now ready to declare my love for you ;)

So yea obviously this book is amazing, and i have MANY more praises but i doubt you want to be here forever so if you havent read it yet i would HIGHLY recommend doing so... like right now!! go go, read my pretties!

This is such a great idea!

Sometimes you manage to glom onto a living writer early enough to read as the books come out. But more often, by the time a name hits your radar, the shelf of work is long and you can't figure out where to start. If you're lucky, you've got a like-minded friend who's read the whole lot and will give you some clues. But mostly, it's hit and miss. And sometimes, if you start with the wrong piece, you might give up on a writer whose work you would actually like.

A while back, the people at BookRiot addressed this situation with Start Here: Read Your Way into 25 Amazing Authors. It was a nice grab-bag of writers across time, place and even genre. Each artist selected was covered in a single chapter that presented a pitch (why you should read X) and a starter inventory of works designed to give an overall sense of the writer. It's not just pleasant to thumb through: it's a public service! 

Today, BookRiot announced the launch of Start Here, volume 2. Yes, 25 more authors to explore! I can't wait to see what they have to say about China Mieville. So far, I've only read Perdido Street Station and I've been wondering where to go next.