Ah, Sarah Addison Allen. She was my first glimpse into the world of magical realism and, so far, the best I've read in the genre. Her ability to seamlessly weave real life situations with magical undertones is something beautiful! I've yet to find a book of hers that I didn't love at least a little bit. True to form, Lost Lake was perfectly gorgeous.

 

Allen transports the reader to a hidden gem. A place set apart from the busy day to day workings in the city. A place untouched by time and technology. Lost Lake was a haven that I was more than happy to get lost in. I loved that it was a place for misfits. I'll get to the characters themselves in a minute, but I'll assure you that this setting couldn't have been more for fitting for them. What better place for magic to happen than a place that already feels magical on its own? I adored Lost Lake. I actually found myself wishing it were a real place.

 

On to the characters, in all their misfit glory. The underlying theme here is one of loss and moving on. Eby, Kate, Devin, Wes, and all the rest of these wonderful characters, were each a puzzle piece in the overall theme. I was impressed at how well they all came to life, despite the fact that there were so many. I found myself quickly caught up in the mini background stories of each character, secretly hoping that things would work out for them. It's hard work enough to write one character who the reader can connect with. To write a large cast, and write them well enough that I loved each one of them in turn? Well, you have this reader's heart.

 

I can't say too much more, because then I'd be treading into spoiler territory, but trust me when I say that there's a lot to love between these pages. We chose this for our first book club pick of the year, and I'm thrilled that we did. Each chapter is a treasure trove of discussion points, and the story is brilliant. To previous fans of SAA, I think this is something you'll enjoy! To new readers, don't be afraid to start here. Lost Lake is well worth your time.

Her Books Presents: Book Club Picks - St... Where did the story take place? Our book club has read quite a few of the stories offered as a sample in this book. I am picking my favourite which is Broken Pieces by Rachel Thompson.
Why do you like this story? It's a book that has you digging through your soul. You want to feel sympathy for her but as writes in fluid prose, all you feel for her is admiration that she is able to share so much of her life with the world.
What other books has this author written? Rachel Thompson has written A Walk in the Snark and Mancode Exposed which we are still reading and laughing out loud with at our weekly book club meetings.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

Her Books Presents: Book Club Picks - St... Cover. One of the most adorable covers we've seen in a long time. The pastel shades and coloured flip flops give an immediate hint that you can expect women's fiction and you won't be disappointed.
What did the title have to do with the book? This book offers eight samples from different books and authors. The book club has been really honoured to read books from most of these fabulous authors with the exception of Elena Aitken, Kathleen Valentine and Karla Darcy. Why bother reading samples when you can read the whole book? With the sea of books available these days, this sampler offers readers a good opportunity to pick your favourite read.
Would you recommend this book? Most certainly especially to book clubs or groups who would like a collection of stories with a particular theme. While most stories are focused on women's fiction, they each carry a bond of friendship, family or love. You cannot step away from this sampler without feeling touched in some way.

Her Books Presents: Book Club Picks - St... What is the time period in which the book happens? My favourite story from this sampler is Bette Lee Crosby's Spare Change. The story starts in the 1920s and then progresses to the 1950s. The timeline seemed realistic so I am guessing the author did quite a bit of research.
What was the problem in the book, and how was it solved? Ethan witnesses his father killing his mother and then Scooter killing his father. Terried, Ethan runs away. He hasn't had an easy childhood so trust doesn't come easily and as he doubts, runs, and tries to come to terms with what is happening in his life, this little boy grows - physically and mentally. This is a lovely read.
Did anyone in the book do something you did not like? Scooter. This man is the lowest of human beings and I truly wonder where the author got her inspiration for such a despicable creature.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.

Her Books Presents: Book Club Picks - St... What kind of book is this? I loved each and every sample in this book and if I had to pick one, I would choose The Tree of Everlasting Knowledge by Christine Nolfi. It is fiction story that has a very Nora Roberts feel to the story and Nolfi is an excellent novelist.

What was the author's purpose or purposes in writing this book? The Fagan family lost their son Jason 15 years ago when he was murdered. Now, when their other son is supervising renovations, Ourania who is a family friend, finds letters that can change their lives. I think the purpose of this book is to highlight the importance of family and how much damage secrets is caused from keeping secrets.

If you could continue the story, what events would you include? I don't think this story needs any further additions. The characters were well-developed, the plot flowed from beginning to end in a strong, non-predictable manner and each scene left this reader with a lasting impression.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author.