Grace's July Indie Next List Picks

The July Indie Next List just came out and two of the featured reads are my current favorites to recommend!

Grace's 1st Pick: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Rowell has quickly become one of my favorite authors.  I would buy anything she wrote, even if it was a technical manual on how to operate a vacuum cleaner.  That's why I'm so excited to tell you all about her latest novel, Landline, because not only is it about a topic way more exciting than vacuum cleaners, it's an exceptional piece of writing! 

Georgie McCool (seriously, what an awesome name!) is about to make a big move in her career as a television writer and she couldn't be happier, except that it means the slow implosion of her marriage is about to speed up.  Georgie's husband, Neal, and their kids leave for Christmas while Georgie stays behind to work on her new TV show, and she begins to wonder if she's finally ruined everything.   That's when she discovers that her old landline offers a way to communicate with Neal in the past, exactly one week before he proposed.  Now she has the opportunity to fix her marriage before it even starts...unless she's not meant to?  Faced with a choice of moving forward or living in the past, Georgie must decide which path is the best for herself, her marriage, and her family.

Readers will be enthralled with Rowell's true-to-life characters and her ability to make a magical connection to the past seem completely feasible.  I mean seriously?  A magical landline?  And yet, I completely bought into it because Rowell's writing totally captivates and engrosses the reader from the very first chapter.  It's the perfect beach read, rainy day read, stay up until all hours of the night read, forgot to make dinner because this book is so good read...you get the idea!

Grace gives this book 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of Landline from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop & Guest House.

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Grace's 2nd Pick: The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

My second pick is featured as the cover page title of the July Indie Next List and it has a take-charge, intelligent heroine at the helm.  Kelsea Raleigh Glynn has been raised in exile, but now that she has come of age, she must reclaim her mother's throne and learn to be a ruler despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.  There's the Red Queen, a powerful monarch in a neighboring kingdown; the Caden, a group of assassins tasked with eliminating Kelsea; and the Regent of Tearling, her uncle Thomas, who will do anything necessary to stay in power. Facing these three foes, Kelsea must gain the trust and loyalty of her protectors and subjects, as well as learn to use the Tearling sapphire, a jewel of immense power passed on to her by her late mother.

What doesn't this novel have?  Readers can find magic, adventure, mystery, and romance as they follow Kelsea's journey to reclaiming her throne.  Johansen has laid a fantastic foundation for what promises to be thrilling trilogy in this first book.  While the story seemed to drag in a few places, it had more than enough twists and turns in the plot to keep me reading late into the night.  Johansen's characters and world-building really blew me away and must have impressed some other readers as well because Harry Potter producer David Heyman has taken on the project of creating a film version of the book with Emma Watson starring as Kelsea!  While book to movie adaptations always make me nervous, it sounds like the novel will be in good hands.  Just be sure to read the book before the story hits the big screen!

Grace gives this book 4.5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to purchase your copy of The Queen of the Tearling from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop & Guest House.

More of an eBook reader?  Click here to find out how you can support your local, independent bookshop through eReading!

"The Diviners" by Libba Bray

When looking for a good book to kick off my summer reading, I searched through my "Books to Read" list (an Excel spreadsheet on my laptop complete with the title, author, date I heard about it, and whether or not I already own it, I kid you not) and decided it was time to give The Diviners a try.  I'd read several of Bray's other books before and loved them, so I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed the book.  I was shocked however by how quickly I was hooked and deeply I was engaged by the end of the first chapter.

It's 1926 and Evie O'Neill, the very definition of a flapper girl, has been exiled from her hometown in Ohio to the bustling streets of New York City (poor thing!) after making an enemy of the town's golden boy while drunk at a party.  She is sent to live with her Uncle Will, a curator for the Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult, who has been asked to give the police an assist in solving a string of grisly murders.  Evie convinces her uncle to let her use her ability to read people's pasts while holding an object of their possession to help him in the investigations.  Bray creates a fantastic company of characters to support Evie in her quest for answers, including a mysterious assistant at the museum, a numbers runner in Harlem who dreams of becoming famous through his poetry, a Ziegfield Follies girl on the run from her past, a rakish pickpocket, and Evie's more traditional best friend, Mabel. Now Evie and the rest of the cast must solve the mystery behind the murders before the killer has a chance to unleash some real evil into this world.

What impressed me the most about this book is the way Bray is able to seamlessly weave together multiple points of view from the different characters to create a narrative that is both snappy with that Roaring 20s vibe and hauntingly suspenseful.  There were times where I was compelled to read far later than originally intended because I had  to know what happened next.  Bray also does a fantastic job of bringing her diverse cast of characters to life.  There are only a few books that I have read where I have felt as though I truly know a character from their motivations to their mannerisms, and this is one of those books.  While this book is not for the faint of heart, I would recommend The Diviners to teen readers and those who enjoy being completely engrossed in a fantastic story.

Grace gives this book five out of five carrots!

Click here to order your copy from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop and Guest House!

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"The Legend of L'Esprit" by Doris Greenberg and Pandré Shandley

As the resident dancer here at The Velveteen Rabbit, I was so excited to have The Legend of L'Esprit fall into my lap this summer.  It was the perfect summer read for someone who spent 14 years of her life in a dance studio, but I think the plot line will appeal to those who have never stepped foot in a dance class as well.

Libby Nobleton and her family have recently moved to Chicago and she is looking for a new dance studio to call home.  When she auditions for the premier studio, L'Esprit, she knows she's found her place.  But there's more to this dance studio than ballet barres and full-length mirrors; rumor has it that L'Esprit is haunted by the spirit of the prima ballerina who originally founded the school.  Now Libby and her new friends have to uncover the truth about what happened on the most tragic night of L'Esprit's history to help more than one soul find its peace.

What I found so refreshing about this first novel in the Dance Legacy series was its spot-on blend of the day-to-day life of a young dancer along with the mystery and intrigue of the paranormal phenomena at the dance studio.  I also appreciated the fact that Libby was not involved in a torrid love triangle; she's got a straight head on her shoulders and is an excellent role model both for young dancers, as well as young women in general.  That's not to say that this book is not without its romance!  There's just enough of it to keep the reader satisfied and it's handled in a way that makes it seem realistic, rather than totally unattainable. 

One of the unique features of this book was the dance glossary located in the back.  After having been taught dance by hearing the terms rather than reading them, it was fun to see them actually spelled out and say, "So that's how that's written!"  Each chapter features a different dance term as well, so you don't have to keep paging to the back of the book to look them up.  This is a must-read for those reading dancers out there, as well as those readers just looking for a good book.

Grace gives it 5 out of 5 carrots!

Click here to order your copy at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop and Guest House!

Books We All Love!

We at The Velveteen Rabbit are quite voracious readers, and we all have different interests. However, there are always certain books that we come to a complete consensus on! Here are just a few books that more than one of us claims as a "pick!"


The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Who loves it? Beth and Marie
Why? The Book Thief is not only boasts near-perfect writing, but its storyline is absolutely enthralling. It is the most uniquely written Holocaust book (perhaps even most uniquely-written book ever--after all, it is narrated by Death) and combines every element of a good story. Don't let its placement in the young adult section fool you--this is a great book for adults, too!
Rabbit Trivia: Beth has given this book to nearly everyone she knows.




The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Who loves it? Clare, Grace, and Beth
Why? We all have a love for dystopian novels, and The Hunger Games certainly fits the bill. It also is exciting to read about a strong female protagonist. The action is non-stop, the characters are enchanting, and Collins is a fantastic storyteller--the rest of the series is equally wonderful!
Rabbit Trivia: The Hunger Games is based loosely on ancient mythology--specifically, the myth of Theseus and the minotaur.






The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Who loves it? Marie and Beth
Why? The Help is a breathtakingly beautiful portrait of 1960's Jackson, Mississippi--the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's wonderful to read a book that reminds us how far we've come in the last forty-plus years--not to mention that the characters (Aibelene and Minnie especially) are absolutely unforgettable.
Rabbit Trivia: The Help is currently being made into a movie, starring Zombieland's Emma Stone and Bryce Howard Dallas.




I Shall Not Want by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Who loves it? Grace and Marie
Why? Julia Spencer-Fleming weaves fantastic mysteries that are centered around two lovable characters: Russ Van Alystne and Clare Fergusson.
Rabbit Trivia: We've had Julia Spencer-Fleming for two author signings, and she is just as lovable as her books!

"In the Woods" by Tana French

This debut novel by Tana French will capture you from the first page, and shake you until you're dizzy. One summer day in Ireland, three children disappeared into the vast, wild woods near their suburban home. All that the police found was one of the children, terrified and clutching a tree, covered in blood. This boy had no memory of what happened or how he'd escaped his friends' fate.

Years later, the bodies of the other children never found, that little boy has evolved into Detective Rob Ryan. He and his charismatic partner Cassie Maddox are called back to the woods to solve a murder--and to put together the pieces of Ryan's own mystery.

I'm not really a mystery fan--nor am I particularly interested in reading about police officers. Yet French has such a unique, vibrant voice that she could write literally anything, and it would be impossible to put down. The characters (especially Ryan, who narrates the story, and his best friend Cassie) are impeccably drawn and dynamic. The haunting, original mystery has such strong psychological threads that I was tempted to skip ahead, something that I never, ever do. But the real compelling part of this story is its setting: Dublin, Ireland. Who can resist the Irish flare to French's writing?

I must warn that the conclusion itself didn't satisfy me; but the journey to the conclusion was so innovative and compelling that I am eager to read more of French's work.

Beth gives it four out of five carrots!
Click here to order your copy at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Murder at the Vicarage" by Agatha Christie

Challenged by an article I read in the New Yorker Magazine, in which the author states that it is almost impossible to guess who the murderer is in Agatha Christie's famous mysteries, I decided to try out my detective skills and see if I could solve the mystery before the last page. My conclusion is...I'm not quite cut out to be a sleuth, but I'm more than happy to continue reading Christie's novels.

"Murder at the Vicarage" is the first of the Miss Marple mysteries. When Colonel Protheroe, a rather disliked man in the small town of St. Mary Mead, is murdered in the Vicar's study, gossip abounds. The book is narrated by the Vicar, who along with Miss Marple, the town's most accomplished amateur detective and snoop, attempts to uncover the truth. After many twists, Miss Marple finally cracks the case...but is the murderer who you thought it was going to be?

Click here to order "Murder at the Vicarage" from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

Kerry gives it five out of five carrots!

"The Thieves of Manhattan" by Adam Langer

If you've been following any of my earlier posts, you may notice a trend in the genres I generally read: dystopia and teen fiction. Well, I'm switching it up a bit with this new release from Adam Langer, author of Crossing California and The Washington Story. The Thieves of Manhattan is a literary thriller with a new twist and turn on every page!

The story follows an aspiring writer trying to make ends meet with a minimum-wage coffee shop job while also attempting to write something worth publishing. Enraged by another writer's best-selling fake memoir and his girlfriend’s seemingly instantaneous literary success, Ian becomes entangled in a painstakingly intricate scheme to pass off a false memoir of his own and expose the publishing industry's corruptness to the world. He very quickly realizes that things get dangerous when fact and fiction begin to unexpectedly intertwine!

My favorite review of this book comes from Carl Hiaasen (author of Hoot): "The Thieves of Manhattan is a sly and cutting riff on the book-publishing world that is quite funny unless you happen to be an author, in which case the novel will make you consider a more sensible profession—like being a rodeo clown, for example, or a crab-fisherman in the Bering Sea."

With a winning combination of exciting characters, mind-blowing plot twists, and a satisfyingly snarky commentary, this fast-paced novel pokes and prods at the publishing world making the reader think twice about the books they pull off the shelf!

Grace gives it five out of five carrots!

Click here to order The Thieves of Manhattan from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!
(Available in July)

"Ghost in the Machine" by Patrick Carman

Skeleton Creek fans will not be disappointed in Patrick Carman's sequel, Ghost in the Machine! Continuing with its groundbreaking format, readers can read Ryan's account of the strange goings-on at the dredge in his journal and then watch Sarah's videos to discover the secrets buried in Skeleton Creek.

This is another sequel that I have anxiously been awaiting. I found myself feverishly reading Ryan's journal whenever I had a spare moment and then running to the nearest computer to watch Sarah's videos. I also discovered that going to sleep immediately after a sojourn to Skeleton Creek was easier said than done! Filled with suspense, intrigue, and great visual effects, Ghost in the Machine is perfect for those who loved to be scared and are looking for a spook-tacular read this Halloween!
**WARNING: This is not a book for the weak of heart. The videos can be rather frightening for young ones. I recommend this book for ages 10 and up.

Grace gives it five out of five carrots!

Click here to order your copy of Ghost in the Machine from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

Click here to order your copy of the first book in this series, Skeleton Creek, from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Twenties Girl" by Sophie Kinsella

*NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK! Click here!*
This book was 435 pages of pure, undiluted joyful reading. Kinsella has created her most loveable characters yet in Lara, a twenty-something klutzy, modern girl in London coping with a recent breakup, and Sadie, the ghost of her great-aunt, circa 1922. Lara didn't ASK to be haunted by the hilariously annoying Sadie, and she certainly didn't ask for a friendship--but that's what she got. Sadie has two goals for her ghostly time on earth: one, to find her beloved dragonfly necklace, and two, to live vicariously through Lara. The former lets us dive into an intriguing mystery with a beautiful finish, and the latter lets us see Lara dressed anachronistically in full 1920's costume, falling in love. You'll fall in love with every unique and skillfully drawn character, especially Sadie. A comedy, a romance, and a mystery wrapped up all in one, this is one book that will leave you wanting more!

Beth gives it five out of five carrots!

Click here to order your copy of "Twenties Girl" at The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!

"Savannah Blues" by Mary Kay Andrews

I am always reading, but there's a frantic period near the end of the summer, when the school year is fast approaching, that I tend to binge-read. And what better author is there to sit down and read in a lazy summer afternoon than Mary Kay Andrews? Andrews' Savannah Blues makes for the perfect end-of-summer reading treat. Heroine Eloise "Weezie" Foley, an antique picker, copes with divorce (and subsequently living in her ex-husband's backyard), being accused of murder, and new love with an old boyfriend, all with her own unique brand of cyncism and hilarity. What could make this delectable book of romance and mystery even better? Its setting: Savannah, Georgia, a city which Andrews writes about with tangible affection.

Beth gives it four out of five carrots!

Click here to order your copy of "Savannah Blues" by Mary Kay Andrews from The Velveteen Rabbit Bookshop!