Love in the Elephant Tent- Blog Tour and Book Giveaway!

Welcome to my very first time as a host for a Book Blog Tour. Exciting! I'm promoting the lovely Kathleen Cremonesi's memoir, Love in the Elephant Tent. I read Cremonesi's book a few months ago and through it, I fulfilled my childhood dream of running away and joining a circus. Who am I kidding? I'm thirty-seven years old and I still have big top fantasies!

GIVEAWAY-FREE COPY OF LOVE IN THE ELEPHANT TENT!!!! 

Did I peak your interest? ECW Press has generously offered to give a copy of Love in the Elephant Tent to one of my readers. If you'd like a chance to win a copy, please leave a comment on this post, no personal details necessary. The contest closes at Midnight Pacific Time on Monday, June 15th. I will draw a winner from those who have left comments and I will post the winner. The winner will have their copy sent directly from ECW Press. 

Here is my original review.

Who hasn't dreamed of running away and joining the circus? Kathleen Cremonesi didn't just run away with the circus, but she did it in Europe. When I saw her memoir, Love in the Elephant Tent, on NetGalley, I just had to read it. Thank You to ECW Press for allowing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - Set during the 1990's, Love in the Elephant Tent is the memoirs of Kathleen Cremonesi, an American, who spent her twenties traveling around Europe. Free-spirited Cremonesi found an opportunity to join a circus troupe in Italy, working as a dancing girl. While with the circus, she fell in love with Stefano, an elephant keeper. As her love for Stefano deepens, Cremonesi finds herself become immersed in circus life and Italian culture, causing her to lose herself in this temporary life-style. 

LIKE - The best parts of Cremonesi's memoir are the ones that focus on her life in the circus. Beyond dancing, Cremonesi rode an ostrich, swam with sharks and befriended a shy giraffe. The animal lover in me, connected with the animal lovers in Cremonesi and Stefano. I felt for them in their dilemma of wanting to stay to care for these animals, even though they felt having the animals perform in the circus was wrong. This story is strong with ethical vs emotional content. Having both the circus and Europe as backdrops, fills this memoir with many layers. Cremonesi struggles as an outsider in this strange world. I loved getting a backstage view of this unique lifestyle. 

DISLIKE - More than an adventure story, this is a love story. Cremonesi struggles with her love for Stefano, as their cultures and communication styles often clash. Although the love story is important, I found that it took up too much weight in this book. I was far less interested in Stefano, than I was in the world of the circus. I couldn't understand her love for him, until late in the book. It was distancing. 

RECOMMEND - Yes. Love in the Elephant Tent is for anyone with wanderlust. If you've dreamed of running away with the circus, Cremonesi's story will speak to you. On a side note, if you love animals, especially elephants, a percentage of the proceeds from this book are going to elephant rescue groups. That's just cool! 

I'm the first stop on the Love in the Elephant Tent blog tour. Here are the other dates. Please check them out for more reviews, interviews with Kathleen Cremonesi and giveaways!

June 17, 2015:  Review and Excerpt, Book Bug (http://bookbug2012.wordpress.com).

June 18, 2015: Review and Q+A, The Book Binder’s Daughter (http://thebookbindersdaughter.com). 

June 19, 2015: Review, Excerpt and Giveaway, Caffeine and Books (https://caffeineandbooks42.wordpress.com/). 

June 22, 2015: Review and Excerpt, Fictional Real World (http://www.fictionalrealworld.blogspot.ca/). 

June 24, 2015: Review and Photos, We Peas Read (https://wepeasread.wordpress.com/review-policy/).

June 26, 2015:  Review and Q+A, Bibliotica (http://bibliotica.com). 

Please make sure to leave a comment before midnight on June 15th, if you'd like to be placed in the drawing to win a copy of Love in the Elephant Tent.

Finally, here is a picture of the brave woman who chased after that circus dream that we all have...

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Book Review- Annie Barrows' The Truth According to Us

I love a good period drama set in the south. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for gifting me with an advanced copy of Annie Barrows' The Truth According to Us, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - Layla Beck is the daughter of a United States Senator. She is well taken care of and will remain so, if she agrees to marry the man her parents have chosen for her. When she calls off the engagement, her father cuts her off. Layla's uncle uses his influence to get her a job through the Federal Writer's Project and although she lacks writing experience, she is sent to the small town of Macedonia, West Virginia, to document the town's history.

She rooms with the Romeyn family and quickly falls under the spell of Felix Romeyn. Felix is the oldest brother and he lives with his sister Jottie and his daughters, Willa and Bird, in their inherited family home. As she conducts her interviews and goes deeper into researching Macedonia's history, Layla learns of long buried secrets. 

LIKE - The Truth According to Us is primarily a character driven story and Barrows' has created several strong and memorable characters. She shifts between perspectives, including Jottie ( a beautiful, heartbroken spinster), Willa ( Felix's young daughter) and Layla. I loved Barrows' ability to create such a rich and detailed environment. Macedonia, with its humid summer evenings and quirky residents is very much the main character of the novel. I like how we get two perspectives of the town, first through the direct narrative of its inhabitants and second, through the story that Layla is writing. Excerpts of Layla's story are spliced throughout the narrative. The story is set in the late 1930's and Barrows has clearly done her research to make the era come alive. The Truth According to Us transported me to another era and it was an enjoyable ride.

DISLIKES- I had some mild confusion when it came to the family secrets that were revealed at the end of the story. The pace of the novel is leisurely until the end with the twist. There was a quick, information overload that I had to actually stop and reread to make sure that I was understanding the scenario. I think that part of my confusion might have been that my mind was starting to drift. I found the first half of the novel to be more engaging than the second. I loved the family and the town, but I was less interested in the secrets.

RECOMMEND- Yes. The Truth According to Us is a beautifully written story and would be of interest to people who like depression era fiction. The plot has a great deal of family drama and a touch of romance, all told through the eyes of strong and sassy women.

Book Review- Amanda Brooks' Always Pack a Party Dress

Recently, I've been on a fashion/memoir kick, so when I saw Amanda Brooks' memoir, Always Pack a Party Dress available on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. Thank you to Blue Rider Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - New Yorker Amanda Brooks enjoyed very early success in the fashion industry, including landing her dream job as a fashion director for Barney's New York while still in her twenties. In Always Pack a Party Dress, Brooks writes about her twenty years in the industry and dispenses both career and fashion advice. In her late thirties, she transitioned to a more quiet life, by moving to a farm in England with her British husband and young children. She speaks about her new lifestyle and the importance of fashion, even while living on a farm.

LIKE - Brooks' memoir is going to be a problem for me. It has reawakened my love of reading Vogue and shopping! The love and respect that Brooks has for the art of fashion is contagious. She has a sense of humor about her fashion mistakes and a true love for the outfits that she has nailed. Brooks makes a highly likable protagonist, because she chases after her dreams, works hard and wins. I respect her and it makes me value her opinions. This woman has a lot of moxy! Brooks has led such a fascinating life and it made her memoir highly entertaining. Above all, even with the high power jobs, celebrity friends and amazing wardrobe, Brooks comes across as a relatable, every-woman. It's impossible to dislike her.

DISLIKE- Nothing, except for my bank account dropping due to my new wardrobe inspired by Brooks! Kidding...kind of. Really, there was nothing to dislike about this memoir. It's well crafted and a fun read.

RECOMMEND - Yes, absolutely. Always Pack a Party Dress is a must for those with an interest in fashion, but it would be a nice boost of inspiration for anyone who is chasing their dreams.