TREASURE ME by Christine Nolfi: Review

I was sent the e-book and a request by the author, Christine Nolfi, to review this book for her. She has also published numerous articles in regional publications. Her short story, Night Hour, appeared in Working Mother Magazine. 

Christine has a special place for me, because she is the first author to request that I read and review a book 
for them! lol 


Here's the blurb for the novel:

Petty thief Birdie Kaminsky has arrived in Liberty, Ohio to steal a treasure hidden since the Civil War. She’s in possession of a charming clue passed down in her family for generations: Liberty safeguards the cherished heart.

The beautiful thief wants to go straight. She secretly admires the clue’s author, freedwoman Justice Postell, who rose above the horrors of slavery to build a new life in Ohio. According to family lore, Justice left South Carolina at the dawn of the Civil War. Heavy with child, she carried untold riches on her journey north. As Birdie searches for the treasure, she begins to believe a questionable part of the story: a tale of love between Justice and Lucas Postell, the French plantation owner who was Birdie’s ancestor.

If the stories are true, Justice bore a child with Lucas. Some of those black relatives might still live in town. Birdie can’t help but wonder if she’s found one—Liberty’s feisty matriarch, Theodora Hendricks, who packs a pistol and heartwarming stories about Justice. Birdie doesn’t know that investigative reporter Hugh Schaeffer will trip her up—as will her conscience when she begins to wonder if it’s possible to start a new life with stolen riches. Yet with each new clue she unearths, Birdie discovers a family history more precious than gems, a tradition of love richer than she could imagine.

My Review:

When I first began this novel, I was a little iffy about whether or not I would like it. It seemed a little cliche to me at first, and also I had trouble connecting to the characters, especially the hornball, Hugh. However, as the story went on, I fell for this book. Once I realized what type of people Birdie and Hugh really were, and how their tough exteriors were really just a facade to hide their insecurities, I really began to feel for them.

My favorite character was most definitely Theodora. She was a gutsy, little old lady who carried a pistol around with her. One quote from her that actually made me laugh out loud is, "Stop worrying yourself into a tizzy. He's a man. All men are fools, but the stupidest among them can find his way home." I could actually picture this wrinkled old lady biting Birdie's head off when she said this! Another awesome Theodora moment is when she pulls the gun on the nosy reporter from Akron! She was actually a wonderful, caring person, but she said what was on her mind to whoever would listen! 

The story line was really great. I love how the characters grew emotionally and learned about themselves as the book went on. 

I also thought that the mystery of the rubies was written well. It kept me guessing throughout the novel, and I loved the way all the characters ended up being connected in some way! I thought it was great how Nolfi was able to write about this exciting mystery, and connect everyone involved at the same time. The idea of the treasure wasn't some far out idea, it was feasible, and you never know, something like that could actually happen!

The sexual tension between Hugh and Birdie was so thick you could probably cut it with a knife, I just wanted them to get it over with and scr**! There were enough characters in this novel to make it interesting, but not to make it confusing. Nothing annoys me more than when there are 30 characters in a book, and I have to look back every other chapter to figure out who is who! 

All in all I would definitely recommend this novel. The genre of books that I normally go for is historical fiction, but I was able to set aside the historical books I was reading and completely immerse myself in this one. This was the first novel by Christine Nolfi that I have read, and I would most definitely read another one by her. Her writing style is fabulous, and I was entertained the entire novel. Really, the only negative comment I have, is that it took a little while for me to really get into the story, but when things started coming together I couldn't put it down! 

I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars, and definitely recommend it to readers of any genre of books!


http://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Me-ebook/dp/B004XMOP9I/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304614958&sr=1-2

Rainy Sunday BOOK GIVEAWAY!!! TWO BOOKS!!! AND 100 FOLLOWERS!!

I was sitting here thinking, what the heck am I going to do today with all this rain!? Then I remembered, that I had promised to do another giveaway since my last one had gone so well!


**I had to add that shortly after I posted this giveaway entry I finally reached 100 FOLLOWERS! THANK YOU to everyone who helped me out and entered my giveaway! I'm sure there will be many more to come! 


SIGNORA DA VINCI  by Robin Maxwell (NAL, 2009) is an entertaining and imaginative re-creation of the cultural cauldron of sixteenth-century Florence. The story is told by Caterina, a village apothecary's daughter who, after a brief liaison with a nobleman's son, gives birth to a boy destined to become one of Italy's greatest creative minds. Snatched from her by his father's family, Leonardo is doomed to lead the anonymous life of a bastard until Caterina takes charge of his destiny--and hers. She convinces his father to apprentice him to an established artist in the city. Determined follow Leonardo, Caterina disguises herself as a man and establishes herself in Florence as Cato, Leonardo's apothecary uncle. Educated in philosophy and the alchemical arts by her father, Cato/Caterina befriends the legendary humanist Lorenzo de' Medici and becomes a member of his Platonic Academy, a secret philosophical society established to further knowledge of the ancient arts. Eventually, Caterina and Lorenzo fall in love and she reveals her true identity to him alone. Together, the couple works to advance Leonardo's career while their circle battles Fra Savanarola, the Church reformer who seeks to curb the excessive luxury and pagan influences that saturate Florentine society. Even as she watches her son's genius flower, Caterina cannot escape the decline of her lover's health and great changes that overtake the city she has grown to love.


Anyone who has read any of Robin Maxwell's books is aware of what an amazing writer she is. She really knows her facts, and is able to take the facts, and twist them enough to make an amazing novel!


Oh, and to throw in a little more fun with this contest....I'll be adding a SECOND book for for the winner!  And, of course it will be another Robin Maxwell novel!


THE WILD IRISH by Robing Maxwell


Two powerful women of indomitable will-Elizabeth I and the sea-loving Irish pirate, Grace O'Malley-collide in this vivid but ungainly historical drama. Maxwell (The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, etc.) introduces the fabulous queen at 60, her face white with alum and eggshell paint and her red wig ablaze. Twice the age of her confidant, the brilliant Robert Devereaux, earl of Essex, she is brittle and bitter, loath to show any weakness or mercy. Determined to stamp out the ongoing unrest in Ireland, she calls on the notorious O'Malley for counsel. O'Malley's son and brother are in the custody of the English, and it is for their sake that she agrees to appear before Elizabeth. In an extraordinary private conference late at night in the queen's rooms, the Irishwoman tells her own story, which is the history of an island nation at war with England and itself as well as of a woman who has lived a long and turbulent life. Moved by her tale, Elizabeth grants her wishes, but soon finds herself sending Essex to destroy the rebellion raging in Ireland. Ravaged by syphilis and outnumbered two to one, Essex is persuaded by O'Malley that there is no shame in asking for a truce, and he makes peace with the Irish. Though he rushes back to Elizabeth hoping for her blessing, he falls from favor and desperately engineers a hopeless uprising. Maxwell's double portrait of two aging women is warmly drawn ("Look at us," says Grace. "Two old birds fightin' for the same feckin' worm"), but the novel's pacing is erratic, its leaps from England court intrigue to Irish battle scenes jarring.


Ok, so there are a couple of things needed in order to win the book!


+1 You must be a follower of my blog to enter this contest.


For extra entries:
+1 follow me on twitter (twitter.com/kdaze10)
+1 TWEET the giveaway on your twitter (leave the link for me to see!)
+1 Become my friend on GOODREADS (there is a link on the sidebar of my blog!)
+1 Follow me on networked blogs.


You can include ALL of this information in ONE post, so that should make it easier for ya!


Good luck to everyone! I will be using random.org to choose the winner, and I will announce the winner on MAY 8th! Make sure to share with friends!