Where Wild Peaches Grow: two sisters reunite after their father's death and confront the past

Where Wild Peaches Grow by Cade Bentley is a story of family, cultural heritage and forgiveness. Nona “Peaches” Davenport left her home in Natchez, Mississippi fifteen years ago when she was betrayed by her family. She built a new life and became a professor of African American studies in Chicago. When the news of her father’s death reaches her, Nona must return home, a place she tried to forget. Julia Curtis has never forgiven her sister for leaving the family. However, Julia was determined to move forward as she focused on taking care of their father and grandmother. Julia now has a child and a career. When Nona returns to Natchez, their reunion is tenuous but soon they learn family secrets and everything they thought they knew could finally heal their relationship or tear them apart for good. 

Described as deeply emotional, I was expecting a family drama while dealing with grief and past hurts. However, I got a story about two sisters who were incredibly immature, especially Julia. I did not connect with either sister. Lies, miscommunication and drama for drama’s sake. Everyone had a secret of some type and when the big daddy secret was revealed, it was a major let down. The author tried to link racism and the town’s lore which didn’t quite connect for me. I kept asking “why?” for so many revelations and never got any answers, at least one I thought was satisfying. The story was a “short read” at 297  pages; however, it did not feel like it. It was confusing with too much history and not enough plot. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I do not recommend Where Wild Peaches Grow. 

Where Wild Peaches Grow is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

My Sister's Boyfriend: twists and turns in the aftermath of My Sister's Husband

My Sister’s Boyfriend by Nicola Marsh is a follow up to My Sister’s Husband (2020). In the aftermath of My Sister’s Husband, sisters Lizzie and Brooke have a strained relationship but remain civil for the sake of Hope, their daughter and niece, and their Aunt Alice. They seem to be on a path to a better relationship when Brooke brings home her new boyfriend. There is something off about Noel Harwood, something Lizzie can’t quite vocalize. However, she knows her sister’s life is in danger. Behind the handsome face and a dazzling smile, there is a sinister gleam in his eyes. She wants to protect her; but she knows her warnings would fall on deaf ears. Lizzie needs to be smart and out maneuver Noel. She doesn’t know what his end game is, but he has no idea how far Lizzie will go to protect her family. She nearly lost Brooke once. She can’t lose her now. 

After reading the thrilling story of My Sister’s Husband, I was stoked to hear that Ms Marsh was writing a follow up. I started reading My Sister’s Boyfriend with great anticipation. I should have reread My Sister’s Husband as details were discussed in My Sister’s Boyfriend that had me a little confused but I quickly remembered. On a side note, if you haven’t read My Sister’s Husband, I highly recommend reading it. Not only is it an awesome story; but you will need to know the family history to follow My Sister’s Boyfriend. While it is not my experience with the drama between sisters, Lizzie and Brooke are two women with a lot of emotional baggage and past hurts to overcome. There were a few twists that I was able to predict; however, Noel’s true motive and his end game was a shocking reveal. Once the story hit high gear, it took off and would not stop. I highly recommend My Sister’s Boyfriend. 

My Sister’s Boyfriend is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

My Sister’s Husband is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

If You Must Know: two sisters and a turning point in their lives

If You Must Know by Jamie Beck is the first book in the Potomac Point series. Sisters Amanda and Erin are as different as two sisters could be. The only thing they have in common is the childhood bedroom they shared. Amanda is known for following the rules, being the picture perfect daughter, wife and now mother to be. Erin follows her heart, flies by the seat of her pants and loves living the bohemian lifestyle with her yoga classes and Etsy business of organic soaps and bath products. Suddenly, their lives are turned upside down and they are forced to confront the uncomfortable truths about themselves and their family. Can these sisters find a way to build trust and lean on each other in trying times? Especially when there’s one secret still lingering between them.  

Jamie Beck writes wonderful stories of family, drama and coming together when they need each other. If You Must Know is a story of betrayal and sisters. Between the two sisters, I enjoyed Erin more. I cheered for her when she went after what she wanted. I didn’t care for Amanda as she tried to weigh the family’s reputation in front of her own needs. Although, as the oldest, I understood her strive for perfection. However, by the end of the story, Amanda finds out that sometimes one’s needs must come before family. As someone with sisters, the tension and interactions between Amanda and Erin was real and relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed If You Must Know and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy family drama, I recommend If You Must Know. 

If You Must Know is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Sisters: the realizations that life always leads in unexpected ways

Sisters is the first book in the Sun Valley series by Kellie Coates Gilbert. It is the story of three women, their choices and their realization that life doesn’t always lead where they expect. Karyn Macadam is struggling to start over after the tragic death of her husband in a skiing accident. She looks for a new beginning, but can she let go of the past? Leigh Ann Blackburn is the perfect wife but hides a struggle. Her husband has become distant and she believes the worst case scenario. She jumps into a plan to save her marriage. Joie Abbott is the youngest sister who always seems to find a way to mess up her life. She desperately hides a secret from her family until a betrayal forces her to come clean. One thing these women learn is that life is better with your sisters. 

Set in the picturesque setting of Sun Valley, Idaho, Karyn, Leigh Ann and Joie have known heartbreak. From losing their mother at a young age to their own relationship, these sisters have stuck together. Despite their differences, they can count on each other. I enjoyed reading a story set in Sun Valley. I'm familiar with the famous ski resort town; however, I don’t think I’ve ever read a story set there. Overall, I enjoyed each of the women’s storylines. However, I was interested in Joie’s secret and the pain she was trying to hide in her bravado and the bottom of the bottle. I cheered when she finally stood up and said enough! I loved their spunk, determination and their loyalty to each other despite their differences. I enjoyed Sisters and look forward to the rest of the series. I recommend Sisters. 

Sisters is available in paperback and eBook

Finding Me: an unexpected inheritance leads to life changing experiences

Finding Me by Judith Keim is the first book in the Salty Key Inn series. An unexpected inheritance opens doors of possibilities and life changing opportunities. Sheena Sullivan Morelli and her sisters, Darcy and Regan, inherit a hotel on the Gulf Coast of Florida from their Uncle Gavin. As the black sheep of the family, Gavin had disappeared from their lives many, many years ago. However, there is a twist. They must live together for one year at the hotel and prepare the hotel to receive guests within a year. Sheen is eager to escape her role as an unappreciated wife and mother and rediscover herself. Dreams of sitting on the beach, sipping margaritas are dashed when the hotel is in desperate need of repair and renovation. Undaunted, the three sisters set a plan and are determined to meet this challenge to change their lives forever. 

Finding Me is a story about finding one’s true self. Sheena married young and devoted herself to her husband, his business and their children. Darcy works a job she hates while she dreams of something better. Regan has spent her life being the dumb blonde while hiding a true talent that she fears to reveal. Each sister must commit to their uncle’s last wishes or no one will inherit anything. This story should have been Sheena’s story with aspects hinting at Darcy and Regan’s stories in later books, however, the alternating points of view were distracting and with just too much going on. I didn’t like the fact that Sheena was willing to leave her husband, whom she claims to love greatly, and live apart for one year. Overall, I enjoyed the story but I am not sure if I liked it enough to continue the series. 

Finding Me is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

To Love and Be Loved: when the life you wanted isn't the life you get

To Love and Be Loved by Amanda Prowse is one woman’s journey to build a new life after she is left at the altar and becomes the talk of her Cornish fishing village. Merrin Kellow is young and desperately in love. Her new life with her fiancé is about to start when it all comes crashing down. Now desperate to avoid whispers and gossip, she leaves Port Charles, Cornwall. Leaving behind her beloved parents, her sister, Ruby and best friend, Bella. It isn’t easy staying away but she cannot bring herself to face her beloved home for fear of opening up old wounds again. When tragedy strikes, she has no choice but to return. Once back home, Merrin realizes what she has missed: her home, her family and especially the person she used to be. She is forced to make decisions about her future and confront the past she has been trying to hide. Can she learn to forgive and find true happiness? 

Amanda Prowse is known for deeply emotional dramas with a flair of hope for a better future. There are no easy answers or solutions in her books. If I had been left at the altar, I probably would have run too. Although I sympathized with Merrin on this humiliation, it was hard to like her in other areas of the stories. At times, she was very immature and even juvenile in her reactions to devastating news. But when a single moment has defined someone’s image of themselves, isn't it natural to be a bit childish? My favorite character was her older sister Ruby and the tensions between Merrin and Ruby were classic sisterly squabbles and drove into deeply personal hurts and forgiveness that only sisters can give. Overall, I enjoyed To Love and Be Loved. It is a story of when the life you thought you wanted opens to the door to the life you truly needed. I recommend To Love and Be Loved. 

To Love and Be Loved is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Dark Earth: historical fantasy about two sisters

Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott is a story that takes the discovery of an artifact found while building in London. An artifact that asks the question who left it? On an island in the Thames River in AD 500, two sisters, Isla and Blue, find themselves fighting for survival in the harshness of the Dark Ages Britain. Not far from them is the Ghost City, the abandoned ruins of Londinium, the glorious Roman settlement. The ruins are said to be haunted by vengeful spirits. Isla, Blue and their father, the Great Smith, were exiled to the island when he was accused of using dark magic to forge his swords. Osric, the local warlord, places the family under close guard and decrees that the magnificent swords are to be made only for him. When their father suddenly dies, Isla and Blue face enslavement by Osric and his cruel son, Vort. Their only option is to escape into the Ghost City, hoping the fear of the ruins would keep them safe. They discover that in order to survive, they must use their skills and ingenuity to fight back.

I was intrigued by the premise and the author’s note in the beginning of the story that explains the discovery of a brooch in the ruins of Londinium. I usually enjoy stories that are inspired by a piece of history. Unfortunately, the story did not satisfy my curiosity. Dark Earth was a very hard book to get into. I did enjoy the relationship between the two sisters. Isla was the level headed sister who secretly learned her father’s trade. Blue was the fanciful/weird one. Touted as a “heart-in-mouth adventure” that brings a female perspective to a historical period dominated by men, however, beyond the sister’s relationship, the story was dry and bland. The author certainly knows her history and the descriptions of the time are vivid; however, the story is a lot of “telling” instead of “showing” for example “Mother said …” or “Father said…” when I would have preferred to be shown the action as the sisters retell their stories. It was supposed to have a mystical feel, but it wasn’t coming across for me. If you enjoy fantasy with a historical time period, you may enjoy Dark Earth. 

Dark Earth is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

The Orchid Inn: a story of sisters, heartbreaks, tragedies and finding new life

The Orchid Inn by Aisling Delaney is the first book in the Orchid Island series. It is the story of three sisters, each with their own heartbreaks and tragedies, gather together at their grandmother’s bed and breakfast, the Orchid Inn, for the summer. Ave Flynn has hit rock bottom. Her husband has left her, wiped out their savings, all on the same day that she loses her job at a high powered law firm for “insulting” a billionaire client. Her only thought is to gather Moira, her 13 year old daughter, and head to Orchid Island. Little does she know that her sisters are also on their way, Sarah is left penniless when her millionaire boyfriend suddenly dies, leaving her with nothing. Charlotte comes to the island to figure out how her decisions had led her life down the path she seems to be on. One thing is haunting all three sisters: the disappearance of their father 17 years prior. Will they ever get the answers they need? Will the explanations be enough? Will they finally have the chance to chase the dreams they never dared to before? 

The Orchid Inn was a hard book to stay engaged in. While it started off well with the majority of the book covering the women’s journeys to the island and their stories. But that last half of the story sped by and the end seemed abrupt with any resolution or fallout left for the next book. Ava was a hard character to care for especially her attitude about Sarah’s life choices. Ava and Sarah hadn’t spoken for ten years. Once they are both at the island, they seem to forgive and forget fairly quickly. It seemed to be a theme of the story: tell your story and you will be forgiven. I’m all for forgiving those who have hurt us; but realistically, it doesn’t always happen in one conversation, especially with deep hurts. The sisters’ mother was a real piece of work who loved to say “I told you so” when her daughters’ lives were falling apart. I was looking forward to an endearing, even a hard-hitting story of sisters, their pasts and their drive to move on. Unfortunately, The Orchid Inn did not live up to my expectations.

The Orchid Inn is available in paperback

When We Believed in Mermaids: a story of finding answers and healing

When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal is the story of Kit Bianci who is sent on a mission to discover if a woman in New Zealand is her dead sister. Josie Bianci was killed 15 years ago in a terrorist attack on a Paris train. At least that's what Kit believed. Until she sees her on the news. While taking a break, Kit, an ER doctor in Santa Cruz, California, sees live coverage of a club fire in Auckland, New Zealand. There she sees a woman, known locally as Mari Edwards, stumbling in the background that looks like her sister. In fact, the resemblance is almost too unbelievable. At the urging of her mother, Kit travels to Auckland to discover if Mari is her sister and discover why she has hidden herself for so many years. Her journey begins with memories of the past: their childhood days on the beach, the adopted teenage boy who becomes their older protective brother, and the series of tragedies that upend their lives and haunt them today. What secrets will be uncovered? Will the truth haunt her further? One thing is certain, their lives will never be the same again. 

The opening lines of the first chapter hooked me, but by the fourth chapter, I wondered if I would finish it at all. I pushed through, hoping it would get better. The identity of the woman known as Mari is revealed fairly quickly. The real mystery is a bit more murkier that details the series of tragedies that tore them apart. And a side story about a murdered 1930s actress. I did not care for Kit at all. She was cold, unfeeling and just bland. Right off the bat, Kit laments that “it’s hard to be the children of parents who are obsessed with each other.” Ok…..? She describes her father’s passion for her mother as “intense, sexual and possessive” but wasn’t sure she would call it love and her mother’s love for him was “to excess more than she loved her children.” Ummm, ok? I enjoyed Mari’s perspective a bit more but even her story was resolved too neatly and too easily. For the majority of the book, it read like two very different stories, Kit’s and Mari’s, that would eventually merge and very quickly get resolved. Overall, the story was bogged down with too many side stories, flashbacks and a resolution that felt rushed and unrealistic. I do not recommend When We Believed in Mermaids.

When We Believed in Mermaids is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

My Sister's Husband: a story of jealousy, secrets and sisters

 My Sister’s Husband by Nicola Marsh is an intense story of sisters, family secrets and jealousy. The opening line in the prologue states it clearly “family can be toxic” with “secrets, half-truths, mysteries, and outright lies.” The story opens with Brooke coming home to Martino Bay, California for her sister, Freya’s wedding after being gone for 11 years. She is also coming home to see her Aunt Alice the only mother she has ever known and who is in failing health. As soon as she comes home, Brooke realizes there is more going on than she thought. She recognizes Freya’s fiancé, and the decline of Alice’s health doesn’t add up. Brooke decides to figure out what happen to Alice and what led to her rapid decline. Told between three perspectives, Brooke and Freya, and Alice in the past, the reader is taken on a journey with many twists and turns. Will Brooke find out the truth? Will the truth set them free or drive them further apart?

Wow! What a book! From the opening prologue to the last chapter, the story will twist and turn as you try to figure out what happened and what is going on. It is the story of two sets of sisters: Brooke and Freya and Alice and Diana, Brooke, and Freya’s mother. As I read the interactions of the sisters, I am so glad that I do not have that relationship with my own sisters. It was hard to like or relate to these women though I found Brooke more likable especially as the story progressed. There are a few secrets that I guesses at, which turned out to be correct, but just when I thought I had it figured out, Ms. Marsh still had a few twists that I didn’t see coming! My only complaint is with Alice’s perspective, it was hard to determine when the events she talked about happened. Overall, I really enjoyed My Sister’s Husband and I highly recommend it. It is a roller coaster ride that you do not want to miss!

 

My Sister’s Husband is available in paperback and eBook

Mrs Everything: a painful story about women and life

Mrs Everything by Jennifer Weiner is the story from two sisters, Josette “Jo” and Elizabeth “Bethie” Kaufman. From the idyllic 1950s through the turbulent 1960s to today, the sisters face choices as women in the society around them. Jo is the tomboy who turns into a wife and mother without much thought if she really wanted to and Bethie is the princess who turns to drugs and a vagabond lifestyle when events in her life throw her for a loop. As time goes on, the sisters learn to embrace who they really are and live their lives as they find that suits them. Through infidelity, divorce, sexual assault, eating disorders and drug use, the sisters struggle to find a purpose or meaning in the event of their lives. After her divorce, Jo reunites with her first love. Bethie finds peace with herself on a farm. It is a book about woman who try to be everything to everyone and finds out that you simply can’t.

I’m not a big fan of Jennifer Weiner. I have read a few of her earlier books so when I had the opportunity to read this book, I thought, why not? From the open pages to the closing chapter, this book was hard to read. It is overwhelming and I’m not just talking about the number of pages. At 460 pages it is a long book, but I’ve read longer books that I sped through, captivated by the story. Mrs Everything is not that book. The story is divided into 7 parts with most of the book dragging along with the events of these sisters’ lives and speeds up as the book is ending as if the author realized she was running out of room. The sex scenes were graphic for me, who is a fan of romance novels, to put the book down and say “yikes.” I’m no prude when it comes to sex and sexuality, but it wasn’t necessary and felt out of place. There are just way too many social issues crammed into the book that it becomes less a story about two sisters navigating the changing social climate and becomes a political tirade. Plus, there were so many historical inaccuracies that a simple Google search would fix. Songs Jo listened to in college that could not have been playing as they were not released yet. Sloppy research with a bogged down plot, I did not enjoy this book. I do not recommend Mrs. Everything.

Daughters of the Storm: a book that fell short of expectations

Daughters of the Storm by Kim Wilkins is the first book in the Blood and Gold series. The story opens with King Atherlrick of Almissia, the warrior king, the Storm Bearer in the land of Thrysland, is ill. News spreads to his eldest daughter, Bluebell, a warrior like her father and heir apparent. She immediately rushes to her father’s side while spreading word out to her other sisters. Rose is married to Wengest, king of Nettlechester but her heart belongs to another. Ash is a student of the common faith who has been having horrible dreams. Ivy and Willow are twins. Ivy lives for the admiration of others and Willow lives for the gods. Together the sisters must discover the source of their father’s illness; however the journey will force them to face their past, their choices and the secrets they keep from each other.

Daughters of the Storm is a slow moving story. So slow I found myself phasing out and realizing that I hadn’t read anything on the page. Of the five sisters, the only one I enjoyed was Ash. I did not like Bluebell as I found her to be too harsh. Overall, I did not like this book. Pages and pages went on with nothing really happening. I read a description online that called this book “Game of Thrones with women” and it fits. A long winded book with pages and pages of description and very little explanation as to what is going on or action. An “elf-shot” was referred to many times in the beginning and I kept waiting for a hint on what an elf shot is? I had to assume bad magic the way the characters seem to terrified of it. Pages later, you learn its “wild” and very old magic. Why couldn’t this be mentioned earlier? And the language! The f-word was used so much in even the open chapters that I cringed every time it was used in the rest of the book. If you enjoy Games of Thrones, you may enjoy this book and even the series; however, I cannot recommend it. I wanted to enjoy it and based on the description of the story, I thought I would. However, it is very slow and way too much language for my taste.

Daughters of the Storm

will be available in hardcover and eBook

on March 6, 2018

The Nightingale: the story of two sisters during the French Resistance of World War II

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is the story of two sisters during the French Resistance movement fighting the German occupation of France in World War II. After the sudden death of the mother, sisters, Vianne and Isabelle were separated as their father couldn’t bear to see their faces and take care of their needs. Vianne soon gets married and starts her family while Isabelle is set to one boarding school after another. War is brewing in Europe and Vianne doesn’t want to think about the possibility that her husband will go to war until he is sent to the Maginot Line. Isabelle is in Paris when the Germans invade and she is among the refugees who flee the city. She makes her way to Vianne’s home in the Loire Valley. Isabelle feels the desire to matter, to do something important during the war. She soon becomes a part of the French Resistance, a network of men and women determined to fight off the Germans. While Vianne is dealing with the German occupation of her town and her home as she is forced to house a German officer. As Isabelle becomes a vital part of the resistance, Vianne discovers she can no longer sit by and let the horrors she sees continue. She helps fight the Germans in her own way. Will the two sisters be discovered? Will they live to see the end of the war and each other again?

Once again, Ms. Hannah has created a beautiful story with a deep emotional impact. Every one of her books has a surprising twist at the end and even though I knew this, the twist in The Nightingale I truly did not see coming. There’s so much to talk about with this book but I can’t because it would give away too much. The historical detail is very well done and as we all know the horrors the Nazis did during the war, Ms. Hannah’s descriptions give the horrors a new light and you are shocked and horrified all over again. I highly, highly recommend The Nightingale.

The Nightingale

is available at all major booksellers

First Comes Love: a story of life, love and sisters

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin is the story of two sisters who are trying to live their lives with the memory of the tragic death of their brother. As the anniversary of his death approaches, these women must confront their role in the accident and in the events which followed. The story is told alternating between the sister’s perspectives. Josie is a first grade teacher who is confronted with her life as the daughter of her ex-fiancé is in her new class. Meredith is married to Nolan for 7 years and mother of 4 year old, Harper. Josie feels something is missing from her life and she realizes that she desperately wants a child. She considers a sperm donor to the dismay of Meredith. Meredith comes to terms that her choices in her life, her marriage and where to go in the future. Will the sisters be able to come together and discuss the night their brother died? Will Josie and Meredith be able to find what is missing in their lives?

I have mixed feelings about First Comes Love. First, I enjoyed the dramatic story. How one tragic event shaped the lives of those left behind. However, I feel it’s a bit cliché that the family is torn about by the loss of a family member. When I’ve seen in my personal life, some families pulled tighter together after a tragedy. Second, there is a joke made by a character about gluten-free individuals. As an individual who is gluten free and struggles with the diet every day, I am sick and tired of the jokes. If you never have had to live with the diet, knowing that everything you eats needs to be checked and rechecked to make sure it’s safe, you can’t joke about it! You don’t see jokes about people with diabetes or lactose intolerance or any other food allergy! Why is gluten free individuals fair game? Third, there is a line in the book which I can relate to completely. Meredith sees a counselor, who tells her “Grief is a mystery to be lived through, not a problem to be solved.” I love this because grief becomes a part of life which has no solution, it has no end. You learn to live with it and move on but grief will always be there. Overall, if you are a fan of Emily Giffin, you will most likely enjoy First Comes Love. However, if you haven’t read Ms. Giffin’s books, I recommend you skip First Comes Love.

First Comes Love

will be available June 28, 2016

at major book retailers

hardcover $28

Nook/Kindle $13.99

audiobook $45

Imperfect Rose: first in the series about four sisters

Imperfect Rose by Celeste Messer is the first book in the Patrick’s Garden series. It is the story of Rose McRae, who is oldest of four daughters. She is the smart one, Lily is the beauty, Violet is the sweet one and Daisy is the wild one. With each one in their category, Rose feels she has to live up to the title as well as resents to attention given to her younger sisters.

Rose has a mind for business and she lives in New York City trying to build a successful company with her boyfriend (and she hopes soon fiancé). She has not return home to Texas since her father’s death two years prior and she has effectively ignored her mother, Margaret, and sisters as well. Until one day, after learning that she was not invited to her boyfriend’s family’s weekend party, she decides to head to her hometown, New Layne, Texas. There she learns that her mother has had a terrible accident and has lost her memory. Her mother thinks its 1983 and is asking for her fiancé, Blue. Rose and her sisters must help their mother recover her memory as well as solve of the mystery of who Blue is. Will Rose be able to put aside her resentments and help her family or will she leave them again?

There is a lot I liked about this book and a few that I didn’t. First, I loved the dynamics of the sisters. I liked how Rose was seeing her sisters in a new light and she realizes that there is more to her sisters than the label their father placed on them. I also loved the mystery of Blue and how he fits into Margaret’s history. There were a few surprises revelations. In the story, there is the question about one particular book written by reclusive author Adrienne Louis. When the author is revealed, Daisy says “I didn’t see that coming.” I did. The set up for the surprise was a little too obvious. But who the author is was a surprise. The other revelations I can’t write about because they will ruin the surprise but I can say that I was shocked and eager to finish the book to see how it ended. One thing I didn’t like was the sisters’ use of “crapdonia” which I suppose is their phrase instead of saying a curse word. It wasn’t said too often but it was often enough that it got annoying and it didn't seem to fit. Overall, I enjoyed Imperfect Rose and I am looking forward to the rest of the books in the series.

Imperfect Rose is available on Amazon for the

Kindle for $0.99 and on paperback for $12.95