The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly

The Tea Rose

Author:  Jennifer Donnelly

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Publisher:  HarperCollins 

Date Published:  May 2nd 2006

Series: Bk 1 of the Tea Rose Series

From Goodreads:

The Tea Rose is a towering old-fashioned story, imbued with a modern sensibility that is fresh, compelling, and perfectly pitched for these times. This sweeping epic follows young Fiona Finnegan's climb from the teeming streets of East London. Her dreams of leaving her home behind are shattered when her father, a dockworker and union organizer, is killed in an accident. Crushing poverty, the loss of her lifelong love, and the destruction of her family quickly follow. When Fiona discovers that her fathers death was no accident, but a murder engineered by a ruthless tea baron bent on destroying the union, she flees to New York to save her own life. There, the ghosts of her past propel her to the very top of the city's tea trade. A decade later, armed with tremendous wealth, she returns to London to reclaim her lost love and exact a breathtaking revenge.

The Tea Rose is one of those books that stay with you after reading it.  It becomes hard to get into another book.  

The Tea Rose reminds me of the books I use to read back when I didn't have 500+ books in my TBR.  I would go to my local library and check out Judith Michael books and Judith Krantz books, and get lost in these elaborate stories.  

Fiona Finnigan is such a great character.  She's independent, feisty, and ambitious.  She overcomes so much, and fights for everything.  I fell for all of Jennifer Connelly's characters in The Tea Rose.  As the story progresses many characters come into Fiona's life touching her life in some way.  The romance is written beautifully.  The tragedy of love, the overcoming of odds in The Tea Rose gets your heart into the story.

There is a little of everything in The Tea Rose. Revenge, love, heartbreak, and murder are just some  of the things you will find in this well written story.  I can't say enough about how much this story was straight up bad ass.   

Top Ten Tuesday.

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish

This week's top ten:

Top Ten Mean Girls

1.  Millie Peterson (The Tea Rose)

I'm currently reading the The Tea Rose, and she is such a bitch.

2.  Darcy (Something Borrowed)

Something Borrowed has been on mind recently because of the movie coming out. Who needs enemies when you have friends like that.

3.  Caroline Bingley (Pride and Prejudice)

What a snobby, spiteful person.

4.  Hilly Hobrook (The Help)

Nasty, nasty woman

5.  Catalina (Incantation)

Betrayed her best friend

6.  Mimi (Blue Bloods series)

That's all I can think of right now.

Beneath a Starlet Sky by Amanda Goldberg and Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper

Beneath a Starlet Sky

Author:  Amanda Goldberg and Ruthanna Khalighi Hopper

Genre: Fiction

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

Expected Publication:  April 26th 2011

From Goodreads:

Lola Santisi—CEO of a struggling fashion line, reformed Actorholic and daughter of Hollywood Royalty—is now not only bicoastal, she’s Bi-Lolar: That is the condition which causes her to swing like a pendulum between the opposing poles of the fashion world in New York and the real world with her Doctor Boyfriend in Los Angeles. She hardly knows which shoe fits her anymore: the Louboutin stiletto or the Croc. As Lola tries to launch Julian Tennant’s new dress line, it looks like they’re about to get their next big break: his wedding dresses have been chosen to feature in the top film at the Cannes Film Festival. And suddenly Lola is staging a full-blown couture show on a yacht – in the middle of the Med.  Think those super models had trouble walking down the catwalks at Fashion Week?  With an unexpected finale twist, this time it’s Lola who’s tumbling off the runway.  

Having recently endured a disastrous break-up with Lola’s brother Christopher, Kate Woods, Lola’s BFF and CAA’s rising star agent, is newly single, and focused 24-7 on her clients. The only thing worse than thinking it was a good idea for Kate to date Lola’s brother, is thinking it was a good idea for Kate to put one of her most loose-cannon clients, Nic Knight, in Lola’s father’s movie. Among Kate’s other mega star clients is Saffron Sykes whose appearance on the cover of Vain magazine in Julian Tennant could be the difference between Julian Tennant, Inc. weathering the economy or going bust.

As Lola fights to survive the Cannes Film Festival, will she get swept into the French Riviera’s riptide of glamour and superficiality? Are real love and couture mutually exclusive?  Or can Lola have it all – the good doctor and her Louboutins. With her father and brother vying for the same prize, her mother starring in her new reality show, and one heartbroken girlfriend about to declare motherhood, it’s all on Lola to come up with the answers.  And it’s going to take more than one of her mother’s prosperity chants to save the day.

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I really thought I was going to love Beneath a Starlet Sky because of my over fascination with Hollywood and everything that goes with it.  Sadly, I just could never care about the characters, and from there it was all downhill. 

It’s hard to really fall into a story when the characters are not great, and in Beneath the Starlet Sky I was hoping the characters would be much more than surface characters.  I have to admit with books about celebrities and Hollywood I go in immediately paying attention to the characters looking to see if they are all Hollywood clichés, and in Beneath the Starlet Sky they were.  I understand  that she was mimicking Hollywood, but I am always looking for something new and different.  I did not get that from this novel.  

One of the things I did enjoy in Beneath A Starlet Sky is the fashion parts.  I love fashion.  I read Vogue, I love looking at the new and exciting trends coming up.  I love buying that one thing I know that no one else will have, you know that slightly bizarre item that nobody I know wants until they see me wearing it.  I’m the girl in a group of friends that they want to take shopping with them because they know fashion.  It seemed sometimes like it would come out of left field and go on a total different path when the fashion was brought up, but I liked it because it took me away from the things that weren’t working for me in the novel. 

Overall, I would recommend this to someone who loves Hollywood with its’ clichés and all or fashion, but I would borrow it from your local library.

Sunday Salon --Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates the holiday!

Today is a day of the 3 F's...Family, Friends, and Food.  Husband is grilling, and everyone's hungry.  What a great day!

Yesterday I finished City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare, and started Discovery of Witches but quickly put it down because I felt the need for a contemporary.  I then picked up Beneath a Starlet Sky by Amanda Goldberg and Ruthanna Hopper.  Not sure how I feel about it yet.

In other news, I noticed yesterday that I am close to 200 followers.  I will be having a contest when I reach 200, as a thank you to Coffee, Books and Laundry followers.  I really appreciate the comments and you all.

Have a great Sunday and upcoming week.

Mini Reviews and DNF's

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
Publisher and Publication Date:  Point, January 1st 2011

Prom and Prejudice follows Pride and Prejudice pretty much. The difference is their young adults, and it takes place at a boarding school.  I'm a huge fan of Pride and Prejudice so I expected to love this one, and I did.  If   you've read Pride and Prejudice then you obviously know what's going to happen, but seriously who cares.  It's cute, and fun!

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Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti
Publisher and Date Published:  Viking Juvenile, May 4th 2010

Something Like Fate fell right in the middle for me likable wise.  Honestly, the story fell a little flat to me.  Something has to stand out with the plot, because there are numerous YA books about liking your best friends boyfriend.  Not my favorite book about this topic.  My opinion, check it out of your library instead of spending the cash.

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DNF's (since the beginning of the year)




Room by Emma Donoghue

Read awesome reviews on Room, but sadly I couldn't finish it.  I wanted to like it so bad that I tried both print and audio version, but I abandoned both.  I just couldn't get past the kid talk.  I guess I wasn't feeling the child's point of view.  My husband even asked if I could turn off the audio because the kid talk was irritating him.




Nanny Returns by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

No, just no!  I didn't care about the characters anymore, maybe too much time had passed since I had read The Nanny Diaries.  I got through a little less than half, and kept shaking my head while reading.  The storyline was somewhat choppy, and would go off in another direction.  Just couldn't do it.




Overprotected by Jennifer Laurens

This has a great rating on Goodreads.  There are four and five star ratings, then my lonely bad rating.  I am definitely in the minority here.  My main reason for the DNF was that I didn't like the main character.  She seemed so delicate, and the dad was from crazyville.  When I say I didn't like the main character, I mean I detested her.  She was immature, childish, and a goody two shoes.


Those are my no holding back opinions on these three DNF's.  Very interested to see if you loved any of these and why?


One last thing.....

HAVE A GREAT EASTER!!!!

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

The Last Little Blue Envelope

Author:  Maureen Johnson

Genre:  Contemporary YA

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Expected Publication:  April 26th 2011

 Spoilers of Bk 1, 13 Little Blue Envelopes

From Goodreads:

Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end.

Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions.

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The Last Little Blue Envelope is the sequel to 13 Blue Envelopes.  When we last left Ginny her backpack was stolen with her Aunt Peg's last letter tucked away in it.  After being okay with the fact that she will never know what that last letter said, she is suddenly back in the game.  Someone has found the letter..she can continue on the adventure her aunt sent her on.

What I like about the The Last Little Blue Envelope are the characters.  Many of the old characters are back, as well as some new ones.   I enjoyed The Last Little Blue Envelope more than the first book, and I think it's because of what the new characters bring to the story.  What do they bring?  I thought one brought mystery, and the other brought fun and enthusiasm.  This second book brings more vitality to the story as a whole. 

I wondered why Maureen Johnson thought that 13 Little Blue Envelopes need a sequel, but I think her decision to continue Ginny's journey was a success.  If you liked/loved 13 Little Blue Envelopes you will like/love the sequel.  

Firefly Lane- Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane

Author:  Kristin Hannah

Genre:  Women's Fiction

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

Date Published:  February 5th 2008

From Goodreads:

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all—-beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.

So begins Kristin Hannah’s magnificent new novel. Spanning more than three decades and playing out across the ever-changing face of the Pacific Northwest, Firefly Lane is the poignant, powerful story of two women and the friendship that becomes the bulkhead of their lives.

From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success . . . and loneliness.

Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her . . . how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend. . . .

For thirty years, Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship—-jealousy, anger, hurt, resentment. They think they’ve survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart . . . and puts their courage and friendship to the ultimate test.

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I’ve been reading reviews of Kristin Hannah’s books for awhile, and that is the reason why I have her books in my TBR. When the majority of bloggers are giving her praise I have to believe there is something good there.  Some of her books have been in my TBR for awhile now, and I made a little goal for me this year..I would read at least 1 of her books.  I kept passing them by while looking for my next read, I don’t know why I simply had no urge to pick up one of her books.   With my husband working nights I decided I wanted to read something wholesome, for some reason when he works night I end up watching A&E shows, and they begin to scare me.  Why do I do that?  After putting on the alarm, checking everything is locked I cozied up to Firefly Lane .

Firefly Lane did the job.  I became immersed in Tully’s and Kate’s life.  I rode through the wave of emotions with them,ending with tears free falling from my eyes at the end.  Tully and Kate become friends when Tully moves in across the street from Kate when they are young girls.  Kate has lived her short life lonely with no social life. Tully is instantly a hit at school, she’s gorgeous, spunky and a social butterfly, but Tully has a secret of her own.  Her mother floats in and out of her life, and Tully is cared for mostly by her grandmother.  Kate’s stable family life is what Tully wants the most, while Kate wants to be Tully “social butterfly”.  There begins a very rocky yet loving friendships that last decades. 

Kristin Hannah can write about female friendships.  The jealousies, the arguments and the unconditional love came across the pages.  I rode the wave with them.  As I mentioned earlier on at the end I was crying like a baby.  I really enjoyed Firefly Lane.  I thought the writing was wonderful, and the story sad, but fulfilling. 

I Am Ozzy- Ozzy Osbourne

I Am Ozzy

Authors:  Ozzy Osbourne, Chris Ayres

Genre:  Memoir

Publisher:  Grand Central Publishing

Date Published:  January 25th 2010

I don't think there is many people out there who don't know who Ozzy Osbourne is even if they aren't a fan of his music.  Maybe you know who him by the man who bit the head off a bat, or by the man who took a wee on the Alamo, though, he's probably most universally known by the MTV show "The Osbournes", the show that gave us a look into the life of Ozzy and his family. Ozzy Osbourne has definitely left his mark.

I am Ozzy kept me entertained from the beginning to end.  He has led a life full of drugs, rock n roll and crazy antics.  I found him very interesting, and though some of his antics were mean, or crazy he shows remorse or is plain appalled at the things he's done.

I wonder how the man is still standing considering the amount of poisonous crap he put into himself.  The man has had so many overdoses it's incredible he's alive.  The best thing about I am Ozzy is how freaking hilarious he is.  His book is one of the funniest memoirs I have ever read.

Reading I am Ozzy equal a good time.

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin Made into Movie

I had no idea Something Borrowed had been made into a movie.  There are some pretty good actors in it to boot.  Kate Hudson as Darcy, Ginnifer Goodwin as Rachel, Colin Egglesfield as Dex, and John Krasinski as Ethan.  I loved the book now I can't wait to see the movie.

Out May 6th 2011

Trailer

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and Bookish

This week's Top Ten is

Top Ten Books I Would Like to See Made Into Movies

1.  Still Missing- Chevy Stevens

2.  Leaving Paradise- Simone Elkeles

3.  The Heretic Queen - Michelle Moran

4.  The House at Riverton- Kate Morton

5.  Heartsick- Chelsea Cain

6.  The Spellman Files- Lisa Lutz

7.  The Boy Next Door- Emlyn Rees, Josie Lloyd

8.  The Bronze Horseman- Paullina Simons

9.  The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks- E. Lockhart

10.  The Double Bind- Chris Bohjalian

There are a couple of books that I'm super excited are being made into movies.

One Day- David Nicholls

The Help- Kathyrn Stockett

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Unearthly 

Author:  Cynthia Hand

Genre:  Paranormal YA

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Date Published:  January 4th 2011

From Goodreads: 

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

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Angel books have been a hit or miss with me, and honestly I have yet to read a angel book that really wows me.  Unearthly falls somewhere in the middle for me.  I clearly liked it because I finished it in one day, but I didn't feel the wow factor.  I wasn't ready to yell from the rooftops "Read this book, NOW".

If you read the synopsis above you know that Angels have a purpose in Unearthly.  Your purpose starts coming to you through visions.  Clara's visions take her to a forest that is being ravaged by fire.  There standing in the fire's path is a boy.  Is her destiny/purpose to save this guy?  Clara and her family pack thier things and head to a new town where the mysterious boy lives.  

The beginning of Unearthly was interesting because you learn about Ms. Hand's version of angels.  It's fascinating to compare what different authors bring to a certain subject.  I think somewhere in the middle is where it got somewhat tedious.  The high school hierarchy starts coming into the forefront, and my interest started waning, but then it picks up again.  Also I was a little lost with the black angel thing.  The whole of the book was about this "purpose" with bits of pieces about black angels, and then somewhere along the way the black angels came into play in a bigger way.  I don't know, somehow it felt disjointed. 

My favorite part of Unearthly is the ending, surprisingly.  The ending is kind of open ended, and of course we clearly know there will be a sequel.  I was left with some questions, but I'm okay with having to wait to get the answers.

I think Unearthly is a good start to the series, and a decent good debut novel.  Ms. Hand will sure gain many fans from this book.  

Sunday Salon (Readathon Edition)

The read-a-thon didn't go so great for me this time away.  I only finished one book,  Firefly Lane.  I tried to get into another book, but I was just done with it.  My husband started nights this week, so we haven't really spent any time with each other. I subbed all week at the elementary school, when I was getting home he was leaving.  He got home at midnight last night and we basically caught up on each others weeks, and there went my reading. 

The great news is that I found a new author.  Kristin Hannah is amazing.  I was sobbing by the end of Firefly Lane..lame, I know.  I'm so glad I finally picked it up.  I have another one of hers in my TBR, I can't remember the title, but I know it has Winter in it.  Are all her books so emotionally exhausting?

I start another week of subbing tomorrow, so not to much reading for me this upcoming week.  

Hope everyone has a great week.

Readathon Update

I'm going to put all my updates on this one post, as well as any mini challenges I participate in.

I am officially starting- TIME 9:55 am

I was suppose to start at 7 but I refuse to get out of bed. No biggie, i'm ready now. 

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6:35 pm  Doing more reading than posting updates.
Took a hour to eat lunch, and a small nap then started back up with Firefly Lane- Kristin Hannah.

Shout out to Jenny from Take Me Away) I'm finally reading a Kristin Hannah book..it is really good. :)

12:12 am  Not too many updates this readathon.  Finished Firefly Lane earlier.  It was really great, cried like a baby.  I've been struggling to find something that is of any interests to me right now.  Started and stopped many books.  

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

It's that time of year, you know the time where people all over the world take a day off just to read.  What avid reader doesn't want to pencil in READING on their to do calendar? I sure as heck do! This is the time I feel no remorse for letting the family fend for themselves... your hungry... make a sandwich, pop a hot pocket in the microwave, figure it out. YES, this is one of MY days, I will get so engross in my books that it's alright if I here "mom, mom, mom, momma, mom, mom" and I don't respond.  There will be no guilt here, because I pencil this in way in advance. I let it be known to family and friends that I will not respond to phone calls, texts, or even visitors.  Don't come over basically, because I 'll just shove a book in your face and say "Read, or get out".  Ahhh, it is that time of year.  

If you are in need of a day just for you, perhaps Dewey's Read-A-Thon is what you need.

Sign up here.  Go ahead slack off for a day.  You know you want to ;)

My reading list (can and more than likely will change to fit my mood):

Girl Wonder- Alexa Martin

Children and Fire- Ursula Hegi

Vows, Vendettas and a Little Black Dress- Kyra Davis

Twenty Boy Summer-  Sarah Ockler

Mini Reviews

Before I fall

Author:  Lauren Oliver

Publisher:  HarperCollins

Date Published:  March 2nd 2010

Repetitive, but it is about a girl reliving her last day alive.  What did I expect?  Yes, there are slight variations, but it's the same person walking down the hall, the same party...  I just thought it was okay.  The highlight of Before I Fall is actually the main theme of the book, bullying, and treating people the way you want to be treated.  Reminded me of Groundhog Day.

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Beauty: A Retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast

Author:  Robin McKinley

Publisher:  HarperTrophy

Date Published:  May 28th 1993

It would be really hard not to have liked Beauty, since Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales.  Something about falling in love with someone because of their heart not what's on the surface.that gets me everytime.  I think Beauty is a wonderful and beautiful retelling of Beauty and the Beast.  This can be enjoyed by both adults and young adults. 

The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst

The Nobodies Album

Author:  Carolyn Parkhurst

Genre:  General Fiction

Publisher:  Doubleday

Date Published:  June 15th 2010

From Goodreads:

Bestselling novelist Octavia Frost has just completed her latest book—a revolutionary novel in which she has rewritten the last chapters of all her previous books, removing clues about her personal life concealed within, especially a horrific tragedy that befell her family years ago.

On her way to deliver the manuscript to her editor, Octavia reads a news crawl in Times Square and learns that her rock-star son, Milo, has been arrested for murder. Though she and Milo haven’t spoken in years—an estrangement stemming from that tragic day—she drops everything to go to him.

The “last chapters” of Octavia’s novel are layered throughout The Nobodies  Album—the scattered puzzle pieces to her and Milo’s dark and troubled past. Did she drive her son to murder? Did Milo murder anyone at all? And what exactly happened all those years ago? As the novel builds to a stunning reveal, Octavia must consider how this story will come to a close. 

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The Nobodies Album is my introduction to Carolyn Parkhurst's writing.  I'm not sure why I had preconceived notions of Ms. Parkhurst's books, but I honestly can say I was never tempted to pick up one .  I'm definitely doubting my instincts because I really enjoyed The Nobodies Album.

The Nobodies Album is told from the perspective of bestselling author Octavia Frost, the mother of famous rock star, Milo.  Milo and Octavia have been estranged for 4 years, but when Octavia learns that Milo has been arrested for murder of his girlfriend she knows she has to be at her son's side.

Carolyn Parkhurst's writing flows beautifully, and dives into the core of the characters. I love the way she describes characters feelings, and thoughts.  As for the story it was part mystery, part life.  When I say life I mean the ups and downs of family, tragedy, relationships..you know, life.  

I definitely will be picking up previous books of Ms. Parkhurst. Looking forward to getting lost in her words, and her storytelling.

Stay by Deb Caletti

Stay

Author:  Deb Caletti

Genre: YA

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Expected Publication:  April 5th 2011

From Goodreads:

Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it’s almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he’s willing to do to make her stay.

Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won’t let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough....

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Stay is about a serious subject, and I feel that Deb Caletti did a incredible job in conveying the fear that comes with having a obsessive ex-boyfriend.

Most of us can relate somehow to Clara and her relationship with Christian one time or another, even if not to their extreme.  What happens when you feel a immense connection with someone, something so strong that it quickly becomes mad?  When jealousy and the feeling of inadequacy starts coming into play because you are so fearful of losing the other person.  Clara and Christian lock eyes at a basketball game and from there they are inseparable.  At first everything is going great until Christian's jealousy causes him to verbally abuse Clara.  Christian is also fearful that he isn't enough for Clara, that he will lose her.  In the beginning Clara misses the signs that something is not right with the relationship.  It becomes a sick, and abusive, then frightening.

I really loved the story Deb Caletti tells.  It's written so well, the prose is haunting.  It's a very intense read.  She allows readers to get into Clara's head, we  go through the ups and downs with Clara.  As a parent I also could relate to Clara's dad.  He was willing to do whatever it took to keep Clara safe.    I think it's a serious matter, and i'm sure a lot of women are in situations similar to Clara's, which makes this a even more compelling read.  

I highly recommend Stay.