Trail Mix by Paulita Kincer (Book Review)

In association with Pump Up Your Book, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Trail Mix by author Paulita Kincer!

Book Review

Trail Mix by Paulita Kincer

Publisher: Oblique Presse

Publication Date: August 30, 2014

Format: Paperback - 220 pages

               Kindle - 2146 KB

ISBN: 978-1312462502

ASIN: B00MYQRO4S

Genre: Women's Fiction / Travel / Adventure

Buy The Book:

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Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZUB3qqLWTQ

Discuss this book in our PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads by clicking HERE

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book.

Book Description:

In the tradition of Wild by Cheryl Strayed, comes a novel of two suburban women who decide to hike the Appalachian Trail, escaping their lives as moms and wives in search of nature, adventure, and the ultimate diet plan.

How does a woman know what she wants after spending 20 years thinking about her husband and children? Sometimes it takes a distraction from everyday life, time to examine the forest before the trees become clear. With no previous camping experience, Andi and Jess begin the 2100-mile odyssey from Georgia to Maine. The friends figure life on the trail can’t possibly be worse than dealing with disgruntled husbands, sullen teens home from college, and a general malaise that has crept up in their daily lives. At the very least, the women are bound to return home thin.

Book Excerpt:

Prologue

Raindrops trickled down Jess’ nose. Her sodden boots plodded along, squooshing the mud with each step.

“Why did I do this?” She threw her head back, her face raised in lament to the sky. The hood of her rain poncho slipped off. The empty forest around her offered no answer, just a steady rain. Then, far above the treetops, she glimpsed a bolt of lightning streaking toward a nearby mountain and heard an answering boom of thunder. She cringed and scuttled faster down the trail.

For nearly two hours, since the wind first whispered its urgency through the leaves, and the raindrops began to fall, Jess had been hiking through the thunderstorm with no place to stop and dry off. No place to get warm. No offer of coffee or a dryer where she could heat up her clingy socks. She walked alone on the Appalachian Trail.

Like being in the middle of labor and deciding she didn’t want to give birth after all, Jess could not turn back. Well, she could turn back, but she would find only more of the same -- woods and rain and an endless trail.

This adventure was all Andi’s idea. As Jess trudged through the forest in the unrelenting rain, she blamed her best friend and hiking companion, Andi, who had pushed the hike as a great way to lose weight. And, when Jess’ teenagers took off for the summer leaving a big gap where the role of mother used to be, she thought a hike with Andi might fill that space. Andi, who, with her long legs, strode ahead, maybe miles away by now, claiming she had to hurry to the nearest shelter to keep the tent dry. Andi had tucked Jess’ poncho around her pack before presenting her back for Jess to return the favor.

“See you at the shelter,” Andi had called. “Only about three miles farther.”

In the city, a three-mile walk might take 45 minutes, an hour if she stopped to window shop. Here, in the mountains, it could last days as she climbed up peaks and descended into valleys. Oh, who was she kidding? She would never walk three miles in the city. She would get in her car and drive.

The thunder crashed louder, and Jess eyed the spiky greenery of a large fir tree. She could take cover under the tree, be a little bit sheltered. Even as she considered taking refuge, she stumbled past the tree, walking, walking.

Tears joined the rain on her face. She felt trapped. No exit ramps in sight. She could only continue to walk.

The wind ripped at her poncho as she climbed slippery stones that had been placed to form stairs. At the top, the wind gusts grew stronger and tried to push her back down. She hurried on along the ridge. Her walking poles dug into the mud that edged the rocks along the path.

On this crest, she stood exposed to the wind and rain and lightning. Rhododendron bushes lined the trail below, but the only plant that dared to peek through the crevices on this crag was a lone sycamore tree. If Jess could escape this bare slope, the trees ahead would provide an arching umbrella across the trail. As she started to descend with the trail, her boot slid across a slick stone, and she toppled backward in slow motion. She wheeled her arms, trying to right herself, but could not stop the plunge until her backpack hit the ground, and she landed – thump – on top of it.

This was supposed to be a diet plan, not a death sentence, she thought, lying on her back like a turtle on its shell, her arms and legs sprawled helplessly at her side. I may drown. The downpour pummeled her full in the face, but she lacked the energy to sit up, free herself from the 30-pound pack, heft it onto her back, and start the hike again.

As the rain doused her face, she slipped one arm from her pack and turned onto her side, away from the sky. For just a moment, she allowed herself to rest, curled into the fetal position beside her pack. A tingle began in her spine, and, in the moment she pondered why—everything went black.

My Book Review:

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hike the 2,100 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine? 

In Trail Mix by author Paulita Kincer, best friends Andi and Jess leave their family issues behind and embark on an arduous hiking adventure that will turn into a personal journey of self discovery that will change their friendship and lives!

Trail Mix is an inspirational women's fiction tale about two best friends and recent empty nesters, who embark on an adventure to hike the Appalachian Trail in a pursuit of weight loss and a new sense of purpose in their lives. As their adventure commences, the women encounter daily challenges to overcome, and a personal journey of self discovery that will test and redefine their friendship, while gaining a sense of personal inner growth.

I was so intrigued that two middle aged women would consider embarking on the difficult challenge of hiking the Appalachian Trail, that I easily found myself captivated as their adventure unfolded. Author Paulita Kincer weaves a delightful tale that interweaves the women's family issues with their decision to embark on the daunting hiking adventure under the guise of losing weight. I found myself feeling the gamut of emotions as I read their story, from "are they nuts" to cheering them on, these ladies sure kept me engaged and in awe as they dealt with the emotional and physical trials and tribulations during their adventure, I know I couldn't see myself doing that hike! The author provides the reader with an accurate and realistic portrayal of the daily rigor of undertaking the challenge of hiking the scenic trail. This is a riveting tale that has enough drama, tension, humor, obstacles, and personal growth that will easily keep the reader turning the pages.

Trail Mix has a breathtakingly rich description of the Appalachian Trail setting, complex and realistic characters, witty dialogue, and a wonderful storyline that explores friendships and family relationships, self-discovery, and an inspirational hiking experience that will leave a smile on your face.


RATING: 5 STARS 

 About The Author

Paulita Kincer is the author of three novels, The Summer of France, I See London I See France, and Trail Mix. She has an M.A. in journalism from American University and has written for The Baltimore Sun, The St. Petersburg Times, The Tampa Tribune, and The Columbus Dispatch. She currently teaches college English and lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and three children.

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Virtual Book Tour Event Page

Trail Mix by Paulita Kincer ~ Virtual Book Tour Event Page

Click on the above link for a schedule of the tour participants.

The Summer of France by Paulita Kincer (Book Review)

In association with Pump Up Your Book, Jersey Girl Book reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for The Summer Of France by author Paulita Kincer!

Book Review

The Summer of France by Paulita Kincer

Publisher: Oblique Presse

Publication Date: July 1, 2013

Format: Paperback - 255 pages
               Kindle - 623 KB

ISBN: 978-1300257332

ASIN: B009KE81FS

Genre: Women's Fiction / Travel / Adventure

Buy The Book:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Discuss this book in our PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads by clicking HERE

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kCyorexMfo

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book.

Book Description:

When Fia Jennings loses her job at the local newspaper, she thinks she'll have the chance to bond with her teenage twins. As she realizes she may be too late to create the perfect family, she's saved by a phone call from her great Uncle Martin who operates a bed and breakfast in Provence. Uncle Martin wants Fia to venture to France to run the B&B so he and his wife Lucie can travel. He doesn't tell Fia about the secret he hid in the house when he married Lucie after fighting in World War II, and he doesn't mention the people who are tapping his phone and following him, hoping to find the secret.

Book Excerpt:

Fia

The quiet of the house mocked me as I rummaged through the Sunday paper looking for the travel pages. I ignored the meticulously folded “Help Wanted” section of the newspaper and the yellow highlighter that my husband had placed on the counter to remind me that I’d been unemployed for two months and needed to find a job – soon. The ring of the kitchen phone saved me from isolation and from a job search as the thick accent of my aunt came across the crackly line inviting me to move to France.

After a few sentences in the language that Aunt Lucie considered English, she handed the phone to my great uncle Martin, and I heard his booming voice.

“Fia?” he called as if using a bullhorn rather than a telephone.  Uncle Martin, the baby of my grandfather’s family, ventured overseas as a teenager to fight in World War II, found a French wife, and stayed.

I’d never traveled to France to visit him, but Uncle Martin always came home for the family reunion at the beginning of summer.

Hearing his voice on the phone, I glanced at the wall calendar, assuring myself it was late June and Uncle Martin’s visit had ended nearly two weeks before.

“Uncle Martin! What a surprise. How’s life in France?” I asked in a quiet voice meant to encourage him to lower his volume.

Uncle Martin continued to bellow. “Look, Fia, let me get right to the point.” He hadn’t lost his American directness.  “Lucie and I are tired.

We need a break, maybe a permanent break.”

“What?” I gasped my voice growing louder to match his. “You and Aunt Lucie are…but you can’t be…you can’t break up?”

“No,” I heard his old man grunt across the phone lines. It sounded as if he said something like “Zut!”

“Listen. Don’t jump to conclusions,” he chastised me. “We’re tired of working so hard. We’re old and it doesn’t look like any of Lucie’s relatives are gonna step forward and take over. That’s why I’m calling. Will you and Grayson come over and run this place?”

“This place” is what Uncle Martin always called the eight-room bed and breakfast that he and Aunt Lucie ran in a small village in Provence. Lucie’s family had owned the home for generations, wringing olive oil from the trees and wine from the grape vines. But as big cities and ample education called, the younger branches of the family moved away. When Uncle Martin and Aunt Lucie found themselves the only ones living in the big, old house during the 1970s, they decided to capitalize on a tourism boom and turned the house into a bed and breakfast. They encouraged American and English tourists to stay, and, after A Year in Provence came out in 1990, their business exploded with people who wanted to see the land that Peter Mayle described.

“We thought you could take over,” Uncle Martin blared, “obviously, since you’re not working.”

Thanks, Uncle Martin, for reminding me again of my current jobless status.  When a huge conglomerate bought our local newspaper and combined resources with the paper in the next town, I became superfluous. So, after years of writing about home design, I sat staring at my own shoddy decorating. I tried to look on the bright side. Now I actually had time to try some of those design tips. To add depth to the alcove next to the fireplace, I painted it a darker color. Next I added crown molding around the opening from the living room to the dining room.

So far, mostly, I spent my time trying to stay positive so an amazing job would find me, and I watched cable TV shows about happy families. Who knew The Waltons was on five times a day? Mix that with the Duggars, that family with 19 kids on TLC, and my days just flew past. I slowly realized that driving my kids to sporting events and extracurricular lessons did not count as quality time. Inspired by those TV families, I amplified my efforts to pull my 14-year-old twins closer. When they ambled home from school, I’d suggest some family activities. “Let’s draw a hopscotch on the driveway!” I’d say. Their eyes rolled wildly in their heads like horses about to bolt. “How about making homemade bread together? We can all take turns kneading? Or maybe an old fashioned whiffle ball game in the backyard?”

They suggested we go out for pizza or visit a sporting goods store for new soccer cleats or swim goggles. I declined, picturing the credit card bills I juggled now that I didn’t have an income.

Bills. Ooh! I couldn’t see Uncle Martin’s invitation to France winning approval from my husband, Grayson, who had just been complaining about money.

As a two-income family, we had paid bills on time and planned our next extravagant purchase. Of course, my pragmatic husband, the almost accountant, never used credit cards. But with my own income, I wasn’t that concerned about using credit cards. When I started to run a balance, I made the minimum payment every month. No need to inform Grayson who would’ve disapproved of my indulgences. Not that I bought things for myself. Nothing but the best for our kids with their private swim clubs, technologically engineered swimsuits, travel soccer teams, and state-of-the-art skateboards. I hadn’t bothered to save for an emergency but spent and charged as I went along until the bottom dropped out of journalism.

“Uncle Martin, you know we’ve always dreamed of visiting you and Aunt Lucie, but without a job now, I just… I can’t see it working financially.”

“I’m not talking about a visit,” his voice grew agitated. “I’m talking about you moving in here and running the bed and breakfast. I’d send the plane fare to get you here. You, Grayson and the twins.”

I sat stunned for a moment, so Uncle Martin repeated himself.

“I’ll send you the tickets. I’ll just buy them online for you, Grayson and the twins. Both of them.”

My kids were always “the twins,” as if sharing a womb 14 years earlier made them one entity for the rest of their lives.

“Whoa. That is heavy stuff,” I slid onto the swiveling bar stool. “We can’t just move. Leave our house, school, Grayson’s job.”

Even as I said it, I felt hope rising in my chest. Yes! I waited for a job to come to me and it did. A spectacular opportunity. I pictured myself in a flowing skirt and low-heeled, leather sandals walking along a dusty road away from the market that would line the village streets. I’d carry a canvas bag with French bread jutting from the top as I headed home, the pungent fragrance of a cheese wafting from the bottom of the bag. Although I’d never been to France, I watched any sunny movie set in Europe. The women always wore skirts and had leisure time to linger along the roadside, smelling the lavender.

I heard the front door slam and my husband’s heavy footfall in his casual Sunday topsiders as he came in from the office. Even on a Sunday, the work at Grayson’s accounting firm was plentiful.

I turned my back on my approaching husband and said into the phone, “When are you thinking, Uncle Martin?”

“I’m thinking… NOW. Last week,” Uncle Martin’s voice rose again. I cupped my hand over the phone to try to smother the sound of his bellowing. “I’m tired of dealing with these snippy tourists. I want to roam around the world and give other innkeepers a hard time.”

“You make the job sound so enticing,” I tried to laugh lightly so Grayson, who was drawing nearer, wouldn’t realize the importance of this conversation. The idea began to form in the back of my mind: We could make this happen -- with a little cooperation. I shot a hopeful glance toward Grayson as he walked in the room. I quickly raised my eyebrows twice, which I thought should give him an indication that good news was on the phone. He looked grim and tired – the horizontal line between his own eyebrows resembled a recently plowed furrow.

“Look, I’ll have to call you back later,” I hissed into the phone and punched the button to hang up as Grayson threw his aluminum briefcase on the island. His look turned from grim to suspicious.

“Uncle Martin,” I said with a blasé wave toward the phone. “He has a business proposal…”

I tried to sound nonchalant, but I guess my eagerness showed because Grayson dropped his head on top of his briefcase for just a minute before he stepped toward the cabinet over the refrigerator. He opened the door and pulled down a bottle of Scotch.

This conversation might prove more difficult than I’d anticipated.

       

My Book Review:

In The Summer of France, author Paulita Kincer transports the reader to the lovely European countryside of Provence, in the south of France, where they follow the adventures of Fia Jennings, when she takes over the running of her uncle and aunt's B&B while they are on vacation. While running the B&B provides many challenges for Fia, she unexpectedly stumbles upon a mysterious dark secret from her uncle's past that could put her family in danger. 

Author Paulita Kincer weaves a captivating women's fiction tale that has a wonderful mixture of romance, adventure, travel, mystery, and suspense, that easily draws the reader in with a richly descriptive storyline that takes the reader from the past during World War II to the present via the alternating perspectives of Fia and Uncle Martin. 

The Summer Of France has a compelling storyline that engages the reader to follow Fia's adventures in France, while drawing them into the mystery and suspense of Uncle Martin's past. I really enjoyed reading this multi-layered story of romance and mystery. I thought that both Fia and Uncle Martin's stories flowed seamlessly, and the unexpected twists and turns easily kept me turning the pages. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful description of the setting, the author easily transported the reader to the tranquil south of France locale of Provence, it sounds like a lovely place to visit. 

RATING: 5 STARS 

About The Author

Paulita Kincer is the author of three novels, The Summer of France, I See London I See France, and Trail Mix. She has an M.A. in journalism from American University and has written for The Baltimore Sun, The St. Petersburg Times, The Tampa Tribune, and The Columbus Dispatch. She currently teaches college English and lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and three children.

Connect with Paulita:

Author Website

Author Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Virtual Book Tour Event Page

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2015/07/15/pump-up-your-book-presents-the-summer-of-france-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

Click on the above link for a list of the tour participants.