3.75 stars! What a way to spice things up! A genre-bending novel with historical science fiction leanings? Breach sounded like the perfect way to test3.75 stars! What a way to spice things up! A genre-bending novel with historical science fiction leanings? Breach sounded like the perfect way to test out science fiction and fantasy again.
A wall is put in place to separate Soviet-occupied from unoccupied Berlin. After ten years, the CIA discovers the wall is being breached.
Here’s where the “fun” stuff enters…Karen is a magician with the American Office of Magical Research and Deployment (you mean we don’t have one of those already?! We should!), and she is sent to assess the breach and see if it can be fixed. What she discovers instead is much more than she planned for.
A dab of politics, a background of history, and an alternate world, make Breach an original stand-out read. Magic is the winner in this forum and discovering just how so is yet another mesmerizing facet of this book.
Quirky and complex characters abound, along with smooth writing, solid plotting, adding up to a total escape of a read!
Disclosure to my sci fi and fantasy friends: remember I’m not a regular in either of these genres, but as a newbie, I definitely found this quite enjoyable!
Thank you to Berkley/Ace Rock Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
4.5 original stars to The Lies We Told! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
I am double checking my review by the synopsis so I do not risk any spoilers. You deserve to have4.5 original stars to The Lies We Told! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
I am double checking my review by the synopsis so I do not risk any spoilers. You deserve to have every bit of this book to discover for yourself should you decide to read it!
What you absolutely need to know:
Clara is dating Luke, and he vanishes. Most everyone believes he has just walked out on her, but Clara thinks otherwise. The small clues he left behind point to a possible stalker.
Emma, Luke’s older sister, who also vanished, but twenty years earlier, is now present and attempting to help Clara find Luke. She won’t tell anyone where she’s been or even what happened.
Somehow Luke’s disappearance in the present, and Emma’s in the past, are connected. The convergence is masterful!
Camilla Way weaves a sticky spider web from the start. I was caught in the web, feeling its tension, due to the massively addictive plot line and exceptional pacing. I took a peek at Lies We Told much earlier than when I could actually read it, and I had the shakes putting it down. I needed to pick it back up and find out what happened. I don’t get the shakes often! 😂
Huge kudos to Way! I am on board for Watching Edie and any other book she writes!
Thanks to Berkley for the physical ARC. All opinions are my own. I read this book with Berit, Holly, Kendall, Mackenzie, and Melisa, and it was a fun read to share with friends! ♥️
4 smoldering, shocking stars to When the Lights Go Out! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Mary Kubica is a go-to author of mine for a smoldering, slow-burning fix. I can re4 smoldering, shocking stars to When the Lights Go Out! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Mary Kubica is a go-to author of mine for a smoldering, slow-burning fix. I can rely on her storytelling to be emotive and easy to fall into. When the Lights Go Out has a rather controversial ending! Read on to see how I felt about it (without spoilers, of course!).
When the Lights Go Out is told in alternating timelines: Jessie in the present day and Eden in 1996.
Eden desperately wants to be a mother. Her narrative is focused on that side of things. Jesse, Eden’s daughter, in the present time is struggling with caring for her mother and in the aftermath of her loss, as Eden has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and is nearing the end of her life.
After years of caretaking for her mother, Jessie is faced with rebuilding her life. On a leap of faith, she applies to college but quickly discovers there might be a problem with her registration due to identity. What does this mean for Jessie? The mystery of figuring out just who she is takes her down an unbidden path. She is extremely fatigued and overwhelmed with insomnia, and it is affecting every aspect of her life while she also tries to figure out who she is. The lines between truth and fiction become blurred, and the fact that Jessie’s judgment is unclear makes it even harder for her to see straight.
I quickly came to know Eden and Jessie because Kubica’s character-building is on point, and not only did I know them, I empathized with each of them and truly felt emotional about the issues they were individually facing.
As for that ending, I did not see it coming. Even with all of the reviews I had read, I never expected that. And I have to say, in all the thrillers I’ve read, I’ve never witnessed that before, so it was completely original. I was so shocked, I remember gasping out loud. I think that fit with the storyline, though it was a big risk.
Overall, I found When the Lights Go Out to be another page-turning suspense novel from Mary Kubica, more on the domestic suspense side than thriller. It is well-written, slow-burning, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget that ending.
Thank you go Harlequin/Park Row for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
5 gripping but heartbreaking stars to Don’t Send Flowers! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
It hurt my heart to read this book because it was a solid reminder of life in some5 gripping but heartbreaking stars to Don’t Send Flowers! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
It hurt my heart to read this book because it was a solid reminder of life in some parts of Mexico today. What you should know is that my best friend of over 25 years has dual citizenship in Mexico and the United States. I was fortunate to travel with her family there, completely immersed in the language and culture. I never felt unsafe, and I never would have expected to feel that way. On a fundamental level, it is heartbreaking to witness what is occurring in such a beautifully cultured country. The status of Mexico is not a political issue for me. It is a deeply personal one.
Martin Solares is a skilled writer. He immediately brought the main character, Carlos Trevino, to life. Trevino is a retired police detective who left the force because of all the corruption and violence he faced on a daily basis. He is going to confront it all again when he is hired to find a well-to-do family’s kidnapped daughter. Unfortunately, what happened to the daughter is common in that region of Mexico.
As Trevino tracks the the young woman, he is also attempting to avoid the chief of police who is morally corrupt and working alongside the cartels.
Solares’ narrative is gritty, haunting, and even brutal at times, while also original and vitally important. This is not an easy read, but it felt like a realistic and honest portrayal. The tension building feels so exciting until you remember that, while the main character is fictional, the status of safety in parts of Mexico is not. Kudos to Solares for this masterful depiction.
Thank you to Grove Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
4 zany and fun-filled stars to Mr. and Mrs. American Pie! 🥧 🥧 🥧 🥧
It is the 1960s, and Maxine Simmons is a wealthy Palm Springs socialite. She finds o4 zany and fun-filled stars to Mr. and Mrs. American Pie! 🥧 🥧 🥧 🥧
It is the 1960s, and Maxine Simmons is a wealthy Palm Springs socialite. She finds out that her husband is walking out on her to gallivant with his younger receptionist.
Maxine loses her cool at Thanksgiving when her husband announces his plans to leave. She is later divorced and whisked away, living in Scottsdale, Arizona, a distance from everyone she knows. Maxine is a determined firecracker, and she sets her sights on the Mrs. American Pie pageant for the best wife and mother in the nation.
How will Maxine create both a husband and family for herself in order to win the pageant?
If you have read this far, you are probably thinking this book is silly, and it is, but not in the way you are thinking. Mr. and Mrs. American Pie is a hilarious and smart satire. Maxine is the stereotypical socialite concerned with appearances and climbing that ladder...I loved being on the sidelines for her transformation, but the best part: I laughed and laughed and laughed some more. Fun, zany, hysterical, chucklesome humor. Highly recommended if you want to witness Maxine’s antics for yourself.
I have heard Mr. and Mrs. American Pie has been optioned for TV by Laura Dern!
Thank you to Inkshares for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
4 brave stars to Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I noticed this book when a blogger friend, Rachel at In Between Book Pages, was reading it.4 brave stars to Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I noticed this book when a blogger friend, Rachel at In Between Book Pages, was reading it. Her thoughts on Charlotte’s story enticed me to pick it up.
Winning? Is it something we all love, at least at one time or another? What messages do we receive about having it all and winning at life? Are we told that we can’t have it all?
There is much to admire about Charlotte Walsh. She is a go-getter who wants and believes she can absolutely have it all, including a political position, a loving marriage, three young daughters, and total happiness.
Charlotte is running for office in a most important Senate race, one that will determine which party controls Congress. She is determined to win and inspired to make change happen, so she leaves her high-powered job and returns to her hometown in Pennsylvania to run for office.
Charlotte is quickly shocked by the treatment she receives from her political opponent, the press, and even her peers. Her personal life also becomes overbearing because she is so focused on work, she does not see her husband’s growing resentment.
Next comes a scandal that puts Charlotte in the crosshairs threatening to not only lose her campaign, but her marriage and family, too.
The suspense builds as Charlotte is on the trail to victory, and important issues including political ambition, specifically related to women, as well as the differentiated treatment of women and men in politics, and the sacrifices a wife and mother has to make to truly have it all.
Overall, I found Charlotte’s story to be consuming, timely, and provocative. While it is a fictionalized account, I left this book with a deeper understanding of what it potentially requires for a woman to take on the challenge of running for office.
Thank you to Simon Schuster for the complimentary copy to review. All opinions are my own. Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win is available now!
4.5 fun and endearing stars to The Guests on South Battery! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
I once lived within a short driving distance of Charleston, South Carolina. I4.5 fun and endearing stars to The Guests on South Battery! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5
I once lived within a short driving distance of Charleston, South Carolina. I never tired of my time there, the people, food, history, and architecture. The Tradd Street series by Karen White gives me the opportunity to visit those historic streets again.
If you have followed the Tradd Street series, you’ll be familiar with Melanie, one of the two main characters. She is a real estate agent in Charleston whose main sales are of the old, stately homes in the Battery. She is not thrilled to be working with these homes and for good reason. She sees and can communicate with spirits, and these historic homes have more than their share of spirits. That’s just a taste of the backstory. Melanie is now married to Jack, and the two have twins.
At the start of the story, Melanie is returning to work after her maternity leave, and it has been over a year since she has heard from any spirits; however, that quickly changes with an eerie phone all she receives.
Nonetheless, Melanie goes back to work with a bang as a home on South Battery is offered to her for a quick sale. The owner, Jayne, wants to be rid of the house as soon as possible, but whenever she is near Melanie, a spirit is as well.
The past is explored, and secrets are squandered, while Karen White’s signature storytelling is at its finest. I believe this book could be read as a standalone because in and of itself it’s a complete and fulfilling story. That said, there is a richness to reading the full series that cannot be beat. Melanie’s story is engaging and delightful, and the spirits add their usual … levity. I know some are not fans of paranormal in books, and I definitely understand that; however, here it’s done with a light hand and manages to add to the charm of the storytelling. A reader can tell when the author loves the characters as much she does, and that is certainly the case here with Karen White and Tradd Street.
Thank you to Berkley for the invitation to join the blog tour and for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Sisters always have their share of secrets, but Penny and Hattie’s are dark and world-shattering. Their mo4 chilling stars to Sister of Mine! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Sisters always have their share of secrets, but Penny and Hattie’s are dark and world-shattering. Their mother passed away in a tragic accident, and their father walked out on the family. Penny, as the oldest, was the caregiver for Hattie, the younger and more carefree sister; however, their relationship is complicated and dysfunctional.
When Penny’s husband becomes a tyrant and physically abusive, an accident involving a fire is orchestrated resulting in her husband’s death. Not long after, a detective is hot on the heels of solving the cases of a string of arsons, which may in turn unfurl all of Penny and Hattie’s deceit.
Sister of Mine is described as a domestic suspense, which is a great fit for this title. It is a quick, engaging read, well-written, and full of tension. The narration by Penny is uncomfortable and haunting. These two sisters with their back and forth feelings towards each other were enmeshed, and each needed the other to survive, to cover up all the secrets, and to keep up the charade.
Overall, I found Sister of Mine to be a stirring, original, and captivating story of two sisters using their symbiotic relationship to hide their sinister behavior.
Thank you to Sarah at Crooked Lane for the invitation to read Sister of Mine. All opinions are my own. Sister of Mine will be published on August 7, 2018.
4 friendship stars to Three Things About Elsie! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Before I start the review, you should know that I have an affinity for the number three. S4 friendship stars to Three Things About Elsie! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Before I start the review, you should know that I have an affinity for the number three. Sometimes I notice I have three of the same item in my grocery cart, or when I buy something I really, really like, I want to have three of it- a back-up, and one more back-up for good measure. I never take this too far, but the number three is fun for me. A bonus! 😂 So when I saw the title Three Things About Elsie, I knew there would be something extra special about this book.
84-year-old Florence is our narrator, and at the beginning of the novel, she has just fallen in her assisted living apartment. Poor Florence is on the floor waiting for someone to find her, and in that time, she worries about about a terrible secret that may be exposed. She tells the reader the following about Elsie, her best friend:
“There are three things you should know about Elsie. The first is that she’s my best friend. The second is that she always knows what to say to make me feel better. And the third thing…might take a little bit more explaining.”
There is an underlying mystery to be solved, and these elderly women, along with their friend Jack, set out to solve it. Florence and Elsie are thick as thieves, lifelong friends, true to each other, and a testament to friendship.
As the mystery is examined, Florence notices things are missing, out of place, out of the ordinary, and if she brings this up to the people who care for her, the threat of moving her to a new place with more supervision is looming (because clearly the problem “must” be memory loss due to her age). Florence’s memories of the past are hazy and not always exact, which can be frustrating for her, and understandably so.
Overall, I found Three Things About Elsie to be an uplifting story about the love between friends, aging and challenges with memory, loneliness and the needs for independence, importance, and utility at any age.
My mom usually reads my reviews, and I say this with the gentlest heart. The biggest takeaway from this book for me personally reinforces something I strive for (and not always successfully): to always let my aging parents know they are vitally important in my life. They have many useful and helpful ideas to offer, and they continue to be wise to the ways of the world.
Thank you to Taylor at Books With Taylor on Instagram for my ARC win. All opinions are my own....more
This is the book I have waited over two years for, the one I have most anticipated this summer! Five stars to Sold on a Monday! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
I read KristThis is the book I have waited over two years for, the one I have most anticipated this summer! Five stars to Sold on a Monday! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
I read Kristina McMorris’ last book, The Edge of Lost, the day my preorder arrived, which was the day before Thanksgiving 2015. I can remember that book on my counter a mere foot from where I was cooking. Any spare minute I had, the book was in my hands. It is one of the most perfect reads, and I have recommended it to many other happy readers since. When McMorris announced her new release, Sold on a Monday, I started counting the days. And the day finally came! Settling in to read a book by a favorite author; there is truly no better experience.
Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that spread like wildfire, Sold on a Monday is set during the depression. Times are dire, and a hard-working reporter, Ellis Reed, is trying to scope out a story so he can earn his meager salary. He takes a photo of two young boys, while not at first noticing the sign on the front of the house noting the children are for sale. The photo is a big break for Ellis, who has barely been making ends meet as a sometimes society reporter fill-in. He turns the photo into a period piece representing the ruthless and heartbreaking times brought about by the depression. The way it all unfolds causes Ellis to find his ethics questioned, and it snowballs into something bigger.
Sold on a Monday is also Lily Palmer’s story. A young, unwed mother struggling to climb a ladder to somewhere with her job in a male-dominated profession (a male-dominated entire workforce, at the time), while also remaining employable period due to the stigma of her having a child out of wedlock. Working at the same paper, Lily befriends Ellis and becomes involved with his breakout story. Her own role as a mother further tests her ethics and pathos.
McMorris knows how to write characters I absolutely love. Ellis and Lily each have a genuine goodness within them that is palpable and a strong drive to do what is right. Of course the children of the story are written with care, and even the once workaholic stereotypical reporter, Clayton Brauer, has a softer side.
Sold on a Monday offered me a solid sense of what it was like to live in the 1930s, including the depression, the mob, prohibition, and the grim economic times. But more than that, it was about the alarming decisions people will make during desperate times. It is about right versus wrong and the search for understanding. It has mystery (a tiny cliffhanger at the end of most of chapters kept the suspense building), drama, and a sweet romance, all with helping children at its heart. For a book that had big shoes to fill, Sold on a Monday is revealing, powerful, and compassionate.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. Sold on a Monday will be published on August 28, 2018!
4 suspenseful stars to Girls’ Night Out! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are lifelong best friends who co-author books. I read and enjoyed two4 suspenseful stars to Girls’ Night Out! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are lifelong best friends who co-author books. I read and enjoyed two of them, and I have anticipated Girls’ Night Out since they posted on Facebook about their girls’ trip to Tulum, Mexico when they were in the writing process. Follow them on Facebook if you have not already. They are so fun! The setting in Tulum piqued my interest because I traveled there years ago, and I remember its immense beauty well.
Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren were best friends for over twenty years, but lately they have not spoken. They determine it is time to mend fences and, to do that, they travel to Tulum, Mexico. When one friend (Ashley) disappears on the trip, Natalie and Lauren try to figure out where she is, but their memories are not clear because there was plenty of drinking on girls’ night. They are not sure if she left, or if she could have been kidnapped. They really have no idea. Natalie and Lauren search for Ashley, but as they do, dangerous secrets come to a head.
Liz and Lisa are skilled in writing about friendship. I think their own friendship adds to the authenticity in their writing. Each of the friends has a role to play in the triad. With a group of three, someone is always left out, and my mom has always said a group of three friends would never get along. (She was always right about that by the way).
While Girls’ Night Out is most definitely an intriguing, twisty thriller and kept me guessing, there are also themes of friendship and forgiveness and the secrets we hold back from the ones we love and trust most. Will these friends and their friendship survive the trip to Tulum?
Thank you to Amazon Publishing/Lake Union for the complimentary ARC. Girls’ Night Out will be published on July 24, 2018.
It is no secret, I am a meal prepper. I have little time (or patience) during the work week to prepare healthy choices, so I cook on the weekends and It is no secret, I am a meal prepper. I have little time (or patience) during the work week to prepare healthy choices, so I cook on the weekends and have as much as possible ready to go, including freezing leftovers for meals later. I am a vegetarian eating many vegan meals, and it can be difficult to find healthy options when I am out and about, which further requires preparation on my part. Like everyone, I get tired of the same old foods.
Vegan Yack Attack on the Go is a life saver. It includes all kinds of easy meals that you can take with you and easily snack on. It can be hard to “snack” on lentil soup in the car; believe me, I have tried! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and even desserts are all covered, and everything is so appealing! One idea is for CHICKPEA tenders with waffles! Yep, I am all in for that one! I made the Lentil Balls with Zesty Rice and loved them. So easy to make and delicious! There are even ideas for the pressure cooker like a pesto spaghetti squash. I am always looking for vegan options for my pressure cooker. The author of this book has a blog I will be following, as I love her ideas and food combinations.
The highlight of Vegan Yack Attack on the Go is the practical ease of eating while still being filling and a complete meal, something that challenges many vegetarians and vegans.
Thank you to Fair Winds Press for the complimentary copy for review. Vegan Yack Attack on the Go is now available!
Buddha bowls (also known as power bowls, among other names) are receiving attention lately. In one bowl, you can pile in all kinds of nutrients, prepaBuddha bowls (also known as power bowls, among other names) are receiving attention lately. In one bowl, you can pile in all kinds of nutrients, prepare it quickly, they are visually appealing, and the clean up is simplified. While the book has vegan and vegetarian recipes, it also has meat-based recipes as well.
I have eaten power bowls while out, but I had not made any at home, not really knowing how. I always meant to look up some ideas, and now I have several all in one place.
The Buddha bowl concept is that every meal should have a vegetable, protein, and grain. Sauces or broths are minimized, and most food is served in whole or large pieces.
I loved the pictures of bowls and all the ideas shared! The colors of the food combinations pop, everything appears flavorful, and many of the meals seem comforting, which I’m always a fan of.
To start, there are breakfast bowl ideas with millet, chia, porridge, etc. There is a delicious-sounding Cauliflower Falafel (chickpeas!) Power Bowl that I cannot wait to try. I am also excited to try all the fruit bowl ideas! They are really eye-catching!
The biggest selling point for me and Buddha bowls: they are easy to make. I am all for maximum nutrition and saving a little time if I can. This is a fun and inspiring cookbook, and I am ready to start making some bowls!
Thank you to Harvard Common Press for the review copy. Buddha Bowls is available now!
5 rose’-colored stars to I See Life Through Rose-Colored Glasses! 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷 (*I know this is not rose’, but it was as close as I could get! 😊)
Short an5 rose’-colored stars to I See Life Through Rose-Colored Glasses! 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷 (*I know this is not rose’, but it was as close as I could get! 😊)
Short and sweet review of this one- I loved it!
I know I have at least one book from this series languishing on my shelf, and when I read a review from my friend, Stephanie, I had to read this book asap.
I started I See Life late last night and almost finished it in one sitting. From the first story I was laughing out loud. It is that funny.
Lisa Scottoline is a well-known author, and she has joined efforts with her daughter, Francesca Serritella, to write a series of essays with a book published each summer, just in time to take on vacation. Let me tell you, it has been the perfect vacation read.
I am close with my mom, and I talk to her every day. Lisa and Francesca have the same tight relationship. My mom and I have our own silly banter, and so do Lisa and Francesca. They consider their pets their family; we do, too! All of that to say, I found the writing completely relatable. Besides the funny anecdotes, there are also heart-tugging stories.
I am more of a novel reader. I do not read many short stories, and I have not been drawn to collections of essays, but this book is in a league of its own. I See Life Through Rose-Colored Glasses is amusing, entertaining, heartwarming, and completely uplifting.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. I See Life Through Rose’-Colored Glasses is available now.
4 brilliant stars to Chariot on the Mountain! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I first heard about this book on The View, as it was a pick from one of the hosts for summer4 brilliant stars to Chariot on the Mountain! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I first heard about this book on The View, as it was a pick from one of the hosts for summer reading. Then, I saw a highly rated review from Angela M. and knew I needed to pick this one up, too. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres.
Just prior to the Civil War, a farmer in Virginia named Samuel Maddox passes away, leaving his wife owning his property, including his slave, Kitty, and her small children. Kitty happens to be Samuel’s biological daughter.
For years, Mary, Samuel’s wife, had a difficult time accepting Kitty into their house and family. Ultimately, Mary decides to free Kitty and her children and travels along the Underground Railroad to Pennsylvania where she will be emancipated.
However, slave-catchers, including Samuel’s nephew, kidnap Kitty and take her back to Virginia. On a leap of faith, the confident Kitty presses charges against Maddox for kidnapping. Thanks to her powerful allies, Kitty is successful in being granted a trial that will determine whether she will really be free.
What I loved most about this book is the indestructible bond Kitty forms with her allies who also happen to be women. The writing by journalist, Jack Ford, is smooth and enticing. Chariot on the Mountain is based on true events, which both astounded and elated me, when I saw what lengths the allies would go to in order to protect Kitty and her children. A little caveat is initially the writing was overwrought with description, language, and accents, but in persevering, I found it improved tremendously and ended up on the exceptional side. I adored this story and wish I could have the experience of reading it all over again.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. Chariot on the Mountain will be published on July 31, 2018.
Emma is five-years old living with her mother, Amy, who is uncaring and hateful towards her, as well as her unobservant father who has no idea what haEmma is five-years old living with her mother, Amy, who is uncaring and hateful towards her, as well as her unobservant father who has no idea what happens in his own home, and her younger brother who is preferred by Amy.
Sarah is successful at work and with owning her business, but she has dark secrets of her own difficult upbringing. Shockingly, Sarah is a kidnapper.
When Sarah notices Emma in the airport, she finds it hard to look away. Amy is in rare form picking at Emma at every turn, overcorrecting her, and physically hurting her. Haven’t we all witnessed something like this at one time or another? What would do you do, if anything? Sarah does not take Emma at the airport, but she cannot get the child off her mind…and when a second opportunity presents itself, she takes Emma and runs.
The structure of the narrative is between past and present with the voices of Sarah, Amy, and later, Emma. Being privy to the thoughts from all narrators added to the empathy I felt for each character. There was not one right or wrong answer for me. There were shades of gray, and adults who grew up in challenging environments finding it hard to choose a different path in life. It is easy to judge Amy. All her faults are splattered all around her for the world to see, but when you look deeper into the narrative, she is a person out-of-control who cannot seem to stop the way her life is spinning. And while Sarah may look like the more caring type, she, too, has scars and is imperfect, and hello- she abducted a child!
I appreciated the discussion we had in our group because thoughts arose around the ethics of what happened. Who was right? Who was wrong? What is best for Emma, and who decides that? Not Her Daughter is definitely a book you will want to discuss. And beyond that, Frey writes with precise intention. The narrative flows with tension building, and the story could not have been more original. A mass of kidnapping stories are out there, but Not Her Daughter turns a new page.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own....more
I love to garden, especially with flowers. It’s just as relaxing as reading, and it’s fun and rewarding to watch it all grow and flower. All of my graI love to garden, especially with flowers. It’s just as relaxing as reading, and it’s fun and rewarding to watch it all grow and flower. All of my grandparents, great aunts and uncles, were/are gardeners, as are my parents, and I like to think I know a few things about gardening, too, but I have so much to learn.
Ground Rules is filled with simple tips like how to select your plants, how you might design an area, to watering guidelines, and everything in between. It is written in an approachable, easy-to-read style, and is filled with colorful and inspiring pictures. What I loved most was seeing visual examples of the types of plants recommended in the narrative.
I will be buying a copy of Ground Rules, so that I can incorporate a few tips each season. This would also make an excellent coffee table book.
Thank you to Timber Press for the ARC. Ground Rules will be published on November 13, 2018. ...more
Rainer Maria Rilke wrote over fourteen thousand letters during his lifetime to anyone who was close to him, anyone with whom he felt a connection, andRainer Maria Rilke wrote over fourteen thousand letters during his lifetime to anyone who was close to him, anyone with whom he felt a connection, and this included those who contacted him after reading one of his works. Rilke considered his letters to be as significant as his more formal writings, and academics believe the letters to be even more accessible for the general reader.
Spiritually, Rilke believed that we should make sense of, or make peace with, our circumstances while living. He felt strongly that we should live fully in the now, in both the good and dark times.
The preface is an exceptional introduction to Rilke’s work and his beliefs, values, and points-of-view. In fact, the author of the preface used Rilke’s words to make sense of the loss of his own father. He felt the words were a companion to him in his grief. In short, Rilke’s philosophy is to focus on moving with and through the pain of loss rather than trying to overcome it. If we focus solely on overcoming loss, we do not acknowledge the loved one we are missing, and we do not allow ourselves to be shaped by what we learned while grieving. Folks, this is deep and meaningful, almost overwhelming in its depth.
Like all of us, I have experienced tragic losses in my lifetime, and I seek out knowledge and texts on grief and loss to both help me as I continue to move through my own feelings (and hopefully grow), but also to help connect me to others who are moving through similar experiences. It is not something that is ever complete. I cannot check off that box. Grief has been a part of my life and will continue to be, as difficult as that is for me to write. Rilke’s words resonate fervently with me, as I, too, believe that grief is a process that we must walk though. And through his profound words, I am opened up to many more opportunities for personal growth and introspection.
The Dark Interval is a book that I had to read slowly and savor. It requires thought and reflection, but the benefits of that were tremendous. I highly recommend it to anyone who has experienced loss. It is not heavy, or difficult, other than in the weight of your own self-reflection.
Thank you to Random House for the ARC. This Dark Interval will be published on August 14, 2018.
Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader
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