A charming ending to possibly the first series I’ve ever read start to finish?! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Ansley Murphy is in a much better place. She has a devoA charming ending to possibly the first series I’ve ever read start to finish?! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Ansley Murphy is in a much better place. She has a devoted man in her life, and all of her daughters are happy. Nevertheless, Ansley feels unsettled.
Emerson, Ansley’s youngest daughter, is an actress. She’s recently engaged and in a high place in her career and still climbing, yet something is worrying Emerson, too.
Two new women come to Peachtree Bluff who could shatter both Ansley and Emerson’s worlds. There are also big secrets that could divide the sisters and their mother in ways they never could have imagined.
I’ve said it before, but Kristy Woodson Harvey is a smoooooooth and precise writer. I read once that she deeply edits her own writing, making sure each word flows into the next, and I think it shows (and I could benefit from her skills in editing!). I have worried and fretted about this being the last book in the series, that I would miss these characters (and I definitely will!), but this book added something new for the sisters and Ansley, while also offering closure, and that’s what all series lovers want more than anything.
The Southern Side of Paradise has secrets, spicy drama, and enthralling family dynamics between sisters and mother-daughter, as well. Because I’ve known these characters through three books now, they have become like family, and they were still evolving and surprising me, too.
And, at the heart of Kristy Woodson Harvey’s stories? The most beautiful, charming, smart quotes that have me highlighting my book or Kindle over and over again. Love it!
If you are looking for a treasure of a read and a warmhearted, entertaining series you can binge on, check out the ladies of Peachtree Bluff!
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Laura McNeill/Lauren Clark is back with an exceptional new thriller! I read this with Berit and Mackenzie! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Lauren Clark wrote two novelsLaura McNeill/Lauren Clark is back with an exceptional new thriller! I read this with Berit and Mackenzie! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Lauren Clark wrote two novels, Center of Gravity and Sister Dear, published by Harper Collins under the name Laura McNeill. Both were two of the most tense, gripping domestic suspense books I’d read at the time, and since then, about two years, I’ve been eagerly awaiting a new book, and here it is!
Olivia is a teenager living in New Orleans with her single chef father, Theo, who is opening a new restaurant. Olivia unfortunately feels responsible for her mother’s death, and when her father is missing, and someone is in hot pursuit of her, she blames herself for that, too. Why is Olivia on the run? And who can be trusted?
The tension I felt once Olivia was running was palpable. I had the hardest time putting the book down, and that’s becoming unusual for me past a certain hour. 😂 Olivia was in danger, and I felt like I had to see her through it! But it kept going!
And then red herring after red herring was dangled. Who had come up with this scheme and why, and most importantly, where was Theo? Were Olivia’s wealthy grandparents responsible? Her politician uncle? Her dad’s rough, tough best friend? Her father’s new, secret girlfriend? I didn’t know which way was up, and the easy-flowing writing kept me flipping the pages quickly.
The World Breaks Everyone is another original and well-written thriller from Lauren Clark/Laura McNeill. The characters are well-developed, and I felt empathy towards the innocent ones, like Olivia, and anger and frustration towards some of the others for what transpired. If you love engaging domestic suspense, don’t miss out on Lauren’s books! I’m awaiting her next and am ecstatic to know she’s already at work!
5 stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ This was unexpected. I thought I “knew” Sally Field from her movies, but it turns out she has a far-reaching, honest story to 5 stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ This was unexpected. I thought I “knew” Sally Field from her movies, but it turns out she has a far-reaching, honest story to tell, and I took my time with it- some parts difficult, but all of it memorable.
Sally Field…My first introduction being either Steel Magnolias or Forrest Gump? I had heard of Gidget, the happy-go-lucky, girl-next-door, cute, charming, all smiles.
Sally Field has a story to tell. It took her seven years to write it and a lifetime to live and process it. She could have kept this all to herself; we certainly never would have known. Her family hardly knew.
Some have asked me if In Pieces is a “star book,” and I would say no. It is not salacious or gossipy, most definitely not braggy or boastful. It just is. She just is. And there most definitely are chronicles of the tv shows and movies as she is launched into stardom because those are part of her story, too. But with that, there’s always a humbleness, a demureness, where she never feels quite settled in her own skin, which you will come to understand as you learn her story; or at least, I did.
I first caught hold of Sally’s story when she wrote of her great grandmother and grandmother. The time periods, their stoicism and other personality traits, their inordinate strength; it all connected with me strongly because of the women in my own family. It had me revisiting my thoughts on another book I read and inter-generational experiences, good and bad, and how we pass them down to our daughters.
Sally Field writes with tenderness and complexity of most everyone she loved in her life, and that’s another aspect that connected to me deeply. It would be easy to write off the exboyfriend who was controlling, but a charmer, and make him out to be the monster that was most of the time, but instead she describes why she stayed, his strengths and what connected her to him (not naming any names here; that’s part of the fun of the book!). The same with her childhood love who became her first husband and the father of two of her children. Everyone would love Steve by the way she first describes him, but he is not without flaws, and neither is she.
That ultimately leads me to another aspect I loved. Sally’s honesty and ownership over her life. She doesn’t blame others or feel sorry for herself at any time. She recognizes where she may have played a role, and even when I didn’t agree and felt she was too hard on herself (definitely much too hard on herself!), that modesty she possesses only adds to her authenticity.
I also enjoyed reading about her relationship with her mother- her devotion and the complications in their dynamics. It brought me to tears several times and made me grateful for the ease of my relationship with my mother. Her children are described with the most tenderness, three beautiful boys, that she loves with a ferocity and, yes, she has regrets, but it’s all honest, genuine, authentic.
In Pieces is hands-down one of the best memoirs I’ve read, and this is one of my preferred genres, so I’ve read a few. I loved that my mind was changed about Sally in a way; well, maybe not changed…opened-up, and it was all about something I harp on- complexity of character. None of us are all good, or all bad, and Sally chose to let us see all the parts, all her pieces, her whole self. She most definitely didn’t have to, it was her story to tell, but she bravely and boldly did.
Thank you to the lovely folks at Grand Central for the invitation to read In Pieces. All opinions are my own.
4 stars to the story of Napoleon’s stepdaughter, Hortense! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I am a huge Sandra Gulland fan. Her Josephine B. (Bonaparte) trilogy books are 4 stars to the story of Napoleon’s stepdaughter, Hortense! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I am a huge Sandra Gulland fan. Her Josephine B. (Bonaparte) trilogy books are some of my favorite historical fiction works. I was thrilled that she would be taking on Josephine’s daughter’s story in The Game of Hope.
Hortense’s story is classified as young adult but is suitable for adults, too. Beginning four short years after the Terror of the French Revolution, Hortense is enrolled in a boarding school. She is talented with music, art, and academics, but she daydreams of Christophe, a military officer and friend of her brother’s.
Hortense’s mother, Josephine, has recently married Napoleon Bonaparte of whom Hortense is not a fan. Her beloved father was beheaded during the Terror, and she sees Napoleon in sharp contrast. If Hortense does not accept Napoleon, what will happen to her future?
Sandra Gulland deftly researches her chosen topics and writes with flawless ease. Hortense’s story is based on her real autobiography, as well as other historical archives.
Hortense is faced with a life she does not want in a time much different than our own. What fate will she be saddled with as a result? Her story is filled with the details of her school days, while it also is firmly entrenched on a backdrop of Napoleon’s rise to power. I loved hearing about Josephine and Napoleon from a different perspective, from that of Hortense, and how her life experiences are shaped by those around her.
Rich in historical details while also being approachable to young adult and adult audiences alike, Game of Hope is yet another solid, enchanting, and enthralling effort from Sandra Gulland.
Thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours and Amy Bruno for the invite and to the author for an electronic copy. I also own a physical copy I bought because Gulland is a favorite author.
In the prologue of The Wildlands, a family is quickly preparing for a Category 5 tornado. They live on a farm and are workAn easy, deliberate 5 stars!
In the prologue of The Wildlands, a family is quickly preparing for a Category 5 tornado. They live on a farm and are working to secure the animals and themselves before disaster potentially strikes. I read The Wildlands as a hurricane was leaving an indelible and devastating path through my home state, and Abby Geni’s adept writing had me viscerally preparing for the tornado with the family.
The McCloud children live in Mercy, Oklahoma. They lose everything in the tornado and wind up orphaned and living in a trailer. These siblings, Cora, Jane, Darlene, and Tucker, are developed in three-dimension. You can almost hear them breathing; they are executed so well.
Tucker leaves his family behind but reappears years later after a bomb goes off in a cosmetics factory near Mercy. The lab animals are released during the bombing. Tucker now needs nine-year-old Cora’s help, and they set off together on a thrilling mission of violence and retribution.
Darlene assists the police in finding her siblings at a California zoo. Tucker is committed to saving the lives of animals, and he views his mission as a war.
The Wildlands is a literary-eco-suspense/thriller. A tension was felt throughout the story that kept me engaged and invested whether it was the tornado or the set-up of one of Cora and Tucker’s acts of vengeance. Geni’s prose is like butter- smooth and deliberate balanced with ample description. I compulsively re-read passages to absorb their radiance.
I am awe-struck by this smart book and everything accomplished by this talented author, and I cannot wait to read my copy of The Lightkeepers. The Wildlands captures “wild” in every sense of the word.
Thank you to Counterpoint Press for the invitation to read and review and the physical ARC. All opinions are my own.
Elin Hilderbrand’s newest book and first in a series, Winter in Paradise, takes a break from cozy NantucWow, this is how to start a series! 🏖 🏝 🏖 🏝 🏖
Elin Hilderbrand’s newest book and first in a series, Winter in Paradise, takes a break from cozy Nantucket and whisks us away to sunny St. John!
Irene Steele is the main character that has it all. We know the one- fantastic husband, kids, the job, and home. That perfect facade has cracks, though, when her children are grown and don’t need her as much, her husband is distant, and her job is pushing retirement. The cracks shatter when she receives the late night phone call no one wants. Her husband has been found dead under mysterious circumstances. He was found far away on the island of St. John…
Irene flies to St. John with her two sons to figure things out, and she is confronted with more unexpected news: her husband has a second family.
Even with all the deceit staring her in the face, Irene won’t give up until she finds out the truth.
I know some of you may be thinking this sound dramatic and predictable, but not when Hilderbrand writes it. It reads as if this is happening to your best friend, and Irene becomes your best friend. She is human, her emotions are raw and honest, and she is fierce. She takes on all these secrets and fights for closure and peace for herself and her family.
With themes of heartache, love and loss, and most of all, hope and healing, Winter in Paradise is a stunning beginning to a new series, and I’ll be biting my nails waiting for book number two! (This is why I don’t often read series- ahh! The waiting!).
Thanks to Little, Brown for the opportunity to read and review an early copy. All opinions are my own.
Five stars to this treasure of a book and five stars to the unforgettable experience of reading it! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
I’m honored and humbled that Goodreads sFive stars to this treasure of a book and five stars to the unforgettable experience of reading it! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
I’m honored and humbled that Goodreads selected me to receive a book club kit and set of copies of One Day in December, graciously provided by the publisher, Broadway Books and Crown Publishing. I was fortunate to have local friends and online friends join me for this heartwarming read, the perfect story to enjoy this time of year, and quite uplifting in the end.
It’s close to the holidays, December 21 to be exact, when Laurie is bewildered and exhausted riding the bus home from work. She just so happens to make eye contact with a guy at the bus stop, and she has an instant connection, something she never believed in before. He tries to get on the bus, but it’s too late. The doors close, and off Laurie goes. She makes it her New Year’s Resolution to find the bus stop guy.
For a year, she searches for him at every bus stop and bar in London (amazing setting, by the way!). Never finding him, she attends a Christmas party where she is introduced to HIM as her best friend Sarah’s new boyfriend!
Ten years go by between these friends, and they experience their share of kindness, heartbreak, disconnects, and could there possibly be second chances?
I loved this story from start to finish. The formatting and timeline added interest and even more investment on my part. I found this a cozy, charming read, the characterization was warmhearted, and overall, it was a delicious escape, one where happiness is the ultimate goal. One Day in December is much more than the typical romance read, and that’s why it’s receiving universal love from readers across genres.
I hope I can speak for the group in saying that many found this book one of the their favorites of the year, if not their top favorite. We are all avid readers, so that’s saying something.
Thank you again to Broadway Books, Crown Publishing, and Goodreads for this special opportunity and for the free books. All opinions are my own.
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 lyrical stars to The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock! 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️
In 1780s London, Jonah Hancock is a merchant and owns a ship. A captain knocks on4 lyrical stars to The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock! 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️ 🧜♀️
In 1780s London, Jonah Hancock is a merchant and owns a ship. A captain knocks on his door urgently with the news he’s sold Hancock’s ship in return for a mermaid.
Word of the mermaid spreads quickly like sensational things do, and everyone wants to lay eyes on the sight. This mermaid is the key to Hancock climbing into high society, and that he does, with speed.
It is at a most prestigious party that Hancock meets the alluring Angelica Neal. Two ambitious minds have now collided, and their futures are full of intrigue.
The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock is a big, larger-than-life, smart story. It spotlights those strange curiosities of the time and is full of atmosphere. The writing is lyrical and stunning setting up a vivid sense of time and place. I found it immersive and all-consuming.
You should know there is not as much true magic or fantasy in the story as one might think, given the title, and the fact that a mermaid is most definitely present (but in the background). The story goes far beyond the oddity, including how humans are always grappling for more: more stature and wealth, more attention. It ends on a magnificent note, and I was most satisfied with the story from start to finish!
Thanks to Harper for the electronic ARC. I also purchased a hard copy from Book of the Month. All opinions are my own.
Told in two timelines, past and present, you should know from the start that The Light Over London is a sweeping romantic historical novel.
The presentTold in two timelines, past and present, you should know from the start that The Light Over London is a sweeping romantic historical novel.
The present timeline features Cara who works with antiques. She has discovered an old tin full of WWII treasures, including an unfinished diary and a picture of a woman in uniform. Cara is determined to find the diary’s author, which takes her to the streets of wartime London.
The past timeline is Louise’s in 1941 England. She’s waiting at home while her suitor is off at war, but while waiting, she happens to meet Flight Lieutenant Paul Bolton, an RAF pilot, and all her plans change.
You see, Louise decides to join the British Army as a Gunner Girl. While she works to identify enemy planes on air raid missions, she dreams of Paul’s return to her.
The romance takes the front seat in this lovingly drawn historical novel. You can’t help but love Louise. She’s such a strong, formidable character, and I rooted for her and Paul. I loved all I learned about the Gunner Girls and was fascinated and inspired by all they did. The writing is smooth, and overall, I enjoyed this glimpse at these important women in history with a sweet romance.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
5 “Trust Me, you absolutely cannot miss reading this book” stars to The Night Olivia Fell! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I read The Night Olivia Fell with a group of5 “Trust Me, you absolutely cannot miss reading this book” stars to The Night Olivia Fell! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I read The Night Olivia Fell with a group of blogger friends, and we unanimously loved it! An emotional read perfect for groups, The Night Olivia Fell is definitely a book you will to discuss with friends!
My Thoughts:
The Night Olivia Fells opens with a scene of which no one wants to relate. Abi Knight receives a phone call that her teen daughter has been in a tragic accident and is in the hospital. Upon arriving, she learns that her daughter is not only brain dead, but also pregnant.
From there, the narrative shifts between Abi’s narrative, mostly in the present day with some flashbacks, and Olivia’s narrative in the months leading up to her fall, until the two narratives merge in a masterful way.
Abi believes from the start that Olivia’s fall is no accident. She sees bruises on her wrists, and she quickly learns no one is taking her seriously, including the police. Once the police finally do begin to investigate, the case never seems to be their priority, and Abi decides to take matters into her own hands.
What happened to Olivia that fateful night, and how will this tragic story end?
There are so many things I loved about The Night Olivia Fell, and the biggest is how grounded it is in reality with authentic emotions, relationship dynamics, and characters. And those characters…wow! Not one is simply good or bad; they are a nice mix of complexity that keeps you guessing, especially when it comes to pointing the finger at who might have harmed Olivia. The author kept a wide net cast when looking for the suspect. I would develop a theory, and then pan to the next potential perp as the story went along and red herrings were dangled.
The Night Olivia Fell is so much more than the typical suspense story. While it has all the paramount trademarks, including secrets, lies, and formidable tension, it is in a league of its own with its intensely relatable characterization and raw emotion. You will love Abi and Olivia, and you will most definitely want to wrap your arms around each of them together, as you read their story and accept their individual fates as mother and daughter.
I read this book as a group with Berit, Holly, Melisa, Mack, and Kendall, and this was the best kind of story to read together. We shared in the tension, the love for these characters, and the guessing game at just who was guilty at the center of it all.
Thank you to the author, Christina McDonald, for the complimentary physical copy. All opinions are my own.
Did you ever have a book you saved, even though you got a copy really, really early, because you knew it would be5 mind blowing stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Did you ever have a book you saved, even though you got a copy really, really early, because you knew it would be good? I didn’t want An Anonymous Girl to be over long before I ever started reading it. The year-long wait until another book from this dynamite duo feels longer than a year! That’s a great thing in this case; these two authors are perfection together.
The Wife Between Us by these Hendricks and Pekkanen is my favorite thriller of 2018, and An Anonymous Girl is already vying for top position for 2019! Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks have topped themselves with this smashing effort. Wow! It’s written how all thrillers should be, with page-turning, effortless writing, and characters that keep you on your toes. A villain like no other. A fallible but relatable victim. This book is remarkable. Gosh!
A few details about the story just to pique your interest…
Jessica Farris is a make-up artist living paycheck to paycheck in NYC, and money is an issue for her like it is for many people. She finds herself participating in a paid psychological study on ethics…But from the start, something doesn’t feel right with it…But then again, Jess needs the money.
The study keeps going, becoming more invasive, and eventually Jess begins interacting directly with the psychiatrist in charge of the study, Dr. Shields. Jess develops a strong amount of paranoia early on, which never wanes though she doubts herself, again, because money is an issue.
An Anonymous Girl is a story of obsession, right versus wrong, and betrayal. There are creepy characters that will make your skin crawl, a character you may champion (I know I did), and a few characters in the middle that you just can’t figure out.
The chapters are the perfect length. The writing flows perfectly in a race to the finish of the book, and the tension builds at a nice pace. I was hooked very early, and I never lost my connection to this book. The storyline is massively original, full of twists and turns, and I will never forget this dark tale of suspense, deviousness, and questioning morality.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
—- (From my teaser review in December) This was the book I read on my actual birthday earlier this week. It’s unputdownable, tense, completely original, and written with the easy flow I wish all thrillers had because it makes me flip through the pages that must faster, keeping the suspense going.
I will have my full review up in January on pub day, but until then, I have to say, The Wife Between Us by these authors is my favorite thriller of 2018, and An Anonymous Girl is already at the top of my list for 2019!...more
As a fan of her writing, I have noticed Jodi Picoult’s topics have gotten more fiery as the years have 4 fiery stars to A Spark of Light! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
As a fan of her writing, I have noticed Jodi Picoult’s topics have gotten more fiery as the years have passed, and they continue to be thought-provoking.
The Center is a women’s clinic serving all their health needs. Everything changes when a man with a gun enters the building, begins shooting, and takes everyone hostage. My first questions are who is this man and why is he so distraught? I knew there would be more to his story.
Hugh McElroy is a hostage negotiator for the police. He arrives on scene and completes all the typical first steps in a grim and terrifying situation like this only to have his phone buzz with the news that his teen daughter, Wren, is one of the hostages.
Wren shares her story inside the building, while also shedding light on the other hostages, including clinic workers among others. There is Catholic Dr. Louie who believes he exercises his faith in his daily work. A nurse hero is also there. Also inside is a pro-life protestor who disguised herself as a patient that day only to find herself on the other side of the rage she herself was feeling. The characters in this novel are what make it a cut above. I felt empathy for each complex character; it was easy to with the way they were written.
The structure of the book is interesting. It goes backward through the day of the stand-off. I enjoyed it because it was different, but I had to remind myself a few times the story moves backward retracing how everyone arrives at the clinic that day.
As with all her books, it seems as if Spark of Light is meant to ignite a dialogue about an important topic to many. The storytelling is second to none, all the varied emotions are checked off, the research is firmly present, and the exploration of both sides is offered. Fans of Picoult should find much to love here.
I’m ecstatically grateful I had the opportunity to read an early of this book. Thank you to Random House/Ballantine. All opinions are my own.
4 bold stars to The Next Person You Meet in Heaven!
Everyone wanted a sequel to one of the most beloved books, and Mitch Albom has delivered!
Briefly, 4 bold stars to The Next Person You Meet in Heaven!
Everyone wanted a sequel to one of the most beloved books, and Mitch Albom has delivered!
Briefly, to set the stage, in The Five People You Meet in Heaven, we met Eddie, a rough and gruff war veteran turned mechanic who passed away in the act of saving a little girl named Annie. Eddie’s trip to heaven involved questions and answers about the meaning of life.
In this follow-up, Annie’s story is told.
After the accident that took Eddie’s life, Annie has visible scars but no memory of what happened. Not only does she have memory loss, she is haunted by what the truth may reveal. It consumes her.
Annie later becomes an adult and is about to be married when another accident occurs leaving her on a journey to heaven where she reunites with Eddie. He shares what he has learned about life with Annie.
An emotionally-charged and beautifully-written read and filled with clever twists, The Next Person You Meet in Heaven is a huggable book with important lessons for us all. I took away a reminder of that old saying: when one door closes, a window opens in its place.
Filled with hope and all heart, Mitch Albom once again addresses the meaning of life and proves his point with flourish.
Thank you to Harper Books for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
I’m a fan of each of these authors, and when they joined forces previously to co-author The Forgotte4 absorbing stars to The Glass Ocean! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I’m a fan of each of these authors, and when they joined forces previously to co-author The Forgotten Room, magic happened multiplied by three. My brief gushing review of The Forgotten Room is on Goodreads.
The Glass Ocean is a historical mystery blending time and place across three narrators, two a century in the past, and one in the present.
In 1915, Caroline Telfair Hochstetter is a southern belle married to Gilbert, who was once attentive to her but is now distant and overworked. She plans a trip for them to London aboard the Lusitania in the lap of luxury and hopes it will be a turning point in their marriage. At the same time, an old male friend of hers is also aboard the ship, and Caroline feels a connection to him, while also restless and discontent; not exactly how she expected to feel on this alluring vacation.
Also in 1915, Tessa Fairweather is aboard the Lusitania, and she is returning home to Devon, but that is not exactly the truth. Tessa is an American with a fake accent to boot. In truth, she’s the daughter of a famous con, and is a con in her own right, but she craves an end to that part of her life. Her partner has one more trick in mind, and then they can move on with life.
In the present day, Sarah Blake is a bestselling author with troubled finances. She finds herself opening a chest she had promised her mother she would not open. It belonged to her great-grandfather who passed away on the Lusitania in 1915. She discovers a mystery and travels to London for help in solving it.
Everyone knows what happens to the Lusitania on that fateful day. With one chapter ending and the next beginning with one or two words from the previous, the masterfully blended narratives build the tension of the mystery at its heart.
I loved all three characters. They are strong women with secrets to hide and brave stories to tell. There’s a love triangle and a mystery with a backdrop of the Lusitania steaming forward towards its tragic demise. Seamless writing, a sense of adventure, and exceptional storytelling define The Glass Ocean, and I hope these three authors come together again for another spellbinding read!
Thank you to William Morrow for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
5 beautiful and transfixing stars to My Real Name is Hanna!
Some of the most meaningful, poignant books I have read have been about the Holoca🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
5 beautiful and transfixing stars to My Real Name is Hanna!
Some of the most meaningful, poignant books I have read have been about the Holocaust, and My Real Name is Hanna will be placed on that same shelf.
“I will say my real name to you for the first time. Hanna Slivka. Don’t be scared. I am still your mother. Born on February twenty-second, in the winter of 1928. Your grandmother often told me to remember this date because that is the day that God allowed me into this world to breathe my first soul breath of chilled Ukrainian air.”
Hanna Slivka is a teen living in Soviet-occupied Ukraine when Hitler’s army crosses the border. She and her family are Jewish, and the Gestapo wants the town, Kwasova, to be “free of Jews.” The book begins, however, with a beautiful setting up of the scenery and daily life of this family living in a peaceful Ukraine. I was not familiar with the culture of Ukraine, especially during this time period, so I soaked in all of the stunningly descriptive prose.
Once the army arrives, Hanna’s father is favored because he can fix things that no one else can, but eventually, their luck runs out, and they are forced to pack what they can and flee into the forest with other families. They later move to live in the caves for more security and less exposure. This is where they stayed for over a year’s time, but not without some of the good helpers in the world contributing.
Based on true events, and with less than 5% of Ukrainian Jews surviving the Holocaust, this type of story begs to be told because there are so few around to tell it. Tara Lynn Masih’s lyrical writing illustrates the strength and sheer will of Hanna and her family to survive. Overall, My Real Name is Hanna is a strong, emotionally-resonant story of friendship, family, and true compassion in the most dire of times.
Many thanks to the author for the finished copy to review. All opinions are my own.
Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader
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