*CRACK* That is the sound of Kimber Silver hitting it out of the ballpark with Bullets in the Briar!!!!! I completely enjoyed her first book, Broken R*CRACK* That is the sound of Kimber Silver hitting it out of the ballpark with Bullets in the Briar!!!!! I completely enjoyed her first book, Broken Rhodes, which I highly recommend, but she outdid herself with Bullets in the Briar. I found this book to be instantly gripping, thrilling, brimming with tension, mystery, secrets, and romance!
I forgot how much I enjoyed the characters of Kinsley and Lincoln; both individually and together. It was nice to be back in Harlow, Kansas and reading what they were up to; and it is a lot!!! Not only is Lincoln running for re-election, but he is investigating the discovery of a mutilated body found on a remote farm. The dead man appears to be associated with a religious sect, “The Order” nearby. The question is who killed him and why!
Kinsley continues to be spunky, caring, and determined. She also continues to work on her business while encouraging and supporting Lincoln in his re-election bid against an arrogant and flashy out of towner. Plus, she has a wedding to plan! Throw in close friends, a hot biker, a great mystery, and an adorable puppy and you can't go wrong in my book!
I loved the dialogue, banter, and dialect in this book. I felt as if Kimber Silver transported me to Harlow as a silent observer. The characters feel authentic and real. There were characters that I liked, characters who tickled me pink, and those who weren’t worth a damn. This of course made for interesting and entertaining reading. I also enjoyed how Kimber Silver showed her character’s inner thoughts and struggles/things they mull over. For instance, Lincoln is running for re-election but doesn't want to brag about his good deeds to win votes. He believes that his good deeds and commitment to the Harlow community stand for themselves and is not comfortable using them for his advantage.
I also enjoyed the focus on community and relationships in this book. Relationship between the characters, range from friendship, romantic relationships, work collogues/relationships, and parent-child relationships.
The mystery in this book was riveting and I enjoyed how everything unfolded. Whew! Coming in at 271 pages, Bullets in the Briar packs a punch!
While this book would work perfectly as a stand-alone novel, I do highly recommend reading Broken Rhodes first because A.) It's a fantastic book and B.) It introduces Kinsley and Lincoln and the mystery/tragedy/investigation which introduced them.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, perfectly paced, and gripping! I can't wait to read what Kimber Silver writes next! (More Kinsley and Linc please!)
Highly Recommend!!
Thank you to Kimber Silver who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rory (Aurora) Morris returned to her hometown to provide emotional support to her pregnant twin sisteI had a bloody good time while reading this book!
Rory (Aurora) Morris returned to her hometown to provide emotional support to her pregnant twin sister, Scarlett. Scarlett is going through a rough patch and is estranged from her long-time love and her baby's father. Needing a break, Scarlett ventured out to a local bar and met her close friend and almost flame, Ian. On her way home, Rory hit an animal and got out of her car to investigate and was attacked! Let the transformation begin!
This book will have you howling at the moon, folks! This book encompasses so many things - relationships, family, trauma, healing, love, friendship, motherhood, change, the moon, craving meat, blood, silver, and acceptance.
I loved Rory in this book. She is tough, funny, witty, caring and fierce. Ian wasn't so bad himself. They had fantastic scenes together and had me reading with a big smile on my face. I also felt for Rory as she dealt with being attacked and the feelings, cravings and changes she was going through.
I loved the wit, humor and banter in this book. This was such a fun read and so entertaining. Plus, many will enjoy this. Imo, this is not scary at all. A little horrific, but nothing over the top. I found it to be tame. It's funny and sweet while being fierce and thrilling. Sure, there is some blood but come on, it’s a werewolf book!
This was my first book by Harrison and now I will be off and running reading to sink my teeth into another of her books! Seriously, why have I not read one of her books before?
Some take always from this book:
1. Never get out of your car on a dark country road no matter what you think you hit. 2. If someone tells you to run...RUN! 3. If someone tells you not to follow them…. don't follow them. Easy enough, right? Not so much.
Entertaining with a capital 'E'!
Pulse pounding, witty, romantic and thrilling. Highly recommend!
"If we die down here, our bodies may never be recovered."
I really enjoy books that have a sense of claustrophobia - that trapped feeling. This boo"If we die down here, our bodies may never be recovered."
I really enjoy books that have a sense of claustrophobia - that trapped feeling. This book has that and then some! Deep in the Ocean's depths, there is no one around to help you if something goes wrong. If you run out of oxygen, it you come up to fast, if you get stuck, if you can't find your way out, then you are doomed!
The SS Arcadia vanished without a trace while on a routine voyage. An emergency message was sent, but the ship and its crew were never seen again. Well, that is until sixty years later when its wreckage is found. It appears the SS Arcadia went off course, and now lies on the Ocean's floor.
Cove and her team of divers have been tasked with exploring Arcadia's wreck. To document, film, and hopefully discovered why it wrecked. Easier said than done! On their first dive, things seemed strange, eerie, and pricked up the hairs on the back of their necks! Were they seeing things? Was it the cold deep depth playing tricks on them? Nothing can live this far down, where oxygen does not exist and yet, what was that out of the corner of their eyes?
"There's writing on the wall."
Claustrophobic and eerie, From Below, takes not only the divers but readers, deep below the Ocean, to a wreck, that has hidden its dark secret for sixty years. Like the Ocean waters, it is chilling and dark. As fear envelopes them, my heart was pounding as hard as theirs was!
Darcy Coates created atmosphere in this creepy setting. The ship itself is very much a character in this book. I enjoyed the other characters as well. We get to know some more than others, but that didn't hinder my enjoyed of the book. I enjoyed the sense of unease, the dark eerie setting, the spike of fear this book evoked.
I recently discovered Darcy Coates - no I have not been living under a rock- and have enjoyed the books I have read by her. I also enjoyed the two timelines in this book where we are given more and more information as the book progresses. This piqued my interest and kept me invested. I did enjoy the current timeline slightly more. Another positive is that although this book is eerie and chilling, it is not horrific in the horror sense. Which I believe will make it more appealing to many readers. Fans of Coates will enjoy this, and this is a good start if you have not read her books before.
The only downside for me was that there were some sections that felt slow but the overall sense of unease and tension, helped me to overlooks this.
Chilling, eerie and dark!
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
" A good neighbor is a priceless treasure." - Chinese Proverb
Maple Street, it looks like a lovely place to live. A place to start over. A place to" A good neighbor is a priceless treasure." - Chinese Proverb
Maple Street, it looks like a lovely place to live. A place to start over. A place to give your children a safe place to play and make friends. A place with a good community. A place to call home.
Just beware...Maple Street is not Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. No, it is Rhea Schroeder's Neighborhood. She is the queen B. You will not have to wonder for long what the "B" stands for.
Arlo and Gertie Wilde move to Maple street with their two children, Julia and Larry. Arlo is an ex-rock musician and Gertie is an ex-beauty pageant queen. They are not exactly Maple Street material. He has tattoos, she has cleavage. Some would call this sexy; some may say it is trashy, some might have a stick up their nether regions. Either way, they stand out on Maple Street. Julia becomes fast friends with their neighbor Shelly while Larry is called "Robot Boy" by the kids on the block. Gertie feels accepted when Rhea is nice to her. Perhaps, they will be the best of friends. Perhaps...
Soon things take a turn as things often do - unfortunately, they do not take a turn for the better. Tensions rise and are made worse when a sink hole opens nearby. First a dog falls in and then, Shelly, Rhea's daughter falls in as well. Unfortunately, things only go from bad to worse.
Wowza! Did you see THAT. coming? The book is good from the very beginning and only gets better as the plot unfolds. Much, much better! I could almost hear the conductor calling "All Aboard" as I rode this crazy train of a book to the very end. Talk about addictive, shocking and riveting!!! Seriously, if this book is not on your radar it needs to be!
Human nature is a funny thing. This book deals with many issues. I would name them all, but I fell I would be giving away parts of the book. But one thing I will say that it shows how a group of people can be swayed by their peers, how group mentality is emotional and not rational.
Another plus, this is not like other books I have read before. Be prepared to leave the world behind as you fall into this page turner. The plot is original, unsettling, shocking, touches on good vs. evil, and mob mentality.
I loved the tension in this book. It was like witnessing an accident about to happen but not being able to stop it. I kept wondering "can things get any worse?" Unfortunately, they can, and they do! As I mentioned, this book is full of tension, suspense, and oozing with darkness as the murk and bitumen (btw, am I the only one who had to look that word up?) oozed from the sinkhole. Plus, eew who wants to put that on your face? Gag!
Plus, there is a character named Peter Benchley. I immediately wondered if this was a nod to Jaws author Peter Benchley, or if it was a coincidence? Either way, I enjoyed his character.
Brilliant, thought provoking, intense, riveting and oozing with tension. Good Neighbors will suck you in (be careful of the bitumen), spit you out, and utterly dazzle you with its originality, darkness, and feeling of dread.
This book is set in the future but also felt that it could be set in present day until the very end. I wished I had more explanation on was the sinkhole itself, its origin, etc. but I easily overlooked my own questions as the events in this book progressed and people began to escalate.
You may also come to appreciate your own neighbors as well after reading this book.
In case I have not been clear in my review, I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling book!
Highly recommend.
Do not miss this one! I look forward to more books by Sarah Langan!
I received a copy of this book from Atria Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Enjoy the View was an enjoyable book - a very enjoyable book.
River Lane was a Hollywood starlet, determined to sill make movies, she has agreed to makEnjoy the View was an enjoyable book - a very enjoyable book.
River Lane was a Hollywood starlet, determined to sill make movies, she has agreed to make a documentary about the small town of Moose Springs, Alaska. Sounds like an easy light job, but the locals are not too welcoming too tourist (Don't let the bar/restaurant called "The Tourist Trap" fool you). Undetermined and will a strong will, River is determined to do what she set out to do - film a documentary.
A chance meeting with a mountain of a man, named Easton Lockett, leads her in the direction of a Mount Veil. Naturally, she along with Bree and Jessie (her staff helping her film her documentary) all had climbing experience. So up the mountain they went - when I say mountain, I mean Mount Veil and not Easton, who as I previously described as a mountain of a man.
This was such a fun, romantic and sassy book. I loved how River and Easton were flirty, sarcastic, and witty together. What could be better? A ROM Com with climbing involved. This was the perfect book for me. I am fascinated with climbing. My dream was to hike Kilimanjaro until a knee injury put that dream on hold, and if I am being honest, I have fantasized about Mount Everest. It will remain a dream and an interest. But I am happy to read about it and this book does not disappoint. This is book three in the Moose Springs series, Alaska series, but it worked very well as a stand-alone for me. Plus, it has ignited my interest and I plan on reading the first two books in the series. And I know I will be on the lookout for the next book. Speaking of the next book, I have my fingers crossed that Ash is front and center in the next.
The characters are fun, interesting, and instantly grew on me. I love that nothing was rushed in this book and everything fell into place at just the right time. It was riveting, endearing, funny, sexy and right up my alley. Plus, its perfect reading for this time of year.
I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own....more
Shay Goldstein has been a producer for Pacific Public radio for 10 years. Dominic Yun is a new Loved it!
This was an absolute joy from cover to cover.
Shay Goldstein has been a producer for Pacific Public radio for 10 years. Dominic Yun is a new hire, with a master’s in journalism, he thinks he knows everything about public radio. Naturally, this rubs Shay the wrong way. During a staff meeting Shay throws out an idea for a new show - a show where ex's give relationship advice. Their boss loves the idea. He also thinks Shay and Dominic would be perfect together on the air, posing as exes. They have been bickering and sparing back and forth and everyone can feel their chemistry. What perfect duo for being co-hosts for "The Ex Talk."
So, what happens when they pose as ex's? Will they be able to pull it off? Will their show be a hit? Will they fool their fans? What happens when these so-called exes begin to fall for each other?
This was a fun, flirty, sexy and smart book. The two main characters have a witty repartee both on the air and off. They are funny, sharp, likeable and intelligent. This is not your average workplace romance, its brilliant, rewarding and fun! Just what I needed.
When I requested this book, I was intrigued by the synopsis. A workplace romance set in a public radio station, hmmm interesting.... I was sure I was going to enjoy it, but this exceeded my expectations.
Well written, well thought out, perfectly paced and thankfully, the ending was not rushed. I enjoy romance books but cannot stand the rushed fast endings. This once fell into place beautifully. It is not rushed; it is not ridiculous, and it put a big smile on my face. This is ROMCOM at it's best!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own....more
"I do love nothing in the world so well as you." - William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
Evangeline (Evie) Starling decides she needs some clarit"I do love nothing in the world so well as you." - William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
Evangeline (Evie) Starling decides she needs some clarity in her life. Overlooked for a promotion and with no dating prospects in sight, she finds a holiday booking online and takes a chance. The holiday entails working at a bookstore, Much Ado about Books, over her rented apartment in an idyllic English town.
Evie instantly loves the quaint town, the residents and the bookstore. This is the perfect place for her to get some perspective. Among her new friends is Roane Robson, a local farmer who is sexy, strong, and loved by those in his community. Evie is drawn to his charm, but she has strict dating rules and keeps him at arm’s length even though she is drawn to his personality, charm and good looks.
We all know where this is heading, but it is the journey, people. It all comes down to the journey! It also comes down to the cast of characters in this book. Most are quirky, likeable, and fun while a few are aggravating and stuck in their ways. We get to know their stories and watch as they interact with others. This is a small village where everyone knows your name (like Cheers), you are related to them, or have a past with them. The good, the bad, the messy, everyone knows your business, but they also have your back and look out for you. The setting in Northumberland is wonderful and I could not help but think that this is the type of place I would like to visit.
In addition to the lovely characters and the beautiful setting, the story itself is engaging and drew me in. Again, it is about the journey here. Evie as well as other characters are on journeys, to grow, to get perspective, to get independence, to get acceptance, and to find love. I loved the banter and back and forth between many of the characters. Evie and Roane stole the show of course (as did Shadow). They kept me turning the pages to see how things would turn out. The pacing was perfect, and nothing felt drawn out or rushed in this book. This was a delight and I look forward to reading more of Samantha Young's books. Plus, it turns out there really is a bookshop holiday in the lowlands of Scotland. Samantha Young found the listing for it, while searching vacation listings online. This listing ignited her imagination and thus, Much Ado about You.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
This is one of those books I want to tell everyone to read. Just say READ IT. End of Story. I loved that this book worked perfectly as a stand-alone fThis is one of those books I want to tell everyone to read. Just say READ IT. End of Story. I loved that this book worked perfectly as a stand-alone for me. Not having read the other books in the series, I did not feel as if I was missing out at all. Having said that, now that I have read this book, I am inclined to go back and read both Detective D.D. Warren and Gardner Universe book series. Seriously, how great was it that she combined two of her popular series and combined them? Brilliant!
In this book, Gardner combined three strong and compelling female characters: Detective D.D. Warren, Flora Dane, and Kimberly Quincy. My hand is in the air, enthusiastically waving for more books with this combination of women.
FBI Special Agent, Kimberly Quincy, and Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren have formed a task force to follow deceased serial kidnapper and rapist Jacob Ness. Flora Dane was kidnapped by Ness and having survived her horrifying time with him, is now dedicated to helping the investigators and others who have been harmed as she was.
This trio of women along with Keith, a computer analyst and true crime enthusiast (who has eyes for Flora), has come to Niche, a small town in the hills of Georgia where the bodies are piling up and no one is talking. There they meet a young female, who does not speak except through her art, who has been named "the girl" by "family". Could she be the answer? Is she the missing link or clue they have been looking for? Will they ever find the extent of the damage that Jacob Ness has committed? Is this only the beginning? Is there even evil out there?
The Hills in Georgia are not alive with the sound of music, they are alive with the sounds of evil. Evil, that has been around a long time. Small towns hold secrets. Secrets that the inhabitants will do anything to keep buried. There is a web of lies, deceit, evil, murder, and depravity.
This book was a real page-turner for me. There was tension throughout the book. I loved how the story was told from various points of view. This added to the tension and helped set the mood for the book. This book was dripping with suspense. There is the mystery of course, but the human factor, really made this book unputdownable for me. I was riveted to the pages and didn't want to put this book down. Like the team, I was on the case trying to figure out who the evil man was, hoping for Bonita /the girl's safety, and hoping that everyone makes it out alive.
I really enjoyed that this felt like a fresh, new unique tale. I mention this because lately, I have been feeling as if I am reading the same story just wrapped up in a different package (cover). Not this one. This felt completely original and was a breath of fresh air for this mystery/thriller book lover. Gardner did her research in interviewing a nonverbal subject and spoke with many consultants to get aspects of an FBI investigation correct. You will still need to suspend some disbelief while reading this one, but I didn't mind and I don't think anyone else will either.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to Lisa Gardner, Penguin Group Dutton, NetGalley and Edelweiss who provided me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, I loved it! All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Boy meets girl in a cemetery. The girl is driven away in a white SUV. The boy sees the same girl in the same cemetery on the same bench one year later..Boy meets girl in a cemetery. The girl is driven away in a white SUV. The boy sees the same girl in the same cemetery on the same bench one year later...
Kismet? You decide!
The description calls this book "A haunting tale of suspense." but it's more than that. For me, this was also a love story, J.D. Barker Style. There are many kinds of love in this book - love for family, love for friends, romantic love, etc. Family is also a theme. What makes a family? It's not just those we are related to, it is those who are in our community, our friends, those who we have grown up with and have grown with, it can be the lady across the hall of the man who is hard of hearing who flips burgers where you work. Love, family, gunfire, death, burnt bodies, secret labs, obsession, and the search for the truth!
"You have been in every line I have ever read." -Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
Jack Thatch (John Edward Thatch) a.k.a Pip was visiting his parent's graves with his Aunt Jo, the first time he met Stella, sitting on a bench in the cemetery with her favorite book, Great Expectations. From that moment on, he can't get her out of his mind. Then he sees her again in the same place a year later. Who is this mysterious young Stella? Who are the people with her? What's with all the white clothes and cars?
Detective Brier has been noticing things or shall I say, dead people. Those like the man whose body was found in an alleyway burned but his clothing remains intact, untouched by whatever burned him. It happens every year on August 9th. Soon Detective Fogel is on the case as well.
Then there is Subject "D" a young boy in a mysterious lab, who wears a mask and is not permitted to speak to anyone. He is powerful, and those who have him there, never want him to leave. He is kept alone, growing, thinking, imagining....
All these things and people are connected in intricate and interesting ways. This is a BIG book, there is a lot going on - it's easy to digest but some of it will break your heart. Barker quotes Great Expectations in this book; however, while reading one scene from this book I was reminded of a quote from another book": "He does something to me, that boy. Every time. It's his only detriment. He steps on my heart. He makes me cry." - Markus Zusak, Book Thief. Well, he did it. Barker made me cry with that one scene. This book is reminiscent of early King and Koontz. King fans know he is not afraid to kill his darlings....so who will Barker kill in this book? He had me grabbing my tissues.
For those that have read Barker's other books, this one is a little different but just as wonderful. Here he shows us a different side. He also shows us character development, he gives us a glimpse into his character's lives over a span of time. We see them grow, change, make mistakes, get knocked down, get back up, keep on going. In his 4MK series, we see character development throughout his series, in this book, we see it over the span of these character's lives. Besides being a love story, this is also a coming of age story with a sci-fi, suspense/thriller plot.
This book is not as fast-paced as his other books, yet it is just as rewarding. Keep in mind, that even though I am saying it is not as fast-paced, in no way am I saying it is slow - it's not. This book keeps building, just like Jack and Stella, it keeps growing. There are characters to love and characters who are creepy, characters who are bad and those who are a mixture of both good and bad. There are those you will root for, those who you wish would do better, and then there was "D". There is a human factor here, these characters will get under your skin, and their plight will have you feeling all kinds of emotions.
Like his other books, this book was beautifully written and came together brilliantly. Nothing felt rushed or drawn out. I found the pacing to be perfect. I found this book to be compelling and I was riveted to the pages, turning them as fast as my schedule would allow. I loved getting to know these characters and reading where Barker took them. Plus, he has me wanting to read Great Expectations again, and again and again.
Highly Recommend! As long as Barker keeps writing, I’ll keep reading! He’s the real deal and has proven he can and will deliver book after book.
P.S. Don’t overlook the “From the Author” section at the end.
Thank you to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, it was fantastic! All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
In an Instant....thank goodness I had tissues on hand.
In an Instant, lives are changed forever. Sixteen-year-old Finn is dead after a tragic car accidIn an Instant....thank goodness I had tissues on hand.
In an Instant, lives are changed forever. Sixteen-year-old Finn is dead after a tragic car accident. Finn keeps vigil, watching as those she loves struggle to survive and move on with their lives.
Add me to the list of people who sat down and read this book in one day. Whew! I won’t tell you anything else about the book except that it is a moving, thought provoking look at what loss does to an individual and to a family. The choices and sacrifices people make to survive. The tears shed and the grief that comes after tragedy. For me this was a tearjerker. I didn't want to put this book down as I wanted to know what would happen next. How these people and families would cope. This is also a character study on human nature - what will people do to survive. Will they go against their nature or will their true nature be shown? When ordinary people are put in extraordinary situations, what choices will they make?
Grab some tissues and a comfy spot to read as this is absorbing, emotional, engrossing, moving, and thought provoking. It is well written, and nothing felt rushed or drawn out. Don't stop reading when the book ends, the Author's note is informative and tells of her own childhood story of survival.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own....more
This book had me at the description of it being a cross between Fried Green Tomatoes, Steel Magnolias a"We're not a lynch mob, we're a book club."
This book had me at the description of it being a cross between Fried Green Tomatoes, Steel Magnolias and Dracula! What’s not to love about that?
Patricia Campbell gave up her career as a nurse, to be stay at home Mother raising her two children with a distant husband. Her book club was her one escape. It was a place where she could indulge her love to true crime and suspenseful fiction.
When a man moves in next door, she is intrigued but her interest is soon turned to mistrust, and she soon discovers that he is not as he seems. After a gruesome and sinister discovery, she knows what he is, but will anyone believe her? Does she suffer from an overactive imagination? Is her choice in books affecting her judgement? (I know the answer to that must be NO, otherwise I am in a whole lot of trouble myself!) Is she mentally ill? Or is she right?
This was a fun, light read with some gruesome scenes and it hit the spot. This book sucked me in, and after it grabbed hold, I could not get away (see what I did there?) This book has spunk, wit, blood and guts. All the things I hoped for in this book.
An enjoyable read especially during this time of social distancing. But that cockroach scene -- not that I could have done without! What, a cockroach? Read it be grossed out too! Otherwise, fun, light, witty, and a little gory.
"There have to be more ways to stay alive than to be witness to so much death."
Based upon a true story, Cilka's Journey tells that tale of Cilka w"There have to be more ways to stay alive than to be witness to so much death."
Based upon a true story, Cilka's Journey tells that tale of Cilka who was sixteen years old when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, in 1942. There she gained the attention of the Commandant, and is kept separate from the other women, she is allowed to have her hair long, to have "nice" things.... but nothing is free, everything has a cost. Wanting to survive she does what she can, all the while trying to help others.
At the end of the war, she believes she is free, it is over, she can pick up the pieces of her life, but life is not kind, sometimes it is quite cruel, and she is found to be a collaborator for "sleeping" with the enemy, plus she had the gift of language and spoke several languages, certainly she is a spy (as well as a whore). Oh, how that made my blood boil. Her sentence is being sent to a Siberian prison/work camp. Yet again, she cannot escape the unwanted attention (rape) from men. Seriously, let's be real "sleeping with the enemy" and "unwanted attention" are rape, which the women were subjected to time and time again. Her only solace is finding a place in the hospital, where she falls under the wing of a female doctor and finds purpose helping others, giving them solace and saving lives.
"To forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time."- Elie Wiesel
I found this book to be well written, well researched, thought provoking, moving, captivating and heartbreaking. I love books based on true stories and people. This book was no exception. There are some scenes which may make some people uncomfortable, but I feel they are also necessary for the telling of Cilka's story. There was a scene in the book where one character showed sacrifice and gave a "gift to another character. I couldn't help but think of Holocaust Survivor Gerda Weissman Klein who told the story of her friend, Isle, who found a raspberry on a leaf in a Nazi labor camp and instead of eating it, saved it and gave it to Gerda at the end of the day. Gerta said “Can you conceive of a world in which your entire possession becomes one raspberry, and to give this treasure to your friend?” Cilka does not give a raspberry, but she gives an even greater gift in this book.
I thought about MA (Grandmother) a lot during reading this book. She was fifteen when she entered Auschwitz and also received "unwanted attention" and had every single one of her teeth punched out by a Nazi. Strongest woman I ever had the privilege and pleasure of knowing and loving.
This is an emotional tale which gives a glimpse into one woman's life and experiences in both Auschwitz and a Siberian Labor Camp. The cold and snow also become characters in this desolate landscape where the only warmth comes from the close friendships the characters have with others.
This is a story of survival, courage, friendship, love, caring, hatred, rape, racism and cruelty. It is equally inspiring and heartbreaking. I suggest reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz prior to reading this book. Cilka is first introduced in that book as a minor character. Due to interest in her, Morris began to research her life.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own....more
"...for what good is it to rescue yourself if you leave behind the person you love the most?"
I don't think that I can do justice to this beautiful"...for what good is it to rescue yourself if you leave behind the person you love the most?"
I don't think that I can do justice to this beautifully written tale of love, family, faith, resistance, longing, grief, pain, sacrifice, duty, and what it means to be alive. Hoffman's writing is heartbreakingly beautifully, sad, hopeful and joyful at times during this novel- but mainly it's dripping with a sadness so deep it leaps from the pages and affects the reader (at least it affected this reader). She also utilizes Jewish folklore/mysticism and has a Golem as a main character as well. Speaking of characters in this book, there are many in this book whose paths cross, their stories are unique and yet their individual stories have the same theme - loss of family, loss of a parent or parents, loss of a sibling, loss of freedom, and a loss of one's home.
."Heart of my heart, love of my life, the one loss I will never survive."
In the beginning of the book, a Mother, Hanni Kohn, seeks out a Rabbi hopping to save her twelve-year-old daughter, Lea. She does not meet with the Rabbi that night, but instead meets with his daughter, Ettie, who has listened to her father for years, and creates a Golem she names Ava who is sworn to protect Lea.
"When you have lost your mother you have lost the world."
Hanni sends her daughter away with Ava, choosing to stay behind with her Mother who is too ill to flee. Ave and Lea are not the only ones who flee, Ettie and her younger sister flee as well, fearing the Nazi regime and the dangers or the time. Both sets must leave their Mother's behind in hopes of saving their own lives.
"Their time here was over, it was already in the past."
The young girls/women in this book are not the only characters, there are two brothers, Victor and Julien, who have lost members of their families as well. They are trying to survive in a world where they are unwanted, branded criminals, hunted, and turned away by those they once called friends.
"...people always lost what they loved the most."
All paths collide in this heartbreaking tale of cruelty, hatred, evil, courage and love. Evil exists in this book as does goodness. There are characters whose kindness and beauty shine through, who will sacrifice all that they have to give in order to save those condemned by the Nazis. Those who saved lives in their own quiet way, those who did anything and everything they could to prevent evil from prevailing, who aided the resistance, who saved as many men, women and children as they could.
"Remember when I loved you above all others and you loved me in return."
The relationships in this book are wonderful, the imagery dances off the page just as Ava danced with the heron at night. There is something magical going on here. Hoffman has a gift with words and has created a masterpiece. She has created a story with characters having deep and meaningful relationships, having impact on each other and themselves, all the while fighting for their lives, the lives of others and for the chance to be together once again.
"Find me before I disappear."
Hoffman had me from page one, heck she had me at the note in the beginning before the book started. I found this book to be captivating, heartbreaking, hard to put down, thought provoking and moving. I included some of my favorite passage in this review. They speak for themselves. So, I will simply speak to those reading this review, and simply say read this book.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own....more
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
Fifteen-year-old Broady Sande"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
Fifteen-year-old Broady Sanden is growing up in the Ozark hills with his widowed mother. He is also the new kid at St. Ignatius High School and the transition has not been an easy one. He has dreams of leaving one day and going out into the world, but for the time being, he is stuck going to school, working at his job, spending time with his neighbor, Hoke, who always seems to be on his front porch. Hoke is a mysterious man who doesn't like to talk about his past and yet is very engaged in Broady's life. Hoke has taught him to fish, change the oil on a car and even allowed him to adopt his dog.
Soon there is a change coming to the neighborhood. New neighbors will be moving in and there is also a woman missing from the town. Linda Poe, an African American Woman, who kept books for a local company has gone missing along with a hundred thousand dollars. The new neighbors are also of interest and some in the community are not happy with another African American family moving to town.
As we get to know the characters in this book, it is evident who most of the good and bad guys are. There is an underlying tension in the town. There is a group called the CORPS (white supremacists) who have a very us vs. them mentality. Danger lurks around every corner.
"Small-minded people feed off each other, and before you know it, you have mobs, and you have burning crosses, and lynching's."
As the book progresses, the relationships shined for me: the relationship between Broady and his new neighbor, Thomas; the relationship between Broady and Hoke; the relationship between Jenna and Broady's mom and the relationship between Broady and his Mother.
"It seemed like every time I turned around that summer, I learned something new about my mother."
Over the course of the summer, things would change drastically in this small southern town. Secrets would be known, mysteries would be solved, friendships would be made, the danger would lurk, the tension would rise, and Broady would learn that someone could be a member of your family without being related to you.
"Over the years, I would try to go back to the memory of that afternoon, pull it from the ruins and clean away the stains, but some things just can't be done."
Coming of age, coming to terms with the harsh realities of life, family, friendship, racism, loyalty, danger, ignorance, acceptance and letting go. This book was thought-provoking, tear-producing, heart wrenching and powerful. This is another exceptional, riveting, and emotionally moving read by Eskens. He waited a long time to finish this book but when he did, he left me speechless.
I highly recommend this book. It has everything I love - beautiful writing, a suspenseful mystery, character development, flawed individuals, emotional moving sections, impactful scenes, deep relationships and characters to root for. Plus, this book didn't shy away from showing cruelty, hatred and prejudice. This is a book that had me pausing to think and grab for the Kleenex.
Gut-wrenching, captivating, emotionally moving and thought-provoking. Another must-read by Eskens....more
If you are in a reading slump, if you want to feel good, if you want to read a book with well-developed characters dealing with real life issues - REAIf you are in a reading slump, if you want to feel good, if you want to read a book with well-developed characters dealing with real life issues - READ THIS BOOK!
I'm not going to say too much about the plot as the book synopsis nails it. What I will say is what worked for me. I was immediately drawn into the world of these well-developed characters who had their own quirks and distinct personalities. Some were entertaining, some were interesting, some were lovable, some you wanted to shake, but either way they all were beautifully flawed and felt extremely real. Their relationships with others felt believable and I loved some of their eye rolling interchanges.
Lisa Duffy took real life issues such as soldiers experiencing PTSD, addiction, being a single parent, love, loss and grief, and wrote a beautiful novel about people the reader grows to care about dealing with and supporting each other through these issues. There are some sad parts, some heart break, some endings, but there are also beginnings, and new starts.
I love books which cause me to think and feel. I was cheering for some characters, feeling heartbroken for others during various parts of the novel. I was happy when they were happy and felt anxious during certain scenes. This is to the Author's credit. She can pull the heart strings of her readers by making us feel for her characters.
I found the pacing to be spot on. There was never a dull moment and to tell the truth when the book was over, I wanted more. This book became a page turner for me as I read most of the book today in one sitting.
Highly recommend.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own....more
"But that's the beauty of a book. It can take you places you can't visit on your own, lets you meet people and see things you can't in real4.5 Stars
"But that's the beauty of a book. It can take you places you can't visit on your own, lets you meet people and see things you can't in real life."
Sarah Dove has a gift (all of the Dove sisters do!). Books speak to her, they tell her who needs to read them, they don't tell her why, but they are never wrong. As the town librarian, she places books and readers together. Then one day a book tells her about the arrival of Grace Wheeler. The books whisper to Sarah that Grace will be the one to save the town and return it to its former glory.
Grace Wheeler and her sister Hannah bounced from foster home to foster home until they were placed with Mama G. There they found a home and Grace discovered the joy of reading and a connection with Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Now an adult, Grace has quit her job and moved to Mama G's hometown of Dove Pond to care for Mama G and her niece. Both who desperately need her. Grace has no intentions of making this town her own. She plans to stay a short time before heading back to the city. But the books, Sarah and the townspeople have other plans.
I did not want to put this book down (so I didn't). It had so many things going for it: a librarian who found the perfect books for each reader (actually the books choose the readers), a strong female lead who was strong and vulnerable at the same time, Mama G (man, did she have me crying), a wounded vet, a little magical realism and likable (even lovable) characters. This is the first in the series so here I am doing a happy dance.
This was the perfect summer read for me. At times light and fun, other times it touches on serious issues - PTSD, Alzheimer’s, and grief to name a few. But it also touches on finding a family, being a friend, love, human connections, being part of a community, starting over, taking chances and letting people in. I didn't want to put this book down. I was absorbed in the story and even though it is a little predictable it did not affect my enjoyment of the book in any way. The Book is called “The Book Charmer” which is Sarah, but the book is more about Grace and her family. I have a strong feeling that Sarah will be the focus of the next book (fingers crossed). I wanted a little more at the end. It did feel as if the book ended a little abruptly but there was an epilogue which tied some things up. There will be more books in the series so I know there will be more to come with the quirky enjoyable characters.
*Plus, it has a beautiful cover!
Thank you to Gallery Pocket Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own....more
"I've poured the best of myself into this story and I invite you to experience all of its remarkable twists and turns. As Odie says in the very begin"I've poured the best of myself into this story and I invite you to experience all of its remarkable twists and turns. As Odie says in the very beginning 'Open yourself to every possibility, for there is nothing your heart can imagine that is not so.' Blessings, -William Kent Krueger
True to his word, William Kent Krueger did pour his heart and soul into this book. His writing is both moving and beautiful. I found myself highlighting large sections of text. He has the heart of a poet. If you have read one of his other books Ordinary Grace you will know what I mean. He has the gift to make everyday events, and ordinary people exquisite. His main character Odie is also a storyteller and this book has passages where Odie is telling stories to his friends.
"The tale I am going to tell is of a summer long ago. Of killing and kidnapping and children pursued by demons of a thousand names. There will be courage in this story and cowardice. There will be love and betrayal. And, of course, there will be hope. In the end, isn't that what every good story is about?"
The book opens as an old man, Odie O'Banion is looking back at his life, specifically back to Minnesota, 1932 when he, his older brother, Albert, and their friends, Moses and Emmy embark on a journey. A journey to escape the horrors that exist at the Lincoln School, a home where Native American children are being educated after being separated from their families. Although, Odie, Albert and Emmy are not Native American they all under the care of the woman who runs the school. As they make their escape, the four meet some interesting people. Some good, some bad, but all with stories of their own.
"Stories are the sweet fruit of my existence and I share them gladly."
The beauty in this book is not just in the wonderful writing, but in the descriptions of the people and the time/era in which they live in. I felt as if I was right there in the canoe as a quiet observer as they made their escape and had their interactions with others. Odie is a young teen when he goes on this journey and matures along the way as he confronts the harsh realities of life. He is not the only character who changes and grows. The others change and grow as well.
There are discussions about God in this book. God as a tornado, God as a savior and God as being part of the land. There is a level of spirituality that runs through the book, but this book is never preachy or overbearing. Some of the characters in this book have faith while other's question theirs. The author is not asking the reader to have it, nor is he trying to cram anything down the readers throat.
"Ask me, God's right here. In the dirt, the rain, the sky, the trees, the apples, the stars in the cottonwoods. In you and me, too. It's all connected to God. Sure, this is hard work, but it's good work because it's part of what connects us to this land, Buck. This beautiful, tender land."
I savored every page of this beautifully written book. This book has a little bit of everything. It has a little bit of magic, a little bit of drama, some history, some romance, coming of age and learning about and knowing yourself. It's also about acceptance, courage, responsibility, friendship, family, and love. Family comes in all forms and these children created a loving cohesive family unit which was a joy to read.
I highly recommend this book. READ IT! When you are done with this book, do yourself a favor and pick up Ordinary Grace and read that as well.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thought and opinions expressed in this review are my own....more
"How can you recognize a Semite?" Throw her in the back of a Nazi truck with her hands tied too tightly behind her back, and point a German g4.5 stars
"How can you recognize a Semite?" Throw her in the back of a Nazi truck with her hands tied too tightly behind her back, and point a German gun at her head."
Ahh, the Ritz. A grand and glamorous hotel which hosts Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald to name a few. It is the place to see and be seen. It is where Blanche Auzello, who is American, and her French Husband and Hotel Director, Claude Auzello live. They use the glamour of the Ritz to mask the trouble in their marriage. Then in June 1940, the German Army sweeps into Paris and uses the Ritz (and other hotels) to set up their headquarters. Their safe haven from the world and their troubled marriage, is not so safe anymore. Both have secrets, both live secret lives which they live while trying to walk a fine line between keeping their "guests" happy and their staff alive.
The books begins with the couple meeting and showcases the issues in their marriage, their cultural issues and through the use of differing POV, chapters, the reader is given each character's inner thoughts, motivations and secrets. Some have found the beginning to be slow, but I actually enjoyed the pace. I appreciated how the Author took her time introducing each character and their marital issues. I thought this was nicely done to show how they grew to keep secrets, had misconceptions about the other, lacked effective communication skills and how this affected each other throughout their marriage and especially during a time of great danger. They loved each other, but how well did they know each other?
"It is devastating to see a loved one suffer; it is harder to bear than you own pain. Love is despair, love is delight. Love is fear, love is hope. Love is mercy. Love is anger.".
This book was inspired by the real-life couple and the use of the Ritz during the invasion by the Nazi's during the war. As not much is written about the real-life Claude and Blanche Auzello, the Author did fictionalize their lives. I enjoy books about real life events and people. Even though very little is know about the actual couple that these characters is based upon, the contribution to the Ritz and the war effort have been documented even if minimally. While reading this, I couldn't help but wonder, "would I have been so brave?", "would I have risked so much?"
I enjoyed the story which showed how people resisted in their own way, how people found courage and offered help to others at great risk to themselves. This book is historical fiction, but it also examines a marriage over a course of time. This is a book about love, about courage, about pain, about loss, about fear, about the war, about resistance, and the hardships of war. This is a great book for discussion as it touches on many issues. I was captivated by the book and was sucked into these characters lives. There are many characters, including the Ritz itself.
This was a Traveling Sisters Group Read.
Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions are my own....more
A book about senses, about scents, and how they can transport us places, bringing up memories, and reminding us of important events in our li4.5 stars
A book about senses, about scents, and how they can transport us places, bringing up memories, and reminding us of important events in our lives. Have you ever heard the question, "If you could give up one of your senses which would you give up?" Many may choose the ability to smell. Many would choose differently after reading this book.
This is also a book about secrets, about growing up, about finding love, about grief, and about starting over. It's about finding a friend, being a family, finding love, and the role of secrets and guilt in our lives.
Emmeline lives on a remote island with her father who tells her fairy tales which he uses as life lessons for her. They live off the land and the "items" which magically show up on their shores. Her father is an interesting man. He has a machine he takes out on rare occasions. A machine which produces papers which he places in small glass bottles and seals with wax.
One day Emmeline must leave the island and all the she knows to begin a new life full new and interesting challenges. One thing she brings with her is her very own strong ability to recognize scents and how they tell her a story. As she grows and matures, she begins her own quest fueled by her need for the need for truth, scents and to learn more about herself.
I often find it difficult to review books, I truly enjoy. Those reviews take longer. I want to get them right and ponder over what I want to say. I usually just want to type "read this book" in capital letters and be done with it. So, I will say that. READ THIS BOOK. Reading the synopsis, one might think, huh, a book about scents, isolated islands and finding your own identity and be concerned whether he/she will enjoy it. But I believe that most will be swept away by this book. I found the writing to be beautiful and the Author easily transported me to every location in her book. All the characters were fully fleshed out and interesting -even the despicable ones.
The way the Author writes about scents and how they tell a story, how each individual can smell something and be transported back in time, perhaps to a grandmother's kitchen while she was cooking, or to that camp you attended as child, whatever the case may be, all of us have certain scents we enjoy.
This book is a keeper. It is unique, lyrical, thought provoking and often felt like a fairy tale itself. So, as I said before, read the book and judge for yourself.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more
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