Marilyn (recuperating from hip replacement surgery
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Books:
marilyn-s-challenge
(741)
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| B0C1X7LZ3S
| 3.93
| 29,968
| Mar 05, 2024
| Mar 05, 2024
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really liked it
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Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (Finlay Donovan, #4) by Elle Cosimano was every bit as fast paced, exciting and hold your breath suspenseful as the othe
Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (Finlay Donovan, #4) by Elle Cosimano was every bit as fast paced, exciting and hold your breath suspenseful as the other books in this series. Finlay and Vero have become the friends that I continuously enjoy welcoming back into my life and heart. Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice picked up exactly where their last installment left off. Finlay and Vero were headed to Atlantic City on the pretense of wanting a girl’s weekend away. They found themselves accompanied by Finlay’s children, mother and ex-husband. With Finlay and Vero at the helm of this girl’s weekend escape, it was expected that it would turn out to be anything but the expected calm and relaxing time it was meant to be. Finlay and Vero were on a mission to find Javi. Be prepared for dead bodies, confrontations, lots of sleuthing, a lost dog with a reward offered for its return, new and familiar characters and of course romance. This series never gets dull for me! I expected twists and turns, drama and situations that only Elle Cosimano could have dreamed up and made believable and that was exactly what I got in this book. The ending was unexpected and made me want to read the next book in this series even more. I really enjoyed reading Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice and highly recommend it. Thank you to Minotaur Books for allowing me to read Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 14, 2024
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Mar 16, 2024
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Jul 24, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1250317959
| 9781250317957
| 4.64
| 574,893
| Feb 06, 2024
| Feb 06, 2024
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it was amazing
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I absolutely loved this book! It brought back so many memories of that time in my life. I was in high school when the Vietnam War was happening. So ma
I absolutely loved this book! It brought back so many memories of that time in my life. I was in high school when the Vietnam War was happening. So many of the boys that I was friends with were so nervous about what draft numbers they would be assigned. I was so relieved to discover that my own brother had gotten a very high number and that his hearing loss was significant enough to eliminate him from being sent to Vietnam. I remember that my friends and I had all purchased POW bracelets and wore them every day no matter what. The 1960’s through the 1970’s was a very volatile time. The spread of communism was a major concern, the assassination of President Kennedy was still fresh on everyone’s minds and then the draft was established for Vietnam and so many young boys were called upon to serve their country. As I look back now, especially after reading The Women by Kristin Hannah, I have to admit that I knew so little about what really occurred during that war, especially to the women who served so courageously. Frances “Frankie” McGrath was brought up on Coronado Island. Frankie and her older brother, Finley, were as close as any brother and sister could be. Finley had just been enlisted by the Navy to serve his country in Vietnam. Frankie’s parents had thrown a party for Finley to celebrate his departure. During the party, Frankie found herself in her father’s office. Above her father’s desk was the “wall of heroes”. All the men in Frankie’s family that had bravely fought in a war were represented on that wall. It was that particular night that Frankie decided that her picture would also hang among the other heroes in her family. Frankie had recently completed her nursing degree and was working in a hospital. She would volunteer to become a nurse in Vietnam. Frankie was discouraged at first when the Navy, Air Force and Marines told her that she needed to complete at least two years of training stateside before they would even consider sending Frankie to Vietnam, and then it was still doubtful. Not ready to give up, Frankie went to the army recruitment center and was met with positive results. Frankie was recruited by the army and was leaving for Vietnam in a couple of weeks. From now on, Frankie would be known as Lieutenant Frances McGrath. Frankie’s parents were not pleased with her decision. They argued that girls had no place in war. Why had she chosen to do this? There was no talking her out of it. When Frankie arrived in Vietnam as part of the Army Nurse Corps, she immediately questioned her decision for coming to this country. She had not known what she was expecting but it was not what she saw. There was no easing her way into things. Frankie was immediately made a surgical nurse even though she had no prior training. Any amount of training, though, could never had prepared Frankie for the severity of wounds that she would encounter in Vietnam. They were gruesome and terrifying but Frankie had to make herself numb to the things she saw. Frankie had to learn how to assist the surgeon she was working with and hold the hands of too many dying soldiers. She never imagined that Vietnam would be this bad. Her two bunk members, Ethel and Barb, became her best friends and saviors. The three women developed the kind of friendship that lasted a lifetime. Frankie had originally signed up for one tour or a year’s commitment but near the end of her first year, Frankie knew she could not go home yet. They needed her in Vietnam. She had become an excellent surgical nurse. Even though Frankie was affected by the bombs, the many orphaned and injured children that were brought to the triage center and the numerous deaths she was made to witness, Frankie was proud of all the accomplishments and differences she had made in Vietnam. It was finally time for Frankie to leave Vietnam and go home to Coronado Island. Both Ethel and Barb had been stateside for a while. When Frankie’s plane landed and she exited the plane, she was not expecting what awaited her. As she made her way off the plane, a large group of protesters were gathered. Frankie was spit at, avoided, called out for killing women and children and told to go back to where she came from. There were no “thank you for serving her country “ or any words of appreciation for her service. This was not anything Frankie could have anticipated. Even Frankie’s parents were embarrassed by her time she served in Vietnam. They would not recognize or honor Frankie’s time in Vietnam. Frankie had a hard time adjusting to civilian life. Every time she heard a loud noise she thought she was back in Vietnam under attack. Frankie was having difficulty sleeping without waking up from terrifying nightmares about Vietnam. The worst thing about being home was that no one believed her when she told them she was in Vietnam. If Frankie heard one more person say, “ there were no women in Vietnam “ she would scream. Not only was she there but she saved more lives than she ever expected to, lost too many friends and survived to come home. Frankie was not the young naive girl she was when she left anymore. Vietnam had changed her. Why did everyone Frankie came in contact with deny that women had served in Vietnam? When I discovered that Kristin Hannah had written a new book I was so excited! The Women was such a moving book. I was totally captivated by the premise for this book especially since it explored the role of women in the Vietnam War. Never once, had I ever heard the mention of any women or any of their contributions in this war. I applaud Kristin Hannah for her meticulous research and for bringing these incredible, brave and courageous women to life and for telling their stories. The Women was about bravery, friendships, family, dangers, courage, PTSD, adjustments, acceptance, learning how to move on, substance abuse and the effects of war. I listened to the audiobook that was brilliantly read by Julia Whelan, one of my most favorite narrators. In my opinion, The Woman was one of the best books that Kristin Hannah has ever written. It touched all my emotions. I thought I knew a lot about the Vietnam War but apparently I was mistaken. The brave women who placed their lives in danger and gave selfishly to help the wounded have earned my respect and honor. Thank you for all you did and for all you suffered when you returned home. Kristin Hannah’s author note at the conclusion of The Women was inspiring and very informative. The Women was a true five star book for me and I highly recommend it. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Women by Kristin Hannah through Netgalley in exchange for an honest and voluntary review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 02, 2024
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Feb 07, 2024
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Jul 24, 2023
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Audiobook
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| unknown
| 3.98
| 2,355
| Mar 26, 2024
| Mar 26, 2024
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really liked it
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The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves was such a heartbreaking yet hopeful book. Years ago, I had read On the Island by Tracey Garvis Grave
The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves was such a heartbreaking yet hopeful book. Years ago, I had read On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves and had found it to be such an enjoyable read. It was a book that I had recommended to my friends without any hesitation. There was no doubt in my mind when I saw that Tracey Garvis Graves had written another book that I wanted read it. I was so glad that I did. The audiobook of The Trail of Lost Hearts was a good choice for me. The narrations that were performed by Kate Hendford and Eric Meyers were both excellent. Their performances almost made me feel like the characters were old friends and like I was right there beside them on their adventures. Tracey Garvis Graves made it easy to visualize the early scenes in Ohio and later the scenic landscape of Oregon. The characters were likable and very believable and the pace of the book was just right. I was drawn into the story immediately. Sometimes it was hard to pull myself away from it. I still find myself thinking about The Trail of Lost Hearts as I did after I finished On the Island. Tracey Garvis Graves’ masterful storytelling was responsible for that. Wren Waters was a thirty-four year old woman who was suffering from a great loss and an act of deceit. All Wren wanted was to be left alone so she could wallow in her own self pity and anger. After several weeks of putting up with this behavior, Wren’s best friend Stephanie, had finally convinced Wren to get out of bed and leave her apartment to go geocaching with her. Even though Wren had never been geocaching and knew little about it, she agreed to go with Stephanie. Wren enjoyed geocaching more than she thought she was going to. That excursion led Wren to plan a solo geocaching vacation. Wren’s friends, especially Stephanie, were not sure why Wren was going on this vacation. She was traveling from Ohio to Oregon so she could accomplish this. Wren knew that she had to get away from Ohio, her thoughts and feelings and was convinced that this trip would be good for her even though her friends disagreed. Wren needed time by herself to think and try and figure things out and do a little geocaching at the same time. When Wren arrived in Oregon she drove to a state park where she planned on beginning her solo adventure of geocaching. She almost immediately found herself standing in front of a tall and handsome man. The man tried to make polite conversation with Wren and even introduced himself as Marshall Hendricks. Wren wanted nothing to do with this attractive man, though. The last thing Wren was looking for was the company of a man. Wren was sure that she would never be able to trust another man in her lifetime. As handsome as this man was, Wren just turned and started on her way to start her adventure. Unfortunately, Wren had not gone very far before she spotted a group of three uncanny men that made her very nervous. There was something about these men that scared Wren. Her instincts were correct to be on high alert. The intentions of these men became apparent almost immediately to Wren. Fortunately for Wren, Marshall, the man she had met when she first arrived, came to her defense. Marshall and Wren escaped. Wren was so shaken from the experience that when Marshall suggested that they team up and go geocaching together, Wren agreed but reluctantly. She knew that she was safer with Marshall than alone but she knew little about Marshall and her defenses were up. Marshall revealed to Wren that he was a thirty-six year old psychologist also on a geocaching vacation. Wren and Marshall would learn a lot about each other in the coming days. Little did they realize that they were both grieving. Had their grief brought them together? Why had their paths crossed? Could they help each other heal? The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves was such an emotional read for me. I found myself smiling, crying and hoping. It was told mostly from Wren’s perspective but near the end Marshall made his POV heard. I loved the ending of this book even though I was sad to say goodbye to Wren and Marshall. I really felt like I knew them and wanted to continue on their journey with them. It was refreshing to meet characters who were strong and smart, yet quite vulnerable at the same time. I admired how Wren had to make some very hard and difficult decisions and yet she never wavered no matter how difficult they seemed at times. The Trail of Lost Hearts left a lasting impression on me. I highly recommend it if you enjoy women’s fiction. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 20, 2024
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Mar 22, 2024
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Jul 24, 2023
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Audiobook
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| 1804549835
| 9781804549858
| B0BS497J23
| 4.25
| 271
| unknown
| Jul 06, 2023
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really liked it
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Escape to Tuscany was a well written debut novel by Kat Devereaux. It was written in a dual timeline. The setting for this novel took place in and aro
Escape to Tuscany was a well written debut novel by Kat Devereaux. It was written in a dual timeline. The setting for this novel took place in and around the cities of Florence and Romituzzo in both 2019 and in 1944. Both female protagonists, although separated by decades, were strong, determined, committed and courageous women. Both women experienced a less than ideal relationship with their mothers. Each woman suffered from verbal and emotional abuse. One from her mother and the other from her husband. Both of these women chose to leave the abuse behind. They each left their old lives behind. All the people that knew these women expected them to stay no matter how they felt or how much they were made to suffer. After committing to leaving, both of these women found themselves in the midst of a newfound freedom. They both discovered the kind of love that some search their whole lives for. All that transpired in this book was told from the POVs of these two very different yet similar women. Stella Infuriari grew up in a small town called Romituzzo. Since she had been able to remember details of her childhood, Stella knew beyond all doubt that her parents favored her older brother, Achille, over her in every way. Achille could do nothing wrong in her parent’s eyes. Whereas, Stella’s mother was constantly belittling her, finding faults with her and ridiculing her for not doing things right. Stella’s mother straddled Stella with more chores than necessary. The worst part was that her mother was never satisfied with the way Stella accomplished them and often made her do them over and over again. Stella was convinced that her mother, in particular, did not love her. Her mother only had love for her brother. Fortunately for Stella, Achille loved her very much. The two siblings were extremely close. It was no wonder that Stella became the youngest resistance member at fourteen years old in 1944. She never revealed her work to her parents because she knew they would have prevented her from doing it. Stella worked with her brother. She was asked to deliver messages, weapons and even medicine to various Partisan groups. When Father Anselmo, the priest from the church she attended with her mother, rescued her one day at a Nazi checkpoint, Stella and Father Anselmo forged the beginnings of long and devoted friendship and a agreement to help each other in their work for the resistance. Since her brother, Achille, often disappeared for days at a time when he drove his motorbike up into the remote hills surrounding Romituzzo as he and his Communist friends fought off the Nazis and the members of the Fascist Party, Stella began to work even more closely with Father Anselmo. Then just as the war finally ended, Stella disappeared and no one ever knew what happened to her. Tori McNair had an extremely close relationship with her maternal grandmother, Margaret, so when she passed away she was devastated. She had lost the one person who had always been on her side, the one person who Tori confided in and knew that she would not be judged for what she had done, achieved or had not achieved and the person who had shared her love for Florence with her. Tori attended her grandmother’s funeral without her husband, Duncan. He and her grandmother had never been on good terms. Tori’s marriage to Duncan started out happy but very quickly became very difficult. Duncan demanded more and more from Tori. They lived on a big farm in the Scottish Highlands. Whatever Tori did or didn’t do, Duncan found fault with and started to abuse her emotionally. He made Tori feel bad about herself. Duncan prevented Tori from keeping up with her friends and family. He squandered money she earned and never discussed with her what he had done with it. His treatment of her was making Tori second guess herself and feel less adequate than she really was. When Tori discovered that Duncan had prevented her from attending a gathering honoring her grandmother the night before her grandmother’s funeral, that was the final straw. Tori was furious! She went to their farm, packed her bags and told Duncan that she was leaving. His reaction was a nonchalant response that indicated that he didn’t care what Tori did. Her grandmother had left her a generous amount of money in her will. Tori knew immediately that she was going to Florence to live. When Tori arrived in Florence, she felt a new calm. She knew she had done the right thing by leaving Duncan. To her, their marriage was over. Florence was the best place to start over again. Her grandmother and her had shared so many happy memories here over their many visits. The first order of business was finding a place to live. Then Tori remained optimistic that everything else would fall in place. Her real estate agent, Chiara, reminded Tori of all the things she had to do to get citizenship in Italy. It was all very overwhelming for Tori so a very qualified lawyer was recommended. As soon as Tori met Marco, the lawyer her real estate agent and new friend, Chiara, recommended, there was an instant connection and attraction. Tori also had to deal with her publisher. She was a freelance writer. Before her sudden departure, Tori had been writing a book about life in the Scottish Highlands. Since that was no longer relevant or an option, Tori decided to write about Italy and her grandmother. One thing led to another. After Tori’s mother had cleaned out her grandmother’s house, boxes of her grandmother’s personal letters, keepsakes and diaries were shipped to Tori. Hidden in those boxes, was a whole other side of her grandmother’s life that her grandmother had managed to keep secret from her and her family. A lot of the letters and other documents Tori found were written in Italian. She sought out help from both Marco and Chiara. Tori was amazed when she came across a picture and article about an Italian race car hero. What was her grandmother’s connection to the famous Achille Infuriati? If Tori could piece together the puzzle of her grandmother’s earlier life, with assistance from Marco and Chiara, she might just have the makings for a great book. As Tori started her research, she discovered that Achille had a sister named Stella. In her attempts to learn about Stella, Tori was met with major roadblocks. There was no documentation of Stella’s existence after the war ended. Tori became even more intrigued with Stella’s fate. She was determined to uncover Stella’s and Achille’s story. How had her grandmother known them? What was the connection between them? Tori was intent to find out. Kat Devereaux described the colors, food, quaint surroundings, shops, museums and smells of Florence so flawlessly in Escape to Tuscany. I was in Florence many years ago and this book made me wish I could travel there again. Giving voice to such strong and capable female characters always makes historical fiction novels even more compelling for me. Both Stella and Tori faced their own challenges and unique situations but they each became stronger, more confident and more determined to succeed. Both past and present came together in a way that made sense, brought closure and helped to bring about a sense of peace and acceptance by all involved. I enjoyed witnessing the transformation and growth that both Stella and Tori went through. This is a book that will spark your motivation towards a trip to Tuscany. I highly recommend Escape to Tuscany by Kat Devereaux if you enjoy historical fiction mixed with a touch of romance. Thank you to Aria & Aries for allowing me to read Escape to Tuscany by Kat Devereaux through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 19, 2023
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Jul 23, 2023
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Jul 19, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| unknown
| 4.23
| 1,628
| Feb 06, 2024
| Feb 06, 2024
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it was amazing
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4.5 very strong stars! Embers in the London Sky was the second book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Sarah Sundin. The cover of this book
4.5 very strong stars! Embers in the London Sky was the second book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Sarah Sundin. The cover of this book enticed me into reading it as well as its genre of historical fiction. Although I have read many books that have been set during World War II, Embers in the London Sky brought new aspects to my attention that I had not previously read about. Sarah Sundin’s writing and storytelling was masterful. This captivating book was hard to put down once I started reading it. Embers in the London Sky embraced a murder mystery, a desperate attempt to escape an abusive marriage, an unrelenting search for a beloved child, the consequences of war, the evil faces of prejudice, major differences in opinion and a beautiful romance. It was both heartbreaking and hopeful. Embers in the London Sky began in the Netherlands in 1940 where Aleida van der Zee Martens was married to a very possessive and controlling husband, Sebastian. Aleida had been contemplating escaping Sabastian’s wrath for a while now. She had carefully planned her and her three year old son’s, Theo’s, escape for some time. Everything had been planned for and the time for her escape was quickly approaching. Then Sebastian did the one thing that Aleida never could have predicted. Sebastian ordered Aleida and Theo, then three years old, to be ready to leave immediately. The Germans were ready to invade the Netherlands. He knew that if they were to escape they had to leave now. All hope of Aleida and Theo escaping on their own had been foiled in that moment. On route to leave the Netherlands, Sebastian took young Theo from Aleida as she slept. Aleida had been holding Theo in her arms while they both slept in the back of the car Sebastian was driving. Without waking his sleeping wife, Sebastian ripped Theo from her protective arms and gave him to an English couple that was returning to London. Sebastian had always been embarrassed of the deformity Theo had been born with. Theo was born with no fingers on one of his hands. When Aleida woke the next morning, she was inconsolable. Her abusive husband had given her beloved son to complete strangers and had not even inquired about their names or where they resided in London. He had one motive. Sebastian just wanted to be rid of Theo. He was an embarrassment for a son of his. Shortly after learning about Theo’s fate, Sebastian was killed by a German bomb. Aleida had become a widow. Her main desire was to get to London now so she could search for Theo. When Aleida arrived in London, had no idea how she would find Theo. She made inquiries to whoever would listen about Theo’s whereabouts. She was guided to inquire at an agency that helped children evacuate London to the countryside so that they were safe from the bombs that had started to drop over London. While there, Aleida was asked if she wanted to work for the agency. She agreed to work there so that she would have more opportunities to look for Theo. While Aleida was working at the agency she met Hugh Collingwood, a BBC journalist and radio correspondent. Hugh was taken in by Aleida’s plight to find her son, Theo. He tried to help her in anyway he possibly could. The two grew close and started to rely on one another. During this time, Hugh was informed that his uncle had died a suspicious death. It was believed that Hugh’s uncle might have been murdered. Hugh believed that he had been murdered but the authorities were not giving his uncle’s death the time it deserved. Then two other murders occurred. Could they have been connected to Hugh’s uncle’s death? They didn’t appear to be connected. Could Aleida and Hugh connect the dots and collect enough evidence to make the authorities listen to their suspicions? Would Aleida ever be able to find Theo again? Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin was such a poignant book. It was about war, hope, loss, determination, courage, resilience, hope and a slowly growing romance. I enjoyed all the aspects that this book brought to light. The characters were so believable and likable. I enjoyed reading Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin and highly recommend it. Thank you to Revell for allowing me to read Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 24, 2024
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Feb 28, 2024
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Jul 18, 2023
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Audible Audio
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| 1804269808
| 9781804269800
| B0BXWJ4RDT
| 4.19
| 6,093
| unknown
| Jul 11, 2023
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really liked it
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Who can resist a good challenge especially when Provence was the destination and interior designing was involved? Nicky was an interior designer but s
Who can resist a good challenge especially when Provence was the destination and interior designing was involved? Nicky was an interior designer but she had not had the opportunity to use her talents in a very long time. She had been widowed for ten years now. Was Nicky up for a challenge of this magnitude? Could she inject new life into a failing French B&B located in Provence, help her friend Jenny, a t.v. executive for a reality show about renovations, by filling a vacated spot in the new reality show and along the way, perhaps, find herself and some much needed happiness in her own life? Those were the decisions Nicky was forced to make, I discovered, as I began to read A Month in Provence by Gillian Harvey. After ten years of being a widow, Nicky should have been able to move on and put the tragic car accident that took her beloved husband from her behind her. That was not as easy as some people thought it might be. At first, Nicky was wrapped up in raising her two daughters and meeting all their needs. Both of her daughters were grown now. One even was married and had a daughter of her own. Nicky remembered that long before she became a widow, she had dreams of her own. Some how, Nicky had pushed them from her thoughts. Jenny’s proposition was tempting. This could be just the challenge she had been waiting for without even knowing she had been. When Nicky arrived in Provence and saw the condition of the B&B, she knew that she had her work cut out for her. Then she met Robert, the owner of the B&B, and realized that she might have bit off more than she had been prepared to handle and change. Robert, the owner of the B&B, was also a widower. Nicky soon learned that Robert was floundering, too. His people skills and dress attire were questionable. Could Nicky summon up the courage and self confidence she so needed to succeed at this endeavor? Was Nicky flexible enough to endure all the last minute changes in the budget and scheduling that her friend Jenny and the crew threw at her? Could she help Robert make the dreams he and his late wife dreamed about for the B&B become a reality? Could Nicky and Robert help each other become more confident individuals, win this competition and perhaps find happiness and new and more positive outlooks on their lives? I loved how Gillian Harvey navigated and portrayed the growth, outlooks, transformations and destinies of both Nicky and Robert. Their characters were so endearing. I really enjoyed that both Nicky and Robert were middle aged characters. It was so easy for me to relate with them. A Month in Provence by Gillian Harvey was so full of hope, smiles. discoveries, likable characters and vivid descriptions of the picturesque landscape of Provence. It was so well written and relatable. I did not want the book to end. The cover appealed to me as well. I loved it! Although, Gillian Harvey was a new author for me, I was quite impressed. I will definitely look for her books in the future. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy a good book about real people, that involved a little romance and if are up for finding out who the winner of the competition was. Thank you to Boldwood Books for allowing me to read A Month in Provence by Gillian Harvey through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 17, 2023
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Jul 18, 2023
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Jul 17, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| unknown
| 3.89
| 10,683
| Oct 24, 2023
| Oct 24, 2023
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really liked it
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Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris was a very compelling book. It was based on actually events and real people. Sisters Under the Rising S
Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris was a very compelling book. It was based on actually events and real people. Sisters Under the Rising Sun detailed the unimaginable atrocities and cruelty the Japanese army inflicted upon women and children in their POW camps during World War II. The Japanese army paid no attention to concessions that were mandated for members of foreign armies. They inflicted their harsh and brutal punishments on civilians and army nurses alike, not giving any special treatment to the nurses. Sisters Under the Rising Sun took place in Singapore and Banka Island near Indonesia from 1942 through 1945. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Laura Carmichael. Nora Chambers was a talented and accomplished musician who was living in Singapore. She was lucky to have her husband John, their eight year old daughter Sally, her aging parents, her sister Ena and her husband all with her. Word had been circulating though that it was just a matter of time before the Japanese army found their way to Singapore. Nora and John Chambers worried excessively about their daughter Sally’s safety once the Japanese imposed their wrath on the people of Singapore. Together Nora and John decided to send their eight year old daughter with Nora’s oldest sister and her two sons to find safety far away from Singapore. Nora had promised Sally that they would never be separated but Nora was left with no choice. Her husband John was still recovering from being sick and she felt compelled to remain with her elderly parents. Nora only hoped that her daughter would be safe and that she would be reunited with her one day. Sister Nesta James was born in Wales and relocated to Australia as a young girl. As a young woman, she trained as a nurse and decided to enlist in the Australian army. Her desire was to be able to tend to wounded Allied soldiers. Nesta was stationed in Singapore when Singapore fell to the Japanese army. On February 12, 1942, Sister Nesta James found herself on the last ship of evacuees out of Singapore. The ship, Vyner Brooke, a merchant ship, was carrying mostly women and children. Among the passengers were Nora, her husband John, Nora’s sister Ena and the nurses of the Australian Army. Just two days into their journey, the Vyner Brooke was attacked by Japanese planes flying overhead. Those aboard scrambled to locate vacant lifeboats and make their way to the top deck. Many of the women and children just jumped into the sea. After being in the sea for over twenty-four hours, the exhausted women and children that survived the attack and ordeal spotted land. The survivors had made their way to an island off the coast of Indonesia. They had landed on Banka Island. Only one hundred fifty passengers survived. Among the survivors were Norah, her husband, her sister and Nesta. Their first instinct was to look for water and food but they were soon apprehended by the Japanese army. All the survivors from the Vyner Brooke were placed in a Japanese POW camp. The Japanese military treated the civilians and the army nurses in the same way. No special concessions were granted to the army nurses. Their positions meant nothing to the Japanese in charge. The Japanese men in authority looked down upon and disrespected all women despite their status. Conditions in the POW camp were unsanitary, crowded and unsafe. Disease, sickness and starvation prevailed. Inhumane treatment was widespread. Norah and Nesta became good friends and both women were determined to help anyone who needed help. Nesta used her medical knowledge to assist anyone that required attention. Nora applied her musical expertise to help boost the morale of the women. Both women were instrumental in helping the women in the POW camp survive their three and a half year ordeal. Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris was so moving. I have read all of the books that Heather Morris has written and each book continues to impress me. Sisters Under the Rising Sun was no exception. I had recently read another book that addressed the treatment the Japanese army inflicted upon Dutch women in their POW camps. Sisters Under the Rising Sun explored the fate of Singapore, the destruction of the Vyner Brooke carrying almost exclusively women and children away from Singapore and Japanese control, the controversial treatment of the captured nurses by the Japanese, the importance of music in the POW camp and the horrific treatment the women and children endured under the Japanese regime for three and a half very long years. The themes of courage, bravery, resilience, struggles, friendship, family, music and compassion were explored. I recommend listening to the audiobook version of this book. The recordings of the music Norah and her inmates performed were mesmerizing. I also appreciated hearing Heather Morris’s voice as she delivered her author notes at the end. It is always interesting hearing from the author about where their inspiration came from for the book they had written and what they learned from their research. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
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1
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Oct 29, 2023
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Nov 03, 2023
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Jul 17, 2023
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Audiobook
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| B0BFG7WNWM
| 3.98
| 7,384
| Aug 01, 2023
| Aug 01, 2023
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really liked it
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Over the years I have read several books by Heather Webber. I look forward to discovering when she has written a new book. Heather Webber always adds
Over the years I have read several books by Heather Webber. I look forward to discovering when she has written a new book. Heather Webber always adds just enough magical realism to her books to give me warm and happy feelings whenever I have the pleasure of reading one of her books. She usually sets her books in inviting small southern towns where everyone knows one another. At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities was set in the southern coastal town of Driftwood, Alabama. Heather Webber was able to create such likable characters in her book, At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities. It was told from the POVs of two women. One was born and raised in Driftwood and the other was a newcomer. I listened to the audiobook that was extremely well narrated by Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis. Ava Harrison had just experienced a terrifying loss when she received a puzzling yet intriguing letter in the mail that mentioned an interesting job offer. The post had stated that a live-in caretaker for an older man and his cat was being sought. Ava had just experienced the sudden death of her ex-boyfriend. Relocation, new people and a definite purpose in life was just what Ava needed. Ava had developed a condition as a child that prevented her from living a normal lifestyle. In Driftwood, Alabama, Ava could reinvent herself, try and move on from the guilt she was feeling from the accident her ex-boyfriend had been in and perhaps live a normal life. Maggie Mae Brightwell had lived in Driftwood, Alabama her whole life. Even after all these years, Maggie had difficulty accepting her mother’s fate. Maggie ran The Coffee Shop of Curiosities but still expected her mother to reappear and walk in one day. Due to Maggie’s belief, she chose to keep the coffee shop just as it was when her mother disappeared. Her mother had put her heart and soul into the shop and Maggie was determined to keep it exactly as her mother had left it. When Ava reached the town of Driftwood she headed for the coffee shop. Maggie was quite surprised when Ava told her that she was there to apply for the job of caretaker for her aging father and his cat. Maggie had posted a description of the job in the coffee shop window some time ago but quickly thought better of it and crumbled up the posting. How did Ava get a hold of it? Who could have sent it to her? Both Maggie and Ava needed to discover how to let go of their pasts so that they could each find happiness. Would they be able to help each other do that? At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities explored the themes of friendship, loss, grief, regret, forgiveness, acceptance, moving on and a touch of romance. I enjoyed how Maggie collected curiosities and matched them with their rightful owners. It was a gift she inherited from her mother. The animals in this book were also given distinct personalities and I came to enjoy the parts of the story they were in. I really enjoyed reading At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities and highly recommend it. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is still my favorite book by Heather Webber but I enjoyed this one as well. If you enjoy books with magical realism, set in small Southern coastal towns and with endearing characters then you will definitely enjoy this book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
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1
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Jul 26, 2023
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Jul 27, 2023
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Jul 16, 2023
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Audiobook
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| unknown
| 3.63
| 30,347
| Mar 05, 2024
| Mar 05, 2024
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really liked it
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The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger was a suspenseful and gripping mystery thriller. As in many of Lisa Unger’s novels, there were creepy and haunting
The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger was a suspenseful and gripping mystery thriller. As in many of Lisa Unger’s novels, there were creepy and haunting scenes that portrayed elements of the supernatural. The New Couple in 5B took place in New York City in an exclusive apartment building on Park Avenue. It was told mostly in present day but there were flashbacks to 1963 when a married couple named Willa and Paul resided in apartment 5B. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Vivienne Leheny. She did a good job of distinguishing between the characters. I also read parts of the book on my kindle. Chad and Rosie Lowan had only been married for a short time when they learned that Chad’s Uncle Ivan was dying. He was one of Chad’s only remaining relatives. Rosie had met Uncle Ivan on several occasions and liked him very much. Chad and Rosie both wanted to help with Uncle Ivan’s care as his condition worsened. Chad’s uncle lived in the notorious Windermere building on Park Avenue. The building itself was a prewar building that boasted a doorman and elevator operator. Uncle Ivan’s apartment was spectacular and quite large. Rosie and Chad could only dream of living in such a building like the Windermere. They were having a hard time making ends meet. Presently, Chad and Rosie lived in a walk up apartment building. Chad was an inspiring actor and Rosie was an author. She had written one book so far and was hoping to write another one. Then the unexpected occurred. Uncle Ivan had recently died and had left his five million dollar apartment in the Windermere to Chad and Rosie. This was a complete surprise and shock to Rosie. She had assumed that Uncle Ivan would be leaving his apartment to his daughter, Dana. Rosie knew that Dana and Ivan had been estranged for years but she was his daughter. Chad reminded Rosie that they had been there for Ivan during his last few months. Dana had not come to see him and had not even called during his illness. Rosie was still in disbelief, though. Rosie and Chad made arrangements to move into the apartment they had inherited in the Windermere. There were lots of stories that had circulated about the Windermere over the years. Rosie had decided to write her next true crime novel about the rumors of the strange occurrences that had taken place at the Windermere over the years. It would make it easier to do her research now that she and Chad were living there. From the minute Rosie entered the Windermere, she felt uncomfortable. Were Rosie’s uncomfortable feelings and suspicions justified? Was she just overreacting? Why were so many unexplained things happening? Was Rosie in danger? The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger was well written and paced just right. I really enjoyed engaging with the characters that Lisa Unger had developed for this book. There was just the right amount of spookiness and mystique in this book to keep me engaged and focused on the plot. Be aware that there were several suspicious deaths, possible murders, suicides, sightings of ghosts, a miscarriage, hidden cameras and numerous secrets throughout the book. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger and highly recommend it. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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1
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Mar 22, 2024
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Mar 26, 2024
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Jul 12, 2023
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| unknown
| 4.36
| 1,230
| unknown
| Jul 12, 2023
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really liked it
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The Ration Book Baby (A Village at War, #1) by Ellie Curzon was quite different from other World War II novels that I had previously read. It took pla
The Ration Book Baby (A Village at War, #1) by Ellie Curzon was quite different from other World War II novels that I had previously read. It took place at the beginning of World War II, in 1940, in a small village in England known as Bramble Heath. Before Bramble Heath became the proud recipient of an airbase and military hospital, very few people, outside of its inhabitants, had ever heard of this quaint and friendly village or had the pleasure of visiting it. Bramble Heath had acquired a large number of Polish immigrants recently. They had escaped from their homeland mainly because of the way they had been treated and regarded by the Nazis. Based on what these Polish people had experienced, the tight knit community kept mostly to itself. Unfortunately, there were a few citizens in Bramble Heath who displayed uncharacteristically bad behavior towards the Polish people who had settled in their village. Most of the people of Bramble Heath were outraged by the way a select few chose to treat them. This heartwarming yet emotional novel focused on two distinct plots. The first was the discovery of an abandoned baby girl. Imagine the shock and surprise Annie Russell, a young woman who was employed as a nurse, got when she responded to a knock on the door of the home she shared with parents. On the doorstep of her home was a large hatbox from Clara’s hat shop. When Annie lifted the cover, she discovered a baby girl nestled safely inside the hatbox. Once Annie lifted the baby girl from the hatbox, a ration book fell to the floor. Annie couldn’t stop thinking about the poor mother that had sacrificed her own ration book and baby at the same time. What circumstances could have led this poor mother to abandon her child? Imagine the suffering this mother endured in order to make sure that her baby would be well cared for. By providing the ration book, the mother eliminated all burdens of obtaining food and necessities for her child. Annie wondered why the mother had chosen to leave her baby daughter with her and her parents. As soon as the people of Bramble Heath learned about “Baby Clara” they all helped to provide for her. Then social services threatened to take Baby Clara away unless Annie was able to locate her mother. Annie was determined to find Baby Clara’s mother. The secondary plot revolved around the fate of a certain Wing Commander, William Chambers. Annie had been out attending to patients when she spotted a burst of flames and a parachute falling to the ground. When Annie reached the victim, she discovered that it was Wing Commander, William Chambers. He had been very badly burned and Annie knew that William’s injuries were very severe. Annie had known William for years. She made him as comfortable as she could while she waited for an ambulance to take William to the military hospital. He would be in good hands with the doctor that treated burns there. How would William feel after he learned about his burns? Could Annie help him realize that despite his injuries he was so lucky to have lived. Annie needed to convince William that he was still the same wonderful and caring man he had always been despite his injuries. When faced with catastrophic injuries, no one ever knows how they will react. Will Wing Commander, William Chambers, be able to pick up the pieces of his life as they had been before his plane went down and he was severely burned? Can he get passed his physical appearance? I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Ration Book Baby by Ellie Curzon. It was well narrated by Polly Edsell. Before listening to the Ration Book Baby, I had not realized that it was the first book in a new series. How exciting! I can’t wait to read more about Annie and William and all the people in Bramble Heath. I loved how the authors chose to depict certain aspects of the war in this novel. I found it refreshing and quite interesting. It was with bated breath, that I listened to learn about Baby Clara’s fate. I enjoyed how hard Annie tried to untangle all the clues that would bring her closer to identifying Clara’s mother. I was rooting for Annie to succeed. I didn’t want social services to have to intervene. Would Annie be able to discover why Clara’s mother felt so compelled to give her daughter up to Annie and her family? This was the first book that I had read by this author but I can’t wait to read more especially the next book in this series. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Bookouture for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Ration Book Baby through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
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1
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Jul 23, 2023
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Jul 24, 2023
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Jul 12, 2023
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Audiobook
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| 9780063085152
| 3.41
| 16,756
| Jul 04, 2023
| Jul 04, 2023
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liked it
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I was excited about listening to The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt after reading the premise for the book. What could be a better combination than a
I was excited about listening to The Librarianist by Patrick deWitt after reading the premise for the book. What could be a better combination than a retired librarian and a love for books that stemmed from way back? That was my sentiment. Bob Comet was a man of few words, a bit reclusive and even a bit weird. He knew that he wanted to be a librarian from a very young age. Now at seventy-one years old, Bob Comet had finally retired. He still lived in the home he resided in as a young boy in Portland, Oregon. Bob Comet had gotten in the habit of going for a daily walk. On one of those walks, Bob spotted a woman who looked out of sorts. Bob followed the woman into the pharmacy and observed her staring at bottles on a shelf for an exorbitant amount of time. When Bob approached her she headed outside. Bob soon discovered that the woman was called Chip and that she was a resident at the senior center so Bob escorted Chip back there. As soon as Bob entered the senior center, he had a revelation. Bob knew immediately that he wanted to become a volunteer at the senior center. He wanted to share his love of books with the residents. Bob wanted to read to the residents. He wanted to instill his love of books in the hearts of the residents. Unfortunately, it backfired. The residents had no interest in listening to Bob read to them. Bob admitted defeat and started just volunteering at the center. Volunteering gave Bob a sense of purpose and he enjoyed getting to know the residents. If the plot had continued along the path of Bob’s love for books and his interactions with the residents I would have been much happier. Patrick deWitt chose though to diverge from this storyline and delve into Bob’s past. I found this part of the book quite slow especially the part when Bob ran away when he was a young boy. The plot managed to get back to the senior center near the end where Bob became a resident himself eventually. Bob’s admittance as a resident, led him to make a startling discovery that provided him with closure, a closure he spent his life searching for. Bob finally got rewarded with the answer to a question he wondered about his entire life. This discovery made the ending satisfying. The Librarianist started off strong for me but lost me about half way through. There were many more positive reviews for this book. It just wasn’t a favorite for me. Thank you to Harper Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook The Librarianist that was narrated by Jim Meskimen through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
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1
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Jul 08, 2023
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Jul 09, 2023
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Jul 07, 2023
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Audiobook
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| 9781529052770
| unknown
| 3.03
| 3,895
| Mar 08, 2022
| Mar 08, 2022
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it was ok
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DNF. I don’t often give up on the books I choose to read but The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendeson was just too hard to endure. It was so slow and I
DNF. I don’t often give up on the books I choose to read but The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendeson was just too hard to endure. It was so slow and I felt it particularly hard to connect with any of the characters. I wanted to like this audiobook but that was not to be. The cover drew me toward wanting to listen to this audiobook but unfortunately that was its only redeeming quality.
...more
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1
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Jul 07, 2023
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Jul 07, 2023
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Jul 07, 2023
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Audiobook
| |||||||||||||||
| 1542038545
| 9781542038546
| B0BKH7G2J1
| 4.56
| 6,837
| Jun 27, 2023
| Jun 27, 2023
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it was amazing
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4.5 shiny, glittery stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ for this captivating and sweet romance novel. Beginning of Forever was the third book in The D’Angelos series wri
4.5 shiny, glittery stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ for this captivating and sweet romance novel. Beginning of Forever was the third book in The D’Angelos series written by Catherine Bybee. Although I had not read the first two books in this series, I had no problem reading Beginning of Forever as a stand-alone book. I fell in love with Emma’s and Giovanni’s characters. They were both genuine and endearing. The chemistry they shared was undeniable. I don’t usually read romance books but this one captured my heart. I couldn’t read it fast enough. Both Emma Rutledge and Giovanni D’Angelos celebrated their thirtieth birthdays and were gifted wine tours to Tuscany. It was the trip of each of their dreams. Little did they realize that they were on the same tour. Giovanni or Gio (the nickname his family and friends used) was a sommelier who lived in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego. His family owned a restaurant there. Gio was the youngest of his siblings and his mother was anxious to marry him off. His older brother and sister were already married. Gio was waiting to meet the right woman. He appreciated how close and loving his family was. His long term goal was to own his own vineyard someday and produce his own label for the wine he would produce. Emma Rutledge was the only daughter of the owner of R&R Wineries. Wine had been in her blood since she was a little girl. Her father, Robert Rutledge, was determined on keeping her out of the family business. He had awarded her token positions within the company but refused to recognize her talent or abilities. On the day of her thirtieth birthday, Emma learned that her ex husband was being promoted and was now going to be her boss. The position should have been Emma’s. Emma had finally been pushed too far. She decided that she would take a step back from R&R and look for own vineyard. Emma would show her father what she was capable of doing. In the meantime, Emma’s mother gifted Emma a vacation trip for her birthday. It was meant to help lessen the friction between father and daughter. Emma and her best friend Nicole signed up for a bus tour through Tuscany’s vineyards. It was the same tour Gio’s family had given him. What were the odds that both Emma and Gio would end up on the same tour? Even more coincidentally, they both lived rather close to one another. Gio was from the Little Italy neighborhood in San Diego and Emma lived in Temecula. Their homes were in close proximity to one another. As soon as Emma and Gio met on the tour, there was no denying the immediate sparks that sizzled between the two. There was instant chemistry. Emma tried to fight it. She was not looking for romance and marriage was the furthest thing from her mind. By the time the trip was over and Emma and Gio found themselves back in California, there was no denying that something very special had developed between them. Gio was intent on helping Emma explore her options for acquiring the vineyard from her father and eliminating his control over the land. He was her calming presence when she got herself worked up and frustrated. Their relationship was developing in all the right directions. Then Emma went to see her doctor one day for a routine visit. Emma had noticed that she had been bruising more than usual. When she asked her doctor about it, Emma’s doctor decided to do some testing. The blood tests that Emma’s doctor performed, revealed that Emma had a rare genetic condition that affected her iron production and her liver. As soon as Emma learned about her condition, Gio was at Emma’s side from the very beginning. He would not leave her. Together, they dealt with the stress, the not knowing, the what if’s and the treatments together. If anything, that time, the unknowns and fears brought Gio and Emma even closer. I enjoyed how Catherine Bybee lightened the mood by interspersing certain situations within the plot. International flights tend to have the possibility of losing luggage. Of course, Emma’s luggage was lost. The dilemma of her lost luggage and the various remedies that were offered had me smiling and even laughing out loud. As a result, Emma and Gio were forced to shop for a complete new wardrobe for Emma. There were several very funny moments during their excursions. Emma and Gio also participated in a friendly competition at one point. Gio was definitely the ideal boyfriend and partner. I really enjoyed both Emma’s and Gio’s characters. The other members of the tour were quite memorable. I really enjoyed Gio’s family and all the yummy Italian food Gio’s mother made and that they had on the tour. The vivid descriptions of the Tuscan countryside and vineyards were portrayed in a very beautiful way. I really enjoyed reading Beginning of Forever by Catherine Bybee and hope that there a few more books to come in this series. I am not ready to say goodbye to these characters. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Montlake and Amazon Publishers for allowing me to read Beginning of Forever (The D’Angelos, #3) by Catherine Bybee through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
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1
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Jul 2023
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Jul 03, 2023
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Jul 01, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 1647425492
| 9781647425494
| 1647425492
| 4.75
| 12
| unknown
| Sep 26, 2023
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it was amazing
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Whispers from the Valley of the Yak: A Memoir of Coming Full Circle by Jacquelyn Lenox Tuxill touched my heart and soul in ways that no other memoir h
Whispers from the Valley of the Yak: A Memoir of Coming Full Circle by Jacquelyn Lenox Tuxill touched my heart and soul in ways that no other memoir has ever done. It was written with honesty and portrayed such raw emotions, hope, frustration and love. Above all, Whispers from the Valley of the Yak was about Jackie’s ongoing and constant search for answers about the way she was brought up, why she lacked self confidence, avoided confrontations and why she possessed no clear direction in what she wanted to do with her life. Through Jackie’s storytelling, her readers got to experience the beauty of China, Alaska and various places in the United States. Once I began reading Jackie’s story, it was hard to pull myself away from it. Jackie had been born in China and had lived there with her parents and older sister, Marilyn, until she was three years old. Both of her parents had been doctors and medical missionaries when they had lived there. Altogether her parents had spent fourteen years living in China. Neither her mother nor her father shared much about Jackie’s early life in China with her and so she had few memories of her time living there up until her toddler years. Jackie remembered very little about her time in China so when her parents arranged a tour in the spring of 1980, after China opened its borders in the 1970’s to tourists once again, Jackie decided to join them. Her marriage of seventeen years was showing signs of discord so she felt it was a good time to go on this tour. Her parents searched for a tour that would include Chengdu, the place where Jackie was born. It was on that trip, in the spring of 1980, that Jackie got to witness a scene that she never expected to see and observe a mother that she did not recognize. Both of those occurrences sparked a massive amount of questions in Jackie’s mind and led her on a path to get answers. Jackie met her husband in college. Tom and Jackie got married in June of 1963. She was just twenty-one when she married Tom. For the next many years, Jackie supported Tom as he completed medical school. Their first child, John, was born right after Tom graduated from Medical School and began his internship. Becoming a mother was one of the best things that Jackie had ever experienced. She adored everything about being John’s mother. Shortly after completing his internship, Tom decided to join the military and trained as a flight surgeon. At the end of his training in 1969, Tom awaited his assignment. Originally he was assigned to Olathe, Kansas but when he saw how upset Jackie was with his assignment,he switched with someone and ended up being assigned to Kodiak, Alaska. That assignment changed Jackie’s life. She found her life’s calling while living in Alaska. Jackie fell in love with the beauty of Alaska and especially its mountains. She discovered that she was passionate about the environment and the act of protecting it and its wildlife. Her daughter, Stephanie, was born in 1970 and Tom’s commitment to the navy ended in 1971 but Alaska had already crept into Jackie’s heart. For the next thirty years, Jackie’s career as an environmental activist progressed beyond her expectations. She found what she was passionate about and despite many obstacles she preserved and made it her career. Jackie grew up with a mother who was verbally abusive, not only to Jackie but to all the members of her family including her gentle, loving and funny father. Growing up, Jackie thought her mother did not love her. Jackie’s mother criticized her, belittled her and made her feel inferior in every way possible. She wanted her mother to love her in the worst way. Jackie craved hugs that she never got from her mother. Her mother was an accomplished, respected and renowned pediatric cardiologist. It was unusual for women during her mother’s time to have such a distinguished career. The demands of her career and her devotion to her young patients limited the time Jackie’s mother was able to spend with her family. Growing up Jackie just wanted a mother who was home when she got home from school. It took Jackie a lifetime to recognize, accept and try to reconcile her relationship with her mother. A love for China, that she ended up sharing with her parents, might just have been the catalyst that helped Jackie find the path that led her toward acceptance, forgiveness and love. Her last trip to China, where both her children, John and Stephanie, and her niece Jen (her sister Marilyn’s daughter) joined her brought everything full circle. I believe that Jackie finally got the clarity and understanding during she was searching for during the course of that trip. Whispers from the Valley of the Yak by Jacqueline Lenox Tuxill was a very moving memoir. It was about family, forgiveness, acceptance, hope, love and understanding. I really enjoyed reading it and even shed a few tears. Thank you Jackie for sharing your story. I was truly touched by all you went through, accomplished and found in your heart a way to forgive. Thank you to Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist, for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Whispers from the Valley of the Yak: A Memoir of Coming Full Circle by Jacqueline Lenox Tuxill in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this book. Publication is set for September 26, 2023. ...more |
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1
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Sep 2023
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Sep 09, 2023
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Jun 29, 2023
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 1250834708
| 9781250834706
| 1250834708
| 3.88
| 91,415
| Jan 09, 2024
| Nov 05, 2024
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it was amazing
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4.5 strong stars! The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins was a captivating mystery thriller. I had read Rachel Hawkins’ previous books, The Villa and The Wife
4.5 strong stars! The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins was a captivating mystery thriller. I had read Rachel Hawkins’ previous books, The Villa and The Wife Upstairs and even Reckless Girls, so I was excited to see that she had written a new book. The Heiress was everything I have come to expect in a Rachel Hawkins’ book and so much more. There was intrigue, suspense, twists, darkness, a dysfunctional family and an old family mansion that housed so many secrets, deceptions and lies within its walls. Rachel Hawkins proved once again what an incredible masterful storyteller she is. In my opinion, The Heiress, was one of her best books ever! It was fast paced and so well plotted. It was told in alternating chapters that switched from past to present. The Heiress was told from Ruby McTavish’s, Camden’s and Jules’s POV in a very convincing and compelling way. Ten years after the death of Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, Camden McTavish, Ruby’s adoptive son, was lured back to his childhood home, Ashby House, the one place Camden swore that he would never step foot in ever again. When Camden left Ashby House some ten years ago, he settled on the west coast, in San Bernardino, California. He wanted to put as much distance between himself and the family he had grown up with. When his adoptive mother died, Camden was told that Ruby had left Ashby House and her abundant fortune to Camden alone. Camden wanted nothing to do with the toxic family members he grew up with, Ashby House or Ruby’s fortune. Camden was intent on starting over and ridding himself of all ties to the McTavish family. When Camden met Jules at Senor Pollo’s, a place to get cheap wings and where Camden was tending bar, it was love at first sight for both of them. They moved to Golden, Colorado where they found a little house to rent, moved in together and found jobs. Camden taught ninth and eleventh grade English at an all boys prep school and Jules played the part of a pioneer’s wife who lived on the Western Frontier in the olden times on a farm. Her acting skills gave her an advantage in reacting the past for the people that visited Homestead Park. Both Jules and Camden were still very much in love and content with the life they were living together after all this time. Everything changed after Camden received an email from his estranged cousin, Ben, inviting him to “come home”. By this time, Jules and Camden had been married for ten years. Jules was in favor of going. She wanted to see where Camden had grown up, lived and meet the family members that were instrumental in Camden’s decision to leave all those years ago. Jules felt that by going back to Ashby House, she would get to see a side of Camden that he had not elaborated upon. Every time Jules brought up Camden’s past, Camden managed to change the subject. He had been very secretive and protective of sharing his past with anyone. Camden tried very hard to forget it. Despite Camden’s reluctance to return to Ashby house, he allowed Jules to talk him into it. Throughout the long drive from Colorado to North Carolina, Jules felt the vibes of the conflicted feelings that Camden was experiencing. Had it been a good idea to return to Ashby House or should Camden have followed his gut and stayed away as he had told himself that he would? I really enjoyed learning about Ruby’s past through her letters to Camden where she disclosed and confirmed information about her numerous marriages and their outcomes. Ruby also disclosed information about her supposed kidnapping that occurred in the nearby woods by Ashby House as a young girl. Ruby’s life was anything but boring. Rachel Hawkins was so clever to introduce Ruby in this way. The Heiress was about family, inherited fortunes, jealousy, secrets, untruths, scandals galore, lives of privilege, adoption and its implications, greed, scheming against one another and long overdue confessions. I enjoyed the twists that Rachel Hawkins included in The Heiress. It was so hard to pull myself away from this book. I was initially drawn to the amazing cover of The Heiress but as soon as I opened up the book and started reading, I was hooked. I really enjoyed reading The Heiress and recommend it very highly. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins in exchange for an honest review. I won a print edition of The Heiress in a Goodreads giveaway. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 16, 2024
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Jan 19, 2024
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Jun 17, 2023
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Paperback
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| B0BQGKJ66H
| 4.10
| 1,806
| Nov 07, 2023
| Nov 07, 2023
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really liked it
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The Porcelain Maker was captivating, heartbreaking and riveting. It was Sarah Freethy’s debut novel and it was written beautifully. Sarah Freethy took
The Porcelain Maker was captivating, heartbreaking and riveting. It was Sarah Freethy’s debut novel and it was written beautifully. Sarah Freethy took the liberty to explore an aspect about World War II and the Holocaust that I had not known about nor read about prior to reading her book. She chose to scaffold her story around a porcelain factory that was located within the Nazi concentration camp of Dachau. It was the inspiration for her book. The Porcelain Maker alternated seamlessly between two different timelines, 1929 through the years of World War II and the Holocaust and the 1990’s. The characters were well imagined and believable. It was well plotted, tugged at all my emotions and was hard to put down. Max and Bettina met in 1929. Their romance was beautiful. They had both fallen in love with each other. Uncharacteristically for that time period, Max and Bettina lived together but were not married. It worked for them. They had moved to Berlin to be in a busy city that offered galleries, other fellow artists and opportunities for Max to use his architectural expertise. With the rise of the Nazi Party, Max’s and Bettina’s lives became impacted by restrictions, regulations and shortages. Even with all the precautions both Max and Bettina took, it was inevitable that eventually Max was arrested. He was sent to the Nazi concentration camp in Dachau. Luckily for Max, his talents as an artist were discovered and he was assigned to work in the porcelain factory. Working there saved Max from a much harsher existence there. When Bettina finally learned about Max’s fate she was determined to find a way to see him. Would Bettina be able to devise a feasible plan to see Max? Could she help Max escape from Dashau concentration camp so they could find a place to live together as a family without the threat of the Nazis finding them? In the 1990’s, Bettina’s only daughter, Clara, had recently lost her mother. While growing up, Clara, longed to know who her father was. Her mother, Bettina, refused to speak about it. The subject evoked so many emotions from Bettina that eventually Clara gave up asking but those thoughts were never far away from her mind. After Bettina’s death, Clara and her daughter Lotte set off on a mission to find the answers Clara longed to learn. Clara discovered a link between one of her mother’s most celebrated and renowned paintings that was titled The Viking and a porcelain factory in Dachau, Germany. With little hesitation, Clara and her daughter Lotte, set off for Germany. Would those two discoveries be enough to lead them on a path towards solving the mystery of who Clara’s father was and why Bettina refused to share that information with Clara? Can Clara and Lotte reveal the secrets Bettina kept hidden from both Clara and Lotte and that they longed to learn? Although I realized early on that this story would not have a happy ending, I found that I could not pull myself away from it. Sarah Freethy was brilliant in her storytelling. She combined just enough fact with fiction to make her debut novel an enjoyable read. I admired the strength and non conformity that Bettina exhibited in her earlier years as an artist and then the bravery, hope and protectiveness she showed later in her life. The romance and love that Bettina and Max shared was beautiful and believable. I learned a great deal about the art that was prevalent during that time and the type of art that the Nazis chose to represent their regime and ideals. I never knew that a porcelain factory existed amongst all the horrors that were occurring at the concentration camp at Dachau. What a sharp contrast that factory portrayed compared to the atrocities that were being committed by the Nazis in the concentration camp! The Porcelain Maker focused on the themes of love, friendship, family, commitment, survival, art, devotion, sacrifice, loss, dangers, bravery, hope and resilience. I enjoyed reading The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy and look forward to reading more books by her. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to listen to The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 02, 2023
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Dec 05, 2023
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Jun 17, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| B0BH4JFYTQ
| 4.67
| 5,533
| 2023
| Jun 06, 2023
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it was amazing
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My Friend Anne Frank: The Inspiring and Heartbreaking True Story of Best Friends Torn Apart and Reunited Against All Odds was a truly moving account o
My Friend Anne Frank: The Inspiring and Heartbreaking True Story of Best Friends Torn Apart and Reunited Against All Odds was a truly moving account of the author’s life and her best and dearest friend, Anne Frank. The first time Hannah and Anne met they were four years old. Both little girls were in a food market with their mothers when they overheard each other speaking in German. Both families had recently fled Germany and the Nazi regime and found themselves in neutral Amsterdam. When Hannah and Anne began school, they discovered that they were in the same class. From that day on, Hannah and Anne became best friends. I vividly remember reading the book, The Diary of Anne Frank, as a young girl and how I cried my eyes out as I learned about all that Anne had endured in Amsterdam during World War II. Now so many years later, I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to read Anne Frank’s best friend’s story. This opportunity brought with it a greater understanding for me into not only Anne Frank’s life but into Hannah Pick-Goslar’s life. My Friend Anne Frank beautifully depicted Hannah’s and Anne’s special friendship but also described the close knit bond both of their families shared with each other. As best friends, Hannah and Anne were bound to have occasional disagreements. Hannah felt terrible that Anne and her had had an argument. She went to Anne’s house to try and make things right. After many knocks, the renter finally opened the door and told Hannah that Anne and her family were not there. Hannah learned that day that Anne and her family had escaped to Switzerland. Hannah was so glad for her friend. In the pursuing years, as Hannah and her family were made to go to a transit camp and then to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, Hannah would often think of her good friend and be glad that she was safe in Switzerland. It was very shocking news for Hannah when she learned that Anne and her sister Margot were also prisoners at Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp when Hannah and her younger sister were there. Hannah and Anne met at the fence that separated their camps but never got to hug or see each other. The fence that separated the two friends was stuffed heavily with straw making it impossible to see through it. It stretched between their two sections but both Hannah and Anne were able to hear each other’s voices. They spoke a little about what they each had gone through and who they had lost. Each girl confessed to the other that they often thought of one another despite their ordeals. Anne and Margot had been in Auschwitz before they were transported to Bergen-Belsen. Hannah was so happy to have found Anne again and prayed that she would survive so they could see each other after the war was over. Unfortunately, that was not to be. I felt so privileged to have had the chance to read this heartfelt and inspiring story. It must have been extremely difficult for Hannah to dredge up so many of her memories that she so willingly shared in her memoir. Hannah was into her nineties when she began this undertaking. It is so important, more so now than ever, to read these true accounts from Holocaust survivors because soon there will be none left to tell their stories. There stories must be read and shared. What an incredible friendship Anne and Hannah had. Although, only one survived to tell their story, Anne lived on in Hannah’s memories. Anne also had the foresight to keep a written account of her life during the time her family was in hiding in her precious diary. Both Hannah and Anne shared something so beautiful during such a dark and dangerous time. Thank you Hannah Pick-Goslar for sharing your story and the friendship you shared with Anne Frank in this powerful and must read book that you wrote. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Little, Brown Spark Publishers for allowing me to read My Friend Anne Frank: The Inspiring and Heartbreaking True Story of Best Friends Torn Apart and Reunited Against All Odds by Hannah Pick-Goslar through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 17, 2023
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Jun 18, 2023
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Jun 13, 2023
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Kindle Edition
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| 9798200712274
| B09F16L2YT
| 4.53
| 4,005
| May 22, 2020
| Aug 31, 2021
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really liked it
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I have wanted to read a book by Jean Grainger for some time. When I saw this audiobook and read the blurb about it, I was intrigued. Sisters of the So
I have wanted to read a book by Jean Grainger for some time. When I saw this audiobook and read the blurb about it, I was intrigued. Sisters of the Southern Cross took place in Queensland, Australia during the mid 1930’s in a town called Jumaaroo. It was told from the POV of Sister Claire McAuliffe who had been given the opportunity of starting and running a school for Catholic children in Jumaaroo by her uncle, Bishop William McAuliffe. The school had been built and funded by the mayor of Jumaaroo, Mr. Joseph McGrath and his wife Assumpta. Right from the start, Sister Claire, recognized the very obvious evidence of discrimination, racism and prejudice that existed throughout Queensland. Sister Claire was determined to create a school that all children could attend without any discrimination. The only criteria she insisted on was that the children had to come from Christian families. The mayor of Jumaaroo, Joseph McGrath, was a sinister and arrogant man. He was feared yet respected. Sister Claire was initially met by great opposition from Joseph McGrath but her persistence prevailed. Children from Aboriginal families, Chinese families and other families were all granted admission to the school. That one triumph did not lessen Sister Claire’s wrath. Sister Claire soon discovered that an Aboriginal elder had been murdered. Who committed the murder? Sister Claire had also been told that Joseph McGrath was trying to take away the land the Aboriginal people had lived on for centuries. Would she be able to figure out who had committed the murder? Could Sister Claire help the Aboriginal people retain their land? All of Sister Claire’s efforts would place her in immense danger. Sisters of the Southern Cross by Jean Grainger was a well written historical fiction novel. Her vivid descriptions made it easy to visualize the beauty of Australia’s landscape and unique animal culture. Jean Grainger wrote honestly and accurately about the sentiments and openly voiced discriminatory practices of the white community against the indigenous peoples of Australia during the 1930’s. Sisters of the Southern Cross was a story of hope and the attempt to change the way people viewed others. It was one woman’s act of courage and compassion to give opportunities to those that were usually denied them. I listened to the audiobook of Sisters of the Southern Cross that was well narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Siobhan Waring. I enjoyed listening to this audiobook and recommend it highly. Thank you to Dreamscape Media LLC for allowing me to listen to this audiobook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 11, 2023
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Jun 12, 2023
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Jun 11, 2023
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Audio CD
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| 9781250332363
| unknown
| 3.74
| 23,654
| Mar 05, 2024
| Mar 05, 2024
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really liked it
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Bye, Baby was a captivating book by Carola Lovering, a new author for me. It was fast paced and well written. Bye, Baby explored the complicated frien
Bye, Baby was a captivating book by Carola Lovering, a new author for me. It was fast paced and well written. Bye, Baby explored the complicated friendship Billie West and Cassie Barnwell shared from around the time they were about twelve years old through the third decade of their lives. It was told in alternating first person narratives that switched back and forth between the past and present. Billie and Cassie could not have been more different from one another if they tried. From their upbringing, relationships they had with their parents, outlooks on life and their priorities in life they differed greatly but they shared a bond of friendship with one another. From early on, Cassie took the role of leader and Billie became the follower. Billie gave in to most of Cassie’s demands and requests. There was a secret they shared that bounded them to each other. Cassie’s family had been considered wealthy until her father lost all their money. The change in lifestyle that Cassie’s family had to make was hard for Cassie to accept. Cassie had always known that someday she would marry someone that could provide the kind of life she felt she deserved. Her aspirations were high and her expectations were unbending. Cassie was a very shallow person and one would even call her a snob. Cassie was fortunate enough to be accepted to and attend Harvard, while Billie, although having better grades than Cassie was lucky enough to attend Northeastern. Cassie set her sights high on making friends with some of the richest and most influential women in her year at Harvard. She chose friends who would benefit her and help her live the life she dreamed about. Billie and Cassie continued to be friends during those years but Billie was always expected to join Cassie at Harvard. Years later, Cassie and Billie were in their thirties and their friendship had become strained. Cassie was married to just the sort of man she intended to marry all those years ago. She and her husband had recently had a baby girl and Cassie was enjoying motherhood. All of Cassie’s friends now were new mothers and had also married well. Cassie’s friendship with Billie had grown distant. To Billie’s dismay, Cassie rarely thought about Billie or included her in her day to day life anymore. Cassie had moved on from Billie. She had a whole new group of friends and Billie just did not fit in with them. Billie was still single and made it known that she did not ever want children. This was something that Billie had known about herself for a very long time. When Billie allowed herself to fall in love, it had become a contention between herself and the man she had fallen in love with. He had wanted to have children and Billie knew that she didn’t. Those differences caused them to end their relationship. Despite the fact that Cassie hardly if ever contacted Billie or included her in her life, Billie continued to be obsessed with Cassie and still craved her friendship. Unfortunately, it was all one sided. On the night of Cassie’s thirty-fifth birthday party, Billie happened to be in another apartment in the same building that Cassie, her husband and baby daughter resided in. As Billie was doing what she had come to do, there was an unmistakable series a loud screams and unmistakable crying. Billie soon realized that the crying was coming from Cassie’s neglected and forgotten baby daughter. Even though Cassie had told Billie that she had had no plans to celebrate her thirty-fifth birthday, Billie soon discovered that that had been an all out blatant lie. From what Billie gathered, there must have been at least fifty guests that were helping Cassie celebrate her special birthday. Cassie had deliberately lied to Billie and chose not to include her in her celebration. Billie wasn’t sure what possessed her but the next thing she knew she was climbing up the fire escape and grabbing Cassie’s baby. She just wanted the baby to stop crying. What had Billie done? When Cassie discovered that her baby was missing she screamed a bone chilling scream that was undeniably terrifying. Billie overheard Cassie telling her friends that she needed Billie. How could Billie get Cassie’s baby back to her without her learning that she had been the one that had taken her? How would all of this affect Billie’s and Cassie’s friendship going forward? I was not a fan of Cassie from the onset of the friendship she formed with Billie. Cassie, in my opinion, was obsessed with material things. She was very self-centered and latched on to those that could improve her life and make her look better. I felt sorry for Billie. She was made to endure and witness some things in her earlier years that most likely made her try and hold on to Cassie and the friendship they shared longer than she should have. I was glad that Billie was able to learn from all that she went through and ended up evolving into a more secure and happy person. I really enjoyed the ending of Bye, Baby. There were several topics that were touched upon that included Alzheimer’s, sexual and emotional abuse, friendships, obsession with social media and motherhood. Overall, I enjoyed Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering and recommend it highly. Publication was March 5, 2024. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering through Netgalley in exchange for this honest and voluntary review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 05, 2024
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Mar 08, 2024
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Jun 10, 2023
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Audiobook
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| B0BZDLCK9P
| 4.24
| 3,064
| Aug 01, 2023
| Aug 01, 2023
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really liked it
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The Girls Left Behind by Emily Gunnis was a gripping mystery thriller. I was initially drawn to the eye catching cover but as soon as I began listenin
The Girls Left Behind by Emily Gunnis was a gripping mystery thriller. I was initially drawn to the eye catching cover but as soon as I began listening to the audiobook I was hooked. The audiobook was well narrated by Clare Corbett. The Girls Left Behind was well plotted, fast paced and had several twists. I particularly enjoyed that The Girls Left Behind centered around the lives of three strong female characters. The time line alternated between the 1940’s when Olive, Jo’s mother was working at Bletchley Park during World War II, the 1970’s-1980’s when Jo Hamilton was a young rookie constable and present day. All three time lines wove together flawlessly by the end of the book. Jo Hamilton was days away from retirement. She was the Superintendent of the Sussex Police department and had earned the right to retire. There was one case, though, that had haunted Jo Hamilton throughout her career. More than forty years ago, Jo Hamilton was a young constable. She responded to a case of suspected domestic violence. As she entered the identified house, Jo witnessed an irate husband, a cowering wife and two scared and frightened daughters. As Jo tried to get the two daughters out of the house and away from their out of control father, a terrible accident occurred. Jo accidentally knocked over an ashtray and before she realized what she had done the room was engulfed in flames. Jo was able to get the girls out of the house safely but their mother was not as lucky. Even though the fire was an accident, Jo blamed herself. She took full responsibility for the two young sisters. Jo Hamilton realized she had no choice but to take the sisters to a children’s home. Not long after the girls were placed in the children’s home, the older sister disappeared, never to be seen again. Jo never got over the guilt she felt about the fate of the two sisters. Now just days away from her long awaited retirement, Jo Hamilton learned that bones belonging to female victim had been discovered near Saltdean. Could the bones belong to Holly, the older sister, who disappeared all those year ago? Jo became determined to finally bring closure to this case. Could she finally solve this case that had haunted her her entire career? Jo knew that she had to locate Daisy, Holly’s younger sister, to get the answers she desperately needed to finally solve this case. While Jo immersed herself in trying to determine whether the bones that had been uncovered belonged to Holly she also had to come to terms with the fact that her mother was dying. Olive, Jo’s mother had harbored secrets her entire life. Was she ready to divulge them now that she was dying? Emily Gunnis masterfully wove together the stories of these three strong female characters. The ending was brilliant! I never would have guessed it. I was greatly bothered by the conditions and treatment of the young children at Morgate House, the children’s home where Holly and Daisy ended up. The Girls Left Behind touched on the themes of sisterly love, friendship, deceit, lies, secrets, friendship, guilt, child abuse and determination. I really enjoyed this audiobook and highly recommend it. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Girls Left Behind by Emily Gunnis through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 29, 2023
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Nov 03, 2023
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Jun 09, 2023
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Audiobook
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