Marilyn (recuperating from hip replacement surgery
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Books:
marilyn-s-challenge
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| 9798986893099
| unknown
| 4.10
| 29
| unknown
| Mar 19, 2024
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really liked it
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Review to follow.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 05, 2024
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Jul 07, 2024
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Jun 20, 2024
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Audiobook
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| 1835256481
| 9781835256480
| B0CWVFP5GM
| 4.16
| 128
| unknown
| Jun 24, 2024
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really liked it
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The Florence Letter: Absolutely spellbinding and page-turning dual narrative fiction by Anita Chapman was a captivating and engaging book that drew me
The Florence Letter: Absolutely spellbinding and page-turning dual narrative fiction by Anita Chapman was a captivating and engaging book that drew me in immediately. It was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Anita Chapman. I enjoyed that Anita Chapman chose to set The Florence Letter in both Surrey, England and in Florence, Italy. The two protagonists in The Florence Letters were both resourceful, strong and intelligent women. A dual timeline was used to tell each of these two women’s stories which eventually converged. It detailed the common thread that tied the hopes and the plight of both women together as they helped each other fulfill a promise that was made long ago. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by both Emma Powell and Sophie Roberts. Their performance was enjoyable and kept me engaged throughout the entire audiobook. Margaret or Mags as she liked to be called lived in London with her mother during The Blitz. She had secured a position at a popular department store and was enjoying her profession when the store suffered a direct hit from a German bomb and was destroyed. When her livelihood was eliminated, Mags’s aunt invited her to come to the countryside where she lived with the promise of helping Mags secure another job. Mags accepted her aunt’s offer and had hoped to live with her aunt for awhile before she sought employment. Her aunt, like many that lived in the countryside, had taken in boarders who occupied all of her aunt’s extra bedrooms. There was no room for Mags to live with her aunt. Her idea of an extended stay was not to be. Mags soon became a lady’s maid to Lady Violet at Gatley Hall. In a short period of time, Mags had earned Lady Violet’s trust and respect. Over the time Mags served as Lady Violet’s lady’s maid, she became privy to secrets, a scandal and the recipient of a promise she vowed to keep. At ninety-one years of age, Mags was still trying to keep that promise. In 2015, Caire, a thirty year old woman, was ready to accept a new challenge. Her relationship with her boyfriend of many years was going nowhere fast. She finally realized that her boyfriend had no intention of marrying her and starting a family with her. It was time for Claire to move forward. She accepted a position at Gatley Hall. Claire was to put together an exhibition entitled “Under the Stairs”. She was to recreate what life at Gatley Hall had been like during World War II. While Claire rummaged through boxes and drawers, she hoped that she might discover something that could be useful for the exhibit. In a drawer full of letters, Claire came upon one letter written by a woman named Margaret who appeared to have served as Lady Violet’s lady’s maid during World War II. As Claire read the letter, she discovered that Margaret was searching for the whereabouts of a young woman named Tabitha. Claire’s interest was piqued. She was determined to find out who Margaret was. Her mission became clear. Claire must locate Margaret and find out who Tabitha was and why Margaret was so intent on finding her. Her quest began in Surrey and eventually led her to Florence, Italy. Anita Chapman proved to me that she is a masterful storyteller. The Florence Letters was well written and it vividly described the landscapes of both Surrey and Florence. I really enjoyed learning about both Margaret’s and Claire’s lives and stories. They were both women who made some unfortunate decisions and choices but overcame them and became stronger as a result. I found it very interesting that the people in England that lived during World War II were encouraged to write in diaries and keep a record of their impressions and daily occurrences. There were a few twists in the story that kept me engaged and wanting more. I also enjoyed witnessing the romances that slowly took shape and grew for both Margaret and Claire. They both deserved to find happiness. By the way, I loved the cover of this book as well. I really enjoyed listening to The Florence Letters by Anita Chapman and highly recommend it. I will definitely look for books written by Anita Chapman in the future. Thank you to Bookouture Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Florence Letters by Anita Chapman through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 24, 2024
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Jun 27, 2024
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Jun 07, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| B0CKLYT55F
| 3.73
| 748
| Jun 25, 2024
| Jun 25, 2024
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it was ok
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DNF! I tried but between the slowness and the narrator’s annoying voice I just couldn’t get into it. On to better choices.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 24, 2024
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Jun 24, 2024
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May 02, 2024
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Audible Audio
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| 0063299526
| 9780063299528
| B0CCP7GK4K
| 4.41
| 1,142
| Apr 2024
| Apr 23, 2024
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it was amazing
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Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry was one of the most beautiful yet powerful books I have read in a very long time. Leave it to a masterfully talented a
Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry was one of the most beautiful yet powerful books I have read in a very long time. Leave it to a masterfully talented author like Lois Lowry to create a friendship between an eleven year old girl and an eighty-eight year old woman. It was a friendship based on sincerity and love. I grew up reading Lois Lowry’s books and had recommended them to my students that I taught over the years but Tree, Table, Book was in a class of its own. Its message was compassionate and so powerful. I listened to the audiobook of Tree, Table, Book that was recorded as a voicegalley. I listened to it in one sitting since I was not able to pull myself away from it. It was tender, hopeful, sad and so meaningful. Sophie Henry Winslow was an only child who grew up in a small town in New Hampshire. She was socially awkward and did not have many if any girlfriends from her school. Sophie was eleven years old which is an awkward time in any girl’s life but couple that with having to wear not so fashionable glasses and having to follow a very healthy yet strict diet of choice and you have the recipe for a life absent of any meaningful friendships. Sophie was unperturbed about this because her best friend lived right across the street from her. This friend did not attend her school, though. Sophie’s best friend was an eighty-eight year old woman named Sophie Gershowitz. The two Sophie’s enjoyed playing word games together, sipping tea in the older Sophie’s kitchen and talking about things they both found interesting. One evening, Sophie Winslow overheard a conversation her parents were having about her best friend, Sophie Gershowitz. Apparently, the older Sophie’s son was growing concerned about his mother’s failing cognitive functioning. Sophie Gershowitz’s son was an accountant and lived in Akron, Ohio. He was planning on coming to New Hampshire to take his mother to be evaluated by a doctor. If the son’s suspicions were proven correct he planned on taking Sophie back to Ohio and placing her in a facility that would provide a safe place for Sophie to live and a place where she would be cared for. Young Sophie was not going to let that happen. Her friend was just fine. She was not going to allow anyone to take her best friend away from her. The next day, Sophie Winslow got hold of a Merck Manual. In it she found the type of tests the doctor would conduct on Sophie. The older Sophie was able to ace many of the tests but there was one that proved quite difficult for her. It was impossible for the older Sophie to recall a combination of three words that the younger Sophie told her after a few minutes had lapsed. Young Sophie had an idea to help her friend remember those words and be able to recite the words back to her. Sophie Winslow believed that if older Sophie was able to associate a common word with a story or memory it was going to probably be easier for older Sophie to recall the words. Thus, young Sophie spoke the words tree, table, book and asked old Sophie to remember them. Young Sophie repeated the word tree and asked old Sophie to tell her a story about a tree she remembered. Sophie Winslow repeated this process with all three words. The stories that Sophie Gershowitz shared with her young friend were about her childhood growing up in Poland and her family’s experiences during World War II. Young Sophie learned so much about her best friend that day. Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry was classified as a middle grade book but I believe that adults, (including myself) will enjoy it just as much. I admit that I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. At first glance I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book. It ended up being one of my favorite books that I have read so far this year. Tree, Table, Book gave a whole new definition to the meaning of friendship. It was about friendship above all but also about love, acceptance and sharing. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry and highly recommend it. Thank you to Harper Audio for allowing me to listen to Tree, Table, Book by Lois Lowry through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 29, 2024
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Apr 30, 2024
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Apr 29, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 1800183151
| 9781800183155
| B0D61VMXMM
| 4.38
| 47
| unknown
| Jun 13, 2024
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really liked it
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Northern Boy: A big Bollywood dream. A small-town chance was Iqbal Hussain’s debut novel. It was a compelling and heartfelt coming of age story about
Northern Boy: A big Bollywood dream. A small-town chance was Iqbal Hussain’s debut novel. It was a compelling and heartfelt coming of age story about a talented Pakistani boy, Rafi Aziz. Rafi seemed to march to the beat of his own drum from a very young age. He was the youngest of his siblings and the clear favorite of his mother. His parents had moved from Pakistan to the suburbs of Blackburn, England so their children could experience more opportunities than they would have had in Pakistan. Blackburn was located in the northern part of England. Northern Boy was very well written and the characters were well thought out and quite believable. It was written in a dual time line that captured Rafi’s early years and then picked up twenty years later when Rafi returned to Blackburn for his best friend Shazia’s wedding. Rafi’s story began in the early 1980’s. He was a young, impressionable and musically inclined boy who much preferred to sing, dance and play with his best friend Shazia than to play sports and hang out with other boys his age. Rafi’s dream was to become a Bollywood star. Rafi received encouragement from his mother who also loved to sing and wear colorful and exotic clothes. He often belted out songs by his favorite group, ABBA or played songs by ear on his toy baby grand piano. All of this was fine for Rafi to do as long as it was done in the confines of his own home. The day Rafi decided to showcase his music and rather flamboyant style of dress outside of his home was the day Rafi began to receive mixed messages from his mother. She was more concerned about how Rafi would be perceived by her neighbors. Rafi was confused by the mixed messages he was getting from his mother. He was just being himself and doing the things that made him the happiest. Rafi was tormented by bullies at school. He went out of his way to avoid these boys but somehow they always seemed to find him. Rafi was very concerned about graduating from the school he was attending. His parents had made it very clear that they expected Rafi to attend Everton High School. Rafi knew that there was a particular boy that attended Everton that would go out of his way to make Rafi’s life miserable there. Rafi was trying to figure out a way so that he didn’t have to go to Everton. Perhaps Rafi’s salvation laid in the hands of his music teacher, Mr. H., who recognized Rafi’s untapped potential and inborn talents. Mr. H became Rafi’s mentor, teacher and friend. He encouraged Rafi to apply and audition for a spot at one of the top music schools in England. Rafi was granted an audition. Although Rafi’s parents had denied their consent for Rafi’s audition, Rafi and Mr. H decided to go anyway. This was an opportunity that Rafi could not pass up and it could be his ticket for not attending Everton. Rafi was not only offered a spot but he also received a full scholarship. He never looked back. Twenty years later, Rafi found himself living in Australia. He lived with his handsome partner and their dog. Rafi had built a successful career in the theatre as an actor/ musician. He had put up walls between himself and his family. Rafi had never revealed anything about his personal life to his family or friends back in Blackburn. He was still afraid of what they would think of him. Keeping his distance was just easier but now he was offered no choice but to return to Blackburn. His best and oldest friend Shazia was getting married. Rafi decided to travel to Blackburn solo. His partner would remain in Australia. Someone had to take care of their dog. Right? Rafi felt that it would be easier to go to Blackburn by himself. There would be less explaining to do. How would Rafi’s brother and sister be with seeing him after all this time? Can Rafi and Shazia pick up right where they had left off and renew their friendship? Who else will Rafi encounter? How has Blackburn changed over the many years Rafi has managed to avoided going back? Will Rafi’s mother embrace him or scorn him? Northern Boy reminded me in some ways of Billy Elliot. It was a beautiful story that made me laugh and even shed a few tears. It was about family, dreams, identity, hope, being part of a community, bullying, friendship and romance. Rafi was a boy who was comfortable about who he was and what he wanted. As a man, Rafi, hid his feelings and how he identified himself from his family. Above all else, Rafi was unique, determined, strong, so talented and very resilient. I fell in love with Rafi’s character and found myself rooting for him. Northern Boy was a very touching story that I enjoyed tremendously and recommend highly. Thank you to Unbound Firsts for allowing me to read Northern Boy: A big Bollywood dream. A small-town chance by Iqbal Hussain through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Publication is set for January 28, 2025. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 11, 2024
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Jun 15, 2024
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Apr 28, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 1805083333
| 9781805083337
| B0CVV7F4N7
| 4.06
| 190
| unknown
| May 14, 2024
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really liked it
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The Secret Daughter of Venice was a very captivating historical fiction book by Juliet Greenwood. I had not read the first book in this series previou
The Secret Daughter of Venice was a very captivating historical fiction book by Juliet Greenwood. I had not read the first book in this series previously but that did not hamper my enjoyment of this one. The Secret Daughter of Venice was the second book I had read by Juliet Greenwood. After reading both of her books, I was quite impressed by her writing, impeccable research, choice of characters and points of history she had chosen to write about. There was a strong element of mystery throughout The Secret Daughter of Venice as well as a touch of love, romance, friendship, belonging and an overwhelming desire to find and solve a puzzle that lay just beyond reach. Kate Arden had been told that she had been adopted by the Arden family for as long as she could remember. She lived with her very controlling father, Leo, her sisters, Rosalind, Bianca and Cordelia and her two brothers, Will and Jamie at the Arden estate located in Brierley at Stratford- Upon-Avon in England. Her mother had died and she had a stepmother now. Even though Kate loved her sisters and brothers dearly, she never quite felt as if she fit in, belonged and was truly a part of this influential and wealthy family. There had always been a nagging thought in back of her mind that she was not able to quite capture about her true identity and who her real family had been. In 1941, Kate found herself at the Arden Estate missing her sisters and brothers. She tried to help with the plantings and gathering of vegetables as much as possible on the farmland they still possessed. Arden Estate, once very grand, was in great disrepair. Kate’s brother Jamie had unearthed and discovered remains of a Roman structure from long ago buried on their property. One day, as Kate worked in the garden, she came upon a beautiful cup made from glass. She was excited to discover the origins of the cup so Kate convinced her stepmother to let her accompany her to the market. Once in town, Kate planned to consult Miss Parsons, the local teacher and also the proprietor of the local museum, about the cup’s history. Miss Parsons had been a very close friend and confidant of the late Mrs. Arden. Celia Arden had asked Miss Parsons to present each of her daughters with a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets upon her death. Buried in each book was a hidden message from Celia that pertained to her hope for each of her daughter’s futures. After Miss Parsons examined the cup and promised to clean it up and try and trace its roots, Miss Parsons inquired if Kate had discovered the hidden message her mother had left for her in the book. Kate had forgotten about the book since she had found no hidden messages initially. She just assumed that her mother had left the message out of her book. After all, Kate had been adopted. Miss Parsons assured Kate that there was indeed a message hidden somewhere in her book and Miss Parsons encouraged Kate to keep looking. When Kate arrived back at Arden Estate, she went directly to her room to re-examine the book. What she found hidden in the spine of the book both surprised Kate and triggered memories she had only glimpsed at in her dreams. Before her, Kate stared at the drawings of places that she was sure had something to do with her and her past. She recalled a time long ago when someone had taught her lovingly and patiently to draw, too. Those drawings would be the catalyst to help Kate discover who she was and who her real mother was. Kate embarked on a journey that took her from Stratford-Upon-Avon to Cornwall, to Naples, to Pompeii, to Mount Vesuvius to Venice. She was able to cultivate her artistic talents, teach and care for innocent orphan children who were victims of the war, use her art as a healing mechanism to help the orphans cope with their losses and their grief and form several meaningful relationships and friendships on her journey. Would Kate be able to discover her own story and fill in the gaps that had been beyond her reach for all these years of her life? Will Kate be able to finally find her mother and pursue her dreams of becoming an artist? I really enjoyed reading The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood. At some point, I may go back and read the first book in this series but I am definitely excited about reading the next one. There were several secrets that were hinted at throughout the book. They were all presented by the conclusion of this very memorable book. I was totally caught off guard when one particular secret was revealed. I had not seen it coming. The Secret Daughter of Venice captured the love for art Kate encompassed, her natural artistic talent, mother/daughter relationships, love, taking control of other’s lives, loss, deceit, greed, friendship and family. All my emotions were stirred while reading The Secret Daughter of Venice. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 07, 2024
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May 10, 2024
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Apr 28, 2024
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| 1665041579
| 9781665041577
| 1665041579
| 4.38
| 473
| 2024
| Apr 02, 2024
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it was amazing
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4.5 strong stars! Wow! I wasn’t sure what to expect from this audiobook but I was surprised by how much I liked it! Four Minutes was the first book th
4.5 strong stars! Wow! I wasn’t sure what to expect from this audiobook but I was surprised by how much I liked it! Four Minutes was the first book that I had the opportunity to read by authors Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. This book can best be described as a military thriller with elements of time travel and sci fi mixed in. Four Minutes was not my usual genre but it worked and I enjoyed it very much. It was fast paced and the characters were diverse, flawed and well developed. I listened to the audiobook of Four Minutes that was expertly narrated by Ray Porter. As Four Minutes began, Navy Seal Special Operation Chief, Tyler Brooks, was in the process of leading his team through a covert operation that should have been quick, easy and successful. Tyler was being advised by Navy Intelligence Specialist, Zee William, about enemy locations and other pertinent information that might impact their mission. Neither Zee nor Tyler saw what was coming until it was too late. Tyler’s team was met by enemy fire and somehow they were outnumbered and compromised. Many members of Tyler’s team died during that operation. It went terribly wrong. Both Tyler and Zee felt extremely guilty and sad about the members of their team that died that day. Even Tyler suffered a significant injury that day and had to be hospitalized for it. While Tyler was recuperating in the hospital, Zee William received a visit from a government agent named Pat Moody. Mr. Moody’s goal was to recruit both Zee and Tyler for a special team called Task Force Omega. Pat Moody was tasked with building a team to secure the future of the United States. As the team was carefully selected, the members of Task Force Omega would learn about the existence of a Time Machine that had been developed and tested and was ready for them to use. The purpose of the Time Machine was to allow the members of the team to go into the future so they would be able to detect and prevent potential threats that could put the United States in danger. Each member of the team possessed a special ability or skill. Some had photographic memories while others had the skills needed for combat missions. Each of the six recruits were essential to the success of Task Force Omega. If they were successful in their jumps into the future it was possible that they could help to prevent future shootings, massacres, bombings, wars and any other threats that might threaten the United States. Bravo and genius, you might say, but there had to be hitch and there was. The team only had a total of four minutes in the future to accomplish anything that they needed to. That was not a lot of time. Also, unbeknownst to the members of Task Force Omega and the people in charge, there was another team out there somewhere. There was a team who possessed the same capabilities as Task Force Omega, but one with the intentions of causing chaos, destruction and harm. Who will succeed and be triumphant? Four Minutes was absolutely brilliant and thrilling! I am so glad I had the opportunity to discover these authors. I will look for their books in the future. Stepping out of my comfort zone definitely paid off for me this time. The only criticism I had was that the ending left me wanting more of a closure. I’m hoping that perhaps there will be a sequel to this one so my questions will be answered. Without any hesitation, I highly recommend Four Minutes by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson. Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Four Minutes by Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 30, 2024
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May 03, 2024
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Apr 24, 2024
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Audio CD
| ||||||||||||||
| 9780840716736
| B0CB1T8HN4
| 4.13
| 1,368
| unknown
| May 14, 2024
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really liked it
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Loyally, Luke was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Pepper Basham. When I first learned that I had been approved to listen to the a
Loyally, Luke was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Pepper Basham. When I first learned that I had been approved to listen to the audiobook of Loyally, Luke, I was not aware that it was the last book in the Skymar series. I did not feel that I was at a disadvantage, though. Loyally, Luke can definitely be read as a stand-alone book. It was the kind of book that put a big smile on my face and made me laugh out loud at times. I loved the characters and was so glad that it ended with a happily ever after ending for Luke. I listened to the audiobook of Loyally, Luke that was very well narrated by a full compliment of narrators. Luke Edgewood was an all around good guy. The two things that Luke would have had a hard time living without were his flannel shirts and his cups of coffee. It was no surprise then, that Luke found himself in the coffee shop after he arrived at Skymar Island. The thing Luke never expected though was to lay his eyes on a woman who looked like the spitting image of Grace Kelly only with blonde hair. The other thing Luke didn’t expect was for his coffee cup to collide with “Grace Kelly’s”. What a disaster! Oh well, Luke realized that he would never see her again. No harm done! He apologized and proceeded to meet the driver that would take him to the construction jobs that he was to bid on. There was a renovation of an orphanage and a cabin that Luke hoped to lend a hand in restoring. It was not surprising that Luke was hired for both the orphanage project and the cabin renovation. What was surprising was that the first day on the job at the orphanage, Luke was introduced to the interior designer for the orphanage. She was no other than the “Grace Kelly” look alike from the coffee shop. There she was right before Luke’s eyes! I just knew that romance was sure to come but there were other surprises that I wasn’t expecting. Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham was a feel good book. I adored the characters and was more than satisfied with the ending. Even though I had not read the previous two books in this delightful series, I feel that I got a good sense of who Penelope and Izzy were and the relationship they had with Luke. At some point. I hope to go back and read the first two books in this series. I certainly will be watching for more books by Pepper Basham in the future. If you enjoy reading romance books then I highly recommend this book. Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Apr 18, 2024
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Audiobook
| |||||||||||||||
| B0CB1VRW4B
| 4.24
| 136
| unknown
| May 07, 2024
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really liked it
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The Proposal Plot was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Kathleen Fuller. Over the last few years I have found myself drawn
The Proposal Plot was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Kathleen Fuller. Over the last few years I have found myself drawn more and more to books that had to do with the Amish community. I was impressed with Kathleen Fuller’s ability to create very relatable characters that by themselves possessed flaws, different backgrounds, and problems but collectively were easily adaptable to making The Proposal Plot work for me. It had some funny, laugh out loud moments as well as some that made me want to jump into the story and shake a character or two. I enjoyed reading about the quaint and simple life of the Amish and Kathleen Fuller was able to capture their essence in The Proposal Plot. It was paced just right, had enough drama, confrontations, decision making and choices throughout to make The Proposal Plot a very satisfying read for me. Nelson Bontrager, a young Amish man, was down in his luck when it came to the romance department. He had recently found himself head over heels in love with two different women over a short period of time. Nelson had found himself rejected by both women for different reasons but the disappointment and hurt was the same. All Nelson had ever wanted was to be able to find a woman that wanted to marry him. He then saw himself working on the family farm. Nelson was so distraught after the second rejection that he made himself a promise to swear off women, romance and marriage altogether. An opportunity arose where Nelson was taught how to become a butcher. He embraced the opportunity and discovered that he was very good at it. Nelson was at the point where he was exploring the possibility of opening his own shop. He learned that an abandoned warehouse was available in a place called Marigold, Ohio. Nelson had family close by so he made arrangements to see the property. His nephew, Malachi, accompanied him. The warehouse that Nelson was interested in was right next door to the E and J grocery store that was owned by Ella’s and Junia’s father, Barnabas Yoder. Ella’s and Junia’s mother had died a few years ago and Ella had talked her father into moving to Marigold, Ohio and purchasing the grocery store. The store was doing fairly well. Ella seemed to have a good sense of how to manage the store and make it profitable. She had began coaxing her father to consider buying the warehouse to expand their business. When Ella discovered that someone else was interested in buying the warehouse her first reaction was to try and discourage the sale. Ella seemed to know no boundaries. She barged into the warehouse, invaded Nelson’s space and proceeded to try and talk him out of buying the warehouse. Needless to say, Ella and Nelson got off to a very shaky and turbulent start. They could not have made a worse first impression on each other if they had tried. The opposite was true of Nelson’s nephew and Ella’s younger sister, Junia. When Junia came to the warehouse to get Ella, she was immediately smitten with Malachi and he with her. Despite all of Ella’s efforts to persuade Nelson that he shouldn’t buy the warehouse, he ended up purchasing it. Even though Ella and Nelson went out of their way to avoid each other, they were continually thrown together. Can first impressions be wrong and altered? How will Ella and Nelson learn how to navigate this new path they were traveling on? I enjoyed how Ella’s and Nelson’s characters transformed and grew throughout The Proposal Plot. Ella started off as a very bossy, opinionated and impulsive young woman with a low self esteem when it came to her chances of finding a man that could love her. She was very smart and adapted to the role of running a business easily. Nelson, on the other hand, had built so many walls around him so he would not be hurt again. He was not sure how to go about starting a business and was not readily able to seek help. Ella’s sister, Junia, was lazy, spoiled and tried to get away with doing the least amount of work she could get away with. She was always shirking her responsibilities and putting more of her share of the work load on Ella’s shoulders. Both sisters felt a lot of resentment towards each other. They were constantly complaining about each other and arguing over everything. Their dad, Barnabas, lacked the ability to handle their outbursts and strained relationship. After loosing his wife and becoming a widower, Barnabas lost sight how to discipline his own daughters. Barnabas had entrusted those responsibilities to his sisters for a long while. After his wife’s death, he and his daughters had moved in with Barnabas’s sisters and he allowed them to take charge of his daughters. Now that Barnabas and his daughters were on their own again he knew that he had to take charge, but how? Who could help him learn how to step into that role again? There was another character that I really liked in The Proposal Plot. Her name was Wendy. She was not Amish. Wendy had been living in New York City where she had been an attorney in a high powered law office. When Wendy’s aging mother needed more care, it was the perfect opportunity for Wendy to leave New York City and her affluent clients behind. Wendy was becoming disillusioned with her own life as she knew it. She moved in with her mother and opened her own office right outside of Marigold. Would Wendy find happiness in Marigold? Could she embrace the life her Amish neighbors lived as her own? Was romance in the cards for Wendy as well? I really enjoyed getting to know the people of Marigold, Ohio. If you enjoy stories about the Amish people that possesses a touch of romance, then I believe that you will enjoy The Proposal Plot by Kathleen Fuller. I hope to read more books by her in the future. The audiobook that I listened to was very well narrated by Lauren Berst. I highly recommend the audiobook of The Proposal Plot. Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Proposal Plot An Amish of Marigold Novel by Kathleen Fuller through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 09, 2024
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Jun 11, 2024
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Apr 09, 2024
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Audiobook
| ||||||||||||||||
| 0369747887
| 9780369747884
| B0CC9M55RM
| 4.14
| 166
| Jun 25, 2024
| Jun 25, 2024
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None
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Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 05, 2024
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not set
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Mar 28, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0840716664
| 9780840716668
| B0CD3Q81S4
| 4.17
| 1,523
| Mar 2024
| Mar 12, 2024
|
really liked it
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Love, Unscripted was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Denise Hunter. The alluring cover drew me in initially but as soon a
Love, Unscripted was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Denise Hunter. The alluring cover drew me in initially but as soon as I started listening to the audiobook I was hooked. Love, Scripted was set in a small southern town called Stillwater in the state of North Carolina. Stillwater was the kind of town where everyone knew one another and gossip traveled fast. I enjoyed Denise Hunter’s writing style and her choice of characters that made their appearances in Love, Unscripted. The audiobook was very well narrated by Kathleen McInerney. She made it easy for me to visualize the story as it unfolded before my eyes. Chloe Anderson had grown up and lived in Stillwater, North Carolina her whole life. Her mom, stepdad and brother also lived there. Chloe’s mom owned a restaurant in town that Chloe and her brother helped run. Fairly recently, Chloe had authored her first book. It was a romance and it had sold pretty well. The idea for the book came to Chloe shortly after she experienced a pretty bad breakup. Chloe used the book to create a prototype for the perfect boyfriend. The book had sold well and was now being made into a movie. Chloe knew that careful consideration had to be given to the selection of which actors and actresses were to be chosen to play the characters in her book. Each role had to be casted well to make that character believable. The role of the boyfriend was probably the most crucial role in the entire movie. Whoever was chosen to play that part had to fit with the characteristics that Chloe had created for him. The one actor Chloe definitely did not want to play that role was Liam Hamilton. Although Liam Hamilton was a good actor, very popular and quite handsome, he was completely wrong for that role in Chloe’s mind. Liam Hamilton was a womanizer, a player, everything that her character was not. As Chloe was telling these thoughts to her best friend in her bookshop that she owned, Chloe received a phone call from the producer of the movie. Chloe’s worst scenario was about to come to fruition. The producer of the movie informed Chloe that Liam Hamilton had been cast as the leading role in the movie. Chloe was angry, frustrated and disappointed. She let the producer know her feelings loud and clear. Little had Chloe realized that the producer had her on speakerphone and that Liam Hamilton had heard most of her irate comments. Although Chloe had meant everything that she said she was also embarrassed that Liam Hamilton had heard her voice them loud and clear. A few days later, about a week before production of the movie was scheduled to begin, Liam arrived in Stillwater. Liam’s reputation had begun to affect his ratings and popularity. He and his agent had devised a plan to help rectify it. The plan hinged on Chloe buying into it, though. When Liam spotted Chloe by a clothing store, he approached her. Chloe immediately apologized to Liam for her behavior on the phone. Liam suggested that they make a deal to “fake date” while the movie was being filmed. His agent believed that if Liam’s fans believed that Liam was in a committed relationship with such a wholesome woman as Chloe Anderson, his ratings would soar again. This arrangement might even help Chloe’s social media status. Chloe and Liam decided to give it a chance. What would happen? Could they pull “fake dating” off? Would Liam do the movie justice in his role of the “perfect boyfriend? What would Liam and Chloe learn through the process? Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter was humorous, sad, romantic and even downright frustrating at times. I really enjoyed both the characters of Chloe and Liam. I felt myself rooting for them. Certain topics were explored in Love, Unscripted. They included a dependency on alcohol to make troubles disappear, divorce, abandonment, bigotry, the need for communication and trust in a relationship, the act of forgiveness, being in denial of the truth, the importance of family and following the heart. I have come to enjoy books that are set in the south and permeate all the charm that the south brings with it. Love, Unscripted was a book that touched my emotions. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Love, Unscripted and recommend it highly. Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 27, 2024
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Mar 29, 2024
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Mar 27, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 4.30
| 2,489
| Apr 05, 2024
| Apr 05, 2024
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it was amazing
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Sipsworth was the first book that I have had the opportunity to read by Simon Van Booy. I was drawn to the cover immediately but I wasn’t sure how I f
Sipsworth was the first book that I have had the opportunity to read by Simon Van Booy. I was drawn to the cover immediately but I wasn’t sure how I felt about reading about a relationship between an older woman and a mouse. How silly of me! I soon discovered that this heartfelt story was so much more. It was written so beautifully and allowed me to feel the feelings of loss, discovery, sadness and hope. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated so well by Christine Rendel. I was so invested in the characters, the acts of love, and the changes in heart that I didn’t want Sipsworth to end. Helen Cartwright was an eighty something year old woman. She had moved from England to Australia as a young bride and never looked back. When Helen’s beloved husband died, though, and when her son died a senseless and premature death, Helen left Australia and returned to the home she had grew up in. It was located in England. Helen Cartwright had lost her will to live. She had returned home to England to wait for death to find her as well. She had lost all the reasons that were important to her to want to continue to live. All Helen Cartwright wanted was “to die quickly and without fuss”. Helen settled into a daily routine quickly. Her routine included taking her meals in front of the television where she watched the news in the morning and movies in the evening, venturing out to buy food and necessities, an occasional solitary walk and lots of naps. Helen was lonely and her existence was mundane. She often found herself reminiscing about memorable occasions in her past that included either her late husband or her son. One night, as Helen stood by the window, she observed her neighbor placing certain items of trash at the curb. Amongst the things her neighbor was getting rid of was an old aquarium. Inside the aquarium, Helen discovered a box and several children’s toys. These things spurred old memories that involved her son. Helen knew that she couldn’t let those things be carted away. Helen knew that she needed to save those things from being taken away by the garbage collectors. That night, Helen learned that beside the aquarium, box and children’s toys, she also inherited a little mouse. Over time, Helen and the mouse who became known as Sipsworth, learned to rely on one another in a way that I am quite certain Helen never imagined. Helen and Sipsworth found a way to wriggle themselves into each other’s hearts. One became dependent upon the other but in quite different ways. Ultimately, it became hard for both Helen and Sipsworth to imagine a life without the other. Sipsworth was so profound on so many different levels. As a person ages and looses the people they love and care about, their outlook on life can and often changes as it did with Helen Cartwright. Sipsworth came into Helen’s life for a reason. For others like Helen Cartwright, dormant feelings need to be sparked to give them a reason to want to continue living. Everyone needs something or someone to inspire them to want to live. For Helen Cartwright, it was Sipsworth. I really enjoyed getting to know the character of Helen Cartwright. Her unique idiosyncrasies were welcomed, appreciated and enjoyed. Sipsworth packed a lot into its short length. It was most delightful, funny at times, sad at other times and quite relatable. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy and highly recommend it. Thank you to HighBridge Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy through Netgalley in exchange for this honest and unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 02, 2024
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Apr 02, 2024
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Mar 24, 2024
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Audiobook
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| 1737360799
| 9781737360797
| 1737360799
| 4.25
| 374
| unknown
| Jun 24, 2024
|
really liked it
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The Last Hunt (The Final Hunt, #2) by Audrey J. Cole was a riveting and suspenseful mystery thriller that grabbed my attention right from the very beg
The Last Hunt (The Final Hunt, #2) by Audrey J. Cole was a riveting and suspenseful mystery thriller that grabbed my attention right from the very beginning. When I requested the audiobook of The Last Hunt, I had not been aware that it was the second book in this series. Even though I usually enjoy reading the books in a series in order, I had no trouble reading The Last Hunt as a stand-alone book. However, based on how much I enjoyed Cameron Prescott’s character and the facts I learned about her past, I am very tempted to go back and read The Final Hunt now. That being said, I thought that Audrey J. Cole’s book, The Last Hunt, was so well plotted and offered a cast of characters that were genuine and authentic. There were also some characters that alternately raised my suspicious throughout the book. The Last Hunt took place in Tok, Alaska. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Leslie Howard. Cameron Prescott had not had a good track record when it came to picking the men in her life. She had moved from Seattle, Washington to Tok, Alaska to escape her troubled past. When Cameron learned that her ex-husband was a serial killer, Cameron knew what she had to do and she acted on her intentions without pause. Cameron was finally able to put her past behind her. She had settled in the small town of Tok, Alaska, started a dental practice, made friends and had begun a serious relationship with her boyfriend, Dane, who was a state trooper. All was well until it wasn’t. Tok, Alaska’s quiet existence was being threatened. Several murders had been committed. All the victims were young women with long brown hair. They were all teachers as well. This was too familiar for Cameron. She feared the worst but Cameron was sure that John, her serial killer ex-husband, had met his fate that day when he became the victim of a pack of wolves. There was no way that he could have survived or could he have? These murders had John’s name all over them. There were also rumors that the murders could have been committed by a law enforcement officer. The tire tracks found at the scene were from a vehicle used by the police. Could Cameron’s instincts about Dane be wrong? Had she been blinded for a third time? Could John be alive and coming after her? Cameron needed answers. The Last Hunt was fast paced and full of twists and turns. I found myself holding my breath and gripping the sides of my chair the further I got into the mystery of who was committing the murders. My opinion seemed to change more times than I would like to admit about who the murderer was. I really liked Cameron’s character and admired how strong and determined she was even when she was confronted with danger, anxiety or fear. I really hope that Audrey J. Cole decides to write another book in this series. If you enjoy well written mystery thrillers then I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Last Hunt by Audrey J. Cole through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 23, 2024
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Jun 23, 2024
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Mar 15, 2024
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Paperback
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| 9798989965830
| B0CW1M54XV
| 4.39
| 184
| unknown
| Apr 10, 2024
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really liked it
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I was quite impressed when I discovered that To Look Upon the Sun was Shannon St Hilaire’s debut novel. She chose to tell the story about the program
I was quite impressed when I discovered that To Look Upon the Sun was Shannon St Hilaire’s debut novel. She chose to tell the story about the program called Lebensborn that was developed by the Nazis. Its purpose was to propagate “pure Aryan” babies between the elite SS officers and pure stock young and able German women. Some considered Lebensborn to be no more than a brothel and many local German citizens treated the women that chose to reside at a home that was run by the Lebensborn Society unkindly and without respect. Shannon St Hilaire more than proved her ability as a talented storyteller in this book. She was able to present a side of the Lebensborn program that I had not previously considered. To Look Upon the Sun portrayed all the feelings that Ilse, the young seventeen year old girl who discovered that she was pregnant, felt as she was left no alternative but to live in one of the homes run by the Lebensborn Society until her baby was born. Over the months of Ilse’s pregnancy and then beyond the years that followed the birth of her child, Ilse felt as if she was trapped within a system that signaled danger, evil, heartbreak and wrongdoings. She began to question everything that she had learned at the BDM meetings. Ilse harbored a secret as well. That secret made Ilse always make sure to have her guard up. If anyone ever discovered her secret it would put Ilse and her baby in grave danger. All of the characters were well developed and believable. It was well plotted and paced just right. Shannon St Hilaire delved into what life was like in Germany before World War II and the Holocaust began and beyond. Shannon St Hilaire’s research for To Look Upon the Sun was impeccable. It was interesting and informative how Ilse’s notions about the Reich evolved and changed the longer she lived in the homes run by the Lebensborn Society. Like most young girls that had grown up in pre-war Germany Ilse had been expected to join and attend the meetings of the Bund Deutscher Madel (BDM). Ilse willingly accepted the ideals and values the BDM taught her about her obligations as a German woman to the Nazis and the Reich but the longer she lived at the homes that were part of the Lebensborn Society the more she questioned the facts that were drilled into her. Shannon St Hilaire also included pertinent details about many horrific acts the Nazis instituted in the Lebensborn homes which included sterilization, euthanasia and the Aktio T4 program. Ilse experienced a constant feeling of dread, danger, realization of how the Nazis were treating the Jews and homosexuals who worked in the gardens of the Lebensborn home when Ilse worked in the kitchen as the cook, a constant fear for survival, a nagging and unrelenting feeling of heartbreak and an awakening of anger to the atrocities the Nazis were responsible for while she lived in the various homes that were part of the Lebensborn Society. To Look Upon the Sun was hard to read in parts but I found Ilse’s resilience throughout commendable. I admired how she learned to think for herself and how her perspective about the Nazis and the dreaded SS officers changed over the course of the book. Be sure to read the author’s note at the conclusion. Shannon St Hilaire explained why and how she chose to wrote about Lebensborn and other things she learned while she conducted her research. I highly recommend To Look Upon the Sun by Shannon St Hilaire and I look forward to seeing what she writes next. Thank you to Book Whisperer for allowing me to read To Look Upon the Sun by Shannon St. Hilaire through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 19, 2024
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Apr 26, 2024
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Mar 13, 2024
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Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||
| 1805085328
| 9781805085324
| B0CLN5PC89
| 4.43
| 481
| unknown
| Mar 06, 2024
|
it was amazing
|
4.5 shiny stars. Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea was the first book that I have read by Caroline Young. Even though it was the second book in the se
4.5 shiny stars. Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea was the first book that I have read by Caroline Young. Even though it was the second book in the series Welcome to Anglesey, Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea can definitely be read as a stand-alone book. Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea was both moving and heartfelt. It covered several difficult topics that were portrayed very well and realistically. Caroline Young set her book in both London and on the tiny yet beautiful island of Anglesey located in Wales. Her vivid descriptions of the landscape and local people of Anglesey were so easy to picture and relate to. I fell in love with many of the places she described and was easily able to connect with many of the characters in Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea. Jude ( short for Judith) Fitzgerald married Alex, the love of her life. They enjoyed a few blissful years of marriage until Alex was tragically diagnosed with cancer. Even though Jude and Alex desperately wanted to become pregnant and start a family, they were told that they were incompatible and would never be able to conceive a child. Jude had suffered more than one miscarriage. With Alex’s diagnosis, Jude realized that she and Alex would never have a child together. Then the inevitable happened. Alex died and Jude was left with her memories of him. Every inch of the home that Jude had lived in with Alex was haunted with her memories of him. Before Alex died he made Jude promise that she would return to Anglesey in the near future. It was a place they had visited on their honeymoon and fell in love with. They both had happy memories of the time they spent there. They had planned to return there again together but now Jude would have to return on her own if she wanted to keep her promise to Alex. Jude’s friends tried to be there for her through her grieving process but the house and London brought back so many memories that Jude knew she had to leave. She decided to go to Anglesey to try and heal from Alex’s death. Jude knew she required and longed for solitude. She appreciated her friends but she had to grieve in own way so she packed up her car, put her house in London on the market and headed for Anglesey. When Jude arrived in Anglesey, a realtor helped her find a house that was available for Jude to rent and fit the requirements that Jude was looking for. The most important thing for Jude was that the house had to have a view of the sea. A home called Hedd matched all the things Jude was looking for. Its location allowed Jude to take long walks on the beach, something she didn’t realize that she needed so badly. Jude spent her evenings alone and allowed the tears to flow freely. How would she be able to go on without Alex? Then one day, a handsome stranger named Owain Pritchard knocked on Jude’s door carrying a box in his hands. He introduced himself as a local who helped other people fix, repair and build things on the island. He was carrying a Jack Russell puppy in the box and explained that this pup was the last of the litter and thought that Jude was in need of a friend. Jude accepted the puppy from this stranger and named the puppy Pip. Over the next several months, Jude came to love Hedd, the sea and the tight knit community. She made friends and slowly started to heal. Jude even enrolled in a course that taught introductory classes that helped her learn the Welsh language. Jude became torn between her love for Anglesey and the new friends she made there and the continued support and questions that her friends put forth back in London. Jude’s friends from London found it hard to understand Jude’s desire to stay in Anglesey. They wanted her to return to London. Alex’s best friend, Tom, had also expressed his feelings to Jude. He still had feelings for Jude. Jude realized that Tom wanted to make things work out between them but Jude wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She had chosen Alex over Tom all those years ago for a reason. Could she develop feelings for Tom now? Could Jude open her heart to anyone else ever again after experiencing Alex’s love? Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea was so well written and beautifully executed in its descriptions. I really felt that I was in Anglesey with Jude and saw all the beauty she saw through her eyes. Caroline Young did an excellent job depicting Jude’s feelings of loss, grief, uncertainty and sadness. The themes of friendship, second chances, cancer, mother/daughter relationships and acceptance were prevalent throughout this book. All of my emotions were touched by this story. I admired how Jude evolved, grew and pursued the life she wanted to live despite the opinions of others. It was hard for me to stop thinking about this book even after I finished reading Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea. I recommend this book very highly. Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea by Caroline Young through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 06, 2024
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Mar 11, 2024
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Mar 06, 2024
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ebook
| ||||||||||||||
| 1400248434
| 9781400248438
| B0CMQ7P43M
| 3.89
| 228
| Jun 11, 2024
| Jun 11, 2024
|
really liked it
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4.5 sad but worthy stars! The Forgotten Names was the fourth book that I had the privilege of reading by Mario Escobar. As in his prior books, I learn
4.5 sad but worthy stars! The Forgotten Names was the fourth book that I had the privilege of reading by Mario Escobar. As in his prior books, I learned more about what had occurred during the Holocaust that I had not known about before I read The Forgotten Names. As hard as it was to read about these heart wrenching facts that actually occurred, it is so important. The acts of antisemitism and the determination to permanently eradicate the Jewish people from the face of the earth must never be forgotten or taken lightly. In The Forgotten Names, Mario Escobar, detailed the unselfish acts of the brave citizens of France, local resistance groups, clergy members, social workers and the Red Cross in Vichy, France in August of 1942. Klaus Barbie, better known as the “Butcher of Lyon” was intent on eliminating France of all its Jews regardless of age, gender or any health factors. Barbie was a ruthless German officer of the Gestapo that was in charge of Vichy, France from 1942-1944. No one, not children or the elderly, were safe from his unscrupulous and merciless actions. He was feared by all and for good reasons. Forgotten Names was written in a duel time line alternating between 1942 and 1992. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Saskia Maarleveld. Her performance was amazing and she easily distinguished between the many character's voices. In 1992, twenty-three year old law student, Valerie Potheret, was trying to decide on her topic for her doctoral thesis. Initially, Valerie settled on researching all the evil that Klaus Barbie inflicted upon the Jewish people that resided in France during World War II. While Valerie was researching all the atrocities that Klaus Barbie inflicted upon the Jews, she discovered a list in a box that contained 108 names. That list piqued Valerie’s curiosity. After seeking out source after source, Valerie finally realized that the list of names belonged to the 108 Jewish children that had simply vanished from the Venissieux internment camp in August of 1942. The French government had kept the names of those innocent children who had been saved from deportation and most probably death hidden for years in the confines of the Chateau de Petrins. They tried to hide those heinous crimes from the world. When Valerie was told whose names were on the list, she knew that she had found the topic for her thesis. Valerie pledged that she would not stop until she located every person on that list. She worked relentlessly for twenty-five years to discover, identify, learn each child’s story and in some instances, give the child back their given name and learn what had become of each of the 108 children who were spared from deportation and most probably death. Valerie traveled tirelessly throughout Europe, Israel and the Americas to locate all of the 108 children. Back in August 1942, the Jews that remained in Lyon, France had been rounded up and placed in the Venissieux Internment Camp. Klaus Barbie, better known as the “Butcher of Lyon” was intent on deporting all remaining Jews to a camp where they would be exterminated. Klaus Barbie was known to shoot Jews to their deaths and never showed an ounce of remorse. When a group of social workers, members of the local clergy and resistance members found out that the French gendarmes supervised by Klaus Barbie and the Nazis were planning on emptying the internment camp at Venissieux and sending all its prisoners to their death they discovered some “legally recognized exemptions “. The Nazi were not allowed to deport any Jews who were “old, disabled, pregnant, unaccompanied minors and war heroes who had fought in the French army.” Since almost all of the exemptions were being ignored by the French gendarmes, except for unaccompanied children, this brave group of people concentrated on obtaining legal documents for the unaccompanied minors in the hope of getting them out of the internment camp before the deportations started. Social workers tirelessly went from parent to parent begging them to sign documents that would release their rights as parents to their children. Their anguish they must have experienced in doing this must have been the hardest thing they were ever asked to do. There was only two days to accomplish all this. The volunteers designed a document that would legally allow parents to relinquish all their paternal rights and they would plead for the parents to sign it so their child could be saved from a sure death if deported. The children were entrusted to the members of Amitie Chretienne. In all, the volunteers were able to save 108 children. I can’t even imagine how gut wrenching an act this must have been for each parent as they lost their children that day. When I read some of the exchanges between parent and child as they were about to part from one another, I cried like a baby. That was by far the ultimate sacrifice of a parent. They had to loose their child to save them from death. There were so many brave and courageous people who put their own lives on the line to help save those Jewish children. I admire all that they risked and did to save the lives of those children. Thank goodness that there were kind, loving and brave people who were willing to sacrifice their own safety to take these children into their homes and protect them and grow to love them. The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar was about hope, resilience, determination, loss of identity, courage and “of the great humanitarian effort” of many. Most of the people mentioned in The Forgotten Names were real. Valerie Portheret really existed and dedicated twenty five years of her life trying to find the children who had vanished from Venissieux. She presented her doctoral thesis after she learned what had happened to all 108 of the children through her research, listening to the stories of the children she found and documenting everything that she learned. What a gift to mankind to have accomplished all that and to have shared her findings with others. Every time I think that I have learned all there is to learn about the Holocaust, a masterful author like Mario Escobar uncovered another atrocity that occurred. The Holocaust was such a tragic time in the history of the world. Stories like The Forgotten Names reminds us that we must remember so that history will never be repeated. I highly recommend The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar. Thank you to Harper Muse for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 14, 2024
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Jun 20, 2024
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Feb 26, 2024
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| 0008603286
| 9780008603281
| B0CL1LWVLD
| 4.41
| 126
| unknown
| Mar 12, 2024
|
really liked it
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The Highland Girls on Guard ( The Highland Girls #2) by Helen Yendall picked up right where The Highland Girls at War ( The Highland Girls #1) left of
The Highland Girls on Guard ( The Highland Girls #2) by Helen Yendall picked up right where The Highland Girls at War ( The Highland Girls #1) left off. I was so happy to be reunited with the characters introduced in the first book of this series and be introduced to some new characters as well. The Highland Girls on Guard was well written, fast paced and well plotted. There was a sense of undisguised jealousy, sheer determination, deception and romance woven throughout this second book of this enjoyable series. I loved getting reacquainted with the characters from the first book and being introduced to the new ones. Helen Yendall masterfully transported her reading audience back to Blantyre Forest, in the Scottish Highlands, where the Lumberjills performed their jobs as only they knew how to. As Seffy and the other Lumberjills were finishing up their work on a warm Saturday afternoon during the summer, Miss McEwen, the lumberjill’s former supervisor, suddenly appeared. None of the Lumberjills were too pleased to see her again. Miss McEwen announced that eight new recruits would be joining them shortly. These new recruits would be given beds in the existing huts and would live with the older recruits as they received their training. Miss McEwen had asked Joey to drive the truck to the station to retrieve the new recruits. Joey was permitted to choose one other Lumberjill to accompany her. Joey picked Seffy to accompany her to the station. Seffy and Joey had gotten closer since Grace tied the knot with Gordy and had married him. Seffy was extremely jealous of Grace and Gordy and everything they shared. Her romance and feelings for Callum had all but been forgotten about by her friends. Seffy knew that she could never have Callum’s heart but that didn’t diminish the feelings she still had for him. It was just too hard for Seffy to witness how happy and in love Grace was every single day. Seffy started to avoid Grace any way she possibly could. When Seffy and Joey finally arrived at the train station the new recruits were waiting for them. As they checked off each girl’s name on the clipboard that Miss McEwen had given them, they noticed that one girl was missing…someone called A. Buchanan. Another girl, Tattie, was detained a few minutes but finally joined the other recruits. Tattie would be assigned to the Macdonald hut and would live with Seffy, Joey, Grace and the other girls from that hut. The Lumberjills of Macdonald hut would learn that Tattie had never learned to read or write and that she had grown up in a very troubled home. Tattie just wanted to fit in anyway she could. A few days later, A. Buchanan showed up. She had arrived at the Lumberjills’ camp in a truck driven by some of the Italian POW prisoners that worked in the area. A. Buchanan was Angie, a petite, dark-haired girl from another camp located in Aberdeenshire. Angie and Miss McEwen seemed to know one another. Miss McEwen introduced Angie as an “experienced lumberjill and forewoman “. Seffy took an immediate dislike to Angie and did not trust her at all. When Miss McEwen appointed Angie as the new leader girl of Macdonald hut, Seffy disliked her even more. Seffy had lost her position as the leader girl to Angie. Were Seffy’s initial instincts correct not to trust or like Angie or was it just her pride that was hurt very badly? The Highland Girls on Guard portrayed the struggles women encountered during those times when they chose to form branches of the Women’s Home Defense Corps to learn how to defend themselves. It was an uphill battle for women to get the approval they needed and wanted so badly to for, these groups. Seffy’s Aunt Dily was instrumental in starting a Women’s Home Defense Corps in the Scottish Highlands. Many of the Lumberjills and local women were recruited and trained behind the scenes so that the men could not discover and stop their activities. The Highland Girls on Guard also spoke of the Italian POW prisoners that had been captured and were being held close to where the Lumberjills were located. Over the course of World War II, many Italian POW prisoners became engaged in local work near where they were being held. It was no wonder, then, that after the members of the Number Thirty-Four Company of the Canadian Foresting Corps left the Scottish Highlands in order to train for combat in England, that the Italian POW prisoners were commissioned to work side by side with the Lumberjills. Several romances sprung up between the Lumberjills and the Italian POW prisoners. The Highland Girls on Guard by Helen Yendall was a welcomed addition in this series. I enjoyed discovering more about the lives of the Lumberjills and their relationships with each other. The formation of the Women’s Home Defense Corps was one that I have never read about before. I have read about the Italian POW prisoners in books where they helped the land girls on farms in England but was not aware that they were also present in the Scottish Highlands. The Highland Girls on Guard was about friendship, romance, trust, being accepted, having good instincts, forgiveness, proving one’s worth and doing things you believed in no matter what the consequences were. I really enjoyed The Highland Girls on Guard by Helen Yendall and hope that there will be a third book in this series. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that portrays strong, resilient and determined women. Thank you to HQ for allowing me to read The Highland Girls on Guard by Helen Yendall through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Publication is set for March 12, 2024. ...more |
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1
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Feb 24, 2024
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Mar 04, 2024
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Feb 24, 2024
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| B0D5JZ3VV6
| 3.74
| 263
| Jun 25, 2024
| Jun 25, 2024
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really liked it
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Review to follow.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 07, 2024
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Jul 09, 2024
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Feb 20, 2024
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Audio CD
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| B0CL5HD1X2
| 4.41
| 230
| Jun 11, 2024
| Jun 11, 2024
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really liked it
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Kissing Girls on Shabbat: A Memoir by Sara Glass was as informative as it was moving. Over the years I have read several memoirs that were written by
Kissing Girls on Shabbat: A Memoir by Sara Glass was as informative as it was moving. Over the years I have read several memoirs that were written by Hasidic Jews who chose to leave their close knit communities for a more secular lifestyle but none had touched me as much as the one that Sara Glass decided to share. Kissing Girls on Shabbat was well written. Here and there, Sara Glass included Yiddish phrases or names that she also defined and explained so as to eliminate any confusion. I was totally engaged in her story right from the beginning. For years, I have witnessed an influx of Hasidic families move from Brooklyn and establish themselves in the county where I reside. I do not live far from Monsey, New York. Unique clothes, wigs, beards, side curls and language easily allowed Hasidic men, women and children to be distinguished from others. Their lives are dictated by conformity, Rabbinical guidance, traditions and what they have learned from birth from the teachings of their parents, grandparents and Rabbis. Sara Glass was born into a family that was part of the Gur Hasidic community. Kissing Girls on Shabbat focused on Sara’s journey as she learned how to navigate the Hasidic way of living. Sara Glass was known as Malka when she was growing up in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Malka had four older sisters and one younger sister. Malka grew up among her own kind, attended the all girl schools that Hasidic girls were expected to attend and fit into the expected mold that had been laid out for her since birth. A good Hasidic girl knew her role in life was to get married and have lots of children. Malka had conflicting feelings about that. She struggled greatly with her own sexual orientation. Adding to Malka’s struggles was the fact that both her mother and one of her sisters suffered from mental illness. This knowledge affected Malka greatly as a young girl. It made a big impact on her arranged marriage and in the subsequent years in her life that followed. When Malka was nineteen years old, she met Dassa. There was an undeniable attraction between the two women. Malka gave into her desires but guilt played a big role. Good Hasidic girls were not supposed to be attracted to other women. There was no such thing as gay women in the Hasidic community. Then her three older sisters stepped in. Malka was sent to meet the matchmaker where the “shidduch process” or arranged marriage through a matchmaker began. Malka was matched with Yossi Schwartz, a twenty-six year old Hasidic man who came from a good Hasidic family. Yossi and Malka went on five dates. Over the course of those dates, touching was forbidden. There was little eye contact between Malka and Yossi. On their sixth date, Yossi asked Malka to marry him. Before Malka accepted Yossi’s proposal, she expressed her desire to earn a PhD in psychology. This had been a goal for Malka since she was a young girl. When Malka’s beloved sister, Shani, had been diagnosed with a mental illness, Malka wanted more than anything to earn a PhD in psychology so she could help others who were struggling with mental illness. Yossi agreed to Malka’s request. Malka accepted Yossi’s proposal because that was what was expected of her. Before her wedding, Malka visited a bridal instructor. Her name was Mrs. Levenstein. One of the roles of the bridal instructor was to explain the act of intimacy that would take place on the night the couple married. Mrs. Levenstein used an empty tube of toothpaste and a bendable pencil shaped toy to explain to Malka what to expect from Yossi during sex and what she would experience. Malka was naive and so unprepared for what was expected of her. Malka and Yossi moved to Lakewood, New Jersey where a strong Hasidic community existed. Malka was all of 19 years old. She didn’t know her husband very well at all. Yossi and Malka had a son and daughter together. Malka had also experienced one miscarriage. She dressed modestly with her skirts at least four inches below her kneecaps and made sure that her elbows and collarbone were covered. Good Hasidic women covered themselves so not to evoke temptation. The longer Malka was married to Yossi the more demanding, distant and ultra religious he became. Over their years together, they sought out marriage counseling through the Rabbis and approved psychiatrists. Malka and Yossi ended their marriage with a divorce. One of the stipulations of the divorce that Yossi insisted upon was that his son and daughter would be brought up in strict accordance to the Hasidic tradition. If Malka deviated from this, Yossi would get complete custody of the children. In the years that followed, Malka was met with lots of challenges. Her children always remained her prime concern. She loved her children dearly, unconditionally and wanted them to grow up to make their own choices and decisions with her guidance. Malka continued to explore her sexual orientation. At some point, she came to the realization that she was a lesbian but she suppressed her own desires for the sake of her children. Yossi continued to have a say in how Malka and her children lived. Would Malka ever be able to live the life she wanted? Will she be able to embrace her children and let them choose how they live their lives? Kissing Girls on Shabbat: A Memoir by Sara Glass was one of the best memoirs I have read in a while. I was very impressed with how strong and determined Sara Glass became after experiencing so many years of confusion, conformity, surrender, denial and acquiescence. She was divorced twice which was very unusual in Hasidic culture. Sara Glass earned her PhD and came to realize her dream of becoming a psychologist as a reality. Kissing Girls on Shabbat examined a magnified view of Hasidic life through Sara Glass’s eyes and experiences including how same sex relationships were viewed by the devout Hasidic community. It portrayed the themes of mental illness, suicide, sexual assault, trauma, divorce, family, sisters and same sex relationships. I really enjoyed reading Kissing Girls on Shabbat by Sara Glass and recommend it highly if you enjoy reading memoirs. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Atria/ One Signal Publishers for allowing me to read Kissing Girls on Shabbat by Sara Glass through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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Jun 20, 2024
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Jun 24, 2024
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Feb 18, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0593639197
| 9780593639191
| B0CC1FCR3P
| 4.45
| 2,174
| Apr 16, 2024
| Apr 16, 2024
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really liked it
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What Cannot Be Said (SebastianSt. Cyr, #19) by C.S. Harris was the first book that I had the privilege of reading in this riveting murder mystery seri
What Cannot Be Said (SebastianSt. Cyr, #19) by C.S. Harris was the first book that I had the privilege of reading in this riveting murder mystery series. Based on my own experience, What Ccannot Be Said can be read as a stand-alone book. I had no problem identifying and keeping track of the characters or the plot of this book even though I had not any of the prior books. It took place in July of 1815, corresponding with Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo. This was not a time period that I tend to read about that often but I found it intriguing and quite interesting. The roles of the women that lived during this time were clearly defined and restricted regardless of their intelligence or ambitions. There were a few exceptions but not many. I listened to the audiobook of What Cannot Be Said that was narrated by Amy Scanlon. She gave an excellent narration and distinguished clearly between characters. Amy Scanlon is becoming a favorite narrator for me. On a beautiful day, a mother, Lady McInnis and her sixteen year old daughter, Emma, along with the younger son and daughter of her husband’s first wife set off on a picnic to Richmond Park. Not long after their arrival, Lady McInnis and Emma were discovered by some brothers who had been in the park. They had heard what they thought might have been a gun shot so they went to investigate the noise they heard. They were not at all prepared for what they saw. Lady McInnis and Emma had not only been, what appeared to be, murdered but they were laid out in an eerily familiar pose. Years ago, Sir Henry Lovejoy had witnessed a very similar scene. Someone had killed his wife and child and had their bodies posed in a very similar way. When Sir Henry Lovejoy arrived at the scene of the crime, he was transported back in time to the deaths of his wife and child. This case was too close and familiar for Sir Henry Lovejoy to investigate unbiasedly so he sought the help of his good friend, Sebastian St. Cyr. Viscount Devlin. He trusted Sebastian to thoroughly investigate this case and determine who was responsible for this horrific crime. Long ago, when Sir Henry Lovejoy’s wife and child were murdered, a man had been charged, convicted and killed for the murders. Could the wrong man have been convicted and sentenced to death? Is it possible that the wrong man had paid for a crime that he did not commit? These questions hung heavily on Sir Henry Lovejoy’s mind now, all these years later. Over the course of several weeks, two more young women were found murdered in the same manner. Sebastian had several suspects but no concrete evidence as to who committed these tragic murders. Will Sebastian be able to gather enough evidence to prove who was responsible for murdering these defenseless women before anymore women could be subjected to this form of needless violence? Sebastian was determined to do just that. C.S. Harris masterfully portrayed the many ways young orphaned children were often mistreated, exploited and abused during this time period by greedy and corrupt men and women. Many young boys were lured and then forced to become chimney sweeps. It was a very dangerous and dreaded occupation that young children were subjected to perform. It was of no consequence to the men in charge if any of these children lost their lives while they performed the tasks involved. The other topic that C.S. Harris researched extensively and brought to light in What Cannot Be Said was baby farming. I had read about baby farming in a previous book I had read. Some women were willing to foster babies that were born out of wedlock or look after babies that needed looking after while their parents worked for a good profit. Unfortunately, many of these women who fostered or looked after these babies were not very reputable. Sometimes the babies were sold to other families who wanted a baby but were unable to have one of their own. This was often accomplished without the consent or knowledge of the babies parents. It was common practice for these foster mothers to drug the babies in their care with Ludlum so that the babies that were in their charge slept for longer periods of time and also ate less. In some instances, babies were even killed and then their deaths were covered up. It was a thriving business for some during the 1800’s. Sebastian’s wife, Hero, was very active in trying to improve the lives of these defenseless orphans. Hero, a strong, independent and intelligent woman in her own right, was instrumental in helping her husband with the murder investigation. Sebastian respected his wife for her intelligence and valued her opinions. This was not how most men felt about the women during this time period. It was refreshing to see how Sabastian and Hero respected each other in their marriage. What Cannot Be Said by C.S. Harris was a well done historical fiction murder mystery that reflected the time period well. The ending was a complete surprise but well done. I enjoyed the cast of characters presented in this book. In the future, I hope to read some of the previous books in this series and I will look forward to reading new ones as well. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of What Cannot Be Said and highly recommend it. Thank you to Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of What Cannog Be Said by C.S. Harris through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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not set
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May 07, 2024
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Feb 18, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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