Lost You

Libby needs a break. Three years ago her husband split, leaving her to raise their infant son Ethan alone as she struggled to launch her writing career. Now for the first time in years, things are looking up. She's just sold her first novel, and she and Ethan are going on a much-needed vacation. Everything seems to be going their way, so why can't she stop looking over her shoulder or panicking every time Ethan wanders out of view? Is it because of what happened when Ethan was born? Except Libby's never told anyone the full story of what happened, and there's no way anyone could find her and Ethan at a faraway resort . . . right?

But three days into their vacation, Libby's fears prove justified. In a moment of inattention, Ethan wanders into an elevator before Libby can reach him. When the elevator stops and the doors open, Ethan is gone. Hotel security scours the building and finds no trace of him, but when CCTV footage is found of an adult finding the child wandering alone and leading him away by the hand, the police are called in. The search intensifies, a lost child case turning into a possible abduction. Hours later, a child is seen with a woman stepping through an emergency exit. Libby and the police track the woman down and corner her, but she refuses to release Ethan. Asked who she is, the woman replies: "I'm his mother."

I loved Haylen Beck's previous novel, Here and Gone, so much that I didn't hesitate to request an early copy of his newest novel as soon as I saw it on Netgalley.  I will admit that I didn't like it as much, but it was still a solid story.  I found the topic of surrogacy and the all legal and non-legal ways that it can go wrong so fascinating.  The novel also explored that unconditional love that a mother has for her children and to what lengths she will go to protect them.  I would definitely recommend this book and will pick up whatever he writes next as well!

            * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

The Escape Room

 

Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam are ruthlessly ambitious high-flyers working in the lucrative world of Wall Street finance where deception and intimidation thrive. Getting rich is all that matters, and they'll do anything to reach the top.

When they are ordered to participate in a corporate team-building exercise that requires them to escape from a locked elevator, dark secrets of their team begin to be laid bare.

The biggest mystery to solve in this lethal game: What happened to Sara Hall? Once a young shining star—”now gone but not forgotten”.

This is no longer a game.
They’re fighting for their lives.

I originally requested this book because I have such a love for escape rooms, any and all kinds.  I will never say no to an escape room.  And while I understand the title, the book is about so much more than the average 60 minutes to escape games you may have played.  The story has depth, flawed characters and an intensity I truly enjoyed.  It's the exact type of thriller book that's often my favorite because it has a finance and legal theme mixed with the story.  There were some things that happened in the story that seemed a little out there, but in the end I didn't care, I blew through this book!  

 
          * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Keeping Lucy

Dover, Massachusetts, 1969. Ginny Richardson's heart was torn open when her baby girl, Lucy, born with Down Syndrome, was taken from her. Under pressure from his powerful family, her husband, Ab, sent Lucy away to Willowridge, a special school for the “feeble-minded." Ab tried to convince Ginny it was for the best. That they should grieve for their daughter as though she were dead. That they should try to move on.

But two years later, when Ginny's best friend, Marsha, shows her a series of articles exposing Willowridge as a hell-on-earth--its squalid hallways filled with neglected children--she knows she can't leave her daughter there. With Ginny's six-year-old son in tow, Ginny and Marsha drive to the school to see Lucy for themselves. What they find sets their course on a heart-racing journey across state lines—turning Ginny into a fugitive.

For the first time, Ginny must test her own strength and face the world head-on as she fights Ab and his domineering father for the right to keep Lucy. Racing from Massachusetts to the beaches of Atlantic City, through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia to a roadside mermaid show in Florida, Keeping Lucy is a searing portrait of just how far a mother’s love can take her.

The first 40 pages of this book absolutely wrecked me!  The image of Lucy being taken away from her mother, Ginny, and then going inside Willowridge will stay with me for a long time.  To think that a place (or places) like this ever existed chills me to the bone.  From there we follow Ginny and Marsha's road trip to protecting Lucy at all costs.  While I enjoyed the road trip, I wanted more of a fight against the school.  I understood why she left.  It was a different day and age than we are in today, but I wanted to see her stand up against them more than I wanted to read about her running away.  However, it was very endearing to experience the relationship develop between Ginny and Lucy.  The author writes in such a relatable way that it really stood out.  The ending felt rushed and tied up a little too nicely in my opinion.  Overall a very solid novel and I look forward to picking up more books by T. Greenwood in the future.   

  

       * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Everybody, Always

What happens when we give away love like we're made of it?

In his entertaining and inspiring follow-up to the New York Times bestselling phenomenon Love Does, Bob Goff takes readers on a journey into the secret of living without fear, constraint, or worry. The path toward the liberated existence we all long for is found in a truth as simple to say as it is hard to do: love people, even the difficult ones, without distinction and without limits.

Driven by Bob’s trademark storytelling, Everybody, Always reveals the lessons Bob learned--often the hard way--about what it means to love without inhibition, insecurity, or restriction. From finding the right friends to discovering the upside of failure, Everybody, Always points the way to embodying love by doing the unexpected, the intimidating, the seemingly impossible. Whether losing his shoes while skydiving solo or befriending a Ugandan witch doctor, Bob steps into life with a no-limits embrace of others that is as infectious as it is extraordinarily ordinary. Everybody, Always reveals how we can do the same.

Bob Goff seems like an amazing human being!  I think it would be wonderful to just sit in a room with him and listen to him tell stories.  Even more so, I'd love to talk to him about an issue or problem and let him help me solve it because I just know it would be beyond anything I could even think or dream.  Love Does, his first book, sits proudly on my favorites shelf and I recommend it all the time.  I can't say I loved this one quite as much, but I don't think that would be possible anyway.  I know this book gets some criticism because Bob's perspective is one of privilege, but I think that's unfair.  He's not asking us to become rich and save the world.  He's using his resources to make the world a better place and show love to everyone.  We can do that, one person at a time in our corner of the world as well, no matter what resources and privileges we have.  That's the great thing about showing love, it's completely free!!  Please do yourself a favor and pick up this book and Love Does, read it and pass it on!

        * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

A Stranger on the Beach

There is a stranger outside Caroline's house.

Her spectacular new beach house, built for hosting expensive parties and vacationing with the family she thought she'd have. But her husband is lying to her and everything in her life is upside down, so when the stranger, Aiden, shows up as a bartender at the same party where Caroline and her husband have a very public fight, it doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary.

As her marriage collapses around her and the lavish lifestyle she's built for herself starts to crumble, Caroline turns to Aiden for comfort...and revenge. After a brief and desperate fling that means nothing to Caroline and everything to him, Aiden's obsession with Caroline, her family, and her house grows more and more disturbing. And when Caroline's husband goes missing, her life descends into a nightmare that leaves her accused of her own husband's murder.

When I read the premise of this book it had a ton of potential, but it just didn't deliver in a way that I enjoyed overall.  My rating is a 2.5 stars, because, in all honesty, it fell flat.  It seemed predictable and therefore it just didn't hold much suspense for me while I was reading.  I kept reading because I was sure that I was missing something and it would surprise me, but it just never did.  I read and loved the author's previous novel, It's Always the Husband.  Because of that, I would still pick up another novel by this author.  Her writing is easy to read and I know it's there, it just missed the mark for me in this one.

   

             * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

     

Last Summer

Lifestyle journalist Ella Skye remembers every celebrity she interviewed, every politician she charmed between the sheets, and every socialite who eyed her with envy. The chance meeting with her husband, Damien; their rapid free fall into love; and their low-key, intimate wedding are all locked in her memory. But what she can’t remember is the tragic car accident that ripped her unborn child from her. Ella can’t even recall being pregnant.

Hoping to find the memories of a lost pregnancy that’s left her husband devastated and their home empty, Ella begins delving into her past when she’s assigned an exclusive story about Nathan Donovan, a retired celebrity adventurer who seems to know more about her than she does him. To unravel the mystery of her selective memory loss, Ella follows Nathan from the snowcapped Sierra Nevada to the frozen slopes of southeast Alaska. There she discovers the people she trusts most aren’t the only ones keeping secrets from her—she’s hiding them from herself. Ella quickly learns that some truths are best left forgotten.

I hate to admit this, but I almost gave up on this one.  It was feeling predictable and cliche, but I am so happy that I stuck with it!  I have enjoyed Kerry Lonsdale's previous novels, so I was really excited to receive a copy to read and review.  The author does a great job of writing characters you can cheer for and be frustrated with all at the same time.  It's not a perfect book, but it's a great story that I would recommend you pick up this summer.  If you enjoy it, I'd explore the authors backlist titles as well!        

  

         * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

 

The Stationery Shop

Roya is a dreamy, idealistic teenager living in 1953 Tehran who, amidst the political upheaval of the time, finds a literary oasis in kindly Mr. Fakhri’s neighborhood book and stationery shop. She always feels safe in his dusty store, overflowing with fountain pens, shiny ink bottles, and thick pads of soft writing paper.

When Mr. Fakhri, with a keen instinct for a budding romance, introduces Roya to his other favorite customer—handsome Bahman, who has a burning passion for justice and a love for Rumi’s poetry—she loses her heart at once. And, as their romance blossoms, the modest little stationery shop remains their favorite place in all of Tehran.

A few short months later, on the eve of their marriage, Roya agrees to meet Bahman at the town square, but suddenly, violence erupts—a result of the coup d’etat that forever changes their country’s future. In the chaos, Bahman never shows. For weeks, Roya tries desperately to contact him, but her efforts are fruitless. With a sorrowful heart, she resigns herself to never seeing him again.

Until, more than sixty years later, an accident of fate leads her back to Bahman and offers her a chance to ask him the questions that have haunted her for more than half a century: Why did he leave? Where did he go? How was he able to forget her?

The Stationery Shop is a beautiful and timely exploration of devastating loss, unbreakable family bonds, and the overwhelming power of love.

This book was beautiful, plain and simple.  I loved it so much I purposefully took longer to read it because I just didn't want to get to the end.  This will definitely be one of my favorite reads of the year!  The writing just totally drew me into a story about 2 teenagers falling in love in Iran, a country I knew very little about, but came to care about so much.  I love a book that explores the history and choices of the characters and how it can alter their lives.  This is a beautiful story you won't want to miss!    

           * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Girls Like Us

FBI Agent Nell Flynn hasn't been home in ten years. Nell and her father, Homicide Detective Martin Flynn, have never had much of a relationship. And Suffolk County will always be awash in memories of her mother, Marisol, who was brutally murdered when Nell was just seven.

When Martin Flynn dies in a motorcycle accident, Nell returns to the house she grew up in so that she can spread her father's ashes and close his estate. At the behest of her father's partner, Detective Lee Davis, Nell becomes involved in an investigation into the murders of two young women in Suffolk County. The further Nell digs, the more likely it seems to her that her father should be the prime suspect--and that his friends on the police force are covering his tracks. Plagued by doubts about her mother's murder--and her own role in exonerating her father in that case--Nell can't help but ask questions about who killed Ria Ruiz and Adriana Marques and why. But she may not like the answers she finds--not just about those she loves, but about herself.

Girls Like Us was one of my most anticipated reads for 2019 and it completely delivered!  After reading The Banker's Wife, I was immediately drawn to Cristina Alger's writing style, it makes the story so compelling.  She does a fantastic job of writing strong female characters that also feel relatable.  I felt connected to Nell, the main character, the entire book.  I also admired her ability in this book to pace the story so that it didn't hit a slump, I was engaged the whole time.  I found myself looking for any chance possible to pick the book up and continue reading.  If you are looking for a book that keeps you guessing, but doesn't rely on crazy gimmicks, pick this one up soon!  Cristina Alger has become a favorite for me and I will continue to look forward to whatever comes next!

             * I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Raising an Original

Most Christian parents are bombarded with all kinds of advice and plans and programs for how to be a great parent. In parenting eight kids over the last twenty-five years, Julie Lyles Carr and her husband experienced plenty of opportunity for learning, but it was when they began to understand it was about parenting each child according to their own unique needs and personality style that something wonderful happened.

In Raising an Original, Carr helps to redefine the primary purpose of Christian parenting, this raising of the next generation. God has given each of our children specific gifts, abilities and capacities for specific purposes and He can equip parents to discover and support those powerful personality traits if they know where to look and how to respond. So many kids raised in Christian homes launch into their adult lives without any sense of knowing who they are called to be or what their mission on earth is. What if parents, teachers or mentors could help them discover the wondrous, unique threads woven within them that will enable them to see their part in the fabric of God’s universe?

I will start off by saying that I wish I had not taken so long to pick this book up!  It was packed full of wonderful advice on being a parent and how to help your child develop into the person God created them to be.  It's a great book to read no matter what stage of parenting you are in.  It really helped me to see that I can't expect my child to be like anyone else, nor should they be.  It also shined a light on my tendency to see faults as failures, rather than assets in their lives.  Each child is so uniquely created and they deserve parents who will allow them to become fully who they were created to be in every aspect.  I can definitely see myself picking this one up again as my children grow just to be reminded.  This was a wonderful tool to remind me of how amazing my kids, and all kids, are!

 * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

The Summer We Lost Her

It’s been a busy—and expensive—few years for Matt and Elise Sorenson and their young daughter Gracie, whom they affectionately call Little Green. Matt, a Manhattan lawyer, has just been offered a partnership, and Elise’s equestrian ambitions as a competitive dressage rider may finally vault her into the Olympics. But her long absences from home and endless hours of training have strained their relationships nearly to the breaking point.

Now they’re up in the Adirondacks, preparing to sell the valuable lakefront cabin that’s been in Matt’s family for generations. Both he and Elise agree it’s time to let it go. But as they navigate the memories the cabin holds—and come face to face with Matt’s teenage crush, now an unnervingly attractive single mother living right next door—Gracie disappears without a trace.

Faced with the possibility that they’ll never see their daughter again, Elise and Matt struggle to come to terms with what their future may bring. The fate of the family property, the history of this not-so-tiny town, and the limits of Matt and Elise’s love for each other are inextricably bound up with Gracie’s disappearance. Everything for the Sorenson family is about to change—the messy tangle of their past, the harrowing truth of their present, and whether or not their love will survive a parent’s worst nightmare.

This is one of my favorite types of books, a family drama without promising to be the "thriller of the year".  The characters were developed well and I think they were be polarizing.  I've read some reviews that couldn't stand Elise and some that couldn't stand Matt.  I firmly sit in the anti-Matt camp, but regardless I love that a novel can read so differently and evoke so many emotions.  I think this would be a great book club selection because there are so many things that could be discussed.  This was a solid 4.5 stars for me.  My only issues were I think edits could have been made to the middle so I could have had a more drawn out ending.  It just came so fast, I wanted a little more resolution and accountability.  It's hard to talk about a book like this because I don't want to give anything away, but I think this book is definitely worth a try.

         * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

  

Only Ever You

 

It was to be the perfect wedding—until the bride disappeared.

Annie Taft’s wedding is four days away, and it will be one of the grandest anyone can remember in her small South Carolina town. Preparations are in order. Friends and family are gathering in anticipation. Everything is going according to plan. Except that Annie herself has vanished. Did she have second thoughts? Or has something much worse happened to the bride-to-be?

While her loved ones frantically try to track her down, they’re forced to grapple with their own secrets—secrets with the power to reframe entire relationships, leaving each to wonder how well they really knew Annie and how well they know themselves.

This was a solid 3.5 star read for me, but something was just missing for me to completely love it.  This was my 7th book by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and it was good, but When We Were Worthy is definitely my favorite.  The story line was promising, but I think we were missing key information so at times I felt confused.  For instance, nobody knew that Kenny and Annie were friends and couldn't be together, but they didn't explain why.  There were also characters that she developed a story line for, but I just never felt like it went anywhere.  We spend the whole book trying to find Annie and then connecting to the people still present, but I don't feel any closure for those characters.  There were just some holes in the plot.  I do have to say that her writing flows so well and it's easy to read quickly.  She keeps me engrossed in the story and I love a good family mystery that doesn't have to have a unbelievable twist.  As many others have said, don't go into this one expecting a major thriller, because you will be disappointed.  For the most part, I could see where this was going and I don't mind that at all.  

         * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

 

The Printed Letter Bookshop

One of Madeline Cullen’s happiest childhood memories is of working with her Aunt Maddie in the quaint and cozy Printed Letter Bookshop. But by the time Madeline inherits the shop nearly twenty years later, family troubles and her own bitter losses have hardened Madeline’s heart toward her once-treasured aunt—and the now struggling bookshop left in her care.

While Madeline intends to sell the shop as quickly as possible, the Printed Letter’s two employees have other ideas. Reeling from a recent divorce, Janet finds sanctuary within the books and within the decadent window displays she creates. Claire, though quieter than the acerbic Janet, feels equally drawn to the daily rhythms of the shop and its loyal clientele, finding a renewed purpose within its walls. When Madeline’s professional life takes an unexpected turn, and when a handsome gardener upends all her preconceived notions, she questions her plans and her heart. She begins to envision a new path for herself and for her aunt’s beloved shop—provided the women’s best combined efforts are not too little, too late.

I'm a sucker for any book that is set in a bookshop so this novel immediately went on my To be Read list.  The structure of this book is told in alternating perspectives between the three main characters.  While I enjoyed all the women, I did, at times, feel like we were covering the same event multiple times so it got a little bit repetitive.  However, the storylines were interesting and each character brought a different problem/solution to the table.  It was so cool to see three women able to come together and work well with each other and support one another.  At the end of the book, I did feel like I took away some life lessons that I won't soon forget.  While the book did have flaws, overall the read was completely enjoyable and read very quickly!  Finally, if you love a bookshop book, this book really was set and centered around a bookshop.  Lately I've read several books that give that impression in the synopsis, but don't deliver and this one definitely does. 

        * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

The Things We Cannot Say

In 1942, Europe remains in the relentless grip of war. Just beyond the tents of the Russian refugee camp she calls home, a young woman speaks her wedding vows. It's a decision that will alter her destiny...and it's a lie that will remain buried until the next century.Since she was nine years old, Alina Dziak knew she would marry her best friend, Tomasz. Now fifteen and engaged, Alina is unconcerned by reports of Nazi soldiers at the Polish border, believing her neighbors that they pose no real threat, and dreams instead of the day Tomasz returns from college in Warsaw so they can be married. But little by little, injustice by brutal injustice, the Nazi occupation takes hold, and Alina's tiny rural village, its families, are divided by fear and hate.Then, as the fabric of their lives is slowly picked apart, Tomasz disappears. Where Alina used to measure time between visits from her beloved, now she measures the spaces between hope and despair, waiting for word from Tomasz and avoiding the attentions of the soldiers who patrol her parents' farm. But for now, even deafening silence is preferable to grief.

  

The title of this book kind of describes how I would review it, because it broke me so much that I honestly don't even know what to say.  I am a huge Kelly Rimmer and this book was absolutely brilliant!  I read this with a group of girls and everyone seemed to love it just as much as I did, even readers who don't read historical fiction.  Her writing has a way of sucking you in and I felt like the story was almost sacred.  By the end, I truly felt like my heart was on the floor, so you are being warned!  I think Kelly Rimmer is so underappreciated in the fiction world and I really hope more people will pick up her books because she is an absolute favorite, must-read author for me.  If you love historical fiction, or if you have never picked one up in your life, please, please give this one a try.  It's hands-down my favorite historical fiction of all time!

            * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Where the Missing Go

The missing don't always want to be found.

Kate Harlow recognizes this painful truth, even as she keeps searching for her daughter, Sophie, who disappeared two years ago. The police have stopped investigating--after all, Sophie has sent postcards home, insisting that she's fine. To fill the space in her increasingly empty days, Kate volunteers at Message in a Bottle, where runaways can leave messages for loved ones, no questions asked.

Then one evening, a call comes in from a voice Kate instinctively recognizes, even through bursts of static and beyond the sudden dial tone that breaks their connection.

Those closest to Kate worry she's cracking under her grief, imagining that it was Sophie. But Kate knows--that it was her daughter on the phone. And that a stranger has been inside her house. Watching her.

Sophie is out there. And Kate has to find her, even if someone will try anything to stop her . . .

I wanted to read this book the moment I read the synopsis, but unfortunately it didn't quite deliver for me.  The story overall was well done, but it was very slow in the beginning.  I just thought it dragged.  I enjoyed reading about Kate and how she refused to give up even when others thought she was crazy.  When the story reached the point that the twist was revealed I was not surprised at all.  It's truly what I thought all along, just because there weren't really any other possibilities, so it just fell flat for me.  It also felt a little unbelievable to be true.  So while I applaud the premise, the execution was predictable, but still a good story.    

    
         * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

The Wedding Shop

It’s the early 1930s, but Cora Scott is walking in stride as a career woman after having inherited her great aunt’s wedding shop in Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, where brides come from as far away as Birmingham to experience her famed bridal treatment. Meanwhile, Cora is counting down the days until her own true love returns from the river to make her his bride. But days turn into months and months to years. All the while, Birch Good continues to woo Cora and try to show her that while he is solid and dependable, he can sweep her off her feet.

More than eighty years later, former Air Force Captain Haley Morgan has returned home to Heart’s Bend after finishing her commitment to military service. After the devastating death of her best friend, Tammy, and discovering the truth about the man she loved, Haley is searching for her place in life.

When Haley decides to reopen the romantic but abandoned wedding shop where she and Tammy played and dreamed as children, she begins a journey of courage, mystery, and love.

As Cora’s and Haley’s stories intertwine through time in the shadow of the beloved wedding shop, they both discover the power of their own dreams and the magic of everyday love.

This is one of those books I almost gave up on and I am so glad I didn't!  I started this book 2 different times and both times I set it aside.  I picked it up again a few days ago and I got drawn right into the story.  I can't describe why it was different this time, but it just was.  The dual perspective was done well and I didn't find myself liking one more than the other.  And yes, the story was somewhat predictable, but I just didn't care.  I loved Cora and Haley and all the supporting cast.  The wedding shop sounded so beautiful and was definitely a character all on its own.  I would have loved getting my dress in a place like Heart's Bend.  I will continue to look for books by Rachel Hauck because I have not been disappointed yet!  

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Miracle Creek

In the small town of Miracle Creek, Virginia, Young and Pak Yoo run an experimental medical treatment device known as the Miracle Submarine—a pressurized oxygen chamber that patients enter for therapeutic “dives” with the hopes of curing issues like autism or infertility. But when the Miracle Submarine mysteriously explodes, killing two people, a dramatic murder trial upends the Yoos’ small community.
Who or what caused the explosion? Was it the mother of one of the patients, who claimed to be sick that day but was smoking down by the creek? Or was it Young and Pak themselves, hoping to cash in on a big insurance payment and send their daughter to college? The ensuing trial uncovers unimaginable secrets from that night—trysts in the woods, mysterious notes, child-abuse charges—as well as tense rivalries and alliances among a group of people driven to extraordinary degrees of desperation and   sacrifice.

This book was one intriguing read!  The way this author was able to weave this story together and give us little bits and pieces paced over time was pretty amazing.  I love when a book explores the legal and emotional side of an event and this one delivered.  I wavered for a long time between 4 and five stars on this one so I think I am landing on a 4.5.  There were just a couple parts that I found a little disturbing and thought they could have been told in a different way.  Also, the conclusion of one character just felt wrong to me.  I would 100% pick up another book by this author.  To think that she could tell an almost flawless story as a debut work is incredible!

        * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

   

The Lost for Words Bookshop

 

The Lost for Words Bookshop is a compelling, irresistible, and heart-rending novel, perfect for fans of The Storied Life of AJ Fikry and The Little Paris Bookshop.

Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look carefully, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are some things Loveday will never, ever show you. Into her hiding place - the bookstore where she works - come a poet, a lover, and three suspicious deliveries. Someone has found out about her mysterious past. Will Loveday survive her own heartbreaking secrets?

This book was an absolute joy to read!  It really took me by surprise because I had heard it compared to AJ Fikry and Eleanor Oliphant, which are big book shoes to fill in my opinion.  But it is completely deserving of both of those comparisons, yet stands perfectly on its own.  The story is told so beautifully in the present day, with visits to the past to help us understand Loveday.  I found Loveday to be a lovable, complex character that I truly felt honored to read her life story.  The supporting characters were well developed and all played important parts in Loveday's journey.  Stephanie Butland will now be on my list of authors to seek out when looking for my next read.  If you are looking to for a book that gives you a character to root for and learn from, please give this book a chance.  I don't think you will be sorry!  

     * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

 

The Last Year of the War

Elise Sontag is a typical Iowa fourteen-year-old in 1943--aware of the war but distanced from its reach. Then her father, a legal U.S. resident for nearly two decades, is suddenly arrested on suspicion of being a Nazi sympathizer. The family is sent to an internment camp in Texas, where, behind the armed guards and barbed wire, Elise feels stripped of everything beloved and familiar, including her own identity.

The only thing that makes the camp bearable is meeting fellow internee Mariko Inoue, a Japanese-American teen from Los Angeles, whose friendship empowers Elise to believe the life she knew before the war will again be hers. Together in the desert wilderness, Elise and Mariko hold tight the dream of being young American women with a future beyond the fences.

I am a big fan of books by Susan Meissner, so it was no surprise that I enjoyed this one as well.  Although, for me, A Fall of Marigolds, is her absolute best book!  This novel took me a little longer to read and once I realized that was going to be the case, I settled in and really dug into the story.  I discovered so much about internment camps in the United States during WWII, which I am embarrassed to say I don't remember ever hearing or learning about.  I felt so sad and lonely for the main character, Elise, in the early years of her life.  I can't imagine the fear she must have experienced, arriving in Germany that first day.  I will tell you that the first part of the story seemed a little slow and the last part felt too fast, but it all evened out and I didn't really care because I had to know what happened.  There is a dual perspective timeline in the story, but it is heavily told in the past, which worked, but I still would have liked more about Elise when she was older.  All in all, this was a solid read for me. For a WWII book to teach me something new, after all the books I've read centered during that time, it was completely worth it!

      * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

It's Always the Husband

Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge . . and someone else is urging her to jump.

How did things come to this?

As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other—but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?

Wow - this book was an unexpected hit for me!  I went in completely blind, just knowing that it had mixed reviews.  I think that was the best way to do it, because while reading other reviews when I finished, some readers felt disappointed or misdirected from the synopsis.  I, on the other hand, really enjoyed the heck out of this one.  My only reason for 4 stars instead of 5, was two-fold.  First, it dragged on a bit too much at about the 30-40%.  Secondly, I didn't think bringing the character of Owen into the storyline with Kate, other than to be the sheriff, was necessary.  I thought the writing flowed nicely and it always hooked me to want to read another chapter.  If you are hesitant about this one, I'd encourage you to go in blind and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

The Path of Life

What is the path of life? Perhaps the path is clear, or it may be uncertain and filled with hardships, abundant blessings, or both. No matter what their paths have been, The Path of Life will help readers discover and learn how to follow God's path for their lives.

The paths of the Bible and the ones in our world have several things in common. A path always has a destination (often water, food, or shelter). Someone or something has gone before and created the path. We are never the first ones to walk a path. Most paths have been there for a long time; they are tested, tried, and established. Each path has a purpose, a plan, and a destination.

Readers will learn how to navigate God's plan for their lives. The Bible contains many references to "the path." When readers understand what the Bible says about paths, they are more equipped to navigate their own paths. Lisa Robertson is passionate about walking alongside women to uncover the mysteries, symbolism, and truths about the path of life.

This book was interesting.  I really enjoyed some chapters, while others didn't connect with me.  There were several chapters that I took something away that I could apply to my life.  Others, I just felt a little lost.  I wasn't sure how everything really applied to the idea of "The Path of Life".  But with all that being said, I would recommend this book because I really did enjoy most of it.  That can often happen in these types of books, because every person is at a different stage in life.  My favorite chapters were those that dealt directly with parenting.  I would read those chapters again just to remind myself.  Overall, a well-written book, with a great message!

    

   * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

The Library of Lost and Found

Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people—though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her superhero-themed notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she’s invisible.

All of that changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her best friend—her grandmother Zelda—who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda’s past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.

Filled with Phaedra Patrick’s signature charm and vivid characters, The Library of Lost and Found is a heartwarming and poignant tale of how one woman must take control of her destiny to write her own happy ending.

I always feel kind of bad when I write a review for a book I didn't like, but I have to give an honest review.  This book started soooo slow for me.  I almost gave up, but then towards the middle it picked up enough that I became interested in where the story was going.  But then the last part because a slog again and I just powered through in order to finish.  If you pick this up, like I did, because you expect a story about libraries and books, you'll be disappointed.  This is a story that's been told several times in different ways and I just didn't like this one.  The only parts I enjoyed were the stories that Martha had written as a child, but it wasn't enough for me to really care about the characters.  Some books just aren't the right books for certain people, and I think this was just not the right book for me.    

 * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

 

My Lovely Wife

Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting...

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We're your neighbors, the parents of your kid's friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have secrets to keeping a marriage alive.

Ours just happens to be getting away with murder.

I went into this book with a little trepidation because it was getting a lot of buzz on Instagram and I just didn't think it could live up to the hype.  Boy, was I wrong!  I was mesmerized from the first page.  I have to admit that I've never seen Dexter or Mr. and Mrs. Smith so I didn't really know what exactly to expect in this novel from those comparisons.  In my opinion, this is a book you should go into completely blind and enjoy the ride.  I picked this up while on a beach trip and I probably ignored my husband and kids more than I should have to try and "just read one more chapter".  If you are looking for a thriller that isn't super dark and graphic, but is different than others out there right now, pick this one up soon!       

 * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Guess Who

The rules are simple.

But the game is not.

At eleven years old, Morgan Sheppard solved the murder of a teacher when everyone else believed it to be a suicide. The publicity surrounding the case laid the foundation for his reputation as a modern-day Sherlock Holmes. He parlayed that fame into a gig as TV’s “resident detective,” solving the more typical tawdry daytime talk show mysteries like “Who is the father?” and “Is he cheating?”

Until, that is, Sheppard wakes up handcuffed to a bed in an unfamiliar hotel room. Around him, five strangers are slowly waking up, as well. Soon they discover a corpse in the bathtub and Sheppard is challenged to put his deductive skills to the test. One of the people in the room is the killer. He has three hours to solve the murder. If he doesn’t find the killer, they all will die.

Meh...I was a little disappointed by this book.  The synopsis sounded so engaging to me I had to give it a try.  The story centers around a man known as a TV detective and whether or not he really is who he portrays to be.  I had high hopes when I started the book, but it just never quite became what I anticipated.  I will say, it did read quickly because I wanted to know what would happen, but I just felt like it fell short of what was promised.

      
       * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

The Wartime Sisters

Two estranged sisters, raised in Brooklyn and each burdened with her own shocking secret, are reunited at the Springfield Armory in the early days of WWII. While one sister lives in relative ease on the bucolic Armory campus as an officer’s wife, the other arrives as a war widow and takes a position in the Armory factories as a “soldier of production.” Resentment festers between the two, and secrets are shattered when a mysterious figure from the past reemerges in their lives.

I was a huge fan of Lynda Cohen Loigman's first novel, The Two-Family House, so I could not wait to get my hands on her sophomore book.  This is another novel that takes place during WWII, but I was a big fan of the way she portrayed the war.  I've seen some criticism of the novel for not really talking about the war enough.  But I don't think she ever claimed this to be a war novel.  I actually found that to be a welcomed change.  While I understand that during those years, the war was on the forefront, life still went on.  This novel explores the lives of two sisters who dealt with their own tragedies and secrets that weren't a part of the war.  I had no problem with war not being the main focus.  I found these two sisters intriguing and was often frustrated with each of them, but still loved them.  I actually identified more with the older sister and had sympathy for her.  If you enjoy a book that really develops characters, but still moves forward, please check out this book as well as her first.  I will continue to seek out her novels whenever she writes them!   

          * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Alive in Him

 

God's grand plan for the redemption of creation has been in motion since before time began. The book of Ephesians lays out this glorious vision, highlighting the coming of Christ's kingdom on earth--a kingdom that will soon arrive in full. In Alive in Him, Gloria Furman leads us deep into the biblical text, exploring the book's main themes and showing us how the blessings we have received in Christ empower us to walk in a new way. Designed to be read alongside the book of Ephesians, Alive in Him draws us into the plotline of Scripture, directing our gaze to the love of Jesus Christ--a love that has the power to transform how we live.

Gloria Furman has amazing knowledge of the Bible.  I am always in awe of the beautifully crafted sentences she writes in her books.  I must admit, however, they often go above my head and I find myself having to re-read passages several times before I completely comprehend what she is trying to convey.  Her study of Ephesians was not a verse-by-verse study, but rather a thematic study of the text.  I enjoyed the study and learned a lot from her teachings.  I will continue to pick up her books in the future, but just know going in, her books are meant to be savored, not plowed through.  

        * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

The Dream Daughter

 

When Caroline Sears receives the news that her unborn baby girl has a heart defect, she is devastated. It is 1970 and there seems to be little that can be done. But her brother-in-law, a physicist, tells her that perhaps there is. Hunter appeared in their lives just a few years before—and his appearance was as mysterious as his past. With no family, no friends, and a background shrouded in secrets, Hunter embraced the Sears family and never looked back.

Now, Hunter is telling her that something can be done about her baby's heart. Something that will shatter every preconceived notion that Caroline has. Something that will require a kind of strength and courage that Caroline never knew existed. Something that will mean a mind-bending leap of faith on Caroline's part.

And all for the love of her unborn child.

  

Diane Chamberlain is such favorite for me, I couldn't wait to dive into this one.  I buddy read this book with several ladies and for the most part we all really liked it.  I have to admit that it isn't a personal favorite of mine when compared to other novels by the same author.  I like realistic books.  This book took a turn I wasn't expecting, which was fine, but it lost me a little when she decided to do that.  Without saying what it was, I still enjoyed the story and the characters overall.  So I allowed myself to suspend belief and enjoyed it regardless.  It was a wonderful book to discuss and we talked a lot about this one!      
 

            * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Tear Me Apart

Tear Me Apart is the powerful story of a mother willing to do anything to protect her daughter even as their carefully constructed world unravels around them.

One moment will change their lives forever…

Competitive skier Mindy Wright is a superstar in the making until a spectacular downhill crash threatens not just her racing career but her life. During surgery, doctors discover she’s suffering from a severe form of leukemia, and a stem cell transplant is her only hope. But when her parents are tested, a frightening truth emerges. Mindy is not their daughter.

Who knows the answers?

The race to save Mindy’s life means unraveling years of lies. Was she accidentally switched at birth or is there something more sinister at play? The search for the truth will tear a family apart…

What a ride - this book had as many twists and turns as a ski course!  Mindy is faced with a disastrous diagnosis that threatens her life in more ways than one.  She needs a transplant and soon discovers that her parents are not her biological parents.  From there we join her in the question to uncover the truth.  I can't really say more but I found this book totally engrossing.  I never wanted to stop.  It was a long book, but I really powered through.  It may have been edited down a bit, but I really didn't care.  I loved all the twists and felt completely invested.  This is my third J.T. Ellison novel, and it was definitely my favorite so far.  

            * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Dear Mrs. Bird

London 1940, bombs are falling. Emmy Lake is Doing Her Bit for the war effort, volunteering as a telephone operator with the Auxiliary Fire Services. When Emmy sees an advertisement for a job at the London Evening Chronicle, her dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent seem suddenly achievable. But the job turns out to be typist to the fierce and renowned advice columnist, Henrietta Bird. Emmy is disappointed, but gamely bucks up and buckles down.

Mrs Bird is very clear: Any letters containing Unpleasantness—must go straight in the bin. But when Emmy reads poignant letters from women who are lonely, may have Gone Too Far with the wrong men and found themselves in trouble, or who can’t bear to let their children be evacuated, she is unable to resist responding. As the German planes make their nightly raids, and London picks up the smoldering pieces each morning, Emmy secretly begins to write letters back to the women of all ages who have spilled out their troubles.

What a breathe of fresh air this book was!  I was initially drawn to the cover, but it was such a pleasant surprise all the way around!  Emmy was one of those characters that I felt drawn to immediately.  I couldn't help but want to keep reading to find out the rest of the story.  While the book took place during WW2, it was refreshing new take on a subject that it written about all the time.  But what I thought was just going to be a straightforward story turned out to be so heartwarming and I can't recommend it enough!

         * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

You Were Always Mine

Jessica Chamberlain, newly separated and living with her two sons in a small Iowa town, can’t believe that a tragedy in another state could have anything to do with her. But when her phone rings one quiet morning, her world is shattered. As she tries to pick up the pieces and make sense of what went wrong, Jess begins to realize that a tragic death is just the beginning. Soon she is caught in a web of lies and half-truths—and she’s horrified to learn that everything leads back to her seven-year-old adopted son, Gabriel.

Years ago, Gabe’s birth mother requested a closed adoption and Jessica was more than happy to comply. But when her house is broken into and she discovers a clue that suggests her estranged husband was in close contact with Gabe’s biological mother, she vows to uncover the truth at any cost. A harrowing story of tenacious love and heartbreaking betrayal, You Were Always Mine is about the wars we wage to keep the ones we love close.

I chose this book for my online book club to read and I am so glad I did!  It's a quieter family drama, so please don't go into this book expecting a huge page turning story twist.  I found the characters to be complex and I was always trying to decide if I liked them or not, which made them feel real.  The story deals with a newly widowed mom trying to uncover what happened to her husband.  I liked how we really dove deep into the daily lives of Jess and her children.  I also absolutely loved the layout of this book.  The way each chapter began and ended was so unique and propelled the story forward.  I would love to see more authors using creative ways of hooking a reader like she did.  This novel took the subject of adoption and gave a real life perspective of what that can look like and I appreciated the good and the bad.  I will be looking for more books by this author in the future.  

             * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Convenience Store Woman

 

Keiko Furukura had always been considered a strange child, and her parents always worried how she would get on in the real world, so when she takes on a job in a convenience store while at university, they are delighted for her. For her part, in the convenience store she finds a predictable world mandated by the store manual, which dictates how the workers should act and what they should say, and she copies her coworkers' style of dress and speech patterns so she can play the part of a normal person. However, eighteen years later, at age 36, she is still in the same job, has never had a boyfriend, and has only few friends. She feels comfortable in her life but is aware that she is not living up to society's expectations and causing her family to worry about her. When a similarly alienated but cynical and bitter young man comes to work in the store, he will upset Keiko's contented stasis--but will it be for the better?

I picked this book up because it was recommended on Anne Bogel's Summer Reading Guide.  I had such high hopes for this quirky, little novel.  Keiko is a woman who finds herself in basically the exact same place she has been for years.  She feels stuck.  The setting of a convenience store seemed like the perfect place for this book.  I was hoping for a heart-warming story that really endeared me to all the characters.  What I found was a day to day picture of Keiko, but just not much else.  It just didn't really go anywhere.  I just kept waiting for something to happen to shift things in her life or in the store, but it just wasn't there.  I closed the book and felt that I just didn't get it.  

  

         * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

          

Bring Me Back

Finn and Layla are young, in love, and on vacation. They’re driving along the highway when Finn decides to stop at a service station to use the restroom. He hops out of the car, locks the doors behind him, and goes inside. When he returns Layla is gone—never to be seen again. That is the story Finn told to the police. But it is not the whole story.

Ten years later Finn is engaged to Layla’s sister, Ellen. Their shared grief over what happened to Layla drew them close and now they intend to remain together. Still, there’s something about Ellen that Finn has never fully understood. His heart wants to believe that she is the one for him...even though a sixth sense tells him not to trust her.

Then, not long before he and Ellen are to be married, Finn gets a phone call. Someone from his past has seen Layla—hiding in plain sight. There are other odd occurrences: Long-lost items from Layla’s past that keep turning up around Finn and Ellen’s house. Emails from strangers who seem to know too much. Secret messages, clues, warnings. If Layla is alive—and on Finn’s trail—what does she want? And how much does she know?

Ugh...this is a hard review to write.  I wanted to love this book so much!  The author's previous 2 books, Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown were 5 stars reads for me.  I had really high expectations for this one and it just missed the mark completely in my opinion.  It felt so unrealistic and far-fetched, and I never like that.  I also did not care one bit for any of the characters.  The whole doll thing was just so strange!  I hate to say all this because I will not hesitate for a second to pick up the next book B.A. Paris writes, but this was just not her best work for my reading preferences.

            * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *