I Let You Go

 

On a rainy afternoon, a mother's life is shattered as her son slips from her grip and runs into the street . . .
 
I Let You Go follows Jenna Gray as she moves to a ramshackle cottage on the remote Welsh coast, trying to escape the memory of the car accident that plays again and again in her mind and desperate to heal from the loss of her child and the rest of her painful past.

At the same time, the novel tracks the pair of Bristol police investigators trying to get to the bottom of this hit-and-run. As they chase down one hopeless lead after another, they find themselves as drawn to each other as they are to the frustrating, twist-filled case before them.

I had heard a lot of hype about this book and it delivered.  Since I knew how much people loved it, I must admit that I was looking for things so I wasn't as shocked as others probably were.  The writing was fast paced and engaging, so I will be looking for more books by this author.  There aren't many books that keep me up late in the night but this one definitely did.  While I have never experienced the things that Jenna did, it felt very real and raw.  I felt her pain and just connected with her right off.  If you love a good thriller, with a story beyond the excitement, this is a great choice!

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

      

Fading Starlight

A Tale of Unexpected Friendship and Old Hollywood Glamour

Lauren Summers is hiding. Her fashion house internship should have launched her career, but a red carpet accident has left her blackballed. The only job she finds is unpaid, but comes with free lodging--a run-down cottage in the shadow of a cliff-side mansion. Unsure of what comes next, she's surprised to be contacted by a reporter researching a reclusive former Hollywood ingEnue who lives in the nearby mansion.

Kendall Joiner wants Lauren's help uncovering the old woman's secrets. In return, she'll prove the red carpet accident was a publicity stunt so Lauren can regain her former job. With all her dreams in front of her, Lauren's tempted by the offer, but as she and the old woman get to know each other, Lauren realizes nothing is quite as it seems.

This was my first Kathryn Cushman novel and I am already looking forward to picking up another one of her books very soon!  I thought the writing was simple, yet exactly what the story needed.  Just the right amount of description.  While some may not enjoy the quotes and Bible verses within the text, I actually enjoyed hearing them and then seeing them applied throughout scenes in the story.  I connected with the main character in her quest to make right choices, while still making the wrong ones at times and dealing with the consequences.  It just felt very "real life" to me.  I gave this book 5 stars and would love to see the author decide to write a followup book.   

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

The Sister

"I did something terrible Grace. I hope you can forgive me ..."

Grace hasn't been the same since the death of her best friend Charlie. She is haunted by Charlie's words, the last time she saw her, and in a bid for answers, opens an old memory box of Charlie's. It soon becomes clear there was a lot she didn't know about her best friend.

When Grace starts a campaign to find Charlie's father, Anna, a girl claiming to be Charlie's sister steps forward. For Grace, finding Anna is like finding a new family, and soon Anna has made herself very comfortable in Grace and boyfriend Dan's home.

But something isn't right. Things disappear, Dan's acting strangely and Grace is sure that someone is following her. Is it all in Grace's mind? Or as she gets closer to discovering the truth about both Charlie   and   Anna,  is  Grace  in  terrible   danger?     There was

                                                        nothing she could have done to save Charlie ...or was there? 

A debut novel that definitely packed a punch!  While at times things seemed predictable, all the pieces weren't there to make a complete picture. This kept me guessing and wondering the whole novel, which is exactly what I look for in a book like this.  I never knew which characters were trustworthy and I loved it!  If you enjoy a good book that plays mind games with you, pick this up - it will not disappoint! 

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

 

The Tulip Factory

Before they exchange even a single word, Corrine knows that James will change everything. And sure enough, their serendipitous meeting in a North Carolina coffee shop sets off a whirlwind of desire and possibilities for the two.

Timing, however, isn’t on the couple’s side. After their relationship ends, Corrine finds that years of putting her career and passions on hold for love have led to a stalled life. She once saw her receptionist job as temporary but got too comfortable and, before she knew it, lost sight of her dream of becoming a writer.

Now, as Corrine makes her way into her late twenties, she’s on a quest to find herself. As she struggles to figure out what she really wants, she’ll discover that sometimes you have to take happiness into your own hands and that a fulfilling life is built on opportunities—even the missed ones.

I was very intrigued by the description of this title and I was delighted with the chance to review.  However, that is where the delight ended for me.  This book was predictable and just went nowhere.  The characters drank way too much, but never saw this as a cause of their problems.  I just felt like there was really no point in the story.  The characters were flat and predictable.  And the ending was just so bizarre in my opinion.  I will say that the author's writing style was easy to read and went quickly.  I tried hard to see the positive in this book but it just wasn't the book for me.  

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

None Like Him

 

Human beings were created to reflect the image of God--but only to a limited extent. Although we share important attributes with God (love, mercy, compassion, etc.), there are other qualities that only God possesses, such as unlimited power, knowledge, and authority. At the root of all sin is our rebellious desire to be like God in such ways--a desire that first manifested itself in the garden of Eden. In None Like Him, Jen Wilkin leads us on a journey to discover ten ways God is different from us--and why that's a good thing. In the process, she highlights the joy of seeing our limited selves in relation to a limitless God, and how such a realization frees us from striving to be more than we were created to be.

This book packed quite a punch!  I was positive that it was going to be just like other books I have read, but was I ever wrong.  It just gave me so many AHA moments I was sad when the book ended.  I used it as my daily devotional and I honestly learned so much about the characteristics of God I was in awe and plan to reread soon.  My only disappointment was the fact that my copy was an e-book and I couldn't write in the margins and highlight!  I can't recommend this book enough!  I will be picking up another Jen Wilkin title in the near future.    

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

People Who Knew Me

Emily Morris got her happily-ever-after earlier than most. Married at a young age to a man she loved passionately, she was building the life she always wanted. But when enormous stress threatened her marriage, Emily made some rash decisions. That’s when she fell in love with someone else. That’s when she got pregnant.

Resolved to tell her husband of the affair and to leave him for the father of her child, Emily’s plans are thwarted when the world is suddenly split open on 9/11. It’s amid terrible tragedy that she finds her freedom, as she leaves New York City to start a new life. It’s not easy, but Emily---now Connie Prynne—forges a new happily-ever-after in California. But when a life-threatening diagnosis upends her life, she is forced to rethink her life for the good of her thirteen-year-old daughter.
A riveting debut in which a woman must confront her own past in 

                                                        order to secure the future of her daughter, Kim Hooper's People  

                                                        Who Knew Me asks: “What would you do?”

  

This book was fascinating!  In part because I completely understood why she did what she did and then I was totally clueless as to why she did it.  I would get so frustrated with her at times, but still felt sympathy for other times.  It truly was a study of how much a person can take before they break and to what lengths they will go to survive.  While I personally would not have handled it like she did, I was intrigued by her decisions none the less.  If you enjoy a character driven story with a marriage/family focused plot that reads quickly, this is a great book to pick up starting on May 24th, 2016!

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

  

Dewey's 24-hour Readathon Complete

Totals for Dewey's 24-hour Readathon:

 

3 hours 15 minutes total reading time 

308 pages 

1 completed book

 

I was disappointed in my reading choices, so I know I will plan this better next time. I also unfortunately started suffering from a cold or allergies and it just wiped me out. But still happy with my totals considering everything. I enjoyed participating in several of the mini challenges and I won an hourly prize which was really exciting!! Thanks so much to all the volunteers at Dewey’s for such a great day- looking forward to October! #Readathon