Ah, time to review a Christmas story...well, in October I read lots of thrillers and mysteries but in December I have tried to read lots of Christmas and heartfelt books. So, let's get down to this review:
A Vineyard Christmas by Jean Stone
From GoodReads:
In the midst of a Christmas blizzard: A baby on the doorstep.
It's taken a long time and a little heartache, but Annie Sutton is finally following her dream of living on Martha's Vineyard. She fell in love with the island's singular beauty while using it as a setting for two of her novels. In her cozy rented cottage on Chappaquiddick, she's settling in for her first Vineyard winter--complete with a fierce nor'easter on the way, forecast to bring high winds and deep snow. But the blizzard also brings something unexpected to Annie's front porch: a basket, encircled by a ribbon, containing a baby girl. The note reads: "I named her Bella, after my grandmother. Please help her, because I can't."
Adopted as a child, Annie is grateful for wonderful parents who raised her as their own. Yet she also hopes to spare little Bella the feelings of abandonment that still haunt her. And so, rather than take the baby to the police, Annie decides to keep her and try to find the birth mother, giving her a chance to change her mind.
But it's not easy keeping a secret in a close-knit, island community, especially amid the bustle of Christmas. Before the holiday ends, there will be revelations, rekindled hope, and proof that families--the ones we are born into and the ones we claim for ourselves--are the gifts that truly matter . . .
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You get so much from this book, Christmas magic, a baby's love, a mystery, an island community, love and did I say magic? It's all wrapped in this little Christmas book.
Once I read that this book was taking place in Martha's Vineyard, I was sold and then it was taking place during Christmas and I mean, come on, what else could I ask for more. I live in MA, so the Vineyard is magic already during the summer so to read something about it during Christmas, give it to me.
So, Annie Sutton is a writer (bonus points lol) and has always dreamed of living on Martha's Vineyard. So when she has basically lost everyone and everything in her life she finally makes the final leap and moves to the island. She has always loved the beauty of the island and now she is ready to spend her first winter there on her cozy rented cottage. Of course, there is a nor'easter on the way, forecasting high winds and deep snow. But Annie is prepared for the blizzard, she goes into town to get ready even buying a Christmas tree. But, with the blizzard she gets the biggest surprise of all, someone drops a basket, encircled by a ribbon and a baby girl inside it. With a note attached: "I named her Bella, after my grandmother. Please help her, because I can't."
Because Annie was adopted as a child, she starts to get attached to Bella in a new level of connection. She decides to keep the baby and find out who left her at her door step instead of handing her over to the police.
Because of this decision we get to see how a island community gets involved and how this mystery can lead to a lot more than Annie was hoping for. It's a Christmas that she will never forget.
This book is such a quick and fast paced read, one that you cannot put it down because you want to find out who little Bella's mother is. And you will try to connect the pieces together, that is until things will take a turn that you never saw it coming. Ah it was a lovely read, one that I still think about it today. And I'm so happy that there is more to Annie's story than this. I'm sure to continue with it.
5 out of 5 stars for sure.
XOXO,
Nelia
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Book Review: Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Tilia Klebenov Jacobs
During October I read lots of mystery, thrillers books this year and I can't believe that I still have this one to review it, lol. Oh well, let's get to it:
Book Review: Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Tilia Klebenov Jacobs
From GoodReads:
When Tsara Adelman leaves her husband and two young children for a weekend to visit her estranged uncle, she little dreams he is holding several local children captive on his lavish estate. Mike Westbrook, father of one of the boys, kidnaps her to trade her life for the children's. Soon Tsara and Mike are fleeing through New Hampshire's mountain wilderness pursued by two rogue cops with murder on their minds.
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Tsara has been estranged with her uncle for years and years but when he invites her to party at his lavish estate, she decides to go and make amends, specially when her husband convinces her to go and enjoy the weekend by herself as he would stay home with the kids. When she gets to her uncles estate things goes perfectly fine until the first night when she gets kidnapped. While she is kidnapped she ends up learning that her kidnapper is Mike Westbrook, who ends up been a father of one of the local kids that her uncle is holding captive. Mike kidnaps Tsara in order for her uncle to release his son.
What her uncle ends up doing is sending the two town cops who are murderers and set out in search for her and Mike with only one thing on their minds; to murder them in order to keep them quiet about what is happening at her uncles house.
Throughout the book we see how Tsara and Mike travel from through NH's mountains and how FBI gets involved and how her husband and brother worrying more about her. I really enjoying this book and how we got to see how Tsara and Mike's relationship evolved from victim and kidnapper to somewhat friendlier, nothing romantic for once. Not going to lie that somehow the book felt like it drag a little, but it had a good ending and you got to see how someone copes after a kidnap.
An overall a good read. 4 out of 5 starts.
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Tilia Klebenov Jacobs
From GoodReads:
When Tsara Adelman leaves her husband and two young children for a weekend to visit her estranged uncle, she little dreams he is holding several local children captive on his lavish estate. Mike Westbrook, father of one of the boys, kidnaps her to trade her life for the children's. Soon Tsara and Mike are fleeing through New Hampshire's mountain wilderness pursued by two rogue cops with murder on their minds.
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Tsara has been estranged with her uncle for years and years but when he invites her to party at his lavish estate, she decides to go and make amends, specially when her husband convinces her to go and enjoy the weekend by herself as he would stay home with the kids. When she gets to her uncles estate things goes perfectly fine until the first night when she gets kidnapped. While she is kidnapped she ends up learning that her kidnapper is Mike Westbrook, who ends up been a father of one of the local kids that her uncle is holding captive. Mike kidnaps Tsara in order for her uncle to release his son.
What her uncle ends up doing is sending the two town cops who are murderers and set out in search for her and Mike with only one thing on their minds; to murder them in order to keep them quiet about what is happening at her uncles house.
Throughout the book we see how Tsara and Mike travel from through NH's mountains and how FBI gets involved and how her husband and brother worrying more about her. I really enjoying this book and how we got to see how Tsara and Mike's relationship evolved from victim and kidnapper to somewhat friendlier, nothing romantic for once. Not going to lie that somehow the book felt like it drag a little, but it had a good ending and you got to see how someone copes after a kidnap.
An overall a good read. 4 out of 5 starts.
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: Snoopy: Contact! by Charles M. Schulz
Time for another review and a quick one this one...let's do it.
Snoopy: Contact! by Charles M. Schulz
From GoodReads:
Enjoy the Peanuts gang in another collection of cartoons especially selected for middle-grade readers.
Snoopy is one small dog with one huge imagination! From day to day, he can be found stalking the other Peanuts characters as a fierce ready-to-prey vulture, leopard, mountain lion, piranha, or creature from the sea. But his grandest flights of fancy are when he’s airborne as the Flying Ace on his Sopwith Camel seeking out the evil Red Baron. His forays take him through the World War I French countryside in repeated attempts to achieve his quest. In Snoopy: Contact!, enjoy his adventures along with his other unusual encounters: catching bird burglars stealing his Van Gogh, challenging Lucy to an arm-wrestling contest, and becoming the Cheshire beagle.
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Well, if you like Snoopy, you will sure like this book for sure. Snoopy is back and it sure is funny and entertaining. He is a WWI pilot in this one and you get to go on his quests with him. And of course you get to see him on his daily life and getting in his regular troubles as regular.
Totally recommend this cute read. 4 out 5 stars.
XOXO,
Nelia
Snoopy: Contact! by Charles M. Schulz
From GoodReads:
Enjoy the Peanuts gang in another collection of cartoons especially selected for middle-grade readers.
Snoopy is one small dog with one huge imagination! From day to day, he can be found stalking the other Peanuts characters as a fierce ready-to-prey vulture, leopard, mountain lion, piranha, or creature from the sea. But his grandest flights of fancy are when he’s airborne as the Flying Ace on his Sopwith Camel seeking out the evil Red Baron. His forays take him through the World War I French countryside in repeated attempts to achieve his quest. In Snoopy: Contact!, enjoy his adventures along with his other unusual encounters: catching bird burglars stealing his Van Gogh, challenging Lucy to an arm-wrestling contest, and becoming the Cheshire beagle.
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Well, if you like Snoopy, you will sure like this book for sure. Snoopy is back and it sure is funny and entertaining. He is a WWI pilot in this one and you get to go on his quests with him. And of course you get to see him on his daily life and getting in his regular troubles as regular.
Totally recommend this cute read. 4 out 5 stars.
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: Surviving Amber Springs by Siobhan Davis
First of all, can you all believe that Christmas is over? Like seriously, it's the day after Christmas and my house is dead silence. The last few days was was crazy loud and I thought it was never going to end and I wanted some piece and quiet and now? It's so freaking quiet, which it's giving me the time to write some book reviews but seriously? Christmas is over which means 2018 is pretty much over and I don't know if I'm ready for 2019...Oh My, someone help me.
Well, let me freak out later and get back to today's post and review one of my favorite books of the year for sure. And no surprise there, right? It's a Siobhan Davis and it's one of her standalones. Siobhan is an amazing writer but have read her standalone books? Because she somehow makes them even better, let's review her latest, AH so good.
Surviving Amber Springs by Siobhan Davis
From GoodReads:
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone…
I’m the second-most hated person in Amber Springs.
First place honors go to my twin, Ethan; however, hate isn’t a strong enough word to convey how people feel about him.
Not that I blame anyone—some days, I hate him too. Mostly, I’m just lost and afraid, drowning in a sea of betrayal and guilt, wondering how this happened right under my nose.
There’s no choice but to leave. To move clear across the country in a last-ditch attempt to start over.
Transferring to a new school midway through senior year is hellish for most people. For me, it’s a welcome relief—until someone discovers our secret and now everyone knows.
The pointing, whispering, and scathing looks follow me around again, and I’m back to square one. Except, this time, I’m not alone.
Axel, Skeet, and Heath took me under their wing from the minute I arrived here. I’ve no idea why three of the hottest guys in town took any interest in me or why they continue to have my back, but I’m so grateful to have them in my corner.
Because, right now, they’re the only reason I’m not following my brother into an early grave.
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There is so much to cover and so much that I can't say not to ruin the book that I don't even not where to start. Okay, trigger points, let's start with that, read this book knowing that Siobhan is touching some every tough subjects but in my opinion is it very well done, you get to know some of feelings of those trigger points from first hands but also from the other perspective points too, some the family perspective points, can't say too much about it because I don't want to ruin everything in the book, but if you read the book and put yourself on that side of character, you get to see how hard it was for her too. No justification at all for what Blaire's twin did, and I think Blaire will live with that forever but it was interesting to read a book like this.
And Blaire's suffering is a lot more deep than we realize at the beginning and when we get to see who deep it is? Oh man, I broke for her, I cried and my heart was bleeding for that girl. I can't say this enough, be prepared to suffer and understand Blaire's suffering, and understand the things she does because she doesn't let people inside of her easily and she just let's things to accumulate inside of her until it reaches the limit. Even when she thinks she has found the loves of her life.
When Blaire and her family lives Amber Springs behind she meets Axel, Skeet and Heath. After some pushing and denying she finally decides to give it a go but the journey is not an easy one for sure. Blaire and the boys meet during the senior year in high school but so much stuff happens in the short time they are together and something that happens to Blaire separates them unexpectedly and they don't end up getting in touch with each other for a while later and then...well you just have to read to see what happens.
This book, oh man, I cried so many times, my heart was jumping out of my chest so many times too. But it had it's steamy and romantic and funny times too, so it was a hell of a ride for sure and a totally worth read. And a 5 out 5 starts for sure. And a book that once you finish? You sure want more of it.
Love it and totally recommend it. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
XOXO,
Nelia
Well, let me freak out later and get back to today's post and review one of my favorite books of the year for sure. And no surprise there, right? It's a Siobhan Davis and it's one of her standalones. Siobhan is an amazing writer but have read her standalone books? Because she somehow makes them even better, let's review her latest, AH so good.
Surviving Amber Springs by Siobhan Davis
From GoodReads:
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone…
I’m the second-most hated person in Amber Springs.
First place honors go to my twin, Ethan; however, hate isn’t a strong enough word to convey how people feel about him.
Not that I blame anyone—some days, I hate him too. Mostly, I’m just lost and afraid, drowning in a sea of betrayal and guilt, wondering how this happened right under my nose.
There’s no choice but to leave. To move clear across the country in a last-ditch attempt to start over.
Transferring to a new school midway through senior year is hellish for most people. For me, it’s a welcome relief—until someone discovers our secret and now everyone knows.
The pointing, whispering, and scathing looks follow me around again, and I’m back to square one. Except, this time, I’m not alone.
Axel, Skeet, and Heath took me under their wing from the minute I arrived here. I’ve no idea why three of the hottest guys in town took any interest in me or why they continue to have my back, but I’m so grateful to have them in my corner.
Because, right now, they’re the only reason I’m not following my brother into an early grave.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is so much to cover and so much that I can't say not to ruin the book that I don't even not where to start. Okay, trigger points, let's start with that, read this book knowing that Siobhan is touching some every tough subjects but in my opinion is it very well done, you get to know some of feelings of those trigger points from first hands but also from the other perspective points too, some the family perspective points, can't say too much about it because I don't want to ruin everything in the book, but if you read the book and put yourself on that side of character, you get to see how hard it was for her too. No justification at all for what Blaire's twin did, and I think Blaire will live with that forever but it was interesting to read a book like this.
And Blaire's suffering is a lot more deep than we realize at the beginning and when we get to see who deep it is? Oh man, I broke for her, I cried and my heart was bleeding for that girl. I can't say this enough, be prepared to suffer and understand Blaire's suffering, and understand the things she does because she doesn't let people inside of her easily and she just let's things to accumulate inside of her until it reaches the limit. Even when she thinks she has found the loves of her life.
When Blaire and her family lives Amber Springs behind she meets Axel, Skeet and Heath. After some pushing and denying she finally decides to give it a go but the journey is not an easy one for sure. Blaire and the boys meet during the senior year in high school but so much stuff happens in the short time they are together and something that happens to Blaire separates them unexpectedly and they don't end up getting in touch with each other for a while later and then...well you just have to read to see what happens.
This book, oh man, I cried so many times, my heart was jumping out of my chest so many times too. But it had it's steamy and romantic and funny times too, so it was a hell of a ride for sure and a totally worth read. And a 5 out 5 starts for sure. And a book that once you finish? You sure want more of it.
Love it and totally recommend it. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
XOXO,
Nelia
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Book Review: The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
I think one of the reasons that I don't read too many mystery/thrillers is because sometimes you come across something so creepy but that could be real and then you start to question everything and everyone around you, you know? Yeah, creepy and weird lol
Just like this one...
The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
From Goodreads:
Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.
The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact, and most of its rules make sense: Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . .
Never mention The Pact to anyone.
Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples--and then one of them breaks the rules. The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life, and The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule. For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare.
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Alright, where should I start. It's creepy, weird and when you read this book it will mess up with your head and make you question a lot of things, trust me. So, let's do this: Alice and Jake are newly weds, Jake is a therapist and he owns his own practice with two other people. Alice was a singer in a well known rock band, but she is now a successful lawyer. They live in San Francisco and their life just getting started...just before their wedding Alice wins a case from a really good client who pretty much invites himself and his wife to their wedding. They then send a gift to Jake and Alice, but not just any gift, they send an exclusive invitation to a mysterious group named The Pact.
The Pact seems simple, keep marriages happy and intact, there are rules but they seem pretty simple and don't doesn't like to receive gifts every month and plan trips? The only thing they must never do is: never mention The Pact to anyone. So, Alice and Jake are in.
But, when one of them breaks a rule things take a turn to side they never saw it coming. The Pact takes marriage for life very, very seriously and they will do everything and whatever it takes to make sure they follow that rule. When Jake and Alice realize that The Pact is so not what they thought it was it may be a little too late to get out of it. So, what do they do?
Things get crazy in this book, for one thing for once I really enjoyed reading from the male POV and Jake? Oh man, he was pretty amazing, he was pretty honest about everything, about The Pact, about his feelings, about his marriage, about his work, pretty much about everything. And this guy was not going to stop at nothing to have the marriage that he dreamed of. And he fights until the end...and you just have to read to find out what Jake and Alice do, will they go through live with The Pact and they crazy rules? Will they find a way out? Remember, there is no way out with The Pact...
4 out of 5 stars for this one.
XOXO,
Nelia
Just like this one...
The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond
From Goodreads:
Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.
The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact, and most of its rules make sense: Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . .
Never mention The Pact to anyone.
Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples--and then one of them breaks the rules. The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life, and The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule. For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alright, where should I start. It's creepy, weird and when you read this book it will mess up with your head and make you question a lot of things, trust me. So, let's do this: Alice and Jake are newly weds, Jake is a therapist and he owns his own practice with two other people. Alice was a singer in a well known rock band, but she is now a successful lawyer. They live in San Francisco and their life just getting started...just before their wedding Alice wins a case from a really good client who pretty much invites himself and his wife to their wedding. They then send a gift to Jake and Alice, but not just any gift, they send an exclusive invitation to a mysterious group named The Pact.
The Pact seems simple, keep marriages happy and intact, there are rules but they seem pretty simple and don't doesn't like to receive gifts every month and plan trips? The only thing they must never do is: never mention The Pact to anyone. So, Alice and Jake are in.
But, when one of them breaks a rule things take a turn to side they never saw it coming. The Pact takes marriage for life very, very seriously and they will do everything and whatever it takes to make sure they follow that rule. When Jake and Alice realize that The Pact is so not what they thought it was it may be a little too late to get out of it. So, what do they do?
Things get crazy in this book, for one thing for once I really enjoyed reading from the male POV and Jake? Oh man, he was pretty amazing, he was pretty honest about everything, about The Pact, about his feelings, about his marriage, about his work, pretty much about everything. And this guy was not going to stop at nothing to have the marriage that he dreamed of. And he fights until the end...and you just have to read to find out what Jake and Alice do, will they go through live with The Pact and they crazy rules? Will they find a way out? Remember, there is no way out with The Pact...
4 out of 5 stars for this one.
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: I Found You by Lisa Jewell
I think I may have found a mystery/thriller author that I want to read more of her books, yeah...this next review was a book that I actually enjoyed the mystery, I got into the story a lot so I really want to read more of Lisa Jewell's books and see if I will continue to like her books, I know that she has a new one that just came out this year so I may pick that one out next, we shall see :)
This is another one that I had it for over a year in my TBR from Netgalley, yeah my fear for not liking M/T are big but I venturing out this year and doing way better.
Let's get to this review, shall we?
I Found You by Lisa Jewell
From Goodreads:
A young bride, a lonely single mother, and an amnesiac man of dubious origin lie at the heart of New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell’s next suspenseful drama that will appeal to fans of Liane Moriarty and Paula Hawkins.
In a windswept British seaside town, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on the beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside.
Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, twenty-one-year-old Lily Monrose has only been married for three weeks. When her new husband fails to come home from work one night she is left stranded in a new country where she knows no one. Then the police tell her that her husband never existed.
Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. Their annual trip to the quaint seaside town is passing by uneventfully, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable—and it’s not just that he’s playing the role of protective older brother.
Two decades of secrets, a missing husband, and a man with no memory are at the heart of this brilliant new novel, filled with the “beautiful writing, believable characters, pacey narrative, and dark secrets” (London Daily Mail) that make Lisa Jewell so beloved by audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
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SO, this book is told by not one, not two but three POVs and you would thing that would confuse you, right? But every time I was reading from one character point of view and I was dying to find out what was happening to the other one and then when I was reading that one again? I wanted to find out what was happening to the other one that I had finished, it was like there was little cliffhangers every time you finished one character point of view which was so perfectly written.
The story starts with Alice, a single mom finding a man outside in the beach in the rain. Unfortunately, Alice has a soft side and a more soft heart and she goes and decides to give a jacket to the man outside, the only problem is that the man has no idea of who he is and how he got there. Alice knows she shouldn't do it, but she takes him inside her house and tries to help him out. She gives him the outside shed and from there they try to find a way for him to recuperate his memory, but things are a little more complicated than it seems and as the days go by and he stills has no memory Alice and him finally decide that it's time for him to go to the police but when that day comes?
Meanwhile on that same day that Alice finds the lost memory man, Lilly is a newly wed, newly to the country and her new husband never makes it come that night. The next day she calls the police and tells them that it's unusual for her husband to not come home, the police is not surprise because he is a grown man and many things can plan a part for him to disappear, but Lilly pushes them and shows them the text he sent her an hour before he was suppose to come home so they promise her to look into. From there she finds out that her husband's passport is a fake one and that the name that he goes by doesn't exist, then she realizes that she never met any of his family or friends. She ends up getting a call from the only friend that he has and she ends up getting him to help her to find him. From calling one phone number then find one address, Lilly ends up at the same place and same coffee shop and Alice and her no memory man, what happens? Well...
The third POV we get is from this guy from a summer twenty years ago and about him coming to vacation with his parents and sister and meeting this other guy and things getting totally out of control until...well you have to read the book and find out what all these three characters have in common and how one summer changed it all.
This book totally got me in the edge of my seat, I was dying to know what the heck happened and if Alice would end up with her mystery man or if he belonged with poor Lilly. Ah, the questions kept accumulating but what I liked about this book is that you got all your answers at the end plus more.
4.5 out of 5 stars, totally recommend it.
XOXO,
Nelia
This is another one that I had it for over a year in my TBR from Netgalley, yeah my fear for not liking M/T are big but I venturing out this year and doing way better.
Let's get to this review, shall we?
I Found You by Lisa Jewell
From Goodreads:
A young bride, a lonely single mother, and an amnesiac man of dubious origin lie at the heart of New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell’s next suspenseful drama that will appeal to fans of Liane Moriarty and Paula Hawkins.
In a windswept British seaside town, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on the beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside.
Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, twenty-one-year-old Lily Monrose has only been married for three weeks. When her new husband fails to come home from work one night she is left stranded in a new country where she knows no one. Then the police tell her that her husband never existed.
Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. Their annual trip to the quaint seaside town is passing by uneventfully, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable—and it’s not just that he’s playing the role of protective older brother.
Two decades of secrets, a missing husband, and a man with no memory are at the heart of this brilliant new novel, filled with the “beautiful writing, believable characters, pacey narrative, and dark secrets” (London Daily Mail) that make Lisa Jewell so beloved by audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SO, this book is told by not one, not two but three POVs and you would thing that would confuse you, right? But every time I was reading from one character point of view and I was dying to find out what was happening to the other one and then when I was reading that one again? I wanted to find out what was happening to the other one that I had finished, it was like there was little cliffhangers every time you finished one character point of view which was so perfectly written.
The story starts with Alice, a single mom finding a man outside in the beach in the rain. Unfortunately, Alice has a soft side and a more soft heart and she goes and decides to give a jacket to the man outside, the only problem is that the man has no idea of who he is and how he got there. Alice knows she shouldn't do it, but she takes him inside her house and tries to help him out. She gives him the outside shed and from there they try to find a way for him to recuperate his memory, but things are a little more complicated than it seems and as the days go by and he stills has no memory Alice and him finally decide that it's time for him to go to the police but when that day comes?
Meanwhile on that same day that Alice finds the lost memory man, Lilly is a newly wed, newly to the country and her new husband never makes it come that night. The next day she calls the police and tells them that it's unusual for her husband to not come home, the police is not surprise because he is a grown man and many things can plan a part for him to disappear, but Lilly pushes them and shows them the text he sent her an hour before he was suppose to come home so they promise her to look into. From there she finds out that her husband's passport is a fake one and that the name that he goes by doesn't exist, then she realizes that she never met any of his family or friends. She ends up getting a call from the only friend that he has and she ends up getting him to help her to find him. From calling one phone number then find one address, Lilly ends up at the same place and same coffee shop and Alice and her no memory man, what happens? Well...
The third POV we get is from this guy from a summer twenty years ago and about him coming to vacation with his parents and sister and meeting this other guy and things getting totally out of control until...well you have to read the book and find out what all these three characters have in common and how one summer changed it all.
This book totally got me in the edge of my seat, I was dying to know what the heck happened and if Alice would end up with her mystery man or if he belonged with poor Lilly. Ah, the questions kept accumulating but what I liked about this book is that you got all your answers at the end plus more.
4.5 out of 5 stars, totally recommend it.
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker
I admit that I'm not a big fan of thriller/mystery books, not because I don't love them but maybe because I have a hard time finding good ones that really intrigue me. My favorite to date: Gone Girl, it was creepy, kept me on the edge of my seat and that freaking woman was weirdly, mean and amazing at planning all of that, I read Gone Girl in less that 24 hours, yeah it was that good for me. Since then? I tend to compare every book to it, so that may be the problem. I have had the next book in my TBR from NetGalley in a very long, long time so it was about time that I got to it and I did, I finished reading it last week and here is my review:
Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker
From Goodreads:
One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the beginning of the crime.
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One of the things that I like was how little Goodreads gave away about the book, there is two sisters that disappeared and then three years later one of them, Cass, returns without Emma. When Cass returns, she starts telling this really detailed story about the how her Emma planned their disappearance and how they had this help from these people and how they were then taken to this mysterious island where the two of them were held for almost three years. The problem? Dr. Abby Winter, a forensic psychiatrist, who has been involved on their disappearance isn't quite convince of all the story, there is just something that is not adding up and she needs to look more deeply into Cass's dysfunctional family to find out the truth and looking she will.
Dr. Winter starts to dig deeper and deeper and she starts to believe Cass's mom is a narcissist and more and more secrets are hidden and even though she doesn't believe all of Cass's story she does believe that Cass is probably leading them to a dangerous territory, even the possibility of crime.
When you start reading and get to know Cass and her story you get to wrapped up on the story that she is telling that by the end of the book you don't even realize where she was leading you and that? That was really well done, I wasn't expecting the twist and it was good and it kept me guessing throughout the book, there were times that I thought Cass wasn't herself anymore, many she was really going crazy. I really don't want to give too much away but be ready for a few twists along the way for sure.
I really enjoyed this one, 4 out of 5 stars.
XOXO,
Nelia
Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker
From Goodreads:
One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the beginning of the crime.
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One of the things that I like was how little Goodreads gave away about the book, there is two sisters that disappeared and then three years later one of them, Cass, returns without Emma. When Cass returns, she starts telling this really detailed story about the how her Emma planned their disappearance and how they had this help from these people and how they were then taken to this mysterious island where the two of them were held for almost three years. The problem? Dr. Abby Winter, a forensic psychiatrist, who has been involved on their disappearance isn't quite convince of all the story, there is just something that is not adding up and she needs to look more deeply into Cass's dysfunctional family to find out the truth and looking she will.
Dr. Winter starts to dig deeper and deeper and she starts to believe Cass's mom is a narcissist and more and more secrets are hidden and even though she doesn't believe all of Cass's story she does believe that Cass is probably leading them to a dangerous territory, even the possibility of crime.
When you start reading and get to know Cass and her story you get to wrapped up on the story that she is telling that by the end of the book you don't even realize where she was leading you and that? That was really well done, I wasn't expecting the twist and it was good and it kept me guessing throughout the book, there were times that I thought Cass wasn't herself anymore, many she was really going crazy. I really don't want to give too much away but be ready for a few twists along the way for sure.
I really enjoyed this one, 4 out of 5 stars.
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: The Circle Girls by Anya Novikov
Whenever I find a book that mentions witches and then Salem? I'm all over it, I live in MA so I find it interesting to read all the books that people can write about witches in Salem, I don't care that they are fiction or non fiction, I will read them all. So, Netgalley had this one so I picked it up and...let's review, shall we?
The Circle Girls by Anya Novikov
From Goodreads:
God will give you blood to drink. . .An ordinary teenager finds out what witch-hunting is all about—in her own everyday world.
Deliverance “Delli” Willis, a normal, almost-sixteen-year-old, finds herself dreaming wild dreams about a girl in 1692 who is also named Deliverance. And then, to Delli’s amazement, the stuff of dreams appears in her classroom unit on the Salem Witch Trials!
Is it just a coincidence when 1692 Deliverance finds herself entranced by a mysterious man in the woods, and then Delli finds a new and mysterious neighbor walking through her family avocado grove? Or when her dreams uncover similarities between both mystery men…and more? Delli’s not sure what to believe, but she’s eager to share the handsome newcomer with her circle of friends. What she doesn’t realize is the danger of someone unique entering the closed loop.
Fingers point, jealousies surge, lies are cast, sides taken—and people are out for blood. It’s a modern-day witch-hunt that
collides with 1692 in ways Delli never dreamed.
It will take lessons from her dreamscape and a stand against bullies to tighten Delli’s faith in God and pull her through some trials of her own.
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So, I read the synopsis for this book and I was all over it, but I'm not going to lie once I started reading it? It really wasn't was I was expecting it. But, I kind of have a problem that once I start a book I have to finish it, I have DNF'd a book, there I have confessed. There has been many times I'm reading I so not in the mood for that book but I push myself through it because I just cannot not finish the book. So, even though this was not was I was expecting from the book I read it and at the end? I like it...and one of the reasons I ended up liking more was because it wasn't so romance heavy, yes there is so romance but totally not the main point of the story so that helped a lot. And talking about the story, let's get to it...
Deli is a normal 16 year old girl, until one day when she wakes up from a so real dream and realize that stuff from the dreams are happening in her classroom when they are studying the Salem Witch Trials and more weird they other things in her life crosschecks with her dreams.
Deli's witch-hunt in 1692 is colliding with Deli's modern life and it will take some lessons to make modern Deli to get her through the end.
I ended up giving the book a 3.75 out of 5, it was a good read, you end up wanting to find out what the heck is going to happen to 1692 Deli and then what else is going to happen to modern Deli. It ended up being a quick and fun read for sure.
XOXO,
Nelia
The Circle Girls by Anya Novikov
From Goodreads:
God will give you blood to drink. . .An ordinary teenager finds out what witch-hunting is all about—in her own everyday world.
Deliverance “Delli” Willis, a normal, almost-sixteen-year-old, finds herself dreaming wild dreams about a girl in 1692 who is also named Deliverance. And then, to Delli’s amazement, the stuff of dreams appears in her classroom unit on the Salem Witch Trials!
Is it just a coincidence when 1692 Deliverance finds herself entranced by a mysterious man in the woods, and then Delli finds a new and mysterious neighbor walking through her family avocado grove? Or when her dreams uncover similarities between both mystery men…and more? Delli’s not sure what to believe, but she’s eager to share the handsome newcomer with her circle of friends. What she doesn’t realize is the danger of someone unique entering the closed loop.
Fingers point, jealousies surge, lies are cast, sides taken—and people are out for blood. It’s a modern-day witch-hunt that
collides with 1692 in ways Delli never dreamed.
It will take lessons from her dreamscape and a stand against bullies to tighten Delli’s faith in God and pull her through some trials of her own.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, I read the synopsis for this book and I was all over it, but I'm not going to lie once I started reading it? It really wasn't was I was expecting it. But, I kind of have a problem that once I start a book I have to finish it, I have DNF'd a book, there I have confessed. There has been many times I'm reading I so not in the mood for that book but I push myself through it because I just cannot not finish the book. So, even though this was not was I was expecting from the book I read it and at the end? I like it...and one of the reasons I ended up liking more was because it wasn't so romance heavy, yes there is so romance but totally not the main point of the story so that helped a lot. And talking about the story, let's get to it...
Deli is a normal 16 year old girl, until one day when she wakes up from a so real dream and realize that stuff from the dreams are happening in her classroom when they are studying the Salem Witch Trials and more weird they other things in her life crosschecks with her dreams.
Deli's witch-hunt in 1692 is colliding with Deli's modern life and it will take some lessons to make modern Deli to get her through the end.
I ended up giving the book a 3.75 out of 5, it was a good read, you end up wanting to find out what the heck is going to happen to 1692 Deli and then what else is going to happen to modern Deli. It ended up being a quick and fun read for sure.
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
I'm actually really happy that I have been sticking with my TBR list, specially with my October one, because I got to read lots of thrillers and witches books. And talking about witches, this next review is a witch book and a new release too, win, win for me!!! Let's get to the review:
The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
From Goodreads:
Take this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences, but those around you, as well.
New Oldbury, 1821
In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall.
The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.
All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end…
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Wow, where to I begin with this book. So, let's start with the setting, it takes place in Massachusetts, even if the city is not so real. It takes place in the 1800s, always more spooky, right? And it's about sisters, family creepiness that you can't even think about it (yeah be prepared), there is romance (the old way, which is nice), ghosts (yeah, more creepy and spooky) and old secrets. And I guest I have pretty much told you what the book is about without spoiling it. lol
But, seriously...We follow this family that has left Boston and moved to their country home, Willow Hall, because of a scandal involving one of their daughters.
Willow Hall is dark in itself and history and Lydia, the middle daughter, the one that tries to hold the family together and tries hard on everything but also has some dark inside of herself feels attracted to the house, as if it can talk to her. And more creepily, she hears and sees things that anyone else does.
As the family get settle in Willow Hall, everything falls into place at the same time will fall apart, trying to destroy the family. And we will get to see if they will be able to survive it all and if Lydia can keep it together and protect everyone she loves.
This book was creepy at times, spooky but at the same time? It intrigued me so 4 out of 5 stars. And yes, I do recommend it, specially to read at this time of the year!
XOXO,
Nelia
The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
From Goodreads:
Take this as a warning: if you are not able or willing to control yourself, it will not only be you who suffers the consequences, but those around you, as well.
New Oldbury, 1821
In the wake of a scandal, the Montrose family and their three daughters—Catherine, Lydia and Emeline—flee Boston for their new country home, Willow Hall.
The estate seems sleepy and idyllic. But a subtle menace creeps into the atmosphere, remnants of a dark history that call to Lydia, and to the youngest, Emeline.
All three daughters will be irrevocably changed by what follows, but none more than Lydia, who must draw on a power she never knew she possessed if she wants to protect those she loves. For Willow Hall’s secrets will rise, in the end…
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, where to I begin with this book. So, let's start with the setting, it takes place in Massachusetts, even if the city is not so real. It takes place in the 1800s, always more spooky, right? And it's about sisters, family creepiness that you can't even think about it (yeah be prepared), there is romance (the old way, which is nice), ghosts (yeah, more creepy and spooky) and old secrets. And I guest I have pretty much told you what the book is about without spoiling it. lol
But, seriously...We follow this family that has left Boston and moved to their country home, Willow Hall, because of a scandal involving one of their daughters.
Willow Hall is dark in itself and history and Lydia, the middle daughter, the one that tries to hold the family together and tries hard on everything but also has some dark inside of herself feels attracted to the house, as if it can talk to her. And more creepily, she hears and sees things that anyone else does.
As the family get settle in Willow Hall, everything falls into place at the same time will fall apart, trying to destroy the family. And we will get to see if they will be able to survive it all and if Lydia can keep it together and protect everyone she loves.
This book was creepy at times, spooky but at the same time? It intrigued me so 4 out of 5 stars. And yes, I do recommend it, specially to read at this time of the year!
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: Sightwitch by Susan Dennard
Back with a few reviews today, it's the perfect day today to do all book related things, it's cold and rainy so it's time to be under the blankets and get some stuff done...let's do this.
Sightwitch by Susan Dennard
From Goodreads:
Before Safi and Iseult battled a Bloodwitch...
Before Merik returned from the dead…
Ryber Fortiza was a Sightwitch Sister at a secluded convent, waiting to be called by her goddess into the depths of the mountain. There she would receive the gift of foretelling. But when that call never comes, Ryber finds herself the only Sister without the Sight.
Years pass and Ryber’s misfit pain becomes a dull ache, until one day, Sisters who already possess the Sight are summoned into the mountain, never to return. Soon enough, Ryber is the only Sister left. Now, it is up to her to save her Sisters, though she does not have the Sight—and though she does not know what might await her inside the mountain.
On her journey underground, she encounters a young captain named Kullen Ikray, who has no memory of who he is or how he got there. Together, the two journey ever deeper in search of answers, their road filled with horrors, and what they find at the end of that road will alter the fate of the Witchlands forever.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you haven't started reading The Witchlands series, do it now, it's full of witches, magic, friendship stories and some romance thrown in so a little bit of everything. And this book? It was the perfect novella for the series.
We go back, back in time and get to meet Ryber, more like read her story in the form of her journal entries and oh man it was such a nice ride. Ryber is a Sightwitch on a convent, a secluded one, one that no one can find unless you have the gift of foretelling. Ryber first goes there as a little girl and has been there since then waiting for her turn to be called by her goddess to receive the gift, but as the years go by and she never gets called she finds herself the only Sister without the Sight.
Until one day, all the Sisters even the ones who have the Sight all summoned to the mountain and they never return. Ryber is the only one left at the convent and as the days go by she they never return she decides that she needs to go after them in order to save them.
After she is set in her journey underground, she meets a young captain named Kullen, who has no clue who he is and how he got there. At first she isn't sure if she wants him to help her, but eventually she realizes that he could be could helpful and together they go deeper in search of answers. Answers that will change the fate of the Witchlands forever.
I loved how this book was more about the journey and the answers behind everything then about romance. I also loved getting to know more about the older magic and history of the Witchlands, totally a sucker for that.
5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait to continue with the rest of the series.
XOXO,
Nelia
Sightwitch by Susan Dennard
From Goodreads:
Before Safi and Iseult battled a Bloodwitch...
Before Merik returned from the dead…
Ryber Fortiza was a Sightwitch Sister at a secluded convent, waiting to be called by her goddess into the depths of the mountain. There she would receive the gift of foretelling. But when that call never comes, Ryber finds herself the only Sister without the Sight.
Years pass and Ryber’s misfit pain becomes a dull ache, until one day, Sisters who already possess the Sight are summoned into the mountain, never to return. Soon enough, Ryber is the only Sister left. Now, it is up to her to save her Sisters, though she does not have the Sight—and though she does not know what might await her inside the mountain.
On her journey underground, she encounters a young captain named Kullen Ikray, who has no memory of who he is or how he got there. Together, the two journey ever deeper in search of answers, their road filled with horrors, and what they find at the end of that road will alter the fate of the Witchlands forever.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you haven't started reading The Witchlands series, do it now, it's full of witches, magic, friendship stories and some romance thrown in so a little bit of everything. And this book? It was the perfect novella for the series.
We go back, back in time and get to meet Ryber, more like read her story in the form of her journal entries and oh man it was such a nice ride. Ryber is a Sightwitch on a convent, a secluded one, one that no one can find unless you have the gift of foretelling. Ryber first goes there as a little girl and has been there since then waiting for her turn to be called by her goddess to receive the gift, but as the years go by and she never gets called she finds herself the only Sister without the Sight.
Until one day, all the Sisters even the ones who have the Sight all summoned to the mountain and they never return. Ryber is the only one left at the convent and as the days go by she they never return she decides that she needs to go after them in order to save them.
After she is set in her journey underground, she meets a young captain named Kullen, who has no clue who he is and how he got there. At first she isn't sure if she wants him to help her, but eventually she realizes that he could be could helpful and together they go deeper in search of answers. Answers that will change the fate of the Witchlands forever.
I loved how this book was more about the journey and the answers behind everything then about romance. I also loved getting to know more about the older magic and history of the Witchlands, totally a sucker for that.
5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait to continue with the rest of the series.
XOXO,
Nelia
Thursday, October 11, 2018
Book Review: The Library Book by Susan Orlean
Eh, let's talk a little about non fiction...am I a big fan of non fiction? Let's see, if you give me a memoir that is from a famous person that is a comedian, yeap, sign me up, I will read, listen to it without thinking too much about it. I do not mind to read about old stuff too, or old people, old history, for some reason I like the 1500-1800s history, the more scandal, the better. But, the truth is I don't really read that much non fiction stuff, this year I made a list of 10 non fiction (all biographies/memoirs) to read and I'm happy to report that as of this month I have read them all. Maybe next year may TBR list needs to include a little more non fiction, we will see. Any way, let's get back on track and to this post and tell you that I read a non fiction book and that I enjoyed, quite a bit actually (it may be because it was about books but let's not mention that lol). Let's get to the review:
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
From GoodReads:
On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual false alarm. As one fireman recounted later, “Once that first stack got going, it was Goodbye, Charlie.” The fire was disastrous: It reached 2,000 degrees and burned for more than seven hours. By the time it was extinguished, it had consumed 400,000 books and damaged 700,000 more. Investigators descended on the scene, but over thirty years later, the mystery remains: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library—and if so, who?
Weaving her life-long love of books and reading with the fascinating history of libraries and the sometimes-eccentric characters who run them, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean presents a mesmerizing and uniquely compelling story as only she can. With her signature wit, insight, compassion, and talent for deep research, she investigates the legendary Los Angeles Public Library fire to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives. To truly understand what happens behind the stacks, Orlean visits the different departments of the LAPL, encountering an engaging cast of employees and patrons and experiencing alongside them the victories and struggles they face in today’s climate. She also delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from a metropolitan charitable initiative to a cornerstone of national identity. She reflects on her childhood experiences in libraries; studies arson and the long history of library fires; attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; and she re-examines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the library over thirty years ago. Along the way, she reveals how these buildings provide much more than just books—and that they are needed now more than ever.
Filled with heart, passion, and unforgettable characters, The Library Book is classic Susan Orlean, and an homage to a beloved institution that remains a vital part of the heart, mind, and soul of our country and culture.
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Let's start with how much I loved Susan Orlean's writing, I felt like I was listening to her, it was like she was telling me to whole story herself. It just proves how much power words have even on paper, it truly is magical, right?
I love libraries, I have spent my whole entire life inside one library or another. I was born in S. Miguel Azores, this island in the middle of the ocean (which is beautiful by the way) and even there I remember visiting the library and now thinking about it, compared to the libraries here? It was small but to small little me it was magical, it was the place where I could go and where all the books existed and I could borrow them over and over again as many times I wanted. And then I came to US as a teen and OMG, first library I visited was Somerville Library in MA and I remember getting my own library card and I remember spending hours and hours there and let's fast forward to today and I'm married and I still go to my local library and you bet that I bring my kids there lol. So, when I read the sypnosis of this book I had to read it and once I started reading I was fascinating in all aspects.
The more I read the more I wanted to know about the fire that happened at the LA Public Library and what happened to all the books after the fire and what about the people and the reconstruction of it. It was non ending what I wanted to learn and you know what surprised me? It looked like all the questions that I had? Susan had all the answers for it...but she not only had the answers for my questions but she went even deeper than that.
She investigated what happened to the person who was blamed to the fire, even talking to his family. She spent so much time at the library, that we got to know how every single department works and oh man, there are sooo many of them lol.
She goes looks at some other library fires and she even goes as far as burning a book to see how quick a fire inside a library can spread. Fascinating reading for sure. I totally recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars!!!
XOXO,
Nelia
The Library Book by Susan Orlean
From GoodReads:
On the morning of April 29, 1986, a fire alarm sounded in the Los Angeles Public Library. As the moments passed, the patrons and staff who had been cleared out of the building realized this was not the usual false alarm. As one fireman recounted later, “Once that first stack got going, it was Goodbye, Charlie.” The fire was disastrous: It reached 2,000 degrees and burned for more than seven hours. By the time it was extinguished, it had consumed 400,000 books and damaged 700,000 more. Investigators descended on the scene, but over thirty years later, the mystery remains: Did someone purposefully set fire to the library—and if so, who?
Weaving her life-long love of books and reading with the fascinating history of libraries and the sometimes-eccentric characters who run them, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Susan Orlean presents a mesmerizing and uniquely compelling story as only she can. With her signature wit, insight, compassion, and talent for deep research, she investigates the legendary Los Angeles Public Library fire to showcase the larger, crucial role that libraries play in our lives. To truly understand what happens behind the stacks, Orlean visits the different departments of the LAPL, encountering an engaging cast of employees and patrons and experiencing alongside them the victories and struggles they face in today’s climate. She also delves into the evolution of libraries across the country and around the world, from a metropolitan charitable initiative to a cornerstone of national identity. She reflects on her childhood experiences in libraries; studies arson and the long history of library fires; attempts to burn a copy of a book herself; and she re-examines the case of Harry Peak, the blond-haired actor long suspected of setting fire to the library over thirty years ago. Along the way, she reveals how these buildings provide much more than just books—and that they are needed now more than ever.
Filled with heart, passion, and unforgettable characters, The Library Book is classic Susan Orlean, and an homage to a beloved institution that remains a vital part of the heart, mind, and soul of our country and culture.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's start with how much I loved Susan Orlean's writing, I felt like I was listening to her, it was like she was telling me to whole story herself. It just proves how much power words have even on paper, it truly is magical, right?
I love libraries, I have spent my whole entire life inside one library or another. I was born in S. Miguel Azores, this island in the middle of the ocean (which is beautiful by the way) and even there I remember visiting the library and now thinking about it, compared to the libraries here? It was small but to small little me it was magical, it was the place where I could go and where all the books existed and I could borrow them over and over again as many times I wanted. And then I came to US as a teen and OMG, first library I visited was Somerville Library in MA and I remember getting my own library card and I remember spending hours and hours there and let's fast forward to today and I'm married and I still go to my local library and you bet that I bring my kids there lol. So, when I read the sypnosis of this book I had to read it and once I started reading I was fascinating in all aspects.
The more I read the more I wanted to know about the fire that happened at the LA Public Library and what happened to all the books after the fire and what about the people and the reconstruction of it. It was non ending what I wanted to learn and you know what surprised me? It looked like all the questions that I had? Susan had all the answers for it...but she not only had the answers for my questions but she went even deeper than that.
She investigated what happened to the person who was blamed to the fire, even talking to his family. She spent so much time at the library, that we got to know how every single department works and oh man, there are sooo many of them lol.
She goes looks at some other library fires and she even goes as far as burning a book to see how quick a fire inside a library can spread. Fascinating reading for sure. I totally recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars!!!
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: The Dark Intercept by Julia Keller
It has been a while since I has a YA Dystopian book and this one was on my TBR for a while, I had gotten from NetGalley last year, so I read it and let's review it:
The Dark Intercept by Julia Keller
From GoodReads:
The State controls your emotions. What would you pay to feel free?
In a radiant world of endless summer, the Intercept keeps the peace. Violet Crowley, the sixteen-year-old daughter of New Earth’s Founding Father, has spent her life in comfort and safety. Her days are easy thanks to the Intercept, a crime-prevention device that monitors and provokes emotion. But when her long-time crush, Danny Mayhew, gets into a dangerous altercation on Old Earth, Violet launches a secret investigation to find out what he's hiding. An investigation that will lead her to question everything she's ever known about Danny, her father, and the power of the Intercept.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Violet is the daughter of president of New Earth, which is kind of a new planet that has been created right above Earth to save all the "right" people when old Earth was pretty much dead. New Earth's residents have this device in them called the Intercept which is crime-prevention device that monitors and provokes emotion. It makes New Earth the perfect place where everyone lives in comfort and safety.
But when her long-time crush, Danny Mayhew gets into an altercation on Old Earth and doesn't tell her why, she starts to investigate on her own to find out what he is hiding. While investigating why Danny keeps going back to Old Earth, Violet ends up finding out more than she wishes for which leads her to question her whole life.
This book had a lot of promise but at the same time I felt like I was reading some little bits from here and there from other dystopian books. It was good on some aspects, some things were originals but others? Not so much, overall 3 out of 5 stars. I'm not sure if I will be continuing the series.
XOXO,
Nelia
The Dark Intercept by Julia Keller
From GoodReads:
The State controls your emotions. What would you pay to feel free?
In a radiant world of endless summer, the Intercept keeps the peace. Violet Crowley, the sixteen-year-old daughter of New Earth’s Founding Father, has spent her life in comfort and safety. Her days are easy thanks to the Intercept, a crime-prevention device that monitors and provokes emotion. But when her long-time crush, Danny Mayhew, gets into a dangerous altercation on Old Earth, Violet launches a secret investigation to find out what he's hiding. An investigation that will lead her to question everything she's ever known about Danny, her father, and the power of the Intercept.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Violet is the daughter of president of New Earth, which is kind of a new planet that has been created right above Earth to save all the "right" people when old Earth was pretty much dead. New Earth's residents have this device in them called the Intercept which is crime-prevention device that monitors and provokes emotion. It makes New Earth the perfect place where everyone lives in comfort and safety.
But when her long-time crush, Danny Mayhew gets into an altercation on Old Earth and doesn't tell her why, she starts to investigate on her own to find out what he is hiding. While investigating why Danny keeps going back to Old Earth, Violet ends up finding out more than she wishes for which leads her to question her whole life.
This book had a lot of promise but at the same time I felt like I was reading some little bits from here and there from other dystopian books. It was good on some aspects, some things were originals but others? Not so much, overall 3 out of 5 stars. I'm not sure if I will be continuing the series.
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult
Oh yeah, still doing pretty good over here, this is my third review, I do have to leave in an hour to go to work so let's see if I can do this one and maybe one more before I leave but I'm feeling good that I'm doing all of these reviews!!!! YEAH
And this one is a good one, so buckle up and let's jump right in...
A Spark of Light by Jodi Picout
From GoodReads:
The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage.
After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.
But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester disguised as a patient, who now stands in the cross hairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.
Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.
Jodi Picoult—one of the most fearless writers of our time—tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.
After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.
But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester disguised as a patient, who now stands in the cross hairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.
Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.
Jodi Picoult—one of the most fearless writers of our time—tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.
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Confession first; this is my first Jodi Picoult book, I have hear about a lot of her books, but I think I was just too intimidated by her books. Usually when books or authors get too much hype I stay away, don't ask why, I'm just too afraid that I will not like the book or the author and them I will be that odd person that doesn't like the book and everyone will hate me. At the end? I will usually fall in love with the author/book and feel stupid and ask why the heck it took me to long to read it. This is the case with Jodi Picoult and I finally decided it to give it a try and why? Because Netgalley had her latest book there and I would maybe have the chance to read before it would be too hyped about it. And OH MAN, am I glad that I jumped at the chance. I got approved for the arc and I read it before it came out and I freaking love it. The topic was not one that you read everyday which made me love the author even more. Let's get to it.
The whole book takes place in one single day, yes you heard it right. It starts at one time and then the time will rewind to the beginning of the day and you get to find out what is going on inside the women's center. One thing you need to know is that the book has not one, not two but lots of POVs. You even get the POV of the shooter and of his daughter that is not even present at the women's center. Yes, it can be confusing at times, because one thing you have to continue to remember is when one POV is over the next one will start from one hour prior to that one which there were a few times that I was like wait, what time is it again?
You will start this book and will not be able to put it down because you will want to find out what let this person to do what he is doing and what will happen to these hostages, will they survive? And then you to hear about each of these people's lives and choices they are making or made and about women's rights and what some people, even doctor's go through in order to protect them.
A really powerful and intense story and one that should be read all over no matter your point of view.
5 out of 5 stars!
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: One Small Thing by Erin Watt
It's October and it's raining so I'm trying to make the best of it...therefore I'm catching up on some book reviews. I'm so behind on them, I feel like I'm doing more reading and less reviews this year and I need to remedy this...let's start with a few reviews today, this is my second one, YEEPEE :)
I know, let's just jump to review:
One Small Thing by Erin Watt
From GoodReads:
Beth’s life hasn’t been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she’s thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems a small thing, just for her.
Only Beth doesn’t know how big her secret really is…
Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth’s sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get.
Now Beth has a choice to make—follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart…again.
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Let me start by saying Erin Watt know how to make me pick up her books and suck me in right away and once I start reading her books? I just can't put them down. This one? Wow, the story line was freaking amazing and I was at the edge of my seat in some parts because I wanted to make some of the decisions for Beth and some of the decisions for Chase because they were went for each other. But then I would set back a little and I would want to make totally different decisions, I was just as confused as them, I was literally making my life crazy just by reading this book.
Okay, okay, backing up a little bit 'cause I just I just confused the heck of everybody. So, Beth's sister died from a tragic accident and her hasn't been the same since then. Why? Because her parents have become extra, extra careful with her and in order to keep safe they monitor her every single move, they know where she is at all times.
Then on night Beth sneaks out of her house to go to a party and there she meets the new guy in town, Chase, she has this thrill about it and it's just such a small thing, right?
But her little secret really isn't so small...Chase is fresh out of juvie and he just wants this chance to start his life over. But he has more demons to face than anyone realizes including what he did the night Beth's sister died.
Beth finds herself in a lifetime situation, forgive or not forgive. Give it someone another chance? Will she be able to give her heart to Chase knowing what role he played that night? Will she follow the rules or risk it all?
So many feelings reading this book but at the same time? So worth it too, it was a great roller coaster to in, I totally, totally recommend this one!!! 5 stars
XOXO,
Nelia
I know, let's just jump to review:
One Small Thing by Erin Watt
From GoodReads:
Beth’s life hasn’t been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she’s thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems a small thing, just for her.
Only Beth doesn’t know how big her secret really is…
Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth’s sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get.
Now Beth has a choice to make—follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart…again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let me start by saying Erin Watt know how to make me pick up her books and suck me in right away and once I start reading her books? I just can't put them down. This one? Wow, the story line was freaking amazing and I was at the edge of my seat in some parts because I wanted to make some of the decisions for Beth and some of the decisions for Chase because they were went for each other. But then I would set back a little and I would want to make totally different decisions, I was just as confused as them, I was literally making my life crazy just by reading this book.
Okay, okay, backing up a little bit 'cause I just I just confused the heck of everybody. So, Beth's sister died from a tragic accident and her hasn't been the same since then. Why? Because her parents have become extra, extra careful with her and in order to keep safe they monitor her every single move, they know where she is at all times.
Then on night Beth sneaks out of her house to go to a party and there she meets the new guy in town, Chase, she has this thrill about it and it's just such a small thing, right?
But her little secret really isn't so small...Chase is fresh out of juvie and he just wants this chance to start his life over. But he has more demons to face than anyone realizes including what he did the night Beth's sister died.
Beth finds herself in a lifetime situation, forgive or not forgive. Give it someone another chance? Will she be able to give her heart to Chase knowing what role he played that night? Will she follow the rules or risk it all?
So many feelings reading this book but at the same time? So worth it too, it was a great roller coaster to in, I totally, totally recommend this one!!! 5 stars
XOXO,
Nelia
Book Review: White Houses by Amy Bloom
I don't read lots of Historical Fiction but once in a bloom comes something that intrigues me and then I pick it up and I read it and then I...well, let's review it.
White Houses by Amy Bloom
From GoodReads:
Let me start by saying the writing was good, I really enjoyed the writing, but at the same time I want to mention it that it took me a whole week to read this book. I mean, I tend to read reads in between 2-4 days max but a whole week? It dragged a little too much, was it me? Maybe...
I loved the concept of the story line, it was what made it pick up the book and request it from NetGalley (thank you for the early copy) in the first place. Hick was a character that I don't normally like and don't normally would pick up and enjoy reading from their POV, but I did enjoy when she was talking about her life at the White house, when she would defend the Roosevelts and give her personal opinion about them. Hick grew up poor but made a name for herself when she became the most prominent woman reporter in America. She meets Eleanor in 1932 while reporting at the White House while reporting Roosevelts first campaign. Their friendship matures and they become a lot more than friends. Hick moves in to the White House has gets the reputation or more like the title of "first friend". In this novel we get to see Hick's life play out from her time while at the White House, her rival times and friendship with Roosevelt, to her times away from the Roosevelts but never losing sight of them at the same time. And we get to see what a little white house on Long Island holds to both Eleanor and Hick and at the end you end up wondering if you want it all to be oh so true or not so true.
Bottom line? The writing was amazing, the story line was there, but it did drag a little...still a great read and I still recommend it. 3.5 stars
XOXO,
Nelia
White Houses by Amy Bloom
From GoodReads:
Lorena Hickok meets Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while reporting on Franklin Roosevelt's first presidential campaign. Having grown up worse than poor in South Dakota and reinvented herself as the most prominent woman reporter in America, "Hick," as she's known to her friends and admirers, is not quite instantly charmed by the idealistic, patrician Eleanor. But then, as her connection with the future first lady deepens into intimacy, what begins as a powerful passion matures into a lasting love, and a life that Hick never expected to have. She moves into the White House, where her status as "first friend" is an open secret, as are FDR's own lovers. After she takes a job in the Roosevelt administration, promoting and protecting both Roosevelts, she comes to know Franklin not only as a great president but as a complicated rival and an irresistible friend, capable of changing lives even after his death. Through it all, even as Hick's bond with Eleanor is tested by forces both extraordinary and common, and as she grows as a woman and a writer, she never loses sight of the love of her life.
From Washington, D.C. to Hyde Park, from a little white house on Long Island to an apartment on Manhattan's Washington Square, Amy Bloom's new novel moves elegantly through fascinating places and times, written in compelling prose and with emotional depth, wit, and acuity.
From Washington, D.C. to Hyde Park, from a little white house on Long Island to an apartment on Manhattan's Washington Square, Amy Bloom's new novel moves elegantly through fascinating places and times, written in compelling prose and with emotional depth, wit, and acuity.
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I loved the concept of the story line, it was what made it pick up the book and request it from NetGalley (thank you for the early copy) in the first place. Hick was a character that I don't normally like and don't normally would pick up and enjoy reading from their POV, but I did enjoy when she was talking about her life at the White house, when she would defend the Roosevelts and give her personal opinion about them. Hick grew up poor but made a name for herself when she became the most prominent woman reporter in America. She meets Eleanor in 1932 while reporting at the White House while reporting Roosevelts first campaign. Their friendship matures and they become a lot more than friends. Hick moves in to the White House has gets the reputation or more like the title of "first friend". In this novel we get to see Hick's life play out from her time while at the White House, her rival times and friendship with Roosevelt, to her times away from the Roosevelts but never losing sight of them at the same time. And we get to see what a little white house on Long Island holds to both Eleanor and Hick and at the end you end up wondering if you want it all to be oh so true or not so true.
Bottom line? The writing was amazing, the story line was there, but it did drag a little...still a great read and I still recommend it. 3.5 stars
XOXO,
Nelia
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Book Review: When Forever Changes by Siobhan Davis
Alright people, Siobhan Davis is out with another standalone and you know what that means? Be ready for another roller coaster and OH Man, this is one is so freaking amazing...let's get to the review, 'cause I can't wait to talk about it.
When Forever Changes by Siobhan Davis
FROM GOODREADS:
Gabby
Looking back, I should have seen the signs. Perhaps I did, but I subconsciously chose to ignore them.
From the time I was ten, when I first met Dylan, I knew he was my forever guy. Back then, I couldn’t put words to what I was feeling, but, as the years progressed, I came to recognize it for what it was—soul-deep love. The kind only very few people ever get to experience.
Dylan was more than just my best friend, my childhood sweetheart, my lover. He was my soul mate. We were carved from the same whole—destined to be together forever.
Until he changed.
And I believed I was no longer good enough.
Until he shattered me so completely, it felt like I ceased to exist.
And I’d never experienced such heart-crushing pain.
Until he leveled me a second time, and I truly wanted to die.
But I had to stay strong because I wasn’t alone in this cruel twist of fate.
I look to the sky, pleading with the stars, begging someone to tell me what I should do because I don’t know how to deal with this. I don’t know how to cope when my forever has changed, and I can’t help wondering if I had seen the signs earlier, if I’d pushed him, would it have been enough to save us?
Or had fate already decided to alter our forever?
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OMG, I don't know where to start, let's start with Gabby, yes and because let's be real here, the whole story evolves around her and this girl will go from happy to heartbreaking in one page to another and from one page to another over and over again, it's like she can't catch a freaking break.
Gabby first and for most has an amazing family and OMG, I loved how Siobhan portrait her family and their love for each other in this book. Family was everything in this book, yes Gabby's love life was center post in here but damn this girl knew she could go to her mom or dad or one of her brothers for help anytime. Even when her whole life is falling apart.
Gabby thought her whole life was all planned out, she had been in whole with Dylan forever and they had their lives planned out but when they were in college and Dylan does the unthinkable? Gabby's whole world comes crashing down, she is so heartbroken that she doesn't think she can come back up and live again.
But, life had it's own plan for Gabby and she ended up putting her life back together piece by piece slowly and beginning to smile again and believing in love again and when she thought that she could be happy again, something tragic happened and Gabby was so confused and didn't know what to think of life, how could life be so cruel? How can her life change so much in so little time?
What I can say is, be ready to get your heart ripped into pieces, not once, not twice to multiple times over and over again. You will feel it for Gabby and then your heart will cry for Dylan and your heart will get heartbroken for Slater (yeah, can say much about him but he is the best!). And knowing Gabby's family you will feel for them too. I fell attached way too much for this characters that when the book was over? I wanted more, yeah I cried way too much with this book but that's what it makes a great book, right?
So, bottom line? You need to read this one ASAP and be ready to fall in love with it :)
I received a complimentary ARC from Siobhan Davis!
5 out of 5 stars!!!!
Siobhan you did it again!!!!
XOXO,
Nelia
When Forever Changes by Siobhan Davis
FROM GOODREADS:
Gabby
Looking back, I should have seen the signs. Perhaps I did, but I subconsciously chose to ignore them.
From the time I was ten, when I first met Dylan, I knew he was my forever guy. Back then, I couldn’t put words to what I was feeling, but, as the years progressed, I came to recognize it for what it was—soul-deep love. The kind only very few people ever get to experience.
Dylan was more than just my best friend, my childhood sweetheart, my lover. He was my soul mate. We were carved from the same whole—destined to be together forever.
Until he changed.
And I believed I was no longer good enough.
Until he shattered me so completely, it felt like I ceased to exist.
And I’d never experienced such heart-crushing pain.
Until he leveled me a second time, and I truly wanted to die.
But I had to stay strong because I wasn’t alone in this cruel twist of fate.
I look to the sky, pleading with the stars, begging someone to tell me what I should do because I don’t know how to deal with this. I don’t know how to cope when my forever has changed, and I can’t help wondering if I had seen the signs earlier, if I’d pushed him, would it have been enough to save us?
Or had fate already decided to alter our forever?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OMG, I don't know where to start, let's start with Gabby, yes and because let's be real here, the whole story evolves around her and this girl will go from happy to heartbreaking in one page to another and from one page to another over and over again, it's like she can't catch a freaking break.
Gabby first and for most has an amazing family and OMG, I loved how Siobhan portrait her family and their love for each other in this book. Family was everything in this book, yes Gabby's love life was center post in here but damn this girl knew she could go to her mom or dad or one of her brothers for help anytime. Even when her whole life is falling apart.
Gabby thought her whole life was all planned out, she had been in whole with Dylan forever and they had their lives planned out but when they were in college and Dylan does the unthinkable? Gabby's whole world comes crashing down, she is so heartbroken that she doesn't think she can come back up and live again.
But, life had it's own plan for Gabby and she ended up putting her life back together piece by piece slowly and beginning to smile again and believing in love again and when she thought that she could be happy again, something tragic happened and Gabby was so confused and didn't know what to think of life, how could life be so cruel? How can her life change so much in so little time?
What I can say is, be ready to get your heart ripped into pieces, not once, not twice to multiple times over and over again. You will feel it for Gabby and then your heart will cry for Dylan and your heart will get heartbroken for Slater (yeah, can say much about him but he is the best!). And knowing Gabby's family you will feel for them too. I fell attached way too much for this characters that when the book was over? I wanted more, yeah I cried way too much with this book but that's what it makes a great book, right?
So, bottom line? You need to read this one ASAP and be ready to fall in love with it :)
I received a complimentary ARC from Siobhan Davis!
5 out of 5 stars!!!!
Siobhan you did it again!!!!
XOXO,
Nelia
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