Mercy Road by Ann Howard Creel: Book Review

My Review:

  This is the first book I read about the ambulance drivers in World War One.  Mercy Road tells the story of Arlene Favier, a brave young woman that risks her life to help her family.  I liked all of the details of the ambulance drivers for the American Women's Hospital and the story of Arlene.  This book is a good Historical Fiction book.  4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book for my honest review.

Amazon.com's description:

Inspired by the true story of the World War I American Women’s Hospital, Mercy Road is a novel about love, courage, and a female ambulance driver who risks everything.

In 1917, after Arlene Favier’s home burns to the ground, taking her father with it, she must find a way to support her mother and younger brother. If she doesn’t succeed, they will all be impoverished. Job opportunities are scarce, but then a daring possibility arises: the American Women’s Hospital needs ambulance drivers to join a trailblazing, all-female team of doctors and nurses bound for war-torn France.

On the front lines, Arlene and her fellow ambulance drivers work day and night to aid injured soldiers and civilians. In between dangerous ambulance runs, Arlene reunites with a childhood friend, Jimmy Tucker, now a soldier, who opens her heart like no one before. But she has also caught the attention of Felix Brohammer, a charismatic army captain who harbors a dark, treacherous secret.

To expose Brohammer means risking her family’s future and the promise of love. Arlene must make a choice: stay in the safety of silence or take the greatest chance of her life

Nikki

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier - Book Review

My review:
   
This book was a compelling psychological thriller, full of twists and an ending I never saw coming.  Readers can feel Marin's grief at the loss of her son.  The loss of her son and possible loss of  her husband, led her to desperate measures while not knowing who to trust. I would definitely recommend this book! 5 out of 5 stars!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers of this book for a copy of this book for my honest review.

Amazon.com's description:"Unflinching and unforgettable. Little Secrets has everything you want in a thriller" —Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Lock Every Door

Overwhelmed by tragedy, a woman desperately tries to save her marriage in award-winning author Jennifer Hillier's Little Secrets, a riveting novel of psychological suspense.

All it takes to unravel a life is one little secret...

Marin had the perfect life. Married to her college sweetheart, she owns a chain of upscale hair salons, and Derek runs his own company. They're admired in their community and are a loving family—until their world falls apart the day their son Sebastian is taken.

A year later, Marin is a shadow of herself. The FBI search has gone cold. The publicity has faded. She and her husband rarely speak. She hires a P.I. to pick up where the police left off, but instead of finding Sebastian, she learns that Derek is having an affair with a younger woman. This discovery sparks Marin back to life. She's lost her son; she's not about to lose her husband, too. Kenzie is an enemy with a face, which means this is a problem Marin can fix.

Permanently.

Nikki

The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney - Book Review

Amazon's description:

The perfect life. The perfect love. The perfect lie. From the bestselling author of The Girl Before comes a gripping new psychological thriller. . . .

“Dynamic, razor-sharp, and thought-provoking . . . a cutting-edge suspense novel unlike any you’ve read before.”—Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl

Abbie awakens in a daze with no memory of who she is or how she landed in this unsettling condition. The man by her side claims to be her husband. He’s a titan of the tech world, the founder of one of Silicon Valley’s most innovative start-ups. He tells Abbie that she is a gifted artist, an avid surfer, a loving mother to their young son, and the perfect wife. He says she had a terrible accident five years ago and that, through a huge technological breakthrough, she has been brought back from the abyss.

She is a miracle of science. 

But as Abbie pieces together memories of her marriage, she begins to question her husband’s motives—and his version of events. Can she trust him when he says he wants them to be together forever? And what really happened to her, half a decade ago?

Beware the man who calls you 

My review:

I loved this book!  I didn't want to stop reading Abbie's story.  The mystery of what happened to Abbie was very compelling.  I loved the ending!  Unfortunately what happened to Abbie seems like it could really happen in the future, and that was very scary. I would definitely recommend this book. A 5 out of 5!  Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review.

 N.

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris book review

Amazons description:

From the author of the multi-million copy bestseller The Tattooist of Auschwitz comes a new novel based on a riveting true story of love and resilience.

Her beauty saved her — and condemned her.

Cilka is just sixteen years old when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp in 1942, where the commandant immediately notices how beautiful she is. Forcibly separated from the other women prisoners, Cilka learns quickly that power, even unwillingly taken, equals survival.

When the war is over and the camp is liberated, freedom is not granted to Cilka: She is charged as a collaborator for sleeping with the enemy and sent to a Siberian prison camp. But did she really have a choice? And where do the lines of morality lie for Cilka, who was send to Auschwitz when she was still a child?

In Siberia, Cilka faces challenges both new and horribly familiar, including the unwanted attention of the guards. But when she meets a kind female doctor, Cilka is taken under her wing and begins to tend to the ill in the camp, struggling to care for them under brutal conditions.

Confronting death and terror daily, Cilka discovers a strength she never knew she had. And when she begins to tentatively form bonds and relationships in this harsh, new reality, Cilka finds that despite everything that has happened to her, there is room in her heart for love.

From child to woman, from woman to healer, Cilka's journey illuminates the resilience of the human spirit—and the will we have to survive.

My review:

Cilka's Journey is a harrowing true story of an extremely brave young woman.  Cilka did what she had to survive in the concentration camp then paid for her survival for the rest of her life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  As I read Cilka's Journey it was hard to believe she could even survive, let alone have the courage to help others.   I have not read The Tattooist of Auschwitz but I definitely plan to now.  The author did a lot of research for the book and brought the characters to life.  I appreciate the authors notes at the end.  This would make an excellent book club pick.  Definitely a 5 out of 5 stars.  

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and author of this book for a copy of this book for my honest review.

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center - Book Review

 Here is Amazon.com description of the book:

    From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel about courage, hope, and learning to love against all odds.

Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's a total pro at other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.

The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew―even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. And don’t forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...and it means risking it all―the only job she’s ever loved, and the hero she’s worked like hell to become.

Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt and healing tour-de-force about the strength of vulnerability, the nourishing magic of forgiveness, and the life-changing power of defining courage, at last, for yourself.

My review:

 This book tells the story of a strong woman with a painful past to overcome.  I was drawn into the story from the beginning. I loved seeing how Cassie was able to deal with her past while making a new and better future for herself.  This is a good book to read if you want something that is easy to get lost in, and looking for a happy ending. Just the type of book I needed to read at the time. 

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher of this book for a copy for my honest opinion.  5 out of 5 stars!!

A Mrs. Miracle Christmas by Debbie Macomber book review

Description of the book on Amazon.com:

Mrs. Miracle shows an ordinary family that they are blessed beyond belief in this uplifting holiday tale from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

As the holiday season begins, Laurel McCullough could use some good news. She and her husband, Zach, have been praying for a baby that seems more and more like an impossible dream, and they’ve had to move in with her beloved grandmother, Helen, who’s having trouble taking care of herself. But when Laurel contacts a local home-care organization for help, there are no caregivers available.

Then Mrs. Miracle appears at the door. No stranger to lending a helping hand to a family in need, Mrs. Miracle reveals herself to be nothing short of a godsend. Helen’s even convinced she’s an angel! And Laurel can’t help but notice that with Mrs. Miracle’s companionship, Helen is noticeably happier and more engaged, decorating the family Christmas tree and setting up the nativity. In the meantime, Laurel and Zach encounter curious signs, all pointing toward the arrival of a special baby.

As Christmas approaches, there appears to be even more to Mrs. Miracle than meets the eye. In a classic tale of Debbie Macomber’s signature seasonal magic, Laurel, Zach, and Helen experience a holiday of heavenly proportions.

My review:

I am a big fan of Debbie Macomber books and especially Mrs. Miracle.  This book was such a delightful read, a book to be read when you are in the mood for a joyous tale. What would Christmas be without a Mrs. Miracle story?  I hope Mrs. Miracle stories continue on year after year.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher of this book for my copy of this book for my honest review. A definite 5 stars!!

The Wife Between Us : Book review

My review:
A definite 5 Stars for The Wife Between Us!!   This book was a twisted thriller the whole way through.  I did not want to put the book down.  Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book for my honest review.

The description of the book from Amazon.com:

When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.

You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.
You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love.
You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.
Assume nothing.

Twisted and deliciously chilling, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.

Read between the lies.

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain book review

I have been a big fan of Diane Chamberlain for a long time and this book did not disappoint.  I did not intend to, but I spent the entire weekend reading this book.  I loved both of the stories of Morgan Christopher and Anna Dale and I did not want to put down the book until I found out what happened to Anna Dale and why the mural was never finished.  The ending was a complete surprise for me.
  I would highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars!!  Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion.

Here is the description of the book from Amazon:

North Carolina, 2018: Morgan Christopher's life has been derailed. Taking the fall for a crime she did not commit, she finds herself serving a three-year stint in the North Carolina Women's Correctional Center. Her dream of a career in art is put on hold—until a mysterious visitor makes her an offer that will see her released immediately. Her assignment: restore an old post office mural in a sleepy southern town. Morgan knows nothing about art restoration, but desperate to leave prison, she accepts. What she finds under the layers of grime is a painting that tells the story of madness, violence, and a conspiracy of small town secrets.

North Carolina, 1940: Anna Dale, an artist from New Jersey, wins a national contest to paint a mural for the post office in Edenton, North Carolina. Alone in the world and desperate for work, she accepts. But what she doesn't expect is to find herself immersed in a town where prejudices run deep, where people are hiding secrets behind closed doors, and where the price of being different might just end in murder.

What happened to Anna Dale? Are the clues hidden in the decrepit mural? Can Morgan overcome her own demons to discover what exists beneath the layers of lies?

N.

Book Review: Big Nate Welcome to My World By Lincoln Peirce

Here is Amazon's description of the book:

Join Big Nate and his classmates Gina, Artur, Francis, Jenny, and Teddy, as they navigate the halls of P.S. 38. One thing's for sure: Nate is definitely not the teacher's pet!

Nate Wright’s life is just like his locker--it’s full of surprises.  The monstrous Mrs. Godfrey springs a pop quiz on Nate AND his grandparents.  His horoscope predicts bad news for Nate’s soccer career.  And worst of all, he’s forced to cut back on his beloved Cheez Doodles.  It’s enough to drive any kid crazy.  Luckily, Nate’s not just any kid.  He’s the ultimate sixth-grade survivor.  When everything’s falling apart, he finds a way to hold it together … but nobody said it would be easy.  Welcome to the world of Big Nate!

My Review:

My son and I have read almost all of the Big Nate Books and look forward to each new edition.  We particularly liked the part were Nate's grandparents toured his school. This Nate series has made my son enjoy reading.  This is a book you will want to add to your children's collection. I rate this book a 5 out of 5!  Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest opinion.

Nickie

Book Review: Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood

 From the very beginning I felt so many emotions while reading this book. The beginning of the story takes place in 1969 when husbands basically ruled the house and children with disabilities were raised in institutions not in the home. At the birth of Ginny's baby and how the husband and father-in-law handled the situation, my heart was breaking for Ginny.  Keeping Lucy is a heartbreaking story of a mother's love and the obstacles she has to overcome for her daughter.  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!!  You will not be able to read this book and be able to forget it anytime soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest opinion. 

Here is Amazon's description of the book:

PopSugar's 30 Must-Read Books of 2019 
Good Housekeeping's 25 Best New Books for Summer 2019
Better Homes & Gardens 13 New Books We Can't Wait to Read This Summer

The heartbreaking and uplifting story, inspired by true events, of how far one mother must go to protect her daughter.

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

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

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

Based on incredible true events, Keeping Lucy is the searing, heartfelt, and breathtaking story of just how far a mother’s love can take her.

"It's never too late to look Great" by Maggie Cox book review

Since being over my 50's and my body changing shape I have read many books on fashion on what to wear and what not to wear.  I have found each book offers some insight that I haven't heard before and can learn from.  I liked that "It's never too late to look great!" by Maggie Cox suggested to be true to yourself. 

The book is definitely worth a read for the many tips to find your unique look.  The many tips help its reader to not give up and look frumpy just because they are older.  It suggests to look in the mirror, figure out who you are now and how you want to look.  Really made clothes shopping more fun for me. I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars.  Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

Here is the description of the book from Netgalley:

Description

It’s Never Too Late to Look Great! does something the fashion industry is frightened to do. It shows how women over 50 - and beyond - don’t have to be invisible when their faces and figures are less than perfect. This style guide shows how  to dress with panache, and open the door to a world of new opportunities, confidence and happiness. 

If you’ve ever seen some grey hairs in the mirror and said, ‘I don’t know what to wear any more’, this is the book for you. Maggie identifies the four qualities that make style: Surprise, True to yourself, Artistry and Reinvention.   Follow these and you will become a style S.T.A.R. 

Older women are now fitter and more active than ever. Many of them want to keep looking stylish, but find themselves ignored by a fashion industry whose public image is often a pouting, skinny 20-year old. Maggie Cox’s book is for them. It shows that fun begins at 50 and can last as long as you want it to. 

And Then You Were Gone by R.J. Jacobs- Book Review

"And Then You Were Gone"  by R.J. Jacobs was the prefect book to read when I wanted a little bit of the unknown.  This book kept me guessing what was going to happen next, which character to trust and definitely what the ending was going to be!  Unfortunately for me I was not able to read the book in one sitting, but when I did get to continue the book I was able to pick right back up where I left off.  I liked that the main character had a mental illness that kept her and others questioning her story.  The reason behind Paolo's disappearance and the murders was a good story. Overall I would definitely recommend this book 4 out of 5 stars! Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my copy of this book for my honest opinion.

Here is Amazon.com's description of the book:

For fans of B. A. Paris and Mary Kubica comes a propulsive, twisting psychological thriller that asks, How can you save someone else if you can’t save yourself?

After years of learning how to manage her bipolar disorder, Emily Firestone finally has it under control. Even better, her life is coming together: she’s got a great job, her own place, and a boyfriend, Paolo, who adores her. So when Paolo suggests a weekend sailing trip, Emily agrees―wine, water, and the man she loves? What could be better? But when Emily wakes the morning after they set sail, the boat is still adrift…and Paolo is gone.

A strong swimmer, there’s no way Paolo drowned, but Emily is at a loss for any other explanation. Where else could he have gone? And why? As the hours and days pass by, each moment marking Paolo’s disappearance, Emily’s hard-won stability begins to slip.

But when Emily uncovers evidence suggesting Paolo was murdered, the investigation throws her mania into overdrive, even as she becomes a person of interest in her own personal tragedy. To clear her name, Emily must find the truth―but can she hold onto her own sanity in the process?

The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey, Book Review

 
   I really enjoyed reading this book!! The girls personalities reminded me of the girls from one of my favorite shows "The Midwifes".  What started out as a search for one of the girls fiancee that is declared missing in World War 2 turned into a life changing adventure for each of the girls and the lives they touched.  The author Jane Healey really described each of the characters so well she had me worried and cheering for each of them.

This would make a great movie or series!!!  I would love to find out how the girls lives continued after the war.  5 stars!!!!!  Thank you to Netgalley and the Author and Publisher of this book for my free copy for my honest review.

Here is the description of the book from Amazon:

A novel of love, courage, and danger unfolds as World War II’s brightest heroines—the best of friends—take on the front lines.

1944: Fiona Denning has her entire future planned out. She’ll work in city hall, marry her fiancé when he returns from the war, and settle down in the Boston suburbs. But when her fiancé is reported missing after being shot down in Germany, Fiona’s long-held plans are shattered.

Determined to learn her fiancé’s fate, Fiona leaves Boston to volunteer overseas as a Red Cross Clubmobile girl, recruiting her two best friends to come along. There’s the outspoken Viviana, who is more than happy to quit her secretarial job for a taste of adventure. Then there’s Dottie, a shy music teacher whose melodious talents are sure to bring heart and hope to the boys on the front lines.

Chosen for their inner strength and outer charm, the trio isn’t prepared for the daunting challenges of war. But through it all come new friendships and romances, unforeseen dangers, and unexpected dreams. As the three friends begin to understand the real reasons they all came to the front, their courage and camaraderie will see them through some of the best and worst times of their lives.

The Girls at 17 Swann Street written by Yara Zgheib Book Review

     Today is publication day for the book "The Girls at 17 Swann Street".  I just finished this book and had a very hard time putting it down.  The book is a hard and descriptive look at Anna's fight with anorexia and depression. Anna goes to 17 Swann Street for inpatient treatment where she meets other girls dealing with eating disorders.  Reading the stories of the other girls and their struggles with eating and how Anna rationalized giving up food and then her obvious struggle to gain some weight, really helped me to understand how easy it is to get the disease and how hard to overcome it. This is a very thought provoking book and would make a great book club selection. I definitely rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.  Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

Here is Amazon's description of the book-

The chocolate went first, then the cheese, the fries, the ice cream. The bread was more difficult, but if she could just lose a little more weight, perhaps she would make the soloists’ list. Perhaps if she were lighter, danced better, tried harder, she would be good enough. Perhaps if she just ran for one more mile, lost just one more pound.

Anna Roux was a professional dancer who followed the man of her dreams from Paris to Missouri. There, alone with her biggest fears – imperfection, failure, loneliness – she spirals down anorexia and depression till she weighs a mere eighty-eight pounds. Forced to seek treatment, she is admitted as a patient at 17 Swann Street, a peach pink house where pale, fragile women with life-threatening eating disorders live. Women like Emm, the veteran; quiet Valerie; Julia, always hungry. Together, they must fight their diseases and face six meals a day.

Every bite causes anxiety. Every flavor induces guilt. And every step Anna takes toward recovery will require strength, endurance, and the support of the girls at 17 Swann Street.

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain Book Review

   I have read most of Diane Chamberlain's books.  I was looking forward to reading "The Dream Daughter" but when I started reading it and it involved time travel I didn't think I would enjoy it.  But I think this is one of her best yet.  The book really made me think how I would handle some of the situations the main character Carly Sears had to get through. She was much more brave than I think I could ever be.  This is a great book club book, there will be a lot of discussion revolving this book.  Definitely a 5 out of 5 stars!!  Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher of this book for my ARC copy for honest review.

Here is Amazon's description of the book:

When Carly Sears, a young woman widowed by the Vietnam war, receives the news that her unborn baby girl has a heart defect, she is devastated. It is 1970, and she is told that nothing can be done to help her child. But her brother-in-law, a physicist with a mysterious past, tells her that perhaps there is a way to save her baby. What he suggests is something that will shatter every preconceived notion that Carly has. Something that will require a kind of strength and courage she never knew existed. Something that will mean an unimaginable leap of faith on Carly's part.

And all for the love of her unborn child.

The Dream Daughter is a rich, genre-spanning, breathtaking novel about one mother's quest to save her child, unite her family, and believe in the unbelievable. Diane Chamberlain pushes the boundaries of faith and science to deliver a novel that you will never forget.

We Never Asked For Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh Book Review

After reading the book The Language of Flowers, I was really looking forward to reading Vanessa Diffenbaugh's book We Never Asked for Wings. This book was definitely worth the wait. I highly recommend this book. The family had some hard struggles to overcome and I found myself cheering for the family and wanting to continue to read to find out how it would end. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for review. A 4 out of 5!

Here is Amazon's description of the book:

From the beloved New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers comes her much-anticipated new novel about young love, hard choices, and hope against all odds. For fourteen years, Letty Espinosa has worked three jobs around San Francisco to make ends meet while her mother raised her children—Alex, fifteen, and Luna, just six—in their tiny apartment on a forgotten spit of wetlands near the bay. But now Letty’s parents are returning to Mexico, and Letty must step up and become a mother for the first time in her life. Navigating this new terrain is challenging for Letty, especially as Luna desperately misses her grandparents and Alex, who is falling in love with a classmate, is unwilling to give his mother a chance. Letty comes up with a plan to help the family escape the dangerous neighborhood and heartbreaking injustice that have marked their lives, but one wrong move could jeopardize everything she’s worked for and her family’s fragile hopes for the future.