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.