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Books:
marilyn-s-challenge
(825)
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| 9780840716736
| B0CB1T8HN4
| 4.02
| 2,599
| unknown
| May 14, 2024
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really liked it
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Loyally, Luke was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Pepper Basham. When I first learned that I had been approved to listen to the a
Loyally, Luke was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Pepper Basham. When I first learned that I had been approved to listen to the audiobook of Loyally, Luke, I was not aware that it was the last book in the Skymar series. I did not feel that I was at a disadvantage, though. Loyally, Luke can definitely be read as a stand-alone book. It was the kind of book that put a big smile on my face and made me laugh out loud at times. I loved the characters and was so glad that it ended with a happily ever after ending for Luke. I listened to the audiobook of Loyally, Luke that was very well narrated by a full compliment of narrators. Luke Edgewood was an all around good guy. The two things that Luke would have had a hard time living without were his flannel shirts and his cups of coffee. It was no surprise then, that Luke found himself in the coffee shop after he arrived at Skymar Island. The thing Luke never expected though was to lay his eyes on a woman who looked like the spitting image of Grace Kelly only with blonde hair. The other thing Luke didn’t expect was for his coffee cup to collide with “Grace Kelly’s�. What a disaster! Oh well, Luke realized that he would never see her again. No harm done! He apologized and proceeded to meet the driver that would take him to the construction jobs that he was to bid on. There was a renovation of an orphanage and a cabin that Luke hoped to lend a hand in restoring. It was not surprising that Luke was hired for both the orphanage project and the cabin renovation. What was surprising was that the first day on the job at the orphanage, Luke was introduced to the interior designer for the orphanage. She was no other than the “Grace Kelly� look alike from the coffee shop. There she was right before Luke’s eyes! I just knew that romance was sure to come but there were other surprises that I wasn’t expecting. Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham was a feel good book. I adored the characters and was more than satisfied with the ending. Even though I had not read the previous two books in this delightful series, I feel that I got a good sense of who Penelope and Izzy were and the relationship they had with Luke. At some point. I hope to go back and read the first two books in this series. I certainly will be watching for more books by Pepper Basham in the future. If you enjoy reading romance books then I highly recommend this book. Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Loyally, Luke by Pepper Basham through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Apr 18, 2024
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Audiobook
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| B0DVFD5D1X
| 3.78
| 4,448
| Nov 11, 2024
| 2024
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really liked it
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I Think I Was Murdered was the second book that I had the pleasure of reading/listening to by authors Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. Their writing styl
I Think I Was Murdered was the second book that I had the pleasure of reading/listening to by authors Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. Their writing styles complement each other’s so well. It was impossible to distinguish who wrote what. I Think I Was Murdered was a gripping murder mystery with strong undertones of the world of AI. The audiobook was well narrated by Karen Peakes. She was able to easily distinguish between the voices of the characters in I Think I Was Murdered. It was fast paced with unexpected twists and turns. I was surprised yet satisfied with the ending. Katrina Berg was at the height of her career and enjoying her life when everything came crashing apart. She had recently become a widow at a very young age. Her husband, Jason, had died in a car crash. Katrina was having a hard time dealing with her grief. She worked at an A I Chatbot startup company as a lawyer. Katrina convinced the company to make a chatbot for her with Jason’s voice. For the last six months, there was not a day that Katrina did not communicate with her dead husband. The chatbot kept Jason alive for Katrina. Then to add to her troubles, the CEO of the company that she worked at, Talk Inc., was being indicted by the FBI. For the time being, Katrina was told to vacate her office but she needed to be available when the FBI needed to question her. Bad things usually come in three’s and Katrina was about to receive the most devastating news yet. Her beloved grandmother, her Bestemor, was dying. Would she be able to reach her childhood home in Northern California in the Redwoods in time to say goodbye? By the time Katrina reached her childhood home, she was too late. Her Bestemor had already died. Katrina felt numb. She had been very close with her grandmother and she would miss her presence in her life. Katrina’s loss brought her in contact with an old friend from high school, Seb Wallace, who had also returned to their childhood town to help with the care of his father who had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Seb owned a successful restaurant in town. Then a few things occurred. When her grandmother’s Will was read, Katrina learned that she had been left her grandmother’s Norwegian Waffle restaurant and dwelling. The other thing that happened was that one day while Katrina conversed with her dead husband on the chatbot, she asked him to tell her something she didn’t know yet. Her husband responded that he thought he was murdered. Katrina having recently reconnected with Seb, sought out his help at trying to uncover what it all meant. Was Katrina in danger? Could Katrina and Seb discover what really happened to Jason? Why would someone want to murder Katrina’s husband? I really enjoyed the AI aspects in I Think I Was Murdered. Even though it was a little creepy to think that someone can be kept alive in this way, I also found it fascinating. The pacing of this book was just right and the characters were very well developed. I really enjoyed how Katrina and Seb found their way back to each other and the romance that ensued. If you enjoy a good mystery mixed with creative technology then I highly recommend this book to you. I can’t wait to read the next book these authors write together. Thank you to HarperCollins Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 13, 2024
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Dec 16, 2024
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Apr 17, 2024
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Audiobook
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| B0CYCMT8XS
| 4.28
| 5,218
| Jan 07, 2025
| Jan 07, 2025
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really liked it
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Review to follow.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 21, 2025
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Feb 09, 2025
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Apr 10, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| B0CB1VRW4B
| 4.20
| 239
| unknown
| May 07, 2024
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really liked it
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The Proposal Plot was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Kathleen Fuller. Over the last few years I have found myself drawn
The Proposal Plot was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Kathleen Fuller. Over the last few years I have found myself drawn more and more to books that had to do with the Amish community. I was impressed with Kathleen Fuller’s ability to create very relatable characters that by themselves possessed flaws, different backgrounds, and problems but collectively were easily adaptable to making The Proposal Plot work for me. It had some funny, laugh out loud moments as well as some that made me want to jump into the story and shake a character or two. I enjoyed reading about the quaint and simple life of the Amish and Kathleen Fuller was able to capture their essence in The Proposal Plot. It was paced just right, had enough drama, confrontations, decision making and choices throughout to make The Proposal Plot a very satisfying read for me. Nelson Bontrager, a young Amish man, was down in his luck when it came to the romance department. He had recently found himself head over heels in love with two different women over a short period of time. Nelson had found himself rejected by both women for different reasons but the disappointment and hurt was the same. All Nelson had ever wanted was to be able to find a woman that wanted to marry him. He then saw himself working on the family farm. Nelson was so distraught after the second rejection that he made himself a promise to swear off women, romance and marriage altogether. An opportunity arose where Nelson was taught how to become a butcher. He embraced the opportunity and discovered that he was very good at it. Nelson was at the point where he was exploring the possibility of opening his own shop. He learned that an abandoned warehouse was available in a place called Marigold, Ohio. Nelson had family close by so he made arrangements to see the property. His nephew, Malachi, accompanied him. The warehouse that Nelson was interested in was right next door to the E and J grocery store that was owned by Ella’s and Junia’s father, Barnabas Yoder. Ella’s and Junia’s mother had died a few years ago and Ella had talked her father into moving to Marigold, Ohio and purchasing the grocery store. The store was doing fairly well. Ella seemed to have a good sense of how to manage the store and make it profitable. She had began coaxing her father to consider buying the warehouse to expand their business. When Ella discovered that someone else was interested in buying the warehouse her first reaction was to try and discourage the sale. Ella seemed to know no boundaries. She barged into the warehouse, invaded Nelson’s space and proceeded to try and talk him out of buying the warehouse. Needless to say, Ella and Nelson got off to a very shaky and turbulent start. They could not have made a worse first impression on each other if they had tried. The opposite was true of Nelson’s nephew and Ella’s younger sister, Junia. When Junia came to the warehouse to get Ella, she was immediately smitten with Malachi and he with her. Despite all of Ella’s efforts to persuade Nelson that he shouldn’t buy the warehouse, he ended up purchasing it. Even though Ella and Nelson went out of their way to avoid each other, they were continually thrown together. Can first impressions be wrong and altered? How will Ella and Nelson learn how to navigate this new path they were traveling on? I enjoyed how Ella’s and Nelson’s characters transformed and grew throughout The Proposal Plot. Ella started off as a very bossy, opinionated and impulsive young woman with a low self esteem when it came to her chances of finding a man that could love her. She was very smart and adapted to the role of running a business easily. Nelson, on the other hand, had built so many walls around him so he would not be hurt again. He was not sure how to go about starting a business and was not readily able to seek help. Ella’s sister, Junia, was lazy, spoiled and tried to get away with doing the least amount of work she could get away with. She was always shirking her responsibilities and putting more of her share of the work load on Ella’s shoulders. Both sisters felt a lot of resentment towards each other. They were constantly complaining about each other and arguing over everything. Their dad, Barnabas, lacked the ability to handle their outbursts and strained relationship. After loosing his wife and becoming a widower, Barnabas lost sight how to discipline his own daughters. Barnabas had entrusted those responsibilities to his sisters for a long while. After his wife’s death, he and his daughters had moved in with Barnabas’s sisters and he allowed them to take charge of his daughters. Now that Barnabas and his daughters were on their own again he knew that he had to take charge, but how? Who could help him learn how to step into that role again? There was another character that I really liked in The Proposal Plot. Her name was Wendy. She was not Amish. Wendy had been living in New York City where she had been an attorney in a high powered law office. When Wendy’s aging mother needed more care, it was the perfect opportunity for Wendy to leave New York City and her affluent clients behind. Wendy was becoming disillusioned with her own life as she knew it. She moved in with her mother and opened her own office right outside of Marigold. Would Wendy find happiness in Marigold? Could she embrace the life her Amish neighbors lived as her own? Was romance in the cards for Wendy as well? I really enjoyed getting to know the people of Marigold, Ohio. If you enjoy stories about the Amish people that possesses a touch of romance, then I believe that you will enjoy The Proposal Plot by Kathleen Fuller. I hope to read more books by her in the future. The audiobook that I listened to was very well narrated by Lauren Berst. I highly recommend the audiobook of The Proposal Plot. Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Proposal Plot An Amish of Marigold Novel by Kathleen Fuller through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 09, 2024
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Jun 11, 2024
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Apr 09, 2024
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Audiobook
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| 1250283620
| 9781250283627
| B0CQHMY13C
| 3.92
| 6,329
| Sep 24, 2024
| Sep 24, 2024
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really liked it
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Over the past several years, I have come to depend on Pamela M. Kelley as being an author that is capable of delivering feel good books. Her books hav
Over the past several years, I have come to depend on Pamela M. Kelley as being an author that is capable of delivering feel good books. Her books have managed to touch many of my emotions. The Christmas Inn: A Novel was another such book for me. It was the fourth book that I have read by her. I always enjoy the way Pamela M. Kelley includes characters from previous books into her newest novel. She had previously introduced the owner of the bookstore and the person who ran the coffee shop and managed to give them cameo appearances in The Christmas Inn. The setting for The Christmas Inn was Chatham on Cape Cod right before the Christmas holiday and during it as well. It takes place mostly at the Chatham Coastal Inn, a local B&B. Riley Saunders grew up in Chatham. She always dreamed of leaving Chatham to go to college and then moving to New York where she would live and work. Her dreams came true! She left behind her high school boyfriend, Aiden, who had always hoped he and Riley would marry and settle in Chatham. That was not what Riley had been prepared to do, though. Riley loved living in New York City. She loved her apartment, and her job at a big marketing firm. She had a long term relationship with her boyfriend, Jack, who was on the track of becoming a partner in the prestigious law firm that he worked for. Riley lived in her apartment with her loyal little dog. This was the life Riley dreamed about when she was younger and she was living it now. On an ordinary work day, Riley and her whole team were called together to find out that they were being replaced by AI. What a terrible time to be let go! It was just weeks before Christmas. Riley took her disappointment in stride, though, especially when she found out from her sister, Amy, that her mother had recently broken her leg. Riley planned to drive to Chatham to help her mother with the Chatham Coastal Inn that her mom owned. When Riley’s mom and dad divorced, Riley’s mom, Beth, acted on her dream of always wanting to own and run a B&B. She bought and restored the building and made it into the Chatham Coastal Inn. Beth was having difficulty performing all of her responsibilities at the Inn with her broken leg. Riley’s sister, Amy, who lived locally, was helping but she had a family of her own to take care of. Riley was more than happy to return to Chatham for a couple of weeks to help her mom out. According to her mom, bookings had been dropping recently. Beth hoped that Riley might also be able to help generate more reservations at the Inn by using her marketing experience. When Riley arrived in Chatham, she was glad to be back. She did not get home that often so she was looking forward to seeing her sister and her nieces and spending time at the Inn. Riley soon learned that her high school boyfriend, Aiden, was a guest at the Inn. Aiden had been married but his wife had died about three years ago. A pipe had burst at his home, so while the repairs were being performed, Aiden and his young son, Luke, were staying at the Inn. How would Riley feel about seeing Aiden again? There would be no way to avoid running into him. In addition to Aiden and his son, Luke, an older woman named Franny was also a guest at the Inn. Franny’s beloved sister had just recently died. The two sisters had grown up in Chatham but when Franny got married she had moved to Albany and had lived there all her adult life, even after her husband had passed. She had made a life in Albany and only returned to Chatham for occasional visits. Franny’s sister had left her home to Franny and several envelopes with instructions to open one at a time in the order they were numbered. What will the content of the envelopes reveal? How will it affect Franny? How will Riley react seeing Aiden again after all this time apart? Will Riley be able to help Beth boost the reservations at the Inn? The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley was such a feel good story. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker. It was about family, home, second chances, loss, grief, making decisions, friendships, pleasing others and making crucial choices. I am a big fan of the books that Pamela M. Kelley has written. I look forward to reading many more books by her. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Christmas Inn by Pamela M. Kelley through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 23, 2024
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Oct 02, 2024
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Apr 01, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0840711999
| 9780840711991
| B0CMQ957DL
| 4.12
| 2,714
| Jul 02, 2024
| Jul 02, 2024
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it was amazing
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4.5 thrilling mysterious stars for What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. Sometimes co-authored books work and sometimes they don’t. This one w
4.5 thrilling mysterious stars for What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. Sometimes co-authored books work and sometimes they don’t. This one was brilliant! Both Colleen Coble and Rick Acker brought their distinct styles together as they collaborated on writing this book. What We Hide was a romantic suspense mystery that included courtroom scenes and a fair share of legal battles. I listened to the audiobook of What We Hide that was narrated very well by Karen Peakes. It was fast paced, well written and quite suspenseful. What We Hide took place on the Alabama coast in a place called Pelican Harbor. Savannah Webster had recently returned to Tupelo Grove University in Pelican Harbor, Alabama as a history professor. Jess, Savannah’s sister, was the CEO of the University. Both sisters had a strong attachment to the university since it had been started by their family. They both wanted the university to prosper and succeed. Savannah had recently separated from her husband, Hezekiah or Hez as most people called him. They had separated after their two year old daughter, Ella, had tragically died by drowning. Hez had had a really hard time coming to terms with his daughter’s death. He turned to alcohol and pills to block the memories and pain that he felt. Hez pushed Savannah away. For all intents and purposes, Hez had vanished from Savannah’s life for the past two years. Savannah was trying to move forward with her life when Hez suddenly showed up in her office one day. He had finally stopped drinking and taking pills. Hez had cleaned up his life. Did Savannah and Hez still have feelings for one another? Savannah was so hurt by Hez’s actions after their daughter died that she doesn’t know if she was able to trust him not to hurt her all over again. Coinciding with Hez’s return to Savannah’s life, Savannah discovered that pre-Colombian artifacts were being stolen from the University and the President of the had been murdered by someone. The authorities that were investigating the murder had named Savannah as a very likely suspect. Savannah asked Hez to represent her in these legal charges. When Jess intervened suspicion fell on Jess. Savannah pleaded with Hez to represent Jess in her legal defense. It was apparent that Jess was harboring secrets. Would Hez be able to unravel all the mysterious things that were occurring at the university and prove that neither Savannah nor Jess had any part in them before one or both of them were charged for the crimes? What We Hide was the first book in the Tupelo Grove series and boy was it a great introduction. There were so many twists, turns and secrets throughout the book. It was told from the POV of Savannah, Hez and third unknown person. The ending was fabulous! What We Hide concluded with a masterful cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series now. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing/ Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 27, 2024
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Aug 2024
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Mar 28, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0369747887
| 9780369747884
| B0CC9M55RM
| 4.07
| 1,491
| Jun 25, 2024
| Jun 25, 2024
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really liked it
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I was excited to read Karen Robards� newest book, Some Murders in Berlin. I had previously read The Black Swan of Paris and The Girl from Guernica by
I was excited to read Karen Robards� newest book, Some Murders in Berlin. I had previously read The Black Swan of Paris and The Girl from Guernica by her and had been impressed with her writing and plot development in both of those books. Some Murders in Berlin definitely lived up to my expectations. It was fast paced, filled with tension and was action packed. It was set in Berlin, Germany during World War II and examined a very unique situation that was occurring in the city. I would describe Some Murders in Berlin as a World War II historical fiction murder mystery thriller. A serial killer had made their presence known in Berlin and had already killed eight young Aryan women in much the same way. The German government was trying to prevent the public from finding out about these horrific killings. They needed the German men to continue fighting for the Nazis. If German husbands, sons or brothers were made aware that a serial killer existed and was still loose on the streets, those men would probably want to return home to protect their wives, mothers, sisters and daughters. That was something that the Nazis wanted to avoid at all costs. The Nazis had their best personnel working on this case but so far they had not been able to stop the killings or identify the killer. They needed help. Shortly after the Nazis took control of Denmark, Dr. Elin Lund was summoned to Berlin. Dr. Elin Lund was a well respected psychological profiler. Many referred to Elin as “The Murder Doctor �. In September of 1943, Elin dropped her young son off with her late husband’s family and boarded a train headed for Berlin. Elin usually worked alone but this time she was accompanied by two academic colleagues of hers who were also members of the Danish Resistance. Both Pia and Jens needed an escape route from Copenhagen. They were in danger of being caught by the Nazis for the acts they carried out for the resistance. Pia was a photographer and was able to sketch portraits from verbal descriptions given by witnesses. Jens was a brilliant mathematician. Beside wanting to help them escape from Denmark, Elin knew their expertise would prove valuable in helping her solve the case. Elin was not thrilled about going to Berlin. The last time that she was there, Elin had been a young girl. She had accompanied her parents to Berlin. Her father was scheduled to speak at a conference in Berlin. Elin’s father had been a well known and respected police detective. The day her father was speaking, Elin and her mother spent the day together. That was the worst day of Elin’s life. Her mother had tragically died in a hit and run accident as her mother started to cross a road. The car came out of nowhere and hit her mother head on and then sped away. Elin had witnessed the entire incident. She had not been back to Berlin since that tragic day. When Elin, Pia and Jens arrived in Berlin, they were introduced to Kriminalinspektor Kurt Schneider, the head of the criminal police and in charge of the case Elin would be working on. Kurt Schneider was far from welcoming. He probably resented that Dr. Elin Lund had been brought in on this case. The two were forced to work together. Kriminalinspektor Schneider informed Elin that she always had to be aware of who was listening when she wanted to convey something. Phones were tapped and listening devices were planted everywhere. As Elin began to build a psychological profile of the killer, she suspected that the killer had ties to the police department, had a troubled childhood that included violence, was fluent in Kurrent, a distinct way of writing and reading German and had type A blood. As Kurt and Elin explored all the leads and clues they gathered, they started to develop respect for one another. That eventually led them to develop feelings for one another. There was more to Kurt than Elin had suspected at first. The more Elin got to know Kurt, the more she began to understand him and like him. Kurt became very protective of Elin once the killer set his sights on her. Real danger awaited both of them around every corner. Elin’s main goal was to identify and catch the killer as quickly as possible so she could return to Denmark and to her young son. She missed him dearly and worried about his safety. Would Kurt and Elin be able to put the pieces of the puzzle together and discover who the killer was before the killer struck again? I really enjoyed reading this riveting historical fiction murder mystery book by Karen Robards. Some Murders in Berlin was full of twists. Many of the characters were harboring secrets, including Elin and Kurt. Karen Robards included many high profile Nazis in the book, explored the existence of German nightclubs which often played music that was forbidden by the Nazis and took a close look at the Lebensborn society and the Black Orchestra, a small group of Nazis who were secretly sympathetic to the welfare of the Jewish people and helped them escape. i couldn’t read Some Murders in Berlin fast enough to see what was going to happen next. It was the kind of story that put me at the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. I highly recommend it if you enjoy a good mystery that was set in Nazi Germany during World War II. Thank you to Harlequin/ MIRA Publishing for allowing me to read Some Murders in Berlin by Karen Robards through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 05, 2024
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Jul 14, 2024
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Mar 28, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0840716664
| 9780840716668
| B0CD3Q81S4
| 4.14
| 2,596
| Mar 12, 2024
| Mar 12, 2024
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really liked it
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Love, Unscripted was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Denise Hunter. The alluring cover drew me in initially but as soon a
Love, Unscripted was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Denise Hunter. The alluring cover drew me in initially but as soon as I started listening to the audiobook I was hooked. Love, Scripted was set in a small southern town called Stillwater in the state of North Carolina. Stillwater was the kind of town where everyone knew one another and gossip traveled fast. I enjoyed Denise Hunter’s writing style and her choice of characters that made their appearances in Love, Unscripted. The audiobook was very well narrated by Kathleen McInerney. She made it easy for me to visualize the story as it unfolded before my eyes. Chloe Anderson had grown up and lived in Stillwater, North Carolina her whole life. Her mom, stepdad and brother also lived there. Chloe’s mom owned a restaurant in town that Chloe and her brother helped run. Fairly recently, Chloe had authored her first book. It was a romance and it had sold pretty well. The idea for the book came to Chloe shortly after she experienced a pretty bad breakup. Chloe used the book to create a prototype for the perfect boyfriend. The book had sold well and was now being made into a movie. Chloe knew that careful consideration had to be given to the selection of which actors and actresses were to be chosen to play the characters in her book. Each role had to be casted well to make that character believable. The role of the boyfriend was probably the most crucial role in the entire movie. Whoever was chosen to play that part had to fit with the characteristics that Chloe had created for him. The one actor Chloe definitely did not want to play that role was Liam Hamilton. Although Liam Hamilton was a good actor, very popular and quite handsome, he was completely wrong for that role in Chloe’s mind. Liam Hamilton was a womanizer, a player, everything that her character was not. As Chloe was telling these thoughts to her best friend in her bookshop that she owned, Chloe received a phone call from the producer of the movie. Chloe’s worst scenario was about to come to fruition. The producer of the movie informed Chloe that Liam Hamilton had been cast as the leading role in the movie. Chloe was angry, frustrated and disappointed. She let the producer know her feelings loud and clear. Little had Chloe realized that the producer had her on speakerphone and that Liam Hamilton had heard most of her irate comments. Although Chloe had meant everything that she said she was also embarrassed that Liam Hamilton had heard her voice them loud and clear. A few days later, about a week before production of the movie was scheduled to begin, Liam arrived in Stillwater. Liam’s reputation had begun to affect his ratings and popularity. He and his agent had devised a plan to help rectify it. The plan hinged on Chloe buying into it, though. When Liam spotted Chloe by a clothing store, he approached her. Chloe immediately apologized to Liam for her behavior on the phone. Liam suggested that they make a deal to “fake date� while the movie was being filmed. His agent believed that if Liam’s fans believed that Liam was in a committed relationship with such a wholesome woman as Chloe Anderson, his ratings would soar again. This arrangement might even help Chloe’s social media status. Chloe and Liam decided to give it a chance. What would happen? Could they pull “fake dating� off? Would Liam do the movie justice in his role of the “perfect boyfriend? What would Liam and Chloe learn through the process? Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter was humorous, sad, romantic and even downright frustrating at times. I really enjoyed both the characters of Chloe and Liam. I felt myself rooting for them. Certain topics were explored in Love, Unscripted. They included a dependency on alcohol to make troubles disappear, divorce, abandonment, bigotry, the need for communication and trust in a relationship, the act of forgiveness, being in denial of the truth, the importance of family and following the heart. I have come to enjoy books that are set in the south and permeate all the charm that the south brings with it. Love, Unscripted was a book that touched my emotions. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Love, Unscripted and recommend it highly. Thank you to HarperCollins Christian Publishing/Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 27, 2024
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Mar 29, 2024
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Mar 27, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 1493448072
| 9781493448074
| B0CTHRLRTC
| 4.47
| 1,359
| Nov 2024
| Nov 19, 2024
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it was amazing
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Over the years, I have had the opportunity to read several books that centered around biblical stories but included just enough fiction so that the st
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to read several books that centered around biblical stories but included just enough fiction so that the stories and characters were reimagined in a whole new way. That was what Tessa Afshar has done in The Queen’s Cook (Queen Esther’s Court #1). She has taken the familiar bible story of Queen Esther and Haman to another dimension. It was both captivating and fascinating. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed the elements of the mystery that were woven into the story. It was extremely well written. The Queen’s Cook took place in the ancient Persian Empire. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Rachel Botchan and Jonathan Todd Ross. The story drew me in immediately. I was hooked from the very beginning. Roxannah was the daughter of a once privileged Lord. Her father had fallen on hard times though. He often indulged in drinking now and more often took his frustrations out on her gentle mother. Roxannah had given up all hope of a good marriage prospect for herself. With her father’s downfall, Roxannah had no dowry to offer anyone suitable. Roxannah had accepted her fate. Then one night, her father came home hurt and was in need of a doctor. She was sent to get the Jewish doctor and bring him back to treat her father. When Roxannah located Adin, the very handsome physician, she was unnerved by the feelings she felt in his presence. Soon after meeting Adin, Roxannah learned about an edict that the king had passed pertaining to the Jewish people in Persia. She went to warn Adin about it and her father’s part in it. Roxannah’s father was determined to kill Adin and take all he had to pay off his debts. Things went terribly wrong that night and Adin was left with no choice but to kill Roxannah’s father. The guilt he felt for that act tortured Adin even though he was given no choice in what he was forced to do. After that, Roxannah found herself needing a job to support herself and her mother. She also had to pay back her father’s debts. Adin was able to help Roxannah get a position as an assistant’s assistant to the cook for Queen Esther. He was well acquainted with Queen Esther and he himself was the physician at the palace. Roxannah was excited and nervous about her new position. She knew that she had a lot to prove to the kitchen staff before they would accept her and recognize her talents. Roxannah was met with skepticism, negative reactions and ridicule. She and Adin often found themselves in the same room. A friendship slowly developed between them. Over time, Roxannah and Adin discovered a sinister plot that was aimed at the King’s first and most powerful wife, Queen Amestris. Adin and Roxannah worked together to uncover who was behind it. The romance that gradually grew between Roxannah and Adin was beautiful. Over time, Roxannah forged a bond and a strong relationship with Queen Esther as well and Roxannah’s culinary skills were given the chance to shine. I really enjoyed listening to The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar. Each chapter began with a biblical verse that pertained to the part of the story in that chapter. The characters were all very well developed and defined. I really enjoyed all the detailed descriptions of the food Roxannah and the kitchen staff prepared for the Queen. The Queen’s Cook examined adversity, trust, relationships, friendships, family, differences in religious beliefs and rituals, prejudice, acceptance, tolerance, respect, romance and greed. I am looking forward to the next book in this series and I highly recommend this one. Thank you to RB Media for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Queen’s Cook by Tessa Afshar through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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1
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Dec 09, 2024
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Dec 13, 2024
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Mar 26, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| B0CKLYBHGK
| 3.64
| 1,608
| Jul 09, 2024
| Jul 09, 2024
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really liked it
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Humor Me by Cat Shook was a captivating and funny book that explored a young woman’s life while she lived and worked in the heart of New York City. It
Humor Me by Cat Shook was a captivating and funny book that explored a young woman’s life while she lived and worked in the heart of New York City. It took place shortly after the death of her mother. Her grief was still raw, very difficult to talk about and dictated her all but nonexistent social life. Humor Me was character driven and was told in the first person POV of Presley Fry. I listened to the audiobook of Humor Me that was well narrated by Ferdelle Capistrano. This was my first time that I listened to an audiobook by this narrator. I enjoyed the performance very much. Presley Fry was a twenty-five year old woman who had recently lost her mother. Even though, Presley and her late mother had not always been close or had the most ideal relationship, Presley missed her presence in her life. Her mother had suffered from alcoholism and was often emotionally absent from Presley’s life but Presley missed her mother regardless. She found it difficult to talk about her mother’s death and how her mother’s death was affecting her thoughts and emotions. Presley lived in a small apartment that she shared with her best friend Izzy. The two had been college roommates and then just continued the same arrangement when they both moved to New York City and secured jobs. Presley had come to depend on Izzy to help her navigate her social life. If Presley had been left to her own devices, her social life would have been nonexistent. Izzy and Presley were best friends and relied on each other for almost everything. Presley worked as an assistant for a late-night comedy show. She loved her job and worked very hard at trying to impress her boss. Presley was trying to send the message that she was ready for a promotion. An assistant’s salary left a lot to be desired. Financially, Presley had to make sure that she was careful with her money. A promotion would improve her financial situation greatly. Presley had another best friend that worked with her. His name was Adam. Presley and Adam spent a great deal of time together both at work and outside of work. They spoke on the phone every night. Izzy and others constantly teased Presley that Adam had feelings for her. At first, Presley was adamant that she and Adam were just friends but at some point Presley started imagining what a relationship with Adam would look like. Perhaps they could be more than friends. She had to admit that she was developing feelings for Adam. Did Adam also have feelings for Presley? Presley allowed herself to picture a future with Adam in it. Would he feel the same way? Around this time, Presley was offered the additional opportunity of finding up and coming stand up comedians for the comedy show she worked for. She was really excited about this new responsibility. It allowed Presley to attend comedy shows and preview new talent. Presley was in her element when she was doing this. At about this time, Presley randomly ran into an old friend of her late mom’s. Susan Clark had grown up with Presley’s late mother. When Presley first arrived in New York City, it was Susan Clark’s husband that had helped Presley secure the job with the comedy show. Presley was aware that there were rumors about inappropriate behavior circulating around Susan’s husband but Presley was hesitant to bring the matter up. Susan was so glad to have run into Presley. She was determined to make Presley a friend even though there was such a big age difference. What evolved between Presley and Susan was really special. This new friendship was just what both Presley and Susan needed. Presley also found herself in the position of finding a new and exciting romantic connection with the most unexpected person. I really liked Presley’s character and admired the growth she showed throughout the book. Presley’s relationship with Adam proved to be a testament to Presley’s ability to stay true to her convictions and beliefs. I admired her for making her decision and sticking to it as hard as it probably was for her. The unlikely relationship that sprang up between Presley and Susan Clark was unexpected, fun and so special. If it was even possible, Izzy and Presley grew closer and more accepting of one another’s unique situations over the course of the story. They learned to support one another unconditionally and respect their choices. Humor Me was about friendships, ambition, mother/daughter relationships, acceptance and loss. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Humor Me by Cat Shook and recommend it highly. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to Humor Me by Cat Shook through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 23, 2024
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Jul 25, 2024
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Mar 26, 2024
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Audiobook
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| 1696614031
| 9781696614030
| 1696614031
| 4.16
| 13,975
| Apr 05, 2024
| Apr 05, 2024
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it was amazing
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Sipsworth was the first book that I have had the opportunity to read by Simon Van Booy. I was drawn to the cover immediately but I wasn’t sure how I f
Sipsworth was the first book that I have had the opportunity to read by Simon Van Booy. I was drawn to the cover immediately but I wasn’t sure how I felt about reading about a relationship between an older woman and a mouse. How silly of me! I soon discovered that this heartfelt story was so much more. It was written so beautifully and allowed me to feel the feelings of loss, discovery, sadness and hope. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated so well by Christine Rendel. I was so invested in the characters, the acts of love, and the changes in heart that I didn’t want Sipsworth to end. Helen Cartwright was an eighty something year old woman. She had moved from England to Australia as a young bride and never looked back. When Helen’s beloved husband died, though, and when her son died a senseless and premature death, Helen left Australia and returned to the home she had grew up in. It was located in England. Helen Cartwright had lost her will to live. She had returned home to England to wait for death to find her as well. She had lost all the reasons that were important to her to want to continue to live. All Helen Cartwright wanted was “to die quickly and without fuss�. Helen settled into a daily routine quickly. Her routine included taking her meals in front of the television where she watched the news in the morning and movies in the evening, venturing out to buy food and necessities, an occasional solitary walk and lots of naps. Helen was lonely and her existence was mundane. She often found herself reminiscing about memorable occasions in her past that included either her late husband or her son. One night, as Helen stood by the window, she observed her neighbor placing certain items of trash at the curb. Amongst the things her neighbor was getting rid of was an old aquarium. Inside the aquarium, Helen discovered a box and several children’s toys. These things spurred old memories that involved her son. Helen knew that she couldn’t let those things be carted away. Helen knew that she needed to save those things from being taken away by the garbage collectors. That night, Helen learned that beside the aquarium, box and children’s toys, she also inherited a little mouse. Over time, Helen and the mouse who became known as Sipsworth, learned to rely on one another in a way that I am quite certain Helen never imagined. Helen and Sipsworth found a way to wriggle themselves into each other’s hearts. One became dependent upon the other but in quite different ways. Ultimately, it became hard for both Helen and Sipsworth to imagine a life without the other. Sipsworth was so profound on so many different levels. As a person ages and looses the people they love and care about, their outlook on life can and often changes as it did with Helen Cartwright. Sipsworth came into Helen’s life for a reason. For others like Helen Cartwright, dormant feelings need to be sparked to give them a reason to want to continue living. Everyone needs something or someone to inspire them to want to live. For Helen Cartwright, it was Sipsworth. I really enjoyed getting to know the character of Helen Cartwright. Her unique idiosyncrasies were welcomed, appreciated and enjoyed. Sipsworth packed a lot into its short length. It was most delightful, funny at times, sad at other times and quite relatable. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy and highly recommend it. Thank you to HighBridge Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy through Netgalley in exchange for this honest and unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 02, 2024
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Apr 02, 2024
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Mar 24, 2024
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Audiobook
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| 1737360799
| 9781737360797
| 1737360799
| 4.10
| 2,130
| Jun 24, 2024
| Jun 24, 2024
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really liked it
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The Last Hunt (The Final Hunt, #2) by Audrey J. Cole was a riveting and suspenseful mystery thriller that grabbed my attention right from the very beg
The Last Hunt (The Final Hunt, #2) by Audrey J. Cole was a riveting and suspenseful mystery thriller that grabbed my attention right from the very beginning. When I requested the audiobook of The Last Hunt, I had not been aware that it was the second book in this series. Even though I usually enjoy reading the books in a series in order, I had no trouble reading The Last Hunt as a stand-alone book. However, based on how much I enjoyed Cameron Prescott’s character and the facts I learned about her past, I am very tempted to go back and read The Final Hunt now. That being said, I thought that Audrey J. Cole’s book, The Last Hunt, was so well plotted and offered a cast of characters that were genuine and authentic. There were also some characters that alternately raised my suspicious throughout the book. The Last Hunt took place in Tok, Alaska. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by Leslie Howard. Cameron Prescott had not had a good track record when it came to picking the men in her life. She had moved from Seattle, Washington to Tok, Alaska to escape her troubled past. When Cameron learned that her ex-husband was a serial killer, Cameron knew what she had to do and she acted on her intentions without pause. Cameron was finally able to put her past behind her. She had settled in the small town of Tok, Alaska, started a dental practice, made friends and had begun a serious relationship with her boyfriend, Dane, who was a state trooper. All was well until it wasn’t. Tok, Alaska’s quiet existence was being threatened. Several murders had been committed. All the victims were young women with long brown hair. They were all teachers as well. This was too familiar for Cameron. She feared the worst but Cameron was sure that John, her serial killer ex-husband, had met his fate that day when he became the victim of a pack of wolves. There was no way that he could have survived or could he have? These murders had John’s name all over them. There were also rumors that the murders could have been committed by a law enforcement officer. The tire tracks found at the scene were from a vehicle used by the police. Could Cameron’s instincts about Dane be wrong? Had she been blinded for a third time? Could John be alive and coming after her? Cameron needed answers. The Last Hunt was fast paced and full of twists and turns. I found myself holding my breath and gripping the sides of my chair the further I got into the mystery of who was committing the murders. My opinion seemed to change more times than I would like to admit about who the murderer was. I really liked Cameron’s character and admired how strong and determined she was even when she was confronted with danger, anxiety or fear. I really hope that Audrey J. Cole decides to write another book in this series. If you enjoy well written mystery thrillers then I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Last Hunt by Audrey J. Cole through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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1
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Jun 23, 2024
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Jun 23, 2024
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Mar 15, 2024
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Paperback
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| 9798989965830
| B0CW1M54XV
| 4.33
| 415
| unknown
| Apr 10, 2024
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really liked it
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I was quite impressed when I discovered that To Look Upon the Sun was Shannon St Hilaire’s debut novel. She chose to tell the story about the program
I was quite impressed when I discovered that To Look Upon the Sun was Shannon St Hilaire’s debut novel. She chose to tell the story about the program called Lebensborn that was developed by the Nazis. Its purpose was to propagate “pure Aryan� babies between the elite SS officers and pure stock young and able German women. Some considered Lebensborn to be no more than a brothel and many local German citizens treated the women that chose to reside at a home that was run by the Lebensborn Society unkindly and without respect. Shannon St Hilaire more than proved her ability as a talented storyteller in this book. She was able to present a side of the Lebensborn program that I had not previously considered. To Look Upon the Sun portrayed all the feelings that Ilse, the young seventeen year old girl who discovered that she was pregnant, felt as she was left no alternative but to live in one of the homes run by the Lebensborn Society until her baby was born. Over the months of Ilse’s pregnancy and then beyond the years that followed the birth of her child, Ilse felt as if she was trapped within a system that signaled danger, evil, heartbreak and wrongdoings. She began to question everything that she had learned at the BDM meetings. Ilse harbored a secret as well. That secret made Ilse always make sure to have her guard up. If anyone ever discovered her secret it would put Ilse and her baby in grave danger. All of the characters were well developed and believable. It was well plotted and paced just right. Shannon St Hilaire delved into what life was like in Germany before World War II and the Holocaust began and beyond. Shannon St Hilaire’s research for To Look Upon the Sun was impeccable. It was interesting and informative how Ilse’s notions about the Reich evolved and changed the longer she lived in the homes run by the Lebensborn Society. Like most young girls that had grown up in pre-war Germany Ilse had been expected to join and attend the meetings of the Bund Deutscher Madel (BDM). Ilse willingly accepted the ideals and values the BDM taught her about her obligations as a German woman to the Nazis and the Reich but the longer she lived at the homes that were part of the Lebensborn Society the more she questioned the facts that were drilled into her. Shannon St Hilaire also included pertinent details about many horrific acts the Nazis instituted in the Lebensborn homes which included sterilization, euthanasia and the Aktio T4 program. Ilse experienced a constant feeling of dread, danger, realization of how the Nazis were treating the Jews and homosexuals who worked in the gardens of the Lebensborn home when Ilse worked in the kitchen as the cook, a constant fear for survival, a nagging and unrelenting feeling of heartbreak and an awakening of anger to the atrocities the Nazis were responsible for while she lived in the various homes that were part of the Lebensborn Society. To Look Upon the Sun was hard to read in parts but I found Ilse’s resilience throughout commendable. I admired how she learned to think for herself and how her perspective about the Nazis and the dreaded SS officers changed over the course of the book. Be sure to read the author’s note at the conclusion. Shannon St Hilaire explained why and how she chose to wrote about Lebensborn and other things she learned while she conducted her research. I highly recommend To Look Upon the Sun by Shannon St Hilaire and I look forward to seeing what she writes next. Thank you to Book Whisperer for allowing me to read To Look Upon the Sun by Shannon St. Hilaire through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 19, 2024
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Apr 26, 2024
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Mar 13, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| B0CW7Z61LL
| unknown
| 3.96
| 1,247
| Oct 01, 2024
| Oct 01, 2024
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really liked it
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Betrayal at Blackthorn Park was the second book in the Parisian Orphan series by Julia Kelly. I had previously read A Traitor in Whitehall, the first
Betrayal at Blackthorn Park was the second book in the Parisian Orphan series by Julia Kelly. I had previously read A Traitor in Whitehall, the first book in this series, and enjoyed it very much so I was excited to see that Julia Kelly had written a second book in this series. Betrayal at Blackthorn Park can best be described as a historical fiction cozy mystery. The setting for Betrayal at Blackstone Park was at Blackthorn Park, a reclusive and quite secure facility located in nearby Sussex during World War II. The primary function of Blackstone Park was to design and build explosive devices that would be used by British forces during the war. Only a very selective group knew of Blackstone Park’s existence and what was being done there. Evelyne Redfern had recently returned to her London boarding house after partaking in an intense training operation that prepared her for her new role as an agent for the British government. David Poole had also undergone training to become a handler. Both Evelyn and David were summoned to headquarters to receive their first official assignment. They were both anticipating an assignment that was dangerous, presented them with risks and challenged them to use their newly acquired knowledge and skills they had acquired in their training. When Evelyne learned that she was being sent to a place called Blackthorn Park to evaluate their security because sensitive and crucial equipment had disappeared and that David Poole was to be her handler and not her partner she was disappointed. However, once Evelyne arrived at Blackthorn Park, she put her intuitive abilities to work. It was not long until Evelyne began to suspect that everything was not as it appeared to be at Blackthorn Park. Then she discovered a dead body. Was it a suicide as it appeared to be or had the victim been murdered? The discovery of the dead body brought David Poole to Blackthorn Park. Can the two work together to unravel all that was going on at Blackthorn Park? I listened to the audiobook of Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly. It was very well narrated by Marisa Calin. Betrayal at Blackthorn Park was very well written, fast paced and impeccably researched. I really enjoyed getting to know the protagonist, Evelyne Redfern, even better in this book. She displayed qualities of strength, determination, intelligence, intuition and resilience. In a time when women were expected to be behind the scenes and reliant on their male counterparts, Evelyne was a woman who believed in her own abilities. The obvious chemistry and hint of romance that might develop between Evelyne and David was welcomed and I look forward to see how it develops as the series continues. There were several twists which only added to my enjoyment and curiosity. I look forward to reading or listening to the next addition in this series and I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Betrayal at Blackthorn Park by Julia Kelly through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 08, 2024
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Oct 13, 2024
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Mar 09, 2024
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Audible Audio
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| 1805085328
| 9781805085324
| B0CLN5PC89
| 4.41
| 786
| unknown
| Mar 06, 2024
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it was amazing
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4.5 shiny stars. Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea was the first book that I have read by Caroline Young. Even though it was the second book in the se
4.5 shiny stars. Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea was the first book that I have read by Caroline Young. Even though it was the second book in the series Welcome to Anglesey, Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea can definitely be read as a stand-alone book. Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea was both moving and heartfelt. It covered several difficult topics that were portrayed very well and realistically. Caroline Young set her book in both London and on the tiny yet beautiful island of Anglesey located in Wales. Her vivid descriptions of the landscape and local people of Anglesey were so easy to picture and relate to. I fell in love with many of the places she described and was easily able to connect with many of the characters in Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea. Jude ( short for Judith) Fitzgerald married Alex, the love of her life. They enjoyed a few blissful years of marriage until Alex was tragically diagnosed with cancer. Even though Jude and Alex desperately wanted to become pregnant and start a family, they were told that they were incompatible and would never be able to conceive a child. Jude had suffered more than one miscarriage. With Alex’s diagnosis, Jude realized that she and Alex would never have a child together. Then the inevitable happened. Alex died and Jude was left with her memories of him. Every inch of the home that Jude had lived in with Alex was haunted with her memories of him. Before Alex died he made Jude promise that she would return to Anglesey in the near future. It was a place they had visited on their honeymoon and fell in love with. They both had happy memories of the time they spent there. They had planned to return there again together but now Jude would have to return on her own if she wanted to keep her promise to Alex. Jude’s friends tried to be there for her through her grieving process but the house and London brought back so many memories that Jude knew she had to leave. She decided to go to Anglesey to try and heal from Alex’s death. Jude knew she required and longed for solitude. She appreciated her friends but she had to grieve in own way so she packed up her car, put her house in London on the market and headed for Anglesey. When Jude arrived in Anglesey, a realtor helped her find a house that was available for Jude to rent and fit the requirements that Jude was looking for. The most important thing for Jude was that the house had to have a view of the sea. A home called Hedd matched all the things Jude was looking for. Its location allowed Jude to take long walks on the beach, something she didn’t realize that she needed so badly. Jude spent her evenings alone and allowed the tears to flow freely. How would she be able to go on without Alex? Then one day, a handsome stranger named Owain Pritchard knocked on Jude’s door carrying a box in his hands. He introduced himself as a local who helped other people fix, repair and build things on the island. He was carrying a Jack Russell puppy in the box and explained that this pup was the last of the litter and thought that Jude was in need of a friend. Jude accepted the puppy from this stranger and named the puppy Pip. Over the next several months, Jude came to love Hedd, the sea and the tight knit community. She made friends and slowly started to heal. Jude even enrolled in a course that taught introductory classes that helped her learn the Welsh language. Jude became torn between her love for Anglesey and the new friends she made there and the continued support and questions that her friends put forth back in London. Jude’s friends from London found it hard to understand Jude’s desire to stay in Anglesey. They wanted her to return to London. Alex’s best friend, Tom, had also expressed his feelings to Jude. He still had feelings for Jude. Jude realized that Tom wanted to make things work out between them but Jude wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She had chosen Alex over Tom all those years ago for a reason. Could she develop feelings for Tom now? Could Jude open her heart to anyone else ever again after experiencing Alex’s love? Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea was so well written and beautifully executed in its descriptions. I really felt that I was in Anglesey with Jude and saw all the beauty she saw through her eyes. Caroline Young did an excellent job depicting Jude’s feelings of loss, grief, uncertainty and sadness. The themes of friendship, second chances, cancer, mother/daughter relationships and acceptance were prevalent throughout this book. All of my emotions were touched by this story. I admired how Jude evolved, grew and pursued the life she wanted to live despite the opinions of others. It was hard for me to stop thinking about this book even after I finished reading Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea. I recommend this book very highly. Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read Secrets at the Cottage by the Sea by Caroline Young through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 06, 2024
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Mar 11, 2024
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Mar 06, 2024
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||
| 084070660X
| 9780840706607
| B0CMQ8M7Z8
| 4.29
| 1,390
| Jun 2024
| Jun 11, 2024
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it was amazing
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4.5 very strong stars! Bitter and Sweet: a Lowcountry Novel was the second book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Rhonda McKnight. Several
4.5 very strong stars! Bitter and Sweet: a Lowcountry Novel was the second book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Rhonda McKnight. Several years ago, I read The Thing About Home and really enjoyed it so when I saw that Rhonda McKnight had written a new book I was excited to read it. In my limited experience with this author’s books, I have noticed that she tends to write about strong women who were experiencing a problem in their lives. I am often drawn to books that feature strong, independent, intelligent and courageous women. In Bitter and Sweet, Rhonda McKnight featured three female protagonists, one that lived during the early 1900’s and two sisters who resided in present day. All three women belonged to the Cooper/Holland family but one was the great-great grandmother and the other two were her great-great granddaughters. Bitter and Sweet took place in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina and in the Upstate cities of South Carolina. It was written in a duel time line that was easy to follow. The chapters alternated between Tabitha, Mariah and Sabrina. I would classify Bitter and Sweet as a multigenerational family saga that spanned and encompassed a family’s history over a hundred year period. It was a very compelling story with complex characters and lots of lessons to be learned. Mariah Clark and Sabrina Holland were sisters by birth but one would never had suspected that when the two were together. They were estranged in every way possible. Both Mariah and Sabrina led totally separate lives and had little to no connection. Although both Mariah and Sabrina were going through rough times, neither one of them ever considered confiding or seeking advice from the other. At times, Sabrina wished her relationship with Mariah wasn’t as it was but Mariah had made it clear more than once that she wanted nothing to do with younger sister. Sabrina wan’t sure what she had done to warrant such dislike from her older sister but fixing it seemed impossible. Both sisters were going through some very difficult times and were forced to deal with the consequences alone. Within minutes of each other, Mariah and Sabrina, received text messages from their grandmother Gail. Her text implored both sisters to come home. Their grandmother needed them. Her text read, “I need you to come home.� Mariah’s and Sabrina’s first thought, after receiving their grandmother’s separate texts, was that something had happened to their grandfather. Grandpa Odell had recently suffered a massive stroke. Neither sister hesitated to do as their grandmother requested. Sabrina’s whole life changed when her husband, Kendrick, tragically died in car accident. They had been married for almost five years and Sabrina was pregnant at the time. Sabrina was still having a hard time dealing with the grief she still felt for loosing her husband. When her daughter was born, Sabrina had difficulty caring for her. She often sought help from her mother-in-law, Ellen Guthrie. Sabrina was having financial difficulties as well. She lost her home and had been forced to live in her van. Her daughter, Kenni, now four years old, was practically living with her Nana Ellen. Sabrina was trying desperately to turn her life around but it was an uphill struggle. She was a very skilled baker and was in the midst of creating a business as a cake decorator but when Sabrina had gotten her grandmother’s text, she knew that she had to go and help her. Sabrina immediately went to Ellen’s house unannounced and picked up Kenni. The two drove to Grandma Gail’s home in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Mariah Clark lived in Duncan, South Carolina. When she married her husband, Mariah had taken on the role of turning their restaurant around. Mariah had committed all her business sense, time, effort and energy into making the Clark restaurant a success. She also took the responsibility almost single handedly of caring for her mother-in-law when she was dying. Mariah had created a very successful cooking podcast after the restaurant was renovated and thriving. All those achievements came crashing down on Mariah when her husband told her he wanted a divorce. Everything that she had worked so hard to make happen was taken from her in a blink of an eye. Mariah learned that her husband had replaced her with a much younger woman who was also a chef. She was angry and bitter. Mariah had received her grandmother’s text message at this precise point in her life. She packed her bags, locked up her apartment and also went to help her grandmother not knowing her sister had received the exact same message and was also on her way to Grandma Gail’s and Grandpa Odell’s home. Tabitha Cooper had grown up in Georgetown, South Carolina in the early 1900’s. She would become Mariah’s and Sabrina’s great, great grandmother. Tabitha or Bitta as mother and father and siblings called her, grew to be five foot nine inches tall. Many nicknamed Tabitha “the Giant� because she was so tall. Tabitha was very dark skinned as well compared to her siblings. She was brought up in the Gullah culture with strong religious beliefs and practices. Tabitha worked at the Market store after school. She cooked stews and soups on Fridays and Saturdays. Tabitha was a good cook and many enjoyed her cooking. One day, a stranger came into the store where Tabitha was serving her food. His name was Joseph McCoy. He swept Tabitha off her feet. Tabitha was quite a lot younger than Joseph McCoy and very inexperienced when it came to men and relationships. Against her family’s better judgement, Tabitha decided to go with Joseph to Charleston. He had promised her that they would marry there. Tabitha grew to love Joseph and respect him until she finally saw him for who he was. During that time period, Tabitha wrote letters that revealed her lifestyle, feelings, struggles and challenges. Grandma Gail had discovered the box that contained Great, Great Grandmother Tabitha’s letters when she had cleaned out her own mother’s home after she passed. When Mariah and Sabrina both arrived at Grandma Gail’s they were informed that their grandmother needed their help in restoring the family restaurant, Tabby’s Meats and Sweets, and opening it again to the public. Grandma Gail also gave Sabrina the box of Tabitha’s letters to read. Sabrina was told to share them with her sister after she finished reading them. Those letters brought Tabitha’s story to heart for both sisters. They were both able to learn valuable lessons from their great, great grandmother’s mistakes, courageous acts and the inspiring instincts she possessed. Tabitha’s summary of the meaning of life stayed with me long after I completed this book. She said, “Sometimes it’s funny, and sometimes it’s sad. Everything we struggle through has a purpose. That’s what God’s Word says. We have to take the good and bad and the bitter and sweet.� That quote summed up so much about this book and the characters, both past and present. Bitter and Sweet focused on family, love, forgiveness, healing, secrets and shame. There is no greater bond than that of family and sisters in particular if forgiveness and letting go can occur. I enjoyed all the detailed descriptions of food, especially those dishes that stemmed from the Gullah culture. I had never heard of the Gullah culture prior to reading Bitter and Sweet. Sabrina’s determination to keep alive her mother’s passion of making sweet cakes in a jar was touching. I enjoyed the romances that took root as well. Although Mariah’s character annoyed and confused me in the beginning, I was so pleased with the transformation Marian made. It was not any easy road for Mariah but by the end of the book I had come to understand her better and even admire her. There were so many messages, lessons and stories in this book that spoke to me and roused my many emotions. I enjoy reading books with strong women and this book did not disappoint. I highly recommend Bitter and Sweet by Rhonda McKnight to anyone who enjoys a good multigenerational story that takes place in the South and featured three strong women. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read Bitter and Sweet by Rhonda McKnight through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
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1
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Jul 16, 2024
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Jul 23, 2024
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Mar 06, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| B0DM4JTNJZ
| unknown
| 4.12
| 2,046
| unknown
| Sep 17, 2024
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really liked it
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Whenever Ronald H. Balson writes a new book I get excited! I have either read or listened to every book that he has written. His attention to differen
Whenever Ronald H. Balson writes a new book I get excited! I have either read or listened to every book that he has written. His attention to different aspects of World War II history always surprises me because he always manages to include a little known fact of something that I was not aware of before reading his book. A Place to Hide brought his readers to the Netherlands during World War II. Although I was aware of some of the things that the Netherlands went through during WWII, Ronald H. Balson was able to incorporate new information as well. It is always refreshing the way Ronald H. Balson chooses to tell his story. His characters came alive in A Place to Hide and the reader was able to feel their skepticism, fear, frustration and hopes. It was hard to put this book down once I started listening to it. The narrator, Fred Berman, was excellent and kept me engaged from start to finish. Theodore Hartigan, better known as Teddy to all that knew him, came from a distinguished family with ties to the White House and State Department. Teddy and his family lived in Washington D. C. area as did his steady girlfriend who he hoped to get engaged to very soon. He had high expectations about his career path in the State Department. When Teddy was asked to travel to the Netherlands to take over a position at the U. S. Consulate in Amsterdam his whole life changed in an instant. His girlfriend tried to talk him out of going. When she saw he was determined to follow orders, she refused to go with him and proceeded to end their plans for marriage. Teddy was devastated but proceeded with his orders. When Teddy arrived in Amsterdam, he found himself in charge of processing the immigrants who were seeking asylum in countries that were not threatened by Nazi rule. Unfortunately, Teddy soon learned that those countries like the United States and Britain had quotas and those quotas were already filled before Teddy even arrived. Thankfully, the Netherlands was a neutral country and the people of the Netherlands believed that the Nazis would respect their status. As history shows, the Nazis were not inclined to follow what others believed in. The Nazis invaded the Netherlands regardless of their position of neutrality and imposed sanctions, round-ups and death to the Jewsish people that lived in the Netherlands. Teddy remained in Amsterdam even when he was encouraged to leave. His courage, bravery, determination and dedication to the Jewish people, especially its children, while he was in Amsterdam, went well beyond the boundaries of his position and his own resources. His dedication and accomplishments were exemplary. Teddy Hartigan was now a ninety-two year old man living in an assisted living facility in the Washington D. C. area. It was 2002. Teddy had expressed his desire to find someone who would help him write his memoir so that his children and grandchildren would learn all that he had done during World War II. Teddy was ready to tell his story. His cousin had made the acquaintance of a former journalist who was also a Holocaust survivor while he was in Israel on business. Karyn, the former journalist, told Teddy’s cousin that she and her sister had been living in a children’s orphanage in Amsterdam during World War II. Both her sister and Karyn had been placed with different families and saved from the atrocities the Nazis were planning on carrying out. Unfortunately, Karyn lost track of her sister but truly believed that she was still alive. Karyn had never given up hope for finding her sister someday. She made a deal with Teddy’s cousin that day. If Teddy would help Karyn find her sister, she would listen to his story and write his memoir. Neither Teddy nor Karyn could have imagined what would transpire between them as Teddy revealed his story piece by piece. A Place to Hide by Ronald H. Balson was captivating, heartfelt and inspiring. It is often hard for Holocaust survivors to tell their stories. The pain, loss and suffering that they endured was not something that they could talk about easily. Their fears, memories they learned to suppress and anger prevented these people from speaking out. Teddy’s story was equally as compelling as others that had lived through this horrific time in history. He bravely and frequently put his life in danger to help others, especially young Jewish children. These stories must continue to be told. We must never forget. Ronald H. Balson was able to provide detailed information about the events that led up to the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands, the way life changed for the Jews of Amsterdam and how good Christian families stood up and helped to save their fellow citizens from Nazi oppression and persecution. A Place to Hide was well written, impeccably researched and touched every one of my emotions. I highly recommend A Place to Hide by Ronald H. Balson if you enjoy reading/listening to historical fiction about World War II. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of A Place to Hide by Ronald H. Balson through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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Sep 17, 2024
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Sep 21, 2024
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Feb 26, 2024
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Audiobook
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| 1400248434
| 9781400248438
| B0CMQ7P43M
| 3.82
| 1,006
| Jun 11, 2024
| Jun 11, 2024
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really liked it
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4.5 sad but worthy stars! The Forgotten Names was the fourth book that I had the privilege of reading by Mario Escobar. As in his prior books, I learn
4.5 sad but worthy stars! The Forgotten Names was the fourth book that I had the privilege of reading by Mario Escobar. As in his prior books, I learned more about what had occurred during the Holocaust that I had not known about before I read The Forgotten Names. As hard as it was to read about these heart wrenching facts that actually occurred, it is so important. The acts of antisemitism and the determination to permanently eradicate the Jewish people from the face of the earth must never be forgotten or taken lightly. In The Forgotten Names, Mario Escobar, detailed the unselfish acts of the brave citizens of France, local resistance groups, clergy members, social workers and the Red Cross in Vichy, France in August of 1942. Klaus Barbie, better known as the “Butcher of Lyon� was intent on eliminating France of all its Jews regardless of age, gender or any health factors. Barbie was a ruthless German officer of the Gestapo that was in charge of Vichy, France from 1942-1944. No one, not children or the elderly, were safe from his unscrupulous and merciless actions. He was feared by all and for good reasons. Forgotten Names was written in a duel time line alternating between 1942 and 1992. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Saskia Maarleveld. Her performance was amazing and she easily distinguished between the many character's voices. In 1992, twenty-three year old law student, Valerie Potheret, was trying to decide on her topic for her doctoral thesis. Initially, Valerie settled on researching all the evil that Klaus Barbie inflicted upon the Jewish people that resided in France during World War II. While Valerie was researching all the atrocities that Klaus Barbie inflicted upon the Jews, she discovered a list in a box that contained 108 names. That list piqued Valerie’s curiosity. After seeking out source after source, Valerie finally realized that the list of names belonged to the 108 Jewish children that had simply vanished from the Venissieux internment camp in August of 1942. The French government had kept the names of those innocent children who had been saved from deportation and most probably death hidden for years in the confines of the Chateau de Petrins. They tried to hide those heinous crimes from the world. When Valerie was told whose names were on the list, she knew that she had found the topic for her thesis. Valerie pledged that she would not stop until she located every person on that list. She worked relentlessly for twenty-five years to discover, identify, learn each child’s story and in some instances, give the child back their given name and learn what had become of each of the 108 children who were spared from deportation and most probably death. Valerie traveled tirelessly throughout Europe, Israel and the Americas to locate all of the 108 children. Back in August 1942, the Jews that remained in Lyon, France had been rounded up and placed in the Venissieux Internment Camp. Klaus Barbie, better known as the “Butcher of Lyon� was intent on deporting all remaining Jews to a camp where they would be exterminated. Klaus Barbie was known to shoot Jews to their deaths and never showed an ounce of remorse. When a group of social workers, members of the local clergy and resistance members found out that the French gendarmes supervised by Klaus Barbie and the Nazis were planning on emptying the internment camp at Venissieux and sending all its prisoners to their death they discovered some “legally recognized exemptions �. The Nazi were not allowed to deport any Jews who were “old, disabled, pregnant, unaccompanied minors and war heroes who had fought in the French army.� Since almost all of the exemptions were being ignored by the French gendarmes, except for unaccompanied children, this brave group of people concentrated on obtaining legal documents for the unaccompanied minors in the hope of getting them out of the internment camp before the deportations started. Social workers tirelessly went from parent to parent begging them to sign documents that would release their rights as parents to their children. Their anguish they must have experienced in doing this must have been the hardest thing they were ever asked to do. There was only two days to accomplish all this. The volunteers designed a document that would legally allow parents to relinquish all their paternal rights and they would plead for the parents to sign it so their child could be saved from a sure death if deported. The children were entrusted to the members of Amitie Chretienne. In all, the volunteers were able to save 108 children. I can’t even imagine how gut wrenching an act this must have been for each parent as they lost their children that day. When I read some of the exchanges between parent and child as they were about to part from one another, I cried like a baby. That was by far the ultimate sacrifice of a parent. They had to loose their child to save them from death. There were so many brave and courageous people who put their own lives on the line to help save those Jewish children. I admire all that they risked and did to save the lives of those children. Thank goodness that there were kind, loving and brave people who were willing to sacrifice their own safety to take these children into their homes and protect them and grow to love them. The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar was about hope, resilience, determination, loss of identity, courage and “of the great humanitarian effort� of many. Most of the people mentioned in The Forgotten Names were real. Valerie Portheret really existed and dedicated twenty five years of her life trying to find the children who had vanished from Venissieux. She presented her doctoral thesis after she learned what had happened to all 108 of the children through her research, listening to the stories of the children she found and documenting everything that she learned. What a gift to mankind to have accomplished all that and to have shared her findings with others. Every time I think that I have learned all there is to learn about the Holocaust, a masterful author like Mario Escobar uncovered another atrocity that occurred. The Holocaust was such a tragic time in the history of the world. Stories like The Forgotten Names reminds us that we must remember so that history will never be repeated. I highly recommend The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar. Thank you to Harper Muse for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more |
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1
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Jun 14, 2024
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Jun 20, 2024
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Feb 26, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 0008603286
| 9780008603281
| B0CL1LWVLD
| 4.34
| 201
| unknown
| Mar 12, 2024
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really liked it
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The Highland Girls on Guard ( The Highland Girls #2) by Helen Yendall picked up right where The Highland Girls at War ( The Highland Girls #1) left of
The Highland Girls on Guard ( The Highland Girls #2) by Helen Yendall picked up right where The Highland Girls at War ( The Highland Girls #1) left off. I was so happy to be reunited with the characters introduced in the first book of this series and be introduced to some new characters as well. The Highland Girls on Guard was well written, fast paced and well plotted. There was a sense of undisguised jealousy, sheer determination, deception and romance woven throughout this second book of this enjoyable series. I loved getting reacquainted with the characters from the first book and being introduced to the new ones. Helen Yendall masterfully transported her reading audience back to Blantyre Forest, in the Scottish Highlands, where the Lumberjills performed their jobs as only they knew how to. As Seffy and the other Lumberjills were finishing up their work on a warm Saturday afternoon during the summer, Miss McEwen, the lumberjill’s former supervisor, suddenly appeared. None of the Lumberjills were too pleased to see her again. Miss McEwen announced that eight new recruits would be joining them shortly. These new recruits would be given beds in the existing huts and would live with the older recruits as they received their training. Miss McEwen had asked Joey to drive the truck to the station to retrieve the new recruits. Joey was permitted to choose one other Lumberjill to accompany her. Joey picked Seffy to accompany her to the station. Seffy and Joey had gotten closer since Grace tied the knot with Gordy and had married him. Seffy was extremely jealous of Grace and Gordy and everything they shared. Her romance and feelings for Callum had all but been forgotten about by her friends. Seffy knew that she could never have Callum’s heart but that didn’t diminish the feelings she still had for him. It was just too hard for Seffy to witness how happy and in love Grace was every single day. Seffy started to avoid Grace any way she possibly could. When Seffy and Joey finally arrived at the train station the new recruits were waiting for them. As they checked off each girl’s name on the clipboard that Miss McEwen had given them, they noticed that one girl was missing…someone called A. Buchanan. Another girl, Tattie, was detained a few minutes but finally joined the other recruits. Tattie would be assigned to the Macdonald hut and would live with Seffy, Joey, Grace and the other girls from that hut. The Lumberjills of Macdonald hut would learn that Tattie had never learned to read or write and that she had grown up in a very troubled home. Tattie just wanted to fit in anyway she could. A few days later, A. Buchanan showed up. She had arrived at the Lumberjills� camp in a truck driven by some of the Italian POW prisoners that worked in the area. A. Buchanan was Angie, a petite, dark-haired girl from another camp located in Aberdeenshire. Angie and Miss McEwen seemed to know one another. Miss McEwen introduced Angie as an “experienced lumberjill and forewoman �. Seffy took an immediate dislike to Angie and did not trust her at all. When Miss McEwen appointed Angie as the new leader girl of Macdonald hut, Seffy disliked her even more. Seffy had lost her position as the leader girl to Angie. Were Seffy’s initial instincts correct not to trust or like Angie or was it just her pride that was hurt very badly? The Highland Girls on Guard portrayed the struggles women encountered during those times when they chose to form branches of the Women’s Home Defense Corps to learn how to defend themselves. It was an uphill battle for women to get the approval they needed and wanted so badly to for, these groups. Seffy’s Aunt Dily was instrumental in starting a Women’s Home Defense Corps in the Scottish Highlands. Many of the Lumberjills and local women were recruited and trained behind the scenes so that the men could not discover and stop their activities. The Highland Girls on Guard also spoke of the Italian POW prisoners that had been captured and were being held close to where the Lumberjills were located. Over the course of World War II, many Italian POW prisoners became engaged in local work near where they were being held. It was no wonder, then, that after the members of the Number Thirty-Four Company of the Canadian Foresting Corps left the Scottish Highlands in order to train for combat in England, that the Italian POW prisoners were commissioned to work side by side with the Lumberjills. Several romances sprung up between the Lumberjills and the Italian POW prisoners. The Highland Girls on Guard by Helen Yendall was a welcomed addition in this series. I enjoyed discovering more about the lives of the Lumberjills and their relationships with each other. The formation of the Women’s Home Defense Corps was one that I have never read about before. I have read about the Italian POW prisoners in books where they helped the land girls on farms in England but was not aware that they were also present in the Scottish Highlands. The Highland Girls on Guard was about friendship, romance, trust, being accepted, having good instincts, forgiveness, proving one’s worth and doing things you believed in no matter what the consequences were. I really enjoyed The Highland Girls on Guard by Helen Yendall and hope that there will be a third book in this series. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction that portrays strong, resilient and determined women. Thank you to HQ for allowing me to read The Highland Girls on Guard by Helen Yendall through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Publication is set for March 12, 2024. ...more |
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Feb 24, 2024
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Mar 04, 2024
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Feb 24, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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| 1496748719
| 9781496748713
| B0CLZ3VDCV
| 3.93
| 847
| Jul 23, 2024
| Jul 23, 2024
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really liked it
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Echoes of Memory was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Sara Driscoll. It can best be described as a stand-alone gripping my
Echoes of Memory was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by author, Sara Driscoll. It can best be described as a stand-alone gripping mystery thriller. I listened to the audiobook that was very well narrated by Cynthia Farrell. She really brought this well plotted, fast paced book alive. It was so easy to visual the scenes and the characters as she expertly narrated Echoes of Memory. It took place in San Diego, California in the Gaslamp District. Quinn Fleming had been a victim of a vicious attack that had left her with a post-traumatic brain injury. The brain injury interfered with Quinn’s ability to remember details and pertinent information. To compensate for this loss, Quinn had started using a journal to record anything that had occurred during the course of her day and simple directions, routines, appointments and placement of things she needed on daily basis. Since Quinn relied heavily on her journal, she always kept it close by to her. After Quinn recovered enough physically and emotionally, she returned to her job as an assistant in a flower shop. Since her injury, it took Quinn a little longer to complete the tasks that she was expected to complete. There were some nights that she stayed a little later to finish her tasks. On one of those evenings, Quinn had just finished everything she had to complete for the following day, when she decided to take the trash out rather than leave it for boss. The container for the trash was located in the alley behind the flower shop. As Quinn tossed the trash in the receptacle she sensed that she was not alone. She saw a shadow of a man hovering on the opposite side of the ally. He appeared to be hiding. Suddenly, more shadows appeared and the man disappeared. What had she witnessed? Had the man who had been hiding in the alley been the victim of foul play? Quinn knew that she had to write down everything that she had witnessed before those memories were gone forever. After Quinn recorded everything that she witnessed, she called the police. To Quinn’s frustration, the police officers didn’t believe Quinn’s account of what she had witnessed. There was no body, no trace of a fight and Quinn could not recount the events that just occurred without reading it from her journal. When the report passed Detective Nura Reyes desk, though, the detective remembered Quinn’s harrowing attack and the post- traumatic brain injury she suffered as a result. To Quinn’s frustration, she was unable to convince the police officers to what she had witnessed but was rewarded with Detective Reyes’s complete belief in the things Quinn had seen. Memories of that night started to come back to Quinn through dreams she had. Quinn was a gifted artist. She was able to sketch what she remembered from her dreams. Would Detective Reyes and Quinn be able to piece together the fragments of Quinn’s memories to solve the murder mystery? Would Quinn’s involvement put her in danger? Will Detective Reyes be able to keep her safe? Sara Driscoll created believable characters who were interesting, flawed and quite compelling. There were lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The ending was very satisfying and tied up all the loose ends. Quinn’s challenges were many but she almost never felt sorry for herself for long. She accepted what had happened to her and was making baby steps in her recovery. Mental illness played a major role in this riveting book. I really admired Quinn’s character and how she handled her recovery, made the connections and friendships she did and used her talents to help solve the mystery. Echoes of Memory was well written and very much worth reading. I highly recommend it. Thank you to RB Media/Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Echoes of Memory by Sara Driscoll through Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 2024
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Aug 05, 2024
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Feb 24, 2024
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Kindle Edition
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