I was so excited when I realize that this book featured the Perez sisters from Chanel Cleeton’s previous books. This book picks up right where When WeI was so excited when I realize that this book featured the Perez sisters from Chanel Cleeton’s previous books. This book picks up right where When We Left Cuba leaves off. You do not need to have read the prior book/s to appreciate this one. This book features the oldest Perez sister Isabel. 1964 Isabell the silent propper sister is headed to Spain to find out what’s going on with her rebellious sister Beatriz. Not only do we get Isabell’s story, we also learn more about the sister’s mother Alicia. 1936 Alicia flees to Spain to figure out her future. The book seamlessly weaves together these two time periods. I also love learning more about the complicated histories of both Cuba and Spain. Two strong smart women learning more about themselves and one another. Especially Isabel who truly saw an entirely new side to her mother after visiting her past. There is also some romance in the story, but it takes a backseat to the plight of these women. The backdrop of historical Spain was so interesting and evocative. Another beautifully told story from Chanel Cleeton that hit me right in the heart and taught me so much.
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***...more
A beautifully told emotional story. This is my first book by Carmel Harrington but I can guarantee not my last! 2020 Bea is staying home on New Year’sA beautifully told emotional story. This is my first book by Carmel Harrington but I can guarantee not my last! 2020 Bea is staying home on New Year’s Eve after a bad break up when she receives a time capsule letter from her younger self. This letter seems to have some kind of magical powers and leads to Bea doing some major self reflection. Reaching out to people in her past, righting some wrongs, and ultimately heading to Ireland for some much needed answers. 1992 Lucy and her sister Maeve have just graduated from University when they hear of an opportunity of a lottery to go to America. The sisters cannot believe their luck when they find that they have won the lottery. SO they pack their bags head to New York, leaving all they know and their loving parents behind. Love both these characters and was equally invested in both of the storylines. What I most loved is that both Bea and Lucy had amazing supportive friends. I also really love the magical mystery element of the letter and what a catalyst it was for Bea. This story took some unexpected twists and turns, I loved it from beginning to end. A stunning story that hit me in the heart and gave me all the feels!
*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***...more
Delectably deceiving. deeply disturbing. Deliciously dark. Emma Rous once again stretched my mind with her mesmerizing storytelling, an atmospheric stDelectably deceiving. deeply disturbing. Deliciously dark. Emma Rous once again stretched my mind with her mesmerizing storytelling, an atmospheric story with a Gothic vibe. 1988 Beth arrives at Raven Hall hopeful that this will be her new home. The family has a daughter Nina about the same age as her and Beth is eagerly cautious to befriend the girl. not long after arriving at the manor Beth begins to get some strange vibes, like why is it that Nina is not allowed to leave the property? 2019 struggling actress Sadie gets a part as a Party Guest at a mystery dinner. she cannot believe her luck a stunning dress, a gorgeous manner, interesting company. But it isn’t too long before Sadie figures out there is more to all of this than meets the eye. oh what a sinister tale Miss Rous has spun. Two women,one creepy manor, 30 years apart. what ties these two storylines together and what secrets is Raven Hall keeping?
I could not put this book down! I stayed up late into the night and finish this in one sitting. I was completely engrossed in this twisted mind bending tale. The story bounced between Sadie and Beth as well as now and then. I was equally engaged in both narratives. The story was extremely compelling even though the pacing was not always perfect. there was such a chilling sinister feel to the story, I was constantly waiting for something bad to happen. The ending was cleverly revealed one piece at a time keeping the tension throughout.
“I was untouchable, unstoppable, hurtling down a path to immortality so rapidly, so immaculately, that not one person stopped to question how it all w“I was untouchable, unstoppable, hurtling down a path to immortality so rapidly, so immaculately, that not one person stopped to question how it all worked so well, a fortysomething man and a teenager being so inextricably linked.”
Timely and compelling. Heartbreaking and hopeful. Riveting and disturbing. Ella Berman’s debut will resonate with any woman who has ever been objectified by a man catcalling her as she’s walking down the street or made to feel less then by a man Gaslighting her to believe that it’s all her fault. When Grace is 13 she is discovered at an audition in her UK hometown. Famous movie producer Able Yorke has found his muse and gives Grace’s family an offer they can’t resist. Enticed by the glittering Hollywood movie star lifestyle the entire family packs up and moves to California. Grace loves the glamorous lifestyle and being able’s number one protégé. But things go dark when the Producer crosses the line sending the protégé down the lonely path of guilt and insecurity.
Ella Berman started writing this in 2017 before #metoo. In the author note at the end she talks about this and why she didn’t really bring the movement into the story. I have a really hard time with stories about men in power taken advantage of innocent or even not so innocent girls/women, but I have to say the story did a really thoughtful job with the subject matter. Nothing was overly graphic or gratuitous it was more implied than anything else. This really allowed me to focus on Grace and her comeback. Grace was such a sympathetic character she was so hardened and yet so naïve. She could party like a champ, but she couldn’t purchase a phone. I’d imagine this is true of many child stars they are not able to do many of the things that their “normal“ counterparts are able to. I really loved watching Grace’s growth throughout the story. She started as a selfish spoiled diva and grew into a compassionate caring human. I also liked that this is not a total manhater book, seriously the nicest most caring character in the story was Dylan (Grace’s husband). A well told thought-provoking story with well developed characters. Just a little warning there is a lot of alcohol and drug use in the book, I mention this because I think the story will appeal to teens but in case you don’t want your kids to read about that here’s the warning.
An authentic and raw look at the life of an immigrant. A compelling debut packed with culture and secrets. Margot is first generation Korean American,An authentic and raw look at the life of an immigrant. A compelling debut packed with culture and secrets. Margot is first generation Korean American, She grew up in LA’s Koreatown. Margot was always a little embarrassed of and never fully understood her mother, so she went to college in Seattle and never looked back. Now she is home, her mother is gone, and Margot is learning that there was much more to her mother than she ever realized. Told from the alternating perspectives of Margot and her mother Mina. Not only do we watch Margo try to figure out what happened to her mom we are also privy to Mina’s life when she first arrives in the US from Korea. This really allows the reader to glimpse the full picture of this complicated mother daughter relationship. As well as a real look at the life of an immigrant. Greta Jung narrates the audiobook masterfully. She gave the perfect voice to both Margot and Mina and what I appreciated is I always knew which character was speaking. I also really appreciated both her Spanish and Korean pronunciation.
Nancy Jooyoun Kim grew up in Los Angeles and that as well as her Korean Heritage really shown through on these pages. I love seeing the diversity, especially the representation of the Asian and Latin cultures. This is the California I grew up in, I grew up in LA County in a neighborhood that was more white than this one but diverse none the same. So often this area is portrayed as this glitz and glamour place of privilege where the majority of Californians don’t live. The LA Mina lived in was broken and dirty, yet beautiful and diverse. I have to admit I enjoyed her parts of this book more than Margot’s. Mina was such a wonderful character! She was so strong, so resilient, so stoic, and yet she had a quiet sense of humor. I was humbled by how brave she was to uproot her life and move to a different country where she had no knowledge of language or culture. Her tenacity was admirable and she really made a good life for herself. What was unfortunate was that Margot never recognized it and part of that was on Mina there was so much she could have shared but didn’t. The mystery in the story was probably the weakest part of the book a lot of it depended upon coincidence. I think I would’ve liked more about Mina, more about her life in Korea and more about her life after her first year in America. A lovely story looking forward to what’s next from Mancy Jooyoun Kim.
A sweet, sentimental, multi generational tale. Brenda Janowitz’s storytelling completely swept me up in this enchanting story. Three generations of w A sweet, sentimental, multi generational tale. Brenda Janowitz’s storytelling completely swept me up in this enchanting story. Three generations of women connected buy this stunning wedding gown. Rose a Paris seamstress in the late 1950s, Joan a young proper college student in 1982, and her daughter Rocky A rebellious techie in 2020. Each woman had their own voice and their own story to tell. The story jumps around between these three women in short well crafted chapters. I was completely and equally invested in each of these women’s stories and found the pacing absolutely perfect. The gown meant something different to each of these women with the common thread of love.
The short chapters left me wanting more, but I was always happy to get back to the next woman’s story. I started this book with the intention of only listening to a few chapters and ended up finishing it pretty much without a break. The audio is narrated by Cassandra Campbell Who masterfully gave each woman her own unique voice and did a marvelous job with the French accent. I had recently read a book about Grace Kelly and that gave me a better appreciation of this gown and its meaning. Rose took pride in her work and did everything she could to emulate the princess’s wedding gown, while still adding her own touches. Joan added her own touches to the gown and learned that fairytales can have more than one happy ending. Rocky struggled with the gown it really wasn’t her, but it meant so much to her mom. Eventually even Rocky found a way to make the gown work for her. Such a beautiful story of love, family, tradition, expectations, choices, and mothers and daughters.
"Keep You Safe," Rona Halsall's well-written thriller, plunges us into the gut-wrenching ordeal of Natalie, a new mother wrong**4 Captivating Stars **
"Keep You Safe," Rona Halsall's well-written thriller, plunges us into the gut-wrenching ordeal of Natalie, a new mother wrongly accused of embezzlement. The frustration of being unjustly imprisoned for a crime you didn't commit simmered within me, bringing back a personal memory of having a check stolen and the homeowner's association's infuriating skepticism – albeit nowhere near the nightmarish confinement Natalie endures. Despite her memory lapses, Natalie clings to her innocence, while her unsupportive husband, Tom, readily believes the police. To make matters worse, Tom relocates with their son, Harry, to another country, leaving Natalie yearning for her baby amidst the cold walls of her prison cell.
My heart ached for Natalie. Upon release, her sole mission becomes finding Harry. The narrative seamlessly switches between Natalie's present struggles and past events, building suspense and illuminating her harrowing journey. An unsettling, third-person perspective creeps in at times, adding an intriguing layer of mystery. While glimpses of prison life were insightful, certain aspects felt reminiscent of another recent book. Nonetheless, I fiercely rooted for Natalie and her desperate quest for a reunion with Harry. Predictable or not, witnessing their story unfold was a captivating experience.
Highly recommend this gripping debut! I eagerly await Rona Halsall's next masterpiece.
**Many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book.**...more
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