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Betrayal (Infidelity, #1)
9.0
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One week. No future. No past. No more. Alexandria Collins has one week to live carefree—no ghosts...
The Heart Between Us: Two Sisters, One Heart Transplant, and a Bucket List
6.7
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Megan Jacobs always wished for a different heart. Her entire childhood was spent in and out of...
Don't Stop Believin'
6.0
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With candor, humor, and warmth, legendary musician, actress, activist, and icon Olivia Newton-John...
Olivia Newton-John cancer memoir music film health
The Uninvited
8.0
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From the award-winning author of In the Shadow of Blackbirdscomes a stunning new novel a masterfully...
ClareR (5885 KP) rated Send For Me in Books
Sep 7, 2021
Send For Me is an emotionally charged look at the lives of three generations of women: Klara, Annalise and Clare. Annalise is German, a Jew living in Feldenheim at a time when it was dangerous to be Jewish - whether you were a practicing Jew or not. After years of persecution, Annalise, her husband and her toddler daughter, manage to get permission to leave for the USA. But she has to leave her parents behind.
This was a different take on other books set at this time, and I liked that about it very much. I haven’t read many books about those who managed to escape the Nazi regime and immigrate to safe countries before the Holocaust really began. But it’s no less saddening for that. Annalise desperately misses her parents, and life is so utterly different in the US.
The story swaps between Annalise and her granddaughter, Clare, whose life couldn’t have been any more different. Clare has the much more liberated life of an American woman - whether that’s what she really wants, remains to be seen.
I really enjoyed seeing the juxtaposition between a 1930s immigrant and a modern young woman. Annalise’s fear of being in a big city with no English is palpable - I panicked along with her. It must be so scary to move somewhere that’s completely different to your own life experience, and not even have a common language - something that people have always had to endure for their own safety throughout the ages.
This is a really moving novel, made more so when I learnt that the letters between Annalise and her mother Klara were real - just that the names were changed.
This was a different take on other books set at this time, and I liked that about it very much. I haven’t read many books about those who managed to escape the Nazi regime and immigrate to safe countries before the Holocaust really began. But it’s no less saddening for that. Annalise desperately misses her parents, and life is so utterly different in the US.
The story swaps between Annalise and her granddaughter, Clare, whose life couldn’t have been any more different. Clare has the much more liberated life of an American woman - whether that’s what she really wants, remains to be seen.
I really enjoyed seeing the juxtaposition between a 1930s immigrant and a modern young woman. Annalise’s fear of being in a big city with no English is palpable - I panicked along with her. It must be so scary to move somewhere that’s completely different to your own life experience, and not even have a common language - something that people have always had to endure for their own safety throughout the ages.
This is a really moving novel, made more so when I learnt that the letters between Annalise and her mother Klara were real - just that the names were changed.
Femlandia was an enjoyable, if rather frustrating read. The end of civilisation doesn’t come from a killer virus, zombies or climate disaster, but instead is caused by a total economic collapse. The world (particularly the USA) goes broke. Food becomes prohibitively expensive, services are shut off, people are made homeless: it’s every man/ woman for themselves. Except, as is often the case in these circumstances, it’s the women and children who suffer the most.
Miranda Reynolds is left to fend for herself and her teenage daughter when her husband literally drives himself off a cliff. She realises her only safe space is with the mother she hasn’t spoken to in a very long time, and the community that she has set up: Femlandia. It’s her last resort.
Now, if I were Miranda, I wouldn’t have prevaricated for so long - I would have turned up on Femlandia’s doorstep pretty fast. This is regardless of the fact that it’s nothing like the safe haven it has always sold itself as.
As I’ve said, this frustrated and gripped me in equal measure. There are plenty of things in this, that as a feminist, made my toes curl. But let’s face it: who wants to read a dystopian novel where everything is lovely, there are no problems, and everyone lives happily ever after? That’s like NO dystopia I’ve ever read about!
This looks at human nature in all it’s glory and ignominy. It looks at some uncomfortable subjects: abuse, control and prejudice (especially misandry and anti-trans). But do you know what? I raced through this, it gave me a lot to think about, and I think it’s well worth a read.
Miranda Reynolds is left to fend for herself and her teenage daughter when her husband literally drives himself off a cliff. She realises her only safe space is with the mother she hasn’t spoken to in a very long time, and the community that she has set up: Femlandia. It’s her last resort.
Now, if I were Miranda, I wouldn’t have prevaricated for so long - I would have turned up on Femlandia’s doorstep pretty fast. This is regardless of the fact that it’s nothing like the safe haven it has always sold itself as.
As I’ve said, this frustrated and gripped me in equal measure. There are plenty of things in this, that as a feminist, made my toes curl. But let’s face it: who wants to read a dystopian novel where everything is lovely, there are no problems, and everyone lives happily ever after? That’s like NO dystopia I’ve ever read about!
This looks at human nature in all it’s glory and ignominy. It looks at some uncomfortable subjects: abuse, control and prejudice (especially misandry and anti-trans). But do you know what? I raced through this, it gave me a lot to think about, and I think it’s well worth a read.
Merissa (12929 KP) rated Immortal Beginnings (Etherya's Earth #4.5) in Books
Sep 5, 2022
Well-written, well-paced, loving, kind, tender, and HOT!
IMMORTAL BEGINNINGS takes place after Evie has beaten Crimeous. Dragos was a Deamon in the war, fighting as a soldier in a war he didn't agree with but had no choice in. Raina is the widow of a Vampyre who died in that war. She moved home due to the memories and found herself living next to Dragos.
This is so sweet! Seriously! Dragos is... oh, I just want to give him a hug! And then maybe climb him like a tree. If there's something I love it's a man who is manly and also tender and loving. Dragos is all of the above. Raina has her concerns, which are all completely understandable, but Dragos is there to help her work through them.
I don't like novellas. I'm greedy and always want more. This is no exception. So why the five stars? Because it's too good not to. I may want more - more backstory, more current events, more hope for the future (although the epilogue is pretty damn good) - more everything but that is no reason to not give five stars where they are due. Everything that is here is well-written, well-paced, loving, kind, tender, HOT!
This was a fantastic addition to the series and I have no hesitation in recommending it - even if it is 'only' a novella! 😉
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is so sweet! Seriously! Dragos is... oh, I just want to give him a hug! And then maybe climb him like a tree. If there's something I love it's a man who is manly and also tender and loving. Dragos is all of the above. Raina has her concerns, which are all completely understandable, but Dragos is there to help her work through them.
I don't like novellas. I'm greedy and always want more. This is no exception. So why the five stars? Because it's too good not to. I may want more - more backstory, more current events, more hope for the future (although the epilogue is pretty damn good) - more everything but that is no reason to not give five stars where they are due. Everything that is here is well-written, well-paced, loving, kind, tender, HOT!
This was a fantastic addition to the series and I have no hesitation in recommending it - even if it is 'only' a novella! 😉
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (12929 KP) rated Tor (The Hawks #4) in Books
Nov 30, 2021 (Updated Jul 10, 2023)
TOR is the fourth book in The Hawks series, and you really do need to read the other books first. Not only is there an overall story arc but the stories are just so d*mn good!!!
Tor and Keeley have both been hurt by the people in their lives. And in a sort of similar way, although they have reacted differently. Keeley always wants to run, and Tor never thinks that anyone will stay. Be prepared, because these two broke my heart!
Tor's pain about killed me, I'll be honest here. I felt his pain, his lockdown on his feelings, that all-encompassing numbness. And I really hoped Keeley would break through it. But then Keeley has her own pain, her own numbness, which means these two have trouble communicating, which leads to misunderstandings. What I loved though, is that even though they both get things wrong, they realise that (sometimes with a bit of help!) and work to try and put things right.
Each book in this series wins my heart, every time! And it leaves me wanting the next one immediately! Next one being Reece. I'm going to stock up on tissues because, after this one, I think I'm going to need them. Do you know what? I'll cope. Bring it on!
Sheer brilliance and absolutely and utterly recommended by me. 😍
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 30, 2021
Tor and Keeley have both been hurt by the people in their lives. And in a sort of similar way, although they have reacted differently. Keeley always wants to run, and Tor never thinks that anyone will stay. Be prepared, because these two broke my heart!
Tor's pain about killed me, I'll be honest here. I felt his pain, his lockdown on his feelings, that all-encompassing numbness. And I really hoped Keeley would break through it. But then Keeley has her own pain, her own numbness, which means these two have trouble communicating, which leads to misunderstandings. What I loved though, is that even though they both get things wrong, they realise that (sometimes with a bit of help!) and work to try and put things right.
Each book in this series wins my heart, every time! And it leaves me wanting the next one immediately! Next one being Reece. I'm going to stock up on tissues because, after this one, I think I'm going to need them. Do you know what? I'll cope. Bring it on!
Sheer brilliance and absolutely and utterly recommended by me. 😍
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 30, 2021
Not If I See You First
8.0
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The Rules Don't deceive me. Ever. Especially using my blindness. Especially in public. Don't...
Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2355 KP) rated A Novel Disguise in Books
May 18, 2023
How Long Can Tiffany Disguise the Danger She’s In?
When her half-brother dies unexpectedly, Tiffany Woodall quietly buries him and then assumes his identity. There is nothing else for her to do in 1780’s England, especially if she wants to stay in the cottage the two of them lived in. But she quickly finds that being two people is much more challenging than she expected, especially when she starts falling in love with the local book seller and has to dodge the marriage proposal of the local rector. But it’s taking over her half-brother’s job of the local duke’s librarian that puts her in the most danger when one of the servants dies. Might it tie to her brother’s death?
Obviously, there is a lot going on here, and it does mean the mystery takes a little time to become an important part of the story. But I didn’t care. I was quickly caught up in Tiffany’s life and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to her next. And make no mistake about it, the mystery here is strong. I loved how things were all pulled together for the climax. The characters are also wonderful, with plenty of them to love or love to hate. I always felt like I was transported back in time as I was reading. My only complaint was that we learned a little more than I felt necessary about the after effects of the poison, but that was a minor issue. I’m already looking forward to the sequel. If you are looking for a fun historical mystery, don’t miss this one.
Obviously, there is a lot going on here, and it does mean the mystery takes a little time to become an important part of the story. But I didn’t care. I was quickly caught up in Tiffany’s life and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to her next. And make no mistake about it, the mystery here is strong. I loved how things were all pulled together for the climax. The characters are also wonderful, with plenty of them to love or love to hate. I always felt like I was transported back in time as I was reading. My only complaint was that we learned a little more than I felt necessary about the after effects of the poison, but that was a minor issue. I’m already looking forward to the sequel. If you are looking for a fun historical mystery, don’t miss this one.