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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Aug 11, 2020  
Today's special guest on my blog is Melissa Lenhardt - Author of the women's fiction novel THE SECRET OF YOU AND ME. Enter the #giveaway to #win a signed hardback of the book and your choice of either a FaceTime call or virtual book club visit with the Melissa Lendhardt!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2020/08/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-secret-of.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
True love never fades—and old secrets never die . . .

Nora hasn’t looked back. Not since she fled Texas to start a new life. Away from her father’s volatile temper and the ever-watchful gaze of her claustrophobically conservative small town, Nora has freed herself. She can live—and love—however she wants. The only problem is that she also left behind the one woman she can’t forget. Now tragedy calls her back home to confront her past—and reconcile her future.

Sophie seems to have everything—a wonderful daughter, a successful husband, and a rewarding career. Yet underneath that perfection lies an explosive secret. She still yearns for Nora—her best friend and first love—despite all the years between them. Keeping her true self hidden hasn’t been easy, but it’s been necessary. So when Sophie finds out that Nora has returned, she hopes Nora’s stay is short. The life she has built depends on it.

But they both find that first love doesn’t fade easily. Memories come to light, passion ignites, and old feelings resurface. As the forces of family and intolerance that once tore them apart begin to reemerge, they realize some things may never change—unless they demand it.
     
Island Detour (Sunrise Island #1)
Island Detour (Sunrise Island #1)
Maria Imbalzano | 2024 | Contemporary, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
throughly enjoyable 4 star read
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarain, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Sophie is accused of doing something she knew she did not do, and is suspended from her teaching post. Taking a job in Florida, helping out a friend, seemed the best thing to do during that time. But she was unprepared for taking a lead role in the school and she was totally unprepared for Max, another teacher at the school, trying to get his environmental institute off the ground. They both have demons to fight, but will they be stronger together?

What I especially liked about this book was the slow burn between Sophie and Max. There was immediate attraction, sure, but Max thinks Sophie has ulterior motives for being at the school and he trusts so rarely. It takes him time to see that Sophie can calm his demons, and he, hers. They both just need to admit, trust and give in to each other.

Both Max and Sophie get a say, and I'm glad they did.

There is passion, heat and love here, but I found the smexy times were very much faded to black and I liked that. I do like the smexy books, sure, but I can also appreciate a fade to black book, if the story is a good one.

And this is a good book! It's a great book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, my first by this author. I'd like to read something else, something with a bit more bite.

A thoroughly enjoyable 4 star read.

*same worded review will appear elsewhere
  
Compete (The Atlantis Grail #2)
Compete (The Atlantis Grail #2)
Vera Nazarian | 2015 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
8
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
After reading Qualify, the first book of The Atlantis Grail series, I was completely invested in the fate of Gwen Lark, her siblings, and her friends and could not fight the urge to continue reading!
Compete brings us one step closer to finding out what awaits the Qualified Earth refugees in Atlantis.
We begin this journey aboard a fleet of arkships where each teen from Earth must make a decision to determine their place on Atlantis. Gwen remains adamant to save the rest of her family from the asteriod and rejects the choices offered her, instead making a choice that enrages her Commanding Pilot Aeson Kassiopei and worries her siblings.
Since there is not near as much action in this installment, we get to enjoy the year-long trip through the galaxy to Atlantis right along with Gwen and her friends. We get to learn more about the Atlanteans (especially Aeson Kassiopei) and their customs as well as what is expected of the Earth refugees when their final destination is reached.
We also get to see relationships blossom and fade and new alliances forged.
Vera Nazarian did an excellent job creating a complete environment aboard the arkships with just enough drama snd action to keep me reading.
Sometimes the descriptions of the classes were a little long-winded but in the end, I understood why it was necessary and believe it would have detracted from the story if anything was omitted.
The ending was my most favorite part of the entire book! I was overcome with emotion and could not believe what I had just read! I had been rooting for it to happen since Qualify and was pleased at the way Vera worked it into the story.
Now, on to Book 3, Win! I can't wait to discover the planet of Atlantis with Gwen and her friends!!!
  
Night (The Night Trilogy #1)
Night (The Night Trilogy #1)
Elie Wiesel | 1958 | Biography, History & Politics
10
8.7 (21 Ratings)
Book Rating
My heart broke while listening to this novel. I cannot even imagine what this experience was like to live. Just reading this book made me thankful for the life that I have lived. I can only hope that we will never again let anyone experience these atrocious acts again.

I bought this audiobook from audible during one of the 2 for 1 sales. I knew I needed to read it, I just never truly wanted to. There are some books that demand to be read even when the reader is reluctant. It is important to read books that will challenge you, and hopefully encourage you to view the world a little differently. This is one of those books.

Night is a memoir by Elie Wiesel and it is beautifully written. It will break your heart to read it, it will challenge you, it will change you. I wish I would have read this book before I toured a concentration camp in 2007. I wish I would have known this personal account when I saw the cells, the tombstones, and the utter lack of humanity. We are taught about the concentration camps, we are told of the horrors, we are shown pictures but nothing has affected me as much as this novel.

I know that we wish to forget the past, but we cannot let this fade. We cannot stand aside as our world becomes a reflection of the past. We must move forward.

If you're on the fence about reading this novel, do it. It is a hard one to read due to the subject matter but it is worth every tear you shed.

"We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Elie Wiesel