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Siren's Call (Dark Tides #1)
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Between desire and love there are some things that can’t stay buried, even in the deep of the...
Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Dunkirk (2017) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019
A Triumph
Brutal. Spectacular. Emotional. These are just some of the adjectives you could use to describe Christopher Nolan’s latest film, Dunkirk. The director of Inception, The Dark Knight, Memento and Interstellar is one of the greatest film-makers working today and he raises the bar once again with this bleak tale from World War II.
With war, you have to respect the past whilst allowing modern-day film-goers to truly understand the brutality that ordinary people like you and I went through on a daily basis.
In May 1940, Germany had advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French forces, troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach using not only military ships but civilian boats too. At the end of this incredible story of courage, 330,000 French, British, Belgian and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated.
I found a quote the other day that said “Christopher Nolan is like Michael Bay for people who have ever read a book” and in Dunkirk that seems more apt than ever. Of course there are explosions, many of them, but they are interweaved with some incredible storytelling.
Split into three separate timelines, Dunkirk follows fisherman Mark Rylance as he sails to the beaches as part of the civilian rescue effort. On land we shadow a group of young soldiers desperately trying to get back home. Finally, the film flies alongside Tom Hardy’s brave Spitfire pilot as he tries his best to keep the beaches safe.
Each of the stories has something to offer but Mark Rylance’s performance is definitely the best, making his timeline the most interesting and often the most emotional. Addressing the elephant in the room, Harry Styles, is probably best at this part of the review – he’s excellent and in a much larger part than I had imagined.
In fact, all the performances are excellent, helped in part by Christopher Nolan’s incredible use of close-ups. This is a living, breathing war and as the audience, you feel as claustrophobic as the 400,000 men did waiting on that beach in 1940.
Moreover, the sound is just astonishing. I have never known a film use sound to such an extent to convey sheer terror. The score by Hans Zimmer, coupled with the deafening aircraft flying overhead and the rapid gunfire is incredibly harrowing and makes Dunkirk very hard to watch at times – despite its 12A certification.
Dunkirk is also a masterclass in practical effects. Nearly everything you see on screen was shot without the use of CGI and my goodness you can tell. We’re so used to seeing blockbusters filled to the brim with computer generated imagery that it’s easy to forget just how good practical effects can be.
Overall, Christopher Nolan has created a tasteful homage to a day that has been etched into the minds of generations of people. It would’ve been easy to create a film that focused on the action rather than the human details of this incredible story, but Nolan has managed to craft an absolute triumph. It’s one of the best films of the year and an absolute must-watch.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2017/07/23/dunkirk-review-a-triumph/
With war, you have to respect the past whilst allowing modern-day film-goers to truly understand the brutality that ordinary people like you and I went through on a daily basis.
In May 1940, Germany had advanced into France, trapping Allied troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. Under air and ground cover from British and French forces, troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach using not only military ships but civilian boats too. At the end of this incredible story of courage, 330,000 French, British, Belgian and Dutch soldiers were safely evacuated.
I found a quote the other day that said “Christopher Nolan is like Michael Bay for people who have ever read a book” and in Dunkirk that seems more apt than ever. Of course there are explosions, many of them, but they are interweaved with some incredible storytelling.
Split into three separate timelines, Dunkirk follows fisherman Mark Rylance as he sails to the beaches as part of the civilian rescue effort. On land we shadow a group of young soldiers desperately trying to get back home. Finally, the film flies alongside Tom Hardy’s brave Spitfire pilot as he tries his best to keep the beaches safe.
Each of the stories has something to offer but Mark Rylance’s performance is definitely the best, making his timeline the most interesting and often the most emotional. Addressing the elephant in the room, Harry Styles, is probably best at this part of the review – he’s excellent and in a much larger part than I had imagined.
In fact, all the performances are excellent, helped in part by Christopher Nolan’s incredible use of close-ups. This is a living, breathing war and as the audience, you feel as claustrophobic as the 400,000 men did waiting on that beach in 1940.
Moreover, the sound is just astonishing. I have never known a film use sound to such an extent to convey sheer terror. The score by Hans Zimmer, coupled with the deafening aircraft flying overhead and the rapid gunfire is incredibly harrowing and makes Dunkirk very hard to watch at times – despite its 12A certification.
Dunkirk is also a masterclass in practical effects. Nearly everything you see on screen was shot without the use of CGI and my goodness you can tell. We’re so used to seeing blockbusters filled to the brim with computer generated imagery that it’s easy to forget just how good practical effects can be.
Overall, Christopher Nolan has created a tasteful homage to a day that has been etched into the minds of generations of people. It would’ve been easy to create a film that focused on the action rather than the human details of this incredible story, but Nolan has managed to craft an absolute triumph. It’s one of the best films of the year and an absolute must-watch.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2017/07/23/dunkirk-review-a-triumph/
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Merissa (12051 KP) rated Down to the Sea (Mystic Beach, #1.5) by Aislinn Archer in Books
Jun 17, 2022 (Updated Jun 19, 2023)
DOWN TO THE SEA is an overlap story in the Mystic Beach series. It tells the story of Aedan and Brighid - how they meet, how they become lovers and friends (and I use that order specifically), and how they both have trials to face.
Events that happened in Once Upon a Dream from Hunter's perspective, we now see from Brighid or Aedan's. This definitely helped fill the gaps and you see the reasons now for things Brighid did or said.
Aedan has his own love who hasn't 'woken up' yet and he and Brighid decide to pass the time with each other. He is a priest for a Manx Sea God - Manannán mac Lir. This means he has his own insights but he certainly doesn't see everything.
Apart from Brighid's visions, there isn't much paranormal here yet, although I'm sure that's coming in future books. I am loving this story and how the characters change and grow throughout the story.
One thing I have to say - and I know I will be in the minority here - but I got bored with the sex scenes between Aedan and Brighid. It says in the blurb the steam factors are high, and they are. It's just... I discovered I wanted more of the connection, the mysticism, between the two of them, rather than the sex. I found myself skipping over the sex scenes (unlike me) to get the visions or OoB experiences at the end. I loved it when the author changed it slightly near the end so we knew what they were doing but didn't need everything laid out.
As I say, this is my opinion, and it certainly didn't stop me from enjoying the rest of the story! I am now waiting (im)patiently for the continuation of Hunter and Brighid's story, content with waiting for Aedan's simply because I know it's coming.
If you love Ireland and the Irish Gods, I definitely recommend this book and series.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 12, 2022
Events that happened in Once Upon a Dream from Hunter's perspective, we now see from Brighid or Aedan's. This definitely helped fill the gaps and you see the reasons now for things Brighid did or said.
Aedan has his own love who hasn't 'woken up' yet and he and Brighid decide to pass the time with each other. He is a priest for a Manx Sea God - Manannán mac Lir. This means he has his own insights but he certainly doesn't see everything.
Apart from Brighid's visions, there isn't much paranormal here yet, although I'm sure that's coming in future books. I am loving this story and how the characters change and grow throughout the story.
One thing I have to say - and I know I will be in the minority here - but I got bored with the sex scenes between Aedan and Brighid. It says in the blurb the steam factors are high, and they are. It's just... I discovered I wanted more of the connection, the mysticism, between the two of them, rather than the sex. I found myself skipping over the sex scenes (unlike me) to get the visions or OoB experiences at the end. I loved it when the author changed it slightly near the end so we knew what they were doing but didn't need everything laid out.
As I say, this is my opinion, and it certainly didn't stop me from enjoying the rest of the story! I am now waiting (im)patiently for the continuation of Hunter and Brighid's story, content with waiting for Aedan's simply because I know it's coming.
If you love Ireland and the Irish Gods, I definitely recommend this book and series.
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 12, 2022
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Pieces Of Her in Books
Mar 11, 2019
Wonderful wild ride of a book and just a great read!
Andrea "Andy" Cooper thinks she knows everything about her mom, Laura. Laura has taken care of Andy for Andy's entire 31 years--perhaps to Andy's detriment, at times. Laura works as a speech pathologist and lives a peaceful life in the beach town of Belle Isle. But on the morning of Andy's birthday, as Laura takes her to breakfast, everything changes. Violence erupts at the mall, Laura instinctively acts to protect her daughter, and suddenly the secrets she's been hiding are exposed for all to see. She only wants to shelter Andy, but Andy is shocked by her mother's actions and what they mean. Even more, the mall episode sets off a series of events that can't be stopped and leads Andy on a dangerous journey unlike anything she ever imagined.
I'm learning that you can always count on Slaughter for an amazing, twisted ride. I so enjoyed her novels PRETTY GIRLS and THE GOOD DAUGHTER and now PIECES OF HER joins them as another suspenseful, tense mystery.
What I love about Slaughter is that she's wonderfully descriptive in her writing. You don't just get a mystery, you receive a beautifully written novel, full of detailed characters and excellent writing. Andy and Laura are well-formed characters: you'll find yourself incredibly frustrated with Andy in the beginning, as she's so helpless for a 30+ woman. Get it together, Andy! Do something, save yourself, help your mother. Laura is closed off and reluctant to share anything with her family. Luckily, both characters grow on you as the book progresses.
The novel does a good job of showing how the U.S. reacts to public tragic events--the incident in the mall--for it is public opinion to that moment which really influences so much of Laura's future actions. I was captivated by this one from the very beginning. It's fascinating to watch the action unfold in Slaughter's deft hands. I found myself going "wow" at a variety of the twists and was frantically turning the pages, wanting to know what on earth was going on.
The narration switches between Andy in the present-day and another narrator in 1986. This is incredibly effective in creating suspense and slowly unraveling our story. The novel is stressful and tense as the pieces come together, and--per typical Slaughter--brutal and dark in many places.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It keep me glued to my seat the entire time, wondering what was happening and what would happen. I loved all the details and little twists. I am always captivated by the dark aspects of Slaughter's novels and her twisted characters and plot plots. While this one could be a little unbelievable perhaps, in places, it was a wonderful wild ride of a book and just a great read. Highly recommend!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
I'm learning that you can always count on Slaughter for an amazing, twisted ride. I so enjoyed her novels PRETTY GIRLS and THE GOOD DAUGHTER and now PIECES OF HER joins them as another suspenseful, tense mystery.
What I love about Slaughter is that she's wonderfully descriptive in her writing. You don't just get a mystery, you receive a beautifully written novel, full of detailed characters and excellent writing. Andy and Laura are well-formed characters: you'll find yourself incredibly frustrated with Andy in the beginning, as she's so helpless for a 30+ woman. Get it together, Andy! Do something, save yourself, help your mother. Laura is closed off and reluctant to share anything with her family. Luckily, both characters grow on you as the book progresses.
The novel does a good job of showing how the U.S. reacts to public tragic events--the incident in the mall--for it is public opinion to that moment which really influences so much of Laura's future actions. I was captivated by this one from the very beginning. It's fascinating to watch the action unfold in Slaughter's deft hands. I found myself going "wow" at a variety of the twists and was frantically turning the pages, wanting to know what on earth was going on.
The narration switches between Andy in the present-day and another narrator in 1986. This is incredibly effective in creating suspense and slowly unraveling our story. The novel is stressful and tense as the pieces come together, and--per typical Slaughter--brutal and dark in many places.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It keep me glued to my seat the entire time, wondering what was happening and what would happen. I loved all the details and little twists. I am always captivated by the dark aspects of Slaughter's novels and her twisted characters and plot plots. While this one could be a little unbelievable perhaps, in places, it was a wonderful wild ride of a book and just a great read. Highly recommend!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Sailing Lessons in Books
Mar 18, 2019
Interesting characters & enjoyable read
The Bailey sisters grew up on Cape Cod--and overall, they are fairly close. The sisters are particularly bonded by the fact that their father, Caleb, left when they were small, after a traumatic incident that affected each sister in their own way. Wren remained on the island and is now raising her daughter, Lucy, while juggling an attempt to open a small business. Her older sister, Shannon, is a perfectionist leading a picture-perfect Cape life with her husband and three children: at least that's how it appears. As for the youngest, Piper, who barely even remembers her father: she fled to Boston, where she's spent years pursuing educational degrees she isn't sure she wants. And her love life? Don't ask. The girls' mother, Lindy, has settled down on the island with her second husband, Hank. All in all, everyone has a routine. But Caleb disturbs all that when he sends a letter, asking to return and see the girls again. Each sister responds differently to his return, and each much confront their own past--and present--in light of Caleb's presence.
I really enjoyed this book, and I found myself quite enraptured by its characters. I'm a sucker for some island-themed fiction (I'd love to go to the Cape or Nantucket someday, though I'll be so sad when everyone there isn't grappling with family issues and/or falling in love at first sight!). This was one of the books that I read at the right time, as I needed a story I could escape into. I started it while I was on "vacation" (a trip to Great Wolf Lodge with six-year-old twins - you determine if this counts as a vacation), and I found myself wishing I could transport myself to a beach somewhere to finish it.
The characters in this tale are simply interesting and fascinating. I don't know how else to say it, except I liked them, you know? OK, it took a little while to warm up to Shannon, but I could definitely relate to bits of her anxious characteristics. But I especially loved Wren and Hank. I could just picture them so easily, and I was rooting for them the entire way. (I sort of want Hank to be my Dad now.) Even Caleb was an intriguing sort of guy in his own way.
"He'd been given a talent for capturing images and a woman whom he'd loved with a fierceness that he could never seem to capture. And he'd lost it all."
So, yes, there's a bit of predictability to this one, but there's a comfortableness to it that I really liked (and needed). And there were definitely some pieces I didn't always see coming, too. Plus, I was so caught up in the characters that I was along for the ride, no matter what. They were well-written, and I was invested in their lives, which is a sign of good women's fiction, in my opinion. I had a bit of a dysfunctional childhood myself, so maybe I could relate well to this one; it just worked well for me.
"'Memory has weight. We carry it around with us in our baskets.' It had sounded lovely to her ears as a kid, this bountiful collection: a bushel of fruit, a bouquet of flowers. But as she grew, it took on a new meaning. There were days Shannon wished to set her basket of memories down; days she wished to abandon it altogether."
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Interesting characters, easy-moving plot--it was just a good read. I was actually a little sad to say goodbye to the sisters and their clan by the end.
I really enjoyed this book, and I found myself quite enraptured by its characters. I'm a sucker for some island-themed fiction (I'd love to go to the Cape or Nantucket someday, though I'll be so sad when everyone there isn't grappling with family issues and/or falling in love at first sight!). This was one of the books that I read at the right time, as I needed a story I could escape into. I started it while I was on "vacation" (a trip to Great Wolf Lodge with six-year-old twins - you determine if this counts as a vacation), and I found myself wishing I could transport myself to a beach somewhere to finish it.
The characters in this tale are simply interesting and fascinating. I don't know how else to say it, except I liked them, you know? OK, it took a little while to warm up to Shannon, but I could definitely relate to bits of her anxious characteristics. But I especially loved Wren and Hank. I could just picture them so easily, and I was rooting for them the entire way. (I sort of want Hank to be my Dad now.) Even Caleb was an intriguing sort of guy in his own way.
"He'd been given a talent for capturing images and a woman whom he'd loved with a fierceness that he could never seem to capture. And he'd lost it all."
So, yes, there's a bit of predictability to this one, but there's a comfortableness to it that I really liked (and needed). And there were definitely some pieces I didn't always see coming, too. Plus, I was so caught up in the characters that I was along for the ride, no matter what. They were well-written, and I was invested in their lives, which is a sign of good women's fiction, in my opinion. I had a bit of a dysfunctional childhood myself, so maybe I could relate well to this one; it just worked well for me.
"'Memory has weight. We carry it around with us in our baskets.' It had sounded lovely to her ears as a kid, this bountiful collection: a bushel of fruit, a bouquet of flowers. But as she grew, it took on a new meaning. There were days Shannon wished to set her basket of memories down; days she wished to abandon it altogether."
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Interesting characters, easy-moving plot--it was just a good read. I was actually a little sad to say goodbye to the sisters and their clan by the end.
Louise (64 KP) rated When Dimple Met Rishi in Books
Jul 2, 2018
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I do love myself a good YA contemporary, and this delivered. ‘When Dimple met Rishi’ has everything that you could want in a coming of age novel, it was diverse, there was romance, families, friendships and the difficulties of growing up.
I couldn’t believe this was Sandhya Menon’s debut novel as the characters felt so real and the writing was amazing.
Dimple Shah is 17 and looking forward to the prospect of college, she has enrolled for a course for computer programming and has so many ideas buzzing around her brain. Her mother has always wanted Dimple to get married and find the IIH (Ideal Indian Husband) than become a student. Dimple also wants to attend a summer camp where she can show off her programming skills and start making a name for herself, the course costs $1000 and is shocked when her parents allow her to go but what she doesn’t know is that they have other plans.
Rishi Patel wants to follow in his parents footsteps with his own arranged marriage. He too is to go to the same Summer camp where he is to meet his future bride, however when they come face to face he realises that Dimple’s parents have failed to mention the arrangement to her. Her future of computer programming seems to be slipping from her grasp at lightening speed.
This book was great it is told in dual perspective and the chapters are just the right length. The writing is easy to read and with the dual narrative you don’t get bored.
Going in to this book I had very little knowledge of Indian culture and arranged marriages as it’s not something that I have read about. This is a positive light on arranged marriages rather than the awful experiences that you hear about. I felt the impact that their culture had on these individuals to carry on with the traditions as expected of them.
I loved the characters Dimple and Rishi,they were different yet so right for each other. Dimple was head strong, determined to make a future out of something she loved and living her life as she wanted rather than expectations. She found her mother over-bearing at times as she was forceful in her suggestions. I loved that Dimple was a nerd, nowadays it’s cool to be one and be different from others and I see that now that I am older but not necessarily when I was a teenager.
Rishi was adorable, he was funny,nerdy and also really talented. He wanted to please his parents by doing what they thought best in his school work but when it came to LOVE, Rishi wanted to follow his culture, have an arranged marriage and children. This was firmly his decision and he such passion when he talked about his culture and the times he visited India.
There were a couple of reasons that I didn’t rate this book a 5 stars and they were; I didn’t really like Ashish’s storyline. The plot was a little predictable, it had great feels in the middle but then it fizzled out as I was getting frustrated with Dimples stubbornness.
This book was great it’s a perfect summer/beach read, I loved the characters, the feels that I got from Menon’s writing and the fulfillment of learning something new. I hope this isn’t the last we see from her as she can only continue to get better.
I rated this 4 out of 5 stars
I do love myself a good YA contemporary, and this delivered. ‘When Dimple met Rishi’ has everything that you could want in a coming of age novel, it was diverse, there was romance, families, friendships and the difficulties of growing up.
I couldn’t believe this was Sandhya Menon’s debut novel as the characters felt so real and the writing was amazing.
Dimple Shah is 17 and looking forward to the prospect of college, she has enrolled for a course for computer programming and has so many ideas buzzing around her brain. Her mother has always wanted Dimple to get married and find the IIH (Ideal Indian Husband) than become a student. Dimple also wants to attend a summer camp where she can show off her programming skills and start making a name for herself, the course costs $1000 and is shocked when her parents allow her to go but what she doesn’t know is that they have other plans.
Rishi Patel wants to follow in his parents footsteps with his own arranged marriage. He too is to go to the same Summer camp where he is to meet his future bride, however when they come face to face he realises that Dimple’s parents have failed to mention the arrangement to her. Her future of computer programming seems to be slipping from her grasp at lightening speed.
This book was great it is told in dual perspective and the chapters are just the right length. The writing is easy to read and with the dual narrative you don’t get bored.
Going in to this book I had very little knowledge of Indian culture and arranged marriages as it’s not something that I have read about. This is a positive light on arranged marriages rather than the awful experiences that you hear about. I felt the impact that their culture had on these individuals to carry on with the traditions as expected of them.
I loved the characters Dimple and Rishi,they were different yet so right for each other. Dimple was head strong, determined to make a future out of something she loved and living her life as she wanted rather than expectations. She found her mother over-bearing at times as she was forceful in her suggestions. I loved that Dimple was a nerd, nowadays it’s cool to be one and be different from others and I see that now that I am older but not necessarily when I was a teenager.
Rishi was adorable, he was funny,nerdy and also really talented. He wanted to please his parents by doing what they thought best in his school work but when it came to LOVE, Rishi wanted to follow his culture, have an arranged marriage and children. This was firmly his decision and he such passion when he talked about his culture and the times he visited India.
There were a couple of reasons that I didn’t rate this book a 5 stars and they were; I didn’t really like Ashish’s storyline. The plot was a little predictable, it had great feels in the middle but then it fizzled out as I was getting frustrated with Dimples stubbornness.
This book was great it’s a perfect summer/beach read, I loved the characters, the feels that I got from Menon’s writing and the fulfillment of learning something new. I hope this isn’t the last we see from her as she can only continue to get better.
I rated this 4 out of 5 stars
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated The Sound Of Glass in Books
Apr 9, 2019
Merritt Heyward has just inherited the home of her deceased husband's grandmother. A grandmother she never knew existed. Now she is packing her whole life and moving from her home in Maine to Beaufort, South Carolina. What secrets will she uncover about her husband and about herself?
Edith Heyward's whole world is turned upside down in July 1955 when on the same night, a plane explodes over small town Beaufort and her husband is killed in a car crash from watching the explosion. How will these events change her life.
These women have a very strong connection to one another. One that involves more than just Cal Heyward(Merritt's Husband). They both share a secret that they don't want the world to know.
I so enjoyed this book. This is the second book by Karen White I have read. The first being The Beach Trees. In this book, you were on the edge of your seat to see the way secrets were going to unfold. When I first started reading this book, I thought what a bitch Merritt was. But as the story unfolds you get to see what a sheltered person she is who has had to hide her emotions for so long, she's not sure how to act.
At the same time Merritt is moving to South Carolina, her step-mother and half brother are moving there as well from Georgia. Merritt has never met her brother,Owen and does not have a relationship with her step-mother, Loralee. But when they show up at her front door in a town where she is new to as well, walls start to come down and friendship and love is born.
Trying to find her way in a new town, find out who her husband was and why he kept so many secrets, and get to know family members she had no desire to know in the first place; Merritt is destined to learn more about the South, conquer her fears and become the woman she has always wanted to be.
This is an amazing novel with strong characters. You will find yourself, looking for a journal to write down all of the inspirational quotes and sayings. I highly recommend this book to all of my female friends.
Edith Heyward's whole world is turned upside down in July 1955 when on the same night, a plane explodes over small town Beaufort and her husband is killed in a car crash from watching the explosion. How will these events change her life.
These women have a very strong connection to one another. One that involves more than just Cal Heyward(Merritt's Husband). They both share a secret that they don't want the world to know.
I so enjoyed this book. This is the second book by Karen White I have read. The first being The Beach Trees. In this book, you were on the edge of your seat to see the way secrets were going to unfold. When I first started reading this book, I thought what a bitch Merritt was. But as the story unfolds you get to see what a sheltered person she is who has had to hide her emotions for so long, she's not sure how to act.
At the same time Merritt is moving to South Carolina, her step-mother and half brother are moving there as well from Georgia. Merritt has never met her brother,Owen and does not have a relationship with her step-mother, Loralee. But when they show up at her front door in a town where she is new to as well, walls start to come down and friendship and love is born.
Trying to find her way in a new town, find out who her husband was and why he kept so many secrets, and get to know family members she had no desire to know in the first place; Merritt is destined to learn more about the South, conquer her fears and become the woman she has always wanted to be.
This is an amazing novel with strong characters. You will find yourself, looking for a journal to write down all of the inspirational quotes and sayings. I highly recommend this book to all of my female friends.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Guest Cottage in Books
Feb 13, 2018
Sophie leads a calm and predictable life, but not necessarily a happy and fulfilling one, especially in the love department. When her husband announces he's leaving her, she decides to rent a cottage on Nantucket for the summer, along with her kids, Jonah and Lacey. At the same time, Trevor Black, a young widower with a four-year-old son named Leo, decides to rent a cottage on Nantucket, hoping it will get Leo (and himself) away from the memories of Leo's late mother.
All is well until Sophie and Trevor arrive on the island and realize they've rented the same house. The two decide to share the large house for the summer and quickly become fast friends. But are Sophie and Trevor destined to become more than friends?
I usually enjoy the occasional book like this, where the plot is predictable, but comfortable and sort of cozy. However, I just couldn't get into this one, especially the first half or so. In fact, I almost gave up, which I rarely ever do on a book. I couldn't find myself empathizing with Sophie or her predicament - she came across as a bland character, who gave you little reason to root for her. Also, while I know these books are based a bit on absurdity and implausibility, this one seemed particularly so. The fact that Sophie and Trevor so easily melded together in the house was amazing and that Sophie's older kids played so well with his younger one. Hmm. I can't imagine going on vacation and just agreeing to share my rental with another family!
The book picked up a little over halfway through, when Sophie took more control over her life and we finally found more about her back-story. Still, the book uses Sophie's piano-playing as a sort of backdrop, but it rings hollow at times, and is a little strange. I couldn't get into it - but that may just be me. I did enjoy the second half of the book more than the first and it certainly went faster and was more what I was expecting. Sophie became a bit more engaging and likable.
Overall, though, if you're looking for a light and fluffy beach read, there are definitely better ones out there.
(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.)
All is well until Sophie and Trevor arrive on the island and realize they've rented the same house. The two decide to share the large house for the summer and quickly become fast friends. But are Sophie and Trevor destined to become more than friends?
I usually enjoy the occasional book like this, where the plot is predictable, but comfortable and sort of cozy. However, I just couldn't get into this one, especially the first half or so. In fact, I almost gave up, which I rarely ever do on a book. I couldn't find myself empathizing with Sophie or her predicament - she came across as a bland character, who gave you little reason to root for her. Also, while I know these books are based a bit on absurdity and implausibility, this one seemed particularly so. The fact that Sophie and Trevor so easily melded together in the house was amazing and that Sophie's older kids played so well with his younger one. Hmm. I can't imagine going on vacation and just agreeing to share my rental with another family!
The book picked up a little over halfway through, when Sophie took more control over her life and we finally found more about her back-story. Still, the book uses Sophie's piano-playing as a sort of backdrop, but it rings hollow at times, and is a little strange. I couldn't get into it - but that may just be me. I did enjoy the second half of the book more than the first and it certainly went faster and was more what I was expecting. Sophie became a bit more engaging and likable.
Overall, though, if you're looking for a light and fluffy beach read, there are definitely better ones out there.
(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.)