Saturday, September 18, 2021
Review - The Art of Inheriting Secrets
AUTHOR: Barbara O'Neal
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): When Olivia Shaw’s mother dies, the sophisticated food editor is astonished to learn she’s inherited a centuries-old English estate—and a title to go with it. Raw with grief and reeling from the knowledge that her reserved mother hid something so momentous, Olivia leaves San Francisco and crosses the pond to unravel the mystery of a lifetime.
One glance at the breathtaking Rosemere Priory and Olivia understands why the manor, magnificent even in disrepair, was the subject of her mother’s exquisite paintings. What she doesn’t understand is why her mother never mentioned it to her. As Olivia begins digging into her mother’s past, she discovers that the peeling wallpaper, debris-laden halls, and ceiling-high Elizabethan windows covered in lush green vines hide unimaginable secrets.
Although personal problems and her life back home beckon, Olivia finds herself falling for the charming English village and its residents. But before she can decide what Rosemere’s and her own future hold, Olivia must first untangle the secrets of her past.
REVIEW: Although it took me a while to get interested in the story, I’m glad I hung in there, because it has quite an intriguing plot. The first few chapters were a struggle, but halfway through it really picked up, and from then on I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. There are many interesting characters in this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about every one of them, especially Olivia and Samir. Their love story is so endearing, and the author did a wonderful job bringing it to life. If you love a good story with lots of twists and turns - and romance - then I encourage you to read it.
Friday, September 10, 2021
Review - The Four Winds
AUTHOR: Kristin Hannah
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.
In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes an epic novel of love and heroism and hope, set against the backdrop of one of America’s most defining eras—the Great Depression.
REVIEW: What a beautiful and inspiring story! I've always been a huge fan of Kristin Hannah, and her latest work didn't disappoint. I believe we can all learn something from Elsa's story. She is such an admirable character, and I rooted for her from beginning to end. SPOILER ALERT: The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is because I didn't like the way it ended. I'm usually left happy and content with the ending in all of Kristin Hannah's stories, but this one left me feeling disheartened and dissatisfied. Other than that, I would recommend it to everyone.
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Review - Where the Forest Meets the Stars
AUTHOR: Glendy Vanderah
RATING: ★★★★
Summary (from Goodreads): In this gorgeously stunning debut, a mysterious child teaches two strangers how to love and trust again.
After the loss of her mother and her own battle with breast cancer, Joanna Teale returns to her graduate research on nesting birds in rural Illinois, determined to prove that her recent hardships have not broken her. She throws herself into her work from dusk to dawn, until her solitary routine is disrupted by the appearance of a mysterious child who shows up at her cabin barefoot and covered in bruises.
The girl calls herself Ursa, and she claims to have been sent from the stars to witness five miracles. With concerns about the child’s home situation, Jo reluctantly agrees to let her stay―just until she learns more about Ursa’s past.
Jo enlists the help of her reclusive neighbor, Gabriel Nash, to solve the mystery of the charming child. But the more time they spend together, the more questions they have. How does a young girl not only read but understand Shakespeare? Why do good things keep happening in her presence? And why aren’t Jo and Gabe checking the missing children’s website anymore?
Though the three have formed an incredible bond, they know difficult choices must be made. As the summer nears an end and Ursa gets closer to her fifth miracle, her dangerous past closes in. When it finally catches up to them, all of their painful secrets will be forced into the open, and their fates will be left to the stars.
REVIEW: I'll admit from the start that it took me quite a long time to get into this book. I put it down after the first three or four chapters and didn't pick it up again for several days, and I did this often. But about a quarter of the way through the book, the story picked up considerably, and my curiosity about one of the main characters, an 8-year-old girl named Ursa, reeled me in and didn't let go. Once that happened, I couldn't put the book down, and I finished it in one day. Ursa is a very unique character. Her young life is full of tragedy and heartbreak, and the last few chapters kept me on the edge of my seat. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I will say I breathed a huge sigh of relief (for Ursa's sake) when I finally turned the last page. Talk about a rollercoaster ride! Glendy Vanderah did an excellent job with her debut novel, and I would recommend it to everyone.
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