The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

My Rating: 4.9

1789 Maine: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own. Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It transported me back in time to this small town in Maine. I got immersed not only in the rape trial, the question of the drowning but also in Martha's life. Her diary entries made the weather, her work and her family come alive.  The writing was beautiful and I will definitely read more by this author.

Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

 

My Rating: 4.7

A woman held captive finally escapes and wakes up in the hospital. She says her name is Lena. Lena, who disappeared without a trace 14 years prior. She fits the profile. She has the distinctive scar. But her family swears that she isn’t their Lena.

I am a huge fan of books translated from other languages. Combine this with a great narrator on the audio version and it is a definite win. I had only some very minor pieces figured out and there were some definite 'reveals' that I had no clue about. Well done! Great thriller/mystery.

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

 

My Rating: 4.6

Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.

As with all of Patchett's work, this is about people - their lives, the dynamics and the many layers of their lives. It is well told and makes you feel like you know all of the characters intimately. 

Beyond That The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash

 

My Rating: 4.8

In 1940 London, Millie and Reginald Thompson make the extremely difficult decision to send their eleven year old daughter to live with a well off family in America. Scared and angry, feeling lonely and displaced, Bea arrives in Boston to meet the Gregorys. Mr. and Mrs. G, and their sons William and Gerald, fold Bea seamlessly into their world and Beatrix will be racked with guilt when she thinks about how they feel as much her family as her mom and dad back in London. In fact, as the years go by, her London life becomes a fuzzy memory. Still, she knows she'll have to go back to London, there is no way she can stay in the US and break the mother's heart.

This was very well told and made me feel for all involved but most especially Bea. Both families were torn at what they gained/lost at various times but the transition was the hardest on Bea. I loved that the story didn't end there but continued on for years afterwards.

The Keeper of Hidden Books by Madeline Martin

 

My Rating: 4.7

Zofia and Jenna grow up as best friends - barely a day goes by when they don't see each other. Then the Nazi occupation of Warsaw happens. While bombs rain down on the city, Zofia finds that the library books are in need of saving. Zofia and Jenna start recovering the books and hiding the books banned by Hitler. 

I love when historical fiction books teach me something. I didn't know anything about the underground library in Warsaw. This showed not only the power of books but, the power of friendship. Zofia, Jenna and so many other characters came to life for me. I really enjoyed the writing and will read more by this author.

Where The Forest Meets The Stars by Glendy Vanderah

 

My Rating: 4.9

Joanna 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?

I absolutely LOVED everything about this book - the writing, the characters and the story line. The perfect trifecta! I love that there was still a bit of an unanswered question at the end. If all of her writing is this gorgeous then I have no idea how I haven't heard of this author sooner. I will definitely be reading more by her.

The Postcard by Anne Berest

 

My Rathing: 2.0

2003. Together with the usual holiday cards, an anonymous postcard is delivered to the Berest family home. On the front, a photo of the Opéra Garnier in Paris. On the back, the names of Anne Berest’s maternal great-grandparents, Ephraïm and Emma, and their children, Noémie and Jacques—all killed at Auschwitz. Fifteen years after the postcard is delivered, Anne, is decides to discover who sent it and why. Aided by her chain-smoking mother, family members, friends, associates, a private detective, a graphologist, and many others, she embarks on a journey to discover the fate of the Rabinovitch family: their flight from Russia following the revolution, their journey to Latvia, Palestine, and Paris. What emerges is a moving saga that shatters long-held certainties about Anne’s family, her country, and herself.

The story of Auschwitz is horrific and needs to never be forgotten. That being said, this book is not the one to read and I am shocked it won an award. Yes, I know I am in the minority but this was a struggle to finish and I should have left it in my DNF pile. The first half of the book was interesting but the last half was very long and boring. I didn't care about any of the characters and the idea of the postcard felt contrived and drawn out till it couldn't be stretched anymore. There was a family saga worth telling in here but for me, it was lost amongst the bad writing and flimsy storyline.

Fearless by Eric Blehm

My Rating: 4.9

Fearless takes you deep into SEAL Team Six, straight to the heart of one of it's most legendary operators. When Navy SEAL Adam Brown woke up on March 17, 2010, he didn't know he would die that night in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan--but he was ready. In a letter to his children, not meant to be seen unless the worst happened, "I'm not afraid of anything that might happen to me on this Earth, because I know no matter what, nothing can take my spirit from me.

FEARLESS is the story of a man of extremes, whose determination was fueled by faith, family, and the love of a woman. It's about a man who waged a war against his own worst impulses and persevered to reach the top tier of the U.S. military. Always the first to volunteer for the most dangerous assignments, Adam's final act of bravery led to the ultimate sacrifice. FEARLESS is the intimate story of a devoted man who was an unlikely hero but a true warrior, described by all who knew him as just that--fearless.

This is less a story about the Navy Deal than it is about the man Adam Brown. It starts with him as a boy growing up in Arkansas and unfolds his life. Even though I knew from the beginning that Adam died, I cried. My heart ached for him and his family. He was such an amazing man and, even though this will sound strange, I will miss him. Definite recommend.

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

My Rating: 4.0

In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe. Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off. The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. One of her relatives was shot. Another was poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more and more Osage were dying under mysterious circumstances, and many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered. As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case, and the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery. 

This was a hard one to get through as it was written very factually and dry. The writing was very thorough almost to the point of being tedious. I did expect that this book would flow and be more engaging. That being said, this was such a horrific crime that almost got covered up and I think everyone should know what happened.

My Time With God by Joyce Meyer

 

My Rating: 4.9

Each daily entry guides readers through a narrative of meditations, an uplifting declaration, and relevant scripture to encourage greater intimacy with God. Including spiritual revelations experienced by Joyce. Each chapter is only a couple of pages so easy to fit in to my morning and I carry the thoughts through out the day. I also love how Joyce includes a scripture at the beginning pertaining to the thought for the day and uses it in ways I would never have gotten out of the scripture. Highly recommend!

The Maid by Nita Prose

My Rating: 4.5

Molly isn't like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her Gran used to interpret the world for her, but Gran died a few months ago. Since then, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life's complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. Molly gets to know the regular guests of Mr and Mrs Black along with several co-workers.

But Molly's orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what's happening, Molly's unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it's too late?

This is a cute light thriller that was a quick read.

The Poppy War #1 by R.F. Kuang

My Rating: 4.9

Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising. But surprises aren’t always good. 

This reminded me of a cross between Harry Potter and Hunger Games but, with a whole unique twist. Kuang continues to amaze me with her creativity and unique plot lines. I felt for many of the characters and fell into the plotline. Kuang has an amazing ability to create a completely unique plotline yet leaving the reader feel like it is familiar and relatable. I can't wait to read the next novel in this series.

https://amzn.to/3wpV9ky 

The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin

The Many Lives of Mama Love

My Rating: 4.9

No one expects the police to knock on the million-dollar, two-story home of the perfect cul-de-sac housewife. But soccer mom Lara Love Hardin has been hiding a shady she is funding her heroin addiction by stealing her neighbors’ credit cards. Lara is convicted of thirty-two felonies and becomes inmate S32179. She learns that jail is a class system with a power structure that is somewhere between an adolescent sleepover party and Lord of the Flies . Furniture is made from tampon boxes and Snickers bars are currency. But Lara quickly finds the rules and brings love and healing to her fellow inmates as she climbs the social ladder to become the “shot caller,” showing that jailhouse politics aren’t that different from the PTA meetings she used to attend.

This was real and geniune. Despite her admitting all of her behavior, I felt for her. I most especially felt for her children. It was only through her honesty that I got pulled in to this book. I enjoyed the story of her fight to rebuild her life, her relationships and her credibility. Despite the raw honest telling, this had a lot of humor and was an easy read.

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

My Rating: 4.8

Clover has felt a strong connection with the dying - starting with her kindergarten teacher dropping dead in front of the class. She has felt a stronger connection with the dying than the living. Her beloved grandfather, who raised her, drops dead while she is traveling abroad and this prompts her to become a death doula - ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process.

This was a highly unusual topic and yet the author pulled it off beautifully. I felt that Clover's heart shone through in her life and her work. I loved the unfolding of the story and the ending was perfect.

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier

 My Rating: 4.7

Marin had the perfect life. Married to her college sweetheart, she owns a chain of upscale hair salons, and Derek runs his own company. They're admired in their community and are a loving family—until their world falls apart the day their son Sebastian is taken. A year later, Marin is a shadow of herself. The FBI search has gone cold. The publicity has faded. She and her husband rarely speak. She hires a P.I. to pick up where the police left off, but instead of finding Sebastian, she learns that Derek is having an affair with a younger woman. This discovery sparks Marin back to life. She's lost her son; she's not about to lose her husband, too. Kenzie is an enemy with a face, which means this is a problem Marin can fix.

I really enjoyed this light thriller. I didn't see the twist at the end coming at all and when they revealed it, it took me a minute to piece it together (say WHAT?!). Really enjoyed having to catch up and not having an author treat the reader like they are stupid. Very fun fast paced book. I have read one other book by this author and will continue to read more by her.