Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

 My Rating: 4.9

The sheriff's deputy at the front door brings hard news to Ree Dolly. Her father has skipped bail on charges that he ran a crystal meth lab, and the Dollys will lose their house if he doesn't show up for his next court date. Sixteen-year-old Ree, who has grown up in the harsh poverty of the Ozarks, learns quickly that asking questions of the rough Dolly clan can be a fatal mistake. She perseveres as she has her Alzheimer's mother and two little brothers to care for. She encounters obstacles of every kind and finally confronts the top figures in the family's hierarchy

Wow, just wow. Woodrell's writing is incredible. This is very gruesome and graphic and not for the faint of heart. If you weren't already, it will make you glad that you weren't raised in the extreme poverty of Ozarks. This is Soprano's meets The Ozarks.

We Being At The End by Chris Whitaker

My Rating: 5.0

Four kids - Star, Sissy, Walker (Walk) & Vincent - grow up together. 

Fast forward to Walk being Chief of Police, Vincent about to be released from prison and Star having two children....13 year old Duchess has had a rough life as she tries to protect her little brother Robin from their drunk mother. Star loves them both deeply but will not win any mother of the year awards.

This book was so powerfully written - the story, the character and the words. It is sad, haunting and absolutely beautiful. 

This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

 My Rating: 5.0

Rosie and Penn have 4 boys and she decides to roll the dice to see if they can have a girl. This is about raising their children, how parenting doesn't have a manual and trying to deal with the difficulties along the way. They have a unique family that comes alive and will make you feel like you are part of their clan.

Wow! The writing pulled me in and swept me away. So much love radiated off of the pages. Do yourself a favor and don't read anything but just jump in. WARNING: a definite controversial story line but I think it was handled extremely adeptly in a way that made it so relatable. 

The Shadows by Alex North

 My Rating: 5.0

Charlie Crabtree is the sinister edgy ringleader of the four boy pack. Charlie has them going further and further until it divides the group and ends in a murder so shocking that it goes down in infamy. There are internet groups that recount the horrors as well as copycat killers. It was so jarring that Paul Adams moved away and hasn't been back, until now. It is 25 years later and his mother is old and senile so he returns to his childhood town only to be reliving so much of what transpired.

       

If you aren't grounded in a strong positive place, this may not be the book for you right now. It WILL disturb your peace. Yikies is it well told and so creepy. I can't wait for Mr. North to write more!

The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow

My Rating: 5.0

Karl never thought of himself as a Jew; after all, he's never even been in a synagogue. But the bullies at his school in Nazi-era Berlin don't care that Karl's family doesn't practice religion. Then champion boxer and German hero, Max Schmeling, makes a deal with Karl's father to give Karl boxing lessons. As Nazi violence against Jews escalates, Karl must take on a new role: family protector. 

It was chilling how quietly things deteriorated. The propaganda and lies from back then are hauntingly familiar with everything unfolding now. Excellent read. I loved the tie in with real life boxer Max Schmeling, Joe Lewis as well as the historical events of Nazi Germany. This was very reminiscent of the Book Thief but more of a coming of Age book than Young Adult. 

The Whisper Man by Alex North

My Rating: 5.0

Widower, Tom Kennedy is struggling to raise his young son Jake. They have moved to a new house to have a fresh start but Jake's invisible friends seems to have followed him. When a young boy goes missing, Detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis are frantic to prevent a repeat of the five missing boys from twenty years ago. There is enough familiarity to the crime that Pete visits the serial killer Frank Carter in prison to see what he knows.

This was so suspenseful and scary! It would make a great book to read around Halloween. North is a great writer! This made my 'best of' list for the year. This was a haunted scary thriller type book but the characters were very well developed. I can't wait to read the sequel.

Where The Lost Wander by Amy Harmon

 My Rating: 4.9

1853, young widow Naomi May, her family and several other families set out on the Oregon trail. She feels an instant connection with their guide, a half Pawnee man, John Lowry.

This captures the difficult life of living in a wagon train with everything from making camp every evening to breaking camp every morning, the weather and many other hardships. Excellent writing and story. This made me add other books by this author to my queue. 

Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict

 My Rating: 4.9

In the Industrial 1860's, Irish Immigrant Clara Kelly is sent by her family from Ireland to try to make her way in America. She ends up securing a job as Lady's Maid in the home of the up and coming Andrew Carnegie.

Again, Benedict hits it out of the park. This is fiction that reads like Historical Fiction in the capturing of that time period. I thoroughly enjoyed everything on this audio book - the Irish accents, the various voices, the story and the characters. Picture "Downton Abbey" told in 1860's America. 

Ms. Benedict,  I have only recently discovered you but with reading one book of yours a month, am quickly exhausting your wonderful books....please write faster

Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly (Lilac Girls #3)

 My Rating: 4.8

Georgeanna is a Union nurse during the Civil War. Georgie's path crosses with Jemma, a slave girl who is sold off and ends up conscripted in the army. Ann-May Wilson is the plantation owner who owns Jemma and is trying to find her to bring her back. 

This is inspired by true events and helps you to feel like you are back in the Civil War times. So much material is covered in this book - slavery, war efforts, picking sides in the war, plantations, war-torn New York, Civil War nursing and more. Extremely well done. I am glad that I read the first two books in this series as it does reference some of those characters, but you could read this as a stand alone.

The Power of A Praying Wife by Stormie OMartian

 My Rating: 4.9

Stormie shares her personal challenges in her marriage in a very relatable way. She includes specific prayers at the end of each chapter. Her approach got me to view my marriage in a different way as well as completely changed my approach on praying.

This was one of those books that from the very beginning of reading it and putting it in to practice, I saw God's hand at work in my marriage. It is VERY powerful and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict

 My Rating: 4.9

This starts in 1908 when Clemmie and Winston are married and covers their many years together. She was a driving force in Winston's career as well as implementing groundbreaking ideas such a air-raid shelters and job initiatives for women during WWII.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I have read of Benedict's and this was no exception. Despite Winston and Clementine's difficult beginnings, they were a powerful duo who left an indelible mark on the world. This was a thoroughly enjoyable and also educational read. I can't wait to read more by this fabulous author.

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

 My Rating: 4.9

This opens on a contented scene of quiet domesticity. Jason is at home with his beautiful wife enjoying a glass of Pinot Noir while she cooks dinner. Their 15 year old son is doing his homework at the kitchen table. At his wife's prompting, Jason pops around the corner to celebrate his college room mate. On his walk back home to his family for dinner, Jason is kidnapped at gun point. He is taken to a remote power plant where he is beaten. The last words he hears are "Are you happy in your life?" before he loses consciousness. When he wakes up, he is surrounded by strangers who all seem to know him and are so excited that he is "back". What unfolds next is a wild ride of Jason struggling to reconnect with his family.

I don't remember how this ended up in my queue. I am not a big sci-fi fan but, from the very beginning, this book reeled me in. I thoroughly enjoyed this read with great writing, excellent character development and such a unique plot line.

The Eye Of The Needle by Ken Follett

 My Rating: 5.0

WWII and you realize through the British Military Intelligence the scope of the spy network...as well as the double agent spies that they have turned. They are hunting one spy that is very professional and the most dangerous Die Nadel - The Needle. 

Lucy and David marry on the eve of David leaving to fly planes in the war when a lifechanging event happens.

I enjoyed this thoroughly and learned so much! I didn't realize that Rommel had so many things right. I didn't realize that the Brits/Allies were bluffing with so much of the war at stake. Wow!

In the beginning, I enjoyed the "Lucy and David" storyline much more than the Military Intelligence and even The Needle storylines. Then, as the book progressed I was equally engrossed in all of the storylines and couldn't wait to turn the page. I am going to get Mark to read this and then we will watch the movie. Wow. Just wow. 

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

 My Rating: 4.7

Skye and Nicholas are childhood friends that are separated at too young an age.  As WWII unfolds, Skye is determined to be a pilot for the Royal Air Force. She is reunited with her childhood soulmate Nicholas but learns he is engaged to a Frenchwoman, Margaux Jourdan.

1947: Designer Christian Dior unveils his glamorous first collection to a world weary of war and grief. He names his debut fragrance Miss Dior in tribute to his beloved sister Catherine, who forged a friendship with Skye and Margaux through her work with the French Resistance.

Present Day: Fashion conservator Kat Jourdan discovers a priceless collection of Dior gowns in her grandmother's vacant cottage. As she delves into the mystery of their origin, Kat begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about her beloved grandmother. (less)

I enjoyed this immensely and learned a few things about WWII. I loved the tie in with the Christian Dior gowns and even the contrast of the heavy war scenes with the lighter romance. I enjoyed Skye's childhood so much I was sad when it switched to the rest of the book which was about her life as an adult. After that brief moment of mourning, I enjoyed her adult-life and the other story lines. Very well done and I will be reading more by this author.