The Only Woman In The Room by Marie Benedict

 My Rating:  4.7

Hedy Kiesler's beauty leads to a starring role in a controversial film and marriage to a powerful Austrian arms dealer, allowing her to evade Nazi persecution despite her Jewish heritage. But Hedy is also intelligent. At lavish Vienna dinner parties, she overhears the Third Reich's plans. One night in 1937, desperate to escape her controlling husband and the rise of the Nazis, she disguises herself and flees her husband's castle to America.

    

This historical fiction covered so much that I was continually looking things up and was astounded at how much research the author did. What an amazing life Hedy led (although her personal life was a train wreck). Definite recommend.

The Jesus Diet by Robin Merrell

 My Rating: 4.8

In a practical and simplistic way, the Jesus Diet shows you how to access wellness and healing through the power of the Lord’s Supper and other teachings of Jesus.

I admit that when I was first told about the premise of this book, I was skeptical. If my girlfriend hadn't sent me this book, I never would have bought it. Having read it, I loved it and highly recommend it! Not only is it short and easy to read but, it really resonated with me.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

 My Rating: 4.6

After just one season, Rachel Krall's true crime podcast "Guilty or Not Guilty" has made her a household name. Now she is going to the small town of Neapolis to cover a devastating rape trial.

Twenty-five years ago in Neapolis, Jenny Still's drowned, but Rachel is receiving letters insisting that Jenny was murdered. When Rachel starts asking questions, nobody seems to want to answer. Soon the past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases that will change the course of the trial and the lives of everyone involved.

I felt that this started off really strong with a unique story line. Then it gradually faded and then 80% in felt cliche. It was still super enjoyable but, just really improbable and all wrapped up too neatly at the end. I did find Rachel and the podcast approach to be very enjoyable.

Sisters by Daisy Johnson

 My Rating: 2.3

July and September were born just 10 months apart. After an incident at school, their single mother has moved them to a long abandoned family home near the short. In their new, isolated life, July finds that the deep bond she has always shared with September is shifting in ways she cannot entirely understand. Ignored by their mother, the sisters push boundaries of behavior—until things unfold.

The description of this book uses the word "shocking" several times and insinuates that there is so much tension in the unfolding of the story. I personally found it boring and didn't care about any of the characters. Would not recommend.

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. 

Playing Nice by J.P. Delaney

 My Rating: 3.0

Pete Riley answers the door one morning and lets in a parent's worst nightmare. On his doorstep is Miles Lambert, a stranger who breaks the devastating news that Pete's son, Theo, isn't actually his son--he is the Lamberts', switched at birth by an understaffed hospital while their real son was sent home with Miles and his wife, Lucy. For Pete, his partner Maddie, and the little boy they've been raising for the past two years, life will never be the same again. 

Reeling from the shock, the two families take comfort in shared good intentions, eagerly entwining their very different lives in the hope of becoming one unconventional modern family. But a plan to sue the hospital triggers an official investigation that unearths some disturbing questions about the night their children were switched. How much can they trust the other parents--or even each other? 

I thought the initial plot line had so much promise but the manipulation and cunning vs the others naivety got boring very quickly. Not plausible.

Bookmarks Magazine Mar/Apr 2021

 YEAH! I love when I get my Bookmarks magazine. I have a lot of books already in my queue from previous editions so am not going to list those.

  

     

There is so much more to this book than just the books that I picked out. It is my absolutely favorite subscription that I look forward to having show up in my mailbox. I am going to talk about it in my "February books" video on YT next week.

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.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

 My Rating: 3.2

On her 25th birthday, Libby Jones gets a much anticipated letter that will tell her who her birth parents are...and a lot more.

25 years ago, the police are called to a scene of an apparent suicide. There are three dead bodies, four missing children and a crying baby.

There was too much dysfunction and no likable characters for my taste. I also felt that the pacing of the book was completely 'off' - it dragged for the first 3/4 of the book and then felt rushed. I have loved other books by this author but wouldn't recommend this book.

Grown By Tiffany D. Jackson

 My Rating: 4.6

Enchanted's family has recently moved to the suburbs and she is trying to fit in to her high school. She is on the swim team and also is an aspiring singer. When legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots her at an audition, her dream of being a professional singer takes flight. Enchanted is dazzled by Korey’s luxurious life but soon her dream turns into a nightmare.

This definitely has a very strong young adult feel to it but I think that is intentional as Enchanted is young. I felt that it was very well told. As a former rape & assault crisis counselor, I felt it resonated. Definitely a disturbing but honest read.

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian

 My Rating: 4.7

Cassandra Bowden is a huge binge drinker. Her job with the airline making it easy to find adventure, and the occasional blackouts seem to be inevitable. She lives with them, and the accompanying self-loathing. When she awakes in a Dubai hotel room, she tries to piece the previous night back together. As she gets out of bed, she sees the man she spent the night with lying beside her. Then she sees blood, a slick, still wet pool on the crisp white sheets. 

Afraid to call the police—she's a single woman alone in a hotel room far from home—Cassie begins to lie.  Could she have killed him? If not, who did? (less)

Her life is such a mess and she makes so many bad decisions that you just have to keep reading to find out what happens. This was a fast, easy read that kept me turning the pages to go along on the wild ride.

Where They Found Her By Kimberly McCreight

 My Rating: 3.7

Winter in Ridgedale, New Jersey and the body of an infant is discovered in the woods near the town’s university campus. No one knows who the baby is, or how her body ended up out there. 

Freelance journalist, Molly Anderson is unexpectedly called to cover the story. Molly is still dealing with the severe depression that followed the loss of her own baby. Soon Molly is unearthing some very dark secrets including a twenty year old death in the same spot.

This is told from various perspectives and shows how their lives are more intertwined with what happened to the baby than they ever could have imagined.  

I have read and loved some of McCreight's other works so I wanted to like this one as well. Unfortunately, the characters didn't feel well developed and some were very grating. By the end of the book, I was glad when it was over.

The German Girl by Armando Lucas Carreo

 My Rating: 3.2

In 1939, Hannah and her bestfriend Leo are trying to flee Nazi Germany. they have a pack that no matter what happens, they will reconnect.

Decades later in New York, Anna receives a letter from a great-aunt in Cuba that she has never met, Hannah.

I felt that the characters were very flat. The author seemed to introduce a character our of nowhere and then include some mundane details in an effort for us to feel an attachment to them. I truly didn't care about any of the characters which was a big deterrent in my enjoying this book. I enjoyed this unique story line of how some people fleeing the Germans ended up in Cuba. 

Bookmarks Magazine January/February 2021

 It always makes me so happy to get my Bookmarks magazine. There were quite a few that I already d on my kindle and have posted on previous bookmarks posts, so I am just putting the new additions below. I agree with other readers that this edition felt very 'heavy' and I just wasn't in the mood for that right now. I do keep all my previous Bookmarks magazine editions so I can always revist them in future.

    

    

  

  

Let me know any great books you are reading that you would recommend or, if you also get Bookmarks magazine let me know any books you think I should have added above. I hope you are having a fabulous week and making lots of time to read!

The Opposite of Fate By Alison McGhee

 My Rating: 4.2

Warning: Sexual assault, rape, unplanned pregnancy, death, and abortion.

After a brutal attack, a young girl named Mallie is left in a lengthy coma. When she awakes, it is to find how much of her world has changed. Do not read anything more about this book as I think it would spoil it.

 I have read several other books by this author and will continue to seek out her work as she has such a beautiful writing style. Every single character was captured so well and how they struggled in their own way to deal with what happened. I loved William T. What a beautiful character. The writing was so beautiful as well. The only thing I didn't like is, that I felt that it was trying to manipulate my feelings with too many difficult issues and then wrapped it all up in a neat bow.