Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer

Oy! to the world

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach.

But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg.

Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze.

Paperback, 416 pages

Published September 28, 2021 

by MIRA

3.5/5 stars

Sometimes a rom/com is what this reader needs, I read this just before Christmas while in a ‘read more holiday books’ kick. The world was still in limbo and rom/coms, when done right are a nice distraction.

The blurb for The Matzah Ball sounds fun. Rachel has a secret, she loves Christmas but given that she is Jewish and her father is a well known Rabbi complicates things. Oh, and Rachel is also the author of Christmas romance novels, that’s her big secret.

On one hand this was a fun read, the animosity between her and old time friend Jacob played out with comical situations as they are thrust together after avoiding each other for years. Working together has Rachel rethinking her life, her beliefs and the past.

Now on to the other hand. I struggled to really understand the falling out that caused this great division between Rachel and Jacob, suffice to say it didn’t really work for me. The ending wrapped things up nicely and for a Christmas rom/com that’s a good thing.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke

Don’t miss the brand-new chilling gothic thriller from the bestselling author . . .

Upon the cliffs of a remote Scottish island, Lòn Haven, stands a lighthouse.

A lighthouse that has weathered more than storms.

Mysterious and terrible events have happened on this island. It started with a witch hunt. Now, centuries later, islanders are vanishing without explanation.

Coincidence? Or curse?

Liv Stay flees to the island with her three daughters, in search of a home. She doesn’t believe in witches, or dark omens, or hauntings. But within months, her daughter Luna will be the only one of them left.

Twenty years later, Luna is drawn back to the place her family vanished. As the last sister left, it’s up to her to find out the truth . . .

But what really happened at the lighthouse all those years ago?

Paperback, 432 pages

Published October 5, 2021 

by HarperCollins

3.5 stars

This was my anticipated read of 2021. I usually pick a spooky Halloween right and this was it. Coming in with rave reviews for its creepiness factor I jumped in.

Alternating between a couple points of view and time periods keep me on my toes. That being said I still had to think for a minute in terms of who was who for the different chapters and time period.

This was a story of folklore, witch trials and mystery. It was atmospheric, especially with the old lighthouse setting, mystic caves and history. There was some suspense surrounding the disappearances and danger. But there were a lot of characters to keep track of.

I know I am in the minority since there are so many 4/5 star reviews, but this ended up wavering between 3-3.5 stars for me. 

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Review:

I read this book last year and feel bad that it took so long to post this review. I received it in the spring YA box from the fine folks at SweetReadsBox.

Coming in at almost 500 pages it is a big commitment but honestly I was so captivated with this read that the time just flew by. Some chapters I listened to the audiobook, which was great because I got to hear the proper pronunciation for the Ojibwe words.

Eighteen year old Daunis tells her story of the past while dealing with secrets both past and present. This book is so well written and researched. 

There are many layers to this story, I actually reversed my usual blurb first then review just because the blurb gives so much of the story away with things that happen during the last half of the book. I went in blind, not knowing a thing and loved it.

The Firekeeper’s Daughter is more than a story about her life, it’s also about the injustices being biracial with a past that doesn’t let go. It’s about the Ojibwe way and learning their traditions and why. While marketed for a YA audience I highly recommend for all. This book offers so much, mystery, family drama, friendship, culture and a gorgeous cover.

This is Angeline Boulley’s debut, I can’t wait to see what comes next. But I have to say she has set the bar high. One of my favourite reads of 2021 and even after all this time this book has stayed with me.

Hardcover, 496 pages

Published March 16th 2021

 by Henry, Holt and Co. (BYR)

5/5 stars

As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. Daunis dreams of studying medicine, but when her family is struck by tragedy, she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother.

The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, certain details don’t add up and she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.

Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, but secretly pursues her own investigation, tracking down the criminals with her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home.

Now, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she'll go to protect her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.

Debut author Angeline Boulley crafts a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

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.

Hardcover, 464 pages

First published February 2, 2021

by St.. Martin's Press

4.5/5 stars

Kristin Hannah is a go to author for me mainly for her historical fiction. I looked forward to reading this book and even pre-ordered it, but with all the buzz around I waited a bit so that my expectation weren’t too high. When I did start it it was a combination read and audiobook. Julia Whalen was the narrator and she did a stunning job.

I am not at all familiar with the Dust Bowl and what transpired there so this book was a real eye-opener. Following the story of Elsa as she navigate through this horrible time in history was hard to read at times, heartbreaking with the whole situation ultimately made this a hard book to put down.

I love the historical aspect and the educational lesson. It wasn’t just the Dust Bowl but the reactions of those they seeked help from, be it people or the government. Even now 10 months after reading this book it has stayed with me (yea I’m behind in my reviews.)

The Four Winds is an engaging novel, while it a story set during the 1930's it’s also a story of relationships, perseverance and family. Kristin Hannah has solidified herself yet again as a go to author.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever.

Malibu: August, 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them... and what they will leave behind.

Paperback, 384 pages 

Audiobook 11 hours, 5 minutes

Published June 1, 2021 

by Doubleday Canada

4/5 stars

This is my first time reading a Taylor Jenkin Reid book, she was all the buzz on IG when this book was first released. I went with the audiobook format after reading a few chapters of the paperback.  I found the audio easier to listen to and to be honest its one of those books where I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if I read it.

The story is set in 2 different timelines, one being 1983 as a family of 4 siblings get ready for the big part. But it flashes back into time to the 60's as we learn how the family came to be only 4 siblings.

The author really put me in the era for both of them, I felt the celebrity vibes and the struggles these kids went through living on the coast.

Malibu Rising is a well written story about a dysfunctional family with scandal, heartache, privilege and sacrifice.  The narrator of the audio is Julia Whalen, she does a great job bringing the story to life.  While I am not usually a big fan of celebrity stories, this one worked for me (thanks to the audio format).

The Riviera House by Natasha Lester

The New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Secret weaves a lush and engrossing novel of World War II inspired by a true story and perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff.

 
Paris, 1939: The Nazis think Éliane can't understand German. They’re wrong. They think she’s merely cataloging art in a Louvre museum and unaware they’re stealing national treasures for their private collections. They have no idea she’s carefully decoding their notes and smuggling information to the Resistance. But Éliane is playing a dangerous game. Does she dare trust the man she once loved with her secrets, or will he only betray her once again? She has no way to know for certain . . . until a trip to a stunning home on the French Riviera brings a whole new level of peril.

Present Day: Wanting to forget the tragedy that has left her life in shambles, Remy Lang heads to a home she’s mysteriously inherited on the Riviera. While working on her vintage fashion business, she discovers a catalog of the artworks stolen during World War II and is shocked to see a painting that hung on her childhood bedroom wall. Who is her family, really? And does the Riviera house hold more secrets than Remy is ready to face?

Natasha Lester brilliantly explores the impossible choices ordinary people faced every day during extraordinary circumstances, weaving fact with fiction and celebrating women who push the boundaries of their time.

Paperback, 480 pages

PublishedAugust 31, 2021

by Forever

4.5/5 stars

Natasha Lester is a new to me author.  I have her previous book, The Paris Orphan in my vast tbr pile but jumped into this her latest.

Part of the reason I hesitated reading another WW2 book was being offered something new and different.  With the current day story this was more than another WW2 story but rather a journey of grief and healing.  It was authentic, heart felt and just took this book to another level.

I enjoyed the past story, Eliane is a strong character with character and determination.  I was reminded of The Monuments Men but from another perspective.  Not being a big lover of art I was able to feel Eliane's passion and drive to safeguard these precious pieces, though it comes with a steep cost.

The present day was a story that tore at my heart as I felt the heartache of Remy.  Her journey felt authentic as she struggled to carry on with life when her loved ones didn't.

The Riviera House is an emotional read, it's about sacrifice, grief, a mothers love and how far one goes to protect themselves and those they love.

Like I said my first Nastasha Lester book, I'll definitely be back for more.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

Felicity Morrow is back at Dalloway School.

Perched in the Catskill mountains, the centuries-old, ivy-covered campus was home until the tragic death of her girlfriend. Now, after a year away, she’s returned to graduate. She even has her old room in Godwin House, the exclusive dormitory rumored to be haunted by the spirits of five Dalloway students—girls some say were witches. The Dalloway Five all died mysteriously, one after another, right on Godwin grounds.

Witchcraft is woven into Dalloway’s history. The school doesn’t talk about it, but the students do. In secret rooms and shadowy corners, girls convene. And before her girlfriend died, Felicity was drawn to the dark. She’s determined to leave that behind her now; all Felicity wants is to focus on her senior thesis and graduate. But it’s hard when Dalloway’s occult history is everywhere. And when the new girl won’t let her forget.

It’s Ellis Haley’s first year at Dalloway, and she’s already amassed a loyal following. A prodigy novelist at seventeen, Ellis is a so-called “method writer.” She’s eccentric and brilliant, and Felicity can’t shake the pull she feels to her. So when Ellis asks Felicity for help researching the Dalloway Five for her second book, Felicity can’t say no. Given her history with the arcane, Felicity is the perfect resource.

And when history begins to repeat itself, Felicity will have to face the darkness in Dalloway–and in herself.

• Hardcover, 372 pages
• PublishedAugust 9, 2021
•  by Delacorte Press
• 3/5 stars

 

A Lesson In Vengeance was part of my August 2021 Owlcrate box.  The cover is gorgeous and the edges sprayed so it makes a nice sound when I turned the pages.

This is one of those books that I am left pondering my thoughts.  On the one hand I was genuine curious about this story and how things would turn out. With it's Gothic setting, it had that dark ghosty vibe. Felicity was as interesting character with a past that set the stage for what I hoped to be interesting read.  Oh and yea there are the Dalloway Five from way back when.  Intriguing right?

The first part was a slower pace, getting to know everyone (well honestly there weren't that many to get to know, a smallish cast of characters), get the feel of the land and feel Felicity's emotional fragility.  

The last 1/3 was fast paced, it finished with a twist and a bang but that middle part just dragged and felt one dimensional. The lack of adults and a support cast was felt by this reader, it didn't feel authentic.  It wasn't as dark as I thought and the dark Gothic vibe just didn't pan out for me.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

Paperback, 276 pages

Published October 19, 2021 by

Harper Muse

*****

5/5 stars

Sometimes fairy stories may say best what's to be said.

C. S. Lewis

Once Upon a Wardrobe is a beautifully written story that is perfect for this time of the year.  It's magical, meaningful and so captivating.  I'm a hard nut to crack when it comes to shedding a tear or two from a book but this one did it for me.

I'm so glad that I followed my gut instinct when it came to pre ordering this one - though now I regret not grabbing the hardcover vs paperback.  I went into this book blind, other than knowing it was about a wardrobe and Narnia.  I got way more than I expected, the writing flowed smoothly at a great pace.  The characters were real and I loved it.  I can definitely see myself reading this one again.

If you only read one Christmas book a year make it this one but truly you can read it anytime of the year.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


From the bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis comes another beautiful story inspired by C. S. Lewis’s ability to change the world and captivate hearts—including those of a terminally ill boy and his logic-driven sister.

Megs Devonshire is brilliant with numbers and equations, on a scholarship at Oxford with dreams of solving the greatest mysteries of physics.

But equations haven’t been able to solve her biggest problem: her brother George, whom she adores, has a failing heart. It has been failing for all eight years of his life. When George is given a copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and begs her to find out where Narnia came from, there’s no way she can refuse.

And so Megs moves completely out of her comfort zone, imploring the author and famous tutor of English Literature to give her the answers her brother so desires. What she receives instead is more stories . . . stories of Jack Lewis’s life, which she takes home to George.

Meg keeps trying to impose her trusty logic on the stories, but she slowly comes to realize that lists never answer the biggest questions. The gift she thought she was giving George turns out to be the one he was giving her: hope.

The Secret Life of Shirley Sullivan by Lisa Ireland

'Elderly. Is that how the world sees me? A helpless little old lady? If only they knew. I allow myself a small smirk.'

When Shirley Sullivan signs her 83-year-old husband, Frank, out of the Sunset Lodge Nursing Home, she has no intention of bringing him back.

For fifty-seven years the couple has shared love, happiness and heartbreak. And while Frank may not know who his wife is these days, he knows he wants to go home. Back to the beach where they met in the early 1960s . . .

So Shirley enacts an elaborate plan to evade the authorities – and their furious daughter, Fiona – to give Frank the holiday he’d always dreamed of.

And, in doing so, perhaps Shirley can make amends for a lifelong guilty secret . . . 

Paperback, 336 pages

Published April 28th 2020 

by Penguin Random House Australia

3/5 stars

This is my first time reading Lisa Ireland, she came highly recommended in my quest to discover Australian authors that we don't see much of in Canada.

This is a dual time period story where eventually the 2 storylines mesh.  The younger Shirley pales in comparison to the older version.  Her journey of self discovery, in the 1960/70s I might add, was also a journey for myself as I watched the era play out. It's a time period I grew up in and could appreciate what was going on.  Feminism was becoming a thing in Australia as it was in North America.  Women wanted a voice and began to stand up for their rights.

The older Shirley was confident, protective of Frank.  While their adventure was interesting over time it was a bit repetitive and honestly I struggled to pick the book up at times.  But that being said I genuinely wanted to know the ending.

Another struggle I had was the fact I couldn't picture the younger/growing up Shirley with the older Shirley. The older one is gutsy, for her age she tackled electronics and educated herself while stepping away from her comfort zone, determination will do that.  But I just couldn't see the 2 being the same person.

So the ending...I wish I could say more but suffice to say I wasn't a huge fan of it.  You can pop on over to Goodreads for more insight but it will be hidden behind that spoiler button.  It would make for a great book club discussion.

All in all an okay read with some funny and heartbreaking scenes.

This book was part of my 21 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon

Eagerly anticipated by her legions of fans, this sixth novel in Diana Gabaldon's bestselling Outlander saga is a masterpiece of historical fiction from one of the most popular authors of our time.

Since the initial publication of Outlander fifteen years ago, Diana Gabaldon's New York Times–bestselling saga has won the hearts of readers the world over -- and sold more than twelve million books. Now, A Breath of Snow and Ashes continues the extraordinary story of 18th-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his 20th-century wife, Claire.

The year is 1772, and on the eve of the American Revolution, the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit. Men lie dead in the streets of Boston, and in the backwoods of North Carolina, isolated cabins burn in the forest.

With chaos brewing, the governor calls upon Jamie Fraser to unite the backcountry and safeguard the colony for King and Crown. But from his wife Jamie knows that three years hence the shot heard round the world will be fired, and the result will be independence -- with those loyal to the King either dead or in exile. And there is also the matter of a tiny clipping from The Wilmington Gazette, dated 1776, which reports Jamie's death, along with his kin. For once, he hopes, his time-traveling family may be wrong about the future.

Mass Market Paperback, 1410 pages 

Audiobook, 57 hours, 48 minutes

Published September 7, 2006  

by Arrow

4.5/5 stars

I put off reading this book because of memories to do with book 5 in this popular series. It wasn't a favorite and I struggled just to finish.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes had what I loved in books 1 and 3 (both were awesome). Given the size there were many subplots that kept me reading - actually listening since I went that route.  I enjoyed the action and mayhem, the mystery and suspense.  There was closure and new beginnings.

All in all a great listen with lots to look forward to in An Echo in the Bone.

Will I  start right away? probably not, maybe the new year.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah

Sweetbitter meets The Nightingale in this page-turning novel about a woman who returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II.

To become one of only a few hundred certified wine experts in the world, Kate must pass the notoriously difficult Master of Wine examination. She’s failed twice before; her third attempt will be her last chance. Suddenly finding herself without a job and with the test a few months away, she travels to Burgundy to spend the fall at the vineyard estate that has belonged to her family for generations. There she can bolster her shaky knowledge of Burgundian vintages and reconnect with her cousin Nico and his wife, Heather, who now oversee day-to-day management of the grapes. The one person Kate hopes to avoid is Jean-Luc, a talented young winemaker and her first love.

At the vineyard house, Kate is eager to help her cousin clean out the enormous basement that is filled with generations of discarded and forgotten belongings. Deep inside the cellar, behind a large armoire, she discovers a hidden room containing a cot, some Resistance pamphlets, and an enormous cache of valuable wine. Piqued by the secret space, Kate begins to dig into her family’s history—a search that takes her back to the dark days of World War II and introduces her to a relative she never knew existed, a great–half aunt who was a teenager during the Nazi occupation.

As she learns more about her family, the line between resistance and collaboration blurs, driving Kate to find the answers to two crucial questions: Who, exactly, did her family aid during the difficult years of the war? And what happened to six valuable bottles of wine that seem to be missing from the cellar’s collection?

 Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 19, 2018 

by William Morrow

4.5/5 stars

This book has been on my radar ever since theBakingBookworm gave it 5 stars (when that happens I take notice).

The Lost Vintage is a dual time period story with the past story through a series of diary entries - which I always enjoy.

Current day it's 2015 as Kate travels to visit her cousin in Vichy, France.  Secrets of the past begin to surface as she helps clear out a long neglected basement. I love this idea and always wish I could discover treasures hidden away.

In 1942 family history plays out with resistance groups, family drama and betrayal.

Ann Mah is a new to me author, I enjoyed her writing style, she drew me in right away with characters I cared about.  Also with a plot that was well written and captivating, the story contained wined, friendship, family resistance and past hurts. All the makings of a great book.

I was able to grab the audio book and did a combo read and listen.  I highly recommend both formats. The audio book is just under 12 hours with Saskia Maarleveld doing the reading - she is a favourite and has read a number of great books.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery.

A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love…and first betrayal.

But when gangsters on both sides show signs of instability culminating in clawing their own throats out, the people start to whisper. Of a contagion, a madness. Of a monster in the shadows. As the deaths stack up, Juliette and Roma must set their guns—and grudges—aside and work together, for if they can’t stop this mayhem, then there will be no city left for either to rule.

Perfect for fans of The Last Magician and Descendant of the Crane, this heart-stopping debut is an imaginative Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai, with rival gangs and a monster in the depths of the Huangpu River.

Hardcover, 449 pages

Published by November 17, 2020

 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

3.5/5 stars

First off, look at that cover! I love it. The gold is raised and my copy signed by the new to me author.

This was a combo audio and book read.  I seem to be doing that a lot this year and its kinda fun.

 I loved the sounds of a Romeo and Juliet retelling.  It's also the first book in a series, knowing that ahead of time made it easy to prepare for some unfinished business and little more of the stage being set for the sequel.

It's 1926 and Shanghai literally felt like a war zone.  Add in some supernatural elements and you've got a  unique story.

While I didn't feel the Romeo and Juliet vibe until closer to the end I definitely felt the era and location.  It was dark, atmospheric and complex as different gangs battle for control. The tension was felt and the plot intricate.

Both Juliette and Roma are strong characters, pressured by family to do the right thing.  The monster element might have been a bit over the top (just my opinion), but needed to further the plot line.

Like I said at the beginning this book set the stage for Our Violent End which releases in just a few weeks.  I've already preordered and look forward to another gorgeous cover on my shelf.

This book was part of an Owlcrate Book Box and part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

A Warrior's Heart by Misty M. Beller

Brielle Durand is a key defender and hunter for her people's peace-loving French settlement in the Canadian mountains. When a foreigner wanders too near to their secret homes, she has no choice but to disarm and capture him. She won't allow another massacre like the one that killed her mother a dozen years before. But now, what to do with this man who looks at her in a strange way?

Evan MacManus was on assignment to find among the caves the mineral pitchblende that might help America win the War of 1812. Despite being taken prisoner, Evan is determined to complete his mission. But when that assignment becomes at odds with his growing appreciation of the villagers and Brielle, does he follow through on the promise he's made to his government or take a risk on the path his heart tells him is right? Either choice will spell death for someone.

Paperback, 320 pages, Paperback

August 31, 2021

 by Bethany House Publishers

3.5/5 stars

Misty M. Beller is a new to me author, which is the reason I jumped at the chance to review this book.  Also with a Canadian setting in the mountains just made it all the more enticing.

I loved the idea of a settlement hidden in the mountains away from the world. I wasn't sure what to expect but with the opening scene I envisioned an action paced story.  While there was action, suspicion and betrayal this a slow paced story about 2 individuals with past hurts making it difficult to trust.

A Warrior's Heart is the first book in the Brides of Laurent Series (how many books I am not sure). This is more a story of relationships verse action, though that could change as the series progresses.  I usually find the first book sets the stage for what comes next.  I loved the setting, the characters and how this group of people overcame to protect themselves and establish a community.

How much is based on fact remains to be seen, I would have loved some author notes at the end to give more information.  All in all a nice story and a series will be continue to read - no release date yet for book 2.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc."

The Sister's Tale by Beth Powning

A novel of orphans and widows, terror and hope, and the relationships that hold us together when things fall apart.

With murder dominating the news, the respected wife of a New Brunswick sea captain is drawn into the case of a British home child whose bad luck has turned worse. Mortified that she must purchase the girl in a pauper auction to save her from the lechery of wealthy townsmen, Josephine Galloway finds herself suddenly the proprietor of a boarding house kept afloat by the sweat and tears of a curious and not completely compatible collection of women, including this English teenager, Flora Salford. Flora's place in her new family cannot be complete until she rescues the missing person in her life, the only one who understands the trials she has come through and fresh horrors met since they were separated years before.

Reconnecting with characters of Beth Powning's beloved The Sea Captain's Wife, The Sister's Tale is a story of women finding their way, together, through terrible circumstances they could neither predict nor avoid, but will stop at nothing to overcome.
 

Paperback, 328 pages

Published May 25, 2021

 by Knopf Canada

4/5 stars

The Sister's Tale is a vivid picture of life for women in the late 1800's. Women lacked rights and left to the decision making of men, men controlled their lives.  The suffragette movement was just starting.

The characters were a mixed lot that included 2 girls who came from England as part of the Home Child Program.

This was an interesting story, maybe slow at times.  Frustrating in parts where the treatment of women is shown.  Heartbreaking in the treatment of these girls. Encouraging to watch women begin to take a stand.

The Sister's Tale is a journey for the women in this book.  A journey of healing through loss, healing through pain and guilt, healing through injustices and being brave enough to accept, change and take a stand.

Beth Powning is a new to me author.  She is Canadian and with a Canadian setting I was anxious to read this book. I have a couple of her previous books and I look forward to reading more.

This book is part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge #57

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again . . .

Working as a lady's companion, the orphaned heroine of Rebecca learns her place. Life begins to look very bleak until, on a trip to the South of France, she meets Maxim de Winter, a handsome widower whose sudden proposal of marriage takes her by surprise. Whisked from glamorous Monte Carlo to his brooding estate, Manderley, on the Cornish Coast, the new Mrs de Winter finds Max a changed man. And the memory of his dead wife Rebecca is forever kept alive by the forbidding Mrs Danvers . . .

Not since Jane Eyre has a heroine faced such difficulty with the Other Woman. An international bestseller that has never been out of print, Rebecca is the haunting story of a young woman consumed by love and the struggle to find her identity.

  Paperback, 428 pages,

July 16, 2015 by Virago

first published Aug 1, 1936

4.5/5 stars

This book has been in my tbr pile for years.  Recently our Family Book Club drew this title out of the hat and we all hunkered down for a group read. A couple read the book and 2 did an alternate read and listen.  Our feelings were similar.

We enjoyed this read.  Written in 1936 it was labelled as a romance, maybe that is because of the female author and era.  There was romance in the sense of a newly married couple but the story was more mysterious.

Rebecca unfolds nicely, introducing both likeable and unlikable characters - of course some that draw suspicion to themselves, while others that were rather annoying.  Lots of red herrings, an eerie setting and that Gothic feel made this an enjoyable read.

This was my first du Maurier book.  Her writing style was captivating with attention to detail, a well written story.  I look forward to reading more from her.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

Greenwood by Michael Christie

From the award-winning author of If I Fall, If I Die comes a propulsive, multigenerational family story, in which the unexpected legacies of a remote island off the coast of British Columbia will link the fates of five people over a hundred years. Cloud Atlas meets The Overstory in this ingenious nested-ring epic set against the devastation of the natural world.

They come for the trees. It is 2038. As the rest of humanity struggles through the environmental collapse known as the Great Withering, scientist Jake Greenwood is working as an overqualified tour guide on Greenwood Island, a remote oasis of thousand-year-old trees.

Jake had thought the island's connection to her family name just a coincidence, until someone from her past reappears with a book that might give her the family history she's long craved. From here, we gradually move backwards in time to the years before the First World War, encountering along the way the men and women who came before Jake: an injured carpenter facing the possibility of his own death, an eco-warrior trying to atone for the sins of her father's rapacious timber empire, a blind tycoon with a secret he will pay a terrible price to protect, and a Depression-era drifter who saves an abandoned infant from certain death, only to find himself the subject of a country-wide manhunt. At the very centre of the book is a tragedy that will bind the fates of two boys together, setting in motion events whose reverberations we see unfold over generations, as the novel moves forward into the future once more.

A magnificent novel of inheritance, sacrifice, nature, and love that takes its structure from the nested growth rings of a tree, Greenwood spans generations to tell the story of a family living and dying in the shadows cast by its own secrets. With this breathtaking feat of storytelling, Michael Christie masterfully reveals the tangled knot of lies, omissions, and half-truths that exists at the root of every family's origin story. 

Hardcover, 512 pages

Published September 24th 2019

 by McClelland & Stewart

4/5 stars

This book grabbed my attention with the Canadian historical setting.  It comes in at just over 500 pages with a small print. For me it was hard to read which is why I waited for the audio via the library and did a combo read/listen.

Beginning in 2038 then going back in time to reveal an intriguing multi generational family saga that spans the country.  Most of the book takes place on Vancouver Island, its a place I love to visit so it wasn't hard for me to visualize the beautiful trees and feel the setting.  The story itself was well constructed with realistic threads that carefully fused together to create an interesting journey that eventually placed Jake where she ended up.

Greenwood is a well written story of perseverance, conviction and family - not necessarily ones you are born into.  This is my first time reading Michael Christie, will definitely be on the lookout for more.

“What if a family isn't a tree at all? What if it's more like a forest? A collection of individuals, pooling their resources by intertwined roots, sheltering each other from wind and weather and drought... what are families other than fictions? Stories told about a particular cluster of people for a particular reason. And like all stories, families are not born, they're invented. Pieced together from love and lies and nothing else.”

This book is part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.  I received Greenwood from the fine folks at Uniquely Bookish Box.

The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker

"So that was all it took," I thought. "That was all it took for me to feel like I had all the power in the world. One morning, one moment, one yellow-haired boy. It wasn't so much after all."

Meet Chrissie...

Chrissie is eight and she has a secret: she has just killed a boy. The feeling made her belly fizz like soda pop. Her playmates are tearful and their mothers are terrified, keeping them locked indoors. But Chrissie rules the roost -- she's the best at wall-walking, she knows how to get free candy, and now she has a feeling of power that she never gets at home, where food is scarce and attention scarcer.

Twenty years later, adult Chrissie is living in hiding under a changed name. A single mother, all she wants is for her daughter to have the childhood she herself was denied. That's why the threatening phone calls are so terrifying. People are looking for them, the past is catching up, and Chrissie fears losing the only thing in this world she cares about, her child.

Paperback, 352 pages

PublishedMay 18, 2021

by Riverhead Books

5/5 stars

This is Nancy Tucker's debut and my goodness that was an intense ride.  I didn't know what to expect but by the time I impulse purchased this book (thank you Instagram readers), I'd kinda forgot the plot and just jumped in.  The opening line 'I killed a little boy today' had me bracing for an emotional read.

The First Day of Spring is an emotional, heartbreaking read but it's one I couldn't turn away from.  The writing was spot on, Chrissie's voice gave this story the authenticity that matched the story.

Jumping back and forth between Julia and Chrissie, with back story, painted such a vivid picture of her childhood.  Given the dark plot this book is humorous at times and that was needed and appreciated. Chrissie speaks her mind with a total lack of respect and caring.  It took awhile for me to even like her and over time and revelation that changed.  Being only 8 years old when the book begins make this all the more disturbing.

Hats off to Nancy Tucker for this 5 star read, I can't wait to see what comes next.  Maybe by that time Chrissie will have faded from memory.

This book is part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge (#54).

The Chanel Sisters by Judithe Little

A novel of survival, love, loss, triumph—and the sisters who changed fashion forever

Antoinette and Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel know they’re destined for something better. Abandoned by their family years before, they’ve grown up under the guidance of pious nuns preparing them for simple lives as the wives of tradesmen or shopkeepers. At night, their secret stash of romantic novels and magazine cutouts beneath the floorboards are all they have to keep their dreams of the future alive.

The walls of the convent can’t shield them forever, and when they’re finally of age, the Chanel sisters set out together with a fierce determination to prove themselves worthy to a society that has never accepted them. Their journey propels them out of poverty and to the stylish cafés of Moulins, the dazzling performance halls of Vichy—and to a small hat shop on the rue Cambon in Paris, where a business takes hold and expands to the glamorous French resort towns. But when World War I breaks out, their lives are irrevocably changed, and the sisters must gather the courage to fashion their own places in the world, even if apart from each other. 

Paperback, 400 pages

Published December 29th 2020

 by Graydon House

3.5/5 stars

I knew nothing about the Chanel Sisters and to be perfectly honest I usually steer clear of books with Hollywoodish/ritzy type stories.  But The Chanel Sisters was included in a recent book box (Thank you SweetReadsBox) and they haven't disappointed me yet.

Beginning when this sisters are young and living in a convent they still managed to stay together.  They are determined to be more then what society views them as.  It was nice getting to know how the Chanel brand was established and all that they went through.  Told from the POV of only one sister, Antoinette I think it would have been nice to hear from Coco as well, especially since it's her name that resonates with many.

The locations spans many countries and I love it when one is close to my home, this unknown piece of their history surprised me.  Who knew?

All in all an entertaining read, knowledge gleamed and a new author discovered.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

The Summer of Lost Letters by Hannah Reynolds

Perfect for fans of Morgan Matson and Ruta Sepetys, this sweet, summery romance set in Nantucket follows seventeen-year-old Abby Schoenberg as she uncovers a secret about her grandmother's life during WWII.

Seventeen-year-old Abby Schoenberg isn't exactly looking forward to the summer before her senior year. She's just broken up with her first boyfriend and her friends are all off in different, exciting directions for the next three months. Abby needs a plan--an adventure of her own. Enter: the letters.

They show up one rainy day along with the rest of Abby's recently deceased grandmother's possessions. And these aren't any old letters; they're love letters. Love letters from a mystery man named Edward. Love letters from a mansion on Nantucket. Abby doesn't know much about her grandmother's past. She knows she was born in Germany and moved to the US when she was five, fleeing the Holocaust. But the details are either hazy or nonexistent; and these letters depict a life that is a bit different than the quiet one Abby knows about.

And so, Abby heads to Nantucket for the summer to learn more about her grandmother and the secrets she kept. But when she meets Edward's handsome grandson, who wants to stop her from investigating, things get complicated. As Abby and Noah grow closer, the mysteries in their families deepen, and they discover that they both have to accept the burdens of their pasts if they want the kinds of futures they've always imagined. 

Hardcover, 384 pages

Published June 15th 2021 

by Razorbill

4.5/5 stars

The Summer of Lost Letters was such a delight to read.  Right from the beginning I enjoyed this book.  Hannah Reynolds is a new to me author, this being her YA debut (she also writes as Allison Parr).

I loved the location, Nantucket, it was descriptive with that quaint island setting.  Abby was such a likeable character, searching she gets more than she bargains for.  This book was mysterious as Abby sets out to discover her grandmother's past. Without giving too much of the story away, I loved the historical elements, it's something I was unfamiliar with. so thank you Hannah Reynolds for educating me.  Abby worked in a bookstore which had those bookish vibes with some title droppings.   

The Summer of Lost Letters is a story of betrayal, family and friendships.  Though it was a slower paced story, and a couple parts didn't really add much to the story, it was the writing that stands out for me.  With its one liners easy banter  and an ending that I didn't see coming I was entertained.

My thanks to the Instagram reading community for bringing this book to my attention.

This book was part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge. 

Falling by T.J. Newman

You just boarded a flight to New York.

There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard.

What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped.

For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.

The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane.

Enjoy the flight.

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published July 6th 2021

by Avid Reader Press / Simon Schuster

4/5 stars

What can I say, decisions, decisions what a horrible one to have to make.

Dubbed the 2021 Best Don't Read on a Plane winner is the perfect way to describe this book. T.J. Newman's debut is a fast-paced story that kept me wondering how this mess of an issue would be resolved. 

Without going into too much detail of the why and how that goes on here, the author approached this book in a manner that was tense (to say the least) and heartbreaking for all.   While the opening chapter didn't really do a lot for me the rest of the book flowed nicely. With alternating POV's the visual was felt right down to the support cast on the ground.

I loved the story behind this book, the 41 rejections before #42 accepting this manuscript.  Talk about perseverance!! She wrote idea and plot points on cocktail napkins while being a flight attendant. This book had an authentic feel on the aircraft with the lingo spot on - my husband is a pilot so I'm kinda familiar.

Falling released last month and part of my 2021 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge (the wait was way too long at the library)