Review: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Alaska, 1974. 
Unpredictable. 
Unforgiving. 
Untamed. 

For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival. Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: he will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.

 Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown.

 At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.

 But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

 In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska—a place of incomparable beauty and danger. The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.

 Kindle Edition, 448 pages

 Expected publication: February 6th 2018

 by St. Martin's Press
*****

“One thing every child of a POW knew was how easily people could be broken.”

My only experience with Kristin Hannah was with The Nightingale, I believe it was her first venture into historical fiction - it made my best of 2015 list.  (My review can be found here). When I saw The Great Alone was coming out I jumped at the chance. Having visited Alaska on a cruise once it wasn’t hard for me to visualize so much of the landscape with its remoteness, harsh weather element as well as beautiful scenery.

What I loved about this book, other than the location was the time period.  The lack of modern electronics was a plus for me. With virtually an untamed landscape, it was a time when cruises and tour groups were sparse.

I appreciate the research that went into this book.  It wasn’t just the landscape with vivid descriptions of the various seasons but what the residents endured, the struggles of 18 hours of daylight and 18 hours of darkness. Even those not suffering from PTSD had to find ways to cope.  The author put me in those scenes of darkness and despair as well as appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature.

The synopsis above does a great job outlining this wonderful book. The Great Alone opened my eyes and gave me a clearer view of PTSD, it helped me to understand this condition and see how Ernt would grasp at anything for a new beginning.  But Alaska back in that time, where authority is scarce and limited phone service is asking for trouble, he was so focused on himself and the present forgetting to look ahead.

“He needs a chance. A new start. We all do. Maybe Alaska                                  is the answer.”

Leni is great character, she misses so much of her childhood, forced to grow up before her time and along with her mother live a life walking on egg shells. Getting inside her head, feeling the raw emotions of this young girl had me connecting right from the first pages. This is a capivating coming of age story, it was a pleasure to read and hard to put down. 

They are many layers to The Great Alone, a story of survival, heartache and challenges. It is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time.

This was one of my last books of 2017, making my ‘best of 2017’ list.  Many thanks to St Martin’s Press (via Netgalley) for and advanced copy.

Review: The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright

Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown.

But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.

 A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives-- including her own--are lost?

Published November 21st 2017 

by Bethany House Publishers

**** 1/2

The House on Foster Hill is Jamie Jo Wright's debut, I love discovering new authors especially when I get the chance to start with their debut. I loved the premise of this one, spooky old abandoned house, murder of an unidentified woman taking place a century earlier in a town that is tight lipped about the past.

This book made my 'best of 2017' list for a number of reasons. First off I love the mystery, the Gothic elements, creepy family portraits hanging crooked with eyes that follow you, mysterious music playing in this vacant house and it's deadly history. The author kept me wanting to read more with its subtle clues and it wasn’t till near the end where everything fit into place. I think it’s great when an author can create a mystery/suspense book in a way where it isn’t blatantly obvious what is taking place and keeps me guessing.

Now you may have noticed I only gave this book 4 1/2 stars instead of five and that involves the past story line. It wasn’t anything that I can put my finger on but I just felt there was some little thing missing. They were a few times where I didn’t get the feel of the time, but it wasn’t enough to distract me or take away from the plot.

I really like the author's writing style I liked how she wove the story back-and-forth in time smoothly, the ending it was not something I expected at all, very fitting for the time. The way the past and current story lines mesh was perfect.

This is Christian fiction and this book portrayed it perfectly. Maybe it’s just because I can relate but I thought the author displayed both Ivy and Kaine’s grief in a realistic manner,. Each person handles grief differently, the reaction and their feelings toward God is altered,  where some cleave to Him others distance themselves wondering how a loving God could let bad things happen. Both Ivy and Kaine’s struggles played out nicely here not in an overwhelming preachy manner but heartfelt and authentic. There is no set time period for grief and healing and that came out here.

All in all I think Jamie Jo Wright is off to a great start with this book, definitely looking forward to her new book out in June 2018.

Thank you to Bethany House (via Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book).

Review/Giveaway: The Murderer's Maid by Erika Mailman

Bram Stoker Award finalist Erika Mailman brings the true story of the brutal murder of Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother into new focus by adding a riveting contemporary narrative. 

The Murderer's Maid interweaves the stories of two women: one, the servant of infamous Lizzie Borden, and the other a modern-day barista fleeing from an attempt on her life. 

Trapped by servitude and afraid for her own safety, Irish maid Bridget finds herself an unwilling witness to the tensions in the volatile Borden household. As Lizzie seethes with resentment, Bridget tries to perform her duties and keep her mouth shut.

 Unknowingly connected to the legendary crime of a century ago, Brooke, the illegitimate daughter of an immigrant maid, struggles to conceal her identity and stay a jump ahead of the men who want to kill her. When she unexpectedly falls in love with Anthony, a local attorney, she has to decide whether to stop running and begin her life anew. 

With historical detail and taut, modern storytelling, Erika Mailman writes a captivating novel about identity, choices, freedom, and murder. She offers readers a fresh perspective on the notorious crime and explores the trials of immigrants seeking a better life while facing down fear and oppression, today and throughout history. Intelligent and detailed, The Murderer's Maid is a gripping read from beginning to bloody conclusion.

Publication Date: October 30, 2017

Bonhomie Press

Hardcover; ISBN-13: 978-0997066449

Genre: Fiction/Historical/Mystery

*****

I remember as a teen watching the movie of Lizzie Borden with Elizabeth Montgomery and since then have been intrigued as to what actually took place. How someone could brutally kill her own father and stepmother? I have actually been searching for years to read any fiction books on Lizzie Borden, they are hard to find.  That is until a couple years ago, while I have enjoyed two previous books on this famous murder, The Murderer's Maid is not just my favorite but this one made my 'best of 2017' list.

There are a number of reason why this one made my 'best' list.  Though I am fairly familiar with the Borden story what I loved was the uniqueness of a dual time period. Bridget Sullivan is the family maid and it’s even when she first stepped into this house that she can feel the sinister atmosphere. Mainly told from her POV there are a few other views as well, this was great because it gave a broader view of what was taking place. The author wrote with such vividness that it wasn’t hard to feel the atmosphere of distress, dislike and disdain that permeated this home.

The present day story line was equally intriguing and as I was reading I couldn’t help wondering where the author was going with Brooke's story and how it would connect to Lizzie Borden. There were many twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages.

While history cannot 100% with accuracy pinpoint who committed these horrible crimes all evidence points to Lizzie and the author wrote a compelling argument as to how and why she might have done it. Remember this is historical fiction, meaning facts, motives and scenarios our embellished to present a great book. That being said I loved the author's notes at the end and in this case I especially liked them because not only did she go into detail of what she included in the book and why, along with changes made but she also included things omitted from the book which I found just as fascinating. Things I've never heard of before.

This was my first time reading anything by Erika Mailman and I have already have an Amazon order with more of her books winging their way here.  Her writing is smooth, captivating and was an absolute pleasure to read.

Thank you to Amy at HFVBT for the opportunity to be part of this tour.

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“A complex and riveting parallax view of domestic crimes, decades apart.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Erika Mailman writes a page turner of a thriller that will fascinate as well as terrify.” — Margaret Lane, New York Journal of Books

"Fascinating, mesmerizing, and so darkly atmospheric that you keep looking over your shoulder as you read." ―Diana Gabaldon, internationally-bestselling author of the Outlander series

"The Murderer’s Maid is a fascinating and deeply chilling tale. Erika Mailman weaves a story that is by turns poignant, compelling, and murderously suspenseful." ―Kathleen Kent, author of The Heretic’s Daughter

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Powell's

Erika Mailman is the author of The Witch's Trinity, a San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book and Bram Stoker Award finalist, and Woman of Ill Fame, a Pushcart Press Editor's Book Award nominee. She's a Yaddo fellow and lives in Northern California with her family.

For more information, please visit Erika Mailman's website.

You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a hardcover copy of The Murderer's Maid!

To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.  Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 8th. Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.  Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

  The Murderer's Maid

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Review: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.

1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.

1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, the "Queen of Spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.

Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.

  “Both funny and heartbreaking, this epic journey of two courageous women is an unforgettable tale of little-known wartime glory and sacrifice. Quinn knocks it out of the park with this spectacular book!”—Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author of America's First Daughter

 Paperback: 528 pages 

 Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

 (June 6, 2017) 

*****

You know what I wanted to do when I finished this book? Turn back to page 1 and start all over again. Then I think I will grab her Rome series and reread those. There were so many things that I loved about this book and it comes with a major gosh alert, consider yourself warned.

If it was possible to give more than a five stars I definitely would, not only did it make my 'best of 2017' but make my list of all time favorites.

The Alice Network is a dual time period story, where one usually involves a current day thread and a past it was a nice change for the focus to be on the past, the two world wars. I have read everything Kate Quinn has written this is her first venture out of Rome and a totally different era. It takes a talented author who can make that jump and hit a grand slam. She has totally done that here. 

I loved the uniqueness of the subject matter, the little know parts of history brought to life in a realistic and believable matter, it had me chomping at the bit to google so much. I was good and waited till I finished not just the book but the author's notes as well. Anyone who knows me knows I love when a book finishes off with these, especially in a historical piece. It's where the author gets to talk about what's real, what's made up giving the reader an inside look at the motivation and what drew the author the write this book - loved it! 

The Alice Network was a compelling story with characters that were real, in a setting full of intrigue, suspense and heartbreak, witty at times to break the tension (as only Kate Quinn can do). Quinn's pose is flawless, she gives depth to her characters and setting making me feel like I am right there, I can feel the emotion pulse through this story giving credence to the author's ability to weave together a great story.

It is always a pleasure reading a Kate Quinn book, thank you to TLC Tours for the opportunity to be part of this tour. Be sure to check out the video below where some of us bloggers are given the opportunity to ask her questions.

 

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kate Quinn is a native of Southern California. She attended Boston University, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in classical voice.

A lifelong history buff, she has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga and two books set in the Italian Renaissance detailing the early years of the infamous Borgia clan. All have been translated into multiple languages.

She and her husband now live in Maryland with two black dogs named Caesar and Calpurnia.

 Find out more about Kate at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Review: All the Best People by Sonja Yoerg

An intricately crafted story of madness, magic and misfortune across three generations from the author of The Middle of Somewhere and House Broken...

 Vermont, 1972. Carole LaPorte has a satisfying, ordinary life. She cares for her children, balances the books for the family’s auto shop and laughs when her husband slow dances her across the kitchen floor. Her tragic childhood might have happened to someone else.

 But now her mind is playing tricks on her. The accounts won’t reconcile and the murmuring she hears isn’t the television. She ought to seek help, but she’s terrified of being locked away in a mental hospital like her mother, Solange. So Carole hides her symptoms, withdraws from her family and unwittingly sets her eleven-year-old daughter Alison on a desperate search for meaning and power: in Tarot cards, in omens from a nearby river and in a mysterious blue glass box belonging to her grandmother.

 An exploration of the power of courage and love to overcome a damning legacy, All the Best People celebrates the search for identity and grace in the most ordinary lives.

 Paperback, 368 pages

 Expected publication: May 2nd 2017 

by Berkley Books

*****

I know this is not the way to start a book review, but I have one pet peeve in regards to getting ARC copies and that is when it comes as a PDF, usually I am able read on my Kindle but a PDF means I would have to read on my iPad and I don't like doing that. My iPad is a regular sized one so it is larger than my Kindle and I just love my Kindle. Why am I saying this? Basically once I started reading All the Best People I didn't even realize where I was reading it, I was so absorbed in the story that my dislike for this reading app totally vanished. Any author that can do that totally deserves five stars.

This book centers around the lives of two women and a young girl but also jumps back in time to give the reader the background story of their mother/grandmother.

I loved the author's writing style right from the beginning and knew I was in for a real treat.  She created characters with depth, I was able to get to know them, feel their frustration, anxiety, fears and what makes them tick. Through reading with the various POV's and dealing with a subject matter of mental illness the author wrote with empathy, realism and did not hold back on the emotional level. She made me feel the frustration, defeat and determination of the various characters. We are talking both in the depression era as well as 1972 when dealing with mental illness was so different from today, showing the amount of research the author did to get it right.

All the Best People is a story of survival, heartache, love and support, it's one that will stay with me. This is my first book by Sonya Yoerg and I am a new fan on the search for more of her books. Definitely a book I highly recommend.

I was provided with a ARC through Penguin's First to Read program. Opinions are my own.

Review: The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green

After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict.

When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne's brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on?

With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king's mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption.

Paperback, 416 pages 

Published January 3rd 2017

by Bethany House Publishers 

*****

The Mark of the King made my 'best of 2017' list. I am giving this book 5 stars, if it was possible to give more I would.  It's been a while since I've read a book that was so spellbinding right from the beginning that I had a hard time putting it down.

There are so many things that I loved about this book starting with the cover.  It just spoke to me and gave off that warm vibe calling my name.

Right from the very first scene when Julianne, an experienced midwife, encounters tragedy at the birth I was hooked.  As the next scene plays out her time in prison the author didn't hold back and made me feel her distress and helplessness in a situation with no hope of a positive outcome.

The French colony is Louisiana in the 1720's is a very harsh, lonely and dangerous place, which Julianne finds out rather quickly.

The author's writing style was fabulous she wrote of the lifestyle in a wild and dangerous land, whether it was from the weather with its scorching heat and over abundance of bugs and dampness to the conflicts between the natives, British and even amongst themselves.  She didn't rush the story but made me feel what was going on nor did she mince words and painted an authentic print of Louisiana.

The Mark of the King is a story of survival, heartache, forgiveness, redemption and love.  Marked as Christian fiction but don't let that scare you off.  Someone once told me that as a Christian I should only be reading Christian fiction.  My response to that was if there were the type of books I love to read in that genre then I would jump at it.  Historical fiction is my favorite and I haven't really found too many books in that genre that satisfies what I love.  History can be brutal, raw and heartbreaking, I love books based on real life events and people, there needs to be depth of character and they need to be authentic and believable.   The Mark of the King is exactly what I want in both HF and CF.  It was realistic, heartfelt and genuine.  I think this book would be a hit for those that don't usually read this genre.

The book concluded with some wonderful author's note, going into detail about her motivation for writing this story.  In the writing I could feel the author's passion for this story and it's evident that she did a lot of research. It's a part of history that I didn't know existed, not only did I learn a lot about the time period with the struggles between French, natives and British but also what life was like for the early settlers.

I have already searched and ordered more books by this author and highly recommend this one.

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