The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

A woman being held captive is willing to risk everything to save herself, her unborn child, and her captor’s latest victim in this claustrophobic thriller in the tradition of Misery and Room.

On an isolated farm in the United Kingdom, a woman is trapped by the monster who kidnapped her seven years ago. When she discovers she is pregnant, she resolves to protect her child no matter the cost, and starts to meticulously plan her escape. But when another woman is brought into the fold on the farm, her plans go awry. Can she save herself, her child, and this innocent woman at the same time? Or is she doomed to spend the remainder of her life captive on this farm?

Intense, dark, and utterly gripping The Last Thing to Burn is a breathtaking thriller from an author to watch.

Audiobook, 8 hours, 29 minutes

Published April 20, 2021 

by Atria/Emily Bestler Books

4/5 stars

This book has been on my TBR for so long, ever since I heard thebakingbookworm rave about it. Finally, I grabbed the audiobook while on a recent vacation. It was my listen while I walked on the beach, needless to say I did a lot of walking

The Last Thing to Burn was a fast paced story about a young woman kept hostage by someone who was supposed to offer her freedom. In exchange she is trapped going on seven years. I really didn’t know what to expect here but what I got was a suspenseful story that was atmospheric in that I could tell the surroundings that Jane was forced to live in. It was told from her point of view, which was great showing everything that she has gone through

Though I’m not usually into these types of stories, this was well written and hard to read/listen to at times, since it deals with both physical and mental abuse. It was great to witness her bravery, resilience, and thought process.  As for the ending yeah I didn’t see that coming.

This listen it isn’t very long, approximately 241 pages or 8 and half hours for the audiobook.  
I highly recommend the audiobook if that is available to you.

My audio was obtained through my subscription with Everand

This Is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles

When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just 14 years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her was filled with gold. And when he died 50 years later, he made her promise to keep his secret. She is to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contains.

Now 94, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she's kept that secret. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva is visited by a reporter, Del Rankin, who wants to know more of her story. His friend who joins him only wants to find the location of the gold. Neither of them knows quite who they're up against when it comes to the old woman on the mountain.

As an unlikely friendship develops, Minerva is tempted to reveal her secret to Del. After all, how long is one bound by a promise? But the truth of what's really buried in the box may be hidden even from her.

Audiobook, 10 hours, 2 minutes

Published June 27, 2023

 by Recorded Books

4/5 stars

An intriguing blurb and book club selection had me reading this one.  Fourteen year-old Minerva's life changes drastically as she marries and moves to the mountains.  Her new husband carries a small box the whole time making her to believe that it is filled with gold.  Hidden away  he swears her to promise never to reveal its contains, which he reminds her of 50 years later as he takes his last breaths. Sounds enticing right?

Now 30 years after his passing, Minerva has stayed up in the mountain by herself.  With vivid descriptions I got a good lay of the land and how it would be isolated from human contact.  But then one day she gets a visitor and things changes.

This was a very intriguing read as pieces of her husband‘s past come to light. There were many layers to this story, not just the mystery of the box but also Minerva's transformation as she finally understands the meaning of a true friendship. 

I read this as part of our church book club and went the audiobook route. The narrator was Barbara McCulloh, who did a great job bringing this story to life.

My audio was obtained through hoopla via my public library.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had "borrowed" in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them.

Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself.

Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen's police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.

Audiobook, 9 hours, 45 minutes

Published January 31, 2023

 by Macmillan Audio

3/5 stars

The 3rd book in this series was another audio read for me, so far I’ve read the whole series this way and with the accents and personality of the reader it was very nicely done.

So here we are again with Finlay and her nanny/partner in crime Vero where they get themselves caught in another hot mess. Continuing right where book 2 left off the Russian mob is still on Finlay‘s back and Nick the cop gets more time on the pages.  I loved the first book in this series but I find each consecutive one just becomes a bit more outlandish, convoluted, but it still has that fun vibe, even though it does deal with some serious subject matter.  I laughed at some of the antics and rolled my eyes at others.

The setting mostly took place at a Citizens Police Academy, which didn’t totally work, but still an entertaining read. It also paves the way for book 4, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (review coming soon).

My audiobook copy was obtained through CloudLibrary.

Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar

For the first time, discover the unedited truth about the Duggars, the traditional Christian family that captivated the nation on TLC’s hit show 19 Kids and Counting. Jill Duggar and her husband Derick are finally ready to share their story, revealing the secrets, manipulation, and intimidation behind the show that remained hidden from their fans.

Jill and Derick knew a normal life wasn’t possible for them. As a star on the popular TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting, Jill grew up in front of viewers who were fascinated by her family’s way of life. She was the responsible, second daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle’s nineteen kids; always with a baby on her hip and happy to wear the modest ankle-length dresses with throat-high necklines. She didn’t protest the strict model of patriarchy that her family followed, which declares that men are superior, that women are expected to be wives and mothers and are discouraged from attaining a higher education, and that parental authority over their children continues well into adulthood, even once they are married.

But as Jill got older, married Derick, and they embarked on their own lives, the red flags became too obvious to ignore.

For as long as they could, Jill and Derick tried to be obedient family members—they weren’t willing to rock the boat. But now they’re raising a family of their own, and they’re done with the secrets. Thanks to time, tears, therapy, and blessings from God, they have the strength to share their journey. Theirs is a remarkable story of the power of the truth and is a moving example of how to find healing through honesty.

Audiobook, 7 hours 7 minutes

Published September 12, 2023 

by Simon Schuster Audio

4/5 stars

Although I don't usually read a lot of nonfiction, especially memoirs about celebrities, I found myself drawn to "Counting the Cost" by Jill Duggar. Jill is one of the older children from the TLC show "19 Kids and Counting." I decided to listen to the audiobook version, which was narrated by the author herself.

This book was truly eye-opening. Even though I had never watched the show, I was aware of it, especially in recent years due to the charges against Jill's older brother, Josh.

Hats off to Jill for bearing her soul and giving us a glimpse into what life was like when the whole world is pretty much watching your every move. I did not realize the role that Bill Gothard and IBLP played in their lives. I am familiar with him and could never get past him being an expert on marriage, and child rearing when he himself is a single man. But apparently lots of people do .

Jill Duggad, now married with a couple children, speaks of her growth and maturity as she begins to question the actions of her parents, which is mostly geared towards her father. His reactions are disheartening to hear, from the whole situation with Josh and how the finances are/were handled. For a book that comes in just under 300 pages with the audio around the seven hour mark it does pack a punch, and made for an interesting and enlightening read.

Both the ebook and audio were obtained through CloudLibrary.

Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain

To her husband, Annie O'Neill is the perfect wife and mother. To her rival, she is an obsession.

Dr. Olivia Simon is on duty in the emergency room of North Carolina's Outer Banks Hospital when a gunshot victim is brought in. Midway through the desperate effort to save the young woman's life, Olivia realizes who she is—Annie O'Neill. The woman Olivia's husband, Paul, is in love with.

 When Annie dies on the operating table, she leaves behind three other victims. Alec O'Neill, who thought he had the perfect marriage. Paul, whose fixation on Annie is unshakeable. And Olivia, who is desperate to understand the woman who destroyed her marriage. 

Now they must struggle with the unanswered questions about who Annie really was. And the secrets she kept hidden so well. 

‘Fans of Jodi Picoult will delight in this finely tuned family drama, with beautifully drawn characters and a string of twists that will keep you guessing right up to the end.' – Stylist

Kindle Edition, 508 pages

First published March 1, 1992

Audiobook,  14 hours, 21 minutes

Released Sept 9, 2014

by Tantor Audio

3/5 stars

I have been a Diane Chamberlain fan since reading The Midwife's Confession way back in 2012 and have managed to read most new releases since. The Keeper of the Lighthouse was originally published way back in 1992 and the 1st in a trilogy of the same name.

I wish I could say that I loved this book as much as I have her previous books, but sadly there were just some things that didn’t sit well for me. I should say that this was an audio read coming at over 14 hours and the print copy is 512 pages.  For me that’s a big book and I felt it was just way too long.  I'll take into account the start of a series usually lays some ground work for the rest of the series.  Suffice to say I’m glad I went the audio route.

lt was a twisty triangle with multiple sides that started off good but as the story unfolded there were parts that got off to a bit of a rocky start for me, it wasn’t until after the first third that some of the twists started happening.  The story itself was well written, the different emotions from a failed marriage to death of a spouse was well done but....I can't quite put my finger on what felt off for me but this wasn't a favorite Chamberlain read.  I will continue with the series, Kiss River is next - it's an old NG arc that fell through the cracks.

My audiobook was obtained through Scribd.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

All children mythologize their birth...

So begins the prologue of reclusive author Vida Winter's collection of stories, which are as famous for the mystery of the missing thirteenth tale as they are for the delight and enchantment of the twelve that do exist.

The enigmatic Winter has spent six decades creating various outlandish life histories for herself -- all of them inventions that have brought her fame and fortune but have kept her violent and tragic past a secret. Now old and ailing, she at last wants to tell the truth about her extraordinary life. She summons biographer Margaret Lea, a young woman for whom the secret of her own birth, hidden by those who loved her most, remains an ever-present pain. Struck by a curious parallel between Miss Winter's story and her own, Margaret takes on the commission.

As Vida disinters the life she meant to bury for good, Margaret is mesmerized. It is a tale of gothic strangeness featuring the Angelfield family, including the beautiful and willful Isabelle, the feral twins Adeline and Emmeline, a ghost, a governess, a topiary garden and a devastating fire.

Margaret succumbs to the power of Vida's storytelling but remains suspicious of the author's sincerity. She demands the truth from Vida, and together they confront the ghosts that have haunted them while becoming, finally, transformed by the truth themselves.

The Thirteenth Tale is a love letter to reading, a book for the feral reader in all of us, a return to that rich vein of storytelling that our parents loved and that we loved as children. Diane Setterfield will keep you guessing, make you wonder, move you to tears and laughter and, in the end, deposit you breathless yet satisfied back upon the shore of your everyday life.

Hardcover, 406 pages

Published September 12, 2006 

by Atria Books

Audiobook, 15 hours, 38 minutes

Narrated by: Bianco Amato & Jill Tanner

4/5 stars

“All children mythologise their birth. It is a universal trait. You want to know someone? Heart, mind and soul? Ask him to tell you about when he was born. What you get won’t be the truth: it will be a story. And nothing is more telling than a story.”

Ever since I read Once Upon A River I've been a little apprehensive to read another Setterfield book.  I loved it that much.  Ultimately curiosity got the better of me and I dove in.  First with the book, then a couple chapters on audio had me finishing that way.  The 2 readers did an exceptional job.

The Thirteenth Tale is a dark and Gothic mystery that follows Margaret Lea, who works at her father's rare book shop.  Out of the blue she is contacted to write the biography of Vida Winter, a famous author with a mysterious past.  What unfolds is a story that slowly unravels over 400 pages, revealing unsettling twists.  It was a intricately woven plot and one I wasn't able to predict.

Thirteenth is a tale of family, truth and secrets...so many secrets.  It is well-written and full of surprises.  I highly recommend the audiobook for the unique voices that added depth to Margaret and Vida's stories.

This book was part of my 2023 Reading Off My Challenge, #27.  The audiobook was obtained via Scribd.

Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis

In this romantic and heartwarming novel, two strangers meet in chance circumstances during a blizzard and spend one perfect evening together, thinking they’ll never see each other again. But fate seems to have different plans.

On a snowy evening in March, 30-something Noelle Butterby is on her way back from an event at her old college when disaster strikes. With a blizzard closing off roads, she finds herself stranded, alone in her car, without food, drink, or a working charger for her phone. All seems lost until Sam Attwood, a handsome American stranger also trapped in a nearby car, knocks on her window and offers assistance. What follows is eight perfect hours together, until morning arrives and the roads finally clear.

The two strangers part, positive they’ll never see each other again, but fate, it seems, has a different plan. As the two keep serendipitously bumping into one another, they begin to realize that perhaps there truly is no such thing as coincidence. With plenty of charming twists and turns and Lia Louis’s “bold, standout voice” (Gillian McAllister, author of The Good Sister), Eight Perfect Hours is a gorgeously crafted novel that will make you believe in the power of fate.

Paperback, 336 pages

Published September 28th 2021 

by Atria/Emily Bestler Books

3.5 stars

The cover of this book might invoke the feeling of a Christmas story but really it isn’t. The story does start out during a snow storm which is the only reference really to the season. Noelle‘s caught in a blizzard, stranded she meets Sam and together they have eight hours to get to know one another until they separate the next morning.

Part of the story resonated more for me in Noelle‘s role as she takes care of her mother following a stroke. Her life is essentially not her own, she isn't living the life she truly wants. Essentially putting her life on hold for the time being.

I was attracted to this book because the author wrote Dear Emmie Blue back in 2020 which was a five star read for me. Eight Perfect Hours is a charming story of two strangers fated to be together but with many obstacles in the way. It is also a journey of Noelle and her relationship with her mother and brother.  Even though it isn’t wasn’t a five star read for me I did enjoy it.  This was another combo read/audiobook. Emma Powell being the narrator this book comes in at 8 hours and 12 minutes. My first time with this narrator, I will be on the lookout for more since she did a great job.

This book was from my personal library and part of my 2022 reading off my shelf challenge, the audiobook was through Scribd

Audio Review: Good in Bed (Cannie Shapiro #1) by Jennifer Weiner

Cannie Shapiro never wanted to be famous. The smart, sharp, plus-sized pop culture reporter was perfectly content writing about other people's lives in the pages of the Philadelphia Examiner. But the day she opened up a national women's magazine to find out that her ex-boyfriend has been chronicling their ex-sex life is the day her life changes forever.

Loving a larger woman is an act of courage in our world, Bruce has written. And Cannie - who never knew that Bruce saw her as a larger woman, or thought that loving her was an act of courage - is plunged into misery, and into the most amazing year of her life.

Radiant with wit, bursting with surprises, and written with bite and bittersweet humor, Jennifer Weiner reaches beyond Cannie's story and into the heart of every woman. Gut-level real and laugh-out-loud funny, Good in Bed celebrates the courage of the human spirit and features an unbelievably funny cast of supporting characters, the strangest dog you'll ever encounter, and a heroine you'll never forget. 

Audiobook, Unabridged,

13 hours, 59 minutes

Published February 21st 2012

by Simon & Schuster Audio (first published 2001)

4/5 stars

I’m a relatively new Jennifer Weiner reader. Big Summer and Mrs Everything are recent reads that had me checking out her back list, Good in Bed being her debut, I started there.

I’ll admit that the title swayed my desire to read this for the longest time. I was thinking romance overload and it wasn’t that. Rather it was story that tackled a lot of issues relevant today (even though published back in 2001).

This was an audio read for me, coming in at 15 hours (with the paperback being 376 pages). Cannie Shapiro is 28 years old, has had a lot to deal with over the years. She is feisty, witty and tends to hold  grudges. But she is also caring, sensitive and a woman with dreams and self doubt. She also has her sidekick doggie, Nifkin. I loved the blurb,  so much of what takes place isn't laid out for the reader, it was a nice change to go into a book not knowing what was going to happen.

There were situations that seemed a little far fetched but they worked and I loved the ending. All in all an entertaining read (listen).  This is also the 1st book in 2 part series with Certain Girls being the sequel, this reader will probably go the audio route again. Audio obtained via Scribd (if you want to give them a try I can give you invite to try for a month free).

Audio Review: Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors (The Rajes #1) by Sonali Dev

Award-winning author Sonali Dev launches a new series about the Rajes, an immigrant Indian family descended from royalty, who have built their lives in San Francisco...

It is a truth universally acknowledged that only in an overachieving Indian American family can a genius daughter be considered a black sheep.

Dr. Trisha Raje is San Francisco’s most acclaimed neurosurgeon. But that’s not enough for the Rajes, her influential immigrant family who’s achieved power by making its own non-negotiable rules:

· Never trust an outsider

· Never do anything to jeopardize your brother’s political aspirations

· And never, ever, defy your family

Trisha is guilty of breaking all three rules. But now she has a chance to redeem herself. So long as she doesn’t repeat old mistakes.

Up-and-coming chef DJ Caine has known people like Trisha before, people who judge him by his rough beginnings and place pedigree above character. He needs the lucrative job the Rajes offer, but he values his pride too much to indulge Trisha’s arrogance. And then he discovers that she’s the only surgeon who can save his sister’s life.

As the two clash, their assumptions crumble like the spun sugar on one of DJ’s stunning desserts. But before a future can be savored there’s a past to be reckoned with...

A family trying to build a home in a new land.

A man who has never felt at home anywhere.

And a choice to be made between the two.

Paperback, 481 pages

Published May 7th, 2019

by William Morrow Paperbacks

*****

This is my first time reading this author and though I started out with the book I transferred over to the audio version, not just because of time restrictions but I had a feeling I would like this route better, and I was correct. The audio version comes in just over 15 hours and I was enraptured with it the whole time. The reader was Soneela Nankani, she added that extra pizzazz with the various accents and emotions.

Just going by the cover it’s a book that I wouldn’t usually be attracted to but after meeting the author and hearing a keynote address she did recently had me intrigued to read her books.

There are many layers to this story which I loved. it wasn’t just the story of Trisha and DJ but rather a book of trust issues, guilt and mortality adding in a heavy dose of family as well.

Part of me wonders if I would have enjoyed reading this as much as I did listening to the story, I think some books lend themselves better in audio format and for me this was a perfect listen.

This book is part of my ‘2019 reading off my shelf’ challenge. Audiobook via Scribd.

Audio Review: The Arrangement by Robyn Harding

A Pretty Woman tale turns toxic and deadly in this provocative and riveting thriller of sex, obsession, and murder from Robyn Harding, the “master of domestic suspense” (Kathleen Barber) and the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Party and Her Pretty Face. 

 Natalie, a young art student in New York City, is struggling to pay her bills when a friend makes a suggestion: Why not go online and find a sugar daddy—a wealthy, older man who will pay her for dates, and even give her a monthly allowance? Lots of girls do it, Nat learns. All that’s required is to look pretty and hang on his every word. Sexual favors are optional.

 Though more than thirty years her senior, Gabe, a handsome corporate finance attorney, seems like the perfect candidate, and within a month, they are madly in love. At least, Nat is…Gabe already has a family, whom he has no intention of leaving.

 So when he abruptly ends things, Nat can’t let go. She begins drinking heavily and stalking him: watching him at work, spying on his wife, even befriending his daughter, who is not much younger than she is. But Gabe’s not about to let his sugar baby destroy his perfect life. What was supposed to be a mutually beneficial arrangement devolves into a nightmare of deception, obsession, and, when a body is found near Gabe’s posh Upper East Side apartment, murder.

 Emotionally powerful and packed with page-turning suspense, The Arrangement delves into the sordid, all-too-real world of shadowy relationships between wealthy, powerful men and the young women who are caught in their web.

 Audiobook, Unabridged, 352 pages

 Amanda Dolan (Narrator )

 9 hours, 15 minutes

Published July 30th 2019

by Simon & Schuster Audio

**** 1/2

Robyn Harding is a new author to me and a fellow Canadian to boot. The Arrangement has been getting rave reviews amongst my peeps so I jumped on the bandwagon and went the audio route.

Coming in at 9 hours 15 minutes it was a fast-paced addicting story that kept my earbuds in place. With a prologue that hooked me, it was the characters that made this a wonderful listen, well the characters go hand in hand with a suspenseful plot. What I loved was watching the characters evolve, how the story changed them.

The Arrangement is a well-written suspenseful thriller with an ending that fit nicely without being too neatly wrapped up.  Definitely an author I will be reading more of.

This audio was obtained via Scribd.

Audio Review: The Scribe's Daughter by Stephanie Churchill

Kassia is a thief and a soon-to-be oath breaker. Armed with only a reckless wit and sheer bravado, seventeen-year-old Kassia barely scrapes out a life with her older sister in a back-alley of the market district of the Imperial city of Corium. When a stranger shows up at her market stall, offering her work for which she is utterly unqualified, Kassia cautiously takes him on. Very soon, however, she finds herself embroiled in a mystery involving a usurped foreign throne and a vengeful nobleman. Most intriguing of all, she discovers a connection with the disappearance of her father three years prior.

 When Kassia is forced to flee her home, suffering extreme hardship, danger and personal trauma along the way, she feels powerless to control what happens around her. Rewarding revelations concerning the mysteries of her family’s past are tempered by the reality of a future she doesn’t want. In the end, Kassia discovers an unyielding inner strength, and that contrary to her prior beliefs, she is not defined by external things -- she discovers that she is worthy to be loved.

 Paperback, 423 pages

 Published September 4th, 2015

 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Audiobook, 11 hours 41 minutes

****

The Scribe's Daughter at times reads like historical fiction but is actually a fictional world with that medieval feel.

This was an intriguing story with a likable heroine, Kassia. She is gutsy, caring and has drive. It wasn’t hard to feel her protection for her sister and drive to survive in an unfriendly world. Coming in at 423 pages there is plenty of room for the depth I love and the development of characters. The Scribe's Daughter is a gritty story with plenty of action, secrets, twists, and turns that kept me on my toes.

This was an audio read for me with Leonor A Woodworth reading it, my first experience with her and she added that extra spark making this an enjoyable listen - I would have liked The Scribe’s Daughter with either format.

I’m not sure if this is officially branded as YA but I think fans and nonfans of YA will enjoy this one.

There is a sequel to this book, which I will not mention (spoiler alert would be necessary), it’s already been added to my TBR list and available for purchase.

My thanks to the author for supplying me with this audiobook (via Audible) in exchange for honest review.

Audio Review: The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor

The author of The Girl Who Came Home turns the clock back one hundred years to a time when two young girls from Cottingley, Yorkshire, convinced the world that they had done the impossible and photographed fairies in their garden. Now, in her newest novel, international bestseller Hazel Gaynor reimagines their story.

 1917… It was inexplicable, impossible, but it had to be true—didn’t it? When two young cousins, Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright from Cottingley, England, claim to have photographed fairies at the bottom of the garden, their parents are astonished. But when one of the great novelists of the time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, becomes convinced of the photographs’ authenticity, the girls become a national sensation, their discovery offering hope to those longing for something to believe in amid a world ravaged by war. Frances and Elsie will hide their secret for many decades. But Frances longs for the truth to be told.

 One hundred years later… When Olivia Kavanagh finds an old manuscript in her late grandfather’s bookshop she becomes fascinated by the story it tells of two young girls who mystified the world. But it is the discovery of an old photograph that leads her to realize how the fairy girls’ lives intertwine with hers, connecting past to present, and blurring her understanding of what is real and what is imagined. As she begins to understand why a nation once believed in fairies, can Olivia find a way to believe in herself?

Audio 10 hours, 9 minutes

Paperback, 383 pages

Published August 1st, 2017

by William Morrow

*** 1/2

I thought that Hazel Gaynor was a relatively new author for me, but in going back I see there are 3 of her books I have already read - see below for covers with links.  The Cottingley Secret piqued my interest not just for the stunning cover but the interesting plot. It's one of the treads in her books that I enjoy, those unknown pieces of history that make for unique stories.

Told in dual time periods the author takes us back to 1917 in a little place called Cottingley during World War 1. Drawing on real historical events and the story of 2 young girls and fairies, was it real or a hoax? Even the famous Sir Arthur Conan Doyle got involved (though only with cameos throughout).

I loved the quaint little villages, the easy way of life but with these smaller places everyone knows everyone and their story.

The current story is a journey for Olivia as she comes to grip with her future while discovering a past she knew nothing about. I enjoyed taking this journey with her as she came into her own.

The Cottingley Secret is a story of self-discovery, of secrets and friendship, it isn't filled with insta- love which I really appreciated.

Though I went with the audiobook I followed along with my print copy and is part of my 2019 reading off my shelf challenge:

Audio Review: The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki

A riveting historical novel about Peggy Shippen Arnold, the cunning wife of Benedict Arnold and mastermind behind America’s most infamous act of treason . . .

 Everyone knows Benedict Arnold—the Revolutionary War general who betrayed America and fled to the British—as history’s most notorious turncoat. Many know Arnold’s co-conspirator, Major John André, who was apprehended with Arnold’s documents in his boots and hanged at the orders of General George Washington. But few know of the integral third character in the plot: a charming young woman who not only contributed to the betrayal but orchestrated it.

Socialite Peggy Shippen is half Benedict Arnold’s age when she seduces the war hero during his stint as military commander of Philadelphia. Blinded by his young bride’s beauty and wit, Arnold does not realize that she harbors a secret: loyalty to the British. Nor does he know that she hides a past romance with the handsome British spy John André. Peggy watches as her husband, crippled from battle wounds and in debt from years of service to the colonies, grows ever more disillusioned with his hero, Washington, and the American cause. Together with her former love and her disaffected husband, Peggy hatches the plot to deliver West Point to the British and, in exchange, win fame and fortune for herself and Arnold.

 Told from the perspective of Peggy’s maid, whose faith in the new nation inspires her to intervene in her mistress’s affairs even when it could cost her everything, The Traitor’s Wife brings these infamous figures to life, illuminating the sordid details and the love triangle that nearly destroyed the American fight for freedom.

  Audiobook, 16 hours, 11 minutes

Paperback, 482 pages

Published April 29th, 2014

by Simon Schuster Audio

(first published January 1st, 2014)

***

I have had this book on my TBR pile since it was released back in 2014. Not knowing anything about Benedict Arnold I wanted to know his past and what he did to earn him the traitor title.

I have read the author’s subsequent books, The Accidentally Empress and Sisi both of which I enjoyed as well and her nonfiction Beauty in the Broken Places,  as she talks candidly about her husband's stroke and the next year of their lives.

It’s 1778 when The Traitor’s Wife begins with a smattering of 1780 thrown in, told from the POV of Peggy Shippen’s maid/servant. If the author’s intent was to portray Peggy as a spoiled, self indulgent immature girl (she was only 18 years old) then she did that spot on. I didn’t like her at all, her obsession with herself got on my nerves, as did the endless clothing discussions. The first 100 plus pages were devoted to 2 balls, making me glad I went the audio route - it might have been a dnf at that point. I know I am going against the flow with my feeling here but wouldn’t life be boring if we all shared the same thoughts.

While I did learn from this book, intrigued in the historical aspects and how it played out I felt it could have been a little shorter.

 click on cover to see my review

Audio Review: Lighthouse Bay by Kimberley Freeman

From the author of Wildflower Hill, this breathtaking novel travels more than a century between two love stories set in the Australian seaside town of Lighthouse Bay.

 In 1901, a ship sinks off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The only survivor is Isabella Winterbourne, who clutches a priceless gift meant for the Australian Parliament. This gift could be her ticket to a new life, free from the bonds of her husband and his overbearing family. But whom can she trust in Lighthouse Bay?

 Fast-forward to 2011: after losing her lover, Libby Slater leaves her life in Paris to return to her hometown of Lighthouse Bay, hoping to gain some perspective and grieve her recent loss. Libby also attempts to reconcile with her sister, Juliet, to whom she hasn’t spoken in twenty years. Libby did something so unforgivable, Juliet is unsure if she can ever trust her sister again.

 In these two adventurous love stories, both Isabella and Libby must learn that letting go of the past is the only way to move into the future. The answers they seek lie in Lighthouse Bay.

Audible Audio - Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins

Published January 1st 2017

by Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd (first published 2012)

***

Lighthouse Bay was original published in 2012 and follows two storylines set over 100 years apart. Dual time periods are a trademark of Kimberley Freeman that I love, usually, with a common factor she weaves together interesting tales of secrets, mysteries, and intrigue.

Lighthouse Bay has all the aspects that make a great read, an abandoned lighthouse, old photos, diaries with missing pages that adds to the mysterious factor.  Libby and Isabella have much in common, each having to navigate through changes and confront the past before they can move into the future.  Through different circumstances, Lighthouse Bay is a story of searching, relationships and discovering oneself.

Kimberley Freeman is a go-to for me (yes I have a lot of go-to authors). Though I have the print copy I did go the audio route here. The print copy had a number of pages of interview type questions which gave insight to motivation and writing process. While it isn’t one of my favorite Freeman books it is one I recommend.

This book is part of my 2019 reading off my shelf challenge

click on cover to see my thoughts

Audio Review: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

How long can you protect your heart?

 For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life - until the unthinkable happens.

 Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

 Audio, Unabridged, 12 hours 12 minutes

 Published August 14th, 2018

by Penguin Audio

*****

I remember when this book first came out and it was a Reese Witherspoon pick, at the time it did not interest me. I read the blurb and thought meh, it wasn’t really historical so I never gave it another thought. As time went on with all the hype I still was not drawn to this book at all. Now many, many months later it is still highly recommended and still has the buzz on social media. Finally a couple weeks ago when one of my favorite bloggers (yes I'm looking at you Laurie The Baking Bookworm) highly recommended it curiosity took overtook over and on impulse, I grabbed the audiobook from Scribd - I knew I had a couple of long drives ahead of me and figured why not.

The reader is Cassandra Campbell, to say she is a favorite is an understatement, she breathes life into everything I have heard to read.  I was enamored right from that first chapter. If you’ve read the book you will know what I mean.

With vivid details of what the marsh is like, with its lack of development and raw nature I felt the author vividly described life for Kya. The prejudices of town folks felt authentic, the story itself was intriguing. The dual time period stories added that mysterious element that was necessary.

Where the Crawdads Sing is a wonderful coming of age story, it's about survival and longing in a world you were thrust into.  I have a hard time grasping that this is the author's debut, well done Delia Owens!  I will definitely be on the lookout for your next book.

Audio Review: Duet by Kimberley Freeman

A story of passion, greed, secrets and lies.

Present day: A reclusive woman living in outback Australia receives a letter acknowledging a terrible secret from her past. Thirty years before, she stole another woman's life. From the moment the letter is opened two women are on a collision course with destiny.

From the London pop scene, to the opera stages of Europe; from a tiny Greek island, to a stifling manor house full of secrets and deceptions; from the sun-drenched Queensland coast, to the silent outback; Angela and Ellie are two women both looking for something. One in search of her identity and her memory; the other in search of the love that she had and lost; theirs is a duet whose last note will not be sung until the heart-stopping climax, when a shadow from the past returns to claim them both.

Trade Paperback 535 pages

Audiobook 19hours, 58 minutes

 Published January 1st 2007

 by Hachette Australia Trade Paperback

****

I have been a fan of Kimberley Freeman since reading Wildflower Hill and Evergreen Falls, an Australian author who reminds me of Kate Morton. Yes, that is right I said Kate Morton, those that know me know my feeling towards Kate Morton and it takes some mighty big shoes to come close to her.  But what can I say, if the shoe fits...

I think Duet might be one of Freeman's first books, there is a definite growth from this one to the 2 mentioned above.  Duet was an enjoyable read (listen - audiobook) with its mystery, suspense, and intrigue.  As you can read in the blurb there is a lot going on. Spanning many decades and reading from 3 different pov's I was trying to figure out the connections, guess at the outcome and walked my dog many miles waiting.  Seeing the different angles and getting to know these characters gave the plot more depth and added to the mystery. I did find it a little long in the middle and that did take some of the enjoyment away.  But already being familiar with the author kept me going and I was not disappointed.

Duet is a hard-to-find book in print but it is readily available at Audible

Audio Review: The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland

The most enchanting debut novel of 2018, this is an irresistible, deeply moving and romantic story of a young girl, daughter of an abusive father, who has to learn the hard way that she can break the patterns of the past, live on her own terms and find her own strength.

 After her family suffers a tragedy when she is nine years old, Alice Hart is forced to leave her idyllic seaside home. She is taken in by her estranged grandmother, June, a flower farmer who raises Alice on the language of Australian native flowers, a way to say the things that are too hard to speak. But Alice also learns that there are secrets within secrets about her past. Under the watchful eye of June and The Flowers, women who run the farm, Alice grows up. But an unexpected betrayal sends her reeling, and she flees to the dramatically beautiful central Australian desert. Alice thinks she has found solace until she falls in love with Dylan, a charismatic and ultimately dangerous man.

 The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a story about stories: those we inherit, those we select to define us, and those we decide to hide. It is a novel about the secrets we keep and how they haunt us, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive. Spanning twenty years, set between the lush sugar cane fields by the sea, a native Australian flower farm, and a celestial crater in the central desert, Alice must go on a journey to discover that the most powerful story she will ever possess is her own.

Paperback, 400 pages

 Published March 19th, 2018 by

 HarperCollins Publishers Australia

***

I love reading books with Australia as the setting, I hope one day to visit this country, so for now I read about it.  Each chapter begins with a flower, it’s meaning, location and medicinal benefits which added an interesting perk and charm.

The Lost Flowers is a coming of age book for young Alice Hart, you can read from the blurb above all she goes through.  In my opinion, I think it gives too much of the story away and I'm glad I didn't read it before starting this book.  I spotted the audiobook on Audible and went that route, Louise Crawford did a great job reading this one.

With this opening sentence I was grabbed:

In the weatherboard house at the end of the lane, nine-year-old Alice Hart sat at her desk by the window and dreamed of ways to set her father on fire.

I wanted to love this book, I’m in the minority here with my feelings. My thoughts are rather mixed here.  The first third of the book was great, there was mystery and emotion. But things changed and seemed rushed on one hand and slow on the other. I found several central characters weren’t given enough time and others too much. I found myself confused at some of Alice’s actions confusing.

All that being said I’m still giving this book 3 stars for the great description of Australia and a story that I was curious to see how it would turn out. This is the author’s debut and will probably give her next book a read.

This book is part of my ‘2019 reading off my shelf challenge’.

Audio Review: Dreams of Falling by Karen White

From the New York Times, bestselling author of The Night the Lights Went Out comes an exquisite new novel about best friends, family ties and the love that can both strengthen and break those bonds

It's been nine years since Larkin fled Georgetown, South Carolina, vowing never to go back. But when she finds out that her mother has disappeared, she knows she has no choice but to return to the place that she both loves and dreads--and to the family and friends who never stopped wishing for her to come home. Ivy, Larkin's mother, is discovered in the burned-out wreckage of her family's ancestral rice plantation, badly injured and unconscious. No one knows why Ivy was there, but as Larkin digs for answers, she uncovers secrets kept for nearly 50 years. Secrets that lead back to the past, to the friendship between three girls on the brink of womanhood who swore that they would be friends forever, but who found that vow tested in heartbreaking ways.

Audiobook,16 hours 25 minutes

Kindle Edition, 416 pages

 Published June 5th, 2018

 by Berkley

*****

I have been a fan of Karen White's since reading (listening actually) to The Sound of Glass, her books are perfect in audio format and I continued with The Night the Lights Went Out and now Dream of Falling, all of which I've loved.

As with the previous books Dreams of Falling is a multi-layered story of friendship and family ties. Full of hidden secrets, guilt and figuring out where you truly belong.  The characters are flawed, damaged and developed very nicely.

Karen White takes her time unfolding this story at a nice pace.  Told from the voices of Larkin, CeeCee and Ivy I was given a wide view of the plot and eagerly waited as each of the puzzle pieces finally fit into place.  From family drama, friendships tested in heartbreaking ways, betrayal and realizing that running away won't make them disappear. There are always twists and turns, questions and with a satisfying ending, I received my answers.

Karen White is an author I highly recommend, her books are full of Southern Charm making me want to drink some sweetened ice tea at the waters edge listening to nature.

Audio Review: Amazon Adventure (Hal & Roger Hunt Adventures #1) by Willard Price

Long Island teenagers Hal and Roger Hunt explore uncharted Amazon River with their father, expert naturalist John Hunt for his exotic animal collection. Someone sends an anonymous telegram, so John returns. Alone, the boys face hostile natives, dangerous rapids and wild animals, and a hunchback with bloodshot eyes.

Paperback, 272 pages

Published July 15th 1993

by Red Fox (first published 1949)

****

We purchased the Hal & Rogers Adventure Series book for our boys when they were younger and have shared them with many friends. I myself have never read them, this past weekend I discovered the audio version was available for the Amazon Adventure, it’s not long, just over 6 hours  - a perfect fit for our road trip.

Canadian born author Willard Price wrote this series of 14 books beginning in the late 1930s. It’s a series that my husband inhaled as a boy, he loved reading about the different adventures these brothers went on throughout the world - African Adventure, Whale Adventure, South Sea, Underwater (to name a few). Sometimes compared to The Hardy Boys these stories have the added outdoor adventures at the same time solving mysteries, getting out of tough jams and learning so much about nature and different critters.

I enjoyed my time listening to the Amazon Adventure, sometimes witty, others times educational -learning about different cultures.  Maybe a little dated but still a great adventure without technology getting in the way.

Audio Review: Becoming by Michelle Obama

An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States.

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African-American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.

In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms.

Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.

Hardcover, 426 pages 

Published November 13th 2018 

by Crown

Audio:19 hours, 3 minutes

*****

I enjoy listening to memoirs and autobiographies in audiobook format, it’s like they are talking directly to me. What I loved about Becoming was Michelle Obama read it and it was wonderful. I would have loved the book edition just to see the pictures though.

 I am not into political books, which made me a little apprehensive but it wasn’t an issue with Becoming. Beginning when Michelle is a child living in Chicago she tells about her up bringing, values and so much more. She is down to earth, intellect and has a passion (and the ability) to empower. She has a gift to speak with such eloquence, grace and intelligence that kept me listening to this book.

Her honesty as she told of her struggles in so many aspects of her life was real, from her career to juggling motherhood in the White House along with the demands of being FLOTUS and even on the campaign trail.

 Definitely a book I highly recommend, even if you aren’t American, this Canadian loved it.