Ready for an unexpected thriller?

 This is the second book I've read by Colleen Hoover.  The first book I read was Regretting You, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  This book did definitely not disappoint.  I've read through so many fantastic reviews on Goodreads about Verity, that I figured it was time to see for myself, and when I was able to get the book through my Kindle Unlimited, I took full advantage.  

    The premise of the book is about the author Verity Crawford.  She's been in a near fatal car accident and is still under a contract to finish her book series.  Her husband, Jeremy, hires an up and coming author, Lowen Ashleigh, to finish the series on Verity's behalf.  Lowen agrees because she can desperately use the money offered to her for this venture, her mother recently passed away, and she needs something to focus on in life.  In order to do this, Jeremy suggests that Lowen come to their home to sort through Verity's materials and files for inspiration and get a feel for Verity's writing.  Throughout the process, Lowen learns not only about Verity's crash, but also the deaths of their twin daughters. 

    Quite often while she's staying at their home, Lowen feels extremely uncomfortable, like Verity is watching and very much alive, even though no one believes her.  She keeps wanting to leave, but Jeremy keeps asking her to stay, as they are forming their own type of connection.  

    Just when I thought I knew the outcome of the book, Hoover takes an unexpected turn throwing me way into left field.  Anyone who is looking to read a very well-written unexpected thriller, this book is for you.  It's quick moving, and I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what would happen next.  

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P.S. I Love You and Postscript

    When I finished P.S. I Love You, I knew I needed to start reading Postscript immediately.  I fell in love with the characters in these books.  I must live under a rock, because I never saw the movie, although so many have.  Ahern captivates you from the very beginning thinking that you are actually apart of Holly and Gerry's lives.

    I found myself thinking about what Holly would do next, about the next letter she would receive from Gerry, how would she continue to move on through this journey.  Postscript picks up 7 years after Gerry's death, and Holly is once again swept back into her old feelings.  I was impressed how Ahern developed her characters throughout both books, sharing with the readers their lives, memories, families, and more.  

    If you are ready for a love story that will stand the test of time, these books are for you!  They were both quick and easy reads, mainly because I was so immersed into them.  Thank you Cecelia Ahern for bringing Holly and Gerry to life, even in the afterlife.

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Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid Book Review

 I have wanted to read this book for quite sometime now.  It's been sitting on my TBR (to be read) shelf of library books that are sitting patiently and waiting to be read.  Our library has been closed since March.  For those of you like me, you will be able to relate, but I've been having library withdrawal.  This TBR shelf has also turned into a storage shelf of the books that I read that need to be returned to the library.  Since the libraries in our area have been closed, no one is counting late fees or any penalties during this time.  THANK GOODNESS or I'd owe a pretty penny right now.  

Such a Fun Age is Kiley Reid's debut novel, and I must say I'm ready for her next one.  The main character in this coming of age novel, Emira Tucker, has been hired as a babysitter for a fairly affluent family who is adjusting to life in Pennsylvania from New York City.  Shortly into the book, Emira is faced with the possible charge of kidnapping and then dealing with the effects of that night throughout the book.  Simultaneously we learn the story of Mrs. Alix Chamberlain, Emira's boss, and her process of dealing with the potential kidnapping while trying to still be as successful in PA as she was in NYC.  

While I did not directly relate to Emira and her story as a 25 year old not really knowing what she wanted to do with the rest of her life, but I find myself in that situation now as a 41 year old.  I'm at a point in my life that after 18 years of teaching or being an administrator, I'm in need of a change.  Over the past year I've become a stay at home mom largely in part to my PTSD diagnosis, but as the healing process continues, I'm getting ready to find a new path for my career.  What that will be I'm not yet sure, but I continue to pray for guidance and support each day.  

Emira's story is quite different.  While she doesn't know what she wants to do, she realizes she needs a steady job that will offer her benefits.  In the book she turns 26, and at that point, she believes she will no longer be able to babysit even though she has fallen in love with Briar, or will she?  

I believe you will truly enjoy this book.  For me, it was a book I couldn't put down.  Every chance I had, I wanted to read more.  I'd be falling asleep at night, nodding my head, trying to finish a chapter because I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.  Reid developed her characters throughout the book in a way that was easy to identify with them.  If this book is not on your list of "To Be Read" I suggest you add it!  You will enjoy it!

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Daughter of Moloka'i Book Review

Has anyone read this yet?  I finished it last week.  I read it through a combination of audio book as well an on my Kindle.  I do have to admit that I did not read the first book, Moloka'i, which is now on my list, even though I'm reading them in reverse order.  Not having read the first book, I really was not "missing" anything, or wondering what the book is all about.  While it would have been smart to read through the first book first, the author did a tremendous job of developing his character and providing a balance between Asian and American cultures.  

Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

As the book title eludes, the book was about the daughter of the original character from the first book.  We meet Ruth, who took us through her journey of adoption while exploring the story of her origin, yet staying true to her family.  As I pointed out above, Brennert demonstrated a balance between Hawaiian and Japanese cultures of the evolution of our American culture being shaped by World War II.  

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, mainly because I love to read historical fiction novels. Brennert provides detailed accounts of the hardships the Japanese experienced when coming from Hawaii to the contiguous states, mainly California right before the Great Depression and through World War II.  While travel at that time was difficult for many ethnicities, Brennert took us on the journey of Ruth, being a adopted at the age of 5 in Hawaii, being raised on a strawberry farm, marriage, and reunion with her birth mother, Rachel.  

I sincerely hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I did.  I've read many other historical fiction books, but never any that have provided such detailed accounts of the life of Japanese and their lives during the war living in America.  

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The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane

I can honestly say I haven't read a young adult fiction novel since I was a "young adult."  Yes this book is written for a young adult audience with the main character being 18, however I felt the author was able to present her character in such a way that grabs the reader from the beginning.  

Who hasn't ever wanted a chance in life to have a fresh start?  Clementine Hess is the survivor of a fatal plane crash and wakes up without any memory of who she was, including her name and family.  She has set out to achieve the goal of finding herself once and the life she had, but discovers so much more along the way.  In learning more about herself and conquering her fears, she believes that returning to the life she once had isn't good for anyone, especially her, or is it truly what she's missing?  Yes, she's lucky to be alive.  She has a loving family, or so she's told.  But she can't help the feeling inside that she needs to "find herself."

We often find ourselves taking things for granted, even our day to day lives.  While at times I'm sure we all wish we could have a "do-over" and change our fate or our lives.  But will that be worth it in the end?  What will you have to sacrifice to start over?  What will change and not for the better?  I have often wished for a way to start over, but I hate to lose what I have now.  Clementine is almost ready to give everything up for a new life, but is it really worth the risk?  

I hope you enjoy the book as I did.  Learning that despite what we think, life is not always greener on the other side of things.

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The Beautiful Strangers by Camille Di Maio

Who else loves the mystic of Hollywood during the 40's - 60's?  This book caught my eye from the very beginning, and after reading the jacket cover, I was hooked!

The book is a historical fiction story about a famous hotel in California, the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego during the late 1800's and into the late 1950's.  The story is based on a real life person, Kate Morgan (of the late 1800's), and her "life" at the hotel. 

Early on in the book, we are introduced to other characters that are fictional including a different Kate Morgan (1950's) and her family, especially her grandfather George.  The story continues to unfold for 1950's Kate as she's sent on a quest from George to find the "beautiful stranger." 

The 1950's Kate has grown up and works in San Francisco, but this quest sends her to the Hotel del Coronado.  Taking a leap of faith and an extremely risky journey with little money after pawning her grandmother's wedding ring, she travels to the hotel with the few clues that her grandfather gave her to discover the mystery of the "beautiful stranger." 

When asked to share my favorite genre to read, it's hard for me to pick just one.  I really enjoy reading historical fiction, in particular from the 1940's and 1950's.  I loved this book and was bummed that I was able to read through it as quickly as I did, just about two days, but I couldn't put it down.  I just didn't want it to end.  Camille Di Maio creates and develops her characters and the story in such a way, that it all grabbed and enticed me from the beginning.  The book was hard to put down because I couldn't wait to learn more about the clues Kate was gathering for her grandfather, but also reading about a few of Hollywood's greats like Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon.  Di Maio brings the actors into the story while Kate is spending her time working at the hotel during the filming of Some Like it Hot. 

I hope if you have the opportunity to read this book, you find it as delightful and engaging as I did!  I highly recommend it!

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