When Reason Breaks.

☆☆☆☆

when reason breaks.

cindy L. Rodriguez.

Publisher Bloomsbury.

Publication Date:February10,2015

Genre:YA Contemporary Psychology.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|304

 Source: Library | Goodreads.

 

13 Reasons Why meets the poetry of Emily Dickinson in this gripping debut novel perfect for fans of Sara Zarr or Jennifer Brown.



A Goth girl with an attitude problem, Elizabeth Davis must learn to control her anger before it destroys her. Emily Delgado appears to be a smart, sweet girl, with a normal life, but as depression clutches at her, she struggles to feel normal. Both girls are in Ms. Diaz’s English class, where they connect to the words of Emily Dickinson. Both are hovering on the edge of an emotional precipice. One of them will attempt suicide. And with Dickinson’s poetry as their guide, both girls must conquer their personal demons to ever be happy.



In an emotionally taut novel with a richly diverse cast of characters, readers will relish in the poetry of Emily Dickinson and be completely swept up in the turmoil of two girls grappling with demons beyond their control. 

 ϟ

What a heartbreaking novel. Yet you can’t help but get sucked into story from the first page. When the book starts with one of students slipping a suicide note to the teacher, the first thought that goes through you, who was it? I know that I was, and not only who it was but why? I found myself wondering what happened in their life that was so horrible. Not only that but I found myself wondering if Ms.Diaz will reach her in time. It’s question you will find yourself wondering through most of the book. Once you meet the main characters: Elizabeth & Emily, you know that it’s one of them and I couldn’t help but wonder which one of them it would be. Both Emily & Elizabeth have their own set of issues but which one of them will reach their breaking point? As book progressed, I started to put the pieces together, in the end it was not person that I expected to be. I was convinced that it was other one, like Ms. Diaz. That’s what I loved about the book, the suspense of it.



Emily & Elizabeth: If someone asked me to pick a favorite one, I don’t think that I would be able to. Both of the girls are unique in their own little way. I believe that’s what I liked about the girls, the two of them were so different, yet they seemed to be able to connect in some way. It was different, a love/ hate sort of friendship. However by end of the book when the tragedy that nobody expect it struck, that’s when I knew that Elizabeth cared about Emily, that the friendship that two of them had, meant something to her. Once I reached the end of the book, I found myself wondering what would happen to the girls next, will the two form an actual friendship this time? What would happen to Kevin and Emily? I found myself curious about the characters after the novel came to end. They are type of characters that you get attached to fast.



What I loved about this book most? Fact how real it was. Pretty much everything that I read in the book, could happen in real life. Suicide. Depression is a subject I am familiar one and it’s tough to write about. When Reason Breaks are unlike other books that I read, that dealt with this particular subject. I like the letters and fact that there were letters to a teacher. Feelings are hard to express when you feel like you don’t belong. Expressing those to someone you don’t know well, takes a lot of trust. But in a way I am glad she wrote those letters, because of that, her life was saved. There were few slow parts in the book, that got to the point that I wanted to skip over. Otherwise it was a book that I am glad I gave chance to. A book that had me thinking about story, characters afterwards. 

I’m eager to see what next story Rodriquez creates.

The Eternity Cure(Blood Of Eden,#2)

☆☆☆☆☆

the eternity cure.

Blood Of Eden,#2

julie kagawa.

Publisher Harlequin Teen

Publication Date:April 30,2013

Genre:YA Dystopian Fantasy| Romance.

Format|Pages:EBook | 434

 Source:Goodreads|Owned.

In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood



She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever—and possibly end human and vampire existence.



There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago—and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.



Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.

 ϟ

Wow. I am going through so many emotions after reading this book. Mostly shock thought, it was not an ending that I was expecting. One of those twists that I didn’t see coming. The ending of The Eternity Cure had me wishing that I had the next novel The Forever Song so I see what happens next, it feels like I need to see what will happen next. If you read The Eternity Cure, you know what I am talking about. How can you not wonder? After such heartbreaking yet epic ending. I can see why so many people are in love with this series. Julie Kagawa is officially a favorite, an author that I am going to read for years to come. I didn’t there I could love series more but I was wrong, after reading The Eternity Cure, I am in love with it even more. I feel connected with the characters, especially Allison, Zeke and Kanin. To me, it feels like I went along with them on this long journey. How can I not help but wonder where the journey is going to lead them next? How will it all come to the end?



Kanin come on, how can you not love him? I believe that most of readers that read series has a crush on him. Of course I loved him since the first book, he was different. What vampire would give second chance at life. Ever since he vanished in The Immortal Rules, I found myself wondering when we would come across him again, if Allie and Kanin will reunite. When I found how much pain he was in, I actually winced because of the vivid descriptions that Kagawa described. I hoped that Allison would get there fast and find a way to get rid of Sarren. That torture, how could anyone survive that? Though Kanin and Allie don’t have what her and Zeke do, the two of them have special bond too, I can tell how much they mean to one another. Allie went all this way, risked her life to rescue him. If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t have. That scene with Kanin an her after rescue, it had me tearing up. That’s only time I seen Kanin show any emotion. I believe it was one of most emotional scenes in the book. I hope that Kanin can help her pull through this.




Of course I loved Zeke, and the scenes between two of them. That was one of reasons that I wasn’t happy with end, at first. I do have feeling that there are more twists to come in the next novel. The two of them belong together, he left Eden for her, he came back for her. The two of them went through so much together. Once reading the ending however, I was an emotional mess. That another thing I love about her, she has you craving for more moment you finish book. There is one question in my mind: Now What? I do hope that Allison doesn’t become the monster like all other vampires out there; I just don’t see her that way. I know I shouldn’t like Jackal but I can’t help myself, his sense of humor cracked me up most of time. Despite his denial, I know that he cares for Allison and even Zeke or he wouldn’t save their life’s. I’m curious to see what happen with him next, but he changed since the beginning of book. I can’t help but like him.



The Eternity Cure was action packed, even more that the first book was. Every single page was filled with some sort of action or a twist that kept reader’s attention. A book that I did not want to pull away from, and even after I reached the end, I was craving for more. A series that you will find yourself thinking about. Love vampires, but looking for something different? This is a series for you. Action Packed, with romance and twists that even you won’t see coming. Worth more than 5 stars.



Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Remarkable.

The Immortal Rules(Blood Of Eden,#1)

☆☆☆☆☆

the immortal rules

Blood Of Eden,#1

julie kagawa.

Publisher Harlequin Teen

Publication Date:April 24,2012

Genre:YA Dystopian Fantasy| Romance.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|485

 Source:Goodreads|Library.

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness



Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.



Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for again. 

 ϟ

Julie Kagawa did it again! I been fan on author since I read Iron Fey Series few years earlier and re-read not that long ago. When I saw that she wrote a vampire series, I had to check it out and see if it was as good. I read quite few vampires series through the years and I didn’t think anything would surprise me anymore, and that’s what I loved about The Immortal Rules it did surprise me, and there were quite few unexpected twists that even I didn’t see coming. The Immortal Rules wasn’t what I had expected it to be, instead it was so much more, unlike any vampire book that I read and that’s another thing that I loved about it, was unique. Not only was it about vampires but it was also a dystopian which are two of my favorites genres, so of course I couldn’t help but love it. There were action, adventure, a bit of romance and most unexpected twists. The reader can’t help but love the characters, even the ones that you know you should hate. The Immortal Rules will have you go through emotions, have you on edge of your seat from start to the end.




Allison: She’s tough, she won’t let anyone tell her what to do, she cares about her friends. Despite her becoming a vampire, she tried so hard to not feed off any of them, even if there were few close calls. Even if she knew that she shouldn’t care about them, she did and I believe that it was what held her back. Allison is unlike any vampire that you come across; usually they see humans as food, while Allison feeds off ones that she doesn’t know personally or close to. I don’t think that I would been able to hold back if I was in her situation, to hold off my hunger for that long without killing someone. When she came across the ground, I wondered how long she could pretend to be a human, before she was discovered or before her hunger got so bad, that she would kill someone. I know that when she started to develop feelings for Zeke that it was dangerous, and wouldn’t lead to anything good. I did think Zeke maybe be more understand that he was, considering she didn’t kill anybody, but at same time I could understand his reaction. In general, Allison type of character you can’t help but love.



I could see that there was some sort connection between Zeke & Allison, even if she tried hard to deny it at first. The more time two of them spend together, the deeper her feelings for him became. I could imagine how much connection there were between the two of them, they had a special bond. However anytime they got closer, she pushed him away. I could understand why she pushed him away, because she knew it was dangerous and that vampire and human relationship would never work. I was sure that Zeke felt same, just based on his reaction once he found out what she was. So of course I was surprised when he kissed her again, after he knew that she was a vampire. It made me wonder, was there a chance for two of them? The way she left after getting him to Eden, it had me wondering if we would see him again? If he go searching for her. I’m eager to see what’s in store for them next.



A Vampire fan? Then Immortal Rules is a book worth checking out. Beautifully written, with an unique storyline and kick ass characters. Worth every chapter. You will want pick up the next book right after finishing this one.

Beautiful Lies ( Beautiful Lies, #1)

☆☆☆☆☆

beautiful lies

Beautiful Lies,#1

sharlay.

Publisher CreateSpace.

Publication Date:May 1,2015

Genre:YA Contemporary Romance| Suspense.

Format|Pages:E ARC| 240.

 Source: Received ARC from author

PAIGE'S STORY



After a tragic accident Paige Carter has spent the last year of her life falling in love with a man named Taylor.



But there are two huge problems...



One...She is already in a relationship with her boyfriend Rick.



Two...Taylor doesn't exist outside of the dreams in her head...



 

 ϟ

*Received an ARC from Sharlay in exchange for review*

SPOILERS ALERT

From moment that I came across summary on Sharlay’s goodreads page, I was hooked by just reading the summary. It has mystery written all over it and I wanted to know, what happened to Paige? What was going to happen next. I was happy when the author provided me with an ARC. From the second that I picked up the book, I couldn’t force myself to put it down and spend most of my Saturday reading it. How could I not? After only few pages, I felt connected with Paige somehow and wanted to see what would happen with her next. Will she make it through this, and was there a reason that she dreamed about someone she didn’t know. At first I was convinced that Taylor wasn’t real, but her safety net like the doctor said. When she saw him at the gallery, I was as shocked as she was. I knew right then that there must been a reason that she dreamed of him before she met him. It was an unexpected twist.




It’s hard for me to pick who I liked more, Rick or Taylor. I loved them both. They both loved Paige and my heart broke a little for Rick once he realized that things between was over. At same time he was one who walked away but I can understand why. I can’t imagine how it must been for him, watching the girl that he loved be in love with someone else. I do hope that Rick finds happiness in future. However Taylor, I could see that the two of them had a special bond, something that Paige and Rick didn’t have. They were truly happy together. Despite what Paige found out about Taylor, it didn’t tear them apart like I was sure it would, instead it brought them closer together. I was actually smiling at the last page, I was glad to see Paige finally happy again, after everything she went through. Both of them deserved love, happiness.



Beautiful Lies was a heartbreaking, breathtaking story about Love, Loss, Second chances with bit of suspense added in the twist. My type of a story. Even after I reached the end of story, I was craving for more. I’m eager to read Liv& Gavin’s story next, I been curious what happened between two of them from moment he appeared at the funereal. Beautiful Lies is worth every page.

Small Favor ( Dreseden Files,#10)

☆☆☆☆☆

small favor

Dresden Files,#10

Jim butcher.

Publisher ROC

Publication DateApril 1,,2008

Genre:Urban Fantasy|Mystery.

Format|Pages:Hardcover|420

 Source: Library | Goodreads.

The new novel in the New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series.



No one's tried to kill Harry Dresden for almost an entire year, and his life finally seems to be calming down. For once, the future looks fairly bright. But the past casts one hell of a long shadow. An old bargain has placed Harry in debt to Mab, monarch of the Winter Court of the Sidhe, the Queen of Air and Darkness-and she's calling in her marker.



It's a small favor he can't refuse...one that will trap Harry Dresden between a nightmarish foe and an equally deadly ally, and one that will strain his skills-and loyalties-to their very limits. It figures. Everything was going too well to last.. 

 ϟ

Dammit. I hate when authors do something like that, especially towards the end of book. Why did it have to be him? A character that I loved pretty much from the moment that he was introduced in the series? It is at times like these that I find myself bit angry at the author about how he decided to end that particular book. Even I did not see that coming. At same time that is what makes a great book, a series that you won’t want to put down because you want to know what’s going to happen with all characters next, especially Harry. The more I read the series, the more I feel bad for Harry but at the same time, love his character more as the book progresses. I mean come on, how can you not? He puts himself in danger every single time that he comes to rescue someone. This time it wasn’t someone he was fond of, but something that he had no choice in. Small Favor will have you wondering: What now? What is going to happen next? I know that what I was thinking, especially how Butcher ended Small Favor. It was unexpected.



Luccio & Harry, that was an unexpected part, at least for me it was. Those were the two that I never thought would end up together in any way. It didn’t even cross my mind, not till that one scene in the book. How she looked at him, how she talked to him. Even Thomas caught up on what she was trying to do, how she was trying to get his attention. It took me by surprise. She is his boss after all and I was sure that Harry would never go for it, because of it. Then the scene where she walked on him dressing and the kiss afterwards, right then I knew that there was something there. It might not be what he had with Susan, but even I could tell that he cared about her, more than he wanted to admit he did. And way that the book ended with two of them, I am eager and curious to see what happens with them next. If something happens with them, something more than it already did. I know one thing for sure, things between the two of them will never be same afterwards, not the way it was before.




More I read series, more addicting it becomes. Fantasy mixed with mystery, how can you not enjoy it? There wasn’t a single sentence or a chapter when something wasn’t happening. Small Favor had you eager to turn the page, to see what is going to come next. How can you not but wonder what’s coming next? Especially when it comes to Harry. No matter what he does, how he tries to help others, he always lands himself into a trouble one way or another. With everything that he been through, sometimes I wonder how he is still alive, how he is dealing with it all. But then if others are depending on you, kind of have no choice but to suck it up. Deal with it. He’s tough, he puts up with so much. I love despite how he almost gets killed few times, he keeps on going. At times it feels like he cares about others more than himself. It’s hard not to like someone like that.



Small Favor is another great addition to Dresden Files. A series that every fantasy fan should pick up and check out.

The Chance You Won't Return.

☆☆☆☆☆

The Chance you won't return

annie cardi

Publisher  Candlewick Press

Publication Date:February 3,2014

Genre:YA Contemporary Romance| Psychology

Format|Pages:Hardcover|352

 Source: Library | Goodreads.

When your mom thinks she's Amelia Earhart, navigating high school, first love, and family secrets is like flying solo without a map.



Driver's ed and a first crush should be what Alex Winchester is stressed out about in high school - and she is. But what's really on her mind is her mother. Why is she dressing in Dad's baggy khaki pants with a silk scarf around her neck? What is she planning when she pores over maps in the middle of the night? When did she stop being Mom and start being Amelia Earhart? Alex tries to keep her budding love life apart from the growing disaster at home as her mother sinks further into her delusions. But there are those nights, when everyone else is asleep, when it's easier to confide in Amelia than it ever was to Mom. Now, as Amelia's flight plans become more intense, Alex is increasingly worried that Amelia is planning her final flight - the flight from which she never returns. What could possibly be driving Mom's delusions, and how far will they take her?


 

 ϟ

Mental Illness is a tough subject to deal with, especially if it’s happening to someone that you love. Even though it not something I am too familiar with, I can relate to it slightly and imagine what Alex must gone through during the difficult time. Though I can’t even begin to imagine if your mother starts to think she is someone else, and thinks of you as someone else instead of your daughter. I don’t know how anybody can deal with such situation. In a way, Alex became the mother, watching her mother to make sure she doesn’t walk off or lose it, along with watching her younger siblings since her father got occupied with the job. How could anyone deal with something like that? Especially when she has other things that she got deal with it, top of everything. She had her moments but I believe that Alex handled herself well, and dealt with her mother pretty well. She always made sure that she was safe, always looked out for her even if her mother believed she was Amelia Earhart. The Chance You Won’t Return was much more than I expected to be. It was real. It had you wondering what’s going happen next. Would she get better? The novel had you on edge of your seat from the first sentence till the last, and even then you will find yourself asking : What happens after? The novel shows you that your life can change in most unexpected way.



I didn’t know much about Amelia Earhart, there were few facts that I was aware about her. Once I read The Chance You Won’t Return it felt like I learned much more about her, that I was aware of before. I believe because there was so much references to her in book, especially when her mother were planning all her trips, and then Alex researched on her. Just so she could somehow bond with her mother, even if at time she didn’t believe that she was one. I felt like at times Alex had easier time talking to her when she believed that she was Amelia then before everything crumbled down in front of her. I enjoyed all Amelia Earhart Quotes in beginning of each chapter, it made me feel a bit more connected to her and understand her a bit more. Plus, a teen’s mother thinking she is Amelia Earhart out of blue? That’s the most original idea that I read about, at least when it comes to mental illness. That’s when caught my attention first, not the cover, not the title but the summary. The first sentence in the summary had me hooked to the book already. Cover is pretty intense too; you can tell that the story itself is going be pretty hard, sad subject. It’s dark, the girl is by herself while plane flying in distance. If summary didn’t catch my attention first, the cover would have.



Jim was one character that I liked from the start. Of course like almost everyone else in story, I did wonder why and how he managed to run into his house. At first I did wonder what his intentions with Alex was, after all he barely spoke a word to her, before now. At same time, as time progressed, when he began helping her to practice driving and fact how they could talk so easily with each other, I saw a connection there. If it wasn’t for him helping her since her father was too busy, I don’t think that she would got over her fear of driving and passed. Jim cared about her, maybe even loved her. He helped her during Halloween and after she confessed what going on with her mother, he helped. He went along with it, he didn’t judge her. That’s love right there and it’s a couple that belong together. In a way, without knowing he helped her deal more with what was happening at home. I am sure he would helped her more if she told him sooner. I loved the scenes between the two of them, most of them was one of the times that I was actually smiling while reading the book.



It’s hard to believe that this was Annie’s debut book. It was both breathtaking and heartbreaking. A novel about family, friendship, love, acceptance and changes. You will cry, you will feel angry at times. The Chance You Won’t Return is worth every page.

Chasing Bristol (The Finding Trilogy,#2)

☆☆☆☆☆

Chasing Bristol.

Finding Trilogy#2

shane morgan.

Publisher TSW Books.

Publication DateApril 20,2015

Genre: NA Suspence|Romance

Format|Pages:ARC E Book| 304

 Source: Received ARC E Copy from Author.

CONTAINS SPOILERS.

Bristol is trying to move on from a cheating ex. The last thing she wants are roses, gifts, and suggestive notes popping up at her apartment and at work.



When Bristol meets Mason—a charming and sweet guy who wants a chance with her—she’s convinced that he is the mystery guy trying to capture her heart. The thought fizzles when what appeared to be harmless turns into something much more terrifying, and Bristol realizes that Mason isn’t capable of such things—not in his position.



Bristol’s secret admirer is determined to have her for himself, no matter what. Will she have the courage to fight when control and privacy is being taken from her?

 ϟ

Once again, I want to thank my friend, Shane Morgan for emailing me an ARC E Copy of Chasing Bristol . I have been eager about book for quite a while, ever since I read Finding Julian So I was happy when I was provided with ARC. Even though I loved Finding Julian, I enjoyed Chasing Bristol even more. In my opinion, it was the most emotional, most suspenseful book that I have read by Shane. There wasn’t a moment in this book that didn’t keep me on edge of my seat, from the moment that Bristol started receiving mysterious notes, gifts. From that point on, I was hooked and kept on turning the pages, eager to see who it was. In the beginning I thought that whoever was sending the gifts, the flowers was sweet. What girl wouldn’t like to receive flowers? I considered Tyler at first too, especially since he seemed too eager to get her back. I would think that would be one to try winning her back. However the moment she confronted him about, I knew that it wasn’t Tyler, which had me wondering then who was it?



Julian & Amber: First of all, I loved that Julian was mentioned in this book as well. Second, Julian & Amber are a definition of what true friendship is like. They remind me a lot of couple of my best friends. No matter what was happening, both of them were by Bristol’s side. Once Bristol figured out that the ‘admirer’ been to her house and watched her, they came to her apartment without hesitation and even stayed the night, offering to stay another one with them. They were always there, when she needed them the most. I believe that she wouldn’t hold on as long as she did, if she didn’t have her friends by her side. I loved their friendship. That’s what true friendship is all about.



There wasn’t a page that wasn’t filled with some sort of suspense. Multiple times I felt as afraid, like Bristol was feeling about this secret admirer. Especially once he started killing, now that’s an obsession that went too far. I was afraid that eventually he would kill everyone that she loved, till he got that he wanted. Her. All through the book I was eager to find out who it was, and how he came across her to begin with. I also couldn’t help but wonder if it was someone that she knew. There was almost no piece of privacy, no freedom from moment the notes and gifts started appearing. Fact that she didn’t know his name or how he looked like, made it harder to catch him. If I was in her situation I don’t think that I would make it, as far as she did. For me, it would been almost impossible, I would freak out more that she did. That’s what I loved about this novel, it was so realistic, something that people could see happening in real life, something that others could relate to. I could see a vivid image of everything that was happening to Bristol. Filled with so many emotions.



Now Mason, how could you not love him? A guy in a police uniform, who wouldn’t love him? I loved how much he cared about Bristol; how he did everything he possibly could so he could protect her. If only every guy was as sweet as Mason was. From the moment that two of them met, I saw the sparks between the two of them, the way that the two of them looked at one another. Fact that he was the one that Bristol called when there was more trouble, how he came to her rescue every single time. Doesn’t that sound like a couple that belongs with each other? I could tell that Mason was one guy that Bristol felt safe with. When there were together, without any worries that put smile on my face every single time.



I have been reading Shane Morgan books for a while now and there wasn’t a single one that didn’t take my breath away. Chasing Bristol wasn’t any different. A book that I read till I reached the end and afterwards found myself thinking about. If you love suspense, drama and romance, Chasing Bristol will have you on edge of your seat and afterwards you will crave for more. Beautifully written.

The Nightingale.

☆☆☆☆☆

The Nightingale.

kristin hannah.

Publisher  St. Martin's Press

Publication Date:February 3,2015

Genre:Historical Romance| War.

Format|Pages:Hardcover| 440.

 Source: Library | Goodreads.

 

In love we find out who we want to be.
In war we find out who we are.



FRANCE, 1939



In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says goodbye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France...but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When France is overrun, Vianne is forced to take an enemy into her house, and suddenly her every move is watched; her life and her child’s life is at constant risk. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates around her, she must make one terrible choice after another.



Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old girl, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets the compelling and mysterious Gäetan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can...completely. When he betrays her, Isabelle races headlong into danger and joins the Resistance, never looking back or giving a thought to the real--and deadly--consequences. 

 ϟ

Unforgettable story about love during war, family, friendship and courage. I’m still tearing up as I write this review. I think that this was the most emotional, heartbreaking novel that I have read; it shows the real horror of WWII, and treatment of Jews in the concentration camps. The Nightingale is a story that will stay with you, and you will find yourself thinking about afterwards. I just finished it recently and yet I can’t get my mind of it. The Nightingale was filled with so much horror of war with such vivid images; I saw everything while I read the book. The book had me feeling what they were: Fear, anger, sorrow. I teared up multiple times during the book, yet I could not pull myself away . There were few times I found myself reading till the middle of night because I was engaged in Vianne & Isabel’s stories. The Nightingale is one of those stories that you want keep on reading, yet at times you afraid to turn the pages because you afraid of what might happen to characters. It’s a feeling I went through multiple times while reading the book. I always loved books about war, history but this felt the most realistic to me.




Vianne & Isabel: First of all, love both of their names and especially how Vianne’s name was spelled. How to choose? That’s one question that I found myself asking once I reached the end of the book. I loved both of the sisters; they were both unique and strong in their own way. Both of them went through so much during war, and changed so much by the end. Yet both of them did a lot during the war. Vianne protected her daughter, helped a lot of Jewish children and Isabel helped so many men escape, putting her own life in danger. How can you not love those characters. Both of them saved so many others together. In beginning I wasn’t fond of Isabel, all she seemed to do is complain but that changed fast for me. I hoped she would get away, and it took them a while till they did catch her. What she went through in concentration camp, which was hard to read, I don’t know how she made as long as she did. That takes a lot of courage, a dedication of not letting go. Isabel needs to be remembered for what she done for the country during the war. She was a hero. Both of sisters were.




Have you ever come across character in the book, which you knew you shouldn’t like? But as time passed you couldn’t help but like that certain character? For me that was Beck. I knew that I shouldn’t like him considering that he was a German soldier, but yet I couldn’t find it in my heart to dislike him. If it was any other soldier, I doubt that he would be gentlemen that he was, he never screamed at her, never made her uncomfortable. If anything, he protected her. He warned her ahead of time about Germans looking for Jews so she can hide Rachel, he made sure her and Sophie had enough food, water. How can you dislike someone like that? Though both of them tried to deny it, I knew there were certain attractions between two of them. They cared for one another, more that friends should. I wondered if anything else would happen between the two of them, if things didn’t get worse. I was never more relieved when the war came to end; I started to believe that it would never end. One thing for sure, it changed everyone.



Kristin Hannah did it again. For me, this was my favorite book by her despite the hard subject. An author that never disappoints. She will keep you on edge of seat from start to the end and even after, The Nightingale will stay in your mind, your heart. A powerful, heartbreaking tale. Be ready to shed few tears.

Secrets Of Charmed Life.

☆☆☆☆☆

secrets of charmed life.

susan meissner.

Publisher NAL

Publication Date:February 3,2015

Genre:Historical Fiction.

Format|Pages:Paperback|416

 Source: Library | Goodreads.

 



She stood at a crossroads, half-aware that her choice would send her down a path from which there could be no turning back. But instead of two choices, she saw only one—because it was all she really wanted to see…



Current day, Oxford, England. Young American scholar Kendra Van Zant, eager to pursue her vision of a perfect life, interviews Isabel McFarland just when the elderly woman is ready to give up secrets about the war that she has kept for decades...beginning with who she really is. What Kendra receives from Isabel is both a gift and a burden--one that will test her convictions and her heart.



1940s, England. As Hitler wages an unprecedented war against London’s civilian population, one million children are evacuated to foster homes in the rural countryside. But even as fifteen-year-old Emmy Downtree and her much younger sister Julia find refuge in a charming Cotswold cottage, Emmy’s burning ambition to return to the city and apprentice with a fashion designer pits her against Julia’s profound need for her sister’s presence. Acting at cross purposes just as the Luftwaffe rains down its terrible destruction, the sisters are cruelly separated, and their lives are transformed…

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WOW. Breathtaking, heartbreaking yet captivating novel. I have read historical, World War II stories before but nothing like this. Secrets Of Charmed Life was one of those heartbreaking stories about the war, yet you can’t help but keep on reading because you find yourself invested in Emmy & Julia story. The way that Kendra was when she started telling the story. It was so beautifully written, and the descriptions, the history and the character’s emotions. I could imagine it, feel everything that was happening in the book. I could even imagine the fear that everyone felt, when the bombing had started. Secrets Of Charmed Life was probably one of the most emotional books that I have read this year, so far. There were lot emotions that I found myself going through while I was reading this book. Top of it, I felt like I learned more about the history of Blitz while I read this book and even after I set book down, I found myself thinking about it afterwards. I believe that this novel will be one of books that will stay with me, for years to come.




Emmy was one of those characters that I had mixed feelings about, at least in the beginning. To me, Emmy seemed a bit selfish in a start, I got that feeling that only thing she cared about, besides her sister, is her wedding dresses, well making them into a reality. I can see why Julia was afraid of losing her. I will say one thing about Emmy; she was pretty passionate about what she does, about making it her future. Emmy didn’t know that she would end up putting her and Julia in danger, but then nobody did. But Emmy risked running away from her foster family in order to meet someone who was interested in her design. First of all, that takes a lot of courage to do what she did. It means that it was something that she really saw herself doing in the future. I don’t think that I would be able to do what she did. I would want stay where it was safe, though she had no way knowing that bombing would happen that same day. I loved following her journey, in attempt of find her sister, then her new life, as Isabel. I could tell that she truly cared for Julia, she went so long, even changing her name, her age so she can go and look for her. That’s real love.



The War. The bombing. The description of what was happening in London, while it was happening was so vivid. Despite it was something that had happened years earlier, to me it felt like it was still happening, still going on. How could I not? I felt; saw everything through Emmy’s eyes. I felt all the terror that everyone was feeling at that time. I don’t know how they did, how they went through something horrible like what they did. If it were me, I would been more freaked out that they were, I don’t think that I would be able to handle it. I loved fact that Emmy/Isabel told her story to Kendra, I think that I was as taken aback by story like Kendra was, I’m sure it turned out be not what she expected. Neither was I. One of best historical fiction that I read this year. There isn’t a single page in this novel that won’t have you edge of your seat.




A thrilling, heartbreaking ride. Secrets Of Charmed Life in unforgettable book that will have you thinking about it afterwards. A novel you wish you picked up earlier. You won’t want to put it down. Beautifully written from start to end.