The Room On Rue Amélie.

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When newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit arrives in Paris in 1939 with her French husband Marcel, she imagines strolling arm in arm along the grand boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But war is looming on the horizon, and as France falls to the Nazis, her marriage begins to splinter, too.
Charlotte Dacher is eleven when the Germans roll into the French capital, their sinister swastika flags snapping in the breeze. After the Jewish restrictions take effect and Jews are ordered to wear the yellow star, Charlotte can’t imagine things getting much worse. But then the mass deportations begin, and her life is ripped forever apart. 

Thomas Clarke joins the British Royal Air Force to protect his country, but when his beloved mother dies in a German bombing during the waning days of the Blitz, he wonders if he’s really making a difference. Then he finds himself in Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and he discovers a new reason to keep fighting—and an unexpected road home. 

When fate brings them together, Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas must summon the courage to defy the Nazis—and to open their own broken hearts—as they fight to survive.

 

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 Touching. A haunting story about love, sacrifice, and courage. 

World War II historical fiction is one of my favorites. There is something about that time that I find so fascinating. It’s tragic, but at the same time, impossible to pull away. Through the past couple of years, I have read few books that dealt with resistance. Those are my favorites types of stories, mainly when they feature strong women. The Room on Rue Amélie was that type of story. However, it didn’t just feature strong women but also men who had put their own lives at risk. When both Ruby and Charlotte start to work for the resistance, not a day goes by where I think that they will get discovered. From the book, the two of them were my favorites. Ruby and Charlotte are both the strongest women I know, with everything they had gone through and how many they helped in the end. Both saved the lives of so many pilots. They put their own lives at risk; to help them. Every time I wonder if this would be the time that they get caught. 

Marcel. I wanted to like him, and in the beginning, when he and Ruby met, I did. I believe that maybe if they didn’t rush into marriage, their marriage wouldn’t fall apart. I wondered if the war changed Marcel, or maybe Ruby loved him more than he loved her. I was not too fond of how he treated her, as if he stopped caring once they got married. I was hoping that Ruby would see for the man that he was and leave him. Thomas, on the other hand, how could you not love him? I could see the spark between the two of them from the moment that she helped him. Thomas cared about her and her fears and worries. He treated her the way that she should be treated. I hoped that the war would end soon so that the two could be reunited with each other. I was hoping that they would be. 

I loved Charlotte. I loved how determined she was and how much she wanted to help her country. From the beginning of the book to the end, she went through the most change. I believe that the war made Charlotte grow up faster than she should have. I am glad that she had Ruby by her side; I loved the bond that the two of them established with one another. Even though Ruby tries to keep her from resistance, she never gave up. Charlotte was determined for a chance to help her country. I was in Paris when I was around 3; so, I don’t remember much. The book's descriptions made me wish I could go back so that I could remember it this time around. The Room on Rue Amélie was the first book that I have read by Kristin Harmel , but she had been on my reading list for a while. I have a feeling that she’s going to be an author I’m going to fall in love with. I cannot wait for a chance to discover the rest of her adventures.

Next Year In Havana.

 

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After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity--and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution... 

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest--until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary... 

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth. 

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage. 

 

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I'm at a loss for words, again. Next Year in Havana , a beautifully written book about family, loss, love, and courage. Reading this book, I felt myself being transported to Cuba. I was captivated by Havana's beauty. I had never been to Cuba, but after reading Next Year In Havana , I felt as I have been; as I pictured all of the breathtaking views that Chanel Cleeton described through the book. I wanted to go there; for a chance to explore Cuba for myself. I love books that take place in another country and love learning about their history. I didn't know much about Cuba, but once I read Next Year In Havana , I learned so much. I researched on my own once I finished the book, wanting to learn more. Next Year in Havana was a narrative novel, or at least it felt like it was. That's one of the things that I loved about the book, and it made everything come to life. I found myself being transported between 2017 and 1958. It was magical. 

I loved books that are told from multiple points of view. I loved that this was told in different timelines. While reading, I found myself comparing Marisol and her grandmother, Elisa, and how similar they were. Marisol might not go what Elisa had, but both had courage. I loved both of their stories, but Elisa's story appealed to me more than Marisol's. There was more happening during 1958, and I cannot even imagine living during that time. Elisa, she's an extraordinary woman, to have to go through what she had. I did wonder why she never told Marisol about her old love? Maybe because it was painful to talk about him or because she wanted to forget what had happened during that time. I loved the relationship between her and Pablo, the passion that the two of them had; it was clear how much they loved each other. Marisol and Luis had passion, but it wasn’t the same passion that Elisa and Pablo had. 

There is romance in the book, but it’s not a romance book. It’s history. There was so much information about Cuba. I love when I get a chance to learn something new. I have read books that took place in different countries but have never read one that took place in Cuba. Now, I am fascinated by the country. Next Year In Havana is the second book that I have read by Chanel Cleeton , and it won’t be the last. Cleeton has a way to catch the reader’s attention. This isn’t a book that you will want to put down. I’m eager to see what another magical world she will take us in next.

Girl In Pieces.

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Charlotte Davis is in pieces. At seventeen she’s already lost more than most people lose in a lifetime. But she’s learned how to forget. The thick glass of a mason jar cuts deep, and the pain washes away the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. You don’t have to think about your father and the river. Your best friend, who is gone forever. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you. 

Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts enough to not care anymore, which is sometimes what has to happen before you can find your way back from the edge. 

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Captivating. Heartbreaking. Powerful. 

Another book that’s playing with my emotions. Oh, man. How do I start? My feelings went in so many different directions through this book. I feel as I have been on a roller coaster ride for hours. I had heard about Girl in Pieces for a while and read few good reviews about the book. When I read the book's synopsis, I was aware that it was going to be a sad book, and it will be hard to read. Yet, I didn’t prepare myself for how hard it would be. The beginning did start a little slow for me, but after a couple of chapters, I kept turning the pages. I wanted to know what happened with Charlie next. I wanted to see if she would get out, and if she did, where would she go? I loved that the three parts of the book told the story from the three different parts of Charlie’s life. I could picture it all, how she got there, what she went through in Arizona as if I was there along with Charlie. 

I loved that part of the story took place in Arizona. I live in Arizona but in a different part. I could imagine the heat since I been through it. Riley. I wanted to like him, and there were times that I did. The moment Charlie had to get him, and found him passed out on the couch, I had a bad feeling about him. I do wish that Charlie listened to the others who warned her about him. When he was high, drunk, I got the feeling that he was too controlling with Charlie, making her do something she didn’t want to, getting angry with her. I knew that Charlie cared about him a lot, considering what she has done for him. However, I don’t think that he loved her. The way he treated her that isn’t love. She should get away from him sooner, but I understand why she didn’t. Charlie wanted to feel needed, to feel loved. 

Charlie had the most character development. She might still have few unresolved issues, but she wasn’t the person she was in the beginning. I’m glad she found some friends to understand her and to be there for her. Girl in Pieces is the first book that I read by Kathleen Glasgow , and I’m glad I finally had the time to read this story. Girl In Pieces isn’t a straightforward story to read, but it’s powerfully, beautifully written.

Cilka's Journey (The Tattooist Of Auschwitz, #2)

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In this follow-up to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, the author tells the story, based on a true one, of a woman who survives Auschwitz, only to find herself locked away again. 

Cilka Klein is 18 years old when Auschwitz-Birkenau is liberated by Soviet soldiers. But Cilka is one of the many women who is sentenced to a labor camp on charges of having helped the Nazis--with no consideration of the circumstances Cilka and women like her found themselves in as they struggled to survive. Once at the Vorkuta gulag in Sibera, where she is to serve her 15-year sentence, Cilka uses her wits, charm, and beauty to survive. 

 

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Haunting. Heart-wrenching. Extraordinary. 

How do I begin? Another book that I cannot begin to explain the emotions. There are so many emotions right now. I feel as if they are going few different directions. Cilka’s Journey will make you cry, feel angry. I know that I cannot begin to imagine what Cilka thought during all of this. As I read the book, all her emotions were facing; it made me feel as I was there with her. All her feelings felt so real to me. I couldn’t get this book out of my mind; long after I turned the pages. Cilka’s Journey is not a story that you will be able to forget, even if you tried to. Everything Cilka faced everything that she has done. If that’s not bravery, then I’m not sure what is. When she gets out of Auschwitz, she must go to another. I don’t know how she was able to last if she had. I was rooting for her, and I was hoping that she would be able to make it out of there, alive. I do know that she was never the same after that, but then how could you be? To me, she is one of the bravest people. No matter what was happening, she kept on going. Cilka did anything that she could to survive. 

I read The Tattooist Of Auschwitz in 2019, and I fell in love with Lale and Gita’s story; it was unlike any love story that I read before. I even ended up re-reading the book before starting Cilka’s Journey . I remember what Cilka had to face in the first book, and my heart broke from her in that book. I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to her after. I asked if she would finally get a chance to go home. I was hoping that she would. I never imagined that she would end up in another camp, going through all the pain, the torture all over again. You cannot help but love Cilka, the person who was always looking out for others, no matter what she was going through. Cilka’s Journey is not an easy book to read; my heart shattered multiple times while reading this story. Cilka’s Journey is one of those books that’s sad but at the same time inspiring, giving you a hard time putting it down. 

I loved The Tattooist Of Auschwitz , but I think I loved Cilka’s Journey more. To me, it felt much more powerful than the first book was. Heather Morris knows how to tell breathtaking historical fiction. I know that it’s fiction, but I feel I learned so much just from reading the book. I even researched on my own after finishing the book. Cilka’s Journey is such an inspirational book, and I still cannot get out of my mind. I’m eager to see where Heather Morris will take us next.

The Cousins.

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Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah Story are cousins, but they barely know each another, and they've never even met their grandmother. Rich and reclusive, she disinherited their parents before they were born. So when they each receive a letter inviting them to work at her island resort for the summer, they're surprised... and curious. 

Their parents are all clear on one point—not going is not an option. This could be the opportunity to get back into Grandmother's good graces. But when the cousins arrive on the island, it's immediately clear that she has different plans for them. And the longer they stay, the more they realize how mysterious—and dark—their family's past is. 

The entire Story family has secrets. Whatever pulled them apart years ago isn't over—and this summer, the cousins will learn everything. 

 

 

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Exhilarating. Memorable. 

There is a reason that I love Karen M.McManus books. This is the third book that I have read, and after reading The Cousins , I'm eager to check the rest. I was curious about this book from the moment that I read the synopsis of the book. Unfortunately, my library didn't have the book until recently. I'm glad that I finally had a chance to read the book. It was different from her other two books, and that was one of the things that I enjoyed about this one. I was curious about the title and that cover; how can you not be interested? Even if you haven't read her books before, the cover will have you picking up the book. The Cousins is filled with action, a book that you will find yourself hard to pull away from. It's a book that I wanted to keep on reading, and I would finish it earlier if it weren't for tests and papers that I had due. 

I love the multiple points of view. I think there are few main characters in the story, and it is essential to get to know each of them. I feel like it's a chance for readers to get bond with characters, get a chance to feel what they are feeling. At least that the feeling that I got when I was reading the book. Milly, Aubrey, and Jonah were all different, and I loved for a chance to get to know each of the cousins. I loved that Allison’s point of view was added as well. To hear her story. I feel as all of them changed since the beginning of the book; they were not the same as when they arrived at the island resort. The one who surprised me the most was Jonah. I didn't think that he would be a character that I would like. In the end, he became one of my favorites. He became the type of friend that I would love to have by my side. 

I knew there was something suspicious when their grandmother sends that letter. Then when they arrived on the island, she disappears. I wondered what she was hiding, why she would invite them to work at the resort but not make time for them. I had a feeling that someone was hiding something. The fact that others were trying to keep them from seeing their grandmother would be curious. I feel that The Cousins should have just a bit more mystery. In general, I couldn’t get enough of the book. On more than one occasion, I found myself reading late into the night. If you love mysteries and books about families, I would highly recommend checking this book out.

The Guest List.

 

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On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. 

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.
And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why? 

 

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Mysterious. Captivating. 

Weddings are supposed to be a memorable, happy occasions. This will be a wedding that Jules and Will won’t forget. How did I not pick this book up earlier? Mystery and thrillers are one of my favorite genres, but it’s also a genre that I tend to be picky about. The Guest List is everything that I love about mysterious. I loved that the murderer wasn’t revealed until the end of the book. The killer was a surprise to me, and it wasn’t the person I suspected to be. However, that’s what makes a good mystery, when you find yourself shocked as you reach the end. I never liked the mysteries when you figure out the killer in, middle of the book. The Guest List was told from multiple points of view, giving you a chance to get to know each of the characters. I had few suspects on my list as I read the book; the actual killer wasn’t even on my list. 

I love the setting of the book. An island in Ireland. That’s one of the places that I want to visit in the future. While reading The Guest List . All the descriptions, I imagined myself there, along with all the guests, the bride, and the groom. I felt myself escaping into the magical yet haunting world. The book opened with a twist. The opening is what will have you turning the pages; you will want to know who did it, and of course, the reason behind the murder. There were days where I was turning the pages, not realizing how late it was getting. I didn’t want to stop. I loved how the book flowed, taking place before the event, during, and after. I can see why so many people talked about this book, the long waiting list at the library. I could go on about how much I loved this book, but that would take days. 

I liked most of the characters in the book, except Will. In the beginning, I liked him, and I saw how much he loved Jules. At least that how it seemed like. After few chapters, my feelings changed. I had this strong, bad feeling about him. Will, he did not seem to be the guy that Jules thought he was. I knew that he was hiding, and of course, I was eager to find out what it was. I hoped that Jules would see that too before it was too late. I loved most of the characters, but I loved Olivia and Jules the most out of everyone. I’m not sure if it was just me, but to me, their point of view was the most interesting to read. I did feel like the ending might be a little rushed as if it was not complete. That’s the feeling that I got. In general, one of the best mystery thrillers that I read this year. This was my first book by Lucy Foley , and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next.