When The Stars Go Dark.

 

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Anna Hart is a seasoned missing persons detective in San Francisco with far too much knowledge of the darkest side of human nature. When tragedy strikes her personal life, Anna, desperate and numb, flees to the Northern California village of Mendocino to grieve. She lived there as a child with her beloved foster parents, and now she believes it might be the only place left for her. Yet the day she arrives, she learns that a local teenage girl has gone missing. 

The crime feels frighteningly reminiscent of the most crucial time in Anna’s childhood, when the unsolved murder of a young girl touched Mendocino and changed the community forever. As past and present collide, Anna realizes that she has been led to this moment. The most difficult lessons of her life have given her insight into how victims come into contact with violent predators. As Anna becomes obsessed with saving the missing girl, she must accept that true courage means getting out of her own way and learning to let others in. 

Weaving together actual cases of missing persons, trauma theory, and a hint of the metaphysical, this propulsive and deeply affecting novel tells a story of fate, necessary redemption, and what it takes, when the worst happens, to reclaim our lives—and our faith in one another. 

 

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Mysterious. Haunting. 

How have I not read this earlier? I’m at a loss for words for this book. There are a lot of emotions going through me right now, and I can’t seem to get the story out of my mind. I’m even recommending this book to friends who enjoy mysteries. It’s impossible not to fall in love with When the Stars Go Dark , especially with a title like that. The title is what captured my attention first, followed by the cover; you cannot help but be curious about the story behind it. I was. When The Stars Go Dark is unique, unlike any of the other mysteries I have read in the past, with so many unexpected twists and turns from the start to the end. I stayed up way past midnight to read it, and I wanted to see how it would end if they found the killer; I was rooting for them to find the murderer. This isn’t a book you will be able to put down; one more chapter will turn into five more. I couldn’t get enough. 

When The Stars Go Dark is the first book that I have read by Paula McLain , but the moment that I read the first page, I knew that I was going to love this book. However, I didn’t expect how much I would love the story and the characters. Anna was troubled but my favorite character in the book. Despite what was happening in her life and why she left, it didn’t stop her from doing her job. Anna was determined to find Cameron alive. I cannot even begin to imagine what Cameron must have gone through. When they found the other missing girl murdered, I was afraid it might be too late for Cameron. I was hoping that I was wrong. I cannot begin to picture what a parent goes through when their missing child is found dead. I hoped that at least Cameron would be returned to her family alive. 

 
I hadn’t heard about Polly Klaas and had no idea that she was kidnapped at a knife point in real life, not until the author’s note at the end. I cannot even imagine being taken at knifepoint at slumber and having her friend watch it happen in front of their eyes. How do you get over something that horrifying? I loved how the whole town came together to try and find her. I can tell how much research the author did. The case details were so vivid for all the girls; it was as if I saw it happening in front of my eyes. There were details within the book that was hard for me to read. The killer was most surprising; he came nowhere near who I thought was responsible. These are the types that I love in mysteries, where they keep you guessing until the end. I would highly recommend When The Stars Go Dark to any mystery lovers.

The Magnificent Lives Of Marjorie Post.

 

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Mrs. Post, the President and First Lady are here to see you. . . . 

 
So begins another average evening for Marjorie Merriweather Post. Presidents have come and gone, but she has hosted them all. Growing up in the modest farmlands of Battle Creek, Michigan, Marjorie was inspired by a few simple rules: always think for yourself, never take success for granted, and work hard—even when deemed American royalty, even while covered in imperial diamonds. Marjorie had an insatiable drive to live and love and to give more than she got. From crawling through Moscow warehouses to rescue the Tsar's treasures to outrunning the Nazis in London, from serving the homeless of the Great Depression to entertaining Roosevelts, Kennedys, and Hollywood's biggest stars, Marjorie Merriweather Post lived an epic life few could imagine. 

Marjorie's journey began gluing cereal boxes in her father's barn as a young girl. No one could have predicted that C. W. Post's Cereal Company would grow into the General Foods empire and reshape the American way of life, with Marjorie as its heiress and leading lady. Not content to stay in her prescribed roles of high-society wife, mother, and hostess, Marjorie dared to demand more, making history in the process. Before turning thirty she amassed millions, becoming the wealthiest woman in the United States. But it was her life-force, advocacy, passion, and adventurous spirit that led to her stunning legacy. 

And yet Marjorie's story, though full of beauty and grandeur, set in the palatial homes she built such as Mar-a-Lago, was equally marked by challenge and tumult. A wife four times over, Marjorie sought her happily-ever-after with the blue-blooded party boy who could not outrun his demons, the charismatic financier whose charm turned to betrayal, the international diplomat with a dark side, and the bon vivant whose shocking secrets would shake Marjorie and all of society. Marjorie did everything on a grand scale, especially when it came to love. 

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  I had no idea who Marjorie Post was before reading this book. When I came across The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post at my library, I didn’t know what to expect since it was my first book by the author. The summary and the book's cover caught my attention enough to check the book out. Within the few sentences of the book, I knew that I had made the right choice by picking this one out. I love historical fiction, and I have read a few this year. The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post is unlike any other historical fiction that I have read so far. Marjorie Post life fascinated me, she was such a strong and dedicated woman. Marjorie went through so much, and yet she accomplished so much. This story kept me way past my bedtime on several occasions, wanting to see what would happen next. I felt as if I was there beside Marjorie for most of the book. What a fascinating life! 

I love when books are written in timelines. When the books are written in timelines, especially historical fiction, it’s as if I am going on the journey along with the characters. The Magnificent Lives Of Marjorie Post was a never-ending journey, and I couldn’t get enough. A part of me didn’t want to reach the ending because I didn’t want the story to end. It was fascinating how it all started and kept going after Marjorie’s dad had passed away. But then, just when you assumed that you could put the book down, there was a twist that you didn’t see coming. This book had a few of those, and I loved every single one of them. I wish I had discovered this author earlier; her writing is breathtaking. I could feel the emotion of each character. It’s one of those books that I couldn’t explain all the feelings, even if I tried. It was magnificent. 

Even though Marjorie was successful, she didn’t have as much luck with love. It seemed as if every time she married, she ended up heartbroken in the end. Her first husband, Edward Close, I had a bad feeling about him from the start. I felt as if he had asked her to marry him too fast. I couldn’t help but wonder if he ever loved her. He didn’t even seem to want to support most of her ideas but managed to brush them off or argue with her. Although, among all her husbands, I believe that Joseph loved her the most, I think he changed during World War II, which eventually destroyed their marriage. I was rooting for her to find her happily after. I strongly feel that I will be returning to The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post in the future; I still can’t seem to get the book out of my mind. Once I finished the book, I researched the real Marjorie Post because I got curious about her. This story will stay with you long after turning the last page. 

An Inspiration.

The Diamond Eye.

 

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In 1937 in the snowbound city of Kiev (now known as Kyiv), wry and bookish history student Mila Pavlichenko organizes her life around her library job and her young son--but Hitler's invasion of Ukraine and Russia sends her on a different path. Given a rifle and sent to join the fight, Mila must forge herself from studious girl to deadly sniper--a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. When news of her three hundredth kill makes her a national heroine, Mila finds herself torn from the bloody battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America on a goodwill tour. 

Still reeling from war wounds and devastated by loss, Mila finds herself isolated and lonely in the glittering world of Washington, DC--until an unexpected friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and an even more unexpected connection with a silent fellow sniper offer the possibility of happiness. But when an old enemy from Mila's past joins forces with a deadly new foe lurking in the shadows, Lady Death finds herself battling her demons and enemy bullets in the deadliest duel of her life. 

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Haunting. Heartbreaking. 

The Diamond Eye is the third novel I have read by Kate Quinn, and she has become one of my favorite authors. Her writing style and the book's emotions make it impossible not to fall in love with the story. From the books I have read, The Diamond Eye is the most emotional. I cannot imagine how that must have felt like everything that Mila goes through. Mila is one of the bravest people to endure everything that she has. There is a significant shift from a history student to a sniper. I know that I would never be able to go through what Mila had to. At some point, I was sure that she would get killed; there was no way that she would be able to survive this war. I was aware that The Diamond Eye was based on a true story, and while reading the book, I was curious about how much of it was real and fictional. I loved the author’s note towards the end of the book, making me even more curious about the actual events. 

The Diamond Eye , don’t you love the title? I think that the title itself will have you checking the book out. I was curious about the story behind the title. After a few chapters, I understood the story behind the title, and it made a lot of sense. The title fits Mila perfectly. I love the friendship that Mila developed with Eleanor Roosevelt. I could see that they had conflicted feelings about each other initially, but it wasn’t long before I could see how fond they were of each other. I hoped that they would remain, friends after the war was over. I loved the letters that Eleanor wrote throughout the book. I am curious if those were the actual letters that Eleanor Roosevelt wrote. I’m glad that Mila had someone she could depend on while she was in America. 

Alexei. Now that’s one character I knew I wasn’t going to like. He was one of those that you just wanted to punch. I could tell that he cared about nobody else but himself. As the book progressed, he seemed to annoy me even more than at the beginning of the book. I don’t know how anybody could like him. I wanted him to leave Mila alone for once. There were a few parts in the book that I felt were dragging on; otherwise, it was almost impossible for me to put the book down. I’m from Ukraine, and I love reading books based on my country. Based on the history and information, you can tell how much research the author conducted. Those are my favorite books. I am blown away by this book; my emotions are… there are no words to explain all my feelings. 

Inspirational. Real.

This Is Falling (Falling, #1)

 

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First, I had to remember how to breathe. Then, I had to learn how to survive. Two years, three months and sixteen days had passed since I was the Rowe Stanton from before, since tragedy stole my youth and my heart went along with it. 

When I left for college, I put a thousand miles between my future and my past. I’d made a choice—I was going to cross back to the other side, to live with the living. I just didn’t know how. 

And then I met Nate Preeter. 

An All-American baseball player, Nate wasn’t supposed to notice a ghost-of-a-girl like me. But he did. He shouldn’t want to know my name. But he did. And when he learned my secret and saw the scars it left behind, he was supposed to run. But he didn’t. 

My heart was dead, and I was never supposed to belong to anyone. But Nate Preeter had me feeling, and he made me want to be his. He showed me everything I was missing. 

And then he showed me how to fall. 

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Breathtaking. 

Have you ever come across a book that you instantly fell in love with? This is Falling is that book for me. I have never read this author, and I accidentally came across this book at the library. The title and the cover are what caught my attention first. I got curious and decided to check the book out. I was hooked within the first paragraph. I wanted to see what would happen next. The emotions in this book; I can’t begin to explain how I was feeling; they were all over the place. This is Falling will make you cry; I teared up a few times while reading this book. I had a feeling that this would be an emotional story; however, I was not prepared for how heart aching it would be. From the start, I knew that something tragic had happened to Rowe, to the point that she had trouble trusting others and was easily frightened. It did cross my mind that maybe she escaped an abusive relationship; that was one reason that made the most sense. It was unexpected when the truth came out, but it made more sense about Rowe’s reactions. 

Nate . How can you not love him? I loved him from the start and was in love with him by the end of the book. Nate is what Rowe needed, the type of guy who would love her for who she was and be there when she needed someone. I noticed her hesitation when she realized that she was attracted to him, and I know why. Rowe felt she was betraying Josh, even though he wasn’t her Josh anymore. I wanted her to see that Josh would want her to be happy. I could tell that Nate and Rowe belonged together. When she told him what happened, he didn’t treat her any different; if anything, he helped her to heal. That letter that he wrote to Rowe towards the end of the book was my favorite part, and my emotions went in a few different directions. Nate, he’s a keeper. 

I’m glad that Rowe ended up roommates with Cass and Paige. Cass and Rowe seemed to have more of a connection than her and Paige. I was not too fond of Paige initially, but towards the middle of the book, I was curious about her, wondering what her story was. Rowe needed someone like Cass, who reminds me of one of my best friends, the friend who is always there, even if it just to listen. I’m eager to read Cass’s story in You and Everything After and how she managed to capture Ty’s heart. I’m happy that I have discovered Ginger Scott ,her story took my breath away, and I cannot wait to discover her other adventures.

Apples Never Fall.

 

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The Delaney family love one another dearly—it’s just that sometimes they want to murder each other . . .

 
If your mother was missing, would you tell the police? Even if the most obvious suspect was your father? This is the dilemma facing the four grown Delaney siblings. 

The Delaneys are fixtures in their community. The parents, Stan and Joy, are the envy of all of their friends. They’re killers on the tennis court, and off it their chemistry is palpable. But after fifty years of marriage, they’ve finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. So why are Stan and Joy so miserable? 

The four Delaney children—Amy, Logan, Troy, and Brooke—were tennis stars in their own right, yet as their father will tell you, none of them had what it took to go all the way. But that’s okay, now that they’re all successful grown-ups and there is the wonderful possibility of grandchildren on the horizon.
One night a stranger named Savannah knocks on Stan and Joy’s door, bleeding after a fight with her boyfriend. The Delaneys are more than happy to give her the small kindness she sorely needs. If only that was all she wanted. 

Later, when Joy goes missing, and Savannah is nowhere to be found, the police question the one person who remains: Stan. But for someone who claims to be innocent, he, like many spouses, seems to have a lot to hide. Two of the Delaney children think their father is innocent, two are not so sure—but as the two sides square off against each other in perhaps their biggest match ever, all of the Delaneys will start to reexamine their shared family history in a very new light. 

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Apples Never Fall is the second book that I have read by Liane Moriarty and I’m in love. This is my favorite of the two books that I have read so far. The title is what grabbed my attention first, Apples Never Fall how can you not be curious about a title like that? Besides, I love mysteries that have you on the edge of your seat until the end. I had a feeling that I was going to enjoy this book. Apples Never Fall is one of those mysteries when you think you figured out what happened, and then a twist that you did not see coming. I was on the edge of my seat until almost the end of the book. Like Joy’s children, I couldn’t help but wonder what happened to her and did Savannah had something to do with the disappearance, or her husband, Stan. I did not want to believe that Stan had anything to do with Joy’s disappearance. The two of them fought, but then what married couple doesn’t? However, I could tell how much in love he was with Joy. His behavior was a little suspicious when Joy went missing, but I never thought he did anything to hurt her. 

I love when a book is told about the past and present. Those are my favorite types of books. The book went from investigation and back to before Joy went missing. It gave us, as readers, to get to know Joy better. I liked Joy from the beginning, and I hoped that she wasn’t dead all through the book. I had a bad feeling that she was, especially when a body was discovered. I loved that the story was told from multiple points of view, even Savannah. When Savannah appeared on the doorstep of Joy and Stan’s house, I had a feeling that there was something not right, but I brushed that feeling away. Up until all the siblings started to get suspicious too. When Savannah started taking care of them, cooking for them, I thought: ‘She can’t possibly be a bad person.’ Even I didn’t see the twist where the truth about Savannah was discovered, and I was suspicious if all of it was the truth. How can you trust someone who came up with so many lies? I understood why she did it, but I was not too fond of it. 

Even though Apples Never Fall was a mystery, it had me going through many emotions. If it weren’t for studying, I would spend all day reading. When the truth about Joy’s disappearance was relieved, even I did not see that coming. I wanted to re-read it to make sure that I read it correctly. I did feel that the book’s ending was a bit too long; those are the only part that I felt dragged on a little. I loved how realistic the book was, especially the characters. All the characters go through dramatic changes throughout the book. I felt as if Joy’s disappearance brought them closer together. This is one of the most realistic mystery books I have read in a while. I think that Liane Moriarty will be an author that I will read for years to come; I even recommend books to my friends. Even today, I cannot get the story out of my mind. If you are into mystery and love books about families, I would highly recommend Apples Never Fall.

The Lobotomist's Wife.

 

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An enthralling historical novel of a compassionate and relentless woman, a cutting-edge breakthrough in psychiatry, and a nightmare in the making. 

Since her brother took his life after WWI, Ruth Emeraldine has had one goal: to help those suffering from mental illness. Then she falls in love with charismatic Robert Apter—a brilliant doctor championing a radical new treatment, the Lobotomy. Ruth believes in it as a miracle treatment and in Robert as its genius pioneer. But as her husband spirals into deluded megalomania, Ruth can’t ignore her growing suspicions. Robert is operating on patients recklessly, often with horrific results. And a vulnerable young mother, Margaret Baxter, is poised to be his next victim. 

Margaret can barely get out of bed, let alone care for her infant. When Dr. Apter diagnoses her with the baby blues and proposes a lobotomy, she believes the procedure is her only hope. Only Ruth can save her—and scores of others—from the harrowing consequences of Robert’s ambitions. 

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Haunting. Mysterious. 

The Lobotomist’s Wife wasn’t the book I expected; it was so much more. I was surprised to find that the book's story was based on facts. I have heard of Lobotomy before, but I didn’t know much about the procedure. I had no idea how Lobotomy was even discovered. I had more details once I read The Lobotomist’s Wife . In the beginning, like Ruth, I loved how her husband Robert was helping the patients; he was making their lives better. However, when the story started to progress, I became suspicious of how he performed the Lobotomy and how often. I noticed how he started to convince his patients that Lobotomy was their only option for getting better. I had a feeling that he didn’t even give them a chance to think about it; he kept talking to them until they agreed to the procedure. I had the feeling that he wasn’t telling Ruth the whole truth about the Lobotomy procedures. 

I wanted Ruth to find out, to see that Lobotomy wasn’t helping the patients the way he claimed it does. Robert has a way of convincing others; he doesn’t like it when he’s not right. I’m glad that Ruth found out when she did. I had a feeling that it wouldn’t be easy to stop Robert; he wouldn’t go down without a fight. I was afraid that he would hurt Ruth in the process, if not worse. I started to wonder if she would be able to stop him. I loved Ruth’s determination; she didn't give up no matter what was happening. The length that Ruth went to protect her patients takes courage. I loved Ruth from the beginning. The Lobotomist’s Wife is not a book that you will be able to put down; there is always something happening. Every single page. It was hard for me to believe that it was the author’s debut novel. I couldn’t get enough. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next. 

Highly recommended for any historical fiction and suspense fans.