Whistleblower.

 

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  *Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review* 

Laurel Cates has never wanted the spotlight. As a junior studying journalism at Garland University, she's perfectly content pumping out well-written fluff pieces for the school paper and focusing on the finer things in life: friends, house parties, and carne asada tacos. But when Laurel’s research for an article on the school’s beloved football coach uncovers a pattern of misbehavior and a trail of lies, she knows she has to expose the truth. 

Even if it means facing public scrutiny. Even if it means risking her part-time job, her reputation, and her safety. Even if Bodie St. James, the heart-of-gold quarterback, seems hell-bent on convincing her that the man who has been like a father to him couldn’t possibly be the villain she thinks he is. 

When Laurel and Bodie team up to prove each other wrong, their tentative alliance becomes complicated by growing feelings and mounting evidence. And Laurel must choose between staying invisible or doing what’s right . . . even if it costs her more than she ever imagined. 

 

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Heartwarming. Remarkable. 

I had read parts of this story when it was on Wattpad before it was published, and I remember enjoying the story. So when I came across it on Netgalley, I knew I had to request it because I wanted to find out what would happen with Laurel next. I’m so happy I got approved; it was one of my favorite books. I couldn’t get enough of Laurel’s story; I was curious to see what else she would discover about the football coach. Part of me was worried about her, knowing that not everyone would be happy about what Laurel was doing. I believe they were in denial; the person they admired didn’t want to think he could be responsible for it. I love books dealing with journalism, and this was one of the best books I have read surrounding journalism. Laurel was born to be a journalist. 

I loved the relationship between Bodie and Laurel, the connection. It wasn’t there at first, and I felt like Bodie didn’t want to like her because she was a journalist, but even for him, it was hard to deny their connection. I don’t think he would agree to help her otherwise. For most of the book, the two seem to go on a roller coaster ride with their emotions. I felt that Bodie’s character development was outstanding; it was as if he was a completely different person from the start of the book and by the end. I found myself rooting for the two of them throughout the book. Whistleblower was the type of book I didn’t want to end because I fell in love with the characters and didn’t want to say goodbye. To me, the characters were real. 

Whistleblower was an inspirational book. The story focused on a hard subject but an important one that many people could relate to. This is the first full book I read by Kate Marchant, and now that I had a chance to read her book, I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.

When We Had Wings.

 

 

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  *Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review* 

The Philippines, 1941. When U.S. Navy nurse Eleanor Lindstrom, U.S. Army nurse Penny Franklin, and Filipina nurse Lita Capel forge a friendship at the Army Navy Club in Manila, they believe they’re living a paradise assignment. All three are seeking a way to escape their pasts, but soon the beauty and promise of their surroundings give way to the heavy mantle of war. 

Caught in the crosshairs of a fight between the U.S. military and the Imperial Japanese Army for control of the Philippine Islands, the nurses are forced to serve under combat conditions and, ultimately, endure captivity as the first female prisoners of the Second World War. As their resiliency is tested in the face of squalid living arrangements, food shortages, and the enemy’s blatant disregard for the articles of the Geneva Convention, the women strive to keep their hope— and their fellow inmates—alive, though not without great cost. 

 

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Something about World War I &II novels seems to draw me. Those types of books will have you reaching for tissues every time, yet you can’t seem to put the book down. When We Had Wings was one of those books, a story I can still get out of my head. I love reading books that feature strong women and tell the story from multiple points of view—telling the story from numerous points of view, giving you a chance to know each of those characters better. For example, I loved reading Penny, Eleanor, and Lita’s stories; their emotions were so vivid that I could feel their fear, anger, and hope. On every single page, I found myself hoping that this war would end, for a chance for the three of them to be rescued. Even though I couldn’t begin to imagine what it must be like for them during the war, reading the book, I felt as if I was transported there, experiencing everything they were going through.

 
When I came across the book on Netgalley , I felt that it would be a challenging novel to read. Yet, I wasn’t prepared how hard it was going to be. If it weren’t for all the testing and assignments at school the past few weeks, I would read it within the first week of starting the book. Multiple times I had to force myself to put the book down because I had school in the morning or had to study for a test. I couldn’t wait for a chance to pick up the book so I could see what would happen next. I wondered about the title when I first came across the book, but now it makes sense; it fits the story perfectly. I have read a few books in these genres about strong women, but I haven’t read books about women like Penny, Eleanor, and Lita. I loved that despite what was happening and what they were dealing with, they were always there for each other, always thinking about one another. I loved that none of them gave up, even though I knew that sometimes it was hard not to give up. 

Penny, Eleanor, and Lita’s friendship are my favorite. Their friendship is the type of friendship that lasts a lifetime. The friendship between the three reminds me of one between me and some of my best friends. I did feel like the last couple of chapters of the book were a bit slow; it felt as if it dragged on a little, but I loved the rest of the book. I have read a few books by Susan Meissner , and recently read one by Kristina McMorris, but I haven’t read any by Ariel Lawhon, but now that I have read this book, I am curious about rest of her works. I would highly recommend this book to any historical fiction fans. I hope that the three of them will write another book together.