Daughter Of Mine.

 

 ★★★★

When Hazel Sharp, daughter of Mirror Lake’s longtime local detective, unexpectedly inherits her childhood home, she’s warily drawn back to the town—and people—she left behind almost a decade earlier. But Hazel’s not the only relic of the past to return: a drought has descended on the region, and as the water level in the lake drops, long-hidden secrets begin to emerge…including evidence that may help finally explain the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. 

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 Haunting. 

Of all the books by Megan Miranda that I read, this one is my favorite. I was captivated by this book from the very beginning. Daughter of Mine is the type of mystery that you can’t get enough of. Every page had me wondering what was to come next. There is more behind Hazel’s mother leaving all those years ago. I wondered if Caden wanted Hazel to leave it alone because he knew something. I attempted to like Caden and understand why he was so cruel to Hazel, but I couldn’t. It felt like he blamed her for everything. He wasn't a character that was easy to like. I wondered what Caden was hiding. 

Daughter Of Mine was frightening to read, especially at night. I felt Hazel’s fear when she sensed someone at the house, and I found myself looking around my room despite knowing that nobody was there. This was one of the books in which everyone was a suspect, everyone hiding something. I was on the edge of my seat, attempting to figure out along with Hazel who was responsible. Just when I thought I had figured out who it was, Miranda threw another twist our way. Daughter of Mine is a book that will keep you engaged. 

The storyline isn't the only thing that caught my attention; it was also the cover and the title. Even if you've never read any of Megan Miranda's books, the cover alone shows mystery, intriguing your curiosity about the story within. I found the title intriguing, and as I began reading the book, the title made perfect sense. I highly recommend this book to any fans of mystery and thrillers. Be prepared for a thrilling experience!

The Finders Keepers Library.

 

 

 ★★★★

4.5 ★

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Grand Central Publishing/Forever for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review

For a gardener blessed with a green thumb, Savannah Collins’s life sure seems like it’s all thorns, zero roses. She has no job, no relationship, and no place to live. With nothing but a car full of plants and her new rescue kitten, Savannah heads to Bloom, North Carolina, to spend the summer with her beloved Aunt Eleanor, a retired librarian. 

Her aunt shares her love of literature with the Finders Keepers Library, located in her beautiful garden, where anyone can stop by to pick a book or leave a book. When a sudden summer storm destroys the library and many of the roses, it will take a village to get everything ready for the garden wedding that is planned there in just three weeks. 

As the entire town joins in to make the necessary repairs, Savannah bonds with their neighbor Evan Sanders over the books that Eleanor has handpicked for each of them, helping them both find healing and self-discovery. Savannah only intends to stay through the summer, but when an unexpected job offer, a sudden health crisis, and a wayward pre-teen push her future in new directions, she has to wonder whether this is the place that she is meant to be—and the family she’s meant to be with.

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I love books about books! Maybe because I love to read, but those have always been my favorite kinds of stories. The book's cover was another thing that drew me into The Finder Keepers Library. How is it possible for a reader to look at the cover without being drawn in? It's among the most gorgeous book covers I've ever seen. I knew I had to check it out as soon as I saw the author's name. I adored the books Annie Rains’ Hero's Welcome that I read years ago. I remembered why while reading The Finders Keepers Library ; this author has a talent for drawing you into the story and making it hard to put down. I can't stop thinking about the characters and imagining what will happen to them next. 

Savannah was my favorite character in the book out of all of them. It was hard not to love her. I can’t imagine having to go through such a life-changing event. Although Savannah may not believe it, she was strong in a lot of different ways. Though she didn't know June well, I admired how much she loved June and how much she cared for her Aunt Eleanor. Savannah is just what June needed. However, my relationship with June was one of hate and love. I felt that I understood why she acted the way that she did, even though I didn't like how she treated her dad despite seeing how hard he was trying. All I could hope for was that she would grow to love Bloom and remain with her dad. 

Evan. How could you not love him? I loved how he looked out for Eleanor and Savannah and did everything in his power to give her daughter a sense of belonging. There was a connection between them that was evident as soon as Savannah arrived from Bloom; all I could hope for was that Savannah would come to realize that as well. I experienced a wide range of emotions when reading The Finders Keepers Library, and I found myself recommending it to my friends. 

I thought the book started slowly, and at first, I had a hard time empathizing with June and Eleanor. However, that was only a few chapters long, after which I became engrossed in the story. Any fans of romance should check this out, an unforgettable story.

The Hospital.

 

★★★★

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher,Bookoture, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

When I wake up, I know three things. My name is Emma. Someone tried to kill me. And I can’t remember who. When I blink, my eyelashes brush against scratchy cloth. My fingers twitch, numb and distant. In the distance, sirens wail. I’m in the hospital. I should be safe here, but I know I’m not. The last thing I remember is running, seeing an arm raised to strike… Why would anyone want to kill me? 

Desperately, I piece together my scattered memories. I’m standing with my husband on sugar-white sand, our rings glinting in the sunlight. I’ll get better, and I’ll go home to him, and he will protect me. But when he visits, his new girlfriend is on his arm. He tells me we got divorced three years ago, and my world falls apart. What else have I forgotten?The only way I can keep myself safe is to uncover the answers buried deep in my mind. 

But as I talk to my visitors—listening to the gentle tones of the doctors and nurses, grateful for the care of my friends and family—I start to see the lies that contradict what I remember of my life. They say it’s just my broken memory. But I know the shocking I can’t trust a word anyone says…

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Whoa. When I placed my Netgalley request for the book, I hadn't anticipated this. From the book's synopsis, I knew it would be an exciting read, but I wasn't prepared for all the twists along the way. I haven't read any of Leslie Wolfe's books before, so I wasn't sure what to anticipate when I started with The Hospital . Looking forward to reading her other works. A lot was going on in the novel, and at one point I started to question everyone—including the nurses—because I thought something wasn't quite right. I was constantly wondering what Emma would find out and whether she would ever fully heal from her accident. Above all, I couldn’t resist wondering who would try to kill Emma and why. 

There were a few parts at the beginning that seemed to drag on. However, the plot quickened, and I found myself unable to put the book down. I liked that the narrative was told from Emma's perspective since it allowed us to see all her emotions. I can't even begin to comprehend her feelings upon awakening at that hospital and learning of what had happened. I was engrossed in this novel and, just when I thought it could get any more surprising, the author gave us yet another twist. I still can’t seem to get the story out of my head. I do feel like the ending wasn’t quite completed. I enjoyed reading The Hospital and am glad that I got a chance to read it. I would highly recommend it to any psychological thriller fans.

Caraval(Caraval,#1)

 

 

★★★★

CONTAINS SPOILERS

A legendary competition.
A mesmerizing romance.
An unbreakable bond
between two sisters. 

 
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over. 

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner. 

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

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My reading list has included this book for a long time. It has been circulating for some time, but the initial excitement subsided when I got around to reading it. Once I began reading Caraval, I regretted not picking up this book earlier. The book club's monthly novel pick was Caraval, and I'm thrilled about it. My interest was immediately piqued by Scarlett's letters to Legend at the start of the novel. I wondered if he had ever received them. I couldn't help but wonder why Scarlett was asked to the game as a special guest and to be wary of the invitation. I was always on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what would happen next. 

The novel moves slowly at the beginning while they are still on the island, but it picks up once they get to the game. Once Scarlett reached Caraval and the game began, there wasn't a single dull moment. There were moments in the story when I questioned whether finding Tella was part of the game or if Legend had something darker planned admired Scarlett's determination and her willingness to do anything to find her sister. I've always been fond of books that showcase strong sisterly bonds. Out of all the characters in the book, Scarlett was my favorite. 

I loved the setting of the book; it was both dangerous and magical. It didn’t take me long to realize how dangerous Legend was, and I was afraid of what Scarlett might discover. Jullian was a character I initially disliked but grew to adore. Scarlett and Julian had an immediate connection, although neither wanted to admit it. I've read numerous fantasy books, but Caraval was truly unique, unlike any others I've read. I'm eager to see what awaits us in the next book, Legendary.

Winter Garden.

 

★★★★★ 

Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family business; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, these two estranged sisters will find themselves together again, standing alongside their disapproving mother, Anya, who even now offers no comfort to her daughters. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise: Anya will tell her daughters a story; it is one she began years ago and never finished. This time she will tell it all the way to the end. 

The tale their mother tells them is unlike anything they’ve heard before—a captivating, mysterious love story that spans more than sixty years and moves from frozen, war-torn Leningrad to modern-day Alaska. Nina’s obsession to uncover the truth will send them all on an unexpected journey into their mother’s past, where they will discover a secret so shocking, it shakes the foundation of their family and changes who they believe they are. 

Mesmerizing from beginning to end, Winter Garden is that rarest of novels — at once an epic love story and an intimate portrait of women poised at the crossroads of their lives. Evocative, lyrically written, and ultimately uplifting, it will haunt the listener long after the last word is spoken.

🌼 

Since I read Home Front in 2012, I have been a longtime fan of Kristin Hannah ; it was that book that first captured my attention. For a while, I had Winter Garden on my reading list. It was the first of her works that I chose to listen to rather than read. When it comes to audiobooks, I'm usually picky, but Susan Eriksen did an outstanding job and made the book come to life. I felt as if I was being transformed into Nina, Meredith, and Anya’s lives. I'm still thinking about the story even after finishing the book last night. It's one of those novels that I regret not reading sooner. 

Although the story moved a little slowly in the first few pages, it quickly picked up. It eventually got to the point where I had to push myself to stop reading so I could focus on studying. I adored every character, although at first, I wasn't sure about Anya and worried that she was going insane, just like Meredith and Nina assumed. The current story and Anya's story are both wonderful, but Anya's story captivated me more and I couldn't get enough of it. I can't even begin to comprehend going through something like that, there were so many different feelings there. I’m still going through the emotions, hours after reading the book. 

That conclusion... I didn't anticipate that. There is more that I can say but I don’t want to post any spoilers for the readers that haven’t read the book. One of the best books I have read this year is Winter Garden , which I strongly recommend to everyone who loves historical fiction. But get ready for a roller coaster of emotions.

Anita de Monte Laughs Last.

 

 ★★★★

1985. Anita de Monte, a rising star in the art world, is found dead in New York City; her tragic death is the talk of the town. Until it isn’t. By 1998 Anita’s name has been all but forgotten—certainly by the time Raquel, a third-year art history student is preparing her final thesis. On College Hill, surrounded by privileged students whose futures are already paved out for them, Raquel feels like an outsider. Students of color, like her, are the minority there, and the pressure to work twice as hard for the same opportunities is no secret. 

But when Raquel becomes romantically involved with a well-connected older art student, she finds herself unexpectedly rising up the social ranks. As she attempts to straddle both worlds, she stumbles upon Anita’s story, raising questions about the dynamics of her own relationship, which eerily mirrors that of the forgotten artist. 

Moving back and forth through time and told from the perspectives of both women, Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a propulsive, witty examination of power, love, and art, daring to ask who gets to be remembered and who is left behind in the rarefied world of the elite. 

 🌼

  

I learned about this book from Reese's Book Club and was intrigued by the story. I wasn't sure what to expect from the book because Anita de Monte Laughs Last was the first book I had read by the author. I had heard several different reviews about the book, but that didn't stop me from reading it, and I am glad that I did. Anita de Monte Laughs Last is unique, and the story surprised me on several occasions. I've read art books before, but this one is unique...I don't know how to begin to explain everything. There were so many emotions that were going through me all at once, and I know that it’s going to be a book that I will be returning to in the future. 

I discovered this book during the cover reveal when the title caught my attention, and I looked it up out of curiosity. I couldn't help but wonder about the meaning behind the title. When I started reading Anita's perspective, the title made a lot more sense. I loved how the book smoothly combined magical realism, making the story feel incredibly lifelike. In most of the book that I read, I find myself able to transform into the story and experience everything that the characters go through. That was one of my favorite aspects of this book. Reading from multiple points of view helped me to better connect with each character. 

I enjoyed both Raquel's and Anita's perspectives, but Raquel's seemed to start slower. However, it didn’t take long for Raquel’s to pick up, to the point where I was so invested in the story that I lost track of time. I knew a little about art before reading the book, but I felt like I learned more about the process of creating art just by reading the book. While reading the book, I did wonder if the two timelines would end up connecting somehow. In general, I couldn't get enough of this book and would finish it faster if I didn't have to study. 

Highly recommended.

The Disspearance Of Astrid Bricard.

 

 

★★★★

Three generations. One chance to prove themselves. Can the women of the Bricard fashion dynasty finally rewrite their history? 

French countryside, Present Blythe Bricard is the daughter of famous fashion muses but that doesn't mean she wants to be one. She turned her back on that world, and her dreams, years ago. Fate, however, has a different plan, and Blythe will discover there is more to her iconic mother and grandmother than she ever knew. New York, 1970: Designer Astrid Bricard arrives in bohemian Chelsea determined to change the fashion world forever. And she does―cast as muse to her lover, Hawk Jones. And when they're both invited to compete in the fashion event of the century―the Battle of Versailles―Astrid sacrifices everything to showcase her talent. But then, just as her career is about to take off, she mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind only a white silk dress. 

Paris, 1917: Parentless sixteen-year-old Mizza Bricard has made a to be remembered on her own terms. Her promise sustains her through turbulent decades and volatile couture houses until, finally, her name is remembered and a legend is born―one that proves impossible for Astrid and Blythe to distance themselves from. 

 🌼

  

  A captivating story that will transport you to another world. 

I was drawn into this story from the first page, but the title first sparked my interest. I love reading historical fiction with a mystery twist I had a feeling that I was going to enjoy this book, and once again, I found myself falling in love with the story. I'm unsure where to begin with this book review because there is so much I could say. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is different from other historical fiction I've read. That's what attracted me to the story. I love reading stories told from different perspectives and timelines as they feel interconnected. I loved how all the viewpoints in The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard were from the same family. Like everyone else, I was curious about what happened to Astrid, whether something bad happened to her or if she just wanted to escape. I couldn't help but wonder what the reason for her escape might have been, and if anyone knew what had happened to Astrid. There was so much happening that I found it difficult to put the book down. 

I enjoyed getting to know Astrid, Blythe, and Mizza; they were all impossible not to love. I found some parts of Mizza's story slow, but other parts were intriguing I enjoyed the historical aspects of fashion included in this book, which is not a topic I typically read about. Now I know how much goes into fashion, to make it as a fashion designer. 

This isn't my first time reading a book by Natasha Lester, but it's been years since I last read one of her books. I’m glad that I came across this book at the library. I highly recommend this book to any fans of historical fiction who love a mix of mystery. The story will keep you on edge until the very last page.

The Royal Librarian.

 

 ★★★★

 Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Avon, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

A royal palace. A closed book. A betrayal that will echo through generations… 

Windsor, 1940: Secretly tasked with foiling a suspected plot, Sophie Klein is placed in the Royal Library at Windsor castle, where the princesses reside. But when she learns that Windsor is compromised, Sophie must sacrifice everything she knows to save the future queen of England…
Philadelphia, Present day: Looking through her grandmother's papers, Lacey Jones comes across a mysterious letter stamped with the Windsor Castle crest. But how did it come to be in her family's possession? 

And so begins a journey that will take Lacey deep into the heart of the oldest inhabited castle in the world and change her life forever. 

🌼

  

This is the second novel I've read by Daisy Wood, and I love her writing. I admire that this is about a librarian, particularly a royal librarian. One of the first things that captured my attention about the book was the intriguing storyline. However, I felt it took a few chapters to get into the story itself. As the story progressed, I became engrossed and unable to put it down. I was desperate to find out how it would end. My main interest was to see if Sophie would reunite with her sister at some point in the story. 

I enjoy books that alternate between two timelines, and I have read several over the years. In this book, I preferred Sophie's story over Lacey's. I did enjoy Lacey's story, but some parts felt a bit slow. I found the parts where she was trying to uncover what happened to Sophie to be particularly interesting, but other parts seemed to drag on. I admired Lacey's determination to uncover the truth about Sophie. There were so many emotions in this book, and I found myself being able to feel every single one of them. 

This author has quickly become a favorite of mine. This book is another amazing example of why I love her writing. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.