Mystified.

 

 

★★★★

 4.5 ★

Someone drowned teen beauty queen, Juliette Annabella Parker.

 
Prior to her death, 15-year-old Jules reigned as the nation’s darling of beauty pageantry. On her parents’ waterfront estate in rural-rich Hickory Thicket, however, she was beset by dark family secrets—those which kept her isolated. Of course, Jules had harbored a few secrets of her own, including her forbidden friendship with the new teen next door, 17-year-old Truitt Windsor. 

Jules’s drowned corpse should’ve ended their budding relationship. Except, Truitt sees ghosts and isn’t afraid. Now he’s eager to help Jules solve her murder; only, she can’t be sure of his innocence. In fact, everyone on the estate is suspect, even her parents.
Finding her killer is Jules’s obsession. Not knowing could haunt her for eternity. But her time on Earth is quickly fading…

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Haunting. 

My friend told me about this author. When I started reading Mystified , I wished I knew about her sooner. Mystified is the type of story I like mystery combined with some paranormal. Since middle school, I've loved mysteries and the supernatural, especially ones with ghosts. Since then, I have read many mysteries and a few ghost stories. This book was unlike anything else I'd read before, and I loved how part of it was told through the eyes of Juliette's spirit. Almost every page kept me on the edge of my seat, curious about what would happen next. A few times, I stayed up late reading because I couldn't stop myself. I wondered if Jules's spirit could move on once she understood what had happened to her. This is a story you won't be able to put down easily. 

I adored the relationship between Jules and Truitt. The two of them had connection right from the beginning. Jules needed a friend like him. If it were not for Jules' mother. I can't believe no one noticed or commented on Jules' mother's treatment of her; how could anyone think it was normal? I can't recall the last time I despised a character as much as Constance did. It was tough to like her; I wonder if she loved Jules. The only positive aspect of Jules' death was that she was finally able to escape her mother. I did feel that a couple of things dragged on, although that didn’t last long. Overall, I couldn't get enough of the book, and a part of me didn't want the story to end. I had the pleasure of meeting Julia Ash at a recent book signing, and I hope to see her again in the future. I am excited to see what she has in store for us next.

The Women.

 

 

★★★★★

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. 

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over- whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost. 

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

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Powerful, inspiring. A story that will stay with you. 

I can't recall the last time a book had such an effect on me. It was a heartbreaking story that needed to be read. I listened to The Women on audiobook, and even though it took me a while, I'm glad I did. The narrator, Julia Whelan , did an outstanding job capturing the feelings of each character, especially Frankie. I could feel Frankie's feelings during her time as a nurse in Vietnam, as well as her pain, fury, and fear later. I despised how Frankie was treated once she returned home and how everyone pretended that what she had done in Vietnam wasn’t important. I didn’t blame her for being angry. I was angry along with her. 

Frankie is a character I'll never forget. Vietnam transformed her in so many ways. She might not always see it, but she was brave; I wouldn't have survived as long as she did if it were me. Frankie is the character that will stay with you long after you've finished the book. I can't imagine enduring what she experienced and saw as a nurse in Vietnam. A few men were in her life, but I only wanted her to end up with one: Jamie. I felt that the two of them had a genuine connection, and I hoped they would find a way to each other throughout the novel. 

I liked how the novel revolved around Frankie's experiences as a nurse during and after the Vietnam War. I have a few friends who served in the military and suffered from PTSD afterward. I liked that this was about women in Vietnam, but I despised how they were treated and underappreciated as if caring for injured soldiers didn't matter. I knew a little about the Vietnam War before reading the book, but I learned a lot more after reading it. I even conducted my research later! I wondered about the title of the book The Women , and this is a story that needed to be told and read. I've been reading Kristin Hannah for years, and this has become my new favorite.

Children Of Blood And Bone (Legacy Of Orïsha,#1)

 

 

★★★★

4.5 ★ 

They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us. 

 
Now we rise. 

 
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. 

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. 

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. 

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy. 

 

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Phenomenal. 

I read Children Of Blood And Bone in 2018. I never got around to reading the 2nd book, so I wanted to re-read it before reading Children Of Virtue And Vengeance . The world-building in Orïsha was outstanding, allowing me to completely lose myself in the plot. I love fantasy and have read many varieties of fantasy books, but I had never read a book like this one. I couldn't have enough of this universe. Even though it's been a few days since I read it, I can't stop thinking about it; I recall why I loved it so much the first time I read it. I can't help but worry about what awaits each of the characters next. 

The book is told from alternating perspectives. I enjoyed reading from all three perspectives, but Zélie and Amari's story kept my attention the most. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading their viewpoints, and each one left me wanting more. I like reading from Inan's perspective, but I felt conflicted about the character because there was something I didn't like about him. Inan's decisions made me skeptical of whose side he was on. While reading from Inan's perspective, things proceeded a little slow at times, but they picked up within the first few chapters of the novel. I was curious how long he could keep his secret from his father. 

Children of Blood and Bone was an action-packed fantasy. When I initially came across this book, the title caught my attention and urged me to pick it up. I would highly recommend this book to any fantasy fans. I'm excited to see what happens in Children Of Virtue And Vengeance . Prepare for an exhilarating ride!

The Last House On The Street.

 

 

★★★★

 

When Kayla Carter's husband dies in an accident while building their dream house, she knows she has to stay strong for their four-year-old daughter. But the trophy home in Shadow Ridge Estates, a new development in sleepy Round Hill, North Carolina, will always hold tragic memories. But when she is confronted by an odd, older woman telling her not to move in, she almost agrees. It's clear this woman has some kind of connection to the area...and a connection to Kayla herself. Kayla's elderly new neighbor, Ellie Hockley, is more welcoming, but it's clear she, too, has secrets that stretch back almost fifty years. 

Is Ellie on a quest to right the wrongs of the past? And does the house at the end of the street hold the key? Told in dual time periods, The Last House on the Street is a novel of shocking prejudice and violence, forbidden love, the search for justice, and the tangled vines of two families. 

 

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Haunting. 

I've been reading Diane Chamberlain's novels for years. I've read most of her works, and there hasn't been one that I haven't fallen in love with. The Last House on The Street was no exception; it's now one of my favorite books by her. This has been on my to-read list for a while, so I was delighted when I discovered it at the library. Reading The Last House On The Street captivated me in Kayla and Ellie's life, and I couldn't get enough of their stories. I enjoyed Kayla's and Ellie's points of view, although Ellie's drew my attention more. I liked Ellie's point of view on voting rights, which I recently learned in one of my classes. I recall learning about the violence. I can't image what those people went through and the hate they received simply because they volunteered to help black people vote. I loved Ellie because, despite her family and friends' judgment, she didn't stop helping them. 

When I read about dual timelines, I constantly wonder if there's any link between them. I wondered if Ellie would find her way into Kayla's story, even though the events took place years apart. Ellie's and Kayla's stories were both intriguing, but Kayla felt more mysterious. Someone clearly did not want Kayla to move into that house, but the issue remained, 'Why?' What didn’t they want Kayla to find? I couldn't help but think about how the stories would end and what Kayla would uncover. I liked how detailed the descriptions and feelings of the characters were, making me feel like I was right there with Kayla and Ellie. The Last House On The Street is a book that makes you wonder until the last page. 

The Last House On The Street is a different book from what the author typically writes. This novel kept me interested till the very last page. It was a beautifully written novel that was upsetting and had my emotions running wild. I highly recommend this book, especially to mystery and historical fiction fans. I can’t wait to see what the author has for us next!

Nantucket Nights.

 

 

★★★

3.5 ★

The ties between women can run as deep as the ocean-but so can the secrets. 

For 20 years, Kayla, Antoinette and Val have performed their own special summer ritual. Once a year, the old friends put aside their daily, separate lives to drink champagne, swap stories and swim naked under the Nantucket stars. But on one of those bonding nights, one of their trio swims out from the shore and doesn't return. After the surviving friends emerge from their grief, they realize that the repercussions of their loss go far beyond their little circle, and they begin to uncover layers of secrets--and their connections to each other--that were never revealed on the beach. What has made their friendship strong now has the power to destroy--their marriages, families, even themselves. 

 

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 It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Elin Hilderbrand. I bought Nantucket Nights for the book signing because it was one of her books I hadn't read before. As always, her books leave me craving for more. I liked that Nantucket Nights was enveloped by the mystery of Antoinette's disappearance; how does someone vanish while swimming? I had a sense that Antoinette was someplace out there. Otherwise, her body would be found if she drowned. As a reader, you couldn't help but wonder where she was hiding and why she decided to flee. Several scenarios were running through my mind while I was reading. 

Kayla was not an easy character to like. I wanted to like her, but it was difficult at times. She seemed to be complaining her way through the book. While I can appreciate her concern for her friend who went missing, it appeared to be constant. Yet, I couldn’t get enough of the story. It could be because I wanted to see what happened to Antoinette and what other secrets Kayla may discover next. One of my favorite aspects of the book was the mystery. 

Theo. I was uncertain of how to feel about him. I felt that his treatment of his mother was unfair. Although I assumed he was hiding something, I never considered the real reason for his actions. It’s still not an excuse for treating his mother like he did. Though not my favorite book by Elin Hilderbrand, I did enjoy Nantucket Nights . Nevertheless, I can see myself returning to this story in the future.

Gone To Drift.

 

 

★★★

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

Life gets even tougher for Lloyd, a boy from a Jamaican fishing village, when his grandfather goes missing at sea - ‘gone to drift’ as the local fishers say. Lloyd sets out to find him but no one will help except for an uptown girl who studies dolphins, his best friend Dwight and - just perhaps - a mad man called Slowly on a sun-baked beach. 

Truth? Respect? Survival? Gone to Drift is a powerful adventure story in which Lloyd discovers that the enemies of his grandfather - and of the Caribbean Sea that he loves - are closer to home than he could ever imagine.

 

 🌼

 
When I first saw it on Netgalley, I was drawn in by the cover and title. As a reader, the cover alone will fascinate you and make you wonder, 'What will happen?'. It was one of the things that attracted me to the story: I wanted to know if Llyod would find his grandfather. Gone To Drift was different from the stories I normally read. I loved that it was told from both the boy's and grandfather's perspectives. felt sorry for Llyod; nobody seemed to take seriously the fact that his grandfather hadn't returned from his fishing trip yet. Like Llyod, I believed his grandfather was in danger and hoped he could persuade someone to look for him. 

I loved reading both perspectives. However, I found it easier to follow Conrad's perspective than Llyod's. At times, it was difficult to follow Llyod's point of view, and some of the phrasing was unusual, but it was fascinating to read. Overall, it was a beautifully written narrative, and I enjoyed the idea that it took place in Jamaica. Although I felt the finale was unresolved, I found myself flipping the pages, eager to see how all would end.

The Beautiful People.

 

 

★★★★

 4.5 ★

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Graydon House, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s 1961, and for Margo Hightower, everything is about to change. True, her engagement is off, her family has fallen in scandal, and she's completely broke. But she’s just been hired as assistant to photographer Slim Aarons—famous for his vibrant pictures of high society, royalty, and Hollywood stars—and she knows this opportunity is her ticket to something better. 

From the bright beaches of Acapulco to glitzy parties in New York, Margo is thrown headfirst into the glamorous jet-set world she so covets, observing its ways from behind the camera as Slim’s sidekick. There’s Jackie Kennedy, Truman Capote and his Swans, a host of Vanderbilts. Beautiful people in beautiful places. 

But when they land in Palm Beach, a scene with few rules and many riches, the lines between work and play begin to blur. As Margo becomes swept up in the city’s social circle—and into a friendship with heiress and rising fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer—the golden life seems increasingly in reach. Until she finds herself entangled in a complicated web of loyalties and secrets that could bring it all crashing down… 

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When I started reading The Beautiful People, I felt like I was transported to 1960. I liked that it was set in Palm Beach, Florida, where I used to live, so I was already familiar with the area and how it dealt with photography. I am not a professional photographer, but I love photography. I've read some historical fiction, but none of them related to photography. One of the things I liked best about this book was how unusual it was from others I'd read, and practically every page kept me wanting more and wondering what would happen to Margo next. I found myself embarking on excursions together with Margo and Slim Aaron. 

I was curious to see how long Margo would last as an assistant. Slim Aaron was first hesitant to have her as his assistant, and I wondered if Margo could endure him. Margo appeared to pick up on what he wanted quickly and being Slim Aaron's assistant transformed her into an entirely different person. When I first started reading The Beautiful People . I didn't think I'd be able to relate to Margo, but she ended up being one of my favorite characters. I was curious to know how the story might end for Margo. 

 

Lily was a character I was unsure about. I was grateful for the bond she developed with Margo; she was the friend Margo needed. However, I disagreed with how she handled others at the same time. There was something about her I disliked. I didn't know if Lily and Margo's friendship would last, but I hoped it would. The book's title, The Beautiful People , immediately caught my curiosity. The title was a perfect match given Margo's role in the story. The descriptions in the novel were delightful and made me wish I was there with Margo; I quickly fell in love with the surroundings and the characters. 

I came upon Michelle Gable's works but haven't got the chance to read them. Now I wish I had read her books earlier. I'm delighted I had an opportunity to explore her world in The Beautiful People, and eager to see what awaits us next.