Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab

 

My thoughts

When I requested this book I didn't notice that it was just a sneak peek. I would not leave a review until I listened to the whole thing so went and bought an audio of it. 

This book is very good. While it can't hold a candle to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, it is good. It held my attention and kept me wanting more. While it does start out just a bit slow it picks up quickly. There are three narrators and two were excellent. One didn't hold up quite as well and since I have no idea whose voice was for each person I can only say that it was the voice of Alice that was a bit of a let down. Other than that you can't go wrong if you love a good vampire story in audio. 

This one deals with basically three characters. Each has a story and a reason. Their stories start out with the year they died. You learn all about them and how they are turned. What sadness and happiness they each hold. How they are turned. 

The ending was very good. I think the author is excellent. She seems to give her books so much structure and feeling. I can't wait for a new book by this author.

Thank you #MacmillianAudio and #NetGalley for this audio arc. So good I highly recommend it. 

I also made it my BOTM choice and added it along side Addie LaRue to my personal library. 

About

From V. E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: a new genre-defying novel about immortality and hunger.

This is a story about hunger.
1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.

This is a story about love.
1827. London.
A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.

This is a story about rage.
2019. Boston.
College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.

This is a story about life—
how it ends, and how it starts.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau By Kristin Harmel

 My thoughts

This book will definitely be in my top ten book of the year. It was perfection. A story that kept me turning the pages. Kept me in tears and even a laugh or two. Mostly it made me believe in life. As hard as things are now and were back then, there is always hope for the future. Never give up...

This is the story of a family. Or a mother and her daughter. Colette is so young when her mother, Annabel, starts teaching her about the family "tradition." They are descendants of Robin Hood. We have all heard of him right? They steal from the rich. The ones that do harm and have little regard for others, and use it to help the underprivileged. The ones who need it most. In this case it's the underground helping the Jews to escape the Germans. 

This story is told in two timelines. Back in the early/mid 1930s/1940s, and then in 2018. Told before and during the time Colette's mother is captured by the Germans for stealing. When Colette's little sister is taken by someone and murdered. When she herself and her father are also arrested. The guilt that follows Colette. She blames herself for Liiane's abduction and subsequent death. 

This is also a story of much hope. Of a love story that was never allowed to blossom. Colette met a boy named Tristan when she was only fourteen and it seems they fell in love. What an innocent age. Tristan was a Jewish boy though. When the Nazi's came and put the Jews in prisons and shipped them off to concentration camps, Tristan was one of them. Colette lost him. She dedicated her life to helping the weak and finding the man who took her sister.

This book is so emotional and so good. It's about a family and shows that blood is not always what makes a family. Sometimes it's being there for others. Though blood family is very much at the center of this story too. Colette was a strong woman. She never gave up trying to find the man who took Liliane. It all starts with a bracelet. The exacte twin to the one Colette has. Whoever own it had to be the one who took Liliane. 

This book is one of the best I have read. This author can write a story that always pulls you in and captures your heart. Her research is impeccable.  She puts her whole heart in each story she writes. 

Please read the AUTHOR'S NOTE at the ending too. It's well worth it. I'm so glad Kristin Harmel got her writing abilities back. So very glad. 

Don't forget to get those mammograms ladies. They can be lifesaving. May 21st was mine. Please get them every year!!

Thank you to #NetGalley, and #GalleryBooks, for this ARC. 

About

Kristin Harmel, the New York Timesbestselling author who “is the best there is at sweeping historical drama” (Kelly Harms, author ofThe Seven Day Switch), returns with an electrifying new novel about two jewel thieves, a priceless bracelet that disappears in 1940s Paris, and a quest for answers in a decades-old murder.

Colette Marceau has been stealing jewels for nearly as long as she can remember, following the centuries-old code of honor instilled in her by her mother, take only from the cruel and unkind, and give to those in need. Never was their family tradition more important than seven decades earlier, during the Second World War, when Annabel and Colette worked side by side in Paris to fund the French Resistance.

But one night in 1942, it all went wrong. Annabel was arrested by the Germans, and Colette’s four-year-old sister, Liliane, disappeared in the chaos of the raid, along with an exquisite diamond bracelet sewn into the hem of her nightgown for safekeeping. Soon after, Annabel was executed, and Liliane’s body was found floating in the Seine—but the bracelet was nowhere to be found.

Seventy years later, Colette—who has “redistributed” $30 million in jewels over the decades to fund many worthy organizations—has done her best to put her tragic past behind her, but her life begins to unravel when the long-missing bracelet suddenly turns up in a museum exhibit in Boston. If Colette can discover where it has been all this time—and who owns it now—she may finally learn the truth about what happened to her sister. But she isn’t the only one for whom the bracelet holds answers, and when someone from her childhood lays claim to the diamonds, she’s forced to confront the ghosts of her past as never before. Against all odds, there may still be a chance to bring a murderer to justice—but first, Colette will have to summon the courage to open her own battered heart. 

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

 

My thoughts

This was such a fun book. Yes it was intense and in places it was very emotional. But it was still a fun one. You get to know about Auntie Em. From when she was young and single. To when she met and fell in love with Uncle Henry. How Dorothy came to live with them. What happened to Dorothy when she went to Oz.... If she did.

This book if full of Easter Eggs from The Wizard of Oz so be sure and look for them. They are placed throughout and I enjoyed them.

Auntie Em was born in Ireland. Her parents and two sisters traveled to the US as immigrants. Both parents died and the oldest sister married and moved to California. Emily and her sister Annie stayed together and were very close. Then Annie married. Annie's husband was a cousin to Uncle Henry and that is how Auntie Em met him. Annie was also Dorothy's mother. 

When Henry and Em go to Kansas to make a home they have no idea what awaits them. For a few years they are successful and prosperous. But then the tornadoes and dust storms come at them hard. No rain for such a long time. And they had to take in Dorothy when her parents were killed in an accident. Not that they considered Dorothy as anything less then a blessing. They tried hard to make a go of things. Together they could do anything. Almost.

You really get to know Emily and Henry. What they struggled with and the many losses. How much they love each other and how much they cherish Dorothy. She was the child they couldn't seem to have. 

There are a few secrets in this story. Annie has one major one and Emily keeps it. Emily also has a few secrets. Sometimes there just are just some secrets you have to keep to yourself. 

The people in the town of Liberal, KS are so nice. Very friendly and Emily fits right in with the ladies there. There is one who is a bit of a mean witch but what town doesn't have one of those, right. 

This story takes you on a trip through Auntie Em's life. Through the things that she and Uncle Henry go through. And the life they gave Dorothy. The love. Dorothy had a great life with them. 

I loved this book. The history that was told throughout was wonderful to read about. Though it was sad and showed what a hard life people had during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The author kept those true to form. Do not skip the Historical Note and the Author Note at the end. Some good info there.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Berkley,  for this ARC. It was wonderful.  

About

Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her, in this transporting novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor.

As featured in People ∙ Us Weekly ∙ Woman's World ∙ and more!

Chicago, 1924: Emily and her new husband, Henry, yearn to leave the bustle of Chicago for the promise of their own American dream among the harsh beauty of the prairie. But leaving the city means leaving Emily’s beloved sister, Annie, who was once closer to her than anyone in the world.

Kansas, 1932: Emily and Henry have established their new home among the warmth of the farming community in Kansas. Aligned to the fickle fortunes of nature, their lives hold a precarious and hopeful purpose, until tragedy strikes and their orphaned niece, Dorothy, lands on their doorstep.

The wide-eyed child isn’t the only thing to disrupt Emily’s world. Drought and devastating dust storms threaten to destroy everything, and her much-loved home becomes a place of uncertainty and danger. When the past catches up with the present and old secrets are exposed, Emily fears she will lose the most cherished thing of Dorothy.

Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the what is the true meaning of home?

The Secret Library Of Hanna Reeves by Christine Nolfi

 

My thoughts

Christine Nolfi is an automatic read for me. Her books never disappoint. They are always thought provoking and emotional, with an ending that never leaves you hanging. 

This is about a woman, Claire, who takes a job cataloging antiques to sale. They belong to Hannah Reeves. A very rich woman who has been almost elusive since her father's death many years prior. While working, Claire, learns there is a secret library in the mansion. She is adamant about finding it. 

This book will make you want to keep reading well into the night. It was so hard for me to put down. I wanted to know everything. All the secrets. The characters are so wonderful and likable. Everyone that works for Hannah is so protective of her. Everyone who works there is a descendent of someone who had already worked there. Or at least most all. Hannah it seems is also very protective of her employees. You'll learn enough about each to get to know them. And a few other characters. 

The story is so well written and pulls you in from page one. There is nothing about it that will let you down. It was one that I absolutely loved. A heartfelt story of a woman who helped out people without wanting anything in return. From her heart. The love story part made me weep. I do mean Hannah's love story.

I look forward to the sequel to this one. Please hurry and get it written.... 

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC. 

About

An antiques dealer and an enigmatic heiress embark on a revelatory friendship in a haunting and hopeful novel about family ties, secrets, and belonging by the bestselling author of A Heart Like Home.

Cautious Claire Shelton, employee at a Maine antique shop, is surprised when she’s recruited to catalog the treasures of reclusive Hanna Reeves, sole descendant of the state’s most colorful shipbuilders and industrialists. Hanna’s retreat from society years ago is just one of many mysteries behind the walls of Rose Hill, her fabled estate.

Settling into Rose Hill’s carriage house, Claire finds Hanna, nearing eighty, to be a still-formidable woman. She’s demanding, judgmental, and protective of a mansion that is a veritable shrine to her ancestors. Then, diving into her work, Claire discovers a hidden library that is the stuff of legend among locals. An avid booklover, Claire is in heaven. More enthralling are Hanna’s leather-bound family journals that open Claire up to the past—and soon forge a rich and unexpected bond between two very different women.

A legacy is coming to light. All of Maine is talking. Because the revelations in the journals are enlightening enough to unite old friends, lovers, and families. And shocking enough to tear them apart forever.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

 

My thoughts

I loved this author's book THE LIES I TELL, and this one is even better. I devoured it.
This one had me guessing all the way through every time I thought I had it figured out something else happened and I WAS SO WRONG. I didn't know until the end. Or know as much as it allowed us to know.

Olivia is on the verge of losing everything. She was a successful writer who asked the wrong question at the wrong time. It was hard enough being a female in the writing world, but to call out a male for anything just ruined your career. He sued. She has to pay. She's broke.... Until she gets the call to ghostwrite a memoir. Not just any memoir either. Her father's memoir.

Back in 1975 two siblings were murdered in their family home. Their parents were out and the middle child, a brother, was with his girlfriend. Someone murdered Danny and Poppy Taylor and people have always believed it was Vincent. Olivia's father. A successful author himself. Did he do this heinous thing or was it a stranger? Could he have done it and if so why?

This story takes you back to the 1970s. The way kids were back then. Running free and being brave. Having bon fires. Living the good life. Until tragedy hits. You'll find throughout this story bits and pieces to make you have many guesses. You'll have enough to think you have solved the murders. Until the end when you find out what probably happened. Ok, you don't get a strong finality but you do get closure. At least I feel like I did. I loved the ending. It was very emotional. It was just the right kind of ending.

This book touches on rape and molestation. It was not strongly written about. Not where you should have a hard time reading it. Just know that it happened. Just enough and not too much.

I enjoyed reading this book so much. It is a page turner for sure. It had everything I love in a good thriller. Thrills of course. Some romance. Family. Drama. Oh boy the drama. And of course murder with a who done it twist. Also reunion of daughter and father. That was a good part for sure.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.

About

June, 1975.

The Taylor family shatters in a single night when two teenage siblings are found dead in their own home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the whispers and accusations that he was the one who killed them. Decades later, the legend only grows as his career as a horror writer skyrockets.

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she's offered a job to ghostwrite her father's last book. What she doesn't know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies. Because it's not another horror novel he wants her to write.

After fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor is finally ready to talk about what really happened that night in 1975.

The Expat's Affair by Kimberly Belle

 

My thoughts

Definitely one of my favorite authors. I always want to read a Kimberly Belle book. And I'm never disappointed. 

This story is set in Amsterdam. It's about two women. One married to a very rich man. One who recently moved to Amsterdam after a divorce. This is about how diamonds may not always be a girls best friend....

When Rayna wakes to find a body in the shower she runs. Of course she does. Wouldn't you. It was just a night of drinking and meaningless sex. A man she met on Tinder. Xander works for a very rich family. He also knows how to make or grow diamonds. Perfect diamonds. Diamonds that you can't tell from the real thing. Could that have gotten him killed? What does Rayna know? 

Willow is married to Thomas Prins. Thomas Prins is the CEO of the diamond company. Willow has many secrets. But would she have had reason to kill Xander. Yes they kind of had a fling. Sorta of. Yes she has kept something from her husband. But he has secrets too. Maybe he is the killer. Or possibly it's his sister Fleur. She's angry at Thomas but is she angry enough to do this?

A story of an unlikely friendship. A family who seem to only care about money and standing. Someone either killed or had Xander killed. But could it have been one of the Prins? And the diamonds. Are they fake or the real thing? 

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. I loved the characters. I did figure out who the stalker was but that was ok. It didn't take away from the story at all. I didn't trust anyone they were all suspects to me. lol This story kept me guessing about some things though. Kept me turning the pages all the way. There was a secret unveiled that I didn't see coming and was so glad of the way it played out. I can't tell you what it is though. Just know the story ends good. 

Kimberly Belle always delivers for me. Well written and edge of your seat thrills. Family drama. A few lies and a murder. What more do you need? It's one I do highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.  

About

An American expat‘s startling discovery plunges her into the glamorous but deadly world of Amsterdam’s diamond industry.

Following a nasty divorce, Rayna Dumont came to Amsterdam for a fresh start. She’s never been the type for a one-night stand, but this move is all about adventure, and Xander is handsome and successful and more than willing to go along for the ride. Until the morning after, when Rayna finds him dead on the shower floor and millions of dollars’ worth of diamonds missing from his safe.

From her lavish home in the heart of the city, Willow Prins is captivated by the news. Her husband is Xander’s former boss and heir to a diamond house, and the scandal strains their already-rocky marriage. As the house comes under scrutiny, Willow wonders if her life is about to implode—and how much of the blame she can place on Rayna. Soon, Willow and Rayna are dragged into the dark and dangerous underbelly of the diamond market, where they’ll have to uncover the truth to survive. Who killed Xander? Where are the missing diamonds? And who can you trust in a strange and unfamiliar city thousands of miles from home?

The Famine Orphans by Patricia Falvey

 

My thoughts

This was my first read by this author. I will look for more.

Quote on the last page that got to me:

"We are emigrants and we exist in two worlds, one past, one present, and we are nourished by both."

I enjoyed this book a great deal. It started out a little slow for me. To much on the ship I think. Though it was a necessary part of the story. 

The Irish potato farms were hit by a plague. The potatoes were rotting and people were starving. Most had to give up everything and join workhouses just to survive. Some didn't even survive that. This is a story of what happened to the many orphans were starving in Ireland. The ones who were sent to Australia to become a servant. Hopefully to find a job with a good family. 

This is the story of a group of young girls on a ship called the Sabine. A group who worked together on the ship to survive and hopefully get a good report so they would be hired. In this story you meet Kate Gilvarry. Kate left Ireland after the death of her mother. She left behind a younger brother. Kate works hard but seems to have horrible luck at every turn. Some didn't like her and to me it was just very unjust. Kate was smart and worked hard. But she also endured a lot. She was definitely a fighter. A survivor. 

You get to know other girls who were in Kate's small group also. What happened to each and how they ended up. This story does not leave you hanging. It has closure on all counts. Kate is the one telling this story and what a story it is. 

From 1848 on she tells about all the tribulations and triumphs she and her friends endure. There is a love story in here also. While I liked both men to an extent, one really captured my heart. I was glad Kate ended up happy after all she went through. Also the other girls. Bridie, Patsy, Mary, Lizzie, and Sheila. Lizzie and Sheila had the strongest friendship of them all but all were friends. Bridie was my favorite character besides Kate. She was just that kind of person who you want in your corner.

I will never as long as I have lived and may still live, understand why being an orphan makes people want to be cruel. It's not like they can help what happened to them. They have lost everyone and then face cruelty???

This book is based on the truth. Well researched and descriptive. It will hold your heart in many places. It is one that I do highly recommend.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.

About

A powerful, captivating novel of historical fiction from the acclaimed author of The Titanic Sisters, based on the little-known story of the thousands of young women sent from Irish workhouses to Australia after the Famine.

1848: The girls, 4,000 in all, come from every part of Ireland—from the shores of Galway to the Glens of Ulster and Belfast’s teeming streets—to board ships bound for Australia. All were chosen from Ireland’s crowded workhouses. Most are orphans. The Earl Grey Scheme was presented as an opportunity for young women to gain employment as domestic servants in the Colony. But there is another, unstated purpose—the girls are to “civilize” the many men sent there as convicts, so that settlements can be built.
 
Kate Gilvarry has spent six months in a Newry workhouse, subsisting on a diet of watery porridge. She knows there’s no future for her either within its walls or outside, in a ravaged, starving land. But once Kate’s ship completes the harrowing voyage, she and her companions find their reception in Sydney dismayingly unwelcoming, as anti-Irish sentiment grows. Homesick, and disillusioned by love following a shipboard crush, Kate strives to fit in, first as the servant of a demanding English woman, then as a farmer’s bride in the Outback.
 
When heat and drought force her husband to leave for long periods to work on a sheep ranch, Kate is left alone to fend off wild animals, drifters, and her aching loneliness. She longs to return to Ireland. But first, this beautiful, unforgiving country will teach her about resilience and survival, and the limitless possibilities that come with courage and love.
 
Evocative and compelling, The Famine Orphans is a testament to the young women whose pioneering spirit left an enduring legacy in a land so far from home.