Let's spell MAY with books!

 

What I'm reading in May!

 

May's reading list:

1: WHEN I LAST SAW YOU by Bette Lee Crosby

2: THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR by Pam Jenoff

3: THE RISE OF LIGHT by Olivia Hawker

4: A DARK AND SECRET PLACE by Jen Williams

5: SIX WEEKS TO LIVE by Catherine McKenzie

6: LOCAL WOMAN MISSING by Mary Kubica

7: IT HAD TO BE YOU by Georgia Clark

8: YOU WILL REMEMBER ME by Hannah Mary McKinnon

9: THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz

10: ALL THE CHILDREN ARE HOME by Patry Francis

11: THE WARSAW ORPHAN by Kelly Rimmer

What I read in April!

 

1: THE DROWNING KIND by Jennifer McMahon

reviewed 4/3

2: THE CHILDREN'S BLIZZARD by Melanie Benjamin

reviewed 4/16

3: THE PERFECT DAUGHTER by D.J. Palmer

reviewed 4/10

4: THE GOOD SISTER by Sally Hepworth

reviewed 4/12

5: HER LAST CHANCE by Alizon Ragsdale

reviewed 4/15

6: JUST MY LUCK by Adele Parks

reviewed 4/26

7: THE RESTARTING POINT by Marci Bolden

reviewed 4/18

8: WHEN THE STARS GO DARK by Paula McLain

reviewed 4/21

9: THE WITNESS by Terry Lynn Thomas

reviewed 4/23

10: THE NOTH THROUGH THE WIRE by Doug Gold

reviewed 4/28

THE NOTE THROUGH THE WIRE by Doug Gold

 

SYNOPSIS:

Praised as an “unforgettable love story” by Heather Morris, New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this is the real-life, unlikely romance between a resistance fighter and prisoner of war set in World War II Europe.

In this true love story that defies all odds, Josefine Lobnik, a Yugoslav partisan heroine, and Bruce Murray, a New Zealand soldier, discover love in the midst of a brutal war.

In the heart of Nazi-occupied Europe, two people meet fleetingly in a chance encounter. One an underground resistance fighter, a bold young woman determined to vanquish the enemy occupiers; the other a prisoner of war, a man longing to escape the confines of the camp so he can battle again. A crumpled note passes between these two strangers, slipped through the wire of the compound, and sets them on a course that will change their lives forever.

Woven through their tales of great bravery, daring escapes, betrayal, torture, and retaliation is their remarkable love story that survived against all odds. This is an extraordinary account of two ordinary people who found love during the unimaginable hardships of Hitler’s barbaric regime as told by their son-in-law Doug Gold, who decided to tell their story from the moment he heard about their remarkable tale of bravery, resilience, and resistance.

MY THOUGHTS:

This was different from what I thought it was going to be. It's not my typical historical fiction story but it is very good. It held my attention and made me want to keep reading. It was very realistic and heartbreaking in many places. It was a love story but much more. 

This is the story of Bruce and Josefine. Two people in very different places in life. One a POW and the other a Parisian. One a soldier and the other a daughter, sister, friend, fighter. 

This story starts out with a man seeing an old woman outside the fence of the prison camp he is assigned too. She's trying to tell him something but neither understand the other. She slips a note through the wire and runs off, promising to return the following Sunday. Then it goes to Bruce's life and all he does and goes through to end up in the prison camp. Also Josefine's life as she lives daily. All the things a girl her age does and hopes for in life. When the war breaks out each story takes a different turn than I thought. I thought this was just going to be a love story of a man and woman during the war in a POW camp. It's so much more than that. 

Alternating between these two characters as the months go by and telling what leads up to their first meeting you will learn so much about them. The terrors of war. Of losing your friends. Seeing then die on the battlefield. Going over such horrid things and making you feel the pain and desperation of a soldier. Helping prisoners during a horrific war to escape and feel safe again. Feeding and hiding them. Both of these characters had a job to do and they did it well. 

This book truly does make you feel like you are watching a war movie. Seeing bombs drop or bullets flying. Seeing a person killed. A town ravaged. Destruction all around. What a person goes through and then expected to just pick up and live like nothing happened. Trying to get back to the person you love most in the world and finding how hard it is. When that moment finally happens and the feeling of happiness felt. This book does give you many feelings. 

The author's note at the end is worth reading too. You will learn a lot about this book and the research put into it. The part About the Author at the end is well worth reading also. Doug Gold is the son in law of Bruce and Josefine. How awesome is that. 

Thank you to #NetGalley, #DougGold, #williammorrowandcustomhouse for this ARC.. This is my own true feelings about this book. 

4/5 stars. I recommend it if you like a very descriptive story of war, love, loss, finding your way. 

JUST MY LUCK by Adele Parks

 

SYNOPSIS: 

Over 4 million Adele Parks books sold worldwide including LIES, LIES, LIES and I INVITED HER IN!  

"Utterly engrossing and brilliant"— Lucy Foley New York Times bestselling author of The Guest List

It was supposed to be the lottery win they’d always dreamed of…

For fifteen years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends. Over drinks, dinner parties and summer barbecues, the three couples have discussed the important stuff—kids, marriages, careers—and they’ve laughed off their disappointment when they failed to win anything.

But then the unthinkable happens. There’s a rift in the group. Someone is caught in a lie. And soon after, six numbers come up that change everything forever.

Lexi and Jake have a ticket worth millions. And their friends are determined to claim a share.

#1 Sunday Times bestselling author Adele Parks returns with a riveting look at the dark side of wealth in this gripping tale of friendship, money, betrayal and good luck gone bad…

MY THOUGHTS: 

WOW!! Just wow! Adele Parks has truly written a page turner here. Lots of surprises to be had too. 

I think most people have dreamed of winning the lotto. I know my hubby and I have. Though I honestly have always said that we are not rich for a reason. I believe it would have made us so different if we had been rich or won. I'm afraid of what it would have done to our lives. Would it have torn us apart. Made our love and respect for each other weak and usless? I believe we are meant to be right where we are. After reading this book I am even more sure of that... We may not be rich but we are happy. We have each other!

"You never know your luck, our numbers might come up next week, and then all our lives will changed forever." How true these words are. Little did the three couples know exactly how true.

Lexi and Jake have been friends with Patrick, Carla, and Fred, Jennifer, have been friends for over fifteen years. They get together at one's home each week to eat, drink and socialize. Also to play the lottery. They dream of what they will do with the money should they ever win....

When the numbers come up and they do win things take a huge turn. The three couples lives will never be the same. Greed, hate, selfishness, and kindness take over each person's life. Jake is to me the worse person in this whole story. From the minute he and Lexi win it seems like he changed. He became a very self centered man. It was all about me me me.. Lexi didn't wish for big things. She started wanting to help other right from the start. But they did cut out their best friends. When you read this you will understand why. 

This is a story that will make you have deep feelings about a few things. It's two stories that run together. At the beginning you meet Toma, who lost his wife and child. He lost everything after that. He gave up on life. You will find out all that happened and who was at fault. Who helped him and was truly his friend. This book is deep in my opinion. It shows what extent people will go too for money. I think the children did exactly as a child would. No matter how good a parent you are if you come into lots of money the child is going to want things. Expensive things. That is just being a child. They want what other kids have. Human nature possibly at it's worse but it's there.

A lot happens to Lexi and her family after they win the lottery. Some things will leave you breathless. A few shocks thrown in to make it even more intense. At least for me it was. When I read one sentence my breath literally hitched. I was not expecting it. Not all of it anyway.

The ending brings all answers. Closes great. You won't be left with any questions. The characters are mostly unlikable with the exception of Lexi and Toma. I loved them both. The children of course. You have to love them. They are just children who do stupid things sometimes and end up regretting... 

Thank you #NetGalley, #AdeleParks, #Harlequin, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

I gave it 5/5 stars. I was going to go with 4/5 but when all was revealed I had to go with that extra star. It was in my humble opinion brilliantly done. I do highly recommend this one.

Mailbox Monday!

 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists!!

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia @ A Girl and Her Books, has a permanent home now at Mailbox Monday.

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Here’s a shout out to the administrators:
Leslie @ Under My Apple Tree 
Serena @ Savvy Verse And Wit
Martha @ Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf 

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                THANKS to everyone for keeping Mailbox Monday alive. 

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I hope you had a good mailbox.

I had a great mailbox!

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1: CUL-DE-SAC by Joy Fielding

Courtesy of Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine 

BOOK MAIL:

I won this and received it last week. 

NEVER LET GO by Pamela Nowak 

It's Monday! What are you reading?

 

I hope you had a great reading week.

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This is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at BOOKDATE! 

Post the books completed, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish at some point.

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Reviewed: 

1: WHEN THE STARS GO DARK by Paula McLain

Reviewed 4/21 

2: THE WITNESS by Terry Lynn Thomas 

Reviewed 4/23

3: JUST MY LUCK by Adele Parks 

Review will be tonight 4/25

Will be reading: 

1: THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR by Pam Jenoff 

2: WHEN I LAST SAW YOU by Bette Lee Crosby 

3: THE NOTE THROUGH THE WIRE by Doug Gold 

4: A DARK AND SECRET PLACE by Jen Williams 

5: SIX WEEKS TO LIVE by Catherine McKenzie 

6: LOCAL WOMAN MISSING by Mary Kubica 

7: IT HAD TO BE YOU by Georgia Clark 

8: YOU WILL REMEMBER ME by Hannah Mary McKinnon 

9: THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Mary Dixie Carter 

10: THE WARSAW ORPHAN by Kelly Rimmer 

11: THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz 

12: ALL THE CHILDREN ARE HOME by Patry Francis 

13: KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS by David Bell 

14: THE HIVE by Gregg Olsen 

15: WAITING TO BEGIN by Amanda Prowse 

16: CUL-DE-SAC by Joy Fielding