The Scent Keeper

I was given this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
The Scent Keeper is a book that spoke to my heart. Emmeline is a little girl who lives with her father on a remote island that is filled with enchantment. Her father teaches her, through her senses, all about nature. There are unexplained items, though. Such are the scents which are sealed in bottles with seals, then placed in drawers along one wall of the cabin. There is also the machine which creates them. Emmeline begins to explore more and more as she gets older. One day, unexpectedly, she is thrust into the real world, with the good and the bad. She now needs to find out who she is which is an adventure that  places her heart and imagination to stretch beyond their limits.
When I read the description of The Scent Keeper it mentions that this book is "lyrical and immersive." These are words which fit this book perfectly. It is a book about learning how to seek the things that unlock hidden truths and help us find the way to home. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys losing themselves in a book. 

Book Review: The House by the Lake

This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
The House by the Lake takes the reader from the 1930s to today as the main character, Anna has her world disrupted. Her grandfather, Max, shares a secret with Anna. She is a member of an aristocratic family. During World War II they lost everything and Max left behind something that was very precious to him. Now he tasks Anna with finding it.
Anna is filled with questions. What could be so important and why was it hidden. As she is on her quest she finds Wil. Wil is someone that may be able to help her solve this mystery. Together they discover that the secrets are more than they thought.
I found myself torn throughout this book. At times I wondered, along with Anna, why her grandfather would give this mission to her. Then I would turn around and praise Anna bravery and tenacity.
This is a fascinating book and shows a side of the war that it helps to read about.
I highly recommend this book.

Book Review: Waterloo, Waterloo

I was given this book by Endeavor Press and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this book. The characters were so realistic, crazy and outrageous. The story is tragic, funny and filled with pathos. The satirical humor can be found throughout and will have the reader laughing as they read.
The story is told from each person's inner voice. The story looks at ordinary life with a family that is anything but perfect. If looking close, the readers may find themselves or those of others in the characters.
This is a great read and I highly recommend it.

Book Review: Night of Miracles

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I love reading books by Elizabeth Berg and this book, Night of Miracles, was a book that made me feel good yet had enough substance that it kept me going.

Set in Mason, Missouri it follows up from The Story of Arthur Truluv, however, this book also stands very well on its own. Lucille Howard is a retired 4th grade teacher. She now is a master baker and teaches it out of her home.
There is also Jason, Abby and Lincoln who live next door to Lucille and then Iris Winters who is childless.
This is such an endearing novel, that words cannot express how highly I recommend it.

Book Review: She was the Quiet One

Rose and Bel Enright are twin sisters who are going to an elite boarding school in New Hampshire. These twins are very different and the school brings out the competitive spirit in them. In this school the students seem to have no rules that they feel they nee to listen to which can only lead to bad ends.
Sarah Donovan's husband is a teacher who wants to go places and wants the very best for their family. Sarah is now starting to see a side of her husband that she never saw before. Then there is a murder, but the question is who is responsible and who will speak the truth.
This book kept pulling me back. I have to say it was a little dark for me, which generally is not my preference. However, I needed to find the answers to the questions that kept popping up. It is very well written and the characters are interesting, it just was not my cup of tea.

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Book Review: Midnight At The Bright Ideas Bookstore

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This book had many factors in its favor before I even opened the cover. First of all, it has books and a bookstore in it and it is a murder mystery.

Lydia Smith does not like the spotlight. A clerk at The Bright Ideas bookstore, she knows many of the patrons like she does her books. The regulars are called BookFrogs. They spend each day losing themselves in this warm surrounding.

Lydia discovers the body of Joey Molina, a BookFrog, and her life is suddenly changed. He left her all of his goods, including his books which are damaged in ways that she cannot understand. Going through his things have brought to light her past.

I loved this book. As I was reading it I could see myself inside this bookstore, enjoying every minute of it. As a mystery, I felt myself being pulled in, in a good way, wanting to bring all the thread of the story together. Each character was complex and well written. A very good book. 

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Book Review: Girl on the Leeside

Such a moving book. This is the story of Siobhan Doyle, who was raised by her Uncle Kee. Her mother was killed in an IRA bombing which has led Kee to be protective of Siobhan. These two share a love for the lough, the Leeside, their pub, and Irish poetry.
Kee come home filled with the exciting news that a literary scholar from America is coming to stay. This fills Siobhan with mixed feelings. She has no love for Americans and does not want someone to come and destroy her idyllic life.When he appears Siobhan realizes that there is so much more life away from Leeside and her uncle. Then she discovers that her father is still alive. Now she is filled with questions when it comes to her future.
This book grabbed me from the prologue and the introduction of Kee and his sister's mother and their early life. This gave me a feeling of truly knowing this family and to feel the ties that Kee and Siobhan would have.
The author was able to create a world that was so well-written that I could visually the world surrounding Kee and Siobhan without any effort. Plus the poetry that is inserted effortlessly throughout helps further draw the reader into the magical world that is Ireland.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I give it a high recommendation.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Book Review: Miller's Valley

This book is set in a valley that is in turmoil. Years ago, the government decided to build a dam to help stop the flooding in this area. Unfortunately, they discovered that they placed the river in the wrong place, so it didn't help at all. Now they want to relocate the people that live here so they can flood the area. Now there are roots set down and lives that are not sure what to do.

This story is told in the honest voice of Mimi Miller. She is an observant girl and the only daughter in a family that scrapes by. By listening through the vent in her bedroom, Mimi discovers many secrets concerning her family and the valley.

Quinlin was able to pull me in with the prologue. Then I did not want to put this book down. I felt Mimi had such a strong voice that she was sharing the secrets she learned with me. The story is a reminder of the pull that the place we grew up has on us all of our lives.

I have a feeling that I will turn to this book several times in my life as a reminder of the lesson that I learned.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Heir to the Everlasting

In this book, "Heir to the Everlasting" Janice Daugharty focuses on Big Eddy which is the home of three generations of women from the South. This is their home. Pinkie Alexander's story takes place at the beginning of the previous century. She is a strong-will woman who is also lovely. This strong will helps her to make sure that her family survives on their home. A place that holds the family cemetery as well as secrets from the family past.

Pinkie's story is told through the eyes of her granddaughter as she grows. Pinkie considers the land and Big Eddy as much her family as those that take human form. She knows these will help sustain the bodies and souls of others in future generations.

Hon, the granddaughter grows up. However, she comes back to Big Eddy alone, and with her husband. She sees that her Grandmother Pinkie is aging but the importance of love is still being sowed in her loved ones.

The second part of this book continues with Hon's story, but now she is older. Many know her as the name that Pinkie gave her, Hon, than by her other name, May. We read about Fancy, Hon's sister, and their relationship. This is so tender and loving. We also see that Hon now takes care, part-time, of her granddaughter, Sara Ann. Sara Ann's father, Hon's son, Herman isn't sure how to care for Sara Ann, so he is strict and does not show love to his daughter. Herman's wife left many years ago but Sara Ann does not know the truth as to why. Due to these factor's Sara Ann prefers the company of her grandmother than her father. 

Through this book we see love instilled in others is love that will grow throughout the years. There are good and bad occurrences but these just make up the story of Big Eddy and this family.

There are other characters introduced through the story, who become apart of a woven cloth. They help to make interesting lives. The writer knows how to invest each character with depth to help the reader become involved through the reading. 

The author has spent her life in the location of the story and the love she feels for it is evident everywhere. She researched information and has described the area in such a way that I felt I was there myself.

For those who enjoy reading generational books or books centered around the South, I would recommend they look into this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: The Other Einstein

This is the story of Mitza Maric, Albert Einstein's first wife and the mother of three of his children. There is so much to tell about this fascinating woman. She was brilliant and was a partner in many of the couple's theories. Today it is still a hot issue as to how much input she made into Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

Mitza was one of the rare girls in her time allowed to get a higher education however she became a fellow student of Albert Einstein and proved herself in the study of physics. However, she competed against five other male students in a male-taught class. However, the friendship she developed with Einstein turned into a partnership she was not looking for but challenged both of them. However, can marriage survive when there are two highly intelligent people in a marriage.

I was given this book by NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg

Elizabeth Berg is such a delightful writer. The characters in this book were all warm and easy to have feelings for.

Arthur is visiting his wife's grave when he meets Maddy. Each day he goes there to eat his lunch. Maddy, a high school senior, goes there to help figure out her crush. Then there is Arthur's neighbor who is in love, but the family does not share that sentiment about her.

Arthur is open as he reaches out to Maddy, as a friend. Arthur likes to help others reach a goal.

This book is a nice book to read. It is nice not to have to worry if there is a previous book I missed or if I have to wait for a follow-up. This is the complete story. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Random House Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

This book may be purchased HERE!

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Book Review: Beach House for Rent

Cara rents her beach house to Heather Wyatt for the summer. For Cara the income will help keep her husband's boat business open and for Heather it gives her a peaceful place to work on her commission of painting birds on stamps.

Read to find how their summers turn out and to find very rich characters throughout the book.

I love the way she creates powerful women who may not realize the strength they truly have. I also enjoyed the descriptions though out the story. I could just envision myself staying some place like this with turtle, birds and sea life. This book was so much fun to read. I enjoyed it so much. Thank you.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review.

Book may be purchased HERE!

Book Review: Flood

Laura Brooks left Hannibal, Missouri years ago, now she is coming back. She doesn't tell anyone she is coming. When she get there she tells everyone that she is only going to be there for a short time and to attend her high-school reunion. Soon, her friend Rosie pulls into her divorce proceedings, and her former fiance, Sammy McGuire is there.

Laura had left this town at eighteen because she felt she was drowning in the town's past, both the ties to Mark Twain, and the cultural and economic.

I felt that the author knows about her hometown, Hannibal and conveys this knowledge very well to the reader, in a contemporary way. I enjoyed this novel. I felt like she was able to create real characters, flaws and all. I enjoyed the details that she included throughout.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Faithwords/Center Street in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: The Little French Bistro

Married for 41 years, Marianne decides to leave her marriage and life behind. So she set off for Brittany. While there she finds many interesting people. People she will remember forever. They welcome her like an old friend and they all seem comfortable with her from the beginning. Soon Marianne feels like she is rediscovering all the good parts that make her up.

I love this book and the joy and warmth that it gives the reader. I had read "The Little Paris Bookshop" and loved it, so I was looking forward to this book. I did not sink into it as quickly but soon I fell in love with this world. I loved taking in the language and the characters.

This book may not be for everyone, but it is well worth picking up and enjoying.

I was given this book by Blogging for Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Mermaid Moon

Colleen Cable does a wonderful job of combining suspense with romance in her Christian books. In this one, Mallory Davis has not been home for 15 years. Then her dad dies on his mail boat route. She feels that now she needs to go home because there are questionable things about his death. When at home she meets up with Kevin O'Connor, someone from her childhood, who helps her realize that her father was murdered.

Kevin was heartbroken when Mallory left years ago, so he is uneasy about her joining him on this case. Mallory and her daughter Haylie have threats made on their lives. Instead of making her stop it does the opposite. Along the way Mallory is able to discover many things and not just about her father's murder.

Colleen Cable does a great job in weaving together a story. With the suspense in this one, I did not want to put it down until I finished. The characters and story line are believable and are written in a way that made me feel like I was there with Mallory along the way. I loved the way the story had little twists and turns to keep me guessing throughout.

I was given this book by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review. I thank them very much.

Book Review: Monstrous Little Voices

When I see the name Shakespeare in the title of a book, I must say my heart skips a beat and a smile appears on my face.

This book takes place in 1601 and begins with the Tuscan War. Being Shakespeare, there is some witches, antics, romance and war. The fairy courts are close to mass confusion.

There are five stories in here which join at the end of the war. It might be a bit confusing if the reader is expecting the work to be in his hand, instead they are the stories of his which were not told.  Jonathan Barnes, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Emma Newman, Foz Meadows and Kate Heartfield work together this story of bravery, change and magic.

I loved the way these writers were able to stay true to the great poet and create a work that would make the Bard thrilled. I loved it.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for my review.

Book Review: A Sister's Promise

This book, about the love between sisters, makes the reader step back and look at their own family relationships.

Sharda and Puja are more than sisters, they are each other's best friends. Each is unique. One is responsible, one free-spirited. However, they both love fun and each other. However, even as strong as the bond is, a secret can tear them apart.

This story is filled with love, loss and grace. Plus is written with such style, the reader feels like they are falling into the story themselves. As I was reading, I could picture the scene including all that the senses share.

I cannot say thank you enough to Bookoture and NetGalley who gave me the book in exchange for my honest review.