A poignant short story that reminds us we are all stronger than we think when we have to face problems we don’t like.
Paul goes to Venice, Italy by himself when his husband asks for a divorce. What was to be a romantic Christmas trip is now a trip for one. He struggles with the language, with his new singleness, and what his future will hold. Paul spits a dog outside his window and in at time following the dog and at other times searching for the dog he experiences Venice.
Even though I had a physical copy of the book I ended up listening to the audiobook and loved the narration. Listening felt like a fairy tale.
Lori always dreamed of being a star. She moves away, takes acting classes,and finds herself casted as Romeo’s Juliet. Her star climbs higher and higher but the shine quickly fades as the ugly side of fame overshadows. Lori realizes it is time to share her complete story with her niece. A story her niece is not expecting.
Was Lori’s story tragic? Yes, but she turned it into a beautiful story while helping others. She easily could have continued self-medicating and slipped into a dark place. She listened to the right voice at the right time.
The author’s letter at the end was perfect. She lets us know the story is based on three real actresses but never names them. Hollywood, even this many years later, chews up young actors and actresses and spits them up without a care. We all love the movies and shows but I’d rather we didn’t ruin lives for our entertainment whether in front of the big screen or behind.
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Last year someone in my #cozymysterybookbingo group mentioned a FB challenge they were doing.
Challenge Mount TBR
I thought what a perfect way to read the books I own both physical and digital. The timing was perfect as my library branch closed for renovation and expansion the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. (We will ignore the fact that I’m at the main branch at a minimum once every week 😆.)
I completed the first mountain today. I made it a little harder by making myself go up AND down the mountain.
Hope you will enjoy this new fun little chakras you follow along.
I had never read The Secret Garden as a child or young adult. It never held much appeal to me. My book club picked it as this year’s classic novel.
My initial thoughts as I slowly read it was of anger and dislike. Mary, the little orphaned girl, was horrendously bad. I wanted to give her a strong talking to. Definitely no gentle parenting discussion. As I discussed the book with a fellow book club member she reminded me how Mary had never been nurtured and had everything done for her. She truly knew no better. Colin was worse than her and again he had never been nurtured. Once I looked at them from that perspective I started enjoying the book.
While saying that I have no desire to ever re-read the book. I may venture to watch a movie version to see a garden come alive. I did thoroughly enjoy reading the garden scenes.
We never really know who our parents were before we came along. We see them in one light forgetting they were young once.
The Diary is based on the true story of the author’s parents. A tale told at the beginning of the Korean War.
Elizabeth’s daughters find their mom’s diary from when she was coming of age. They are shocked to learn her mom had a love that wasn’t their dad. As they read through they question what they know and even some aspects of their own life.
I will always have a soft spot for books set around the Korean War, a war my dad fought in and would rarely talk about. He said he saw things that were better left in the past.
When the shocking revelation came I almost forgot to keep walking on the treadmill. That tells me that is a good book when you forgot what you were doing.
This review may contain SPOILERS…
As Nola continues to work on her cottage and renovating other house in New Orleans she finds herself entangled more than ever with Beau. The boy now man who saved herself from a fire when they were in college. They both claim there are no feelings beyond friendship but the spirits and others disagree. Beau is still running from his mother’s spirit.
The house on Esplanade is filled with a deep dark secret that one spirit in particular is not wanting solved. It is a dangerous spirit and other spirits are sending warnings but neither Nola nor Beau are happy to listen.
This is book three in the series and we continue to follow the Jaxson, his fiancée, and Jolene love triangle. I do believe there is something big. Coming in the next book regarding this secondary storyline. Maybe some pitter patter of little feet.
Could you read this as a standalone? Yes. Should you? I say no. There is backstory and background that makes the book more interesting that you get from the other books. I haven’t read the Tradd Street series and I think I will while waiting for the next book in the series.
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This book blew me away with its beauty in how even at our lowest there is always love and hope.
Juliet is traveling through the South after a devastating loss during a freak accident. She is also trying to regain her memory. She find herself in Forget-Me-Not, Alabama after her car breaks down. While there she forges a friendship with Tallulah.
Tallulah and her two small daughters are living with her papaw after a divorce that was long coming. She works at the same library as her mamaw did a with her mamaw’s best friend. She loves her life but wants something more.
Juliet and Tallaluh work together to heal each other with the help of the residents in Forget-Me-Not.
While I am not the biggest fan of paranormal (it’s growing on me), I love magical realism. I find myself gobbling those books like no tomorrow. Heather Webber is one of the best there is in this genre. (Sarah Addison Allen is another good one). Heather knows how to draw you in immediately and before you know it you are a quarter of the way through the book.
If you are looking for the perfect book to escape this crazy world this is the book for you.
I didn’t expect this book to resonate with me as much as it did. I’m not a hiker but I love to casually walk outside and watch and hear nature. Hearing the melodies of the birds with the wind rustling through trees touches my soul and centers me. Hiking did the same for Miriam. Through hiking she found herself.
My two favorite quotes are below:
“…I still had life in me. And not just life, but purpose. A story to write that wasn’t finished just because someone else’s was.”
“You know, people speak all kinds of things over our lives. Sometimes, they mean well, and sometimes, they’re just afraid. But their words don’t shape your future unless you let them…”
This is book one in the Amish Romance Birthday series. Twelve new books throughout the year by twelve different authors. If you have thought about reading the Amish genre this would be a great way to get your feet wet.
My first 5 star read of the year.
While interesting I didn’t learn anything new. I like Catherine and have followed her through the years.
A few chapters were tedious. When someone’s royal name takes two lines I’m going to forget the beginning of their name.
There is a very small selection of photos but nothing outstanding. Since there was much detail to her wardrobe I wished the pictures had been included.
A nice read but not noteworthy in my opinion.
A good short story to cleanse the pallet between romance reads.
As Talia is finding herself with no appeals on death row left she is rethinking what brought her to this point. She swears she is innocent but no one believes her. Is there any hope left?
Kentucky Book Lover 