Books, Books, Books, and a Cat

  This was an eye opening novel for me in more than one way.  First of all this book takes place in London and is about a mixed race woman, Layla, who falls for a white man, Andy.  It turns out that they both have the same last name and there is the possibility that Andy's ancestors could have been the slave owners of Layla's family.  Layla's best friend tries to open up Layla's eyes to this fact and this sends Layla on a personal quest of discovery.   As an American, I never gave much thought to just how rampant racism could be in other parts of the world and the impact that slavery had in other places like Great Britain.  It really opened my eyes to the fact that it is not just the United States.  I also feel that reading a story like this helps me understand the struggles others are facing and really lets me into their point of view.   Besides what I learned, I just thought this was a good story about a young woman who wants to get ma...

  Be transported to the exotic Greek Islands and live the life of a carefree,  newly married woman.  However things aren't exactly what they seem.  In this thrilling, thriller, Gia is newly married and is renovating her Greek home left to her by her father.  She is getting ready to sell it so that she will have some money after being left nothing when her father passed.  She hopes to get together with her best friend Abby and brother.  Abby is excited to see Gia since they haven't spoken since a falling out she and Gia had after Gia said she was getting married.  There is so much history between these two.  When Gia doesn't meet Abby in Sweden, Abby is worried something is wrong.  Luckily Gia has left a manuscript that will shed light on what has been happening.   The novel gives Abby's view point and Gia's through her manuscript.  There is so much to delve into and you won't want to stop reading this novel. I loved that i...

  This was one of my top reads this year!  An amazing novel set in two different time periods.  The first story follows Mallory, who is a single mom, whose son is ill and in need of a kidney transplant.  The other story follows Hannah who is in Egypt during the 1950s while stuck in a loveless marriage during a tumultuous time in Egypt's history.  Both women are strong but have huge obstacles to overcome including whether to follow their heart or not.   I cannot recommend this book enough.  I find myself still thinking about it.  I really hope that there might be a follow up book as I don't want to stop reading about these characters.  There was so much to love in this book.  The settings, one in New England and the other in Egypt were fascinating to read about and transported me from one continent to the next.  As well as what they both went through and how they were able to over come so much.  I also loved the way the boo...