Books, Books, Books, and a Cat

I really enjoyed this romance that explored the possibility of alternate worlds. This book's premise is the what if scenario of making a different choice than the one you originally made. Laurel is afraid to commit to her longtime boyfriend, Ollie. She works at a tech company and the opportunity comes up where she can explore what life would have been like if she had said yes to a coworker instead. The problem comes when she actually gets stuck in the other life. This type of premise is always fascinating to me and I thought this author did a great job explaining what it would be like. Laurel was an interesting character and I enjoyed reading about her choices. There were some steamy romance scenes in the book as well. I also liked the pacing of the book. I never got bored with it or lost interest. This was a solid read with a tech aspect to it that made it more interesting than just a regular romance.

This was an interesting look at four siblings.  They had a mother who wanted to see every state so that led to an interesting upbringing.  The novel is actually set in North Dakota as the siblings reunite for the first time in four years.  Each one of them has drifted apart.  Three of the siblings have had incredible success, one a popular soccer player, another an Oscar nominated actress, and another a best selling author.  The fourth and oldest however is trying to get pregnant but not sure if that is what she really wants.  She did not achieve the great success that the other siblings have but feels more like their mother.  The book alternates from present day to each sibling's past.   The book had a lot of great parts to it. Each time a chapter flashed to the past, it takes place in a different state. This book was filled with lots of drama and family dynamics.   I felt engaged with the characters and their different point of vi...

 Excellent historical fiction with a sprinkling of magic, romance, and action.  This novel was set in 1613 in Scotland and England.  Andrew Logan is a messenger for the king.  He is sent to bring back Sir David Murray, who was a constant companion to the prince, from Scotland. The king wants to question him.  Logan must bring David back in one piece while traveling with a woman who hates him and her sick father.  The only problem is Murray's family doesn't want him brought back because there is more than meets the eye to this situation.  A fantastic read with incredible characters that you will fall in love with.  Susanna Kearsley is a master storyteller and I love that there was a hint of magic in this book as well.  There were several parts of this book that I reread just because they were that good.  I also enjoyed at the end of the book where the author told the historical details about the characters and what was true in real life....

  What an incredibly powerful book!  Junie is a slave in Alabama just before the Civil War.  She is maid to Violet the daughter of the McQueen family who own a plantation.  Junie is grieving the loss of her sister and believes it is her fault she is dead.  One day she sees her sister's ghost and she sends her on a mission that will have far reaching consequences.  My heart broke when I read Junie's story.  She was an incredible character and I wanted her to find all the happiness in the world.  This book is a powerful reminder about our countries past and the fact that no one should ever have to be controlled by someone else.  This is great historical fiction with a touch of magic. I love a story with a strong female character and I don't think I could ever find a character stronger than Junie.  Even more powerful than the story was the historical note at the end.  The fact that Junie is based on the author's actual ancestor is an a...

I love a historical fiction book set in the ancient world and to find one that is based on a real woman who ruled Assyria is a must read for me.  This novel did not disappoint.   Semiramis's is left motherless as a baby and is raised by a cruel man. She forms a plan to try and get out of this horrible situation before she is forced into a marriage.  One day a new governor comes to her small town in Assyria and Semiramis decides to change her destiny.  This is only the beginning of her incredible story.  This story is filled with incredible writing and captured perfectly the ancient Assyrian world. This was a story that I will not soon forget and I love that Semiramis was a real woman with a humble background.  There are so few books written about the ancient world and so many of them are set in ancient Rome that I absolutely love that this is set in Mesopotamia.  It is action packed, filled with drama, intrigue but also and incredible story about ...

Smart, tough, and complicated mother-daughter relationships are at the heart of this novel.  Told from the point of view of three different women, the reader gets to connect with these women and what they went through.   Lila grew up without a mother and with an abusive father.  She takes the brunt of the beatings to save her older brother and sister.  She goes on to become an important person who is super successful and has an amazing husband but in the long run she is similar to her absent mother.  Her daughter Grace resents the fact that her mother was never around.  It is difficult because the two are so similar.  The story looks at their relationships but also we get to know the people around them and how they shape their lives.   This book is filled with great characters who are unique and interesting.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and all of the intricate relationships. There is also a mystery element to the novel ...

There was lots of great advice in this book.  It really made one think about what is really important in life and letting things go.  Jieun has magic and has accidentally lost her parents.  In her quest to find her parents she lives many lives and this last one she is determined to help others let go of their pain by washing their stains (troubles) away.  Each person she meets has had troubles in their life and you feel for each character.  I'll be honest that I did find the names confusing and I was a little lost at times.  The book is translated and there were things l had never heard of before like some  of the food.  The story was interesting in parts but I felt more like I was reading a philosophy book or self help than a fiction story.  It was more about the lesson than the actual story.  There was also a loose thread at the end that I wish had been resolved.  Overall, not a bad story but I did have trouble staying focused at ...

This was another excellent book by Charmaine Wilkerson.  Part of the book takes place in France where Ebby is trying to get away from being left at the altar by her fiance.  Ebby has grown up in an affluent black family but her life has been touched by tragedy.  When she was young her brother was killed during a home invasion.  As we follow Ebby's story we also learn about a vase that was created by a slave and ancestor of their family.  The book transports the reader in time to learn more about the vase and Ebby's ancestors from when her ancestor was captured in Africa to how the vase inspired their family's transformation today.   This was a story that flowed even though there were different view points and time periods.  I was fully engaged the entire time as I was invested in Ebby's family and what really happened with Baz and the vase.  I also thought it brought up important social issues that still need to be addressed.  A wonderfu...

 This was an excellent start to a new series.   Zo has lost everything when she learns that she has received an inheritance from an unknown relative.  She travels to Divinity, Louisiana and finds out that she stands to inherit millions as well as a home but there are some very strange and constricting conditions.  She soon finds out that everything she has known is not what it seems.  She is thrust into a  world of witches and other paranormal creatures.  She must keep her head and find out everything she can if she is going to survive. Karen Marie Moning is one of my all time favorite authors because of her writing. She blends mystery, romance, fantasy, and suspense in this must read story.  I love that Zo is a strong female. She is an interesting character who is not afraid to fight for what she thinks is right.  The best part of the book was how the author kept unfolding the events so that I had to read more.  The ending is a cli...

This was more family drama than a mystery/thriller. Set on Capri, the Lingate family is once again vacationing at the home where Sarah Lingate died in 1992.  Her death was ruled a suicide but many people disagreed with that verdict.  Now in the present another disappearance has occurred and events seem to be repeating themselves. Told from several different points of view the reader is left wondering what really happened to Sarah, and Lorna.   I enjoyed reading about the picturesque setting however in terms of keeping my interest this book failed.  The book was a little slow and predictable at points.  I also ended up not liking any of the characters.  All of them were selfish and money hungry.  It is hard to be invested in a book when you really don't like the characters.  There were a couple of twists at the end but I am left with several questions.  Overall, this book was only ok for me.