The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There is something sweet and touching about this book. Addie, the main character is telling her grand-daughter about her life growing up in Boston. From her very early years in the tenements of Boston, though major historic events like World War I, the horrific Flu epidemic, the Depression and World War II, Addie shares with her grand-daughter and with the reader her struggles in life, her hardships, her incredible friendships, and the wisdom she has learned along the way. There is an honesty that adds to Addie's outlook on life. The characters feels genuine; from Addie's difficult mother, her head-strong sister, and her life long friends. The reader can't help but root for Addie, and rejoice when she finally does find love, and eventually finds her true purpose in life. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who like historical fiction. It was a window to the past, told only like a grandmother could.
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Paper Towns by John Green
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Quentin Jacobsen joins his adventurous neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman on a fantastic middle of the night mission to right some wrongs in her life. Quentin has obvious feeling for the elusive Margo, and their incredible night of break-ins and payback push Quentin far beyond his comfortable existence, and then the next day Margo disappears. The reminder of the book follows Quentin and his loyal friends as they try to find Margo. I really enjoyed the style of writing, and the characters were fun and likable. Paper Towns does a great job of exploring teenage angst, without feeling like it is dwelling in misery. The story was interesting, and I really wanted to know what happened to Margo, but the ending was disappointing, it felt very flat. Despite the weak ending, I would recommend Paper Towns.
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Stories to Read While Driving: Kill the King and Other Tales by Jim Heskett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a strange, yet compelling collection of short stories. The longest story centered around a plot to kill a very unpopular king, told through the perspective of the official food taster. Although the stories were a bit odd at times, I found myself intrigued by these stories; they were engaging and kept my interest well. The author chose to include discussion questions at the end of each story, but I did not find these questions helpful or useful. If you like short stories, these are a fun and interesting way to spend an afternoon.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review
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The Piano Tuner and Other Short Stories by Pam Bonsper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A really wonderful collection - these stories offer the reader a sweet escape. Each of these incredibly different stories shares the authors very hopeful and positive outlook. A perfect collection for an afternoon of reading - I enjoyed this book very much and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys short stories.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review
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The Game Changer: 10 Defining Moments That Changed Lives by Iman Aghay
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book shares a collection of inspirational stories from a variety of individuals, facing adversity and persevering. At times the story were somewhat redundant, but they were uplifting and hopeful. This is a good book for anyone who might need a positive pep talk for their own lives.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review
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Payback and a Bottle of Merlot by Bria Marche
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this goofy little story, the main character Mia is unhappy in an unfulfilling marriage when she discovers her husband's infidelity and decides to not just leave him, but publicly humiliate him as well. Her plan leads hers to discover even more lies that her husband has told her, including about his ex-wife, who she enlist in her revenge plans. There are some serious flaws with the plot, and the author never truly explains why Mia married this guy in the first place. The characters are charming, but not very well developed. I wish the author had not included the awkward sex scene with Max, it was completely out of place with the rest of the story. Even with its flaws, I found this to be an amusing little book for some light reading.
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Kissing Frogs by Rich Amooi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this charming little romance. The main characters, Ian and Sara are new neighbors who immediately feel an attraction for each other, but of course nothing is ever that simple. Dating mishaps, and a big lovable dog add to the chaos, and the secondary characters were sweet; adding a great deal to the story. The main characters feel realistic and likable. The book moves along at a good pace. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a fun light-hearted romance.
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All My Love, Detrick by Roberta Kagan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I enjoy historical fiction, but I struggled to finish this book. There were some good moments, but in general the story was predictable and the characters were so obviously one-dimensional. The story seemed chaotic at times, jumping from one character to another, and while the author attempted to include many historical facts, much of the writing showed a lack of historical understanding. The story is centered around Detrick and Leah, and their forbidden romance. Detrick is described as a perfect Aryan looking blue-eyed blond-haired man and Leah is a jewish girl with waif-like beauty. Their romance felt contrived and not really genuine. I really wanted to give more stars for the idea of the book, but it felt so disjointed at times. The author attempted to include historical facts but often they were placed awkwardly in chapters and disrupted the flow of the book. The story seemed to bounce around from character to character with no discernible pattern and several characters were simply dropped without an ending. I'm sorry to say that I would not highly recommend this book.
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War Brides by Helen Bryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this interesting look at war time in rural England. The story centers around a group of woman who all find themselves in a small rural English village during World War II. The women come from a variety of backgrounds, including an American, a jew who escaped the Nazi's, a poor London resident evacuated to the country, a local girl and a rich slightly spoiled young woman sent to the country to 'stay out of trouble, yet they all somehow come together as unlikely friends while they survive the struggles of war and even devise a plan for a daring rescue. There are romances in the story, but the main focus is the relationship between these woman. The characters are interesting, and the story offers a genuine look at the untold story of war through the eyes of women, but for me the ending fell a little flat. If you like historical fiction, you will enjoy War Brides.
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