The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this story, which alternates between 1938 Austria and 1988 Los Angeles. As Kristoff and Elena face the struggles of Nazi control and the ever increasing danger for jews, modern day Kate is dealing with a divorce and a father who has Alzheimer's. Kate begins a search for the history behind a very intriguing stamp in her father's collection and through this one stamp she discovers much more about herself and her family than she imagined. The story moved along quickly and the author did a beautiful job of weaving authentic historical facts within both of the story lines, as well as including elements of the jewish faith that feel natural and not forced like some stories. If you like historical fiction then I strongly recommend The Lost Letter.
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The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I chose this book based on the good reviews but it definitely wasn't one of my favorites. The story was much more explicit than I thought it would be, and the author's attempt to explain life with Aspergers was clumsy at best and honestly pretty offensive. The characters weren't very relatable, and the plot was predictable. I suggest you skip this one unless you like very graphic romance.
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Day Zero by Kelly deVos
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Could you survive an explosion and a political upheaval? In this fast paced adventure that seems to rival our current extreme political situation, two young girls are forced to practice survival strategies to keep themselves and their family safe. I enjoyed this action packed story. If you enjoy young adult adventure stories, I definitely recommend this book.
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Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Once again Fredrik Backman shows us his incredible talent to draw the reader in. Anxious people is an amazing story of second chances and humanity, something sorely needed in today's climate. With odd, quirky characters and an incredible ability to pull at our heartstrings, Backman proves once again why he is one of my absolute favorite authors. I highly recommend the book for all anxious people, and those of us who occasionally make a mistake and might need a second chance.
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When the World Feels Like a Scary Place: Essential Conversations for Anxious Parents and Worried Kids by Abigail Gewirtz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When the World Feels like a Scary Place is a valuable resource for families. The author provides clear and practical help for families with small children to deal with fear and anxiety. Many parents are unsure of what to say and how to say it when dealing with big scary topics, this book gives example conversations and gives parents the confidence to use positive active listening skills and help their children identify these scary feelings so they can deal with them. I think this book would be very helpful not only for parents but for anyone who deals with children.
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The Wildwater Walking Club: Step by Step by Claire Cook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Some books feel like a visit with an old friend, and The Wildwater Walking Club: Step by Step is definitely one of those books. Noreen and her friends Tess and Rosie are once again walking their way through friendship, romance and all of the daily struggles of life. Included in the book are some fun and helpful recipes, including a recipe for lavender stress balls. Like many of us today, Noreen's life seems to be stalled and she is unsure what to do next. Following along with Noreen's journey, it is hard not to feel inspired to do some walking too.
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The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, the story of these three different women all facing a personal struggle with the back drop of the Great Depression and one of the worst Hurricanes in US history. Chanel Cleeton does such a wonderful job of creating strong female characters who face adversity and persevere. The history of the hurricane and the disastrous attempt to rescue the soldiers is not well known but it is story that is important. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
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