reecaspieces

Overview

The Light Between Oceans meets The Snow Child in this novel set in a Scottish village in the weeks after a young boy mysteriously washes up on shore, causing the buried secrets of the insular community to come to light and rekindling an old love story.

It’s 1900 and Skerry, a small Scottish fishing village, is destined for an unyielding winter. During a storm, a young boy washes up on the shore. He bears an uncanny resemblance to teacher Dorothy’s son, lost to the sea at the same age many years before, his body never found.

The village is soon snowed in, and Dorothy agrees to look after the child until they can uncover the mystery of his origins. But over time, the lines between reality and desperate hope start to blur as the boy reminds Dorothy more and more of her own lost child.

The boy’s arrival also finally forces Dorothy to face the truth about her brief but passionate love affair with Joseph, the fisherman who found the boy on the shore and who has been the subject of whispers connecting him to the drowning of Dorothy’s son years earlier.

As the past rises to meet the present, long-buried secrets are unearthed within this tight-knit community, and the child’s arrival becomes a catalyst for something far greater than any of them could imagine.

Review

It’s 1900 and Skerry, a small Scottish fishing village, is destined for an unyielding winter. During a storm, a young boy washes up on the shore. He bears an uncanny resemblance to teacher Dorothy’s son, lost to the sea at the same age many years before, his body never found.

Dorothy is an enigma. She is a character which tugs at your heart strings. But she is also stubborn, refuses help and also makes some bad decisions. So in other words, very true to life.

As much as I loved this setting of a small Scottish fishing village, this story fell completely apart for me about 50 percent into this book. This novel had such a strong start and I was loving it. But then it just got so boring and repetitive. I did finish it and it rebounded a bit at the ending. Now, as I always say, read this for yourself. It has quite a few 5 star reviews. It is emotional and it is unique, so I would read it and form my own opinion.

If you need a story about love, loss and overcoming tragedy…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

A college professor is offered a chance at redemption—if he can figure out the right thing to do in this thoughtful psychological thriller from the author of The Surrogate.

Sociology professor Matthew Larkin is barely holding on. After the death of his toddler son, his wife divorced him, his teenage daughter abandoned him, and he lost a job he loved. Landing a rare tenure track position at a small college in southern Minnesota, he’s trying to cope with the disaster his life has become.

While driving down an empty highway in the middle of nowhere one gloomy Sunday evening, Matthew gets caught in a hailstorm. Pulling off the road to find shelter, he spies a disturbing sight. Caught in the car’s headlights is a child curled up beneath a plastic tarp. The boy is alive but unconscious, soaked to the bone and possibly hypothermic. Knowing an ambulance would take too long to reach them, Matthew impulsively puts the boy in his car, intending to get medical help.

On the way, the boy awakens and becomes agitated, begging Matthew not to take him to a hospital or to call the police. Matthew sympathizes with the panicked boy, who looks to be the same age his son would have been. Overcome by longing, grief, and a need to make sense of everything that’s happened to him, Matthew makes a dangerous choice—risking everything for a chance to face his past, move on from the pain, and forgive both his family and himself. 

Review

Well, this book was not exactly what I expected. I almost didn’t read it because I hate when a good deed gets punished and I thought that is what this book was about! Boy…was I wrong!

What would you do if you found a young boy under a tarp? This happened to Professor Matthew Larkin. Matthew puts this boy into his car with the intention of taking him to the hospital. But when the boy wakes up…things are not as they seem.

There are quite a few moving parts to this novel and several different narrators. But the author does a pretty good job weaving this tale together. But all of the plot lines do not come together until the end. So, as the reader, you are wondering where this story is going. But let me tell you…it is worth the wait.

I loved the intensity, the family drama and the characters. Just trust the author will get you there. It is a different read!

Need a tale which is engaging and will make you think about your next good deed…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Overview

In this Civil War love story, inspired by a real-life friendship across enemy lines, the wife of a missing Confederate soldier discovers a wounded Yankee officer and must decide what she’s willing to risk for the life of a stranger, from the New York Times bestselling author of such acclaimed historical fiction as Hour of the Witch and The Sandcastle Girls.

Virginia, 1864—Libby Steadman’s husband has been away for so long that she can barely conjure his voice in her dreams. While she longs for him in the night, fearing him dead in a Union prison camp, her days are spent running a gristmill with her teenage niece, a hired hand, and his wife, all the grain they can produce requisitioned by the Confederate Army. It’s an uneasy life in the Shenandoah Valley, the territory frequently changing hands, control swinging back and forth like a pendulum between North and South, and Libby awakens every morning expecting to see her land a battlefield. 

And then she finds a gravely injured Union officer left for dead in a neighbor’s house, the bones of his hand and leg shattered. Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Vermont Brigade is her enemy—but he’s also a human being, and Libby must make a terrible decision: Does she leave him to die alone? Or does she risk treason and try to nurse him back to health? And if she succeeds, does she try to secretly bring him across Union lines, where she might negotiate a trade for news of her own husband? 

A vivid and sweeping story of two people navigating the boundaries of love and humanity in a landscape of brutal violence, The Jackal’s Mistress is a heart-stopping new novel, based on a largely unknown piece of American history, from one of our greatest storytellers.

Review

This novel is full of rich details, and in true Chris Bohjalian fashion, great prose.

This story is set in Virginia surrounded by battles of the Civil War. Libby, whose husband is a captured confederate soldier, rescues an officer of the Union Army, Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Vermont Brigade. These two are mortal enemies but as time goes on, a friendship develops. But because of the ever changing landscape of the Civil War, life altering decisions have to be made.

These characters are amazing but my favorite is 12 year old Jubilee. Jubilee is Libby’s niece and she does not cut this Yankee any slack. She gives “The Jackal” trouble every time she is in his presence.

This story will captivate your heart. It is full of intensity and drama from start to finish! It also is filled with love and honor!

Need an all around fantastic novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

A REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK 

“Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is an unforgettable story of love, loss, and the choices that shape our lives…but it’s also a masterfully crafted mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Seriously, that ending?! I did not see it coming.” —Reese Witherspoon 

“Stirring and mysterious…fires directly at the human heart and hits the mark.” —Delia Owens, New York Times bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing

A love triangle unearths dangerous, deadly secrets from the past in this thrilling tale perfect for fans of The Paper Palace and Where the Crawdads Sing.

“The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.”

Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn’t realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident.

As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become.

A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.

Review

As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become.

I think my whole issue with this book is Beth. I am not usually too judgmental of characters, but I HATED the way she treated her husband, Frank. He did not deserve what he got. Which is probably why this book is getting so many five stars. It is emotional, it is tricky and it is full of secrets!

What makes this whole book is the ending. And it does have quite a bit to wade through to get there. But, it is worth it. There is a twist, and yes, I figured it out but then changed my mind. And it gives you another reason to love Frank!

Need a novel which will make you mad, sad, and curious all in the same paragraph…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest opinion.

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Overview

From New York Times bestseller and Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave—the hugely anticipated next installment in the fan-favorite Finlay Donovan series.

Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet . . . but at least there’s not a body in her backyard.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.

When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets . . . before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first?

Review

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

I read this book on an airplane and y’all…I tried my hardest to keep my laughter contained. And I was not too successful!!

As usual, Finlay is a hot mess! Add in Mrs Haggerty and you have a team that just might get their happy little butts into hot water. But Vero takes no prisoners. She is probably my favorite character. Talk about some one-liners…Vero is full of them..SASSY is an understatement!

This is part of a series. It is not necessary that you read them in order…but I would read them!

Need a fun, quick read to brighten your day…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

From the New York Times–bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones, an unforgettable story of hardship and hope, courage and resilience, that follows one young woman’s journey through war-torn Italy

1940, Emilia Romagna. Lili and Esti have been best friends since meeting at the University of Ferrara; when Esti’s son Theo is born, they become as close as sisters. There is a war being fought across borders, and in Italy, Mussolini’s Racial Laws have deemed Lili and Esti descendants of an ‘inferior’ Jewish race, but life somehow goes on—until Germany invades northern Italy, and the friends find themselves in occupied territory.

Esti, older and fiercely self-assured, convinces Lili to flee first to a villa in the countryside to help hide a group of young war orphans, then to a convent in Florence, where they pose as nuns and forge false identification papers for the Underground. When disaster strikes at the convent, a critically wounded Esti asks Lili to take a much bigger step: To go on the run with Theo. Protect him while Esti can’t.

Terrified to travel on her own, Lili sets out on an epic journey south toward Allied territory, through Nazi-occupied villages and bombed-out cities, doing everything she can to keep Theo safe.

A remarkable tale of friendship, motherhood, and survival, One Good Thing is a tender reminder that love for another person, even amidst darkness and uncertainty, can be reason to keep going.

Review

Esti and Lili are best friends. When the Nazis invade Italy, both of these ladies are in terrible danger, along with Theo, Esti’s son. Esti ends up getting taken and she begs Lili to take Theo and escape. Lili takes Theo and does her best to keep him safe.

I loved Lili. She is strong and intelligent. And believe me, she needs both to travel the way she travels and survive.

There was one thing that didn’t sit right with me, and this is minor. But it is something I noticed. When Lili and Theo are on their LONG trek from Assisi to Rome, 118 miles, ON FOOT, Theo only has one melt down. There is no way a child of 3 did not cry and scream every day. Heck, as an adult, I would have been crying and screaming. And yes, Lili complained some about her feet and other difficulties but I just felt that this part of the story was missing the desperation of the characters. Like I said, minor but noticeable.

Believe me, there are quite a few desperate areas in this book which take the reader on all kinds of emotional journeys. I was terrified, sad, mad and happy all in the same chapter in this book. The author really created an emotional tale you will not soon forget.

Need a story about friendship and survival…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

Based on the true story of a famous trial, this novel is Law and Order: 1800, as Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr investigate the shocking murder of a young woman who everyone—and no one—seemed to know.

At the start of a new century, a shocking murder transfixes Manhattan, forcing bitter rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to work together to save a man from the gallows. 

Just before Christmas 1799, Elma Sands slips out of her Quaker cousin’s boarding house—and doesn’t come home. Has she eloped? Run away? No one knows—until her body appears in the Manhattan Well.

Her family insists they know who killed her. Handbills circulate around the city accusing a carpenter named Levi Weeks of seducing and murdering Elma. 

But privately, quietly, Levi’s wealthy brother calls in a special favor….

Aaron Burr’s legal practice can’t finance both his expensive tastes and his ambition to win the 1800 New York elections. To defend Levi Weeks is a double win: a hefty fee plus a chance to grab headlines.

Alexander Hamilton has his own political aspirations; he isn’t going to let Burr monopolize the public’s attention. If Burr is defending Levi Weeks, then Hamilton will too. As the trial and the election draw near, Burr and Hamilton race against time to save a man’s life—and destroy each other.

Part murder mystery, part thriller, part true crime, The Girl From Greenwich Street revisits a dark corner of history—with a surprising twist ending that reveals the true story of the woman at the center of the tale.

Review

At the start of a new century, a shocking murder transfixes Manhattan, forcing bitter rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to work together to save a man from the gallows. 

The historical research is outstanding. And I loved reading about Hamilton and Burr. This is also a versatile read as well. It is part mystery, historical fiction and true crime. This is why I kept reading. I really wanted to see how it turned out.

There is a lot that I enjoyed about this book. I loved the history and the great atmosphere of New York during this time periodof 1800. But the story itself moved very slow for me. It is just a bit too wordy, with long chapters and lots of dialog.

My favorite by this author is Band of Sisters. Still, hands down the favorite!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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