reecaspieces

Overview

Inspired by a little-known piece of history—the underground group that kept an archive to insure that the lives of Jewish occupants of the Warsaw Ghetto in World War II were not lost to history—this is a heart-wrenching novel of love and defiance that People calls “gripping, emotional, and against all odds, hopeful.”

“This book is a masterpiece: profound, gripping, urgent, and beautiful.”—Madeline Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Circe and The Song of Achilles

On a November day in 1940, Adam Paskow becomes a prisoner in the Warsaw Ghetto, where the Jews of the city are cut off from their former lives and held captive by Nazi guards to await an uncertain fate. Weeks later, he is approached by a mysterious figure with a surprising request: Would he join a secret group of archivists working to preserve the truth of what is happening inside these walls?

Adam agrees and begins taking testimonies from his students, friends, and neighbors. He learns about their childhoods and their daydreams, their passions and their fears, their desperate strategies for safety and survival. The stories form a portrait of endurance in a world where no choices are good ones.

One of the people Adam interviews is his flatmate Sala Wiskoff, who is stoic, determined, and funny—and married with two children. Over the months of their confinement, in the presence of her family, Adam and Sala fall in love. As they desperately carve out intimacy, their relationship feels both impossible and vital, their connection keeping them alive.

But when Adam discovers a possible escape from the Ghetto, he is faced with an unbearable choice: whom can he save, and at what cost ?

Inspired by the testimony-gathering project with the code name Oneg Shabbat, New York Times bestselling author Lauren Grodstein draws listeners into the lives of people living on the edge. Told with immediacy and heart, We Must Not Think of Ourselves is a piercing story of love, determination, and sacrifice.

Review

Adam has been approached by someone he is not familiar with. This person has a strange request. He wants Adam to start documenting the testimonies from his students, friends and neighbors. Adam learns their fears and dreams and he also learns about their survival techniques in the Warsaw ghetto.

This is more of a 3.5 star read, rounded up. Yes, I know I am in the minority on this book! This book moved slowly in many places and there are quite a few characters, and to be honest, I just did not feel a connection with any of them. I think it is more of the layout of the book, the diary format. I do think it is important testimony. I just needed more emotion.

I did learn a few things and this is always important to me. I knew a lot occurred with many Jews turning on other Jews. This book brings a lot of this to light. Sometimes when you read a Holocaust novel, the bad people who are not Nazis, are not really brought to the attention of the reader. This story talks about it all.

Need a different WWII story…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today n

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

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Overview

Corrosive comparisons and beautiful lies

When author Eden Hart floats into Tucson’s Antigone Books in all her dazzling perfection to give a reading, Kat, a struggling writer, can’t help but compare herself. Professionally, physically, socially—Eden is Kat’s aspiration. Thankfully, Kat’s life starts to take on its own Eden-like glow when her literary future takes shape and she falls madly in love with Jacob, the effortlessly charismatic son of her literary hero. Kat’s life is finally her fantasy realized: a burgeoning career, mentoring from her idol, and a wildly fulfilling relationship. But how long can she keep this up? And when will disappointment tap Kat on the shoulder yet again?

As demons from her past begin to surface, Kat’s mental health craters, and this halcyon dream slips through her fingers. Obsessed with reclaiming her idealized life, Kat develops an insidious plan to not only bring Jacob back into her world but also punish anyone who dares to replace her.

Review

Kat has just met the love of her life, Jacob. And come to find out, his mother is a famous author, Eden Hart. Eden helps Kat in her fight to get published. But then her relationship with Jacob starts to fall apart. This sends Kat into a tailspin.

This book starts out and I fell for Kat, just like everyone does. She pulls out all the stops as she reels everyone into her orbit. And she succeeds. She is talented, cute, and fun…until she isn’t.

Just by looking at this cover, you think this book is going to be a fun, summertime read. Oh but it is not…it is serious, intense and unpredictable! In other words, don’t judge a book by its cover! Grab on and hold tight, this book will take you on a wild, sometimes scary ride of mental illness. I swear, you won’t know which way Kat is going to turn. And just wait till the end! I didn’t see it coming!

Need a story which will have you wondering what the main character will do next…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel for a honest review.

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Overview

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in What the River Knows, Isabel Ibañez’s lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt and filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and a golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parents’ disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parents’ disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

What the River Knows is the first audiobook in the thrilling Secrets of the Nile duology.

Review

Inez has been left by her parents again. They are in Egypt living their best life without her…or so she thinks. When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez strikes out to Egypt on her own to discover exactly what happened to her beloved parents.

I have to say, Inez is very resourceful and she does not take no for an answer. I enjoy her ingenuity but I found her a bit vapid in places. She is a bit of a conundrum in this tale. I guess what I am trying to say is, she flip flops between tough and smart to whiny and clueless. She frustrated me a little bit.

Even though I loved the time period, the magic and the setting of Egypt. This story is a bit too long and dragged in quite a few places. But, like I always say, read it yourself and develop your own opinion. Quite a few people really loved this. It does read like an Agatha Christie novel.

Need a tale set in Egypt with a twist…THIS IS IT. Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review

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Overview

Lost Hours is the fifth instalment in Paige Shelton’s gripping, atmospheric Alaska Wild series.

A year after arriving in Benedict, Beth Rivers is feeling very at home in Alaska, even as outsiders are starting to return to enjoy the brief summer perfection. Beth feels like she’s finally let go of most of her demons. She’s even found her father, Eddy Rivers—or, rather, he found her—and she’s trying to find the middle ground between anger and forgiveness.

One sunny July day, Beth boards a tourist ship to see the glaciers, the main reason visitors venture to the area, and something Beth hasn’t attempted until now. But when the captain has to navigate to an island, a bloodied woman is found standing on the shore, waving for help. When she’s brought aboard, she claims she was kidnapped from her home in Juneau three days earlier, and that a bear on the island killed her captor. She, however, is unharmed.

The woman, Sadie, finds a sympathetic ear in Beth. She tells her that she’s been in Juneau under witness protection, and that the Juneau police don’t like her. When another kidnapping occurs, Beth and police chief Gril can’t help but think the two cases are interwoven, though the clues to solving them will be harder to unravel.

Review

Sadie is found by a tourist boat. She is found standing on the shore covered in blood. She insists that she was kidnapped but a bear killed her kidnapper. The more the police investigate, the more they discover clues to another kidnapping case.

If y’all follow me at all, you know Alaska is one of my favorite places to read about. And I flew through this book. I read it on the plane ride back from NYC. I have also read another in this series, Winter’s End, book 4. I also gave it 3 stars. And the reason for the 3 star ratings is the story could be a bit more intense in places. But, I love anything set in Alaska and this story has good characters to go along with the great setting!

Beth is a character which is a bit broken. She has some issues from her past which she is having trouble dealing with. This is the reason she connects with Sadie…or does she? There is a lot surrounding Sadie and her situation that is just a bit odd. You will need to read this to find out!

Need a good mystery in a great setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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Overview

The truth behind a teenage girl’s disappearance becomes something to conceal in a gripping novel about justice, lies, and impossible choices by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.

When nineteen-year-old Jill Moss goes missing near the Utah-Arizona border, everyone has an opinion. Only Norma Gallagher, a search and rescue volunteer, knows the real story.

Norma’s already found Jill, huddled in a cave and terrified that her abusive boyfriend, Jake, will kill her. If he ever sees her again. To protect Jill from a dangerous man, Norma quietly delivers the girl to her grateful parents in California, even though she’s conflicted. Keeping Jill safe and hidden from Jake, the press, and the public will be their secret. But secrets can’t last forever.

Five years later, the disappearance stirs a new media frenzy when Jake is arrested for the murder of Jill Moss—and Norma knows he didn’t kill her. As Jake is about to stand trial, lust for retribution inflames public opinion and Jill’s family refuses to come forward, forcing Norma to make a life-changing decision.

What are the consequences if she stays silent? And what are the risks if she dares to finally tell the truth?

Review

Jill is missing on the Utah-Arizona border. This creates a huge stir. Dogs, horses, law enforcement are all involved in trying to find her. But, there are some extenuating circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Her boyfriend was seen abusing her. So, did he murder her? Only Norma really knows. Norma is part of the rescue team and she found Jill. But it is not all cut and dried as everyone who is searching for Jill thinks.

Now this is not my favorite by this author, but it is still a dad blame good read! This author always creates conflicting emotions. And this book is no different. What would I have done? This is always a question when reading her books. And I am going to try and not give anything away…but yes! I would have done this. Or, I would have like to THINK I would have done. I am a bit of a rule follower. But the quandary is what makes Hyde’s books so good.

You will need to read this to find out the seriousness of Jill’s decision…and yes it is a huge decision with big ramifications to stay lost!

Need a story with special consequences and considerations and big emotions…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 I Was Anastasia and Code Name Hélène comes a gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.

Maine, 1789: When the Kennebec River freezes, entombing a man in the ice, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death. As a midwife and healer, she is privy to much of what goes on behind closed doors in Hallowell. Her diary is a record of every birth and death, crime and debacle that unfolds in the close-knit community. Months earlier, Martha documented the details of an alleged rape committed by two of the town’s most respected gentlemen—one of whom has now been found dead in the ice. But when a local physician undermines her conclusion, declaring the death to be an accident, Martha is forced to investigate the shocking murder on her own.

Over the course of one winter, as the trial nears, and whispers and prejudices mount, Martha doggedly pursues the truth. Her diary soon lands at the center of the scandal, implicating those she loves, and compelling Martha to decide where her own loyalties lie.

Clever, layered, and subversive, Ariel Lawhon’s newest offering introduces an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice at a time when women were considered best seen and not heard. The Frozen Riveris a thrilling, tense, and tender story about a remarkable woman who left an unparalleled legacy yet remains nearly forgotten to this day.

Review

A man has been found frozen in ice. Martha Ballard, the local midwife, has been called in to examine the body and determine the cause of death. She comes to one conclusion, but the physician of the town comes to another. Martha knows the truth and she does not stop, even when it could damage her reputation and her well built life as she knows it.

I loved everything about this book. Martha is a character that is tough as nails and smart as a whip! And this time period…oh my word. What women went through to just be heard, not even believed, just heard!

The research that went into the tale is amazing. I loved learning about the court system in that time period. I had no idea about some if the processes and the way things worked back then.

I have said this before and I will say this again…I LOVE A BOOK WHICH HAS ME RESEARCHING. I could not wait to look up Martha Ballard and to learn more about her life!

Need a book which is intense and will keep you up long into the night…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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Overview

LibraryReads December Bonus Pick! 

ON ASHER LANE, SOME SECRETS ARE WORTH KILLING FOR…

Simone’s mother was murdered when she was thirteen. When her father was convicted, everything changed. Overnight, Simone went from living in a wealthy white neighborhood to scraping by.

Ten years later, Simone has given up on her dreams and lives a quiet life, writing book reviews and getting serious with her boyfriend. But with a true crime documentarian hounding her for a scoop and a surprise encounter with her childhood next-door neighbor, Hunter, the past seems set on haunting her. And after Hunter reveals that his father and her mother had a years-long affair, Simone is determined to find out who really killed her mother.

Simone is convinced that all evidence points to Hunter’s father, a renowned judge who had everything to lose if his affair—and his nascent love child—came to light. Playing the game from all sides, Simone enlists Hunter’s help in her investigation into his family—whether he realizes it or not. But is she so desperate for closure that she’ll risk imploding her carefully rebuilt life?

Review

Simone’s mother was murdered when she was just a teenager. And Simone’s dad was convicted of the murder. Now, ten years later and Simone discovers that her mother had an affair with a renowned judge and was pregnant at the time of her death. Simone will move heaven and earth to find out who really killed her mother, even if it means losing everything.

This book was a bit slow for me. And I believe it is because this book could not make up its mind what it wanted to be. It is all over the place. It just felt disjointed and very contrived. I did like Simone, or rather she tugged at my sympathies. Simone is the reason I did not dnf. She is a strong young lady with a powerful motivation.

Need a quest for the truth tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

Authors’ Bio:

Amber and Danielle Brown both graduated from Rider University where they studied Communications/Journalism and sat on the editorial staff for the On Fire!! literary journal. They then pursued a career in fashion and spent five years in NYC working their way up, eventually managing their own popular fashion and lifestyle blog. Amber is also a screenwriter, so they live in LA, which works out perfectly so Danielle can spoil her plant babies with copious amount of sunshine. Their debut Someone Had to Do It, was a Library Reads pick.

Buy Links:

HarperCollins.com: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/perfect-little-lives-amber-and-danielle-brown?variant=41028995514402 

BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/perfect-little-lives-original-amber-and-danielle-brown/19612183?ean=9781525805059 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perfect-little-lives-amber-and-danielle-brown/1142864657? 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1525805053/keywords=thrillers?tag=harpercollinsus-20 

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781525805059

Social Links:

Author Website: https://www.amberanddanielle.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ambersharelle 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberanddanielle/

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