reecaspieces

Overview

In the middle of a perilous drought in the Northwest, an arsonist begins setting fires all around. It gives Zoe Penney nightmares about her home—seated right next to tinder-dry woods—rising up in explosions of fire, as well as haunting dreams of a little boy deep in the forest.

Winter brings the longed-for rains but also a cancer diagnosis for Zoe’s husband, Jay, which plunges the family into disbelief and fear. The children lean in close to their parents, can’t stop touching them. As Jay’s treatment begins, nature lets loose with strange and startling encounters, while a shadowy figure hovers about the corners of the house.

First, Zoe’s fear turns to anger: How can I love you if I am to lose you? How can I live in joy when the sky is falling? But she gradually learns that it’s possible to love anything, even terrible things—if you can love them for what they are teaching you.

Review

An arsonist is setting fires and it is terrifying the whole area surrounding Zoë and Jay. No one knows where he will strike next. But, as life tends to turn on a dime…Jay gets a diagnosis which changes their lives forever.

When this story started, it was all over the place. I was a bit lost and there is no character development. That all comes later. I almost did not finish it. But, the further I got into the book the more the characters grew on me, especially Jay.

Jay has been diagnosed with cancer and it has torn his family apart and yet it has brought them together. Their strength, especially from Zoë, holds the family together during one of the worst years of their lives.

This is a tale of danger, trauma, and togetherness. I have lived through a close family member’s tragic bout with cancer and this author nailed all the sickness which goes with the treatments and all the thoughts that go with the diagnosis.

Need a heart-wrenching family drama…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

A beautiful tale of a vulnerable, compassionate woman who finds that, in order to care for others, she must also let herself be cared for.” ––Kirkus (starred review)

What’s the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can’t give yourself a beautiful life?

From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process.

Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love story––and perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether she’ll have the courage to go after it.

Probing, clever, and hopeful, The Collected Regrets of Clover is perfect for readers of The Midnight Library and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine as it turns the normally taboo subject of death into a reason to celebrate life.

Review

Clover is a death doula. She makes sure people have an easy transition from life to death. She keeps a book on people’s regrets that they share on their deathbed. But, she is struggling herself with the death of her grandfather. She has quite a few regrets in her own life and these regrets are keeping her from moving forward and living her life to the fullest.

This tale had me crying and laughing. It is pure enjoyment to read about Clover and her quirkiness. And I don’t think I have ever been more proud of a character in a book in my life as I was at the end of this novel. You will need to read this to find out!

I fluctuated between 4 and 5 stars. I settled on 5 because of all the emotions this story puts the reader through. I swear…my feelings were all over the place! And Clover is one heck of a character and I will be thinking about her for days to come.

Need a story which will have you emotional and reflecting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

The Hating Game meets Beach Read in Katy Birchall’s enemies-to-lovers romcom The Last Word, about a young journalist who puts her career (and her heart) on the line when her former work nemesis is hired in her newsroom.

Harper Jenkins is at the top of her game. A brilliant, determined journalist with a well-known knack for getting tight-lipped Hollywood stars to open up to her, Harper loves her job as Celebrity Editor at a newspaper’s glossy weekend magazine and has the best contacts in the business.

But when her awful boss hires talented reporter Ryan to be the new Features Editor, Harper is furious. Because the two have met before: a decade ago, they were interns at the same publication, where they fell into a whirlwind romance…until Ryan betrayed Harper, and they never spoke again.

Thrown together in a busy newsroom, their dynamic is a disaster from the start. They can’t agree on anything and bicker constantly—Ryan can’t bear how chaotic and messy Harper is; Harper finds Ryan’s condescending nature infuriating. They clash over who’s writing what article, and fight over who’s going to which event.

Yet as they’re forced to spend more and more time together, Harper realizes she may have misjudged Ryan and can’t help but feel a spark growing between them. Long buried feelings start to resurface and, when they’re thrown together on a romantic press trip abroad, their chemistry comes to a head.

But all is fair in love and magazines, and with the news that layoffs across the department are imminent, Harper is left to wonder: who will get the last word?

Review

Harper and Ryan started out as interns together for the same publication. Sparks fly in the form of competition, until they fly in the form of a relationship. Then it all falls apart. Now, they are back working at the same magazine and it is a nightmare. They argue and fight about who is going to do what. Then the connection sparks again and once again, all is not as it seems.

I adored Harper. She is totally unorganized and a hot mess (especially when it comes to her shoes!) but, she is very good at her job. I related so well to this! There are a lot of times I am a hot mess too but I can get the job done in spite of that. So, she has a piece of my heart!

Ryan is a strong silent type and I found him very appealing as well. These two charming characters lit up the pages and kept the story fun and delightful.

We just recently had a very long flight. This was a great book to lose yourself in! It is so entertaining and perfect for that long ride!

Need a quick, cute romance…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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Overview

An orphaned boy raised by a survivalist wends his way into the real world in an emotional novel about hope, fears, and found family by New York Timesbestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Out there is chaos, the collapse of society, and so much to be afraid of. All that matters is freedom.

That’s what Remy Blake has been taught by his survivalist father. Raised off the grid in the middle of nowhere, his own survival skills not yet honed, Remy is days shy of his eighth birthday when his father unexpectedly dies. As seasons pass, supplies run out, and fending for himself grows more desperate, Remy sets out on foot, unprepared for the great unknown of civilization.

He is found—near feral, silent, and terrified—in the small rural town of Blaire. To Anne, a nurturing mother of two adopted teenagers who’s still dealing with her own childhood rejections, Remy is not a lost cause. Just a challenging one. As Remy cautiously adapts to his new foster home, his family wants nothing more than to reassure him that he can trust the world. But to do so, they must first reexamine how much they trust the world themselves, and how much they should. As Remy’s journey into the real world begins, figuring out how to navigate it becomes a path they will have to learn to walk together.

Review

Remy’s mother has passed away. His dad has gone off the deep end and has decided the world is a terrible place. He has taken 5 year old Remy to a remote area to live off the land. But, after a few terrible years Remy’s dad dies and leaves him all alone. Remy does all he can to survive but he is eventually tragically injured and he has no idea how to relate to people.

Remy tore my heart out! His struggles to survive at such a young age is horrific. This story is heartbreaking, terrifying and then joyful. I wish I could have taken Remy and just hugged him. And Anne! I swear that woman has an amazing heart. I would love to see a sequel made because I felt there was something more to Anne’s situation. Plus, I would love to see Remy succeed!

This book is incredible, as most of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s books are! I have only read a few of her books but I have loved every one. And I honestly think this is the best one I have read so far.

Talk about strong characters and an amazing tale which will have you crying and jumping for joy!

Need an emotional read…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

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

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Overview

When a woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed.

In the war-torn London of 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own.

But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.

Twenty years later, Hazel is in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore to a career at Sotheby’s. With a charming boyfriend and her elegantly timeworn Bloomsbury flat, Hazel’s future seems determined. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing an illustrated book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Hazel never told a soul about the imaginary world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to Flora’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that her beloved sister is still alive after all these years?

As Hazel embarks on a feverish quest, revisiting long-dormant relationships and bravely opening wounds from her past, her career and future hang in the balance. An astonishing twist ultimately reveals the truth in this transporting and refreshingly original novel about the bond between sisters, the complications of conflicted love, and the enduring magic of storytelling.

Review

Hazel is about to start a dream job at Sotheby’s. Just as she is about to say goodbye to everyone at her old job in a rare bookstore, a new, rare book comes across her desk. It throws her life into complete disarray. She actually steals this item and takes it home. She knows she has to find who wrote this because no one knows about this story except her and her long, lost sister.

Hazel has struggled her whole life with the loss of her sister. And now she thinks she has her chance to actually find her! I love the emotion this author creates telling this tale. And Hazel breaks my heart in so many places! Add in the twist at the end and you have a family drama not to be missed.

I love the way this story is formatted. I love the change in time periods. Hazel and her sister were sent away during the bombings in London. So, it fluctuates between the 1940s and the 1960s. You must read this to find out all the drama.

Need a great historical, family mystery…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 author of The Dutch Wife comes a riveting novel set during World War II about a woman who offers shelter to a Jewish baby, and her sister, who must choose between family loyalty and her own safety.

Amsterdam, 1941. When the Nazis invade Amsterdam, singer Johanna Vos watches in horror as the vibrant music scene she loves is all but erased, her Jewish friends forbidden from performing with her onstage. Alongside her friend Jakob, Johanna helps organize the Artists’ Resistance, an underground network allowing Jews to perform at house concerts hosted by their allies. When Johanna hears of a Jewish orphan headed for deportation, she does not think twice. She takes the baby in as her own, hiding the truth from even her own sister, Liesbeth.

Meanwhile, Liesbeth finds herself in a dilemma, as she knows of her sister’s staunch support for the Resistance, but her husband supports the Nazis. When a charming member of the Dutch Fascist Party sets his eyes on her, her predicament only deepens. As secrets continue to grow between the sisters, severing their once-unbreakable bond, they are both forced to make choices that will alter their lives forever.

Review

The Netherlands are officially occupied by Germany. This throws a family onto opposite sides. Johanna is married to a Dutch resistor but her sister, Liesbeth, is married to a pharmacist who supports Hitler.

I loved how the author portrays each side of the war and how it affects the family. As a reader, you have feelings for both sisters as they each struggle with their political issues within the family. One actually ends up in a concentration camp because of her situation and the horrors she endures will make you want to scream, cry and throw the book across the room.

I enjoyed the setting of Amsterdam during WWII. Most books set in this time period are not set in the Netherlands. This country was occupied by the Germans and this story delves into the occupation and the terror the Nazis forced onto this group of people. But the Dutch are smart! They do not take this without a fight!

Need a good WWII novel with a different setting…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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Overview

It’s 1938, and a young woman selling face cream out of a New York City beauty parlor is determined to prove she can have it all. Her name is Estée Lauder, and she’s about to take the world by storm, in this dazzling new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Social Graces and Park Avenue Summer.

In New York City, you can disappear into the crowd. At least that’s what Gloria Downing desperately hopes as she tries to reinvent herself after a devastating family scandal. She’s ready for a total life makeover and a friend she can lean on—and into her path walks a young, idealistic woman named Estée. Their chance encounter will change Gloria’s life forever.

Estée dreams of success and becoming a household name like Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein, and Revlon. Before Gloria knows it, she is swept up in her new friend’s mission and while Estée rolls up her sleeves, Gloria begins to discover her own talents. After landing a job at Saks Fifth Avenue, New York’s finest luxury department store, Gloria finds her voice, which proves instrumental in opening doors for Estée’s insatiable ambitions.

But in a world unaccustomed to women with power, they’ll each have to pay the price that comes with daring to live life on their own terms and refusing to back down.

Review

Estée Lauder is just beginning her career. She has set up a shop inside a beauty parlor when she has a chance encounter with Gloria. This strikes up a life long friendship with dreams, successes, disappointments, fights and ambitions.

This story is told in the voice of Gloria. And she has a past she is escaping. She has changed her name but she has issues letting it all go. But with the support of Estée, Gloria comes into her own and finally leaves her past behind.

I loved Gloria and Estée. They had some epic fights. And both are stubborn and smart. This gets them through some major trials and tribulations.

Now, I did fluctuate between 4 and 5 stars on this book basically because this book is a bit monotonous in places. But, after letting it simmer in my brain for a while, I decided on 5 stars. I just love Estée and her tenacity. I knew a little about her but not enough. And I am an Estée Lauder girl. I truly want to know more!

Need a unique tale about the start of an empire…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

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

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