On a lonely point off the Cornish coast stands a lighthouse. It is cut off of the mainland surrounded by an angry sea and it is home to three lamplighters. Day in, day out these men live together in close quarters until a boat comes bearing their replacements. One day the boat comes and there is no one at the lighthouse. The lives of the three women the men who disappeared left behind were changed forever. In alternating chapters we see what happened at the lighthouse and what happened with the wives and girlfriends in the twenty years the men have been gone without a trace. Now, all the secrets and feelings are coming up to the surface because a writer has come around looking for answers. This book ,based on a real life mystery ,takes a while for the storm to build up and then it unleashes a hurricane of emotions. 3 1/2 stars
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Freya can't get past her sister's suicide so when she attends a wedding near where her sister died and sees what she thinks is a portrait of her sister in the estate house - she can't let go. She leaves her job and her dad and heads back to Bryne Hall where she meets the strange reclusive owner and her artist son. Between Freya's obsession with the house and her sister's connection to it and Cory's obsession with Freya the story takes a deep, dark turn. Gothic with a capitol "G", this is a moody thriller that will remind readers of the book and tv show "YOU". 3 1/2 stars
A small African village finds itself on the edge of collapse when agents from a large American oil company arrive with a paycheck and a promise of better times. The village is split on if it wants to give in to the oil company and soon something happens that will forever change things. In this beautiful, lyrical novel Imbolo Mbue shows us the gentle way and quiet beauty of the village and their ways they preserve their heritage and sets it against the noise and violence of modern day mega companies and large cities. The younger generation who have witnesses so much violence and death from contamination and the power hungry oil thugs take it upon themselves to strike back and demand justice. As violent and tragic as this story is there is such beauty and grace in the language - a calm voice amidst all the pain and suffering. I would think this would be a remarkable audiobook. 4 1/2 stars
The mistress of intriguing historical mystery has given us what I believe to be her best book to date. Three women from very different backgrounds and personalities come together in the most unlikely place - Bletchley Park where top secret codes are hacked and passed on. As is her way Quinn presents a dual timeline 1940 and 1947. Osla saddled with the "Dizzy Deb" handle she hates, statuesque Queen Man who doesn't put up with anything from anyone and mousey Beth who is desperate for a life away from taking care of her domineering mother. The three part ways after a friendship crushing accident and unshared information but in 1947 it is up to Osla and Mab to put aside their differences and come to the aid of one of their own as well as solve a mystery that has haunted one of them. This is another adrenaline- filled story with tough smart women who manage to forge ahead in a time where women received none of the glory and were forced to remain silent witnesses to the history unfurling around them. Amply researched, hugely entertaining and enlightening, Kate Quinn's books strike just the right balance between fact and fiction. You will be missing much if you skip the author's note at the end to find out more about her muses and her research. 5 stars
The story moves at a slow but steady pace and what you will learn about raising chickens and their behavior is fascinating. This introspective debut could be found under a fictional guide to dealing with the grief of a miscarriage or a non-fiction guide to raising healthy chickens in the unforgiving environment of the upper midwest. By caring for her chickens and her not always successful attempts at trying to keep her brood from harm the narrator equates this will her inability to keep her miscarried baby safe and thriving. She compares herself with her strong independent ex-Home EC teacher mother and her best friend whose family keeps growing. It is the Motherhood Club that she desperately wants to be a part of. The upshot of this novel that reads like a memoir is that nature is both wondrous and incredibly cruel and that raising chickens is not for the meek. 3 1/2 stars
These days we all need to stop what we are doing and solve a mystery at Windsor Castle with the Queen. She is still the stoic, regal woman who looks like someones grandmother but she is so much more than that which is what her new personal assistant Rozie is about to find out. When a murder occurs at one of the Queen's famous "dine & sleep" events in her beloved Windsor does the Queen leave it to the police and scurry back to the safety of Buckingham Palace? Quite the contrary as she and Rozie hunt down their own leads and solve things behind the scenes on their own. Where MI5 and others fail to find the clues the Queen quietly and deliberately helps them along. If you binge watch The Crown and find the royals a fascinating study you will adore this clever new series. The author captures the grace, style and dry wit of the Royal Family brilliantly and there is a smashing mystery to boot. 4 fun stars
A young boy with the unique ability to see the dead soon after they have passed causes some worry for his single mom while others see only opportunity. Jaime, like other kid characters by this author , has a good heart, a great sense of humor and a trusting nature so when his mom's ex friend a drugged police detective snags him to help her find a dead terrorist's last bomb, he gets in the car. He will regret that car ride for the rest of his life. This slim novel combines all the best elements for which Stephen King is known for - terror, believable vulnerable characters that we identify with and a good dose of humor to let off some steam. For fans of the author as well as those that enjoy a coming of age story that will scare you while it steals your heart. 4 stars
We think of National Geographic Society explorers as a group of men who head off to the unknown hacking away jungle brush with machetes, blindly heading into a blizzard in the Arctic or joining nomad tribes in the brutal Sahara. What we don't think of are the equally (if not more so) brave female adventurers who not only had to face the same challenges and danger in territories unknown but also had to fight their male counterparts and society to be taken seriously. The members were as diverse as their backgrounds and area of study. They were more interested in the study of social conditions, native cultures and nature than many of their male counterparts who were only interested in conquest. This is a fascinating look at how these women flourished with the help of their association to the society and its members. The most remarkable point is that the society began in the 1920's. While most of the names will not ring any bells, their stories and accomplishments are fascinating. 4 stars
June is obsessed with space travel and the science behind it. She is brilliant which gets her a spot in a coveted space exploration training school where her mind is far beyond many of her peers but she is socially immature. When she is picked for a mission it takes her some time to feel comfortable with the close quarters and physicality of deep space. She ends up running into her Uncle's favorite student James and they fall for each other's brain and body. Finding out what happened to a spacecraft that went off the radar years earlier became her obsession and continues once she is in space. There is a strange lack of punctuation which makes it difficult to read at times and I found myself wanting to skip some of her training to get into space and solving the puzzle. I felt like her attraction to James was due more in seeking his approval much the same way she sought out her uncle's approval and less of a "love match". It is a satisfying look at what it takes to make the leap into deep space and one that fans of 2001 A SPACE ODDESSEY and THE MARTIAN will appreciate. 3 1/2 stars
The hidden love child of a famous San Francisco madam, Vera knows what it is to be invisible. Occasionally summoned by her mother yet mostly ignored and raised by someone else, Vera is torn between wanting to hate her mother and her desperate need for her affection. Rose goes missing as the great earthquake tears through the city and it is Vera who must keep her little group of survivors safe. She is the one who takes charge in her mother's mansion, solves problems and eventually finds Rose. Vivid historical fiction that blends a disaster with a coming of age story. Carol Edgarian paints a truthful picture of old San Francisco from the glittering society to the corruption beneath the golden gates and the decimation left by the earthquake and fires. Vera is a character who will melt your heart and one that you will root for.
4 1/2 stars |
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