This is a very difficult book to cast into a genre. I thought I would be reading the history of poorly constructed architecture which caused accidents or deaths. Instead it felt like the author did look into architecture that sadly cause accidents or led the architect to commit suicide but it is also her feelings on the philosophy of suicide. Charlotte Van den Broeck is a talented author and I enjoyed sections of the book but felt that it
was very different from the book I thought I was reading. 3 stars
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A very steamy yet somehow innocent and sweet romcom unlike anything I have read in a while. When Bee gets cast in a new made for tv movie it shouldn't be surprising except for the fact that this is a Christmas Hallmark Channel kind of show and she is well known as a porn star. She is delighted to find out that her costar is none other than a former boy band star looking to rebrand his bad boy image. Each has a huge crush, the mentally undressing the other kind, on each other and it doesn't take long for sparks to fly. It is essential that Bee's former film work isn't disclosed to the producers on the film and both stars need to keep their relationship g-rated. The writing is fresh, fun and irreverent and even though I am sure I blushed several times, this is a story of very consenting adults who very much enjoy each other and sex. These two great authors have found a wonderful balance giving readers sections sure to melt snow and positive body imaging with a relationship wasn't overdone with family channel sugar. 3 1/2 steamy stars
This is the story of a Vietnamese-Australian family grieving over the senseless death of their youngest member. Ky Tran feels guilt over the fact that she pushed her parents to allow her younger brother Denny to go to a celebration dinner at a local restaurant. The night ended in tragedy when Denny was beaten to death in front of a dozen people all who claim to have seen nothing. The police assume he was up to no good and have no leads. Ky's parents feel hampered by the language difference and culture so they didn't push the police. Ky, who is a journalist, isn't giving up and begins to search for and talk to anyone who was there that night. Ky's character is heartbreaking as she examines the town she grew up in and her old life and compares it to the town and people now trying to see where and how it all went wrong. Family, cross cultural differences and the cost of pressure that the children of immigrant families often feel to succeed all play a strong role in this coming of age story. It happens to be outside of Sydney Australia but the themes are universal and will appeal to readers everywhere. 4 stars
A little getaway before the baby comes should have been a wonderful idea but the stay at the remote guest house gets weird fast. Jamie and Victoria are in the middle of a nightmare when Victoria goes into labor and the owner's pitch in to deliver the baby but then force the parents to make a Rumplestiltskin choice. With a knife to their throat they keep quiet about what really happened and head back to London telling people at home that they lost the baby at birth. Of course, Jamie and Victoria aren't going to allow them to get away with it right? This story moves at breakneck speed with lots of turns and changing opinions about the characters and all their flaws. Not for new moms but it will resonate with the chiller thriller crowd. 4 stars
Elsa gives up the easy life when she marries Silas and joins his dream of living off the land. Two young children later and still no well dug , Silas is killed in a logging accident and Elsa is left to go it alone. The community helps but Elsa is proud and struggles to keep Silas's dream alive. She will learn over the course of a year to rely on others and trust in herself. It is a tough life made tougher and the loss is felt not only by Elsa but by her daughter who must grow up much too fast. This debut author knows of what she writes because she too has lived off the land in a rural setting. Elsa's desperation mixed with longing for things to be easier is juxtaposed with the peace she and her daughter feel in the woods. I listened to the audio version of this book as well and thought the narrator did an excellent job of portraying the grief and exhaustion.
4 stars During the 1550's the de Midici family in Florence was one of the leading power families of Renaissance Italy. It seemed only natural to increase their power by joining forces with another powerful family and marry their youngest daughter Lucrezia to Alfonso d'Este. It didn't matter that Lucrezia was very young and had led a sheltered life and that Alfonso was much older and a widower. It also didn't matter that he was a tyrant. Lucrezia was a pawn in a powerful chess game and there to produce male heirs. She was considered to be quite a beauty so Alfonso commissions a marriage portrait to be painted mainly so he could show her off as his latest possession. The paint on the canvas would barely be dry before the marriage would end. The author paints a stunning landscape of powerful men, their subservient women and all the family drama and violence in between. This is historical fiction that is compelling, captivating and illuminating sure to appeal to art lovers, fans of the Italian Renaissance and deadly power struggles. 5 stars
Four women of a certain age have had very successful careers as assassins but now that they are put out to pasture and sent on a fabulous send-off trip someone thinks they should be sent off for good.
The once hunters become targets and these ladies are not about to take it sitting down. They are smart, they are resourceful and this ain't over yet. Witty dialogue and fantastic characters (which you will find yourself attaching to several screen leading ladies) are very believable and have real aging issues not just fluff making this a high adrenaline tale of violence and payback. Sure to appeal to a larger audience than women of a certain age but you may want to pat them down before inviting them to your next dinner party. So much fun and I hope to see it as a start of a new series. 5 just for fun stars The Salvations could have had a success story like Aretha Franklin or the Supremes. Starting in Filmore San Francisco in the 1950's they were an all female family of great musical talent deeply connected to church, neighborhood and their mom. Three sisters and one ambitious mom, the girls have been an act since they could walk but now is the right time to send them to stardom. The sisters will upset their mother's plans and choose a different path. As the opportunity arises one will marry and start a family, one will take up the Civil Rights cause and one will fall in love with the wrong man.
A volatile time in gentrification, Civil Rights as well as black artists finding the spotlight in music -this is a powerful story of family, heritage and success. 4 stars Fenna Vos was fascinated by magic and illusionists like the great Harry Houdini early on. Her dreams of becoming a master illusionist were almost a reality since she is working in a magic act but as the assistant instead of the illusionist. It doesn't matter that it is her tricks and her insight that makes it work for her partner to shine. As a twist of fate she is approached to help the British Intelligence Agency and flies to Europe and help them outsmart the Nazi's helping captured soldiers escape. Once there she crosses paths with the love of her life and childhood friend whom she pushed away years before but who now may be involved in a deadly spy game. She puts herself in the middle of occupied territory to find Arie and bring him in. If she succeeds it will be her greatest illusion yet. Riveting historical fiction spotlighting the female role in WWII spying with the refreshing angle of magic and illusion. I would have loved to heard more about the ways they pulled the wool over German eyes in getting information and supplies to the prisoners. 4 stars
With a baby in her belly and only pain at home Sara flees to Memphis to escape her turbulent past. She works at Mama Sugar's boarding house and despite all Sara's attempts at keeping distant and her heart shut tight, the occupants of the house worm their way into Sara's heart making this her second family. Life gives her joy like her baby Lebanon and also sends her great sorrow. These characters are so real you feel as though you are sitting around the kitchen table. They are wise beyond words and seem to absorb whatever pain the world throws at them with grace. Sara must find a way to balance the girl she was with the woman she has become - the sugar and salt in equal measure. An intense family drama combined with the Civil Rights movement in 1960's Memphis makes this book as appealing to historical fiction readers as those who want a deep dive into family and community. I understand the buzz about this emotional and full story. 4 1/2 stars
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