Two scientists married to each other rarely works out and Evelyn is so deep into her research on cloning that she barely notices her husband is gone, now living with a new fiancé and baby on the way. Something happens to put Evelyn and Martine into a position of being allies forcing them to work together. This should be easy since Martine is a carbon copy of Evelyn. The problem with creating clones is that you still have the basic good and bad behavior of the original. These two women choose to pick their own path not the one they were programmed by men to follow. It is a smart look at cloning and really scary because it seems so believable. 4 1/2 stars
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A dual timeline between wartime Paris and Montana in the '80s and the woman who straddled both continents to fight oppression. Odile loves books and all she wants is a job in the American Library in Paris. From memorizing the Dewey decimal system to learning English she is totally prepared for the job but when the Nazis take over Paris her work is just beginning. While she will do anything to protect her friends and fellow library workers it is difficult to know who to trust. Fast forward to Montana where Odile has lived for many years and she befriends a young girl next door with dreams of getting out of the small town. This story of heroic actions on behalf of the staff at the American Library which stayed open the entire time is fascinating and like many books written lately highlights the work done behind the scenes by ordinary citizens. I would have been happy with just that story but Odile and her later life is an added bonus. 4 stars
Virginia Hall is a perfect example of the latest push to know more about the unseen heroines of WWII. As a spy for the British and American forces before the Allied push and D-Day, Virginia was airlifted into occupied France and took up one of the most difficult and dangerous positions - that of a wireless operator named a "pianist". Jumping from safe house to safe house organizing drop locations, sending wireless transmissions, and training the resistance fighters locally she faced instant death or torture if found out. What is truly amazing is that she accomplished so much with a huge price on her head and hiding the fact that she wore a prosthetic leg. Never getting too attached or feeling the job too much that she would get sloppy, Virginia became a status symbol to the resistance movement. I especially enjoyed the author's notes at the end of the book that filled the reader in on what happened to her compatriots during and after the war. Fans of Kate Quinn and Ruta Septys, as well as nonfiction readers of female involvement in WWII efforts, will find much to love here. 4 stars 3 sister wives and one dead husband. They all have a past they haven't shared and they all don't totally trust the other wives. Their husband had his secrets too. With every turn of the page I had a new suspect and then you go to the next wive's chapter and voila a new suspect. The deeper you delve into the world of polygamous marriages and crazy cults of some of the stranger sects of Mormons the stronger these women become in your eyes. Rachel is the first wife and she is no stranger to the devout and unusual level of faith her husband lives because she grew up on a secluded ranch run by a madman called "The Prophet" whose extensive harem and behavior left him in prison. Tina and Emily are new to the seclusion and strict rules but are adapting sort of. They all had a motive. The past never stays in the past and these women will need to form an alliance to get through this ordeal or figure out who is lying. Whiplash thriller that I can guarantee you won't put down once you start. 4 1/2 stars
A heartwrenching look at a dark time in this country. The Depression hit hardest in the big cities and for a while, farmers felt lucky that they still had the land until a drought came, dust storms plagued them constantly and crops were destroyed. After years of this, the land had no more to give and everyone's root cellar was empty. Elsa and her two kids knew hard work and hardships from working the family farm alongside her inlaws. Her husband gone and with no work to be found anywhere she makes the hard decision to pack up and move to California. The journey there is hard enough but how they are treated once they arrive changes her forever. Once content to work hard, follow the rules, and obey the law Elsa and her fiery daughter Loreda find that they must fight for their rights because no one will. Historical fiction at its best and Kristin Hannah does an excellent job of putting us right alongside the migrant families capturing their hard work, determination, and grit perfectly. A must-read for historical fiction fans as well as those interested in battles for social injustice. 5 breathtaking stars
What a wild and crazy book that goes from soft lovable moments to insane gangster-like situations in Asia. Tiller is a likable 20-year-old who happens to be befriended by a wealthy businessman who is developing a wonder drink and he invites Tiller to Asia to promote it. This leads to a race around Asia involving late nights, lots of alcohol, and other crazy situations and it isn't too long before Tiller realizes he is in over his head as is his mentor Pong. The tandem story is when Tiller comes home and meets Val and her young son who are on the run and part of the witness protection program. Val and Tiller have a mutually secretive relationship but it is easy to see how he dotes on Val's young son.
Each will have to trust the other with more of their story and even though we can't always see the thread that holds these stories together, the author does a great job of tying up the loose ends. It is a story of love and connection. The writing style is nice and easy with just enough humor that you can't help liking Tiller while you are shaking your head at his lack of good judgment. 4 stars Maple Drive in Long Island is under siege from Mother Nature and human nature. One family doesn't fit in. They don't act the same way, the dad (a former rock star) has long hair and the oldest kid is a troublemaker so it is only natural that they get blamed for everything - even when a giant sinkhole appears at a block party. From the moment the sinkhole opens the worst of everyone comes out and the gossip and the back-stabbing snowball begins rolling. BIG LITTLE LIES, LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE, and A GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD fans will eat this up.
4 stars It was a horrible storm with tragic results that took lives and left a few families minus a member. Kieran has lived with the guilt that comes from being a survivor and knowing that his brother and a friend's dad were coming to save him from the storm that day. Now he, his girlfriend and new baby have come home to help his mom pack up and move his father who is suffering from advanced dementia. While it is really good to see his mates he is not prepared for the awkward homecoming nor his dad's advanced condition. Another death takes place that brings up all the distrust, suspects and accusations from the past. It is true what they say - you can't go home again. Another gem from Jane Harper who excels at slow burn mysteries from down under that keep the flames up just high enough to keep us thinking we are getting warm and then killing the flame right before we burn. Fans of her previous mysteries will not be disappointed. 5 stars Jason French is a haunted man. So are his younger brother, father and mother who are haunted by the death of Jason's older brother and the version of Jason after the war and now that he is out of prison it looks like the same broken version of Jason has come home. When a woman seen hanging out with Jason turns up brutally murdered and another goes missing all signs point to Jason. It doesn't matter that his dad is a decorated cop or his younger brother is convinced Jason didn't do it and just like that Jason is back in the same jail cell he just left. A prisoner who holds all the power wants Jason back and has the means to keep him there. Jason has his younger brother Gibby fighting for him but it will take all of his self control to stay alive and keep his younger brother safe. Just like his other books, this story is intense, violent but full of characters you can totally root for that are full of Hart. For fans of thrillers with flawed characters who are basically good but misunderstood, this is your kind of read. 4 stars
1920 Ireland Moira travels from the states to her recently deceased mother's homeland of Ireland to work as a school teacher. Some of the villagers in Donegal are welcoming but others threaten her for reasons she doesn't understand. As she gets to know the villagers better her mother's history will become clearer. A wonderful example of Christian Historical Fiction with a hint of romance that works for young adults and those who want a great story without the adult situations and language. 3 1/2 stars |
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