The gorgeous cover of this book drew me in from the very beginning. My mother, grandmother and aunt all wore charm bracelets when I was growing up and I remember how special I felt when I received my first charm bracelet.  Just like in the book, each charm held special meaning for all of us and I remember how much I loved hearing stories about the charms on the bracelets.  

The Charm Bracelet is just such a story.  Each year on her birthday, Lolly's mother gave her a charm and recited a certain poem.  Lolly lost her mother all too soon, but when Lolly had a daughter and granddaughter of her own, she was determined to carry on this tradition.  Lolly feels that her daughter Arden and granddaughter Lauren are so busy with their lives that the charms perhaps no longer hold the same meaning.  When Arden receives a troubling phone call about Lolly, she and Lauren head for Scoops, Michigan as quickly as possible.  Both Arden and Lauren find that Lolly and her charm bracelet may be the key to more than just unlocking family memories.  

The Charm Bracelet is a beautiful story and I enjoyed delving into the lives of Lolly, Arden and Lauren.  The town of Scoops was vividly brought to life and made me wish I could visit just such a town.  I love stories about family and this book really spoke to me since I grew up with several strong women in my life.  After reading the book, I took out my mother, grandmother and aunt's charm bracelets so I could treasure those memories again.  

I received this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Jack Renner gives new meaning to the term vigilante.  Detective by day, Jack Renner mets out his own form of justice after hours and cleans up the streets by ridding society of some of its most unsavory characters.  Forensic investigator Maggie Gardiner begins to see a pattern to all the John and Jane Does that are showing up for autopsies.  Will she be able to connect the trace evidence to track down the killer or will the killer track her down first?  

That Darkness makes you question all your beliefs on justice and punishment.  Is it more humane and just to murder the criminal or have them prey on other innocent parties or perhaps spend years in jail.  

I believe this book in the first in a new series so it should be interesting to see where the author takes the characters going forward.  They are certainly two very interesting individuals and That Darkness was a thought provoking read.  

I received this book courtesy of Kensington Books through NetGalley.  

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Moving historical fiction inspired by a real life heroine! There were so many true heroes during World War II and Lilac Girls is inspired by one such hero Caroline Ferriday.  Caroline was consumed by her job at the French consulate helping others and had just found a new love when World War II changed her life forever.  

In Germany, young doctor Herta Oberhauser begins work at a Nazi camp as a way out of her current life, but will this new life be what Herta wanted for herself.  

In Poland, teenager Kasia becomes involved with the underground resistance but soon finds herself sent to a female concentration camp where her path will collide with Dr. Oberhauser.  

Lilac Girls offers a distinctive perspective that differs from many World War II novels I have read by offering these three diverse stories that seem to be unrelated at first, but then become connected in unexpected ways.  These three strong characters are told so movingly by the author.  Ms. Kelly does an amazing job in making you truly feel each character's emotions and motivations, even though each woman is so very different.  Their contrasting voices are heard so clearly.  

I was not familiar with Ravensbruck, the all female concentration camp and the medical treatments that went on there.  I appreciated the author's intensive research on this novel and enjoyed the inclusion of how this book was developed.  I will look forward to reading more works by Martha Hall Kelly in the future.

I received this book from Ballantine Books Random House Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.