Before We Were Yours is an engaging richly crafted novel that grabbed me from the first page and kept my interest throughout.  

In 1939, twelve year old Rill Foss and her siblings enjoy life on the river, but that is life is ripped from them one night when strangers arrive at the Arcadia. Life as they knew it will never be the same.  Now residents of the Tennessee Children's Home Society orphanage, Rill and her siblings face an uncertain future.  

Now, Avery Stafford has returned home to Aiken, South Carolina to fill the shoes of her highly respected and successful political father.  During a public appearance at a nursing home facility, she has a strange encounter with an elderly resident.  That chance encounter leads Avery on a journey into her family's past to unearth secrets that may be best left buried.    

Before We Were Yours is an absolutely riveting story that was a five star read for me.  I was so drawn into the characters and the plot line.  I was not familiar with Georgia Tann or the Tennessee Children's Home Society in Memphis and found it shocking the acts that occurred.  I also had not read Lisa Wingate's books before and now have added a good amount to my "to read" list.  

I received this book courtesy of Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.  

What an interesting story about a woman who served as the inspiration for some of artist Andrew Wyeth's best known works.  Our book club selected this novel and it provided not only an interesting read but a engaging discussion as well.  Before reading A Piece of the World, I was not familiar with Christina Olson, the subject of the book.  Honestly, I was not all too familiar with Andrew Wyeth either, but the book provided me a glimpse into the lives of both and I enjoyed the journey.

A Piece of the World is a story filled with heart and heartbreak.  It is also a story of resilience and determination.  I think my favorite section in the book comes during a discussion between Christina and Andrew Wyeth when she sees the portrait of herself that he has painted.  She is not happy with what she sees and Andrew Wyeth asks her how she does see herself then. Christina says she sees herself just as a girl.  When the portrait is created Christina is certainly not a young woman so I think that speaks to how in our own minds we don't age on the inside at the same rate as we age on the outside.  

Our book club discussion was enhanced by one of our members bringing some photos of different Andrew Wyeth works and also a photo of Christina herself.  

This was a four star read for me and I really enjoyed it.  

Who doesn't enjoy a book about a grand old beach home and the lives of its residents, both past and current.  The Book of Summer is just such a novel.  

Cliff House is a grand home that unfortunately appears to be collapsing into the sea due to erosion.  Its current resident Cissy Codman is doing everything in her power to stop the home's impending demise, but her daughter Bess believes it is time to move out and move on.  Cliff House has been in their family for generations and Cissy believes it is her duty to save it.  



The Book of Summer also gives the reader the opportunity to step back in time and meet Ruby Packard, grandmother to Bess, as she navigates life in Cliff House during World War II and after.  Ruby's wide-eyed naivety is perfectly captured by the author and then her character develops and changes throughout the course of the novel, in much the same way as Bess's character does as well.  There is a rich cast of characters in this novel from the quirky Cissy Codman to the glamorous Hattie Rutter to the charming Topper Packard.  The author does an excellent job providing us a glimpse into society at that time.  

For me, The Book of Summer was a tribute to the bond of families and also the strength of women during difficult times.  Ruby, Cissy and Bess have each encountered their own challenges, but stay strong and positive.  

I found it interesting that the author based this book upon the homes in Sankaty Bluff in Sconset, the easternmost spot on Nantucket Island.  It did inspire me to learn more about the erosion occurring there and I can only imagine how difficult it would be to potentially lose a family home in that way.  

The Book of Summer was a 4 star read for me.  I received this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press, Thomas Dunne Books, through Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.  

The Women in the Castle tells the story of three widows adjusting to life in Germany after the end of World War II.  Each woman has a decidedly different past but fate has brought the three of them together to navigate their new lives in a decidedly different time.  Marianne von Lingenfels was tasked by her now deceased husband to gather the widows of those involved in the failed plot to assassinate Hitler.  She begins by gathering 6 year old Martin and his mother Benita.  They all make their way to the now ruined castle that belonged to the von Lingenfels family.  Once there, Marianne learns of another war widow Ania and her two young boys.  This diverse group soon become their own sort of family as they bond over their experiences during the War.  Each woman has a distinctly different past, that is unveiled during the book, but they come together to form unlikely allies.  

I believe that I am in the minority in this, but I struggled to be drawn in by the book and had difficulty keeping up with character and time changes as the story alternating between them.  There are many other rave reviews so I feel that it must have just been me.  The Women in the Castle does provide a unique look at this time in history and I appreciated the ending of the story as it seemed to bring everything full circle.  

I received this book courtesy of William Morrow through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.