I was so eager to read The Exiles to learn more about this time period in Australian history and to be lead on this journey by such a talented author.  The Exiles met all my high hopes and expectations.

Evangeline has recently lost her father and must make her way in the world by taking a job as a governess in London.  Having been sheltered for many years by her father, her naivety is soon taken advantage of and a now pregnant Evangeline is sent to Newgate Prison and eventually exiled to the Van Diemen's Land, a penal colony in Australia.  While traveling overseas on the repurposed slave ship Medea, Evangeline meets young Hazel, who is very shrewd and street smart.  The two develop an unlikely bond and it is one that will change their lives forever.  

We also have the opportunity to meet Mathinna, an Aboriginal orphan who is taken in by the Governor of Van Diemen's Land and his wife so that she might, essentially, become more like the rest of "polite society".  Her perspective is so important to the novel and brings a unique quality to the narrative.  

I very much enjoyed this novel for so many reasons. I felt it was fresh and unique.  I was aware of some of the Australian history, but this novel caused me to examine what I knew in a new way and also introduced me to many things I was not aware of regarding that time period.  I would definitely recommend this novel to historical fiction fans and I also believe it would make a wonderful book club selection.  

I received this book courtesy of Custom House through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  

I started reading this book, I immediately began talking to my co-workers and family about it from literally page 1.  It got me right then and there.  I simply  love Fredrik Backman's writing and the amazingly unique yet realistic characters he creates.  He finds a way to say things that are so insightful and at the same time, completely relatable.  

As the author said, this story is about many things.  And it really is.  For me, it was about the human experience and how important our relationships with each other can be.  I don't want to give away any special moments from this story, so I will just say you need to read this book.  I was over half way through the book when a certain plot twist happens that I in no way saw coming and I had to go back to the first chapter to see how I missed it.  I loved that!

Anxious People touches on so many important topics: suicide, guilt, grief, belonging, family, desperation, love, and a world of others.  I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did.  It was a glowing five star read for me and a novel that I see myself reading again just to experience it once more.  

I received this book courtesy of Atria Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Several years ago, I read the Divergent series with my teenage son and found myself really drawn into the series.  I'm not typically a reader of sci-fi or futuristic novels, but Chosen Ones caught my attention from the very first chapter.  I'm not sure how the author manages to create these characters that I come to care about so quickly.  They are flawed and maybe not even people you would want to spend time with in real life, but I find myself rapidly turning pages to see what their future holds.  

The Chosen Ones is about five heroes that saved the world from the Dark One ten years ago when they were mere teenagers. Their whole lives have been defined by that journey and now we meet them 10 years later as they are still trying to figure out who they are.  The Chosen Ones - Sloan, Matt, Ines, Albie and Esther - have gathered again to celebrate the anniversary of the Dark One's defeat, when tragedy befalls one of their own.  This is the catalyst for an event that changes their lives forever.  The descriptions of the scenes and settings in this book are so well written that I could easily envision a movie adaptation.  I also really liked how the letters and memos were included. I felt that added another layer to the story.  I hope that the author revisits these characters and develops the series further because I wasn't quite ready to let them go.  

I received this book courtesy of John Joseph Adams/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Buttonwood, Alabama is home to a very special buttonwood tree and also two women who've led very different lives.  Blue Bishop has lived in Buttonwood all her life and her family's reputation has followed her every day in every way. Blue longs for a new beginning, but can't part from her sister or Marlo and Moe, who have been substitute parents for her.  Sarah Grace also would like a fresh start, but for different reasons.  Sarah Grace finds herself in a loveless marriage and wishes she had never walked away from her true love and high school sweetheart Shep, who also just happens to be back in town.  If Sarah Grace could only be her real self and open up her secrets to her family, would she find some peace in her life?  Blue and Sarah Grace have been distant acquaintances all their lives but then Blue finds a baby in the woods with a button from the Buttonwood Tree that says give this baby to Blue Bishop. Blue has longed to adopt a baby for some time, but Sarah Grace's demanding mother has decided the baby is the perfect solution to Sarah Grace's marriage problems.  Who should have the baby and more importantly, where did the baby come from?  

This magical novel is so vividly written that you can visualize the Buttonwood Tree and each colorful character as well.  I wanted to curl up and read a good book in Marlo and Moe's bookstore.  I also wanted to read one of Blue's picture books and see her illustrations.  When a book is so well written that you want to meet the characters and see where they live, I take that as a good sign.  I also liked the twist at the end and was taken by surprise in how that played out.  I hope you enjoy reading South of the Buttonwood Tree as much as I did.  Five stars!

I received this book courtesy of Forge Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.   

It only seems right that Mitchell Fisher finds himself responsible for cutting off all the locks placed on "love story" bridge since he has put all things romantic behind him.  After losing his beloved partner Anita, Mitchell is focused on raising their daughter Poppy.  He takes pride in keeping everything to a schedule and making their lives run smoothly.  All that changes in an instant, when Mitchell makes eye contact with a woman wearing a yellow dress as she fastens a lock on the bridge, then unexpectedly jumps into the water. Mitchell doesn't have any time to think and simply jumps in to help her. This event sets up a chain reaction that ultimately pushes Mitchell outside of the confines of the life he has set up for himself and may begin to help him deal with the loss of his love Anita.  

Mitchell Fisher is a character that worms his way into your heart.  At times, I was so frustrated with how closed off he was and at other times, his heartbroken demeanor touched my heart. His daughter Poppy was a bright light in the story and I loved how her character was presented. It was a brilliant love story, with just the right amount of mystery and intrigue mixed in.  

I received this book courtesy of Park Row through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Ever since I read The Address, Fiona Davis has quickly become one of my favorite authors.  Each of her books have interesting female characters, complex multi-layered relationships and are centered around an iconic building.  

The Lions of Fifth Avenue begins in 1913 with Laura Lyons and her family.  Her husband Jack Lyons is the superintendent of the New York Public Library and their family resides in an apartment inside the Library.  Laura dreams of going back to school to become a journalist while Jack spends all his extra time penning his novel.  Laura can't believe her good fortune when she is awarded a scholarship and can finally begin her studies. Laura wants her reporting to make a difference and draw attention to issues important to women.  

In 1993, Sadie Donovan is serving as an assistant curator for the Berg Collection housed in the New York library.  Sadie hasn't made public her connection as granddaughter of the famous essayist Laura Lyons, and she hopes to possibly find something yet unpublished from her grandmother in order to secure her position as curator.  Things quickly become complicated as precious works from the collection turn up missing with no easy explanation for their whereabouts and putting Sadie's precarious position in even more jeopardy.  

I truly loved this novel.  Fiona Davis writes novels that make me feel like I took a trip to New York and traveled through time as well.  The library setting is perfect for any book lover.  I treasure her unique characters and the way each character develops over the pages.  As always, I am already eagerly awaiting her next novel as I know it will have a spot on my favorites shelf.  Highly recommend!  

I received this book courtesy of Dutton Books through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  

An old manor deep in the forest and a family full of secrets is the perfect recipe for  a suspenseful five star read!  

In 1970, Rita serves as nanny for the Harrington family and has been charged with caring not only for the two Harrington children Teddy and Hera, but also their grieving mother who is mourning the lost of her baby, as they spend the summer away from London in the deeply wooded home Foxcote Manor.  As new characters enter the story, Rita isn't sure who to trust and how to handle covertly reporting back to Mr. Harrington on Mrs. Harrington's mental status. Then young Hera finds the tiniest baby abandoned in the woods and it isn't long until a body is discovered in the woods as well.  

Some forty years later, Sylvie is in the midst of a divorce and trying to make peace with her daughter when Sylvie receives a call that her mother has been in an accident.  Suddenly, Sylvie must deal with her own uncertain past while trying to reach through her mother's coma and help her daughter make some life changing decisions.

This book truly intrigued me and even surprised me several times throughout the pages. I enjoyed the two differing plots and watching them connect.  It was definitely a 5 star read for me and I highly recommend it.  

Sometimes when I read historical fiction, I will find a book that has it all: characters that feel like someone I would know in real life, a setting that is so captivating that even when I'm not reading the novel, I'm thinking about it and the opportunity to learn about an event or period of time that I'm not familiar with or can't get enough of.  We Came Here to Shine checked every one of those of boxes.

Set at the 1939 World's Fair in New York, Vivi has come from Hollywood to star in the Aquacade show with promises that if she does well a starring movie role awaits her return.  Max is a journalism student with high hopes of being placed with the Times for her internship, only to find out that instead she has been assigned to Today at the Fair, the daily newspaper associated with the World's Fair.  Vivi and Max cross paths at the Fair and forge a quick bond.  While two very different personalities, they see each other strengths and weaknesses and promise to encourage each other to reach for their dreams.  

I absolutely loved this book.  All of the descriptions of the World's Fair and Aquacade were so vivid, I believe it was the next best thing to experiencing it first hand.  Vivi and Max's characters were flawed, yet perfect in a way.  I also loved the little hints to the author's other novel The Subway Girls, that was also one of my favorite historical fiction reads.  I couldn't help but wish my Mom was also around to read this book.  She loved Johnny Weissmuller and of course, Esther Williams, so I know she would have enjoyed this book as much as I did.  It is truly a great read and perfect for historical fiction fans looking for an immersive read.  

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

The Girl from Widow Hills was the first book that I have read by Megan Miranda and I can assure you that it won't be my last.  This book kept me reading late into the night and was full of all the twists and turns needed to create a 5 star thrilling read.  

Arden Maynor was just a little girl when she became headline news for her sleepwalking disappearance and miraculous rescue days later.  Now, it is the 20th anniversary of the event and Arden Maynor has finally escaped all the notoriety, starting a life for herself miles away from Widow Hills as Olivia Meyer.  Even though Olivia has tried to put the past behind her, it is never too far out of sight.  Olivia awakens outside of her house and realizes she has been sleepwalking again.  Soon sleep becomes ever more elusive and she feels like she is being watched.  I don't want to give away too many spoilers, because you will want to read each and every nuance of this story for yourself.  

I highly recommend this thriller and know you will find yourself as drawn in as I was. I was surprised many different times during the book and the plot kept me engaged.  I received this book courtesy of Simon and Schuster via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

There are so many things that I really love about Lauren K. Denton's writing: the authentic Southern settings, the well developed characters that I build a bond with over the pages and the journey each novel takes me on.  The Summer House was the perfect summer read and I enjoyed every page.

Lily Bishop has just relocated to Foley, Alabama with her new husband Worth.  As she is preparing to go house shopping, she finds out he has been preparing for a divorce.  Suddenly her whole world is turned on end and Lily must find out which side is up.  She turns back to what she knows best: cutting and styling hair with a new job at the Safe Harbor Retirement Village.  Rose Carrigan runs the retirement village and keeps everything in order.  Something about Lily's situation breaks through Rose's tough exterior and they develop an unlikely alliance.  Both Rose and Lily see so much of their lives change over the course of the summer and as a reader, you will be transported right along with them.

This novel was a perfect immersive read. With so many unique characters living in the retirement village, combined with the fact that I would love to learn more about how Lily and Rose's lives continue, a sequel would definitely interest me.  

I received this book courtesy of the publisher Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.