The Wizard of Oz is one of those timeless classics, and I think every young girl has dreamed of being Judy Garland with those magic slippers.  For all those reasons, I was so intrigued by Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts.

In this wonderfully researched novel, we are provided a look into the lives of Frank and Maud Baum, how their lives together formed the classic novel and the inspiration behind some of those memorable characters.  I also particularly enjoyed the sections with interactions set during the movie filming between Mrs. Baum and Judy Garland.  The descriptions of the movie set were so vivid that I could visualize each scene.  

I was not familiar with the backstory of the Baums and found their history very engaging.  It was interesting to learn more about women's suffrage and life in the Dakotas as well.  

This was a four star read for me that I would recommend to historical fiction fans or anyone who grew up on the Wizard of Oz.  I received this book courtesy of Ballantine Books Random House Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

The Secret of Clouds is a powerful novel that I knew was going to have me in tears at points, but the journey was so fulfilling that I could not put the book down.  

Maggie teaches 6th grade English and is preparing for the school year when the principal calls her into the office to ask her to tutor a young boy who is undergoing some health issues.  Maggie initially is resistant to the idea due to a situation from her past that she hasn't quite moved past but she agrees to tutor young Yuri at his home.  As their path together evolves throughout the school year, we are also provided glimpses into Yuri's parents past life in Ukraine and the role Chernobyl played as well. 

The Secret of Clouds is one of those novels that I will be thinking about for some time to come.  It is quite simply a beautifully written book that I didn't want to step away from.  To me, it is a testament of how we all impact each other's lives in ways both large and small.  It's also a tribute to the importance of the relationships between teachers and students.  

This was a very strong four star read for me and I highly recommend it.  I received this book courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Castle on the Rise is a richly detailed and engaging story that unfolds over three different time periods with three unique women at the forefront of each timeline.  

Laine has traveled to France to attend her best friend's wedding and is bringing along some additional baggage in terms of her failed marriage that she hasn't yet shared news of with her best friend.  While she is trying to keep up the charade, she finds herself intrigued by and drawn to Cormac, the groom's brother.  The setting of the novel shifts from the wedding in France to Ireland where Cormac and his family have inherited a mysterious castle. Laine and Cormac begin digging deeper into the castle's history and also unearth more about their interest in each other.  

Issy loves to take photographs, whether her parents see the value of it or not, but also finds herself drawn into the uprising for Irish freedom in 1915.  Her brother Rory and his friend Levi are in great danger and Issy soon finds out that Sean, whom her heart cannot forget, is equally in a precarious area of Ireland.  She does the only thing she knows to do, which is venture into the fray with her camera at her side to capture the strife as it happens.

Maeve finds herself lady of the castle with her brother away and her father simply not acting to manage the estate.  She discovers Eoin and believes him a traitor and enemy of her family, however he is gravely injured and she simply cannot refuse him care.  Eion begins to earn her trust and she learns that those she trusted before may not have her best interests in mind.  Maeve also finds herself embroiled in a battle between the English and Irish in 1797.

Each one of these narratives is so well told, with vivid details and interesting characters.  I felt myself enjoying each woman's storyline so much that I could not pick a favorite among them.  This is the second novel I have read by Kristy Cambron and I very much appreciate how well her novels are researched and the true readability of the books.  

While this novel is listed as a sequel to The Lost Castle, I believe each book could be read independently.  I received this book courtesy of Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Sophie Kinsella books have something special that makes you both laugh and cry while ultimately warming your heart.  I've enjoyed both her Shopaholic series and her stand alone novels like I Owe You One.

Fixie Farr has this irresistible impulse to fix things, whether its straightening the stock shelves at Farrs, her family business, or even when its sometimes overstepping by brushing lint off a complete stranger.  To a certain extent, Fixie serves a 'doormat' for her siblings Jake and Nicole, picking up the slack for them at the family business and at home, unable to ever say no or speak her mind. During a visit to her local coffee shop, a gentleman asks her to watch his laptop while he steps out to take a phone call. Fixie agrees and ends up barely avoiding disaster. The gentleman is so appreciative he writes an IOU on a coffee sleeve and gives Fixie his business card. While she doesn't initially intend to call in a favor from a near stranger, circumstances change and Fixie finds herself rethinking her position.

Fixie is such an endearing character. It's almost like a romantic comedy where you cheer for her at times and then at other times, want to point her in the right direction. I really enjoyed this cast of characters and the way the plot unfolded. The family dynamic was well written and I enjoyed the interaction between all the characters.  

I received this book courtesy of Dial Press/Random House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Life in 1950s North Carolina requires hard work, but 12 year old Martha "Sonny" Creech feels most at home alongside her father in the cotton fields.  Sonny shares with her father the gift of divining water. This special bond between them draws the relationship even closer. That is all shattered in an instant and life for the Creech family takes a dramatic turn.  Soon their neighbor Frank Fowler begins coming around and its clear he truly is a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde type. His influence in their lives brings a definite change to the entire Creech family.  

The Forgiving Kind is a coming of age story that also deals with some other weighty topics.  I found myself drawn into the book at times, but then found the pacing of the novel dragging at other times. It could be due to the heavy topics being handled, and also the just genuine meanness of some of the characters. So to that note, I would say character development was indeed very well written.  

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

The Lost Girls of Paris grabbed me from the very beginning.  Grace Healey is drawn to an abandoned suitcase in Grand Central station and somewhat out of character for her, she opens the suitcase to find, among other items, 12 photographs of young women.  She takes the photos and finds herself on a quest to determine who these women are and what has become of them.  Her search leads to her discovery that the suitcase belonged to Eleanor Tripp, who was a leader of young women sent into the war as secret agents.  Grace begins following the threads of this story to weave together the full picture of the women and their fates.  

The story of Eleanor and the other young female agents is so engaging and truly had me turning pages at a quick pace.  I loved this group of strong, intelligent, courageous female characters.  The writing transports you right into the middle of Occupied Europe and the intensity of the situation.  I highly recommend this book which was a five star read for me.  I loved how Grace unraveled the story and brought it full circle.  

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

The Wartime Sisters is a very engaging story about two sisters Ruth and Millie and their tenuous relationship that at times nearly destroys them both.  While the story begins in Brooklyn, the heart of the plot develops at the Springfield Armory during World War II.  Ruth has always been known for her brains and responsible behavior, sometimes to the point of being termed a 'cold fish.' Millie, on the other hand, was known for her beauty and was always indulged by her mother.  These two differing views pitted the sisters against each other at an early age.  As in any instance, there are always two sides to a coin and people also grow and change.  The Wartime Sisters takes a look at their strained relationship with a well crafted story that also highlights two other strong and memorable female characters Lillian, the commanding officer's wife and Arietta, the cook/singer.  

I loved this story of complex women and their relationships with each other and their families.  Each character was so well written and deeply developed.  I would find myself empathizing with Ruth and then the next chapter completely understanding where Millie was coming from.  I also thought the stories of Arietta and Lillian added so much to the novel.  I think this book would make a marvelous book club selection as there is so much to discuss.  This was most surely a five star read for me.  It made me search out the author's previous novel to add to my reading pile.  

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

The Burning Island is the third installment in the Charlie Cates series.  While she has been able to keep her dreams a secret from most, Charlie's latest involvement puts her under scrutiny from the police and all at once, her psychic abilities are being covered in the news.  To give herself a much needed diversion from all the media circus, she travels to Hawaii with her best friend Rae to write a feature story about a scientist/tri-athlete.  This tropical getaway should be just the cure for Charlie's troubles, but when she quickly is met with a disturbing dream, she finds herself embroiled in the search for a missing girl that is full of dead ends and many more questions than answers.

I personally had some trouble becoming engaged in the story and found myself distracted with some of the side journeys that I felt the story took.  Charlie Cates is an interesting character, but for some reason, I just wasn't drawn into this particular installment in the series.  

I received this book courtesy of G.P. Putnam & Sons through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.  

The Only Woman in the Room tells the story of Hedy Kiesler and her journey from Austria to the United States where she becomes film star Hedy Lamarr.  

Hedy's story is a complicated one as a Jewish woman in Austria who faces uncertain fate as the Nazis come ever closer to her country.  She marries an arms dealer to help insure her safety as well as that of her parents.  That marriage may provide safety or it may not be the safe haven she hoped for.  Without giving out too many details or spoilers, Hedy will eventually travel to America and re-invent herself as Hedy Lamarr.  

This book provided me with many insights into the career of Hedy Lamarr and her contributions to the war effort.  It also gave glimpses into the Hollywood scene at that time, as well as details of Austria during World War II.  

I did not find myself really drawn into the storyline and felt that it jumped forward at points, although trying to tell the story of someone's life does call for that at times.  Fans of historical fiction should still be satisfied with this portrayal of Hedy Lamarr.  

I received this book courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

I've been eagerly awaiting a new book from Susan Gloss ever since I fell in love with her writing in Vintage.  The Curiosities definitely did not disappoint.  

Nell Parker, who has a PhD in Art History, has been undergoing multiple rounds of IVF trying to create the baby that she so desperately wants, desperately enough to charge most of the expenses to credit cards her husband is not aware of.  Now Nell finds herself without the hoped for baby, mounting credit card debt, a distant husband and no job in sight.  When she interviews for a position as director for a new non-profit artists colony, it might not be her dream come true, but at least it will begin to pay off some of the bills.  But is Nell prepared to handle all the diverse personalities and issues that come with dealing with budding artists while attempting to mend her broken heart over the failed IVF and patch up her struggling marriage.  

The Curiosities delves into some weighty topics with finesse.  I really enjoyed the way all the characters are so diverse and perfectly developed.  I would be interested in revisiting the same characters or even new artists to the artist's colony as well as learning how Nell's life has progressed in the future.  I very much enjoy the author's writing and while this book was very different from Vintage, the hallmarks of a great story are present in both.  Four stars!

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