I received this advanced uncorrected proof from a Goodreads.com giveaway. I really loved both the premise of the book and the topics that it explores. The Wonder of All Things takes off quickly when a horrific accident occurs and the main character Ava miraculously heals her friend Wash. Like Mr. Mott's previous novel The Returned, The Wonder of All Things makes you think about how society would react to certain scenarios. This novel describes the chaos that ensues in the small town once word of Ava's miracle healing gets out. The reader is able to see how both Ava and her family struggle with her gift. Does Ava have a responsibility to heal others? Can their family capitalize on all of the offers being made to them so that they can finally escape poverty? At the end of the book, I was left wanting more closure for the characters and I felt that some of the storylines were left unresolved. That said, I did enjoy the book and felt it was definitely worth reading. I think Mr. Mott's voice is important in literature today and I think his work brings something different to the publishing world.
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Grand Central is a very unique book and unlike anything else I have read recently. The ten stories all start on the same day at Grand Central Station after World War II. I was so intrigued that the ten different authors were able to each tell a different story, but managed to weave small appearances from the other characters into each tale. I really appreciated the concept of this book and would hope that other authors/publishers would explore this type of novel. My favorite stories were: The Branch of Hazel by Sarah McCoy, The Reunion by Kristina McMorris and The Harvest Season by Karen White. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. While I have read many books set either during World War II or shortly thereafter, Grand Central provided me with some interesting viewpoints that I hadn't previously explored and I really found the concept of how all these strangers' stories intersected.
The Shadow Tracer was the first book that I have read by Meg Gardiner. The story kept my interest and provided some interesting insight into religious cults. It seemed that some portions of the plot unfolded as I expected, but other sections were unexpected. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would read other books by the author.
I would recommend this book for fans of Lisa Gardner. This was the first book that I have read by Lauren Willig and I really enjoyed it. The story begins in Kenya with Addie on her way to see her cousin Bea. The plot weaves back and forth between Clemmie, Addie's granddaughter, in present times and Addie, in the past. The author did an excellent job of switching back and forth between the time periods and also developing believable well developed characters. I enjoy reading a book which still has some plot surprises in store and The Ashford Affair did not disappoint. The portions of the story set in Kenya were interesting and very different from some of the other stories I have read which were set during the same time period. I would recommend this book to fans of Karen White and Kate Morton.
I received this book through a giveaway on GoodReads. It is the first novel that I have read by Diane Chamberlain and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of her work. I was quickly drawn into the storyline and could not put the book down. I was eager to see how the story would play out and how the characters would develop. I felt a connection with the main character Riley and the journey that she was going through in the book. The family dynamics are very well written and I thought the book was well paced. The story takes several unexpected twists and turns along the way and I really enjoyed the roller coaster ride. It would be an interesting book for a book club discussion and I hope that book club discussion questions are included in the final publication copy. I would recommend this book to fans of Lisa Scottoline and Mary Higgins Clark.
This book interested me and when browsing in a independent book store in St. Charles this weekend, the bookseller highly recommended it.
I read this book in one day because I simply had to find out what was in store for A.J. Fikry. To me, this is a story about how sometimes the unexpected things in life are just what you need to turn things around. It is also a story about the power of love. I don't want to reveal too much about the plot, but I will tell you that if you love books, bookstores and reading (and I assume you do or you wouldn't be reading this blog), this book will appeal to you. It definitely made me wish that I owned my own small town bookstore. I would recommend this book to book lovers and of course, to book clubs. Karen White is one of my favorite authors and her latest book surely did not disappoint. A Long Time Gone is set in the Mississippi Delta area and as in many of Karen White's books, the setting plays an integral part in the story. The plot unfolds through three unique voices, Vivien in the present day, Carol Lynne in the 1960s and Adelaide in the 1920s. The author draws a clear picture of the different time periods presented and I found the historical aspects very interesting. She explores multi-generational family relationships and does so with authenticity. The book drew me in from the beginning and I became involved with each character's journey.
I was able to attend a book talk/signing by the author in St. Peters, Missouri. It was interesting to hear more about how she developed the story and her plans for future writing projects. One person asked her how she goes about writing a book like this from the various different perspectives, i.e., does she write them as we read it, or does she write Vivien's story and then write Adelaide's story. She said she writes the story as we read it since she herself doesn't always know exactly how the story will end up. I would recommend this book to book clubs and anyone who enjoys historical fiction. |
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