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Reviews by Sharon R. (Deerfield, IL)

Pieces of Blue
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Truth Rearranges the World (2/14/2023)

This multi-layered story has hope, courage and lots of love. Every person is dealing with unimaginable grief in their own way, which often catches the reader off-guard.

There is humor, often with wild chickens. Compassion and curiosity from a tight community welcoming newcomers to their "slice of heaven".

The author details the descriptions of unsafe, crumbling and uninhabitable living spaces so clearly that the reader must hope that everything sorts itself out and comes out better than ever.

I found myself caring for every character in this story and wanting them to be okay when it was over. The reader knows more truths than the family towards the end, however, one is left wondering if they had known, would they have done anything differently.

The Widow Queen: The Bold #1
by Elzbieta Cherezinska

Forgotten Polish Princess (12/14/2020)

This is a sweeping and detailed journey of a Polish princess that has not come to light in this century. She is strong, fiercely independent and brave beyond her years.
There is Witchcraft; people who change from human to animals and back again; Wars; Feasts; all richly detailed down to exactly what everyone is wearing.
This is wonderful present to be opened by historical fiction fans everywhere. Many have compared this work to the "Game of Thrones" Series however instead of waiting for the next episode you, the reader, can immerse yourself into the destiny that only the heroic Swietostawa can achieve.

The Fortunate Ones
by Ed Tarkington

A Coming of Age Novel (10/20/2020)

This remarkable novel is a coming of age story that is very contemporary. There is the privileged side of town and the "other side of town". Both sides have the same struggles but obviously, because of money, there issues are resolved differently. There are multiple twists and turns that I did not expect or see coming. The writing by Mr. Tarkington is engrossing, I finished the book in one day. I HAD to know what the outcome was going to be! One of my favorite quotes in the book comes from one of the teachers in the book, "It seems these days more and more people assume that because a man is wealthy he should be trusted to lead, or to govern. They overlook the fact that wealth is often acquired without discipline or principle" Book Clubs are going to have a field day with all components of this fine novel.

The Woman Before Wallis: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal
by Bryn Turnbull

Royal Scandal (7/27/2020)

This is a marvelous depiction of the years leading up to Prince Edward's abdication of the throne. The amount of detail the author brings to her scenes is a remarkable achievement in itself. You feel you are in the drawing rooms, the Clubs, even in the forest surrounding the Fort watching the Prince cutting down trees. I also enjoyed the attention to the fashion of the times and how it changed significantly during the era.
Throughout the book I was also struck by the prevailing sadness. Even as they enjoyed their dinner parties and soirees, their gaiety was enhanced by alcohol and cigarettes.
When I finished the last page I couldn't help but think of our current fascination with the royals, especially Prince Harry as he has also walked away from his royal duties for the love of his life. The similarities are certainly there.

Actress
by Anne Enright

Mothers & Daughters (11/27/2019)

This book explores the relationship between daughters and mothers alternating between the life of a famous actress and her daughter growing up in the shadow of her mother. The daughter, Norah grows up as many daughters do, wanting to be just like her mother who, in her eyes, is funny, beautiful and wise. As the book progresses, she fades in her mother's shadow unless it is "convenient" for her to be seen. After her mother's death, Norah struggles to forgive her mother for what she perceives to be her many faults. She wishes, as we all do, to ask more questions, to relive the good moments and to finally agree within ourselves, we are our mother's daughters.
This book would be wonderful for book clubs. Throughout the book, I was constantly reminded of my mother and her mother and all the questions I wish I would have asked!

You Were There Too
by Colleen Oakley

Marriage Layers (9/12/2019)

There is a moment in this thought provoking story that compares marriage to a TV. Sometimes the connections get loose and the TV sputters and flickers and then you fiddle with it and everything suddenly works again.

This novel is definitely about the highs and lows of a marriage, the anxieties of are you doing the right thing and the thoughts of whether you are good enough to sustain the life you have promised to your wife or husband.

All marriages and relationships have their flaws and this author explores how wonderful and frightening it can be. There are many moments while reading the story that you will want tissues nearby, but in the end life goes on and it is beautiful.

Sold on a Monday
by Kristina McMorris

"It started with a picture" (8/27/2018)

Another reviewer compared this story to the "fake news" that is prevalent in our society today. This story, however, is not fake, it is based on a true story. A reporter who is looking for his big break to land a story that will rocket his career onto the front page. He takes a picture that sets off a chain of events that includes two children, a single mother, and a reporter that knows the truth about the photograph. His subsequent rise as a journalist is shadowed because he is haunted by the photograph. In fact, many of the characters in this novel are guarding their own secrets.

The author represents the depression in all it's grittiness. The mob, the speakeasy's, and the struggles of families just trying to survive are all brought together in this gem of a novel. Perfect for Book Clubs and fans of historical American fiction.

The Summer Wives
by Beatriz Williams

First Love/Summer Love (5/7/2018)

First loves, enduring love and family love all play a part in this spectacular novel. Alternating between social and economic classes, Ms. Williams invites us into the world of privilege and societal nuances during the 1930s off the eastern coast of America. Our heroine, Miranda, has just been exposed to the wealthy through the marriage of her mother into one of the areas most wealthy and influential families. Miranda wants to "fit in" as all girls her age do, but her educational background make it difficult for her to separate the "classes" that society as imposed upon the East Coast elite. Her father had taught her that everyone is equal, but this is clearly not the case in her stepfather's world.

She struggles with wanting to be accepted by her peers and new stepsister and with the morality that she has grown up with.

I had an extremely hard time putting this book down to carry on with "life". I encourage you to find your "beach" and curl up for the day to devour this book. If you, like me, have read all of Ms. Williams novels you will find yourself asking "When is the next one coming out?"
Bravo, Beatriz, Bravo!

The Days When Birds Come Back
by Deborah Reed

A Romantic Tragedy (11/27/2017)

Emily Dickenson wrote of the the days when birds come back like Indian Summer, some days are warm and tranquil and the next are cold, blustery and uninviting. In Deborah Reed's book "The Days When Birds Come Back" can two broken souls, June and Jameson, piece together their lives which have come tragically unmoored. June hires Jameson to rebuild her grandparents house with the hope that it will help heal the scars of her childhood which for decades she has tried to run from.
Jameson is also running from tragedy and neither believe they can or deserve to be whole or happy again.

This is a beautifully and well written story of two people trying to help each other heal and go on with their lives, yet they can't seem to be able to fully open their hearts and there is too much fear and hurt to overcome. This reader had a hard time believing the two would find their "happily ever after."

The Almost Sisters
by Joshilyn Jackson

Sisters Rule! (5/22/2017)

This is an amazing novel filled with family, laughter, love and drama in the still racially biased contemporary South. Many siblings remember events in their family's lives differently, in this story our two sets of "almost sisters" have to come together to help solve the dramas in their current lives. There are secrets galore, some small and some so large that they overshadow what is most important - the love sisters share with one another. Many people have commented on Ms. Jackson's writing and I have to add that she writes with so much care and empathy. You find your self cheering on every character in the story. I wanted them all to find peace with their secrets and to realize how important family ties are. I am looking forward to finding Joshilyn Jackson's other books. A great Book Club book, so much to discuss.

The Book of Summer
by Michelle Gable

A House and A Book (3/20/2017)

This wonderful book is about a summer house and it's guest/family book.
When I was growing up my family owned property and a house on the shores of Lake Huron not far from the Straits of Mackinac. We had notebooks that my father would record all the ships that passed "up" through the straits and "down" to Port Huron, Detroit and points beyond. Dad also recorded the coming and goings of family and visitors. We still have these notebooks and dutifully record when we arrive and when we leave, but without our parents in residence, it has become more a chore than a privilege.
Ms. Gable has captured the longings of summer homes and their residents in this historical novel that flows in alternating chapters from present day to the years of World War II. Showing timeless summers that are for catching up with friends, maybe a little romance and relaxing seaside with a cocktail or two. The author has truly shown what it means to hold on to your summer memories and also, what you can let go.
Highly recommended!

The Half Wives
by Stacia Pelletier

The Many Faces of Grief (1/11/2017)

A beautifully crafted story of profound grief, love, infidelity and cemeteries in the late 1800s in San Francisco. The novel is called "historical fiction" but it could happen to anyone at any time. The four main characters, three adults and one child, share their innermost thoughts through alternating chapters. You will want them to come to peace with their grief and circumstances. Some succeed, while others do not and will leave you thinking long after you finish the book.

This book is not for everyone. Anyone who has lost a child might have trouble with certain aspects of the narrative. The first two chapters were very depressing and I wasn't sure I could finish the book, however the writing is captivating and haunting, so I kept reading, wanting to know how it resolved, and finished it in one day. Book Clubs will have plenty to discuss.

News of the World
by Paulette Jiles

Messages of Life (8/22/2016)

News of the World is an amazing compact novel full of historical insights into post Civil War Texas. The area is still untamed, full of Indians and Military - many without leadership. There is a governor, but most people live by their own rules, self governing their spot on earth.

The residents are fascinated by the world outside Texas, but do not seem to understand that change is coming. The two worlds - Military, Captain Kidd and Indian, Johanna, collide in this haunting story. You will end up cheering them on as they forge through seemingly unbelievable circumstances to form a family bond.

The beauty of unformed and wild Texas comes through in the author's stark descriptions of the landscape in every chapter, but as the leaves burst forth and the sun again warms the earth, the two travelers are also reborn and enter a new life phase. Highly Recommended!

The Imperial Wife
by Irina Reyn

A Tale of Two Wives (6/20/2016)

This historical novel is written in alternating chapters between present day New York and the mid 1700s Russia. The historical story is of the young Catherine the Great and how she came to rule Russia. The historical chapters are extremely well written, filled with anecdotes and historical facts. I wanted to skip over the present day chapters and just read about Catherine!

On the other hand I was not fond of our present day heroine Tanya. The art auction sections were fascinating if you have never seen or heard about a real art auction, but Tanya herself was anything but fascinating. She manipulates, controls and pushes her family and friends t her will, even to the point where her husband leaves her. You may find yourself feeling sorry for her until you get to the end of the book and the strange twist that made this reader dislike her even more. I think Book Clubs would have a field day with the present day chapters.

A Certain Age: A Novel
by Beatriz Williams

A Modern Day Romance (3/14/2016)

As in all of Beatriz William's novels you are transported and immersed in the period, this one being the Roaring 20s.The war is over and new industries are springing up, machines and airplanes are rapidly evolving and inventors are making more money than they ever dreamed. The "New Money" crowd and the "Old Money" crowd come together in this wonderful novel where you can feel the heat, smell the cigarette smoke and hear the jazz band as you sip your first cocktail. The characters are dressed in glitter, jet beads and lipstick. For the older crow it is a lark, a way of life and for the younger set it is a way to break free from the constraints of being poor, prim and proper. Morals and principles be damned, there is fun to be had, drinks to explore and men to meet. All of these themes, plus murder and adultery are included.

I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to historical fiction lovers, romance believers and mystery solvers alike.

The Forgetting Time
by Sharon Guskin

The Force of Love (1/12/2016)

There are many story lines in The Forgetting Time, all intersecting in a story that is about love, that spans current worlds and those we do not know much about. Reincarnation is a major theme and the author intersperses cases that have been observed in other countries other than the United States. After a few of these I found myself jumping ahead to get back to the story of Noah and his Mom, Janie, which I was much more interested in.

The scientist in the book is trying to prove his theory of reincarnation and if you are skeptical as I am, you may be uncomfortable with parts of the book. Despite my skepticism, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and mystery involving the mother, Janie, doing absolutely everything and anything to help her child.

This Book will be very attractive to Book Clubs with multiple topics to discuss.

The Swans of Fifth Avenue
by Melanie Benjamin

Glamour, Wealth & Debauchery Oh My! (10/29/2015)

A very large cast of 1950s and 1960s New York high society women come together for lunch, to be seen, and to pass judgment on all who cross their paths. Enter Truman Capote who soon becomes the group's darling. Truman enters their privileged world having grown up in relative poverty with no family to speak of, and uses the women to embellish his "stories". Capote is on the rise in the publishing world and Melanie Benjamin does a superb job of detailing his meteoric rise and fall as his life intersects with his "Swans".

I wanted to love this book, I loved The Aviator's Wife, but it was hard to read about real people with so much wealth and power complaining about everyday life. I got really tired of the "Swans" complaining about getting dressed up, make-up and hair, to go to lunch - Boo Hoo!

Maybe in Another Life
by Taylor Jenkins Reid

What If..... (6/8/2015)

What If? What if you did not move to a new town? What if you did not go to college? What if you simply did not get out of bed one morning?

Maybe in Another Life is all about "what ifs". There are two love stories told in alternating chapters with all the same characters. There are best friends who have remained devoted to one another despite one, our main character, Hannah, who has lived all over the United States in search of a "home" to call her own. She returns to her hometown, Los Angeles, and this is where the alternating stories takes place.

Ms. Reid explores all of life's themes, fate, chance encounters, soul mates. The choices that Hannah makes affects her friend's and family's lives in different and very believable ways. Her best friend Gabby stays true in both scenarios but the other characters change based on the decisions that Hannah makes.

I found myself cheering for both love stories and at the end of the book I'm not sure which one I wanted to believe more. I also must admit to reading the entire book in one sitting!

I challenge everyone who reads this book and I encourage everyone to do so, to look back at their own life and say "what if I had done......"

The Wild Girl
by Kate Forsyth

Fairy Tales and the History of the Brothers Grimm (4/20/2015)

Fairy Tales are a staple in Children's literature. The Wild Girl is the story of a girl, Dortchen Wild and the brothers Grimm who translated and eventually published all our favorites

The Wild Family and the Brothers Grimm live next door to each other in a tiny German kingdom during the turbulent and horrific years of the Napoleonic Wars. Young Dortchen, the fifth daughter, and Wilhelm Grimm become fast friends and eventually lovers despite there difference in ages, Wilhelm being much older. Still, Dortchen tells the best stories and Wilhelm continues to ask her to tell him stories that she has learned, many from her old housekeeper, Maria.

In all fairy and folk takes there are villains, evil, enchantment, and finally, happy endings. Ms. Forsythe does not disappoint. All of the elements are here in this beautiful and well-researched novel which spans nearly twenty years.

Historical fiction lovers will certainly enjoy this powerful story of storytelling and it's roots.

The Sweetheart Deal
by Polly Dugan

Love overcomes all (2/12/2015)

This book is about death, love, friendship, promises and betrayals. It is also about families and the realities and daily challenges after a great loss. The characters and the dialogue are wonderfully developed. You can believe that this family lives on your street. They have the same everyday problems that any family with teenagers has. I believed the conversations between parent and child and teenagers with their friends, I could actually hear the words being spoken.

After I finished reading this book, I couldn't help wondering what I would do in the same situation. Grief is a very personal emotion and Ms. Dugan explores all the facets in this heart wrenching novel.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story. I also believe book clubs would find several good topics to discuss.

Reviews by Sharon R. (Deerfield, IL)

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