Seven Days of Us starts out slowly but stay with it because it is one of the best books I have read in a while. Told in alternating viewpoints, the Birch family chronicles the seven days they spend in quarantine (or as the patriarch Andrew Birch calls it "Haag arrest") following the older daughter Olivia's return from Africa where she was treating a deadly ebola-like virus called the Haag virus. Each Birch member has secrets that are slowly revealed as the story unfolds. Francesca Hornak masterfully weaves various characters' tales together in a witty and believable manner that kept me laughing (except for one heartbreaking scene) and dying to know what would happen next. The characters are well-developed, and the author delves into the circumstances that create each individual's current circumstance and personality. In doing so, Hornak adds depth to each character, and I found myself more sympathetic to the characters that were not as likeable initially.

On a side note, Hornak delves into the treating of the Haag virus, and I found the required protocols followed by Olivia and her fellow doctors fascinating and somewhat depressing and scary. While humans have made great strides treating various diseases, Olivia's tale is a reminder that we still have a long way to go towards eradicating other maladies. Such detail also made me sympathize with Olivia as she tries to reintegrate into first world society.

I highly, highly recommend Seven Days of Us and am certain it will qualify as a top ten book of 2017 for me. Thanks to BookBrowse for the chance to read this ARC.

The Stars Are Fire is a beautifully written story that is both heart-breaking and ultimately redemptive. The story is based on the true story of the 1947 fire that burned a significant portion of Maine's coastal towns. As the book opens, Grace and her family live in a small coastal town that is in the midst of a drought. Grace struggles with the discontent she feels with her life and her husband. As the drought continues, the land becomes so dry that fire becomes a giant fear for Maine's residents. The fire begins fairly far away from Grace's town and skeptical that the fire will reach their town, residents are unprepared when the fire rapidly sweeps through and devastates the community. Grace saves herself, her children, her neighbor Rosie and her children but is left homeless and without a husband (Glen disappeared the night of the fire when he went to fight the fire). Brave and resilient, Grace builds a life for her family and spreads her wings as she was unable to do while Glen was around. When she finally feels that her life is on track, Grace is faced with yet another stumbling block and must force herself to survive.

Grace is a fantastic protagonist; she is intelligent, quick thinking, proactive and loyal. Trapped in a situation beyond her control, she manages to overcome the obstacles and persevere. The world could use more people like Grace.

My favorite thing by far about this book is Shreve's prose. Her writing is both elegant and stark. Shreve provides a fascinating window into Grace's mind; Grace is constantly wanting to know more than she learns from the news and her neighbors and frequently questioning why things are the way they are. Her constant questioning and thoughtful pondering added a different dimension to the novel and provoked a similar response from me as I view the incidents happening in my world. I also learned so much about Maine during that era and about the horrific fire that destroyed so many coastal towns. I like that Shreve provided that historical context for the story.

I definitely recommend The Stars Are Fire and love that the cover is so perfect for the story. Thanks to BookBrowse for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars

The Typewriter's Tale started strong but could not keep that momentum going for the entire tale. Frieda Wroth, Henry James' typist, has a wry sense of humor and plays entertaining games to keep herself occupied while waiting for James to utter his next words for her to transcribe. I liked her attempts at speculating what James might say next (she is never even close), and the fact that she wants to be viewed as more than a human typewriter. I think I might have enjoyed it more had it been shorter. Thanks to BookBrowse, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Comet Seekers is beautifully written. I was so excited to read it based on the summary and other reviews I had read. Somehow, I just did not totally connect with the story. There are SO many characters that I found it hard to keep up with them all. I also just did not love the story line. Sedgwick's prose is lyrical, and I truly enjoyed reading her writing so after several days of thinking about the book after I finished it, I decided to give it 3.5 stars.

Her descriptions of Antarctica are very descriptive, and I felt like I was being transported there. She conveys the isolation, the darkness, and the ice and cold phenomenally well. That was my favorite part of the book by far (and the cover which is spectacular). Thanks to BookBrowse for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5-3 stars

The Book That Matters Most was not my favorite story. The concept sounded wonderful, and I was really looking forward to reading it. However, it did not meet my expectations because the story was very disjointed. The main character Ava drove me a little crazy because she was either very naïve or just uninterested in the welfare of her daughter who was clearly troubled. The ending seemed very unrealistic also and somewhat sad. Thanks to BookBrowse for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.