This book has all of today's current issues at the forefront - adultery, abortion, child custody, and women's rights to name a few. But what is remarkable about it is that it takes place in the 19th century. The more things change, the more they stay the same. At times I found myself in a state of disbelief at what was expected from women and the power men wielded over them. The author is very successful in pulling the reader in as a "member of the jury" when reading the various testimonies at the trial. At times I was on the edge wondering if the divorce would be denied and who wasn't telling the truth. This is non-fiction reading like fiction and hard to put down. This would be an excellent book for book groups. There is so much to talk about the discussion could go on for hours. In conclusion, if you are a history buff or you like how historical fiction reads or you are fiery about women's rights, then put this book on your "Want to Read" list.

Jane Harper is one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint. Like her other novels, the setting took place in Australia - this time in wine country. Aaron Falk was back visiting friends and became embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of a young mother who was part of this group of friends growing up. There was an undercurrent of tension that escalated as the story progressed. She wove the events going back to the past and then returning to present day and the story was told from the point of view of the friends and family of the missing woman. This wasn't just a mystery but also a story of friendship and how well you know your friends. Interwoven with the events was a side story about career and how important a role it plays in people's lives when Aaron Falk finds himself in a position where he must decide whether the career that he loves is holding him back from living his life to the fullest. I read this book in two days. It was beautifully plotted and written. There were so many layers to this story that I think it would make a great book club selection. I can't wait for her next book.

Dirt Creek caught my interest on page 1 and held it from beginning to end. The story was character driven location being one of the characters. If you like a mystery with a twist at the end, then this book is for you. It's one of those books that you can't put down. One of things that I enjoyed the most was the way each chapter was entitled with the name of one of the characters in the book and that chapter was their perspective on what was happening. I did think that Sarah, one of the main characters, was underdeveloped. I also didn't think that the story of the breakup of her relationship added anything to the story or helped me know her any better. This is a book I'll pass on and I hope to see another book by this author.

A gothic thriller where place and weather are characters in the story. The book caught my interest in the first few pages and I finished it two days after I started it. It had just enough suspense to hold my interest - it wasn't overdone. I wasn't quite sure about the characters and I liked that about the book. It wasn't predictable. There was a familiar theme but then again it was different. There was a twist at the end and it didn't end the way I expected. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes this genre.

What I liked most about this book was the author's beautiful prose. Her descriptions of place were vivid. Sometimes I read those paragraphs more than once to soak it in.
It was a good story but I couldn't invest any feelings in Grace. I couldn't connect with her as a character.
The story itself was unique and touching. But when I finished it I didn't have that feeling I get when I read something I love - that I can't wait to pass this on to a friend. I couldn't say "You have to read this book!" I may try something else by this author at a later date to see if it was just this book that didn't capture me. It wasn't a book that I couldn't wait to read every day. It was a book I wanted to finish so I could move on to something else.

My favorite book of the year in 2017 was the Resurrection of Joan Ashby. I love it so much that I gave it as a Christmas gift to my niece who is an aspiring writer. I was thrilled to be picked to receive this book to review. Some of the things that I love about this author is her ability to tell a unique story and develop interesting characters that you care about. I thought it was a good story and I was very invested in the characters. I was disappointed in the ending because the main character didn't find the closure that he was seeking. This was a thought provoking read on many levels and I recommend it. I can't wait for this author's next book!

I loved this book. It reminded me of Isak Dinesen - stories within the story. Sometimes it was hard to believe that Joan Ashby was a fictional character. The author really brought her to life. I lost myself in the book every time I picked it up and hated for it to end. The story and the characters were unique. This would be a great book for a book group discussion. It makes you think about the choices that you make, how you can lose yourself in the "wrong" life and how to create the life you really want to live.

I was surprised how much I loved this book. I was sorry when it ended because I felt very connected to Meridian. I thought this was a very honest portrayal of a woman's life - especially for that time period. I lived through much of it myself and could totally identify with what she was going through. I'm passing this book along to friends with my highest recommendation.