Military battlefields are not my favorite scene for a novel. And I was expecting the story to focus more on Amy and Edward (I love a love story!) and less on the men and the fighting and the atrocities of war. Much to my surprise, the book kept me enthralled, wanting to read on! I found myself intrigued to uncover along with Amy the various connections and associations of the characters to solve the mystery of what really happened to Edward Haslam. A conclusion of sorts came together rather abruptly in the end through the use of letters, which is my only criticism. Otherwise, it was a great read full of plot twists and turns, and I can see a sequel, should the author consider writing one!

The beautiful writing style captured the intense and often difficult realization of being a motherless child. Though Carrot's mother was there, she wasn't. What I found most profound was that she more than survived, and went on to fully understand and make peace with why her mother couldn't be her mother. At times the book was weighed down with mentions of flirtations and revolving short relationships that while important to her life story and her evolution, did little to captivate the reader due to the brevity of their presence in the book. But overall it was a beautiful coming of age story of a girl who had every reason to fall, but didn't. She will be okay. Happy and proud for Carrot!

Lady Sunshine is a book to savor with a cold beverage at the beach or while relaxing on a comfortable porch sofa. From the California setting to summer to music jam sessions and complicated family drama, it provided the entertainment I was looking for in a great summer read. It was both a coming of age story and a retelling and rekindling of the past with a few twists and turns along the way. And the setting made one feel like you were on summer vacation or at an extended getaway music jam session with the rest of the characters. It was sad coming to the end, much like the last day of a great summer vacation!

Though I loved the writing style and the character development, I found the switching between characters by chapter to be confusing. Not enough of a story was revealed before moving on to the next character and chapter. Stories of childhood were hard to keep straight -- what happened to whom? Thus, my title of the review. Had I been able to sit down and read the book all at one time, it may have been less confusing. Every time I picked up the book, I had to re-read the previous chapter in order to keep straight what was happening. The flow was not there, and I so wanted it to be! The premise of the story was something I was very much looking forward to exploring -- stories and secrets parents have, but never pass along to their children and the importance of logging your own history, whether for your offspring or to come to terms with your own story. Sadly, this book was not a favorite. It didn't grip me and hold me, like a good story should.

Very few relationships come close to the intensity of sisters. If close, there is nothing that can come between them. Such was the case with Cassandra and Jane Austen. Though more of a supporting character in a family with some very colorful personalities, Cassandra Austen proved her love and loyalty to Jane throughout their lives and after. This book focuses on the after, and the preservation of Jane's good name, though on its own it is a delightful window into Cassandra's reimagined life. This is more than a good read; it is as entertaining as one of Jane's own novels, and gives Jane's beloved Cassandra the depth and independence she has always deserved!