Having received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review, I have to say I have not read any of Jane Harper's books before. I did not enjoy reading this book. It was so full of tension and anxiety that I found it hard to follow the storyline and the characters. l gave it 4 stars because of the complexity of the mystery and the skill of the writer. It is a talent to put words on a page that touch emotions. I am an avid mystery reader and I don't know why I feel this way about this book, but I read for entertainment and I found none here nor a place I wanted to escape to.

After receiving an ARC for this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, it is hard to say I enjoyed it. It was composed very well with vivid descriptions of the homeless and their living conditions. I think we have all been aware of the homeless in our communities, but do we really see them? This book helps with that. It also shows that there are people and ways for them to get help - short term and long term. It also means their change must come from recognizing the challenges and wanting things to be better. There is a feeling of community among the homeless and a willingness to share what little they have, even when it is only body heat in a sleeping bag within a refrigerator cardboard box. I appreciate the time I spent reading this book and would recommend that Everyone read it and share what you learn.

I really liked this book. It is about two women, who are very different, but bond in a lifetime friendship. They become obsessed with righting the wrongs done to other women and themselves. The story is very compelling and keeps the readers interest from beginning to end.
While the Stone Girl is a broken statue, she represents how beauty may be broken and restored, but a person or an object cannot be fully replaced. None of us are the same afterwards.

This book was a gift from BookBrowse in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed reading the book even though parts of it were sad. It is about losing a love and then trying to rebuild your life around the grief.Through helping another family the grief is not so overwhelming and the character begins to see how life can go on and in a good way. The interaction with his daughter is endearing and he begins to see ways to live a new life differently.

At the beginning of the story you feel tight muscles, headaches and fatigue, but as the story progresses there is a feeling of surprise, joy and love.

I think a book club would enjoy discussing this book.

This book keeps you on your toes. The writing keeps you involved to the point you smell the cigarette smoke and perfume. When the character breaks out in goosebumps so does the reader. That is what good writing is all about. The storyline was engaging and the atmosphere seemed very realistic. Stay out of the rain and leave the lights on until you have finished it.

Everything was on target for a good read and I enjoyed having the opportunity of an ARC in exchange for a review.

After receiving a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is Southern at its very best. The last list is an inventory of items within the family home in a small southern town. Each one has a definite memory attached and through the sharing of these we learn the families history and secrets. We are told of the rise and fall from prominence of the Kratt family. There is love, loss, racial tension, jealousy and revenge. While the Kratts are well known, they are not all well liked.The narrator of the story does a good job of including the reader to feel apart of their life. These are the kinds of books I really enjoy. To be Southern is to feel by all your senses and we are allowed to do this here. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to spend quality time in memories..

I am so glad I received this ARC from BookBrowse in exchange for an honest review. This is an outstanding story of a humble family and interaction of twins living in Trinidad. One boy is very gifted and the other has a birth injury which makes him a little slower.

Claire Adam portrays them very well and it is easy to visualize the family and the boys in their day to day lives. Living in Trinidad can be very risky and safety is always a concern. From a betrayal by a family member comes a threat that no parent wants to ever have to deal with, but the father deals with it as only he knows how.

As his dilemma becomes more and more clear, it makes the reader very anxious because there was no good resolution. The author is very adept in her portrayal and it will be awhile before this story is forgotten.

I am so glad I received the ARC for this book. I loved it!

The whole book is letters between an English farmer's wife and the curator of a Danish museum. When her best friend passes away, she realizes their ambition to visit an exhibit in the Danish museum may never come about and if she goes, it will be without her friend. In writing a letter to the Professor who wrote an article about the exhibit, she gets a return letter from the curator informing her that he has passed away, too.

Their extended correspondence becomes enlightening and brings about life changes. Their sharing of their daily lives opens a new world to both of them at a time when they thought their age and circumstances did not lead to anything exciting.

A true friendship is made even though they have never met. They encourage each other to look at things in a different way and so doing they both learn a lot about themselves.

I loved the end with all the possibilities. I think book clubs would really enjoy this book. It has much to offer and think about.

This is an extraordinary book. It tells the story of an immigrant family from Mexico, who mean everything to each other. They may not like each other, even fear them, but the sense of Family is still there.
We are given three levels of Angels - the grandfather, who was the first to come to U.S.,, then the existing head of the family, who is sick and dying, and the third who is more gringo that they would like.
The dying head of the family wants to see his family together one more time and celebrates his birthday the day after his mother's funeral, which makes it easier for everyone to be able to attend. We get to meet all the characters of the family and characters they are.
I would recommend this book to book clubs because it is so rich with subjects. A strong reminder that Family is a bond that is both bad and good.

This is a wonderful book. Although the main characters are working through grief, their healing is phenomenal. The story reminds us to look at the small things in our days for joy, such as watching a bird take a bath in a makeshift birdbath or a baby seal napping on the shore until the tide returns him to his mother. Sometimes bad things happen to good people and it is not through any of their fault. Life can change in an instant. It's not what happens to us, but how we live through it and how it affects our lives and those who know us. From feeling alone and hopeless, we can learn that we are not the only ones who have suffered loss and with time, things do change and hopefully it is better..

June is trying to survive a drinking problem and divorce when she returns to her home after the death of her grandparents. When she hires Jameson to help her to restore their home, the story begins to build. Between the two of them there is a world of heartache, but as they begin to open up to each other they begin to see a hope and healing take place. While there is an attraction, too, Jameson is married and still in love with his wife. He is just not sure he can be what Sarah Anne desires from him.

I would recommend this book to book clubs. It has a lot of discussions ready for review.

This is a wonderful book. It touched me on so many levels as a woman, wife and mother. Written very well with believable characters. Interesting details about another country with its cultures and beliefs. Yejide is a complex woman, who is insecure with her own self worth and looking for love and stability. During her marriage with Akin, there are struggles with his family's expectations and although he truly loves her he has his secrets. Politically, Nigeria is in constant turmoil and this makes daily life extremely hard on everyone.

The main thread through the book is about love, loss and forgiveness. I would highly recommend this book to any reader.

This was a delightful read. It was sad, funny, interesting, romantic and informative. The characters were lovable and played well with each other. Another story of "don't judge a book by its cover" and/or your first impression when new characters were introduced.

The gardening tips for each chapter were presented in a humorous way. Inspires you to find a reason to dig in the dirt and get close to nature.

I liked the friendship of the two sisters and how they could communicate so well with each other, but still hold back some secrets.

The writing seemed very fresh, vibrant and it was an easy read.

As I was going through my mail and realized my copy had arrived, I took it in hand to look over. In reading a few pages to get the feel of the story, I kept on reading caught up with Edsel and his adventures. When I put it down, I was half way through and finished it the next day.

Edsel reminds me of Forrest Gump in his innocence and way of looking at life. When he receives an award, it causes him to look closer and consider ways for jumping into LIFE with both feet.

While he stands up to each challenge, we share his sadness, hope, joy and wisdom. The humor is outstanding!! We're not laughing at him, but the situations we recognize as mutual.

Edsel is a kind, caring, loving son and he does the best he knows how with his mother. Like most men, he has trouble understanding clues from the other women in his life.

This book was a wonderful read!!
If you want to be entertained.......
If you want to relive your younger days.......
If you want to remember your early pursuits of love and sex........
If you want to root for a character you will find it hard to forget.......
If you want to see how a small change ends up into a large ripple....
You need to spend time with Edsel and his extra-ordinary adventures.

"The Second Mrs. Hockaday" is one of the best historical fiction novels I have read. I was caught up with the characters and the description of life during that time of the Civil War at the very beginning. Susan Rivers used her research to make her book interesting and engaging. It was hard to put down once started.

While Placidia was young, her strength and endurance was amazing. She was as much a soldier as the Major, defending their livelihood and their future against nature and human nature.

Any reader should feel lucky at the chance to read such a promising author. She is an asset to her craft.

I have never read a book like this one before. Of course, the subject is different from what I usually choose, but I wanted to try it. Five stars to the author for an outstanding book.

Ivan Isaenko, while born with severe birth defects brought about from the nuclear reactor explosion in the Ukraine, is a very resilient character and with high intelligence. It is amazing to see what efforts he goes to overcome his many obstacles and how often he succeeds. At first the book is sad, but Ivan's spirit shows through and you begin to root for him to keep on, especially after he meets Polina. Their friendship (love) grows more and more and you are heartbroken when it comes to an end.

Memories of this book will remain with me for awhile. It drags up so many feelings and questions. I know the story is fiction, but I am sure there were children in these same situations in real life because the explosion did happen. Some of the characters seem to have no heart, but maybe that is the only way they can do their job for these children. Their indifference becomes a safety measure for themselves. Those who do have a heart shine very brightly and give you hope that not all is lost.

I would like to warn future readers of the foul language and sex that are included in this book. To some, it may be offensive.