Rich in history, this account of a scandalous divorce in high society was fascinating with excellent research of that 19th century period. Being interested in history and law, this book held my attention to the very end. The author's beautiful writing and her details of Mary and Peter Strong brought this book to life for me and added the required background to understand the "who" and the "why" of the situation. It was easy to be sympathetic to Mary's plight, although I was left wondering more about Peter. (I will pay more attention when I reread this book.) Privilege, wealth, societal standing, adultery, abortion, women's rights (or lack thereof), kidnapping, courtroom drama…this story has it all. I cannot wait to recommend this book to my book club!

Is it true? Or is it just a story? Two questions I asked myself repeatedly as I read and reread this ARC. This is one of the best books I've recently read, and I found its unique format very engaging. Presented in a series of interview, Knox invites the reader to participate in gleaning clues and sorting through red herrings. The characters were well developed, and although I thought some were truly unlikable and unreliable, they were certainly believable. When the author Knox enters the story as a consultant, fact and fiction are blended and blurred, and the reader is left wondering yet again…Is it true or "just a story"? Puzzle fans will love it!

How can a book be so beautifully written when the topics are dark, gritty, & heartbreaking? Carrot Quinn has managed to write a poetic memoir, with her horrendous experiences so well described, I could visualize the scenery, feel her pain and discomfort, and be awed by her determination. This memoir covers so many topics: poverty, mental illness, child abuse, abandonment, risk-taking, resilience, faith & conviction just to name a few. This book has sparked a reminder that everyone's life is a journey, with some difficult roads to travel, but there is beauty and wonder to be found all around us if we can just keep going on. A very inspiring reading experience that will stay with me for a long time.

It took awhile for me to receive my copy from the publisher, but it was worth the wait. Mrs March was a most interesting read for me in that the book roused so many feelings and emotions. I love a narrator I suspect to be unreliable. The character of Mrs March was very unappealing; superficial & pretentious (appearances are important!) and insecure. So it was hard for me to like her, yet I felt sorry for her as her situation progressed.

Without giving away spoilers, let me say that the depth and sincerity of the writing brought forth the entire gambit of emotions in me, and when that happens, I can't help but feel satisfied with "a great read". This will definitely be a book club suggestion.

Beautifully written prose introducing the reader to several generations of families, inhabitants of a small town in Maine. The family trees at the beginning of each chapter were very helpful in keeping track of the characters and the time frames with the story bouncing back and forth between families and generations. The grim reality of life's hardships around the Northern Reach was illustrated perfectly. The characters were believable, multifaceted, and haunting in their attempts to survive the small town everyday life, and leaving this reader wanting to know more about key family members. This is a genealogical masterpiece.

A cast of characters of privilege and wealth, whether born into or married into; I found the societal decadence of the gilded age unsettling, but more so the lengths these people went to maintain social appearances. That said, I loved the writing! I believe this book to be well researched and the story just flows! Ms Turnbull's writing transported me back to the times and places, and gave me a little more insight to the story we all thought knew. I loved the details, politics, and ultimately the insight into the human need for love, acceptance and survival. Recommending this to my book club when published!

This was my first time reading this author, and I was not disappointed. The dual time line between Viv in 1982 and Carly in 2017 was well defined with the chapter headings, though there was enough similarity (& overlap) in the characters and the locations that I kept notes to keep it straight (but that's my quirk). Characters were well defined and described, as were the settings. I had all of the characters visualized, and the description of the motel and events were sufficiently creepy. I liked the shorter chapters that kept my attention, reading late into the night, but definitely with more than a few lights on!
There were well paced plot twists, so reading this was like peeling back layers of the onion, with each new piece of the puzzle eventually fitting into place. I was quite surprised to find out what happened to Viv (no plot spoiler here), but was somewhat unsatisfied with the story's ending...felt like I was left hanging a bit...but then it helped me identify with the families living so many years with unanswered questions.
I enjoyed this book immensely, and can't wait to read Broken Girls by the same author.

This plot is like the proverbial Onion Story...peeling layer by layer to reveal information and explanation. The premise of a prescribed road trip as a means to inheritance is unique. The characters are self absorbed and less than pleasant; some more than others. The narrator is unreliable (mostly by omission) from the beginning, and the surprise ending is almost unbelievable. A few red herrings throughout the story, though not always brought full circle.

Yet I find the writing style, short chapters, dual time frame, and quick pace keeping me intrigued & amused until way past bedtime, and I had a hard time putting it down.. All in all, a fun read! It will put every family road trip (past or present) into perspective!

I enjoyed The Big Finish, especially the character development. Duffy is the lovable curmudgeon with a mind full of mischief, and his cronies are an accurate representation of the broad variety of personalities that one will find in a senior living environment. These seniors have lived long enough to have gained wisdom, be set in their ways, understand friendships, and they still want to be a contributing part of life. Coupled with having too much time on their hands, there were some laugh-out-loud moments. The more somber moments dealt with stark realities of life: abuse, addiction, recovery, loss and death. A fine, inspiring read for adults of all ages.

Note: As a facilitator of support groups in senior settings, I'll be recommending this book to a few of my group members!

Wow! The story is full of plot twists, with subtle details revealed as the narrative shifts between then and now, with diary entries spaced just far enough apart to keep the reader a bit off-kilter. I found the book difficult to put down, reading the proverbial "one more chapter" into the wee hours of the morning. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller with surprises right up to the end.

It was a pleasure to read Love & Other Consolation Prizes, historical fiction based on true events. The story alternates between early and mid-century Seattle Worlds Fairs, following the main characters from childhood to their golden years. Author Jamie Ford vividly describes the despair of a young orphan sold into slavery, the sights and sounds of the wondrous Worlds Fair five decades apart, and the tender love story of friends, family, and the fragile threads that intertwine their lives and their loyalties. This book covers a myriad of topics including medical treatments, immigration, Suffragette movement, in addition to the deeply moving descriptions of each character; their emotions and motives.

It was a double pleasure to be able to read this book during a return visit to Seattle. Ford's eloquent style of writing and attention to detail makes one forget this is a work of fiction!

I love a good mystery with psychological suspense, twists and turns, and surprise endings, and I was not disappointed! I SEE YOU was a great read! The characters were well developed, with just enough information to make me suspect of everyone at one time or another.
I was unfamiliar with some of the UK references and jargon, but I found the different first/third person narratives fairly easy to follow. The italicized words of the "watcher" were chilling! This book kept my attention!
It is understandable to have that eerie feeling as one reads late into the night, but I knew I was hooked on this book when I found myself thinking about it as I was going through my daily life. We are truly creatures of habit, going about our schedules and routines without a thought about what is happening (or lurking) at the perimeter of our focused existence.
Just when I was smug and satisfied with my sleuthing in this book, yet another twist! Treat yourself to a good mystery and read I SEE YOU!