Review: Before We Were Yours

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I read that this book was inspired by a true children's home, I was scared to read it. I can't imagine someone hurting a child and in this time period, they got away with it........

Many children are taken from their homes and put into the Tennesse Children's Home. These children are mistreated, malnourished and abused; there is simply no one to be an advocate for them, not even the police. The children are stripped of every life they knew including their very name.

The "good" children are dressed up and paraded around wealthy people who fall in love with the children to fulfill a longing they have, then they are fleeced over and over and threatened to have "their" newly adopted children taken away from them. The "misbehaving" children are punished, put in a closet and some just vanished (when I read up on the home it was said probably murdered).

This book not only shows you the lives of the children but a glimpse into the families the children were stolen from and the sorrow they feel at the loss of their family.

Don't think that this book is not worthy of your time, because it very much is worthy of your reading minutes. Not all the bad guys win....fast forward to the future.

Avery is the daughter of a famous senator. She is being groomed to take his seat one day. She is engaged to a man that would be good for her image and for her family's standings. One day she sees her grandmother Judy in a photograph that she doesn't recognize...she derails all of her plans and focuses on finding out the story of this photograph. The photograph leads back to the children's home but will give you some good feelings too.

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Review: The Alice Network

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My friend Kelly had been after me to read this book for months. I was patiently waiting my turn for the digital copy at McLib (McCracken County Public Library)...when it was my time I checked out the book immediately was sucked into the writing. I had to put it down to go to work, but I didn't want to.

The past: Evelyn is drawn into this world she never imagined, a world where she could help her country defeat the Germans in WWI, she just needs to be smart, listen carefully and fight with her conscience over what is right.

The future: Charlotte is looking for her cousin that has not been heard of since WWII ended. She enlists the assistance of a very reluctant Evelyn in finding not only her cousin but a way for Evelyn to make peace and rewrite wrongs of the past.

This book was beautifully written and the characters well developed. I was cheering for Evelyn's success in both timelines.

I can see why my friend Kelly made it her pick book of 2017. Thank you for making me read this book.


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Review: The Great Alone

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Outstanding!!! Alaska is my favorite place on the planet and I felt like I was right back there in the place I love. I felt the wind, the cold, the endless daylight, the crisp air. You were immersed in the middle of nowhere in Alaska. LOVE that!! Not only did my favorite place have a starring role, but there was a captivating story to follow along. Characters I hated, characters I loved. A story that blew me away. I loved every word of ever page of this book. So much that I turned in my library book and went and bought my own copy because I will read again and again.

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Review: Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering

Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering by Joanna Gaines
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I got this book while on my staycation. I immediately started making the recipes and loved every one that I tried. My fave was the ranch dressing, because I love RANCH!!! Some ranch dressing have a chemical taste, this is all natural and yummy. I made the walnut bread, buttered walnuts, JoJo's biscuits and I can't wait to make more. GREAT BOOK!

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Review: Next Year in Havana

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I went to Cuba in October 2017 and part of this was just like my visions of seeing Havana for the first time. The story is riddled with politics that I learned about while there. My guide said some of the same things that were in this book. What was exciting was Chanel took those real life events, both in the past and in the present, and told a couple of wonderful stories with those events. I thought every page of this book was beautiful, just like Havana. I thought the families stories was brilliantly told. Marisol leaves the USA to return her grandmother's (Elsa) ashes to the homeland. She had never been there because her family left during the revolution. Marisol is introduced to a different world and love like she never imagined. The ending was so surprising.

I can't imagine a more perfect book.

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Review: The Rooster Bar

The Rooster Bar by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought this one was fabulous. Grisham writes a lot of good books, and somehow he manages to make each one unique, but this plot stood out as outstanding to me and I missed a couple of plotlines while guessing. (I always try to guess what will happen in his books).

Four kids are in law school together when one friend tells them they will never get out of debt, they will never up out on top and then he dies. The three remaining friends spiral out of control about their buddy and totally vanish. This is where it gets very good, where they are and what they are doing. I won't spoil it for you, but it is captivating. I had trouble putting this book down.

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Review: As Bright as Heaven

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am writing this after my second visit with this book. My original feelings remain true....this book is a knock out! I have read just about every book by Meissner and with every one she seems to get better and better. This subject thrilled me because I am curious about the pandemic flu of the early 20th century. She didn't just take us to the center of the flu storm, she took us through it, and complications that people experienced that either lived through it or lost family members because of it. Setting this book in a funeral home was a stroke of genius!!! We got a new detail that I had never though about while studying the flu.

Parts of this book broke my heart, but most of it will make you value FAMILY. Read it!

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