Review: Salt to the Sea

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was not at all what I expected. It took a while to grab my attention, but once it did, I could not stop. This book will break your heart, but it will also give you some hope. Set in WWII and based on a true story of the William Gustloff. The thing is, you've probably never heard of the William Gustloff...I know I had not; but for a small time while reading this book I felt I was right there.

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Review: Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter

Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have added another Kennedy book to my read list this year. I wasn't going to read this one because I figured it would sadden me, but she is so pretty I could not resist. I am glad that I did not. I was very sad indeed, but I learned a lot about the Kennedy child deemed not quite as good as the rest by dear old dad. Poor Rosemary. Poor all other people that went through was she did.

This book will break your heart if you have any feelings, but you will also read more of the Kennedy drive. And my heart was softened a bit towards JFK....a WONDERFUL read that I could not put down.

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Review: The Heir and the Spare

The Heir and the Spare by Emily Albright
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once I got to focus on this book, I LOVED it! It was a mix of William and Kate and the Princess Diaries and Friends. I simply adored the tale of Evie and Edmund and really wanted a sequel because I loved it. It was a perfect poolside read for me today.

Light, fluffy, and a bit predictable, but you will like it.

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Review: The Hamilton Affair

The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love American History and Presidential History and I had very high hopes for this book because of that. I wish I could say it was superb because I wanted it to be. I felt that Alexander wasn't developed. If I didn't know what I knew about him would I have even liked this character? I don't think so. It would have read like any other quick read romance. I didn't know much about Eliza (and still don't) except what I know from the play which may be true or untrue (not sure). The colors of the cover and silhouetted figures remind me very much of the playbill so I am thinking maybe this was rushed to press to capitalize on the fact that we ALL want and NEED more Hamilton in our lives. I just wish this lived up to it. I did enjoy it more once I put on the soundtrack, so you might want to consider reading and listening at the same time.

My favorite parts of the book were the scenes of Jefferson (my fave) and Hamilton and Hamilton and Washington. I pretty much felt these were dead on with what I have studied of the men.

I also felt the duel scene was worthy. I actually think this is my favorite part.

I just wish I fell in love with Alexander here like I did with the play.

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Review: Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford

Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford by Clint Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wanted to read this book just because the Secret Service is kind of fascinating to me. I had no idea until I got into the book that I knew of this guy and what he did on a very important day in history. I also learned by reading this more of what LBJ and Ike were like. I have read a lot on each guy, but this was the more personal spin on their lives. While I know there was much left out this was a good read. I did like that he rarely spoke of his family, and you see he rarely saw that family because of his job...so it fit right with history.

PS, the cream of the crop was meeting Mr. Hill in Oct 2017 and hearing him tell the story and answer questions.

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Review: This Is Where It Ends

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am still very unsure of how I feel about this book. My emotions are very mixed. I am upset, I am shocked, and I am a little unnerved. I think you should read this one for yourself if want to know how good it is. Just expect brutal scenes. If you visualize when you read, this is just horrible in spots (the action).

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Review: The Dollhouse

The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love a book that sucks you and and won't release you. This book fit the bill perfectly. Picture this....it's 1952, you are in a hotel in NYC. It's a hotel unlike hotels we have these days, this one was for ladies only. Many of the girls were attending college or modeling during the day and having fun at night. It is in this setting where Darby from a small town finds herself. She is in NYC to go to a college she doesn't want to attend studying a profession she has no desire to do.

The people she meets will change her life.

Flash forward to 2016...because this story takes place in 1952 and 2016. Rose lives in the same hotel (now condos) that Darby lived back in the day and STILL lives there! Rose will reveal secrets of the past and solve mysteries of the present all the while dealing with an ill father, work drama and a crappy boyfriend.

Darby will change Rose's life.

This book is full of twists and turns. I thought I knew what was going to happen, but then BAM I was wrong and the story turned. What a great book to finish my 2016 reading challenge.

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