This book drew me into two lives: an aspiring high school journalist and an elderly woman who rarely talked. It takes place in upstate New York with a cross country adventure as the years unfold. Adele sets out to complete a journalusm class assignment at the local Nursing home. She meets Grace, a reluctant to talk resident with no known past. As their visits continue Adele unlocks Grave’s story. It was difficult to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next.

The book was good but I thought it was too long. I think she could have told the same story in fewer page

I'm not saying this book is awful, it actually draws some interesting parallels between Vietnam and the Holocaust. It is with sadness I say that the gladness was sucked right out of me with the repetition and long draw out story

This story is set in China during the 1800s. The fate of girls and women were tied to male society. During that time mothers bound their daughters feet. Generally, the feet of girls born in the country were not bound. This story is about two young girls: Little Flower and Lingjing. Little Flower’s mother bound her feet to give her a good chance of marriage. Lingjing’s father interceded in the binding of his daughter’s feet so she was released from the process. When Little Flower’s father dies, her mother needs to make a deal for her daughter’s future. The fate of both girls is sealed. The look at Chinese culture as well as twists and turns in the life of the two girls was fascinating. I could not put this book down. I was engaged in all the twists and turns in little Flowers’ life.

After watching the TV series on Netflix, I borrowed this book to clarify some of the family relationships. I did not intend to read the book, but after a few pages I was hooked, so decided to continue. The book has many differences from the TV show, so there were still plenty of surprises. Jackie is a teenager from NYC whose parents and only sibling are killed in a car accident. She goes to live with her mom’s close friend, who she does not know. The friend lives on a farm in Colorado and has 10 children, all boys except one young girl. Jackie struggles to get used to all of the changes in her life, and deal with her relationships with each of the people in her new family and school.

I enjoyed this book that takes place in Paris just on the verge of the German occupation. Solange meets with a woman with an interesting life story and learns of the connection they share.

Jennifer Weiner has written an okay story in THE GRIFFIN SISTERS' GREATEST HITS. However I found the telling of it very slow and repetitious. Two sisters, very close in age and very, very far apart in regard to looks, hopes, and dreams among other things face life and adulthood. They have both done things that have badly hurt each others and a host of other people along the way. Can they reconnect and finally have their happy ending? Read the book if you want to know ...

Another intriguing historical mystery by this author. Haven, a researcher of shipwrecks discovers something called the Amalfi Curse. We learn about it through two timelines , the present and 1820s. I was hooked from the beginning to the end. Highly recommend.

Sophie is celebrating her 16th birthday party at her father and step-mothers lavish but perhaps haunted home in the Texas Hill country. There is a large cast of characters that may initially seem unrelated, and many red herrings. I felt it was a bit slow in the beginning, but the stage had to be set. Slowly surprising secrets are revealed. Read for detail, but even so this one is so twisted I didn’t have a clue. Good guys and bad guys are not always obvious in this one. A good read.

Sweet romance book. Nice characters. Highly recommend for a summer beach read.