The Whittiers

 

The Whittiers is a story about a close knit family living in New York City. Mom and Dad have a life long love and meet a tragic death on their annual "wintermoon", their vacation alone after the holidays without any of their 6 children. The 6 children could not be more different including the youngest son with Asperger's. 

The oldest son, considered the most stable, but in a loveless marriage is the executor of the estate. Will they sell the massive mansion the family grew up in just off of Fifth Avenue near Central Park?

This was such a heartwarming story. Each character has a unique personality which is described in such detail that you feel you know the person. I would say this book is a story about love and support of family. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

The High Notes

 

Iris has the voice of an angel.  Her father is her parent, her mother having left when she was very young.  At age 12, her father got her a job singing in a bar in Las Vegas.  Her father has a drinking problem, an anger problem and more problems than you can imagine.  To say that he took advantage of his daughter by exploiting her talent is an understatement.

Can Iris ever get out of the grip of her father even after she reaches stardom?  This is a very interesting read, but I hope many child stars are not growing up in an environment like this.  Iris is strong, she is resilient and to think she survives her childhood is amazing.

Hester

 

Isobel is a young lady with the gift of the needle. She is a beautiful seamstress and tells stories, sends messages with her gorgeous embroidery. She marries an apothecary and is on the road to a prosperous life. However, his opium addiction secures their place in the poorhouse. Her father sends them to America to make a new start there. Her husband, Edward, leaves her penniless in Salem, Massachusetts. Having a relative been accused of being a witch, she has a strong tie to Salem.  She begins to use her needle skills to trade for food and support her self. She becomes friends with Nathaniel Hawthorne. A brief affair with him leads to a pregnancy which will lead to her being outcast. What happens to Edward? How did she survive and raise her daughter Margaret? The ship captain who brought them to America is a lifesaver. Does Margaret ever discover who her father was? When Nathaniel Hawthorne publishes The Scarlet Letter, much is revealed.

This book gives us a glimpse at several different Important aspects of history. Slavery, class, immigrants, and much, much more.  A great book for lovers of historical fiction. 

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Mad Honey

 

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan's writing is on point in this novel about young love and new beginnings.  The story is set in the picturesque town of Adams, New Hampshire.  Olivia moves back to Adams to take over her father's beekeeping business after his death.  Divorced, her son Asher lives with her and rarely sees his dad.  Lily and Asher are high school students.  Lily is the new girl in class.  Lily has a deep dark secret.  Can she trust Asher with it?  Lily ends up dead and Asher is arrested for her death.  Did he do it?  Is Lily's secret revealed?

This book brings to light complicated relationships: divorce, abuse, re-marriage, other children.  The story is suspenseful.  There is a lot of interesting information about beekeeping.  Most of all, it's a story of unconditional love.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book  

The Matchmaker's Gift

 

Every now and then you come across a book that keeps you up until you finish it.  This is that book!  Historical fiction at it's best; based on a true moment in history. 

Sara was one of many Jews who came to America in the early 1900s.  She landed in New York as a teenager.  On the boat crossing the Atlantic, Sara realized she had a special gift- that of a matchmaker.  She grew up in New York in a poor neighborhood.  She experienced much resistance from Jewish men in the community who did matchmaking as a profession, common at that time.  Sara's father encouraged her to get an education, the only way out of poverty.

Abby is Sara's granddaughter.  What a special relationship they had!  Abby is an attorney, a divorce attorney.  Her grandmother dies and leaves a void in her life, but her words stay with her every day.  Is she in the right profession?  She feels like she is working to tear couples apart, not putting them together, not focusing on love.  Abby goes rogue considering the feelings of others and matching it with her gift.  Will Abby find love of her own?

This is a wonderful book.  I could not put it down.  I learned about the Jewish matchmakers as a profession during that time in history.  At the end of the book, the author explains the traditions of this group during this time in history.  

*I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book will be published on September 20, 2022.  Don't miss this one!

The Challenge

 

Setting: Fishtail, Montana. I had no interest in that area. But this book makes it sound so peaceful and beautiful. The book chronicles the lives of several families in this small community who strengthen their bond when their children are trapped on a mountain for several days. Will they all be rescued? The story encompasses the death of a parent, teenage love, substance abuse, forbidden love and infidelity. But the story also includes love, loyalty, strength and examples of good parenting. It’s a story that addresses many problems we as parents face everyday. The decisions we make affect the lives of others. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest 

Our Little World

 

Bee is an 8 year old who lives in a pretty New Jersey neighborhood.  A new family moves in across the street which bring new children to her circle.  When one of the children goes missing, it shatters their safe existence.  There are family secrets, and those secrets are no longer safe.  It changes Bee's relationship with her sister.  The community becomes protective, but is it enough?  

This story grips you from the first chapter.  It's difficult to put down one you start reading.  Don't miss this one!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an hones review.

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

 

There is no greater love than that of a mother and a child.  Dorothy is a former poet laureate who struggles with mental illness.  She has a 5 year old daughter who begins to remember things that happened in the lives of deceased relatives.  Concerned that her daughter will also have struggles with mental illness, Dorothy searches for radical treatment.  Will she be able to save her daughter?

This is a story of love, and what a parent will do to save a child.  It is very poignant, heartwarming and a great example of how love can overcome almost anything.  

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Suspects

 

Intrigue, suspense and romance.  Theo is a mogul in fashion owning the largest conglomerate of high end luxury clothing and goods.  Her husband and son were killed after being kidnapped.  Though she is American, she lives in Paris and her husband has a chateau in the French countryside.  Who is responsible for their murders?  Hint: working with Russians does not end well.  

Mike Andrews is a career CIA officer.  He becomes intrigued with the murder of Theo's husband and son and follows up on the case with foreign service agents.  It leads him to form a relationship with Theo which neither one expected.  

Is the mystery solved?  You will want to keep reading to find out!

I received a complimentary copy or this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle

 

Reading this book is like drinking a big glass of sweet tea on a hot summer day.  It is that refreshing!

The book centers around three ladies: Grace, Violet and her aunt Cressida.  Cressida is a well-known fashion designer who has devoted her life to her craft.  When a bomb destroys her studio and her home in London, she seeks refuge in the English countryside in her ancestral home.  Her nephew is now the lord of the manor and her niece Violet also lives there.  There are several more minor characters, but they all contribute very nicely to the story.  The group comes together during WW2 when fabric is rationed, Grace is getting married and discovered her mother's wedding dress is moth-eaten.  Can they save Grace's dress?  What will it mean to the community?

This is a heart-warming story about family, friendship and the true meaning of life.  Don't miss this one!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful

 

Imagine being a top model only to be disfigured in a terrorist attack.  She is alone, in the hospital and has no idea what her life will be like.  She has lost the 2 people she loves the most.  Cleaning out her mother's apartment is quite a chore as everything reminds her of the mother who she worshiped and loved more than anyone.  Since she traveled so much for modeling, she has very few close friends.  

Her mother has left a will and she finds an interesting letter in her belongings.  It begins a quest she never could imagine.

This was a very interesting story.  While it's hard to read about someone injured in a terrorist attack, it has become our reality.  I really enjoyed this story and in all the tragedy, shows us that there can be hope.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

One Italian Summer

 

Katy has lost her mother who is also her best friend and confidant. Italy was a magical place for Katy's mother, Carol. The two of them had a trip planned to Positano, a place that Carol said changed her life. Carol died two weeks before their planned trip. To say that Katy was lost after her mother's death is an understatement. And her marriage that she is not sure is viable is looming large.

Katy takes the trip to Positano alone. She befriends a woman named Carol who looks and acts like her mother. Who is this woman? Will Katy find herself again? Will her marriage survive?

If you love the Amalfi coast and love reading about mother-daughter relationships, don't miss this book. It is truly heart-warming.

* I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an hones review. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. 

High Stakes

 

This book is set in the Me Too era.  The setting is an agency in New York City which represents literary and entertainment clients. Jane begins her career there and befriends several other females working there..  The agency is owned by two older men, one of which thinks nothing of sexual abuse and harassments. Jane is very disturbed about his advances and warns him to no avail. His attack is the last straw. He has done this and worse to other females at the firm, but Jane is the only one with the guts to stand up to him. How will this play out for Jane and the others he abused or harassed? 

This story gives the perspective of what the women went through not only physically, but also emotionally. Some experienced worse abuse than others. The best part of this book was the effect it had on their lives and unknowingly, others including children. For that reason, I am grateful I read this book. After reading this book, I have much empathy for women experiencing this and admire the courage to speak up.

*I was given a complimentary copy of the book by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post

 

How much do you know about the life of Marjorie Meriwether Post?  I admit I didn't know much beyond the fact that she was the Post cereal heir and built Mar-A-Lago.  She had a full life, loved and lost, and a life of service.

Marjorie had an unusual childhood. Her family left their Texas home to seek medical care from Dr. Kellogg in Battle Creek, Michigan. Dr. Kellogg had a sanitarium where he treated patients with homeopathic treatments including clean, unprocessed food. Mr. Post regained his health after some time and thought it would be wonderful if there was a healthy, quick to prepare food mothers could serve their family.  Grape Nuts cereal was born and soon became a staple in most homes.

Marjorie was definitely before her time. She had wonderful ideas to grow the Post business, but because she was a woman, could not serve on the board of directors. So, her husband at the time usually served on her behalf. Through him and the CEO she was able to guide the company to tremendous growth and success.

Her personal life was in many ways tragic. Healthy, steady relationships were a struggle. Much of the book speaks to her philanthropy and it was massive! I was not aware of the extent of it and was pleasantly surprised.

What a delight this book was to read. Marjorie's desire to serve others in life and give back was remarkable. She at times was uncomfortable with tremendous wealth when others had so little. She supported so many workers and their families. If there was a community need, she was there. After reading this book, I feel that I know Marjorie and wish I had the opportunity to befriend her.

If you love historical fiction, don't miss this one!

*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to review this remarkable book.