APRIL BOOK REVIEWS Part 1 @stacitroilo @storiedcareer @clutton_jo @RYarros

We’ve had lots of rain the past few weeks, and I’ve read lot of books. Because of the number of books, I will have to divide this into two posts. I hope you find something here that fits your reading tastes!! I love sharing!

First up, the latest from Staci Troilo!

MY REVIEW:

This story broke my heart. Claudia has finally found her footing five years after a divorce she never imagined she’d go through. But now, she’s pulled back into a scenario that is beyond her comprehension. Her ex-husband is in a medical crisis and has named her as his medical person. How can she gather the tenacity to go through this horrific ordeal? It doesn’t help that the ex-in-laws guilt her into helping. The priest, who is a friend as well as a spiritual advisor prods her. She has to step up and take care of the needs of a man who verbally abused her for years, cheated on her and demoralized her. It’s not fair. Even her children don’t seem to understand what this is doing to her fragile mental state. And why on earth did he name his ex-wife as the one to make his medical decisions instead of the current new wife?
But Claudia did what she’s always done, fixed what she could. I anguished with her as she struggled. I wanted to choke the ex-husband, who only thought of himself, as well as the ex-mother-in-law who demanded that Claudia do the ‘right’ thing. The current wife, half his age, pulls a disappearing act. It all falls on Claudia’s shoulders. But there is a bright spot when one person, a virtual stranger, sees her and wants to help. Then there is a hint of a possible romance. This story wrings every emotion out of the reader. The author did a fabulous job of drawing the reader in. If you are a fan of dysfunctional family drama, you will no doubt enjoy jumping into Claudia’s unfortunate life!

---

MY REVIEW:

Another reviewer said this is not a book you read, but one that you feel. That describes it perfectly.
I have to admit I was a bit confused with the switch of time periods, but about a quarter of the way through, I hit the author’s stride and figured it out.
The story opens in present times, then switches back and forth between the main character’s childhood, and young adulthood, to present times.
It was also a bit confusing because the main character’s name changed throughout the book. But all of that aside, this is lyrical writing at its best. The story tugs at the heartstrings as history repeats itself.
Set in rural Georgia, on a lake known as Lake Burton— even the lake has a story. There is an entire town buried beneath it.
It’s obvious from the first page the main character is hiding a huge secret. Plus he’s hiding from himself and his true calling in life. Therefore, he’s hiding his name as well. Obsessed with the human heart from the age of six, he follows his calling until the fateful day that destroyed it all. He is no longer the miracle worker. He is a hunted man.
But the little girl, Annie Stephens, captured my heart from the beginning. At the age of seven, she has a booming business selling lemonade on the street corner. She also has a dying heart and needs a transplant. But what happens next sends her and our main character on a trajectory that runs throughout the rest of the book.
I love this line from the book: “Speak to the heart, and the head will follow…” And this one: “She looked brittle and pale, and a sadness had crept in behind her smile. It was as if the oil in her lamp were running low…”
The unwavering faith Annie has, carries the adults through some tough times. There are so many elements and layers to this story, it would take way too long to touch on all of them. So, I’ll just say the biggest element of living and dying is what drives the story as these characters work through their situations. This is the second book I’ve read by Mr. Martin, and I am a fan. He has a true gift. If you enjoy stories that will not only tug at your heart, but wring it out and hang it out to dry, you will enjoy this story of Emma and Annie and the man who wanted to save them. I will say it has a satisfying ending. I highly recommend it!

---

MY REVIEW:

I struggled with how to write this review. If I rated the story on the uniqueness of it, I would give it five stars. I’ve never read another book like it.
Jeannie Morgan was born in the 1800s to a southern genteel woman and successful doctor for a father. But Jeannie was anything but a southern lady and had no desire to even try. Much to her mother’s dismay, at a very young age, she refused to wear dresses and learn things womenfolk needed to know. She’d rather play with her brothers, wear trousers, and cut her hair. She and her mother clashed from day one. Then the day came when the father, who doted on Jeannie, decided they needed to go west for her mother’s health.
They began the journey that so many families embarked on heading west for free land and a new beginning. Jeannie’s mother died along the trail.
The story opens when Jeannie is an adult and quite the legend. Journalist, Kate Howard has arrived in Coyote Creek, Wyoming to get the real story about the legend of Jeannie Morgan. At that time, most journalists were men. Kate wanted a chance to prove herself. But she isn’t prepared for the sexual magnitude Jeannie has over both men and women alike.
From there, the story goes back to Jeannie’s childhood up through her turning twenty-one. There are several homosexual scenes as well as heterosexual ones. It seems the running theme throughout the story is that of Jeannie Morgan dealing with her overpowering sexual desires while she learns to be a ranch hand, a gunslinger and a cigar smoking, tobacco chewing, enigma. Her favorite hangout is the saloon in town. Besides Jeannie’s talents with the gun, knife and fighting, she is also stunningly beautiful with a superb body. But because of her being so different the good folks of Coyote Creek want her gone and try various methods to kill her. The biggest thing I struggled with while reading this story is the exaggerated southern dialect that runs through the whole book. Here’s an example. “Should see ’em when Ah lose mah temper.” And another word used throughout that threw me off, “summat…” “So what if Ah did so summat?” It got tedious. But if you are looking for a much different take on the western frontier in the 1800s and don’t mind the homosexual aspect, you are in for quite a story.

---

MY REVIEW:

This book tore my heart out of my chest, dropped it on the ground and stomped on it, leaving me barely breathing. I have never read a more gut-wrenching book.
Ella is a single mother of twins, a boy and girl. She’s fiercely independent, juggling single parenthood and running a successful business. Until one day Maisy, the twin girl receives a heartbreaking medical diagnosis. She is only six and has an aggressive and hard to treat cancer. So, Ella throws all of her energy into fighting for Maisy’s life. Colt, the other twin is so connected to his sister the two of them are one unit. They have a twin bond that overrides everything else.

During this tumultuous time, Ella’s brother, Ryan, who is a special ops soldier, asks if she would consider writing to another soldier who is his best friend and who has no family. So, Ella begins a pen pal relationship with Chaos. She never knows his real name. He becomes her therapist—someone who will listen, not judge and offer support. He becomes her lifeline through the cancer struggle.
Then, Ella’s brother is sent home in a flag-draped coffin. Another blow in her life.
Shortly after, another soldier, Beckett, shows up with Ryan’s last letter asking him to take care of his sister. And he does in every way possible. But he withholds deep secrets from her, driven by crushing guilt. And even when their relationship goes way past the friend level, Beckett cannot reveal his ugly secrets that torment him. He would move heaven and earth for Ella, Maisy and Colt. So, he does. I won’t go into any more detail than that, but the ending of the book left me plunged in a deep abyss of grief. NO! Surely there was another way. If you are a parent, I suggest you don’t read this book. You’ll never let your children out of your sight. I read it in two sittings.

I’ll share the rest of my review in a separate post. I hope you enjoyed these!