April #BookReviews! #LauraLyndhurst @Virgilante @teddy.jones148 @kristinhanna76 @sgc58

I love sharing books that affect me in some way or another. All of the books I read in April fit into that category for sure! Enjoy!

MY REVIEW:

This book exposes all the dysfunctions any family could possibly have. Frank was a career military man. While he was sure at least one of his sons would follow in his footsteps, they both chose different paths opposite from their dad’s. One a highly respected doctor, Matt, and one an artist, Simon.

The story opens at a party where Frank and his current wife, Madge are attending a party with old friends and military buddies. But it’s Frank’s ex-wife, Penny, and son, Matt that the focus turns to. There is a lot of backstory throughout the unfolding of events. We get glimpses into Matt’s wife, Jennifer’s former life — One she thought she’d left far behind. Funny how secrets have a way of revealing themselves.

Then, there is Abby, an attractive older woman who captures Matt’s attention. He can’t stop thinking about her, even while lying next to his wife in bed. I wanted to scream at him not to act on it. But did he listen to me?

You’ll have to read the book to see. What a tangled web this all turned out to be with overlapping past lives deeply affecting the present. The author did a good job of keeping the motives and identity of the person responsible for all the havoc wreaked. There is even a failed attempt at murder. What a twisted tale! If you like dysfunctional family drama with unexpected surprises, you’ll no doubt enjoy this story.

MY REVIEW:

This book will make you stop and think. As he often does, Boyack, draws a parallel line between reality and fiction.
I immediately connected with both characters in this story. Destiny is of mixed race and works as custodian at a school. Jace works as a supervisor at Kohler making bathtubs, sinks and toilets. He is pro-union and advocates for others to join and create higher paying jobs in a safe work place. He finds out big corporations have ways of fighting this.

Destiny and Jace have known each other for many years and love hunting for cryptids on weekends or holidays. Jace buys a tiny camper for their next adventure. And while it’s not much, it’s better than sleeping bags on the ground. Destiny surfs the dark web for conspiracies and finds more than she bargains for.

Here’s what I loved about this book. The relationship between Destiny and Jace starts off as a deep friendship and develops into more. So, there is a touch of romance in the story. The other thing I appreciated about the story is the way it compares to what is currently happening in the political arena in the U.S. at the present time. But it’s not necessarily about the politics. It’s more about how it affects common people. One example is what happens when Destiny’s home (in a trailer park) is taken by the city under the guise of making improvements. That’s not fiction.

Another thing I enjoyed about the book was the Easter Eggs, Boyack is noted for. Bai from “Tracks of Infinity” gets a nod as does Night Bump Radio from The Hat series. This all adds to the story. I won’t leave a spoiler by telling you any details of what Destiny and Jace uncover, but I will tell you it’s big. Big enough that it puts their lives on the line. If you’re a fan of speculative fiction with a bit of reality mixed in, you will no doubt enjoy this story!

MY REVIEW:

As I contemplated how to begin this review, I realized that reading this book changed me. Yes, it’s fiction, but it imitates life in a gripping and unforgettable way.
I promise I won’t leave any spoilers, but I will give you my thoughts.
The story opens with Margaret, a 90-year-old retired nurse getting ready for a newspaper reporter to arrive for an interview in June 2000. She ponders on how she’s waited 75 long years to finally tell her story.

Charles Bailey, the reporter, is a character I instantly liked. He’s only after this one lifestyle story, but he gets more than he bargained for and in the end it changes his life. That’s all I’ll tell you about him.

As they begin to talk, the story moves back in time to July 4, 1925 and a young girl who the year prior has changed her name to Frankie. The rest of the book is the unfolding of Frankie’s story. And it’s a story I will never forget. Suffering abuse from her brothers and father, with no protection from anyone, she’s made a decision as she leaves home that day to never return. She is only 15. So when an older, handsome and charming man, Dix Bergeron, offers her a way out that night, she takes it and never looks back.
For a while, it’s all good until it isn’t.

Parts of the book were hard to read and there most likely should have been some sort of trigger warning, especially for women who may have suffered from abuse. Nevertheless, the story gripped me hard and didn’t let go. The writing is descriptive, immersive and historically accurate. It has a satisfying ending, leaving me with the thought that the newspaper reporter will write Frankie’s story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a raw, gritty tale.

MY REVIEW:

This is one of Kristin Hannah’s early books and it’s easy to see how much her writing has advanced since publishing this book in 2003. She threw in characters that took a while to figure out who they were and why they were there.
However, all that aside, this is a gripping and emotional story of two sisters who faced traumatic circumstances in their young lives and came through, albeit not without scars.

Meghann Dontess is a successful divorce attorney who has earned the nickname of The Ice Queen. She is brutal when representing her clients. But she’s haunted by a past she can’t escape. Even after twenty years of therapy, she can’t let go. She is flawed, riddled with guilt, and determined to keep it all under the wraps of a confident business woman. Her only release is picking up a strange man to spend a few minutes of intimacy with, only as long as it never involves feelings.

Claire is Meghann’s younger sister, the one she’d been responsible for, the one she abandoned.
This story unfolds in a gripping way as the two sisters dance around their relationship, their past and an uncertain future.
Is Meghann the lucky one because she’s been able to find monetary success, or is Claire the lucky one because she’s found family? It’s hard to say. They each have their scars. So what can bring them together to return to the deep love they truly have for each other?

What happens is heartbreaking and I shed more than a few tears. If you love a gripping family saga with so many characters interwoven, you will definitely want to read this book!

MY REVIEW:

This beautiful tale is woven together in such a compelling way that I breezed through the book in no time. I couldn’t wait to see what new character would find their way into the magical Irish Garden!

My favorite character is The Storyteller. He is wise, compassionate, and has strong magic. At 700 years old, he’s learned a lot and seen a lot of things come and go through the garden. I pictured him to look like Gandalph from The Lord of The Rings.

One by one, characters are added into The Storyteller’s realm, starting with a young man, Finn, who is reeling from grief, having lost everything and everyone he loved. He finds the solace and purpose he needs to continue living.

Not all the characters are people. The crow is another favorite of mine. He is ever watchful, reporting anything out of place to The Storyteller. And I mustn’t forget the swans that arrived or the bees that make much sought-after honey.

When Lilah comes to live in the magical garden, she adds so much more to the story that is unfolding. Lilah is a healer and in danger of being killed for practicing so-called witchcraft. She seeks protection and finds it and so much more in the garden.

But it is the young boy who stole my heart. Sold into slavery, he didn’t even know his name much less his date of birth. Lilah is the perfect one to take him in and show him kindness and love, give him a name and birthdate.

This is a magical story from start to finish. It is well-written and compelling. If only a place like The Storyteller’s magical garden really existed. The world could use just one to offset the evil that has spread. If you love a bit of mysticism and a great story with unforgettable characters, you’ll need to pick up this book!

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That’s it! I hope you found something you can’t live without! Thanks for stopping by!