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This book was good but not great. The subject matter was, at times, absolutely painful to read. Families in the 1920's dropping their children off at orphanages because they are no longer able to feed them. Did the parents have any idea what the conditions of these orphanages were? I simply can NOT imaging thinking abandoning my children is my best option.

There is a lot to this story, hunger, loneliness, despair, etc. It is not a feel good story and it has taken me a long time to read it. I think that I am going to be reading a comedy or some other kind of fluffy something to get myself out of this darkness.

I am really not sure that I am able to actually recommend this book because of the way that it is written. It is just so dang sad!

Many thanks to Ballentine Books via Netgally for the Advanced Reader Copy.

A Walk Across the Sun

A Walk Across the Sun - Corban Addison This was a fantastic book! While the storyline s a bit disturbing and very realistic the author did a good job of not making the scenes too graphic. While I appreciated that, I did feel like the end was a bit too predictable. For that reason alone, I gave this one 4 stars instead of 5.

Garden Spells

Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen This was a very enjoyable book. It was light and easy reading.

Parallax View

Parallax View - Allan Leverone What a ride! I loved this book and I am hoping that Mr. Leverone is considering making this into a series.

This book and its characters had it all; suspense, murder, espionage, good vs evil, romance etc...(you get the idea). One side note: there were no vampires or werewolves inside this book.

One of the things that I also loved about this book was the fact that the chapters were only 2 - 4 pages long. For me, that makes for a very quick read. This book only took me a few hours to finish.

I recommend this bad boy to just about anyone I know. Get it, you will not be disappointed.

Many many thanks to Sisterhood of the Traveling Books on Goodreads and to Allan Leverone for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

The Death of Bees: A Novel

The Death of Bees - Lisa O'Donnell This was a tough read for many reasons. The first was the content of the story. It was hard to imagine the way these 2 sisters became on their own. It was hard to imagine their living conditions. It was hard to imagine that they were able to do some of the things that they did.

The other thing that I struggled with was the language. I did not realize where the story was based until I did some searching around the author's website. I think that if I had known that the story was based in Scotland, I would not have been as confused by the slang and the overall flow of the book.

For these reasons I have given this one 3 out of 5 stars. Many thanks to Harper Collins Publishing and edelweiss for this Advance Readers Copy.

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)

A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin This is my second go around with this book and I will tell you that it would not have been successful w/o the HBO series. because of the TV show the characters really came to life for me.

The Last Runaway

The Last Runaway - Tracy Chevalier This is the story of a young English Quaker Woman's journey to America during the time period that Southern Slaves were running away and people were trying to help them.

Here is what I really enjoyed about liked about this book; Honor (our young Quaker) sends detailed letters of what life is like in America. There was so much depth and detail in those writings and I will tell you that those letters kept me going.

Here is what I didn't care for about this book; it is advertised as being a book about the underground railroad and, unfortunately, that simply is not true. I feel a bit duped by the synopsis. I also felt that Honor would not have done many of the things that she did based on what we know about her. Some of Honor's action just did not seem to fit the time period or her background.

Many thanks to net galley and Dutton Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons - Lorna Landvik This was not the 'light' easy read that I had expected. It brought out so much melencholly in me that I found myself tearing up many times throughout the book.

I have been involved with a group of women fr the past 20+ years and I can so relate to the love/hate relationships in this book. I am a 22 year cancer survivor, so I was able to relate to the cancer element in the story. This was a VERY personal story fr me.

It made me laugh often,feel the heartbreak and disappointment of relationships. I enjoyed reading this book.

Shadow of Night: A Novel (All Souls Trilogy)

Shadow of Night - Deborah Harkness This really troubles me to give this 1 Star, however, I just couldn't do any more. To be honest, I couldn't even finish the book.

It was too much of a romance type novel and it got to the point where I simply could have cared less for Diana and Mathew. It simply was not my cup of tea.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Publishing for the advanced readers copy.

Tigers in Red Weather: A Novel

Tigers in Red Weather - Liza Klaussmann As I sit here pondering what type of review I should write, I feel like that is as big a mystery as the book. This book seemed to be disjointed with the story being told by the different characters in the book. Each chapter is labeled with the year, however, I was never able to get into the rythem of the story telling.

In my opinion, there was no consistency and the first couple of pages of each chapter had me trying to figure out where we were and how we got there. Once I did that, the story flowed. But to start each chapter in this manner was a bit frustrating.

Many thanks to Little Brown and Company Publishing along with Net Galley for the advanced readers copy.

Gone Girl

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn I rated this 4 stars instead of 5 stars because I "thought" I had everything figured out. I rated this book 4 stars instead of 3 stars because the ending through me for a complete loop.

If you like suspense and twists and turns, then you will enjoy this book. Just when you think you know what is what and all things are going to be tied up in a nice little bow, then you are taken down a different path completely.

The Restorer (Graveyard Queen #1)

The Restorer (Graveyard Queen #1) - Amanda Stevens OK, Amelia Grey has an unusual occupation. She restores old graveyards. Amelia also has an unusual ability to see ghosts. Interestingly enough, she doesn't see ghosts in the graveyards that she restores. The ghosts that she sees are the ones that are following others.

This book is the first of three in a series and I really enjoyed it. I liked the way the author had a storyline and stuck with it throughout the entire book. The story ended with a nice wrap up but you know that the characters will continue to the next book. This book made me feel like I was watching an episode of a favorite mystery show on TV.

This was a quick and easy read and I have already started book two, The Kingdom.

Last to Die (Rizzoli & Isles, #10)

Last to Die (Rizzoli & Isles, #10) - Tess Gerritsen This was a typical Tess Gerritsen Rizzoli & Isles book. There was murder. There was mystery. There was suspense. There was humor. I am never disappointed when I pick up one of these books. The characters that are supposed to be liked are well liked.

If you like murder, mystery and suspense you will like any of Gerritsen's books and this one is no exception. I recommend this to anyone that likes a quick read with lots of action.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for this advanced readers copy.

The Dovekeepers: A Novel

The Dovekeepers - Alice Hoffman I was a bit intimidated by this doorstop of a book in the beginning, but it sure didn't take me long to get into the story. Once I got 'hooked', I didn't want to stop reading.

I really liked the way Ms Hoffman was so descriptive with her writing. I could almost smell the smells, feel the desert air blow across my face or see the colors of the fine silk that was worn.

I really didn't like that it took over 400 pages out of 500 to get to the meat of the story. I really didn't like that I know little to nothing about Jewish history (my issue not hers).

The ending was certainly something that I did NOT see coming and would not have guessed who and how the survivors actually survived. The ones that did not survive was absolutely heart breaking.

I recommend this book to everyone that doesn't mind investing a little time into a story.

Defending Jacob: A Novel

Defending Jacob - William Landay This is a good one! This is the story about an assistant district attorney's 14 year old son being charged with the murder of a classmate.

The book is a bit frustrating in that it is told in present day, then we go to the past and then we are back in present day etc...However, once you get into the flow of the writing it is good. Really really good.

I must be slipping with my ability to figure out what happened, because once again, I was taken by complete surprise with the ending of this book.

Do you like courtroom dramas? Pick up this book, you will not be disappointed.

Talulla Rising

Talulla Rising - Glen Duncan This was a good one that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.

This was the second book of what I am assuming is a series because it did not tie up a lot of loose ends. I will read more books by this author.

If you like werewolves and vampires, you will definitely like this book.