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A quick and quirky read with reality and magical realism. Kevin Wilson portrayed that a politician will really do anything to get ahead, even if it means ignoring two of his children.
It started out slow for me, but I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would!
Perfect mix of court room drama with murder.
Perfect mix of court room drama with murder.
Thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Book of Lost Friends, out now (released April 7, 2020) has a split timeline.
The first timeline takes place in the 1870s following Hannie, an emancipated slave who is now a sharecropper in Louisiana. She ends up on a journey to Texas with the two daughters (half-sisters) of her old owners, one of which is after her inheritance. Hannie is 1) trying to make sure the two women don't end up in the wrong hands and 2) find her mother and siblings that she was separated one when she was a child. Along the way, Hannie and Juneau Jane start their Book of Lost Friends, which contains letters from people looking for family members. This book ends up playing a role in Benny's timeline as well.
The second timeline takes place with a new teacher named Benny in 1980s Louisiana trying to connect with her students by figuring out their family history in their small town. Her research leads to family connections all of the way back to Hannie. I don't want to go into too much detail because that could lead to spoilers.
Review:
Full five stars. I loved it. This is my first Lisa Wingate book and a cannot wait to read more of her books. I loved the two timelines equally and enjoyed the relationships that both main characters built with other characters. Both main characters refused to stand down, they kept going. Hannie kept going when people tried to stop her for being black and Benny kept going when the rich family and school administration in town tried to shut down her class project.
I highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys dual timeline historical fiction books as well as historical fiction books that take place after the civil war/follow emancipated slaves.
The Book of Lost Friends, out now (released April 7, 2020) has a split timeline.
The first timeline takes place in the 1870s following Hannie, an emancipated slave who is now a sharecropper in Louisiana. She ends up on a journey to Texas with the two daughters (half-sisters) of her old owners, one of which is after her inheritance. Hannie is 1) trying to make sure the two women don't end up in the wrong hands and 2) find her mother and siblings that she was separated one when she was a child. Along the way, Hannie and Juneau Jane start their Book of Lost Friends, which contains letters from people looking for family members. This book ends up playing a role in Benny's timeline as well.
The second timeline takes place with a new teacher named Benny in 1980s Louisiana trying to connect with her students by figuring out their family history in their small town. Her research leads to family connections all of the way back to Hannie. I don't want to go into too much detail because that could lead to spoilers.
Review:
Full five stars. I loved it. This is my first Lisa Wingate book and a cannot wait to read more of her books. I loved the two timelines equally and enjoyed the relationships that both main characters built with other characters. Both main characters refused to stand down, they kept going. Hannie kept going when people tried to stop her for being black and Benny kept going when the rich family and school administration in town tried to shut down her class project.
I highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys dual timeline historical fiction books as well as historical fiction books that take place after the civil war/follow emancipated slaves.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an eGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Once Night Falls takes place in the Lake Como region of Italy during WWII. The Allies have started making their way from Sicily to the south of Italy while the Germans are looking to find Mussolini so that they can protect him. Luca, a young Italian man who cannot fight due to birth defects, is part of a team of men doing whatever they can to slow the Germans down in Northern Italy. His mom, Maria, is alone with her husband off to war and her son hiding his girlfriend in the woods. She has a secret in the attic and just do everything she can to keep the German soldiers who have taken residence next door from finding out what that is.
I really enjoyed Once Night Falls. It’s not often that you find a WWII historical fiction novel taking place in Italy. I loved that the story was told from different perspectives. I admired the will of Luca and Don Claudio and the sacrifice that Maria made.
I enjoyed how I could easily tell how the different perspectives wove together to connect all of the details.
The only reason this does not review five stars from me is that I wanted to know what happened to Rebecca and Sarah after they crossed the border to Austria and what exactly Luca did for Masso.
If you’re looking for a different historical fiction WWII novel that doesn’t take place in Germany or France, I highly recommend this one!
Once Night Falls takes place in the Lake Como region of Italy during WWII. The Allies have started making their way from Sicily to the south of Italy while the Germans are looking to find Mussolini so that they can protect him. Luca, a young Italian man who cannot fight due to birth defects, is part of a team of men doing whatever they can to slow the Germans down in Northern Italy. His mom, Maria, is alone with her husband off to war and her son hiding his girlfriend in the woods. She has a secret in the attic and just do everything she can to keep the German soldiers who have taken residence next door from finding out what that is.
I really enjoyed Once Night Falls. It’s not often that you find a WWII historical fiction novel taking place in Italy. I loved that the story was told from different perspectives. I admired the will of Luca and Don Claudio and the sacrifice that Maria made.
I enjoyed how I could easily tell how the different perspectives wove together to connect all of the details.
The only reason this does not review five stars from me is that I wanted to know what happened to Rebecca and Sarah after they crossed the border to Austria and what exactly Luca did for Masso.
If you’re looking for a different historical fiction WWII novel that doesn’t take place in Germany or France, I highly recommend this one!
I received an eGalley of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Uncommon Relations: Part 1 had promise at first, but then it became dialogue heavy with little to no plot or character growth. I wanted a better relationship between Terry and his wife. I wanted more of Terry and Gerry together and more plot build up after the reveal at Leon's.
Uncommon Relations would be a great book for someone that likes books that have more dialogue in them and that you have to wait until the end of the book for the plot twist.
Uncommon Relations: Part 1 had promise at first, but then it became dialogue heavy with little to no plot or character growth. I wanted a better relationship between Terry and his wife. I wanted more of Terry and Gerry together and more plot build up after the reveal at Leon's.
Uncommon Relations would be a great book for someone that likes books that have more dialogue in them and that you have to wait until the end of the book for the plot twist.
3.5-4 stars. I’m a little disappointed as the plot started to drag a little bit for me. I found it repetitive. I found the David and Monique plot line unnecessary because it wasn’t talked about that much and then bam, he shows back up in NYC.
The relationship between Evelyn and Monique is unique and I appreciate how TJR had Evelyn pick Monique for a reason to write the story.
I did enjoy the plot twist at the end and as always, TJR really does know how to surprise her readers and draw them in.
The relationship between Evelyn and Monique is unique and I appreciate how TJR had Evelyn pick Monique for a reason to write the story.
I did enjoy the plot twist at the end and as always, TJR really does know how to surprise her readers and draw them in.