sarahsbookstack's Reviews (2.55k)

I absolutely love the way this book was written. It shows our characters mostly through an alternate timeline in a book form. It's so well written that you forget that this is an alternate life and not the exact one that Marcelle remembers.

Even when it's not the"truth" (remember this is historical FICTION and most of this isn't truth).  I felt like I was there- seeing the characters go through what they went through. It's often hard and make me tear up a bit, but I felt so connected to them and both feared and cheered for them at different stages.

This was such a unique spin on historical fiction and I enjoyed every minute of it.

This was a solid mystery that kept me on my toes. I thought I had things figured out and then BAM, I was hit with new info that turned me all around. I liked trying to solve who the two bodies buried were but I felt sorry that Rose (with her dementia) had to keep trying to recall memories from so long ago with her fragile mind.

The back and forth was easy to follow and I liked when we alternated to the past but I felt the book could have wrapped up in less than 385 pages. I didn't feel sorry for any of the other characters. There are some very bad ones but even the not so bad ones, I didn't find myself caring for.

I thought for a sequel of a book that seemed to be wrapped up nicely, this was fantastic. I would say though.... Don't read these books out of order!

I loved getting to dig more into this family of kids who sirvived many horrors. I found Henry to be the most fascinating one. He was always doing things that seemed rash but for good reasons.

The addition of Rachel and her story (trigger warning: domestic abuse)  and how it connected to this family. 

This book is just non-stop action from front to back. It takes place directly after book 1 with Signal and Erik on the run to clear Signal's name. They also have to deal with the knowledge that their friends from camp are on the way to take these two out.

I had so much fun trying to figure out who was actually good and who was actually bad. I mean with teen killers, you'd think they are all bad. But the surprises crept up on me and I loved every single one.

I really like Nobody/Lark. She is a big part of this book with Signal and Erik and I'm so glad she was bright to the forefront more in this book.

This was such an action packed book that I was never bored with it! I could totally see this coming to a screen on TV.

Mel is a con woman. She supposedly died on 9/11 or so she's led people to believe since then. The prologue describes why she was able to escape the terror of that day. But she also ran away with important information that she stole from her husband's company.

Years later, she is discovered to be alive and so there starts the many lies to be uncovered and the people who you have to decide who are being truthful and who's a fraud. 

I did like Mel. She was gutsy and brave. She did all she could to protect her stepsister Isla from afar. There were so many twists that it kept me on my toes!

3.5

This was just the light fluffy read I needed at this moment!
I liked getting a small glimpse into the life of a flight attendant through these characters. My brother is one but I have never asked him much about it... Just a few questions here and there.

Ava- I liked that she said what's on her mind, even if it might get her in trouble. I didn't like the fact that she was with Alexander- he seemed so controlling. He didn't want her to do that job anymore once they got married.. What is this, the 1950s?!

Jack- oh boy Jack! I just kept imagining him like Jack from This Is Us tv show. He is so misunderstood and I can't fathom why no one asked Jack about rumors of him before Ava finally got the (maybe a bit liquid) courage to.

This book was a fast read and ultimately sweet. If you haven't read this yet, summer is the perfect time to!

This was my first book by Susan Wiggs and won't be my last!

This book was in part light and sweet. Most of this book though is tough to read. It's sad the injustices of "justice" through our court systems are.

Margot reinvented herself as a successful BBQ restauranteur, but her past is a heavy weight she has to bear. I don't want to give anything away, but she goes through a horrific event and then is dragged through so much heartbreak and uncertainty. She never should have had to deal with what she had to deal with after the incident.

There are topics on rape, abortion, the power of wealth and money, a women's right to decide for herself in her body and what she does with it. 

Rhi is in a bad situation with her uncle. He banished her to a hunting cabin and won't take her council on working conditions at her family mines. Prince Marc of Oldenburg arrives with all addendum to the will... That they are betrothed. He will take her away from her uncle but he won't in good conscience marry her.

I love this story- from the rescue of Rhianna from her horrid uncle by a Prince no less to their admissions to each other that despite what the will states, that they will choose to marry for love and not an arrangement. 

I really like Rhi. She is kind and caring. She doesn't see anyone as beneath her, she's a friend to servants and the miners. Prince Marc is so dashing. He does dangerous work and I could kind of see why he didn't want to fall for Rhi... But as a romance, you know what will happen. I liked seeing their journey, but one complaint - no kisses until the last page!

This really dark and spicy retelling of Peter Pan was so bingeable!

The characters are so flawed but genuine. James "Hook" and Peter are at the center of the drama. Peter took all that James had from him and James is bent on revenge when Peter strolls into his town. The way to get his revenge is to get closer to Peter's daughter Wendy.

I like the side characters too- we get Tina (aka Tink) and Smee.

While some things were a little bit darker than I'm used to reading, I read it in a matter of hours.

This book based on a true story is a historical mystery/courtroom drama with a bit of a paranormal twist.

Annie sent to a convent to deliver a child she bore out of wedlock has her baby taken away and as she wakes get back, she will do what it takes to get the money needed. She becomes a "companion" for men in several houses and is called Bessie. She will one day meet Abe Rothschild, a smooth taking man with sweet promises of a better life for her one day.
But she will be betrayed by this man in the study way.

I thought the story was unique in where it took Bessie after Abe's betrayal. Without giving too much away, I would just say that Bessie had a big part in trying to get him to be punished for what he did.