A Promise to Remember: a tragedy and its aftermath

A Promise to Remember is a book in the Tomorrow’s Promise collection by Kathryn Cushman. When a tragic car accident kills two teenage boys from different economic classes, the aftermath threatens to tear apart a community as people start to take sides. Melanie Johnston is a grieving single mother. She is convinced that her son, Jeff, will be forgotten. Melanie is determined to make sure her son has a legacy to remember, Andie Phelps is a quiet woman who seemingly lives a life without any worry. After the death of her son, Chad, she retreats into her sorrow and pain, hiding from the world. As Melanie sues for wrongful death, their small seaside community starts to draw the battle lines. Both women must fight her own grief and pain, finding themselves struggling with faith and moving forward. Lives are forever changed with one simple decision. 

A Promise to Remember is a difficult read. Filled with emotion, tough questions about fairness, faith, and what it means to have a legacy. Sympathizing with both women was easy, however, their choices raise questions about privilege, expectations and societal prejudices. Melanie and Andie were both relatable and realistic as grieving mothers whose social standing influenced their opinions and actions. The secondary characters are wonderful too as they play into the social prejudice, thinking they had right on their side. A certain character decides to play dirty and brings up a sordid past in order to discredit the other mother.  I enjoyed the discussions of faith, heaven and a legacy worth leaving behind. A Promise to Remember is a story of forgiveness without being overly preachy.  There were a few tears as I read, especially near the end. I highly recommend A Promise to Remember. 

A Promise to Remember is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Sisters: the realizations that life always leads in unexpected ways

Sisters is the first book in the Sun Valley series by Kellie Coates Gilbert. It is the story of three women, their choices and their realization that life doesn’t always lead where they expect. Karyn Macadam is struggling to start over after the tragic death of her husband in a skiing accident. She looks for a new beginning, but can she let go of the past? Leigh Ann Blackburn is the perfect wife but hides a struggle. Her husband has become distant and she believes the worst case scenario. She jumps into a plan to save her marriage. Joie Abbott is the youngest sister who always seems to find a way to mess up her life. She desperately hides a secret from her family until a betrayal forces her to come clean. One thing these women learn is that life is better with your sisters. 

Set in the picturesque setting of Sun Valley, Idaho, Karyn, Leigh Ann and Joie have known heartbreak. From losing their mother at a young age to their own relationship, these sisters have stuck together. Despite their differences, they can count on each other. I enjoyed reading a story set in Sun Valley. I'm familiar with the famous ski resort town; however, I don’t think I’ve ever read a story set there. Overall, I enjoyed each of the women’s storylines. However, I was interested in Joie’s secret and the pain she was trying to hide in her bravado and the bottom of the bottle. I cheered when she finally stood up and said enough! I loved their spunk, determination and their loyalty to each other despite their differences. I enjoyed Sisters and look forward to the rest of the series. I recommend Sisters. 

Sisters is available in paperback and eBook

The Color of Destiny: do we chose our path or is it chosen for us?

The Color of Destiny is the second book in Julianne MacLean’s The Color of Heaven series. Eighteen years ago, a teenage pregnancy changed everything for 16-year-old Kate Worthington. Faced with difficult decisions and an unforgiving father, she chose to follow her heart and face an uncertain future with the father of her baby and her first love. A tragic accident leads her to pursue a career as a paramedic. At the same time, in another part of the world, 16-year-old Ryan Hamilton makes his own share of mistakes. When a tragic accident opens his eyes to the path he was taking, he devotes himself to pursue a career in the medical field. When Kate’s and Ryan’s lives cross paths, a strange series of events begin to link together. They begin to ask themselves about the possibility of destiny and miracles. Do our decisions forge the path in front of us? Or do  we end up exactly where we are meant to be? 

The Color of Destiny is a beautiful story about the twists and turns of life and the miracles that can happen when least expected. While the story wasn’t as emotional as the first book, The Color of Heaven, it was an engaging story. There is a slow build as to how Kate and Ryan’s stories are connected. The last third puts the story on the fast track as their connection is revealed. I enjoyed the characters as they were relatable and their reactions to events seemed realistic. One downside is the constant changing point of view. The narration shifts between Kate, Ryan and Ryan’s stepdaughter, Marissa. However, I understand why the author changed POVs as she did. It allowed the impact of the story to be seen from three different perspectives. Overall, I enjoyed The Color of Destiny and look forward to reading the rest of the series. I recommend reading the books in order, starting with The Color of Heaven. 

The Color of Destiny is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.

Book 1 The Color of Heaven is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Memory of Butterflies: life and it's difficult choices

The Memory of Butterflies by Grace Greene is a moving story of family, secrets and forgiveness. To keep the family secrets hidden, a young mother lies, but when her secrets are forced to be revealed, it could end up destroying everything and everyone she loves. Hannah Cooper’s daughter, Ellen, is leaving for college soon. The change is bittersweet as she desires her daughter to have the opportunities she was forced to give up but she also isn’t eager for life alone. As Ellen prepares for her senior year and college, Hannah rebuilds the family home that was destroyed in a fire and returns to her roots in Cooper’s Hollow along the beautiful and rustic Cub Creek in Virginia. With the help of her longtime friend, Roger Westray, Hannah begins shifting through the ashes. Soon the secrets she fought hard to keep hidden rise from the ashes and when one rumor circulates, Hannah is forced to reveal her secrets. Can they survive the earth shattering truth? 

Once again, Grace Greene writes a story with a tough subject with realism and heart. There is no clear heroine or villain. Sometimes with life’s choices, there are no winners or losers. You feel for Hannah as she is faced with difficult choices as a young woman and now as a mother who raised her daughter alone. It's easy to see the “should have done” choices but what would you have done in Hannah’s shoes? As one character points out, “Life doesn’t always lend itself to clear, easy choices.” There is one particular scene near the end that had me crying my eyes out as Hannah finally faces the pain she has been pushing aside for so long and the realization that she needs to stop hiding, to stop running and face what may come. The reactions and emotions portrayed by the characters are very realistic. It was a fast read. I finished it in a few hours as I couldn’t put it down. I recommend The Memory of Butterflies. 

The Memory of Butterflies is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler: a disappointing book

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms is the story of Amy Byler, an overworked and underappreciated single mom who desperately needs a break. After three years, her guilt-ridden husband reappears and offers to take care of their kids for the summer. She reluctantly accepts his offer and escapes to New York City for a “momspringa.” The usually grounded, mild mannered and property Amy lets her hair down. With a little push from her friends, Amy discovers life filled with culture, sophistication and a few blind dates. One man in particular finds his way into her way and she risks losing herself in an unexpected escape. As the summer comes to a close, she realizes that she must make the impossible choice. Does she stay in the new exciting New York City? Or does she return to her life in rural Pennsylvania? 

The New York Journal of Books called The Overdue Life of Amy Byler, a “laugh-out-loud funny, pitch-perfect novel that will have readers rooting for this unlikely, relatable, and totally lovable heroine... the ultimate escape—and will leave moms everywhere questioning whether it isn’t time for a #momspringa of their own.” However, I did not laugh once. In fact, I rolled my eyes at the moments that I was supposed to laugh and cheer Amy on. The story was boring, humorless and very cringey. A lot of pop culture references that seem to be there to help the readers understand and relate to Amy. At one point, Amy illustrates how tired she was, saying she often fell in bed too tired to fantasize about Outlander’s Jamie Fraser and reach for her vibrator. Seriously? Give me a break! I did not like or relate to Amy at all. I’m sure I am not the audience for this book. If you think this could be the book for you, try it out. But for me, I do not recommend The Overdue Life of Amy Byler. 

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

The Memory of Us: a story of love, war and difficult choices

The Memory of Us by Camille Di Maio is a story of choices and their consequences. In 1937, Julianne Westcott was an 18-year old Protestant girl living the dream life in Liverpool. The illusion of her perfect life and family is shattered when she discovers she has a twin brother, a brother who is blind and deaf, and that her parents sent to an institution While secretly visiting her brother, Julianne meets and befriends Kyle McCarthy, an Irish Catholic groundskeeper studying to become a priest. They soon find themselves caught between her family’s expectations, Kyle’s devotion to the Church and the intense feelings they seem to have for each other. Julianne and Kyle must make a choice: do they follow the life and expectations they have before them or do they choose the difficult path of love? As war rages through Europe and the Blitz devastates England, a tragic accident leaves Julianne to forge a new life built on lies. Lies she tells herself protect those she loves. Will the truth find her? Will she be brave enough to face the choices she made? 

The Memory of Us came highly recommended and I looked forward to reading it. However, it was not the story I expected. It was an easy, fast paced story. I finished it in a few hours. The first two-thirds of the book were good. I loved the romance between Julianne and Kyle. The last third of the book is where the story fell for me. It was difficult to understand the motivation behind Julianne’s decision to forge her new life. It seemed to come out of the blue and without any indication that it was a decision she needed to make. Julianne was a hard character to understand. At times she is strong and willing to stand up to anyone, then she bows down to the demands of others and back again. The ending was supposed to be heartwarming and sweet but it felt forced and too tidy. Other reviewers mentioned the references to The Beatles’ 1966 song “Eleanor Rigby.” I am not overly familiar with the song to pick up any references. Those who are familiar with the song may enjoy the references. Overall, I enjoyed the story and I do recommend it. 

The Memory of Us is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

By the Light of Embers: a story of a young woman's fight for love and her dreams against the odds

By the Light of Embers by Shaylin Gandhi is the story of a young woman who must fight against the prejudice and societal expectations of the 1950s. It’s 1954 and Lucia Lafleur is a college graduate, engaged and just got accepted to medical school. Before heading home for the summer, her fiancé gives her an ultimatum: him or medical school. She heads home to Bellefontaine, Louisiana with her friend, Gretchen. Soon she befriends Nicholas Fletcher, a man from her childhood and someone she was supposed to stay away from. But Nicholas is unlike any man she has known, and she can’t help be drawn to him despite the danger. As their friendship blooms into something more, she realizes she is heading down a road that her hometown may not be ready for. Which man will she chose: the safe, logical one or the man who matches her passion and intelligence? Does she follow her heart or her dream?

By the Light of Embers is a story I wasn’t expecting. From the description I knew it was a story of a white woman and a black man in a relationship which was not acceptable in the South. As I read and was swept away by the passionate love story of Lucia and Nicholas, the drama of prejudice of those around them and the building of events which led to an amazing climax. The book didn’t end the way I thought it would, but it was a satisfying ending, wasn’t farfetched and just fit the story. It was a suspenseful and exciting story up to the very last page. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t realize it was coming to an end! I highly recommend By the Light of Embers!

By the Light of Embers

will be available May 9, 2019

in eBook

The Dream Daughter: what will a mother do to protect her child?

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain is the story of one mother’s fight to save her unborn daughter. The story opens in 1965 where Caroline “Carly” Grant is an intern at a physical therapy facility where a mysterious man named Hunter Poole insists that she be his physical therapist. This man is strange and seems familiar with information that puzzles Carly. Fast forward to April 1970, Carly is a widowed pregnant woman who is being seen by her doctor. Her husband, Joe, has been killed in Vietnam and she is staying with her older sister, Patti and brother-in-law, Hunter. The doctor reveals that her baby has a serious heart defect and would not survive outside the womb. Soon she will hear a story from Hunter that will blow her mind and possibly give her baby a chance. Hunter is from the future and his idea will send Carly to the future to a time of medical advancements to save her unborn daughter. Will Carly take the chance? Will her baby survive? Will she be able to return home?

I received a copy of The Dream Daughter from NetGalley for my honest review. It took a while for me to be able to sit down and read but once I did, I could not put it down. From the open chapter to the last page, the story of Carly’s journey to save her baby gripped me that I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. It is a beautiful story with twists and turns. It wasn’t the story I was expecting, it was so much more. Just when you think you have it figured out, you found out that you don’t. My favorite line from the book, which sums up the story for me, is “The love of a mother could make a hero out of everyday woman.” I highly recommend The Dream Daughter!

The Dream Daughter

is available in all formats at all major booksellers

While You were Mine: life changes with the end of WWII

While You were Mine by Ann Howard Creel is a story of one woman’s world coming to an end with the end of World War II.

The story opens in August 1945, Gwen Mullen is a nurse in New York City when she hears the news of the Japanese surrender. At her door is the one man who will tear her world apart. A man who has come for his daughter. Gwen had become the adoptive mother of Mary whose mother, Alice, left when she was a few months old and her father, John, is presumed dead in Europe. With the help of her German neighbors, Lisen and Geoff, and her new roommate, Dot, Gwen takes care of the baby. John learns that Alice has left the baby with Gwen and he is determined to find her. When he can’t, he returns to New York determined to raise his daughter. Gwen agrees to help John learn how to take care of Mary and ease himself into Mary’s life. Soon, the two become close and plan a future together until Alice returns. Will Gwen have to say goodbye to Mary and John for good? Will she be able to walk away?

While You were Mine is a great story filled with drama and twists and turns. I loved the realistic depiction of life for the returning soldiers. The memories, the nightmares, the difficulties returning to civilian life are portrayed honestly and realistically. The characters are real and relatable. You feel the heartache for some, feel anger for others and you begin to understand the hard transition of life after war. I recommend While You were Mine. It’s a great story of life, love and starting over.

While You were Mine

is available on Amazon

in paperback $14.95

Kindle Unlimited

and

on Barnes and Noble.com

in hardcover $24.95

in paperback $14.95

and Audiobook $14.99

Secrets of a Charmed Life: a story of choices and survival

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner is the story of one woman’s journey through WWII in England as her life is torn apart by the London Blitz. The description on the back of the book says it all: “She stood at a crossroads, half-aware that her choice would find her down a path from which there could be no turning back. But instead of two choices, she only saw one- because it was all she really wanted to see…”

The story opens with Kendra Van Zant, an American college student studying abroad at Oxford, is on her way to interview Isabel MacFarland, a survivor of the London Blitz and who has refused interviews until now. Kendra arrives on the day of Mrs. MacFarland’s 93rd birthday party. As they settle down for the interview, Mrs. MacFarland opens her story with she is not Isabel and she’s not 93. The story then turns to London in 1941, as Emmy Downtree, 15 years old and her seven year old sister, Julia, are admiring dresses in the window of a bridal shop. Soon, Emmy and her sister are sent to the country as the children are evacuated from London. Even though Emmy enjoys her stay in the country with her foster family, she foolishly heads back to London. Her world would be torn apart on September 7, 1940 as the London Blitz begins. Emmy is separated from her mom and sister. We know that she survives the Blitz but will she find her sister and how does she change her name is Isabel?

I received a copy of this book through Goodreads as a part of their book giveaway. Since I have read a couple of books by Ms. Meissner before, I was anxious to read this one. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved the detailed about wartime England, the descriptions of the London Blitz were terrifying and the reader will get a sense of what it was like to be in London at the time. I loved reading how Emmy becomes Isabel and how she rebuilds her life after the war. I highly recommend this book.

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

Will be available February 3, 2015

On Amazon for the Kindle $7.99 and paperback for $15

As well as other booksellers

"The Light Between Oceans" by M.L. Stedman: a story of a life-altering choice

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman is a heartbreaking story in which no one comes out the winner. It is a story of choices and consequences. The book is told in three parts. The story opens on April 27, 1926, when Tom Sherbourne, the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, makes a horrifying discovering. A boat has washed ashore with a dead body and a crying infant.

Tom Sherbourne is a World War I vet, a decorated hero who would rather forget the events that occurred in Europe. He makes his way to Point Partageuse where he has signed on as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock. There in town, he meets Isabel “Izzy” Graysmark. They marry and begin a life on the rock. Life quickly becomes harsh when Izzy suffers two miscarriages and delivers a stillborn son. The next day, Tom makes his discovery. Izzy desperate for a child, begs Tom not to record the event in the lighthouse log book and they would raise the child as their own. Seeing how happy she is and against his better judgment he agrees. They present the child as their own. Together they live as a family for two years when they return to town on their annual leave. There they learn the identity of the man who died and the events that led him into the boat. They also discover that the baby’s mother is still alive. Hannah Roennfeldt is a desperate woman who spends her days wandering around the shore, searching for her husband and daughter who disappeared on ANZAC Day. Tom wants to confess what has been done but Izzy believes it’s too late. After four years, their secret is out. The questions start. Who is right? Who takes the blame? Who is this child’s mother?

This book was recommended to me by my Aunt Sharon. I was curious about this story. A story that reminded me of the King Solomon story from the Bible where two women fight over a surviving child. As a woman who had lost two babies, I understand Izzy’s desperation and thinking that the baby’s arrival at the lighthouse was a gift from God. On the other hand, as a mother of a daughter, I understand Hannah’s desperation, the fight to keep her only child and the desire to punish the people who took her from her. In this story, there are no clear winners, no clear happy ending. No matter the choice, one woman will be hurt and the course of a child’s life is altered forever.

I highly recommend this book. It is a great story in an amazing backdrop, the western coast of Australia. My only complaint is that the author never explain what ANZAC day was. It is mentioned several times in the story that I had to look it up. ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that commemorates its citizens who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations observed on April 25. It was originally organized as a day to honor the members of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in World War I.