This is an uplifting story of a young boy, who gains a strong foothold in life, from a remarkable man.
Sam’s Father died when he was young and he is bThis is an uplifting story of a young boy, who gains a strong foothold in life, from a remarkable man.
Sam’s Father died when he was young and he is being raised alone by his widowed mother. She runs a seasonal farm stand and Sam is a good helper. He is a genuinely good boy but has a learning disability that causes him to fall behind his classmates and be made fun of. Because of this he loses confidence and spends a lot of time alone. However, he is very interested in nature and enjoys learning about his surroundings.
One day he meets Alton, a man in his 70’s, while fishing along the creek near his farm. And that’s where a beautiful friendship develops.
I enjoyed this book. I don’t know anything about fly fishing but as Alton teaches Sam I was able to understand how it worked. The instructions were very well written. I also liked learning about where and why specific kinds of fish are caught in specific kinds of waters.
I found it amazing that an older man would have the patience or care to befriend and tutor this young boy. What a gem Alton was! It seems there is not that much of a connection between the old and young these days. Not even between relatives. This was definitely a special relationship and one that changed Sam’s life for the better.
We could all use someone like Alton in our lives!!
Many thanks to D. Dauphinee and BookSirens for my copy. My honest review is given voluntarily....more
The Fragility of Light is a well thought out novel about living with mental illness. Specifically schizoaffective disorder. I requested it from BookSiThe Fragility of Light is a well thought out novel about living with mental illness. Specifically schizoaffective disorder. I requested it from BookSirens because the subject hits close to home. I have much empathy for people inflicted by it and wanted to learn more.
The MC is Sunny. A very bright, beautiful woman who lives with overwhelming anxiety. The author, Heather S. Lonczak does a wonderful job at introducing us to Sunny and her family. She begins by building us a picture of Sunny’s early life and why/how she might have developed her diagnosis.
Heather takes us through Sunny’s first psychotic episode/mental breakdown and how it effected her family. The story is told in first person by three people. Sunny, her love interest, Joshua, and her Father, Peter. Each person shares their point of view. I really liked that. Seeing how it affected each of them personally.
I also liked how Heather described the scenery and what the people were wearing. It seems trivial but it made me feel like I knew the characters better.
The best thing about the book was how it showed that a person, surrounded by a support system, can stay on top of their illness to prevent a relapse. The whole family and her therapist worked together to help Sunny navigate life. It’s unfortunate that everyone with mental illness doesn’t have this support.
The biggest thing I took away from the book is that mental illness is a disease and not a choice. It is mostly genetic and can be brought on by stress. It will not go away. But like any other disease, the patient can be helped with the right medical care and support. The biggest obstacle is getting the patient on board with their treatment. Like any illness people can be in denial and refuse treatment. That’s where support comes in.
This is a wonderful book that should be read by anyone who has a mental illness and people who need to support someone who does.
Many thanks to Heather S. Lonczak and BookSirens for the ARC!!!...more
I just finished reading, Full Circle, and it’s ending made me weep tears of joy. What a beautiful story of tragedy and forgiveness.
This is a story aboI just finished reading, Full Circle, and it’s ending made me weep tears of joy. What a beautiful story of tragedy and forgiveness.
This is a story about Ana, who as a young woman, lived in Czechoslovakia during the Soviet occupation. Ana, tells her story to her daughter, Yael, through painful memories, as she struggles to help Yael understand her seemingly strict attitude. It is told in a “then and now” platform.
The book immerses you in Ana’s life as a student in Prague who has joined the opposition. At times I was amazed and angry at the decisions she made and had to remind myself that she was a young college student. Also, what would I have done in her situation? She had to make choices that I could never imagine having to make in my life.
Fueled by her love of learning and freedom she is torn between taking action against the oppressors and the love for her life and those she loves. Is freedom worth the risk of what could happen to them?
Without adding spoilers, I’ll say that Ana has some terrible things happen to her that create a deep anger within her. As she continues with life she is encouraged to face that anger.
I really liked the ending! It was beautiful and highlights how a person can endure hardship and, looking back, find some goodness that was gleaned from it.
Highly recommend!
TW- violence, suicide, murder and a very small sex scene.
Many thanks to BookSirens and Vered Neta for the free copy to read. I am leaving this review voluntarily....more
I’ve had a hard time deciding what I wanted to write about my experience with Study in Hysteria. I initially thought the title implied the readers wouI’ve had a hard time deciding what I wanted to write about my experience with Study in Hysteria. I initially thought the title implied the readers would follow the MC, Flora, on her descent into hysteria and possibly recovery but it turned out different than I thought. It is a journey inside Flora’s mind.
Flora is an introvert, which I can relate to, but her inner dialogue seemed to blow about like a leaf in the wind. She couldn’t figure out who she was or who she wanted to be. She was upset with her status in life, but she did nothing to change it. It was almost as if she needed permission to change.
Perhaps I cannot relate because I was born in the early 70s. I remember watching All in the Family with my grandparents and thinking what a jerk Archie was. At the same time I realized my grandfather was a lot like Archie and my grandma was like Edith. Possibly the women of that time did not feel they could act any different than everyone else in society. I don’t know.
On reflection, the book is basically a diary of Flora’s depressing thoughts. I felt horrible for Flora and wondered why she didn’t change her life. The book was very sad.
Many thanks to a Kathleen Collins, Vine Leaves Press and BookSirens for a free advanced readers copy. I am freely leaving this review voluntarily....more
Desiderium is a beautifully written book! It tells the story of three generations of Albanian women. It begins with Mira, a young girl fighting for AlDesiderium is a beautifully written book! It tells the story of three generations of Albanian women. It begins with Mira, a young girl fighting for Albanian freedom in a time when it was taboo for women to fight. ( 1911) Then follows Val during WW2 when she is fighting the Nazi’s alongside her brothers. Finally Dita in 2000, who works as a museum curator/archeologist as she studies the history of her land and family. The three generations are told in alternating chapters and towards the end it is revealed how their lives are intertwined.
I absolutely loved the descriptions of the land, foliage and weather. It was nice to have maps and a family tree at the beginning of the book. At the end there is a glossary for the many Albanian words that are sprinkled throughout the text. I also enjoyed learning about the cultural rituals during Mira’s timeline. Her story was my favorite.
I did not realize there would be romance in the book but it was a pleasant surprise. I don’t like romance but I liked how Julie Furxhi added it softly to the story. It was like an added whisper but warmly blanketed the story in a way that added power to the fight for freedom. The love was born out of mutual ideals. I especially liked how Julie wrote the sex scenes. I hate sex scenes and these were written in a way that it snuck passed you without you realizing what was happening until it was over! It was focused on the emotional connection, tenderness and depth of the couples love for one another.
Before I began reading I never questioned the title Desiderium. I didn’t know what it meant but didn’t look it up. When I was done reading I finally looked it up and the title made complete sense! What a meaningful and thoughtfully chosen title!
At the end, in the acknowledgments Julie lists music that she listened to while writing and one of the songs was Glassworks 1 by Phillip Glass and performed by Signal. I immediately looked it up on Spotify and as I listened it brought a warm smile to my face. I thought about the story as I listened and I could see the land and it’s characters come alive!
There is also a list of books for further reading at the end. This is something I will be looking into because I don’t know anything about Albania or their fight for freedom through the centuries.
I highly recommend this book! Many thanks to Julie Furxhi and BookSirens for the advanced readers copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review. ...more
The Icehouse is a fast paced, thriller that keeps you engaged. The opening chapter begins with a murder and ends with a cliffhanger that cleverly pullThe Icehouse is a fast paced, thriller that keeps you engaged. The opening chapter begins with a murder and ends with a cliffhanger that cleverly pulls you in!
DCI Walker is a likable character who has been on leave because of illness but is called back on duty because his experience is impertinent to the case. When it turns out that the murderer has left the same trademarks as the cold case from 20 years ago when his sister was murdered, Walker is determined to find the killer.
Walker has the assistance of a brand new female officer PC Briggs. As the case proceeds there are many possible suspects and Walker and Briggs end up working well together.
What I especially liked about the book is that there was little downtime. There was always something happening and it kept you on your toes trying to figure out who the killer was.
Because it was an ebook I could only read it at certain times ( audiobooks I can listen to while I work) so I found myself staying up late, several nights, because each chapter brought on more suspense and I just couldn’t put it down. I finally ended up finishing one night at 2 am!
There was one scene I found pretty gross and offensive. It was a detailed account of a guy masturbating. I sped passed it and told myself if I came across another scene of that sort I was going to DNF it but there weren’t any others. Except for the one unnecessary part it was a pretty good book.
TW: death of animals. One intentional and another an accident.
Thanks to JJ Richards ,Simulacrum Press Publishers and BookSirens for the free book. My opinions are given voluntarily. ...more
Wow! This book really made me think! Is trying to save famous, irreplaceable art worth dying for?
Kate Bristow’s book made me struggle with this thougWow! This book really made me think! Is trying to save famous, irreplaceable art worth dying for?
Kate Bristow’s book made me struggle with this thought. After learning about an honored hero, who help preserve Italy’s art for future generations, she did an extensive study and wrote this heart wrenching and informative novel.
Elena is the main character and as her family is trying keep their family and village safe from the Nazi’s and the Blackshirts, she is struggling with the urge to serve in her own way; to protect Italy’s famous artworks. It’s hard for some of her family members and neighbors to understand why this would even be important. It’s just art, right? That’s the struggle.
I enjoyed reading about a part of history that I didn’t know much about. The author explains in the afterward that although there is a movie depicting the British and American roles in saving art AFTER the war, there was little telling about the Italians that risked their lives DURING the war and right under the Nazi’s eyes.
It is not for the lighthearted due to sex, violence, rape and murder but it is a gripping tale that needed to be told.
Thank you to BookSirens and Kate Bristow for the advanced readers copy!! I am leaving this review voluntarily. ...more
This is a lovely book! It was a joy to read. I was addicted right away but because I was reading it on kindle and not on audio I couldn’t work while rThis is a lovely book! It was a joy to read. I was addicted right away but because I was reading it on kindle and not on audio I couldn’t work while reading. Otherwise I would have listened as much as I could!
What I like about Our Kept Hearts is that it’s a true to life story. Three kids living their lives and growing up together in America. I liked that it skipped years at a time and had the viewpoint of all three characters, Hazel, Ruthie and Joel. The two girls had to live with the fact that their mother up and left them at a young age and Joel’s hardship was his physically and mentally abusive, alcoholic father.
I’ve never read historical fiction that included the timeline of the Cuban Missile Crisis and it was eye opening to learn how the Americans reacted to it. They made preparations for immediate destruction; bomb shelters, stockpiling provisions, practicing bomb drills at school. I guess it was a foretaste of the preppers we have today.
The book starts in 1953 and ends in November of 1962. There is a sequel so I’m excited to see what Hazel, Ruthie and Joel will be doing next.
Many thanks to BookSirens and Tennille Gilreath for the advanced readers copy!...more
I wanted to read The Seafarers’s Secret because of its interesting plot. I’ve never read a pirate novel and don’t know much about their history so I tI wanted to read The Seafarers’s Secret because of its interesting plot. I’ve never read a pirate novel and don’t know much about their history so I thought a current day detective that explores the past would be fun.
The book is about historian Eva Knightly who ends up trying to solve two murders that seem to be connected to Blackbeard’s lost treasure. Because I don’t know anything about pirating history, I don’t know what parts of the book are historically correct but I wasn’t interested enough to do the research to find out.
In between chapters there are snippets of a woman’s diary from the 1700’s. They are brief paragraphs that didn’t add up to a whole story so I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to glean from them and even though they were said to be from the 1700’s, it was written in current English so that didn’t make sense to me.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’ll only say that there is a twist at the end but I found it predictable and the fact that most of the events could be hidden without anyone knowing is too hard to believe.
Overall, it was a pleasant read and I enjoyed the quirky townspeople but I think someone who knows more about pirates would enjoy it more.
Many thanks to BookSirens and Carol Ann Collins for the free ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily....more