WOMEN'S FICTION - She Wouldn't Change a Thing by Sarah Adlakha

 

Amazon Link  

Goodreads Link

Sliding Doors meets Life After Life in Sarah Adlakha's story about a wife and mother who is given the chance to start over at the risk of losing everything she loves.

A second chance is the last thing she wants.

When thirty-nine year old Maria Forssmann wakes up in her seventeen-year-old body, she doesn’t know how she got there. All she does know is she has to get back: to her home in Bienville, Mississippi, to her job as a successful psychiatrist and, most importantly, to her husband, daughters, and unborn son.

But she also knows that, in only a few weeks, a devastating tragedy will strike her husband, a tragedy that will lead to their meeting each other.

Can she change time and still keep what it’s given her?

Exploring the responsibilities love lays on us, the complicated burdens of motherhood, and the rippling impact of our choices, She Wouldn't Change a Thing is a dazzling debut from a bright new voice.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

She Wouldn't Change a Thing is an amazing book by Sarah Adlakha.

It's a complicated read, definitely disjointed and hard to follow at times, but that is purposely done. With this writing style, the author fully brings us into this difficult to follow, confusing, and fragmented world. 

This is a story of time travel, sort of. It's a story of reincarnation. Sort of. 

What I do know is that it's set in a world where people are brought back in time, with a purpose to change something. 

When Maria is shot, she wakes us as a teenager in her old home. But all she wants is to be back with her husband, two daughters, and her soon-to-be-born baby boy. 

What follows is the messy, emotional, and surprising story of Maria's experiences in this reversal of time. Decisions are life and death. Decisions are full of sacrifice and totally gut-wrenching. 

She Wouldn't Change a Thing is a riveting and powerful read. This Sarah Adlakha tale will leave you questioning your own strength and decisions. It's a fantastic read. I couldn't put it down. 

WOMEN'S FICTION - Three Words for Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU 
Goodreads Link

From Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, the bestselling authors of Meet Me in Monaco, comes a coming-of-age novel set in pre-WWII Europe, perfect for fans of Jennifer Robson, Beatriz Williams, and Kate Quinn.  



Three cities, two sisters, one chance to correct the past . . .

New York, 1937: When estranged sisters Clara and Madeleine Sommers learn their grandmother is dying, they agree to fulfill her last wish: to travel across Europe—together. They are to deliver three letters, in which Violet will say goodbye to those she hasn’t seen since traveling to Europe forty years earlier; a journey inspired by famed reporter, Nellie Bly.

Clara, ever-dutiful, sees the trip as an inconvenient detour before her wedding to millionaire Charles Hancock, but it’s also a chance to embrace her love of art. Budding journalist Madeleine relishes the opportunity to develop her ambitions to report on the growing threat of Hitler’s Nazi party and Mussolini’s control in Italy.

Constantly at odds with each other as they explore the luxurious Queen Mary, the Orient Express, and the sights of Paris and  Venice,, Clara and Madeleine wonder if they can fulfil Violet’s wish, until a shocking truth about their family brings them closer together. But as they reach Vienna to deliver the final letter, old grudges threaten their reconciliation again. As political tensions rise, and Europe feels increasingly volatile, the pair are glad to head home on the Hindenburg, where fate will play its hand in the final stage of their journey.

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Three Words for Goodbye is an intriguing historical fiction read by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb. 

This is a tale of sisterhood, both the good and the bad. 

Clara and Madeleine are are opposites as opposites can be. They don't get along. They have different interest and goals. And both are at a life changing point in life. 

With a trip across the globe planned by their aunt, the two sisters set off on a journey that surprised them both. Their aunt had a mission for them, and the sisters have no clue what they are about to experience.

The setting is fabulous, with Hitler rising to power as the girls are traveling. With a first hand view at what's going on, the girls see more than they expected to see. 

I love this journey overall. I don't want to give anything away, but the theme is well done and poignant. 

The writing is strong, with everything well brought to life, and an atmosphere well illustrated. The twists and turns are interesting and riveting. 

Three Words For Goodbye is well worth a read the next time you want to read about the bond of sisterhood. These writers combine to create an interesting tale with plenty of heart and emotions. 

WOMEN'S FICTION - When We Meet Again by Caroline Beecham

 

Amazon Link  

Goodreads Link

An emotionally compelling tale of love and mystery set in the publishing world of World War II London, When We Meet Again tells the story of a mother searching for her stolen child, and illustrates the unbreakable bonds among families, lovers, and readers under the shadow of war.

London, 1943: War and dwindling resources have taken their toll on the book publishing industry, but Alice Cotton, a young editor at Partridge Press, has seen her star begin to rise. She has a knack for creating new books to distract readers from the grim realities of the war. And the demand for books is greater than ever, both on the battlefield and on the home front. But just as her hard work seems poised to pay off, Alice unexpectedly falls pregnant.

Facing the stigma of being an unwed mother, Alice flees to a small town to give birth to her child, Eadie, whom her family has promised to help raise. Instead, her mother sells the newborn to baby farmers who plan to give the child up for a private adoption. Alice begins her desperate hunt to find the daughter she never planned for but suddenly deeply loves.

Alice's story intertwines with that of Theo Bloom, an American editor tasked with helping Partridge Press overcome the publishing obstacles of the war. Theo and Alice are quickly drawn to each other during their darkest hours, bound by hope, love, secrets, and the belief that books have the power to change lives. 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

When We Meet Again is an intriguing historical fiction read by Carlone Beecham. 

From the start, I found myself feeling everything with Alice. Damn, the poor girl. My heart hurt for her immediately. 

Her life goes from tragedy to yet worse tragedies. It's all a tough read. The fact that it's based on true events makes it even more powerful.

The writing is great, with everything representative of the time period. The author fully pulls the reader into the era. I also enjoy the secondary characters and the way the author brings them in and out of the story.

When We Meet Again is a great historical story. Everything about this Caroline Beecham tale is intriguing and easy to follow. 

WOMEN'S FICTION - The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas

 

Amazon Link  

Goodreads Link

Poignant, hopeful, and full of emotional power, an unforgettable story in the vein of P.S. I Love You about two people learning to love again after great loss, perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Josie Silver.

How can you move on if you can’t let go?

Spencer was the love of Anna’s life: her husband, her best friend, her rock. She thought their love would last forever.

But three years ago, Spencer was tragically killed in an accident and Anna’s world was shattered. How can she ever move on, when she’s lost her soulmate?

On New Year’s Eve Anna calls Spencer’s phone number, just to hear his old voicemail greeting. But to her shock, someone answers…

Brody has inherited Spencer’s old number and is the first person who truly understands what Anna’s going through. As her and Brody’s phone calls become lengthier and more frequent, they begin opening up to each other—and slowly rediscover how to smile, how to laugh, even how to hope.

But Brody hasn’t been entirely honest with Anna. Will his secret threaten everything, just as it seems she might find the courage to love again?

My Rating - 5 Stars!

The Last Goodbye is a gripping novel by Fiona Lucas. 

This is a story of heartache and grief. This is a story of pain, loss, and healing. This is a story of two people who each lost a member of their family, and suffered greatly as a result. 

It's thought provoking and extremely emotional. It takes the reader on one hell of a journey.

I definitely recommend this novel. 

BUT, if death of a spouse or family member is a trigger for you, SKIP this one. It's a tough read for sure. 

In the end, it's a great hurt/comfort romance that is full of learning to move forward after loss. It's wonderfully done. 

The Last Goodbye is riveting from the start. Fiona Lucas brings the reader through all the emotions in this stellar read. I am highly impressed. 

WOMEN'S FICTION - The Paris Apartment by Kelly Bowen

 

Amazon Link   

Goodreads Link

A heart-wrenching novel that unearths generations of secrets and sacrifices -- perfect for fans of The Paris Orphan and The Lost Girls of Paris.

When a woman inherits a Parisian apartment undisturbed since WWII, she discovers that it may hold the key to unraveling her cold and distant great-grandmother's secret life -- a past of sacrifice during a mission to protect those she loved.

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Kelly Bowen's The Paris Apartment is a fascinating read. Alternating between modern times and World War II events, this is a fiction tale that follows some amazing events surrounding the war. 

Upon inheriting an apartment in Paris, Aurelia discovers a world she never knew existed. What she finds upon first view is what looks to be a museum of stolen art. Assuming her aunt was a Nazi collaborator, she soon unveils the truth. 

The author excels in slowly unveiling the events from the past, while combining Aurelia's search and discoveries, with what happened to her aunt, Estelle, and her friend Sophie during the war.

The past includes death and injuries, orphaned children, and a look into saving some of the countries citizens and artwork. This stories includes a secret room, as well as a secret apartment, that were all used during the war. 

This tale is written with plenty of details, as well as a wealth of knowledge about the times. 

The Paris Apartment is a wonderful read. I highly suggest this Kelly Bowen story to anyone interested in reading more about some of the secret events that took place during wartime. It's a stunning look into female heroes, and the mysteries that survived the years. 

WOMEN'S FICTION - The Other Mrs. Samson by Ralph Webster

 

Amazon Link   - Available in KU  

Goodreads Link

Surviving two wars, sharing one husband, searching for answers...

A hidden compartment in a black lacquer cabinet left in an attic reveals the secrets of two incredible women: Hilda, born and raised in one of the wealthiest Jewish families in turn-of-the-century San Francisco, and Katie, whose early life in Germany is marked by tragedy and death. Their lives are forever entwined by their love of the same man, the brilliant and compassionate Dr. Josef Samson.

From the earliest, rough-and-tumble days of San Francisco, through the devastation of the Great War in Berlin and the terrors of Vichy France, and then to a new yet uncertain life in New York City, their stories span the most tumultuous events of the twentieth century. In the end, one of these women will complete the life of the other and make a startling discovery about the husband they share.

My Rating - 3.5Stars!

Ralph Webster's The Other Mrs Sampson is an intriguing story. But I definitely have mixed feelings regarding it. 

This is the story of letters discovered that follows Josef, Hilda, and Katie. Most of this story is from Hilda and Katie's perspective, told through their letters and journal. This is mostly their stories, as they talk about love, family, and war.   

Their story is full of twists and turns. Covering the gold rush in San Francisco, the aftermath of WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, and more, the history jumps off the pages. 

And ultimately, the story ends with a surprising revelation. It leaves the reader with a "well darn!" kind of feeling. 

I enjoy the story as a whole, and like the ending, but I am left with wanting more. Of what? I don't know. I just know I found myself distracted at times. At some parts, I was completely riveted. Others found me with my thoughts drifting. I can't put my finger on it, but some parts are definitely more interesting than others. 

Overall, The Other Mrs Samson is an entertaining read. Ralph Webster includes a huge taste of history in this tale which I definitely appreciate. It's easy to read, but I don't know who I would recommend it to. 

WOMEN'S FICTION - When the World Stood Still by Kate Eastham

Amazon Link   - Available in KU  

Goodreads Link

The nurses were putting in twelve-hour shifts now, day and night. Emily felt broken inside, dried out, not even capable of tears. They were short-staffed after a softly spoken Irish nurse, who’d only been with them for four days, had died from the deadly flu and two more had fallen ill. And more patients were coming in every hour, though the hospital beds were already full…

1918. Twenty-year-old Emily Burdon has been training as a nurse in London, learning on the job as she tends to patients from the crowded poorhouses that ring the hospital as well as wounded soldiers returning from the war. She pours her heart into her nursing while she waits for happier times – peace in Europe and the return of her childhood sweetheart Lewis from the Western Front.

But when the deadly Spanish Flu arrives in London on the heels of the war, Emily’s faith and courage are put to the test. All around her men and women in the prime of their lives are wasting away, and until a cure is found there is nothing for Emily and her colleagues to do except make them comfortable, treat them as best they can… and, eventually, ease the pain of their passing.

But then Lewis catches the deadly flu himself on his way back home, just as a new doctor is transferred to head up Emily’s ward. From the distant land of Prince Edward Island in Canada, Dr James Cantor is the first of a generations-old farming family to have left the island, and wartime London feels a long way away from the rugged beauty of his homeland. But despite their differences, he and Emily find common ground in their passion for helping patients and stopping the spread of the disease. But with life forever changed around her and Lewis’ future hanging by a thread, can Emily survive the most terrible epidemic in the history with her life – and heart – intact?

A heartbreaking historical novel based on true history – emotional and unforgettable. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, The Beantown Girls and Diney Costeloe.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

When the World Stood Still is a powerful historical romance by Kate Eastham. 

This book would be riveting at any time. But with the world currently at the hands of the Covid-19 pandemic, this is even more harrowing. 

This is a tale that follows Emily as she trains to be a nurse and is suddenly thrown into the middle of the Spanish Flu epidemic. 

She knows the pain and loss of war, and now she experiences the suffering and death from the pandemic. 

It's a fascinating insight as to how things might have been handled at the time. They certainly didn't have the instant news we have, nor the cutting end scientific resources. 

Reading of the flu, from Emily's eyes, is hard to handle. And on top of all of that, she has to deal with her fiancee returning home from war injured, and the aftermath of seeing him again. Her love life and her career goals are not easy, as one would expect. 

When the World Stood Still is a romance set against the backdrop of tragedy. Kate Eastham creates a vivid picture of the times and all that surrounded the nurses and doctors at the time. And somehow brings Emily a happy ending despite it all. It's definitely a worthwhile read. 

WOMEN'S FICTION - An Unusual Boy by Fiona Higgins

 

Amazon Link   - Available in KU  

Goodreads Link

Meet Jackson - a very unusual boy in a world that prefers 'normal'...

Julia Curtis is a busy mother of three, with a husband often away for work, an ever-present mother-in-law, a career, and a house that needs doing up. Her fourteen-year-old daughter, Milla, has fallen in love for the first time, and her youngest, Ruby, is a nine-year-old fashionista who can out-negotiate anyone.

But Julia’s eleven-year-old son, Jackson, is different. Different to his sisters. Different to his classmates. In fact, Jackson is different from everyone. And bringing up a child who is different isn’t always easy.

Then, one Monday morning, Jackson follows his new friend Digby into the school toilets. What happens inside changes everything; not only for Jackson, but for every member of his family. Julia faces the fight of her life to save her unusual boy from a world set up for ‘normal’.

An extraordinary boy. The mother who loves him. The fight of their lives.

Bestselling novelist Fiona Higgins returns with a heart-stopping, devastating, but ultimately uplifting story about loyalty, love and forgiveness.

Praise for Fiona Higgins:

'An Unusual Boy' is the unforgettable story of an exceptional child and his flawed but loving family, told with Fiona Higgin's characteristic intelligence, deep empathy and insight.' Virginia Lloyd, author of Girls at the Piano and The Young Widow’s Book of Home Improvement

‘An insightful and sensitively written’ Saturday Age on The Mothers’ Group

‘An enthralling read. Be prepared to burn the midnight oil, as it is impossible to put down.’ Sunday Herald Sun on The Mothers’ Group

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Fiona Higgins An Unusual Boy is an impressive and thought provoking read. 

The writing is absolutely fabulous. With the story told from two povs, Jackson and his mother Julia, both characters and their family life are wonderfully developed. And the storyline is one hell of a difficult subject.

Jackson is a young boy with special needs. He lives in his own very literal world. His story, and the way he views and interacts with the world, was a very difficult read for me. I was worried throughout and my heart hurt so badly for Jackson. As a boy often stuck in his own head, unable to communicate fully with the world as a whole, I dreaded where this story was going. 

Julia's pov, fully illustrating how all consuming and difficult it can be to raise such a child, is amazingly well done. I appreciate the small moments when she can break through to what he's thinking and appreciate this special child. And damn, one can easily relate to some of her thoughts that if only the other people knew how tough every damn day is for her. And that, damn, it can always be worse.

I don't want to give away the twists and turns. This story definitely gets serious and hits on some harrowing subjects. Go into this story with an open mind, knowing you will be unable to put down this riveting tale. That said, I did want to put it down. I wanted to stop reading because I couldn't take the pain anymore. But I couldn't actually put it down. And I am glad. 

I can't recommend An Unusual Boy enough. Every single moment of this Fiona Higgins story is making an important point. Every single moment is telling a tale of extremely important issues, and some of the problems in our society with dealing with children such as Jackson. 

WOMEN'S FICTION - What's Worth Keeping by Kaya McLaren

 

Amazon Link 
Goodreads Link

In Kaya McLaren's What's Worth Keeping, during one unforgettable summer, three generations of one family receive the best gift of all time: a second chance...



The day her doctor says the one word that no one wants to hear, Amy Bergstrom discovers a secret that her husband of 25 years has been keeping from her. Now that the months of treatment and surgeries are behind her, she escapes her claustrophobic life seeking healing, peace and clarity in an ancient forest in Washington State, a forest that holds memories of her childhood summers.

After dropping off his daughter at Amy's Aunt Rae's horse ranch in the mountains of New Mexico, Officer Paul Bergstrom visits the fixer-upper he had bought years ago as a place to retire with his family. Although it appears fine on the outside, the inside is a disaster--just like his marriage. When he finds himself with more off-duty time than he expected, he lovingly repairs his dream home, building the future he so desperately wants.

Witnessing her mother's health crisis had been terrifying enough, but learning the cause was genetic leaves Carly with the sense that all of her dreams are pointless. With the help of her eccentric great aunt and a Clydesdale named T. Rex, Carly just may find her faith in her future again.

Amy, Paul, and Carly discover that love and family are worth keeping in this powerful, emotional, and hopeful novel. 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

What's Worth Keeping is a thought-provoking, powerful tale by Kayla McLaren. 

The overall tone is sadness and more sadness. But ultimately, it's a tale of survival, acceptance, and healing. 

Amy, her husband Paul, and their daughter Carly are all suffering, with each of them trying to survive the aftermath of Amy's cancer diagnosis and treatment. We all know that cancer effects all those around the one physically suffering, and this story tackles just that.

It's been a long road for Amy, with having just beaten cancer. But knowing she's done with her treatments leaves her unsure of her life now. Of course, it doesn't help that she expects her husband to leave her now. She's left depressed, lonely, unsure, and grieving for her old self. She can't bare to look at her new body. Her perspective is well handled, with care, knowledge, and compassion. 

Meanwhile Paul is suffering from an issue with his job. The aftermath of seeing terror and not being able to help anyone, has left him feeling less than. He was there, at the Oklahoma City bombing, and he still has flashbacks to all he saw that day. It's truly heart-wrenching to read his journey.

And Carly. Not only is she dealing with everything her family's gone through, she is dealing with how to tackle things. Should she be reckless and not care about anything? Should she do things to get her parents attention? And should she be tested to see if her odds of getting cancer like her mother are high?  She's only a teen and she has no clue how to process everything she's facing or how to deal with her future. 

Then there's Aunt Rae, who is one of those special characters who you'll remember for a long time. She's supportive, she's honest, she's helpful, and most of all she's caring. She loves hard and she loves fully. I love her role in this storyline. 

The writing is good, written in three povs, fully developing each character. Amy, Paul, and Carly are complex characters with an extremely complex tale. Each character's emotions are front and center, well explored, and driving the story throughout. My only complaint is that is it definitely slow. 

What's Worth Keeping is a long, detailed family tale. Kaya McLaren tackles some heavy topics and does so in a wonderful manner. I definitely recommend this book when you have time to tackle a long and serious read.