Book Review - What Lies Between Us by Nayomi Munaweera

 

Ganga is a young girl growing up carefree surrounded by her loving family in Sri Lanka. They live in a big old house that has been in the family for generations. Ganga's life is perfect until something terrible happens. One of her most cherished friendship is revealed to have abusive undertones and the consequences will rip apart the only life she knew. After an traumatizing experience, Ganga and her mother flees to America for safety.

In America, Ganga tries to navigate her new life as an American teenager. She is delighted with the new experiences that are now available to her. She decides to pursue becoming a nurse and graduates from college and moves to San Francisco to work at a nearby hospital. On the surface, Ganga appears to be functioning normally but, the trauma from her past continues to haunt her.

When Ganga crosses path with Daniel, she finds herself entranced by him. She falls deeply in love with him and believes she will finally gets her happy ever after. Instead, the secrets that she kept from him coupled with an accidental pregnancy causes the pair's bond to unravel. Ganga struggles with keeping the darkness from encroaching her life until, she finally can't hold on anymore.

The story starts with a very poignant story that alludes to the dark act that she commits. As we are taken through her life, we start to understand the motivation behind her heinous act. At times, the story does move a bit slowly and the "twists" were fairly easy to guess. The heart-wrenching story stays with you long after you finish the story. As readers, we get a glimpses of the struggles of being an immigrants, womanhood/motherhood, Sri Lankan culture, along with struggling with mental illness and trauma.

Book Review - The Lilac House (Lake Summers, #1) by Barbara Josselsohn

 

Anna Harris used to love summer escapes to Lilac House. The Lilac House was always a source of comfort for her and her family. However, since her husband's death, things has changed and nothing seems the same as before. Anna and her kids, Zac and Evie, try to collect the pieces and try to build a new life without Greg.

When Anna and the kids arrive, the house is everything that they remember it as. They get caught up in the small town life and helping their Aunt Hope run her little shop on Main street. Anna begins to feel like herself before she gave up her passion of dancing.  While searching for some guidance, she crosses path with Aidan. Anna and Aidan feel drawn to each other because they both know what it's like to lose someone. They recognize in each other something they both have been missing.

However, Aidan isn't being completely honest on why he's at Lake Summers. Anna learns a secret Greg was keeping before he died and it makes her question everything she knew. Will Anna and Aidan be able to find peace?

I found this book to be boring but, I liked that the characters were upfront and honest with each other. I hate when books use a misunderstanding between the two characters as the only form of story. I felt like that the book barely had any story (except the minute details about ballet) and it definitely dragged during the middle and there were no surprises or twists. I was surprised by the ending because the story wasn't wrapped up in an bow and the next book in the series seems like it would be new characters. I thought the book was okay but, I won't go out of my way to read another book by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - The House Next Door by Darcy Coates

 

Jo lives near a haunted house. She suspected something is wrong with the house since no one stays there long. Recently a family fled during the middle of the night and left all their belongings in the house. Animals including her cats avoid going near the house. Once Jo saw someone pacing through the upstairs room but, no one was living there at the time.

Anna recently bought the house next door. Jo is curious about her new neighbor and decides to reach out to Anna. Jo didn't expect to become friends with Anna but, she is excited to have a friend. However, the Marwick House has become active again with the arrival of its new occupant. Will Anna and Jo be able to get out of the house alive? Will they be able to figure out what is haunting the house?

This was my third book by the author and I enjoyed it. The book isn't really scary but, suspenseful. I found the book to be well written and engaging. As I was reading the book (stupidly late at night and in the dark) I could imagine being inside the dark and creepy house. I felt like the story took a while to build and there wasn't much of a "haunting".  I can't say this was my favorite book but, I am still interested in reading her other novels.

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Rodin's Lover by Heather Webb

Photo Credit - Amazon

Camille Claudel is a young aspiring sculptor. However, because she is a woman, she has plenty of critics including her own overly traditional mother. When renowned sculptor, Auguste Rodin makes Camille his apprentice and muse, their passion ignites their creativity to create breathtaking pieces of work. Even though, Camille is a talented sculptor her success his overshadowed by Rodin's gaining popularity and her gender. Her obsession with creating art and her relationship with Rodin is slowly driving her down the path of madness.

I thought that the novel was an interesting read. It was heartbreaking to read Camille's struggle with mental illness and being treated as an inferior sculptor because of her gender. I didn't like that Camille and Rodin's love affair was considered to be "passionate" but, there was a lot of childish "he loves but, I don't like him...even if I do" scenes.  At times, I found it hard to understand and feel for Camille as she was very sharp and cruel to many of the people who were close to her. I believe the author did this to show Camille's mental state but, I felt it made it hard to root for her. I did like that author included names of Camille's artwork and I thought many of them were beautiful when I did look them up. It was heartbreaking that she didn't receive the same acclaim as her Rodin however, I am glad that a few of her pieces survived.

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - What I Want You to See by Catherine Linka + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

When Sabine Reye wins a scholarship to a prestigious art school; it feels like a dream after her awful senior year. During her senior year, her mother passes away unexpectedly leaving Sabine without a home. She longs for a place to call her own. However, Sabine didn't realize that the art world could be so cutthroat and that seems to feed on other people's failures. She hopes that Colin Krell, a renowned painter on staff who becomes her mentor but, instead he delights in tearing her down and criticize everything she works on.  He warns her that she will lose her scholarship if her work doesn't meet his standards.

Sabine feels helpless and humiliated and doesn't know who to ask for help. Then she crosses path with Adam, a gorgeous grad student who understands the pressure of art school. Adam gives Sabine access to Krell's unseen masterpiece that sold for a million dollars unseen. Sabine is conflicted about painting Krell's masterpiece but, he did tell her to copy a painting she connects with.

While the novel was a predictable read, I couldn't help but root for Sabine. I enjoyed seeing her find her path and working through life's crossroads.  I wished they included more background information behind Adam and his motivation. Not to say this wasn't an enjoyable story but, this would be great if told from alternating points of view (even though I know the main point of the story is Sabine). Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading other books from the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

 

About the Book:

Title: WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE

Author: Catherine Linka

Pub. Date: February 4, 2020

Publisher: Freeform

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

Winning a scholarship to California’s most prestigious art school seems like a fairy tale ending to Sabine Reye’s awful senior year. After losing both her mother and her home, Sabine longs for a place where she belongs.

But the cutthroat world of visual arts is nothing like what Sabine had imagined. Colin Krell, the renowned faculty member whom she had hoped would mentor her, seems to take merciless delight in tearing down her best work—and warns her that she’ll lose the merit-based award if she doesn’t improve.

Desperate and humiliated, Sabine doesn’t know where to turn. Then she meets Adam, a grad student who understands better than anyone the pressures of art school. He even helps Sabine get insight on Krell by showing her the modern master’s work in progress, a portrait that’s sold for a million dollars sight unseen.

Sabine is enthralled by the portrait; within those swirling, colorful layers of paint is the key to winning her inscrutable teacher’s approval. Krell did advise her to improve her craft by copying a painting she connects with . . . but what would he think of Sabine secretly painting her own version of his masterpiece? And what should she do when she accidentally becomes party to a crime so well -plotted that no one knows about it but her?

Complex and utterly original, What I Want You to See is a gripping tale of deception, attraction, and moral ambiguity.

"Linka delivers intrigue, betrayal, and a feast for art lovers."―Mary McCoy, author of Printz Honor Book I, Claudia

*"Clear-sighted and heartbreakingly true, this is a genuine portrait of a girl in quiet crisis learning to see things as they are."―Booklist (starred review)

"Tense, smart, and engaging . . . What I Want You to See is a stunning portrait of deception, artfully peeling back layers of secrets to reveal a meticulously crafted crime."
―Elle Cosimano, award-winning author of Nearly Gone

"A messy, heartbreaking and very real journey of learning to let others see who you truly are."―Carrie Arcos, author of the National Book Award Finalist Out of Reach

"A stunning page-turner that will tear your heart and paste it back together."
―Kim Purcell, author of This is Not A Love Letter and Trafficked

About Catherine:

Catherine Linka has been immersed in books her whole life, most recently as a writer and bookseller. She’s the author of the young adult novel WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE as well as the dystopian duology A GIRL CALLED FEARLESS and A GIRL UNDONE. Catherine lives in Southern California and watches hawks and hummingbirds when she should be writing. 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a signed finished copy of WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE, US Only.

Rafflecopter link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21048/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/3/2020	Texan Girl Reviews	Excerpt
2/4/2020	What A Nerd Girl Says	Review
2/5/2020	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
2/6/2020	Savings in Seconds / @savingsinseconds	Review
2/7/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review

Week Two:

2/10/2020	Do You Dog-ear?	Review
2/11/2020	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
2/12/2020	fictitious.fox	Review
2/13/2020	momfluenster	Review
2/14/2020	Hurn Publications	Review

Week Three:

2/17/2020	PopTheButterfly Reads	Review
2/18/2020	A Bookish Escape/lindytgomez	Review
2/19/2020	notinjersey	Review
2/20/2020	Nerdophiles	Review
2/21/2020	Comfort Books	Review

Week Four:

2/24/2020	She Just Loves Books	Review
2/25/2020	One in a Million	Review
2/26/2020	Fyrekatz	Review
2/27/2020	Two Points of Interest	Review
2/28/2020	ChristenKrumm	Review

 

Book Review - The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams

Photo Credit - Amazon

Esme Pearl is a seventeen-year-old who has a babysitters club with her best friend. She knows that it's lame to have a club with only two members but, it's her only option other than getting a real job.  However, Esme is going to need all the cash she can get when a series of unfortunate events leaves a path of destruction behind her.

Her new classmate, Cassandra Heaven is supermodel hot. However, she has a rebellious streak and dresses like she found her clothes in the trash. When Cassandra wants to join the babysitters club, Esme is surprised. 

The duo realizes that they have more in common with each other than they imagined. They are about to find out that being a babysitter has a different meaning than they thought. They will discover that they have superpowers that will enable them to save people from monsters. 

The novel started off as a fun read but, quickly went downhill. I found the plot to be very basic and predictable. I didn't find any of the characters likable and some were downright annoyingly extra. Overall, this felt like a gimmicky novel instead of a "serious" read.

 **Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Things We Knew by Catherine West

Photo Credit - Amazon

An unexpected tragedy hits a young family as their beloved mother perishes. The once close-knit family is still reeling from the incident. Broken friendships and strained relations cause the siblings to leave their childhood home and never return until their youngest sister asks them to come home because of their father's health and struggling with his finances.When the Carlisle siblings return home, secret and promises come undone along with past betrayals. Will they be able to forget the past and come together and save their home? Will Lynette be able to remember what happened the night her mother was murdered? 

A heart warming story of forgiveness, redemption, love and familial bonds. The novel was an easy going read but provided a lot of twists and turns throughout the novel. I like how the novel had a different type of romantic ending. 

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**