Showing posts with label strangers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strangers. Show all posts

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Book Review - The Retreat by Elisabeth de Mariaffi

 

Maeve Martin needs a new start and she arrives to the High Water Center for the Arts with the intention of starting her own dance company. The lodge is a beautiful retreat that is nestled between the Rocky Mountains. She is a mother of two and a retired performer who is trying to piece back together her life after her violent marriage. She is happy to rediscover herself as this is the first time she is on her own in years. Maeve feels that she can forget about her past by being surrounded by the beautiful landscape.

As Maeve starts practicing her routine, an avalanche traps her and six other guest in the lodge. They have lost all connection with the nearby town including power and the only road into town. At first, everyone tries to get along and pass the time. However, as the storm rages on, tensions start to run high indoors. They feel that help is coming and they just need to hold on.

Then a tragedy occurs and one guest perishes and then another shortly follows. Maeve must come to terms about how little she knows the people she is stuck with it. Will she be able to survive the storm if the darkness is already near her?

 At first the book started off interesting and then it became a boring hot mess. The book lagged and barely had any story and the ending felt like it was unrealistic and rushed. The motive behind the murders seemed trivial at best. I felt like the ending left more questions than it gave any answers. This was a disappointing read for me and I am in no rush to read other books by the author.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Book Review - The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck + Giveaway



Photo Credit - Amazon

Five strangers are given the chance to rewrite their stories by joining The Fifth Avenue Story Society.  Lexa is an executive assistant and wants a promotion to CEO. She knows that she can do the job but, her boss, Zane believes she is just suited to her current role. Jett is a literature professor and writer who is nursing a broken heart from the death of his older brother and his divorce.  He is writing a dissertation on his idol, Gordon Phipps Roth. Jett has heard rumors that GPR might be a fraud.

Chuck is an Uber driver who wants a second chance with his two kids.  Ed is an aging widow who wants to write the love story of his marriage to Esmeralda. Coral is the owner of a multi-million dollar cosmetics empire that was started by her great grandmother. However, she is still recovering from her broken engagement to a prince and she is on the verge of losing her company. 

When they assemble at the library, they presume they are a victim of a practical joke. No one knows the purpose of the invitation, the reason behind the society, and why they are chosen. As the group meets every week, they find themselves a place to belong but, still afraid to share their secrets.

This is the second novel I have read by the author. I didn't enjoy the first one so, I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel. The story started strong and tapered off towards the middle. However, I am glad that I stuck through the novel because I love seeing the true story of each character unfold. I enjoyed seeing that each character was able to find themselves and find each other. I wish there were more details given about the secret society and why each person was picked.


**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.**



The Fifth Avenue Story Society
By Rachel Hauck
Christian Contemporary Romance
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 400 Pages
February 4th 2020 by Thomas Nelson

An invitation to join The Fifth Avenue Story Society gives five New York strangers a chance to rewrite their own stories.

Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.

Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.

Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.

Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.

Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.

When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to reveal their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.

Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.

Praise for the Book

"Hauck inspires and uplifts with this mix of tales." - Publishers Weekly

(Affiliate links included.)

About the Author


Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a print copy of The Wedding Dress (US only)
Ends February 19, 2020