Book Review - The Other People by C.J. Tudor

  

Gabe is driving home one night and he is stuck behind a rusty old car. As he stares ahead willing traffic to move faster, he sees a little girl's face appear in the car's rear window. The girl mouths "daddy" to him. He realizes it's his five-year-old daughter, Izzy. After their faithful momentary meeting, Gabe never sees his daughter again.

Three years later, Gabe spends his days and night going up and down the highway searching for his daughter. He refuses to give up hope because that would mean admitting that his daughter is dead. He receives help from an unlikely ally and discovers the car he last saw his daughter in. The car was found abandoned with a body inside. Gabe must come to terms with the day Izzy disappeared and his past.

Fran and her daughter, Alice also spends a lot of time on the road. Unlike Gabe, they are running from people who want to hurt them. It's because Fran knows the truth behind Izzy's disappearance. She knows that if they catch her, they might not make it out alive.

I thought the novel was an interesting read. I wish the author gave more details about certain things and characters. I didn't really care for some of the supernatural bits of the story. While the story took a bit to get going, I found the book to be an enjoyable 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 Forgotten Daughter by Joanna Goodman

 

In 1992, some of the French-Canadian people are fighting for Quebec's independence. Véronique Fortin is the daughter of a famous radical separatist who was convicted of kidnapping and murdering a politician in 1970.  She believes in her father's cause of Quebec being separate from Canada. It is surprising when she falls for James Phénix, a journalist of French-Canadian descent who opposes Quebec separatism. Their relationship is turbulent and passionate as they try to navigate their relationship.

Elodie Phénix is James's older sister and one of the Duplessis Orphans. She becomes involved in a lawsuit against the church, government, and the medical officials who branded her mentally incapable as an orphan. During the 1950s, Quebec's orphanages were converted to mental hospitals to get more money for the government. This led to children being misdiagnosed.

Elodie relies on Véronique as Elodie struggles to get recognition for the childhood trauma she faced. During the lawsuit ordeal, Elodie is forced to come to terms with her feelings. Will Elodie and Véronique be able to move on from their past?

I thought the book was an interesting read. I felt like it was a bit slow for some parts of the novel. The story showed characters learning to forgive and love each other. This wasn't a book I would normally pick to read but, I am glad that I did read it. I am looking forward to reading other books by 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.**

Book Review - Nine by Rachelle Dekker

 

 

Zoe Johnson prefers to spend her life living in the shadows. She doesn't like to draw attention to herself or being involved with other people. However, when a disheveled teenager walks into a diner where Zoe works, she feels drawn to the teen. Lucy has no memories and is struggling to figure out what to do next. Zoe is reminded of her own painful memories of the past and wants to help Lucy figure out her own past. Lucy only remembers that she needs to find a woman in Corpus Christi, Texas, which is hundreds of miles away. Lucy and Zoe will need to find the woman before government agents find them.

I found the novel to be a fast-paced and an entertaining read. However, I found the novel to be predictable and had the outcome I expected. I did like that the novel teaches readers that our past doesn't limit our future. It does define us but, we can choose who we want to be. The novel has themes of moving on, love,  accepting ourselves, and forgiveness. I enjoyed reading about the characters growing than the "action" and "suspense" parts of the novel.  I would be open to reading more books by the author but, I wouldn't go out of my way to read her books.

**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.**

 

Book Review - After the Worst Thing Happens by Audrey Vernick + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Army Morand feels like her world has changed overnight when after an unfortunate accident, her beloved dog passed away. Army feels terrible because it was her fault that her beloved dog, Maybe got sick. She is having a hard time coming to terms with his death and she is hiding from her best friend, JennaLouise.


One day, Army sees the new girl that moved in across the street, Madison wandering around the street by herself. Army sees that Madison is also climbing a tree and goes out on the roof by herself. Army finds herself wanting to help Madison's family and making sure nothing happens to them. However, when a big storm is headed their way, will Army be able to find Madison when she goes missing?


The novel was an interesting read about a young girl dealing with sorrow and coming to terms with dealing with death and loss. She decides to use her energy to help a young family in need as a way to help her grieve her beloved dog. I thought the novel was an okay read. I didn't bond with any of the characters. I thought it was odd that the mother relied on Army without consulting Army's mother first. I feel like that she was stressed out and wanted Army to feel useful but, she should have talked to Army's mother first. I felt that some of the dialogue felt forced. I did like that there was some humor sprinkled throughout the story and that the author showcased one of the different spectrums of Autism.

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited 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: AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS

Author: Audrey Vernick

Pub. Date: July 7, 2020

Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books

Formats:  Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 224

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Left reeling after her thoughtless mistake causes a terrible accident, 12-year-old Army Morand channels her grief to help someone in need.

Army Morand feels like her life has been blown to bits when the worst thing imaginable happens--her beloved dog dies. It was an accident, but it was also Army's fault. She can't seem to stop hiding from everything and everybody including her best friend JennaLouise.

But then Army sees Madison, the little girl who moved in across the way, climbing a tree and walking down the street unsupervised. Her family is not neglectful, just overwhelmed. Army finds herself overcome with the need to help Madison's family to make sure another worst thing doesn't happen--which becomes even more challenging when a big storm threatens her town.

"The subjects are heavy, but Army’s young voice infuses them with humor and warmth, even when her path forward seems uncertain. 'Just go with it and make things happen before you totally understand how to do all of it,' Army suggests, a hard-won lesson that young readers will take to heart." —Booklist

"this is fundamentally the story of small moments of growth and insight. Army’s first-person narration feels particularly authentic as she navigates her intense feelings"—The Horn Book

"In short chapters told from Army’s earnest first-person perspective, she finds new ways to negotiate with her caring but emotionally reserved parents and steps out of her own comfort zone; this exploration of family dynamics is where the novel shines."—Kirkus Reviews

"With moments of humor, Vernick (Two Naomis) weaves together a well-paced story that explores grief in all its raw pain, as well as the power of friends, family, and community to help heal." —Publishers Weekly

About Audrey:

Audrey grew up in Whitestone, New York, where she lived with her parents and two sisters and a not very bright small white dog. She has a freaky memory about the names of the kids in her class at P.S. 184Q, and even remembers where most of them stood in size order. 

She always loved to read and still rereads Harriet the Spy on a regular basis.  She was not one of those children who always knew she wanted to be a writer; she didn't love to write until college. She's been writing ever since. 

In addition to writing for children, Audrey has published more than a dozen short stories for adults in magazines and literary journals. She received an mfa from Sarah Lawrence College.

Audrey divides her time between writing (which is mostly spent revising) and visiting elementary schools to talk about writing and publishing. (For school visit info, click here.) She also speaks at conferences around the country. 

She lives near the ocean in New Jersey with her family, and one fairly intelligent medium-sized black dog.

Audrey Vernick received a 2019 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of AFTER THE WORST THING HAPPENS, US Only.

Rafflecopter link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21128/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/3/2020	Her Book Thoughts	Review
8/3/2020	Her Book Thoughts	Instagram Stop
8/4/2020	BookHounds YA	Interview
8/4/2020	Oodles of Books	Review
8/4/2020	Jaime's World	Excerpt
8/5/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review
8/5/2020	kelly_lyn_90	Instagram Stop
8/5/2020	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
8/6/2020	onemused	Review/Instagram Stop
8/6/2020	reading_with_nessie	Review
8/6/2020	Two Chicks on Books	Interview
8/7/2020	notinjersey	Excerpt
8/7/2020	notinjersey	Instagram Stop
8/7/2020	TheReadingCornerforAll	Review
8/7/2020	TheReadingCornerforAll	Instagram Stop
8/7/2020	JaimeRockstarBookTours	Instagram Stop

Week Two:

8/10/2020	Kait Plus Books	Review
8/10/2020	Kait Plus Books	Instagram Stop
8/11/2020	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
8/11/2020	YA Books Central	Excerpt
8/11/2020	YA Books Central	Instagram Stop
8/12/2020	Life Writings of a Reader	Excerpt
8/12/2020	Life Writings of a Reader	Instagram Stop
8/13/2020	two points of interest	Review
8/13/2020	Here's to Happy Endings	Review
8/14/2020	fictitious.fox	Review/Instagram Stop
8/14/2020	Hurn Publications	Review
8/14/2020	Hurn Publications	Instagram Stop