Book Review - Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig

 

Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig is about an autistic teenager in foster care named Ginny Moon, who has special needs, and her journey to find a place to belong. Ginny was adopted by her new parents after her birth mother, Gloria, was neglectful and abusive. Ginny’s new adoptive parents,  Maura and Brian, love her and care about her but they don’t quite understand Ginny. They try to make her feel that she belongs with them and that Ginny has somewhere that she can call home.

Ginny, however, is determined to get into contact with Gloria. Ginny knows that Gloria isn’t suitable to be a parent. Ginny isn’t allowed to use a computer without the help of an adult but she found a way to sneak online and reconnect with her birth mother. Ginny wants to see if her “Baby Doll” is safe and she is willing to risk her safety to make sure her “Baby Doll” is safe.

Ginny’s adoptive parents and her therapist, Patrice, believe that Ginny is talking about a doll when she mentions “Baby Doll.” They do not believe her claims that her “Baby Doll” is a real child since they didn’t see any proof of any other children in Gloria’s house other than Ginny. They are confused why Ginny is so insistent on reuniting with Gloria when that would put Ginny at risk for more abuse.

The book took a bit for me to get into. I had a hard time connecting with Ginny and her adoptive parents. She is neurodivergent and I am not familiar with people who are autistic. It was hard for me to tell if she was being a difficult character or if she was acting like that because she was neurodivergent.

I was a bit confused on how Ginny saw things. When the novel opened up, Ginny was given an electronic baby doll to care for. The doll wouldn’t stop crying so Ginny punches the doll and stuffs it in a suitcase under her bed. It is hard to reconcile this violent side of her with the other side that wants to protect her “Baby Doll.” It was worrying when Ginny wouldn’t refer to any baby by their gender but would only refer to them as “it.” I found it weird that she was worried about her “Baby Doll” but seemed to care very little about other children and the electronic baby doll. I understand why her adoptive parents were hesitant to believe her at first but then years passed by and it was only when Ginny made one flippant comment did someone finally take her seriously.

I hated how rude and mean her adoptive parents were. As soon as they realized that Ginny was too much to handle, they were ready to give her back. I do sympathize that they needed to protect their newborn baby but I felt that they didn’t even take the time to understand Ginny or try to figure out why she wanted to see her birth mom.  The book’s pace did take a bit to pick up and get to the point. It was repetitive  when talking about Ginny’s different idiosyncrasies, but the author glosses over Ginny’s traumatic past. The author hints at her past trauma but never goes into much detail. I feel like if we were given a bit more detail maybe I would have been able to connect a bit better with Ginny. I would, however, be open to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - In the Tunnel by Julie Lee

 

In the Tunnel by Julie Lee is about a family’s journey to escape North Korea. Myungi-gi knows that war between North and South Korea is inevitable. Life in North Korea has become unbearable where most people live in fear that they might disappear if they do not follow their regime’s rules.

Myungi-gi’s family decide to make plans to escape as life is becoming unbearable and harder to survive. However, things take a turn for the worse when his father is abducted by the secret police when they were about to leave. Their plans to escape hinged on their father coming with them.  Myungi-gi feels shattered because he knows that his family needs to escape to survive but he is unable to leave his father behind. He feels guilty because deep down he believes his father’s abduction was his fault.

I have read the author’s previous book, Brother’s Keeper, and enjoyed it. This book can be read as a standalone but readers of the previous book would notice some recurring characters. The book is split between the past and the present, with both being narrated by Myungi-gi. 

In the past, he talks about his family’s journey to South Korea and the struggles and dangers they faced. In the current timeline, we find that Myungi-gi joined the war efforts and is stuck in an enemy tunnel.  It was interesting trying to figure out how the shy, gentle bookish Myungi-gi ends up fighting in the war when it seemed like that was the farthest thing from his mind.

I liked the previous novel but I didn’t really like this one. I had a hard time connecting with Myungi-gi, his younger sister, Yooemi, and his parents. I felt like there wasn’t much time spent on character development. I felt that this book was missing something that prevented me from liking it as much as the previous book. In the Tunnel is an emotional read about loss and survival but there is hope for the characters that they would be able to overcome the obstacles in their lives. I was surprised that the book is targeted for middle school readers as I felt that it was too graphic and despairing at times. Overall, I did enjoy the book and learned a lot about North Korea and the struggles that refugees face when trying to escape.

Book Review - Never Come Back by David Bell

 

Leslie Hampton assumed that her daughter Elizabeth would care for her son, Ronnie, who has special needs when the time came. Elizabeth doesn't want to be responsible for taking care of Ronnie as she wouldn't be able to live the life she wants. When Leslie dies unexpectedly, Elizabeth is consumed by grief and guilt. 

The police determined that Leslie was strangled to death, and they suspect that Ronnie had a violent outburst. Elizabeth can't believe that her brother is capable of murder. However, when a stranger is named in Leslie's will, Elizabeth feels that her mother might be keeping secrets from her. As more secrets start to unravel, a dangerous stranger from Leslie's past claims to have answers but, not without a price.

I thought the book was an interesting read. I was able to guess some of the twists but, overall, the book kept me entertained. I didn't really care for Elizabeth at times because I felt like she kept herself closed off from others. The story did move slowly but, I would still be opened to reading other books by the author.

Book Review - Outlawed by Anna North

 

Seventeen year old Ada has everything going exactly how she wanted it to be. She is happily married to her husband and she is working with her mother, a respected midwife. However, a year into their marriage, Ada isn't pregnant and this is dangerous in a town that is known for hanging barren women as witches. She realizes she might have to leave her hometown along with everything else she has even known.

She joins the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, a group of outlaws lead by preacher turned robber named Kid. Kid is charismatic and has dream of creating a safe haven for women who are outcasts. The gang hatches a plan to make Kid's plan a reality but, the plan is dangerous enough to get them all killed. Ada is struggling to decide if she is willing to risk her life for the possibility of a better future for them all.

This isn't the type of book I would normally reach for but, I thought it was an interesting read. I find that the book is relevant to women in this day in age. The book has themes of women needing to have children before they are deemed useful to society and the struggles of women to get proper medical care along with issues with gender norms. I felt like there was some parts of the story that could have been fleshed out more along with the character. Some of the members of the gang was so cookie cutter, that I often confused them. I also couldn't believe that every single female character we were introduced to was barren. It was an okay read but, it wouldn't be something I would go out of my way to read again.

Book Review - Finding Tessa by Jaime Lynn Hendricks

 

To outsiders, Jace and Tessa appear to be a happily married young couple who are deeply in love with each and have nothing to hide. However, looks can be deceiving especially when Tessa goes missing.

Jace Montgomery returns home late one evening from entertaining clients, when he discovers his wife Tessa is missing. The back door has broken glass with clumps of her hair and blood. The cops believe Jace is guilty after he exploded on a reporter during a press conference. Jace claims he is innocent even as the evidence against him is mounting. A coworker he is accused of having an affair with goes missing and then an illegal gun turns up in his home during a search conducted by the police. He fears that with all the signs pointing to him that the police will stop searching for other leads to Tessa.

Tessa finally feels like she has left behind all the years of abuse and that she can finally be safe. She even set up a trap for her husband to take the fall for her disappearance. She enlisted someone close to him to help execute her plan and put him behind bars. She is desperate to start over and avoid men who abuse and hurt her. However, while she is trying to start over, she realizes that she can't run for her past and someone is after her.

The novel started out to be an interesting read. As readers, we were constantly left guessing who is behind Tessa's disappearance or is this something she is plotting. Towards the middle of the book, I felt like the story was dragging and it felt like that the plot was a bit unbelievable especially with the amount of red herrings that appeared. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters and didn't care for any of them. It was an okay read but, I felt like books like this are overdone and can be boring if not done correctly.

Book Review - The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor

 

Joe thought once he left Arnhill, he would never have to return again. He left behind painful memories of bullying, the betrayal of friends, the suicide, and what happened after his sister went missing. However, Joe has no choice but to return home, when he receives an ominous email. The sender claims to know the truth behind his sister's disappearance and claims it is happening again.

Joe decides to lie and apply to a teaching job at his former high school. Joe has to deal with a few people who aren't happy with him coming back to town including, new ones he made over the years. Joe knows he will need to come to terms with his past if he wants to help prevent another tragedy.  However, he is having hard time returning to the abandoned mine where his entire life changed forever.

I have read "The Chalk Man" and have enjoyed it. This book was equal amount of creepy and suspenseful. The novel had a few unexpected twists but, I felt that the ending was a bit lacking. It felt like it was thrown together and I felt like some things were left unexplained. However, I still enjoyed the book and look forward to read more works by the author.

Book Review - Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald

 

Eva Hansen wakes up in a hospital after being hit by lightning. She discovers her mother, Kat, has been murdered. The police found Eva unconscious a few blocks away from her mother. Eva has no recollection of the events from that night. However, the police are suspicious of her and think she is hiding something.

Eva is determined to discover the truth behind that night. She heads to Kat's former home, London to find answers. As she tries to unravel all the secrets her mother kept, she realizes someone is trying to keep the past buried. She is doesn't know who to trust.

The story is told from alternating perspective of Eva and Kat. I enjoyed reading how Eva was trying to piece together her memory from the night. Although there were moments that I found myself rolling my eyes at some portions of the story.  I did find portions of the book to be predictable but, thought the book was an enjoyable read overall.

Book Review - Island of the Mad by Laurie R. King

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Mary Russell and her husband, Sherlock Holmes were enlisted to help an old friend find their missing aunt, who lives in an asylum. Lady Vivian Beaconsfield has spent most of her adult life in Bethlem after her brother and father died in the Great War. While on an outing for her brother's birthday, Lady Vivian disappears.

Mary doesn't want to take on the case but, she can't turn down her friend, Ronnie. Together with Sherlock, Mary travels to Venice to find the missing woman. While at Venice, they discover the influence of Benito Mussolini is causing a disturbance in the city. When Mary and Sherlock begin their search for the missing woman, they are thrown into a whole different world.

I have seen Sherlock shows and movies but, haven't read the novels. Mostly because I wasn't much of a huge mystery fan but, the books are on my TBR list now. I was quite disappointed in this novel though. The characters were all dreadfully boring or wooden. Sherlock felt more like a filler than an actual detective and Mary was a bore. The ending felt juvenile and didn't seem like an ending had much thought put into it. I was surprised that there were no surprises or twists but, a straightforward runaway storyline. This was my first book of the series and maybe this book was a dud but, I am in no rush to find out.

**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 - Driftwood Bay (Hope Harbor, #5) by Irene Hannon

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Jeanette Mason moves to a small seaside town named Hope Harbor in hopes to live an isolated life. Jeanette is afraid of letting people in after a tragedy causes her to lose people she loved. She decides to avoid emotional attachments and focus on her lavender farm and tea room. However, Jeanette's life gets upends again when her new neighbor moves in. Dr. Logan West becomes an unexpected guardian of his niece after his mother's death. Logan gets a dog in hopes to help bond with Molly but, the dog is intent on damaging Jeanette's lavender beds. Jeanette and Logan find themselves gravitating towards each other when a refugee family from Syria moves to their town. Will Logan and Jeanette be able to open their heart to each other?

I thought the novel was an enjoyable read but, I had a hard time connecting with Jeanette. She closes herself off and didn't want to make the effort of connecting but, was annoyed that other people didn't make the effort. She felt that her neighbor should have connected with her first and made the effort. She wanted and made Logan make the first move and didn't respond well to his suggestive behaviors but, she would get sad when he didn't invite her to the beach. I found this incredibly annoying. At times, I felt like the Molly character talked to Jeanette as if she was an adult and not a five-year-old. Her conversations with Jeanette towards the end of the book didn't feel like something a child would say to an adult. Perhaps, this is how a child speaks once they go through grief but, it felt weird to me. I enjoyed reading about the Shabos' family, Logan trying to bond with Molly, Jeanette trying to find her way, and Molly and Elisa's budding friendship. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.

**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 - Foxlowe: A Novel by Eleanor Wasserberg

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Foxlowe is a crumbling old house on the moors but to Green, it is a special place. Foxlowe is the only place she knows. In Foxlowe, Green can do whatever she wants. She can run through the hallways, eat desserts whenever she wants, and be free of daily hassles.

At Foxlowe, the family shares everything. They perform special rituals to protect themselves from the Bad. Everyone is content living at Foxlowe until Blue, Green's little sister, grows up and dreams of being in the Outside. She talks about become a Leaver; one of the unmentionables.

The writing style of this book wasn't my favorite. I found it to be quite annoying and made it harder for me to enjoy the novel. I couldn't bond with Green and had a hard time understanding why she did certain things and why she showed Freya so much loyalty. The book was a bit slow and didn't have much going on. I also didn't like that there were parts of the story that they didn't explain. For example, who were Blue's parents? There were several time jumps that made the book confusing in the later parts of the novel. Overall, this book was a bit of a letdown and difficult to get into. I would recommend reading a sample before buying.

**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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**  

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Book Review - The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff

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Noa was sixteen years old when she cast out in disgrace from her family's home after becoming pregnant by a Nazi soldier. With nowhere to go and barely any possessions, she heads to the city to a shelter where her baby will be given to a family in need. After delivering her child, she has to leave the shelter to locate a job to support herself. She finds employment at a small rail station where she cleans and lives in a small utility closet. However, one faithful night, Noa stumbles upon a boxcar containing several Jewish infants who are bound for a concentration camp. She is unsure what to do, but one infant catches her attention, he reminds me her of her own beloved child she had to give up. She steals the child and seeks refugee, but fears the German soldiers would locate her and the child. Noa escapes into the forest under the protection of the snowy night, but with her meager clothing and provisions; her journey ends abruptly. When she recovers, she finds a safe haven among a traveling German circus, where she must learn the flying trapeze act to blend in and to earn her keep.

Astrid is the lead aerialist of the German circus and she doesn't believe Noa has the skills necessary to learn the act. Whether it is because of jealousy or Astrid's past, she has a hard time warming up to Noa even though she is Noa's only lifeline and flying trapeze instructor. However, slowly Astrid warms up to Noa but is unable to trust Noa. Will Noa's secret destroy their friendship? Will their friendship be able to help them survive?

When I first picked up this book, I thought it was going to be about an abandoned child who conquers the world against all odds. Then I read the summary, it seemed interesting as a beach read or maybe something to read while commuting. However, I am ashamed of myself for putting down one of the most heart warming and interesting books I read this season. The dual narrated novel captivated my heart and I couldn't help rooting for Noa's and Astrid's friendship. I wish every single human on this planet had a person like Astrid and Noa in their lives.They truly define what it means for someone to be a friend. There were times, that the two characters did act a bit petty and I found Noa's secret to be an "insignificant" (for a lack of better words), compared to Astrid's own life, but I can't judge because I don't know what it feels like to live during that horrendous time. Perhaps, if I was in Astrid's shoes and I found someone I liked during a time of uncertainty, but I felt they weren't being completely honest, but I would also behave like a "high school" girl. I think one of the reasons why, some readers might think it felt like a "high school" cliche is because maybe Noa and Astrid never really had strong female friendships. Noa seemed to be secluded in her small village and Astrid focused mostly on her career and none of the other performers in the circus seem to like her much either.  Speaking from my own high school female friendship, I also had petty moments and moments of fiercely protecting my friend. Personally speaking apart from minor "She hates me!" moments, I found the book very enjoyable and I look forward to reading other works by the author.

Book Review - White Fur: A Novel by Jardine Libaire

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Stars collide when Elise Perez meets Jamey Hyde on a cold winter afternoon. While, they are next door neighbors, they couldn't come from more different worlds. Elise was raised by a single mother in a housing project and didn't graduate from high school. Jamey is a junior at Yale and is heir to a sizeable inheritance with famous parents. What started as a basic sexual attraction turns into something more when the couple decides to move their relationship into serious territory and move to Manhattan to search for a new life together. The author takes us along the way as couple trying to maneuver the hostile environment that wants to keep them apart and they consequences they face when they follow their hearts.

When I first saw the cover, I was thought this was going to be a gritty cool romance novel. How could I be more wrong?! I didn't like either of the main characters who both seemed selfish and vain but yet claim to love each other. I assumed the author usually wants the readers to fall in love with the characters and hope that their romance can weather any obstacles thrown their way. However, I wish nothing more than the two ill-matched characters to crash and burn. I also felt that the author was trying to hard with her writing style and it made it incredibly hard to finish this otherwise short novel. I felt that the novel went on and on while the story barely progresses.  A mediocre book at best and I definitely don't see how this was "Kirkus 11 Thrillers for Summer 2017", when the story never barely progresses along with an ending that seems unbelievable. 

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

Book Review: Beautiful Animals by Lawrence Osborne

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Naomi is the only child of a wealthy British art collector and her family routinely vacations in the Greek island of Hydra. One day, Naomi sets out another part of the island to escape the oppressing force of her father and stepmother. She comes across another young woman, who is also vacationing there. Samantha is a younger American girl who is immediately besotted by Naomi's presence. The pair become quick friends and decide to take a hike together. The stumble upon a refugee named Faoud who looks like he is homeless with barely any belongings. Naomi believes it is their duty to help the less fortunate and convince Sam that they should hatch a plan to help him. While, they beginning to hatch their plan, the friendship between the three begin to deepen. However, an unfortunate accident causes both the plan and the friendship to unravel. Will the girls still be able to be friends? Who is this mysterious man?

The novel was an interesting read but I had a hard time getting into the novel. I have read another one of his books, "Hunters in the Dark" and I don't particularly find his writing style appealing. I found the novel made me crave wanting to know more but the ending left me unsatisfied. I felt like the backstory of Faoud could have been more detailed and even the supporting characters could have more depth.

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

Book Review - The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

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After the death of her mother, 15 year old Lane Roanoke moves in with her grandparents and her cousin, Allegra. In her grandparents' vast estate in rural Kansas, very little is known of her mother's mysterious family. However, she quickly embraces life as one of the rich and beautiful Roanoke girls. Lane discovers one of the family's dark secret and runs away. Several years later, her grandfather calls to tell her Allegra is missing. Will Lane risk everything to find Allegra? Is someone behind Allegra's disappearance? Who is Lane able to trust?

The novel is beautifully written and an engaging read. It kept me on the edge of my seat to guess the family's secrets, but I must admit the secret was a bit predictable. A good book for a rainy day or for the beach! 

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

Book Review - Home to Paradise by Barbara Cameron

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The third book in the "Coming Home" series, is about the youngest Zook daughter wanting to marry the third Stolzfus brother. Rose Anna and John had dated before John left their Amish settlement for rumschringe. John unwillingly returns to their Amish settlement but still keeps some of his English ways. Will Rose Anna be able to change John's mind about marriage? What is preventing John from settling down?

I have read a few Amish romance novels and nothing in this book sets it apart from other books in the genre. Like many of the novels, it has a brief translation guide, recipes and gives a brief glimpse of the Amish life. Personally, I didn't care much about the characters but I did enjoy the interactions with John and his employer. John short live bond with short lived and although, took a backseat to the main story, it served as a perfect vehicle to move the story between John and Rose Anna. The book is an easy read and is a good book for those who like the genre.

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

Book Review - Hunters in the Dark: A Novel by Lawrence Osborne

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Robert Grieve is a young 28 year old Englishman teacher from a small town. He escapes to Cambodia to run away from his everyday mundane life.  He crosses the border from Thailand, where his life is taken through a whirlwind of peculiar events. Robert comes across money that is considered to be filled with bad luck along with a suave American who seems to be up to no good. When, Robert loses all his money, he takes on a teaching job and meets Sothea who joins him on his aimless journey. Why is the American so interested in Robert? What is Robert hunting for?

The book had an interesting description but it fails to deliver. The novel begins slowly, drags on through the middle but when you are finally at the end, you keep thinking, "what was the point"? I could care less about the character, their motives, and whatever happened to them. The characters didn't seem believable and sometimes, they made no sense.  Overall, a confusing, boring and tedious book. 

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

Book Review - The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis

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Elka was seven  years old when she met Trapper. She was alone, desolate, cold and hungry in great wilderness where survival in the winter is rare.  Trapper, the lone hunter lives alone in a shack and taken in Elka and teaching her how to hunt and survive in the cold wilderness. Elka comes to learn that Trapper has a terrible secret and is willing to do anything to keep it a secret. She decides to run from the man who taught her everything and she has been calling "daddy" for the last couple of the years. On her journey, will Elka be able to face the dark secrets she has kept hidden away? Will Elka be able to outsmart the hunter who taught  her everything?

The novel was riveting and very hard to put down. The author utilized wonderful language to create a world where characters are "eat or be eaten". I only wish the wolf had a more prominent role in this book.

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

Book Review - A Dream of Miracles by Ruth Reid

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After Mattie Diener's husband died a little under 2 years ago, Mattie is unable to move on and find love again. The young widow is the mother of two young children in a tight Amish community. Mattie crosses path with an outsider when her son becomes mysteriously ill.  Bo Lambright works in the child social services who has a secret past. Bo crosses path with Mattie when her children become hospitalized. Is he able to put his differences aside and do whats best for Mattie and her children? Is Mattie to blame for her son's illness? Will Bo and Mattie be able to find love?

The heartwarming story shows what people are willing to do to protect their children and loved ones. It also shows how our parents have an impact on our lives whether we like it or not. And how love heals even our darkest scars. The book was very interesting read and kept me entertained until the end. However, the author mixed in Amish Dutch English, while it was a cute novelty, it got annoying after a bit to constantly turning the page to utilize the dictionary. A good read for anyone interested in stories with Amish themes.

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