Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson

From France during WWII and back to the United States...the Duchant family will steal your heart.

CHATEAU OF SECRETS blends the charm of the old world and the fast-paced world of current day.  The reader will move from the Duchant family's Chateau d'Epines in France to the Duchant family’s descendants in Virginia.  The author's marvelous way with words and the research Ms. Dobson did is incredible.  Her descriptions of feelings and landscapes is amazing.

The family's chateau, the secrets the characters held for decades, the era in history, and the characters themselves will pull you right into the story.  You will follow the main character, Gisele, during the German occupation of Saint-Lo, France, and see through her eyes ​the horrors people had to endure as well as see the people who helped each other make it through WWII.
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You will also be with Chloe as she visits the present-day Chateau in order to find her roots and to find out what the real story was that her grandmother and a friend were reluctant to reveal.

CHATEAU OF SECRETS had me reading non-stop for the entire day.  This time in history is my favorite, and the storyline was marvelous. CHATEAU OF SECRETS is going to be one of my favorite reads of 2014.

If you enjoy books set during WWII and flipping back and forth from the present to the past, you won't want to miss this marvelous book. 

CHATEAU OF SECRETS will have you turning the pages and staying up late in​to​ the night.  Ms. Dobson’s writing style and the book’s storyline are wonderful. 5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.​

Everything To Lose by Andrew Gross

What would you do if you found a half million dollars, hid the money, laundered the money, and then found out that it was money that someone would kill for to get it back?

Hilary was being a good Samaritan when she stopped to help at the scene of an accident, but what she didn't know was that the accident victim had a satchel of money in the car that didn't belong to him and that definitely didn't belong to her.  The money would really help Hilary pay her bills, though, since she was spending her last dollar this month, but what she didn't know was that same money would get her involved with dangerous people.

EVERYTHING TO LOSE pulls you in and won't let you go.  You will feel the terror of every descriptive scene. The characters ​include lovable Brandon, no-conscience, evil Charlie, and believable Hilary because of her situation.

If you enjoy intrigue, edge-of-your-seat action, scary decisions, murder, long-time grudges, and terrifying characters you won't want to miss EVERYTHING TO LOSE.  It is a thriller at its best. 

This is the first Andrew Gross book I have read, and I wasn't disappointed.  EVERYTHING TO LOSE was full of suspense until the very last word.  5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin

Wealthy families, the right marriage, the proper husband, dancing balls, horse racing, fox hunting, ​proper seating at dinner parties, and proper everything is what you will find inside THE FORTUNE HUNTER.         

Charlotte is the heiress to the Lennox fortune, and her brother and new sister-in-law to be must make sure the proper suitor is selected for her.  Not just anyone can be the husband of the heir to the Lennox money.

Charlotte is a bit of a rebel, though, and wants to choose the man she loves not someone her family approves of because of his status, and love conquers all as you follow Charlotte and Bay through their ups and downs​.​

If you enjoy "proper" lifestyles with all of its formality, you will love THE FORTUNE HUNTER.  Ms. Goodwin will definitely impress the reader with her attention to detail in every sentence.  You will feel as though you are at the fox hunts and the dinner parties and vividly see the dresses and jewels of each of the ladies.  The characters were very well described and quite authentic.  

For me, THE FORTUNE HUNTER was a bit too detailed, though, and was repetitive, but if you enjoy reading about aristocratic activities, you won't be disappointed.

I am rating the book a 3/5.  For me THE FORTUNE HUNTER was a tedious read. 

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.​

Giveaway of LOOKING FOR ME by Beth Hoffman

CONTEST HAS ENDED!!

THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED.

THE WINNER IS:

#2 - Heidi

******************** 

To celebrate the paperback release of LOOKING FOR ME by Beth Hoffman, Meg Walker of Tandem Literary is offering a copy of the book to one lucky USA reader.

My review is here.

Enter the contest here.  Contest ends May 8.

USA readers only please. 

Best of luck...the book is wonderful. 

Ember Island by Kimberley Freeman

To be a woman in the 1800’s had no "perks."  Women were trained solely for marriage.

Tilly Kirkland ​was an 1800's woman and ​definitely didn't know what she was getting into when she married Jasper.  Jasper offered her a beautiful home and a wonderful life.  What Tilly was ​really ​offered was infidelity and cruelty.  Who would blame Tilly for wanting to leave and start a new life somewhere else?​

Tilly made her move​ to Ember Island to become a governess for Nell, but the secret she carried about the reason for the move out of her husband's home and the incident that occurred plagued her for her entire life.​  Precocious Nell kept an eye on Tilly because she knew something wasn't right and also that something was right when it came to her father and Tilly.
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Could Nell figure out what constantly troubled Tilly?​  What would Nell find out about Tilly?  What would Tilly teach Nell?  What would Ember Island teach Tilly?

EMBER ISLAND moves from events that took place in Australia in 1891 both in Tilly's life and Nell's life ​to the present day where secrets were hidden in the walls of a family homestead that Tilly lived in during the time she was governess to Nell. The connection between the characters from both time periods is marvelous.

What were these secrets that had been written down? How did it come about that were they hidden in the walls and found by the current homeowner, Nina, who was an author?

EMBER ISLAND was absorbing, the writing was ​beautiful, the characters ​were well developed as well as deep​, the characters were very authentic, and the storyline ​kept me turning the pages...especially the ending.  :)

EMBER ISLAND is made up of secrets, guilt, ​hidden journals, love, and finding oneself.

Don't miss reading EMBER ISLAND.  It is spectacular.   :)​   5/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Comfort of Fences by Stacy Overman Morrison

 

A dying mother, a special needs child, good friends.

Good friends are what you need when you know your last days are approaching and there is no family available.

COMFORT OF FENCES walks you through the lives of Ruth and Denise, mother and daughter, and Ruth’s best friend, Georgia.  You will see the bond between them as Ruth is dying and trying to provide for Denise when she is gone.

COMFORT OF FENCES takes you back to Ruth's days before Denise was born through a story Ruth writes as she waits for the cancer to take her.  Ruth wants Denise to know what her life was like as a young mother and why she made the decisions she did for Denise.

Your heart will break for Ruth, but realize what a strong person she is.  You will also admire her.  You will love Georgia for her steadfast loyalty to her childhood friend. You will love Denise for all she had to endure in her life and how she held up.

COMFORT OF FENCES took a few pages to get moving.  The beginning was sort of repetitive, but as Ruth began telling the story of her life, the book became a bit more interesting..

COMFORT OF FENCES is a book about relationships both good and bad, the choices we make because we have to, and secrets that we keep. 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge by the author in return for an honest review.

Women Who Read

I thought this was pretty funny and wanted to share.  A friend sent it to me.

 WOMEN WHO READ

One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap.


Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.


"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"For reading a book," she replies.

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her again.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with Sexual assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he left.

MORAL:

Never argue with a woman who reads.

It's likely she can also think.