The Last Summer At Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff

Adelia Monteforte was put on a boat alone to America in 1941 as WWII was underway.  Her mother forced her into leaving Italy and living with her aunt and uncle that she had never met.

Adelia was grateful for her aunt and uncle's love, but ​she ​felt out of place with them and with her accent.  When she met the Connallys, things changed.  There were children her own age, children to play with​, a family she felt very comfortable with, and their son she fell in love with.

Her aunt and uncle seemed distant but very kind to Adelia.  Mrs. Connally was more of a mother to Adelia than her aunt, but I think Adelia made that happen as she chose to be closer to a stranger than her own relatives.  She did upset me how she was closer to the family that lived next door at the beach than her blood relatives.

We follow ​Adelia who is a very strong-willed character and who makes decisions on her own even though she is quite young.  I was surprised at her quick, poorly thought-out decisions.  Some were decisions I definitely would not have made.​ 

Adelia had become unsettled in her town after a while and also with the Connallys and left for Washington, D.C. to escape Charlie Connally.  She then moved on to London when Washington, D.C. wasn't far enough away for her.

London wasn't what she expected, but Adelia was able to make new friends and continue to work at the same newspaper she worked for in the USA.  Adelia never thought London would be a​s​ war torn as it was​, but no matter what the circumstances or how far she went, she never could get Charlie out of her mind.

THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH is filled with loss, growing up, learning about life, and a love story.

THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH  had a lesson about the importance of family and the importance of following your heart.

As always, Ms. Jenoff's books are well researched and very well written.  You become part of her books and want to be one of the characters simply because of the marvelous way Ms. Jenoff tells a story.

If you haven’t read THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH or any of Ms. Jenoff’s books, what are you waiting for?   :)  

You won't go wrong with any of her books.  ENJOY....I know you will.  5/5

Review and Giveaway of The Summer of Good Intentions by Wendy Francis

Ahhhhh Summer!!

Every July since they were babies, the Herington Clan gathered at their beach house.  These summers were always memorable and something everyone looked forward to, but this year's family get together was turning out to not be the best. 

The Herington's parents were divorced, Maggie was stressed just because she always had to be in control and organized, Jess and her husband were having trouble, and Virgie, the single sister, who had a stressful job had some bad news that was difficult to accept.

All of the characters were likeable and made you want to share the month with them even though they were not having the best summer this particular year.  I liked Arthur, their father, the best.  He seemed like such a terrific person.

As July drew to a close, a secret the Herington girls could never have imagined surfaced as well as a loss that was the last straw for their summer.

Despite the heartaches, THE SUMMER OF GOOD INTENTIONS is a nice, breezy read when you are in the mood for family drama, family bonding,  and of course a well-written story.

Ms. Francis has a way of emotionally drawing you into the story, and her writing style keeps you interested.  And speaking of emotions, you will need some tissues as you read the ending pages.

I truly enjoyed THE SUMMER OF GOOD INTENTIONS because it brought out family-related topics that we all can learn from.  I would also call THE SUMMER OF GOOD INTENTIONS an uplifting read. 

I loved Ms. Francis' comments about the bond of sisters and her tribute to her mother in the acknowledgements.

I now want to read her first book, THREE GOOD THINGS.

ENJOY when you read THE SUMMER OF GOOD INTENTIONS.  Thanks, Ms. Francis. 5/5

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

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Contest has Ended
Our winner is Helen #43
CONGRATS!!
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GIVEAWAY

USA ONLY

July 28 - August 4

Enter HERE

Best of Luck
One Entry Per Reader Please

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Happy Birthday, Silver's Reviews

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SILVER'S REVIEWS turns five years old today!!

Thank you to all my readers.

I thoroughly enjoy writing my blog posts and having you stop by.

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*Image courtesy of:

http://www.hdwallpapersinn.com/birthday-cake-wallpapers.html 

Pam Jenoff's Newest Book - A Must Read For Book Clubs

THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH is another marvelous read by a favorite author, Pam Jenoff.

 

My review of THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH  goes live next Tuesday, July 28.  LOVED the book.

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Kamrun Nesa of Harlequin has graciously shared a link with us that has a plethora of things your book club can use when discussing THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH.

If you click on the link below, you will find all these wonderful ideas and information.

http://www.bookclubbish.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Book-Club-Kit-THE-LAST-SUMMER-AT-CHELSEA-BEACH-by-Pam-Jenoff1.pdf

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1.  A LETTER TO BOOK CLUBS.

 



2.  A PLAN FOR YOUR BOOK CLUB TO ENJOY SONGS FROM THE 1940's, DRINKS, AND RECIPES.

3.   A CONVERSATION WITH PAM JENOFF.

 4. SUGGESTED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.

5.  PRAISE FOR THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH.

6.  INFORMATION ABOUT PAM JENOFF.

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Pam Jenoff is a lovely person as well as an amazing author.

Don't miss reading this book or any of her books.

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An excerpt from my review says it all:

"As always, Ms. Jenoff's books are well researched and very well written.  

You become part of her books and want to be one of the characters simply because of the marvelous way Ms. Jenoff tells a story.

If you haven’t read THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH or any of Ms. Jenoff’s books, what are you waiting for?   :)  

You won't go wrong with any of her books.  ENJOY....I know you will."

STOP BACK next Tuesday to see my full review on Silver's Reviews, and definitely ENJOY the information from Kamrun.  I certainly did.

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Rosie Effect Giveaway - July 17 - July 24

Ebony LaDelle of Simon and Schuster is graciously offering one lucky USA reader a copy of THE ROSIE EFFECT.

Entry link is below this information from the publisher:

Visit www.RosieBooks.com for videos, excerpts, and reading group guides from both The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect.

Graeme Simsion imbued The Rosie Project with such heart that saying goodbye to Don and Rosie on the last page felt bittersweet. 

In The Rosie Effect, we get to reconnect with the couple as they relocate to New York City and prepare to welcome an unplanned addition to their family.  

If the fundamental illogic of falling in love befuddled Don, wait until you see what impending fatherhood does to him.  Once again, people around you will wonder what has set you off into fits of laughter as you turn the pages.

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USA ENTRIES ONLY

Enter here to win a copy of THE ROSIE EFFECT

July 17 to July 24

CONTEST HAS ENDED

The winner is:

Carl - #8 - from Arizona

CONGRATS!!

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Maud's Line by Margaret Verble

 

Maud's days were made of wishing and hoping, hard work, and disappointment.

Living with her father and brother in the early 1900's and being the only woman in the house left her little time for herself.  Mustard, her father, was not a hard worker and was a trouble maker.  Lovely, her brother, thankfully helped Maud, and they helped each other calm down their father.  Maud did a lot of day dreaming but also a lot of men's work.

MAUD'S LINE is set in the Cherokee Lands of Oklahoma where each family had property lines and many relatives.

I liked how relatives lived very close ​to each other and looked out for each other, but the violence between some families was difficult to fathom.

MAUD’S LINE took us through her days as her thoughts wandered and as she had to make a decision that would change her life.  Most were days of non-stop working, but Maud did manage to find time to read books thanks to her mother, a wealthy neighbor, and a traveling peddler's influence.  

The characters all had their own problems and ideas about things.  Maud was the main character, and at times, she was "out of line" in terms of her relationships.  Maud knew what she wanted and did whatever she could to get what she wanted. Maud did everything for her family even though her father was not the most loving and caring.

You couldn't help but love Maud, but you will also question some of her decisions.  Maud always seemed to be the first one on the scene of something gruesome and kept secrets that were to her detriment.

Ms. Verble's descriptive, lush writing will simply pull you in along with the cover. 

I enjoyed MAUD’S LINE, and I hope you decide to read it. 4/5

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

Flame Tree Road by Shona Patel

India, the caste system, no rights for women except through marriage. 

FLAME TREE ROAD addresses these issues that were prevalent in India during the 1800's.

Biren Roy is the main character.   His father died at a young age, and his mother, like all Indian widows, became an outcast once their husbands were gone.  Biren's mother's plight and the plight of all Indian widows gave Biren his drive to fight for equality for women in all respects - not only marriage.

Biren warmed my heart because of his goodness and his passion to help the women of India.  Biren luckily was sent to an English school in India, gained entrance to a college in London where he earned his law degree, and then returned to India to achieve his goal.

We follow Biren, his family, and his career throughout the book.  Biren married, and the beauty and passion of his respect for his marriage and his wife oozed through the pages. 

FLAME TREE ROAD is a book that will hold your interest because of the mesmerizing aspect of India and Biren's passion for helping the women of India. 

Ms. Patel's writing is beautiful with wonderful detail.  Her writing flows and takes you with it.

ENJOY the depth of this book if you read it.  FLAME TREE ROAD is filled with passion, love, and pain, and is a marvelous read even though it isn't always uplifting. 

Ms. Patel described the lives, inequality, and caste system in India.  I found the customs and culture of India extremely interesting especially the marriage proposal procedure. 4/5

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

The Girl Who Wrote In Silk by Kelli Estes

Did Mei Lien stand on the edge of the boat's railing because she knew she had to or because she was forced to be there?  Did this act begin or end Mei Lien’s life?  Did this act begin or end Inara’s life?

Mei Lien lived 100 years ago​. Inara lives in the present. Their lives are unknowingly connected until Inara finds a family story on a hidden embroidered sleeve in a house that belonged to Inara's ancestors and where Mei Lien and her family had lived...the connection and the secrets begin.  

The embroidered sleeve immediately catches Inara's attention and her curiosity. When she takes the sleeve to a Chinese professor at the local university, the sleeve and Inara immediately catch the professor's attention.

THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK is beautifully written and beautifully told by Ms. Estes. The characters come alive, and the storyline is quite intriguing.

THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK has secrets about a family home, a family connection, and an embroidered shirt sleeve that t​ells a story Inara just HAS to unravel.  Just what were all of these secrets?

The story and the unraveling le​a​d to surprises for the characters and to a marvelous book. ​ ​Ms Estes weaved a beautiful​, gripping, but sad ​tale that spanned from the 1800's to present day.

THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK was difficult to put down simply because you will want to find out​ about the embroidered sleeve as well as to find out​ how Inara and Daniel Chin unravel the mystery even though we already know ​the answer ​as Ms. Estes skillfully goes back and forth revealing the past a​n​d the present.

THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK is a​n ​appealing, alluring read​ with charming, unforgettable characters​.  You will love Mei Lien and admire her for her courage.  You will also love her husband, Joseph, but despise Duncan Campbell.

The book is as captivating as the book's title and cover, and THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK becomes even more intriguing each time you turn the page and clues are revealed.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK, but have some tissues ready.

I hope you have the pleasure of reading this marvelous book. ​ A spectacular debut novel. 5/5

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

A Necessary End by Holly Brown

A pregnant teenager, a couple who can't conceive, and a deal Gabe and Adrianne can't pass up. Or was it really such a good deal?

Adrianne was so desperate to have a baby that she and Gabe signed up for a birth mother site that would give them access to unwed mothers who wanted to put their baby up for adoption.  They got burned on the first mother and Leah sounded too good to be true so they took the “deal.”  Leah arrived at their home within 24 hours with her flight paid for and with her own secret agenda.​

I was apprehensive about their decision ​and about Leah ​the second I read about it.  Leah was going to have the baby, stay with them for a year, be paid $400 a month ​with all medical expenses covered but ​with the stipulation that she could still decide to keep the baby.

A NECESSARY END kept me on the edge of my seat as the characters interacted and as Leah continued to show her true colors ​ and carry out her plan.  Ms. Brown addressed a social situation that could escalate to this height.

Ms. Brown does a superb job of keeping the tension of the book's situation very high.

​A NECESSARY END is a gripping psychological thriller with characters that were well developed but ones that I wanted to shake and tell to wake up and see what actually was going on.  There was a good deal of betrayal as well as manipulation.

If you enjoy books with characters you d​on't trust from the start and a gut feeling that all isn't as it really seems A NECESSARY END is a book you won't want to miss.  The ending revelations and the ending itself are definitely a surprise and not what I expected.  5/5

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