The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig

Three women, three generations​....what is their connection? 

​Olive, Lucy, and Kate are the women. We learn about the​m in alternating chapters from 1892 to 1944 as the connection is hinted at it while we the reader try to figure out just how it all links together.

A house, a ruby necklace, a law firm, and an injured soldier start the connection and get the pieces together in this beautifully told story filled with love, loss, revenge, and secrets.

​The house belongs to the Pratt family where Olive worked as a housemaid in​ 1892 and the housemaid that was forced to be painted by one of the Pratt's sons.

The ruby necklace is one that Kate's mother gave her but would never wear.

The law firm is where Lucy worked and where Lucy was trying to find out what she could about the Pratt house and Harry Pratt.

The injured soldier is mesmerized by Kate and said she looks exactly like someone he knew a long time ago.

I absolutely loved THE FORGOTTEN ROOM.

The three main characters were colorful, interesting, and perfectly portrayed the time period they were representing.  Their connection is gradually revealed as each chapter adds more details to each woman's life and adds answers to how they are connected.

Ms. White, Ms. Williams, and Ms. Willig flawlessly combined their talents and put together a brilliant, intriguing, amazing book that has twists, secrets, and history.

THE FORGOTTEN ROOM is a book that historical fiction and women's fiction fans will devour.

Don’t miss reading THE FORGOTTEN ROOM. 5/5

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

MARCEL PROUST and a LOVELY QUOTE

I found this lovely quote in I'LL SEE YOU IN PARIS by Michelle Gable. 

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."  Marcel Proust

My review of I'LL SEE YOU IN PARIS will be on my blog on February 9.

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Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust (/pruːst/;^[1] French: [maʁsɛl pʁust]; 10 July 1871 – 18 November 1922) was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental novel À la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time; earlier translated as Remembrance of Things Past), published in seven parts between 1913 and 1927. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest authors of all time.^[2][3]

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The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

A thirty-eight year old with early stages of Alzheimer's disease and in an assisted living facility...very difficult for Anna as well as her family.

Anna lived with her brother and his family once they found out she couldn't live alone, but then it got to the point where she needed constant supervision, and the assisted living facility was the only safe place for Anna.

Anna had enough wits about her to know she needed to be at Rosalind​ House​, but also was sad she was there.

While she was there, she met another young patient, Luke, as well as Eve who was a single mother that had lost everything when her husband was involved in a Ponzi Scheme.

Eve became very protective of Anna and Luke, the two young residents of Rosalind House, and secretly allowed them to meet against the family’s wishes.

Eve had trouble and worries of her own, though, but made the best of her current situation until her daughter started having trouble at school because of the situation they were in.

As you read, you become attached to all the characters and sympathize with their situations.  You will learn about Alzheimer's disease and how it affects the patient as well as the family.

THE THINGS WE KEEP is a book that makes you begin to think about all the times you have forgotten things and about how love can be the best medicine.  :)

THE THINGS WE KEEP is different from THE SECRETS OF MIDWIVES, addresses a well-known problem, and is well researched by Ms. Hepworth.​ 

The ending was heartbreaking but redeeming.  Break out the tissues from the warmth you will feel and from the sad but wonderful ending.   

THE THINGS WE KEEP is a reminder that memories are "the things we should keep." 4/5​

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

Spotlight for Baggage by S. G. Redling

About the Book:

Over the years, terrible things keep happening to Anna Ray on February 17.

 First, there was the childhood trauma she’s never been able to speak about. Then, to her horror, her husband killed himself on that date. A year later and a thousand miles away, Anna tries to find solace in the fresh start of a new job in a new place. She takes comfort in her outspoken cousin Jeannie, the confidant and best friend who’s there whenever she needs help. 

On the day of the dreaded anniversary, Anna and Jeannie hit the town, planning to ease the pain with an alcohol-induced stupor and then sleep…When Anna awakes the next morning, she thinks she can put one more February 17 behind her, but fate is about to intervene in the form of two gruesome murders with eerie similarities to her violent past. 

This time, however, she won’t be an abandoned daughter or a grieving widow. This time, she’ll be a suspect.

Sounds quite good, don't you think?

About the Author:

A fifteen-year veteran of morning radio, an avid traveler, and a so-so gardener, S.G. Redling currently lives in her beloved West Virginia.  

She is the author of several novels including: Ourselves, Flowertown, Damocles, Redemption Key, The Widow File, and Braid.

Blogger New Year's Challenge - 1/14/16

Join Rachel of Parajunkee.com for The Book Blogger New Year’s Challenge that will begin on January 1 and run for 14 days.

Day 14:  Your 2016 Goals & Wish List For Your Blog

My goal is for my blog to continue to keep all my loyal followers and readers and to make new blogging friends.

My wish list is the same.

I love all of my book blogging buddies.  I have always said book bloggers are the most helpful, friendly folks I have ever met.

Thanks also for a fun 14 days of learning about our fellow bloggers and finding new books and new ways to improve our blogging experience.

Kudos to all books bloggers!!

Happy New Year to everyone, and the best to everyone in 2016!! 

Blogger New Year's Challenge - 1/13/16

Join Rachel of Parajunkee.com for The Book Blogger New Year’s Challenge that will begin on January 1 and run for 14 days.

Day 13:  Reader/Blogger Cons You WANT To Attend In 2016

I would love to go to the BEA in Chicago since I have gone to the BEA every year since I started my blog in 2010.

I am not going, though.  

I went when it was in New York at the Javits because I was able to stay with my son, and he could be my navigator.  :)

I will definitely miss going, but I will be happy for those folks who will get to attend.

I will go to Chicago via The BEA Armchair.  :)

Blogger New Year's Challenge - 1/12/16

Join Rachel of Parajunkee.com for The Book Blogger New Year’s Challenge that will begin on January 1 and run for 14 days.

Day 12: A 2015 Blogger Horror Story

I had a link on my blog that was a counter.  The counter and the host of the counter went out of business or some such thing, and it took my entire blog with it to a different site.

No one could access my site until I figured out what the problem was and deleted the link.

It kept redirecting everyone to another site when they came to my blog.  It wasn't a virus, just a discontinued link.

I was in a panic because I had reviews waiting and a publisher waiting for the review.

Thankfully my son and my cousin figured it all out and all has been well ever since.

Thank goodness for these brilliant youngsters. 

Blogger New Year's Challenge - 1/11/16

Join Rachel of Parajunkee.com for The Book Blogger New Year’s Challenge that will begin on January 1 and run for 14 days.

Day 11: How many books are you 

reading in 2016?

Top books on your TBR?

I normally plan to read around 50 books a year, but you never know what life has in store for you so that is a safe bet for me.

The top books on my TBR stack are mostly historical fiction or women's fiction.  I have a few in the mystery genre.  

Mystery used to be my main genre, but it has now switched to historical fiction and women's fiction.

I listed a few book in another post that are my top books.

Right now I have a list of about nine books that I definitely want to read, and they all are in those three genres.

Blogger New Year's Challenge - 1/10/16

Join Rachel of Parajunkee.com for The Book Blogger New Year’s Challenge that will begin on January 1 and run for 14 days.

Day 10: Changes You’ll Be Doing In 2016

Change???  Wait a minute...what is that?  :)

I am a creature of habit and most likely will not change a thing about what I do on my blog.

My house has the same decorations since I moved in 20 years ago, so I most likely will not be changing my blog design or anything I do.  LOL!!

I do have to admit I guess that I didn't used to reply to every comment on my blog and now I do so I will consider that my change. :)

Blogger New Year's Challenge - 1/9/16

Join Rachel of Parajunkee.com for The Book Blogger New Year’s Challenge that will begin on January 1 and run for 14 days.

Day 9: Your Favorite 2015 Blogger Moment

My favorite moment was when my son went to Paris and before going asked me for some book titles that I had read and that were set in Paris.

He stood in front of the Eiffel Tower and made a video about my blog and about the books I had read and reviewed that were set in Paris.

Such a sweet surprise!!

Here is the link to that post.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

"This one's on me."

How many times would Sara hear that?  She couldn't keep taking things for free ​and ​especially the rent.

Sara came to Broken Wheel, Iowa, ​from Sweden ​to meet her pen pal, Amy, but what she found when she arrived wasn't what she was expecting.

​She didn't find Amy but a town of friendly folks who loved Amy and who loved giving Sara things for free. They also offered Amy's house to Sara since Amy was no longer in Broken Wheel.

Sara was only there for two months on a visiting visa, but as she moved around the town and saw how there were so few stores and NO bookstore, she realized that Broken Wheel needed a bookstore.

Sara was determined to make the town of Broken Wheel a town of readers.

This book was a delightful read especially when books and authors I know were mentioned and love bloomed.

THE READERS OF BROKEN WHEEL is a gem and a book that is perfect for a change of pace as well as a treasure for any book lover.  

I truly enjoyed the small town of Broken Wheel and its quirky, caring residents.   

A favorite of 2015 for me.  5/5

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

Blogger New Year's Challenge - 1/7/16

Join Rachel of Parajunkee.com for The Book Blogger New Year’s Challenge that will begin on January 1 and run for 14 days.

Day 7: Top Ten Blogger Peeves of 2015

I don't have 10 pet peeves, but I have a couple.

1.  My biggest pet peeve is when someone comments on my blog posts with the SAME, EXACT comment EVERY week.  Don't they know it is obvious?  :)

2.   I also don't care for how bloggers combine posts for different memes in one post.  I like one post for each meme.

3.  Just thought of this....I can't reply on blogs that use IntenseDebate as the comment medium.  I don't know why.  I even wrote to IntenseDebate to ask, but no response.
 

That is about it!!

Blogger New Year's Challenge - 1/6/16

Join Rachel of Parajunkee.com for The Book Blogger New Year’s Challenge that will begin on January 1 and run for 14 days.

Day 6: Worst Book(s) of 2015

Hmmmm...I really can't think of any worst books because I am so particular about the books I read, I never read any bad books.  :)

Well...I guess I did have a few books I didn't like, but I wouldn't call them the worst.  I just couldn't get into the plot of the book. 

Blogger New Years Challenge - 1/4/16

Join Rachel of Parajunkee.com for The Book Blogger New Year’s Challenge that will begin on January 1 and run for 14 days.

Day 4: Must HAVE Books of 2016

I read so many fantastic books in 2015, but I have a few books I am looking forward to in 2016.

1.  The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin

2.  I'll See You In Paris by Michelle Gable

3.  All The Winters After by Sere Prince Halverson

4.  In Another Life by Julie Christine Johnson

5.  Hanging Mary by Susan Higginbotham

Looking forward to finding new books to add to my toppling TBR stack.  :)

Happy New Year - 2016!!!

Wishing everyone a healthy, happy year, and wonderful reading year!!

Thanks for a great readership in 2015!!

I hope to see you at Silver's Reviews, and I am looking forward to visiting your blog as well.

**This is a sticky post until January 3 in case anyone is wondering about the date of the post.**