The Glass Ocean by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White

Booking passage on the Lusitania or any ship during WWI would not seem like a good idea to me, but Caroline Hochstetter and Gilbert needed to get closer, and figured this would be a wonderful way to help their relationship.  Did Gilbert really agree to the reason they were going on the Lusitania or did he have ulterior motives?

Along with Caroline and Gilbert on a ship in waters that German submarines were prowling, we meet Tess, a female thief, who needed to steal valuable music sheets to pay her bills.   We also meet Robert Langford, a man who has been in love with Caroline since the first day he saw her many years ago.

All of the characters had a reason to be on the Lusitania, and the reasons were all different.

Meanwhile the story line moves from the 1915 Lusitania story to present day and introduces the reader to a struggling author, Sarah Blake, who found a trunk containing things of her great grandfather’s who perished on the Lusitania.  This mystery centered around what could these things have to do with Robert Langford and the story.

And.....what could Sarah, Caroline, and Tess have in common all those years apart.  We knew why Robert was there even though it actually was a coincidence that he and Caroline were booked on the same ship.

THE GLASS OCEAN weaves all of these characters together taking us on a ship that was to be a luxury cruise but leads to intrigue, mystery, death, and secrets.

The writing is flawless and beautiful even though I was a bit confused at first about how it all was to fit together.  Learning the history of the Lusitania, the life style and protocol of the ship’s passengers, and having no sea legs along with the passengers kept my interest.

THE GLASS OCEAN is another marvelously researched book that smoothly moves from chapter to chapter and gives the reader a marvelous history lesson.  

One chapter ended and the next began with a take off from one or two words that ended the previous chapter.

ENJOY when you read the newest gem by these lovely, talented ladies.  5/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

When The Lights Go out by Mary Kubica

 

No identity, no birth certificate, no social security card, no mention on her mother’s income tax forms.

Jessie found out she was non-existent, but how could that be possible?  Was she really born in Illinois?  Was Sloan really her last name?  Was what her mother told her not the truth?  If not the truth, why?

We follow Jessie after her mother passed away with no questions answered about her life and her identity. She never thought to ask her mother because the need never came up to wonder why she was an unknown person.

Meanwhile Eden’s story is being told along with Jessie’s.  What is the connection?  Does Eden have the answers to the questions of her missing identity?

The book had a slow start, but once it got going, I didn’t want to put it down. The slow start was because I was a bit confused, but I knew that would not continue and the book would get tense and interesting.

I, of course, was correct.  WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT was a thriller with odd characters. Jessie was totally off-the-wall and Eden was strange as well.

As usual Ms. Kubica has created another spinning tale that keeps you guessing and wondering along with Jessie about her life and her mother’s parting words about finding herself.

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT has a unique, creative story line with some upsetting situations, but the ending will have you saying:  Ah ha as well as have you scratching your head. 

ENJOY if you read Ms. Kubica’s newest.  4/5
 
This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. .  All opinions are my own.
 

Books Read In August

August was  a good month.

All of the books I read will be reviewed this month except WHEN WE FOUND HOME - it has already been reviewed. Link to the review is in the book's title.

The others will be reviewed on the dates next to the book's title:

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT - September 3

THE GLASS OCEAN - September 4

THE SUMMER SAIL - September 5

Not shown in the photo - INLAWS AND OUTLAWS - September 6

LIES - September 11

Book Blogger Hop - 8/31/2018

Question of the Week:

Do you have a YouTube channel? If so, do you post book review vlogs? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

My Answer:

I do not have a YouTube Channel.

I honestly wouldn't know how to post on there. :)

Giveaway and Spotlight of THE GUESTS ON SOUTH BATTERY by Karen White

Photo Source

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All information in this post is courtesy of Tara O'Connor of Penguin Random House

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Celebrating The Release Of
The Trade Paperback Of:

THE GUESTS ON SOUTH BATTERY

by Karen White

Berkley Trade Paperback
August 28, 2018

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Behind the Scenes:

The brick-walked streets of Charleston, along with its beautiful architecture and its rich history, have always charmed New York Times bestselling author Karen White. 

So, when it came time for White to write a series about complicated characters with a side of spooky lore, she knew just where to set it. And so began the story of Melanie, a Charleston realtor with a special gift.

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About The Book:

In THE GUESTS ON SOUTH BATTERY, Melanie’s maternity leave has reached its end and she is less than thrilled to return to work, especially when she's awoken by a phone call with no voice on the other end. 

Melanie has the uneasy feeling that the ghostly apparitions that have stayed silent for over a year are about to invade her life once more.

But, Melanie’s return to the realty office goes better than expected, with a new client eager to sell her recently inherited home on South Battery. 

Despite her stroke of luck, Melanie can’t deny that spirits have started to appear to her again. 

And while she knows nothing good can come from unearthing the past, some secrets refuse to stay buried.

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About the Author:

 “Karen White credit Marchet Butler”

Karen White is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty novels, including Dreams of Falling, The Night the Lights Went Out, Flight Patterns, The Sound of Glass, A Long Time Gone, and The Time Between, and the coauthor of The Forgotten Room with New York Times bestselling authors Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig.

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GIVEAWAY:

I am partnering with Tara O'Connor of Penguin Random House for this giveaway.

USA ONLY

Trade Paperback

August 29 - September 5

Enter here

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Sold On A Monday by Kristina McMorris

 

Good and bad things seemed to happen on Mondays for Ellis Reed, but more bad.

The day Ellis was biding time until a scheduled meeting, happened to be the day his career changed, but it also was the day that would change his life and the life of the Dillard family.

Ellis’s story about a family who had their children for sale turned out to be something more than a story.  It really happened, and when Ellis found out, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Meanwhile Lily worked at the paper as a secretary and had a part in this story even though she didn’t write the story.   Lily had a secret about the story and her personal life that she hoped would never be revealed, but you know how things work with secrets.

Ellis wanted to be successful, but once he was, he still held back because he felt his success was based on the misfortunes of the family he had taken a photo of and had written a story about.

Ellis and Lily worked together once they found out what happened to the Dillard’s after the publication of the story and the sign that said:  2 Children for Sale.

They both felt responsible for the outcome, and it haunted both of them.  Neither Lily or Ellis wanted to rest until they found out where the children were and what happened to their mother.

Set during the depression, you can feel the troubles and worries families had and the desperate measures some of them took.

SOLD ON A MONDAY has wonderful, lovable characters.  Ms. McMorris marvelously portrayed characters you would want to know.  You will be with them in their pain, their indecisions, their decisions, their love for each other, and their feelings.

Ms. McMorris knows how to tell a story and keep you interested. SOLD ON A MONDAY is a beautiful story about caring and compassion.

SOLD ON A MONDAY was heartwarming as well as heartbreaking.

It is a book women’s fiction fans won’t want to miss. 5/5

This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.   All opinions are my own.

My Niece and New Nephew's Wedding Day

An absolutely beautiful day for my niece Amanda and my new nephew Travis.

She was gorgeous, and that dress is stunning and elegant.

CONGRATS!!