Where one goes - B.N. Toler

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What happens when the very thing ruining your life ends up saving it? I was never one to believe in spirits—until six years ago, when a bone-chilling accident changed my life…forever. My name is Charlotte, but most people call me Char…and I have a special gift. 

I talk to the dead. 

This was beautifully written and a wonderful listen. I got this book as part of Audible's romance package, there are some really good gems hidden in those stacks. It is narrated by Cris Dukehart and Corey M. Snow and the pair make for a wonderful experience.

I chose this book solely for its cover and was a little surprised when the book turned out to be about a girl who could speak to the dead, at first I did want to stop it, but the story just pulled me in and I was so glad I decided to continue. 

“Would you dance with me tonight if you could?”

His brows rise, surprised by my question. Standing, he looks down at me, his expression serious. “Every fucking song.”

Charlotte was a well written lovable character, and the struggles she faces became so real to me that I felt her despair, the pressure of having to save George but in doing so, she needs to let go of Ike. 

The book did get me choked up a couple of times, really a very touching story. 

Mansfield Park - Jane Austen

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Adopted into the household of her uncle, Sir Thomas Bertram, Fanny Price grows up a meek outsider among her cousins in the unaccustomed elegance of Mansfield Park. Soon after Sir Thomas absents himself on estate business in Antigua (the family's investment in slavery and sugar is considered in the Introduction in a new, post-colonial light), Mary Crawford and her brother Henry arrive at Mansfield, bringing with them London glamour, and the seductive taste for flirtation and theatre that precipitates a crisis.

As with all Austen books, you will probably find it hard to not compare it to Pride and Prejudice, this was a let down for me as I was expecting so much. It was a struggle to connect with the characters, and this only happened when I was about halfway through the book. Unlike Pride and Prejudice, the love interest felt forced to me. 

While most of the characters only pursue wealth and status, up to a point where it was quite comical, Fanny Price was a breath of fresh air, she was a little indifferent regarding this, and this actually captured the difference between her and the other characters. 

There were parts where it did drag a little, but it could have been that my heart was just not into the book at the time. I will, of course, re-visit this book in years to come and who knows, by that time it will ring a different tune to me. 

Letter from Home Series - Maryann Jordan

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Don't you just love it when you find a new troupe? That one storyline that makes your heart beat faster, and makes you go through countless pages on Amazon trying to find your next fix. My latest favourite is letters to soldiers, yes, you will see a lot of these types of books on the blog for a while. So I thought it best to combine the first series in one post. 

The first book in this series is called Class of Love,

When Letters From Home make all the difference. Ethan Miller, an Army Apache Helicopter mechanic, was on tour in Afghanistan, biding his time as he worked hard and played hard. Brooke Thompson, a fourth-grade teacher, was leading her class in a project to write to a soldier. 

Through the letters and gifts, Ethan grew to care for the group of children…and their teacher.

What more do you need? This story is so wholesome, with a handsome hero who will steal your heart. This is a sweet story about a teacher, who as a class project asks children to write to a soldier, the children ask the soldier questions, and he answers them. Through their interactions they get to know one another, our main characters then also start falling for each other through their writing. It is a quick read and makes you crave more, which is a good thing because there is more. This was my favourite book in the series.

The second book in the series is Freedom of Love,

Brody Molina, an Army medic on tour in Afghanistan, saved lives every day but preferred to spend his downtime with a good book. Molly Thurston, working in a library, sent boxes to books to soldiers overseas. Slipping a note into one, she wondered who would write back. Finding each other through a love of books, the friends continue to write, but Molly, with a secret to hide, is afraid of her growing attraction. 

When the secret is revealed, will the love between two pen pals overcome all obstacles? 

This has a sweet story, that is full of hope and redemption for our main character. Romance stories where the characters fall in love through letters written to each other really makes me very happy. There were some plot holes that did niggle a little in the back of my mind, but it was still very satisfying. 

The last book in this series is Bond of Love,

Ben Fowler, an Army mechanic on tour in Afghanistan, loved listening to his squad member read letters from his sister. Alicia Newton’s letters to her twin brother kept them as close as ever. When tragedy strikes, she relies on his friend, Ben, to fill the void. As Ben and Alicia help each other with shared grief, they grow closer. But as Ben’s job is still dangerous, Alicia wonders if she can risk her heart again. 

Can two broken hearts find healing in each other? 

This was my second favourite in the series, a beautiful story of friends to lovers which is probably one of my favourite types of books. This book made me cry and laugh. It really has a special place in my heart.

I think what made this series special was the fact that if you felt like it, you could read each book as a stand alone book, or in different orders. Truly a great read when you find a new troupe. 

The Wall of Winnipeg and me - Mariana Zapata

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There is nothing in the world that will make up for a slow simmering romance book, something that will take you on a ride along a coastal road, making you crave more and satisfying everything you didn't know you needed at that moment. 

While on holiday in July, I felt the need for some soppy love stories, stories where I wouldn't need to think, this was exactly what the doctor ordered. 

Vanessa Mazur knows she's doing the right thing. She shouldn't feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them includes washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she's beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn't find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He's asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

Even though this is classed as a slow burn romance, I flew through it, the story was fast-paced. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Callie Dalton and she was the perfect choice for it. I always appreciate when narrators don't give silly voices to the opposite sex narrations. 

"Home is where you are. I would go anywhere for you if you wanted me there"

The Masterpiece - Francine Rivers

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You see that one of your favourite Christian authors has a new book, in a normal world you would say the plot is simple, boy meets girl, they fall in love and life happily ever after. But then you remember this is Francine Rivers and that you are in for the rollercoaster ride of your life.

I listened to the audiobook of this book narrated by Susan Bennett, who I think was a great choice for this book, she really brought a different dimension to the book and made a lasting impression on me.

A successful LA artist, Roman Velasco appears to have everything he could possibly want--money, women, fame. Only Grace Moore, his reluctant, newly hired personal assistant, knows how little he truly has. The demons of Roman's past seem to echo through the halls of his empty mansion and out across his breathtaking Topanga Canyon view. But Grace doesn't know how her boss secretly wrestles with those demons: by tagging buildings as the Bird, a notorious but unidentified graffiti artist--an alter ego that could destroy his career and land him in prison.

Like Roman, Grace is wrestling with ghosts and secrets of her own. After a disastrous marriage threw her life completely off course, she vowed never to let love steal her dreams again. But as she gets to know the enigmatic man behind the reputation, it's as if the jagged pieces of both of their pasts slowly begin to fit together . . . until something so unexpected happens that it changes the course of their relationship--and both their lives--forever

This was probably one of my favourite books by Francine Rivers, only Redeeming Love will hold a bigger place in my heart. It's one of those stories that stays with you even months after you have read it. It is action packed and has enough added characters to make a well-rounded novel.

As always Rivers knows how to write beautiful stories for her characters, stories that you as a reader can relate to, that can show you a glimmer of hope at the end of your tunnel and teaches you a lesson along with her characters. With Rivers, you can be guaranteed that you will be completely satisfied after she has send you on an emotional rollercoaster.

Sticky Fingers 3 - JT Lawrence

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JT Lawrence is back with more short stories that are creepier than ever.

You won't be able to get these deliciously twisted tales out of your head...

Grab them while they're hot and sticky.

There is no use denying this, I am a huge Lawrence fan, I have read almost all of her published works, and I can't see this changing anytime soon. This is another well-written collection of short stories. Each story was gripping, and I will always praise Lawrence for her writing.

The collection consists of 12 riveting short stories, some leaving the hairs on the back of your neck standing, others leaving you gasping for air from laughing, all of them keeping you engrossed and hoping there will be more. 

From this collection my favourites were definitely The Shelter, Would you take the noose around your neck if it meant saving everyone you knew? The Children in the Walls, The storm tried to keep her out; she should have listened. And Fenrir, A Viking is called to fulfil his bloody destiny despite his desire to stay home with his love. There is also an old favourite who makes a return in this collection. 

Reviews for the previous books can be found HERE and HERE

You can get your copy here

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

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As we all know, there are many books about the Holocaust out there, what made this one different?

The author truly knew how to put the true story of Lale Sokolov in such a way that will haunt you, this book made my heart race, I was rooting for Lale, I wanted, no I needed him to survive, I wanted to see him and Gita overcome all the odds. This book kept me up until 1 in the morning, it was beautifully written and so descriptive, I could see everything in my mind's eye. 

It is one thing to know that even in these horrible circumstances, love and hope can overcome anything and a whole different thing to read how this was the case for these people.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz and eventually made their home in Australia. In that terrible place, Lale was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - literally scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust. Lale used the infinitesimal freedom of movement that this position awarded him to exchange jewels and money taken from murdered Jews for food to keep others alive. If he had been caught, he would have been killed; many owed him their survival.

"To save one is to save the world." 

There will be a lot of people who will tell you that you don't need to read another book about the Holocaust, I don't agree with this. We need to keep reading books like this, books that will show us that this is something that did happen, this is something that can happen again, and if we just sweep it under the rug and try to forget about it, we are contributing to the problem. 

Books like these show the resilience of how humans can work together and overcome anything in their path. Lale was one of these people who made the best out of a bad experience, who saw a way of helping people while doing something that will have survivors look back on it for years to come. 

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

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We as friends decided this year to try our hands at some classic reads, and of course, this came up. and how happy am I that I finally read this? Sure you can watch the adaptions, but they definitely don't do this any justice. 

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Thandie Newton and she brought it to life, I loved the accents and the pace she set for the book. 

To me the surprise was that even though this book was written in the 1800s, Jane still felt relevant, I could still relate to her. To me, she is a well-rounded character, who although she experienced so much she still held her head high and made the best of a bad situation. Mr. Rochester was the kind of character that you would either hate or love, I just happen to really like him a lot. 

Sure if you want a love story, you might feel a little disappointed, but to read how a young woman became a strong independent woman who stood up for herself, who didn't lie down when the world was against her, then this is definitely the story for you.