March, 2016

“The Girl from the Paradise Ballroom” by Alison Love         

Antonio, an Italian singer, meets Olivia in the Paradise Ballroom. Despite an initial attraction, the two quickly depart. Antonio continues to sing in a variety of nightclubs and help run his family’s kiosk. Olivia meets a wealthy man, who marries her because he is attracted to her unique charm, something he never sees in upper class women. When Antonio and Olivia meet again, they are instantly attracted to one another, but determined to remain faithful to their spouses and families.         

Antonio and Olivia were both interesting characters. They were will flushed out and very realistic. I did think that the book switched points of view too frequently. It did bring in a wider variety of character’s voices, but seemed to detract from the overall story. Overall, well worth picking up.

“My Name is Mary Sutter” by Robin Oliveira         

Mary, a talented midwife, wants more. She wants to be a surgeon. After being turned down by schools and surgeons, she travels to Washington, D.C. eager to find work in one of the many hospitals treating those wounded in the Civil War. Back home, her twin sister marries a man she once loved, and quickly becomes pregnant. Mary’s sister and mother beg her to return home, to deliver the new baby. Torn between the dying soldiers in the hospital and her sister, Mary is faced with an excruciating decision.

     This was an interesting and engaging book. Mary was very realistic, and easy to like. I did thing that the book had too many points of view. They tended to distract from the story, rather than add to it. Overall, well worth picking up. I look forward to reading more from this author.

“The 10 Worst Psychopaths” by Victor McQueen         

The lives of ten psychopaths are outlined in this book. It describes the known information about the individuals as well as tidbits looking into their psyche. This book was well written, however it seemed a bit basic. I would guess that pre-teens or teenagers is the books intended audience. Overall, a good book.

“Daughters of Palatine Hill” by Phyllis T. Smith         

This book alternates between the lives of Livia, Selene and Julia, all tied to Augustus Caesar. Livia, Augustus’ wife, tries to guide the women in her household to be proper Roman women. Selene, the daughter of Cleopatra, is basically a captive, subject to the whims of politics. Julia, Augustus’ daughter, tries to become her own person, growing up under strict rules and scrutiny.

     Part 1 of this book was exciting and adventurous. The women were dynamic, their story fascinating. Part 2 and 3 didn’t have the same excitement or interest that Part 1 had. Those parts were just rote. Even though this book didn’t really work, I would be interested to read more from this author.

“Girl in the Blue Coat” by Monica Hesse         

Hanneke procures and delivers black market goods in Amsterdam during WWII. When one of her customers asks for her help in finding a person, Hanneke is both shocked and intrigued. What unravels is a delicate tale of survival, passion and the horrors of war.

This book was well written and engaging. I didn’t want to put it down and wanted more when it was finished. I will definitely be looking for other books by Hesse. Overall, highly recommended.

“The Secret Language of Stones” by M. J. Rose         

Opaline, a talented jeweler, works in Paris for a protégée of Faberge. She has a special gift, the ability to connect with the spirit of the recently departed. However, one ghost seems to linger, and she can’t get him out of her mind. As rumors fly about the Romanov family, Opaline is pulled into Russia intrigue, putting herself in danger.

     Well written and engaging, this book flowed smoothly. It did seem to be too descriptive at times, leaving little to the imagination. The book combined interesting characters with an intriguing plot, keeping me reading until long into the night.

“The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem” by Sarit Yishai-Levi         

Gabriela has lived in the shadow of Luna, her beautiful and spoiled mother. While Gabriela has problems connecting with her mother, she is drawn to her Grandmother Rosa. This story outlines their lives, interweaving their stories to paint a complex picture. This was a hard to put down book, I kept wanting to find out more about the women and their relationships with one another. My only criticism is that the point of view switched abruptly, sometimes providing repetitive materials. Overall, well worth reading.

“The Cresswell Plot” by Eliza Wass         

The Cresswell family is different. Their father believes that they are chosen by God for a very special purpose. They alone will go to heaven. Castella struggles with being different. She is terrified of her father’s power and prophecy but strongly wishes to fit in with her classmates and peers.

     This book had a very interesting premise, but it moved so slowly. The book seemed to drag at times, moving nowhere. Overall, not a bad book, I would definitely pick up another book by this author.

“Dark Matter” by Blake Crouch         

Jason lives a pretty normal life. He has a beautiful wife and a loving son. It doesn’t really bother him that he could have had a fantastic career as a physicist, or that his wife was a once promising artist. Walking home from a colleagues celebration, he is kidnapped at gunpoint and thrust into a box. He wakes up in a completely different world. One where he decided to pursue his career instead of a family. Unsure of whether he is going crazy, or really in an alternate universe, Jason is quickly told that he has developed a box, one that allows its occupant to travel between universes.

     This was a very interesting premise. I didn’t automatically understand what was going on, the science was a bit dense, but it was fascinating to see the results. There are some things I didn’t understand, perhaps it would take a physicist to answer those questions, but it was definitely well worth reading.