An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole
Elle Burns has an eidetic memory, a trait that not only proves that a former slave can have superior intelligence but that serves the Loyal League well in her work as a spy for the abolitionist cause. Malcolm McCall is an attractive Scotsman who can charm anyone, a helpful asset in his work as a Pinkerton Detective gathering intelligence for the Union cause. When the two meet at the home of an important Southern senator’s mansion hoping to overhear information that will benefit the Union their roles couldn’t be more different. She is posing as a mute house slave to the Senator’s daughter, he is posing as a Rebel officer there to woo the Senator’s daughter. While sparks fly at their first meeting, Elle is not about to enter into a hopeless relationship, but their work for the Union keeps throwing them together. Will they both, and their love, survive this war?
It was really interesting to read a romance about the love story between a freedwoman and a white man. She is, understandably, wary of his advances and nervous about being seen with him, a situation he is unprepared for but over time begins to understand. These two care for each other, as evidenced by the very steamy scenes between the two, and you can only hope that love will truly conquer all once they settle in north of the Mason-Dixon line.
The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve
Grace is content in her life. She has two small children and a third on the way. She doesn’t have warm feelings towards her husband, but she is hoping things will get better; Gene is a very good provider and he cares for their children deeply. The best part of her life is her daily talks with her neighbor Rosie. But one day everything changes. Gene is off fighting the inland fires when Grace is awoken by her daughter’s screams and the smell of smoke. The fire has turned to the coast and is coming their way. Without a car, or even the ability to drive, Grace manages to get her children as well as Rosie and her children to the ocean where they huddle in the surf with wet blankets over their bodies hoping to survive the flames. They survive, but they awaken to a new world. Grace must try to find work, learn to drive, and take care of her family because Gene is missing in the fire, possibly dead, and she needs to provide for all of them now however she can.
Based on the true events of the fire that ravaged coastal Maine in 1947, this is a dark, bleak look at marriage during the time right after World War II when women were housewives and mothers unprepared to become the provider for the family. This book is Grace’s story, we get to know her and her motivations on every page. I have to admit I didn’t think the book would take as dark a turn as it did, but you’re still cheering for Grace and hoping that her new found confidence will see her through whatever life throws her way.
The Girl with All the Gifts (Thought-Provoking Horror Film)
Melanie seems to be a normal child. She attends classes every morning and tries her best, wanting to impress her teacher. But Melanie is not a normal child. She lives in an underground military bunker and is transported to class each morning restrained in a wheelchair. Melanie is infected with the fungus that changed most of the adult population into hungries (read: zombies) but she and her classmates have retained the ability to learn, and unfortunately also the desire for living meat. The doctors feel that Melanie’s brain is key to the development of an anti-fungal and plan on removing her brain tissue that morning. Of course that is the day the fences fail and the base is overrun with the infected. Melanie and a few humans survive and manage to escape, will they be able to reach another base? Is Melanie the key to the survival of humanity? Or is she the reasons for humanity’s demise?
I enjoy twists on the typical zombie movie and this was a heck of a twist. Based on the book with the same name that I’ve been meaning to read it is a great edge of your seat horror film. But you’re not waiting for the next scare or scream, you’re waiting for answers. How things are going to unfold. If humanity is going to survive this. Melanie, the character and the actress, is amazing. She can be scary, funny, a monster and a typical little girl all in a matter of seconds. Even with blood all over her face you can forget that she isn’t one of us. And like most of the movies I like it’s got a great gut punch of an ending.
Delicious! by Ruth Reichl
Billie Breslin drops out of school and moves across the country to New York City to find her way in the world of culinary journalism. She manages to snag a great position at Delicious! an iconic foodie magazine housed in a Federalist mansion mere months before it is cancelled by the corporate owners. She is kept on as the sole employee to fulfill the Delicious! Guarantee -- the magazine will refund money spent on ingredients for any recipes that don’t work out quite right. While exploring the mansion and its library she comes upon a secret room and cryptic card catalog. Following clues she uncovers the letters of Lulu, aged 12, to the legendary James Beard, a correspondence initially started in the quest for tips to make good tasting meals during the rationing of World War II and later developing into a friendship. Throw in family drama, artisanal cheeses and hole in the wall restaurants and you have the recipe for a fun read.
Do not read this book if you are hungry. You will end up at a market spending your paycheck on interesting cheeses. I just talked about this book with my book discussion group and we all had one complaint -- everything fits together too neatly, too conveniently, wrapped with a big white bow. You see the resolution to subplots a mile away and know as soon as he walks onto the page who Billie’s love interest will be in a few chapters. That said, if you go into this one knowing it’s a romance, following the rules of a romance novel, you’ll find a lot to like here. I’ve been reading some dark and serious books and this one was a nice yummy fluffy confection that hit the spot.
The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda
Leah Stevens is starting over. She reluctantly quits her job with a prominent Boston newspaper, leaving her love of journalism behind, to become a teacher in rural Western Pennsylvania. She didn’t plan on ending up in bear country but when she bumps into Emmy again, her roommate for a brief period after college, she follows along; both young women looking for a new start. Leah isn’t exactly enjoying her new life, but she enjoys being with Emmy again. A few months after the move a young woman, who looks disturbingly like Leah, is found near death at the side of a lake close to their rental home and Emmy goes missing. As Leah’s digs into her friend’s past she doesn’t find many answers, just more and more questions. Who is Emmy Gray?
I really enjoyed the author’s first adult thriller, All the Missing Girls, so I was really looking forward to reading this one. Since the author’s last book was written backwards I knew this was going to be a tough act to follow. It’s a good thriller, but I can’t help but compare it to her first book and find it slightly lacking.
A good summertime read that makes you question how well you know your friends. (Hint: make sure all your friends have at least one utility or mortgage/lease in their name. It’s a good place to start towards thinking they are who they claim!) Enjoyable on audiobook.
The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir by Jennifer Ryan
Life in Chilbury changes dramatically with the start of World War II. Suddenly all the men in the village are away at war and the dread that fell during the previous war revisits Chilbury. Without men the choir is disbanded but through the efforts of a spunky newcomer to town, and the ladies of Chilbury themselves, a new choir of female voices is formed. Some complain that it’s wrong, that it’s never been done, but what during these turbulent times is that way it has always been?
This is a book about women coming together and redefining themselves during turbulent times. Told entirely in letters at first glance it may remind readers of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society but only at a glance. This book is a lot deeper; the war hits Chilbury and the town feels loss deeply. There are also spies, slighted love, conspiracies, and romance. It’s war, so naturally the book takes some dark turns; it’s a small town, so of course there are nefarious things going on in the shadows; but all’s well that ends well, in case you wanted to know.
This is one that you should listen to rather than read. Each letter writer is voiced by a different reader, an experience that really helped immerse me in the story and form pictures in my head of each character. And it’s available on Playaway so pop in a pair of headphones and get out in the sunshine (when it returns) and listen to the ladies of Chilbury tell you their stories.
Waking Gods by Sylvain Neuvel
The sequel to Sleeping Giants finally arrived! I’ve been waiting a year and I wasn’t disappointed. I actually screamed aloud “Wait! What? NOOO!” at one point as well as laughed and gasped on numerous occasions. This was a great book, but it is a sequel -- you’ll need to read the first to enjoy the second. What I loved most about this book was my utter inability to see what’s going to happen next.
If you enjoy a book that makes you think; a book that makes you angry and flummoxed; a book that makes you smile; a book told non-traditionally in interviews, diary entries and transcripts; a book that makes the impossible seem real; a book that takes the phrase what-if and runs a million miles with it, please give this series a chance.
