Day 1 - Book Bloggers Appreciation Week

Day 1 

Introduce Yourself

Estella Society - Go here to participate 

5 Books that represent me, my interest and/or lifestyle.

When I read the reviews from these books I laughed, was teary eyed, smiled and overall filled with beautiful book loving hugs.  What a way to cherish my blogging journey.

I read this book before I started blogging but I love it and I'm thankful for it because my father has Alzheimer's and it helped me to understand how he feels at times especially from being in a high profile job and being a family man. A sad but brilliant book. I highly recommend. This one will always stay with me.

I also think the book adaptation was great.

My Review

My brother had a massive stroke in 2011, he has now passed but Stoke of Insight was so helpful and will be my recommendation to any family that is affected.  Here is a glimpse of my review.  Reading the comments again, made me tear up, bloggers, do not forget the impact you have with other bloggers.  I feel honoured to have many of you as blogging friends.

I thought the Appendix - Forty Things I Needed the Most - was so important and I wish Doctors could share with all families of stroke survivors.  Here are some of my favourites:

- I am not stupid, I am wounded.  Please respect me.

- Approach me with an open heart and slow your energy down. Take your time.

- Make eye contact with me.  I am in here - come find me.  Encourage me.

- Please don't raise your voice - I'm not deaf, I'm wounded.

- Celebrate all of m little successes.  They inspire me.

- Love me for who I am today.  Don't hold me to being the person I was before.  I have a different brain now.

I couldn't wait until my daughter was old enough, she just turned 9 and I think this summer would be the perfect time to read together.

From my review - The best part of this book is that even though it was published in 1910 it is perfect for today also.  I especially recommend for wealthy friends, celebrity children, children moving to a new culture and children that feel different for any reason.

Please don't judge me :-)

My Reviews
Interview with Dan Wells

This is the series, I admit to being in love with a sociopath, lol.  In the first, I say..... John has you feel sorry for him, feel fearful of him, fearful for others around him including his mom, just an overall shock.  I am wow'd and completely intrigued by him.  The 2nd book I say I am in love with this horrifying sociopath, lol.  And the 3rd.... I proclaimed my love for John after completing Mr. Monster, lol, in love with a sociopath, HA, but seriously his character is a knock out.

I recently found out book 4 has been released, I'm excited - The Devil's Only Friend (John Cleaver)

My Review

Silence of the Lambs is my favourite movie of all time, I was happy to read also.  If you haven't read or watched this movie you are missing out on some of the most well crafted works ever.  I have to say I loved the movie more because I am visual.  The book had me engaged and wanting to know what was next but the details still were unable to capture the true crazy, delicate, creepy scenes as a whole, the parts that took your breath away.

Honorable Mention

I never talk about it on my blog, but I am a Yoga Instructor - this book is crucial to understanding your own Yoga Journey more.

Please NOTE - if you don't see my comment, it may have went in your junk folder, I don't know why this is happening, I have tried to reach out to some bloggers but I have noticed it 3 times now and I have only visited 10 so far.

Review - The Shut Eye by Belinda Bauer

Published - March 2015

Book Summary

Five footprints are the only sign that Daniel Buck was ever here.

And now they are all his mother has left.

Every day, Anna Buck guards the little prints in the cement. Polishing them to a shine. Keeping them safe. Spiralling towards insanity.

When a psychic offers hope, Anna grasps it. Who wouldn't? Maybe he can tell her what happened to her son...

But is this man what he claims to be? Is he a visionary? A shut eye? Or a cruel fake, preying on the vulnerable?

Or is he something far, far worse?


My Review - 2 1/2

I found this one over at Bolo Books, a blog that lets us know what to be on the lookout for in the thriller, mystery genre.  Then I use LibraryThing which tells you if you will like a book, well it came out that I will LOVE this one, sigh, very wrong in this instance.

I usually give all books that I complete at least a 3 star when I complete it but the ending didn't revive the story, it was very unbelievable and then the ending seemed raced and more unbelievable with so many questions.  There was a stunning scene in the middle but it also turned the book for me and never came back.  I didn't read it for 2 days, considered not finishing it but kept on thinking LT thinks I will love it.

One of my passions is diversity, so the idea of having expatriates, illegal immigrants, cultures, gays all within the story was a plus.  Unfortunately, the boss of the illegal immigrants was terrible even though I am sure very real in our world at times and the others almost felt pushed on us, it didn't make a difference who they were in the story.  A part of the illegal immigrants cultural tradition was bought in the story for the reader but not as part of the mystery investigation, so why are we told, it then almost seems judgmental.  I would have appreciated it coming up and being discussed with the investigation, I think the author missed the mark with this big time, may have even offended readers.

A mother is dealing with grief at a level which makes her come across as crazy.  I really enjoy the husbands character even though more quiet in the story, he is loyal and also dealing with grief but with guilt also.  He left the door open which allowed their son to leave the house and disappear.  Something never felt right to me and the ending made it more unbelievable, I refuse to think that happened and no one saw, bullocks.

The Detective was good but so into himself, the empathy to make him brilliant was not there and he came across as a hypocrite to me.  If you don't believe in psychics, shut eyes then why call on them, but really he was just using them for his own gain.  Most of his attention was on an old case of the girl that was missing, I enjoyed this overall but to many questions in the end, just why, I felt this was left hanging and got us engaged for nothing.

I hadn't  heard the saying Shut Eye before, they are known for conning people, it's more for entertainment, seeing visions from tarot cards, pictures etc.  This also came across as dumb for me once they said the police used a gentleman.  Police surely would choose better.

Even when I do not enjoy a story I can understand why others do, unfortunately in this one, it completely missed the mark for me.  I won't recommend and doubt I will give this author another go actually.

 

Review - Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica

Book Summary

Heidi Wood has always been a charitable woman. Still, her husband and daughter are horrified when Heidi returns home one day with a young woman named Willow and her four-month-old baby in tow. Disheveled and apparently homeless, this girl could be a criminal—or worse. Nevertheless, Heidi invites Willow and the baby to take refuge in their home, despite her family's objections. As clues into Willow's past begin to surface, Heidi is forced to decide how far she's willing to go to help a stranger. What starts as an act of kindness quickly spirals into an unrelenting web of lies and a story far more twisted than anyone could have anticipated.

My Review 4

Mary Kubica is releasing a new book out in May.  I enjoyed her debut book and think they were both solid reads but some growth still needed with the author. After noticing her new one releases soon I also realized I didn't review Pretty Baby and I read it last year, so just a mini review from what I remember.

I think Mary Kubica will become known as a formula writer which I can appreciate.  When you go to your favourite restaurant you know what you are getting, you cherish the time and food.  This is my appeal with her books so far, I see the execution and think she does it well, I really think she will be an author that captures long standing fans.

The story was told by a multiple of narrators which I love, it allows you to become more engaged with the characters and to see another side to the story.

I enjoyed Willow's story, being in the right place at the right time finally, maybe.  She was an orphan and those stories were sad but with a glimmer of hope, we meet Matthew who was also an orphan, helping her to escape.  We get to see revealed secrets of Willow and the baby which make the story in the end.

Heidi is on a train and sees Willow in the cold with her baby.  After a few sightings she decides to bring Willow and the baby home, yes this really happened.  Is she a charitable advocate or a little crazy, I will say both.  I don't know how her husband allowed this but I think it was his own way of trying to help Heidi but also he was a busy business men.  They also had a teenager daughter, who the heck would make this decision, bringing in a broken teenager with a baby when you already have a teenager at the peak of hormonal moodiness.  The husband continued to say I'm calling the police, maybe he should have as this baby scene, homeless teenager became unbelievable.

Uncomfortable, sometimes shocking but overall an emotional mysterious read.  I recommend trying a book by Mary Kubica.   The new one sounds so good.  I look forward to reading and seeing further growth with the author.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this one.  I read it before release date and never reviewed it.  Last year was a write off.  I will not repeat last years book reading decisions.

Review of Mary Kubica debut

The Good Girl

Don't You Cry (Release date is May 17, 2016)

Review - The Word Game by Steena Holmes

Published November 2015

General Fiction

Book Summary

For overprotective parent Alyson Ward, any time her daughter, Lyla, is out of sight is reason to panic. So it’s a big step for her when she lets Lyla attend a sleepover at her cousin’s house. Comforted by the knowledge that her sister, Tricia, is the chaperone, Alyson does the one thing she never thought possible: she lets go and trusts that her daughter will be safe.

But Alyson’s sense of peace is short lived. When Lyla comes home the next morning, she reveals something that could tear apart not only their family but also the entire community. Now, Alyson and Tricia must confront their painful shared past as they come together to help a little girl who they fear might be harboring terrible secrets similar to their own. Will the sisters be strong enough to face their demons in order to protect the child, even if it means telling their most private truths?

My Review - 5

I couldn't stop reading this, I wanted to call in to work and say I had more important things to do, which was finishing this book.  The story completely captured my attention.   This is the perfect book for an advocate group on sexual abuse to read and discuss with each other.  What I loved the best that Steena Holmes did was not make it emotionally driven to the point where you have to warn readers about possible triggers to sexual abuse as their were no descriptions.  This wasn't about the act but more about what do you do with suspicions or when a young child repeats something and your unsure.

Alyson was my favourite character, she had a traumatic experience when she was young which makes her overprotective with her daughter Lyla.  The unfortunate part is her family treat her with kid gloves and thinks that she exaggerates everything.  Alyson has a great trusting relationship with her sister Tricia and so when Tricia has a huge sleepover with all the dance girls she says yes.  Her son is allowed a friend also, so here starts the preteen drama, boys and girls in the house together, hmmmm.

The night goes well but when Lyla is telling her mom about it, she innocently says Keera, Alyson's sisters best friend daughter makes this statement.  "She said she wanted to know if a boy's kisses are different than a man's."

Alyson's world stops, is history repeating itself.  She is happy her daughter told and it wasn't her daughter involved but she goes into advocate mode.  This is where the story is edge of your seat worthy until the end.  We then see how adults deal with a suspicion of sexual abuse to a child.  This would make for some great discussion.  Secrets, lies, debates, anger, betrayal, all sorts of emotions start.

I also enjoyed that the grandparents were in the story.  We were able to see how another generation dealt with accusations of sexual abuse, bringing family together but also keeping mouths shut.  A huge question would be how do you protect the child, the parents, the abuser if they are innocent?  It can wreck everyone's world but what if the accusations are true?  Alyson is angry that everyone is not making critical fast decisions which trigger her past more.

Tricia is having coffee with her friend which is also the principle and makes a statement without thought.  In my opinion she knew exactly what she was doing and I was proud that the principle went into risk of abuse mode.

This story is an important one for young adults to understand when secrets should be revealed, how adults should deal with possible abuse, generational decisions and how they affect adults and when adults need to be honest with children.  Again, I didn't think the author underplayed the circumstances but made it readable for all, such an important topic can be to hard to read about but was perfectly executed in my opinion, it was powerful.

A great portray of friendships, marriage, culture pride, cousin connections, sibling relationships and a little bit of dance mom drama.  A perfect character driven book, a loved the execution of this story which was told by the 3 adult, Alyson, Tricia and Myah, the mom of Keera.

Monday - What are you reading?

Book Date now hosts It's Monday What Are Your Reading?  The meme that we use to share what we read this past week and what our plans are for the upcoming week.  It's a great way to see what others are reading and add to your own To Be Read List.

January was such an amazing month of reading, I'm so thankful for bloggers recommendations, you rock.

I'm currently reading

I just completed and loved this one, review coming soon

I reviewed this one and highlighted her other books.  This one was different, not as character driven.  My Review

I'm not sure what is next, possibly this one

Have a great week.

Review - Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf

Published February 2, 2016

Book Summary

Sarah Quinlan's husband, Jack, has been haunted for decades by the untimely death of his mother when he was just a teenager, her body found in the cellar of their family farm, the circumstances a mystery. The case rocked the small farm town of Penny Gate, Iowa, where Jack was raised, and for years Jack avoided returning home. But when his beloved aunt Julia is in an accident, hospitalized in a coma, Jack and Sarah are forced to confront the past that they have long evaded. 

Upon arriving in Penny Gate, Sarah and Jack are welcomed by the family Jack left behind all those years ago—barely a trace of the wounds that had once devastated them all. But as facts about Julia's accident begin to surface, Sarah realizes that nothing about the Quinlans is what it seems. Caught in a flurry of unanswered questions, Sarah dives deep into the puzzling rabbit hole of Jack's past. But the farther in she climbs, the harder it is for her to get out. And soon she is faced with a deadly truth she may not be prepared for.

My Review - 3 1/2

I have only missed out on one of Heather Gudenkauf's books so far, she has became a go to author for me when she releases a new book.  This one didn't feel nor read like her others, there wasn't what I would say her style or voice that came through.  

The prologue drew you in immediately, a brutal murder, you knew you were into a great start to a who dun-nit story.  Jack gets a call that his Aunt was hurt badly and was in a coma.   Jack and his wife Sarah of 20 years head back to his childhood home and small community, Penny Gate, Iowa.  Sarah knows the family from the wedding but immediately feels something is off, secrets.  The Aunt has a brutal death in the hospital in front of all the family and then begins an investigation into her murder. 

All the family are questioned, fingers being pointed and for Sarah, secrets revealed making her second guess the life she built with Jack.  Similarities into the death of his Aunt and his mother have everyone entangled into a family dysfunctional mess.  Can you imagine planning a funeral while the family is being investigated, emotional turmoil. Jack had told Sarah his parents died from a car accident so to hear it was murder and now his aunts murder has similarities, who should she trust.  She turns to her own instinct or is it morbid curiosity and becomes private detective which puts her in the fire pan also.  All fingers point to the troubled sister of Jack, Amy and she called their childhood home, 'the house of horrors' which is occupied by cousins, so it is still within the family.

Sarah is an advice columnist and when she checks her email she gets a strange email and when the 3rd comes in she knows it has something to do with the murders. The first part of the book was good but there was just something off, it may have been the flow, execution not the best but I thought the 2nd half was better.  I think Heather is good with layering her stories to make mysterious and in this case it was the continuous secrets revealed which for Sarah were lies. She considered catching the next plane back home. Even though I knew who the murderer wasn't, the families reactions to everything didn't make sense to me and I think it was the lack of really getting to know the characters.

This was a solid read, the ending was okay but you will still have so many questions and that is due to the lack of connection with the characters. The questions are not about the story but more.... how can a husband lie about the things he did, how can family live in a home where their loved one was murdered, why did the murderer do it and the additional bodies found, is that even possible?

Thanks to NetGalley for honouring me with the opportunity to review a favourite author.

My Reviews of Heather Gudenkauf's other books * = favourites

Little Lies (prequel)

Little Mercies *

These Things Hidden 

The Weight of Silence *

Monday - What are you reading?

Book Date now hosts It's Monday What Are Your Reading?  The meme that we use to share what we read this past week and what our plans are for the upcoming week.  It's a great way to see what others are reading and add to your own To Be Read List.


I just completed Missing Pieces, unsure how I feel about it, review will be up tomorrow for release date.

I really enjoyed this one.  If you are a Grey's Anatomy and specifically Christina Yang fan, I highly recommend.  A fun, laugh out loud read.

My Review

I have no idea what is next.

My daughter is 9 years old today.  She is beautiful, inside and out, can't believe I have a 9 year old, wow.  We woke a little earlier so I can make her favourite breakfast, waffles and bacon and we are going to dinner tonight to celebrate.  I probably will not start a book tonight so that gives me a little more time to decide. 

The next 2 Book club choices are:  Goldfinch - which I decided I will not be reading.  771 pages is past my limit rule, I will not do that to myself.  This is the other, have you read it?

Have a great week.

Review - Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

Book Summary

The mega-talented creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away With Murder chronicles how saying YES for one year changed her life―and how it can change yours, too.

With three hit shows on television and three children at home, the uber-talented Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say NO when an unexpected invitation arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No.

And there was the side-benefit of saying No for an introvert like Shonda: nothing new to fear.

Then Shonda’s sister laid down a challenge: just for one year, try to say YES to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed―and the result was nothing short of transformative. In Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes chronicles the powerful impact saying yes had on every aspect of her life―and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes.


My Review - 4 1/2

I have been a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy from the beginning and continue to be. I watched a little of Private Practice but that isn't a miss even though I loved Addison as an actress.  Scandal became my new love but the way the season ended in November, I have no interest in continuing and I had made a decision not to even start with How to Get Away with Murder.  So over all, I'm a Grey's fan.  This is not my kind of book but I downloaded the sample and was laughing, became engaged and had to read it.  I'm glad I did, very fun book.

Shonda is a successful female but she is an introvert.  I am not like Shonda but I was able to appreciate her story and laugh at her or with her.  I thought she did a great job on balancing, allowing us in but not with the details of to much personal.  Her ride to die friend, who is also badass is Christina Yang, not Sandra Oh the real person but Christina.  I loved everything about Christina, she could do no wrong and Shonda wrote her in order to have someone on her side.  The parts of Christina in the book were my favourite, I understood.

I won't go into it but the way Shonda ended the season of Scandal, uggggh, I had anger for a few days until I finally told myself to get over it but getting over it means giving up on Scandal, I'm done.  Shonda definitely showed herself in Year of Yes and it explains the decision on why she decided to end the way she did.  I still don't agree and hate that story line and will continue to feel like Liv could have had it all in Liv's way, the Gladiator way, the unmarried but still with the man she loved way.  ANGRY.....  I will accept it as I have no other choice but i'm done, I'm glad Shonda found her way of saying Yes and eventually No also.  This worked for her and she creates the story lines, so it is what it is.

So many debatable topics, the stay at home mom which should not be in the category of work.  She hates the word diversity, her word is normalizing, she says "I'm normalizing TV.  The dancing Meredith and Christina did is a way of living for Shonda, sweet moments.  Sharing some of her speeches, all had inspiring moments, I appreciated this being shared.  All these areas were favourites of mine in the book,

I think there will be a few that hates this book but I think that would be the category of thinking celebrities are not real people.  Shonda showed us who she is and writing was what she loved, the pretend world.  The speeches, social media, events etc came during her Year of Yes which she acknowledges change, she is not perfect.  In my head now, she is laugh out loud hilarious, she had me crying at times.  I would love to go to a games night with her.  It is not a game to her, she actually is not allowed to host or be invited to games anymore due to her inappropriate intensity.  We all have that 1 friend, dancing and saying "IN YOUR FACE, BITCHES!!!"  I seriously was cracking up.

I was happy to see the inside of a celebrity from their point of view.  I found it light, fun, badassary (Shonda added this to her Dictionary as a new word).  I was a Grey's Anatomy fan but now I can say I'm a Shonda fan. 

The Year of Yes can be very inspiring for some, and it all started with her sister saying "You never say yes to anything."  It was a great fun read for me, this was more about Shonda, her own personal challenge then a book about inspiring us.


Quotes

That's my superpower - telling good stories.  Smooth stories.  Funny stories.  Epic stories.  Kindle 9%

With the empty whiteboard of an episode before me, I slip into a zone of calm confidence.  I feel the hum.  Making television for me is.....blissful.  Kindle 45%

A Favourite Quote, great debate this would start

I find it offensive to motherhood to call being a mother a job.
Being a mother isn't a job.
It's who someone is.
It's who I am.
You can quit a job.  I can't quit being a mother.  Kindle 36%

It's Monday, what book do you have a date with?

Book Date now hosts It's Monday What Are Your Reading?  The meme that we use to share what we read this past week and what our plans are for the upcoming week.  It's a great way to see what others are reading and add to your own To Be Read List.



I'm currently reading and laughing.......

I reviewed and loved - my review (Psychological Suspense)

 

 

I also reviewed a book from last year, highly recommend.  My Review

 

 

 

 

I think I am going to read my NetGalley request next especially since it releases soon.

 

 

 

 

Wishing you a fabulous week.

 

 

 

Review - Unhinge by Calia Read

Book Summary

Published January 12, 2016

In Calia Read’s electrifying and steamy novel of psychological suspense, a handsome stranger shatters a beautiful young woman’s picture-perfect vision of her past.

Hold your breath and count to ten. Soon it will be over before it ever began.
 
No matter how many times Victoria Donovan repeats that phrase to herself, she’s still trapped behind the walls of a mental institution. Once upon a time, her life was like a fantasy: Wes, the handsome fiancé, followed by a storybook wedding and a white picket fence. But then a picture-perfect marriage twisted into something sinister. And as Victoria’s world warped from dream to nightmare, her husband’s obsessions pushed her beyond the breaking point.

At first Fairfax Mental Health Institute seems like a safe place for Victoria to heal with her baby, Evelyn, and to hide from Wes, presumed dead by everyone except Victoria. Her husband is still alive, she has no doubt: He slips into her room at night to torment and tempt her. One smoldering kiss and she’s powerless. Of course, no one believes her about these visits. When she meets a sexy, mysterious stranger intent on helping her recall her past, Victoria isn’t sure she can trust him. But deep in her heart, she also knows that the only way out of Fairfax is to remember the way she came in.


My Review - 4 1/2 star

Psychological Suspense

Wow, wow and wow.  This is a book I wished I was able to read in 1 seating, staying up until almost 2am for two nights is not me but I couldn't get enough.  The storytelling has you on the edge of your seat.

Victoria has been in a verbal and physical abusive marriage and something so bad has happened she is now in a mental institution. The story is mainly told from her point of view, I never felt that she was crazy but couldn't wait to find out what really put her there.  She couldn't remember and her Doctor was slowly showing her pictures to assist with bringing back the memories. 

Farifax Mental Health Institute was where most of the story took place.  You knew something was off but there is no way to figure it out.  Her husband Wes was scary, the total beautiful handsome perfect to the outside world husband but those mind games that became physical, shocking. There are other storylines that I am unable to go into but it is executed perfectly, you will not want to put this book down.

It finally gets to 90% almost and then you are saying WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON.  I totally thought I missed something, saved the page because I thought I would have to go back and then the mastermind craziness is revealed.  Sometimes I think authors wrap it all up with no flaws but it really came at the perfect time and was a great ending.  Sometimes Plan A don't work out so you go with Plan B, it was a whoa thrilling moment but made so much sense, not one that could have been thought of.

You did pick up that something was wrong and depressive about Victoria and it was fine.  The ultimate ending makes your heart melt, finally the beginning of healing.

Note - now I understand why it says adult audience and used words like steamy.  It is not erotica but the sex scenes are detailed, there was I believe two, if you are not into that you can easily skip over.  Calia Read books are amazing, so glad I found this author.  You can read them out of order.  It says Book 2 but the only consistent is Fairfax, looks like we will get stories about a mental institution that gives us a psychological suspense.

This is really close to a 5 star read but a major character should have been in the ending scenes, I am confused why she isn't.  Also a major part of what can be considered Victoria being crazy, I can't believe would happen.  It won't be allowed and other patients would totally mention it, I wish they would have did this a little different.

I highly recommend both of these books.  Unravel is now $2.99 and Unhinge is $6.99 on Kindle.

My Review of Unravel, also 4 1/2

Teaser Tuesday and Review - The Forgotten Daughter by Renita D'Silva

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! 

Just do the following and go here to participate: Teaser Tuesday

Grab your current read 
Open to a random page 
Share two (2) 'teaser' sentences from somewhere on that page 
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! 
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

Teaser -  Once upon a time, I wished for a family, a husband, a bevy of children.  I neglected to be specific.  I did not ask that they all be with me at the same time.  Kindle 78%

Published Date - February 2014

Book Summary

‘You were adopted’. 
Three simple words, in a letter accompanying her parents' will, tear Nisha’s carefully ordered world apart. Raised in England, by her caring but emotionally reserved parents, Nisha has never been one to take risks. 

Now, with the scrawled address of an Indian convent begins a search for the mother and family she never knew and the awakening of childhood memories long forgotten. 

The secrets, culture and people that Nisha discover will change her life forever. And, as her eyes are opened to a side of herself she didn’t know existed, Nisha realizes that she must also seek answers to the hardest question of all – why? 

Weaving together the stories of Nisha, Shilpa and Devi, The Forgotten Daughter explores powerfully and poignantly the emotional themes of motherhood, loss and identity – ultimately asking the question of what you would do out of love for your children? 

My Review - 4 1/2

I read this one a year ago, it was my choice for my book club.  Such a beautiful read.  Last year I really read out of my comfort zone but this was one of the gems.  The Forgotten Daughter was some of the most beautiful lyrical writing I have read.  Renita D'Silva is an author I will definitely try again.  I am not one for descriptive writing but it was the perfect execution.  I felt I was in India, the smells of the culture had me at times closing my eyes and being in the moment.   Having a book make me stop and cherish the time reading is an unique emotion while reading I haven't had before.

Shilpa had the twin girls and had to make the hardest decision in her life which was a matter of life or death.  Emotional and honest journey which we get to hear through all the characters voices. Multiple narrators is another style I enjoy and again, perfect execution. 

Many chapters started with an Indian recipe, simplistic but heartfelt.  I really enjoyed that smells arose memories.  We get to hear their stories from babies, toddlers and then as adults when Nisha finds out she was adopted and starts her adventure.  

I don't personally know anyone that was adopted but I thought this was a stunning story about finding out as an adult and going on a journey to find your loved ones.  

Reading my notes and writing this review makes me want to read it again, which I never do, a solid read, highly recommend.  Beautiful characters, we really get to know them and become invested in their story.  I think the ending was exactly as it should have been in order to honour the culture, the questions, the family.

Review - Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne

Publication date - May 2015

Book Summary

One of Sarah's daughters died. But can she be sure which one?

A year after one of their identical twin daughters, Lydia, dies in an accident, Angus and Sarah Moorcroft move to the tiny Scottish island Angus inherited from his grandmother, hoping to put together the pieces of their shattered lives.

But when their surviving daughter, Kirstie, claims they have mistaken her identity--that she, in fact, is Lydia--their world comes crashing down once again.

As winter encroaches, Angus is forced to travel away from the island for work, Sarah is feeling isolated, and Kirstie (or is it Lydia?) is growing more disturbed. When a violent storm leaves Sarah and her daughter stranded, they are forced to confront what really happened on that fateful day.

My Review 3 1/2

This is one of the weirdest books I have read.  I can't imagine having identical twins and only knowing them apart by their personality.  When they were babies into toddlers, one had a nail painted pink and the other blue to help identify them.  I can understand the frustration and chilling scary moments for the mother.  As the reader I just wanted to get to the end to understand the story but I was able to put it down, it never had me on the edge of my seat.  Which twin died, Kirstie or Lydia, you truly didn't know and it was quite confusing.

Unreliable characters are one of my favourite styles but I was more frustrated reading this one.  The mom tells the story and I wonder if she needs help, they all need help.  The author did a good job on allowing me to feel the pain and frustration the family did, all in different ways but the ending helps to understand why.  This is such a sad quote.

".....now that Lydia is alone she may lead a more normal life, you know, twins are so different, now she is more normal, in the most terrible way, of course." Kindle 71%

Can you imagine saying that to a mom, outrageous.

As I learned all the secrets throughout the story I was angry, how can parents be that ignorant, what they put on their child was unbelievable to me, no wonder she was confused and it became scary.  This story truly made you consider believing in ghosts, now I can understand the main word used to describe the book, chilling.

When you are guilty of an act that you end up with amnesia, how do you heal and move on?  This is the question and who is guilty, mom, dad or the surviving twin?