Two families,
generations apart, are forever changed by a heartbreaking injustice in
this poignant novel, inspired by a true story, for readers of Orphan
Train and The Nightingale.
Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill
Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their
family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush
their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in
charge—until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is
familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage,
the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their
parents—but they quickly realize that the truth is much darker. At the
mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters
and brother together—in a world of danger and uncertainty.
Aiken,
South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery
Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal
prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But
when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a
chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions—and compels her
to take a journey through her family's long-hidden history, on a path
that will ultimately lead either to devastation . . . or redemption.
Based
on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia
Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and
sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Wingate’s
riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even
though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never
forgets where we belong. @goodreads
Wow! This book was really sad and had a happy ending at least. I had no idea this was a place and it breaks my heart 😢
This is written in the front of the book:
For the hundreds who vanished
and for the thousands who didn't.
May your stories
not be forgotten.
For those who help today's orphans
find forever homes.
May you always know the value
of your work
and your love.
This
book is about the Foss children. They are fictional in the book but
taken from real life stories. The stories of this horrible woman,
Georgia Tann, who had children stolen from poor families and sold to
rich families. Those that actually survived living at the Tennessee
Children's Home Society. These kids were malnourished, raped. Jesus, I
can't go on with all of the travisties.
You can google and find out tons of information
Here is a photo of the evil woman.
Here is a picture of a memorial to the hundreds of children who died. There are a lot of photos if you google.
That's all I have people. I just can't. I'm crying too much to write anything else.
Recommend to everyone.
Mel
GOODREADS REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2139374443
As retired physician
Lettie Louw looks back upon her life, she recounts her coming of age in
WWII-era South Africa in this compelling story of delayed love, loss,
and reconciliation.
Lettie Louw is the daughter of the town
physician in their South African village. She spends her childhood in
the warm African days playing with her friends and being adored by her
doting parents. When she becomes a teenager, she experiences her first
taste of unrequited romantic love in the form of her best friend’s older
brother, De Wet Fourie. When De Wet pursues the beautiful and wealthy
Annabelle, Lettie’s dreams are crushed, and she moves to Johannesburg to
pursue her studies in medicine.
Life in Johannesburg feels
strange to Lettie, and the world around her is in profound upheaval as
the Second World War rages. Her feelings for De Wet never waver, and
Lettie is heartbroken when he marries another of her childhood friends.
Lettie soon meets Marco Romanelli, an Italian immigrant, and they marry
and raise two daughters, as the racial and political tensions in South
Africa swirl about them.
Lettie never forgets her first love, even
as the ravages of time, war, and illness play upon her life and the
lives of those she loves. In their later years, Lettie and De Wet are
thrown into one another’s company again, and they are given another
chance at a life together. @goodreads
I didn't get into this book as much as I thought I would but it was still a good book.
This is the story of Lettie and her life through the years. She was really down on herself when she was younger. She didn't think she was as good as everyone else. She also had a crush on a boy named De Wet but it never goes anywhere. He eventually marries one of her friends.
Later on, Lettie becomes a doctor and eventually leads her to meet Marco.
This whole story is about love and loss. Friends over the span of years. Unexpected beginnings and endings.
I loved how the end of the book came all the way back around to something very sweet and I think they needed that in this book.
Happy Reading.
Mel
*Thank you to BookLookBloggers for a print copy of this book.*
It’s a new day in the
Empire. Tyrus has ascended to the throne with Nemesis by his side and
now they can find a new way forward—one where they don’t have to hide or
scheme or kill. One where creatures like Nemesis will be given worth
and recognition, where science and information can be shared with
everyone and not just the elite.
But having power isn’t the same
thing as keeping it, and change isn’t always welcome. The ruling class,
the Grandiloquy, has held control over planets and systems for
centuries—and they are plotting to stop this teenage Emperor and
Nemesis, who is considered nothing more than a creature and certainly
not worthy of being Empress.
Nemesis will protect Tyrus at any
cost. He is the love of her life, and they are partners in this new
beginning. But she cannot protect him by being the killing machine she
once was. She will have to prove the humanity that she’s found inside
herself to the whole Empire—or she and Tyrus may lose more than just the
throne. But if proving her humanity means that she and Tyrus must do
inhuman things, is the fight worth the cost of winning it?@goodreads
That ending! What the . . . 
"'Doubt thou the stars are fire
Doubt that the sun doth move,
Doubt truth to be a liar
But never doubt I love.'"
I don't even know what to say. Everything changed in a blink of an eye.
Tyrus
is the new emperor and Nemesis is to be the new empress at his side.
They are having a bit of a problem with the Galaxy not wanting a
diabolic to be empress. It seems people are trying to kill them every
time you turn around, mostly Nemesis.
Then we are going along, thinking there might be some progress and then BAM! All hell breaks loose and my feelings!!!!!
I will nervously await the next book! Mel ❤️
GOODREADS REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2089838032
Love speaks in flowers. Truth requires thorns.
Travel
to a world of dark bargains struck by moonlight, of haunted towns and
hungry woods, of talking beasts and gingerbread golems, where a young
mermaid's voice can summon deadly storms and where a river might do a
lovestruck boy's bidding but only for a terrible price.
Inspired
by myth, fairy tale, and folklore, #1 New York Times–bestselling author
Leigh Bardugo has crafted a deliciously atmospheric collection of short
stories filled with betrayals, revenge, sacrifice, and love.
Perfect
for new readers and dedicated fans, these tales will transport you to
lands both familiar and strange—to a fully realized world of dangerous
magic that millions have visited through the novels of the Grishaverse.
This
collection of six stories includes three brand-new tales, all of them
lavishly illustrated with art that changes with each turn of the page,
culminating in six stunning full-spread illustrations as rich in detail
as the stories themselves. @goodreads
My October 2017 Fairyloot! I added a link below this picture if you want to go see close-ups of the goodies =) ♥
These
stories were awesome. Well, one that I read when it was free on Tor I
only gave 3 stars because of the hunting but other than that, they were
pretty dark and cool!
I'm just going to add pictures of the
postcards I got in my Fairyloot box because these are the same pictures
they have after the story has been told. And let me tell you, all of
these pictures on the postcards and through-out the book are amaze
balls! AYAMA AND THE THORN WOOD
This one is my favorite. It's a telling of the not beauty and the beast =) It's wicked and cool! THE TOO- CLEVER FOX
This
is the one with too much animal killing. I gave it three stars in my
original review because it had some tales within tales
THE WITCH OF DUVA
This one is really dark and cool. The woodsman who has a secret. His daughter who befriends a witch and some ewww involved! LITTLE KNIFE
This one is about a girl too beautiful to even behold. A bunch of idiots. And a river =) THE SOLDIER PRINCE
This
one is another take on the Nutcracker. Like I have said before, I have
not read the original Nutcracker but this one is really good as well. WHEN WATER SANG FIRE
This one is about some mermaids.
THE END!
Don't y'all love my short little explanations? =D
I
loved the book, it's absolutely beautiful inside and out. The pages are
stunning and each page is colored as well. I would recommend to anyone
that love the author and fairy tales, myths and folklore!
Happy Reading!
Mel ♥
GOODREADS REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2163965212
England, 1882. Evelyn
is bored with society and its expectations. So when her beloved sister,
Rose, mysteriously vanishes, she ignores her parents and travels to
London to find her, accompanied by the dashing Mr. Kent. But they’re not
the only ones looking for Rose. The reclusive, young gentleman
Sebastian Braddock is also searching for her, claiming that both sisters
have special healing powers. Evelyn is convinced that Sebastian must be
mad, until she discovers that his strange tales of extraordinary people
are true—and that her sister is in graver danger than she feared. @goodreads
I enjoyed this book a great deal. A lot of my friends here on goodreads didn't like it too much but I did =)
Evelyn
and Rose are sisters and they supposedly have powers. They are told
they have the powers of healing by a man named Sebastian Braddock. Mr.
Braddock seems like a jerk when we first meet him but he has his reasons
and it is a very good reason indeed. Mr. Braddock also has powers.
When
Rose goes missing one night and leaves a sketchy note saying she's
going to London to be a nurse/doctor, Evelyn heads out to find her
sister. Their parents are jerks and I won't go into that.
But Evelyn is not alone. She is accompanied by a sort of love interest, Nickolas Kent and of course Mr. Braddock shows up.
They all end up finding out some revelations, some other people with powers, some not so nice things and a hopeful ending.
I enjoyed it and will have to get the next two books < -- Naturally!
Happy Reading! Mel ♥
GOODREADS REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1551343466
"Absolutely delightful." --People
The
enchanting story of a bookshop, its grieving owner, a supportive
literary community, and the extraordinary power of books to heal the
heart
Nightingale Books, nestled on the main street in an idyllic
little village, is a dream come true for book lovers--a cozy haven and
welcoming getaway for the literary-minded locals. But owner Emilia
Nightingale is struggling to keep the shop open after her beloved
father's death, and the temptation to sell is getting stronger. The
property developers are circling, yet Emilia's loyal customers have
become like family, and she can't imagine breaking the promise she made
to her father to keep the store alive.
There's Sarah, owner of
the stately Peasebrook Manor, who has used the bookshop as an escape in
the past few years, but it now seems there's a very specific reason for
all those frequent visits. Next is roguish Jackson, who, after making a
complete mess of his marriage, now looks to Emilia for advice on books
for the son he misses so much. And the forever shy Thomasina, who runs a
pop-up restaurant for two in her tiny cottage--she has a crush on a man
she met in the cookbook section, but can hardly dream of working up the
courage to admit her true feelings.
Enter the world of
Nightingale Books for a serving of romance, long-held secrets, and
unexpected hopes for the future--and not just within the pages on the
shelves. How to Find Love in a Bookshop is the delightful story
of Emilia, the unforgettable cast of customers whose lives she has
touched, and the books they all cherish. @goodreads
I just finished the most wonderful story!
The story of Emilia, her father Julius and their bookshop, Nightingale Books.
The book starts with a prologue telling of Julius finding the bookstore with Emilia as a little babe in the pram. That was back in the 80's. Cut to 32 years later and Emilia is grown up and coming home because her father is dying. It was a bittersweet story and brought tears to my eyes.
We get to read into the past of what happened in Julius life and where little Emilia came from. How he started the bookshop and we learned what a wonderful person Julius was.
Excerpt:
There would always be a half-full cup of coffee on the counter that he'd begun and never finished, because he would get into a conversation and forget about it and leave it to get cold. Because people dropping in to chat with Julius all the time. He was full of advice and knowledge and wisdom and , above all, kindness.
As a result, the shop had become a mecca for all sections of society in and around Peasebrook. The townspeople were proud of their bookshop. It was a place of comfort and familiarity. And they had come to respect its owner. Adore him, even. For over thirty years he had fed their minds and their hearts, aided and abetted in recent years by his assistants; warm and bubbly Mel, who kept the place spick-and-span, and lanky Dave the Goth, who knew almost as much as Julian about books but rarely spoke--though once you got him going, it was impossible to stop him.
Her father was still here, thought Emilia, in the thousands of pages. Millions--there must be many millions--of words. All those words, and the pleasure they had provided for people over the years: escape, entertainment, education . . . He had changed minds. He had changed lives. It was up to her to carry on his work so he would live on, she swore to herself.
Julius Nightingale would live forever.
End Excerpt.
Emilia decided she was going to do everything possible to keep the bookstore open. She found out through her best friend, who happened to be an accountant, that things didn't look good but they could bring it back around.
And with chance meetings with people that came into the shop, Emilia found a wonderful group of people to help with different things to make Nightingale Books rise and shine!
I loved all of the characters that were in the book that added to the story and Emilia's and Julius life in many different ways.
I loved the love interest that finally after so many years came to fruition.
I loved everything about this book. It took me to my happy place. I would recommend this to anyone that wants to read a feel good book with a great cast of characters. Yes, there are sad times but that is life. I'm so glad I took this journey.
Mel ♥
Thank you to Blogging For Books for a print copy of this book.
Sussex, England. A
middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral.
Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at
the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most
remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He
hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a
pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old
farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past
too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone,
let alone a small boy.
Forty years earlier, a man committed
suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse
on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable
ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly
incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise
beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.
A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Lane
is told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows
the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside
and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a
butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark. @goodreads
This was a magical story both happy and dark. I loved it so much! And Neil Gaiman did a wonderful job of reading his own book ❤️
Once a boy befriended a girl named Lettie Hempstock, her mother and grandmother and nothing was ever the same again.....
There are beautiful and horrible things in this world and we find these things inside this book
A boy that is coming of age in a world we know nothing about and everything about.... 
It
did make me sad but you have to read the book to understand it. I'm
going to be adding this to my collection as I got this audio from the
library Overdrive. I highly recommend it!
Adults follow paths. Children explore. Adults are content
to walk the same way, hundreds of times, thousands; perhaps it never
occurs to adults to step off the paths, to creep beneath rhododendrons,
and find the spaces between fences.
I'm glad I still haven't grown up! Mel ❤️
GOODREADS REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1493559958
