Things We Do in the Dark

4/5
I have several of her books and this one a bit different. I think what bothered me the most is, how she did the dual POV. She spent a lot of time with Drew explaining his past, then went on a different POV with Paris. To be honest I wasn't sure what annoyed me about it. Maybe because so much time was spent with him, then he was sidelined a good bit almost like he was forgotten. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing just odd.

I did have it figured out but love loved what happened in the end. Paris at some points just made me angry for some of the stupid stuff she does. Especially after she is arrested. The last half of the book actually made the book better. It was done well

All in all not a bad book. I will say I liked Drew the most. Especially when he described himself.

The Other Family

4/5

Ever since Wendy Corsi Staub came out I have enjoyed her books. Along the way, I somehow missed some of her works. This one was as good as I remembered her to be.

It was a suspenseful book the made you question a few things but but you guessing. I figured out a good bit of it, but loved how it all tied together. Definitely a goodread from her.

I am so glad to see her again on the list of new books. Looking forward to her next one.

A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice

2.5 rounded up for the author's research and afterword.


The author did her research. I admit I don't know all there is to know about the Titanic and her fate along with those on board. I know what most people know. She was supposed to be unsinkable, she hit an iceberg after being warned, she didn't have enough life boas and the ones they did have could have more people added, like most I know the Carpathia was the ship that came to the rescue despite the fact there was a ship closer. I know there may have a hymn played as Titanic sank. I know to many lost their lives and it is still a puzzle today of what might happened.


This book, I was looking forward to reading. It was a duel timeline between the captain of the Carpathia and a third class passenger Kate.


With that happened, this book fell flat. I didn't feel like it was reading an adventure. I felt like I was reading something other then an adventure. I liked the characters. The Captain was amazing and a Christian who placed his faith correctly. His crew even shows that, but the author lacked the emotions, and charisma worthy of them. Kate was able to get a seat aboard the lifeboat but again there were no emotions. The fact that a third class passenger even got on a life boat was very rare. The author did not show us that.


I liked the story well enough just think it could have been better. Titanic is one of those mysteries that draws people. This story fell short of the mysteries, adventure and intrigue.

The Diamon Eye

                                         

5/5
Wow, this author has grown in her writing. When I first read her other older books, I thought they were ok but were not the best in the Historical fiction genre. I did not give up on her as I thought the other books were not the worst I have read. Then, I read The Rose Code and enjoyed it very much, and worthy of the hype. Now I have read The Diamond Eye and enjoyed this one just as much.

What I like most about these books, is the fact they are based on real stories, real life, and not always the happy ending. Tho happy endings are great, most often during the war, they were not the norm. I love that I was able to look up Mila and learn even more about her and her life. Sadly, I understand both sides of the war had good people but more often then not Stalin was just as bad as Hitler, he maybe even worse. Knowing this, I still rooted for her. I wanted her to be happy and do well despite being a female in a prominently male army. I have some respect for her and her accomplishments.
I researched her and her background and proud to say the author did her research. The afterword was well done as well. I knew there were certain times or things that had to be different because it added to the story or fictionalized for the reader.

I was interested in this book since the first page, and did my research on several things thinking it was fake only to realize it was true. I did enjoy the moments the author added. I felt all the feels with this book. Happy, sad, mad, all of them. What also made me think, was the effect the war had everyone including this sniper. Grief, depression, and so many more emotions, PTSD was not a thing back then but neither was the mental help needed for so many during that time. Including soldiers, survivors, and prisoners of war. What would it have been like if the help was available ??

Before all this, she was an awesome single mom. Her husband was like many we see today, don't want her but don't want anyone else to have her. He was the ultimate, not likable guy to me in this book. Mila, however, was amazing, incredibly awesome single mom and a very young age. She also had an incredibly sense of county and serving her country. She gave up so much to enlist, voluntary to do what most soldiers do. Only to be shown little to no respect because she was a women. She did not give up. She did not moan and groan about it, she instead, kept at it and was finally given the chance to prove herself and skill. She of course went above and beyond. Most of this of course was true. Incredible.

This was a great read, based on a true story, that captures your attention right away. Well worth the read. I am looking forward to the next one by this author.

An Honest Lie

4/5

Well, I started this one yesterday so I could return it to the library and find it a good read. It was unique and different in a good way.
Rainy has been trough a lot but finally decided to do what needed to be done. I liked her character in the book. We all have something we don't share from our past, just probably not like this.

It kept me interested and wanting to know what next. Yes, again there were time of unrealistic parts but still found this enjoyable.

A Rip Through Time

4/5
Wrote a review but didn't save.
I enjoyed this book. If you are a fan of Stalking Jack the Ripper, you probably will like this one as well.

Took some getting into it but that may have been because of my busy summer. At times you know this is very unrealistic but still fun.

I liked the characters and the advanced way of thinking of things even tho the rest took many years to catch up. The doctor and his sister I really enjoyed.

The ending I'm not to sure I liked. I understood the reason but still. I did not get who it was until towards the end.

My first time reading from this author but won't be my last.

The Murder Rule

4/5
I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
The beginning kinda dragged a bit. Then once it gets going it's a good read. She did switch to a new point of view that wasn't really noted until I read a half page of the end of the chapter, that said it was someone else's.

I loved Hannah. She did want she needed to do. She got to the truth even if she didn't expect it. The other characters were good as well. Hannah just had that spunkiness about her.

I did figure out most of it but there was a twist. It actually was kinda different then what I am used to.

All in all I enjoyed the book.