Rock, Paper, Scissors

5/5
Wow, she did a great job with this one.
Had a bit of creepy, spooky feel along with crazy mind blowing twist, or two.

The storyline is a bit different and somewhat based on the game rock, paper, scissors. Adam the main guy character has face blindness and a screen writer. His marriage suffers some ups and downs. His wife reads his book and decides to follow it somewhat and they exchange traditional wedding anniversary gifts. This starts with the engagement ring as rock, the paper, cotton and so on. She also writes him a letter a year for their anniversary.

Things are not all as they seem. Soon we are on our way to a converted creepy chapel in Scotland with stories of witches and other spooky presences.

I really enjoyed this read. I did not want to put it down and wanted to see what happens next. I liked she added Bob, a black Labrador, as a main character. He was my favorite. I don't know if the Battersea Dig Home is real or not but liked the awareness it included.

The ending is just perfect. From beginning to end she ties everything up superbly.

Radar Girls

3/5
Seems like it took me forever to finish this book.

Not a lot really happens in this book. The story was not bad just,eh. There is the main plot of Daisy and WARD women, with the subplot of a long ago secret and missing horse.

The author did her research without a doubt. But so much fell to the wayside.

I did like the characters and found them interesting and felt they did a good fit at what they did and how they came together as friends. Some of the things that happen are believable. These women just are not seen at their full potential. Our main character Daisy has the knowledge and can do more then what was in the book. Leaving it to be less exciting, and disappointing.

I just thought this could have been better.

Points for Eeyore and Winnie the Pooh.

Sisters in Arms

3.5/5
This was a hard one to rate. It was more then 3 stars but less then 4.
The story was good, The WACs, and what they did. There were some action and interesting what they actually did and what they had to deal with. I am sure it was probably harder then what was written for the Negro Soldiers in the Army. I wanted more details on that part of history and how the their important today's history.

My problem was this, I did not like the main Character Grace. I felt she was self absorbed and pretty selfish. I liked her spunk until it became more then spunk. She had no problem being able to toss people away and want the very same people on her side taking up for her, when she did not do the same, even worse, for them.

Eliza I did like. She may have been a spoiled girl but she was nice to others and tried to do right.

The two of these women did not get along all the time and often disagreed a lot. Yet they seem to act like children while in charge of many other soldiers.

I think it could have been better, but not the worst thing I have read.

The Forest of Vanishing Stars

5/5

Another great one from this author.
This again had all the feels and a unique storyline, which is biased on a couple different stories, that are true. The author's notes are just as interesting as her story.

The main character I liked along with the rest. Her upbringing is not traditional and questionable through out the story. What is the right thing to do ? Then the twist. Questions are answered.

I truly do not know how I would like living and surviving in the woods. I'm sure it was not something anyone really wants to do but is needed for survival.

It has all the feels. One of the things I love about her stories.

Definitely recommend as with all her other books.

The Metal Heart

                                               

4/5
Was not expecting much from this novel and was surprisingly wrong. First book from this author and will not be the last.

This book had it all, action, mystery, love story, couple of twists, and even some superstitions. I really enjoyed this one.

I was pulled into the story from the very beginning. I did not want to put it down. It has sorta of a Wuthering Heights feel, mixed with WWII and off the coast of Scotland.

The ending, was really well done. I caught it but thought I was wrong, then revealed I was right. I loved it was not a typical ending.

I liked most of the characters and liked the author did not paint everyone that was POW as a bad guy. I did like the characters. I felt some may have even grown some. I personally don't know if I would like living on this island all by myself with my sister, in the cold with a house in need of repair. Dot and Con do just that. Then with the POW camp. She even made the Major a fair guy.

The story itself is actually a good one. A different view of the war from islands that really have no say in the war. A different perspective. Definitely recommend this book.

The Bookseller's Secret

                                                

3/5
There was no thrill, there was no excitement. This is one book that just dragged on and on. Not once was there much actual activity of her being a spy. It is definitely a non action book, with lots of dialog that was not that interesting.

I know this biased on a real person. I hope her life was not as boring as the book. Nancy Milford was an actual person who was an author. But she didn't seem that inspiring. Her counter part I liked somewhat better. The characters are not that much better. It alternates between two female authors that can't write. One in the present and Nancy Mitford. I did not find them intriguing as I should have I'm sure. They just seemed flat.

The setting is WWII. Lots going on and yet this book had none of it. These people act as if there was no war going on, but claim they are tired of the war. They had champagne, food and other things that were readily unavailable at this time because of the rationing Then there are a few now dated word and phrases in the past tense.

Not a favorite of mine.

The Last Green Valley

5/5

Another amazing book by Mark Sullivan. It had it all. Happy, sad, disappointment, bitterness, but with all the trials, there were faith and renewed belief in God. It was a story that will stay with you just like Beneath A Scarlet Sky.

Let me start of by saying his style of writing is one of the things I love about his books. You feel as if you are in the story and every tear, every heartbreak, every triumph is felt. I waited anxiously for his second book and it was worth it. It was different, Pino will always be one of my all time favorites and as much as I liked him, he was an apple compared to the oranges in The Last Green Valley.

As with his last novel, I learned some history I did not know. I knew Stalin was a bad guy and an oppressor but I never realized just how bad. When I questioned what was written, I looked it up and found it all to be true. One of which is how Stalin starved his own people. This was based on a true story. In Beneath we learned about Italy and Mussolini, In this novel we learn about Russia and Stalin, starting with the Ukraine during World War II. As before I question how can people be so cruel to other people. Reading the author's notes is always a good idea when it comes to historical fiction especially Mark Sullivan. I think they add to the story and light up some interesting facts.

The characters were strong and gentle in a way that was truly amazing. We knew something happened to Emil on a night that changed his belief in God. He kept his family as safe as he could. Adiline was strong and kept her faith. We meet many different characters along the way. I would have loved to find out what happened to the Romanian soldier, Corporal Gheorghe,(my favorite character)who, was like an angel and gave Emil his belief in God back and his renewed faith. Caught between two horrible dictators this family survived and showed us how resilient life is.

So much was over came by this family. I find this amazing and something people should read about history so it does not repeat itself. The feel of this book was a little different then Beneath A Scarlet Sky. I loved this book but it was a story that was different as well as the feeling. I am sure it's because of the two different stories have very different backgrounds and personalities. No two people are alike. I am happy with this second book of Mark Sullivan. I was not disappointed. I could not put it down. Highly recommend.

Not a Happy Family

4/5

Awesome story, defiantly worth the four stars. Another great mystery from this author.
This was a page turner I did not want to put down, had me guessing to the very end the ending was great. Wish she gave us more on what happened to Rose and Dan.

The characters were good, they played their parts well, just when I thought I had it figured out, I had to regroup and try again. I kept going back and forth on some of them as to who is good and who is being bad, this one had it all.

Proves money is not always the answer to everything and you don't always know people as well as you think, especially family. I really enjoyed this story.


Fast easy read, interesting story and people.