The Orphan House by Anne Bennett

The Orphan House by Anne Bennett
Publish Date: February 28, 2020

Synopsis
Baby born September 5th 1934 approximately. Place of birth, unknown; father, unknown; mother unknown.

Present day. Sarah Jennings knows there’s one place she can go to find some peace and quiet during her difficult divorce. But arriving at her beloved father’s home in the countryside, she finds him unwell and hunched over boxes of files, studying the records from Cedar Hall, the crumbling orphanage in town. He says that hidden behind the wrought iron gates and overgrown ivy are secrets about their family, and he asks for her help.

Sarah goes to speak to Connie Burroughs, the only person left alive who lived at Cedar Hall. Her questions take Connie from the comfort of her nursing home right back to a chilly night in 1934, when as a little girl she saw her own father carrying a newborn baby, bundled in rags, that he said he’d found near the broken front gate. The day Connie began to protect his secrets.

But just as Sarah begins to convince Connie that the truth can set her free, she realizes that unlocking the past might have heartbreaking consequences…

My Thoughts

While I did really enjoy the concept and story line of this novel, it was just a bit too drawn out for me. I enjoyed the different POV's and time periods the story is told in and found it very easy to follow. There constantly was suspense build-up that it almost seemed to be too much at times. Not that I don't enjoy a good chapter cliff hanger, but it was just build-up, build-up, build-up that it almost seemed too predictable of what was coming next. When Connie's big family secret was finally revealed, it was very obvious and felt anticlimactic. I almost wish Sarah's story line did not have a love story element, she was a strong enough character that she did not need it. Also really liked Anna's story line and wish there had almost been more of her's. Overall a quick but satisfying read that focuses on family, faith and finding the truth. Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for and ARC in exchange for an honest review.  My Rating: ««« The reviews made here are my personal opinion. I’m not being paid to review any of these books. I am by no means a professional book reviewer or editor.  I do this for the love of books.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Publish Date: October 8, 2019

The Synopsis
Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve hoping to escape her stifling life in England. But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically.

The leader, and soon Alice’s greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who’s never asked a man’s permission for anything. They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky.

What happens to them–and to the men they love–becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives.

Based on a true story rooted in America’s past, The Giver of Stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling. Funny, heartbreaking, enthralling, it is destined to become a modern classic–a richly rewarding novel of women’s friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond.

My Thoughts
I've heard a lot of hype surrounding this book over that last 6 months and not the good type of hype.  I want to read The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek to be able to compare the two, and had wanted to do so before reviewing this one, but figured a review shouldn't be about comparisons. So here goes...

I've been a fan of Jojo Moyes for some time and have read a number of her books - 7 to be exact.  When I read the synopsis for this book found, I found it quite out of the norm for her genre and setting.  To me it read more like a Kristin Hannah novel and seemed like something I would expect from her.  Even the cover artwork was not what I would expect from Jojo Moyes.  That being said, I did really enjoy the story and it was fascinating learning about a piece of history I knew nothing about.  I love books about strong female women, I love books about books and I especially love Little Women.  Not that my opinion of the novel had anything to do with my passion for Little Women, but I enjoyed that it was somewhat it's own "character".  

I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters, even the the men, because let's face it, what would a 1930's setting novel be without a cast of discouraging male characters for the females to prove wrong?  Am I right?  Overall, great message, great story all set against the beautiful backdrop of Kentucky. 

My Rating: ««««

The reviews made here are my personal opinion. I’m not being paid to review any of these books. I am by no means a professional book reviewer or editor.  I do this for the love of books. 

I'm Back!

After taking a 3 year hiatus doing book reviews I'm ready to jump back in!!  I have been reading some great books recently and I can't wait to share them with you.  I've also got back involved with NetGalley and have been receiving quite a few advance reader copies of books and I will be sharing my thought's on some great new releases.

Stay tuned for some great content.