The Nowwhere Child by Christian White

I was intrigued when I saw the memo in the email from the editor from St. Martin's Press Minotour Press raving about this book.  It came with high praises and an invite to read this book.  I went ahead and downloaded this book.  Wow! What a wild ride!  I was hooked from page 1!  I have no regret and I understand why it's well liked.

This book is a psychological thriller/suspense that keep you on your toes.  It is full of action, investigation, emotions, and who's done it.  

It's about a young woman who was approached by a so called investigator telling her she's not who she is and she may possibly be the kidnapped child from 26 years ago. In a denial at first, she goes on a roller coaster journey in search of her own identity while solving her own abduction mystery. She meets up with her family she never knew of, in Kentucky with her own brother who found her in Australia.  Her world literally fell apart when she learns of her DNA testing and couple of truths from her step father. 

The story alternates between the past and the present.  I could not put the book down.  Wow, the conclusion....Cannot spoil the story here.  It was very satisfiying for me. I was rooting for the heroine all the way.

The book was brilliantly written and did fall into cliche genre of thrillers.  It is very different, shocking, entertaining, and believable.

For those of you who like the thriller, action, mystery and supsense, then this is the book for you.  

I received this ARC from St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur Books through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.  Thank you.

Laurentian Divide by Sarah Stonich

First of all, I'd like to point out this is a second  book in this series.  The first one is called Vacationland which I plan on reading soon before the 3rd book comes out. With that being said, let's move on.

This book isn't any of the action, thriller, suspense, horror, or romance genre.  I have no idea what to call this genre.

It is a novel of an ordinary small town located in Northern Minnesota of ordinary people. Laurentide Divide has a rich setting full of colors, quirkiness, and humor. The characters in this fictionalized little town were delightful to read.

Very relatable. I laughed, I cried, I frowned and I smiled with them.

What makes this book unique and enjoyable? The lives of the people which at the moment are being held together by politics, cultures, tragedies, hope and love. There are several plots in this book richly interwoven together. I actually felt immersed in this community even though it's not real.

I intend to read the first book, Vacationland before the 3rd book comes out.  I cannot wait for it to come out.  

I'd give it a 4 stars.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Do yourself a favor and get this book.  It's worth the heart warming, feel good, and a whole lot of thinking of everything!

I received this ARC from University of Minnesota Press through Net Galley and Bookish First in exchange for my unbiased and honest review. Thank you!

The Magic: The Gathering Cards by Ben Bleiweiss

When I saw this book offered in the raffle at BookishFirst, I had to sign up for it. Why? Because I collected and played the cards when they very first came out.  I loved playing them. Similar to playing D&D.  Yeah, I was that geek or nerd. I was excited when I won the book.  When it arrived at my doorsteps, all I could say, WOW!

Ah, talk about reminiscence! The flood gate opened up when I turned the colorful pages.  Oh, how I missed playing them and putting some of the good ones in the pocketsleeves of my binders.  I had 4 6" ring binder notebook holding these cards.

Mr. Bleiweiss did an extraordinary job putting this beautifully illistrated book together. It must have been painstaking putting all the cards together in one book.  This book is categorized by the earliest cards when they were first produced 25 years ago up to Non-tournament Legal Cards.  

At the beginning of the book, he explains the value and anatomy of the cards.  Bleiweiss also explains how to grade the cards and even provides the guide for grading them. He makes it very simple and easy to understand especially for those were involved with the Magic cards. Then, he explains all the sets and lists each card which were produced in 25 years.

The book is very thick, 512 pages long.  As you can see from the photo of the cover I posted is gorgeous.  Each page in the book is beautifully illustrated with vibrant colors and photos of the cards.  Breathtaking! You can tell he care about this book which had to be a HUGE project for him to put together.  The results are are outstanding! I intend to keep this book with me until I die and I intend to get my cards back (another story)

I had the alpha and beta of the Core set along with The Dark, Fallen Empires, Homelands, White-Bordered sets (5th and 6th editions) and the Ice Age.  Oh, how I want to play them again.  I just have to purchase some sets and find couple of people to play with me!

Bear in mind, this is unofficial collector's guide.  However, after reading this book, which was carefully and skillfully crafted together, it should be an official guide. 

Ben, Ben, Ben, where have you been?  I would've enjoyed playing Magic with you! Give me a hollar when you get the chance!

I receieved this wonderful printed ARC from Krause Publication after winning it in Bookish First in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.   Thank you!

One Day in December by Josie Silver

Warning:  A box of Kleenex is required!

Seriously, some books need warning labels for tissues!

Again, I normally don't care for romance.  But....Oh My Goodness!  This isn't really a romance but yet it is.  

Oh! Who am I fooling?

I WANT that kind of love!!

This is the best love story I've read this year.  I'm going to rank it #1 of the year 2018.  I know 2018 isn't over yet.  But I'm saying this is the best romance of the year for ME!

  I love how it started out.  I smiled, I cringed, I laughed, I frowned, I muttered jerk, you fool, I cheered,  I exclaimed, I cried and I bawled!  

 This started out as a love at first sight setting which bounded three people together down the road. This is the story not just between a girl and a boy but the special friendship between three friends during 10 years.  Oh, how those relationships grew and made them strong. I love how it ended.  It was just perfect.  

This story will stay with me for a long time.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was made into a movie and no, it had better not be Netflix or Hallmark because this novel deserves much better!

You have GOT to read this. You'd be glad you did. I'm giving this book a 5 star rating!

I recieved this beautiful ARC from Crown Publishing Broadway Books through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased and honest review. Thank you!

Winter Without You by Beth Good

This is another holiday treat for this year.  Normally I don't care too much for romance  but Christmas is coming around so why not get into the mood? 

This novel is sweet from the beginning to the end.(you can put the candy cane down now) It will be heartwarming for most of you guys.

This is about a young woman who basically lost almost everything including her fiance.  She finds out unexpectedly she has inherited a house from her maternal grandmother whom she thought has been dead since she was a kid thanks to her mother's lies.  The heroine is determined to make it on her with the rundown house on her own, but at least several couple of ladies come into her life unexpectedly along with her next door louse. As she navigates through her journey with her new friends, louse, maternity, cat with kittens, new house, she discovers more about her grandmother and her grandmother's great love through the lettters she discovered and the letters her neighbor has.  There were amusing, frustruating, happy, loving, compassionate, stubborness moments all wrapped up in this book. The only problem I had with this book was why the heroine's mother lied to her about her grandmother being dead .  I hate it when things are left unturned or unsolved.  Other than that, this book was fun to read.

3 3/4 quarter stars from me.

I recieved this sweet ARC from Quercus Books through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased and honest review. Thank you!

Finding Grace by Daphne Greer

This book is geared towards YA or preteens.  I did enjoyed reading this novel but I had difficulty probably due to the style of writing.  I don't know what it is.  I just can't put my finger to it.

Anyways, this is a story of a young teen who spent 15 years of her life growing up in a convent with her sister who had Down Syndrome. It details of her dealing with loss of her sister, grief, drama among her peers and nun.  If you enjoy some mystery, convent, drama, dormatory, diary, and WWII then you'll enjoy this story.  

I give this novel a 3 1/2 stars

I recieved this ARC from Nimbus Publishing through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased and honest review. Thank you!

The Girl from Berlin by Ronald H. Balson

After reading  Once We Were Brothers and this  book, Ronald H. Balson has just become one of my few favorite authors. I'm really regretting not keeping Once We Were Brothers. 

This is such an incredible novel I've come across in a while! Mr. Balsom most certainly has done his research. He is so eloquently talented with words where he brings the story alive immediately from the beginning to the end, holding your interest. He is one of the few phenomenal storytellers of our time.

First of all, having read Once We Were Brothers over a year ago, I did not know he had written other books until The Girl From Berlin came out. This book is the fifth book of Liam Haggard and Catherine Lockhart series. Now, this should not scare you off because this can be a stand alone novel and I can tell you why.   The heart of this novel truly sets on the mystery, music, and historical details of the main character who wrote the journal.

This is a historical novel which takes place pre WWII and during WWII and present which are alternated back and forth but easy to keep up.  Once you start reading the first couple of pages, there's no turning back. Balsom did an incredible job bringing the depths of history, music and feelings alive. I LOVE how he conveyed a story to each of the classical music pieces. 

It isa not for a quick reading. This novel will bring out all kinds of emotions from you.  It is intended to be savored reading and long after you finish reading the book.

I truly truly enjoyed this story.  It is one of the best WWII stories I've come across this year.  I'd say this beats Lilac Girls, Nightingale, and  All the Light We Cannot See hands down.  I will read his other books and continue to read more of his books in the future.

I recieved this marvelous ARC from St. Martin's Press in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.  Thank you!