Here we are with another Top Ten Tuesday! It has been a while since I have participated and I have missed reading other blogs and learning about new books. So today I have a list of ten recent books that I have received. As all bookish people understand I feel like I could never have too many books. So I buy used books, I get some as gifts, I buy new ones, and I get many for free which is a blessing.
About the Book
Based on the true
story of two friends who unite to help rescue immigrant women in the
most dangerous corners of San Francisco’s Chinatown in the late 1890s.
When
Tai Choi leaves her home in the Zhejiang province of China, she
believes she’ll be visiting her grandmother. But in truth, despite her
mother’s opposition, her father has sold her to pay his gambling debts.
Alone and afraid, Tai Choi is put on a ship headed for San Francisco,
known among the Chinese as Gold Mountain. When she arrives, she is
forced to go by the new name listed on her paper documents: Tien Fu Wu.
Her
new life as a servant at a gambling den is hard. She is told to stay
hidden, to stay silent, and to perform an endless list of chores, or
else she will be punished. Tien Fu thinks her life couldn’t get any
worse, until she is sold again to an abusive shopkeeper and tasked to
care for a young boy. If she is to survive, Tien Fu must persevere, and
learn who to trust.
When Dolly Cameron arrives in San Francisco
to teach sewing at a mission home for orphaned Asian girls, she meets
Tien Fu, who is willful, defiant, and unwilling to trust anyone. Dolly
quickly learns that all the girls at the home were freed from lives of
servitude and maltreatment. Dolly immediately joins the group of women
dedicated to saving more of these “paper daughters” because some in
authority have turned a blind eye to the situation.
Despite many
challenges, Dolly and Tien Fu forge a powerful friendship as they mentor
and help those in the mission home and work to win the freedom of
thousands of immigrant women and girls. (Goodreads)
RELEASES APRIL 11, 2023!!!
My Thoughts
This is a story that has stuck with me since reading the last page. This book is fantastic and so incredibly interesting as it shines a bright light on part of history I knew nothing about! I have not read the original as this one was adapted for young readers. This is a GREAT book. I was sucked into the story from the start and all of the characters and the great risk that these women took to save others simply blows me away. I can understand why this story had to be rewritten for a younger audience as there are some pretty terrible things that happen to the young women in this story. But it was written in a way that got the point across without being graphic. I thought the writing was great and the flow of the story and historical time line excellent. I loved this book and I think everyone should read about the history of the Occidental Mission Home/Donaldina Cameron House. It is inspiring!
Five stars.
" I received this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."
About the Book
In the summer of 1918,
Captain Marcus Weatherford arrives in Russia on a secret mission, with a
beautiful ballerina posing as his fiancée. Marcus searches for the
Romanov Tsarina and her son--who both allegedly survived the murdering
Bolsheviks--and the information behind an allied plot to assassinate
Lenin. But Marcus's sense of duty battles his desire to return home to
Clare--his actual love.
Hospital orderly Clare Danner still
suffers from Marcus's betrayal and now fears losing her daughter to the
heartless family who took Daisy away from Clare once before, but only
Marcus can provide the critical proof needed to save her daughter.
Faced with danger and unexpected circumstances, can Clare trust Marcus, or will he shatter her world yet again?
My Thoughts
I have really enjoyed all of Kate Breslin’s novels. I wasn’t entirely
certain what to expect with this story and I was surprised at the many
twists and turns that it took. I love that it wasn’t entirely
predictable and the added mystery of the big picture story was so well
done. The ending was a combination of suspense and anxiety for me
because I wanted to know what would happen. I felt for Clare throughout
the story and I really loved her character. I did enjoy this book even
though I spent a lot of the story feeling anxious. There is a sweet love
story but it isn’t your typical romance. Breslin writes such great
stories full of heart and history. I recommend any of her books!
Four stars!
“I
received this book from Bethany House Publishers for free. All opinions
are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.”
About the Book
When a baby is
discovered floating in a basket along the canals of 1807 Venice, a guild
of artisans takes him in and raises him as a son, skilled in each of
their trades. Although the boy, Sebastian Trovato, has wrestled with
questions of his origins, it isn't until a woman washes ashore his
lagoon island that answers begin to emerge. In hunting down his story,
Sebastian must make choices that could alter not just his own future,
but that of the beloved floating city.
Decades later, Daniel
Goodman is given a fresh start in life as the century turns. Hoping to
redeem a past laden in regrets, he is sent on an assignment from
California to Venice to procure and translate a rare book. There, he
discovers a mystery wrapped in the pages of that filigree-covered
volume. With the help of Vittoria, a bookshop keeper, Daniel finds
himself in a web of shadows, secrets, and discoveries carefully kept
within the stones and canals of the ancient city . . . and the mystery
of the man whose story the book does not finish: Sebastian Trovato (Goodreads)
My Thoughts
There is not a book that Amanda has written that is not a complete delight to read. I set aside specific time to read this one because I knew once I started I wouldn't be able to stop. This book is wonderful. I had no idea what to expect and this story is so unique you just have to read it to understand how impactful and heart wrenching it is. The characters are so well written. The dual time line is marvelous and all of the story lines interwoven on the pages are just terrific. There is an ongoing mystery that threads throughout the book. There is romance though it is not overdone and it really came down to the heart of the characters and their growth that made this book so special. Amanda's writing shines light on the brokenness of people and how there is still so much hope to continue on. I loved this book and I hope you do too! I highly recommend!
Five stars!
"I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."
About the Book
Olive Kentworth has
spent her life hiding her interest in architecture, even though she
pores over architectural books and sketches buildings. When she accepts a
job on a home expansion, it's only because her cousin Amos agrees to
pose as the builder. To further hide her involvement, Olive takes a
position as a nanny--not knowing that she'll be working for her idol,
Joplin's leading architect, widower Maxfield Scott.
Maxfield is
intrigued by his new nanny--she makes his home and his life bearable
again. His work, on the other hand, is a disaster. An untrained builder
is remodeling a completed project of his. What's worse, Maxfield's
current client wants changes to his plans because of that builder's
work.
As the architectural one-upmanship heats up, Olive's
involvement becomes harder to hide. Will the relationship between her
and Maxfield survive, or will they both miss out on building something
for their future? (Goodreads)
My Thoughts
What a fun book! This series does not have to be read in order and this book could be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this book because Olive's personality just made me smile. Maxfield finally won me over even though he made some choices earlier in the book I didn't love. I love the architectural tidbits and rivalry on building and design. I think what I loved the most was reading the history side of things by the author. As with all of Jennings novels there are some hilarious scenes that made me giggle. There is also more depth in this book that I appreciated and really showed character growth at the end. This is a lighthearted and fun read that you will enjoy!
Four Stars.
" I received this book from Bethany House Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."
About the Book Based on a true story and set against the backdrop of WWII, a young woman’s love of flying becomes an epic fight for ...
