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duchessofreadin's reviews
2461 reviews
The Last Thing She Ever Did by Gregg Olsen
5.0
Enthralling, engaging, torturous, and delightful... Get ready to be in for one thrilling read, and not be able to put it down until you are completely finished! Book hangover material has returned!
Liz has a scared past with the place of her youth. Surviving a flash flood which claimed the life of a friend, she has been careful to avoid the location for years. But returning to the house that her grandparents owned has given Liz and her husband Owen a new start. She is studying to be a lawyer and he is helping to develop a new program that will land him millions. Everything is going perfect, until Liz accidentally hits their neighbors child.
What starts out as a simple accident quickly escalates into a tangled web of deceit. While Liz does her best to console her friend, the guilt is eating away at her. Little does she know the secret that her husband is harboring, and the lies that are being spread. She can barely hold herself together, and would rather just tell the truth, but her husband keeps her at bay. Feeding her pills and wine to keep her sedate and somewhat calm, she slowly unravels even further. As her neighbor relies on her more and more, Liz is doing her best to keep everything under control, but the pain of what she has done is eating her alive. As the days tick by with no news, she begins to wonder what has happened to the little boy they so carefully smuggled out of the neighborhood.
As time goes by and Carole becomes even more unraveled, Liz knows that she cannot hang on for much longer, but the truth of what really happened to little Charlie will leave everyone in Bend Oregon scratching their heads at the truth...
Liz has a scared past with the place of her youth. Surviving a flash flood which claimed the life of a friend, she has been careful to avoid the location for years. But returning to the house that her grandparents owned has given Liz and her husband Owen a new start. She is studying to be a lawyer and he is helping to develop a new program that will land him millions. Everything is going perfect, until Liz accidentally hits their neighbors child.
What starts out as a simple accident quickly escalates into a tangled web of deceit. While Liz does her best to console her friend, the guilt is eating away at her. Little does she know the secret that her husband is harboring, and the lies that are being spread. She can barely hold herself together, and would rather just tell the truth, but her husband keeps her at bay. Feeding her pills and wine to keep her sedate and somewhat calm, she slowly unravels even further. As her neighbor relies on her more and more, Liz is doing her best to keep everything under control, but the pain of what she has done is eating her alive. As the days tick by with no news, she begins to wonder what has happened to the little boy they so carefully smuggled out of the neighborhood.
As time goes by and Carole becomes even more unraveled, Liz knows that she cannot hang on for much longer, but the truth of what really happened to little Charlie will leave everyone in Bend Oregon scratching their heads at the truth...
Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
5.0
The war for Independence has long been glorified in our history books. However, Nathaniel Philbrick looks through the layers and brings us a untarnished view on the history of the war.
George Washington and Benedict Arnold were two men that became legend during the war. While the war raged on, the two men could not have been more different. Washington worried about the army as the whole and suffered from indecision. Arnold thought of himself and what he could gain from the war. Two men who had greatness before them, but who could not have been more different in their mindsets and goals.
Benedict Arnold became one of the greatest traitors in the history of the United States, and his defection could have demoralized the entire army. However, Washington had been turning the war around, and those who had once been detractors of the Commander in Chief were realizing that he was the only one who could effectively lead the army. Arnold wanted to enrich himself, and come out of the war as a hero, but his actions can speak to anything but. Instead of working toward the betterment of his country, he became a turncoat, and began to work with the enemy, with the urging of his second wife, Peggy.
This is one of the best books on the American Revolution that I have read. While Benedict Arnold and George Washington are the two main characters, there is so much more present. The highs and lows, the good and the bad are all played out on the pages, and no one is spared. From the Continental Congress, to the French allies - every leaf is overturned to give a comprehensive view and greater understanding of what lead to the defection of Benedict Arnold.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the war, and the men who's names have become entwined in history.
George Washington and Benedict Arnold were two men that became legend during the war. While the war raged on, the two men could not have been more different. Washington worried about the army as the whole and suffered from indecision. Arnold thought of himself and what he could gain from the war. Two men who had greatness before them, but who could not have been more different in their mindsets and goals.
Benedict Arnold became one of the greatest traitors in the history of the United States, and his defection could have demoralized the entire army. However, Washington had been turning the war around, and those who had once been detractors of the Commander in Chief were realizing that he was the only one who could effectively lead the army. Arnold wanted to enrich himself, and come out of the war as a hero, but his actions can speak to anything but. Instead of working toward the betterment of his country, he became a turncoat, and began to work with the enemy, with the urging of his second wife, Peggy.
This is one of the best books on the American Revolution that I have read. While Benedict Arnold and George Washington are the two main characters, there is so much more present. The highs and lows, the good and the bad are all played out on the pages, and no one is spared. From the Continental Congress, to the French allies - every leaf is overturned to give a comprehensive view and greater understanding of what lead to the defection of Benedict Arnold.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the war, and the men who's names have become entwined in history.
The Good Liar by Catherine McKenzie
5.0
More twists and turns than a daytime Soap Opera!
Cecily has seen her life torn apart twice in the space of less than a year. On the outside she exhibits a strong personality, but inside she is quaking as she hides the secrets of the past couple of years. Fanny is just wanting to help families of the victims, but she seems to be driven by something that no one can really understand, and Kaitlyn just wants to run away from her life and start over somewhere... These three women, their lives pulled together by tragedy. Kaitlyn can't take much more of her "perfect life" and the explosion in her office building gives her the perfect chance to run. Franny seems to have a heart of gold, but under that exterior the cracks are beginning to show and the madness that is trapped within is about to spill over. Cecily just wants to move on, but she is stuck in the persona as the face of the Triple Ten.
As we see the story unfold, each of these women are trying to overcome the hardships of their past lives. They want something better, and they want to just live their lives. But each of them carry a secret so large that one secret alone could sink the Titanic. Kaitlyn has run away to start a new life in Canada, leaving her family to believe that she died in the explosion. She missed her daughters, but she has convinced herself that they were more her husbands daughters anyway.
Cecily knew her husband was cheating, he sent her the texts by mistake. She never knew who he was cheating with, but to find out while shopping for their anniversary trip - it put a damper on the entire weekend. He confessed to the affair, and then asked if their family was ruined. She was so devastated by his betrayal, she never thought about the affect it would have on their children. She keeps the secret, leading their children to believe that everything is fine and normal. But on the day set to make some huge changes - their lives are literally blown to pieces. She has to act as though everything was fine and pick up the bits and pieces the best she can. Her children deserve to have their father remembered in a good way.
Franny wants to help, but her claims of who she really is stumps Cecily. She never knew that her best friend carried a secret with her, she never confided in her about it. But as the pieces of Franny's life begin to unfold in the documentary that is being filmed about the event, questions arise as to her real identity, and what she is truly after.
As the story unfolds, so do the real motives, and the secrets are laid bare for all to see....
Oh my goodness! Get this book and prepare for book hangover central! There are so many twists, plot developments and more! This book kept me engaged from page one, and I had a really hard time putting it down (why does real life have to get in the way??). Catherine McKenzie weaves a masterful story, and keeps you guessing most of the way through! Don't start this book before bed!
Cecily has seen her life torn apart twice in the space of less than a year. On the outside she exhibits a strong personality, but inside she is quaking as she hides the secrets of the past couple of years. Fanny is just wanting to help families of the victims, but she seems to be driven by something that no one can really understand, and Kaitlyn just wants to run away from her life and start over somewhere... These three women, their lives pulled together by tragedy. Kaitlyn can't take much more of her "perfect life" and the explosion in her office building gives her the perfect chance to run. Franny seems to have a heart of gold, but under that exterior the cracks are beginning to show and the madness that is trapped within is about to spill over. Cecily just wants to move on, but she is stuck in the persona as the face of the Triple Ten.
As we see the story unfold, each of these women are trying to overcome the hardships of their past lives. They want something better, and they want to just live their lives. But each of them carry a secret so large that one secret alone could sink the Titanic. Kaitlyn has run away to start a new life in Canada, leaving her family to believe that she died in the explosion. She missed her daughters, but she has convinced herself that they were more her husbands daughters anyway.
Cecily knew her husband was cheating, he sent her the texts by mistake. She never knew who he was cheating with, but to find out while shopping for their anniversary trip - it put a damper on the entire weekend. He confessed to the affair, and then asked if their family was ruined. She was so devastated by his betrayal, she never thought about the affect it would have on their children. She keeps the secret, leading their children to believe that everything is fine and normal. But on the day set to make some huge changes - their lives are literally blown to pieces. She has to act as though everything was fine and pick up the bits and pieces the best she can. Her children deserve to have their father remembered in a good way.
Franny wants to help, but her claims of who she really is stumps Cecily. She never knew that her best friend carried a secret with her, she never confided in her about it. But as the pieces of Franny's life begin to unfold in the documentary that is being filmed about the event, questions arise as to her real identity, and what she is truly after.
As the story unfolds, so do the real motives, and the secrets are laid bare for all to see....
Oh my goodness! Get this book and prepare for book hangover central! There are so many twists, plot developments and more! This book kept me engaged from page one, and I had a really hard time putting it down (why does real life have to get in the way??). Catherine McKenzie weaves a masterful story, and keeps you guessing most of the way through! Don't start this book before bed!