Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Everyone once in a while you read a book that haunts you. The characters even the most minor of them break your heart. Sarah's Key  is beautifully written and tugs at your heart strings.

The story is told in two parts with decades spanning the time.  The location is Paris and the years are 1942 and 2002. Sarah is only 10 years old and the French Police collaborate with the Nazi's in rounding up Jews in France. A loud knocking awakes the family and Sarah hides her little brother in a the families cupboard, locking it and taking the key with her - little does she know that she will not be returning to her home any time soon. She along with her mother and many other Jewish families are taken to Véledrome d’Hiver and from there transferred to Auschwitz.

Julia is an American journalist living in Paris and on the 60th anniversary of Véledrome d’Hiver  she is asked to write an article. As she delves into this dark history of Paris she comes across a family secret that has a connection to Sarah. The further she investigates the more she questions her marriage and her life in France.

I enjoy when a novel teaches me something and puts me on a path of further discovery. The transitions from time periods are seamless. I feel that the author struggled with the ending but it doesn't take away from the horror of this dark time in history.

I'm Not Missing by Carrie Fountain

It isn't every day someone you went to school with gets published especially when you both are from the same little town of Las Cruces. When, I found it it took place in Las Cruces, I had to get my hands on it to see if she captured the essence of the city. For most readers it's going to be about the storyline and not the city itself but for me it was a mix of both with a large focus on the city.

The main character in the novel is Miranda. Miranda and her best friend are seniors in High School. They have been friends forever, have bonded over lost mothers and when Syd runs away from home without telling Miranda or responding to her calls/text, she is left to navigate her senior year without her best friend.

Miranda is left with unanswered questions and as she delves into Syd's life the discoveries she make leave her unprepared for the truth. Miranda finds solace in the most unlikely of sources, turing this novel into another direction that puts us on the path to some answers.

This book is an easy read but the outcomes were predictable and the conclusion was not satisfactory. It felt rushed and left me scratching my head.

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks

Hope Anderson and Tru Walls are strangers who meet on the beaches of North Carolina. They are as different as two people can be and from different parts of the world. Hope is in a rocky relationship with her boyfriend and Tru is a single man who is visiting the states from Africa to meet his father.

They connect by chance through Hope's dog (who is super cute sounding, btw) and the connection in instant and passionate. The term, "love at first sight" applies to them. Their romance is a whirlwind and as the time for them to  part ways come to a close they both have some difficult choices to make.

Will they chose each other and make sacrifices or will they take the safe and familiar route and lead a live of regret?

Sparks book is interesting enough but not my cup of tea however take that with a grain of salt as I don't often get hooked into romance novels. It is worthy to note that I did connect with Hope and found her character to be true. This will be a perfect read for a rainy day or a hot summer day.

My Love Story by Tina Turner

Tina Turner is an inspiration. Her newest memoir is incredibly candid. She reflects on her past as a young child and her time with Ike. Most importantly she revisits her relationship with her husband and how it blossomed to what it is today. 

I found the background information regarding her music incredibly intriguing and was surprised to find out that initially she didn't' care for one of her hit songs. She covers her heath issues, her wedding (finally!) and her last tour.

Her optimis jumps off the pages and her tenacity for life is what has made it possible for her to overcome all her hurdles in life.

If you pick up one book on Tina Turner let it be this one. She proves that achieving your dreams can be possible. This is a well written fast paced book. There are no "boring" or slow moments. I was and am just an average fan and this novel made me see who she is and like her as a person and not just an entertainer. 

My only hope is that when I am 79, I have the same energy and zeal for life.