Wordless Wednesday

TMST: One Book or Many?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discusses a wide range of topics from books to blogging. 

  

Do you read/listen to more than one book at a time, or do you give every book your undivided attention? (Courtesy of Roberta@ Offbeat YA)

Many at once of course! I need some variety in my life especially with books. However, I have tried to have some strategy in my madness. I usually try to read one ebook, one paper book, and then listen to one audiobook. However, sometimes I have to put a book to the side (especially if it is taking forever) and focus on something that I need to get done asap. Like a publisher/author or a borrowed book. 

I used to be a undivided attention reader, but that really made life hard and boring. Kuddos to those that can do that though!

B's Monday Review: All the Ways We Said Goodbye

By: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, Karen White

Narrated by: Helen Sadler, Nicola Barber, Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 01-14-20

Language: English

Publisher: HarperAudio

Historical fiction

In exchange for an honest review

This is a 3 part story, and I did feel that it either could have been longer or sorry one person should have been left out. I wanted more!

In 1914 there is noblewoman Aurelie, from an illustrious line, that keeps a locket with Jean of Arc's blood as a talisman. I did want more of her story. The German's take over her castle, she falls in love with one as she knew him before the war. Though she is just as much playing him for information. It was just over so fast!

I am not sure who narrated her parts, but I liked it.

In 1942 there is Daisy, who clearly married the wrong man. I wanted more of her rise to a resistance fighter. She was so cowed, and then she was a spy.

There is also a German officer around that was also around in 1914...

Again, I do not know who narrated her either, but whoever it was did a good job with this too,.

And then in the 60s Barb goes to find out what her husband did in France during the war. Her part was fine as brief, cos looking for the past is never as interesting as being in the past. She was a good interlude. But oh Barb, I had a hard time with her. Her husband, on to be, got a letter while recuperating and she never showed it to him! So not cool. But then he could just have gone back too...

Again, whoever narrated did well.

I did like the story as a whole, they are all connected, and it is obvious how. Not one aha moment, but maybe it was meant to be like that.

And yes the earlier stories could have been longer and more fleshed out, but the thing is if they had been then the book would have been too heavy.

I did like that there were 3 distinct narrators too so that every woman got to shine in her own light.

France, 1914. As war breaks out, Aurelie becomes trapped on the wrong side of the front with her father, Comte Sigismund de Courcelles. When the Germans move into their family’s ancestral estate, using it as their headquarters, Aurelie discovers she knows the German Major’s aide de camp, Maximilian Von Sternburg. She and the dashing young officer first met during Aurelie’s debutante days in Paris. Despite their conflicting loyalties, Aurelie and Max’s friendship soon deepens into love, but betrayal will shatter them both, driving Aurelie back to Paris and the Ritz— the home of her estranged American heiress mother, with unexpected consequences.

France, 1942. Raised by her indomitable, free-spirited American grandmother in the glamorous Hotel Ritz, Marguerite “Daisy” Villon remains in Paris with her daughter and husband, a Nazi collaborator, after France falls to Hitler. At first reluctant to put herself and her family at risk to assist her grandmother’s Resistance efforts, Daisy agrees to act as a courier for a skilled English forger known only as Legrand, who creates identity papers for Resistance members and Jewish refugees. But as Daisy is drawn ever deeper into Legrand’s underground network, committing increasingly audacious acts of resistance for the sake of the country—and the man—she holds dear, she uncovers a devastating secret…one that will force her to commit the ultimate betrayal, and to confront at last the shocking circumstances of her own family history..

France, 1964. For Barbara “Babs” Langford, her husband, Kit, was the love of her life. Yet their marriage was haunted by a mysterious woman known only as La Fleur. On Kit’s death, American lawyer Andrew “Drew” Bowdoin appears at her door. Hired to find a Resistance fighter turned traitor known as “La Fleur,” the investigation has led to Kit Langford. Curious to know more about the enigmatic La Fleur, Babs joins Drew in his search, a journey of discovery that that takes them to Paris and the Ritz—and to unexpected places of the heart. . . 

Book Review: Prophecy of Darkness by Michelle Bryan & M. Lynn

Author: Michelle Bryan & M. Lynn
Title: Prophecy of Darkness
(Legends of the Tri-Gard #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, YA
Format: ebook
Pages: 252 
Published: October 20th 2017
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)



The kingdom of Dreach-Sciene is dying.

Twenty years have passed since Dreach-Sciene was stripped of its power and left to wither. Erratic weather has decimated the crops, leaving the people starving and desperate. The kingdom's enemies circle around them, threatening a war that will destroy the country completely.

Their only hope is a return to magic. But twenty-year-old Prince Trystan dismisses the ancient stories as pointless fairy tales. Willing to sacrifice everything to save his people, he reluctantly begins a journey to harness the ancient power. With the help of his sister and his best friend, he must begin by reuniting the Tri-Gard: the legendary keepers of magic.

The problem? The Tri-Gard has been in hiding since the day he was born.

Dive into a fantasy where quests are not undertaken lightly, princes take themselves too seriously, and the only thing that can break a princess is falling in love.




I honestly can't remember how/why I got this from Amazon. Was it a freebie? Can't remember, but it has been collecting virtual dust on my shelf. Time to dust it off and read it!

The story takes place in Dreach-Sciene where the magic has been gone for 20 years. The land is withering away. A war is threatening to break out. The only hope to return the magic to the land is through Prince Trystan. With the help of his friend and his sister, they take off to save the land. First, they must reunite the Tri-Gard who are the keepers of magic. 

This was pretty fun. The world is interesting and I feel bad that all the magic is gone and everything is slowly withering away. 

The beginning took foreverrrrrrrrrrrr, but it was setting up our characters and world. I just wanted more action and adventure. I'm sure book 2 will have more of that now that everything is established and in motion. 

I liked the sister and Davi. Trystan...meh so far. I'm sure he'll get better as we go along. *fingers crossed*

That poor king! D: Can't say why, but poor guy.

Not really sure how I feel about the romance aspect. It didn't take over the plot, thank goodness, but I feel like it was forced and cliche. Maybe I'll feel different later. 

OoooOOOoo that cliff hanger ending. Not cool. But it makes me curious to check out book 2. 

Overall, I liked this more than I thought I would. However, it did take me a while to warm up to the story and get hooked. I am curious about book 2. Someday maybe. I'll give this 3 stars.