Surrender to Me by Kelly Elliott (Boggy Creek Valley #4)

 <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57769034-surrender-to-me" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Surrender to Me (Boggy Creek Valley, #4)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1639321937l/57769034._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57769034-surrender-to-me">Surrender to Me</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6581091.Kelly_Elliott">Kelly Elliott</a><br/>

My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4492533783">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />

Kelly Elliott has written a book about a woman who was raped and how it effected her life. I was not sure how it would impact me, as I too have had a similar experience. While reading it, I realized that we all handle traumatic events in our lives so differently. I am sure this was hard for some people to read, but I did not feel that way. I wish I had pursued therapy, but I did not. The story does center around Bella's life, but it adds some wonderful characters along the way. All the characters are from the Boggy Creek series and they have such strong friendships. I wish everyone had friendships that are displayed in this series. I always feel like I am rooting for the characters.<br />

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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/111081580-elizabeth">View all my reviews</a>

Playing with Words by Kelly Elliott

 Playing with Words by Kelly Elliott

I am a huge fan of Kelly’s and I think I may say the same things about her books, but it should not diminish how I feel when reading them. I love, love, love, Greer and Hudson. I laughed so many times while reading it. I don’t think we read enough books that make us laugh or even smile while reading. This one will do that for you. Greer seems to accidentally say exactly what she is thinking and it made me laugh several times. Thanks Kelly! I so enjoyed this story.

Fool For You by Kelly Elliott

 Fool for You by Kelly Elliott is a romantic story of best friends who are afraid to be more than best friends. Landon and Emmerson have been best friends since they were little. Their parents are best friends and they grew up in basically the same house on the same land, just outside Waco, Texas. The story unfolds with a fake engagement and how they got into this situation. Kelly is a true romantic and you can fall in love with her characters in this story. Although it is part of the Souther Bride series, it is a stand alone book. 

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

 Once again, I love reading historical fiction. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is about a group in Bletchley Park, Great Britain during WWII. They were assigned to help break military codes. Quinn's main characters are as different as could be, yet they become friends. The story of their friendship, as well as the jobs they had and the toll the job had on their lives is incredible. I love strong women characters and I love reading about WWII. I highly recommend this book. It will give you a unique perspective on how so many people came together to help fight in WWII.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

 

After just finishing Kristin Hannah's Four Winds, I decided to read another one of her books. Not realizing that Firefly Lane was also a Netflix release, I picked it. 

I was captivated from the very beginning. I could relate to being the new girl in school, but I was younger when we moved into our new house. So when I read about Kate Mularkey having no friends in 8th grade my heart ached. I also have seen kids like Kate who came to the library with no friends. Then when Tully, the coolest girl Kate had ever met moves across the street, becomes her friend, I was hooked.

I went through so many emotions reading this book. I lived through the 70's and could remember all the things they were doing. The friendship that was forged in this book is so real. Unlike, Hannah's historical fiction, this one was more contemporary. It tugs at your heart, but worth every minute of this read!

Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

 I have loved all  of Kristin Hannah's books. I learn something about the time period and am always deeply moved by the characters. This story is about the Dust Bowl and starts out in west Texas. I had not really studied or read much about this time period, so I learned a lot. I don't want to give away too much, but it was a difficult time to have lived through, in addition to the Great Depression. With that said, it is not a make you happy, smile on your face book, but has so much substance. Once again, I will keep reading Hannah's novels.

The Butterfly Effect by Kelly Elliott

Once again Kelly Elliott had me mesmerized by The Butterfly Effect. What I love about her books is I get to escape into a sweet, but somehow damaged love. This time it's a story that takes place in New Hampshire and Willa's family owns an apple orchid. She is in love with her brother's best friend Aiden, who joins the Navy and becomes a SEAL. I learned some things about apples, but also the effects of war and PTSD. I love the strength she builds into her characters and I can already see there are a few stories that can come from this book. I cannot wait to read them too!

Feels Like Home by Kelly Elliott

Kelly Elliott has a real knack for small town romance novels. In this one, Anson, a country western singer, returns to his hometown, Comfort, Texas to regroup. He left his first love there six years previously. Kelly makes you feel like you know her characters. You root for them and hope things work out. I love that her books make me smile, laugh, and sometimes cry. I can always see exactly where she is describing in her books. If you haven't read any of Kelly's books, give this one a try, I don't think you will be disappointed.

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

Mitch Albom does it again. He captures my attention from the beginning of every story he tells. Frankie Presto is a magical character whose music brings life to this story. Like all Albom's stories, this was one I didn't want to end.

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

A former CIA doctor is doing her best to stay hidden, as they are trying to kill her. When they draw her out to save the world from a terrible virus, she gets involved with another operative who is also on the run. This is an intriguing story. Meyer does a great job of keeping you interested until the very end.

Mightier than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer

Mightier than the Sword by Jeffrey Archer

There are a number of interwoven stories in this novel. There is love, politics, deceit, plotting, and one man's mission to right a wrong. Archer's novel is part of The Clifton Chronicles. The only problem with a story like this is that it is a cliff hanger. I looked forward to each chapter. I appreciated the historical references, as Harry Clifton, one of the main characters, worked toward trying to have a Russian prisoner released and have his book published. If you like historical fiction, you will enjoy this book!

Doc: The Rape of a Town by Jack Olson

Jack Olsen's Doc The Rape of the Town of Lovell will leave you wondering how such a thing could happen. This is a true account of a small town doctor taking advantage of his submissive female patients. As the doctor of a town for 25 years, he is looked upon as a trusted man. It is hard to believe how he used his position to rape a multitude of women and get away with it. He targeted women who were raised to be submissive and naive. I hated this man and at first found it hard to imagine that many women remained quiet about their molestations and continued to use this doctor for years. As I read and learned more about their upbringings my heart broken for these women.

Not a happy story, but an incredible one.

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I love historical fiction. This is a WWII story about a young girl who lives in Paris with her dad. Around the age of five she loses her eyesight. Her dad works as the locksmith at a museum and is a craftsman woodworker. In order for her to get around he carves her out her entire neighborhood for her to study. Then the Nazis start taking over France. The curator of the museum distributes a valuable gem, which he also duplicates, to several employees and they all leave Paris. The story continues with the trials and tribulations afterward.

There is also another interwoven story about a German brother and sister who are orphans. This story tells of the issues that they face, especially after the brother has been selected to serve Germany.

Although WWII stories can be sad, they also allow us to learn about the people who lived during this era. Doerr is a master at weaving the two stories together with the words that build pictures.

Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland

Anomaly by Krista McGee

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Divine Collison by Jim Gash

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan