Hey, hey! How is everyone doing during this tough and strange time? How are you keeping busy?
For me I’ve been reading a ton! I have always enjoyed reading, and I typically read everyday even when things were “normal.” Now I feel reading is the only thing getting me through this (oh and my daily walks). Anyways, I feel like everyone has a little more “free time” on their hands, so I thought I would share some of my recent faves!
1.) The Tatooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
“In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.
Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.
One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.
A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov’s experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.” – from Amazon.com
**Love, love, loved this book. Yes, it’s about a horrific time in history but the story is amazing! You’ll fall in love with Lale and his love for Gita. Don’t think twice, just read it, you won’t be disappointed.**
2.) Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris
“Cilka is just sixteen years old when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp in 1942, where the commandant immediately notices how beautiful she is. Forcibly separated from the other women prisoners, Cilka learns quickly that power, even unwillingly taken, equals survival.
When the war is over and the camp is liberated, freedom is not granted to Cilka: She is charged as a collaborator for sleeping with the enemy and sent to a Siberian prison camp. But did she really have a choice? And where do the lines of morality lie for Cilka, who was send to Auschwitz when she was still a child?
In Siberia, Cilka faces challenges both new and horribly familiar, including the unwanted attention of the guards. But when she meets a kind female doctor, Cilka is taken under her wing and begins to tend to the ill in the camp, struggling to care for them under brutal conditions.
Confronting death and terror daily, Cilka discovers a strength she never knew she had. And when she begins to tentatively form bonds and relationships in this harsh, new reality, Cilka finds that despite everything that has happened to her, there is room in her heart for love.
From child to woman, from woman to healer, Cilka’s journey illuminates the resilience of the human spirit—and the will we have to survive.” – from Amazon.com
**So this is considered “The Tatoosit of Auschwitz: Book 2.” It’s not really a sequel, it’s about the character, Cilka, and her time after Auschwitz. Oh my how my heart brakes for her! She did what she had to do at the concernation camp to survive, only then to be imprisoned in Siberia after the war for her behaviors. Again she must do what she has to do to survive. It’s just a heart-wrenching story of her struggles and how she eventually finds love after everything she’s been through.**
3.) Dear Wife by Kimberly Belle
“For nearly a year, Beth has been planning for this day. A day some people might call any other Wednesday, but Beth prefers to see it as her new beginning—one with a new look, new name and new city. Beth has given her plan significant thought, because one small slip and her violent husband will find her.
Sabine Hardison is missing…
A couple hundred miles away, Jeffrey returns home from a work trip to find his wife, Sabine, is missing. Wherever she is, she’s taken almost nothing with her. Her abandoned car is the only evidence the police have, and all signs point to foul play.
As the police search for leads, the case becomes more and more convoluted. Sabine’s carefully laid plans for her future indicate trouble at home, and a husband who would be better off with her gone. The detective on the case will stop at nothing to find out what happened and bring this missing woman home. Where is Sabine? And who is Beth? The only thing that’s certain is that someone is lying and the truth won’t stay buried for long.” – from Amazon.com
**I can’t have a reading list without a psychological thriller, and this one was sooo good. This was a fast paced, page turner that I didn’t want to put down. I wanted to know what happened Sabine and who was on the look out for Beth. There were definitely some twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. A must read for psychological thriller fans.**
4.) The Last Mrs. Parish by Liv Constantine
“Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more—a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted.
To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne—a socialite and philanthropist—and her real-estate mogul husband, Jackson, are a couple straight out of a fairy tale.
Amber’s envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn’t have a plan. Amber uses Daphne’s compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family’s life—the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne’s closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrishes and their lovely young daughters, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces.
With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent.” – from Amazon.com
**Another great book! This book is told by two POV’s. The first part of the book is told by Amber, and how she befriends Daphne and slithers herself into Daphne’s perfect life. The second part of the book is Daphne’s and what it is really like to the glamorous Mrs. Parrish. There are alot of juicy secrets and twists that make this a great read!**
“Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.
Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity’s notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn’t expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity’s recollection of the night their family was forever altered.
Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen’s feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife’s words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.” – from Amazon.com
**I actually haven’t read this book, so it’s on my quarantine reading list too! I’ve only read amazing reviews. I’ve read that it’s “addictive,” “I didn’t want to put it down,” and “mind-blowing.” It’s described as a “romantic thriller,” which I’m not exactly sure if I ever read a book from that genre, but I’m excited to read it!**
Well, happy reading and stay well!
What are you reading? Have you read any of these?