Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina

By: Joanne Ramos

Genre: Fiction 

Pages: 327

Release Date: May 17th, 2019

Publisher: Random House

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Summary from Goodreads: Nestled in the Hudson Valley is a sumptuous retreat boasting every amenity: organic meals, private fitness trainers, daily massages—and all of it for free. In fact, you get paid big money—more than you've ever dreamed of—to spend a few seasons in this luxurious locale. The catch? For nine months, you belong to the Farm. You cannot leave the grounds; your every move is monitored. Your former life will seem a world away as you dedicate yourself to the all-consuming task of producing the perfect baby for your überwealthy clients.

Jane, an immigrant from the Philippines and a struggling single mother, is thrilled to make it through the highly competitive Host selection process at the Farm. But now pregnant, fragile, consumed with worry for her own young daughter's well-being, Jane grows desperate to reconnect with her life outside. Yet she cannot leave the Farm or she will lose the life-changing fee she'll receive on delivery—or worse.

Heartbreaking, suspenseful, provocative, The Farm pushes our thinking on motherhood, money, and merit to the extremes, and raises crucial questions about the trade-offs women will make to fortify their futures and the futures of those they love.

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Review: OMG, what a strange premise. The story was well written and easy to read. I found myself sucked into this strange world of a baby farm and couldn't put the book down. The ending was a little lack luster. I was hoping for more, but in the end, I really enjoyed this read. 

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Title: Cilka's Journey

By: Heather Morris

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 352

Release Date: October 1st, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Rating: ★★★★☆

Summary from Goodreads: From the author of the multi-million copy bestseller, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, comes the new novel based on an incredible true story of love and resilience. 

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Review: Take a deep breath and try not to cry. This story picks up after WW2 has ended. Cilka has been charged with spying for the Germans and is being shipped off to a prison camp in Siberia. What Cilka has to go through in her short life is so painful to read. She survived Auschwitz by being raped by the Germans, she was sentenced as a traitor and then to top it all off, raped again in the prison camp. Cilka is just trying to survive, but her humility and compassion toward the people around her, in the same situation as her was incredible. I would imagine someone like that would be hardened to the world, but not Cilka. She gave away her chance of freedom so a friend could survive. 

I read this book in one day. Couldn't put it down. This was a powerful story that needs to be read.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Title: How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse

By: K. Eason

Genre: Scifi 

Pages: 406

Release Date: October 8th, 2019

Publisher: DAW

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Summary from Goodreads: First in a duology that reimagines fairy tale tropes within a space opera—The Princess Bride meets Princess Leia. 

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Review: I had a hard time getting into this one. I'm wondering if it was the pacing of the story or the story itself. Usually, I burn through a book in one day, being unable to put it down, but this book took me several days to get through because I kept getting board with the story. I loved the characters. They were fun and colorful. The world was interesting and full of scifi elements. I could only give it a three star. It just wasn't right for me.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

This happened to be the oldest book on my TBR pile. The history involved in the is book was really in depth,  and the story itself was really interesting. I thought that it was a little long though. Just when you think the story will end, it keeps going with a new set of problems. 

Rating: ★★★★☆

This was a steamy read. There was a nice story behind it and you really get to know the characters and their backstories. If you are looking for something hot, this is it.

Rating: ★★★★☆

I'm a big fan of Ms. Mulgrew. Voyager, Orange is the New Black. Love it all. This story is about her childhood and how she had to watch her parents grow old and die. I loved how Mulgrew told the story. It was filled with love and loss. A wonderful memoir. 

Title: Beneath a Scarlet Sky

By: Mark Sullivan

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 513

Release Date: May 1st, 2017

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Rating: ★★★★★

Summary from Goodreads: Based on the true story of a forgotten hero, Beneath a Scarlet Skyis the triumphant, epic tale of one young man’s incredible courage and resilience during one of history’s darkest hours.

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Review: This book is a thriller. Set in world war 2, we get to dive into a story that is based on truth. I find that these are the best kind. To know that there were people strong enough and brave enough to defy the odds and help people in need. This story brought me to tears.