Gone Girl: by Gillian Flynn -- Review


Expert Book Reviews - 2013
    After losing their writing jobs in New York City, Nick and Amy Dunne discover that their perfect relationship is not as solid as it seems. Nick decides to move to Carthage, Missouri to care for his ill parents, and Amy figures out that her parents have been depleting her trust account to recover from their own financial hardships. Despite her resentment, Amy purchases a bar for her husband and his twin sister with the remaining money from her trust fund. The suspense in Gone Girl revolves around the disappearance of Amy Dunne and the accusations against her husband. This literary review of Flynn's novel Gone Girl covers the good and the bad to give you a comprehensive view of the story. Readers enjoy a suspenseful mystery while witnessing the complications of marriage from the two narratives of husband and wife. This review explains what you can gain from reading Gone Girl, and describes the type of reader who will enjoy this novel. Discover secrets kept by Amy Dunne as you encounter unexpected plot twists and surprising outcomes in Flynn's latest novel.

A Mother’s Dilemma


Emma Hornby - 2019
    But when the baby dies of natural causes while under her roof, and knowing her neighbour will be devastated, Minnie swaps it with one of the infants in her care.Now seventeen, Jewel Nightingale knows nothing of her true origins. But assaulted by her hateful cousin and making the dreadful discovery that she is pregnant, she faces a desperate dilemma. Fleeing her job as a domestic maid, she follows an advertisement to a house in Bolton's dark slums, where a woman promises to help her when the child is born. Little does Jewel know that there’s a terrible price to pay . . .Can she keep herself – and her baby – safe? And what will happen when Jewel discovers the truth about where she came from? Gritty and page-turning historical saga set in Northern England in the late 1800s, perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin.

A Christmas Wish


Lizzie Lane - 2013
    Her wastrel father arranges for her sisters to be sent to their grandparents, her brother to be adopted, and Magda to live with her Aunt Bridget.But her aunt holds a bitter resentment towards her, and Magda’s dreams of reuniting her family seem hopeless...

A Daughter's Duty


Maggie Hope - 2014
    It falls to Rose to bring up her young sister and run the household, with little thanks from either of her parents. But just as Rose has almost given up hope, she realises she has a secret admirer of her own.

Pride of Lancashire


Anna Jacobs - 2005
    But nothing could have prepared her for the day fate deals her family the cruellest of hands, rendering them more desperate than ever. In a harsh world, small acts of kindness can bring great hope - Eli Beckett's offer of a job at the Dragon pub promises a better future for Carrie, especially as Eli's uncle has offered his nephew some spare land to build a music room. With the great cities of England alive to the sound of music halls, the locals of Hedderby are soon looking forward to their own place of celebration and merriment. Yet not everyone in the town shares this excitement, and some will stop at nothing in the pursuit of selfish gain.

The Hungry Hills


Janet MacLeod Trotter - 1993
    But with a sick mother and a large family of pitman brothers and father, the daily burdens fall heavily on her young shoulders. She fears becoming a spinster drudge until she sets eyes on 'Red' Sam Ritson – hard, muscled and a natural leader – climb into the boxing ring at the Durham Miners' Gala and determines to marry him. But Sam, wedded to his battle for his fellow miners against the ruthless mine owner Seward-Scott, is no ideal husband. As tensions increase and the General Strike looms, Louie's brother Eb begins an affair with Eleanor, the mine owner's wife. With the miners locked out of work, Louie fears for the fate of her village and her unborn child. As the strain takes its tragic toll, loving and loyal Louie must stay strong for them all. Written with compassion, humour and a vivid immediacy, The Hungry Hills is an unforgettable saga of two very different families living through the dramas of 1920s Britain. The Hungry Hills was shortlisted for The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award and is the first in the Durham Mining Trilogy.

Surprises in Burracombe (Burracombe Village 10)


Lilian Harry - 2014
    Her engagement party is a chance for her and David to finally celebrate their good news. But with obstacles springing up on all sides, there may be more than the dress and venue to arrange before she can consider walking down the aisle. Frances and James are doing their best to ignore their feelings for each other as they organise the school play. Can Frances find a way to let herself love again?Amid all the drama, old friends are always on hand, and when Dottie falls ill, a familiar face comes back to Burracombe to lift her spirits and perhaps change her life.With surprises around every corner, life is never dull in this beautiful Devonshire village . . .

Liverpool Sisters


Lyn Andrews - 2016
    Not to be missed by readers of Dilly Court and Kitty Neale. It is 1907. Liverpool is a bustling and busy city. Sisters Livvie and Amy Goodwin are just sixteen and thirteen years old when their adored mother dies in childbirth. They are still missing their mum every day when their father Thomas announces that he is going to marry again. His new bride is Mary Fitzgerald, a girl just a few years older than Livvie, and only time will tell whether Mary will be the kind of step-mother a motherless girl could love. There's more trouble ahead, for Thomas believes that he should make all the important decisions in his daughters' lives, so whether it's joining the Suffragettes or marrying for love, he won't stand for it if they go against his will. But Livvie is determined to ensure that she and her sister will find a way to happiness...

Gray Mountain: A Novel by John Grisham - Reviewed


J.T. Salrich - 2014
    Salrich.Gray Mountain by John Grisham is finally here! If you’d like to enhance your experience while reading Gray Mountain then this book review and study guide is perfect for you! Yes, in Gray Mountain, John Grisham once again takes us on an action packed roller coaster ride that you’re sure to enjoy. When you read Gray Mountain by John Grisham - Reviewed you will get a deeper understanding of the characters and plot found in Gray Mountain as well as the themes and symbolism included in the novel. You also get a detailed chapter by chapter breakdown and analysis of the events as they unfold along with a glossary of the important characters and terms used in the original book. Just in case that’s not enough for you I’ve also included a list of possible study questions (book club discussions topics) and quotes from the book that I found interesting. Wrapping it all up is a discussion of the critical reviews for Gray Mountain as well as my overall opinion of the book. Plus much more! Whether you’re reading this for a book club, school report, or just want to find out what happens before diving into the full length book, you can use this book review and study guide to get most out of your experience reading Gray Mountain by John Grisham.

The Dressmaker


Benita Brown - 2007
    When her mother dies, Melissa is offered a home by wealthy Lilian Winterton, but she soon realises Lilian wants an unpaid seamstress. Treated as a servant by the Wintertons, Melissa is befriended by Reenie, a kitchen maid, and they enjoy dressing up in Lilian’s cast-off clothes. Wearing finery, Melissa meets handsome young artist James Pennington, but she runs away, frightened he will guess her true status. Scandal follows and Melissa is unfairly thrown out on to the streets. Can the rags of her life be sewn into riches...?

Daughter Of Mine


Anne Bennett - 2007
    Her husband is away fighting in the Second World War and she has regretfully sent her two young children away to her parents in Galway, knowing that they will be safe there. She's grateful for her job in munitions but not so happy when that means getting home in the blackout, dodging the bomb damage.Then Lizzie is attacked on one such journey. She comes around battered and bruised, unable to remember the full extent of the attack – but she fears the worst, and is right to. Turning to her family in desperation, she is told she has brought them nothing but disgrace. Yet help is at hand, from the most unlikely place…

One Step Forward


Rosie Harris - 2003
    Life is hard for Katie - not only because of their poverty but also because of the stigma of her father's shame.When Lewis is released years later, it seems that life must improve. But to Katie's horror, it becomes worse than she has ever known it. When she and her father are left alone together, Katie seeks happiness and love elsewhere, but as she struggles to make a new life for herself, there is difficulty and danger at every turn ...

Hannah's Home (Quinn Valley Ranch series Book 26)


Pamela M. Kelley - 2019
    She's eager to move home to Quinn Valley and live a quiet life, writing music and teaching workshops and classes at the local kids' center. But there's also another reason she doesn't want anyone, especially the media, to know where she is. David Quinn is the last of Marcia Quinn's five children to settle down and he doesn't seem to be in any hurry to find love. The very last person on his list would be Hannah Keane, who seemed to look down her nose at him the last time she saw him, like she did back when they were in high school. But as he begins to realize that maybe he was wrong about Hannah, he also starts to worry that something else is going on, something that Hannah is running from and that she won't be able to stay in Quinn Valley after all.

The Oddest Little Gingerbread Shop


Beth Good - 2016
    But their lives are about to collide in the most delicious way possible, as they hurry to a conference on a snowy December evening. Oops, watch out for that reindeer! Another cosy and highly festive quick-read romcom from popular writer, Beth Good. Pop the kettle on, grab yourself a gingerbread man, and start reading ...

Biblical Road to Blessing


Benny Hinn - 1996
    Every moment of peace, contentment, safety, enjoyment and health (material abundance too) is a blessing from the Father. Yet, God blesses people for the express purpose of blessing others.