The Girls at 17 Swann Street Blog Tour

Title:  The Girls At 17 Swann Street
Author:  Yara Zgheib
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Release Date:  Feb. 5, 2019


My Rating:  5 Intimate Hearts


Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book.




Buy Links:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Books-a-Million / Indie Bound / Powell's

I'm super excited to be part of the blog tour for The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib!  I absolutely LOVED this book, and I know you will too!  Meet the author and check out My Review below.  And be sure to add this one to your reading list!

You can check out my review here:  The Girls At 17 Swann Street

About the Book: 
Yara Zgheib’s poetic and poignant debut novel is a haunting portrait of a young woman’s struggle with anorexia on an intimate journey to reclaim her life.

The chocolate went first, then the cheese, the fries, the ice cream. The bread was more difficult, but if she could just lose a little more weight, perhaps she would make the soloists’ list. Perhaps if she were lighter, danced better, tried harder, she would be good enough. Perhaps if she just ran for one more mile, lost just one more pound.

Anna Roux was a professional dancer who followed the man of her dreams from Paris to Missouri. There, alone with her biggest fears – imperfection, failure, loneliness – she spirals down anorexia and depression till she weighs a mere eighty-eight pounds. Forced to seek treatment, she is admitted as a patient at 17 Swann Street, a peach pink house where pale, fragile women with life-threatening eating disorders live. Women like Emm, the veteran; quiet Valerie; Julia, always hungry. Together, they must fight their diseases and face six meals a day.

Every bite causes anxiety. Every flavor induces guilt. And every step Anna takes toward recovery will require strength, endurance, and the support of the girls at 17 Swann Street.

Meet the Author:

Yara Zgheib is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters degree in Security Studies from Georgetown University and a PhD in International Affairs in Diplomacy from Centre D'études Diplomatiques et Stratégiques in Paris. She is fluent in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish. Yara is a writer for several US and European magazines, including The Huffington Post, The Four Seasons Magazine, A Woman’s Paris, The Idea List, and Holiday Magazine. She writes on culture, art, travel, and philosophy on her blog, "Aristotle at Afternoon Tea" (http://www.aristotleatafternoontea.com/).

The Dark Bones Review

Title:  The Dark Bones
Series:  A Dark Lure #2
Author:  Loreth Anne White
Publisher:  Montlake Romance
Release Date:  May 21, 2019
Buy Link:  Amazon
Genre:  Romance/Suspense

My Rating:  5 Frantic Hearts


*Many thanks to the author for an arc of this book.



Synopsis:
She’s come back to solve the mystery of her father’s death and confront her own dark past.

When Detective Rebecca North left her rural hometown, she vowed never to return. Her father’s apparent suicide has changed that. The official report is that retired cop Noah North shot himself, knocked over a lantern, and set his isolated cabin ablaze. But Rebecca cannot believe he killed himself.

To prove it, she needs the help of Ash Haugen, the man she left behind. But Rebecca and Ash share more than broken hearts. Something darker lies between them, and the investigation is stirring it back to life. Clues lead them to the home of Olivia West and her deeply troubled twelve-year-old daughter, Tori. The child knows more about the murder than anyone can imagine, but she’s too terrified to say a word.
And as a cold-blooded killer resurfaces from the past, Rebecca and Ash begin to fear that their own secrets may be even harder to survive.
Review:

"He'd always harbored a fear that she still lay there.  Her dark bones in wait.  To rise.  To get them." (Quote:  The Dark Bones)

The Dark Bones is a highly atmospheric, chilling suspense story wrapped in the arms of a young-love-gone-wrong, second-chance romance.  The blistering pace set in the opening pages is driven by a sinister presence - a sense of impending doom that continues to swell as the story unfolds - one that impelled this reader to burn the midnight oil in a frenzied search for answers.  A story in which past secrets and betrayals refuse to remain buried, escaping and snowballing out of control like an avalanche destroying everything in its path.  A story in which one seemingly insignificant moment in time, one fleeting connection between two people, sealed the fate of others.

"Can you pinpoint the exact instant your life starts on a collision course with someone else's?  Can you trace back to the moment those lives did finally intersect, and from where they spiraled outward again, yet from that point they remained forever entwined, two lives locked one with another?" (quote: The Dark Bones)

Twenty years ago, Becca North left her small hometown of Clinton, West Canada, with a broken heart brought about by the ultimate betrayal of then boyfriend Ash Haugen.  And now, Sgt. Rebecca North of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police returns home to bury her father, retired officer Noah North, a victim of apparent suicide.  She's carrying a world of guilt and regret over missed opportunities and time lost with her father whose life had taken a downward spiral in recent years as he succumbed to alcoholism.  In his final days, it appears Noah was immersed in an investigation of a twenty year old cold case - the unsolved disappearance of two teenagers.  In his last phone call to Rebecca, he'd babbled about lies and secrets and being followed and watched.  Was it just the drunken ramblings of an old, has-been cop chasing ghosts in the bottom of a bottle?  Or had Noah discovered something that led to his death?  Rebecca's investigation into her father's death means partnering with her ex-love - the one who lied to her twenty years ago and is still harboring dark secrets.  She'll distance herself and accept his help, but not his heart.  Together, they rattle some cages and uncover some skeletons that someone wants to keep buried.  Rebecca's in danger of losing both her heart . . . and her life.  She doesn't intend to relent her hold on either.


By integrating a bit of the past within the present, the author pulls readers inside characters' heads, peeling back layers and exposing long-buried, dark secrets.  While White does an outstanding job of weaving backstory into this book, I highly recommend reading The Dark Lure first as a few of the characters with key roles in The Dark Bones are first introduced there - most notably Oliva West and her troubled twelve year old daughter Tori.  White's vivid, descriptive writing style is once again apparent as her mad writing skills breathe life into a hauntingly beautiful yet deadly, frozen landscape - one that intertwines intricately within the twisted plot line, careening readers in many different directions.  She also brilliantly captures the small town atmosphere of gossipy neighbors as well as a menacing "good-old-boys" mentality that fuels the dark, ugly, ominous undercurrent flowing through this small town that refuses to give up its tangled, devious web of secrets.  A well-developed, unique support cast adds both depth and a long list of possible suspects for readers to ponder.  Avoid all spoilers and jump into this one blind as you'll want to experience and figure this one out as you read.

The Dark Bones is a dark, gritty, heart racing journey with all the desired elements of a great mystery/suspense/thriller story paired with the added bonus of a complicated, emotional second-chance romance.  After reading the first few pages,  I knew I was in for one hell of a ride and, as always, Loreth Anne White delivered!  Another fantastic Must Read Masterpiece by one of my favorite authors!

My Rating:  5 Frantic Hearts . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

The Girls at 17 Swann Street Review

Title:  The Girls At 17 Swann Street
Author:  Yara Zgheib
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Release Date:  Feb. 5, 2019 (USA)
Purchase Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  5 Intimate Hearts


*Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book.




Synopsis:

My name is Anna.

I am a dancer, a constant daydreamer.

I like sparkling wine in the late afternoon, ripe and juicy strawberries in June.

I believe in the rich taste of real vanilla ice cream, melting stickily from a cone...

I am madly in love, I am madly in loved.

I believe in living life with purpose, but in floating through the day too.

I have books to read, places to see, babies to make, birthday cakes to taste. I even have unused birthday wishes to spare.

So what am I doing here?

Review:

A stunning, emotional, inspirational, and insightful story into the lives of women suffering from an eating disorder.  I opened this book late in the afternoon with the intention of reading a couple of chapters before starting dinner . . . and never looked up again until finishing it a few hours later.  It's everything I could ask for in a story and more.

The Girls at 17 Swann Street is beautifully written and delivered via the intimate first-person pov of Anna, a twenty-six year old woman/wife/former dancer who is entering residential care for anorexia at 17 Swann Street.  A woman who once laughed, loved, and dared to dream big.  A woman who loved ice cream and strawberries and the idea of making babies with her husband.  A 5' 4" tall woman now weighing in at only 88 pounds with a 15.1 BMI who can no longer bear to be touched.  A woman whose body is literally starving to death because the thought of eating food makes her physically sick.  How did this happen to her?

Through Anna's eyes, readers learn about day-to-day life inside the eating-disorder treatment center . . . the rules, eating plans, appointments with doctors, weekly rituals . . . the despair, the hopelessness, the struggle to face one more day  . . . and one more meal.  Anna's thoughts alternate between past and present allowing readers to walk in her shoes prior, during, and after treatment.  While Anna's the driving force behind this story, the other girls receiving treatment play key support roles, welcoming her into their sisterhood while helping to acclimate her to "the rules".  I'll go ahead and say now that I wiped tears more than once before finishing this story.

A powerful, mesmerizing story, The Girls At 17th Swann Street opened my eyes to this deadly disease and the paralyzing fear it holds over victims - taunting them with hopes of recovery and then jerking it and dreams of  reclaiming their former life away. Sadly, the success and recovery rate are not great.  The disease has devastating effects on victims and their loved ones - often ripping families apart as they struggle to understand "why" while watching the downward spiral of their afflicted loved one.  I loved this book and all the girls living at 17 Swann Street.  For a few hours, through Zgheib's lyrical writing, I became one of the girls living in the peachy-pink colored house at 17 Swann Street.  I felt their pain, frustration, confusion, and hopelessness.  I prayed with and for them and dared dream of a brighter future for each of them.  

The Girls at 17th Swann Street is a beautiful, heart-felt read that will go on my Favorites Shelf.  This book is brilliantly written - an intimate, heart-touching, and thought-provoking story of a woman's mission to reclaim her life by defeating a disease suffered by women of many ages. But more than that, it's a story and journey I promise will touch and possibly change you. I know it did me.  You don't want to miss this one.  I look forward to more from this talented author. A Must Read!

My Rating:  5 Intimate Hearts . . . and that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

The Last Letter Review

Title:  The Last Letter
Author:  Rebecca Yarros
Publisher:  Entangled: Amara
Release Date:  February 26, 2019
Purchase Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  5 Broken Hearts


*Many thanks to Entangled Publishing for an arc of this book.




Synopsis:
Beckett,

If you’re reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there was any chance you could have saved me, you would have.

I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride.

My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair.

And here’s the kicker: there’s something else you don’t know that’s tearing her family apart. She’s going to need help.

So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family.

Please don’t make her go through it alone.

Ryan 

Review:
Grab tissues and settle in for the long haul because you won't be able to put this one down, and I guarantee you'll finish it crying.  But please don't let that stop you from reading this beautifully written, emotionally charged story that now sits on my Favorites Shelf.  It's truly an experience - a deeply rooted, character-based story that pushed all my buttons.  The title, The Last Letter, is woven into the storyline in more ways than one.  I found myself sitting long after I finished - thinking about this story and its relevance. Please avoid all spoilers and read this book.  I don't think it'll be the same if you know how the story plays out when you begin.

I'll briefly set up the story by saying that Beckett and Ryan are friends serving in the military - hard-core special ops service men.  Ryan suggests to his younger sister Ella that she should write deployment letters to Chaos (Beckett's call name) because he has no one.  She begins sharing the highs and lows of her life through letters to Chaos - without ever knowing his real name or seeing a picture of him.  Eventually, events lead Chaos to start writing her back, and a life altering connection is gradually forged.  As you can tell from the synopsis/blurb, Ryan doesn't make it home, but he leaves a letter for Beckett asking him to take care of his sister, Ella, and her five year old twins, Maisie & Colt.  It's complicated as Beckett/Chaos is carrying a lot of guilt and baggage.  I'm not going to say more about the story that develops.  It has so much more depth and meaning than I first imagined as it explores love, loss, perseverance, survival, heartache, and the trust and courage it takes, in yourself and others, to accept what you can't change and search for a way out of the darkness when your load becomes too heavy.  It's a story with great passion exploring the many different connections that occur between different people, and the lasting effect they have on their lives - including the rich rewards and high price of loving with everything you've got.  I know I'm being vague, but as I said earlier - there's a reason for that.  Read the book.  I'll share one quote:

"I'd forgotten what this feels like."
"Being hugged?"  My voice was sandpaper-rough.
"Being held together."  (Quote from The Last Letter)

I don't want to leave the impression that The Last Letter is all sadness and tears, it's not.  There's so much love and laughter in heart-touching scenes with a broken but strong hero and heroine, adorable, scene-stealing children, a protective but lovable military dog named Havoc, passionate romance, and a support cast that lends so much to the telling of the story.  The writing is beautiful and the tie-in of the letters, revealed to readers at the beginning of each chapter, is genius.  Souls are bared, hearts are lost, tears are shed . . . and hope springs eternal.  In my opinion, Yarros does a brilliant job of handling the difficult subject matter thus bringing awareness to a subject near and dear to many parents' hearts.  I highly recommend this book.  It is on my Favorites Shelf.  An undeniable Must Read!

My Rating:  5 Broken Hearts . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

  

Raw: Rebirth Review

Title:  Raw: Rebirth
Series: Raw Family #3
Author:  Belle Aurora
Purchase Link:  Amazon



My Rating:  4.5 Demented Hearts







Synopsis:

It had been six years since my world was turned upside down.
He exposed me to the darker side of life and I could never go back to the person I was.
I had been through more things the average person couldn’t even relate to.

If I had the chance to go back and do things differently though?
Not a chance.

I’d pick him a thousand times. A million times. For eternity.

I guess not much has changed.

My name is Alexa Ballentine, and I am still in love with my stalker.

Review:

For me, Raw: Rebirth is all about closure.  Good or bad, I needed to know how Twitch and Lexi's story would play out.  Before I say more, please understand that you really need to read the first two books prior to this one before proceeding.   This book could be read as a standalone - the author certainly does her best to fill up a blank slate with needed information, but there's simply too much history and too many life-altering events with these characters to skip the first two books.  Having said that, it's no secret or spoiler to say that Twitch has returned from the dead and is making his presence known to a select few as he tries to reclaim the life he once had, including his family.  To say things aren't easy would be a gross understatement, but I'll leave it at that other than to say that this book covers much more than just the return of Twitch.  The plot is dark, gruesome, and graphic and goes into dark, demented, taboo territory.  The intensity level is through the roof, and the action is almost non-stop.  

Raw: Rebirth is, without a doubt, a highly emotional, dark, twisted, f'd up experience in more ways than one.  The story unfolds through multiple points of view giving readers an insider's perspective on what individual characters are thinking, along with what's motivating them.  Aurora does an excellent job of peeling back layers and letting readers in to see the obvious character growth, and I liked that.  These characters have not become stagnant - they have evolved and changed in the six year separation that has occurred.  Is Twitch still an arrogant, bad*ss alpha?  Of course!  But there's so much more emotional depth to him this go-round.  I believe he's described at one point as "Twitch 2.0", and I couldn't agree more.  But, for me, the one person who made the biggest difference in this saga is A.J. - little Twitch - Twitch & Lexi's 5 year-old-son.  He's the heart of much of the story and adds needed depth, emotion, and believe it or not . . . even humor while taking the plot to another level.  A killer support cast rounds out this crew of misfits, including family, friends, and villains.

Raw: Rebirth is a rebirth of sorts for several characters.  It's an intense, passionate, emotional read that I couldn't put down.  I loved that the author brought things "full-circle" in the end, but I won't explain what that means.  You need to read this one without spoilers and experience it first-hand.  I will say that I now feel the "closure" I needed and am curious to see if Aurora will explore the possibilities created in this book in the future.  I, for one, would welcome it.  Well done Belle Aurora!  A Must Read!

My Rating:  4.5 Demented Hearts . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra