"The Weight of Air," by Kimberly Duffy

 "The Weight of Air," by Kimberly Duffy

Two women--bound by blood, torn apart by circumstance--find together that true strength comes in many forms.

In 1911, Mabel MacGinnis is Europe's strongest woman and has performed beside her father in the Manzo Brothers Circus her entire life. When he dies unexpectedly, she loses everything she's ever known and sets off in the company of acrobat Jake Cunningham in hope of finding the mother she thought was dead.

Isabella Moreau, America's most feted aerialist, has given everything to the circus. But age and injury now threaten her security, and Isabella, stalked by old fears, makes a choice that risks everything. Then her daughter Mabel appears alongside the man who never wanted to see Isabella again, and she is forced to face the truth of where, and in what, she derives her worth.

As Mabel and Isabella's lives become entangled beneath the glittering lights and flying trapeze of Madison Square Garden, their resiliency and resolve are tested as they learn the truth of what it means to be strong.

I always feel bad writing a negative review on a book, but like everything in life, not everyone likes the same things.  I enjoyed the growing love story between Mabel and Jake, they were perfect for one another despite all their past hurts.  I also enjoyed reading about the circus.  I understood how Isabella felt about getting old, and wondering what purpose her life would be without the circus.  I understood the underlying doubts and fears a person (the characters) have when dealing with day to day life.

But this book was much too complicated and much too long winded for me.  The story dragged and I got bored with it.  If I wasn't reviewing it I would have given up.  The story took too long to get going.

Stars out of 5 : 2.5 Not my cup of tea, but you may love it.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"The Metropolitan Affair," by Jocelyn Green

"The Metropolitan Affair," by Jocelyn Green

For years her explorer father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she'd accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptology for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations.

The first is her repentant father's offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the world of New York's wealthiest patrons who have been victims of art fraud.

With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York's high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger's identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.

This book is both delightful and sad at the same time.  It is set in the Roaring 20's of New York; a time of glitz and glamour.  The sad part of the book for me was Lauren's yearning for approval from her father, which only brings her more and more heartache.  Bring in a pot load of mystery and intrigue, and add in some romance and you have a winner of a book.

There were many twists and turns in this book; that when you have finally figured it out, or so you thought, out comes another plot twist.  I loved all the references to Egypt; it brought back memories of me studying that in school.  Thoroughly enjoyed that part of the book.  You must read the author's notes, they were enlightening.

The author's attention to detail brought everything to life for me, you could easily imagine yourself in all the scenes she painted throughout the book.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  It did take me a couple of chapters to get invested in the book, but once I did I couldn't stop reading it.  A well worth read and is the first book in the "On Central Park," series.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

"The Sound of Light," by Sarah Sundin

 "The Sound of Light," by Sarah Sundin

Copenhagen, 1940

When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden. American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research--her life's dream--and makes the dangerous decision to print resistance newspapers.

As Else hears rumors of the movement's legendary Havmand--the merman--she also becomes intrigued by the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse. Henrik makes every effort to conceal his noble upbringing, but he is torn between the façade he must maintain and the woman he is beginning to fall in love with.

When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book.  Mainly because I learned something new.  I knew nothing about the role Denmark played in World War 2, and reading a book and learning something new is a win for me.

Hemming and Else were perfect lead characters and totally believable.  I really liked how the author got them to fall in love with one another.  The story had plenty of action and intrigue.  You are sitting on the edge of your seat a couple of times hoping the worst wasn't going to happen.

I liked how the author incorporated one of Denmark biggest tourist attractions The Little Mermaid, having Hemming as an expert rower and him being named Havmand.  All in all a very interesting book, especially if you enjoy stories set in World War 2 and Scandinavia.

Stars out of 5 : 4.5  It did take me a couple of chapters to get everything "organized" in my brain, but once that happened I didn't want to put the book down.  A really interesting read and well worth either buying or borrowing from you Library.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell , a division of Baker Publishing Group".