Reading Round Up 2021 #22

 Hello lovely readers, I hope you are all starting to enjoy reading in a bit of sunshine!

Last week was a bit of a slow reading week for me so I don't have an abundance of book reviews to share with you.

However this week for me is half term, in theory this gives me more time to read but we have a lot of family outings planned which may slow my reading pace down.

Watch this space.

For now here's what I did read...

Waiting for the Miracle by Anna McPartlin 5 out of 5 stars

2010

Caroline has hit rock bottom. After years of trying, it's clear she can't have children, and the pain has driven her and her husband apart. She isn't pregnant, her husband is gone and her beloved dog is dead.

The other women at her infertility support group have their own problems, too. Natalie's girlfriend is much less excited about having children than her. Janet's husband might be having an affair. And then there's Ronnie, intriguing, mysterious Ronnie, who won't tell anyone her story.

1976

Catherine is sixteen and pregnant. Her boyfriend wants nothing to do with her, and her parents are ashamed. When she's sent away to a convent for pregnant girls, she is desperate not to be separated from her child. But she knows she might risk losing the baby forever.

                                                                                                                                                                           

A brilliantly satisfying exploration of motherhood and just what it means to be a parent.

What I felt throughout was strength and bravery.

This is an inspiring read.

Watching women build each other up rather than tear each other down.

The title itself for me isn't just about waiting for the miracle that is birth, it's about so much more. The miracle of contentment, togetherness, discovering yourself.

Waiting for the Miracle made me cry, it made me smile, it simply made me feel.

Happy Ever After: Financial Freedom isn't a Fairytale by The Seven Dollar Millionaire 4 out of 5 stars

Did you know you can become a millionaire by saving just $7 a day and investing for 7% returns? Probably not, because financial literacy is a subject that's overlooked by the vast majority of schools and universities, despite its importance to every single person on the planet.

Written initially for a teenage daughter and then turned into a course to train migrant workers, Happy Ever After: Financial Freedom Isn't a Fairy Tale focuses on the fundamentals of understanding money, saving and investing, showing how the magic of compound investing can transform tiny initial amounts into genuine wealth. Finally, it shows readers how to achieve the Freedom Formula of 25x your annual spending - that can set you free.

                                                                                                                                                                           

Money, it's a topic that is always up for discussion, is the basis for many arguments and what many say is the route of all evil.

This guide on gaining financial security is beyond helpful for young and old alike.

Broken down into short, sharp chapters, there is an abundance of advice that really makes sense and will give anyone a strong foundation for stability when it comes to the money we earn, save and invest.

I'll be making sure my children read it as early as possible to gain full benefits from it.

The Family Tree by Steph Mullin and Nicole Mabry 4 out of 5 stars

The DNA results are back. And there’s a serial killer in her family tree…

Liz Catalano is shocked when an ancestry kit reveals she’s adopted. But she could never have imagined connecting with her unknown family would plunge her into an FBI investigation of a notorious serial killer…

The Tri-State Killer has been abducting pairs of women for forty years, leaving no clues behind – only bodies.

Can Liz figure out who the killer in her new family is? And can she save his newest victims before it’s too late?

A gripping, original thriller for fans of My Lovely Wife, Netflix’s Making a Murderer, and anyone who’s ever wondered what their family tree might be hiding… 

                                                                                                                                                                           

The idea of this novel is unique, with a fresh plot and fast paced chapters, this story offers secrets and scandal.

For a lot of the story I was worried for Liz and Andie, would they become the next victims?

And whilst I did enjoy the premise along with the twists in the tale that certainly flipped the narrative, there was something that didn't sit quite right with me.

Dialogue.

For me it didn't quite flow, it felt false, too light and airy for such a disturbing, gritty tale. I didn't feel the intensity from either Liz or the victims themselves.

I wanted the fear to be palpable.

However, I think if done right, it could translate well on to the big screen.

Over all, The Family Tree is a creepy, calculated tale.

And that ending! Talk about surprises. I'd say it's left it open for another book to be written if the author so wishes.

I'm now reading Mirrorland (which is fabulous so far) what books can you tell me about this week?