"Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys is Very Good!

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys is about a group of refugees during World War II and is based on an actual event that we don't hear much about--the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff.  The majority of the book is the refugees trying to get to the ship in order to get out of the country.  It is told from four different points of view, each person being from a different country.  The little group the book focuses on that travels together is Joana (a nurse), Emelia (young pregnant girl), Florian (a forger), a little orphan boy, an old shoemaker, and Eva, a very big woman.  

I enjoyed seeing the relationships develop among the refugees and I liked the ending too.  My favorite character was Florian.  There were some very sad things happen in this book, but I didn't really identify closely enough to the characters to actually cry.  It was interesting to read about an event I knew nothing about.  The ending seemed very abrupt though and I was a bit confused.  
(Karen's review, 4 stars)

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys takes place at the end of World War II.  Four young teens who are literally fighting for their lives converse.  I cannot say enough good things about this book!  As you read this, be aware that it is based on an actual event!  I was totally invested in the lives of the four teens.  What a great book to finish the month of March with!
(Gerard's review 3/30/16, 5+ stars)

Here is a video of an interview with Ruta Sepetys that convinced me to read this book:

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Karen's:

We all looked up when they entered the barn, a young man carrying a pistol, followed by a short blond girl in braids and a pink hat.  They were both haggard.

From page 22 of Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys.

Gerard's:

A woman who was also on the list was giving birth to a baby.  As soon as the umbilical cord was cut, they would both be thrown into the truck.

From page 15 of Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. 

Everyone was very kind and trying to stop me from seeing his body, but I couldn't tell them I was glad he was gone.  No more of his nonsense.

From page 3 of The Widow by Fiona Barton.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading. 

Happy Reading!

"Always Watching" by Chevy Stevens

Always Watching by Chevy Stevens is about a Psychiatrist, Nadine, whose bad childhood memories are stirred up when she gets a patient who left the same commune she was in, although it has a new name and advertises as a spiritual retreat place. Nadine feels the need to report what happened to her in the commune and hope the cops will arrest the leaders and get “The River of Life Spiritual Center” shut down to keep others from being hurt. Nadine also has a teenage daughter who ran away, got into drugs, and lives on the streets. All Nadine wants is for her daughter, Lisa, to be happy and longs for her to come back home. Her biggest fear is that the cult-like commune will get her daughter comes true.

I liked this book okay, but not as much as I liked this author’s other books. It just moved a little slow for my taste and was pretty predictable. Mostly was sad with what I thought was an unrealistic ending. It has a lot of flashbacks showing the memories Nadine had buried from her past. Nadine’s relationship with her daughter was heartbreaking. The last quarter of the book has the most action and suspense which I liked the most.
(Karen's review, 3 stars)

See my reviews of her other books:
That Night - great, both liked!
Those Girls - both liked
Never Knowing - great! (In both of our top favorites for 2011)
Still Missing - both liked! (One of Gerard's top favorites in 2011)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday

Gerard's:

She shook her head, pointed forward, and awkwardly tried to pull me through the snow.  I wanted to run, forget about her, leave her in the forest.

From page 16 of Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys.

Karen's:

I looked again at Aaron's photo, his tranquil smile making me suddenly angry when I thought about Heather in the hospital, her wrists bandaged, blaming herself for the loss of her child.  I turned my computer off.

From page 27 of Always Watching by Chevy Stevens. 


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along, so I thought  I  would play for fun! Just pick two sentences from the book you are reading. 

Happy Reading!

"If I Run" by Terri Blackstock is the first of a Series about a Fugitive

If I Run by Terri Blackstock centers on two people:  Casey Cox, who leaves a crime scene that she may or may not have had something to do with, and Dylan Roberts, whose job is to find Casey and get to the truth of the matter.  I really liked this book because Casey and Dylan were both good characters that I got into very quickly.  I encourage you to read this one.  If it would have had just a bit more action, I would give it 5 stars.
(Gerard's review, 4.5 stars)  

Karen's review 3/23/16, 3 stars:
If I Run by Terri Blackstock is about Casey, a woman who finds a journalist friend of hers dead at his home shortly after he told her to come over. She is convinced that dirty cops murdered him and are going to arrest her for his murder. She leaves town, gets a new identity and becomes a fugitive. The victim’s parents hire Dylan, a close friend back from the war in Afghanistan, to find Casey. Casey’s father’s death was declared a suicide when she was just 12, but she always believed he was murdered and fears her friend was murdered because he was looking into her dad’s death for her. Casey is a good person who goes out of her way to help others even when she is trying to stay low and not be found.

I liked this book all right but not the ending. When I read through the questions in the back though, I discovered that this is only the first book of a trilogy so I was glad to see that! Casey questions if there even is a God but finds herself praying just in case there is when she gets into sticky situations. I have a feeling this series will not only be about Casey’s running from the law but also about her personal search for God.



Have you read this one? What did you think of it? If you reviewed this too, feel free to share your link to your review in the comments. To find books on a specific topic, scroll to the bottom and click on the topic you want. Happy Reading!