The Lightkeeper's Daughters by Jean E. Pendziwol
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Morgan is a moody, troublesome teenager. She recently got herself into trouble when she was caught spray painting a fence at a nursing home. Her penalty includes community service in the form of repainting the fence. While she's at the nursing home she meets Elizabeth, a blind woman who has a big story to tell. Elizabeth and her twin sister, Emily, grew up on Porphyry Island where her family tended to a lighthouse year round. Elizabeth was responsible for Emily who was mute. Told in alternating points of view, Morgan helps Elizabeth unravel a tale that is decades old and full of secrets.

It took me a little while to get into this book, but once the story got going it was very hard to put down. Some parts felt like they could be predictable but then the story would take a sudden turn and there would be a twist I didn't see coming. Twists were revealed through the very end of Elizabeth's story. I couldn't put the book down while I was finishing up the last couple of chapters. Fans of Kristin Hannah will enjoy this book. There is history, a layered tale, mystery, and secrets. Strong women are at the forefront of this story.

Where the author lost me was during all of the parts about the lighthouse and the lake. Yes, I realized that a lighthouse may be a big part of the story based on the title. However, these parts just didn't hold my interest. I know so little about how a lighthouse works that the parts of the story showing the day to day work and life on Porphyry Island were boring to me. Readers who grew up near a lake, boats, or a lighthouse will find more appeal than this landlocked reader did.

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The Saturday Evening Girls Club: A Novel by Jane Healey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a sweet book about four young women who are best friends. They are each unique, but have come together through the Saturday Evening Girls Club. The club is sponsored by a wealthy woman who is able to encourage these girls and offer them opportunities that would otherwise be hard to come by for immigrants in the early 1900s.

Caprice is ambitious. Ada is brilliant. Maria is the beauty, and Thea is the shy and obedient one. Two of the girls are Catholic and two of the girls are Jewish. Throughout the book each of these girls are given a variety of conflicts that stem from their family life and the restrictive world they live in. They hope for careers and families of their own, and they all go about getting what they want in different ways.

The book was predictable at times, but it was still a fun, quick read. There were Jewish proverbs given at the start of each chapter that were a lot of fun to read through. I really like the time period and cultural backgrounds of these first generation American women.

This book was the July 2017 adult book for the Once Upon A Book Club box. If you haven't checked it out make sure you go here! I received 5 gifts with this book. Once Upon A Book Club really brings the story alive and enhances the reading experience.

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A Strange Companion by Lisa Manterfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kat is a student at university but she doesn't get back home much. Her boyfriend, Gabe, died unexpectedly nearly two years ago so it's hard for her to go back and face all of the memories that come from being where the two of them shared their lives together. When her brother brings home his adopted daughter Kat finds herself back home for a few weeks. The strange thing is she feels a connection to her new niece, Mai, and thinks she could be Gabe reincarnated.

Yes, I said reincarnated but don't give up yet!

This is a story of a young girl learning to handle her grief rather than a paranormal adventure story. Readers who have lost anyone in their lives should find some comfort in Kat's story. There's more than one way to handle the death of a loved one and Lisa Manterfield shows that it's not always going to be graceful.

I enjoyed the characters in this story. Kat's family were interesting and added depth to this story. I may have teared up a time or two, but this won't be a book to sob over.

My reading of this book was really enhanced by Once Upon A Book Club. If you've never heard of them be sure to check them out here. They include gifts (but don't open them until the correct page number!) that really make the story come to life. It's such a cool, unique reading experience and I recommend you give it a whirl!

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