The Girl in Times Square review

This was a good book, although not quite good enough to be in my top ten. It has all the trademarks of a favourite Sarah book: It’s set in New York City, the main character is an artist, there’s tragedy and death, and there’s a love story. But I almost forgot to write this review – I’ve read a whole other book since finishing this one, and I think a true sign of a good book is one that you continue to think about long after you’ve turned the last page, which was not the case here.

While this one was good, it didn’t blow my mind. And while I was glued to it in the last couple of chapters, part of me just wanted to finish the damn thing.

The characters were good, the drama was good, the setting was good, but in the end I felt a bit let down – it was an ending that made the whole book seem like it didn’t have much point, and a hell of a lot happened.

It’s quite hard to explain my feelings about this book without ruining the ending for those of you who want to read it, and if you do want to read it, don’t let me put you off – this is just one person’s opinion; it just wasn’t really for me.
I love Paullina Simons' books, but often they leave me with an empty feeling at the end – except for her Tatiana and Alexander series, that blew my mind.
But Tatiana and Alexander’s story was a lot different to her other books and it makes me think maybe she’s just better at writing the intense, heart-breaking love story set in the midst of history rather than modern thrillers with a bit of romance thrown in.

*Above picture: "Kissing the War Goodbye" by Alfred Eisenstaedt

Eleven Hours: review

Wow. Eleven Hours. I read it in about two.

Heavily pregnant and not at all comfortable in the relentless heat, Didi Wood is leaving for home, moving slowly through her regular routine of shopping, husband, children, with the extra excitement of the imminent baby always at the back of her mind.
And then she is bundled into the back of a car and kidnapped by a desperate young man.
What does he want? Where are they going?
Only the excruciating tension of the next eleven hours will tell.


I found this book at my local library for sale for $1, and picked it up instantly on seeing Paullina Simons on the cover. Incase you haven't noticed, I LOVE Paullina Simons after reading The Bronze Horseman, Bridge to Holy Cross, The Summer Garden, and Tully.

She is a brilliant writer, and although Eleven Hours is one of her earlier books, it is no less impressive than her recent ones. As soon as I bought it, I began reading it and was on the edge of my seat in about two seconds, despite the fact I am still reading Goodbye Sarajevo and Pride and Prejudice.

The story goes back and forth between Didi's terrifying ordeal and her husband Rich's desperate search for her, and is extremely hard to put down because it's one of those books, like the ones Jodi Picoult writes, that has very short chapters, so you're desperate to know the next step. What will the kidnapper do next? What will Rich and the police find out next? Will they find her before something more devastating happens?

Read it and find out...

Tatiana and Alexander

I hate to say it, but Diana Gabaldon, you have a little competition.
Those of us who live and breathe books all know the feeling when we find an author whose books are so amazing that it's impossible to find another author who even comes close to their genius and you end up reading that author's books over and over, and sometimes you end up reading chick lit.
I started reading Diana Gabaldon's books when I was fourteen, and now, at 22, I can't even count how many times I've read the seven books in the Outlander series.

While I contemplated branching out to other authors, I had picked up The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons hundreds of times while browsing the bookstores, and finally decided to buy it last year, despite reading no reviews about it.

The Bronze Horseman begins the story of Tatiana, a 17-year-old Russian girl and Alexander, a Red Army soldier with a secret that can, and does, destroy lives, on 22 June, 1941 - the first day of World War Two for Russia.

Tatiana and her family suffer as Hitler's army advances on Leningrad, as the Russian winter closes in, and as the bombs drop and hunger and cold plagues the city, Tatiana and Alexander are drawn to each other in a love that could tear Tatiana's family apart.

Although it's little hard to get into, The Bronze Horseman is mesmerising from beginning to end, and is impossible to put down. The language is deep and detailed, coming from an author who grew up in Leningrad, Russia and emigrated to America in the 70s. She has an amazing understanding of the war, Russia and America and that definitely shows in the depth of her writing.

The pain and suffering Tatiana and Alexander endure through the war is unimaginable to us safe here in the 21st Century, and the power of the human spirit and the will to survive is just incredible.

Book two, The Bridge to Holy Cross (aka Tatiana and Alexander) is heart-wrenching when Tatiana escapes war-torn Leningrad to America, the land of their dreams, pregnant with Alexander's child, believing her husband is dead.

But she can't let him go and something tells her he's still alive, and she finds herself drawn back to Europe in search of the man she loves.

The Summer Garden, the third and final book, sees Tatiana and Alexander struggling to create a new life for them and their son, Anthony, and to let go of the past.

You expect this book to be a "happily ever after" story, but surviving the horror that the war had to offer leaves painful open wounds that they almost don't survive.

But they do, and the ending will leave you smiling after so much pain and sorrow.

Once you get past the first book, the second and third books will consume your life.

Man did I learn a lot. Every Sunday roast with the family concludes with either a debate about rugby or politics, or a history lesson.

I've grown up learning about the wars, but I feel like I learned more about World War Two through Tatiana and Alexander's story than from all the history lessons I've had in my life. Although, I do still appreciate dad's unique take on the wars (salt and pepper shaker soldiers, fork trenches, pea bullets, you get the idea...)

So for those who like a book that cons you into learning something about history, makes you laugh, cry, and reassures you about the enduring power of love, read Tatiana and Alexander's story.

I'm now reading Tully by Paullina Simons due to its glowing reviews, and the first chapter has me hooked. Diana, you're still my favourite, but Paulina sure comes close.

Also, I just found out The Bronze Horseman is being made into a movie for release in 2012!