Christine's Book Corner

In The Cross and the Dragon  by Kim Rendfeld, Alda is caught in the middle of a difficult decision.  Her brother is in talks with having her marry Ganelon, who is rough and shows abuse towards Alda and they aren't even married yet.  At the same time, Alda is attracted to Hruodland and the feeling is mutual.  The two plan to marry, no matter what happens.  After much convincing, Alda finally gets her brother to agree that she could marry Hruodland.  Soon into their marriage, Hruodland is sent away to fight in the army as they invade Hispania.  This troubles Alda as she worries if she'll ever see her husband again once he leaves.  With Ganelon still wanting revenge for Alda choosing Hruodland over him, will she ever be safe from his harm?  Will Alda and Hruodland live the life of a couple so in love with each other?  Will war break them up?   My Review: Normally, I love books that are written about this time period.  A...

Orphan Train  by  Christina Baker Kline Get on board the orphan train and travel to a different place and time where two girls who are separated by decades and yet find out their lives are no different at all in this novel  Orphan Train by Christine Baker Kline. I was captivated by this book right from the beginning.  Kline starts the book with a prologue of a woman speaking.  All we know is that she is ninety years old and endured many hardships in life.  From that moment, you need to find out who this woman is and what she went through all these years that she lived.  It was hard to put the book down with such a powerful opening. Molly is a seventeen year old girl who meets Vivian while she's cleaning out her attic as part of her community service.  Being placed in foster home after foster home, Molly finds herself in trouble after stealing a book from the local library.  When she goes to meet Vivian for the fi...

Photo from goodreads.com (370 pages) Synopsis: Jamie Pyke is the first character we meet and we quickly find out he's the son of a slave and a master.  He is on the run after killing his father who was going to sell him to slavery.  At the young age of 13, he runs away for his safety and not to be caught.  It is there when he meets Henry, a slave on the run, who saves Jamie's life.  Years later, the two meet again when Henry asks Jamie to take his son Pan on as a servant.  When Pan's stolen from Jamie a new adventure awaits for him.  Mixed in with his lover, who's married to another man, who is pregnant with Jamie's child, the adventure has many turns for him, full of love, heartache, and new beginnings. My Review: Grissom did a real great job bringing these characters to life.  Jamie was my favorite character throughout this book.  My heart felt for him which each heartbreak he had to endure.  Grissom showed...

Title: Tell The Wolves I'm Home Author:  Carol Rifka Brunt Photo from goodreads.com Summary:  Taken from goodreads In this striking literary debut, Carol Rifka Brunt unfolds a moving story of love, grief, and renewal as two lonely people become the unlikeliest of friends and find that sometimes you don’t know you’ve lost someone until you’ve found them. 1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life - someone who will help her to heal and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart. At F...

Title: Salt to the Sea Author: Ruta Sepetys Rating: * * * * * Photo taken from Goodreads.com Summary:  Taken from Goodreads Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets. Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war. As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. Yet not all promises can be kept. Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope. My Thoughts: Four secrets.  You know right off that this book is going to revolve around four secrets from four different people that have their paths cross.  You can't help but to wonder what it is t...