IN TIMES OF RAIN AND WAR by Cameron Wright

 

IN TIMES OF RAIN AND WAR by Cameron Wright. I have read a lot of WWII novels lately and am continually dumbfounded at how all encompassing it was. That should be a given, but with each novel I have been given a glimpse into one small portion of the World War. This novel was no different. The job of the Bomb Disposal Companies were just as life threatening as being on the front. This story showed the importance of those crews, as well as the importance of friendships in a time of such uncertainty and frankly insanity. Audrey and Lieutenant Wesley were perfect for each other in so many ways. I loved watching their relationship grow through so many obstacles. There are some semi-graphic parts as humans and bombs are not a good mix, but I would say this is a must read for all the WWII lovers as well as everyone else.

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In September of 1940, during the Blitz in London, Audrey Stocking is blending in with other civilians who are trying to survive the nightly bombings, but she has a secret. She's not British; she's German and Jewish. Her fake passport and nearly perfect British accent allow her to blend into the city of London, and she works hard to help evacuate British children into the countryside. Audrey longs to reunite with her family in Germany, but her double-life, the bombings, and the watchful British Military Intelligence has forced her to stay put. And then there's the paralyzing nightmares and flashbacks—something from her past she can't quite remember.

Lieutenant Wesley Bowers is an American soldier training with Bomb Disposal Company 5, who meets Audrey when an air raid leaves an unexploded bomb in the floor of her flat. She is attractive, intelligent, and compassionate, and there's an immediate connection between them. As they open up to each other, sharing their innermost feelings, Wesley realizes Audrey is the one bright spot during the war's unending bleakness and constant threat of death. But will he still feel the same if he discovers the secret she is hiding? Secrets even Audrey is unaware of?

In Times of Rain and War is a gripping and heartbreakingly beautiful story about the strength and resilience of the human heart and spirit, reminding us there is always hope in hard times.

CHRISTMAS BY ACCIDENT by Camron Wright

CHRISTMAS BY ACCIDENT by Camron Wright. This was a very cute Christmas read. It's more light-hearted than the backcover blurb makes it sound. I enjoyed the little references to miracles that Uncle Mannie slides in as he's talking to Carter, as well as the self discoveries he makes along the way. It's fun to see Carter's attitude toward Christmas change, as well as his realization about writing. Abby is a steady influence throughout the story. It is a great way to get your Christmas season started. I would recommend it to anyone.

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Carter is an insurance adjuster whose longing for creative expression spills over sometimes into his accident reports.

Abby works for her adoptive father, Uncle Mannie, in the family bookstore, the ReadMore Cafe.

Carter can barely tolerate Christmas; Abby loves it. She can't wait past October to build her favorite display, the annual Christmas book tree stack, which Carter despises.

When an automobile accident throws Carter and Abby together, Uncle Mannie, who is harboring secrets of his own, sees a chance for lasting happiness for his little girl. But there are so many hurdles, and not much time left. Will this Christmas deliver the miracles everyone is hoping for?

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE by Camron Wright

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE by Camron Wright. Wow. This is an incredible story. I couldn't put it down. I loved Dave Riley from the beginning, maybe because I could relate to him a little bit more than Katie. But as I got to know Katie and see how their lives were going to intertwine, I loved her as well. This is a story of loss, love, frustration, endurance, learning, growing, and so forth. I would highly recommend it to any and everyone, especially those looking for a fantastic book club read. There is a tiny bit of language toward the end, nothing more than you would hear walking down the street.

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Two strangers, opposite coasts, and abridge that silently beckons.

Katie Connelly has lived in San Francisco all her life. Her late father made his career as an ironworker on the Golden Gate Bridge, and the many stories of him trying to save jumpers still haunt her. When she's asked to write a history about the bridge, her research uncovers a secret journal hidden in her father's desk, pages of familiar advice penned by the hand of a stranger. The scribbled words tell of a promise ring and a distant love, clues that Katie hopes may answer her own unresolved sorrow.

Across the country, Dave Riley, a marketing executive in New York, encounters sorrows of his own. As he grasps at straws after tragedy strikes his family, a once whimsical daydream quickly turns into an obsession: he must ride his motorcycle across the Golden Gate Bridge on the Fourth of July.

Does the bridge hold answers for both Katie and Dave? Or will it only add to their heartache? The puzzling words left behind in a long-forgotten journal hold the key to the truth that they will discover on The Other Side of the Bridge.

THE RENT COLLECTOR by Cameron Wright--Book Review

THE RENT COLLECTOR by Cameron Wright. I have put off reading this book for a long time. I wasn't sure I was ready for the kind of situation this story detailed. Boy am I glad I finally read it. This story is amazing. I loved how much I learned about literature as well as what happened in Cambodia. Not everything is happy but I loved every page of the story and devoured it. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, however, adults should read it with younger readers. There are some parts that may not be appropriate for them to read but the story stays true to what actually happened.

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Survival for Ki Lim and Sang Ly is a daily battle at Stung Mean Chey, the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia. They make their living scavenging recyclables from the trash. Life would be hard enough without the worry for their chronically ill child, Nisay, and the added expense of medicines that are not working.

Just when things seem worst, Sang Ly learns a secret about the ill-tempered rent collector who comes demanding money — a secret that sets in motion a tide that will change the life of everyone it sweeps past. The Rent Collector is a story of hope, of one woman's journey to save her son and another woman's chance at redemption. It demonstrates that even in a dump in Cambodia — perhaps especially in a dump in Cambodia — everyone deserves a second chance.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher. It did not sway my review in any way.