Book Review – Every Thing You Are

Title: Everything you are

Author: Kerry Anne King

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Book Blurb. One tragic twist of fate destroyed Braden Healey’s hands, his musical career, and his family. Now, unable to play, adrift in an alcoholic daze, and with only fragmented memories of his past, Braden wants desperately to escape the darkness of the last eleven years.

When his ex-wife and son are killed in a car accident, Braden returns home, hoping to forge a relationship with his troubled seventeen-year-old daughter, Allie. But how can he hope to rescue her from the curse that seems to shadow his family?

Ophelia “Phee” MacPhee, granddaughter of the eccentric old man who sold Braden his cello, believes the curse is real. She swore an oath to her dying grandfather that she would ensure Braden plays the cello as long as he lives. But he can’t play, and as the shadows deepen and Phee finds herself falling for Braden, she’ll do anything to save him. It will take a miracle of forgiveness and love to bring all three of them back to the healing power of music.

What do I reckon & my rating.  This book covers some interesting themes. Grief, Alcoholism, teen angst, and a good old fashioned curse. When Ophelia MacPhee inherits her grandfathers store and workshop she soon learns there’s more to the job than she thought..

As a Luthier she has a responsibility to keep the instruments she makes maintained,. Some instruments require more care than others.

This is where Braden Healey comes in. He owns a cello made by Ophelia’s grandfather.

As part of the extra care, Ophelia needs to meet with Braden to discuss the cello.

Ophelia arrived in Braden’s life when he was very vulnerable. He is getting to know his daughter Allie. He and Allie both have some intense personal issues they need to resolve as well as the management of the cello.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Where to buy.

Amazon

Review – Odriel’s Heirs

Title: Odriel’s Heirs

Author: Hayley Reese Chow

Book Blurb from Amazon: As the Dragon Heir, seventeen-year-old Kaia inherited the power of flame to protect her homeland from a godlike necromancer’s undead army. But after centuries of peace, the necromancer has faded to myth, and the Dragon Heir is feared by the people. Persecuted and cast out, Kaia struggles to embrace and control her seemingly useless gift while confined to her family’s farm.

My thoughts: Well, this book has a LOT going on.

Our Main character is Kaia Dashul, a young women of almost 18 who as the eldest child in the family is the heir to a specific set of skills.

Kaia has a twin brother (while he is not part of the inheritance, he does have a part in the story) and other younger siblings.

This book is aimed at Young adult readers, and I can see someone who already established a good relationship with reading really enjoying it.

Hayley has built the world in the book really well, and just when you think you know where its going something happens to keep you on your toes.

The book covers themes like:

War

Feminism

Suicide

Family

Friendship.

I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the follow up to this book.

I received and advanced review copy of this book and am leaving my review honestly and voluntarily.

Where to buy:

Amazon. (this is an affiliate link)