what the wind knows – GoodeyReads

It’s Saturday: Book Tag day!

I was tagged by Arini from Her Ineffable Reads! I’ve recently started following her blog and have been really enjoying her content. If you’re following me, you should definitely be following her!

She originally found the tag from Olivia at Purely Olivia. And she is the creator of this tag.

I’m a closet Taylor Swift fan, but that won’t stop be from doing this tag. I love her work. I can’t deny it.

1.

You’re Not Sorry

A book that unapologetically broke your heart

I apparently don’t read many books that try to break me. Tender-hearted much? (It’s being a mom, it makes you soft). The Great Alone really tore me up. Leni deals with SO MUCH CRAP and all I wanted for her was to be happy. And when she had it, it was ripped away and given back in this bittersweet, my heart is breaking, kinda way. Happy ending used loosely.

2.

Back to December

A book you still think about even after you finished

I mention in my review that I truly believe everyone needs to read this book. A doctor, dying from cancer, writes a memoir that will make you cry. I contemplated how I was handling my life and it still comes to mind on rough days. What is a bad day, or a bad five minutes?

3.

If This Was a Movie

A book you really want to become a movie

I think a million+ books I’ve read should be movies, but this is the most recent one in my mind. Imagining some time-traveling and old-timey 1920’s Ireland makes me want to swoon. This was a magical read.

4.

Gorgeous

A book with the most beautiful cover

I am so bad with pretty covers. I tend to not even notice the cover and buy it for the summary or hype. In this case I remember picking To Kill a Kingdom specifically for the gorgeous, dark cover. It promised sea battles and plenty of stabbing. And it did not disappoint.

5.

Shake It Off

A book that gets hate but that you still love

It’s actually recently come to my attention that the Shatter Me series gets some hate. For me, it’s one of the few dystopian-based book that I’m invested in. The jaw dropping plot-twists, the swoon worthy romance, and the loyal friendships have made this a great series. Jury is still out with the “addition” of the next three books, but I loved Restore Me so there’s hope!

6.

Never Grow Up

A book that gives you childhood nostalgia

Oh yes, yes. The A Series of Unfortunate Events brings on all the nostalgia. It was one of my first series that I read all the way through. I only vaguely remember the details now, but I can’t wait to read them with my children in the future!

7.

Sparks Fly

A book that you instantly clicked with

This book was so stinkin’ cute. I immediately was captivated and it’s one of the few contemporaries I adore. The setting (Tuscany, Italy) and precious high school love was all I needed. It was a perfect summer read.

8.

Style

A classic that will never get old

I may not have time to re-read this all the time. But this book (more the movie) never gets old to me. I love the story and it’s classic style will always captivate.

9.

End Game

A book with a romance you love

My dear sweet pair: Kestrel and Arin. They were so frustrating and I couldn’t believe half the actions that went down, but boy I was on their side from day one. There’s SO MUCH LOVE HERE. It’s one of my favorite series. Now I think I need to go do a re-read.

10.

I Knew You Were Trouble

A book you couldn’t help but become obsessesd with

I may not talk about this series a lot, but I like doing tags to really branch out on my choices. So in this case, I was IMMEDIATELY obsessed with this series. Shusterman is a wizard with this story. It’s such a thinker. I continually panic over WHAT IF THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED? And you know what, I obsess over this anytime I remember the books.

11.

Bad Blood

A book where you loved the first one and hated the sequel

I’m totally using Arini’s answer because oh how I agree. I got through RQ (honestly wouldn’t say loved, but I liked it), decided to keep going. Made it through GS and thought, eh I’m not having fun, but I also want to know what happens. Then KC came out I skimmed read this and never bothered with WS. These progressively got worse with the cliches, the awful twists and more. I still haven’t read WS, but from a spoiler review I’ve seen, I’m okay with my decision.

I’m tagging:

Xandra @ Starry Sky Books || Jess & Teagan @ Fiction No Chaser || Sara @ The Bibliophagist || Purple Manatees

Even if you weren’t tagged, totally feel free to do this! And if you don’t like TS, that doesn’t matter either! It’s a clever tag that was fun to do. Tag me in the comments if you happen to do this, would love to see answers.

Book Review

Book Review: What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

February 11, 2019February 9, 2019 GoodeyReads

Rating: ☆☆☆☆.5
Audience: Historical fiction romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Imprint
Release Date: February 1st, 2019
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In an unforgettable love story, a woman’s impossible journey through the ages could change everything….

Anne Gallagher grew up enchanted by her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. Heartbroken at his death, she travels to his childhood home to spread his ashes. There, overcome with memories of the man she adored and consumed by a history she never knew, she is pulled into another time.

The Ireland of 1921, teetering on the edge of war, is a dangerous place in which to awaken. But there Anne finds herself, hurt, disoriented, and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a young boy who is oddly familiar. Mistaken for the boy’s long-missing mother, Anne adopts her identity, convinced the woman’s disappearance is connected to her own.

As tensions rise, Thomas joins the struggle for Ireland’s independence and Anne is drawn into the conflict beside him. Caught between history and her heart, she must decide whether she’s willing to let go of the life she knew for a love she never thought she’d find. But in the end, is the choice actually hers to make?

LYRICALLY BEAUTIFUL.

Once again, I was swept away by the way Amy Harmon writes.

This book is steeped in the magic of studying family history. Harmon draws heavily from her own travels to Europe and the time period from which her great+ grandparents lived. It is so important to know and understand where we come from and WtWK convinced me (and I know that wasn’t the point) to look at my own history.

The romance is yet again so precious. How understanding is Thomas? Because you better believe I would be freaking out a lot more if “Anne” showed back up, 5 years missing from her time period, without a clue as to what happened. Their story flowed at a good pace and I was shipping them forward continually.

I was really caught up in how this book would resolve. It was unclear if everything was going to fall into place, but never fear Harmon brings things full circle leaving me completely happy with how it came together.

My only reasoning for giving it a 4.5* is that there is a lot of history put in there. Discussions about the rebellion, civil war, political meetings, etc. Yes, they helped me understand what was happening, but it was thick with this information. I felt it was taking away from the fact that this is a romance novel at it’s base.

Overall audience notes: