The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

We read this book for last months book club pick!  I didn’t necessarily dislike the story, although I did learn insight into who Alexander Hamilton was and became.  Although I think I was more drawn to his wife, Elizabeth and her story.  The title of the book puts it as plainly as anyone could of guessed, Hamilton has an affair which causes turmoil and ultimately ending in his death.  Hamilton came to America to pursue his education and along the way became a hero of sorts and one of the most controversial leaders of the American Revolution.

Then we get to learn more about his wife Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, daughter of one of New York’s most exalted families—feisty, adventurous, and loyal to a fault.  When she met Alexander, she fell head over heels. She pursued him despite his illegitimacy, and loved him despite his infidelity.  In 1816 (two centuries ago), she shamed Congress into supporting his seven orphaned children.  Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton started New York’s first orphanage. The only “founding mother” to truly embrace public service, she raised 160 children in addition to her own.

The Hamilton Affair tells the tumultuous true love story of Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler, from tremulous beginning to bittersweet ending—his at a dueling ground on the shores of the Hudson River, hers more than half a century later after a brave, successful life.

 

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The Good People by Hannah Kent

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

I think what I expected from the book was a little bit more thrill, a little bit more lore.  The story line was good, but I never really had the feeling that ‘I needed to get up and check the random noises of the house’ type.

The Good People is a story taking place in Ireland 1825, about Nora Leahy who has lost her daughter and husband in the same year.  She now has to care for her daughters 4 year old son who can’t walk or talk.  Nora tries her best to keep him hidden from the hateful gossips she knows would start from his deformity, whom they may think was caused by ‘otherworldly’ things.

Unable to care for the child alone, Nora hires a 14 year old servant girl, Mary, who soon hears the whispers in the valley about the blasted creature causing grief to fall upon the widow’s house.  Mary and Nora seek out the only person in the valley who might be able to help the boy. For although her neighbors are wary of her, it is said that old Nance Roche has the knowledge. That she consorts with Them, the Good People. And that only she can return those whom they have taken.

Rhyme Crime by Jon Burgerman

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Rhyme Crime is a fun new children’s book that will have everyone laughing!  The key to the story is the rhyming wordplay along with the bright colored creatures who are the victims of a rhyming criminal on the loose!

The thief is stealing things and replacing them with a rhyming object such as Marlow’s happy smile is replaced with a…..crocodile!  I read this book to my story time kids at the library where I volunteer.  The kids were getting so good at guessing what the thief was going to do next!  By the end of the book they were all coming up with other words that rhymed together.

A very fun interactive book, will you be able to guess the thief’s next move?  Grab this book for a rhyming twist of laughter and silliness especially when the thief tries to steal an orange…what rhymes with orange?!

 

The True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig by Steve Jenkins

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

About a year ago, I stumbled upon an Instagram account featuring a full grown pig that was dressed up in an outfit.  Then I discovered the story behind Esther and the fabulous life that she lives!  This is a children’s story about the TRUE adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig!

Esther’s dads Steve and Derek had adopted a mini pig, although they had no idea that she would turn out to be a full size of the sort.  Despite her size, her new family saw just how wonderful she truly was and she has changed their lives for the better.

The story tells about Esther from when she was first brought home, to her present life.  Following her though her many growing spurts with many different sizes of beds, to actually getting her own bedroom!  One day, Esther disappears…but found in a neighbors backyard eating some goodies!

Esther and her family outgrew their small apartment as she also has some dog and cat siblings.  So the whole family moves to a farm where everyone has more space to have adventures.  This farm has since become the Happily Esther After animal sanctuary, home to rescued animals of all kinds!

I read this book to my story time kids at the library where I volunteer.  They all loved the story, especially the real photos that were added at the end.  All of them kept saying….”SHE’S REAL? SHE LIVES IN A HOUSE?” it was lots of fun!

 

What Should Be Wild by Julia Fine

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

This is quite the unusual story.  Although I like the story line, I did feel like in some places, the story rambled on leading me to lose interest but then a few more pages and I was back into the story!

Maisie Cothay has never been allowed to touch anything, humans included.  She was born with the power to kill or resurrect almost anything with just the slightest touch.  In trying to keep her safe, her family sequesters her in the family’s manor at the edge of a mysterious forest.

Her father, an anthropologist sees her more as an experiment that a daughter.  He also strictly warns that she is never to go venturing into the woods behind their home.  Locals have told stories of people disappearing within and then coming back out with bizarre stories.  What Maisie’s father doesn’t tell her is that for hundreds of years, her female ancestors have also vanished into the wood, although none of them ever returned – for Maisie is descended from a long line of cursed women…..

Then one day Maisie disappears and returns several days later as if nothing has happened.  While gone, her father goes into the woods in search of his daughter.  Maisie must venture beyond the walls of all she has ever known and into the forbidden woods as she slowly uncovers the truth.