2017 January Bookmarks

*Bookmarks is an online book club hosted at Creative2xmom. Here we discuss the books we've read in the past month as well as the suggested reading. Our suggested reading for January was The Husband's Secret by Laine Moriarty.

These are the books I read this month:

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan-- Esperanza has always lived a blessed life with her parents and grandmother.  The daughter of a wealthy landowner in Mexico, she's lived with servants, comfort and money.  Till one day her father is killed by bandits, and she and her mother must flee to America in order to stay together.  Once in California she learns what life is like as a migrant worker.  Here she  must chose to either rebuild or fight the system that is feeding her.  An interesting look at the Dust Bowl era.  I picked up this book for my 4th grade daughter and found I couldn't put it down.

The Kindness Challenge by Shaunti Feldhahn-- See my review here.

In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse-- See my review here.

What We Read with the Kids:

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder-- We love the Little House on the Prairie series but it's been years since we've read through them.  This year we're starting over to share them with our Kindergartener.  Farmer Boy follows the childhood of Almanzo who will grow up to be Laura's husband.  There are many adventures and misadventures that will sure to delight your children.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library-- This was a one of the selections from Barnes and Noble's summer reading program this past summer.  My 4th grade daughter picked it out and read it in November and I read it this past weekend.  It's so good.  I was in awe at how Grabenstein could weave so many wonderful works of literature into one fantastic book.  I loved it as much as she did.

Our suggested reading for January was The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriary-- Cecilia Fitzpatrick lives a busy wife.  With three daughters, a successful husband, and a thriving business, Cecilia seems to have it all.  Until one day she discovers a mysterious letter only to be opened in the event of her husband's death.  Tess O'Leary comes face to face with her own frail marriage when she discovers that her husband, Will, has secretly fallen in love with her cousin and best friend, Felicity.  Fleeing the city for some time to heal, she reconnects with an old flame and questions her future.  Rachel Crowley, the elderly school secretary, lives a sad life, remember her 17 year old daughter who was murdered years before.  As her desperation grows, she narrows in on Connor Whitby and struggles to control her desire for revenge.  This book was a page turner.  Although we quickly know who the murderer is, the tragic details unfold slowly and left me questioning my own moral code.  I continue to be astonished at the depth of which Moriarty can create both a mystery and study in human nature.

So what are your bookmarks this month?

Tell us in the comments about the books you're chewing on. Or link up a review from your own blog. Let's share the books we're finding, good and bad. And give us your thoughts on The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty.