The Roanoake Girls by Amy Engel

The Roanoake Girls
by Amy Engel

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Just released: March 7, 2017
Publisher: Crown
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, YA
Hardback: 288 pages
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
The second time I saw Roanoke was a month after my mother committed suicide.

Zombie sighting:
I called her two, three times a day for weeks. Left messages, begged to see her. I was a zombie at work, barely better at home.
- chapter NOW, page 155

After her mother's suicide, fifteen year-old Lane Roanoke came to live with her grandparents and fireball cousin, Allegra, on their vast estate in rural Kansas. Lane knew little of her mother's mysterious family, but she quickly embraced life as one of the rich and beautiful Roanoke girls. But when she discovered the dark truth at the heart of the family, she ran…fast and far away.

Eleven years later, Lane is adrift in Los Angeles when her grandfather calls to tell her Allegra has gone missing. Did she run too? Or something worse? Unable to resist his pleas, Lane returns to help search, and to ease her guilt at having left Allegra behind. Her homecoming may mean a second chance with the boyfriend whose heart she broke that long ago summer. But it also means facing the devastating secret that made her flee, one she may not be strong enough to run from again.

As it weaves between Lane’s first Roanoke summer and her return, The Roanoke Girls shocks and tantalizes, twisting its way through revelation after mesmerizing revelation, exploring the secrets families keep and the fierce and terrible love that both binds them together and rips them apart.

My two-bits:

I was charmed by the characters and the way this story is told. Despite character flaws and decisions a weird empathy for them comes about. And, I found myself in the same shoes as the protagonist in some instances.

It had the right amount of mystery and thriller to the end. It is one of those mysteries where you can pretty well guess who did it, but you are drawn to the "why" of it.

Got me thinking of charisma.

~*~
* review copy courtesy of publisher

* part of Cloak & Dagger Challenge (here)

Stacking the Shelves & Sunday Post - 3.11.17

Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
AND
Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer (details)
~*~
I have been in a mystery, thriller mode with my recent reading. Nothing like a nail biter story to keep you on your toes.

I am also sneaking in a page or two a day from Wonder Women by Sam Maggs and Bad Girls Throughout History by Ann Shen for a dose of Women's history for this month.

My audiobook listening is going steadily which is compiled of titles from the Tournament of Books list (here). The discussions started last Wednesday (here). I know I will not have completed reading/hearing the lot before the end of the month, but I am so excited to read the dailies.

Although I have a kindle, I am considering getting a nook e-reader. Would love to hear any comments on the nook if you have one.

Going to work on organizing my shelves to pull out candidates for the TBR Pile challenge. MUST create a donation pile while I am at it.

~*~
For Review:

A Contrary Wind
by Lona Manning
-Romance, Jane Austen theme
courtesy of author -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

The Roanoake Girls
by Amy Engel
-Mystery, Suspense
courtesy of publisher -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

Missing
by Kelley Armstrong
-Mystery, Thriller, YA
courtesy of tour -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

AND watched: in theatre

T2 Trainspotting (2017)
Director: Danny Boyle
Screenplay: John Hodge
Based on book by: Irving Welsh
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner
-Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
After 20 years abroad, Mark Renton returns to Scotland and reunites with his old friends Sick Boy, Spud, and Begbie.

I loved Trainspotting and its characters (Ewan!) style and music. And this sequel, T2, was more of the goodness. And, there is a cameo of author, Irvine Welsh ;-)

I was treated to a preview screening of this sequel which included a guest appearance and interview with director Danny Boyle afterwards. Loved hearing his thoughts on finally getting this sequel created.


AND watched: special screening

Girl Rising (2013)
Director: Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri, Richard Robbins
Writers:
Marie Arana - Peru
Doreen Baingana - Uganda
Edwidge Dantical - Haiti
Mona Eltahawy - Egypt
Aminatta Forna - Sierra Leone
Zarghuna Kargar - Afghanistan
Maaza Mengiste - Ethiopia
Ranjan Nautiyal
Vipul Rathore
Sooni Taraporevala - India
Manjushree Thapa - Nepal
Loung Ung - Cambodia
-Documentary, Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
This film follows 9 girls from Haiti, Nepal, Ethiopia, India, Egypt, Peru, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, and Afghanistan on their journey to education.

SAD to know the status of girls and women in other countries due to the lack of education. This film does well in presenting the importance of education in order to change things for the better all-around the world.


AND watched: on DVD

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016)
Director: Jake Szymanski
Writers: Andrew Jay Cohen, Brendan O'Brien
Starring: Zac Efron, Adam Devine, Aubrey Plaza, Anna Kendrick
-Adventure, Comedy, Romance | imdb | my rating: 4
Two hard-partying brothers place an online ad to find the perfect dates for their sister's Hawaiian wedding. Hoping for a wild getaway, the boys instead find themselves out-hustled by an uncontrollable duo.

BECAUSE sometimes something silly and funny is needed.


Currently flipping through: from the library

In the Company of Women:
Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs
by Grace Bonney
-Art, Business, Feminism
Amazon | Goodreads
Across the globe, women are embracing the entrepreneurial spirit and starting creative businesses. In the Company of Women profiles over 100 of these influential and creative women from all ages, races, backgrounds, and industries. Chock-full of practical, inspirational advice for those looking to forge their own paths, these interviews detail the keys to success (for example, going with your gut; maintaining meaningful and lasting relationships), highlight the importance of everyday rituals (meditating; creating a daily to-do list), and dispense advice for the next generation of women entrepreneurs and makers (stay true to what you believe in; have patience). The book is rounded out with hundreds of lush, original photographs of the women in their work spaces.

THIS gem has present day women who inspire with color photos and a Q&A format per profile.

~*~
* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently