The Luxe

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm really torn between and 3 and 4 star for this book. I liked the book but it was a little slow to start with. I'll write out my review and come up with a final number by the end!

The book starts off at the funeral of Elizabeth Holland, a beautiful, prim and proper socialite in Manhattan from the late 1800's. We are set up with a few of the main cast of characters at the funeral including Elizabeth's sister, Diana, her best friend, Penelope Hayes and her future husband, the dapper Henry Schoonmaker. Not attending the funeral but are thoroughly entwined in this story are Elizabeth's personal maid, Lina Broud and the family coachman, Will Keller.

The book moves on to the events leading up to the funeral for Elizabeth Holland. It starts off a little slow but picks up about half way through the book as we start to understand what might have lead to the funeral for Elizabeth Holland. We read about affairs of the heart, social enemies, the rich and lavish life with luxurious parties, gossip, betrayal, familial obligations, heartache and on and on.

This story shows that there are a lot of layers beneath the finely polished exterior of the rich and debonair families with proper manners that are mostly for show. Beneath there are dark secrets that threaten the way of life they are so greedily accustomed to. Are they willing to risk their heart or are they willing to risk the riches they have been afforded? And who will they bring down to get what they want?

Okay, I'll give it 4 stars! It was mildly juicy but I really liked the setting of the book. Very nice. :)


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Angel Falls

Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm torn about this book. It was written over 10 years ago by Kristin Hannah (my fave author!) but it lacks the appeal that her most recent books do. It is mildly farfetched but Ms. Hannah knows how to make it not too over-the-top and mildly relatable.

As always this book focuses on trials and tribulations on the family bond and love. The main characters learned about themselves and grew on their new found knowledge of themselves and their loved ones.

Some things that bothered me about this book, for one, was the little boy acted too young, it wasn't an accurate portrayal of a nine year old. A minor irritation but I had to point it out. And really? Would someone love another so much to be completely blind to the built up wall of the past? I wasn't quite sold on that either.

I liked how the story played out for the most part but of all of the books I've read of Kristin Hannah's, this is my least favorite.

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