Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

 Henry is living in China town in Seattle during the second world war. His parents are so proud of him because he was accepted into the white school, but his classmates bully him mercilessly. When a Japanese girl name Keiko starts attending the school, they quickly become friends. Henry knows that his parents would never approve of this friendship, his father is highly prejudice against the Japanese, but Henry can't help falling in love with this smart, quirky, and kind girl. She is the sun within his dark world. That all changes after the attack on Pearl Harbor however. It seems like the entire country fears anyone with ties to Japan, and eventually Keiko and her family are rounded up and sent to a Japanese internment camp. Henry is devastated to lose his friend and is terrified of what will happen to her. He has no idea if he will ever see her again, but he hopes that they will be able to keep their promise to find each other after the war. 

'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet', by Jamie Ford, is a heart warming story of two young people fighting against prejudice to keep their young budding romance alive. It explores the injustice of the WWII Japanese internment camps and brings to light one of the darker moments in American history. The complexities of this wonderful novel are well thought out and very well written. It immerses you into it's beautiful story that may make you shed a tear or two or a ton. The plot held me captivated and curious until the very end. This is definitely a must read for everyone. 

The Secret Life of Bees

 

After you read the last word of this book, you close it, hold it to your chest, and let the emotions wash over you again and again. Its impossible to jump right back into your reality once this story is a part of you - it's one of those books. A book that makes you a better person and increases your understandings just by living within its pages for a while. I would rank this right up there with 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'Small Great Things'. 'The Secret Life of Bees', by Sue Monk Kidd, is a necessary read for all. It is impossible not to fall in love with these women, to cheer them on, laugh with them, cry with them, and wish that their bright pink house was in your neighborhood so that you could be best friends with them. The words are beautifully written, almost poetic. The lush descriptions have you completely immersed, and the character development is phenomenal. So obviously, to say that I recommend this book is a huge understatement -- just make sure to have the box of tissues close. 

Lily Owens is growing up in South Carolina in 1964 with an angry, abusive father, and a black woman servant who was the motherly figure that she didn't have. Lily is haunted by the day her mother was killed when she was just four years old. She struggles to remember the details of that terrible day, and is too nervous to ask her father about it. So when a series of events forces Lily to frantically flee her little town, she heads to the only place that might hold some answers to her mother's past. She doesn't plan on finding herself living in a home with three black sisters, but she thinks they might hold the clues she so desperately seeks. 

The Fires of Treason

 

Princess Elizabeth idealizes her big brother, Greg, who is destined to be the king someday. Elizabeth would do anything for him, but when she tries telling him something he doesn't want to hear, he treats her cruelly and unjustly. His words are unforgivable. After Greg is banished from the kingdom, Elizabeth overhears something that she is not supposed to however, and she must warn her older brother. Even if she can't forgive him, she still loves him and doesn't want to see him get hurt. Leaving the lap of luxury to traipse after Greg in the wilderness is a lot harder than she thought it would be, and the adventure she finds herself on is never one that she could have predicted. 

Meanwhile, Greg almost feels relief that the pressures of being king are now off of his shoulders. He has no intention whatsoever to raise an army and fight for his birthright, but is that what is best for his kingdom? Greg has many followers who are both angry and scared that Greg will not be their ruler any longer, and some of them are willing to go to extreme lengths to get him back on the throne. 

In Michele Quirke's debut novel, 'Fires of Treason', two sibling's worlds are turned upside down and they must leave behind everything they have ever known. Their loyalty to each other, as well as to their country, will be tested in ways they never could have imagined. Choosing the right path has never been so difficult. 

I came across this novel through the means of social media, and thought that the storyline was intriguing so I decided to give it a chance. To be honest, I didn't have the highest of expectations for this book, sometimes authors first novels fall flat, but I love fantasy, especially ones that are about royalty, so I gave it a try. Boy am I glad I did! This book exceeded all of my expectations! The plot line hooked me immediately, the character development was well written, and the descriptions were clear and precise. The storyline definitely left me wanting more and I can not wait for the next one. This novel was fantastic and I highly recommend giving it a chance.