The Secret of Goldenrod by Jane O'Reilly

I was given a free advanced copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book! What a breath of fresh air! This is not a run of the mill haunted house story. Nor does it set out to scare you. This book is whimsical, sensitive and appeals to every desire I remember having as a child. I wanted so badly to live in a big creaking mammoth of a house and have a talking doll, adventures galore & the comfort of a close knit community. Fantastic!

The Stopped Heart by Julie Myerson

This book made me uncomfortable from the start.  The way in which it is narrated - past, present, and jumping around within the two, was not even the reason why.  I actually liked that.  The author gave tiny bits of information at a time and the puzzle was intricate.  However, the heaviness, depression, dread, grief..... You feel it all yourself.  You are forced time and again to absolutely KNOW that bad things are coming and the characters you have come to know so well are going to somehow suffer.  And then you suffer with them.  There were so many parts that made me cringe and dread what was coming.  I devoured the book but it was, in a way, to rip the band aide off.  I was terrified to reach the end, but I also knew I really needed to.  This book affected me in a very powerful way.  Just.... Wow.