Review of The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman

Rating - 4

 1926. Tom Sherbourne is a young lighthouse keeper on a remote island off Western Australia. The only inhabitants of Janus Rock, he and his wife, Isabel, live a quiet life, cocooned from the rest of the world.
The one April morning a boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a crying infant - and the path of the couple's lives hits an unthinkable crossroads.
Only years later do they discover the devastating consequences of the decision they made that day - as the baby's real story unfolds...

Stedman has created a unique novel. . . unique in time, setting and circumstance. The choice made by Tom and Isabel sets them and their marriage on a path of no return and propels every reader to question his or her own ethical and moral values if faced with a similar dilemma. Highly recommended.

Review of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Rating - 4

Nick and Amy Dunne seem to have a fairly decent marriage, although they face many of the same challenges that other marriages face...lack of communication, aging parents, job loss. But on their 5th wedding anniversary, Amy vanishes. When Nick comes home from work, his house is a wreck and there is no sign of her. He calls the police and thus starts the search for his missing wife...with him as the chief suspect. But all is not as it seems. When the police find Amy's diary, everything in it points to Nick as her murderer. Nick knows he didn't do it, but how will he prove it?This book features one of the most dysfunctional marriages ever. Nick and Amy's marriage not only isn't perfect, it's full of secrets and lies and deceptions. Just when you think you know what's going to happen, everything changes. The plot is full of twists and turns and I never would have guessed the ending. Neither Nick nor Amy are likable characters, but the plot is so clever it won't matter.

Review of Rescue by Anita Shreve

Rating = 3
2011 TBR Challenge - January

Peter Webster is a young, single man still living with his parents and in training to become a paramedic when he responds to a call for an automobile accident on a lonely stretch of highway. The minute Peter sees the young woman injured in the accident, he is drawn to her. Sheila is also a young woman with a mysterious past with no money and no job. Peter and Sheila begin to see each other and Peter falls hopelessly in love with her. Sheila appears to love Peter as well and after a night of passion, Sheila becomes pregnant. They marry and their daughter, Rowan is born. At first life seems blissful, but soon Sheila's past catches up with her.

Told over a span of 19 years, Rescue is a story of love, broken dreams and resurrection. Highly readable, the book is fast-paced and keeps the reader drawn in to the story until the very end. Having said that, the book didn't live up to my expectations for some reason. The characters weren't that compelling and I didn't really care about them. It was an enjoyable read, but not a "must read",