Review: Hum If You Don’t Know the Words by Bianca Marais

Hum If You Don’t Know the Words by Bianca Marais
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Robin and Beauty. Robin is 10 years old and she is quite a curious little girl. She loves her parents and her twin sister Cat, but when tragedy strikes and she loses both her parents in one fell swoop, her world will be turned upside down. Beauty is a mother and a teacher in a remote village in South Africa. She has just received a letter from her brother that her daughter, Nomsa is in trouble. Beauty tries to get to Nomsa as quickly as she can, but will she be able to make it before it's too late? In both of their struggles these two are brought together to be a strength for the other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Robin is white and Beauty is black. Its the late 70's in South Africa. Apartheid is rampant and Nelson Mandala has just been arrested for trying to secure freedom and equality for his people. Robin's father is a mine boss and he doesn't treat black people very well, thinking they are all far beneath him. Beauty is an educated black woman which is very rare to see at this time. This is a story of love that goes beyond the color of ones skin, to just the human nature of us all. We want to love and to be loved in return.

This book didn't immediately grab my attention. It starts of sad and keeps getting sadder. You have hope for the two of these ladies that they will be able to accomplish their goals and survive, but many times that seems as if it's impossible. I really enjoyed this book and one that I highly recommend. It's an important book to read at this day and time when we look so much to find the differences that can divide us, we need to find the similarities that can unite us.

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Review--Eyes on You by Kate White

Robin has just started a new job and is about to release her first book.  RIght now, is seems as if life couldn't get any better for her.  When a series of strange events begins to happen, Robin has to figure out exactly who is trying to sabotage her career.  There are a few people it could be and right now Robin isn't sure who she can trust.

This book held my attention from start to finish.  It was hard to put down.  The book had a little bit of everything in it.  A little thriller, a little romance, some conspiracy and murder.  All throughout the book, you think you know who is going to be the one doing all of the dirty work.  There seems to be so many suspects.  Is it the handsome co-host?  The ambitious intern who is desperately trying her best?  The veteran at the station who will stop at nothing to stay on top and relevant?  The associate producer whose story ideas always seem to fall a little short.

I could not put this book down.  I had to know what was going to happen.  I stayed on the edge of my seat.  There was even one part where I shouted, "Holy Shit!" out loud.  Luckily, I wasn't any place public when that happened.

This was a great book.  One of the best that I have read this year.  I look forward to reading more from this author.

I read this book as a part of Overdrive's Big Library Read.

Other books by Kate White:

The Wrong Man
Hush
The Sixes
So Pretty It Hurts
Lethally Blonde
Over Her Dead Body
'Til Death Do Us Part
A Body to Die For
If Looks Could Kill