NetGalley Reviewer nix21230

“people look to the order of numbers when the world falls apart” Title: A Beautiful Mind  Author: Sylvia Nasar There is so much going on in this book; the life of John Nash and his mental suffering on one level, but then the description of his absolute genius, brilliant and beautiful mind and mathematical findings on another level.  A profound dislike for merely absorbing knowledge and a strong compulsion to learn by doing is one of the most reliable signs of genius. I have highlighted so many paragraphs of this book, that I'll risk getting done for copyright infringement if I ever shared them all. Especially, the sections on game theory really struck a chord with me. Having a mind that's able to think and plan on so many levels at the same time must have been truly amazing.  His insight was that the game would be solved when every player independently chose his best response to the other players’ best strategies. There is a film made based on this book, with Russell Crow...

When you are family but don't really know each other... Title:  Wedding Ring Author:  Emilie Richards An inspiring tale of three generations of women from the same family; one fiercely independent older lady, a super busy socialite and a young mother who's had her share of heart break and crying.  Due to circumstances outside their control, the three women are forced to spend the summer together and work towards a common goal.  From time to time the book was really tough reading and sometimes I wished the characters had realised what was right in front of them, but all in all a very enjoyable escape from daily life.  “Do you ever think that dying isn’t the worst thing that happens to us? That being left behind is the real blow?”  Wedding Ring is the first in the Shenandoah Album series .

Rattling the feathers of the CEO and getting away with it Title: Craving the CEO   Author: Iona Rose A feel-good office romance story, but without being another 'handsome and rich bloke blah toe curling kisses blah amazing sex blah happy ever after' story.  Girl meets boy and has a steamy one-night stand. Monday morning girl goes for a job interview and guess who she's interviewing with? Fast forwarding past that part, and the book gets sooo much better!  The girl has gumption and challenges her new boss in many ways; the poor boy is not used to people not immediately doing what he demands them to do (he never asks). Great strong female lead!

Putting on the show of your life... Title: House of Silence Author: Linda Gillard I read this book twice and you may understand why once you've finished it! Gwen is in desperate need of a 'family' for Christmas as she dreads spending it alone, again. On set she met Alfie and he rather reluctantly agrees to let her be part of his family celebrations, after warning her it may well be her second worst Christmas ever. Christmas is celebrated at Creake Hall in Norfolk.  ‘Drop the scissors.’ Then, in a moment’s inspiration: ‘You don’t want to get blood on the quilts.’ She froze and the scissors fell to the floor. The story has plenty of unexpected twists and turns; who could have guessed paper templates for quilt making could help unfold a mystery?