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Book Review: For Renata by B. Robert Sharry

For RenataFor Renata by B. Robert Sharry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've been struggling for a week now to write a review of this book, but I can't clearly put into words what I feel. This book started out kind of slow and I was scared that I wasn't going to like it, and I hate not finishing a book and author asked me to review. While it started out slow, before I knew it I was sucked into this book and the story. It is a beautifully woven story of multiple story lines all revolving around a small group of people who live in Cape Ann, Mass.

We are taken along for the journey as Mark tries to discover why his uncle disappeared all those years ago by reading his journal. Mark's Uncle Peter was one of the many men who came back from war a broken shell of his former self.  He takes the job of tending the light house and while he's there he meets Renata.  In his journal is this story a long with a letter for Renata.

Mark finds Renata but she denies the events in Peter's journal.  This is was captured my attention when I was asked to review the novel.  That slight idea of mystery in a story that sounds like a romantic drama is always a draw.  When I finally got to that part I couldn't read fast enough to see how it all worked out in the end and I wasn't disappointed.

I can't recommend this story enough. The Portuguese singer Amália Rodrigues is mentioned throughout the story and I also suggest looking her up and listening to some of her music.  She's a wonderful fado (blues) singer and it adds a great soundtrack to the story.  NPR did a piece on her - Amalia Rodrigues: The Voice Of Extreme Expression.

Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the ebook.

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