i didn't hate it but i also didn't love it, mostly, i just didn't feel anything. but that's probably a me thing i don't know. The story alternates between Julia and Lorenzo, the young Jewish violinist who composed “Incendio” during the Nazi occupation of Italy. Sad, evil times, which are described in historical notes at the end of the book.

The book lost me a little when the story shifted to tell Lorenzo's story. I am not always a fan of books with a dual story line. This is one of those cases where the two stories just don't fit together very well. I liked Lorenzo's story just as much as I did Julia's but the thread connecting the pieces was thin at best. Lorenzo is a Jewish musician living in Venice during World War II. The parts of the story that focused on Lorenzo really were often heartbreaking.Grace and West's love story is one of a kind, they stole my heart in the sweetest way possible. LJ nailed the small-town romance. What trope can this woman not write? The writing was bang on, the plot was FANTASTIC and the ending gosh! The sweetest way to kill me. West and Gracie are here to steal hearts y’all.

Playing With Fire” is the latest novel, a standalone thriller, by Tess Gerritsen, a physician living in Maine. Most of us are familiar with the Rizzoli & Isles series, by this New York Times bestselling author. I must say that this is a change in style for the author, from her previous series, but it works well as she is a master storyteller. All The Stars for "Playing With Fire"!!! I absolutely loved this book! Major feels! I was still crying during the author's note. I listened to the audio version. Julia Whelan is the narrator of one of the two points of view. She is my absolute favorite narrator. There are two storylines going on in this novel. The historical fiction aspect is a complete 5! The other storyline was a mystery and that was a 4.5 for me. Although I didn't figure the mystery part out so I'm giving this novel in total a 5! Do you think heroine will be bullied by him? She may suffer and struggle to make money for ten years while he is living his best life all because of him. Shit, I’m crossing my fingers for something like that, that’s a total redeemable act, he may grovel for a couple of months so yesss book boyfriend coming. Everybody knows us women get off on being treated like shit.I seem to be alone among many reviewers who loved this book but it just didn’t work for me. The writing was great with some beautiful descriptive passages of Venice and the author is obviously extremely talented. I would like to read one of her previous books at some time to get another taste of her writing. Every teaser and snippet that has been released of Playing With Fire did NOT prepare me for this story and the emotions that follow it. The emotions that are forced upon you are so unexpected, I felt like I was in a whirlwind being hit in every direction with different emotions and in the end, I was an absolute mess. I know without a doubt this book and the characters will stay with me forever, there’s just no forgetting these two, they’ve etched their way deeply into my heart and I’m captivated by everything that is them. I absolutely LOVED Grace!!!!! She will forever be one of my favorite heroines. Her strength, determination and character development throughout this story was bold and beautiful. Her sass and banter with West was laugh out loud funny and addictive. Their sexual tension was off the charts, and the ease in which they became friends and eventually lovers was organic and natural. It just felt right from the first time they "really" saw each other outside of campus and work. Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D.

anyways. 2.5 weeks later after when Grace and West are already getting to know one another through work and somewhat emotionally connecting, he sleeps with this random OW, Melanie Playing With Fire by L.J. Shen made my heart and soul burn so brightly and sweetly. The writing dragged me down to the most beautiful emotional hell and took me to the heaven of angst. One of my favourite L.J. Shen story ever. Kudos, Dr. Gerritsen (do you still hold your medical title?) for this novel, which touches the heart and shows you put your all into your writing. I wonder what you have on the horizon to appease your loyal fans. I have read many books about the atrocities of WWII and the Jewish concentration camps and didn’t know that I was in for yet another story about the Holocaust. A horrible event in the history of our world but not one I wanted to read about at this time. The way in which West regarded Grace and everything that surrounded and challenged her was jaw-dropping. Yes, he was hot and cold with her - but only because that is what she thought she wanted, and what he knew. When he let his guard down and they both allowed their vulnerabilities to show, it was simply all-consuming and beautiful. These two broken souls became one. They completed the other. They healed each other, and they both showed the resilience and power of the human spirit.

So I wasn't the biggest fan of this book, but it's genuinely not a bad book. I read it for a book report, which sometimes has a way of tarnishing the reading process, but there's other, more normal, reasons I didn't like it as much. First, let me say that I have read most books from the author and I can safely say that this is probably my favorite one in terms of characters.