This was a book I was looking forward to reading an ARC of when I received it in the mail. I wasn't entirely disappointed but wasn't thrilled either.

A modern version of Canterbury Tales, set in an office to get visas to travel to India, an earthquake hits and traps people that by any other means, would have never talked to each other.

In order to keep each other occupied and not paying attention to the doom that is before them, they tell stories of their lives about the "one amazing thing" that has happened in their life.

Some of these stories didn't make it believable that it was the "one" or even amazing. For a book that should have inspired, it felt like a light summer, beach read in the end. The description of the earthquakes and what was happening in the building got more and more horrific as the tale went on. In the beginning I was shrugging my shoulders about it, and towards the end, anxiety set in!

A good enough read, but I think I was wanting more out of it!

As a fan of history and historical fiction I thought this would be a great choice for me. I was thrilled to get an advanced copy. Alas, it disappointed me.

Although extremely well researched, the characters are dull and lifeless. A great thing to look into post-Napoleon Paris...but not enough to save the book.

This was the first book I've read by Libby Hellman. And I think it will be the last. This story and it's characters were complicated and not in a mysterious way. They were just uninteresting. I didn't care for the main character Ellie. She was very dull for being the main person.

This was an advanced copy - and it made me not want to read anything by her again which is sad. I thought I would have another author to follow up on!

Talk about pleasantly surprised by a book. When I first got this advanced reader in the mail I groaned. It looked like a romance novel. Why would I have requested this? But upon reading the back I saw bit about the magical matchmakers and all that and thought it might have promise.

And it really did! It's a great tale with some mysteries thrown in. I love the main character, Lucy, who's a strong woman and really wants to do good in the world. The romance that I was dreading was barely in there (I was thinking the gross sex scenes etc) and instead just cute flirting was what was there.

All the characters are fantastic. I love the names for her pets being an English major myself. And her grandmother Dovie I love and hate at the same time.

I would recommend this to friends that want a really quick read and want to enjoy it. I wish the cover was different and am curious where this will be shelved in a book store. I hope mysteries, but just the outside of this one (and the next one) screams romance, which if I didn't get an advanced copy, I never would have picked this book up

Advanced readers that I usually receive are duds. I was plesantly surprised to get a graphic novel in the mail. I love how there are history lessons to be had in powerful drawings now. i.e. Persepholis, Maus, and Pride of Baghdad. This is a girl struggling with her identity in Iran. She wants to value here heritage, yet is also wanting to move ahead in life, from the old ways. Told very personally by the author. I really hope this GN does well once published. I think this is a story everyone can identify with, from Iran or not.

Yet another mystery that was good for a quick summer read on the train. Doesn't take much thought to read it and is quick. I've never read a Paul Madriani novel before, and probably wouldn't again, unless it was left in a hotel room. I'm not one for legal dramas and this one dragged. Lots of technical detail, which again, may be my disinterest.

Considered a short story, but I think it could have standed to be shorter. I was really excited to get this in the mail, but even after the first few pages I got bored. I feel like things got seriously lost in the translation. It states that it's like 'The Lottery', not really sure if I get that fully, but fine.

The cover is amazing though. Stunning and goes well with the book.

If anything this has made me want to read it in its original language.