Fast paced, as is to be expected for a YA book. Would be a great intro to the genre.

Very fun reading with my family.

Loved it!

Good book.

This is the first in the series that I read. Usually, I like to read from the beginning, but I was able to enjoy this immensely. I love period books with characters who are feminist and this author described these two sisters well - strong, supporting each other, and not married! Wow! They go around helping others. We need more books like this.

I don't give away spoilers in my reviews. I am a fan of Ms. Wiseman's writing - specifically, all the research she does to write her books. I did not know much about the coal industry at all. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp of it after reading Coal River. I love historical books because I like to learn while I read. Emma is a young woman who once lived in Coal River. She's vowed to never return for very good reason. After becoming an orphan years later, she finds herself back in Coal River at her Uncle Otis' home. He is the local coal mine owner and a brutal, harsh man. Her Aunt Ida only wants Emma in the home to provide free maid duties. Emma has a past history with her cousin Percy and is not happy to live in their home. Emma has maid duties as well as store clerk duties in the coal mine's general store. She begins to learn about the coal mine and how its employees are treated. Most upsetting to her is how young the breaker boys are and how dangerous their jobs are. I don't give away spoilers so I'll just say this was a spectacular, emotional read that is so well written. I was often sad while reading it, but also found a lot of hope in Emma. (from my Goodreads review)

This book was good I guess. I read it in 30 minutes in a car trip today. My mom doesn’t like the series because of how hard the mom try’s and the middle school boy doesn’t care. She said that she would write about all her great ideas as a mom and how we think that there all soooo great. Blah blah blah, then I told her that no way it would get on a bestseller list! She thought that was funny. Still a pretty funny series. This book was my second favorite out of all of them, the first being the spaghetti one.

I don't give away any spoilers in my reviews. I have read many of Fern Michaels' books - especially The Sisterhood and the Men of the Sisterhood series. I enjoy her thorough character writing and love feeling like I have a complete picture of her characters. At first, I though the Katherine Winston character in Fight or Flight was the same Kathryn Winston in Sisterhood. However, it's not listed under the Sisterhood list of books so I'm honestly not sure. Either way, I loved both of the characters. Katherine - who is called K by her friend Doc, is an agoraphobe who lives alone with her two German Shepherds, Sam and Sophie. She lives in a large mansion and has not set foot outside in seven years. K is also K.C. Winston, the YA author of a series called Girls With Unusual Powers. She does have a secret online persona so she can monitor fans on her page. K has led a habitual life for many years and is forced to break that habit and face her panic attacks from agoraphobia. Doc helps her but I don't want to share any spoilers. Suffice it to say, it's a great, heart-pounding at times read. K feels she's being watched and things escalate from there. Thoroughout reading this, I kept thinking, if this is a different Katherine (which I think it is), please please please let this be a new series. From the perfect, heart stopping ending, I think it just may be. I loved seeing K overcome her fears and also loved her interactions with her dogs. Great read from one of my favorite authors. (from my Goodreads review)

A fun conclusion to The Maid series. I enjoy this character and will miss her view of the world!

I could not put this book down! Very cleverly written in short chapter snapshots of each character in the story line. An enthralling mystery with a thriller bent. I could not figure out who did it! Also a good glimpse into different types of families and their pathways through life.