Orphaned at a young age and witness to her brother’s decline into addiction, Nora Martinez has every excuse to question the fairness of life. Instead, the openhearted librarian in the small Colorado community of Silver Ridge sees only promise. She holds on to the hope that she’ll be reunited with her missing brother and does what she can at the town library. It’s her home away from home, but it’s also a sanctuary for others who, like her brother, could use a second chance.

There’s Marlene, an elderly loner who believes that, apart from her husband, there’s little good left in the world; Jasmine, a troubled teen; Lewis, a homeless man with lost hope and one last wish; and Vlado, the security guard who loves a good book and, from afar, Nora.

As a winter storm buries Silver Ridge, this collection of lonely hearts takes shelter in the library. They’ll discover more about each other, and themselves, than they ever knew—and Nora will be forced to question her brother’s disappearance in ways she never could have imagined. No matter how stranded in life they feel, this fateful night could be the new beginning they didn’t think was possible.

I read this book in one sitting in less than a day and loved every minute of it

I was drawn into the description of the novel as one of the positions held as a librarian was at a public library in the heart of a county seat and in the winter months I had an overnight case and a spare set of clothing in my vehicle in case of winter storm conditions that would make driving the long distance to my home perilous. As so many of our patrons walked to the library it really started my mind whirling to think of taking care of stranded patrons which hastened my selection to read the story of Nora Martinez and her patrons.

In reading the "Author’s Note" I learned about The Brautigan Library, a library that I was not aware existed. It was fascinating to learn how the author learned about the unique library on a snow day stimulating her creativity for this extraordinary novel.

Over the course of time many have given pause to reflect on the meaning of public libraries. The beauty of this novel is how libraries are not only described but depicted through the tale of a librarian, a security guard, and three (3) individuals with library cards not all who consider themselves library patrons. The group is of different backgrounds and ages but all are seeking refuge. As the hours pass through the snowstorm each person’s story unfolds and assumptions about one another also unravel. It’s not always easy to reveal worries and fears or any kind of personal struggle. It’s not always easy to make an opportunity or accept an opportunity for a new beginning. I was riveted to learn if the group would survive the storm and curious of the impact (if any) that might follow their exposure to one another.

Some of my favorite library/librarian descriptions and thoughts woven into the story are:

"…that libraries were one of the last places someone could go where they didn’t have to buy or believe in anything to come in."

"The library had been like finding cool water in the midst of a desert, a refuge, and the books inside, her escape."

"So library was the perfect escape; its quiet, her sanctuary; the books, her refuge; and Mrs. Washington, the one adult in her world who seemed to both understand and not judge."

"Is there a better place to be stranded than inside a library?"

This novel reminds us that every person that we meet on our life journey has their own unique story. Whether a person is smiling or is brusque, happy or crabby, doesn’t always reflect genuine feelings but may be a protective covering. I hope the story will open the possibilities to be kind and encouraging to one another.

My sincere thanks to Melissa Payne, and Lake Union Publishing for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

#TheNightofManyEndings #NetGalley

Well, that's quite a good emotional read. The style isn't quite Kristin Hannah's but I'd bet my money Melissa delivers no less when it comes to stories with rich characters. The story took me on an exceptional emotional journey, a journey I never wanted to end and yet I wished some peace for these beautiful characters. Perfect read for a cozy Saturday afternoon. Five stars!

This was a intense book. It revolves around several people who are stuck one night in the library during a huge snow storm. Each one battling an inner demon. Stories and thoughts are shared during that night and things change in the light of a new day.
This book wasn’t quite what I was expecting but it ended up being pretty good
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I loved the description of this story - 5 people huddled in a library waiting out a savage storm. But sadly, I found the main character bleak and stressful to read because she was so lost in trying to save everyone else that she seemed empty. I had hoped for more redemption and perhaps even hope. But I know there are readers for whom stories of addiction and survival are compelling even without light shining through, so I would say to anyone who is curious, give it a try.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me an advance copy of Melissa Payne’s latest novel, The Night of Many Endings, in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about the intersection of 5 lives during a dangerous Colorado snowstorm. Nora, Lewis, Marlene, Jasmine, and Vlado are forced to spend the night in the town library and become unlikely allies. Although each character starts the night with their own baggage and strong prejudices, they soon learn to accept and understand each other and help one another with personal struggles. The perspective alternates between three characters so that we can better understand what they're going through and how they perceive each other.

I was really excited to read this book, but I honestly found it quite boring and hard to get through. I was originally enthralled by the main character's backstory and difficult life, especially because we find out what motivates her in specific situations through flashbacks, but I soon learned that there's not much substance to Nora. Everything she does seems to be for other people, most specifically for her brother and homeless people that she projects her brother onto. She doesn't have much of a personality besides liking books and caring for people, and I wish she had her own motivations, hobbies, and interests. The whole book just revolved around each character's trauma, which made for an unrealistic, sad, and boring story (trauma p*rn!). I did like the way the story alternated perspectives and gave us an opportunity to learn about how each character both presents themselves to others and feels about the other characters.

I think that the author is a great storyteller and I would love to read other works by her, but this book simply did not do it for me. If you like uplifting, dynamic stories, and/or are triggered by discussion of addiction, death, and suicide, then this may not be the book for you, either. Otherwise, I think someone could really enjoy this book.

A night nobody will forget!
A giant, crippling blizzard and five people, so very different; that are trapped in an ancient library with no power or way to get out!
Wow! This story has so much between these pages and words!
Lessons to be learned, friendships to be made and a time to "let go" and move forward!
This is definitely a different type of book!
This novel has heartbreak, hope, despair, torture, love and friendship!
I enjoyed each of these remarkable characters and Charlie too! I could smell the library books, the pine trees and the blizzard as it approached!
It is good!! Try it!

I received an advance copy of, The Night of Many Endings, by Melissa Payne. I found this book to be boring and blah.

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me an advance copy of Melissa Payne’s latest novel, The Night of Many Endings, in exchange for an honest review.

#TheNightofManyEndings is an aptly titled contemporary fiction novel about five characters (Nora, Marlene, Jasmine, Lewis, and Vlado) from different walks of life who get stranded in their community library during a huge snowstorm in Silver Ridge, Colorado. The story is essentially modeled on a locked-room mystery novel sans the mystery; though I guess if you really wanted to, you could make a case for Mario being the “mystery” here.

I was intrigued by the rave reviews that the author received for her previously published works and the fact that so many readers commented on her beautiful prose. After reading this novel, I agree that the author can write and that the book is easy to read. I also think the characters are very well developed.

The writing and characters, however, were not enough to hold my attention the entire journey. At times, I felt myself drifting off and struggling to maintain focus. There are many redundancies throughout the chapters that could benefit from some sharp editing. Also, while a snowstorm is the perfect backdrop for the bleak material, I did not find it as uplifting or redeeming as other readers did. Additionally, I thought the protagonist’s story (i.e., Nora) lacked a proper ending when compared to the other characters like Marlene and Lewis.

Since the plot is primarily driven by the characters’ backstories and takes place in mainly one setting, the town library, I find there is not much to discuss without spoiling anything and am left answering two basic questions for readers: Is the author a good storyteller? For the most part, yes. Is this a book that anyone can read? Not necessarily. I do not recommend reading if you cannot tolerate or are not in the mood for the following subjects: addiction, death of a loved one or family members, chronic pain/illnesses, and loneliness. If you enjoy character studies, especially those for despondent and bitter characters, then I would say go for it.

A quick and wholesome read (nothing in here would offend my grandma). Trigger warnings for drug use, thoughts about suicide, and parent deaths should be noted. I wanted more of Vlado's story as I felt like he had an interesting background, but his character's main role was just to have a thing for Nora.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Life hasn’t been kind to librarian Nora Martinez, but she looks at the world through rose colored glasses. finding hope and joy in the smallest things. She pours her heart into making her small library in Colorado a gathering place for her community while she waits for the chance to be reunited with her troubled brother. Nora takes in all those who need hope and a second chance, making her little library a beacon of light and hope in a dark world. Culminating in a blizzard that strands a group of misfits inside Nora’s library, this book is a beautiful tribute to the power of libraries and the people entrusted to share them with the world. Truly a book to make believers of all of us

This book is absolutely WONDERFUL. I’ve seen people talking about the writer a hundred of times but I never read anything like this before. Of course now I want pick up the others books as soon as possible. Great story, great plot and awesome writing. It’s official, because of that book I’m addicted to drama genre again. I feel kind of full of hope after that reading and I wanna that everyone else feel that way too, so please, gonna read this!