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Blackberry Winter: A Novel
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Blackberry Winter: A Novel
Unavailable
Blackberry Winter: A Novel
Audiobook10 hours

Blackberry Winter: A Novel

Written by Sarah Jio

Narrated by Tara Sands

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Seattle, 1933. Vera Ray kisses her three-year-old son, Daniel, good night and reluctantly leaves for work. She hates the night shift, but it's the only way she can earn enough to keep destitution at bay. In the morning - even though it's the second of May - a heavy snow is falling. Vera rushes to wake Daniel, but his bed is empty. His teddy bear lies outside in the snow.

Seattle, present day. On the second of May, Seattle Herald reporter Claire Aldridge awakens to another late-season snowstorm. Assigned to cover this "blackberry winter" and its predecessor decades earlier, Claire learns of Daniel's unsolved abduction and vows to unearth the truth - only to discover that she and Vera are linked in unexpected ways.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 25, 2012
ISBN9781469217369
Unavailable
Blackberry Winter: A Novel

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Rating: 3.9663676412556055 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In present-day Seattle, an early May snowstorm, dubbed a "blackberry winter", surprises its residents. Claire, a reporter, is assigned to write a story about the weather anomaly, connecting it to a similar occurrence on the same date in 1933 Seattle. As she begins to research, she becomes intrigued by the disappearance of a young child on that day in 1933, and vows to solve the unsolved mystery.I've read several of Sarah Jio's novels now, and some I've enjoyed and some I've thought were rather mediocre. I liked this one for the most part. It tied the past and present together well, and the characters were mostly likable. There were a few cliche's and/or predictable moments, but not overly so, and I wanted to keep reading to find out how everything would resolve itself.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Although it was a bit predictable, it was a perfect laid back summer read. Nothing too deep or thought provoking, but I enjoyed it for what it was. The alternating narrators was a nice touch.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I know I'm about to read an emotional story when the book's dedication makes me cry. BLACKBERRY WINTER was both heartbreaking and uplifting, so have a box of tissues handy when you read it!A blackberry winter is an old-fashioned term used to describe a late spring snowfall, which is what happens at the beginning of this book. Reporter Claire Aldridge awakens on May 2nd to find Seattle covered under a blanket of snow. At work, she is assigned to do a story on the storm, and an identical one that happened on the same day 77 years prior. While researching the story, she discovers the unsolved case of a missing boy. Three-year old Daniel Ray was abducted during the snowstorm in 1933 while his mother Vera was at work.After being in a terrible accident a year ago, Claire has become a shell of her former self. Her marriage is crumbling, and in spite of counseling, she can not let go of the pain. Claire becomes engrossed in the mystery surrounding Daniel's disappearance, the first thing to spark her interest since that terrible day. As she digs deeper for clues to what happened to Daniel and Vera, some shocking secrets are revealed, ones that touch her on a personal level.I enjoyed how the story alternated between Claire's point of view in present day and Vera's in the past. I could feel every emotion the women experienced, and I sobbed with them a few times. BLACKBERRY WINTER may sound like a sorrowful tale, but it was so much more. It was about love and forgiveness. It was an eye-opening look at injustice in the 1930s. It was a puzzling mystery that kept me hooked from beginning to end. It was inspirational too. Solving the mystery of Daniel and Vera gave Claire the strength to save herself.BLACKBERRY WINTER is a story that will haunt my thoughts for a long time. It makes me want to hug my kids and never let go. 5-stars!My Thoughts on the Audio: This book was narrated by Tara Sands, and I am so happy I chose to listen to the audio version. I loved the emotion that Tara Sands added to the story. Even her male voices worked for me, mainly because she didn't try to be overly "manly" with them. Beautifully done!SOURCE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, however I listened to the audio version I borrowed from the library.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A crazy snowstorm blankets Seattle in May, but it's not the first time. A fluke snowstorm fell in May of 1933 too and the editor of The Herald wants Claire Aldridge to write a feature article about the May storms--about Blackberry Winter.

    During Claire's research of the storm of '33, she finds a newspaper article about Vera and her three year old son who went missing. Vera was a young maid at a high end hotel and had left her son home alone at night while she worked. Authorities believed her three year old, Daniel, ran away during the snowstorm. Claire doesn't believe it for a minute and wonders what happened to Daniel? Were mother and son ever reunited?

    Claire's own life is in shambles, but this story seems to ignite a fire in her she thought was gone. Can she solve the mystery? Can there be a happily ever after? Can Claire find her way again?

    Once again Sarah Jio proves she has the amazing ability to transport her readers into not one, but two stories in two different times. I fell in love with poor Vera. A young mother alone in the world struggling to make ends meet. As I read along, I was cheering Claire on wanting her to hurry and solve the mystery of Daniel. I wanted a happy reunion! It wasn't just me who wanted the mystery solved, but it was as if Mother Nature herself was demanding resolution with the return of the Blackberry Winter. I fell in love with poor Vera. A young mother alone in the world struggling to make ends meet. As I read along, I was cheering Claire on wanting her to hurry and solve the mystery of Daniel. I wanted a happy reunion! It wasn't just me who wanted the mystery solved, but it was as if Mother Nature herself was demanding resolution with the return of the Blackberry Winter.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Vera Ray and Claire Aldrige's lives intersect almost 80 years apart after similar late spring snowfalls called a Blackberry Winter. Vera Ray is a struggling single mother during the height of the Depression. There is very little food, or choice, when she decides to head to work overnight, leaving her three year old asleep in their rooms over a bar. Daniel disappears in the early morning snow, only his teddy bear is found. In present day Seattle, Claire, still suffering from loss of her own, is asked to write a weather feature about the Blackberry Winter snow they've received. She uncovers a cold case about a missing boy, never dreaming how her life will intersect in the story. Jio weaves together a great tale, nothing too strenuous, but the feelings and actions seem very real.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I quite literally devoured this book in one sitting, only sitting down a short time ago to begin reading it. Jio writes such a beautiful, painful and engrossing story that the characters become etched in your heart. The story is nothing short of a masterpiece. I absolutely became so immersed in this novel, both wanting to see how it ended but also wanting to savor every page. I just loved it, every word. I cannot wait to read other books by Jio!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was wonderful. It's nice to read a mystery that doesn't have to be gory. I only gave this 4 stars and not 5 for a couple of reasons. 1) The more I read, the more I was able to predict some things and 2) I thought Claire's research came all too easy which made it a bit unbelievable for me but really I'm just nit picking.An out-of-the-blue snow storm hits in May and a reporter, Claire, finds out that the same thing happened in 1933. She's compelled to write a story about the 2 storms and finds an intriguing mystery to solve along the way. That with many side stories along the way made the book an enjoyable, easy read.I will definitely recommend this one!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was the very first Sarah Jio book that I read and I really enjoyed it. I love the dual time story line in general and I have to say that this author is very good at blending two stories together. This was an extremely quick and easy read. In the short time that it took to read, I was never without it. I kept turning the pages late into the night; I just had to know what was going to happen next. As I said, this book introduced me to Ms. Jio's writing and since I have read two more of her books. She is one of my new favorite authors and I look forward to her next book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is a quick, and fairly captivating read. It's the story of two women, almost a century apart, whose lives and histories intersect as one of them searches for the answer to a decades-old mystery. Claire Aldridge, a reporter, is in a crumbling marriage following a devastating loss, and is tasked with writing a story on the unusual snowstorm that hits Seattle in May-- the same date of another unexpected snowstorm in which Daniel, the 3 year old son of Vera Ray, goes missing. As the two stories unfold, there is a fair amount of predictability. The mystery of Claire's loss, hinted at but not directly revealed at first, becomes fairly obvious to the reader such that the constant "teasers" about what may have happened become a bit annoying. Some portions of the book felt overwritten-- for instance, characters "screamed" when it seemed more realistic that they may have simply raised their voice. While it added to the drama, it unfortunately lent a forced feeling to these scenes. At its heart the story itself is really intriguing-- I read it in two sittings, and the plot was engaging with some twists that I didn't see coming. However, the characters didn't quite feel fully developed, and some aspects of the plot seemed inserted for convenience and therefore didn't quite feel realistic. A good mystery to cozy up with, but it could use some polish.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I received this book through the Early Reviewers program (thank you!) yesterday, and started it last night. I absolutely could not put it down all day and just finished it. I haven't been that sucked in by a book in a while!Usually when I read a story that jumps between two periods of time I am drawn to one story more than the other and almost skimming the one that isn't my favorite. That was definitely not the case with this book as both stories were amazing. Sarah Jio did an excellent job of blending the two stories together so that it truly was like one. I loved both Vera and Claire. I loved the ways that they were similar without being too much so. I loved that I expected the ending to be predictable, but it absolutely wasn't. And I love that I have found a new author to add to my list of favorites.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In 2010, Claire, a feature reporter for a Seattle newspaper, is given an assignment to write about a snowstorm that is hitting the city in May. Claire's research soon discovers a similar snowstorm that happened in 1933 when a three-year-old boy disappeared. I enjoyed the characters of Claire and the boy's mother, Vera, and felt they had a lot in common, even though they came from a different time and social position. And I loved that the story ended the way it did, even though I thought it was almost too perfect. Good Book!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the first of Sarah Jio's books that I have read. Sarah Jio has just gained a fan in me. I loved this book so much that I stayed up overnight to finish it. Sarah Jio has put together a beautiful book that will pull on readers' heartstrings. This is a tale of two women from different time periods who share similar heartbreak.I loved reading about both Claire and Vera and how both their stories became eerily similar. I connected so well with both of them that I began to feel their sorrow. I loved reading about the two different time periods 1933 and 2010, both were written masterfully.I was absolutely swept away in the mystery of Vera and Daniel Ray. I became just as obsessed with what happened to them as Claire was. I was extremely happy with how the mystery unfolded and was in tears at the ending.I just can't say enough about this book and I definitely plan on recommending this book to others. This is a great read for book clubs and anyone wanting to read a story about a mother's love for her child.I received this book from a Librarything Early Reviewer's Giveaway, that does not affect the content of my review in any way.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "Your sentimentality about weather is adorable, but don't get too excited. I'm still wondering how I'm going to write six thousand words on snowmen."In 1933, Vera Ray finished her night shift at the Olympic Hotel and stepped out into an unexpected May snowstorm. Arriving home, she found her three-year-old son Daniel missing - and his teddy bear lying in the snow. Nearly eighty years later, another May blizzard sets reporter and newly bereaved mother Claire an assignment. Can she find out what happened to Daniel all those years before?There's a small taste of mystery here, with a break-in and an inconclusive coroner's verdict, but mostly this is an investigation in the context of a marriage in trouble, interspersed with moments from the past to keep the reader interested if not better informed than our sleuthing protagonist. High society is under the microscope, as is Depression-era poverty and life as a single mother in the 30's.Vera is a lovely character - determined, loving, resolute; and broken by the disappearance of her son. Claire is charmingly fallible and ill-at-ease in her husband's social circle. Top marks go to the best friends - Caroline and Abby are both no-nonsense, fun-loving and capable of spurring both the more demure heroines into a bit of action when necessary.The novel is very firmly set in Seattle - I've never been, but I felt well grounded there. And now I know that Pike Place is a market and not just a Starbucks brand! There was some beautiful writing about Puget Sound and Bainbridge Island, and I'd be keen to see some of the places in the book if I ever make it to Seattle.In its structure, this really reminded me of Russian Winter which I read earlier this year and very much enjoyed - the young woman digging secrets out of the past, intertwined with the young woman several decades ago who suffered a change of fortune. If you enjoyed that, read this, and vice versa.A few tiny criticisms:- I felt the men were generally undercooked. Ethan has a couple of odd-but-convenient-for-the-plot changes of heart, Dominic was a bit too nice, Sven was quite an interesting character but not developed as much as he might have been.- I was a bit fed up with Claire by the end; she had become quite selfish and self-indulgent (admittedly, she'd had a rough year).- The unexpected ending (which was delightful) then dragged a bit, or became too sentimental as they go to the old apartment - I wanted something with a bit more snap to it.Having said all of that, it is a beautiful book with a solid but not gruesome mystery, and a complicated protagonist. Definitely worth checking out.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    As I'm now very accustomed to saying, and required to say by law, this book was delivered unto my door free of charge through a GoodReads giveaway.The cover seems to scream romance. It ain't. The back of the book calls it a mystery. It's investigative but I'd not call that sufficient cause to categorize it as a "mystery". I'd summarize it more closely as simply a well-written and believable historical novel that centers closely on the dynamics of loss and motherhood. Everything else is really backdrop.Overall the writing itself is wonderful and the majority of the book flies by with really a creeping sense of impending crescendo. Jio carefully and meticulously constructs this offering and the story really plays out quite wonderfully. My only real criticism is that the historical aspects of the novel are de-emphasized to the point at which you might very well believe even the historical bits could come to pass just as readily today. Most certainly people have changed little in 80 years but if you're going to paint your characters against this backdrop you could at least provide a bit more local color.Blackberry Winter is certainly a worthwhile read for a couple of stormy afternoons but I'm not sure I'd put it in the elite reaches of my recommended reading list. It takes us on a journey but not one that really pops and makes me glad that I took the time.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was offered the chance to review Sarah Jio's debut novel, The Violets of March, in 2011. I am sooooo very glad I said yes. And I've happily said yes to every one since!Sarah's latest book is Blackberry Winter. And it might just be my favourite - so far.In the opening chapter we meet Vera Ray. Times are tough in 1933 and Vera is lucky to have a job cleaning rooms at night at a posh hotel in Seattle. But it also means she is forced to leave her three year old son Daniel alone in their attic rooms. After her shift finishes she races home through a freak snowstorm (it's the 2nd of May!) and finds Daniel's bed empty.....The book then moves forward almost eighty years and we meet a Seattle newspaper reporter named Claire. It's the second of May and a snowstorm has hit Seattle. Claire is assigned to write a piece for the newspaper on this anomaly. Her research uncovers the story of a missing boy named Daniel.Jio alternates her narrative between the past and present, revealing a little more each chapter. (which made it hard for me to find a place to stop for the night!)I slipped easily into the story. Jio sets the scenes and establishes the players effortlessly. I was drawn to both women leads - they are both likable and sympathetic characters. Although there is the mystery of what happened to Daniel, there is much more to the story. Claire's marriage is falling apart and she has yet to deal with a heartbreaking loss in her life. And what of Vera? Daniel was a much loved child - but who was his father?As Claire investigates further, connections appear between her life and Vera's. I love the serendipity of it all - it makes you think (hope) that maybe, just maybe, there are things beyond our control that happen for a reason.In Blackberry Winter, Sarah Jio explores the connection between mother and child, love and loss, regret and redemption with emotion and candor. Emily from The Violets of March makes a cameo appearance in this book as well. I was glad to see how her life has progressed and it was nice to visit Bainbridge Island again.The title? Blackberry Winter "is old-fashioned weather jargon for a late-season cold snap - think of plunging temperatures and snowfall in May, just when the delicate white flowers are beginning to appear on the blackberry vines."One of the main characters loves hot chocolate. I think a big steaming mug of cocoa would be the perfect accompaniment for this warm, rich, satisfying book. Settle back in a comfy armchair and enjoy yet another wonderful read from Sarah Jio.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a great mystery story. The story alternates between Seattle in 1933 and then, in 2010. In 1933, we are introduced to Vera. She works long hours in a hotel to just make enough for her and her son to survive. One wintry morning, she returns home to find her 3 year old son missing without a trace.Then the story flashes forward to 2010 and we met Claire. A newsreporter, who seems to have a troubled marriage and a tragic accident in her past that still haunts her. When a strange May snowstorm hits Seattle, Clair is assigned to write a feature story on a similar storm that hit Seattle in the 1930s. As she begins investigating leads, she learns of the story of Vera and the unsolved case of her missing boy. She becomes very dedicated to unraveling the truth and as she does, she realizes she may somehow be linked to Vera's story.This was a real engrossing read. At times the story seemed a little Charles Dicken's with so many coincidences and connections between all the characters, but it definitely did not alter my enjoyment of this book. I kept wanting to pick this book up every chance I got to read more about Vera and Claire. I liked that the chapters alternated between both characters. Great book! I received this book as part of the Early Review program.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the second book by Sarah Jio that I have read and I absolutely loved both of them. In Blackberry Winter, a mystery from 1933 is slowly revealed across the pages as Claire, a reporter seeks to solve the mystery of a boy who disappeared in1933. The story alternates between Claire's story in the present day, and Vera's story in the past. Vera is the mother of the missing boy and her story is beautiful as it tells of a struggling single mother seeking to care for her young son. Claire who is struggling with her own grief seeks to unravel the mystery and heal in her own rights. Across the decades, these two women have many shared bonds, which are revealed as the mystery is solved. This is a beautifully rendered story. Although it won't be for everyone, I love this author and this story. Reader received a complimentary copy from Library Thing early reviewers.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a book that was hard to put down. it was a story about Claire Aldrige and vera Ray as their lives intersected 80 years apart. The story and the characters captivated me and i wil read mor of Sara Jio.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    What a heartfelt, poignant and bittersweet story. My favorite of hers so far, it is a combination of so many things, a mystery, characters trying to overcome a terrible grief and the horrible times after the great depression. Taking place in 1930 and in 2010 the story lines are related by the horrible and terrifying loss of children. A rather simple, quiet story told in a very relateable manner, the characters tug on your heart strings and although the ending is a bit pat it is fitting in this story and actually went well with the tone and atmosphere. Look forward to Jio's next book.ARC from publisher.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I won this book through Librarything. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading it. The author did a great job with character development. The books main focus is on a young boy who goes missing in 1933. After losing her own child, Claire is fixated on finding out what happened to little Daniel. She never suspects the truth leads to her own back door. I highly recommend reading this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Yes! 1st completed book in Dewey's 24 hr Read a Thon this Sat 27th April!
    review will be posted later...
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Predictable, maybe a little "cheesy", but sometimes that is a good thing. Sarah Jio is really very good at melding past and present--that is what I like about her books. This one will tug at the heartstrings a little especially if you are a mom!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a great book.

    Claire, a newspaper writer, is given a story to write about the Blackberry Winter. She has no intereste until her friend finds some information about a boy that went missing during the last Blackberry Winter in 1933.

    The way Sarah weaves this story it wonderful. There are many layers and most of the characters that are introduced are needed to tell the story.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Was this good? Oh yes, good for whacking the mosquito in my bedroom while I was trying to get through this. I love a good summer read...but this was not it! Poor dialogue and contrived plot. Were we really supposed to be surprised by all the "coincidences".
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Compelling story of a journalist assigned to do a feature on two freak May snowstorms that occur on the same day some eighty years apart in Seattle. Journalist Claire Aldridge, at first reluctant to take on the assignment, comes across the story of a three-year old who went missing during the first snow storm and was never found. Claire's own heartbreak pulls her into the story and she determines to find out what happened to the missing boy and his mother. The resulting twists and turns lead her to her own cathartic experience and the hope that she was missing. I loved this book and it made me want to read other stories by Sarah Jio.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very good and enjoyable story. Looking forward to reading another one of her stories.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a fantastic story. I loved the reading very much. It's written with a lot of love for the characters. There are two stories within one story which are related to each other in many ways. Both women had lost their only child. The first one because it was taken from her when her little son was three years old in 1933 and the other one lost her unborn child when she got involved in an accident (nowadays). The younger woman is a journalist and she got the task to write a story about a late snowstorm in May which is called Blackberry Winter. During her research she found out that such a snowstorm took place in 1933 and that a little boy went missing. When she started to look into this case she wasn't aware that that story is very close related to her story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved all of these books by this author, including this one, but there were a bit too many coincidences for my taste. It's too much if even I can figure things out before the end of the book. Don't get me wrong, Sarah Jio has a new one coming out and can be requested on Early reviewers and I'm first in line, can't wait!!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    this is my second book by this author and I just love the way she writes. the mystery is Well written and yet has a heartfelt quality. it takes place in the city of Seattle.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Loved this book. Couldn't put it down. The characters were so real. I love books that have two stories that eventually become one.