5.31.2020 - The Second Home

The Gordon family are from Wisconsin but spend every summer at their family cottage on Cape Cod.  The family adopts teenage Michael and welcomes him into their happy family after he suffered a tragic loss..  Parents Ed and Connie and daughters Ann and Poppy love introducing Michael to the Cape and all the happy memories they've made in the small cottage.  Then comes the summer that tears everything apart - suddenly everything is different, everyone has secrets, and they all go their separate ways.

Sixteen years later, Ann and Poppy come together after their parents' death to try and sell their homes.  Ann wants to be rid of all the bad memories, Poppy doesn't know how to put down roots, and suddenly Michael is back in the picture claiming rights to the cottage.

Written in each of the siblings different perspectives, this is a novel to lose yourself into.  I felt like I was transported to Cape Cod and was so invested in this story - I wanted everyone to just sit down and talk it all out!

Highly recommended and I can't wait to read more from this author!

5.29.2020 - Her Perfect Life

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Rebecca Taylor for the opportunity to read and review her debut adult novel.  4 stars for a compelling story that was hard to put down!

Clare has seemingly the perfect life.  She lives in a gorgeous mansion on San Francisco's coast with her husband, Simon, who adores her, and their little dog, Charlie.  She's also a best-selling author who churns out many books a year.  When Clare kills herself the day after her book and movie premiere, everyone is shocked.  Her sister, Eileen, is especially devastated.  While the two sisters haven't been extremely close, she couldn't understand what would make Clare kill herself when everything was so perfect for her.  In contrast, Eileen's life is messy, especially now.  She's busy trying to handle 3 kids and run her household with not much help from her husband, Eric.  When she gets the news about Clare, Eileen hops on a plane to be with her brother-in-law and to figure out what happened.

Told in the present time in Eileen's voice, we are privy to Clare's story through journals she left behind that she has meticulously kept since her teens.

While I may have seen the twist coming at the end, it in no way lessened the enjoyment of this book.  It was interesting to see the dynamics of the sisters and go behind the scenes into their marriages and relationships as well.  Great debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

5.28.2020 - Perfectly Famous

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Emily Liebert for the opportunity to read and review her latest read.  3.5 stars - the plot seemed a bit implausible but it was still an enjoyable read.

Wade is a famous crime novelist.  On the first night of her book tour, her daughter disappears and is found murdered.  Wade is obviously devastated and disappears from public - no one knows where she is.  At that same book tour stop, Bree finds herself sobbing in Wade's arms while dealing with her recent divorce and issues with her daughter.  When Bree decides to go back to work and accepts a job with her local newspaper, she becomes fixated on finding Wade and possibly writing a series of articles and a book about her.  But Wade's daughter's killer has never been found - will Bree's obsession put her and her daughter in peril as well?

I had a hard time understanding Bree's obsession with Wade to the extent that she took it and was conflicted about the ending as well.  But overall, it was still a good, enjoyable read!

5.26.2020 - How to Raise a Loaf and Fall in Love with Sourdough

Many thanks to NetGalley, Laurence King Publishers, and Roly Allen for the opportunity to read and review this gorgeous cookbook! If the pictures in this book don't leave you famished for bread, you must not love carbs like I do!

Each recipe includes pictures and step-by-step instructions to make starter and wonderful breads. Plus, the author gives a wonderful introduction into bread making with needed equipment, ingredient information and troubleshooting tips.

If you are wanting to delve into sourdough baking while you are at home now, this is the book for you!

5.24.2020 - The House Guest

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Mark Edwards for the opportunity to read and review his latest thriller.  4 stars for a fast-paced, thrilling book - just what you would expect from Mark Edwards!

Ruth and Adam are house sitting for friends Jack and Mona, who they met when they all took a recent cruise.  Ruth is an actress in rehearsal for her first Broadway play.  Adam is a struggling author and somewhat jealous of Ruth's success.  It's a stormy night when Eden shows up at their door, drenched, looking for Jack and Mona.  Eden tells Ruth and Adam that they are old friends and told Eden she was welcome to stay with them any time she was in NYC.  Ruth and Adam eventually invite her in and become friends as she stays for a few days.  After a night of heavy drinking, Adam wakes up and can't remember anything.  All he knows is that both Ruth and Eden are missing.

Enough plot to get you interested but definitely don't want to ruin the story!  Suffice it to say that you definitely shouldn't invite strangers into your home any time soon!

5.22.2020 - Summer Darlings

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Brooke Lea Foster for the opportunity to read and review her debut novel - 4.5 stars for a great escape to the past on Martha's Vineyard.

Heddy didn't have an easy time growing up, with her single mom working two jobs just to try and scrape by.  When Heddy gets a scholarship to attend Wellesley, she finally feels like her mom's investment in her will pay off.  Her roommate helps her get a job as a nanny for a wealthy family on Martha's Vineyard for the summer.  When she finds out that her scholarship has been revoked, Heddy is desperate to come up with a plan to fix her life.  Seeing how the rich live, she thinks maybe she could marry a wealthy man to solve all her issues.  But no one is truly as they seem and money doesn't seem to buy happiness for anyone she meets.

This is a wonderfully-written coming-of-age novel that really transports you back in time to a summer spent on the island with the rich and famous.  You can feel the ocean and taste the lobster rolls!  A fabulous debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

5.21.2020 - Water's Edge

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Gregg Olsen for the opportunity to read and review book 2 of the Megan Carpenter series - loved it!  I would highly recommend reading the first book, Snow Creek, but this book would stand alone as a great police procedure if you choose not to.  4.5 stars rounded up!

Detective Megan Carpenter likes to work by herself, for many reasons.  But she is now tasked with mentoring a new rookie detective on rotation, Ronnie, and she is less than thrilled.  They are called to the scene of a young woman found dead in a secluded bay.   It appears she has been held captive and was beaten brutally.  While searching for her identity, Megan discovers a startling similarity to other murders of young women.  Meanwhile, someone is sending Megan mysterious messages and appears to be watching her.

This is another fast-paced thriller and I had a hard time putting it down.  There is obviously going to be another book in this great series and I can't wait!

5.19.2020 - Brave Girl, Quiet Girl

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Catherine Ryan Hyde for the opportunity to read and review her latest book.  I'm not sure I've ever given anything but 5 stars to one of her books - they are must reads for me!

Brooke is a single mom, forced to live with her mom because she is broke.   To say they have a contemptuous relationship is putting it mildly, but Brooke is willing to put up with her mom to provide a safe home for her 2-year-old daughter, Etta.  Then Brooke is the victim of a carjacking and the car speeds away with Etta strapped in her car seat in the back.

Molly is a homeless teenager, living in a crate.  Molly was kicked out of her parents' home and has been barely surviving with the help of her friend.  Molly comes across Etta, still strapped in her car seat, and takes her to keep her safe.

When these two unite, they will both have to confront prejudice and judgment to figure out how they can both move forward in their lives.

Just a wonderful story to make you think about mother and daughter relationships as well as how we view others different from us.  I always want to be able to live life like a character in Cartherine Ryan Hyde's novels and be able to verbalize the perfect thoughts!  Meanwhile, I'll have to be content with reading her books and hoping all these lessons seep in!

5.18.2020 - Happy & You Know It

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and Laura Hankin for the opportunity to read this wonderful book!  4.5 stars for a book filled with snarky, dark humor, friendship and music!

Claire is down on her luck - she was part of a band that hit stardom and left her behind.  Now she's trying to survive by performing for a group of wealthy moms and babies at their playgroup.  Claire becomes infatuated with this group of moms who take her into their privileged life.  The moms and babies are living the perfect instagram life.  Yet they are all keeping secrets.

I adored these characters - especially Amara and Claire.  While this is such an entertaining read, it is also a glimpse into how society judges mothers, especially in the time of social media, and how that changes how we feel about ourselves.  And just what we will do to change ourselves to fit that perfect image.

5.17.2020 - Rules for Moving

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Nancy Star for the opportunity to read and review this book - I loved it and it is guaranteed to make you feel!

Lane is the voice behind the popular Ask Roxie column, but in real life she doesn't have any of the answers figured out.  When Lane's husband dies suddenly and Lane is trying to deal with her 6-year-old Henry's grief and the fact that he has stopped talking to everyone but her.  Lane grew up moving constantly for her father's jobs and as a means of escape and her mom developed strict rules for moving.  Moving seems the best solution for Lane and Henry too.  But their next home has serious issues and requires moving yet again.  All of this forces Lane to confront and deal with her childhood of secrets for both her and Henry's sake.

You will fall in love with Henry as he and Lane struggle with their grief and moving on.  Definitely a great read!

5.14.2020 - The Sunday Girl

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Pip Drysdale for the opportunity to read and review her debut novel - 4.5 stars for a book I couldn't put down!

Taylor is involved with bad boy Angus.  She knows he can be abusive but he's always sorry afterwards.  She knows he does drugs and that makes things worse.  She can't even tell her mom and best friend, Charlotte, all that he does because they already don't like him.  But when they break up and he releases a sex tape online, she is bound for revenge.  Using a copy of The Art of War as motivation, she begins plotting ways to get back at Angus.  But things don't go according to plan and soon Taylor's life is spinning out of her control.

I was spellbound to this book to see how it would all work out for Taylor.  As someone who has been in an abusive relationship, so much was dead on about conflicting feelings and secrecy.  Fabulous debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

5.13.2020 - Little Whispers

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and K.L. Slater for the opportunity to read and review her latest thriller - always a twisty good read.  Just how much should you whisper your deep, dark secrets to your friends?

Janey, her husband, Isaac, and their young son, Roman, have the opportunity to escape their bills, their small house, their past and start fresh in a new wealthy community, Buckingham Crescent, thanks to Isaac's new job.  He promises Janey that he will be a better husband and father by being around more and being more present.  But it isn't long before he's back to working all the time.  Meanwhile, Janey struggles to fit in with the wealthy school moms, always looking perfect in their designer clothes first thing in the morning.  Then Tanya, the ring leader of the top mom clique, takes Janey under her control and suddenly Janey is having wine in Tanya's hot tub in the middle of the day and lets her deep, dark secret about her past slip from her lips.  But when Janey tries to tell Tanya something disturbing about her daughter, Angel, Tanya threatens to let that secret out.

This was a fast-paced thriller with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.  K.L. Slater has done it again!

5.12.2020 - Beach Read

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Emily Henry for the opportunity to read the perfect romance novel - but not your typical romance novel, which would not be my favorite genre.  This is a multi-layered romance novel and a great escape read.  4.5 stars rounded up!

January is a romance novelist struck with writer's block after the sudden death of her father and learning a devastating family secret.  She heads off to a summer cottage on the beach to try and write another book with a happily ever after ending.  Then she learns that her college nemesis, Augustus, who ended up being a best-selling literary fiction writer, is in the cottage right next to her.  They are polar opposites - she needs to believe in love and happily ever after; he writes deep, dark books where no one is happy or in love.  So they make a bet to each write a book in the other's genre and see who can get published first.

As both come to face realities of their pasts, you will be glued to the pages to see how it all turns out.  A perfect book to escape into right now!

5.10.2020 - What Lies Between Us

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer/Amazon Publishing, and John Marrs for the opportunity to read and review his latest psychological thriller - wow, 5 stars for a crazy ride that I couldn't look away from!  And I finished reading this wild tale of a mother/daughter relationship on Mother's Day, no less!

The old saying - we never know what goes on behind closed doors - is very telling in this story.  Nina works at a library and lives at home with her mother, Maggie.  They have a set routine - dinner together every other night - and then Nina takes Maggie back up to the top level of their home and chains her up again.  Nina is making Maggie pay for the decisions she made over 20 years ago.  But Maggie is keeping secrets of her own.

Told from both Maggie and Nina's perspectives both in the present and past so we really get insight to both sides.  There are too many twisty turns in this book and I don't want to give anything away.  Suffice it to say that this is a disturbing but entertaining creepy thriller!

5.9.2020 - Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault

Many thanks to NetGalley, GP Putnam Sons, and Cathy Guisewite for the opportunity to read this book - loved it!  5 stars - because it's Cathy of course!

I grew up reading the Cathy comic strip.  As I grew older and went into the work world, there she was, going through similar things.  It always made me laugh and feel less alone.  Fast forward to her new book and the feelings are the same.  She is now parenting an adult child as well as taking care of elderly parents.  Everything is relatable!  The feeling of being a computer whiz when talking to her parents and a Luddite when talking to your child.  Talking to your parents about all the hard stuff while feeling the pain of children leaving.  I laughed and cried through the whole book!

If you ever felt a kinship with Cathy reading her columns, you need this book!

5.8.2020 - This is How I Lied

Many thanks to NetGalley, Park Row Books/Harlequin, and Heather Gudenkauf for the opportunity to read her latest thriller.  She is a must-read author for me and this book is fabulous - 5 stars for a gripping read!

The story is spooled out in different voices and time periods.  In 1995, Eva and Maggie are best friends but both keeping quiet even to each other about how they are being treated my people who supposedly love them.  Eva's little sister, Nola, is a different, somewhat creepy child, obsessed with dead animals and even killing them to see inside.  Then Eva is found murdered in a cave and nothing is ever the same.  In 2020, Maggie still lives in town and is married, 7 months pregnant, and a police detective.  New evidence is found in Eva's case and Maggie is assigned to investigate.  Nola is still in town as well, working as a veterinarian, still up to her creepiness.  How many of these secrets will come to light during the investigation?

Just a book I could not put down, complete with a twist that will have your head spinning.  Highly recommended!

5.7.2020 - My Kind of People

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Lisa Duffy for the opportunity to read her latest fabulous novel - 5 stars for a book full of characters you will love (and some not so much!).

Set on Ichabod Island off the coast of Massachusetts, 10-year-old Sky is once again an orphan after her parents die in a car accident.  Their will leaves Sky to their best friend, Leo, who grew up on the island but now lives in Manhattan with his new husband, Xavier, who doesn't want to live on the island or become an instant parent.  Leo comes back to the island, moves into his friends' house, and tries to deal both with his grief and with taking care of Sky.  He has the help of people in the small neighborhood, but everyone is struggling with secrets and their own life issues.  Maggie is a fixture in Sky's life but she is dealing with marital issues; Joe, the neighbor across the street, is recovering from a work injury at Sky's house; and Agnes, the town busybody who invites Sky's estranged grandmother to live in the neighborhood.

I just loved this book - the setting, the people, the friendships, love, and community.  Definitely a must read!

5.5.2020 - I'd Give Anything

Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow/Harper Collins, and Marisa de los Santos for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel.  I'm a huge fan of this author's gorgeous writing and this book was no exception.  Plus it will give you all the feels!

Twenty years ago, Gray, Zinnie, Kirsten and CJ were the best of friends - there for each other no matter what.  Zinnie was fearless and relied on her brother, Trevor, to be her everything because their mom was not there for them.  Then tragedy strikes and none of these relationships will ever be the same.  In the present day, Ginnie, as she is now known, is the mother of Avery and married to Harris.  A life-changing event happens in their marriage and Ginnie is forced to confront her life and her relationships.

You're better off going into this story with not too much information.  I loved every page - you will feel so much when you are reading this book about family, friendship, truth, forgiveness.  It's the perfect coming of age story with so much for all of us to think about.

5.5.2020 - Ghosts of Harvard

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House and Francesca Serritella for the opportunity to read her fabulous debut novel.  As an avid reader and admirer of her nonfiction books written with her mom, Lisa Scottoline, I have been anxiously awaiting the publishing of this book.  And it was definitely worth the wait.  If I could describe this book, it's a smart ghost story full of clues and mysteries to solve.  Reminded me of early Dan Brown books a bit!

Cady is still grieving the loss of her cherished genius older brother, Eric.  Eric took his own life on the Harvard campus after being diagnosed with schizophrenia.  Cady is determined to attend Harvard,  against the wishes of her mom.  Once at school and armed with an old notebook that Eric kept, she becomes obsessed with finding answers to Eric's suicide.  Meanwhile, she begins hearing voices and worries that she is also developing a mental illness.  But these voices know things that Cady couldn't possibly know.  Are they leading her towards the answers she is seeking or taking her down darker passages?

I really loved this book.  The writing is wonderful and the research behind the story well done with lots of issues for the reader to ponder, especially about grief and suicide.  There is so much real emotion in this book and it all translates into an incredible read.  Bravo for a fabulous debut - I'm looking forward to more from this author (and her mom!).

5.4.2020 - The Happy Couple

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Samantha Hayes for the opportunity to read and review her latest domestic thriller - 4 stars for a good read.

Jo and Will are the seemingly perfect happy couple.  Will is a drama teacher and aspiring actor while Jo is a partner in a seamstress business and they are trying for a baby.  But one day, he left for work and didn't come home.  A year later, Jo still can't get over him and move on with her life.  When her best friend, Louise, encourages her to take a holiday, she starts looking at listings for house sitters.  In one listing, she sees pictures of Will on a mantle.  Jo gets accepted to house sit and sets out to find answers - but will she like the answers she gets?

While somewhat predictable and unrealistic, still a good, enjoyable escape read.

5.3.2020 - The Resolutions

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Brady Hammes for the opportunity to read his debut fiction - 4 stars for this sibling dynamic story.

Three siblings - Gavin, Jonah and Samantha - are all talented in different ways and have been living very different lives.  Gavin, a struggling actor, has been living in LA and working on a cable tv show that was just canceled.  Jonah is working on his PhD thesis and studying elephants in the jungle of Gabon, and recently fell in with a bad crowd.  Samantha was a rising ballet star until an injury got her hooked on opioids.  She thought taking a job with a Russian ballet company would help her but it hasn't worked out.  The three meet back in Chicago for Christmas with their parents and discover that they need each other to help solve their problems.

This story is told from the POV of each of the siblings, giving us background into how they got to their current situation.  It was a great character novel - I would have loved an epilogue to know how it all turned out at the end!

5.1.2020 - Big Summer

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jennifer Weiner for the opportunity to read her latest novel - loved it!  4.5 stars for a book that will make you think - especially about self-esteem and what part social media plays in that.

Daphne is a plus-size Instagram influencer and is mostly happy with her life now.  But that feeling was hard won - her best friend in high school, Drue, made Daphne feel special just by being near her.  So she accepted the fact that Drue was mean and used her.  Until a scene in a bar one night that was filmed made Daphne rethink her life and her friendship with Drue.  Fast forward six years, and Drue is back asking Daphne to come to her lavish wedding on the Cape, swearing that she's changed.  But has she?

This story covers lots of topics, such as family, friendship, self-esteem, forgiveness, but there is also a mystery to solve with quite a few suspects.  A good read to start the summer!