9.30.2020 - Confessions on the 7:45

Many thanks to NetGalley and Park Row Books for the gifted digital ARC of Lisa Unger's fabulous new book - another 5 star thrill ride!

Selena Murphy is the breadwinner of her family after her husband, Graham, lost his job.  They have two small boys and a nanny, Geneva, to help out. When Selena misses her train home, she's not altogether devastated to have 2 hours to call her own where she's not an employee, wife or mother.  When she gets on the 7:45 train to go home, a young woman sits next to her and confesses that she's having an affair with her boss.  Selena feels a connection to this woman, Martha, and feels free to unburden the fact that she saw Graham and Geneva having an affair on the nanny cam.  But soon, things veer totally out of control and Selena's life as she knows it implodes.

You're best going into this book with as little knowledge as possible.  There are many layers of secrets and lies between many characters that weave in and out of each other's lives.  Lisa Unger is a master of keeping all these balls up in the air and will leave you breathless as you race through the book.  What lies would you tell to keep your family intact?  When does the perfect instagram family become the ideal rather than the reality?  What part of ourselves are we willing to push down to accept others' behavior?  

9.27.2020 - The End of the Day

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the opportunity to read and review a digital copy of the latest novel by Bill Clegg - 3.5 stars rounded up for a wonderfully-written character novel.

The book mainly centers around Dana, Jackie and Lupita whose lives intersected in different ways when they were teenagers.  In the present time, we see how those lives turned out and how the decisions made back then influenced so many others.  Dana was the daughter of very wealthy parents and lived lives the other girls couldn't imagine.  Jackie became her best friend while Lupita's family worked for Dana's.  We learn how secrets, misconceptions, jealousy and loyalty all come into play into these relationships.

The writing is beautiful and it draws you into these characters.  However, with so many different POV and timelines going back and forth, it was a bit confusing to keep everyone's story straight.  Plus, none of the characters really resonated with me or were extremely likable although I found myself relating to bits and pieces of their stories.  It is a great character study to see how our actions really affect others.

9.25.2020 - The Nesting

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and C.J. Cooke for the opportunity to read this wonderful atmospheric novel - 4.5 stars!

It's fall and the perfect time to lose yourself in a Nordic suspense/folklore novel!  This one will surely fit the bill as the book opens with the death of Aurelia - as she plunges off a cliff to her death.  But was she killing herself due to postpartum depression or was it an abusive husband or something unworldly?  As we settle back in present time, Lexi is just recovering from a suicide attempt when her boyfriend breaks up with her.  She is instantly homeless with no prospects.  A chance bus encounter leads to her becoming Sophie and a nanny to Aurelia's two young girls in a very remote house in Norway.  Lexi/Sophie just wanted some time to recover, to work on her book, and have a place to live.  She never dreamed of falling in love with the two girls in her charge.  When things take a creepy turn, she realizes she'll do anything to keep them from harm.  

The book went from chapters of "Then" when we learn what Aurelia was going through to "Now."  The similarities of the possible hallucinations of both women are scary.  I really loved how Lexi/Sophie evolved - from being a depressed girl with no prospects to being so wonderful with the girls.  

This is a perfect creepy book to curl up with under a thick blanket.  The descriptions of the stark Norwegian landscape and the house literally hanging over the cliff add to the suspense in this book.  I loved the subplot of the repercussions of changing nature - very apt in this time of such climate worries.  

9.22.2020 - The Book of Two Ways

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House/Ballantine Books and Jodi Picoult for the opportunity to read her latest novel - 4.5 stars rounded up.

The story unfolds with a plane crash as Dawn is on her way home to her family in Boston.  But her family is not the first thing that comes to mind and she faces the possibility of her death - it's the man and the life she left behind in Egypt 15 years ago.  When the airline offers to fly her anywhere, Egypt is where she goes.  The book then alternates between her life in Boston and Egypt as different choices are made.  

I've been a huge Jodi Picoult fan since I first read The Pact more than 20 years ago.  I've devoured each one of her books since then and love how she is able to pick a controversial subject and truly show and make you feel both sides.  This book exemplifies that theme, with showing two different life paths and how to make decisions that you know will hurt you and others.  

I'm not sure I've read a more meticulously researched book on so many different subjects.  You will read and learn so much Egyptology, quantum physics, and the culture of death.  I'm sure the vast information overload will bog down many readers but I personally thought that there were so many important life lessons in this book.  I was fascinated with Dawn's job as a death doula and loved the conversations she had with her client, Win, as she faced her death from cancer.  There's also the theme of how we choose our paths - are we selfish when we choose others' feelings before ours?  Or are we selfish when we choose what we want?  

Would be such a great book club read since there is so much to talk about.

9.21.2020 - The Last Agent

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Robert Dugoni for gifting me a digital ARC of the second in the Charles Jenkins series - another 5 star read!  If you haven't read The Eighth Sister, start there because otherwise you'll miss a long of the fabulous back story.

Charles is done with his trial for treason and is finally back home on his farm with wife and two children when an agent approaches him with a request for his help - to try and rescue Paulina, the agent who saved his life on his last mission in Russia.  They aren't sure if it's even Paulina who is in jail but Charles is convinced it's her and decides he has no choice but to try and rescue her.  Then let the games begin!

This is another fabulous read by Robert Dugoni who, by the way, writes in so many different genres and all most excellently!  I love the cat and mouse games that will keep you guessing as to the real plan.  Plus - how do you know who to trust?  Russian spy novels wouldn't be my top pick but when it's written by Dugoni, you know you're in for a wild ride.  Looking forward to more in this series!

9.13.2020 - Other People's Pets

Many thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and R.L. Maizes for the opportunity to read her debut novel - 4.5 stars rounded up for such an imaginative story that really pulled me in.

La La Fine was raised by her dad, Zev, after her mom left.  Zev was a locksmith but used his skills to run a profitable burglary operation on the side.  As a child, Zev brought her along on his jobs breaking into homes, teaching her his tricks, and using her ability as an animal empath to quiet the animals they encountered.  Although she was denied a normal childhood and schooling, La La works at a vet clinic and is almost through veterinary school when Zev is charged with burglary that could turn even worse.  La La puts her dreams on hold to try and pay for his lawyer the only way she knows how - by committing burglary - justifying it by only breaking into homes with animals that are in need of assistance.  Soon everything catches up to her and she starts losing all that is dear to her.

Even though I"m not the biggest animal lover, I loved the premise of La La being able to feel what the animals felt and help them.  But this book shines in La La's journey into realizing what is important in life and not letting her past ruin her future.  The writing is perfect - while the characters continue to make bad decisions, you feel for them and ultimately root for them.  There are plenty of moments that will make you smile as well as those that will leave you with a tear in your eye.  Great book!

9.11.2020 - Don't Look for Me

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Wendy Walker for the opportunity to read and review her fabulous new thriller - 5 stars for a book you won't be able to put down.  On a personal note - I read this book right after I read Dear Child - both kidnapping books.  So even without a global pandemic - I may never leave my house again!

Five years after a horrific accident that killed her youngest daughter, Molly is trying to get through each day but it feels like the rest of her family is slipping through her fingers.  Her husband, John, may be having an affair; her oldest daughter, Nicole, is acting out and they were just in a horrible fight.  Her son, Evan, is away at boarding school but she travels to all his home football games.  When she gets to his game, he blatantly ignores her.  Desperate, she heads for home as a powerful storm sweeps through the area.  Then she runs out of gas.  When a truck stops to pick her up, she thinks her prayers are answered, but is her nightmare just beginning?  When Molly doesn't come home, her family starts searching for her until they find a note saying she left and not to look for her.  

I seriously questioned every male in this book as the "bad" guy and was still surprised at the ending.  This book has the absolute creepy atmosphere of being held against your will in the middle of the woods and the author is so skilled and making you feel all of that fear and desperation.  The story is told in alternating POVs from Molly and her daughter, Nicole.  It is a gripping, suspenseful read that you just can't miss!

9.10.2020 - Dear Child

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Romy Hausmann for the opportunity to read this amazing debut thriller - write this name down because I can only imagine what this author might have in store next!  5 glowing stars - you won't be able to put this book down or sleep until you finish it!

Lena, a 23-year-old, goes missing.  Fourteen years later with no clue about where she is, her father, Matthias, continues to be obsessed with finding her.  When he gets a call from his old police friend that a woman they believe is Lena has been involved in an accident and is in the hospital, Matthias and Karin race to see her.  But when they do, he insists that it's not Lena.  But Lena isn't alone - daughter Hannah has also been taken to the hospital.  And Hannah keeps giving clues about what their life was like in the cabin in the woods and about the brother they left behind.

This is a sharply written, twisty tale that will grip you from the beginning.  Everyone has secrets and the fear is palpable throughout the story.  What really happened in that cabin in the woods?  The story is told through the POVs of Lena, Hannah and Matthias.  I couldn't read this book fast enough - a stunning debut and a must read!

9.8.2020 - A Knock at Midnight

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crown Publishing, and Brittany K Barnett for the opportunity to read and review this powerful book - very important especially in the current BLM climate.  5 stars!

Brittany had a tough childhood - even though she was surrounded by strong family members and felt completely loved and supported, her mom was a drug addict who eventually had to spend time in prison.  The experience of going to visit her mom in jail changed Brittany's life.  Always a smart student, she was driven to do better for herself, going to college and graduating with an accounting degree and top job opportunities.  But her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer (formed after watching The Cosby Show) became her next goal.  In her studies, she came across the story of Sharanda, a single mom serving a sentence of life without parole for a first time drug offense.  She met with Sharanda and became obsessed with finding justice for her.  Even when she graduated from law school and became a corporate lawyer with a prestigious firm, she worked tirelessly on Sharanda's case.  And she quickly discovered that Sharanda was far from the only one - the War on Drugs filled the prisons with mostly black people facing life without parole for minor drug offenses.

Powerfully written and completely eye-opening, this book is a tribute to Brittany's perseverance and dedication as well as the faith and strength of her clients in prison, trying to do what they can behind bars to improve others.  A must read!

9.7.2020 - The White Coat Diaries

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Madi Sinha for the opportunity to read and review her debut novel - 4.5 stars for a well-written look into the world of medical interns.  I'm not on Twitter and have read many reviews talking about the author's tweet, but I'm sticking to reviewing the book - which I thought was wonderful!

Norah is under so much pressure - after always being at the top of her class, she's starting her internship and finds herself at the bottom of the food chain at Philadelphia General Hospital.  In fact, those above her rarely call her by her correct name; it's usually just Intern.  But she's also struggling with her Indian family's expectations that she get married early, stay at home and take care of her mother, be who they want her to be.  How does she have time to be a good friend when she never has time to sleep?  Plus, she has never dated and now finds herself attracted to the resident in charge of her, Ethan.  When a patient under her care dies, she is faced with a moral and ethical dilemma that will change everything.

I enjoyed reading this story of what our young doctors are faced with as they go through their training, even without the current pandemic crisis.  I loved Norah's character - you could feel the push and pull of her emotions and thoughts - wanting to do what's right, wanting to fit in, wanting to be her own person, wanting someone to care - all while trying to do the best job she can to take care of her patients.  You could feel her exhaustion as she tries to catch just a little sleep in between her pages asking her to do something else.  Plus dealing with the patients and their families!  I think I will remember these people any time I have to deal with medical personnel.  This book felt true with many light, laugh out loud moments.

I look forward to reading more from this author - a very strong debut!

9.5.2020 - One by One

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery/Scout Press, and Ruth Ware for the opportunity to read and review her latest thriller - 5 stars!  When you read comparisons of Ruth Ware to Agatha Christie, they are dead on.  This was such a good thriller with multiple suspects.

Snoop, an online music app, is having a company meeting at a remote chalet in the French Alps.  There is talk of an investor buyout that would make some of the group very wealthy but the decision is split amongst them.  Danny and Erin are the only employees of the chalet and are in charge of the group's week with them, from cooking and cleaning to keeping them happy.  But when an avalanche hits and they are snowed in, things quickly take a bad turn and survival becomes questionable.  And one by one, people are dying.

The remote setting and the winter weather put you in the perfect mood for this intriguing whodunit.  Add an avalanche that takes away all communication and power and you are stranded with people you can't trust and the suspense really amps up.  The story is told from alternating viewpoints of Erin, the chalet employee, and Liz, the outsider of the Snoop group.  I loved how their Snoop account details prefaced each book - you'll understand the significance of that as you read.  I think this is Ware's best book yet - loved it!

9.2.2020 - The Best of Friends

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Lucinda Berry for the opportunity to read her latest gripping thriller - 4.5 stars rounded up for an emotional ride!

Three women - Dani, Kendra and Lindsey - have been best friends forever.  They each have a teenage son the same age who are also best friends.  But one night a tragic accident happens and no one's life will ever be the same.  One boy is dead, one is in a coma, and one is so traumatized he can't speak.  As the police are investigating, the women themselves are desperate to know the true story behind the accident - but at what cost?  Told from the viewpoint of each of these women, we see how this accident affects their life, their marriages, their other children and their relationship to each other.  

This was a gripping, emotional read that I couldn't put down.  It all comes to the heart of how well we can really know another person - especially as our children grow older and have lives separate from ours.  Throw in social media and everything takes on a new level.  Are we the type to excuse our children's behavior?  Blame ourselves for their behavior or our husband?  Much to think about in this book.  My only issue with this book was that I had trouble keeping the characters fixed in my brain as to whose mother and wife they were and kept having to go back and double check!  I love this author's work; she was a clinical psychologist who specialized in childhood trauma so she knows her stuff and knows how to write a gripping story!

9.1.2020 - Deadly Waters

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Dot Hutchison for the opportunity to read her latest book and the first in a new series.  I have heard only rave things. about her Butterfly Garden series so I was anxious to read this one.  3.5 stars rounded up.

Rebecca is attending the University of Florida (home of the Gators!) and lives in a dorm with her roommates.  Male students are suddenly being found murdered by alligators at a rate too common to be considered normal alligator behavior.   But all of the victims are fellow college students who have portrayed horrible behavior towards women students, whether it be drugging drinks, physical assaults, verbal assaults or a combination.  Rebecca begins thinking that a serial killer may be at work - maybe one of her own friends?

While I enjoyed the mystery part of this book, the overall message that all men are predators was so overwhelming that it took away some of the enjoyment of the book.  There was a great message of empowerment of women and finding their voice, but not at the expense of coloring all men in such a broad stroke.  I would definitely read the next in this series in hopes that the author tones down the men hating aspect.