9.30.2021 - Smile - The Story of a Face

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful memoir by Sarah Ruhl - 5 stars!

Sarah Ruhl has a charmed life and every reason to smile - twice a Pulitzer Prize finalist, her play on Broadway, wonderful husband, small daughter and pregnant with twins.  However, the pregnancy had issues and she was put on bed rest.  Once delivered and healthy, Sarah developed Bell's palsy.  Unlike the 90% of people who have full recoveries after a few months, Sarah's left-side face paralysis persisted and she was diagnosed with other immune disorders as well.  This is the story of not only how she tried so many different doctors and treatments but how she changed once her outside looks didn't match her inside looks.  It was a 10-year odyssey to gain acceptance and this book is filled with such wonderful writing and thoughts to ponder about appearance, self-worth, parenting, marriage, career, life.

Highly recommended!

9.29.2021 - Three Sisters

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio/St Martin's Press for gifting me an audio ARC of the last in the trilogy of World War II stories by Heather Morris, narrated by Finty Williams.  4 stars!

Cibi, Magda and Livi are 3 sisters living in Slovakia.  Before his death, their father made them promise that they would always stay together.  Livi, the youngest, is ordered to go with the Germans.  Cibi goes with her, trying to keep her promise to her father.  The two are taken to Auschwitz while Magda was hidden in hospital.  Two years later, Magda is also captured and the three are reunited.  They continue to fight for their survival together, leading them on a death march across Europe, back to Slovakia, and eventually to Israel.

Heather Morris always does an exemplary job of writing these historical fiction novels, based on real people - be sure to read the author's notes at the end.  The horrors of WWII death camps have certainly been written about but it's important that they aren't forgotten.  The last part of the book focuses on the sisters' life after Auschwitz, which was very interesting.

The narrator did a good job of voicing these characters - especially since the majority of voices were female.  

9.26.2021 - In Another Light

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union/Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by A.J. Banner - 4 stars for a quick read that's hard to put down.

Phoebe works as a mortuary cosmetologist - she is shocked to see a dead woman come into the mortuary that is her doppelgänger.  Phoebe is still reeling from the death of her husband and child three years ago, and this dead woman has a tattoo just like the one on the woman that Phoebe believes her husband was having an affair with.  She is soon obsessed with finding answers to who this woman is and what role she played in her husband's life.

There are lots of unreliable narrators here which have you questioning what is real and who you can trust.  Phoebe's mother is suffering from dementia but has moments of lucidity where she drops hints that she knows more than Phoebe thought.  I found myself quickly flipping the pages to get the answers to all the questions.  Part of the ending seemed a bit rushed but this was still a great book to get lost in.  

9.25.2021 - Voices from the Pandemic

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this amazing story compilation by Pulitzer Prize winner journalist, Eli Saslow - 5 stars.

This is the story of our country's battle against the Covid-19 pandemic, told through the voices of a cross-section of people.  We read about the struggles of the doctors and nurses on the front line, those struggling to breathe, the school personnel faced with no-win situations.  Since everything coincided to make this fight so political, we also get both sides of the battle - the people being evicted from their apartments and the landlords evicting them.  The deniers, the believers.

This is a vitally important look back over this pandemic from the beginning to the vaccines, from despair to hope.  Of course, the story isn't over as we struggle with variants and mandates, but this is a book that should be read by everyone.  Highly recommended!

9.24.2021 - The Girl at My Door

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for gifting me the audio ARC of this book by Rebecca Griffiths and wonderfully narrated by Jonathan Keeble and Daphne Kouma.  4 stars!

Based on the true story of the crimes committed by serial killer John Reginald Christie in London, 1949, it is also contains the fictionalized story of three friends - Queenie, Joy, and Terry - all who have scary interactions with Christie in various ways.  Queenie is the singing star of a band with a contract to join a show on Broadway in New York.  Her best friend, Joy, has happily lived in the shadows of her outgoing friend but catches the eye of one of the city's most eligible bachelors, Charles.  Queenie finds herself jealous and insecure and entices Charles into a one-night stand they both will live to regret.  Terry is another close friend and bandmate of Queenie, trying to hide his illegal gay relationship.  

I enjoyed listening to this book, especially since it was based on a real serial killer - added to the creepiness.   The characters were expertly voiced by the narrators, adding depth to Griffiths' story.  You could see and feel the seedy locations and be terrified by the actions of Christie.  The homophobic society in a relatively recent past was frightening.  I thought it interesting how Christie's case changed the death penalty laws in the UK.  

9.24.2021 - Cloud Cuckoo Land

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for gifting me a digital copy of the new title by Anthony Doerr, who wrote the amazing All the Light We Cannot See - 4 stars!

Told in three different centuries by 5 different voices, all interspersed with a Greek fairytale of sorts about Aethon, a boy who longs to become a bird so he can fly to paradise in the sky.  In the 1400s, Anna is living in a convent in Constantinople, behind closed walls, with her sister.  Anna learns to read and finds Aethon's story, which she reads to her sickly sister.  Omeir is a young boy who is forced from his home and tasked to lead his oxen into invading the city where Anna lives.  In the 1940s-present day, we meet Zeno who learned to read Greek in the war and is now elderly and instructing a small group of youngsters at a libraryIn Idaho to perform a play of Aethon's story.  There we meet Seymour, a young environmental idealist.  In the future, Konstance has lived her entire life on an interstellar ship, Argos, with her family.  Her father reads the fairytale to her as well.

Whew - that's a lot!  This is a beautifully written, very ambitious novel, that at 640 pages is somewhat daunting.  But you get caught up in all these interconnected stories and as the chapters turned, I was anxious to read more about each of these different worlds.  To me, this is what reading is about - finding a book that will transport you into other worlds,  listening to other voices.  This book shows how powerful a story can be, because an old Greek story survived, through the protection and diligence of many individuals, to be such an important part of other's lives.  

9.22.2021 - The Santa Suit

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital copy of the latest seasonal offering by Mary Kay Andrews - 4 charming stars!

After her divorce, Ivy buys a farmhouse in the mountains of North Carolina sight unseen.  When she arrives, while beautiful, the house needs much more attention that she anticipated.  The previous owners left all their furnishings and belongings in place, including a beautiful Santa suit and mysterious note in the pocket left at the top of a closet.  Trying to discover the author leads Ivy to become part of the community when she thought she really wanted to be left alone.

So it's the first day of fall - never too early to read such a charming Christmas story!  This will definitely put you in the mood for all things Christmas - including all the magic it brings.  This is a quick read and perfect kick-off to the holidays - definitely put it on your Christmas list!

9.21.2021 - Under the Whispering Door

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan/Tor Books for gifting me a digital copy of this wonderful book by TJ Klune - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Wallace Price is not the most likable person and the fact that only a handful of people came to his funeral attests to that.  Wallace knows because he was there - along with a stranger, Mei, who tells Wallace that she is his reaper.  Mei takes him to a small village and to a cozy tea shop, operated by Hugo, a ferryman.  Hugo is there to help Wallace adjust to being dead and guide his transition to what lies beyond.  

I didn't read The House in the Cerulean Sea but it is now a must-read on my TBR because I loved this book!  While it deals with death, it also has humor, hope, faith along with a bucketful of life lessons that are good reminders to all of us.  I love quirky characters and the tea shop was full of them.  This book will make you laugh, cry and feel all the emotions in between!

9.18.2021 - The World Played Chess

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me the latest stand-alone novel by a must-read author for me, Robert Dugoni.  5 stars for a gripping, raw story that I couldn't put down.

Spanning three different time periods - 1967, 1979 and 2016 - focusing on three individuals - William, Vincent and Beau.  In 1979, Vincent has just graduated from high school and gets a job on a construction crew to earn money to attend college.  There, he meets William, a Vietnam vet, who teaches Vincent crucial life lessons as they are working, lessons that Vincent tries to impart to his own son, Beau, who is set to leave for college in 2016.  We learn of William's time in Vietnam through a series of journal entries that he passes on to Vincent.

Robert Dugoni has once again proved what a master storyteller he is.  If you haven't read his Tracy Crosswhite or Charles Jenkins series, you must, as well as The Incredible Life of Sam Hell.  All are 5 star reads.  The World Played Chess is a gritty look into the Vietnam War from the very young men who were sent there to fight it, as well as the wounds they brought home with them.  There are so many life lessons in this book - it should be a must read for every high school senior and/or college freshman, especially males who sometimes struggle with the transition from boy to man.  Absolutely a must read!

9.17.2021 - The Corpse Flower

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for gifting me an audiobook of this Scandinavian thriller by Anne Mette Hancock and narrated by Laura Jennings - 4 stars!

Journalist Heloise Kaldan is becoming even more wary of trusting people when one of her sources is caught lying.  Barely holding onto her job, she begins receiving letters from Anna Kiel, a young woman who is wanted for the brutal murder of a young lawyer.  She hasn't been seen since and the police have no leads.  While investigating the death of a retired journalist, homicide detective Erik Schafer soon realizes that there are connections between both Heloise and Anna that no one can yet explain.  Heloise continues investigating Anna and realizes that her past is also at play and could be a connection.

This book is being described as similar to The Dragon Tattoo series and it's an apt comparison.  There are strong women characters trying to right wrongs in their own way.  It's a dark tale but a solid police procedural with intriguing characters and lots of twists and turns.  The narrator did a great job voicing all the different people and was very easy to follow.  This is the first in a series to be translated into English; I hope that more will follow because I would love to catch up with these characters again!

9.16.2021 - Eight Perfect Hours

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Lia Louis.  5 stars for a romantic book I just needed to read right now!  If you haven't read Dear Emmie Blue by this author, stop and do that immediately!  These two books have cemented Lia Louis as a must-read author for me.

Noelle is driving back from a college reunion when a blizzard shuts down the highway (sorry, motorway!).  Noelle is desperate to let her mom know she's okay but her phone is dead.  A handsome young man, Sam, comes to her rescue as she sits in her car crying, offering her a battery charge in his car.  They pass the next eight hours as if my magic until the road clears and they are sent back to their lives.  But fate may have another plan, because Sam and Noelle keep seeming to run into one another.

This was just a perfectly-written story of hope, being true to yourself and your dreams.  Life is not about settling but grabbing onto those dreams with both hands and with someone who is in your corner.  I raced through this book because I just had to see how it all ended.  Don't miss this one!

9.15.2021 - I Am Not Who You Think I Am

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing Audiobooks for gifting me both a digital and audiobook of this thriller by Eric Rickstad and wonderfully narrated by Steven Weber.  4.5 stars!

When he was only 8, Wayland saw his father die by suicide.  He found the suicide note that read, I am not who you think I am, that he hid from his mother.  Now 16, he has discovered a few things that are making him question exactly what he saw.  With his two friends, he sets out to find records and uncover the truth.  But he also finds he can't trust anyone.

I really enjoyed this book.  The narrator did a great job of voicing Wayland as well as the other characters - he has a wonderful voice!  Set in 1984, Wayland has to rely on actual records and legwork to find answers instead of typing his questions into a search engine.  The mystery into his family's past will take him into places he never imagined.  This is also a coming-of-age story within the mystery, as we see Wayland navigate his friendships and the opposite sex.  The writing is wonderful - so descriptive - and kept me guessing until the surprising end.  I especially loved the way the book opened, explaining that what was followed was a transcript of information received by the town.  Brilliant!

9.14.2021 - Redeeming Justice

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Convergent Books/Penguin Random House for gifting me a copy of this incredible  memoir by Jarrett Adams - 5 stars for a must read look into our legal system.

Jarrett Adams was just 17 years old when he attended a party with 2 friends in Wisconsin.  Soon afterwards, the 3 find themselves accused of a horrible crime they did not commit.  Jarrett was eventually sentenced to 28 years in prison.  Jarrett through himself into the legal world, spending as much time as possible in the law library, eventually helping other prisoners with their legal paperwork.  He finally finds that the Wisconsin Innocent Project believes him enough to take on his case and he is eventually exonerated.  But that's just another beginning for him as he tries to make his way in a new world.  He makes good on his promise to himself to become a lawyer.

This is an incredible story - both one of inspiration and perseverance to one of outrage for the way the legal system works in this country.  It should never be who can afford the attorney that can tell the best story that determines innocence or guilt but that's the way the system is set up.  Jarrett is an amazing man, raised by powerful women who never gave up on him, who is making a real difference in the world.  This is an absolute must read - it is as well written as a thriller, all the more so because it's all true.

9.13.2021 - The Spectacular

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Random Penguin House for gifting me a copy of the latest novel by Zoe Whittall - 4 spectacular stars!

Told over multiple timelines and points of view, this book explores motherhood over three generations of women.  In 1997, Missy is 22, on tour with her band, and convinced that she will never want to be a mother.  She is not in contact with her own mother, Carola, since she left Missy and her father on a commune when Missy was very young.  Carola is now living at a yoga center and dealing with a scandal concerning the leader.  Missy's grandmother, Ruth, is 83 and planning a trip back to Turkey where she grew up.

We go on the life journeys with these three women, each struggling with alternative lifestyles and the thought of being a mother and all that entails.  It was fascinating to see how each woman changed as she grew older, through their varied and similar life experiences.  I enjoyed reading about each of these women, even if their choices wouldn't have been mine.  These characters felt real and you could understand where each of them were coming from that guided their decisions.  Another thought-provoking book from this author!

9.11.2021 - My Sweet Girl

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Amanda Jayatissa - 4.5 stars rounded up for a book that will keep your head spinning!  Thanks to the publisher for including me on the blog tour of this wonderful book!

Told through two different timelines and locations, we learn how Paloma was adopted out of a children's orphanage in Sri Lanka by wealthy American parents and moved to California.  Now 30, Paloma has been cut off from her parents' funds, is making money in a sleazy way, and is drinking way too much.  When she is threatened by her roommate to expose a past secret, Paloma arrives at their apartment to find him dead.  But when the police show up, he's gone with no sign that he was there or killed.  Is she hallucinating from drinking too much?  Is her past coming back to haunt her?

This was a fabulous debut that I couldn't put down.  Even though I guessed the main twist, there were plenty more where that one came from!  The writing is fresh and captivating - I enjoyed getting back to both timelines.  Don't read too much beforehand about this one - but be sure and read it!  Can't wait to read more from this author!

9.10.2021 - Her Perfect Life

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio version of the latest thriller by Hank Phillippi Ryan - 4 stars for an enjoyable twisty tale!

Lily Atwood is the perfect "talent" on a network news channel as well as single mom to 7-year-old Rowen.  Lily has a confidential informant who has given her news tips before that have panned out, so when "Mr. Smith" starts getting a bit too personal about his information, Lily is concerned.  Suddenly she finds out that someone is investigating a cold case about the disappearance of her older sister, Cassie, over 20 years ago.  The secrets that could come out have the potential to blow up the perfection of LIly's life.

Told in 3 points of view - Lily, Greer (Lily's work producer), and Cassie (from in the past) -  there's lots of twists and turns in this story.  I really liked learning Cassie's story - it's easy to understand her position as a naive college freshman.  Lily and Greer are seasoned newscasters though and sometimes were a bit too quick to believe everything they were told.  While I thought I had figured some things out, some came as a complete surprise.  

The narration by Angela Dawe was great - there were quite a few characters here (male, female and child) and she did a great job voicing each of them.  Another great story by this author!

9.10.2021 - Dark Things I Adore

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital copy of the debut thriller by Katie Lattari - 4.5 stars!

Told between two timeframes - 1988 and 2018 - the story centers around Lupine Valley in backwoods Maine, an artist camp.  In 1999. the Painters are a close group and spend many a night gathered by a campfire or in someone's cabin.  There are two locals among the Painters - Coral and Mantis - who serve as both muse and guide among their jobs at the camp.  In 2018, Audra is a promising art student at a prestigious institute in Boston, working under the instruction of renowned artist Max Durant.  Max follows Audra to her home where she is to show him her thesis work, but Audra has different plans for the weekend.

This is a complex, multi-faceted book that I loved getting lost in.  It's a revenge story, trying to balance the scales of past injustices.  It's also a look at how complicit we can be - do we look the other way when we know something just isn't right?  Do we do that for our own sakes or for someone else's?  The author was so skilled at twisting the past and present, so that even when you think you have it figured out, there are even more layers you didn't guess.  Fabulous debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

9.8.2021 - The Couple Upstairs

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital copy of Shalini Boland's latest thriller - 4 stars for another great read by this author!

Nina and Zac bought their dream home - the bottom flat in a shared home that included the perfect outbuildings for Nina's business.  But those upstairs neighbors - what's going on with them?  The fights at night, the scared looks in the wife's eyes.  Then things start happening to Nina's business - bad reviews, failed events.  Suddenly everything seems to be going wrong.

Interspersed with snippets of past events, we follow along Nina's experiences with Zac and her new neighbors as her dreams become more like nightmares.  This was a quick read that kept me turning the pages to see how it would all turn out.  Another winner from a must-read author for me!

9.7.2021 - Beautiful Country

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for gifting me this powerful memoir by Qian Julie Wang - 5 stars for a look into the immigrant life in the US.

In Chinese, the characters for the US are Mei Guo, which translate into Beautiful Country.  In the 1990s, Qian's parents fled to the US hoping for a better life.  Instead of being able to use their professional degrees, they were now illegal immigrants in NYC, living in fear that they would be deported.  They now could only find work in sweatshops for such meager wages that they were all left starving and living in deplorable conditions.  Qian found refuge in books at the library and taught herself English by watching PBS.  The family starts to fracture under the weight.

What a beautifully written story of the hardships faced by the marginalized in our society.  Qian's perseverance and drive made her a success story but it was a hard fought road with much to bear on her small shoulders.  It's an eye-opening look that children in America are starving and living in these deplorable conditions.  Definitely a must read.

9.5.2021 - The Necklace

Many thanks to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for gifting me a digital copy of this crime story by Matt Witten - 4 stars for an intriguing read!

Twenty years ago, Susan and Danny's young daughter was murdered.  A suspect confessed and was sentenced to death for the crime.  In the present time, Curt, or The Monster, as Susan refers to him, is set to be executed.  Susan is determined to be in North Dakota to see him die, so with the help of her Upstate New York community, she sets out to drive there.  However, along the way she uncovers what she believes to be evidence that Curt is possibly innocent.  

This was a good crime/mystery story that kept me interested until the end.  You will feel for Susan as she does everything possible to get to North Dakota.  There are additional strong characters in Kyra, a teenager who helps Susan, and Robert, the FBI agent who got Curt's confession.  Extra points were given because this story takes place in my area and I loved reading about all the local spots the author put in this book.  Be sure to read the author's note at the end - he's spent lots of time in this area as well, plus the book has a true crime story at its inception.

9.4.2021 - Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Alexa Martin - 4.5 stars for a great read!

Jude and Lauren have been best friends since grade school.  Jude is a popular Instagram influencer, stressing her Pilates workouts and looks.  Lauren is much more serious and is a single mom to 5-year-old Adelaide.  When both fall on hard times, they decide to move in together.  When Lauren's custody of Addy is threatened, Jude helps her begin a mommy podcast. 

This would be the absolute perfect book for a mom's book club because it's just filled with all the things you need to hear when you are in the throes of parenting.  But it also delves into parent/adult child relationships, friendships, racism and women supporting each other.  Throw in some humorous situations, a touch of romance and flawed but adorable characters (Addy!) and you have a winner!

9.2.2021 - Rock Paper Scissors

Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Alice Feeney - 5 mind-blowing, creepy stars!

Amelia and Adam have been married ten years but have hit a rough patch.  Amelia won a weekend getaway to an old house in Scotland and thought it was just what they needed to save their marriage.  Adam is a screenwriter who has face blindness, a condition where he doesn't recognize people, even his own wife.  Every year of their marriage, they exchange traditional gifts and Amelia writes a letter to Adam that she never gives him, wrapping up the past year.  But both are keeping secrets and someone may not survive the weekend.

This has to be the creepiest setting - the house, the storm, every part of their getaway weekend is frightening and written in such a fabulous way to make you feel that you are right there.  You really need to go into this book with as little information as possible - this book literally left me gasping through the twists and turns.  Whatever you think you know as you are reading, you are wrong.  

Highly recommended - fabulous thriller - do not miss this one!

9.1.2021 - The Trapped Wife

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital copy of the latest psychological thriller by Samantha Hayes - 4.5 stars for a twisty, creepy thriller!

Dr Jen Miller is a GP, practicing in a small town. Jen’s husband was killed in a skiing accident and Jen is trying to get life back to normal for her and Kieran, their teenage son. But when she realizes that she’s pregnant after attending a medical conference and someone she vaguely remembers meeting there turns up as a patient, life becomes anything but normal. 

Told from the points of view of Jen and her best friend, Rhonda, there are also intermittent chapters from the past, hinting at evil deeds. This author is skilled at plot twists and these had me shocked at the ending. This is a quick read, mainly because it’s hard to put down!