10.31.2021 - All Her Little Secrets

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Custom House for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Wanda M. Morris - 5 stars for a book that kept me glued to the pages.  Can't wait to read more from this author!

Ellice Littlejohn is working as a corporate attorney and having a relationship with her white, married boss.  When she finds him dead on the floor of his office, she runs, afraid all the secrets she's been keeping could come to light.  But when Ellice is promoted to take her boss' position, things go from bad to worse.  Suddenly, her promotion doesn't feel right and the police are hovering asking too many questions.  

Wanda Morris is a Black corporate attorney, so you know she's speaking the voice of experience in this story of racism and sexism in the business world.  But she has created a tight suspense/mystery that will have you questioning lots of people and wondering how everything will play out.  Her past is told in alternating chapters - let's hope more people have a Miss Vee in their lives to look out for those who need it.  Great book!

10.28.2021 - Still Life

Many thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam's Sons for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Sarah Winman - 4 stars!

Spanning decades, we first meet Ulysses, an English soldier, on the battleground in Italy.  He has a chance meeting with an older woman, Evelyn, an art historian, who has come to see if she can salvage any paintings.  The two will cross paths over the next decades until finally meeting again.  Ulysses has developed a family of sorts with a group of people he meets at a local pub in London,.  When Ulysses inherits a home in Florence, he ends up gathering these friends with him as they navigate life and love.

This is wonderfully written with a group of characters I won't soon forget - including a parrot!  I loved the way the book followed these characters through chance meetings and over decades, giving us an opportunity to see how they grew and changed.  It's also a love letter to Florence, art and food, with a study in feminism and women's roles through this time period.  But it did drag a bit for me in parts, especially the ending which takes us back to Evelyn's early story.  Maybe I was just missing the rest of the characters at that part though!

10.25.2021 - The Impossible Truths of Love

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Lake Union Publishing for gifting me a copy of the wonderful family drama by Hannah Beckerman - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Told in two time periods - present day and 35 years ago - and from the dual perspectives of Annie in the past and her daughter, Nell, in the present.  Nell has come home because her father is close to death and he whispers a cryptic message to her before he passes.  Her mother is suffering from dementia and Nell and her two sisters are tasked with moving her out of the family home and into a care facility.  Her mother also makes some comments to Nell - but with her mother's state of mind, Nell is not sure how to interpret them.  In the past, we learn of Annie and Bill's life and tragedies and the secrets they have vowed to keep.

This was such an emotional read and the author did a wonderful job of really getting me invested into the lives of these characters and the choices they were forced to make.  It's also a good reflection on what it means to be part of a family and what we would do to protect those we love.  

10.24.2021 - Oh William!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful companion book to My Name is Lucy Barton by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Elizabeth Strout - 5 stars!

Lucy Barton is now a widow after the death of her beloved, David.  This book focuses on her relationship with her first husband, William, the father of her two children, and still her friend.  Lucy and William still tend to rely on each other as they navigate their new lives and watch their children navigate theirs.  It's also a look into the past with family secrets taking their toll on present relationships.

This is so beautifully written and such a realistic peek into the thoughts of Lucy - it will resonate with every reader at some point as we go through different phases in our lives with family and friends.  I love, love, love the way these books were written - it's like Lucy is sitting across from the table talking to you about the story of her life and relationships.  So many life lessons here too - especially the many things we do not know until it is too late.  

Highly recommended!

10.22.2021 - I Know You

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer/Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital copy of the latest psychological thriller by Claire McGowan - 4.5 stars!

In 2000, Casey was 19 when she left London to take a nanny job for a couple in Los Angeles.  Her mom encouraged her, hoping that Casey could break into acting and she could then ride her coattails into her own acting career.  Casey was instantly responsible for the total care of the two children - Madison, 5, and baby Carson = as well as the cooking and cleaning.  When Casey returns from a walk with Carson and finds the entire family murdered, all the evidence points directly to her.  In present day, Casey has been exonerated and is living in London as Rachel, trying to keep a low profile.  When she finds a dead body in the woods on her morning walk, once again Rachel is under a cloud of suspicion.

The chapters alternate between these two storylines and timelines as you try and piece together the puzzle.  I really enjoyed the writing, tension and plot twists - there were lots of suspicious characters in both timelines.  I really felt for Casey as she was put in impossible situations at such a young age.  It's also a sad tale of one family's troubled household - failed dreams, marriages and abuse.  

10.20.2021 - Baking With Dories

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this gorgeous cookbook, Baking with Dorie, by Dorie Greenspan - 5 stars!

What a gorgeous book - every recipe includes a fabulous picture by Mark Weinberg that will have your mouth watering just glancing through the pages.  Along with helpful hints on proper technique, many of the recipes include tips for storing extras (wait - with these recipes, there would be extras?) and ways of changing things up.  I started bookmarking recipes I wanted to try until it became almost all the recipes so I gave up that idea.  There is also a savory section included along with the breads, pastries, cakes, cookies and pies.  While my own personal preference would be to include nutrition info on recipes, this is a must have cookbook for your kitchen!

10.18.2021 - The Mother's Fault

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Nicole Trope - 4.5 stars!

Beverly is a young, single mom to 8-year-old Riley and is keeping lots of secrets.  Riley knows his dad is dead but nothing else.  After Beverly broke up with Ethan, a man she started dating, Riley began receiving anonymous presents in their mailbox.  Beverly is convinced Ethan is behind the gifts but he's not answering her calls.  When Riley disappears from their backyard, Beverly is terrified that her call to the police will uncover some of her lies.  But what choice does she have?

This is a quick read that is told from the points of view of Beverly and a mystery person and full of twists and turns.  I always enjoy Nicole Trope's books and this one was no exception.  There were a lot of great characters in this book - loved Sam!  

10.15.2021 - Always, in December

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Emily Stone - 4.5 stars rounded up. 

Josie is not a fan of Christmas after a family tragedy 20 years ago. Every year, she posts a letter that never reaches its destination. This Christmas, she literally runs into Max, who missed his flight home and is stranded in London.  Max has his own issues to deal with that he keeps secret from Josie during a magical Christmas weekend.

I adored this book - a book that will pull at all your heartstrings. But it’s also a book that touches on a lot of subjects - grief, family, friends and second chances.  This is a fabulous debut that I highly recommend- can’t wait to read more from this author!

10.13.2021 - The Mother Next Door

Many thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House/Harlequin for gifting me a digital ARC of the sophomore thriller by Tara Laskowski - 4 creepy stars!

The perfect cul-de-sac with a group of perfect mothers.  They even have a name for themselves - the Ivy Five. Except now there are only four. Until a new mom moves in that really wants to be part of the group. But as the group gets ready to throw the town’s famous Halloween party, they start receiving messages from someone threatening to expose their secret - something they’ve been hiding for a long time. 

This was a perfect book to read as we get close to Halloween. The smells, colors, nip in the air combined with all the creepy decorations add to the mystery of this book. We know from the beginning that someone got hurt years ago and that there are lots of secrets being held and threatened. An anonymous narrator in between chapters leaves you guessing until all the secrets are exposed at the end!

10.10.2021 - Damnation Spring

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the opportunity to read and review the wonderful debut novel by Ash Davidson - 5 stars!

In 1977, Rich and Colleen are raising their son, Chub, in Redwood country of Northern California. Rich is a logger, a tree-topper, scaling the huge trees to fall them for lumber.  It’s in his blood - his father and grandfather died doing the work.  But environmentalists are threatening their livelihood, with land being bought by the park.  Then there is the chemical spray being done by the lumber company to get rid of the brush slowing down their jobs. Colleen has suffered multiple miscarriages and is beginning to think it’s caused by the tainted water. Being on opposite sides of the issue causes huge problems. 

This is a beautifully written story - hard to believe it’s a debut. The author makes you look at both sides of the issue and at the heart, the families just trying to make a living. In this day of climate issues affecting everyone, it is a book to make you think about consequences of decisions. It’s also a book about love, family and community. It is a definite must read!

10.8.2021 - The Lighthouse Witches

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderfully creepy book - perfect for reading during this spooky season. 5 stars!

In 1998, Liv brings her three daughters with her to a remote Scotland island for a commission to paint a mural on the inside of an abandoned lighthouse. She discovers the lighthouse was the site of a hidden prison for witches in the 1600s. There are also legends of wildlings - creatures created by witches to replicate children. When two of Liv’s children disappear, she is frantic. In present time, one of the daughters gets a call that her younger missing sister has been found - but she hasn’t aged since he disappeared. 

This book was the best mix of history, creepy atmosphere, suspense and fantasy - it all wrapped up in the best of ways as well. The timelines and different POVs weren’t confusing, they were each compelling.  This book was hard to put down until you see how it all turned out!

10.6.2021 - Fan Fiction

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and St Martin's Press for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this mem-noir by Brent Spiner, or to those who live on another galaxy, Data from Star Trek.  5 absolutely hilarious stars for the most purely entertaining book I've read in a long time.  However, the audiobook is an absolute must -  once I started listening, I couldn't switch over to the digital copy because the narration made the book.

It's 1991 and the height of Star Trek The Next Generation, when Brent Spiner starts receiving death threats from an obsessed fan.  He has to gather Paramount Security, LAPD and even the FBI to help investigate the situation.  This is a look into the fandom world and how it can affect the actors.

While my husband loved the original Star Trek, we raised our boys on all of the Star Trek franchises to come - in the 1990s, it was about the only safe, family oriented, show with good values on TV and we couldn't get enough.  My boys dressed as Star Trek characters every Halloween (Data, Warf and Spock) and our first email addresses were all Star Trek related.  So this book satisfied all my Trek love.  However, even someone not obsessed with Star Trek would love this book - it is absolutely hilarious.  I listened to it while running errands and kept laughing out loud - it is just too good.  Brent narrates the book with the help of all his TNG castmates which of course made it all that much better.

Do not miss this book - so hilarious!  I hope this is not the last book Brent Spiner will write!

10.6.2021 - Sleepless

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and  Flatiron Books for gifting me an ARC of the sophomore book by Romy Hausmann.  This author's debut novel, Dear Child, was an absolute 5 star read for me; I'm giving this book 3.5 stars rounded up for the beautiful writing.  Thanks for including me on the blog tour for this book!

Nadja was convicted of a crime when she was just a child.  Out of jail now, she leads a quiet life with a job she likes and a new friend, Laura.  When Laura asks Nadja's help in covering up a crime, things go very wrong.  

That's enough information to hook you into this book and I loved that plot synopsis.  The writing is again wonderful and very atmospheric.  It's creepy because you see that things just aren't going to end well.  My biggest issue was just that it was confusing - the timeline switched often, there were letters being written in between chapters that didn't seem to fit in while reading, and I had issues keeping up with the characters.  Don't let that discourage you though - Romy Hausmann is such a gifted writer that I kept reading and loved the twists and turns, cat and mouse games within this book.

10.5.2021 - Heard it in a Love Song

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both the audio and digital ARCs of the latest story by Tracey Garvis Graves - 4 stars!

Layla and Josh are both fresh out of broken relationships.  Layla was married to Liam for 10 years - he had never put her first, didn't encourage her dream of playing in a band, and they had very different ideas about money.  Now divorced, Layla is working as an elementary music teacher when she meets Josh, the dad of a kindergartner.  Josh is in the process of a divorce from Kimmy, his high school sweetheart, and navigating shared parenting.  Is it the right time for a new relationship?  Is this a rebound?  

I really liked this story.  Each of the characters felt real and relatable as they got their feet back underneath them after heartbreak.  It was more of a story of second chances, being true to oneself, and being ready for a real relationship rather than just a soppy romance novel, which I loved!  Great supporting cast of characters including Norton!  

10.5.2021 - The Book of Magic

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the final book in the Practical Magic series by the wonderful Alice Hoffman - 5 magical stars!

The Owens family has been under a 300-year curse - do not fall in love.  Those who have have suffered the consequences but everything is about to change.  When the youngest of the Owens family has her loved one at death's door, the entire family rallies to find a cure for the curse.  This generation has had the Owens' family magic kept from them but all is going to be revealed as they race together to end the madness of not being able to fall in love.  Sacrifices will be made but "everything worthwhile is dangerous."

How can you not love a book with this for its first sentence:  Some stories begin at the beginning and others begin at the end, but all the best stories begin in a library.  Sigh.  It was so wonderful to slip back into the Owens world with this book, as much as I hated to see this series come to an end.  I would definitely recommend reading the entire series but there's enough info here to read it as a stand alone if you must - and you must read it because Alice Hoffman - enough said.  The ending was perfect - a wonderful wrap up to this series.  

10.3.2021 - Invisible Child - Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of this unforgettable story by Andrea Elliott - 5 stars.

Dasani Coates was born into a life of poverty, drug abuse and neglect, even with married parents with the best of intentions.  As the almost-oldest, Dasani had to take on the role of parent to her 7 siblings from a very early age.  The author, NY Times writer and Pulitzer Prize winner, entrenched herself into this family's life for over a decade and was witness to the homeless crisis and fear of child protection agencies endured by so many.  When Dasani is finally accepted into a boarding school in PA, her life seems nothing but bright.  But the transition to become what was expected of her by the school meant leaving herself and her family behind.

This is an eye-opening look into how quickly people can get into no-win situations with bureaucracies that are supposed to help them.  While not dismissing parental responsibility, this book will make you look at those slippery slopes of homelessness for so many with long-reaching pasts of poverty.  But there is also hope - Dasani has teachers, administrators, counselors who do their best to help her succeed.  My family has visited Hershey Park in PA and seen the school on the hill - this is also a fascinating look into that amazing situation that has the potential to turn around lives.

This is a must-read book - don't miss it!

10.2.2021 - All the Right Mistakes

Many thanks to NetGalley and Orange Sky Audio for gifting me this audiobook by Laura Jamison, narrated perfectly by Aimee Barrett - 4 stars for an enjoyable book with lots of life lessons.

Five best friends who met while attending Dartmouth University twenty years ago.  They all took different paths and had different issues, from stay-at-home mom to infertility to marriage issues - mostly focused on the work-life balance in whatever shape that took.  When one of the friends, Heather, decides to write a book about the mistakes each of her friends made under the guise of mentoring younger women, it causes a terrible rift in their friendship.  

These are all privileged women but it shows that life holds back no punches no matter the privilege.  We are all faced with adversity in one form or another, and how we choose to handle it is what makes the difference.  I enjoyed listening to this book and quickly got into the lives and issues each of the women faced.  Friendship and second chances are key here.

10.1.2021 - Nanny Needed

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books/Random House Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Georgina Cross - 4.5 stars.  If you love Servant on Apple TV, you'll love this book for the same creepy vibes!

Sarah and Jonathan are living in NYC, both working at the same restaurant, just scraping by and trying to save money for a wedding.  Sarah sees a notice posted in their building for a couple that is looking for a nanny; she thinks she can do that during the day and waitress at night.  When she goes for the interview, the family lives in a gorgeous penthouse apartment on the Upper West Side.  The mother, Collette Bird, is gorgeous and feels like she could become a friend.  Sarah happily accepts the job and big salary, signing the required NDA without hesitation.  But soon she learns that things aren't what they seem in the penthouse apartment.

Enough said - you just need to read this one to feel all the craziness.  I raced through the book to see how it was all going to end and loved the twist ending.  You may have to suspend belief a bit but isn't that what reading is all about - an escape from reality?  Don't miss this one!