3.31.2019 - Gimme Some Sugar

Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Molly Harper for the opportunity to read this "sweet" book.  I have not read any of the author's Southern Eclectic books but this was a good read by itself.

Lucy moved back to her hometown with her young son, Sam, after the death of her high-school sweetheart and husband, Wayne.  Lucy feels like others are judging her because she's not acting as devastated as they think she should be, especially Wayne's mom.  But life with Wayne wasn't what she thought it would be and Lucy is finally feeling like she can breathe.  She decides to open a bakery in town and soon catches up with her long-time best friend, Duffy.  Duffy has been in love with her forever, even through an ill=advised marriage that ended in divorce.
Is it the right time for love?

I enjoyed these characters in this easy read book - which made me hungry reading about all the amazing bakery products Lucy created!

3.29.2019 - The Last Stone

Thanks to NetGalley, Atlantic Monthly Press, and Mark Bowden for the opportunity to read this true crime story.  3.5 stars rounded up.

This is the story of the kidnapping deaths of two young sisters from a shopping mall in Maryland in 1975.  But it's really the story of Lloyd Welch - the backwoods product of an incestuous, abusive family, who was eventually charged with these crimes and the detectives who spent years interviewing him.  It was almost 40 years after the crimes before Lloyd was ever really questioned about his involvement when they were reviewing the file as a cold case.  The interviews spanning years were a bit slow moving and repetitive, mainly because Lloyd is a liar of unbelievable portions - the stories changed daily.

The book was definitely well researched and written; I just found it to be a bit slow moving.  Your heart goes out to the parents of these girls and those like them that fall prey to such monsters.

3.26.2019 - The Girl He Used to Know

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Tracey Garvis Graves for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.  5 stars because I absolutely adored both Annika and Jonathan, as well as most of the characters in this book.

It's 2001 and Annika runs into her first love, Jonathan, at a grocery store in Chicago where she works as a librarian and he works as an investment banker.  Alternating chapters take us back to 1991 where they met at college.  Annika is autistic, although not diagnosed or even discussed back then, and is struggling to adapt to college after being homeschooled since 7th grade.  Chess club is the only place where she can let down her guard and be herself, and that's where she meets Jonathan.  They begin a friendship that turns to deep love but it can't survive a life-changing event.  Fast forward to 2001 - can they rekindle the magic or is it too late?

I didn't want this book to end and - it was probably just me - I was startled by the revolution near the end of the book.  Such a great portrayal of autism and how wonderful that Annika had such supporting people around her.  A must read, feel good story!

3.25.2019 - The Library of Lost and Found

Many thanks to NetGalley, Park Row Books, and Phaedra Patrick for the opportunity to read and review her latest novel.  I'm a huge fan (you have read The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, right?) - so I loved falling back into another book by this author.

Martha has lived her life helping others - she gave up her chance at happiness with boyfriend, Joe, to stay home and take care of her ailing parents.  She keeps a book where she compiles all the "to-do" items she has to do for other people because she can't say no to them.  She works at the library but can't get hired full time.  Then a book appears at the library door for her - inscribed to her from her grandmother.  Investigating the origins of this book take her on a journey of self-discovery that you must experience.

Full of little stories from this special book from her grandmother (think Aesop's Fables), plus so many lovingly quirky characters, plus a book about libraries and books! - definitely a highly recommended read!  5 glowing stars yet again for this author!

3.24.2019 - The Perfect Girlfriend

Many thanks to NetGalley, Wildfire Publishing, and Karen Hamilton for the opportunity to read and review her debut novel - a crazy story of obsession!

Elizabeth/Lily/Juliette (she goes by all three at various times during the book) had a tragic incident in her childhood that left her always on the outside, desperate to fit in.  So when she meets Nate and begins a relationship with him, she is desperate to be the perfect girlfriend - so much so that Nate needs time and space away.  That causes Juliette to go in overdrive with her plan of action to win him back.  She becomes a flight attendant so that she can keep tabs on pilot Nate.  She stoops at nothing to gain access to his entire life.

This was a great debut novel - I couldn't put it down.  This was obsession/stalking in overdrive - scary!  Interesting background of the flight attendant world as well.

3.29.2019 - Never Tell

Many thanks to NetGalley, Emily Canders at Dutton, and Lisa Gardner for the opportunity to read and review her latest D.D. Warren installment - 5 glowing stars.  This series just keeps getting better and better, although first-time readers to this series would still love the thrill ride of this book.

D.D Warren's latest case involves the shooting death of a husband, discovered by the police with his wife, Evie, standing in his office with a gun, having just fired shots to destroy his computer.  She's immediately booked for murder.  D.D. recognizes her from a case when she was new to the force - Evie then standing over the dead body of her father.  This book also brings back Flora, survivor of Jacob Ness' kidnapping, working as a Confidential Informer now for D.D.

The intersection of all these people and cases is a total thrill ride.  I loved trying to figure it all out and the great ending of the book.  Can't wait to read the next in this series!

3.20.2019 - Professor Chandra Follows His Bliss

Many thanks to NetGalley, Dial Press, and Rajeev Balasubramanyam for the opportunity to read and review this book - I really liked it.

Professor Chandra is an economics professor at Cambridge and has just been passed over yet again for the Nobel Prize.  He's divorced and his wife is remarried and living in Colorado with their youngest daughter.  His oldest daughter doesn't speak to him or even allow the rest of the family to tell him where she is.  Chandra has a somewhat contentious relationship with his son as well.  When he has a bicycle accident and lands in the hospital, the doctor tells him he needs to take time off to rest.  With that in mind, he decides to head to the US.  There he is forced to confront himself and his life's decisions.

While there is some humor in this book, I think it could be best described as a coming-of-age novel for grown-ups, as you look back on your life and see your mistakes and hope it's not too late to make changes.

3.19.2019 - In the Blink of an Eye

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Jesse Blackadder for the opportunity to read and review this emotional novel.  4.5 stars to a book I couldn't put down.

In the blink of an eye is all it takes for tragedy to strike and to change a family's world forever.  How does a family go forward after that without succumbing to guilt, blame, anger?  Can a family ever be whole again?

This is one of those books that packs an emotional punch because you constantly think, There but for the grace of God.  It's also one of those books that the less said better so you can immerse yourself in this book.  I basically read this book in a day because I just had to see how it would all turn out.

Powerful story about loss, grief, forgiveness.  Don't miss reading the author's note as well.

3.18.2019 - Queenie

Many thanks to NetGalley, Orion Publishing, and Candice Carty-Williams for the opportunity to read this debut book.  Being advertised as a Black "Bridget Jones' Diary."  I loved the writing, even though at times I hated the path Queenie was headed.

Queenie is a Jamaican, trying to make her way in the world.  She works at a newspaper and while she likes her job, she is constantly pitching more relevant pieces to her boss that go nowhere.  As we meet her, her and her live-in boyfriend, Tom, are taking a break at his request.  She has to find a new place to live.  She tries online dating and meets up with some questionable and some downright nasty men, making very questionable choices for herself, mostly due to her lack of self-esteem from childhood experiences.  When everything starts falling apart, Queenie is forced to move back in with her grandparents and try to figure out how to move forward.

This book is both hilarious and serious.  Friends play a key role here and Queenie has her "Corgis" who are there for her, as well as family at their best and worst.

Worth the buzz it's getting!

3.15.2019 - The Trial of Lizzie Borden

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster andCara Robertson for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a meticulously researched book about, as the title says, the trial of Lizzie Borden.  We're all familiar with the gruesome murders of Lizzie's father and step-mother and the fascination over whether Lizzie is innocent (as the jury said) or guilty.  This book will still leave you questioning her guilt.  The story continues to fascinate; however, the book was a bit dry to read given its academic nature.

What I felt was equally fascinating was how women and journalism was in this time period (1893).  Can you imagine the backlash if papers called women fat or ugly now?  The descriptions of women from the journalists at that time always included comments on their weight and beauty or lack thereof.  Much was almost made of the thoughts of the time that a woman having her period was a kind of madness - the woman was prone to violence, mental illness - that's some serious PMS!

Amazingly researched book - the last third is footnotes - and includes many pictures.

3.12.2019 - All the Wrong Places

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Joy Fielding for the opportunity to read her latest thriller.  I have been a huge fan of Fielding's for decades and have read and enjoyed all her books - this one was no exception.  Just a fun, easy read with interesting characters - and maybe a warning for all those online daters out there!

Paige has it all - she's beautiful, has a job she loves and a gorgeous live-in boyfriend.  Until it all falls apart - her company is bought out and she loses her job, her boyfriend cheats on her with her cousin, Heather, who always wants what Paige has.  Paige moves back home with her mom, who is lonely after her husband and Paige's dad died two years ago.  Paige's best friend, Chloe, gets a call that her husband and father of their 2 kids, is on multiple dating websites.  So 4 women intersect with online dating looking for Mr. Right - or in this book, enter Mr. Right Now.

Told from multiple points of view from all the characters including Mr. Right Now, this is just a great read (if you put aside that horrid serial killer aspect!).  Beware out there!

3.10.2019 - The Stranger Diaries

Many thanks to NetGalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Elly Griffiths for the opportunity to read this wonderful Gothic mystery - I loved it!  I have never read any of Elly Griffiths' books before but this one was a definite winner in my eyes.

The story is told in 3 voices - Clare, an English teacher, living with her daughter, Georgie, and their rescue dog Herbert.  Clare teaches creative writing and is writing a book based on a short story written by the original inhabitant of the school where she teachers.  Detective Sargent Harbinder Kaur is the lead investigator when one of Clare's fellow teachers is found murdered.  Georgie, a 15-year-old who attends the school where her mom teaches, lends her voice to the story as well.  Interspersed with these characters' voices are the creepy short story that Clare is obsessed with as well as entries from the diaries she keeps.  The diaries become integral to the story when Clare finds someone is writing in them.

This is just a good mystery - I loved the characters and their different viewpoints and really was surprised at the murderer's reveal.  Highly recommended!

3.7.2019 - Me for You

Many thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Lolly Winston for the opportunity to read her latest book.  Her book, Good Grief, is one of my favorite books of all time on the subject of grief - I have bought it for people going through issues.

In this book, Rudy and his wife Bee are happily living their lives, even with a few stumbles along the way.  Rudy lost his job and is working as a piano player at Nordstrom's.  His wife is a hospital pharmacist.  Both in their mid-forties, Rudy was beyond shocked and devastated to find his wife had died in her sleep.  Through a coworker at Nordstrom's, Sasha, who is still grieving herself, he finds a way to move forward.

A good portrayal of grief as well as depression and mental illness.  A sweet, emotional read.

3.5.2019 - The Liar's Child

Thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Carla Buckley for the opportunity to read and review this book - this is the first book I've read by this author and very much enjoyed it - tough to put down.

There are 2 intersecting story lines - Sara is in the Witness Protection Program and is relocated to the Outer Banks.  She is placed in an apartment in a run-down complex near the beach called Paradise.  Her next-door neighbors are a family with 2 children - 12-year-old Cassie and 6-year-old Boon.  There are definitely issues going on with this family - the mom had been charged for leaving Boon in the car and now she has disappeared again, leaving Whit to try and work and figure out how to control the kids.  When a hurricane bears down on the island, Sara is trying to escape and makes a sudden decision to take both of the kids with her.

This was a tense drama and I had a hard time putting it down.  I would have liked to see a little more info about Sara's background but you got enough glimpses to put everything into place.  That ending?  Both unexpected and a tad unsatisfying - I wanted to know more!  But this is a great thrill ride of a book.

3.2.2019 - Daisy Jones & The Six

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for the opportunity to read and review this book.  This book is a prime example of why I love NetGalley and Goodreads, getting a chance to read books out of my normal genres.  To say that one of my favorite books I've read in awhile would be a book about a rock band in the 70s would have sounded crazy - but believe all the hype about this book because it will suck you into a different world.

Written as a pseudo-documentary about the rise to stardom of a band, it's written as interviews with all the band members and involved characters.  It's great to see the same scene told and interpreted differently by multiple people.

There was just so much I loved about this book - getting a glimpse in the behind-the-scenes of how a song is written and an album produced, as well as the views on drugs, sex and equality in this era.

Do not miss this book - highly recommended!