12.30.2021 - The Last House on the Street

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest novel by Diane Chamberlain, one of my favorites!  5 stars!

Told in dual timelines - in 1965, we meet Ellie, home on summer break from attending college studying to be a pharmacist like her father.  She becomes involved with SCOPE, a civil rights organization trying to get Blacks registered to vote, a dangerous venture for a rich, white  woman in those days.  In 2010, Kayla is preparing to move into her newly-constructed home with her young daughter, Rainie, after the tragic death of her architect husband.  She meets Ellie, home from CA to take care of her brother and mother, living next door - the only other house on the street.  Kayla's home is the subject of much mystery and lore, with people saying it's haunted ground.

Diane Chamberlain is a master at intricately weaving historical fiction with current times, making the reader see the impact history has on our lives.  I learned so much about a time in our nation's history about such dedicated volunteers and the risk they undertook.  Unfortunately, racism isn't one of those lessons we learned never to repeat so that makes this book all the more worthy to read.  

I alternated between reading the digital copy and listening to the audiobook, wonderfully narrated by Susan Bennett who had a whole cast of characters of both sexes to voice.

12.26.2021 - Reckless Girls

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest suspense novel by Rachel Hawkins - 4 stars!

Lux and her boyfriend, Nico, have been hired by two young women, Amma and Brittany, to sail them to a remote island in the South Pacific - one that has a history attached to it.  Nico can't turn down the money the women offer him and Lux is looking forward to an off-the-grid vacation from their life in Maui.  Arriving at Meroe Island, they discover they aren't alone - another couple is there, Jake and Eliza - a seemingly golden couple with lots of money and a boatful of good food and alcohol.  The six become tight and enjoy an endless party, until a stranger sails into their life.  Suddenly the island, and all its inhabitants, aren't so golden any longer.

This was a great escape novel - especially when you're reading it in the cold winter.  It's very atmospheric and you can feel the suspense and tension building.  You will definitely find out that not all of the characters are who they seem and that they all have secrets.  Those secrets will all come crashing down - and that ending was a surprise!  

I alternated reading the digital copy and listening to the wonderful narration by Barrie Kreinik - she masterfully voiced all these different characters with different accents and genders.  Bravo!

12.26.2021 - Mouth to Mouth

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital copy of this novel by Antoine Wilson - 4.5 stars!

At JFK airport, the narrator of this book runs into a college acquaintance, Jeff Cook, who invites him to wait in the first-class lounge for their delayed flights.  There, Jeff tells his story, possibly hoping that the narrator, a writer, will write his story.  Years ago, Jeff saved a man from drowning on the beach and became obsessed with finding him.  The victim, Francis, survived and was an art dealer.  Jeff inserted himself into Francis' world, hoping for a spark of recognition or validation of his actions.  The two continue along intertwined paths.

This is a short book and I really enjoyed it - especially that ending!  An interesting premise - unloading oneself to an almost stranger, again hoping for validation or understanding.  I liked the fact that we never learn the narrator's name - he is just a vessel for Jeff to tell his story.  Thought provoking and well written.

12.22.2021 - The Maid

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Penguin Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of this fabulous debut novel by Nita Prose - 5 glowing stars!

Molly Gray is not your typical 25-year-old.  She works as a maid in a luxury boutique hotel and loves her job.  While the rest of the world views Molly as "different," Molly lives by a set of standards set by her Gran, who raised her and recently died.  Her goal is to return each room to its pristine condition and will settle for nothing less.  But when she finds a deceased body in one of the rooms she's cleaning, Molly's life will never be the same.

This is the book that makes me want to go back and change all my other 5 star reviews (no disrespect to any of them!).  But Molly - and this book - are perfection!  You will fall in love with her, her views on the world, and should take heed of Gran's rules.  This is also a wake-up call to pay attention to those around us who make our lives easier and the ones who may not be quite the same as us.  This is a must read book, beautifully written (the author is a long-time editor and it shows!).  I already miss Molly and want to spend more time with her!

12.17.2021 - Twenty Years Later

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and Recorded Books for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest mystery by one of my favorites, Charlie Donlea.  The audio was perfectly narrated by Vivienne Leheny.  5 stars!

Avery Mason is a popular TV news broadcast host but while she is in the public eye, she's also hiding her own true story.  She gets wind of a new story that she hopes will propel her star - after twenty years, the identity of a 9/11 victim was discovered using new DNA technology.  Then Avery discovers that person was accused of a sordid murder of a celebrity novelist and never brought to trial because she was in the towers when they fell.

I'm not going to go any more into the plot in this review - there are multiple mysteries at work here as well as a full cast of characters and I totally enjoyed watching all the intertwined pieces come together.  I figured some things out but was still stunned at the end!  I love Donlea's writing and I had a tough time putting this book down.  I enjoyed switching back and forth from the digital to audio versions as well for extra depth.  Highly recommended!

12.15.2021 - No Land to Light On

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this amazing book by Yara Zgheib, author of the wonderful book, The Girls at 17 Swann Street (must read!) - 5 stars for a beautifully written look into one couple's story of immigration.  

Hadi and Sama are a young Syrian couple who met when both came to the US to escape the war in their country and to have hope for a better future.  Sama received a scholarship to Harvard; Hadi was sponsored by a lawyer and his family as a refugee.  They get married and are anxiously awaiting the birth of their son when Hadi receives news that his father has died as his parents awaited a visa appointment at the embassy.  On his return to Boston, with Sama waiting for him at the airport, he is stopped from reentering the US due to a new executive order.  

I thought this was such an emotional look at the immigration/refugee story that is always in the headlines.  Beautifully written, it is heartbreaking on so many levels.  No matter what your political leanings, global news stories broken down into personal ones never fail to make you really think.  It's easy to gloss over and look at the big picture but there was so much sadness in this book that you can't help but extrapolate it into so many real peoples' lives.  Despite all that, it is also a story of hope - don't miss it!  After these two books, I'm so looking forward to more from this author!

12.14.2021 - Greenwich Park

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Katherine Faulkner - 4.5 stars for a twisty mystery.  Can't wait to read more from this author!

Two couples have been friends since university - Daniel and Helen, and Rory and Serena.  Both Helen and Serena are pregnant at the same time and scheduled to attend the same prenatal class.  But Serena decides on a different class at the last minute and Daniel is tied up with work, so Helen attends by herself.  She meets Rachel there and they become friends.  Helen enjoys having someone to hang around with while she is off work due to her high-risk pregnancy.  But suddenly Rachel needs a place to stay temporarily and things become a bit messy.  

The less said the better - you'll enjoy this mystery more if you go in somewhat blind.  The book is told from 3 different points of view which provides lots of insight into the story.  I loved the mix of past and present mysteries and the dynamics between all the characters.  Helen was a bit naive and makes questionable choices, but you could feel her loneliness and understand her being drawn to a new friend.  Hold on for that last chapter that wraps everything up!  And that gorgeous cover - swoon!

12.12.2021 - Why She Left

Many thanks to Bookouture Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this drama by Leah Mercer, narrated by Mira Dovreni.  4 stars!

Fleeing a bad relationship, Isobel returns to her mother and her family home 15 years after she ran away.  Her mother, Ruth, is astonished to find Isobel and her teenage son, Isaac, on her doorstep but welcomes them back with open arms.  Ruth is in charge of a very successful family-run private school and Isaac is soon happily attending.  But being back in the school environment brings back many unhappy memories for Isobel.  When Isaac is harmed, Isobel threatens to blow up everything her mother holds dear.

This was a well-written family drama, complete with many family secrets and questionable characters.  I thought the narration was great - pleasant tone and pacing with no trouble distinguishing between voices.  There's lots to dissect here - family values, nurturing, resentment, secrets.  I was intrigued to figure out the mystery plot line of the book.  

12.11.2021 - The Perfect Escape

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me a digital copy of this twisty thriller by Leah Konen - 4.5 stars!

Three friends, all going through separation from their husbands, have bonded over their situations.  They decide to take a girls weekend to Saratoga Springs NY to get away from NYC and their troubles.  But when car issues strand them in the Catskills, their trouble is really just beginning.  When one of the friends doesn't come home after a night out, they realize that they may not know as much about each other as they thought.  

I loved this author's debut book, All the Broken People, and I really liked this one too.  It had me questioning everyone's motives and wondering about all the backstories.  Nothing like a creepy story set in a cabin in the woods!  Even when these women make questionable decisions, the storyline is tense with lots of twists and turns - especially that ending!  Extra points because, even though these women never quite made it to Saratoga Springs, I love reading stories that take place where I live!  Definitely an author to follow!

12.9.2021 - My Darling Husband

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin/Park Row for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Kimberly Belle - one of my favorite writers!  This book is another example of just why - you won't be able to put this one down.  4.5 stars rounded up for the non-stop tension!

Cam and Jade seem to be the perfect power couple.  He is Atlanta's Steak King - celebrity chef and restaurant owner - Jade gave up a promising design career to be a stay-at-home mom to the Bees (Beatrix and Baxter).  When Jade and the kids are held hostage in a home invasion, Cam is instructed to get a precise amount of money by that evening in order to prevent their deaths.  Unbeknownst to Jade, things aren't quite what they seem with Cam and his business empire - what will that mean for her and the kids?

This is a tense thriller that will keep you flipping the pages long into the night.  The writing puts you in the scenes and makes you wonder what you would do in the same situation to save your child.  Told in alternating chapters between Cam and Jade, along with Cam's interview with a local news anchor, I read this with my heart in my throat.  Who is the masked man and why does he seem one step ahead of everything?  Don't miss this book!

12.6.2021 - The Replacement Wife

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Darby Kane - 4 stars!

Elisa is convinced that her brother-in-law, Josh, is a murderer.  His first wife died in an accident and his fiancé disappeared without a trace.  Her husband, Harris, thinks that Elisa is having some sort of mental issue, relating to a recent incident from her past.  He helped raise Josh and thinks he can do no wrong.  When a new woman comes into Josh's life and befriends Elisa, she knows she has to do something.

This is one of those books that is more fun to read the less you know about it.  There's lots of gaslighting, unreliable narration and enough questions that will keep you guessing.  I didn't read Kane's debut novel, Pretty Little Wife, but I definitely need to!  

12.5.2021 - The Bone Cay

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for gifting me an audiobook ARC of this suspense novel by Eliza Nellums and narrated by Nancy Peterson- 4 stars!

Magda is a historian, somewhat obsessed with a young poet, Isobel Reyes, who died by suicide years ago.  Magda is now the caretaker of Isobel's home in the Florida Keys, Whimbrel Estate, and has made it her mission to restore the home to the conditions Isobel would have known.  Magda makes the decision to stay in the home when a hurricane is approaching.  The storm is more powerful than Magda could ever have imagined and she finds herself in peril.  She also makes a discovery hidden in a cistern when part of the house collapses.  In addition, the estate handyman, Hank, shows up with his daughter, Emily, to escape the storm.

This is a very atmospheric novel - not sure I've ever read a novel that featured a scary hurricane.  Makes me glad I live in the mountains!  The fight to survive amongst the odds brought a fraught tension to the novel.  Then there are multiple mysteries to solve - What is in the trunk?  What really happened to Isobel?  And who exactly is Hank?  I thought the narrator did a wonderful job - there were very few characters so it was easy to differentiate plus she did a great male voice as well!

12.3.2021 - The Ballerinas

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Rachel Kapelke-Dale - 4 stars!

Delphine, Lindsay and Margaux are best friends going through training for the Paris Opera Ballet since childhood.   Delphine has reached elite soloist position with the company when she abandons it and her friends to move to Russia, taking a secret with her that would upend the women's friendship.  She returns home years later hoping to repair the relationship with her friends, but the secret among them threatens that.

Alternating between the story of their childhood through the present time, this is a look at the fiercely competitive ballet world as well as a look at women's roles in society.  Friendship and secrets play an integral role in this book as does examining relationships with others in general.  While the first part of the book was a bit slow for me, it picked up and I loved the ending.  Delphine's understanding and awareness of the importance of a good apology at the end was really amazing and I will be thinking about this in my own relationships!

11.29.2021

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for gifting me the latest novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde - a must-read author for me.  4.5 stars rounded up.

In 1941, Steven didn't fit in at home or at school.  Then he met a group of friends who became tight - Ollie, Nick and Suki.  Steven's family were landowners; the other boys' dads were field workers.  Steven also began to realize that he had feelings for Nick that went beyond friendship.  After the attack at Pearl Harbor sent the US to war, more things changed for the friends.  Suki and his family were sent to an internment camp, Ollie enlisted in the war, and Nick was charged with a crime he didn't commit.  

Every book Catherine Ryan Hyde writes touches emotions, teaches you, and makes you really think..  Even though you know that the characters all wouldn't be so self-aware and say just the perfect things, every challenging topic is handled in such a wonderful and insightful way.  This book deals with racism, classism, homophobia as well as parental abuse and neglect.  But it also deals with the power of friendship, family, loyalty, and love.

11.26.2021 - Dava Shastri's Last Day

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the debut novel by Kirthana Ramisetti, beautifully narrated by Soneela Nankani (with a surprise recording at the end!) - 4 stars.

Dava Shastri has assembled her 4 children and their families to her remote island.  Unbeknownst to them, she has a terminal illness and has decided to end her life on her own terms with her family present - and so that she can be alive to read her obituaries.  She is a self-made billionaire philanthropist and expects to read glowing reports of all her many accomplishments.  But word of her death is leaked to the media early and she must now tell her children as well as deal with some of the press fallout, which deals with secrets Dava wanted to take to her grave.

This is a multi-generational family saga with each of the 4 children having an assigned role in their family and the family business with varying degrees of success and fulfillment.  It's the story of family secrets and how they are almost impossible to keep quiet.  But it's ultimately a love story on lots of different levels, with all its inherent complications.

11.23.2021 - My Mother, Munchausen's and Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thread Books for gifting me both a digital and audiobook ARC of this true story by Helen Naylor - 4 stars!

Helen grew up in a dysfunctional family - both her parents were always ill and she suffered neglect as a result.  However, as she grew up, it started to become clear that her mother was making up her illnesses to get attention.  While never diagnosed, she had Munchausen's and was a narcissist.  It was difficult for Helen to be a good daughter to her mother when her mother was obviously not a good mother and she suffered much guilt and blame by others.  In addition, her mother resented any attention Helen showed to her own family instead of towards her, causing more guilt and blame.  The audiobook was narrated by the author, which added a layer of truth and sadness to the story.

While I have read many stories of Munchausen's by proxy (where an adult harms a child to get attention), this is the first account I've read of someone suffering themselves and how it affected the entire family.  It was heartbreaking that Helen's dad and the many, many physicians her mother went to never supported Helen or got psychiatric help for her mother.  I would hope that today we would be more aware but these people are also perfect manipulators.  Hopefully writing this book was cathartic and will help Helen move forward with her life.

11.20.2021

Many thanks. to NetGalley and St Martin's Publishing Minotaur Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut suspense novel by Hannah Morrissey - 4 stars!

Hannah got a job as a night shift police transcriber when her and her husband, Tommy, moved to Black Harbor, Wisconsin, a town known only for its crime.  Hannah wants desperately to be a writer and she finds herself drawn to the voice of Detective Nik Kole.  He is the lead investigator on a murder that involves her neighbor, who dumped the body of a teenage boy who died from an overdose.  Detective Kole is investigating the drug trail, supplied by someone known as the Candy Man.  As Hannah gets closer to Nik and the investigation, the rest of her world starts falling apart.

This was such a wonderful, atmospheric novel - you can feel the bleakness of the area, the scariness of the bridge where so many jumped to their death, and the fear and tension throughout is palpable.  Hannah's husband is a piece of work and you can't help but root for Hannah to have her chance at happiness.  I absolutely loved reading the transcriptions as Hannah heard them from the police recordings - really put you in Hannah's mindset.  Plus, as someone who transcribes tapes for a living, it was so interesting to see that there are people who actually speak punctuation (wonder if my boss could be trained?).  Loved the cover too.  A wonderful debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

11.18.2021 - A Little Hope

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Ethan Joella - 5 stars - don't miss this debut!

In Wharton, Connecticut, Greg and his wife, Freddie, are faced with his medical diagnosis of multiple myeloma and what it means for their family.  Ringing out from this family are a community of individuals, all facing their own issues and challenges.  

I loved this novel and all the emotions it brought out.  The story plays out in short chapters focusing on different characters at increasing periods of time.  I was slightly confused in the beginning, but quickly grew to love the way the author gave us glimpses into these people's lives as time marched on.  Beautifully written, we quickly see that small connections add up to big impacts in the lives of those around us.  While these characters face illness, bad decisions, grief - you know, life! -  it's a reminder that as long as there is life, there is hope.  There are second chances around the corner if we open ourselves to them and let other people help us on our way.  

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

11.16.2021 - Wish You Were Here

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by one of my absolute favorites, Jodi Picoult.  5 stars!

Diana has had her life all planned out and things are going along just as planned.  She is working at Sotheby's as an art specialist, almost engaged to Finn, a surgeon resident.  She finds a ring he's hidden and she is sure he's going to propose on their upcoming trip to the Galapagos Islands.  But it's March 2020 and as they plan to leave, Finn says he has to stay and work.  He encourages Diana to go on the vacation alone - and she does.  But the world shuts down when she gets there and she misses her last chance off island.  Alone, not speaking the language and with no money, Diana has to figure out how to survive.  But survival makes her reconsider all those plans she made.

I loved this book.  While the thought of reading a book about Covid while we are facing yet another holiday season wondering if it's safe to gather with our family even when everyone is vaccinated, don't miss this book.  In Jodi Picoult's talented hands, she gives us another look at the pandemic through the eyes of those on the front line as well as those recovering.  There are also so many gems here about what is important in life.  You'll be best served going into it not knowing too much about the story and experiencing the turns for yourself.  Be sure to read the author's notes at the end as well.  Highly recommended!

11.13.2021 - The New Wife

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital copy of the latest thriller by Sue Watson - 4.5 stars rounded up for a story filled with characters you won't completely trust!

Sam and Lauren have been tight since their first day of nursery school and their parents have been family ever since.  Sam's single mom, Georgie, has loved a male role model for him in Tim, Lauren's dad. and Helen is her best friend.  When Sam and Lauren get married, both families are thrilled.  The couple buys a remote cottage which fits in well with Sam's job as an environmentalist but less so for Lauren, who has to make a long commute to her job as a doctor.  When Lauren is found dead only weeks after the wedding, everyone is shocked and soon fractions are evident and sides are taken.

This was just a roller coaster of emotions that will leave you not trusting anyone.  I kept changing who I thought the guilty party was and enjoyed all the unreliable characters.  This book certainly is a reflection of the old adage that you never know what goes on behind closed doors.  Another great read by Sue Watson!

11.11.2021 - The Secret Next Door

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital copy of the domestic thriller by Rebecca Taylor - 4.5 stars!

Alyson, her husband, Justin, and their 5-year-old son, Andrew, have just moved into the Enclave - an exclusive development in Boulder CO.  Their home is more of a starter home and doesn't compete with the multi-million dollar homes a street away.  Alyson is desperate to give her son the childhood she didn't have and to have a good group of girlfriends she can rely on.  Bonnie Sloan is the queen of the neighborhood in addition to running for Senate, with the nicest house, successful husband, the son headed to Yale.  But things aren't always as they seem to outsiders.  Progress is threatening to encroach on the wonderful neighbor views and tensions are escalating.  When a teenager is found dead, gossip and rumors erupt.

This was just a fun book to get lost in - easy reading, with relatable characters even when they made questionable decisions.  Alyson is so insecure and desperate to fit into her new world that she ignores what's going on inside her own home.  Meanwhile, Bonnie is desperate to hold onto her own crumbling world.  A good reminder not to judge others on outside appearances.  Definitely pick this one up! 

11.9.2021 - Everything We Didn't Say

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me the latest thriller by Nicole Baart - 4.5 stars!

When Juniper was a teenager, her next-door neighbors were brutally murdered and her brother, Jonathan, considered the prime suspect in their small town.  Juniper was destroyed by all the events that summer and started a new life elsewhere.  But she has come home to Iowa to help an old friend battling breast cancer with the hopes of improving the relationship with the daughter she left behind to be raised by her mother.  Juniper wants to solve the mystery of the murders and clear her brother's name but she's not the only one still investigating.  Someone has started a podcast bent on proving Jonathan's guilt and the local police are investigating.  Is the past coming back to once again ruin her family's lives?

Told in alternating chapters of when Juniper was a teenager that fateful summer and the present day, Nicole Baart has woven a wonderful tale of mystery and family drama.  Everyone is carrying secrets they've held close for years - is the truth buried in those lies?  The author really put you in the scene and you could empathize with  these characters.  Tense and suspenseful - don't miss this one!

11.9.2021 - The Cookie Bible

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the gorgeous new cookbook by Rose Levy Beranbaum - 5 stars!  If you don't have a copy of The Cake Bible, you need to get one and this is the perfect companion book.

Filled with gorgeous pictures of cookies that sound to die for, along with lots of hints and suggestions, this is a book that will have you drooling.  With recipes like Chocolate Studded Truffle Cookies and My Dream Chocolate Chip Cookie, how can you go wrong?  I also love that both weights and measures were included in each ingredient list for those who like to be especially accurate and weigh their ingredients.

Highly recommended!

11.7.2021 - Doctors and Friends

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by one of my favorite authors, Kimberly Martin - 5 stars!

A group of doctors met during medical school and have remained a tight group, including meeting once a year for a girls getaway.  This year, all but 2 of the group headed to Spain.  The main characters - Kira is an infectious disease doctor, working at the CDC; Compton an emergency room doctor; Hannah an OB-GYN.  Kira's two children joined them on the trip and they met up with her ex-boyfriend as well.  Little did they know, they were at Ground Zero with the start of a worldwide pandemic (not COVID).  All of the friends experience complete upheaval in their worlds as they try and battle their professional and personal worlds in a new time.

Written before COVID (be sure and read the Author's Note at the end!), this book still mirrors our current pandemic fight.  Kimmery Martin is a former emergency room doctor and really shows us what heroes first responders are (in case we didn't already know).  This also shows the personal and ethical battles that go along with new vaccines and treatments.  If you've read the author's other books (and you must!), you'll recognize a few of these friends' names, which was fun to see and left me anxiously awaiting more books.  I couldn't put this one down - don't miss it!

11.3.2021 - The Hidden

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the follow-up book to Little Darlings, the debut novel of Melanie Golding.  4.5 stars rounded up!

Leonie, not quite 2 year old, is found abandoned at a seaside storefront.  When Ruby (Mamma B) shows up after authorities are called, they chalk it up to a one-time accident and don't investigate further.  Meanwhile, Gregor Franks, is found bludgeoned and barely alive in his apartment.  As we get glimpses into the past, Ruby gazes from her apartment window into Gregor's apartment, watching him do yoga in the early morning hours.  She soon meets him and his family, Constance and Leonie, and becomes entangled in their lives.  Constance believes she is a Selkie, a mythological seal creature, who needs to get back to the sea.  This book also features Detective Joanna Harper, featured in Little Darlings, who has a complicated history with Ruby.  

I really enjoyed this book and loved the mythical elements involved, including the quotes at the beginnings of the chapters.  Add that to the wonderful writing of Melanie Golding and you have another winner!  There are multiple points of view as well as the different timelines, so that the reader learns the backstories of the characters.  The theme of motherhood interlaced with the mythology is really intriguing - what is a mother and what lengths will mothers go to for their children?  This is a book that will keep you glued to the pages to find out how it will all end.  I hope there are more stories featuring Detective Harper and Ruby in our future!  

11.2.2021 - The Selfless Act of Breathing

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel by JJ Bola - 3.5 stars rounded up.

Michael is living in London, working as a teacher, but becoming increasingly depressed and hopeless about his future.  He makes a decision to quit his life, withdraw all his savings, fly to America and end his life when his money runs out.  Along his travels in the US, he meets a variety of people - but does it give him a reason to keep living?

I had mixed feelings about this book.  It was gorgeously written - you can tell the author is a poet yet none of the prose is too lyrical.  I liked the premise of the book as well - that Michael needed a new view on life to carry him forward.  However, it was a confusingly-written book for me - the chapters alternated with Michael in the UK before and Michael in the US now.  That would be fine except that the chapter titles only included place and time, not date, so you had to pay strict attention to timelines.  As someone who has lost a loved one to suicide, depression and suicide weren't portrayed correctly, in my mind.  Even the title, though beautiful, seems to say that suicide is selfish and living selfless.  I still felt the writing beautiful and was intrigued to see how it would all end.

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!

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.