3.31.2021 - Just My Luck

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin/Mira Books for the opportunity to read the latest novel by Adele Parks - 4 stars for a great escape novel complete with enough suspense to keep you flipping the pages as fast as you can!

A group of couples, friends since they all met at prenatal classes, have jointly played the lottery faithfully for the last 15 years.  Until one Saturday evening there's an argument at their weekly gathering.  When their numbers come up as winners of 18 million pounds, everything changes.  Lexi, who bought the winning ticket, and her husband Jake claim sole ownership because the other couples pulled out of their agreement.  Jake has no problem spending the money but Lexi, who works for an agency who tries to help those in need, can't buy into the expensive lifestyle Jake now wants for them and their 2 kids. 

You always hear about lottery winners whose lives are ruined after their big win and think that wouldn't be you; you wouldn't change.  But money can be a blessing or a curse - and big money changes everything.  There are lots of twists and turns in this book and you won't see most of them coming.  Read this book before you buy your next lottery ticket!

3.30.2021 - The Drowning Kind

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the creepy new book by Jennifer McMahon, a definite go-to author for me.  4.5 stars.

In the late 1920s, living in New Hampshire, Ethel is desperate for a baby with her doctor husband, Will.  Trying to cheer her up, Will books a vacation at a new hotel in Vermont built near a stream that supposedly has magical powers.  However, it is well-known among locals that the stream will also take back in equal measures.

In 2019, Jackie (Jax) is a social worker who moved to Washington, far away from her family and especially her sister, Lexie.  Lexie has bipolar disease and can be very irrational when off her meds.  Lexie leaves a series of increasingly frantic phone messages to Jax which she ignores.  Then she gets word that her sister has drowned.  Jax heads back to Vermont to the family home where Lexie was living, full of guilt for not answering her sister's calls.

Beautifully written, both timelines draw you in to the mystery surrounding the people living among the pool that is rumored to have no bottom.  It will pull you into the atmospheric creepiness surrounding this remote castle-like home and pool.  Another winner by Jennifer McMahon!

3.28.2021 - Other People's Children

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for granting me a digital ARC of this amazing debut novel by R.J. Hoffman - 5 stars!

Gail is desperate for a child.  After suffering multiple miscarriages, her and her husband, Jon, are trying to adopt a baby.  Gail is obsessive with making lists - trying to control things that she really has no control over.  Jon had a difficult childhood with a mother who suffered from mental illness and eventually was raised by an aunt and uncle.  He's more terrified of having a child and worried that he will fail his child as he was failed.  The couple is finally picked by Carli, a pregnant teenager, to adopt her baby girl after its birth.  Carli wants only the best for her baby and knows that she can't support her.  Carli's mother, Marla, is furious at Carli for giving up her baby and tries to take matters into her own hands.  These three mothers are all doing what they feel is right.

Told in various points of view from all three women and Jon, you will find yourself empathizing with the feelings of everyone involved.  This is one of those Sampson-type decisions where there are no real winners or losers.  This book is beautifully written and the emotions, characters and situations felt so very real.  I read it with my heart in my throat and couldn't stop reading until I was finished.  Bravo for a fabulous debut - looking forward to more from this author.

3.27.2021 - Astrid Sees All

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut adult novel by Natalie Standiford.  3.5 stars.

Phoebe is desperate to become someone.  After graduating college and landing in NYC, she hooks her wagon to a college friend, Carmen, who is the "it" girl of the moment.  After Phoebe's dad dies, she is even more desperate to stay in the city and find her spot.  Phoebe takes a job at an artsy club, working as Astrid, a fortune teller working with movie tickets instead of cards.  Taking place in the early 1980s, Phoebe and Carmen flit from club to club, seeking the next high, with the celebrities of the day in the background.  

This was just an okay read for me - my favorite part was Astrid's fortune telling with old movie titles.  It was definitely a love letter to NYC in that era and you felt the grittiness of the city and its people.  None of the characters are likable and it felt slow in spots.  Touches on lots of topics - grief, friendship, loyalty, family.  

3.26.2021 - Bring Him Home

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

Kaycee is off at college when she receives a call that her parents, Nick and Cecilia, have been seriously injured in an incident at their vacation cabin and her younger brother, Theo, is missing.  Theo is autistic and nonverbal which only adds to the urgency of finding him.  But what happened in the cabin?  Cecilia is found holding a knife over Nick who was stabbed through the chest.  In the hospital, Cecilia cannot speak nor remember exactly what happened only that the trip to the cabin seemed to be a last-ditch effort to save their marriage.  

Told in different points of view, in the present and past, this is a suspenseful, emotional read.  The world of an autistic child felt very real and accurate as well as the emotional toll it can take on an entire family.  

3.25.2021 - Sunflower Sisters

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this amazing book - the last of three books concerning ancestors of Caroline Ferriday.  This book takes us back to the Civil War and introduces us to the Woolsey Family.

This story is told in three voices - Anne-May, a plantation owner; Georgy Woolsey, a Union nurse; and Jemma, a slave on Anne-May's plantation.  I was completely enthralled with the writing and the story of the intersection of these three women's lives.  You will learn so much while being immersed in this time period - how nurses were trained and treated, medical treatments, battle stories, spies, fighting for what you believe.  The strength and endurance of slaves is always completely humbling and the audacity of the plantation owners is so appalling.  

Impeccably researched and based on so much factual information from the Ferriday/Woolsey archives, this is a book not to be missed.  The Woolsey family's perseverance in bettering people's lives through their nursing and war efforts - no matter which side an injured person was on - was so inspiring.  Even though it is over 500 pages, it reads almost like a suspense novel and you won't be able to look away.  Beautifully written, this is arguably the best of the three books by Martha Hall Kelly.

3.22.2021 - Final Revival of Opal & Nev

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of this amazing debut novel by Dawnie Walton - 4.5 stars rounded up!

It's 2016 and Sunny Shelton, new editor of a music magazine, is writing an oral history of a 1970s duo who are rumored to do a come-back tour.  Sunny has ties to the duo's past but as she does her interviews, she discovers things she never knew.  In the 1970s, we meet Opal who grew up in Detroit and wants to be a star.  When British songwriter, Nev, discovers her singing in a bar, he knows she is the one he wants to pair with.  Nev's label, Rivington Records, is small town and desperate for a hit and the pair moves to NYC to become part of the music scene there,  What happens at a promotional concert when Opal and Nev are scheduled to perform along with another Rivington band will change everyone's lives.  

This is written in a style very similar to Daisy Jones and the Six - the story is told by way of Sunny's interviews with all the main and many small characters who had a part in the story.  But this book tackles even more difficult topics.  Taking place in the 1970s, we see through Opal's eyes all the racism that went on then and is still so relevant in the 2016 time period of the book.  These characters are completely real - you can see them while you are reading this book.  You will feel the injustice, the hurt, and be transported back in time.  Bravo for an amazing debut that will definitely become part of today's conversation into racism, sexism, white privilege, and so much more.

3.20.2021 - Every Vow You Break

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by one of my favorites, Peter Swanson.  4 stars for a twisty good read!

Abigail was down on her luck and thinking about moving home to help out her parents when she met Bruce, a millionaire who quickly became madly in love with her.  They were soon planning their wedding and Bruce insisted on Abigail taking her bridesmaids on a splashy bachelorette party to California on his dime.  There, Abigail met a mysterious stranger and had a drunken one-night stand with him.  She thinks she spots the same guy at her wedding but puts it out of her mind.  Bruce takes her to a very remote island off the coast of Maine for their honeymoon and they mysterious stranger appears there as well, threatening to tell Bruce all about their night.   But that's just the beginning.

Best to go into this one knowing as little as possible because you won't know who you can trust in this one.  The setting adds to the creepiness of Abigail's situation.  This was a quick read for me - I was anxious to know just how everything was going to end up.  There aren't many likable characters in this book but I did feel for Abigail's situation.   Another good read from Peter Swanson!

3.19.2021 - A Million Reasons Why

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by one of my favorites, Jessica Strawser - 5 stars for a book that was hard to put down.  Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, this will be a wonderful book club pick.

Walt and his wife, Caroline, are parents to 3 young children living in Cincinnati.  Walt decided to buy the extended family all DNA kits for Christmas, only to find the results opened up family secrets never imagined.  Caroline is shocked to receive an email from Sela, stating that she is her half-sister, and hoping to start some type of connection.  Sela lives in North Carolina and is suffering from end stage kidney failure.  She's lost everything that is dear to her - her health, marriage, her mother - her son, Brody, is all that is keeping her going.  As Caroline comes to grip with starting a relationship with Sela, she discovers that there are even more secrets her family has been keeping from her and struggles to move forward.  

The least said the better with this book, but trust me, you will find yourself gripped to these pages.  It's impossible to not put yourself in the positions of all of these characters and wonder how you would react in the same situation.  This was also an eye-opening look into kidney disease and transplantation - hopefully it will spur thought and discussion about organ donation.

3.17.2021 - Eternal

Many thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the amazing historical thriller by Lisa Scottoline.  I've said many times that I will read anything by Lisa & Francesca Scottoline but her normal genre is legal thrillers or humor.  Eternal proves that she can write fabulous books in any genre - 5 stars for a book you won't soon forget!

The story revolves around three childhood friends - Elisabetta, Marco and Sandro.  Both boys harbor feelings for Elisabetta as they grow older but Elisabetta can never quite choose between the two boys who are so very different except for their love for her.  Marco is from a famed bike racing family who are staunch Fascists, with Marco soon making career advancements for the group.  Sandro is an Italian Jew, brilliant in mathematics and excited to start his academic career.  But soon nothing will be the same for any of the three as war breaks out and Hitler's reign begins.

As with most stories set around the atrocities of World War II, this story will break your heart.  But it also shows the strength of character for so many just trying to survive, and proves that love is eternal.  I literally couldn't put this book down - it is obviously meticulously researched and the characters and story will break your heart.  It's also a love letter to Italy in terms of the people, food, culture.  I couldn't get enough of this story and didn't want it to end.  

Highly recommended!

3.14.2021 - Win

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Harlan Coben - 4.5 stars rounded up for a fabulous start to a new series!  

The FBI has two cold cases to solve - in the 70s, a group of radicals who were involved in a fire bombing that ended up killing multiple people.  There was also an art heist that ended in a murder and kidnapping of a young girl.  These two cases come together and point towards Win - the paintings were stolen from his family and his suitcase was found at a murder scene.  Win's FBI friend and mentor, PT, pull him into investigating these crimes.

I realize it is a personal flaw that I haven't read all of Coben's books - Win is a recurring character from the Myron Bolitar series.  But that it no way took away from the enjoyment of this book.  I loved Win's character - this book is written in the first person like he is talking to you and explaining himself and his actions to you.  While you won't agree with lots that he does, he owns his personality - his rich, white privilege, his sense of right and wrong.  I can't wait to read more in this series!

3.14.2021 - Remember

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and especially to Harmony Publishing for granting my wish to receive a digital ARC of the new non-fiction book by one of my favorite authors, Lisa Genova.  5 stars for a book I won't soon forget (sorry!).

As we get older, memory becomes something we think about a lot.  I can't find my phone - am I getting dementia?  Where did I park my car?  Why can I remember all the words to that song I loved in the 70s but can't remember why I came into this room?  If you have a relative who suffered from dementia, the fear is even worse.  Take a deep breath and read this book!  Lisa Genova, a neuroscientist and author of Still Alice, a novel on early-onset Alzheimer's, walks us through how we remember and how we forget and why both are important.  Plus, she gives practical tips on helping our brains - sleep, eat right, exercise, use Google and lists.  This is a fascinating book with loads of studies to emphasize points.  It's never dry reading material but actually a book you want to just sit down and read through. 

If you are new to Lisa Genova, her novels are completely wonderful - she is a gifted storyteller who also teaches you about disease and its impacts.  All of her books are highly recommended - don't miss this one!

3.12.2021 - The Power Couple

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Alex Berenson - 4.5 stars for a thrilling read!

Rebecca and Brian have taken their two children, Kira and Tony, on an anniversary trip to Europe.  After 20 years of marriage, this trip seems to be a turning point in their lives after some rough years.  Rebecca is an FBI agent who has always tended to put her job first.  Brian now works for the NSA but for most of their marriage was mostly a stay-at-home dad.  Their first night in Barcelona, Kira doesn't come back to their rental after a night out.  Is it a random event or somehow related to their jobs?

I loved the way this story unfolded.  It opens up in the "now" when the family is desperate to find out what happened to Kira.  Then it goes back in time and we hear the perspectives of both Rebecca and Brian over the course of the last 20 years that led to the now.  This was a fast-paced book with plenty of twists and turns; the ending was fabulous. 

3.10.2021 - The Memory Collectors

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me an ARC of the debut novel by Kim Neville - 4.5 stars for such a unique book!

Evelyn has always known she was a special girl.  Like her dad, she had the ability to feel emotions from objects.  This gift has caused Evelyn to hide herself away from things and people because she can feel all the stains, as she calls them, left on objects.  She scrounges for items that are less harmful and sells that at a night marketplace.  The ones she feels are dangerous, she locks away.  Noemi, her sister, comes in and out of Ev's life - both trying to make sense of what happened to them as children.  When Evelyn meets Harriet, another person who sees the brightness in objects, she is astounded that Harriet is able to surround herself with so many objects; however, her collection is making her neighbors sick.  Harriet convinces Ev to help her curate her collection into a museum of objects that would make people feel only positive emotions.  However, darkness still lurks in the background and threatens all three of these women.

I loved the idea that objects absorb feelings and can cause people to have varied reactions to those objects.  Harriet and her mom were hoarders because each of the objects was so valuable to them - a feeling most of us can relate to.  As I get older, I see the very many objects that are accumulated as a result of a life.  Those things are difficult to get rid of and they don't incite the same feelings in others.  This book was wonderfully written - there are past mysteries to solve as well as the magical feeling that envelops every page.  It was easy to lose yourself in this world and I really felt for these characters and what they were experiencing.  

Great debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

3.9.2021 - Are We There Yet?

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read and review the sophomore novel by Kathleen West - 5 stars!  I was a big fan of her debut, Minor Dramas and Other Catastrophes, and this one is just as good!  I'm a sucker for these type of realistic life stories.

This book finds three friends - Alice, Nadia and Meredith - with their three kids now in middle school.  Alice is the one who wants it all - great job as an interior designer and two kids.  But now she's questioning how she can do it - her husband is traveling all the time, oldest son Teddy is having issues at school, and younger daughter is having reading difficulties.  Nadia has always been known as the mom with the kid with issues, Donovan.  Meredith is the perfectionist and daughter, Sadie, is the perfect child - until she does something very wrong.   Then there are the family secrets - because of course every family has them, right? 

How each mom deals with their kids, each other and life in general is at the heart of this book.  Anyone with kids will recognize themselves and their kids in this book.  Can I just say once again how grateful I am that I raised my kids before the advent of social media?  This is certainly a hot button in this book and for parents everywhere.  West's writing style just pulls you into this world and I loved the escape!

3.6.2021 - How. Beautiful We Were

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by Imbolo Mbue - 4 stars!  If you were a fan of Mbue's debut novel, Behold the Dreamers, you'll love this one too.

A small African village is being poisoned by the actions of an American oil company mining for oil on their land.  The rivers are now polluted, crops and fields destroyed, dangerous gas in the air.  Babies and children are dying and no one outside the village seems to care.  This is the story of how the village tried to fight back and restore their land for themselves and the future generations.

Told through multiple points of view from one family as well as children in the village, we learn of the customs, spiritual beliefs and workings of their family life.  This is a devastating look at the harm companies and governments can inflict for the sake of the Almighty dollar.  

Mbue's writing is beautiful once again but, as with her first book, I struggled a bit to feel fully engaged with these characters.  I loved the story being told their different eyes but the timelines were sometimes a bit confusing.  Not an easy read but definitely eye-opening and beautifully told.  Haunting cover.

3.4.2021 - Her Dark Lies

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mira Books for the opportunity to read the latest thriller by JT Ellison - 4.5 stars for a book where you won't know who to trust!

Artist Claire Hunter caught the eye of wealthy Jack Compton and they are set to be married on his family's villa on their private island off the coast of Italy.  But before they leave their home, there is a break-in and the intruder is killed.  Not the best way to start your wedding trip!  A storm is also brewing as the couple arrives in Italy and that's not the only trouble that awaits them.  Everything is going wrong - the family is receiving threats, Claire's dress is ruined, a body is found on the property.  And what really happened to Jack's first wife?

Told in alternating voices, the atmosphere really stars in this book.  The storm, the power outages, the creepy tunnels underneath the villa, all add to the many mysteries.  There are many characters in this book and you won't know who you can trust and who is behind all the troubles.  Curl up and get ready to lose yourself in this book!

3.2.2021 - The Girls Are All So Nice Here

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read the debut novel by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn - 4 stars for a look into some really mean girls!

Ambrosia (aka Amb) started off her freshman year as Wesleyan just wanting to fit in.  She had a sweet roommate, Flora, but fell under the spell of bad girl, Sully.  Ten years later, Amb is married to Adrian and has no intention of attending her college reunion.  But she receives a hand-written anonymous note she can't ignore saying - We need to talk about what we did that night.  When she arrives at the reunion, both her and Sully continue to receive increasingly-threatening messages and Amb starts questioning everyone's actions both in the present and the past.

Told in alternating chapters between the past and at the reunion, we learn just how mean girls can be.  This is also an eye-opening look into what we will stoop to in order to fit in and be who we think others want us to be.  This storyline kept me glued to the pages to see exactly who did what to whom!