6.28.2022 - The Ex-Husband

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Samantha Hayes - 4 stars!

Leah is excited to have her own house and some peace after her divorce from Craig.  Her and her two children move into the Wash House, a small cottage next to a larger home.  Leah is anxious to redo the house and especially the large garden in the back.  Until the moving vans show up and she realizes that Craig and his new girlfriend have moved into the adjoining home.  

We know from the beginning of the book that a body is found in Leah's backyard, but not the identity.  Then the shift of the book goes back to Leah and her struggles with her ex.  I don't want to give too much away - because that final twist is one I didn't see coming!  Good escape reading!

6.27.2022 - Manhattan Cult Story

Many thanks to NetGalley, Skyhorse Publishing Arcade and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this nonfiction book by Spencer Schneider, narrated by Austin Rising - 4 stars!

Spencer Schneider was a 29-year-old lawyer when he was approached by an acquaintance to attend a meeting of a group focused on inner development, called "School."  This secretive group was made up of wealthy, successful individuals all focused on the "work."  Sharon Gans, a former actress, led the group and felt she was almost at the level of Christ and Buddha.  Schneider spent 23 years in this cult before finally escaping.

Cults are fascinating to me and this one even more so - how can so many very successful people get roped into being habitually degraded, abused and wiped of their money?  And how can one person have such power over these people?  There are many similarities to other so-called self-improvement cults like NXIVM and Scientology, both led by sadistic leaders who want only adoration and money.  The more stories that we can hear about these abuses will hopefully bring these groups out of the dark.  

6.26.2022 - One of the Girls

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/GP Putnam Sons for gifting me a digital ARC of the new drama by Lucy Clarke - 4.5 stars!

Six women arrive at an isolated mansion, owned by one of their aunts, on a Greek island, for a hen party (bachelorette party).  The setting is gorgeous and all of the women are anxious to have a good time, even though the bride-to-be, Lexi, didn't really want a hen party.  The women are all very different and each of them is carrying a secret, one that will have deadly consequences.

Told from the POV of each of the women as well as an unnamed narrator, this is a psychological drama about women's relationships, friendships and the secrets held deep within.  I thought the character progression and tension was perfect and kept me glued to the pages.  The beautiful atmospheric writing and food descriptions added to the escapism that each of the women were looking for and made me want too!  I loved the ending!

6.23.2022 - Little Sister

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest installment in the wonderful police procedural series featuring DCK Jonah Sheens by Gytha Lodge - 5 stars!

DCI Sheens is in a pub on his day off when a young girl enters the pub covered with blood.  When he goes to investigate, he discovers she's fine but her little sister is missing.  Keely and her sister, Nina, disappeared from their care home.  Jonah takes her to the station where he assembles his team to listen to her story and try to find her sister.

Wow - mind blown over and over - this series keeps getting better.  And, yes, you could enjoy this as a stand alone but the past books add so much depth to this amazing cast of characters that you really should start from the beginning!  This book has the reader looking for minute details and discovering the facts along with the detectives as Keely's tells her story.  I was riveted to the pages and the author did an amazing job keeping this storyline on track.  Besides the disturbing topics of child abuse in all its different forms, it was fun to see this story come to its satisfying conclusion.  Must read!

6.22.2022 - Stay Awake

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press and MacMillan Audio for gifting me the latest thriller by Megan Goldin, wonderfully narrated by Imogen Church; January LaVoy - 5 twisty stars!

Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi that drops her off at her apartment, where there are strangers living.  She finds a knife in her pocket instead of her cellphone and all kinds of messages written on her arms and hands - mostly Stay Awake.  The last thing Liv remembers is living with her friend, Amy, dating Marco, happy at her publishing job.  But nothing is adding up - and Liv comes to realize that she is being searched for as a suspect in a murder.  

Told in different time periods from the voices of Liv and Detective Darcy Halliday, you will find yourself learning about Liv's past along with her.  This was so wonderfully written, engrossing and twisty that I could not put it down.  Go into this one as blind as possible to add to the intrigue.  The characters were wonderful - you'll find yourself scared as Liv is on the run.  I loved Halliday's character too - smart and confident in a man's world.  The narration was spot on - when I couldn't read it, I was listening to it.  Don't miss this one!

6.22.2022 - The Bodyguard

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Katherine Center - 5 stars!

Hannah Brooks may not look the part, but she is a trained Executive Protection Agent, or bodyguard.  She just got hired to protect a famous movie star, Jack Stapleton, after he has received stalking threats.  When Jack's mom becomes sick, he heads to their Texas ranch to be with the family.  He doesn't want his family to know about the stalking situation, so Hannah has to pretend to his family to be his latest girlfriend.  A part that she feels she definitely isn't cut out for, emphasized by her ex-boyfriend/coworker.   But Hannah's status isn't the only secret in Jack's family.

I just adored this book - it kept calling to me every time I put it down.  I loved the characters (most of them), the dialogue, and the audio narration by Patti Muran was perfect.  This is a spot-on rom com but with more depth - stress on believing in yourself, helping each other, letting ourselves be loved and love in return.  The ending was perfect too - definitely a must read!

6.20.2022 - The Lies I Tell

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the new thriller by Julie Clark - 5 stars!

Meg Williams is a con artist, meticulously researching her victims and infiltrating their lives so that they never see what's coming.  By the time they do, she's gone.  Kat Roberts is a journalist whose life was changed 10 years ago by Meg.  When a google alert pops up that Meg is back in her town, Kat seizes the opportunity to befriend Meg with the idea of taking her down.  But what or who is real?

Go into this one as blind as possible because you'll love all the twisty elements of figuring out who you can trust and why people are doing what they are.  I loved these characters - especially Meg, who has a con artist shouldn't be your favorite character!  I loved how everything came together in the end - don't miss this one!

6.18.2022 - The Catch

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for gifting me a copy of the debut novel by Alison Fairbrother - 4 stars!

Ellie is living in Washington DC, working as a journalist, and involved with a married man.  When her unconventional dad dies suddenly at age 52, Ellie is devastated.  Ellie was the oldest child with 3 siblings by two other mothers but felt she had the most connection to her dad.  When she discovers that he left her a tie rack instead of his prized baseball, and instead left that baseball to someone the family has never heard of, it adds to her devastation.  As a journalist, she starts investigating.

I really liked this slow burn of a novel about grief, childhood roles, and processing that into adulthood.  The writing and characters felt authentic, from Ellie's roommates to her extended family and coworkers.  This book also made me think about the physical and emotional legacies we pass down to others.  Ellie was lucky to have some closure but that doesn't always happen.  A great debut and I'm looking forward to more from this author!

6.17.2022 - Local Gone Missing

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for gifting me a digital copy of the latest mystery/thriller by Fiona Barton - 4 stars!

Detective Elise King's life revolved around her job, until she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Recovering at home after surgery, her chemo brain makes her wonder if she'll ever be back to her pre-cancer self and be able to work.  But when a local man goes missing the night of a neighborhood music festival, Elise's neighbor, Ronnie, pulls her into investigating themselves.  

I really loved the characters of Elise and Ronnie - I could easily see a series of books involving these two.  Ronnie was hilarious!  This was a good mystery and police procedural and I adore Barton's writing.  I loved the small town vibe where everyone seems to know everyone's business, for better or worse.  My only negative was that there were so many characters and different time periods that I had some trouble keeping everyone clear. 

6.15.2022 - The Hidden One

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book in the wonderful Amish detective series featuring Chief Kate Burkholder, written by Linda Castillo, wonderfully narrated by Kathleen McInerney.  5 stars!

This book finds Chief Burkholder leaving her job in Ohio and traveling to Amish country in Pennsylvania when elders asked her to help a church member who was accused of murdering a bishop a decade ago.  The bishop's remains were recently unearthed, along with the murder weapon belonging to her childhood friend, Jonas.  But Kate's investigations leave her in danger as well as she gets too close to the truth.

I have anxiously awaited each book in this series and love each one.  This one was a bit different because we don't get to follow the regular police crowd from Kate's office in Painters Mill, Ohio.  But these mystery books are always so well written and keep me intrigued, as well as always teaching me more about the Amish culture.  This is the first time I also listened to the audiobook, and thought the narration was wonderful.  I especially liked hearing the Deutsch spoken.  This is a fabulous series - even though you could read each as a stand-alone, you must start at the beginning!

6.14.2022 - Flying Solo

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me the sophomore novel by Linda Holmes, author of Evvie Drakes Starts Over, which I loved.  4.5 stars rounded up!

Laurie is fresh off the trauma of canceling her wedding and returns to her small hometown in Maine to go through her beloved aunt's home after her death.  She enlists her friend, June, to help her go through Dot's possessions and hires Matt to help her sell or dispose of the things they don't want to keep.  Laurie also meets back up with Nick, her high school sweetheart, who stayed in town and runs the local library.  When Laurie finds a carved wooden decoy duck hidden at the bottom of her aunt's chest, it leads the group on a mission.

I loved these characters and the small town feeling the author has created.  You can just imagine sitting with these people on Dot's deck, surrounded by food and wine, enjoying life.  This is also a story of being true to yourself, finding your own path in life, and surrounding yourself with a tribe that makes it all work.  Being older, it certainly makes you think about the possessions we leave behind and how we should share our stories.  Evvie Drake was a quick mention in this book, which was fun.  I loved spending time with this book and these characters!

6.12.2022 - Privacy

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine/Bantam Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Nina Sadowsky - 4 stars!

Dr Lania Landers is a therapist in practice with another therapist at their company, Better Life.  When one of her marriage therapy patients holds his wife hostage and threatens to shoot her, she is able to talk him down.  A journalist, Cal Murray, is on hand and records the scene, thrusting her into the limelight as well as Cal's own personal interest.  But then several of Lania's patients receive threatening notes and packages with the words "Watching You."  

Don't read too much about this one before starting it - it's more fun to figure it out on your own.  The story plays out with interspersed passages from The Watcher, giving all kinds of creepy vibes.  This is a cautionary tale of how much of our life is public and how much of our privacy we willingly sign away to all our apps, the internet, and our smart technology.  In the wrong hands, any part of our privacy can be exploited.  A fast, intriguing read!

6.10.2022 - Island Time

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital copy of Georgia Clark's new book, Island Time - 3.5 stars.

The Kelly family are loud, messy Australians and the Lee family are more sophisticated, aloof Americans.  But their daughters are married and the other Kelly daughter, Amelia, brought them together for a family vacation to an island off Queensland to meet her boyfriend.  Then a tsunami hit and their long weekend turned into being stranded for six weeks.

I loved the setting, the history, even the bird info in this book.  I also loved the character progression, as each character learns more about themselves, how to relate to each other, and how to fulfill and understand their dreams.  What I didn't like so much was the fact that there were so many different points of view in the third person that it was confusing.  There was also a lot of gay sex - so much that it felt pornographic instead of romantic.  I love dark humor but there were quite a few tone deaf jokes.  I'm probably too old and straight to be the target audience for this book so please read other reviews!

6.10.2022 - And There He Kept Her

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press Sourcebooks and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the debut novel by Joshua Moehling, wonderfully narrated by Linda Jones - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Acting Sheriff Ben Packard is back home in small town Sandy Lake, Minnesota, after a devastating personal loss.  When his cousin's daughter and her boyfriend go missing, Deputy Packard is determined to find them.  The two teens broke into an elderly man's house looking for drugs and met the homeowner, Emmett Burr, who was armed.  Now Burr's fighting to keep the secrets found in his basement.

I loved this book - it's one of those stories where the crime happens right away and you go along with the police as they try to solve the case, while learning all the characters' backgrounds along the way.  This was a gripping story, expertly written to make you feel contrasting emotions towards the perpetrator while despising the crime.  In addition, despite the terrible nature of the crime, the author never made the violence gruesome and over the top, like so many books do.  Readers are smart enough to fill in the blanks without it being so blatant.  So bravo for a fabulous debut with fingers crossed that this was just the first in a series featuring Ben Packard (and Franklin!).

6.9.2022 - Blood Orange Night

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this amazing memoir by Melissa Bond - 5 stars!

Melissa is a married mother of two, one a special-needs child, who struggles with intense insomnia, sleeping only an hour or two every night.  Desperate, she goes to her doctor who prescribes benzodiazepines—a family of drugs that includes Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan—and increases her dosage on a regular basis.  Then her body starts collapsing.  She eventually learns she was overprescribed and these drugs should be given for very short periods of time.  Stopping cold turkey can lead to a fatal seizure.  This is her story of the struggle to taper off these medicines.

This book is a page-turner and I was shocked to learn of the issues with these drugs.  I know many people who were prescribed Xanax and Ativan and never knew of how it changed your brain forever.  Melissa was so brave in opening up her life and struggles to show the damage that these prescription drugs can do.  She tells of how she tried to be the best mother and wife possible, while she wasn't sleeping and her brain and body attacked.  The dangers of opioids are well known - hopefully this book will open everyone's eyes to the danger of benzodiazepines.  A must read!

6.8.2022 - Acts of Violet

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the new book by Margarita Montimore, narrated by a wonderful ensemble cast of characters - 5 stars!

Ten years ago, famous musician Violet Volk performed her most famous act of all - disappearing mid-show without a trace.  The public still can't get enough of wondering what happened - is she still alive?  Is she dead?  Something else?  Her sister, Sasha, was always the responsible one and she stayed at home, took over her mom's beauty salon, got married and has a daughter set to graduate college.  But she can't escape the publicity around Violet's disappearance and everyone always assumes she knows more than she is saying.

I adored this audiobook - it made the story come alive.  The story is told in alternating points of view between Sasha and Cameron Frank, host of a podcast centered on Violet's disappearance.  There are also snippets of correspondence between other characters and the audio sound effects just made those fun.  This was also a nod to sci-fi - the nerd in me loved the mention of X Files vs Fringe or Star Trek vs Doctor Who.  Plus, it was such a masterful mix of family drama, mystery, magic history and women's roles.  Don't miss this one!

6.7.2022 - Meant to be Mine

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me a digital copy of the latest book by Hannah Orenstein - 4.5 stars for a wonderful romance story!

Edie and Rea are twins, having grown up in a loving Jewish family in Brooklyn.  Their beloved grandmother, Gloria, has a gift - she has been able to accurately predict the day that family members will meet their soulmate.  Edie's date is now at hand and she broke up with her boyfriend because, even though she was in love, she knew he wasn't her destiny.  When Edie meets Theo on a plane trip to Maine for Rea's surprise engagement proposal, she knows that he is her meant to be.  But is he?

Just a fun romantic book that asks the question - Is love destiny or do we make destiny happen?  I loved the close family bond that Edie had as well as all the love shown to Brooklyn and NYC and those Jewish traditions.  It even includes a recipe for her grandma's Matzo Ball soup - can't wait to try that!  

6.6.2022 - Elsewhere

Many thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books and MacMillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the sophomore novel by Alexis Schaitkin, audio narration by Ell Potter - 4.5 stars!

Vera grew up in a remote mountain town with Elsewhere - any place besides their town - just a thought.  Their town has an affliction - mothers disappear, never to return.  No one ever knows when or whom will vanish - but when they do, the other mothers sweep in to gather and burn any remaining photos, clothing or proof of their existence.  Vera's own mother disappeared into the clouds and now that she is a mother, she feels the anxious pull of thought that she could leave her child.  Should she leave first?

This is not an easy read; it requires thought, speculation, and introspection.  But I loved all the topics it introduced - how we give of ourselves to our families no matter the cost; how mothers are judged by others; what we would do for our children; community and isolation.  The narrator's voice was perfect for this book - it was lyrical, otherworldly, and gave life to the beautiful verse.  I was a huge fan of Schaitkin's debut novel, Saint X.  With her latest, she is definitely a must-read author.

6.5.2022 - Her Dying Day

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for gifting me a digital copy of the debut novel by Mindy Carlson - 4.5 stars!

Pear Blossom Jubilee Masterson was raised in upstate New York by hippie parents who sheltered her from anyone outside their little commune.  The minute she turned 18, she left for college and became June and hasn't spoken to her parents since.  Now working on her master's thesis in filmmaking, she once again changes her topic to explore the disappearance 20 years ago of Greer Larkin, a teenage prodigy author whose mystery books June devoured.  While exploring the disappearance, she discovers that many people had motive and opportunity for Greer's death, and June may well have brought danger to her own doorstep with her investigation.

I really enjoyed this mystery and the way it was eventually resolved.  It kept me guessing and changing my mind along the way.  Even though June didn't always make smart decisions with her life, her character made me laugh with her rules of dating a married man and her dealings with the other supporting characters.  I can't wait to read more from this author! 

6.3.2022 - The Messy Lives of Book People

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Park Row Publishing for gifting me a digital copy of the latest book by Phaedra Patrick - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Liz is married and the mother of two boys, about to have an empty nest.  Her husband, Jake, works in the family printing business and there is never enough time or money.  Liz works for three different employers as a cleaner, but her favorite job is working for Essie Starling, an author who wrote Liz's favorite book series.  Liz has always dreamed of being a writer and was encouraged to do so by her professor father, but life intervened.  When Essie dies, she leaves word that Liz is the one who should complete her last book with a short deadline.

This was just a lovely story that drew me in and kept me captivated - what's not to love about a book featuring writers, writing and books?  Liz was so relatable - she always did what she needed to do, didn't complain about her life even when people treated her badly, and kept her dreams quiet.  It was so fun to see her flourish and thrive, yet remain Liz to her core.  I loved all the author and book references in this book too - made it even more relatable to see Liz reading some of my favorites.  Don't miss this one!

6.3.2022 - 1414°

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Snafublishing for gifting me an audio ARC of the debut book by Paul Bradley Carr and narrated by Emily Lawrence - 4 intriguing stars!

Lou McCarthy has spent her career exposing predators in Silicon Valley as she works for the small Bay Area Herald newspaper.  But it's all been for naught - the tech boys always win while she has lost everything.  But when two of her subjects died by public suicide on the same night, she is thrust into the world of online and real world trolls.  She discovers something that she wasn't prepared for while investigating that throws everything for a loop.

This is an interesting book - a story of bad tech boys and the Silicon Valley patriarchy written by a man!  It's a thriller - and a scary one considering how much of our privacy we already give up to our phones, our Fitbits, our home systems.  I thought the narration was great but I did have a little trouble keeping people straight - mostly because there was a lot of subterfuge in the characters.  I loved the title - 1414° is the melting point of silicon.  How apt.  Definitely worth checking out!

6.2.2022 - Out of the Clear Blue Sky

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Kristan Higgins - 5 stars!

Lillie knew that life would be hard and difference once her only child, Dylan, left home.  But she never dreamt that her husband, Brad, would tell her he wanted a divorce and was in love with someone else right before Dylan left.  Even though she had a good job as a nurse midwife that she loved, she was filled with anger and rage towards Brad and his new love.  So maybe a little revenge was in order?

This book was SO fun on so many levels.  As with all Higgins' books, it makes you think and feel all the emotions but this one just tops all that.  At almost 500 pages, I raced through it and didn't want it to end.  I loved Lillie as well as so many of the supporting characters.  Ultimately, this is a book about doing the right things, being there for each other, and moving on when life throws you a curve.  All mixed up with lots of laughs and heart.  Don't miss this one!