8.30.2022 - Other Birds

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Sarah Addison Allen - 5 stars!

Zoey arrives on Mallow Island SC after leaving her father's home in Tulsa OK with not much more than her imaginary bird, Pigeon.  She is going to reclaim her deceased mother's apartment and go to college in Charleston.  Zoey doesn't have many friends and her family left much to be desired.  She's disappointed when she sees there isn't anything personal left in the apartment but she's determined to make friends with her new neighbors.  And they are quite the bunch - both those that can be seen and those that can't.

Oh, I loved spending time in this place with these characters.  The author has created a magical world filled with birds, interesting characters, and so much heart.  This book is all about the family we make, finding those who love us just the way we are.  It's also a good reminder that everyone has a story and is struggling in some way.  I loved all the life lessons here wrapped up in a beautiful but not overly sentimental way.  I didn't want this book to end!

8.28.2022 - Carrie Soto is Back

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 5 stars!

Carrie Soto is the best women's tennis player on record, smashing all records by winning twenty Grand Slams.  But it came with sacrifice - she has no friends, on or off the court, and is know as the Battle Axe.  Her father, Javier, was her coach from the age of 2 and taught her well - her entire world was tennis.  But six years later, there's a new kid on the block - Nicki Chan - who has now tied Carrie's record and is set to beat it.  At the age of 37, Carrie makes the decision to come out of retirement and reclaim her record.  

Carrie is an interesting protagonist.  She doesn't care what others think about her, she's brutally honest, won't let anyone close, and only cares about the win.  But she's also determined, willing to put her body and mind on the line for what she wants.  This book totally immerses you in the tennis world and I was happy to be a part of it.  I loved the ending and the message both the author and Carrie's dad tried to instill - you don't have to prove anything to those you love and who love you.  My only slight complaint is that there are a lot of Spanish sentences in here - if you are like me and want to know every word of dialogue, you'll be using the translation feature on your Kindle a lot!  I love Jenkins Reid's books and highly recommend her latest!

8.27.2022 - If I Survive You

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Farrar, Straus & Giroux MCD and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this debut collection of short stories by Jonathan Escoffery and fabulously narrated by Torian Brackett - 4.5 stars!

This collection of connected short stories follows the life of Trelawny, son of Topper and Sanya, who flee the violence in their homeland of Kingston, Jamaica, to settle in Miami, Florida, along with Trelawny's older brother, Delano.  While they thought this would be the answer to their prayers, the family's struggles are now just very different.  

The first story in this book was probably my favorite, as we see that Trelawny is now judged by everyone he meets as being wrong - he's too white, too black, too different.  While he considers himself an American, he is viewed very differently and doesn't fit in with any of the "groups" in his school or neighborhood.  We see the dysfunctional family relationships between all of them.  I felt bad for the pull of Trelawny of wanting to escape yet wanting to be accepted.  

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook and feeling immersed in the language and culture of Trelawny's life.  There is so much to think about in this book.  

8.26.2022 - The Prisoner

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 B.A. Paris, wonderfully narrated by Georgia Maguire - 4 stars!

Amelie finds herself homeless after the death of her father and leaves for London, where she can escape from being put in a care situation.  There she meets Carolyn, who befriends her and employs her as a live-in housekeeper.  Through Carolyn, she meets a group of friends who all work for the same magazine, headed by billionaire Ned Hawthorne.  When Jed invites her along to Las Vegas on a business trip, he proposes marriage.  But she soon finds herself being kidnapped and held prisoner in a separate room from Ned.

This was a fast-paced thriller - I started reading the digital ARC but soon switched to the audiobook and the narration was wonderful.  The book's chapters alternate between Past and Present, giving lots of background to absorb.  You have to swallow a lot of coincidences and a bit of repetition here, but I still enjoyed going along on this ride and figuring out all the pieces.  Another winner by B.A. Paris!

8.26.2022 - All the Broken Girls

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this thriller by Linda Hurtado Bond - 4.5 stars!

Mari is the crime story reporter for the local news radio, now disgraced because her story accusing a councilperson of murder.  Mari's own mother was murdered years ago and the killer never brought to justice.  So when murders happen in her Tampa neighborhood that seem connected, she can't stop investigating, even when it gets her in more trouble from her boss.  But work troubles aren't the only problem facing Mari - are the clues the killer is leaving targeting her?

Author Linda Hortado Bond is a news anchor for a Tampa station, so she definitely writes what she knows!  This was a well-written, tense thriller with plenty of suspects and twists to keep you turning the pages.  I also was very intrigued with the Cuban culture, religious beliefs, food and traditions that were key to this story.  This is the first book I've read by this author but I'm ready for more!

8.25.2022 - The Archer

Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut novel by Shruti Swamy and allowing me to participate in the blog tour.  4 stars!

Vidya grew up with the expectations of her father and tradition in the 1960s in Bombay.  She was expected to take care of her father and younger brother after her mother left.  She was expected to act like a girl and not play with the boys she so desperately wanted to.  She was expected to go to college and become an engineer, only to return home and take care of her father.  But when she sees a dance performance called Kathak, she is desperate to learn and perfect the art.  But can she dance and go to school, marry and have a child?  At what cost?

This was a beautifully written coming-of-age story that goes beyond the normal.  The author takes the reader on a journey of Vidya's experiences, where she is always facing others expectations based on her gender, race, class.  Always in the background of her choices is her elusive mother.  This was a slower read and it moves abruptly into different times of Vidya's life, which makes reading it a bit more of a challenge.  But it is haunting, beautiful and will definitely cause you to pause and think.

8.23.2022 - The Darkness of Others

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Cate Holahan - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Imani Banks is a psychiatrist in Brooklyn and her husband, Phillip, is a chef/owner at a popular Michelin star restaurant.  They have two kids that attend an exclusive private school.  Life is good.  Not so much for Tonya, a waitress in Phillip's restaurant.  It's the pandemic so the restaurant is struggling to stay open and Tonya's job is in jeopardy.  She is a single parent to Layla, who attends the same school as the Banks' children but on scholarship.  When Tonya gets evicted from her apartment, Phillip takes her in with Imani begrudgingly going along with it only for the money it will bring in.  The murder of Nate, a famous film producer and friend of the Banks, causes a major uproar - his wife and Imani's best friend, Melissa, is missing and presumed to be the killer.  But Imani knows she would never leave her daughter, Ava, behind.

Whew - lots going on there but Holahan made this a tense, well-written thriller that I couldn't put down until all the puzzle pieces were in place.  Told in various POV, this one will keep you guessing, even if you figure some things out.  I loved how the pandemic added another tense layer to this thriller by going back to the days of complete fear about everything without focusing on the pandemic deaths.   Don't miss this one!

8.21.2022 - Please Join Us

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest legal thriller by Catherine McKenzie - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Nicole works as an attorney, but has been warned by her boss that she isn't meeting the firm's expectations and her career is on the ropes.  Her home life is difficult too - her and her husband, Dan, live in a wonderful NYC apartment that belonged to Dan's aunt, who promised to let them buy it when she dies.  So when Nicole receives an email inviting her to join an exclusive women's empowerment/networking group, she puts Dan's objections behind her and joins the group, known as Panthera Leo, at a retreat in Colorado.  There she is pushed to confront her fears and become her best self - a new woman in a man's world.  When she returns home, she starts reaping the promised dividends - both her work and home lives improve.  Until the night she is called upon to help one of the other member's do something she could never have dreamed of.

What a quick paced, smart book - I loved it!  This story is told from the past, where we see Nicole's struggles and involvement in the group, and the present, where she is called upon to help another member.  From there, it gets moving quickly and you'll need to buckle up for all the twists and turns.  I really liked the cult-type aspect of this group and exploring how easy it is to control and manipulate people and their actions under the guise of self-improvement.  It's obvious that McKenzie, a former attorney, knows her way around the legal world - obviously a boy's club, which brings up the other theme in this book, #MeToo.  A great read!

8.20.2022 - What She Found

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing Thomas & Mercer for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest chapter in the wonderful Tracy Crosswhite police procedural series by Robert Dugoni - 5 stars!

Tracy is working on her own in the Cold Case office of the Seattle Police Department.  A reporter, Anita Childress, contacts her about her mom, Lisa Childress, who went missing almost 25 years ago.  Her dad was always presumed guilty but never charged because lack of evidence.  Lisa was also a reporter and had met a source in the middle of the night, never to be seen again.  Upon investigating, the case leads Tracy to members of her own department.

I've said before that I will read anything that Robert Dugoni writes because he is amazing at every genre!  But I love getting back involved with Tracy, her family and coworkers.  It goes without saying that this is a well-written police procedural, with Tracy investigating many different avenues.  I love Tracy's character and how she's determined to always do what's right, regardless of the consequences.  Some good life lessons thrown in here as well.  This whole series is highly recommended!

8.18.2022 - American Demon

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this nonfiction, true crime book by Daniel Stashower and perfectly narrated by Will Damron - 4.5 stars!

It was the 1930s and Cleveland was suddenly in the clutches of the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run, AKA The Torso Murders.  Over a dozen bodies were discovered over the years, each dismembered with surgical precision.  The city called upon its new Safety Director, Eliot Ness, fresh out of Chicago after working the Al Capone case and prohibition raids in Chicago (later known as the Untouchables).  

This story focuses both on the still unsolved murders (although the prime suspect is named) and the life of Ness.  It's a gruesome tale and the terror in the city's residents feels palpable.  If you only know of Ness' exploits as far as Al Capone, this is the next chapter in his life.  I especially enjoyed the author's take and personal family connections, as well as hearing about Cleveland in this time period.  My husband grew up in Cleveland and we lived nearby for years, so it definitely felt local, even all these decades later.  

8.18.2022 - Sophie Go's Lonely Hearts Club

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Berkley for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Roselle Lim - 4.5 stars!

Sophie Go is a matchmaker - she sees those red threads between potential perfect matches.  She went to Singapore to matchmaking school and has come back to Toronto to start her business.  But she never really got her certification - something she is trying to keep secret until she can get recertified.  She finally moves out of her parents' home and meets a group of seniors in her apartments, affectionately known as the Old Ducks.  They become her first clients.  

This is a wonderful mix of magical realism, romance and a heartfelt story - I loved it!  The thought of those thick, tangled glowing red threads between a perfect pair is a wonderful image.  Sophie's confidence and backbone have been tested throughout her life by a mean and domineering mother and she struggles to get move forward.  This book showcases the power of a wonderful, honest friend as well as those new friends that become like family.  I loved the nicknames of the Old Ducks and how their different personalities really came through but in a true way, not demeaning or stereotypical.  Just a great read!

8.16.2022 - Run Time

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the new thriller by Catherine Ryan Howard - 4 stars!

Adele Rafferty is down on her luck, working as a waitress in LA, after having a breakdown on her last acting job.   When she is contacted about a last-minute acting job in West Cork, she jumps at the chance to hopefully resume her acting career and her life.  The setting is very remote, in the middle of the woods, with a sparse crew.  Things just don't seem right from the beginning.  And they are only going to get worse.

This was a bit confusing - it's about a book within another book in a movie.  All with different but similar character names.  It was a bit long too which seemed to add to the confusion.   But it was a solid creepy thriller - nothing like filming a horror movie in the midst of the dark woods when everything seems to be going wrong.  This author's last book, 56 Days, was one of my favorites from last year so I went into this one with super high expectations.  I'm already anxious awaiting her next!

8.15.2022 - All Good People Here

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Bantam Books for gifting me a digital copy of the debut novel by Ashley Flowers - 4.5 stars rounded up!

In 1994, Margot was 6 and living across the street from her best friend, January, in small town Wakarusa, Indiana.  When January's body was discovered dead in a ditch and the killer never found, Margot was haunted by the fear that it could have been her.  Twenty years later, Margot comes back to Wakarusa to take care of her uncle who is suffering from early onset dementia.  When 5-year-old Natalie goes missing from the next town, Margot is convinced that the crimes are connected and uses her journalistic background to investigate.  But someone seems to want Margot to stop looking into the case.

Ashley Flowers is a true crime podcast host and obviously uses her experience to write a gripping thriller. I really felt for Margot as she tried so hard to do the right thing by taking care of her uncle as well as investigating these crimes.  The story is told in alternating timelines between January's family in 1994 and Margot's story in 2014, giving us background and lots of suspects.  I kept changing my mind as I turned the pages and the ending left me a bit stunned.  There are themes of small town life, where everyone thinks they know everyone else's story but do they?  I can't wait to read more from this author.

8.14.2022 - Daisy Darker

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by the wonderful Alice Feeney, wonderfully narrated by Stephanie Racine - 5 stars!

Daisy Darker's entire family is assembling for her Nana's 80th birthday at her gothic manor located on a tidal island.  Once the family assembles and the tide comes in, it will be 8 hours before they can leave.  The family arrives - Nancy (never called Mom), their father, the three Darker sisters (Rose, Lily and Daisy), their niece, and family friend, Connor.  But by the time the first of Nana's 80 clocks strikes midnight, Nana is dead.  An hour later, another family member is also dead.

I was so thrilled to get lost in another Alice Feeney world - and this one was fabulous!  I love a good locked room mystery, where the atmosphere is tense and a part of the plot, and everyone is suspect.  Everyone is holding on to secrets from their past as well as a whole lot of family dysfunction.  Clear your calendar and do not miss this book!  

8.13.2022 - All of This

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Harper One for gifting me a digital ARC of this honest and moving memoir by Rebecca Woolf - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Rebecca stayed in her marriage with husband, Hal, mostly for her four children.  But two weeks after she finally told Hal she wanted a divorce, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer at age 44 and was dead 4 months later.  With her husband's blessing, Rebecca (one of the first mommy bloggers) writes the story of those 4 months as well as her life afterwards, with total honesty.

This was a real look at a different kind of grief, the kind that no one talks about.  When the fact that a loved one has died brings more relief than it does sorrow.  Rebecca has a wonderful writing style and brings you along on her journey, being open about affairs, anger, relief, hope, and new beginnings.  I loved the joy they shared and the open communication she had with her children, even if doesn't go along with the normal sharing.  But that's the point of this whole book to me - we are all on different journeys and process our worlds differently.  This is a look into someone else's normal.  It was also a big nod to all the friends that Rebecca was blessed with who did so much for her and her family during this time.  They are all admirable people and we should all be so lucky to be surrounded by such support.

8.12.2022 - The Blame Game

 

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 thriller by Sandie Jones, wonderfully narrated by a favorite of mine, Karissa Vacker - 4 stars!

Naomi is a psychotherapist specializing in domestic abuse, having survived her own terrible childhood.  She is working with Jacob, a man who is being abused by his wife and is terrified; as well as with Anna, struggling after the loss of her son and disintegration of her marriage.  Both of these patients need her help and she struggles to draw the line about getting too involved.  But when Jacob's files go missing from her office and then he goes missing, the spotlight of suspicion points right to Naomi.

This was another fast-paced thriller by Sandie Jones.  There are plenty of twists and turns and I was kept guessing until the epilogue wrapped everything up!  There aren't any real likable characters here, although I certainly felt for Naomi and her desperation to help others out of bad situations.  The audio narration was perfect - Karissa Vacker is a master of different voices and I found myself gravitating to the audio more than the digital copy.  Pick this one up for any remaining trips to the beach this summer!

8.12.2022 - Haven

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little Brown & Company and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest treasure by a favorite, Emma Donoghue, hauntingly narrated by Aidan Kelly - 5 stars!

Taking place in 7th Century Ireland, a monk, Artt, has a dream that he needs to take two other monks, young Trian and older Cormac.  The dream states that they must leave the sinful world and travel to a deserted island to start a monastery.  They must leave behind all but the barest of essentials and travel to what is known today as Skellig Michael.  

I started reading the digital copy but soon switched full time to the audiobook, because the narrator's haunting voice added so much feeling to the words.  Emma Donoghue has once again created an entire world in which to immerse yourself, only to make you pause, think, and grow - which to me is what reading is all about. This book has so much to think about - as the three monks faced so very many trials, are these problems that God sends to teach us or are they from the devil to tempt us towards sin?  And the arrogance of so many religious leaders that do terrible things to others in God's name.  I am a Catholic and loved listening to the prayers and rituals of these monks.  The faith these men showed was so commendable but God also gave us free will to think about our actions, so maybe not such blind faith in man and more in God.  This book shows how fanaticism usually always leads down the wrong path.

Not an easy book or one for everyone, but one that I highly recommend!

8.10.2022 - The Housekeeper

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by one of my long-time favorites, Joy Fielding - 4.5 stars!

Jodi Bishop is stretched - she's the main breadwinner in her household while her husband, Harrison, works on his novel.  She works as a real estate agent in her father's company and they have two small children.  Her mother has Parkinson's disease and it has progressed enough that her father needs help with her care.  Jodi hires a live-in housekeeper, Elyse, to provide assistance.  Elyse seems like a dream come true and even watches Jodi's children when necessary and proves to be a good listener to Jodi's problems.  But be careful when things seem too good to be true!

I'm a huge fan of Joy Fielding's books - and this one was no exception.  It was a quick, satisfying read with plenty of twists to keep things interesting.  I also loved how the author had Jodi's voice give us clues as to events to come.  This should also be a cautionary tale, as the events in this story are sadly all too common.  Pick this one up for a good read! 

8.9.2022 - You're Invited

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Berkley Books for gifting me a digital copy of this very intriguing mystery novel by Amanda Jayatissa - 4.5 stars!

Amaya is surprised to get a personal invite to her ex-best friend's lavish wedding in Sri Lanka, especially since she and Kaavi haven't spoken in five years.  And because Kaavi is marrying Spencer, Amaya's ex-boyfriend.  But how can she not go?  She must stop this wedding.  When Kaavi goes missing and is presumed dead, Amaya quickly becomes the top suspect.

This was an expertly crafted mystery novel and I couldn't put it down.  It is told in the alternating voices of both Amaya and Kaavi, interspersed with interrogation transcripts of family members and other wedding guests.  There are plenty of secrets and lies among all the characters, in addition to the social media perspective thrown in.  Trust me, you will never see all the twists and turns coming your way, not until you turn that last page!  Lots of interesting facts about Sri Lanka weddings as well.  Definitely a must read!

8.6.2022 - Bend Toward the Sun

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press/St Martin's Griffin for gifting me a digital copy of this wonderful romantic story by Jen Devon - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Rowen is a botanist, burned by love and life, now licking her wounds on a friend's couch while she figures out her next moves.  Her friend takes her to a gathering where she meets Harrison, part of a big, loving family.  Harrison has his own issues - he's a doctor with anxieties that have driven him to take time off away from his practice in California.  He's staying with his family at their newly-purchased vineyard in Pennsylvania.  Can they make a connection?

My favorite reading genre leans more to the mystery/thriller side, but I'm also a sucker for a good, romantic story.  This was it.  I probably could have done without so much sex detail, but the rest was perfection.  Two broken people trying to come to terms with their pasts, each digging in to their own issues but unable to deny the sparks they feel.  I actually welled up with tears twice - the grape jelly and cloud tide stories - which rarely happens to me.  I fell in love with these characters and the Brady family as a whole.  

This was a fabulous debut and I loved hearing that the author is from Ohio and has an engineer for a husband (hmm...I'm from Ohio with an engineer husband!).  I loved learning about the plant and wine world in such a low key way.  Don't miss this one - can't wait to read more from this author!

8.3.2022 - Catch Your Death

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for gifting me a digital ARC of this mystery/police procedural by Lissa Marie Redmond - 4.5 stars!

Cold Case Detective Shane Reese runs into an old high school friend who invites him to a class reunion of sorts at an upscale spa/hotel he is opening in Upstate New York.  Shane brings along his friend and partner, Lauren Riley.  Shane was in a small class of gifted/talented students in school and one of their classmates was murdered, the killer never found.  Shane has been quietly investigating the case and is looking forward to the reunion because all the top suspects in her murder will be there.  But there will be another case to solve while they are there.

I love a good locked room mystery where everyone is suspect.  Add to that a remote spa that isn't open to guests yet on the eve of a huge snowstorm that shuts down the area and you have a thriller!  I have read Redmond's stand alone novels but was new to this series and it didn't subtract from my enjoyment.  I'm sure I would have liked it even more if I would have been privy to the complete backstory of Riley and Reese, but enough background was provided.  I loved the atmospheric element to this story, including the shout out to all the essential workers of Upstate NY!  I am on the other side of the state but feel as the author does about all those that keep the lights on and the roads clear under sometimes extraordinary challenges.  Can't wait to read more in this series!

8.2.2022 - Such a Good Mother

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by Helen Monks Takhar - 4 stars!

Rose O'Connell feels like she is keeping everything afloat by herself - her husband's jobs have dried up, they are living on a dime, and she desperately wants son, Charlie, to go to the famed Woolf Academy.  But from the first open night, she realizes she doesn't fit in with the other moms, especially those in the inner Circle, headed by school head, Amala.  When one of The Circle dies, Rose is surprisingly picked to join.  Suddenly the world opens wide for her and her family - but at what cost?

This was a well-written book even though most of the characters are very unlikeable!  It can be broken down to its basic premise - what does it mean to be a good mother?  And who is judging that?  Just what would we do to ensure the happiness of our children and family?  There are lots of mysteries and twists here, as Rose tries to escape from the hold her past has on her, yet not being able to forget those lessons her dad taught her.