11.30.2022 - The Ingenue

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new novel by Rachel Kapelke-Dale, beautifully narrated by Stephanie Willis - 4.5 stars!

Saskia, a former piano prodigy, returns home to Milwaukee from NYC after her mother's death.  She expected to inherit The Elf House, a mansion passed down to the women in her mother's family.  However, she finds out that her mother's will left the house to someone in Saskia's past and she is both devastated and livid.  She begins digging into the reasons for her mother's bequest while in turn exploring her own past and secrets.

I really enjoyed the author's debut novel, The Ballerinas, and found this one very intriguing.  Each of the chapters begins with an excerpt from Saskia's mother's feminist fairy tale books, which were very relevant.  We go back into Saskia's past to explain her present frame of mind.  There's lots to delve into in this book - family secrets, mother/daughter relationships, how being a prodigy with all its expectations does to a child, the people who take advantage of that, and the "MeToo" movement are all explored.    The narrator did a wonderful job voicing all these characters and I loved listening to this one too!

11.29.2022 - A Heart That Works

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for gifting me a digital ARC of this heartbreaking and glorious memoir by Rob Delaney - 5 stars!

Rob and his wife, pregnant with Henry, their third child, moved from LA to London where he was busy creating and starring in a TV show.  But their world crashed around them when Henry was diagnosed with a brain tumor before his first birthday.  

I couldn't put this book down, even through my tears.  What an amazing family Henry was blessed to have and what wonderful care they gave him, as well as their other two children and their marriage.  This is a raw, unfiltered look at unfathomable grief, but also hope.  It's a thank you love letter to all those special people who care for sick people, especially sick babies and their families.  You will laugh, cheer, and rage along with the author.  He holds nothing back and we the readers are better for it.  I will definitely think twice about what I say to someone dealing with loss, as well as what to do and not to do.  Blessings to this family - a must read!

11.29.2022 - A Quiet Life

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for gifting me a digital ARC of the sophomore book by Ethan Joella - 5 sparkling stars!

Three people struggling with loss in a small Pennsylvanian town in winter.  Chuck's wife, Cat, died and he's filled with regret and sadness.  Ella struggles to exist while awaiting news about her missing daughter.  Kirsten's beloved dad was murdered and she can't move forward.  These three lives intersect as each try to navigate their new lives.

I absolutely adored Joella's debut novel, A Little Hope, and this one is equally as wonderful.  While each of these stories are sad, just like real life can be, you will be filled with hope and love as people come together to help each other.   It's about navigating grief and making a new normal.  It's also a reminder to live life as best we can so that we have as few regrets as possible and that we can, as Cat said, "Be someone's cardinal."  Highly recommended!

11.27.2022 - The Forever Witness

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for gifting me a digital ARC of this intriguing true crime book by Edward Humes - 5 stars!

Tanya Van Cuylenborg and Jay Cook were murdered during a trip to Seattle in the 1980s and detectives had few leads. There was only a single handprint on the outside of the young couple’s van. The detectives assumed Tanya and Jay were victims of a serial killer—but without any leads, the case seemed forever doomed.  Detective Jim Scharf couldn't let it go; when he was assigned to the Cold Case Unit, he made it a focus.  When new genetic DNA technology came into play, Detective Scharf chose the young couple's case to send for analysis.  

While this is definitely a true crime book, discussing all the details of this crime over the 30-year period, it's much more.  It's a look into how genetic DNA began and the pioneers who made it happen and made history.  It also looks into all the political, legal, and societal ramifications of this new technology and what we risk and gain by uploading our DNA into these genetic databases.  It's extremely well researched and fascinating - kudos to all law enforcement officers and genetic researchers who just want to bring a sense of closure and peace to these families.

11.24.2022 - Eligible

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of this modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld - 4 stars!

When Mr. Bennett has a health scare, Liz and Jane come back to Cincinnati from NYC to help out, even though Kitty, Lydia and Mary live there.  Mrs. Bennett is just anxious to marry off at least one daughter.  At a July 4th BBQ, Chip, fresh off a Bachelor-type reality show, takes interest in Jane, who is keeping a big secret from everyone.  At the same party, Liz meets Fitzwilliam Darcy, with much less enthusiasm.  

This was just so much fun.  I loved Mr, Bennett's humor and even though I sadly don't remember details of Pride and Prejudice, I thought this modern telling was just so much fun.  I'm sorry it languished on my TBR pile for so long!

11.23.2022 - Before You Knew My Name

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut novel by Jacqueline Bublitz - 4.5 stars!

Alice Lee, newly turned 18, and Ruby Jones, 36, both arrive in NYC looking for an escape and fresh starts.  But a month later, Alice is dead, the city's newest Jane Doe, and Ruby is the one to find her body.  Alice knows that Ruby can reclaim her name and solve the mystery of her death, while Ruby is trying her best to forget what she saw.

I thought this was a beautifully-written story that allows us hear the voice of the dead and forgotten, to name them, and have them count.  It's heartbreaking but also full of hope and new beginnings.  But dig further and it's a commentary on the fear for their safety that all women live with, where our politeness and fear of hurting someone's feelings overtake our own intuitions.  Much to think about in this book - can't wait to read more from this author.

11.21.2022 - Never Lie

 Many thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and Hollywood Upstairs Press for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest thriller by Freida McFadden, narrated by Leslie Howard - 4 stars!

Newlyweds Ethan and Tricia are searching for their dream house.  But when they visit the deserted mansion once owned by famous psychiatrist, Adrienne Hale, who disappeared 4 years ago, and in the middle of a blizzard, things don't turn out the way they planned.  Tricia finds a secret room with tape recordings Adrienne made of all her patient sessions and starts listening to them, unbeknownst to Ethan.  That's just one of the secrets here.

While you may have to suspend belief a lot of the time, this was still a twisty thriller that kept me engrossed to the end.  Plus, the remote setting during a blizzard added to the suspense of the book.  I totally guessed wrong with the direction of the book, so the twist was very surprising!  The narration worked well and was easy to follow, even with multiple characters.

11.20.2022 - I Know Where You Live

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for gifting me a digital ARC of the newest fiction book by a long-time favorite, Gregg Olsen - 4 stars!

Violet has never gotten over the sexual abuse she experienced from her grandfather, nor the fact that neither her mother or grandmother did anything about it.  But when her Papa shows up at her wedding when he was expressly told to stay away, that was it for her.  When he suffers an allergic reaction at the wedding and later dies, Violet is relieved.  Then she realizes that she's not the only one in her position who needs help living with abuse.

Lots of abuse trigger warnings in this one, but the author is sensitive to the feelings of the victims.  Told in short chapters from Violet, her sister, Lily, and mother, Rose, we learn how the abuse affected the entire family.  This is a good look into inherited trauma, the consequence of lies and secrets in families all tied up in a very suspenseful read.  

11.18.2022 - A Sliver of Darkness

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful collection of short stories by CJ Tudor - 4.5 stars rounded up!

CJ Tudor writes the creepiest stories and I've loved all her books.  While not typically a fan of short stories, these really worked for me, especially because before each one, she wrote an introduction to the story.  Loved that glimpse into how the story came to be.  I had quite a few favorites but End of the Liner was probably the top - just a really good dystopian story that worked on so many levels.  But there was definitely something for everyone here - from dark humor to really disturbing!

A must read if you are a fan of CJ Tudor and her creepy, dark, wonderful imagination!

11.17.2022 - Book Lovers

Nora Stephens loves books - both in her personal life and in her business life as a cutthroat literary agent.  She thrives in the bustle of NYC and grudgingly goes along to Asheville, NC, on vacation with her pregnant younger sister as part of a tribute to one of Nora's author's best selling book.  They have a list of things they must accomplish while there.  Nora keeps running into Charlie, an editor that she met in NYC who wants to work on this author's latest book.  They've never been each other's biggest fans.  But maybe time together can change all that.

Another fabulous rom-com by Emily Henry - definitely a must read author for me.  And this is a book about books - it just adds to the must read!  While I felt at some points that it was a bit too bodice-ripping, this had lots of good themes about being true to yourself, grieving, familial responsibility.  Julie Whelan's narration was amazing!

11.16.2022 - Dark Rivers to Cross

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for gifting me a digital ARC of Dark Rivers to Cross by Lynne Reeves - 4.5 stars!

Lena's past is catching up to her.  She is running a successful river lodge in Northern Maine with her two sons, Jonah and Luke.  The boys were always told they were adopted and Jonah is desperate to know his true roots, while Luke is content with life the way it is.  Jonah's quest threatens to change everything.

I really liked this book and the way it explored difficult subjects.  While it's a tense, atmospheric thriller, the beginning dedication says it all - For women torn between impossible choices.  What would we do to protect our children?  What cost will they pay for those decisions?  What toll does trauma take on all parties involved?  The story is told in different timelines as we get the backstory of why Lena made the decisions she did.  A great read!

11.15.2022 - The Collector

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the second in this series of Danish crime books by Anne Mette Hancock and wonderfully narrated by Laura Jennings - 4.5 stars rounded up!  If you didn't read The Corpse Flower, this works well as a stand-alone, but much better together to see the character progression!

Ten-year-old Lukas disappeared from school and, unknown to his parents, he appears to have an interest in pareidolia, or seeing faces in inanimate objects.  Journalist Heloise Kalan's friend was the last to see Lukas at school.  Another of Heloise's friends, Detective Eric Schafer, is back from vacation and on the case to find Lukas.  When is jacket is discovered in the river, DNA is traced back to a soldier suffering from PTSD.  But things aren't what they appear to be.

I thought this book was even better than the first.  It's a really intriguing look into what we see and how we process it.  Just like Lukas' fascination with seeing faces in objects, how trustworthy are our eyewitness recollections?  How easy is it to overlook something important in the mundane?  This is a wonderful police procedural made better because it's a journalist and a detective, friends but with sometimes contrasting goals.  I can't wait to read more books in this series!

11.13.2022 - None of This Would Have Happened if Prince Were Alive

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster/Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Carolyn Prusa - 4.5 stars rounded up!

A Category 4 hurricane is heading right towards Savannah, Georgia, and that isn't even the worst of Ramona's issues.  Over the next 48 hours, we go along for a crazy ride as she navigates her life - including a cheating husband, a demanding boss, a stubborn mom, and being responsible for two young kids and a stray neighbor, along with an assortment of animals. 

This book was just pure entertainment and I laughed out loud more times than is polite to mention.  Please don't tell me how serious all these issues are - they are! - but this book just makes you smile!  It's so relatable and just so much fun - don't miss this! 

11.11.2022 - Flight

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful novel by Lynn Steger Strong - 5 stars!

Siblings Henry, Martin and Kate have come to Henry and Alice's upstate New York home with their spouses and families to celebrate Christmas.  This will be the first Christmas since their beloved mother, Helen, died and the first not celebrated at her home in. Florida.  Each of the sibling couples have issues between themselves and each other, which are amplified with their grief as well as a disagreement over what to do with their mother's home.

This was such a beautifully written novel.  I did have some trouble keeping the characters straight in the beginning but soon got lost in the story and that worked itself out.  This is such an honest look into how everyone processes feelings of grief, siblings, parenthood, art, and even money differently.  This one really touched my heart - highly recommended!

11.11.2022 - Sunset Beach

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Mary Kay Andrews - 4.5 stars!

Drue Campbell is down on her luck - her mom just died, she's trying to recover from injuries sustained from her kiteboarding career, she's been fired from her waitress job, and has no prospects.   When her estranged dad shows up at her mom's funeral, he informs her that she has inherited her grandparents' cottage on Sunset Beach, and also offers her a job at his law firm.  But the downside is that her dad has married her old best friend, and she's her new boss.  When Drue discovers some newspaper clippings about a missing woman in her mom's possessions, she starts looking into the case.  She also starts quietly investigating the death of a young woman at a nearby hotel - and starts questioning the involvement of her father or his law firm.  

This is definitely not just a light beach read - I really got interested in this story and characters from the beginning.  While there's just the slightest hint of romance, there are multiple mysteries to be solved.  Drue is a wonderful character and you'll be rooting for her the whole time.  I also loved the author's note at the end of the book describing her own beach cottage adventure.  A must read!

11.10.2022 - Now is Not the Time to Panic

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ecco for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful novel by Kevin Wilson - 5 stars!

In the 1990s in Coalfield TN, two teenagers who have both lost their dads and feel lost and lonely, come together and create art.  Frankie wants to be a writer and comes up with a quote; Zeke wants to be an artist and illustrates the poster.  They sign it with drops of their blood.  Then with a copier in the garage stolen by Frankie's brothers, they make copies and start putting them all around the town.  But the townspeople get scared and bad things start happening.  Twenty years later, Frankie is now married and the mother of Junie, living now in KY, gets a phone call that threatens to expose her.

Oh my gosh, did I love everything about this story.  I loved how the writer's note was the beginning of the story, explaining the phrase and making me already love the story before I started to read.  This is a sweet coming-of-age story about two young people who don't fit in with anyone but themselves, trying to express themselves in art, and make a spot in the world.  It's about friendship and secrets that both unite us and set us free.  It's an absolute must read!  

11.8.2022 - The Family Game

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine Books for granting my wish and gifting me a digital copy of the latest thriller by Catherine Steadman - 4.5 stars!

Harry is a novelist who just moved from England to the US where her fiancé, Edward, lives.  Edward is Uber-wealthy, coming from a very powerful family, the Holbecks.  Edward has been somewhat estranged from the family but engaged and with Harry newly pregnant, they accept an offer from Edward's sister to join the family for Thanksgiving.  There, Harry is introduced to Robert, the patriarch of the family, who slips her a secret cassette tape that he says she must listen to.  It gets weirder from that point, with Harry becoming involved with the games this family plays - and these aren't your average board games.  This family plays to win at all costs.  But Harry is keeping her own secret that she doesn't want the family to know.

While this one is definitely a bit over the top, I dove deep into this book and didn't want to stop reading.  It's mad fun trying to figure out how it will all end up and the ending was quite satisfying.  Block out some time to play The Family Game!

11.6.2022 - The Last Party

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the newest book by a favorite, Clare Mackintosh.  5 stars!

Rhys Lloyd hosts a big party on New Year's Eve to celebrate the beginning success of new investment properties on Mirror Lake.  The properties are on the border of England and Wales, and are a huge bone of contention with the Welsh townspeople, so Rhys extends an invitation to some of them as well.  But by midnight, Rhys is dead.  And pretty much everyone had a reason to kill him.

Clare Mackintosh is such a skillful writer - if you haven't read I Let You Go, you must!  Still one of my very top favorites.  And this one is another winner and it kept me turning the pages as quickly as I could.  We are introduced to Detectives Leo Brady and Ffion Morgan, from different departments brought together to investigate this murder.  There are a lot of characters, pretty much all suspects, and we hear from many of them, including past timeframes, and everyone has secrets.  More good news - this is the first in a series featuring Ffion Morgan - can't wait to read more!

11.5.2022 - American Mother

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Bookouture Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest true crime novel by the one-and-only Gregg Olsen and wonderfully narrated by Karen Peakes - 4.5 stars!

A few years after the Tylenol tampering tragedies, Stella Nickell is on trial for lacing Excedrin capsules with cyanide, causing both her husband and a complete stranger to die.  Gregg Olsen meticulously researches the background and family of Stella, including Cindy, the daughter who would later testify against her in court.  

I have been a true crime junkie since my teens, and have eagerly awaited Olsen's books, whether his true crime or fiction books.  I really enjoyed listening to the discussion between the narrator and author at the end of the book, as well as his afterword.  It's so frightening to think that someone could be so evil as to tamper with a product that could kill any one of us.  In this case, as in so many, it all comes down to money.  Another winner by this author!

11.3.2022 - Carry the Dog

Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for gifting me both a physical and digital ARC of this wonderful book by Stephanie Gangi and allowing me to participate in the blog tour - 5 stars!

Bea is nearing 60, still relying both for financial and emotional support on her ex-husband, Gary, an aged rock star who isn't able to reciprocate well.  Bea's childhood was fraught with trauma.  Her mother, Miri, was a photographer who exploited her children to get those perfect shots, in a series dubbed The Marx Nudes.  It all ended in tragedy and Bea has been mostly estranged from her remaining family ever since.  Decades later, both Hollywood and the Museum of Modern Art are courting her for projects involving her mother's photos, which have been kept in a storage space.  

I adored this book, even though the subject matter of childhood trauma and exploitation is a serious one.  Bea had to come to terms with her past before she could move into a new future, and she realizes that she had one memory of her past that was different from reality.  As we age, I think we are all forced to face our pasts and become comfortable with our face in the mirror in more ways than just looks.   I loved these characters, flaws and all.  This is a coming-of-age story for grownups and gave me so much to think about.  I also loved the author's note, so be sure to read that.  Can't wait to read more from this author!

11.2.2022 - Haunted in America

Many thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest book by Leslie Rule and narrated by Lisa Flanagan - 4 stars!

This audiobook contains ghost stories from the author's previous four books as well as updates and additions.  Never having read these books, I was intrigued to listen to all these different stories from around the country, divided into chapters devoted to hotels, amusement parks, restaurants, etc.  

I started listening to this on Halloween and finished on All Souls Day - how perfect is that?  While I'm a huge fan of the infamous Ann Rule and her daughter, Leslie, I had only read her true crime book so all of these stories were new to me.  No matter what you think about ghosts and spirits, this book will make you wonder.  The author has meticulously researched all of these events and gives you the facts as she knows them.  Fascinating to listen to and the narration by Lisa Flanagan was perfect!