6.29.2023 - Banyan Moon

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Book Club Girl, and Harper Collins/Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this fabulous debut by Thao Thai - 5 stars!

This is a multi-generational story narrated by Minh (grandmother), Huong (daughter) and Ann (granddaughter). The story begins with Minh's death and is followed by Ann's return to her grandmother's decrepit house situated next to a banyan tree.  Ann is going through a personal crisis, and wants to put the past aside and reconnect with her mother, as they both grieve the loss of Minh.  But there are many secrets passed down through this family holding everyone back.

What a gorgeously-written book!  We learned about Minh's past in Vietnam through her coming to Florida, as well as her voice from the grave, looking onto her daughter and granddaughter and giving additional context to the relationships.  While most readers' lives will look very different from those in this story, the relationships between these women felt so personal.  How decisions, words, mistakes, and feelings carry forward through the generations is something that we all can relate to.  The Banyan Tree house setting was fabulous too and just added layers to the story.  Plus, the Banyan Moon fable is wonderful and I loved its inclusion and meaning put forth by Ann.  A fabulous debut - can't wait to read more from this author!

6.28.2023 - The Rachel Incident

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Knopf Publishing Group for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Caroline O'Donoghue - 4.5 stars rounded up!

It's during the financial crisis in Ireland, and Rachel is working at a bookstore and going to university.  James is Rachel's coworker at the bookstore and they become the best of friends, finally deciding to become roommates.  Rachel becomes enamored of Dr. Fred Byrne, and James helps her set up an event at the bookstore to promote his new book.  But instead of on Rachel, Fred has eyes on someone else.  

This is a wonderful coming-of-age story and you can feel the angst through the pages yet it's filled with light and a lot of laughter.  It all felt so real as Rachel looks back into this time period from the present.  Besides the core group of characters, there is a host of others orbiting Rachel and James and I just loved how everything ended up.  There are a host of topics to delve into here but it's all about the relationships!  Great read!

6.28.2023 - The Spare Room

 

Many thanks to Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Andrea Bartz - 4 stars!

Kelly is feeling trapped - it's during the pandemic and she uprooted her life to move from Chicago to Philadelphia with her fiancé, Mike.  She has no friends there, no job, and now there's trouble between her and Mike.  She reconnects with a high school acquaintance, Sabrina, over social media.  Sabrina is now a successful romance author and her husband, Nathan, is a high-powered executive with the government.  Sabrina invites Kelly to come to stay in their gated mansion in Virginia for a break.  But Kelly wasn't prepared for the threesome relationship that unfolded, especially when she discovers that their last partner is now missing.

I'm a big fan of Andrea Bartz's thrillers but don't go into it expecting a constant thrill ride.  This is mostly a slow burn, relationship/character heavy book, with drips of mystery folded in.  I wasn't completely enamored with the throuple relationship aspect, but I loved the way I couldn't trust anyone in this book and the end twist was a complete surprise.  Bartz's writing steals the show as always and I enjoyed this one!

6.27.2023 - Ghosts of the Orphanage

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and PublicAffairs for gifting me a digital ARC of this nonfiction book by Christine Kenneally - 5 stars!

This is a meticulously researched account of 20th century orphanages and the atrocities within so many of them.  Mainly focused on St Joseph's, a Catholic orphanage in Vermont but with accounts from orphanages across the country and world.  More importantly, this is a story of the victims, whose abuses have been held secret, who were judged unfairly by daring to speak up years later.  It's how these abuses have permeated our institutions and society and were allowed to happen unchecked for so long.

As a Catholic and the daughter of someone who lived in an orphanage in Pennsylvania for years, I was both interested and horrified to read this book.  We as a society are well aware of the Catholic sex abuse scandal, but hearing from these victims is beyond disturbing.  In fact, the Catholic Diocese I live in is now in bankruptcy due to the resulting lawsuits, with no clear end in sight.  It's always amazing that religion and religious figures could have any part in abuse, but humans are human, sometimes very unfortunately.  This book is eye-opening and doesn't revolve only around Catholic abuse, but talks about the orphanage system in general during this time period.  We must do our best to make sure that this type of history is not repeated, and keeping the issue in the light is the first step.

6.25.2023 - Where the Dead Sleep

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the second in this wonderful police procedural series by Joshua Moehling - 5 stars!

Acting Sheriff Ben Packard is called to the scene of an early morning shooting of Bill Sandersen in his bed.  There are plenty of suspects, because Bill left a trail of broken hearts and debts in his wake.  That's not the only thing happening in Sandy Lake, Minnesota.  There's a shooting while Ben is investigating and it appears that he was the target.  Then the beloved sheriff dies and Ben must decide if he should run for office or not.

This was a fabulous follow up to And There He Kept Her and I can't wait for the next book in this series, but feel free to read this as a stand-alone if you must!  It's a tightly written police procedural, full of wonderful characters, and the small town feel adds to the story.  I was kept guessing until the end, which leads into promises of a third book - sign me up for that one, please!  A great series to put on your list!

6.23.2023 - The Quiet Tenant

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut thriller by Clémence Michallon - 5 stars!

Aidan Thomas is hard working and beloved by the small community in Upstate New York where he lives with his daughter, Cecilia, after her mother's death.  But Aidan is hiding a huge secret - he's a kidnapper and serial killer.  He has "Rachel" locked in a shed and she's been there over 5 years.  When Aidan and Cecilia have to move, he is forced to integrate Rachel into the household, telling Cecilia that she is a family friend in need of a place to stay.  Then there's Emily, a restaurant owner in town, who has a crush on Aidan.

This story is told from the POV of all the women currently in Aidan's life as well as those speaking from the grave.  I really loved the way this story was written, as we got background information in snippets, yet allowing us to see the big picture as well.  It's a bit of a slow burn as the author delves into these women's thoughts but it all worked for me and I couldn't put it down.  I can't wait to read more from this author!

6.22.2023 - You Can Trust Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine Bantam for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Wendy Heard - 4.5 stars!

Lee and Summer are two of a kind, both on their own and escaping from their pasts.  Now they live in Summer's old car and get by through pickpocketing and scams.  When Lee meets billionaire, Michael Forrester, he seems smitten and invites her to a party on his exclusive island.  Lee has her eyes on grabbing some photos or jewelry to sell.  But when Summer doesn't hear from Lee, she knows something is wrong.  She finds her own way onto the island and begins to search.  No one has seen here and there is no way off the island until after the weekend is over.  

Even though their profession isn't honorable, you will find yourself rooting for this female duo.  They are tough and trying to do whatever they need to in order to survive after terrible pasts.  I'm also a sucker for the locked-room mystery genre - they are stranded on an island with no means of escape and lots of untrustworthy people surrounding them.  Another great book by Wendy Heard!

6.20.2023 - What the Neighbors Saw

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the debut novel by Melissa Adelman and wonderfully narrated by Hillary Huber and Sarah Hollis - 4.5 stars!

Alexis and her husband Sam go beyond their means to buy a neglected house in the best neighborhood in a DC suburb.  They have a toddler, Alexis is pregnant, and they convinced the nanny to move in as well.  The neighbors seem welcoming, especially Blair and Teddy.  But when Teddy's body is found on the banks of the Potomac, fear runs through the neighborhood.  Alexis starts seeing people in the yard, and rumors are flying around.  

I love a juicy neighborhood story and this one fit the bill.  As long as you are willing to overlook a bit of men bashing (not a likable one in the bunch!) and a bit of an over-the-top twist, it's a book that is tough to put down.  The story is told from the POV of both Alexis and Blair, and both are keeping secrets about their pasts.  And those twists - you'll never see some of them coming!  It's a great escape book and I can't wait to read more from this author!

6.20.2023 - Charm City Rocks

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, Ballantine, Dell for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by a favorite, Matthew Norman - 5 charming stars!

Billy is happy.  He is an independent music teacher, teaching his students to love music and have fun at the same time.  He lives above Charm City Rocks, a record store, and his son, Caleb, a senior in high school, is his best friend.  Billy had a crush on Margot Hammer, the drummer for a now-defunct rock band, Burnt Flowers, who is far from happy.  She lives in NYC and is mostly a recluse, especially according to her daughter, Poppy.  When Caleb comes up with a scheme to get Margot to come to Baltimore, her label says she can't miss the publicity. Then an impromptu concert goes viral and everything changes.

This was the most charming book and I loved every minute.  Every character is perfect - from cardigan-wearing Billy, to sweet Caleb, to his mom, Robyn and co-dad Aaron, and Margot and Poppy of course, with lots of great supporting characters to boot.  I loved Billy's advice sessions with Caleb, Caleb's fear of leaving his parents lonely when he goes off to college, and everyone pulling together to raise a great kid.  It's a love letter to Baltimore, music and all things happy.  Must read! 

6.20.2023 - Night Will Find You

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new book by Julia Heaberlin (author of the wonderful We Are All the Same in the Dark) and narrated by the wonderful Karissa Vacker - 5 stars!

Vivvy Bouchet is always on the seesaw between science and the supernatural.  When she was young, she saved a boy’s life by making an impossible prediction. Now a brilliant young astrophysicist, she wants nothing more than to be left alone with the stars in the Big Bend country of Texas.  But the boy she saved, Mike, grew up to be a cop and he believes in her psychic abilities.  While she's at home going through her mother's affairs, he begs for her help in solving an old case of a missing young girl whose mother sits in prison for the crime.  A conspiracy theorist who has a radio show, Bubba Guns (gotta love that name!) invites her on and opens the floodgates of the media onto Vivvy's doorstep.  

This is such a wonderful book, exploring that fine line of faith and science.  Vivvy was raised by a mother who believed she had psychic abilities and has grown up listening to voices in her head.  Beyond all that discussion is a taut mystery with lots of intriguing characters, haunting atmosphere, and plenty of twists to keep you on the edge of your seat.  Another fabulous read by this author and Vacker's narration is pitch perfect as always - highly recommended!

6.19.2023 - The Five-Star Weekend

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest summer beach read by the one and only Elin Hilderbrand - 5 stars of course!

Hollis seems to have it all - the perfect marriage to a doctor, a successful food blog, a beautiful home, and a daughter in college, Caroline, who's doing well.  Then her husband, Matthew, dies in a car accident after they had an argument and her world collapses.  Months later, she hears about someone who held a five-star weekend and decides to do the same.  She invites her best friend from her teenage years, her 20s, her 30s, and now in her midlife.  Her relationship with her daughter has been fractured since Matthew's death, so Hollis invites her along to film the weekend.  But all these relationships are fraught with past hurts and secrets.

Elin's books just transport you to Nantucket in the summer and it's always the perfect backdrop for her stories.  I loved getting to know each of these characters and their stories, and they felt so relatable.  Plus, these books are always so positive and life-affirming - and can't we all use that this summer?  Don't forget to pack this one in the beach bag!

6.19.2023 - The Drowning Woman

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of Robyn Harding's latest thriller - 5 stars - I couldn't put it down!

Lee is completely down on her luck.  Her restaurant in NYC failed during Covid and she fled to CA to try and escape her debts.  Now she's living in her car and just trying to exist.  One night, while parked near the beach, she hears and sees a woman throw herself into the ocean and runs to save her.  The woman, Hazel, is furious that Lee rescued her and tells Lee that her husband is abusive and she just wants to be gone.  But the next morning Hazel appears at Lee's car and they begin a strange friendship.  Then Hazel tells Lee she needs her help to disappear.

Wow - this was one twist after another and I had no clue where it would all end up!  Which, of course, is the fun of Robyn Harding's thrillers.  This was so well written and I could feel the tension from each of the women caused by the circumstances they were in.  And the men - whew!  Pick this one up for sure!

6.16.2023 - Girls and Their Horses

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by Eliza Jane Brazier - 5 stars!

The newly wealthy Parker family move from Texas to Southern California for a fresh start.  Mom Heather is determined that her girls have all the advantages she didn't, including horses.  They sign up at a nearby riding complex and Heather soon becomes a "barn mom."  Maple, the youngest daughter, is mostly scared of horses and knows she's not as good as the other girls.  Piper, the more natural on a horse, is mad at her mom for the move and wants no part of the horse scene before she leaves for college.  But the whole family soon gets involved in buying a horse and being part of the riding community.  But everyone is out for themselves, keeping secrets, and someone winds up dead.

Oh, what delicious fun this was!  Drama between the girls, between the moms, the handsome horse trainer who all the women desire, then throw in a dead body!  The reader knows from the start that the police are investigating a death, but doesn't know who died.  Interview snippets are interwoven with the chapters from multiple characters POV.  All of these characters are perfectly believable and relatable, even though it may be on a different wealth scale.  I'm not a horse person but I raced through this book and loved it!

6.15.2023 - Speak of the Devil

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Press, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this intriguing novel by Rose Wilding and wonderfully narrated by Colleen Prendergast - 4 stars!

Seven women sit in a hotel room around the severed head of Jamie Spellman.  All of the women had reason to want him dead, but who did it and why?  The police are investigating and lives are at stake.

This book starts off with a gruesome premise of a severed head, and in the beginning there are so many characters and timeframes to keep track of.  But it's worth it to stick it out - it's a good mystery with seven obvious suspects and one nasty dead man.  As the book progresses, we learn why each woman has a particular reason to hate Jamie.  It's also a statement of how society treats and values women and how some men can exploit that.  This one may not be for everyone but it was a good read and I didn't guess the ending!

6.15.2023 - The Long Way Back

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

When a photo that Charlie took of her daughter, Eva, goes viral and Eva is having trouble at school, they make a decision to hit the road in a renovated Airstream and document it all on Instagram.  They are soon trending as they make their way across the country.  As Eva gets older and college looms, they decide to settle back home and Eva starts public high school for the first time.  When the two take a boat onto Lake Superior one afternoon, Charlie wakes up and discovers that Eva is gone.  Soon the authorities think she knows more than she is saying.

This is a wonderful mother-daughter relationship story at heart, with Eva anxious to spread her wings and Charlie holding on even tighter.  When Eva is missing and the investigation begins, Charlie learns that she might not have known Eva as well as she thought.  Told in various POV from both Charlie and Eva as well as through Instagram posts and Eva's college essays, which give you a glimpse behind the social media spotlight.  I never expected the turn of events and was glued to the pages to find out what happened.  Be sure to stick around and read the very important author's note.  Highly recommended!

6.14.2023 - The Woman Inside

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new thriller by M. T. Edvardsson and wonderfully narrated by Josh Dylan; Nathalie Buscombe; and Sofia Engstrand - 4 stars!

Bill, recently widowed and single parent to Sally, is desperate for money so takes in a boarder, Karla, to help with expenses.  Karla is an aspiring law student and works as a housekeeper for a wealthy couple. the Rytters.  The husband, who appears very controlling, has given Karla strict orders about not disturbing his ill wife, who seems intent on engaging Karla, leaving Karla to question if she is really ill.  Jennica lives along with her cat, Dog, and works on a phone advice line.  She meets a new man on Tinder but is he what he professes to be?  When the Rytters are both found dead, all these characters are questioned about their activities.

I loved the way this story spooled out - interwoven with the events leading up to the crime from their different POV are police interrogation tapes with all the suspects, so you get lots of different sources of information.  It's a bit of a slow burn as we learn how interwoven these characters are and learn all the secrets they are keeping.  And that ending - you won't see it coming!

6.12.2023 - The Little Italian Hotel

 

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

Ginny Splinter is a radio host and advice expert, so she knows that a surprise trip to Italy is the perfect 25th wedding anniversary gift to her husband, Adrian.  She found the perfect hotel where they can renew their vows.  However, Adrian has a surprise for her - he wants a divorce!  A rash proclamation on air about her heartbreak ends up with a contest for four strangers to join her on the trip to help heal them all.  

Phaedra Patrick has again created a wonderful world of quirky, charming characters as well as a love letter to Italy.  You'll feel like you are along on the journey with this eclectic group, as Ginny realizes it's much easier to talk about fixing other people's problems than it is to recognize and fix your own.  A heartwarming read that shows you the power of other people in our lives.  Pack along on your own vacation!

6.11.2023 - The Paris Daughter

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the new historical fiction novel by Kristin Harmel - 5 stars!

Two mothers, two daughters.  Elise and Juliette meet when they are both pregnant and become fast friends.  Though their lives are very different - Elise and her husband and artists and Juliette and her husband own a small bookstore - Elise finds peace in the bookstore and their young daughters also become the best of friends.  When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she does the only thing possible to save her daughter - she entrusts her to Juliette's care.  When she is finally able to return a year later, she's devastated to learn that the bookstore was bombed and both their worlds were destroyed.

This book explored the horrible choices so many had to make in wartime and the consequences of those choices.  It also explores friendship, loss, grief and the many different ways people process those feelings.  This certainly takes place in wartime but it's less a war novel than it is an exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, mother/daughter relationships.  I also loved how books and art played such an important part of this story and showed how both have healing powers.  It's also a cautionary tale about how grief can ruin lives, yet it's such a hopeful book as well.  This book was again wonderfully researched by Harmel and felt so real - be sure to read the author's note at the end.  Fabulous read - highly recommended!

6.10.2023 - Same Time Next Summer

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Annabel Monaghan - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Sam has spent every summer at her family house on Long Island Beach.  It was there that she met Wyatt, who lived next door.  They grew up together and moved from friends to first loves.  But then Wyatt left and broke Sam's heart.  Now she's back at the beach with fiancé Jack in tow, looking at wedding venues.  Jack is a doctor and perfect in all those ways that a fiancé should be - but is he perfect for her?  Then Sam learns that Wyatt is back on the island from California.  

This story is told in the past and present timelines, as we tag along as Sam and Wyatt's relationship grows and then explodes.  This book will transport you to summer, the beach and will have you remembering your first love.  It's full of great secondary characters as well, plus I love how her parents' personalities and house expanded while at the beach.  I fell into this book and didn't want to look up - perfect to pack along on your summer vacation!

6.8.2023 - The Second Ending

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut novel by Michelle Hoffman - 5 stars!

Prudence and her husband just dropped their youngest child off at college and Prudence is having a crisis.  She was a child piano prodigy, pushed abusively by her grandmother to be the best.  After a failed first marriage, she began writing commercial jingles and found much success.  She gets an offer to be on a piano duel reality show, but the attention it brings to her also brings her ex-husband to her door, demanding money over a discovered secret.  Her show rival, Alexei, is classically perfect but his upbringing has left him without friends or any kind of life away from the piano.  The show is the chance for each to prove something.

This was such a light, fun book yet one filled with an important message - it's never too late for dreams.  While Prudence comes across a bit snarky because she has no filter, I found myself rooting for both of these characters equally.  I loved how each chapter was a different song title and the love of music resonated throughout.  But mostly music for the love of music - something that can't be taught.  The ending was perfection!  Can't wait to read more from this author!

6.7.2023 - Drowning

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for gifting me a copy of TJ Newman's latest thriller - 5 stars for a book you won't be able to put down.

Six minutes after takeoff from Hawaii, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean.  During evacuation, an engine explodes and the evacuation is a disaster.  Twelve people inside the plane have to listen to Will, an engineer on board with his daughter, and they shut the exit door.  Then the plane sinks to the bottom and the passengers have only a small air pocket.  The elite rescue teams launch several plans to try and save the passengers, including one led by Will's estranged wife, Chris.

Wow - I could not go to sleep last night until I finished this book.  It is so intense from the very beginning as both the people inside the plane and the rescuers have to figure out how to work together for a successful outcome.  There is so much human emotion here and the fear is palpable.  I was completely impressed with the smartness of this read as well, although the terminology and science is made understandable.  I loved the twists - I just loved this book!  Highly recommended - but maybe not reading for your next flight!

6.6.2023 - Pedro & Daniel

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books RB Media for gifting me an audio ARC of this debut book by Federico Erebia and wonderfully narrated by Frankie Corzo and Tim Andrés Pabon - 4 stars!

Daniel and Pedro are Mexican American brothers growing up in Ohio in the 1970s.  Their mother resents that Pedro is darker like his father and that he likes dolls and not sports.  So he gets the brunt of his mother's abuse.  The brothers share a bond that continues throughout their life.

This book is based on the author's own childhood and provides the legacy that Daniel longed for.  It's a story that touches on so many difficult subjects - growing up gay, especially in the 1970s, racism, abuse, the abuses in the Catholic Church.  But it's also a story of loyalty and unbreakable bonds between brothers.  The audiobook was wonderful because there were different narrators for each brother and the spoken Spanish was beautiful.

6.6.2023 - The Celebrants

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Steven Rowley - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Six friends meet as transfer students to Berkley and form a tight bond. When one of the group dies before graduation, the rest make a pact - they can each summon the group together whenever they need it to have a "living funeral."  That way nothing will be left unsaid and they can know their worth to the group.

This is a wonderful story about friendship, especially those old friends who knew us and loved us when we were not fully formed, who have grown with us even as we grow apart.  I love the idea of making sure nothing is left unsaid, no matter how hard that may be.  All of these characters were wonderful and Rowley brings them to life with his trademark humor and emotion.  Another great read from this author!

6.5.2023 - The Girls of Summer

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this debut book by Katie Bishop and wonderfully narrated by Annabel Scholey - 4 stars!

Rachel is 17 years old and on holiday on an island in Greece.  There she meets Alistair, an older man with whom she quickly becomes obsessed.  She abandons her plans to return home to university and stays working at the bar with a group of friends, who spend their days and nights drinking and going to parties.  In present day, Rachel is married to Tom and they take a holiday on the same island, where a chance meeting with one of the girls from her past reignites her obsession with Alistair and makes her rethink her past recollections of that time.

This was a wonderful debut that explored really tough topics.  I liked the "then" and "now" versions of the story so that we can see what happened and how it affected Rachel in her present life.  This should definitely be a cautionary tale to young women, who can be so vulnerable and find it hard to say no.  Rachel was not a real likable character - her behavior when she was young is understandable, but her experience seemed to keep her in that perpetual state of bad decisions.  Anxious to read more from this author!

6.3.2023 - The Wishing Game

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut novel by Meg Shaffer - 5 magical stars!

Jack Masterson is the author and creator of the Clock Island series of children's books that have a cult-like following.  But he quit writing years ago under mysterious circumstances, and has been living quietly on a small island off the coast of Maine with his illustrator, Hugo.  Out of the blue, Jack announces that he has written a new book and will be having a contest, with the winner receiving the one and only copy.  However, the contestants are picked by invitation only and there are only 4 selected.  One of them is Lucy, who as a child ran away to Clock Island, wishing to be Jack's sidekick.  Now living on the other side of the country, she is barely surviving as a kindergarten aide and desperately wants to adopt Christopher, a little boy at her school who has seen such trauma in his young life.  But she's been told she doesn't have a home or a car and thus isn't eligible to foster or adopt him.  She's hoping that she can win the contest to make her wishes come true.

This was such a fabulous book - I raced through it but didn't want it to end!  It's similar to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but based around books, which of course is wonderful!  Extra fun is to be had with all the riddles and challenges in the book.  The cast of characters are so incredibly heartwarming, yet they all face real life problems and fears.  Facing your fears is a lesson that Jack has stressed in his books, and he has some of his own fears to conquer.  Highly recommended - would be a great YA book as well.

6.2.2023 - All the Sinners Bleed

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest thriller by S. A. Cosby and wonderfully narrated by Adam Lazarre-White - 5 stars!

After leaving the FBI, Titus Crowne is back in his hometown in Charon County, Virginia, and has become the county's first Black sheriff.  But a year into his tenure, a school shooting rocks the county.  A beloved teacher is shot down by a Black student, and Titus' white deputies fire a fatal shot.  The investigation uncovers many secrets, including that the student had been abused by the teacher and one suspect is still out there.  

There's a lot of current themes throughout this novel, as well as just a really good thriller/suspense story - racism, abuse, religion, family secrets, as well as views on police and school shootings.  I was pulled into this audiotape and listened every chance I had.  Titus was such a good character - would love to see more of him in another book, please!  

6.1.2023 - My Daughter's Boyfriend

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Daniel Hurst, and wonderfully narrated by Harrie Dobby and Tamsin Kennard - 4 stars!

Ellie is living at home with mom, Dawn, and is not happy at work or socially.  So when she meets handsome Daryl online and they form a quick attachment, she won't let the fact that she's in the UK and he's in America stand in their way.  She convinces Dawn to let her fly to LA to visit and Dawn agrees only if she can go along.  Daryl lives with his dad, Harvey, in a huge house with a pool and both mother and daughter are smitten.  Until Dawn discovers a photograph in the basement that shows Daryl is lying about a missing young woman.

This audiobook kept me on the edge and I liked the alternating viewpoints of both Ellie and Dawn.  Having two different narrators made things easy to differentiate.  While I thought that Dawn was a bit overprotective of her 24-year-old daughter, parents can totally relate with trying to keep their child out of harm.  Another great book by this author and loved the ending!