7.4.2024 - The Unraveling

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for gifting me a digital copy of the debut thriller by Vi Keeland.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

NYC psychiatrist Meredith McCall is struggling with all the events surrounding the death of her husband.  When a man walks into her office that looks familiar, she finds herself crossing all her personal and ethical lines.

That's a short and sweet synopsis but I think you are best going into this one as blind as possible.  This story pulled me in from the beginning, with multiple timelines and an unreliable narrator.  The therapy sessions were intriguing, and I really felt for Meredith's mindset.  Yes, she veered off into questionable behavior, but who could blame her?  There were plenty of twists and turns but that last paragraph had me gasping!  As a romance writer, this one has some steamy scenes, but this is a wonderful psychological thriller that has me anxiously awaiting more from this author.

7.3.2024 - The Same Bright Stars

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Scribner for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest release by a favorite, Ethan Joella.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 bright stars!

Three generations of Schmidts have run their family's Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, seaside restaurant.  Since his father's death, Jack has put everything else second to the demands of the restaurant.  He can't even remember having a minute to himself.  The DelDine group has been buying established restaurants along the coast, turning them into cookie-cutter operations.  When they approach him with a very generous offer, he is adamant that he won't sell, until his life takes a sudden curve.

I have loved each of Joella's books, and this one is no exception.  He writes straight from the heart, exploring issues such as grief, relationships, trust, and community.  There are so many characters to root for in this book, which is also a love letter to Rehoboth Beach.  I won't be alone in wanting to explore this little town after reading this book.  While this story is emotional and will cause you to feel,  laugh and cry, it never veers to the maudlin or sappy - it's perfect and highly recommended!  Be sure to pack this one (along with his others!) in your vacation beach bag, maybe to Delaware?

7.2.2024 - The God of the Woods

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Riverhead Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Liz Moore.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

In August 1975, a teenager camper is discovered missing from her bunk at summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains.  However, Barbara is also the daughter of the family that owns the camp and this isn't the first time that a Van Laar child has gone missing.  Barbara's older brother disappeared 14 years ago and has never been found, nor has their family been the same since.  A panicked search begins.

This story draws you in slowly until you can't put it down.  Told from multiple POV and timelines, we hear from. Louise, camp counselor,; Tracy, Barbara's  bunkmate; Barbara's mother, Alice; and a young police investigator, Judyta, who was a wonderful character you'll be rooting for.  This is an ambitious book but it is brilliant in execution, with multiple mysteries spanning generations.  It is richly atmospheric - I live in the foothills of the Adirondacks, and loved all the local mentions, and the deep woods add another mysterious element, complete with a few ghost stories.  It also delves into classism, sexism, motherhood, especially in the time periods covered in this book.  The ending was pitch perfect.  Highly recommended and a must read this summer!

7.1.2024 - Storm Child

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Scriber for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest in the Cyrus Haven series by a favorite, Michael Robotham.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

As Cyrus and Evie are at the beach, a boat carrying migrants washes ashore.  There is only one survivor, a teenage boy, who tells the police that their boat was intentionally rammed and sunk.  Seeing the bodies, Evie has a break and requires a short hospitalization.  As Cyrus begins to investigate the situation, more of Evie's memories come back.  But will they be safe as they look into this situation?

I loved how this installment lets us in on more of Evie's past, while also introducing some new characters into the series, leaving me very excited about more books to come in the future.  This is a wonderful series with such great main characters, both living after experiencing intense trauma in their early lives.  Cyrus is a psychologist who is completely focused on caring for Evie, straddling the line between protecting her and letting her live.  Evie, so tough on the outside but still struggling, also straddles that line.  This book also portrays both sides of the immigration debate, but unlike some books I've read lately, does not push the author's opinions or agenda on readers, just giving them food for thought on both sides.  Fast paced and action packed, this is a must read in this series!