10.31.2024 - Rolling Toward Clear Skies

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing/Amazon Publishing, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Catherine Ryan Hyde, with the audio wonderfully narrated by Kate Rudd.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Maggie is a physician, divorced single mother to two teenage girls, and the founder of Doctors on Wheels with Alex, a nurse and her romantic partner as well.  When disaster strikes, they go wherever they are needed to help out free of charge.  When they get to rural Louisiana after a Category 5 hurricane, she forms a bond with two teenage girls who have lost everything and Maggie refuses to leave them behind when she returns home.  But the two girls are polar opposites to Maggie's own daughters, who are entitled, used to getting whatever they want, and not happy about these new strangers in their lives.

I can never resist the pull of a novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde because, while you know you're getting a good story, there are always so many life lessons intertwined.  Here, we see how the best of intentions in parenting may cause unwanted consequences for everyone.  It's definitely a story of the difference between the have's and the have not's, and in the wake of so many natural disasters recently, will make you grateful and hopefully more aware.  It's also a cautionary tale about teenagers and social media, which always makes me feel relieved that I didn't have to navigate that when my kids were growing up.  Always a treat so don't miss it!

10.30.2024 - Holiday Hideaway

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing/Amazon Original Stories for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful holiday short story by the queen, Mary Kay Andrews.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Tilly is down on her luck.  Recently divorced and broke, she's living in one of her rental agency's properties until she can move into her new apartment.  Then the owner shows up and Tilly is forced to hide in the attic.  George is back in town to get the house ready for sale after his granduncle died.  

As you would expect from Mary Kay Andrews, this is just a sweet holiday romance that will have you rooting for the characters and laughing along with them.  You can easily read it in a sitting - don't miss it as we head into the holiday season!

10.29.2024 - Like Mother, Like Mother

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Dial Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Susan Rieger.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

In 1960, Lila Pereira is just 2 years old, with an older brother and sister, when their abusive father has her mother committed to an asylum in 1960.  Lila never sees her mother again; years later, he tells the children that she died there.  Decades later, she is at the peak of her career as executive editor of The Washington Post.  She prioritized her career, leaving childcare to her husband, Joe.  Grace, their youngest, feels abandoned and wishes for a different type of mother.  Grace becomes a reporter and writes a book about her childhood and becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to Zelda, Lila's mother.

This is a wonderful character study and domestic drama wrapped into one highly-readable book.  It would be a good book club pick, with so much to discuss - motherhood, parenthood, marriage, ambition, and past trauma.  This book explores how their upbringing affected three women of different generations.  It's an exploration of how things have changed between men and women, yet how many things have remained the same.  When Lila works nonstop and leaves childrearing to her husband, it's scandalous, yet it's the norm when reversed.  Grace feels compelled to find out what happened to her grandmother, thinking that she can't know who she is unless she knows where she came from.  But will that knowledge bring her peace or closure?  Great book!

10.29.2024 - This Girl's a Killer

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the debut book by Emma C. Wells, with the audio perfectly narrated by Stefanie Kay.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 5 stars!

Meet Cordelia Black.  By day she's a successful pharmaceutical rep with a pristine reputation and a designer wardrobe.  But there are the nights where she rids the world of monsters – those men who have escaped justice.  She has rules – she must see the smoke in their eyes to know they are truly evil.  She has everything meticulously planned out and has evaded capture herself.  However, the news has caught on that there are missing men in the area and some have thrown around the words “serial killer.”  Things become worse when her best friend, Diane, starts dating a man that Cordelia is convinced is bad.  And he might just be the end of her too.

This book was amazing!  And a debut?  Sign me up for anything that this author writes in the future, please.  It was that perfect blend of dark, snarky humor that I just love with a suspenseful story line.  Cordelia was an amazing character – always trying to stay one step ahead in both her professional life and her personal passion.  She’s the best friend and godmother yet has a secret life no one would ever guess.  When everything starts falling apart, you just can’t look away.  There were twists and turns and lots of crazy, over-the-top adventures which made this one of the most fun books I’ve read in a while.  And the narration was top notch as well!

10.27.2024 - The Lake of Lost Girls

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Dreamscape Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the second thriller by the best friends writing duo known as Katherine Greene, with the audio fabulously narrated by the cast of Helen Laser, Frankie Corzo, Sara Young, Haley Taylor, and David Bendena.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

It's 1998 and female students are going missing at Southern State University in North Carolina.  Jessica Fadley, a promising student who began struggling, is the latest to disappear.  Twenty-four years later, Jessica's sister, Lindsey, uses the interest in a new true crime podcast focusing on the case, Ten Seconds to Vanish, to help her own investigations into what happened to her sister.  Then bodies of the long-missing women start turning up at a local lake.

Wow - this book was fantastic!  I both read the digital version and listened to the wonderful audio, which is my favorite way to get totally immersed into a story.  Having a whole cast made the audio production top notch and I couldn't put it down.  The story alternates between both timelines as we follow Jessica on the lead up to her disappearance, and in the present as Lindsey tries to put all the pieces together of her sister's life.  In between, we get snippets of the podcast to amp up the tension and suspense.  There were plenty of suspects and creepy behavior that will keep you guessing, and the ending just totally blew my mind in the best possible way!  If you like thrillers, this is an absolute must read!

10.25.2024 - When We Chased the Light

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing/Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the new historical fiction book by Emily Bleeker.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

In the present, Christie's Auction House is preparing to sell the belongings of Hollywood star Vivian Snow.  Her great-granddaughter is there, wanting a collection of postcards sent to Vivian over 60 years by her best friend, Antonio Trombello, an Italian solder, POW,  and Catholic priest.  Vivian met Antonio when singing at the local USO club and met her first husband, Tom Highward, there as well.  When Tom goes missing, and Vivian is pregnant, she has to support her family by traveling and entertaining the troops.  Her life gets complicated through a series of romances and personal issues.

The book before this one, When We Were Enemies, goes in depth to Vivian's backstory of meeting Tom and Antonio, and this book explores all that happens next.  While it could be read as a standalone, since enough backstory is provided, it's such an interesting book that I would recommend reading it first.  This book explores a lot of themes - abuse, addiction, mental illness, motherhood, guilt, the price of fame - but it's told in a way that never becomes depressing.  We see the toll life has taken on Vivian and the results of her decisions passed on to the next generations.  I liked the auction notes in between the chapters to see the progression of Vivian and Antonio's friendship through the years, and the epilogue tied everything up perfectly.

10.23.2024 - Run

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine for gifting me a digital ARC of this thriller by a favorite, Blake Crouch.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

The world has gone crazy and Jack and his family are running for their lives.  It started with widespread rage, then murders, and then it took over.  But what is happening?  Jack's only chance is to run.

This is republished from the author's first self-published book, which is hard to believe considering where he is today.  Maybe 10+ years ago, this story was too far out, too gory, too everything?  But to me, while this is certainly an apocalyptic one, it's very easy to extrapolate similar events to what our country is going through in current times?  Unchecked rage and hate?  Check.  One side vs another?  Check.  Way too many guns in the wrong hands?  Check.  Not knowing who you can trust?  Check.  Even though it was very violent, I read this book with my heart in my throat wondering how Jack and his family would survive.  I thought it was fascinating that the phenomena of the aurora borealis caused people who viewed it to change.  A smart, but gory, sci-fi thriller that will keep you glued to the pages.

10.23.2024 - Never Trust the Husband

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest domestic thriller by Jessica Payne.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Madeline wasn't expecting to fall in love, but Benjamin swept her off her feet and they were soon married.  Their honeymoon had to be changed because of weather, so instead they took a camping trip with their friends.  While taking pictures of the night sky, Maddie disappears and is presumed dead.  Three years later, Benjamin is married again to Maddie's best friend, Gwen.  Rebecca is trying to avenge Maddie's death and is determined to seek justice.  

This was a twisty thriller with alternating timelines.  I never figured out exactly what happened and was surprised by the ending, always a treat!   There were lots of suspects and questionable behavior from just about everyone.  

10.22.2024 - Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful Christmas-themed short story by Benjamin Stevenson.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Ernest Cunningham gets a frantic call from his ex-wife saying that she needs him.  Under the guise of seeing a magic show by world-famous magician Rylan Blaze, Ernest meets up with Erin in jail.  Covered in blood with no good alibi or knowledge of what happened, Ernest begins investigating, and there are plenty of other suspects.

Told in the form of an Advent calendar, this is pure Ernest Cunningham fun.  Believing in the Golden Age Mystery rules, Ernest "talks" to the reader, giving all the clues necessary to solve the mystery.  But I'll bet no one but Ernest could solve it, even with all the clues.  It's absolutely pure fun in the best of ways that only Benjamin Stevenson can pull off.  While this novella could certainly be read on its own, the first two books in this series are too good to miss, so read them first!  Highly recommended!

10.22.2024 - Catch You Later

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing/Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Jessica Strawser.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Mikki and Lark have been best friends forever, both working at the same highway truck stop in Ohio.  Everything changes when a stranger comes into the truck stop and asks Mikki to accompany him on a road trip to his sister's wedding in Florida - and she accepts, much to Lark's chagrin.  Mike is supposed to come back after the weekend and never returns.  Eight years later, Lark is in the same small town, trying to build a life without Mikki, when the stranger who Mikki left with suddenly appears back at the truck stop, asking for her.  

I am a big fan of Jessica Strawser, and her books are always a 5-star read for me.  In her latest novel, she once again gives us strong women characters, even when they are messy and flawed.  Because aren’t we all?  Mikki and Lark have been best friends in a small town where they dreamed of more.  I loved that the bond continued even when Lark was conflicted about what happened to Mikki.  The small town atmosphere felt real and claustrophobic to Lark as everyone had an opinion of her and Mikki.  Told between Mikki’s POV beginning with that fateful road trip and Lark’s in the present, it was the perfect way to give the reader a look into how Mikki’s actions in the past affected Lark now.  Mikki’s grandmother, Nini, was a hoot as well as being supportive.  I couldn’t put this one down until I knew what happened to Mikki - highly recommended!

10.22.2024 - Beyond Reasonable Doubt

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Amazon Publishing, Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by the wonderful Robert Dugoni, and the second in the Keera Duggan series, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Saskia Maarleveld – 5 stars!

Jenna Bernstein, disgraced CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover.  Three years early, Keera Dugan’s father successfully defended Jenna when she was tried for killing the company’s chief medical scientist who threatened to go public with allegations of corporate fraud.  Jenna now wants Keera to defend her against the latest allegations, but Jenna and Keera have a history since childhood, and Keera knows that trouble follows Jenna.  

Dugoni has done it again, written a gripping police procedural/legal thriller that kept me guessing until the end.  I really like Keera’s character – smart, confident, driven, flawed – and how she interacts with people both professionally and in her family life, especially with her dad.  This book has Keera defending her childhood nemesis, and she doesn’t trust Jenna to be honest with her.  But with so much on the line, the two must rely on each other.  Keera’s chess prowess once again comes into play as she must think one step ahead.  The ending was perfect and I can’t wait for more in this series!

10.21.2024 - Framed

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for gifting me a digital ARC of this nonfiction book by the collaboration of John Grisham and Jim McCloskey.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

John Grisham teamed up with the founder of Centurion Ministries, Jim McCloskey, to take an in-depth look at ten stories of innocent people wrongly convicted.  Each chose five stories and wrote them independently from the other.  Grisham's stories were pulled from the headlines and investigation, whereas McCloskey's were from his company's personal experience trying to get these wrongful convictions overturned.

Each of these stories are horrible - what could be worse than an innocent person going to jail for decades or put to death for something they had no part in?  When you read these stories, you will be hard pressed not to think - there, but for the grace of God, go I.  Because so many of these people were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  What's so very disturbing is the callous attitude of all those that we entrust to do the right thing - the witnesses, the police, the prosecutors, the judges.  While you certainly can't read these stories and whitewash everyone with the same brush, it's so sad that politics and saving face take priority over someone's life.  This is a must read and should be mandatory reading for police academies and law students.

10.19.2024 - In the Blink of an Eye

  

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut book by Jo Callaghan, and the first in the Kat and Lock series.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars rounded up!

Kat Frank is a single mom after her husband died from cancer.  She’s also a cop and has just been tasked to lead a pilot program to test whether AI can be used for police work.  Enter Lock, a hologram activated by a device on Kat’s wrist.  Who will win out – Kat’s gut reactions and experience or Lock’s statistical calculations and analysis?  

 

This was a fascinating book, combining an intriguing police procedural with artificial intelligence.  As Kat’s team starts looking into two missing person cases that suddenly become personal, can they work together to solve the mystery in time?  This book has wonderful characters.  You could feel Kat’s pain of first losing her husband and then losing her son in a different way as he grew up.  Lock felt like a real character as well, infusing humor and naivete into the narrative.  Plus, the cases were disturbing and I had no clue how they were going to be resolved.  I can’t wait to read more from this pair!

10.19.2024 - A Winter Wish

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine Dell for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest romcom by Emily Stone.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Lexie's dad left when she was a child and started a new family.  Lexie thrives by never staying in one place too long and is currently working as a nanny in the Alps.  But her dad just died and Lexie finds out that he left her half of his travel company.  But there are strings attached, because he left the other half to Theo, who worked with her father in the company.  The will stipulates that they have to work together for a year before the company can be sold.  To make matters worse, Rachel, her half-sister who was born after her dad left her and her mom, is back in the picture.  Suddenly Lexie has to navigate new relationships while coming to grips with the past.

I'm not always a big romcom person, but I will read anything Emily Stone writes.  This was definitely a book that focuses on family, resolving the past in order to move forward.  I loved the idea of the niche travel company focusing on culture and traditions, as well as Lexie's wish jar.  It's a fun holiday-themed book that will have you rooting on Lexie and Theo to make it both professionally and personally.  Plus, it's a reminder that it is easy to form opinions and question people's actions when you don't know the real story.  Put this one on your Christmas wish list!

10.15.2024 - Most Wonderful

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Dial Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Georgia Clark.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

The three Belvedere siblings are a mess.  The oldest, Liz, works in Hollywood as a showrunner and is stumped at how to follow up on her hit show's first season.  She also has a big crush on the series star, Violet Grace.  Birdie, the middle child, is a stand-up comic but is failing to come up with any new material and has just been fired by her manager.  Rafi, the youngest and the golden boy, proposes to his coworker girlfriend at a company party, only to be turned down.  So they all head up to their mother's house in the Catskills for the holidays, only for things to get even more complicated.

This is a queer romcom just in time for the holiday season.  I loved how the siblings were always there for each other, even coming up with different names for their own club to share their innermost thoughts; this year, it's the Black Hearts Club since they've all sworn off love.  But of course love has different plans for all of them.  They all have different dads, but their mom, Babs, is a hoot with a secret of her own.  There's some heavy subjects here as well - addiction, depression, abandonment issues, illness - but the overall book is light and hopeful.

10.14.2024 - Libby Lost and Found

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Recorded Books Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the debut book by Stephanie Booth, beautifully narrated by Mia Barron.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars rounded up!

Libby Weeks is the reclusive author of the best-felling fantasy series, The Falling Children, written under the pseudonym of F.T. Goldhero.  Her last manuscript is months overdue and fans around the world have grown impatient.  Already suffering from severe anxiety, Libby is newly diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s.  She knows she needs help to finish her last book.  She turns to 11-year-old superfan, Peanut Bixton, who knows the books better than Libby, but has her own issues.

 

What a wonderful book and the audio narration made it even better!  It’s somewhat like a book in a book tale, as we learn just what some books mean to readers.  Think of the Harry Potter craze and it relates perfectly to how much The Falling Children series means to its readers.  The struggles of both Libby and Peanut are heartbreaking but they are both so open and charming, that it’s not depressing or sad.  Instead, it’s hopeful and magical and shows the power of books. Wonderful! 

10.14.2024 - The President's Lawyer

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this fabulous debut legal thriller by Lawrence Robbins.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Long known as one of DC's most powerful litigators, Rob Jacobson is now facing the case of a lifetime.  Jack Cutler, former President of the United States and Rob's best friend since childhood, has been accused of murdering his mistress. Amanda.  To further complicate matters, Robbie had relationships in the past with Jess, Jack's wife, and Amanda.  Could Jack really be guilty of murder?

Wow - this debut thriller blew me away and I couldn't put it down.  If you are a fan of Scott Turow or John Grisham, make time now to read this book.  Set in DC, it's gripping but thankfully doesn't veer into the political arena.  There's lots of past history between Robbie and Jack, muddying the waters, and Robbie brings in a former colleague, Jane, to assist.  They are smart lawyers but the evidence seems stacked against Jack.  The end was mind-blowing.  Robbins is himself an acclaimed attorney, so he definitely writes what he knows.  Highly recommended - a must read!  Sure hope there's more to come from this author!

10.12.2024 - Burn

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Peter Heller – 4 stars!

Every year, Jess and Storey have made an annual pilgrimage to the most remote corners of the country, where they camp, hunt, and hike, leaving much from their long friendship unspoken.  There’s political turmoil in Maine but the two don’t concern themselves with secession talk.  But after weeks of hunting and being off the grid, they come across a small town and find it destroyed.  They start trying to find their way home as well as what happened.  

A haunting story of two friends, lifelong but still withholding secrets from each other, now completely dependent on each other for survival in a world they couldn’t have imagined.  A dystopian look at what political unrest could do, the story is told in flashbacks from their childhood to present day as they try and flee for safety, now with a young girl along.  Definitely makes you think, and the political strife contrasted with the beauty of nature is telling.

 

10.11.2024 - Society of Lies

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Bantam for gifting me a digital ARC of this debut book by Lauren Ling Brown, this month's Reese's Book Club Selection.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Maya has returned to Princeton for her college reunion and the graduation of her sister, Naomi.  But then Maya gets word that Naomi is dead, and she suspects that it's not an accident.  She begins investigating and learns that Naomi hid so much from her, especially that Naomi joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus, and probably the secret society within it, just as Maya did in her college days.  Every clue leads Maya back to the past and the secret she's kept for years.

Told from both Naomi's and Maya's viewpoints, in the present and the past, you need to pay close attention, but it's well worth the effort!  I'm a fan of dark academic thrillers and this one has all that plus secret societies, mysteries and deaths in both timelines, and plenty of secrets and lies.  This book was so atmospheric and covered so many topics, from sisterhood, to friendship, to loyalty, abuse, and just how important communication is.  If you're like me, you'll be questioning the motives of so many different characters and the ending was a big surprise.  Great read, especially in the fall!

10.11.2024 - The Puzzle Box

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of this smart, intriguing thriller by Danielle Trussoni, the second book in this series, following The Puzzle Master.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Mike Brink had a traumatic head injury and then developed a rare condition known as Acquired Savant Syndrome.  This condition allows him mental superpowers - he can solve puzzles, memorize information, that mere mortals cannot.  He has now been tapped to open the Dragon Box for the Japanese Emperor.  This box has remained unopened for 150 years.  It's not only impossible to open, but has proven deadly to all who have tried.

While you could enjoy this one as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading The Puzzle Master first so that you can an introduction to Mike and his superpowers.  This book is fascinating and not only incorporates Mike's puzzle-solving abilities, but Japanese history and culture, as well as a scary AI presence that will definitely have you rethinking your online status!  Mike has Sakura has his guide to the puzzle, and her family issues are complex and still present.  I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book - a wonderful series!

10.9.2024 - Her Deadly Game

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the first in a series by one of my very favorite authors, Robert Dugoni.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Keera Duggan enjoyed her time as a Seattle prosecutor, until a romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly.  She returned to her family's failing criminal defense law firm to work for her father, an alcoholic.  Hoping to restore her family's reputation and her career, she is retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment advisor accused of murdering his wealthy wife.  The prosecutor on the case is none other than Keira's former lover, anxious to see her fail.

Keera was a former chess prodigy, and she uses that talent to help her client, always thinking out of the box and one step ahead.  While I don't know anything about chess, Keera plays a game in this book as well, and it was a good analogy for her real life games.  This was a great mix of police procedural, courtroom and family drama, and I raced through it.  The characters are smart, strong, flawed, conflicted.  I'm not sure Dugoni has ever written a book I haven't loved, and this was no exception.  I saved this one from my backlist and am ready to start #2 in this series - Beyond Reasonable Doubt.  A great start to this new series - highly recommended!

10.8.2024 - The Last One at the Wedding

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest book by Jason Rekulak, perfectly narrated by John Pirhalla.  I loved Rekulak’s debut book, The Impossible Fortress, and somehow missed reading Hidden Pictures (I’ll rectify that mistake soon!).  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars rounded up!

Frank is a UPS driver whose wife died, leaving him to raise their daughter, Maggie, mostly by himself, with the help of his sister.  But an incident three years ago caused a rift between father and daughter, that no amount of trying on Frank’s part has been able to resolve.  Out of the blue, Maggie contacts him to tell him that she’s getting married and she wants him at her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire.  She doesn’t immediately mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a tech billionaire.  When he arrives at the exclusive wedding at their secluded compound, with his daughter and her foster child in tow, there are lots of red flags and uncomfortable moments.  But Frank is desperate to make things right with Maggie and not lose her again.

 

This is definitely a slow burn but gripping mystery with plenty of twists and turns.  You can’t help but feel for Frank who’s trying so hard to things right again with Maggie.  There are plenty of family secrets on both sides of the aisle that will leave you shocked.  Full of characters that will divide easily between those you love and those you hate, I couldn’t put down this domestic suspense book.  It’s atmospheric, complete with creepy crawlies, and a remote setting.

10.6.2024 - The Shred Sisters

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grove Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Betsy Lerner – 4.5 stars rounded up!

Spanning two decades, this is the Shred family.  Mom, dad, and sisters Olivia (Ollie) and Amy. The two sisters couldn’t be more different, with Ollie suffering from an as yet undiagnosed mental illness, resulting in erratic and sometimes criminal behavior, bullying, and generally disrupting the entire household.  Amy finds her solace in education, believing in facts and science.  We watch as Ollie’s illness takes its toll on their relationship as well as on the family as a whole.  No one will love you or hurt you more than a sister.

 

This was a fabulous character-study book on what mental illness can do to relationships and how differently people handle the upset.  We follow along as the casualties pile up in the family and how they alternately try to help Ollie and not get sucked into all the resultant drama.  The characters feel real – you can see how the parents try to help, but don’t know how best to help; how the sisters want to have a relationship yet can’t have a relationship.  I couldn’t put this one down and was totally invested!

 

10.5.2024 - The Trials of Lila Dalton

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Dreamscape Media for gifting me. both a digital and audio ARC of this debut book by L.J. Shepherd, wonderfully narrated by Ella Lynch.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Lila Dalton has no memory, yet finds herself in the courtroom as a trial lawyer defending a terrorist.  She doesn't know who she is, what she's doing, or the reason behind anything. Somehow, enough memory kicks in that she's able to participate in the trial.  Without knowing anything about her past, how can she trust anyone around her?

This was such an intriguing plot, but it's a complex story and requires some concentration on the reader's part.  It goes down lots of conspiracy theory paths, courtroom drama, threats about her missing daughter, all wrapped up in Lila's confused brain.  To be honest, my brain was a bit confused at the end as well.  But it's a solid debut novel and I'll be looking for more from this author!

10.4.2024 - Keep

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and House of Anansi Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Jenny Haysom.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 5 stars!

Home stagers Eleanor and Jacob are hired to clear out the home of Harriet, an elderly poet who has been diagnosed with dementia and whose son is planning to move her to a facility.  They are overwhelmed at the amount of work to be done in a very short period of time, and both their own lives are in disarray as well.  

 

I adored this book – from the cover to the characters and to the words of wisdom running throughout.  It’s a story of things – how the things that we surround ourselves with can take on more meaning than they should. It’s the people and community around us that are important.  It’s also about memory and how our things reflect those moments in our lives that hold such meaning for us.  These characters are wonderful, and they felt like friends as I was reading.  I raced through this book and was sorry when it was over.  I’m thinking the universe is talking to me through this book as well as a friend who is doing Swedish Death Cleaning.  I need to listen!  Highly recommended – wonderful book and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

10.3.2024 - Her Sweet Revenge

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the new thriller by Sarah Bonner.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

In 2018, Helena is successful and married to Edward.  However, she has to deal with his family issues, especially with his mother.  She begins receiving notes threatening to reveal her secrets.  Four years later, Helena's friend, Thea, begins investigating her murder, determined to prove that it was murder and not an accident.  Then she begins receiving notes too.

Told in different timelines and from different POV, this is a twisty tale of domestic suspense.  I liked how the author split the book into separate parts, each told in a different POV so that you gathered more depth into the characters.  There was quite a bit to keep up with and you'll love to hate some of these characters - especially Helena's mother-in-law!   Kept me intrigued to the end!

10.3.2024 - The Truth You Told

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by a favorite, Brianna Labuskes.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Forensic psychologist Callum Kilkenny lost his wife, Shay, to the serial killer he had been hunting for five years.  Nathaniel Conrad - known as the Alphabet Man for tattooing codes onto his victims - is now on death row.  But he's now saying he didn't kill Shay.  FBI forensic linguist Raisa Susanto thinks he's telling the truth, because there are inconsistencies in his coded letters to authorities.  But time is running out for the two to figure it out, since Conrad is days away from execution.

I love this series!  It's such a smart police procedural, with forensic linguistic info that is fascinating.  You can definitely read this as a stand alone, but starting with the first, The Lies You Wrote, will give you Raisa's back story.  This book gives more insight to both Callum's and Raisa's pasts, giving these characters even more depth.  This is a tense, gripping, thriller that had me guessing until the final reveal and I just loved the ride!  Becoming one of my favorites series and I can't wait for more!

10.1.2024 - Most Requested Copycat Recipes

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful cookbook by Favorite Family Recipes.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

I love cookbooks and can happily sit for hours looking at the pictures, drooling over descriptions, and deciding what recipes I want to make.  If that sounds like you too, you need this cookbook!  I love trying recipes that people have created to taste like those special restaurant treats.  This one has so many that I want to try - from Nothing Bundt Cakes to Cheesecake Factory to treats from Disneyland.  There are beautiful pictures and easily understood step-by-step directions.  Wonderful!

10.1.2024 - The Mistletoe Mystery

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this Molly the Maid novella by Nita Prose.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Molly Gray has always loved the holidays spent with her Gran.  This year, her boyfriend, Juan Manuel, wants the holidays to be perfect for them.  But rumors are swirling at the Regency Grand Hotel where they both work, causing Molly to question who she can trust.

I love Molly the Maid and this was indeed a lovely Christmas gift!  Interspersed with Gran's life advice (which we all need to heed), are special holiday magical moments.  This is a book I could easily read every year, similar to the Christmas story by O. Henry.  While there's a touch of mystery, readers will know what's going on before Molly does, which just adds to the fun of seeing her reaction.  These books are a must read!