3.16.2017 - Marlena

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book!

This is a coming-of-age story, complete with all the typical teenage angst, however, much grittier and sharp.

Catherine (redefined as Cat) has to leave her exclusive private school and move to a very small town in northern Michigan when her parents divorce. Her mom used her settlement to buy a prefab home for the family, which includes her old brother, Jimmy.

Living in a barn across the street is a very dysfunctional family - Marlena and her little brother, Sal, along with her druggie father. Cat becomes obsessed with Marlena, two years older and coming from a much different background. However, they're both grieving the loss of a parent - Cat's dad who now is remarried, and Marlena's mom, who disappeared. Cat goes from a high-achiever to skipping out of school. They soon become inseparable, and Marlena introduces Cat to a whole different world - drinking, drugs, sex.

We're told in the beginning of the story that Marlena dies - drowning in 6" of water in the woods on a cold November night. The story is spooled out between time periods and locations - Michigan in the past as we learn of the girls' story and New York in the present, where Cat is still struggling with her demons, the loss of her friend, and letting her past define her.

A great debut novel - not always easy to read but written wonderfully.

3.13.2017 - The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley

Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this amazing book!

I loved this book and was so drawn into these characters. Such an interesting way of telling this story too - it enables you to feel the reasons why the characters behave the way they do and turn your feelings on end about what is right and wrong.

The story is told in two voices and times - Samuel Hawley and his daughter, Loo. Samuel's story is spun out in alternating chapters, each focusing on how he got a bullet would in his body, so the narrative is from his early past into the future. In the present day chapters, Samuel and Loo have finally stopped their lifetime of running from place to place and have settled in Olympus, Massachusetts. Samuel has a job as a fisherman and Loo tries to fit in at school, mostly unsuccessfully. Loo is haunted by the death of her mother when she was just a child and is obsessed with learning more about her. Samuel is also obsessed by Lily, Loo's mother, and keeps a shrine in the bathroom wherever they go.

Because we learn about Samuel's criminal past slowly through his bullet wounds while we see in the present day how much of a good father he is, it really does color your perception about doing bad things for good reasons.

An amazing book - highly recommended!

3.10.2017 - Dead Letters

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book!

This is being marketed as a suspense thriller - while it's definitely a mystery, it isn't the type of book that I would classify as a thriller. However, that takes none of the power away from this book.

Ava and Zelda are twins, born to alcoholic, dysfunctional parents who own a winery in the Finger Lakes of NY. They were always opposites - Ava the good girl to Zelda's wild child persona. When their dad leaves the family to start a better life in California (better wife & kids, better winery), the girls are left to care for their mother who is slipping into dementia. Ava is expected to be the one to return home after college and take care of the winery and the family - however, after a betrayal by Zelda, she escapes to Paris to start her own better life. Because of their falling out, Ava hasn't spoken to Zelda in two years - until she gets a phone call to return home because Ava died in a fire.

But did she die? Ava starts receiving messages from Zelda - an alphabet puzzle to solve. The puzzle leads her to discover aspects of her family that she never knew as well as solving the mystery of what happened to Zelda.

I really enjoyed this book and uncovering the truths about the characters. A wonderfully-written debut novel!

3.7.2017 - Almost Missed You

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this wonderful debut novel!

I really liked this book - I just couldn't put it down until I unearthed all the secrets and twisted truths from all these characters.

Violet and Finn are a match made in heaven - with a little help from Craigslist. After a chance encounter at a beach, they find each other again in Cincinnati and a romance begins. When their little boy is born, Bear, Violet couldn't imagine a more perfect world. Until Finn leaves Violet while they are on vacation and takes Bear.

Finn's oldest friend, Caitlyn, and her husband, George, are Violet and Finn's best friends - even though George comes from a very wealthy political family. Caitlyn has twin boys who are practically raised with Bear. But each of these characters has a secret that threatens everyone else in their group. Is anyone really who we think they are?

I thoroughly enjoyed curling up with this book on a rainy day and racing through it to find out what happens. An amazing debut and I can't wait to read more from this author. Highly recommended!

3.5.2017 - Duplicity

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this great book!

This is the second in this series of mysteries involving Julia Gooden, a crime beat journalist in Detroit. The first book, The Last Time She Saw Him, was a great story and highly recommended that you start with that book to get the background of these characters and the story. However, it would read well as a stand-alone novel also.

In this story, Julia's husband, David, an Assistant District Attorney in Detroit, is starting a new trial against a crime mob boss, Nick Rossi, accused of drug trafficking, bribery, among other crimes. Just as the trial begins, David has a surprise witness that is set to turn on Rossi and make the case against him stick.

Julia and David are still walking a tightrope in their marriage but things are looking promising that he will return home to Julia and their two sons. Then the unthinkable happens, a bomb goes off at the courthouse just as the surprise witness is being brought in as well as Julia's son, there on a class field trip.

After the dust settles, Julia is intent on proving that Rossi was behind the bombing and she throws caution to the wind to investigate on her own. Returning characters of police detectives Navarro and Russell are back to investigate all the goings-on. In addition, Julia's brother, Ben, who has been missing since he was a child and has had such an impact on her life, is never far from her mind.

This is a high-action mystery with interesting, well-developed characters, realistic action, and great gritty setting in Detroit - wonderful follow up to the first in the series and I can't wait to read the next book!

3.3.2017 - The Arrangement

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book - I loved it!

While at first glance, a book about open marriages wouldn't be at the top of my reading list but this one is not to be missed. The writing about marriage, parenthood, real life is spot on - you'll laugh, sometimes loudly!, you'll commiserate, you'll love these characters.

Owen and Lucy have moved from NYC to scenic Beekman, where life is more storybook and a great place to raise their on-the-spectrum son, Wyatt. After a night with friends and too much alcohol, the idea of an open marriage - albeit one with a written list of rules and a time period - transforms from an idea to a reality. What could possibly go wrong?

Really a fun read with a great ending - kudos to the author!

3.2.2017 - Never Let You Go

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this great book!

I've been a huge fan of Chevy Stevens for a long while and her latest does not disappoint. The book is told in different time periods in different voices, which definitely adds to the storyline.

The subject of the book is Lindsey - a young mom with her daughter, Sophie, married to a very abusive, controlling man. We see the beginnings of their relationship through the escalating abuse and Lindsey's need to escape to save herself and Sophie. Then there's an accident, and her husband, Andrew, is in jail. Lindsey and Sophie move to a small town and start over. When Andrew is released from jail, Lindsey starts noticing signs that he's back in her life, sneaking into her house, trying to contact Sophie.

Can't say any more because that will ruin all the suspense in this story that you just need to read yourself. Very fast-paced and I couldn't put it down- highly recommended!