11.19.2017 - A Boy Made of Blocks

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Keith Stuart for the opportunity to read this amazing book - highly recommended!

Alex and Jody are parents of 8-year-old Sam, a highly-functioning autistic child.  They are worn out from trying to push and pull him through day-to-day life.  So much so that they have lost each other along the way.  A trial separation finds Alex living with his childhood friend and trying to figure out his life.  He's in a job he hates, he can't get past his grief over a childhood loss, and he can't seem to connect to Sam or Jody.  Until Minecraft, a video building game, enters their life and provides a means for Sam and Alex to connect.

I dare you to get through the ending of this book without cheering and crying!  A great read and certainly very inspirational.

11.16.2017 - The Story of Arthur Truluv

 

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House and Elizabeth Berg (one of my favorite writers!) for the opportunity to get to know Arthur by reading this amazing book!

Arthur is an 85-year-old widow who spends every lunch hour at the cemetery eating lunch at his wife's gravesite.  While he's there, he also visits others' graves and imagines the lives they led.  Arthur begins to notice teenage Maddy at the cemetery, when she should be in school.  They strike up a conversation and a friendship begins.  Maddy is having trouble at school and at home and Arthur provides a needed friend.  Add to this Arthur's neighbor across the street, Lucille, who is alone and lonely.  These three people come together to once again prove that friendship can be the best type of family. 

Sweet, quirky, uplifting, wonderful - highly recommended!

11.15.2017 Poison

Thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Galt Niederhoffer for the opportunity to read and review this book. Rounding up to 4 stars because I enjoyed the read and it kept me enthused until the end.

Cass is a woman who seems to have gone through the darkest days - losing her first husband and left with two small children - to have found the seemingly perfect man. Cass and Ryan move from NYC to Seattle to start a new life and have a new son, Sam, to add to their perfect family. But nothing is ever perfect, is it?

Cass soon finds evidence that Ryan is not who he seems to be. He starts displaying a dark side to his personality. Then she starts becoming ill.

There is a lot of teachable info in this book - Cass is a university teacher whose specialty is the treatment of women in society and in the courts. Fitting for how it all plays out. You would think this would lead her to make smarter moves but our brain doesn't always rule our actions.

Although the writing style was somewhat wordy, I enjoyed it - especially the first part of the book where everything in Cass' world is very relatable - dealing with schedules, children, housework, etc.

I couldn't wait to finish this book and see how it all played out!

11.12.2017 - The Trick

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Emanuel Bergmann for the opportunity to read this debut novel - it was a wonderful mix of historical fiction, quirky characters and magic!

The story is told in two different time periods and from the vantage of two characters - Moshe is a rabbi's son who leaves Prague to join a circus during World War II, eventually becoming The Great Zabbatini.

Contrasted is the story of 10-year-old Max, living in LA in present time, heartbroken over his parents' impending divorce. He comes across an old album of his dad's featuring The Great Zabbatini who promises a spell of Eternal Love that Max is convinced will save his parents' marriage.

When the two finally meet, the real magic of the story begins. And it is not one to be missed!

11.10.2017 - Millard Salter's Last Day

Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Jacob Appel for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this book - with a few caveats. Millard Salter is a psychologist who is turning 75 and has decided to end his life. He's not sick - he's just seen his share of people at the end of their life with no recourse so has decided to take the matter in his own hands. But of course his last day doesn't go as planned, as he meets with people that give him pause about his decision. He tries to set things right that he feels he has regrets about - meeting an ex-wife, trying to counsel a son.

But the author seemed to go on tangents on a multitude of subjects - and make sure you have your dictionary nearby to try and figure out some of the words he uses!

Still in all - a good book with lots to ponder

11.8.2017 - The Girl Who Lived

Thanks to NetGalley, Greyson Media, and Christopher Greyson for the opportunity to read his latest thriller! I'm a big fan of the Jack Stratton series and this stand-alone thriller is just as exciting.

Faith is the lone survivor of brutal murders that took place at her family's cabin. She is released from a psychiatric hospital right before the 10th anniversary of the murders. She is ravaged with guilt and anger which she handles with alcohol. She is desperate to find the killers but the police think she's crazy and won't listen to her; her psychologist thinks she's suicidal; her mother is totally disconnected. While on her own searching for the killer, she starts feeling she's being targeted as well.

This is a great thrill ride that you won't want to put down until you find out all the answers - and I was totally surprised by the ending!

11.6.2017 - The Dark Lake

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Sarah Bailey for the opportunity to read her debut novel - a definite winner!

Set in Australia, Gemma Woodstock is a Detective Sergeant. A high school classmate of hers, Rosalind Rose, is found murdered and Gemma is assigned to investigate the death. The investigation brings back past memories for Gemma of her high school boyfriend, Jacob, and his death.

The story is told from Gemma's viewpoint. There are also flashbacks into Gemma's past and her relationship with Jacob. Gemma's not exactly a likeable character although this story gives lots of explanations into her behavior. Her current personal life is also a mess - she's in a relationship with Scott and they have a small son, Ben. However, she's in a relationship with a coworker and is obsessed with him.

I thought this was an amazing debut novel and I can't wait to read more books starring Gemma. If you like police procedurals with an emphasis on characters, I highly recommend this one!