5.31.2016 - Cruel Beautiful World

Thanks to NetGalley, Algonquin Books, and the author for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel!!

I fell in love with all these characters (save one) and raced through this book. The author's beautiful writing made each one seem alive in their thoughts and feelings.

The sisters, Charlotte and Lucy, are suddenly orphaned and sent to live with an elderly relative they never met, Iris. Iris puts aside all her previous plans and dreams and becomes a mother to these girls. Charlotte, the oldest, is studious and has big plans for her future, while Lucy is more of a free-spirit. However, when Lucy tries on a grown-up life at the tender age of 16, she discovers it's not all she bargained for.

This novel explores the back story of all the characters so that you really feel who they are and why they made the choices they did. I really fell into this novel and didn't want to come out!

Don't miss it - just a wonderful book!

5.29.2016 - My Girl

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read and review this book. This is why I love NetGalley - I would never have known about this author or book without it - and it would have been my loss!

What an intense psychological thriller - you won't see all the twists and turns coming, which of course makes for a great read.

Paige is drowning all her sorrows in a blurry mix of alcohol and drugs. And she has many sorrows to drown - her daughter was murdered years ago and she just found her husband dead by suicide. Her family tries to help - her dad, her brother and her in-laws - but she keeps going down her path of destruction.

To top it all off, everyone now thinks she's crazy - she keeps finding things disturbed in her home. She blames her mother-in-law and calls the police, but with no evidence, she has to wonder if she really is crazy.

That's all I'm saying because you need to just carve out some time and go along this ride!

5-28-2016 - Results May Vary

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This is the story of Caroline, happily married to her high-school boyfriend for 13 years. She finds out information about him that lead her to question every part of her life. Can anyone really be trusted forever? Do we really know people as well as we think we do? How well do we know ourselves?

After Caroline's life is turned upside down, she has to face lots of facts. Her younger sister, Ruby, and long-time friend, Jonathan, are there to help her through. She even wades into the dating pool.

I loved the quotes that opened each chapter - and liked seeing how they related to the chapter's subject. I really liked the characters and learning about the museum and art world a bit too.

5.27.2016 - The Singles Game

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This is definitely a great book to pack on your summer vacation - I loved reading about the behind-the-scenes world of professional tennis.

Charlie (Charlotte) is a young tennis player who has always excelled and done so being the good girl - always kind to opponents and everyone else. After a devastating injury, she leaves behind the coach that was a second mother to her after her own mother's death and turns to a mean, cutthroat coach who promises to push her from being ranked in the 20s of professional women tennis players to the top. But along the way, she must make some decisions that she's not always comfortable with.

The only thing that was a little disrupting in the flow of the writing to me was how Charlie's dad was always referred to as Mr. Silver. Just seemed a little odd.

But again - a light, fun read that you will enjoy! Plus, it's fun to read about the jet-setting world of expensive hotels and no holds barred of the professional athletes in today's world.

5.24.2016 - In the Clearing

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

Why haven't I read this author before? This is the third in a series of crime stories featuring Tracy Crosswhite, a detective in Seattle. You can certainly read and enjoy this book as a stand alone, but I'm sure having the background would make it even better. I definitely plan to go back and read the first 2!

There are basically two crimes to solve in this book - the main one being a cold case from 40 years ago involving the death of a young Indian girl. It was investigated by a brand new police officer who couldn't let the case go. After his death, his daughter finds the file and asks Tracy to take a look at it. The other crime is one that Tracy is investigating in her job as a member of the Violent Crimes Section known as the A Team. In that case, a man is shot inside the home of his estranged wife and son.

I thought the writing was excellent as well as the meticulous details presented concerning the cases. Sure makes you appreciate the work that good crime solvers do.

This was a great story and I totally lost myself in these two cases. I can't wait to read the previous books as well as the future ones in this series. Bravo!

5.20.2016 - Watching Edie

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

This was a great psychological thriller - I raced through it! The story is told in two time periods...Before and After. In the Before...Edie and Heather are schoolmates - Edie is the popular, wild child while Heather is the studious one that has always been made fun of by the others. Heather quickly becomes obsessed with Edie and wants to be her only true friend. Edie meanwhile becomes obsessed with a boy - one much wilder than her.

In the After timeframe, Edie is now in her early 30s, pregnant, working as a waitress and has no one for help and support. Heather enters back into her life just when Edie needs her. But what are the motives?

No more from me to possibly ruin the story - but you won't be disappointed!

5.19.2016 - Invincible Summer

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher (Little, Brown & Company) and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I really enjoyed this book - it's the story of 4 inseparable friends from Bristol University. After they graduate, they have to forge new adult relationships and roles as well as maintain their friendship throughout.

Eva was raised by a socialist father which probably influenced her decision to join the banking world. Benedict is from a wealthy family and stayed on to get his PhD after graduation. Eva's best friend, Sylvie, and her brother, Lucien, complete the foursome. The story is told in chapters that progress from graduation to current time, following each of the friends' lives and relationships.

This would be a great book club read - I thought that each of the characters were written well and there was a lot of emotion that you could really feel throughout the book. It's a story of growing up, dealing with life's turns, disappointments, challenges and being true to yourself and your friends.