Always With a Book

Review: Random Road by Thomas Kies

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 20 May 2021 15:52:00 +0000

Title: Random Road
Author: Thomas Kies
Series: Geneva Chase, #1
Published: April 2021, Poisoned Pen Press
Format: Paperback, 384 pages
Source: Publisher

Summary:
Some vices are deadlier than others...

Veteran reporter Geneva Chase is at the end of her professional rope. Battling alcoholism and bad choices, she's lost every major news job she's had; working at her hometown newspaper is her last chance to redeem herself--and now the paper's future is in doubt.

And then she lands the story of a lifetime: Six nude bodies are found hacked to pieces in a Queen Anne mansion on the coast of Long Island Sound. The sensational headline is picked up by the metro papers, and Geneva is back in the game, using her reporter's nose to sniff out the secrets of Sheffield's rich and entitled citizens. As her investigation leads her deeper into dangerous waters, her toxic affair with a married man and her inability to get sober threaten to undo everything she has worked so hard to achieve--and not everyone is thrilled to have a reporter digging up secrets that might be better left buried...

My thoughts: I am so glad this landed on my doorstop because I am always on the lookout for a new series to sink my teeth into and this one definitely has potential for me to be a longtime fan! I ended up devouring this in just a few sittings...it's that good!

I'm such a fan of flawed characters and the main protagonist in this series, Geneva Chase definitely has her demons. She's battling alcoholism and trying to make good choices, but that doesn't always seem to happen. Due to her drinking, she seems to have burned a few bridges and winds up working at her hometown paper, not her first choice, but a job is a job and at least she's still working in the same field as her career. But even that isn't going too well as her bosses aren't exactly thrilled with her most days.

I loved Geneva, or Genie as she goes by! She is one hot mess and I just could not get enough of her. The only time things seem to go somewhat her way is when she is in pursuit of a story. And then her determination shines through. I think this book really lays the foundation for what I hope is going to be a really good series. We meet some of the people that are in her life, and there are some romantic angles explored here and I'm curious to see where these developments go next.

This is definitely a series I plan to continue. A combination of crime with a little romance thrown in - definitely my type of read!

Books in this series:

Random Road
Darkness Lane
Graveyard Bay
Shadow Hill - will be published soon

Blog Tour & Review: The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff (audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 20 May 2021 15:09:00 +0000

Today, I'm so happy to be a tour stop on the blog tour for The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff. Thank you Park Row Books for inviting me to participate.

Title: The Woman with the Blue Star
Author: Pam Jenoff
Narrator: Jennifer Jill Araya, Emily Lawrence, Nancy Peterson
Published: April 2021, Harlequin Audio / Park Row Books
Length: 12 hours 20 minutes / 336 pages
Source: Audio via library / ARC E-copy via Publisher

Summary:
1942. Sadie Gault is eighteen and living with her parents amid the horrors of the Kraków Ghetto during World War II. When the Nazis liquidate the ghetto, Sadie and her pregnant mother are forced to seek refuge in the perilous sewers beneath the city. One day Sadie looks up through a grate and sees a girl about her own age buying flowers.

Ella Stepanek is an affluent Polish girl living a life of relative ease with her stepmother, who has developed close alliances with the occupying Germans. Scorned by her friends and longing for her fiancé, who has gone off to war, Ella wanders Kraków restlessly. While on an errand in the market, she catches a glimpse of something moving beneath a grate in the street. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it’s a girl hiding.

Ella begins to aid Sadie and the two become close, but as the dangers of the war worsen, their lives are set on a collision course that will test them in the face of overwhelming odds. Inspired by harrowing true stories, The Woman with the Blue Star is an emotional testament to the power of friendship and the extraordinary strength of the human will to survive.

My thoughts: I have long been a fan of Pam Jenoff, and have been fortunate to meet her numerous times. As soon as I saw this book, it became an anticipated read and let me just say...as heartbreaking a story it is, it is fantastic!

It is unfathomable to think that this story is inspired by true events, and yet it is. This is why I continue to read books on WWII - this is the first one I have read from this perspective or even the first one I have read that even mentions anything about this. And I still have such a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that families escaped to the sewers in Krakow and lived down there not for days but months in the hopes to escape the Germans and being sent to concentration camps.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat, not because it's a thriller, but it just is so captivating. I was so worried about these characters and their fate. I also loved the friendship that develops between the two girls - Sadie and Ella. These girls show such strength and courage despite the circumstances they find themselves in, and while one is imprisoned in a sewer, the other doesn't have it all that much better.

While this book is set during such a horrific time in our history, there are so many parallels to be drawn to our current circumstances as we continue to deal with this pandemic. That feeling of being isolated from others, finding strength that you didn't realize you had, learning to be resilient and adaptable in uncertain times - these are all things that we have had to overcome and these are things both girls had to overcome as well. While not setting out to write a book that mirrors our current conditions, it's funny how it themes are universal in that way.

I loved this book and know it's one that will stay with me for quite some time. It's definitely not an easy read at times, but it's one that needs to be read and has such a great ending - one that shocked me for sure, but was just perfect for this book. I have enjoyed every book I've read by this author, but this is certainly my new favorite and I highly recommend picking it up!

Audio thoughts: I was able to grab this audio from the library and loved being able to alternate being the audio and print formats. The audio was narrated by a cast of narrators - Jennifer Jill Araya, Emily Lawrence, and Emily Peterson - all of whom are new to me, and I thought they all did a great job of bringing this book to life. They each brought a unique voice to their characters and infused just the right amount of emotion, tension and expression into their voices as needed.

About the author: Pam Jenoff is the author of several books of historical fiction, including the NYT bestseller The Orphan's Tale. She holds a degree in international affairs from George Washington University and a degree in history from Cambridge, and she received her JD from UPEnn. Her novels are inspired by her experiences working at the Pentagon and as a diplomat for the State Department handling Holocaust issues in Poland. She lives with her husband and 3 children near Philadelphia, where she teaches law.

Authors Links: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Buy Links:

Cover Reveal: The Next Ship Home: A Novel of Ellis Island by Heather Webb

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 20 May 2021 10:52:00 +0000

I am so excited to help Heather Webb spread the news today about her newest book - and share the cover!!! I love reading historical fiction and Heather's previous books have been so good. I am so excited to read this one.

This book will be released February 8, 2022, but you can pre-order now. See the pre-order link below.

Title: The Next Ship Home: A Novel of Ellis Island
Author: Heather Webb
Published: On Sale February 2022, Sourcebooks Landmark
Format: Paperback, 432 pages

Summary:

Ellis Island, 1902: Two women band together to hold America to its promise: "Give me your tired, your poor ... your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..."

A young Italian woman arrives on the shores of America, her sights set on a better life. That same day, a young American woman reports to her first day of work at the immigration center. But Ellis Island isn't a refuge for Francesca or Alma, not when ships depart every day with those who are refused entry to the country and when corruption ripples through every corridor. While Francesca resorts to desperate measures to ensure she will make it off the island, Alma fights for her dreams of becoming a translator, even as women are denied the chance.

As the two women face the misdeeds of a system known to manipulate and abuse immigrants searching for new hope in America, they form an unlikely friendship―and share a terrible secret―altering their fates and the lives of the immigrants who come after them.

Inspired by true events and for fans of Kristina McMorris and Hazel Gaynor, The Next Ship Home holds up a mirror to our own times, deftly questioning America's history of prejudice and exclusion while also reminding us of our citizens' singular determination. This is a novel of the dark secrets of Ellis Island, when entry to "the land of the free" promised a better life but often delivered something drastically different, and when immigrant strength and female friendship found ways to triumph even on the darkest days.

Pre-order now!
Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Amazon | Kobo

Add to your reading list!
Bookbub | Goodreads

About the Author

Heather Webb is the USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of historical fiction. In 2017, LAST CHRISTMAS IN PARIS won the Women's Fiction Writers Association award, and in 2019, MEET ME IN MONACO was shortlisted for both the RNA award in the UK and also the Digital Book World Fiction prize.

Up and coming, Heather's new solo novel called THE NEXT SHIP HOME: A NOVEL OF ELLIS ISLAND is about unlikely friends that confront a corrupt system altering their fates and the lives of the immigrants who come after them, and it releases in Feb 2022. Also, look for her third collaboration with her beloved writing partner, Hazel Gaynor, THREE WORDS FOR GOODBYE, releasing this July! (2021)

When not writing, Heather flexes her foodie skills, geeks out on pop culture and history, or looks for excuses to head to the other side of the world.

For more information, please visit Heather's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads.

Review: The Savage Instinct by M.M. DeLuca

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Tue, 18 May 2021 13:55:00 +0000

Title: The Savage Instinct
Author: M.M. DeLuca
Published: May 2021, Inkshares (first published June 2015)
Format: ARC Paperback, 377 pages
Source: Publisher

Summary:
England, 1873. Clara Blackstone has just been released after one year in a private asylum for the insane. Clara has two goals: to reunite with her husband, Henry, and to never—ever—return to the asylum. As she enters Durham, Clara finds her carriage surrounded by a mob gathered to witness the imprisonment of Mary Ann Cotton—England’s first female serial killer—accused of poisoning nearly twenty people, including her husbands and children.

Clara soon finds the oppressive confinement of her marriage no less terrifying than the white-tiled walls of Hoxton. And as she grows increasingly suspicious of Henry’s intentions, her fascination with Cotton grows. Soon, Cotton is not just a notorious figure from the headlines, but an unlikely confidante, mentor—and perhaps accomplice—in Clara’s struggle to protect her money, her freedom and her life.

In the lineage of Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace, The Savage Instinct is the chilling story of one woman's struggle for her sanity, set against the backdrop of the arrest and trial of Mary Ann Cotton, England’s first female serial killer.

My thoughts: There is just something about books that deal with asylums and serial killers that call to me...not quite sure what that says about me, but those are the types of books that I love and this one, set in Victorian England really captivated me right from the start.

There are so many layers to this book and I found myself glued to the pages all the way through. Clara has recently been released from an asylum and sent back to her husband, but quickly realizes she is only leaving one prison for another. She ends up befriending an unlikely ally, prisoner Mary Anne Cotton, who is accused of poisoning three husbands and eleven children. They each give the other strength to deal with what they are each going through.

It was hard not to feel immediate sympathy for Clara. Her past was absolutely devastating to read and even the stories about the other patients in the asylums tore at my heartstrings. I just don't understand how men believed they had that much power that they felt they could just lock up a woman in an asylum if they were having a problem with her. How as a society was this ok and allowed to happen?

I loved this story. It was a dark, haunting read and yet it gripped me right from the first page. I loved that it uses the real life serial killer of Mary Ann Cotton. I definitely plan on doing a bit of research into her life...this is why I love reading historical fiction - for that drive to learn more! I will say this book was uncomfortable to read at times, especially when it comes to the issues of mental illness during this era, but it was needed and fit so well within the framework of the story.

If you love historical fiction, with a bit of a Gothic feel and a little mystery thrown in, I highly recommend picking this one up!

Review: Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Sun, 16 May 2021 21:32:00 +0000

Title: Local Woman Missing
Author: Mary Kubica
Published: May 2021, Park Row Books
Format: ARC Paperback, 352 pages
Source: Publisher via Kathleen Carter Communications

Summary:
People don’t just disappear without a trace…

Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Now, eleven years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they’ll find…

In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense and New York Times bestselling author Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

My thoughts: Mary Kubica is one of my favorite thriller writers. I have read all of her books and was lucky to meet her at BookExpo in 2014 when she was there signing copies of her debut book, The Good Girl. She continues to craft such addicting, twisty reads and each book gets better and better, with this latest one being her best one yet!

This book immediately grabbed hold of me and never let up. It's the type of book that you just cannot put down because it is so emotionally charged almost from the get-go with everything that is happening. Having the story told from multiple points of view and alternating the timelines from the present to the past, you become more invested in what is going on and I just could not wait until things merged. There were so many thoughts floating around in my head, yet every time the story took a new twist I literally gasped out loud because it wasn't anything I was expecting. This book really takes you on quite a ride, but as the pieces slowly fall into place you just cannot stop reading until it's brilliant ending. And let me just say...that ending was one I had never considered. I loved it!

This story has so many moving parts and it kept me completely engaged The characters come alive on the pages and you become so attached to them that when secrets are revealed about them, you are left utterly shocked. There is an underlying sense of foreboding right from the beginning and the use of the weather plays an equally important role, too, adding another layer to what is already an atmospheric, tense read.

I highly recommend adding this book to your summer reading list...it is such an addicting read that will have you flipping those pages in record time.

Review: The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon (audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Fri, 14 May 2021 23:22:00 +0000

Title: The Happiest Girl in the World
Author: Alena Dillon
Narrator: Frankie Corzo, Mikhaila Aaseng
Published: April 2021, Harper Audio / William Morrow Paperback
Length: 8 hours 56 minutes / 384 pages
Source: Audio via library / Print via Publisher

Summary:

From the acclaimed author of Mercy House comes a gripping new novel about a young woman’s dreams of Olympic gymnastic gold—and what it takes to reach the top

For Sera Wheeler, the Olympics is the reason for everything. It’s why she trains thirty hours a week, starves herself to under 100 pounds, and pops Advil like Tic Tacs.

For her mother, Charlene, hungry for glory she never had, it’s why she rises before dawn to drive Sera to practice in a different state, and why the family scrimps, saves, and fractures. It’s why, when Sera’s best friend reports the gymnastics doctor to the authority who selects the Olympic Team, Sera denies what she knows about his treatments, thus preserving favor.

Their friendship shatters. But Sera protected her dream—didn’t she?

Sera doubles down, taping broken toes, numbing torn muscles, and pouring her family’s resources into the sport. Soon she isn’t training for the love of gymnastics. She’s training to make her disloyalty worthwhile. No matter the cost.

The Happiest Girl in the World explores the dark history behind an athlete who stands on the world stage, biting gold. It's about the silence required of the exceptional, a tarnished friendship, and the sacrifices a parent will make for a child, even as a family is torn apart. It’s about the price of greatness.

My thoughts: I absolutely loved Alena Dillon's debut novel, Mercy House, so as soon as I heard she had a new one coming out, I requested it. She has such a gifted way of telling a story and this latest one is no different. She is now a must-read author for me!

I am a big fan of gymnastics - it's my favorite sport to watch in the Summer Olympics, so of course I was curious to see how this author was going to tackle the big scandal that headlined the news surrounding this sport. Loosely based on the events that led to the trial against the USA Gymnastics Team Doctor, this book not only explores that, but also takes us into the world of competitive gymnastics and the toll it takes not only on the gymnast but the family and on friendships as well.

This book is eye-opening to say the least. I was never a competitive athlete, nor were my siblings, so I don't have any first-hand experience of this, but this book sure gives us quite the look and all I can say is it is grueling and made me tired just reading about it! I did like how the story alternated between the athlete's point of view and the mother's -- it was certainly interesting getting both perspectives.

If you are a fan of gymnastics or even competitive sports, I highly recommend picking this one up. It's quite an addicting story that, while at times difficult to take in, really gives a clear picture of just what goes on for these athletes -- both physically and mentally. My heart kept breaking for these characters and I had to keep reminding myself that this was fiction, though there is plenty of nonfiction woven in.

Audio thoughts: I was able to grab the audiobook from the library and really enjoyed listening to it. The narrators, Frankie Corzo and Mikaila Aaseng, did a great job bringing this book to life.

Review: The Summer of Lost and Found by Mary Alice Monroe (audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Fri, 14 May 2021 13:51:00 +0000

Title: The Summer of Lost and Found
Author: Mary Alice Monroe
Series: Beach House Series, #7
Narrator: Cassandra Campbell
Published: May 2021, Simon & Schuster Audio / Gallery Books
Length: 9 hours 55 minutes / 368 pages
Source: Audio via Simon Schuster Audio / Print - ARC Paperback via Publisher

Summary:

The New York Times best-selling Beach House series returns with this tender and compassionate novel following the Rutledge family as they face a summer of upheaval and change with perseverance, unity, and a dose of humor, discovering unexpected joys and lessons that will endure long past the season.

The coming of spring usually means renewal, but for Linnea Rutledge, it begins a season of challenge. Linnea faces another layoff, this time from the aquarium she adores. For her - and for her family - finances, emotions, and health teeter on the brink. To complicate matters, her new love interest, Gordon, struggles to return to the Isle of Palms from England. Meanwhile, her old flame, John, turns up from California and is quarantining next door. She tries to ignore him, but when he sends her plaintive notes in the form of paper airplanes, old sparks ignite. When Gordon at last reaches the island, Linnea wonders - is it possible to love two men at the same time?

Love in the time of COVID-19 proves challenging, at times humorous, and ever changing. Relationships are redefined, friendships made and broken, and marriages tested. As the weeks turn to months, and another sea turtle season comes to a close, Linnea learns there are more meaningful lessons during this summer than opportunities lost: that summer is a time of wonder, and that the exotic lives in our own backyards. In The Summer of Lost and Found, Linnea and the Rutledge family continue to face their challenges with the strength, faith, and commitment that has inspired fans for decades.

Mary Alice Monroe once again delves into the complexities of family relationships and brings her signature “sensitive and true” (Dorothea Benton Frank, New York Times best-selling author) storytelling to this poignant and timely novel of love, courage, and resilience.

My thoughts: Mary Alice Monroe is not a new author to me, having read and quite enjoyed her Lowcountry Summer series. Somehow, though, I have not gotten around to reading her Beach House series until picking up this latest book, which I did not realize was part of that series. Rest assured to those who are picky about jumping into series - this one, as with all the books in this series - stand on their own!

This book is set during the beginning of the pandemic, and follows the friends and family of Linnea Rutledge as they navigate the challenges and frustrations of quarantine life. It was so easy to relate to what the characters were going through and think back to how we all handled things at the beginning of our own shelter-in-place orders.

I loved getting to know the characters in this book, especially since they were all new to me. I found that what they were experiencing - the feelings, and at times the hopelessness, of the situation - were so real and relatable. There are many small moments of poignancy throughout this book, as well as some laugh-out-loud moments, too. Living day-in, day-out with only your small pod gets old and of course when you have the affections of two men vyinging for your attention, there are sure to be some interesting moments.

This was a great story that inspires hope and shows the resiliency of the human spirit. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be going back to read the earlier books in this series. I still cannot believe that I haven't already read them.

Audio thoughts: When I saw that Cassandra Campbell was narrating this book, I just had to request it...she is one of my favorite narrators and she did such a great job with this audiobook! She really did a great job bringing this story to life and was able to give all the characters unique voices, even with accents when needed and her voice for little Hope was appropriate for a little girl. She infused just the right amount of emotion and tension into her voice as needed and her pacing was just right.

Review: Little Pieces of Me by Alison Hammer

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 13 May 2021 14:24:00 +0000

Title: Little Pieces of Me
Author: Alison Hammer
Published: April 2021, William Morrow Paperbacks
Format: Paperback, 400 pages
Source: Publisher via GetRedPR

Summary:
Following her acclaimed debut novel, You and Me and Us, Alison Hammer offers a deeply moving story of family and identity. When a DNA test reveals a long-buried secret, a woman must look to the past to understand her mother and herself.

When Paige Meyer gets an email from a DNA testing website announcing that her father is a man she never met, she is convinced there must be a mistake. But as she digs deeper into her mother's past and her own feelings of being the odd child out growing up, Paige begins to question everything she thought she knew. Could this be why Paige never felt like she fit in her family, and why her mother always seemed to keep her at an arm's length? And what does it mean for Paige's memories of her father, a man she idolized and whose death she is still grieving? Back in 1975, Betsy Kaplan, Paige's mom, is a straightlaced sophomore at the University of Kansas. When her sweet but boring boyfriend disappoints her, Betsy decides she wants more out of life, and is tired of playing it safe. Enter Andy Abrams, the golden boy on campus with a potentially devastating secret. After their night together has unexpected consequences, Betsy is determined to bury the truth and rebuild a stable life for her unborn child, whatever the cost.

When Paige can't get answers from her mother, she goes looking for the only other person who was there that night. The more she learns about what happened, the more she sees her unflappable, distant mother as a real person faced with an impossible choice. But will it be enough to mend their broken relationship?

Told in dual timelines, Little Pieces of Me examines identity and how the way we define ourselves changes (or not) through our life experiences.

My thoughts: This is the first book I've read by Alison Hammer but it definitely won't be the last. It was such a captivating story that kept me engaged from start to finish.

This is the type of book that takes you on quite the emotional rollercoaster. It is filled with such lighthearted scenes one moment, only to have you tearing up at a poignant one the next. And crafting the story as it is, using the dual narrative and multiple points of view, it slowly builds in such a way that you become totally immersed in all the characters' lives.

I loved how the book moved back and forth from the present to the past because it allowed us as the reader to slowly put the pieces together. In the present, we have Paige's point of view and we see how she is handling this startling piece of news. In the past, we have both Betsy and Andy's points of view. I loved getting to know these characters and seeing just how complex they are all, especially Betsy and Andy. Very slowly, bits of the puzzle start of come together and we learn why things happened the way they did. Secrets are revealed and it allows us to understand the characters' actions.

This book really grabbed my heart and left a mark. It's one of those books that you can't stop thinking about long after you finish reading the last page. It's a story that takes on the meaning of family, while also looking at complicated relationships and the impact of long-buried secrets. It would make such a great bookclub pick as there is so much to unpack and discuss. I still need to read Alison Hammer's debut novel, You and Me and Us, which I plan to do soon, and I will certainly be keeping an eye out for whatever else this talented author writes in the future!

Review: Twice a Daughter by Julie Ryan McGue

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 12 May 2021 13:17:00 +0000

Title: Twice a Daughter
Author: Julie Ryan McGue
Published: May 2021, She Writes Press
Format: ARC Paperback, 282 pages
Source: Booksforward PR

Summary:
Julie is adopted. She is also a twin. Because their adoption was closed, she and her sister lack both a health history and their adoption papers―which becomes an issue for Julie when, at forty-eight years old, she finds herself facing several serious health issues.

To launch the probe into her closed adoption, Julie first needs the support of her sister. The twins talk things over, and make a pact: Julie will approach their adoptive parents for the adoption paperwork and investigate search options, and the sisters will split the costs involved in locating their birth relatives. But their adoptive parents aren't happy that their daughters want to locate their birth parents―and that is only the first of many obstacles Julie will come up against as she digs into her background.

Julie's search for her birth relatives spans years and involves a search agency, a PI, a confidential intermediary, a judge, an adoption agency, a social worker, and a genealogist. By journey's end, what began as a simple desire for a family medical history has evolved into a complicated quest―one that unearths secrets, lies, and family members that are literally right next door.

My thoughts: Nonfiction is a genre I don't read a lot of but I find that memoirs helps to bridge that gap. Being able to get an inside glimpse into someone's life and get a new perspective is always so eye-opening and while I might think I don't have anything in common with the author, I always end up finding something that resonates with me.

As soon as I saw this book by Julie Ryan McGue I just knew I wanted to read it. While the adoption story was intriguing, it was more the issue of not having a medical history that really drew me to this story. I come from a large family and know how important it is to know everyone's medical history and keep passing it down the line, so I can only imagine the frustration that Julie must have felt in not being able to access hers.

After a health scare, Julie realizes that she needs her complete medical history and she and her twin sister embark on a search for their birth parents. I admired Julie's tenacity in not giving up her search for her birth parents after hitting road block after road block. It highlights the stark contrast in the adoption laws regarding the right to know their birth details versus the rights of privacy on the side of the birth parents. There were hard conversations to have with her adoptive parents and support wasn't always there. Luckily Julie and her sister made a great team and her husband and her kids were always there for her.

This book was such an eye-opening read and I appreciated just how open and honest the author was each step of the way with how she was feeling - it is definitely written from the heart. If you enjoy reading memoirs, I highly suggest picking this one up.

Review: An Invincible Summer by Mariah Stewart (audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 12 May 2021 11:05:00 +0000

Title: An Invincible Summer
Author: Mariah Stewart
Series: Wyndham Beach, #1
Narrator: Kate Marcin
Published: May 2021, Brilliance Audio / Montlake
Length: 10 hours 52 minutes / 378 pages
Source: Audio: ALC via Brilliance Publishing / Print: ARC Paperback via Amazon Publishing

Summary:

An endearing novel of friendship, forgiveness, and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart.

It was a lifetime ago that recently widowed Maggie Flynn was in Wyndham Beach. Now, on the occasion of her fortieth high school reunion, she returns to her hometown on the Massachusetts coast, picking up right where she left off with dear friends Lydia and Emma. But seeing Brett Crawford again stirs other emotions. Once, they were the town’s golden couple destined for one another. He shared Maggie’s dreams - and eventually, a shattering secret that drove them apart.

Buying her old family home and resettling in Wyndham Beach means a chance to start over for Maggie and her two daughters, but it also means facing her rekindled feelings for her first love and finally confronting - and embracing - the past in ways she never thought possible. Maggie won’t be alone. With her family and friends around her, she can weather this stormy turning point in her life and open her heart to the future. As for that dream shared and lost years ago? If Maggie can forgive herself, it still might come true.

My thoughts: This is the first book I've read by Mariah Stewart and I'm so glad I decided to pick this one up. And of course, I'm equally excited that this is the start of a new series...you all know how much I love my series!

While I will always be a fan of thrillers and psychological suspense, I do enjoy picking up those lighter reads from time to time and this one was perfect for that. But it's not just a fluff read...there is some substance here and that I really appreciated. I loved that the main character, Maggie, is a woman in her 50s. As someone who is her in 40s, I get tired of reading about characters that are way younger than me, so I appreciate when an author gives us a middle-aged character, where I can get her perspective and see the world from her viewpoint for a time.

I am also a huge fan of family secrets and family drama and of course this book has that. That little bit of mystery really kept me engaged and I loved the way it was woven into the threads of this story. Friendship and second chance love were big themes in this book and I enjoyed seeing how both played out.

All in all this was a really enjoyable read and very relatable on many levels. I think this book is a great read for summer beaching reading and I definitely recommend adding it to your summer reading list! And I will definitely be eager to see what happens next in the series.

Audio thoughts: This was an enjoyable book to listen to and I thought the narrator did a great job. Kate Marcin is a new-to-me narrator but I found that she really brought this book to life with her voices and her pacing. I really hope that she will be the narrator for the next book as I like to see consistency with narrators whenever possible.

Books in this series:

An Invincible Summer
Goodbye Again - due out February 2022

Review: You Will Remember Me by Hannah Mary McKinnon

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Mon, 10 May 2021 16:59:00 +0000

Title: You Will Remember Me
Author: Hannah Mary McKinnon
Published: May 2021, MIRA Books
Format: ARC E-copy, 352 pages
Source: Netgalley

Summary:
Forget the truth.

Remember the lies.

He wakes up on a deserted beach in Maryland with a gash on his head and wearing only swim trunks. He can't remember who he is. Everything--his identity, his life, his loved ones--has been replaced by a dizzying fog of uncertainty. But returning to his Maine hometown in search of the truth uncovers more questions than answers.

Lily Reid thinks she knows her boyfriend, Jack. Until he goes missing one night, and her frantic search reveals that he's been lying to her since they met, desperate to escape a dark past he'd purposely left behind.

Maya Scott has been trying to find her estranged stepbrother, Asher, since he disappeared without a trace. Having him back, missing memory and all, feels like a miracle. But with a mutual history full of devastating secrets, how far will Maya go to ensure she alone takes them to the grave?

Shared fates intertwine in a twisty, explosive novel of suspense, where unearthing the past might just mean being buried beneath it.

My thoughts: This is the third book I've read by Hannah Mary McKinnon and I am just blown away by her writing. Each book just gets better and better and I find that after I finish one it immediately becomes my new favorite! This latest one was a most anticipated read for this month and it absolutely delivers in every way!

I love a good twisty thriller, and this one is just so brilliantly crafted it completely sucks you in. It's dark and wickedly diabolical, filled with obsession, manipulation and just the right amount of devious behavior from our flawed characters. Told from three points of view, it immediately becomes clear that not all is as it seems. There is definitely something off with the characters and each seems to be hiding something in their pasts.

I also love when books explore memory loss, which the author does with our man from the beach. While this isn't new ground, the way it's handled is just so clever that is keeps from being the same old tired pattern we've seen countless times before. This coupled with just the right amount of twists and turns really keeps you on edge as the story slowly starts to unfold.

This is the type of book that once you start reading it, you will not be able to put down, so make sure to have a clear chunk of time ahead of you when you pick it up. I totally binge-read this one in an afternoon as I just had to know how it was all going to play out and let me just say...I definitely did not see that ending coming! I cannot recommend this book enough. Be sure to add it to your summer reading list...you won't be disappointed!

Review: Her Three Lives by Cate Holahan (audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Mon, 10 May 2021 12:26:00 +0000

Title: Her Three Lives
Author: Cate Holahan
Narrator: Chris Ciulla, Kylah Williams
Published: April 2021, Hachette Audio / Grand Central Publishing
Length: 9 hours 47 minutes / 339 pages
Source: Audio: ALC via Libro.fm / Print - Paperback via Publisher

Summary:

Gaslight goes high-tech in USA Today best-selling author Cate Holahan's new stand-alone thriller in which a family must determine who the real enemy is after a brutal home invasion breaks their trust in each other.

Her public life Jade Thompson has it all. She’s an up-and-coming social media influencer, and she has a beautiful new home and a successful architect for a fiancé. But there’s trouble behind the scenes. To Greg’s children, his divorce from their mother and his new life can only mean a big mid-life crisis. To Jade, his suburban Connecticut upbringing isn’t an easy match with her Caribbean roots.

Her private life A savage home invasion leaves Greg house-bound with a traumatic brain injury and glued to the live feeds from his ubiquitous security cameras. As the police investigate the crime and Greg’s frustration and rage grows, Jade begins to wonder what he may know about their attackers. And whether they are coming back.

Her secret life As Greg watches Jade’s comings and goings, he becomes convinced that her behavior is suspicious and that she’s hiding a big secret. The more he sees, the more he wonders whether the break-in was really a random burglary. And whether he’s worth more to Jade if he were dead than alive.

My thoughts: I first discovered Cate Holahan when I read Lies She Told, which I absolutely loved. I knew after reading that book that I would be reading whatever else she read and so far I haven't been disappointed.

I loved how unsettling this book becomes after the brutal home invasion. Even though there aren't a lot of characters we meet, I found I was suspicious of everyone and kept changing my mind as to who was ultimately responsible. And that's a good thing...every time I thought I had it worked out, something new would pop up. And yet I was still a bit taken back by the ending...I hadn't quite worked it out. But that's all good - I like being surprised!

I love how paranoid the characters become, especially Greg. The break-in really makes him go into overdrive and at times, it seemed like he was taking it to the extreme. But never having been in his shoes, it's hard to judge. And of course, because he and Jade weren't really communicating, I can't really say I blame him because if they had only talked, some of his paranoia could have been alleviated.

I love a book where there are characters I don't necessary like and that is definitely true here. The characters in this book aren't really likeable but I found myself completely captivated by what was going on and I needed to see what the resolution would be.

This is a complex, twisted book filled with secrets and paranoia. It is definitely a fun, popcorn type of read where you can totally just binge it in a day. I definitely enjoy Cate Holahan's writing and will be eager to see what she brings us next!

Audio thoughts: I had the opportunity to listen to this book and I'm glad I did - it was a fun, binge-worthy listen. Both narrators were new-to-me and I thought they did a great job bringing this story to life. Their pacing and intonation were spot on and I thought they both were able to infuse just the right amount of emotion and tension into their voices as needed. I really enjoyed listening to this book!

Review: The Whispering Dead by Darcy Coates

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 06 May 2021 21:04:00 +0000

Title: The Whispering Dead
Author: Darcy Coates
Series: Gravekeeper, #1
Published: May 2021, Poisoned Pen Press
Format: ARC Paperback, 256 pages
Source: Publisher

Summary:
USA Today bestseller and rising queen of atmospheric horror Darcy Coates returns with a ghost story that will haunt you long after the final page. She hears them whispering...

Homeless, hunted, and desperate to escape a bitter storm, Keira takes refuge in an abandoned groundskeeper's cottage. Her new home is tucked away at the edge of a cemetery, surrounded on all sides by gravestones: some recent, some hundreds of years old, all suffering from neglect.

And in the darkness, she can hear the unquiet dead whispering.

The cemetery is alive with faint, spectral shapes, led by a woman who died before her time... and Keira, the only person who can see her, has become her new target. Determined to help put the ghost to rest, Keira digs into the spirit's past life with the help of unlikely new friends, and discovers a history of deception, ill-fated love, and murder.

But the past is not as simple as it seems, and Keira's time is running out. Tangled in a dangerous web, she has to find a way to free the spirit... even if it means offering her own life in return.

My thoughts: This is the first book I've read by Darcy Coates and it will definitely not be the last. And I'm so excited that it also happens to be the first in a new series...what a homerun for me!

There is nothing I love more than stumbling onto new series, especially right at the beginning and I could not be happier with this one. While it is categorized as horror, which is a genre I don't read a lot in, I felt that this was relatively light in that area, but still had some pretty spooky, creepy undertones just the same. Being set in a graveyard definitely makes for some eerie vibes and the ability of our main protagonist, Keira, to talk with and see ghosts definitely adds an extra element of creepiness.

I really liked Keira and am excited to explore more of her character. We are definitely left with a lot of questions about her, but being that this is just the beginning of a series, it makes sense that we aren't given all the answers in this first book. I also hope that we see more of some of the characters that were introduced in this first installment.

I am glad I took a chance on this book...and am curious to see where the series goes next. As I wait for the next book to come out in this series, I will definitely be checking out her other books...she is quite a prolific writer and has some backlist! Have you read any of her books yet?

Most Anticipated Releases of the Month: May 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 05 May 2021 21:11:00 +0000

Back again with my five most anticipated releases coming out this month. With so many releases this month, it was hard to select just five books, but these are the ones that really stand out in my mind for some reason - either because I have loved the author's previous books or it's a debut novel and sounds amazing. As I've done before, if I've already read the book, I will link my review. And if I plan to listen to the book, I will indicate the audio publisher.

So here without further ado are the five books I am most excited about that will be published in May:

THE GIRL WHO DIED by Ragnar Jonassen

Pub Date: May 5th, Minotaur Books '

My review

Summary:

Teacher Wanted At the Edge of the World

Una wants nothing more than to teach, but she has been unable to secure steady employment in Reykjavík. Her savings are depleted, her love life is nonexistent, and she cannot face another winter staring at the four walls of her shabby apartment. Celebrating Christmas and ringing in 1986 in the remote fishing hamlet of Skálar seems like a small price to pay for a chance to earn some teaching credentials and get her life back on track.

But Skálar isn't just one of Iceland's most isolated villages, it is home to less than a dozen people. Una's only students are two girls aged seven and nine. Teaching them only occupies so many hours in a day and the few adults she interacts with are civil but distant. She only seems to connect with Thór, a man she shares an attraction with but who is determined to keep her at arm's length.

As darkness descends throughout the bleak winter, Una finds herself more often than not in her rented attic space - the site of a local legendary haunting - drinking her loneliness away. She is plagued by nightmares of a little girl in a white dress singing a lullaby. And when a sudden tragedy echoes an event long buried in Skálar's past, the villagers become even more guarded, leaving a suspicious Una seeking to uncover a shocking truth that's been kept secret for generations.

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THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR by Pam Jenoff

Pub date: May 4th, Park Row Books / Harlequin Audio

Summary:

1942. Sadie Gault is eighteen and living with her parents amid the horrors of the Kraków Ghetto during World War II. When the Nazis liquidate the ghetto, Sadie and her pregnant mother are forced to seek refuge in the perilous sewers beneath the city. One day Sadie looks up through a grate and sees a girl about her own age buying flowers.

Ella Stepanek is an affluent Polish girl living a life of relative ease with her stepmother, who has developed close alliances with the occupying Germans. Scorned by her friends and longing for her fiancé, who has gone off to war, Ella wanders Kraków restlessly. While on an errand in the market, she catches a glimpse of something moving beneath a grate in the street. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it’s a girl hiding.

Ella begins to aid Sadie and the two become close, but as the dangers of the war worsen, their lives are set on a collision course that will test them in the face of overwhelming odds. Inspired by harrowing true stories, The Woman with the Blue Star is an emotional testament to the power of friendship and the extraordinary strength of the human will to survive.

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THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Pub Date: May 11th, Celadon Books

My review

Summary:

Hailed as breathtakingly suspenseful, Jean Hanff Korelitz's The Plot is a propulsive read about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it.

Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he's teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what's left of his self-respect; he hasn't written--let alone published--anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn't need Jake's help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then . . . he hears the plot.

Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker's first novel: but it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that--a story that absolutely needs to be told.

In a few short years, all of Evan Parker's predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an e-mail arrives, the first salvo in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says.

As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his "sure thing" of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom?

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LOCAL WOMAN MISSING by Mary Kubica

Pub date: May 18th, Park Row Books

Summary:

People don’t just disappear without a trace…

Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Now, eleven years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they’ll find…

In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense and New York Times bestselling author Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

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YOU WILL REMEMBER ME by Hannah Mary McKinnon

Pub Date: May 25th, MIRA Books

Summary:

Forget the truth.

Remember the lies.

He wakes up on a deserted beach in Maryland with a gash on his head and wearing only swim trunks. He can't remember who he is. Everything--his identity, his life, his loved ones--has been replaced by a dizzying fog of uncertainty. But returning to his Maine hometown in search of the truth uncovers more questions than answers.

Lily Reid thinks she knows her boyfriend, Jack. Until he goes missing one night, and her frantic search reveals that he's been lying to her since they met, desperate to escape a dark past he'd purposely left behind.

Maya Scott has been trying to find her estranged stepbrother, Asher, since he disappeared without a trace. Having him back, missing memory and all, feels like a miracle. But with a mutual history full of devastating secrets, how far will Maya go to ensure she alone takes them to the grave?

Shared fates intertwine in a twisty, explosive novel of suspense, where unearthing the past might just mean being buried beneath it.

Do any of these sound good? Let me know!

Review: The Dead Husband by Carter Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 05 May 2021 14:11:00 +0000

Title: The Dead Husband
Author: Carter Wilson
Published: May 2021, Poisoned Pen Press
Format: Paperback, 400 pages
Source: Publisher

Summary:
A murderer, a victim, and a witness... but no one in this house is innocent

Twenty years ago an unspeakable tragedy rocked Rose Yates's small, affluent hometown... and only Rose and her family know the truth about what happened.

Haunted by guilt, Rose escaped into a new life. Now she seems to have it all: a marriage, a son, a career. And then her husband is found dead.

As far as Detective Colin Pearson is concerned, Rose is guilty. Her marriage wasn't as happy as she'd led everyone to believe, and worse, she's connected to a twenty-year-old cold case. She can play the part of the victim, but he won't let her or her family escape justice this time around.

Grieving her husband and struggling to make ends meet, Rose returns home, hoping to finally confront her domineering father and unstable sister. But memories of a horrific crime echo through the house, and Rose soon learns that she can't trust anyone, especially not the people closest to her.

From USA Today bestselling author Carter Wilson comes a story of deception, hereditary sin, and what we'll do to protect our own.

My thoughts: I first discovered Carter Wilson when I read Mister Tender's Girl a few years ago, which I absolutely loved!!! I knew after reading that one I would be reading anything he wrote. I love how different each of his books are, proving that he doesn't right the same old thing each time.

This latest one is a dark, twisted story that really keeps you on edge all the way through. I loved how the book moved back and forth from the present day to the past, where something ominous happened, but you aren't quite sure what. Whatever it was that happened has been driving Rose in everything she does, and after the death of her husband, she feels she needs to lay these ghosts to rest finally. In addition to that, we also have the detective's point of view, in the present, who is investigating the death of Rose's husband because he just doesn't think things add up.

I loved how this book was laid out, slowly giving us pieces of information in both the present and the past to keep us hooked. And with Rose being a writer, she of course falls under suspicion, especially when it comes to be known that her books tend to mirror real life.

This book is full of secrets, crazy family drama and such dark undertones that it really hooks you right off the bat. It's an unsettling read for sure, but if you like a tense, twisted thriller, this is definitely the book for you!

Review: A Caller's Game by J.D. Barker (audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 05 May 2021 06:30:00 +0000

Title: A Caller's Game
Author: J.D. Barker
Narrator: Brian Hutchinson, Mia Barron
Published: March 2021, Recorded Books
Length: 12 hours 25 minutes
Source: Netgalley

Summary:

Die Hard meets Talk Radio in this heart-pounding, relentlessly fast-paced thriller from the New York Times best-selling author of The Fourth Monkey - master of suspense, J.D. Barker.

“I’m going to offer you a choice.”

Controversial satellite radio talk show host, Jordan Briggs, has clawed her way to the top of the broadcast world. She doesn’t hold back, doesn’t spare feelings, and has no trouble sharing what’s on her mind. Her rigorous pursuit of success has come at a price, though. Her marriage is in ruins, she hasn’t spoken to her mother in years, and she’s distanced herself from all those close to her. If not for her young daughter, Charlotte, her personal life would be in complete shambles.

When a subdued man calls into the show and asks to play a game, she sees it as nothing more than a way to kick-start the morning, breathe life into the beginnings of drive-time for her listeners. Against her producer’s advice, she agrees, and unwittingly opens a door to the past.

Live on the air with an audience of millions, what starts out as a game quickly turns deadly - events long thought buried resurface and Jordan Briggs is forced to reconcile with one simple fact - all decisions have consequences.

My thoughts: J.D. Barker has been on my list to read for quite some time now and I got a taste for his writing when I picked up a book he co-wrote with James Patterson earlier this year, The Coast-to-Coast Murders. So when I saw this audiobook available on Netgalley, I immediately requested it...and I'm so glad I did. It was quite the thrilling read and now I'll definitely be adding the rest of J.D. Barker's books to my shelf!

This book grabbed me from the get-go and never let up. Talk about a book that keeps you guessing...this one was non-stop on that front. I never knew what to expect next and I absolutely loved that! It is one adrenaline-filled read that keeps you on the edge of your seat as you desperately try to work out what is going on and what might possibly come next.

What I found most incredible is that even though there is someone killing all these people, for some crazy reason, you end up feeling bad for them. It's so hard to even put into words how that even happens, but you end up feeling for the guy...or maybe that's just my empathy coming into play.

I'm so glad I grabbed this one. It really kept me going and I am now a fan of this author. I did find out there is going to be another collab between J.D. and James Patterson, out in August, but in the meantime, I'll be trying to squeeze in J.D.'s 4MK Thriller series. If you are a fan of fast-moving, action-packed thrillers, I highly recommend this one.

Audio thoughts: This was a great book to listen to...both narrators did an excellent job with their parts and really brought this audio to life. The pacing and intonation was spot on and they both infused just the right amount of tension and emotion into their voices as needed. I loved listening to this one and found I just could not put it down until I finished it!

Review: The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews (audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Tue, 04 May 2021 12:47:00 +0000

Title: The Newcomer
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Published: May 2021, Macmillan Audio / St. Martin's Press
Length: 14 hours 30 minutes / 448 pages
Source: Audio via Macmillan Audio / Print - ARC Paperback via Kathleen Carter Communications

Summary:
Mary Kay Andrews, the New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Beach Reads delivers her next page-turner for the summer with The Newcomer.

In trouble and on the run...

After she discovers her sister Tanya dead on the floor of her fashionable New York City townhouse, Letty Carnahan is certain she knows who did it: Tanya’s ex; sleazy real estate entrepreneur Evan Wingfield. Even in the grip of grief and panic Letty heeds her late sister’s warnings: “If anything bad happens to me—it’s Evan. Promise me you’ll take Maya and run. Promise me.”

With a trunkful of emotional baggage...

So Letty grabs her sister’s Mercedes and hits the road with her wailing four-year-old niece Maya. Letty is determined to out-run Evan and the law, but run to where? Tanya, a woman with a past shrouded in secrets, left behind a “go-bag” of cash and a big honking diamond ring—but only one clue: a faded magazine story about a sleepy mom-and-pop motel in a Florida beach town with the improbable name of Treasure Island. She sheds her old life and checks into an uncertain future at The Murmuring Surf Motel.

The No Vacancy sign is flashing & the sharks are circling...

And that’s the good news. Because The Surf, as the regulars call it, is the winter home of a close-knit flock of retirees and snowbirds who regard this odd-duck newcomer with suspicion and down-right hostility. As Letty settles into the motel’s former storage room, she tries to heal Maya’s heartache and unravel the key to her sister’s shady past, all while dodging the attention of the owner’s dangerously attractive son Joe, who just happens to be a local police detective. Can Letty find romance as well as a room at the inn—or will Joe betray her secrets and put her behind bars? With danger closing in, it’s a race to find the truth and right the wrongs of the past.

My thoughts: I'm still relatively new to Mary Kay Andrews' books, this being only the third one I've read, but I'm finding that she can definitely be counted on for the kick-off to some great summer reading. Her books are just fun, binge-able reads that keep you hooked from start to finish!

This book had so many elements that I love when it comes to summer binge reading - family drama, a good romance, and a little mystery. The characters were so well drawn that they pulled me in right away and I became totally invested in what was going on. I'm always up for a good, messy family drama, and even with the one sister being dead, this one was full of interesting drama and intrigue. What had Letty's sister gotten herself involved in before she was killed?

The highlight for me with this book was definitely the characters. The bad guys were definitely made out to be awful and stand out like a sore thumb. But it's the rest of the cast that really shines. From the quirky residents at the inn to Joe and his mother and sister, to Letty and the adorable Maya, who absolutely steals every scene she is in - each one has such a distinct personality and I just loved getting to know them all.

I loved how things were revealed at just the right time throughout the book. We would find out these big secrets, allowing us to put the pieces together a little at a time. It really helped to move the book forward, and for a long book, it does move at a quick pace. This really is a great escape read and I think would really make such a great beach read this summer. I know I have a few other Mary Kay Andrews books I need to read and I only hope they are as entertaining and thrilling as this one!

Audio thoughts: This book translated so well onto audio with Kathleen McInerney's fabulous narration. She really did a great job with the voices, especially little Maya's, and I had such a great time listening to this one. Her pacing and intonation were spot on and she made this book a fun one to listen to.

Review: The Girl Who Died by Ragnar Jonasson

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Mon, 03 May 2021 22:07:00 +0000

Title: The Girl Who Died
Author: Ragnar Jonasson, translated by Victoria Cribb
Published: May 2021, Minotaur Books
Format: ARC Paperback, 320 pages
Source: Publisher

Summary:
Teacher Wanted At the Edge of the World

Una wants nothing more than to teach, but she has been unable to secure steady employment in Reykjavík. Her savings are depleted, her love life is nonexistent, and she cannot face another winter staring at the four walls of her shabby apartment. Celebrating Christmas and ringing in 1986 in the remote fishing hamlet of Skálar seems like a small price to pay for a chance to earn some teaching credentials and get her life back on track.

But Skálar isn't just one of Iceland's most isolated villages, it is home to less than a dozen people. Una's only students are two girls aged seven and nine. Teaching them only occupies so many hours in a day and the few adults she interacts with are civil but distant. She only seems to connect with Thór, a man she shares an attraction with but who is determined to keep her at arm's length.

As darkness descends throughout the bleak winter, Una finds herself more often than not in her rented attic space - the site of a local legendary haunting - drinking her loneliness away. She is plagued by nightmares of a little girl in a white dress singing a lullaby. And when a sudden tragedy echoes an event long buried in Skálar's past, the villagers become even more guarded, leaving a suspicious Una seeking to uncover a shocking truth that's been kept secret for generations.

My thoughts: I am a huge fan of Ragnar Jonasson's books, having loved both his Dark Iceland and Hidden Iceland series. As soon as I heard he had a new book coming out, and a stand-alone at that, I knew I had to read it. It is one of my anticipated reads for this month and it absolutely delivers in every way - exactly what I expected from this author!

This is not a fast-paced book by any means, but rather a slow-burning, completely atmospheric read that totally captivated me from start to finish. Set in an isolated town, populated by only a handful of people, who are just downright strange, you just feel the eeriness ooze off the page. Right away, you just get a sense of foreboding and that never really lets up.

I loved that this book is set in the 1980's where technology does not come into play. It really helps reinforce the simplicity of the times, especially in this isolated village. And that worked for a village that relied on keeping their secrets hidden. You really feel just how isolated this town is and how isolated Una becomes within this village - an outsider who is seen as untrustworthy.

I loved that there were two narratives. We have Una's story and than a story of what appears to be an unrelated crime committed at some point. It isn't clear who the narrator is of this other narrative or how it will tie back to Una's story and that kept me totally intrigued as I tried to work out where it was all going. Slowly we get bits and pieces and it completely shocked me how it all tied in together.

This is definitely a binge-worthy type of read, one that I found myself devouring in two sittings as I just could not put it down. My favorite part is how skillfully the author uses the Icelandic landscape and weather as part of the story. The extreme darkness really just adds to the overall sense of unease, and that, along with the ghost story, really makes this quite the suspenseful, atmospheric read.

Nordic Noir is one of my favorite genres and Ragnar Jonasson really has a talent for giving us that perfect balance of atmosphere, mystery and suspense. This one has it all, with an added bonus of some supernatural elements thrown in. It's a bit different than his previous books, but I still loved it just the same and definitely recommend picking this one up!

Review: Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly (audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Mon, 03 May 2021 16:46:00 +0000

Title: Theme Music
Author: T. Marie Vandelly
Narrator: Sarah Mollo-Christensen
Published: July 2019, Penguin Audio / Dutton Books
Length: 14 hours 28 minutes / 400 pages
Source: Audio via Library / Print via Netgalley

Summary:
An utterly propulsive and unpredictable psychological thriller from stunning new talent T. Marie Vandelly

For the lucky among us, life is what you make of it, but for Dixie Wheeler, the theme music for her story was chosen by another long ago, on the day her father butchered her mother and brothers and then slashed a knife across his own throat. Only one-year-old Dixie was left alive, infamously known as Baby Blue for the song left playing in the aftermath of the slaughter.

Twenty-five years later, Dixie is still desperate for a connection to the family she can’t remember, so when her childhood home goes up for sale, Dixie sets aside all reason and moves in, re-creating a macabre decor with her family’s salvaged furniture. But as the ghosts of her family seemingly begin to take up residence in the home that was once theirs, Dixie starts to question her own sanity and wonders if the evil force menacing her is that of her father, or a demon of her own making.

In order to make sense of her present, Dixie becomes determined to unravel the truth of her past and seeks out the detective who originally investigated the murders. But the more she learns, the more she opens up the uncomfortable possibility that the sins of her father may belong to another, and, perhaps most tragically, to Dixie herself. As bodies begin to pile up around her, Dixie must find a way to expose the lunacy behind her family’s massacre and redeem what little remains of her soul.

My thoughts: I have no idea why I waited so long to pick this one up...it was an anticipated read when I first got it and then I sort of forgot I had it. That's the problem with e-books...out of sight, out of mind. Luckily, I saw that the audiobook was available at the library and I grabbed it...and I am so glad I did...I loved this book!

I don't read a ton of horror books, but this one was so good. I loved that it had so many different elements wrapped up into one - it wasn't straight up horror and I think that's why it worked for me. This one is as much a psychological thriller as it is horror and it has some paranormal elements to it that work really well, too - another element that I don't always love, but here, it almost needs to be part of the book.

I loved that this one really kept me on edge right from the start. It's a dark, creepy book and it kept me guessing all the way through. I can't imagine not only witnessing your family being murdered in your own home as a toddler, but then wanting to live in that home later as an adult. Talk about creepy! I loved that Dixie, the narrator, sometimes comes across as an unreliable narrator. It just makes things so much more suspenseful and keeps you wondering where things are heading.

This book was so good and I really am kicking myself for waiting so long to pick it up. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for what comes next from this author, especially since this is her debut novel...which just shocks me. If you haven't read this one yet, add it to your list now!

Audio thoughts: This was such a great book to listen to...and Sarah Mollo-Christensen did a fantastic job narrating it. Her voice was just perfect, and she added just the right amount of tension and emotion when needed.

Review: Tears of Amber by Sofia Segovia

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Sun, 02 May 2021 15:53:00 +0000

Title: Tears of Amber
Author: Sofia Segovia, Translated by Simon Bruni
Narrator: Will Damron, Angela Dawe
Published: May 2021, Brilliance Audio / Amazon Crossing
Length: 15 hours 14 minutes / 494 pages
Source: Audio via Brilliance Publishing / Print via OTRPR

Summary:
From the bestselling author of The Murmur of Bees comes a transportive novel of two families uprooted by war and united by the bonds of love and courage.

With war looming dangerously close, Ilse’s school days soon turn to lessons of survival. In the harshness of winter, her family must join the largest exodus in human history to survive. As battle lines are drawn and East Prussia’s borders vanish beneath them, they leave their farm and all they know behind for an uncertain future.

But Ilse also has Janusz, her family’s young Polish laborer, by her side. As they flee from the Soviet army, his enchanting folktales keep her mind off the cold, the hunger, and the horrors unfolding around them. He tells her of a besieged kingdom in the Baltic Sea from which spill the amber tears of a heartbroken queen.

Neither of them realizes his stories will prove crucial and prophetic.

Not far away, trying and failing to flee from a vengeful army, Arno and his mother hide in the ruins of a Königsberg mansion, hoping that once the war ends they can reunite their dispersed family. But their stay in the walled city proves untenable when they find themselves dodging bombs and scavenging in the rubble. Soon they’ll become pawns caught between two powerful enemies, on a journey with an unknown destination.

Hope carries these children caught in the crosshairs of war on an extraordinary pilgrimage in which the gift of an amber teardrop is at once a valuable form of currency and a symbol of resilience, one that draws them together against insurmountable odds.

My thoughts: This is the first book I've read by Sofia Segovia, but it certainly will not be the last. I am always looking for new authors to read and love when I find those that just have that knack for crafting such captivating reads.

I've read a lot of historical fiction that centers on WWII, but this one has such a different feel to it and I cannot tell you how much I appreciated that. This is why I continue to read these books - I always find these gems that stand out and this one certainly does. This book, inspired the real events, is a family saga that follows two families in Prussia before, during and after the war. It is impossible not to become completely consumed by these characters and all that they endure throughout the book.

This book is told from multiple perspectives. I particularly loved that we hear from two children from the two different families, Ilse and Arno. Neither one really understands what is going on in the beginning when the war first starts, but over time, they come to understand the harsh realities of what is going on, seeing firsthand the horrors of living during war times.

This is the type of book that you need to take your time with. It is a gripping read that grabs hold of your heart and doesn't let up. The characters come alive on the pages and you feel as if you are living the struggles, and some moments of joy, that they are going through right along with them. It truly is an atmospheric, all-encompassing read that it so hard to describe.

I absolutely loved this story, as heartbreaking as it was. And I will definitely be adding Sofia Segovia to my must-read list of authors. If you are a fan of historical fiction, I highly recommend picking this one up!

Audio thoughts: I had the opportunity to listen to this book and what a fantastic audio it was. I am a fan of both Will Damron and Angela Dawe and thought they did a great job with their parts. Each was able to bring just the right amount of emotion and tension to their voices as needed and their pacing was spot on. Even though the story is tough to listen to at times, it was well-done!

Month in Review: April 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Sat, 01 May 2021 12:57:00 +0000

How is it that another month come and gone? I don't know about you, but this year seems to be flying by! Once again we had another fantastic month of new books and even with that, I was able to sneak in a few of my own plus 1 backlist book. And I participated in quite a few buddy reads / book club discussions again...I really am enjoying these and look forward to them joining some each month.

Reading Stats:

Read this month: 28
Year to date: 107

Books Read:

Into the Black Nowhere -- Meg Gardiner
Life's Too Short -- Abby Jimenez (audio book)
Finding Freedom -- Erin French (e-book)
The Lies You Told -- Harriet Tyce
Summertime Guests -- Wendy Francis (e-book)
Leonora In the Morning Light -- Michaela Carter
No Pain, No Gaines -- Chip Gaines (audio book)
Theme Music -- T. Marie Vanderly (audio book)
Northern Spy -- Flynn Berry
Under the Southern Sky -- Kristy Woodson Harvey
Sleeping Dogs Lie -- Samantha Downing (audio book)
Mother May I -- Joshilyn Jackson
Sunflower Sisters -- Martha Hall Kelly (audio book)
A Million Reasons Why -- Jessica Strawser (audio book)
Her Three Lives -- Cate Holahan (audio book)
The Perfect Daughter -- D.J. Palmer
Half Life -- Jillian Cantor (audio book)
The Last Night in London -- Karen White
The Women of Chateau Lafayette -- Stephanie Drey (audio book)
Flesh and Blood -- Caroline Mitchell (audio book)
Reunion Beach: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank -- Elin Hilderbrand, Adriana Trigiani, Patti Callahan, Mary Alice Monroe & more
All the Children Are Home -- Patry Francis
The Happiest Girl in the World -- Alena Dillon (audio book)
Little Pieces of Me -- Alison Hammer
The Next Wife -- Kaira Rouda
Tears of Amber -- Sofia Segovia (audio book)
The Dead Husband -- Carter Wilson

Favorite Books of April:

Northern Spy by Flynn Berry
Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly
The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Drey

This year I am all about the numbers. I decided that I am not doing any challenges, but I am going to pay attention to my own stats. This may or may not change as the year goes on...we shall see.

Books read that were published this year: 24 (80 YTD)

And of those, how many were review books: 21 (78 YTD)

Backlist review books read: 2 (11 YTD)

Books read off my own shelf (not review books): 3 (13 YTD)

Books bought/won in giveaways: 5 (21 YTD)

Review: The Next Wife by Kaira Rouda

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:49:00 +0000

Title: The Next Wife
Author: Kaira Rouda
Published: May 2021, Thomas & Mercer
Format: ARC Paperback, 312 pages
Source: Publisher via MB Communications

Summary:
There is no limit to the lies, suspicion, and secrets that can poison the perfect marriage in this twisting novel of suspense by USA Today bestselling author Kaira Rouda.

Kate Nelson had it all. A flourishing company founded with her husband, John; a happy marriage; and a daughter, Ashlyn. The picture-perfect family. Until John left for another woman. Tish is half his age. Ambitious. She’s cultivated a friendship with Ashlyn. Tish believes she’s won.

She’s wrong.

Tish Nelson has it all. Youth, influence, a life of luxury, and a new husband. But the truth is, there’s a lot of baggage. Namely, his first wife—and suspicions of his infidelity. After all, that’s how she got John. Maybe it’s time for a romantic getaway, far from his vindictive ex. If Kate plans on getting John back, Tish is one step ahead of her.

She thinks.

But what happens next is something neither Kate nor Tish saw coming. As best-laid plans come undone, there’s no telling what a woman will do in the name of love—and revenge.

My thoughts: I have been a fan of Kaira Rouda for quite a while now and am absolutely loving the new direction she is taking with her books. No one writes crazy, twisted characters like Kaira does!

I love a good revenge story and Kaira takes the basic one and turns it completely upside down. You may think you know where this is headed, but think again. This is a book where not just one person is out for revenge, everyone is trying to one-up the other. It's so addicting and I just could not read it fast enough. It grabbed me from the very beginning and never let up. It's also the type of book where nothing is as it seems and the characters are so deliciously devious that you just never know what to expect next.

The story is told from multiple points of view and I really liked that. It allows us to really get to know all the players and I really think players is an apt term here, as they all end up being players in this vicious game of revenge. The only question is who will make it out on top? It truly is a most twisted game of cat and mouse, the only thing being we are never quite clear who is the cat and who is the mouse until the very end.

Not only is this book based on secrets and lies, but the twists and turns keep you guessing all the way through. The manipulations that ensue, the antics - it keeps you engaged and wanting to see how it all plays out. Yes, it is dramatic at times, but in the very best way. It's entertaining and ever so clever as to how everything comes together at the end.

This was such a fun, thrilling, crazy read and I will certainly be recommending it to all my thriller friends. It's definitely the perfect book to add to your summer reading list!

Review: Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 12:22:00 +0000

Title: Good Neighbors
Author: Sarah Langan
Published: February 2021, Atria Books
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
Source: Publisher

Summary:
Celeste Ng’s enthralling dissection of suburbia meets Shirley Jackson’s creeping dread in this propulsive literary noir, when a sudden tragedy exposes the depths of deception and damage in a Long Island suburb—pitting neighbor against neighbor and putting one family in terrible danger.

Welcome to Maple Street, a picture-perfect slice of suburban Long Island, its residents bound by their children, their work, and their illusion of safety in a rapidly changing world.

Arlo Wilde, a gruff has-been rock star who’s got nothing to show for his fame but track marks, is always two steps behind the other dads. His wife, beautiful ex-pageant queen Gertie, feels socially ostracized and adrift. Spunky preteen Julie curses like a sailor and her kid brother Larry is called “Robot Boy” by the kids on the block.

Their next-door neighbor and Maple Street’s Queen Bee, Rhea Schroeder—a lonely community college professor repressing her own dark past—welcomes Gertie and family into the fold. Then, during one spritzer-fueled summer evening, the new best friends share too much, too soon.

As tensions mount, a sinkhole opens in a nearby park, and Rhea’s daughter Shelly falls inside. The search for Shelly brings a shocking accusation against the Wildes that spins out of control. Suddenly, it is one mom’s word against the other’s in a court of public opinion that can end only in blood.

A riveting and ruthless portrayal of American suburbia, Good Neighbors excavates the perils and betrayals of motherhood and friendships and the dangerous clash between social hierarchy, childhood trauma, and fear.

My thoughts: There is nothing I love more than finding a book set on Long Island. Add in a little neighborhood drama and a little craziness and I'm all in! And that is exactly what we get here with this new book by Sarah Langan.

This book is nothing short of fascinating. I found myself completely engaged right from the start, probably because I have always lived in suburbia all my live and find any commentary on this kind of life interesting. Watching a neighborhood react to a new family that doesn't quite fit their idea of what a perfect family is was both shocking and thrilling. I couldn't read this book fast enough to see how things would unfold and what secrets would spill out. Add in an unfortunate incident and tensions mount to unthinkable levels. Mob mentality takes hold and it is wild!

I loved the way the author used different tools to tell this story - the narrative, interviews, articles, alternating points of view - it all combines to keep you fully engaged. At times cringe-worthy and at times dark, this book is one that just begs to be read. I needed to know how things were going to play out and where things would ultimately end up. These characters weren't just flawed, some were downright unbelievable, yet I venture to guess we have all come across someone like them in our paths at one point or another.

This book is one I certainly won't be forgetting anytime soon. As hard a read as it was in certain parts, it certainly would make for a great bookclub pick as this book has so much to unpack. I definitely recommend this as it really is an eye-opening read for sure.

Review: Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly (audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 21:00:00 +0000

Title: Sunflower Sisters
Author: Martha Hall Kelly
Series: Lilac Girls, #3
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld, Shayna Small, Jenna Lamia, Cassandra Campbell, Martha Hall Kelly
Published: March 2021, Random House Audio / Ballantine Books
Length: 17 hours 50 minutes / 528 pages
Source: Audio via library / Print via Publisher

Summary:

Martha Hall Kelly’s million-copy best seller Lilac Girls introduced listeners to Caroline Ferriday. Now, in Sunflower Sisters, Kelly tells the story of Ferriday’s ancestor Georgeanna Woolsey, a Union nurse during the Civil War whose calling leads her to cross paths with Jemma, a young enslaved girl who is sold off and conscripted into the army, and Anne-May Wilson, a Southern plantation mistress whose husband enlists.

“An exquisite tapestry of women determined to defy the molds the world has for them.” (Lisa Wingate, number-one New York Times best-selling author of Before We Were Yours)

Georgeanna “Georgey” Woolsey isn’t meant for the world of lavish parties and the demure attitudes of women of her stature. So when war ignites the nation, Georgey follows her passion for nursing during a time when doctors considered women on the battlefront a bother. In proving them wrong, she and her sister Eliza venture from New York to Washington, DC, to Gettysburg and witness the unparalleled horrors of slavery as they become involved in the war effort.

In the South, Jemma is enslaved on the Peeler Plantation in Maryland, where she lives with her mother and father. Her sister, Patience, is enslaved on the plantation next door, and both live in fear of LeBaron, an abusive overseer who tracks their every move. When Jemma is sold by the cruel plantation mistress Anne-May at the same time the Union army comes through, she sees a chance to finally escape - but only by abandoning the family she loves.

Anne-May is left behind to run Peeler Plantation when her husband joins the Union army and her cherished brother enlists with the Confederates. In charge of the household, she uses the opportunity to follow her own ambitions and is drawn into a secret Southern network of spies, finally exposing herself to the fate she deserves.

Inspired by true accounts, Sunflower Sisters provides a vivid, detailed look at the Civil War experience, from the barbaric and inhumane plantations, to a war-torn New York City, to the horrors of the battlefield. It’s a sweeping story of women caught in a country on the brink of collapse, in a society grappling with nationalism and unthinkable racial cruelty, a story still so relevant today.

My thoughts: Having read, and loved, Martha Hall Kelly's previous two books, I knew I had to read this latest book and I absolutely loved it. And what a clever way this series was set up!

Before I get into my review, let me just start by talking about the "order/series" of these books. This series is in essence written backwards, though each stands completely on its own so it really does not matter the order you read the books in. If you choose to read them in the order they are written, then Lilac Girls would come first and that is about Caroline Ferriday. Then next would be Lost Roses, which is about Eliza Ferriday, Caroline's mother. And then you have the third and final book, Sunflower Sisters, which is about Georgeanna Woolsey, who is Caroline's great-aunt.

This particular book was set during the Civil War and I found myself completely entranced by the story. While this is a big book, it moves along fast. I was completely wrapped up in all the different points of view and while I might not have liked all the characters - I could not stand Anne-May - I did find that I needed to know what it was they were getting themselves involved in and if they would be ok. We follow three distinct points of view - Georgeanna, an abolitionist and army nurse; Jemma, the slave; and Anne-Mae, the plantation mistress, and their stories and experiences during this time completely captivated me.

I loved the way the characters' paths crossed and how the stories weave together to create a story that is full of all the details of slavery, the war and the challenges that women faced at the time. There are instances when it becomes a hard, uncomfortable read. The author does not shy away from the cruel events that took place during this time. But it was relevant to the story and I think she handled it in a manner that works for the book.

I love the way the author blended fact and fiction into the this story. It is so evident she really did her research and I loved that she was able to use letters from the Woolsey family to help create this story. I also love that I learned so much from this book. I learned the significance of sunflowers in relation to the underground railroad...and you'll have to read the book to find out! It's little things like this that make for such interesting reading and of course the in-depth author's note. Do you read this when the author includes it? I always do and find it fascinating what the author did and why.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Do not be intimidated by the length. It's the type of book that you quickly become totally immersed in and don't want to put down. Even the audio - which is rather long - kept me engaged the entire time.

Audio thoughts: I was able to get this audio at the library and I am so glad I did. It was narrated by such an amazing cast and even though the audio was on the longer side, at just under 18 hours, I felt it flew by. I listened to this every chance I got and ended up finishing it in 2 days...I just didn't want to put it down. I was completely caught up in this story and the narrators all did such a fabulous job bringing the story to life. Each one really did a great job with the voices and the pacing, and I could not have enjoyed it more.

Books in this series:

Lilac Girls
Lost Roses
Sunflower Sisters

Review: Flesh and Blood by Caroline Mitchell (audio)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 19:01:00 +0000

Title: Flesh and Blood
Author: Caroline Mitchell
Series: DI Amy Winters, #4
Narrator: Elizabeth Knowelden
Published: April 2021, Brilliance Audio
Length: 9 hours 11 minutes
Source: Publisher

Summary:

A string of suicides. A community in terror. And a chilling conspiracy only DI Amy Winter can crack.

A wave of apparent suicides hits a string of seaside resorts, but when a police officer is named as the latest to die, DI Amy Winter suspects there may be more than mere coincidence to these tragic deaths. But what dark motive could cause someone to throw themselves into the cold depths of the North Sea?

Someone in the community knows more than they are letting on, but Amy’s questions are met with resistance. A group of mysterious teenagers might hold the key, but why are they so afraid to talk? Meanwhile, after the release from prison of her serial killer mother, Amy is fighting her own demons.

In her toughest investigation yet, Amy must confront her dark past if she is to put an end to the carnage. What secret is so terrible that it’s worth killing a police officer for? Amy needs to find the answer, before the sea washes up any more bodies.

My thoughts: This is the fourth book in Caroline Mitchell's latest series featuring DI Amy Winters and I really love these books! This is such a gripping series - the books really grab you and hold your interest, though I will say, they are dark and a bit disturbing, so be forewarned!

As I have stated in each of my reviews of this series, I really believe in order to fully understand DI Amy Winters and all that she has gone though and continues to deal with, it is best to read these books in order. Her backstory really is a strong component of this series and a lot of that is set up in the first book and then is slowly built upon with each subsequent book. But that is of course just my opinion.

As is typical with these books, this latest one jumps right into the action and never lets up. I loved that this one really kept me guessing all the way through and had just the right amount of twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat, wondering if I had guessed the murderer or not.

There is still the balance of personal life and work for Amy. While there aren't as many appearances of Amy's crazy biological mother, Lillian, in this installment, she still manages to wreak some havoc nonetheless. And Amy is left to pick up the pieces, so to speak.

There are a few things set up for the next book and I cannot wait to see what happens. What I love about this series is that Caroline Mitchell so cleverly raises the tension at just the right moments. The book is fast-paced and the mini-cliffhangers at the end of some chapters just beg you to keep reading or listening. This is a series that just keeps getting better and I will be counting down the days until book 5 is released!

Audio thoughts: I was very happy to see that Elizabeth Knowelden was back to narrate book this latest book in the series. I am a big fan of consistency, whenever possible, in series. I feel it brings continuity to the story and Elizabeth Knowelden certainly did that, as she was consistent with the voices and her tone. As dark and gritty as this story was, Elizabeth Knowelden really brought it to life with her narration and I hope she continues to be the narrator for as long as the series goes on.

Books in this series:

Always With a Book

Review: Random Road by Thomas Kies

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About the Author

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Review: Tears of Amber by Sofia Segovia

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Review: Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

Review: Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly (audio)

Review: Flesh and Blood by Caroline Mitchell (audio)

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