**Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and K.L. Slater for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 5.21!!**
Could the man who haunts your nightmar**Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and K.L. Slater for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 5.21!!**
Could the man who haunts your nightmares become the man of your dreams?
Bridget is about to find out. 10 years ago, her son Jesse was killed by an unusually powerful punch from his best friend Tom after a rowdy night out at a local nightclub. Tom was imprisoned for his misstep and has spent the past decade paying for his crime...and forming an unusually close bond with the mother of his childhood best friend through a rehabilitation course offered as part of his sentence. Fearing the obvious recrimination from both families, they take the leap and get married at the prison prior to Tom's release. Once that day hits, however, not only does this pair have that issue to contend with, but all of the secondary players in both of their lives have something to say about the match...not to mention a trove of secrets and a tangle of mysteries that lead back to the night of Jesse's murder. Has Bridget found the perfect way to move on...or has she set herself in a carefully- laid trap to become an unwitting victim herself?
I always look for certain boxes to be checked when I read K.L Slater: fast read, enjoyable characters, interesting premises, and a fun twist or two. The Marriage hits all of these points, and although some people might find the setup a bit TOO unbelievable, Slater did draw her inspiration from reality, once again proving that truth can be stranger than fiction! This was a bit of an up and down read for me, but once I was about 65% of the way through, the pace picked up and I was buckled in and ready for the ride! Slater's characters were solid as always, and one in particular packs a significant punch (no pun intended) in the final twist! I did miss the presence of younger children in this book, only because Slater writes really adorable child characters and they are a joy to read, but they wouldn't have served this plot at all, so I'll just have to wait for her next book! Honestly, for me, this is one example of a book where the last chapter takes it up a notch and the twist makes EVERYTHING worth it, in the best possible way.
This was a marked step up from the last Slater book I read, Little Whispers, and reminded me why she quickly became a must-read author for me after my first read. This is perfect pool-side entertainment to go with your favorite summer beverage of choice! ...more
**Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Anna Johnston for an ARC of this book!**
"Our most basic instinct is not for survival, but for family."**Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Anna Johnston for an ARC of this book!**
"Our most basic instinct is not for survival, but for family." - Paul Pearsall
It all started with a blissful, sunny day by the river...
Frederick Fife has been biding his time and filling his days as best he can, but there's a hole in his heart. Ever since the love of his life, Dawn, was taken from him by cancer, he's been left with so much love to give, but nobody to receive it. At 82, with his bank account dwindling after so many months of Dawn's failed medical treatments, he wonders not only how he can pay his rent, but who will keep him company during these twilight years...and the loneliness aches. But during said afternoon by the water, quiet contemplation quickly goes awry when Frederick sees a man in a wheelchair (on sojourn with a group from his nursing home) fall into the water after attempting to feed the gulls.
Horrified, Frederick tries to intervene...but it's too late. He realizes that this mystery man has died suddenly, and before Frederick can blink, the man is being taken downstream, along with his wallet and any chance at identification. As he tries to get someone to help, Frederick comes in contact with a worker from the nursing home...and she believes HIM to be the man who fell from the wheelchair, Bernard Greer. She shuffles him onto the bus and back to the nursing home, despite Frederick's protests which are chalked up to dementia. When Frederick arrives, he spends a lot of time trying to convince the residents he is NOT Bernard - after all, the poor man deserves everything that is rightfully his! - but to no avail.
But then Frederick thinks - 3 meals a day, a warm place to stay, and loads of kind, lovely people around...maybe living Bernard's life for a while WOULDN'T be so bad. After all, why should all of this go to waste? After forming some fast friendships, "Bernard" settles in with his found family and thinks maybe he can successfully ride the wave. When nursing home worker Denise (who is dealing with a mountain of her OWN personal traumas) begins to gather mounting evidence about Bernard's true identity, however, can he keep his secret? And when Bernard's daughter, who is estranged of her own will, pops up to see Bernard...will she realize that the man living her father's life isn't who he says he is...and will she choose to forgive him...or TRULY cut him off for good?
Coming into this read with lots of early rave reviews from friends, it was hard to keep my expectations grounded and realistic. After all, this is Anna Johnston's debut, but with comparisons to Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and A Man Called Ove, Johnston had her work cut out for her. And while I didn't mistake the identity of the AUTHOR for Rachel Joyce or Fredrik Backman, I DID soak in the warmth and cheer of this charming, and emotionally-driven cozy, found family read!
In some ways, it would be easy for this novel to get lost in a sea of comps; while it is somewhat unique, the premise didn't FEEL entirely new. But at the same time, Johnston's tale is fueled mainly by the bold and brilliant characters that give her story heart - namely, of course, Frederick Fife himself. While men like Ove are more of a curmudgeon with a warm and gooey center (sort of like a particularly hard shelled Cadbury Cream egg), Frederick Fife is more like a warm flaky croissant with chocolate inside - you feel soothed from the first bite, and the sweet goodness just continues. While this did make him a lovable character (I don't think I've ever read a more kind octogenarian character in my LIFE! ...more
**Many thanks to Berkley and Jen DeLuca for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
When you think of the Florida Keys, you MIGHT picture sun, sa**Many thanks to Berkley and Jen DeLuca for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
When you think of the Florida Keys, you MIGHT picture sun, sand, and snorkeling.
But when it comes to Florida's Boneyard Key, the most terrifying entity you'll encounter won't be a shark, or even one of Florida's notorious gators...but a visitor (or two!) from the spirit world!
Let's just say the area is aptly named...and THESE grim grinning ghosts will keep you on your toes!
Cassie Rutherford has found a new home, right in the middle of this coastal, tourist-friendly town, where much to Jack Skellington's would-be delight, the creepy, the kooky, mysterious and spooky are on display all year round. She can't believe she got such a good price on the historic Hawkins House...until she comes to learn that the former inhabitant of the home, Sarah Hawkins (also known to the locals as Mean Mrs. Hawkins) might STILL be around....more
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Elizabeth Strout for an ARC of this book!**
"I love the comfort of daily life's routines: things like bei**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Elizabeth Strout for an ARC of this book!**
"I love the comfort of daily life's routines: things like being able to read a paper on a subway. It's no accident that my favorite word is 'quotidian'." - Elizabeth Strout
Quotidian musings, indeed, are once again at the heart of the latest installment of the Amgash series, Tell Me Everything. In it, we are once again back in the world of Lucy Barton, Olive Kitteridge, and Bob Burgess in the beloved town of Crosby, Maine. Picking up where the last installment left off, Lucy is still working through her feelings about her ex husband William as she comes to terms with living with him in their home by the sea. Bob Burgess, on the other hand, has his own series of challenges to deal with: he is knee deep in a complicated murder investigation where he is trying to determine whether or not a young man killed his mother...and who better to talk over all of this with than the indomitable and beloved writer who just so HAPPENS to be his closest friend...Lucy Barton?
But Lucy has formed a newfound friendship of her own...in the form of a crossover that all Strout fans have been waiting for, she begins to bond with none other than Olive Kitteridge. Olive is living in a nearby retirement community (with plenty of free time) and these two kindred spirits settle into a routine of swapping old stories...those that maybe never have been heard, and may also help lead to new realizations about the murder case that Bob has been working on so feverishly. But with so many unanswered questions, unfinished business, and angst lingering in the air, will all of these players find the kind of love and connection they have so desperately been seeking? Or will bouts of doubt and despondency keep them always searching for the sort of true, unfiltered connection that is always JUST out of reach as they fight to answer "what does life really MEAN"?
I jumped into this series with Amgash #3, Oh William, as Strout explored the bond of marriage (or former marriage) between Lucy and William, and laid the groundwork for her burgeoning attraction to well, Bob Burgess. ...more
**Many thanks to Berkley and Syou Ishida for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
"What greater gift than the love of a cat..."- Charles Dicke**Many thanks to Berkley and Syou Ishida for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
"What greater gift than the love of a cat..."- Charles Dickens
You may not have heard of the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul...and it's a well kept secret for a reason. Tucked away at the end of an seemingly empty alley in the heart of Kyoto, much like the Room of Requirement, it can only be found by certain people: those who truly need its special brand of furry, feline treatment. Every soul who ends up at the Kokoro Clinic is at their breaking point emotionally, mentally, and even physically - but every treatment is NEARLY the same. You see, rather than bed rest or horse-sized pills to swallow, the only cures at THIS clinic can be taken home not from the pharmacy...but in a carrier.
For whatever ails you...they'll prescribe you a cat....more
**Many thanks to @marysueruccibooks and @lauradaveauthor for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!**
Did you ever collect box to**Many thanks to @marysueruccibooks and @lauradaveauthor for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!**
Did you ever collect box tops as a kid to send away for an 'incredible' prize from that you just HAD to have?
It took weeks (and let's face it, MONTHS) to meet the threshold required for many of these prizes...and an almost insufferable amount of said cereal along the way. And when you finally had enough, you packed them up, shipped them off...and then had to wait AGAIN for your prize to finally land in the mailbox. But when at last it finally did, you found yourself left with a sort of halfhearted relief...and also a sinking sense of disappointment?
THAT is the exact feeling I had after reading Laura Dave's latest...and for all the anticipation promised by the enticing premise and interesting setup, I was met with all of the same nonchalance and an overwhelming feeling of disappointment by the time the 'prize' arrived.
The setup is so simple, it can nearly be described in one sentence: Liam Noone, hotel magnate, has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff, mere feet away from his stunning property, Windbreak...and nobody knows if he fell...or was PUSHED. It's up to Liam's daughter, Nora, and her estranged brother Sam to put aside their family differences, come together, and solve the mystery. Nora has plenty of mixed feelings after being brushed aside emotionally by dad for so many years, but being in the middle of her own relationship strife, she's eager for the distraction and prepared to keep digging until she gets to the truth.
But when Sam and Nora discover that this multilayered situation encompasses not only family drama and strife, but has ties to Liam's business itself...AND a secret love affair...they begin to realize that they might be in too deep. Will they find the right person from their father's past who knows more than they might be saying? Could their father's brother, Uncle Tom, have something to do with his sudden and tragic demise? Or was Liam carrying the sort of burdens that were simply too great to bear...and did he make the choice to control his own destiny AND end his own life, all in one fell swoop?
Laura Dave is one of those authors who started in a very specific sort of genre...and has been slightly re-marketed to fit another; the strange thing about this, though, is that her writing hasn't changed too much. My first exposure to her was in the lane of contemporary family drama with a tinge of romance (Eight Hundred Grapes) and with this book, oddly, it's a bit more of the same. At its core, this is TRULY a love story wrapped in a family drama...with a splash of mystery thrown in. I still haven't had the opportunity to read her most successful, breakout hit The Last Thing He Told Me as of yet, but as so many other authors have discovered...toss in a missing person or a murder element, and all of a sudden you are tapping an ENTIRELY new audience.
This isn't necessarily a BAD thing...but when a book is presented as more of a page-turning mystery/thriller rather than a slow-burn family drama with only the mildest bit of suspense, disconnect naturally follows. When I said the premise was simple, I meant it: despite bopping back and forth between 'Then" and "Now" timelines, this book is definitely on the easy reading side of the street for the most part. Short chapters and not a ton of fluff (this one comes in at a brisk 298 pages!) had a lot to do with it, and I found myself able to jump back in after putting this down for a week without any rereading or 'catching up' mentally, and that was a huge plus.
But at the same time...I wasn't ever exactly chomping at the bit TO pick this one up in the first place.
The mystery itself just felt lackluster, and frankly like a side note compared to the multiple love stories that are the beating heart of this book. Although there technically is 'plot' going on all of the time, I honestly think this book would have more intriguing as a longer and more in depth character study, with a literary fiction sort of feel, rather than HAVING to keep some focus on the detective work going at all times. When you find out what happened, you'll see what I mean: NONE of these characters truly get their due. And the funny thing is, as short as this book is, in some ways as a reader I was hoping for that sort of emotional growth and closure MORE than I wanted to know about the ins and outs of Liam's demise. I'm normally begging authors to tap their editors on the shoulder a bit to trim down the page count, but in this case...knowing less left me WANTING more.
And while I applaud Dave's attempt to branch out into a more specific sub genre (suspenseful romantic family drama) she is determined to make her own, I think she could take some advice from Plato: "Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any."
4 stars, rounded up from 3.5 for solid writing...more
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Simone St. James for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 3.5!!**
"I danced with the Devil, he tried to ge**Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Simone St. James for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 3.5!!**
"I danced with the Devil, he tried to get my soul Didn't recognize him on the dead man's road Oh no, he's dead and cold Don't go down the dead man's road" - Dead Man's Road, Doc Holliday
It's the summer of '97, and April and Eddie have tied the knot...and now it's finally time for a peaceful, relaxing honeymoon. Headed to their quiet resort town along the lake in Michigan, they can almost hear the lull of the waves and feel the warm sun on their faces already...even though it's nighttime. But when they stray off the beaten path and end up on a strange stretch of road known as Atticus Line...the vibes are a lot less Good Vibrations and a lot more 'Oujia Board on Halloween'. They see a hitchhiker stranded on the side of the road, and despite their better judgment (and the obvious kink in their original plans) they stop to help the young woman out...and it's only then they notice that she's COVERED in blood.
Eddie and April get the woman (named Rhonda Jean) to a hospital...but unfortunately not soon enough to save her. What they later learn is that she's far from the first to disappear on that fated stretch of road...Atticus Line is known for missing hitchhikers, and one particular hitchhiker is known by all of the locals as "The Lost Girl." This Jane Doe has never been found, and with a string of other unsolved murders taking place on this SAME stretch of highway, police begin to narrow their focus onto the two people who just HAPPENED to be there when Rhonda was found soaked in blood: Eddie and April.
Desperate to clear their names and get to the bottom of the case, the married duo tap into local resources: the owner of the B&B they are staying at, Rose, and true Hardy Girls in the flesh, the Snell Sisters, who are teens obsessed with the murders and doing a bit of detective work on their own, and attempt to tackle the last 30 YEARS of unsolved cases to find out just what happened to all of this missing wanderers...and if their spirits are still haunting the same eerie stretch of highway. Can Eddie and April get to the bottom of the mystery with all eyes cast upon them? Or does The Lost Girl have her eyes on a NEW victim...or possibly a pair of victims...and won't stop until she FINALLY exacts her revenge?
I have to admit, I've been on the fence about continuing to read Simone St. James' books since my very first. I have always felt like I loved the IDEA of her books more than the finished product itself, and have relied heavily on her fantastic use of atmosphere and her AMAZING ghosts to keep me hooked and hoping for something more each time I pick one up. Oftentimes in the past, her plots have felt very convenient to me, with everything and everyone being in the right place, at the right time for everything to work, with a certain level of suspended disbelief ALSO required just to get me from A to B in terms of plot. I've never felt compelled to keep reading OTHER than to revisit her ghosts again and again, which is a bit bizarre, but just speaks to the quality of her writing when it comes to the paranormal.
But with Murder Road, I am thrilled to say that St. James took EVERY aspect of her writing to the next level...and the result was a thriller that was spooky, dripping in 90's nostalgia, and a TWISTY page turner that kept me EASILY enthralled from beginning to end!
St. James' atmosphere is ALWAYS on point, but as a 90's kid with a soft spot for the aforementioned era, I feel that she absolutely NAILED the essence of the 90s. This cover says it all: it could just have easily been on a Christopher Pike or R.L Stine book from the same era...and I mean that as an ABSOLUTE compliment! There are plenty of references thrown in along the way to remind you of the time period, but rather than beat her readers over the head with them, for the most part St. James slyly tosses them in as background or scene setting material, from TV footage around big news stories of the time to music playing on the radio during one of April and Eddie's many car rides...and THIS is how you do it. Lots of gentle nods, but nothing in your face: she played it JUST right....more
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin - Putnam, and Richard Roper for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 2.13!!**
"If I could you know I would Just **Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin - Putnam, and Richard Roper for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 2.13!!**
"If I could you know I would Just hold your hand and you'd understand I'm the man who loves you" - I'm the Man Who Loves You, Wilco
Brian feels like Lily's only been gone for a moment...but at the same time, it feels like an eternity. He can still picture her in that vivid blue dress, smiling at him from behind the bar as though it was yesterday...but it's been almost SEVEN long years without her...and without any explanation as to why she left him. In that time, Brian has tried his best to keep the bar he ran with Lily afloat, and keep all of their dreams alive until she returns...because with the anniversary of her departure coming up, he knows in his GUT that she will be back soon.
But one day, Brian catches himself doomscrolling (or is it stalking?) TripAdvisor and finds a username that catches his eye: PinkMoonLily1972. With his Lily's affinity for musician Nick Drake (and especially his album PINK MOON) and her name in the username, Brian is convinced he's finally found her. PinkMoonLily has been all over the place, writing reviews of her adventures...and there even seems to be a method to her madness. Brian takes this as the sign he's been waiting for, and leaves the bar in the hands of his two employees to go out on a quest to bring Lily home to him at last. With a half-formulated plan in mind, Brian sets off, not knowing what to expect...but hoping he can stay two steps ahead of Lily and run into her at long last. But with memories of their long and complicated past flooding back to him along the way....and a curious female stranger named Tess who...catches him off guard, to say the least...will Brian's quest end in triumph? Or with such a tumultuous and at times tortured past between them...is it simply too LATE for their love to FINALLY conquer all?
I'm new to Richard Roper, so going into this read I had absolutely no idea what to expect. The beginning of the book is a little bit jarring to start, with bits and pieces of Brian's memories of Lily presented in flashes or as lists, and I was a bit nervous it would take me a while to find my footing and dig in to this read. However, by about 20% in, not only was I used to Brian's narrative style, I can only describe my reading experience as the best kind of mix between Fredrik Backman and David Nicholls....and I was nothing short of ENTHRALLED! I love a story that brilliantly blends past and present, and this narrative slowly unfurled, showing us flashes of Lily and Brian's relationship as it developed over time, but bouncing back over and over to Brian's current quest without feeling disruptive in the slightest.
This is a relationship you won't EVER quite understand...because Brian doesn't fully understand it either. He's self-deprecating, but never in an overly dramatic way, and at the same time, he both sees his worth and doubts it constantly. Lily's family and Lily herself are complicated creatures, and since we only get to know Lily through Brian's recollection, she is as much a mystery to us as readers as she is to Brian during her mysterious journey. Brian's sense of humor might take a bit of getting used to also...but as I mentioned earlier, he is right at home with the likes of some of my favorite Backman characters and has the perfect blend of wit, silliness, and still an air of melancholy about him...all with a heart of gold beneath.
Though I won't give ANYTHING away, because trust me when I say the journey is worth it, there is a WHOPPER of a twist towards the end of this book...and it is nothing short of a gut punch. I actually gasped out loud and said "No way" TO my Kindle while reading...it is that kind of breathtaking moment that feels eerily reminiscent of the most shocking moment in your OWN life, where you had to stop and look around for a second to make sure the Earth hadn't suddenly fallen off its axis. Once you come back into your body and start breathing again, Roper gives you a fitting AND intriguing end to Brian's story, with a charming final chapter that feels like taking the first sip of hot cocoa on a cold winter night: it'll warm you up from the inside out! ☕
And though I won't say exactly WHERE Brian's journey leads him (or to whom!) Marcel Proust's thoughts on the nature of discovery sums up this quest perfectly: "The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes...but in having new eyes."...more
**Many thanks to Berkley and Eve J. Chung for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 5.7!!**
"There are two powers in the worl**Many thanks to Berkley and Eve J. Chung for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 5.7!!**
"There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a third power stronger than both, that of women." - Malala Yousefzai
While some may be overjoyed at the birth of ANY child, in 1940s China, having "just another daughter" is nothing short of a curse. Amidst the poverty of the rural community of Shandong, the wealthy Ang family are desperate for a son to carry on the family name and the family wealth, leaving Hai and her sisters feeling like less of a blessing and more of a burden. With the Communist revolution knocking at their doorstep (quite literally) the girls try to keep their heads down and hope to remain out of the fray...but the rest of the family flees when soldiers arrive. Hai, as the eldest girl, is chosen to be representative for her family and must bear the brunt of the soldiers cruelty...and feels lucky to make it out alive.
Hai and her sisters know now is the time to make their escape, and with practically nothing but the burlap sacks they fashion as clothing (and flour they hide inside) to take with them as they are forced out...they have NO Idea if they will even make it to their destination alive. Their travels take them from Qingdao to Hong Kong to Taiwan, relying on the kindness of few along the way, with Hai keeping headstrong sister Di on the right path and hoping to lean on her intelligence to land a teaching job, the girls scrap, scrimp, and struggle their way across the countryside, determined to face the men who wronged them and forge a new path for themselves - one that doesn't revolve around producing yet another faceless male heir who will demand their subservience. As they finally reach family in Taiwan, will all of Hai's struggles and the arduous journey she has faced so far be worth the pain in the end as she is able to make a TRUE stand against injustice? Or will the firm grasp of the patriarchy keep these women "in their place" and stifle ANY chance for REAL independence?
With historical fiction, it's sometimes easier to get swept away by the text if you're very familiar with the place, era, and the events taking place...and in this case, I had little familiarity coming into this book about all three of those elements. I have to admit I spent a lot more of this read getting acclimated to what was going on at any given time, keeping track of where we were geographically, and keeping track of the characters and their activities than I would have liked, and this did take me out of the 'flow' a bit while reading. Chung is a very talented writer, but I felt like this read a bit more like a text rather than fiction at times, where there was a great deal of focus on the plot, where we were heading next, etc. so this style of HF reads a bit dry to me in comparison to others that have a more balanced approach. However, I also DO feel if I had the historical background coming INTO the book, this probably wouldn't have been noticeable or bothered me in the slightest, so it was one of those instances where I wish I'd taken a few minutes to do a little preemptive research before reading (and perhaps next time I will!)
What I honestly wished there was more of in this book was character development - because every glimpse we DID get into these fascinating women left me wanting more. At the beginning, I thought the harsh words from the girls' grandmother about how useless they were for not being born male etc. were going to play a bigger part in the overall goings on...but I felt like despite Chung's best efforts, there was so much plot content to get through, that I didn't get as thorough of a glimpse inside the minds of Hai, Di, and the others as I would have liked. I understood their struggles through the action, sure; but with such dynamic and intelligent personalities, it would have been even more impactful to get a firm sense of their INNER selves. I'm not saying this book could have necessarily functioned as a series of diary entries or the like, but I think utilizing that sort of device would have given an extra layer of realism and emotional connectivity that I personally look for in some of my favorite historical fiction reads.
What DID elevate the overall experience for me, however, was the detailed and fascinating author's note Chung includes at the end of this one, where she reveals that this book was in fact based on her OWN family's personal history. Her attention to detail and careful consideration while telling her family's story alone was enough to get me to bump up my rating. This is one of those author's notes that makes you want to read an entire BOOK (or maybe watch a documentary?) about the writing process because there is simply too much detail to fit inside an addendum. I know it probably isn't feasible, but since this is only Chung's debut, perhaps in the future she could delve into what happens next for our beloved women of Shandong!
And although I won't reveal whether or not grandmother Nai Nai has to eat her own words by the end of this harrowing tale...I WILL reference one other quote that sums up the power, the resilience, the determination, and the fortitude displayed by ALL of the Daughters of Shandong: "If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something DONE, ask a woman."
**Many thanks to Berkley and Etta Easton for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 4.9!!**
Amerie Price is desperate to find **Many thanks to Berkley and Etta Easton for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 4.9!!**
Amerie Price is desperate to find a lucky star...but all she's been seeing lately are LOTS of clouds. After a breakup that left her crushed AND losing her job, she is scrambling to put together enough money to pay her rent. She feels terrified at the prospect of having to gamble on herself by jumping headfirst into her very own business venture as an event planner...but simultaneously hopes she has the goods to make it all happen. In this vulnerable state, she grabs a coffee at her favorite local Java Joint and bumps into NONE other than the ex she's been eager to forget..and he has his shiny NEW girlfriend in tow.
Looking for the upper hand, Amerie takes a chance encounter with a VERY sexy, Tall, Dark, and Handsome stranger (one that resulted in coffee being spilled all over her), grabs the handsome hottie, and presents him as her boyfriend. The man in question, she will later learn, is Vincent Rogers, and he's got the kind of job that sounds as unlikely as "CIA operative" or "bodyguard to the stars": Vincent is a certified, bonafide ASTRONAUT. Despite his glamorous job, Vincent's been dealing with struggles of his own...namely, a family that is DESPERATE to see him paired up with a nice girl with marriage on the horizon. Vincent decides to play along with Amerie's scheme...by hatching one of his own: Amerie's that one special girl, and he has her move into his pad to help her save some cash AND further the idea that these two are in a long-term, committed relationship.
But when family health struggles come up on Amerie's side, and Vincent's family grows increasingly worried that his next mission could be catastrophic...Vincent and Amerie begin to bond in a REAL way...and on a level that neither expected. With so much at stake, can Vincent fulfill ALL of his dreams? Will this next journey into space be his last? And will Amerie have the courage to ask him to stay with her...or is she in line for ANOTHER devastating heartbreak with the 'one who got (lightyears!) away'?
This is a debut novel, and since I had no point of reference coming into this story, I figured it would go one of two ways: VERY cheesy fake dating or adorable, charming fake dating with two MCs you just couldn't help but root for from beginning to end.
...And I am thrilled to say there was NO moon cheese here, folks!...more
**Many thanks to Berkley and Stephanie Dray for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 3.12!**
"Being a woman has only bothere**Many thanks to Berkley and Stephanie Dray for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 3.12!**
"Being a woman has only bothered me in climbing trees." - Frances Perkins
It is this frank and fearless nature that sets Frances Perkins apart...and from the moment she arrives in New York City, destined to bring about change, she truly has her work cut out for her. Working with some of the poorest in Hell's Kitchen's tenements, it is apparent that working conditions (and living conditions) are not sustainable for the people of her fair city. She has several compatriots, each with a fire for revolution in their bellies: there's Upton Sinclair, a cheeky young fire-haired writer who longs to be more than just friends with Frances, a wealthy but kind socialite Mary Harriman Rumsey, and a brooding, sensitive young reformer Paul Wilson, each determined to change the landscape in their own way.
But after witnessing the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire firsthand (with workers literally LEAPING out of the burning building to the ground below), Frances knows that labor conditions need change: immediate and DRASTIC change. Though she isn't directly involved in politics herself, Frances gets word that Franklin "Feather Duster" Roosevelt, a rich and haughty man she encountered at a party once (who wasn't exactly her number one fan, to put it mildly!) is running for office...and he might actually WIN. Roosevelt has a plan that will take him up through the ranks, and quickly: a plan that will end with him in the White House. When all of this comes to pass, NO one is more surprised than Frances when FDR not only recognizes Frances' passion for reform and labor policy, but wants to appoint her to be his Secretary of Labor...making her the very FIRST woman in the presidential cabinet.
Although Frances is honored and perhaps more passionate and driven by her work than anyone around her, she is met with push-back and criticism over and over again. Many men assume she can't do her job AND be a wife and mother...but Frances isn't going to let anything stand in her way. But balancing the severe troubles experienced by members of her family...acting as an indomitable force during FDR's tenure...AND fighting for social security and labor reform proves to be nearly overwhelming for Frances, and she starts to wonder if she can TRULY make all of these dreams come true. Will her bold determination start a blaze of glory that will continue on for generations to come...or will everything she has worked for crumble before her very eyes?
I'm a bit ashamed to say that before picking up this book, I probably hadn't heard the name Frances Perkins since elementary school...and since this may have been back in the 2nd or 3rd grade I couldn't have told you a THING about her. After reading this book, it's not only shocking but saddening to me that such an integral part of history was not a MAJOR focus in the curriculum. As someone who is very passionate when it comes to workers' rights (and as a former Union member myself, when I had the opportunity to be in one!) it was easy for me to become VERY invested in Frances' mission as she fought to keep children out of factories, to enforce more limited working hours (No more fourteen hour days...and we think we have it bad now! ) and to establish programs like social security which would benefit ALL citizens, not just those born into wealth. Sadly, many of these fights persist today, but they would have been Dead on Arrival PERMANENTLY if not for the tireless work of Frances Perkins. To say this book is enlightening is an understatement: I feel I owe Frances a debt of gratitude!
Dray also does something special with this narrative: this is technically historical fiction, but almost reads more like a diary or a memoir. Perkins takes you through so many years of her life, but the chapters are fairly short and manageable, and there is a solid balance between Perkins' work life and her personal life. There is romance and heartache, inner turmoil and also an exploration of the power of friendship. While Perkins and FDR have a rocky start, the two learn to work in tandem in a truly powerful way, and like all of the relationships explored here, has a complexity and a beauty all its own. Perkins' choices are never easy, and this is the recurring theme underlying her entire career. Being a woman during this time was hard enough in and of itself, but to make some of the 'radical' statements and decisions Perkins was forced to make at times was what set her apart...and I am SO thrilled Dray chose to share this history in such an interesting way.
This book is also 500+ pages (!) which is usually somewhat of a red flag for me when it comes to historical fiction, but this one is written in such a way that it never feels overly long or complex. The chapters move along at a pretty good clip, and as a reader I felt that the only reason the book was this length was to make sure she captured as much detail about Perkins' life as possible: this one is meticulously researched, with Dray highlighting at the end any areas where she took creative liberty, but these are few and far between. There's always a stark difference between authors who TRULY do their research in historical fiction and those that rely on more 'basic' tropes and commonly known information. I applaud Dray's dedication to preserving the integrity of Frances Perkins and EVERYTHING she accomplished during her truly impactful time in office.
And through Dray, by the end of her journey, Perkins makes an observation true of so many bold and brilliant, brave and breathtaking revolutionaries of the past, present, and future: "So maybe a spark of madness is what it takes to accomplish anything truly revolutionary in this world."
One tiny, seemingly insignificant, but POWERFUL spark!...more
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House-Ballantine, and Liv Constantine for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 6.18!!**
"Revenge is sweet and no**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House-Ballantine, and Liv Constantine for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 6.18!!**
"Revenge is sweet and not fattening" - Alfred Hitchcock
Amber Patterson Parrish planned EVERYTHING out when she decided she would stop at nothing to become the wife of wealthy Jackson Parrish...except what she would do when he got out of prison, that is. Amber's scheme (detailed in the first book of this series, The Last Mrs. Parrish) involved leaving her questionable past behind, sidling up to Mr. Moneybags, earning his trust and his love...and then getting him locked up for tax evasion and enjoying a lavish lifestyle on her own, scot-free. After all, when it comes to love or money? It's ALWAYS been an easy choice for Amber. But as Jackson's bank account dwindles and the clock continues to tick, panic sets in. Will Amber's social standing in Bishop's Harbor and the life that has become second nature to her be ripped away when her 'Darling' Husband returns...with his own axe to grind?
Meanwhile, Jackson's first wife Daphne has her own connections to Jackson that keep her tied to her horrifying past...her beautiful daughters. She too knows that Jackson's time in prison is coming to an end, and although she vowed to keep her life as separate from Jackson as possible, her children miss their dad and beg for the chance to spend some time with him upon his release. Daphne is more than a bit reluctant, with memories of the verbal, mental, and physical abuse her family endured still fresh in her mind, but she feels she cannot deny her kids the opportunity to see their dad, so she gives in. But once she spends some time around Jackson he APPEARS to be a changed man...and wants to lure Daphne back into his bed. Will her dark and disturbing relationship past be enough to keep her away from Jackson's arms...or could she fall BACK under his spell?
And then there's Daisy Ann, a woman out seeking revenge of her own...for the murder of her late father. Daisy is a successful business owner now, but she hasn't been able to overcome the loss of her beloved dad...and KNOWS in her gut that his 'accidental' hunting death was far from an accident. Though the evidence has never emerged to prove anything conclusively, Daisy Ann hasn't given up hope that all will be revealed and the party who is TRULY responsible will be brought to justice. And it just so happens that this woman MAY be incredibly wealthy and prominent in Bishop's Harbor...at least, for now. When this suspect ends up poised to take away Daisy's company, WHO will end up with the spoils? Will Jackson's release allow him to FINALLY catch up with BOTH of his 'loves'...and will he finally get the chance for revenge HE has been craving? Or does Amber have ONE final trick (or perhaps, rare and expensive diamond ...more
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Jeanne Mackin for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 1.23!!**
As much as the world already knows, Alana **Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and Jeanne Mackin for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 1.23!!**
As much as the world already knows, Alana Olson believes there is more to Picasso's story than meets the eye...and she is DETERMINED to write the perfect article to reveal the truth. As a female journalist amidst a sea of men in the 1950's, Alana has her work cut out for her...and knowing Picasso's philandering ways, there is a part of her that is apprehensive about diving into the past of this master. However, her determination leads the way, and Alana dives into the investigation head-on. Her research leads her to Sara Murphy, who knew Picasso and spent time with him back in 1923...and she has QUITE the tale to tell.
While Alana finds herself wrapped up in her own 'affair' of sorts with a handsome man who owns the hotel she is staying at, the more she learns about Picasso, the more intrigued she becomes...and feels like there is one piece to this puzzle that has specifically led HER here. Finding out the truth behind the many affairs and romantic entanglements that inspired Pablo to create some of his most iconic works and the many muses that ended up in his bed (or wished they had!) What Alana discovers seems like a coincidence...but could there be even MORE to this story than she ever imagined? Will she have the courage to look the artist himself in the eye...and demand the answers she is desperate to discover? Or will her fear, looming political tensions in the world around her, and the internal struggle about whether or not to remain in her marriage keep her distracted from a potentially life-changing truth?
For historical fiction to truly work well for me, it needs three elements: an authentic and atmospheric setting, compelling and realistic characters, and a plot that doesn't get overly convoluted due to messy timelines or sloppy storytelling. I am glad to say that with this book, Mackin delivered on ALL three levels. This is a bit of a slower book to start, and the first bit is narrated by one of the women in Picasso's life, Irene. When the narrative switched, I first thought we were going to receive narration from ALL of Picasso's lovers mentioned in the text (In sort of a round robin way), and although I thought this would be confusing after a while, I thought it was a clever device. Luckily, the narrative switches to Alana and stays there for the majority of the book...and I think this was to the benefit of the story, as it helped me keep details, time, and of COURSE the women, straight throughout.
There's something enchanting about the air of the French Riviera, especially during the time period explored in this story, and even the cover immediately draws you into this era effortlessly. I appreciated all of the nods to the time period and as someone who was relatively uninformed about Picasso prior to reading this book, I felt like I got brought up to speed quickly. References to some of his most famous paintings, from Guernica to The Lovers, helped to bring the story to life and neatly blended the line between fact and fiction. Mackin also mentions in her authors note specifically what was complete fiction versus reference to real life for clarity, and these are the sort of touches that made this an informative experience while still having the 'fiction' feel.
The third act conflict, especially, feels both expected AND very unlikely...but at the same time, there is JUST enough potential for it to BE true based on what we come to learn about both Picasso and Alana that it almost gives the story an air of magical realism. Do you need to suspend disbelief a little? Sure. But since it's only a minor suspension, it felt very in line with the context of the overall story. Mackin's attention to detail in weaving in the political climate of the time, and mirroring the infidelity in Picasso's story with the infidelity in Alana's own present situation, helped to expand the depth and breadth of the narrative too. And of course, there's the character of Picasso...who is a real person, of course, but it's up to YOU whether you sympathize with him, are angry with him...or, like so many in his life, just find him IMPOSSIBLE to truly figure out!...more
**Many thanks to Berkley and Sara-Jane Collins for an ARC provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 1.23!!**
"Time is the fire in which we burn." **Many thanks to Berkley and Sara-Jane Collins for an ARC provided via NetGalley! Now available as of 1.23!!**
"Time is the fire in which we burn." - Gene Roddenberry
Alison still can hardly believe she made it out alive. When a wildfire tore across her town, she relied on her street smarts, keeping herself safe and wrapped in a wet blanket in her bathroom. When she finally emerges into a world seemingly torn apart by ash, she finds the evidence of even more destruction at her doorstep. A red car is stranded beneath a tree in her yard...but it isn't empty. Inside is the body of a woman...a woman who is now dead. Alison is horrified...but who is this woman, and WHY did she end up practically sitting on her doorstep?
After a quick search through the woman's bag, she finds an ID that finally gives her a name for the mysterious stranger: Simone Arnold. This name means nothing to her...but another name on a slip of paper also inside the bag does...Alison King. Now that it's clear this woman was on a mission to reach her, what sort of message did Simone have to deliver? Troubled by her already complicated past with a man she's been trying desperately to forget ---and to keep away at all costs---will Alison and her detective friend be able to crack the case with this now-permanently silent player? Or will the fires return to finish what they started...and take Alison as their next victim?
This novel takes place in Australia, and even in the first few pages, Collins does an excellent job of setting the scene and building a smoky, orange post-apocalyptic setting for our MC Alison. In general, this storytelling reminded me a lot of many of the Scananavian noir-type novels I've read in the past, where a heavy dose of atmosphere is almost a character in and of itself. While the action and mystery could be entertaining without it, you truly need to allow yourself to become immersed in the world of the book in order to have a complete reading experience. In order for the fires to feel like a character, the memory has to linger not only with Alison, but with YOU as the reader, and at times I certainly felt like I could smell the acrid smoke lingering in the air.
While the fire may be the most abstract character, there are a FEW worthwhile players in this one to keep you hooked. Alison, unfortunately, is a MC who is guaranteed to frustrate many readers: she's not the best at taking advice, has a substance abuse problem of sorts, and more baggage than a steam train. All that being said, however, she is a COMPLEX character, one whose past traumas slowly unfold throughout the book (some in flashback, some in the present time) and while you won't always agree with her, the choices in front of her will become less cut and dried and the line between right and wrong will become irrevocably blurred.
And at the center of this is MY favorite aspect of this story, the will-they-won't-they tortured not-quite-romantic-but-NOT-at-all-platonic-relatonship between Alison and one of her close male friends...who also happens to be a cop. Normally, a relationship like this would be set up as a device to move the story along or to get Alison insider intel...but in this case, it was more of a character study of these two souls, each lost in their own way, and the tension (as well as the sexual tension!) added layer upon layer to this already complex narrative. Along with conversations about grief and ruminations about the past, Collins gave these characters SO much material to delve into and discuss that there was never a dull moment when these two were in the room...and never an 'easy' moment between them either.
The mystery itself is also compelling and ties back well (once you have the full story) to Alison's past...and while I suppose in some sense it is predictable, because there is enough other drama permeating the narrative, you won't get too bogged down by this fact. There are points where I felt like things slowed down a bit or were needlessly complicated, but in the end it was the complex character relationships and overall feel that took this up a notch for me, and kept me waiting with bated breath to see just how the journey would end for Allison...because with so much internal conflict, trust me when I say there are TWO ways this story can go right up until the end.
...And as Alison learns, much like flame itself...in so many ways it's up to nature (and fate) to TRULY decide who (and what) is left standing when the smoke FINALLY clears....more
**Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Rainbow Rowell for an ARC of this book!**
"Last dance Last chance, for love..." - "Last Dance", Donna Su**Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Rainbow Rowell for an ARC of this book!**
"Last dance Last chance, for love..." - "Last Dance", Donna Summer
When it comes to high school year book superlatives, if there were a category labeled "Most Likely to become Harry and Sally...but they have NO IDEA", you couldn't have picked better candidates than Shiloh and Cary. Close in a way that only friendships born in youth can be, the two discussed every tiny aspiration, struggle, and dream with one another...and had enough inside jokes to line the back page of the aforementioned yearbook to boot. Living in the 90s in Omaha, Shiloh's dreams were of the Great White Way, while Cary had his sights set on the Great Blue Sea: he was determined to join the Navy. Although neither knew if their friendship could withstand this sort of dramatic shakeup (especially when their shared hometown was no longer part of the equation) life took over, as it does, and both of them lives out some variation of the aspirations of their youth...while time and distance eventually dragged them a bit too far apart.
...Until fate beckons them back into the same room, 14 years later: their mutual friend, Mikey, is getting married. Shiloh is fresh off a divorce from hunky theater dad Ryan, and has two children...and they are all crashing at Shiloh's mom's house until she finds her new normal. Although she hopes to see Cary, her expectations are low and she's feeling more than a bit uncomfortable in her own skin, and watching old high school friends reunite around banquet tables and brag about their own happiness isn't exactly helping to boost her confidence. But when Shiloh DOES see Cary and they lock eyes, they both become transfixed by all that was, all that is...and all that could be. When Cary asks her to dance, the butterflies take over...and for the very first time, she wonders if maybe they have more than just memories between them. But once the pair begin to spend time together, Cary's job in the Navy, the aftermath of Shiloh's divorce and navigating dating as a single mom, family troubles, and some well-worn communication and relationship problems start to reemerge...and both begin to wonder if perhaps the past BELONGS in the past.
Was this the second chance both friends and potential loves NEEDED to break them out of their indecision and put them in one another's arms for a lifetime? Or like the last dance at prom, will this final chance at romance fade along with the song's final notes...and send them each on their own unknown path?
There have been very few times in my life when I've nearly screamed when getting approved for an ARC...but getting approved for this title was one of those times. I have been a DIEHARD Rainbow fan for ages (aside from Simon Snow, which is perfectly lovable but just not my jam) and her adult books ESPECIALLY have left me a crying and laughing mess (particularly Attachments and Landline, STILL two of my favorite books I've read in the last 10 years!). There is something so real and so raw in all of these stories, with characters so lifelike you can't say for certain that they AREN'T real...just that you've never had the pleasure of meeting them in person. So when I heard Rainbow Rowell had a new adult romance coming out...I floated up past Cloud 9 and landed oh, let's say on Cloud 42 or so! ⛅
But as much as I adored the concept of this one, the fact that it was partially set in the 90's, and the trademark Rainbow Rowell charm of two flawed and REAL characters popping off the page and falling in love...this Slow Dance was more of a Slow Burn AND a Slow Read...and I QUICKLY came to the realization it would not be sitting alongside Attachments or Landline in my collection of Rainbow Rowell five star reads....more
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, and Kimberly McCreight for an ARC of this book!**
Everyone has three lives: a public life, a private life...and a se**Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, and Kimberly McCreight for an ARC of this book!**
Everyone has three lives: a public life, a private life...and a secret life.
Although recent life events have created a wedge between them, Cleo knows her mother Katrina better than almost anyone else...so when she gets a call to return home to have dinner with her at her childhood home in Brooklyn, she figures she'd best show up. After all, despite their problems, nobody can question the unshakable bond between mother and daughter. When she arrives, however, the room is eerily quiet, and Katrina is nowhere to be found. All that remains is remnants of the burned dinner...and Katrina's bloody shoe. Terrified, Cleo has no idea what happened and despite her frustrations with her mother as of late, she is desperate to find her...and hopes that she isn't too late to save her.
It is Katrina's private AND secret lives, however, that Cleo should be exploring...rather than being blinded by the perfect sheen of her public persona. Although Kat seems to have it all as a posh, successful corporate lawyer with a handsome, dedicated husband Aidan at her side, all is not as it seems. Cleo is unaware, but Kat's marriage is on the rocks, and her job is far more dangerous than it seems at first glance. Kat is her firm's 'fixer', a designated lawyer whose job it is to make problems go away...meaning she deals with some of the ugliest scandals in corporate world...and the shady characters naturally follow. But has Kat finally found the one scandal she CANNOT fix...without exposing her role to a dangerous foe? With husband Aidan aching to get his hands on Kat's money to finance a film, did his desperation lead him to an unspeakable act of violence? Or is Cleo's drug dealing ex-boyfriend the one with a vendetta against Kat for taking Cleo away from him...a vendetta strong enough to end in kidnapping...or even murder?
Although I've been eager to read Reconstructing Amelia, for oh, 5 years now, I STILL have only read two Kimberly McCreight books up until this point...and both of them were definitely 3 star reads. (One I have no recollection of reading whatsoever, but according to Goodreads I did: guess that speaks for itself!) But for some reason, the title of this one and mere curiosity won the day in this instance and I wanted to give this law school graduate author another shot, since lawyer-turned-thriller writers can be some of my favorites to read (I'm looking at you, Julie Clark and David Ellis!)...and for the MOST part, I'm glad I did!
At first, this felt like a bit of an 'everything but the kitchen sink' read - too many characters, too many plots and subplots, and a bunch of what felt like extraneous information (told via news articles, therapist interviews, etc.)...but by the time I got to about 60%, I found myself JUST engaged enough to want to start tearing through the second half. The setup is a bit lengthy here, and overall there is more time spent developing the through lines than there is REALLY digging into the psyches of Cleo and Kat. At the same time, though, I felt that I was able to glean enough about them through their actions rather than simply their thoughts to get a good sense of character and I kept WANTING to learn more about the backstory, when and if Kat was going to 'fix' the scandal at hand, and just exactly WHAT was so great about Cleo's ex-boyfriend. (And no spoilers, but the jury is still out on that one, I've got to be honest!)
The timelines in this one also kind of reminded me of one of those boards that detectives use with pushpins and pieces of string that zigzag back and forth in a seemingly random way, so don't expect to feel entirely settled with what day or time it is at ANY point while reading. As someone who prefers linear storytelling overall, it was a bit of a stretch to try to parse together the then, the now, and the in-between...but at the same time, I never quite got to the point of frustration with any of it, so I think McCreight's attention to detail is all there...it just may be more readily apparent on a plotting diagram than it is for a reader trying to follow along. But while I wouldn't put this in the category of popcorn thriller because of the plot's intricacies, it is an easy ENOUGH read for glossing over the 'messy' bits, if you so choose.
The true heart and soul of this one and the reason I think McCreight wanted to write this particular book, however, was more as a commentary on mothers and daughters, and THIS is the reason the narrative shines. The discussion is at times fairly subtle, but Kat often reflects on sort of the bum rush that mothers get, both in the workplace and at home, the way no one can TRULY prepare you for motherhood, and the complicated ball of emotions mothers experience on a daily basis, from joy to frustration to worry...and back again. Throw in a college-aged daughter and HER perspectives, and the lines become even blurrier between what is right and wrong, expected and not, and what level of duplicity and secrets is appropriate between mom and daughter...and what is a step too far. Some of these quiet and poignant observations and also the more obvious parallels between the duo were what took this from a more run-of-the-mill thriller and gave it a bit more depth and impact...and also got me FIRMLY on board to check out another novel from McCreight!
And while I won't give anything anyway, there IS a reason they say mother knows best: you'll just have to read it before you TRULY believe it!
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