Book Nerds Across America

Saturday, October 19, 2024

Book Review: Echoes Of Us by Joy Jordan Lake

GOOD READS SUMMARY:

In the midst of World War II, a Tennessee farm boy, a Jewish Cambridge student, and a German POW forge a connection that endures—against all odds.

But now everything that Will Dobbins, Dov Silverberg, and Hans Hessler fought for is at risk as their descendants clash for control of the corporation they founded together. In an attempt to remake its tattered corporate image, the firm hires event planner Hadley Jacks and her sister Kitzie to organize a reunion for the families on St. Simons Island, Georgia, the place that changed all three men’s lives forever.

As Hadley and her sister delve into the friends’ past, they uncover the life of the courageous young woman who links them all together…and the old wounds that could tear everything apart.

Told in dual timelines spanning World War II and the present, Echoes of Us follows the ripple effects of war, the bonds that outlast it, and the hope that ultimately carries us forward.

TEE'S THOUGHTS

Echoes of War, the newest book by Joy Jordan Lake really surprised me, well maybe not the book, but the story that lays within. I like Historical Fiction, when I read it a lot of the times I will pick up something however small, that I did not know before reading the book. In the last few years, I have read plenty of WW2 historical fiction, it seems to be the latest trend, but never I have read or even heard that during that time there were German Uboats on the Southeast coast of the US. That was the first thing that drew me in, something a bit different from the usual WW2 stories.

Like most Historical Fiction it flows through the story in a dual time line. I will admit, I am often not fond of dual timelines, it seems to dominate all genres these days. I don't hate it, but I do miss just a story told straight through. Despite my dislike of it, I do see why it is used, it is an easy way to tell the back story with a bit more interest. I get in this case, with the three main characters, it fit the story outline very well.

I have never read a book by Joy Jordan Lake, but have noticed she is a popular writer, and have read more than several saying this is one of her best books. I can not agree with that, but I will tell you, it was a damn good book and I will put her on my list to read again. I found my self engrossed in Echoes from the git go. Her writing was descriptive and the story moved along in a convincing way. It has unexpected plot twists, which I also enjoy, and they intertwined without feeling forced.

The story its self is intriguing, and with the information I wrote about earlier that I had not read, I even found it refreshing. The story covers generations, and with that comes the problems that affect many people over a number of years, poverty, and at times wealth, but it also tells of so much courage in the characters.

Speaking of the characters, they are all richly written, with well thought out personalities, that brought depth to the story as they jumped out of the pages at you as you read, these are characters that will stay after you long after you close the cover.

I recommend Echoes Of Us to anyHistorical Fiction reader of course, but there is so much to this story. It is a beautifully written story of love, courage, and friendship, and it even has a biota mystery even in.

Pick this one up, take a few hours and enjoy it. It is interesting enough to keep you turning those pages and you will have it read before you know it

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Book review: Remember Me Tomorrow by Farah Heron

GOODREADS SUMMARY

A missing student. A singular investigation. A new romance. Every bit of it is a mystery in a delightful novel of cosmic twists by the author of How to Win a Breakup.

East House is the oldest and least desirable dorm on campus, but it has a draw for lonely university freshman Aleeza Kassam: Jay Hoque, the hot and broody student who vanished from East House five months ago without a trace. It’s irresistible to an aspiring investigative journalist like Aleeza.

But when she starts receiving texts from Jay, the mystery takes an unexpected turn. To put it mildly. His messages are coming not only from Aleeza’s own dorm room but from the past—only weeks before he disappeared. Sharing space, if not time, Aleeza and Jay are living the impossible, and they start working together to prevent his inevitable disappearance. Causing a temporal paradox that could blow up the universe is a risk they’re going to have to take.

Aleeza digs through Jay’s suspicious friends, enemies, and exes, determined to find out what happened to him. Or what will happen to him. But it’s becoming more than a mystery. Aleeza is catching feelings for her charming new roommate. Wherever, and whenever, he may be.

KAIT'S REVIEW

When Aleeza Kassam leaves her former roommate situation at top speed, she doesn't expect her NEW dorm room to cause much trouble. But Aleeza's single room most recently belonged to Jay Hoque, a student who's been missing for 5 months, and her new dorm mates think she's the pinnacle of a true crime fanatic come to stake out the room as part of a campus-wide obsession with Jay vanishing.

Then something even stranger occurs: Through the roommate-based ResConnect app, Aleeza starts receiving messages from Jay. He's frustrated that he now somehow has a new female roommate in his single. Aleeza brushes it off as a prank, but the pair eventually realize the disturbing truth: Jay is writing to her from the past, a handful of weeks before his disappearance. Together, through the temporal anomaly that only exists on a university app when in their “shared” room, the two team up to discover exactly what happened to Jay and why before it happens to past Jay again.

Remember Me Tomorrow is part enigma, part time warp, and part simmering romance steeped in wealth, envy, and corruption. Aleeza is a bright, relatable MC who's willing to risk her quiet life to save someone else's. Jay is a bit broody and mysterious, but also very charming. The chemistry between the two is felt right from the get-go and maintains its shine throughout the novel. I do think the characters went from “let's help each other out” to “I'm madly in love with you” a little too suddenly, but anyone who reads the description knows that the book was going there anyway.

The secondary characters are memorable and help propel the personal narratives for each MC, from Aleeza's ex-best friend Mia to her new neighbor and biggest skeptic, Grace. I especially loved Jay's friend Jack, a party boy socialite who surprised me a lot, and in a good way! I did think a few character points needed more dimension, like Aleeza and Mia's pretty flimsy reason for falling out that felt very middle school, followed by Mia going full mean girl for no particularly good reason. While I loved Jack's character, there was a plot point specifically involving him that felt really superfluous and took away from the main premise. I liked (or appropriately disliked) all of the characters all the same.

The mystery itself is a fun one. I was able to predict an integral part of the mystery very early on, but I certainly didn't figure out the full breakdown before it came to light. Some hints were a little heavy-handed, but it didn't some me from enjoying the big reveal.

If you enjoy romance with a side of mystery, Remember Me Tomorrow will scratch the itch with charming characters and a side of the supernatural!

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Book review: Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson

GOODREADS SUMMARY

From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.

The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters. Akilah, the girl Marlowe has been in love with for years, will never go out with her again. No one dates an accidental arsonist.

With her house-sitting career up in flames, it seems the universe owes Marlowe a new summer job, and that’s how she ends up at Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s and abandoned shortly thereafter. It’s easy enough, giving tours. Low risk of fire. High chance of getting bored talking about stained glass and nut cutlets and Prohibition.

Oh, and the deaths. Did anyone mention the deaths?

Maybe this job isn’t such a gift after all. Morning House has a horrific secret that’s been buried for decades, and now the person who brought her here is missing.

All it takes is one clue to set off a catastrophic chain of events. One small detail, just like a spark, could burn it all down—if someone doesn’t bury Marlowe first.

KAIT'S THOUGHTS

As a longtime reader of Maureen Johnson books, I'm a huge fan of the Truly Devious series. So I was a bit disappointed when I discovered that Death at Morning House wasn't the sixth book in the popular series. Then I “met” Marlowe Wexler on the page and that all changed!

Sure, Marlowe and Stevie have some things in common— Their urge to solve mysteries and their quirky nervousness, to start— but this new MC really breathes fresh life into a fresh mystery! Marlowe is clever and observant with a heaping teaspoon of awkward. Unlike Stevie, she's not trying to dive headlong into a mystery. Instead, she finds herself thrust into a summer job where the mystery unfolds around her after an attempt to impress a girl she likes goes horribly, HORRIBLY wrong. Marlowe could be any one of us. Who wouldn't want to do some digging into the mysterious decades-old deaths at their place of work to distract themselves from a life-altering social faux pas, after all?

Marlowe works and lives on the island with a group of teens who grew up together, though their overall closeness seems to be in question these days. While they all have distinct personalities and traits, I appreciate that they didn't feel quite as much like caricatures as the Truly Devious characters can sometimes feel. I really struggle with one TD character, but I really enjoyed this whole lineup. They have drama and secrets that only seem to be exacerbated by their isolated setting and its gruesome past, sometimes putting Marlowe in compromising positions. Of the group, Riki was very favorite because of her excellent socks and her important role in unraveling the secrets of a seemingly cursed mansion alongside Marlowe. My second favorite character was Van, for his *immaculate vibes.*

The novel flirts with the romantic storyline, starting with Marlowe’s massive crush on her co-worker Akilah and their budding relationship, which was all going so well before the incident. While there's always a potential for romance, it's not a super strong element. This was actually very refreshing to me, because some mysteries get too bogged down with interpersonal drama. There are sweet, charming moments, but they don't overpower the actual plot.

But wait, there's more! Death at Morning House is a dual timeline story! That means that on top of Marlowe's misadventures, we get the point of point-of-view of the Ralston children, mainly Clara, as you discover the tragedies that befell the family in the 1930s. The Ralston patriarch was a scientist and famed eugenicist who raised his children to an unreasonably strict standard. This POV is a little more subdued as we explore the lives of children trapped under the thumb of a dangerous ideology, yet still aching to impress their celebrated father. It’s not as fun as Marlowe’s POV, but it's heartbreaking and captivating in it's own right. I think the conclusion to this timeline's drama was even more satisfying than the conclusion to the modern story, but I loved both.

My subgenre of choice has been described as “murder-y,” so I've consumed a lot of mysteries ranging from predictable slogs to riveting puzzles. Thankfully, Death at Morning House is certainly one of the latter. There are hints, if you're looking for them, but Johnson remains a master of doling out answers in small batches and planting red herrings. Even if one of the reveals was among my theories, it certainly wasn't the only one.

Death at Morning House takes a loveable, chaotic protagonist, summer camp vibes gone sideways, and an old-fashioned mystery among the obscenely wealthy to create something this is fresh but still distinctly Maureen Johnson. if you love her books, run, don't walk to snag your copy!

Monday, July 1, 2024

Book Review: The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she and her assistant, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant—have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite.

When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she and Caz flee with all the spellbooks they can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy—and very handsome—neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.

In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries.

But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop.

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

From the get go Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst won my heart. Who knew the Cottage Core Aesthetic could overflow into a book, but it has with her magical new book. Also who knew I would read a fantasy and totally enjoy it, certainly not me, but Spellshop made that happen also =0)

This book is beautifully written, it's cozy, yes, seriously. Yo will want to tuck in with a cup of steaming hot tea and have a long read. It is delightful, sweet, slightly romantic , has small town vibes, a plot that will keep you engaged. The fantasy in the book is even magical and cozy..... you will garden in a magical garden, help a mermaid baby, ride seahorses, and that is only the beginning.

Main character Kiela is much like me, she is not fond of people, she works in a library or she did, but she had to escape to her childhood home on an island to escape death. Have you ever lived in a small town? Well her home town is small and of course there are problems, mostly noisy neighbors. There is conflict of course, but it is fun and resolved quickly. Also, there is a good amount of comic relief in the story from Kiela's sidekick, who happens to be a spider plant names Caz.

Please pick this one up, but don't try and take it seriously- it is not meant to be, it is the escape we all well need right now.

Book Review: A Daughter Of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Knives Out meets Bridgerton in Fair Verona, as New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd kicks off a frothy, irreverent, witty new series with an irresistible premise—Romeo and Juliet’s daughter as a clever, rebellious, fiercely independent young woman in fair Verona—told from the delightfully engaging point of view of the captivating Rosie Montague herself…

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

Since I have been a young girl I have loved the story of Romeo and Juliet, call me a hopeless romantic, but I can remember the first time I read it thinking I needed a Romeo in my life, along with crying my eyes out.

Over the years I have read several adaptations of the story, everything from horror to dark romance and I for the most part enjoyed all of them, mostly because I loved seeing how the authors used their imagination to rework the story.

In a Daughter of Fair Verona, Romeo and Juliet survived their usual death and have a daughter named Rosaline ( if you have read Romeo and Juliet you will know who the original Rosaline is ). Rosaline is 20 and unmarried, something that is unheard of at the time, but she has not found a suitor she has felt deserved her.

She evidentially finds herself in trouble when she falls for a wedding crasher of sorts when she meets him at her official betrothal to a suitor her parents finally force upon her. Of course the unsuitable suitor winds up murdered and Rosaline is the prime suspect . She sets out to find the murderer and clear her name.

I really enjoyed the character of Rosaline, she was witty, clever, stubborn and funny. Romeo and Juliet are in the book, but the story mostly centers around Rosalina. I felt the author put a lot of thought into thee story and the characters and loved her take on them. I also think it kept it from being just another cozy mystery.

This book was so much fun and many times I found myself laughing out loud at its wit and charm.

This is also the first book in a new series by the author, and the story does end with a bit of a cliff hanger so I am anxious to see what happens next.

Be sure to pick this one up...it is a most enjoyable read !

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

BOOK REVIEW: SUMMER AT THE SAINT BY MARY KAY ANDREWS

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help—including the daughter of her estranged best friend—Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

Traci Eddings has her back against the pink-painted wall of this beloved institution. And it will take all the wits and guts she has to see wrongs put to right, to see guilty parties put in their place, and maybe even to find a new romance along the way. Told with Mary Kay Andrew’s warmth, humor, knack for twists, and eye for delicious detail about human nature, Summers at the Saint is a beach read with depth and heart.

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

I always look forward to a Mary Kay Andrews book, she has the ability to make me cry or laugh while feeding me a great mystery. Her summer releases are always a favorite. Maybe. I do love a good holiday story and hers are the most merry!

Summers At The Saint, her newest book was once again a winner with me. It was a fantastic beachy summer read, but it also had a bit of heaviness included within it to keep it from being too fluffy.

The St. Cecilia, or the Saint as it is know by the rich clientele that summer there sets on the coast of Georgia. Traci Eddings owns it, inheriting it from her husband when he died. She is struggling trying to keep it a float, but she has a lot that is working against her, mainly her late husbands family. The descriptions of the hotel, from the front receiving area to the kitchens all painted a vibrant picture of where you were.

All the characters in the book, and there were plenty, from the family to the summer workers, were well written and thought out. Traci was not from a rich family, she spent her summers there as a lifeguard at the hotels pool, but ended up marrying the bosses son. There is certainly a class struggler's between her and her dead husbands family.

The mystery has been unsolved for decades, and it has a surprise twist that I will confess I did not figure out. It is a great little who done it that added plenty of intrigue to the family drama.

I read and also listened to this book, which made the 400 plus book go by quickly ( everyone who knows me know I do not like a book that roams over 350 pages ), but I feel like it was a fast paced book either way. The narrator Kathleen McInerney made the listening pleasurable with her smooth and silky voice,

Summer At The Saint is fun and entertaining and it is the perfect summer read for everyone.

Monday, June 3, 2024

Book Review: Klara's Truth by Susan Weissbach Friedman

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

It is May 2014, and Dr. Klara Lieberman—forty-nine, single, professor of archaeology at a small liberal arts college in Maine, a contained person living a contained life—has just received a letter from her estranged mother, Bessie, that will dramatically change her life. Her father, she learns—the man who has been absent from her life for the last forty-three years, and about whom she has long been desperate for information—is dead. Has been for many years, in fact, which Bessie clearly knew. But now the Polish government is giving financial reparations for land it stole from its Jewish citizens during WWII, and Bessie wants the money. Klara has little interest in the money—but she does want answers about her father. She flies to Warsaw, determined to learn more.

In Poland, Klara begins to piece together her father’s, and her own, story. She also connects with extended family, begins a romantic relationship, and discovers her repairing the hundreds of forgotten, and mostly destroyed, pre-War Jewish cemeteries in Poland. Along the way, she becomes a more integrated, embodied, and interpersonally connected individual—one with the tools to make peace with her past and, for the first time in her life, build purposefully toward a bigger future.

TEE'S REVIEW:

I think most people have some interest in the history of their families, where they originally came from. what our families were like etc... I have done some research on my own family and have found some interesting things, my other family, on my dad's side, I am fully convinced they hatch one day, as I can find NOTHING on them...oh well lol. This, among other things really made Klara's Truth an interesting read for me.

Klara's father disappeared from her life when she was 6 years old, and she spent years wondering what happened to him. As she neared 50, she received two letters in the mail, one from her mother who has known all her life what happened to her father, making their troubled relationship a bit harder. The other was from the Poland government telling her that she has a large amount of property that the Nazi's stole from Jewish citizens during WWII.

I really loved Klara's story, how she discovered not only her family but her heritage. Friedman has written a beautiful debut novel with sensitivity on several touchy subjects. It is an inspiring, emotional and compelling read that any lover of family drama and discovery will really enjoy

Monday, May 27, 2024

BOOK REVIEW: BLESS YOUR HEART BY LINDY RYAN

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Rise and shine. The Evans women have some undead to kill.

It’s 1999 in Southeast Texas and the Evans women, owners of the only funeral parlor in town, are keeping steady with…normal business. The dead die, you bury them. End of story. That’s how Ducey Evans has done it for the last eighty years, and her progeny―Lenore the experimenter and Grace, Lenore’s soft-hearted daughter, have run Evans Funeral Parlor for the last fifteen years without drama. Ever since That Godawful Mess that left two bodies in the ground and Grace raising her infant daughter Luna, alone.

But when town gossip Mina Jean Murphy’s body is brought in for a regular burial and she rises from the dead instead, it’s clear that the Strigoi―the original vampire―are back. And the Evans women are the ones who need to fight back to protect their town.

As more folks in town turn up dead and Deputy Roger Taylor begins asking way too many questions, Ducey, Lenore, Grace, and now Luna, must take up their blades and figure out who is behind the Strigoi’s return. As the saying goes, what rises up, must go back down. But as unspoken secrets and revelations spill from the past into the present, the Evans family must face that sometimes, the dead aren’t the only things you want to keep buried.

TEE'S THOUGHTS

I can not tell you when the last time I enjoyed a " horror " book more than I enjoyed Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan.

When I sat horror, I say it loosely, sure it has vampires, and murder, and morticians, and all that other creepy stuff, but more importantly, it has laughs, this is a fun horror story and I could not get enough of it.

Being a Southerner I love any book that has a Southern voice. Those voices, many times, are women and Bless Your Heart is no different. It takes place in a small southeast Texas town ( to be honest, more than half my family live in East Texas, and I read the whole book in their thick accent ) Also, I listened to it part time also, the narrator was a great reader and help make the audio.

The Evan's women Ducey, Lenore, Grace and teenage Luna, own the towns only funeral parlor. Soon people start dying and they realize they are rising, this is where the fun begins.

There is a lot to like about this story besides the vampires . The women in the book are strong and the family is dynamic, the characters are likable and humorous. There are times when I think it could have had more mystery and suspense , but the dark was there, lurking underneath all the fun.

This is so fun, I recommend it to anyone who wants a quick and enjoyable read.

P.S.-- Bless Your Heart is the first of a new series and even me, a non series reader can't wait for the next one!

BOOK REVIEW: WHEN WE WERE SILENT BY FIONA MCPHILLIPS

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Louise Manson is the newest student at Highfield Manor, Dublin’s most exclusive private school. Behind its granite walls are high-arched alcoves, an oak-lined library...and the dark secret Lou has come to expose.

Lou’s working-class status makes her the consummate outsider, until she is befriended by some of her beautiful and wealthy classmates. But after Lou attempts to bring the school’s secret to light, her time at Highfield ends with a lifeless body sprawled at her feet.

Thirty years later, Lou gets a shocking phone call. A high-profile lawyer is bringing a lawsuit against the school—and he needs Lou to testify. Lou will have to confront her past and discover, once and for all, what really happened at Highfield. Powerful and compelling, When We Were Silent is a thrilling story of exploitation, privilege, and retribution.

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

When We Were Silent is Fiona McPhillips debut novel and it is a winner!

I love Dark Academia, and I am always looking for the newest book in the genre to hit the shelf, so finding When We Were Silent was a thrill.

The story is told in two time periods, the past, which takes place at an elite high school in Ireland, and then also in present day. Louise, the main character, is from a normal working class type of family, she is a scholarship student at a high school that is full of privileged and rich students, both the school and the students are full of secrets, for instance, Louise's best friend Tina, who commits suicide after an incident with a teacher.

When you are reading the present timeline, Louise has a family, she is happily married, and struggles with her troubled teenage daughter. Soon Louise is called to testify in an abuse case that happened at the school and she has some hard choses to make.

McPhillips has put the dark in Dark Academia with When We Were Silent. It is dark, it digs deep into the #metoo movement, along with other difficult subjects like class struggle and mental health, but she does it with dignity and compassion.

Sunday, May 26, 2024

Book Review: If Something Happens To Me by Alex Finley

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has relived that terrible night. The car door ripping open. The crushing blow to the head. The hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend Ali’s piercing scream as she is taken.

With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, he’s never charged, though that doesn’t matter to the podcasters and internet trolls. Now, Ryan has changed his last name, and entered law school. He's put his past behind him.

Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan gets a call from his father: Ali's car has finally been found, submerged in a lake in his hometown. Inside are two dead men and a cryptic note with five words written on the envelope in Ali’s handwriting: If something happens to me…

Then, halfway around the world, the unthinkable happens: Ryan sees the man who has haunted his dreams since that night.

As Ryan races from the rolling hills of Tuscany, to a rural village in the UK, to the glittering streets of Paris in search of the truth, he has no idea that his salvation may lie with a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas working her first case, and a mobster in Philadelphia who’s experienced tragedy of his own.

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

I will always pick up a book by Alex Finley, ever since I first received an advance copy of Every Last Fear, I have been hooked. I know when I pick up a Finley book I am usually in for a great thriller that will keep me reading and on my toes.

If Something Happens to Me, was good, not as good as previous books in my opinion, but it did keep me reading. It was face paced and twisty and I always appreciate that, and I believe Finley can tell a story that is well written, in-depth, and entertaining.

The audio book, which I listened to had three point of views and all three narrators, Paul Dateh, Helen Laser, and John Piralla, did a great job with their parts.

I went into this one blind, which I really enjoy doing on thrillers, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into. There were at times I felt like the plot was a little over the top, but as always Finley has written a heart pounding mafia type thriller that will keep all thriller fans reading until they reach the end.

Friday, May 10, 2024

Book Spotlight: The Marriage Sabbatical by Lian Dolan

Special thanks to William Morrow/HarperCollins for sending this one my way! The concept is definitely intriguing, and I look forward to reading it, hopefully soon!

Publisher Description

What if you could take a vacation from your marriage? A couple decides to give it a shot in this fun, adventurous novel by Lian Dolan, the popular author of The Sweeney Sisters and Lost and Found in Paris.

After twenty-three years of building careers and raising kids together, Jason and Nicole Elswick are ready for a break from their daily lives. Jason has spent years planning his dream sabbatical—ditching work for a nine-month-long motorcycle trip through South America. Problem is, that’s Jason’s dream, not Nicole’s. After years working retail and parenting in Portland, Nicole craves the sun of the Southwest and the artistic community in Santa Fe, where she wants to learn jewelry design.

A chance encounter at a dinner party presents a surprising—and intriguing—way out of their dilemma. Over a little too much wine, Jason and Nicole’s married neighbors sing the praises of the 500 Mile Rule: their policy of enjoying themselves however they wish—and with whomever they wish—when they’re temporarily far apart. It seems like the perfect solution: nine months pursuing their own adventures—with a bit of don’t-ask-don’t-tell—and then a return to their shared lives. It’ll be a sabbatical from their marriage as well as their day jobs.

As Jason bikes his way across a continent and Nicole reclaims the art she’s long neglected, they discover the pleasures and pitfalls of the 500 Mile Rule, confronting temptations of all kinds, uncomfortable truths about themselves, and gaining new perspective on their partnership.

But all sabbaticals come to an end…then what?

Monday, May 6, 2024

BOOK REVIEW: GRANITE HARBOR BY PETER NICHOLS

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

In scenic Granite Harbor, life has continued on―quiet and serene―for decades. That is until a local teenager is found brutally murdered in the Settlement, the town’s historic archaeological site. Alex Brangwen, adjusting to life as a single father with a failed career as a novelist, is the town’s sole detective. This is his first murder case and, as both a parent and detective, Alex knows the people of Granite Harbor are looking to him to catch the killer and temper the fear that has descended over the town.

Isabel, a single mother attempting to support her family while healing from her own demons, finds herself in the middle of the case when she begins working at the Settlement. Her son, Ethan, and Alex’s daughter, Sophie, were best friends with the victim. When a second body is found, both parents are terrified that their child may be next. As Alex and Isabel race to find the killer in their midst, the town’s secrets―past and present―begin bubbling to the surface, threatening to unravel the tight-knit community.

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

Granite Harbor, the new thriller by Peter Nichols was one of those books that I started one night, put it down after just a few pages because I got busy, and then a week later picked it up and was hooked from that moment one.

I am always up for a thriller, it is probably my favorite genre, but when you add in a serial killer, there is no way I will pass it up. Granite Harbor gave me my serial killer, along with some gruesome murders, and a setting of a small town in coastal Maine, which I always seem to imagine being isolated. Personally I don't know this, I have been just over the border into Maine, but in my mind all the coast of Maine is isolated ( yeah I know Kennebunkport is hardly small or isolated, let me have my imagination )

The murder of Shane, a highschooler in Granite harbor shocks the town, and new Detective Alex Branwen is tasked to find the murderer. The murder does take on a bit of a personal note with him, when he finds out his teenage daughter is friends with Shane.

Alex's personal life is a bit of a side story with his daughter and his ex wife, it breaks up the thriller at times when you might need it.

I absolutely loved the murder, or I should say how the murders were done. It was something I had never heard of before, so for me very original. I am not going to tell you any more about it to keep from spoiling, but it was definitely a first for me and very interesting.

There are quite a few people that have roles in this story, both major and very small parts, and I am usually a bit confused by a lot of characters, my ADHD mind, has a hard time keeping track of them all, however, Granite Harbor was very well written and it was never a problem with me as I read along. Mainly the POV is Alex's but there are several chapters in the book that gives us the killers POV, especially on his past. These chapters give us a look into his mind, yet are written so he or she's identity is not given away. All the characters here were well written and their place in the story was well thought out.

The beginning can come off as a bit slow, but I find a good built story usually is to an extent. Getting to know the characters and the world they live in is important to me, but I will tell you that the end picks up and is more fast paced. I had a hard time putting the book down toward the end.

This book is dark, disturbing, and gruesome. It has a lot of trigger issues, including animal cruelty, so please take note. BUT...its a great read if you can get past those.

Thank you to Celadon Books for this great read.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

LISTEN FOR THE LIE BY AMY TINTERA

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

After Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer. Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all, and if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life.

But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast "Listen for the Lie," and its too-good looking host Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one that did it.

TEE'S THOUGHTS:

Everyone thinks Lucy murdered her best friend Savvy, but Lucy is completely in the dark about what happened that night.

Listen For The Lie is told by Lucy in first person, which I really enjoyed, I sometimes get tired of thee multi POV trend that is so popular right now, many authors tend to try to push way to many narratives and it gets somewhat confusing trying to keep all the characters straight . Lucy is an unreliable narrator however, due to the head injury she received and her amnesia about the murder. There are chapters between Lucy's that are Ben's podcast LISTEN FOR THE LIE. He was doing research on Savvy's murder. Podcasts in books are very common these days and I am very skeptical about them, but this one worked well in the story and was the perfect addition.

I did love Lucy however, she was funny, sarcastic and best of all snarky, her character alone will keep you reading if nothing else will. I really enjoyed Ben the podcaster, but I think one of my favorite characters in the book is Lucy's grandmother, the narrative between her and Lucy is excellent and well thought out, probably my favorite part of the story.

Along with reading the book, I also listened to the audio, which I highly recommend, the narrators on it were perfection and this as of now is my favorite audio book because of them.

Listen For The Lie is a fast paced read, it is also, suspenseful, exciting, and funny. It is one of those book that will keep you guessing until the end, and even better, it has short chapters, which is always a plus for me!

A great book for any mystery/thriller reader

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

BOOK REVIEW: MOLTEN DEATH by LESLIE KARST

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have come to the Big Island of Hawaii to treat themselves to a well-earned tropical vacation. After the recent loss of her brother, Valerie is in sore need of a distraction from her troubles and is looking forward to enjoying the delicious food and vibrant culture the state has to offer.Early one morning, the couple and their friend - tattooed local boy, Isaac - set out to see an active lava flow, and Valerie is mesmerized by the shape-shifting mass of orange and red creeping over the field of black rock. Spying a boot in the distance, she strides off alone, pondering how it could have gotten there, only to realize to her horror that the boot is still attached to a leg - a leg which is slowly being engulfed by the hot lava. Valerie's convinced a murder has been committed - but as she's the only witness to the now-vanished corpse, who's going to believe her?Determined to prove what she saw, and get justice for the unknown victim, Valerie launches her own investigation. But, thrown into a Hawaiian culture far from the luaus and tiki bars of glossy tourist magazines, she soon begins to fear she may be the next one to end up entombed in shiny black rock .

TEE'S REVIEW:

Valerie and her wife Kristen are spending their holiday in Hawaii to help Valerie heal from the death of her brother.

One of the first things they do is visit an active volcano where Valerie sees a body almost covered in lava before quickly disappearing. Despite no one really believing her she decides to investigate .

The plot of the story is the body in the lava, the star of the book is Hawaii itself. The scenery, the language, the food and the culture is all expertly described and written, the entire time I read I could practically feel the sand between my ties and the soothing sea breezes in my hair.

When I was growing up, my father was in a Navy, for five of those years he was stationed in Hawaii and I have also since visited with my husband, so reading Molten Death was such a treat for me, bringing back memories of the Pidgin and the places, and had me instantly wanting to make another trip over.

For people who may not understand the Pidgin and Hawaiian terms in the story, and there are a lot of this in the book, because it is the way the islanders speak, Karst has provided a very helpful glossary at the end of the book that I know will be very helpful to many readers. Oh, and also she included recipes of the wonderful food in the book. I think this is the perfect read to plan you a little luau this summer in your back yard!

Oh yeah, there is also a mystery in this book, two actually, one with the volcano and another about some missing avocados. It is a very cozy mystery that includes some low key investigating and small bits of action. The characters in the book are plentiful and some are rather shady, but I also found most are likable to at least a point. Every thing wraps up nice and tidy at the end and sets the stage for the couple to move to the island and possibly find a few more mysteries, after all it is the first in a new series by the author.

Molten Death is a fast read, and it is a fun read, so grab it find a hammock and dream of the warm summer ahead...then go ahead and plan a trip, this book will have you wanting to visit Hawaii!

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