Mad Honey

 

“Mad Honey”

By Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

Published by Ballantine

Finished 12/31/22 – 5/5 stars (Great way to end the year!)

 

Wow!  Just wow!  There are so many wonderful things about this book but unfortunately, I can’t discuss them all here.  I never include spoilers in my reviews so some of my thoughts will have to stay with me (or discussed in person after you’ve read it).  Just know that there are some sensitive topics addressed within the storyline and I believe the authors handled them all perfectly.  What I can tell you is that it’s a mystery with a couple twists but it’s also full of love, strength, growth, acceptance, family….the list goes on.  At times it will break your heart and other times it will make your heart melt (although I never shed a tear).  And as a bonus, you’ll learn about bees and the benefits of honey.  Like next time you’re hungover, eat a spoonful of honey to help you feel better.        

 

Side note – make sure you read the authors notes at the end for a little extra insight into the book and what brought these two women together to write.  And then enjoy the recipes at the very back (they sound yummy).

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.  My apologies for reading it later than expected.

 

#MadHoney

#JodiPicoult

#JenniferFinneyBoylan

#Ballantine

#NetGalley

#5StarReads

#2022Reads

Mother Daughter Traitor Spy

 

“Mother Daughter Traitor Spy”
By Susan Elia MacNeal
Published by Bantam
Finished 12/26/22 – 3/5 stars

This is historical fiction, taking place during the year before the attack on Pearl Harbor.  It focuses on a mother and daughter who suddenly pick up and move from New York to California.  Once there, they come across a Nazi cell and agree to work with the FBI to infiltrate their group to gain inside information. One would think this would be an action-packed story or one full of scenarios keeping you on the edge of your seat, but it’s not.  It’s actually pretty slow.  I was also hoping it would be a book with female empowerment, but it doesn’t really have that feel either.  Yes, these woman are doing something brave that they aren’t trained for, but it doesn’t give off that vibe.  Overall, it was just an OK book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.  My apologies for not reading it prior to publication.   

 #MotherDaughterTraitorSpy
#SusanEliaMacNeal
#Bantam
#NetGalley
#2022Reads

After Anna

 “After Anna” by Lisa Scottoline

Published by St Martin’s Press

Finished 12/17/22 – 4/5 stars    

 You know how in real life you sometimes get a feeling that something is just not right?  Well, I got that feeling multiple times while reading this book.  And I must say, that feeling was almost always right, although I did not guess the final ending correctly.  But that’s the fun of reading a book with lots of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.  You think you know what’s going to happen but then the story takes a turn and you have to rethink it all again.  And because of all the twists, I really can’t tell you much about this book other than that I think the backbone of the story is the love a parent has for their child.  You in no way need to be a parent to enjoy it though.  You just need to enjoy books that will keep you guessing.

 #AfterAnna
#Lisa Scottoline
#StMartinsPress
#2022Reads

The Saints of Swallow Hill

 “The Saints of Swallow Hill” by Donna Everhart

Published by Kensington Books

Finished 12/4/22 – 5/5 stars

 

I knew I was going to give this book 5 stars before I even finished the first 100 pages.  I absolutely loved it!  It takes place during the depression era in rural Georgia and North Carolina, where the trees are “farmed” to collect turpentine.  I knew nothing about this process or it’s camp life until reading this book – quite interesting.  During this time period races were not to interact, blacks and women were mistreated, and anyone thought to be gay was completely taboo.  All of these issues are touched upon during this book, plus there’s a little romance thrown in as well.  Not a hot and heavy romance by any means, more like a sweet courting.  You also witness the personal strength and growth of the two female lead characters as they overcome many obstacles as well as the personal growth the main male character goes through to become a better man, treating others with respect (he definitely didn’t start out that way).  When you compare the lives of those three characters when first introduced in the novel to their lives by the end, there is quite a difference and all for the better.  I would sum it up as a story of survival and compassion.  I highly recommend it.

 

#TheSaintsofSwallowHill

#DonnaEverhart

#KensigntonBooks

#5StarReads

#2022Reads

Verity

 

“Verity” by Colleen Hoover
Published by Grand Central Publishing
Finished 11/28/22 – 4/5 stars 

I don’t read a lot of romance, so this is the first book I’ve read by Colleen Hoover.  The reason this one caught my eye is because she decided to dip her toes into the suspense genre, which I read often.  I think she did a great job crossing over while still leaving plenty of sex and a little romance in the storyline for her fan base.  There are both disturbing and creepy scenes throughout and I think the concept of the storyline was good….I just had issue with how unrealistic it seemed at times (this is why I have trouble reading sci-fi).  I can’t give examples without ruining the story though, so you’ll just have to give it a read yourself and let me know what you think.

Side note – while reading her Acknowledgments at the back of the book I found out about The Bookworm Box program she set up where 100% of proceeds go to charities.  100%!!  I don’t subscribe to this particular subscription box because it’s romance books but if that’s your thing, please check it out.  Afterall, today is Giving Tuesday – you can get books and fun stuff while also supporting charities.

#Verity
#ColleenHoover
#GrandCentralPublishing
#2022Reads

Alias Emma

 

“Alias Emma” by Ava Glass

Published by Bantam

Finished 9/11/22 – 3/5 stars

 

This is the first in a series of books with the main character being a female MI6 agent, Emma Makepeace (hate the character name but it’s a series so too late now).  I thought the concept of the storyline was good – MI6 trying to bring in the son of a former Russian spy to protect him from Russian agents trying to capture and possibly kill him.  And I thought she did a good job giving the main character a backstory to get to know her a little better but the story itself was predictable and a little too farfetched at times.  This is the author’s first novel though so I assume the books will improve as she continues the series.       

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.

 

#Alias Emma

#AvaGlass

#NetGalley

#Bantam

#2022Reads

The New Neighbor

 

“The New Neighbor” by Karen Cleveland

Published by Ballantine Books

Finished 8/12/22 – 4/5 stars

 

This is my first book by Karen Cleveland, but it will not be my last.  Although I felt it started off a little slow, once it got going it turned into a page turner.  It’s a spy thriller that had me constantly questioning characters and their motives.  I always love it when a book has me change my mind multiple times as to “who done it”.  I believe the author’s history with the CIA definitely came into play, making it a believable story.  I just wish the main character’s son had gone to VT rather than UVA – go Hokies!

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.

 

#TheNewNeighbor

#KarenCleveland

#BallantineBooks

#NetGalley

#2022Reads

Things We Do in the Dark

 

“Things We Do in the Dark” by Jennifer Hillier

Published by Minotaur Books

Finished 8/10/22 – 5/5 stars

 

Wow!  You know it’s a good read when you finish a book in a day and a half.  Yes, I was on vacation, but still….that’s quick for me.  This book keeps you on your toes with multiple mysteries all thrown into one story.  Plus there is quite a dysfunctional family element as well.  It all begins with a woman being arrested for the murder of her famous, older husband.  Afterall, she was found next to the body, holding the assumed murder weapon so why wouldn’t you assume she killed him?  And then immediately you are told she’s not who she claims to be and that she’s been using a fake identity.  What?  Why?  I can’t tell you any of that.  It would spoil the book.  You’ll just have to read it to find out more.

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.

 

#ThingsWeDointheDark

#JenniferHillier

#MinotaurBooks

#NetGalley

#2022Reads

#5StarReads

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

 “The Many Daughters of Afong Moy” by Jamie Ford
Published by Atria Books
Finished 8/9/22 – 4/5 stars

 I really wanted to love this book because I think Mr. Ford has a true talent in writing.  And I did love the characters, just not all of the storyline that takes place in the near future.  Because this is a multigenerational book that begins with the first Chinese woman in America, it needed to start at a certain time in the 1800s.  That means the final characters’ storylines had to be in the future.  I just couldn’t fully wrap my arms around parts of the 2046 storyline.  The rest of the book was wonderful, although it tore at your heartstrings multiple times.  Essentially, it is a book of multiple short stories tied together genetically, showing how a family history can shape the family’s emotional future.

 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.

 

#TheManyDaughtersofAfongMoy
#JamieFord 
#AtriaBooks
#NetGalley
#2022Reads

Into the Water

“Into the Water” by Paula Hawkins

Published by Riverhead Books

Finished 7/9/22 – 5/5 stars
 
I finished this book in just a few days!  Yes, I’m on vacation so I have more time to read but still.  That’s how good of a book it is.  Initially I thought it would be hard to follow along with all the different characters that have individual chapters but it really wasn’t.  It just gave you more perspectives into the storyline. 
 
The story is set at a “Drowning Pool” in England, where the river slows enough to create a deep pool of water for swimming.  In the past it was used to test women to see if they were witches.  Recently there have been more drownings.  Were they suicides, accidents, or murder?  Or a combination of all 3?  I can’t tell you.  You’ll have to read it to find out.  And trust me, you’ll change your mind a few times regarding at least one.
 
#IntoTheWater
#PaulaHawkins
#RiverheadBooks
#2022Reads

Helltown: The Untold Story of Serial Murder on Cape Cod

 

“Helltown: The Untold Story of Serial Murder on Cape Cod”
By Casey Sherman
Published by Sourcebooks
Finished 7/7/22 – 4/5 stars

“Helltown is a work of fact told with elements of fiction storytelling.” – Casey Sherman

Non-fiction can be hit or miss for me but I greatly enjoyed this one.  Whereas I knew about other historical events/information included within this story, I had never heard of the serial killer Tony Costa.  My parents hadn’t heard of these murders either.  Granted they had moved away from Western Mass about 5 years prior, Vietnam was still going on, and Charles Manson hit the west coast by storm before Costa went to trial so that might have taken away some of the attention.

There are a few storylines within the book but the main topic is the gruesome murders of 5 young women.  Some were locals and others were not.  All were lives taken way too soon by a drug addict with an alter ego controlling his actions.  I thought all the stories were well told and blended together nicely so I would say it was well written.  I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.

#Helltown
#CaseySherman
#Sourcebooks
#NetGalley
#2022Reads

The Lies I Tell

 

“The Lies I Tell” by Julie Clark

Published by Sourcebooks Landmark

Finished 7/2/22 - 3.5/4 stars

This is the book of two women, told in alternating points of view.  One is a woman who is a con artist, seeking revenge against a man who ripped her family home out from under her mom, changing their lives forever.  The other is a journalist, chasing a story about the con artist she was first made aware of 10 years prior and has been obsessed with since.  When the con artist suddenly resurfaces, she befriends her to try to get the inside story.  Is she just setting herself up to be conned as well?  Can you ever truly trust a con artist?

Whereas I enjoyed the story, I felt at times it was a little far fetched.  But then again, maybe some people are just more gullible and trusting than I would think.  Or maybe it’s because of my banking background that makes me more skeptical.  Regardless, I found it entertaining, just not very believable at times.

 Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.  And also thank you to Book of the Month  for making in an option so that I could have a hard copy for family to read as well.

Carolina Moonset

 

“Carolina Moonset” by Matt Goldman

Published by Forge Books

Finished 6/19/22 – 3/5 stars

I found this to be more of good story rather than a mystery.  Yes, there is a murder to be solved, but I thought the main character’s relationships and interactions with others to be what truly grounded the book and made it more interesting. 

 Joey Green returns home to Beaufort, SC to visit his parents.  He sends his mother off to FL with friends to give her a break from taking care of his father who is suffering from a disease that causes short term memory loss.  While she is gone, a man his father despises is murdered.  Could his father have snuck out and done it and just not remember?  The police believe he could have and Joey’s not 100% sure he didn’t.  The only way to protect his father from persecution is to find out who the murderer is.  And to do that, he’ll have to dig into the past.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forge Books for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.

#CarolinaMoonset

#MattGoldman

#ForgeBooks

#NetGalley

#2022Reads

Bloomsbury Girls

 

“Bloomsbury Girls” by Natalie Jenner

Published by St Martin’s Press

Finished 6/2/22 – 3/5 stars

Let me first state for the record, I had not read “The Jane Austen Society” prior to reading this book.  I have since found out that “Bloomsbury Girls” is a continuation of the life of one of the characters from the first book.  Although this book can stand on its own, it is quite possible that if I had read the first book, I would have enjoyed this one more.  I did find it to have quite a slow pace though.  A little too slow at times. 

This is a historical fiction novel that takes place in a 100 year old bookstore in England during the early 1950s.  It’s not really centered around historical events per se, but more related to authors and the literary world back then, including the struggle female authors faced to be treated seriously and have their books read.  The female lead characters also face the same struggle while working in the male run bookstore. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for gifting me with an advanced copy.

True Biz

 

“True Biz” by Sara Novic

Published by Random House

Finished 5/1/22 – 4/5 stars

 This is a lot more than a coming-of-age story.  This book gives you an inside look into various elements of the deaf community.  There are hearing individuals born into deaf families, deaf children born into hearing families, families of acceptance, and families in denial.  It also touches on the impacts of cochlear implants, videophones, schools for the deaf, and, of course, sign language.  And thrown into the book are “assignments” with added information to help educate you on the history of sign language, the deaf community, and some of the struggles they have faced.  Some might see them as a distraction from the story but truly, they are additional helpful insights.

 The issues I have with the book – drinking and drug use by minors (normally it doesn’t bother me in a book, but the way it is portrayed here seems a little far-fetched), the occasional feel of more of a political agenda rather than story (thankfully it doesn’t happen often), and my biggest pet peeve – there are no quotation marks.  Obviously these issues don’t take away too much from the book because I still give it a 4.

 I do recommend reading the physical book to make sure you are getting the proper layout for signed conversations and the drawings of signs at the tops of chapters and within some of the “assignments”.    

 

#TrueBiz

#SaraNovic

#RandomHouse

#2022Reads

Our Little World

“Our Little World” by Karen Winn

Published by Dutton

Finished 4/27/22 – 3/5 stars

 

This is a coming-of-age novel centered around sisters, Bee and Audrina, growing up on a cul-de-sac in New Jersey during the mid-80s, before the internet and cell phones.  A time when kids were free to play outside without a care in the world.  Until one day, Sally, the 4 year-old girl that lives across the street disappears from the lake.  Did she drown?  Was she taken?  They were there with her brother, Max, but no one saw where Sally went.  That afternoon forever changes them and their relationships with friends and each other.  There are other events that change their childhood as well, none seem to be for the better.  I found it to be, overall, just a depressing story.  I do think it’s fairly well written, especially considering this is the author’s debut novel, but I felt it dragged at times.

 

 Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.

 

#OurLIttleWorld

#KarenWinn

#Dutton

#NetGalley

#2022Reads

 

Watch Out for Her

 “Watch Out for Her” by Samantha M Bailey

Published by Simon & Schuster

Finished 4/19/22 – 3/5 stars

This book is told in alternating perspectives during two different timelines – then and now.  It is the story of Holly, a girl in her early 20s who has dropped out of medical school and starts babysitting for a local family.  And Sarah, the mother of the boy she’s babysitting.  Both are trying to essentially restart their lives, but both have issues getting in their way.  Something happens causing Sarah and her family to move across the country. What exactly that is, is the unknown.  You can make some assumptions but won’t know for sure until the end.

I enjoyed this book but feel it would have been better as a novella.  It dragged in a few places and seemed a little repetitive at times.  Although it’s already not a long book, I think if it were shorter, it would have been much better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and provide and honest review (if I choose).

#WatchOutForHer

#SamanthaMBailey

#SimonAndSchuster

#NetGalley

#2022Reads

Pachinko

 

“Pachinko” by Min Jin Lee

Published by Grand Central Publishing

Finished 4/13/22 – 4/5 stars       

 I’ve had this book on my shelf for 4 ½ years.  I don’t know why it took the mini-series to come out for me to finally pull it down to read, but I’m glad it did.  Not only was it an enjoyable read, but I also learned a little Korean and Japanese culture and history.  One of the benefits of reading historical fiction is that you tend to get more of a “personal” insight into historical events that you don’t get from reading a textbook. 

 This novel is a multi-generational story that takes place between 1910 and 1989, beginning in Korea and then moving to Japan.  The majority of the story revolves around one family but there are a few offshoot characters with mini storylines as well.  There is love and loss, struggles and accomplishments, and battles with both inner demons and real-life bullies.  It’s not a page-turner but it keeps your attention.  I definitely recommend it.

 Now I’m off to go watch the show 😊

 

#Pachinko

#MinJinLee

#GrandCentralPublishing

#2022Reads

The Younger Wife

 

“The Younger Wife” by Sally Hepworth

Published by St Martin’s Press

Finished 3/31 – 3/5 stars

This was an entertaining, quick read about a dysfunctional family trying to come to terms with their past and the impact it has had on their lives.  It all starts at the wedding of Stephen and Heather when something unknown happens, causing 911 to be called.  We then go back in time to the year leading up to the wedding.  Each chapter focuses on either Heather or one of Stephen’s adult daughters, Tully and Rachel. The alternating perspectives allows you to learn more about the internal demons they are each living with.  It’s pretty much all included – dementia, alcoholism, eating disorders, rape, kleptomania, and both verbal and physical abuse.  In addition, throughout the book Stephen’s personality and actions are in question leaving the reader to wonder just what kind of man he truly is.  We then come full circle back to the wedding to find out just what happened.  Afterwards, revelations are just kind of thrown at you and that is where the book didn’t work for me.  I think if the ending had been written differently, it probably would have been more of a 4-star book.  I still really enjoyed the majority of the book, but the ending was a disappointment.   

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.

#TheYoungerWife

#SallyHepworth

#StMartinsPress

#NetGalley

#2022Reads

Before She Knew Him

 

“Before She Knew Him” by Peter Swanson

Published by William Morrow

Finished 3/27/22 – 3.5/5 stars

Yep, it’s another murder mystery.  What can I say…I like them.  This one centers around 2 couples -   Matthew and Mira and their new neighbors, Hen and Lloyd.  When over for dinner, Hen sees a trophy in Matthew’s office that she believes belonged to a young man who was murdered in their former neighborhood.  Strange coincidence or did they just move next door to a killer?  Hen tries to talk to the police about it but she has her own history that makes her story not quite believable.  She can’t just let it go though so she starts her own investigation which leads to her witnessing another murder.  I can’t really tell you more so you’ll have to read it to find out what happens next.

 “What Happened to the Bennetts” by Lisa Scottoline

Published by Putnam Books

Finished 3/21/22 – 4/5 stars

 

There is a reason Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite authors.  Simply put, I always enjoy her books.  Occasionally, I have found that if I read too many books by the same author, they begin to feel repetitive and too predictable.  That’s definitely NOT the case with Ms. Scottoline’s books, and I’ve read quite a number of her stand-alone novels.

 

This is the story of the Bennett family.  They are just your run of the mill family, going about their normal lives when tragedy hits. Initially they thought it was a deadly instance of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, but when the FBI approaches them hours later it’s obvious that something much more sinister is going on.  They are quickly thrown into protective custody while they await transitioning into their new lives in the witness protection program.  There is no time for good-byes or social media updates, so friends and family are left to wonder “What Happened to the Bennetts?”  But they, themselves, are also left to wonder just what happened and what lies ahead?  They want the lives they had, not new ones in a new location without any friends or family around.  Why should they be punished when they didn’t do anything wrong?  They need answers and the FBI isn’t providing them, so they’ll need to do a little digging on their own. 

 

Buckle up and enjoy the ride!  It has its slow moments but the majority of the time the book moves at a good pace to keep you reading longer than you had planned.

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.

 

The Golden Couple

 

“The Golden Couple” by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Published by St. Martin’s Press

Finished 3/11/22 – 4/5 stars

I greatly enjoyed the majority of this book…I just didn’t like the ending.  It felt too packaged up with a neat little bow on top.  But the rest of the book kept me thinking, wondering when the next twist or reveal would show up.  And it goes at a fairly quick pace, which I love.  It’s about a therapist who lost her license but continues helping people using her own unconventional 10 step process and “The Golden Couple” who come to her to help save their marriage.  It then becomes a “just how well do you know the people around you” kind of situation.  I definitely recommend it.

This is the 2^nd book I’ve read by these co-authors.  “The Wife Between Us” was also a 4 star book for me so I guess you could say I think they make a good team.

 Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.

Rock Paper Scissors

 

“Rock Paper Scissors” by Alice Feeney

Published by Flatiron Books

Finished 3/6/22 – 5/5 stars

I was torn as to how to rate this book but in the end, I just don’t know how I cannot give it a full 5 stars.  I can’t really tell you about it without giving anything away but will say it completely blindsided me.  I’m one of those people that when reading a mystery will look for clues and foreshadowing to try to figure it out before the author fully reveals everything.  I thought I was doing really well but this author obviously knows there are people like me.  She purposely threw little bits into the story so that the reader would make assumptions, sometimes the wrong assumptions.  And sometimes those little nuggets thrown in ended up having nothing to do with the story, you just didn’t realize it at the time.  When the first major twist came, I actually found myself going backwards to check out a couple things to see what I missed (luckily, I have the physical book and not an ebook).  So, due to the way it was written, it has earned the 5-star rating from me.  

This is the first Alice Feeney book I’ve read but it won’t be my last.  Luckily, I have 2 more of her books in my bookcase and definitely look forward to reading them soon.

 

 

“Libertie” by Kaitlyn Greenidge

Published by Algonquin Books

Finished 2/15/22 – 3/5 stars

 

I decided Black History Month would be a great time to pull this one off the shelf and read it.  It’s the story of Libertie, a free black young woman living in New York after the Civil War.  Her mother wants her to follow in her footsteps to become a physician, but Libertie would like the freedom to make her own choices in life and follow her own dreams.  She then meets a Haitian man who promises her a wonderful new life in Haiti but the life she finds there is far from the freedom she desires. So although she was born free, she continues to find herself chasing true freedom to find her own happiness. 

 

I thought this book had great promise for the first half, while in the United States. Once the storyline moved to Haiti, I felt like it lost something. I truly can’t put my finger on what it was, I just preferred the first half over the second. I still enjoyed it and thought it was a good book, just not one of my favorites.

Eternal

 

“Eternal” by Lisa Scottoline

Published by Putnam

Finished 2/6/22 – 4.5/5 stars

 

I have greatly enjoyed reading many of Lisa Scottoline’s stand-alone novels as well as a couple of her humorous memoirs written with her daughter, but this was her first attempt at historical fiction, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  There was no need for me to be apprehensive though – she did an absolutely fabulous job.  It was a little slow in the beginning so I don’t feel like I can give it a full 5 stars, but it’s close.  The storyline itself was wonderful plus I thought it was well researched with plenty of real-life characters, places, and events and I found the majority of both the true and fictional characters to be well developed.  I also liked that, true to real life, it wasn’t a happy ending for all characters.  There was love and loss in multiple relationships throughout the story whether it be within family, friendship, or a romance.  The entire book just pulls at your heartstrings at multiple levels.  I even shed a few tears while reading. 

 

I’m not one that flags quotes while reading but there were actually a couple in the book that I wanted to share –

 

“Her heart felt happy and full, and that was how she learned that love warms the heart when it is given, regardless of whether it is received.”

 

“War was eternal, but so was peace.

Death was eternal, but so was life.

Darkness was eternal, but so was light.

Hate was eternal, but above all, so was love.”

 

I highly recommend this book but as a side note – you very well might find yourself craving pasta while you read because an Italian restaurant is one of the settings.

 

The Good Sister

 

“The Good Sister” by Sally Hepworth

Published by St Martin’s Press

Finished 1/29/22 – 3/5 stars 

I enjoyed this one.  Not a thriller or terribly suspenseful and not a real romance, just a good story with a little bit of mystery.  It definitely keeps you thinking.  The story is told in alternating perspectives from twin sisters.  One is told as a narrative and the other is told via journal entries she’s making for her therapist.  Occasionally, they give different views on the same events.  One sister has good childhood memories while the other remembers things quite differently.  You start out liking both sisters but then one shows her true colors.  You’ll have to read it to find out which one is the “good sister”.    

The Commandant's Daughter

 

“The Commandant’s Daughter” by Catherine Hokin

Published by Bookouture

Finished 1/24/22 – 3.5/5 stars   

I found this to be a 3.5 star read but since none of the rating systems allow halves, I’m rounding up to 4.  I can definitely see the potential in this book, so it deserves to be rounded higher rather than lower.  The story was good, I just didn’t like the writing style – too many run-on sentences.  Many times I’d get through one and have to go back and reread it to make sure I understood what I had just read.  Unfortunately, that takes away from the flow of the story.

 The novel takes place in Berlin at the end of WW II, during the trials against a handful of SS officers for their war crimes.  The main character is the daughter of a high ranking Nazi officer who has avoided being brought to justice.  She was appalled by his actions during the war and is now trying to make a new name for herself, literally.  She has left her family behind, changed her name, and started a new career as a photographer.  This in turn leads her to become a crime scene photographer for the police department, working with a Jewish officer who lost his entire family during the Holocaust.  And what case are they working on?  Someone is hunting down Nazi officers who haven’t been brought to justice and killing them.  Should they try to stop him or let the killings continue?  Is her father on his hitlist?  Should she be honest and tell her partner about her and her father’s past, risking the loss of his friendship?  These are the types of moral decisions she must make during the story.

 Please know that this is the 1^st in a new series.  The 2^nd book will be out in a few months so if you read and enjoy it, you won’t have to wait too long for the next one.  Which is good because the way it ended made me feel like I’d just read half a book.  I assume the unfinished storyline is picked back up in the 2^nd book.

Thank you NetGalley and Boukouture for an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review.

 “November Road” by Lou Berney

Published by William Morrow

Finished 1/17/22 – 3/5 stars

This novel won multiple literary awards but just fell short for me.  I still enjoyed it, but not to that level.  The story itself was good but I feel like parts of the storyline were repetitive and predictable and the character depth was lacking – for those reasons, it is a 3 rather than a 4 for me. It does have some suspense and action that will keep you entertained, just not on the edge of your seat.

This is historical fiction taking place the week following the assassination of President Kennedy.  The focus is not on the assassination itself, but the mob’s attempt to cover up their involvement in it.  Essentially, anyone involved in any part of the set up and/or cover up needs to be “dealt with”.  The main character is one of those individuals trying to stay one step ahead of the mob.  Can he survive and make it into hiding?  And what about those whose paths he crosses along the way?  What will fate hold for them?  You’ll just have to read it to find out.

A Flicker in the Dark

“A Flicker in the Dark” by Stacy Willingham

Published by St. Martin’s Press

Finished 1/11/22 – 5/5 stars                       

I find it hard to believe that this is the author’s debut novel.  The suspenseful writing and plot twists made for a great page turner.  I changed my mind multiple times as to who did it.  I’d read a line and be convinced it was foreshadowing the ending, but then another twist would come to change my mind.  As more proof that it was a great book - I didn’t like any of the characters.  None.  If I can dislike every character and still love the book, it’s a great story that is holding my interest.  I’m definitely looking forward to her next book.

 This is story of Chloe.  When she was a child, 6 teenage girls went missing in her small town to which her father plead guilty and went to jail.  As the 20^th anniversary of the abductions draws near, 2 teenage girls disappear in her current town and she knows one of them. Chloe is sure they are somehow related to her past.  Is she paranoid? Is it a copycat?  Or is it completely unrelated to the prior case?  I don’t want to say more and accidently give anything away so you’ll have to read it to find out what happens.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy to read and provide an honest review. 

The Last House on the Street

 

“The Last House on the Street” by Diane Chamberlain

Published by St. Martin’s Press

Finished 1/5/22 – 5/5 stars!!

 

What a great way to kick of my year of reading!  Truly a book I didn’t want to put down.  If work and life in general didn’t get in the way, I probably would have read this in one sitting.  I was just drawn to the main characters, especially Ellie.  She was by far my favorite, especially the 1965 version of her.  Her drive, compassion, and wish for a better world for others to live in consumes her and then changes her.  She’s a person I would want to be friends with in real life.

This story is told in alternating timelines, both taking place in the same county in North Carolina.  And as you can imagine, 1965 NC is a much different place than 2010 NC.  In 1965, Ellie is drawn to volunteer for SCOPE against her family’s wishes.  It was an organization that brought in white college students to help the black communities register to vote – and in Klan territory, that is not a simple task.  In 2010, Kayla is a recently widowed single mom, moving into a new house, trying to make a fresh start for her and her daughter.  But there is history on the land her house now sits.  History that will bring Kayla and Ellie together to find answers to exactly what happened on that plot of land in 1965.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this wonderful book.  I had only read one of Ms. Chamberlain’s books prior, although many are on my to-read list.  Those books now need to come to the front of that list because I’m sure I’ll enjoy them too.