Darlene
Eight Perfect Hours is a charming, yet sometimes frustrating book about a budding romance between two characters who fate keeps bringing together.
Noelle and Sam spend eight hours in a car together when they find themselves stranded on a motorway on a snowy night. Noelle senses an instant connection, but Sam does not seem to feel the same way. Noelle goes about her life, but she continues to encounter Sam in the most unexpected places and situations. Noelle and the reader are left to wonder if these encounters are caused by fate or coincidence and if Noelle and Sam are somehow meant to be in each other's lives.
The story is told by Noelle, a woman in her early thirties who is discontent with her life. She desires more out of life, but she is bound by a sense of responsibility to her family. Her life was greatly affected by the death of her best friend when they were in college and by her mother's stroke several years prior to the action of the novel. There is a lot of inner monologue from Noelle that can sometimes be a bit annoying. She dwells on the negative quite a bit and does not seem to really want to get out of the rut she is in. She is waiting for someone else to give her permission to live her life as she wants and to be happy rather than finding her own happiness. In this way, she can frustrating as a character.
Sam, the love interest of the book, is a more likeable character. While he does some things that make him seem cold and distant, the reasons for his actions are clear and understandable. He too has experienced things that have affected him, but he seems better adjusted than Noelle. The evolution of their relationship is interesting and engaging, making the book a pleasant read.
The plot of the book revolves heavily around the idea of fate or coincidence. The two main characters are repeatedly brought together in random situations. My only complaint is that the situations start to feel forced and unbelievable, but maybe they are supposed to seem somewhat magical. Though it frustrated me at times, it did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall, I had a good time reading this book. It is not perfect, but it is still a good read. I would recommend it to fans of stories that are based around the concept of fate and chance encounters.
What a delightful holiday read! This story of friendship and healing set during the holiday season is refreshingly humorous and heartwarming. Two former acquaintances who are both dealing with troubles of their own spend most days in December together, helping each other to find their way back to happiness.
Belle Wilde begins this story with her life in a bit of a mess. She has lost her job, her celebrity father is involved in a scandal, and she owes money to her roommate. In the midst of this, she runs into Rory Walters, a man she knew in college who seemingly has his life together. But Rory's life is not as a great as it seems. He hates Christmas because of a tragic event that occurred five years prior. Belle decides to distract herself from her own problems by trying to convert Rory to someone who loves Christmas. Meanwhile, Rory decides to assist Belle in finding a career that will bring fulfillment. They form a friendship throughout the month of December that has the potential to develop into something more, but they both resist taking it further for good reasons.
The structure of the plot flows quite well. Every chapter is a different day in December, and the point of view alternates between Belle and Rory. The alternating point of view allows the reader to understand each character's actions and motivations, even though they are often frustrating due to them misjudging each other. The pacing is perfect and free of boring lulls in the action. The author uses many holiday traditions in the plotline, making this a fun holiday read.
The best thing about this book is the characters. They are both very likeable. Belle's struggle to find her way financially and emotionally is believable and relatable. Her desire for her family's approval is a universal feeling that most readers understand. Rory's past tragedy and current situation invite sympathy and compassion from the reader. All of the secondary characters are also likeable. They add humor and charm to the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is a perfect holiday romance with just enough charm and warmth. It is like watching a good Hallmark movie!
This book does a good job of exploring a time in history during which Americans struggled to survive in a difficult economic climate. It delves into a horrible choice that some poor parents made to sell their children. It shows both sides of the circumstances. The writing is strong and the themes are impactful. I enjoyed it.
The main character is a journalist who takes a picture one afternoon of a sign that reads “Two Children for Sale.” When he is offered a feature article in the paper for the story, he makes a decision that snowballs into an outcome that he never predicted. He and a female colleague spend the rest of the book trying to fix the mistake that was caused by his story and to reunite a family. Along the way they discover things about themselves and their own families.
The characters are very likable. The journalist, Ellis Reed, has his faults, but he is overall an honest man who wants to do right and have a positive impact on the world. He errs in judgement, but he spends the majority of the book trying to make things right. Lily Palmer, who works at the newspaper also, is a young mother who takes the plight of the children personally and is determined to see them returned to their mother.
The author portrays the time period of the depression with sensitivity and compassion. The actions of the struggling families is not demonized. The author explores the reasons for their choices and creates sympathy for them.
Overall, this is a very good read. The story is told well, and the pacing is just right. It has many sad moments, but it also has some uplifting ones.
As a huge fan of Kristin's Hannah's more recent novels, I decided to read this one from her backlist. While I did not love this as much as some others, it was a good book. This story involves several serious topics woven together in one tragic tale. It is a very emotional book.
The storyline centers around one young woman and the family of her best friend. Lexi has had a difficult childhood in foster care. Luckily, she is taken in by her aunt when is fourteen, and she befriends a shy girl named Mia. They become best friends, and Mia's family “adopts” Lexi as one of their own. Lexi then forms a relationship with Mia's twin brother, Zach, which further connects her to the family. However, when a error in judgment leads to an accident that impacts their lives forever, the bonds between Lexi and Mia's family are shattered. The story takes the reader on a journey that will reveal whether those bonds of love can be reformed.
The story is told from two perspectives, Lexi's and Jude's. Jude is Mia's and Zach's mother, and she is overprotective of her children. Her chapters reveal a woman who loves her family intensely, but seeks to control them and her surroundings. That control is fragile, and she struggles when cracks begin to form. Lexi's presence in their lives threatens some of Jude's control. Lexi's chapters reveal a young woman seeking acceptance and love. She has a strong sense of morals and fairness, which leads her to make some faulty choices to “protect” others.
At times, the plot feels a bit overdone. There are so many serious topics pulled into the storyline. I was able to predict where certain parts of the storyline were headed because of the use of these common topics. It is like I had read the story before. Even so, it affected me. I pulled at my heartstrings many times.
Overall, the book is good, and I enjoyed reading it. Is it groundbreaking and original? No. Will it suck you in and make you cry? Yes. I would recommend it to fans of Kristin Hannah. Just don't expect it to be like her recent historical fictions books.
What a fun mystery/thriller to read in October! It has just the right amount of spookiness mixed with mystery. The book tells the story of one family's experience at Baneberry Hall, a supposedly haunted house. The reader is left to wonder if the house really is haunted or if there is a rational explanation for the things that occur there.
Maggie Holt has spent her entire life since the age of five trying to find out from her parents if the story her father wrote about their time at Baneberry Hall is true. She does not believe her father's tale of ghosts, but she also cannot remember those weeks. When her father dies and leaves her the house, she returns to it hoping to determine the truth of what happened there. As strange things begin to occur in the house, Maggie (and the reader) begins to wonder if maybe her father's assertions that the house is haunted might be true.
The plot of this haunted house thriller is gripping and entertaining. The pace is perfect and the atmosphere is just the right amount of creepy. Chandeliers that turn on by themselves, bells that seem to ring on their own, and record players that play on their own. All these strange occurrences lead the reader to feel as if the supernatural is at work in the house. The way the story alternates chapters from the present with chapters taken from the father's book creates suspense and reveals just the right amount of details at each point in the story.
Maggie is a somewhat unreliable protagonist because of her memory loss surrounding that time in her childhood spent in the house. She remembers some details, but even she does not trust her memories. The characters she encounters in the town are suspicious and untrustworthy. It all adds up to to create a feeling of unease, which is exactly what a reader wants in a thriller like this.
This book was the perfect read for me for the Halloween season. It provides all the spooky feels and delivers a satisfying ending. I would recommend it to any thriller lover.
This historical fiction book is set in Paris with a library at the center of its story. What's not to love?
Odile lands her dream job at the American Library in Paris, where she forms bonds with her coworkers that are just as strong as those with her family, especially her bond with Margaret. Not long after her career as a librarian begins, Germany invades and occupies France, changing the lives of everyone in Paris. Germany demands that the library no longer all Jews to enter or check out books, so the librarians decide to risk their own safety to deliver books to their Jewish subscribers. During the course of the occupation, Odile falls in love, loses her brother to a German prison camp, gains and loses friends, and resists the Germans in what little ways she can.
Odile is a character who experiences a believable character arc, beginning as a naïve policeman's daughter who does not recognize much of the evil occurring around her. After tragedy touches her friends and family, she opens her eyes to the reality of the situation and decides to fight against the injustices. Her fight does not go as she plans, though. The version of Odile presented later in her life is much stronger and wise, but there is still some unresolved emotions she is dealing with.
The secondary characters add a lot to this story. The other library workers are a sort of “found family” for Odile. They have different nationalities and backgrounds that bring some context and depth to the historical aspects of this book. Margaret, Odile's British friend, becomes an important part of Odile's development, making her an essential character.
The pacing of the story is a bit slow at the beginning, but it picks up in the second half when more conflict is introduced. The transitions from the past to the present time in the 1980s is fairly smooth. Some of the details of Lily's story in that present timeline seem unnecessary and slow the pace, but the importance of Lily's and Odile's storyline becomes apparent in the end.
I would definitely recommend this historical fiction novel to any fan of the genre, especially fans of the WWII era. The unique setting of the library makes it feel a bit different from other WWII fiction books. The many literary quotes in the book and the obvious love of books and reading make this book especially appealing to bookworms like myself.
I am a sucker for a good, fast-paced crime thriller, and this one completely fits the bill. Maldonado has created a strong female protagonist who casts off her troubled past and renames herself Nina Guerrera, which means “warrior girl.” The name fits her fighting spirit. In this book, she must confront the man who abducted her and almost killed her as a teenager. She and her FBI team must solve the Cipher's puzzles to end his killing spree.
The plot of this book is gripping from page one. Nina and the Cipher are compelling adversaries whose lives are intertwined due to the Cipher's obsession with her. She got away from him once, and now he has lured her into the investigation of his current victims. Ultimately, he wants to finish what he started with her. She is also determined to finish things by catching him. The puzzles and clues make the chase for the Cipher more difficult, but they add an interesting layer to the plot. Readers are able to try to solve the puzzles along with the characters, pulling them into the action of the story.
The characters are memorable and mostly likable. Obviously, the Cipher is despicable and completely unlikable, but the team hunting him includes characters that each have qualities that the reader can embrace. Nina is strong and uses her traumatic past to fuel her fight for justice. Wade at first seems rigid and unfeeling, but he proves to be a supportive colleague for Nina. The other members of the team are also supportive and genuinely care for each other. Overall, it's a strong cast of characters.
This book reads quickly and keeps the reader engaged throughout. There are no dull moments. I highly recommend this one to fans of crime thrillers.
The premise of this book is so much fun. A young woman accidentally murders her blind date and then her aunties come to the rescue to get rid of the body. In the meantime, the young woman's college sweetheart appears and things get even more complicated. What a romp!
Meddy is a photographer in a catering business with her mom and her aunties. After her mom lines up a blind date for her on a dating app, Meddy finds herself in a nightmare experience that ends with the accidental death of her date. In a panic, she puts the body in the trunk and runs to her family for help. In addition to the task of getting rid of a body, the family is catering a very important wedding. Meddy runs into Nathan, her college love, who runs the hotel at which the wedding is taking place. Shenanigans ensue.
Meddy, her mom, and her aunts are highly entertaining characters. They bicker and say inappropriate things in situations, but the love and loyalty between them is heartwarming. Their adventures in disposing of a body become a bit farcical as the story progresses, but the reading experience is still quite enjoyable.
Personally, I found that the story got a little too ridiculous in the second half of the book. There was just a bit too much going on, and all of it was highly unbelievable. Hence the three star rating.
What a wild ride this book is! Though it is long, I struggled to put it down. It is definitely a page turner with lots of twists and turns. Honestly, it is a bit over the top and unbelievable, but I do not mind because it is so engaging.
This book is exactly what I have come to expect from Greg Iles. It tells the story of journalist Marshal McEwan who has returned to his small Mississippi hometown to take over his father's newspaper due to his father's imminent death from a terminal illness. While home, Marshall entangles himself in an extramarital affair and a murder investigation. Both of these situations lead Marshall down a path that could ultimately either dismantle and expose a corrupt organization or cause Marshall's demise.
There are a lot of unbelievably messed up situations in this book, so many that the reader starts to get a bit overwhelmed by them. However, the story never gets dull and keeps the reader thoroughly engaged. Different plotlines intersect and end up woven together in a tense climax. This book has all the makings of a great suspense thriller movie.
I am bit disappointed in the portrayal of women in this story. They seem strong and smart, but end up being revealed as either victims or sexual manipulators. And most of the men in the book are misogynistic philanderers who place little value on fidelity.
Overall, I enjoyed this reading experience. I never got bored with the story, and I found the twists and turns of the plot incredibly interesting.
If I had to describe this true crime book in just a few words they would be “good, but too long.” I enjoy true crime, and this missing person/homicide case is interesting, especially in how it is solved. However, the book drags in several places where the events could have been told more concisely. This book should have been much shorter.
The case of the missing landowner with the suspicion that his daughter and her boyfriend killed him makes for interesting reading. The way the truth is uncovered by a woman leading a missing persons group rather than by the police is also interesting. It would all make a great episode of a true crime documentary show. It just doesn't need to be a full length book. I found myself bored many times during the reading.
I will say this for the book: it is very well researched by the author. The events of the crime and the missing persons searches are described in great detail. I feel like I know all the ins and outs of the case.
Overall, I honestly wouldn't recommend this book. While the case and the people involved are engaging and thoroughly detailed, the reading experience is just too slow and tedious for my tastes.
Another great book by Chanel Cleeton! I love this series that started with Next Year in Havana. In this book in the series, the author takes a bit of a different approach and brings in characters from outside the Perez family. Through the stories of three women from different areas and different backgrounds, Cleeton recounts the events of a devastating hurricane in the Florida Keys in 1935.
The story is told through three perspectives. Helen is a waitress in Key West who knows she must get away from her abusive husband before her baby arrives. Elizabeth is a former debutante who has come to the Keys to find her brother in hopes that he can save her from having to marry a man she does not love. Mirta has left Cuba with her new husband, a man of questionable reputation, and is honeymooning in the Keys. These women's stories intersect as a major hurricane hits.
The female characters in this book are strong women who make the best of their situations. Each of them is vulnerable and at the mercy of men in their lives, but they assert themselves and fight to gain control of their destinies. The men of this story are secondary to the women. They are likable and provide support to the women.
The three story lines come together nicely as the plot moves along. The hurricane is a constant threat throughout the first half of the novel, and then becomes the major plot element in the second half. Interest in the story never wanes. Some subplots feel a little unnecessary, but they do not detract from the main storyline.
Overall, I found this book to be quite good. I did not enjoy it as much as the first two books because it did not focus on Cuba and the Perez family, but I still found it engaging.
While reading this book during a pandemic might not be ideal, I nevertheless enjoyed the experience. This post-apocalyptic tale of survival after civilization's collapse is well-written and engaging. The aftermath of the collapse is portrayed in a way that is very believable and realistic. There are no fantasy elements, just real people trying to survive.
In this book, civilization collapses as a result of a deadly flu pandemic. Those that survive the spread of the flu must survive in a world without the conveniences of a modern society. The story follows a few individuals on their journey, as well as one actor how died right as the pandemic began. The timeline alternates between pre and post apocalypse events. The chapters also alternate perspectives between Kirsten, a young actress in the Traveling Symphony; Arthur, a famous actor whose death begins the action of the story; Clark, a friend of Arthur; Jeevan, a would-be paramedic; and Miranda, ex-wife of Arthur the actor.
The motto of the Traveling Symphony is “Survival is insufficient.” All of the main characters in this book seem to have embraced this motto in some manner. Kirsten and the symphony continue to bring theater and music to the survivors. Clark maintains a museum of artifacts from the before the collapse to remind people of a better time. Arthur is always searching for happiness and love. There is a great deal of hope in this book alongside all the tragedy.
This story touches on a lot of important topics and themes. For instance, the prophet teaches people that the collapse happened for a reason and was part of God's plan while Clark argues that people were just unlucky. The storyline also brings themes related to survival, hope, the influence of art, etc.
Overall, I found this book to be captivating. It stimulates thought and leads the reader to question how he or she would face such a tragedy. I would definitely recommend it to fans of dystopian and post-apocalyptic literature.
This book was a pleasant surprise. I didn't know what to expect because I'd never heard of the author. I am happy I decided to give it a try. I ended up really enjoying the experience.
June and Ryan have been adversaries since high school, but attraction was always simmering underneath. When they are thrown together as adults, they must come to terms with obvious feelings.
I love the banter between the two main characters. It makes for fun reading. While they both have traits that can be frustrating, their other likable traits override them. There are many flirty scenes that are very entertaining, but no steamy love scenes. It's a very PG romance.
The plot is sometimes cliche, but I still enjoyed it. The conflict is not overdone or silly. The plot doesn't have too much misunderstanding between characters.
Overall, it's a fun book with a cute romance. I definitely recommend it.
This book was very disappointing for me. It is set in a wealthy, exclusive neighborhood, and the female characters are all unlikeable trophy wives with an annoying sense of entitlement. I just could not make myself care about their so-called problems. The plot felt a bit ridiculous, and the twist was not thrilling for me. I honestly do not have much to say about it because I did not enjoy it.
Colson Whitehead's story of Elwood Curtis' experience at a boys reform school in the 1960s is both impactful and heartbreaking. In The Nickel Boys Whitehead explores themes of injustice and prejudices during the period of the Civil Rights Movement. There are many references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr, which inspire the main character's perspective and behavior. The events in the book are shocking, but not surprising to anyone with knowledge of the horrors of that time period in history.
The story follows Elwood Curtis, a black teenager with hopes of attending college and taking part in the Movement. He is greatly impacted by the words of Martin Luther King, Jr, specifically his encouragement to the black community to have a “sense of dignity and...somebody-ness.” This leads Elwood to seek to do the right thing always, even when it may be foolish and put in him in harms way. When he gets an opportunity to attend college classes while still in high school, he is excited and optimistic about his future. However, on his way to his first class, he is arrested for a crime he does not commit and sent to the Nickel Academy, a reform school for troubled boys. At this academy, he experiences abuse and degradation that challenge his ability to maintain his “sense of dignity” that he so values.
The setting of this book, the Nickel Academy, is very grim. The supervisors and “housemen” are mostly hard, abusive men who seek to degrade and demoralize the boys in the school. While the outside of the school appears well-maintained and pleasant, it hides some dark and sinister rooms where boys are abused, both physically and mentally. Elwood seeks to reveal these secrets to the outside world.
Elwood is an idealistic character who believes that he can maintain his sense of self and impact the world if he just does the right thing in every situation. The Nickel Academy will test his idealism. He meets and befriends Turner who is much more realistic about the world and seeks to “get along” and survive. Turner helps Elwood survive the school as much as he can, but Elwood's ideals put him at odds with the school's leaders in several situations. Their friendship is one of the shining elements of this story.
The story line jumps from past to present a few times in the books. We see Elwood and Turner in the 1960s, but we also witness some of the outcomes for characters later in their lives. There is a twist toward the end that is surprising for the reader. Even though there are a few hints at this twist along the way, it took me by surprise. It added an interesting element to the plot.
Overall, this is an emotional read that brings important themes to light. These themes of injustice and prejudice are not new, this book presents them in different perspective and setting than usual. I really enjoyed and learned a lot from this book. I highly recommend it to all readers.
Every once in a while, I like to read a good family drama, and this book definitely delivers in that category. The Brennans are a complicated, but loving family. I fell in love them from the start of the book.
Sunday Brennan left home years ago, but after an accident decides to return to her family and help out with the family business. Being back home among her family and her ex-fiancé is not easy, but she is happy to spend time with them again and rekindle her relationships with each of them. However, she has a secret she is keeping that throughout the course of the story must come out. This secret, plus some financial problems, threaten to ruin the family. They must come together to find a solution to save the family business.
The characters in this book are relatable and have real life problems, though a couple of their issues are exaggerated for plot purposes. As a family, they are close and very dedicated to each other. They are not perfect, especially in relation to keeping secrets from each other, but they are there for each other when necessary. I especially like the character Kale who is not a Brennan by blood, but is just as much a part of the family as any of the Brennan siblings. He is a genuinely nice guy with a big heart.
One of my favorite aspects of the book besides the characters is the setting. I love the Irish pub backdrop of the story. It feels very homey and makes me think of places I've been in Boston and New York City. The author does a good job of creating an atmosphere that feels inviting.
The plot of the book moves at a nice pace. Much of the story focuses on the family reconnecting, but there are enough dramatic events and revelations to add some action to the story and quicken the pace when needed.
Overall, I enjoyed this reading experience and would recommend the book to readers who enjoy a family drama involving secrets and reconnecting.
This book is such a lovely book about love, friendship, identity, and acceptance. Honestly, it surprised me. I expected just a fun romp of a road trip where two exes hash out their issues, but it is so much more than that.
In this story, exes Addie and Dylan find themselves traveling to a wedding together in a Mini with three other people. To say this situation is not ideal is definitely an understatement. Their relationship ended almost two years prior to this road trip in such a way that has left them both wounded. Add to that tension the fact that the man largely responsible for their break up is in the car also and it is a recipe for disaster.
The cast of characters in this book is highly entertaining. Addie and Dylan are both charming and lovable protagonists. Neither is a villain in their break up, which makes it much easier to like them. Addie's sister, Deb, is refreshingly independent and confident. Even the troublemaker, Marcus, has likable qualities at times, though he is largely self-absorbed and rude most of the time. Then there is the random wedding guest that hitched a ride, Rodney. He adds a good bit of goofy humor to the story.
The main road trip plot line is engaging and fun, even with the mishaps along the way. The characters are not having fun, of course, but the reader can laugh at their expense at times. Although there are adventures and light-hearted moments, there also very serious and somewhat therapeutic moments as well. Several of the individuals in the car have issues to resolve, and the close proximity forces them to do so whether they want to or not. The book touches on some serious topics along the way, such as depression, homophobia, alcoholism, and sexual assault , so the reader should be aware of that.
The romance in this book is probably one of the best I have read in a while. It is not pretty at times, but it feels quite authentic and believable. The main obstacle in the relationship is another person, but not in the usual manner. I like that it is not typical of all the other romances I have read lately. It feels fresh and different.
Overall, I am very happy with this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience and would love to read it again in the future. Well done, Beth O'Leary! I look forward to reading more!
This book was a disappointment for me, unfortunately. After reading and loving The Guest List, I was excited to read this one by the same author. The premise is quite similar, so I was hoping for another thrilling read. However, it just doesn't deliver.
The story follows a group of friends who always get together for New Years. This year, Emma, a newer member of the group, has planned their trip to a remote lodge in the snowy Scottish Highlands. As the holiday progresses, old grudges come to the surface and things get tense. When one person from the group goes missing, the people running the lodge begin a frantic search during a snowstorm. When a body is found, no one knows who can be trusted anymore.
The characters in this book are quite annoying, which makes it hard for the reader to get invested in their outcomes. The group of friends are mostly vain and privileged. Their “problems” seem petty. The “victim” is extremely unlikable, which makes it hard to care much about finding the murderer. Even though the narrator does not reveal who the victim is through much of the story, it is easy to predict which one it is. The groundskeepers are a bit more likable, but they do not contribute much to the story. The side plot connected to them in the end seems a bit unnecessary also.
The plot is not as suspenseful as I would have liked it to be. The behavior of the characters is pretty predictable, and I had pretty much figured out who the murderer would be early on in the storyline.
Overall, this one just falls short for me. I found it to be predictable, and it just did not hold my interest the way her other book did.
This book by an author I had not previously heard of turned out to be one of the best thrillers I have read this year. I really enjoyed it. The plot and characters are both engaging, and the ending is satisfying.
This book tells the story of Hannah and Bailey. Hannah's husband, Owen, disappears one day leaving her a note that says simply, “Protect her.” Hannah realizes immediately he means for her protect his daughter Bailey. Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey do not have the best relationship, but Hannah does everything in her power to do what Owen askes of her even though she learns some upsetting things about Owen's past. In order to protect Bailey, Hannah has to search for answers to questions that may be better left alone.
The pacing of this book is perfect. It reads at a fast pace with short chapters and interesting events. The book is hard to put down. The author unfolds the story in such a way to keep the reader guessing and constantly wanting answers. Every event and detail in the story adds suspense. As a reader, I enjoyed trying to solve the puzzle of Owen's past along side the characters.
As for the characters, they are well-developed without being overdone. The reader learns just enough about each one to get an idea of their motivations and to understand their choices. Hannah is a very likable character who strives to do what is best for her stepdaughter. Bailey is portrayed as a typical, moody teenager. Her character feels very authentic. It is easy to understand why she feels as she does when her father leaves. It is nice to see the relationship between the two of them grow stronger as the book progresses.
This is solid thriller that came out of nowhere for me. I am so glad it was a Book of the Month choice and that I decided to give a new author a try. I am definitely interested to read more by this author.
After reading No Exit and finding it completely gripping, I was excited to read this new release by Taylor Adams. I was hoping for the fast paced, nonstop thrill ride I got from the previous book, but unfortunately, this one does not pack the same punch.
In this thriller, Lena is searching for answers in the death of her twin sister. The official report is that her sister Cambry killed herself by jumping off of Hairpin Bridge. Lena does not believe this version of events. She decides to confront the trooper that found her sisters body on the same bridge and get the answers she needs in order to move on from this event. Unfortunately, things do not go as Lena had planned, and she finds herself in a dangerous situation that could lead to her own demise.
Lena believes she is smart in her planning, but she is actually quite naïve, which is frustrating. I found myself shaking my head at several of her choices. The flashbacks to her blog from the previous day add some context, but they also involve a some overly emotional confessions. Her emotions about her sister seem a bit overdone considering they were not even close. As for the trooper, he is an annoying character who is completely untrustworthy. Some things that come to light toward the end just make him pathetic as a character.
The pacing of the first half of the book is stilted by the frequent flashbacks to the blog. The plot jumps from the current day with Lena and the trooper on the bridge to Lena's blog from the previous evening. Mingled in there is also Cambry's story from June, which is really being told by Lena after the fact. The reader cannot tell at times if the details are real or just Lena's fantasies about what happened. I suppose this is meant to add to the suspense. By the second half of the book, the pacing picks up substantially and barrels forward toward a climax.
Overall, I'd say the first half of the book is interesting, but a little choppy; the middle is quite suspenseful; and the end is very fast-paced and adrenaline-filled, but a bit far-fetched in its conclusion. It is hard for me as a reader to believe that things would have realistically ended as they did. I would recommend the book to fans of No Exit but with the warning that it is not as constantly thrilling as that one.
In this book Diane Chamberlain creates an enthralling story about two female artists decades apart and the complicated mural that connects them. The story is perfectly paced with enough detail to bring the time periods and artwork to life without being overdone. Though the story touches on some hard-hitting topics, it is a beautiful piece of work.
This book tells the story of Morgan Christopher and Anna Dale. Morgan is a young woman paying the price for a crime she did not commit when a stranger offers a deal she cannot refuse. She must restore a mural painted in 1940 in time for a gallery opening, a task for which she is untrained. The artist of the mural, Anna Dale, disappeared in 1940 before the mural could be installed. The mural also disappeared, but somehow shows up in the hands of another artist who insists that Morgan is the only person who can restore it. Through the restoration process, Morgan begins to unravel the mystery that is Anna Dale.
The story is told in dual perspectives in dual timelines. The chapters alternate between Morgan in 2018 and Anna in 1939/1940. The chapters are relatively short, keeping the pace quick. Each chapter reveals a bit more of the Anna mystery. Chamberlain builds suspense nicely, keeping the reader engaged.
The characters are well developed and dynamic. Anna is a Northern woman in a Southern town, unable to really understand the racial climate in which she finds herself. Her artistic spirit and strong will are admirable, but they end up causing her grief. Morgan is troubled by the car accident she and her past boyfriend caused. She does not know how to move past the guilt. Restoring the mural gives her some purpose and helps her to resolve some of her feelings. As a reader, I found myself really caring for these characters.
The ending is satisfying, even though some aspects of it are a bit predictable. The plot concludes in a way that provides the answers to the questions put forth throughout the book such as what happened to Anna Dale and what connection does Morgan have to the mural.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction with dual timelines and multiple perspectives. The writing style is easy to read and the plot is engaging and fulfilling.
I read this book as part of a readathon that encouraged me to read a romance that is outside my comfort zone. I do not read many male/male romances, so I chose this one. The actual romance in the book is decent, but I find the context of the mens' lives and their families to be too overdone. I just cannot envision this scenario actually happening, which usually turns me off of a book.
This is the story of Max and Silas, both of whom have major trauma and/or drama in their background and currently in their lives. Max is a recovering drug addict who spent time selling his body on the streets, and Silas is a billionaire's heir who is also a recovering addict and spent six months at a conversion therapy camp as a teenager. The two of them cross paths when Max becomes a private nurse for Silas's ailing father.
Honestly, this book is just too much for me. The plot involves romance, business intrigue, family drama, a fake engagement, and more. The characters are recovering drug addicts, past prostitutes, conversion therapy survivors, family outcasts, billionaires, billionaire's son with Asperger's syndrome, homophobic fathers, etc. I would have preferred a simplified story that put the focus more on the growing love between Max and Silas and less on all the drama around them.
Angie Hockman's story about two competing coworkers on a cruise to the Galapagos Islands is a fun, light-hearted read. The characters are likable, the setting is stunning, and the romance is slow and sweet.
Henley Evans is bright, ambitious young woman looking to move up in the cruise line company for which she works. When a promotion becomes available, she finds herself pitted against her business adversary, Graeme. Their boss sends them on a cruise to explore the customer experience in order to create a marketing proposal. When the two are thrown together, they are forced to see each other for who they really are, not who they believed each other to be. To complicate things, it turns out they are attracted to each other. How can Henley destroy her competition when she actually wants to embrace him?
The two main characters in the story are very likable and relatable. Henley is a woman trying to get ahead in a business environment that favors males. Graeme is nice guy trying to get the promotion so he can move back to Seattle but also trying not to ruin Henley's dreams. They are genuinely good people, which is nice in a romance. The secondary characters are entertaining, especially the Russian that takes a liking to Henley on the cruise ship.
The romance in this book is set against the backdrop of the beautiful Galapagos Islands. The two characters learn to like each other's company as the go on hikes, snorkeling excursions, kayak rides, and other fun activities. They see the beautiful landscape and wildlife of the islands. Reading this book makes me want to cruise to that region.
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading this book. I hope that Hockman writes more stories in a similar style in the future.
This coming of age novel is a pleasant, unexpected surprise. Set in the 70s, it tells the story of 14 year old Mary Jane's summer nanny job that introduces her to people different from any she has ever known and opens her eyes to the flaws of the society in which she lives. Through her experiences of that summer, she discovers a lot about who she is and who she wants to be.
Mary Jane has led a sheltered life with rigid, non-affectionate parents. She expects adults to behave a certain way. Her experience with the Cone household shows her that there are different kinds of people with different life experiences, and she learns to accept those differences as being okay and maybe even preferable to the life she has been raised expect. She meets a rock star heroin addict and his TV star wife who show her that just because people have made mistakes they aren't necessarily bad people. Life in the Cone house is messy and sometimes chaotic, but there is so much love and joy there that doesn't exist in Mary Jane's household.
There is clear contradiction between the two main families in this book. The Cones are a lovable bunch with all their unique personalities and eccentricities. Their celebrity houseguests are flawed but so beautiful and full of life. In contrast, Mary Jane's parents are stiff and formal and do not let Mary Jane see their personalities. There is no affection in the Dillard household. Mary Jane comes to realize the flaws in her parents' beliefs about people of other races and backgrounds. As a reader, I much prefer the Cones, which of course is what the writer wants.
This book does a great job showing the messiness of real life. There are drugs, sex, alcohol, infidelity, and other indiscretions in the plot of this story. The topics are all handled maturely. These issues are balanced with acceptance, love, family affection, and many other positive experiences.
This book succeeds as a coming of age story that captures the reader's heart while teaching acceptance and love. I definitely recommend this book.