Book Review - What Lies Between Us by Nayomi Munaweera

 

Ganga is a young girl growing up carefree surrounded by her loving family in Sri Lanka. They live in a big old house that has been in the family for generations. Ganga's life is perfect until something terrible happens. One of her most cherished friendship is revealed to have abusive undertones and the consequences will rip apart the only life she knew. After an traumatizing experience, Ganga and her mother flees to America for safety.

In America, Ganga tries to navigate her new life as an American teenager. She is delighted with the new experiences that are now available to her. She decides to pursue becoming a nurse and graduates from college and moves to San Francisco to work at a nearby hospital. On the surface, Ganga appears to be functioning normally but, the trauma from her past continues to haunt her.

When Ganga crosses path with Daniel, she finds herself entranced by him. She falls deeply in love with him and believes she will finally gets her happy ever after. Instead, the secrets that she kept from him coupled with an accidental pregnancy causes the pair's bond to unravel. Ganga struggles with keeping the darkness from encroaching her life until, she finally can't hold on anymore.

The story starts with a very poignant story that alludes to the dark act that she commits. As we are taken through her life, we start to understand the motivation behind her heinous act. At times, the story does move a bit slowly and the "twists" were fairly easy to guess. The heart-wrenching story stays with you long after you finish the story. As readers, we get a glimpses of the struggles of being an immigrants, womanhood/motherhood, Sri Lankan culture, along with struggling with mental illness and trauma.

Book Review - Shadow Sands (Kate Marshall, #2) by Robert Bryndza

 

Criminology professor Kate Marshall is on a scuba dive with her son when they make a shocking discovery. They find a body of a teenage boy in the depths of the Shadow Sands reservoir. The detective chief inspector is quick to rule the case as an accidental drowning. However, Kate believes there is more to the story. As she begins to follow the evidence and clues, she discovers something more sinister.

It turns out the latest victim is one of the many in a series of deaths and disappearances linked to the moorlands. There is an urban legend of a phantom that uses the rolling fog to hunt for its victims. When a researcher studying urban legends disappears without a trace, Kate must act fast if she wants to find her alive.

This novel is the second book in the series but, I felt like it could be read as a standalone. I thought the book was an interesting read and it was nice seeing old characters making a reappearance while getting more history on Tristan. I enjoyed reading this book but, I definitely felt like I enjoyed the first book more. I felt like something was missing that I couldn't quite put my finger on. However, I am excited to read the next book in the series.

Book Review - The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

 

Mars always felt that he was the lesser twin. He was always in his sister, Caroline's, shadow. However, when Caroline dies in a horrible accident, Mars is determined to learn more about his twin. The pair were once inseparable but, sister has slowly grown distant from him.

Mars considers himself to be gender fluid. His politically connected family often excludes him from traditions and expectations because of it. He was excluded from attending the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy that her sister loved attending. Mars is still trying to cope with her death and insists on attending the academy in her place.

Mars realizes the camp atmosphere and what it stands for isn't for him. The adults and children still follow outdated old fashioned gender roles along with allowing predatory behaviors among the campers. Mars seeks out Caroline's old roommates, a group of girls called the Honeys. They were named after the beehives they maintain near their cabin. Mars feels drawn to them but he is certain that they are connected to Caroline's death.

I found the novel to be an entertaining read. Mars was a delightful character and I love his witty banter with Wyatt.  In the beginning, the description of the Honeys and certain situations pulled in readers and kept them there and left them wanting to know more. However, I felt like some parts of the book stalled and felt a bit disjointed. I did enjoy the story but, I can't put my finger on why I didn't love the story especially, since I liked Mars as a character. I would be open to reading more books by the author though.

 

**Disclosure - I received a free copy  of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

 

Book Review - The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

 

The girls at Camp Nightingale play a game called "Two Truths and a Lie". Vivian, Natalie, and Allison are all veterans at the camp and Emma Davis is a first time camper and the youngest of the group. All the fun and games end when Emma awakes in the middle of the night to see the others sneak out of the cabin under the cloak of darkness. The last time any of the girls were seen was when Emma saw Vivian closing the door behind her and signalling Emma to keep it a secret.

Few years later, Emma is huge on the art scene. Her massive canvases portray the wilderness covering up ghostly shapes in white dresses. One of her painting catches the attention of Francesca Harris-White, who is the wealthy owner of Camp Nightingale.  Franny asks Emma to return to the newly reopened camp as their painting instructor. Emma is hesitant to return but, she sees this as an opportunity to find out more about her friends and seek closure.

When Emma returns to camp again, she feels like she's transported to the past as she is assigned to the same cabin. She notices that the only security camera on the property is pointed directly at her door. She finds cryptic clues that Vivian had left behind about the camp's twisted origins. As she digs into the past, she finds herself confronted by threats in the present. 

I thought the novel was an interesting read but, I felt like it was moving a bit slower than I would have liked. The reader is taken on a drawn out ride and was given small nuggets at a time to keep you reading. The ending was a surprise but, it left me with a few questions and I am questioning how plausible the plot was. However, I would still be interested in reading other books by the author.

Book Review - The Other Girl by Erica Spindler

 

Miranda Rader is a police officer for Harmony, Louisiana and she is known for her ability to work under pressure and for her integrity and honesty. This wasn't always the case when she was growing up in Jasper. She grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and she worked hard to earn the respect of her coworkers and community.

Miranda and her partner, Jake,  is called to investigate the murder of a beloved college professor. When they arrived to the scene of the crime, they are unprepared for the brutality of the scene. She thought she saw the worst of it until she finds a piece of evidence that shakes her to her core. She finds an article about the terrible night that happened fifteen years ago that Miranda has tried to forget. She tried to bury the memories of that night as well as the girl she once was. 

Now another person has turned up dead. He was the cop who took Miranda's statement that night. His murder was different than the professor and nothing links the two of them except for Miranda. Will Miranda be able to find out who is behind the murders?

I thought the novel started off interesting then slowly descended to being unbelievable to boring. I found Jake's and Miranda's relationship to be tedious and confusing. Jake claims he loves her and trusts her but, then goes behind her back and discloses her secrets to other people time and time over again. And then she forgives him and takes him back repeatedly. Somehow, the two of them claim that they both love each other but, I don't see a single reason why they feel that way towards each other. Then in the end Jake mysteriously puts together all the clues and is able to solve the mystery behind the murders when he was supposedly off the force and visiting his family. The author hints that Jake might be hiding something else about his family but, we never get to know more. 

The plot is completely predictable. I am not sure how Miranda was able to guess so quickly how one person was tied to her past but, then forget another major player from that event until the last possible moment. It was fairly easy to guess who was behind the murders and their motive. I am not sure how this novel is billed a suspense or thriller as the story was slow and barely moved along at times. I also think the title gave away the twist to the end of the novel.

Book Review - I Survived the Galveston Hurricane, 1900: I Survived, Book 21 by Lauren Tarshis

 

The book details the fictional story of one child surviving the horrible Galveston Hurricane of 1900. Galveston is located in Texas and it was a booming city. It's on an island off the southern coast of Texas and was founded in 1830s. The city was prosperous and boats from all over visited it's ports. When the storm started brewing on September 8, 1900, no one believe that it would be anything worst than they normally had. They thought it was impossible for a hurricane to hit the town. However, when the huge waves comes crashing down into the city, hundreds of homes were destroyed and eight thousand people were dead. The once bustling city has all but disappeared.

This was my first book in the series and I thought it was an interesting read. The horrific hurricane and the destruction it caused was toned down a bit for young readers though. I liked that the author included a section on hurricane facts, Galveston facts, along with tips on how to stay safe during a hurricane. I liked that they also included why they were interested in covering this topic. The book was a quick and easy read and it would be perfect for young readers who have an interest in history.

Book Review - Carolina Moonset by Matt Goldman

 

Joey Green returns to Beaufort, South Carolina to visit his ailing father who suffers from dementia. He offers to watch over his father while his stressed mother take a break. Marshall Green's short term memory has been severely affected by dementia but, his long term memory is still strong as ever. At times, Marshall's mind slips back into time and believes that he is still a boy growing up in Beaufort.

At first, Joey feels this father's slipping memory to be benign. But, when a murder occurs near their home Joey is worried about his father when his father's hallucinatory arguments hint to deadly secrets and scandals.

I thought the book was an okay read. There were moments that I felt were a bit ridiculous like when Joey's mother was yelling at him to make the police stop questioning his father. I felt that it was silly since Joey wasn't a lawyer or had any power to make the questioning stop. The scenes where the characters interacted with the police to be a bit farfetched. Towards the middle of the book, the pacing felt a bit off. That the characters discovered things and another character would reveal the same thing again. And then the killer's relationship with Joey seemed to come out of nowhere. That relationship from zero to hundred in a few days and almost with no interaction with each other.

Book Review - The Cave Dwellers by Christina McDowell

 

The Green Book was a diary created by the niece of Edith Roosevelt’s social secretary. It only includes the families that are worthy. These families and their aristocratic bloodlines helped build the fabric of Washington - generation after generation. Their power and privileged is on prominent display in the streets of Georgetown, Kalorama, and Capitol Hill. They only socialize with people of their own rank and social circle and ignore the political merry-go-round unless it serves them.

I thought this novel was going to be a thriller and not a political commentary about the elite. I felt like the murders were introduced as a shock value but, we didn't really learn anything about them. Instead we were treated to a boring and pointless story of how the elite use and abuse their power and treat the people around them. Perhaps, if I had known that the novel would be mostly focused on selfish and spoiled people I wouldn't have wasted my time.

Book Review - The Prince and the Prodigal by Jill Eileen Smith

  

Joseph is the favorite son of his father, Jacob. His older brothers are jealous and resentful over Joseph's status as their father's favorite. So, when the opportunity arises to get rid of him, the brothers take the chance and sell him to slave traders. They told Jacob that Joseph was killed by wild animals. The brothers believe that their troubles are finally over but, for Joseph and his brother, Judah, they are just beginning.

Joseph becomes imprisoned when he is accused of raping his master's wife. Judah tries to escape the guilt of selling his brother into slavery. Decades has passed, when the brothers finally reunite again. Joseph  is in a position of power while Judah begs for mercy. Will the brothers be able to choose forgiveness?

I have read a few books by the author and I liked this book better than the others. I felt like the story flowed more smoothly even though at times, the book felt like it was moving very slowly. There was a lot of sex and scenes of rape that I didn't care for but, I understand that they were needed for certain parts of the story. I like that the story was told from alternating story lines. I like reading about how the brothers were dealing with the past betrayal. While, I know that Joseph is the main character and he  didn't want the preferred treatment of his father, I felt that when he got older he lost some of his humility. Overall, the book will be well received by readers who are  fan of the author's.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - Call Me Elizabeth Lark by Melissa Colasanti

 

Twenty years ago near the Oregon coast, Myra Barkley's daughter has disappeared from the rocky beach near the family inn. For the past twenty years Myra has stayed at the front desk of the inn waiting for her child to come home. One rainy day, Myra's wish comes true. Someone who looks like her daughter, Charlotte,  walks through the door and with a child of her own.

Elizabeth Lark is on the run with her son, Theo, from an abusive husband. She return to her hometown against her better judgment to hide from him. She decides to stop at the Barkley Inn to figure out the next steps. Myra insists that Elizabeth is her long lost child and offers Elizabeth a safety net she desperately needs for her son. Elizabeth knows that she isn't Myra's daughter and she finds herself intertwines with the family.

Elizabeth's return sparks a renewed interest in her disappearance. The new spreads of her return but, someone knows that Charlotte  didn't disappear on her own. Someone is desperate to keep what happened twenty years ago a secret.

I thought this book was an okay read. I had a hard time liking some of the characters and couldn't understand them. For example, Myra was upset that  Charlotte disappeared and kept hoping she would return. I felt like she was devoted to this daughter but, all her other kids it was like she didn't really "care" for.  There was two separate times when her daughters needed her but, she chose her husband but, then she seems to be fighting with him all the time. I found some of the dialogue to be unrealistic and choppy at times. The book was slow in the beginning and the middle and then towards the end everything just happened so fast that it felt unrealistic. The twist at the end was a bit predictable and expected.

Book Review - Dava Shastri's Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti

 

Dava Shastri is one of the world's wealthiest woman and she is well known for her sterling reputation. At the age of seventy, she was diagnosis with brain cancer. The news causes Dava's entire world to be turned upside down. Dava decides to take control of her death just like everything else in her life.

She decides to plan a trip with her four adult children to her private island to disclose the truth. She plans to tell them about her medical diagnosis along with arranging for the news of her death to break early so, she can read what people said about her.

Dava has dedicated her life to philanthropy and to helping others especially, to the arts and the empowerment of women. Dava was expecting to be praised on her philanthropic work. Instead, the news of her death reveals two secrets that Dava thought she buried forever. Not only is the truth exposed but, the entire world including her children know the truth.

As Dava tries to connect with her family with the limited time she has, she will also need  to come to terms with the decisions she has made while making peace with her family. Will Dava be able to connect and fix the frays with her family before it's too late?

I thought the novel had an interesting premise and it was as a heart warming read. At times, I felt like the book did drag on. I had a hard time connecting with some of the characters and including, Dava. I felt like she was very much focused on what she wanted to do that sometimes. I felt like she took her children for granted and want they needed from her. I also found it weird that she wanted to take care of all her children except for one child who seemed the most like her. I thought that the author had way too many characters in the beginning and at one point, it seems that she herself got two names mixed up. I was also confused why the author picked to write this story in the future as there wasn't many futuristic elements except the time Dava went to space. Overall, the novel was a good attempt at a debut and has some thought-provoking moments.

Book Review - Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian

 

Chloe Sevre looks like your average girl next door. She is an honor student, spends her time going to frat parties, and doing yogalates. Except, Chloe isn't your average hot girl next door. She is a psychopath that is planning to kill her childhood friend, Will Bachman, after he wronged her.

Chloe is one of seven students at her college that are a part of a unique clinical study of psychopaths. The study is lead by a renowned psychologist who tracks their movements and their moods. One of the students from the study is found dead. Chloe becomes the prey as the dangerous game of cat and mouse begins. She races to find the killer while trying to execute her own revenge plan. Will Chloe be able to find the killer before she becomes the next victim?

I thought the book was an interesting read. I didn't really care for any of the characters but, I was interested in where the story was going. The ending was a bit of a surprise that I didn't see coming. I did like that there was multiple story lines going on but, after all it felt like the book was dragging along. Overall, it was an interesting read and I would be open to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - The Secrets of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer

 

Lily Graves comes from a long line of morticians. She knows that everyone keeps buried secrets. When senior class president Erin Donohue turns up dead, Lily believes its her job to uncover the truth. Erin is a pillar of the community and known for her ethnics. However, Lily has a crush on Erin's ex-boyfriend, Matt, which complicates matters and makes them both suspects. As Lily's world comes crushing down, she will have to figure out who she can trust before the killer strikes again.

I had picked up this book on a whim and I should have read reviews before getting it. The book is geared towards young adults and I feel like it's a romance novel with some mystery components to it. The plot was very predictable and I was able to guess the direction of the novel fairly quickly. I felt that story moved along very slowly and some of the character interactions felt forced.  I think the title of the book is very misleading because even after reading the book, I still don't know any of Lily's secrets. The novel might be a good read for young readers who want a book with a light mystery with a heavy high school romance theme.

Book Review - The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-mi Hwang

Sprout is a hen that is no longer happy with her current life. She doesn't want to lay eggs on command and have them taken away from her. She sees other animal roam free and she wants to live in the wild like all the other animals. She hatches a plan to escape into a wild and to hatch an egg of her own.

The book was a thought provoking and heart breaking read. There were many themes that were explored like motherhood, individuality, belonging, having a purpose, acceptance, family bonds, and being free. The book was a quick read but left me thinking for hours afterwards. If you enjoy reading stories about animals, you will enjoy this book.

 

Book Review - We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

 

Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital covered in bruises after being in a drunk driving accident. She realizes she will have to swallow her pride and go home to her family in New York. She is afraid to go home after abandoning her family and her high school sweetheart five years ago without any explanations.

Sunday wants to make amends and rebuild her life even if it means dealing with her resentful brothers and ex-fiancé. She starts to realize that they might need her as much as she needs them.  However, a dangerous man from her past is out to destroy their family business and their family. Sunday realizes that the only way to save the family from financial ruin is to tell her family her secrets. As Sunday tries to come to terms with her past, she realizes she isn't the only hiding something.

I picked this book because of the beautiful cover. However, I should know better than to do that by now because this book was super boring. The plot barely moved along and the big reveal was predictable. I thought the reason for Sunday leaving to be silly and found it hard that she didn't talk to her boyfriend before leaving since they had an unbreakable bond. If you like cozy romantic reads, you will enjoy this book.

**Disclosure - I received a free a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - The Lilac House (Lake Summers, #1) by Barbara Josselsohn

 

Anna Harris used to love summer escapes to Lilac House. The Lilac House was always a source of comfort for her and her family. However, since her husband's death, things has changed and nothing seems the same as before. Anna and her kids, Zac and Evie, try to collect the pieces and try to build a new life without Greg.

When Anna and the kids arrive, the house is everything that they remember it as. They get caught up in the small town life and helping their Aunt Hope run her little shop on Main street. Anna begins to feel like herself before she gave up her passion of dancing.  While searching for some guidance, she crosses path with Aidan. Anna and Aidan feel drawn to each other because they both know what it's like to lose someone. They recognize in each other something they both have been missing.

However, Aidan isn't being completely honest on why he's at Lake Summers. Anna learns a secret Greg was keeping before he died and it makes her question everything she knew. Will Anna and Aidan be able to find peace?

I found this book to be boring but, I liked that the characters were upfront and honest with each other. I hate when books use a misunderstanding between the two characters as the only form of story. I felt like that the book barely had any story (except the minute details about ballet) and it definitely dragged during the middle and there were no surprises or twists. I was surprised by the ending because the story wasn't wrapped up in an bow and the next book in the series seems like it would be new characters. I thought the book was okay but, I won't go out of my way to read another book by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**

Book Review - The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox

 

Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home after her husband perished in a accident. She is determined to live out her childhood dream of running the Old Depot Grocery with her mother and grandmother. However, to her dismay, her mother, Rosemary, announces that she plans to close the store and sell it. Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, is desperate to save the store that's so near and dear to them. Rosemary refuses to let Sarah spend her entire life at the Old Depot Grocery like she did. Rosemary has her reasons why she stayed but, she refuses to let her daughter make the same mistakes.

In 1965, Glory Ann finds out that she is pregnant with her deceased fiancé's baby. To avoid bringing shame to her family, they force her into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve their family reputation. Glory Ann is distraught and vows to never love again.

The heart warming read is told in a dual time frame. At times, I felt a little annoyed by it because each chapter was very small and I wanted to know what was going to happen but, then the story switched timelines. I did like most of the characters except for Sarah because she seemed a bit annoying at times. She wanted her family to be open and honest but, she failed to do the same thing with her secrets. Overall, I found that the story was an sweet and emotional read.

Book Review - The Last Equation of Isaac Severy by Nova Jacobs

 

Hazel Severy is an owner of a struggling Seattle bookstore. She receives a letter from her adoptive grandfather days after his death. Her grandfather is a famous mathematician and many suspect that he killed himself. In his letter, Issac hints at a secret organization that is after his life's work and is willing to stop at nothing to get it. He asks Hazel to to deliver the equation to a trusted colleague and then destroying it before anyone else can get it. However, Hazel will have to decipher the clue and hints Isaac has left behind in his letter.

While Hazel begins her search, she realizes she isn't the only one searching for his equation. She comes across evidence that shows catastrophic results if the equation ends up in the wrong hands. Hazel isn't the only one who is struggling to come to terms with Issac's sudden death. The entire Severy family has become unhinged after his sudden death.

As Hazel tirelessly tries to figure out Issac's clues, the agents from the secret company start targeting other members of the Severy family. Hazel fears if she doesn't hurry she will lose her chance to fulfill Issac's wishes. As time starts to run out, Hazel is desperate for help and turns to a family member for help. However, will they help Hazel or are they hiding their own motives?

I thought the book had an interesting premise but, I felt like it was a bit boring. At times, the story barely plodded along. I had a hard time connecting with Hazel and the many characters in the novel. There were so many at one point that it was hard to see their relevance to the story. I understood that this was a book with mathematical elements but, at times it felt overwhelming and my eyes glazed over. I felt like the author just threw out a bunch of names of theories and famous people. I am still left wanting more by the ending and how Hazel found out where the equation was hidden.

Book Review - The Rooster Bar by John Grisham

 

Mark, Todd, and Zola decided to attend law school for their own different reasons. They are now third-year students who feel duped by the system. They borrowed eye dropping amounts of money to attend a low tier for-profit school that is so mediocre that its graduate rarely pass the bar exam or get any profitable jobs. The trio later find out that their school is a chain of for-profit schools owned by a shady businessman who also owns a bank specializing in student loans. They realize they are one of many  victims of "The Great Law School Scam".

They begin to feel hopeless and that they have no way out. They decide to concoct a plan that they can escape their debt, expose the scam along with making a few bucks in the process. However, they realize for their plan to work they would need to leave law school a few months shy of graduation.

This was my first John Grisham novel and I was excited to read it. However, I found the novel to be very boring and slow. I read more than one third of the book before I had to stop reading it. I had a hard connecting to any of the characters and I didn't care for the one female character. It was hard to feel sympathetic with characters who complain about being ripped off and then goes ahead and rips off other struggling people. They were also upset about being duped but, it looks like they didn't really do proper due diligence and feel angry that they are being taken advantage of. Apparently, the school has a wide reputation of being horrible, wouldn't they have figured that out by the first year? I felt like Zola was just made into a prop and rarely served a purpose. I felt like most of the book is ripped straight from the headlines with little addition from the author other than his social commentary.

Book Review - A Double Life by Flynn Berry

 

Claire is a simple hardworking doctor living a quiet life in London. However, she is a hiding a secret. She is the daughter of a notorious murder suspect and no one knows it.

Thirty years ago, Claire and her brother was sleeping upstairs when a brutal crime was committed in their family's townhouse. The next morning, her father's car was founded abandoned with bloodstains on the front seat. Her mother insists that she saw him in the house but, his powerful and privileged friends insist that he is innocent. Her father was the first lord accused of murder in more than a century.

Claire's life begins to fall apart when the police tells her that they have found him. She doesn't know if her father is guilty or innocent. Claire will have to decide how far she go to find out the truth.

I read reviews that the book would be a page turner but, I felt like this book was a cozy read. I felt like most of the novel plodded along until the last few pages of the book. The ending comes out of nowhere without alerting the reader the possibility of this character or the ending. I felt like the ending was a disjointed and disappointing.