Book Review - Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

 

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon is about a grandmother, mother, and granddaughter trio who decide to solve a murder.  Lana Rubicon is known for her killer business skills. She’d caused many people to tremble in their shoes when they knew she was coming. She is proud of the L.A. real estate empire she has built with her keen business intuition and taste.

After having a health scare, she decides to move 300 miles north of the city to a small coastal town where her daughter, Beth lives with her teenage granddaughter, Jack. Lana isn’t used to the easygoing sleepy town vibes. She tries to get used to the slower pace of life instead of fast paced life in LA but it’s a hard adjustment spending her days doing nothing. Lana feels that the boredom might kill her before the cancer does and that she needs something to do to make her feel relevant again.

Jack is independent and loves the slough near their house. She works as a kayak tour guide and wants to save up enough money for a boat to go sailing by herself. While on a tour, one of the kayakers finds a dead body. Jack brings in the group and reports the body to the police. Jack becomes a suspect because she finds the body but she was also out in the slough the day before with another tour group. Beth and Lana are worried that the police will just blame Jack for the murder without actually investigating the crime. Beth wants her mother to focus on getting better while finding Jack a lawyer instead of Lana sticking her nose into the investigation. However, Lana decides that she can’t sit still while her granddaughter is accused of something she didn’t do. Lana will stop at nothing to protect her family while proving that she is still useful. Will Lana be able to find out the truth behind the murder?

The book was a fun and quick read. The characters were quirky with some laughable moments. I liked reading about Lana and her amateur sleuthing journey. I like that the author showed us how Lana was piecing together the clues and her thought pattern behind her deductions. The murderer was easy to guess but their motivation was slightly different than I was expecting.

The murder aspect does play a role but the story also focuses on repairing and strengthening the bonds between the three women. Lana cares about her daughter and granddaughter but didn’t spend any time with them. She has to learn how to bridge the gap that has widened over the years. While Beth is trying to let go control of her daughter and giving her own space and independence.  Beth finds it difficult since it has only been the two of them for years. It was interesting seeing how the characters were trying to navigate the relationships with each other while trying to figure out their needs and the murderer. If you are looking for a murder mystery with a bit of heart, then you might enjoy this book.

Book Review - Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur

 

 Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur is about two siblings who come together to celebrate their dad’s seventieth birthday. Ken and Abby Gardner lost their mother when she was giving birth to Abby. While their mother is gone, her presence still haunts the Gardner family. Their father, Adam, is a renowned oceanographer/whale expert who is bipolar. Since the death of his wife, he has raised both of them mostly on his own.

Ken and Abby were raised in a remote location in Cape Cod. They spend most of their time together until their relationship develops into something more complicated. As adults their relationship has become strained with neither of them not knowing exactly what went wrong and how to move forward.

Even though years later the siblings still spend a lot of time together, they still end up resenting or arguing with each other.  Ken is a successful real estate developer who plans to run for political office. By all accounts, he has a successful life and a perfect family. He is married to Abby’s best friend, Jenny. Abby is a talented visual artist and works as a teacher to supplement her income. She depends on her brother’s goodwill for her survival because he owns the studio that she lives and works in.

In 2016, Adam is approaching his milestone birthday,  and is faced with his fading relevance at work and his mortality. He has always managed his bipolar disorder with medication but he wants to leave a mark  and make one last scientific breakthrough. He decides to stop taking his medication even though his kids would be upset by his decision in hopes to make one last discovery.  

Adam isn’t the only one who is keeping secrets from his loved ones. Abby and Ken are keeping their own secrets from everyone and there is a mysterious person connected to the family, Steph, who keeps her presence a secret. She tries to get to know the family without telling them her true motives. As Adam's birthday approaches, each of his children plan on personal and elaborate gifts for their father in hopes that Adam knows how much he is loved, while Adam is more focused on the whales in the deep sea than his family.

The book is told from alternating viewpoints of each of the characters. Each of the characters is multi-faceted and flawed. The story takes time to develop as it goes into each character’s backstory and motivations along with how their daily life progresses. At times, I felt like the story developed too slowly for my liking. 

The story doesn’t have any surprise twists that weren't easy to guess. It took a bit for me to get into the plot, especially Adam’s story, but once I read more, I was invested in each character’s journey.  I was hoping that there would be a big reveal but the ending was predictable with a few things that weren't resolved in the end.  I felt that there was a lot going on in the book and it could be narrowed down to give more closure at the end. If you like cozy beach reads about family drama, then you will enjoy this book.

 

Book Review - The Getaway by Emily March

 

The Getaway by Emily March is about a family trying to move forward after an incident has torn them apart. Genevieve Prentice was unexpectedly widowed at a young age. She has dedicated her life to raising and nurturing her four children. They were always the center of her world. Her kids are now all grown up and have other other obligations than spending the holidays with their  overbearing mother.

Genevieve is ready for a change and decides to put her beloved home on the market. She decides to head to Lake in the Clouds, Colorado with her sister. Together they plan to turn a rustic waterfront lodge into a B&B.  Genevieve and her sister plan to rehabilitate the old lodge to make it ready for guests. As they begin to work on the lodge, Genevieve is shocked when her older son, Jake, makes an unexpected visit to the lodge. 

 

Jake Prentice is known to be the dependable one in the family. He has stepped up as the father figure to take care of the other siblings after his father’s passing. He is good at his job as a consultant but he finds himself stressed out and constantly overworked. He decides to follow his mother’s path and quit his job, and use this new-found time to figure out what makes him happy.

 

This is the first time in a long time that Jake doesn’t have any demands or obligations he needs to work on. He decides to make the most of it. He likes being surrounded by the open sky and enjoying the fresh air while working with his hands. Jake feels that he can stay in limbo forever without having to make a decision on what he wants to do next. That is, until his former colleague Tess Crenshaw appears with an opportunity for a new job. It forces Jake to reassess who he is and what he wants to do.

 

I didn’t really care for this book. I thought it was very boring and it took a while to get to the main story. The author spent several pages describing Genevieve’s serving ware and other mundane things that didn’t really add any value to the story. I didn’t understand why the author felt it was important that the readers knew every single dish Genevieve owned. I didn’t like how the author hinted about a situation that tore the siblings apart but failed to go into detail. By the time we found out  what happened, it was mostly bits and pieces and by then, I had lost interest in the story.

 

I found it hard to relate to any of the characters. Other than Jake and his mother, most of the characters barely had any involvement in the story until the very end of the book. I felt like the author spent a lot of time with details that didn’t really mean much but barely any time with the meat of the story. This was the first book in the series and it didn’t really grab my attention enough that I would continue reading.

Book Review - Tracy Flick Can’t Win by Tom Perrotta

  

Tracy Flick Can’t Win by Tom Perrotta is about an assistant high school principal who feels stuck and unacknowledged at her job and in life. Tracy works tirelessly at her job and feels that she should be further along at this stage in her life. When she hears that the current principal, Jack Weede, is retiring, Tracy’s sullen moods are lifted and energized by the news, as she expects to be promoted to his position. She feels that the promotion is long overdue because she has acted as a temporary principal when Jack was on medical leave. Tracy throws herself into her work hoping that she can convince the School Board and faculty that she is well qualified for the job. However, as Tracy tries to focus her attention on getting promoted, she feels herself being pulled in different directions away from her goal. Tracy’s 10 year old daughter wants to spend more time with her father than with her; Tracy’s “boyfriend” is needy and wants Tracy to make a decision about their relationship; and Tracy has a non-existent social life and is in desperate need of a true friend.

Tracy tries to juggle all of life’s demands flawlessly but that doesn’t seem to help because nothing goes her way. Her male colleagues are determined to undermine her goals and progress to further their own interests.  One of the demands of her role involves a new initiative by the school board to honor past students with an award. As time progresses and Tracy and the board try to work through the different candidates, she notices that something feels off. She knows she has a proven track record but she feels that something is going on behind her back.

This is the second novel by the author featuring Tracy Flick as the protagonist.  I was able to read the novel as a standalone. However, I feel like I didn’t really get to know Tracy as a character in this book. She just seemed like an ambitious person who had to settle in life after one too many obstacles were thrown at her. For example, it seems that her non-existent relationship with her daughter bugs her. Tracy constantly laments that she had a great relationship with her mother and that she doesn’t understand why she doesn’t connect with her own daughter. Tracy seems like she is just going through the emotions being with her daughter instead of making an actual effort to bond with her.

Perhaps it’s because the book is narrated by several different characters with only a few pages dedicated to each person at a time, I feel like the characters were never really fully fleshed out and each character only progressed the story a tiny bit. After a while, it was confusing to keep track of the different characters and what role they played in the story. I felt that 90% of the book was rather pointless and had no story progression and purpose.  The last 10% of the book is when the story wraps up and the link between all the characters is revealed in a rather lackluster way. The book is a quick read with its short chapters but it's boring with no story or purpose page after page.

 

Book Review - Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough

 

Emma Averell is proud of her life. She is on track to become a partner at her law firm, she has two children and a doting husband. Life wasn't always so perfect for Emma. When she was five years old, Emma and her older sister went into foster care after an incident involving their mother. Her sister remembers a time when their mother was "normal", but Emma can only remember her mother as the monster. Her mother started changing around her fortieth birthday, and Emma's fortieth birthday is right around the corner.

Emma is desperate to forget her past and move on. However, she finds herself obsessing over her mother and her past. Emma is unable to sleep and keeps checking the doors and her children at night. Emma starts to doubt herself and she is unsure if she can be trusted because of her lack of sleep.

I thought the book was an interesting read. The story did get a bit repetitive and I am not sure how believable the "mystery" behind Emma's mother was. I felt like it came out of nowhere or maybe I missed something along the way. I did enjoy the way the author depicted Emma's gradual mental decline and made us guess if she's an unreliable narrator or if someone is out to get her.

Book Review - Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar

 

In the summer of 1988, a small Maryland town community is shaken to it's core when the mutilated bodies of several young girls begin to show up. The police believe that there is a serial killer terrorizing the quiet suburban town. Local residents believe that there is an evil presence stalking young girls and that's its not entirely human. Law enforcement, however, is certain that the killer is human and that he is playing a game with the police. The once peaceful community is on edge because the police is no closer to find the killer and more bodies keep showing up.

Richard Chizmar is a recent college graduate who returns home right around the time of the murders. As Richard tries to focus on his upcoming wedding and his budding writing career, he finds himself entwined with the murders. Inspired by real events, Richard documents his personal account of the serial killer's reign of terror in his small community.

This was my first book by, the author and I am surprised on how much I enjoyed it. At first, I was kind of annoyed by all the small personal details about Richard's life as I wanted to know all the nitty gritty of the murders. However, after reading the author's note at the end, it added whole new layer to this book. The author seamlessly blended true crime and fiction in a book that was hard to put down once the murders started happening. I thought the novel was going to have some scary elements but, a scary house was mentioned and nothing came out it. There were some parts of the story that didn't get resolved in the end. The story ended with the author waiting for the second interview with the murderer but, I wish the author could have included more details about the numbers behind the murders. I feel like the story was a bit unresolved because we didn't know the entire story behind the murders. Overall, it was an interesting read but, I could have done without some of the extra details.

Book Review - You Will Remember Me by Hannah Mary McKinnon

 

When he wakes up, he is on a deserted beach in Maryland wearing only swim trunks and his head covered in bruises. He can't remember who he is or why he is in Maryland. All of his memories are fuzzy and he has no idea where to go. He has a faint idea that Maine is his hometown and returning might help uncover some more answers. Instead, when he arrives he feels like he has more questions than answers.

Lily Reid thinks she knows her boyfriend, Jack until he goes missing one night. During her frantic search she uncovers secrets that he has been keeping from her. Lily fears that Jack is hiding a dark past and he is purposely keeping her in the dark.

Maya Scott is desperate to find her estrange stepbrother, Asher, since he has disappeared without a trace. She is grateful that he is back even though, he has trouble remembering her.  She is worried that he will remember their mutual history and the secrets that bond them.

The book was a disappointing read. I was able to guess most of the story but, the ending did have a twist. Personally, I don't think it was worth reading to the end because it took forever to get there. I am not sure I would go out of my way to read anything by this author again because this book was a huge disappointment and waste of 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 - Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

In August 1983, it's the day of Nina Riva's annual end-of-the-summer party. It is the party of the year and everyone who is someone is there. The Riva siblings are famous and everyone wants to be around them. Nina is a supermodel and surfer, Jay is a championship surfer, Hud is a famous photographer along with their baby sister, Kit. The siblings are famous and a source of fascination because their dad is the famous singer, Mick Riva.

Nina isn't excited about the party and hates being the center of attention. She was also just publicly dumped by her famous pro tennis player husband. Hud is keeping a secret from his beloved brother and he knows that it might break their bond. Jay is excited to be reunited with his dream girl. He can't stop thinking about her and hopes that she shows up to the party. Kit is keeping a few secrets of her own, including, inviting a guest to the party that would turn everyone's world upside down.

I read this book after reading Daisy Jones and The Six and felt there was quite a few similarities. It was like one book was the "what if" for the other. I thought the book was an interesting read but, at times it felt overwhelming with the amount of  characters. Similar to Daisy Jones, I felt like the novel lacked an actual story and was filled with a lot of trivial details. I did like that a few characters did make appearances in this book and the author's other books. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

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 - Take Me with You When You Go by David Levithan

 

Ezra Ahern wakes up one day and his entire life has turns upside down. His beloved older sister, Bea, has disappeared. She left without even saying good bye to anyone. Bea left behind a cryptic email address hidden somewhere only he could be able to find. Ezra never expected that Bea would leave him alone to deal with their abusive stepfather and mother.

Bea Ahern knew that she needed to get as far away from home as she could for her sanity. When she receives an email she realizes that she is alone in a new city without a real plan and the person she is looking for might not want to be found.

As thing spiral out of control, Bea and Ezra share secrets about their past that will change them forever. They realize that they might be apart but connected through their emails. They come to terms with the abuse that they endured and realize they need to face their own demons before they can be reunited.

The novel is a heart warming and thoughtful read. I reading the email exchange between the two siblings and was hoping for them to get their happy ending. I think the authors did a great job talking about abusive and neglectful parents along with touching on the insecurities the children might feel. The book was a great read and I look forward to reading other books from the authors.

Book Review - Kyle's Little Sister by BonHyung Jeong

 

Grace just started middle school and she wants to be known by her name and not just "Kyle's little sister!" Her older brother is good looking and social while, Grace is the total opposite. She prefers to stay at home and play video games. Grace is desperate for a way to get out of Kyle's shadow and live her own life.

The graphic novel was a cute read. It was predictable and I have read similar stories before. I wish there was a bit more humor as the graphic novel was a bit straightforward. I would be interested in reading other graphic novels by the author.

Book Review - Rules for Being Dead by Kim Powers

 

In the late 1960s in McKinney, Texas ten-year-old Clarke and his brother, Corey escapes to the local theaters to watch movies. They use the movies as a way to fuel their dreams and cope with the recent death of their mother. The boys lose their beloved mother. but, no one will them how she died. And no one has told their mother, Creola, how she died either. She is floating around trapped between life and death. She spends her days watching her family and trying to figure out her final moments. Clarke decides that he will figure out the truth behind his mother's death. Will be able to cope with the truth?

I had hard a time getting into this book because the font size and spacing was so tiny! I felt like a grandmother trying to read this book and I had to read it in small bursts. However, I thought it was an entertaining but, a sad read. The author did a good job illustrating grief and flawed characters. The book was narrated in alternating points of view which allowed readers a glimpse into each character.  The author took portions of his life story as inspiration for this book. I wish there was a section in the book explaining which parts were true to life and which were fabricated. I found myself thinking about it throughout the novel.  

 **Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Reviewv - The Real McCoys: Two's a Crowd by Matthew Swanson

Photo Credit - Amazon

A new mystery is brewing at Tiddlywhump Elementary, and it's up to the McCoy sibling detectives to help. Moxie and Milton are complete opposites of each other but, together they will need to work to solve the mystery.

Emily, Moxie's friend, receives a letter signed with a purple squiggle. Then other kids start receiving more letters along with questions such as, Who sent them? And why?

While the problem-solving duo is on the case if they can only learn to get along better. When their partnership is torn apart, Moxie tries to solve the mystery being the Squiggles first. Will Moxie be able to solve the case without Milton? Or will she realize that two McCoys are better than one?

The book was a fun and cute read. I found Moxie to be a bit much at times but, I am glad that she can grow and realize her mistakes. I liked the drawings and found them to be entertaining. I am not the target audience for this book but, I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

**Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Brother's Keeper by Julie Lee + Giveaway

Photo Source - Amazon

In 1950 in North Korea, twelve-year-old Sora and her family are living under a regime with harsh rules. They need permits to travel,  no criticizing the government, they must attend all Communist meetings and wear red. The people are afraid to speak their minds and don't trust their neighbors.

The war between North and South Korea is causing chaos. The people are using it as a chance to escape. Sora and her family walk hundreds of miles to get the city of Busan in South Korea from their tiny mountain village. They will just need to avoid frostbite, bombs,  hunger, border guards, enemy soldiers, and many other obstacles. 

When the bombing becomes more than the family can bear, Sora and her younger brother, Young has to get to Busan on their own. Will they be able to survive the journey by themselves?

The novel was a heart-wrenching and emotional read. I felt for Sora as we have similar cultural values to treat girls/women as disposable. I wish this horrible trend would end because every single life regardless of gender should have value and be treated as equals. I enjoyed reading about Sora's journey and how she learned to stick up for herself. The book is a great read for children and adults alike.

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

About the Book:

Title: BROTHER'S KEEPER

Author: Julie Lee

Pub. Date: July 21, 2020

Publisher: Holiday House

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 304

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Can two children escape North Korea on their own?

North Korea. December, 1950.

Twelve-year-old Sora and her family live under an iron set of rules: No travel without a permit. No criticism of the government. No absences from Communist meetings. Wear red. Hang pictures of the Great Leader. Don't trust your neighbors. Don't speak your mind. You are being watched.

But war is coming, war between North and South Korea, between the Soviets and the Americans. War causes chaos--and war is the perfect time to escape. The plan is simple: Sora and her family will walk hundreds of miles to the South Korean city of Busan from their tiny mountain village. They just need to avoid napalm, frostbite, border guards, and enemy soldiers.

But they can't. And when an incendiary bombing changes everything, Sora and her little brother Young will have to get to Busan on their own. Can a twelve-year-old girl and her eight-year-old brother survive three hundred miles of warzone in winter?

Haunting, timely, and beautiful, this harrowing novel from a searing new talent offers readers a glimpse into a vanished time and a closed nation.

A Junior Library Guild Selection

About Julie: 

Julie Lee graduated from Cornell University with a degree in history. After working in market research in Manhattan for over ten years, she decided to pursue writing full-time. Currently, Julie lives in Georgia with her husband and three children. When she is not spending time with her family, she is working on her next book while pursuing an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Brother's Keeper is her debut novel.

Website | Twitter | Facebook |  Goodreads 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of BROTHER'S KEEPER, US Only.

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21135/?

Tour Schedule:

Week Two:

8/31/2020	Debjani's Thoughts	Review
8/31/2020	Miss Elizabeth	Review
9/1/2020	Karma Readz Kidz Bookz	Review
9/1/2020	Her Book Thoughts	Review
9/1/2020	Her Book Thoughts	Instagram Post
9/2/2020	History from a Woman’s Perspective	Review
9/2/2020	Twirling Book Princess	Excerpt
9/3/2020	The Writer’s Alley	Review
9/3/2020	The Writer’s Alley	Instagram Post
9/4/2020	Two Points of interest	Review
9/4/2020	Fyrekatz Blog	Review
9/4/2020	Jaime's World	Excerpt