Book Review - Somebody's Daughter by David Bell

 

Somebody's Daughter by David Bell is about a man who is roped in to save a child that may be his. Michael Frazier was having an enjoyable dinner with his wife, Angela, and the last thing he expected was his ex-wife, Erica, showing up. He hasn’t seen or talked to her in the last ten years  since they divorced.

Erica is desperate for Michael’s help. Her ten-year-old daughter, Felicity, is missing and Erica claims Michael is the father. Michael is unsure because Erica never mentioned anything about a child and he feels that she is lying to him so he feels obligated to help her.

Michael is hesitant to follow Erica into the dark of the night but he is unwilling to turn his back to a child who might be in danger.  As Michael follows Erica into the darkness of the night, he realizes that there are secrets and lies from the past decade unraveling that might put his new family in danger. He doesn’t know who he can trust and who else is hiding secrets from him.

The book was narrated from multiple perspectives: Michael; Angela; and one of the detectives on the case, Detective Griffin. The book was fast paced and had a lot of twists and turns. However, I felt the book left a lot to be desired and seemed a bit clunky, in that the book introduces a lot of twists and side stories about secrets from the last decade but none of them are really fleshed out. One of the side stories questions the paternity of the missing girl but even in the end, they never really tell us who the father is. There is another subplot where Erica stole the baby but nothing comes from that and the two characters just faded out. I felt like that the author just threw a bunch of random possibilities to keep the reader guessing but failed to say this is what really happened.

I questioned a lot of the characters’ intelligence because they did things that I wonder why they thought they were good ideas. When Michael left Angela at home, she was going crazy thinking of the different things that could go wrong. Her mother in law, Gail, offers to come over and keep her company. Angela had seen a strange man stalking their house and they both ended up inviting that stranger into their house. The stranger was aggressive and then started searching their house and taking their phones hostage. Eventually, Angela leaves with this person willingly even though she is terrified and her husband doesn’t know where she is. I don’t know if any rational person would let a stranger into my house when their spouse’s supposed child went missing and then that person takes my phone.

I felt like the book was a slow build with the short chapters that were alternating narratives between the characters. It did make the story seem like it was fast paced but sometimes I wanted to read more about what was going on in the current arc for a particular chapter. I felt the ending came out of nowhere and it wasn’t something I expected. I felt like the author could have edited the book and made it a bit more focused and I’d have enjoyed the book a lot more. If you like suspenseful thrillers with twists and turns, you might enjoy this book.

Book Review - The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy

 

A group of new moms whose babies were born in the same month decide to form a group called the May Mothers. They meet twice a week in Prospect Park to connect. One day, they decide to meet for drinks at a neighborhood bar for a break. It starts off as a fun night until, one of the babies is taken from his crib while his mother is at the bar.

Winnie is a single mom and she was reluctant to leave her six week old son, Midas, with a babysitter.  But, the other May Mothers were insistent that Winnie join them for a fun night out. They hired a babysitter for Winnie to enjoy herself and told her that everything will be okay. Except now, Midas is missing and there are no leads.

The book started off strong then slowly trudged along at a more confusing and slower pace. I felt that the author moved back and forth between the May Mothers' point of views too many times that it got confusing. I had hard time keep tracking of each person and their own backstory and secrets. I felt like the ending was a jumbled mess. It unraveled so quickly that it didn't seem realistic. The person behind the kidnapping was shown one way and then when they were confronted, madness just took over. I am on the fence on whether or not that was completely believable.  The author did sprinkle some evidence pointing to this person but, it was minor details that was easy to gloss over.

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 Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter

 

Delta Dawn spends most of her day photographing the perfect lives of the wealthy people in NYC. She has a special gift of transforming stiff hugs and tear-stained faces into ones of joy during parties. When Delta is invited to Natalie Straub's eleventh birthday party, she finds herself yearning to be a part of the family instead of an outsider. She wants to be includes in the family's daily lives.

Delta decides that she will find a way to make herself a part of the family. She offers to babysit for Natalie while befriending Amelia. She also tries to offer emotional support to Fritz so, she can be ingrained in every aspect of the family's life. Soon she finds herself a fixture at the home and they soon realizes photos are not the only thing Delta is good at manipulating.

The novel is a claustrophobic read and it made me second guess every single person I have invited into my life. I had a hard time believe that no one called Delta out on behavior but, from the looks of it she probably doesn't have much friends. The ending left me wanting more though because it felt rushed and incomplete.

 

Book Review - The Wife Who Knew Too Much by Michele Campbell

 

The first Mrs. Ford was a beautiful and accomplished socialite that was married to a younger man. She mysteriously died one day and left her wealth to her husband. The second Mrs. Ford is a waitress from a small town who is struggling to ends meet. They met during a summer fling ten years prior and now she is rich beyond her dreams. Connor Ford is a mysterious man who is beloved by two women. Is he a victim or the mastermind behind his first wife's death?

 The book was interesting a few pages in but, towards the middle it felt like it was dragging. The ending came as a one-two punch with a few twists but, those were seen miles away. I can't say that I cared for the main character of the book as she is one of the dumbest person I ever read. There was one scene someone alluded to a murderer being in the house and she got evidence for her case but, she leaves it barely hidden and goes to confront the person. I am not sure about you but, if there is someone wishing to do me harm I don't go directly to them to make myself and easy target. However, I would still be opened to reading other books by the author.

Book Review - The Rumor by Lesley Kara

 

 

There is a rumor circulating in the small seaside town Joanna lives in. The rumor is that a notorious child killer is living a new life under an assumed identity. The person who committed the crime was a young child herself. Joanna starts to suspect everyone in town.

As Joanna starts to read more about the case, she becomes obsessed with finding out the truth. However, while she is searching for the killer, she puts her and her family in the killer's crosshairs. The person is ready to kill again to protect what they love. Joanna realizes how far someone is willing to go for people they love.  

The novel was an interesting read. The twist was a surprise for me but, might have been predictable to some. The novel moved a bit slow at times and had a lot of characters. I must admit, I didn't like the scenes with the killer's point of view. When the person was exposed, I felt like their inner thoughts didn't match the person we knew.

Book Review - 'Round Midnight by Laura McBride

 

Twenty-one-year-old June Stein is bored of her safe world and decides to move from New Jersey to Las Vegas in the 1950s. In the span of 60 years, June tries to live her life as she pleases and she tries to push boundaries. She goes against the norm for what she believes in.

June's story intertwines with three strangers: a woman who was a mail-order bride from the Philippines, a young mother who is working as a hotel maid, and a high school music teacher. The three women are connected by a secret June has kept.

I wasn't a fan of this novel. I felt like the story had too many characters and it seemed pointless and jumbled together.  The story had tons of random details that sometimes made the story hard to follow.  I did like the premise of the story but, I felt like the execution wasn't great.

Book Review - Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh

 

When girls get their first period, they are able to take part in the lottery. The young women report to a station and they learn what kind of woman they will be depending on the ticket they get. If they get a white ticket, they can have children and get married. A blue ticket allows them to pursue a career and be free of family duties. This system relieves the burden of choice from a young woman's shoulder. One of the rules of the lottery is that once you receive your ticket, there is no going back.

Calla has received a blue ticket and she questions her fate. She decides to go on the run and live the life she wants. Calla will need to rely on the skills she learned and question those around her. She will have to find a way to escape as the system pits women against her. During her journey, Calla must decide if the lottery knows her better than she knows herself and what the consequences are for going against the lottery.

I was not a fan of this book. I read more than half of the book before I just dumped it. The book lacked world building details. They would share details about certain things but, fail to go into details. I found it hard to understand certain things without understanding the "why".  The writing style felt bland and flat and it was hard to connect to Calla. She came across as cold and clinical. It was hard to put myself in her shoes and feel anything for her plight.

Book Review - 29 Seconds by T.M. Logan

 

Sarah is a young professor who has worked and sacrificed everything for her career. However, she is struggling to prove herself to her controlling and manipulative department head, Alan Hawthorne.  Alan is a popular television host and a well known scholar. He brings in million dollar grants to the university where they work. As Alan is the university's golden child, his malicious behavior towards female colleagues have gone ignored for years. Unfortunately, Sarah is his newest victim.

When Hawthorne's unwanted advances become more menacing, Sarah feels helpless. She isn't sure what her options are. One day, during her drive home, she witness an attempted kidnapping of a young child. Sarah intervenes to prevent the child from being hurt. The child's father wants to show Sarah he appreciates her help by offering her a favor in return. The man is a successful businessman who is known to have dangerous connections with the mob. He gives Sarah a burner phone and tells her that he can make all  her problems disappear with one call.

I am not sure if I completely believe this plot. I felt like it was overdone and over the top. I had a hard time connecting with Sarah. She is a well educated professor but, her reactions and personality are the exact opposite. The story took too long to get to the point and by then, I lost interest.  I am not sure what part of the book was supposed to be thrilling but, this entire thing was a snooze fest.

Book Review - Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald

 

Eva Hansen wakes up in a hospital after being hit by lightning. She discovers her mother, Kat, has been murdered. The police found Eva unconscious a few blocks away from her mother. Eva has no recollection of the events from that night. However, the police are suspicious of her and think she is hiding something.

Eva is determined to discover the truth behind that night. She heads to Kat's former home, London to find answers. As she tries to unravel all the secrets her mother kept, she realizes someone is trying to keep the past buried. She is doesn't know who to trust.

The story is told from alternating perspective of Eva and Kat. I enjoyed reading how Eva was trying to piece together her memory from the night. Although there were moments that I found myself rolling my eyes at some portions of the story.  I did find portions of the book to be predictable but, thought the book was an enjoyable read overall.

Book Review - Softly Blows the Bugle by Jan Drexler

 

 In 1863, Elizabeth Kaufman's husband perishes in the Battle of Vicksburg. Instead of feeling sad over his death, she is relieved. She is determined to never let a man control her life again, even if it means she will never have a family of her own.

Aaron Zook joins Elizabeth's brother, Jonas in his journey home. He wants to move the West and restart his life because his past is too painful. He never imagined that the Amish way of life would be appealing as his grandfather left the faith years ago. However, as Aaron spends more time with Elizabeth and Jonas, he finds the Amish ways enticing.  Aaron is stuck between moving to the West and starting a new life with the Amish.

The book was a quick and easy read. I thought Elizabeth to be an annoying character. She claims that she doesn't want to settle down and is content by herself. However, when Solomon throws a bit of interest at her she fawns over him. She feels uncertain about him and her gut is telling her that he is a bad guy. And several people are telling her the same thing but, she still refuses to believe them. When she meets a guy who does care for her and put her interest first, she gives him harsh words even when he was looking out for her. She claims that she doesn't want to beholden to any man who is cruel or mean but, she does the exact opposite. Except for Elizabeth, I thought the rest of the book was an interesting read.

 **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 Review - The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee

Photo Credit - Amazon

Will Truesdale is an Englishman who just arrives in Hong Kong for work in 1942. He falls into a passionate love affair with Trudy Liang, a beautiful Eurasian heiress. However, their relationship becomes troubled when the Japanese invade making the effects of WWII hitting close to home. Will is sent to an internment camp, where he and other foreigners try to adapt to their new living situation while struggling for survival. Trudy refuses to enter the internment camp and remains on the outside. She forms a dangerous alliance with a military head. The general is desperate to locate a collection of priceless Chinese art and is willing to do anything even if it leads to friends betraying each other.

Claire Pendleton arrives ten years later in Hong Kong and is hired by the wealthy Chen family to give their daughter piano lessons. Claire and her new husband, Martin moved for his work in the water department. Claire is immediately taken with the social life of the expatriate community. During an elegant cocktail party, Claire runs into Will and she feels immediately attracted to him. As they continue their affair, Claire realizes that Will his hiding his past and a dark secret. As she beings to dig into his past, she unearths dangerous secrets and Claire understands the true price of survival.

The novel was interesting at first but, then the story started moving very slowly. I didn't really care for any of the characters. I felt like they weren't developed enough for me think of them as real people. The story felt a bit discombobulated and told in fragments. I felt like that ruined the flow of the novel. I didn't understand the motivation behind some of the characters. For example, Will takes ten years before he reaches out to the Chens about something that happened in the war. Did something happen when he was with Claire that set him off? Why did the Edwina decide to spill the beans on what happened during the war? Was she trying to prove something or did someone wronged her? These were some of the things I wanted more details on and not the Hermes scarf that Claire had.

**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 - The Heart of a King by Jill Eileen Smith

Photo Credit - Amazon

King Solomon was known for his wealth and wisdom. He could get anything he wanted, including many wives and concubines. King Solomon had four women he loved: Naamah was his first wife, Abishag was his father's caretaker, Siti was a daughter of a pharaoh and Nicaula was the queen of Sheba. Even with all his wisdom, was Solomon or his wives ever truly happy?

I was torn between liking this novel and hating it. I felt like the novel went into details for some trivial things and then other things were just glossed over. The novel seemed like it was all over the place and that I didn't get to know anything. I think this mostly applied to Solomon's wives. We get to know a bit of them before they get married and then a bit more after their marriage. Then they mostly fade into the background of the story. He also sings the same line of poetry to each of his wives, it makes me wonder if he was actually in love with any of them. The author does portray different sides of Solomon and his life but, it wasn't enough to keep me interested.

**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 Review - The Perfect Wife by J.P. Delaney

Photo Credit - Amazon

When Abbie wakes up in a strange room in a daze with no memory of who she is and how she got there. The man at Abbie's side claims that he is her husband. He is the founder of an innovative start-up and an idolized genius in the tech world. He tells Abbie that she is a talented artist, a surfer, a loving mother to their autistic son, and most importantly, she was the perfect wife.

Five years ago, there was a terrible accident and she was bought to life as a bot. She is a miracle of science and one of a kind.  However, as  Abbie starts to piece together her memory, she realizes her husband might be hiding things from her. She is wary of her husband; who insists that she was the perfect wife.

The idea of having a robot replace a loved one was interesting. However, the only thing I liked about the book was their young kid, Danny. I had a hard time relating or even liking any of the characters. The book was written from two points of view, robotic Abbie's feelings and her trying to figure out the truth and the telling "real" Abbie's past with Tim. I didn't like that the only thing we knew about Abbie was that she was perfect and on some level, everyone worshiped or loved her. Yet, as the reader, we know nothing from Abbie's point of view. The book felt like a convoluted and confusing hot mess that I regretted spending the time to even bother reading it.

**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 - Wonder Walk by Ilham Alam + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Johnny and his mommy go out for a walk. Johnny is excited over all the beautiful, scary, and new things he sees. Why is the bug out so late? What is that yellow flower? Why is that bird unfriendly?

The book  is a very short read which perfect for the little ones with very short attention spans. It was a fun read especially with rhymes and the colorful artwork. Overall, a perfect read for bedtime!

 **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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Title: WONDER WALK

Author: Ilham Alam

Pub. Date: April 16, 2019

Publisher: Iguana Books

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 20

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, TBD

Get out there with the curious Johnny and his patient Mommy, in this colourful, rhyming book, celebrating all the wonders of the everyday world. What do they see? What do they hear? What do they talk about?

About Ilham:

My name is ILHAM which is pronounced the way its spelt. As a kid, I hated my name and did get teased for being a “ham”. But now that I’m an adult, I love the unique-ness and the strength that my name conveys. I definitely have not met another Ilham for sure.

It means inspiration in Arabic, by the way.

I live with my 2 sons & my husband and my 20lb kitty, Beauty, within a house thats booby-trapped with Lego. My crazy family are my inspiration for story writing and story-telling, And I love to travel with them as well and earning new memories through adventures abroad, some of which I have documented in this blog.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 lucky winners will win WONDER WALK Swag Packs, US Only.

Giveaway Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2912/?

Tour Schedule:

Week Three:

4/22/2019- D. Books and Reviews- Review

4/23/2019- She Dreams in Fiction- Review

4/24/2019- ❧Defining Ways❧- Review

4/25/2019- Twirling Book Princess- Excerpt

4/26/2019- Two points of interest- Review

Book Review - Boy on the Beach by R.D. Maddux + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Andrew Foster is a struggling real estate developer. He is haunted by past and feels his career is stalled. When an angel investor offered to fund Andrew's dream project, he feels his life is back on track. However, when he visits his sister on the beach each week, he sees a black SUV that follows him. When a strange twist of events threatens his dreams, will Andrew be able to survive?

I thought the novel was an interesting read with a good plot twist. However, I found myself hating Andrew and hoping terrible things keep happening to him. I felt like he was very self-centered and inconsiderate. I thought he was caused a lot of his own suffering and to others but, he was mostly dismayed when things turn out badly for him. I felt as if he considered other people and wasn't self-indulgent, things might have been better for him.

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

Book Details:

Book Title: Boy on the Beach by R.D. Maddux
Category: Adult Fiction; 304 pages
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Publisher: Ezekiel 12 Publications
Release date: March 11, 2017
Content Rating: PG-13 + M (There are implied sex scenes but no graphic descriptions of lovemaking. There is one scene with some violence.)

Book Description:

Andrew Foster, a real estate developer in San Diego, is a man suddenly haunted by his past. Memories, like specters from his former life of sex, drugs and rock and roll have come crashing into his current world of business in this sunny coastal city. The ominous, repeated appearance of a black SUV at the beach where he meets his sister each week, has triggered fears that it’s payback time for a bad choice he made years ago.

To add to his frustrations, his hopes of a big breakthrough in the San Diego real estate market haven’t come to pass. He’s starting to wonder if his visions of success will ever come true when an investor offers to finance his dream project. Soon things start to fall into place for Andrew in business, life, and even love. He starts dating the beautiful and business-savvy Nicole but even with her at his side he can’t seem to shake the ghosts of his past. As the relationship with Nicole deepens, Andrew opens up to her about the many loves and adventures that have taken him from the crazy days of living in Big Sur and Joshua Tree to business success in San Diego. Her wise insights help him face the character flaws that have caused him to fail in his past relationships.

Rounding out his social life is his once-a-week task of assisting his sister with her nanny job watching a young boy named Chandler. They build sand castles on the beach and enjoy the beauty of nature together. But the now ominous weekly appearance of a strange car at the beach has awakened Andrew’s fears. Is the boy in danger? Or worse, has an enemy from Andrew’s past come seeking revenge and now Chandler’s caught in the middle?

A strange twist of events threatens to destroy Andrew’s dreams, but as he searches for answers, a sudden revelation offers hope of a future he never imagined.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Autographed copy

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Meet the Author:

R.D. Maddux has story telling in his blood. Since he was young he’s always loved a good tale. He’s been writing seriously since he was in high school and college. His novels range from Mystery and Intrigue to Sci-fi/fantasy. With Boy On The Beach he’s set the story in modern America, to be exact, on the West Coast of California. He’s a native of the golden state and has been a resident of San Diego since 1987. Before that he grew up in northern California and lived in the Sacramento Valley and Bay Area with sojourns in some of the beautiful parts of our state.

Living in California for over 60 years he couldn't help but watch the way things have changed in our culture and the impact this coast makes on the rest of America and the world. So even though Boy On The Beach is fiction, like most serious novels, it is not without a context and comment on issues we all face in our changing world. It takes place in real locations that are very familiar to him and its characters, which are fictional, no doubt have their counterparts in the real world. Boy On The Beach is a story of intrigue, suspense, revenge, love and redemption with flashbacks to the era when sex, drugs and rock and roll set our culture on it's inevitable journey to our present day. This idea has been rattling around in his heart and mind for a decade and it's finally coming to the page.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

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Ends Aug 25, 2018

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