Book Review - Dreams of Falling by Karen White

 

Dreams of Falling by Karen White is about a woman, Larkin Lanier, who returns home after her beloved mother goes missing. Many years ago, three young girls spent most of their lives together. Their childhoods were intertwined with each other and they were rarely apart. They decided to write their hopes and dreams on ribbons and stow it in a special tree for their wishes to come true. Their most important one was that whatever happens, they will remain friends forever.

Larkin left her home in Georgetown, South Carolina, nine years ago humiliated. She felt that she could never go back and face her friends after an embarrassing incident.  However, when she receives a call that her mother has gone missing, she realizes that she has no choice but to return back home. She is excited to see her family who missed her and wants her to come back home, but dreads running into her childhood friends who remember the incident that caused her to leave.

Larkin’s mother, Ivy, is discovered near the burned out wreckage of her family’s home. She is unconscious and badly injured when she is found. No one knows why Ivy decided to go to the house and Larkin is desperate to find answers. As she digs for answers, she discovers the reason why her mother went to the house. The secrets that she uncovers dates back fifty years ago and it began with those three girls whose friendship was tested in the most heartbreaking ways.

This was the second book I read by the author. I felt that the author is skilled at creating realistic Southern characters but it feels to me that her main female characters are always unlikeable. I didn’t care for Larkin’s storyline as much because I found her to be annoying. She was rude and assumed the worst of her best friends without any reason but she gave the benefit of the doubt to a guy who was constantly rude and mean to her. Larkin was dismissive when her childhood friends were trying to make amends or hang out but willingly hung out with a guy who was demeaning to her on multiple occasions. I didn’t understand why her friends were so loyal and understanding to Larkin when she wasn’t very nice to them in turn. Larkin acted like the entire world revolved around her and didn’t really care about anyone else’s feelings and she kept acting like “woe is me”.

The book was told from alternating points of view and timelines. I found it difficult to keep track of the different characters because there were so many and each one was related to each other. I felt that Ivy’s chapters didn’t add much to the story. In the majority of her chapters, she spent time trying to figure out what is keeping her attached to Earth, or she was pining for her dead boyfriend, Ellis. I felt like the chapters would have a bigger impact if we got more details about their relationship.

I didn’t like that the characters refused to share information with each other until Ivy woke up from her coma or there was another interruption that caused the delay. I felt that  caused the story to drag on longer than necessary. The book was slow moving with pages of nothing happening. Aside from the annoying main character and the predictable twists, I found the book to be an okay read. I would be open to reading more books by the author.

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 - City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita

 

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita is about a detective who travels to a remote city in Alaska after a severed hand and foot is discovered. Amy, a local teenager, discovers  the washed up limbs on the shore of her small town of Point Mettier, Alaska. Cara Kennedy is a detective from Anchorage but she decides to investigate the case. Cara has her own motives for wanting to investigate the case, even if it means visiting the isolated place that can only be accessed by a tunnel. 

As Cara is claustrophobic, the environment really affects her and she can’t wait to finish her investigation and leave. However, a blizzard causes the tunnel to close for the foreseeable future. Cara is stuck among the 205 residents who all live in the same high rise building. The residents are acting oddly and they don’t trust outsiders. They try to protect their own and look out for each other.

 

She teams up with Point Mettier police officer Joe Barkowski to investigate the crime. Things take a turn for the worse, when a local drug gang from a nearby native village descends on the residents. Cara is caught in the middle and doesn’t know if she can trust the residents as she investigates. There are two things she does know: everyone is hiding something, and someone is willing to kill to keep the secrets hidden. 

 

I thought the book was a fast paced and interesting read. The book was narrated by three different female characters: Amy, a local resident who discovered the body; Cara, the detective ; and Lonnie, a young woman with anxiety and eccentric behaviors who also resides in Point Mettier.  The characters were interesting and all flawed but they would stop at nothing to protect themselves and their loved ones. I like that the book was narrated by each character because it gave us a wider view of the broader story than we would have gotten if we just read the story from Cara’s point of view.

 

The story spent a lot of time fleshing out each character and introducing a lot of different story lines. At times, it was hard keeping track of the different character and story arcs. I felt that the book ended with a lot of questions that were left unanswered. I believe that the author is planning for a sequel, otherwise, the ending is very disappointing. The author did leave a hook and opening for the readers to guess where the sequel might be about but I wish that a few of the questions were answered in this book too.

Book Review - Ponti by Sharlene Teo

 

 

 

Ponti by Sharlene Teo is about a sixteen year old girl who tries to cope with her mother’s death. In Singapore in 2003, Szu lived with her mother, Amisa, and her aunt, Yunxi,  in an old decaying mansion. Amisa was once a beautiful actress but now her roles look a bit different. She pretends to be a medium and performs séances for income. 

Szu has no friends and her father abandoned the family at a young age. Therefore when Szu meets the abrasive and wealthy Circe (who also leads a lonely life), the pair form an unlikely bond that develops into an intense friendship. Szu’s friendship with Circe offers her a way to escape from her mother’s abuse and her loneliness. 

Seventeen years later, the two friends have grown apart. Circe is going through a divorce and struggles to keep up at work. A new project comes across her desk. They are planning to remake the cult seventies horror film “Ponti”. This was the project that has defined Amisa’s short lived film career. It is the film that Amisa still gets recognition for. Circe is taken by surprise by the new project and it brings up memories of the two women in her past. She is plagued by guilt and it consumes her conscience and her every waking moment.  

The novel is narrated by young Amisa, past Szu and modern day Circe. The story has themes of friendship, family, belonging, abandonment, consequences, and memories. It also illustrates that things we do while we are on the cusp of adulthood might come back to haunt us years later.

I found the novel to be a boring and pointless read. I felt that there wasn’t any story or any character development. When the book ended, I had more questions than answers: Why did Szu's father leave? Why was Amisa so mean to her daughter? 

 

As I kept turning pages, I was expecting the story to surface. Instead it was more and more pages of  lush descriptions. I wish that the author spent more time exploring the relationships between the different female characters. I felt like the author just touched the surface level about the relationship without going in further detail. While the book was an easy and fast read, I would have preferred reading a novel that had more going on.

 

Book Review - The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel

 

The Maid of Ballymacool by Jennifer Deibel is about two people from different walks of life solving a decades old mystery that could change the trajectory of their lives. Brianna Kelly has spent her entire life at Ballymacool House and Boarding School. The headmistress Magee found Brianna on her doorstep when Brianna was an infant. The person who left Brianna on the school’s doorstep left no clues to indicate her lineage or her parents.

Brianna feels that since she spent her entire life as a servant at the school, she fears that she will most likely die in the same role. Although she feels that she is meant for something more, she lacks the power and money to alter her situation and circumstances. When Brianna isn’t working, she spends her time exploring the area surrounding Ballymacool. She looks for hidden treasures to add to her secret stash  that she has hidden underneath the floorboards of her room.

Michael Wray is a member of the Ascendancy class and the son of a local gentry. His presence was requested at Ballymacool when his unruly cousin, Adeline,  started having behavioral problems and the staff was unable to deal with her. As Michael tries to get his cousin’s behavior under control, he finds himself in the company of Brianna often. After spending a few brief moments with Brianna, Michael feels himself drawn to her.

 

As the pair spends more time together, Micheal feels that there is something familiar about Brianna. When Brianna finds a piece of silver in the woods, she enlist Michael to help her find the origin of the platter. As they dig deeper, they find out a secret behind the platter that might change their lives.

 

I thought the book was an okay read. The novel moved very slowly with no story progression. The author spent more than ¾ of the book in the beginning to talk about Michael dealing with his cousin’s unruly behavior. And towards the end, when the story starts to pick up, Adeline just disappears. We don’t know if her behavior improves or is Adeline still a thorn in everyone’s sides.

 

I liked that the author weaved Irish phrases into the narration. It made me feel more immersed in the story. The book had a section in the back of the book that translated the phrases and gave readers a glimpse into the history of Ballymacool along with the author’s inspiration. I thought this was a delightful inclusion, but I would have preferred if the words were translated in story. I found it a bit annoying to move back and forth constantly to figure out what a specific word or phrase meant.

 

The ending did wrap up the story in a neat bow but I had a few questions that I don’t think were addressed. I felt that the author drew out the story and then didn’t fully address all the different storylines, such as: how did Brianna’s mother know Magee? Did Magee know about Brianna’s existence prior to finding Brianna? If you enjoy clean romance novels with a cozy mystery twist, then you will enjoy this novel.

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

Book Review - He Said He Would Be Late by Justine Sullivan

 

He Said He Would Be Late by Justine Sullivan is about a woman who suspects her beloved husband is cheating on her. Liz Bennett knows that she is lucky to snag her husband, Arno. When they first met, Arno was wealthy, charismatic and attractive. He is a supportive husband to her and a devoted father to their daughter, Emma. He is an all-star employee and everyone loves him at the top banking firm he works at in Boston. He has a promising career and he is in line for a promotion.

In Liz’s mind, Arno is the perfect example of a great husband and he’s one of the reasons why she feels that she has the perfect life. Liz’s life comes crashing down when she sees a text on Arno’s phone with a kissy face emoji. Liz becomes anxious and her wildest imagination takes over. She is worried that her best days of her marriage are over and that her husband is cheating on her.

Liz’s anxiety and worries consume her thoughts and are affecting her sleep. She spends every waking moment thinking about the text and trying to decipher Arno’s behavior. Liz is trying to see if she can catch Arno in a lie. 

Liz tries to track down the mysterious woman that sent the text. Liz’s obsession with the text message has started taking over Liz’s life and infected all aspects of her sanity and mental wellbeing. She believes in her intuition and that she must find out the truth even if it means ending her “perfect” marriage.

 

The book was a thrilling roller coaster ride of answering the question of: is he cheating or not? As the story progresses, we see Liz unravel from a relatively sane person to someone who is consumed by anxiety, distress, and suspicion over her relationship with her husband. The reader is taken on a journey as we try to decide if Liz's instincts are incorrect or is there more to the text message that Arno received.

 

Liz was an interesting character. She was a flawed and relatable person. It was suspenseful reading about her inner turmoil. However, I wish there was more background information to her character and whether or not this is the life she really wanted. Liz went from a woman who was happy with her current life and then she became unbalanced and nothing brought her joy. At times, the story did get repetitive and didn’t progress much. I didn’t like that it ended abruptly and the reader was left to draw their own conclusion. I wish we could have known about the aftermath of what happened after Liz makes her discovery.

Book Review - This Time It's Real by Ann Liang

 

This Time It's Real by Ann Liang is about two young adults who agree to fake date each other to bolster their careers.  Seventeen year old Eliza Lin spent her entire life traveling the world due to her mother’s job. At her new international school in Beijing, she is given an assignment to write about her personal life. However, she isn’t comfortable sharing her personal life with complete strangers. Instead of writing a true story based on her life, she decides to write a fictionalized version of her non – existent love life, taking snippets from her parents' love story.

Eliza didn’t expect much attention to her essay since she is a new student with no friends. However, her story goes viral overnight and Eliza is now famous and her classmates all want to know more about her secret boyfriend. Eliza loves the attention her article has garnered her but she is afraid of her lie being exposed.

Eliza is desperate to keep her secret, so she enlists the help of a famous actor in her class. Caz Song is a charming and charismatic actor who has fans following his every move. She proposes a mutually beneficial agreement between the two of them. Caz pretends to be her boyfriend so she can keep her journalism internship opportunity and in return she will help him write his college applications.

While Caz is pretending to be her boyfriend, Eliza realizes how great he is. Caz is sweet to her little sister, he passes her notes in class, he is thoughtful towards her requests, and he takes her out on motorcycle rides all over the city to try new snacks. Eliza finds herself falling for Caz but she isn’t sure if he feels the same way. Is Eliza willing to give up her dream internship for her chance at real love, seeing as the reason for her internship was to give readers an exclusive look into her relationship?

The book was a clean romance with minimal hand holding or touching involved. The novel had funny moments sprinkled throughout. There weren't any twists or surprising events. The characters were fun and relatable as they navigate their lives. Eliza tries to work through her feelings of always being the new girl and not having anywhere she can call home. She rarely tries to make any new friends because in her mind they will just end up leaving her. Caz’s parents are never home and he spends most of his time being an actor and proving himself. They both had challenges of not belonging and not having someone in their corner. I do feel that fans of K-dramas or romcoms might really enjoy the book.

Book Review - No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister

No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister is a love story between writers and readers and their love and special bond with books. Alice loved reading and it was her lifeline when her family life became unbearable. Alice knew that she always wanted to be a writer as books were her only form of escape. She can create imaginary worlds where she can be disconnected from reality, and where everything could turn out okay.

Alice found joy in writing and creating stories but her stories always seemed to have held something back. She never fully immersed herself in her writing so while her stories were descriptive and engaging, it always felt detached like she was a spectator. When a distressing event occurs, a dam of emotions bursts open and becomes filled with overwhelming emotions. Alice needed a place to collect herself and something to pour her thoughts and feelings into.

She decides to write a debut novel to express herself and to help navigate her feelings. When Alice finishes her novel, she is unsure if she should publish the story, because then the story would no longer just be hers. In the end, she decides to go for it and as her novel reaches the hands of readers, it changes and evolves as they read the book just as how Alice evolves and grows while she writes the book.

The novel starts with Alice’s story and her reason for writing. Then the book is narrated by different people who read her book and they describe how their lives changed after reading the book. I enjoyed reading about each different character and their life story. I was usually disappointed when one character’s chapter was over and the book would move on to another. I would be so attached to that character and would want to read more about them. While the characters were all flawed and were searching for something, they were relatable and highly engaging to me. It was nice seeing how the characters were trying to overcome a situation and become the best version of themselves.

I did get a bit overwhelmed with the amount of different character stories that were being introduced. I was trying to remember each story and figure out what link would connect them all. There is a link that does connect the characters that is revealed towards the end. However, I would recommend just sitting back and enjoying each unique character story. I did like that bits and pieces of Alice’s book are uncovered during each character chapter and it shows which part of the book resonated with that character the most.

As an avid reader this book was inspiring to see how books can change a person’s life and dreams along with the joy one gets from reading. It was also interesting to read how writers might feel about their stories being published. I always assumed that writers would enjoy having their stories told and they do but, once a story is published it’s no longer just theirs and every reader has its own bond and meaning attached to that story. The book was a dazzling and stunning read that would inspire budding writers and warm the hearts of fellow readers.

 

Book Review - Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

 

In the early 1800s, Isobel Gamble leaves Scotland with her husband, Edward, carrying generations of secrets with her. Edward was an apothecary who fell under the spell of opium and racked up more debt that he could pay. It forced them to flee Edinburgh and head to the New World to start a new life. Within days of arriving in Salem, Edward decides to join a departing ship as a medic while leaving Isobel alone and penniless in a new strange country. Isobel is forced to make her way and survive by any means possible.

Isobel tries to use her sewing abilities to make her name for herself in Salem. She crosses path with a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, and she finds herself drawn to him. He is haunted by the sins of his ancestors, who sent innocent women to the gallows. Isobel is a gifted seamstress that is troubled by her own gifts. As the weeks pass and Edward safe returns seems unlikely, Nathaniel and Isobel finds themselves growing closer.

I thought this was an interesting read. It was fun to see which parts of Isobel could have inspired Hester. I did feel that parts of the story did drag at times and felt repetitive. While I like reading about Isobel and Nathaniel I felt that there were too many "side stories". For example, in between the main story there were vignettes from the past that at times, I couldn't figure out the character or the relevance. I felt like it was just thrown in there and it ruined the flow of the main story. I did like that the author included some references to the original Hawthorne but, I wish they included more "proof" as to why "The Scarlett Letter" could have been derived from his life experience. Overall, it was an interesting retelling of a classic. I would read more books by the author.

Book Review - The Secrets We Share by Edwin Hill

 

Natalie Cavanaugh and Glenn Abbott do not look like sisters. Natalie is a Boston cop and acts like a cop off duty too. She prefers to shy away from the spotlight and wear unassuming clothing. Her younger sister, Glenn, lives for the attention. She likes to be dressed to the nines and camera ready. Glenn has spent many years cultivating her baking blog and the publication of her new book. She feels that her hard work is finally going to  pay off.

Twenty years ago, their father's body was found in the words behind their house. They believed their mother might be guilty of the crime but, someone else takes blame for it. Glenn prefers to move forward and ignore her darker past. However, someone who is reading her blog seems to know something and have been leaving anonymous ominous messages. A few unsettling coincidences occur that involve Glenn and her family and it that throws them in the cross hairs of the police and someone from their past.

As Natalie digs into the murders, she wonders about the people close to Glenn and how much she knows. Natalie believes that her father was murdered by their neighbor, with who he was having an affair with.  However, if the current events are connected with the past, there might be things that Natalie needs to uncover before it's too late.

This is my second book by the author and I enjoyed this book more than the other one. The book was suspenseful and had a few twists that I wasn't able to guess. The characters were well developed and each had secrets that were waiting to be discovered. At times, the novel was a bit overwhelming when I was trying to keep track of all the different characters and how they overlap. I also liked that Hester made a guest appearance in this book. I would be interested in reading other books by the author.

Book Review - Mine by Courtney Cole

 

Tessa Taylor has the perfect life. She has three beautiful children, a successful business, and a loving husband. However, her life comes crashing down when she unlocks her husband, Ethan's iPad and finds a nude photos from another woman. Lindsey is a younger woman and a bombshell.

Tessa is stuck in her home while Ethan is stuck on a business trip. While a horrific hurricane is ripping through the area, Tessa is trapped in her own home. She is torn between confronting her husband or should she reach out to Lindsey.

As the storm ravishes Florida, Tessa grows restless and finds herself desperate for revenge. She decides to lure Lindsey over by pretending to be Ethan. When the two women come face to face it becomes a battle of wills.

This book was a good trashy read but, it didn't have much substance to it. I didn't really care for many of the characters as I found it hard to relate. The ending came about abruptly without really tying into the story together in the end. I had a hard time not rolling my eyes because of how silly the characters were acting. If you like trashy unrealistic revenge reads, then this book might be a good book for you.

Book Review - The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood

 

Twelve years ago, three-year-old Coco goes missing during her father's fiftieth birthday celebration. She leaves behind her identical twin, Ruby as the only witness. Their father, Sean, is a wealthy and influential real estate developer and his friends gather at his seaside vacation home for a weekend of fun.Coco going missing causes a media frenzy and it changes the lives of everyone at the party forever.

Sean has passed away and everyone who was present during the night of Coco's disappearance, come to pay their respect. One thing becomes clear that the secrets of the past will be revealed as the night progresses.

I thought the book had an interesting premise but, I didn't really care for any of the adult characters. I felt like most of them were terrible people and did whatever they wanted without caring about anyone else. I felt like the book did move slowly and had a lot of unnecessary details but, left some of the more pressing questions unanswered. The author hinted about Sean's and Linda's death but, were they connected? I also didn't care for the ending, I felt like it was rushed and abrupt. I didn't like that there was a lot of references to pop culture or the government that some readers wouldn't understand if they weren't familiar with it.

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 - Turtle in Paradise: The Graphic Novel by Jennifer L. Holm

 

It's 1935, and eleven-year-old Turtle knows that life will never go as one expects it. She knows better than to expect a Hollywood ending. She knows that money and opportunity is scarce. When her mother gets a job as a housekeeper, Turtle is sent to live with her relatives in Florida. Florida is not what Turtle expected and before long, Turtle starts to come out of her shell.

The graphic novel was beautiful illustrated with bright vibrant colors. The story is sweet and heart breaking at time but, a cute read. Personally, I like graphic novels with humor so, I didn't really care for this story too much. I might be opened to reading other graphic novels by the author.

 

 

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 - 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.

Book Review - Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey

 

Maud is an elderly woman dealing with the early stages of dementia. As she is slowly losing her memory and her grip on everyday life, she is certain that her best friend has disappeared. Her search for Elizabeth goes back decades and she refuses to give up about her friend.

No one believes Maud, not even her daughter, Helen or her caretakers and the police. Maud has her handwritten notes that she leaves for herself while she searches for the truth. However, she can't fight the overwhelming feeling that Elizabeth is in dire need of her help. Maud resolves to find out the truth about her friend.

As Maud begins focusing on Elizabeth, her obsession leads to her rapidly being more forgetful while leading her to remember about her sister, Sukey. Her sister had vanished shortly after World War II and was never heard from again. As she remembers vivid memories of Sukey, she wonders if it ties into Elizabeth's disappearance.

I thought the book had an interesting premise of an elderly woman with cognitive issues trying to solve two disappearances. However, I found the novel to be boring and incredibly repetitive after awhile. We would gleam a nugget of information on either Sukey or Elizabeth and then Maud would forget. I also didn't like that Maud clearly needed to be institutionalized and that having her living alone was dangerous to her well-being. Even though she was a fictionalized character, I kept worrying about her safety every time she was hungry or left her house. I stopped reading the book one third of the way because it started getting too repetitive and had to much detail about Maud's everyday life than the actual "disappearance".

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 New Girl by Harriet Walker

 

Margot Jones is the fashion editor at a famous fashion magazine. She is pregnant with her first child. Margot's life is the envy of other women. She has a successful career, a beautiful home, gorgeous clothes, and a doting husband.

Maggie is a freelance journalist and is envious of Margot. She wishes that she can have Margot's life. When Margot offers Maggie the temp job of covering Margot's maternity leave, Maggie is excited. She knows the job is only for a few months but, she can't help but want more.

When Margot gives birth, her oldest friend decides to end their friendship. This causes her to feel insecure and suspicious of everyone. Margot eyes everything with paranoia especially, when an online troll starts a vicious attack on her. Margot's perfect facade starts to break and it might expose a dark secret she spent years keeping.

I thought this book was going to be a thriller and it turned out to be a completely pointless book. I honestly don't think this book needed to be published. There was nothing that made this book a thriller because the story line line was two women complaining and comparing each other to themselves. The story kept dragging on to the point where I wanted to throw the book into the trash. The ending was far fetched and seemed silly. The mastermind behind "everything" needed help and to face the consequences of their actions but, it was like they brushed it under the rug.

Book Review - The Reunion by Guillaume Musso

 

Twenty-five years ago while a snowstorm was occurring, Vinca Rockwell, a 19-year-old student ran away with her philosophy teacher. Rumor has it that Vinca was in love with her philosophy teacher and they ran away together. Vinca believes "love is everything or nothing". That was the last time she was ever seen.

Manon, Thomas, and Maxine were best friends but, they stopped talking to each since graduation. Twenty five years earlier, the three of them committed a murder and they buried the body in the gymnasium wall. The wall is now being slated to be demolished to make way for a new building. The three friends have to decide what they will do about their secret before the body is discovered.

I thought the book was an interesting read. I had a hard time following some of the references and I felt like I was missing some nuances. The book did  move a bit slow at times but, I found the ending to be a surprise. I personally didn't care for the main character because he literally wrapped his entire life to a person who didn't really care for him. And several times I was curious how he could trust certain people so blindly. I would be opened to reading more books by the author.