Tag: Book Review

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Books On Tour (Review): Some Days Are Dark by Miranda Smith

I love a book that takes me in a couple of different directions so that I am unsure as to each character’s motivations and (in the case of this book) innocence. I wasn’t sure where this one was going, and as I got deeper into the story, I found myself feeling empathy for competing characters. That’s ultimately what made this a compelling read.

Amazon: http://bit.ly/2W2O1Gx
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2THU0za
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2TGlS6v
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Q9xGwa

At first, I felt for Olivia because she obviously screwed up and lost her family. However, as more information came to light, I found myself feeling less sorry for her because she also made her choices.

I liked how the “mystery” unraveled throughout the book as well. What appeared to be a closed case at the beginning was blown wide open, and the “truth” (told in both current and “before” chapters)  slowly came to light.

There is also something else:

Mini-spoiler alert

I believe that the author did an admirable job tackling the hot topic of prescription addiction. I’m not going to say more than that, but the character who deals with it is very typical of numerous victims of the current opioid epidemic. It was brave of the author to make this character a focal point and even bolder to make them somewhat sympathetic.

Back to the end of the review

I very much enjoyed the trajectory of this story and appreciated the natural twists that the plot followed. I felt like I was watching one of those “true crime” shows; it all seemed that real. I would, without a doubt, recommend this book.

Author Bio

Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.

Website: https://mirandasmithwriter.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MirandaSmithAuthor/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mirandasmithwriter/

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Blog Tour w/Review: You Never Told Me by Sarah Jasmon

What a thought-provoking read. I can’t think of the last time a book took me on this type of journey.

We meet the main character, Charlie, in Thailand, as she is reeling from a shock that makes her question her decisions. Unfortunately for her, she soon gets a message from home that unexpectedly sends her back to England. Once this is all set up, the story switches gears as Charlie slowly uncovers unknown family secrets that have lasting repercussions.

That’s all you’re going to get from me in terms of plot information.

I completely identified with Charlie, especially at the beginning. Her wanderlust and desire to do something other than what she saw as the dull expectations of home. However, I think it was precisely this spirit that led her to her further explorations later in the book.

The author did an excellent job of weaving the family secrets into Charlie’s personal journey as well. She learned a lot about her mom but also about herself.

What I liked most about this book, however, was how leisurely the story unfolded. I felt like I floated through this story (not unlike the houseboat), which was a wonderful way to experience it, and allowed me to fully recognize (and feel) the emotions that Charlie was encountering.

The book does start a little bit slow, with some uncertainty as to where it is going. But stick with it, as a few chapters in you will be caught up in the story just as I was.

About Sarah Jasmon

Sarah Jasmon lives on a canal boat near Manchester with her children. She has had several short stories published, is curating a poetry anthology, and has recently graduated from the Creative Writing MA course at Manchester Metropolitan University. To find out more, visit www.sarahjasmon.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarahontheboat
Website: https://sarahjasmon.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahontheboat/
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Books On Tour (Review): Knock Knock by Chris Merritt

For once, the tag line of “pulse-racing” and “heart-stopping” is 100% accurate. I could not put this book down. What a bang-up job for the first in a new series!

BUY LINK: 
https://geni.us/B0848XBLB3Social

As always, in an initial entry to a series, there is a lot to unpack. Right off the bat, we meet the main characters, Dan Lockhart and Lexi Green, whose jobs (DI and clinical psychologist, respectively) bring them together on both a personal and, later, professional level.

She is his therapist as he works his way through all sorts of issues, from PTSD (military service) to his missing wife (vanished, still missing). He brings her on to the case at hand to try to analyze the perpetrator to help them narrow down suspects. She jumps in and gets more than she bargained for (no spoilers).

I thought the introduction of the two was very smooth, as was the background for both of them, as well as for the rest of the Major Investigation Team (MIT). Sometimes introductions can weigh down the plot, as the author wants to build a solid foundation for the rest of the series. This author manages to build that foundation while keeping the plot skipping along at a rapid pace.

The crimes in this book are unique and chilling. There were just enough hints dropped that I found myself wildly guessing at “whodunit” early on, but kept changing my mind as I proceeded to read more. I appreciated how the author gave us a real insight into the killer’s motivations. There was almost as much background for the killer as there were for the lead investigators.

Very often, the perpetrator gets a perfunctory mention of past trauma or personal history that sets them on their murderous path. In this book, however, we get treated to a real deep dive into the world the killer inhabits. It makes the story so much more well-rounded.

The investigation unfolds in an entirely natural way, and I thought the author did an excellent job of illustrating how police “connect the dots,” as well as allowing the members of the MIT to disagree (which often happens in real life). The plotting was astute and well-written and did have me turning pages late into the night to get to the resolution. I was not disappointed!

Although this is the first in a new series, there is a brief mention of a character from another series by the same author (I guess to denote a tie-in?). It’s pretty inconsequential to the plot overall, but it does illustrate that the author is working within a known and detailed world, which makes it an overall more enjoyable read. I will absolutely be looking for the next books in this series!

Author Bio

Chris Merritt is a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.

All his novels are set in London, where he lives. He began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. He specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked his interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.

Now he spends most of his time writing novels and drinking coffee while *thinking* about writing novels. When he’s not writing, he loves climbing and playing basketball.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCJMerritt
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17558172.Chris_Merritt
Website: www.cjmerritt.co.uk

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Books On Tour (Review): Her Broken Wings by D.K. Hood

I have made no secret of my hesitation for starting books mid-series. As this is book eight (!) in the Detectives Kane and Alton series, I was even more reticent than usual, but the premise intrigued me so I decided to give it a try.

I was very much NOT disappointed and was turning pages to finish in one sitting!

Amazon: https://geni.us/B082CYKG74Social
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2RALy4b
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2YmYjQZ
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/34W2d5W

The author did a fantastic job of weaving a narrative that included just enough information about past cases that I felt more of a desire to read past books out of interest rather than feeling like I was missing several references.

The plot itself was cracking good: Black Rock Falls, Montana is a hotbed for serial killers and other criminals. From the gritty prologue, moving into the gruesome first chapter and beyond, the author captures the reality of murder and mayhem.

At the same time, the jobs of law enforcement are also realistically portrayed. The key is that it is in a way that even a layperson can understand what is happening. There was just enough information to make it interesting and informative without being too technical to follow. The level of detail allowed the switch between police procedural and criminal motivation.

Speaking of, there were a few times that motivation seemed gimmicky, and I can’t speak to the authenticity or accuracy of the disorder mentioned. Still, it made for a unique twist and page-turning reading.

I am glad that I found this series, and I look forward to reading both past books in the series (to catch up) and future books yet to come.

Author Bio

I’ve always had a wicked sense of humour and was the kid who told the ghost stories around the campfire. I am lucky to have family all over the world and have spent many vacations in places from Paris France to Montana USA and Australia. I use the wonderful memories from these visits to enhance my stories.

My interest in the development of forensic science to solve crime goes back many years. I enjoy writing crime, mystery and thrillers. With many stories, waiting for me to write I’ll look forward to sharing many spine-tingling stories with you.

Website: www.dkhood.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dkhoodauthor/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DKHood_Author
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Books On Tour (Review): The Man I Loved Before by Anna Mansell

I wanted to like this book. The premise was promising, and the tagline was intriguing.

Unfortunately, everything mentioned in the blurb occurred in the first quarter of the book. After that, things seemed to drag on for much too long.

AMZ: https://geni.us/B084CWJ9FTSocial
Apple: https://buff.ly/2GMG6V2
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Google: https://buff.ly/2vOdCrX

That’s not to say that there weren’t good things in the book. I liked the relationship between Jem and her mom. I could relate to Jem’s realization that she needed to be strong for her mom (instead of always relying on her mom for strength). That’s something that I think every adult deals with as their parents age. Several touching moments between the two of them made me think of my relationship with my mother.

I also thought that Jem and Leanne had some good moments. Their friendship was close, and Leanne served as a sort of Jiminy Cricket/conscience to Jem (which Jem badly needed). However, not all of Leanne’s advice was helpful.

Enter Mitch. The best thing I can say about him is “Beware of Tinder – even if you know the person from school.”

I don’t have a lot to say about Ben either. I thought at the beginning that he might be the smartest of the group, having escaped Jem’s toxicity. But I was wrong about that, too.

I think my real challenge is that Jem wasn’t exactly likable, and her reliance on alcohol  (without judgment) became annoying. It was pretty apparent that alcohol was a crutch, making her a functional alcoholic, yet everyone around her seemed to enable her. That was bothersome.

I also never got a good grasp of where the story wanted to go. From the tagline, I was expecting something a little more “angst-y.” While there were moments of pure emotion, those were more between Jem and her mom, not either of the men Jem was involved with (which seemed odd). I also thought that Jem and Leanne verged on rom-com best friend banter sometimes, which threw me off-kilter.

I was happy to see some resolutions, but overall this book just didn’t do it for me. Other readers may have a different experience, however.

Author Bio

Anna had a brush with ‘fame’ as a magician’s assistant back in 1977. She later decided that being sawn in half by her magical performing father, at barely 6 months old, was too submissive a role. She vowed to channel the trauma into something much more pro-actively creative. Having failed at acting, singing and professional murder mystery parties (she was ALWAYs the one to die!), she fell to something much more solitary: writing. Anna lives on a dairy farm in Cornwall with her two children, her husband, and her ex-racing greyhound, Olive Dog.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaMansellWriter/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AnnaMansell
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Blog Tour w/Review: The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi

Time for another entry in the Harlequin Trade Publishing 2020 Spring Reads Blog Tour. We’ve already had one great read in The Grace Kelly Dress; I’m happy to report that The Henna Artist continues the trend.

Beautifully described with vibrant details, this book follows a woman in 1950s India as she navigates the political and social landmines of the period. It sucked me in immediately and held me enthralled to the very end.

Lakshmi ran away from an arranged marriage at age 15 to pursue a life of her choosing – but is it really what she thought it would all be? She learns how to play the games of the upper caste as a henna artist, decorating the hands and feet of some of the most powerful women in society. She is also known for her herbal remedies.

However, when her life is upended (not going to give away how in this review), she realizes just how precarious her accomplishments and reputation are, forcing her to make tough choices.

I found Lakshmi to be an interesting main character. On the one hand, she seems to be about female empowerment and acknowledging the importance of women’s voices in a turbulent time (the decade immediately following the withdrawal of the British).

On the other hand, she turns a blind eye to the true natures of the men she does business with as well. It takes a tragedy that hits very close to home for her to realize the harm she has done over the years and come to the realization that she may not have chosen the best path (even though she thought she did along the way).

The other main characters were just as vivid, as were the secondary and even tertiary characters. Nobody got short-shrift when it came to descriptions and motivations; everyone was fully fleshed-out and realistic.

I thought that the author did an excellent job describing the caste system and societal beliefs of the time. I learned a lot about both, but I never felt that it was a lecture. Everything was woven into the narrative in an informative and natural way. I especially appreciated that she tackled the topics of misogyny and sexism in the context of the period (it would have been easy to allow a more contemporary point of view sneak in – I’m glad she kept it time-specific).

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book, as the author was obviously knowledgable about the subject matter and relayed it entertainingly. As I mentioned at the outset of this review, the details are plentiful and highly descriptive. There were times that I could feel the heat and dust of the streets and smell the frangipani and herbs Lakshmi was preparing.

(One quick note: a character relates that they saw “Some Like it Hot” in color – it was filmed in black and white. Just a small pet peeve because it is one of my all-time favorite movies).

I highly recommend picking up this book about family, personal choices, and doing the right thing. I am sure you will enjoy your visit to India.

SOCIAL:
Author Website: https://thehennaartist.com/
FB: @alkajoshi2019
Insta: @thealkajoshi
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18257842.Alka_Joshi

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Books On Tour (Review): My Perfect Wife by Clare Boyd

Let’s start simple: this was one of the biggest mindscrews I have ever read.

I have read domestic suspense with tight and twisty plots, but I can’t remember one where I was so off-balance.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B082Q5M324Social
Apple Books: https://apple.co/35uJtuw
Kobo: http://bit.ly/34w3XC0
Googleplay: http://bit.ly/34nOsM3

The author did a fantastic job of keeping me guessing the characters’ motives throughout the entire book. In some books, some revelations make things clear even as there are more twists to come. Not the case here; everything stayed murky, and the story was that much better for it.

I liked how the author dropped hints about past events, but always with something else still waiting in the wings.

(By the way, I know this is cryptic, but it’s challenging to write a review on a book like this without giving anything away – and this is one that you definitely need to experience for yourself).

I thought the characters were well-described, and most of them seemed realistic. I did think that the American couple (Bo and Walt) verged on caricatures, but perhaps that was purposeful. It didn’t detract from the story; it was just noticeable.

I also thought that Heather’s parents were a little under-developed. I didn’t feel like I got a good grasp on them (Salvation Army volunteers, gardeners, and…what else?) There were times that it seemed as if they were supposed to be Bible-thumpers, but others where they were “normalized.” I think that is why the revelations about them in the latter part of the book were a little harder to take.

The same goes for Heather’s relationship with Jason. It didn’t seem as solid of a plotline as other parts, and almost seemed more as just a convenience to get Heather away from the drama at Copper Lodge.

I did think that the heart of the plot, the relationship between Elizabeth and Lucas, was exceptionally well-done. I switched back and forth as to whose story I believed, and that is what ultimately drove the tension and all of the twists. Right up until the end, I still didn’t know who was in the right.

There were a few loose ends, or at least a couple of plot points that I think deserved better endings (Agata and Piotr are mostly left hanging, for example). But when I finished the book, I literally asked myself, “What the hell did I just read?” And I like that in a suspense/ thriller story.

If you pick this one up, be prepared to be UNprepared as you read. Sometimes things don’t have to make perfect sense; they just have to happen. That is certainly the case with this book.

Author Bio

Clare lives with her husband and their two daughters in Surrey, where her little green shed at the bottom of the garden provides a haven for her writing life. Before becoming a writer, she enjoyed a career in television, as a researcher in documentaries and then as a script editor in drama at the BBC and Channel Four, where her love of storytelling took hold.

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/clareboydclark
FACEBOOK: clare.boyd.14
TWITTER: @ClareBoydClark
INSTAGRAM: claresboyd
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Blog Tour (Review): The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz

I’m very excited to be a part of the Harlequin Trade Publishing 2020 Spring Reads Blog Tours.

First up is The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz.

Spanning three generations and covering nearly 65 years, this charming book pulled me in from the very start. The story unfolds gradually, beginning with Rocky in 2020, flashes back to her mom, Joanie, in 1982 and then back further to Rose in 1958. The chapters are consistent in rotating through these three points of view in order, making it easy to follow each storyline.

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I was swept up most by Rose’s story. The setting of the Parisian bridal atelier was unique and informative. The author did some homework on how those types of shops ran at the time. I also liked the intrigue of this plotline. The characters and situation seemed the most real to me.

There were parts of Joanie’s story that I liked as well, mainly the 80s references. I understood the Long Island/NYC setting and the attraction that a “good girl” might have to the punk scene of the early 80s. I did not, however, get a strong feeling for the relationships and felt that the connections between Joanie and the friends that she eventually made were tenuous, even as they proved to be more serious.

I related least to Rocky, but most to her fiance, Drew. (How’s that for an odd one?) Rocky came across as a spoiled millennial who was determined to be anti-establishment (as personified by her disagreements with her mom). While she did mature some throughout her storyline, I still didn’t care for her that much.

Drew, however, I could completely relate to, both as an adoptee and the mother to an international adoptee. His situation felt a little force, to add drama to his and Rocky’s arc, but his emotions and realizations felt natural, and I could think of a few personal instances that were similar.

There were even a few surprises along the way to resolution. However, there was one thing that I was not clear on (mini spoiler alert), and that had to do with Rocky’s dad. I wasn’t sure if I missed something, or if I was supposed to infer from other descriptions, but that whole part of the plot seemed murky to me.

The three storylines converged nicely by the end, and most of the relationships are clarified. I did like the overall message of the importance of balancing family and traditions with forging one’s path. That came across in each of the character’s stories as well as the overarching plot itself. You won’t be disappointed with this one; it’s a lovely book that is perfect for spring.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brenda Janowitz is the author of five novels, including The Dinner Party and Recipe for a Happy Life. She is the Books Correspondent for PopSugar. Brenda’s work has also appeared in The New York Times,USA Today, The Washington Post, Salon, Redbook, and the New York Post. She lives in New York.

Author website: http://www.brendajanowitz.com/
Facebook: @BrendaJanowitz
Twitter: @BrendaJanowitz
Instagram: @brendajanowitzwriter
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/241404.Brenda_Janowitz
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Book Review: Keep Me Afloat by Jennifer Gold

Having read this author’s The Ingredients of Us, I knew I was in for a study in relationships, and some emotional moments of self-recognition. I wasn’t disappointed in that regard, but I learned a lot from this book, and not all in the way I expected to.

I had a difficult time getting behind Abby at first. She was full of self-pity, and the author took a long time to unravel her backstory, which was both good and bad. It was bad because I didn’t get a feel for Abby until much later in the book and, therefore, couldn’t relate to any of her thoughts or feelings.

On the other hand, it worked because the author drew the reader along by letting out little bits of the story here and there. There was almost as much of a build to the past events as there were to the current ones. The author did an admirable job switching back and forth between the past and present.

Several moments had me second-guessing what I assumed to be true. Not that this was a suspenseful novel in the pure meaning of the genre, but there were a few places that I realized the author had cleverly drawn my thinking in one direction, while the opposite was more exact. One “reveal” even made me gasp and re-evaluate all previous clues.

I didn’t feel like the set up for Abby’s love for the ocean was obvious, but it became apparent that it was her passion and what ultimately drove most of her decisions. At the point where I realized this, I instantly could relate to her being stuck in a job and a place where she wasn’t able to follow her calling.

Her guilt over the past drove most of the narrative, and (as mentioned) only became more evident the further in the book I read. I did appreciate that the author did not wrap everything up neatly with a traditional HEA or “everything will be fine.” It was not that kind of feel-good story.

It was, however, incredibly realistic. The positive affirmation of how the past does not have to define the present was very clear.  And I especially liked that Abby’s growth led her to a place where she could be optimistic about the future. That kind of realism is often missing.

As for Abby’s marine biology background, the detail and care given to the descriptions showed the author’s love for the subject (which she then gave to Abby). Having grown up in Northern California, it reminded me of days at nature camps at the coast, trips to Point Reyes to learn about elephant seals and whale watching off the Farallon Islands and Half Moon Bay. These sections of the narrative spoke to me personally.

Ultimately, Abby’s journey brings her to a place of peace, and I could feel her growing contentment by the end of the book. It was a pleasant trip to take with her, and I would highly recommend doing so. It’s another winner from this author.

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Books On Tour (Review): When We Were Brave by Suzanne Kelman

I loved A View Across the Rooftops because it was my “gateway” historical novel that got me hooked on the genre. I was therefore very excited to see the second book of this type by Suzanne Kelman. I am extremely pleased to say that there is no sophomore slump here – it’s another winner! In fact, the author has outdone herself, as this is even better than her first one.

Writing a historical novel can be tricky because there is a delicate balance to uphold. It should be informative without being too much like a history lecture, but should also contain emotion and actions that are compatible with the era. Not to mention that history can sometimes be dry, and feelings and facts don’t always go together.

This author has succeeded again, as the characters are realistic and jump off the page. There are both historical and contemporary storylines and they mesh perfectly. Sophie (in the present) has suffered some terrible personal losses when a picture in an exhibition catches her eye, as the woman in the picture looks a lot like her mother. Intrigued and needing a project to focus on, she decides to find out more about the history of the woman in the snapshot.

Her investigation opens up the world of WWII France and England, and this is where the novel came alive. Vivienne (Vivi to her friends) is a member of the SOE, a British Spy Organization. She goes to France to help the Resistance fight the Nazi occupation. If that doesn’t intrigue you, I don’t know what else I can say because that had me hooked right in from the start.

What follows is Sophie tracking down Vivi’s story, and trying to determine how everything went wrong for Vivi, leading the family to never talk about her. I don’t want to say much more (loose lips and all), but Vivi is one of the most interesting characters I have ever read about, and I loved everything about her journey.

I have mentioned before that I love to learn something new from a historical novel, and this fits the bill perfectly as well. I knew about the French Resistance, but not about the Prosper Network in particular. The author did an excellent job researching and relaying the information in the course of the narrative without breaking the storyline.

Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this book, but I don’t want to give it away. You really need to experience Vivi’s story and Sophie’s investigation on your own. Trust me on this one; if you like historical novels, you will not be disappointed with this one.

Author Bio

Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State. 

Twitter: @suzkelman
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