This is a little book of personal essays that I chose on a whim. I’m glad I did. Mary Laura Philpott writes in a very rela3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars
This is a little book of personal essays that I chose on a whim. I’m glad I did. Mary Laura Philpott writes in a very relatable way. Reading her stories are like chatting with a good friend. She is not afraid to let us in on her inner fears and worries and share how she grapples with living with them. She laces heavy subjects such as illness, disability, and loss with just the right amount of gentle, yet sometimes laugh out loud, humor to make this an enjoyable insightful read.
Life is hard. Life is unpredictable. Life is good and life is disastrous. Overall though, life is a gift to be cherished in all its forms. Traveling along with Ms. Philpott on her journey to navigating the challenges of life is both thought-provoking and satisfying. It is also joyful. I could see a lot of myself in Ms. Philpott.
In the reviews I’ve read there are many positive comments about her previous book “I Miss You When I Blink”; I definitely want to track that one down. If you are looking for something inspiring to start off the new year in a positive fashion, I recommend you pick up a copy of Bomb Shelter. As of this writing, it is currently available for request on Net Galley. ...more
When I received a widget for Charm Offensive, I stuck it in my “not now, later” (i.e., “forget about it”) file. I love the LGBT genre but am not reallWhen I received a widget for Charm Offensive, I stuck it in my “not now, later” (i.e., “forget about it”) file. I love the LGBT genre but am not really drawn to rom-coms, which generally don’t hold enough depth for me. I also saw that it was based on a famous reality dating show that I watched faithfully for years before deciding it was kind of fakey. There it sat until I saw the high ratings that kept coming in. That led me to my LGBT-genre-star reviewer Larry’s shelf where I saw 5 stars and his statement “I couldn’t have loved this book more if I tried.” Well, fine. I rescued my widget from the “forget about it” file and dived in. And yeah, I couldn’t have loved this book more if I tried!
After a few pages of setup, I started to smile. Not long afterwards the “laugh out loud” moments started in and then later I ended up teary-eyed. This book really caught me off guard with some serious themes. Rejection, self-doubt, self-identity, mental illness, sexual identity, morality, acceptance, and multiple aspects of love are all there in spades. And, oh my heart! For a debut novel, Ms. Cochrun really knows how to bring out the feelings! What a wonderful character Dev is. He pretty much rescues Charlie’s broken life in this book, and in turn, Charlie rescues Dev. The side characters enhance the story nicely, especially Jules, Parisa, Daphne, and Angie. The plot is much more substantial that I had expected, and the reveal near the end is an unexpected surprise.
What more can I say other than I loved this book and am anxious to see what Ms. Cochrun writes next? I recommend Charm Offensive to anyone interested in a funny yet serious, very human story with a large dose of heart.
I would like to thank Isabel DaSilva of Atria Books, Net Galley, and Alison Cochrun for an ARC of this novel. Opinions stated are mine alone and are not biased in any way. ...more
Diane Chamberlain, one of my go-to authors, has done it again. With The Last House on the Street, she has crafted another 4.5 stars rounded to 4 stars
Diane Chamberlain, one of my go-to authors, has done it again. With The Last House on the Street, she has crafted another intriguing family drama laced with mystery and set in an important historical era. This fast-paced read held my interest all the way, and I read it in record time (for me).
The story is primarily set in North Carolina in dual timelines. Our protagonists are Ellie during 1965 and her boyfriend Reed’s daughter Kayla in 2010. Both women are highly likable and well-developed, and I connected easily with both. Ellie has a keen interest in civil rights. In 1965, as a 20-year-old, she joins a group whose mission is to canvass Black neighborhoods encouraging the people to register to vote. In 2010 Kayla has just moved into her self-designed dream house with her young daughter after the untimely death of her young husband. The house is the last house on the street that Ellie grew up on. There is something unsettling about Kayla’s new home and the woods it abuts. They seem to be haunted. I was equally interested in both threads throughout most of the novel though the 1965 tale grabbed me more towards the end. Of interest, many of the same characters take part in both timelines.
Several mysterious happenings are weaved together to make this a compelling read. Ms. Chamberlain even throws in yet another mystery at 91%. I was unable to guess the outcome of anything until everything was revealed in the closing chapters. The story is full of family strife, suspense, and traumatic events. Themes include rascism, hatred, tragedy, betrayal, friendship, love, healing, and hope.
I must admit my knowledge base has a big gap when it comes to the civil rights struggles back in the 1960s. Ms. Chamberlain clearly did her research as she wrote the 1965 timeline showing us up close what those civil rights efforts were like. Things were very harrowing for the volunteers as well as for the southern Black population. I soaked up the knowledge like a sponge and learned a lot. This is a trademark of the Chamberlain books I have read. She always has as background an intriguing well-researched historical aspect that I never fail to learn from.
This book has a lot of heart and a hopeful ending. I highly recommend it to everyone.
I want to thank Net Galley, Ms. Erica Martirano of St. Martins Press, and Ms. Diane Chamberlain for an advanced copy of the book. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
Well, I am of two minds about Ordinary Hazards, a fine debut novel from Ms. Anna Bruno. There are features I liked very m 3.5 stars rounded to 3 stars
Well, I am of two minds about Ordinary Hazards, a fine debut novel from Ms. Anna Bruno. There are features I liked very much yet other issues that disappointed me.
First the good stuff. It always piques my interest when I find a novel that is written a bit differently. In this book, the main narrative takes place over one long evening as our protagonist Emma sits in a bar named The Final Final, wondering how she can ever find happiness. There are a number of flashbacks to previous events written in real time to fill out the story. The only other book I have read written in this style is When All Is Said by Anne Griffin. I think Ms. Bruno pulls this off well. I also enjoyed the theme of the story, which basically revolves around what can an individual do to make lemonade out of lemons. This of course is presented in a far more stylish manner than how I just said it. And I loved Addie the dog who has a more profound role than most dogs do when playing relatively minor characters. Finally, the epilogue (entitled “After Hours”) is superb.
Oh, and the title is perfect. A great title.
Why did the book need saving? Well, I had a really hard time connecting emotionally with the characters. For example, Lucas has a prominent role yet we rarely get into his head. I need to be the characters’ heads to fully engage. The other bar patrons get a lot of airplay, but they came off as rather flat to me. I didn’t care much about any of them, except perhaps the little girl Summer and the barmaid Amelia. I have trouble describing my relationship with Emma. I neither loved nor hated her throughout most of the book, but I finally really came over to her side in the epilogue.
Other things that bothered me: Emma ran a hedge fund, and though I often like reading about finance for fun, the part of the narrative directed towards this subject was not interesting to me. I was also bored by the philosophical ramblings that peppered the book. Finally, there was an overall very depressing mood to that one long evening in the bar, and I was dragged down by that.
I see I am in the minority with my boring overall rating of 3.5, but I encourage people to read this book for themselves. Most reviewers so far loved it and ranked it 4 or 5 stars. I have to wonder if timing had something to do with my lowish rating. With the multitude of all the “once-in-a-lifetime-crises” happening in the United States right now, it is sometimes hard to focus enough to enjoy the simple joys of a well written book of fiction. However, I do like Ordinary Hazards enough to want to pick up whatever Ms. Bruno writes next.
My thanks go to Ms. Isabel DaSilva of Atria Books, Net Galley, and Ms. Anna Bruno for an ARC of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. ...more
I have been reading some heavy novels recently and thought it was time for something a little less oppressive. This one fit the bill perfectly.
Amy BylI have been reading some heavy novels recently and thought it was time for something a little less oppressive. This one fit the bill perfectly.
Amy Byler is a school librarian and single mom with two kids, ages 12 and 15. Her husband up and left them for nebulous reasons three years previously. It has been a struggle to make things work, but Amy has indeed made a good life for her family even though she is worn down from her efforts. Suddenly Amy’s husband reappears and wants three months of re-bonding time with the kids, which eventually results in Amy getting a “momspringa” vacation in New York City.
This book is engaging, funny, and thought provoking. Amy finally has time to actually think about finding her true self, and to try to determine in what direction she wants her life to go. Things are complex, and Amy has much to sort through. What exactly does her husband want? How will the kids react to him? Does she still love him or is she ready to move on to someone else? Her whole recent adult life has revolved around being a wonderful mother to her kids. But at what cost to herself? Is it possible to find a way to take better care of Amy? The cast includes a couple of great longtime friends of Amy’s - a magazine editor and an ex-nun (whom I loved) who dole out advice and a couple of interesting male companions Amy connects with during her journey in New York.
Amy has a ton of decision trees in this novel, and it was fun to think about what I would do in her position. Humor is present throughout; I smiled a lot and laughed out loud several times. I also liked the fact that two of the main characters are librarians and we get some good librarian book talk in this story. Extra credit goes to Ms. Harms for her dialogue, which simply sparkles.
Amy is so easy to cheer for and I kept hoping for a way for everything to fall into place for her and her family. I looked forward to grabbing the book every time I had a few minutes to read; I felt invested in the characters and was engrossed in their story.
I recommend The Overdue Life of Amy Byler to anyone looking for a quick, easy, and fun read featuring a very likeable main character on a thoughtful journey.
Thank you Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing, and Kelly Harms for the gift of an advanced review copy. Thanks also to Sonja Yoerg for kindly bringing this book to my attention. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. ...more
I loved Luke Narlee’s debut novel, The Guest Bed, so when I found out he has just published a book of short stories, I jumped to download a copy and mI loved Luke Narlee’s debut novel, The Guest Bed, so when I found out he has just published a book of short stories, I jumped to download a copy and moved it to the top of my to-read list.
This Can’t Wait is a collection of partially interconnected stories that I found highly enjoyable. Each story is character-driven. Most of the tales involve people with some kind of relationship difficulty trying their best to make the right decisions. In many instances the characters find things are not as bleak or hopeless as first thought and that there are still good people in the world.
The writing is clean and uncluttered. The protagonists are for the most part relatable and likeable. I loved the way Mr. Narlee weaves the lives of several of the characters into multiple stories. At times the believability meter tops the normal range, but I found it easy to overlook that for these shorts. Some of the stories are thought provoking, others are heartwarming; almost all are poignant.
I highly recommend this collection of short stories to anyone looking for an easy, yet emotive read revolving around little life moments and relationships. ...more
I have not read many historical fiction books, but I picked up The Family House, Linda Cohen Loigman’s debut novel, a coup4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars
I have not read many historical fiction books, but I picked up The Family House, Linda Cohen Loigman’s debut novel, a couple of years ago basically on a lark. I was surprised by how much I loved it. Since that time I have been more open to historical fiction reads. When I heard Ms. Loigman had completed her second novel I ran to Net Galley to see if it might be there, and lo and behold it was. I grabbed it immediately.
Like her first book, this one is set in the 1930s and 1940s. Again the protagonistic family is Jewish with roots in Brooklyn. The Wartime Sisters is written from the point of view of four women: very different and estranged sisters Ruth and Millie; Lillian, the wife of a commanding officer; and Arietta, the singing armory cook. At the crux of the story is the relationship between Ruth and Millie from their childhood through young adulthood. The timeline goes back and forth, but is easy to follow. I found the main characters to be very well written; the reader really gets to know them.
The tale is almost totally character-driven. There are no battle scenes or European settings though WW II is underway. The setting for the most part, however, is military as much of the story takes place at the Armory factories in Springfield, Massachusetts. Though I loved the plotline involving the four women, I was just as impressed by Ms. Loigman’s portrayal of life on the homefront. As I read the intriguing details of the composition of the armory setting and life on the base, in my mind I was congratulating the author on the thoroughness of and the spirit she brings to the book with her research. After reading the acknowledgements it is clear how extensive her research is. I read books for the feelings they give me. If I learn something in the process, as I did with this book, the novel is even more special.
My one tiny complaint is that the story wrapped up a little too quickly for me. I wanted more time to savor the ending.
If I had to compare Ms. Loigman’s writing with someone else’s, I think of Diane Chamberlain. She’s that good. I have added this author to my growing list of those I wish to read everything they write. I also thank Ms. Loigman (along with Kristin Hannah) for kindling my desire to read more historical fiction. I strongly recommend The Wartime Sisters to all historical fiction fans and everyone else looking for a wonderfully written character-driven novel.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for inviting me to read an advanced reader’s copy of this novel. Thanks too to Net Galley for supplying the ARC and to Ms. Loigman. Opinions are mine alone and are unbiased in any way. ...more
What a beautiful story. I have now read all four of Ms. Yoerg’s books, and she never fails to deliver a well-written tale 4.5 stars rounded to 5 stars
What a beautiful story. I have now read all four of Ms. Yoerg’s books, and she never fails to deliver a well-written tale with significant depth.
This one focuses on Suzanne, a housewife and mother who is doing the best she can to keep her dysfunctional family rolling on. Her co-protagonist is Iris, a teenager who has lived her whole life in the Blue Ridge Mountains without ever experiencing a “modern” lifestyle. How these two come together and help each other handle their pasts and discover a better way of life is the crux of the story.
Having grown up near the foothills of the Smoky Mountains I loved the Blue Ridge Mountain area setting in Virginia. I believe this is home territory for the author. Her descriptions brought back those mountain sounds and smells to me. Gee I miss all the times I spent with my family in the mountains of the southeast Tennessee. I understand Ms. Yoerg is also an avid gardener and plant lover, and her knowledge of the flora of the mountains in her area is clearly demonstrated in True Places. Her descriptive imagery is lovely.
There is a lot going on in True Places, but Ms. Yoerg keeps us on track. There are issues between Suzanne and her parents, her husband, and her children despite her efforts to keep things moving as smoothly as possible. Each of her two children have problems, and poor Iris is having a hard time without her family and trying to assimilate into “the real world.” At one point I wondered how all of this could possibly be resolved. I liked the way the author brought things together at the end, though I wished the resolution had been drawn out a little more, hence the withholding of half a star.
I must commend the artist responsible for the cover and the author for a perfect title. Not only does the title sum up the story in two words, it is intriguing and original in this age of so many similar (and oh so tired) titles. My first impressions of a book are almost always based on the cover and the title, and this one hauled me in like a mega magnet.
I felt for the realistically drawn characters, especially Suzanne, Iris, and Reid. I was pleased Ms. Yoerg didn’t fluff things up with a “perfect”, and thus unrealistic, ending. I would love to visit this family again in ten years to see how things all worked out for them, but at the same time I’m glad the author elected not to have an epilogue. Despite it feeling a tad rushed, the denouement is satisfying just as it is.
What I liked most about this novel is that the story made me think. Have I made the most of my life? Am I in my own true place? I highly recommend True Places (and Ms. Yoerg’s other three books) to all readers of contemporary fiction. I await the author’s next offering with great anticipation.
Thank you, Ms. Yoerg, for gifting me an ARC of True Places. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. ...more
Though not designated a series, Scottish author John Nicholl’s five novels so far all include Detective Inspector Gareth3.5 stars (rounded to 4 stars)
Though not designated a series, Scottish author John Nicholl’s five novels so far all include Detective Inspector Gareth (Grav) Gravel. I love Grav and he is one of the main reasons I always look forward to Mr. Nicholl’s books.
In A Cold Cold Heart, Grav takes a bit of a backseat as much of the spotlight is on Charles Turner, serial killer of young women. I have to admit that disappointed me, as I can’t get enough of Grav. Not only that, but Turner was a bit too Galbraithian for me—he very much reminded me of David Galbraith, the despicable baddie of Mr. Nicholl first two novels. Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Nicholl can certainly write a first class baddie, but I just had such an intense dislike for this guy Turner to want to spend much time with him. He did not have one ounce of any sort of redeeming factor, and frankly, I wanted him out of Grav’s book!! Point is, this is a personal dislike on my part. I’m sure others will appreciate Turner as the fabulously wretched character he is.
With Turner hogging a lot of the airtime, mainly in the first half of the book, it takes a while for the police procedural to take center stage. Mr. Nicholl does a fine police procedural and that part I greatly enjoyed. Not only is there DI Grav Gravel, but also the highly likeable DS Laura Kesey (in a big role), and the imposing Detective Chief Superintendent Hannah Davies. DS Kesey let us in on a personal secret this time, and DCS Davies, though always trying to get Grav to retire, is again her admirable self.
I have to give this novel two grades. Two stars for Turner’s role and 4 stars for the Grav/Kesey/Davies police procedural part. This averages out to 3, but its real score is 3.5 because I loved the latter part more than I disliked the former part. And rounded up to 4 stars for the same reason.
I recommend this book to all thriller fans. It actually does fine as a stand alone, but in my opinion does better if the other books, or at least A Mind to Kill, are read first.
Finally, congratulations to John Nicoll for not only landing a contract with Bloodhound Books, but for his fine independent career up until this point. I’m looking forward to his next novel!
Many thanks to John Nicoll for sending me an ARC of this novel. Opinions are mine alone and are unbiased in any way. ...more
I have had great luck finding wonderful reads outside my genre this year, so when the chance came up for me to read a YA adventure story, I asked myseI have had great luck finding wonderful reads outside my genre this year, so when the chance came up for me to read a YA adventure story, I asked myself, “Why not?” Why not, indeed; I really enjoyed this book!
Firstly, thanks to James Morris for not titling this novel The Girl Who Survived. Publishers who think they are attracting readers by placing the ubiquitous “Girl” in the title are sadly mistaken, as least when it comes to me. This book actually has the perfect title; it really could not be better.
Feel Me Fall centers on Emily Duran, the sole survivor of a horrific plane crash over the Amazon rainforest in South America. The tale is told in three alternating timelines—the present, as Emily recuperates in the hospital in her hometown after being rescued; the past, which primarily involves school activities and Emily’s personal relationships with family, friends, schoolmates and teachers; and the time she spends in the jungle with five classmates trying to survive and so desperate to get home. Emily tells the story in all three timelines in first person narrative. She is exceptionally well drawn; I am so impressed by how well Mr. Morris is able to portray the thoughts and feelings of a 17-year-old girl.
The story is not pretty nor is it glorified. The setting is wonderfully drawn, the imagery transporting us into the rainforest with the characters. The conditions in the Amazon jungle, despite its beauty, are harrowing. The six teens come to the point where they will do anything, and I mean anything, to survive. Walking for hours on end, getting mercilessly attacked by mosquitoes, and eating grubs are the least of it. As the three timelines tell the story, we see numerous themes arise, including love, insecurities, sacrifice, lies, deception, betrayal, selfishness, guilt, hopefulness and hopelessness. We know from the start that only Emily gets out alive. This fact really ratcheted up the suspense as I waited to see the fates of the others. The twists are many and for the most part occur without warning. The book is a fast mover and was hard for me to put down at any point.
I have to say I didn’t love the ending. It was quite a revelation, but it just didn’t feel genuine to me. Other readers have really liked the ending, so don’t let my opinion regarding that stop you from picking up the book.
I am well into my next read, but still find myself thinking about this one. I wonder how I would react and what I would do if I were in Emily’s shoes or the shoes of any of the six teenagers we met on this chilling journey. As Emily states in the final chapter, “I’ve come to believe events don’t change you; they reveal you.” I imagine many of us would be surprised by such an unveiling.
I am new to Mr. Morris’s works, but would like to read more from him. I highly recommend Feel Me Fall to anyone looking for an engrossing read.
My thanks go out to Mr. James Morris who kindly gifted me a copy of Feel Me Fall. The opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. ...more
This is my third Diane Chamberlain novel, and I have to say she writes fiction as well as anyone I’ve read. I could easi4.5 stars (rounded to 5 stars)
This is my third Diane Chamberlain novel, and I have to say she writes fiction as well as anyone I’ve read. I could easily get in a rut and read several Chamberlain stories in a row. It’s been about a year since I read my last one; it won’t take nearly that long for me to read my next.
The story is set in the mid 1940s, first in Baltimore, then in the town of Hickory, North Carolina. Tess DeMello had a good thing going. She had a wonderful fiancé, a budding career, a loving mother, her church, and a hometown she loved. Then she made a mistake that would change things forever. Stolen Marriage is a compelling story about regrets, deception, heartache, strength, and redemption. It is also a powerful tale of prejudice, privilege of the rich, forbidden love, fierce loyalty, and the pulling together of a community to save many lives.
Stolen Marriage is written in first person from Tess’s perspective. Ms. Chamberlain does a stellar job in developing Tess and letting us in on the roller coaster ride of her thoughts and emotions. For many reasons Tess is not welcome in Hickory. I admired the way she didn’t wallow in the circumstances of her own making, but forged on, doing everything she could to make the best of a bad situation. The tale is full of intriguing characters. Tess’s new husband, Henry Kraft is a well-respected businessman, but his actions are curious and his motives are not clear. Henry’s mother Ruth and his sister Lucy have their own agendas, and they do not include having Tess as a member of the family. We also are introduced to Reverend Sam and a bit of paranormal imagery. Then there is sweet Hattie and Honor, Zeke and little Jilly amongst an array of other townspeople.
Playing a large part in the story is the hospital for polio victims set up in Hickory in an astounding 54 hours when the emergent need arose. Much of this section is based on fact and is clearly well researched. Learning about the way the epidemic was handled back then was fascinating. It was a nice change to read and learn about a crisis other than the war from that time period.
The plot turns in the story were well done. I thought I had things figured out on several occasions, but the twists kept coming. The ending was very satisfying, and I appreciated the epilogue, which takes place ten years later.
I found Stolen Marriage to be very inspiring. This gets a lot of points in my book. The only thing keeping it from a full 5 stars is that I wish Vincent had been more fleshed out. I didn’t feel I knew enough about him and his history with Tess to fully feel their relationship.
Overall, Stolen Marriage was a captivating read. Kudos to Ms. Chamberlain for being able to write such a quality book so far into her career (and without a co-author, lol). This novel is highly recommended for everyone. I look forward to reading many more of Ms. Chamberlain’s novels.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for inviting me to read an ARC through Net Galley. Opinions expressed are mine alone and are not biased in any way. ...more
A Mind To Kill is a combination dark psychological thriller and police procedural. We do know the identity of the killer from the start. She is RebeccA Mind To Kill is a combination dark psychological thriller and police procedural. We do know the identity of the killer from the start. She is Rebecca Smith, IT expert for the police department, who was sexually abused as a child. Unfortunately, there was not enough evidence to convict the rapist, even though 6-year-old Becca was brave enough to tell the authorities what had happened to her. Rebecca cannot come to terms with the horrors of the experience and is devoting her adult life to vengeance against as many pedophiles as possible. Rebecca gets sloppy though and the police find a severed head in a bag down by the river. It is then the cops get involved.
Enter DI Gareth “Grav” Gravel, familiar to Nicholl fans from his previous novels. Grav was lead investigator in 6 year-old Rebecca’s case. Rebecca feels the police let her down. Grav carries feelings of guilt that he was not good enough to get Rebecca’s rapist sent away. Grav’s and Rebecca’s paths are colliding again.
This is a quick, yet wrenching read. Rebecca is seriously disturbed. She is not a nice person any way you look at it. She is very unkind to her parents, who have tried to be supportive, but Rebecca cannot let things go. She has one mission in life and has willingly sacrificed everything but her day job for that endeavor. We are audience to her horrific methods, and as hardened as I am to dark graphic violence, some of these scenes were tough. Though I understood why she was the way she was, it was difficult to feel anything but sadness for this protagonist.
On the other hand, weathered DI Gravell is like an old comfy shoe to me, and I love him. He’s a crusty guy who doesn’t take care of himself, despite the frequent (imagined) whispers of encouragement from his beloved dead wife Heather. And he sure isn’t afraid to bend the rules when necessary in order to assure the right result. Though he is certainly rough around the edges, Grav is well respected by his colleagues.
John Nicoll has a wealth of experience with Child Protection services and law enforcement, lending a sense of real creditability to the story. As in all his novels, he makes his readers think. Is vigilantism acceptable? After all, as Rebecca knows, pedophiles ruin lives. Why should they get away with it? But who governs the rules of vigilantism? There have to be some guidelines and limits, right? How would that work? Or could it work at all? Should this even be considered??? Again, much to think about.
In summary, this is fast-paced and thought-provoking story with very good characterization and an ending that in my opinion could go no other way. A warning to the faint of heart: Take an anti-nausea pill before reading if you are prone to revulsion and skim the brutal parts. Or just skip this one. Otherwise, I recommend it to all readers who want a quick read that is well written and goes way below the surface.
Note to John Nicholl: John, could you please have Grav see a doctor? I don’t want him dropping dead on us anytime soon. He would be sorely missed.
And thank you, Mr. Nicholl, for providing me with an ARC of your novel. The opinions in my review are mine alone and are unbiased in any way....more
Edna and Luna is an unconventional little story (164 pages) by first time author Gleah Powers. Reading Ms. Powers’ Goodreads profile, she has a lot ofEdna and Luna is an unconventional little story (164 pages) by first time author Gleah Powers. Reading Ms. Powers’ Goodreads profile, she has a lot of lifetime experience that prepared her for writing this tale. Write what you know, right?
The novella is set in the American Southwest. Edna is an older gal, a childless widow, who is finally realizing that she is not going to have anyone to take care of her when she is hit with the infirmities of the elderly. She can be curmudgeonly, but I really liked her. Luna is a 35- year-old free spirit who has a gift for healing and a heart of gold that she inherited from her dear father. Sadly, he disappeared when she was 16. She too is on her own and scrounges to make ends meet. She has always wished for a husband and baby, but those have not been in the cards. Each of these two women tries her best to make a life for herself and to connect with others, but it’s very difficult for both. The stars finally align and these two are brought together. They couldn’t be more different, but they complement each other beautifully.
This story deals with the true meaning of caring, commitment and family; and the fact that blood isn’t always thicker than water. I found it heartening and poignant. My only wish is that it had been longer in order to explore their relationship in more depth. A sweet epilogue partially compensated for this.
I enjoyed this little book and recommend it to all looking for a quick yet touching read.
Many thanks to Ms. Gleah Powers for gifting me a copy of Edna and Luna in exchange for an unbiased review. ...more
What a breath of fresh air this one is! First of all, check out that cover. And how about that cool title? My attention was grabbed immediately. P. WeWhat a breath of fresh air this one is! First of all, check out that cover. And how about that cool title? My attention was grabbed immediately. P. Wesley Lundburg is one of those very talented indie authors out there who needs more attention. Well, here’s my attempt to get some of that for him.
Now I have never read any of those old time detective books featuring Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe, but one reviewer likens PI Rick “call me Clay” Clayton to those investigators, except that Clay’s work is set in the present day. All I know is that it was a pleasure to attach myself to Clay and experience the ride totally first hand. This was made possible by first person (Clay’s) narration and the inclusion of Clay in virtually every scene. Thus the reader has a very clear view of how this PI goes about his business.
In a nutshell, Clay is hired by a wealthy woman to find out if her husband is dallying about with other women. Well, things end up being way more interesting than that. Clay finds himself dealing with plenty of deception and corruption and people trying to “dissuade him” from digging into things. Oh, and murders. Several of them.
The book stays on plot and moves quickly. You fast readers out there could get through this one in a long afternoon. The narrative is punctuated with a series of nifty twists and revelations. There are also some fun action scenes. What I liked best was watching Clay break down the case using old-fashioned hard work, keen thinking, and expert help from his core of friends and associates.
I really liked Clay. Basically, Clay is a loner, but he has a small core of people around him through whom we learn more about him. There’s his computer hacker friend Clifford and Clifford’s mother, Tia Louise, both of whom Clay has known since boyhood. Clay has no family of his own, and goes out of his way to visit these two every week. Clifford has some sort of affliction (my guess would be something along the Asperger’s spectrum) that makes him different; Tia Louise appreciates the PI for maintaining a long term friendship with her son. Clay also seemingly eats most of his meals at the Harborview Diner, and he is very tight with the owner/cook, Lionel. They do lots of favors for each other. Then there’s his sage elderly boss who owns the agency and the boss’s sons, aka the Tweedles. Clay’s kind side glows when he is dealing with these people. I see a lot of potential in this supporting cast.
I understand this is the first book of a planned series. I was definitely entertained by The Stateroom Tryst and will most certainly pick up book 2 when it becomes available. I highly recommend this novel for a fast and different sort of PI story. I have also downloaded the author’s other two novels (from the Frank Mattituck series) and look forward to digging into those soon.
Great job, and thanks for being different, Mr. Lundburg!...more
Matt Brolly, you keep digging away towards my circle of go-to authors, and I have to admit you have crossed the finish line. From book one of the DCI Matt Brolly, you keep digging away towards my circle of go-to authors, and I have to admit you have crossed the finish line. From book one of the DCI Michael Lambert series (Dead Eyed) to book two (Dead Lucky), now to book three (Dead Embers), Matt Brolly’s stories get better and better. I have now officially hit the star ceiling with 5 big ones for this installment and fear how I am going to adequately reward the next book.
Michael Lambert is a troubled guy since falling asleep behind the wheel and crashing his car, killing his 4-year-old daughter in the process (not a spoiler). His marriage couldn’t survive the carnage and now he is lost. He does however have a tenuous relationship with DCI Sarah May that is again visited in this book, and he has his work, which is keeping him afloat. I really love this guy and always root hard for him. Other characters that grabbed me included the charismatic DS Matilda Kennedy and the enigmatic Chief Superintendent Glenn Tillman, both making reappearances from previous books. I would like for Mr. Brolly to continue to delve more into these two characters in future novels.
Lambert has a history of going off the grid in terms of how he goes about solving cases. This time around he and his team become involved in a complex series of events involving the death of a fellow cop, a suicide pact, and a series of near death experiences involving explosives. All of this turns out to be just the tippy tip top of a huge web of deceit, corruption and evil. From the first two sentences of the book I was ensnared, and watching this all play out made for compelling and fascinating reading. Even at 95%, there are pieces of the puzzle still to be worked out. The last sentence gave me goosies all over. This was definitely one that was enormously hard to put down.
I have to admit that there are a few deductions Lambert makes that made me wonder if he is a mind reader or just incredibly intuitive. Personally, I was so carried away by the story, I was happy to suspend my believability suspicions and go with it. I had a big smile of satisfaction on my face at the end, and can’t wait for Mr. Brolly to churn out another Lambert book.
Do you like Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza or Michael Wood? If so, you will definitely enjoy Matt Brolly’s Michael Lambert series. Though the central plots of the three novels are all self-contained, you will get a much better feel for the characters if you start with book one, Dead Eyed. Happy reading!
Many thanks to Matt Brolly, Canelo Publishing, and Net Galley for inviting me to read an ARC of Dead Embers. All opinions are my own and are not biased in any way....more
Ares Road is the second novel in James L. Weaver’s Jake Caldwell series. I had a lot of fun reading this book and enjoyed it immensely. Book #1, Poor Ares Road is the second novel in James L. Weaver’s Jake Caldwell series. I had a lot of fun reading this book and enjoyed it immensely. Book #1, Poor Boy Road, introduces us to Jake, a man who has miraculously broken away from his job as a mob “leg breaker”. He has developed a conscience and has a fervent desire to go straight, though he has a difficult time staying away from “the action.” Ares Road takes us on Jake’s next adventure, a mind-bending twisty tale that contains giant doses of intrigue, high suspense, and nail-biting thrills. Jake is paired up with Jack Logan, a former cop and current PI who is helping Jake learn the ropes of investigating. Along for the ride are Jake’s best buddy Bear, who is a small town sheriff, and mysterious FBI agent Victoria Snell.
Jake is a terrific protagonist. Despite his past, he is extremely likeable. We get a glimpse of his family life, which humanizes Jake even more. He is reluctant to marry his sweetheart, as more than anything else he does not want her put in danger because of his job. Bear is also an endearing guy, whose repartee with Jake adds much needed levity to this taut tale. I am hoping we get more of Bear and his back story in future installments.
The story gets off to a fast start and the pace remains quick. There are baddies all over the place and a number of threads that somehow all slot into place as the story comes to a downright pulse pounding close. The vast number of characters and trying to recall their relationships with each other occasionally slowed me down, but this did not significantly hinder my enjoyment of the read. There are twists and sustained suspense throughout the narrative with really no dead space at all. I give the author high praise for this.
Ares Road works well as a stand alone, but the reader will have a better appreciation for Jake and his quest for redemption if Poor Boy Road is read first.
Overall, I loved this hugely entertaining novel. I look forward to picking up book #3 when it is available. I highly recommend Ares Road (as well as Poor Boy Road) to all looking for an engaging plot, a winsome protagonist, and some good old exciting murder and mayhem.
I would like to thank Lakewater Press and James L. Weaver for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of Ares Road. The opinions expressed in this review are totally mine and are not biased in any way. ...more
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