Book Review: The River at Night by Erica Ferencik

Book Review: The River at Night by Erica Ferencik

Publisher:  Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books

            Scout Press

The description of this book drew me in so I requested it with high hopes. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Four middle-aged women are going on their yearly girl’s trip in the wilds of main. Their goal: white water rafting on a rather rough river. They hire a guide whose idea of planning a route on the river is a hand drawn map. Had he been a local and familiar with the river it might not have mattered but he’s only done the river once or twice himself. It doesn’t help that he is made out to be an almost brainless dude bro.

Out of the four female characters I just couldn’t find one to root for or identify with. At times they take turns becoming almost invisible. Their friendship doesn’t really seem to be well defined. Instead of four friends with a 15 year friendship I felt more like I was reading about four women who met in a yoga class and decided to just hang out for a weekend.

Calamity happens on the river and I was expecting to read a tale of survival against the elements. Again, I was disappointed. Having the women be challenged by the environment and having to learn to rely upon each other and themselves would have been a really good story. Instead, other characters are thrown in and it tosses that whole plot out the window.

I don’t want to spoil the book in case you want to read it but the stereotypes of the local people in the story grated on my nerves. You’ll see what I mean when you read it.

It wasn’t a super bad book. It moved quickly and kept you turning the page to see what craziness happened next. It just didn’t live up to my expectations. I hope you enjoy it and feel free to drop me a comment to tell me I was wrong.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Always by Sarah Jio

Book Review: Always by Sarah Jio

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

I wanted to love this book but ended up only liking it. It’s a pretty quick and decent read. The story is captivating and it makes you want to keep turning the page to see what happens next.

The love of Kailey Crane’s life disappeared and left her heart broken but she has finally recovered. Successful social commentary journalist, engaged to a wealthy fiancé, and living in a beautiful home with a view she seems to have landed on her feet. One night, after a luxurious dinner, she comes across the now homeless Cade. While memories of their time together come flooding back to her, he seems to be unable to remember her.

What happened to Cade? A once up and coming music mogul has turned into a dirty, ragged homeless man. Why can’t he remember Kailey? Why did he disappear from her life without a word? Unfortunately, at the end of the book some loose ends stay loose and are never resolved. This is irksome.

Also irksome is the character of Kailey. I wanted to like her. I wanted to feel empathy for her broken heart and love lost. Unfortunately she was entirely selfish. She completely shut out Ryan, her new fiancé, in her quest to help Cade. She withdraws money from their joint account, lies to him about working, and even leaves a planned holiday to return to Cade. Emotional cheating can sometimes be worse than physical cheating and this book shows it in detail. As much as I appreciate a good “finding your lost love” story, her behavior really makes her unlikable.

The book bounces back and forth from the present day to the 90s when Kailey and Cade’s relationship took place. The author handles this pretty well as it’s not jarring and it doesn’t take you too far out of the story. It brought me back to the 90s with the musical references and clothing references. The nostalgia was spot on for me.

I didn’t love the ending at all. It seems a little rushed and as I said there are several loose ends that don’t get resolved. All in all it was a good book and I enjoyed it but it won’t make my favorites list.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Book Review: Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

Debbie Macomber proves that she is the queen of light, fun Christmas romance novels. This book is perfect to curl up with on the couch by the light of the Christmas tree. Unless you have the cold heart of the Grinch, this is a fun book for you.

“Kill him with kindness” is what Julia decides to do after a few rough encounters with Cain, her handsome but jerky neighbor. The plus side to her project is that she is going to blog about it in attempt to get a promotion at her job. She buys Cain coffee, bakes him homemade cookies, but nothing seems to work.

She is bent and determined to win him over and eventually finds herself falling for her own personal Ebenezer Scrooge. Fortunately Cain seems to be falling for her as well. Her blog readership and comments explode and she is soon faced with a dilemma. Is getting the promotion at work worth alienating Cain when he finds out he is being used for blog material? Will he understand that he started out as a project but soon turned into something more?

The interactions between Julie and Cain were fun to read. Both characters have experienced pain in past relationships and though both are hesitant they both end up falling for the other. This is a quick, festive read and will leave you with the warm fuzzies of the Christmas season.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Dying for Christmas by Tammy Cohen

Book Review: Dying for Christmas by Tammy Cohen

Publisher: Pegasus Books

Jessica Gold stops for a coffee after a long day of Christmas shopping. She leaves with a man named Dominic Lacey and ends up in his apartment. She begins to regret her mistake and wants to leave but Dominic has other plans. He’s keeping her captive for twelve days of Christmas celebrations.

Every day gets more bizarre. Dominic behaves erratically. He dresses her in his missing wife’s clothing, force feeds her rich and fatty foods and then calls her fat, and every night he gives her a morbid gift. Included are family photos, his dead sister’s favorite toy…even a bag of teeth. He claims he will let Jessica go home but she knows that she will never be able to escape.

All the attempts to leave are foiled by Dominic. He always seems to be one step ahead of Jessica. Kim, the detective in charge of the investigation into Jessica’s disappearance, has no clear leads to where Jessica could be. It’s like she disappeared into thin air.

I’m not going to get too in depth because to do so would reveal the plot twists that kept me reading this book into the wee hours. Every time I thought I had things figured out the plot would veer off and surprise me.

The ending was a little creepy and felt a little unfinished. The parts of the book with Kim the detective pulled me out of the story and felt unnecessary. Other than that this was a decent thriller with a ton of twists.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

Book Review: Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group

            Clarion Books

I am 38 years old and the mother of two children under ten. Some would wonder why I am reviewing a book rated as young adult and teens. I was drawn to the book because of the theme of mental illness. I assumed that it would be like a lot of books out there where someone was ill, they meet the love of their life, and then they are magically okay.

This is not that book. This is much better.

Norah suffers from a myriad of mental illnesses, agoraphobia and anxiety attacks being the most dominant. She hasn’t left her house in four years and her mother not only home schools her but she has become Norah’s best and only friend. Norah realizes what a burden she has become to her mother and she loves her all the more for it.

One day the delivery person dropping off Norah’s grocery leaves her order on the front porch. She is unable to get them herself even after trying to “fish” for them with a mop handle. New neighbor Luke comes to her rescue. The awkwardness of two teens meeting is amplified by Norah’s situation. She wants to hide in her house with embarrassment but Luke keeps coming back and slowly becomes Norah’s new friend.

The book walks you through Norah’s day to day issues but at no point does it drag or get boring. The portrayal of mental illness and Norah’s struggles are very realistic. You laugh with her, you cry with her, you feel happy with her when she starts feeling more than friendship for Luke, and your heart breaks for her when her illness and self doubts interfere with her blossoming relationship.

This book is honest and raw. It’s happy and sad and hopeful. The best part? Luke doesn’t heal Norah and she doesn’t magically overcome her issues. He opens her eyes and heart to the possibilities that are out there and she begins to heal and try to save herself. She starts to really look at herself and live…but she is doing it for herself and NOT for him.

Bring the tissues for the sad parts and be okay with laughing out loud at the good parts. This book is amazing in the fact that it portrays mental illness in a real and honest way. It shows the reader that even if you can’t wave a magic wand and make everything perfect that you can still have a brand of magic all your own.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, no matter what age you may be. I messaged my friend April as soon as I was done with it and urged her to read it ASAP. I urge you to do the same. You won’t regret it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Whole Town's Talking by Fannie Flagg

Book Review: The Whole Town’s Talking by Fannie Flagg

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Random House

This book spans the happenings in a small town over a hundred years. While it may sound like a boring history lesson, it is anything but. Elmwood Springs is a town in Missouri founded by Swedish immigrant Lordor Nordstrom. The book starts with him founding the town and then sending away for a mail order bride.

Every character in this book is fleshed out really well. I felt almost as if I knew them by the end of the book. They were good people, flawed, but came together as a community of people that loved one another. Well, some of them more than others. It’s a testament to Flagg’s writing that the characters have so much life to them.

I don’t want to spoil a key part of the book but I do want to say that it really made me think about life and what you would do if you had just one more moment to talk to that special someone or best friend.

The chapters are short which makes the book go by really quickly. I enjoyed how the story was told from many different points of view and yet remained cohesive. The historical events that were mixed through out reminded me of a few things that I had forgotten.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a light hearted yet thoughtful read. It’s a book that I will come back to whenever I need that feel good feeling.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan

Book Review: Miracle on 5^th Avenue by Sarah Morgan

Publisher: Harlequin

            HQN Books

Cold weather? Check. Romance novel? Check. Warm blanket? Check. Cup of hot chocolate? Check. I was in the mood for a little light hearted romance and I found it in this book. Apparently this is the third book in a series but from my perspective this is a perfect stand-alone book. The characters are so well developed that you are drawn right in and my hot chocolate was soon forgotten and cold by the time I remembered it.

                                                

The leading lady in this book is a bright, sunny woman named Eva. She is one of those people that are a friend to everyone they meet and always find the positive in every situation. She’s struggling a bit with the anniversary of her grandmother’s death and being alone for the upcoming Christmas holiday. She’s hired to decorate a penthouse for Christmas by the grandmother of the owner while he is away on holiday and she feels the job will be a perfect distraction.

Lucas Blade, the famous thriller author, has other plans. He is not on retreat in Vermont finishing his next book. He is penthouse, hiding from the world and the memories of his deceased wife as well as suffering from a crippling case of writer’s block. His and Eva’s first encounter had me laughing out loud. I won’t spoil the details except to say I could almost picture it in a romantic comedy on the big screen.

Lucas is dark and moody and Eva is sunny and happy. The two polar opposites of their personalities make this fun and engaging story. They have the perfect example of a love/hate relationship. Eva begins to change Lucas and she doesn’t even realize that he begins to change her too. She falls for him but he takes longer to get there. Typical man. J

This is a quick, light hearted read but don’t mark it down as a piece of fluff. It has heart and characters that you will fall in love with. Sure, it’s a romance but it’s also a story of two people mending their broken hearts. I hope you give it a chance and love it as much as I did.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

You can find this review and more at:

http://shiningstarreviews.blogspot.com/

Book Review: Girl Number One by Jane Holland

Book Review: Girl Number One by Jane Holland

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Eleanor Blackwood was six when her mother was murdered in the woods. She was there as a witness but for some reason cannot describe the killer to the police. Eighteen years later, and on the anniversary of her mother’s death, she finds a body of a woman in almost the exact same spot where her mother was killed. After going for help the police arrive and the body is gone.

You would think that this would be setting up a nice mystery but you would be wrong. Eleanor is a cold, detached character. Most people would break down when they see a dead body but Eleanor treats it like any other day. People accuse her of being nuts and instead of being crazy I believe she had some other kind of mental problem.

Her father is an alcoholic and even hits her at one point in the story. She sleeps with men that are no good for her. She even sleeps with a guy that she thinks might be the murderer. She has an “oh well, no big deal” attitude about the whole thing. Eleanor takes absolutely no effort to keep herself safe or out of trouble. Even when she gets proof that the killer wants her to be his “number one” she still runs head on into danger and puts herself and her friends at risk.

I couldn’t connect with her in the slightest. The men all treat Eleanor as a pretty object to be protected and ogled. She never quite gets to stand on her own two feet even though she is a gym teacher and skilled in martial arts.

This book was just “okay” for me. It was nothing spectacular and while it was a quick read and somewhat enjoyable there were none of the twists and turns that I would have liked to see. I guessed who the killer was about halfway through but I wasn’t that excited to find out that I was right. The ending was tied up a little too quickly without enough explanation.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Next by Stephanie Gangi

Book Review: The Next by Stephanie Gangi

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

I requested this book because it said that it as a tale of love, revenge, and ghosts. That seemed to be right up my alley because I am such a horror nut. I’m disappointed to say that this is not what I got at all.

We start with Joanna DeAngelis who is at home dying from her second bout of Stage 4 cancer. As someone who’s had a mother with cancer this hit close to home. You would figure that at this time she would be home amongst her two adult daughters and trying to soak in their love while she still can. Instead she is obsessed with her phone, social media, and her ex-love Ned. Ned went out for groceries one day and never came back. When he turns back up he has a new celebrity girlfriend and a baby on the way and has become a minor celebrity himself.

When she passes away, all the rage and anger about her loss of Ned brings her back as a ghost. She’s a nasty ghost. She is selfish and heartless and bent on revenge. She is not a likable character at all and it makes me dislike the book that much more.

Instead of checking in on her adult daughters and basking in a second chance to get some more love from them she is intent on destroying Ned. It gets exhausting and draining to read.

I’m not going to spoil the ending of the book and will only say that I was dissatisfied. The last chapter or so did not redeem the whole of the book like it could have.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Cover Me in Darkness by Eileen Rendahl

Book Review: Cover Me in Darkness by Eileen Rendahl

Publisher: Midnight Ink

Amanda Sinclair is an escapee from the cult that brainwashed her mother and caused her mother to murder her younger brother. She’s changed her name and taken a boring job as a lab tech at a cosmetics company in an attempt to avoid the spotlight. She’s thrown back in to the public eye when her mother commits suicide around the same time that the cult leader is due to be released from jail.

After examining her mother’s possessions, Amanda quickly concludes that her mother did not in fact kill herself but was murdered. Soon there are two mysteries to contend with as someone is falsifying documents are her job. This error could cause the possible deaths of thousands of customers. Was her mother’s death really a murder? Is the cult involved? Are the document errors at her job intentional or accidental?

I requested this book because of the cult aspect and I was left disappointed. The information about that cult is only garnered through flashbacks into Amanda’s past. There weren’t really enough details to keep me interested. The information about her job was a lot of scientific terms that just left me bored.

The story was extremely fast paced and to that end I felt it could have been fleshed out more. The conclusions to both mysteries felt rushed. When I was done with the book I felt like I had just read an episode of Law & Order.

It’s a quick read and somewhat enjoyable if you are looking for something to pass the time. It’s just not as in depth and suspenseful as I had hoped.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Book Review: Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Publisher: Atria Books

I enjoyed this book even though I have mixed feelings about it. Cannie Shapiro is a 28 year old woman with great friends, a job she loves, and a loving dog. She also happens to be plus sized. This part of the book pleased me because I happen to be plus sized as well. Cannie seems to be perfectly happy with her plus sized status until her ex-boyfriend writes an article about her in a national magazine. She’s embarrassed but it isn’t until later that she realizes that the article, while a little harsh, also had insights into her life that she didn’t even know that he had noticed.

I peeked at a few other reviews of this book and saw that one of the common complaints is that Cannie is too whiny about her life and being fat. While it does seem to go overboard at times a lot of her self doubts and inner commentary are common thoughts among unhappy plus size women. Unfortunately the “no one loves me because I am fat” mantra that some of us tell ourselves happens a lot. So while I feel that it was a little excessive at times I also nodded my head because there were times when I was in that mindset.

When Cannie is having a good day she is witty and sarcastic and funny. I laughed at loud when she threw a box of tampons at her ex-boyfriend’s head. She makes bad choices and ends up pregnant with the ex-boyfriend’s baby, which is a realistic occurrence. Then Cannie meets up with a movie star named Maxi who is almost like a fairy godmother. She arranges for Cannie to visit in California and pitch her script to an agent who immediately hands Cannie a check for a LOT of money. These are the unrealistic parts. It took me a little bit out of the story because while this would be a good scene in a movie, I cannot see things happening that quickly in real life.

After a show down with the cold, uncaring father that abandoned her and her family when she was a child Cannie seems to finally start developing a stronger backbone. This crumbles to pieces after an encounter in which she almost loses her baby and sinks into a deep depression. She loses weight drastically and is finally the thin she always wanted to be and is still unhappy.

She finally wakes up and starts to take care of herself. She gains some weight back and is finally able to see that she should have been happy with herself all along. This made me smile a bit because she was finally a happier, nicer person.

One of the elements that bothered me about this book was how nasty and unaccepting Cannie was to her mother for being a lesbian. I don’t have a basis for this in my own family but I understand that if you are not happy with someone else’s life choices it doesn’t matter. It is their life. There is no resolution to Cannie’s anger at her mother for becoming a lesbian. There is no acceptance of her mother’s partner. I usually can’t stand books that tie everything up in a neat little bow at the end but I really feel that not having Cannie at least accept that her mother was happy and she wouldn’t be able to change her mother’s mind would have been a decent resolution.

Despite the few issues I had with this book I did enjoy it. The characters are complex and flawed. There is a lot of humor in the story as well as some heartache. I would definitely read it again.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Last One by Alexandra Oliva

Book Review: The Last One by Alexandra Oliva

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

This was a well done, wonderful debut novel. I can only hope that when I finish my book that people will think it’s half as good.

This book is Survivor meets the end of the world. Twelve contestants are sent out into the wilderness with no idea about they game they are about to play other than they will be tested on their survival skills. There are team challenges, solo challenges, and rewards. There is no tribe voting off contestants in this game. The only way to win is to be the last person to quit.

Story telling is told by a contestant that the producers have nicknamed “Zoo”. Zoo is a woman who is bent and determined to never give up. She wants to win. The book weaves between the past and present so you can get a feel of how the game is played before you get the dramatic events of the present.

A pandemic has hit the rest of the world unbeknownst to the contestants and the production crew. One day Zoo wakes up and notices her cameraman has disappeared. She knows that there are hidden cameras and drones supposedly watching her every move so she isn’t that concerned and continues to play the game. She is positive that the “clues” that she finds have been left for her by producers.

She runs into a young man named Brennan and despite the fact that he tells her what has happened she believes he is a trick to get her to quit. She merely tolerates his prescience and at times is a little cruel. It made me want to smack her but the fact that it evoked that response means the writing was good.

I’m not going to spoil anything on how Zoo’s journey continues. I will say that there were times I was cheering her, times I wanted to shake her to wake her up from the delusion that she was still playing a game, and times I wanted to yell at her for her poor treatment of Brennan. I also felt that at times her treatment of Brennan was needed because it kept him moving and kept him from giving up. She was one of the most stubborn characters I have read in a long time.

The emotional ups and downs in this book are well written. This book made me question myself about what if this happened for real? What if a show like Survivor was filming and a pandemic or something worse happened and the whole lot of contestants and production crew knew nothing of what happened? How would they react?

Zoo is complex but relatable. The supporting characters were an interesting backdrop. While I wish there was more time with them I enjoyed the fact that the story flowed quickly. This story is also unpredictable which is often rare. Just when you think that the story is going to turn left the author turns right. It was a delightful thing that I was proven wrong a few times while reading.

The ending was not what I expected at all and for that I am pleased. It was brought to a good conclusion that left me wondering and picturing what happens next. If this author decides to do a sequel I am all for it. On the other hand the end to this book was satisfying enough that it can safely stand on its own.

Ms. Oliva should be proud of such a wonderfully written debut novel. I am honored to have been chosen to review this book. It was a pleasure and I recommend this to anyone who reads this review. I am thoroughly impressed.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Nightmares: A New Decade of Modern Horror

Book Review: Nightmares: A New Decade of Modern Horror

Publisher: Tachyon Publications

Nightmares is an anthology of 23 short horror stores. There is an offering here for everyone. Out of the 23, there was only one story I didn’t care for at all. The rest were really good. There is something for everyone here from serial killers, to zombies, to demons to shape shifters.

My favorite was Lonegan’s Luck, which stayed with me a week later and I felt was so good I held my mother hostage and told her all about it. It’s a good example of what happens when you can get caught up in a routine and get too cocky and confident.  Best story of the whole book in my opinion.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Faithful by Alice Hoffman

Book Review: Faithful by Alice Hoffman

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Shelby Richmond is a hot mess. She was driving with her friend Helene, hit a patch of ice, and got into an accident. Shelby survived with minor injuries and Helene ends up comatose. Shelby’s life stalls. She attempts suicide, she cuts herself, and ends up in an institution. She even shaves her head as a way to act out from survivor’s guilt.

The book follows Shelby’s life as she finally rejoins the land of the living. She falls into a relationship with a boy named Ben. After getting a job she meets a woman named Maravelle and is soon enfolded in her family. Shelby learns about making new friends and about how those friends can become family. She learns that it’s sometimes okay to depend on other people to help you through difficult times.

I laughed and I cried while reading this book. Shelby is broken but you can see so much potential in her that you root for her to wake up and enjoy her life again. I found her to be very relatable. She adopts stray animals and takes them in and they help her heal and find something to be passionate about. Her addiction to Chinese food made me worry about her MSG intake.

The relationship she has with her mother is profound. Despite everything that has happened to her mother is her rock. She’s stern when she needs to be and gentle when she has to be and when Shelby just needs her to sit and just be there she does that as well. There was an extremely touching but fun scene between Shelby and her mom that still sticks with me. It made me want to hug my mom a little tighter.

The character of Maravelle was amazing. She sees the gentle and loving person that Shelby is deep down and in her own no-nonsense way helps to bring it out. Maravelle’s family is a cast of characters all their own but they also help Shelby grow in their own individual ways. The situations that her children get into are things I have seen teenagers get into in real life. The writing here was rich and believable.

Shelby also has an “Angel” whom was the person that pulled her from the wreckage of her accident. Angel mails her postcards over the years that encourage her to keep her life moving. Shelby begins to look forward to the messages. The identity of Angel is later revealed in the book. I wish that part had been explored a little bit more but I am still satisfied with what happened.

The pacing on this book was perfect. It didn’t drag along but didn’t skimp on details. The ending left me wanting a little more but not in a bad way. It left me wanting more in the way that a book is so good that you just want it to continue. I wanted to stay in Shelby’s world and see what happens next. Instead, I was left with the promise of her facing her future with a promise of greatness.

I LOVED this book. LOVED. Please give it a try and I promise that you will not regret it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Book Review: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

The book starts out with Ruth Jefferson, a respected African American nurse in a Labor and Delivery Unit. One day she is removed from the care of a child simply because the child’s parents are white supremacists and don’t want her near them or their baby due to the color of her skin. The baby develops medical issues and even though Ruth intervenes after some hesitation the baby passes away. This leads to murder charges being filed against Ruth.

I didn’t read this book to enjoy it. I knew from the blurb and the topic of race issues that it wasn’t meant to be a fun read but a serious one. I was outraged on Ruth’s behalf due to the unfairness of the charges but the author quickly points out that I am not allowed to be. I felt like I was being preached at because I happen to be white. How dare I have any empathy for a fellow human being who is being treated wrong? Just because I’m not the same skin color I can’t relate?

The characters are complex and for the most part well written. The courtroom drama is there. The racial tensions are high. Ruth has several in depth conversations with her white attorney about why she can never understand everything that she has gone through because she isn’t black. While I understand what Picoult is trying to convey not everyone has reaped the benefits of “white privilege”. Like it or not it needs to be said that there are white people out there who have gone through similar things as to what Ruth goes through.

The overall tone aside this book will certainly make you think and question how you look at some things in the world. It was compelling but it’s not an easy read.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Book Review: The Girl from the Sea by Shalini Boland

Book Review: The Girl from the Sea by Shalini Boland

Publisher: Adrenalin Books

                            

Mia James is found on a beach with no memory of who she is. She doesn’t even recognize her own face in the mirror. I can’t imagine what that would be like. After seeing her face on the news her boyfriend comes forward to claim her. Mia starts to piece together her life and doesn’t like some of the things she finds.

Her perfect boyfriend isn’t as perfect as he acts. He makes her uncomfortable but she obviously can’t remember why. She’s incredibly wealthy but has family members that hate her and are only kind to her to get more money out of her. Mia remembers that she likes to go rowing and reconnects with Jack, an instructor at her rowing club. He’s the only person not pressuring her to remember her life and that comforts her. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

As pieces of her life are revealed Mia begins to doubt that she wants to know the facts. Is it better off to remember your imperfect life or would you take the chance to start over from scratch?

The pacing of this book was perfect. Not too fast, but not too slow as to drag. The characters are not flawless by any means but this makes them seem more real. You can really relate to them if not personality than in the reasons for their actions.

I don’t reveal spoilers in my reviews but I was pleasantly surprised and a little disturbed by the ending. I definitely recommend that you give it a try.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Book Review: Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu

Book Review: Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu

Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

            Roaring Book Press

This is the first book I have read by Jennifer Mathieu and I was not disappointed. We start with Caroline, a young girl whose autistic brother Dylan was kidnapped several months ago. She’s feeling guilty and lost because she was supposed to be watching him at the time. Miracles happen and Dylan is found. Another miracle occurs when it’s reported that 15 year old Ethan, who was kidnapped four years prior, was found with him.

Caroline struggles with helping her brother recover from his ordeal because he is locked in to his autistic state and non-verbal. Ethan struggles with coming back to a world that has since moved on without him. When it’s learned that his captor sometimes left Ethan alone people begin to question why he didn’t take the chance to escape. Caroline approaches Ethan in an attempt to get information to help her brother and they soon strike up a friendship.

Ethan’s portions of the book were more compelling to read. He’s going to therapy and you soon find out what happens to him. It’s traumatic and about as horrific as you would expect. His captor makes him do things that no child or even human for that matter should have to do. Secrets are revealed that may put his newfound friendship in jeopardy but he takes the chance because in order for him to heal the truth has to come out.

Caroline’s portions were less compelling but necessary to the plot. It was interesting to see how this young girl coped with her guilt and navigating other feelings that come with growing up.

This was not a light hearted read but I didn’t mind it. I laughed at times and shed a few tears at times. I felt bad for Ethan and Caroline and what they went through and as a mother I just wanted to reach into the book and hug them close and tell them everything would be ok. To me this is a mark of a good book, when you care so much about fictional people.

The author portrayed a young autistic boy in a sensitive way. I just wish we had seen a little more of Dylan and Caroline’s home life. The book ended well and my only negative about this book is that I wish I could see how Caroline and Ethan and Dylan would be doing further down the road.

I feel this is a must read. Just keep your Kleenex handy.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: All These Perfect Strangers by Aoife Clifford

Book Review: All These Perfect Strangers by Aoife Clifford

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Alibi 

                                    

Pen Sheppard accepts a scholarship to university in order to escape her hometown. After testifying against her best friend in a murder trial at the young age of 15 the townspeople never forgave her. She believes that going to a different town will allow her to start over. Unfortunately, she is wrong as she is soon entangled in another murder investigation.

                                                                                       

There is a lot of drinking, drug use, and meaningless sex in this book. At times it felt like it was only used as filler. There’s even some gang violence which is never really fleshed out.

Pen is such a flawed character and she lies so much and so well that it’s hard to find any empathy for her. I found that I was bored for a large chunk of the book. There was too much discussion about whether Pen was innocent or guilty. Since it was told from her point of view the protestations of innocent got old really quickly. Then you have to keep in mind that she is a really good liar and wonder what, if anything, that you are reading is true.

It was a bit of a mess and the ending was almost a given and unsatisfying. I don’t see myself reading this book again any time soon.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Many by Nathan Field

Book Review: The Many by Nathan Field

Publisher: Silvermac Publishing

                            

Online dating can be scary. This book proves it. Karl’s sister Stacey goes on a blind date she meets on an online dating site. The guy is handsome and rich and just her cup of tea until he starts putting out creepy stalker vibes. She asks him to take her home and he obliges, or does he?

The next morning she returns home to the apartment she shares with Karl a different person. It’s almost as if she had a personality transplant. She’s become mean, vulgar, and hypersexual. She attacks their mother and then goes after Karl.

Dawn’s mother Isobel is going through the same situation. Isobel meets a beautiful woman on a dating website and after a date, her personality changes as well. She becomes hateful and even abandons Dawn and only returns later to attack her daughter.

Dawn and Karl team up to find out the reasons for their loved ones sudden changes. The cops don’t believe that there is a connection in circumstances but they are determined to prove the police wrong.

There are a few twists here and a mad scientist to boot. The revealing explanations are a little hokey and predictable. The downfall of the women and what they end up doing is more interesting than the reveal of what actually happened to them. It was a little creepy at parts and those I really enjoyed.

The book was not bad overall. It’s fast paced for the most part but a little bogged down in the middle. The ending made me angry. It ended abruptly and had I been reading a paperback instead of on my tablet I would have thrown it across the room.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

Book Review: Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

Temperance Dews is a widow that works in her family’s foundling home for orphans. The orphanage needs funds. Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, needs a guide through the slums to help find the murderer of his mistress. An unlikely pair from the start but you can pretty much tell how this one is going to end.

Caire is a tortured soul who is unable to withstand the slightest human touch. The reasoning behind this is never really explained. Temperance is a widow with a history of cheating on her husband. Of course they end up in bed together.

The sex is steamy, the murderer is revealed, and there is a set up for the author’s future books. It’s a light and fast read and if you view it as a guilty pleasure you will not be disappointed.

It wasn’t the best book I have ever read but it certainly wasn’t the worst.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

Book Review: Everything We Keep by Kerry Lonsdale

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

                                                 

On what was supposed to be her wedding day, Aimee Tierney is at a funeral instead. Her fiancé, James Donato, vanishes at sea during a fishing trip. His brother brought his body home. A grief stricken Aimee is approached by a psychic who claims that James is still alive but she doesn’t believe her. At first.

Months go by and as Aimee slowly starts moving on with her life she finds she just can’t let James go. She has known James since she was eight years old. How can she just move on from someone who was such a huge part of her life? She can’t bring herself to part with his paintings or clothing. A nagging feeling that he is still alive keeps eating at her.

She starts her own café and a flirtation with a man named Ian. As much as she wants to move on into something serious with Ian she can’t bring herself to let James go. Mysterious clues from Mexico keep popping up and she finally decides she has to make a trip and search out the truth about James once and for all. Even though Ian knows that if they do find James alive somewhere he will lose Aimee, he decides to offer her his help.

I hate how Aimee kept pushing Ian away but I can also understand her reasoning. How can you through yourself fully into loving someone when you have no closure from the previous relationship ending? It wouldn’t be fair to anyone. Even though I hated her for it I felt she made the right choice. She’s not a perfect character. She’s flawed. She makes mistakes that will make you shake your head. In the end she is relatable.

Secrets are revealed and there are twists and turns. The epilogue at the end left me tearful and hoping for a sequel and I am happy to say the author revealed that a sequel is planned for 2017.

This isn’t a light read. Hopefully, like me, you will go through the rollercoaster of emotions with Aimee and enjoy the book. It ranges from devastated to hopeful, then the happiness and joys of new love, the bitterness of old love, and the cleansing aspect of closure.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: The Woman In The Mirror (An Alexandra Mallory Novel) by Cathryn Grant

Book Review: The Woman In The Mirror (An Alexandra Mallory Novel) by Cathryn Grant

Publisher: D2C Perspectives

Alexandra Mallory is a murderer. She is looking for a place to live and blend in to obscurity for a while and she believes a house on the edge of a cliff is the perfect place to do it. She rents a room from the home’s owner, Noreen Palmer, and soon finds out that she will have a roommate. His name is Jared and he becomes obsessed with Alexandra almost instantly.

Noreen is quirky, clinging and annoying. Alexandra does her utmost best to avoid her and fails. Noreen claims that she feels a connection to Jared but it is clearly one sided. She also claims that there is a ghost in the mirror. What starts out as weird quirkiness soon changes into obsessive and crazy behavior.

The character of Jared was a hot mess. He walks out of his job one day in an effort to find himself. As soon as he meets Alexandra all of his good intentions fall to the wayside. His only focus from then on is getting her into his bed and into his life. He becomes a needy jerk that won’t take no for an answer. He is almost stalker-like in his new behavior. His constant whining made me cringe.

Alexandra is written as a bad ass and that’s not a good thing here. She has little to no redeeming qualities. She feels that her purpose is to bring a vigilante type justice to people that are evil to the world when in reality she just kills people that piss her off. There was nothing in this character or any of the others that made me like them.

There’s an obvious twist to the story but it comes so late in the game you just kind of go “oh, okay” and move on. This is supposed to be the first in a reported series. You would think if that was the case the author would not have tried to jam in so many flashbacks in the first book. I understand that you need to learn Alexandra’s history but this book went back and forth to so many flashbacks it felt bogged down.

The ending was predictable. If there is in fact a second book I might give it a try to see if Alexandra’s story gets more interesting. I finished this book in a few hours so if you are looking for something to fill time this would be a good book for you. The story isn’t bad but I think it needed to be fleshed out more.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Haunted Bridges by Rich Newman

Book Review: Haunted Bridges by Rich Newman

Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.

Everyone has heard a story about a haunted bridge in your hometown. A friend of a friend went over a bridge on a dark country road and encountered a ghost. This book chronicles over 300 bridges across the U.S.

It’s a non-fiction book so none of the stories are particularly scary. There are the classic tales of “Crybaby Bridge” and stories about a woman and the tragic death of her child. It seems like almost every state has a “Crybaby Bridge”.

I live in Dover, Delaware and this book listed three bridges that are semi-local to me. One of which is a road that I have traveled on before but never got to the bridge portion. Maybe a Halloween night drive is in my future. I’ll have to check it out and report back.

This is more of a reference type book so if you are looking for thrills and chills this is not the book for you. I did enjoy reading some of the more detailed stories and I will keep it around if my own writing goes into the ghost department and I need some inspiration. I wish the short stories accompanying each bridge were a little more detailed.

My only real complaint about this book is that the formatting (e-book) is not that great. Some of the chapters run together and section breaks as well. There is an index included so you can research specific states and that was helpful.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Deception Island by Brynn Kelly

Book Review: Deception Island by Brynn Kelly

Publisher: Harlequin – HQN Books

Holly Ryan is sailing a yacht and posing as a body double for a wealthy senator’s daughter. Her ship is soon overtaken by several masked men. Even though she fights them she is soon taken captive.

Rafe Angelito has secret reasons for why he is a kidnapper. One of which is the safety of his son. His past has come back to haunt him and unfortunately his son is caught in the crossfire.

Passions stir and Holly learns that Rafe is not the hard hearted con man he is pretending to be. Rafe learns that Holly is not the pampered princess that she was pretending to be. They soon team up together to take down a common enemy but can their newfound passion for each other survive?

Mystery, international intrigue, romance, and suspense make this a fast and entertaining read. It would also make a decent Lifetime flick. If you are looking for a light read or a beach read, this book would be excellent in that respect.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review. 

Book Review: Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger

Book Review: Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger

Publisher: Touchstone

Finley Montgomery is a 20 year old woman and a psychic. She has true dreams, sees spirits, and speaks with the dead. She has a gift that she doesn’t want and it’s becoming hard for her to control. She tattoos pieces of her visions on her body. Moving to the Hollows, where her grandmother lives, is an escape from her overbearing mother. Her grandmother is also a psychic and starts to teach her ways to control her visions.

The Hollows is a mysterious town with a mysterious history. I wish there would have been more insight to that part. It seems to draw people and events to it. It’s said several times in the book “The Hollows wants what it wants.” It’s almost as if the town is its own living, breathing entity. It’s a character in the book for sure.

Finley meets the detective that her grandmother sometimes helps and is shocked to learn he has a missing person case for her. A little girl has gone missing and the police have given up hope but the girl’s mother has not. Finley reluctantly agrees to help and opens herself up to her visions. She also has to deal with her messy life and an even messier relationship.

The book is told from Finley’s point of view and the point of view of the missing girl and the horrors she is being subjected to. Some of the scenes are graphic but not too bad. A few parts of the book left me with a chill or two but I can report that it didn’t give me nightmares.

All in all, I liked this book a lot. I wanted more. The author left the ending open for a sequel and if she writes one I will most certainly buy it. The only parts of this book that I didn’t care for was that I wanted to know more about the town and its history. Also, Finley’s mother is portrayed throughout the book to be this huge mega bitch but when she’s needed she’s suddenly kind and caring. It was a little hard to stomach the huge personality difference.

Hopefully, if the author writes a sequel, she will tackle more of the town’s history. As I said, if a sequel comes out, sign me up. I have already recommended this book to several people outside of this blog and will continue to recommend it to many more.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest review. Thanks Netgalley, for another winner!

Book Review: The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

Book Review: The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

You wake up in a glorious garden. It’s green and lush and there is even a waterfall. It sounds like paradise, right?

Not if you have been kidnapped by The Gardener. He’s a handsome man that on an ordinary day you might find yourself attracted to. Now he’s your captor. He’s tattooed you, changed your name, and turned you in to his plaything. If you are good to him he is good to you. Good behavior gets rewards. Bad behavior gets punishments.

Really bad behavior gets you killed and put on display like a prized butterfly.

After the garden is discovered by the FBI they begin questioning the survivors. The book is told from the perspective of a young girl named Maya. She learns quickly that keeping The Gardener happy is the only way she can survive. Even while she is giving the agents all the answers she is able more secrets and more horrors are revealed.

This book stayed with me when it was over. Yes, it’s a tale of survival. It’s also a story of the depths of friendship between women. The characters were fleshed out pretty well. I shed a few tears during a few sad moments in this book. I almost cheered at the end.

This is definitely a highly recommended read. I only put it down for dinner and restroom breaks. It reads quickly but it also very detailed. The author is excellent at pacing and keeping the reader turning the page to find out what happens next. You almost NEED to find out what happens next.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you Netgalley, this one was a treat!

Book Review: Baby Doll by Hollie Overton

Book Review: Baby Doll by Hollie Overton

Publisher: Redhook Books

3,110 days after she was kidnapped, Lily escapes from captivity with her six year old daughter Sky. Her abductor was a man she thought she could trust. Rick was her teacher and he turned in to a monster that kidnapped her, raped her, beat her, and manipulated her into his compliant “baby doll”.

Little did he know that Lily’s spirit wasn’t as broken as he thought. One day, he gets careless and Lily escapes. She runs through the snow and cold with her daughter and goes straight to the only home she has ever known. She believes that they will now be safe.

Things have changed in her absence. Her father has passed away. Her mother has fallen into drinking. Her twin sister Abby has not only become depressed but is pregnant by Lily’s first love. As painful as it is, Lily has to adjust to the realization that life has gone on without her.

This story was compelling from start to finish. There have been stories in the news of people escaping from activity but you never really see what happens AFTER unless they get a book or movie deal. Granted this book is fiction but I think it shows that when a crime like this happens it’s like a pebble dropped in a still pond – the ripples extend out and touch more than just the criminal and the victim.

Lily’s twin Abby suffers from depression and guilt. Sky is a beautiful six year old girl who is dealing with being taken away from the only father she has ever known and not fully understanding what a monster he was. Lily has to deal with coming back to a life that is completely changed. Even Rick has to deal with the loss of his perfect public persona and the aftermath of being discovered as a pedophile and kidnapper.

The author made these characters realistic enough that you loved them, hated them, rooted for them, and even understood their decisions even if you didn’t agree with them. It’s a story of struggle, hope and survival. It’s a story that will stick with you even when you finish.

I received an Uncorrected Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Book Review: First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine

This is the first book that I have read by Emily Giffin. It begins with the death of Daniel, the older brother and golden boy of the family that is ripped apart by his death. Flash forward to 15 years later and the two sisters are still dealing with unresolved grief.

Josie is the wild free spirited sister. Meredith is the goody-goody overachiever. Both have handled Daniel’s death in different ways and neither of them has ever turned to each other to cope. Josie feels that her life is empty and she looks to have a child to fill the hole in her heart. Meredith starts to doubt her life choices in regards to her career and her marriage. Josie suffers from survivor’s guilt among other things and Meredith has tried her whole life to be the glue that held the whole family together.

It was a compelling story told from both of their viewpoints. It was interesting to see how each woman made their decisions, faced the repercussions, and still managed to maintain their own identities. There were times that I yelled at my tablet and even a few moments where I grew teary eyed while reading. This is something to me that signifies that the writer has touched me.

This isn’t a happily ever after fairy tale. The ending doesn’t wrap everything up in a tidy little bow. The story, however, shows how tragedy affects a family. It can splinter or even shatter them but if they are strong enough they can make it through and reconnect and move to a happier future together. Love is definitely the central theme. This is the kind of book that makes you think and I enjoyed it.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book Review: If You Left by Ashley Prentice Norton

If You Left by Ashley Prentice Norton

Advanced Reading Copy

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books

I am going to be completely honest. I did not like this book at all. Normally, I can find at least one or two things about a book that I can say “Oh, well at least that part was good.” With this book there wasn’t a single redeeming quality.

It starts out with Althea Willow, a wealthy housewife with several mental illnesses. Being someone who is familiar with mental illness, that part did not bother me at all. The first chapter begins with a suicide attempt that  Althea survives even though she ends up in a mental hospital. This is not her first admission. She is soon released and goes home to her adulterous husband and their adopted 9 year old daughter whom she barely knows.

The whole book is basically about how much Althea does not know a thing about her daughter Clementine and her half-hearted attempts to bond with her. This woman literally has no desire whatsoever to be a mother. She goes through the motions in an attempt to placate her insensitive ass of a husband. He’s overly critical, treats her like a child, and hits on women right in front of her face.

Althea barely exists. She has a ton of money, a husband she once loved, a career she once enjoyed and a daughter who is dying for an ounce of affection from her. You want to feel bad for her or feel some sympathy for her but you simply can’t. There is not even one thing about her that is remotely endearing. She has no spine except for one scene where she has an incident with one of her husband’s mistresses.

The only person I felt anything for in this book was Clementine. She was clearly a smart, vibrant young girl who wants her mother’s love. Even when she begs for it, speaks the words out loud, Althea is incapable of doing anything for her.

Don’t get me started on the ending. If this had been a physical book instead of an e-book that I was reading on my tablet I would have thrown it against the wall. It was THAT bad. All in all, I would recommend one thing about this book. Avoid it.

I received and Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for my review.

As always if you have read this book and want to tell me how right or how wrong I am, please feel free to comment below.

Book Review: Blood Defense

Blood Defense by Marcia Clark

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

A decorated LAPD detective is accused of murdering an actress who is considered to be “America’s Sweetheart”. Samantha Brinkman, an ambitious defense attorney, recognizes the media attention and potential clients that will come her way if she takes the case. She soon launches her own investigation in a quest for the truth and discovers that her client harbors a few secrets. His uncontrollable anger issues make her doubt his claim of innocence. She also learns things about herself and her personal life that rock her normally steady foundation.

This book is fast-paced without skimping on suspense or details. Each chapter is a satisfying read that makes you want to turn the page to see what happens next. The mystery is wrapped up in a satisfying way but there is also a few items that help set up for a sequel. I do so hope there is a sequel. The characters are well-developed and I would love to see where they go.

I received a free uncorrected proof copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review. Even being an uncorrected proof I was only able to spot two errors and they were minor.

This is definitely worth a read. As always, if you have read it or will read it in the future, let me know in the comments.

Book Review: Death At A Fixer-Upper

Death At A Fixer-Upper by Sarah T. Hobart

A Home Sweet Home Mystery

Random House Publishing Group - Alibi

From the first line of the first chapter, I was hooked. Sam Turner is a single mother who is trying to build a future for her and her son. She’s working at a real estate agent as well as dealing with life’s ups and downs. Well, maybe a few more than a normal life.

She takes on showing a house that has a slew of problems attached to it. The crumbling house has a tenant who may or may not have murdered the previous owner. There’s rumors of the house being haunted. After a few scares in the home, dead bodies start popping up. Unfortunately the bodies can all be connected with Sam. Add in a police investigation and her life is turned upside down.

This book was a fast-paced read that was enjoyable from beginning to end. The characters are fun and there is plenty of humor and suspense and mystery to be found. I actually laughed out loud a few times. This book was definitely one that you could enjoy on a beach or on the couch under your favorite blanket.

I received a free copy of this book from the Houseparty.com ChatterBox program in exchange for my review and completing a short survey. #RHMysteryPack #Sponsored

Head over to Housparty.com and you can apply to become a ChatterBox for the monthly Random House Mystery Packs.

If you have read this book, please feel free to leave me your impressions in the comments.

Welcome!

Welcome to Shining Star Reviews! While our primary focus will probably lean towards books, we will also be reviewing other products.

Feel free to disagree in the comments but please keep it civilized.

We hope you enjoy your time here.