Review: Faith by Jennifer Haigh

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Harper

Format: Unabridged Audio

Source: Library

Challenge: 2012 Audio Book Challenge

Purchase: IndieBound

Once again, I continue on an awesome audio roll. This book I have seen reviewed many times around the blogosphere. I've only read good things. For some reason, I held off on it because I didn't think I would want to read a story about a priest as an alleged child molester. Not usually my cup of tea. But I gave in and am glad I did.

The narrator did an excellent job in portraying the multitude of characters in this novel. Each had their own heaviness, history and spirit, I was astounded that the narrator could jump so easily and gracefully between them all. Each character's story had its own power and she brought them all to life as if there were ten different people doing the recording.

Now that I have established some audio rules, I would say this passed quite splendidly. The story took place in and around Boston and for those of you new to my blog, I used to live there many years ago. I will always have a soft spot for Beantown; the accents, the drinking, the sites, the politics, everything about it, I loved. These characters are perfect examples of what makes Boston so unique. You have the hardworking single mother, the guilty priest, the proud former cop, the prodigal daughter. I loved them all.

Goodreads description:

When Sheila McGann sets out to redeem her disgraced brother, a once-beloved Catholic priest in suburban Boston, her quest will force her to confront cataclysmic truths about her fractured Irish-American family, her beliefs, and, ultimately, herself. Award-winning author Jennifer Haigh follows her critically acclaimed novels Mrs. Kimble and The Condition with a captivating, vividly rendered portrait of fraying family ties, and the trials of belief and devotion, in Faith.

This is my first taste of Jennifer Haigh. I've been curious about her other novels. If they are as good as this one, I'm all over it. The way she captured the feel of a community was flawless. I enjoy when an author can make the setting of a book just as strong of a character as its humans.

Rating: Recommend

Because the narrator was so strong, this book was brought to such life that I am glad I chose to listen to it rather than read. It was such a strong human story filled with characters that move you. For fans of familial dramas, this is for you.

Author Website:

Jennifer Haigh

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Crown

Format: ARC

Source: Bookstore

Challenge: A-Z Mystery Author Challenge

Purchase: Indie Bound (due out June 2012)

I can not tell you how many emotions I went through while reading this book. Talk about psychological thriller. Holy cats! This book was right up my alley. I've had this author on my radar for years now, ever since I picked up a used copy of her first book, Sharp Objects.

Still haven't read that one, of course. I snagged this ARC at work while on break and thought I'd give it a go. It is quite marvelously put together. How intricate of a plot she has created. I find myself getting a very quick opinion of a character from early on in most stories. This one, however, I thought I knew them, but they changed so many times, I did not know what was real and what was not.

Check out this synopsis from Goodreads:

"'What are you thinking, Amy? The question I've asked most often during our marriage, if not out loud, if not to the person who could answer. I suppose these questions stormcloud over every marriage: What are you thinking? How are you feeling? Who are you? What have we done to each other? What will we do?'"

Just how well can you ever know the person you love? This is the question that Nick Dunne must ask himself on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police immediately suspect Nick. Amy's friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn't true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they aren't his. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone. So what did really did happen to Nick's beautiful wife? And what was left in that half-wrapped box left so casually on their marital bed? In this novel, marriage truly is the art of war...

In the beginning, you get the feeling that they are a happy couple or atleast trying to make a good go of it. But then as the back and forth in time chapters roll out, you get a much different picture of both of them. I honestly did not care for either one of them and thought they were just extremely dysfunctional people who can not communicate with each other at all.

Then Amy "disappears" and this whole other side to the story comes up and you are falling fast down a hill full of lies, manipulation and just plain ol' immaturity and self absorption. Like I said previously, I did not really like these characters but they had a train wreck of a story that I could not stop reading. Each chapter will surprise you and the ending will leave you with a resounding, "WTF?"

All in all, impressive read from Gillian Flynn. I will have to get to her first thriller sooner than later.

Rating: Recommend

This is not a wam, bam simple cut and dry case. No. It is a full on psychological thriller you might see on a 20/20 episode. You never know who the good OR the bad guys are. You can't stop reading though and wanting to know how the heck it's going to end. Kudos to Gillian Flynn for creating this dare I say, "edge of your seat" thriller.

Check out her website too. She has a pretty impressive resume!

Author Website:

Gillian Flynn

Happy reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Wither by Lauren DeStefano (review #145)

Title: Wither

Author: Laurne DeStefano

Genre: Dystopian Young Adult

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Format: Review Copy (Thank you to Simon and Schuster!)

Why the sudden rash of Young Adult reviews, you may ask? Well, it's been a long time since I've been in the mood to read Young Adult and I've been very lucky in my choices. I just had to share with you all another amazing read geared towards the young adult reader. I do have to say, though, this one is quite adult in my eyes. It was fast paced, intriguing and if I may add the much too used term and somewhat gag worthy, unputdownable.

Imagine this scenario...

"Males only live to age 25.

Females only live to age 20.

To keep the population from dying out,girls are kidnapped and sold into polygamous marriages."

From this description alone, I could sense this was going to be more of an adult read rather than a teen. Though the characters were young, the world in which they were living in was shockingly adult and insane. I guess this in itself is the world of dystopian lit.

There is a girl. Rhine. She is fearless, pissed off but a darn good actress. All she wants is to escape the world in which she has been forced into. And she will do anything and play any role to get that.

There is a boy. Gabriel. He is a servant raised in a world in which he doesn't know anything different. Until he meets Rhine, he never cared much for the outside. But together they want one thing, freedom.

This was a very fast read for me. Once I got going, it was difficult for me to do much else. For a debut novel, I found the writing to be impressive and smart. It didn't roll out a pile of drama, nor did it smack you with cliche characters. It had a good vs. evil feel but it wasn't the main force of the book. Rhine and Gabriel were only small pieces to the puzzle it seemed. All the characters involved were imprisoned in their own way, missing something that they once had or yearning for something they didn't know existed.

The "bad guy", Rhine's father-in-law and overall, mean science man, does crazy experiments on people in the name of "finding an ancedote" for the whole death by age 20 and 25 thing. He is a cool cucumber who is always hovering within the pages and I was kind of hoping he would fall off a cliff somewhere around page 140. Creepy and a control freak, I pictured him like Montgomery Burns from the Simpsons. Cold as ice.

The ending was as expected but still exciting. It made me crave the next book right away, which is unusual for me. You really got to wow me to make me want to continue right away with a series.

Rating: 5/6

Overall, a very strong debut in young adult dystopian lit. It had some doom and gloom, and some serious adult matters that these girls had to deal with, but it was written with maturity and a depth that made it easy to stomach and understand. The "love story" wasn't over the top. It was simple and sweet and made me want to see what comes of Rhine and Gabriel. I wanted to root for their happiness. Book 2 (Fever) will decide it all.

Author Website:

Lauren DeStefano

Buy Brick and Mortar: (actual bookstores, people!)

Magers and Quinn Booksellers

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Delirium and Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver (review #143 and #144)

Title: Delirium, Pandemonium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Format: Hardcover , ARC

Publisher: Harper Teen

I've been out of the Young Adult reading loop for most of this year due to a few different reasons. One, I wanted to focus my blog a bit more to give myself a niche. Two, there are a ton of YA bloggers out there that do the genre a hell out of lot more justice than I ever could. Three, I was a bit burned out on the genre. It seemed all the same to me. Dystopian, Paranormal, Girl falls for Bad Boy who saves her, etc. I was a bit tired of it all.

I'm glad I took a step back for all of these reasons because I came to read Delirium and Pandemonium with very fresh eyes. I was in the mood for something different. These were both on my pile, wonderful gifts given to me by the Harper rep from the book trade show I worked at in September. Delirium is a book club pick for next May so why not get an early start?

I LOVED these books. I could not put them down. In fact, I read both of them in a week. For some of you speedy readers, you may be thinking, so? For me, little ol' miss reading slump, it's the BOMB!

These books had the perfect blend of love, politics, adventure and the whole dystopian slant on the world. What if you were taught that love is a disease? What if you were forced to be "cured"?

Here is a description from Goodreads:

Delirium

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Pandemonium

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

Delirium had more a love story than Pandemonium. Pandemonium zeroed in on more the politics and Lena's growth as a activist and overall hardass. I was with Lena all the way, every move she made. She wasn't a wussy girl character even in her vulnerable moments. She was real and honest and going through a ton of changes through both of these books. Her love interests were neither overly heroic or godly. They were flawed and fierce and just wanted to survive.

I do seem to enjoy more of the dystopian young adult novels rather than the paranormal. I would rather read about humans dealing with a dystopian environment versus vampires, faeries, werewolves, etc. I like when books take one common theme and jack it up. Take away love. It's bad. It will kill you. Get the cure and you will be saved. Whaaat??? That's crazy. How is THAT going to turn out?

I like that sort of story twist. I, of course, was on Team Love, all the way.

Rating: 6/6 My Top Rating!

I'm sure readers of young adult books are already all over this series and dying for the next one. Pandemonium does not come out until March 2012 and a third book is in the works. No news on this yet. For other readers out there willing to try a new genre, Oliver delivers two very fun, fast paced well written books. You got a little bit of everything; love, war, politics, revolution, adventure and one tough chick in the center of it all. You can't go wrong.

Author Website:

Lauren Oliver

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton (review #142)

Title: U is for Undertow

Author: Sue Grafton

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Putnam

Series: Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries

Format: Unabridged Audio

This is my very first audio book that I listened to in its entirety. How cool is that? Because of the slump I've been in that last few months, I've been trying all sorts of new things to see if they stick or get me out of this slump. I've read a graphic novel, am currently reading a great young adult book and now completed my first audio book.

I can't say that I am 100% behind audio books. I will have to see how it goes for my next pick. Sue Grafton has been one of my favorite mystery authors for years now. I knew she had her lastest mystery out, V is for Vengeance and I was one book behind. She is one I try to read religiously when a new one comes out.

I thought it would be faster?...perhaps to listen to it rather than read it? Well, that really wasn't the case but I was able to read another book at the same time and listen to this just in my car. It took me about two weeks to finish listening to it. I don't drive great distances anymore so I listened to it while driving to the bank, the store, to work, picking up the kiddo from school, etc. I had a few longer drives while visiting my parents but that's about it. My kiddo wasn't into it at all and kept asking for "his music" every time we got in the car. I politely refused him every time. I know. Bad Mama. I said it was Mama's time, bucko! :)

Anyway, I loved it! The narrator sounded like I thought Kinsey would; tough yet compassionate. The case she was working on was complicated and intricate, coming together nicely in the end. Grafton is a huge talent when it comes to laying out a mystery. You don't know who did it until the end. I love that.

I am also a huge fan of Kinsey. I relate to her in a lot of ways. The books are set in the eighties so it's before cell phones, before the internet, before computers were used regularly, etc. Kinsey uses the library a lot and that rocks my socks! It reminds me of growing up when things seemed to be simpler in a way. She uses her note cards to display her ideas on a case. Her best friend is her 90+ year old landlord, Henry. She eats peanut butter and pickle sandwiches (YUM!). I just loved everything about the experience of this book. Listening to it is different than reading it. It was so alive and fun to hear what was going to happen next.

Rating: 6/6

For my first audio book that I completed, it was the perfect choice! For a great mystery, Grafton hit it out of the park again. I really enjoyed it all. Looking forward to her next alphabet mystery. I have the audio version on hold at my library as well. I am hoping I have the same great listening experience with that one as well.

I can't say I can include this in my A-Z Mystery Author Challenge because I have already read a "G" author but I can include it in trying new things out when it comes to the mystery genre!

Author Website:

Sue Grafton

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol (review # 141)

Title: Anya's Ghost

Author: Vera Brosgol

Publisher: First Second Books

Genre: Graphic Novel

Format: Library Loan

This is a new one for me. I have absolutely not jumped on the Graphic Novel bandwagon, even after assisting hundreds of young folks (and some old) at the bookstore and library finding the titles they wanted.

I must say, though, after reading Anya's Ghost, I am indeed interested in reading more.

I discovered Anya's Ghost while processing the new books at my library job. I LOVE this project. Now that I don't work at the bookstore anymore, it is my one life line to holding and touching new books. (I suppose I could venture to a bookstore more often but I may need money for that).

It was a cold and dreary day that day at the library and this little nugget of a book really hit my mood right. I read it in less than an hour. Now THAT's my kind of read. It helped boost my confidence in the ol' reading slump area.

The style of graphics reminds me of Persepolis, which I read many years ago for a former bookclub. Black and white, stark, honest, moody.

Anya is a teen with Russian roots she is trying to hide. She doesn't see herself as pretty, smart or popular but would like it if the world would. She has one friend at school and she is kind of a bitch. This doesn't leave much for a social life. Little did she know when she took a tumble down an old well, that her next friend would be a ghost.

Not only does her new friend Emily, the ghost, help her get the guy, get good grades and get invited to parties, she also decides she wants to live vicariously through Anya. As Emily gets more aggressive, Anya digs deeper into her past and finds that she is not the innocent, sad little ghost stuck down in the well.

Rating: 6/6

I loved this! I ran through every page. I liked the edge to it and the unexpected darkness of Emily and her story. Anya was a hoot and her life in high school seemed to be waaaaay relatable (though it's been a few years....cough*) I can see why this genre gets devoured. This was fast, fun and a thrill. I am definitely checking out more.

Author Website:

Vera Brosgol

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Carry the One by Carol Anshaw (review #140)

Carry the One by Carol Anshaw

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Genre: Fiction

Format: ARC

Release Date: March 2012

For those of you who have been following my previous posts, you will know that I found myself in a bit of a slump. A reading slump, that is. I was concentrating so heavily on my Mystery Challenge that I slammed head on into a massive, pressure induced rut. I was determined to read as many mystery authors as possible and well, the ones I picked up were less than impressive. So, I took some of your advice, and switched gears for a sec. No fear, though. That mystery challenge isn't going anywhere. It's still a top priority for me.

I looked to my pile of books.

Not only did I get the opportunity to go to BEA this year , I also had a chance to work the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association Trade Show, which, I'm told, is like a mini BEA for the Midwest area. I had a blast and walked away with an enormous amount books, almost as much as I got at BEA. I did not expect this at all.

One of my responsibilities was to work with authors who were guests at the trade show. I helped them sign all the copies of their books that were featured. One of the authors that I was able to help and meet was Carol Anshaw, the author of Carry the One. We chatted a bit and I gave her my card. I told her literary fiction was one of my favorite genres and she said I should snag a book and read it.

I'm certainly glad I did. This eloquent, honest character driven novel pulled me out of my slump. I chose to do the review now, even though the book is not to be released until March 2012, because it was fresh in my mind and I wanted to tell you all about it.

Here is a glimpse of what it is about from Simon and Schuster:

Carry the One begins in the hours following Carmen's wedding reception, when a car filled with stoned, drunk, and sleepy guests accidently hits and kills a girl on a dark, country road. For the next twenty-five years, those involved, including Carmen and her brother and sister, connect and disconnect and reconnect with each other and their victim. As one character says, "When you add us up, you always have to carry the one."

Through friendships and love affairs; marriage and divorce; parenthood, holidays, and the modest tragedies and joys of ordinary days, Carry the One shows how one life affects another and how those who thrive and those who self-destruct are closer to each other than we'd expect. Deceptively short and simple in its premise, this novel derives its power and appeal from the author's beautifully precise use of language; her sympathy for her very recognizable, flawed characters; and her persuasive belief in the transforming forces of time and love.

This is a novel where everything and nothing happens. The tragic death of the young girl in the beginning of the book lingers throughout the entire book, which gives it that sense that though time moves on, the characters remain stuck in the same place. Carmen, Nick and Alice are siblings and are whom we follow over the course of twenty some years. We follow Carmen's activism in women's rights, her crumbling marriage and motherhood to Gabe. We follow Nick's addictions, his brilliant career in astronomy that he destroys time and time again and his obsession with Olivia, the driver who killed the young girl. And we follow Alice (my favorite character) in her growing career as a painter, fixated on portraits of the dead girl and her tumultuous, co-dependent relationship with Maude.

I loved and hated these characters with every page. Anshaw has a way of writing that nails the psychology of humans. She explores the complicated relationships between men and women, sister and brother, mother and daughter, by breaking wide open inhibitions, those sticky boundaries that hold us back and that pesky fear business that keeps us hiding in our closets.

Nick was a pain in the ass junkie who could have been dropped in a gutter and forgotten many times over but you still cared for him. Anshaw made you still want to care, much like you would do if it were your family member.

Carmen was passive and aggressive in her own way and sometimes you wanted to shake her but you understood she created her own sense of control to erase the guilt of that night. You rooted for the big sister in her.

And Alice, sweet, vulnerable, easily swooped up Alice. Lost, yet centered in her art. Open, yet closed off to a life that didn't include Maude. Talented, but haunted by her portraits of the young girl they killed.

Anshaw did a beautiful job in the creation of these wounded characters. It was a joy to read. She also filled the book with other side characters that give it a bigger dynamic. She also gave it an ending that was quiet, yet satisfying. Sad, but expected.

Rating: 6/6

I give this my top rating. It hit my mood just right. The writing flowed flawlessly. I had so many post its of sections I liked, it made it almost impossible to read, because they got in the way. I didn't include any of those lines. I'll just leave those for me to enjoy and perhaps, for you to discover. The most powerful line, which is included in the back cover description, is "When you add us up, you always have to carry the one."

Powerful, don't you think? What is the "one" in which we carry?

I highly recommend this novel for any fan of literary fiction. It is intense, sweet, honest and hopeful, all at the same time. I am pleased I had a chance to meet Carol Anshaw and I am honored to be able to share this review with you all.

Author Website:

Carol Anshaw

Happy reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick (review#139)

Title: Wonderstruck

Author: Brian Selznick

Genre: Middle Grade

Publisher: Scholastic

Format: Copy obtained at Midwest Booksellers Association Trade Show from the wonderful folks at Scholastic!

I am making another exception to my review rule by reviewing this wonderful Young Adult novel. No, it doesn't fall under my Top 3 Genres I love to read and have dedicated to reviewing on this blog but it is one of my favorite young adult authors. I was very fortunate to obtain an ARC of this at BEA this year. I was also fortunate again to receive a finished copy at MIBA just last month. I am sharing one of my copies with my good friend, Dawn and we are heading to seem Mr. Selznick speak at a local Barnes and Noble on Monday, October 17. I can not wait!

If you have not heard of him or his wonderful novels, check out his website. His novel The Invetion of Hugo Cabret has been made into a movie and looks amazing! The trailer is below if you are curious. I am sure someone will snap up Wonderstruck. If done well, I am sure it would make a marvelous movie. It is certainly a marvelous book!

Here is a description from the publisher's website:

Ben's story takes place in 1977. Rose's story takes place in 1927. Ever since his mother died, Ben feels lost. At home with her father, Rose feels alone. When Ben finds a mysterious clue hidden in his mother's room, and when a tempting opportunity presents itself to Rose, both children risk everything to find what's missing.

You really feel you are holding a literary gem when you hold one of his books. His illustrations are exquisite and so detailed. The illustrations alone tell such a powerful story. Ben's story is told in words. Rose's story is told in pictures. They eventually come together in the end. I am amazed at each page. The story is a simple one, with sweet characters, New York City, museums and a mystery to solve. I read the book in three days because I was racing to the end to discover the fate of young Ben. I smiled as I turned the last page and wandered back in my mind to being a child, curious and hopeful.

Rating: 6/6

I give this my top rating. Putting "genre labeling" aside, it is simply an exquisite piece of literary work. Selznick's gift of just pure, simple storytelling comes through, laced through with his extraordinary illustrations. You almost feel as if you are seated in a movie theater seeing a silent movie. Your attention is so focused to the little things, no noises to distract you, yet you are bounced back and forth between reading the words and capturing the power of a picture. Trust me. Read it. You'll understand. I'm just a bumbling idiot when it comes to his work. i just love it so! Hopefully I will be able to hold it in when I meet him tomorrow. :)

Publisher Website:

Wonderstruck, Scholastic

Movie Trailer:

Hugo

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Fragile by Lisa Unger (review #138)

Title: Fragile

Author: Lisa Unger

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Crown

Format: Library Loan

* Read for my 2011 A-Z Mystery Author Challenge

I discovered Lisa Unger many years ago during my bookselling days. I received an ARC of Beautiful Lies, one of her first books. I could not put it down! I found her to be a fresh, exciting, sharp, thrilling new voice in the thriller genre. It had the perfect blend of psychological thriller and mystery that I like.

One of her latest novels, Fragile, was shelved in the Fiction section at my last bookstore instead of Mystery, like her others. Perhaps this was a marketing tactic to change up her audience or perhaps the publisher felt it was more of a novel than a thriller. I found it be similar to her others. It had the psychological thriller piece matched with the whodunnit of two missing girl cases.

Here is a brief description from Goodreads:

Everybody knows everybody in The Hollows, a quaint, charming town outside of New York City. It’s a place where neighbors keep an eye on one another’s kids, where people say hello in the grocery store, and where high school cliques and antics are never quite forgotten. As a child, Maggie found living under the microscope of small-town life stifling. But as a wife and mother, she has happily returned to The Hollows’s insular embrace. As a psychologist, her knowledge of family histories provides powerful insights into her patients’ lives. So when the girlfriend of her teenage son, Rick, disappears, Maggie’s intuitive gift proves useful to the case—and also dangerous.

Eerie parallels soon emerge between Charlene’s disappearance and the abduction of another local girl that shook the community years ago when Maggie was a teenager. The investigation has her husband, Jones, the lead detective on the case, acting strangely. Rick, already a brooding teenager, becomes even more withdrawn. In a town where the past is always present, nobody is above suspicion, not even a son in the eyes of his father.

“I know how a moment can spiral out of control,” Jones says to a shocked Maggie as he searches Rick’s room for incriminating evidence. “How the consequences of one careless action can cost you everything.”

As she tries to reassure him that Rick embodies his father in all of the important ways, Maggie realizes this might be exactly what Jones fears most. Determined to uncover the truth, Maggie pursues her own leads into Charlene’s disappearance and exposes a long-buried town secret—one that could destroy everything she holds dear. This thrilling novel about one community’s intricate yet fragile bonds will leave readers asking, How well do I know the people I love? and How far would I go to protect them?

I really enjoyed the small town everyone- knows -everyone drama. It added to the tension of the book. All the characters seemed relatively believable to me, having come from a small town myself. The only flaw was that there was a bit too many story lines going on for me. Unger did a pretty good job weaving them together in the end. I still felt that some of the threads were too detailed and she could have wrapped it up a little bit better with some of the characters.

I was surprised with how it all turned out, which is a plus for me. I don't like figuring it all out before it ends. The ending gives you the sense that there is more story to be told, which is where the Darkness, my old Friend comes in. I wasn't aware there was a follow up until I investigated the author's website. Jones Cooper, the lead detective in Fragile, continues his story in Darkness...

Perhaps I will get to that next year in my challenge. :)

Rating: 5/6

Though I liked Beautiful Lies better than Fragile, I still think Lisa Unger is an author to read. I think she handles the twists of a psychological thriller quite well. Her characters get in your head and you want to figure them out. You want to uncover all of the secrets and get to the nitty gritty of the crime. If you are fans of Lisa Scottoline or Tana French, you may like Lisa Unger's books. I would say she may be a good middle ground between the two.

Author Website:

Lisa Unger

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

The Wrong Mother by Sophie Hannah (review #135)

Title: The Wrong Mother

Author: Sophie Hannah

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Penguin

Format: Library Loan

I think I have mentioned by now that I joined another book club. It's true. I am officially crazy.

And not just for books. I don't care. I'm going with it.

It's for the love of books so why the hell not. right?!

We met tonight for the first time and it was really, really lovely!

We have picked our 6 books for the next year and are meeting every other month. Much easier than meeting once a month like the Ladies. I don't think I could do two every month.

We are called B.Y.O.B-Bring Your Own Books, Bottle or Bars.

Clever, huh?

We have a graphic designer in our group so she designed our logo above and even made bookmarks for the whole year with our schedule on it.

Impressive indeed.

Our first book was The Wrong Mother by Sophie Hannah.

The response? Well, not so hot. First off, here is a description for you all to get a taste of what it's all about.

Sally Thorning is watching the news with her husband when she hears an unexpected name-Mark Bretherick. It's a name she shouldn't know, but last year Sally treated herself to a secret vacation-away from her hectic family life-and met a man. After their brief affair, the two planned to never meet again. But now, Mark's wife and daughter are dead-and the safety of Sally's own family is in doubt. Sophie Hannah established herself as a new master of psychological suspense with her previous novel, Little Face. Now with accomplished prose and a plot guaranteed to keep readers guessing, The Wrong Mother is Hannah's most captivating work yet.

Sounds pretty thrilling, right? A real page turner?

Well, in some ways it was but in a lot of ways it was not. We mainly agreed that the author had way too much going on with the multiple characters and back and forth story lines. We had a rating scale of 1-5; 5 Great- 1 Not so Great. Overall, the response of 11 of us was low, in the 2s but we had a few 3s. 3 was the final rating of " middle of the road".

I have been curious about Sophie Hannah for a few years now. I attempted to read Little Face, one of her earlier books, and could not get into it. But I blamed it on the fact that I was a new mom and it was all about a baby getting abducted. Not good for the roller coaster of emotions that I was on at that time.

All of her books sound incredibly intriguing, however, this one fell really flat. It appears that she enjoys the complicated topic of mothers and children. She also appears to enjoy putting them in an extreme danger and portraying them, mostly mothers, in a horrible light. Though I have read my fair share of psychological thrillers with plenty of horrific things going on in them, this particular book had a malicious tone to it. I just felt that the author some how just did not like women or mothers, for that matter. That made it hard to read.

There were also many story line threads that did not go anywhere, leaving the reader wonder why they were even mentioned in the first place. I can take a complicated web but it needs to be well executed and come together in the end. This book did not have that.

The police detectives involved in this case are apparently characters that are in her other books and their back story was not well explained. Many of us skimmed their parts because they were wordy and didn't make sense to us.

I haven't quite decided whether or not to continue with Sophie Hannah. This was a good first book club pick because it certainly generated a lot of discussion. Unfortunately it left a sour taste in my mouth for her as an author. I think she has potential to become a good mystery writer but perhaps with a bit more editing and polishing, her books would become easier to read.

Thanks to my new club for being so much fun and lively in their discussion! I look forward to meeting again and discussing our next book!

Next Book Up:

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

Meet up Time:

November

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens (review #133)

Title: Never Knowing

Author: Chevy Stevens

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: St .Martin's Press

Format: ARC from work

This review will be a bit brief since I read this over a month ago and am not remembering the fine details of what I felt about it. I am a bit behind on my reviews.

I read Chevy Stevens' first novel, Still Missing, and it still haunts me. I was a bit behind on new books apparently because I discovered this new book by her from a fellow blogger. Usually if I really like a book by someone, I try to keep an eye out for the next. Too busy, I guess!

This book I was able to digest a bit better. Still Missing was just plain creepy and I couldn't get it out of my head, which is good in some ways but also not good if you want to go to sleep at night. This one definitely still had that heavy feel to it and the circumstances that surround the main character are horribly tragic and full of terrible suspense in each and every chapter but it had a better build to it and it ended much better.

Here is the description from the Amazon:

At thirty-four Sara Gallagher is finally happy. Her antique furniture restoration business is taking off and she’s engaged to a wonderful man. But there’s one big question that still haunts her — who are her birth parents? Sara is finally ready to find out.

Some questions are better left unanswered.

Sara’s birth mother rejects her—again. Then she discovers her biological father is an infamous killer who’s been hunting women every summer for over thirty years. Sara tries to come to terms with her horrifying parentage — and her fears that she’s inherited more than his looks — with her therapist, Nadine, who we first met in Still Missing. But Sara soon realizes the only thing worse than finding out your father is a killer is him finding out about you.

What if murder is in your blood?

Never knowing is a complex and compelling portrayal of one woman’s quest to understand where she comes from. That is, if she can survive…

Stevens' seems to be settling into the niche of psychological thrillers, putting ordinary people in extraordinary situations. I seem to like that kind of crap and pray to God that nothing like that would ever happen to me! Sara's character was a bit manic and annoying but then, heck, look what is happening to her. I certainly didn't imagine me doing anything better or more calm!

Rating: 5/6

It's really filled with lots of twists and unimagined events. I really had a hard time putting it down. Overall, I recommend it to anyone wanting a suspenseful, thrilling read. If you are a fan of Harlan Coben and Laura Lippman, you would be a fan of Chevy Stevens. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

Author Website:

Chevy Stevens

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child

Bloodspell by Amalie Howard (review #132)

Title: Bloodspell

Author: Amalie Howard

Publisher: Langdon Street Press

Genre: Young Adult

Format: Review Copy

Back when I first started my blog, I used to read and review any and all genres. I have since changed my policy to review only literary fiction, mysteries and memoirs. I still read other genres, I just don't review them. I wanted to have a bit more focus to my blog.

Young Adult has always been a genre that I enjoy, especially in the last few years when there has been so many wonderful novels written. I knew the blog universe had enough Young Adult reviewers so I didn't feel bad not sharing my opinion.

Well, I'm making an exception for Bloodspell!

I am choosing to review Bloodspell not only because I think it is a wonderful debut, but also because I met Amalie Howard at a party in NYC during BEA this year. It was at a little function for JKS Communications, the literary publicity firm that handles Sandra Brannan's books. They also have Amalie as a client. We were placed at the same table, along with a few others and really hit it off! She is an absolute delight and I clicked with her much like I clicked with Sandra the year before. (JKS, they make good authors!!!)

I wasn't able to get a copy while I was in NYC because all of her copies went right away at the morning of the Book Blogger Convention, before my lazy butt got there! Marissa from JKS was kind enough to send me my copy in June.

I finally finished it a few weeks and I really, really enjoyed it!!! I want you all to take a peak at what it's all about and show some support to Amalie. She certainly deserves it!

Here is a description from the book's website:

The spell was simple …

Cruentus Protectum. Defend the Blood.

But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?

Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds—much less one that reveals she’s a witch with unimaginable power.

What’s more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own …

Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood’s deadly desires?

Or will she lose everything, including herself?

ISBN: 978-1-936782-11-6 | Langdon Street Press

One could say there are plenty of Young Adult titles that match an "outcast" type of girl with a dark and brooding type of boy. And Bloodspell has that element at the very base of its storyline. But it expands quite quickly as you read on, into almost a historical thriller. Tori's past is sprinkled in, in letter form as we learn of where her powers come from. It is unique. I liked that her power came from her blood. That, to me, was a different twist.

Christian's character was interesting to read as well, in how he develops and how he, as a vampire, reacts to Tori's abilities. I liked the love and rage battle he felt at times. It didn't just feel like the same ol' "I can't love you because I might want to eat you" beat.

Overall, it was filled with the right amount of love, angst, drama, thriller, adventure and fantasy/horror. I think Amalie has created a intriguing beginning to a possible series? trilogy? Though written as a stand alone, the ending does leave you with a question mark. :)

We'll see where it takes us!

Rating: 5/6

I think readers of all ages would enjoy this, meaning teen on up. It has a blend of paranormal, romance and literary thriller that it really could appeal to many different audiences. Knowing the author is a true gem, makes me want more readers to discover it. It is a strong, well written debut.

Author Profile:

Amalie Howard

BloodSpell

Happy Reading and as always, thanks for stopping by!

red headed book child