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Showing posts with label Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Show all posts
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Family Saga Set Against Great Chicago Fire Backdrop Compelling and Uplifting
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Sisters Meg and Sylvie Townsend have a lot on their plates. Not only do they run their family's bookshop in downtown Chicago, but they also have to keep a close eye on their widowed father, Stephen. His experiences as a POW during the Civil War still haunt his mind and soul, making him paranoid, confused, and prone to wandering—sometimes carrying a loaded weapon. Stephen is always warning his daughters of danger on the horizon. This time, he's right. As a raging fire engulfs the city, the family must scramble to save their bookshop and themselves. Although the women get separated from their father in the chaos, their business is destroyed, and Meg suffers debilitating burns on her artist's hands, all three survive the deadly fire. As the dazed family tries to figure out where to go from here, they receive another shock—Stephen has been accused of murder. Witnesses say he shot Hiram Sloane, one of his oldest friends, on the night of the fire. Since Stephen is obviously not in his right mind, he's forced into an insane asylum, despite his daughters' vehement protests. No matter how sick their father is, he would never murder someone in cold blood. Would he?
Meg knows her gentle father won't survive another incarceration, especially in a place as soulless as the asylum. The only way to get him released is to prove him innocent, which Meg vows to do. Enlisting the help of Nate Pierce, a sympathetic newspaper reporter, she and Sylvie set about investigating the murder of Hiram Sloane. While doing that, they also have to figure out how to live with no money and little hope of rebuilding their bookshop. With everything in ashes around them, how will they survive? Can they free their father before what little is left of his sanity is gone completely? As their beloved city is being rebuilt around them, can Meg and Sylvie find the strength, the courage, and the hope to go on?
I love me a sweeping family saga, so I was naturally drawn to Jocelyn Green's historical trilogy set in 19th Century Chicago. The first installment, Veiled in Smoke, introduces the atmospheric setting as well as the likable Townsend family. Vivid historical detail, especially concerning the Great Fire of 1871, brings the city to life while viewing it all through the eyes of our admirable, root-worthy heroes makes the event and its aftermath feel intimate and personal. Although there is a murder mystery at the heart of this novel, it's more family saga than thriller so the story moves along at the pace of the former rather than the latter. The tale does get overly long and the mystery really isn't very mysterious, but I still found Veiled in Smoke compelling enough to keep me reading. Because this is a Christian novel, it's clean, uplifting, and faith-promoting. Although it gets preachy in places, the religious themes are not super heavy-handed, which is something I appreciate when reading in this genre. All these things considered, I found Veiled in Smoke to be an engaging, edifying novel that I liked but didn't absolutely love. Even still, I've already read the second book and am looking forward to the third.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of I Survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 by Lauren Tarshis and The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, December 26, 2020
MG Novel-in-Verse Realistic and Relatable
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Hannah Lincoln's life has always been safe and stable. The 12-year-old has two caring parents, plenty of friends, and a love of gymnastics and dancing that sustains her. Her cousin, Cal Pace, has had the opposite experience. His mother died three years ago leaving him with his drug-addicted father. His chaotic home life ended with his dad going to prison and Cal coming to live with the Lincolns. Hannah's childhood has given her confidence and balance. Cal's has left him with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Hannah gets that her cousin's been through a lot, but she can't help feeling resentful of his sudden presence in her life. Cal acts strangely and has serious anger management issues. Not only is he bullied at school, but his behavior is causing contention in Hannah's home. She's trying to be patient and understanding, but Hannah feels like her nice, quiet life is spinning out of control. Will her family ever go back to normal? Or will Cal's antics tear them apart for good?
Told in verse, Ellen Hopkins' first novel for middle-grade readers tells a poignant story about two cousins with very different life experiences trying to find common ground. Closer to Nowhere is a quick read that's realistic and relatable. Based on the author's own experience, the story paints a vivid, sympathetic picture of how addiction impacts not just the addict but his/her whole family. While Closer to Nowhere deals with tough subjects, overall it's a hopeful book. I've enjoyed other books by Hopkins and this one is no exception. It's a heart-wrenching, empathy-inducing novel that spoke to me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Christmas After All by Kathryn Lasky)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and difficult subject matter (drug abuse, alcoholism, divorce, school shootings, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Closer to Nowhere from the generous folks at Penguin Random House via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Friday, February 08, 2019
Military Romance a Solid, if Unoriginal, Series Opener
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It's been five years since Noah Wilcox, a Navy SEAL serving in North Africa, was killed during a skirmish with local insurgents. Still not quite sure how to move on after her husband's death, Harper is biding her time in her hometown of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. A freelance bookkeeper and mom to 5-year-old Ben, she's living with her mother and feeling stuck. When Allison Teague—the wife of one of Noah's former SEAL brothers—reaches out for help in dealing with her husband's paralyzing PTSD, Harper jumps at the chance to not only aid a friend but also to do something meaningful for other military spouses. As she comforts Allison, the women hatch a plan to open a string of coffee shops near military bases around the country.
In the meantime, Harper's quest for purpose brings her face-to-face with Bennett Caldwell, another of Noah's SEAL brothers and the one he considered his best friend. She's never met the man before, but her attraction to the brusque outdoorsman is almost instant. Though shocked by her own interest, Harper can't suppress the urge to get to know Bennett better, even if their burgeoning relationship makes them both feel disloyal to Noah. Can the two of them find their way together, despite past sorrows?
With its plain Jane title, it's probably not surprising that The Military Wife by Laura Trentham is not the most original or memorable novel in the world. It does, however, offer an empathetic look at military life as well as a sweet, second-chance romance between two sympathetic, likable characters. Although the plot is predictable, there's enough going on in the story to keep it interesting. As I mentioned, there's nothing terribly unique or surprising here, but The Military Wife is a solid, readable novel that's a little deeper than your typical romance. I didn't love this series opener, but I liked it well enough.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Robyn Carr's small-town romance series [especially Virgin River] starring ex-military men and the women who love them.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, sexual content, and some disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-copy of The Military Wife from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Mystery Opener A Little Disappointing Despite Positive Buzz
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After being wounded in Afghanistan a year ago, retired U.S. Army Corporal Mercy Carr is back home in Vermont to recover. She's also mourning her fiancé, who was killed in action. The 29-year-old is not alone in her sorrow—she's adopted Martinez's bomb-sniffing dog, a PTSD-laden Belgian shepherd named Elvis. Together, the pair spend their days hiking off their grief in the Green Mountains. Their peace is interrupted one day when they find a crying infant alone in the wilderness, perched not far from where Elvis alerts to the presence of both explosives and human remains. Shocked by the discovery, Mercy calls the authorities.
Troy Warner, a U.S. game warden, is called to the scene. Immediately intrigued by both the situation and the beautiful corporal, he enlists Mercy's unofficial help with the investigation. Along with his patrol dog, Susie Bear, the four make a powerful team. Together, they uncover an intriguing mystery featuring a missing mother, an endangered infant, and a possibly explosive situation at the town's Fourth of July celebration. It's up to the four of them to get to the bottom of the situation before it gets horribly—fatally—out of hand.
Despite the positive buzz I've heard about A Borrowing of Bones, a debut novel by Paula Munier and the start of a series, I actually found the book to be a bit of a disappointment. Although it stars a quartet of appealing characters, the humans are not very well developed. The minor cast members suffer from the same problem, so much so that I had a hard time keeping track of who was who. The plot is interesting enough, but it's bogged down by detail-heavy overwriting. I did enjoy the small-town setting, as well as the fact that A Borrowing of Bones is unusually clean for a crime novel. Overall, then, I liked the book enough to pick up the next volume in the series, but I'm not exactly chomping at the bit.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and innuendo
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Gothic Family Secrets Novel Disturbing and, Ultimately, Just Not That Satisfying
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Kate Moore will do anything to escape her grim, impoverished past. So, when she attracts the attention of Matthew Lemont, a wealthy businessman from Chicago, while working as a governess on an ocean liner, she sees in him a way out. After only a couple weeks of knowing him, Kate marries the serious, reserved 28-year-old. Despite her misgivings, the couple goes to live at Lakecrest, the Lemont Family's ancestral home on Lake Michigan. Kate detests the mansion, an ugly, brooding pile that looks like "a Frankenstein's monster of architectural castoffs" (130). She's even more distressed to be stuck there with her controlling, manipulative mother-in-law and Matthew's sister, a party girl whose over-familiar affection for her brother gives Kate the heebie jeebies. Add to that Matthew's frequent night terrors, which he never bothered to mention, and Kate realizes she's jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
It soon becomes apparent that creepy old Lakecrest keeps a myriad of Lemont Family secrets, dating back to the time of its piecemeal construction. Most infamous is the 1912 disappearance of Matthew's aunt into the labryinth on Lakecrest's sprawling grounds. Three decades later, Cecily Lemont is still missing. It's obvious the family knows more about the incident than they're saying. In fact, Kate begins to believe Matthew's nightmares stem from something he saw—or did?—the night Cecily vanished.
Isolated at Lakecrest with a new family she doesn't trust, Kate is determined to unearth the Lemont's well-kept secrets. The more she learns, however, the more unnerved she becomes. Just what kind of family has she married into?
Gothic novels featuring old, creepy houses are my jam, so I was eager to read In the Shadow of Lakecrest by Elizabeth Blackwell. As promised by its intriguing premise, the story it tells is tense, compelling, and eerie. It kept me guessing, not knowing who among its cast could be trusted and who could not. While Kate isn't exactly a likeable character herself, she is sympathetic. I wanted to know what was going to happen to her. Certain plot elements make In the Shadow of Lakecrest a difficult read, even though overall, the book would only be rated PG-13. All in all, then, I didn't love this one. It kept me turning pages, despite a sometimes sagging storyline, but it felt predictable and not all that satisfying in the end.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of books by Kate Morton [although Blackwell's novels are darker] as well as those by Carol Goodman)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, blood/gore, disturbing subject matter, references to illegal drug use, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, April 06, 2018
Twisty Psychological Thriller Asks What is Real?
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As a war reporter with a finely-honed sense of danger, Kate Rafter knows something sinister is going on in the house next door. Having just arrived back in England after a harrowing stint in Iraq, the 39-year-old is in Herne Bay to settle the estate of her recently deceased mother. The last thing she expects is to find herself entangled in someone else's domestic drama, but when she meets the woman next door—an Iraqi refugee, who's obviously terrified of something—Kate's Spidey senses start to tingle. Although Fida Rahmani insists she's not being abused by her husband, Kate doesn't believe her. When she hears a child crying in the night and sees a young boy lurking in her mother's garden, she becomes even more convinced that Fida—who claims to have no children—is lying. Kate has spent her life fighting injustice all over the world; why won't her neighbor accept her help?
No matter how much Kate tries to convince people Fida is in danger, no one will believe her. They insist the little boy is a figment of Kate's imagination, a hallucination brought on by a horrific tragedy she witnessed in Syria. Despite the medication she's taking to keep them at bay, the effects of her PTSD have become overwhelming and debilitating. Still, Kate knows what she's seen is real. It has to be. Doesn't it? Because if she's making it all up, then she's done. Her career will be over and what will she have left? An empty life of loneliness and pain, with an alcoholic sister who hates her and tainted memories of the mother she thought to be a saint. If that's all that remains then Kate really will go crazy. To prove she's not insane, the intrepid reporter will have to dig for the truth, a truth which may only exist inside her war-ravaged mind ...
Ever since I heard about My Sister's Bones, a debut novel by Nuala Ellwood, I've been dying to read it. I dig stories that keep me off-balance, constantly wondering what is real and what is not. This twisty psychological thriller fits the bill for sure. Eerie and engrossing, it's one of those books that you just can't stop reading. Not only is the plot taut and tense, but Ellwood's depiction of a war reporter suffering from PTSD (which is inspired by her father's experiences) remains both fascinating and heartbreaking. The twist at the novel's end blindsided me completely, taking an unexpected turn which left me feeling even more shook. Although My Sister's Bones gets dark and disturbing, I found it to be can't-look-away compelling. I didn't absolutely love it, but I liked it enough to be eager for more from Ellwood. I'll definitely be interested to see what this intriguing new author does next.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, blood/gore, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of My Sister's Bones from Target with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Rear Window-Ish Mind-Twister a Thriller of the Highest Order
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After a horrific accident, Anna Fox becomes a prisoner in her own home, separated from the two people she loves most. Crippled by agoraphobia, the 38-year-old can't even step outside her Harlem brownstone without being crushed under the weight of her own panic, fear, and anxiety. To protect herself, she stays inside 24/7, relying on a delivery service for groceries and old mystery movies for company. A child psychologist, Anna finds some purpose on the Internet, where she counsels other agoraphobics in an online forum between games of chess. Although she chats with her husband and daughter daily, she's still heartbroken and lonely.
When Hitchcock films fail to keep her entertained, Anna indulges in her favorite hobby—watching her neighbors through her camera's telephoto lens. Although she's ashamed of her tawdry voyeurism, that doesn't stop her from looking in on private arguments, affairs, and other activities. It's harmless; after all, "Watching is like nature photography: you don't interfere with the wildlife" (4). And Anna doesn't. Until she witnesses what looks like a brutal murder-in-the-making. The victim has become an unlikely friend. In spite of what it will cost her, Anna must intervene. When the police come calling, however, they see no evidence of a crime. With her obsessive viewing of old mystery movies, her habit of mixing prescription pills with alcohol, and the obvious damage to her own sanity, Anna makes for a very unreliable witness. Try as she might, she can't make the cops understand that she's not crazy, that she's sure of what she saw.
As Anna tries to make sense of everything, she has to ask herself some terrifying questions—Has she finally lost her mind? Is she seeing things, assuming things, that aren't real? Will she ever live a normal life again? Or has she forfeited forever the right to live the life she wants with the people she loves? If she really saw a murder taking place, what can she—a woman so broken she can't even leave her home—do about it? Convinced she must do something, Anna starts digging. With the safe world she's made for herself crumbling around her, she will risk everything—her home-sanctuary, her last bits of sanity, her very life—to solve a mystery that may only exist inside her own warped and tortured mind.
The book world has been all abuzz about The Woman in the Window, a Hitchcockian debut novel by A.J. Finn. Rightly so. With its Rear Window-ish setup, its complex characters, and its tense, suspenseful plot line, the book offers plenty to tickle a thriller lover's fancy. While the story is less of a white-knuckled, adrenaline-fueled roller coaster ride and more of a slow-burning, carefully-crafted psychological mind twister, it's still a page turner of the highest order. Even though I saw some of the plot surprises coming, the Big Reveal walloped me good. All in all, then, I loved this skillful, satisfying debut and will absolutely be looking forward to more from Mr. Finn.
(Readalikes: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, disturbing subject matter, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of The Woman in the Window from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Saturday, February 03, 2018
Sad, Sweeping Alaska Family Drama a Gripping Tour-de-Force
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Leni Allbright has never really known a normal life. At 13, she lives a transient, poverty-stricken existence with her parents, whose volatile marriage has only gotten more violent. Her father, Ernt, suffers from PTSD thanks to his recent stint in the Vietnam War. Tormented by paranoia and anxiety, he can't hold a job, which only makes him more mercurial. Despite escalating abuse from Ernt, Cora Allbright refuses to leave the husband she loves, even if he's no longer the man she married. Caught in the middle, Leni can only hide herself in books and pray for better days.
When Ernt receives a letter informing him that he's inherited a cabin in Alaska from a dead war buddy, he makes the impulsive decision to move ASAP. Both Leni and Cora are leery, but hopeful the change of scenery will soothe Ernt's troubled soul. When the Allbrights reach Kaneq, a remote town accessible only by boat (except at low tide when it's completely cut off), the women begin to understand just how woefully unprepared they are for homesteading in the middle of nowhere. Despite the help they receive from the ragtag bunch who populate Kaneq, Leni's anxiety continues to grow. As winter comes on with its dark, endless days and brutal, isolating weather, what will happen to Ernt's already erratic moods? Cora wears the evidence of his rage all over her body—how much more can she stand? When the changing whims of the Alaskan wilderness become less dangerous than the perils within her own home, Leni knows only she has the power to save herself and her disintegrating family. Is she strong enough to survive in a place so inhospitable that only the toughest—or craziest—people have the audacity to live there? She's about to find out.
One of my favorite WWII novels is Kristin Hannah's 2015 best-seller The Nightingale. That epic tale swept me away and I've been waiting with bated breath for its author to give a repeat performance as brilliant. Although her newest, The Great Alone (available February 6, 2018), differs from The Nightingale in time, place, and theme, it's just as sweeping, just as engrossing, just as impacting. Atmospheric and haunting, this is a sad but beautiful book about resiliency and redemption. I loved everything about it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, disturbing subject matter, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Great Alone from the generous folks at St. Martin's Press. Thank you!
Friday, January 12, 2018
Second Installment Proves Lady Darby Series Just Gets Better As It Goes
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Mortal Arts, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, The Anatomist's Wife. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
Having been the assistant of her anatomist husband while he made a macabre study of death, Lady Kiera Darby has earned an unsavory, though undeserved, reputation. Now a widow, the 25-year-old painter has gladly retreated from society. Her sister's country home has become a refuge, in spite of the unfortunate murder that took place there recently. When Kiera's pregnant sister is encouraged to relocate to Edinburgh to be closer to medical help, Kiera knows she must go, too. Leery of society gossips, she tries to remain in the background, blending as well as she can into the scenery.
It's not to be. When a local girl goes missing and Kiera's old art tutor, William Dalmay, becomes a suspect in a possible crime, Kiera is once again drawn into the intrigue. Paired with Sebastian Gage, an infuriating inquiry agent whose many charms are not lost on the widow, she vows to prove William's innocence. The more the duo investigates, however, the more it looks like William may, in fact, not be as innocent as he seems. Kiera refuses to believe he's guilty, but she can't deny that the 40-year-old war veteran has been suffering from a severe case of shell shock. Could he, in his debilitating illness, have done something terrible? It's up to Kiera and Sebastian to find out.
While I liked The Anatomist's Wife, the first book in Anna Lee Huber's historical mystery series, I enjoyed this second installment more. Mortal Arts boasts a more exotic setting, a more complex story, and a more exciting (albeit slow-burning) romantic subplot. All of these elements work together to make it more engrossing on the whole. While Mortal Arts has some grim parts, overall it's a clean, entertaining mystery that will appeal to readers who fancy detective novels with colorful historical settings, strong female leads, and fewer gory, graphic details than you find in a typical mystery/suspense novel. I'm loving this series that just keeps getting better and better.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Lady Darby series, including The Anatomist's Wife; A Grave Matter; A Study in Death; A Pressing Engagement [novella]; As Death Draws Near; and A Brush With Shadows)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Mortal Arts with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, June 01, 2017
Bright, Hopeful Lemons A Sweet MG Debut
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As if watching her mom waste away from the effects of cancer wasn't awful enough, 10-year-old Lemonade "Lem" Witt is now being forced to leave the only home she's ever known. She's already lost her mother, does she really have to give up San Francisco, with all its beauty, bustle, and memories? Apparently so. Lem's being sent to live with her maternal grandfather—a man she's never met—way up in northern California. Good thing she's not planning to stay in tiny, leafy Willow Creek. The minute another guardian is found for her, Lem will be heading right back to the City by the Bay.
When Lem meets Tobin Sky, her grandfather's 10-year-old neighbor, she's even more convinced that she's landed on an alien planet. Obsessed with Bigfoot, the boy can talk of little else. When Tobin "hires" her to be his assistant at Bigfoot Detectives Inc, Lem reluctantly goes along with it. After all, Podunkville offers very little in the way of scintillating entertainment. As the duo traipses all over town in an attempt to catch the elusive creature on film, they form a bond that will change both of them. Together, they learn some very important lessons about loss, love, family, and the life-altering power of a Twinkie offered in friendship.
Lemons, a debut novel by child and family therapist Melissa Savage, is a bright, enjoyable book that explores the idea of turning the sour experiences of life into something sweet. All of the main characters have suffered in some way or another and every one of them must find a way to cope. As Lem learns how to deal with her own grief, she helps others face their own demons. This makes her a very empathetic heroine. She's also funny, brave, and loyal, which means she's the perfect narrator for this engaging story. The tale deals with tough subjects, yes, but its overall tone is hopeful and uplifting. Its a fun adventure that will appeal to anyone looking for a sunny summer read about turning lemons into lemonade.
(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild violence and some mildly scary images
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Lemons from the generous folks at Crown Books for Young Readers. Thank you!
--
Want more opinions on Lemons? Check out the books other tour stops below:
May 1: Caroline Starr Rose
May 6: Diving Under the Cover
May 12:
YA Books Central
May 19:
Batch of Books
May 20:
The Owl
May 22: 5 Minutes for Books
May 24: Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile
May 25:
I'd So Rather Be Reading
May 26:
Here's to Happy Endings
May 29: Reviews Coming at YA
May 30: Swoony Boys Podcast
June 1: Xpresso Reads
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Morton's Newest Another Rich, Succulent Gem
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Midsummer's Eve, 1933—Loeanneth, the Edevane Family's summer home in Cornwall, is the sparkling center of a lavish party. Hundreds of revelers gather on its grounds, sipping champagne, watching a bonfire burn on the lake, and enjoying the perfect weather. It's a night of enchantment, anticipation, and excitement. A night that will turn tragic when the disappearance of 11-month-old Theo Edevane is discovered. With no body, no ransom note, no clue as to what has happened to the child, the case of the missing baby goes unsolved. Crushed by grief, the Edevanes close up the lake house, never to return.
Cornwall, 2003—After making a career-ending mistake, London detective Sadie Sparrow is forced to take a leave of absence. While cooling her heels at her grandfather's seaside cottage in Cornwall, she stumbles across a once grand, now decaying home. Intrigued by the ruin, Sadie starts asking questions. When she learns about Loeanneth's mysterious history, she becomes obsessed with the Edevanes. Determined to find out what happened to young Theo, she seeks out the boy's remaining family members as well as anyone with connections to Loeanneth.
Alice Edevane, now a well-known mystery writer in her late 80s, holds pieces to the puzzle of what really happened on that summer night back in 1933. But not all. Although she longs to piece it all together, she doesn't want the exposure. Can she trust Sadie Sparrow to find answers? Does Alice really want to know the truths her family has always gone to such pains to hide?
As Sadie comes closer to solving the very cold case, she will make some startling discoveries about the Edevanes, revelations that will lead her to illuminating epiphanies about herself and her own family. If her manic search for answers about Theo Edevane doesn't kill her first.
It's no secret that I'm a huge Kate Morton fan. I've read—and loved—all of her novels. Sure, they're all kind of the same, but I don't care. I adore them. The Lake House, Morton's newest, is no exception. With well-developed characters, intricate plotting, and a compelling mystery, it definitely held my interest. Some of the story's plot surprises did strike me as annoyingly convenient, but I still very much enjoyed this multi-layered family saga, which kept me guessing nonetheless. Morton's skillful storytelling never fails to captivate me, even when I see twists coming, which is why she's quickly become one of my favorite authors. For me, her books are must-read, auto-buy treasures. If you dig absorbing, suspenseful reads about old houses, family secrets, and past/present mysteries, don't miss The Lake House or anything else by the incomparable Kate Morton.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Kate Morton's other novels, including The Distant Hours; The Forgotten Garden; The House at Riverton; and The Secret Keeper)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Lake House from the generous folks at Atria Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Haven Lake Compelling, Though Not Completely Satisfying
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Haven Lake has always been a place of refuge for drifters, draft dodgers and down-on-their-luckers. In the '60s, its idyllic Berkshire setting provided the perfect backdrop for a peace-touting, free-lovin' hippie commune. Like all the children who lived there, Sydney Bishop pranced naked through its fields and forests, wild and free as a wood sprite. It was only as a teenager, after twin tragedies shattered not just her community, but also her family, that Sydney ran away from Haven Lake, vowing never to return. Desperate to leave her past, with all its dark memories, far behind her, Sydney's kept her promise for two decades.
Now 36, Sydney finds fulfillment in her job as an educational psychologist, her quaint cottage on the shore, and her upcoming marriage to Gary Katz, a handsome surgeon. Soon to be a stepmother, she's worked hard to get to know Dylan, her fiancé's 16-year-old son. When the troubled boy runs away from home, Sydney's sympathetic, but shocked when she learns he's holing up at Haven Lake with Sydney's mother, Hannah. Her astonishment turns to anger when Hannah offers to let Dylan stay and help her with the sheep farm.
Dylan's problems, mixed with Hannah's interference, and Gary's increasingly alarming mood swings, create a toxic cocktail that has Sydney questioning everything about her life. The raging turmoil inside her can't be assuaged, she realizes, until she finds out the truth about what happened on the night her childhood best friend drowned in Haven Lake. Facing the hurt that defines her past may be the only way for Sydney to find future happiness. But, what happens when everything you remember is wrong? And the future you've always dreamed of no longer feels right? As Sydney confronts her haunting past, she'll have to decide whom to believe, whom to trust, and ultimately, whom to blame for the terrible events that turned Haven Lake into a hell of sorrow, guilt, and pain.
It's no secret that I'm a complete sucker for a good damaged-woman-returns-to-her-hometown-to-confront-her-past novel. With a premise like the one I summarized above, it's no surprise that I wanted to read Haven Lake by Holly Robinson. The question is, did it deliver the kind of rich, redemptive story for which I generally go ga-ga? Answer: yes and no. Although the characters are a sad, depressing lot, Robinson takes time to build them into complex, knowable beings. Thus, I felt for them and cared about what happened to them. Plot-wise, the novel roams here and there, with plenty of superfluous subplots that distract from the mystery at the heart of the book. A tighter, more focused story would have made the novel feel more suspenseful and polished. Likewise, I could have done without the graphic language and sex scenes, which, for me, detracted from the overall appeal of the book. In the end, I found Haven Lake compelling, though not completely satisfying.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other novels with similar premises, although no specific title is coming to mind. Help?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, sexual content, violence, and depictions of illegal drug use
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
New Regency Romance Surprisingly Substance-full (With a Giveaway)
(Image from Jennifer Moore's blog)
With all the possibilities the opening of her London Season will surely bring, Lady Emma Drake should be looking forward to it with glee. Her mind should be swirling with thoughts of fancy gowns, glittering balls, and catching the eyes of the city's most eligible bachelors. Instead, she's pining away for a man who's as unattainable as the moon—her brother's best friend, Sidney Fletcher. Emma's been infatuated with the charming sea captain since she was 11. The problem? Sidney still sees her as a pesky child, the kid sister he never had. Even if she could convince him that she's all grown up now, it's not as if he would give up his exciting sea-faring life in exchange for a dull gentleman's existence. Emma knows the union she dreams of will never be, knows she should give up childish fantasies and find herself a more practical match, but she simply can't erase Sidney from her mind.
When Emma receives news that Sidney's been captured by French soldiers in war-torn Spain, she's frantic. Knowing she can't sit around doing nothing while the man she loves is in danger, she stows away on her brother's ship, determined to be part of the rescue mission. Surely, such a heroic gesture will show Sidney just how much she loves him. It doesn't take long for Emma to realize what a foolish decision she's made—a war zone is no place for a sheltered, well-bred lady. With death and destruction all around her, Emma has no idea how she is going to survive Spain, let alone help rescue Sidney. As the violence escalates all around her, her courage, her cunning, and her conviction will be put to the test. Will Emma escape unscathed? Will Sidney? Most importantly, will Emma's secret desires ever come to fruition?
Although I don't read a lot of Regency romance, I generally find the genre entertaining with its genteel settings, frivolous plots, and witty banter. It's the kind of light reading I like to sandwich in between "real" books. Lady Emma's Campaign, Jennifer Moore's second novel, surprised me by going deeper than the usual parlor dramas. With its treatment of war violence, PTSD, physical abuse, and other weighty subjects, it offers a lot more substance than I was expecting. All the derring-do kept the story exciting, heightening the romantic suspense to create a fuller story. A few things kept me from loving Lady Emma's Campaign, namely Moore's tendency to tell rather than show, which made her characters and setting seem a bit flat. Overall, though, I enjoyed this one, especially that there's more to it than just a silly romance.
(Readalikes: Although I haven't read it yet, I assume Becoming Lady Lockwood, Moore's first book [starring Emma Drake's sister-in-law] is similar)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a copy of Lady Emma's Campaign from the generous folks at Covenant Communications. Thank you!
****
Interested in reading more reviews of Lady Emma's Campaign? How about entering a giveaway for a $75 gift card to Sweet Salt Clothing? Stop at each of the following blogs to get more opinions on the book and a chance to win the big prize!
*Nov 10th: http://www.
*Nov 12th: http://www.
*Nov 13th: http://www.iamareader.com (Review by Cheryl), http://www.
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