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Showing posts with label U.S. Settings: Maine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Settings: Maine. Show all posts
Friday, January 06, 2023
Green's Newest WWII Novel Uplifting and Edifying
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Avis Montgomery's older brother goes off to war, he makes her promise to keep open the small, private library where he is head librarian. Avis is shocked by the charge. Not only is she a married woman (even with lots of women entering the workforce while all the men are away, it's still scandalous for a wife to labor outside the home), but she doesn't even like to read! Surely, Anthony has chosen the wrong person to replace him.
Anthony hasn't been gone long when Louise Cavendish, the steely heiress who owns the library, decides the place needs to be turned into something more useful. Desperate not to let her brother down, Avis invents a reason to keep the library open on the fly: she's started a town book club that needs to use library resources. Since she's actually done no such thing, she must pull off the impossible in a short amount of time—with Louise's narrowed eyes watching her every move. Gathering every warm body she can find, reader or not, Avis launches her tentative book club. Suddenly she is forced to start reading the novels she's always eschewed while also learning how to lead a club that is somehow becoming an essential part of her small Maine community.
The book club brings together Martina Bianchini, a single mother who works at the munitions factory to make ends meet and lives in fear of her estranged husband; Ginny Atkins, a spitfire who will do anything (including recruiting book club members) to earn the money she needs to buy back the land the Navy appropriated from her family on her beloved Long Island; Freddy Keats, a handsome one-eyed war vet with a mysterious past; and Louise, who watches the proceedings with a critical eye, determined to shut down the library despite Avis's efforts to keep it running. As the members meet regularly, what started as a wartime diversion becomes an important lifeline during a time of worry and upheaval. What will happen to the little group if Louise shuts it down? How will any of them survive the war without the one thing that's keeping them all sane?
As soon as I heard about The Blackout Book Club, Amy Lynn Green's newest offering, I knew I wanted to read it. The novel appealed on so many levels: an interesting World War II setting, bookish themes, and an author whose writing I admire. Since I really enjoyed Green's last effort (The Lines Between Us), I went into this one with high exprectations. Probably too high, because I didn't end up loving The Blackout Book Club quite as much as I wanted to. Still, I liked it overall. It's a gentle novel that is clean, uplifting, and heartwarming. That makes it sound like a cheesy inspirational read, which it's not. What it is is a good, wholesome book that's engaging and well-written. Our quartet of women narrators are all sympathetic and likable, with some being more memorable than others. My favorite is Ginny, who's got a whole lot of heart to go along with her spunky, fun-loving personality. Green's prose is warm and skilled. Plotwise, the novel gets a little slow at times, but there was enough going on to keep me reading. So, while The Blackout Book Club didn't blow my socks off, I still found it to be a pleasurable read that is touching, entertaining, and edifying.
Note: Amy Lynn Green is a writer of Christian fiction. Although The Blackout Book Club technically falls into this genre, it's really not a religious book. There are references to church attendance, wearing a crucifix, and praying, but the mentions are brief. What I'm trying to say is, if you're not a fan of preachy religious fiction, you have no reason to worry!
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Jennifer Ryan's World War II novels, especially The Kitchen Front)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a copy of The Blackout Book Club from the generous folks at Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, November 04, 2021
Cozy Series Opener Needs More Oomph
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Iris Buckley's beloved grandfather dies, she takes it as a sign that her life is in need of a change. She moves back to Blueberry Cove, Maine, the little town where she was raised by her grandparents after her parents' deaths when she was a child. Not only can Iris keep an eye on her widowed grandmother, but the two women are planning to turn Anne's growing online apron-making business into a brick-and-mortar success. Just as everything is really starting to come together, they make a shocking discovery—a skeleton hidden in the basement of their store. The remains are soon identified as those of a woman who disappeared during a visit to Blueberry Cove in the 1970's.
As the police deal with the bones, Iris and Anne try to put their grisly find behind them. They don't need any more problems as they try to get their business off and running. To their dismay, another dead body turns up in the shop. This time, it's Elliott Parker, the greedy landlord with whom Anne has been fighting for years. Iris isn't about the let her grandmother get arrested for murder. With the help of her BFF and a handsome unrequited crush from high school, she vows to find the real killer. Dead bodies are piling up in tiny Blueberry Cove—will Iris' nosing around ensure hers is next?
I enjoy a good cozy and Hems & Homicide, the first installment in Elizabeth Penney's Apron Shop Mystery series, had a compelling enough premise to make me give it a go. The apron/linen shop setting is one I haven't encountered before, although I don't know how successful that kind of store could truly be in real life. Cozies aren't known for being realistic, though, so let's just set that aside...the vintage clothing/linen angle is interesting and I actually would have liked to learn more about it. Ironically, the actual details of the business don't feature much in the story. I also like that Hems & Homicide includes an old murder, since I found it much more interesting than the one that occurs during the course of the book. Neither mystery is very original or all that exciting, though, and the story drags because of it. The plot also has some illogical points, like the threats Iris starts receiving almost immediately after finding the skeleton in her shop but before she starts nosing around. All in all, the story is predictable and just not compelling enough. I persevered with the book, but I almost put it down more than once. Character-wise, the novel's cast is mostly likable, although none of the main players has much of a personality. This makes it tough to really connect with them and care about what happens with their lives and relationships.
As you can probably guess from this less-than-stellar review, I won't be continuing on with this series. I need more dynamic characters, a more gripping plot, and a small-town setting that really comes alive in my imagination in order to become truly invested in a cozy series. Hems & Homicides just didn't do this for me, unfortunately.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the Merry Ghost Inn Mystery series by Kate Kingsbury as well as the A Writer's Apprentice Mystery series by Julia Buckley)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Lyrical and Lovely, Echo Mountain An Enjoyable MG Historical
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
The Great Depression has wreaked havoc all over the country, forcing people into strange, new circumstances. For 12-year-old Ellie, that means moving out of her comfortable home in town and into a cramped cabin on remote Echo Mountain. Although her family's reduced circumstances are far from ideal, Ellie loves the freedom she now has to roam about exploring the wonders of the natural world. The mountain is full of surprises and mysteries and she's determined to discover them all!
When a terrible accident leaves her father in a coma, Ellie's whole family is devastated. Unfairly blamed for causing his injury, Ellie feels responsible for saving him. She sets out to find a mystical mountain hag who is said to have otherworldly powers capable of curing any ailment. Can the witch bring Ellie's dad back to life? As Ellie separates Echo Mountain's fabled myths from its true magic, she'll discover the power of her own pluck, resiliency, and strength of character. Using her own unique talents she just might be able to save them all.
I love finely-wrought historical fiction that brings a unique time and place to life. Echo Mountain, the newest middle-grade offering from Lauren Wolk, certainly does that. Her descriptions of mountain life are vivid and compelling. Ellie is an easy-to-admire heroine who cares more about other people than herself. She and her fellow cast members are likable, although flawed. Plot-wise, there's enough going on in Echo Mountain to keep the story moving along at a steady pace. Because of its old-fashioned feel, I'm not sure how much kid appeal this novel has. Hopefully some since it teaches valuable lessons about listening to your instincts, respecting nature, not making assumptions about people, and using your unique skills and resources to help other people. Lovely and lyrical, Echo Mountain is also moving, hopeful, and engaging. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Where the Watermelons Grow by Cindy Baldwin, also of The Healing Spell by Kimberley Griffiths Little)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scary situations
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Gothic-y Psychological Thriller a Riveting Page Turner
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After a terrible mistake which left her traumatized and with a young, equally scarred son to care for, 33-year-old Tess Henshaw is back in little Rock Harbor, Maine. Now teaching English at the same prep school she attended as a young woman, Tess is married to a respected man who's also an instructor at the school. Always a moody, complicated kid, Tess's son Rudy, now 17, is living on-campus and seems to be happier than he has been in a very long time. With her comfortable, stable life, Tess' tumultuous past feels like ancient history—just the way she likes it.
Then, an early morning text from Rudy shatters Tess' perfect life. Without waking her husband, she races to the rescue of her trembling son, who's soaking wet, practically mute, and has a stain on his hoodie that looks an awful lot like blood. A few hours later, she gets an even more shocking message—the body of Rudy's girlfriend, Lila Zeller, has just been found near the place where Tess had gone to pick up Rudy. As the police investigate the suspicious death, Rudy becomes a suspect as does Tess' husband, Harmon. Frantic to clear both of their names without implicating either, Tess finds herself lying to authorities and spilling secrets from her own past in a desperate effort to keep her entire world from falling completely apart. Although Tess can't believe her son capable of such a heinous crime, she's plagued by the question everyone is asking: What really happened the night Lila died?
I'm always up for a compelling psychological thriller, especially a moody, broody one with deliciously Gothic undertones. These are Carol Goodman's bread and butter and I, for one, am always eager to sup at her table! While her newest, The Sea of Lost Girls, isn't my favorite Goodman novel (that would be The Widow's House), it's still a tense, twisty tale that kept me glued to the page. True, I saw the killer coming, but that didn't keep me from reading this one fast and furious. Even though it's depressing, the characters aren't super likable, and their actions don't always make sense, I still enjoyed The Sea of Lost Girls overall.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other novels by Carol Goodman)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, disturbing subject matter, and references to underage drinking and illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, August 10, 2020
Debut Friendship Novel Upbeat, Even If Not Super Exciting
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
With her only child away at college in faraway California, single mom Renee Rhodes feels unmoored. Without her daughter to dote on, she hardly knows who she is anymore. She enjoys her receptionist job at a pediatrician's office (although her crush on her boss is downright embarrassing), her gardening, and her baking, but is it enough to sustain and fulfill her?
Chasing an active toddler around all day and trying to keep her home in order without the aid of her workaholic husband has left Sadie Landry feeling bone-tired. When she discovers she's pregnant again, she realizes she's reached her breaking point. Between the baby she's growing, the tension in her marriage, and the constant criticism from her outspoken mother-in-law, Sadie has had it.
Although they're neighbors in quaint Cranberry Cove, Maine, Renee and Sadie don't really know each other. Until a culinary disaster brings them together. The resulting friendship that develops between them gives both women the outlet and support they've been looking for. But will it be enough to sustain them as Renee and Sadie both take big leaps in their lives?
Forever Friends, a debut novel by Sarah Mackenzie, is a little fluffier than my usual reading fare. Still, the story touches on deeper subjects than its easy, breezy cover would suggest. It tells an upbeat tale set against a cozy backdrop and featuring likable characters. Its central theme of women supporting women definitely resonated with me. While the plot doesn't exactly offer tense, nail-biting action, there was enough going on to keep me turning pages. There was never a point, though, that I couldn't have put Forever Friends down for good. Overall, then, I liked but didn't love this one. Will I read the next book in the series? Eh. Maybe, maybe not.
(Readalikes: Um, nothing's coming readily to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (1 F-bomb, plus milder expletives) and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Forever Friends from the generous folks at Forever (a division of Hachette Book Group) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Monday, June 22, 2020
And ... That's a Big Ole Meh From Me
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ever since her mother's marriage and the subsequent birth of her baby brothers, Hazel Box has been feeling like the odd woman out. With all of her emotions boiling inside her, she needs to do something before she erupts. When she gets a surprise message on social media from Eve Warrington, a sophisticated teen who claims to be Hazel's half-sister, it feels like perfect timing. Even better, Eve is planning to spend two weeks in Maine with their father and wants Hazel to come along. The getaway is just the something Hazel has been waiting for—not only will she get a break from her family, but she'll have the chance to get to know her father and her half-sister at the same time. What could possibly go wrong?
I'm a fan of novels about family members finding each other, so I jumped at the chance to read That Summer in Maine by Brianna Wolfson. It sounded like a cute, upbeat sister story that would be both entertaining and poignant. Turns out, less than half of the novel focuses on Hazel and Eve. The first part of the story concerns the girls' mothers and how they both fall in love with the same man, get pregnant, and learn how to live with the consequences. Since the women's stories are nothing unique or all that interesting, the focus on them makes the first part of the book drag on and on. The action picks up when the camera's eye turns back on the girls. Although their half of the novel is more engaging, it's still not super compelling. The plot flip-flops here, there, and everywhere without going much of anywhere. It doesn't help that the characters are irritating—the mothers are needy, the girls are brats, and the dad is pretty darn clueless—and many of their decisions make no sense at all. Wolfson's tell-not-show prose just makes everything worse. For all these reasons, I put That Summer in Maine down several times. In the end, though, I decided to stick it out. Why? I really don't know because this novel drove me crazy! I like its premise, its tranquil cover, and its out-of-the-way setting. Other than that? Meh.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of Far From the Tree by Robin Benway)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder invectives), depictions of underage drinking, and mild sexual content/innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of That Summer in Maine from the generous folks at Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Popular YA Dystopian Novel Nothing We Haven't Seen Before, But Still Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"We shouldn't be here. This place isn't ours anymore" (59).
Eighteen months ago, a mysterious and vicious plague struck the island off the coast of Maine that houses the Raxter School for Girls. The pestilence descended without mercy, killing some teachers and students outright and changing others into something almost ... inhuman. Now quarantined, surviving only on supplies delivered in infrequent shipments from the U.S. Navy, the remaining girls have gone feral. Polite society is a distant memory—now they'll fight to the death over an apple core.
The island's wildlife has changed just as much as its human occupants have, making the grounds unpredictable and dangerous. Safety lies in numbers. Protection, at least from outside forces, can only be found inside Raxter's fortified walls. So, when Byatt Winsor disappears, her friends are frantic to find her. Hetty Chapin won't stop until she brings her BFF home, even if it means venturing outside the fence, braving whatever horrors are hiding in the jungle. As tough as Hetty has become, even she will be shaken by what she finds in the bush. Her discoveries will change everything she thinks she knows about Raxter, the Tox, and the unthinkably desperate situation that has somehow become her normal, everyday life.
While dystopian novels aren't quite as popular as they once were, I still dig them. Something about average Joe's and Jane's struggling to survive in a changed world, wrestling with their humanity as they make impossible choices, just appeals to me. These storylines always leave me asking myself, "What would I do in their situation? How far would I go to protect myself and my loved ones?" This kind of honest self-reflection can be eye-opening to say the least. Beyond that, I'm always up for an exciting page-turner, so, you know, win-win.
Even though Wilder Girls, a debut novel by Rory Power, doesn't offer anything dystopian lovers haven't seen before, it does provide a compelling plot that will have readers asking themselves the kinds of questions described above. The story gets a little confusing and while some questions are answered along the way, there are a lot of loose endings left flapping in the wind. A cliffhanger at the end suggests a sequel will be forthcoming, although I haven't seen confirmation of that anywhere. While some reviewers felt Wilder Girls moved too slowly, I found it thoroughly engrossing. I burned through the pages fast and furiously to see what would happen next in this grim dystopian world. Since so many questions were left unanswered, I can't say I was totally satisfied with Wilder Girls. Still, it kept me entertained and I will absolutely read the sequel that Power better be penning!
(Readalikes: I haven't actually read the William Golding classic, but Wilder Girls has been called a "feminist Lord of the Flies.")
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, December 04, 2019
Sweet, Entertaining Story Urges Kids to Be Themselves (Even If They're a Little Different From Others)
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"It's a powerful thing to rescue something. It changes both of you."
Emma's nerves are running rampant on the night before she's to start public school after years of being taught at home. Needing a distraction, she goes with her game warden father on a call about a wild rabbit. Surprised to find a pet bunny, not a feral animal, Emma begs her dad to let her bring it home. Reluctantly, he agrees. But only until the shelter opens the next morning.
Delighted by her foster pet, Emma nonetheless longs to find a real best friend. She's never had one before and she desperately wants to know what it's like. When her efforts yield only a strange boy with special needs, she doesn't know what to do. Her bunny, Lapi, provides emotional support, but when his presence at her home is threatened, Emma fears she'll lose the only friend she has. Can she figure out how to keep Lapi and find a human BFF? Or is she stuck with no pet and only the weird kid for company at school?
I've enjoyed all of Cynthia Lord's middle-grade novels. Her newest, Because of the Rabbit, is no exception. It's not my favorite of the author's books, but it's still a sweet, upbeat story about being yourself (even if you're a little different from other people), telling the truth, and being a good friend. Because of the Rabbit is an easy, entertaining read that will appeal to animal lovers as well as kids who might be having trouble with their own friendships. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: A little like Rules by Cynthia Lord)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: Another library find fine
Monday, October 28, 2019
Shivery Sophomore Novel A Liked-It-Didn't-Love-It Halloween Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
A year after his wife died in childbirth, Gabriel Stone is still wracked with grief. Desperate to make a new start away from the memories that haunt his every step in Massachusetts, he accepts a position as a minister in the small town of Pale Harbor, Maine. Hiding his own secrets, Gabriel soon becomes acquainted with the village's biggest mystery—Sophronia Carver. The young widow, who's rumored to be everything from a witch to a heartless murderer, hides away in creepy Castle Carver, with only a gruff spinster housekeeper for company. Intrigued by the sinister stories surrounding her, Gabriel seeks out Sophronia, who surprises him with her kindness, beauty, and intelligence.
When strange things start happening in Pale Harbor, the townspeople know immediately who's at fault—Widow Carver. Gabriel doesn't believe it for a second. Someone else is scaring people with Edgar Allen Poe-ish tricks. Gabriel must find out who before all of Pale Harbor comes for Sophronia with pitchforks and torches. They don't know her like he does, or do they? What is the widow hiding? And who is really behind the macabre doings in town? Gabriel won't stop digging until he finds the truth.
I loved Hester Fox's debut novel, The Witch of Willow Hall, so when I was offered an early copy of her sophomore book to review, I accepted eagerly. While The Widow of Pale Harbor shares many elements with its predecessor—a shivery, atmospheric setting; strong, creepy Gothic vibes; and a cast of interesting, sympathetic characters—I didn't enjoy it nearly as much. I'm not sure why, but Fox's second effort just didn't impress me like her first did. I still liked The Widow of Pale Harbor, I just didn't love it.
(Readalikes: The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox and The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Widow of Pale Harbor from the generous folks at HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, May 09, 2019
Miranda's Newest Another Twisty, Engrossing Thriller
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
In picturesque Littleport, Maine, there are two kinds of people—wealthy summer visitors and the locals who inhabit the resort town year-round. With the livelihood of the latter dependent on the former, there's a natural divide between the two groups. Their members simply don't mix. That's why Littleport resident Avery Greer was so surprised when rich, sophisticated Sadie Loman befriended her ten years ago. Having grown closer to Sadie with every passing summer, Avery is horrified when she learns that her friend's body has washed up on the shore. With an apparent suicide note in their possession, the cops declare that Sadie stepped off a steep cliff of her own volition. Case closed. Avery's not the only one who doesn't believe bold, unapologetic Sadie would take her own life; she's also not the only one some people in town consider a suspect in the woman's death.
Sure that someone (or multiple someones) knows more than they're admitting, Avery launches her own search for the truth about Sadie's death. The deeper she digs, the more dirt she uncovers. It soon becomes obvious that Avery's revealing secrets someone would kill to keep buried. Can she find out the truth before it's her dead body that washes ashore?
I'm sure you've noticed by now that I love me a tense psychological thriller, especially one that's set in a cozy little town that's hiding big, juicy secrets. The Last House Guest (available June 18, 2019), the newest suspense novel from Megan Miranda, delivers on all fronts. The setting is atmospheric, the plot compelling, and the mystery twisty. Just the way I like it. Yes, the book is depressing as all get-out, but it's also an engrossing read that kept me totally riveted. I've enjoyed all of Miranda's books and this one is no exception. If you're looking for an absorbing summer thriller, look no further.
(Readalikes: Hm, I should be able to think of lots of titles, but nothing's coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Last House Guest from the generous folks at Simon & Schuster via those at Edelweiss. Thank you!
Monday, December 31, 2018
Loosey-Goosey Structure Makes New Thriller Not So Thrilling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When her fiancé's private plane crashes in the Colorado Rockies, 31-year-old Allison Carpenter is left alone on a remote mountaintop. With little food, no shelter, and no way to communicate with the outside world, she must figure out how to survive. It's not just the elements that are plotting against her—she's harboring an explosive secret that powerful men would kill to keep under wraps.
Maggie Carpenter hasn't seen or talked to her only child in two years. When she receives the news that Allison is presumed dead after a plane crash, the widow is filled with sorrow and remorse. Also a niggling hope. Allison's remains have not been recovered. Although everyone urges her to accept the fact that her daughter is dead, Maggie refuses to give up. After finding some disturbing information about the life Allison's been leading in the years since Maggie saw her, Maggie starts digging into her daughter's secret past. What she discovers convinces Maggie that her daughter's "death" was no accident.
In a desperate race to save themselves and each other, both women will have to use all their strength and tenacity to get to the bottom of a disturbing conspiracy that its perpetrators will do anything to keep quiet.
Told from dual perspectives, Freefall by Jessica Barry (available January 8, 2019) is an adrenaline-fueled page turner that kept me riveted despite the novel's loosey-goosey construction. The plot gets cliché and melodramatic while not making a lot of logical sense. I saw its big twists coming from too far away. Allison is difficult to relate to—her cash-centric decisions make little sense and leave her looking like a greedy, self-centered gold digger. Although I did want to know how this novel ended, overall it didn't feel like a very satisfying read. I wanted a tighter, more sensical plot; better developed characters; and some surprising twists to keep the story fresh. Maybe next time.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't really think of anything. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, blood/gore, sexual content, depictions of illegal drug use, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Freefall from the generous folks at HarperCollins. Thank you!
Taut, Tense Game Warden Mystery Launches Intriguing Series
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Mike Bowditch is a 24-year-old game warden who likes solitude and avoiding unnecessary complications. His father, Jack, is a definite complication. A poacher and trapper, Jack is a "saloon-brawling logger with a rap sheet of misdemeanors and the public persona of a Tasmanian devil" (53) who finds himself in constant trouble with the law. Still, Mike can't contain his shock when he's informed that his father is the prime suspect in the murder of a beloved police officer. No one understands Jack's volatile nature better than his son, but Mike still can't believe his father is capable of murder. In order to clear his name, Mike will have to find the real killer.
Putting his job and his reputation on the line, Mike travels deep into the Maine wilderness in search of his missing father. With only a retired warden pilot on his side, he feels almost helpless. Determined to find the truth, Mike soldiers on, risking more and more as the investigation goes on. Can he prove his father innocent? Or will he just destroy everything he's worked so hard for in the pursuit of an impossible outcome?
The Poacher's Son, a debut novel by Paul Doiron and the first in a series, is a taut, atmospheric thriller featuring a brave, likable hero. Taut and compelling, the plot twists and turns, keeping the reader constantly on edge. Although it's a grim tale, The Poacher's Son is engrossing enough to make me want to read more in this intriguing series.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the Glacier Mystery series by Christine Carbo [The Wild Inside; Mortal Fall; and The Weight of Night] as well as books by C.J. Box and Nevada Barr)
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: Another library fine find
Friday, March 16, 2018
MG Memory Novel Unexpectedly Unsettling and Thought-Provoking
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Irritated with their parents, who can't even visit the county fair without making a scene, Benji and Kelly Lewis sneak off to explore the event by themselves. When bullies drive the twins apart, 12-year-old Benji takes refuge inside a circus tent at the edge of the fairgrounds. A sign identifies it as The Memory Emporium, a place where memories are bought and sold. The proprietor, a strange old man named Louis, offers Benji a taste of his wares. Benji's awestruck by the experience, which plants him in a vivid, exhilarating memory of parachuting out of a WWII fighter plane. In exchange, all he has to give up is a tiny, inconsequential memory of his own.
The more Benji thinks about The Memory Emporium, the more he realizes that Louis holds the key to solving the problem of his parents' impending divorce. When Benji begs the old man to teach him to be a memory thief, Benji receives just enough instruction to start messing with people's memories. And to create a giant mess for himself and everyone he loves. Can he fix what he's done before his mistakes become permanent? Or will he be stuck forever with a family that doesn't remember him?
I'm not gonna lie.
Despite its intriguing premise, I didn't hold out a lot of hope for The Memory Thief by Bryce Moore. I was pleasantly surprised, then, to discover that it's an atmospheric, imaginative novel that's unexpectedly thought-provoking. Yes, the story has a lot more potential than its execution indicates, but overall, it tells an intriguing tale. The characters aren't anything special, the prose is more tell-y than show-y, and I didn't feel a lot of emotion between the characters. Still, I ended up liking this unsettling little tale about the importance of remembering—and learning from—everything that happens to us, both the good and the bad.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of The Knowing series [The Forgetting; The Knowing] by Sharon Cameron)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Memory Thief from the generous folks at Adaptive Books. Thank you!
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Story Behind Famous Wyeth Painting Interesting, But Not Riveting
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
For Christina Olson, life is small and ordinary. House bound because of a debilitating condition (probably Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease) that twists her limbs into useless twigs, she spends her days keeping house as best she can, sewing dresses for ladies in town, and conversing with her brother, Al. As the only daughter in a family of sons, she's destined to be the eternal housekeeper—but never the owner—of Hathorne House, her ancestral home. Although a young man once offered her the dim hope of a different life, Christina knows she will never leave Cushing, Maine, her tiny piece of the world.
When 46-year-old Christina meets Andrew Wyeth, a young painter, life changes most unexpectedly. His frequent visits light up Hathorne House with an energy and vitality that hasn't been there in decades. He brings color into Christina's bleak, lonely world. Already enraptured by the stark scenery of Cushing, Andrew becomes fascinated by Christina, even featuring her in an evocative painting that becomes one of his most famous. This surprising friendship changes both of their lives and ensures that an ordinary, but remarkable, woman is not forgotten.It's hard to describe the plot of A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline's newest, because it really doesn't have one. Blending fact and fiction, it tells the story of the real woman who inspired Andrew Wyeth's striking painting, Christina's World. Kline delves into Christina's growing-up years, which were marked by difficulty and pain, as well as her adulthood and her unlikely association with Wyeth. It highlights her fierce independence as well as her undying devotion to her family. What results is a quiet, character-driven novel that is interesting, but not riveting. I ended up liking it, but not loving it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs) and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of A Piece of the World from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, January 13, 2017
Whitewater Wilderness Adventure Far-Fetched, But Engrossing
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
There's no doubt that Winifred Allen needs a vacation. Grieving both the loss of her brother and the end of her marriage, the 39-year-old could use a break. An extreme river rafting adventure isn't quite what she had in mind, but when her BFFs suggest it for an upcoming girl's trip, Wini can't talk her way out of going. Reluctantly, she joins her three besties as they head into Maine's Allagash Wilderness.
Wini's concern grows when she meets the river guide, 20-year-old college student Rory Ekhart. He's nice to look at, sure, but does he know what he's doing? It's not long before they find out. A freak accident leaves the group stranded in the woods. Soon, they're struggling to survive—against nature, each other, and a host of other dangers lurking in the wilderness. Can they all make it out alive? Or will their gal pal adventure mean the end of their friendship forever?
I enjoy a good man vs. nature survival story where ordinary people have to dig deep for the will to survive an extraordinary situation. The River at Night, a debut novel by Erica Ferencik, tells just such a story. Naturally, it's an exciting, fast-paced adventure tale full of twists and turns, danger and drama. Yes, it's far-fetched—I mean, would a group of inexperienced middle-aged women really sign up for an extreme, week-long outdoor adventure led by a kid they know little about? And what is the likelihood that everything would go wrong pretty much right from the start? Well, it makes for a thrilling story, anyway. In the end, I didn't love The River at Night, but it did keep me engrossed and guessing—two hallmarks of a good, gripping page turner.
(Readalikes: I can't think of any specific books, but The River at Night did remind me of the movie The River Wild)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, blood/gore, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The River at Night from the generous folks at Scout Press/Simon and Schuster via those at Wunderkind PR and NetGalley. Thank you!
Tuesday, January 03, 2017
Moo A Gentle, Heartwarming Tale of Kindness
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Reena, a 12-year-old who's just moved from the city to rural Maine, isn't sure what to expect from her new home. Blueberries, lobster, boating—that's about all she knows of the state. Farming is not on the list. But when Reena's parents suggest she and her brother offer to help their cantankerous neighbor, Mrs. Falala, with her animals, that's exactly what she finds herself doing. Zora, the old woman's ornery cow, quickly becomes Reena's arch nemesis. No matter what she does, nothing seems to go right. Reena's fed up with it all—Maine, Mrs. Falala, the animals, everything.
Then a strange thing happens. The more time Reena spends helping her neighbor, the more invested she becomes. Can a little kindness win over both a stubborn old woman and her disobedient cow? How about a city girl with a bad attitude? Reena is about to find out ...
Told in a blend of poetry and prose, Moo, a new middle grade novel by Sharon Creech, is a sweet, tender story about the magic that can happen when we dare to step outside of our comfort zones. The characters are likable, the book's format intriguing. Fun word art makes the text come alive, making it more meaningful. Overall, the tale is a gentle one. Not super exciting, but engaging nonetheless.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Moo from the generous folks at HarperCollins. Thank you!
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