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Wednesday, May 16, 2018
New Romantic Suspense Novel Too Meh For Me (With a Giveaway!)
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Haley Wyatt is preparing to say goodbye to Grisa, her beloved 100-year-old great-grandmother, when a phone call from Germany rocks both of their worlds. A relative informs them that a body has been found in an old, walled-in room in Baumdorf. The remains have been identified as those of Ulrich Krauss, Haley's great-grandfather. Grisa, who thought her husband abandoned her, has always told her family he died in World War II. Both Haley and Grisa are shocked by the truth—Ulrich Krauss was murdered. Desperate to honor the man she has been decrying for almost a century, Grisa begs Haley to travel to Germany in her stead and find out what really happened to Ulrich.
Almost from the moment she steps on German soil, Haley feels as if someone is watching her. Even with handsome Joshua Davison—an old friend of her brother's—by her side, she can't shake the sinister feeling. The more she learns about Ulrich Krauss' disappearance, the more certain Haley feels. Someone doesn't want her digging into the past. That someone will go to great lengths to stop her from finding out who killed her great-grandfather. The closer she comes to discovering the reason behind his death, the more dangerous her trip to Germany becomes. Can Haley find what she's looking for before it's too late? Or will she be the next victim of a killer determined to keep the secrets of the past from ever coming to light?
Romantic suspense has never been my favorite, but there are definitely things I appreciate about the genre. Like many of its fellows, Unforgettable by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen is a quick, clean read that shies away from graphic violence, language, and sensuality. Although it deals with some disturbing subjects, overall its themes of hope, redemption, and love are what really shine through. I also find the subject of Nazi-stolen art interesting, so I enjoyed that aspect of the story. Unfortunately, Unforgettable also falls back on some of my least favorite genre staples—flat characters, insta-love, a far-fetched plot line, melodramatic prose, and contrived plot devices. I didn't feel much of a connection with Haley or any real sparks between her and Joshua. Also, because we already know "whodunit," there's not a whole lot of suspense to keep the novel interesting. These elements took away from the story for me, making it pretty meh for me overall. Still, Unforgettable is an entertaining enough tale, as long as you don't expect too much of it. If you dig this genre, you might want to give it a chance.
(Readalikes: I don't read this genre very often, so I'm not sure what would be an apt comparison. Suggestions?)
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 Unforgettable from the generous folks at Covenant. Thank you!
--
Interested in more opinions of Unforgettable? Follow along on the book's blog tour by clicking on the links below:
*May 14th: https://brightlystreet.com/, http://mybookaday.com/
*May 15th: http://
*May 16th: http://lisaisabookworm.
*May 18th: http://whynotbecauseisaidso.
Want to win a copy of Unforgettable, plus a $25 Amazon gift card? Enter to win using the Rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Just in Time for Mother's Day Comes a Heartwarming Story About the Joys of Motherhood ... Oh, Wait ...
11:29 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Desperate for a new start away from her controlling husband, Daphne Marist applies for her dream job as a live-in archivist for her favorite novelist—and gets it. Not only does she know nothing about how to actually perform her duties, but she's also presenting herself with a false name and credentials that do not belong to her. Sure she can fake it well enough to fool her elderly employer, Daphne heads to the Catskills with her six-month-old daughter, Chloe, in tow. Waiting for her is a beautiful stone mansion surrounded by a lush landscape that makes the whole scene seem like something out of a fairy tale. The lovely refuge is exactly what Daphne needs, even if the insane asylum that lurks behind the home sends shivers down her spine.
As Daphne starts organizing papers for Schuyler Bennett, she becomes immersed in the author's story, especially her connection with the asylum. In doing so, she's trying to forget her own troubles, the reason why she fled her home in the first place. Yes, Daphne was diagnosed with Postpartum Mood Disorder after Chloe's birth and yes, it made her forgetful, clingy, even obsessive. It didn't, however, make her a danger to her infant daughter. No matter what, Daphne refuses to believe her husband's accusations—she would never hurt Chloe. Never. She doesn't know how to interpret the disturbing memory fragments tormenting her mind, but they can't be what they seem to be. They can't be evidence that she put her own child at risk. That would be impossible, wouldn't it?
The longer Daphne is in the Catskills, the more she comes to realize that something did happen before she left. Something awful. It's up to her to mine her troubling memory for the truth before she finds herself the newest resident in an asylum that is conveniently close to her new home ...
Just in time for Mother's Day comes a heartwarming novel about the joys of motherhood ... oh, wait, this is not that book! As is indicated by its title, The Other Mother—the newest Gothic thriller by Carol Goodman—is indeed about motherhood. It's about all the uncertainty, guilt, anxiety, fear, and fierce, mind-warping love that comes along with bearing a child, especially for the first time. While all of those emotions are perfectly natural, this wouldn't be a Goodman book if those feelings weren't twisted into something decidedly more sinister than just a new mother's paranoia. Goodman uses these heightened emotions to create a story that is chilling and can't-look-away compelling. It's the kind of novel that keeps the reader constantly off-kilter, never knowing what is real and what isn't. In doing so, however, the plot gets confusing and a bit contrived. Still, it's a tense, twisty thriller that will keep you engrossed until the very end. The Other Mother isn't my favorite novel by this author, but it's definitely another enthralling story that kept me turning pages long past bedtime.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a bit of Remember Mia by Alexandra Burt)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a half dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Other Mother from the generous folks at HarperCollins. Thank you!
Monday, May 07, 2018
"Modern" Pimpernel Novel Offers a Fun, Feminine Twist (With a Giveaway!)
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Lady Scarlet Cavendish, a wealthy English widow, wears many disguises. At home, she masquerades as a feather-headed, fashion-obsessed debutante. While in France, she plays a harmless hag, a clever seamstress, a guillotine groupie, even a soldier—anything to aid the innocent victims of the country's bloody revolution. Her most secret identity, the one she guards with her very life, is that of the Pimpernel. A daring spy, the Pimpernel is a "man" of mystery who specializes in whisking French aristocrats out of the country right under the noses of their accusers. No one would believe a moneyed, well-bred society lady like Scarlet capable of such derring-do, which is the very reason she must pretend to be as incapable as possible. Lives depend on her ability to act a part (or two or three).
When Scarlet rescues the handsome, charming Comte Matteo Durand, she finds the last thing she wants to do with him is pretend. She would like nothing more than to act on her growing feelings, to allow herself to fall in love and settle down with the man who makes her heart pound and her soul swoon. She can't be entirely honest with him, though; revealing her identity as the Pimpernel could put them both at great risk. With powerful enemies and strong motivation to unmask the infamous spy, Matteo could be Scarlet's undoing—in every way possible. Can she truly trust the man she's grown to love? Can she risk the lives of innocent people by revealing herself to him? Will the desire burning in Scarlet's heart cause the unraveling of the bravest, most fearless hero of the French revolution?
I barely know anything about The Scarlet Pimpernel—the fictional hero of a series of novels penned by Baroness Orczy in the early 1900s—but I still enjoyed Jen Geigle Johnson's Scarlet, a "modern" twist on the classic tale. The story stars a likable couple, whose exploits are marked by action/adventure, humor, and romance. Scarlet makes a convincing heroine, although her antics definitely get far-fetched. Although it deals with serious issues, overall Scarlet is a fun, enjoyable novel that is both entertaining and compelling. At just over 200 pages, it's quick, it's clean (besides innuendo and some passionate kissing), and it's captivating. If you're looking for a light, romantic tale, definitely give this one a try.
(Readalikes: The Nobleman's Daughter by Jen Geigle Johnson)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, sexual innuendo, and references to prostitution
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Scarlet from the generous folks at Covenant Communications. Thank you!
--
Want more opinions on Scarlet? Follow along on the book's blog tour by clicking on the links below:
*May 8th: https://www.
*May 9th: https://joyinthemoments.
*May 10th: https://ldsandlovinit.
*May 11th: https://brightlystreet.com/, http://whynotbecauseisaidso.
Want to win a copy of Scarlet plus a $25 Amazon gift card? Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!
Tuesday, May 01, 2018
TTT: The Early Bird Gets the ARC
9:45 AM
One of the perks of being a book blogger is gaining access to books before they become available to the general public. This is especially exciting if a book's written by a favorite author and/or is creating lots of early buzz in the publishing world. While ARC availability/distribution has changed a lot over the years I've been blogging, I still get a fair amount of them, which is one of the things that keeps this gig exciting! I'm not the only one whose greedy little heart beats triple time at the thought of hot new ARCs on my doorstep, as is evidenced by today's TTT topic: Top Ten Books I'd Slay a Lion to Get Early.
Before we get to that, though, make sure you head over to That Artsy Reader Girl to get the low-down on this fun weekly meme. You're definitely going to want to make your own list every week and join in—it's always a good time, I promise! It's a great way to spread the love throughout the book blogging community while adding to your TBR mountain chain (because you can NEVER have enough reading recommendations, amirite?).
I have to say first off that I wouldn't actually slay a lion for the following books because (1) I'm not into animal cruelty, (2) I'm a pretty big wimp (Simba would eat me long before I got anywhere close to him), and (3) I'm not that desperate. I wouldn't be above begging for the following, though:
Top Ten Books I'd Slay a Lion to Get Early
1. The Witch Elm by Tana French (available October 9, 2018)—Although details have been pretty hush-hush, Book Riot swears the Irish crime novelist's newest will be appearing in early October. Supposedly, it's a standalone (French's first) about a boy (man?) who discovers a skull on his family's land while he's in town taking care of his uncle. Honestly, I don't care if it's about how grass grows, I want to read it!
2. The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton (available October 9, 2018)—Publishing on the same day as the above, is Morton's newest. I adore everything I've ever read by her, so naturally I'd be stoked to get an early copy of this one, which appears to follow a similar dual-timeline plot as all her other novels.
4. The newest from Kristin Hannah—Yeah, yeah, I know Hannah just barely published The Great Alone. I loved that book and The Nightingale, so I'm anxiously waiting for her next big, immersive novel. I snagged an early copy of The Great Alone, so I'll keep my fingers crossed ...
5. Al Capone Throws Me a Curve by Gennifer Choldenko (available May 8, 2018)—I had no idea there was another book in this fun series coming out until I got an email offering me an early copy of it. Score! It's on its way to me as we speak and I'm super excited. If you haven't read Choldenko's excellent middle grade series about life as a kid living on Alcatraz during the 1930s, you really should.
6. A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs (available August 21, 2018?)—It feels like I've been waiting decades for this one to come out and it looks like the wait isn't over yet. Reichs just announced that, because of health issues, she's going on sabbatical and won't be releasing the book when planned. Bummer. I have to see what happens next to Tempe Brennan, my favorite forensic anthropologist, so an early copy of this one would be especially awesome!
7. In Her Bones by Kate Moretti (available September 4, 2018)—This one certainly sounds intriguing! It's about Edie, a woman who becomes obsessed with the families of her serial killer mother's victims. When Edie is accused of murdering one of them, she launches a desperate search for the truth in an (probably futile) effort to clear her name.
8. When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica (available September 4, 2018)—Kubica's latest is about a woman whose social security number raises some surprising red flags. As she tries to figure out what's going on, insomnia plays with her mind making her wonder what is true and what is not. ARC, please!
9. The Second Life of Ava Rivers by Faith Gardner (available August 28, 2018)—I've read a few books with this premise, but I still find it fascinating: a person who disappeared as a child returns suddenly as a young adult, leaving their family with more questions than answers. I'm in!
10. White Elephant by Emily Raymond (available December 4, 2018)—This one's a heartwarming holiday tale about an intense white elephant gift exchange in which an ugly vase, which was once used as a murder weapon by one of the participants, comes up for grabs. Who added the vase to the exchange? What do they know? I was just kidding about the "heartwarming" part, but still, this one sounds compelling. I'd be happy to find an early copy in my mailbox!
So, there you have it, ten books I would be stoked to receive early. Which ARCs are you most coveting right now? For which others should I be begging my contacts? Leave me a comment on this post and I'll gladly return the favor.
Happy TTT!
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