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Friday, December 06, 2019
Another Page-Turner from a Psychological Thriller Master
6:09 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
As a child, Jocelyn "Jo" Holt's world revolved around one person—her beloved nanny, Hannah Burgess. When Hannah disappeared from luxurious Lake Hall without a trace, it shattered young Jo. Her parents appeared unfazed by the woman's sudden departure, insisting Hannah had simply moved on. Jo couldn't believe she would go without saying goodbye. Something awful had to have happened to remove Hannah so suddenly, so callously, from Jo's life. Did someone hurt Hannah? Or did she really just take another position without informing the charge she claimed to love?
Thirty years later, Jo is back at Lake Hall, her 10-year-old daughter, Ruby, in tow. A recent widow, she has been left temporarily without a home or funds. Although she detests her cold, aristocratic mother, Jo has no choice but to move in with Virginia Holt. At least for the time being.
When human remains are discovered on the Holts' property, old questions surface. Do the bones belong to Hannah? Or are they much older, as Virginia claims? As the police begin a probing investigation, Jo is forced to ask some disturbing questions: Who was Hannah Burgess, really? Why did she disappear? And what, if anything, did Jo's parents have to do with her vanishment?
I'm a fan of Gilly Macmillan's twisty psychological thrillers. The Nanny might not be my favorite of hers, but it's still a taut, compelling page-turner. Jo and her cohorts aren't a super likable bunch and yet, I cared what happened to them. Plotwise, The Nanny is exciting and surprising, which definitely kept me racing through the pages. Like all the psychological thrillers I've been reading lately, this one is sad and depressing. And yet, I enjoyed it, all in all.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books by Gilly Macmillan)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual content, and depictions of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Nanny from the generous folks at William Morrow (an imprint of HarperCollins) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Thursday, December 05, 2019
Newest Not My Favorite Kelly Novel, But Still An Engrossing Page-Turner
6:17 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Sometimes reinventing the wheel by writing my own plot summaries for the books I review doesn't make any sense, especially when a novel's back cover copy describes it in a way that's both succinct and brilliant. Such is the case with Stone Mothers, the newest thriller from British crime writer Erin Kelly. Check it out:
You can't keep the secret.
You can't tell the truth.
You can't escape the past...
Marianne was seventeen when she fled her home in Nusstead – leaving behind her family, her boyfriend, Jesse, and the body they buried. Now, thirty years later, forced to return to in order to help care for her sick mother, she can feel the past closing around her. And Jesse, who never forgave her for leaving in the first place, is finally threatening to expose the truth.
Marianne will do anything to protect the life she's built, the husband and daughter who must never know what happened all those years ago. Even if it means turning to her worst enemy for help... But Marianne may not know the whole story – and she isn't the only one with secrets they'd kill to keep.
I find books about the early treatment of mental illness both fascinating and horrifying. Even if I hadn't already been a fan of Kelly's, then, I would have been eager to read Stone Mothers. Turns out, this isn't my favorite of the author's books. Still, as with all of Kelly's work, this one kept me burning through pages to see what would happen next. The characters are complex and intriguing, the plot is fast-paced but contemplative, and the vibe is gothic and eerie. With plenty of twists to keep things interesting, Stone Mothers is definitely an engrossing page-turner. It's also sad, depressing, and not my favorite Kelly novel. Overall, though, I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Other Mother by Carol Goodman; Woman 99 by Greer MacAllister; and a little of The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, sexual innuendo/content, 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)
6:00 AM
(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
Tuesday, December 03, 2019
TTT: I'll Get to Them One of These Christmases ...
6:49 AM
Don't you love the festive Top Ten Tuesday image above? It's a perfect complement to today's topic: Top Ten Christmas Books I Hope to Read in December 2019. If you don't celebrate Christmas or you want to highlight non-holiday books, that's okay too. Personally, I love to read holiday books to get me in the Christmas spirit. This year, however, I'm a Round 1 judge for the Cybils Awards, so I'm busy, busy, busy reading books that have been nominated for an award in the YA fiction category. Our shortlist is due on December 29, so the rest of my reading year will basically be taken up with that. Since I'm not sure exactly what I am and am not allowed to say about the process, I'm going to focus on the Top Ten Christmas Books I Would Have Liked to Read in December 2019.
Before we get to that, though, I want to encourage you to join in the TTT fun. It's a great way to spread the love around our great book blogging community. You can revisit favorite blogs, find new ones to enjoy, and of course, gather awesome reading recommendations to add to your TBR pile. What's not to love? Joining in is super easy—just hop on over to That Artsy Reader Girl, read a few quick instructions, create your own TTT list, and get clicking.
Alright, here we go with the Top Ten Christmas Books I Would Have Liked to Read in December 2019:
I'm not much for re-reading, but I make exceptions for the following three books:
1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens—I try to read this classic novella every December. It's a quick read and one that never fails to put a smile on my face. There are so many powerful lessons in this deceptively simple story! It always reminds me that generosity trumps greed, people's hearts can change and that Christmas is a time for forgiveness, unselfishness, and love.
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling—Rowling's descriptions of Christmas at Hogwarts are just ... magical.
3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott—Always a fun read, this is one of my favorite classic novels.
I haven't read any of the following yet. Maybe next Christmas?
4. Christmas novels by Jenny Colgan—The Scottish author has penned a number of holiday novels. I'll probably start with Christmas at the Cupcake Café and go from there.
5. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva—As I mentioned above, I love Mr. Dickens' famous carol. This novel, about the author and how his most loved work came to be, sounds excellent.
6. A Christmas by the Sea by Melody Carlson—Wendy Harper and her son travel to Seaside, Maine, in order to fix up the cottage Wendy inherits when her grandfather dies. Although she has every intention of selling the place ASAP, her son insists it's their new home. Does he know something his mother doesn't? Sounds like a sweet holiday story!
7. Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini—I've read a little bit about the sad story behind Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," which was set to music and became a beloved holiday carol. This novel goes into more depth. One of these Christmases, I really need to read it.
8. Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle—A woman who is clamoring to save the small store her family has owned for generations pens a desperate letter to Santa asking for help. Little does she know, the person reading her letters is the handsome owner of the chain megastore that she holds directly responsible for putting her store out of business ... A fun holiday rom-com? Yes, please!
9. The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury—Another romance, this one revolves around a bookstore that has brought people together for decades. When a devastating flood threatens to close it forever, its customers (including an estranged couple who made many happy memories at the bookstore) must rally together to save it.
10. Sentimental Journey by Holly Schindler—This lovely author has had a special place in my heart ever since she told me she posted my glowing review of her first novel, A Blue So Dark, on her fridge because she was so proud of it! LOL. Schindler writes in a variety of genres, but her holiday story collection is particularly fun. The novellas all center around Ruby's Place, a rundown restaurant and bar that was once the sparkling center of life in little Sullivan, Missouri. Although it appears deserted, there are some delightful spirits who inhabit the place and are eager to help return it to its former glory. I've read the first two installments in the series, but haven't yet gotten to this third one.
There you go, ten books I'd like to read in December 2019. Even though I will likely not get to them next month, I hope to someday. Have you read any of these? What are your favorite Christmas reads? What will you be reading during the holiday season? I'd love to know your answers. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on yours.
Happy TTT!
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