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Saturday, June 09, 2018
Moody Broody Mystery a Not Very Satisfying Read
8:07 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Blackmore isn't the kind of place that takes kindly to a stranger nosing around asking uncomfortable questions. The 2500 people still surviving in the gritty, down-on-its luck mining town are as rough and hopeless as their dying village. As a newcomer, Clare O'Day sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb. She doesn't look like a cop, but her inquiries into the recent disappearance of Shayna Fowles—a local junkie—make her suspect. What is Clare doing in Blackmore? Why is she asking about Shayna?
Clare has her own issues, although she's not about to unload them on anyone in Blackmore. Her job is to observe, ask questions, find Shayna, and leave. It soon becomes clear, however, that her task will not be as easy as it sounds. No one in Blackmore trusts Clare and vice versa, but to solve her own problems, Clare must find Shayna. What happened to the woman? Did someone harm her? If so, who? With a town chock-full of menacing suspects, Clare hardly knows where to start. One thing, however, is becoming painfully clear—Clare's in more danger every day she stays in Blackmore. Can she discover the truth behind Shayna's disappearance? Or will Clare become the next young woman to vanish from the sinister, dead-end town?
Still Mine, a debut novel by Canadian author Amy Stuart, is a moody, broody thriller that's unsettling and just ... weird. It's atmospheric, with an eerie vibe that sets the stage for a mystery that could go in any direction. The characters are a rugged, violent lot who are almost wholly unlikable. Plotwise, Still Mine is compelling, but its premise is unconvincing and its ending just made the whole novel feel pointless and depressing. While Stuart's prose is solid, I found almost everything else about this novel unappealing. I finished it, but overall, Still Mine just wasn't a very satisfying read for me. Bummer.
(Readalikes: Blackmore reminds me of Acker's Gap, West Virginia, the setting for the Bell Elkins series by Julia Keller)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, depictions of illegal drug use, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Still Mine with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, June 05, 2018
Eden Delivers Another Warm, Witty Regency Romance
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: Loving Lieutenant Lancaster is a companion novel to Seeking Persephone; Courting Miss Lancaster; and Romancing Daphne. It also concerns members of the Jonquil Family from Kiss of a Stranger; Friends & Foes; Drops of Gold; As You Are; A Fine Gentleman; and For Love or Honor. While the books are not technically sequels, reading them out of sequence may result in plot spoilers. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
An orphan raised by her unfeeling aunt and uncle, Arabella Hampton dreams of being part of a big, loving family. The Jonquils have always represented the ideal; long has she dreamed of being one of them. When Lady Lampton, the aging matriarch of the Jonquil Family, approaches Arabella's guardians about hiring their charge as a lady's companion, 23-year-old Arabella can't believe her luck. Finally, she'll get to live at Lampton Park, residing among the kind-hearted Jonquils. Arabella hasn't been in her new position long, though, before she realizes she's a charity hire, not really needed at all. As neither a servant nor a family member, she finds herself feeling useless and out of place. She finally sees her hopes of being a real Jonquil for what they are—foolish and naive.
Recently retired from the Royal Navy, 24-year-old Linus Lancaster is finding himself hopelessly bored with his new-found life of leisure. Lonely and craving a diversion of almost any kind, he agrees to attend an extended house party at the Jonquils' estate in Nottinghamshire. Cavorting with his siblings, their spouses, and their in-laws should make for an entertaining two weeks. While Linus expects fireworks (especially between the surly Duke of Kielder and foppish Lord Lampton), he's shocked when a mysterious woman hiding in the shadows unwittingly ignites his passions. Mesmerized by the lovely Miss Hampton, Linus vows to bring the reluctant young woman out of obscurity—and into his arms.
Although of differing stations and backgrounds, Arabella and Linus are nevertheless drawn to each other. Can they find the purpose and belonging they both long for in each other? Or will their haunted pasts drive them apart forever?
Sarah M. Eden has become known for her warm, witty romances. They're clean, they're fun, they're sweet, and they're enjoyable. Her newest, Loving Lieutenant Lancaster, is no exception. Featuring likable characters, a warm, upbeat tone, and capable prose, it's as entertaining as its fellows. Because this novel brings together the casts of two of Eden's Regency series, there are a lot of characters in Loving Lieutenant Lancaster. Those who have read the previous novels will no doubt delight in seeing what's become of their favorites; those who are not acquainted with all the Lancasters and Jonquils will likely be confused. I, for one, had trouble keeping them all straight. While their antics kept me reading, this novel definitely started to feel overly long. Admittedly, I'm not a big romance reader. When I do indulge, I prefer my love stories to be short and sweet, especially if there aren't any subplots to keep me interested. Despite those things, I still enjoyed this fun Regency romance.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Jonquil and Lancaster series [titles listed in Note above] by Sarah M. Eden)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Loving Lieutenant Lancaster from Covenant in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
--
Would you like more opinions on Loving Lieutenant Lancaster? Follow along on the book's blog tour by clicking on the links below:
*June 4th: http://mybookaday.com/, https://www.wishfulendings.
*June 5th: http://www.blogginboutbooks.
*June 6th: http://www.kindleandme.com/, http://ldswritermom.blogspot.
*June 7th: https://www.
*June 8th: http://minreadsandreviews.
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Friday, June 01, 2018
Grief Novel Poignant and Engaging
2:04 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Maddy Starling may have left her family, but she can't quite leave them alone. Even as a ghost, she worries about her workaholic husband and their grief-stricken 16-year-old daughter, Eve. Without Maddy there to bridge the gap, to keep the household running and manage everyone's emotions, what will become of her fractured family? The least she can do is find a replacement for herself, someone who can be a companion to Brady and a loving mentor for Eve. She thinks she may have found the perfect woman in Rory Murray, an elementary school teacher who's tutoring Eve. Is Rory, who comes with her own baggage, really a suitable stand-in? Can Maddy somehow "push" her and Brady together?
In the meantime, Brady and Eve have to learn how to cope without the wife and mother who's always held them together. Neither one can quite grasp the fact that Maddy—the most put together woman either of them has ever known—committed suicide, purposely leaving them behind. It makes no sense. Reading Maddy's diary brings some answers, but also more questions. Why would someone like Maddy jump off a building, ending what seemed like a perfect life? In order to rebuild their shattered lives, Brady and Eve must come to terms with what happened on that rooftop and learn to forge a new future for themselves. Can they find their way, even as Maddy's influence grows more and more difficult to assert? Can Maddy, Brady, and Eve figure out how to move on, even when all they want is to go back to the way things were?
I'm known for writing honest reviews, but Jenny over at Alternate Readality takes the art to a whole new (and often hilarious) level, so when she raves about a book, I pay attention. She recently recommended I Liked My Life, a debut novel by Abby Fabiaschi, which I also ended up enjoying. While I didn't love the book quite as much as Jenny did, I agree that it features solid writing, intriguing characters, and a plot that kept me turning pages. The story feels raw and real, but it's also funny and hopeful. All of the main characters are complex, sympathetic, and interesting, which makes it easy to root for their happiness. Fabiaschi even throws in some plot twists to keep things interesting. All in all, then, I Liked My Life makes for an engaging, thought-provoking read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, mild sexual content, and depictions of underage drinking
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Close to Home Intriguing Start to Promising New Series
5:25 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
DI Adam Fawley knows that most domestic crimes are committed by people the victim knows, often those with whom he or she lives. So, when 8-year-old Daisy Mason goes missing after a costume party at her Oxford home, he focuses first on her family. With an obsessive, appearance-obsessed mum, a cold, distant dad, and a strange, moody older brother, Daisy's family certainly seems off, if not flat-out guilty. One thing is for sure—they're all hiding something. Did one of them kill the little girl? Fawley is determined to find out.
While Fawley's got his own problems to deal with, rifling through the Masons' dirty laundry is bringing all kinds of disturbing secrets to light. Questioning neighbors and acquaintances isn't helping make the Masons look any more innocent. Still, the evidence isn't coming together quite enough to convince Fawley that he's found his killer. What really happened to Daisy Mason? If a family member didn't kill her, who did? As puzzling as the mystery has become, it's going to get a lot twistier before the case is closed ...
Close to Home is a debut novel by English mystery writer Cara Hunter and the first in her series featuring DI Adam Fawley. Although it's not exactly pulse-pounding, the novel is tense, well-plotted, and suspenseful. The Masons and their associates are almost wholly unlikable, but Fawley is sympathetic if not super original or exciting. While I figured everything was not quite as it seems, the "unexpected" twist at the end of the book caught me at least a little bit by surprise. I enjoy a mystery that keeps me guessing; overall, this one did that. I'm not exactly chomping at the bit to get my hands on In the Dark, the next installment (which comes out in July), but I'll definitely read it. If the books get better as they go, I'm all in for this promising new author and series.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of British domestic thrillers by Gilly Macmillan, Erin Kelly, etc.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Close to Home at Barnes & Noble with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
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