Book Review: "Well Versed" by Jen DeLuca

OMG!! I’m so happy that Jen DeLuca has taken us back to the Willow Creek Renaissance Faire with another book in her Well Met series! Reading this book really brought me so much joy. Thanks so much to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the advance copy!

When she was a teenager, the Willow Creek Renaissance Faire was Caitlin’s favorite place to be. She loved working there each summer, singing and portraying the queen’s lady in waiting. But when she turned 18, she had her heart broken for the first time, and she no longer enjoyed any of the magic.

Now, six years later, she had to move back to Maryland after getting laid off from her job. She’s being pressed into service as the queen’s lady in waiting once again, as her aunt Emily is filling in for the queen this season. She just has to survive four weekends of wearing the same costume she did when she was in high school.

Returning to the Faire brings back lots of memories and helps her rekindle some friendships. But the last thing she’s expecting is to see Alex, one of the sword-wielding performers, who broke her teenage heart six years ago. His old act is gone, but he now performs Shakespeare on demand, and he’s even hotter than he was back then.

Caitlin is absolutely not going to let Alex derail her summer. But of course, they’re thrown together at every instance, so they start to become friends. Caitlin insists she will not fall for Alex again—but that’s easier said than done. But with them both going their separate ways after the summer, there’s no chance of them having a future, right? What if that’s exactly what they both want?

It was so great to return to these characters and see how they’ve been living their lives since the last book in the series was published. As always, DeLuca imbues her books with so much heart and humor, and I wish I could be there at the Faire. I hope we’ll get to return again!

The book publishes 9/22.

Book Review: "Summer Coven" by Kat Hillis and Rosiee Thor

I was so excited to see that my favorite vampires/bed and breakfast owners were back for a second adventure! Thanks so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Arthur Miller (no relation) and his husband, Sal Conte, finally feel at home in Trident Falls. Business at their bed and breakfast (called Dead & Breakfast) is booming, especially with the summer solstice festival coming to town. And since Arthur was able to solve a murder (and clear Sal as a suspect), they’ve finally made friends in town.

The summer solstice festival is absolutely packed, and all of the food and activities bring out Sal’s inner child. When he takes their cat, Rumble, to a pet psychic, there is a bit of a kerfuffle. Later that day, the pet psychic is found dead, apparently poisoned. (She obviously couldn’t intuit she was drinking poison.)

At first, Sal once again is the primary suspect, but Arthur is able to quickly clear his name. But his skills as a VAMP (Very Astute Married Paranormal) PI are requested by Ambrosia, the head of the Celestine Coven, a group of witches essentially operating an MLM of sorts. Of course, Arthur hasn’t solved his other case yet—the disappearance of their friend’s missing mother—but he realizes the two cases are connected.

It turns out Ambrosia isn’t the benevolently powerful witch she’s pretending to be. The coven is getting investigated for fraud, and Ambrosia (who used to be called Amanda) may not even be a real witch. Can Arthur expose the real criminals before it’s too late? How many diversions can Sal create?

This is a fun series. Arthur and Sal are an adorable couple, as each balances the other out. Sal is flighty, flaky, and utterly melodramatic, while Arthur could use a little more loosening up. I hope to see them again in another book!

Book Review: "Kiss Slay Replay" by Rachel Harrison

Over the last few years, I’ve become a huge fan of Rachel Harrison’s books, despite the fact that I don’t read much horror. But her upcoming book, Kiss Slay Replay, may be my most favorite yet. Thanks so much to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance copy!

Being a wedding guest can definitely be stressful, even when your best friends are getting married. Willa is dreading her friends’ wedding because she recently ended her own engagement, and her ex will be there, too. She knows that breaking up with Ravi was the right thing, but why is she so conflicted?

Despite her misgivings, she drives up to the wedding. It’s being held at a posh summer camp-turned-wedding venue, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. All of her best friends are there and they quickly fall into old behaviors and routines. And then she finds out that Ravi has brought a date to the wedding.

Before she can completely spiral, she meets Danny, an old friend of the groom’s. They flirt and mess around a bit, and plan for more—but then a masked killer comes out of the woods and starts murdering everyone. Willa and Danny try to rescue people but nearly everyone has been killed—and then the killer comes after them. And just as she gets killed…

…she wakes up in her apartment, having had the craziest nightmare. But it turns out it’s the morning of the wedding again. She’s freaked out but knows she has to try and save her friends this time. No luck, however. She’s fallen into some type of murderous time loop, and each time she relives the wedding, the killing gets more and more brutal. Can she escape and stay alive?

This is definitely bloody and more than a bit disturbing. But apart from the horror, this is a poignant look at how our lives take different paths from our friends, and what do you do when things don’t go the way you planned? I loved this.

The book will publish 9/1.

Book Review: "The Blue Flame" by George Pelecanos

George Pelecanos is one of my favorite crime writers of all time. He’s definitely an author that should be so much more of a household name because his books are really excellent. I was so excited that he had a new book come out and that it featured a familiar character, PI Derek Strange.

“Everything that used to be complicated and laborious was easy now. But an investigator still needed to know how to talk to people and do the job.”

Derek Strange is still working as a private investigator, still operating out of his office in Washington, DC. And he’s still as dogged as ever when trying to figure out a case. When he’s approached by a drug lawyer, asking him to help clear his client of a murder charge, Derek is ready to search for answers.

What Derek discovers is a series of crimes affecting young men who grew up together, playing football in high school. But now one is dead, one is accused of his murder, and the younger sister of another is the link between the two. He figures out what happened and tells the police, although he keeps some of the details to himself.

Shortly thereafter, another murder occurs, and Derek feels a responsibility to clear it up. Of course, the police have warned him about interfering, and he finds himself treading in some dangerous neighborhoods, but it’s all in a day’s work.

I love the amazing details Pelecanos brings to his books, both in setting and habits of his characters. This is a crime novel but it’s also about greed, family, protecting your own, and second chances. I hope we’ll see Derek back again—I’ve missed him!

Book Review: "Bridget and Gabe Are Not Okay" by Lex Croucher

It’s time to return to Camelot for the sequel to Gwen & Art Are Not In Love. Thanks so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advance copy!

All is not happy in Camelot. With the death of the king, his son Gabriel has (reluctantly) assumed the throne, and he’s so ill-at-ease that it’s starting to cause a crisis in the kingdom. And since he became king, Gabriel has ended his relationship with Arthur, despite how much he loves him.

Meanwhile, Gabe’s sister Gwendoline is also having a romantic crisis. Bridget, the only female knight in the kingdom, left several months ago and hasn’t responded to any of Gwen’s letters. Bridget, who has always been unshakable when a challenge arises, suddenly can’t win a joust.

In a move to engender goodwill among his subjects, King Gabriel convenes a new round table. He and his knights will travel throughout the kingdom, investigating the rumored sightings of the questing beast and the green knight, and determining whether the holy grail has been found. Of course, Gabe’s anxiety increases at every appearance he makes, and he’s rapidly coming unglued.

Can Gabe become the king he was born to be? Can Bridget recapture her jousting skills? And can love return to Gabe and Arthur, and Gwen and Bridget?

I really love these characters so it was great to have a sequel. This book is a lot more serious and less playful than its predecessor, dealing with grief and anxiety and recovery. But the found family and the romance at the book’s core warmed my heart and made me smile.

Book Review: "Man, Overboard!" by Kathleen Rooney

Patrick was on a cruise with his family for Thanksgiving. He remembered drinking a lot when they boarded the ship. But then he finds himself floating in the Gulf of Mexico, the cruise ship heading in the other direction. Did he fall overboard? Did he jump?

“But it’s appropriate that I’m in the Gulf of Mexico, because it felt like there was a gulf already. Between me and everything. Like everyone else was fine and I wasn’t and I couldn’t fix it and I don’t know why. But now all I want is to get back to all that.”

As he treads water and hopes he’ll be rescued, Patrick reflects on the many issues he’s dealing with in his life. He works as a physical therapist, with a part-time job as a personal trainer. But he’s been secretly attending classes to learn how to be a clown, and that has been bringing him some of the only joy he’s been experiencing.

Much of Patrick’s thoughts are about his mother, who battled cancer when Patrick was young, but after she recovered, she left the house one day and never came back. He hasn’t spoken to her in years, but recently she’s reached out to him via email and social media. He’s totally conflicted about whether or not to respond.

Each chapter of the book marks another hour that Patrick is treading water and hoping to be rescued. At various points he hallucinates that sea creatures are talking to him and giving him advice, and some even chide him for his immaturity. He wonders what his family will say when (or if) they realize he’s missing from the ship. Will it even matter?

I can’t even imagine this happening to me. Kathleen Rooney does a great job in making you feel as if you’re adrift in the gulf with Patrick. He’s not necessarily a sympathetic character, but you start to see how he could’ve wound up where he was. This was a bit of a slow burn but I enjoyed it a lot.

Book Review: "You'll Love It Here" by Natalie Sue

This book snuck up on me with its charm and humor. I didn’t realize how much fun I was having until I was finished!

Mona is a workaholic, climbing the corporate ladder at her marketing firm. She’s hoping that once the big piece of business she’s been working on gets finalized, she’ll get promoted. Then she can move out of her apartment building, a place she never intended to be for long.

But in a split second, she nearly ruins her career by angering a big client. Her boss puts her on disciplinary leave, which leaves Mona with nothing to do except have staring contests with her goldfish and deal with the guilt she feels about not reconciling with her father before he died.

When Irene, her landlady, winds up in the hospital, she asks Mona if she could fill in for a few weeks. Irene’s niece is a realtor who thinks her aunt needs to sell the building, so she enlists Mona’s help in getting the building into better shape. In return, she promises Mona a fancy new apartment.

She barely knows her neighbors, but definitely has opinions about many of them. Yet as she starts to bring order to the building’s chaos, she realizes that she’s started to care about her fellow tenants. She even starts to fall for Sami, the handsome owner of the diner next door. But what will happen when the building sells and everyone has to find a new place to live?

I love the found family trope, and the characters all turned out to be more multidimensional than I thought. The book is funny, but it’s also poignant, and I love the way Natalie Sue embraced the Persian heritage of Mona and Sami. This was quirky and heartwarming.

Book Review: "The One Day You Were My Husband" by Rosie Walsh

You know when a book has been moving along and then all of a sudden it takes off running and you’re left breathless? The last 20 percent of this book was exactly like that!

Carrie had never really been in love when she met Johan. Both of them fell completely and needed to be together all the time. After a few months, while on vacation in Thailand, they impulsively decide to get married on a beach. As they’re having their first dance, armed policemen swarm the couple and take Johan away.

She never saw Johan again. Now, 12 years later, Carrie and her husband live on a moor in England, raising twins. Carrie is about to revive her career as a surgeon. She has a meeting in Stockholm with a former mentor, and in the process of looking for a place to stay, stumbles upon a beautiful guest house. And then she gets the shock of her life: Johan owns the house and has apparently reinvented his life. How did she not know this? How did no one let her know?

She’s torn whether she should go to Stockholm, because what if she runs into Johan? She can’t miss the meeting with her mentor, however. And when she sees him in her hotel bar, she can’t believe it. She needs to know what happened on their wedding night and why he never got back in touch with her after he got out of prison in Thailand.

The thing is, Carrie doesn’t know what to believe, but she’s obsessed with knowing the truth. What she doesn’t understand is that the truth is very dangerous. Is she willing to gamble on the life she’s built and the career she loved simply to understand what happened on what should’ve been the happiest moment of her life?

I felt like the book started out slowly, and while I appreciated all of the background of everyone’s stories, I just wanted to know what happened to Johan. But I also wanted to shake Carrie for some of the choices she made. I wound up really liking the book when it picked up steam. Rosie Walsh is truly a talented storyteller!

Book Review: "Etna" by Paul Yoon

“‘You found your purpose,’ the dog said. I thought about how to answer that. I said, ‘I learned to be good at it.’”

Etna may be a short book but it’s definitely one that left an impression. I found it moving and thought-provoking, a commentary on the cost of war to humans and animals. It’s a particularly timely book given the circumstances of our world at those point in time.

A puppy is taken from the farm where he lived, from his mother and siblings. He is taken by a military doctor, who names him Etna. She has the rare gift of being able to communicate with dogs.

Etna becomes a military dog, trained by soldiers during a devastating war in a fictional country. His companion is Fuji, a dog who was taken at the same time as he was. She is even fiercer and braver than Etna, until one day she runs away, never to be seen again.

When the war ends, it leaves destruction and grief in its wake. With nothing left to do, Etna decides to try and find the farm from where he was originally taken. He knows his family hasn’t survived but he still wonders if it’ll feel like home, remind him of his younger days. He sets off on a journey filled with interesting and sometimes frightening encounters, as well as with people who aren’t sure what to make of their lives now.

I’m definitely a dog person, and I could picture Etna on his journey. I was really worried about animals being harmed or hurt during the war, but Paul Yoon doesn’t spend a lot of time dwelling on that. I was really touched by Etna’s courage and his kind nature. We definitely don’t deserve dogs.

Book Review: "Meet Me in Paris" by Kristin Harmel

C’est magnifique!! I had a feeling when I picked up this book that it would leave me all kinds of emotional, but wow! This was sappy and beautiful and moving and just excellent.

“It’s in our nature as human beings to search for logical explanations for everything, but sometimes, all we need to do is find space in the quiet to listen to what our hearts are telling us.”

Julia has returned to Paris after nearly 30 years, bringing her daughter, Piper. Julia is dying, and wants this trip to be full of memories her daughter can cherish. Piper meets a handsome waiter and Julia surprises herself by falling for an American man, but how can she tell him she’s dying?

Jackson, a singer, had the biggest song of the 1990s. He’s in Paris to kick off a tour he hopes will revive his career, but he’s not counting on love, too. Ninety-nine-year-old Henry wrote Jackson’s big hit, inspired by his love for a French woman during WWII. He thought she died during the war, but he was wrong—so he’s returned to Paris to see if, despite her dementia, she remembers him at all.

Lou and George became friends as soldiers in Vietnam, and are in Paris for a tour for veterans. But there are secrets both have kept from one another. Shelby is on a trip with her two best friends, supposedly celebrating her divorce. However, celebrating is the last thing she wants to do, and when she meets Russ, a bar owner, she finally starts to see the woman she knows she is.

These stories, as well as a few others, unwind over several days. Kristin Harmel said she was inspired by Love Actually, so that was more than enough incentive for me! I was fully engaged in all of the stories, and just wish Lou and George’s story got as much page time. But this was such an amazing book.

Book Review: "Lost and Found" by Tarah DeWitt

Oh, Tarah DeWitt. Once again, I’m left in a puddle of tears after reading your latest book, feeling utterly overwhelmed by the love and joy and strength and recovery the characters carried. I know Spunes, Oregon is a fictional town, but I sure do wish I could go there!

“‘As someone who’s lost my fair share of people…the grief is never going to be gone, anyway. It’s like…’ He flips on his blinker before he makes a turn. ‘Like weight training. The weight itself never gets lighter. You just get more accustomed to lifting it.’”

Bea has been laid bare by the death of Merritt, her best friend since childhood. She is knocked further for a loop when she learns that Merritt had her eggs frozen before she began treatment for cancer, and has left the eggs to Bea in her will. While Bea has always wanted to be a mother, this isn’t how she imagined it, but how could she not try and fulfill one of Merritt’s dying wishes?

Determined to do all she can to have Merritt’s baby, she turns to her longtime friend, Silas. The two of them have nursed more than a crush on each other for years, but circumstances have never aligned. Silas, a firefighter, is still feeling vulnerable after a near-fatal accident, and he’s grappling with his own grief. But he’s all too willing to help Bea prepare for IVF.

Despite the strong chemistry between them, Silas and Bea vow to keep things on a friend level. But the lines get blurred more than a few times, and it’s not long before both have fallen completely for each other. However, both are so frightened of hurting the other—and getting hurt themselves—that they have to find a way to let their hearts be unguarded.

This is DeWitt’s third book in her Spunes series and it was so fantastic. It’s joyful and sad and funny and immensely steamy and utterly beautiful. The characters she creates are so vivid, you wish their stories wouldn’t end when the books do.

Book Review: "Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits" by Skylar Warren

I’m so thankful that this book wound up on my radar. Of course, I’m utterly starving after reading it, but this cozy mystery absolutely warmed my heart. You’ve got to love a book that makes you wish you could somehow teleport into the town it’s set in!

Honeybee’s Hideaway diner has been feeding the bellies and the souls of Willow Bluff, Georgia for 50 years now. Jessie Haynes is running Honeybee’s now, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. The smell of butter and garlic, with just a hint of cinnamon, has filled Jessie’s life for as long as she can remember.

On the day of the diner’s 50th anniversary celebration, the mayor comes in and orders his usual shrimp and grits. But after the first bite, he has trouble breathing, and he collapses quickly thereafter. When word gets out that the mayor died, the townspeople immediately suspect Jessie, despite the fact they’ve seen her cooking since she wasn’t tall enough to see over the counter.

Jessie is devastated by what happened to the mayor, and the damage his death does, not only to her reputation, but to the future of Honeybee’s. Suddenly she’s the topic of gossip and speculation all over town, and some are even trying to capitalize on her misfortune.

When they find a wrapper from a peanut packet in the diner’s pantry, it quickly becomes obvious that the mayor’s death was no accident. And clearly someone wanted to hurt Honeybee’s in the process. So Jessie, along with her mother, her best friend Tee, her young waitress, and the town’s handsome new therapist band together to clear Jessie’s name and find the killer.

I absolutely love books in which cooking and restaurants play a part. And while I’m craving nearly everything Jessie cooked in this book, I so enjoyed the warmth of Willow Bluff and all of the characters. I’m excited that this was the start of a new series, and the second book will be out in October!

Book Review: "Hot Girl Murder Club" by Ashley Winstead

I’ve read all of Ashley Winstead’s books, and one of the things I love about her is she’s never content to write the same book twice. Every one of her books is different from the next, and she always keeps me guessing!

Ten years ago, Scout Sage’s younger sister Georgia was murdered at a Hollywood executive’s Christmas party. The alleged killer was never brought to justice.

Now, with her musical career just on the cusp of exploding, Scout is always surrounded by a posse of beautiful women. Some of them are famous for having overcome abusive relationships or other toxic situations. But with a string of revenge-type murders occurring, suddenly Scout (and her so-called “Hot Girl Murder Club”) is the prime suspect.

Detective Grey Holloway is tapped to lead the investigation, despite her youth and Barbie-like appearance. Is Scout a vigilante murderer, or is someone trying to frame her and call her out for her past transgressions? The deeper Grey digs, she finds that there have been many crimes perpetrated against women in Hollywood that have gone unpunished, and there may even be a more personal tie to these incidents.

This book is really quite timely given the way the pendulum has swung back from the #MeToo era. There are characters in the book who give voice to the anti-woke, pro-male perspective that seems to be prevalent in today’s society.

There are A LOT of characters in this book and a lot of perspectives. I found the two main narrative threads to be the most interesting, and when either of them were the focus, I was much more dialed in. But I love some good vigilante justice, and Winstead again delivered a compelling read!

Book Review: "Love & Other Killers" by Brynne Weaver

“Everybody’s gotta have a hobby, even if it is hunting the most wretched pieces of shit on the planet in a blood sport competition, and I intend to maintain my run as champion of the Annual August Showdown.”

I haven’t read any of the books in Brynne Weaver’s Ruinous Love trilogy yet, but after reading this, I definitely need to! This was a fun, twisty, dark, and steamy story.

Sloane and her husband Rowan, along with his two brothers and her best friends, have an annual competition each August. But it’s not quite your usual competition. The six of them are all serial killers, and each year they challenge each other to hunt down a cold-blooded killer. Whoever makes the kill—the more brutal, the better—gets bragging rights.

This year’s target is Allan Munster. He’s a chicken farmer with a moonshine distillery on the side. He goes to church every Sunday. But he’s also a monstrous murderer who has covered up his actions. Or so he thinks.

So it’s women versus men to see who can take Munster down first. They’re lying in wait. But Sloane can’t help but wonder what the appearance of someone from their past earlier in the day means…

I thought this was great. The characters and their banter were fantastic. (One character called another “Budget Batman” a few times and it made me laugh.) There’s lots of steam, too. Suffice it to say, I’m heading for the Ruinous Love trilogy now!

Book Review: "Bobby Merritt Meets His Match" by Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey

When I picked up the first book in Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey’s Goose Run series, I had no idea how much this small town and this group of friends would capture my heart. I’ve just read the 5th—and it seems the final—book in the series and I wish it was a real town I could visit!

This book features Bobby, who is the self-proclaimed mayor of Goose Run and the owner of at least half the businesses in town (so far). But while he’s been a featured character in the other four books, they never hinted that Bobby had a love that got away.

When Bobby was in college and law school, he was a scholarship student, treated condescendingly by many of his fellow students. But he had a secret relationship with Granger, one of his close friends, even though Granger was always quick to ensure Bobby knew this was just a youthful fling. And when Bobby dared express his true feelings, that was the last he saw Granger. Until 20+ years later, when Granger returns to Goose Run in the middle of the town’s Pride festival.

This book not only includes Bobby and Granger’s story, but it also features four short stories, each one focused on a different character we’ve gotten to know. This was a fitting farewell and it provided a bit more depth into each of the characters.

“And maybe our lives weren’t big or loud. Maybe they were just small, ordinary lives. But there was something magical in the smallness of them, in all the spaces where we could just sit and breathe, and feel the sun on our skin, and be together. Not much happened in a town like Goose Run, but on the other hand, miracles did.”

If you like sweet, steamy, and funny M/M romances set in a quirky small town, I’d encourage you to pick up one of the books in this series. You’ll be glad you stopped by, and you’ll probably want to stay, too!

Book Review: "Country People" by Daniel Mason

This was a quirky, enjoyable book that packed a stronger punch than I was expecting. It’s been a while since I’ve read something by Daniel Mason (I read The Piano Tuner a number of years ago), and I found myself completely captivated by his storytelling.

Miles has been working on his doctoral dissertation for more than 12 years. He just can’t seem to settle on a topic—every time he starts work he loses focus and shifts to something else. It doesn’t help that his wife Kate is a well-loved and highly revered professor and expert on John Milton.

When Kate gets offered a visiting professorship at a prestigious college in Vermont, she jumps on the opportunity. But she and Miles both believe that the change of scenery will do him good, and maybe he’ll finally be able to finish his dissertation and get his PhD.

So he and Kate uproot their two young children and their dog, and drive cross-country to Vermont from their California home. When they arrive in Vermont, and Kate quickly immerses herself in the world of academia, Miles, who is an excellent storyteller, finds new sources of inspiration for the stories he makes up for his kids.

While he has every intention of finishing the dissertation, since he’s worried that Kate will think he’s a failure, he doesn’t make any progress. But he does meet a motley crew of fascinating people, from an exterminator to a biochemist who is obsessed with his orchard. And then he gets drawn into a group of people who believe there’s a passage to another world in an underground cave.

There’s lots of sly humor here, but the book is also an exploration of finding yourself, the power of stories, parenthood, marriage, and fear of failure. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect here but I really enjoyed it.

Book Review: "Indie Darling" by Lauren Nossett

Sometimes it’s all about timing. I’ve been meaning to read this book for a few months now, but I finally got around to picking it up this week. Little did I know that the main character was a huge Dolly Parton fan. It was almost like Dolly herself was sending me a sign.

Kelly is a private investigator in Nashville. She only works for women—those wondering about their husbands’ fidelity or honesty, those who believe they’re being stalked, even those in search of a missing family member or friend. She knows what it’s like not to be listened to, so she’s always there for her clients.

She gets hired by Sarah Owens, a musician known as Seraph, who is the lead singer of a band called The Garden Snakes. The band’s popularity is increasing, but they’re also quite controversial, since their music talks about women being victimized and their taking the power back.

Sarah tells Kelly that she and her other two bandmates are being harassed. They’ve been receiving threatening letters and emails, and even had a few break-ins. But when Sarah gets attacked, she knows that she needs someone to identify her assailant. However, she’s not willing to keep her band from performing.

One night, The Garden Snakes are performing at a big Nashville music festival. While on stage, Sarah gets shot. She is rushed into an ambulance, but it turns out the ambulance never made it to a hospital—it was waylaid by someone. Kelly is determined to find Sarah, if she’s still alive, and figure out who is responsible for the harassment, the shooting, and the kidnapping. But this investigation could prove harmful to Kelly, too.

I really thought this was a great read. Kelly is a terrific character—feisty yet dealing with her own demons. But she refuses to let her investigation drop, no matter what comes her way. I hope this is the start of a series!!

Book Review: "The Black Orchid" by Loreth Anne White

This was my Amazon First Reads pick for August. One thing’s for sure: reading this definitely reinforced my determination never to go on a cruise! I mean, if you combine all of the things that have gone wrong with cruises recently along with the fictional mishaps, you’ll understand why I feel the way I do!

The Black Orchid, one of the most luxurious ships ever built, will embark on its maiden voyage through the Aegean Sea. A number of wealthy and notable people will have the opportunity to experience this luxury first-hand. But within three days, the ship will have sunk, and some of the passengers will die.

Retired FBI profiler Gideon Marsh is on the ship with his estranged daughter and her young son, who aspires to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. He’ll be giving talks about his most notorious cases, partially highlighting the impending release of his new book. But his real reason for traveling on the ship may prove more dangerous than he imagined.

Famed war photojournalist Lilith McGregor has survived some harrowing circumstances. As she enters the twilight of her life, nothing may be as challenging as facing her stepson’s money-hungry fiancé, who wants her intended back in his father’s will. And her personal assistant, Poppy, hopes to ingratiate herself to Lilith as well in order to change the course of her life.

The ship runs into a once-in-a-lifetime storm, which threatens the safety of passengers and the ship itself. During the course of the book, we follow a documentary crew as they try to recreate the disaster that befell the Black Orchid.

There was a lot going on in the book, ostensibly to divert our attention from the misery on the ship. But too much time was spent on the documentary, which seemed to go on too long. There were some surprises and lots of stuff that I expected. I was entertained but felt like they could have tightened up the story a bit.

Book Review: "Pretty Dead Things" by Kelsey Cox

In the small town of Anhalt, Texas, the Lone Star Princess Pageant is a big deal. The competition is cutthroat—and that’s just among some of the mothers! No one believes their daughter is more deserving than Kennedy Claire, a former winner herself, who will stop at nothing to make sure the crown winds up on her daughter’s head.

Twenty-five years ago, on the night of the pageant, Isabelle Whitmore disappeared. Everyone believed she was murdered by her boyfriend Ben and that her body was buried somewhere on the sprawling Sherman Ranch. Now, Izzy’s twin sister Ingrid has returned to town, just as construction crews are digging up the ranch to build houses.

The pageant reawakens old hurts and resentments. Melanie can’t shake the trauma she experienced after being pranked by her friends; Cat, who has finally gotten sober, is convinced she’s being followed; and Ingrid begins to realize the truths she believed about her sister’s disappearance may not be accurate.

When a major winter storm—nearly unheard of in Texas—strikes Anhalt, all the pageant contestants and their families are stuck together under one roof. But after one death shakes everyone up, the question of who is responsible worries everyone. And that’s not all they’ll need to deal with.

This was a really good thriller. I really didn’t know what was going to happen and who would be the culprit, and Kelsey Cox definitely kept me guessing. There was a lot going on but it never felt overwhelming. I want to go back and read her debut thriller now!

Book Review: "Main Characters" by Bobby Palmer

This will definitely be one of my favorite books of the year. It’s so unlike anything I’ve read in many ways, yet it took complete hold of my heart.

Clara and Seb meet one day in a park while she is on her lunch break from work. She sees Seb sitting with his dog and the image captures her, so she draws them. She gives him the picture and then figures she’ll never see him again.

They see each other a few times. It’s clear they’re drawn to each other. Yet just when they start to get close, Clara disappears. But they’re brought together again about a year later, when Seb auditions for a movie she’s working on.

As Seb’s acting career waxes and wanes, Clara’s filmmaking career starts to take off. The two have the kind of love that their friends, even strangers envy. Until it disintegrates under the weight of so many things said and unsaid.

What sets this book apart from a typical romance is that it’s told not from Seb or Clara’s point of view, but from that of casual observers. From a barista who observes their first awkward encounter to passengers who eavesdrop on their conversations on buses and other public transportation, from people who work with Clara on her films to a real estate agent showing them apartments, each has a vantage point at a specific time and place.

This is a fantastic love story, but it’s also the story of friendship, family, grief, fear, want, and ambition. The push-and-pull of their relationship through the years did make me want to smack them both, but I absolutely loved this book.

Book Review: "The Romance Revival" by Christina Lauren

It’s always interesting when an author that’s well-known in a particular genre decides to try something new. That’s kind of the case with Christina Lauren’s new book, which mashes up romance with a bit of sci-fi and mystery. ⁣

⁣ Emery and Luca have been inseparable since he swept her off her feet at a wedding in Las Vegas. They married just a few months later, and they’re about to celebrate their third anniversary. ⁣

⁣ The thing is, Emery, who is a scientist, is a complete workaholic. She’s busy day and night, misses dates and dinners, and often feels miles away from Luca. And her work is top-secret, so she can’t even tell Luca the truth about what she’s doing. Being secretive is taking its toll, but she knows it’s just for a little while longer.

⁣ And then the unthinkable happens: Luca is killed in an accident as Emery looks on, helpless. She cannot lose him. So she injects him with a drug she’s been working on, in order to bring him back to life. It’s a complete risk and a violation of so many laws and ethics, but it works.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ Luca wakes up and is healing nicely. The one drawback is he has no memory of Emery or their life together. But this time, she’s determined not to waste a second. She hopes Luca will fall in love with her again—and she can turn over a new leaf in the process.⁣⁣

⁣⁣ The romance aspect of the book is top-notch. Luca and Emery have intense chemistry and the second chance they’re given is so lovely. But when the book shifts into mystery mode, I felt like it lost its appeal. The action sequences seemed formulaic and implausible, and I just wanted to read their love story. ⁣⁣

Book Review: "The Spider Silk Scarf" by Ana Reyes

Nora is a thief. There’s just something about taking an object that doesn’t belong to her that gives her a thrill. The more expensive, the better. She has a closet full of her treasures in the apartment she shares with her fiancé, Ben.⁣

⁣ “She didn’t think of herself as a bad person. She had simply refused to accept that, because she was born poor (and was, statistically speaking, almost certain to die poor too), she didn’t deserve nice things. She stole only from the rich and never from anyone she knew.“⁣

⁣ One day, Ben, a plumber, is working in the house of Mrs. Martin, a reclusive old woman who was rumored to be a witch when Nora was growing up. He told Nora that he overheard Mrs. Martin talking about a precious item, a scarf woven from the silk of black widow spiders. Apparently it took 12 weavers years to make the scarf, and only 11 survived.⁣

Nora must get her hands on that scarf. It becomes an obsession for her. And even though she knows it isn’t wise to steal from a woman who might be a witch, she just can’t stop thinking about it. She needs to add it to her treasures. But she has no idea just what she’ll find when she breaks into the house late one night.⁣

⁣ Ana Reyes weaved (pun intended) a really fascinating story. It was a bit intense, a bit creepy, and I had no idea what would happen. This was one of Amazon’s First Reads for August, and I really liked it.

It will officially be released on 9/1.⁣

Book Review: "Be Still My Unbeating Heart" by Josh Winning

What fun this was! I mean, I was already sold on the description: “A cozy vampire vacation mystery set in a seaside Italian village, featuring a reformed vampire, his magical talking cat, and a handsome, brooding detective.” But Josh Winning did such a great job with this book.

Bastian is a vampire. But a vegetarian one. Five years ago he cleaned up his act and kicked the whole feeding off humans thing.

Everybody needs a little time away, even the undead. So Bastian and his best friend, Whitby (the aforementioned talking cat), head to Vernazza, a beautiful Italian village. Bastian is hoping to enjoy the sunshine (as long as he has sunscreen), take in the sights, dance a little, and maybe find a handsome man to enjoy it all with.

However, on their first beach walk, Bastian stumbles over the body of a young woman. It looks like she’s been killed by a…vampire? Of course, the police find him near the body and immediately suspect Bastian of murder and take him into custody.

Bastian is put on house arrest, guarded by Nicole, a handsome police inspector, who initially seems immune to his charms. But Nico starts to fall for Bastian, and realizes, as more bodies appear, that someone else is responsible, and is framing vampires. Yet the police commissioner has summoned the Vampire Council, and that could wind up causing more harm than good.

I really enjoyed this book. Bastian and Whitby are the oddest of pairs and their banter is quite fun. And while the mystery is definitely twisty, there’s a lot of dialogue about accepting who you are and embracing your differences—which works for everyone, not just vampires. I’d love to see another book in this series!

Book Review: "The Amateur" by Chris Bohjalian

“…when you kill someone, it breaks you. It changes you. You’ve shattered the water glass—your soul is something different and new—and the shards can never be glued back together.“

Mira is 18 years old in the summer of 1978, and she’s a talented golfer, heading to Yale in the fall. But in an instant, everything changes. While at the practice net, the ball she hit flies through the net and strikes Kenny, a 17-year-old caddy, in the head. He dies moments later.

Everyone is quick to point out the sheer unlikelihood of this tragedy happening, and they tell Mira that Kenny’s death is not her fault. But she is so rocked with guilt that she can never play golf again and decides she can’t even go to Yale because it will remind her of what she did.

But Kenny’s death is just the tip of the iceberg. Because Mira happens to be having an affair with a much older married man, and when Kenny’s father realizes he’s seen the two of them together, a new scandal erupts. Suddenly Mira isn’t just an unlucky young woman—the people in her town start to turn on her, and she gets embroiled in the lawsuits trying to identify who is at fault in Kenny’s death.

The book is ostensibly Mira’s memoir, written years later, after she’s enjoyed a successful writing career. The courtroom drama definitely added some new twists to the plot, and the epilogue was a bit of a sucker punch. Mira isn’t the most likable character, but this book is really excellent. I couldn’t put it down!

Book Review: "Love You More" by Emily Giffin

I had forgotten how much I love the way Emily Giffin writes! Not only was this book romantic and emotional, but it also really made me think about what I would do if faced with the situations the main characters found themselves in. And I’m honestly still not sure!

Billie had always wanted to be a doctor. Now she and two of her friends run a reproductive clinic in New York City. She’s also fallen in love with Dean, a trauma surgeon. This relationship makes her happy and feels so stable.

The night after Dean’s surprise marriage proposal, she gets a phone call from Mick, her first love. They fell in love in high school and dated through college, but when she left Wisconsin for medical school, their relationship couldn’t survive. The pain and loss devastated Billie for some time.

It’s been years since she’s spoken to Mick. But he’s calling with news that upends Billie’s happiness. Before she knows it she’s back in Wisconsin, reconnecting with her old friends and seeing Mick for the first time in a different light. It’s painful but cathartic, and yet it leaves her both secure in the choices she’s made and wondering if the path she took is the right one.

There were so many beautiful moments in this book. While the plot wasn’t surprising, I loved seeing it all unfold the way it did. The characters weren’t completely likable (but who is?) but most of their actions were understandable. I was actually sad to see this end!

Book Review: "Killer Vibes" by Jack Friday

Peter is a lazy stoner who makes money as a weed dealer, mostly selling to local athletes. He’s smarter than he appears but he definitely has bad judgment, which leaves him broke and homeless. But salvation arrives when he learns that his uncle—whom he last saw 10 years ago—has left him a house in Austin.

He never really knew his uncle but he’s not one to look a gift house in the mouth. Yet he quickly discovers that his uncle not only owed $40K in property taxes, but shortly before he died, he took out a $500,000 line of credit. The money is nowhere to be found and the bank is ready to foreclose.

Everyone is pressuring him to sell the house, which is in a very popular neighborhood in Austin. But Peter doesn’t like being told what to do. And when he finds the hidden money, he realizes that his uncle was in far more trouble than it appeared, and it probably led to his death.

Peter’s refusal to sell the house angers lots of people, and things start to get more precarious for him. He connects with a private eye who was hired to protect him, and in addition to investigating his uncle’s death, the man teaches Peter about being a private investigator—something it appears he’s quite good at.

What Peter doesn’t realize is that he’s gotten himself tangled in a very sticky web, and there are lots of secrets he never knew. But can this lazy stoner outsmart money- and violence-hungry killers without hurting his buzz?

I loved this book. It was funny, action-packed, sexy, and surprisingly emotional at times. Peter is such a terrific character and I hope this is the first in a series of books featuring him. I shouldn’t be surprised how much I enjoyed this, given that Jack Friday is a pen name for John Fram, whose books are crazy good!