Book Review: "Lights Out" by Elise Hart Kipness

Elise Hart Kipness’ latest book, Dangerous Play, published this week and I’ve seen lots of rave reviews. But since that is the second book in a series, I decided to embrace my OCD and read the books in order. Lights Out is her debut.

Kate was an Olympic soccer player and now works as a sports reporter. But after a personal crisis, an athlete insults her and she retaliates verbally; of course, only her outburst was caught on camera so she looks like the villain. Now she’s on a forced leave of absence and there’s a possibility she still might lose her job.

Amidst her professional crisis comes tragedy. NBA star Kurt Robbins is found dead in his Greenwich, CT mansion, and all signs point to his wife, Yvette, as the perpetrator. Yvette just so happens to be Kate’s best friend, so Kate offers to do some digging into the case. But she's fiercely protective of Yvette.

The more Kate tries to follow the facts, the more convoluted the truth becomes. As much as Kate doesn’t want to believe Yvette could be a murderer, she can definitely sense that Yvette is hiding something. And she’s not the only one—Kate has found several people with reasons to want Kurt dead.

As if trying to keep Yvette from being arrested isn’t enough work for Kate, her estranged father, an NYPD detective, has come to help the local police. He’d like a second chance with his daughter, but he also blows hot and cold until Kate decides how to deal with him.

This is a fairly fast-paced read, and Kate is a terrific, appealing character. I enjoy the way the book balances all of the issues, from Kate’s job situation, to her gaining confidence with her kids and ex-husband. Oh, and the murder, too!

You can bet I’ll be picking up Dangerous Play very soon!

Book Review: "Pumpkinheads" by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

What a terrific graphic novel!!

Deja and Josiah are best friends—at least from September 1 through Halloween, and at least while they’re working together at the pumpkin patch. (They don't see each other at all except during that period of time.) Tonight is the last night they’ll work together since both will head off to college next fall.

Josiah can’t imagine a world without the pumpkin patch. Deja doesn’t quite feel THAT strongly, but she’ll miss Josiah, and all the activity, and all of the great food. (Maybe especially the food?)

But tonight, Deja has a plan. It’s not going to be just a typical night. She’s gotten them a shift at a different post rather than the Succotash Hut, where they’ve worked the last three years. She’s determined that Josiah is finally going to talk to the girl in the fudge shop that he’s been mooning over for years. And she’s going to get all of her favorite foods.

Sounds perfect, right?

Of course, nothing quite goes as planned. Along the way they’ll run into a candy-apple-stealing punk, flee an escaped animal, say goodbye to old friends, explore what brought them together as friends, and come to some interesting realizations of their own.

This was so much fun, so charming, and had such a terrifically warm story, and the illustrations really made it feel like fall! Sometimes graphic novels are spare in their narration but this one really worked for me.

I'm a huge fan of Rainbow Rowell's (her new novel comes out 9/24 so I am super excited about that, too) and Pumpkinheads had so many of her trademarks, including a story that had so much heart. I read the book in one sitting and was sad that I was finished.

This is perfect for Halloween lovers and saps like me who love stories of friendship. But you probably shouldn't read this one on an empty stomach!