Review:Abandoned by Allison Brennan

Allison Brennan's Abandoned sits firmly as a 2.5 star read for me. Abandoned is the fifth installment to the Max Revere series. Max is a celebrity investigative reported who's focus is primarily on cold cases. Up until this point she's never used her vast resources to investigate the cold case of her mother leaving her until now. 

Review: Her Pretty Face by Robyn Harding

When I began reading Robyn Harding's Her Pretty Face I was between books and wasn't ready to commit. I knew I wanted to read an easy title by an author I wasn't familiar with but, at the same time, I didn't want to waste my last few summer reads on a read that really added nothing new to the mystery thriller genre. My 2-star rating of Her Pretty Face is quite generous and here's why.

Review: Trump's America by Newt Gingrich

It was ok. That's what my two-star rating is.

I began Newt Gingrich's Trump's America in an effort to understand what President Trumps appeal is. A little more than 50% in I had to give up. It is true that Gingrich writes this in an approachable, precise, and captivating manner but I couldn't help but feel like this America that in some aspects, this "Make America Great Again" never existed. Or at least it never existed for people like me... or my parents... or grandparents.

Review: One House Over by Mary Monroe

Where should I begin with One House Over by Mary Monroe? Based on the star rating I've given, there's obviously somewhere to start... It's just whether it should be with the good or the bad.

So let's just start at the beginning...

Review:Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

When I was asked to read and review Sophie Kinsella's Surprise Me, I was bouncing off the walls with excitement. I loved The Undomestic Goddess and Confessions of a Shopaholic. Both novels featured a charmingly befuddled British female lead that begs the average woman to root for. Sure, I know they're a tad bit aloof, but it's cute. I'm no feminist so I can appreciate these characters for what and who they are: Fun!

Review: Don't Let Go by Harlen Coben

Ok, Harlen Coben. Since you insist I don't let go... I won't... but seriously I am able to let this one go. Coben tells the story of Napoleon (Nap) Dumas, who works as a detective for the New Jersey PD. He definitely is a rule-breaker but also has a soft spot.

Review: In Full Color by Rachel Dolezal

In the interest of full disclosure, I did not finish In Full Color: Finding My Place in a Black and White World. I hate even having to read it, then rate it without following through. When I don't finish a book, no matter how badly I want to, I can't help but feel as if I failed the writer. After all, the author did take their time to tell a story, get it edited, and bravely put it out there to be scrutinized. What could possibly be scarier and here comes someone like me, a so-called reviewer, doesn't even finish the book and has the nerve to give it a rating.

Review: Fatal by John Lescroart

I hate giving John Lescroart a 2-star rating but... I need my Dismas Hardy. Fatal is the latest standalone novel that doesn't feature him that just didn't holdup for me. Sorry to get into my dislike of this novel so quickly but... Damn! I started Fatal knowing without a doubt I would be entertained. I was wrong. Boy was I wrong.

Review: Man on the Run by Carl Weber

What a wild roller coaster ride! This novel is drama from first to last page. I appreciate an occasional drama ridden read that reminds that I should be grateful for the lack of drama in my life. So why the 2-star rating? More on that later.

Review: Playing with Fire by Tess Gerritsen

I'm hovering my mouse over the 2 and 3- star rating. I usually love any and everything Tess Gerritsen writes. Her Rizzoli and Isles series is one of my favorites. When I got word that she had written a standalone, I was beyond excited to get my hands on a copy. 

Playing with Fire alters between the stories of Julia and Lorenzo. The only thing these two have in common is their love of music and a musical composition by the name ofIncendio. While in Italy, Julia Ansdell finds an enchanting, yet complicated piece that she can barely contain her excitement to try and attempt once she returns home Boston. Julia begins to research the history of this ensemble once it brings out bizarre behavior in her young daughter that borders homicidal... like Julia's mother.

Playing with Fire gets a lot more interesting once the story of the young, naive, violinist prodigy Lorenzo Todesco. I'm always interested in period novels that include the horrors on the Holocaust in the backdrop. I'm still amazed that it happened and the amount of evil the human heart can contain. The Holocaust in Italy isn't always featured in your garden variety quick mystery read, so kudos to Gerritsen for including it here. 

Without giving away too much, I admit, this novel is a quick, fast paced, interesting read. There's no shortage of reasons to turn the page and stay involved in the stories of these two people separated by space and time. The issue is that neither story needed the other. They were too thinly strung together just for the sake of a thicker book, not a better story. The characters were thin enough to be transparent. I swear I'm a huge Gerritsen fan, but I must be honest.

Overall I thought that there were some missed opportunities to have a profound novel that explored the idea of whether our genes could somehow predict our murderous tendencies, or even a well researched historical thriller that told the story of an Italian families plight during World War II. It could have been anything, but instead, it's more interesting to play with fire than read this book.  **


Copy provided by Random House via Netgalley

Review: The President's Shadow by Brad Meltzer

I have been following Beecher White and his adventure's with the Culper Ring since Brad Meltzer's The Inner Circle. I admit I was smitten with the charmingly befuddled, completely out of his element United States government archivist. He spends his days protecting the history of America. By night he protects the Presidency... or at least tries.

What I like most about these books is that Meltzer pulls the reader in by the discovery of a severed arm buried in the White House garden. Now... that's crazy. To think someone had enough time to bury an arm so close where the president lives makes me think security ain't so tough in those parts. What's more interesting than the arm and who it belongs to is what it's clutching in its deathlike grip (yes...pun intended).

Beecher is thrown into the mix because the hand might hold the key to his father's death. It is something that has enticed Beecher since he's never met the man. The President's Shadow begins allows Beecher this journey into his past by often jumping from different points of view including Beecher's, the past twenty-nine years earlier, and Clementine's. Oh yes! She makes a return.

Actually, quite a few people return from The Fifth Assassin including Clementine's nutso father Nico. Nutso-Nico... awesome. I digress... and of course, someone's either out to kill the President or Beecher, or somebody. Sounds a little hard to follow? That's because it is.

My gripe with this novel is that it was never really focused. There was too much going on and I never got enough information to stay invested in any of the intersecting storylines. Beecher wants to find his father, so does Clementine, while Marshall wants to find the guy with White eyelashes, or something. Nothing really stuck for me with this one. I remember reading The Fifth Assassin and becoming a whole-hearted fan of the Culper Ring series. I was ready and willing to help Beecher re-establish the dying elite group of people who serve as a protector of the United State's presidency. They have cemented their place in history and Beecher must keep up the tradition.

All in all, I won't give up on this series. Brad Meltzer is definitely an author I like reading. Although this particular installation of the Beecher White series didn't captivate me like the other two, I still find it a worthwhile read for those who are as invested in this series as I am. I enjoy witnessing Beecher grow more confident, smarter, and interesting. I look forward to the next adventure with the Culper Ring. **

Copy Provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley

Review: Memory Man by David Baldacci

There seems to be no shortage of the troubled hero who's family is brutally murdered in the worse way. Yes, these characters make for an interesting story... at first. It's no secret that this hero can often be redundant, boring, and overdone. David Baldacci attempt to break this mold by introducing us to Amos Decker with an unusual ability to remember everything. I mean EVERYTHING!

Memory Man begins with Decker, then a detective for the stumbling upon the brutal, senseless murder of his brother-in-law, wife, and daughter. After this devastating time, Decker slowly tries to begin his life again as a private detective. Long gone are the days on the Burlington police force... that is until a man named Sebastian Leopold confesses to the murder of his family. 

As if that isn't enough, there seems to be new murders and massacres that all point to having something to do with Amos Decker. There seems to be a cat and mouse game the the other players in this novel can't keep up with. Honestly, I couldn't keep up either. Memory Man is a fast moving title, but it also seemed a little too fast and under developed.

Before I get into what I didn't like about this novel, I will say that I consider myself a fan of David Baldacci although I've only read one other novel by him. I was especially excited to begin reading Memory Man. It begins in graphic detail of a heinous murder which is always a plus. It also provides insight into the mind of a man who has decided to choose between life and death after his world is taken away from him. For the first few chapters I was engrossed in Amos Decker's story. 

Baldacci gave the tortured hero more depth than others. Sure, he's socially awkward, emotionally detached, and pretty much struggling to hold things together. What's remarkable about Amos is that after being a delivered a career-ending blow to the head in the NFL, he "suffers" from hyperthymesia. For those who wonder what that is here ya go: It's a near-perfect recall of one's personal or autobiographical past. Imagine never forgetting a thing that happens to you. Like Monk says, it's a gift and it's a curse.

Yes, Amos Decker is interesting but not interesting enough to ignore that the other characters in this novel, besides the maniac on the loose, are totally forgettable. They struggle to keep up with Decker and it's painfully obvious. While Decker deciphers clue after clue (yes I know they were intended for him), it is so annoying that no one else can provide much insight. They just seemed to be going along with the motions and following Decker's lead. Since it seems this is the beginning of another recurring series, I want more of a reason to continue to invest my time in this series. This novel did none of that. I expected way more from Baldacci.

In conclusion, I wasn't too impressed with Memory Man but it wasn't awful. I would definitely read more by David Baldacci but I need more from his characters in the next Amos Decker novels. I understand there was a need to lay down the foundation for this tortured soul, but... if memory serves me correctly, I know Baldacci has better in him.  **

Copy provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley

Review: The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain

Imagine everything you've been told about you, your family, and your long lost sister are all lies? Well, in Diane Chamberlain's The Silent Sister Riley MacPherson finds that the stories she's been told of her sister, believed to have committed suicide as a teenager, just may in fact be alive. How's that for a huge family secret?

Riley is trying to clean out her father's home when a series of events lead her to believe that she may in fact want to investigate her past. At the age of 25, all the people she could ask were long gone. Her mother died when she was young, her father recently deceased, and Danny, her brother, are all unable to answer the questions she desperately needs answering. That is until Riley delves a little deeper into the mystery that is her family. 

I've never read any other books by Diane Chamberlain and I'm not sure what I expected, but this novel reads like chick-lit. That is fine and dandy if that's what you're in the mood for, but I definitely wasn't which is unfortunate because The Silent Sister is actually gripping from the beginning. We are introduced to Riley, a social worker, who based her whole career choice as a social worker on a sister she hasn't known since she was two years old. She's even patient with her brother Danny who suffers from some form of PTSD after having been wounded in Iraq.

There are a few things I found wrong with this book which makes it impossible for me to give it more than 2-stars. And sadly, it's not because of the writing which is not bad at all. It's simply so darn predictable this novel. From beginning to end it is predictable. The characters, even Riley, are paper thin, and I almost felt like one storyline (with the crazy RV park couple) was too neatly tossed away and sewn up. I mean... it can't be that easy to get out of a contract is it?

Anyway, The Silent Sister may not have been a great read for me, I certainly wouldn't say it's not worth a gander especially if women's literature is your thing. It's usually my thing, but I expected more of a mystery-type thriller with a hint of chick-lit instead of the other way around. Overall, I would definitely read more by this author. 

Copy provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley

Review: The City by Dean Koontz

As I read this novel I kept wondering to myself what happened to the Dean Koontz I loved so many years ago. I was so excited to start The City and was even temporarily blinded by Koontz prose and wordplay that I almost forgot that I was bored out of my mind... almost.

The City is the story of Jonah Kirk as he recalls the days of his youth. Born to a beautiful songstress and a disappearing father, Jonah finds solace in his incredible ability to play the piano, note for note, after hearing the tune only once. Jonah is narrating this story at the request of his best friend Malcolm Pomerantz (who's a little on the OCD side) recounting the days of his youth that transforms him into a whole man. Not a half man like his father.

As The City progresses, we are introduced to the many people in Jonah's life that have helped shape him. There's the woman who's the city, Miss Pearl, Mr. Yoshioka, and Amalia Pomerantz, Malcolm's older sister. Each of these characters bring the story to life, with their keen sense of clairvoyance, wisdom, or just plain beauty, inside and out. When Koontz let them star on the pages, the novel didn't seem so...mundane.

As a way to maintain his position on the horror shelf, Koontz provides characters who seem to only exist for the sake of thrills and bloodshed. Fiona, Drackman, and his father help move the story forward but are never really interesting enough to bring on the razzle dazzle of the more evil characters I've come to expect from Koontz. I'm sorry but I had high standards from Koontz. I was a teen who once spent all her allowance just to get my hands on one of his many books.

The one other gripe I have with this novel is that it didn't seem to move forward for at least a while. There were so many references to musicians, poems, art, or architecture and all things creative that the point of them being mentioned was soon forgotten. It's like we were given Koontz iTunes playlist on shuffle. 

It's not all bad. Believe me. The writing is top notch. I have so many quotes I highlighted from this read that will resonate for a long time in my life. Of course, Koontz' classic good vs. evil theme isn't lost on me, but I also thought The City is a great coming of age story. Jonah faces challenges with courage that many adults will never obtain. He takes the good with the bad, and is positive that no matter how bad things get, they will get better. Jonah is the type of person I aspire to be someday.

Overall, The City is an enjoyable enough read for philosophical purposes but if you're like me, expecting the Koontz of yester-year than this may not be the place for you. Wonderfully written paragraphs are drowned by the constant name-dropping of musical acts. I recommend this novel to die-hard fans who are entranced with any and every work by Koontz. I just urge Dean Koontz to take his own advice and realize his talent for writing is a gift he hasn't earned so he should use it wisely on the next novel.  **

Copy provided by Random House Publishing Group via Netgalley

Review: Suffer the Children by Craig DiLouie

Suffer the Children is the latest novel written by Craig DeLouie. What's instantly gripping about this novel and pretty much sparked my interest was the creepy cover. I mean look at it. The dirty, dilapidated, beheaded doll always suggests the novel will be pure horror. Long story short, this cover was a tad bit misleading.

It's a normal day like any other in this Michigan town when kids start dropping like flies. They just flat out die. Not just the children in this small town, but EVERY child under a certain age. Everywhere parents are wondering what happens next. Is this the end of the human race? Even unborn children that are in the protection of their mothers womb is not safe from whatever's plaguing the world. This all happens pretty early in the story since the true girth of this novel doesn't begin until all the children start coming back with a taste for blood. 

Grieving parents everywhere are left trying to keep their children alive with their own blood. The problem is this is only a temporary solution since the children are only alive for a few hours at a time. Usher in life after Herod's Syndrome which becomes an existence where it is those who have children against those who don't and blood is the only currency that matters.

Suffer the Children is a quick read that I could have possibly gotten through in a few hours but... c'mon, we all have work, school, and life to get to. Anyway, DiLouie instantly grabbed my attention by the neck and did not let go. I was as invested in preserving the lives of these children as their parents were. But surely, life started deteriorating for all the people involved. 

So why the 2-star rating? The answer is that eventually I felt that there just wasn't enough here to propel the vampire genre forward. Even bloodsucking kids couldn't save this title for me. Although my take on Suffer the Children is a little more "philosophical"... it still wasn't enough.

Philosophical you say? Yes. I see parents who would do anything they possibly can to save their children, or at least to keep them happy. And I mean anything. I remember all those crazy parents who fight each other for the last "tickle-me-elmo" or the ones who spoil their children rotten and declare that the sociopath they raised just maybe wasn't given enough to keep from turning into a homicidal maniac. The parents in Suffer the Children are the absolute extreme but I've seen enough children having tantrums in the grocery store to know that most parents aren't far from point. Anything, and I mean anything, to keep little Johnny or Sara happy. 

Although I wasn't blown away by Suffer the Children I actually look forward to reading more by this author. This novel wasn't bad, I just think the whole vampire thing is the black t-shirt you keep rewashing that fades with every cycle. That black is not coming back. **

Copy provided by Simon & Schuster via Netgalley

Review: You Should Have Known Better by Jean Hanff Korelitz

It took quite a long time for me to finish this novel and the first thing I thought was ok?!!? That was it? You Should Have Known is the newest novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz about a marriage counselor Grace Reinhart Sachs and her rude awakening with the truth of her "picture-perfect" world. This novel is about her journey to reinvent herself and salvage any nugget of her life in the before.

Grace is soon to be releasing a novel named You Should Have Known which is an advice guide to women, urging them not to ignore the signs that caution the man they are with is not someone they should spend their lives with. She actually stands on her soapbox and looks down on the women who come to her office as she considers her own life. A caring husband who's a pediatrician, an intelligent son Henry, and a comfortable lifestyle that many in New York could only dream about. In other words, she's smug, uptight, almost unlikeable.

Then there's a death. A woman we really don't know, or have any idea how she is connected to this family is killed in an horrific manner. To top it off, Jonathan, Grace's husband disappears. With officer's knocking at the door, Grace finally takes a hard, long look in the mirror and sees she knows nothing or what she should have known.

Initially, I was on board with this novel. Korelitz had me eating out of her hand. I had to know more about the fall of this woman I never really came to like. After reading page after page of elusive, mysterious, and suggestive verbiage that just didn't give anything, I realized I didn't care anymore. Who cares who, where, or what the hell type of psychopath Jonathan is?

Amidst some well written passages is a storyline I felt couldn't stand up to my expectations anymore. The idea that it's suspenseful failed, but I hung in there. Some sort of sinister reveal was hoped for, but it never comes to fruition. I just wish... I would have known that after I'd spend more than a week on this novel, I would have feel so empty. Then again I did ignore all the signs. Shame on me.

All is not lost with this novel. I feel that maybe if I'd expected it to be more chick-litish as opposed to a true nail-biter I could have appreciated more. And there are moments when I could see that Jean Hanff Korelitz is actually a pretty good writer. It's just buried under a lot of nothing. My final grade is that You Should Have Known Better should have been better. 

Copy Provided by Grand Central Publishing via Goodreads Giveaway

Review: Under the Jeweled Sky by Alison McQueen

What could be better than an historical fiction novel set in India during a time when the country was fighting for its independence? I had high hopes for Under the Jeweled Sky. I thought it was the perfect way to learn about the culture and history of India while reading an enchanting love story that features star-crossed lovers. Doesn't that seem like the ideal combination?

Sophie Schofield returns to England to visit her mother. It's obvious from the moment Victoria opens the door that there is something from Sophie's past that has caused a rift that can't be repaired. It doesn't take long for readers to see that 10 years could never be enough time away from Victoria. 

Under the Jeweled Sky shifts focus between the present and the past when Sophie, as a teenager, lived in India. Her father was employed as a doctor for the maharaj. It is during these reflections that we learn a little more about India and the culture. This is also where the romance is brought to the surface. Sophie falls in love for the first time with an Indian boy, Jag. Because of his station in life (and very strong prejudices), she is told to stay away.

The novel seems to come full circle when Sophie and her present-day husband move back to Delhi. What better way to end a story than where it begins? Actually it may not be better at all. 

What I enjoyed most about this novel was Sophie. It wasn't that she was a well developed character so much as when someone is in love, it's natural to want things to go well for them. She faces many obstacles but she never caved. Even when her less than ideal situations would have caused a weaker person to break down. She never played the victim nor did she give up hope.

What was most challenging about this novel is that the story doesn't unfold. It's never a moment I felt immersed into the world Alison McQueen created. It was almost like we were being told a story instead of living in the story with the characters.

My other gripe with this novel is that it's historical fiction yet I never got the facts or information usually coupled with period fiction. Yes there are social inferences that can be learned from this text but the single most important fact was left out. The novel takes place in war-torn India yet much of the war was off screen. There were no characters presented who had a stake in India's future besides only in passing. 

Overall, Under the Jeweled Sky could have been so much more than it was. Although it wasn't a hit with me, I do recommend this novel to lovers of historical fiction women's literature. There is a little bit of romance and a little history, but mainly a story that suggests to never give up hope. **

Copy provided by Sourcebooks via Netgalley

Review: Bitter Like Orange Peel by Jessica Bell

Bitter Like Orange Peel the debut novel by Jessica Bell, is the story of six women who's lives have all been changed because of one man. The novel begins with Kit looking at a defaced photograph of her father and decides to call her half sister Ivy. She tells Ivy that she is interested in finding their father. Wanting to find that missing piece is how we begin to see secrets revealed and revelations brought to light. Bitter Like Orange Peel essentially is a well-written story about female adults dealing with the challenges of their lives that may, or may not, have anything to do with the abandonment of this guy, Roger. Kit is in her mid-twenties and is still unsure of what to do with her life. She's encouraged by her mother Ailish to do something purposeful with her field of study in archaeology. Ironically, the same profession as her older sister Ivy, and their father. Kit may in fact be the most relatable and well developed character of this novel. The idea that finding our lineage and answers to burning questions is coherant, if not obvious for a plot. Ivy represents the woman who seemingly has her life together. She's taking a break from getting her PHD after divorcing her husband Amir. Ivy runs off to Seattle in search of a new life and figure the one out that she has. While waitressing she meets Brian. Eventually, Ivy doesn't seem so put together at all. Bitter Like Orange Peel would have been a 3-star review for me if it had a little more focus, especially the end. The different view points broke up the flow of the novel and left me wondering at times was that person's insight even necessary. I commend Jessica Bell for bringing to life in Bitter Like Orange Peel the importance of family and just being there. We don't always see the affects the relationships we have, or don't have, with the people we have no choice in being related to. Bitter Like Orange Peel does not deter me from reading Jessica Bell's other works. Bell's definitely a unique voice in the literary world that I would love to explore further.  **

Review: Havana Queen by James Bruno

I really hate giving 2-stars to the books I have high hopes for. The first indication is that it isn’t worth anyone’s time and that it’s poorly written. In this case, Havana Queen by James Bruno, is neither. It’s surely worth someone’s time and it definitely isn’t poorly written. Ackwardly written is more like it.

Havana Queen takes place in Cuba. The deteriorating health of the infamous Fidel Castro has put revolution efforts into high gear. There seems not to be a day that goes by that doesn’t have some attack on the Cuban people who want freedom, or the Cuban regime that wants the Communist government to go on business as usual. Rations and subsidies are at a low and the country is basically ready to implode. In walks their Havana queen Larissa Montilla is could possibly keep the sinking ship afloat. Her adversary is Nick Castillo.

Nick Castillo is the Cuban/American sleeper the government needs to infiltrate Cubas impenetrable inner sanctum. He’s tasked with finding out as much possible on the recent attacks on Americans and the reasons behind them. Nick is also to flush out any spies giving secrets to the Cubans. An epic battle of wits ensues between Nick and Larissa. 

James Bruno has been on my radar to read for some time. His background in military intelligence lends credibility to Havana Queen. The keen insight into Cuba’s culture and landscape will leave readers interested in finding out more information about this country. Bruno paints a very vivid picture of a country stuck between the old regime and a need for change. 

Usually when there’s a high body count in any book I'm game to plant myself in my chair and let the wild ride commence. In this case, the deaths didn’t mean anything to me because of the plethora of characters. I barely knew Nick Castillo, or even Larissa Montillo, so it was hard to be angry with someone or to pick a side. The sheer number of spies, counterspies, bad guys turned worse, or good guys turned bad suddenly got cloudy in Havana Queen. I admit that all these intricate moving parts made for some confused and frustrating reading.

Political thrillers are usually my go to when in need of a fun novel but Havana Queennever quite delivers for me. I don’t think this will be the last novel I read by Bruno since his writing is actually pretty good. The structure of this novel takes getting used to but overall, he’s got some chops. Havana Queen is sure to excite fans of espionage and political thrillers. It just sort of missed it’s mark with me.  **