Just got back from a fantastic, relaxing, and wonderful vacation in Belize. Look for a post about it soon, but for now I wanted to give an update about what I have read since my last post.
This post contains affiliate links, see disclosure for more detail. I voluntarily reviewed complimentary copies of many of these books. All opinions are totally my own.
Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough, I gave this book 2 stars
About the Book:
Lisa lives for her daughter Ava, her job, and her best friend Marilyn, but when a handsome client shows an interest in her, Lisa starts daydreaming about sharing her life with him too. Maybe she’s ready now. Maybe she can trust again. Maybe it’s time to let her terrifying secret past go. Then her daughter rescues a boy from drowning and their pictures are all over the news for everyone to see. Lisa’s world explodes, and she finds everything she has built threatened. Not knowing whom she can trust, it’s up to her to face her past to save what she holds dear.
My Thoughts:
Let me start off by saying that I liked this book much better than Pinborough’s first book (that almost everyone else adored). This one has no paranormal elements, it’s a straightforward psychological suspense novel.
However, the author relies way too much on the keeping of secrets on the part of Lisa and Marilyn with heavy foreshadowing about how absolutely terribly awful the secrets are. Even after Lisa’s secret comes to light, the reader is STILL left in the dark for quite a while longer. Even though all of the characters know the BIG AWFUL THING, we aren’t allowed to know. When we do find out, it’s anti-climactic. Marilyn’s secret is totally obvious from the beginning, so it’s kind of a non-issue. It’s just difficult to be invested in a book when they are showing how Marilyn and Lisa’s co-workers and clients are dealing with the BIG AWFUL THING, yet we don’t know what it is. And don’t get me started on Ava, her secret again turns out to be a non-issue as well, even after so much build up.
I gave the book 2 stars because I did finish it. With some more editing this could have been a decent story. I actually like books with unreliable narrators, but this one was only unreliable for the reader, not for anyone else.
Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett, I gave this book 4 stars
About the Book:
Stunning Yosemite National Park sets the stage for this late 1920s historical romance with mystery, adventure, heart, and a sense of the place John Muir described as “pervaded with divine light.”
Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford fashioned her image as an avant-garde artist to appeal to the region’s wealthy art-collectors. When she lands a lucrative contract painting illustrations of Yosemite National Park for a travel magazine including its nightly one-of-a-kind Firefall event, she hopes the money will lift Olivia and her sisters out of poverty.
After false accusations cost him everything, former minister Clark Johnson has found purpose as a backcountry guide in this natural cathedral of granite and trees. Now he’s faced with the choice of becoming a National Parks Ranger, but is it his true calling?
As Clark helps open Olivia’s eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers the people are as vital to the park’s story as its vistas– a revelation that may bring her charade to an end.
My Thoughts:
What a gorgeously written novel! I adore the settings of these books, the scenery is so vividly described that you feel like you are right there with the characters. It has been many years since I traveled to Yosemite, so after reading this book it is definitely time for another visit!
This novel has relatable characters with emotional appeal, I believed the relationship between Clark and Olivia, and their faith journeys made the story richer and more meaningful. Plus, there are themes reflected throughout that helped me with my own faith journey.
Darkwater Secrets by Robin Caroll, I gave this book 3 stars
About the Book:
A murder investigation uncovers sordid secrets and haunting mistakes
The Darkwater Inn stands tall and proud in the French Quarter, the hub of New Orleans. Bourbon Street is bustling, and general manager Adelaide Fountaine has her hands full with a hotel at capacity. But she is shocked when a body is found: a hotel guest stabbed with a kitchen knife.
Detective Beau Savoie, Adelaide’s childhood friend, is on the case. As Beau digs into the victim’s past, he unearths a shocking connection between Adelaide and the murdered guest. Beau is hurt that his friend–the woman he’s quietly loved for years–kept the truth from him. To make matters worse, the stress of the investigation has sent Adelaide right into the comforting arms of her coworker Dimitri. But Beau can’t press Adelaide too hard . . . because he’s keeping secrets of his own.
My Thoughts:
Exciting book with a captivating setting. Who doesn’t love a creepy inn holding people with secrets?
Caroll writes a very solid love triangle. Done in the wrong way this just comes across as cheesy and dumb, but in this case, I was convinced and it added a great deal to the plot.
The one quibble I have is that I didn’t really like how early the murderer was revealed. I like the mystery to be drawn out longer usually.
I was interested throughout, and that was probably because the romantic angle kept me invested. I look forward to the second book in the series.
The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz, I gave this book 3 stars
About the Book:
“I very much need to be dead.”
These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for—but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demand: find the truth, no matter what.
People of talent and accomplishment, people admired and happy and sound of mind, have been committing suicide in surprising numbers. When Jane seeks to learn why, she becomes the most-wanted fugitive in America. Her powerful enemies are protecting a secret so important—so terrifying—that they will exterminate anyone in their way.
But all their power and viciousness may not be enough to stop a woman as clever as they are cold-blooded, as relentless as they are ruthless—and who is driven by a righteous rage they can never comprehend. Because it is born of love.
My Thoughts:
Solid read, I was kept interested throughout. I like Koontz’s writing style so this felt very familiar. I got invested with the character, and I know that this is a series so I never felt worried that anything would happen to her. Not sure if anything will in future installments, but for this one I didn’t get too anxious.
Got a little repetitive at times, as well as far fetched, but that’s the kind of book this is, so take it or leave it.
I listened to it on audio as well as read the hard copy sometimes, the narrator does a great job of being “Jane”, quite believable.
Wait for Me by Susan May Warren, I gave this book 4 stars
About the Book:
Pete Brooks can’t believe he’s waited an entire year for Jess Tagg to return to Montana, only to have her break his heart by getting engaged to her ex-fiancé. Worse, a series of mistakes on the job have cost lives, and Pete isn’t sure he wants to continue to work in Search and Rescue. Maybe if he can just get over Jess, he can figure out how to move forward.
EMT Jess Tagg has returned to Montana to finally give her heart to Pete, but it seems he’s no longer interested. When a terrible fight between them sparks an impulsive decision, she finds herself crashed on the side of a highway along with Esme Shaw. And just when she thinks things couldn’t get any worse, she and Esme are taken captive and into the untamed Montana wilderness—with murderous intent.
Now Pete and the other PEAK Rescue Team members are in a race against time, the elements, and the actions of a vengeful man. Pete will have to use everything he’s learned to find Jess and Esme—and pray that his past mistakes don’t cost him the life of the woman he can’t stop loving.
My Thoughts:
The conclusion to the Montana Rescue series (you definitely need to read all of them because you’ll be lost with the characters and connections if you don’t) has all of the elements that I love to read from Susan May Warren. There are tense adventure scenes, heart-pounding romance, and faith-stretching spiritual elements. The spiritual aspects are a bit more subtle in this installment, however they are present and the themes of forgiveness and learning to move forward are beautifully portrayed.
I have to say, the romance between Pete and Jess wasn’t my favorite of the series. I thought her choices were selfish and their missteps in communication didn’t really ring true for me. Either she loves/loved him or doesn’t, I didn’t like how wishy-washy she was about everything stringing him along.
The action and suspense of the story more than made up for its shortcomings in the romance department, and this is a very tense page turner. I loved this series and the look into the lives of rescue workers in the wilds of Montana. I can’t wait to see what Warren comes up with next!
Silent Victim by Caroline Mitchell, I gave this book 3 stars
About the Book:
Emma is a loving wife, a devoted mother…and an involuntary killer. For years she’s been hiding the dead body of the teacher who seduced her as a teen.
It’s a secret that might have stayed buried if only her life had been less perfect. A promotion for Emma’s husband, Alex, means they can finally move to a bigger home with their young son. But with a buyer lined up for their old house, Emma can’t leave without destroying every last trace of her final revenge…
Returning to the shallow grave in the garden, she finds it empty. The body is gone.
Panicked, Emma confesses to her husband. But this is only the beginning. Soon, Alex will discover things about her he’ll wish he’d learned sooner. And others he’ll long to forget.
My Thoughts:
This is definitely a twisty, fast-paced book. I think I would have liked it more had I not figured out where it was going loooooong before the characters did. To me, it just felt like they were being stupid that they couldn’t piece together what was happening. And the main character was just so incredibly blind to the fact that she makes terrible choices in life. Yes, she was a young victim, but overall she was not very bright carrying on and on with this loser.
The action was pretty good and kept me interested, just to see if some way, somehow, these characters would get an ounce of intelligence and figure out what was going on.
The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland, I gave this book 4 stars
About the Book:
Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look carefully, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin. But there are some things Loveday will never, ever show you.
Into her hiding place – the bookstore where she works – come a poet, a lover, and three suspicious deliveries.
Someone has found out about her mysterious past. Will Loveday survive her own heartbreaking secrets?
My Thoughts:
Beautiful book. I was in tears at the end, because this is so much the story of family–and family is not always the traditional one we are born into, but one that can be cultivated and created.
I absolutely adored Archie and all he did for and meant to Loveday throughout this story. Loveday’s journey is a rough one, but it is so real. What she has to work through is universal, whether we have the exact circumstances she does or not.
The words she puts on her skin are just the icing on the cake with the beautiful prose of this story. If you love words, books, and people who love both, this is definitely the book for you.
The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld, I gave this book 3.5 stars
About the Book:
Three years ago, Madison Culver disappeared when her family was choosing a Christmas tree in Oregon’s Skookum National Forest. She would be eight years old now—if she has survived. Desperate to find their beloved daughter, certain someone took her, the Culvers turn to Naomi, a private investigator with an uncanny talent for locating the lost and missing. Known to the police and a select group of parents as The Child Finder, Naomi is their last hope.
Naomi’s methodical search takes her deep into the icy, mysterious forest in the Pacific Northwest, and into her own fragmented past. She understands children like Madison because once upon a time, she was a lost girl too.
As Naomi relentlessly pursues and slowly uncovers the truth behind Madison’s disappearance, shards of a dark dream pierce the defenses that have protected her, reminding her of a terrible loss she feels but cannot remember. If she finds Madison, will Naomi ultimately unlock the secrets of her own life?
My Thoughts:
This is not an easy book to read. It’s actually quite difficult. The hard parts are not graphically detailed, but they are there and if you have any sort of imagination, you will know exactly what the author is talking about. It’s heartbreaking and harrowing all at the same time. It’s about a kidnapped child and all of the horrible things that happen to her, and a child finder named Naomi who has some past childhood trauma of her own and is determined to find the missing girl.
Throughout the book there are some other cases that Naomi works on that are definitely affecting to the reader, but give more depth to the story. The atmospheric setting of the mountains of Oregon is perfect for the plot and is actually what drew me to read the book in the first place.
I will definitely read the next book in the series and am very anxious to know about Naomi’s past.
Pretty Girls Dancing by Kylie Brant, I gave this book 2.5 stars
About the Book:
Years ago, in the town of Saxon Falls, young Kelsey Willard disappeared and was presumed dead. The tragedy left her family with a fractured life—a mother out to numb the pain, a father losing a battle with his own private demons, and a sister desperate for closure. But now another teenage girl has gone missing. It’s ripping open old wounds for the Willards, dragging them back into a painful past, and leaving them unprepared for where it will take them next.
Bureau of Criminal Investigation agent Mark Foster has stumbled on uncanny parallels in the lives of the two missing girls that could unlock clues to a serial killer’s identity. That means breaking down the walls of the Willards’ long-guarded secrets and getting to a truth that is darker than he bargained for. Now, to rescue one missing girl, he must first solve the riddles that disappeared with another: Kelsey Willard herself. Dead or alive, she is his last hope.
My Thoughts:
I’m not sure how exactly to talk about this book without giving spoilers. Overall, I was incredibly interested in the premise, in the kidnapped girls and who took them, and how everything was going to resolve. And then it did.
I thought this was a great book until the villain was revealed. It made NO sense to me and downgraded what I thought was a decent book up until that point. I could come up with about 5 other suspects throughout the book who would have been more plausible and a much better fit and ultimately more surprising than the one the author chose.
That said, I loved the character of Janie and her growth throughout the novel. She is awesome.
Things Left Unsaid by Courtney Walsh, I gave this book 4 stars
About the Book:
An emotional novel of family, friendship and forgiveness from Courtney Walsh, the New York Times bestselling author of Hometown Girl.
Lyndie St. James is thrilled that her best friend, Elle, is getting married but unprepared for the emotional storm of the wedding week and returning to her childhood summer home of Sweethaven. The idyllic cottage community harbors some of her best—and worst—memories. It’s not only the tragic death of her childhood friend Cassie that has haunted her for ten years, it’s the other secrets she’s buried that have kept her from moving on.
But Lyndie isn’t the only one with secrets.
Cassie’s mother, father and brother, still struggling with the loss, have been drifting further and further apart. And Elle herself, the last to see Cassie alive, carries an impossible burden of guilt. Now reunited, each of them has a choice: to reveal the truths of that night or continue to live in its shadow. That means embarking on a personal journey of the heart—to escape the darkness and all its regrets and to finally come to terms with the past and, especially, with each other.
My Thoughts:
As with other books I have read by Walsh, this one packs an emotional punch. The story has so many things to say about friendship, forgiveness, and the extremely divisive and detrimental effect that keeping secrets has on a person’s life. As I read through this story, I couldn’t help but feel for Lyndie, Elle, and Tucker as they each struggle with things they have kept secret and are finally bringing to light. Guilt and grief are at war with each other and none of the people affected by Cassie’s death can really heal and move forward until they deal with the guilt and expectations they have places on themselves and others around them. This is a very meaningful story with some insightful spiritual messages as well.
The Other Woman by Sandie Jones, I gave this book 3 stars
About the Book:
Emily thinks Adam’s perfect; the man she thought she’d never meet. But lurking in the shadows is a rival; a woman who shares a deep bond with the man she loves.
Emily chose Adam, but she didn’t choose his mother Pammie. There’s nothing a mother wouldn’t do for her son, and now Emily is about to find out just how far Pammie will go to get what she wants: Emily gone forever.
The Other Woman is an addictive, fast-paced psychological thriller about the destructive relationship between Emily, her boyfriend Adam, and his manipulative mother Pammie.
My Thoughts:
I liked this book because it was a crazy, soapy ride! I just could not figure out why Emily stayed with Adam–after Christmas and all of the “misunderstandings” and Adam standing up for his mother despite her actions being nutso–why did she stay? I guess I didn’t feel invested in their relationship enough to find it believable that she’d stay despite red flags everywhere.
That said, it’s a fast read, lots of eye rolling but a fun ride nevertheless. Just suspend your disbelief and you’ll enjoy it for what it is.
Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser, I gave this book 3.5 stars
About the Book:
When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It’s a rare kid-free night, and they’re giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal.
By Monday morning, one of them is gone.
Everyone knows something about everyone else in the quirky small Ohio town of Yellow Springs, but no one can make sense of the disappearance. Kristin was a sociable twin mom, college administrator, and doctor’s wife who didn’t seem all that bothered by her impending divorce—and the investigation turns up more questions than answers, with her husband, Paul, at the center. For her closest neighbor, Clara, the incident triggers memories she thought she’d put behind her—and when she’s unable to extract herself from the widening circle of scrutiny, her own suspicions quickly grow. But the neighborhood’s newest addition, Izzy, is determined not to jump to any conclusions—especially since she’s dealing with a crisis of her own.
As the police investigation goes from a media circus to a cold case, the neighbors are forced to reexamine what’s going on behind their own closed doors—and to ask how well anyone really knows anyone else.
My Thoughts:
Solid, engaging read. I connected well with the main characters. I appreciated their growth as they struggled with the disappearance of their friend. The ultimate resolution is satisfying, although it takes a little too long to get things wrapped up. It’s more of a slow burn book rather than packed with excitement.
Overall worth reading.
Volcanic Momentum by Jordan Ring, I gave this book 4 stars
About the Book:
Stop dreaming about “someday” and let Volcanic Momentum show you how to tap into unlimited energy and reach your goals now, not later.
In his latest work, authorpreneur Jordan Ring shares how you can build a solid foundation for lifelong success with nine powerful momentum strategies. Using these tools, you will never again lose motivation, inspiration, and the drive needed to meet your goals once and for all!
Whether it’s those pesky last ten pounds, the remaining twenty pages of your thesis, or the kite-making side-hustle that you know will one day make oodles of money— getting a copy of Volcanic Momentum in your hands will give you superpowers.
With Destiny Goals, your God-given potential will be reached, and your purpose on this earth made clear to you. Your divine purpose is ready to revealed and unleashed upon the world, what are you waiting for?
In this book you will learn:
- How to find your ultimate life purpose by setting and achieving Destiny Goals.
- Momentum strategies to keep moving the needle forward regardless of what life throws at you.
- Tips to leave boredom behind you and cultivate massive personal growth by becoming what you were created to be.
- And much more…
Volcanic Momentum is not just another feel good self-help book, it won’t tell you that the journey will be without its challenges, and it’s definitely not a guide to having an easy life.
But if you’re looking for an encouraging and realistic take on everyday struggles, you need this book. With self-deprecating humor and a vulnerable writing style, Jordan shares actionable tips and strategies you can use in your daily life to achieve your full potential.
By the end, you will have all the tools you need to change the world and still have fun doing it.
My Thoughts:
On the surface, this book doesn’t seem to have any earth-shattering or new information about goal setting or getting your life on track. However, Ring’s enthusiasm for the subject is contagious, and his “get up and go” spirit can’t help but spur the reader into action.
There are many different resources listed, in case you want to do further study or explore certain sections more thoroughly. This book is excellent for whatever stage of life you happen to be in, the goal setting and motivation steps are universal to most situations. Plus, the sections on increasing energy are applicable to everyone as well.
One small quibble I had with this book, which is admittedly very small but it still stood out–there are links within the text, and I found myself occasionally hitting a link by accident. This either took me out of the book to a website, or more often because I read my kindle in airplane mode, pulled me out to have to click back into the book. It’s certainly great to have the ability to read further on a subject, but it shouldn’t be so easy to click out unintentionally.
I also loved the sections about mentors. I think this is also applicable to any life stage, and it made me think of who I could choose to mentor, as well as who I could go to for mentoring.
Ring has a very personable way of writing, bringing his family and business relationships into the story and giving personal examples, which really help to illustrate his points and make them seem more achievable, because if he can do it, why can’t I?
If you’re looking for some motivation to get you out of a rut, get you moving toward your goals, or even further back than that–developing some goals in the first place–Volcanic Momentum is the book that can help propel you toward living the life you have always wanted to, but didn’t know how to get there.
I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman, I gave this book 3 stars
About the Book:
Around the time that Freya loses her voice while recording her debut album, Harun is making plans to run away from home to find the boy that he loves, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City after a family tragedy leaves him isolated on the outskirts of Washington state. After the three of them collide in Central Park, they slowly reveal the parts of their past that they haven’t been able to confront, and together, they find their way back to who they’re supposed to be. Told over the course of a single day from three different perspectives, Gayle Forman’s newest novel about the power of friendship and being true to who you are is filled with the elegant prose that her fans have come to know and love.
My Thoughts:
Sweet book, but nothing earth shattering. I really felt for Nathaniel and could connect with his feelings of having lost his way, and I could also relate to Harun. Freya, not so much. I didn’t get a real sense of her and her motivations, and really why she had lost her singing ability.
I liked that this narrative took place in one day, except for the flashbacks to give perspective. I didn’t particularly care for all of the head hopping/switching between 1st and 3rd person, it was jarring.
Overall, this is a tender story of finding your way and finding your true “fellowship”
Throne of Grace by Cecily Wolfe, I gave this book 3.5 stars
About the Book:
Newport, Rhode Island in the last decades of the nineteenth century was a stunningly beautiful and glamorous playground for the rich during the summer months, and a perfect setting for a romance between a rich young man from New York City and a local girl who works for his family. The two couldn’t possibly expect to have anything in common, as he is expected to follow his father in a financial career and she is merely a maid with a mother who takes care of local children while their parents work. Arthur Davenport, spoiled and bored, unsure of his place in his family and in the eyes of God, truly meets his match in Josie Warren, who is often just a bit hard on herself for not being the perfect Christian in thought as well as deed. The two meet on the famous Cliff Walk, and neither of them can imagine where or how their instant attraction will take them as he struggles to makes his parents understand that his calling is the same as hers, to help those less fortunate. He has no money of his own, and if they disinherit him out of disapproval, how can he help Josie, who has spent her life working hard to help support herself and her mother? More importantly, how can he convince her that he would gladly give up his life of luxury just to be with her?
My Thoughts:
Sweet Christian romance. I am not generally a huge fan of historical novels, but this one was just right for my mood at the moment. I appreciated the accuracy with class struggles and the realistic struggles that Arthur and Josie endure while trying to pursue a love relationship that isn’t acceptable to some people.
The themes of God’s love and acceptance and pursuing God’s best are evident throughout this book. It’s a meaningful story with characters that readers will warm to and root for their relationship success.
Crown of Beauty by Cecily Wolfe, I gave this book 4 stars
About the Book:
Catherine has everything she needs and all of what she wants. Or does she? Raised in opulence in New York City and the beautiful shores of Newport, Rhode Island, she has never wanted for anything, but when her parents begin to pressure her about marriage, she insists that she doesn’t want one arranged for her. She would much rather stay home and read than socialize or, worse, select a husband who might not approve of her reading habit. Her father insists that she spend time helping at her brother’s homeless shelter to understand how privileged she is, and her wariness of love and marriage is tempered when a mysterious young man with intense blue eyes is brought, cold and wet, to the shelter doorstep one night.
Will wakes up in a strange room with vague memories of being caught in a thunderstorm as he began to search for shelter for the night after making his way to Newport from New York City. A beautiful girl sits beside him, but she leaves his care to another in what he assumes is shyness. The shelter offers assistance in ways he could only dream of, and as he searches for work and a home of his own, he finds himself drawn to the girl who ran from him when he first woke up. The two are drawn to each other, sneaking glances in spite of her brother’s disapproval, but Will’s secrets will test the love that grows between them.
My Thoughts:
To start off, I was captivated right away by this book because Catherine is a reader–she loves books almost more than people and feels much more comfortable reading than mingling with others.
I loved getting caught up with Arthur and Josie and what is happening in their lives, and I enjoyed the relationship development between Catherine and Will. Their individual faith journeys are meaningful and add to the story immensely, I actually like it better when we get to see and experience this along with the characters, because it somehow helps to encourage my own spiritual development as well.
As with most romances, things develop quite quickly. I get why the author does this, but I would have liked a bit more time for the two to get to know each other. The theme of lies is resonant throughout and very thought provoking. I look forward to reading the third book in the series.
Treasure of Hope by Cecily Wolfe, I gave this book 4 stars
About the Book:
She’s known as a hopeless flirt, but Sarah doesn’t care. She’s beautiful, young, and rich, and doesn’t want to waste a minute of her life worrying about anything or anyone. Sneaking out to parties on the Cliff Walk with her friends during winter nights becomes dangerous, and when a terrible accident happens, her carefree outlook is forever lost. Determined to blame herself, she focuses on applying her time and effort at the homeless shelter operated by her brother and his wife, but will she ever be able to move forward and accept forgiveness from those she has inadvertently harmed?
Sam is devastated when an evening of fun and drink ends in tragedy. He hardly knows Sarah, but is well-aware of her charm and spirit, neither of which gives him leave to forgive her for the life-changing event he is certain she has caused. Can his faith, shaken by his loss, be restored by granting and accepting forgiveness, however difficult and painful that might be?
My Thoughts:
All the sighs!
What a beautiful ending to a very meaningful series. I definitely saw the author’s growth as a writer throughout these three books. The first book (Throne of Grace) was sweet, but as the series progressed the character and plot development got richer and deeper. I came to really care for the characters and felt invested in their happiness. I loved the arcs of each of them because they too had growth and learned how to trust and love others, as well as each growing a deeper faith.
I feel very torn, because I loved the ending, but these characters now feel like members of the family so it is difficult to let them go.
The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor, I gave this book 3 stars
About the Book:
In 1986, Eddie and his friends are just kids on the verge of adolescence. They spend their days biking around their sleepy English village and looking for any taste of excitement they can get. The chalk men are their secret code: little chalk stick figures they leave for one another as messages only they can understand. But then a mysterious chalk man leads them right to a dismembered body, and nothing is ever the same.
In 2016, Eddie is fully grown, and thinks he’s put his past behind him. But then he gets a letter in the mail, containing a single chalk stick figure. When it turns out that his friends got the same message, they think it could be a prank . . . until one of them turns up dead.
That’s when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago.
My Thoughts:
An ok psychological thriller with some really head-scratcher moments toward the end.
Fast paced, I wanted to know what happened, but within that fast pacing there are parts that drag.
I didn’t really care for any of the characters, I couldn’t find any to root for and care what happened to them. I especially didn’t like Eddie, and the book is from his POV so that made it more difficult to get through than I would have liked.
I did like the idea of assumptions and how there’s not necessarily evil intent behind every bad thing that happens/happened in the book. The way things tied up and how all of the threads came together made the book much better than it otherwise could have been.
Worth reading, but it isn’t super surprising overall.
Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon, I gave this book 3 stars
About the Book:
Academy award-winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur Reese Witherspoon invites you into her world, where she infuses the southern style, parties, and traditions she loves with contemporary flair and charm.
Reese Witherspoon’s grandmother Dorothea always said that a combination of beauty and strength made southern women “whiskey in a teacup.” We may be delicate and ornamental on the outside, she said, but inside we’re strong and fiery.
Reese’s southern heritage informs her whole life, and she loves sharing the joys of southern living with practically everyone she meets. She takes the South wherever she goes with bluegrass, big holiday parties, and plenty of Dorothea’s fried chicken. It’s reflected in how she entertains, decorates her home, and makes holidays special for her kids—not to mention how she talks, dances, and does her hair (in these pages, you will learn Reese’s fail-proof, only slightly insane hot-roller technique). Reese loves sharing Dorothea’s most delicious recipes as well as her favourite southern traditions, from midnight barn parties to backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas mornings to rollicking honky-tonks.
It’s easy to bring a little bit of Reese’s world into your home, no matter where you live. After all, there’s a southern side to every place in the world, right?
My Thoughts:
Part memoir of Reese Witherspoon’s life growing up in the South, part cookbook, and part entertaining handbook, Whiskey in a Teacup is a gorgeously photographed book. It was fun getting some glimpses into her life, and learning about the different customs and traditions of living in the South. Reese pays homage to her grandmother, whose recipes and ways of living influenced her life in many ways.
The recipes aren’t overly ambitious or even very innovative (sweet tea, deviled eggs, frozen fruit salad), but they are fun to page through, even if I don’t plan to make any of them. The photography throughout, as well as Reese’s different outfits in the photos, are beautiful.
The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian, I gave this book 3 stars
About the Book:
Cassandra Bowden is no stranger to hungover mornings. She’s a binge drinker, her job with the airline making it easy to find adventure, and the occasional blackouts seem to be inevitable. She lives with them, and the accompanying self-loathing. When she awakes in a Dubai hotel room, she tries to piece the previous night back together, already counting the minutes until she has to catch her crew shuttle to the airport. She quietly slides out of bed, careful not to aggravate her already pounding head, and looks at the man she spent the night with. She sees his dark hair. His utter stillness. And blood, a slick, still wet pool on the crisp white sheets. Afraid to call the police—she’s a single woman alone in a hotel room far from home—Cassie begins to lie. She lies as she joins the other flight attendants and pilots in the van. She lies on the way to Paris as she works the first class cabin. She lies to the FBI agents in New York who meet her at the gate. Soon it’s too late to come clean—or face the truth about what really happened back in Dubai. Could she have killed him? If not, who did?
My Thoughts:
Mostly, I felt sorry for Cassie throughout. It’s kind of a slow burn story, not much happens after the initial event until almost the end. It would have been better with some more drama throughout rather than concentrated in those two parts, the book was way too long to not have something happen other than her being worried and talking to various people about being worried.
I had read about a “shocking” twist, but I didn’t find it all that shocking honestly. Maybe I read too many thrillers so it takes more to surprise me than most people.
Overall, a decent read, but nothing earth shattering.
Someday by David Levithan (book 3 in the series), I gave this book 2.5 stars
About the Book:
For as long as A can remember, life has meant waking up in a different person’s body every day, forced to live as that person until the day ended. A always thought there wasn’t anyone else who had a life like this.
But A was wrong. There are others.
A has already been wrestling with powerful feelings of love and loneliness. Now comes an understanding of the extremes that love and loneliness can lead to—and what it’s like to discover that you are not alone in the world.
In Someday, David Levithan takes readers further into the lives of A, Rhiannon, Nathan, and the person they may think they know as Reverend Poole, exploring more deeply the questions at the core of Every Day and Another Day: What is a soul? And what makes us human?
My Thoughts:
I’m glad I read it, because I needed some more to the story laid down by the first two books, but overall it didn’t really work for me. I thought the ending was quite abrupt. After all of the build up with X, and then…done. Maybe there will be more, maybe not, but I’ll have to decide whether or not I want to keep going with the story if there’s another book at some point.
Another thing I didn’t care for is the fact that almost every single teen character is LGBTQ+. All of them. I just don’t believe that the statistics skew that high in the direction this book goes. I think the author just puts it in there because he wants to include more diverse characters, and I get that, but it is overkill to the point of ridiculousness. There are many instances in the telling of this story that mentioning this had zero to do with what was going on in the narrative and actually pulled me from what was going on in the story.
Whew! If you made it to the end, good for you! Lots more coming soon, I just need to carve out more reading time (hahaha).
