Review: The Barn Identity

The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This may be a wonderful book for those who have been following this series. However, for me, it was just one lecture after another (slavery, vegetarianism), and though it may have picked up later, I didn't want to waste my precious reading time to find out.

I am not saying this was a horrible book; I AM saying it just wasn't my cup of tea. Please read the other reviews for differing opinions.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Minotaur Books, the author, and NetGalley.

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SUMMARY: "The eighth in the House-Flipper mystery series set in Nashville, TN, where the real estate market is to die for.

In Nashville, carpenter Whitney Whitaker is ecstatic when she discovers an abandoned barn perfect for her next project. However, since the surrounding former farmland has now developed into a shiny new shopping center, it seems the decrepit antebellum barn that once served as a livery stable should be torn down to make way for something more modern. Even so, Whitney can’t help but think the barn should be preserved. While unproven, it’s rumored the building once served as a hiding place for escaped slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. She convinces her cousin to take a chance on the old property. After all, the barn would make a unique retail space or, with its high ceilings and wide walls, could be turned into an arthouse cinema.

When a local print journalist reporting on the renovation is found dead on the property, investigators suspect he might have been murdered for any one of several exposés he’d published about local politicians, movers, and shakers. Whitney suspects there’s more to the story, and that the journalist’s fate might be tied directly to the stable renovation. Can she solve the murder and bring a killer to justice? Or might this goal be too lofty?"

Review: The Hired Man

The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars





This was a fine novel that combined the history of the Dust Bowl, hoboes, and several large mysteries. It also gave us a look into how people felt about hoboes (I assume that this was what we now call the homeless). This was the height of the depression, and men were wandering the country looking for work. Poor, dirty, downtrodden, most were aimless. And they were the ones who took the blame when anything went wrong in a town they happened to be in.

The Kessler family came upon a hobo named Otis when he saved a boy from a dust blizzard. This story is told using Martha Helen Kessler's (daughter) thoughts and words.

The only problem that kept me from giving this book a 5-star rating was that, even though this was the height of the Dust Bowl, the Kesslers lived on a farm that wasn't making any money, and it was the Great Depression, they always seemed to have more than anyone else. They had more food, clothing, money...why was that?

The mystery (both of them) took me quite by surprise; pleasantly so. I love how authors write things like this that don't work out the way you assumed they would go!

This may be a very good novel for book clubs because of the historical elements, the mystery, and the town's reaction to Otis.

*ARC supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Publishers, the author, and NetGalley.


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SUMMARY: "The Dust Bowl sweeps a handsome stranger into a small Colorado town to dangerous effect

1937. It’s been seven years since the dust storms started in Colorado. Folks can barely remember a time when the clouds were filled with rain instead of dirt, and when the fields were green instead of brown. High school student Martha Helen Kessler and her family are luckier than most; they still eke out a living from the land. Even so, evidence of the Dust Bowl’s grim impact on families, especially on the women who bear the brunt of their husbands’ frustration and their children’s hunger, is everywhere.

When Martha Helen’s compassionate mother insists they take in Otis Hobbs, a handsome drifter who saves a local boy from a vicious storm, she quickly discovers a darker side to their rural community. Suspicion, jealousy, and prejudice grip their neighbors–and emotions reach a frenzy after Martha Helen’s best friend, Frankie, disappears and is then found murdered. Ultimately, Martha Helen is forced to make sense of her conflicting feelings and loyalties in order to help find retribution and to reconcile the difference between the law and justice.

Full of period detail and Sandra Dallas’s trademark focus on the lives of women, The Hired Man entertains and ultimately surprises.

Review: Beast Business

Beast Business by Ilona Andrews
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Just a tad over the top. The constructs, the demented Woodward and his half and half body...I know this is fiction, but this has nothing on the first few books in this series. At least they were written to be believable.

And what is it with these covers? These are supposedly adults, yet the images show ridiculously young people, and Augustine looks like a caricature of a K-pop boy band. Also, isn't Kitty supposed to be blue? It reads like Manga, and I would have appreciated it if it had been advertised as such. Or at least told us that this was a book geared towards teens.

It was an interesting book that left me feeling like a lot was missing.

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SUMMARY: "Augustine Montgomery is an Illusion Prime who owns a premier PI corporation and alters his appearance with magic. The people who have seen Augustine’s real face can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The people who witnessed the full extent of his power are dead. The illusion isn’t just the brand of his magic. It’s become his lifestyle.

Show as little as possible. Make them think that illusion is all you have. Your life depends on it.

Augustine lives by this creed. He’s cold, rational, and calculating. He doesn’t get emotionally involved. Then one day Diana Harrison walks into his office and asks for his help. Diana is a Prime, an animal mage who bonds with animals through her magic and prefers their company to humans. Something precious has been stolen from House Harrison. Something Diana must recover at all costs.

The two Houses are allied through a friendship pact. Assisting Diana is simply good business. And yet, there is something about her that disturbs the careful balance of Augustine’s inner world.

Neither of them is who they appear to be. Both would die to keep their secrets. But the enemy they face is more powerful than either had imagined, and saving the life that hangs in the balance will demand the ultimate price neither Augustine nor Diana ever anticipated to pay – complete honesty."

Review: Life: A Love Story

Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Laugh, Love, Cry.

What a wonderful celebration of a life well lived. This book reads a bit like a fictional biography, if you can understand what I mean.

Florence (Flo) Greene has lived to 92 and is seeing her long life come to an end. She has had a wonderful ( for the most part) marriage, but no children; the only person who is very close to her is a long-ago neighbor's child, with whom Flo has remained good friends. Flo leaves her home and belongings to her, along with a long letter that gives us an account of her life, the meanings behind the items she has kept, and a very shocking secret.

We see through Flo's eyes the last days/weeks of her life and how she affects several more people around her. She teaches them about love.

I would have loved to see more of a reaction from Ruth, and I was a little disappointed that Ruth didn't really do Flo's memories justice.

This would be a wonderful book club read because it bridges many generations. However, I really do recommend this more to an older reader like me who is also on the downhill side of things.

*ARC Supplied by the publisher Penguin Random House, the author, and NetGalley.

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SUMMARY: "In this warm, intimate novel, a woman celebrates the joy she finds in the ordinary things in life and discovers it’s never too late to start new adventures. By the New York Times bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv and Open House

Florence “Flo” Greene is nearing the end of her life, and she decides to leave her house and an account of her life for Ruthie, the younger woman who grew up next door, moved away, and still is like a surrogate daughter. As Flo writes to Ruthie about the meaning of beloved things in her home and about events in her past, she also tries new adventures of her own. She intervenes in the lives of friends in her neighborhood.

Flo's project has been to encourage Teresa, a wise but unconfident woman, to open her heart to romance. Flo goes to the library to get advice from Mimi, a librarian. She encourages Ruthie, who is contemplating divorce, to try again with her husband, by sharing a startling secret long buried about Flo’s own seemingly perfect husband and marriage.

In her final weeks, Flo leaves an indelible mark on others, as this moving novel celebrates life, change, and ways to discover new happiness, friendship, and love."

Review: The Old Girls' Island Getaway

The Old Girls' Island Getaway by Kate Galley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I admit that the writing was lovely, as were the descriptions of the Island or Corfu, the houses, the food, wine, etc. The camaraderie between the differing generations was somewhat different from what I expected, but it was good enough.

What I hated was that this was such a slow read for me (it took me 3 days of reading what should have only have taken me several hours) it didn't hold my attention at all, and as for the mystery/s...yes, there was one but you don't actually get to it until you've reached about 83% of the book.

There was a very interesting twist in the very last chapter. I can't be positive that I will be reading the next book; however, my curiosity about what will happen to Dorothy, Juliet and Gina may just get the better of me!

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Boldwood Books, the author, and NetGalley.

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SUMMARY:"Two old friends. One sun-soaked adventure.

Dorothy and Gina may be separated by twenty years, but their friendship is timeless. At seventy-one and nearly ninety, life’s too short not to have a little fun – especially in Corfu.

When Dorothy is invited to visit an old friend at his villa, she insists Gina comes along. They’re looking forward to sunshine, sea breezes, and perhaps a dash of ouzo. But their plans are upended by an unexpected guest: glamorous actress Florence Quinn, who’s taken up residence in the pool house.

Florence may sparkle on the surface, but she’s hiding something – and someone – from her past. Determined to help, Dorothy and Gina embark on a quest across the island, only to find that Corfu holds more secrets, scandals, and surprises than they ever imagined.

A warm, witty, and adventurous tale of friendship, mischief, and unexpected discoveries."

Review: The Primrose Murder Society: A Novel

The Primrose Murder Society: A Novel by Stacy Hackney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Good gracious. What are our good Richmond families coming to? Evelyn sounded disgusted. "Murder is so tacky."

And that's it in a nutshell! Murder is just so tacky! But this was such a wonderful murder mystery, with a wealth of funny, quirky, and interesting characters that, at times, I forgot it WAS a mystery, and I was supposed to figure out who-dun-it!

A wonderful novel with the perfect happily-ever-after that doesn't necessarily include a man!

Lila's life is a mess. Her husband is on the run for embezzlement, and she's lost her house and her job. and the friends she's had, and it seems, the respect her daughter, a young and troubled Bea, had for her.

The only thing she can do is help out her mother's boyfriend by cleaning out his mother's old apartment in a very fancy retirement home for wealthy  Southerners.

I'll end my recap there, so you will find out soon enough that Lila gets roped into solving an old murder mystery. 

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this novel, and if there is going to be another (which it looks like there will be), I will be first in line to buy a copy! There were just enough twists in the plot to keep you wondering, but not so many that you couldn't keep up. The characters were realistic and well-drawn (I hope you love Evelyn as much as I did).

A great book for book clubs because it will resonate with people of all ages, and there is a lot to discuss.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher   William Morrow/HarperCollins, the author, and NetGalley.

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SUMMARY: "Witty, endearing, and wildly entertaining, this Southern cozy mystery is a little bit Gilmore Girls , a little bit Finlay Donovan, with a big helping of Only Murders in the Building .

Lila Shaw stopped trusting anyone the minute her husband went to jail for white-collar crime, taking their country club lifestyle with him. Now Lila is broke, friendless, and losing her house—and to make things worse, her true-crime-obsessed daughter, Bea, was just expelled from fourth grade. Desperate for a fresh start, Lila agrees to temporarily move in and clean out an abandoned junk-filled apartment in Richmond’s palatial Primrose building. The luxurious Virginia landmark is filled with retirees who start their days early drinking bourbon and gossiping, in that order.

Soon after Lila’s arrival, the Primrose is thrown into chaos. The owner of the building’s splendid penthouse has died and in his final days he set up a two-million-dollar reward for any resident who helps to solve the 21-year-old murder of his granddaughter at the Primrose. A fan of all detective stories and true-crime podcasts, Bea is inspired to investigate. They really could use the reward money, so Lila reluctantly agrees, in a questionable attempt at family bonding. She’s certain the killer is long-gone after all these years anyway. That is, until another resident is murdered… and Lila becomes the prime suspect.

Now Lila needs to solve both murders to avoid jail, and even worse, losing her daughter to her snobby in-laws. To catch a killer and clear Lila's name, she and Bea must rely on their elderly neighbors—Jasper, a shy former detective, and Evelyn, an opinionated socialite—along with Nate, a good-looking reporter who keeps appearing at the most inconvenient moments. As the amateur sleuths expose the truth about the Primrose, Lila hopes she can also unravel the trickiest parts of her own life and start fresh."

Review: It Girl: A Novel

It Girl: A Novel by Allison Pataki
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

Trigger warning: rape and pedophilia.

Also, try not to do any research on these people, as it may spoil the book for you.

This is a Historical/FICTION book. Remember the word ' fiction' when you are reading this, since many reviewers are getting hung up on some things that don't fit their idea of what this book is about.

I did some mild research (Wiki) on who these people were based on other reviewers naming names. And becuase of that, some parts of this book were spoiled for me, but the biggest shock was how the author ended this book. Let me tell you, it was a huge shock, and it was wonderful.

The only reason why I didn't give this a full 4-star rating was that the characters annoyed me so much. I realize this book was written at the turn of the last century, and times were WAY different, but I still thought that Evelyn should have stood up for herself a bit more and not have been so naive. Perhaps she should have just asked more questions of those around her who had more experience in the arts and the theater. I just can't help myself. When I see a person who has been warned and still does what she was warned against, I get annoyed.

However, this book has very richly drawn characters, and an interesting plot twist near the end of the book and a wonderful look into the lives of the artists' models, the Gibson Girls and Vaudeville.


I would highly recommend It Girl: A Novel, especially to book clubs looking for something a tad more controversial to discuss.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Ballantine Books/Random House Publishing, the author, and NetGalley.

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SUMMARY: "A sweeping, sensational novel of America’s first “It Girl,” whose dramatic journey to center stage echoes through the decades—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post.

New York, 1900. At the dawn of a new century, the city’s streets teem with electricity, automobiles, a brash young President Teddy Roosevelt—and the It Girls. As artist’s muses and working models, these independent young women soar to stardom not because of their pedigrees or inherited wealth, but because of their talent, charisma, and irresistible beauty. Pop culture is born, and in a world alight with Mr. Edison’s new bulbs, no one shines brighter than America’s sweetheart, Evelyn Talbot.
But the journey to stardom was not simple or straight. As a young girl, a grieving Evelyn is forced to take care of her widowed mother and kid brother. While working as a shopgirl, she is recruited as a studio model, and soon catches the eye of the preeminent artists of her age. When Broadway comes calling, Evelyn solidifies her status as the first self-made American female celebrity, a “Gibson Girl,” the most sought-after face of her time. Enter a parade of powerful and power-hungry men, from world-famous architect Stanley Pierce, the visionary behind Manhattan’s mansions and iconic landmarks, to Hal Thorne, the shockingly wealthy railroad heir and premiere “playboy” of high society. Each man promises comfort, glamour, security—even love. But fame and fortune are cruel teachers.
When Evelyn finds herself at the center of a murder of passion declared “the Crime of the Century,” the sins of the men in her life are blamed on her. In the media frenzy that erupts, Evelyn realizes that—to survive—she will have to take charge of her own ending. But can this artists’ muse turned showgirl pull off the greatest act of her life? 
It Girl is a breathtaking ride inspired by a singular artist and survivor who captured the heart of American society. In Allison Pataki’s talented hands, we see Evelyn find the power to change not only the world around her, but her own destiny."