Review: Getting Clean With Stevie Green

Getting Clean With Stevie Green by Swan Huntley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It is said that the brain attains its total growth at the age of 25 ---(https://neurotray.com/when-does-the-brain-stop-developing-or-fully-develop/#:~:text=The%20brain%20stops%20developing%20or,as%20our%20nervous%20system%20grows.) and since Stevie Green is 37 and still acting on what happened in High School, well, you can't prove that fact by me! However, I do realize just because your brain stopped growing doesn't mean you've stopped developing; it is just that Stevie's sure did not develop in a good way.

 

However, she shows that she is human with all the flaws being human means.  

She is a drinker on a "cleanse," which still makes her a drunk.

She unconsciously questions her sexuality and eventually comes to the correct conclusion even though the clues are as plain as the nose on your face.

Stevies is still living in the '90s, and what is worse, she is still blaming most of her ills on an incident in high school.

I could not connect with any of these somewhat odd characters, as a matter of fact, I couldn't find myself liking them, but I did understand a few of them.  Winsome this book is not-it is a quite deep book (in places) sand a hot-mess in other areas.

I will agree that this is a very fast read.  It was enough to capture my interest but not enough oomph for me to remember very much of this book for very long.  Great beach or long trip read.

*ARC supplied by the publisher, the author, and ATTL/Edelweiss. 

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SYNOPSIS: "The author of the “sparkling dark romance” (Redbook) We Could Be Beautiful brings her “wit and verve” (The New York Times Book Review) to this quirky, feel-good novel about one woman’s messy journey from self-delusion to self-acceptance.

At thirty-seven, Stevie Green has had it with binge drinking and sleeping with strange men. She’s confused about her sexuality and her purpose in life. When her mother asks her to return to her hometown of La Jolla to help her move into a new house, she’s desperate enough to say yes. The move goes so well that Stevie decides to start her own decluttering business. She stops drinking. She hires her formerly estranged sister, Bonnie, to be her business partner. She rekindles a romance with her high school sweetheart, Brad. Things are better than ever—except for the complicated past that Stevie can’t seem to outrun.

Who was responsible for the high school scandal that caused her life to take a nosedive twenty years earlier? Why is she so secretive about the circumstances of her father’s death? Why are her feelings for her ex-friend, Chris, so mystifying? If she’s done drinking, then why can’t she seem to declutter the mini wine bottles from her car?

A winsome, fast-paced read, Getting Clean With Stevie Green is about coming to terms with who you are, resolving the pain of your past, and accepting the truth of your life in all its messy glory."

Review: How to Love Your Neighbor

How to Love Your Neighbor by Sophie Sullivan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This may very well be the book you are looking for when you need a couple of hours of light reading while on a long plane trip or out at the beach. But, unfortunately, it was just not my particular glass of wine! 

This book had a lot of potential, in my opinion.   The enemies-to-lovers plot device could have been perfect.  However, I have never seen "enemies" become best buddies in such a short period. Apparently, decorating each other's houses is excellent therapy!  Who knew? 

Grace just seemed to be a bit spineless. Noah was the quintessential poor little rich boy.

 Then we add on the dysfunctional families plot device -both Noah and Grace have severe issues with their families.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel any chemistry with Noah and Grace.  I did, however, learn an awful lot about decorating, though!

The curmudgeonly 'older friends with a lot of wisdom' device showed up here too.

This book almost felt like the pacing was for a novella and not a full-length book.

And while I'm discussing what bothered me, I know that this is an ARC, but I think the problems with editing should have been taken care of by now.  For example, a magazine called Home and Heart at first was then called Hearty Home later on in the novel.  Then the name went back to the original toward the end of the book.

You may also need to strain your suspension of disbelief muscles for a few more parts of this book.

All in all, this is not a 'bad' book; it just wasn't the tension-filled book I was expecting.

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

SYNOPSIS:"A frothy, effervescent romantic comedy from the author of Ten Rules for Faking It, Sophie Sullivan's How to Love Your Neighbor delivers another read that will have you delighted from start to finish.

Interior Design School? Check. Cute house to fix up? Check.

Sexy, grumpy neighbor who is going to get in the way of your plans? Check. Unfortunately.

Grace Travis has it all figured out. In between finishing school and working a million odd jobs, she’ll get her degree and her dream job. Most importantly, she’ll have a place to belong, something her harsh mother could never make. When an opportunity to fix up—and live in—a little house on the beach comes along, Grace is all in. Until her biggest roadblock moves in next door.

Noah Jansen knows how to make a deal. As a real estate developer, he knows when he's found something special. Something he could even call home. Provided he can expand by taking over the house next door--the house with the combative and beautiful woman living in it.

With the rules for being neighborly going out the window, Grace and Noah are in an all-out feud. But sometimes, your nemesis can show you that home is always where the heart is."

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Review: Beautiful Little Fools

Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, just wow! I don't give too many books 5 stars, but this book deserved it for sure! I made sure that I re-read "The Great Gatsby" before starting this, but I found that I really hadn't needed to do so. This book does very well as is and gives you as much information as the original book. The twist is that this book is told from the women's perspective and gives us a different take on what happened at the end of "The Great Gatsby." The imagery, language, emotions were perfect. I adored the fact that this book was a bit easier to understand than the first one. "The Great Gatsby" was a bit too erudite (!) for my liking. This book didn't talk down to me, yet it was still intelligent in its prose. The relationships between Daisy, Jordan, and Catherine and their outside relationships, their perspectives on life in that era were phenomenal. Everything happening just proved that adage that 'money can't buy you happiness.' For a while, I sympathized with Mr. Gatsby but quickly came to see that he was not all I thought he was. Tom just made me furious and wished that he was the one to die. But, oddly, neither book made it clear to my satisfaction how Gatsby came by all his money, although I'm sure it was nefarious! It is a perfect 'what if' book. I HIGHLY recommend this book. *ARC supplied by the publisher Harper Perennial, the author, ATTL/Edelweiss, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS:"USA Today bestselling author Jillian Cantor reimagines and expands on the literary classic The Great Gatsby in this atmospheric historical novel with echoes of Big Little Lies, told in three women’s alternating voices.

On a sultry August day in 1922, Jay Gatsby is shot dead in his West Egg swimming pool. To the police, it appears to be an open-and-shut case of murder/suicide when the body of George Wilson, a local mechanic, is found in the woods nearby.

Then a diamond hairpin is discovered in the bushes by the pool, and three women fall under suspicion. Each holds a key that can unlock the truth to the mysterious life and death of this enigmatic millionaire.

Daisy Buchanan once thought she might marry Gatsby—before her family was torn apart by an unspeakable tragedy that sent her into the arms of the philandering Tom Buchanan.

Jordan Baker, Daisy’s best friend, guards a secret that derailed her promising golf career and threatens to ruin her friendship with Daisy as well.

Catherine McCoy, a suffragette, fights for women’s freedom and independence, and especially for her sister, Myrtle Wilson, who’s trapped in a terrible marriage.

Their stories unfold in the years leading up to that fateful summer of 1922, when all three of their lives are on the brink of unraveling. Each woman is pulled deeper into Jay Gatsby’s romantic obsession, with devastating consequences for all of them.

Jillian Cantor revisits the glittering Jazz Age world of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, retelling this timeless American classic from the women’s perspective. Beautiful Little Fools is a quintessential tale of money and power, marriage and friendship, love and desire, and ultimately the murder of a man tormented by the past and driven by a destructive longing that can never be fulfilled. "

Review: Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead

Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although I didn't think that this book was as excellent as the first, it did entertain me, keep me engaged, and kept me laughing and wondering.

I find it interesting that the themes seem similar to that of author Janet Evanovich and her Stephanie Plum series. So if you are a lover of that series, you will most likely love this one also.

The primary andsecondary female characters are always getting into trouble somehow. Finlay is finding herself in a three-way romantic situation (but that may change soon), and Vero has done something that I wouldn't forgive all that readily. On the other hand, the idea of someone wanting Finlay's husband dead was an interesting one and kept me guessing.

Unfortunately, we do end on a tiny bit of a cliff-hanger. Not enough of a one to rally tick me off, but just enough to know that there will be more books and that Finlay is no longer her own person.

*ARC is provided by the publisher, Minotaur/Macmillan Books, the author, and NetGalley. Thank you very much.

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SYNOPSIS: "From Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead—the hilarious and heart-pounding follow-up to Finlay Donovan is Killing It.

"A funny and smart, twisty and surprising series."—Megan Miranda

Finlay Donovan is—once again—struggling to finish her next novel and keep her head above water as a single mother of two. On the bright side, she has her live-in nanny and confidant Vero to rely on, and the only dead body she's dealt with lately is that of her daughter's pet goldfish.

On the not-so-bright side, someone out there wants her ex-husband, Steven, out of the picture. Permanently. Whatever else Steven may be, he's a good father, but saving him will send her down a rabbit hole of soccer moms disguised as hit-women, and a little bit more involvement with the Russian mob than she'd like.

Meanwhile, Vero's keeping secrets, and Detective Nick Anthony seems determined to get back into her life. He may be a hot cop, but Finlay's first priority is preventing her family from sleeping with the fishes... and if that means bending a few laws then so be it.

With her next book's deadline looming and an ex-husband to keep alive, Finlay is quickly coming to the end of her rope. She can only hope there isn't a noose at the end of it..."

Review: Shane and the Hitwoman

Shane and the Hitwoman by Bob Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started this book with some trepidation since I adored Agnes and the Hitman  so very much. I re-read it at least twice a year; that's how much I love the book. Well, this book was much different from the first one that Bob Mayer and Jennifer Cruise co-wrote. But, don't worry; some of our favorite characters are still around, although they don't play significant parts anymore. We still have Lisa Livia, Joey, Shane Garth, and Carpenter, as well as Detective Xavier and Rhett. But, no, Agnes does not really make an appearance. Too bad! We are introduced to some new characters that will be in future books as well as one or two from past books Bodyguard of Lies. The action is exciting, the mystery is really pretty good, but this book just wasn't as humorous as the first one. No matter, I still want to read the next book, which will be out November 2022! "Phoebe and the Traitor" by Bob Mayer (see Amazon for details)

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SYNOPSIS: "No one warned Shane or Agnes that it was going to be a red wedding. It’s eight months after the first, bloody, wedding at Two Rivers and things have calmed down and seven weddings have been hosted without a problem. But no longer.

Bring on an eclectic hitwoman, an amiable Duke, an icy Duchess, a lot of sharp swords, a crazed ex-Duchess, a computer hacker and a dog named Rhett, and you’ve got a recipe for an action-packed, hilarious novel about the perils and promises of commitment.

Shane has no idea as he’s hidden on a snowy hillside with his sniper rifle on a job for the Organization, how the mission connects to a pending wedding. The operation goes to hell and he’s rescued by his back-up; a younger, diminutive operative named Phoebe, who is armed with a short, but very sharp sword and an even sharper tongue.

A ‘small, intimate wedding’ is what was promised. But too late he learns that it involves fate of a small, but powerful European kingdom. At stake? Not just Shane’s life and Two Rivers, but his future with Agnes and the Organization. For Phoebe, an up and comer in the Organization, it’s her chance to show what’s she capable of. But standing in the way is the crazed ex-wife of the Duke, a mountain of a man armed with a very big sword, and a traitor within the ranks of the Organization itself.

Who will be left standing and what will their future look like?"

Review: Joan Is Okay

Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

No, Joan is not okay by any means. However, I am not sure exactly what this book is supposed to be about, as it covers many areas.  Mainly, I think it is about a very successful Dr. who possibly has Asperger Syndrome and now has to deal with various difficulties.  The main problem being the sudden death of her father.

Think of this book as a spider, with the spider's body being Joan's father's death.  The legs will be problems she faces at work, her big brother, her sister-in-law who thinks Joan would be happier married with children (or unmarried with children). Add in her mother, who has come over from China to visit and can't go home, a forced leave from work, a nosy new neighbor, and then to top it all off, Covid 19.

A quote in this book almost sums this novel up for me "...while expressing trivial but inconsistent thoughts." (at 74%).  A lot of Joans' problems seemed to be trivial and brought upon herself. 

This was a fast read and can be done in about 3-5 hours (only 224 pages), depending on your attention span.  Mine was not so great! As far as this book being "witty," no, not really, more depressing than anything else.  But I can see in some respect why this book was also described as "insightful".

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

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SYNOPSIS "A witty, moving, piercingly insightful new novel about a marvelously complicated woman who can’t be anyone but herself, from the award-winning author of Chemistry

Joan is a thirtysomething ICU doctor at a busy New York City hospital. The daughter of Chinese parents who came to the United States to secure the American dream for their children, Joan is intensely devoted to her work, happily solitary, successful. She does look up sometimes and wonder where her true roots lie: at the hospital, where her white coat makes her feel needed, or with her family, who try to shape her life by their own cultural and social expectations.

Once Joan and her brother, Fang, were established in their careers, her parents moved back to China, hoping to spend the rest of their lives in their homeland. But when Joan’s father suddenly dies and her mother returns to America to reconnect with her children, a series of events sends Joan spiraling out of her comfort zone just as her hospital, her city, and the world are forced to reckon with a health crisis more devastating than anyone could have imagined.

Deceptively spare yet quietly powerful, laced with sharp humor, Joan Is Okay touches on matters that feel deeply resonant: being Chinese-American right now; working in medicine at a high-stakes time; finding one’s voice within a dominant culture; being a woman in a male-dominated workplace; and staying independent within a tight-knit family. But above all, it’s a portrait of one remarkable woman so surprising that you can’t get her out of your head."

Review: Our Kind of People

Our Kind of People by Carol Wallace
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sadly, I am one of the very few that just did not adore this novel. I felt that it was slow and repetitive, dreary and depressing. But, yes, it did show the mores of the times...at least for the rich. This book did show what it was like to lose one's fortunes during this time period...if you were rich.

I can see that this book will be a success for those who like to read dishy gossipy books (think the Vanderbilts and the Astor's), and I usually love them also. However, there was just something about this book that didn't stick that specific something with me. It was a fascinating 'coming of age' novel, and I did like the fact that these women broke a lot of molds.

I liked this book; I just didn't adore it.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Penguin Random House, the author, and Edelweiss/ATTL.

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SYNOPSIS: "Among New York City’s Gilded Age elite, one family will defy convention.

Helen Wilcox has one desire: to successfully launch her daughters into society. From the upper crust herself, Helen’s unconventional—if happy—marriage has made the girls’ social position precarious. Then her husband gambles the family fortunes on an elevated railroad that he claims will transform the face of the city and the way the people of New York live, but will it ruin the Wilcoxes first? As daughters Jemima and Alice navigate the rise and fall of their family—each is forced to re-examine who she is, and even who she is meant to love.

From the author of To Marry an English Lord, the inspiration for Downton Abbey, comes a charming and cutthroat tale of a world in which an invitation or an avoided glance can be the difference between fortune and ruin."

Review: Made in Manhattan

Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am an avid fan of Ms. Layne, and I was excited to review this copy of her newest book.

This book was a sweet retelling of "My Fair Lady" with the characters flip-flopped. Unfortunately, this book was a tad difficult for me to get into because it seemed so old-fashioned for the world we live in.  I felt that Cain was a little too volatile, but then I realized that this was the way he had to be written to show how he grew. Violet was a little too wishy-washy, but she grew eventually.  I don't know if her growth was actually for the better, but she thrived.

This book held my attention, and I enjoyed it. However, I just didn't love it!

*ARC supplied by the publisher Galley Books, the author, and ATTL/Edelweiss

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SYNOPSIS: "From the New York Times bestselling author of the Central Park Pact comes a reverse My Fair Lady for the modern era about a pampered and privileged Manhattan socialite who must teach an unpolished and denim-loving nobody from the Louisiana Bayou how to fit in with the upper crust of New York City. Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.

Violet Townsend has always been a people pleaser. Raised in the privileged world of Upper East Side Manhattan, she always says the right things, wears the right clothes, and never rocks the boat. Violet would do anything for the people closest to her, especially her beloved grandmother. So when she asks Violet to teach the newly-discovered grandson of her friend how to fit in with New York City’s elite, Violet immediately agrees. Her goal? To get Cain Stone ready to take his place as heir to his family company…but to say he’s not exactly an eager student is an understatement.

Born and raised in rural Louisiana and now making his own way in New Orleans, Cain Stone is only playing along for the paycheck at the end. He has no use for the grandmother he didn’t know existed and no patience for the uppity Violet’s attempts to turn him into a suit-wearing, museum-attending gentleman.

But somewhere amidst antagonistic dinner parties and tortured tux fittings, Cain and Violet come to a begrudging understanding—and the uptight Violet realizes she’s not the only one doing the teaching. As she and Cain begin to find mutual respect for one another (and maybe even something more), Violet learns that blindly following society’s rules doesn’t lead to happiness…and that sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places."

Review: The Ballerinas

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was in high anticipation when I was told that I had been chosen to be one of the ARC readers for this book. I love books about ballet, and to add in a twist (several twists actually) as is described in the synopsis of the book...well, that made this book a high priority for me.

Unfortunately, you must get through a lot of turmoil, inner angst, inner-dialogues aplenty, and a whole lot more before this book even really starts to get interesting. The last third of the book did hold my attention, and that is why I did not give this a lower rating 2.5 rating would have been perfect, but not many systems allow us to do that.

I will also say that this book deals with sensitive topics and is written with conflicting timelines that are sometimes difficult to tell apart.

If you do love books about ballet, may I also recommend this much older book (I think it was set in the mid and late '70s:

Ballerina: A Novel  "A beautiful and talented ballerina rises through the ranks to stardom as prima ballerina only to find herself struggling to maintain her status, grappling with tempestuous choreographers, ambitious agents, and other dancers."

*ARC supplied by the publisher St.Martins Press, the author, and NetGalley. My many thanks.

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SYNOPSIS: "Dare Me meets Black Swan and Luckiest Girl Alive in a captivating, voice-driven debut novel about a trio of ballerinas who meet as students at the Paris Opera Ballet School.

Fourteen years ago, Delphine abandoned her prestigious soloist spot at the Paris Opera Ballet for a new life in St. Petersburg––taking with her a secret that could upend the lives of her best friends, fellow dancers Lindsay and Margaux. Now 36 years old, Delphine has returned to her former home and to the legendary Palais Garnier Opera House, to choreograph the ballet that will kickstart the next phase of her career––and, she hopes, finally make things right with her former friends. But Delphine quickly discovers that things have changed while she's been away...and some secrets can't stay buried forever.

Moving between the trio's adolescent years and the present day, The Ballerinas explores the complexities of female friendship, the dark drive towards physical perfection in the name of artistic expression, the double-edged sword of ambition and passion, and the sublimated rage that so many women hold inside––all culminating in a twist you won't see coming, with magnetic characters you won't soon forget.

Review: Born in Fire (Fire and Ice Trilogy, #1)

Born in Fire (Fire and Ice Trilogy, #1) by K.F. Breene
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Suppose you are having withdrawal symptoms from the ending of the "Kate Daniel's series" Ilona Andrews like I was, you may be tempted to pick this book up; after all, it was free for anyone with a Kindle! And if you read the synopsis and some of the reviews, you will see that this book is very much like Magic Rises. However, it is so much so that I swear this author just copied and pasted the Andrew's team book into hers and let it rip.

I realize that the kick-ass heroine is a popular plot device and if she has a sword...well, okay, similar but not the same, right?

Now add in that Reagan is a bounty hunter in the supernatural community, is hiding a secret, is snarky, is super strong, does magic...well do you see where I'm going with this?

Let's make this simple:

Kate Daniels -hiding a secret about her blood and father -Reagan/same.
Kate -swordsman without par - Reagan/similar.
Kate uses magic though she hasn't been taught how to use it/Reagan the same.
Kate has major magic/Yep Reagan too.
Kate's hiding from her father/ yep Reagan the same
Kate has to play nice with the wereanimals/Reagan-the vampires
Kate has semi-hots for the head of the clans (this mostly comes out later in the series)/Reagan, well he's not the biggest Vampire out there, but he's a close second.

Shall I go on? Because there are more 'similarities'...

Now the next two books are really inexpensive, Actually, if you have Kindle Unlimited they are free, but do I really want to read an inexpensive/free imitation? I just might only because I'm having those withdrawal symptoms I was talking about. *sigh*

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Review: The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives

The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives by Sarah Strohmeyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was an interesting take on the ultrawealthy in a gated community near Cleveland. I can imagine these so-called "rules" for the wives in the 1950's or earlier. However, I found it a little difficult to imagine that these "rules" apply even in 2005...but then again there are plenty of ultra-rich women who seem to do nothing except look gorgeous and crow over certain purchases.

All the same, this was a fun quick read.

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SYNOPSIS: "After a whirlwind overseas romance, down-home girl Claire Stark has moved to her new husband’s hometown, Hunting Hills, Ohio, where the men earn seven figures, the women wear size two, and if everything isn’t absolutely perfect, you’re expected to pretend it is.…But Claire’s having trouble pretending. For one thing, John’s previous girlfriend still lives here—and with all the bed-hopping in Hunting Hills, she may not be Claire’s only potential rival. For another, Claire’s constantly hearing vicious gossip—including rumors about herself. And though she also misses her reporting career, John isn’t thrilled with the idea of her working at the local paper. She might just have to be satisfied mingling with the Hunting Hills moms, who like to borrow their daughters’ Seven jeans and their sons’ Ritalin.

That is, until scandal threatens to shatter the stylish facade of this exclusive gated community—and behind the salon highlights and sunlamp tans, true colors start shining through.…"

Review: Girls Before Earls

Girls Before Earls by Anna Bennett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a traditional, trope-filled fast reading, a book that hits the right notes for historical romance lovers. Just a tad too "sexy" for my taste, but I know that others will love this about this book. We have the mentally tortured hero. We have a hero that will eventually make the obvious choice. We have the ambitious and miss understood heroine. We have a dislikable youngster that changes. We have lovable youngsters. And we also have a bitchy female tertiary character. So, all in all, as I said, this book hits all the notes of an erotica romance. *ARC supplied by the publisher

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SYNOPSIS: "WHAT A GIRL WANTS

To survive her difficult childhood, Miss Hazel Lively relied on two things:a tough outer shell and a love of books. Now, at the age of twenty-eight, she’s finally realized her life-long dream of opening a school for girls. She’s hoping that the wealthy families who flock to the shore for the summer will entrust their daughters to Bellehaven Academy―and help pay the way for less fortunate students. All Hazel must do is maintain a flawless reputation and raise a good deal of money. It’s a foolproof plan…till a sinfully handsome earl strides into her office.

WHAT AN EARL NEEDS

Gabriel Beckett, Earl of Bladenton, has had a monstrous headache since the day his teenaged niece became his ward. She’s been expelled from two London boarding schools and is doing her damnedest to scare off his potential fiancée. But Blade has a plan of his own―enroll his niece at Bellehaven Academy, where she’ll be out of town and out of his hair. He just needs to convince the buttoned-up headmistress with the soulful brown eyes to take on his niece.

LEAD TO AN IRRESISTIBLE DEAL

When Blade makes a generous offer to the school, it’s impossible for Hazel to refuse. But she has one non-negotiable condition: the earl must visit his niece every other week. Soon, Blade discovers there’s much more to Hazel than meticulous lesson plans. In moonlit seaside coves and candlelit ballrooms, their sparring leads to flirtation…and something altogether deeper. But the passion that flares between them poses a threat to Hazel’s school and Blade’s battered heart. They say a good thing can’t last forever, but true love? Well, it just might…"

Review: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a ride. This was a quick read-I managed to read the whole book in less than a day. Of course, I have no kids, no job, and my husband is very, very understanding!

I laughed, I got frustrated, I cringed and then I laughed some more! Yes, some of this book forces you to suspend disbelief to the nth degree, but if you can do that you won't regret it.

I loved this book and the fact that I had to drag myself out of my PJ's into clothes, then out of the house to get this from the library - should tell you how much I looked forward to it. I was NOT disappointed. I have already pre-ordered the next in this series. That should tell you something. It tells you that I liked it so much I'm willing to spend my hard-earned (well, my husband's) cash on it!





Not part of the review---but holey-moley. I took this out of the library as a DTB and I can barely read the print it's so tiny! I'm so used to my Kindle where I can change the size of the font. I'm spoiled I guess!


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SYNOPSIS: "Finlay Donovan is killing it . . . except, she’s really not. She’s a stressed-out single-mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: the new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written, her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her, and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors.

When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer, and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet . . . Soon, Finlay discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.

Fast-paced, deliciously witty, and wholeheartedly authentic in depicting the frustrations and triumphs of motherhood in all its messiness, hilarity, and heartfelt moment, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It is the first in a brilliant new series from YA Edgar Award nominee Elle Cosimano."

Review: Autopsy

Autopsy by Patricia Cornwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 Stars

I haven't read a Kay Scarpetta book in many years, and the feeling I had gotten after reading the reviews for her last couple of books made me question reading this one.  However, I'm glad I did.

If you will notice from the Amazon recap and the publishers' website, this is a relaunch of the series. (Quoted from Amazon) "In this <b>relaunch</b> of the electrifying, landmark #1 bestselling thriller series, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta hunts those responsible for two wildly divergent and chilling murders."  And I can certainly see why they are calling this book a relaunch. The old Kay is back right along with most of her other beloved characters. It has been 5 years since her last book in this series, and this novel shows that jump quite well. We are still in the middle of the Covid pandemic; though the political parties aren't named, we see the ravages of current politics in this novel.

There are enough twists and turns to keep any mystery lover happy, a lot of inner angsting that will make most readers unhappy (although some of the best dialogue comes about in this manner), enough red herrings to keep you on your toes and for the pièce de résistance, we even have an encounter in space that needs Kays special talents!

My one problem, and I'm not sure if she had done this in her previous novels, is that Ms. Cornwell gives the ending short shrift. Although this could be considered a mini-cliff hanger, we shall see.

I'm already ready for the next book and I am going to go read the entire series even if the tech in some of them is dated!

*ARC is supplied by the publisher William Morrow, the author, and NetGalley. Many thanks.

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SYNOPSIS: "Forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta has returned to Virginia as the chief medical examiner. Finding herself the new girl in town once again after being away for many years, she’s inherited an overbearing secretary and a legacy of neglect and possible corruption.

She and her husband Benton Wesley, now a forensic psychologist with the U.S. Secret Service, have relocated to Old Town Alexandria where she’s headquartered five miles from the Pentagon in a post-pandemic world that’s been torn by civil and political unrest. Just weeks on the job, she’s called to a scene by railroad tracks where a woman’s body has been shockingly displayed, her throat cut down to the spine, and as Scarpetta begins to follow the trail, it leads unnervingly close to her own historic neighborhood.

At the same time, a catastrophe occurs in a top secret private laboratory in outer space, and at least two scientists aboard are found dead. Appointed to the highly classified Doomsday Commission that specializes in sensitive national security cases, Scarpetta is summoned to the White House Situation Room and tasked with finding out what happened. But even as she works the first crime scene in space remotely, an apparent serial killer strikes again. And this time, Scarpetta could be in greater danger than ever before.

In this latest novel in her groundbreaking Kay Scarpetta series, Patricia Cornwell captivates readers with the shocking twists, high-wire tension, and forensic detail that she is famous for, proving once again why she’s the world’s #1 bestselling crime writer. "

Review: Fashionistas

Fashionistas by Lynn Messina
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book is a reprint from a book written in 2003, and it shows.  I am assuming (yeah, I know what they say about the word assume!LOL!) that this book is getting ready to come out with a new publisher and perhaps as an e-edition. Some books can overcome the world's changes and roll with them; this book could not. 

Fashionistas has been compared to [book:The Devil Wears Prada|5139] -close but no cigar.  The characters ALL of them were dislikable, and all of them deserved what they got except for Vig.  She deserved worse.

*ARC supplied by the publisher.

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SYNOPSIS: "Life at Fashionista magazine can be a real bitch. Especially when you work for one.

Vig Morgan finally worked her way out of the assistant-for-the-bitch-from-hell trenches only to get stuck in a sea of editors. But Vig isn't like the other associate editors at the aggressively hip and overwhelmingly current Fashionista magazine. For one thing, she couldn't care less which star wore which designer to which party. Sure, she's clever and witty—and just as ambitious as the next overqualified underpaid underling, but she would never get drawn into a plot to depose the evil editor-in-chief. Or would she?

Jump with Vig into the choppy waters of scheming, backstabbing, free speech, flirtation and fashion, as the lackeys at the bottom of the masthead band together to take down the queen at the top, with some unexpected—but not necessarily unpleasant—results."

Review: I Have a Tapeworm: And other ways to make friends

I Have a Tapeworm: And other ways to make friends by MaryJanice Davidson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm a bit disappointed. This book started out very funny and right about when MJ started talking about Charlaine Harris's problem with her last Sookie novel; I just started to get bored and found the endless repetitions were not funny.

This is a book of some of her columns from USA Today and her blog. I think the problem is that taken as a weekly read, they would be great on their own, but reading them one after another is just too much to take in.

As a Kindle Unlimited book, it is worth it, you can keep this book for quite a while and just read it in little bites.

For people of a certain age (like me!!!) you may find this book reminiscent of Erma Bombeck, but don't get your hope up too much! The Erma Bombeck Collection 

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Review: Mercy

Mercy by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't know what to say about this book, but I'll give it a whirl! However, DO NOT start this series with this book. Although it provides a lot of backstories, you will have lost something precious. Astounding, riveting, violent, vicious, emotional, gratifying...I can come up with more, but why bore you? This was one of the best books I have read in quite a while. I assume (yes, I know what they say about assuming things!). However, I do hope that there may be at least one more book. All of the other books in this series have been written using just Atlee's point of view; this book is written a bit differently by using Atlee's and Mercy's voice as well as another secondary/main character. It was a bit spooky, but I was quickly able to get into it. It was almost like getting three stories in one. As I said, I don't know what I can say to get you to read this, but if you like Baldacci's works and have stuck with this series, then you HAVE to read this book to see how it all ends. I liked this series so much that I have gone out to buy the two books I received as ARC. *ARC provided by the publisher Grand Central Publishing, the author David Baldacci, and NetGalley. Thank-you.

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SYNOPSIS: "FBI Agent Atlee Pine’s harrowing search for her long-lost sister Mercy reaches a boiling point in this breakneck thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci. 

 
For her entire life, FBI agent Atlee Pine has been searching for her twin sister, Mercy, who was abducted at the age of six and never seen again. Mercy’s disappearance left behind a damaged family that later shattered beyond repair when Atlee’s parents inexplicably abandoned her.
 
Now, after a perilous investigation that nearly proved fatal, Atlee has finally discovered not only the reason behind her parents’ abandonment and Mercy’s kidnapping, but also the most promising breakthrough yet: proof that Mercy survived her abduction and then escaped her captors many years ago. 
 
Though Atlee is tantalizingly close to her family at last, the final leg of her long road to Mercy will be the most treacherous yet. Mercy left at least one dead body behind before fleeing her captors years before. Atlee has no idea if her sister is still alive, and if so, how she has been surviving all this time. When the truth is finally revealed, Atlee Pine will face the greatest danger yet, and it may well cost her everything.

Review: Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have never read anything by this author, so when this  ARC came up, I jumped at the chance to see what all the fuss was about.  I admit that this author is very good at what she does.

Unfortunately, I cannot reveal much more about this story than the synopsis because I might inadvertently give away a spoiler! And a heck of a twist it was!  Plus, well, this I can tell you-we have a sort of cliff-hanger at the end. The very last page!

This was a very emotional read for me since I had lost a  close family member to Covid. So if you have lost a close loved one, you may want to stay away from this book for now and let the rawness fade a bit.

These were complicated characters and, at times, very shallow and selfish. Yet, everything Ms. Picoult wrote was vivid -the pain, helplessness, scenery, all of it. 

It was a page-turner for sure but, for me, a reluctant one.

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

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SYNOPSIS: "From the #1 New York Times bestselling author comes a deeply moving novel about the resilience of the human spirit in a moment of crisis.

Diana O’Toole is perfectly on track. She will be married by thirty, done having kids by thirty-five, and move out to the New York City suburbs, all while climbing the professional ladder in the cutthroat art auction world. She’s not engaged just yet, but she knows her boyfriend, Finn, a surgical resident, is about to propose on their romantic getaway to the Galápagos—days before her thirtieth birthday. Right on time.

But then a virus that felt worlds away has appeared in the city, and on the eve of their departure, Finn breaks the news: It’s all hands on deck at the hospital. He has to stay behind. You should still go, he assures her, since it would be a shame for all of their nonrefundable trip to go to waste. And so, reluctantly, she goes.

Almost immediately, Diana’s dream vacation goes awry. The whole island is now under quarantine, and she is stranded until the borders reopen. Completely isolated, she must venture beyond her comfort zone. Slowly, she carves out a connection with a local family when a teenager with a secret opens up to Diana, despite her father’s suspicion of outsiders.

Diana finds herself examining her relationships, her choices, and herself—and wondering if when she goes home, she too will have evolved into someone completely different."

Review: Last Stop on the 6

Last Stop on the 6 by Patricia Dunn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of the few books I've read this year that is going on my 'comfort book' shelf. These are the books that I periodically pull out to read to give myself a lift or soothe myself. This was also a quick read, one that you could probably do in a day or less. As an added bonus, if you have Kindle Unlimited it will be a book that you can read under the Unlimited rules.

This book is filled with what some may feel is inappropriate language.  It is set against the backdrop of the start of the Gulf War. This book also deals with some very serious issues that may be hot buttons for some. Drug addiction, rape, and alcoholism, to name a few.

I loved this book tremendously!  I don't know if this is because of  my Italian heritage; well, Italian Hungarian (almost the same thing family-wise!!!)

This is a growth story, a story about what happens when we run away from our troubles and what happens when we lie and/or assume too much.

This story was funny, sad, exciting, and frustrating but primarily amusing. At least it was funny if you know anything about this type of Italian enclave.

I could visualize these characters without the author getting overly wordy. I could smell the gravy bubbling on the stove without a lot of descriptive terminologies. Instead, the author writes with a conciseness that I very much appreciate and love.

This is one of the best books I have read lately, and my kudos go out to the author.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher  Bordighera Press, the author, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS: "LAST STOP ON THE 6 is the return of the prodigal daughter to a world of long-buried hurts, political complexities, and female resilience. Dunn introduces characters of all possessing questions for which there are no easy answers - only the slow and steady re-awakenings of familial bonds and moral responsibility.

Angela Campanosi fled her home in the Italian-American enclave of Pelham Bay, the Bronx, after an accident left her brother, Jimmy, an up-and-coming actor, paralyzed. Now, ten years later, on the eve of Jimmy’s wedding, anti-war activist Angela returns home from LA to grapple with the guilt, secrets, and idiosyncrasies that make family, family. What could possibly go wrong? 

For starters, the groom has disappeared, leaving behind only a cryptic note and his rotating collection of plastic patron saints on his nightstand. Angela’s asthmatic mother insists on keeping Jimmy’s fiancée in the dark; her father, three years sober, goes on a bender; Angela’s ex-boyfriend has taken over running the family exterminating business; and her stepfather just wants to feed everyone, even vegetarian Angela, some of his meat gravy.

Angela embarks on a search for Jimmy through the old neighborhood, discovering in the process that our perceptions about people—even ourselves—can be wrong, and that family is something far more potent than blood.

Set against the backdrop of the Gulf War and the millions of people who filled the streets in protest (reminiscent of today’s activism), LAST STOP ON THE 6  is a hilarious, subversive, deeply moving tale."

Review: Dava Shastri's Last Day

Dava Shastri's Last Day by Kirthana Ramisetti
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The synopsis sounded intriguing. I required a humorous yet profound novel at this time in my life. What I did get was a varied and politically correct cast of characters, a complicated and sometimes convoluted story with an abundance of information on music and musicians that I had never heard of. I'm still not sure if all of the bands she mentions are real or not! All this music talk just bored me. I can see that it was the crux of many of Dava's relationships...but it just didn't work to keep me engaged.

The idea of a terminal cancer patient bringing her family together on her private island for one last time was an interesting one. But, of course, knowing that she (Dava) was a multi-billionaire added a little something to the mix, and then finding out that this book was set in 2044 during what seems to be the height of climate change was the cherry on the cake.

Unfortunately, as I said, the music issue was a non-starter for me(perhaps because of my age); the characters were all shallow, the lies were hard to take, the deaths by cancer were just brutal, and the book just never seemed to end.

I did manage to finish this simply because I wanted to see how it ended and if Dava's family overcame all of their issues. But, unfortunately, I did have to do a lot of skimming.

*ARC provided by the publisher, the author, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS: "In this thought-provoking and entertaining debut novel about of a multicultural family, a dying billionaire matriarch leaks news of her death early so she can examine her legacy--a decision that horrifies her children and inadvertently exposes secrets she has spent a lifetime keeping.

Dava Shastri, one of the world's wealthiest women, has always lived with her sterling reputation in mind. A brain cancer diagnosis at the age of seventy, however, changes everything, as she decides to take her death—like all matters of her life—into her own hands.

Summoning her four adult children to her private island, she discloses shocking news: in addition to having a terminal illness, she has arranged for the news of her death to break early, so she can read her obituaries.

As someone who dedicated her life to the arts and the empowerment of women, Dava expects to read articles lauding her philanthropic work. Instead, her "death" reveals two devastating secrets, truths she thought she had buried forever.

And now the whole world knows, including her children.

In the time she has left, Dava must come to terms with the decisions that have led to this moment—and make peace with those closest to her before it's too late.
 
Compassionately written and chock-full of humor and heart, this powerful novel examines public versus private legacy, the complexities of love, and the never-ending joys—and frustrations—of family."

Review: Flying Angels

Flying Angels by Danielle Steel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book may not have been the best book for me to choose from my TBR pile since I recently visited the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, PA. However, I was already in an emotional mood before picking this book up.

 Flying Angels is a VERY emotional read. Not only an emotional read but a very realistic (and bloody) look at what went on during WWII and the men and women who fly with the Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron and save lives while putting their own in danger; several times a day. 

There is romance for some; death for others. And I have to admit that I was surprised at who didn't make it all the way through this book and who did or did not get romance and a HEA.

This was not a fun book for me, but it was informative. There is plenty of character growth. This book does start slowly with a lot of back story for several of the women. However, the rest of the women we meet don't seem to get the same respect, which bothered me for some reason.

I recommend this book to those who like their historical romances to be 'in your face' truthful, in all of its blood a guts glory.

*ARC supplied by The publisher #RandomHouseBallantine, the author #DanielleSteel, and #NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS: "World War II brings together six remarkable young flight nurses, who face the challenges of war and its many heartbreaks and victories as unsung heroes, in this inspiring novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.

Audrey Parker's life changes forever when Pearl Harbor is attacked on December 7, 1941. Her brother, a talented young Navy pilot, had been stationed there, poised to fulfill their late father's distinguished legacy. Fresh out of nursing school with a passion and a born gift for helping others, both Audrey and her friend Lizzie suddenly find their nation on the brink of war. Driven to do whatever they can to serve, they enlist in the Army and embark on a new adventure as flight nurses.

Risking their lives on perilous missions, they join the elite Medical Air Evacuation Transport Squadron and fly into enemy territory almost daily to rescue wounded soldiers from the battlefield. Audrey and Lizzie make enormous sacrifices to save lives alongside an extraordinary group of nurses: Alex, who longs to make a difference in the world; Louise, a bright mind who faced racial prejudice growing up inthe South; Pru, a selfless leader with a heart of gold; and Emma, whose confidence and grit push her to put everything on the line for her patients.

Even knowing they will not achieve any rank and will receive little pay for their efforts, the "Flying Angels" will give their all in the fight for freedom. They serve as bravely and tirelessly as the men they rescue on the front lines, in daring airlifts, and are eternally bound by their loyalty to one another. Danielle Steel presents a sweeping, stunning tribute to these incredibly courageous women, inspiring symbols of bravery and valor."