Review: The Trouble with You

The Trouble with You by Ellen Feldman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have never read a book by Ms. Feldman before, but after finishing this book, I am going to make a point of reading more of her work.

"The Trouble With You" pulled me in right from the start and kept me enthralled. I never knew that much about the McCarthy Era, and this book taught me quite a bit. Not all I needed to know, but just enough. I never liked politics much in my reading, but this book just touched on it enough to bring it to light and to make it personal to the characters.

As you can see by the book description, it is about a young widow with a child. This woman, Fanny Fabricant, has been taught from the cradle right up through college that her career is going to be as a wife and mother. But destiny has other plans for her, and she takes a job as a secretary at a radio soap opera. Her life goes on, but as I said, fate throws a monkey wrench into her life. And this is where the book gets really interesting. Two men, pulling the wool over the HUAC's eyes, a wonderful career, and then a daughter who takes after her mother and Aunt.

Wonderful writing, identifiable characters, and a great story.


*ARC Supplied by the publisher Macmillan/St. Martin's Griffin, the author, and NetGalley. My thanks to all for this opportunity.


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SYNOPSIS: "In an exuberant post WWII New York City, a young woman is forced to reinvent her life and choose between the safe and the ethical, and the men who represent each...

Set in New York City in the heady aftermath of World War II, when the men were coming home, the women were exhaling in relief, and everyone was having babies, The Trouble with You is the story of Fanny Fabricant, whose rosy future is upended in a single instant. Educated for a career as a wife and mother, she is torn between her cousin Mimi, who is determined to keep her a “nice girl,” and her aunt Rose, who has a rebellious past of her own.

Forging a new life, she gets a job in radio serials. Then through her friendship with an actress who stars in and a man who writes the series, she comes face-to-face with the blacklist, which is wrecking lives.

Ultimately, Fanny must decide between playing it safe or doing what is right in this vivid evocation of a world that seems at once light-years away and strangely immediate."

Review: Hollywood Hustle

Hollywood Hustle by Jon Lindstrom
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

1.5 Stars - rounded up because I finished it.

Well, the best I can say about this novel is that I finished it and that it was a fast read. I did manage to finish this book to see how the author pulled off a happily-ever-after-type storyline. And what a fairy tale it was, especially the ending!


Trigger warnings--- Heavy drug usage, multiple murders, kidnapping, incredibly bad plotting, and overly descriptive/wordy.

Since Mr.Lindstom is/was an actor, I can see why this book was filled with movie references, even if they seemed to be in there for really no reason at all. Yes, the character of Winston was an actor (never a star!), so we could expect a lot of references to the art.

I could not manage to feel anything for these characters - not sadness, which I should have felt based on the kidnapping, not horror of all of the deaths, nor did I find anything amusing, which I am sure we are supposed to have felt at times.

Since Winston's daughter had been kidnapped, this book was about him and his buddies getting her back. However, he goes about it in the stupidest ways possible. I don't even want to talk about what he and his pals do because it would spoil the book for those who want to read it.

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

"Jon Robert Lindstrom is an American actor, writer, director, producer, and musician. He is well known for his roles of Kevin Collins and Ryan Chamberlain on the ABC Daytime soap opera General Hospital and its spin-off Port Charles.

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SYNOPSIS: "From 4-time Emmy-nominated actor Jon Lindstrom of General Hospital, Bosch, and True Detective fame, comes a gripping debut thriller.

Set in the dark underbelly of the LA film industry, Hollywood Hustle is the perfect read for fans of Alex Finlay and Jeffrey Deaver.

Winston Greene, a has-been film star, wakes one morning to find his six-year-old granddaughter at his bedside—traumatized, unattended, and gripping onto a thumb drive. She comes bearing video proof that her mother, Win’s troubled adult daughter, has been kidnapped by a murderous gang demanding all his “movie money” for her safe return. But what they don’t know is…his movie money is long gone.

Unable to go to the police for fear the kidnappers will make good on their promise to kill his daughter, Winston turns to two close friends—a legendary Hollywood stuntman and a disgraced former LAPD detective.

There’s no easy way out for Winston or his daughter—the gang is violent and willing to do anything to get the money they’re after, and Winston begins to realize that to get his daughter back, he’ll have to beat the kidnappers at their own game.

This propulsive and tense thriller will transport readers to the seedier side of LA, depicted in bold prose by a Hollywood insider."

Review: Mine

Mine by J.R. Ward
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

1.5 Stars

Well, I can't tell you how glad I am that this is over. I am no Squee Girl by any means. My problem/s with this book, well, one of my problems, is the pacing. Dragging out some parts while seriously giving short shrift to other parts is my main complaint.

Unanswered questions? I have many. Too many questions to list. Perhaps this should have been a 4 book mini-series so we could have found out everything.

Cyborgs? Or whatever you want to call them? Yeah, perhaps we have elementary ones in this century, but the way they were shown in this book reminds me SO much of a YA Steampunk series I recently read, the Finishing School Series, by Gail Carriger.

Yes, Daniel and Lydia do get their happily ever after, as well as Gus and Cathy. But that was to be expected, wasn't it? After all, these are romances, aren't they?

All in all, I should have stuck with what I said in my review of book 2 and gotten it from the library instead of using my hard-earned cash on it.

So take some really steamy, descriptive sex and add in some YA Steampunk, and you have this book.

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SYNOPSIS-" The hotly anticipated thrilling conclusion of the Lair of the Wolven series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward.

In this finale, Lydia and Daniel are bracing themselves for his inevitable decline but first, they must go on a rescue mission that will put both their lives in danger."

Review: The Women

The Women by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

I don't know what it was with this book or what magic this author used, but I was trapped. I first thought that it was going to be a 'did not finish' novel for me. I didn't like Frankie all that much throughout the entire novel, but I understood her. At times, I thought I was going to need some "mother's little helpers" to get through the pain, grief, and horror that was Frankie's time spent in 'Nam. But let me tell you, the war wasn't even the worst part.

I am so ashamed of how the public looked upon the returning Vets. I can understand it, but I am still ashamed. I was very young as this war was being waged, so I understood nothing until I read the historical novel. 20 years this war was fought (1955-1975), and like most wars, for what? But that is neither here nor there.

I could not put this book down. The troubles that Frankie faced with only the help of her fellow nurses were intense. I could see that it was PTSD, but there was really not such a thing back then.

Her love life issues -gah! I just wanted to do something really nasty to Rye, I really did, and I wouldn't have blamed Frankie one bit if she had done something nasty to him!

Eventually, Frankie does overcome her PTSD and helps others.

I really don't know how to express my feelings for this book. It just sucked me in and wouldn't let me go until the final page was read.

*ARC  supplied by the publisher  St. Martin's Press, the author  Kristin Hannah, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS "Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over- whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era. "

Review: Ballerina: A Novel

Ballerina: A Novel by Edward Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you like ballet fiction, you may very much like this novel. It is a mixture of ballet and romance with a lot of backstabbing, snark, and frustration.

I first read this book when I was much younger, and what I saw during that first read was the romanticism, frustration, and the pity I had for one of the main characters who was ill -Chris. Now I'm older, and what I see is that Chris seems to have mental as well as physical issues, and I'm having a more difficult time judging how I feel about this book. Steph's mother is still a conniving witch and keeps trying to mold Steph into what Anna thinks she should be/do. No matter how she makes Steph feel along the way.

The ending...well, what can I say? You may find it romantic and wonderful, and I may just be a huge witch thinking that Steph was crazy!

If you choose to read this book, remember the year it was written (1979) because it is NOT a politically correct or "woke" book, and neither was that decade. So this book is historically accurate in that respect. However, I do happen to like reading about this decade and the defection of so many Russian dancers.

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SYNOPSIS: "Before Black Swan, there was Ballerina: Edward Stewart’s acclaimed novel that follows two young women into the cutthroat world of professional dance

Stephanie Lang and Christine Avery meet in ballet school. Although they share the same dream—to become great dancers—they could not be more different. Ballet is in Stephanie’s blood; her mother, Anna, is a former dancer who lives to see her daughter achieve the fame she herself never attained. Christine has lived a sheltered life, secure in the love of her family. But her privileged upbringing conceals a devastating secret.
Two teenage dancers, one chance to make it. From the thrill and terror of auditions through years of meticulous training to landing a coveted spot in a professional company, Stephanie and Christine relentlessly pursue their ambitions. As they give their all to dance, they become inseparable—until they are torn apart by their passion for the same man, a brilliant Russian dancer whose seductive, mercurial temperament will have unforeseen consequences for them all. " 

Review: The Still Point

The Still Point by Tammy Greenwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love novels that deal with competition. Why? Because I love to read about how back-stabbing everyone can get, from the competitors right down to the teachers and parents. Rest assured, if you like novels of this nature, you are going to love this book! It could have been a tad more back-stabby, but this book kept it all in good taste!

This book deals with a lot of other issues besides the ballet competition for a scholarship; it deals with death, loss, going from a child to an adult, love, and, yes, retribution.

It can bog down in spots, but there is something compelling about this novel that just makes you want to keep reading to see how it ends. There are enough red herrings and surprises to keep even mystery lovers happy.

There is a handy glossary of ballet terms at the back of the book.

*ARC supplied by Kensington Books Publishing, the author, and ATTL/Edelweiss. My thanks.

If you like books about ballet and what goes on behind the scenes, like this novel, may I suggest: Ballerina: A Novel. This book is set in the 1970's so please be aware of the differences of that time period.

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SYNOPSIS: "Dance Moms meets Little Fires Everywhere in award winning author Tammy Greenwood’s addictive new novel set in the hyper cutthroat world of ballet girls and their mothers as they compete for a prestigious prize…

“She had never seen Bea dance like this. Ever sat spellbound as her daughter grew from a little girl into a woman before her eyes…”

Ever, Lindsay, and Josie have ushered their daughters—Bea, Olive, and Savvy—through years of dance classes in their coastal California town. They’ve tended bloodied feet, stitched ribbons to countless pairs of pointe shoes, and in the process, forged friendships that seem to transcend rivalry.

But now Etienne Bernay, enfant terrible of French ballet, has come to their conservatory. Not only will he direct this year’s production of The Nutcracker , but he’s brought along a film crew to document his search for one special student who will receive a full scholarship to the Ballet de Paris Academie. For the girls, this is the chance to fulfill lifelong dreams. For Ever, recently widowed and struggling financially, it may be the only way to keep Bea dancing. And Bea is a truly gifted dancer—poetic and ethereal, breathtaking to watch.

Lindsay, meanwhile, frets that Olive is growing tired of the punishing reality of training, while Josie has no such qualms about Savvy, who is a powerhouse of ambition.

From auditions to casting to rehearsals, the cameras capture the selection process, with its backstabbing and jealousy, disappointment and triumph. But it’s behind the scenes that Bernay’s arrival will yield the most shocking revelations, exposing the secrets and lies at the heart of all three families—and the sacrifices women make for their children, for friendship, and for art.

Review: The Tainted Cup

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We are led to believe that this book is going to be a fantasy novel with magical elements. I don't see where magic played any part in this novel-at least not magic the way I understand it. I did find it interesting that the people of this world have augmentations/grafts added to their bodies and/or brains. These augmentations allow the user to do many amazing things.

This book kept me somewhat engaged if only to find out the why's of the mystery. I did not like the main characters, Din and Ana, one tiny bit, and I felt nothing for them. Some of the secondary characters hit the mark better than the main characters. They kept me going.

The swearing and usage of modern colloquialisms were atrocious, considering (the world? the time period?) the rest of the odd language used in this novel.

It is a very twisty mystery that many fans of this author and of this type of fantasy will enjoy.

*ARC supplied by Del Rey | Random House Group, the author, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS: "In Daretana’s most opulent mansion, a high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even in this canton at the borders of the Empire, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death at once terrifying and impossible.

Called in to investigate this mystery is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities.

At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Din is an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory. His job is to observe and report, and act as his superior’s eyes and ears--quite literally, in this case, as among Ana’s quirks are her insistence on wearing a blindfold at all times, and her refusal to step outside the walls of her home.

Din is most perplexed by Ana’s ravenous appetite for information and her mind’s frenzied leaps—not to mention her cheerful disregard for propriety and the apparent joy she takes in scandalizing her young counterpart. Yet as the case unfolds and Ana makes one startling deduction after the next, he finds it hard to deny that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.

As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.

Featuring an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson style pairing, a gloriously labyrinthine plot, and a haunting and wholly original fantasy world, The Tainted Cup brilliantly reinvents the classic mystery tale."

Review: Sisters of Fortune

Sisters of Fortune by Anna Lee Huber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am a tiny bit unhappy with this novel. The main part of the story revolves around sister Flora, and when looking up the family for more references, I didn't find the name Flora to be on the passenger list. https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/features/t... It took some delving to find out that Flora's first name is really Ethel. I almost felt cheated until I did my extra research. Yes, yes, I am one of those PIA's who like to see if the facts are correct when a fictional story is based on truth.

The other things that I was unhappy about were 1- the huge amount of characters who did not always show up under the name with which you first met them. 2- the interminable descriptions of the clothing and food. 3-the quickness of the romance.

The writing was well done otherwise, and since we already knew how the story was going to play out, it was clever of the author to pick this family to write about. The sisters all had a lot of issues, and it compelled me to finish what might have been a bit of a lackluster novel.

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



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SYNOPSIS --- "Based on the true story of the Fortune sisters, three young women each at a crossroads when they boarded the RMS Titanic in the spring of 1912 – and how that fateful maiden voyage would change their lives in profound and unexpected ways.

USA Today bestselling author Anna Lee Huber expertly weaves real historical figures and anecdotes into this vivid, emotionally powerful, surprising novel about the longing for independence and love—and the events that can irrevocably change even the best laid plans . . .

April,1912: It’s the perfect finale to a Grand Tour of Europe—sailing home on the largest, most luxurious ocean liner ever built. For the Fortune sisters, the voyage offers a chance to reflect on the treasures of the past they’ve seen—magnificent castles and museums in Italy and France, the ruins of Greece and the Middle East—and contemplate the futures that await them.

For Alice, there’s foreboding mixed with her excitement. A fortune teller in Egypt gave her a dire warning about traveling at sea. And the freedom she has enjoyed on her travels contrasts with her fiancé’s plans for her return—a cossetted existence she’s no longer sure she wants.

Flora is also returning to a fiancé, a well-to-do banker of whom her parents heartily approve, as befits their most dutiful daughter. Yet the closer the wedding looms, the less sure Flora feels. Another man—charming, exasperating, completely unsuitable—occupies her thoughts, daring her to follow her own desires rather than settling for the wishes of others.

Youngest sister Mabel knows her parents arranged this Grand Tour to separate her from a jazz musician. But the secret truth is that Helen has little interest in marrying at all, preferring to explore ideas of suffrage and reform—even if it forces a rift with her family.

Each sister grapples with the choices before her as the grand vessel glides through the Atlantic waters. Until, on an infamous night, fate intervenes, forever altering their lives . . ."

Review: The Excitements

The Excitements by C.J. Wray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Even though this book was fabulous, it took quite a while to reach that point.

Some of the issues I had with this novel were:
The language - thank goodness my Kindle has a translator. The old-fashioned British language also threw me for a loop at times.
The chapters jumped from year to year, century to century, and not in a straightforward manner.

All this aside, the story was riveting. There were so many secrets, some that I figured out independently and some that just floored me when I found out.

The ending kept me riveted, and I wish there were more to the book so we could have had some solid tie-ups for some of the secondary characters.

I loved this book, and it will be going on my re-read shelf!

ARC was supplied by the publisher, HarperCollins, the author C. J. Wray, and NetGalley. My thanks.

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"A brilliant and witty drama about two elderly female World War II veterans with a secret past who embark on one last adventure to right some historic wrongs.

Meet the Williamson sisters, Britain’s most beloved World War II veterans. Now in their late nineties, Josephine and Penny are in huge demand, beloved of journalists and producers, popping up on red carpets and at fundraisers and festivals all over the country. Despite their age, they’re still in great form—perfectly put together, sprightly and sparky, and always in search of their next “excitement.”

This time it’s a trip to Paris to receive the Légion d’Honneur for their part in liberating France. As always, they will be accompanied by their devoted gay nephew, Archie, who moved in with his aunts right after he came out. The press has always reported that these lady heroes worked for the Royal Navy and the nursing corps, but that’s their official cover. In reality, Josephine was an intelligence operative who drew maps used for the D-Day invasion while Penny was a spy and specialist at hand-to-combat, risking her teenage life in France. And this trip to Paris is not what it seems either. Scandal and crime have always quietly trailed the Williamson sisters, even in the decades after the war.

Now armed with new information about an old adversary, these much decorated (but admittedly ancient) veterans intend to settle scores, avenge lost friends, and pull off one last, daring heist before the curtain finally comes down on their illustrious careers.

A deliciously fast-paced and witty drama, The Excitements is the tale of two remarkably clever and brave women who helped save the world and survived the unthinkable, without ever losing their killer instinct... or their joie de vivre."