Review: We're So Lucky to Live Here

We're So Lucky to Live Here by Rachel Pastan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an interesting novel that, at times, felt a bit too 'literary' (at least for me) for its theme. It blends avant-garde plays with Russian literature, with Gwen trying to get her life together after her mother's death and learning she inherited not only the history-laden house but also a lot of debt and two roommates.

It was sweet but a tad too cloying for my taste.

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



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Review: The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman

The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I won't recap this book in my review. The book description does it so well; there is no need for me to do so. And let me say, there is a lot of bible in this novel, a lot of preaching and using the bible to supplement arguments.

About this book-----Holey S**T!!! I expected a snarky look at church ladies, with some gossip, back-stabbing, and humor. I got that and so much more with this book. Some parts are funny as heck, other parts will make you cry, and some will make you want to put your fist through the wall.

Of course, Scharisse started life poor; her mother died young, and her Aunt is a crack-head. These aren't the only secrets, but they'll do for now! But fairy tales DO come true--at least on the surface.

Now Scharisse is her hubby the pastor's First Lady. He is the head of a mega-church. I hate to say this, but the only thing I know about mega-churches is from infrequent watching of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker back in the 80s, so I didn't have much to go on! Mega church-Mega rich, with a mind a tiny tad too much on sex, and a chance to win the First Lady USA pageant. But alas, things don't always go as intended and horrible things start happening to her.

Thankfully, although Scharisse hits rock bottom, she eventually learns and grows up and finally takes responsibility for her and her daughter Gabrielle's lives.

I couldn't put this book down, and I think it would make a wonderful book club read.

*ARC supplied by the publisher, Mariner Books/Harper Collins, the author, and NetGalley.

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BOOK SUMMARY: "The wife of a popular and powerful megachurch pastor upends her charmed “rags-to-Rolex” life when her secret past comes roaring into the spotlight—in this "funny and juicy and sexy and delicious peek behind the pulpit" (Samantha Irby) from the acclaimed and beloved author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.

From the moment Scharisse Freeman ditched her humble roots and married a megachurch pastor fifteen years her senior, she’s been labeled too brash and too “of the world” by church folks who grudgingly accepted her into their fold, and too holy by her estranged childhood bestie Petra. Schar doesn’t have many allies, but that hasn’t stopped her from building an enviable business empire spanning books to clothing to branded products, and living the comfortable life her husband's power affords her.

On the eve of her 40th birthday, Schar gets the final bit of validation she’s always dreamt a coveted invitation to participate in the First Lady USA pageant. This is her chance to be accepted by the other pastors’ wives—First Ladies—who are “like Jesus’ disciples if they had been a group of mean girls.” Finally, blissfully, the ice between Schar and the other First Ladies begins to thaw.

But as the pageant nears, a sensational scandal breaks with Schar at its center, and her carefully curated life implodes. Schar faces down shame and terrible secrets from her childhood and is reminded that in the eyes of the church, optics can matter more than the truth.

Unflinchingly funny, frank, and packed with surprising turns, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman exults in the luscious, messy pleasure of finally feeling free."

Review: The Many Private Lives of Missy Cooke

The Many Private Lives of Missy Cooke by Jane Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I did finish this book, and while most of my previous review still stands, the final parts made up for the frustrations of the first part. As a matter of fact, the final parts had me eager to finish. Missy finally showed some growth, although she had to depend on a lot of people to get there. The book did not really give her a HEA as far as romance goes, but then again, this was not a romance novel. So if you can manage to get through the first third of this novel, you will have a fairly satisfying ending.

I am almost 60% done with this book, and if it weren't on my Kindle, I would throw it across the room and hit the wall with it. The rest of this review will come when (if) I finish this "growth" novel, since so many people seemed to have loved it; I must be missing something.

This book is written in three parts. In the first part, you will meet Missy Cooke, daughter of tech billionaire Marty Cooke. Marty and her Mother are divorced. So in this first part, we will explore how horrible Missy's life is with and without her father. We will explore every nuance of their relationship. Marty does treat Missy (at times) like crap. Missy has no backbone, and it is horribly obvious. I wanted to yell at her to speak up for herself, grow a spine, pull up her big-girl panties and just TALK to her father about the way he treats her. At the end of this section I was ready to DNF it, but being an ARC I felt I should give it a little longer to see if it redeemed itself.

Part two is about how Marty develops a horrible cancer and must go to Switzerland for months of treatment, leaving his daughter Missy as interim CEO. She is in her element and doing well at this new job. Still naive, but with her brains, she is perfect for the job. Sounds good, right? She is finally in her element, right? Well, no, because what is obvious to me is that someone is sabotaging her and has done so to the point that the stockholders have asked her to step down for a month or so, putting someone else at the helm.

If you are reading this book at this point, you will notice that (if you are smart and I know you are!) there appear to be two obvious people who might want to stab her in the back. My money is on a particular person, but I've been wrong before!!!

I have seen no growth on Missy's part, and I, as I said, am 60% done with this book. I'm frustrated, pissed, bored, and cranky.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Hanover Square Press/Harlequin, the author, and ATTL/Edelweiss.

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Summary : "From New York Times bestselling author Jane Green comes her most poignant and timely novel yet—the story of a tech titan’s daughter, who, in the face of family crisis, must step into her own power to redefine a legacy

Missy Cooke’s parents divorced when she was young. While her mother did her best to make ends meet, her father devoted his life to work—and his new family. Missy only knew him from afar. He was distant and aloof. But when he came to visit, his light shone bright. He was Silicon Valley tech titan Marty Cooke.

Now an adult, with tech world aspirations of her own, Missy’s life is a constant negotiation between her own desires and the towering expectations of her father. But when a devastating diagnosis forces Marty to step down from his tech empire, ipryy, he doesn't choose a seasoned executive to take his place. He chooses Missy.

Thrust into a world of high-stakes board meetings and cutthroat corporate politics, Missy is completely out of her depth. As interim CEO, she must navigate the immense pressure of her father's legacy while wrestling with a strained relationship with her boyfriend, the reappearance of a childhood crush, and the constant scrutiny of a world that sees her as nothing more than a privileged heiress, an image totally at odds with her modest upbringing.

From the glittering galas of the French Riviera to the hidden realities of ipryy's global operations, Missy's journey of self-discovery becomes a battle for the soul of the company. When she uncovers a dark secret that threatens to destroy everything her father built, Missy must decide what kind of leader she will become. Can she forge her own path and prove her worth, or will she crumble under the weight of her father’s shadow?

Propulsive, timely, and emotionally resonant, The Many Private Lives of Missy Cooke is an unforgettable family novel by a beloved author at the height of her literary power.

Review: The Mystic and the Missing Girl: A Mystery

The Mystic and the Missing Girl: A Mystery by Vikki VanSickle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have read so many books in the last couple of months that I really disliked for one reason or another, that it thrills me to say that this book was everything I needed to get back on the right track. I really, really loved this book.

This book had a quirky cast of characters, a great almost unsolvable mystery, a likable FMC, and used no obvious tropes to get us to the ending. It was filled with surprises, and it even had a kitten!

There really is no need for me to say much about this book that you can't get from reading the summary. But I will say this: if you like cozy mysteries with a bit of speculative fiction, small towns, no obvious romance ( a mere possibility of one at a future time) and character-driven novels, then this one will definitely be for you. 

I think it would do well in a book club setting, since there's so much about this mystery to discuss, and it would definitely be an excellent read for the upcoming Halloween/Samhain holiday!

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

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SUMMARY: "Reluctant psychic Drew Benson can read tarot cards and get impressions from objects—she just never expected to use her gifts to investigate an infamous cold case.

Drew Benson has a secret. She gets visions, something she hasn’t tapped into since she was a teenager, when her late aunt, a TV psychic known as Hannah Mystic, became the scapegoat in the unsolved disappearance of a local teenager. Twenty years later, Drew is happy to ignore her gift, focusing instead on keeping the metaphysical shop she inherited from Hannah afloat, wrangling her sole, astrology-obsessed employee, and dodging local rake Foster Banks in her picturesque lakeside hometown.

But when Drew's arch-nemesis from high school, now a big city reporter, decides to investigate the cold case from all those years ago, it’s Drew’s ability that could finally make a break in the decades old mystery. With bills piling up, a disapproving mother laying on the guilt, and a local vandal who wants Drew and her witchy store gone, Drew has a lot to lose. But what she stands to gain—finding out what happened to the missing teen, clearing her aunt’s name, and a second chance at belonging—could change everything.

In The Mystic and the Missing Girl, Vikki VanSickle seamlessly draws readers into an utterly charming world in this unputdownable, small town mystery.

Review: The Age of Blood and Magic

The Age of Blood and Magic by Hannah Mathewson
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This novel was not described as a YA novel, so I expected the characters to act like adults. They didn't, and I lost interest around the 60% mark. Plus, the story was so convoluted, and the fact that it was supposed to be a "locked-room" type mystery and wasn't- well, there you have it!
DNF

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SUMMARY: "Magic built their empire. Blood will decide who rules it next. When a CEO falls, one family’s battle for control becomes a brutal game of betrayal, desire, and power in this sharp, seductive debut for fans of Succession—with fangs.

A hundred years ago, magic ran wild—belonging only to the fae, the witches, the vampires. Then the mortal Martin Maddock stole its secret. With it, he forged Mythos, a company that bottles spells for humankind. Now his descendants rule a trillion-dollar empire—and Valentina Maddock is determined to inherit its throne.

The world’s wealthiest elites descend on the Maddock estate for a lavish, ultra-exclusive weekend to unveil Mythos’s latest magical breakthrough. But when Valentina’s CEO father suddenly collapses, the race for his heir begins—and the claws come out. Valentina is pitted against her playboy brother, her brilliant scientist mother, and her father’s long-time CFO. Even the guests and staff are choosing sides—and someone intends to eliminate Valentina entirely.

Then an unexpected guest arrives: a vampire. Luc Sayle has no known ties to Mythos, yet he carries a private invitation from the CEO himself. Drawn to the enigmatic and dangerously handsome stranger, Valentina senses Luc may be her only ally. But his polished words hide a bite, forcing her to question who the true monster really is.

Set in a world of dark enchantments, glittering wealth, and cutthroat ambition, The Age of Blood and Magic blends paranormal fantasy, locked-room mystery, and romantic suspense into a razor-sharp, intoxicating tale where magic is power—and everyone’s out for blood."

Review: Lover Enthroned

Lover Enthroned by J.R. Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I must start thinking that this is an entirely new series instead of a continuation of the origional book. Since 30 or 35 years have passed with no explanation that I can find (maybe a book I haven't read, *snort*---as if!)? It seems easier to think that the last couple of books, as well as this one, are a whole new series with minor parts given to the old-timers. That means you don't really HAVE to read the preceding 20 or so books to get into these, but you will want to, I assure you!

This was a standout read with a heck of a mystery as well as a simmering love story, a good dollop of some of the old-timers, and for once we weren't fighting the usual suspects. An interesting twist is the back-and-forth of time in Allhan's case, letting us see how he came to be doing what we think he is doing.


An altogether great read!

*ARC provided by the publisher Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster, the author, and NetGalley.

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SUMMARY: "In #1 New York Times bestseller J.R. Ward’s newest Black Dagger Brotherhood installment, star-crossed lovers face the battles of their lives…in the midst of war with the Lessening Society.

A Hidden Past

Allhan, a computer genius who works for the Brotherhood, has a deadly secret. Torn between what he must do, and his increasing attachment to Vishous, he’s not looking for any more complications in his life. He’s not going to survive the one he has.

A Royal Future

Princess Dennesha, heir to the throne of the Shadows, is a live-and-let-die kind of female. At least until she finds herself tangling in the destiny of a human—even though it goes against every instinct of hers and all common sense.

A Terrible Choice

When Allhan and Denne meet by chance, their passion is undeniable. But a rare astrological event triggers a crossroads for the Princess. Either mate a male she doesn’t love and assume the throne, or stay true to her heart and condemn the Territory to destruction. With Allhan fighting his conscience—and a lesser who’s after Wrath and the Brothers—can the two find a way out of their fates? Or are they doomed to grieve a love that could never be for eternity…

Review: You’ll Love It Here

You’ll Love It Here by Natalie Sue
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

It took me two weeks of trying to read this book before I realized that I was never going to finish it.

Mona was insipid; the idea of having her update the building to kick everyone out just because she wanted a recommendation for her shaky job was horrific.

The ending (even though I didn't finish) was predictable. And her romance (as it were) was unbelievable.

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

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SUMMARY: "Mona thought her living situation was bad… but the real mess is just beginning.

One day is all it takes for Mona’s life to implode. After years of climbing at her marketing firm, she was supposed to be getting promoted and finally moving out of her crumbling apartment building. Instead, she’s jobless, aimless, and still stuck in a space barely big enough for a yoga mat.

Then her eccentric landlady takes a tumble and asks Mona to step in as the building’s reluctant super. The deal is simple: help prep the place for sale, and she can secure the upgrade she’s been chasing. But that’s easier said than done when the neighbors treat “boundaries” as optional. There’s the shouting couple, the mysterious shut-in, a possible panty thief in the laundry room—and Sami, the relentlessly cheerful diner owner who keeps showing up with coffee and unsolicited ideas about community. As Mona gets pulled deeper into the building’s chaos—and closer to the people inside it—she’s forced to confront what, and who, she’s really been trying to outrun. Sometimes, the place you’re desperate to leave is the one that finally shows you who you are.

Wise, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud funny, Natalie Sue’s sophomore novel is a story about burning out, starting over, and finding your people in the most unexpected places—perfect for fans of The Wedding People and Anxious People."

Review: Don’t Cross Mo Ellery

Don’t Cross Mo Ellery by Birdie Horne
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Yes, this book was a bit amusing at times, but it was all over the place with too many characters, too much misdirection, too much sex on Mo's mind at very inappropriate times, a childlike main character with Illness Anxiety Disorder and very dislikable characters---ALL OF THEM -Mo especially. Very hodgepodge.

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SUMMARY: "Mo Ellery’s 29th birthday is a disaster. After one small accident—the exposure of her boyfriend’s genitals (well, maybe not that small) on a work video call—she manages to get fired, dumped, and kicked out of their overpriced Chicago apartment. Luckily, a sign appears to guide Mo to her new “Looking for flexible part-time work? Become a school crossing guard!” It’s everything Mo has been looking health insurance. How hard can it be?

A few weeks later, Mo is adjusting to her new low-paying job, her bisexual reawakening, and her new neighborhood’s wacky characters. There’s Claudia, an old woman who refuses to let Mo help her cross the street, and Marlowe, a tween cell phone prodigy whose antics terrify her. But Mo’s greatest nemesis is Poodle Dude, a guy with an SUV full of poodles who speeds through her intersection each morning. . . until the day he speeds into a sinkhole. Mo tries and fails to shield innocent eyes from his bloody corpse, but succeeds in accidentally becoming the guardian to his three poodles.

And that’s not the worst of some of the locals are convinced that Poodle Dude was murdered. Their allegations are obviously ridiculous, but Mo, desperate for distractions—and for several hot neighbor-suspects—reluctantly agrees to help. But Mo the detective is just as chaotic as Mo the underemployed adult, and the three entitled poodles are not helping. When a second local dies under mysterious circumstances, it’s going to take all of Mo’s broadly applicable and transferrable skills to find the killer."

Review: When Lemons Give You Life

When Lemons Give You Life by Anna Johnston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Quote from the Author>>>>"This novel is about rediscovering joy when life has lost its flavour-about kindness, connection, and the courage to start again."

I can't argue with that description or do any better describing it myself.

I found this book to be:

Humerous

Sad

Silly  

Life-sucking (for the characters)

An eye-opener

Hopeful

Filled with lies and tragedy, but eventually finding the truth, redemption and happiness.

This book would make an excellent book club read and also an awesome movie.

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

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SUMMARY: "From the author of the beloved feel-good debut The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife comes another humorous, heart-stirring novel about family, second chances, and the lengths we go for those we love, following a woman fighting to hold onto life and her older brother who's rediscovering reasons to embrace it.

Retired Michelin-star chef Griff Barlow has lost his appetite. He’s done with grief, guilt and the beige slop they dare call food at Sunny Glen Aged Care Facility, where he now resides.

Six decades of life have given him all the lemons he can handle, so he breaks into the nursing home kitchen to bake himself one last tart. It’s supposed to be his final meal but the act of cooking stirs a dormant joy. Soon, he’s regularly sneaking in after dark, serving up flavor and comfort to fellow residents, who, in turn, begin to come alive with each bite of Griff's delicious concoctions. Yet behind the apron is a lie so big it could destroy the one thing Griff has left to protect.

Lisa, Griff’s younger sister and sole visitor, is navigating a midlife ADHD diagnosis, the spark of a new romance, and unexpected news that may change life as she knows it. Despite their fractured sibling relationship, she continues to show up, though hope of a reconciliation between the two is long gone, buried in the silence between them.

But the truth has a way of boiling over, and when secrets, soufflés, and second chances collide, Griff and Lisa may discover a recipe for forgiveness.

Heartfelt and inspiring, When Lemons Give You Life is an uplifting, feel-good novel about love, forgiveness, redemption, and the joy of rediscovering what truly matters in life."

Review: Pretty as a Peach

Pretty as a Peach by Grace Helena Walz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 Stars

I was all set for some good Southern women's fiction. You know, a lot of bless your hearts, some good gossiping, and a bit of back stabbing and such. But what I got was three different storylines, which made this a disappointing read. Oh, don't get me wrong, there is a bit of in-family fighting, and an intriguing story of "multi-tiered marketing" (scam, in other words), but you need to read a lot of the book to really get to the delicious parts.

The characters-well, sometimes I just wanted to smack them upside the heads and yell "pull on your big girl panties and make a move", but there was finally some growth near the end of the book

I also felt like the romance could have been left out. It really made no sense in the larger scheme of things. That would have left room to follow up on the five women's lives and left me with a sense of closure.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Thomas Nelkson, the author, and Netgalley/Edelweiss.

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SUMMARY: "A preschool teacher and her retiree neighbor team up to take on a suspicious multi-level marketing scheme that has a vicelike grip on the women in their suburban Southern community.

Delilah Thomas, beloved preschool teacher to the twos class, has always been the unconventional "black sheep" in the perfectly manicured town of Pearl, Georgia. While the rest of Pearl thrives on perfection and tradition, Delilah's thrift store wardrobe and carefree demeanor set her apart, much to the dismay of her pageant-loving mother and her circle of polished, lifelong friends. Though she loves her quiet life, she can't quite understand why she doesn't feel like she truly belongs in the only hometown she's ever known.

When a new multi-level marketing craze called Peach Pit takes hold of Pearl's high-achieving moms with promises of becoming #girlbosses, Delilah's suspicions are immediately piqued. Promising miracle beauty products made from the "magical" pits of Georgia peaches, the company pressures women to invest in hefty starter packs. To Delilah, it's not just a scam but a direct attack on the women of Pearl, already burdened by the weight of polished perfection.

But when it gets personal, Delilah joins forces with her quirky elderly neighbor Mrs. Chopra and her best friend Jasper to uncover the truth behind Peach Pit's toxic façade. What begins as a battle against shady business practices quickly spirals into revelations about Delilah's own family, her lifelong friendships, and the place she holds in a town desperate to change her.

Full of Southern charm, wit, and heart, this captivating story explores the bonds that hold us together, the courage it takes to resist conformity, and the true meaning of belonging."

Review: The Masala Chai Mystery Club

The Masala Chai Mystery Club by M.J. Soni
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 Stars

While this book was very diverse in its characters, many of them were unlikeable, including some of the main characters.

The mystery was so convoluted that I nearly gave up, and once you come to the conclusion that you should never discount the elderly (and let's face it, most of the characters are what would be considered elderly in today's society), it is easy to see who-dun-it. It's the how and the why that kept me reading.

You need to suspend a lot of disbelief to read this novel, and that made it very difficult at times for me to keep pushing through this book.

A very light summer read that does give you a lot of information on Indian cuisine.

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

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Summary: "Suspects abound when a much-despised neighbor is killed, perfect for fans of Only Murders in the Building and Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club.

Retired librarian Neeti Shah was hoping for a restful life with her chai-loving friends, but when the body of a neighbor, a childhood friend of Neeti's, turns up dead and the killer’s MO is similar to that of Neeti's most recent book club read, things start to get out of control.

When Neeti hears a commotion at a neighbor’s house, she finds Rohit’s body sprawled across the bottom of the staircase with Agatha Christie’s Dumb Witness nearby. Blackmailing his neighbors, threatening them with lawsuits, and calling them by nasty nicknames were only some of the hateful things that made him so disliked. But were they angry enough to kill?

Neeti is indebted to her old friend, and she's determined to find his killer. But she can't do it alone, so she enlists her mystery-loving friends, the Masala Chai Mystery Club, to get to the bottom of the murder.

But Neeti and her club members need to be careful."

Review: Vera Stein Is Fine

Vera Stein Is Fine by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Steamy

LGBT

Vera, Brody and Eli meet in college. Vera falls for Brody and Eli is left as the third wheel throughout college.  

Jump forward 20 years, and Vera is still with Brody (well, sort of) as his personal assistant (Brody is an actor) and a sometime booty call. She has also been her dying mother's caretaker for the last ten years or so.   One day, Vera read Brody's e-mail and found out something hurtful. Vera goes running to her Grandmother for comfort and help at the grandmother's retirement home. She walks in on her Grandmother (Ruby, an ex- scream queen) in an awkward situation.

Well, to make a long story short. Vera ends up taking a position at the nursing home as the events coordinator and finds herself face-to-face with Eli.

This is your typical frenemies-to-lovers story with a lot of quirky side characters and situations. Steamy without being over-the-top. And since this is a romance as well as a growth novel, you can bet that there is a HEA.

This would make a perfect movie for the Hallmark Channel, although it would need a bit of editing.*grin*

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

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SUMMARY : "From #1 New York Times bestseller Julie Murphy comes a heartfelt and hilarious tale of a woman who thinks life and love have passed her by until she’s thrown into her grandmother’s quirky world of octogenarian free love and gets a second chance with the one man she never expected to see again. Perhaps it’s never too late to play the opening credits…

Welcome to Starlight Palms, a favorite retirement facility among Hollywood actors and industry professionals tucked away just outside of sunny Palm Springs. Filled with forgotten scream queens, eccentric screenwriters, and heartthrobs of the past, it has a brand-new resident: Vera Stein, age forty.

Vera knows she’s missed her chance at a life worthy of the silver screen, just like she missed her chance at ever finding true love. But Vera isn’t one to take chances. She’s spent most of her adult years caretaking for her dying mother and her movie star boss’s ego. Now abruptly houseless and jobless, Vera has nowhere to land, so to grandmother’s house we go!

The Starlight Palms Senior Living Center is midcentury Hollywood down to its pastel-painted bones. This desert gem isn’t lacking in saucy plot twists (swinging seniors, anyone?) or a leading man: Elias Buckley, the on-site doctor and Vera’s former ill-fated college fling and—for reasons that will stay in Vegas—legally her ex-husband according to the state of Nevada.

It’s not long before Vera falls into a job as the activities coordinator and under the spell of a certain smart-mouthed doctor… Suddenly all those empty years in LA look less like mistakes and a lot more like backstory. With a fresh start at her fingertips, Vera begins to see that even with all the detours she’s taken, there’s still a Hollywood ending (and maybe even a happily ever after) in sight…

TROPES
- Second Chance Romance
- Workplace Romance
- Multigenerational Family Drama
- Forced Proximity
- New Lease on Life and Spice"

Review: The Second Chance Trailer Park

The Second Chance Trailer Park by Katie Powner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



4.5 Stars

Meridith may not think she is having a midlife crisis, but in my opinion, that is exactly what I think is happening to her.

Meridith's life is a mess. She has lost a promotion to a much younger woman who doesn't have her experience. She is a serial dater whose relationships don't make it past the six-month mark. She may have lost a man she loves because the inside of his car is a mess.

Now she thinks she wants peace and quiet, joining a book club and sipping wine while chatting with other like-minded women. She thinks she can get this peace by moving to an age-restricted trailer park. Of course, to get in, she has to lie about her age! This is not what she gets, though.

This book runs the gamut from funny to sad to quirky, and sometimes just perfect. Although this book is about characters who are 55 and older, I recommend this book for any age. The ending is perfect -a real HEA!

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

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

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SUMMARY:  

"Fifty-two-year-old Meredith McGillicutty is not having a midlife crisis. She’s just ready for a change of pace, that’s all. The fact that she lied to get into a retirement community has nothing to do with being passed over for a promotion at work nor her recent breakup with the only man she’s ever loved. 

Nothing.     

Meredith only wants some peace and quiet. To sit on a porch in elastic-waist pants and mingle with other mature individuals who value a life of serenity. But the residents of the Peaceful Pines retirement community have other plans for her. These quirky and endearing neighbors seem to know her better than she knows herself, and they decide Meredith’s life is only just beginning. 

Blending humor and tenderness, The Second Chance Trailer Park will appeal to fans of Fredrik Backman and Lenora Worth."

Review: Fury in Death

Fury in Death by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

J. D. Robb hits another one out of the ballpark with her newest Eve Dallas novel.

Just when you think you've seen every horrid thing that can happen in this world, the scary imagination of the author comes up with something new and fresh. In this book, we start off with a horrible enough prologue and shoot right to a dead body that has been pulverized. Pulverized not by falling 50 or so floors out of a window, but by being beaten with fists.  Then another death by pulverization, and something connects both of these dead men. The company they worked for. A company that claims to be working for the betterment of the world, but guess what? Eve eventually finds out that that is just not true. Oh man, you are going to love to hate these protagonists, and they sure do deserve your hate.

This was a fairly slow build to a very exciting ending.

I loved it-a perfect addition to this series.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher St. Martin's Press and the author.

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SUMMARY: "

NYSPD lieutenant Eve Dallas never knows what to expect when she gets word of a body. It could be an elderly man who made the mistake of climbing a ladder in slippery footwear. And the next call could be a wealthy biotech executive beaten to death in his home office—but what was Larry Chu’s mistake?

The victim’s corpse is so mangled and damaged it’s hard to believe a lone, unarmed assailant could have managed it. The killer was clearly unnaturally strong—and smart enough to find a way into Chu’s highly secure building. Most of all, whoever did this was very, very angry.

The excessive violence leads Dallas to conclude that this was a deeply personal act, born of a rage that she can’t excuse but can understand thanks to her own traumatic past. And though the motive seems rooted in heated emotion rather than cold hard cash, she can’t ignore the suspicious bank account in the Cayman Islands, or the shadowy, profit-hungry company Chu worked for. The mystery only grows when it turns out Chu isn’t the only victim—and Dallas will need to tear through one layer of secrecy after another to reveal what lies behind this explosion of fury..."

Review: The Lake Club

The Lake Club by Lina Patton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A quick, beachy type read, filled with lies and secrets. A lot of backstabbing is going on, infidelities, and an old mystery too!

 As far as the characters go, Danika was a total *itch, Augie was a dishrag, and Chat (oh dear, but yes, that is really his name) came off as being a sneaky two-timer.  I really didn't like or connect with any of them, but the story was so compelling that I just couldn't put this book down. 

This would be an interesting book club read, as there is plenty to discuss while reading this book.

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

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SUMMARY: "DRAMA LOVES A DEEP END

When Danika Crawley attends events at the Aldon Lakes Country Club, heads turn. Danika has it all—beauty, money, a successful husband, and two perfect children. She plans on making this summer her best season yet and has a secret weapon to secure the envy of her neighbors.

Augie Elling has lost it all. Reeling from a post-grad scandal amidst her now-former life in New York, she returns to Aldon Lakes with her tail between her legs. Augie wants to keep her head down, save money, and find a way to leave her hometown for good, but someone keeps distracting her.

Danika and Augie have one thing in common: they are both a little obsessed with Chat, the male nanny Danika hired for the summer. But, unbeknownst to either woman, Chat’s appearance in town sets off a chain reaction that threatens Aldon Lakes’ carefully maintained ecosystem. As the heat rises between the three of them, the truth behind a long-buried scandal comes to light, and everyone at the club must reckon with the consequences.

The Lake Club is both an addictive, rollicking beach read, and a stylish, deft exploration of a lesser-known region of American wealth."

Review: The Chateau on Sunset

The Chateau on Sunset by Natasha Lester
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For some odd reason, all I could think about when reading this book was the lyrics to the old Eagles song "Hotel California."

This book is supposed to be a modern retelling of "Jane Eyre" -I wouldn't know because I have never read that book. What I do know is that this book pulled me in right from the very first chapter and wouldn't let me go until after I read the author's notes.

If you are a fan of very old movies, you will be able to pick out a lot of old-time stars that are hidden behind false names.

This book deals with some very heavy issues of the day, such as drug use, rape, exploitation, and being a woman in a man's world. 

The story revolves around Aria Jones, who was orphaned and then dumped on a drug-addicted fading actress/star, her aunt, at the Chateau Marmont. I am not going to tell you more for fear of ruining the story for you, but it was quite an intense story with humor and horror.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher Ballentine Books/ Random House, the author, and Netgalley

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Summary: "In 1957, newly orphaned Aria Jones is sent to live with her aunt, a fading star who hides away in Hollywood’s infamous Chateau Marmont. There, two aspiring actresses, Calliope and Flitter, take grieving Aria under their wing.

But the Marmont isn’t meant for small girls with big hearts, and Aria’s first few nights reveal an insidious secret that continues to haunt her as she grows up in the hotel’s halls, where the bright lights of Hollywood cast even darker shadows. If Aria can just stay invisible and invite no trouble as she saves money, then she can leave the Marmont and live life on her own terms—alone, but free.

All her carefully laid plans are shattered when the hotel is bought by Theo Winchester: a reclusive rockstar turned unexpected caretaker of his daughter Adele, and unlike any man Aria has met before. To earn the last bit of money she needs to escape, Aria becomes Adele’s tutor, which brings Aria closer to Theo and ignites a passion she never expected.

Suddenly, Aria finds herself wondering if she still wants to remain invisible—and if inviting trouble is a risk she’s willing to take to pursue what she truly desires

Review: Chelsea Girls

Chelsea Girls by Catherine Lloyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this book reminded me that I am a part of History. That is, if you consider the 1950's to be long enough to be historical!

Mary Quant was a leader in women's fashion, leading women out of the dull colors of Post-War England and into the bright and shining colors and shapes of a new era.

I'm a bit young and poor to have worn any of her clothing, but my wardrobe still had some influence of Mary Quant. My fashion ended up being hip-hugger bell-bottoms and crop tops, which still flood the market. These had been influenced by Mary.

A lot of name-dropping went into this book-Sasson, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, J.C. Penney, etc.

This was a brilliant piece of fiction with a ton of reality included.

This will make a great beach read as well as a book club choice. There is a lot to discuss in this book, especially for a slightly older group who lived in this era.

Not only does this book tell all about the fashion revolution, but it is also a deep look into women owning their own businesses and the difficulties surrounding women in business.


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

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Summary: "A glamorous and revealing biographical novel for readers of Renee Rosen, Allison Pataki, and Fiona Davis, starring one of Swinging London’s defining figures, Mary Quant, who made history with the miniskirt, slashed hemlines, and transformed more than fashion, for herself, for her friends, and for a generation.

Post-war London is a city in flux, with burned-out buildings serving as vivid reminders of the past. But beneath those scars is a sense of resurging optimism. Chrissie Walker, a new student at Goldsmiths arts college, feels it keenly. So does Mary Quant, the auburn-haired classmate who becomes Chrissie’s best friend.

Like Chrissie, Mary wants more from life than to nab a husband and settle down. Though shy, Mary shows her daring in subtle ways, including her home-sewn clothes. Designed to run and move in, her outfits inspire Chrissie and others to reinvent their own style. They also catch the eye of charismatic fellow student Alexander Plunket Greene, who becomes Mary’s partner and helps fund the opening of Bazaar, a King’s Road shop that marks the beginning of an empire.

Dresses with ever-rising hemlines, skinny-rib sweaters and Peter Pan collars, boldly patterned tights and scarves—Mary Quant’s “Chelsea look” becomes a sensation among socialites, working-class girls, and everyone in between. As the miniskirt becomes a global phenomenon, Mary Quant ignites a fashion revolution that transforms everyone in its orbit—including Chrissie, who must reconcile her own ambitions with her friend’s fame, debutante Daphne, whose life opens up in unexpected ways, and Fern, an aspiring model who will become an icon.

In the years that follow, each will deal with the public and personal challenges faced by unconventional women willing to break the rules—and in the process, transform the world."