Monday, March 11, 2024

You are silver lining with bad timing: STONE COLD HEART.

Stone Cold Heart (Cat Kinsella, #2)Stone Cold Heart by Caz Frear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Detective Constable Cat Kinsella works for the London Metropolitan Police but her work life hides a darker past with her family, covering up secrets and transgressions. Cat sees a lot of secrets at work too, especially when she and her partner Luigi Parnell investigate the death of a young Australian woman, Naomi, who is found murdered after attending a party at her boss Kate's home. The clearest suspect is Kate's brother-in-law, Joseph, who claims he was with his wife, Rachel, but Rachel refutes that claim. As Cat digs into the mess surrounding Kate, Joseph, and Rachel, she discovers deep tensions and lies.

This is a strong follow-up to the first book in Cat's series. Cat is a nuanced and complex character with her fair share of flaws, but she's also a great detective with excellent insight into people and their motives. This book will stand alone, but you will have much better insight into Cat's past, especially her history with her father, if you read the first.

The mystery surrounding Naomi's death is well-written, presented as a bit of a mind game to both the detectives and the reader. There are lots of twists and surprises and plenty to guess about as the book goes on. Just when I was convinced I had things figured out, Frear threw me for a new loop. The plot can feel a little long and overly-complicated at times, especially with Cat's family drama thrown in, but overall, this is a tightly written and enjoyable thriller. 4 stars.


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Friday, March 08, 2024

Once I thought that love was something I could never do: HOW YOU GET THE GIRL.

How You Get the Girl (Nashville Love Book 3)How You Get the Girl by Anita Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A queer romance with a basketball theme, be still my beating heart!

I am such a sucker for sports romances, and Kelly writes a great queer one about women's basketball, my favorite of all sports. Julie Parker coaches high school basketball, but isn't prepared when the team's newest addition, Vanessa, is picked up by her foster parent, Elle Cochran. Elle just happens to be one of the most famous college basketball players in their state of Tennessee, but hasn't been seen since she left the WNBA six years ago. Julie worshiped Elle growing up and feels completely awkward around her hero. Elle, meanwhile, is trying to adjust to be a foster parent to Vanessa, her niece.

This is such a fun read! I love that a queer basketball romance for adults exists. There are so many good sports tidbits here and the joy of Julie's team discovering themselves on the court. We get references and mentions of Elle's life at UT and in the WNBA... I just love all of this stuff, so I was in seventh heaven.

Of course, at its heart, this is a romance. Julie, we learn, is figuring out who she is and how she relates to others romantically and sexually. Does she believe in labels and do they even apply to her? More practically, does she want to be in a relationship, especially one with Elle? Elle is bringing up feelings Julie hasn't felt in a long time, maybe ever. And Elle herself is attracted to Julie, but finding it hard to come out of the safe cocoon she's made for herself. Kelly allows the characters to be raw and vulnerable, especially as they explore Elle's mental health struggles and Julie's fears and worries about her sexuality.

Elle volunteers to "fake date" Julie to help her learn about relationships and see if it's something she would like. The result is a slow burn romance with funny banter, excellent chemistry, and lots of exploration. The two women are often serious as they explore love, foster parenthood, and queer labels, but the story is really hilarious too. When Julie's cat Snoozles gets sick, for instance--a moment that should seem dire winds up being so amusing.

There are a few times where Julie pontificates a bit much for my taste and the book feels long. This is also the third book in a series. While it's one of those interconnected series where each book stands alone, there are a lot of references to the characters in the previous two books and it sometimes feels as if you're missing out on inside jokes by not reading the earlier books. Overall, though, this is an excellent story that explores queer romance through the prism of basketball and much more.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in return for an unbiased review.

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Wednesday, March 06, 2024

I'm the center of attention in the walls inside my head: MY DARLING GIRL.

My Darling GirlMy Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "possessed by a demon"

Alison had a horrible childhood, growing up with an abusive, alcoholic mother, Mavis, who made her life miserable. She survived, going on to marry her cheerful husband, Mark, with whom she has two children, teenage Izzy and young Olivia. When Mavis' assistant reaches out with the news that Mavis is dying of cancer and wants to spend her final days with family, Alison is torn. She finally agrees, dreaming of closure with her mother. But when strange things start happening, Alison is convinced her mom is the cause.

This was such an eerie book! Even better, it's set around the Christmas holidays, making all the terrifying events even more awful against the backdrop of holiday pageants and movies and cookies. Alison is clearly (justifiably) traumatized by her childhood, leaving us to wonder if her suspicions toward her mother are true, or just paranoia. These feelings of paranoia weave across the story as weirder and creepier incidents occur once Mavis arrives at Alison's house. Alison begins to suspect her mother is not who she seems, going so far to wonder if she's possessed by a demon.

The plot sounds far fetched, but works surprisingly well. McMahon, as always, creates expert creepy, crackling tension. It's easy to fly through the pages of this one. The cast of characters is limited, but intriguing, and there's the dynamic of wondering whether Alison remembers her childhood correctly and then what exactly is happening with Mavis. The result is a terrifying, spooky read that also explores the issues of motherhood and family. 4 stars.

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Monday, March 04, 2024

I've got to be where you are: A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI WILDE.

A Love Song for Ricki WildeA Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Went into this book blind and was totally blown away. So good!

This was such an amazing read! It centers on Ricki Wilde, who grew up feeling like a complete outsider in her family, which runs a well-known set of Atlanta funeral homes. Ricki has no desire to become part of the family business. When she meets Miss Della, an older woman who offers her space in her Harlem brownstone to open the flower shop of her dreams, Ricki jumps at the chance, even if it means leaving behind her family's wealth and all the security it brings.

I don't really know how to describe this story, and I don't want to share too much. It's such a beautiful love story, though, with magical, almost paranormal elements, sprinkled in. Once Ricki moves to New York, the book weaves in historical stories about Harlem in the 1920s, covering the Harlem Renaissance, as well as some of the utter horrors inflicted upon black southerners in that time period.

Much of this is done through the story's narrative. While much of it is from Ricki's POV, it also skips back in time to the 20s, giving us amazing insight into 1920s Harlem. I loved the history--reading this book around the end of February (it has a Leap Year spin to it), as well as during Black History Month, was perfect.

In New York, Ricki keeps running into a mysterious stranger. Oh my gosh, I was so invested in this relationship, the potential romance, and all these characters. There's the lovely Miss Della, plus Ricki's new best friend, Tuesday, a former child actor. Everyone falls together seamlessly, in their fun quirky way, and Ricki herself is just so spunky and unique--you can't help but root for her! I'm honestly not doing this book justice. You'll find yourself in another world as you read it, partially in the 20s and then caught up in Ricki's magical romance. It's a gorgeous, fantastical read - 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing in return for an unbiased review.

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Friday, March 01, 2024

My shirt looks good on you: WHEN IN ROME.

When in Rome (When in Rome, #1)When in Rome by Sarah Adams
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Welcome to the magical world of small towns where bakers just let strange women, even if they are pop stars, stay in their homes and freely come and go as they please!

Amelia Rose, stage name Rae Rose, is burnt out and needs a break! She takes inspiration from her favorite movie, Roman Holiday, and seeks solace in Rome... Rome, Kentucky! But her car breaks down and she finds herself stranded in the front lawn of Rome's beloved pie-shop owner, Noah Walker. Noah just wants Rae out of his life, but instead he offers her his guest room while her car is being repaired. (Because that's what normal people do.)

So there's nothing unique or revolutionary about this romance, but it's totally charming. They reminded me of the whole Taylor/Travis relationship going on right now in the real world. Amelia is a total sweetheart, whom you immediately want to take care of, and Noah is the epitome of the lovable gruff handsome trope. I mean, the dude runs his late grandmother's pie shop. He loves his sisters. He wears old man pajamas. Could he be any more adorable?

Amelia and Noah have excellent banter, one of my romance must-haves, and great chemistry. ROME is packed with small town charm and a cast of quirky home-grown Rome characters. While there are lots of fun moments and a great romance, both Amelia and Noah do grow throughout the story and encounter serious issues as well. 3.5 stars.

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Wednesday, February 28, 2024

I’m blinking out the madness that surges into my throat: WHERE BUTTERFLIES WANDER.

Where Butterflies WanderWhere Butterflies Wander by Suzanne Redfearn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love when a book is unexpectedly riveting!

Wow, I wasn't sure what to expect with BUTTERFLIES, but this was a magical read. It's heartbreaking at times, but really beautiful. The Egide family is desperately trying to recover after a tragic loss. They retreat to a New Hampshire home that belonged to the family of mom, Marie. Marie hopes to sell the home and property so her own family can start over. But she's thwarted when they discover Davina, known as "the river witch," living in a cabin on the property. A war veteran and beloved friend of Marie's grandpa, Davina is determined to stay, saying Marie's grandfather wanted her there. As the locals line up against the Egides, tensions and anger rise.

This book is completely captivating and very hard to put down. The characters seemed very real , especially Davina and the Egide kids (I see you, sweet Pen). You feel like you're in the New Hampshire countryside with the characters. Much of the story is very sad, between the Egide's loss and Davina's sad past, including war trauma. Redfearn explores grief and loss from a variety of angles and looks at motherhood through the lens of both Davina and Marie. In doing so, she looks at what truly makes a person happy. Is it money, or is there more? We also see how small towns react to attacks on their own.

Pieces of this book seemed a little long, and there were some plot parts that appeared added unnecessarily, and then the end wrapped up a little easily. Overall, though, this is an emotional tale with well-crafted characters and a unique plot that keeps you reading. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in return for an unbiased review.

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Monday, February 26, 2024

I'm captured and the sky is burning red: THE SAFE PLACE.

The Safe PlaceThe Safe Place by Anna Downes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Everything that glitters is not gold!

Emily Proudman's life is falling apart when she receives an amazing offer... she's lost her job and her agent when her former boss, Scott, asks her to come stay at his home in France as a housekeeper and as a caregiver to his ailing daughter. Emily jumps at the chance to escape London, her failing acting career, and her empty bank account. But is this job too good to be true?

This is a quick read and quite the page-turner. It's not a read that will stay with me, but it was a fun one. It's crazy and a little wild and unbelievable but if you like bizarre family secrets and remote, creepy locations (exotic French house!), you'll enjoy it. Downes does a good job of building suspense and tension, with eerie events happening at Scott and Nina's house and Emily's doubts building every day. 3 stars.

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