With a pain that ever grows: WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE.

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great start to a new Karin Slaughter series!

On the night of the town's 4th of July celebration, Emmy Clifton turns away her friend's teenage daughter, Madison, when she asks for help. That decision haunts her forever, as Madison and her best friend, Cheyenne disappear that night, destroying Emmy's friendship and leaving a lasting legacy on the town.

Now another girl is missing and Emmy and her father, the local Sheriff to Emmy's deputy Sheriff, must try not to repeat past mistakes.

This is a typical Karin Slaughter mystery--gritty, dark, and not afraid to delve into uncomfortable topics. Emmy is a nuanced and flawed character, making her fascinating to read about, especially when the story explores her relationship with her father and her son, both in the force.

GUILTY is both an excellent thriller, slowly spooling together disparate threads and unraveling secrets about a town, while also being a character-driven tale, delving into Emmy's family, friendships, and feelings. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

View all my reviews

The night's all that's left behind: THE MISSING HALF.

The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Nic's life has been in complete disarray since the disappearance of her sister seven years ago. Everyone assumes her older sister, Kasey, is dead, after they found her car abandoned, her belongings still inside. Nic remains in the same dead-end job, living the same dead-end life. Then she meets Jenna, the one person who might understand what she's been through: Jenna's sister Jules disappeared two weeks before Kasey, under nearly the exact same circumstances. The two team up to figure out what happened to their sisters.

This is a well-written mystery that keeps you guessing to the very end. I was convinced I had it all figured out, but wow, I was wrong. It's twisty and incredibly dark, but also character-driven, as we watch Nic negotiate her sad life. Flowers does an excellent job of tying together so many disparate plot threads.

The hardest part of HALF is that Nic is quite unlikable and that personality trait only seems to increase as the book goes on. There is so much drinking in the story, even in the flashbacks, before Nic was 21. It's just dismal and depressing. And the ending was a disappointment for me after all I'd invested into the story; yes, it was twisty and shocking, but not quite how I wanted it all to turn out.

View all my reviews

A heart that burns so true: UNCOMMON FAVOR.

Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned from All Three by Dawn Staley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dawn Staley is a legend in my house. I’m a University of Virginia girl since birth, and I remember being in awe of Dawn since I was a kid.

Reading her autobiography only enforced that tenfold. This is such a great book. Dawn writes in such an engaging, conversational style—I flew through this. Each chapter in UNCOMMON FAVOR centers around a lesson she’s learned in her life. She's led such a remarkable life, coming from the Philly projects to high school stardom to UVA and the Final Four to the pros to Olympics championships and then to her famous coaching gigs. I also had no idea about some of the twists and turns her life took; her story is incredibly motivational. Yet she remains true to her roots and a steadfast supporter of the women she coaches and what she believes in.

While you’ll love this if you like basketball or sports, the book is applicable to all areas of life, and I highlighted so many quotes. I think this one should be mandatory reading for leaders, or those aspiring to leadership positions.

View all my reviews

My life before me, undone: OUT OF STEP, INTO YOU.

Out of Step, into You by Ciera Burch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Taylor and Mari are former childhood best friends after a large misunderstanding has gone unaddressed for many years. But then Mari winds up back at Taylor's high school and the two girls are on the same cross country team--finding themselves forced together at every turn.

This is a cute story--nothing revolutionary, but an interesting YA lesbian romance is always a plus. I believe this would resonate well with its intended audience.

There's plenty of drama (so much drama). Some of it seems a little forced, but they are teens, after all. Somehow teenagers are seeming both incredibly juvenile and wise beyond their years anymore (I say this as a parent of two teens). Mari feels the burden of caring for her younger siblings while her mom works multiple shifts to make rent, and Taylor is dealing with a critically ill father. The book plays off the stereotypes of class, between Mari's working class background and Taylor's wealthier one.

Overall, this story is simplistic at times and can rely on tropes, but Mari and Taylor are well-drawn teen characters, and the younger audience should identify with their struggles, including best friend troubles, parental drama, sports teams dynamics, and Taylor's quest to figure out her sexual identity.

I received a copy of this book from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group / Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

View all my reviews

But time and too much don't belong together like we do: THE LOVE HATERS.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Video producer Katie is about to lose her job. Until her boss, Cole, convinces her to head to the Florida Keys to film and interview Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Hutch. Hutch, who happens to be classically handsome and nice, is well known for rescuing Jennifer Aniston's dog. His fame and affability could be the key to saving Katie's job.

And, it turns out, he's Cole's estranged brother. When Katie arrives in the Keys, she realizes she's in a hot mess. She lied about being able to swim and the only teacher available is Hutch. She knows nothing about the Coast Guard. She's in the middle of Cole and Hutch's family battles. Hutch is irresistibly kind and attractive. And he comes with Aunt Rue, his lovable yet forceful aunt, who quickly adopts Katie and tries to force her out of her shell.

Center gives us a cute romance with plenty of serious moments. It drags a bit in the middle and gets a little bogged down with all the miscommunication and lies, but overall, this one is enjoyable. Katie is a likable woman and Hutch, well, he's really quite perfect, even if he's deemed a love hater. Rue is a force of life, as are her friends, "the Gals."

Katie has struggled with body image for years, and the book focuses on body positivity and Katie's attempts to embrace her body image. I think it may wrap things up a little easily here (finding love = problem solved), but it's nice to see a romance explore these issues at all.

Easily the best character in this story, though, is George Bailey, Hutch's Great Dane. That lovable oaf is immune from the insanity and lies and half truths swirling around him and truly shines throughout.

If you enjoy your romances with a bit of drama (and a picture perfect dog-loving hero), this one is for you.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an unbiased review.

View all my reviews

Time will do the talking, years will do the walking: THE LANGUAGE OF THE BIRDS.

The Language of the Birds: A Novel by K.A. Merson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is quite an intriguing book. It features a YA protagonist but it's a very "smart" story--filled with big words, big theories, and big problems.

Also, it feels as if there are a lot of books featuring codes and puzzles lately. I love National Treasure as much as the next person, but I will freely confess that I am not smart enough for all these clues and treasure hunts!

Seventeen-year-old Arizona's father dies in a motorcycle accident and her mother disappears while they are mourning him. She quickly learns her mom has been kidnapped and the only way to get her back is to solve a series of puzzles and codes. The kidnappers have ties to the old alchemists and the book features tons of puzzles and mentions of ancient texts (and lots of readings of poems). I won't lie--it's a lot.

The puzzling is fun, but my favorites were the more emotional sections with Arizona herself. She was clearly autistic, or something similar, and it was her father with whom she had identified more (he was also a puzzle guy). Arizona is crazy mature for a 17-year-old, driving the family truck and camper all around to solve these puzzles, and basically dealing with a death and disappearance without completely freaking out. She also has an adorable dog, Mojo.

This is definitely a different sort of book, but that's not a bad thing. The puzzles and ciphers and some of the odd plot choices were a bit too much for me, but I'm still glad I read it.

I received this book from Netgalley and Ballantine Books in return for an unbiased review.

View all my reviews

I feel like I'm being paid to lose my mind: NIGHTSHADE.

Nightshade: A Novel by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is strange to read a Connelly book that doesn't star Bosch, Haller, or Ballard, I won't lie.

It takes a few minutes to get used to our new character, Sgt. Stilwell, a law enforcement officer who has been exiled to Catalina Island based on his past behavior. Stilwell has oversight of the island, but that's about it. When a body is found dead in the water, tied down by an anchor, he's forced to call in his old rivals from the mainland to help investigate the case. They show about the same dedication and enthusiasm as when Stilwell worked with them, however, and he finds himself investigating on the side. Who is this woman found in the water with a streak of purple dye in her hair?

As with most Connelly books, he deftly weaves together intersecting mysteries and threads, including issues with a gangster on the island. Stilwell also has a girlfriend on island, who helps oversee boats arriving at the docks.

So far, Stilwell isn't as personable to me as Bosch or Haller, but he certainly grows on you as the story picks up momentum. He has a Connelly character's usual desire for justice--no matter the cost--and is easy to root for. I will say this story is very nautical--lots of water, lots of boats, lots of sailing references, so be prepared for that.

View all my reviews

With a head full of dreams: I LOVE YOU SO MOCHI.

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very cute YA story.

Kimi is still figuring out what she wants to be. (Totally normal for a teen, by the way!) The one thing she's starting to realize: she doesn't want to be a painter like her mom is--and wants her to be. After a particularly brutal argument with her mom, she heads to Japan to spend the summer with her maternal grandparents, whom she has never met. In Kyoto, Kimi gets to know her grandparents better (probably my favorite part). She meets a cute boy, Akira. Through these new experiences, she learns about her self and explores her love of fashion.

This story is a little basic, but very sweet. It might be a little unrealistic -- everything gets fixed via a two-week spring trip? Sign me up for a trip to Japan. But Kimi's grandpa is adorable and the story works through the idea of finding yourself and the difficult teen years, when you feel torn between what you want and what your parents wish for you.

This book is well-suited for its YA audience, as long as they have the understanding that all problems may not be fixed so quickly (or by meeting a cute guy). 3.5 stars.

View all my reviews

It's just a case of heart over mind: BATTLE OF THE BOOKSTORES.

Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a cute story, though it takes a while to really ramp up.

Ryan and Josie are both booksellers on the same block. They've never really interacted until their boss decides to combine their stores and eliminate one of their managerial positions: only the manager whose store makes the most profit over the summer will survive. This instantly turns the two into rivals, putting easygoing Ryan up against uptight Josie.

Josie turns to an online bookseller forum for solace and comfort -- with no idea that the person she's pouring her heart out to is, in fact, Ryan. (This is a very cute You've Got Mail touch.)

Ryan sells romance, managing a team of quirky characters while Josie peddles literary fiction and prefers to fly solo, with only a little help from her younger sister. Both have childhood issues that affect their outlook on life. At first, the story is a bit frustrating as they just seem to yell at each other, but once we get to know them both more, it takes more shape and complexity.

The book plays with romance tropes, especially since Ryan deals with them every day. It sometimes tries a little too hard to be funny, but often succeeds. This is a book for book lovers, for sure. 3.5 stars.

View all my reviews

Now none of that matters when the flame licks the spoon: KING OF ASHES.

King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very S.A. Cosby book. It's incredibly well-written, but wow, it's brutal and sometimes almost too hard to read. I had to read it in small chunks, with lots of breaks for the light and fluffy romance I was also reading.

Roman returns home to Virginia from Atlanta, where he's a high-flying financial advisor. In Virginia, Roman's father is in a coma, leaving Roman's sister Neveah and brother Dante to run the family crematory business. Soon he learns Dante has gotten on the wrong side of a gang and is in horrible debt to a set of cruel and ruthless brothers.

Roman must enact a plan to save Dante, the family business, and ultimately, everyone's lives. Doing so will mean examining what exactly he's willing to do for his family. The resulting story is brutal and violent but also a masterful exploration of familial ties and the lengths people will go for power. Roman confronts a lot of dark truths--is he doing this for his family, his own power, or something else. Being home also reminds him constantly of his mother, who went missing when he was a teen. To this day, locals still think Roman's father killed her (and used the crematory).

Cosby does an amazing job of showing how secrets and grief can build up and consume a person--even a family. I can't say that I totally enjoyed this book, but I certainly appreciated it. He remains a master of this genre.

View all my reviews

I'm walking through the midnights: PARENTS WEEKEND.

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a quick read that draws you in immediately.

Alex Finlay just has a way of building suspense and keeping you guessing.

It's parents' weekend at a small university in Santa Clara, CA. As the parents descend, a group of capstone students disappear, never showing up as promised for dinner with their folks. We have Stella, the daughter of a plastic surgeon and his wife; Felix, the son of the dean's secretary; Libby, the daughter of an Internet-famous judge; Blane, the son of a high-ranking state department official; and Mark, whose dad has a prison record.

Finlay makes it simple to immediately get wrapped up in the lives of these kids and their college drama along with the parents and their messy situations. Their disappearance is investigated by FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller, known to Finlay readers from THE NIGHT SHIFT. I love Agent Keller, her husband Bob, and their twins! Seeing her again was a total highlight.

These college students have a ton of interpersonal drama plus involvement with a notorious older student. Meanwhile, their parents are busy cheating, lying, and keeping their own secrets. Short chapters from all sorts of POV (adult and teen, plus Agent Keller) build up the tension and slowly reveal details until we learn the truth.

If you want a thriller that's a quick read and keeps your interest, this is a good choice.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books.

View all my reviews