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

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

The 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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You sent my head to spinning, just like a Tilt-A-whirl: EVEN IF IT BREAKS YOUR HEART.

Even If It Breaks Your Heart by Erin Hahn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Look it's Erin Hahn, just breaking my heart and putting it back together like it's nothing...

Erin Hahn calls this her "sad rodeo" book, and that was definitely true, but it was also a gorgeous love story and a beautiful story about recovering from grief and loss.

Case and Walker grew up best friends, thick as thieves, and working the rodeo circuit together, riding bulls. But all that changed when Walker's chronic illness caught up with him and he died at age 17. Now Case feels adrift in the world without his best friend. Walker leaves behind a list of things he wanted to do--along with items like jumping naked in a pool and winning the buckle on the national rodeo circuit, Case spies "befriend Winnie Sutton." Case never paid much attention to Winnie, who works at his dad's ranch, but knowing that she meant something to Walker changes things.

This book almost made me like horses, which is a huge feat, as I've been scared of them since childhood. But the ranch vibe is lovely, as is Winnie's absolute reverence for the animals with which she works. Winnie's been raising her younger siblings since her Mom split when she was a kid and her Dad checked out. At this point, she can only practice with other people's horses, but she dreams of competitively barrel racing. And dammit, she's good. I fell hard for Winnie, who has the weight of the world on her shoulders, yet remains optimistic and strong for her family. She has no desire to open her heart or depend on anyone and that includes rich, clueless Case.

I love Erin Hahn's writing and she captured Case and Winnie so well. As they slowly open up to each other and start to trust again... it's impossible not to get caught up in their love. There's nothing instant or half baked in this book. The character development is strong, as we watch Winnie struggle to balance family with her own desires and Case attempt to open up after losing his best friend--and figure out what it is he wants to do with his future. If you've ever lost someone you loved and grew up with young, this book will hit hard.

BREAKS perfectly balances dealing with grief with romance. And it expertly mixes in some fun, with the rodeo pieces (and some awesome 90s country references). This is a beautiful and touching story with wonderful characters. 4.5+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review.

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Like I was loving you out in the wild: THE WOMEN.

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

An interesting and eye-opening read that won't be easily forgotten...

Nursing student Frankie McGrath lives a fairly sheltered life in Southern California with her brother and her conservative parents. But when her older brother enlists in Vietnam, Frankie decides to follow him. She enlists in the Army--the only organization that will ship her to Vietnam right after basic training. Once there, she realizes immediately she's over her head.

Too young to know the Vietnam War personally, my knowledge comes from my parents' stories and the history books. I found THE WOMEN to be incredibly thoughtful and very insightful, filled with lots of knowledge and facts about a huge historical event that I clearly need to learn even more about. The information comes through the narrative, versus preaching or long lists of facts, and we learn about the War via the eyes of Frankie, her fellow nurses, and the men she encounters as she administers on base. What she encounters as she (and the others) save countless lives and watch so many more die before them is staggering. Hannah does an amazing job of portraying the horrors of war, while also giving it a personal touch. Frankie makes friends in Vietnam, forms attachments, and even falls in love. I found the part of the story where she served to be the most compelling--it's raw and real, with realistic details. It becomes incredibly clear how the events of Vietnam would affect those who serve, after what they see and must overcome.

When Frankie returned home, I felt the book floundered a bit. It dragged a little and felt long. Now, I won't deny that the environment that she and many of her fellow soldiers returned to was traumatic and that Hannah portrays how unwelcome and ashamed they feel extraordinarily well. Leaving home a hero, returning hated--Frankie and her fellow nurses (as well as so many soldiers) struggle to return to regular life. The problem is that Frankie, honestly, is not always the most likable character. I wasn't expecting a perfect character but Frankie was difficult to like and her decisions were very frustrating -- and that really had nothing to do with her particular emotional situation from the war, but her overall sheltered world and personality. She's not the best to the people around her. Once she was home, the plot dragged on without a lot of action or forward movement. The lessons taught and emotions elicited were excellent, however. I was horrified that female nurses were told they weren't heroes and even that women never went to Vietnam at all or that anyone who served came home to a country that hated them and couldn't separate the soldiers from the wear. THE WOMEN does a great job illustrating how the U.S. changed over twenty years of war--and who in the U.S. suffered during that transition. I just wish Frankie had a better storyline and personality to hold her own with the power of the wartime backdrop. Still, I enjoyed this book and all it had to offer. 4 stars.



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That's me in the story and the story is real: INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPACE.

Interesting Facts about Space by Emily R. Austin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A rather strange but surprisingly touching read!

So I won't lie, I found parts of this book to be really weird and a little cringey, but some of that became wrapped up in our main character, Enid, a well-written neurodivergent soul, who struggles with a variety of phobias and some issues caused by being born deaf in one ear. Enid copes by focusing on space facts and listening to true crime podcasts. She's a serial dater (and is a lesbian, which makes this book wonderfully queer) who has never had a serious relationship.

We find Enid struggling to develop a relationship with her half sisters, whom she's never really known, as her father abandoned her and her mom when she was just a kid. As a result, she grew up dealing with her mom's depression and mood swings. Enid slowly realizes that some of her fears (such as being terrified of bald men) might relate to her difficult childhood. She starts to think someone is breaking into her apartment. This all sounds serious, but much of this book is witty and quirky. It's told in very short snippets from Enid's point of view, with flashbacks going all the way back to her childhood.

Some of these snippets are definitely odd (Enid had a YouTube channel as a kid, for instance, and she recorded some weird stuff). But overall, as we get to know Enid and watch her trying to form bonds with her half sisters, struggle to be a good daughter to her mom, attempt to actually form a real relationship with a woman named Polly (whom she meets in quite an interesting way), and maintain her closest friendship with her co-worker Vin... well, she grows on you! There are some very touching moments, some bizarre ones, some sweet ones. You have to really give this book a chance and truly experience it--it's hard to describe. It's different and character-driven, and I think it's worth a read.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in return for an unbiased review.

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Up around the moon and back again: WHO TO BELIEVE.

Who to Believe by Edwin Hill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wow -- what an amazing ride filled with murder and mayhem!

In a small town in Massachusetts, every resident pretty much knows everyone else's business. There's Damian, a documentary filmmaker and his wife Alice. Georgia, mom to Chloe and the town's beloved minister, struggling with her divorce from Richard, who is now dating Farley, the local therapist. (And Farley has a front row seat to everyone's thoughts!) Everyone is watched over by the police chief, Max. As for Max, he is busy trying to solve the recent murder of Laurel--where the main suspect is her restaurateur husband, Simon.

This dark, dynamic story is told from the POV of many of these main characters, one-by-one. What could be a repetitive device (hearing about the same event from each person, for example) turns out to be a suspenseful one, as we get new tidbits of information here and there, slowly revealing the story. Everyone has their own secrets and confessions and there's an interesting choice to reveal a killer up front. (But do not despair, there are plenty of killers and death to go around here!)

Our story revolves around a party held for Alice's 40th birthday, followed shortly by another death. It dips back a few days before via flashbacks. This is a wild ride as so many characters are dark and evil! So much drama, so many secrets, so much sneaking around in a small town! While there are plenty of messed up folks to go around here, I found some to love, especially spunky teenage Chloe and Alice's adorable dog, Harper. The book gets a little wild by the end, maybe requiring a bit too much suspension of disbelief, but overall I really enjoyed this dark web of lies and twisted narratives. If you want a dark, complex, well-written mystery that will keep you guessing, this one is for you!

I received a copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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I wanna be at least almost close to worth your love: FIRST LIE WINS.

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Very rarely does a popular book live up to the hype, but this was a really good one!

Evie and Ryan seem like a great couple. He's a handsome, wealthy guy whom she lucked out meeting when her car got an unexpected flat tire. On the surface, Evie looks like a nice girl trying to land a great guy. But beyond that, we learn that Evie doesn't actually exist--Ryan just happens to be her latest mark in a long line of jobs. However, her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, has just changed the rules, and things are about to get crazy, fast.

It's best to go into LIES as blind as you can, because this is a wonderful cat and mouse story filled with people playing games with other people. Secrets, twists, and--you guessed it--lies abound! Sure, you have to suspend a little disbelief here and there, but it's worth it, like watching a really fun popcorn action flick. Reading about everyone trying to get the upper hand over everyone else is exciting and suspenseful, as it's pretty much impossible to figure out what will come next!

I loved that this book was different from most of the thrillers I read and that I couldn't work out the story. A thriller that surprises me is a fun, worthy read. 4.5 stars.

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Seven wonders, city streets: THE GETAWAY LIST.

The Getaway List by Emma Lord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really love Emma Lord.

Her books are so effusive and original. THE GETAWAY LIST is an enjoyable ode to New York City, growing up, and finding yourself. When Riley graduates from high school, she thought she'd have a plan, but she has none. Her mom expects her to stay home over the summer, work at her coffee shop, and go to community college, but when Riley has the chance to visit New York City for the weekend, her visit suddenly turns into... staying. New York City feels like home, like herself, like Riley can finally breathe again. Lord makes us feel like a part of NYC with Riley, bringing the city to life as Riley slowly discovers pieces of herself that she lost while molding herself into the version of Riley that pleased her overbearing mom.

New York also has Tom, Riley's childhood best friend, who moved to the city four years ago. The two expected to see each other often, but when that didn't happen, they developed "The Getaway List," a bucket list of sorts, filled with ideas to keep them connected. Once together, they start knocking items off the list--take a class together, do a run together for the delivery service where Tom works, etc. Riley loves everything about New York, including the fun new group of friends she meets, but she is a bit confused by the new feelings she has for Tom. Falling in love with NYC is one thing; falling in love with Tom is certainly another.

While this is certainly a YA book filled with teen angst and drama, Riley and Tom are mature, and this is such an effervescent and intriguing story. Riley and Tom bonded as children over a time traveling book series, which is woven throughout the book; it's so nerdy and cute, just like them. Like many of Lord's books, this is a romantic story, but also a tale of friendship at its core. She writes about friendship so beautifully, and it's wonderful reading about Riley and Tom's journey.

THE GETAWAY LIST has a bouncy set of ancillary characters who boost the story, from Tom and Riley's other childhood friend, Jesse, who is trying to make it with his band; to Mariella, Tom's cheerful, brilliant tech genius /artistic friend; and Luca, whom Tom and Riley meet at a writing class. This group's new friendship is sweet and touching too. As for Tom and Riley, they do not have overwhelming chemistry, but a deep, calm relationship. Their friendship is the basis for anything more and watching them grow is special in its own way. They are also funny, nerdy, and growing up.

As with any book by Lord, this story is unique, humorous, and entertaining. LIST delves into mother/child relationships, friendships, coming-of-age, and romance with its own special insight. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review.

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It's just the heavy hand of time kinda wears away the shine: THE LAST SEASON.

The Last Season: A Team In Search of Its Soul by Phil Jackson
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

The theme of my reading this year seems to be finding books on my shelves that didn't age well!

It's not exactly Phil Jackson's fault here, as obviously things do change with the passage of time, but in this case, a lot happened, and context matters. But first, we have to deal with the fact that this is, in fact, not Phil's last season, which I didn't really realize when grabbing this book. I figured it was about his last season with the Lakers, but no, it's his last season coaching Kobe and Shaq, which is entirely different.

This means we're reading about Phil coaching a disgruntled, jealous Shaq, who will be traded after the season ends, and a young, angry, Kobe, who has trouble fitting into Phil's famed triangle system. Even worse, the book times itself with the accusations of rape against Kobe in Colorado. At the start, Kobe and Phil seem to truly hate each other, and the book is filled with Phil's criticisms of Kobe. Obviously Phil doesn't know that in twenty years this troubled, talented man will be dead, nor does he realize that they'll reach a friendship (and two more championships) before then, but there's still something slightly gruesome about reading so much hatred against someone beloved who died too young.

THE LAST SEASON is told in a diary-type format, which you need to embrace to truly enjoy it. Each section is short and dated, and Phil mentions how he kept more detailed journals in anticipation of this being his potential final season. My favorite portions covered details about other players in the league, as I'm a huge basketball fan, and this was an era when I truly loved the game. Getting those little tidbits and insights about players I remember so well was fun. Hearing Phil talk about the triangle versus selfish basketball, his coaching philosophies, anything about the Bulls, and how basketball changed since he started playing with the Knicks was all really interesting. Plus, I had forgotten about how Karl Malone and Gary Payton joined the Lakers for this season in search of that elusive ring.

Through these entries, it's clear how brilliant Phil is, how he became such a winning coach, and how much work he put into his coaching. You could pick up little pieces of what others always marveled about--the hours working with Tex on the triangle; meditating with his team; using psychology and counseling to work with the players. He approached basketball and coaching fully and with his whole heart, while still admitting that it was a game and not his entire life--he had his kids and there was a world out there that wasn't his coaching gig. And that explains why he was so hurt when he couldn't reach an agreement with the Lakers (and Kobe) to remain their coach.

I think if I'd read this book in 2004, I would have enjoyed it greatly, even if it would have pulled me between Phil and Kobe, both men that I very much like. Reading it now, with Kobe gone, was hard. Reading a book where Gigi wasn't even born yet--knowing what would happen to Kobe and his daughter--was hard. This isn't a narrative story, per se, but more little entries and snippets over a season. If you're a huge basketball fan, you'll enjoy it, but be prepared for some sadness too. 3.5 stars

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Until the sky falls down on me: ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS.

One of the Good Guys by Araminta Hall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wow, this is a rather disturbing book that left me questioning exactly what I just read!

ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS starts off fairly innocuously, with the story of Cole, who moves to the countryside after a difficult split from his wife, Melissa. Their marriage crumbled as they struggled through IVF and Melissa's focus on her work. Cole seeks the peace and quiet of his small cabin in the country, where he meets Leonora, an artist living nearby. The two forge a friendship based in shared solitude. Things become more dramatic when two young women, who are raising awareness of violence against females, come through the area and then disappear.

Cole's story begins quietly as he tells his side but then abruptly changes format, giving us snippets of various media formats covering the disappearance of the two female activists, Molly and Phoebe, along with more narrative. I found the change rather unexpected and jarring. GUYS focuses on the idea of what makes a good guy--and how society treats women. At times it's a brutal read, capturing the thoughts and ideas from all sides on how women deserve to be treated. Sometimes it's violently dark, emotional, and disturbing. As it also includes flashbacks to Cole and Mel's (failed) IVF treatments, there are lots of triggers. I appreciated the insights the author tried to share on women, consent, and male privilege. But at times, they felt overwhelming to the actual mystery. As a thriller, GUYS fell a little short, with Molly and Phoebe's disappearance and the other plot pieces seeming to be overly constructed and dramatic, but not all that thrilling (I also figured out a lot early on).

There was a lot happening here, but it didn't come together too smoothly for me. 3 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Zando/Gillian Flynn Books in return for an unbiased review.

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Don't concern yourself with this mess you've left for me: GOOD BAD GIRL.

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Can you see the permanent furrow left in my brow from reading this book?

GOOD BAD GIRL is a befuddling thriller that keeps you flipping the pages, desperate to see how everything plays out. It focuses on the intertwined lives of several women. Edith is stuck against her will in a care home by her daughter, Clio. The two have never gotten along. Luckily Edith has Patience, a young cleaning woman and caretaker, who helps her out and brings her contraband supplies. But soon their lives collide dramatically, forcing secrets to come to light.

GOOD is told from the POV of these ladies and a few other characters. It flies by. There's a Mother's Day theme, with the story starting with the disappearance of a baby twenty years ago. It's fascinating trying to work out how our present-day characters are related, if at all, to that long-ago Mother's Day incident. The story deftly weaves in the theme of mothers and daughters and their relationships--sometimes troubled, sometimes not. At the same time, it's a well-done, intricately plotted mystery. I really enjoyed this one. 4.5 stars.

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There's shadows in my mind: THE GUESTS.

The Guests by Margot Hunt
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

It's been a long time since I read a book in one day, but I did it with THE GUESTS!

This is a great, quick read that flies by: a Category 5 storm, Hurricane Celeste, pounds down on the Davies family-Lee, Marlowe, and their teenage twins. It feels like the hurricane is truly happening and the tension building as the storm hits. Just before Celeste arrives, a boat docks at the family's home, and three strangers (brothers Bo and Jason and Bo's girlfriend Darcy) arrive. Since Celeste changed track, they need a place to stay.

What ensues is a totally wild read. Some of the characters reveal a few surprise connections, and the book feels like a locked room thriller, with the family, the new arrivals, and a few others (a friend, an assistant, a handyman) all stuck in the house. I felt like I could hear the wind howling and rain pounding down. Things get a little preposterous by the end, with a few predictable turns and some not at all, but the result is still a fun, exciting, and often violent (!) thriller.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE GUESTS on 01/09/2024!


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After all it was a great big world: SINGLE-MINDED.

Single-Minded by Lisa Daily
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

I'm amazed and grateful at how far attitudes toward the queer community have come in most literature since 2017.

Reading this book, I kept thinking I had gotten the publication date wrong and surely it was published in 2007, but nope, 2017. Alex's life is upended when she finds out that her husband is gay--and that evidence of him cheating is splashed across ESPN. What follows is a lot of jokes about gaydar and the absolute only way gay men should act (complete stereotypes). Almost worse is her immediate assumption (along with her friends) that she then must find another man to be happy. To do so, she must complete a ridiculous dating gauntlet (the "Naughty Nine") to find a real relationship.

Is it the 1950s? Can we not be happy with ourselves? Do we truly need a man for happiness? Are gay men only defined by spandex and good taste in clothing? Good grief.

Perhaps this book would appeal to divorced people new to the dating scene, but I sort of hope not. It makes you grateful not be dating, for sure (Alex experiences some horrors). There are some funny moments, yes, but many others are just cringeworthy. Much of the story wound up being fairly predictable. This one didn't really work well for me. 2.5 stars.



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Took all my plans and I put 'em in a box: THE HEIRESS.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh good, another book about a twisted family living in an old house.

Actually, this was a pretty enjoyable tale of dark family secrets taking place in a musty old Southern mansion! So much that I'm still thinking about it days later. When Ruby McTavish passes away, she's well-known for many things: being a McTavish, a wealthy family that lives in the Ashby house in North Carolina; being kidnapped as a child and then found nearly a year later; marrying four times--and losing all four husbands in strange circumstances; and adopting her son, Cameron and leaving the entire McTavish fortune to him.

We find Cam estranged from the family for nearly 10 years, but finally returning to Ashby House at the urge of his wife, Jules. THE HEIRESS is an engaging page turner, filled with shifty characters hiding secrets and tidbits and lots of weird Southern charm and horrifying terrors. It's interspersed with fascinating letters from Ruby along with articles and Internet pieces on the McTavish family. This is a great technique--interesting, informative, but surprisingly suspenseful.

I don't want to say much to give things away, but this is a quick read filled with lots of twists and turns. A few are predictable, but some are quite unexpected. The family dynamics are excellent (albeit terrifying) and I quite enjoyed all the dark goings on in Ashby House. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review. Look for THE HEIRESS on 01/09/2024!

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The future's bright in your favorite horoscope: A WINTER IN NEW YORK.

A Winter in New York by Josie Silver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Me realizing that I liked this book, except for the entire premise, because I hate when things are based on a lie, ha.

Seriously, though, I could almost excuse Iris, who moves from London to New York after a terrible breakup (that guy was a total jerk) and randomly tells someone at a bookstore a lie. That lie spirals when she meets Gio, a very cute gelato store owner, and suddenly she's trapped in a whole web of lies. Still, I found myself wishing she'd just come clear in the first moment. Iris realizes that Gio has ties to her late mother, who knew his family, and that her mother's scrapbook has a copy of Gio family's precious gelato recipe, which has gone missing in Gio's era. Much drama ensures.

Honestly, it wouldn't be so bad, except there is so so so much buildup about all these lies and half truths and kept secrets (aka the whole book), and then the huge reveal and aftermath sort of happens with a whimper. After all that?! Are you kidding me?

It's sad, because I liked Iris and enjoyed the few chapters that had flashbacks to her mom's life in New York City. Silver captured NYC really well, with great descriptions of the city and its character in various weather conditions and seasons. It's easy to imagine yourself there, eating gelato and seeing the sights from the Brooklyn Bridge. Gio had a very sweet, boisterous, Italian family while I adored Iris' friend Bobby and husband (and the stray cat). So... side characters and setting were excellent and even our main couple was pretty good, I just wish the premise had better legs. 3 stars.

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It's a big sea, but it can't touch you and me: THE FIANCEE FARCE.

The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Exhausted with her stepmother's constant questions about her love life, Tansy Adams invents a fake girlfriend. So imagine her surprise when said girlfriend shows up at a relative's wedding and not only agrees that she's Tansy's girlfriend, but announces that they are engaged as well. Not only that, but this girlfriend is Gemma West, aka Gemma van Dalen, a gorgeous model and member of the wealthy van Dalen family. Turns out Gemma needs Tansy too: in order to satisfy the requirements of her grandfather's will and inherit Van Dalen Publishing, she must be married. Tansy and Gemma strike a deal: Tansy will marry Gemma to help her earn her inheritance and Gemma will help Tansy buy her family's struggling bookstore.

But their business proposition turns complicated--with van Dalens challenging them at every turn and Gemma and Tansy starting to fall for one another--can they make it through the engagement to the altar?

This was just a really fun book. It sets up "good versus evil" right away, with Tansy and Gemma fighting against the evil van Dalens and overall corporate greed and just runs with it in yes, a somewhat cheesy, but an enjoyable, way. I couldn't help but root for Tansy and Gemma, and I feel like this story would make a good movie. The two have a bit of instalove going on (they are practically head over heels by the end of their first meeting), but they are infectious and have some great banter and chemistry.

The result is a book that you can't help but smile while reading. Tansy is quiet and anxious, but she's also brave--the perfect antidote for Gemma, who has never had an advocate in her life. Gemma has something to prove to the van Dalens and perhaps to herself. They're a good pair.

FARCE makes some great points in its support for publishing and newspapers, and I love how both Tansy and Gemma are bisexual. Gemma has a great gaggle of queer friends (yay found family). I would have liked a few more surprises (the villains are pretty clear here). Still this is a really fun and romantic read. 4+ stars.




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Just another whisper, if you please: THIS SPELLS LOVE.

This Spells Love by Kate Robb
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After a bad breakup, Gemma does the only reasonable thing a person could do: a love cleanse found in an old book in her aunt's dusty shop. Sealed with a kiss by her (platonic) best friend, Dax, what could go wrong? Gemma wakes up the next day to realize that her ex has indeed been wiped from her life, and her new life is profoundly different... so different that Dax doesn't know her.

So the premise to this one is a little strange, a little fun, a little... unbelievable? Time traveling books always confuse me a little. The hardest part of this one is that it's difficult to understand why Gemma is suddenly so adamant that Dax, her best friend of four years, should suddenly be her boyfriend in her new timeline. Her obsession with him is borderline creepy. Dax, meanwhile, while momentarily weirded out that a girl shows up seeming to know everything about him, easily adapts and wants to date her, despite the two not really having anything in common. Gemma's early attempts to bond fail, and while the book has a ton of steamy scenes, I'm not sure they have a ton of chemistry together. Gemma has one month to get Dax to kiss her (it's a full moon thing) and revert back to her old life, but soon she starts to wonder if she should stay in her new life.

I did quite enjoy the side characters, like Gemma's quirky aunt and her poor sister, who deserved so much more appreciation. It was interesting to see how Gemma's life differed in her two timelines, and the focus on small business ownership was intriguing. The book had a good focus on believing in yourself and not being afraid to fail.

Overall, I think this is a cute read if you can get past some of the weirdness about Dax and Gemma's friendship/relationship choices.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Random House / Dial Press Trade Paperback in return for an unbiased review.

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Still could manage to smile just takes a while: RESURRECTION WALK.

Resurrection Walk by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

When Mickey Haller feels the high and joy of getting an innocent man released from prison--the Resurrection Walk--he asks his half-brother, Harry Bosch, to look into the many letters he's receiving from other imprisoned persons begging for Haller to take their cases. Bosch focuses in on Lucinda, a woman in prison for murdering her ex-husband, a sheriff's deputy.

I've been a huge fan of Bosch and Connelly's work for years, leading me to love Haller as well. The Bosch/Haller dynamic here is really exciting to see, with the two teaming up to get Lucinda out of prison. We're reminded at how the pair look at things, especially their cases, in such different ways. Bosch is struggling not to disavow the law enforcement principles he holds so dear, being a former cop himself. Can he defend working for the defense--and stay true to himself? But our beloved Bosch is aging and working for Haller means insurance and access to medical treatment. Honestly, seeing Bosch deal with cancer is still really hard for me; it's watching one of my heroes age and struggle. But the nuanced way we saw Bosch and Haller each depict the evidence found against Lucinda (defense versus law enforcement) was fascinating.

Their pieces are even told differently, with the first person for Mickey and third person for Bosch. It's a little jarring at first, but you get used to it, especially if means having access to both of these greats in the same book. The first half is understandably more Bosch, as he digs in on Lucinda's case and the second more Haller, as we get a bit of a "courtroom" (just a judge this time) thriller. There's nothing much better than Mickey Haller in a courtroom, just like you can't top Harry Bosch digging into the timeline of a complicated case.

There are lots of puzzle pieces to fit together in WALK and plenty to keep you captivated besides our two brothers, but I really do feel the story here is Bosch and Haller. I would love more books with both of these guys. The ending seemed a little ambiguous to Haller's future and with Bosch getting up there... well, let's just say I cherish every moment I still have with these two literary favorites. 4.5 stars.

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I start thinking that I am sinking inside a hollow fortress: THE FICTION WRITER.

The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Olivia Fitzgerald's stalled writing career leads her to take a ghostwriting job with Henry "Ash" Asherwood, a mysterious billionaire. He's drawn to her recently failed novel, Becky, based on Rebecca, and wants her to tell the story of his late grandmother and Daphne du Maurier (the author of Rebecca). But at Ash's fancy Malibu estate, nothing is as it seems. Is Ash telling the truth about his family's past, and can Olivia trust him?

This was an... interesting... read. Made me want to re-read Rebecca, but perhaps not this story! Olivia and Ash were incredibly annoying characters. Olivia had an amazing inability to stand up for herself, letting Ash dictate everything, resulting in some very poor decisions and judgements. About 25% in, it felt as if there was no forward progress on the book whatsoever, as Ash and Olivia just hung out in Malibu and did... nothing. Except drink and talk . And did I mention make poor decisions?

Yes, Olivia consistently drinks too much, with the book focusing constantly on her drinking and oh, did it happen to mention Ash was the "sexiest man alive?" Maybe once or twice or a hundred times. The gothic mystery wrapped in layers of meta seems like it would be intriguing, but ultimately winds up confusing, with too many layers of Rebecca and retellings and stories within stories. 2.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row in return for an unbiased review.

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When I wake with her head on my shoulder: FRIENDS DON'T FALL IN LOVE.

Friends Don't Fall in Love by Erin Hahn
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Lorelai Jones has a strong country music career when she stands up for what she believes in, plays a "protest song," and is blacklisted by the country music community. Her career crashes, and her fiancé, another country star, dumps her (online). Five years later, Lorelai is looking to get back into country music, and she turns to her friend, Craig "Huck" Boseman, who runs a small label. Craig has always had a thing for Lorelai, but he was a backup player in her fiancé's band back in the day. Can Craig help reunite Lorelai's career--and get the girl?

This book had everything I love... friends to lovers, country music, tough heroines, cute lyricists, ties to other favorite books... it was so, so good. The relationship between Lorelai and Craig smolders off the pages; their chemistry is amazing. It's sexy and full of banter and romance through songwriting and poetry. There are some really fun ties to Hahn's other country music story (YOU'D BE MINE) and her book featuring Lorelai's friend, Shelby Springfield (BUILT TO LAST), but it easily stands alone (I love everything Hahn writes, though, so definitely recommend them). The way music weaves into the story is really fun. Lorelai has a great group of friends, and it's interesting to hear about Craig's job running his label and writing songs.

Overall, this is a really great romance with fun, real characters (loved them both) and a wonderful story rooted in music. This one was a hit for me. 4.5 stars.

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

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