Congratulations to
Patty M.
winner of
- Winner selected by random.org
- Book to be sent by Tandem Literary
Month: May 2016
Sunday Post
Book arrivals: (linked to Mailbox Monday)
- Sunshine Beach by Wendy Wax (Berkley)
- By the Numbers by Jen Lancaster (NAL)
- Sweet Tomorrows by Debbie Macomber (Ballantine; NetGalley)
- Better Off Without Him by Dee Ernst (purchased)
Last week on Bookfan:
- Review/US Giveaway: The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews
- Review: I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
Reading plan for this week:
Breaking news 🙂
“Rosie“
Meet our new granddaughter Rosemary Kathleen
I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
- Title: I Let You Go: A Novel
- Author: Clare Mackintosh
- Pages: 369
- Genre: Thriller
- Published: May 2016 – Berkley
- Source: Publisher
Description: On a rainy afternoon, a mother’s life is shattered as her son slips from her grip and runs into the street…
Jenna Gray moves to the remote Welsh coast, desperate to leave behind the heartbreak of the car accident and heal from the loss of her child and her painful past. At the same time, a pair of Bristol police investigators chase down one hopeless lead after another in the hit-and-run, finding themselves as drawn to each other as they are to the frustrating, twist-filled case before them. (publisher)
My take: I Let You Go is a gripping story of the fall-out from a tragic event on a rainy evening. Clare Mackintosh’s debut grabbed me on the first page and gave me a shake every so often with a twist. When that happened I had to go back and reread passages to see how I missed something! I liked how easily Mackintosh’s story flowed despite how uncomfortable I felt while reading – I would definitely read more from her. That’s saying a lot given how seldom I dip into this genre.
I loved the Welsh seaside setting for part of the novel. Macintosh’s description made me feel like I was there. I felt the same about the scenes involving the police investigation – her previous experience as an investigator gave believable authenticity to the plot.
Even though I Let You Go was difficult for me to read at times, the pacing was good and I became invested in most of the characters – hoping for the best possible outcome. To say anything else would risk a spoiler so I’ll stop now. Recommended to fans of psychological thrillers.
Praise for I LET YOU GO:
“Chilling, compelling and compassionate, I Let You Go is a finely-crafted novel with a killer twist.” —Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Train
“On the level of the movie The Sixth Sense for its cleverness…This kind of sharp, cunning writing makes one eagerly look forward to Mackintosh’s next novel.”—Shelf Awareness
“[Mackintosh] deftly twists the reader in one direction, then leads them astray in another, until the startling conclusion.”—RT Book Reviews
Review/US Giveaway: The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews
- Title: The Weekenders
- Author: Mary Kay Andrews
- Genre: Women’s Fiction
- Pages: 464
- Published: May 2016 – St. Martin’s Press
- Source: Tandem Literary
Description: Some people stay all summer long on the idyllic island of Belle Isle, North Carolina. Others come only for the weekends–and the mix between the regulars and “the weekenders” can sometimes make the sparks fly. Riley Griggs has a season of good times with friends and family ahead of her on Belle Isle when things take an unexpected turn. While waiting for her husband to arrive on the ferry one Friday afternoon, Riley is confronted by a process server who thrusts papers into her hand. And her husband is nowhere to be found.
So she turns to her island friends for help and support, but it turns out that each of them has their own secrets, and the clock is ticking as the mystery deepens…in a murderous way. Cocktail parties aside, Riley must find a way to investigate the secrets of Belle Island, the husband she might not really know, and the summer that could change everything. (publisher)
My take: It’s Memorial Day weekend and Riley Griggs and her daughter are waiting to board the ferry over to Belle Isle for the start of the summer season. She’s upset that her husband is a no-show since he promised he’d be there. Little does she know he’s gone – forever.
There’s a mystery (or two) to solve, some romance, and a gorgeous setting. There are some difficult family relationships especially between Riley and her mother and Riley and her daughter. Lets just say the apples didn’t fall far from the trees and the frustration of each was understandable at different times.
The Weekenders is a typical Mary Kay Andrews summer beach read. As you might expect from one of her novels there are a smattering of quirky characters, a great best-friend for Riley, and a pretty wonderful love interest for her too. I enjoyed it all and recommend you find time to read it this summer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Kay Andrews is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Beach Town, Save the Date, Ladies’ Night, Christmas Bliss, Spring Fever, and Summer Rental, all from St. Martin’s Press, as well as The Fixer Upper, Deep Dish, Blue Christmas, Savannah Breeze, Hissy Fit, Little Bitty Lies, and Savannah Blues, all HarperPerennial. On May 17, 2016, St. Martin’s Press will release her 24th novel, THE WEEKENDERS. A former journalist for
The Atlanta Journal Constitution, she divides her time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, Georgia.
PRAISE FOR THE WEEKENDERS:
“Andrews blends romance, intrigue, and soap-opera-like twists in this entertaining novel about a gossipy beach town.”—Booklist
“As her fans can already attest, Andrews has this ‘perfect beach read’ label down pat — and then some. The Weekenders is not just good, it is beyond good… Summer doesn’t truly begin without a Mary Kay Andrews book in your beach bag, so here is another winner and Top Pick just for you.”—RT Book Reviews
“Your house has been foreclosed. Your husband is AWOL. An old flame has rematerialized. How could things get worse? Uh, your daughter’s entering puberty? That’s the kettle of fish in which the Queen of the Summer Read dumps our heroine in the fun and frothy The weekenders. Think sun, sand, romance, drama and a fine sheen of witty commentary.”—AARP
US Giveaway
Please click here and fill out the form
GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED
Sunday Post
Book arrivals: (linked to Mailbox Monday)
- Lawyer for the Cat by Lee Robinson (Thomas Dunne Books)
Last week on Bookfan:
Reading plan for this week:
Wedding Girl by Stacey Ballis
Title: Wedding Girl: A Novel- Author: Stacey Ballis
- Genre: Women’s Fiction
- Pages: 416
- Published: May 2016 – Berkley
- Source: Publisher; NetGalley
Description: Top pastry chef Sophie Bernstein and her sommelier fiancé were set to have Chicago’s culinary wedding of the year…until the groom eloped with someone else in a very public debacle, leaving Sophie splashed across the tabloids—fifty grand in debt on her dream wedding and one-hundred percent screwed on her dream life. The icing on the cake was when she lost her job and her home…
Laying low, Sophie moves in with her grandmother, Bubbles. That way, she can keep Bubbles and her sweater-wearing pug company and nurse her broken heart. But when Sophie gets a part-time job at the old-fashioned neighborhood bakery, she finds herself up to her elbows in dough and reluctantly giving a wedding cake customer advice on everything from gift bags to guest accommodations. Before she knows it, she’s an online wedding planner. It’s not mousse and macarons, but it pays the bills. But with the arrival of unexpected personal and professional twists, Sophie wonders if she’s really moving forward—or starting over from scratch… (publisher)
My take: Sophie and her grandmother love an evening spent on the couch watching an old black and white movie. That’s kind of what this novel reminded me of – an entertaining and sweet, feel-good movie.
For the most part I really liked Sophie and I loved Bubbles, her grandmother. Bubbles added colorful comedy to Sophie’s world. She also kept her grounded while Sophie’s entire world threw her curveballs. Her life does a 180° turn in the opening pages of the novel when her fiancé doesn’t show for their wedding. She’s left holding the bill for the extravagant wedding and eventually loses her job thus setting the plot up for the novel. And that’s just the start of the changes Sophie will deal with. I was cheering her on all the way.
I enjoyed Stacey Ballis’s novel about second chances, reconfigured futures, and unexpected possibilities. Filled with fun secondary characters, cozy Chicago neighborhoods, and fabulous food (and recipes) Wedding Girl was my kind of book. I recommend it to fans of the author, romantic stories, and foodie fiction.
The Ones Who Matter Most by Rachael Herron
Title: The Ones Who Matter Most- Author: Rachael Herron
- Genre: Women’s Fiction
- Pages: 432
- Published: April 2016 – NAL
- Source: Publisher
Description: After her husband dies unexpectedly, Abby Roberts comes across something startling: wedding photographs of him with another woman, along with pictures of a baby boy. Shocked, Abby does something utterly impulsive: She embarks on a journey to discover the family her husband apparently left behind.
Money has always been tight for single mom Fern Reyes, and never tighter than now. But this month, in place of a child-support check, her ex’s pretty, privileged wife appears on her doorstep with far too many questions. Unfortunately, her young son is so taken with Abby that Fern doesn’t have the heart to send her away.
What begins as one woman’s search for truth becomes a deep bond forged between the unlikeliest of people, and the discovery that there are many ways to make a family—as long as you take care…
CONVERSATION GUIDE INCLUDED (publisher)
My take: I was immediately drawn into this story of two women trying to hold their heads above water. One, Abby, is newly widowed and finds out her husband was hiding another life from her. The other, Fern, drives a city bus to support her young son, ex father-in-law, and an elderly woman who lives with them. She’s not even close to making ends meet so when her monthly check from her ex doesn’t arrive she doesn’t know what she’ll do. When Abby finds out about Fern she feels compelled to get to know her.
Could these two even be in the same room together – much less, become friends? And what happens when they try? I loved Rachael Herron’s story. Even though the two main characters could be annoying at times I felt enormous sympathy for each woman. In other words, they were very human. Fern’s eleven-year-old son Matias was so endearing and quite astute in figuring out the adults in his life. The other characters (Fern’s brother, boyfriend, father-in-law and Elva) gave depth to the novel.
I loved that Abby was a botanist who carried different flowers, etc in her pocket to get various results, feelings. If only she could figure out what to carry to get the happiness she craved. If only she believed she deserved it. Fern was a tough nut – she had to be. She would protect her loved ones at all costs and she didn’t want Abby coming in and stealing her family. But one day things changed and Fern was forced to reconsider everything.
I think fans of women’s fiction, stories about what makes a family, and Rachael Herron will enjoy this novel as much as I did.
Sunday Post
Book arrivals: (linked to Mailbox Monday)
- Happy Ever After in Christmas by Debbie Mason (Forever; NetGalley)
- The Angel’s Share by J.R. Ward (NAL; NetGalley)
- The Space Between Sisters by Mary McNear (Wm Morrow Paperbacks)
- Monsters: A Love Story by Liz Kay (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)
- Swear on This Life by Renée Carlino (Atria Books; NetGalley)
- The Wedding Sisters by Jamie Brenner – surprise book (St. Martin’s Press)
Last week on Bookfan:
Reading schedule for this week:
Giveaway winner!
Congratulations to
Laurie M.
winner of
- Winner selected by random.org
- Book provided by the publisher
The Obsession by Nora Roberts
- Title: The Obsession
- Author: Nora Roberts
- Pages: 453
- Genre: Thriller; Romantic Suspense
- Published: April 2016 – Berkley
- Source: Publisher
Description: Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl she found trapped in a root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous.
Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton.
Naomi’s new life clicks into place as easily as the photographs that are her livelihood. But even with her new loves—including an adopted mutt, a rambling fixer-upper, and, eventually Xander—darkness follows her. As she finds herself at home and at peace in Sunrise Cove, moving on and creating a foundation she’s not had since she fled West Virginia after her father’s horrific crimes, she realizes all too soon that her past is still not buried. And as much as she wants to build a life, someone wants to tear hers down. (publisher)
My take: So, if you’re a regular reader of Bookfan you know I don’t read many thrillers. It’s a genre I’m making a point to read more of in 2016. The latest one is The Obsession by Nora Roberts. I liked it! I think what worked for me is that Roberts put the initial crime out there in the first chapter and then veered away from it to the main character and the effect the crime had on her life.
After discovering a crime when she was eleven years old Naomi has lived her life in small bits, leaving a place when people found out who she was and where she came from. That eventually brought her to an old house in need of renovation in Washington state. Roberts devoted chapters to the renovation of the house – I liked that – and Naomi’s immersion in the small town. She experiences life as never before and believes she can really put down roots in this place. But can she keep the past from catching up with her?
Roberts’ story kept me turning the pages and wondering how everything would turn out. I would definitely read more of her thrillers/romantic suspense and recommend The Obsession to fans of the author, genre and maybe reluctant thriller readers – like me!
Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
- Title: Britt-Marie Was Here
- Author: Fredrik Backman
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Pages: 336
- Published: May 2016 – Atria Books
- Source: Publisher; NetGalley
Description: Britt-Marie can’t stand mess. She eats dinner at precisely the right time and starts her day at six in the morning because only lunatics wake up later than that. And she is not passive-aggressive. Not in the least. It’s just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention.
But at sixty-three, Britt-Marie has had enough. She finally walks out on her loveless forty-year marriage and finds a job in the only place she can: Borg, a small, derelict town devastated by the financial crisis. For the fastidious Britt-Marie, this new world of noisy children, muddy floors, and a roommate who is a rat (literally), is a hard adjustment.
As for the citizens of Borg, with everything that they know crumbling around them, the only thing that they have left to hold onto is something Britt-Marie absolutely loathes: their love of soccer. When the village’s youth team becomes desperate for a coach, they set their sights on her. She’s the least likely candidate, but their need is obvious and there is no one else to do it.
Thus begins a beautiful and unlikely partnership. In her new role as reluctant mentor to these lost young boys and girls, Britt-Marie soon finds herself becoming increasingly vital to the community. And even more surprisingly, she is the object of romantic desire for a friendly and handsome local policeman named Sven. In this world of oddballs and misfits, can Britt-Marie finally find a place where she belongs? (publisher)
My take: The light went out in Britt-Marie’s life when she was a young girl. Feeling pretty much invisible she lives a thankless life that lacks passion. She finally decides to leave that life and winds up in a small town as their rec center manager. This is funny because she doesn’t know the first thing about managing a recreation center. She’s really good at cleaning though…
The town is populated with quirky characters – some who sneak up on you and break your heart. Britt-Marie has found a place where, little by little, people see her, appreciate her, and maybe even need her. She starts to find hope and a chance for a new start. Will she take that chance?
It took me a while to warm up to this novel but once I did, I really liked it. I think if you enjoyed A Man Called Ove, Backman’s first novel, you might like Britt-Marie Was Here. The author again addressed the human condition in a relatable way that now makes me smile thinking back on the people of Borg.
Sunday Post
Book arrivals: (linked to Mailbox Monday)
- The Weekenders by Mary Kay Andrews (Tandem Literary)
- Firefly Summer by Nan Rossiter (Kensington)
- Flight Patterns by Karen White (NAL)
- Now and Then Friends by Kate Hewitt (NAL; NetGalley)
Last week on Bookfan:
- Review: The Girl From Home by Adam Mitzner
- US Giveaway: Finding Fraser
Reading plan for this week:
US Giveaway: Finding Fraser by K.C. Dyer
Escape to Scotland with the delightful new novel that readers have fallen in love with—inspired by Diana Gabaldon’s #1 New York Times bestselling Outlander series.
I met Jamie Fraser when I was nineteen years old. He was tall, red-headed, and at our first meeting at least, a virgin. He was, in fact, the perfect man.
That he was fictional hardly entered into it…
On the cusp of thirty, Emma Sheridan is desperately in need of a change. After a string of failed relationships, she can admit that no man has ever lived up to her idea of perfection: the Scottish fictional star of romantic fantasies the world over—James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser.
Her ideal man might be ripped from the pages of a book, but Emma hopes that by making one life-altering decision she might be able to turn fiction into fact. After selling all her worldly possessions, Emma takes off for Scotland with nothing but her burgeoning travel blog to confide in.
But as she scours the country’s rolling green hills and crumbling castles, Emma discovers that in searching for her own Jamie Fraser, she just might find herself.
US Giveaway
Please click here and fill out the form
GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED
The Girl From Home by Adam Mitzner
Title: The Girl From Home- Author: Adam Mitzner
- Genre: Thriller
- Pages: 336
- Published: April 2016 – Gallery Books
- Source: Publisher; FSB Associates
Description: The acclaimed author, whose recent novel of suspense Losing Faith was declared “startling . . . a well-crafted story” (Kirkus Reviews), takes you on a gripping psychological thrill ride in this electrifying tale of a millionaire who will go to deadly lengths to get what he wants.
Jonathan Caine is a true master of the universe — a currency wizard with a trophy wife, a penthouse condo with a view of the Statue of Liberty, and the desire for more — when his world comes crashing down, spiraling him into a relentless fall from grace. Devastated, Jonathan returns to his hometown to care for his ailing father and attend his twenty-fifth high school reunion, where he becomes reacquainted with former prom queen Jacqueline Williams. Back in the day, Jackie didn’t even know Jonathan existed. Now she is intrigued by the man he has become. But their budding relationship has problems, not the least of which is Jackie’s jealous and abusive husband. Jonathan is determined to learn from his mistakes, but is he capable of complete transformation? Or will a shocking temptation test his desire for redemption beyond anything he could have imagined? (publisher)
My take: Jonathan Caine is a man who wants what he wants. Motivated by events that occurred when he was a child he’s willing to do almost anything to get what he wants, what will bring him happiness. He charts his own course and eventually ends up on the wrong side of the law. And that’s just the start of his downturn.
Out of a job he goes home to New Jersey to look after his ill father. While there he connects with the girl (Jackie) of his dreams from high school at their 25th class reunion. This connection buoys him along as he tries to get his life back on track. Their connection also leads them down a path that will be life-changing for both. Because of their actions on different occasions I found myself equally liking and disliking Jackie and Jonathan. For me that’s always a good thing and adds to my enjoyment of a book.
The Girl From Home is an entertaining thriller. By choice I don’t read many in this genre but every once in a while I like to try one. Like I said, I was entertained but not in an “on the edge of my seat” way. I was satisfied with the way Mitzner wrapped things up and would definitely read more of his books.
Author Bio
Adam Mitzner, author of The Girl from Home, is a lawyer by day and the author of Losing Faith, A Case of Redemption, and A Conflict of Interest. He lives with his family in New York City.
For more information please visit http://adammitzner.com, and follow the author on Facebook
Sunday Post and a mini review
Happy May!
Book arrivals: (linked to Mailbox Monday)
- Forever Beach by Shelley Noble (William Morrow)
- The Obsession by Nora Roberts (Berkley)
Last week on Bookfan:
- Guest Post: Laura McNeill
- Guest Post/Review: Jodi Thomas; Lone Heart Pass
Reading plan for this week:
Mini review:
Title: Change of Scene: A novella- Author: Mary Kay Andrews
- Genre: Women’s Fiction
- Pages: 100
- Published: April 2016 – St. Martin’s Press
- Source: Publisher; NetGalley
Description: This 100 page prequel novella to Mary Kay Andrews’s bestselling novel Beach Town is sure to delight fans and new readers alike.
Greer Hennessy is a movie location scout whose latest project has literally gone up in flames. After an avocado field accidentally catches fire on the set of her new movie, she is out of a job and practically run out of town. With her feisty grandmother Dearie, a Golden Age starlet who still has a lot of vigor left in her, complicating her life, Greer needs a bit of a rest. But Greer’s own mother then drops a bombshell on her that will change Greer’s life completely, and raise questions about her own father that she can’t ignore. In desperate need of a second chance, can Greer find what she’s looking for in the one last job she can get: a movie called BEACH TOWN? But first, she needs to find the perfect spot… (publisher)
My mini review: If you haven’t read Beach Town, Mary Kay Andrew’s most recent novel, you’ll want to read Change of Scene first. It covers the weeks leading up to Beach Town and gives a little more texture to Greer’s background.
If you’re like me and read Beach Town last year you’ll enjoy revisiting Greer’s story. I enjoyed it and recommend it to fans of the author. My thanks to the publisher for sending a review galley to me.
Bookfan 