Month: February 2019

Spotlight/US Giveaway: Why Kill The Innocent by C.S. Harris

Mary Berkley Trade, C.S. Harris, Giveaway, Historical Mystery

Why Kill the Innocent by C.S. Harris

Berkley Trade Paperback; February 26, 2019; $16

Description:  WHY KILL THE INNOCENT transports readers to 1814, during the height of a frigid London winter. Lady Devlin literally stumbles upon trouble when she trips over a cadaver on a snowy city street. She soon discovers that the body belongs to beautiful young musician Jane Ambrose, the piano instructor of the royal Princess Charlotte. Ambrose’s death stirs fear within the palace, and any investigation into the matter is quickly dismissed. But Sebastian and Hero, determined to fight for justice, search all of London for Ambrose’s murderer. As the winter air turns bitterly cold, the brooding and contemplative Sebastian finds a chilling number of potential suspects, all with ample reason to kill the brilliant musician. Which of them forced Ambrose to take her final bow?

About the author:

Candice Proctor, aka C.S. Harris and C.S. Graham, is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than twenty novels including the Sebastian St. Cyr Regency mystery series written under the name C.S. Harris, the C.S. Graham thriller series co-written with Steven Harris, and seven historical romances. She is also the author of a nonfiction historical study of women in the French Revolution. Her books are available worldwide and have been translated into over twenty languages.

A former academic with a PhD in European history, Candice also worked as an archaeologist on a variety of sites including a Hudson’s Bay Company Fort in San Juan Island, a Cherokee village in Tennessee, a prehistoric kill site in Victoria, Australia, and a Roman cemetery and medieval manor house in Winchester, England. She loves to travel and has spent much of her life abroad, living in Spain, Greece, England, France, Jordan, and Australia. She now makes her home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband, retired Army officer Steve Harris, and an ever-expanding number of cats.

US Giveaway

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The Matchmaker’s List by Sonya Lalli

Mary Berkley Books, Contemporary Fiction, Sonya Lalli

The Matchmaker’s List by Sonya Lalli

Published:  February 2019 – Berkley Books

Book courtesy of Berkley

Description:  Raina Anand may have finally given in to family pressure and agreed to let her grandmother play matchmaker, but that doesn’t mean she has to like it–or that she has to play by the rules. Nani always took Raina’s side when she tried to push past the traditional expectations of their tight-knit Indian-immigrant community, but now she’s ambushing Raina with a list of suitable bachelors. Is it too much to ask for a little space? Besides, what Nani doesn’t know won’t hurt her…

As Raina’s life spirals into a parade of Nani-approved bachelors and disastrous blind dates, she must find a way out of this modern-day arranged-marriage trap without shattering her beloved grandmother’s dreams.  (publisher)

My take:  The Matchmaker’s List is the story of Raina, her Nani (grandmother), and Nani’s quest to match Raina before her 30th birthday. As her birthday approaches Raina agrees to date the possible matches on Nani’s list – some with hilarious results, others are more appalling. They only elevate Raina’s frustration with her choices, cultural and personal, and lead her to reveal something that will set a series of events in motion. How will she rein it all back in? The novel, with some unexpected turns, becomes Raina’s journey to figuring out what she really wants in life. Although I was a bit frustrated with her on more than one occasion I ultimately cheered her on.  Recommended to fans of chick lit that you can imagine ending up on the big screen.

 

Sunday Post

Mary Book arrivals, Mailbox Monday, Sunday Post

Book arrivals:  (linked to Mailbox Monday)

   

Last week on Bookfan:

      

Reading plan for this week:

 

 

 

The Secret of Clouds by Alyson Richman

Mary Alyson Richman, Berkley, Contemporary Fiction

The Secret of Clouds by Alyson Richman

Published:  February 2019 – Berkley

Finished copy from Berkley

My take:  This is the story of Yuri, a boy whose parents immigrated to the US after the Chernobyl tragedy. They didn’t know the lasting effect that tragedy would have on their future. Their son was born with a heart defect that prevented him from experiencing a life other children and parents take for granted. But it didn’t stop him from loving baseball and his favorite team, the NY Yankees. And that served as a connection to his English tutor, Maggie Topper. They bond over their love of the sport which leads to lively conversations and writing in a journal and reading books. I loved that while Maggie was there to teach Yuri she learned so much from him – ultimately that life is meant to be lived no matter how much time we have.  The Secret of Clouds is an emotional novel. Alyson Richman used baseball, classical music, the power of the written word and the importance of personal interactions – which is to say, she wrote the book I want to read.

 

The Suspect by Fiona Barton

Mary Berkley, Fiona Barton, Mystery

The Suspect by Fiona Barton

Published January 2019 – Berkley Hardcover

Book provided by the publisher

Description:  The New York Times bestselling author of The Widow returns with a brand new novel of twisting psychological suspense about every parent’s worst nightmare…

When two eighteen-year-old girls go missing in Thailand, their families are thrust into the international spotlight: desperate, bereft, and frantic with worry. What were the girls up to before they disappeared?

Journalist Kate Waters always does everything she can to be first to the story, first with the exclusive, first to discover the truth—and this time is no exception. But she can’t help but think of her own son, whom she hasn’t seen in two years, since he left home to go travelling. 

As the case of the missing girls unfolds, they will all find that even this far away, danger can lie closer to home than you might think…  (publisher)

My take:  Thank you Berkley Publishing for sending me a free copy of The Suspect. The first of Fiona Barton’s novels I’ve had the chance to read, it is about two girls on a gap year trip to Thailand. What could go wrong? Well, since I’m a parent whose children are grown and out of the nest I can think of plenty that could go wrong. And it does in this book. I think reading from a parent’s perspective – or maybe any adult’s perspective – will color the way one reacts to the events. What it all distilled to for me is this question: What would I do to protect my child? And what about children who don’t have a strong, supportive parent to step in to protect them? Morals, ethics, and human decency might go out the window. I was rather appalled by the actions of all involved at one time or another – and maybe that’s the point. Again, what would I do?

I don’t read a ton of mysteries like The Suspect but I think many readers of the genre will like it. I think younger readers (teens, young adults) will most likely relate on some level to a few of the characters. The pacing is good and helped by short chapters – an aspect in suspenseful books that I’ve come to appreciate. Lastly, I must say I really enjoyed the character of DI Sparkes and would love to read more about him going forward from this novel. I appreciated how Barton handled what was going on in his personal life while he was on the job trying to solve the crime.

Will I read another book by Fiona Barton? I think I’ll eventually circle back and read The Widow. I’ll also read any books that follow The Suspect that include DI Sparkes.

About the author:

Fiona Barton is an award-winning journalist in the UK who has worked for the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph, among other publications. She drew on her thirty-five year career to craft Kate Waters into the dogged, resourceful reporter that readers have come to love in the previous two books. Barton says writing Kate feels “like coming home.”

 

Little Big Love by Katy Regan

Mary Berkley Trade, Contemporary Fiction, Katy Regan

Little Big Love by Katy Regan

February 2019 – Berkley Trade Paperback Reprint

Book provided by Berkley

Description:  Liam Jones was the love of Juliet’s life. He was her brother’s best friend, then her best friend, then the father of her little boy. In those shining weeks after Zac was born, she had never been happier and neither had Liam.
 
And then one night, Liam disappeared without a trace.
 
Ten-year-old Zac Hutchinson collects facts: octopuses have three hearts, Usain Bolt is the fastest man on earth. But no one will tell him what happened to his father and where he went.
 
When Juliet, inadvertently admits that his father is the only man she’s ever loved, Zac decides he is going to find him and deliver his mom the happily ever after she deserves.

But Liam left for a reason, and as Zac searches for clues of his father, Juliet begins to rebuild what shattered so many years ago.
 
An unforgettable, heart-stopping story of the secrets we keep and of love in all of its many forms. (publisher)

My take:  Ten-year-old Zac loves to learn facts – about everything. His favorite book is a tome of facts. Lately he’s been wanting to discover the facts about his father. He and his best friend Teagan make it their mission to get answers to questions he’s asked (in his mind) for a long time. Little by little he’ll learn the true facts from various sources – but at what cost?

Katy Regan’s novel really tugged at my heartstrings.  I couldn’t help but cheer for Zac and Teagan – wanted to reach through the pages and hug them. Their individual stories are heartbreaking yet hopeful. The inner strength and resilience they show is remarkable. One might expect those qualities from adults but these children shine in the novel.

This is a story about facts and truth and how the same truth is usually different for everyone. We hang on to the truth that helps us get by – but sometimes that’s not enough. As serious as that sounds, there are many moments of levity. I really liked this novel and recommend it to fans of contemporary fiction about living with grief and overcoming difficult circumstances.

 

Spotlight/US Giveaway: Mission Critical by Mark Greaney

Mary Berkley, Giveaway, Mark Greaney, Spotlight, Thriller

Description

The Chef’s Secret by Crystal King

Mary Atria Books, Crystal King, Historical Fiction

The Chef’s Secret by Crystal King

Published February 2019 – Atria Books

Review copy courtesy of the publisher

Description:  When Bartolomeo Scappi dies in 1577, he leaves his vast estate—properties, money, and his position—to his nephew and apprentice Giovanni. He also gives Giovanni the keys to two strongboxes and strict instructions to burn their contents. Despite Scappi’s dire warning that the information concealed in those boxes could put Giovanni’s life and others at risk, Giovanni is compelled to learn his uncle’s secrets. He undertakes the arduous task of decoding Scappi’s journals and uncovers a history of deception, betrayal, and murder—all to protect an illicit love affair.

As Giovanni pieces together the details of Scappi’s past, he must contend with two rivals who have joined forces—his brother Cesare and Scappi’s former protégé, Domenico Romoli, who will do anything to get his hands on the late chef’s recipes.

With luscious prose that captures the full-scale of the sumptuous feasts for which Scappi was known, The Chef’s Secret serves up power, intrigue, and passion, bringing Renaissance Italy to life in a delectable fashion. (publisher)

My take:  It’s been a while since I visited 16th century Italy in a historical fiction novel so when I had the opportunity to read The Chef’s Secret I was excited to begin the adventure. Author Crystal King’s novel is replete with opulent settings, rich and detailed food descriptions, and the passion of her characters.

I liked the dual-storylines of Italy’s most famous chef (he served Popes, Kings and other notables of the time) and the heir he hoped would follow in his culinary footsteps. Upon the death of his uncle, Giovanni received boxes that contained journals. The mostly encoded journals of Bartolomeo Scappi not only developed the characters but also unleashed long-held secrets that would put Gio in certain danger. All combined for an entertaining read that I can recommend to fans of historical fiction and the Renaissance era.

 

The Victory Garden by Rhys Bowen

Mary Historical Fiction, Lake Union Publishing, Little Bird Publicity, Rhys Bowen

The Victory Garden by Rhys Bowen

Lake Union Publishing – February 2019

Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Little Bird Publicity

Description:  While World War I rages on the European continent, young Emily Bryce is getting restless under the thumb of her over-protective parents in Devonshire. Her best friend Clarissa is serving as a nurse at the front while Emily has been kept at home visiting wounded officers at a local convalescent hospital. There she meets a young rough-around-the-edges Australian pilot and falls in love with him, much to her parents’ chagrin. What’s more, Emily decides to finally set off on her own and contribute to the war effort, becoming a member of the Women’s Land Army, a post her mother finds most unsuitable. (publisher)

My take:  Emily Bryce has led a sheltered life. When she turns 21 she’s determined to do more to help her country which is in the midst of WWI. She joins the Women’s Land Army and learns to work with her hands. She meets a vast array of women who will become more family than acquaintances.

There’s a character who, near the end of the novel, says “We’ve no idea what we can do until we try.”  For me, that was the underlying tone of the novel. It’s a story about people who rose to the occasion. I loved Emily’s spirit and felt her emotional highs and lows throughout the story. She possessed an admirable strength of character.

Rhys Bowen’s novel explores the personal losses experienced during the war, new paths to travel in life, and a bit of a mystery to be solved. I loved learning about the Women’s Land Army. The Victory Garden is a satisfying work of historical fiction that I’m happy to recommend to fans of the genre and Rhys Bowen.

About the author:

Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of 40 mystery novels. Her work includes In Farleigh Field and The Tuscan Child, both standalone novels about World War II; the Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1900s New York City; the Royal Spyness novels, featuring a minor royal in 1930s England; and the Constable Evans mysteries about a police constable in contemporary Wales. Rhys’s works have won multiple Agatha, Anthony, and MacAvity awards, and In Farleigh Field was a 2018 Edgar Award nominee and Lefty Award winner. Rhys is a transplanted Brit who now divides her time between California and Arizona. Connect with her at rhysbowen.com

Praise for Rhys Bowen:

“Rhys Bowen is one of the very best fiction writers of the day. With a deep understanding of the wounded human heart, and an uncanny ability to capture the quiet emotions and the grand scale of war, she rises above her contemporaries.”
—Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author

 

Sunday Post

Mary Book arrivals, Mailbox Monday, Sunday Post

Book arrivals:  (linked to Mailbox Monday)

    

Last week on Bookfan:

   

Reading plan for this week:

I was at my mom’s house last week so there wasn’t much time for reading. 

Some exciting news: the closing on my parents’ Arizona house was Friday. We had a wonderful realtor who made selling a house a thousand miles away surprisingly easy. 

 

The Military Wife by Laura Trentham

Mary Contemporary Fiction, Laura Trentham, St. Martin's Griffin

The Military Wife by Laura Trentham

Published: February 2019 – St. Martin’s Griffin

Book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley

Description: A young widow embraces a second chance at life when she reconnects with those who understand the sacrifices made by American soldiers and their families in award-winning author Laura Trentham’s The Military Wife.

Harper Lee Wilcox has been marking time in her hometown of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina since her husband, Noah Wilcox’s death, nearly five years earlier. With her son Ben turning five and living at home with her mother, Harper fights a growing restlessness, worried that moving on means leaving the memory of her husband behind.

Her best friend, Allison Teague, is dealing with struggles of her own. Her husband, a former SEAL that served with Noah, was injured while deployed and has come home physically healed but fighting PTSD. With three children underfoot and unable to help her husband, Allison is at her wit’s end.

In an effort to reenergize her own life, Harper sees an opportunity to help not only Allison but a network of other military wives eager to support her idea of starting a string of coffee houses close to military bases around the country.

In her pursuit of her dream, Harper crosses paths with Bennett Caldwell, Noah’s best friend and SEAL brother. A man who has a promise to keep, entangling their lives in ways neither of them can foresee. As her business grows so does an unexpected relationship with Bennett. Can Harper let go of her grief and build a future with Bennett even as the man they both loved haunts their pasts? (publisher)

My take: The Military Wife is an emotional novel about Harper Lee Wilcox, a widow with a young son. She’s still coming to grips with the tragic loss of her husband while trying to provide a normal life for her son. When she meets with a man who survived the mission that claimed her husband she hopes to find the answers she’s sought for so many years. She’ll find much more. Along the way she gets an opportunity to repay a kindness to another military wife and that opens up the possibility to help more. The Military Wife is a story of honor, loss and second chances. I really liked it and look forward to the next book since this is billed as the first of a series.

About the author:

LAURA TRENTHAM is an award-winning author of contemporary and historical romance. She is a member of RWA, and has been a finalist multiple times in the Golden Heart competition. A chemical engineer by training and a lover of books by nature, she lives in South Carolina.

—
Buy-Book Links: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250145536

 

Paperback release: The Queen of Hearts

Mary Berkley Trade, Contemporary Fiction, Kimmery Martin

The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin

Berkley Trade Paperback Reprint; February 5, 2019

Description:  Zadie Anson and Emma Colley have been best friends since their early twenties, when they first began navigating serious romantic relationships amid the intensity of medical school. Now they’re happily married wives and mothers with successful careers–Zadie as a pediatric cardiologist and Emma as a trauma surgeon. Their lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, are chaotic but fulfilling, until the return of a former colleague unearths a secret one of them has been harboring for years.

As chief resident, Nick Xenokostas was the center of Zadie’s life–both professionally and personally–throughout a tragic chain of events during her third year of medical school that she has long since put behind her. Nick’s unexpected reappearance at a time of new professional crisis shocks both women into a deeper look at the difficult choices they made at the beginning of their careers. As it becomes evident that Emma must have known more than she revealed about circumstances that nearly derailed both their lives, Zadie starts to question everything she thought she knew about her closest friend. (publisher)

My take:  Kimmery Martin’s debut novel is the story of two friends, betrayal, and the possibility of forgiveness. Zadie and Emma meet in medical school and become dependable friends as they experience the ins and outs of their medical training.

There are highs and lows that I imagine only people who’ve worked in a hospital or shared the common bond of med school can truly understand. Martin’s descriptive writing kept me interested, especially when I didn’t have a clue if what was happening during procedures, etc. was realistic. Given her real life experience as an ER doctor I trusted and went along with the story. I was completely engaged in what transpired in the hospital setting and on a personal level with Zadie and Emma.

I think fans of medical dramas like Grey’s Anatomy will enjoy The Queen of Hearts. I look forward to Kimmery Martin’s next novel.

 

Sunday Post

Mary Book arrivals, Mailbox Monday, Sunday Post

Book arrivals:  (linked to Mailbox Monday)

  

Last week on Bookfan:

What a week! The polar vortex lingered so I stayed inside and read a couple of books, baked some banana bread, and pushed the vacuum around a bit. I have a new perspective of what cold is and you won’t hear me grumbling about temps (F) in the 20s and 30s range again 😀

This week marks 11 years of Bookfan. Thank you for continuing to stop by to talk about books!

Reading plan for this week: