The Book Was Better

She survived the death of her parents. She survived a brutal attack. Can she survive again?  Arden Bowie is an up and coming author when a "fan" develops a sick obsession that leads to a traumatic assault in her own home. After nearly five years of healing and a new home in the pacific northwest, Arden is finally settled in. She has friends, family nearby, and even the blossom of a special someone in her life. But her attacker has not forgotten her and his obsession has only grown stronger. When he gets released, Arden has to decide if she will let the fear define her or take back her life.  Nora Roberts is like the Ann M. Martin of my adulthood. I typically devour her books, so I was a disappointed when this one felt a little bland for me. Maybe it's a product of how prolific she is, or that I read both her and her JD Robb alter ego, but her characters and situations are starting to feel a bit redundant. I appreciate a strong woman lead, but Arden didn't seem strong ...

How do you stop a killer when his victims are guilty? Eve is up against a physically dominating opponent, but also her own conscience in this 63rd edition. A single assailant, shattered bodies, and tight security. How is he getting in? How is he causing all this destruction, and why? As Dallas, Peabody, and the team dive into each victim, they uncover an ugly truth about a corporate behemoth and the undeniable motive in this killing spree. But who is the bigger monster here?  This might be a new series favorite of mine. It had all of the ingredients of a great "In Death" tale -- family, connection, moral grayness, loyalty...and Roarke. We got authoritative Peabody, softer Somerset, and a butt that even Eve couldn't kick. I felt a few knocks at my suspension of disbelief, but they were quickly answered. The ending was satisfying in more ways than one and the forged bonds (old and new) sang a song of found family.  Fury in Death: ★★★★★

Marianne is sent across the country from Virginia, where her lineage means everything, to Versailles Prep in California where her name is just a whisper. Her mission is clear: facilitate a merger with the Beaumont family and become Versailles royalty; make a brand, not friends. Marianne generates a statement from the start and the imitators wrack up as quickly as the frenemies. But when she makes a questionable decision to keep her crown, the guillotine comes down quickly. She has to decide if her failure will become her legacy or if she can somehow find herself in the rubble.  This Marie-Antoinette-inspired debut was eloquently written, but suffered from a bit of purple prose—beautifully composed, but sometimes unnecessarily elaborate and difficult to decipher. I found the dialogue to be inauthentic at times, and I fear that the exchanges may have been a bit too elevated for the intended YA audience. I remain unclear on why Marianne was given her task in the first place, why Leo h...

In this installment, we find our favorite sleuths on the case of another traitor, and still on the hunt for the elusive Beckett. In a nearby coastal harbor hides a "ghost fleet" -- a fleet of fake ships made from wood and canvas that are designed to make the British naval assets appear more plentiful than they actually are. But when a lookout is murdered and photographic evidence of the ghost fleet goes missing, the Crofter's Green crew must simultaneously solve the murder and stop the photographs from falling into the wrong hands.  Homefront Sleuths feels like coming home. This was a terrific edition featuring the characters I've come to know and love. I really enjoyed the teamwork and suspense, and this tale felt a little less convoluted than some of the recent stories. It seems that Harry is taking on more of a leadership role, and often seems more local-copper than Nigel. I'm pleased that Mr. Brown has recognized that Evie and Nigel work best as a team, and th...

Reeling from loss and struggling with her next steps, Emily decides to take a gap year in Europe before heading off to college. But not just any gap year: She plans to recreate her once-famous grandmother's iconic European tour when she was part of the Flower Sisters duo. Along the way, she finds friends who become family and family secrets. Most importantly, she find herself and who she can be when she lets go and follows her heart.  This was a cute coming of age tale, but fell short when it came to conflict. The plot seemed to follow more of a straight line, with short-lived blips, rather than a typical plot mountain. The journey was fun, but read more like a travel guide than a novel. By the end, I can't really say I felt like I knew the characters all that well, especially not with any depth. There was a lot of crying, forced dialogue, and cliche tropes.  Traveling by book is a favorite past time of mine, but I had hoped for better out of this trip.  I really apprecia...

  When Detective Seth Winslow takes a temporary assignment in a small Missouri town, it's a stark contrast to his time in New York. The locals take care of their own -- and keep each others' secrets. But it might just take an outside perspective to stop a serial killer who's targeting women with long blonde hair: women who look suspiciously like his key witness, Claire. Seth is sure there's something shady going on, but as he gets closer to the truth -- and to Claire -- he risks putting everything on the line.  This was pro-level, unputdownable writing. Seth was a flawed, but endearing hero. The setting was authentic and raw, and the level of depravity was bone-chilling. I appreciated Chief Wells' role and accountability. Like Seth, I also found Claire difficult not to like. While the mystery was not a hard one to solve, the depth and twists were unexpected and shocking.  Huge thank you to the author for taking me along for this pre-read ride!  Nowhere Good: ★★★★★