The Book Was Better

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: ★★★★★

When Adrienne and her young daughter dash out the door and speed away from her abusive husband, she has only one place to go: home. But home hasn't been a safe harbor for Adrienne in quite some time, so she's not sure if she'll be accepted by her callous mother. While her welcome is less-than-welcoming, her sweet five year-old is readily accepted and she's able to start building a life again -- until she runs into her former best friend. Simon is everything she remembered and more, but can they put their rift aside and reveal their long-harbored feelings? Or will the danger that still awaits Adrienne put an end to any happily-ever-afters?  As cliche as it might sound, this book spoke to me. From the spiritual questioning to the heart-breaking violence and strained relationships. The emotional depth and surprising heaviness were well balanced with moments of sweet tenderness and undercurrent of a classic romance. The writing was eloquent, well-paced, and page-turning.  C...

Aspiring jockey Gracyn Lane has moved from one foster home to the next, and by 20 she's had enough. When she discovers that her birth mother may actually be the respected Anna Shaw, a stable owner a few towns over, she sees an opportunity to reap revenge on the mother who abandoned her, while also giving her a new job and place to live. What she doesn't expect is for Anna and her friends to be so kind and welcoming to a stranger -- and filled with secrets of their own.  This was a great read and a stunning debut! I love Foxe's skill with showing rather than telling -- though I did occasionally feel like there was a secret I wasn't being let in on; a presumption of knowledge I didn't have. The relationships were complicated and dynamic, with unforgettable characters and a stunning Australian backdrop. The "shop talk" was immersive and didn't feel overdone. I did feel like Gracyn was a bit too easily swayed by a stranger, but the emotional depth made up ...

Ted and Jill are in trouble. A habit of overspending and some bad investments have put them in a pickle. How can they climb out of this hole and return to the life of luxury to which they’re accustomed? Simple. They’ll commit the perfect crime and reap the benefits. But as the investigators, their friends, and even their cleaning lady get suspicious, they have to decide if they can live with their lies. Terrible people doing terrible things. While I knew I likely wouldn’t be rooting for the main characters, I was hoping for some redeemable foils. But this read was filled with unlikable people. Even the lead investigator — who we could’ve cheered on — was underdeveloped and abrasive. In fact, only two of the “suspects” were developed really at all. While eloquently written, Freytag’s Pyramid was more of a flat line. Some events held promise, but ultimately resulted in no changes to the plot. The characters we started with were more or less unchanged in the unsatisfying ending. Mim’s rev...

Darius and his family have recently moved from Boston to a small Pacific Northwest town and he’s itching for a mystery to solve — just like his Hardy Boys heroes. When he overhears some other kids talking about an abandoned house, he think he might have found his answer, but Darius and his new friends might have bitten off more than they can chew. Their investigation takes some dark turns and reveals much more than just a spooky house.   The premise drew me in: Kids exploring a haunted house and stumbling upon their very own mystery. Unfortunately, the execution left a lot to be desired. While technically sound, with great use of sensory language, the plot was Swiss cheese and the characters were sorely underdeveloped. Once I sifted my way through all of the “D” names, I wanted a lot more depth, a lot less telling, and a lot more showing.   Great writing uses the setting (both place and time) as almost another character. As a teacher, I often ask, “If this were set somewhere/...