The Book Was Better

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/...

If When Harry Met Sally taught us anything, it's that men and women cannot just be friends. But Poppy and Alex can, of course. Best friends since college, and living in different cities, their diverging personalities unite every summer for The Summer Trip . From Canadian communes, to the mountains of Colorado and the beaches of Florida, Poppy and Alex make their own adventures with the people they meet along the way. But their last trip has changed all that. After a two-year hiatus, Poppy is determined to win back her best friend -- and she has less than a week to convince Alex.  I typically don't read "trending" books. Usually, I find that they don't live up to the hype and I'm just disappointed. There was NOTHING disappointing about this read. The past and present narration kept the story moving and the tension building. Poppy and Alex were both equally flawed and endearing, and real . The vacation adventures were fun without being over-the-top. The dynami...

Our band of homespun heroes and heroines is at it again, but this time on a film set. When a film crew tasked with creating a patriotic propaganda piece arrives in Crofter's Green, Evie, Harry, and the gang hope that the most hazardous things they'll have to manage are entitlement and disruption. But, could the film's cast and crew have something more sinister planned?  This edition gave new meaning to "divide and conquer". While Evie and Harry tag-team to investigate a local burglary attempt, Nigel is on a special assignment, and it's left to the rest of the crew to pick up the pieces. I loved that everyone was actively involved in thwarting this plot, from growing-more-courageous Dorothy to heavily pregnant Katherine.  The first half of this book seemed to drag in uncharacteristic fashion, and I found the film cast and crew a little hard to keep track of. But the action seemed to pick up in part two and it was heartening to see even Harry getting to roll aro...

The Homefront Sleuths are at it again, this time with their own church on the line. While Evie and Nigel travel on a dangerous over-channel mission to rescue an old ally, it's up to Harry and the rest of the gang to keep Crofter's Green safe from a bomb threat.  One of the things I love most about this series is the way multiple perspectives and clues all seem to meld into one story in the end. For some reason, this one just never quite came together the same way for me. The team seemed to lack their normal cohesion and the plot felt a little disjointed. In some ways, I almost felt that Harry and Nigel swapped roles; and the ladies (except Evie, of course) seemed more ornamental than useful in this case.  Nigel and Evie continued to be my favorite power duo, but Katherine and Blake felt a little flat this time. I loved the addition of Alfie's perspective. As usual, the vast historical knowledge was on full display, but not in an overwhelming or unnatural way. Any visit to C...