Callie and Leigh were brought up by a mother who repeatedly abused them. At a young age, they had to finTwo sisters, one crime. Two different futures.
Callie and Leigh were brought up by a mother who repeatedly abused them. At a young age, they had to find work to stay alive and feed themselves.
In the present, Leigh is a great lawyer, with a wonderful daughter but separated from her nice husband. Leigh's coping mechanism is to compartmentalize the different aspects of her daily life. On the other hand, Callie is a heroin junkie although she would do any other drugs yet nothing calls to her so much as the needle.
When Leigh finds out she has been chosen to represent a young man accused of rape, she is ready to do her job until she recognizes the person in front of her. She knew him many years ago and he seems to know her deepest secret.
Karin Slaughter is the writer of one of my favorite series, Will Trent. I do love that man and I would read any of the books he is in. Just like Will Trent, False Witness is also set in Georgia. Callie and Leigh were characters I was rooting for. They were fully characterized and I liked both of them despite their issues. I might not have agreed with the ending but I knew it was going that way earlier on so it wasn't surprising, just sad.
Slaughter doesn't hold back. False Witness does have many topics that might not be for everyone. The violence is quite detailed. Same with the sexual abuse, drug abuse, mental illnesses, and COVID pandemic to name a few.
Do I think it was too early for COVID to be in my fiction book? yes, but that is just my opinion.
56 Days is set in Ireland the week COVID-19 hit the island.
56 days ago Ciara meets Oliver in the supermarket. Oliver is tall and handsome and Ciara wan56 Days is set in Ireland the week COVID-19 hit the island.
56 days ago Ciara meets Oliver in the supermarket. Oliver is tall and handsome and Ciara wants nothing more than continue talking to him.
Oliver for his part can't believe that Ciara is who she says she is. Oliver lives in fear of people finding out about his past. What he did and every time he brings his walls down, something happens that makes his new life disappear right in front of his eyes. This time, this is a new beginning for him, one he doesn't want to lose.
35 days ago Then the world goes into lockdown due to a pandemic. What better way to find out more about Ciara than to spend time together in the apartment his work is providing. No one will see much of them and they can explore what they are feeling for each other.
Today A body has been found in Oliver's apartment. Who's the body??
__
I was hooked! Despite the different timelines from past and present and the voices from Ciara, Oliver, and the detective Leah Riordan, it all made perfect sense and my attention never wavered.
56 Days had the right kind of suspense. Do I wish the ending was a little different? Sure but the way it went also works.
The Nothing Man is still in my TBR. I know I have to read it after enjoying 56 Days so much.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
So if you are a true fan, you know that Toby will finally marry Tybalt. We also know that she will be stabbed at least once bToby is getting married!!
So if you are a true fan, you know that Toby will finally marry Tybalt. We also know that she will be stabbed at least once before she gets married. Or by the end of the ceremony, her wedding gown will have blood all over it. Why? Because October Daye brings chaos wherever she goes! (Thinking about a crossover between my favorite UF's heroines, Mercy (Pat Briggs) and Toby could be a disaster together or maybe it would be a great team!!)
Toby's wedding is happening at High Court. Toby had never wanted to be involved in the details of her wedding. She has let her friend from childhood Stacy, her Fetch, May, Tybalt, and Kerry take control. It is not that she doesn't want to marry Tybalt. For her, the whole idea of a big wedding is not what she wants but she understands the importance of following protocol.
Of course, once they get to Toronto, immediately someone is murdered and Toby as the hero of the realm needs to put a stop to whatever plan is cooking. By her side, she will have the support of Quentin and Tybalt. This demonstrated how mature she has become. Toby has realized she doesn't need to be alone anymore. She can trust people close to her and she can't stop barging into situations blindly where she always gets hurt. (It only took a bunch of books but who is complaining?)
I love When Sorrows Come. It had me smiling and laughing. It also made me turn the pages fast enough to find out who was behind the attacks. I love these characters, and seeing Toby and Tybalt happy made my day!
I'm not sure if we only get two more books or if Seanan McGuire has decided to write more books in this series. I just hope that I can find out more about Stacy and Quentin's future, Raj becoming the King of Cats, Guillian sharing time with her mother, Simon becoming a true father to Toby, Luna and Sylvester apologizing for the wrongs against Toby, May getting married, The Luidaeg getting free from the geas bindings and so many more questions I have.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
Short Story at the end of the book:
And With Reveling
The short story happens just after the ceremony. It's the wedding reception. It should really be the epilogue. You can't find it in the audiobook but it is on kindle ebook.
Toby and Tybalt get seven formal blessings as newlyweds which I'm guessing in Faerie, is a big deal. Hopefully, all those will protect them from what is yet to come.
My favorite part is how Tybalt deals with Sylvester. As many of you know, he has not treated Toby right.
Sylvester transferred his gaze to Tybalt. “You’ve never liked me,” he said.
“This is true. To be fair, you were once the man who stood between me and the woman I loved, and then became the man who treated the girl I found fascinating without half the respect that she deserved.”
I have liked Jessica Strawser's other work so you could understand how excited I was to dive into The Next Thing You Know.
Nova Huston is an end-of-lifI have liked Jessica Strawser's other work so you could understand how excited I was to dive into The Next Thing You Know.
Nova Huston is an end-of-life doula. She works for Kelly Monroe at Partying Your Way. Kelly is also a doula and she and her daughter Willow have formed a friendship and a bond with Nova.
End-of-life doulas can be their client's support system, the go in-between with family. They can guide their clients with their legal issues and end-of-life care. End-of-life doulas are also there to help with the mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of their journey. Kelly's way of working is more by the book. She's responsible and loves to follow protocol. On the other hand, Nova just goes more with her gut feeling. Nova also takes the cases Kelly doesn't like to do, for example, a young person their age dying. So when Mason Shaylor comes knocking, Kelly immediately passes him to Nova.
Mason tells Nova he has a deteriorating condition and there is nothing left to be done to help him. After a rocky start, Nova takes him as her new client and she's hopeful she can help him with his transition.
Then we switched to the present where Nova is in trouble and Kelly's business might be in danger of closing. Mason's mother has made an accusation against Nova. First to the police and then to the media. Nova's world is imploding while she mourns her loss too.
The Next Thing You Know was thought-provoking and also quite informative. I knew all about Hospice and end-of-life care but not about doulas and the extra help they could bring to a patient in the right setting. Most of the time is quite hard for patients and families to accept hospice coming in and helping. I believe the last time I saw a statistic, hospice was underused. Most people are only in hospice for a median average of 24 days so not enough time to actually use all its benefits.
Death for most people is not an easy topic to discuss. Patients and family members tend to avoid talking about advance directives. Yet, the one constant is that we are all going to die so it would be nice if we can get the help we need during the end of our life. A support system, helping with pain, acceptance of the inevitable, seeking forgiveness, dealing with unresolved feelings and regrets. I can see the use of end-of-life doulas in this regard.
Even though I liked this book, I didn't like the ending quite that much. I thought the explanation was just too out there for my liking. Other than that, I have no qualms about recommending it.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gone for Good is an enjoyable thriller and I want more Annalisa Vega!
Detective Annalisa Vega is following in her father's footsteps. She is a cop justGone for Good is an enjoyable thriller and I want more Annalisa Vega!
Detective Annalisa Vega is following in her father's footsteps. She is a cop just like him.
When the book begins, she has been assigned a new partner who turns out to be her ex-husband Nick Carelli. Their marriage didn't work but Annalisa knows she can't complain and she will have to work with him. She doesn't have a lot of time to process anything before she is called to the scene of a murder.
The victim is Grace Hopper. Grace, on her personal time, was part of an online group, The Grave Diggers, who review cold cases and try to find clues the police missed. Her latest interest was the Lovelorn Killer. Grace is murdered just like one of his victims. Annalisa realizes this and she knows it could mean that after twenty years, the person who killed her neighbor, Katie who was the mother of her boyfriend Collin, is back. She knows she must contact Collin who disappeared from her life after his mother's murder.
Everyone wants to know why, is the Lovelorn Killer back? Why did he stop for twenty years? Is this the work of a copycat? Annalisa doesn't believe that it is. She feels confident it's him! He is taunting her with phone calls and is following her. She could be his the next victim.....
I love Annalisa's character. She was strong and was ready to make the hard decisions. I also liked that despite Nick being her ex, they work well together. I liked Nick and I also like Collin who comes back because his mother's killer is back. I'm not sure which guy I will pick for Annalisa.
I guess we should see what happens to them on the next installment which I won't miss!
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Accomplice is a good thriller from the very beginning.
Luna Grey and Owen Mann have been friends since college. The friendship was an unexpected onThe Accomplice is a good thriller from the very beginning.
Luna Grey and Owen Mann have been friends since college. The friendship was an unexpected one. The popular guy and the secretive girl. Yes, Luna's secret is a big one. One that not even Owen knows.
Then Owen's ex-girlfriend is found dead in a hiking path and suspicion lies on Owen alone.
In the present, Owen and Luna are still best buddies. Owen is married to Irene and Luna lives just a few houses from him. Luna is also married although she doesn't seem to be happy. When Luna finds out Owen is cheating and she learns this from Irene herself, she meets Owen to make sure he knows his wife knows.
The next day, Irene is found dead, shot in the cemetery, and guess who finds her? Luna. What does Luna do? She runs to tell Owen instead of calling the cops.
Did Owen kill Irene and if yes, does this mean he killed his ex-girlfriend in college too? Has Luna been wrong about Owen all this time? Can she live with herself if this is true?
The Accomplice was an entertaining novel that kept me guessing until the end. Up to the last part, it was a four for me but the ending let me down. After all the build-up, it was missing the "awe" conclusion it needed.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Ballantine Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's fun going back to this crazy town of Del Sol and Its Sherriff, Sunshine Vicram.
However, in order to enjoy this ride, you must read A Bad Day for It's fun going back to this crazy town of Del Sol and Its Sherriff, Sunshine Vicram.
However, in order to enjoy this ride, you must read A Bad Day for Sunshine or you'll be very confused.
So where does Chardonnay go?
Many places all at once.
*Sunshine is called in when strangers to the town attacked and stabbed a local man and hurt Levi in the process.
*She also gets a call from prison in regards to her own past abduction.
*Her daughter Ari is investigating a cold case.
*Cruz is hiding something.
*Levi has many secrets that Sunshine wants to know.
What I love about Darynda's style is that her characters are full of snark, quick comebacks, sassiness, and brooding men. Yes, sometimes it can be too much and you think the characters are on speed or something like it but when you mostly read dark thrillers, it's refreshing.
A Good Day for Chardonnay has all those ingredients and the best part is that we do get some answers to some of the questions A Bad Day for Sunshine left us with. However, it does end in a cliffhanger.
Will I read the third book?
Absolutely, I need more of Sunshine, Levy, Ari, and Cruz.
Cliffhanger: Yes
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so used to reading books by Kristan Higgins that leave me with a smile on my face. Yes, some can elicit tears but they are always hopeful. So I waI'm so used to reading books by Kristan Higgins that leave me with a smile on my face. Yes, some can elicit tears but they are always hopeful. So I was a little shocked to read the blurb of this one. We are told the main character dies!!
Was I going to read it? Yes, absolutely.
Was it going to break my heart? Probably, but I wouldn't pass up the opportunity.
This is the story of Lauren and Josh. A young couple who is happily married. They are lucky, they get along in a fantastic way. Then, Lauren's asthma keeps on making her feel tired and short of breath. She has multiple ER visits and hospital admissions for pneumonia. Then she is sent to the pulmonologist and finally, an accurate diagnosis is made. Lauren has IPF, a terminal disease.
Joshua's world collapses. Despite him being a prodigy in his career, he can't help Lauren. He is completely useless and powerless and losing her, he does. Yet, Lauren is helping him deal with her loss from the GB (great beyond). She left behind a letter for each month of the first year she's gone to help Joshua move on. The tasks are not easy for him to do but in a way they make him move forward despite the pain.
There is no doubt that Kristan Higgins is my favorite author for a reason. Pack Up the Moon is a well-written novel that deals with grief in an honest way. I couldn't feel sadder for Joshua and his heartbreak. Lauren was a little too good for her own good but I will let that go. I did love the secondary characters, Lauren's letters to her dad, the humorous parts of the story, and I thought the epilogue was just what the novel needed.
Thank you KH for making sure my tear ducts are in working order!
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What would you choose, your family or the lives of over one hundred under your care?
This is the dilemma Captain Bill Hoffman of flight 416 is confrontWhat would you choose, your family or the lives of over one hundred under your care?
This is the dilemma Captain Bill Hoffman of flight 416 is confronted with.
His wife and his two kids have been taken hostages by a terrorist and unless he crashes the plane when he is told, they won't survive the day.
Bill is told he can't contact anyone, he can't say anything to Ben, his copilot. He can't share his news with the Crew either or his family is gone.
What to do?
Falling has an excellent premise to trap you and ensnare you all the way through.
I could feel the tension in the cabin. The desperation and fear of the passengers and the determination of the Crew which by the way had a fantastic characterization. Bid Daddy, Jo and Kellie are the crew you want to have in a situation like this other than Bill or Sully Sullenberger for that matter.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Avid Reader Press / Simon Schuster via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hobb is able to connect all the loose ends and make its conclusion a smooth one.
In the Fool's Fate, Fitz is trying Satisfying ending to this trilogy!
Hobb is able to connect all the loose ends and make its conclusion a smooth one.
In the Fool's Fate, Fitz is trying to prevent the Fool from getting into the ship leaving for the island of Aslevjal. As per the last book, Elliana has asked Dutiful to bring him the head of IceFyre in order to seal their alliance. The Fool has confided in Fitz, the Fool knows he needs to save the dragon but traveling to the island means his death and Fitz will do anything to prevent his friend from dying.
During the voyage, things are not easy. Thick is seasick and with his Skill, he is making everyone feel miserable on the boat. Tempers are running high and Dutiful puts Fitz to the task of helping Thick who in turn asks Nettle for help. Yet, their dreams are invaded by Tintaglia who wants to learn more about IceFyre.
Before leaving for the frozen island where Icefyre is supposed to be, they learn of a legend involving the Black Man. Once on the island, someone is already waiting for them. Can you guess who?
The Skill and Witt coteries are in disagreement. One wants to slay the dragon, the other one wants to save it.
So many secrets are finally revealed including the Pale Woman, the Black Man, the dragons, the Skill, the Witt, Fitz, The Fool, the memory stones. I love the explanation we are given about why the Fool and the Black Man were able to change colors while the Pale woman was not.
The Fool and FitzChivalry's friendship and bond are unlike anything else. I love these characters together. I was also happy to see so many other characters reappearing and completing their circle. Yes, they were also some very sad moments that hurt me just as well.
I'm not sure knowing there are 3 more books involving the Fool and Fitz (after the Rainwild 4 books) is a good thing. I think I liked how this ended and I'm not sure I want to know what happens next. What am I saying? Of course, I need to know.
Golden Fool is full of intrigue and secrets. Some of them revealed, some of them waiting to come out in the next book, I hope.
The Prince is now in BucGolden Fool is full of intrigue and secrets. Some of them revealed, some of them waiting to come out in the next book, I hope.
The Prince is now in Buckkeep and Fitz and the Fool are playing their parts. The Fool is Lord Golden and Fitz is known as Lord Golden's bodyguard, Tom Badgerlock.
Many things are happening simultaneously:
The Piebalds are still trying to hurt the Prince and unmasked him as someone who is Witted.
The betrothal ceremony of Dutiful and the Narcheska Elliania of the Out Islands is underway but Dutiful is not happy with linking his life with someone who is mostly a child. Worse, Elliana is hiding something too and she, like Dutiful, is not happy with the betrothal.
Elliana asking Dutiful to bring him the head of a dragon in order to seal their alliance and bringing an end to the war between their kingdoms.
A Bingtown delegation has arrived to talk to Kettricken, the Queen about uniting forces against a common enemy, and Selden Vestrid is there to ask for help with Tintaglia and the dragons.
Amber's friend, Jek has come with the LiveShip's delegation to meet with Lord Golden.
FitzChivalry has to teach Dutiful about the Skill and they find out that others might have it too. After all, Dutiful must have a coterie.
The Queen wants to meet with Old Blood representatives to discuss a way to move forward. This is where Web's character is introduced to us.
Burrick's son, Swift has arrived in court.
Fitz meeting Thick, a simpleton who is a powerful Skill-User.
Fitz dealing with his adopted son, Hap living in Buckkeep town and the mistakes he might be making.
Fitz Skill-dreaming with Nettle.
The Fool knows that he as a White Prophet and Fitz as the catalyst, will have to fight against the Pale Woman's plans.
Golden Fool was another wonderful addition to this world. Characters are fully developed. The lore of the Witt and the Skill continues. We learn more facets of each magic and once again Fitz is the Changer of many things to come.
The strings are all set for a wonderful conclusion of this trilogy. Hobb has every piece in motion to converge masterfully in The Fools' Fate.
What an amazing journey this is turning out to be!
In order to understand how happy I am after reading Fool's Errand, you have to be a fan of Fantasy. What an amazing journey this is turning out to be!
In order to understand how happy I am after reading Fool's Errand, you have to be a fan of Fantasy. It could be Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, or insert your favorite here. Just think more books in the world you adore are available.
I’m back with FitzChivalry Farseer and the Fool. What a team!
The last time we saw FitzChivalry Farseer, he had saved the Six Duchies yet no one knows he did (well almost no one). For the last fifteen years, Fitz has been living like a hermit with Nighteyes and Hap. Hap was brought to Fitz by Staling when he was a child. Fitz has raised him as his adopted son. Fitz is hiding his identity and going by the name of Tom Badgerlock.
Now that Hap is becoming a man. He needs money to learn a trade. Fitz fears that is time for him to let him go.
Then his past comes knocking.
First, there is Chade who wants Fitz to come back to Buckkeep to teach Prince Dutiful the Skill.
Then, The Fool returns from who knows where (haha we do know) and stays for a little while.
Then a messenger from Queen Kettricken arrives asking Tom to come back to Buckkeep, his help is needed. When he arrives, he discovers that Prince Dutiful is gone. He has been taken and just before his betrothal ceremony! Fitz must find him before it's too late. Fitz, Nighteyes, the Fool, and Huntswoman Lauren will embark on this errand.
Between the Skill and the Wit, this is another magnificent piece of fantasy that Robin Hobb gives us.
Fitz is more mature and suffers less although I do feel like he has been used and coerced more times than he should.
I won’t lie, a certain part of the book made me ugly cry. #Devastated. I will say no more.
The conclusion of this trilogy was satisfying in all the ways that it counts!
I was happy to see that all the Vestrid women were strong in character. TThe conclusion of this trilogy was satisfying in all the ways that it counts!
I was happy to see that all the Vestrid women were strong in character. They did what had to be done, despite all being in different situations with different dangers. The same thing goes for Wintrow who became a man despite his young age and his little brother, Selden, who stood up when it was vital.
My favorite character development hands down has to be Malta. She evolved from someone I hated to becoming my favorite character (sorry, Althea but it's true). Malta went from an annoying little brat to a resourceful and interesting young woman who has been well-matched with Reyn.
The next best character development was Paragon. Through this book, we learned what truly happened to him and by who. Thanks to Amber in Ship of Destiny, he is comfortable in his own skin. Or should I say wood?
Tintaglia was a wonderful addition to the mix. I can see how she will change the future of the realm.
If I have to say what I disliked about this book, I would have to say it had to do with where the story went with Kennit. I felt it was a wasted use of an antihero. I'm also not sure I liked the new Vivacia but I guess it had to happen.
I can't finish this review without making a stand. If you are an impatient reader (which I am) this series is not for you. The Realm of the Elderlings series is full of books that are long, detailed, and slow prosed. They are meant to be savored and unless you have been warned like I was (thank you hubby), you won't enjoy them. You will think why are all these details important? Why does it matter? I would answer that the key is most of the time in the details.
The second book in this trilogy has the Vestrit family members all over the place.
Althea is in the Ophelia and doing a good job at it but her thoughtsThe second book in this trilogy has the Vestrit family members all over the place.
Althea is in the Ophelia and doing a good job at it but her thoughts are all about recovering her ship Vivacia. She dreams of being able to be back on her ship and sailing her.
Ronica and Kefrria are trying to deal with the loss of their family fortune and keeping their house and holdings the best way they can.
Malta is still behaving like an obnoxious and selfish kid but as the story progresses, I can see hints of a different person emerging.
Wintrow is a captive onboard the Vivacia. He's shocked when he realizes that Kennit has started charming the ship and stirring her into piracy. He also starts believing that Kennit is not all bad.
Amber wants to protect Paragon from getting destroyed. She wants to buy him to avoid the liveship from being chopped into pieces.
Brashen finds himself close to piracy too until he hears that Vivacia has been taken by Kennit. He will go back home to alert the Vestrits of her capture. They all know that they will need help getting Vivacia back and Paragon might be the answer to their prayers.
The Mad Ship sets up a good foundation for the end of the trilogy. All the Vestrits are in danger one way or the other and Hobb never makes things easy for any of them. Although, not as hard as they were for Fitz.
Great character development especially with Malta and an amazing woven and intricate world-building as always.
After finishing The Assassin's Quest, I was ready to put a brake on the series and squeeze a few other audios before I resumed it. That thought lastedAfter finishing The Assassin's Quest, I was ready to put a brake on the series and squeeze a few other audios before I resumed it. That thought lasted about 3 minutes before I dived back into the world of the Six Duchess and now Bingtown.
At the core of the storyline, we have the Vestrit family. They own the ship Vivacia which is made of wizardwood. In order for Vivacia to quicken, three successive generations have to die on board the ship.
Althea, the youngest daughter, dreams of inheriting the ship. She has a connection with it. Her father, Ephron Vestrit, knows it. However, her mother Ronica and sister, Keffria have other plans. They want Kyle Haven, her bother in law to take over the ship.
During her marriage, Ronica had stayed behind taking care of the household and their holdings while Ephron left trip after trip onboard the Vivacia. She was the one who met with the Rain Wild Traders and kept her side of their bargain. One thing Ronica was clear on, was that Ephron didn't want to take his boat into the waters of the Rain River in order not to make their debt even a higher one with the Rain Wild people.
Keffria has let her mother and her husband do what they thought was right. Yet, when Kyle was last back, she realized she might have made a mistake and now her family would suffer for it.
Wintrow, Kyle's young son, only wants to continue on his journey to becoming a priest of Sa but his father wants him on the Vivacia instead.
Keffria's daughter, Malta, is a spoiled young girl who only thinks about being introduced at the ball, seeking the attention of young boys, and owning pretty things.
Brashen Trell, a man who is a good sailor who was part of the Vivacia crew until Kyle took it away from him. He is probably Althea's HEA.
Paragon, the Pariah. A Liveboat who went mad. He is blind and stuck on the beach. But for how long?
Amber, a newcomer to Bingtown with a special knack for handling and modifying wood.
Pirate Kennit, who would like to become the King of Pirates and his other desire is to capture a Liveship. He has luck on his side but maybe not all the time.
Of course, there are others that help with the characterization like Kennit's First Mate and the woman he cares for but won't admit it to himself.
Ship of Magic had the best ingredients to earn and keep my attention. A good storyline with credible characters despite the fantasy elements and the wish that I could meet them somehow and be able to help them. Although maybe not on a ship at sea on treacherous paths while serpents are following us and trying to eat us.
Yes, SoM's audio was long, a little more than thirty-five hours but worth it because now I know more of Bingtown and its dynamics. It made me laugh when they say the inhabitant of the north (Six Duchess) are all barbarians. I also have my suspicions about Amber. I do like Pirate Kennit as an anti-hero and I would like to see Paragon sailing again. I'm sure Malta will be in trouble and she will hopefully mature into someone who cares more for other things than jewels. So far, Wintrow and Althea have had the worst luck.
My favorite romance novel of 2020 was Dear Emmie Blue, so of course, I wanted to read Eight Perfect Hours.
The book starts with our heroine, Noelle ButMy favorite romance novel of 2020 was Dear Emmie Blue, so of course, I wanted to read Eight Perfect Hours.
The book starts with our heroine, Noelle Butterby, feeling down after attending her class reunion where the items of the time capsule were retrieved. She was able to get her friend Daisy's letter but not the camera/film. She also saw her ex-boyfriend, Ed who tried to avoid contact with her. Now, she is stuck in the motorway with hundreds of cars and a blizzard is upon them. She has a dead cell phone and she knows her mother is probably freaking out.
Then, someone knocks on her window. The stranger, Sam Atwood, has been watching her and he is asking if she needs help. Noelle after some hesitance agrees to move to his car to charge her cellphone. After spending eight perfect hours together, they each go their own way without exchanging their contact info.
Noelle feels like her life is at a standstill. She would like to be a florist but she cleans houses instead. After the passing of her good friend, she went into a depression and after her mother suffered a stroke, her mother developed agoraphobia and doesn't like to be alone, so Noelle has to stay with her and can't make any plans. She does have a brother but he is an aspiring artist and he is never home. She does have the emotional support of her good friend, although she feels like her friend is hiding something. Then Ed is back in town. It would be so easy to get back together but she keeps on meeting Sam in the most unexpected ways!!
I blame Sam for me not loving this book. After their initial encounter, Sam didn't give me the vibe, he was head over heels for Noelle. He was for the most part trying to avoid her. He didn't want to believe in fate. I felt bad for Noelle who seemed to have fallen hard.
Overall, Eight Perfect Hours was a pleasant experience. I just wished I had connected with Sam better.
Would I read Lia Louis's next book? You better believe it!!
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Atria/Emily Bestler Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Brennan’s will stick out in my mind for a while. They might have looked like a perfect Irish family growing up but they have flaws like everyone eThe Brennan’s will stick out in my mind for a while. They might have looked like a perfect Irish family growing up but they have flaws like everyone else.
Meet the Brennans:
Sunday Brennan: She left town five years ago. She moved to LA without a major explanation. No one understood her leaving, particularly her boyfriend Kale who loved her, and she had loved him back. Sunday has a secret and the secret is consuming her. She is barely making it in LA. After getting upset and drinking too much, she is involved in an accident and ends up in the hospital.
Denny: He is the big brother. The one people relied on but he has made a mess of his life. He’s about to lose his business. He’s separated from his wife Theresa and only sees his child Molly a few hours a day. He has lied to his business partner and he is not sure how to fix any of it.
Jackie: The artist. The son who had a run-in with the law. He can't help his brother with the Pub without breaking his parole but he will be there in other ways as the story unfolds.
Shane: the gentle giant with a learning disability and who is protected by all his siblings in one way or the other.
Mickey: Their father who is experiencing short-term memory issues with secrets of his own. He was a good provider and a good father.
It was easy to feel invested with the Brennans. They had much to overcome and find a way back to being a family again. A chance for the secrets to come out instead of further destroying their happiness.
As a debut novel, I thought this one was outstanding. Like I mentioned earlier, I won't easily forget the Brennans just like I won't forget the Pines.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Celadon Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I can't believe that someone would read this book without enjoying it. I did the audio for some chapters andA wonderful character with a perfect plot!
I can't believe that someone would read this book without enjoying it. I did the audio for some chapters and the narrator did an amazing job as Molly!
Molly Gray is a young woman working as a maid in a hotel. Molly is quite different from another 25 year old. She has a hard time understanding certain expressions, situations, sarcasm, and evil. When her grandmother was alive, she helped her navigate the world. Grandmother created a safe routine for Molly. She is the one who got her a job at The Grand Regency Hotel and the one who took care of her until she became ill.
After her passing, Molly felt lost but working is one of the things she loves the most. She is always on time, proud of her crisp clean uniform, and enjoys having her trolley full of supplies. Molly is OCD about her cleaning and she makes sure all the rooms she takes care of are left pristine, back to a state of perfection.
Molly starts becoming friendly with Mrs. Black. She and her husband stay in one of the suites regularly. Molly doesn't like Mr. Black. She believes he is a bad egg but the last thing she was expecting was to find him dead on his bed. After passing out, she comes back to herself and calls her boss to let him know about Mr. Black's death. The police are called in and soon they believe Molly is involved. Clue after clue is pointing to Molly but she knows she is not responsible for his death. Friends she thought she had begun turning on her and if she doesn't get help soon, she will lose more than her job, she will lose her freedom.
I adore Molly. She was an amazing woman. She had respect for others. She was smart and resourceful in her own special way. She had pride in her work and she was ready to help her friends.
I can't wait to see this book turned into a movie.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Ballantine Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Richard Chizmar is starting his career as a writer. He moves back to his childhood home with his parents in the smallWhat a great way to write a book!
Richard Chizmar is starting his career as a writer. He moves back to his childhood home with his parents in the small town of Edgewood after finishing college. He is saving money for his wedding to his high school sweetheart.
Just before he moves back, a young teenager is found strangled near her home. The police get quickly involved and start trying to piece together the crime. Then another young teenager goes missing. The town is shocked. Something like this has never happened before. Who is doing this? What kind of monster? The Boogeyman?
Young Rich can't leave it alone. He and his friend, Carly Allbright start investigating the case. He knows the culprit has to be near. But it is safe? Someone is calling his home and hanging up. Then, he feels like someone is following him. Lastly, he believes the murderer is seeking him out. But why?
Excellent! It had me entertained from beginning to end. The story felt so real! The author makes you believe everything he is saying happened way back when he was a young man fresh out of college. A serial killer is on the loose and Ric is in the middle of it.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Gallery Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Short of thirty-eight hours, this audio was exactly what I was expecting. I knew from a friend (ok ok, it was my husband) that the end of this book woShort of thirty-eight hours, this audio was exactly what I was expecting. I knew from a friend (ok ok, it was my husband) that the end of this book wouldn't be completely satisfying. So I was ready to be upset at poor Fitz's fate. Yet, when the ending happened, I was more impressed than anything else. What an amazing world Robin Hobb has created! I couldn't be anything but in awe of her writing. Her characters are so well crafted and developed that I was lost to her world. It also helped that I knew there was way more Fitz in other books and this was not the end of him and his troubles.
As the name of the book implies, our Fitz has a rude awakening after what happened at the end of the second book. Fitz is back, he is not a boy anymore and for a while, he wants to break free of his duty, he wants to seek revenge. He wants to run free like a wolf and do with his life as if it was his own to command. But was it truly a quest of self-discovery or was it Fate guiding him?
”No choice, no choice, no choice. Never any choice about anything. Fate had made me a killer, a liar, and a thief. And the harder I tried to avoid those roles, the more firmly I was pushed into them.”
In the end, Fitz does what he must. He must look for Verity and if that means searching for him in the most inhospitable places, he will do it but not without getting hurt but gaining knowledge and wisdom in the process. We also get some glimpses of Chade, Burrock, Molly, Nettle, and Patience thanks to the Skill.
Luckily, the last leg of his traveling is not done alone. The Fool, Kettricken, and Nighteyes are with him. Also, Starling, who was not a favorite of mine and I wasn't sure why she had to be there but having the other ones there and knowing that at least someone knew that Fitz was alive and what had happened to him made me happy.
Even though, I've told you I thought Robin Hobb did an amazing job at creating this world, my huge issue with her is what she did to Fitz. It's almost as she enjoyed writing his misfortunes over and over again. This young man has suffered and lost so much! How much pain and suffering does the main character have to endure before he can be happy in the end? I guess the long answer to my question will be:
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