Weekend Review

Mister Tender's Girl by Carter Wilson
Publication Date - February 13, 2018
4 stars



When Alice Hill was fourteen years old she was brutally attacked by two teenagers claiming to be her friends.  The girls claimed to be following the directions of Mister Tender, a graphic novel character penned by Alice's father.  Now, years later, after starting her life over in the United States, a sinister presence threaten Alice's life.  This is an incredibly innovating thriller, with a fresh plot and interesting twists.  I will say that I am a bit over self-obsessed and neurotic female narrators but this is a small thing because overall this was an exciting new thriller.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Reviews

A Perfect Universe: Ten Stories by Scott O’Connor

Publication Date – February 13, 2018

4 stars

While I don’t read many short story collections, when I do, I like for them to be realistic, grim, yet hope-filled.  This collection more than meets those requirements.  These stories are mostly set in California with a science fiction movie serving as a running thread throughout most of them.  They include imperfect people who are trying to do better or redeem themselves and they are all characters with small hopes and dreams.   I always looked forward to dipping back in and reading another of these stories.   I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin

Publication Date – February 13, 2018

4 stars

Emma and Zadie, both doctors, have been friends since medical school.  They are both married, with children and a successful career but both are still haunted by an tragic episode from their school days.  The narration is split between the two main characters and between present day and their third year of med school as the facts unfold.  I really enjoyed this first time novel, written by a doctor.  It had the feel of Grey’s Anatomy.  I thought that some plot points and dialogue felt forced but the medical scenes were fantastic.  Also, reading the Author Notes made me wish that she would write a book about some of her medical experiences.  Overall, this is a solid and easily read debut novel.  I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.  

Superhero Battles

Slugfest: Inside the Epic 50-Year Battle Between Marvel and DC

By Reed Tucker

4 stars

DC Comics and Marvel have been around for a long time and have been duking it out for comic book supremacy the entire time.  What I found most interesting about this book, are the means that these two companies went to in order to outdo the other.  I also found the differing corporate cultures and how it affected the comic books utterly compelling.  I’m not completely immersed in the superhero cultures and still found this easy and fun to read. I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Weekend Review

False Report: A True Story of Rape in America

By T. Christian Miller & Ken Armstrong

Publication Date:  February 6, 2018

5 stars

In 2008, Marie placed a call to authorities saying that she had been raped.  It was a strange, ritualistic, almost too perfect crime that after much doubt from the police and Marie’s loved ones, was recanted.  This starts out the heartbreaking, terrifying and well-written account of horrific serial rapist and the tireless case to catch him.  This not only follows the crime but also the victims and the discrepancy between idealized and actual victim behavior which is especially relevant now.  The authors did a good job presenting the facts in a way that is not sensational but adds suspense to the narrative.  While I do not recommend women reading this alone at night, but I thought this was important and timely.  I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Survival in Horrific Circumstances

The Last Girl:  My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State

By Nadia Murad

4.5 stars

Nadia grew up in the village of Kocho, Iraq in a tight community of Yazidis (an ancient religion) and a sprawling close-knit family.  In 2014, her life was irrevocably changed when ISIS entered the region, murdered all the men and took all of the women as slaves.  Her harrowing tale is honest, heartbreaking and brave.  It is easy to separate yourself from the horror that ISIS inflicts in the Middle East which is why it is so important for brave people, such as this author, to keep telling their stories and why it is so important for this book to be read.  It is not an easy read as Nadia is unflinching in the horrible things she was forced to live through but I feel as though I learned a great deal about the genocide of the Yazidi in Iraq and her plight will remain with me for some time.  I received this book through the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review.

Books and Romance

By the Book by Julia Sonneborn

Publication Date – February 6, 2018

4 stars

Anne is an English professor at a small liberal arts college.  Many years ago she broke up with her true love in order to pursue a life of academia and literature.  Now thirty-two, she feels stuck at work and in her personal life, when Adam shows up as the new president of her university, she realizes just how many regrets she may have.  This is a contemporary romance, but with grown-up characters with realistic grown-up problems.  It is a sweet romance and a lovely dedication to literature and academia.  I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Weekend Review

Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown

4 stars

One weekend, on a solo hike through the mountains, Billie disappears leaving her husband and daughter grief-stricken.  When signs start to suggest she may not actually be dead, Olive and Jonathan must come to the realization that Billie may not be what she seemed.  This psychological mystery is a fascinating character study as the facts start to slowly come to surface.  It is really well done and I didn’t come close to guessing the conclusion until 75% in and was only partially correct then.  I really enjoyed this compulsively readable book.  I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Friday Review

Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
3 stars
Publication Date - January 16, 2018



The premise or this novel is interesting and unfortunately not that all unlikely.  An amendment has been passed in which fetuses are declared citizens and abortion and IVF are illegal.  Following four women of differing age and situations, the story explores the ramifications of such laws. While I think the plot is ingenious, the characters felt vague and unlikable.  It also felt like passages were added in for shock value and really didn't have a purpose.  Overall, I liked the idea but not the overall execution but I do seem to be in the minority so maybe I just didn't get it.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Exploration of a Recession

Janesville: An American Story by Amy Goldstein

4.5 stars

Janesville, Wisconsin is the home of Congressman Paul Ryan and a proud tradition of GM auto workers, until one day the plant closes leaving Janesville without an identity and thousands out of a job.  Suddenly, the comfortably middle class has trouble paying their mortgage and the recession leaves them few options.  This is a common story but one that I have not seen explored to the depth that Goldstein does with this book.  The author is mainly absent from the story, focusing instead on the daily tribulations of a handful of families affected by the closure.  This is not about happy endings but about endurance, survival and the resilience of a community.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Blog Post About Book of Blog Posts

No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters by Ursula K. LeGuin

3 stars

This is a collection of posts from Ursula K. LeGuin’s blog ranging in subjects from aging, nature, everyday life and many posts concerning the life of her cat, Pard.  A daily visitor to her blog would surely find these charming, sarcastic and thoroughly enjoyable.  As a book of essays read in succession, this is a bit rambling and random.  I would have loved to read more about her thoughts on literature (just a small section of this book) and less about her cat but I did love her writing style and sly wit so this was by no means an unenjoyable read. It does motivate me to read more of her fictional work.  I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Opposites Attract

This Love Story Will Self-Destruct by Leslie Cohen

Publication Date – January 23, 2018

4 stars

Eve and Ben are acquaintances from college whose lives occasionally intersected in the years after graduation until one night changes their relationship.  Ben is an engineer who doesn’t like to talk much and prefers rationality.  Eve is a music writer who is afraid of commitment and veers toward the irrational.  Their banter is funny and the developing relationship is sweet.  Eve can be frustrating at times but her sad backstory does provide understandable reasons for her behavior.  I have been reading heavier books lately and this is a perfect light-hearted balance to those.  It also includes incredibly descriptive scenes of New York and life in the city.  I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Weekend Review

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

4 stars

There is really not much left to be said about this novel that has not already been said.  Following a family in Southern Mississippi, seen through the eyes of thirteen year old Jojo, his mother Leonie, and the ghost of of a boy that was in prison with Jojo’s grandfather.  This is a bleak, honest, beautifully written novel about family, race and injustice.  While there were parts that I was not as invested, overall, this is a family that will stay with me.  I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Friday Review

A Treacherous Curse (A Veronica Speedwell Mystery) by Deanna Raybourn
Publication Date - January 16, 2018
4 stars



This is the third book in the Veronica Speedwell series about Veronica and Stoker, two outcasts in late nineteenth century London who solved crimes using their scientific knowledge.  These books are always entertaining and I love the chemistry between Veronica and Stoker and their loyal friendship to each other. I will say that this is the first time that their quirks seemed more outrageous and less believable.  In my opinion, they are naturally interesting characters without having to go overboard. The plot concerned ancient Egyptian artifacts and visitors from Stoker's past which was handled very well.   Overall, I love this series and will continue to look forward to it each year.  On a side note, the covers are brilliantly beautiful.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Family Secrets

The English Wife by Lauren Willig
Publication Date: January 9, 2018
4 stars



Bayard Van Duyvil, from one of the oldest New York families, returns from his European tour with an English wife, setting off a series of events that lead to his murder.  His seemingly meek sister decides to take the investigation of his demise into her own hands and forms a partnership with a muckraking reporter that delves into the many secrets of her prosperous family and the English interloper.  This novel was just pure entertainment with juicy scandals, a twisty mystery and captivating characters.  I felt the ending left room for sequels and I would love to read more novels with Janie and Burke solving early twentieth century mysteries.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

New Spirituality in the New Year

Stalking God:  My Unorthodox Search for Something to Believe In
by Anjali Kumar
Publication Date:  January 16, 2018
3.5 stars



After the birth of her daughter, the author decides to go on a quest to discover spirituality and God.  This journey takes her around the globe as she explores different spiritual advisors and their effectiveness at healing and offering spiritual support.  I liked that the author did not take herself or her journey too seriously, some of it was rather ridiculous and while this did not dip to deeply into any one belief, I did end up learning quiet a bit.  I'm not sure I really believed her intentions for doing this in the first place, it more felt like a gambit for book material but maybe I am just being cynical.  Overall it is an amusing memoir. I received a digital arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

First Review of 2018

The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce
Publication Date:  January 2, 2018
4 stars



Unity Street is full of strange characters and unique shops, including Frank and his record store.  Frank had an unusual upbringing, a definite aversion to the new-fangled c.d.'s and strict rules against falling in love.  One day Ilse, a mysterious woman with a penchant for the color green, happens upon the shop and mixes things up for Frank and the residents of Unity Street.  This is a heartwarming novel about the importance of community and the power of music to change lives.  It was the perfect novel to start out 2018.  I received this book from Penguin's First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.