New Releases - February 4, 2020

A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler
Publication Date - February 4, 2019
3.5 stars

The narrator of this book is the neighborhood in which the story takes place.  Valerie and her son Xavier have lived in the neighborhood since Xavier's birth and remained after Xavier's father tragically died.  Valerie is a botany Professor and Xavier is about to attend a prestigious music program. The Whitman's recently razed the neighboring plot to the ground and built an obnoxious mini-mansion in its place.  Their complicated family dynamic is the stuff of nightmares and gets worse with the burgeoning relationship between Xavier and Juniper Whitman.  The plot explore issues such as race, incest, the environment, and feminism without being too heavy -handed.  It is an incredibly well-written book that I predict will be well received, but it just STRESSED me out.  This happens with books that use a lot of foreshadowing, when you just know that bad things are going to happen to good people.   That is a personal issue though, so I still think it is a book worth picking up.  I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


An Everyday Hero (A Heart of a Hero #2) by Laura Trentham
Publication Date - February 4, 2020
4.5 stars

I will be completely honest and admit to going into this book expecting too much sappiness for my taste but while there is some sap, there is also humor, strong characters and an lovely plot.  Greer came crawling back to her small town Tennessee home after a lot of unsuccessful years in Nashville.  After a horrible night at a bar, she is forced to volunteer for an organization that helps veterans and their families with music therapy.  Through her work, she meets Ally and Emmett who change her life in ways she didn't count on.  I loved all of these characters and never once stopped rooting for them and their relationships with each other.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


The Light After the War by Anita Abriel
Publication Date - February 4, 2020
3 stars

This follows nineteen year old Vera as she attempts to live her life with her best friend Edith following harrowing events of World War II.  Moving from Italy to the United States to Venezuela, they mix with different jobs and men.  To me, this felt more like a collection of events, some very dramatic, but not a true story.  The characters were all surface deep and I did not feel a connection, even when there were truly horrific things happening.  This one just did not work for me.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Half Broke: a Memoir by Ginger Gaffney
Publication Date - February 4, 2020
4 stars

Ginger Gaffney is a horse trainer who volunteered her time on a ranch for prisoners who are transitioning to life outside.  They called her when they realized that the ranch horses were no longer manageable and what resulted was a relationship with the prisoners and the horses, sometimes rewarding and almost always challenging.  Ginger also mixes in her own story and it ultimately becomes a tale of empathy, connection (with people and horses) and acceptance.  This is beautifully written and while the slow pacing and description may not be for everyone, I found this to be a lovely memoir.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.