Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The Widow by Fiona Barton

My rating: 2.8

This book starts off with Jean's husband Glen having died and his secret is told through flashbacks. Don't believe the comparisons to Gone Girl and Girl on the train as this book will be found lacking.  The story drags and none of the characters are likable and I was quite glad when it was done.





Monday, July 18, 2016

Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster

My rating: 4.8

An 18 yo girl (Judy) that was raised in an orphanage has an anonymous benefactor willing to pay for her schooling with one condition...she must write him letters. This book is told through her letters.  It captured my heart. 





 I have no idea how this 'classic' novel wasn't even on my radar but I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to all.




Friday, July 15, 2016

You by Caroline Kepnes

My rating: 4.6

Thanks to Guinevere Beck's incessant sharing on Facebook and Twitter, Joe Goldberg has everything he needs to know to move from stalker to boyfriend.  



It is hard to believe that this is Kepnes first book.  Wow.  SO disturbing and creepy and yes, I am twisted enough that I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down.  Although different, I found it was reminiscent of The Kind Worth Killing which I also thoroughly enjoyed.  I can't wait for the next book by Kepnes to become available at the library (I think it is a sequel to this one).

Caution: There is explicit language, sex and violence

Monday, July 11, 2016

If Your Not the One by Jemma Forte

My rating: 4.7

Have you ever looked back on your life and wondered if you took 'the road not taken' and married someone else what your life would look like? Jennifer Wright has the opportunity. Jennifer is in an unhappy marriage and when she gets hit by a car and goes into a coma, she has the opportunity to go back and see 'what if'.




I really enjoyed the premise of this book and, unlike some others, I also enjoyed the ending. This would make the perfect light beach read but I also think it would make a fabulous book club discussion and it would be fun to talk about our "roads not taken and the what if's". Very fun premise.

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Lily and the Octopus

My rating: 4.2

This is about Ted's journey in accepting that his beloved dachshund companion Lily is dying. As someone who has an aging dachshund where I may be getting near making this decision, this sure hit home. I loved parts of it but the reason I am not rating it higher is that the dream sequence could have been condensed to a chapter instead of being 1/3 of the book.  Yes, I do understand why it was so long but it felt way too long. 




I don't think it is a spoiler to say that yes, it has a sad ending and yes, you will cry. This book is for any animal lovers. It will capture your heart. 

I! LOVE! GOING! IN! THE! POOL! (Ozzy talks like Lily)



Friday, July 8, 2016

Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom

My rating: 4.8

I enjoyed Grissom's first book The Kitchen House  a lot, so when a friend said that she had enjoyed her second book, I eagerly picked it up. 

This book is set in the 1800's and starts off with a black man, Henry, approaching Jamie to help him find his son who is also Jaime's beloved servant Pan. As the story unfolds, it also flashes back in time to explain how Jaime and Henry met when Jamie had to flee his Virginia Plantation home and, as a white man, soon gets employment as a silversmith. 





This is a stand alone novel but, if you have read The Kitchen House, you will realize that Jamie is a continuation of a character from that book.  This was a gripping story with vivid characters. I loved the alternating voices in each chapter. Just like Grissom's first book I found myself looking forward to squirreling away time to be able to find out what had happened to the characters that I had come to know and care about.