Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

My rating: 2.0

Tate moves in with her brother who's apartment is across the hall from Miles. Miles doesn't want love and she doesn't have time for love so they embark on a casual affair.

This was a Harlequin Romance with better developed characters and slightly better writing.

Before I Go by Colleen Oakley

My rating: 2.0

On the eve of celebrating her four year cancerversary, Daisy gets diagnosed for the second time with cancer and, this time it is terminal. Daisy makes it her mission to find a new wife for her husband.

 I liked the characters, the writing was ok but I didn't care for the plot line.  It was cheezy and completely implausible so it lost me. This implausible plotline that I couldn't connect with then made me notice the writing which felt very formula. This went from an interesting story line to so boring. I really enjoyed Oakley's novel "Close Enough To Touch" so found this very disappointing. Glad that this was written prior to Close Enough To Touch as that says Oakley's writing is improving as are her plot lines so, I hold out hope she may have more books to come that will continue to be solid.

Black & White by Dani Shapiro

My Rating: 4.6

Clara returns to New York to see her ailing mother, the controversial photographer Ruth Dunne who became famous through her discomforting nude photos of young Clara. This is uncomfortable and captures so many levels of emotion. Definitely not a plot driven book. I found that it evoked so many emotions in me for Clara and her situation, both as a child and an adult.

I really enjoyed Shapiro's writing style of leaving sentences unfinished and somehow conveying the emotions with even more punch. This is not for everyone but I enjoyed it.

The Private Life of Mrs. Sharma

My rating: 4.5

Mrs Sharma is a 37 yo woman who's husband works in Delhi to provide the family with a better life. She lives with her in-laws along with her 15 yo son Bobbie who has dreams of becoming a chef despite his mother's dreams of something grander for him.

This first person narrative captured me and despite the continued gradual twisted twists in her thinking I continued along with it as it almost seemed as natural to me as it was to her (ok, not quite but, I still enjoyed the journey).  This captures Indian culture and I loved her voice. I believe that this captures many Mrs. Sharma's although hopefully without the twist.

Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir

My rating: 4.9

This is my second Alison Weir book and I am so in love with her writing. This starts from when Elizabeth is three years old and progresses into her early adult years. You really feel like you know and understand her and your heart goes out to her and you admire her for all of the situations she has to face at such a young age and handles with dignity.

Fabulous writing combined with so much true drama that it doesn't need embellishment. WONDERFUL!  I can't wait to read the next in this series.

Close Enough To Touch by Colleen Oakley

My rating: 4.9

Jubilee, is allergic to human touch...yes, she could die from simply being touched by another person. She has a humiliating near fatal accident in high school and becomes an unplanned recluse in her home...for nine years! When her mother dies and she needs to be financially independent, she is thrust back out in to the world to fend for herself.

This took a couple of chapters to grab me but, then it did.  All of the characters grew on me with every turn of the page where I was cheering for each of them.  Eric, Aja, Madison, Ellie and most especially Jubilee where all flawed characters that I fell in love with and wanted so much for and had me rooting for them. I drew comparisons to JoJoy Moyes writing when I was telling my friends about this...before I read the descriptions. It is a fun fast read that will capture your heart and stay with you.

Separation by Katie Kitamura

My rating: 3.8

Christopher and his wife agree to separate but to not tell anyone. Then his wife gets a phone call from Christopher's mother inquiring into his whereabouts. Writing about the painful end of a marriage is so difficult and, this captures it so beautifully.  The eloquence and depth of emotion is so beautiful. There is not doubt that Kitamura is an incredible writer capable of capturing so much. I can't emphasize enough how beautiful the writing is...and can understand the comparisons to Elena Ferrante...yes, it is that gorgeous of phrasing.

I also completely understand that this was 'too much'.  It was every single thought articulated to the point of being boring. It is also an extremely depressing topic that there is no 'happy ending' to but, for me, Kitamura's beautiful writing still shone through. This was difficult for me to rate as, even though this wasn't a 'readable' novel it captured so much and was amazing in it's writing. Definitely not one for the masses though.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

My rating: 4.8

I absolutely loved Simon and all of the other characters. I think knowing it is a "Harry Potter remake" helped me get into this book very quickly: Simon=Harry, Baz=Draco, Penny=Hermione, Watford=Hogwortz etc. etc. For me, the characters just fell into place seamlessly so I instantly got lost in the story line. Then suddenly WOAH!!!...I wasn't expecting that!!!

This is Rainbow Rowell's version of Harry Potter but make no mistake, this is NOT the Harry Potter storyline. If you don't like Harry Potter or if you think that J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter concept then, you won't like this at all. If you loved Harry Potter and want another version of it, run out and grab this book.  LOVED it!  Now I want to read Fangirl.

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

My rating: 3.5

In 1908 Sara Harrison Shea was found dead in the field behind her house just months after the tragic death of her 8 year old daughter Gertie. Now, in present day, Ruthie and her family live in the same farmhouse where Sara Harrison Shea once lived. When Ruthie's mother Alice goes missing, it is the clues from the past that will help her discover her mother's whereabouts.

The writing was solid but I don't care for ghost stories as they always strike me as very implausible. If you like ghost stories, you might enjoy this as it was good writing and a solid storyline.

Everything You Want Me To Be by Mindy Mejia

My rating: 2.0

Maybe I fell for the hype? Maybe I read too many great reviews? Maybe I wasn't in the right mood? Or maybe this writing and storyline was as bad as I think it was.  UGH!  Could the characters have been any more one dimensional (Peter's character as just one example - double UGH!)

I didn't know for sure "who" did it till a little ways into the book but very early on in the book, the author clearly lets us know who "didn't" do it and then proceeds to continue to try to make it think it was that person.  Between a poor plot line, no character development and a red herring murderer that the author spoiled....if this book hadn't been on my beloved kindle, I would have thrown it across the room. Hopefully this review isn't too scathing but, you know you can always count on me to be honest!

Bookmarks Magazine May/June 2017

This was our first weekend home in a month and I couldn't imagine a more perfect way to spend this afternoon with my feet in the pool and going through my much anticipated Bookmarks magazine:

This edition was packed full of so many books that intrigue me. Here are the ones that I have added to my queue:

     


      

  

Already in my queue from previous issues:
  

If you get Bookmarks, let me know what your picks are and/or please share what good books you are reading as I always love to talk books :-)

Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel

My rating:4.7

In the small close knit town of Three Pines, resident Jane Neal has been found dead in the woods. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Surêté du Québec and his team of investigators are called in to the scene of the suspicious death.

For me, this book captured so much in such an understated way - small town life, a police detective and his crew and a French Canadian town to name just a few. This is a true "who done it" mystery but weaves in love, life and friendship stories with the beautiful writing. I will definitely be reading more in this series.

The Girl In The Red Coat by Kate Hamer

My rating: 4.9

Single mum Beth takes her daughter Carmel to a local fair. In the foggy haze, Carmel goes missing.

First off, the writing. Wow!

"I'm looking out of the window and I can almost see her - in those tights that made cherry licorice of her legs - walking up the lane to school. The missing her feels like my throat has been removed."

While the story was sad and even upsetting, the writing was so beautiful. For myself, this wasn't about the story but about the amazing writing. .I lost myself in getting to know every one of the characters, who they were, how they felt and the unfolding of who they were. I love when I still have questions at the end of the book as the author didn't wrap it all up in a bow. I can't wait for THE DOLL FUNERAL, Hamer's next novel to be released in August 2017.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

My rating: 2.8

Lo Blacklock gets the incredible opportunity to cover for her boss doing an article on the maiden voyage of The Aurora. She witnesses a woman in the cabin next to her getting thrown overboard and things unfold from there.

Although being inside Lo's head is a scary place to be this book wasn't scary or a thriller lol! They have put a lot of hype around this to try to make it sound like Agatha Christie meets Girl On The Train (not even close!). I did have to suspend a lot of my questioning of the plot but Lo being a whining, neurotic, alcoholic with zero conscience for her job was definitely something difficult to get past. Lo's thought process was extremely annoying and implausible. Also, there were no likable characters which is challenging.  To top it off, the writing felt very juvenile and I was constantly being told what I should feel. Definitely NOT a recommend.

The Fall Guy by James Lasdun

My Rating: 3.8

Charlie, a wealthy banker with an uneasy conscience, invites his troubled cousin Matthew to visit him and his wife in their idyllic mountaintop house. As the days grow hotter, the friendship between the three begins to reveal its fault lines, and with the arrival of a fourth character, the household finds itself suddenly in the grip of uncontrollable passions

Very twisted and although I enjoyed it, none of the characters were likable and the ending felt anti-climatic. Not a must read.