Category Archives: Books Books Books

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

January 6, 2020Books Books Booksappalachia, blue people of kentucky, historical fiction, kim michele richardson, literary fiction, netgalley, pack horse librarian, sourcebooks landmark, the book woman of troublesome creeklaelbr5_wp

Teenager Cussy Carter becomes a traveling librarian, delivering reading material to folks beyond means of travel other than four-legged. Nicknamed Bluet as the last female of the Blue People of Kentucky, she bravely faces dangerous trails to support literacy in her part of the world, and connect with her neighbors, often as the only other face they see. As bigotry causes cataclysmic shifts in her own life, she maintains her route, offering more than books to her customers. Richardson presents a compelling portrait of an isolated people, especially the family who suffers more severe hardships for their indigo skin, in the hollers of Appalachia. Combining that history with the librarians who traversed ignorance as much as menacing terrain provides a unique character in Cussy Carter. I was fortunate to receive this wonderfully written story from the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley.

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh

January 3, 2020Books Books Bookscrime thriller, murder mystery, netgalley, orion, steve cavanagh, suspense, thirteenlaelbr5_wp

Eddie Flynn reluctantly takes on a celebrity client on trial for murder based on his belief in the man’s innocence, while a murderer sits on the jury, gleefully watching the process. Cavanagh cleverly plays the murderer’s presence against the brilliance of the conman lawyer. I received a copy of this crime thriller from the publisher Orion through NetGalley, and although it’s a decent standalone, I wish the publisher would include on NetGalley the fact that a book is part of a series.

Petra’s Ghost by C.S. O’Cinneide

January 3, 2020Books Books Booksc s o'cinneide, camino de santiago, dundurn, historical fiction, netgalley, petra's ghost, pilgrimage, spain, supernatural thrillerlaelbr5_wp

Irish ex-pat Daniel carries his wife Petra’s ashes on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. He finds a walking partner in Californian Ginny, who runs hot and cold, is stalked by a macabre creature, and loses the ability to differentiate between reality and hallucination, yet remains determined to release Petra’s ashes at the end. O’Cinneide brilliantly portrays an unreliable narrator—with Daniel more interesting than endearing, elusive supporting characters, and an ending that remains intriguing though unsurprising. I was fortunate to receive this well-written, well-researched supernatural historical fiction from the publisher Dundurn through NetGalley.

The Way Home by Mark Boyle

December 30, 2019Books Books Booksireland, mark boyle, memoir, netgalley, off grid, oneworld publications, the way homelaelbr5_wp

Mark Boyle determined to return to a way of life before technology in his homeland of Ireland. Following the ways of his ancestors on the west coast, he built his home by hand, produces his own food, and carries water from the creek. This manifesto dispels any romantic notion of living off the land, appreciating the beauty of nature. It’s extremely hard work and Boyle is up to it, getting by with a little help from his friends, a network of neighbors. The memoir is compelling, intriguing, and radical in its scope, and Boyle remains matter of fact in his outlook as things go really wrong and as well as could be expected. I was fortunate to receive, ironically, a digital copy of this book from Oneworld Publications through NetGalley.

The Farm by Joanne Ramos

December 30, 2019Books Books Booksjoanne ramos, netgalley, random house, the farm, womens ficitonlaelbr5_wp

Golden Oaks—“the farm”—is run as an elite resort. Hired as surrogates for the 1%, the “guests” receive total care, including spa treatments, top medical care, and gourmet cuisine, in exchange for relinquishing their lives throughout pregnancy. These guests generally are women desperate to fortify their future, women like single mother Jane, a Filipina immigrant, Lisa, a repeat surrogate whose tendency to rebel is countered by her ability to produce beautiful, healthy babies, and Reagan, educated but troubled. Ramos portrays socioeconomic and emotional struggles, and the power of money to buy anything, even a healthy pregnancy, albeit with another woman’s body. There are lies to clients and to surrogates, and minor incidents throughout the story, but no major climax, and the ending seems disconnected. All in all, this story is very close to reality regarding the surrogacy industry, and a representation of injustice, worth the read on class, race, and feminist principles, but not necessarily for simple entertainment. I received a digital copy from the publisher Random House through NetGalley.

Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood

December 27, 2019Books Books Books#family, down syndrome, keeping lucy, netgalley, st. martin's press, t greenwoodlaelbr5_wp

In the late 60s, Ginny was given no say in the institutionalization of her daughter who was born with Down Syndrome. When her friend informs her that her now 2-year-old is in a squalid existence, Ginny braves the world to rescue her daughter. Greenwood does a nice job of showing the obstacles a woman faced in her situation and time. There seems to be a bit of a credibility problem in the resolution in order to create a happy ending. If you love happy endings, great. If you prefer realistic storylines, maybe not so great, though the story overall is well-written with interesting, in not endearing, characters. I received this book from the publisher St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.

The Victim by Max Manning

December 27, 2019Books Books Booksmax manning, netgalley, sourcebooks landmark, suspense thriller, the victimlaelbr5_wp

An attack turned carjacking leaves Gem fearful. As the police investigation reveals more than she suspected, Gem become determined to not live the life of a victim. I received an ARC, so I expect that the chapters being out of sync were resolved in the final copy. This made the story hard to follow, with dead characters alive in alternate chapters. With this resolved, this is a fun to read thriller. Thank you to the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark for offering this story through NetGalley.

The Burning Chambers by Kate Mosse

December 23, 2019Books Books Books16th century france, catholics, historical fiction, huguenots, kate mosse, mantle, netgalley, protestants, religious wars, the burning chambers, wars of religionlaelbr5_wp

Teenager Minou Joubert is sent to Toulouse with her brother for her own safety from 16^th century Carcassonne, though she has allied herself with Piet Reydon, a Huguenot subversive. Minou learns a powerful secret that changes her destiny and endangers her beyond her expectations. She must then rescue her little sister from the evil mistress of Puivert. Mosse presents the religious factions at Languedoc in all their gory detail with gorgeous writing. Blended into history are power shifts, unorthodox alliances, and unique and distinctive characters. I was fortunate to receive this beautifully written historical fiction novel from Mantel through NetGalley.

Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews

December 23, 2019Books Books Booksbeach read, humor, literary, mary kay andrews, mystery, netgalley, st. martin's press, sunset beachlaelbr5_wp

Drue’s estranged father shows up at her lowest point, unemployed and unmoored, at her mother’s funeral. Married to her childhood frenemy, he offers her a job at his ambulance chasing law office, working with his wife. But with it comes her grandparent’s beach bungalow, replete with beloved memories. All she has to do it fix it up. She stumbles into investigating a mysterious death at a nearby resort, which may somehow be connected to her father’s business. MKA threads hints and doubts throughout, leading Drue and Dear Reader on a wild ride, always entertaining. I was fortunate to receive this fun mystery from the publisher St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.

The Perfect Wife by JP Delaney

December 20, 2019Books Books Booksartificial intelligence, autism, ballantine books, jp delaney, murder mystery, netgalley, suspense thriller, the perfect wifelaelbr5_wp

Abbie knows something is different about her when she awakes in a hospital facing a stranger calling himself her husband and informing her that they have an autistic child. The more she learns about their life, the more disturbed she is by that stranger, her husband. She is determined to discover how she ended up in the hospital, who she is exactly, and how to protect their son. Delaney blends technology into the story so well that at one point it’s challenging to determine who is who and who has done what to whom. The moral of the story seems to be beware human megalomania rather than the technology they produce. I was fortunate to receive this well-written, accessible sci-fi story from the publisher Ballantine Books through NetGalley.

Lael Braday

Short Story Author