Category Archives: Books Books Books

Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly

December 20, 2019Books Books Booksdutton books, murder mystery, netgalley, suspense thriller, t marie vandelly, theme musiclaelbr5_wp

Dixie Wheeler was known as Baby Blue for the song playing when she was discovered at the crime scene where her father murdered their family and killed himself. She seeks understanding and closure in purchasing her family’s house and recreating her childhood home. Things happen that make her question her sanity and her own propensity for violence, and eventually her father’s guilt. Vandelly did a superb job evoking sympathy for Dixie through graphic descriptions of the family’s murder, her memories, and the weird occurrences in her family home. But she includes a supernatural element that wasn’t explored well enough to invoke speculation from Dear Reader. I was fortunate to receive a digital copy of this marvelously macabre story from the publisher Dutton Books through NetGalley.

The Suffering of Strangers by Caro Ramsay

December 16, 2019Books Books Bookscaro ramsay, detective series, netgalley, severn house publishers, the suffering of strangerslaelbr5_wp

Police detectives Costello and Anderson investigate a kidnapping and mysterious exchange of babies, and a cold case of rape respectively, but keep running into each other, insinuating correlation. The storyline was interesting, but there were lots of characters that became confusing in what is the ninth book in the series, something not shared until the end of the book and not at all on NetGalley. Dear Reader following the series would definitely appreciate the continuation of the series in this intriguing and unique tale. Although Severn House Publishers graciously offered this story through NetGalley, they should have informed potential reviewers that it was a series.

Blackberry and Wild Rose by Sonia Velton

December 16, 2019Books Books Books18th century, blackberry and wild rose, blackstone publishing, historical fiction, netgalley, sonia veltonlaelbr5_wp

Sara is tricked into prostitution and held there by an unjust debt. A Huguenot silk weaver’s wife, Esther, takes her in as a charity case to be her personal maid, self-righteously upholding her elite status in this way. Both women become involved in the silk weavers’ revolt in the only way possible for women to do anything in the late 18^th century, through romantic entanglements, Sara seeking freedom and Esther desiring to see her own designs woven. Inspired by a historical figure ahead of her time, Velton creates a compelling fictionalized tale of the Spitalfield Riots, with sex, unrequited love, betrayal, and death. I was fortunate to receive this wonderful book from Blackstone Publishing through NetGalley.

I Know You by Annabel Kantaria

December 9, 2019Books Books Booksannabel kantaria, hq publishing, i know you, netgalley, psychological thriller, suspenselaelbr5_wp

Taylor Watson is heavily pregnant and hopeful that moving to England will put her husband’s affair behind them. An introverted social media junkie, she makes a point to get out and make friends, but one of them betrays her trust, stalking her online. Kantaria eases Dear Reader through a cavalcade of characters who are all a bit shady, making each one suspect in turn. This is not only a tale of the dangers of social media, but a lesson in vetting family and friends in person. The ending rocks! I received this well-written, suspense-filled thriller from HQ through NetGalley.

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

December 9, 2019Books Books Bookscrooked lane books, little darlings, melanie golding, paranormal thrillerlaelbr5_wp

An old woman who smelled of river water came into Lauren’s hospital room and threatened to exchange her perfect twin sons for changelings. When a month later, the boys go missing, no one but Lauren believes this is exactly what happened. She pursues the truth, courageous in her heart that she’s right and will find her own children. Golding’s skill of the craft leaves Dear Reader wondering at the human mind’s capacity for belief, invoking age-old fairytales. Fans of Angela Slatter and Neil Gaiman will appreciate Golding’s style and storytelling power. I was fortunate to receive a digital copy from the publisher Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley.

Wunderland by Jennifer Cody Epstein

December 2, 2019Books Books Bookscrown publishing, jennifer cody epstein, netgalley, wunderlandlaelbr5_wp

Ava receives a bundle of unsent letters along with her estranged mother’s ashes, letters sent to a tragic figure from Ilsa’s past. Ava finds the mystery person—Renate Bauer, and learns about her mother’s childhood growing up as a Hitler Youth, an organization that divided Ilsa from her best friend Renate. Epstein skillfully weaves the lives of two young girls into the horror that was WWII Germany, exposing secrets, betrayals, and primal fears, within all their complexities whilst rendering a friendship torn to pieces by circumstances. Though an oft written subject, Epstein’s take is unique in its in-depth view of how the Nazis reached out to indoctrinate children, evoking misplaced loyalty and mortal fear in even its youngest citizens. I was fortunate to receive a digital copy of this brilliantly written story from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Book of Dreams by Nina George

November 25, 2019Books Books Bookscrown publishing, netgalley, nina george, the book of dreamslaelbr5_wp

Sam invites his absentee father to a special school event. On his way to the event, eager to meet his son, Henri Skinner, a war correspondent, jumps off a bridge to rescue a child fallen from a boat. Back on the bridge, he is hit by a car and falls into a coma. Sam visits him every day and meets two special people, his father’s true love and a young woman in a coma who captures his own heart. George writes a convincing tale of the tug of war between life and death in another dimension, and also of the complexities of relationships betwixt larger than life personalities. I was fortunate to receive copy of this wonderful story from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Riddle of the Sphinx

November 18, 2019Books Books Bookslaelbr5_wp

In reference to the famous riddle on the three stages of the life of man, dear Reader sees Keyvan come of age as a privileged child during the Iran revolution, his escape to America where he attends Princeton as Eric and falls in love with the man he tutors, and his contemplation on his life in law and his marriage (to a woman) and children. Montagu weaves Keyvan / Eric’s tale carefully throughout the fall of the Shah, portraying the fears of the socially select, following Keyvan and his mother as they ride horses under cover of night over treacherous mountain paths, led by shady men of greed. In a dream-like transition, Keyvan is now Eric in Princeton, continuing his privileged life now as an Iranian-American student. Circling back to the beginning, Eric expounds upon the decisions he’s made in his life that have led him to this point where a chance encounter drops him back into his past. Montagu’s writing swirls around the story like fog, as though exposing relevant scenes, an intriguing stylistic choice.

A Lily in the Light by Kristin Fields

November 11, 2019Books Books Bookslaelbr5_wp

Esme lives ballet, and completely immerses herself after her little sister goes missing, becoming a professional ballerina. When her older sister calls with an astonishing update, Esme returns to her family to reconnect and start the healing process. Fields leads the reader through the mine field that is a family after a child is taken, focusing on the breakout child, the sister with talent in dance, and the opportunities opening up to forge her success. “What ifs” haunt Esme, and she feels isolated by her family’s perspective of her. The writing flows gently through the tension and the pain, coming to a screeching halt with the revelation that changes everything. Fans of Liane Moriarty, Diane Chamberlain, and Kerry Ann King will appreciate this novel and author.

Nine Cloud Dream by Kim Man-Jung

September 30, 2019Books Books Bookslaelbr5_wp

The “greatest classic Korean novel” by Kim Man-Jung follows a young boy’s rags to riches story that encompasses wives, concubines, wise men, scholars, and the military. One man lives an incredible lifein 17^th century Korea, continously attracting the most beautiful women, many whose status makes them worthy only of positions as his concubines, and experiencing fantastical elements, such as fairies and dragons. It’s challenging to view this as a great romance from the modern perspective of the Me Too movement. Then at the end, it’s all a dream. Classics are not for everyone. I was graciously given a digital copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Lael Braday

Short Story Author