Author: ondbookshelf
Blogging my way through my extensive to be read pile of books.
Us Against You (Beartown #2)
Us Against You
Beartown
Fiction
Atria Books
June 5, 2018
E-book
448
Publisher via NetGalley
After everything that the citizens of Beartown have gone through, they are struck yet another blow when they hear that their beloved local hockey team will soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in Hed, take in that fact. Amidst the mounting tension between the two rivals, a surprising newcomer is handpicked to be Beartown’s new hockey coach.
Soon a new team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the enmity with Hed grows more and more acute.
As the big match approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt grows deeper. By the time the last game is finally played, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after all they’ve been through, the game they love can ever return to something simple and innocent.
My review:
Make no mistake, this man can tell a story like no other! With the first in the series (Beartown) taking the top spot of the more than 200 books I read last year, this was probably my most anticipated book this year. I liked it, but not anywhere near as much as Beartown. It certainly was not because of the writing, which remains just as beautiful and sharp as all of Backman's previous works. It was not the well written characters, especially not my favorite Benji, who has a big storyline in this one. This is going to sound strange coming from someone who doesn't gravitate toward sports books, but I missed the hockey in this one! The first game doesn't happen until 3/4 of the way through, and I found myself just waiting for the excitement of the game. Instead of the hockey, there was more violence and politics in this one. There are still many of the same characters who we grew to love in Beartown, and some story lines throughout kept my interest, but I just didn't have quite the overall love for the entire book. Having said all that, it's still a very good book, and second books in a series are known to be way too hyped. I'm still going to be excited to pick up the last in series, whenever that may be.
Although in my opinion not as good as its predecessor, this is still a well written book with lots of characters you will root for. Just know going in that the hockey takes a back seat in this one to more of a political plot within the neighboring towns.
Dreams of Falling
Dreams of Falling
Fiction
Berkley
June 5, 2018
E-book
416
Publisher via NetGalley
It's been nine years since Larkin fled Georgetown, South Carolina, vowing never to go back. But when she finds out that her mother has disappeared, she knows she has no choice but to return to the place that she both loves and dreads--and to the family and friends who never stopped wishing for her to come home. Ivy, Larkin's mother, is discovered in the burned-out wreckage of her family's ancestral rice plantation, badly injured and unconscious. No one knows why Ivy was there, but as Larkin digs for answers, she uncovers secrets kept for nearly 50 years. Secrets that lead back to the past, to the friendship between three girls on the brink of womanhood who swore that they would be friends forever, but who found that vow tested in heartbreaking ways.
My review:
One thing you can always count on in Karen White's books is that you will not be disappointed. While I still have my favorites (The Sound of Glass and The Night the Lights Went Out), and this one was not up there with those, it was still a really enjoyable read. Set in two time periods, present day (2010) and the 50's, we follow three main characters who have remained friends from early school years to the present. We also follow the children and grandchildren of those women, so it can get a bit confusing at the beginning who belongs to who. No worries though, Ms. White will guide you through, as her writing just flows along with the story. I did actually enjoy the early time frame story more than the present, but I may have been jaded by the fact that a lot of it took place on a vacation the girls took to Myrtle Beach. We own a vacation house in Myrtle, so I quite enjoyed all the references to places I know well (and it reminded me again how sad I am that the Pavillion is no longer there!). Of course the book also has its share of secrets and twists that keep you guessing, and the quintessential Karen White southern charm!
Another solid read that Ms. White can add to her impressive resume. If you like books set in the south, with great characters, lots of secrets kept and a bit of mystery, I think you will enjoy this one. Put it in your beach bag, especially if you are planning a vacation to an Atlantic ocean beach this summer.
The High Tide Club
The High Tide Club
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
May 8, 2018
Hardcover
480
Free from publisher
When ninety-nine-year-old heiress Josephine Bettendorf Warrick summons Brooke Trappnell to Talisa Island, her 20,000 acre remote barrier island home, Brooke is puzzled. Everybody in the South has heard about the eccentric millionaire mistress of Talisa, but Brooke has never met her. Josephine’s cryptic note says she wants to discuss an important legal matter with Brooke, who is an attorney, but Brooke knows that Mrs. Warrick has long been a client of a prestigious Atlanta law firm.
Over a few meetings, the ailing Josephine spins a tale of old friendships, secrets, betrayal and a long-unsolved murder. She tells Brooke she is hiring her for two reasons: to protect her island and legacy from those who would despoil her land, and secondly, to help her make amends with the heirs of the long dead women who were her closest friends, the girls of The High Tide Club—so named because of their youthful skinny dipping escapades—Millie, Ruth and Varina. When Josephine dies with her secrets intact, Brooke is charged with contacting Josephine’s friends’ descendants and bringing them together on Talisa for a reunion of women who’ve actually never met.
My review:
First let's take a moment and enjoy this cover! If you are a huge summer beach reading enthusiast like me, I'm sure this cover will pull you in! The content of this one was a bit of a surprise for me. I'm a big fan of MKA (as her fans refer to her), because her books are my gateway to summer. While there are some beach references, in general this is more about a dying woman wanting to make amends for things she's done in the past to her best friends (members of The High Tide Club). The other thing I always love about MKA is her sense of humor. I always get a few chuckles out of the situations her characters find themselves in, or their banter and witty remarks. I have seen Ms. Andrews many times on tour, and if you follow her on social media, you know she has a wicked sense of humor. That didn't come through in this book for me, and it made me a bit sad. Not that this is not a compelling book, it just wasn't what I expected. For the most part the book takes place in present time, although we do have some flashbacks to what occurred when the four women were much younger, and the club was formed. There are a number of characters to keep track of, because in the present day the story primarily focuses on the descendants of the original club. The main character who is a lawyer trying to bring together these descendants before her client dies, is an interesting character bringing baggage of her own to the plot (many will remember her as the bride in Save the Date).
This is a solid novel, with an intriguing plot. While I missed the usual style of the author, I commend her for going in a different direction. Those who have not read all her previous work, will not have any preconceived notions, and will enjoy this one for its entertainment and engaging writing.
Two Steps Forward
Two Steps Forward
Fiction
William Morrow Paperbacks
May 1, 2018
Advanced Reader Copy
384
Free copy from publisher
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Project comes a story of taking chances and learning to love again as two people, one mourning her husband and the other recovering from divorce, cross paths on the centuries-old Camino pilgrimage from France to Spain. “The Chemin will change you. It changes everyone…” The Chemin, also known as the Camino de Santiago, is a centuries-old pilgrim route that ends in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Every year, thousands of walkers—some devout, many not—follow the route that wends through quaint small villages and along busy highways alike, a journey unlike any other. Zoe, an artist from California who’s still reeling from her husband’s sudden death, has impulsively decided to walk the Camino, hoping to find solace and direction. Martin, an engineer from England, is road-testing a cart of his own design…and recovering from a messy divorce. They begin in the same French town, each uncertain of what the future holds. Zoe has anticipated the physical difficulties of her trek, but she is less prepared for other challenges, as strangers and circumstances force her to confront not just recent loss, but long-held beliefs. For Martin, the pilgrimage is a test of his skills and endurance but also, as he and Zoe grow closer, of his willingness to trust others—and himself—again. Smart and funny, insightful and romantic, Two Steps Forward reveals that the most important journeys we make aren’t measured in miles, but in the strength, wisdom, and love found along the way.
My review:
This book reminded me of The Canterbury Sisters by Kim Wright (reviewed here), in that it is about a journey taken on a well traveled path in Europe. In this case it is the Camino, which was a pilgrim route through France into northern Spain. We follow two main protagonists along the route, sometimes they are together and sometimes not. As they keep running into one another, a sort of friendship begins, although both have baggage they feel will hinder anything more. The novel is told in chronological order in a dual narrative time frame, with lots of other interesting characters popping in and out of the story along the trail. I liked the setup, and thought it to be interesting overall, but I will admit to feeling a bit bored in parts where I wasn't as invested in the characters or place. One thing I know for certain....you will never catch me trying one of these pilgrimages! I like to walk, but not like that 🙂
A fun narrative about two characters taking a pilgrimage along a famous path, with lots of interesting places, characters, and situations thrown in. Maybe you'll decide to walk it after reading?
The Way of Beauty
The Way of Beauty
Fiction
Lake Union Publishing
2018-05
Paperback
384
Publisher via GetRedPR
Hearts and dreams evolve in the shadow of the once-magnificent Penn Station. Vera Keller, the daughter of German immigrants in turn-of-the-century New York City, finds her life upended when the man she loves becomes engaged to another woman. But Angelo Bellavia has also inadvertently opened up Vera's life to unexpected possibilities. Angelo's new wife, Pearl, the wealthy daughter of a clothing manufacturer, has defied her family's expectations by devoting herself to the suffrage movement. In Pearl, Vera finds an unexpected dear friend...and a stirring new cause of her own. But when Pearl's selfless work pulls her farther from Angelo and their son, the life Vera craved is suddenly within her reach--if her conscience will allow her to take it. Her choice will define not only her future but also that of her daughter, Alice. Vera and Alice--a generation and a world apart--are bound by the same passionate drive to fulfill their dreams. As first mother and then daughter come of age in a city that is changing as rapidly as its skyline, they'll each discover that love is the only constant.
My review:
My first novel by Ms. Di Maio, and it definitely won't be my last! This is a fascinating look into the making (and breaking down) of Penn Station in NYC, complete with compelling characters and wonderfully descriptive settings. I was immediately sucked into the story, and relished my time reading what was to become of these characters. Being that I'm not from New York City, I was not even aware of the controversy surrounding the tearing down of Penn Station to make room for Madison Square Garden. I know I will look at that site fondly when I am in the city next month (my hotel is on the next block). These are characters you want to root for, and while there was the obligatory romance(s), it was handled so skillfully that I didn't even mind (see, there is a way to incorporate romance into novels that won't make me run the other way!). I loved the parts about the suffragette movement, and wouldn't have minded even more of that story line.
A great historical fiction novel about the rise and fall of Penn Station (1900-1960) with a fabulous cast of characters you will treasure! If you like this genre, or live anywhere near NYC, pick this one up and savor it.
My Oxford Year
Then She Was Gone
Then She Was Gone
Fiction
Atria Books
April 17, 2018
Advanced Reader Copy
368
Free from publisher
Ten years after her teenage daughter disappears, a woman crosses paths with a charming single father whose young child feels eerily familiar, in this evocative, suspenseful drama from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell—perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Liane Moriarty.
Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, the youngest of three. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic post-exams summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her.
And then she was gone.
Now, her mother Laurel Mack is trying to put her life back together. It’s been ten years since her daughter disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie’s case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away.
Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. And now, the unanswered questions she’s tried so hard to put to rest begin to haunt Laurel anew. Where did Ellie go? Did she really run away from home, as the police have long suspected, or was there a more sinister reason for her disappearance? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?
My review:
I'm going to say it again, because it always bears repeating when it comes to this author. My absolute favorite Lisa Jewell book was The House We Grew Up In. The reason I feel compelled to point to that book (other than that it is a fantastic family case study), is that her last few books have been more in the psychological thriller vein. I think it speaks to her writing skills that she can be successful in writing across multiple genres (including historical fiction with Before I Met You). This book was in the psychological thriller genre, and it was a gripping page turner. While I did figure out the "who dunnit"part of what happened to Laurel's daughter fairly early, the details, and particularly the "why" took me on a dark and sinister journey. The twists and turns were cleverly interspersed, the characters were well drawn, and the ending satisfactorily tied up all the loose ends. If you have not read this author before, grab a copy of one of her books. She has likely written one in whatever genre you are in the mood for.
A well written thriller about a mother trying to find out the truth about her missing daughter, including a villain with one of the most creepily plotted plans I've read about. Definitely a must if you want a page turner that isn't so scary as to keep you up at night.
All the Beautiful Lies
All the Beautiful Lies
Fiction
William Morrow
April 3, 2018
Hardcover
304
Free from publisher
Harry Ackerson has always considered his stepmother Alice to be sexy and beautiful, in an "otherworldly" way. She has always been kind and attentive, if a little aloof in the last few years. Days before his college graduation, Alice calls with shocking news. His father is dead and the police think it’s suicide. Devastated, Harry returns to his father’s home in Maine. There, he and Alice will help each other pick up of the pieces of their lives and uncover what happened to his father. Shortly after he arrives, Harry meets a mysterious young woman named Grace McGowan. Though she claims to be new to the area, Harry begins to suspect that Grace may not be a complete stranger to his family. But she isn’t the only attractive woman taking an interest in Harry. The sensual Alice is also growing closer, coming on to him in an enticing, clearly sexual way. Mesmerized by these two women, Harry finds himself falling deeper under their spell. Yet the closer he gets to them, the more isolated he feels, disoriented by a growing fear that both women are hiding dangerous—even deadly—secrets . . . and that neither one is telling the truth.
My review:
Without giving away any spoilers, I can definitely say that this one gave you the "something is just off here" vibes from the get-go. What a masterful job Swanson does of stringing the reader along, as they try to figure out exactly what is going on. Of course, as in most thrillers if they are well written, just when you think you have it figured out (sort of?)......BAM.......you are thrown a curve ball! I was initially worried that the sexual conduct of Alice and Harry would turn me off from the book, but my fears were, for the most part, unfounded. It's there, but not as prevalent as the blurb makes it seem I thought the writing and pacing of this one were totally on point, and I was turning pages as fast as I could to figure out just what Alice, and to a lesser extent Grace, were up to. This book not only focuses on the present day death of Harry's father, but we are taken back into the worlds of Alice and Jake, two creepier characters than you thought possible. The back and forth in time eventually combine to form the explosive ending. . My first book by Swanson, and now I need to go back and read his backlist.
This one is dark and creepy (but not in the freak you out in the night creepy), but I was glued to the pages to figure this one out! Definitely add it to your list if you want a good psychological thriller!
Sophia of Silicon Valley
Sophia of Silicon Valley
Fiction
William Morrow
April 10, 2018
Hardcover
368
Free from publisher
Sharp, dramatic, and full of insider dish, SOPHIA OF SILICON VALLEY is one woman’s story of a career storming the corridors of geek power and living in the shadow of its outrageous cast of maestros. During the heady years of the tech boom, incorrigibly frank Sophia Young lucks into a job that puts her directly in the path of Scott Kraft, the eccentric CEO of Treehouse, a studio whose animated films are transforming movies forever. Overnight, Sophia becomes an unlikely nerd whisperer. Whether her success is due to dumb luck, savage assertiveness, insightful finesse (learned by dealing with her irrational Chinese immigrant mother), or a combination of all three, in her rarified position she finds she can truly shine. As Scott Kraft’s right-hand woman, whip-smart Sophia is in the eye of the storm, sometimes floundering, sometimes nearly losing relationships and her health, but ultimately learning what it means to take charge of her own future the way the men around her do. But when engineer/inventor Andre Stark hires her to run his company’s investor relations, Sophia discovers that the big paycheck and high-status career she’s created for herself may not be worth living in the toxic environment of a boys-club gone bad.
My review:
I was graciously sent this book for review. Although I'm not sure that it's something I would have picked up on my own, the premise sounded interesting, and not so far out of my comfort zone to not give it a whirl. There were a lot of things to like about this one. I loved that the protagonist has a chronic illness (not dealt with a lot in fictionalized go-getters). The repartee between her and her Asian mother was reminiscent of the mother/daughter interactions in Crazy Rich Asians, and were very entertaining. The portrayal of the boys network, alive and well and truly obnoxious in this technology setting, had me rooting for Sophia to put them in their place. I thought the author (who the character of Sophia is loosely based on) did a very good job exploring the issue of having a relationship outside of a high pressure, time consuming job. Where the book bogged down a bit for me was in all the descriptions of the tech industry, including sales pitches, stock options, IPO's and the like. Had I been in this field, I'm sure I would have a totally different perspective, but it did temper my overall enjoyment. I really liked Sophia, and this kept me interested to find out if she "made it out of the tech jungle alive"!
A good read, with a well written protagonist. Showing that the more things change (or not) in the boys network, the more they stay the same for the few women climbing to power. This one will be especially of interest to those with knowledge of the Silicon Valley tech world.