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Author: ondbookshelf

Blogging my way through my extensive to be read pile of books.

About ondbookshelf

Blogging my way through my extensive to be read pile of books.

Published on Leave a comment on The Secret to Southern Charm
The Secret to Southern Charm Book Cover The Secret to Southern Charm
Peachtree Bluff
Kristy Woodson Harvey
Fiction
Gallery
April 3, 2018
Advanced Reader Copy
400
Free from publisher

After finding out her military husband is missing in action, middle sister Sloane’s world crumbles as her worst nightmare comes true. She can barely climb out of bed, much less summon the strength to be the parent her children deserve.

Her mother, Ansley, provides a much-needed respite as she puts her personal life on hold to help Sloane and her grandchildren wade through their new grief-stricken lives. But between caring for her own aging mother, her daughters, and her grandchildren, Ansley’s private worry is that secrets from her past will come to light.

But when Sloane’s sisters, Caroline and Emerson, remind Sloane that no matter what, she promised her husband she would carry on for their young sons, Sloane finds the support and courage she needs to chase her biggest dreams—and face her deepest fears. Taking a cue from her middle daughter, Ansley takes her own leap of faith and realizes that, after all this time, she might finally be able to have it all.

My review:

3.5 stars

The second novel in the Peachtree Bluff series (slated for three so far) was enjoyable, but paled for me in comparison to the first (Slightly South of Simple, which I would recommend reading first,  reviewed here). However, there are several very good reasons why this one didn't dazzle me as much, and they are all personal taste. The writing is still just as captivating as all of Ms. Harvey's books have been, and she really knows how to make you feel you are transported into these characters' lives!

What worked for me:
The continuing story of the mother, Ansley. This is a great character and I can relate to many aspects of her life. I loved her interactions with the many people in her life, and the way she is always trying to fix everything for everyone (in typical mother fashion).
Oldest daughter Caroline, who is one of my favorite literary characters ever! The first story was centered around her, and herein lies my bias for all further books.....I just want more one liners from this feisty gal! She gets a few zingers in that made my heart soar, but alas she is not the focus this time around (much to her chagrin I am sure 🙂 ).
The storyline involving the elderly mother/grandmother. Very touching, and very well played out!
Coffee Kyle! Such a minor character, but I was thrilled to see him have some cameos in this second installment.

What didn't work (for ME, this is a case of it's not you, it's me!):
Ansley and Jack's relationship. Come on already, you are old enough to just make up your dang minds, time's a wastin'. Their relationship in this one reminds me too much of a young adult novel where the protagonists aren't old enough to know what they want.
Sloane....UGH! I really only need one explanation for why she drove me nuts, I HATE romance novels! Her relationship with her husband was so off putting to me, she's about as far away from a feminist as I can imagine. I got it, he's the love of your life and you even changed your life track because of something he wanted. Nope, just nope, not for me!

In summary, four things that worked and two that didn't still adds up to a really good read, especially when you add in wonderfully written characters! And if you are not as sensitive to romance as I am, and you aren't still stuck on your "favorite sister", you will absolutely want to grab a copy of this one and continue the saga.

2

Published on 2 Comments on Not That I Could Tell
Not That I Could Tell Book Cover Not That I Could Tell
Jessica Strawser
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
March 27, 2018
Hardcover
336
Free from publisher

An innocent night of fun takes a shocking turn in Not That I Could Tell, the next page-turner from Jessica Strawser. When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It’s a rare kid-free night, and they’re giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal. By Monday morning, one of them is gone. Everyone knows something about everyone else in the quirky small Ohio town of Yellow Springs, but no one can make sense of the disappearance. Kristin was a sociable twin mom, college administrator, and doctor’s wife who didn’t seem all that bothered by her impending divorce—and the investigation turns up more questions than answers, with her husband, Paul, at the center. For her closest neighbor, Clara, the incident triggers memories she thought she’d put behind her—and when she’s unable to extract herself from the widening circle of scrutiny, her own suspicions quickly grow. But the neighborhood’s newest addition, Izzy, is determined not to jump to any conclusions—especially since she’s dealing with a crisis of her own. As the police investigation goes from a media circus to a cold case, the neighbors are forced to reexamine what’s going on behind their own closed doors—and to ask how well anyone really knows anyone else.

My review:

This is the sophomore novel by Jessica Strawser, and it does not disappoint! Her first novel was absolutely riveting for me (Almost Missed You reviewed here), until the end when I wanted to throw it across the room! However, because I loved 99.9% of that one, I was excited to see what she had come up with next. I really liked this one....even the end!! 🙂 It's the story of a neighborhood, where one of the residents has up and vanished along with her twin children. The neighbors feel it is their responsibility to their friend to figure out what happened. Was her life something other than what it seemed? Did her soon to be ex-husband have anything to do with it? Are they still alive, or did something criminal happen to them? During the course of the novel, we learn a bit about the woman (through short vignettes scattered throughout the chapters), the neighbors themselves, how the investigation effects the town, and  the ex-husband (should we feel sorry for him or what?). The writing was crisp, the story moved at a quick pace, the characters were interesting and I love a good neighborhood story! So far Ms. Strawser is batting 995 out of a thousand (ugh, that last chapter of the first book......have I convinced you to read it to find out my beef?), so I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

An excellent page turner about a neighborhood in crisis (think the neighborhood in Truly Madly Guilty, only I enjoyed this one more). With a satisfying ending (although I remain concerned about the safety of one of the women), this one is highly recommended.

4

Published on 4 Comments on The Broken Girls
The Broken Girls Book Cover The Broken Girls
Simone St. James
Boarding schools
Berkley
March 20, 2018
E-book
336
Publisher via NetGalley

Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants--the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it's located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming--until one of them mysteriously disappears. . . . Vermont, 2014. As much as she's tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister's death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can't shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case. When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past--and a voice that won't be silenced. . . .

My review:

When I read the synopsis of this one, I knew I wanted to read it. It takes place at a boarding school (these stories always attract me), in Vermont (where I grew up), and involves a mystery surrounding a young student's death. Sign me up! The only thing I did not pick up on was that there would be a ghost involved (one of my immediate turn offs). Kudos to the author, because despite my intense dislike of books containing ghosts, I wanted to keep reading this one regardless. Yes, the other parts of the book are that good! I loved the way the characters were drawn, the good ones and the bad. The setting was just creepy enough so you could read it without being terrorized, and I loved the references to places that actually existed from my past. The mystery was well written, and its outcome, with a few details that were a bit too convenient, was satisfactory. I particularly appreciated that the writing took you where you needed to go without a lot of unnecessary fluff thrown in. Was the ghost necessary? I'm sure many would say it was an integral part of the plot, and added that much more to the story. The jury is out for me, so I'm going to let you read it and decide 🙂

While I personally could have done without the ghost parts (for which I did remove a star), this is a great book that will keep you turning pages, not only to discover the who-dunnit, but to find out how all the characters lives turn out.

2

Published on 2 Comments on The Flight Attendant
The Flight Attendant Book Cover The Flight Attendant
Chris Bohjalian
Fiction
Doubleday
March 13. 2018
Advanced Reader Copy
368
Free from publisher

Cassandra Bowden is no stranger to hungover mornings. She's a binge drinker, her job with the airline making it easy to find adventure, and the occasional blackouts seem to be inevitable. She lives with them, and the accompanying self-loathing. When she awakes in a Dubai hotel room, she tries to piece the previous night back together, already counting the minutes until she has to catch her crew shuttle to the airport. She quietly slides out of bed, careful not to aggravate her already pounding head, and looks at the man she spent the night with. She sees his dark hair. His utter stillness. And blood, a slick, still wet pool on the crisp white sheets. Afraid to call the police--she's a single woman alone in a hotel room far from home--Cassie begins to lie. She lies as she joins the other flight attendants and pilots in the van. She lies on the way to Paris as she works the first class cabin. She lies to the FBI agents in New York who meet her at the gate. Soon it's too late to come clean-or face the truth about what really happened back in Dubai. Could she have killed him? If not, who did?

My review:

3.5 stars

Make no mistake, Chris Bohjalian can tell a tale! The writing in this book was superb, and I can highly recommend this book on that alone. If you are interested in, or saavy about espionage and Russian spying, you will love the details and intense mystery surrounding the death of an American hedge fund manager found in a hotel room in Dubai. The suspect is not who you would think, but is a flight attendant, who literally ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or does she? There are a lot of moving parts to this one, and a lot of characters to keep track of. If you are used to reading these kinds of thrillers, you will lap it up, unfortunately I felt completely lost by the end and couldn't figure out who was working for whom. And while I had some sympathy for the main protagonist, I wasn't really her fan, although I certainly wanted to see how everything was going to play out. Too bad I didn't really get it when I found out. While this may not have been my favorite by this author, I will never stop reading his works. He is an author who always comes up with stories that are timely, fresh, and masterfully crafted.

Fans of spy thrillers will love this one. Everyone else should read it for the writing and the wonderful way Bohjalian can tell a story!

1

Published on 1 Comment on Promise
Promise Book Cover Promise
Minrose Gwin
Fiction
William Morrow
February 27, 2018
Hardcover
400
Free from publisher

In the aftermath of a devastating tornado that rips through the town of Tupelo, Mississippi, at the height of the Great Depression, two women worlds apart—one black, one white; one a great-grandmother, the other a teenager—fight for their families’ survival in this lyrical and powerful novel.

A few minutes after 9 p.m. on Palm Sunday, April 5, 1936, a massive funnel cloud flashing a giant fireball and roaring like a runaway train careened into the thriving cotton-mill town of Tupelo, Mississippi, killing more than 200 people, not counting an unknown number of black citizens, one-third of Tupelo’s population, who were not included in the official casualty figures. When the tornado hits, Dovey, a local laundress, is flung by the terrifying winds into a nearby lake. Bruised and nearly drowned, she makes her way across Tupelo to find her small family—her hardworking husband, Virgil, her clever sixteen-year-old granddaughter, Dreama, and Promise, Dreama’s beautiful light-skinned three-month-old son. Slowly navigating the broken streets of Tupelo, Dovey stops at the house of the despised McNabb family. Inside, she discovers that the tornado has spared no one, including Jo, the McNabbs’ dutiful teenage daughter, who has suffered a terrible head wound. When Jo later discovers a baby in the wreckage, she is certain that she’s found her baby brother, Tommy, and vows to protect him. During the harrowing hours and days of the chaos that follows, Jo and Dovey will struggle to navigate a landscape of disaster and to battle both the demons and the history that link and haunt them. Drawing on historical events, Minrose Gwin beautifully imagines natural and human destruction in the deep South of the 1930s through the experiences of two remarkable women whose lives are indelibly connected by forces beyond their control. A story of loss, hope, despair, grit, courage, and race, Promise reminds us of the transformative power and promise that come from confronting our most troubled relations with one another.

My review:

What a beautifully written novel! The setting, characters and plot were so well constructed that I could have continued on with this story for many more pages (and years). We follow the stories of two main protagonists after a devastating tornado hits their Mississippi town in 1936.  A young white girl brought up in a house of privilege, and a black woman who takes in their laundry each week. The story is told in alternating chapters as they navigate what is left in their community and family. The descriptions of the ravaging effects of the tornado were gripping, and yet hope abounds that these characters will find the strength to go on make a better life for themselves. Despite the sad premise, and the no-holds barred details of death and destruction, I found myself unable to put this novel down. The exquisite way the author wrote this gave a hope and promise for those who survive.

A gorgeous exploration of love, loss, race, hope and promise in the midst of tragedy, from two of the best narrators I've seen in awhile. I highly recommend this one!

 

Published on Leave a comment on The Family Next Door
The Family Next Door Book Cover The Family Next Door
Sally Hepworth
Fiction
St. Martin's Press
March 6, 2018
Hardcover
352
Free from publisher

Small, perfect towns often hold the deepest secrets. From the outside, Essie’s life looks idyllic: a loving husband, a beautiful house in a good neighborhood, and a nearby mother who dotes on her grandchildren. But few of Essie’s friends know her secret shame: that in a moment of maternal despair, she once walked away from her newborn, asleep in her carriage in a park. Disaster was avoided and Essie got better, but she still fears what lurks inside her, even as her daughter gets older and she has a second baby. When a new woman named Isabelle moves in next door to Essie, she is an immediate object of curiosity in the neighborhood. Why single, when everyone else is married with children? Why renting, when everyone else owns? What mysterious job does she have? And why is she so fascinated with Essie? As the two women grow closer and Essie’s friends voice their disapproval, it starts to become clear that Isabelle’s choice of neighborhood was no accident. And that her presence threatens to bring shocking secrets to light. The Family Next Door is Sally Hepworth at her very best: at once a deeply moving portrait of family drama and a compelling suburban mystery that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

My review:

I am a big fan of books by this author (The Secrets of Midwives, The Things We Keep, The Mother's Promise). Click the links to see my reviews on those books I've listed. I had heard that this book was a departure from her previous novels, but I'm not sure that I agree. There was maybe a bit more of an unsettling mystery surrounding one of the new neighbors, but I think there has been a bit of that seen in prior works. What Hepworth does well is suck you into her stories because of the characters. She writes about seemingly normal people who may not be as normal as you think. Particularly in this book, they all have secrets they are hiding from not only their neighbors, but in most cases, from their spouses. This was a fast read for me, the alternating short chapters are told by each of five women in the neighborhood. I found myself racing through to find out not just the mystery behind the new neighbor, but how life pans out for all the other women. Despite it being a super engaging read, I did think there were just a few too many problems going on. I know the saying you don't always know what goes on in your neighbors house, but come on.....these people were ALL messed up! Couldn't we have a couple normal ones in the bunch, just for my sanity?

This is a fast paced story with some real life people, in some messed up secrets and lies. It's not what I would classify as a thriller, since most of the secrets are more scandal than sinister, but you will find yourself caught up in the lives of these neighbors. It's definitely worth the read.

2

Published on 2 Comments on Rosie Colored Glasses
Rosie Colored Glasses Book Cover Rosie Colored Glasses
Brianna Wolfson
Fiction
Mira Books
February 20, 2018
E-book
336
Publisher via NetGalley

Willow Thorpe knows friction… The friction between her parents, Rosie and Rex. The friction inside herself as she tries to navigate two worlds since their divorce.

But life has not always been like this.

When Rosie and Rex first met, theirs was an attraction of opposites. Rosie lived life for those heightened moments when love reveals its true secrets. Rex lived life safely, by the rules. Common sense would say theirs was a union not meant to last, but it was genuine love.

Now Willow just wants to be with Rosie, to bask in her mother’s outsize glow and, she thinks, protection. Because Rosie is the only person who can make Willow feel totally alive and completely loved.

But as Willow and Rosie and Rex try harder and harder to stay connected as a family, Rosie’s manic tornado of love continues to sweep up everyone in sight, ultimately to heartbreaking results.

My review:

This was a well written exploration into a love story that likely never should have worked, and when it becomes apparent that it isn't going to, the aftereffects it has on the two young children. Willow and her brother Asher go back and forth between their two parents' houses. Both parents have completely opposite styles, which only ends up confusing the children more. Their mom becomes the fun parent, the one that older child Willow wants to be with always, and their father the one with all the rules While this can perhaps work in a two parent family, it goes awry when sides become drawn. The book is told in alternating chapters, one from daughter Willow's viewpoint, and the other the story of the parents courtship up until present time. I had a hard time with pretty much all of the characters in this one, even though I credit the author with writing them well (I have read that this novel is semi-autobiographical). The mother, who was clearly struggling with mental illness and self medicating with drugs, needed to reign her wild behavior in and seek help, especially once there were children involved. The father needed to show more love and understand his children and where they were coming from. He appeared to do a better job  at being present for his ex-wife than his children. The daughter not understanding that her mother was not always the best option, had me on edge the whole book. She seemed a bit old in her thoughts and actions for a fifth grader, but I'm going to let that slide since as I mentioned, it was the author's life. Luckily there was a redemption for one of the parents in the end, which tied the story up.

A good story, with a heartbreaking look at what mental illness can do to a family, particularly the children.

2

Published on 2 Comments on The Glass Forest
The Glass Forest Book Cover The Glass Forest
Cynthia Swanson
Fiction
Simon and Schuster
February 6, 2018
Hardcover
352
Free from publisher

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bookseller comes a gripping literary suspense novel set in the 1960s about a deeply troubled family and three women who will reveal its dark truths. In the autumn of 1960, Angie Glass is living an idyllic life in her Wisconsin hometown. At twenty-one, she’s married to charming, handsome Paul, and has just given birth to a baby boy. But one phone call changes her life forever. When Paul’s niece, Ruby, reports that her father, Henry, has committed suicide, and that her mother, Silja, is missing, Angie and Paul drop everything and fly to the small upstate town of Stonekill, New York to be by Ruby’s side. Angie thinks they’re coming to the rescue of Paul’s grief-stricken young niece, but Ruby is a composed and enigmatic seventeen-year-old who resists Angie’s attempts to nurture her. As Angie learns more about the complicated Glass family, staying in Henry and Silja’s eerie and ultra-modern house on the edge of the woods, she begins to question the very fabric of her own marriage. Through Silja’s flashbacks, Angie’s discovery of astonishing truths, and Ruby’s strategic dissection of her parents’ state of affairs, a story of love, secrets, and ultimate betrayal is revealed.

My review:

This is my kind of suspense novel! The story is heavily focused on developing the characters, and the mystery (while ever present), is not the main focus. There are not any contrived hit you over the head twists, although make no mistake, there were a few times when I was fooled. From the beginning of the book we learn that a man is dead, his wife has gone missing, and a teenage daughter has been left behind. Enter the man's brother and wife, who are the only remaining family members to care for the daughter. I knew that things were not as they seem right from the start, but the author skillfully doles out just enough information at a time to keep the reader engrossed in what exactly happened within this family. There are three women who are the voices in alternating chapters. The teenage daughter Ruby, and the brother's wife Angie are in present timeline, while the mother Silja is a chronicle from when she meets her husband until her disappearance. I loved the triple person perspective, and was completely engrossed in this novel. This book is very different from Ms. Swanson's previous novel The Bookseller, but I really liked them both!

This is a great novel that will have you mesmerized by the characters, and embracing the unsettling feeling while reading. You will soon realize that you never know what is going on within a seemingly ordinary family!

 

 

Published on Leave a comment on She Regrets Nothing
She Regrets Nothing Book Cover She Regrets Nothing
Andrea Dunlop
Fiction
Washington Square Press
February 6, 2018
Paperback
400
Free from publisher

In the tradition of The Emperor’s Children and The House of Mirth, the forgotten granddaughter of one of New York’s wealthiest men is reunited with her family just as she comes of age—and once she’s had a glimpse of their glittering world, she refuses to let it go without a fight. When Laila Lawrence becomes an orphan at twenty-three, the sudden loss unexpectedly introduces her to three glamorous cousins from New York who show up unannounced at her mother’s funeral. The three siblings are scions of the wealthy family from which Laila’s father had been estranged long before his own untimely demise ten years before. Two years later, Laila has left behind her quiet life in Grosse Point, Michigan to move to New York City, landing her smack in the middle of her cousins’ decadent world. As the truth about why Laila’s parents became estranged from the family patriarch becomes clear, Laila grows ever more resolved to claim what’s rightfully hers. Caught between longing for the love of her family and her relentless pursuit of the lifestyle she feels she was unfairly denied, Laila finds herself reawakening a long dead family scandal—not to mention setting off several new ones—as she becomes further enmeshed in the lives and love affairs of her cousins. But will Laila ever, truly, belong in their world? Sly and sexy, She Regrets Nothing is a sharply observed and utterly seductive tale about family, fortune, and fate—and the dark side of wealth.

My review:

Seeing that pink happens to be my favorite color, I absolutely ADORE this cover! And yes, I most certainly looked at the blurb and requested a copy pronto after falling for the cover. I would have been happy just to have the cover to look at, but the story was equally as appealing! I love a good story about rich people behaving badly, and while the people in this one only marginally fit that bill, it was about a woman trying to insert herself into the rich life after finding out her recently deceased father had been estranged from his wealthy brother (whew!). She meets her cousins, lives the lush city life, backstabs  a few people along the way to reaching what she considers her rightful place in the family. Some of the cousins were more accepting of her than others, which made for a fun subplot. I loved the writing, the characters, the settings and the hi-jinks of the rich.

Just a fun book with a great plot and characters, with a little lifestyles of the rich and famous thrown in. And can we just sit and admire this cover for a few more minutes?