Category Archives: Berkley

September 27, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin

Title: Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Two best friends say “I do” to living together, for better or worse, in this bold women’s fiction novel from Alexa Martin.

Jude Andrews is famous. Well, at least on Instagram. Her brand is clean eating, good vibes, Pilates, and casually looking like a sun-kissed goddess. In real life, however, she’s a total disaster. She has a strained relationship with her fame-hungry mom and her latest bad decision emptied out her entire savings account.

Lauren Turner had a plan: graduate medical school and become the top surgeon in the country. But when she became unexpectedly pregnant, those plans changed. And when her fiancé left her, they changed again. Now navigating the new world of coparenting, mom groups, and dating, she decides to launch a mommy podcast with all the advice she wishes someone had given her.

Jude and Lauren don’t have much in common, but maybe that’s why they’ve been best friends since the third grade. Through ups and downs, they’ve been by each other’s sides. But now? They’re broke, single, and do the only thing that makes sense—move in together, just like they talked about when they were teenagers. Except when they were younger, the plan didn’t include a five-year-old daughter and more baggage than their new townhouse can hold.

Review:

Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin is a wonderful novel of friendship and motherhood.

Lauren Turner is a single Black woman with a precocious five-year-old daughter, Addy. She has never quite gotten over her break-up with Addy’s dad, Ben, and she is not looking for love. Lauren is trying to adjust to Ben’s new interest in fatherhood and she is uneasy about their visitation schedule. Just as she and her best friend, Jude Andrews, move in together, her world is turned upside down by a shocking custody fight. With so many changes and unexpected upheaval in her life, will Jude convince Lauren to give a new man in her life a chance?

Jude is a popular social media influencer who never lets her fans see what her life is really like. In reality, she is a hot mess with a dysfunctional relationship with her actress mother. Jude relies too heavily on alcohol to numb her feelings instead of facing her problems. Despite her issues, she and Lauren have a strong friendship that has survived all of their respective ups and downs over the years. Jude adores Addy so when the custody fight begins, she has the necessary contacts in social media that might give Lauren the edge she needs to win. But will Jude’s issues and her inability to deal with them cause problems between her and Lauren?

Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes is a delightfully charming novel with a relatable storyline and likable characters. Lauren is a fantastic mother with a successful career but she does not feel like she lives up to her mother’s strict standards. Jude has a bit of a devil may care attitude, but she feels things deeply. Both women are flawed but Jude’s problems definitely outweigh Lauren’s insecurities and fears. Addy is absolutely adorable and she is quite the scene stealer! With their friendship hanging in the balance, Alexa Martin brings this captivating novel to a very uplifting conclusion.

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Filed under Alexa Martin, Berkley, Contemporary, Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes, Rated B+, Review, Women's Fiction

September 17, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Along Came a Lady by Christi Caldwell

Title: Along Came a Lady by Christi Caldwell
All the Duke’s Sins Series Book One
Publisher: Berkely
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The brooding, illegitimate son of a duke meets his match in the determined woman hired to transform him into a gentleman from USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell—perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

Rafe Audley lives to thwart his father, the Duke of Bentley. The ne’er do well who abandoned his children claims he wants to make up for his failures, but Rafe only cares about protecting the people of his mining community and providing for his three siblings, who’ve been his sole responsibility since childhood. So far, Rafe has turned away the duke’s man of affairs, solicitor, and other interlopers, until the clever duke sends the unlikeliest of people to convince Rafe to join English High Society—a bold and intriguing woman.

Edwina Dalrymple has never failed a charge. She’s quite adept at successfully transforming young women of the gentry and daughters of newly minted lords to take their place in society. Taming a bastard son of a duke will be child’s play, plus this job promises to enhance her reputation within the ton. All she has to do is fetch the wayward Rafe and groom him to be presentable to Polite Society.

As the tenacious teacher and her domineering, stubborn, refuses-to-be-taught pupil engage in a fiery battle of wills, their chemistry ignites and the true lesson becomes clear: opposites attract and hearts must be heard.

Review:

Along Came a Lady by Christi Caldwell is an entertaining historical romance with a substantive storyline.

Edwina Dalrymple has made her way in life all on her own. She instructs young men and women on the ways of Polite Society. Edwina’s latest job will be challenging but the payoff could be huge for her business. She is determined to bring the Duke of Bentley’s illegitimate adult son, Rafe Audley, to London in order to present him to Society. Edwina is calm, cool and mostly collected as he attempts to thwart her at every turn.  She is also a little horrified to discover she is attracted to the incorrigible man. Will Edwina bring the extremely reluctant Rafe to meet his father? And will she be able to resist giving in to their unexpectedly mutual desire?

Rafe has been responsible for his brothers and sister for his entire life and he has no interest in meeting his detested father. He is satisfied with his job as foreman in the local coal mine and he is very resistant to Duke’s overtures. Rafe is still resentful that his brother Wesley approached the Duke in order to leave Staffordshire.  So, initially, he is absolutely dead set against going to London and he will stoop to any level to try to run Edwina off. But Rafe’s unanticipated attraction to Edwina and his soft spot for his adored younger sister Cailin might convince him to change his mind.

The first installment in the All the Duke’s Sins series, Along Came a Lady is a perfect mix of steamy, serious and humorous. The storyline has substance and deals with the very real problem of illegitimate offspring of the aristocracy and the occasionally detrimental effects on their children even into adulthood. Edwina and Rafe are well-developed characters whose mutual stubbornness can be off-putting. The pacing is slow but picks up by the last quarter of the story. Some of the elements are a little repetitive and a few of the tricks used by Rafe to dissuade Edwina are mean-spirited. Although a little predictable, Christi Caldwell brings this intriguing historical romance to a very satisfying conclusion.

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Filed under All the Duke's Sins Series, Along Came a Lady, Berkley, Christi Caldwell, Historical, Rated C+, Review, Romance

September 6, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: How to Kill Your Best Friend by Lexie Elliott

Title: How to Kill Your Best Friend by Lexie Elliott
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Psychological Thriller
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

If you suspected your best friend, the person you were closest to in the whole world, was a murderer, what would you do? Would you confront her? Would you help keep her secret? Or would you begin to feel afraid? Most importantly, why don’t you feel safe now that she’s dead? From the author of The French Girl comes a novel full of secrets, suspense, and deadly twists.

Georgie, Lissa, and Bronwyn have been inseparable since dominating their college swim team; swimming has always been an escape from their own problems, but now their shared passion has turned deadly. How can it be true that Lissa, the strongest swimmer they know, drowned? Granted, there is something strange about Kanu Cove, where Lissa was last seen, swimming off the coast of the fabulous island resort she owned with her husband.

Lissa’s closest friends gather at the resort to honor her life, but Georgie and Bron can’t seem to stop looking over their shoulders. Danger lurks beneath the surface of the crystal-clear water, and even their luxurious private villas can’t help them feel safe. As the weather turns ominous, trapping the funeral guests together on the island, nobody knows who they can trust. Lissa’s death was only the beginning….

Review:

How to Kill Your Best Friend by Lexie Elliott is an engrossing psychological thriller.

Georgie Ayers, Bronwyn “Bron” Miller, Duncan and Adam are uni mates are mourning the tragic loss of their friend, Lissa Kateb. They are staying at the island resort owned by Lissa and her husband, Jem. The tropical setting is isolated and it soon feels claustrophobic as they attempt to understand the circumstances of their friend’s death. They are all excellent swimmers and Lissa was the strongest swimmer among them.

Georgie is particularly troubled since Lissa did not like swimming at night yet she chose to do so the evening she drowned. She is feeling guilty because she decided not to join Lissa and their friends on the fateful trip. During the current stay, there is a sinister undercurrent that becomes much more overt as their departure draws near. With a shocking murder and a strong storm approaching, will Georgie, Bron, Duncan and Adam unearth the truth about Lissa’s death and the threatening events that have been occurring?

Now in her thirties, Georgie is the only member of their group who moved from Britain to the US. She is still close to her friends but the distance has been a great way to leave behind some of her bad habits. Lissa and Georgie are extremely close since they bonded over shared experiences during their respective childhoods. After her arrival on the island, Georgie begins receiving long delayed emails from Lissa that prove to be troubling yet beneficial in trying to understand her frame of mine. While Georgie tries to figure out exactly what was going on with Lissa, she is grateful for Adam’s comforting presence.

Bron is a married stay at home mum to two young children. She was an accountant before motherhood and she is still struggling to come to terms with giving up her career. Bron is the first among the group to receive a worrisome warning but she keeps quiet about it until much later during their trip. Bron is also very worried that a secret from her past could come to light and ruin the life she has made for herself.

How to Kill Your Best Friend is a clever psychological thriller that is evenly paced. The chapters alternate between Georgie and Bron’s perspectives which helps provide insight to the unfolding events. The setting is idyllic which makes the ominous occurrences and stunning discoveries much more frightening. Secrets simmer in the background as the tension builds to a fever pitch. With unexpected plot twists, Lexie Elliott brings this mesmerizing domestic thriller to a jaw-dropping conclusion.

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Filed under Berkley, Contemporary, How to Kill Your Best Friend, Lexie Elliott, Psychological Thriller, Rated B+, Review

July 23, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

Title: For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

USA Today bestselling author Samantha Downing is back with her latest sneaky thriller set at a prestigious private school—complete with interfering parents, overeager students, and one teacher who just wants to teach them all a lesson…

Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the prestigious Belmont Academy, home to the best and brightest.

He says his wife couldn’t be more proud—though no one has seen her in a while.

Teddy really can’t be bothered with a few mysterious deaths on campus that’re looking more and more like murder or the student digging a little too deep into Teddy’s personal life. His main focus is pushing these kids to their full academic potential.

All he wants is for his colleagues—and the endlessly meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way. If not, well, they’ll get what they deserve.

It’s really too bad that sometimes excellence can come at such a high cost.

Review:

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing is a devious mystery that is darkly entertaining.

Teddy Crutcher is finally Teacher of the Year at the prestigious prep school where he has worked for several years. He has an overly inflated opinion of himself that sometimes rubs his students and fellow teachers the wrong way. Teddy has decided to bring student Zack Ward down a peg or three and he is resentful when Zack’s parents come to their son’s defense. For his part, Zack detests Teddy but he gives in to his parents’ pressure to request the extra credit assignment to bring up his grade. Meanwhile, Teddy’s dislike of a fellow teacher takes a dangerous turn when someone unexpectedly dies. Unfortunately, a student’ he likes becomes the prime suspect and Teddy just has to try to divert attention away from her and then someone else ends up dead. The walls really begin to close in when someone from Teddy’s past seizes the opportunity to exact some well deserved revenge on him.

Belmont Academy is the perfect setting for this intriguing and deliciously fun  mystery. Teddy is nursing plenty of resentments that he does not hesitate to act upon. Once he decides he needs to teach someone a lesson, he creatively (and cruelly) devises a plan that he relentlessly follows much to that person’s detriment. When bodies begin piling up at the prep school, Zach begins to suspect Teddy is the most likely culprit. What happens next is a bit of a comedy of errors when his path crosses with someone else who has their own reasons for destroying Teddy. What will happen to Zach after he inadvertently gets caught up in another person’s plan to teach Teddy a rather diabolical lesson?

For Your Own Good is a zany mystery with a clever plot and interesting characters. The storyline unfolds at a brisk pace as Teddy sets a plan in motion that results in very unexpected consequences. The students are well-developed and they are typical, albeit extremely privileged, teenagers. Teddy is an over-the-top, crazy character that leaves readers on tenterhooks as he puts one outrageous plan after another in motion.  Old and new fans of Samantha Downing are sure to enjoy this outstanding mystery.

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Filed under Berkley, Contemporary, For Your Own Good, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Samantha Downing, Suspense

July 8, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell

Title: Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 415 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

When a student disappears and is presumed dead, her professor passes off her manuscript as his own—only to find out it implicates him in an unsolved murder in this new thriller from the USA Today bestselling author of The Request.

After years of struggling to write following the deaths of his wife and son, English professor Connor Nye publishes his first novel, a thriller about the murder of a young woman.

There’s just one problem: Connor didn’t write the book. His missing student did. And then she appears on his doorstep, alive and well, threatening to expose him.

Connor’s problems escalate when the police insist details in the novel implicate him in an unsolved murder from two years ago. Soon Connor discovers the crime is part of a disturbing scandal on campus and faces an impossible dilemma—admit he didn’t write the book and lose his job or keep up the lie and risk everything. When another murder occurs, Connor must clear his name by unraveling the horrifying secrets buried in his student’s manuscript.

This is a suspenseful, provocative novel about the sexual harassment that still runs rampant in academia—and the lengths those in power will go to cover it up.

Review:

Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell is a clever, attention-grabbing mystery.

Two years earlier, English Professor Connor Nye is still grieving the deaths of his wife and son. He continues teaching but he is drinking too much and he is easily distracted. Madeline O’Brien is his student and he is her thesis advisor. She has regrets after she turns in her thesis (novel), but Connor convinces her to let him read it first. But, as it turns out, Connor ends up being the last person to see Madeline before she vanishes. When the investigation into her disappearance turns up no viable leads, it soon goes cold.

In the present, Connor is celebrating his newly published novel when Madeline suddenly reappears and gives him an ultimatum. He is to either give her the proceeds from the book  or she will ruin his career by revealing he plagiarized her book. Connor does not have the money but he manages to buy some time. Unbeknownst to Connor, Madeline based the novel on a real-life event and the mystery’s publication is about to put him under the spotlight.  Detective Alicia Bowman  has a lot of questions for him in the still unsolved murder of Sophia Greenfield.

Connor is a bit clueless as he stumbles around trying to save himself. He does himself no favors by avoiding questions and not coming clean about the plagiarism. Detective Bowman is very persistent once she begins trying to build a case against him for Sophia’s murder.  Despite sensible advice from his lawyer, Connor avoids talking to Bowman once he grasps how much trouble he is in.

Connor is a sympathetic character whose grief over the loss of his family is palpable.  He appreciates how much his friend and boss Preston White has protected his career while Connor was in mourning. In the last few years, he has mostly succeeded in his efforts to get his life back on track. But during his current situation, Connor discovers things have changed and Preston cannot provide him much cover during the investigation. Since Connor’s future is on the line, there is a great deal of urgency surrounding his attempts to uncover the truth about Sophia’s murder and why Madeline disappeared when she did.

Kill All Your Darlings is a thoroughly riveting mystery with an innovative storyline. The majority of the characters are extremely well-drawn with realistic flaws. The narration rotates between different perspectives and the different voices are distinct. The plot is well-executed with plenty of tension that keeps the pages turning at a blistering pace. With ingenious plot twists, David Bell brings this timely mystery to a breathless conclusion.

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Filed under Berkley, Contemporary, David Bell, Kill All Your Darlings, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense

July 5, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Finding Hope by Janice Kay Johnson

Title: Finding Hope by Janice Kay Johnson
Tompkins Mill Series Book Three
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In this heartwarming and affecting Amish romance, a young woman has the chance to begin a new life in the Amish community after old betrayals come to light.

Hannah Prescott was used to the transitory life—her mother had always been a wild child, and throughout her life, Hannah became used to taking care of someone who never settled down. But everything changes when Hannah receives the startling news that her mother stole her away from her biological father and the Amish community at a young age.

Although heartbroken and confused, Hannah decides that in order to find out who she is, she needs to find out who she could have been. This includes not only a relationship with her father, but also the chance to make a connection with a young widower who recently moved to the settlement with his children. While her mother still disdains the Amish, and her new community is wary of outsiders, only Hannah can know if she’s brave enough to commit to a fresh start and a real home.

Review:

Finding Hope by Janice Kay Johnson is a delightful Amish romance that tugs on the heartstrings. Although this newest release is the third novel in the Tompkins Mill series, it can be read as a standalone. But I highly recommend the previous books as well.

Twenty-seven-year-old Hannah Prescott is shocked to learn her mother has lied to her for her entire life. Instead of having no other family, she is stunned to discover her mom stole her away from her father, grandparents and other family members. Wanting to get to know her grandmother, grandfather and her dad, she puts her regular life on hold to travel to Tompkins Mill, Missouri.

Upon her arrival, Hannah is shocked to learn that her dad is Amish and she has step-siblings. Incredibly angry with her mom, Hannah lives with her father and starts working for Amish farmer Gideon Lantz. She takes care of household duties and cares for his two children, eight-year-old Zeb and six-year-old Rebekah. While trying to come to terms with her mother’s deception, Hannah finds peace within the Amish community as she explores her deepening faith and growing feels for Gideon.

Hannah’s childhood was rather nomadic since her mom moved quite frequently. She was forced to grow up very fast since her mom is always outrunning her mistakes. Hannah is a trained chef and although she likes her job, she feels like something is missing. She has always had a strong faith but complete spiritual satisfaction is elusive. Hannah settles very easily into Amish life but is she ready to leave behind modern conveniences for a simpler, more faithful life?

Gideon moved to Tompkins Mill following the death of his wife. He is very happy with the decision and he and his children are much liked members of the community. Without family nearby, Gideon is struggling a bit with finding a reliable person to work for him. He is somewhat taken aback at how quickly Hannah settles into taking care of the house and the easy affection between her and his children. Gideon is troubled by how much her presence is affecting him and he has to continually remind himself she is not Amish. As her time in town draws to a close, is there any chance for a future for Gideon and Hannah?

Finding Hope is a marvelous Amish romance with a wonderful cast of characters and a realistic storyline. Hannah is struggling to forgive her mother’s deception and making a decision about whether or not to return to her previous life. Meanwhile, Gideon’s past collides with his present and he is reluctant to reveal the complete truth to his children. At the same time, Hannah and Gideon are uncertain about what to do about their growing feelings for one another. With their future hanging in the balance, Janice Kay Johnson brings this charming novel to an uplifting conclusion. Old and new fans of the Tompkins Mill series are sure to love this newest installment in this wonderful series.

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Filed under Amish, Berkley, Contemporary, Finding Hope, Janice Kay Johnson, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Tompkins Mill Series