Category Archives: Book Talk

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

I read some great books last week:

The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester: 4 stars. Despite a bit of a slow start, I really liked this dual time period novel. Both story arcs are fascinating and the characters are well-drawn. The chapters with cliffhangers that help keep readers engaged in both storylines. Compelling family secrets are slowly unearthed both in the past and present. The conclusion is uplifting and well worth the wait!

Hades by Candice Fox: 4.5 stars. The Archer & Bennett series is diabolically clever with chilling characters and storylines. The chapters easily switch back and forth in time between Eden Archer’s childhood with her brother Eric and the murder investigation in the present. With clever twists and turns, this edge of the seat thriller comes to a stunning conclusion.

Eden by Candice Fox: 4.5 stars. The second installment in the Archer & Bennett series is as fascinating as the first. In this outing, readers learn more about Hades’ past. In the present, Eden goes undercover to catch a possible serial killer. Her partner Bennett divides his time between working the same case as Eden and helping Hades find out the truth about what happened to someone dear to him long ago. With a jaw-dropping ending, readers will have no choice but to pick up book three in this brilliant series.

Fall by Candice Fox: 4.5 stars. In this third outing in the Archer & Bennett series, Eden and Frank are on the hunt for a serial killer attacking women joggers. The novel’s pacing is quite brisk as they try to figure out possible suspects. Unbeknownst to Eden, someone is closing in on the truth about her identity. Both of these storylines come to absolutely shocking denouments. I quite enjoyed this brilliant series and recommend it to readers who like gritty police procedurals with deeply flawed characters.

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

I had a FANTASTIC reading week!

Try Not to Breathe by David Bell: 4 stars. Anna Rogers is a very irritating character but I loved Avery. Interesting storyline that takes unanticipated turns.

Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie: 4.5 stars. LOVED this mystery! The setting is fantastic and the characters are well-drawn and likable. Unexpected plot twists at the end that I did not see coming! Highly recommend.

The All-American by Susie Finkbeiner: 4.5 stars. Read my review tomorrow (7/11) for my thoughts.

Windfall by Wendy Corsi Staub: 4.5 stars. Read my review tomorrow (7/11) for my thoughts.

Escape to Florence by Kat Devereaux: 4 stars. Read my review tomorrow (7/11) for my thoughts.

The Last Dance by Mark Billingham: 4 stars. First in a new series. Bit of a slow start but once it the pace picked up, I really enjoyed. Quirky yet charming characters and a great storyline. Fantastic mystery.

Before She Finds Me by Heather Chavez: 4.5 stars. While assassins really are not my thing, I am very glad I read this mystery. The novel is fast-paced with marvelous lead characters and a clever storyline. With two mysteries to solve, this thriller comes to a breathless conclusion. Highly recommend!

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

My reading week was a bit of a mixed bag but overall enjoyable.

Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly by Marie Bostwick: 4.5 stars. Returning home might provide a new beginning for a goal-oriented book editor. The setting leaps off the pages throughout this heartwarming story. The characters are endearing and the storyline tugs at the heartstrings. The story within the story is incredibly captivating. The characters grow throughout this marvelous novel and the conclusion is truly delightful.

The Wife Before by Shanora Williams: 4 stars. A whirlwind romance culminates in a quick marriage and move to rural Colorado. Insatiable curiousity about her new husband’s former wife leads to startling mystery and unavoidable suspicions. The characters are three-dimensional but not all of them are easy to like. The setting adds plenty of chills to this clever mystery. The conclusion is shocking and well-executed.

Washed Up Former Child Star Ryan Lee by Lisa Henry & J.A.Rock: 3.5 stars. Ooof. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this novel’s release and reading it was a bit of a let-down. Unfolding from Ryan Lee’s first person perspective gives readers an up close and personal view of his addictions. Almost at rock bottom, he has NO incentive to give sobriety a try. That is until a reunion with his former castmates from their successful TV show brings him face to face with the first boy who kissed him. Not everyone in Ryan’s life is good for him but will he find reason to take the steps needed for sobriety? This angsty, slightly repetitive story comes to a happy for now conclusion that is uplifting.

All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay: 3.5 stars. A slow-burn mystery about a family left grappling for years after their mom/wife vanishes without a trace. Written from multiple points of view, this intriguing novel moves at a slow pace and delves into the unexplained disappearance of Jane Larkin. Despite the discovery of her skeletonized remains two decades later, will the family ever uncover the truth about what happened to her? A twist-filled conclusion might just provide an answer to this haunting question.

The Only One Left by Riley Sager: 4.5 stars. With a heavy gothic vibe and a cliffside mansion setting, this brilliant mystery keeps pages turning at a fast clip. The cast of characters is quite colorful and vibrantly developed. The storyline is engaging with plenty of suspense and tension. The conclusion is full of unexpected twists, turns and breathless excitement. Loved it!

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

Last week was a great reading week.

The Long Way Back by Nicole Baart: 4.5 stars. After traveling around the country and achieving Instagram fame, mother Charlie and daughter Eva finally settle down Minnesota. When Eva goes missing, Charlie is frantic and does everything she can to motivate the local police into searching for her. Instagram posts detail their relationship and travels in the past while events in the present unfold from both mother and daughter’s points of view. While initially Charlie is a suspect in Eva’s disappearance, new details emerge and finally light a fire under the police and FBI. A shocking plot twist propels this suspenseful thriller to an action-packed conclusion.

Justice for Sara by Erica Spindler: 4.5 stars. You can read my thoughts on Friday’s June Reading Challenge Discussion post.

No Exit by Taylor by Taylor Adams: 4 stars. You can read my thoughts on Friday’s June Reading Challenge Discussion post.

Zero Days by Ruth Ware: 4.5 stars. Wowza! Non-stop action and a clever storyline keep the pages turning at an incredibly fast pace. Jack and her husband Gabe have very unique careers and a happy marriage. When Gabe is murdered, suspicion falls on Jack and she makes the risky decision to find his killer on her own. Desperate to find answers with the police closing in, Jack makes a shocking discovery that turns her world upside down. With plenty of adrenaline-fueled action, this thrilling mystery comes to a twist-filled conclusion.

Unwritten Rules by KD Casey: 4.5 stars. You can read my thoughts on Friday’s June Reading Challenge Discussion post.

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

I had a busier week than usual so I didn’t read as much.

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley: 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book. It has a truly unique storyline and a great cast of characters. When a lonely older man begins The Authenticity Project, wonderful things begin to happen. Many lives are touched by the admissions of complete strangers and unexpected friendships are formed. A wonderful sense of community brings everyone together amid unanticipated life changes. Terrific character growth occurs as the novel wends its way to an uplifting conclusion.

Black Lies by Mercedes Mercier: 4.5 stars. This second installment in the Dr. Laura Fleming series is even better than the first and takes place a year later than book one. Laura is in a much better place with her daughter and work has also improved. In this outing, a dying inmate is assigned to her and Laura begins looking into the murder he was convicted of committing. During her investigation, she unwittingly puts herself and others in danger as she tries to uncover the reason he confessed to the crime. Great characters and a very clever storyline make for a fantastic read. I hope there will be more books in this outstanding series.

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Eagan. 5 stars. I was able to finish this enligtening, emotional book. A very well-written and impeccably researched book that uses personal accounts to explain the reasons for the dust bowl and real-life impact on people’s lives. There is a lot to be learned about how and why this man-made and weather disaster occurred and how to prevent it from happening again. It is also interesting to see exactly how the US government assisted those in desperate need and which programs are stil in existence today. Highly recommend!

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

I didn’t read as many books last week, but I enjoyed the ones I did read.

White Noise by Mercedes Mercier: 4.5 stars. Thank you, Candice Fox, for spotlighting this author! This excellent mystery stars prison psychologist Dr. Laura Fleming. She is a flawed yet extremely likable protagonist who is still haunted by the mistakes of her past. The prison setting is a little unsettling as are the troubling events occuring in Laura’s personal life. The prisoner she has been assisgned to rubber stamp his upcoming release is keeping her up at night and threatening her job as she tries to convince her boss everything is not as it seems with him. With plenty of suspense, this fantastic debut keeps the pages turning at a fast pace until the edge of the seat conclusion.

Inside Threat by Matthew Quirk: Check out my review Tuesday June 13th to read my thoughts on this compelling political thriller.

After watching Ken Burns’ The Dust Bowl, I began reading The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan. I am only about a quarter of way into this well-rearched non-fiction book which details the depression and the years-long drought during the 1930s in the US. I should be able to finish reading it next week.

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!