Category Archives: Grand Central Publishing

June 14, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John

Title: The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Suspense
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

Belle likes to think herself immune to the dizzying effects of fabulous wealth. But when her best friend, Summer, invites her on a glamorous getaway to the Mediterranean aboard her billionaire boyfriend’s yacht, the only sensible answer is yes. Belle hopes the trip will be a much-needed break from her stalled acting career and uniquely humiliating waitressing job, but once she’s aboard the luxurious Lion’s Den, it soon becomes clear this jet-setting holiday is not as advertised.

Belle’s dream vacation quickly devolves into a nightmare as she and the handful of other girls Summer invited are treated more like prisoners than guests by their controlling host-and in one terrifying moment, Belle comes to see Summer for who she truly is: a vicious gold digger who will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Belle realizes she’s going to have to keep her wits about her — and her own big secret closely hidden — if she wants to make it off the yacht alive.

Review:

With a dash of intrigue and a smidge of suspense, The Lion’s Den is a sparkling debut by Katherine St. John.

Actress Belle Carter harbors a few trepidations about her upcoming trip with her long time friend Summer Sanderson. But a free vacation on wealthy businessman John Lyons’ luxury yacht outweighs her concerns. She is soon off on a lavish adventure with Summer, their friend Wendy and Wendy’s roommate Claire, Summer’s mom, Rhonda, sister Brittani and Brittani’s friend Amythest.  Belle overlooks her misgivings over Summer’s somewhat cool attitude towards her and vows just to enjoy herself.  But John’s controlling behavior soon extends to Summer to her guests and Belle’s concerns continue to grow as she makes unsettling discoveries.

Belle has been trying to make it as an actress for several years. Although she has not had any breakout roles, she refuses to give up on her dream.  She and Summer have been friends since they were teenagers but their friendship has hit a bit of a rough patch recently. Her attempts to placate Summer often fall short of the mark, but Belle tries to keep her annoyance at her friend’s behavior in check.

Instead of reconnecting with her friends, Belle is relegated to the “B” list throughout their trip. She and Amythest are roommates and they surprisingly hit it off.  Belle is a little concerned that Amythest is walking a dangerous line with Summer and her entreaties to  take care fall on deaf ears.  Growing more anxious over Summer’s behavior and John’s manipulations, Belle is having a difficult time as everyone becomes increasingly tense.

The Lion’s Den is a riveting novel that has a fun yet surprisingly substantive storyline.  Belle is a fantastic protagonist that is easy to like and root for. Summer is a devious gold digger with a possessive streak and she is loyal to no one but herself.  Fast-paced and engrossing, Katherine St. John brings this marvelous novel to a twist-filled conclusion. An absolute gem of a read that I highly recommend!

Comments Off on Review: The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John

Filed under Contemporary, Grand Central Publishing, Katherine St John, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, The Lion's Den, Women's Fiction

September 25, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

Title: Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Horror
Length: 721 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A young boy is haunted by a voice in his head in this “haunting and thrilling” epic of literary horror from the #1 NYT bestselling author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (John Green).

Christopher is seven years old.
Christopher is the new kid in town.
Christopher has an imaginary friend.

We can swallow our fear or let our fear swallow us.

Single mother Kate Reese is on the run. Determined to improve life for her and her son, Christopher, she flees an abusive relationship in the middle of the night with her child. Together, they find themselves drawn to the tight-knit community of Mill Grove, Pennsylvania. It’s as far off the beaten track as they can get. Just one highway in, one highway out.

At first, it seems like the perfect place to finally settle down. Then Christopher vanishes. For six awful days, no one can find him. Until Christopher emerges from the woods at the edge of town, unharmed but not unchanged. He returns with a voice in his head only he can hear, with a mission only he can complete: Build a tree house in the woods by Christmas, or his mother and everyone in the town will never be the same again.

Twenty years ago, Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower made readers everywhere feel infinite. Now, Chbosky has returned with an epic work of literary horror, years in the making, whose grand scale and rich emotion redefine the genre. Read it with the lights on.

Review:

Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky is a “hold onto your hat, it’s going to be a bumpy ride” horror novel.

Fleeing an abusive relationship, Kate Reese and her seven year old son Christopher  sneak away in the night to move to Mill Grove, Pennsylvania. The small town has an excellent school system which is important to Kate.  Christopher soon settles into school and dodges bullies while making friends with Eddie Anderson and twins Mike and Matt. After a string of lucky coincidences,  Kate purchases a house on the edge of the Mission Street Woods. Despite repeated warnings to stay out of the woods, Christopher disappears for a week after he is lured into the woods by an otherworldly force.  He has no memory of what happened during the time he was missing and life soon resumes for mother and son.

However, Christopher is not quite the same following his misadventure and while some changes are welcome, others are very worrisome.  After becoming fixated on building a tree house in the woods, Christopher enlists Eddie, Matt and Mike to help him with the elaborate construction project.  With dire warnings that life will end on Christmas Day, Christopher is soon embroiled in a dangerous race against time to help the Nice Man defeat the Hissing Lady.

The entire premise of the novel is extremely intriguing and the world building is phenomenal.  The main characters are appealing but some of the secondary characters are a little one-dimensional. The horror elements are brilliantly executed and truly spine tingling.  The suspense builds to an incredible pitch as danger erupts in Mill Creek and the residents mysteriously fall ill just days before Christmas. Christopher remains tightly focused on his attempts to do the Nice Man’s bidding in order to save himself and everyone around him.

Imaginary Friend is an ingenious horror novel that is clever yet also overly long (721 pages), unevenly paced and a bit repetitive.  Late in the novel, a HUGE plot twist takes the story in a completely unexpected direction.  A “good vs evil” battle ensues and plunges the reader into an alternate world. With even more shocking and diabolical turns, nothing is as it seems and Christopher, Kate and their friends are enmeshed in an epic fight that has decidedly religious overtones.  Stephen Chbosky keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the novel comes to an action-packed conclusion.

Comments Off on Review: Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

Filed under Contemporary, Grand Central Publishing, Horror, Imaginary Friend, Rated C+, Review, Stephen Chbosky

July 7, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Starter Wife by Nina Laurin

Title: The Starter Wife by Nina Laurin
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the bestselling author of Girl Last Seen comes “a spine-tingler” (Booklist) of a psychological suspense, perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Jessica Knoll.

Local police have announced that they’re closing the investigation of the suspected drowning of 37-year-old painter Colleen Westcott. She disappeared on April 11, 2010, and her car was found parked near the waterfront in Cleveland two days later, but her body has never been found. The chief of police has stated that no concrete evidence of foul play has been discovered in the probe.

I close the online search window, annoyed. These articles never have enough detail. They think my husband’s first wife disappeared or they think she is dead. There’s a big difference.

My phone rings, jarring me away from my thoughts, and when I pick it up, it’s an unknown number. The only answer to my slightly breathless hello is empty static.

When the voice does finally come, it’s female, low, muffled somehow. “Where is it, Claire? What did you do with it? Tell me where it is.”

A woman. A real flesh-and-blood woman on the other end of the phone. She’s not just in my head.

A wave of panic spreads under my skin like ice water. It’s Colleen.

Review:

The Starter Wife by Nina Laurin is a gripping domestic mystery.

Claire and Byron Westcott have been married for two years. She is an aspiring novelist and he is a college professor.  Twenty years younger than Byron, Claire lives in the shadow of his first wife, Colleen, who committed suicide years earlier. At first blissfully happy, Claire is troubled by a recent distance between herself and Byron. But exactly how far is Claire willing to go to save her marriage?

Claire initially comes across as an even-keeled woman who is naturally upset by the changes in her husband’s attention to her. But she figures she is partially to blame for the growing rift. The past few months have gone by in a bit of haze due to drinking and strange bouts of not feeling quite herself. Claire thinks she knows exactly what she needs to do to hang on to her man, but she has a few obstacles to overcome to achieve her goal. She also becomes obsessed with finding out more details about Colleen so she turns to an acquaintance who reveals some very enlightening information.  As Claire begins snooping around in Byron’s past, she begins to slowly unravel.

Byron is a bit of an enigmatic figure since he is spends most of his time away from home. He is quite solicitous of Claire, but she cannot help but wonder if he has an ulterior motive.  Byron takes steps to rekindle their waning romance, but will Claire be receptive to his overtures?

Passages written from an unknown person’s perspective add a high degree of suspense to the unfolding story.  This person is clearly a bit unhinged and willing to do anything to get close to the object of their obsession.  But is this person involved with some of the troubling events occurring in Claire’s life?

The Starter Wife is a very entertaining and engrossing mystery. Claire is an intriguing character who slowly devolves over the course of the novel. The storyline is quite clever and fast-paced. With a few well placed red herrings and a series of misdirects, Nina Laurin brings this brilliant mystery to a twist-filled, jaw-dropping conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this suspenseful mystery to readers of the genre.

Comments Off on Review: The Starter Wife by Nina Laurin

Filed under Contemporary, Grand Central Publishing, Mystery, Nina Laurin, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, The Starter Wife

December 2, 2018 · 11:57 pm

Review: Into the Night by Sarah Bailey

Title: Into the Night by Sarah Bailey
Gemma Woodstock Series Book Two
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

After the shocking murder of a high-profile celebrity, Gemma Woodstock must pull back the layers of a gilded cage to discover who among the victim’s friends and family can be trusted–and who may be the killer.

Troubled and brilliant, Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock finds herself lost and alone after a recent move to Melbourne, brokenhearted by the decisions she’s had to make. Her new workplace is a minefield and Detective Sergeant Nick Fleet, the partner she has been assigned, is uncommunicative and often hostile. When a homeless man is murdered and Gemma is put on the case, she can’t help feeling a connection with the victim and his lonely, isolated existence.

Then Sterling Wade, an up-and-coming actor filming his breakout performance in a closed-off city street, is murdered in the middle of an action-packed shot, and Gemma and Nick have to put aside their differences to unravel the mysteries surrounding the actor’s life and death. Who could commit such a brazen crime? Who stands to profit from it? Far too many people, and none of them can be trusted. Gemma can’t imagine a pair of victims with less in common–and yet as Gemma and Fleet soon learn, both men were keeping secrets that may have led to their deaths.

With riveting suspense, razor-sharp writing, and a fascinating cast of characters, INTO THE NIGHT proves Sarah Bailey is a major new talent to watch in the world of literary crime fiction.

Review:

Into the Night by Sarah Bailey is a riveting police procedural that takes place in Melbourne, AU.  This second installment in the Gemma Woodstock series easily stands on its own, but I HIGHLY recommend the first book in the series, The Dark Lake.

Having recently relocated to Melbourne from her small hometown, Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstoock has yet to become completely comfortable with her new partner Detective Sergeant Nick Fleet. However, she puts her misgivings aside as they work together to find homeless man Walt Miller’s killer. Having barely scratched the surface on the case, Gemma and Fleet are quickly reassigned to the stunning murder of actor Sterling Wade.  Sterling’s death is all the more shocking since it was caught on tape during filming of a zombie movie. Nick and Gemma are overwhelmed by the sheer number of witnesses, a lack of motive and their frustrations dealing with the people in Sterling’s orbit. After Gemma makes a startling discovery, will she and Fleet unmask the murderer?

Gemma has  physically moved but she has not moved on from the issues that plagued her in Smithson. She has no regrets about relocating and she enjoys the hustle, bustle and anonymity of city life. She desperately misses her young son, Ben, yet she is relieved not to have to deal with the everyday minutiae of parenting.  While she knows she is being unreasonable, Gemma is also dismayed about the unexpected changes in her father’s life.  She is struggling with her new boss Chief Inspector Toby Isaacs’ management style and she is less than thrilled with being partnered with Fleet.   Feeling restless and a bit unmoored, Gemma’s coping mechanisms are extremely unhealthy and rather risky.

The investigation is even-paced as Gemma, Nick and the rest of the team sift through the vast amount of witness statements, CCTV footage and delve into Sterling’s personal life. His girlfriend at the time of his murder, actress Lizzie Short and Wade’s parents are ravaged with grief. His best mate Brodie Kent’s stunning revelation provides another avenue for Gemma and Fleet to explore. Rumors swirl around Wade’s relationship with leading lady Ava James and her accusation against director Riley Cartwright adds another complication to the complex murder investigation.  Gemma’s unexpected finding throws the inquiry into turmoil as they must try to determine how this information fits into Sterling’s murder.

With a sympathetic yet prickly lead protagonist, Into the Night is a multi-layered mystery that is well-written and engaging. Both Gemma and Nick are quite flawed and extremely close-mouthed about their personal lives. Despite making very questionable choices outside of work, they are excellent detectives who are dedicated to finding Sterling’s killer. With a vast pool of suspects and a few well-placed red herrings, Sarah Bailey keeps the murderer’s identity and motive tightly under wraps until the investigation’s exciting dénouement. The novel ends on a positive note as Gemma begins to get a handle on her personal demons. I greatly enjoyed this latest outing in the Gemma Woodstock series and I can’t wait to see what  the future holds for Gemma.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Gemma Woodstock Series, Grand Central Publishing, Into the Night, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense

October 24, 2018 · 11:57 pm

Review: Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks

Title: Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

Get swept up in an epic romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Notebook, a heartbreaking love story spanning decades and continents–from North Carolina to Zimbabwe.

Hope Anderson is at a crossroads. At thirty-six, she’s been dating her boyfriend, an orthopedic surgeon, for six years. With no wedding plans in sight, and her father recently diagnosed with ALS, she decides to use a week at her family’s cottage in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, to ready the house for sale and mull over some difficult decisions about her future.

Tru Walls has never visited North Carolina but is summoned to Sunset Beach by a letter from a man claiming to be his father. A safari guide, born and raised in Zimbabwe, Tru hopes to unravel some of the mysteries surrounding his mother’s early life and recapture memories lost with her death. When the two strangers cross paths, their connection is as electric as it is unfathomable . . . but in the immersive days that follow, their feelings for each other will give way to choices that pit family duty against personal happiness in devastating ways.

Illuminating life’s heartbreaking regrets and enduring hope, EVERY BREATH explores the many facets of love that lay claim to our deepest loyalties–while asking the question, How long can a dream survive?

Review:

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks is a delightfully heartwarming and engaging romance.

Thirty-six year old Hope Anderson retreats to her family’s beach cottage after another fight with her long time boyfriend Josh. The two have been dating off and on for the past six years and she is beginning to think he will never be ready to fully commit to her. Following their latest argument, their relationship is off yet again and Josh’s decision to go to Las Vegas with his friends instead of attending a wedding in North Carolina with Hope is quite disheartening. Unable to give up on her dreams of motherhood and marriage, Hope is hoping to work things out with Josh, but will meeting Tru Walls change the direction of her life?

Tru has flown to the NC coast from Zimbabwe to meet his biological father for the first time. Tru is forty-two year divorced father and a wild life safari guide who spends the most of his time in the African bush.  Despite losing his mother in a tragic fire and a troubled relationship with his step-father and half-siblings, Tru is comfortable in his skin and content with his life. The only reason he agrees to meet his father is to hopefully glean information about his mother.  With his father’s arrival delayed, Tru  is enjoying his time on the beach when he  begins spending time with Hope.

Hope and Tru do not have much time together but their relationship is intense and emotional. Having confided in one another, their burgeoning friendship quickly turns romantic although neither of them envision a future together. Despite the strength of her feelings for Tru, Hope cannot give up on her six year relationship with Josh. Tru’s life is in Zimbabwe with his son but he cannot let Hope leave without confessing his love to her. Will Hope and Tru find a way to be together?

Every Breath is a wonderfully romantic novel that is fast-paced and compelling. Tru and Hope are terrific characters who are immensely appealing and completely lovable. The beach setting is quite picturesque and easy to visualize. The descriptions of Tru’s life in Zimbabwe bring the country vibrantly to life.  Nicholas Sparks opens and closes the story with very intriguing entries that are unique and clever. The novel’s deeply affecting conclusion is poignant yet uplifting. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this heartfelt and endearing novel to fans of the genre.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Every Breath, Grand Central Publishing, Nicholas Sparks, Rated B+, Review, Romance

October 10, 2018 · 11:58 pm

Review: Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks

Title: Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
Publisher: Sphere (UK)/Grand Central Publishing (US)
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher (Sphere)

Summary:

The New York Times and international number one bestselling author Nicholas Sparks returns with a powerful new love story.

From the number one bestselling author of The Notebook and Two by Two comes an unforgettable tale of enduring love.

There are times when destiny and love collide.
This story is one of them.

Hope Anderson is at a crossroads. After six years with her boyfriend, she is no longer sure what she wants, and when her father becomes ill she heads to her family’s cottage at Sunset Beach in North Carolina to make some difficult decisions.

Tru Walls has been summoned across an ocean from where he was born and raised in Zimbabwe by a letter from a man claiming to be his father. In journeying to Sunset Beach, Tru hopes to unravel the mystery surrounding his mother’s life, but the letter will lead him in an unexpected direction.

When these two strangers’ paths cross, their chance encounter sets in motion a heart-breaking story – one that will transcend decades, continents and the workings of fate.

‘When it comes to tales about love, Nicholas Sparks is one of the undisputed kings’ Heat

Purchase Links: Amazon UK * Amazon US

Review:

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks is a delightfully heartwarming and engaging romance.

Thirty-six year old Hope Anderson retreats to her family’s beach cottage after another fight with her long time boyfriend Josh. The two have been dating off and on for the past six years and she is beginning to think he will never be ready to fully commit to her. Following their latest argument, their relationship is off yet again and Josh’s decision to go to Las Vegas with his friends instead of attending a wedding in North Carolina with Hope is quite disheartening. Unable to give up on her dreams of motherhood and marriage, Hope is hoping to work things out with Josh, but will meeting Tru Walls change the direction of her life?

Tru has flown to the NC coast from Zimbabwe to meet his biological father for the first time. Tru is forty-two year divorced father and a wild life safari guide who spends the most of his time in the African bush.  Despite losing his mother in a tragic fire and a troubled relationship with his step-father and half-siblings, Tru is comfortable in his skin and content with his life. The only reason he agrees to meet his father is to hopefully glean information about his mother.  With his father’s arrival delayed, Tru  is enjoying his time on the beach when he  begins spending time with Hope.

Hope and Tru do not have much time together but their relationship is intense and emotional. Having confided in one another, their burgeoning friendship quickly turns romantic although neither of them envision a future together. Despite the strength of her feelings for Tru, Hope cannot give up on her six year relationship with Josh. Tru’s life is in Zimbabwe with his son but he cannot let Hope leave without confessing his love to her. Will Hope and Tru find a way to be together?

Every Breath is a wonderfully romantic novel that is fast-paced and compelling. Tru and Hope are terrific characters who are immensely appealing and completely lovable. The beach setting is quite picturesque and easy to visualize. The descriptions of Tru’s life in Zimbabwe bring the country vibrantly to life.  Nicholas Sparks opens and closes the story with very intriguing entries that are unique and clever. The novel’s deeply affecting conclusion is poignant yet uplifting. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this heartfelt and endearing novel to fans of the genre.

Comments Off on Review: Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks

Filed under Contemporary, Every Breath, Grand Central Publishing, Nicholas Sparks, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Sphere