Category Archives: Graydon House

March 17, 2019 · 11:56 pm

Review: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer

Title: The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Fiction
Length: 432 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In 1942, Europe remains in the relentless grip of war. Just beyond the tents of the Russian refugee camp she calls home, a young woman speaks her wedding vows. It’s a decision that will alter her destiny…and it’s a lie that will remain buried until the next century.

Since she was nine years old, Alina Dziak knew she would marry her best friend, Tomasz. Now fifteen and engaged, Alina is unconcerned by reports of Nazi soldiers at the Polish border, believing her neighbors that they pose no real threat, and dreams instead of the day Tomasz returns from college in Warsaw so they can be married. But little by little, injustice by brutal injustice, the Nazi occupation takes hold, and Alina’s tiny rural village, its families, are divided by fear and hate. Then, as the fabric of their lives is slowly picked apart, Tomasz disappears. Where Alina used to measure time between visits from her beloved, now she measures the spaces between hope and despair, waiting for word from Tomasz and avoiding the attentions of the soldiers who patrol her parents’ farm. But for now, even deafening silence is preferable to grief.

Slipping between Nazi-occupied Poland and the frenetic pace of modern life, Kelly Rimmer creates an emotional and finely wrought narrative that weaves together two women’s stories into a tapestry of perseverance, loyalty, love and honor. The Things We Cannot Say is an unshakable reminder of the devastation when truth is silenced…and how it can take a lifetime to find our voice before we learn to trust it.

Review:

Weaving back and forth in time, The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer is a heartrending novel about the Nazi occupation in Poland.

In the present, Alice Michaels is heartbroken her beloved grandmother, Hanna, has suffered a stroke. Alice is already stretched to the limit caring for her and her husband Wade’s special needs seven year old son Eddie, and their highly intelligent ten year old daughter Pascale “Callie”. When Hanna indicates she wants her to find her husband, Tomasz, Alice and her mother, Julita, are confused because he has passed away. Due to Hanna’s tearful insistence and her anger at Wade, Alice makes an impulsive decision to go to Poland to try to figure out what her grandmother wants her to find.  Despite her concern that Wade is not at all prepared for caring for Eddie, she sets off on an uncertain journey in hopes of finding the answer that will bring her ninety-five year old grandmother peace.

When she and Wade married, Alice never intended to be a stay at home mother. But after doctors confirmed that Eddie is on the autism spectrum, she dedicated herself to giving their son the best possible life. He is non-verbal and thrives on routine. Wade works long hours so most of the household and childcare duties fall to Alice who is growing resentful of his lack of involvement. Their marriage is a minefield of bitterness and anger as they avoid discussing their issues.

During the Nazi occupation of Poland, Alina Dziak and her family labor in harsh conditions on their family farm. They are forced to hand over the food they grow in exchange for rations that barely keep them alive. Alina is also very worried about her fiancé, Tomasz, who is away at college in Warsaw when Germany invades Poland. Not knowing whether he is dead or alive, Alina lives in hope he will return to her.  Adding to her and her family’s worries, the Nazis have built a labor camp where Poland’s Jews are forced to live and work under untenable circumstance.  They are also worried about who they ca trust since alliances among their friends and neighbors are harshly divided.

Despite her worries about Wade caring for their children, Alice tries to focus on her mission to figure out what her grandmother wants her to find. Aided by a Polish tour guide and a list of names and places from Hanna, they first journey to  the small town where Hanna lived during the war.  Alice is confused by the conflicting information she finds and she is frustrated by a local woman’s refusal to help her. With Hanna’s condition worsening, will Alice find what she needs to comfort her grandmother?

The Things We Cannot Say is a very poignant and highly emotional novel that offers a heartbreaking glimpse of life in Poland during the Nazi occupation.  Equally enlightening is the story arc with Alice’s domestic life and her inability to voice her frustrations. Both Aline and Alice discover their inner strength as they are forced to handle difficult situations.  Kelly Rimmer’s outstanding research brings the horrors of Nazi occupied Poland vividly to life. Despite the difficult subject matter, I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this absolutely riveting novel.

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Filed under Contemporary, Fiction, Graydon House, Historical, Historical (40s), Kelly Rimmer, Rated A, Review, The Things We Cannot Say

March 3, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Object of Your Affections by Falguni Kothari

Title: The Object of Your Affections by Falguni Kothari
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Two best friends rewrite the rules of friendship, love and family…and change everything they thought they knew about motherhood

Paris Kahn Fraser has it all—a successful career as an assistant district attorney, a beautiful home in New York City, and a handsome, passionate husband who chose her over having a family of his own. Neal’s dream of fatherhood might have been the only shadow in their otherwise happy life…until Paris’s best friend comes to town.

Naira Dalmia never thought she’d be a widow before thirty. Left reeling in the aftermath of her husband’s death, all she wants is to start over. She trades Mumbai for New York, and rigid family expectations for the open acceptance of her best friend. After all, there isn’t anything she and Paris wouldn’t do for each other.

But when Paris asks Naira to be their surrogate, they’ll learn if their friendship has what it takes to defy society, their families and even their own biology as these two best friends embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.

Wry, daring and utterly absorbing, The Object of Your Affections is an unforgettable story about two women challenging the norms…and the magic that happens when we choose to forge our own path.

Review:

The Object of Your Affections by Falguni Kothari is an insightful novel of friendship, healing and new beginnings.

Paris Kahn Fraser is happily married to Neal Singh Fraser but due to her complicated childhood, she does not want children. However, knowing how important family is to Neal, she comes up with what she believes is the perfect compromise: pregnancy through a surrogate. They have narrowed their list of surrogates down to two women, but Paris is unable to choose which one she would like to use.  But when she reconnects with her estranged friend, Naria Dalmia, Paris decides Naira is the perfect surrogate. But Naira is dealing with her own set of problems and she has a very conservative family who will not approve of acting as a surrogate.  With changes in her immediate future, will Naira agree to carry a baby for her friend? And if she does, what effect with the surrogacy have on her friendship with Paris and Paris’s marriage?

Paris is an assistant district attorney who is very career oriented.  Until meeting Neal, she never entertained the idea of marriage, but her love for him took her completely by surprise.  Their marriage is quite passionate and Neal’s frequent travel allows her to concentrate on her job. She also enjoys being on her own but she is growing a bit concerned about the uptick in his time away from home. Although surrogacy is a little unconventional, Neal agrees to her plan. But how will react to her sudden decision to ask Naira to carry their baby?

Paris’s once close college friendship has never quite recovered from Naira’s inability to attend her wedding. Unbeknownst to Paris, Naira’s life in Mumbia was imploding at that time due to her husband ‘s arrest. Before his case was cleared up, he died which left Naira with a crushing amount of debt to repay.  Eager to finally escape her brother-in-law’s ruthless attempts to extort money from her, Naira uses a college friend’s wedding to move to America.  She wants to fix her strained friendship with Paris, but she is also hoping her best friend will help her restart the career she was forced to abandon. The two women quickly work through their issues but Naira is not certain she can agree to her friend’s request.

Paris’s surrogacy plan has no shortage of flaws but she refuses to abandon her idea. If her idea comes to fruition, how will her and Neal’s families react to their unconventional path to parenthood?  And is Paris fully prepared for the major changes a baby will have on her marriage, her unresolved past and her career aspirations? If Naira agrees to surrogacy, what impact will it have on her plans for her future? And what how will it affect her relationship with her family?

The Object of Your Affections is a charming novel  with a fantastic cast of characters and an engaging storyline.  Paris can be a little annoying, but she is a very likable character. Naira’s inability to stand up for herself is frustrating yet understandable due to her background. Neal is a delightful rogue although a flaw or two would make him more realistic.  Falguni Kothari brings this unpredictable but compelling novel to heartwarming and imminently satisfying conclusion.  I absolutely loved  and highly recommend this fascinating novel to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Contemporary, Falguni Kothari, Graydon House, Rated B+, Review, The Object of Your Affections, Women's Fiction

February 25, 2019 · 11:56 pm

Review: The Woman in the Lake by Nicola Cornick

Title: The Woman in the Lake by Nicola Cornick
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Romance, Mystery, Supernatural Elements
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the bestselling author of House of Shadows and The Phantom Tree comes a spellbinding tale of jealousy, greed, plotting and revenge—part history, part mystery—for fans of Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley and Barbara Erskine

London, 1765

Lady Isabella Gerard, a respectable member of Georgian society, orders her maid to take her new golden gown and destroy it, its shimmering beauty tainted by the actions of her brutal husband the night before.

Three months later, Lord Gerard stands at the shoreline of the lake, looking down at a woman wearing the golden gown. As the body slowly rolls over to reveal her face, it’s clear this was not his intended victim…

250 Years Later…

When a gown she stole from a historic home as a child is mysteriously returned to Fenella Brightwell, it begins to possess her in exactly the same way that it did as a girl. Soon the fragile new life Fen has created for herself away from her abusive ex-husband is threatened at its foundations by the gown’s power over her until she can’t tell what is real and what is imaginary.

As Fen uncovers more about the gown and Isabella’s story, she begins to see the parallels with her own life. When each piece of history is revealed, the gown—and its past—seems to possess her more and more, culminating in a dramatic revelation set to destroy her sanity.

Review:

Weaving between past and present, The Woman in the Lake by Nicola Cornick is a captivating mystery with slight romantic and supernatural elements.

In the present, Fenella “Fen” Brightwell  has returned to her home town to start over. She has been divorced from her abusive husband, Jake, for two years but she fears he will track her down.  When she receives a bequest from her grandmother, Fen’s sense of dread increases and she reverts to an old childhood habit.  With the unexpected help of her best friend’s brother Hamish Ross, Fen hopes to uncover information about the gown that the seems to have a hold over her. Before they can learn the truth, Fen finds herself in grave danger but will she escape the situation unscathed?

In the past, Lady Isabella Gerard is in an abusive marriage with her husband, Eustace. Following a severe beating after he gives her a beautiful gown, she and her lady’s maid, Constance, leave London for her country home.  Although Isabella has no plans to wear the gown, Constance brings it with them after she disobeys Eustace’s orders to destroy it. Upon their arrival, Isabella is consumed with painting and Constance plots a way to escape the Gerard family.  The situation takes a tragic turn that forever alters both Isabella and Constance’s lives.

The Woman in the Lake  is a very atmospheric novel that is fast-paced and engaging. The two story arcs are well-written and quite fascinating.  Each of the characters are vibrantly developed but not all of them are particularly likable. The gown is what ties the two storylines together, but  Nicola Cornick does not reveal the connection until the novel’s surprising conclusion. This entertaining story is quite enjoyable and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy a dash of mystery, a hint of romance and a slight supernatural element.

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Filed under Contemporary, Graydon House, Historical, Mystery, Nicola Cornick, Rated B, Review, Romance, Supernatural Elements, The Woman in the Lake

January 20, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Inbetween Days by Eva Woods

Title: The Inbetween Days by Eva Woods
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the author of Something Like Happy comes an uplifting and emotionally compelling novel about a woman in a coma fighting for a second chance at life, love and happiness.

Rosie Cooke is “in between.” In between consciousness and oblivion. Life and death. And though some say that when you’re near death your entire life flashes before your eyes, Rosie can’t remember anything at all—not even how she ended up in a coma. At least not at first.

Then something strange starts to happen. Rosie finds herself revisiting scattered moments from her past: a beach vacation, a play rehearsal, the day her brother was born. But why these memories? And what do they mean?

As each piece of the puzzle comes into focus, Rosie struggles to face the picture of her life that forms. But with every look backward comes a glimpse of what might be: A relationship with her sister. The opportunity to pursue her passion. A second chance at love. And Rosie just might discover that she has much to live for.

With bighearted emotion and comic sensibility, The Inbetween Days is a life-affirming novel about the little choices that determine our fate and our ever-enduring hope for the future.

Review:

The Inbetween Days by Eva Woods is a poignant yet ultimately uplifting novel of healing.

The Cooke family rushes to the hospital after learning Rosie has been struck by a bus and is now in a coma. Sister Daisy and mum Alison are wracked with guilt since they have not spoken to Rosie since she caused a scene at Daisy’s engagement party. Rosie has been estranged from her father, Mike, but he never hesitates to stay by his daughter’s bedside.The doctors have informed her family the next three days are critical for Rosie’s future. 

As Daisy searches for the truth about the circumstances of her sister’s accident, Rosie revisits painful yet pivotal moments in her life. She is guided by a cast of ghostly people who urge her to work out the meaning of these memories so she can wake up from her coma before the three day recovery window closes. Will Daisy gain a deeper understanding of her own life as she gains a better understanding of her sister’s? Can Rosie figure out why she is seeing a seemingly random selection of memories from her past?

Rosie is aware of what is going on around her as she frantically tries to force herself to wake up from her coma.  When her first “visitor” escorts her back to her past, she does not understand the why she is returning to these painful memories. With each subsequent trip down memory lane, Rosie grows more and more distraught as she sees what a mess she has made of her friendships and relationships with loved ones.  Fully realizing her ghostly guides are figments of her imagination, Rosie nonetheless begins to understand what she stands to lose if she does not emerge from her coma at the end of the three crucial days in her recovery.

The Cooke family  has been unhappy for a good number of years but they all deal with their issues in different ways. Rosie speaks her mind and this has lead to a breakdown in her relationships with her mother, sister and father. Her personal and professional lives are a bit of a muddle and Daisy is greatly saddened  by what she finds as she tries to make sense of what happened the day of the accident.  As Daisy uncovers the somewhat sad truth about Rosie, she begins to rethink her own decisions.  But will Daisy find the courage to take the steps she needs to find happiness? And will she find the courage to confront her parents about their role in their family’s dysfunction?

The Inbetween Days is an emotional and thought-provoking novel that is quite captivating. Rosie is an extremely sympathetic character and readers will root for her as she traverses her unhappy past in hopes of discerning why she made so many disastrous choices.  Daisy is desperate to understand her sister and in doing so, she must face the truth about her own choices.  Eva Woods will keep readers on the edge of their seats as she brings this riveting novel to a heartfelt and gratifying conclusion.  I absolutely loved and highly recommend this deeply affecting story.

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Filed under Contemporary, Eva Woods, Graydon House, Rated A, The Inbetween Days, Women's Fiction

June 25, 2018 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan

Title: The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In the tradition of Judy Blume’s Summer Sisters, The Summer List is a tender yet tantalizing novel about two friends, the summer night they fell apart, and the scavenger hunt that reunites them decades later—until the clues expose a breathtaking secret that just might shatter them once and for all.

Laura and Casey were once inseparable: as they floated on their backs in the sunlit lake, as they dreamed about the future under starry skies, and as they teamed up for the wild scavenger hunts in their small California lakeside town. Until one summer night, when a shocking betrayal sent Laura running through the pines, down the dock, and into a new life, leaving Casey and a first love in her wake.

But the past is impossible to escape, and now, after seventeen years away, Laura is pulled home and into a reunion with Casey she can’t resist—one last scavenger hunt. With a twist: this time, the list of clues leads to the settings of their most cherished summer memories. From glistening Jade Cove to the vintage skating rink, each step they take becomes a bittersweet reminder of the friendship they once shared. But just as the game brings Laura and Casey back together, the clues unravel a stunning secret that threatens to tear them apart…

Mesmerizing and unforgettable, Amy Mason Doan’s The Summer List is about losing and recapturing the person who understands you best—and the unbreakable bonds of girlhood.

Review:

The Summer List by Amy Mason Doan is a bittersweet journey of healing and reconciliation.

Growing up, Laura Christie is a bit of an outcast among her classmates so she has low expectations for her unexpected friendship with newcomer Casey Shepherd.  Since her ultra-religious, conservative mother does not approve of Casey’s much younger, free-spirited mom, Alex, the girls spend most of their time at the Shepherd home, also known as The Shipwreck.Inseparable over the first summer of their acquaintance, Laura is delighted when their friendship continues to flourish over the years. However, just weeks before moving away to live together while attending college, Laura’s life takes a shocking turn and she runs away without explanation.

Fast forward seventeen years and Laura has made a comfortable life for herself away from her small hometown of Couer-de-Luna. So when she receives an unexpected invitation to return to the lake and join Casey on a scavenger hunt, Laura is conflicted about whether or not she has any desire to revisit her past.  Although she is uncertain whether or not accepting the invitation is prudent, Laura cautiously decides to meet with Casey. Their reunion is fraught with anxiety and they reluctantly collect the various clues from the list Alex has provided for them.

Chapters from their past are interspersed with the events occurring in the present. During their teenage years, Casey and Laura’s friendship is close-knit so there is a great deal of suspense surrounding their eventual estrangement. What happened to drive such a schism between them? What possible reason could Laura have for leaving everyone behind in such a dramatic fashion?

Equally compelling are the chapters that detail another unlikely friendship between two girls who meet at summer church camp. Neither of the girls are overly enthused about the camp and they embark on some rebellious adventures.  After their time at the camp ends, their mothers’ choices lead the girls down an unanticipated path that culminates in an unforeseen turn of events for both of them.

The Summer List is a captivating novel of friendship that has a lovely nostalgic aspect to the storyline. The characters are vibrantly developed with endearing traits and relatable foibles. Laura and Casey’s reunion is realistically depicted as they gradually work through the lingering hurt and anger from their long standing estrangement.  This impressive debut by Amy Mason Doan is an engaging and emotional novel that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.

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Filed under Amy Mason Doan, Contemporary, Graydon House, Rated B+, Review, The Summer List, Women's Fiction

April 2, 2018 · 11:57 pm

Review: Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer

Title: Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The 2:00 a.m. call is the first time Lexie Vidler has heard her sister’s voice in years. Annie is a drug addict, a thief, a liar—and in trouble, again. Lexie has always bailed Annie out, given her money, a place to sleep, sent her to every kind of rehab. But this time, she’s not just strung out—she’s pregnant and in premature labor. If she goes to the hospital, she’ll lose custody of her baby—maybe even go to prison. But the alternative is unthinkable.

As the weeks unfold, Lexie finds herself caring for her fragile newborn niece while her carefully ordered life is collapsing around her. She’s in danger of losing her job, and her fiancé only has so much patience for Annie’s drama. In court-ordered rehab, Annie attempts to halt her downward spiral by confronting long-buried secrets from the sisters’ childhoods, ghosts that Lexie doesn’t want to face. But will the journey heal Annie, or lead her down a darker path?

Both candid and compassionate, Before I Let You Go explores a hotly divisive topic and asks how far the ties of family love can be stretched before they finally break.

Review:

Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer is a heartbreaking yet thought-provoking novel that sensitively and realistically portrays addiction.

As children, Lexie Vidler promised her father she would always take care of her younger sister, Annie. For the past six years, this promise has been increasingly difficult to keep as Annie’s drug addiction worsens. Two years ago, Lexie finally cut off all ties with Annie but when her sister makes a frantic 2 AM phone call, she cannot refuse to help. Because this time, Annie is pregnant and her unborn baby is in jeopardy. So with her fiancé, Sam Hawke, at her side, Lexie is drawn back into the chaos that always surrounds Annie.

Neither Lexie nor Annie are particularly likable characters (which is painful to admit since the storyline is so captivating). Lexie is a successful doctor but her relationship with Annie is so incredibly dysfunctional.  Lexie is determined to  take care of her sister’s latest mess on her own despite the fact that Sam is willing to help and should be included in making decisions since what is occurring directly affects him as well. Lexie’s stubborn refusal to let him help becomes tiresome as does her conviction that cleaning up her sister’s messes is HER responsibility not Annie’s.

It is always frustrating when an adult refuses to see that a childhood request to take care of a sibling is not a lifelong sentence or commitment.  This is especially true since Annie’s addiction is NOT Lexie’s responsibility and she has become the worst enabler as she makes excuses for her sister and refuses to hold Annie accountable for her actions.  Lexie has put herself into incredible debt as she continues to pay for rehab and while it is understandable that she desperately wants to help Annie kick her addiction,  she refuses to acknowledge that ANNIE has to decide she wants to get sober. Without this commitment and a dedicated effort to understand why she turns to drugs to cope, Annie will never maintain her sobriety.  Annie’s journal entries provide incredible insight into her past and how her inability to deal with her horrific ordeal set her on the path to addiction.

Before I Let You Go is a deeply affecting novel with a topical storyline about opioid addiction. Kelly Rimmer never downplays the effects of addiction on the addict’s family and she accurately portrays the heartrending withdrawal that is experienced by a baby born to a drug addicted mother. This insightful glimpse of drug addiction and its effects on the addict’s loved ones is an engrossing novel that is emotional, heart wrenching and ultimately, healing.

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Filed under Before I Let You Go, Contemporary, Graydon House, Kelly Rimmer, Rated B, Review, Women's Fiction