Category Archives: NAL

February 29, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Promise of Forgiveness by Marin Thomas

Title: The Promise of Forgiveness by Marin Thomas
Publisher: NAL
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Suspense, Romance
Length: 354 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A novel of love, forgiveness, and the unbreakable bonds of family from award-nominated author Marin Thomas . . .

When it comes to family, Ruby Baxter hasn’t had much luck. The important men in her early life abandoned her, and any time a decent boyfriend came along, she ran away. But now Ruby is thirty-one and convinced she is failing her teenage daughter. Mia is the one good thing in her life, and Ruby hopes a move to Kansas will fix what’s broken between them.

But the road to redemption takes a detour. Hank McArthur, the biological father Ruby never knew existed, would like her to claim her inheritance: a dusty oil ranch just outside of Unforgiven, Oklahoma.

As far as first impressions go, the gruff, emotionally distant rancher isn’t what Ruby has hoped for in a father. Yet Hank seems to have a gift for rehabilitating abused horses—and for reaching Mia. And if Ruby wants to entertain the possibility of a relationship with Joe Dawson, the ranch foreman, she must find a way to open her heart to the very first man who left her behind.

Review:

Poignant and heartfelt, The Promise of Forgiveness by Marin Thomas is a captivating novel of healing, reconciliation and love.

When Ruby Baxter discovers her fourteen year old daughter Mia following in her dysfunctional footsteps, she decides it is time to leave her small hometown and string of bad decisions behind. After accepting a job in Kansas, Ruby is stunned to learn her biological father Hank McArthur would like to meet her. Intending only a short layover in Unforgiven, OK, she is dismayed by Mia’s instant rapport with Hank and her growing attachment to his rescue horses. Never anticipating how much this decision will irrevocably change her life, Ruby agrees to remain a few extra weeks at the Devil’s Wind Ranch in order to continue mending her fractured relationship with her daughter.

Ruby has learned the hard way not to trust anyone and her deep seated abandonment issues cause her to maintain an emotional distance from the people in her life. She is quick to end relationships due to her fears and in doing so, she hurts both herself and Mia. Unwilling to risk further pain, Ruby initially has no intention of forgiving Hank for his decision to give her up for adoption, but the crusty rancher slowly begins to slip past her rather formidable defenses. Amid growing concerns for his health and safety, Ruby begins to entertain the idea of remaining permanently but will she find it in her heart to forgive both herself and Hank for past mistakes?

Ruby is also taken aback by her growing attraction to Hank’s ranch hand, Joe Dawson. Joe is a quiet man whose tragic loss lead to a somewhat itinerant lifestyle until he began working for Hank. Before meeting Ruby, he never entertained the possibility of a lasting relationship but he is willing to give their fledgling romance a chance. However, Ruby and Joe are both a little skittish when it comes to risking their hearts and with their unresolved issues sometimes ruling their decisions, a future together is far from certain.

A secondary story arc about the unsolved vandalism on the ranch adds an element of suspense to the storyline. With growing concern for not only Mia’s safety but Hank’s as well, Ruby pressures local law enforcement to take the investigation more seriously. Ruby has her suspicions about who is behind the sabotage and she takes matters in her own hands when the sheriff refuses to listen to her. The resolution of this storyline is somewhat surprising as are the motives for the crimes.

The Promise of Forgiveness by Marin Thomas is a heartwarming novel about the importance of forgiveness and learning to trust despite having been let down in the past. Another equally valuable lesson in the story is recognizing then consciously taking steps to break the cycle of destructive behavior in order to forge healthy relationships and become a better role model for our children.

The Promise of Forgiveness is an emotional and meaningful novel that will linger in readers’ hearts and minds long after the last page is turned. An outstanding read that I absolutely loved and highly recommend.

3 Comments

Filed under Contemporary, Marin Thomas, NAL, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Suspense, The Promise of Forgiveness, Women's Fiction

February 15, 2016 · 11:56 pm

Review: The Widow by Fiona Barton

Widow_JKT_front.inddTitle: The Widow by Fiona Barton
Publisher: NAL
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

For fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, an electrifying thriller that will take you into the dark spaces that exist between a husband and a wife.

When the police started asking questions, Jean Taylor turned into a different woman. One who enabled her and her husband to carry on, when more bad things began to happen…

But that woman’s husband died last week. And Jean doesn’t have to be her anymore.

There’s a lot Jean hasn’t said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing. She was too busy being the perfect wife, standing by her man while living with the accusing glares and the anonymous harassment.

Now there’s no reason to stay quiet. There are people who want to hear her story. They want to know what it was like living with that man. She can tell them that there were secrets. There always are in a marriage.

The truth—that’s all anyone wants. But the one lesson Jean has learned in the last few years is that she can make people believe anything…

Review:

Fiona Barton’s debut novel, The Widow, is a cleverly written mystery that is quite intriguing. This fascinating novel is written from multiple points of view (the widow, the detective and the reporter)and weaves back and forth in time, all of which provides the reader with valuable insight about the characters and the unfolding story.

Just days after her husband Glen dies in a traffic accident, Jean Taylor at long last gives in to reporter Kate Waters’ request for an exclusive interview. Having lived under a cloud of suspicion when Glen was arrested for a horrific crime, she is finally ready to all, but what exactly that entails is anyone’s guess. Of course the most pressing question about Glen’s guilt or innocence is what everyone wants to know, but equally important is whether or not Jean had prior knowledge of the crime. Curious minds would also like the answer to another question that has crossed many people’s minds: did Glen act alone or was Jean his accomplice?

Jean and Glen married young and by all accounts, their marriage was happy. Jean is the type of meek and dutiful wife who is eclipsed by her husband’s overbearing personality and she learned early in her marriage to do whatever Glen says without asking any questions. Despite overwhelming evidence, Jean never doubts his innocence and she remains by his side throughout the investigation and his subsequent arrest. Of course, she knew that Glen was up to some kind of “nonsense” but she fully believes whatever he was up to behind closed doors has nothing to do with the crime is accused of committing.

DI Bob Sparkes is involved in the case from the very beginning and he quickly becomes obsessed with solving it. He is quite methodical and thorough but there is little evidence to go on but he never gives up looking for the one clue that will crack the case wide open. Sparkes’ keen eye picks up some inconsistencies in one of the witness statements and this is just the break he has been searching for. Slowly but surely he follows the new evidence which eventually leads him to Glen Taylor. However Glen’s alibi seems unshakeable and the case goes dormant again until new information surfaces. A vital clue ties Glen to the crime and Sparkes is able to make an arrest but an overzealous attempt to make their case against him ends in disaster. In the months leading up to Glen’s death, Sparkes again uncovers new evidence, but Glen dies before he can confront him.

Despite her profession, Kate is quite compassionate and she has a good working relationship with Sparkes. She has an immediate rapport with the victim’s closest relative and they remain friendly with one another over the years of the investigation. However, she does not let this quasi friendship interfere with her efforts to snag an interview with Glen or Jean and immediately following Glen’s death, Kate steamrolls Jean into agreeing to an interview. This take charge attitude appeals to the suddenly rudderless Jean and she finally agrees to answer Kate’s questions. Just as Kate is making progress finding out the truth about whether or not Glen is guilty of crime he was accused of committing, Jean asserts her long relinquished independence and returns home. The fragile trust between the two women is irretrievably broken, renewing fears that the truth about Glen may never be revealed.

The Widow is a well-written and brilliantly executed mystery with an unusual premise that makes it stand out from other novels in the genre. Fiona Barton’s portrayal of Jean as the meek, subservient wife and Glen as the overbearing, dominant husband makes a compelling argument for Jean’s devotion to Glen and her steadfast belief in his innocence even in the face as seemingly overwhelming evidence.  The suspense grows as the novel races towards a dramatic conclusion that will hopefully provide a definitive answer the burning questions about Glens’ involvement in such a horrific crime.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Fiona Barton, Mystery, NAL, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, The Widow

January 31, 2016 · 11:56 pm

Review: The Doll’s House by M.J. Arlidge

doll's houseTitle: The Doll’s House by M.J. Arlidge
DI Helen Grace Series Book Three
Publisher: NAL
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 422 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Detective Helen Grace is on the trail of a twisted serial killer in this riveting thriller in the “gripping”* international bestselling series.

Ruby wakes up in a strange room. Her captor calmly explains that no one is looking for her. No one wants her. Except him.

When the body of a woman is found buried on a secluded beach, Detective Helen Grace is called to the scene. She knows right away that the killer is no amateur. The woman has been dead for years, and no one has even reported her missing. But why would they? She’s still sending text messages to her family.

Helen is convinced that a criminal mastermind is at work: someone very smart, very careful, and worst of all, very patient. But as she struggles to piece together the killer’s motive, time is running out for a victim who is still alive…

Review:

The Doll’s House is another chilling installment in M.J. Arlidge’s DI Helen Grace series. In this outing, Helen and her team’s latest homicide investigation is linked to the recent disappearance of a young woman.

The discovery of the body of a young woman buried on a beach is just the beginning of Helen’s latest case. After discovering her identity, she is stunned to learn the girl’s family did not file a missing person’s report since the victim has apparently been sporadically tweeting and sending text messages. Certain she is not the perpetrator’s first victim, a careful search of missing person’s reports yields a couple other suspicious disappearances and Helen convinces her superiors to go back to the beach to look for more graves. Discovering two more bodies, Helen and her team are sure that Ruby Sprackling’s recent disappearance is most likely connected to their case and they are soon in a race against time to find her before it is too late.

Helen’s squad is still a bit unsettled as new members transition in to replace the detectives who have left. She has a few trusted investigators that she relies on, but she worries there is a lack of cohesiveness among the group. However, by the time the various pieces of the investigation begin to fall into place, the squad is finally working together as a team as they frantically try to save Ruby from her abductor.

Helen’s relationship with her boss DS Ceri Harwood is still acrimonious and they continue to butt heads as Helen tries to convince her that their current cases are connected. She does not let Harwood’s resistance hold her back from following the various leads, but her refusal to co-operate means Helen must occasionally subvert her boss’s authority which causes more friction between them. Ceri’s professional jealousy clouds her judgment on more than one occasion and she eventually makes a decision that she later comes to regret when things begin to spin out of control.

While most of plot centers around the investigation, Helen’s personal life plays small, but pivotal, roles in the storyline. Her search for her missing nephew continues and she makes a few missteps once she uncovers new evidence about him. Helen also feels a startling connection to one of the victim’s fathers and she is surprisingly candid with him about her past. This vulnerability softens the tough as nails investigator and peels back yet another layer of this multi-faceted character.

The Doll’s House is another spellbinding addition to the DI Helen Grace series. The addition of new members to the team keeps the series fresh and Helen continues to evolve which keeps her character from becoming stagnant. The mystery is intriguing and M.J. Arlidge’s skillful utilization of red herrings and misdirects ingeniously conceals the perpetrator’s identity until the novel’s conclusion.  An outstanding police procedural that will leave fans impatiently awaiting the next installment in this superb series.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, DI Helen Grace Series, MJ Arlidge, Mystery, NAL, Rated B+, Review, The Dolls House, Thriller

January 3, 2016 · 11:57 pm

Review: Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner

stars over sunsetTitle: Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner
Publisher: NAL
Genre: Historical, Women’s Fiction
Length: 386 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In this new novel from the acclaimed author of Secrets of a Charmed Life, two women working in Hollywood during its Golden Age discover the joy and heartbreak of true friendship.

Los Angeles, Present Day. When an iconic hat worn by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind ends up in Christine McAllister’s vintage clothing boutique by mistake, her efforts to return it to its owner take her on a journey more enchanting than any classic movie…

Los Angeles, 1938. Violet Mayfield sets out to reinvent herself in Hollywood after her dream of becoming a wife and mother falls apart, and lands a job on the film-set of Gone With the Wind. There, she meets enigmatic Audrey Duvall, a once-rising film star who is now a fellow secretary. Audrey’s zest for life and their adventures together among Hollywood’s glitterati enthrall Violet…until each woman’s deepest desires collide. What Audrey and Violet are willing to risk, for themselves and for each other, to ensure their own happy endings will shape their friendship, and their lives, far into the future.

Review:

Set against the backdrop of the Golden Age of Hollywood, Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner is a truly captivating novel that explores the bonds of friendship.

The past intertwines with the present when vintage clothes store owner Christine McAllister discovers a hat from Gone with the Wind. How did the hat end up in the attic of a bungalow that she soon realizes has unexpected ties to her childhood? The answer lies in the distant past and a long ago friendship between two women who worked together during the filming of the epic movie.

When life throws her an unexpected curve, Violet Mayfield moves from Alabama to Hollywood to work for Selznick International. Working as a secretary on the set of Gone with the Wind, she is befriended by Audrey Duvall, another secretary who still dreams of stardom. In a world where close friendships are rare, Violet and Audrey quickly become bosom buddies despite their different backgrounds and personal dreams. Their relationship becomes complicated when Violet begins to fall in love with Audrey’s close friend, Bert Redmond, a kindhearted young man who makes no secret that he would like more than friendship with Audrey.

Violet is a proper southern belle who has been groomed for marriage and motherhood. After an unexpected loss shatters her lifelong dream, she is eager to start over in a new place. She genuinely cares for Audrey but her love for Bert soon eclipses their friendship. When the opportunity to drive a wedge between Audrey and Bert presents itself, Violet impulsively makes a decision that she will eventually deeply regret in the later years of their friendship.

Years earlier, Audrey’s movie career was over before it began but she never stops hoping for another big break. She is vivacious and fun-loving, but she has endured her share of heartache. After meeting Violet, Audrey’s hopes for the future are revitalized and she renews her efforts to make it as an actress. Just as Violet achieves personal happiness, Audrey despairs her chance at stardom has passed her by but she finds surprising success in the theater. However, a failed relationship has repercussions that forever change the course of her professional life and her friendship with Violet.

An engaging and emotional novel that tugs at the heartstrings, Stars Over Sunset Boulevard by Susan Meissner is a beautiful story of a friendship that manages to survive despite deceit, betrayal and jealousy. A fascinating and entertaining novel that I highly recommend to fans of historical women’s fiction.

1 Comment

Filed under Historical, Historical (30s), Historical (40s), NAL, Rated B+, Review, Stars Over Sunset Boulevard, Susan Meissner

November 2, 2015 · 11:55 pm

Review: White Collar Girl by Renee Rosen

white collarTitle: White Collar Girl by Renee Rosen
Publisher: NAL
Genre: Historical (50s), Fiction
Length: 435 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Penguin’s First to Read Program

Summary:

The latest novel from the bestselling author of Dollface and What the Lady Wants takes us deep into the tumultuous world of 1950s Chicago where a female journalist struggles with the heavy price of ambition…

Every second of every day, something is happening. There’s a story out there buried in the muck, and Jordan Walsh, coming from a family of esteemed reporters, wants to be the one to dig it up. But it’s 1955, and the men who dominate the city room of the Chicago Tribune have no interest in making room for a female cub reporter. Instead Jordan is relegated to society news, reporting on Marilyn Monroe sightings at the Pump Room and interviewing secretaries for the White Collar Girl column.

Even with her journalistic legacy and connections to luminaries like Mike Royko, Nelson Algren, and Ernest Hemingway, Jordan struggles to be taken seriously. Of course, that all changes the moment she establishes a secret source inside Mayor Daley’s office and gets her hands on some confidential information. Now careers and lives are hanging on Jordan’s every word. But if she succeeds in landing her stories on the front page, there’s no guarantee she’ll remain above the fold.…

Review:

Set in the 1950’s, White Collar Girl by Renee Rosen is a riveting novel about a female journalist’s attempt to break into the historically male dominated field. Fighting to be taken seriously during a time when female reporters were relegated to writing “fluff” pieces, Jordan Walsh never loses sight of her goal although she sometimes questions her motivation for trying so hard to make a success of her chosen career.

Jordan comes from a long line of reporters and after her brother Eliot’s death two years earlier, she is determined to make him and their parents proud. Excited by the job offer at the Chicago Tribune, she is brought back to earth in a hurry when she discovers she will be writing society pieces and articles about women’s issues. With one eye on achieving her goal of writing hard hitting news stories, Jordan never hesitates to take risks and investigate the leads that come her way but convincing her editor to take her seriously takes grit, patience and perseverance.

Jordan is definitely a woman ahead of her time and her drive to succeed eclipses nearly everything in her life. She is frustrated by her colleague’s attitudes toward her and the other women she works with but she never lets them deter her from her goals. She is smart, savvy and inquisitive and although she sometimes rushes into situations without thinking things through, her instinct about newsworthy material is sound. Although her career is her top priority, Jordan does have a serious relationship with a fellow news reporter but her success threatens to derail their romance.

Unlike some of her friends and co-workers, marriage and family is oftentimes the last thing on Jordan’s mind. Although she becomes engaged, planning her upcoming wedding is low on her list of priorities. She is also ill-prepared for her very traditional fiancé’s and his family’s expectations about her role after the wedding. Jordan often minimizes her success at the Tribune in order to protect her fiancé’s ego and his frustration about her higher profile assignments and news scoops leads to discontent for both of them.

White Collar Girl is a mesmerizing novel that is quite fascinating and based on many historically accurate scandals and newsworthy events of the late 50s and early 60s. The characters are multi-faceted and brilliantly developed with realistic flaws and imperfections. Renee Rosen’s meticulous attention to detail, the captivating plot and an interesting main protagonist bring the story and the time period vibrantly to live. An informative and enthralling novel that I absolutely loved and highly recommend.

2 Comments

Filed under Fiction, Historical (50s), NAL, Rated B+, Renee Rosen, Review, White Collar Girl

October 26, 2015 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Splendor of Ordinary Days by Jeff High

splendor ordinaryTitle: The Splendor of Ordinary Days by Jeff High
Watervalley Series Book Three
Publisher: NAL
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 432 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by the Author

Summary:

Readers of Jan Karon’s Mitford series and Patrick Taylor’s Irish Country series will fall in love with Jeff High’s funny, heartfelt Watervalley series.

The pastoral charm of small-town Watervalley, Tennesse, can be deceptive, as young Dr. Luke Bradford discovers when he’s caught in the fallout of a decades-old conflict…

After a rocky start as Watervalley’s only doctor, Luke Bradford has decided to stay in town, honoring the three-year commitment he made to pay off his medical school debts. But even as his friendships with the quirky townsfolk deepen, and he pursues a romance with lovely schoolteacher Christine Chambers, several military veterans’ emotional wounds trigger anger and unrest in Watervalley.

At the center of the clash is the curmudgeonly publisher of the local newspaper, Luther Whitmore. Luther grew up in Watervalley, but he returned from combat in Vietnam a changed man. He fenced in beautiful Moon Lake, posting “Keep Out” notices at the beloved spot, and provokes the townspeople with his incendiary newspaper.

As Luke struggles to understand Luther’s past, and restore harmony in Watervalley, an unforeseen crisis shatters a relationship he values dearly. Suddenly Luke must answer life’s toughest questions about service, courage, love, and sacrifice.

Review:

The Splendor of Ordinary Days is another captivating addition to Jeff High’s Watervalley series starring Dr. Luke Bradford. With a cast of delightfully quirky but caring characters, this charming story is incredibly heartwarming with a poignant storyline that will tug at the reader’s heartstrings.

Although he still yearns for the anonymity of a large town and a career in medical research, Luke is pretty firmly entrenched in Watervalley. His medical practice is thriving, he has forged close friendships with many of the townspeople and he is deeply in love with elementary school teacher Christine Chambers. The only things Luke is still struggling to make peace with are the small town gossip and the residents’ well-meaning but intrusive prying into his personal life. Keeping secrets in the small rural town is difficult but not impossible and when local veteran Clayton Ross has a run in with Mennonite Levi Beiler, tension and resentment from unhealed wounds from the past spill into the present.

Luke never intended to become so involved in his patients lives but living in a small town makes it impossible for him to hold them at arms’ length. He is also quite caring and compassionate and he makes a practice of treating the whole person, not just their symptoms. Luke makes a concerted effort to look beneath the surface and when he is most frustrated by someone’s actions, he takes the time to ask questions about that person’s life, including both their past and present.

In this outing, Luke finds himself wondering about newspaper owner Luther Whitmore’s surprisingly biased reporting of a fire involving the local Mennonite community. While Luther is rather unpleasant, unfriendly and cantankerous, his reporting of the local news has always been impartial and fair so Luke is determined to understand what prompted the antagonist news article. The answers lie in Luther’s childhood friendship with the Yoder family and the series of events that occurred right before he shipped out to Vietnam. Luke has an uncanny ability to smooth over difficult situations but can he work his magic on the irascible Vietnam veteran?

In between treating patients and trying to get to the bottom of the situation with Luther, Luke’s relationship with Christine is about to enter a new phase. Having finally confessed his feeling to her, their romance has deepened but will an unexpected crisis jeopardize their plans for the future?

Written in first person from Luke’s point of view, The Splendor of Ordinary Days is an incredibly well-written novel with an engaging storyline. The characters are vibrantly developed with realistic foibles and human frailties but these characteristics are what make them feel like real people. The town and surrounding area are quite picturesque and the rural setting perfectly showcases the decidedly slower pace of life and traditional values that make the Watervalley series so appealing. Once again, Jeff High brings readers a refreshing story of compassion, love, healing and forgiveness that will touch their hearts and remain with them long after the last page is turned.

1 Comment

Filed under Contemporary, Jeff High, NAL, Rated A, Review, The Splendor of Ordinary Days, Watervalley Series