Category Archives: Rated B

July 12, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Safe Place by Anna Downes

Title: The Safe Place by Anna Downes
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Suspense
Length: 354 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Superbly tense and oozing with atmosphere, Anna Downes’s debut, The Safe Place, is the perfect summer suspense, with the modern gothic feel of Ruth Ware and the morally complex family dynamics of Lisa Jewell.

Welcome to paradise…will you ever be able to leave?

Emily is a mess.

Emily Proudman just lost her acting agent, her job, and her apartment in one miserable day.

Emily is desperate.

Scott Denny, a successful and charismatic CEO, has a problem that neither his business acumen nor vast wealth can fix. Until he meets Emily.

Emily is perfect.

Scott offers Emily a summer job as a housekeeper on his remote, beautiful French estate. Enchanted by his lovely wife Nina, and his eccentric young daughter, Aurelia, Emily falls headlong into this oasis of wine-soaked days by the pool. But soon Emily realizes that Scott and Nina are hiding dangerous secrets, and if she doesn’t play along, the consequences could be deadly.

Review:

The Safe Place by Anna Downes is an atmospheric domestic mystery.

Emily Proudman is struggling to financially as she pursues an acting career.  And after she is let go from her latest temping job, her situation becomes dire. Unable to turn to her parents for help again, Emily is surprised then grateful when her former boss reaches out to her. Scott Denny offers Emily a lucrative position helping his wife Nina and their daughter Aurelia on their isolated estate in France. Emily is beyond impressed upon her arrival, but is there more to Nina’s need for seclusion than her daughter’s fragile health?

Emily is somewhat naive, flighty and gullible which makes her perfect person for Scott to offer her a position staying with Nina. She does not ask too many questions and she accepts his explanations at face value. And anyway, with the exorbitant salary he is offering her, Emily  does not really want to know anything beyond what he has told her. Amazed at how beautiful the estate is, Emily at first just goes along with whatever Nina tells her about Aurelia. Despite her growing curiosity, she keeps her head down as she goes about her work. But Emily soon realizes not everything about Aurelia adds up. But does Emily want to jeopardize her position by giving voice to her questions?

The narration smoothly switches between Emily, Scott and occasionally Nina’s points of view. The glimpses into Scott’s life and thoughts offer intriguing details that do not exactly jibe with his successful business.  Why is he so reluctant to visit his wife and daughter? And what is driving some of his unorthodox coping mechanisms? Nina’s narration is sometimes vague yet ultimately, these revelations are quite illuminating. She is clearly troubled but, in the aftermath of tragedy, her behavior becomes even more risky as she makes impulsive choices. Emily is surprisingly insightful considering how out of control her life is. She also easily relates to some Aurelia’s reactions and before long, she is questioning exactly what is behind the young girl’s unexpected responses. Emily is also becoming very uneasy around Nina due to her strange and sometimes erratic behavior. But just as Emily is putting the pieces of the puzzle together, will it be too late for her to do anything about what she is starting to suspect?

The Safe Place is a fast-paced debut with an intriguing premise and unique characters. Emily is a likable young woman who grows from her unexpected experiences with the Denny family.   Scott and Nina’s happiness is very precarious and in the face of tragedy, their life is shattered.  With events snowballing ever out of control, will Scott’s inability to react result with another shocking decision? Anna Downes brings this clever mystery to a mostly satisfying conclusion. Fans of the genre are sure to enjoy this suspenseful domestic mystery.

Comments Off on Review: The Safe Place by Anna Downes

Filed under Anna Downes, Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Minotaur Books, Rated B, Review, Suspense, The Safe Place

· 11:57 pm

Review: How Sweet It Is by Robin Lee Hatcher

Title: How Sweet It Is by Robin Lee Hatcher
Legacy of Faith Series Book Three
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

He lost his brother. She lost her dream. Together, they might find what they’re really looking for.

Holly Stanford is doing the best she can with the restaurant she inherited from her late uncle. But after her fiancé abandons her and the business, Holly regrets having given up her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Now a few bad financial decisions might cost her everything, including her hope for the future.

Jed Henning has done well with his new company despite his prodigal brother’s behavior. When Jed‘s father, the controlling member of the board of directors, temporarily suspends operations until his sons work out their differences, Jed resentfully chases his brother, Chris, to Boise. There Jed rents a basement apartment from Holly and hopes to convince Chris to get his act together before their company collapses.

Unaware that Holly is the one person who can help him get through to Chris, Jed starts the tough work of reconciliation armed with little more than a few family photographs, a stack of old letters, and a Bible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. And as romance blossoms between Holly and Jed, the story of Jed’s great-grandfather highlights the power of God across the generations and the legacy of a family’s courageous faith.

Review:

How Sweet It Is by Robin Lee Hatcher is a heartwarming novel of love, healing and faith. Although this latest release is the third novel in the Legacy of Faith series, it can be read as a standalone. However I recommend the previous two novels for important back story.

Jed Henning  is fuming over his brother Chris’s disappearance. Jed is the owner of a gaming company but Chris is the man who creates the games. With their father pressuring him to bring Chris home, Jed discovers his brother is currently in Boise, ID. The Henning family used to live in the area and many members of Jed’s extended family still reside close by. During a visit with his cousin Ben,  Jed is surprised when Ben passes their  great-great grandfather Andrew’s Bible to him.  While going through old family letters and photos, he finds the address of his great-great grandparents first apartment in Boise.  Jed is delighted the house is still there and after meeting the current owner, Holly Stanford, he  rents the basement apartment. Will Jed find a reason to stay in Boise when he is unexpectedly drawn to his temporary landlady?

A year after her engagement ended, Holly is still struggling with trust issues. She is also exhausted as she tries to keep the restaurant her ex-fiancé talked her into opening afloat. Although the business is continuing to grow, she is finding hiring and keeping staff while running the business exhausting. Holly is also frustrated that does not have time to devote to her true love: baking.  Despite her lack of time, she teaches women from a local shelter to cook. And Holly also makes attending church a priority.

While reading through Andrew’s bible, Jed realizes that more than his relationship with Chris has suffered since opening his business. Working long hours, Jed does not make time for church or studying scripture. He enjoys getting to know his great-great grandfather through the notes he writes by Bible passages. But more importantly, Jed recommits to his faith and attends church with Ben.

In between reconnecting to his faith and family, Jed continues reaching out to Chris, but his brother remains elusive. He also gets to know Holly better and the more time they spend together, Jed is surprised by how comfortable he is with her.  Holly enjoys Jed’s company, but she is skittish and afraid to trust her own judgment. As they begin to fall for one another, will Holly be able to leave her doubts behind and take a chance on love?

With a gentle undercurrent of faith, How Sweet It Is is a hopeful journey of self discovery, family and love.  Jed and Holly are wonderfully drawn characters whose struggles are realistically depicted.  Their romance blossoms quickly but their feelings for one another ring true.  Flashbacks to Andrew and his wife Helen take place in the late-sixties and detail their poignant stage in their life’s journey. Old and new fans of  Robin Lee Hatcher’s Legacy of Faith series  are sure to enjoy this final installment of this superb series.

Comments Off on Review: How Sweet It Is by Robin Lee Hatcher

Filed under Christian, Contemporary, How Sweet It Is, Legacy of Faith Series, Rated B, Review, Robin Lee Hatcher, Romance, Thomas Nelson Publishing

July 6, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: Not Another Love Song by Olivia Wildenstein

Title: Not Another Love Song by Olivia Wildenstein
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance
Length: 329 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

An aspiring teenage singer finds herself playing a different tune when she falls for a boy who could jeopardize her future dreams in Olivia Wildenstein’s romantic YA novel, Not Another Love Song.

Angie has studied music her entire life, nurturing her talent as a singer. Now a high school senior, she has an opportunity to break into Nashville’s music scene via a songwriting competition launched by her idol, Mona Stone. Discouraged by her mother, who wishes Angie would set more realistic life goals, she nonetheless pours her heart and soul into creating a song worthy of Mona.

But Angie’s mother is the least of her concerns after she meets Reedwood High’s newest transfer student, Ten. With his endless collection of graphic tees, his infuriating attitude, smoldering good looks, and endearing little sister, Ten toys with the rhythm of Angie’s heart.

She’s never desired anything but success until Ten entered her life. Now she wants to be with him and to be a songwriter for Mona Stone, but she can’t have both.

And picking one means losing the other.

Review:

Not Another Love Song by Olivia Wildenstein is a cute young adult romance.

Angie Conrad is a high school senior who is an aspiring songwriter and singer who yearns to be just like her idol, Mona Stone.  But her mom Jade, who harbors unpleasant memories of life with Angie’s musician dad, does not want her daughter to have anything to do with the industry. So Angie has her work cut out for her when she wants to enter Mona’s songwriting contest. And after she becomes close to newcomer Ten and his younger sister Nev, will Angie have a change of heart about her aspirations?

Angie is single-minded  about her musical dreams. She and her mom are close but on this one subject, they are miles apart. Jade has given a little and Angie is working with a voice teacher on honing her singing skills.  Despite knowing Jade probably won’t let her enter the contest, Angie works hard on polishing the song she is working on.

Ten is a loner who is not at all happy about his family’s move.  When he tells Angie he hates music, she writes him off. But since they share classes, she cannot avoid him altogether. She is a bit bewildered by her growing crush on him and he adds to her confusion with his hot/cold attitude towards her. But after she becomes friends with his younger sister, Nev, she grows closer to Ten.  But will their relationship survive her plans for Mona’s competition?

Not Another Love Song is a fun young adult romance with interesting characters.  Ten and Angie are multi-faceted with relatable flaws and strengths. The secondary characters are likable but they are not as well-developed as Ten, Angie and Nev. The storyline is engaging but the romance element is very slow moving.  Olivia Wildenstein brings the novel to a sigh-worthy, heartwarming conclusion. Recommend to older teen readers.

Comments Off on Review: Not Another Love Song by Olivia Wildenstein

Filed under Contemporary, Not Another Love Song, Olivia Wildenstein, Rated B, Review, Romance, Swoon Reads, Young Adult

· 11:57 pm

Review: The Bright Lands by John Fram

Title: The Bright Lands by John Fram
Publisher: Hanover Square Press
Genre: Contemporary, LGBT, Mystery, Horror
Length: 480 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The town of Bentley holds two things dear: its football, and its secrets. But when star quarterback Dylan Whitley goes missing, an unremitting fear grips this remote corner of Texas.

Joel Whitley was shamed out of conservative Bentley ten years ago, and while he’s finally made a life for himself as a gay man in New York, his younger brother’s disappearance soon brings him back to a place he thought he’d escaped for good. Meanwhile, Sheriff’s Deputy Starsha Clark stayed in Bentley; Joel’s return brings back painful memories—not to mention questions—about her own missing brother. And in the high school hallways, Dylan’s friends begin to suspect that their classmates know far more than they’re telling the police. Together, these unlikely allies will stir up secrets their town has long tried to ignore, drawing the attention of dangerous men who will stop at nothing to see that their crimes stay buried.

But no one is quite prepared to face the darkness that’s begun to haunt their nightmares, whispering about a place long thought to be nothing but an urban legend: an empty night, a flicker of light on the horizon—The Bright Lands.

Shocking, twisty and relentlessly suspenseful, John Fram’s debut is a heart-pounding story about old secrets, modern anxieties and the price young men pay for glory.

Review:

The Bright Lands by John Fram is a small town mystery with horror elements.

Bullied and humiliated for being gay, Joel Whitley left his small hometown of Bentley, TX behind him ten years ago.  Now living in New York, he has a successful career and he enjoys all the perks of big city life. But after a series of troubling texts with his ten years younger brother Dylan, Joel returns to Bentley to find out what is going on. When Dylan vanishes, Joel will do whatever it takes to find him. He eventually teams up with Sheriff’s Deputy Starsha Clark and together they attempt to learn the truth about Dylan and ultimately, their town.

Joel is wracked with guilt that his relationship with Dylan is distant and superficial.  Which is why he vows to do better once he realizes something is wrong with his brother.  Immediately after his return to Bentley, he is plagued by unpleasant memories and exhausting, terrifying dreams. After Dylan fails to return home after a weekend away with his football buddies, Joel and his mother fear the worst.

Dylan is a star quarterback and he is revered by everyone in Bentley.  He tries to downplay his texts to Joel and goes forward with his weekend plans with his friends. In the aftermath of his disappearance, Joel  discovers disquieting information about his brother that leads to more questions than answers. But he remains committed to exposing the truth about what happened to Dylan.

After Dylan goes missing, Clark is surprised when she is assigned to work with Inspector Grady Mayfield. They begin questioning the quarterback’s circle of friends which is somewhat frustrating due to their lack of candor. As the situation worsens over the course of a week, Clark and Joel find help from very unexpected sources. And their quest for answers leads right to mysterious whisperings of the Bright Lands.  Are Joel and Clark prepared for what awaits them as their investigation takes a shocking, horror-filled  turn?

The Bright Lands is a riveting mystery with a large cast of characters and an imaginative storyline. Written from multiple points of view, the tension rises with every chapter. Exhaustion and fear are palpable as Joel, Clark and Dylan’s classmates venture deep into the surrounding  flat lands in hopes of finally uncovering the secrets that some of Bentley’s residents are keeping. With plenty of action and suspense,  John Fram brings this spine-tingling mystery to an edge of the seat, action packed conclusion. An impressive debut that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Comments Off on Review: The Bright Lands by John Fram

Filed under Contemporary, Hanover Square Press, Horror, John Fram, LGBT, Mystery, Rated B, Review, The Bright Lights

July 5, 2020 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Patient by Jasper DeWitt

Title: The Patient by Jasper DeWitt
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense, Horror, Supernatural Elements
Length: 224 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The Silent Patient by way of Stephen King: Parker, a young, overconfident psychiatrist new to his job at a mental asylum, miscalculates catastrophically when he undertakes curing a mysterious and profoundly dangerous patient.

In a series of online posts, Parker H., a young psychiatrist, chronicles the harrowing account of his time working at a dreary mental hospital in New England. Through this internet message board, Parker hopes to communicate with the world his effort to cure one bewildering patient.

We learn, as Parker did on his first day at the hospital, of the facility’s most difficult, profoundly dangerous case—a forty-year-old man who was originally admitted to the hospital at age six. This patient has no known diagnosis. His symptoms seem to evolve over time. Every person who has attempted to treat him has been driven to madness or suicide.

Desperate and fearful, the hospital’s directors keep him strictly confined and allow minimal contact with staff for their own safety, convinced that releasing him would unleash catastrophe on the outside world. Parker, brilliant and overconfident, takes it upon himself to discover what ails this mystery patient and finally cure him. But from his first encounter with the mystery patient, things spiral out of control, and, facing a possibility beyond his wildest imaginings, Parker is forced to question everything he thought he knew.

Fans of Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes and Paul Tremblay’s The Cabin at the End of the World will be riveted by Jasper DeWitt’s astonishing debut.

Review:

The Patient by Jasper DeWitt is a chilling debut.

In 2008, psychiatrist Parker H. is compelled to blog about his experiences with a patient at the Connecticut State Asylum (CSA).  Joe has been at the CSA since the early 70s when his parents brought him for treatment for his night terrors. Not only was no one able to help Joe, but he is also deemed to be a danger to the staff and other patients.  Newly hired, Parker H. is intrigued by Joe and convinces his bosses to allow him to treat him. Despite their numerous warnings and Joe’s history, will Parker end up like many of his predecessors?

Written in blog format, Parker H. describes what happens with Joe after he begins treating him. He is ill-prepared and over confident and his reaction to his new patient reflects this. Joe is seemingly affable and co-operative so Parker becomes even reckless over the few days of their encounters.  Is it possible this fresh from school psychiatrist can diagnose Joe when seasoned doctors cannot? And will anyone believe him when he discovers what is wrong with Joe?

The Patient is a fast-paced novel with supernatural elements.  Parker is a well-developed character but secondary characters are not very well fleshed out. The storyline is quite creative and intriguing. With spine-tingling twists,  Jasper DeWitt brings this suspenseful novel that an unexpected conclusion.  A clever debut that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Comments Off on Review: The Patient by Jasper DeWitt

Filed under Contemporary, Horror, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Jasper DeWitt, Rated B, Review, Supernatural Elements, Suspense, The Patient

July 1, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

Title: The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 365 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

In this thought-provoking, wise and emotionally rich novel, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the meaning of happiness, trust, and faith in oneself as she asks  the question, “If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?”

There is a book for everything . . . 

Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.

In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.

But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.

After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.

To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.

Review:

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs is a delightful novel of healing.

Natalie Harper has a career that provides her with security but not much joy.  After a tragic loss, she quits her job and moves back to San Francisco to work in the family bookshop.  Despite her grief and worry, Natalie is delighted to spend time with her beloved grandfather Andrew.  However, her joy is tempered with sorrow since his health is failing. Although concerned about the business, Natalie goes ahead with much needed repairs on the historic building and she enjoys the quiet company of contractor Peach Gallagher and his adorable daughter Dorothy. Will Natalie save the bookshop and the only home she has ever known?

After moving back home, Natalie is surprised at how happy she is to be back at the bookshop. But with the extremely precarious financial situation looming over her, she is uncertain how she will be able to keep the business afloat.  But her biggest worry is losing the building that houses both the business and their family.  Trying to keep her anxiety at bay, Natalie does everything she can to increase sales while trying to temper her frustration over how the business ended up in such a mess. At the same time, she continues to mourn her loss.

Peach is a devoted dad who will do anything for Dorothy.  He is the epitome of  “once burned, twice shy” so he ignores his growing attraction to Natalie.  As he restores the historical buildings, Peach makes a few unexpectedly valuable discoveries that might just help Natalie save her family’s legacy.

The Lost and Found Bookshop is a marvelous novel with an engaging and interesting storyline. The characters are wonderfully developed and quite appealing. The bookshop is a charming backdrop and springs vibrantly to life.  Susan Wiggs brings this heartwarming novel to a poignant yet uplifting conclusion.

Comments Off on Review: The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

Filed under Contemporary, Rated B, Review, Susan Wiggs, The Lost and Found Bookshop, William Morrow, Women's Fiction