Category Archives: Thomas Dunne Books

July 11, 2016 · 11:56 pm

Review: Baggage Check by M.J. Pullen

Title: Baggage Check by M.J. Pullen
The Marriage Pact Series Book Three
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 301 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Baggage Check is the third in a charming series about a group of thirty-somethings in Atlanta making surprising discoveries about friendship, love, and happily-ever-after.

At 35, Rebecca Williamson is surrounded by happy endings.

Her friends Suzanne and Marci are living out their own personal fairy tales in Atlanta. But despite Rebecca’s best efforts four years ago, her adorable college friend Jake Stillwell has officially slipped through her fingers and broken her heart. When Rebecca gets a frantic phone call from her mother back in Alabama, Rebecca is pulled back to the tiny town she worked so hard to leave behind and forced to face the hard truths about her family and past. A past that includes Deputy Alex Chen, who thinks of Rebecca as more than just an old friend’s kid sister. Can Rebecca navigate the chaos and get her life back to normal? Will Alex prove himself to be the friend she’s always needed? Or will she discover that the door to Jake is not as tightly closed as she thought?

M.J. Pullen returns in this final installment to the same captivating group of lovelorn friends, this time following the girl group’s frenemy, Rebecca, as she’s forced to confront her past. Raising the stakes, Pullen delivers an absorbing, romantic novel that poses the question, what if everything you were looking for was right where you started?

Review:

Baggage Check, the final installment in M.J. Pullen’s The Marriage Pact series, is a redemptive, reflective journey for Rebecca Williamson.  Readers of the series will be absolutely delighted with this insightful story of healing for this (previously) less than appealing character.

Now in her mid-thirties, Rebecca has a career she loves and friends she enjoys spending time with.  Reserved and emotionally distant, she lives a quiet, organized life that sometimes feels little lonely.  When she must return to her small home town to deal with some serious family issues, Rebecca begins to re-evaluate some of the choices she has made over the years.  She immediately reconnects with old high acquaintance Alex Chen, and while she appreciates his friendship, Rebecca does not feel like she is emotionally ready to handle a romance with the handsome deputy.

Rebecca is so closed-off and unwilling to talk about herself or her past that none of her friends really know her very well.  Although they are busy with their own lives, they offer to help her as she tries to handle the situation with her parents, but she is quick to refuse their offer.  Now forced to deal with everything she has tried so hard to forget, Rebecca continues to hold everyone at arms’ length as she tries to understand how she ended up at this point in her life.  She is definitely conflicted about Alex as they get to know one another but every time they get close, she pushes him away.  Alex is an absolute sweetheart but how many times will he let Rebecca hurt him before he walks away for good?

While Rebecca is in the midst of dealing with the crisis with her family, her friend Marci’s marriage has hit a bit of a rough patch.  Their friendship has been tense for several years due to Rebecca’s unrequited love for Marci’s husband Jake. So it comes as a huge surprise to Rebecca when Marci reaches out to her for help in dealing with her suspicions about Jake.  Although Rebecca is not exactly looking forward to meeting with Marci, their somewhat awkward conversation turns out to be opportunity to clear the air between them. But will this honest discussion have any effect on their strained friendship?

Baggage Check is an absolutely heartwarming addition to The Marriage Pact series.  Rebecca’s character is beautifully redeemed as she finally lays the ghosts of her past to rest while opening herself to the possibility of love. M.J. Pullen saved the best story for last and fans of this series will be delighted by Rebecca’s transformation in this poignant, yet uplifting, novel of healing.

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Filed under Baggage Check, Contemporary, MJ Pullen, Rated B+, Review, The Marriage Pact Series, Thomas Dunne Books

March 2, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Regrets Only by M.J. Pullen

Title: Regrets Only by M.J. Pullen
The Marriage Pact Series Book Two
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 333 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

At thirty-three, Suzanne Hamilton has no regrets. A successful event planner with a swanky condo in a hot Atlanta neighborhood, she’s got a close group of friends and a list of men a mile long who would happily bend over backwards to win her heart. Plus, she’s just landed the event that will take her career to the next level.

Then a freak accident changes everything. Humiliated, with her career in tatters, Suzanne’s lost her business not to mention her self-respect. She’s managed, however, to retain the surprising support of her newest celebrity client: the sexy country music star, Dylan Burke. Against her better judgment, but without any better offers, Suzanne agrees to plan a wedding for one of the Burke sisters. But when she comes to realize her freak accident was anything but, her catalog of past relationships turns into a list of suspects and Suzanne must question everything—her career, her friendships, and most acutely, her own dating rules.

As it turns out she might have quite a bit to regret after all.

Taking place a few years after the events of The Marriage Pact, M. J. Pullen returns to the same captivating group of lovelorn friends, this time following Suzanne as she discovers that her trusty rules no longer apply. Raising the stakes, Pullen delivers an absorbing, romantic novel that shows how someone with a “perfect life” can lose it all—and then find everything.

Review:

Regrets Only, the second installment in M.J. Pullen’s fantastic series, The Marriage Pact, is a captivating journey of self discovery for lead character, Suzanne Hamilton.

The owner of a successful event planning business, Suzanne is at the top of her career when a very public incident costs her every one of her clients except country musician Dylan Burke. Reluctantly agreeing to plan his younger sister’s wedding, Suzanne begins the painful process of regaining her career while at the same time trying to gain a better understanding of herself. Forced to take an in-depth look at her somewhat checkered dating history, Suzanne is quite introspective as she examines her motives and reasons for ending relationships so quickly. At the time, her rock solid friendship with Marci Stillwell hits a rocky patch and although hurt by Marci’s painful accusations, Suzanne grudgingly admits her friend is right about her.

While questioning pretty much everything about herself and her life up to this point, Suzanne is taken off guard by her attraction to Dylan. Focusing on their many differences, she continually backs away from anything except friendship with him. Eventually regretting her choice, she cannot see how a relationship between them would ever work since she has several reservations about his career. Her experiences with Dylan at his country home reinforce these doubts which leaves Suzanne even more doubtful of a future with him.

Suzanne and Dylan are well rounded and multi-faceted protagonists and their growth throughout the story is phenomenal. They both have flaws that are realistic and easy to relate to. Dylan is little immature at times and he sometimes makes questionable decisions, but he is a truly kindhearted, thoughtful man with a good head on his shoulders. Suzanne is initially somewhat self-absorbed but she is also quite caring and loyal. They bring out the best in each other and it is not hard to root for them a couple as they try to work through their respective issues.

Regrets Only is a charming addition to The Marriage Pact series. The storyline is fast-paced and engaging with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. The characters are quite likable with true to life strengths and weaknesses. M.J. Pullen brings the novel to a heartwarming conclusion that is realistic yet gratifying. An overall insightful and compelling story that old and new fans of the series are sure to love.

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Filed under Contemporary, MJ Pullen, No Regrets, Rated B+, Review, The Marriage Pact Series, Thomas Dunne Books, Women's Fiction

February 28, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Nowhere Girl by Susan Strecker

Title: Nowhere Girl by Susan Strecker
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In Susan Strecker’s Nowhere Girl, sixteen-year-old Savannah Martino is strangled to death in an abandoned house. The police rule Savannah’s murder a random attack of opportunity, which prompts the small New Jersey town to instigate a curfew and cancel football games. Isolated and afraid, Savannah’s sister, Cady, continues to communicate with Savannah through dreams. Cady knows Savannah in ways no one else knew: The beautiful, ethereal twin everyone thought was an angel was actually on the road to self-destruction.

Years later a chance encounter while researching her latest novel coincides with an unexpected call from the once-rookie cop on Savannah’s case, Patrick Tunney, now a detective, who tells Cady that Savannah’s case has been reopened. Through new evidence, it has been determined that Savannah’s death wasn’t a random attack and that whoever killed her sister loved her.

Despite years of interviewing convicted killers, profilers, and psychiatrists for her bestselling thrillers, Cady isn’t prepared for the revelation that someone close to her could have killed her sister. Cady is drawn into a labyrinth of deception and betrayal reaching all the way back to her childhood that will force her to find the strength she never knew she had in order to face the truth.

Review:

Nowhere Girl by Susan Strecker is a riveting mystery about the unsolved murder of bestselling novelist Cady Bernard’s twin sister, Savannah.

Sixteen years after Savannah’s murder, Cady has been unable to move past her grief, pain or guilt. Having channeled some of her emotions into a successful career as a mystery writer, she is researching her fifth novel when a series of dreams leads her to the New Jersey Penitentiary where she hopes to find information for her book and hopefully, her sister’s killer. A chance encounter with her teenage crush and former classmate Brady Irons, now a corrections officer at the prison, provides her with the connection she needs for gaining access to notorious serial killer Larry Cauchek. When local police detective Patrick Tunney contacts Cady to tell her Savannah’s case is being re-opened, she uncovers new information about her sister that she hopes will finally lead to the arrest of her killer.

Despite being identical twins, Cady and Savannah were complete opposites. Cady was (and still is) a good girl who walks the straight and narrow whereas Savannah lived life on the edge. Cady is still rather quiet, unassuming and self-conscious of her weight and despite her success as an author, she lacks self-esteem. Married to a psychologist, her marriage is suffering from a lack of communication, infertility and her husband’s extravagant spending habits. Fortunately she has a core group of friends and family to support her, but the deeper she looks into Savannah’s murder, the more suspicious Cady becomes of those closest to her.

Cady still looks at Brady with stars in her eyes and her crush on him has not waned in the intervening years since she last saw him. She is a little tongue-tied and awestruck at their first few meetings but once she focuses on her professional questions, she becomes more comfortable with him. While Brady has no problem discussing his career as a Corrections Officer and the inner workings of the prison system, he is less than forthcoming about his personal life. With her marriage on rocky ground, Cady grows closer to Brady, but is there more to their relationship than just friendship?

The reopened investigation is a bit of a slow burner since Patrick has other cases to work on in addition to Savannah’s murder. Cady is more than willing to help dig around in her sister’s past but she is sometimes reluctant to reveal what she uncovers. On the other hand, Patrick is scrupulously honest about how badly the original investigation was handled and he is completely forthcoming with his theories about what might have happened to Savannah.

Part whodunit and part character study, Nowhere Girl is an engrossing police procedural that fans of the genre do not want to miss. The plot is well-developed and the characters are engaging and multi-faceted. While some fairly heavy foreshadowing early in the story makes it rather easy to predict the truth about Savannah’s death, Susan Strecker still manages to bring the investigation to a rather surprising conclusion. All in all, a very clever mystery with a unique plot and a gutsy, likable heroine I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.

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Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Nowhere Girl, Rated B+, Review, Susan Strecker, Suspense, Thomas Dunne Books

February 7, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: Second House from the Corner by Sadeqa Johnson

Title: Second House from the Corner by Sadeqa Johnson
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Felicia Lyons, a ­­­­­­­ stressed out stay-at-home mom, struggles to sprint ahead of the demands of motherhood while her husband spends long days at the office. Felicia taps, utters mantra, and breathes her way through most situations, but on some days, like when the children won’t stop screaming her name or arguing over toy trucks and pretzel sticks, she wonders what it would be like to get in her car and drive away.

Then one evening the telephone rings, and in a split second the harried mother’s innocent fantasy becomes a hellish reality. The call pulls her back into a life she’d rather forget. Felicia hasn’t been completely honest about her upbringing, and her deception forces her return to the Philadelphia of her childhood, where she must confront the family demons and long buried secrets she thought she had left behind.

From a phenomenal fresh voice in fiction, comes the compelling story of what happens when the dream falls apart. It’s the unforgettable tale of love, loss, rediscovery, and the growing pains of marriage.

Review:

In Sadeqa Johnson’s Second House from the Corner, frazzled stay at home mom Felicia Lyons’ marriage teeters on the brink of divorce when her long buried past comes back to haunt her.

Felicia is a happily married mom of three young children but with her husband Preston working long hours, all of the child-rearing and household duties rest squarely on her shoulders. Stressed to the breaking point, she is suddenly contacted by two people from her past whose demands send her careening down a rebellious path. The unexpected phone calls from Martin Dupree, a much older man who seduced her into an illicit romance when she was a teenager, immediately awakens the same heat she felt for him all those years ago.  Trying to discover how Martin tracked her down, Felicia gets in touch with her childhood best friend Shayla Douglas which puts her right in the middle of Shayla’s boyfriend drama. Despite her best efforts to keep her past hidden, when Preston finds out about her previous relationship with Martin, he is so deeply betrayed that he refuses to listen to her explanation. With nowhere to go, Felicia naturally gravitates to her beloved Gran’s house where she tries to make sense of those long ago events and decide what comes next for her marriage and her children.

Felicia is an extremely frustrating character who makes one wrong decision after another. It is difficult to feel sympathy for her when a lot of stress could be eliminated by cutting back a little on the kids’ extracurricular activities. While understandable that she wants her children to have the best opportunities in life, it is pretty obvious that not only is she over extended but based on their behavior, so are the kids. Felicia’s growing animosity over Preston’s long hours spills over into secretive behavior as she escapes from her day to day life. And when she returns to her grandmother’s house? Oh. My. Gosh. Her decisions go from bad to worse as she reverts to old behaviors to try to forget her problems with Preston.

However, Felicia finally comes to her senses once she realizes she has let herself be taken advantage of once again. Her feelings of shame overwhelm her and she finds herself slipping into depression. She continues to hide from her problems, but there comes a point when she finally realizes that ignoring these troubling issues is not healthy nor are her painful memories going to just vanish. Help arrives in a somewhat unorthodox manner but Felicia finally finds the inner strength to confront not only her mistakes but Preston as well.

Despite feeling annoyed with some of Felicia’s choices, Second House from the Corner is a riveting read that is realistic yet entertaining. Sadeqa Johnson’s portrayal of Felicia is unflinchingly honest and she does not shy away from difficult topics. While it is a painful journey for both the reader and Felicia, it is extremely gratifying when she finally forgives herself for her mistakes and takes control of her life. The conclusion of the novel is a bit abrupt but overall, the ending is positive.

Gritty, raw and real, Second House from the Corner is an enjoyable, thought-provoking novel that I enjoyed and easily recommend to readers of women’s fiction.

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Filed under Contemporary, Rated B, Sadeqa Johnson, Second House from the Corner., Thomas Dunne Books, Women's Fiction

November 16, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Marriage Pact by M.J. Pullen

marriage pactTitle: The Marriage Pact by M.J. Pullen
The Marriage Pact Series Book One
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 305 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

This debut by M.J. Pullen launches a charming series about a group of thirty-somethings in Atlanta making surprising discoveries about friendship, love, and happily-ever-after.

Marci Thompson always knew what life would be like by her 30th birthday. A large but cozy suburban home shared with a charming husband and two brilliant children. A celebrated career as a writer, complete with mahogany shelves and a summer book tour. A life full of adventure with her friends and family by her side.

Instead, Marci lives alone in 480 square feet of converted motel space next to a punk rock band, hundreds of miles from her friends and family. She works in a temporary accounting assignment that has somehow stretched from two weeks into nine months. And the only bright spot in her life, not to mention the only sex she’s had in two years, is an illicit affair with her married boss, Doug.

Thirty is not at all what it is cracked up to be.

Then the reappearance of an old friend with whom she had made a drunken marriage pact ten years earlier opens a long-forgotten door, and the lines between right and wrong, heartache and happiness are all about to get very blurry, as Marci faces the most difficult choices of her life.

The Marriage Pact is a delightful debut that will have readers laughing, crying, and falling completely in love.

Review:

Fast-paced with a wonderful cast of characters, The Marriage Pact by M.J. Pullen is an engaging novel about friendship and love.

Marci Thompson has made a career of temp work, but her latest job has lasted much longer than her previous gigs. The other big difference on this job is her six month relationship with her married boss, Doug Stanton. Their romance is exciting and passionate but being “the other woman” is beginning to wear thin. However, Marci continues to remain hopeful Doug will finally leave his wife and fully commit to her. When her thirtieth birthday rolls around, her college friend Jake Stillwell reminds her of the pact they signed ten years earlier that if neither was married by their thirtieth birthday, they would marry each other. Marci has always loved Jake, but she is also heavily invested in her illicit romance with Doug which makes it very difficult for her to know which man she should choose.

Despite being a bit self-absorbed, Marci is a likable and mostly sympathetic character. She is ashamed of her affair and despite knowing she should end their relationship, she lacks the willpower to make a clean break from him. She has a long history of avoiding conflict and her knee-jerk reaction when things go wrong is to run away. A snap decision brings positive changes for her life, but it is not until she is on the verge of losing what she holds most dear that Marci reflects on what she truly wants.

The supporting cast of characters is well-developed and for the most part, likable. Suzanne is Marci’s best friend and she provides her with unconditional support. Jake is very sweet and just like Suzanne, he is willing to drop everything to help Marci when she needs assistance. Rebecca is the least appealing of the friends since she is more concerned with pursuing her own agenda than supporting Marci when everything begins to fall apart.

The Marriage Pact by M.J. Pullen is a charming novel with a realistic storyline. The characters are multi-faceted with true to life flaws and imperfections. An entertaining read that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in The Marriage Pact series.

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Filed under Blog Tour, Contemporary, MJ Pullen, Review, The Marriage Pact, The Marriage Pact Series, Thomas Dunne Books, Women's Fiction

October 20, 2014 · 11:59 pm

Tour Stop & Review: Sleep In Peace Tonight by James MacManus

peace tonightTitle: Sleep In Peace Tonight by James MacManus
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Genre: Historical, Fiction
Length: 369 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

It’s January 1941, and the Blitz is devastating England. Food supplies are low, Tube stations in London have become bomb shelters, and U-boats have hampered any hope of easy victory. Though the United States maintains its isolationist position, Churchill knows that England is finished without the aid of its powerful ally.

Harry Hopkins, President Roosevelt’s most trusted adviser, is sent to London as his emissary, and there he falls under the spell of Churchill’s commanding rhetoric—and legendary drinking habits. As he experiences life in a country under attack, Hopkins questions the United States’ silence in the war. But back home FDR is paranoid about the isolationist lobby, and even Hopkins is having trouble convincing him to support the war.

As Hopkins grapples with his mission and personal loyalties, he also revels in secret clubs with newsman Edward R. Murrow and has an affair with his younger driver. Except Hopkins doesn’t know that his driver is a British intelligence agent. She craves wartime action and will go to any lengths to prove she should be on the front line. This is London under fire, and it’s only when the night descends and the bombs fall that people’s inner darkness comes to light.

In Sleep in Peace Tonight, a tale of courage, loyalty, and love, and the sacrifices one will make in the name of each, James MacManus brings to life not only Blitz-era London and the tortuous politics of the White House but also the poignant characters and personalities that shaped the course of world history.

The Review:

In Sleep In Peace Tonight, James MacManus skillfully weaves fact with fiction and the resulting story is a fascinating novel set during World War II. Beginning in January 1941, the story is rich in historical details as US envoy Harry Hopkins travels to Britain to assess the war torn country’s ability to continue fighting the Germans in the early years of World War II. It is an intriguing and insightful view into a little known period of history that provides readers with a better understanding of why the US was so reluctant to enter the war.

Harry Hopkins is not an elected official but he is President Franklin Roosevelt’s most trusted advisor. With mounting pressure from Churchill for the US to offer more assistance than the much beleaguered Lend-Lease program, Harry is sent to Britain in an effort to smooth over the strained relations between the two countries. Hopkins’ time in Britain is full of meetings with Churchill and his staff but he also witnesses first-hand the devastating effects of the relentless Blitz attacks and heartbreaking destruction in the wake of the bombings.

Interspersed with these factual events is Harry’s relationship with Leonora Finch, the driver assigned to him during his stay in Britain. While both the character of Leonora and their subsequent romance are fictional, this part of the storyline serves to highlight the changing roles of women in war and the evolution of British intelligence, the Resistance and their effort to cripple the Nazis in the surrounding countries.

While Sleep in Peace Tonight is always interesting, the novel is a little slow paced and repetitive in the beginning. The story is told from several different perspectives and some of these shifts are a bit confusing at times. The characterization of the key players is superb and each of them are vibrantly depicted. What makes the story truly amazing is watching Harry Hopkins skillfully and diplomatically work with both Churchill and Roosevelt and maintain peace between the US and Britain. Equally captivating is the gradual shift in Hopkins’ personal opinion on US involvement in the war.

Sleep in Peace Tonight is a riveting World War II novel that is very unique and infinitely intriguing. James MacManus brings both the story and its characters vividly to life. Anyone who is interested in history would benefit from reading this incredibly well-researched and captivating novel.

Author Bio

JAMES MACMANUS is the managing director of The Times Literary Supplement. He is the author of Ocean Devil, which was made into a film starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers. His other novels include The Language of the Sea and Black Venus. www.jamesmacmanus.com

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Filed under Historical (40s), James MacManus, Rated B, Review, Sleep In Peace, Thomas Dunne Books