How’s your reading time this week? Family back to work or school so you have some time? Or, are you too busy?
I’ve been busy enough that I seem to fall asleep early in the evening, which cuts into my reading time. I’m reading a February release. Watch for Lori Rader-Day’s The Lucky One. I’m just over halfway through it, which means there will be probably a half dozen more twists to it because Rader-Day just does that. Here’s the annotation of the book (not mine).
From the author of the Edgar Award®-nominated Under A Dark Sky comes an unforgettable, chilling novel about a young woman who recognizes the man who kidnapped her as a child, setting off a search for justice, and into danger.
Most people who go missing are never found. But Alice was the lucky one…
As a child, Alice was stolen from her backyard in a tiny Indiana community, but against the odds, her policeman father tracked her down within twenty-four hours and rescued her from harm. In the aftermath of the crime, her family decided to move to Chicago and close the door on that horrible day.
Yet Alice hasn’t forgotten. She devotes her spare time volunteering for a website called The Doe Pages scrolling through pages upon pages of unidentified people, searching for clues that could help reunite families with their missing loved ones. When a face appears on Alice’s screen that she recognizes, she’s stunned to realize it’s the same man who kidnapped her decades ago. The post is deleted as quickly as it appeared, leaving Alice with more questions than answers.
Embarking on a search for the truth, she enlists the help of friends from The Doe Pages to connect the dots and find her kidnapper before he hurts someone else. Then Alice crosses paths with Merrily Cruz, another woman who’s been hunting for answers of her own. Together, they begin to unravel a dark, painful web of lies that will change what they thought they knew—and could cost them everything.
Twisting and compulsively readable, The Lucky One explores the lies we tell ourselves to feel safe.
*****
So, what are you reading this week? We’d love to know.
Currently reading: BLIND SEARCH, second in Paula Munier's Vermont-set K-9 series about Mercy Carr. I liked the first one a lot, and so far this looks just as good. Her fiance was killed and she was wounded in Afghanistan, and she has his former bomb-sniffing dog Elvis. Also THE CHRISTMAS CARD CRIME and Other Stories, the latest collection of British Library Crime Classics edited by Martin Edwards. Just started that one yesterday. Authors include Baroness Orczy, John Dickson Carr, Cyril Hare, and Julian Symons. And third is Tim Parks, WHERE I'M READING FROM: The Changing World of Books. I haven't read enough in this one to talk about it yet. And I'm near finishing up what I think is the last O. Henry collection I have.
This past week I read NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS by Allen Eskens, which we've discussed before. It's funny that I don't have a clear memory of Boady Sanden as an adult in a previous book, but won't soon forget him as a 15 year old in this one. Very good.
Next was a very fast read, BREACH by W. L. Goodwater. It sounds like fantasy – magic is real! – but is more of a spy story too. Seems that as World War II ended, Russian magicians threw up the Berlin Wall to keep East Germans in and others out. Now 10 years later there is a breach in the wall and it seems to be growing. Young magician Karen O'Neill is sent from the U.S. Office of Magical Research (shades of Harry Potter!) to assess the situation and see if she can help, and boy, does she grow as the book progresses. I rushed through the last 250 pages in half a day and I have the sequel, REVOLUTION (with Karen in Cuba) on reserve. If this sounds remotely interesting to you, I recommend it highly.
Last was FROM SEA TO STORMY SEA: 17 Stories Inspired by Great American Paintings, the latest anthology from Lawrence Block, and a very good one. There are no dud stories here and a bunch of very good ones, with authors like Patricia Abbott, Charles Ardai, John Sandford, and Block himself delivering first rate work.
I read CHOCOLATE SHARK SHENANAGINS by JoAnna Carl, the latest in her chocolate shop series. I always enjoy these.
DEATH AND THE REDHEADED WOMAN by Loretta Ross. An ex-marine with physical problems teams up with an auctioneer to hunt for missing jewels.
I’m currently reading RUNNING WITH SHERMAN by Christopher McDougall. It’s about a man who’s trying to train a rescue donkey to run a cross country race. It digresses from the main story a lot but most of the side stories are interesting.
Jeff, This week, everything you've read sounds interesting. I may have to look for Breach, but for some reason, I have no interest in Cuba. Now, I have to look up Where I'm Reading From, though.
Oh, I like the sound of Running with Sherman, Sandy. It sounds like it might be fun at times.
Not much time for reading this week with the aftermath of family leaving and falling asleep early like you Lesa.
I did finish THE WESTING GAME. What a clever story. I had to think about it a little after I finished it.
Now I am reading THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF January by Alix E. Harrow. It is very good.
Happy Reading!
Good morning ~~
I am reading Unseen by Jack Graham ~~ One I got from the library
Enjoy your day. Trust there is time for reading during this busy Christmas season.
Thanksgiving just wore us out, Sharon! I've heard good things about The Ten Thousand Doors of January. Read The Westing Game so many years ago that I can't remember much about it.
Charlotte! Your library has reopened! That's so great. Oh, I'll make time for reading, if I don't fall asleep. (smile)
Lots to mention after a Thanksgiving weekend away with my family. And several are books that Lesa has already reviewed so beautifully.
I haven't read all of Deborah Crombie's books, so I don't know all of the backstory for Gemma and Duncan and their family, but I still enjoyed A BITTER FEAST. The married detectives are staying with their children in a colleague's wealthy parents' mansion in the Cotswolds when several murders occur surrounding the chef of a local restaurant. Duncan is injured in a deadly accident, but he still manages to play a role in the investigation. The mystery is complex, and the characters are interesting.
As Lesa has indicated, THE BROMANCE BOOK CLUB, isn't a light romp–it's a serious attempt by a devastated husband to reclaim his marriage and his family before it's too late. But the book club aspect is unexpected in this type of romance, and it was fun reading the "book within a book," as well as rooting for Gavin and Thea to hold on to what attracted them in the first place.
In THE HOTEL NEVERSINK by Adam O'Fallon Price, the Sikorsky family owns the Neversink resort in the Catskills, which has faded considerably since a young boy staying there disappeared, and further disappearances of children followed in the surrounding town. The story of the hotel, and the family, is told in alternating chapters narrated by no fewer than 11 people spanning a 62-year period. An interesting idea, with a few whodunit elements here and there, especially at the end–but I didn't find it particularly engaging.
In the fifth Maggie McDonald Mystery by Mary Feliz–CLIFF HANGER–professional organizer Maggie has accepted a job in a California beach town which comes with a condo where she and her teenage sons (and her husband, a visitor on weekends from their home in Silicon Valley) can enjoy water sports and the breathtaking scenery of Monterey Bay. But when her sons witness the crash of an ultralight aircraft and the pilot doesn't survive, they are all embroiled in the mystery of how this could have happened to such a careful, responsible young man and whether it wasn't really an accident. Even though Maggie's job tends to take a back seat in all but the original book in the series, each chapter is headed by an interesting excerpt from the "Notebook of Maggie McDonald Simplicity Itself Organizing Services." It's a fun series, with local color from an author who lives in the area and writes about the venue from experience.
I continue to enjoy Bree Baker's series about Everly Swan, proprietor of Sun, Sand and Tea in beachside Charm, NC. In NO GOOD TEA GOES UNPUNISHED, Everly's friend Judy has returned to town for her wedding to Craig, an entrepreneur, but Craig turns up dead shortly after the wedding, leaving Judy to inherit his fortune and business. Naturally, there are several people who would benefit from his death, and Everly aims to help her almost-boyfriend, detective Grady, find the culprit. What I particularly like about this series is the setting and the breezy style of writing.
I couldn't possibly write a better review of NOTHING MORE DANGEROUS than Lesa has already done, and several of you have already read it. I will just say that it is a book that is often difficult to read because of the racism and violence, but it is ultimately uplifting and worth your time.
I'm almost finished reading VOICE LESSONS by Cara Mentzel. It's a charming memoir of two sisters, the older of whom is Broadway and "Let it Go" sensation Idina Menzel, whom I was lucky to see in a musical in San Francisco (her voice is thrilling). A quick read and very satisfying for Menzel fans and those who have sisters (wish I did).
It's a crazy busy week at work – fiscal year end is November 30th for me. But I still managed to finish On Borrowed Time by Jenn McKinlay last night. It was excellent.
Today, I'll be starting Wolves of Christmas by Sandy Dengler. It's the latest in a series set in Phoenix from an author I've enjoyed for years. I'm two chapters in, and so far she is throwing everything she can at the characters.
I've read some very good books!
The Queen of Paris A Novel of Coco Chanel by Pamela Binnings Ewen (ARC)
The Place We Call Home by Faith Hogan (ARC)
Christmas in Paris by Anita Hughes
The Girls Weekend by Jody Gehrman (ARC)
Bitter Falls by Rachel Caine (ARC)
House on Fire by Joseph Finder (ARC)
I also, unfortunately, tried a few that I had high hopes for and were highly recommended, but were not my cup of tea. I won't mention those because just because they weren't for me, others will love them.
Today, after getting several things done around the house, I'm going to start a new one – another ARC. This Whispers of War by Julia Kelly.
Margie, I like Bree Baker's books, too. I know I'm one book behind, but I'll catch up sooner or later. I'm so glad you like Nothing More Dangerous, A Bitter Feast, and The Bromance Book Club. I'll be interested to read the sequel to Bromance. I suspect the sister and that playboy man-about-town may be the next characters, but I don't know.
Mark, I just really enjoy Jenn McKinlay's books and characters. Fun characters.
Kaye, I knew Christmas in Paris sounded familiar. I went back and read my review from 2016. Isabel disappointed me, and all the name brands. But, Paris at Christmas! Can you imagine? And, I'd like to see Dublin at that time of year sometime, too.
I read:
The Searcher by C Wayne Winkle; A gunfighter and his Apache wife look for his father all over the west. Like a 60's TV western.
The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino; The cover blurb calls it the Japanese version of Stieg Larsson, but not even close. For one thing, there are no mutant nazis. It's really an old fashioned Amateur Sleuth novel set in modern Japan.
The Kill Clause by Gregg Hurwitz; The usual stuff about police forming a death squad. Just watch Magnum Force. Dirty Harry does it better.
I've seen Magnum Force, Glen. Guess I don't need to read The Kill Clause.
Now that I have added some of the above mentioned books to my library list I will tell you that I am reading A woman of no importance : the untold story of the American spy who helped win World War II by Sonia Purnell. and a reread of Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts.
I'm enjoying The Woman in the Camphor Trunk by Jennifer Kincheloe. It's the second book in her very charming Anna Blanc mystery series.
I won a cozy and am loving it so far, Christmas Cowbells by Mollie Cox Bryan. Also, for humor that sometimes misfires, Get A Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert. When I am about ready to give up something is funny,
On my zillionith cold this year. Have six more books to read for GoodReads Goal for 2o19. Will I make it or not?
I was reading Criss Cross by James Patterson in print but have switched over to audio. Not sure what I'll pick up next. Maybe Kopp Sisters on the March by Amy Stewart. Got halfway done, had to turn it back in at the library and just got it once again.
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