MariReads

2018-04-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

THE NEW NEIGHBORS by Simon Lelic

(Berkley Trade Paperback; April 10, 2018; $16.00)

The Girl Before meets The Couple Next Door in an utterly satisfying Hitchcockian story about a couple who moves into their dream neighborhood only to discover nothing is as it seems...

The perfect couple. The perfect house. The perfect crime.

Londoners Jack and Syd found their dream home: lots of space, a great location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it.

Everything is exactly what they hoped for when they move in—except Jack makes a disturbing discovery in the attic, and Syd begins to wonder about the girl next door. And they each keep the other in the dark.

A mistake.

Because someone has just been killed outside their back door, and now the police are watching them.

This is their chance to prove they're innocent—or to get away with murder.

Whose story do you believe?

REVIEW

I got the opportunity to read this book ahead of its publication date thanks to Berkeley Press.

This was a good thriller. It started off with weird things happening in this couples new house, that I was sure it was going to be a ghost story. It was creepy and suspenseful. The telling by both characters separately added to the suspense.

I was hooked early and was eager to read in until finished and had learned what was really going on. There is a bit of a twist at the end, that I won’t mention, but it did surprise me.

If you like suspense with a some twisted family drama thrown in, you will enjoy this one by Lelic.

Happy Reading!

Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh

2018-03-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

The next pulse-pounding psychological thriller from the #1 international and New York Times bestselling author and “master of surprises” (Washington Post)

Praise for I SEE YOU and I LET YOU GO:

“An intense psychological thriller…[that] revels in surprises and twists…outstanding.”—The Associated Press

“Genuinely shocking…[a] cunning psychological thriller.”—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review

"A deliciously creepy tale of urban paranoia." — Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin 10

Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh

Berkeley Hardcover; March 13, 2018

Source: Received for review from publisher through NetGalley

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Last year, Tom and Caroline Johnson chose to end their lives, one seemingly unable to live without the other. Their daughter, Anna, is struggling to come to terms with her parents' deaths, unwilling to accept the verdict of suicide. Now with a baby herself, Anna feels her mother's absence keenly and is determined to find out what really happened to her parents. But as she digs up the past, someone is trying to stop her.

Sometimes it's safer to let things lie....

MY REVIEW:

This was an interesting story. The premise was very different than books I had read before. A mom and dad, within a year, both commit suicide and leave their daughter confused and heartbroken over why they would do such a thing. I wasn't surprised to learn there was more to these suicides, but the way the reality is even harder to grasp.

I thought I knew where the story was going from the beginning, I thought I knew the twist. I did, sort of, but still ended up surprised with where the story went. There were a few twists and turns that threw me off and kept me reading to the end. This review is very vague. I know. Too much info will ruin it, though. Sorry.

I read I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh awhile back and absolutely loved it. I was thrilled to get a chance to read Let Me Lie. I wouldn't say it was as good, but it didn't disappoint. I am a sucker for a good mystery/thriller and this definitely delivered. I missed reading I See You, but will be sure to grab myself a copy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Clare Mackintosh spent twelve years in the police force, including time on CID, and as a public order commander. She left the police in 2011 to work as a freelance journalist and social media consultant now writes full time. She lives in North Wales with her husband and their three children.

Clare's debut novel, I Let You Go, is a Sunday Times bestseller and was the fastest-selling title by a new crime writer in 2015. It was selected for both the Richard and Judy Book Club, and was the winning title of the readers' vote for the summer 2015 selection, and ITV's Loose Women's Loose Books. Her second novel, I See You, is a number 1 Sunday Times bestseller, and a Richard and Judy Book Club pick. Clare's books are translated into more than 30 languages.

Clare is the patron of the Silver Star Society, an Oxford-based charity which supports the work carried out in the John Radcliffe Hospital's Silver Star unit, providing special care for mothers with medical complications during pregnancy.

Happy Reading!

Current Read: The Power by Naomi Alderman

2018-03-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

Currently reading The Power for book group. Really enjoying it. Have you read it?
Happy Reading!

Review: The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley

2018-01-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley

ABOUT:

CeCe D’Aplièse has always felt like an outcast. But following the death of her father—the reclusive billionaire affectionately called Pa Salt by the six daughters he adopted from around the globe—she finds herself more alone than ever. With nothing left to lose, CeCe gathers the courage to explore the mystery of her origins. The only clues she holds are a black and white photograph and the name of a female pioneer who once lived in Australia.

One hundred years earlier, Kitty McBride, a Scottish clergyman's daughter, abandons her conservative upbringing to serve as the companion to a wealthy woman traveling from Edinburgh to Adelaide. Her ticket to a new land brings the adventure she has dreamed of… and a love that she never imagined.

When CeCe herself finally reaches the searing heat and dusty plains of the Red Centre of Australia, something deep within her responds to the energy of the area and the ancient culture of the Aboriginal people. As she comes closer to finding the truth of her ancestry, CeCe begins to believe that this untamed, vast continent could offer her something she never thought possible: a sense of belonging, and a home…

REVIEW :

I absolutely love this series.

I have been reading it since the first book came out. I think it is such an interesting concept. The mystery of the sisters' origins and their Pa Salt is just intriguing. Always happy to read anything by Lucinda Riley when I am in the mood for good historical fiction.

The Pearl Sister continues to shed light on the sisters and their adoptive father. More information is leaked to the reader and an understanding of who CeCe is is achieved. She was hard to figure out in the previous books, with the little info on her and her demeanor towards her sisters. After reading this one, I completely understand why she has been portrayed the way she has. I was left a little confused with her time spent Thailand and how it had to do with her story, however. Her time with Ace didn't feel necessary. I enjoyed reading more of her time in Australia and about the people she meets there.

One thing I really enjoyed is how the sisters' "origin stories" and how they are linked to historical figures. In this case, I had no knowledge of Kitty McBride. I am lacking in Australian history, but enjoyed learning about her and her life in the outback. I did a little research on Google to learn more, as well.

I cannot wait for the next installment. Still have a few more sisters to learn about!

Praise for The Shadow Sister

“Lucinda Riley is one of the strongest authors in this genre of historical fiction. Her ability to weave stories together, using modern-day and historical settings, is top-notch… excellent detail, heart-wrenching romance, and an engaging mystery.”

– Historical Novel Society

“Riley’s engaging and mesmerizing story of self-discovery and love, while making the complex tale of the Seven Sisters sufficiently clear, can be perfectly read as a stand-alone… This book will appeal to readers of Edwardian novels and Jane Austen-style fiction. Fans of the series will undoubtedly be pleased with this latest installment in the ‘Seven Sisters’ saga.”

– Library Journal (Starred Review)

“Set in the bucolic English countryside, this will appeal to fans of Kristin Hannah, Kate Morton, and Riley’s earlier novels.”

– Booklist

“Engaging… the stakes heighten as Star discovers her true heritage and destiny. Another pleasant jaunt down a genealogical rabbit hole.”

– Kirkus Reviews

“I’ve loved the Seven Sisters series from the start and this is my favorite so far. Riley’s trademark lavish detail, glamorous settings and wonderful characters are all present in this treat of a novel. The perfect curl-up-in-an-armchair read.”

– Daily Mail (UK)

“The Shadow Sister really is Lucinda’s best yet. The scope of this series is breathtaking and each book is more captivating than the last.”

– Iona Grey, author of Letters to the Lost

“Wonderful! Absolutely impossible to put down! The Seven Sisters books just keep getting better and better.”

– Tracy Rees, author of Amy Snow

“A deliciously twisting plot with clues cleverly paced along the way. I could hardly wait to solve the mystery of Star's origins. Thoroughly addictive storytelling with a moving, emotional heart.”

– Dinah Jefferies, author of The Tea Planter’s Wife

Praise for The Storm Sister

“The second installment of Riley’s sweeping series doesn’t disappoint, jumping from present-day Europe to nineteenth-century Norway and back again. Riley’s talent for blending current events with detailed backstories will intrigue historical-fiction readers, while fans of Kristin Hannah and Paulette Giles will appreciate the engrossing and introspective story of belonging, heartache, and acceptance.”

– Booklist

“This is the second in a series about glamorous adopted sisters brought up in a castle on Lake Geneva.… A great page-turner, full of drama and romance.”

– Daily Mail (UK)

TELEVISION SERIES

The Seven Sisters series has been optioned to be adapted for television by Raffaella de Laurentiis’s company Raffaella Productions. Daughter of legendary filmmaker Dino de Laurentiis, Raffaella has worked as a producer and studio executive in film and television for decades, including well-known projects such as Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Forbidden Kingdom starring Jackie Chan, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and Dragonheart and its sequels.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lucinda Riley is the #1 internationally bestselling author of sixteen novels, including Hothouse Flower and The Seven Sisters. Her books have sold more than ten million copies in over 30 languages. Lucinda divides her time between West Cork, Ireland, and Norfolk, England with her husband and four children. Visit her at LucindaRiley.com.

THE PEARL SISTER: Book Four by Lucinda Riley

Atria Hardcover | ISBN: 9781501180033 | On sale: January 23, 2018 | 528 pages | $27.00

eBook: Atria | ISBN: 9781501180057 | On sale: January 23, 2018 | 528 pages | $12.99

FIND LUCINDA RILEY ONLINE:

Website: http://www.lucindariley.com

Twitter: @lucindariley

Facebook: @Lucindarileyauthor

ORDER:

Happy Reading!

Happy New Year!

2018-01-11T20:16:00.005-08:00

Starting off the year with a recap of all the books I read in 2017. Not bad, but hoping to read more in 2018.

January

1. Secondhand Souls by Christopher Moore

2. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah a

February

3. Because We Are by Ted Oswald

4. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bordain

5. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

March

6. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

7. Bones Never Lie by Kathy Reichs

8. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

9. All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

April

10. The Lost Boy by Camilla Lackberg

11. The Circle by Dave Eggers

12. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

May

13. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

14. Save Me by Kristyn Kusek Lewis

15. How to Knit a Love Song by Rachael Herron

16. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

17. Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

June

18. The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

19. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

20. LaRose by Louise Erdich

July

21. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

22. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

23. The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

24. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

August

25. The Fifth Gospel by Ian Caldwell

26. Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld

September

27. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

28. The X Files: Cold Cases by Joe Harris

October

29. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

November

30. Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King

31. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

32. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

33. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

34. The October Country by Ray Bradbury

35. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

December

36. The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley

37. Uprooted by Naomi Novik

38. The Secret Garden: Tie-in Edition (audio) by Frances Hodgson Burnett

39. The Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley

Happy Reading!

Quick Audio Review: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

2017-12-30T13:44:00.000-08:00

The Secret Garden: Tie-In Edition by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Would have given this a five, but it was an abridged version of the book. I didn’t realize it when I purchased in on Audible. It was good at keeping my daughter’s interest. She loved the story. Helena Bonham Carter is the perfect narrator for this classic. It is one of my absolute favorite books.
Will look forward to reading the unabridged version to her another time.

Happy Reading!

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

2017-12-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

November 18th we celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. It’s hard to believe it has been seventeen years! Doesn’t seem that long. We celebrated with a stay in Big Sur. One of our favorite places to relax and recharge.

I especially enjoyed sitting outside amongst the redwoods by the fire pit reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It’s hard not to appreciate how lucky we are to be able to do this.

Anyway, The Goldfinch. I grabbed this book at my brother in law’s this summer when I finished the book I had brought with me to Maine. I started it then and had been reading it off and on for four months. I have had to put it down multiple times to read book group reads, but I kept coming back to it. It’s one of those books that you can put down and pick up weeks later and it’s like you never left.

This book really had everything I love in a story. Well developed characters, a little history (in this case art history), rich language and and story that keeps me interested. I really enjoyed this one.

Happy Reading!

I'm Back!

2017-11-30T10:17:00.000-08:00

It's been almost a year since the last time I posted anything here. It's been a busy year. So busy, that I forgot to post that last one.
Our house has been under construction, the girl finished kindergarten and is now a big First grader. I am semi-working at the co-op preschool the girl and I attended. We are patiently waiting to get back into our house.
There has been lots of driving, shuttling the girl to and from school and to after school activities. We are sharing a house with four other adults and a 2 year old. It makes for little time and little motivation to find a quiet place to sit down and write.
Anyway, I am still reading. Maybe not as prolifically as I once did, but still a respectable amount. I have missed sharing my thoughts about the books I read, though. So I am going to try and get back to it. May be a little slow winding my groove again, but am going to try. I will also mix in my other current activities and hobbies as I have in the past.
We'll see how it goes.

Happy Reading!

Happy New Year!

2017-11-30T10:09:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I haven't posted anything in so long. December was a busy month, though. It has been pretty crazy. We moved out of our house in anticipation of a big reno. We are now 10 miles from school, so there is much more commuting being done than usual. We were also busy with the holidays and travel. Anyway, I am still here. Reading. Knitting. Surviving. :) I will get back to it here at some point...maybe.
(oops. Looks like I forgot to post this back in January)
Happy Reading!

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

2016-12-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz
Hardcover, 304 pages Published November 2016, Berkeley
About the Book
When Charlotte's step-sister goes missing and the women in her investment club start dying, Charlotte joins forces with a private investigator to find answers. Max and Charlotte discover that the investment club is just a front for the women and their activities to right wrongs done against them and other women.
It looks like someone has discovered them and are now being hunted and killed but who can it be?
A good mystery and a bit of romance, When All the Girls Have Gone was an entertaining read. I enjoyed the suspense, the twist and turns. The romance was believable... A bit quick, but believable. I look forward to reading another book by Krentz. This was the first book of hers I have read but won't be my last.
I also really love the look of this cover. Don't you?
About the Author

The author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.

She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.

Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.

Happy Reading!

Book Club Reads in 2016

2016-11-29T14:03:00.001-08:00

This year's Book Group reads have run the gamut from Sci Fi to classics to popular fiction. We have read it all. Here's a list of all our books this year.
Dead Mountain by Donnie Eichar (Interesting read) Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell (slow, but great imagery of the horrors in war) The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (my favorite) The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi (scary look at our future) The Best of Connie Willis by Connie Willis (did not read) Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson (enjoyed this non-fiction) The Dinner by Herman Koch (disturbing, unlikeable characters, good) Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks (dnf) A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore (currently reading)

Happy Reading!

Current Read: When All the Girls Have Gone by Jane Ann Krentz

2016-11-17T10:42:00.001-08:00

Jayne Ann Krentz, the New York Times bestselling author of Secret Sisters, delivers a thrilling novel of the deceptions we hide behind, the passions we surrender to, and the lengths we’ll go to for the truth...

Look for my review on December 1st.
Happy Reading!

Current Read: Doctor Sleep

2016-10-30T15:27:00.001-07:00

I have been reading some Stephen King this month. Perfect for Halloween. It has been a busy month with school volunteering, and the house remodel, though, so my reading time has been a bit limited. So this book will be going into November. Really enjoying it.

Happy Reading!

Happy Halloween!!!

2016-10-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

Halloween has been influencing my lettering practice this month. Hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!

Current Read: Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith

2016-10-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

Enjoying this third book in the series. Another quick read and fun, interesting mystery.
Happy Reading!

The Vanishing Year by Kate Moretti

2016-09-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Vanishing Year by Kate Moretti 304 pages, paperback Published September 2016, Atria Books Source: Provided by publisher for review via NetGalley.
I could not put this book down. Once I started I wanted to get to the end right away.
Zoe has just gotten married to a rich widower and has left her old life behind. No longer scraping to make ends meet, Zoe is now showered with gifts and fine clothes and is heading charity events. It is around this time that her past starts to catch up to her. Her apartment gets broken into, she is almost hit by a car. Could the men that she testified against in her previous life have found her?
Lots of suspense, and many possibilities...this book kept me interested throughout and had me yelling at Zoe to smarten up a bit. It is amazing how quickly she went from the luckiest girl to the least. Should she have seen this coming?
About the Author

Kate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.

She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.

Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.

Happy Reading!

Cover Reveal: Renegade Red

2016-09-23T13:05:00.001-07:00

*Want to look closer? Check out the large-size cover graphics at the end of this post.

RENEGADE RED REVEALED!

RENEGADE RED, the sequel to the award-winning novel SHATTERED BLUE will be available in THREE special edition covers, in both Hardcover and Paperback, in March 2017! Distribution from online sites and into bookstores will be random, so you have a chance to collect them all— the POET EDITION, the WARRIOR EDITION, and the very exclusive TRAVELER EDITION. Happy hunting, and learn more at LaurenBirdHorowitz.com!

Featured in USA TODAY!

http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/2016/09/22/renegade-red-covers-reveal-lauren-bird-horowitz/

Join Lauren and Zoe Cope, the designer of all three covers, for a live Twitter chat at 10am PST/1pm EST Thursday 9/22

https://twitter.com/birdaileen

Reckless, desperate, and distraught, Noa Sullivan leaps into a collapsing Portal in the explosive finale of Shattered Blue— the jaw-dropping, award-winning first installment in The Light Trilogy— in wild hope of rescuing her little sister Sasha. Now Noa and the Fae brothers who love her—Callum and Judah Forsythe—must find a way to survive not only across worlds but between them, in places so treacherous and deceptive their own minds are twisted against them. As the three fight to survive their passage, they battle not only enemies but themselves, and their darkest, most difficult secrets.

Surviving, however, is only the beginning: Noa needs to find Sasha. That means becoming a warrior herself, one just as fierce as the magical brothers battling for her love. Across broken cities, underground labyrinths, rushing floods and endless skies; in the face of legions of armies, horrifying tyrants, and the most deceitful of friends, can Mortal Noa rescue her sister—and understand her own heart—in time to escape the most deadly of magic realms?

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26136468-renegade-red

Request an ARC now:

http://laurenbirdhorowitz.com/arc-request/

Silver Medalist

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING BOOK AWARDS BEST YOUNG ADULT FICTION

Finalist

USA BOOK AWARD BEST NEW FICTION 2015

USA BOOK AWARD BEST FANTASY 2015

INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD BEST FANTASY 2015

NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARD BEST YOUNG ADULT FICTION 2015

"Must-read romances of 2015… I guarantee you'll be hooked and anxiously awaiting the next book in the series”

–USA TODAY

“Anyone who’s ever fantasized about kissing a Fae will enjoy Noa and Callum’s first sexy kiss...Romantic sparks ignite...fast-moving...hip...lyrically concise”

- Kirkus Reviews

"A fantastical tale of love and betrayal...colorful world-building...more than enough emotion and angst to keep any romance-loving teenager glued to the pages, and the promise of a trilogy will keep them eagerly anticipating the next book...VERDICT Librarians with a large fantasy readership should invest in the print version of this title.” - School Library Journal

“A book to fall for”

–BUZZFEED

“Not your average fairy tale… will have you clamoring for more of a story that you didn’t see coming…new and surprising."

–HYPABLE

“Magic, action and a really, really attractive love interest… what more could you want?"

–GLITTER MAGAZINE

“A love story you won't soon forget… A story of of protection sacrifice and love"

–SHE KNOWS.COM

A "Book To Lean On When The Going Gets Tough"

–BUSTLE

A "Book for All Ages"

–MARIA SHRIVER.COM

Blog:

http://laurenbirdhorowitz.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Lauren-Birdaileen-Horowitz-510367105794154/?fref=nf

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/birdaileen

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/birdaileen/

http://laurenbirdhorowitz.com/light-letter-signup/

For Noa and Callum, being together is dangerous, even deadly. From the start, sixteen-year-old Noa senses that the mysterious transfer student to her Monterey boarding school is different. Callum unnerves and intrigues her, and even as she struggles through family tragedy, she’s irresistibly drawn to him. Soon they are bound by his deepest secret: Callum is Fae, banished from another world after a loss hauntingly similar to her own.

But in Noa’s world, Callum needs a special human energy, Light, to survive; his body steals it through touch—or a kiss. And Callum’s not the only Fae on the hunt. When Callum is taken, Noa must decide: Will she sacrifice everything to save him? Even if it means learning their love may not be what she thought?

Amazon:

http://amzn.to/1Ln5dMe

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shattered-blue-lauren-bird-horowitz/1122473000?ean=9781503949973

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25953603-shattered-blue?ac=1&from_search=1

Lauren Bird Horowitz, screenwriter and novelist, has won an enthusiastic following for her innovative, lyrical poetic voice. Her debut novel Shattered Blue: Book One of The Light Trilogy, won the 2016 Independent Publishers' (IPPY) Silver Medal for Young Adult Fiction, as well as Finalist honors in the 2016 USA Book Awards for Best New Fiction and Best New Fantasy, the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for Best Young Adult Fiction, and the 2016 International Book Award for Best Fantasy. It was also listed as one of USA Today's top romances of 2015, and selected as a notable book by BuzzFeed, Popsugar, Hypable, San Francisco Book Review, Glitter, The Culturalist, Teen Reads, Maria Shriver.com, Bustle and others.

Bird studied writing at Harvard University with novelist Jamaica Kincaid, where she won several prizes including the Edward Eager Memorial Prize for fiction and Winthrop-Sargent Prize for writing. She’s a proud member of the Writers Guild of America. Bird lives in Kauai and Los Angeles.

Happy Reading!

Apprentice in Death

2016-09-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Apprentice in Death by J.D. Robb 384 pages, Hardcover Published September 2016, Berkeley
Source: Provided by publisher in exchange for review through NetGalley.
So, this is book #43 of Robb's In Death series. Just so you know, I have not read any of the previous books in the series. I went into this read with no background on the characters, on the writing style, etc. It sounded like an interesting police procedural and I did know that Robb is a pseudonym for Nora Roberts. A teacher I used to work with loved these books, so I was excited to give one a try.
Eve Dallas is a lieutenant with the NYPSD and is investigating deaths at an ice skating rink that were committed by a sniper. The suspects are identified and hunted by the entire department in an attempt to attain them before other deaths occur.
The plot was good, the pace quick and the suspense high throughout. I had a hard time with this one only because I had not read these books before. I was unfamiliar with the fact that these books are set in the near future, so the tech mentions were confusing. Didn't let it bother me too much and continued to enjoy the story.
Happy Reading!

Current Audiobook: The Fireman by Joe Hill

2016-08-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Slowly getting through this one. How long ago was the RAL? I am a little behind. Need some more alone time in the car so I can listen to it.

The French War Bride by Robin Wells

2016-08-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

The French War Bride by Robin Wells
432 pages, paperback Published August 2016, Berkeley
Source: From Publisher in exchange for review, NetGalley
My Review
Jack O'Conner left his small town of Wedding Tree, Louisiana to join the allies in France during WWII as a medic. He also left a fiance, Kat, anxiously waiting for his return. Unfortunately, for her, when he does return he is not alone. With him is a French bride and a baby.
Many years later, Kat finds Jack's widow Amelie, in her retirement home and asks to hear her account of how she and Jack met and became married. Amelie's story is gut wrenching and tragic and also full of "adventures", as Kat describes them, that no one would actually want to experience. The history of the Nazi Occupation, the workings of The French Resistance and the incredible horrors and losses during this time is seamlessly intertwined with the story of Amelie. It was a book that I had a hard time putting down and got completely invested in also learning her story.
The French War Bride is the second book in Wells' The Wedding Tree series. I have not read the first book, but had absolutely no problem in reading this one as it reads as a stand alone book, but I will be locating a copy for myself very soon.
About the Author

When Robin Wells sold her first romance novel in 1995, her family celebrated at a Chinese restaurant. Robin’s fortune cookie read, “Romance moves you in a new direction.”

And it certainly has! Robin has since written sixteen critically acclaimed novels that have been translated into eighteen languages. Her books have won the National Golden Heart Award, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Award of Excellence, the Golden Quill, and the Holt Medallion. Robin’s latest book, Still the One, was nominated for a Rita Award, the highest award the National Romance Writers of America gives an author, at the RWA national conference last July.

Robin was born in Waco, Texas and holds a B.A. in liberal arts from the University of Oklahoma. Before becoming a full-time writer, Robin worked as an advertising and public relations executive for a major hotel chain. She loves working with new writers and teaches a course called “How to Write a Novel” at Southeastern Louisiana University’s Mandeville campus.

Robin lives with her husband, two daughters and a very spoiled dog named Winnie the Poohdle in Mandeville.

For more information about the book and the author visit her WEBSITE.

Happy Reading! _________________________________________

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

2016-08-20T10:56:00.000-07:00

So, has it been long enough since it came out to discuss Book 8?
I was talking to my sister last week, who has read the book three times already, about it. As you can guess, she absolutely loved it. I was a little more lukewarm in my response to it. I liked it, I read it in about 4 hours straight. There was just something about it that made it not quite stand up to the other books. Not sure if it was the script format, or the fact that it was co-written. I don't know.
The characters were all there, older - but their personalities and quirks were still there. The new characters were believable and fit in to the HP Universe just fine. The storyline was plausible, but there were some things that happen that just didn't seem to align with the other books. I did like that we got to revisit some long lost characters and see how the world may have turned out had Voldemort not been defeated.
Okay, so I tried to review without giving anything away. Hope I succeeded. If you love HP, this is a must read, no matter what. I love the "where are they now" aspect to it. It was nice to get a Rowling approved look at what Harry, Ron, and Hermione went on to do.
Happy Reading!

Quick Review: Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary

2016-08-10T09:57:00.001-07:00

Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary

The 5 year old has given this book only one star.

She only "likes it a little bit". She thought Ramona wasn't being a good girl. She liked Beatrice because she's older. She had to plug her ears many times when Ramona was up to no good and was about to get in trouble. It actully took her a couple weeks after starting it to want to finish listening to it.She said it was too scary.

As for me, I loved it. Just as much as I loved it as a kid. This book had me laughing as much as the little girl was cringing. Ha. I liked that as she is getting older, Stockard Channing has made Ramona's voice a little less whiny.

Happy Reading!

Influenster Vox Box

2016-08-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

I decided to try out Influenster. Have any of you tried it?

You review products to get free products to review which in turn gets you qualified to review more products. Thought it would be fun.

So far it has.

My one concern was bombarding my friends and family with reviews. I have really been trying to spread out my posts on social media so no one gets annoyed with them. Hopefully I have been successful in doing that.

The latest box, is the Bonita Vox box.

It came with five different free samples to review. Some lipstick, a nail polish, a FiberOne bar, witch hazel and some hair products. It is always interesting to see what comes in the box. Check them out below.

Fiber One Brownies

Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick

Sinful Colors Matte

Madame CJ Walker Beauty Culture

Dickinson's Witch Hazel Toner.

Lettering by Mari

2016-07-27T13:13:00.001-07:00

I have recently become obsessed with getting better at lettering. Check out my progress on Instagram. @letteringbymari

Quick Audiobook Reviews

2016-07-22T09:47:00.001-07:00

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

This was a great listen for the entire family. We listened to it twice on our road trip this summer and were completely entertained. My 5 year old loved it. Scarlett Johansson did a fabulous job reading. She used different voices for all the characters and just brought the whole story to life.

Seriously, this was perfect for entertaining a young kid on a very long drive.

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
I purchased the audio collection of this series of books to take along with us on a road trip with our five year old. She loves books and I thought she would love these as I once did. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its reading by Stockard Channing. One critique, though, I wish she hadn't given Ramona such a whiny voice.

The little girl enjoyed it but definitely got sad and upset when Ramona did some of her worst things.

We have yet to finish Ramona the Pest, due to some uncomfortable situations for the little girl. She doesn't like when Ramona is going to get in trouble.

Happy Reading!