Book Review: The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica Release Date 2/18/20

5 stars for The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica!
I had this one on my TBR list for quite some time. You and I both know how it is to get approved for a favorite author. It feels like you're in on a secret the rest of the world doesn't know about yet.

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica was suspenseful and gutsy. I read past my bedtime 2 nights for this one, and it did not disappoint.

Sadie and Will move to Maine to, "start over." He inherits a house and his niece and it seems to be the perfect time because things in Chicago were quickly unraveling for Sadie, Will, and their two boys. Hesitant to move, but with no other options, Sadie gives it her best shot. When the woman across the street is murdered, the questions start.

I immediately was so skeptical of all the characters in the book. I didn't know who to believe and in my opinion, everyone had a motive.

In classic Kubica style, the turns and roller coaster dips and dives got more and more drastic as the story unfolded. Happy to recommend this one. It was dark, snowy, shadowy, and full of jumps!

Thank you to @harlequinbooks and @parkrowbooks for collaborating with @netgalley to provide me with this amazing read. @marykubica, putting that scary teenage girl at the front of the story really made for quite an adventure and lots of questions. I think people are going to line up to buy this one! #5stars #bookreview #newrelease #booklover #bibliophile #bookstagram #lovetoread #sendmebooks #booknerd #readforfun #suspense #thriller #mystery #pageturner #onemorechapter #readmorebooks #supportauthors #booksandcoffee

Book Review: Wildland by Rebecca Hodge Release Date 2/11/2020

5 stars for Wildland by Rebecca Hodge! 

Years after undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, a double mastectomy and implants, Kat is faced with a new lump and big decisions. She retreats to the Blue Ridge Mountains for some alone time away from her daughter, her family, and the noise of life. Kat wants to be able to think about what exactly it is that she wants to do with the rest of her life, and she doesn't think she has the strength to spend the time she has left nauseated, bald, and running back and forth from one doctor's appointment to the next. Her daughter feels like she is giving up. 

I finished this book in 2 days. Wildland reminded me of why it is that I love to read. It had a different mix of the usual elements I love. Kat is dealing with something that so many women we all love and know are faced with and fear. Breast cancer. Immediately, I was drawn to her story and her character. But, don't write this book off as a sappy novel. It takes a turn quickly and before you know it, the suspense is in full force and Kat's breast cancer diagnosis becomes secondary to what she must survive. 

Growing up in NC, this book is rich with imagery that I appreciated. I'm lucky enough to have spent time in the very same Blue Ridge Mountains that Rebecca Hodge describes so perfectly. This book will appeal to all of your senses and you'll appreciate how random strangers pull together when it matters most. I didn't want this one to end. 

Thank you to @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the opportunity to read this one before everyone else. And, @rhodge.fiction I hope this book soars. It was so very well done and I hope you will have more books to come. #wildlands #booknerd #5stars #bookreview #bookaholic #ncbook #ncauthor #blueridgemountains #suspense #mustread #quickread #breastcancer #grit #inspirationalauthor #inspired #reflect #netgalley 

Book Review: A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith

5 Stars for A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I've been meaning to read this gem for quite some time. Set in the early 1900s, Brooklyn, this book was a true treasure. I thought that I had previously read the book when I was younger, either because it was required or because as a pre-teen and teen, I wasn't allowed to do much and read everything at that time I could get my hands on.

As I do when I read most books, I highlighted parts that were especially beautiful to me. At least every other page has some evidence of meaning to me, which is pretty significant considering there are 498 pages in the version I read.

I don't know if I can put my finger on the one thing that I loved the most about the book. If I had to identify one thing that resonated the most with me, I'd say it was the way Betty Smith wrote about the differences among different classes of people. The way she painted her life, and what it meant growing up and coming of age in Brooklyn being poor was really moving. She wove that thread throughout the entire book and a lot of her upbringing and coming of age I could relate to.

I also really loved the way that she focused on the impact of education and the perseverance, grit, and ability to find happiness despite the cards life dealt to the Nolan family.

It's interesting and humbling to think about how different life is now than it was then. The things and luxuries that we take for granted are pivotal to think about when reading this book.

I'm not sure there are books written this way anymore. And, it's a shame. I found A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to be refreshing and thought-provoking. Times in the book were so difficult and people had so much less. This book will remain high on my list of most adored books. If you haven't read it, I highly suggest it.  #atreegrowsinbrooklyn #brooklynbooks #loveabook #historicny #comingofage #5stars #bookreview #permabound #usedbook #booknerd #bookaholic #bookish #weekendwasbooked #booklover #classic #top10 #greatbook #bettysmith #readnext #maketimeforthingsyouenjoy #grit

Book Review: The Other People by C.J. Tudor Release Date 1/28/20

5 Stars for The Other People by C.J.Tudor! This was my first C.J. Tudor book. Let me tell you, The Other People did not disappoint. This book is packed with suspense, leaving no page without raised eyebrows.

Gabe feels he has lost everything. A victim of extreme loss, believing his daughter is still alive, he appears to be a shell of a man. No one believes his story, time passes but he won't give up hope. He hands out fliers, he drives up and down the highway, reaching a level of desperation that will stir even the most critical reader. With nothing left to lose, he hears about a network of people on the Dark Web called The Other People. Vengeance, sweet revenge, and justice for those who have fallen victim to loss drive many others, seeking answers and justice. A request, if accepted by The Other People must be paid for without any money exchanging hands.

Gabe quickly finds that he is faced with decisions that provide hope in knowing what really happened to his daughter. Families of victims don't forget.

Intricately written with a taste for revenge, The Other People will entangle you in its web, and you'll be trying to sort out how all of the pieces fit until the very last page.

Thank you to @netgalley and #ballantinepress @penguinrandomhouse for providing this book to me in exchange for an honest review. And, thank you @cjtudorauthor for such a fantastic read!

PS. Yes my tree is down now. Look, if given the choice of taking down the tree and reading, you KNOW which one is the "right," choice.

Book Review: Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen

3 stars for Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen. I read this book for my neighborhood book club. I went back and forth about how many stars I would give this book for quite a bit. It wasn't something I would normally read and I kept waiting for it to play out like most novels that I read with a twist or lost love. I kept thinking that a knight in shining armor would show up.

That being said, the prose and level of artistry Dinesen demonstrates in Out of Africa is eloquent and beautiful. Isak Dinesen wrote this book about her time and experiences running a coffee plantation in Africa. She describes people that cross her path with such depth, it's unlike anything you will probably ever read. In addition to her words describing the characters from their skin, appearances, and words, she is able to dig into the depths of them and talk about their souls. 

What I loved the most about her writing was the way she personified everything from trees and plants to fish, streams, and the wind. She exemplifies breathing life into the setting, and as the reader, it's easy to believe and feel that the farm is very much alive. 

On the other hand, I felt that the story skipped around a lot and I had a hard time making sense of how she ended up on the farm and the circumstances surrounding her husband. She left Africa many times, and it wasn't ever clear to me why she left, who she was visiting, and I felt like I kept waiting and waiting for that clarification.  

I gave this book a 3 based on my love of the actual descriptions and artistry with the words themselves. As far as having a beginning, middle, and end or anything that hooked me, I felt the book came up short. I couldn't give it more than a 3 and I couldn't say it was an awful book. I've heard there's also a movie, and perhaps it did a better job of showing the story or having a hook. 

#outofafrica #bookreview #bookblog #3stars #isakdinesen #personification #coffeefarm #readaboutcoffee #bookclub #thebookwasbetter #sendmebooks #booknerd #weekendisbooked #readmorebooks