Books I Review

After I’m Gone by Laura Lippman

After I'm Gone

Photo Credit: Goodreads

 

This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair and honest review.

After I’m Gone

Felix Brewer is a man with a plan- he has big dreams. Wants to have a fancy house, money and security, all the creature comforts of life. Felix is not afraid of hard work- he’s also not afraid of breaking the law and bending the rules to get ahead in life. When Felix meets Bambi- there is an instant attraction. Bambi is Felix’s idea of a perfect woman- cultured and beautiful.

Felix not only has no problem bending the law for his own gain, he also does not have a problem breaking his vows- which he does with his mistress, Julie. When the law finally catches up to Felix, he does what a man with shady business connections does- he takes the money and runs- leaving behind, Bambi, his 3 daughters and Julie. 5 women- 5 women whose lives were irrevocably changed after Felix left. Bambi also feels that Julie knew more than what she let on- and resentment builds. 10 years after Felix disappears, Julie leaves- most think to join Felix in the new life he’s made. Until Julie’s remains are found- which shines a spotlight on the day that Julie disappears.

Enter Roberto “Sandy” Sanchez- former police officer- now he works on cold cases- he has a good track record following up with the clues and finding justice- even after everyone else has given up. When Sandy begins to search for clues about Julie’s disappearance- the trail twists and turns along with Felix’s disappearance and life of crime. Felix’s daughters and his wife, Bambi, all have reason for Julie to disappear. But, years later, would any of them had the ability to make this happen? Or is there more to this story than meets the eye?

Sandy knows the truth is out there. And he knows he’s the person to find out the answers.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This was my first Laura Lippman novel- and I thoroughly enjoyed AFTER I’M GONE. A man disappears, his mistress disappears 10 years later- common sense tells you the 2 are together. But common sense meet Laura Lippman- she takes a story that has been told before- and creates a story with intrigue and mystery- a story that the reader will devour.

AFTER I’M GONE is told in “current time” and flashback tales- with clues and suspects littered throughout the story. The story, while the main focus is on what happened to Julie, the subplots of how Felix came to disappear and how life without Felix shaped the women he loves lives without him make for a great addition to the storyline. As the reader follows the clues with Sandy- they must question everyone and everything.

Recommended.

 

*This book, AFTER I’M GONE, was sent to Traveling With T by William-Morrow Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

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Literary Friday, ya’ll….

literary friday

Today is Literary Friday- the best day of the week!

I’ve got much to talk about- so let’s get to it!

1. First, before I get into the fun of #literaryfriday- Traveling With T has had a “face lift”- yes, a new theme has been applied! While Matala ( my paisely print theme had been a very good theme to me- I did love the bright colors!), the new theme, Sorbet, looks to be a winner. It’s a bit more customizable- even without having to buy all the upgrades, etc- so I hope Sorbet and I are happy for quite some time.

2. Deep South Magazine and their #literaryfriday- Wiley Cash interview (and giveaway of A DARK ROAD TO MERCY), 50 Books by Women Authors and much more!  Continue reading →

Starter House by Sonja Condit

starter house

Photo Credit: Goodreads

 

This book was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Starter House

Lacey and Eric, a young married couple, are looking for a house. Their 2 will becoming 3 in a short few months and both Lacey and Eric desire a place of their own to raise their child, in a neighborhood that has good schools and a nice look.  Lacey, though, wants a house with character- not a square cookie-cutter house- a house with character. When Lacey sees this 1 house and finds out that it is for sale- she falls in love with the house. Eric is happy because it’s in the neighborhood they want, is in their price range, and makes Lacey happy. Too bad neither of them really listened to the real estate agent when she tried to discourage them from buying the house.

Shortly after moving in, Lacey begins having difficulty with her pregnancy- and is concerned. She and Eric begin making alternative arrangements- Lacey sleeping downstairs, her mother moving in temporarily and Lacey trying to keep stress to a minimum. Still, Lacey feels uneasy. The house, at times, has a different feel to it- not warm and welcoming; but dark and mysterious. There is a little boy  who Lacey keeps seeing… in her house. This boy, Drew, appeals to Lacey and her teacher/maternal instincts. But, slowly, she begins to pick up on things- that Drew is not what he seems.  That Drew is a jealous child and quick to anger- which Lacey finds out the hard way.

Determined to get to the bottom of what has happened in this house and the story of Drew- Lacey begins to look for clues. What she finds is dark and chilling.  Will Lacey be able to put an end to evil in the house- before she and her baby pay the ultimate price?

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This is Sonja Condit’s first book and while I enjoyed it- I was a bit conflicted at times. Sonja’s characters- Lacey and Eric, I did not completely connect with either. Lacey, at times, seemed like she was cracking up and Eric, was an obsessive workaholic.

The story is compared to The Thirteenth Tale and since I have not read that book, I can’t accurately say if Starter House is like that book. I was a bit worried that it would be too scary- similar to the movie, The Conjuring, but it was not super-scary. Starter House has more of a creepy vibe- and Sonja Condit does that very well.

Would I recommend? Yes. Was it perfect? No. But, Starter House kept me flipping pages because I had to know what happened in that house- and if or when it would ever end.

 

*Thanks to William-Morrow for sending Traveling With T STARTER HOUSE. Above thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

 

 

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Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge

Love-Water-Memory

Photo Credit: Gallery Books

 

This book was sent to Traveling With T from Gallery Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Love Water Memory by Jennie Shortridge

Lucie is not like other women. She’s disciplined. She wears a protective shell. Designer clothes and goes after what she wants in life. At least she did. Lucie has no memory of the woman she was before after she is found in the San Francisco Bay. She only knows what she is told at the hospital- her name is Lucie and her fiancée is coming to get her.

When Grady comes to pick Lucie up, he grapples with what to tell her- does he tell her what happened the day she left? Will knowing that help or hurt her? He also grapples with this Lucie- this Lucie who eats carbs, this Lucie who does not have protective shell on- this Lucie who is kinder, less worried about appearances. Part of him wants the old Lucie- the Lucie he knew, the girl that helped make him the man he is today.

Lucie is struggling to remember things- and gets glimpses of memory at times- but when she looks at the life, the stuff of the old Lucie, she has to wonder why those things were so important to that Lucie- why she had all these designer clothes, makeup that covered freckles, that concealed who she was? Why did she feel the need to hide her true self?

When Lucie finds herself confronted with ways the old Lucie acted, she knows that she wants to be different. Lucie wants to be different than the Lucie she sees around the house- less rigid, more in the moment. More importantly, she wants to remember- needs to remember. When Lucie finds out that Grady has been keeping the fact that her aunt, her last living relative, calls to her a secret- she wonders why and knows she must talk to this aunt. Once Lucie begins to talk to her aunt, the power of the past comes back and Lucie begins to slowly understand things.

Together and separately, Lucie and Grady are on a journey to find out more, to remember about old Lucie and to find a place in life for new Lucie. The Lucie who needs protecting, but also needs to know the whole story about what happened on the day she left?

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts

Love Water Memory, my first Jennie Shortridge book, takes an interesting concept- memory, and creates a book that is sure to please. Not being able to remember who you are and being comfortable with all the life choices “you” made- would you still make the same choices now that you have an opportunity to do differently? What if the man you chose can’t love the “new” you? Can you fault him? What if- when faced with all the previous trappings of your life- you find out that the new you does not like the “old” you? What then?

Jennie Shortridge explores this and much more in Love Water Memory– a book that is highly discussable for book lovers.

 

 

*Love Water Memory was sent to Traveling With T in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

To see what other She Reads bloggers are saying about the January She Reads Book Club Selection, please visit here or follow this hashtag on Twitter: #srblog.

 

 

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River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz

river road

Photo Credit: Goodreads

This book was sent to Traveling With T by Putnam Books.

River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz

13 years ago, Lucy Sullivan was saved from a night of horrors by a guardian angel, Mason Fletcher. Lucy, embarrassed about being taken away from the party- especially by the boy she has a crush on, is not aware of the near danger she was in.  Mason, seeing Lucy as a kid, just knows he needed to save her from what evils were planned for the night. After Lucy is safe at home, Mason goes back to the party- where a confrontation with the ring-leader of danger, Tristan Brinker, happens. Within a few days of the party- Brinker is missing- presumed dead due to a drug deal gone bad.

13 years later, Lucy- grown up, more confident,  and contented with her job as a forensic genealogist, returns to Summer River. Her return is about her Aunt Sara, who has recently died with her friend Mary in a car crash. Lucy and Mason see each other when she returns- and there is a spark- Lucy is not the kid she once was and Mason’s charms have developed with age nicely. The first night back in town for Lucy does not end well- she and Mason discover a body in the fireplace of Sara’s house- a fireplace that was shoddily covered up. Did Sara kill a man? And could this man be Brinker?

Lucy is determined to get to the bottom of the situation. And the deeper she digs, the more she finds out that everything has it’s roots in that night 13 years ago. With Mason’s help, Lucy is able to start putting pieces together- and even begins to question the car crash of Sara and Mary’s.

Danger, drugs, romance, suspense, and wine country- all combine to create a story that is fast paced and worth a read.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This is my first Jayne Ann Krentz book- and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. With the roots of the story happening in a party in town- and secrets, sins and blackmail happening over a course of 13 years- most of the characters have a reason to be a suspect. Slowly, though, the reader begins to understand that there is more to the story than meets the eye. The romance between Lucy and Mason is enjoyable- and the mystery is also good.

If you are looking for a book with equal parts romance and suspense- I’m recommending Broken Road by Jayne Ann Krentz.

*This book was provided to Traveling With T by Putnam Books in exchange for a fair and honest review. All above thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

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Killer Image (An Allison Campbell Mystery) by Wendy Tyson

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Photo Credit: Henery Press

 

Image is everything. Especially in the ritzy section of Philadelphia. Was a divorce lawyer killed because someone wanted to protect their image?

Allison Campbell is the image consultant in Philadelphia. Allison  knows about rising above a difficult past and how important image is in society. When a political mover and shaker tries to obtain her services for his 15 year old daughter, Allison is reluctant. She does not work with teenagers usually as Allison generally works with adults wanting to reinvent themselves after a divorce. Allison decides to at least consider taking on the 15 year old as a client. When she meets Maggie, Allison decides to help her- even though Maggie made it abundantly clear she does not want, nor need Allison’s help.

Slowly, Maggie and Allison become friendly- and the friendship may cost Allison everything she has worked hard for. When Allison refuses to play by Congressman McBride’s rules- he threatens to reveal Allison’s past scandal involving a teenage girl who needed help. Allison worries- but knows that she can’t let the Congressman McBride get the best of her. When a lawyer is found killed with ritualistic symbols- the police begin to question many people. They question Allison’s former mother in law (as well as mentor). But, they zero in on Maggie because of her connection the deceased and her Goth appearance. Allison knows this girl did not kill the lawyer- but who did?

With her detective hat on, Allison searches for clues to clear Maggie and to make sure that her former mother-in-law is not considered as a suspect. Between running her business, following the clues, and dealing with the Congressman- Allison’s hands are full. She, though, does find time for some romance and for learning about a secret or two!

Can Allison find out who killed the lawyer? Will the Congressman succeed in putting Allison out of business? Is the killer right in front of Allison’s face? Read Killer Image to find out!

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts

Wendy Tyson’s debut, Killer Image, is part mystery, part psychological thriller with a dash of romance. Entertaining and enjoyable. The characters are fleshed out, the storyline twists and turns (but ties together nicely). Allison is not a push-over- she’s a strong character with a big heart. Recommended.

 

*This book was provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Wednesday Daughters by Meg Clayton

wed daughters

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:

Meg Waite Clayton, nationally bestselling author of The Wednesday Sisters, returns with a compassionate, wise, and enthralling new novel of mothers and daughters, best friends who become family, and secrets and dreams passed down through the generations.

It is early evening when Hope Tantry arrives at the small cottage in England’s pastoral Lake District where her mother, Ally, spent the last years of her life. Ally—one of a close-knit group of women who called themselves “The Wednesday Sisters”—had used the cottage as a writer’s retreat while she worked on her unpublished biography of Beatrix Potter, yet Hope knows nearly nothing about her mother’s time there. Traveling with Hope are friends Julie and Anna Page, two other daughters of “The Wednesday Sisters,” who offer to help Hope sort through her mother’s personal effects. Yet what Hope finds will reveal a tangled family history—one steeped in Lake District lore.

Tucked away in a hidden drawer, Hope finds a stack of Ally’s old notebooks, all written in a mysterious code. As she, Julie, and Anna Page try to decipher Ally’s writings—the reason for their encryption, their possible connection to the Potter manuscript—they are forced to confront their own personal struggles: Hope’s doubts about her marriage, Julie’s grief over losing her twin sister, Anna Page’s fear of commitment in relationships. And as the real reason for Ally’s stay in England comes to light, Hope, Julie, and Anna Page reach a new understanding about the enduring bonds of family, the unwavering strength of love, and the inescapable pull of the past.

 

 

Will old journals help a daughter and her friends find out about a woman they admired and loved? Will those same journals provide life lessons and advice for the women?

 

Hope, Julie, and Anna Pages- daughters of the ladies writing group called Wednesday Sisters, arrive in Lake District to see where Ally (Hope’s mother) had spent her last years working on the unpublished biography of Beatrix Potter. As Hope looks around the cottage, she realizes she has no clue, no idea as to how her mom spent her life here- she only has her unpublished work. However, that may reveal more about Ally than all the conversations in the world.

Each of the daughters, while searching the cottage for information about Ally, also find themselves questioning things about their own lives- marriage, the loss of a twin, and fear of commitment. The search for answers about Ally makes Hope, Julie, and Anna Page face their own fears about their life. With a stack of notebooks written in an encrypted code, the ladies begin a search for not only who Ally was, but who they, they daughters of the Wednesday Sisters, are.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

The Wednesday Daughters, the follow up to Wednesday Sisters by Meg Clayton, is a tale of mothers, daughters, secrets, love and dreams. While a reader is not required to read Sisters before Daughters, after reading Wednesday Daughters before Wednesday Sisters, I highly recommend reading in order. It will better acquaint you with characters, storyline and flow. Overall, while Wednesday Daughters was interesting and had a bit of story magic- for me, I did not love it as I thought I would. Perhaps it’s because I did not read the original yet. The writing was not the problem- it was more sometimes I felt a disconnect with the characters- which may be simply because I had not read Sisters first.

 

*This copy was requested through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

 

 

The Storycatcher by Ann Hite

the storycatcher

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads:

 Shelly Parker never much liked Faith Dobbins, the uppity way that girl bossed her around. But they had more in common than she knew. Shelly tried to ignore the haints that warned her Faith’s tyrannical father, Pastor Dobbins, was a devil in disguise. But when Faith started acting strange, Shelly couldn’t avoid the past—not anymore.

Critically acclaimed, award-winning author Ann Hite beckons readers back to the Depression-era South, from the saltwater marshes of Georgia’s coast to the whispering winds of North Carolina’s mystical Black Mountain, in a mesmerizing gothic tale about the dark family secrets that come back to haunt us.

 

 

Secrets don’t die with the deceased. Sometimes the deceased stay around to help the living see the secrets.

Shelly Parker has a gift. Or maybe it’s more of a curse. She can see and hear people who have died. The deceased speak to Shelly- give her warnings. It’s not an easy gift to have and sometime Shells feels uncomfortable. But the spirits persist, the communicate to Shelly because she needs to know the secrets. Shelly’s gift can save people, help people- a mighty big job for a young lady. Shelly, as a worker for Pastor Dobbins, knows about his temper and bad side. But does she know all there is to Pastor Dobbins? She will. A spirit will make sure of that- for her sake as well as for others.

When Faith (a girl Shelly has never cared for), Pastor Dobbin’s daughter, begins to act strange- Shelly wonders why. She does not have to wonder long, as she soon realizes that a spirit is using Faith to tell a story- a secret that she took to her grave. It’s a story that Shelly needs to learn, a secret that needs to be revealed. Together, Faith and Shelly, two unlikely allies, must find out the secrets- even the secrets that are almost too painful to reveal.

Set in Depression-era South, Faith, Shelly and the spirits take the reader on a journey- a journey where much will be revealed.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts

This is my first Ann Hite book. Through talk of my blog friends, I had heard praises of Ann Hite’s previous work, Ghost on Black Mountain, and was told to request The Storycatcher as soon as it was available for review. The Storycatcher, while not a direct sequel from my understanding, is a sequel of sorts for Ghost. Perhaps that was part of the problem- since I had not read the first book. While the language and the descriptions were wonderful, I felt not connected to the book as I had anticipated. I think, for me, there were quite a few characters and a timeline that changed- which normally I do like. However, it took longer for me to catch on in this book. Lastly, and this is no reflection of the book itself, my e-ARC copy suffered from many problems- I was unable to see what appeared to be a map and possibly a family tree- which, after looking through other reviews, would have come in handy for character organization.

Do I recommend this book? Yes, because the writing was quite interesting. Ann Hite’s phrasing and descriptions are something different, something that is worth checking out. For me, I plan to revisit Ann’s world- however, this time I will be visiting her in paperback (and keeping track of the characters on a sheet of paper!)

 

*This copy was requested through Netgalley. The above thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

 

The Last Winter of Dani Lancing by P.D. Viner

last winter of dani lancing

Photo Credit: Goodreads

 

When a life is taken from this world do the people that mourn really know the person? Or do people mourn the idea of the person that is no longer among the living?

Dani Lancing’s murder is still unsolved. For years, her mother and father have wondered what happened to their beautiful daughter. What kind of monster would hurt her?Even he friend, Tom, is unable to move on and vows that one day there will be justice for Dani.

Patricia and Jim, each dealing with the loss of Dani, in their own way, watched their marriage disintegrate. Patricia- driven, determined for vengeance and Jim, wanting peace and closure- have loved, but drifted apart. Tom wants to be able to tell them news, yet a cold case is not likely to lead to news.

One day, Tom lets Patrica know that with new developments in DNA, cases that were not solvable years ago are being looked over again. Tom warns Patricia to not get her hopes up. Patricia is done waiting. She sets out to find the evidence. In doing so, she makes a deal with the devil. Little does Patricia know the deal maker is a spider-luring her to his web- where the truth of what happened to Dani will be revealed..slowly and in due time.

Who is responsible for Dani’s death? Is there more to the story than meets the eye?

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I have been looking forward to reading this since I requested it from Netgalley. The first few chapters took time to get into and the jumping from time period as clues were slowly and meticulously revealed had me having to re-read dates of the time line again. Dani Lancing hit a groove, though, and seemed to be heading for a breathless ending- then, it stopped. Stopped short of the dramatic ending that it appeared to be poised for and substitued another ending. This ending is fine and has it’s own dramatic ways- but the other ways this could have ended- well the possibilities were endless!

Did I like this book? Cautiously, I say yes. The writings, the plot, the characters,were better than fine or just ok. Do I want to re-read? No. In the end, this book left me feeling like Broken Harbor by Tana French did- glad to read it, thought it had some very good parts- but the ending just left me conflicted. Not conflicted enough to give a book a thumbs down- but it’s not getting 5 stars either.

Grounded by Angela Correll

grounded

Photo Credit: Amazon

Annie is a flight attendant- flying the skies to far-flung places around the world. When she is home, New York City- with it’s wonderful ambience and never-ending options of things to do, places to eat, and buzzing activity. Annie is happy- jet-setting off to great places, coming home to her sweet boyfriend. The only teeny concern- there is talk of a merger- which could lead to losing her job. But, Annie is sure the airline will work out the necessary details and keep her flying the good life. Annie has a boyfriend who she adores- and he asks her to move in with him- which she takes a step on the way to the rest of their lives.

One day, on a flight, Annie begins chatting with someone who sheds a light on her relationship- and Annie is concerned. When she gets home, she finds that she had reason to be concerned. So, she doesn’t have a place to live, no boyfriend, and then she gets the final bad news- she’s been grounded. Her boss hopes to get her back in the air in a few months- but the 2 airlines need time to see who they are keeping and who will not be re-hired. Annie decides to head to her family farm- back to Kentucky.

When Annie arrives in Kentucky, life on the farm has changed. Her grandmother’s getting older and can’t keep up with farm life like she once was able. Annie suggests selling the farm and downsizing to a smaller home- but her grandmother balks at the idea. At first, Annie does not understand. Soon, though, farm life begins to feel right to Annie. Annie reconnects with her buddy Jake, who is wanting to leave the corporate rat race behind and start sustainable farming. That’s not the only thing he’s looking to change, though. He’s got a girlfriend who he’s hoping to make a fiance. His fiance, though, after visiting Kentucky- is hoping he’ll stay in the corporate world.

When Annie gets a call telling her she’s going to be able to fly the skies again- she thought she would be excited. But life in Kentucky has grounded her in more ways than one. Will Annie go back to New York City or will farm life (and maybe the boy next door) be reason to stay in Kentucky?

Traveling With T’s Thoughts

Angela Correll wears her big ole Kentucky loving heart on her sleeve as she writes Grounded! A debut novel that is sweet and funny- with life lessons amongst the story. Angela takes a story of a woman displaced from a fast paced life and sends her back home, back to where she learns to appreciate the simple life- the life of hard work and being able to hold your own. The plot, while it is a tad bit predictable at times, is still well-written enough to hold a reader’s attention. Enjoyable. Interesting. Nice pace and characters.

*This book was sent to Traveling With T by a publicist in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.