Tag: Review

REVIEW – The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter

Aimeeeliz

“There’s always a moment right before bad things get worse. Split second. Blink of an eye.”

Karin Slaughter is the QUEEN. Full stop. Her writing is incredible; it’s real and it’s well-researched.

“Some people got calm when they were in control. Will had been out of control enough times in his life to find calm in chaos.”

I had only read her standalone books before picking up The Last Widow. It’s the ninth book in the Will Trent series, but the first i’ve read. I immediately fell in love with these characters – ALL of them. Will, Sara, Faith, Amanda. Needless to say, I am so excited that I have eight other Will Trent books to read!

This. Book. I am a relatively calm reader. As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, a lot of Stephen King, a lot of murder-y books, I tend to not be too shocked by much. This book had me reacting to it AUDIBLY. And I loved it. Between the “holy shit!” and the “that’s right you dumb…” (well, you know), the story kept me on my toes. The beginning where Sara gets kidnapped (it’s in the synopsis, so no spoilers here) was HORRIFYING. I felt like I was there. The atmosphere in Georgia in the summer, the smells, the sounds, the FEELINGS. Slaughter’s writing is vivid, and I don’t say that superficially. I felt transported inside the story and, at times, almost wanting to Google some of the people and events because it felt that REAL.

I don’t want to say too much because some of the things in this book will hit you hard if you don’t see them coming, and it’s so worth the experience.

I’ll say it one more time. Karin Slaughter is the QUEEN. Believe it. Read her books.

REVIEW – Westering Women by Sandra Dallas

Aimeeeliz

“Being part of our group of women has been the greatest adventure of my life. …I have been part of a remarkable journey with you and the others. We are sisters. We are a band of sisters.”

Westering Women is the story of 44 women (and two ministers) making the journey west on the Overland Trail from Chicago to California. The intent is that the women will find husbands once they reach their destination, but many of the travelers have dark secrets that threaten their lives (and, ultimately, the lives of those traveling with them).

“I do not know the meaning of death, but there is meaning to life.”

The good? The eventual bond between these women is great. They stand up for each other, they protect each other, they keep each other’s secrets. The women are tough and resilient, despite the conditions they face on the trail, including disease, death, violence, rough terrain and harsh weather. Mary, especially, is an incredible character, and I would love to read a book focusing on women like her during that time. She quickly takes on a leadership role for a multitude of reasons, and she’s the shining star in this book despite not being the main character.

The not so good? I found the dialogue to be a bit stilted at times, but this could be a symptom of the time period in which it’s set (I haven’t read many books set in the 1800s so this might be my issue and not the book’s). I also found it to be inconsistent in its approach to hardships – it seemed like some of the issues and events were very brutal and upsetting for the overall tone of the book, but other issues were just kind of brushed aside too easily.

And the problematic? I felt that the story glossed over the role of Native Americans during this time period, and applied a harmful, racist lens overall. Although those traveling to California were attacked by Native Americans on the trail, it seemed like the book did little to dispel the “savage, violent, greedy” stereotype that had incredibly harmful repercussions, the effects of which are still evident today.

I do think this book will go over well with a lot of people – it has enough “grit” that it’s interesting but is also precious and fluffy enough that many readers will still find it palatable.

Content warning: assault, attempted rape/rape (at times involving children), death of children.

Thank you Bibliofinder and St. Martin’s Press for sending me a copy of this book.

CONSTANT READER REVIEW – Rose Madder by Stephen King

Aimeeeliz

“It’s best to be ruthless with the past. It ain’t the blows we’re dealt that matter, but the ones we survive.”

Let’s get this out of the way – this book is…odd. Bad? No. Up to King’s high standards? Also no. However, there are some great things about this book and some chilling things about this book.

The suspense in this book is palpable. When Rose initially escapes from Norman, my heart was pounding. This impending sense of terror lessened as the story progressed, which is likely why this isn’t a favorite among Constant Readers. If King could have sustained that feeling of doom, this could easily be one of his scariest books.

“Come over here – I want to talk to you up close.”

Norman might be one of the most terrifying villains in King’s writing (well, until a certain point…then he just becomes a bit too exaggerated and a bit too…crazy). Norman is scary because he’s REAL. At least for the first half-ish of the book, he’s just an angry, abusive, power-hungry, psychotic cop with a huge ego and an even bigger temper. He’s an absolute wild card – you never know what’s going to set Norman off, or how far his anger will carry him. The parts inside Norman’s head are horrific.

“The world could be good. She supposed she had known that as a child, but she had forgotten.”

The ladies! Oh, the ladies of Daughters & Sisters. They take a backseat to the larger story, but they are fun and amazing and badass. They are resilient despite their own hardships, and the way they rally around Rose (and each other) is heartwarming. And Gert! Oh, Gert. What an absolute delight!

“Some things call to us, that’s all. It’s as if the people who made them were speaking inside our heads.”

Now…the painting. Of course, the painting is kinda-sorta a huge part of the story, but the scenes involving the painting (especially the initial one) are a little drawn out and a little repetitive. Actually, the book, in general, is a bit repetitive and could have easily been 200 pages shorter (or even a short story).

“And sometimes men had to learn what it was to be afraid of a woman, didn’t they?”

I think overall the idea here is good. It suffers from “too much-itis” – the story is a bit too much. Norman as a villain is a bit too much. Either way, i’m glad I read it and I would still recommend that any King fan give this one a go. It wasn’t an unenjoyable reading experience, it just doesn’t match up to some of his other works.

REVIEW – Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Aimeeeliz

“They don’t have a problem with what i’ve done. Just with who I am.”

As usual, Jodi Picoult has written a book that made me angry, sad and joyful. Picoult’s writing is immersive – her books aren’t short, but they are quick reads. She knows exactly how to weave a story to keep the reader interested and yearning for more.

Small Great Things tackles racism, white supremacist attitudes, everyday prejudices, and even class differences.

I have to be clear, i’m writing my review from the perspective of someone who’s white, and who grew up relatively middle class – I don’t know what it’s like to be discriminated against because of my skin color, and I don’t have to worry about keeping my fridge full or my lights on at home. So I can only approach this review with my own experience.

“It’s easy to believe we’re all in this together when you’re not the one who was dragged out of your home by the police.”

That being said, I think Picoult did a great job of examining racism (whether overt, or unintentional). Ruth’s experiences are frustrating and heartbreaking. They are also real. Nothing in this book felt over exaggerated or unbelievable. Without spoiling anything, I was worried at one point that Ruth was just going to be the book’s punching bag for the entirety of the book.

“It’s pretty terrifying. I mean, what if your next-door neighbor was a white supremacist and you didn’t know it?”

Kennedy’s evolution throughout the book was interesting – she starts to notice racial microaggressions even before taking on Ruth’s case. Most of Kennedy’s character really revolves around the other characters in the book, so I don’t have much to say about her, honestly. It wasn’t a bad choice by Picoult, Kennedy is more of a means to an end. Her interactions with her mom were interesting, but they didn’t add much to the story as a whole.

“He’s pushed up his sleeves while I was out of the room. Running from write to elbow on one arm is the tattoo of a Confederate flag.”

The most intriguing character of this book is, hands down, Turk Bauer. He’s vile – an unapologetic white supremacist with a horrific backstory. I can’t imagine what it was like for Picoult to write from Turk’s perspective. On the flip side, he’s also a grieving parent. It’s an interesting dichotomy – hating him due to his beliefs, but also feeling sympathy for him due to his loss.

Turk is also fascinating due to the current political climate of our country – people who act like Turk, who think like Turk, seem emboldened by the rhetoric coming from the White House and are more vocal, more public with their racist, sexist beliefs.

Is this book perfect? Probably not. I can only comment on what I know. However, it does seem like Picoult did her due diligence – she conducted thorough research, consulted with a number of people who can provide first-hand accounts of the events in the book.

“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” – Dr. MLK, Jr.

REVIEW – Twenty by Debra Landwehr Engle

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{Available January 28, 2020} This is a lovely little book, perfect for reading at the beginning of a new year.

It gets better as you move further into the story – with little nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout. It examines how sometimes life is all about perspective, about finding the joy in the ordinary.

Twenty examines life and death, grief, loss, joy and peace. The story itself isn’t incredibly in depth, but the book is less than 200 pages (I think it’s the perfect length, this story in a longer format could easily become a slog to get through).

This is a solid 3.5 for me. Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!

REVIEW – Cartier`s Hope by M.J. Rose

Aimeeeliz

{Available January 28, 2020}

“Hope, darling Vera, is the fire that keeps propelling us forward.”

How refreshing to read historical fiction that’s not set during WWII! Rose sets a great scene and transports the reader to 1910 New York.

The story isn’t so much about the Hope diamond as it is about our main character, Vera, and her desire to avenge her father’s death. Even so, the diamond is an intriguing “character.” The real life lore surrounding it makes the story that much more interesting.

“I didn’t want to sit by the sidelines and do what was expected.”

Vera lives somewhat of a double life – as Vera Garland, she’s a member of high society. She attends opulent parties and doesn’t have to lift a finger. But as Vee Swann, she lives among the masses – she goes undercover in factories and tenements, all for the sake of a good story that might improve living conditions for some of the city’s poor and underprivileged. The chapters about the struggles of female reporters were some of my favorites – they were well done, and brutal, and honest. Unfortunately, the hardships they faced are mirrored in our society even today.

WARNING: Vera deals with some sexual abuse in this book (it’s not “violent” or graphic, but it’s a very disturbing concept).

“To live a full life, you need a full heart.”

The romance of the book was a bit underdeveloped in my opinion, but keep in mind I’m not really a romance reader to begin with.

I think a lot of readers will enjoy this one – it’s light historical fiction. It tackles some important issues and topics without diving too deep. It’s serious without being heavy.

Thank you Get Red PR and Atria for sending me a copy of this book!

REVIEW – The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

Aimeeeliz

The Turn of the Key is one of the buzziest thrillers in recent months. It’s a little slow at the start, but once Rowan was settled into her new nannying position, I immediately felt bad for her. Unreliable, disturbingly intrusive technology! An unruly, nasty child! Ghosts?!

This book creeped me out a bit – it’s my fault for reading the suspenseful parts while home alone. The twists didn’t shock me too much, but there are some DARK revelations.

Needless to say, Ruth Ware’s books get better and better with time. I’ll definitely pick up whatever she writes next.

For what it’s worth, this is a solid 3.5 for me.

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams

Aimeeeliz

{Available January 28, 2020} This book was so much more than I expected! It’s incredibly atmospheric at the beginning – with rainy, early spring days, offset by Nora’s cozy, warm bookshop, Miracle Books.

I loved Nora’s friend group, the Secret, Book and Scone Society. This is a great novel about friendship – the importance of having people who support you, and the joy of meeting new friends. This is also a book for book lovers! It’s filled with literary references and each chapter starts with a quote from a famous author.

The Book of Candlelight is a lot grittier and more adult than your standard cozy mystery (I’d even classify it as a contemporary novel with touches of magical realism and mystery, with just a dash of coziness). The characters are real and there are some very serious issues and events that they face.

Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!

REVIEW – Run Away by Harlan Coben

Aimeeeliz

As usual, Harlan Coben has written a wild ride of a book. Run Away hits you right from the beginning and holds on tight until the very end (it slows down a bit towards the middle, but the pace picks right back up).

“It was his fault, wasn’t it? Of course it had to be in some way. The butterfly effect. Change one thing, you change everything.”

There are so many twists and turns that dismantled the many theories I had about where the story was going. And where it ended up? Whoa. This book is DARK. It might be a bit far-fetched and a little crazy, but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of it.

“There’s part of everybody that’s hidden.”

I honestly couldn’t read this fast enough – I devoured it in less than 24 hours. It’s a fun, thrilling read, with a heartbreaking theme of parental love. What would a parent do to save their child? How far would they go?

COZY MYSTERY REVIEW – Sealed Off by Barbara Ross

Aimeeeliz

{Available December 31, 2019} This one was lighter on the cozy, but heavier on the mystery. It’s surprisingly complex and detailed for such a short book (totaling fewer than 250 pages!)

The story weaves a present day murder with a 120 year old mystery, and does an amazing job of tying everything together.

I’d recommend this book to mystery/thriller readers who are looking for something light, but not too sugary sweet.

Thank you Kensington Books for the ARC!