Review: The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain

The Silent Sister

by Diane Chamberlain

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 352

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Riley MacPherson has spent her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. Now, over twenty years later, her father has passed away and she's in New Bern, North Carolina cleaning out his house when she finds evidence to the contrary. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and what secrets are being kept now? As Riley works to uncover the truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality.


Kritters Thoughts:  Riley MacPherson is returning to her childhood home after her dad passes away suddenly and she returns to check on her brother and settle all of the things.  I knew from the prequel that I reviewed yesterday that there was definitely some drama in Riley's childhood and past and it was going to travel into her future/present.

Riley returns home and through some sleuthing on her own she finds out the real reasons why her childhood was hard and stressful and why her parents were the way they were.  She finds out the real truth behind her sister and the past and then tries to change the future.    

I am being vague because I don't want to ruin a darn thing in this book.  There are so many revelations that are worth every page of the book

I knew from the prequel that there were going to be secrets and we would get to the bottom of them.  Because I read a lot of books, I was able to predict what was going to happen and maybe guessed the secrets before I should have, but it didn't ruin my reading of the book.  I can handle a predictable book if the story and plot are still good and this one was better than good.  

I have only read a few Diane Chamberlain books, but loved each of them.  I definitely want to want to continue reading her backlist and hopefully catch up soon!


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Review: The Broken String by Diane Chamberlain

The Broken String

by Diane Chamberlain

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 35

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  As seventeen-year-old Riley MacPherson rushes to the side of her brother who has been gravely injured in Iraq, she recalls their growing up years when he was her protector and best friend. Why did that relationship fall apart? She longs for a second chance to connect with her brother, not realizing that family secrets may prevent them from ever having that closeness again.


Kritters Thoughts:  A prequel to the book I am reviewing tomorrow The Silent Sister.  The Broken String centers around seventeen-year-old Riley MacPherson as she is on a plane headed to be by the side of her brother who is injured in Iraq.  While on the plane she is thinking about their childhood and the ups and downs within their family.  This novella is a collection of those thoughts.

While not completely necessary, I am glad I read this book before diving into the full novel The Silent Sister.  This book nicely sets up the family dynamics and gives an insight as to who Riley is and gives you the positive look at Riley and her brother, so that you can have more hope for him when you read The Silent Sister.  

I generally like novellas before novels, but I only like them if I know about them before I start the book, I don't tend to enjoy a prequel novella after I have read the full novel, it seems like unnecessary information at that point!

So start here before you read The Silent Sister for some background information.


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 46 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Plain Jane by Barrie Knee

Plain Jane

by Barrie Knee

Publisher: Xilbris

Pages: 183

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  "Plain Jane is the story of a forty something wife and mother who has kept a secret from her family for almost seven years. Jane has forever considered herself to be plain. Her BFF Gaby is the exact opposite. Following a night of countless margaritas, Jane and Gaby make a secret pact because that’s what friends are for. Now Jane has less than a week to tell her family what she has done. 

The secret is revealed over a four and a half hour time period while Jane is running a marathon. The story is told in Jane’s head. Each chapter begins with a song that Jane is listening to while running. The lyrics tie into the secret and many other stories that Jane tells about Gaby, her family, and mostly herself. 

Keep moving Jane! You can do this! This is Jane’s running mantra throughout the book. The physical and emotional journey of running a marathon is continuously felt. Jane’s sixty-four songs are listed at the end of the book. It is a great playlist for those that run a ten minute mile like Jane." 

Kritters Thoughts:  A book that takes place over a marathon as a runner is trying to complete her first marathon and this book is formatted with her playlist featuring the song she is listening to and then the thoughts that are conjured from that song and what it means to her.  

One thing that I didn't love about this book that I don't love across all genres is hinting at a secret from page one.  From the start of this book as Jane starts running she is hinting that her life will fall apart when a secret is revealed.  Jane reminds the reader in each chapter that there is impending doom and it got a little old.  I was glad that we didn't have to wait until the last chapter or the last song to learn about the secret, but we still had to wait for her to reveal it to her family and await their reaction.  I just don't love being told that there is a secret and that the world will fall apart when it comes out.  And does it . . .   don't want to spoil.

Overall I liked the concept and how it was structured, I would read another by this author because I think she has some creativity in how the book is written and presented, I guess I just couldn't enjoy this one due to maybe a little petty thing that I don't love when reading.  If the above wouldn't bother you, I would say you would probably love this book.


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 48 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the author.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

What a sad week!  It was a long week at work and a busy week of night activities, so hopefully this next week is more on the quiet end and lots of reading will occur!
A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell
Reader, I Married him by Assorted Authors

Currently Reading:

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak

Next on the TBR pile:

The Winter Guest by Pam Jenoff

Review: The Blackbird Season by Kate Moretti

The Blackbird Season

by Kate Moretti

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 352

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  “Where did they come from? Why did they fall? The question would be asked a thousand times…

Until, of course, more important question arose, at which time everyone promptly forgot that a thousand birds fell on the town of Mount Oanoke at all.”

In a quiet Pennsylvania town, a thousand dead starlings fall onto a high school baseball field, unleashing a horrifying and unexpected chain of events that will rock the close-knit community.

Beloved baseball coach and teacher Nate Winters and his wife, Alicia, are well respected throughout town. That is, until one of the many reporters investigating the bizarre bird phenomenon catches Nate embracing a wayward student, Lucia Hamm, in front of a sleazy motel. Lucia soon buoys the scandal by claiming that she and Nate are engaged in an affair, throwing the town into an uproar…and leaving Alicia to wonder if her husband has a second life.

And when Lucia suddenly disappears, the police only to have one suspect: Nate.

Nate’s coworker and sole supporter, Bridget Harris, Lucia’s creative writing teacher, is determined to prove his innocence. She has Lucia’s class journal, and while some of the entries appear particularly damning to Nate’s case, others just don’t add up. Bridget knows the key to Nate’s exoneration and the truth of Lucia’s disappearance lie within the walls of the school and in the pages of that journal.

Kritters Thoughts:  From the synopsis, I was excited to read this one.  The drama of an accused school teacher, a student that disappears and a small town - sign me up.  This one didn't quite live up to the synopsis.

There just seemed to be a lot in this book and maybe a little too much.  I felt like the author was trying to tackle too much in one book.  There were a few bits and pieces that I would have omitted, so the central drama could have taken a bigger role.  

I did like that the chapters were narrated by various characters.  I always love when a book gives more than one character the opportunity to move the story along and tell their side of it.

I have to say that I was satisfied by the person who ended up being the culprit, which for me is a big deal when reading a book.  Although enjoying the above two aspects didn't tip me over into the love factor for the book overall, but made me enjoy it a bit more.

This is only the second book of Kate Moretti's that I have read, I liked that one much more and am still interested in reading her back list and books to come.


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 45  out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Atria Books.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Sugar Pine Trail by RaeAnne Thayne

Sugar Pine Trail

by RaeAnne Thayne

Publisher: Harlequin Books

Pages: 384

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Librarian Julia Winston is ready to ditch the quiet existence she's been living. She's made a list of new things to experience, but falling for Jamie Caine, her sexy military pilot neighbor, isn't one of them. Julia's looking to conquer life, not become the heartbreaker's latest conquest. But when two young brothers wind up in Julia's care for the holidays, she'll take any help she can get—even Jamie's. 

Happy to step in, Jamie reveals a side of himself that's much harder to resist. Not only is he fantastic with kids, he provides the strength Julia needs to tackle her list. She knows their temporary family can't last beyond the holidays, but the closer she gets to Jamie, the more she wonders if things could be this merry and bright forever…

Kritters Thoughts:  The 7th in the Haven Point series and I was getting to a point where they were feeling a little repetitive, every other was a holiday themed and the other was during the summer and they were just feeling one after the other.  BUT this one broke out of the mold for me, I loved the "potential" couple, I loved their story and just love.

Julia Winston is the small town library and she loves her job.  Jamie Caine needs a place to stay while the finishing touches happen on his condo, so Julia's house is the perfect place for a few weeks.  Jamie is the pilot for the company Caine Tech and helps his brothers and families get all over the country/world to make deals and help the company grow.  

First, it was fun to follow the lives of two very different professionals - a librarian and a pilot probably don't have much in common if you think about it at first, so it was fun to see them interact and see his and her pre conceived notions of the other person completely break down.  There was an interesting twist with a set of brothers that made this story go up a complete step.

This book revived my love for the series and I can't wait for the next one!


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Little Bird Publicity.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Murder at Broad River Bridge by Bill Shipp

Murder at Broad River Bridge

by Bill Shipp

Publisher: Peachtree Publishers

Pages: 91

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  First published in 1981, Murder at the Broad River Bridge recounts the stunning details of the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Lemuel Penn by the Ku Klux Klan on a back-country Georgia road in 1964, nine days after the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Longtime Atlanta Constitution reporter Bill Shipp gives us, with shattering power, the true story of how a good, innocent, "uninvolved" man was killed during the Civil Rights turbulence of the mid-1960s. Penn was a decorated veteran of World War II, a United States Army Reserve officer, and an African American, killed by racist, white vigilantes as he was driving home to Washington, D.C. from Fort Benning, Georgia.

Shipp recounts the details of the blind and lawless force that took Penn's life and the sorry mask of protective patriotism it hid behind. To read Murder at Broad River Bridge is to know with deep shock that it could be dated today, tonight, tomorrow. It is a vastly moving documentary drama.


Kritters Thoughts:  Just like the book yesterday, this one is a re release of an older book that completely fits into the narrative of our country right now.  I encourage readers to pick up this short book to reflect on our history in hopes that we try not to repeat it.  

A book that describes the true events that occurred on a backwoods road that ended up in the death of an upstanding African American by a member of the Ku Klux Klan.  It was so jarring to read about this, first knowing it was a true story and second that it was unprovoked - not that I think if it is provoked it is then right, but that they were just driving home through the night made the act that much more heartbreaking and I couldn't understand it.  

I am glad I read this book because I had never heard of it and even more so that this book put it into context as to the years leading up to it in Athens, GA and the climate and the aftermath of it all.  This book reminded me how much I love "true crime" stories and how much more of an impact a book can make when it is centered in something that truly happened.

I am sad that this book could easily be a story of an event in the news right now, it highlights how little we have grown from 50 years ago and how much our country needs to do to make places safer for everyone.  I wish that this book was just a story of something that happened the past and that we could confidently say that we are different, but we are not and we need to do so much.


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 44 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: The Moral Basis of Democracy by Eleanor Roosevelt

The Moral Basis of Democracy

by Eleanor Roosevelt

Publisher: Open Road Media

Pages: 98

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  With the threat of the Third Reich looming, Eleanor Roosevelt employs the history of human rights to establish the idea that at the core of democracy is a spiritual responsibility to other citizens. Roosevelt then calls on all Americans, especially the youth, to prioritize the well-being of others and have faith that their fellow citizens will protect them in return. She defines this trust between people as a trait of true democracy.

Roosevelt advances an optimistic model for the democracy of the future, and although we've taken some steps in the direction of her vision, it's still a long way from reality. The issues first addressed in this 1940 essay--namely financial inequality and racial discrimination--are sadly still relevant today, as bigotry continues to undermine our national unity.

Her first publication as first lady, The Moral Basis of Democracy is an honest and heartfelt call for all Americans to choose love and faith over hatred and fear. Roosevelt takes an inspiring stance in defense of democracy, progress, and morality; the wisdom imparted here is timeless, and a must-read for every American.

Kritters Thoughts:  I heard about this book on NetGalley and when approved the egalley I was excited to try it out.  It is sort of out of my wheelhouse, but sort of in it!  

With a little historical (not fiction) angle, Eleanor Roosevelt wrote this little gem to inspire the youth of the time to engage and be a part of the democracy of their country.  She started the "book" with the history of democracy and how it was shaped in the USA by many of the founding leaders and how each compromised to make our democracy what it is today.  

The best chapters were 10 and 11 where she told/encouraged the youth what they have to sacrifice of themselves for the democracy and then what they can gain from it.  It was eery to read this in the times we are in now and you can almost take out the Nazi Germany references and exchange them for whatever country you see having negative impacts on the world, I won't pinpoint the country that was on my mind.  

The one interesting thing that being raised a Christian didn't fluff my feathers but could fluff others was her thought process on the relationship between religion and democracy and how being a religious person is a must to be a part of a democracy.  I was interested in what she said but definitely made a few hmmms and want to read this again in the near future to really focus on those bits.

I loved this short little work and I love that it was re released and more people can get their eyes on it and get motivated to be active in their democracy and that everyone needs to do their part at the bottom to influence the top.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 43 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from the Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It's Monday, What are you Reading?

With a few sick days, I laid on the couch and read the days away!  This added up to a great week of reading, but not the best feeling week!
A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

Single, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine Heiny
The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Plain Jane by Barrie Knee
The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Mr. Splitfoot by Samantha Hunt

Currently Reading:

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

Next on the TBR pile:

Reader, I Married Him - short story collection

September - before the fall of fall

source

September started with the tail end of my vacation and ended in the midst of the craziness of fall with work and home life just getting busy! Thank goodness for some great vacation reading time for August and September, even though I am still behind on the yearly challenge, I feel like I caught up a little!

1. How to Change a Life by Stacey Ballis
2. The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
3. Wait for Rain by Maria Murnane
4. Bridges by Maria Murnane
5. The Summer that Made Us by Robyn Carr
6. A Face to Die For by Andrea Kane
7. A Dangerous Year by Kes Trester
8. Wish You Were Here by Renee Carlino
9. Confessions of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson
10. Christmas Angels by Viola Shipman
11. Risking It All by Nina Darnton
12. The Trust by Ronald Balson
13. Dog Dish of Doom by EJ Copperman
14. The Moral Basis of Democracy by Eleanor Roosevelt
15. Sugar Pine Trail by RaeAnne Thayne
16. #Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso
17. Murder at Broad River Bridge by Bill Shipp
18. The Blackbird Season by Kate Moretti
19. The Dance Begins by Diane Chamberlain
20. The Broken String by Diane Chamberlain
21. Single, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine Heiny
22. The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain
23. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
24. Plain Jane by Barrie Knee
25. The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Total pages read, clicked and flipped:  6,222

Where having I been Reading?:
Chicago, IL
Baltimore, MD
Caribbean Island
New York City, NY (4)
Minnesota
Los Angeles, CA
Switzerland
St. Louis, MO
Ireland
Idaho
Georgia
Pennsylvania
North Carolina (2)
Philadelphia, PA

Review: Confessions of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson

Confessions of a Chalet Girl

by Lorraine Wilson

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Pages: 94

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Verbier. Exclusive Swiss ski resort and the winter playground of the rich and famous = every chalet girl’s dream!

Good for:

Maximum time on the ski slopes – and in the bars at night!

Looking for flings – or looking for rings!

Super hot snowboarders such as Luxury Chalet Experiences owner Scott Hamilton…

But not for Holly Buchanan. This accidental chalet girl won’t drink, can’t ski – and isn’t there to hook up with any man who’s only interested in making her another notch on his ski pole. Or so she thinks!

Scott’s living life to full, both on and off the piste, and Holly can’t help but find his attitude just a little bit infectious… And the hook up? Well,she’s going to have to confess that one night with her boss just won’t be enough!

So pack your salopettes and pour another shot of Jägermeister, it’s time to hit the slopes.

Kritters Thoughts:  The first in a series and I was approved for it awhile ago on Netgalley and decided to give it a try and if I liked it was going to continue on with the series, spoiler, I didn't love it.  

This was a romance novella and I will say that the biggest reason why I didn't fall in love with it because it felt rushed, it felt like a lot happened and spiraled out of control fast.  I think for me, I don't love romance books that are of the novella length because I think the author has to go at a high speed from the beginning and the reader feels like they are holding on for dear life.

The characters were just ok.  I think it was hard for me to get attached and get excited about the journey when I felt so rushed from the beginning.  I just couldn't seem to root for them when it seemed like they met and instantly started making out.  I like a book where they meet there is some back and forth and maybe a few interactions before they are taking clothes off.

I actually loved the setting and would love a full length romance book that takes place in a chalet in Switzerland, it seemed like the perfect setting to fall in love!  


Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 39 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review: Dog Dish of Doom by EJ Copperman

Dog Dish of Doom

by EJ Copperman

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Pages: 304

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Kay Powell wants to find that break-out client who will become a star. And she thinks she's found him: His name is Bruno, and he has to be walked three times a day.

Kay is the Agent to the Paws, representing showbiz clients who aren't exactly people. In fact: they're dogs. Bruno's humans, Trent and Louise, are pains in the you-know-what, and Les McMaster, the famous director mounting a revival of Annie, might not hire Bruno just because he can't stand them.

This becomes less of an issue when Trent is discovered face down in Bruno's water dish, with a kitchen knife in his back. Kay's perfectly fine to let the NYPD handle the murder, but when the whole plot seems to center on Bruno, her protective instincts come into play. You can kill any people you want, but you'd better leave Kay's clients alone.

Kritters Thoughts:  I don't read cozy mysteries all that often, maybe one or two a year and every time I read one I am reminded that I should read them more often!  With a dog at the center of this story it appealed to me even more and when the first page opened to a dog named Bruno (not a German Shepherd) I was so excited to keep on reading!  

Bruno is a dog that is headed to Broadway to be the dog in Annie and after a little drama during his audition his agent Kay is a little worried.  She wakes up the next morning to read in the paper that Bruno's owner has been murdered and she must find out why and who and how.  

I love a book with a amateur detective who I can follow her thought process.  It is fun to see her by pass all the police procedural and just go ask questions and stumble upon answers!  I say all of this, but there were a few times where I was a little lost as to who what where when, and had to reread a few parts, but it wasn't too many and I finally figured out where the facts went in place.  

I definitely enjoyed curling up with this cozy mystery for a day and the big thing that I love about cozy mysteries that many others may also is the lack of gory gooieness - don't get me wrong I love a Swedish mystery with all the gore you can imagine, but sometimes it is fun to curl up with a mystery and try to figure out the puzzle but with minimal blood! 

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2017 Challenge: 42 out of 50

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from St Martin's Press.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.