Review: Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel

Musical Chairs

by Amy Poeppel

Publisher: Atria

Pages: 416

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Bridget and Will have the kind of relationship that people envy: they’re loving, compatible, and completely devoted to each other. The fact that they’re strictly friends seems to get lost on nearly everyone; after all, they’re as good as married in (almost) every way. For three decades, they’ve nurtured their baby, the Forsyth Trio—a chamber group they created as students with their Juilliard classmate Gavin Glantz. In the intervening years, Gavin has gone on to become one of the classical music world’s reigning stars, while Bridget and Will have learned to embrace the warm reviews and smaller venues that accompany modest success.

Bridget has been dreaming of spending the summer at her well-worn Connecticut country home with her boyfriend Sterling. But her plans are upended when Sterling, dutifully following his ex-wife’s advice, breaks up with her over email and her twin twenty-somethings arrive unannounced, filling her empty nest with their big dogs, dirty laundry, and respective crises.

Bridget has problems of her own: her elderly father announces he’s getting married, and the Forsyth Trio is once again missing its violinist. She concocts a plan to host her dad’s wedding on her ramshackle property, while putting the Forsyth Trio back into the spotlight. But to catch the attention of the music world, she and Will place their bets on luring back Gavin, whom they’ve both avoided ever since their stormy parting.

Kritters Thoughts:  Bridget and Will have been friends since college, seriously friends and no funny business!  They have always been two parts of a trio.  Their third has recently left and they are ready to replace them with a well known or up and coming that can elevate them and get them some new gigs, but before this starts they have a summer to decide their true feelings about their futures.  Bridget goes to a country home in Connecticut and eventually her twins and even Will end up in this small town and together they spend the summer and all are making large life decisions.

With everyone in this book having major life upheavals, this book could have felt like a weighted story with too much drama, but it didn't.  I loved that each character had something going on, but it all fit together and not all were conveniently solved in the summer.  

Bridget and Will were great main characters.  I easily connected with each of them and loved that there was a true friendship between a man and a woman with no hint at a relationship that is more than friendship.  I loved that at their ages they were questioning their futures because these questions can happen at any moment in someone's life and it was a gentle reminder to be kind to those who may be making life changes at any moment.  

I am excited to pass this book along to a lot of my friends and family.  This book can get you to make some deep thoughts but also make you laugh!  I love these kinds of books.

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Atria.  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: Blacktop Wasteland by SA Cosby

Blacktop Wasteland

by SA Cosby

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Pages: 320

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Beauregard “Bug” Montage is an honest mechanic, a loving husband, and a hard-working dad. Bug knows there’s no future in the man he used to be: known from the hills of North Carolina to the beaches of Florida as the best wheelman on the East Coast.

He thought he'd left all that behind him, but as his carefully built new life begins to crumble, he finds himself drawn inexorably back into a world of blood and bullets. When a smooth-talking former associate comes calling with a can't-miss jewelry store heist, Bug feels he has no choice but to get back in the driver's seat. And Bug is at his best where the scent of gasoline mixes with the smell of fear.

Haunted by the ghost of who he used to be and the father who disappeared when he needed him most, Bug must find a way to navigate this blacktop wasteland...or die trying.

Kritters Thoughts:  An interesting book when pitched to me, I was intrigued to read something out of my wheelhouse.  A heist book with a black man as the central character and it took place in my old stomping grounds.  Beauregard "Bug" Montage owns a car shop and is barely making ends meet.  With three kids in his home and a biological daughter about to head to college, Bug wants to provide for his entire family.  He sees no other way than to dip into his old ways and be a driver for a heist or two, but will they go his way . . . 

This book was good.  When I was pitched this book it was in the middle of the black lives matter movement and I wanted to challenge myself to read more books with either black people as main characters and/or written by black people.  I am glad this was the first one that came my way.  It really challenged my perspective both with a man as the main character (don't read too many!) and a black man at that.  I loved that the style of the story wasn't completely out of my wheelhouse, I love a heist.  

This book had great pacing.  From start to finish I was on the edge of my seat wondering where this book was going to go and who was going to get what they want.  I loved the ins and outs and ups and downs - it was good. 

For me, the thing that I didn't completely love was the gory killing.  I don't tend to love the in your face killing in any book.  It wouldn't stop me from reading another one by this author, but would need a break in between books.  

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

Ebook 2020 Challenge: 66 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Harlequin.  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: A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum

A Bend in the Stars

by Rachel Barenbaum

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Pages: 480

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  In Russia, in the summer of 1914, as war with Germany looms and the Czar's army tightens its grip on the local Jewish community, Miri Abramov and her brilliant physicist brother, Vanya, are facing an impossible decision. Since their parents drowned fleeing to America, Miri and Vanya have been raised by their babushka, a famous matchmaker who has taught them to protect themselves at all costs: to fight, to kill if necessary, and always to have an escape plan. But now, with fierce, headstrong Miri on the verge of becoming one of Russia's only female surgeons, and Vanya hoping to solve the final puzzles of Einstein's elusive theory of relativity, can they bear to leave the homeland that has given them so much?

Before they have time to make their choice, war is declared and Vanya goes missing, along with Miri's fiancé. Miri braves the firing squad to go looking for them both. As the eclipse that will change history darkens skies across Russia, not only the safety of Miri's own family but the future of science itself hangs in the balance.

Kritters Thoughts:  In Russia, the cusp of World War I and many people are feeling the effects of a war on the brink of exploding.  Miri Ambramov was just beginning her career as a surgeon when her mega smart brother is about to make headway on Einstein's theory of relativity.  She and her fiance, drop everything to help Vanya get to the eclipse where he can possibly make a discovery and change the world.  

Most of this book was a chase or road trip book with two sets moving trying to outrun and outmaneuver the bad guys while at the same time hunting for something.  Although at times, I wasn't completely loving the story, the pacing throughout was fantastic.  The author was able to keep the story moving and keep me reading until the end.  

I also enjoyed this book because the time and place felt unique.  I don't read a lot of books that are set in Russia and during World War I.  World War II ends up being the more typical time that I read about, so I enjoyed the fact that this was different from my typical time and place.  

I found out after reading that this was a debut novel and it made me more impressed by the book.  I would look more closely at her next book and possibly dive in.  

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

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Grand Central Publishing.  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?

A quiet week = lots of reading!

A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

Blacktop Wasteland by SA Cosby

Wiving by Caitlin Myer

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel

The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull

The Request by David Bell

Currently Reading:

Fragments of Light by Michele Phoenix

Next on the TBR pile:
Behind the Red Door by Megan Collins

Review: Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore

Two Truths and a Lie

by Meg Mitchell Moore

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 400

Format: eARC 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  Truth: Sherri Griffin and her daughter, Katie, have recently moved to the idyllic beach town of Newburyport, Massachusetts. Rebecca Coleman, widely acknowledged former leader of the Newburyport Mom Squad (having taken a step back since her husband’s shocking and tragic death eighteen months ago), has made a surprising effort to include these newcomers in typically closed-group activities. Rebecca’s teenage daughter Alexa has even been spotted babysitting Katie.

Truth: Alexa has time on her hands because of a recent falling-out with her longtime best friends for reasons no one knows—but everyone suspects have to do with Alexa’s highly popular and increasingly successful YouTube channel. Katie Griffin, who at age 11 probably doesn’t need a babysitter anymore, can’t be left alone because she has terrifying nightmares that don’t seem to jibe with the vague story Sherri has floated about the “bad divorce” she left behind in Ohio. Rebecca Coleman has been spending a lot of time with Sherri, it’s true, but she’s also been spending time with someone else she doesn’t want the Mom Squad to know about just yet.

Lie: Rebecca Coleman doesn’t have a new man in her life, and definitely not someone connected to the Mom Squad. Alexa is not seeing anyone new herself and is planning on shutting down her YouTube channel in advance of attending college in the fall. Sherri Griffin’s real name is Sherri Griffin, and a bad divorce is all she’s running from.

Kritters Thoughts:  Sherri Griffin and her daughter Katie have moved to a small beach town in Massachusetts and hoping to quickly get integrated into this town and grow quick roots.  They have many secrets that they must keep for their safety, but being surrounded by crazy women who both love and love to hate, it will be hard for them to keep everything under wraps.  Rebecca Coleman and her daughter Alexa have lived in this town for a long time, but with the recent death of their husband/father, they are feeling as though they don't fit in well anymore and big changes in this small town are right around the corner.

The characters made this book.  The mother daughter relationship with a magnifying glass on it made for such a great read.  Each mother daughter pair were interesting as each has their own quirks!  There was plot in this book, but the true star were the characters.  

I loved the changing perspective.  From the mothers to the daughters to a group narrating, it was so fun to see the story bounce back and forth.  I especially loved when "the squad" narrated as that felt so different from anything else I had read.  To see group think realized in a book - so good!

I absolutely loved this book.  It was perfect for a summer weekend.  There was a large cast of characters but with a sticky note and pairing up moms and daughters it became easy to remember who was who and what drama they had!  I tore through this book and it reinvigorated my love of good meaty beach reads that are easy to get into and stay in!

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from HarperCollins.  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: Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins

Always the Last to Know

by Kristan Higgins

Publisher: Berkley Books

Pages: 400

Format: eARC 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  The Frosts are a typical American family. Barb and John, married almost fifty years, are testy and bored with each other...who could blame them after all this time? At least they have their daughters-- Barb's favorite, the perfect, brilliant Juliet; and John's darling, the free-spirited Sadie. The girls themselves couldn't be more different, but at least they got along, more or less. It was fine. It was enough.

Until the day John had a stroke, and their house of cards came tumbling down.

Now Sadie has to put her career as a teacher and struggling artist in New York on hold to come back and care for her beloved dad--and face the love of her life, whose heart she broke, and who broke hers. Now Juliet has to wonder if people will notice that despite her perfect career as a successful architect, her perfect marriage to a charming Brit, and her two perfect daughters, she's spending an increasing amount of time in the closet having panic attacks.

And now Barb and John will finally have to face what's been going on in their marriage all along.

Kritters Thoughts:  Another Kristan Higgins book that is a stand alone and I typically love her books that are stand alones, but for me this one as was just ok.  The Frost family contains mother, father, and two daughters.  When the story begins, the father has had a heart attack and the daughter that lived far away has come home to help nurse him back to health, but also to rethink what she wants her future to look like.  

With each of the family members taking turns to tell their side of the story, the book started with presenting each member and the drama they were dealing with.  I think for me this is didn't work for me and it was hard to start sort of down in the dumps from the beginning.  The first few chapters and so many odd pages were just filled with drama drama and more drama and I was worried that was how the whole book was going to feel like.  Thankfully once the story started moving forward it got better, but not enough for me to fall in love with it.

Being in a family with two daughters, I related a lot to this book and maybe for me I laughed at things that felt familiar and cringed at things that felt too close!  I love picturing these two daughters and their parents and it was easy to see the reflections in my family.  Kristan Higgins builds great characters.  

Out of her stand alones, this wasn't one of my favorites, but it isn't a book that I despised or didn't even finish.  

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

Ebook 2020 Challenge: 65 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Penguin Random House.  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: Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook by Celia Rees

Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook

by Celia Rees

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 512

Format: eARC 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  World War II has just ended, and Britain has established the Control Commission for Germany, which oversees their zone of occupation. The Control Commission hires British civilians to work in Germany, rebuild the shattered nation and prosecute war crimes. Somewhat aimless, bored with her job as a provincial schoolteacher, and unwilling to live with her stuffy genteel parents any longer, twentysomething Edith Graham applies for a job with the Commission—but is instead recruited by the OSS. To them, Edith is perfect spy material…single, ordinary-looking, with a college degree in German. And there’s another thing—the OSS knows that Edith’s brother went to Oxford with one of their most hunted war criminals, Count Kurt von Stabenow, who Edith remembers all too well from before the war.

Intrigued by the challenge, Edith heads to Germany armed with a convincing cover story: she’s an unassuming schoolteacher sent to help resurrect German primary schools. To send information back to her OSS handlers in London, Edith has crafted the perfect alter ego, cookbook author Stella Snelling, who writes a popular magazine cookery column that embeds crucial intelligence within the recipes she collects. But occupied Germany is awash with other spies, collaborators, and opportunists, and as she’s pulled into their world, Edith soon discovers that no one is what they seem to be. The closer she gets to uncovering von Stabenow’s whereabouts—and the network of German civilians who still support him—the greater the danger. 

Kritters Thoughts:  World War II is done.  Edith Graham is single and decides to join the Control Commission for Germany where she will help rebuild the education system from buildings to furniture to teachers to books.  This will be a cover as she will be hunting for a doctor who was high in the Nazi regime who she has quite a history with, but what side does she work for and what is the future for this doctor who is accused of doing many horrible things during the war.

For me this book was hard to read.  I had such a difficult time figuring out who worked for who when everyone was about to double cross.  I wish there had been a map and some chart of who was who or at least their titles because this really stunted my reading of the book.    

I wanted more from Edith and Dori and their letters in code.  There were only just a few chapters where Dori interrupted the recipes and gave the information - I wanted so much more than what was in the book.  I felt as though it was the title and the heart of the book, but as the reader we just didn't get enough.  

I would read more historical fiction from this author.  I think her character development was great and I was connected with Edith and Dori and loved following their journey to find their Nazi doctor.

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

Ebook 2020 Challenge: 65 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from William Morrow.  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?

A busy holiday weekend boating cut into some of my reading hours!

A meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. 

Finished this past week:

Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook by Celia Rees

The Shore House by Heidi Hostetter

A Bend in the Stars by Rachel Barenbaum

The Wright Sister by Patty Dann

Currently Reading:

Blacktop Wasteland by SA Cosby

Next on the TBR pile:
Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel

Review: The Black Swan of Paris by Karen Robards

The Black Swan of Paris

by Karen Robards

Publisher: MIRA

Pages: 480

Format: eARC 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  A world at war. A beautiful young star. A mission no one expected.

Paris, 1944

Celebrated singer Genevieve Dumont is both a star and a smokescreen. An unwilling darling of the Nazis, the chanteuse’s position of privilege allows her to go undetected as an ally to the resistance.

When her estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis, Genevieve knows it won’t be long before the Gestapo succeeds in torturing information out of Lillian that will derail the upcoming allied invasion. The resistance movement is tasked with silencing her by any means necessary—including assassination. But Genevieve refuses to let her mother become yet one more victim of the war. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, she must find a way to navigate the perilous cross-currents of Occupied France undetected—and in time to save Lillian’s life.

Kritters Thoughts:  A historical fiction book written during a time period where a lot of historical fiction takes place, but this one has the chance to stand out from the crowd as it is told through the perspective of Genevieve Dumont who has become a star and while she sings in many different venues across Paris, she is also sharing secrets of the Nazis to the Resistance.  Her mother is captured by the Nazis and Genevieve's mission becomes very personal.  

A hefty book at well over 400 pages, this book did linger in a few places where I would have sped up, but once you hit the race to save Lillian this book really is a sprint to the end!  

I have read a few books that hint at the existence of the Resistance, but I loved reading a whole book that focuses on them and shares with the readers all the ways that information was passed to and fro and how much organization was behind it all was just beyond fascinating.  

I always love when a historical fiction book teaches me something and I learned quite a bit of the behind the scenes of a whole group of people who were trying to collapse the Nazi regime in this book.  

This was my very first Karen Robards fan and I was completely unaware of her huge backlist until I finished and am intrigued to read more by her, where should I go next?  

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

Ebook 2020 Challenge: 63 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Harlequin.  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: No One Saw by Beverly Long

No One Saw

by Beverly Long

Publisher: MIRA

Pages: 384

Format: eARC 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  Nobody saw a thing. Or so they say…

Baywood police department detective A.L. McKittridge is no stranger to tough cases, but when five-year-old Emma Whitman disappears from her day care, there isn’t a single shred of evidence to go on. Neither the grandmother who dropped her off, nor the teacher whose care she was supposed to be in, can account for the missing child. There are no witnesses. No trace of where she might have gone. There’s only one thing A.L. and his partner, Rena Morgan, are sure of—somebody is lying.

With the clock ticking, A.L. and Rena are under extreme pressure as they discover their instincts are correct: all is not as it seems. The Whitmans are a family with many secrets, and A.L. and Rena will have to race to untangle a growing web of lies if they’re going to find the thread that leads them to Emma…before it’s too late.

Kritters Thoughts:  This is book two in a series with two detectives, AL McKittridge and Rena Morgan.  As is the case with most mystery series, the mystery to be solved is self contained in each book, but there is definitely some character development from book to book with the characters that are consistent from book to book, so I recommend starting at book one, but you won't be too spoiled by reading out of order.

In this book, the detectives are back and called in because a five-year-old has gone missing from a daycare where her grandmother dropped her off in a hurry to start her day.  Both parents, grandmother and many others in the book have reasons to lie and may not be the most upstanding adults!  There are plenty to not trust in this book and there was one road that the detectives went down that I thought was obviously wrong and may have voiced my opinion to no one!!

As a former employee of a daycare (in my high school years), I read this book with an interesting view from the perspective of the employees.  I am also not a parent, so I couldn't completely get into that headspace, but I could sure understand the terror of losing a child.  

I enjoyed this second book and am hoping for many more to come!

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2020 Challenge: 61 out of 100

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from HarperCollins.  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: Ten Days Gone by Beverly Long

Ten Days Gone

by Beverly Long

Publisher: Mira Books

Pages: 377

Format: ebook 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  They know exactly when he’ll strike… They just have to find him first.

In all their years working for the Baywood police department, detectives A.L. McKittridge and Rena Morgan have never seen anything like it. Four women dead in forty days, each killed ten days apart. With nothing connecting the victims and very little evidence, the clock is already counting down to when the next body drops. A.L. and Rena will have to act fast if they’re going to find the killer’s next victim before he does.

But identifying the killer’s next likely target is only half the battle. With pressure pushing in from all sides, a promising breakthrough leads the detectives to Tess Lyons, a woman whose past trauma has left her too damaged to appreciate the danger she’s in. Unwilling to let another woman die, A.L. and Rena will put everything on the line to keep Tess safe and end the killer’s deadly spree once and for all—before time runs out again.

Kritters Thoughts:  The first in a mystery/thriller series which must do two things, one set the stage for the series in introducing place and characters and two must have a mystery of itself.  I think this book did a good job of both.  

There are two main detectives in this series.  AL McKittridge and Rena Morgan.  These two have worked together for a bit and know each other's quirks and can call each other out.  In this first book the reader gets to know them and their home lives that will at times interrupt the mystery that they are trying to solve.  

In this book, the case is self contained as in it is presented and solved within this one book.  These detectives find a fourth victim killed within forty days and from the beginning it is an obvious pattern and they are hoping to break it and prevent another victim.  

I always judge a mystery on the person who ends up being the guilty party and if the clues were perfectly crafted to finally point to them and I felt like the author did a great job in this one where I didn't find out early, but right on time!

I am excited to continue this series and learn more about these detectives and keep solving cases!

Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Ebook 2020 Challenge: 60 out of 100

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.

June - the start of summer

source

Another month home. A month on the boat and by the pool. A month of reading.

1. Sweet Pea Summer by Alys Murray

2. We Came Here to Shine by Susie Orman Schnall

3. Everything I Needed to Know I Learned From Judy Blume edited by Jennifer O'Connell

4. Dance Lessons by Aine Greaney

5. The Editor by Steven Rowley

6. Summer at Lake Haven by RaeAnne Thayne

7. The Falling Woman by Richard Farrell

8. Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger

9. The Wedding Dress Christmas by Rachael Hauck

10. When You Read This by Mary Adkins

11. Ten Days Gone by Beverly Long

12. No One Saw by Beverly Long

13. Two Truths and a Lie by Meg Mitchell Moore

14. What's Your Enneatype? by Liz Carver and Josh Green

15. The Lost Girls of Devon by Barbara O'Neal

16. The Black Swan of Paris by Karen Robards

17. Always the Last to Know by Kristan Higgins

18. Miss Graham's Cold War Cookbook by Celia Rees

Total pages read, clicked and flipped: 6,217

Where having I been Reading?:

California

New York City (3)

Ireland

Idaho

Kansas

Tennessee

Wisconsin (2)

Massachusetts

England

Paris

Connecticut

Germany