DIRTY LITTLE SECRET by Jennifer Ryan

December 18, 2018

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Wild Rose Ranch, Book 1

From the publisher:

Meet the women from Wild Rose Ranch—and the men who want them—in New York Times Bestselling Author Jennifer Ryan’s breathtaking series of romance and scandal . . .

Noah Cordero is a modern-day cowboy who loves three things: ranching, his younger sister, and his step-father. John Cordero groomed Noah to take over the Montana spread where he learned to ride and work the land. But when John unexpectedly dies, he leaves half the ranch to a woman Noah doesn’t even know.

Roxy shares Noah’s last name, but not his blood. Estranged from her father, haunted by regrets, and eager to escape her notorious mother’s past, she is forced to fulfill her father’s last wishes. Inheriting means sharing a home with infuriating, challenging, and oh-so-tempting Noah. But John didn’t just make her owner of his ranch and guardian to her sister, his hidden sideline is her worst nightmare—she’s the new owner of the notorious Nevada brothel called Wild Rose Ranch where she grew up.

As their strictly business relationship starts to turn to true love, Roxy begins to wonder, what will happen when Noah discovers her dirty little secret?

Roxy is one tough broad, and I mean that in the best possible way. Growing up with a mother who’s a drug abusing prostitute is no picnic, and having a father who sends checks but has no real presence in her life isn’t much help. But Roxy prevails, and when her father dies and she inherits, things finally start going her way. Especially with her father’s adopted son, Noah.

The sparks are flying but they both are fighting their attraction. The relationship sort of stumbles along and I often felt like I missed something. But I liked the characters and I wanted them to get together and get their happily ever after, so it worked for me. I’ll definitely give the next book in the series a try.

12/18 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

DIRTY LITTLE SECRET by Jennifer Ryan. Avon (December 18, 2018).  ISBN 978-0062645319.  384p.

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SOMEONE TO TRUST by Mary Balogh

December 17, 2018

A Westcott Novel, Book 5

From the publisher:

During a rare white Christmas at Brambledean Court, the widow Elizabeth, Lady Overfield, defies convention by falling in love with a younger man in the latest novel in the Westcott series.

After her husband’s passing, Elizabeth Overfield decides that she must enter into another suitable marriage. That, however, is the last thing on her mind when she meets Colin Handrich, Lord Hodges, at the Westcott Christmas house party. She simply enjoys his company as they listen to carolers on Christmas Eve, walk home from church together on Christmas morning, and engage in a spirited snowball fight in the afternoon. Both are surprised when their sled topples them into a snowbank and they end up sharing an unexpected kiss. They know there is no question of any relationship between them, for she is nine years older than he.

They return to London the following Season, both committed to finding other, more suitable matches. Still they agree to share one waltz at each ball they attend. This innocuous agreement proves to be one that will topple their worlds, as each dance steadily ensnares them in a romance that forces the two to question what they are willing to sacrifice for love. . . .

I usually can rely on Mary Balogh to provide a good story with a nice romance. She does here, but there are so many characters in the first half of the book that I was drowning. And I’ve read the earlier books so they were somewhat familiar. But bringing them all together in this way was a real slog to get through. A disappointment.

11/18 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

SOMEONE TO TRUST by Mary Balogh. Berkley (November 27, 2018).  ISBN 978-0399586101. 384p.

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THE FOREVER CHRISTMAS TREE by Sandra Hill

December 16, 2018

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Bell Sound Series, Book 1

From the publisher:

The Christmas bells are chiming across the Outer Banks town of Bell Cove, North Carolina, but there’s one local ‘grinch’ who’s not listening . . .

He’s got bad-boy looks and a Bah Humbug attitude, so when the local paper asks the villagers to vote on the “Biggest Local Grinch” as a fund-raising project, Ethan Rutledge isn’t surprised to hear he’s made the ballot. He might own the local Christmas Tree Farm, but the holiday hasn’t been welcome in his home since Wendy Patterson left him heart-broken twelve years ago.

But now Wendy’s back, fresh from a tour of duty as a female Navy SEAL. She’s bold, beautiful, and has five Navy buddies trailing after her—as if she needs a bodyguard! And what’s all this about them wanting to start a treasure hunting company right here in Bell Cove’s failing bell factory? Then Wendy learns about how Ethan’s been nurturing the one thing he has to remember her by: a gorgeous Norway Spruce tree.

Can the magic of Christmas and the spirit of the town help rekindle the romance between two people who thought they’d left love behind years ago?

We have MSNBC on in my house most of the time. When I need to escape it, pretty much every night (!) I like escaping into a book that will make me feel good. This fit the bill perfectly. While Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell keep me informed and sad, Sandra Hill put the smile back on my face.

I love Christmas stories and this was a good one. Not syrupy sweet but fun and fast and even a little bit sexy. I bought into the idea of women SEALs (ever hopeful am I!) The conflict was good, and I cared about these characters. That and a believable romance and happy ending and I am good to go. A very enjoyable read.

12/18 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE FOREVER CHRISTMAS TREE by Sandra Hill. Avon (September 25, 2018).  ISBN 978-0062854070.  368p.

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THE ONES WHO GOT AWAY by Roni Loren

December 15, 2018

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The Ones Who Got Away, Book 1

From the publisher:

An Amazon Best Book of 2018 and a Kirkus Best Book of 2018!

A fresh new contemporary romance from New York Times and USA Today best seller Roni Loren that will rock your world.

Twelve years ago, tragedy struck the senior class of Long Acre High School. Only a small number of students survived, a group the media dubbed as The Ones Who Got Away. Now, web designer Liv Arias, along with the rest of the survivors, have returned to the small Texas town to tell their stories for a documentary. Which means Liv seeing former star-athlete and old flame Finn Dorsey.

A lot happened between them that night and Liv is ready to end their decade-long riff and move on. But when her attempt at closure turns into a steamy kiss, moving on proves much more difficult than either of them thought…

I live a few miles from Margery Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The school shooting where 17 people were killed. This whole area was just devastated and I had a really difficult time of it. I wasn’t sure I could read this book but I decided to give it a try. I’m very glad I did. I think Loren did a really good job with a very sensitive topic.

It actually gave me some comfort to see these survivors, these girls, all grown up and dealing with it all. The romance rang true, and it was a good exploration of how life goes on. I immediately picked up the next book in the series…stay tuned.

12/18 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE ONES WHO GOT AWAY by Roni Loren. Sourcebooks Casablanca (January 2, 2018).  ISBN 978-1492651406.  384p.

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WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens

December 14, 2018

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From the publisher:

#1 New York Times Bestseller
A Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick

For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.

Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

 

The publisher’s description doesn’t begin to do this book justice. It came out last summer and I missed it completely. I started hearing about it from my library patrons and was surprised to discover a very long waiting list for the book. I finally got it and read it in one night. It was unputdownable.

Kya is a most unusual character and we meet her when she is about five years old. Her coming of age is an astonishing story and beautifully told. The writing is simply superlative, the descriptions just bring this unusual setting, a marsh in rural North Carolina, to life.

The story is written in two timelines which are easily followed, and eventually meet. There is a mystery at the heart of this story and the ending was a shocker.

I haven’t taken Reese Witherspoon’s recommendations very seriously but I will now. Where the Crawdads Sing is perfect for book discussion and anyone who enjoys a good story, engaging characters and beautiful writing. I loved it.

11/18 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens. G.P. Putnam’s Sons; First Edition, First Printing edition (August 14, 2018). ISBN 978-0735219090. 384p.

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DEEP WAR by David Poyer

December 13, 2018

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Dan Lenson Novels, Book 18

This is a continuation of novels dealing with a war between the United States and China. Poyer utilizes several characters involved in the combat as a means of centering the action to areas selected by him as most important to the story. Chief among these is admiral Dan Lenson who is selected to lead an important attack on Chinese installations.

The actions involved; the attacks, the combat and the behind the scenes maneuvering are well done. The biggest problem that I have in enjoying “Deep War” as much as I have other books by this author is the time and space dedicated to going into detail about the nomenclature for the weaponry and systems used in the war. The author has an excellent knowledge of carrying out a modern mechanized war with the very high tech equipment utilized in the fighting. The reader will immediately get Poyer’s opinions that future war will be fought with cyber attacks as well as central roles played by Artificial Intelligence (AI). I feel that the overabundance of description devoted to the weapons rather than the people involved with the fighting takes the novel from perhaps a good short story to an overly lengthy novel.

A concept is used which was once a science fiction idea is for the Chinese government to be using a thinking computer to direct the war for them. Termed “Jade Emperor” the AI, as it is, anticipates and counters moves by the allies. It thinks ahead and is able to postulate scenarios with appropriate counter measures and order such action by the Chinese military. Poyer has made the argument that with such entities virtually on the horizon it would really be national suicide for nations to make war on each other. Perhaps this concept described by the author will finally become the deterrent mankind needs to avoid armed conflict and use reason.

12/18 Paul Lane

DEEP WAR by David Poyer. St. Martin’s Press (December 4, 2018).  ISBN 978-1250101105. 304p.

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EDUCATED by Tara Westover

December 12, 2018

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A Memoir

From the publisher:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, AND BOSTON GLOBE BESTSELLER • NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • O: The Oprah Magazine • Time • NPR • Financial Times • The Economist • The Guardian • Newsday  • Refinery29 •   Real Simple • Bustle • Pamela Paul, KQED • Publishers Weekly • LibraryReads • Library Journal • New York Public Library  • PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S SUMMER READING • ONE OF BILL GATES’S FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR • LONGLISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE

An unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University

“Beautiful and propulsive . . . Despite the singularity of [Tara Westover’s] childhood, the questions her book poses are universal: How much of ourselves should we give to those we love? And how much must we betray them to grow up?”—Vogue

Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

The accolades for this book keep rolling in and what can I say, they are all well deserved.

It was a difficult read at times, the abuse Westover went through and the accidents that happened to family members were often told in gruesome, albeit necessary, detail. Unfortunately, I know first hand what it is like for a daughter to be estranged from her father. This is a book that will stay with me for a very long time.

I have spoken to many people who have read this book, and not one could say anything negative about it. It is a difficult story, beautifully told. Dr. Westover gave us all a gift, and I am most appreciative. Don’t miss it.

12/18 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

EDUCATED by Tara Westover. Random House; First Edition edition (February 20, 2018). ISBN 978-0399590504. 352p.

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NIGHT OF MIRACLES by Elizabeth Berg

December 11, 2018

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From the publisher:

The feel-good book of the year: a delightful novel of friendship, community, and the way small acts of kindness can change your life, by the bestselling author of The Story of Arthur Truluv

Lucille Howard is getting on in years, but she stays busy. Thanks to the inspiration of her dearly departed friend Arthur Truluv, she has begun to teach baking classes, sharing the secrets to her delicious classic Southern yellow cake, the perfect pinwheel cookies, and other sweet essentials. Her classes have become so popular that she’s hired Iris, a new resident of Mason, Missouri, as an assistant. Iris doesn’t know how to bake but she needs to keep her mind off a big decision she sorely regrets.

When a new family moves in next door and tragedy strikes, Lucille begins to look out for Lincoln, their son. Lincoln’s parents aren’t the only ones in town facing hard choices and uncertain futures. In these difficult times, the residents of Mason come together and find the true power of community—just when they need it the most.

“Elizabeth Berg’s characters jump right off the page and into your heart” said Fannie Flagg about The Story of Arthur Truluv. The same could be said about Night of Miracles, a heartwarming novel that reminds us that the people we come to love are often the ones we don’t expect.

This is the sequel to The Story of Arthur Truluv, one of my favorite reads last year and I admit to being nervous about it. What if I didn’t love it? Would it ruin the Truluv book for me? I put my fears aside and dove in, and I am so glad that I did.

It is another charmer filled with warm, wonderful characters that we can’t help but care about. They grew and changed since the last book, but in a way that seemed natural and believable. Victory is mine, I loved it!

12/18 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

NIGHT OF MIRACLES by Elizabeth Berg. Random House (November 13, 2018). ISBN 978-0525509509. 288p.

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BEST. STATE. EVER. by Dave Barry

December 10, 2018

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A Florida Man Defends His Homeland

From the publisher:

A New York Times bestseller—a brilliantly funny exploration of the Sunshine State from the man who knows it best: Pulitzer Prize winner Dave Barry.

We never know what will happen next in Florida. We know only that, any minute now, something will. Every few months, Dave Barry gets a call from some media person wanting to know, “What the hell is wrong with Florida?” Somehow, the state’s acquired an image as a subtropical festival of stupid, and as a loyal Floridian, Dave begs to differ.

Join him as he goes in hunt of the legendary Skunk Ape; hobnobs with the mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs; and visits Cassadaga, the psychic capital of the world, to have his dog’s aura read (apparently, she’s “very spiritual”). Hitch a ride for the non-stop thrills of alligator-wrestling (“the gators display the same fighting spirit as a Barcalounger”), the hair-raising spectacle of a clothing-optional bar in Key West, and the manly manliness of the Machine Gun Experience in Miami.

It’s the most hilarious book yet from “the funniest damn writer in the whole country” (Carl Hiaasen, and he should know). By the end, you’ll have to admit that whatever else you might think about Florida—you can never say it’s boring.

I’m a long time Dave Barry fan. I read him when he was writing his column for the Miami Herald. I watched “Dave’s World,” the short-lived TV sitcom based on his life. I was delighted when my daughter found his books and read them all in a week, laughing the entire time. But I was surprised, and not in a good way, when I found out that the Literacy Coalition selected this book for Palm Beach County Read Together.

I had agreed to facilitate a book discussion at my library on whichever book they picked, as our publicity had to be in a couple of months before the selection was announced. After the announcement, the 20 or so regulars that attend my book discussions picked up their books, and shortly after that, began a parade of unhappy readers.

The book is cute, it definitely has its moments, but it is not, in any way, shape or form, a piece of literature in need of a discussion. One by one my book club participants returned the book and informed me they would not be attending the discussion. I understood, but my hands were tied. At the end, two of my regulars showed up, and half a dozen women who came because they thought Dave Barry would be there. Not my finest hour.

To make matters even more aggravating, the Literacy Coalition, for the entirety of this series, has made available on their website a downloadable discussion guide. But when I downloaded it, I found blurbs about the book, a brief, funny bio of Dave Barry, a handful of fun Florida facts and half a dozen Florida trivia questions. No discussion questions whatsoever. There is not a discussion question to be found for this book, and believe me, I looked. And it dawned on me that there really isn’t anything to discuss. There is no real substance here, and book discussion revolve around substance.

I didn’t love this book, which had nothing to do with the book discussion debacle. I found the essay on the Keys way too long and in need of serious editing. I liked the essay on the Villages and the one on shooting machine guns, gun hater that I am, because it was funny. But most of it just was Dave pointed out the silly things Florida is home to and the reasons people move here by the thousands. I was surprised to learn that Florida is the third most populous state in the nation so at least I learned something.

If you are a huge Dave Barry fan, then you will probably enjoy this book but then again, if you are that fan, you’ve probably already read it. And FYI, the reviews on Amazon are stellar.

12/18 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

BEST. STATE. EVER. by Dave Barry. G.P. Putnam’s Sons; Reprint edition (September 5, 2017). ISBN 978-1101982617 . 240p.

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ONCE UPON A RIVER by Diane Setterfield

December 9, 2018

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A beautifully written book set in a small town in England sometime during the reign of Queen Victoria. The town is located along the banks of the Thames river (maybe, as Setterfield herself indicates). It is the same river passing through London,meandering by Oxford and other towns along the bank and it provides the center point for a novel describing events in and around Radcot, one of these towns during another time and place. The “Swan” is the locale near Radcot where the local folk go to enjoy drink and companionship after the day’s work is done.

One day, a man, obviously hurt, staggers into the “Swan” carrying what appears to be a dead little girl. After putting her down he collapses but later disappears. In the meanwhile the little girl proves that she is alive by waking up and astounding the patrons of the tavern by doing so. In the course of time three families claim that the now living, but unfortunately mute girl is, theirs, resulting in many differences of opinion among the residents of the area. The gist of the novel revolves about the thoughts and actions of the various factions setting up a novel written in a style reminiscent of books penned in the period described.

While other readers claim that the novel is a sort of fairy tale there is enough low key descriptions of sex, murder, and evil to dispel this idea. What the book is is a well written story which will keep the reader glued to the pages. There was a long period between this novel and Setterfield’s previous book and reading this one gives rise to the hope that it won’t be that long until her next one appears.

12/18 Paul Lane

ONCE UPON A RIVER by Diane Setterfield. Atria/Emily Bestler Books (December 4, 2018).  ISBN 978-0743298070. 480p.

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