ARC – Page 2 – One Chapter

The Birthday Girl by Melissa De La Cruz

3 stars Fiction

The party of all parties. A party to prove something but to whom? Ellie was throwing her own 40^th birthday party and she was sparing no expense. It was the best of the best for everyone and anyone she has ever had contact with. It was a show, another show that would dig into their wallet, a wallet that was already stretched thin.

Ellie bought the house anticipating that her 40^th birthday party would be held inside its massive walls. Ellie contempt’s and analyzes every aspect of her life, making sure that everything is refine and perfect, a task that sounds exhausting to me. She was such a nervous wreck before her party, I was hoping that when her party started, she would start to chill.

Welcome to the party. It was exhausting trying to keep track of who was having an affair with who, or who has had an affair with who, and who thought someone was having an affair with someone. Was anyone at this party married and not having an affair? It was never enough for someone to be happy; they were always striving for something better. Ellie never calmed down as her guests arrived, her adrenaline escalated as her thoughts raced. I thought she might have a breakdown and never be able to enjoy any aspect of her birthday. She was constantly watching and listening, searching for something. This 40^th birthday party is not a fun and happy birthday for Ellie but something that happens tonight tells me that Ellie’s birthdays were not always a pleasurable experience.

Let’s flashback to when Ellie turns 16 as she’s been keeping this birthday a secret for years. It should be a night of hanging out with friends and having a great time but as the night continues Ellie is getting frustrated. It’s her birthday and nothing is going as planned. Ellie tries to change things throughout the night but it’s exhausting and where is the fun in all of this? Before her birthday is officially over, Ellie is going to wish it hadn’t started.

I was annoyed with the birthday party aspect of the book as Ellie’s anxiety and busyness were over the top. There was nothing about her party that she enjoyed, nothing! The guests, the food, the gifts, the music, the effort…..nothing was ever enough. It annoyed me. Flashing back to her childhood, this part of the story was more appealing as Ellie moves between being satisfied with whatever happens to trying to change the situation, she’s in to make it more appealing to her. Ellie knows that she can create change. I thought the book was okay, it wasn’t a memorable read for me. 3 stars.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Melissa De La Cruz for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

5 stars Fiction

One year. Cassie had finally found her groove and now this. Her mother was asking Cassie to put her life on hold for one year so that she could help her out. This is the same mother who walked out on Cassie and her father when she was 16. After having just received a valor award for her outstanding job performance, Cassie packs up her bags to attend to her mother.

There was so much to love about Cassie, especially her attitude and energy. After the incident at the award ceremony and her initial meeting with her new boss at Lillian, I knew that Cassie would be a fireball. She can handle herself; that’s for sure but I started to wonder just how long she’d be able to control herself.

Cassie doesn’t want to standout at the firehouse, she wants to be accepted as one of them. She feels that she needs to prove to them that she’s not a girly-girl but someone who can handle anything that’s tossed her way. Cassie proves to the team that she tough and a few of the men are even intimated by her. With some laugh out loud moments, the firefighters welcome Cassie and initiate her into their firehouse with the traditional pranks. Cassie is feeling better about the move that she has made to help her mother because now she has a job, a job where she can be successful and feel good about herself.

Hello Rookie. Hello, Rookie! Not now…she doesn’t need this now especially after what her new boss told her. Since they’re the newest recruits, they’re always together so there’s no way she can ignore him. They start to share personal information while they’re together and all is lost…..what did the boss say? LOL. Cassie begins to accept her new life for what it is while a stalker has his eyes on Cassie.

This was the reality of life, tucked away secrets are brough to light as individuals adjusted to life in an ever-changing world. A book packed full of emotions, from laughter to tears and anything in-between, Cassie’s and those around her, lived a full life. 5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. #thingsyousavebook #tysiaf

Penitence by Kristin Koval

3.5 stars Fiction

Why? Why would a thirteen-year-old girl shoot her fourteen-year-old brother, a brother that she loved and spent so much time with? As the parents try to make sense of the incident, there are other issues happening behind the scenes that need to be resolved. This is not just a case of murder but something more complicated with emotions running high on all levels.

Nora shot her brother Nico. There is no denying that she held the gun and pulled the trigger as she admitted to doing so and the evidence is clear. It’s the only hundreds of questions that accompany these facts that don’t make sense, with Why being the biggest one. Nora doesn’t tell anyone the reason behind her decision that day even though this reason will have a huge impact on everything else. Perhaps she doesn’t know why, perhaps she doesn’t remember, or perhaps she doesn’t want to talk about it, nevertheless someone must help Nora realize how important these details are to her future.

Martine is near retirement on her legal career but decides to take Nora’s case. It’s more like a guilt-trip case on many levels, but she accepts it. Martine has a son in Manhattan, that is a criminal defense attorney, which just might come in handy in Nora’s case. Julian hasn’t spoken to Martine in years, which brings into this story other family issues that need to be resolved before they can focus on Nora and the issues surrounding the murder of her brother.

With the death of their son and their daughter in jail, you can feel the parents start to separate. The blame game begins with fingers being pointed. They’re both on their own separate boat trying to stay afloat. I understand their feelings, but they need to put their energy into figuring out what really happened and less speculation.

This book dealt with past and present relationships and the complications within them. If only they had taken the time to understand and care for one another. There were times I thought the book dragged on or/and they rehashed information that had already been discussed multiple times which made the book slow for me. As the book ended, I still had questions and perhaps that is life. It was how this book was, I started off with questions and I now, ended it with questions. 3.5 stars.

I want to thank Celadonbooks and Goodreads for my copy of this book that I received in exchange for an honest opinion. I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

The Vicious Circle by Katherine St. John

4 stars Fiction Mystery

I was hoping that something fantastic would happen to Sveta after what her fiancé put her through. When I read that they decided to take a break from one another, I was so relieved as I thought that Chase was still too much of a mama’s boy to get married. Finding out that her uncle Paul left her an unexpected inheritance, I was so excited for her and just hoped that it was enough that she could get rid of Chase permanently.

I knew Sveta still cared for Chase, but I really wished she would not have told him how much the inheritance was worth or who died. That information put him over the edge. She was now worth more than his family and there was no way that he would let her go now. Urg! Sveta must now make her way to her uncle’s funeral which is in the remote jungles of Mexico. Arriving, she meets her uncle’s attorney, Lucas, and they make their way to Xanadu, the wellness compound that Paul created. It has been many years since Sveta has seen her uncle, but she knows of his work. A famous spiritual leader, Paul had many followers and was known for his teachings. His estate, valued at 180 million dollars, is more than Sveta ever dreamed of.

Xanadu takes them both by surprise as they are both greeted warmly by Kali, Paul’s wife. I feel that there has to be some resentment for not getting Paul’s estate since she was his wife. There is some hesitation, as both Lucas and Sveta take in their surroundings. All electronic devices are stripped from them and a communal computer is made available to them and the other members of the compound. All individuals wear special clothing including Sveta and Lucas and this spiritual retreat compound is becoming more eerie by the minute. Lucas and Sveta start to ask questions about Xanadu and Paul yet the answers they receive aren’t what they expected. They’re learning and it becomes clearer what is actually happening here.

I really enjoyed the language in the book as the author drew me in. The whole picture was slowly being presented as the story unfolded. I was drawn in with the relationship of Sveta and Chase and I couldn’t wait for Sveta to venture to Mexico where I thought things would turn around for her but actually, things clicked into high gear as they realized what they had walked into. 4 stars

This book was part of the Scene of the Crime Early Read Program. Thank you for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Global by Eoin Colfer

5 stars YA Graphic Novel

Two different stories told from opposite ends of the world grip the reader as they learn that the connecting factor linking them together is global warming. While some individuals claim that global change and global warming are just fictious, Yuki and Sami lives are living proof that it’s happening, and its effect is very real.

From “here” Sami is a fisherman, like his grandfather in the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean. The sea is once again pushing its way onto the banks of his village. The seawall is crumbling, and the houses will once again have to be moved more inland. Land is becoming scarce as the ocean claims everything around them. Fishing is their livelihood, their means of existence. The water that was once their friend has now become their enemy as a constant struggle occurs as they struggle to bring home enough fish to earn a paycheck and the ocean tries to claim their home. Just when Sami and his grandfather thought that they had caught the “big one” and their luck had changed, they realized that the water was not their only problem.

From “there” Yuki, his dog Lockjaw live with her parents inside the Arctic Circle in Northern Canada. With the warmer winters, the snow and sea ice are melting rapidly creating issues for the residents and the bears who rely on it. With less ice, the bears are moving into the residential areas to forge for their food. Yuki doesn’t like how the town addresses this issue, so she takes it upon herself to find a better solution. Bundled against the cold winter landscape, fourteen-year-old Yuki sets off with Lockjaw for the answer.

As Sami and Yuki shared their stories, their stories felt real. The details and the emotions that were expressed felt heartfelt and sincere. The illustrations in this graphic novel were terrific! You could feel the tension, frustration, and excitement within each text box. The colors used helped create this dramatic storyline and it was hard book to put down.

I enjoyed the extra text pages at the back of the book as they helped explain the idea behind the book and about global warming. I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion of this book.

School Trip by Jerry Craft

4.5 stars Middle School Graphic Novel

They’re off to Paris! If you liked the first two graphic novels by Jerry Craft, you’ll want to pick up book three in this series, as the group is now headed to Paris to close out their last year in junior high. You can also read this book as a stand alone as the author does give the reader some details about the characters to help you feel connected.

I enjoyed the variety of characters that were included in this book and their different walks of life. This diversity made the book more interesting, and entertaining. In junior high, there are those students who settle into groups (or packs) and then, there were those students who walk alone. Nothing changes as excitement fills the air. The teens are looking forward to their end-of-the-year trip. The tension and division that the classmates felt during the school year felt significate and factual but that soon changes as they begin to realize what’s really important.

The supportive staff are excited about being the tour guides but at the last minute, their plans are upended. So much for having things all planned out. I thought this twist of events was excellent as it put the adults on the same playing field as the students. As each group arrives at their destination, the unfamiliarity and the excitement of the situation affects everyone. It’s like their senses have come alive to embrace what’s in front of them.

As they walked the streets of Paris, this alternative was the best option for them. They saw Paris for what it was. From the bathrooms to how friendly everyone was, they realize many things about themselves and life. No longer was Paris just a city in a movie or a picture in a book, they were actually experiencing Paris with their own eyes! I liked how the characters started to change. Their own observations on how their trip went at the end of their trip was a great way to wrap up this experience. This wasn’t just an educational trip for the students. This trip didn’t go according to plan, yet everyone enjoyed themselves and had a good time. I feel that everyone left their better person, even the supportive staff.

Another great graphic novel by Jerry Craft which touches on a variety of issues that teens encounter. 4.5 stars I want to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for my copy of this book that I received in exchange for an honest opinion #SchoolTrip

“In France, we work in order to live. But in America, it seems you live in order to work.”

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

5 stars Sci Fi

Oh, my word! I’m not one to read much science fiction but when I do, I seem to reach for some fantastic ones. The synopsis for this one sounded perfect but the page-length looked too daunting but let me tell you, this book did not drag. It did take me a while to get into the flow of the story but then, I needed to know more about this new world and the individuals who lived there.

This book centers around an interesting concept as a barrier separates these citizens from the rest of the world. The community is further separated into islands based on their function. As you can imagine, this is a controlled environment and productivity is monitored. High productivity is key to remaining on the island of Prospera. Wealthy educated individuals live here and you must continue be a productive asset to the community to secure your existence. Should your monitor show low productivity, you’ll become retired. The Ferryman will then escort you to one of the other islands, which is called the Nursery and your existence on Proapera is no longer. I thought of the Nursery as being a place where individuals get rehauled. Call it a transformation but who knew what really happened while individuals lived at the Nursery. They did know that who you were when you landed at the Nursery was not who eventually left that island. When all the alternations are complete, a new teenager with a new body and mind will be transported back to Prospera. Back on Prospera, this teenager would reside with some of the residents, learning how their community works and growing up to become a high performing adult. There is a third island where individuals work to maintain the upkeep of all the islands. Annex keeps this community functioning.

Our Ferryman is Proctor. Proctor’s mother had a tragic death and it’s during one of Proctor’s shifts that he’s to take his own father to the Nursery. I can’t imagine doing that myself, but this is Proctor’s job and it’s during this trip that his father says something to him that really affects Proctor. I’m not going into much more detail but the whole concept around this book, the characters, and the implications this book has really makes this book so enjoyable. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing in exchange for an honest opinion. 5 stars

The Replacement Wife by Darby Kane

4.5 stars Mystery

Who was the crazy one? I was torn between trying to figure out if Elisa might just be going off the deep-end or if her brother-in-law was as demented as Elisa thought he was. How many women does Josh have to go through before someone besides Elisa notices something just isn’t right? Elisa didn’t seem to be the most stable character to believe yet I wanted to think that she was a caring individual and carried that trait onto being a terrific friend, spouse, and mother yet when her family starts to find holes in her stories, I started to wonder just how stable Elisa really was.

Elisa has been staying home lately due to an incident, but it seemed that her husband encouraged this decision. Elisa liked spending more time with their son Nathan but even Nathan can be too much sometimes. Elisa is concerned about her friend Abby who was dating Josh, her brother-in-law. She’s been missing for a while, and no one seems concerned except for Elisa. Josh seems to have moved on, providing an excuse about Abby disappearance. Elisa is not buying the story and when Josh arrives on the scene with a new girl, Elisa is all over it. Elisa doesn’t understand Josh’s attitude and where did this new girl come from? The story becomes entangled as the stories don’t match up and I begin to wonder who is playing who? Did the incident with Elisa change her? IS Josh the killer that Elisa believes he is? What part does her husband play in all this, as he’s dancing between the two stages, he’s the nice guy to the both of them? Just when I think I had the characters all figured out, Darby throws a wrench into the mix, and I’m left deciding if this tool really matters and who it belongs to. The book really got interesting towards the middle and by the end, I had to know how it all ended. I liked how this book made me question the information that was presented, and it made me analyze the characters. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, Scene of the Crime, and William Morrow in exchange for an honest opinion. 4.5 stars

That Egg is Mine! by Liz Goulet Dubois

4.5 stars Children’s Reader

Whose egg, is it? This beautiful blue egg with white spots could be either Duck’s or Cluck’s because these friends each lay eggs and they both have these beautiful blue markings on them.

Duck and Cluck each give an account of why the egg is theirs but it’s when the egg hatches open, the friends truly find out who really owns the egg. A big surprise for both Duck and Cluck.

It’s a combination of a graphic novel and picture book as some pages are made up of text boxes and others are not. This makes for a great book for a young reader with simple text and large print. The illustrations are colorful, they complement the text, and readers can reference them to tell the story. I liked how Duck trusted Cluck to look at the egg but when Cluck took off carrying the egg, the frantic look on Duck’s face said it all. Later, as the egg cracks open, the faces on the friends as they stare at the new baby are comical and the ending is funny. I think this is a great book on solving problems and listening. Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Kids and Liz Goulet Dubois for an arc copy of this book which I received in exchange for an honest opinion. 4.5 stars

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

5 stars Thriller

The price we pay for our family. Career or family? Catherine is ready to begin a new chapter in her life, as she finishes up the last details on her new job in Baltimore. Currently working as a nurse in a memory care unit, there’s a land of opportunity awaiting Catherine. Her mother, a hard-working individual, is now beginning to display signs of aging: missing keys, a forgotten word, and loss of concentration. After months of reoccurrences, Catherine realizes that her mother might have Alzheimer’s. Confirming her assessment with a doctor’s visit, Catherine changes her future as her mother now needs her home.

Catherine’s has had limited knowledge about her past, including her family, so it’s no surprise to learn that her grandmother also had this disease. As Catherine digs into her family history, she begins to uncover truths that were meant to stay buried. Mother had tried to paint a good picture but now Catherine is peeling back the layers and discovering how much she really knows about her so-called life. It’s a book you want to savor yet you can’t stop the pages from flying by.

There are so many layers in this book which I really enjoyed. It’s a story that you can’t get too comfortable with, as you never know what the next page might bring. As Catherine started to uncover her mother’s deceit, she never knew what to expect. Catherine knew that she had a good mother but at what cost? Blessed with a devoted, loving mother, Catherine learns that behind that appearance was someone who wanted to be hidden. 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martin’s Press for an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.