Our House by Louise Candlish

I was so fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy of Our House by Louise Candlish. This book is published by Berkley and hits stores on August 7th, although you can pre-order now. Huge thanks to Berkley publishing not only for the book copy but for all the work you do!

This book is set in England, where a couple with two children live a nice life in an area where real estate values have dramatically increased. Their home is now worth substantially more than they paid for it, in fact more than 2 million pounds. One day the wife, Fi, (short for Fiona) comes home to find her husband, Bram, (short for Abraham) in the backyard inside the children's playhouse. The kids are in bed asleep but Bram isn't playing alone in the little house, he is with one of their female neighbors. Shortly after this infidelity, Fi and Bram Lawson separate.

One day, when Fi is going out of town, she pops back to the house to discover someone else moving in. She confronts the intruders to discover that all her and the children's belongings are gone and indeed, the house has not only been emptied but has been legally sold. The money paid for the home is missing, but the deed has been transferred. The act complete, her house is gone. Fi tries in vain to reach her estranged husband, who now has a disconnected phone and is nowhere to be found.

I don't want to say anything more about the plot, but suffice it to say I love the plot. In fact, this could have been one of my all-time favorite thrillers. Could have been. Sadly, for me, this book's pacing is way too slow. The facts learned by page 150 could have easily been told in 20 pages.  As the story progresses past the halfway mark of this over 400 page book, the pacing increases slightly.  I'll give you an example, something happens to Fi, you as the reader witness it. Then Fi tells the neighbor what happened, instead of just saying that she explained the occurrence to the neighbor, no, the author retells every detail. Then the neighbor retells someone else....again....geez. I really liked the story but don't want to read the same portion retold over and over. This is what holds up the pacing. The plot has all the makings of a blockbuster thriller, I mean it is a really interesting idea, it should be a page turner. My eyes should be bloodshot from reading without sleep because the story drives forward so quickly. Instead I kept putting the book down, yelling at it to just move on. Then there is the end. The end is abrupt and completely unsatisfying. I guess you could say it is ironic, but I was left saying "What, that's it?".

Now, please keep in mind I read a lot of thrillers that move very quickly. I have never read anything from Louise Candlish before, maybe this pacing is her style and something I am just not used to. Remember every book simply cannot be for every person. While this book was too slow for me, the plot was wonderful and the pacing maybe perfect for you. I hope you love it.

The Red Ledger Reborn by Meredith Wild

I was lucky to receive an advanced copy of The Red Ledger Reborn by Meredith Wild. I had never heard of this title or author. Upon receiving this book I googled Meredith and found some very interesting things. First, I don't think this is the first novel in what appears to be a series. It does not matter, this book stands on its own. Next, I discovered an interesting story about the author. It seems she usually writes romance and used to self-publish. Apparently finding it difficult to get books into brick-and-mortar stores, she started her own publishing house.

Good for you, Meredith Wild, and good for Waterhouse Press (her publishing brand). I so adore when someone hits a wall and can't find a way around, then blasts through to make their own door, saying "Take that, book world!" Now I'm intrigued. So I start the novel the author classifies as suspense. Thriller, suspense, tomato, toe-maato. Right from the beginning...(I'm smiling here because it has an usual beginning that I desperately want to tell you, but I won't, it's too good not to read for yourself)...right from the beginning I'm hooked.

The story is about a hitman who is about to kill a young woman who is his target, but he realizes that she knows him. Some parts of his memory are unclear so he wonders if her knowledge would help him, but then again he does have this "job" to do. I don't want to say more.  Know that the book moves quickly, stays on topic, is well written and is pleasant and interesting reading. One thing that might annoy readers is that this narrative alternates back and forth, being told from the perspective of each of the two main characters, Isabel and Tristan. Frankly, it didn't bother me in the least and I really found it a helpful way of telling the story. I found myself looking forward to the perspective change so I would know what the other character was thinking. A very enjoyable book, indeed.

I want to thank Meredith Wild, Waterhouse Press and Bookish First for the copy of this great novel. It will be released on August 7, 2018 and is available for PRE-ORDER NOW.  I'm heading to the bookstore myself. I want to read everything else Meredith has written!

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

A few weeks ago, June 19th to be exact, B.A. Paris' new book Bring Me Back was released. I was very excited as I have read and enjoyed both of her previous books, Behind Closed Doors and The Break Down. I implored my husband to pick it up at the bookstore near his office on release date. I must read it immediately. Finally, after several deep breaths, who am I kidding practically hyperventilating, I said no. I would wait. I have tons of brand-new books here waiting, hell begging to be read. I would wait until this came out in paperback or when not in such a precarious position as to be crushed by my own stack of to be read books.

Alas, along came the dreaded Barnes and Noble 20% off coupon. Getting such a current release hard back for on $13 must be a sign, it is fate, meant to be. We were destined to become story-reader soul mates. Well, I've finished it and I'm unsure of our current status. If I had to purchase it again, I would...so I consider that a recommendation, but somethings keep nagging at me. Without a plot rehash I'll just say a man and his girlfriend on a trip, pull into a rest stop. He returns from the bathroom and she is missing. The story flashes forward 12 years and the same man (named Finn, if that matters), is about to be married, to the woman who disappeared sister. I don't know, my husband is very close to my family, I can already see him saying "ewe", not that he doesn't adore my sisters but not in a creepy incest kind of way.

Anyway, the story leads you to believe that the original girlfriend might still be alive and stalking Finn and her sister, his current love interest. Sounds super interesting. One of my pet peeves is when books yammer on about topics that don't matter to the story or rehash the same thing over and over. I have a lot to read (see leaning tower of to be read books above), and I want authors to be very respectful of my time. This book seemed to spend a lot of time pondering who it could be sending clues to Finn. He goes over the same people in his head repeatedly. That gets on my nerves and makes me feel like the story needed something else in the story line to take up space instead of me obsessing about Finn obsessing. Then there is the end. I don't want to spoil it for you but it kind of hit me like the Sopranos fade to black, it was neat and interesting, don't get me wrong and a great story idea but I kind of felt a teensy bit cheated, like he would have known and to say he had no idea is insincere.

None the less, I still liked to book very much. I will still try and show some self control the next time B.A. Paris releases a book and wait for the paperback or purchase the kindle version...at least until I have a bad day or a good day and MUST consol or reward myself with her newest book.

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Well, I thought reporting in on my vacuum might be the big news today, boy was I wrong. Also, I'm going to have to curb any other talk of cooking or cleaning. Today I must tell you about this book, Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate.  If you're a big reader person, you've undoubtedly heard about this book, it's on the New York Times Bestseller list as we speak. No matter what you've heard about how good it is, it is better.

This book is like a sweeping movie, epic in proportion. It follows a family from birth until old age. You might think this is dry or a slower read, it isn't. This book is mesmerizing as it flows from past to present, weaving the story together flawlessly. It makes us wonder, driving the story forward, and yes it does deliver answers so as not to frustrate the reader. Of the gazillion books I've read, I have one all-time favorite that nothing has ever been able to touch. This might be that good. Simply amazing.

If you can get to the end and not be misty eyed, then perhaps you're a descendent of the Grinch. I was in a puddle, sobbing. It isn't that this is sad, it's just....perfect. If you have children, read it. If you were ever a child, read it. If you have a sibling, read it. If you have a heart, read it.

As for me, I'm sending my copy round robin style to my sisters, we'll see if they have a heart!

Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine

I don't know why I always say I'm a thriller girl. Well, yes I do, I gravitate toward thrillers, but actually I like any great book. There are so many interesting books out there, so little time. Insert mental clip of Burgess Meredith saying "that's not fair, that's not fair" here. If you don't know what I'm talking about, shame on you...and you call yourself a book lover.  Go find a copy of the Twilight Zone, episode Time Enough At Last. Be enlightened!

Anyway, in the realm of housewifery (?), my new vacuum arrived (I know you were so concerned, practically holding your breath, checking here daily, "OMG did she get the vacuum, I'm so concerned" said you.) It is here, but has to be put together. Despite it being here for days, it is not together yet. In the realm of procrastination I am successful! Shocking, I know. I finished a wonderful book called Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine by Gail Honeyman.

This story follows Eleanor who is an awkward, completely socially inept, young woman.  We find out why she is the way she is, about her horrific mother who calls her weekly, what has happened in her past, and how she slowly starts to bloom. This book will have you in tears one minute and literally laughing out loud the next. The story is character-centric, so it is imperative that the characters be well-developed and the reader becomes invested in them. The author does a great job here. The story is beautifully told and one of those you find hard to shake days after you've finished reading it.

Well, enough book chat, better get on the dumb vacuum thing. Hubby better not give me any grief over it or I'll give him a little Eleanor, and don't think I can't do it!