The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having a great day.

Well, here it is, fall is starting again.  It is clearly recognizable not because of any cooler temperatures but because we are dodging hurricanes on the east coast.  Of course, fall here is also plagued by getting ready to go back to school.  It was easier when we were kids, you went to Sears and got your clothes and then to Kmart to get your school supplies. Ah the days of getting colored notebook paper, pink or especially purple was a big thing.  If you got Bic Flair markers, you were the coolest.  Forget laptops or even calculators, this was the time of learning to write in cursive and number 2 pencils. Our elementary school playground, which we played on during lunch break, had monkey bars, slides, and swings.  All have since been removed having been deemed too dangerous for children.  I don't know, aside from a few scorched bottoms from the slides heating in the sun, we all seemed to survive.  I think maybe a lot of things have changed.  Does anyone play the classics anymore?  And by classics I am talking about the world-renowned games of Red Rover and Red Light Green Light.  At least books are still around.

I recently read The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark.  This is the story of Olivia, who is a ghostwriter.  After being sued by another author, Olivia finds herself owing a huge judgement along with enormous legal fees.  Due to this lawsuit, clients have refused to hire her, leaving her in dire financial straits. Finally, a job comes her way.  A famous horror writer has requested Olivia specifically to ghost write a book for him. Despite the help the money could provide Olivia is reluctant to take the job.  The horror author is Vincent Taylor, who nobody knows is actually Olivia's estranged father.  Despite his successful career, Mr. Taylor still lives in the town he grew up in.  A town which believes he is guilty of the murder of both his brother and sister.  This issue has long been aggravated by the fact that no one was ever charged with the crime, and the truth of that horrible night has never been discovered.

This book does not disappoint.  A suspenseful, quick read, this still has lots of character development. Despite figuring a tiny part of it out about halfway through, I was still wrong and surprised by the satisfying ending.  Full of plenty of twists, this will relentlessly hold your interest.  Very fun.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Hello everyone.  I hope you are having a great day.

Have you ever seen Everybody Loves Raymond? If you haven't it is a TV show where a younger couple lives across the street from his overbearing parents.  The parents, Frank and Marie, bicker all the time.  They are full of insults for each other and snarky comments.  At one point the younger couple realizes that it is the way they communicate and show affection for each other.  This makes me wonder whether it is better to keep any complaints to yourself in a relationship or let them be known? For us, I think we do a combo.  We usually have a blowout fight once or twice a year to clear the air.  Frankly, I find it exhausting. Sometimes it is just easier to let things go, pick your battles as they say.  In books, those festering feelings make for a great plot.

I recently read Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney.  This author is responsible for many great books, including the very popular Rock, Paper, Scissors.  In this story we are following a couple, Grady and Abby.  Grady is a bestselling author.  One night, he is waiting for his wife to come home.  She is late and he is on the phone with her as she drives.  Suddenly she brakes sharply as there is a body in the road.  He implores her not to get out of the car, but she feels she must offer assistance.  Grady never hears from his wife again.  Her car is found near a cliff with her belongings, but no Abby.  A year later, Grady is a broken man.  He misses his wife.  He drinks too much, has spent his book money and is up against a deadline to produce another great novel.  The problem, he hasn't been able to write since his wife disappeared.  In desperation, his agent, Kitty, who is also Abby's godmother, offers him a deal.  She has inherited a remote cabin on a secluded Scottish island.  There is nothing to do there but be inspired by the beauty, rest, and write.  In need of both a hit book and a place to live, Grady accepts Kitty's gracious offer and heads to the island.  Of course, being a Alice Feeney novel, all is not what it appears.  Grady is most certainly an unreliable narrator, especially as he starts seeing his wife everywhere. The people on the island bring their own charm, mystery and creepiness.

This book will grab your attention and not let it go.  Seriously, don't start it if you have things to do.  As I've said repeatedly, I am a pokey reader, and I read 280 pages yesterday.  I just couldn't resist.  I figured out part of what was going on about halfway through but was shocked at the ending.  This book is a total escape and very fun.  Makes me wonder what Alice Feeney will think of next.