All I Want by Darcey Bell

Hello everyone.  I hope you're safe and warm.

So today, ladies and gents I want to talk to you about a horror story.  A truly scary topic, you may want your children to leave the room.  Ready, wait, are you seated?  Okay.., house prices.  Oh yes, I dared, I "went there".  Now that I have it out in the open, I feel so much better.  House prices in the United States have gone absolutely berserk!  Now, for selling my house, I, of course, welcome a high house price.  But how dare other house sellers want me to pay ridiculous prices for what amounts to a two-car garage.  Not even living over the "gay-raage" Sabrina style.  I'm talking almost $800,000 for less than 2,000 square feet, in some cases just two bedrooms.  And you house lovers please enlighten me about the current trend of NO DINING ROOM?  What numskull thought that was a good idea?  Don't people know I've got my grandparents china that is begging to be used.  No matter how you dress it up, fine, heirloom china and silver just doesn't work when you're eating in the kitchen, where dirty dishes abound, and the ice maker rumbles...there is no decorum.  Our old house days are done (after our current), but a Victorian house always has a stunning dining room.  Yup, they sure could make 'em back then and for less than a gazillion dollars too.

I recently read All I Want by Darcey Bell.  She is the author of A Simple Favor, which I read and enjoyed.  This time the story is about Emma and Ben.  They live in NYC, where Ben produces Broadway shows and Emma is pregnant with their first child.  Ben finds a great house at a cheap price (picture me rolling my eyes with jealousy).  The house is an old elaborate Victorian in the Catskills, it has a sorted past due to its large size.  Ben and the realtor convince Emma that this would be a great place to raise their child.  The purchase is made, a restoration contractor is hired.  Everything seems to be going as planned until Ben starts spending more time on his new show in the city and odd things start happening to Emma, now alone at their mansion.

This quick hit book of just over two hundred and fifty pages, is fun.  While it doesn't feature things jumping out at you, it definitely has the reader waiting for what's around each corner.  I thought I had it figured out, but on the very last page there is another twist and I discover I was wrong. I love when the author fools me.

If you want Shakespeare or a slasher movie....I mean book...this isn't for you.  If you want a quick hit of spooky, gotcha fun, this fits the bill.  Just the thing to keep you occupied during that next snowstorm.

A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell

Well, it's not cool here yet, but there is something in the air. Oh yes, that is panic. Holiday panic. I feel the pressure already!  I'll get flack for this but allow me to be very sexist for just a second. I know, I can hear you saying, "have you seen the political news lately, April? Do you think it is wise to even whisper the word sexist right now?" This is a light-hearted book blog, just for fun and so I can stop annoying hubby with endless book chat, nothing more. Anyway, back to my comment. Women seem to have more holiday stress than men. I don't know if it is because more of the holiday prep falls on women or because women are driven to make those absolutely perfect memories. In my case, I can tell you exactly what it is. We put up too many decorations and bake way too many cookies for way too many people. In my defense how do you say no to giving out cookies at the holidays? As for decorations, we have an old house, it is even on the National Register of Historic Places. It begs for holiday decorations and lots of them. We do six trees. Yes, six. Don't judge! Just seeing the endless stream of boxes come out of the attic is enough to give the calmest person an enormous panic attack. Worry not, I'll cope. The dishwasher was a battle but is finally fixed, so I count that as big old check off my list.

Now I usually turn to reading as a distraction. Fortunately, I am bogged down in my reading. So many wonderful and oh so generous publishers have sent me copies of books to review. In addition, some of my favorite authors have had or are about to have new releases. Naturally, as if on que, these new released books must each be 500 pages! I feel like Demi Moore, rolling around money, in Indecent Proposal, only in my case it's books. Yikes, those corners are just not nearly as comfortable as cold hard cash! So, I might have to post a couple of extra reviews, I still promise not to bog you down. In any case, too much good reading? Nope. I'm very grateful to all sources and cannot wait to read and talk about each of your books.

On to todays actual topic, A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell. Actually, I'd never heard of this book but saw a trailer for the upcoming movie. Thinking it looks like a thriller, which are often books first, bingo, Amazon to the rescue...and here it is.  I'm pausing here, typing slowing....not sure what to say. The book is good, it is interesting and a fairly fast read. There are things that bug me. Part of the story is told by blog. Great. But when you live it and I read about it, then write about it in the blog, then later write about it telling the truth of what actually happened...I've now read about the same event 3 times, 1 of which is completely unnecessary. I know I harp on this over and over, but I really dislike when authors do this. I don't want to read the same thing twice. I know Darcey Bell hasn't read about my endless cookies, 6 trees and huge "to be read" list but she should, as repeating unnecessarily wastes my time and yours. I know you're tired of hearing it but why isn't this caught in editing. It HAS to bother more people than just me. The other thing that irritated me a little, is that it seems like this book tried to throw in every twist available. I'm still undecided about that comment, even as I type it. Who loves thrillers and doesn't love a good twist? Not me. I adore a good twist-a-thon. I guess there is no pleasing me, not enough twists I'm unhappy, now it seems I'm unhappy with too many. Maybe these weren't involved enough, not entrenched in the story enough.

I think this is a good book, I would read it again. Is it one of my favorites, no. Could it be your favorite, sure!

ps. now I have the song Let's Twist Again going through my head. If it doesn't stop soon I'll have to resort to singing the theme from Gilligan's Island!