The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon

Hello everyone.  I hope your day has been great.

I have to tell you about my grandfather on my mother's side.  My grandmother was wonderful, but she deserves her own telling, so I'll do that later.  My grandfather was a boisterous yet humble person.  He was tall and thin and had pretty blue eyes, the only in our family.  As a child he moved from a town with about ten houses in PA to the bustling area of upstate NY.  I'm laughing because where I grew up was a small town but compared to PA, I'm sure it was very metropolitan.  It was certainly important industry wise, which is why many came there.  My grandparents owned a small grocery store when he was pulled into World War II.  He was put in the Navy on an LST, that's one of those boats that the back opens to deliver tanks, etc.  He was a cook.  Not by trade, they trained him.  When he went home it was a big deal to have served.  In fact, my grandfather became mayor.  Instead of telling you more I'll just say he was a really good person that everyone liked, and he liked everyone.  He even liked my husband when hubby complained about the potholes and asked him to use his influence to get them fixed.

I recently read The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon. I've also read The Drowning Kind and The Invited by the same author and enjoyed them greatly. In this story we are treated to a look at 1978, a family living in Vermont, a grandmother and two of her grandchildren Eric and Violet.  They live near a grand house affectionately called The Inn.  This is a place that takes care of people with mental health issues.  It is very exclusive and very successful.  The grandmother, Dr. Helen Hildreth, is the genius that runs the facility.  One day the doctor brings home a young mute girl to join their small family.  She thinks the interaction with her grandchildren will help bring young Iris out of her shell and aid in her healing.  Soon Iris becomes a vibrant part of the family that the grandchildren now consider their sister.  

The story also features 2019 where young women are disappearing.  A famous celebrity "monster hunter" is on the trail, since each missing woman reports seeing a monster before vanishing.  Soon she suspects the worst, that her sister is somehow wrapped up in these tragedies.  Yet, all is not as simple as it appears.  Secrets that have been long hidden are painfully recovered.

This book was a quick read.  The two timelines played off each other perfectly, driving the story forward.  If you are a fan of McMahon, you will recognize her "to the point" yet involved, storytelling. As always, the book leaves the reader satisfied at least until the next title is released.  Highly enjoyable.

I guess I'll still lay claim to my grandfather, even though he was a big old troublemaker, disregard that he said the same thing about me!

The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon

Hello everyone.  I hope your day is going well.

I have to confess, I am behind on reviews.  I try not to post too many a month, not to pester you.  How many times do you want to read these before I make your teeth itch or you roll your eyes at what I'm saying for the gazillionth time? (My mother would say not to do that or they'll stay that way.) The issue is that I've read so many books lately. Thrillers are making me very happy.  It seems for the longest time we've had lots of domestic thrillers, you know, wife is secretly someone else, hubby is a serial killer, or the kindly next door neighbor has fifteen bodies planted in his garden hoping they'll fertilize his roses.  Aah you say, but April you love those. I do indeed! However, all of the sudden there are a batch of books out that take my thriller addiction out of the neighborhood and into interesting locations or have a smidge of supernatural thrown in...something different.  Honestly, I'm reading them faster than I am reviewing them as I'm basically having thriller-paloosa here. Still I'll try not to slap gobs of reviews up but sometimes I can't help myself.

I recently read The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon.  This book features two time lines, the current day and 1929. Both time periods have a story that surrounds a natural spring.  Supposedly you can talk to this water, tell it what you want, basically make a wish and it comes true.  But the water gives at a price.  

In the current day there are two sisters Lexie and Jax.  Lexie has been written off by Jax, who believes her sister is having mental issues and has stopped taking her medication. In fact, Jax is receiving multiple calls from Lexie that are gibberish, so they go ignored.  Sadly, shortly after, Jax discovers that Lexie has died, drowned in the pool on the family's estate she now owns. When returning home for the funeral, Jax is flooded with memories of her sister and the beloved pool, remembering what a strong swimmer she was.  Things are complicated when Jax finds the estate house a disaster, things are everywhere, dirty dishes, belongings, and tons of paper.  It seems that before she died Lexie was researching the estate and her own family.  Did that play a part in her mental break or death?

In 1929, Will and Ethel are newly weds and very much want to have a baby.  Unfortunately Ethel hopes each month that she is pregnant only to be disappointed.  Will decides to ease the stress by taking them away to a beautiful resort.  Ethel discovers that the waters of the resort are supposed to heal, cure and may even be able to grant wishes.

Clear your schedule for this one.  Opening the book will have you instantly hooked and you'll ignore your loved ones until it's over.  Loved this, hope you do too.

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon

Hello everyone.

Have you ever heard experts say that we, as humans, sometimes have a fight or flight reaction? I think it might be real. When something really bad happens, for a split second I want to leave. The thought floats through my head to run away and start a new anonymous life somewhere else, without the awful issue of the moment. Of course I don't leave, it isn't responsible. People I love need and deserve my support but the fleeting thought is there.

Then there is the other kind of flight, the serious, well thought out kind. When I was a kid, I loved going to the beach. I know I've mentioned before that on one family spring break trip to Myrtle Beach I swore I would marry a pool boy. I must have believed that the pool boy was the epitome of beach-dom. I couldn't have aspired to a hotel owner or land baron, nope, teenage me thought that the pool boy was the top of the beach heap. Funny thing is my husband grew up just a few blocks off the ocean and his early jobs were working in hotels and renting bikes on the boardwalk. His brown hair was bleached pale blonde by the sun, he was super tan and had beautiful blue eyes (still does). He was a walking postcard for the oceanfront. Now, having been married for eons and living by the ocean for years I want to move. We can't, hubby's job is here. The problem is hurricanes. I have experienced way too many and am terrified of them. If I could, I would move far away from the ocean just because of hurricanes.

I recently read The Invited by Jennifer McMahon. This is the story of two teachers who decide they want to move. Helen is a history teacher and Nate adores science. They want to leave their jobs, buy an old house, and build a new life. After looking at all their options, this couple purchases a lot they like and decide to build a new house that looks like an old salt box home. Problems arise when they discover that the property they now own is where the house of town legend Hattie Breckenridge once stood...and the site of her death over a century ago. When Helen wants to give her new house a wink and nod to history she purchases several pieces of architectural salvage that had a connection to Hattie. Once installed, these pieces seem to bring odd happenings to their newly built home.

When reading the book jacket, you might think this is a straight up haunted house book. While it is a bit spooky, it really is so much more. The story of Hattie unfolds and the reader is witness to how she was treated, how a single moment in time can change everything including future generations, naturally it ties into today as well.  I love when a book ends up having a much more involved story than I thought it would, I feel like I am getting extra value for my money. That is exactly how this book is, more than I anticipated. The Invited is engaging, moving not at a thriller pace but quickly enough to keep the reader interested. Like in many books, I was sure I knew the answers to the mysteries presented but the author proved me wrong. If you like mild haunted house stories, stories concerning New England, houses, mysteries or just great tales, you'll like this book.

I am wondering if I should start tracing our deed back...perhaps not.