Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson

Hello everyone.

Have you ever seen someone you thought you knew but it wasn't that person? Awkward to say but you know what I mean. Of course you have, everybody has. My husband told me about how they were on vacation when he was a kid and were 2,000+ miles away from home, and his sister thought she saw someone from her elementary school class riding their bike. When I lost my parents, I swear I saw each of them everywhere. I still often think I see my dad, he just had one of "those" faces and heads, especially from the back...you know...dad-ish. In the case of grief, I am sure it is very common especially shortly after your loss. Otherwise, I am sure someone has caught your eye. Some of us have a good memory for faces.

I recently read Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson. In this story, a woman, Hen (short for Henrietta) and her husband, Lloyd, have moved into a new house. They have dinner at the neighbors house directly across the street. A pretty normal and pleasant thing to do. While they are being given a home tour Hen sees a trophy that reminds her of a murder case. Although she doesn't know the murderer's face like I was yammering about earlier, Henrietta knows the trophy. She remembers the murder of years ago so clearly because she lived on the street where it happened. The trophy, for fencing, was taken by the killer as a grisly souvenir. Although their charming host has a perfectly logical explanation for having the award, Hen has a sense that all is not well. As they story progresses we find out not only did Hen live on the street where the murder was committed but has had mental health issues in the past. When she becomes absolutely positive that she is now living on the street with the killer, she goes to the police but who will believe her with her past? Even Lloyd doubts his wife, fearing another mental break. Ahhh, I've given you plot which I vowed not to do, you've likely already read the book jacket. I just couldn't help myself. This story is just what a thriller should be, twisty. It leaves you on the edge of your seat, flipping pages like a mad woman. It forces you to eat frozen pizza for dinner! Oh yes, gasp you should, this book is too good to even contemplate time away from it to make dinner...and the resulting dishes...forget about them!

Do yourself a favor, get your favorite take out pizza, some paper plates, and this book. You will savor them all!

Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Hello everyone.

I hope you had a nice weekend and have sprung forward successfully. You might be feeling a bit sorry for yourself because you're tired after losing that hour. Time changes can sometimes make you feel "off" for a few days. The fact is, however, that few of us should be feeling sorry for ourselves. Seriously, just look around the world. So many people in pain for so many reasons. Heck, look to our own past. Let's take the 1940's for example. Money is scarce, certain foods and supplies are rationed, not to mention the people dying in WWII. Now THOSE were some trying times. Several years ago we bought and restored an old Victorian home. In the 1940's it had been divided into apartments. It had started as a single family house with a ballroom, butler's bells, elaborate stairs, servants, the works. Sadly during the war families needed money and were often forced to either move in together or rent out parts of their home to make ends meet. That is what had happened to our old Victorian. As a side note, one day inside a false wall we found a staircase wall of raised paneling, many small panels still with picture hooks in place.  We found so many things behind walls and under floorboards, huge paintings, needlework, tin types, love letters, booze bottles, button-up shoes, a corset and more. I felt like we were on our own HGTV show. It was amazing! We even found a drawing from a National Gallery Artist, who used to live in our house and teach art classes there. We were younger and much more limber not to mention brave to take on such a large project. I will never forget it. The whole experience was "haunting" in so many ways. (You'll just have to wonder about that until some later date.)

This hardship is exactly what happened in the book Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse. A couple, Si and Dolly, live in a small town in Alabama during WWII and are trying to raise money to pay the property taxes on their home. They've dug a lake to charge for swimming, built a roller-skating rink, and are renting out rooms in their house. This story is about the people living under the same roof and their challenges of making it through that time period. It is sweet, funny, comforting and so touching. While it is not a page turner like a thriller it will still draw you in like a warm hug.  The novel has a strong central plot with several twists along the way. The author does a wonderful job getting the reader to connect with each character and hope for their happiness. In short, Almost Home is lovely and really shouldn't be missed. If you liked Fanny Flagg's Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, you'll love this. Definitely one of my favorites for the year and it's only March!

By the way, our Victorian was later used as the set for a famous haunted house tv show! If I went back to that house now, the ghosts would probably ask to borrow my copy of Almost Home, it is that good!

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Hello everyone.  I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day. We don't go out to celebrate but I did receive a huge heart shaped box of chocolates and a dozen roses. I get a fair number of flowers. I used to receive them for it being a Wednesday, not so much anymore. However, hubby never forgets any special day and, despite my objection and insistence that there are cheaper places, always gets beautiful and long-lasting flowers from the florist, who does a great job.

I know I joke my husband a lot. It is kind of our thing. As a side note, when we were at our "pre-marital counseling" at the church where we were to be married, we argued about who was funnier leaving the preacher smiling and shaking her head (yes, a woman). At our wedding reception, the minister looked at my mom and said "they'll be fine, no doubts." The minister is retired now but I have often thought of sending her a photo of that day and telling her we are still indeed together. Anyway, hubby is a romantic. In fact, I could have you sitting here all day with examples but one of the first displays of his overall cuteness was on our first anniversary. Our wedding color was pink, meaning the flowers and bridesmaids wore pale pink. Don't shake your head, it was a spring wedding. What color did you feature, tartan plaid? So I am at the office, and in he walks with one hundred pink roses in his arms. Every woman in the whole office swooned....honestly, I think you could feel the building sway. See men, all those years later and I still remember.

Not all romantic gestures have been as elaborate or costly as a gazillion roses. Several times he has purchased a package of kiddie Valentines and written a memory on the back of each. Once they were all sealed in the envelopes to be explored and another time they were a heart speared by cupid's pixie stick and hidden all over the house. Yeah, he's a keeper.

So for some timely, holiday appropriate reading I just finished a romance novel called The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. Before you go thinking this is any quick hit little story, I'll tell you it is a full on novel of over 360 pages. The premise is two higher-end employees at a publishing company (of all places) hate each other and are about to compete for a single job promotion. One will essentially become the other's boss. Well, that would certainly be annoying. The characters go to a few locations, apartments and such, but the story is basically all about the dialog, which is well done. The banter is witty, quick and sarcastic. Hey, who among us is not aroused by a little sarcasm?  Seriously, it is well done. Now while this story does not push forward at breakneck speed like my beloved thrillers, it isn't one of those read ten pages and pick in up in three months, either. The story will definitely call to you. Is this my all time favorite book? No. Is it likely to be in this year's top ten? No. Is it a nice romantic comedy that I am glad I read? Absolutely. If you are a romance lover, you will surely want to add this to your "to be read" list.

Incidentally, the way The Hating Game relies heavily on dialog reminds me of Nicola Niemc's Addicted to Love. So if you love The Hating Game, you might want to give Nicola's book a go. In either case, reading with the smell of roses wafting through the air is highly recommended.

For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt

Hello everyone.

 Long time since we've been here. I was very fortunate to get to go on a business trip with my husband. He developed a new process for the company he works for and he is actually being awarded a patent for it. Can you believe it? My hubby, an inventor!  I wish he could invent something for me like a dust-free house or something that makes all the clutter go away. Geez, ever look around and swear there is something on every single surface of your house? I don't mean something decorative but something that doesn't belong there. That is how my house is right now and it really gets on my nerves. We have almost 4,000 square feet for two people there is no excuse for so much junk...or beloved belongings without a home. Still, a home, full of stuff or maintained by a neat-nick that I strive to be, is a wonderful thing. A home is someplace you can relax, heal, reenergize, think and plan. I suppose at its most basic it is shelter and safety. What happens though when you learn that someone that you thought was your safety net may not be or when someone you love tells you something terrible has happened to them? You spend that cocooning time in your home with doubt and with constant unease, those annoying butterflies in your stomach. Beautiful to look at, not so nice for lunch.

The feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty is at the center of the book For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt. The book blurb tells you about a married couple that met in law school and discussed how to get away with murder. Now for the record, I met my darling, inventor husband in college and I can assure you we did NOT discuss murder. So from the beginning, the story grabs your attention, unless of course murder talk is your primo dating move, then you'll likely be bored. As the story moves on, something bad happens to this lawyerly couple's son. Now, I don't usually restate book info but this story, a thriller, asks a question that if I was a mom, what would I do?  I don't know how I would answer. If someone hurt your child what would you do? What if they were going to be in a position to do it again, even if you remove your child from the situation this person could hurt someone else? What would you do? Forgetting what is legal, what do you morally do? I'm telling you honestly that if it were me, I don't know. I would like to think I'd handle something terrible with a dignified grace and have forgiveness, but...but...someone you love dearly is hurt on purpose. I don't know but I really doubt I would be able to control myself. Which, let's face it, is stupid, I'd end up in jail and the situation would just get worse. In this story, these parents are faced with that decision. This could make for a heartbreaking story, well it is, but Margot Hunt also makes it into a heart racing thriller. Nothing is ever as simple as it looks, as the couple in this novel quickly find out.

This book is quick paced, stays on the plot with quite the roller coaster ride. It even has a good to the last drop ending.

We Hope For Better Things

Hello everyone. Hope you are having a good day.

Part of my life as an average, everyday housewife, is dealing with an average, everyday husband. Now, I've known my husband for gosh more than thirty years. (no age comments) Wow, I am overdue for a halo, seriously! Anyway, despite this long time together and knowing all his quirks and having heard endless (and I mean endless) "guy" stories, I still don't get men.  Let's start with the guy stories, why are they so often about air coming out of some part of the body at some inappropriate time? Why do they seem to suffer from hearing loss when certain topics are brought up?  And why, please someone tell me why, they notice and comment on the breast size of every woman they see? Men, let me give you some valuable advice, we don't care what you think about the breasts of the woman on the panel giving commentary on CNN. You know they might be talking about some apocalyptic event, but all we hear is "wow, she's got a nice set". Honestly, I shake my head.

What brings up hubby talk? I told you we received a new gaming system for Christmas. He is playing some military game, he is on the beach at D-Day and then fight against the Germans in World War II. So, I hear endless gun fire, only to have it silenced by his loud cussing. I say "if you're not enjoying this we can return it."  No, he wants to play. Now, two hours later, I hear the game talking amongst the gun fire, and hubby talking back to the characters, saying things like "I can't find the amo, is this a budget cut?" Then more cursing, by both him and the game, yes, the game curses too. I remind him he must go to the office tomorrow, doesn't he believe it would be wise to start thinking about going to bed, no, he has to play a big longer. Again, with the head shaking. Men are giving me a neck ache! As we all know, all women are perfect in every way. Now that I've insulted half the population perhaps we should talk about a book. A story that discusses differences not between men and women but in race.

I recently received a copy of We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels. This book is remarkable and beautiful and haunting and.....and.....I don't know. I can't think of an adequate way of describing it. This story follows a house outside Detroit that has three generations of the family live in it for different reasons and at different times. One thing they all have in common is that all three of the women are white and fall in love with an African-American man. One takes place during the civil war, one in the 1960's and one in present time. They each have their own story line and, of course, they intertwine. The telling of each of these characters lives is really interesting but the point is really to show how racism has changed and not changed. It shows how love can be anywhere, with anyone...an inter-racial marriage, mother and child or between aunt and niece. The chapters are short and it changes between time periods frequently. For those who don't like that kind of change, please know that is it smoothly done and not irritating. Also, know that this book touches on racism and police brutality but does not preach. I promise you will not feel like you are reading some kid's history paper or being lectured to. This is simply a perfectly told story from start to finish.

I have one problem with this book. I regret that I read it so early in the year as I fear it will be my favorite for the entire year and, if that is the case, then I have nothing to look forward to that can beat it. Okay, I am willing to look and read for something better, but this book was incredible.

The Silent Patient

Hello everyone.

I hope you are enjoying the winter weather and not too snow bound. Last time I was talking about the big storm that was coming and how my sister in upstate NY was due for something like eighteen inches. I admitted I was a little bit evil because I had a smirk on my face while writing about it. Hey, my family teases me about moving south when I complain about the humidity, fair is fair. Only I guess it isn't really. My sister slid while walking on the ice and really hurt her knees, like x-rays and Cortisone shots under both kneecaps hurt. Rrrrr, gives me the willies just thinking about it. Thankfully for her, she is much stronger than I am. Anyway, now I feel terrible, like a horrible rotten person. We were supposed to get a little ice and snow but had pouring rain and bad wind for a couple of hours, that was it. Just enough to make everything in our old house creak and groan, especially as the temperature dropped and the wood shrank. It was both creepy and annoying. I swore I heard dripping on the third floor, in the storage-rafters part. Of course I woke up hubby and sent him from bed to literally crawling all over to find no dripping. Phew, I would rather be wrong on that issue!

While all this "weather" was going on last weekend and we were hunkered down, I finished a book. I received an arc of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides from Celadon Books. It is available for pre-order and is released February 5, 2019. You all have busy lives so I'll cut to the chase, it was great, I loved it. See ya later!

Okay, just kidding. Figures huh, spend 45 minutes yammering on about the weather and family issues and one sentence about the book. Seriously, this is my favorite, a thriller. A husband and wife seem like everything is fine, one day she shoots him in the face several times, killing him. Then she never speaks again. Instead of jail she is in an institution. The story is told as a new doctor arrives and is very interested in this silent patient's case and is determined to help her. Now you mystery and thriller readers will agree that when you read a lot of these types of books you think you can beat the author, figure out the "who dun it" or the big twist. Sometimes we get it right, which is fine if you enjoy the story. Sometimes, however, the author shocks you and you, as the reader, are wrong. This story has an enormous twist, HUGE, as I am ashamed and delighted to tell you I didn't see it coming. I've been trying to get hubby to read it. I'm wondering if I missed signs, was this twist obvious? But I keep telling myself that I have read so many thrillers I would have seen it coming. Nope, boys and girls, you can cross the butler off your list in this one, he definitely didn't do it.  You've got to love when a book can make you gasp out loud and that is what this one did.

One more thing, I hate medical stuff so the title had me a little leery, but rest assured that is not an issue here at all. Also, know that this book is nicely paced and certainly keeps you turning pages before and after the "gasp". Get ready for February 5th, see if you figure it out!

Addicted to Love by Nicola Niemc

Hello everyone.

If you are in the US I hope you okay during our weekend of terrible weather. Tornados in the south and a blizzard in the north. In the middle, we are getting squeezed with a huge temperature and pressure change, going from a pleasant 65 degrees this morning to a teeth chattering 19 tonight, with 35 mph winds. It's basically a headache in the making!  I have been glued to the weather channel since I have family in the path of 24 inches of snow (yes, I am an evil person as I have an ever so slight grin as I type that). What I often see, but haven't in the last few days, is the weather around the world, I'm sure there are difficult patches of weather everywhere. I hope you are ALL safe and out of harms way. Now that I've given a meteorological rundown, feeling like I should be standing in front of a map gesturing wildly with my hands, I'll say this...lousy weather is a great time to read! Yep, you can't feel guilty about not painting the house, or pulling weeds in the garden, or all those uncompleted errands. It is as if those snow clouds parted and a beam of sun shone down on our pile-o-books, like part of an Indiana Jones movie, beckoning us to read. So I say "READ WE MUST!"

Tired of looking at your to be read list, feeling guilty about buying so many books and not knowing where to start? Not to be an enabler, but sometimes you need something new even though you have a ton to read already. I know that makes no sense and is just an example of how I buy way too many books and can attempt to justify anything, but sometimes my TBR piles have me running like a puppy. Each book surrounds me, calling my name. I feel like I am running back and forth between them "I'll read this next, no this...no this...wait maybe this should be first."  Pretty soon I'm gonna be like that little puppy and piddle right on the floor from complete confusion. So as I tiebreaker I'll get a new book. Shhhh, I know that just complicates the problem and is probably a clear sign of addiction, but YOU are supposed to be on my side! Anyway, I bought a new book a bit before Christmas, during one of these episodes. I read the beginning but had to put it down because of the holidays.

I've read several books lately, great ones, The Red Address Book, An Anonymous Girl, and The Silent Patient. To be honest, these books will likely all be huge blockbusters...HUGE. During all these, in the back of my mind, the book I'd read the first few pages of kept calling me. That book is Addicted to Love by Nicola Niemc. Now I'll let you in on a little secret, Nicola reads this blog. Yes, she does, and you'll often see her commenting! To have a blog less than a year old and have someone so kind as to read it often and take time to comment, well, I really appreciate it and count myself as very lucky and honored. So, when you see her comments, you know she is an author! You can purchase Addicted to Love on Amazon in both paperback and kindle. You know, with a kindle purchase, you don't even have to leave your house...you can hit that little buy and download button and, despite the blizzard we currently have outside, you could have this book in the nick of time.

Addicted to Love is the perfect bad weather read (course it would be a great beach read too). It is a romance between Lexi and Robert; she is in her early twenties and he his forties. Now you would think that Robert would be very mature and Lexi less so, but that doesn't hold true in all cases. Sometimes, things in our past require us to grow up more than we should have to. Sometimes this is visible, sometimes it remains hidden below the surface to be dealt with later. Both Lexi and Robert have their pasts to deal with in a physical and emotional way. This story follows these two people in their May-December romance as they uncover these issues and deal with them. Most romance novels follow a pattern where the characters meet, fall in love, have some kind of earth shattering problem, and get back together for a happy ending. This novel breaks with that a bit, with a more character driven story. Instead of someone literally hanging off a cliff, you keep reading because you want to know why Lexi acts like that or what Robert was thinking. One thing this book does, like a typical romance, and it does very well, is build the sexual tension between the two characters. The naughty bits might well keep you warm during the snow, another advantage of a purchase this weekend. Hell, it might melt the snow off your roof! One of the things that makes this book so completely enjoyable (besides the tension) is the writing. Nicola, you can write! Seriously! The dialog in this is so good. I've just read three books that are bound to be New York Times Bestsellers, yet this book, Addicted to Love still held my interest. Now that is saying something! It is due completely to the writing! It is quick witted, sometimes sarcastic, never drones on, never repeats and again, the dialog is excellent.

Now, hold on to your hats, this is after all a book review, I have to say something negative...I want more. Yes, I have to know the future of Lexi and Robert. So now that I'm addicted to Addicted to Love, I need more. While we are all reading during bad weather, maybe Nicola could start working on a sequel.