For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

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

I had some interesting and memorable teachers.  Two high school English teachers come to mind.  I had a sweet little old man that kind of looked like a Bassett Hound (old to me then, he was probably in his late 40's). He used to exaggerate the way words were said, saying at least every syllable, if not more.  Vegetable wasn't vegetable it was "veg-e-ta-ble".  Hey, it kept our attention.  Another English literature teacher was also the drama coach, he was a natural for both and there was no distinction between the two.  I remember reading The Old Man and the Sea, going around the classroom each person reading one sentence.  Then, he had little pieces of wisdom he wanted to impart.  I still remember him telling us that the words "certainly" and "surely" were interchangeable.  He would chant "When I say certainly, you say ..." waiting for us to say "surely".  When the classroom would respond he would jump up and give a kind of high pitched roar.  His feet would literally leave the ground.  Silly as it sounds today, he must have done something right because I still remember what he taught, and him.

I recently read For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing.  This is the story of a fancy private school and the people that teach and learn there.  We follow several people but mostly Teddy, who was recently named Teacher of the Year.  He is very concerned about making his students the best they can be, even those that really rub him the wrong way.  Given that this is a wealthy school, he feels that several of the students have an elitist attitude that they would be better served without.  But what happens when teachers start getting sick, then dropping dead?  

This book is fairly long at over 370 pages and worth every sentence.  As things start going bonkers at this ritzy school you kind of want to give a bit of an evil laugh, it's like stepping back in time and binge watching a wacked version of Knots Landing (a prime time tv show kind of soap opera from 1979-1993).  While you won't find Joan Van Ark here, you will find plenty of twists and turns.  The author tells us pretty early on who is responsible but that just adds to the fun as we get to see that persons planning as well as the ominous results.  This fun and frantic read features short chapters with many ending in questions or cliff hangers.  A perfect summer read.  My favorite of Samantha Downing's so far.

Beware, this may have you digging out your yearbook and giving your teachers a second look.

Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda

Hello everyone.  I hope your day has been very nice.

Hubby and I are house people.  We love looking at houses and have owned all different kinds.  We bought our first house the month before we were married with our honeymoon money (yes, I realize I recently told you this...I'm not losing it...well, I am, but I'm just rounding out my story, geez).  When we had a house built, it was lots of fun.  Choosing the lot, then house plan and all the interiors.  It was a lot of firsts for us, including the first time we had a Home Owners Association.  Now if you aren't aware of what that is let me enlighten you.  It is a group that you hand over a bunch of your money to that then turns around and tells you all the stuff you can't do with your own house.  Now, I can support this to a point.  I don't want my neighbor to paint their house hot pink and reduce my value.  However, we received a nasty letter for putting our trash can in the wrong place, on the side of our house.  They wanted it always stored in the back.  In the back?  We had a patio and a lot that sloped away. My trash can would have either have to have been lashed to our house or would have been half way to Georgia with the slightest breeze.  Oh sure, I see you laughing.  It's all fun and games until you have to put your trash can in your garage when it's 195 degrees outside. 

I recently read Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda.  I have read this author before and while I liked that book I was disappointed.  It was being sold as a thriller and was much closer to a mystery.  This time, despite the description being thriller, I went into it expecting a mystery.  Ahhh, much better.  This is the story of a neighborhood of just a few houses.  We follow Harper Nash whose husband has left her and her friend Ruby Fletcher has been convicted of murdering two of the neighbors.  When Ruby turns up, after having her conviction overturned and being released from jail, all the residents are on edge.  They fear a killer now is among them.  As we follow the story to find out why Ruby would come back to the scene of the crime, the reader is also urged to discover if she was even guilty in the first place, or had the group of homeowners worked together to send her to prison.  As with most places, we soon discover that everyone has secrets, some worse than others.

Expecting a mystery, I was much happier this time.  I thought perhaps it was a slow read or too wordy but then read a chapter out loud to hubby and discovered it was pretty darn good.  I needed to slow down and just enjoy it.  Pretty soon, I found myself picking it up over and over again...you know, just a chapter here, a few more pages there, maybe hit an even page number before calling it a night.  It was good and I now consider myself a fan.

We've been looking for another house, you know HOA fees are now three hundred dollars a month in some areas! I wonder if they have gold plated trash cans.

The Therapist by B.A. Paris

Hello everyone.  I hope your day is going well.

Suppose you went through the whole process of selling your house, getting a mortgage, packing, moving, getting the utilities turned on, sending out your cute little "we've mooved cards with the cow standing in front of a house" because you found your dream house.  But what would you do if you moved in and something didn't feel right?  You just have that, hair standing up on your arms, feeling that something is off.  It's just in your imagination right, because this is a great house.  Isn't it?

I've discussed several times that years ago (three houses) we had a haunted house.  It started when we purchased the large Victorian which was still divided into apartments.  We were living on the first floor that had been vacant for years.  When we woke up sometimes we would smell vanilla or lemon.  Later we found out we were sleeping in the original kitchen.  A few weeks later our dog would start barking at the ceiling, just in one particular area.  She would walk in circles, staring at the ceiling, growling and barking.  Very odd for a dog that never met anyone she didn't absolutely adore. 

Our neighbors had weird experiences too.  While not so spiritual, still odd.  One time the lady across the street had sent her kids to school and was making coffee, she turned around and there, silently, out of the blue, was standing a man she'd never seen before.  Seems she'd left her kitchen door open with the screen door letting in a pleasant breeze.  Some passerby apparently decided he was a pleasant breeze and wanted to come in for some coffee and a chat.  Not to worry, he left immediately after her request but she must have been terrified. 

I didn't hear your declare yet, what you would do if it was your house.  Would you stick it out?  Are you that brave?  Maybe you would investigate the house's history or just change the locks.  Perhaps you'd invite a medium or burn sage.  Or is it possible that you are just overly tired?

I recently read The Therapist by B.A. Paris.  Alice and Leo find a house in an exclusive, gated neighborhood.  The house is a bargain, something they couldn't usually afford.  They jump at the chance to live in The Circle, the snazzy community their new house is in.  But as Alice gets to know the neighbors she discovers some are nicer than others and when she tries to ask simple questions she finds herself quickly shut down.  Something is going on, and it most definitely concerns her new home.  Then as Leo starts traveling for business, it feels like someone is in the house. Maybe it is her imagination, then again, maybe not. When Alice finds out that something bad happened to Nina, the previous resident and therapist, she becomes obsessed with discovering what The Circle seems to be hiding.

This is a classic psychological thriller.  The tense story leaves the reader wondering who the evil person is and how many people know exactly what is going on.  The book is not too long, just over three hundred pages and uses it's space efficiently, no meandering off the plot.  This shoots straight through so quickly you'll wonder where your day went and how you've flipped so many pages.  This suspenseful read will have you confident you know the ending only to surprise the most seasoned reader.  Fun the whole way.  One of my favorites by Paris.

I dare you to read this and not check your locks before going to bed!

The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine

Hello everyone.  I hope you're having the best day!

Years ago we were watching some program about people being abducted by aliens.  One man, with some crazy Spock like eyebrows (if that isn't ironic) said he was taken to an alien ship and when he came back he remembered nothing.  He told the interviewer he was not suffering from amnesia but "double amnesia".  This sweet man gave us quite a chuckle and we've remembered his unusual statement.  In fact, it drives my family bonkers when playing Taboo, hubby just says the word "double" and I will respond with "amnesia".

I recently read The Stanger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine.  The author is actually a pen name for two writer sisters, Lynne and Valerie.  I applaud their patience working together. My sisters and I would be in jail as someone wouldn't come out alive. Apparently, the Constantine sisters have a great system going. The Stranger in the Mirror is about Addison, who is about to marry Gabriel.  While both are happy and in love, Addison is worried as she has amnesia.  She has been Addison for just two years and cannot remember her life before that time.  She is afraid she has done something bad, or could have another family and is desperate to not hurt Gabriel.  While he is concerned about what caused Addison to forget her whole life, he is willing to put it behind them and concentrate just on their future.  Hours away, Julian is trying to figure out what happened to his wife, Cassandra.  Naturally, these lives come together like some awkwardly fitting jigsaw puzzle, where you trying to pound pieces to make them fit.  The writing is clean and easy to read. The story moves quickly and confidently.  The twists come often, some you can guess, others are a complete surprise.  This book will make you pay attention to details, have you proclaiming "I knew it" one minute then "Oh my gosh" the next.  It is a wild ride and every bit a thriller. 

Sometime, remind me to tell you about the agreement my siblings have about a late night call and the phrase "bring the shovel."  It's probably best if hubby isn't around.

Survive The Night by Riley Sager

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

Not to push you to other book reviewers, but do you ever watch reviews on YouTube?  I don't like to watch reviews, I don't want to be influenced and I definitely want to be surprised. However, I love seeing people's hauls.  Heck, it's like shopping without spending my money...what could be better (hubby would certainly agree).  Sadly, I saw a complete review from someone who had an advanced copy of the new Riley Sager book.  Not a review, a piece of hell on earth!  They jumped in telling everyone what happened in the book, that they hated it because of the ending, then gave away the big twist of the end!  Arrrrrgggh!  I've been waiting months for the next Sager thriller.  How?  Why?  I sat here in shock.  What do I do now? Read it, knowing it sucks because of how it ends.  Read it anyway, because I've read so many Riley Sager books that I know the others bouncing around in my brain would like a new playmate?  Dag gum it, I hate this decision and I don't want to waste my book money on something I'm not going to like.  God Bless Book of the Month, who had it listed as an add-on, which means you can buy it for $9.99.  Dilemma solved.  For a deep discount I would take a chance.

I recently read Survive the Night by Riley Sager.  This is the story of a girl, Charlie, a college student whose roommate was tragically murdered.  She decides to go home but needs a ride, so arranges to travel with Josh, who she meets through a campus ride board. As they head into the hills of Pennsylvania in the middle of the night, Charlie realizes all is not as it should be and Josh might not be who he says, in fact, Josh might be the killer.  

Beside already knowing the ending, I thought perhaps because of it's limited scene, the car, that this would be boring.  It isn't.  I feared this would be a slow read, watching the miles tick by with nothing to do but talk.  A book full of endless dialog.  It isn't all dialog and it isn't slow, not at all.  Okay, I'll stop being so coy.  The book was good.  It was a real Riley Sager.  Fast paced, exciting, and nerve-wracking.  The ending that had been spoiled for me, was only half true, and there were plenty more twists.  Just go into thinking this is just a book, it's fiction and you're reading for fun.  Set your expectations and criticisms aside and you'll very much enjoy this book

If you're in college, maybe think twice before carpooling home.  I hear the bus is quite lovely this time of year.

Churchill's Secret Messenger by Alan Hlad

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

I recently received a book in the mail and before I could even get the package fully open my husband announced it was his.  Was it his? No, but something about this book intrigued him.  He loves most things spy related....hmmm....maybe I should start wondering about HIM!  Anyway, he is not a big pleasure reader so when he wants to read something, I encourage it.  Turns out he was quite mesmerized by this story, which he says is haunting.  I asked him to tell you about it.  His review follows.

I recently read Churchill's Secret Messenger by Alan Hlad. Set in the early days of World War II, it's about a young English woman who's recruited into a clandestine service to pose as a typical French citizen. Armed with her training, a few tools of the spy trade, and her prior familiarity with Paris, she finds herself parachuting into occupied France to courier coded communications between British Intelligence and the French Resistance. Having had a general interest in spies and cryptology, several books of the genre have made their way to my shelves. 

I now find myself with a difficult task. Without revealing any more of the plot, I wish to highly recommend this work. I realize it's a great deal to ask, to advise readers to avoid any other reviews, and not even to read the jacket blurbs, just to dive in and read it. Simply put, this book transcends the usual spy novel, and will not be one forgotten by the reader.   

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

Hello everyone.  I hope you are well.

I try and put something personal here that in some way relates to the book.  I know y'all just think I'm yammering on for the heck of it, which is true, but I'm also linking real life to the book of the moment.  I've talked about owning a haunted house, restoring houses, lots of housewife stuff (including endless dusting and chicken roasting, hopefully not really having anything to do with each other), my childhood and my often irritating family (I say teasingly to get a rise out of them). I've even told you way more than you ever wanted to know about my Brownie troop, that somehow was linked to a book. Today, I've got nothin'.  Yes, I know that is not how you spell nothing and incorrect grammar, I'm being folksy.

I recently read The Maidens by Alex Michaelides.  This is the author that wrote the very popular thriller The Silent Patient, which I very much enjoyed and even cajoled my husband into reading.  We were both surprised by the ending.  Reading the number of thrillers I do, I don't get surprised by that many so when it happens it's fantastic.

In the newest book, The Maidens, we are following Mariana, who has sadly recently lost her husband.  Marianna grew up in Greece, where her family was fairly well off. While on a Greek island with her husband on vacation, he goes missing.  She finds that he has drown and as the book opens she is trying to move on with her life but is also in mourning and deeply misses the man she loved so much.  To make matters more complicated she must travel to Cambridge University, where a girl has just been brutally murdered  and was a friend of her niece who is distraught.  Marianna takes it upon herself to help figure out who is the killer, to protect her niece from any future heartbreak and keep her safe.  Despite the police zeroing in on one subject, Marianna suspects a professor of Greek tragedies, Edward Fosca.  Not only does she suspect but she becomes adamant that he is the killer.  As readers, we see possible guilty people everywhere.  The author is astute at directing us to this person then the next, each with the real possibility of secretly being a monster.  

I thought I had this book figured out.  I eliminated everywhere the author was begging us to look for killers and I picked an improbable person and told hubby at page 207 I was a thriller reading genius and despite Alex Michaelides' best attempt, I had won...I knew who did it. Um...yeah...so much for my "I read so many thrillers I know all the authors tricks"...I'm a genius.... I was wrong.  Darn it. I thought I had it.  I really did.  My guilty person was good, really unexpected, explosive, but the author's was better.  The book was all things you expect in a thriller and obviously I enjoyed it despite being outwitted (my family would say that is so easily accomplished!)

Next time Mr. Michaelides, I'll beat you, now I'm determined.