The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

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

Have you ever been a person who has been affected by infidelity in a relationship? If so, I'm sorry.  If you were the infideliter (yes, I'm making up new words, but you cheated, so naah...), anyway if you were the scoundrel who cheated, was it fun?  Just kidding.  I have to admit, I am tempted to say my husband cheated so that if my sisters read this, their heads would explode.  My husband is a big fan of "family". However, he has been ...let's see, how do kids put it these days?  Hubby has been hit on a lot, approached by women for you oldsters (like me). He grew up at the beach, had sandy brown hair, always had a tan, and was born oozing sand and salt water.  Catnip to Yankees. I remember once, he was approached by a woman in the dog toy aisle at PetSmart.  Good thinking, you get someone who is kind enough to have and care about a dog.  Settled enough to have a dog.  Genius really.  I aways thought if I was single, I would hang out in a bookstore.  Hey, at least you know the man can read.  Well, I didn't consider the magazine section, where I suppose you could just look at the pictures. Maybe I better stay married.

I recently read The Next Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine. This is the sequel to the book The Last Mrs. Parrish. While this current book is written as a standalone, your appreciation of the story will be greatly improved if you have read the first novel.  The first was a huge hit and a fun ride, so why wouldn't you?  In this next and final telling, we follow Darlene, Amber and Jackson again.  We learn about a new character from Amber's past, who also has an interesting history. Both books are about mental abuse, wealth, betrayal, and control.  

I don't want to say too much about the storyline, in case you want to read the entire two book series.  However, if you like psychological thrillers, you will be very intrigued. Both stories are well plotted, character driven fights for actual survival. Regarding The Next Mrs. Parrish specifically, it was a joy to be reunited with Darlene and Amber as justice is pursued, amongst the twists and turns. Very entertaining from beginning to end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy.  It was a pleasure to read and give you my views.

A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson

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

Sometimes people and things aren't what you think.  The other day I was telling hubby about a trend that is driving me bonkers.  So many cooking videos claim to be the absolute best of something, like the best banana bread, the best meatballs, the best apple pie.  First of all, it strikes me as so arrogant to think you have the absolute best.  Second, it ticks me off that it is kind of insulting to my recipes and those I have inherited.  I mean, you put your cooking up against either one of my grandma's and we are going to have a huge problem.  The best?  You have no idea what good is, let alone the best.  Then these "cooks" give these methods that are a "must", often incorrect. Some take their hands from raw chicken and put them in another ingredient, like salt.  If you are a new cook, don't do that. Salmonella will have you puking for a week. Speaking of spreading illness.  There is this whole new thing where people say not to wash your whole chicken, that the force of the water spreads Salmonella all over the kitchen.  Tip one, turn down your water.  Blasting the heck out of a poor bird is not necessary. Next, have you ever seen what happens when chickens are killed?  They are often thrown in a vat with water, bodily fluids and feces.  Yes, I know you don't want to talk about poop in a book review and I completely agree I've gone off the deep end.  I have the new Peter Swanson book, so I know you'll stay.  My point is, if you don't GENTLY wash your chicken, your dinner is roasted chicken with a side of poop. Then there is the argument about salted verses unsalted butter.  How salted butter has more water.  It does, but if half a teaspoon of water throws off your cooking or baking, you've got way bigger issues. Okay, I know...the book, April, the book.  I'll get off my soap box.  I'll just say if there is one thing I've learned as I've been getting older, is that despite what I think I know, I actually know nothing. As far as your YouTube banana bread being the best, you are deluding yourself.  Something better is always out there.  Mostly my Grandma's!!!

I recently read A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson.  I have read and reviewed several books by this author and have enjoyed them.  This story is about a young woman, Martha, who has married Alan.  Although Martha felt she didn't really know her husband when they wed, despite being a little controlling, she felt he was a good man who cared for her deeply.  After approximately a year of marriage, she discovers what looks like blood on one of his shirts.  Alan is a salesman and frequently out of town.  Now Martha's mind is racing about the man she should know better and what happens when he goes to his conferences.  Could he be a murderer or is she the owner of a vivid imagination?  Martha enlists the help of an old college friend to help her investigate the possibility that she could actually be married to a serial killer.

This book frightened me.  Peter Swanson has always been a sure thing, an auto-buy.  This time I really had trouble getting into the story.  I don't know why.  The book was interesting from the first page.  One thing is that for the most part, the story is told by a different person's perspective in each chapter.  The chapters are not labeled, leaving the reader to figure out who is narrating.  Originally, I found it annoying, it broke my reading cadence, broke the spell.  After a while I realized it was being done on purpose and is part of the story.  Don't be like me, appreciate the construction of the story right from the beginning.  While the characters change with each chapter, they are all fully developed, interesting and often surprising.  The plot moves along at a pleasant pace, often hitting the reader with shocking Hitchcockian twists.  Once, about half-way in, I gasped so loudly my husband came running to see what was wrong.  Not that I noticed him, I could not look away from the book.  Now that is a good twist, and it was only one of many.  I learned my lesson, to trust Peter Swanson.  The novel I thought might be my nemesis, turned out to be a super fun, first class thriller.  

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy.  Of course, my views are my own.  (I'll try and channel someone else next time, if you want.) 

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay

Hello everyone. I hope your day is wonderful so far.

I'm gonna be honest here.  I have no stories even remotely related to today's book.  Once you read it, you'll consider that a good thing. You know, whenever I say "a good thing" I immediately think of Martha Stewart.  Now that just bugs me.  Why should a few simple everyday words be owned by someone.  Okay, before you shake your finger at me, I know she doesn't own them.  It was just a slogan.  A good one if you ask me, here I am writing about it.  Hubby says I am an advertiser's dream.  I wouldn't say I am that influenced by ads but I am highly influenced by product reviews. This is particularly true at Sam's Club.  Those shoppers know what they are talking about.  I think he means because of jingles, look it up youngsters. I can't believe I'm old enough to call anyone youngsters, being 15 seems like yesterday. Anyway, I can sing you decades old Coca-Cola jingles, Band-Aids, Oscar Meyer, Libby's, lots more, even things like "the new Mount Airy Lodge." Now I want to take the Coke/Pepsi challenge. The other day I looked up who made my parents pretty bar glasses, with gold leaves on them.  Yes, back then in the caveman days, lots of people had a bar in their family room...don't you judge my parents.  If you knew my sisters you would consider my parents saints.  In addition, you'd be surprised that those glasses survive and aren't worn out due to the need for scotch and sodas.  Naturally, I was angelic.  Don't chuckle, that is absolutely true.  My point was the glasses were made by...drum roll please...Libby's. I'll be quiet and stop rambling (no cheering).

I recently read If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay. This is the story of several people and how their lives are connected Everything revolves around a terrible night five years ago.  Ryan and Ali are on a date, when they go to park in a remote area they are attacked.  Ryan is ripped from the car and hit over the head.  When he is lucid, he finds that not only is Ali missing but so is the car.  Ryan becomes encircled in a cloud of suspicion. Now, in the present day, people have moved on.  Ryan has changed his name and is in law school at Georgetown.  While on a group trip in Italy, he sees the man who attacked him and Ali.  Around the same time, Ali's car is finally found at the bottom of a lake in their hometown.  Ali isn't in the car but instead are the bodies of two unidentified men and a note in Ali's handwriting with "If something happens to me..." written on the envelope. Clearly this was more than a simple attack.

This wide and varied story comes together smoothly and easily.  It features short chapters, encouraging reading "just one more section." This makes for a quick read.  The book features several major twists, leading to a satisfying end.  An entertaining novel, Finlay's best so far.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy and fun ride.

By a show of hands, who remembers Crazy Eddie commercials? If you are a NYer, I know you do.  Afterall, his prices are "insane."  Okay, I'll stop...really... but I'm humming "I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony...".

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren

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

I know I've told you about my fabulous niece before, but she is becoming a huge problem.  She makes me green with jealousy. I know that is cliche, but I don't mean a little green, picture the Hulk meets the Jolly Green Giant green. Not only is she an artist, like a real, trained artist. But she can pick creative things up in a second.  She watched a YouTube video about crocheting and whipped out blankets and purses.  I can sew and embroider and desperately want to crochet.  I watched the same video, thinking it was the holy grail.  I would be on my way to yarny goodness.  Yeah....she watches and made a blanket...I watched and made a giant knot.  I've tried DOZENS of times, lots.  I'm not exaggerating.  Now hubby is buying me different kinds of yarn, thinking I cannot possibly be so inept.  Yet, I fear this is a craft that was made specifically for the octopus.  I cannot do it. Last weekend was Mother's Day.  My niece (who cooks, without any training, naturally) made a triple layer cake for her mom.  No big deal.  Except she piped the most beautiful flowers on top.  I can make roses, but my mom taught me when I was a kid. My niece apparently communed with the frosting gods, said "Om" a few times and whipped up perfect flowers of several varieties out of thin air.  I give up.  I need a vacation.  Somewhere tropical with clear blue water, perfect breezes and men serving drinks wearing nothing but fig leaves that speak absolutely no English.  Okay, that may be overreaching...

I recently read The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren.  The author is a pen name for the writing team of best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings.  This is the story of a couple, Liam and Anna.  They have married during college for cheap housing.  Unknown to Anna, it also helps Liam in another way.  He is the heir to a sizeable fortune but must be married for five years before he can collect.  This inheritance isn't known to Anna because she and Liam don't really know each other.  They live in the same apartment but just as roommates.  This poses a huge problem as Liam's sister is getting married and his family is demanding to meet his wife of almost five years.  The wedding is of the destination sort, on a private island with blue water and huts suspended over the rolling waves. Not only does the couple married for years know nothing of each other, but Liam's family is a huge problem.  Rich, entitled, judgmental and rude, they are waiting to scrutinize Liam's wife and their relationship.

This book was fun.  Not only was the situation amusing but the writing is laugh out loud funny.  This story will have you entranced and glad to have your life instead of this wealthy family's. If you're having a tough week, read this.  If you are going on vacation, this is a no brainer.  A blast and one of the few books I wish I could read again for the first time. Now that is a good one!

Murder Road by Simone St. James

Hello everyone.  I hope your day is going well.

I love riding around in the car with nowhere to go, exploring down some random road.  I don't, however, enjoy driving. I have my reasons. I grew up in the North, we have snow and ice in the winter.  There is a general lack of control on slippery roads.  That freaks me out.  You can "steer into a skid, pump your brakes, etc." all you want.  I'm sorry but spinning around so many times you are actually pulling G's is just not enjoyable.  Down here, there are other reasons.  Creepy reasons. So many towns have stretches of road labeled "suicide strip".  Nothing says "let's pile the kids in the car and take a Sunday afternoon drive to look at the leaves changing color" like a road that purports to have you literally taking your life in your hands.  What fun!  In addition, why are there so many roads that have the legend of a ghost that comes out at night to flag down those that dare drive in her domain.  Yes, I said her, it is always a girl, she is always in a white nightgown, wedding or prom dress.  Maybe it is just one girl and she goes from location to location to keep drivers off the roads and home, where they belong.

I recently read Murder Road by Simone St. James. I've read several books by this author, with my enjoyment being hit or miss.  I loved The Broken Girls and The Book of Cold Cases, but didn't like The Sun Down Motel. I was apprehensive about where this book would fall within my Simone St. James experiences.  I am happy to report my dislike of one of her books seems to have been a fluke. Hey, you can't please everyone all the time, and if you could that would be pretty boring. Murder Road is about a couple, Eddie and April, who have just been married. They are driving to their honeymoon location. April falls asleep and Eddie, accidently, wanders off the interstate and onto a secondary road.  It is dark and deserted.  While trying to figure out where they went wrong and how to get back on the interstate, they see a young person in the road. It ends up being a stunned young woman who has blood coming from underneath her jacket.  She seems in shock, saying very little except "He's coming".  Eddie and April race the hurt woman to the hospital where she dies.  The police twist and turn things, making it apparent they believe the newlyweds are responsible for this murder. As Eddie and April try to clear themselves and begin their new lives together, they find all isn't as it seems in this small town.  The road they were traveling on has a bad reputation.  It's haunted.  People are killed there every couple of years. If you see the female ghost, in white, then you are the next to die.

When I realized where this book was going, I almost groaned out loud.  The topic being such a widespread legend and seemingly cheesy to make into an entire book.  My apprehension was misplaced.  St. James steered this topic into an interesting, well explored story, with likeable characters and a solid ending.  This was very fun and would be a great book to read on vacation, just don't start it until you get to your resort.

By the way, fear not, hubby says haunted roads aren't possible anymore, there are just too many convenience and dollar something stores everywhere.

Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose

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

Do you and your significant other argue?  Some people don't, they hold it all inside.  I try not to stand close to those types of people for fear they will explode at any minute.  We tried that when we were first married.  We were both working and were trying to establish who was doing what in our relationship.  After marrying and moving into our house the battle lines were drawn.  Specifically...over laundry.  We had a laundry basket; it was in front of the washing machine which was in a closet that opened into a hall.  Pretty soon the basket was overflowing.  Then there was just a mound of clothing in the hall, the basket so buried we would need Indiana Jones on the mission of his life to uncover it.  Who was going to do the laundry?  I'm a young wife, with a career. I don't want to be pegged with such a girly role, fit for some apron, pearl and pump wearing woman in the 1950's.  My husband, determined to be the man, also stepping around the monster, threatening to become the oddest wall in history and blocking us from the entire second floor.  That was our first argument.  We both did the laundry, and both kept what little dignity we had left.

I recently read Dirty Laundry by Disha Bose. This is the story of three women, who are living in an Instagram rich world.  When Ciara ends up murdered, her perfect life comes under scrutiny. 

I said I recently read, that is only kind of true. I stopped reading somewhere around 100 pages.  I couldn't get through it.  Now, don't take my DNFing (did not finish) this book to mean that you won't like it.  We all have different tastes and expectations.  I read loads of thrillers, fast paced thrillers.  Because of that, I am jaded about pacing.  This book was way too slow for me.  I was bored.  I found the characters uninteresting.  There was just nothing compelling me to move forward.  There was nothing I wanted to know.  I didn't care enough about Ciara to wonder why she was killed or which one of the others was the guilty party.  This is a Good Morning America book club pick, so lots of people must enjoy it.  Sadly, not me.

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

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

Have you ever gone back to some place you liked as a child, only to discover that it has been torn down?  When we went on our disastrous New England trip I was telling you about, we went through the Catskills. The Catskills is a mountainous area in New York.  It used to have huge, all-inclusive resorts.  It is what the movie Dirty Dancing is based on.  I was so fortunate as a kid to go to the largest, best, most famous of them all...The Concord. My husband grew up at the oceanfront in the south.  I know, don't give me "the look," I know it is sickening. He grew up working in hotels, renting bikes, you know...beachy things...as his jobs while in high school.  I worked at Kmart. I've griped about this before, but my jealousy still exists.  Anyway, the point is, growing up in a tourist area with a hospitality background, the Catskill resorts are right up his alley.  Too bad they're all gone. Yep, airplanes became popular and vacations in the mountains went out of favor.  Why go play tennis in the mountains when you can fly to some tropical island or Europe? I get it, I really do. Still...it was hard to see that era end.  It was something magical, something unique. The Concord was still whole and open when we got married.  We could have gone there for a few days instead of the train station in Scranton Pennsylvania. It never crossed my mind.  Now it is torn down and I'll always regret not showing hubby something so iconic.  We drove by where it was, and actually got out of the car to stretch our legs and take it all in.  It was spooky.  It had been so massive, so vibrant.  Now it is a lot of grassless dirt. It is quiet and still. The world-famous comedians long gone, no more George Burns, Jerry Lewis, Jerry Seinfeld. There was a hole where the pool used to be, but nobody was there playing Simon Says.  The sweeping stairs in the lobby, the massive dining room, the indoor ice rink, the hall with huge marble slab floor, the dozens of tennis courts, and thousands of hotel rooms, all gone. No screaming kids, no men in white shoes, no bellmen.  Quiet. Still. Gone.  While only seen in home movies and photos for hubby, for me...I could still faintly hear it. It was like one of those memories that you can kind of remember but can't get a good hold on it.  Sometimes, despite having loved a place, the negative space of it can be creepy and unnerving.

I recently read Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth.  It is my sixth book by this author. I keep coming back for a reason. This author consistently delivers great stories. This time we are following women who grew up together in foster care with a less than ideal caregiver. They are contacted by a detective from the town where they suffered their childhood, to discover that the house in which they lived was torn down and beneath it a body was found. Who was the deceased, when and how did they die? All things this book sets out to discover. While told in each person's voice in current and past timelines, it could have been confusing, but it wasn't. Hepworth is masterful at blending all the hard edges together, making the reading seamless and pleasurable. This book has multiple twists to keep the pages turning, right down to a spectacular ending. First, I was scratching my head, I couldn't figure out what I had just read. Then I realized despite reading mostly thrillers that this author had once again beat my skills at figuring things out. Brilliant and diabolical at the same time. Loved it. 

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me this advanced copy for review. My views are given freely...my family would say "way too freely!"