The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

September 6, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (307 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Lila Bennett’s bad choices have finally caught up with her. And one of those decisions has split her life in two. Literally.

In one life, she’s taken hostage by someone who appears to be a stranger but knows too much. As she’s trapped in a concrete cell, her kidnapper forces her to face what she’s done or be killed. In an alternate life, she eludes her captor but is hunted by someone who is dismantling her happiness, exposing one secret at a time.
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Lila’s decorated career as a criminal defense attorney, her marriage, and her life are on the line. She must make a list of those she’s wronged—both in and out of the courtroom—to determine who is out to get her before it’s too late. But even if she can pinpoint her assailant, will she survive? And if she does, which parts of her life are worth saving, and which parts must die? Because one thing’s for certain—life as Lila Bennett knew it is over.

Lila Bennett’s day starts out amazingly well. She won a big case and, despite the anger from the prosecution’s side, she’s flying high on that victory. That is, until her boss convinces her to meet him for a drink before going home. It is her biggest mistake in more ways than she’ll ever know.

This was one of the more unusual books I’ve read this year. At the moment of the attempted kidnapping, Lila’s world splits into two realities. In one, she narrowly escapes her captor and goes on to try and right all the wrongs she’s committed in the past, trying for a better life. In the other, she’s taken hostage and held captive. And right up until the very end, you’re not sure which reality is the real one. Even then, you’re still left wondering if maybe you were duped. I know I put the book down after I finished and wondered whether either reality had been real.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to think about Lila, but the more you get to know her and her past deeds, you realize she wasn’t a very good person. However, she really does strive for redemption though both realities, accepting her faults and wanting to make amends. Captured Lila has no other choice, but Free Lila is making amends as a thank you for avoiding the fate of Captured Lila.

I was very proud of myself with this novel, however. It’s very, very rare for me to figure out who the bad guy is when I’m reading this kind of book. I’m not sure if I’m not paying close enough attention or if I’m too absorbed in the story itself to care, but for the first time in recent memory, I figured it out. That said, every time I thought, “Oh, her captor is…” the next chapter had me doubting myself all over again. After all, Lila had no shortage of enemies. Even though I’d figured it out, the reasons for their behavior hadn’t ever occurred to me, so that was still a surprise in the end.

The Two Lila Bennetts is one of the most unusual and engaging novels I’ve read all year. Each reality grabbed my attention and held it. And those rare moments when the two came together made my nerdy little heart shout with joy. The writing duo of Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke have done it again. Every book gets better and better, leaving me eager for the next. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for the next novel.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Valencia and Valentine by Suzy Krause

June 17, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Valencia and Valentine by Suzy Krause
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Fiction
Length: Full length (244 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

For readers of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, debut author Suzy Krause delivers a quirky, colorful story about love, loss, second chances, and what it means to truly live.

Valencia, a timid debt collector with crippling OCD, is afraid of many things, but the two that scare her most are flying and turning thirty-five. To confront those fears, Valencia’s therapist suggests that she fly somewhere—anywhere—before her upcoming birthday. And as Valencia begins a telephone romance with a man from New York, she suddenly has a destination in mind. There’s only one problem—he might not actually exist.

Mrs. Valentine is an eccentric old woman desperate for company, be it from neighbors, telemarketers, or even the funeral director (when you’re her age, you go to a lot of funerals). So she’s thrilled when the new cleaning girl provides a listening ear for her life’s story—a tale of storybook love and incredible adventures around the world with her husband before his mysterious and sudden disappearance.
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The stories of Valencia and Mrs. Valentine may at first appear to have nothing in common…but then again, nothing in life is as straightforward as it seems.

I decided to read this story based on the blurb. It sounded interesting and I thought it might be fun. Well, Valencia and Valentine was absolutely interesting but fun wouldn’t be my word choice. It was a story that spoke to the heart in a way that was unconventional and surprising. There were so many times I expected Valencia and Mrs. Valentine to meet. In the end, they did, but not in any way I could have guessed or imagined or predicted.

There were times during reading where I wanted to skim or skip some paragraphs or pages because I didn’t think the plot was moving fast enough. My advice, slow down, take it in, and keep on keeping on. I ended up doing that because I discovered there was this intangible sense, a knowing that I was heading for a revelation that I couldn’t fathom but I wanted to get to. I needed every little clue to understand.

The author wrote in such a profound and effective manner about Valencia and how OCD affected her life, it made my heart ache. It gave me insight into those whose lives are dogged by the specter of revolving doubts, questions, panic attacks, worries and the ever-present ‘what-if?’ – if they did or didn’t do something, would it cause harm? Then there’s the guilt that comes from the imagining and then the questions, is it really imagination or is it real? I can’t visualize feeling that way all day, every day, yet the author clearly showed me though the heroine’s point of view just how challenging and hard a life can be when dealing with OCD. It was an eye-opener.

The reason I didn’t give this novel five stars was because I did get the feeling like I wanted to skim through parts, to hurry up and get to where the good stuff I believed should be. The kick of it is, I needed all those reminisces from Mrs. Valentine, I needed to read about Peter’s interaction with Valencia and how she tried to like him back – I needed to understand these two ladies which meant I needed to not rush things and let the author guide me to where she wanted me to go.

Because I eventually became so invested in their stories, when I came upon the scenes about the plane ride, I turned into a water faucet. It came upon me so suddenly – the knowledge of what I had been actually reading and what it meant and I cried and sniffled and used many tissues. My heart broke, and yet, there was a nostalgic love and gentleness, and a bittersweet happiness woven into the wrap-up. Even with that little bit of brightness, as I type this, I’m tearing up all over again. My heart was engaged at a much deeper depth than I believed it could be and I credit my emotional response to the care and expertise of Ms. Krause’s writing.

Valencia and Valentine is a difficult book to describe because anything I think to say doesn’t seem to do it justice. It’s not my usual type of book and yet, I feel better for having read it. In my own life, I want to be more like Grace. She was a great secondary character and a wonderful ally for Valencia to have. Readers who enjoy books with serious substance shared with love, character driven plots and protagonists who are brought to life before your very eyes, should definitely consider reading this novel.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagan

March 18, 2019 By 2 Comments


I’m Fine and Neither Are You by Camille Pagan
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (270 pages)
Heat level: Sweet
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

Wife. Mother. Breadwinner. Penelope Ruiz-Kar is doing it all—and barely keeping it together. Meanwhile, her best friend, Jenny Sweet, appears to be sailing through life. As close as the two women are, Jenny’s passionate marriage, pristine house, and ultra-polite child stand in stark contrast to Penelope’s underemployed husband, Sanjay, their unruly brood, and the daily grind she calls a career.

Then a shocking tragedy reveals that Jenny’s life is far from perfect. Reeling, Penelope vows to stop keeping the peace and finally deal with the issues in her relationship. So she and Sanjay agree to a radical proposal: both will write a list of changes they want each other to make—then commit to complete and total honesty.

What seems like a smart idea quickly spirals out of control, revealing new rifts and even deeper secrets. As Penelope stares down the possible implosion of her marriage, she must ask herself: When it comes to love, is honesty really the best policy?

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As an avid reader I come across many books. Some are okay and some I wonder how did they even got published. But this book is a treasure! This is one of those that you don’t find often, that many readers seek. This book offered the thrill of being taken through so many emotions that I can’t help but classify this as a “must read.”

How much do we really know a person? This is the question that Penelope Ruiz-Kar asked herself when she finds out her friend Jenny Sweet’s perfect life has been a facade.

After receiving this new revelation about Jenny, Pen starts to question her life and her marriage and she finds the courage to face her life’s truths instead of keeping the peace.

Pen reminds me so much of myself. Lost in a marriage, a working mother carrying a full load of life. Even though the stress level would increase for Pen it only made her humorous side show. I loved Pen and Sanjay’s love for one another. Both were open and welcomed the chance to open up, try things a new way and work on making their relationship better. Sometimes I think we get comfortable in the roles society creates that we don’t tweak the roles to fit our personal situations. Why does the man have to work and bring home the bulk of the income? Why does the mother have to tend to the children and keep up the house? Everyone’s marriage doesn’t fit this mold. Pen and Sanjay had the courage to reevaluate their relationship roles and execute changes that worked for them.

Penelope is a kind and lovable woman. She has two young children but she made sure to include Jenny’s daughter Cecily. I enjoy seeing the transformation of Penelope. At work she settled but she had coworkers around her that cared about her and knew she had what it takes to move up in the company. She has so much to gain and now her confidence level has a boost. I like how the relationship between Penelope and Matt turned out and Penelope had the courage to continue to speak the truth and not just what Matt wanted to hear. Though Penelope and her dad didn’t have the best relationship Penelope knew she must face the obstacles that has kept her and her dad apart.

This is a life-affirming, funny and delightful read that I highly recommend to readers who enjoy a well-written, satisfying story of humor but also one that deals with real life issues.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Lily in the Light by Kristin Fields

March 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment


A Lily in the Light by Kristin Fields
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (288 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

A harrowing debut novel of a tragic disappearance and one sister’s journey through the trauma that has shaped her life.

For eleven-year-old Esme, ballet is everything—until her four-year-old sister, Lily, vanishes without a trace and nothing is certain anymore. People Esme has known her whole life suddenly become suspects, each new one hitting closer to home than the last.
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Unable to cope, Esme escapes the nightmare that is her new reality when she receives an invitation to join an elite ballet academy in San Francisco. Desperate to leave behind her chaotic, broken family and the mystery surrounding Lily’s disappearance, Esme accepts.

Eight years later, Esme is up for her big break: her first principal role in Paris. But a call from her older sister shatters the protective world she has built for herself, forcing her to revisit the tragedy she’s run from for so long. Will her family finally have the answers they’ve been waiting for? And can Esme confront the pain that shaped her childhood, or will the darkness follow her into the spotlight?

What do you do when your world is turned upside down? Esme is only eleven when her sister, Lily, disappears one night, changing everything she once thought she knew about herself, her family, and the world around her. How will she manage to move forward, follow her dreams, and be all that she knows she can be when they can’t even find Lily?

Esme is a fascinating character and I immediately liked her. Honest, childlike, but more mature than you’d expect, she grabbed my attention and held it. She’s so torn between being free to live her own life and feeling guilty for not having paid more attention to her sister the night she disappeared. It’s heartbreaking to read at times because you can tell she truly had a bond with Lily. Although I have no doubt that her siblings, Nick and Madeline, cared about Lily, it’s also obvious that they didn’t have the same relationship with her that Esme did.

I loved being able to journey with Esme through the horror of her sister disappearing to her adult life as a dancer. She really grows and becomes her own person and I think a lot of that is because she was able to get away from her family who, in so many ways, stagnates and can’t get past Lily’s disappearance. Even though Madeline and Nick manage to move on, they don’t seem to have found the kind of freedom that Esme does with her dance.

A Lily in the Light is more than the story about a missing girl. It’s about faith, hope, and learning how to cope when you feel like you can’t even begin to understand what’s happened. I was totally swept up in this emotional novel, rooting not only for Lily to be found, but for Esme to find herself and a way to help heal her broken family.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Forgotten Hours by Katrin Schumann

March 5, 2019 By 1 Comment


The Forgotten Hours by Katrin Schumann
Publisher: Lake Union
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (330 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In this evocative debut novel, Katrin Schumann weaves a riveting story of past and present—and how love can lead us astray.

At twenty-four, Katie Gregory feels like life is looking up: she’s snagged a great job in New York City and is falling for a captivating artist—and memories of her traumatic past are finally fading. Katie’s life fell apart almost a decade earlier, during an idyllic summer at her family’s cabin on Eagle Lake when her best friend accused her father of sexual assault. Throughout his trial and imprisonment, Katie insisted on his innocence, dodging reporters and clinging to memories of the man she adores.

Now he’s getting out. Yet when Katie returns to the shuttered lakeside cabin, details of that fateful night resurface: the chill of the lake, the heat of first love, the terrible sting of jealousy. And as old memories collide with new realities, they call into question everything she thinks she knows about family, friends, and, ultimately, herself. Now, Katie’s choices will be put to the test with life-altering consequences.

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I’ve been on a kick of reading heavy books. This one seemed to fit the bill, especially considering the times we’re in.

The writing is striking and kept me fixed to my seat. I needed to know what would happen next. It’s a…I don’t know how else to describe it…a heavy plot. Katie’s father is accused of sexual assault and she says it didn’t happen. I can’t imagine being in her place. The author did an admirable job in making me sympathize with her.

That said, Katie wasn’t the character I thought she might be. For a woman who seems to have it all, she can be a bit…immature. She’s gone through a lot–growing up, having a boyfriend, a degree–but she still seemed flat. I get that the author wanted to show some people just won’t see what’s in front of them and the author did that well. I wanted to give Katie the what-for more than once. So kudos to the author for getting me emotionally involved.

The pacing was a tad slow and I did put this book down more than a few times. I needed to know what would happen next, but I recognized there were spots that just didn’t hold my attention. Also note, this book involves sexual assault, so it might not be for everyone.

Still, there were plot twists that did improve the story for me. I saw the growth in Katie and the hardships that Lulu went through. I wanted closure and got a satisfying one with the ending.

If you’re interested in a book that’s got a tough subject but interesting outcome, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

After Nightfall by A. J. Banner

July 19, 2018 By 6 Comments


After Nightfall by A. J. Banner
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (251 pages)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Imagine your closest friend utterly betraying you. Years later, when she seeks forgiveness, you invite her to your engagement party as a gesture of reconciliation. But seething hostilities rise to the surface, ruining everyone’s evening. After an awful night, your friend’s battered, lifeless body is found at the bottom of a rocky cliff.
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Newly engaged Marissa Parlette is living this nightmare. She should be celebrating her upcoming wedding, but she can’t shake the image of her friend lying dead on the beach. Did she fall? Was she pushed? Or did she take a purposeful step into darkness? Desperate for answers, Marissa digs deep into the events of the party. But what she remembers happening after nightfall now carries sinister implications: the ugly sniping, the clandestine meetings, the drunken flirtations. The more she investigates, the more she questions everything she thought she knew about her friends, the man she once trusted, and even herself.

We all have something we’d rather not tell anyone else. Secrets are the things that make the world go round, it seems, and none of us are immune. While not every secret is bad, sometimes they can be very, very deadly. Just ask anyone who attended dinner for Marissa Parlette’s engagement party. Although, you’d better hurry – one of them won’t make it out alive.

Everything is perfect in Marissa’s world. She’s engaged to the man of her dreams, she’s got a sweet stepdaughter-to-be, and she’s even reconnected with her long-time best friend, Lauren, after a long estrangement. What could possibly destroy her dream life? Although Marissa appears to be happy, she has her problems, too. For the most part, she deals with them well enough and doesn’t let any one thing take over her world. Then Lauren dies and she becomes obsessed with finding the truth at any cost.

After Nightfall is full of complex, suspicious characters, each one hiding something from everyone else. Even young Anna, Marissa’s soon-to-be stepdaughter, has something she’s hiding from everyone. I found myself suspecting everyone but not really having the slightest clue who was actually responsible. The reveal at the end surprised me because I hadn’t even thought that particular person could have been involved. I had believed that it had to be one of the other, more arrogant and obnoxious dinner attendants.

If you’re looking for a page-turning thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat, After Nightfall is an excellent choice. Well-written and told in an easy style that makes it engrossing and engaging, I found myself unable to stop reading, even for the important things like dinner! This was my first book by A. J. Banner but it definitely won’t be my last. I’ve already added the rest of her books to my list. The trouble now is which one to pick?

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson

July 4, 2018 By 12 Comments


Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (408 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Marnie MacGraw wants an ordinary life—a husband, kids, and a minivan in the suburbs. Now that she’s marrying the man of her dreams, she’s sure this is the life she’ll get. Then Marnie meets Blix Holliday, her fiancé’s irascible matchmaking great-aunt who’s dying, and everything changes—just as Blix told her it would.

When her marriage ends after two miserable weeks, Marnie is understandably shocked. She’s even more astonished to find that she’s inherited Blix’s Brooklyn brownstone along with all of Blix’s unfinished “projects”: the heartbroken, oddball friends and neighbors running from happiness. Marnie doesn’t believe she’s anything special, but Blix somehow knew she was the perfect person to follow in her matchmaker footsteps.

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Have you ever read a story where the secondary character sets the stage for everything that comes after, and their presence is so powerful and important that they color the whole book – and it’s an AWESOME thing to see? Like, profound, and emotional and special and wonderful? If not, then get ready for a unique treat because Matchmaking for Beginners is a book like no other and sure to inspire a bevy of fans and followers. I’m one.

On one hand, I want to be sad at certain parts of the story but then I think, “what would Blix say?”, and I can’t be gloomy. Blix is the secondary character that touches a reader’s heart as she strives to bring love, sparkles and happiness to others. Her strength is in how much she loves the people she meets and her acceptance of things that would destroy and depress folks in similar circumstances. She rises above that and her legacy is embodied in Marnie, a most unlikely heroine.

In the beginning the novel is told from two points of view, Blix and Marnie’s, and it’s a first person delivery for both. Eventually Marnie takes center stage because it’s her love story with all its hilarious ups and downs, mistakes and triumphs that Matchmaking for Beginners is all about. The mistakes she makes are common and completely believable. Her thought processes makes perfect sense and I could see myself coming to the same conclusions. And, we’d both be wrong. It’s an interesting learning curve.

I won’t reveal the people who touched my heart the most because I don’t want to dilute the impact. The author introduced me to so many folks while Marnie continued on her journey to her ‘big life’, and every single one helped her grow as a person, giving her insights, joy, hope and for readers, entertainment. There are a couple of characters that introduce personal drama and pitfalls that Marnie has to dodge, overcome and face the truths they reveal. All of it is an amazing reading experience.

The love of Marnie’s life isn’t a typical hero trope. I think that’s what made me love this novel so hard – it’s a special true love. It’s beautiful, magical and worthy of this author’s writing talents. I lost count as to how many times, I sniffled on the way to getting teary then bam, I’m laughing or melting into a romantic puddle.

I loved Matchmaking for Beginners. It’s not my usual type of book but I was wowed, impressed and bowled over by how Ms. Dawson’s characters’ came to life before my very eyes. They had depth, heart, quirky issues and were easy to fall in love with. I expected that this novel of over 400 pages would take me a couple of days to slog through. Instead, I read it in one day, one sitting and time flew. That’s the mark of an awesome book and a very talented writer. Kudos to Ms. Dawson for giving me an amazing reading experience.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Tangled Mercy by Joy Jordan-Lake

January 25, 2018 By 3 Comments


A Tangled Mercy by Joy Jordan-Lake
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full length (464 pages)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review by: Cholla

After the sudden death of her troubled mother, struggling Harvard grad student Kate Drayton walks out on her lecture—and her entire New England life. Haunted by unanswered questions and her own uncertain future, she flees to Charleston, South Carolina, the place where her parents met, convinced it holds the key to understanding her fractured family and saving her career in academia. Kate is determined to unearth groundbreaking information on a failed 1822 slave revolt—the subject of her mother’s own research.

Nearly two centuries earlier, Tom Russell, a gifted blacksmith and slave, grappled with a terrible choice: arm the uprising spearheaded by members of the fiercely independent African Methodist Episcopal Church or keep his own neck out of the noose and protect the woman he loves.
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Kate’s attempts to discover what drove her mother’s dangerous obsession with Charleston’s tumultuous history are derailed by a horrific massacre in the very same landmark church. In the unimaginable aftermath, Kate discovers a family she never knew existed as the city unites with a powerful message of hope and forgiveness for the world.

A woman on the run from her future runs straight into a past that she hadn’t been expecting. Kate is fleeing the loss of her mother and searching out secrets that were kept from her. However, when she meets a little boy one morning, her world is turned upside down and the secrets kept for so long are about to come unraveled.

Time is a fluid thing and A Tangled Mercy proves this as the story weaves between the past and the present. Written in chapters alternating between present day Charleston, South Carolina and the same city in 1822, a terrible and beautiful story unfolds, bringing the two timelines together. At first, I was so confused, not able to understand how any of it might connect. However, the author is a master at dropping hints and giving clues that you don’t even realize you’ve picked up until it all comes together.

I loved Kate from the very beginning. It’s hard not to like her. She’s smart, she’s sweet, and she’s completely devoted to her family. Losing her mother shakes her world to its foundations and in a way, I think it brings her to herself. Her interactions with Gabe are the sweetest and most fun parts of the story.

Tom Russell’s story is heartbreaking. Unfortunately, this half of the story isn’t anything new or surprising as our history is filled with many such sad tales. However, I hadn’t ever heard about the failed slave revolt that the historical half of this novel focuses around. For me, it was interesting to learn about it in such a first-hand sort of way.

A Tangled Mercy is an informative and enjoyable trip through Charleston, South Carolina. The author paints an amazing picture of both timelines and doesn’t shy away from the less appealing parts of the narrative. The racism and horrors of life are equally represented in both timelines, making it an evocative and haunting story.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Good Liar by Catherine McKenzie

January 24, 2018 By Leave a Comment


The Good Liar by Catherine McKenzie
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (405 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Can you hide a secret with the whole world watching?

When an explosion rips apart a Chicago building, the lives of three women are forever altered.

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Now, despite the marks left by the tragedy, they all seem safe. But as its anniversary dominates the media, the memories of that terrifying morning become dangerous triggers. All these women are guarding important secrets. Just how far will they go to keep them?

The title of this book pulled me in. . . I had a feeling it would be suspenseful, and this one was.

One thing I’ll warn you about straight away is that its narration can be initially jarring. It’s a mix of first person, third person, and interview transcripts. It sort of threw me off at first but the more I read on, the more I understood why the author had chosen this format for the story.

All three women in this story are interesting characters. Cecily is the one you identify with the most because it’s through her first person narration the story begins and mainly continues. Did that make me like her more? I think so and as the story unfolds you realize she’s the real victim in the story but then the author makes you wonder… is she? I won’t give away the ending but let me just say it picked up tempo and intrigue as the tale unfolded. We get a clear picture of what secrets each women is hiding and how the three lives slowly mesh together.

I thought the dialogue was natural sounding and the pacing perfect. The last third of the story really flies by as all lives and backstories begin to merge. It’s also a story that gets you thinking about what you’d do if faced in similar circumstances. Is it ever a good idea to hide things from loved ones or to run away from things we’re not happy about?

It’s a fun read and if you like suspense and secrets in your stories then this is definitely one to check out.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Tips for Living by Renee Shafransky

January 24, 2018 By 3 Comments


Tips for Living by Renee Shafransky
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full length (328 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

On the day Nora discovered that her husband, Hugh, had gotten another woman pregnant, she made a vow: I will come back to life no matter how long it takes…
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It’s taken Nora three years. With the help of her best friend, she fled New York City for a small resort town, snagged a job as the advice columnist for the local paper, and is cautiously letting a new man into her life. But when Hugh and his perfect new family move into a house nearby, Nora backslides. Coping with jealousy, humiliation, and resentment again is as hard as she feared. It’s harder still when Hugh and his wife are shot to death in their home.

If only Nora could account for the night of the murders. Unfortunately, her memories have gone as dark as her fantasies of revenge. But Nora’s not the only one with a reason to kill—and as prime suspect in the crime, she’d better be able to prove it.

Betrayal isn’t an easy thing to put behind you. However, it’s the one thing Nora knows she needs to do. Move on and get over her cheating ex-husband’s treachery. Which, she was doing quite well with for the last three years until he – and his new wife and child – arrive in the quiet little town Nora had settled into. Now what was she going to do? Live and let live or take the bull by the horns?

Nora is a fabulous, complex character. She has her ups and downs and it’s all so relatable. Her anger, jealousy, and bitterness all come from an honest place and not just an outlet for revenge. When you add in the murder of her ex-husband and his new wife, things only get more confused for her. It doesn’t help that she’s been suspected of the double murder and, when she realizes she’s started sleepwalking again, can’t honestly rule herself out either.

Tips for Living is a wild, rollercoaster ride of a story. There are infinite twists and turns that I never saw coming. The author’s relaxed voice only makes it that much easier to devour the novel. I loved the little bits from the paper that were included between chapters, gave the book a homier sort of feel. The large case of characters makes you want to visit this little town for the summer and get to know them all. They also all have their secrets, giving you a wide pool of suspects for the murders. I must say, I never once suspected the actual culprit either. If this debut novel is any indication, the author’s next book out to be even more amazing.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
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