A Stranger's Game - Colleen Coble

A Stranger's Game by Colleen Coble
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Let me preface this by saying I love Christian fiction books. They are some of my favorites I've read through the years. I've even liked some of Colleen Coble's books. However, I have not found many to love in recent years. Especially by established authors. I feel like they are either 1) trying to push out books so quickly they lack a compelling, cohesive story line and/or a good editing process or 2) they feel like they have enough of a loyal following that they don't need to put out quality writing. Just my opinion. And this book is no exception.

I had read such great reviews on A Stranger's Game that I even moved it to the top of my TBR. From the start, I was baffled by how it's received an average of 4.14 starts on Goodreads. So I kept reading, thinking it surely had to get better. It didn't. At least not for me.

In A Stranger's Game, Torie Bergstrom is a hotel heiress who decides she needs to research her friend's death. So she goes undercover at the hotel her aunt manages and her father and she own to figure it all out.

Wait! What? Your telling me NO ONE on that island or at that hotel recognizes her through 300+ pages of this book. When she's the owner's daughter...on the board...in national newspapers. Oh, and spent summers/grew up (it was never clear which) on the island and in the hotel until she was 10. Apparently not. The only one who recognizes her is a guy who works in politics in DC.

So many plot lines. Definitely an instance of trying to do too much and none of it well. We're left floating on the war games/sub stealing plot. The Torie's mom's death plot is just like "meh...I pushed her; it was an accident."

So many loose threads. Who killed Bella? What business did the guy who "masterminded" this plan (or was it his mom's plan) have that failed that caused him to develop this elaborate plan to take out everyone in the Federal Reserve? It just...none of it made practical sense.

And, whoo. Don't get me started on Torie and Joe interfering with all the evidence all the time and the investigation. Shouldn't they be in jail too? There's no way a self-respecting police force would let that happen. And let's just talk about Joe. Really? How does he know how to do all the things in security and the military. He's a marine biologist who works 20 hours a month in security at the hotel??!?!

Why would the guy booby trap the tree house and lie in wait to abduct Torie and Hailey? How could he know they'd be there? Climb it? Not to mention the minor thing where Torie just climbed the tree the first time but uses the step boards the second.

Just so much about the entire book doesn't make sense. I could go on and on with holes and contradictions that should have been caught in editing.

I hate to say it, but I'm starting to give up on Christian fiction by well-rated authors. I've read fewer and fewer over the years and become more and more disappointed.

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Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay, first of all I just have to say that I think I've spent my whole reading life confusing the Bronte sisters and their tales. I knew the plot of Jane Eyre before reading it. But I always ascribed said plot to Wuthering Heights thinking I had read the latter (and own it) but not the former. But upon reading this book, I've found that I was wrong. And now I find myself trying to sort out if I've ever even read Wuthering Heights. I really enjoyed this story. I appreciated Jane's character and her depth of integrity. I did not like any of her male cousins and am glad the book ended happily. Jane is a very spiritual, do the right thing girl. Temptation is there to lash out, to give in to her passions, etc. But at Lowood she learned to control those emotions and to act rationally and rightly. A part of me wondered if she lost a bit of herself in doing that, but in reflection I really don't think so. She became a truer version of herself. I think that Jane Eyre can give us all a deeper spiritual message and truth: I care for myself. I will respect myself. I will keep the laws given by God; sanctioned by man. I will hold to the principles received by me when I was sane, and not mad as I am now. Laws and principles are not for times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this, when body and soul rise in mutiny against their rigour; stringent are they; inviolate they shall be. If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth?
I pray I can remember well remember her words the next time I face temptation. And to plant my foot in what I know to be true and right and good.

January 2022
Reread (partially by audiobook) and liked it even more. Bumped it from 3 to 4 stars.

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Kind of a Big Deal - Shannon Hale

Kind of a Big Deal by Shannon Hale
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a review copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Typically, I am a Shannon Hale fan. So when I saw she had a new book, I was excited to get my hands on it. I was disappointed.

This book was wonky. Really just...odd.

Josie Pie peaked in high school. She was the "It" girl - popular, star of all the shows, etc. But when she dropped out of high school to pursue a career on Broadway, reality sets in. It is not a reality she likes. Then she learns she can escape into (literally, INTO) books. Will this bring the success and adoration she craves?

I don't know that I can say anything about this book other than it was odd. Josie jumps in and out of different genres and story lines interspersed with flashbacks of high school and Broadway as well as current day interactions with the girl she nannies and others. There's this whole thing with the Muses. It was just weird.

I love books about books. This premise appealed to me. I think the book just failed in carrying it out. It was all over the place. Josie was whiny and depressed. Lots of making out and talk of making out. It was like so much of her character revolved around that. Family dynamics that were over the top. An extra weird conclusion.

I was not a fan.



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The First Actress - CW Gortner

The First Actress by C.W. Gortner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First off, thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced review copy. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Bernhardt is considered the world's first modern actress. This is the story of her tumultuous rise to fame.

I had never heard of Sarah Bernhardt before coming across this book on NetGalley. However, I have read other books by Gortner and enjoyed both the story and the historical knowledge. This book was no different.

Gortner writes in such a way that I really got a feel for who Sarah was and her complexities. She endured a lot, both in her childhood and her career aspirations. There were several characters/people I really didn't like at all as a result of his story telling. And I imagine they were that way in real life as well.

Anyone who likes historical fiction, even if they aren't necessarily theater fans, would probably like this book.

Heads-Up: There are some open door scenes.

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Pay Attention, Carter Jones - Gary D. Schmidt

Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Jones home is a bit crazy most days. That is, until The Butler shows up to take charge. But he has more lessons to teach than anyone expects.
I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining to read yet still tackled some pretty big issues. Definitely a great addition to any upper elementary or middle school bookshelf.
I, however, still have no understanding of cricket despite the information given at the start of each chapter. :)

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Beezus & Ramona - Beverly Cleary

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book aloud with my kids (6 and 4yo). They loved it. My 6-year-old son - who can be somewhat ambivalent to read alouds unless they're pictures books - loved it. We typically do chapter books at lunch and picture books at bed. He consistently brought me this book to read at night too.
We learned a lot of good vocabulary. I don't remember Ramona being such a brat (with little discipline) when I read the books as a child myself, but it provided a lot of good discussion.

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The Woman in the Window - AJ Finn

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Probably more 2.5 stars for me. I'm not a huge fan of unreliable narrators (I think I'm just over it as I liked the first few I read) and saw several of the twists before they were revealed. That being said, several in my book club really enjoyed it.

Anna suffers from agoraphobia and spends her days watching old movies, watching her neighbors, drinking, and helping where she can on an agoraphobia chat room. One evening she glimpses a scene she shouldn't have through her camera lens and it all starts unraveling.

If you read this book, I recommend devoting at least a good hour to get into it. I was so confused from probably the first 60+ pages because I was reading in small chunks. Once I sat down and read for an extended time, it began to come together for me.

The old movie references meant nothing to me as I hadn't seen or heard of most of them. However, if you are a classic movie buff, I can see that having an appeal.

There were a few twists that I didn't see coming until right before they were revealed. However, others I saw pages and pages away. If unreliable narrators are your thing, you might like it more than I did.

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Fountains of Silence - Ruta Sepetys

The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book - as did everyone in my book club. I still think Salt to the Sea is my favorite of hers, but this one is a close second.

Sepetys definitely deserves her title of "Seeker of Lost Stories." She explores history through narrative of topics we definitely should have all heard about in school lessons. This book covers the dictatorship of Franco after the Spanish Civil War (My history instruction was so bad that while I had heard of Franco I didn't know they had a civil war.). It shows the economic disparities, gender inequalities and baby selling (?!?) that all happened under Franco's regime. All cushioned in a fascinating story of American boy meets Spanish girl and learns from her. I especially enjoyed the true oral history transcripts and news articles sprinkled throughout.

5 stars. I'm fairly stingy with those. So...read it!

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The Family Upstairs - Lisa Jewell

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This book was all kinds of messed up.

When Libby Jones turns 25, she receives notice of her inheritance from her dead parents: an empty mansion in an upscale part of London. It's all downhill and nuts from there. I particularly didn't like Lucy's point of view. I don't find that it added much to the overall story. So much in this book was disturbing and convoluted yet not much of it was really surprising or suspenseful. Thankfully it was at least a quick read.

There was one quote I liked, and it even applies here:
"They weren't bad books," Phin countered patiently. "They were books that you didn't enjoy. It's not the same thing at all. The only bad books are books that are so badly written that no on will publish them. Any book that has been published is going to be a 'good book' for someone."

This book definitely qualifies as one I didn't enjoy.

Content Warnings: Language, abuse in many forms

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Never Have I Ever - Joshilyn Jackson

Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm waffling between 2 and 3 stars on this one.

Amy is happy with her life as wife, "stepmonster," and mom and doesn't think anything can shatter her peaceful existence...until Roux shows up in her neighborhood and on her doorstep. Roux brings with her information about Amy's past and objectives all her own.

I feel like Amy's character has depth and nuance but all the rest were pretty static. There were definitely some twists I didn't see coming, which I always appreciate in a book.

Content Warnings: language, violence, sexual content (of a disturbing nature)

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The Nickel Boys - Colson Whitehead

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Important.
Heart-wrenching.
Thought provoking.
Absolutely worth reading.

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The Mother-in-Law - Sally Hepworth

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lucas and her MIL, Diana, have always had a rocky relationship. So when Diana is found dead, suspicion abounds.

This book is told primarily from Lucy & Diana's perspectives, and alternates between past and present. I liked the back story pieces. It gave such understanding and depth to some of the characters.

Worth reading if you like domestic suspense.

I gave it 3 stars, but it was really more 3.5 for me. So take that with a grain of salt.

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Everything Here Is Beautiful - Mira T. Lee

Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a book of lives intertwined. Sisters. Marriage. Lovers. Parents. Children. One's own self.

Lucia and Miranda Bok are Chinese American sisters who pop in and out of each other's lives. Lucia is free spirited and passionate while Miranda has always taken on the more protector, practical role. When Lucia starts hallucinating and hearing voices, Miranda tries to rescue her as she always has.

This book took many, many pages for me to get into. I think that had more to do with my brain space at the time than the book itself. I didn't become attached to any particular character but the highlight of the book for me was "watching" the ways the characters interacted. Not just their words but their internal monologues as well. I really wanted to not like Manny due to some of his choices. But even with him, you can see the reasons behind those choices because the chapters rotate through several alternating perspectives. It was well written overall. Choppy at times, but even that made sense.

Great for a book club to read together as there is a plethora of things to discuss and debate in this story.

Heads-up: language, sex

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The Chalk Man - CJ Tudor

The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Chalk Man is told in two story lines: 2016 and 1986. The story revolves around a group of kids who were friends in the 80's and then focuses on one of those friends (Eddie) in the more present day. The book begins with a tragic accident that helps shape one of the key story lines.

The book was pretty interesting. A little too creepy at parts for me. Some of the story lines kept me guessing until they were almost revealed. Others I figured out early. Pretty much everything was revealed by the end.

Everyone in my book club liked it or loved it. For me, it's probably a 2.5. I didn't really like it, but it was better than okay.

Definitely try to read it in larger chunks. I started out reading just a few pages or a chapter at a time as that's what my schedule allowed. And I think that caused me to be a bit confused at time. Once I sat down and read the last half in a long reading block, things clicked better for me.

Head's Up: Abuse, abortion, violence that got a bit descriptive

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Vox - Christina Dalcher

Vox by Christina Dalcher
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was my book club pick for May 2019, and I think it will lend itself to some interesting discussions.
This dystopian novel is set in a United States where the women and girls have been effectively silenced. Each is allotted only 100 words a day. No female can hold jobs; girls are taught only the skills for homemaking in school. Dr. Jean McClellan can’t believe this limited existence came about so quickly, and she is determined to do what she can to make her voice heard.
I had heard amazing things about this book from many different people. The story itself was fascinating. The way the country came to be so restricted. Jean chafing against the new order but unsure how to change it. The characters representing the conservative Christians who instituted and enforced the new laws were more caricatures than the other main characters were. I’m assuming that was on purpose to create a bias.
I could have done without the romance and sex. I think it took away from the overall (and more important, in my mind) story. Also, there was so much language. It was distracting, not adding to the characters in any way. Additionally, I felt that one of the thread conclusions was just too pat, too easy for the build up it had.
Probably would have been a 3 star “I liked it book” but for the above. It does make one think, though.

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I Owe You One - Sophie Kinsella

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Kinsella’s books seem to be hit or miss for me. I didn’t love this one. But it wasn’t a complete miss either.
Fixie Farr doesn’t have her nickname “Fixie” for nothing. Between her “Family first” motto and needing to fix everything she comes across from crooked vases to the lives and relationships of others, Fixie has no time for herself. A chance meeting at a coffee shop leads to a game of IOU’s passing back and forth between her and the handsome (no longer) stranger.
I usually enjoy her “train wreck” main characters; but in this one, Fixie was bit too oblivious for me. I loved her heart and wanting to keep the family and shop together. Her desire to help out everyone in her circle. But, geez, take the blinders off. You’re totally being used.
The way she throws herself, heart and soul and body, into relationships is a bit frightening and unstable as well. Despite that, I did like her as a character.
I hated most other characters, including Seb and his stupidity. But I think I was supposed to.
Some language and sex. Which, again, some of her books seem heavier on than others. This one leaned toward heavier, in my opinion.
The book was an interesting premise. But a little to over the top of me right now. Perhaps I would have loved it at another time. But for now, I would say I’m split between “just okay” and “liked it.” So 2.5 stars from me.

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The Girls at 17 Swann Street - Yara Zgheib

The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is powerful.
Anna Roux was a ballet dancer who is injured and then follows her husband from Paris to St. Louis. Thrown amidst unfamiliar surroundings, loneliness, and feelings of no purpose, depression and anorexia get a hold of her. This is the story of how the disease snuck up on her and her journey through treatment at 17 Swann Street.
Anna and the other girls at Swann Street are written so beautifully and poignantly. As I was reading, I could envision them as real people with real struggles – food-oriented and otherwise. The way Anna relates to the other women in the house. The reflection into her past and attempt to rebuild relationships. Her relationship with Matthias is complicated and heartbreaking and hopeful.
Her struggles. Triumphs. Setbacks. I cried. I cheered. I felt.
I did get a little lost at times in conversations as far as who was speaking as there were no quotation marks or clear breaks at times. But the story and characters superseded any of those issues. It all seemed very well researched or experienced as well.
I think this is an important book for people to read to humanize the very real disease of eating disorders.

Trigger Warning: It goes without saying (I hope) but this book centers around anorexia, bulimia, and unhealthy food relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.


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Flint - Louis L'Amour

Flint by Louis L'Amour
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Flint grew up in the west but headed east as soon as he could, making a name for himself in the world of finance. Life happens, and he decides to return to the west. Flint almost immediately finds himself tangled up in a range war on the side of local rancher, Nancy Kerrigan.

I grew up visiting my grandparents each summer in Western Kansas. And I recall Louis L'Amour books my grandpa read on the built in shelf between recliners in the living room. While I read many books from those shelves over the years, I never picked up one by L'Amour. Then I had a college boyfriend who wasn't much of a reader but would rave about L'Amour. Still, I never read one. So when friends mentioned L'Amour again recently at a social gathering, I finally asked which one I should start with. They were split between Flint and another title I don't recall. Flint was available at my library, so I read it.

And enjoyed it.

Which I didn't really expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I'm not a Western movie watcher. I do like historical fiction but haven't really ever read a gun-slinging Western, to my remembrance. This was good. Predictable at times, for sure. But I was fully engaged in the story and Flint. It was interesting. I'll read more.

As a side note, I was completely distracted by the character "Nancy Kerrigan's" name, despite acknowledging the fact this was written far before the famous figure skater was born.

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Seven Days of Us - Francesca Hornak

Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The Birch family is having to spend the Christmas holiday under quarantine at their country estate due to their oldest daughter’s medical career. For those seven days, they bump up each other and their various personalities and idiosyncrasies. Is a happy holiday had?
I am striking out on Christmas books this season. I found nothing to like about this book other than short chapters, that were easy to read.
I didn’t like or appreciate or care about any of the characters. Perhaps that was the point, and I missed it? They were just all so dysfunctional and self-absorbed. Every.Last.Character.
The “coincidences” where just a bit much. Seriously. Were the 6 main characters the only people on the planet to continue running into each other like that? The “surprises” weren’t surprising at all but could be spotted chapters in advance.
The plot and story telling were ponderous in the minutiae.
Summed up: I just really didn’t care.
That being said, other people in my book club (it was our December choice), enjoyed it. So perhaps it’s just me.
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Comfort & Joy - Krisitin Hannah

Comfort & Joy by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Joy Candellaro is not feeling the Christmas spirit at all this year. A recent divorce and estrangement from her sister just has her wanting to avoid it all. An impromptu trip ends in disaster. Or does it?
Oh, this book. I wanted to love it. But I couldn’t. It was awful. Or perhaps the problem was me. I just expected too much out of my love for Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone. Wow. Has she come a long way as an author since this book.
I expect to have to suspend some disbelief in my Christmas book reading. It’s a magical season and the books written for the season tend to have elements of magic or at least far-fetchedness in them. But this one was just beyond. I don’t think I have the capability to suspend my disbelief to the extent this story requires.
Then there were the more technical aspects of the book that drove me batty. The timing was off several times in the book. And the inconsistencies were crazy. I realize that some of the inconsistencies were due to the belief suspension elements. But some were just there because they weren’t caught in editing.
The character of Bobby grated on my nerves in so many ways. The way he was written, he acted and talked like he was a lot younger than 8. Perhaps that was due to the trauma he experienced. But even so, that was just a couple months prior. So I can’t see it being a full explanation. And that fact no one was concerned about him not being able to read at 8. What was that all about? He was just poorly written, I felt.
Had it not been a book for book club, I probably would have quit by page 50. I have some other of Hannah’s earlier books in my TBR list and piles. I hope they’re better than this one.

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