Category: book review

Book Review: The Murder Machine, by Heather Graham

Image belongs to Harlequin/MIRA.

Title: The Murder Machine
Author: Heather Graham         
Genre: Thriller, Mystery  
Rating: 3 out of 3

 Artificial intelligence meets genuine murderous intent.

This state-of-the-art smart home has a next-generation entertainment system, an ultramodern kitchen where every appliance is online and even a personal AI to control it all. Standing above its owner’s lifeless body, FBI agent Jude Mackenzie is faced with the daunting task of discovering how the woman was killed by her own home. How do you catch a murderer that doesn’t leave any fingerprints?

Enter Special Agent Victoria Tennant, whose familiarity with cybercrime reveals the stark a machine can only do what it’s been directed to. As the number of grisly “accidents” begins to rise, the pair must race to uncover the perpetrator even as they find themselves caught in their digital crosshairs! There’s nowhere to hide when danger may be as close as the very phones in their pockets.

This was…not as good a read as I expect from Heather Graham. I knew who the murderer was about 2/3rds of the way through the book, which was fine, but no one else seemed to suspect them.

My real problem, though, was the “relationship” between Jude and Vicky happened so fast—overnight—and with barely even any hints of attraction to each other before they were both thinking they were in love. All the relationships in the book felt superficial and glossed over, and I almost put the book down halfway through, but decided to keep reading in the hopes it would improve. It didn’t.

Heather Graham is a bestselling author. The Murder Machine is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Staircase in the Woods, by Chuck Wendig

Image belongs to Random House/Del Rey.

Title: The Staircase in the Woods
Author: Chuck Wendig        
Genre: Fiction, horror, mystery/thriller  
Rating: 3 out of 5

Five high school friends are bonded by an oath to protect one another no matter what.

Then, on a camping trip in the middle of the forest, they find something a mysterious staircase to nowhere.

One friend walks up—and never comes back down. Then the staircase disappears.

Twenty years later, the staircase has reappeared. Now the group returns to find the lost boy—and what lies beyond the staircase in the woods. . . .

This was the first book by Wendig I’ve read, and I have to say, I wasn’t impressed. This didn’t feel like horror to me—gross and disgusting, yes, creepy, absolutely, but not horror. This book felt like a political agenda, and I’m never on board with that, but I also found the characters genuinely unlikeable, and the book just seemed to drag pointlessly along to an ending with zero resolution.

Chuck Wendig is a bestselling author. The Staircase in the Woods is his newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House/Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Night Swimming, by Aaron Starmer 

Image belongs to Penguin Workshop.

Title: Night Swimming
Author: Aaron Starmer         
Genre: YA   
Rating: 3 out of 5

It was just one swim… How could they know it would never end?

It’s the summer of 1994 and Trevor can barely wrap his mind around the fact that he and his friends have graduated high school. The future is a murky thing, filled with a college experience he feels neutral about at best, endless mixtape relistens, and the growing realization that his crush on the enigmatic Sarah isn’t going anywhere.

That is, until Sarah approaches him with a mission: they’re going to swim in all the pools in the neighborhood. Soon, their quest leads to them sneaking into backyard pools every night and continuing to get closer. But not close enough for Trevor, who yearns for Sarah despite her college boyfriend, despite her “not yet”s, despite the way she keeps pulling away the moment things feel real.

So when they learn about a natural pool hidden deep in the woods, it starts off as just another spot to check off their summer bucket list. But once they get there, they soon realize the natural pool has a curious hold on them, and something very strange is happening…

Okay, I’m not going to lie: this book seemed really pointless. The pacing was slow, and I felt like nothing happened. Nothing. The only reason I even finished it was because it was a quick read. The characters felt hazy and indistinct. There was basically no action. And I didn’t feel like the characters grew or changed.

Aaron Starmer was born in Northern California. Night Swimming is his newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Penguin Workshop in exchange for an honest review.)

Sundays are for Writing #326

This was an okay writing week: I wrote two book reviews, My Friends, by Fredrik Backman, and Heart of the Sun, by Mia Sheridan. My Friends was a fantastic read, and you should definitely pick it up when it comes out. I also DNFed Slipstream, by Madge Maril, because I refuse to read about a MC that sits around and feels sorry for herself and makes a big deal about being special because she has ADHD. I also journaled every day this week. Still not in the right mindset for fiction, though.

Happy writing!

Book Review: Bait and Swiss, by Korina Moss

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title: Bait and Swiss   
Author: Korina Moss  
Genre: Mystery/thriller   
Rating: 4 out of 5

 t’s been almost two years since Willa Bauer opened Curds & Whey in Yarrow Glen, and both cheesemonger and cheese shop are thriving in the Sonoma Valley. While Willa doesn’t eat chocolate, it’s true that life is like a box of chocolates. Unfortunately, life’s latest curveball is that Willa’s ex fiancé and ex-best friend—the reason for her chocolate aversion—are opening a chocolate pop-up shop across the street. By the end of the shop’s first day, the town’s newest reporter is the victim of death by chocolate. Now Willa’s ex wants her to be Swiss Congeniality, solve the case, and save the day. As much as Willa wants to hit him with the nearest cheese wheel, she can’t stop herself from saying yes. And it’s not long before tourists decide to stay clear of town until the killer is caught. To save Yarrow Glen, Willa and Team Cheese have some work to do.

This series is a solid read, and this entry was no exception. As always, there’s a lot of cheese talk, which makes me hungry, a lot of friendship and having each other’s back, and, of course, a seemingly random murder. Willa and all of Team Cheese are fun to read and taking Mr. Detective mostly out of the game this go around added a bit more trouble to the mix. This would be a fun weekend read.

Korina Moss is an award-winning author. Bait and Swiss is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Traitor of Sherwood Forest, by Amy S. Kaufman

Image belongs to Penguin Group.

Title: The Traitor of Sherwood Forest  
Author: Amy S. Kaufman         
Genre: Fiction  
Rating: 3 out of 5

Jane Crowe is an ordinary peasant girl who never dreamed she would work for the infamous Lord of the Greenwood. But when she’s forced out of her home, she has no choice but to turn to Robin Hood for help—and he makes her an irresistible offer. He needs a pair of eyes in the King’s Houses, and quiet, unassuming Jane—who has spent her whole life going unnoticed—will be the perfect spy.

At first, Jane’s work for Robin seems straightforward. She whispers to him about the nobles at King’s Houses and all their secrets, including the new Sheriff of Nottingham, who would like nothing more than to see Robin Hood’s head on a spike. But the more Jane is drawn into Robin’s world, the more she’s drawn to Robin himself—a man as charismatic as he is cunning, capable of plucking at her heart as easily as he notches an arrow. As Robin’s tricks grow increasingly dangerous, and shockingly violent, Jane starts to suspect that her hero cares more about his own legacy than helping the common people—and that despite his declarations of affection, he sees her as just another object to be stolen.

When Robin’s schemes implicate Jane in a brutal murder, she must decide: is she prize to be won, a pawn to be used and discarded—or is she an equal player in the game between nobles and thieves?

I liked the voice of this, I just wasn’t a huge fan of the story itself. This is just a ME problem, not a problem with the writing, which was solid and vivid. I wanted to smack Jane for being stupid several times (okay, a lot), although with her background, it wasn’t a surprise she was so sheltered. This isn’t a sunshine and roses retelling of a Disney tale, but much more realistic.

Amy S. Kaufman is a former English professor. The Traitor of Sherwood Forest is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Penguin Group in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Amalfi Curse, by Sarah Penner

Image belongs to Harlequin/Park Row.

Title: The Amalfi Curse
Author: Sarah Penner
Genre: Fiction, historical fiction  
Rating: 5 out of 5

Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse…

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever…

This was an excellent read! I loved the setting; it sounded so beautiful. Both the main characters, Haven and Mari, are strong women trapped (to some extent) by circumstance beyond their control but determined to do whatever necessary to make things right. The characters are vibrant, and I was invested in what happened to them.

 Sarah Penner is a bestselling author. The Amalfi Curse is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Park Row in exchange for an honest review.)

 

Sundays are for Writing #325

I’m happy with this writing week: despite my allergies trying to kill me this week (Thank you, springtime in Texas.), I journaled every day and wrote three book reviews, Out of Air, by Rachel Reiss, The Love Haters, by Katherine Center, and Death at a Highland Wedding, by Kelley Armstrong.

Happy writing!

Book Review: The Summer of You and Me, by Denise Hunter  

Image belongs to Thomas Nelson.

Title: The Summer of You and Me
Author: Denise Hunter         
Genre: Christian, romance   
Rating: 4 out of 5

Five years after her husband’s death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie’s heart, and Josh’s unrequited love has ruined all of his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan’s twin. But he disappears into the amusement-park crowd before she can confront him.

The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man’s true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers–and soon Maggie isn’t sure she wants those answers at all.

Like most of Denise Hunter’s books, this was a sweet, quick read. Maggie’s daughter was actually my favorite character, but I liked all of them. Except Maggie’s mom, of course. She was pretty horrible. I liked the mystery over the Ethan-lookalike, and the resolution was unexpected. This was a solid read, and I do recommend it.

Denise Hunter is an award-winning author. The Summer of You and Me is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Boys with Sharp Teeth, by Jenni Howell

Image belongs to Macmillan’s Children’s.

Title: Boys with Sharp Teeth  
Author: Jenni Howell         
Genre: YA   
Rating: 3 out of 5

Seventeen-year-old Marin James has spent her entire life living in the shadow of the exclusive Huntsworth Academy. And when her cousin’s dead body is found in a creek on school property, Marin knows exactly who’s to blame: Adrian Hargraves and Henry Wu, the enigmatic yet dangerously alluring leaders of the school’s social elite.

Swapping her ripped jeans for a crisp prep school skirt, Marin infiltrates Huntsworth to seek justice. But her quest is quickly muddied by a confusing attraction to her new life, and to the two dysfunctional and depraved boys who somehow understand her better than anyone ever has.

When Marin uncovers an otherworldly secret the boys are hiding within Huntsworth’s ivied gates, the lines between right and wrong, love and hate, and nightmare and reality begin to crumble — and nothing is as it seems.

Welcome to Huntsworth Academy.

It requires a rather large suspension of belief to accept that Marin was able to get herself into Huntsworth Academy so easily—and that absolutely no one from her old life (right down the street) bothered to look for her. I liked Baz a lot, but she, Henry, and Adrian seem like they’re the only people who even go to this school. And the entire novel happens within the space of a few weeks, but felt like it was spread out over months, so that didn’t really line up. The writing was excellent and I loved the feel of this book, but it just didn’t make sense to me.

Jenni Howell was a middle school teacher. Boys with Sharp Teeth is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Macmillan Children’s in exchange for an honest review.)