Come & Get It by Kiley Reid

lisascubby

Come & Get It is a story about a group of students, some RA’s and a professor at the University of Arkansas and how they all become entwined in a complicated relationship/friendship and how their pasts both create their present and will affect their futures due to incidents which occur at the University over a short period of time. The plot is imaginatively, yet, possible and probable when you stop to think about the narrative.

It begins with a visiting professor, Agatha Paul who is there to write a book about weddings. She gets permission to ask some of the female student’s questions. The questions turn into more than she expected from these southern girls. She then gets permission from the Senior RA, Millie Cousins, who is 24 and older than most students at the college to use her room which is located next to the suite in which the girls are located to listen to them. She agrees.

But Millie has her own problems with this suite of girls. They come to her with caddy questions about each other and then they decide to pull a prank on her and another RA. They decide to reciprocate back, perhaps not the best idea. And that starts a war of the roses type situation.

Meanwhile, Professor Paul is getting incredible stories from these girls and bringing them to a magazine and starts to get paid for them. The girls start to really not get along and we have some mental health issues complicating the girls’ relationships. All seems to be going well until the whole thing backfires on everyone! Millie had no idea what else Agatha had been writing about. And she is stunned.

With bits and pieces which come out about the past lives and issues of all these women, it’s no wonder things went wrong so fast!

Come & Get It is an interesting look at college life as seen through the eyes of a group of women who want so much but have everything to lose. Will the outcome change them for the better? We will see.

Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.PutnamSons #KileyReid #Come&GetIt for the advanced copy.

The Cleaner by Brandi Wells

lisascubby

The Cleaner is an enjoyable read with a question mark from beginning to end as we follow an unnamed woman who cleans a building at night which includes the offices on the fourth floor. Wells does not give us too many hints as to what is happening, not even the names of those involved. The cleaner only gives initials or names she has made up. They are L (the cleaner’s boss) and M (a nighttime driver who brings supplies). Told in one full chapter it details the obsession the cleaner has with the workers of the fourth floor, as well as who she imagines them to be in their lives outside of the office. We don’t know much about the cleaner which just adds to the mystery and intrigue of the story. The snippets we learn about her are aha moments.

The cleaner cleans a building at night in New York City. There she fantasizes about the workers on the fourth floor the offices she is responsible for cleaning. She takes her job very seriously. But she does more than just fantasize. She gives these unknown workers names such as Scissors Guy, The Intern, Mr. Buff and Yarn Guy. She sits and goes through their desks as she allows herself to imagine their life inside and outside the office. She signs into their computers, moves things not only around their desks, but to other’s desks when she feels the workers should actually get to know each other better. She sabotages a secret smoker by spraying disinfectant on his stash of cigarettes she finds. She hides and moves scissors from someone she feels is hording them. And then there are her “favorites”. The Intern who just started and keeps vitamins and laxatives in her desk and Yarn Guy who she seems to fancy who has knit items in his desk.

They are her life. She despises her boss L who does nothing but follow her around and M seems to have a small crush on the cleaner, but she doesn’t have time for that as the worker’s on the fourth floor keep her very busy. Especially Yarn Guy whom she imagines when she is away from the office how well the two would get along if only, she could meet him in person.

When she discovers the CEO of wrongdoing, she takes it upon herself to figure out how to ruin him to help the workers on the floor keep their jobs. Forget the fact she has no idea what the CEO does but what she discovers while browsing his office and computer makes her decide to destroy him.

She takes care of the people she cleans for. She knows what’s best for them, even when they don’t.

The Cleaner is a wonderfully written story which is both funny and scary at the same time. It will make you uncomfortable, yet you won’t be able to stop reading. It will make you question if this story is far from the truth in some offices. It will certainly make you check your desk if you work in an office just to make sure someone isn’t “taking care” of you at night!

Thank you #NetGalley #HanoverSquarePress #TheCleaner #BrandiWells for the advanced copy.

Diva by Daisy Goodwin

lisascubby

Daisy Goodwin’s riveting historical fiction book Diva is a juicy, heartbreaking look at a certain time in the career of arguably one of the most famous opera singers, Maria Callas. It covers a period in her life where because of her age, she knows she perhaps has only a bit of time left to do what she is passionate about, sing. It also delves deeply into her longtime relationship with Greek tycoon, Aristotle Onassis and their torrid affair which ended when he shockingly (especially to Callas) married Jacqueline Kennedy. Callas seems to never have recovered from the trauma of that relationship and Onassis’ deceptions during their romance.

It also gives insight into why Callas worked so hard to be the number one opera singer. All through her life she never felt loved by her mother, who just continually pushed her and always felt her sister Jackie should have been the famous one. Their sad estrangement is documented in the story as well. It also alludes to a developed eating disorder as Callas her whole life was conscious of being overweight and humiliated as a child.

Mostly, the story in great detail explains how one of the most famous vocalists of our time was not very confident, how her husband Tito who was her agent pushed her incredibly hard because he was more interested in the money than their marriage which he treated as a corporation, never really allowing her to rest and pushing her even when she felt unwell to sing.

But that all changed when Callas met Aristotle Onassis. There was an immediate connection. But he was married and so was she. But they started an affair even though Callas knew Onassis was a playboy. He made her feel as if she was the only true love of his life. They both ended up divorcing, but sadly would never marry as Onassis kept putting off the asking even though Callas kept hoping for the ring.

Onassis, not a fan of opera really took no time to see Callas’ performances and she suspected him of cheating which Goodwin goes into great detail in the book. One can only sympathize for the way he treated Callas and how it affected the rest of her life.

Scattered throughout the story are sensational tales of the rich and famous and their lavish lifestyles, especially when traveling on Onassis’ yacht, Christina O. There are many accounts of richly spending and shocking waste.

Diva is a story filled with heartache, heartbreak and loss. It’s the story of a woman who as a child felt worthless and was able to pull herself up and leave all that behind and become the famous diva the world will always remember her as. But even with all that, her greatest regret was losing the love of her life.

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #DaisyGoodwin #Diva for the advanced copy.

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron by April Asher

lisascubby

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron is the third installment of Asher’s adorable series Supernatural Singles. As with the first two, it follows the life and non-existent love life of the third triplet sister in a witch family. It’s funny, sexy and imaginatively creative. It’s an easy, enjoyable read if you are looking for something soft and feel-good.

Olive Maxwell is a witch who is a serious professor. She is always embarrassed by her two sisters’ antics. Especially when it comes to their love lives. Olive has no time for a love life. She is too busy with work and her students to look for a partner. Plus, she feels as if compared to her two beautiful sisters, she can’t compare anyway. But with that said, she has recently moved into an apartment (as roommates, of course) with the most handsome, sexy man she has ever seen, Bax Donovan who works as a guardian angel.

Of course, she realizes he could never see her as anything other than the person he lives with as Olive sees her life as very routine oriented even to the clothes she wears on certain days. But that begins to change when she assigns a project to her students having them make a list of items they want to do which are totally out of their comfort zone. Then do them and write a paper on what happened. But after overhearing two co-workers discussing her, she decides she too will attempt the assignment as well. Her list is honest, uncomfortable and awkward. Some items even terrifying. But she decides to close her eyes and take the proverbial plunge.

In the meantime, Bax, who finds Olive to be an absolute angel and beautiful gets his next assignment. It is to watch and protect Olive. At first Bax thinks, what a piece of cake! Olive follows the rules and always stays out of trouble. Until he realizes what she is planning on doing and she could get herself into a great deal of trouble.

So now he must somehow watch her without her knowing what he is doing. But what ends up happening is the more they are together, the more he discovers how terrific and wonderful she is. But this cannot happen! He is her protector not her boyfriend. He begins to assist her on her crazy schemes and enjoys what is on her list. But the challenge soon becomes very difficult as he begins to fall in love, an absolute rule breaker in his line of work. He also starts to learn more about himself and whether this job is truly what makes him happy. All because of Olive!

And then unfortunately Olive finds out and an angry witch is someone who does not play!

Not Your Crush’s Cauldron is laugh out loud hysterical, with a great story in which someone who tries to go beyond their comfort zone to try new things without feeling embarrassed or afraid and starts to learn many life lessons. It’s about finding out things you never imagined not only about yourself, but about others. And having a whole new world open up in front of your eyes. It’s just a great romp!

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’s/Griffin #AprilAsher #NotYourCrush’sCauldren for the advanced copy.

A Murder in Hollywood by Casey Sherman

lisascubby

True Crime investigator/writer Casey Sherman has written an awe-dropping account of movie star Lana Turner’s life and what led up to the death of her boyfriend, mobster Johnny Stompanato, as well as the effect it had on both her and her 15-year-old daughter Cheryl.

Sherman intricately delves into the history of both Lana Turner, her life prior to Stompanato’s death which occurred in her bedroom as he was allegedly beating her, which sadly was nothing unusual. When her daughter heard the commotion, she allegedly came into the room and stabbed Stompanato in the stomach. He also gives a history of the rise of the mob and how they were able to not only manipulate the Hollywood studios, but how they were able to manipulate her.

Ms. Turner’s life unfortunately was filled with trauma, abuse and abandonment from men in her life, including her own father. It covers how she became famous by infamously being “discovered” in a diner at a very young age.

Sherman also takes the reader into the lives of mobster Mickey Cohen as well as Johnny Stompanato and in great detail writes to what led up to the killing and the effects it had after the fact on Turner, her daughter and even Cohen.

Lana Turner’s life story is heartbreaking. Married many times, she seemed to always pick someone who would physically or mentally abuse her (or her young daughter) or steal her money. Because of her fame, she put her daughter on the backburner as she tried to live up to her bombshell image, which after a while began to fade. She then had to try and reinvent herself over and over again as new younger bombshells came on the scene.

Of course, the most riveting account was the story and facts of her relationship with Stompanato and how she was unable to get away from him and how he continually abused and threatened her. Sherman takes the reader step by step of not only their relationship but what is said to have occurred during the killing and smoothly moves into what happened next as well as the trial and Mickey Cohen’s hatred of Lana Turner after the death of his friend.

A Murder in Hollywood is a juicy can’t put down tell-all of a beloved, beautiful yet tortured movie star whose introduction to stardom was too fast and as she naively believed all the men who ran the studios had her well-being and would take care of her. Unfortunately, that would never happen, and her life was filled with abuses and overwhelming sadness. Yet, because of the actress she was no one would have ever guessed she lived her life practically walking on eggshells.

Thank you #NetGalley #Sourcebooks #CaseySherman #AMurderinHollywood for the advanced copy.

The Getaway List by Emma Lord

lisascubby

Emma Lord’s newest Young Adult novel, The Getaway List is a heartwarming story about teenagers, their mothers and friendships. It’s a coming of age, rite of passage plot filled with all the angst which comes with growing up. It’s about two best friends, one of which moved away and how they attempt to reconnect on the same level as when they were younger. But they soon realize, their old selves are gone, and they must try and adjust to the new people they have become. But can they? As they try to find a balance between their new freedom, adult problems and still needing their moms in their lives, can they reconnect in a different way.

The day Riley graduated from high school was the day she decided to tell her mom she needed to spread her wings. Not being able to go to college the coming year, for reasons she doesn’t want to discuss, she makes the decision to go see her best friend Tom who now lives in New York City with his famous screenwriter mother. Since they moved a few years ago they have not seen each other, and their interactions have become less and less. So, Riley wants to get them back on track. Unfortunately, her mother feels that her being with Tom will only get her in trouble and forbids her to go. But, Riley, now feeling she is an adult and doesn’t need her mother’s permission goes against her wishes and ends up in New York.

What her mother doesn’t understand is that Riley and Tom had created a Getaway List of crazy things they wanted to do together. But then Tom moved, and they never had the chance to even start the list. So now, Riley wants to complete the list with Tom over a weekend.

But, when they get together, Riley finds they have become two different people than she remembers, although she sees a bit of the old Tom, he is more serious, adult-like. She realizes they have changed. They are not the same young kids with no problems who are just able to hang out and relax. Tom now has a job and with his mother away at the moment is responsible for an actual household.

But they decide to make the most of the time they have and start the list. Along the way, they get a bit of help from a couple of kids who they would have never even given the time of day. And as they all begin the list together, they begin to trust each other and tell their own pasts and fears and parental issues realizing they really aren’t any different from each other.

What happens is this group of semi-lost young adults discover the value of true friendships, family and feelings as their lives take on different directions and they contemplate what is next for them once the list is finished…if they can even finish it!

The Getaway List is a powerful story about learning to become an adult, the heartbreak and heartache of not being understood, and the importance of true friendship and honesty with oneself and others you love.

Thank you #NetGalley #WednesdayBooks #EmmaLord #TheGetawayList for the advanced copy.

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander

lisascubby

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead is a mind blowing, psychological thriller in which the reader has absolutely no idea where the plot is going and gleefully anticipates the next twist and turn as the pieces of this insane story are put together. Hollander puts the reader on a rollercoaster and doesn’t let them off until they are exhausted and completely spent and satisfied.

Charlie Colbert is a survivor. In college on Christmas Eve, she was a part of a horrific event at the school. Some of her friends died. It made the national news. It is notoriously known as The Scarlet Christmas. So, you can only imagine what happened…

But now, ten years later, Charlie is still trying to survive. Even though she has worked all those years to become the editor-in-chief of a prestigious magazine, she is still haunted by that young girl who saw what she thinks she saw that night, but can’t remember everything.

Back when it happened, Charlie was the only survivor who refused to talk to the press. When one of her best friends wrote a book about that night, she refused to even participate. Since then, she has distanced herself from those best friends whom she loved and adored.

And now, nearing the 10th anniversary of the incident, one of her classmates, a powerful woman in the media industry has decided to make a film of all things about what happened that night. And she announced there is more to what happened than has been said.

Now, you see, Charlie can’t let this movie happen. Yes, she has moved on. She is engaged to a very wealthy man and has a great life. But she is hiding horrible secrets about that night that even her therapist she’s been seeing for years doesn’t know about.

Now, for her own safety as well as that of her family and her fiancé’s very connected family she must do something she has never wanted to do. She must remember what really happened that night. Remember all those blocked out moments, even if it kills her, or someone else.

Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead is a nail-biting page turner with believe it or not some humor infused into the story. But you will not be disappointed with the complex surprise ending which will shock you!

Thank you #NetGalley #MinotaurPress #JennyHollander #EveryoneWhoCanForgiveMeIsDead for the advanced copy.

Recipe For A Charmed Life by Rachel Linden

lisascubby

Recipe For A Charmed Life is a beautifully crafted love story. But not your usual love story between two people, but a love story which goes so much deeper than that. It’s a story about losing love, rekindling love and realizing what’s important in life and who is important in one’s life. It explains how until you let go of your past which cannot ever be changed you won’t be able to eagerly look forward to a future you also will not be able to change.

Chef Georgia May Jackson is an American cooking in Paris. With Julia Child as her childhood in her head mentor, she believes she is realizing “their” dreams. Her goal, to open a restaurant of her own. Until one night she not only loses her temper, but also loses her dream, her boyfriend and her job. During this same time, she begins to also lose her tastebuds which in her line of work is tragic. Doctors are mystified and she is terrified.

On top of all this bad news, Georgia May gets an unexpected message from her mother who she has not seen since she was a young girl. She has never forgiven her mother for just up and leaving them and has never had the true reason why she left. She finds out her mother is now living in a small coastal town near Seattle and has invited Georgia May for a visit. She realizes she needs to regroup and find her old spark and perhaps she can finally put to rest what happened to their family all those years ago.

But when she finally meets her mother, she discovers a beautiful free spirit who has a magical relationship with making anything in a garden grow, who only wants to make things right with her daughter. Georgia May begins to see her mother in a different light. Not the person she imagined growing up.

Of course, her mother’s helper is a very handsome oyster farmer who is very mysterious, and Georgia May can’t figure out what his problem with her is. She gets the feeling he hates her and can’t imagine why. He also seems to have his own set of issues and secrets.

As they settle in and start to discuss the past, Georgia May begins to feel differently. She’s still angry with her mother about her past and doesn’t know what to think about their future. She is excited about perhaps a future with her. And just like that she gets a call from Paris with an offer. She is torn. What on earth would Julia do?

Recipe For A Charmed Life is a from the heart, passionate story about forgiveness, friendships, unforgivable issue and moving past the hurt and finding true love and enthusiasm for whatever comes next.

Thank you #NetGalley #BerkleyPublishingGroup #RachelLinden #RecipeForACharmedLife for the advanced copy.

The Wharton Plot by Mariah Fredericks

lisascubby

The Wharton Plot is a murder-mystery with its protagonist a successful female writer from the early 1900’s. Based on a true story, it takes place in 1911. The reader is taken back to a time when men were powerful, and women were pretty much considered second class. Even women such as Edith Wharton whose writings were well received and was extremely opinionated was constantly downplayed as being weak. With so many important messages about women throughout the book, let’s not forget this is quite an entertaining mystery with a very interesting list of suspects. 

Novelist David Graham Phillips, notoriously known for his sharp tongue and overt opinions on everything is shot dead outside the Princeton Club in New York City one morning. With few witnesses present, the killer was able to run away. The writing community is in shock, as was Edith Wharton herself. She had just met him recently and had immediately disliked him. 

At first, Edith is not really interested in the killing as she has had enough of New York City as well as her husband for that matter and wants to escape. But with her publisher eager for her to turn in her next, very late book, she’s stuck in this new emerging city.

But when Phillips’ sister goes to Edith insisting his death was caused by his new book which was being released and he had been getting threatening notes, including the morning of the murder, well her interest is certainly piqued. As she agrees to look into the situation, she finds herself immersed in reading Phillips’ new book coming out, talking to his friends and colleagues as well as a few shady characters really to no avail. But suddenly all that changes as Edith herself begins to receive threatening notes which don’t really make any sense. Now it’s up to her to try and put the pieces of this puzzle together because it seems she herself is in danger!

The Wharton Plot is an interesting jaunt into feminist history with a woman ahead of her time with very strong opinions and a creative problem-solving mind and a mystery which pulls the reader in and never lets them go.

Thank you #NetGalley # MinotaurBooks #MariahFredericks #TheWhartonPlot for the advanced copy.

The Secret Ingredient by Sue Heath

lisascubby

The Secret Ingredient is just the most beautiful story filled with grace and kindness. It’s about friendship, loss and the coming together of people through companionship and recipes from their pasts. It’s about heartbreaking pain and how with the help of others even though there is darkness, you can get to the light. In more ways than one.

Kate Shaw’s life changed in the blink of an eye. Now, three years later, with the grief and guilt still overwhelming her, she decides to quit her job as a teacher and do something else. Not sure what, she just knows she as to do something to stop her life from spiraling out of control. Not very close to her mother, she carries her burdens alone. In the dark. With no comfort.

But that suddenly changes when an elderly man named Charles knocks on her door. He tells her the story of how her home use to be a bakery of sorts with tea and he and his wife Mary used to go there. He tells her his wife is ill and the one thing he thinks will help her are the scones which came from this bakery. Now, Kate not only does not cook, although her grandmother did and she still has her recipe book, but the thought of any kind of cooking breaks her heart.

But Charles convinces Kate that Mary would so much appreciate the scones that she could help her make them. In the meantime, as Kate is looking around her neighborhood, which while working she really never did, or never wanted to do, she meets another person, Della who loves to garden. Della offers to help Kate with her gardens which have been neglected. In return, Kate invites her to the tea to try the scones. Della is divorced and lonely, but her dog is everything to her. Of course, she jumps at the chance. Then there is Jack, who himself was a famous restaurant owner/chef who gave everything up. You see, Jack has lost his mojo and by mojo, his sense of taste. Without that, he has nothing. Or so he thinks.

And those my friends are the wonderfully charming characters you will learn to love and care about, even if you say you won’t. It’s about opening up about fears, pasts, guilts and losses. It’s about a group of unknowns who meet and through the love of eating, cooking and memories begin to bond and grow in strength separately and together. My friends, it’s about love.

Each person brings something to the table as they not only share meals but share themselves with the others. Every person has their own special secret ingredient in life. Sometimes if your very lucky you will find others whose ingredients will combine with yours and you will find true happiness in your life too.

Thank you #NetGalley #OneMoreChapter #SueHeath #TheSecretIngredient for the advanced copy.