Tag: book-reviews

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto

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You will absolutely fall in love with Ms. Mebel, a sixty something woman in the prime of her life, even though she doesn’t know it yet in this empowering, imaginative and very funny story.

You see, Ms. Mebel is married but has been sheltered most of her life. Her husband, very rich…not her it seems but him… has pampered her with anything and everything her little heart has desired. Designer clothes, shoes, fancy restaurants and let’s not forget the jewelry! But Mebel expects it because that is how it is in their culture which is Chinese Indonesian. The husband takes care of the family. Until…

Said husband decides to fall in love with their very young chef who cooks for them and asks her for a divorce. Excuse me? Mebel is the only trophy wife in this forty-year marriage. But he has made up his mind.

Angry, embarrassed and lost, Mabel against her sons wishes, who feels she should just divorce his father, decides to fix the situation. She will win back Henk, her husband by going to a prominent culinary school in England. So what if she can’t cook. She will learn, he will fall madly in love again with her and dump trophy wife number two!

Mabel applies and gets into the school. She along with her beautiful jewelry, clothes and shoes schlep to the school. It’s….not what she thought it would be. It’s in a small village near Oxford not at Oxford which seems to be the first mistake. But she is determined.

The oldest student in the bunch, Mabel begins her experience by trying to pull her privilege card. Unfortunately, that does not seem to work with the other students, or the teacher.

As Mabel begins to understand how her young classmates seem to be determined to succeed, she herself with their help starts to appreciate them as well as herself. The better she does the more confidence she seems to exude. She becomes the other students’ advisor on life and problems, something she was never asked to do her whole life.

Mebel will begin to learn and understand how people can seem one way and be another. She becomes good at cooking and communicating (for the most part) with others. And she begins to grow in so many other ways. For herself, but for others as well. She now is determined to succeed not for anyone else but Mebel. Well, maybe for her family also whom she begins to understand in a way she never had.

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block is such a humorous special story, in which there are so many lessons to be learned. You can change not matter what your age. You can absolutely do whatever you set your mind to. And it’s never too late to learn about love and humanity. A trophy wife? Well, I don’t think so!

Thank you #NetGalley #Berkley #JesseQ.Sutanto #Ms.MebelGoesBacktotheChoppingBlock for the advanced copy.

Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block: Sutanto, Jesse Q.: 9780593953051: Amazon.com: Books

Edit Review – Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block | Goodreads

This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone by Catherine Mack

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This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone is the third in Mack’s vacation mystery series. Mack is also known for her thrillers under the name Catherine Mckenzie. This story is once again a very funny murder mystery where we follow our beloved heroine (but for some reason always wanting to be killed) author Eleanor Dash as she takes us along for the ride as she tries to get in a vacation with boyfriend Oliver and her sister/assistant Harper while at a book conference in the Bahamas.

But a death quickly occurs even before Eleanor opens the door to her room as she discovers a dead body in said room! As Eleanor tells the story to the reader with her exceptional wit, humor and footnotes, we will soon discover the death was not a suicide as first thought, but a murder. Shocking I know!

Eleanor who has a book coming out soon had been invited to the book conference to give a few lectures and figured she could use a little bit of a rest…I guess not because as the authors, agents and others assemble she discovers the cast of characters are similar to those in her previous books…I mean life. Crazy Cathy is there as well as her nemesis Connor Smith and even our favorite Italian detective makes an appearance. But unfortunately, a few people Eleanor has ticked off through the years.

As the clues begin to show themselves, we soon discover that someone is trying to kill Eleanor. Again. But for what reason now? As Eleanor and Oliver delve deeper into the suspects and their relationship, they soon discover they are all keeping secrets and they are not particularly good ones.

Will she figure out who is trying to kill her or will this be her last book conference ever! Also, guess how many murders are in this book!

This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone is not only hilarious, with terrific sarcastic characters but Mack actually incorporates great information into the story on how to actually write a mystery thriller. Which as I have mentioned was what Eleanor was actually there to do. The story and clues are exceptional, and the ending is very Agatha Christie surprising!

Thank you #NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #CatherineMack #ThisWeekendDoesn’tEndWellforAnyone for the advanced copy.

This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone: A Novel (The Vacation Mysteries, 3): Mack, Catherine: 9781250326164: Amazon.com: Books

Lisa Leone-campbell’s review of This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone: A Novel | Goodreads

Heart the Lover by Lily King

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Heart the Lover is extraordinary, heartbreaking yet hopeful and deserving of any literary prize it is nominated for. The story encapsulates every emotion known to a person… love, hate, regret, heartbreak and optimism. While the reader will experience a few shocking twists, the story’s honesty is its message which is genuine.

It all begins when her senior year in college she meets two males from her 17th Century Lit Class. They both sit up front. She is in the back. Their names are Sam and Yosh. Why they begin to talk to her she will never know. But they end up inviting her to the huge house they are staying at during the semester which actually belongs to a professor on sabbatical. All she has ever wanted to do was become a writer. But she needs all the help she can get.

Thus begins their friendships, beginning with them deciding to call her Jordan…not her name. The three become inseparable although their personalities could not be more different. Jordan enjoys the attention and begins to have a crush on one of them. She starts to stay over at the house which for her is exquisite as her small apartment she shares with too many students has no air conditioning, no heat and sometimes no water.

The year will be a rite of passage for all three. There will be arguments, relationship changes and some decisions which will hurt the others and carry them all into the future.

Until one day years later a visit from one of them will once again change the trajectory of the three of them, change their lives forever as the past and present must come together again.

What Jordan will learn is as some decisions from the past need to be addressed, others should try and stay buried so as not to hurt the others. Decisions will need to be made and lives will change. Friendships are fragile but in certain situations you must have superhuman strength to keep going.

Heart the Lover is just beautiful while showing the imperfections we all have when it comes to our friends. But also, the strength one needs to resolve issues which were hidden years ago before it’s too late. The story is painfully magnificent.

Published by Grove Press

Amazon.com: Heart the Lover: 9781837265589: Lily King: Books

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

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Mad Mabel is a mysterious story about an elderly curmudgeon woman who has been able to keep her identity hidden for many years. Her early life was filled with trauma, embarrassment and fear. But she was able to make a quiet life for herself living on a cul-de-sac and keeping to herself. But unfortunately, that will all change when one of her neighbors passes away and her real identity is exposed. What on earth should she do now?

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years young. She has lived in this neighborhood for decades. She keeps to herself for the most part except for her lifelong friend Daphne. She has everything she needs and enjoys the quiet. Very opinionated, the neighbors keep their distance. Until…

Two situations happen simultaneously. First, she realizes she has not seen a certain neighbor for a bit and discovers the body inside his house. Second, she seems to have made friends with a very young girl named Persephone who decides she wants to be Elsie’s best friend, and she cannot get rid of her.

But unfortunately, the police discover her past and how she was called Mad Mabel when she was young. They also discover Mabel was the youngest Australian child at the age of fifteen to ever be imprisoned. As her world begins to blow up and the neighbors begin to look at her as if she’s crazy, Mabel is visited by a true crime channel and asked if she would like to tell her story.

As she decides what to do, we go back in time with Mabel as she tells her story revisiting her childhood and what has brought her to this point in her long life. What is discovered is there is much more to her story, and to Elsie and how she was able to come out of her youth unscathed, even though she went to prison is amazing.

Unfortunately, no one believed her then and so why would they believe her now?

Does she risk her privacy to open that door in which has been locked for years? What on earth will the neighbors think? What will this lonely child think of her? How does she reconcile her past with her present?

Mad Mabel is very funny, yet a bit sad, heartbreaking but so uplifting. You will fall in love with Mabel as she begins to understand life and friendship and love at the ripe young age of eighty-one!

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #SallyHepworth #MadMabel for the advanced copy.

Amazon.com: Mad Mabel: A Novel: 9781250284549: Hepworth, Sally: Books

Lisa Leone-campbell’s review of Mad Mabel | Goodreads

The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer

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The Book Witch is a magical, beautiful trip down a memory lane of books. A wonderful quote from the book is “All stories are love stories if you love stories”. This book is a love story to not only books, but to those who love to read them. It’s as I call her books, Meg Shaffer’s imaginative mind as only she knows how. Embrace the journey, the book and understand the importance of not only characters you will fall in love with, but just how special their authors are as well!

Rainy March, yes that’s her name, is a book witch just as her mother and grandfather. She is able to jump in and out of books whenever there seems to be a problem with a character or plot change. For example, a main character hopping out of the book accidentally or on purpose. Rainy is there to find the person and get them back into the story. Or if something happens to change a plot, she can go in with her trusty magical umbrella and put the story back on track. She loves her job!

Rainy’s grandfather also is able to do this type of work. Her mother who passed away when she was young was from everything she has ever been told the best book witch who ever lived. But the only item she has from her mother is a Nancy Drew book which of course Rainy has read hundreds of times looking for some type of clue her mother might have left for her but to no avail.

Rainy is not a rule breaker. She understands the rules of a book witch. First and foremost, you cannot bring a book character into the real world, and you cannot ever stay in a story. But, unfortunately for her she has fallen madly in love with a character from a detective series she has read and reread. She had to go into one of the detective’s stories and once she met the Duke of Chicago well, let’s just say the rules went out the window.

But when she gets caught, and her umbrella taken away, that seems to be the end of Duke. Until her grandfather disappears while on a secret book assignment and she feels she has no choice but to go in and ask Duke for his detective skills help in locating him.

Thus begins Rainy’s life changing journey which will take her down rabbit holes she never knew existed. Could this perhaps help her understand not only where her grandfather is, but what really happened to her mother all those years ago? And what about Duke? With him in the real world will that change him and their relationship.

The Book Witch is a mystical mystery book tour with some beloved stories we all know and love. The reader will savor every minute to see where the plot will take them and become emotional as we weave through the twists and turns of Rainy’s journey.

Thank You #NetGalley #BallentineBooks #MegShaffer #TheBookWitch for the advanced copy.

Amazon.com: The Book Witch: A Novel: 9780593983584: Shaffer, Meg: Books

Lisa Leone-campbell’s review of The Book Witch | Goodreads

Killing Me Softly by Sandie Jones

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Buckle up! You are in for the ride of your life with Sandie Jones’ new book Killing Me Softly. It’s a love story but also about the perfect couple whose lives come crashing down around them due to a terrible, tragic incident which changes everything and each of them. Still trying to hold on to each other, they seem to begin to make irrational decisions as well as start to mistrust each other. Can unforeseen outside influences hinder or help them stay together or completely tear them apart.

Charlie was an up-and-coming chef, who has just been promoted and Freya, his wife is a social worker. But during a congratulatory dinner for Charlie, Freya hears something she shouldn’t have and an argument breaks out. There had been a lot of drinking, words said which cannot be taken back, then…

An accident

A coverup

They decide to leave London and move to a small town where no one knows them. Charlie decides to try and open his own restaurant, and Freya gets a job trying to find money to help sick children. At first, they try to pretend nothing is different, but then the pressures of this new life and their secrets start to wear on them. They begin to look at each other differently. And seek solace it seems from other places.

Freya’s mother is no help. A narcissist who seems to have it out for her daughter, she begins to interfere with their lives. As much as Freya tries to stop her, she seems to insist and poke her nose into their lives.

Told in their own named chapters they explore Charlie’s perspective and how he is doing and feeling and the next what Freya sees happening and what she feels. Both need someone to talk to, besides the other. But unfortunately, they stop talking to each other.

This is when the cat and mouse game truly begins.

How much can each endure. Both begin to make mistakes. What would YOU do if you loved someone so much you would never be able to let them go?

Would you protect them forever? What if you can’t! What happens them?

Killing Me Softley’s ending will kill you! The adrenaline rush you will feel as you read the story is exhausting! Sandie Jones is a genius! Read this book now!

Thank you #NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #SandieJones #KillingMeSoftly for the advanced copy.

Amazon.com: Killing Me Softly: A Novel: 9781250910073: Jones, Sandie: Books

Lisa Leone-campbell’s review of Killing Me Softly | Goodreads

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson

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The Bookshop of Yesterdays is not what I expected and so much better! Part mystery, part romance with shocking twists. It will consume you. Part rite of passage, letting go of the past, regrets and forgiveness, the story follows a young woman on her journey as to what happened years before when her mother and her brother stopped speaking. As she follows the clues, and the realization becomes real, what will she do?

Miranda Brooks was living her best life. A history teacher, having just moved in with her also a teacher boyfriend, they are now facing a summer of relaxing and entertaining in their apartment. Miranda, an only child whose parents still live in California, moved to the east coast and although she misses her mother and best friend, she is excited for this new journey.

Until she receives a letter and a book from an attorney in California letting her know that her Uncle Billy has died. She is perplexed as she has not seen or heard from him since she overheard a fight when she was twelve between her mother and her brother.

She does remember him as a fun-loving uncle who owned a bookstore named Prospero Books. He use to take her there. That is where she learned not only her love of reading, but her curiosity about history. He would pick her up when he was in town, he was a seismologist and traveled extensively. But her most vivid and happy memories are when he would plan scavenger hunts all around the town and they would do them together.

As she begins to look through the book, she begins to feel this is more than just a book. This she believes is some sort of scavenger hunt. Perhaps a last goodbye from her uncle? But why? They have had no contact for many years and when she would ask her mother about him, she would evade the topic.

So, Miranda decides to fly back to California for Uncle Billy’s funeral. She is shocked and confused by what she sees in the cemetery. She is also stunned to learn that her uncle has left her Prospero Books. But why? So many questions. She discovers the bookstore is failing and most of the employees don’t understand why she is here. But she feels it is part of some sort of scavenger hunt she needs to see through.

She decides to stay and see if she can figure out what to do for the bookstore and what her Uncle Billy is trying to tell her. Her mother and father unfortunately feel very differently. They believe she should let the bookstore and her Uncle Billy go and return to her new life.

She stubbornly disagrees and begins the scavenger hunt. But, be careful what you wish for. Miranda will not only open a pandora’s box, which will not only change her life but also everyone else she cares about.

The Bookshop of Yesterday is a beautiful book which explores heartbreak, sorrow, family secrets but most importantly understanding and love. You will not want to put this book down!

Published by Park Row.

Amazon.com: The Bookshop of Yesterdays: A Library Journal Best Book of Summer Literary Fiction Mystery: 9780778369080: Meyerson, Amy: Books

This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman

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This is Not About Us is heartbreaking, uplifting, funny yet painful and sadly, extremely relatable. The story explores the aftermath of a family member’s death and how others cope with their sorrow, some learning and adjusting, others unable to move on or forgive. I bet no one reading this paragraph cannot somehow relate to this family’s situation. This story is powerful.

As the book opens, we discover that one of three sisters, Jeanne is in the hospital dying. We hear her thoughts on other members of the family as well as what she thinks of her two sisters, Syliva and Helen. She can’t let go because she worries. Finally, she lets go not knowing what the future holds for those left behind.

But immediately something goes terribly wrong. Slyvia and Helen have an argument. It was caused by an apple cake. As other members of the family try and get them to understand it’s not really about the cake, both stubborn, they refuse and stop speaking, leaving all those in both families shaken and of course having to take unwanted sides.

As life goes on within the families, we see vignettes through chapters of those caught in the middle as they live life. We hear their thoughts, see their tragedies, feel their divorces, insecurities, worries and troubles. But we also see the good. How they pick themselves up, finally, how they move on, and how worries actually become proud moments. They all seem to look back at Jeanne’s passing in different ways. Except of course for Sylvia and Helen, who just like Jeanne in her last moments, can’t let go. But all their lives move on in different ways, and both families even come together when there is joy. Of course, the death of Jeanne was not the only death of sorts they have all had to deal with throughout the next few years.

This is Not About Us is a poignant forceful relatable story told with humor, sadness but most importantly, with love. Which of course we all can understand.

Thank you #NetGalley #TheDialPress #AllegraGoodman #ThisisNotAboutUs for the advanced copy.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

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Steve Cavanagh is back with his ever-evolving main character Eddie Flynn in a cat and mouse murder mystery with dirty cops, a corrupt prosecutor and a very unstable woman. With so many dark secrets just waiting to be found out, this is truly a can’t stop-won’t stop can’t put down book.

It all starts with Ruby Johnson who is a maid and nanny in a posh Manhattan area. Ruby and her parents were once residence themselves on this same street until they lost it all. Now, thanks to the neighbors who knew her story, she is hired to clean houses and take care of children and then goes home to a small apartment to take care of her ailing mother.

One night as she is walking home, Ruby witnesses a murder in one of these fancy houses. Someone is shot to death. She knows who died. Ruby decides to keep what she knows a secret. You see nobody ever really notices Ruby even when she is in a room with them. Except for the red man in the painting in one of the houses, she works at. He knows her and talks to her.

Meanwhile lawyer, ex-con artist Eddie Flynn tries a slam dunk case in which a few people are not very happy that he won. But he is asked to take the case of John Jackson, the man who allegedly shot and killed the woman in the upper Manhattan area. Unfortunately for Jackson someone called in a tip and the police found the gun in his closet with his fingerprints. Coincidentally he lives across the street from the woman who was killed with his wife and son.

As for Eddie, unfortunately, some people did not like the decision of the case he just tried, and they decide to put a hit on him. So now he is navigating not being killed and trying to get a client not put away for killing someone. Oh, and trying hard not to be seen!

But his ace team is behind him trying to discover who the hitman is and how to correct the situation. As for alleged murderer Jackson, well, all he can do is hope and pray this lawyer will figure out why he was targeted as the killer. Then the trial begins… With so many moving parts and criminals in the area coming out of the woodwork, everyone just hopes this will not be Eddie’s last case.

Witness 8 is masterful in the art of surprise, shock and an I did not see that coming ending. But it also has great, funny dialogue, heart and clever clues. Such a great read!

Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #SteveCavanagh #Witness8 for the advanced copy,

Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan

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When two famous writers from different artistic arenas come together you are excited to see what blossoms from both of their imaginary minds. Remain is an extraordinary supernatural love story, shocker and mystery all rolled into one exciting read.

Tate Donovan, an architect, has just been released from a psychiatric hospital. Deeply depressed by the passing of his beloved sister, and encouraged by his best friend Oscar, he had checked himself in. Now, finally set free and feeling better he is headed to Cape Cod to repay his friend. He is set to help build the summer house of his friend’s dreams.

As he settles into the bed and breakfast he will be staying at, he meets a beautiful woman named Wren, the owner of the property. As they get to know each other, they discover not only do they have much in common, but they like each other. Tate has never felt this way about any woman he has dated. He is pulled to her in a way he can’t describe. But Wren has a few secrets which Tate needs to figure out. He knows someone hurt her and wants to discover why. And how.

Thus begins a love story for the ages, a haunting mystery and an amazing thriller. It’s a story of insights which needed to be learned, secrets which needed to be exposed, heartbreak and moving on from one’s past.

Remain is a beautiful dark love story, an incredibly imaginative tale which merges genres you can’t imagine ever would be able to come together, but yet when all is said and done is astonishing!

Remain is going to be a motion picture directed of course, by M. Night Shyamalan!

Published by Random House