2015 Book Reviews

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica (Audiobook)

January 9, 2015 by Darlene

The Good Girl by Mary Kubica is one of the She Reads Books of Winter and yet another winning book club choice! The Good Girl is Kubica’s debut novel and it is a well written and intensely exciting psychological thriller. I was absolutely glued to this book from the first page to the very unexpected and surprising ending. I listened to The Good Girl on audio and what a fantastic production. It is narrated by multiple voices – Lindy Nettleton, Johnny Heller, Tom Taylorson, and Andi Arndt and together they really bring this story alive. I felt like I was watching a really good movie that I just couldn’t’ tear myself away from. I loved it!

Mia has always been the bad daughter in her family and always locking horns with her prominent father James who is a judge. One fateful night Mia decides to go home with a man she meets in a bar looking only for a one-night stand. What she gets instead is kidnapped. Colin, her abductor, is supposed to deliver her to someone but decides instead to take her with him to a remote cabin in Minnesota. Meanwhile at home Mia’s mother is struggling with her daughter’s disappearance and wondering why James doesn’t seem more upset. He’s of the mind that this isn’t the first time that Mia has done something crazy and he insists that she’ll show up sooner or later. But Mia is gone … there is no ransom request … What has happened to Mia and where is she?

What follows is the story being told in multiple narratives – that of Mia, Eve, Gabe, and Colin, and in before and after segments. While that may seem like it would be confusing it isn’t at all. I’m amazed at how seamlessly Kubica wove this story together. The Good Girl is one of those books that grabs you from the beginning and has you guessing and racing to the end to see what really happened.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy psychological thrillers and mysteries!

Other reviews by She Reads Bloggers
Buy at: Audible, Amazon, Amazon Canada

Be sure to enter for your chance to be one of the five lucky winners to win a whole set of the She Reads Books of Winter which includes: The Magicians Lie by Greer Macallister, Mercy Snow by Tiffany Baker, The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna van Praag, and The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. *CLICK HERE TO ENTER*

Source: Library copy.

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House Broken by Sonja Yoerg & Giveaway (US only)

January 7, 2015 by Darlene

House Broken is a beautifully written debut novel by Sonja Yoerg. It is a story about family and the secrets they carry. It is about discovering why a family is broken and attempting to heal that break. Falling through the generations this is the story of Helen, Geneva, and Ella and how the past almost always has an effect on the present. And who can resist this cover? Just gorgeous!

Geneva is a veterinarian who relates to animals so much easier than people (who doesn’t says this pet owner) but seriously animals are so much easier than people. Nobody knows this better than Geneva when she gets a call from her brother saying that there is yet another problem with their mother Helen. This time she’s been hurt in an accident because she was drunk and she’s hurt bad enough that she needs care which seems to fall in Geneva’s lap. For as long as Geneva can remember her mother has been on a self-destructive path and she’s really not looking forward to having her around her two teens Ella and Charlie. Still her husband thinks it’s a good idea as maybe she and her mother can work on their relationship together so Geneva reluctantly brings her to their home.

It isn’t long before Geneva realizes that her mother has no intentions of changing her ways and then there is the effect she’s having on Geneva’s kids which isn’t the best either. Even more troubling is that Geneva can’t get her mother to talk about the past no matter how hard she tries and Geneva has so many questions about why her family is so broken. As she delves deeper into the past though Geneva learns secrets that threaten to destroy the world she’s built for herself and she wonders if she shouldn’t have just left the past in the past.

House Broken was a great read for me. I loved the characters, the writing, and most of all the dramatic story and I think it would make a fantastic pick for book clubs with the various themes woven throughout it. It also has a conversation guide to get your book club’s discussion going .

At times heartbreaking but ultimately hopeful House Broken is a debut novel not to be missed! Highly recommended!

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Reading Guide
Sonja’s links: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter
Buy: Amazon, Amazon Canada, B&N, IndieBound

GIVEAWAY – OPEN TO US RESIDENTS ONLY

1 paperback copy of House Broken up for giveaway

*CLICK HERE* and fill out the form to enter

Draw Date January 24/15

Source: Digital review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. No compensation was received.

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Vintage by Susan Gloss (Audiobook)

January 2, 2015 by Darlene

Vintage is the debut novel from Susan Gloss and one I really enjoyed! It’s a wonderful, heartwarming story about women’s friendships, love, and finding your true self and what makes you happy. It’s the perfect book to curl up with and savor!

The story centers around Violet, Amithi, and April. Violet is the owner of Hourglass Vintage and it is there that the women meet. Violet loves her vintage shop but she wants more. She wants a loving relationship and most of all a baby. Amithi wanders into the shop wanting to sell some things but really she is troubled by a cheating spouse. Then there is the young and pregnant April who is feeling lost and alone. Although these three women come very different walks in life they forge a beautiful bond of friendship with each other that helps each of them deal with the issues of life that are overwhelming them. For Violet it is the threat of losing her store, for Amithi it is of losing the life and man she thought she knew, and for April it is facing an uncertain future. Yet with the power of friendship each of these women are better able to handle whatever life throws at them.

I really liked the setting of this novel being a vintage shop. I love vintage things and like in the story believe they have a story to tell. So did the women in the novel. Each had a story that captured my heart and I found myself caring about each of them. I listened to the audiobook of Vintage which is narrated by Karen White who I adore. She is an amazing narrator and I’m always excited to see that she is going to be narrating my next listen!

Highly recommended for fans of women’s fiction!

Buy: Audible

Source: Personal copy.

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