Book ’em, Danno!

You know the drill, it’s time for new book reviews!

–Marissa

Isn’t It Bromantic by Lyssa Kay Adams is the romance novel in this series I’ve been waiting for: the story of The Russian (yep, that’s what they call him, though he has a name), and I loved EVERY PAGE OF IT. The Bromance Book Club series is that great blend of great characters, witty quips, sexy scenes, self-actualized males, love of romance novels and that swoon factor every reader wants. This one is fourth in the series, but do yourself a favor and start from the beginning. So much fun!

Fallen by Linda Castillo is the 13th (!!) mystery novel in the Kate Burkholder series, featuring formerly-Amish Kate as the police chief of Painters Mill, home of both Amish and English (and apparently, a lot of murder) citizens. This time, a woman is found savagely beaten to death in a hotel room, and Kate has to figure out motive and perpetrator from an increasingly confusing background of this formerly Amish woman. Castillo’s series is easy to read, compelling, and comforting, since I get to visit my “friends” from Painters Mill every few months. A solid series!

Bring Your Baggage and Don’t Pack Light by Helen Ellis is a collection of essays so perfectly written for, shall we say, women of a certain age, and it was a delight. In these twelve essays she covers mammograms and menopause, friendships and funny moments. Lots of humor, but covering a gamut of topics that aren’t always so laugh out loud funny. I really enjoyed this easy-to-read collection!

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert is just… so swoony and lovely and sexy and fun and funny. This, the third in The Brown Series romance series features Eve, the youngest sister, who can’t seem to get on with things and find her path – until a surly B&B owner, a car crash and maybe a job come in short order. The chemistry between these two is just yummy, and as always, I appreciate that Hibbert features main characters who are plus size (and in no way apologetic about it) and medically diverse. These are just… such feel-good romances. Go! Read them!

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline was probably the victim of a busy week and a short attention span. A historical novel about the (very real) deportation of women prisoners to Australia in the 1800s, this focuses on three women – two prisoners and one native girl and their very different, but still harrowing, stories. Very easy to read and I find the time period interesting, but the story just didn’t grab me and hold me as I hoped. A solid historical fiction pick, though!

Silver Tears by Camilla Lackberg is the follow up to her twisty suspense novel set in Sweden, The Golden Cage, featuring rich and powerful Faye, who has taken down her wretched ex-husband in the first novel, and now must fight to maintain her empire while protecting a sacred secret. As in her previous, this one is unapologetic for Faye’s desire for power, sex, money, and status and going to any lengths to keep it. This is not a timid book and not for everyone, but Faye is a pretty compelling character.

Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard is just a journey of a novel, and I was here for every page. This lengthy novel follows the marriage of Eleanor and Cam, beginning in the 1970s and progressing through today, and capturing both their idyllic life on a farm in New Hampshire, through a devastating accident affecting their family, to the disintegration of their relationship and the fallout that follows – including Eleanor’s relationship with her children. Each chapter is like a vignette, a scene in this long, unfolding story written in stunning prose and tugging at every emotion you have. This is one to sink into, and one I won’t forget for a long time.

Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda is the first novel of hers I’ve read, and features a close knit community, a network of nosy neighbors and a mysterious murder that put Ruby Fletcher behind bars… until she’s released. I loved the setting and set up of this novel – and the final reveal definitely took me by surprise! – but found the pace at times a bit slow and meander-y for me (but again, maybe it was just when I was reading this…). Still, a solid suspense novel laced with suspicion and secrets.