Store 647 - Middletown, New York - "When you sell a man a book you don't sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night - there's all heaven and earth in a book, a real book." ~ Christopher Morley
Forget about “Man Crush Monday’s,” here #MCM means Meme Crush Monday! For those who don’t have access or don’t wish to use Instagram, I’ll share a bookish meme right here weekly on the blog.
This Week’s #MCM Meme Crush Monday:
What’s the last book that kept you reading when you should be sleeping and getting ready for the week? Share with us.
They were eleven when they sent a killer to prison.
They were heroes . . . but they were liars.Naomi Shaw used to believe in magic. Twenty-two years ago, she and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, spent the summer roaming the woods, imagining a world of ceremony and wonder—the Goddess Game. The game became an obsession and a refuge for the three girls. That sanctuary was suddenly shattered when Naomi was attacked. Miraculously, she survived her seventeen stab wounds and lived to identify the man who hurt her. The girls’ testimony put away a serial killer, wanted for murdering six women. They were heroes. And they were liars.
For decades, the friends have kept a secret that might be worth killing for, hidden in the forest. But now, Olivia wants to tell the whole story. Then she goes missing, and Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods—no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be. -katemarshallbooks.com
I was really let down by this book. The initial premise hooked me in but the execution just fell flat. The onset of the Goddess Game made me think of a younger version of “The Craft” but then things went in another direction and then I thought there was something like “Slenderman” at play but that was dropped too. I found the “twists” very predictable. I don’t want to say too much and spoil it for those who decide to read this book but I saw the one character’s reveal coming from a mile away.
Many of the characters were un-likeable but I really liked Naomi’s alcoholic hoarder father and I wish the book explored more of his recovery process.
This book did not have Chapters. I thought at first this was due to some technical problem with my e-book but I asked a good friend about her print copy and she confirmed there were no traditional chapters either, just a graphic flourish to signal a break or where presumably a chapter number would fall. The lack of chapters drove me insane as I like to pause at designated markers when reading and it’s easier to go back to a certain section when there are traditional chapters.
What this book did do well was describe how trauma can affect someone and how perceptions of events can differ from person to person. There was also an interesting commentary on how trauma, perception and influence can affect, alter and even manipulate criminal investigations.
I obtained my copy of What Lies in the Woods as an e-book through my local library. You can obtain yours at retailers/libraries everywhere or check out the author's website for more information.
I have seen lots of praise and high marks for this book but it just didn’t hit with me. If you’ve read What Lies in the Woods, please share what you liked/disliked about! I'd love to compare our thoughts.
** ½ (out of 5)
Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are newly plagued by what seems like a completely senseless murder. Sofia Suarez, a widow and nurse who was universally liked by all her neighbors, lies bludgeoned to death in her own home. But anything can happen behind closed doors, and Sofia seemed to have plenty of secrets in her last days, making covert phone calls to old contacts and traceless burner phones. When Jane finally makes a connection between Sofia and the victim of a hit-and-run months earlier, the case only grows more blurry. What exactly was Sofia involved in? One thing is clear: The killer will do anything it takes to keep their secret safe.
Meanwhile, Angela Rizzoli hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep in all the years since her daughter became a homicide detective. Maybe the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree. Nothing in her neighborhood gets by Angela—not the gossip about a runaway teenager down the block and definitely not the strange neighbors who have just moved in across the street. Angela’s sure there’s no such thing as coincidence in her sleepy suburb. If only Jane would listen; instead she writes off Angela’s concerns as the result of an overactive imagination. But Angela’s convinced there’s a real wolf in her vicinity, and her cries might now fall on deaf ears.
With so much happening on the Sofia case, Jane and Maura already struggle to see the forest for the trees, but will they lose sight of something sinister happening much closer to home? -tessgerritsen.com
This was another fantastic entry in the Rizzoli & Isles series. I loved that this one featured more of Angela Rizzoli (Jane’s mother) than previous installments. This was a great balance of crime thriller and the interpersonal relationships of Jane, her mother, and her best friend Maura. However this book could’ve used a dash more of Maura. She is my fictional bestie, after all and one of my favorite fictional characters. I devoured this book in one day, it was just that good!!
Special thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for the digital ARC.
Listen to Me is available at book retailers everywhere or check out Tess Gerritsen’s website for more information.
4 out of 5 Stars
If you already love Tess Gerritsen and are looking for something different and brand new, I recommend her latest thriller, The Spy Coast, book one in the new Martini Coast series.
Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.
But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends―all retirees from the CIA―to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives.
Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information―and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.
As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends―and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau―Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built. -tessgerritsen.com
Forget about “Man Crush Monday’s,” here #MCM means Meme Crush Monday! For those who don’t have access or don’t wish to use Instagram, I’ll share a bookish meme right here weekly on the blog.
This Week’s #MCM Meme Crush Monday:
How do you feel about slow paced books? Yes please! Or No Thanks!
Share with us in the comments below.
Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. It looks like everything is going according to plan when she gets a full scholarship to the University of California, Maple Hills and lands a place on their competitive figure skating team.
Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the hockey team, Nate Hawkins.
Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the figure skating team—including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him.
But when Anastasia’s skating partner faces an uncertain future, she may have to look to Nate to take her shot.
Sparks fly, but Anastasia isn’t worried…because she could never like a hockey player, right? - Simon & Schuster.com
If you’re looking for light, fun romance to escape with during tomorrow’s snowstorm, I suggest the viral social media sensation “Icebreaker.” I kept seeing this book come up in my TikTok feed but I must admit I wasn’t really interested in it until I saw a review that mentioned it was extremely spicy! I had no idea based on the cutesy cartoon-ish cover art that its contents were extra hot and recommend for the 18-plus crowd.
I also thought based on the plot description that it would be a lot like one of my favorite 90’s movies, The Cutting Edge that had a heavy emphasis on the figure skating with a generous heap of a budding romance between formal rivals. While the core of that story, a serious figure skater clashing with and then begrudgingly paired with a goofy hockey player are present, there is actually little emphasis on their respective sports. However, there is plenty of romance and college hijinks that the keep the story fresh and entertaining. I also appreciated the emphasis on the character’s mental health, mentions of obtaining consent and relationship development. The cast of supporting characters, especially Henry are a delight.
Icebreaker is not the best written book of its type and I felt the epilogue was unnecessary but Icebreaker is a lot of fun and a super quick read which makes it just right for cuddling up with on a chilly winter weekend.
Icebreaker by Hannah Grace is available at bookstores and e-book sites everywhere but more information on purchasing can be found at the publisher’s website.
Overall Rating 3.5 (out of 5) Stars
Where Did You Get This Book?
I borrowed this through my local library as an e-book. Check out a future blog post about the Libby app and how to utilize your local library for e-book lending.
Why Did You Choose This Book?
While I was never into the TLC reality shows about the Duggar family, I was certainly aware of who they were and that Jinger has 18 siblings. As an only child who is someone who is childless by choice, their large family was baffling and foreign to me. I was also curious to read about her evolving faith and if she would address the criminal charges made against her brother and how it impacted her.
What Did You Like About This Book?
I most liked the parts of the book where Jinger described her current belief system and how she came to ask questions about the very strict and regimented sect of Christianity she was raised in, the Institute in Basic Life Principles founded by Bill W. Gothard Jr.. While she was very critical of the Institute’s teachings and beliefs, she never disparaged her parents for raising her in that faith nor those she grew up with or are still practicing it. Jinger is clear in stating the purpose of this book was to help others “disentangle” from what she perceived as harmful Christian beliefs and find a truer relationship with God by going right to the source, the Bible and making one’s own personal relationship with the Lord and a belief system based on that.
What Did you Dislike This About This Book?
What I didn’t like about the book was that in examining the belief system of her childhood, she filled her book with an overwhelming amount of direct quotes from “the Institutes” publications. It was very dry. At times it seemed there was more quoted text than actual thoughts from Jinger. This book is also filled with an overwhelming amount of bible quotes as she detailed how she explored and “disentangled” from the faith of her childhood to her current faith. I am a Christian but at times I felt this had more bible quotes than a devotional and was very heavy weighted. If you picked up this book expecting to read some serious tea on the Duggar family, this book is not for you. She only briefly alludes to her brother Josh’s criminal charges but perhaps that was because it’s not her story to tell.
Would You Recommend This Book?
I would recommend this book only to die-hard fans of the Duggar’s reality shows or anyone who may be questioning their faith or faith from their childhood or past and is looking to explore new beliefs and/or faiths.
Overall Rating (0-5 stars)
2.5 stars
Forget about “Man Crush Monday’s,” here #MCM means Meme Crush Monday! For those who don’t have access or don’t wish to use Instagram, I’ll share a bookish meme right here weekly on the blog
This Week’s #MCM Meme Crush Monday:
Is there a better sign of a good book than one you can completely escape in? What’s the last book you read that really let you shut the world off for a bit? Share with us in the comments below.
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