Tag: contemporary

Mini-Reviews: Fake, Falling, Prisoner

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Lynn Painter, Fake Skating

Every summer, Dani used to visit the small town of Southview, Minnesota, where she and her best friend, Alec, were inseparable. But then she moved away, and their friendship came to a painful end. Now Dani’s back in Southview full-time for her senior year, but the sweet, dorky Alec she once knew seems to have disappeared. The new Alec is a popular hockey star who wants nothing to do with Dani. But when circumstances force them into a fake-dating arrangement, they need to confront their shared past and deal with their true feelings. Lynn Painter excels at banter and great chemistry between her main characters, so the romance between Dani and Alec really worked for me. They’re obsessed with each other to a possibly unhealthy degree, but since they’re teenagers, I’ll give them a pass. 🙂 The setup to the fake dating is pretty absurd, and some peripheral plot lines and characters didn’t totally gel for me. But I’ll forgive a lot in a romance if I like the central couple together, so overall I really enjoyed this one!

Kristen Britain, Falling in a Sea of Stars

In this eighth novel of the Green Rider series, although Sacoridia has defeated Second Empire, its troubles are far from over. Mornhavon the Black, growing ever stronger in Blackveil, summons an evil wraith to find Karigan—who is also being harassed by an enemy she thought she’d already defeated. Moreover, she’s trying to deal with her merchant clan’s business while her father is off rescuing Laren Mapstone, as well as decide what to do about her feelings for King Zachary. I was hoping this would be the last Green Rider book, but alas, there’s clearly still more to come. This book is 650 pages of not much happening, and while some storylines are fun (the Berry sisters), others are tedious and repetitive (everything at the D’yer Wall, Karigan’s mysterious enemy, the threadbare love triangle). I do still have some curiosity to see how things turn out, but since it’ll probably be at least three years till the next book, I feel reasonably confident in saying I’m done. I can always read a spoiler-filled review of subsequent books if I really need to know what happens.

Lois McMaster Bujold, The Prisoner of Limnos

Penric has finally gotten General Arisaydia and his sister, Nikys, safely out of Cedonia and into the friendly country of Orbas. But then they learn that Nikys’s mother has been taken prisoner, which means Penric and Nikys—and Desdemona—must return to Cedonia and rescue her. As they attempt a prison break from a fortress sacred to the Daughter’s order, Penric and Nikys also consider whether they have a future together. This series continues to be delightful, and of course I’m a fan of the romance, which takes a step forward in this novella. I also love the well-thought-out and convincing theology of this world; Nikys’s encounter with the Daughter, and her subsequent conversation with Penric about it, is one of the highlights of the story. I’m still happy to be continuing with the series—although I do hope we get to see Inglis and Oswyl again at some point!

Mini-Reviews: Contract, Fortune, Index

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Georgette Heyer, A Civil Contract

Adam Deveril, Viscount Lynton, has just inherited a derelict estate and needs a lot of money fast. He must marry an heiress—but he’s already in love with Julia Oversley, who doesn’t have the requisite fortune. Reluctantly, Adam pursues Jenny Chawleigh instead, the plain and commonplace daughter of a rich tradesman. After they marry, Adam is frequently frustrated by his vulgar father-in-law and pines after Julia; but as he and Jenny build a life together, he finds himself surprisingly contented. I adore Georgette Heyer but had never reread this particular novel before, probably because it’s one of her least romantic romances. It’s a marriage of convenience that arguably never deepens into true love, though by the end Adam and Jenny do share a firm friendship and genuine affection. I do appreciate this book’s realistic look at love and marriage, but it’s never going to be one of my favorite Heyers—I guess I like a little more fantasy and escapism in this genre!

Richard Osman, The Impossible Fortune

***Warning: SPOILERS for previous books in the series!***

It’s been a quiet year for the Thursday Murder Club, which has allowed Elizabeth to grieve her husband’s death and Joyce to focus on her daughter’s wedding. But at the reception, a new case comes their way when the best man, Nick, tells Elizabeth that someone is trying to kill him. Shortly thereafter, he disappears. The gang discovers that Nick and his business partner, Holly, are the only two people with access to a hidden fortune; did someone kidnap or kill Nick to steal the money? Meanwhile, Ron deals with a threat to his family, and drug dealer Connie Johnson experiences personal growth. This series continues to be delightful, and after the last book was such a tearjerker, it was nice to read a comparatively lighthearted story. I enjoyed Joanna and her new husband being brought into the fold, and I thought the mystery itself (involving codes) was pretty clever. Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book and am glad the series is continuing.

Christopher Beha, The Index of Self-Destructive Acts

This novel charts the downfall of the wealthy and prominent Doyle family during the course of a single baseball season in New York. Patriarch Frank Doyle is a prominent baseball writer and political commentator; his wife, Kit, works in high finance; son Eddie is at loose ends after leaving the army; and daughter Margo is theoretically getting her PhD but actually not doing much of anything. As the summer of 2009 unfolds, all four characters make choices that will have long-lasting consequences for their and their friends’ lives. I read this novel for a book club with some of my colleagues. I never would have picked it up otherwise, but I was glad to be pushed slightly out of my comfort zone, because I found it well written and thought-provoking. However, I can’t say I enjoyed it; none of the main characters are particularly sympathetic, and it’s frustrating to watch them repeatedly make the worst possible decisions. Overall, I’m not sorry I read this book, but it’s definitely not a keeper for me.

Mini-Reviews: Luck, Bar, Summer

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Kate Clayborn, Luck of the Draw

Winning the lottery has enabled Zoe Ferris to quit her job as a high-powered lawyer, but she’s felt stuck in her life since then. After a tipsy night spent thinking about her regrets, she decides to apologize to the people she feels she’s wronged. At the top of the list are the O’Learys, whose son overdosed on prescription pain meds; Zoe’s firm represented the pharmaceutical company and settled the case out of court. When Zoe shows up at the O’Leary house, she’s confronted by their other son, Aiden, who isn’t interested in her apology. He does, however, need someone to pose as his fiancée for plot reasons; Zoe, viewing this as her penance, agrees. But as she and Aiden spend more time together, they form an unexpected bond. I really liked this book and read it in a day. Clayborn excels at writing believable, nuanced characters, and I was rooting throughout for Zoe and Aiden, who are both lonely and dealing with a weight of grief and guilt. So this isn’t a light, fun read by any means, but I liked it a lot and look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy.

Ngaio Marsh, Death at the Bar

In this Golden Age mystery, a game of darts at the pub turns deadly when one of the players is hit by a dart—and almost immediately dies of cyanide poisoning. A trace of cyanide solution is found on the dart, but who had the opportunity to put it there? And why should anyone want to murder Luke Watchman, a celebrated London barrister? I’m continuing to enjoy the Inspector Alleyn series—this is the ninth installment—but I find that the beginnings of the novels are stronger than the endings. The first several chapters of this book are entertaining as they establish the various characters and relationships. But once the death occurs, Alleyn and his associate Fox spend most of their time interviewing suspects and searching the pub (but not telling the reader what they discover). So the second half drags a bit, and the slight romantic subplot among secondary characters isn’t terribly convincing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book overall and will certainly continue with the series.

Naomi Novik, The Summer War

Celia is 12 years old when she inadvertently curses her oldest brother, Argent, to a life without love. Argent leaves home and soon gains renown as a great knight, but Celia is racked with guilt about the curse and knows she must find a way to break it. But that means entering the summerlands, the fairy realm bordering her kingdom, where many dangers await. I’m a big fan of Naomi Novik in general, and my favorite of her books are the ones with fairytale elements: Uprooted and Spinning Silver. This novella has a similar flavor, and there are some enchanting scenes and bits of world-building. But I wanted so much more from this world and these characters. Celia herself is pretty passive for most of the story, as well as being a child—I want to know what happens after she grows up! I’d love to see more of her overlooked middle brother, Roric, as well. So on its own, this novella isn’t fully satisfying, but I’d love to see it expanded into a full-length novel!

Mini-Reviews: Style, Hemlock, Scene

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William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition

I somehow made it through an English degree and almost a decade as a professional editor without reading this book, which is a classic (maybe even the classic) American work on writing and grammar. I expected it to be stuffy and out of date — and it is, a bit. The authors resist using “hopefully” to mean “it is to be hoped,” but that ship has definitely sailed at this point. And their brief mention of that newfangled invention, the word processor, is adorable. But most of this book is still helpful and relevant, and I was surprised by how funny it is too! “Prestigious. Often an adjective of last resort. It’s in the dictionary, but that doesn’t mean you have to use it.” Overall, I think this book would be useful for students or anyone whose job requires a lot of writing, editing, or both (notice how I didn’t use “and/or,” which the authors call “a device, or shortcut, that damages a sentence and often lends to confusion or ambiguity”). It deserves its classic status.

T. Kingfisher, Hemlock & Silver

Since childhood Anja has been obsessed with poisons and their antidotes, and now she’s expert enough that the local townspeople turn to her for help with poisoning cases. Nevertheless, she’s shocked when the king himself comes to her with a problem: His 12-year-old daughter, Snow, is sick from no obvious cause, and her condition is worsening. Anja travels to Snow’s residence and attempts to discover if and how the princess is being poisoned. What she actually discovers is a portal to a mysterious other world; but will she be able to thwart the evil lurking there and save Snow’s life? I’ve loved every one of Kingfisher’s books that I’ve read so far, and this one is no exception. Blunt, tactless Anja is a delight, and her narrative voice keeps the book from being too dark or scary despite a few horror-adjacent moments. I also really liked the desert setting, which evokes Mexico or the American Southwest rather than the traditional quasi-medieval-European fantasy kingdom. There’s a bit of romance too, which is always welcome. Definitely recommended if the premise appeals to you!

Laura Wood, Let’s Make a Scene

Cynthie Taylor is a famous actress who’s just been dumped, and press coverage of the breakup has been merciless. To turn things around, her agent suggests that she sign on to a sequel of the film that launched her career. Unfortunately, that means reuniting with her costar, Jack Turner-Jones, with whom she has a tempestuous history. Even worse, her agent wants them to fake-date each other to create good buzz for the new film. As Cynthie and Jack grow closer in the present, they also have to come to terms with the past. I love a good fake-dating rom-com, and this one is funny, well written, and pure wish fulfillment in a good way. I liked how the narrative alternates between the present and 13 years ago, when Cynthie and Jack first met; the switches happen just often enough to give context and complexity to their relationship. I also liked all the behind-the-scenes acting stuff, especially since the movies are Austen-esque period pieces—it made me wish I could actually watch them! It looks like Wood has already written a book featuring Cynthie’s friend Theo, which I’m now interested in checking out as well.

Mini-Reviews: Blonde, Accomplice, Wager

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Ally Carter, The Blonde Who Came In from the Cold

Alex Sterling and Michael “King” Kingsley III are spies with a complicated history. In the present, they wake up in an unfamiliar pitch-black room in an unknown location, with no idea how they got there—and they’re handcuffed to each other. The book jumps back and forth in time between their present predicament and the history of their relationship, from when they first met 10 years ago to their first joint mission to the various covert ops they’ve done together. It’s clear from the outset that Alex and King have amazing chemistry, but it’s less clear that their romance could ever have a happy ending. I adored The Blonde Identity—the previous book in this series, featuring Alex’s sister, Zoe—and this book is a similarly well-written, fast-paced, enjoyable spy romance. I cared about both Alex and King as characters, and though they’re frustrating and stubborn sometimes, I was rooting for them all the way. I do think this book is less fun than The Blonde Identity; there’s a lot more drama and angst in the romance, and the stakes of the spy plot feel higher. But if you love a good romantic caper and don’t mind the constant time-hopping, you should definitely check this one out.

Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Accomplice to the Villain

In this third installment of the Villain series, the entire villainous gang is on a quest to find the magical items and people that will allow them to fulfill the Rennedawn Prophecy, defeat King Benedict, and save the kingdom. But Trystan’s magic is malfunctioning, Kingsley is losing his humanity and becoming pure frog, and there’s a traitor inside the Villain’s ranks (again). Meanwhile, Trystan tries to keep his distance from Evie because of a prophecy that they’ll destroy each other, but obviously Evie is having none of that. This book, and the series as a whole, is a hot mess. I honestly have only the faintest idea of what’s going on with the plot, and I’m not sure it matters; clearly the only thing readers are supposed to care about is the romance. And I’ll admit, I do care about Trystan and Evie’s relationship, which takes a big step forward here. And some of the side romances are also adorable (Gideon and Keeley!). Apparently the author plans one more book in this series, and I will read it just to see how everything turns out. But quality-wise, I can’t say I’d recommend this series.

Loretta Chase, Knaves’ Wager

Lilith Davenant is a widow of icy demeanor and unquestionable virtue. Julian, the Marquess of Brandon, is a notorious rake. For plot reasons, Julian wagers that he can seduce Lilith within eight weeks. But as he uses every tactic at his disposal to woo Lilith, he begins to genuinely enjoy her company. Meanwhile, Lilith dislikes and distrusts Julian at first, but as she gets to know him better, she realizes she’s seriously at risk of losing her heart. I’m a fan of Chase’s romances in general, but I think this one might be my favorite. It’s very reminiscent of Heyer in its language and plot, but with a bit more angst and drama in the romance. Love makes both Lilith and Julian better people, and Julian’s transformation from callous seducer to sincere lover is particularly great to watch. Highly recommended for historical romance fans, this one was a pleasure to reread!

Mini-Reviews: Novel, Lake, Maid

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Ashley Poston, A Novel Love Story

Elsy is struggling in her career, friendships, and nonexistent love life. So she decides to take a vacation, planning to hole up in a mountain cabin and binge-read romance novels. But along the way, she gets lost and ends up in an idyllic small town—one she soon realizes is fictional! It’s the setting of her favorite romance series, which was left unfinished when the author tragically died. Elsy doesn’t know how she came to enter this imaginary world, but she loves seeing her favorite characters in the flesh. She even meets a grumpy yet handsome bookstore owner and dares to think she might belong in this town. I really enjoyed the concept of this novel and liked how it was resolved in the end. But otherwise, I didn’t find it particularly interesting. Elsy adores this town and its residents, but because I haven’t read the (fictional) series Elsy loves, I had no investment in the characters she meets or their problems. Elsy herself is a bit of a wet mop, with few defining characteristics apart from her sadness and her love of romance novels. I also found the prose a bit overwrought. Overall, not a terrible read, but not one I’d recommend either.

AJ Pearce, Dear Miss Lake

It’s the summer of 1944, and Emmy Lake and her friends all know that the war will soon be over. In the meantime, though, the daily grind of wartime life—battle losses, rationing, German bombing raids—is taking its toll on everyone at Woman’s Friend. Emmy is determined to stay positive and adhere to the government’s instructions about publishing upbeat stories that look forward to an Allied victory. But when she starts receiving letters from women whose husbands and sons are prisoners of war and who are unable to get any information about them, she finds a new cause to fight for. This book is a fitting conclusion to the Emmy Lake series. It has the same light tone as the previous novels while still treating the book’s more serious events with appropriate gravity. My only complaint is that my favorite character, Guy Collins, doesn’t get a story of his own—he ought to be a romantic hero in his own book! I hope AJ Pearce will write it someday. But overall, I’d definitely recommend this series to people who enjoy World War II fiction that’s on the lighter side.

Lynn Painter, Maid for Each Other

Abi works as a cleaner for Declan’s posh apartment, but they’ve never met. One night, since her own run-down apartment has a pest problem, she stays at Declan’s place, reasoning that he’s out of town and will never know. But in the morning, she runs into his parents, who have shown up for a surprise visit—and they assume she’s his girlfriend. When Declan finds out, he’s furious, but he also thinks his job would promote him more quickly if he were in a serious relationship. So he proposes a fake relationship to Abi, which she accepts once he agrees to pay off her student loans. But the more time they spend together, the more their relationship starts to feel real. I really love Lynn Painter’s rom-coms, and fake relationship is one of my favorite romance tropes, so this book was right up my alley! Painter excels at writing characters and love stories that feel really genuine and believable. The third-act breakup was unnecessary and irritating, but aside from that, I liked this book a lot and finished it with a big smile on my face.

Mini-Reviews: Falling, Flirting, Mission, Regrettable

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Cara Bastone, Can’t Help Falling and Flirting with Forever

I really adored Bastone’s Just a Heartbeat Away and couldn’t resist jumping into the sequels! Can’t Help Falling follows Seb’s best friend, Tyler, and Via’s foster sister, Fin (short for Serafine). Tyler is super into Fin, but when he asks her out, she turns him down harshly, causing him to pull away from their friend group. A few months later, though, Tyler needs Fin’s help when he becomes the legal guardian of his teenage half-sister, Kylie. And in Flirting with Forever, Seb and Tyler’s friend Mary finds romance with the socially awkward John Modesto-Whitford, who inadvertently insults her on their first date but gradually wins her over. I enjoyed both of these books a lot, mostly because the characters are so well-defined and nuanced. The men, in particular, feel believable as people (in contrast to my earlier complaint about too-perfect heroes). The writing style is a bit clumsy at times, but in my opinion the books have enough substance and heart to make up for that. I’m definitely planning to seek out more by Bastone!

Lois McMaster Bujold, Penric’s Mission

Penric is bound for Cedonia in a somewhat unofficial capacity; he’s tasked with delivering secret documents to a powerful general. But upon arrival, he’s immediately captured, injured, and imprisoned. When he finally escapes with Desdemona’s help, it’s just in time to hear that the general has been arrested for treason and blinded as punishment. Despite the fact that it’s not part of his mission, Penric decides to try and heal the general’s eyes—and grows closer to Nikys, the general’s sister, in the process. This series continues to delight, and this novella may be my favorite so far, with its combination of political intrigue and a fair bit of romance. Not everything is resolved, but I think the next installment of the series will continue to follow this adventure and perhaps provide some resolution. Can’t wait to continue!

Jennie Goutet, A Regrettable Proposal

Stratford Tunstall has just inherited the estate and title of the Earl of Worthing. He is dismayed to learn that a valuable piece of unentailed property has been left not to him, but to the former earl’s ward, Eleanor Daventry. After a few drinks too many, Stratford decides that, since he needs a wife anyway, he should propose to Eleanor and thus regain control of the property—but she rejects his drunken and insulting proposal. She then departs for the London Season, and Stratford follows to apologize, only to realize he truly wants to marry her for love. I was predisposed to like this book—a steamless Regency romance with a bit of espionage on the side—but overall it was just okay. The uncertainty between Stratford and Eleanor drags on too long, and the spy subplot could not be less interesting or have lower stakes. That said, some of the secondary characters are a bit intriguing, and I wouldn’t mind reading the book featuring Stratford’s friend Lord Ingram, if I can find it somewhere free or cheap.

Mini-Reviews: Luck, Marriage, Only

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Kate Clayborn, Beginner’s Luck

Six months ago, Kit Averin and her two best friends, Zoe and Greer, won the lottery. But Kit has no interest in changing her lifestyle, and despite being a brilliant materials scientist, she’s content with her job as a lab technician at the local university. When headhunter Ben Tucker comes to town to recruit her for a big manufacturing corporation, she turns him down flat. But as he persists and she gets to know him better, their growing attraction poses a threat to both Ben’s career and Kit’s hard-won sense of community. I’m a big fan of Kate Clayborn’s, and this book is no exception. It’s a contemporary romance in which the protagonists generally communicate well and act like adults, which I found extremely refreshing! I also liked that both Kit’s and Ben’s characters are revealed through their relationships, especially Ben and his dad. The resolution to the book’s central conflict is a bit glossed over, and I feel like Kit perhaps needs a bit more therapy to deal with her extreme aversion to change. But overall, I really enjoyed this book and am eager to continue with the series!

Mary Balogh, First Comes Marriage

This novel is the first in the Huxtables series, introducing a group of genteel but impoverished siblings whose destiny is changed forever when the brother, Stephen, unexpectedly inherits an earldom. Elliott Wallace, Viscount Lyngate, brings the news that Stephen is the new Earl of Merton and proposes to take him to London and instruct him in the duties of his new station. But since Stephen is only 17, his three older sisters demand to accompany him. For various plot reasons, Elliott agrees to a marriage of convenience with the second sister, the widowed Vanessa. But what starts as mutual antagonism eventually transforms into attraction and love. I generally enjoy Balogh’s historical romances, but while this book was fine, it didn’t make much of an impression on me. Beyond the initial setup, I barely recall any plot details, and I only read the book a week ago! I am mildly curious about the other Huxtables’ romances, so I’ll probably continue the series at some point, but this one was just okay.

Jennifer Estep, Only Bad Options

In a futuristic, spacefaring society, Vesper Quill is a “lab rat” working for Kent Corporation. When she spots a design flaw in Kent’s new line of spaceships—a flaw that’s already resulted in a fatal crash—she notifies her superiors, only to be summarily fired and conscripted into the Imperial army, where she’ll most likely die in battle. But Vesper unexpectedly survives by teaming up with Kyrion Caldaren, one of the Empire’s most elite warriors. They come from two different worlds, but when an inconvenient psychic bond forms between them, they’ll have to work together to take down their enemies. This book is the equivalent of a summer blockbuster movie—not too deep, but plenty of action-packed fun. I liked the political intrigue and the reluctant attraction between Vesper and Kyrion, and I’ll probably continue with the series to find out how their story is resolved.

Mini-Reviews: Practical, Listeners, Broken

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Fiona Hill, The Practical Heart

Gillian Spencer has just taken a job as companion to the two daughters of a viscount. Because the viscount is deeply in debt, Gillian must get the daughters married as soon as possible—preferably to rich men. But even with the help of the viscount’s handsome nephew, Miles Lawrence, she finds that her task is harder than she thought. After really enjoying The Country Gentleman, I was excited to try more by Fiona Hill, but I must say this book was a bit disappointing. It’s so short (only 139 pages in my e-book copy) that there’s really no time for character development. The romance between Gillian and Miles is barely sketched in, and the other characters are just there for hijinks and comic relief. I did still enjoy the writing style, particularly the viscount’s ornate way of speaking, but otherwise this one is just okay. I bought a whole Hill anthology for $2.99, though, so I will certainly try more of her work.

Maggie Stiefvater, The Listeners

June Hudson is the general manager of the luxurious Avallon Hotel in the mountains of West Virginia, where the mysterious sweetwater has kept the hotel prosperous. The U.S. has just entered World War II, and the government calls upon the Avallon to host a large group of Axis diplomats, both to keep them out of mischief and to show the enemy how prisoners should be treated. June is deeply conflicted about this assignment but resolves to treat the Nazis like any other guests. Eventually, however, both June and the Avallon reach a breaking point that will change the course of June’s life. I’m a huge fan of Maggie Stiefvater’s writing, so I was incredibly excited for her adult debut, and overall I was not disappointed. The story is based on true WWII events, and it’s a great backdrop for June’s character arc, as every decision becomes a compromise among competing priorities. The fantasy elements felt a bit unnecessary to me, but they also didn’t detract from the story. There’s a wonderful romance as well, so overall, I’d definitely recommend this one to fans of WWII-era historical fiction.

Tana French, Broken Harbor

Detective Mick “Scorcher” Kennedy has the top solve rate on the Dublin Murder Squad, which he attributes to his hard work and emotional detachment. But when he’s assigned to a high-profile case—an entire family murdered in their home—he finds himself becoming more and more personally invested as he and his rookie partner investigate. I think Tana French is a really good writer, and even though I wasn’t particularly interested in Scorcher’s story when I started this book, she soon made me empathize with him. The book’s central question also resonates: How much control do we really have over our own lives? But it’s so slow, diving deep into the minutiae of police procedure, and ultimately it took me a long time to read because I found it very put-downable. I do still want to continue with the series, but it’ll probably be a while before I pick up the next book.

Mini-Reviews: Masque, Library, Heartbeat

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Stella Riley, Masque of Deceptions

Daniel, Viscount Reculver, has recently inherited his father’s title, along with a mountain of debt he didn’t know about. To make ends meet, he’s begun selling some of his family’s valuables. When Anna Hawthorne of Hawthorne’s porcelain manufactory hears this news, she’s determined to buy back the set of scent bottles that the late viscount had purchased from Hawthorne’s over the years. But when she meets the handsome and charming Daniel, she’s tempted to make a different offer entirely. As Daniel contemplates her surprising proposal, he begins to see Anna in a new light. This is the second book in Stella Riley’s new series, after The Shadow Earl, and I liked it more than its predecessor. Both Anna and Daniel are very sympathetic characters, and their slow journey from awkwardness to love is delightful. Of course Daniel’s close friends, at least two of whom are sequel bait, make a few appearances, but the focus is largely on the central romance. There are not one but two villains, which gets a bit tiresome, but luckily they don’t overwhelm the story. I’m hoping the next book in this series comes out soon, as I’m definitely excited to read it!

Sulari Gentill, The Woman in the Library

Four strangers are sitting at the same table in the reading room of the Boston Public Library, when they hear a woman scream. At the time nobody knows what’s happened, but news reports later reveal that the woman was murdered. The four strangers, who began talking to each other after hearing the scream, quickly become friends and speculate on who could have killed the woman—but things get complicated when it comes out that one of them has a violent past. I was intrigued by the premise of this book and imagined it would be a variation of the locked-room whodunnit, perhaps with a side of “unbreakable” alibi. Instead, very little time is actually spent on the woman in the library, as the book becomes more of a thriller, with plenty of “shocking” but repetitive revelations and a couple more violent deaths. As a thriller, it was…fine. The unmasking of the murderer fell flat, and then everything ended very abruptly. Overall, I just found it a bit lackluster, and I wouldn’t particularly recommend it.

Cara Bastone, Just a Heartbeat Away

Sebastian Dorner, grieving the sudden death of his wife, is shocked and ashamed when his son Matty’s preschool teacher, Via DeRosa, gently tells him that Matty shows signs of neglect. Seb vows to do better, and two years later, he and Matty are in much better shape. Seb is volunteering at Matty’s new school, where Via just happens to be the new guidance counselor. A mutual attraction builds between them, but Seb is 42 while Via is 27 and has a boyfriend. Will these obstacles prevent their romance? Ultimately, of course, the answer is no, but getting there is a delicious, achingly slow burn. I loved this book’s nuanced portrayal of grief and strong characterization, even of the minor players. Much as I adored Seb and Via together, some of my favorite scenes in the book were between Seb and his mother-in-law, who have a complicated relationship. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and am eager to continue with the series. Highly recommended if you don’t mind some heavier elements in your romance.