Fiction – Page 4 – The Spine View

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

This book took me by surprise. It had been on my TBR list for over a year. I just kept putting it off for other books. Now that I am finished with it, I truly wish I had read it earlier. It is a look at mental health and the lasting effects it has on those surrounded by it. There is much heart ache, drama, loss and love in this book and the author handled it with elegance and grace. It is a story that will touch you and keep you contemplating for a long time after the last page is read.

The book follows two NYC officers, Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, whom settle next door to each other in the same small commuter community outside of the city and they both raise their families there. Kate, who is one of Francis’s daughter, and Peter, who is the only child of Brian, grow up together and are fast friends. They do everything together. Then tragedy strikes and the two are separated for many years.

Some years later neither of them has totally forgotten the other. It seems that they are both castaways adrift in the world and without realizing, they both are waiting for the other. They reconnect when, on what appears to be a whim, Peter writes a letter to Kate. What was once a fast friendship quickly develops into much more. While they think they have put the past behind them, it is only festering under the surface and they both will have to come to terms with their shared past.

The book started out slow, but the story did build to the epicenter of the tragic event (no spoilers here) that would change the lives of both families forever. While I struggled to reach this point, once there, I could not read fast enough.

There is not much in the way of a plot. Instead, it is all about the characters and understanding how events shape and guide our lives. It is a contemplative book. It draws you in and has you agonizing over things that seem obvious to the reader yet the character(s) refuse to recognize to the detriment of all.

They say to be able to move on you have to accept the past and forgive. While words are easy to say, it is never easy to do and both families struggled with this. Some members more successfully than others. This made for a roller-coaster of emotions. The author presented the major and minor characters in all their faulted human glory. While the tragedy permeates most of the story, subtly most times, you do get a feeling that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. I liked that the author gives you hope so that the reader is not drowning in despair. It would have been too difficult for me to read if that had been the case.

This was a wonderful story and I highly recommend it to readers who love a story with drama while still remaining hopeful. In addition, it would make a good choice for a book club because there are many layers to this story and it would make for a lively discussion.

I received a free copy a t BookExpo 2019 in exchange for my honest review.

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

I wanted to read The Lost and Found Bookshop, by Susan Wiggs, as soon as I saw the title. It was really a no-brainer since it has the word books in the title. I have this thing for stories about books and bookshops. Lucky for me this book turned out to be everything I enjoy in a good book.

Natalie Harper is working for a winery in California. The job pays well, but she finds the work unrewarding. She also feels stuck in an unfulfilling relationship and is planning to break things off just when tragedy strikes. Her Mother dies suddenly and she inherits a small bookshop in San Francisco. Her world is suddenly turned upside down and she is devastated.

In an act of rashness, she quits her job and moves into her Mother’s apartment above the bookshop. As Natalie sorts through the mess that was her Mother’s life and livelihood, she discovers that the bookshop is in dire financial straits. To make matters worse, she finds out, after meeting with her attorney, that her grandfather owns the building. This is were he was born and has lived all his life. She knows he will never agree to sell. Therefore, she decides to tackle the problem and see if she can revive the store.

Natalie has taken on a lot. The building is old and on the historic registry and old means issues. The roof leaks, there are some electric problems, along with a slew of other issues. She reaches out to a contractor and in steps Peach to the rescue. Natalie is immediately attracted to him but feels it is too soon to invest herself into another relationship.

However, her luck seems to be turning when Peach finds some historical items of value hidden in the walls of the store. Then she is able to secure an author signing with the top local children’s author. Maybe there is hope for the store yet.

I adored Natalie. She is strong and humble but also has some issues with opening up to be loved because of a Father that was absent all her life. It made me want to hug her and assure her that not everyone is like her father and encourage her to take a chance so she can be happy. In short, Natalie felt like a real person. The supporting characters had a lot of charm also and rounded out the story nicely.

The plot did not move very fast, but that was OK. It did not need to. The characters are the true driving force behind this story. The only thing I was not crazy about in the plot was how these unexpected lost items kept popping up in walls and in the basement. It just was not believable and it took away from the story a bit. I know this is a minor thing and the story was really good otherwise. I enjoyed it and everything does not have to perfect for me to love a story. After all, it is fiction.

This would make a great book to take on vacation, beach or to the pool. I recommend it to readers of all ages who enjoy a story about love, loss and hope.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsnar

You know summer is here when the beach reads start arriving enforce. Something to Talk About, by Meryl Wilsner, is a feel good romance that is a carefully prepared slow burn that will have your toes curling. Make sure you put this one in your beach bag before heading out. You don’t want to miss out on this little gem.

As the proverb says, “It is easier to dam a river than stop gossip” and the story showcases this. When Jo, a Hollywood starlet, takes her assistant Emma to an awards ceremony and the camera catches them in what appears to be an intimate moment, the rumor mill is off and running. Could Jo and Emma be seeing each other? Then the rumor mill turns to the question of age differences and, help us all, if there is not the faux pas of dating an employee. Lots of juicy gossip, just what sells papers.

Jo has a no comment policy that she has lived by her entire career. Since she never rises to the bait, Jo insists that any response will be seen as trying to hide the truth. There is nothing going on; therefore, nothing to hide, just business as usual and the reporters will eventually find something more exciting and move on. Jo’s advice to Emma is just ignore the gossip. Emma is just an employee who does her job well as that all. Move along now! Nothing here folks to see… or is there?

There might not be anything going on at the moment, but there is no denying the chemistry between Jo and Emma. A few missteps later and the rumor mill is still going strong. Yet, Emma does not want to jeopardize Jo’s career, and vice versa. It is hard enough in Hollywood to get a job and even harder to keep it without all this mess going on. Therefore, both Jo and Emma ignore the sparks that are flying and try to carry on. The ten dollar question is, just how long will they be able to ignore their feelings?

The story grabbed me in the first few pages. The tension was real between Jo and Emma, so much so that it became palpable. The author used it to good effect and I could not turn the pages fast enough. The plot moved along at a fast clip and there was no lull in the tension causing the slow build up I alluded to earlier. In addition, there was a lot of sexual tension, but it was not overly so. The author did an outstanding job in handling the subject matter (same sex relationship) in a respectful way.

The characters were my favorite part of the story. They were so well done, it is hard to believe this is a debut novel. The self-doubt of Emma, at the beginning, and how the author grew her into a strong young women worked well with story. I liked the support that Jo provided to Emma to help her achieve her goals and Emma’s family should win an award for their support.

In summary, this is a well written story. Sure to please any reader who loves a good, slow burn type of romance. I recommend this to all readers of romance and women’s fiction especially those readers who like a little diversity in the story. I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Lane Betrayal by John A. Heldt

Heldt always gives the reader a story to devour and The Lane Betrayal is no exception. Filled with lots of action, danger and a tad of romance, this fast paced tale is sure to satisfy that craving for adventure in every reader.

Mark Lane, a gifted physicist, has made the breakthrough of the century, maybe the millennia, with his device that allows time travel. He should be elated. Instead, he has discovered that his business partner, Robert Devereaux, in Janus Enterprises is planning to use the device for wicked ends. In an attempt to thwart Robert, Mark has planned to steal the two working devices and escape with his family into the past. This escape plan also includes alerting the authorities to what Robert is up to and sabotaging the project.

Mark has been planning his escape for months with the help of his colleague Randy who has decided to stay behind and assist where he can with the escape. On the day of the planned escape, Robert gets wind that something is a foot and is coming to confront Mark. With just a few minutes head start, courtesy of Randy, Mark manages to whisk his family to 1865 around the closing days of the Civil War. It looks like things are finally going as planned. Then a turn of bad luck occurs when one of the keys for the devices is forgotten in a cabin in Virginia and the second device is impounded by the government.

The government thinks the device might be something to aid the Rebel Army in the closing days of the war. Mark, now a prisoner of the Union Army, and suspected of being a rebel sympathizer, is taken to Washington, D.C. The family has no choice but to follow. To make matters worse, Robert has hired a hit man, Silas Bain, to travel back in time and finds the Lanes and kill them. Will anything go right for the Lane family?

I loved how the author allowed the tension to build slowly. By the end of the story you are sitting on the edge of your seat to see if the Lanes will stay a step ahead of Silas Bain. Therefore, it is no surprise that action is the key element of this book and it worked very well with the plot. Overall great pacing.

Sometimes stories with lots of action lack character development. Not so here! As with other books I have read by this author, the character development is critical to the story. Heldt knows how to get and keep the reader’s attention with the characters he builds. He delves deeply into the psyche of his characters to make them memorable and invest the reader.

I filed this book under science fiction, but fiction is the operative word here. There is really no science just a great story about, love, family and what binds us all together. Perfect book for fans of Nora Roberts and similar authors. Highly recommend!

Disclosure: While I used my Kindle Unlimited account to read this book, the author did request a review.

A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher

In this post-apocalyptic story, A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher, the reader is treated to a story in the vain of Station Eleven. Since I had recently read Station Eleven and loved it, I was very excited to finally have time to read this one. While I could draw a lot of similarities between the two stories, the themes of this book are loyalty, courage and family.

In this future post-apocalyptic story, most of the entire human race has died and of the few left most are not able to reproduce, further dwindling the numbers to the thousands. The main character, Griz, lives with his family on a small island off the coast of the UK totally cut off from what is left of humanity, except for a small family that lives on a nearby island. It has been years since they have had contact with other people.

Then one day a red sail appears on the horizon. The boat is maned by a lone trader. He is young, charming and enchants the family with his tales of travel. While he expounds upon his adventures, he also poisons them and in the dead of the night he sneaks off with Jess, Griz’s dog. Female dogs are rare and therefore she is valuable. Enraged, Griz takes off after him in his own boat. This leads him into an adventure he was not prepared for.

As with Station Eleven, this book it is not a hard-core Science Fiction tale but, as stated earlier, it is about loyalty and family and what binds us together. There is not a lot of action in the story though the plot moves nicely. In addition, the entire story is told from Griz’s POV through a journal he has kept. This allows the author to reflect on the themes of the book and present his idea of what humanity would be become after a mega disaster. The author pulls no punches in presenting the bad side of humanity. In fact, I think he was kind on humans. He could have made it so much worse.

The story is very compelling and the author spends a lot of time on character development, at least with the main character. So you really get to know Griz, which sets you up for the big plot twist at the end. I totally did not see that coming. Also, while the story was rather bleak in terms of the fate of humanity the author presents a case for hope and shows there will always be good in the world. By the end, I was full of conflicting emotions and had to noodle on it before writing this review.

This would be a great story for a book club because there is a lot of thought-provoking themes explored in this book. The prose was excellent and though the scope of the plot was ambitious it worked well within the confines of the story. I recommend this book to anyone who likes reflective stories regardless of what genre they fit into.

Inexpressible Island by Paullina Simons

As I started in on Inexpressible Island, the third and final book in the End of Forever Saga by Paullina Simons, I was pondering the many things that had thwarted Julian and Josephine in their prior lives. Whether you call it fate, destiny, bad luck or karma they just could not caught a break. I felt for them and I had to know how it ended for them.

This book is a difficult one to give you a synopsis of without some sort of spoiler. All I can tell you is that Julian is determined to make one last effort to save Josephine. It will be his biggest gamble to date and there will not be another “do over” at the end of this one. Yet, he is a fighter in both the literary and figurative sense of the word and if anyone could succeed it would be him.

I was so moved by this story that I kept thinking about it for days after I was finished reading. I was in such turmoil that I had to wait a bit before I could put my thoughts to paper. All of this is because the author gave us a main character that was loyal, strong and yet broken, and so very determined to keep trying or die trying. Everyone needs a Julian in their life and because of this character I was totally invested.

Yes, this is an epic love story and much more because it is filled with adventure and surprise. The story moved along quickly and I truly believe Julian would have gone to the ends of the earth for Josephine. It was filled with joy and hope and moments of the deepest despair. The prose was so good in this series that I can’t do it justice with my meager talents.

Stories like this are not a dime-a-dozen. So, if you like epic tales of romance and adventure you have to read, not just this book, but the entire series. I actually thought the series got better and better as it went along. Highly recommend! I received a free copy from the publisher, via Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program, in exchange for my honest review.

Sinner, Saint, or Serpent by John Anthony Miller

Sinner, Saint or Serpent, by John Anthony Miller, is a twisted murder mystery that will keep even the best sleuth in the dark until the very last page. The book opens and closes with a bang and the ending took me totally by surprise. I need more books like this!

No one seems very upset when August Chevalier, a prominent business man, is murdered, Mafia style, in his own home. After all, he was a ruthless businessman with questionable practices and even a few ties with the mob. No wonder no one seems too enthusiastic about finding the killer, including the police, with one exception being a local reporter named “Justice” Harper.

Justice earned his nickname by being a fair and honest reporter that always seeks the truth. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that he wants to find the killer who committed this crime. He feels he owes that to the citizens of New Orleans. Of course the added benefit of solving the crime before the police is getting a big scoop for the newspaper.

Justice along with his colleague, Remy Moore, work together to discover who killed Mr. Chevalier. There are three prime suspects. The philanthropist Lucinda Boyd, known for her many charity efforts that benefit the folks of New Orleans, the wealthy businesswoman Blaze Barbeau with a questionable past, and the voodoo queen of New Orleans, Belladonna Dede. They all have motives for waiting him dead and all three can be placed close to the scene around the time of his death. So who did it?

Loved Mr. Miller’s descriptive prose of 1920s New Orleans. It was wonderful and I got a real sense of the vibe of the city. I could just imagine going to a speak-easy and listening to the jazz band play, then strolling the streets of the French Quarter. The city described had a mysterious air to it and that made it the perfect setting for a murder mystery.

The plot was superbly done. It opened with the murder; therefore, I was invested in the story right away. The tension in the plot slowly built so that I always wanted to keep reading to get the next clue and try to figure out who the killer was before the final reveal. By the end I was sitting on the edge of my seat and then when I finally arrived there I was totally blown away. Did not see that coming at all!

If you love mysteries you need to read this book. Great story and awesome execution! You will love it!

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

A Beggar’s Kingdom by Paullina Simons

A Beggar’s Kingdom, by Paullina Simons, is the second book in the End of Forever Saga. In it we continue to follow Julian and Josephine’s story, as it continues thru time, as the soul mates try to defy their fate. The author has given us some of her best work in this epic tale of heart break and enduring love. It is the kind of story that will touch you and stay with you long after the end.

Julian is devasted that he was not able to save Josephine in his previous attempt to join her younger soul in the past. Despite the failure, and the consequences of that, he is determined to try again despite the risks and the odds stacked against him. I do not want to say more on the fear of giving away too much. I want the reader to be as surprised and shattered as I was by the twists and turns this story takes.

First thing I would like to note is that you need to read book one before this one. While the author does a good job of recapping what occurred in book one, it is not enough to understand the depth of Julian and all the events that lead to the opening of book two. In short, it is the detail of the characters and events that make this series and you don’t want to miss out on any of it. In fact, I am so enthralled by the story I am going to jump right into book three.

My favorite thing about Ms. Simons stories is the attention to detail. The way she sets a scene and the depth of her characters always keep me coming back for more and this book is no exception. I totally felt Julian’s devotion to Josephine and his devasting loss when he failed to save her. In this story there are plenty of twists of fate that will keep you engaged and you will marvel in wonder at Julian’s devotion and tenacity.

I highly recommend this book to readers that love to be sweep away in a story. It the kind of story that is so emotionally raw it left me rung out and I loved every minute of it.

The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal

The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal, is an alternative history story that feels as real as the words on the page. The story of Elma York and her desire to become a Lady Astronaut will have you gritting your teeth at the injustices she faces and clapping your hands when she overcomes them. I was captivated from the start.

Elma York and her husband are away on vacation when a meteorite strikes the east coast with devastating effects. The east coast is basically wiped off the map and the ensuing tsunami destroys coastal regions across the globe. It is not long before Elma, a gifted mathematician, realizes the full extent of the crisis. This meteor was large enough to trigger a mass extinction event.

In 1952 rocket technology is in its infancy and Washington DC and government as we know it has been destroyed. When the International Aerospace Collation is formed, Elma has dreams of going to space and then the moon as a computer. The only thing holding her back is being female. She has all the qualifications include the jet flight hours she gained as a WASP pilot in WWII. It will be an uphill battle and the stress of actually being in the public eye just maybe her undoing.

I loved, loved, loved this book. The writing was just outstanding and the author knows how to capture your attention and keep it. The writing style reminded me of Octavia Butler and George R. R. Martin. Yes, in my opinion, the author deserves to be counted in the company of these great authors. I see why this book has won so many awards, and believe me when I say it is well deserved.

Besides the writing, the charisma of the MC, Elma York, was brilliantly done. She is not your typical strong female lead. She has her failings. What endeared me to her was her strength in spite of the odds being stacked against her. She was able to recognize her short comings without letting them stand in the way of the thing she desire most, to be an astronaut. Through all the uphill battles she fought, she did it with a dignity we rarely see today and she remained true to herself.

The plot reminded me a little of A Gentleman in Moscow. There is not a lot going on, the story is all about the character and no so much about the events. The post-apocalyptic issue of an extinction event was very much on the side lines and I could have cared less. The author used the event to discuss social issues, that are still relevant today, in a thought provoking way. I highly recommend this book to all readers who love Sci-Fi. Yet, even if you are not a big fan of Sci-Fi this story will still have a lot of appeal. The quality of the writing alone will captivate you. Please don’t be put off by the Sci-Fi label because it is so much more and so good.

For Those Who Dare by John Anthony Miller

For Those Who Dare, by John Anthony Miller, is a riveting, fictional account of a young woman’s desperate plea for help to escape being trapped in East Berlin after the government erects a wall to keep its citizens in. Eloquently told by an author adept at developing characters who draws you into the story.

Kirstin Beck has been thinking for months about escaping to West Berlin were her grandmother, and a daughter she was forced to give up years ago, lives. On the night she plans on escaping, the East German government unspool razor wire and erect the first barrier to separate East from West. She barely manages to escape the clutches of the police.

From her apartment she can see into West Berlin. So close and so unobtainable. She just has to find a new way to get out. Then one evening she see a young man in a window across the wall in West Germany. She holds up a sign with two words, “Help Me”. Can she depend on this stranger to assist her? There is Stasi in West Berlin. What if he is one of them?

On the West side of the wall Tony Marino is a young American writer working on a series of books called a History of Nations. He is currently conducting research for his book on Germany when he reads the plea of Kristin. Something about her and the plea moves him. With funding and the blessings of his editor he devises a plan to dig a tunnel into the East. It will be dangerous and there will be plenty of opportunities to get caught. Yet he feels compelled to help.

This is one of those books that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. The plan is daring and so very dangerous. There is only one way for it to go right and a thousand ways for it to go wrong. This made for a story with lots of tension, which resulted in me reading well beyond my bedtime. Then the ending, fabulous is the only word I can think of describe it. It totally took me by surprise. So well done!

In addition, I loved the characters especially Kirstin. She went through so much in her young life but was still so brave. I also appreciated how the author used the minor characters to help round out the story.

At this point, I need to mention that the story is loosely based on a real tunnel escape from East Berlin. I remembered watching a documentary some years ago about it and I did a little research. It was interesting to learn a little bit about the inspiration for this book. The author used the basic facts to weave an imaginative and fictional story that will be sure to delight readers.

I highly recommend this book, especially to people that love historical stories that are grounded in fact. I received a free copy in exchange for me honest review.