Julie's Review: The Red Lotus

Author: Chris Bohjalian
Series: None
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 367
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4/5
Bottom Line: A bit timely and scary
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Summary: The first time Alexis saw Austin, it was a Saturday night. Not in a bar, but in the emergency room where Alexis sutured a bullet wound in Austin's arm. Six months later, on the brink of falling in love, they travel to Vietnam on a bike tour so that Austin can show her his passion for cycling and he can pay his respects to the place where his father and uncle fought in the war. But as Alexis sips white wine and waits at the hotel for him to return from his solo ride, two men emerge from the tall grass and Austin vanishes into thin air. The only clue he leaves behind is a bright yellow energy gel dropped on the road. As Alexis grapples with this bewildering loss, and deals with the FBI, Austin's prickly family, and her colleagues at the hospital, Alexis uncovers a series of strange lies that force her to wonder: Where did Austin go? Why did he really bring her to Vietnam? And how much danger has he left her in? Set amidst the adrenaline-fueled world of the emergency room, The Red Lotus is a global thriller about those who dedicate their lives to saving people, and those who peddle death to the highest bidder. ~amazon.com 

Review: I have never been disappointed in a novel by Chris Bojalian and his latest again doesn't disappoint. It is definitely scary and definitely timely but yet different than what we are dealing with currently. Alexis and her boyfriend of 6 months take a biking trip to Vietnam so that he can go visit the spot where his dad was injured and his Uncle killed there. So when he goes off on his own to explore these areas, no one really thinks twice since he's an experienced biker. Alexis only starts to worry when he isn't back an hour or so after he said he'd be back. What ensues after Austin not coming back is nothing she could have imagined.

For Alexis who is an ER Doctor knows when things aren't adding up and Austin's failure to return on time and then to end up dead, aren't for her. So when she gets back home, she starts to ask pointed questions. She learns that Austin not only lied to her but lied to other people as well. So that just makes her start to poke around even more. When things really get out of hand, she even goes and hires a private detective to look into the inconsistentcies. 

What he uncovers is a plan to unlease a horrific plan to unleash a deadly virus for profit into the world. It's a race against time to unravel it and to stop it which leaves your heart pounding and at times shouting "No!"



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Sunday Skim

Week 4/19/2020:

Finished:

Currently Reading:

Looking Forward To:

Mr. Bohjalian's newest novel is very timely and different all in the same breathe. His ability to research and then write a very engaging novel, never ceases to amaze me.

Julie's Review: The Other Mrs.

Author: Mary Kubica
Series: None
Publication Date: February 18, 2020
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 368
Obtained: publisher via Netgalley
Genre:  Psychological Thriller
Rating: 4.75/5
Bottom Line: Why didn't I see it coming?

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Summary: Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbor Morgan Baines is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie. But it’s not just Morgan’s death that has Sadie on edge. And as the eyes of suspicion turn toward the new family in town, Sadie is drawn deeper into the mystery of what really happened that dark and deadly night. But Sadie must be careful, for the more she discovers about Mrs. Baines, the more she begins to realize just how much she has to lose if the truth ever comes to light. ~amazon.com

Review: Is a fresh start always the best thing? Or is it just running away from an accumulation of problems/issues? When Will's sister dies they inherit her house on an island in Maine along with being guardians of her daughter, Imogen. So Will thinks its a blessing and they pack up and move to a tiny island. Sadie isn't so sure that this is what they need even with their issues they've dealt with. She has to start her medical practice over and working at a private office is different than the fast paced hospital ER in Chicago.

Shortly after moving into their new house, a young step-mother is murdered in her home. For some reason Sadie becomes intrigued and curious about this woman who she didn't even know. She starts to become a bit obsessed wanting to know what happened to Morgan. It distracts her from other things that she should be paying attention to at home. She also is even more upset when it seems like the police think that she had something to do with it.

As you go on in the story you start to wonder if Sadie is going a little off her rocker. She doesn't seem to be remembering things that people are telling her and is completely distracted.

I found myself reading and wanting to know what to make of this story. In fact as soon as all the puzzle pieces came together, I was wondering why I didn't see it happening and figure it out. That is a sign of a good suspense author. I really enjoyed how all the pieces came together in the end to make sense of what was going on throughout the whole book.

This will go on top of my list for Mary Kubica books. She left me a bit stunned in the end. 

Sunday Skim

Week 4/12/2020:

Finished:

The Happy Ever Playlist was just what I needed. I wanted something that would absorb me and boy did it ever. I loved every minute I spent in that novel. The Other Mrs. was a complete surprise for me, in the way that had me asking myself why I didn't see it coming.

Currently Reading:

Looking Forward To:

Instead of Groundhog Day, it's Groundhog Weeks and Month. You can't say I'm not wrong. It doesn't help that Spring has seemed to not want to spring up and we've had crappy weather. I just want better weather to go outside and force my kids to get some fresh air.

Julie's Review: Happy Ever After Playlist

Author: Abby Jimenez
Series: None
Publication Date: April 14, 2020
Publisher: Forvever
Pages: 352
Obtained: publisher via NetGalley
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: Just what I needed

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Summary: Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can't seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a "take me home" look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker's owner reaches out. He's a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back. Well, Sloan's not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can't deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There's no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?


Review: To say I flew through The Happy Ever After Playlist would be an understatement. It was exactly what I needed and what I looking to read. I really enjoyed her novel The Friend Zone and was so excited when I learned there was a new novel coming out.

Sloan is still recovering from the loss of her fiance, Brandon, from a horrific accident 2 years prior. She hasn't moved on and is barely making ends meet by doing commercial art. Thank god for Kristen and Josh who at least get her out of the house. Things change for her when a dog literally jumps into her car.  As she tries to get in touch with the owner, she comes to really enjoy having a dog as company and quickly gets used to having to walk him and take care of him. The owner, Jason, is traveling,  so Sloan offers to keep him until he returns but some serious flirting commences between the two. While Sloan finds herself attracted to Jason she also feels guilty because of Brandon.

Jason on the other-hand is smitten from the beginning and can't wait to meet her. Things move very fast when they do meet so much so that they can't visualize their lives with each other. Things of course get complicated when they have to enter the real world where there are real problems and histories.

I loved how each chapter started with a title and artist of a song, some I knew and some I didn't know.
Ms. Jimenez has easily become a go to author for me. I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

Sunday Skim

Week 4/5/2020:

Finished:

I loved You and Me and Us because Ms. Hammer doesn't give into the cliches but it does tug at your heartstrings. I feel like I was the last person to read/listen to The Alice Network but I didn't love it as much as others seem to have. I felt like it dragged a bit.

Currently Reading:

Looking Forward To:

Well this week wasn't as long as last but its still hard to concentrate at times so I find myself trying to be done with work earlier so I can have some decompressing time. I sit at the kitchen table so in the morning my kids sit with me so I do double duty. I find myself sitting on our front room couch and just looking out our picture window to just zone and this isn't a place I normally sit in. Are you doing anything new to cope?

Julie's Review: The Shape of Family

Author: Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Series: None
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 352
Obtained: TLC Book Tours
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.75/5
Bottom Line: Intimate look at a family's pain after a tragedy

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Summary: The Olander family embodies the modern American Dream in a globalized world. Jaya, the cultured daughter of an Indian diplomat and Keith, an ambitious banker from middle-class Philadelphia, meet in a London pub in 1988 and make a life together in suburban California. Their strong marriage is built on shared beliefs and love for their two children: headstrong teenager Karina and young son Prem, the light of their home. But love and prosperity cannot protect them from sudden, unspeakable tragedy, and the family’s foundation cracks as each member struggles to seek a way forward. Jaya finds solace in spirituality. Keith wagers on his high-powered career. Karina focuses relentlessly on her future and independence. And Prem watches helplessly as his once close-knit family drifts apart. When Karina heads off to college for a fresh start, her search for identity and belonging leads her down a dark path, forcing her and her family to reckon with the past, the secrets they’ve held and the weight of their choices. The Shape of Family is an intimate portrayal of four individuals as they grapple with what it means to be a family and how to move from a painful past into a hopeful future. It is a profoundly moving exploration of the ways we all seek belonging—in our families, our communities and ultimately, within ourselves. ~amazon.com

Review: I really didn't know what to expect when I started reading The Shape of Family but I knew from the summary that is was up my alley. The Olander family seem to have the idealistic life, Jaya is a doting mother, Keith is an attentive dad, Kiki and Prem are brother and sister who actually do enjoy spending time together. Sure their marriage isn't perfect and of course they are typical siblings who do fight but they do love each other. All of that changes on one afternoon when their family befalls a tragedy that changes all of them in an instant.

None of them knows how to come out of the dark and none of them know how to comfort each other. So each of them go on their own paths, drifting further and further apart until the fissures are so deep they can't be fixed.

I don't want to get into each of their stories because in a way that would ruin the novel itself. What I do want to talk about is the gifted way Ms. Gowda tells this family's story. The way she writes makes you feel completely invested in their lives. You feel their pain and joy like they were close family members or friends.

I found myself wanting to shake each of them at different points within the novel and also wanting to hug them for comfort. If you are looking for a novel about family and the things that tie us together, I can't recommend this one more. Pick it up and you won't regret it.

Julie's Review: You and Me and Us

Author: Allison Hammer
Series: None
Publication Date: April 7, 2020
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 422
Obtained: publisher
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 5/5
Bottom Line: A realistic look at the tolls of death on a family
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Summary: Alexis Gold knows how to put the “work” in working mom. It’s the “mom” part that she’s been struggling with lately. Since opening her own advertising agency three years ago, Alexis has all but given up on finding a good work/life balance. Instead, she’s handed over the household reins to her supportive, loving partner, Tommy. While he’s quick to say they divide and conquer, Alexis knows that Tommy does most of the heavy lifting—especially when it comes to their teenage daughter, CeCe. Their world changes in an instant when Tommy receives a terminal cancer diagnosis, and Alexis realizes everything she’s worked relentlessly for doesn’t matter without him. So Alexis does what Tommy has done for her almost every day since they were twelve-year-old kids in Destin, Florida—she puts him first. And when the only thing Tommy wants is to spend one last summer together at “their” beach, she puts her career on hold to make it happen…even if it means putting her family within striking distance of Tommy’s ex, an actress CeCe idolizes. But Alexis and Tommy aren’t the only ones whose lives have been turned inside out. In addition to dealing with the normal ups and downs that come with being a teenager, CeCe is also forced to confront her feelings about Tommy’s illness—and what will happen when the one person who’s always been there for her is gone. When the magic of first love brings a bright spot to her summer, CeCe is determined not to let her mother ruin that for her, too. As CeCe’s behavior becomes more rebellious, Alexis realizes the only thing harder for her than losing Tommy will be convincing CeCe to give her one more chance.
You and Me and Us is a beautifully written novel that examines the unexpected ways loss teaches us how to love. ~amazon.com

Review: From the summary of You and Me and Us, you know that this book will bring tears to your eyes because you know it's not going to be your typical happy ending. Alexis is a hard working wife and mother but her 14 year old daughter, CeCe doesn't see the hardworking, she just thinks her mom chooses work over their family. Luckily, Tommy doesn't mind being the keeper of the home and the CeCe whisperer.

Things change though when Tommy gets a terminal cancer diagnosis and Cece and her mother have to learn not only how to coexist but to learn to depend on each other. Tommy's last request is to spend one last summer in his hometown of Destin, Florida. Of course all of them are going through their own way of dealing what is coming while trying to be positive. It isn't all easy for Cece and Alexis as they learn their way around each other and how to relate.

This is definitely a character driven novel and while there are moments where I wanted Alexis to step up and wanted CeCe to grow up, I also understand what it's like to parent a 14 year old girl without these hellish circumstances.

I appreciated how Tommy really was the glue that bound all 3 of them together and how he was typically able to talk both of them off the edge when things got tough. He taught Alexis to not run from her problems and always encouraged her to go for her dreams. Just like he encourages CeCe to do the same. I felt that Alexis' insecurities in her relationship withe CeCe made the situation with Monica that much worse. If she had relaxed and let CeCe interact with her on her own, it might not have blown up in her face. 

Allison Hammer gets the nuances of family and how deep those threads go. For a debut author, she doesn't play into the cliches that could have easily plagued the novel but instead goes with the more true to life story lines.

Sunday Skim

Week 3/29/2020:

Finished:

This is a heartbreaking story of a family torn apart by a tragedy that none of them can see to get past and it breaks apart the rest of them. It is also about hope and love.

Currently Reading:

Looking Forward To:

After a week off of work, I admit it was hard to come back and it was full of meetings. Plus it does feel like the longest week ever! I know that we have a long way to go so I'm hoping that they all don't feel like this one.

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