What Rose Forgot Review

Title:  What Rose Forgot
Author:  Nevada Barr
Publisher:  Minotaur Books
Release Date:  Sept. 17, 2019
Purchase Link:  Amazon


My Rating:  4 Outrageous Hearts


*With special thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book.



Synopsis:
In New York Times bestselling author Nevada Barr's gripping standalone, a grandmother in her sixties emerges from a mental fog to find she's trapped in her worst nightmare. 
Rose Dennis wakes up in a hospital gown, her brain in a fog, only to discover that she's been committed to an Alzheimer's Unit in a nursing home. With no memory of how she ended up in this position, Rose is sure that something is very wrong. When she overhears one of the administrators saying about her that she's "not making it through the week," Rose is convinced that if she's to survive, she has to get out of the nursing home. She avoids taking her medication, putting on a show for the aides, then stages her escape.

The only problem is—how does she convince anyone that she's not actually demented? Her relatives were the ones to commit her, all the legal papers were drawn up, the authorities are on the side of the nursing home, and even she isn't sure she sounds completely sane. But any lingering doubt Rose herself might have had is erased when a would-be killer shows up in her house in the middle of the night. Now Rose knows that someone is determined to get rid of her.

With the help of her computer hacker/recluse sister Marion, thirteen-year old granddaughter Mel, and Mel's friend Royal, Rose begins to gather her strength and fight back—to find out who is after her and take back control of her own life. But someone out there is still determined to kill Rose, and they're holding all the cards.

Review:

What a hoot!  What Rose Forgot is an outrageous, rip-roaring good time!  I expected a dark, scary thriller and while there're certainly some spooky scenes, there are many more that are over-the-top, laugh out loud hilarious.  Rose awakens in a foggy, dream-like haze, surprised to find herself confined in the lock down section of a Alzheimer's elderly care facility.  As she struggles to clear her muddy mind and figure out what's going on, she overhears a conversation saying she won't last out the week.  She would know if she was "dying", wouldn't she?  Why can't she remember how she ended up committed to a place for people who have lost their memories - as well as most of their marbles?  Rose isn't crazy . . . or is she?  

The story that unfolds follows the antics of Rose as she escapes and begins a stint on the lam as an amateur sleuth, hiding out from unknown villains and participating in hand-to-hand combat with professional killers.  She's aided in her investigation by a great support team - her granddaughter Mel and her long distance sister Marion.  Rose is lovable, preposterous, flamboyant, and on-the-run from the law, nursing home, and most of her family as she follows the clues to solve the mystery of who wants her dead.  What follows is a comedy of errors - a story that borders on slapstick comedy while exploring some serious issues faced by aging seniors.  It touched my heart even as it tickled my funny bone.  I laughed loud and often as I read this book mostly in one sitting.  The story is paced to flow quickly from one hilarious scene to the next and while I figured out the bad "guy" before the big reveal near the end, it was an absolute hoot getting there.  A little old lady super-heroine wreaking havoc on the bad guys!  You've got to love it!  Well-written and delivered, I consider What Rose Forgot more of a funny, cozy mystery than a thriller, but no matter how you shelf it, it's a fantastic read!

My Rating:  4 Hilarious Hearts

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

♥Sandra♥

IWSG: Where In The World . . .

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group is a website media business with affiliates to enhance our service to visitors. We are a home for writers in all stages; from unpublished to bestsellers. Our goal is to offer assistance and guidance. We want to help writers overcome their insecurities, and by offering encouragement we are creating a community of support. Visit IWSG to learn more about this great writing community!

  

IWSG posts the first Wednesday of every month. It's a great writer's resource that I'm sure you'll find well worth your time. Be sure to stop by and visit with other IWSG Members.  And join me in thanking this month's awesome co-hosts:   Gwen Gardner, Doreen McGettigan, Tyrean Martinson, Chemist Ken, and Cathrina Constantine!

My apologies for missing last month's IWSG post, but my mind, heart, and body were otherwise engaged.  My only sister passed away suddenly near the end of July leaving my family and I devastated and in shock.  I'd like to thank those of you who reached out to me offering condolences.  Your kind words of sympathy were a comfort and inspiration to me.  Thank you.

IWSG Question of the Month:  If you could pick one place in the world to sit and write your next story, where would it be and why?

I feel like my answer to this question should be on an island in some exotic place far, far away. After all, isn't that the way most fairy tales start?  lol  In reality, I'd say anywhere Q.U.I.E.T.  My own office is perfect IF my family is otherwise engaged.  Seriously, I'm not one of those fortunate writers who can shut out the world and write anywhere - like a coffee shop, book store, restaurant, on a bus . . . Uh, no.  Way too many distractions for me.  My thoughts ramble all over the place in those situations.  I need sweet, blessed quiet to be productive when I

write.  The one place I can think of outside my own office is a small cabin nestled high on a mountaintop in our North Carolina Blue Ridge mountains.  Think breathtaking view, sounds of nature, front-porch swing and rockers, and a glass of your favorite beverage.  It's beautiful, peaceful, quiet, and oh-so-good for the soul!  Also conducive to my writing.  My family, of course, will have to stay at home. haha

So tell me - Where in the world would you choose to write?

29 Seconds Review

Title:  29 Seconds
Author:  T.M. Logan
Genre:  Suspense Thriller
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Release Date:  Sept. 10, 2019 (U.S.A.)
Purchase Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  4.5 Powerful Hearts


*With many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book.


Synopsis:
Give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear . . .

When Sarah rescues a young girl in trouble, she expects nothing in return. But her act of bravery puts a powerful and dangerous man in her debt. He lives by his own brutal code, and all debts must be repaid - in the only way he knows how.

He offers Sarah a way to solve a desperate situation with her intolerable boss. A once-in-a-lifetime deal that will make all her problems disappear.

No consequences. No comeback. No chance of being found out.

All it takes is a 29 second phone call.

Because everyone has a name to give. Don't they?

Review:
29 Seconds is a taut, beautifully crafted thriller that begs the question:  Is there anything you wouldn't do if your back was pressed against the wall and you were on the verge of losing everything?  Dr. Sarah Haywood is a temporary research assistant in line for a permanent position at Queen Anne University.  By all rights, Sarah should get the upcoming department promotion as she has put in her time and paid her dues.  Unfortunately, her fate is in the hands of her immediate supervisor Professor Hawthorne - an influential, devious sexual predator who's made it crystal clear the only way Sarah will get a promotion is to submit to his sexual demands.  Hawthorne is one of the untouchables as he's earned his crown in the workplace good-old-boy's club.  The man is a snake whose sordid reputation is so well-known among women co-workers that they've developed a list of rules for surviving his unwanted advances.  Rule #1 - Never, ever be alone with him. Through Sarah's point of view, readers see a desperate woman who has reached the end of her rope as she faces a life-altering decision.  One that sorely tests her convictions and morals after an unexpected event results in her being thrown a lifeline - a one time chance to be rid of Hawthorne for good.  A short window of opportunity has opened, but it means making a deal with the devil.  Are the unexpected consequences worth the price?  

29 Seconds is a taut, fast-paced thriller with sharp curves that will keep you on your toes.  I quickly became totally engrossed in this story that tackles the never-ending issue of sexual harassment of employees in the workplace by an influential superior.  The torrid pace and menacing tone had my heart racing as I burned through pages to uncover the outcome.  Logan masterfully manipulates these characters into stressful situations and then charges them with finding their own way out, painting an all-too-real picture of survival of the fittest in a toxic workplace where upper management turns a blind eye to a manipulative, abusive sexual predator.  By way of a twisted, tightly woven plot line, the author explores morals and facing the consequences of ones actions.  His interspersed descriptive passages of Sarah's everyday home life with her two girls clearly defines what's at stake for Sarah as readers are afforded an opportunity to understand what she has to lose should she fail. I devoured this book and thought I was prepared for the ending, but Hello!  Logan still managed to surprise me in the end!  Brilliantly written and delivered, 29 Seconds is a fantastic story that fans of suspense thrillers will love!

My Rating:  4.5 Powerful Hearts

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

♥Sandra♥

The Long Call Review

Title:  The Long Call
Series:  The Two Rivers, #1
Author:  Ann Cleeves
Genre:  Mystery/Suspense
Publisher:  Minotaur Books
Release Date:  Sept. 3, 2019
Purchase Link:  Amazon


My Rating:  3 Diverse Hearts


*With many thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book.


Synopsis:
From Ann Cleeves—bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows—comes the first in a gripping new series.

“Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers.”—Louise Penny

In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father’s funeral takes place. Once loved and cherished, the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.

Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.

The case calls Matthew back into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.

An astonishing new novel told with compassion and searing insight, The Long Call will captivate fans of Vera and Shetland, as well as new readers.From Ann Cleeves—bestselling and award-winning author of the Vera and Shetland series, both of which are hit TV shows—comes the first in a gripping new series.

“Ann Cleeves is one of my favorite mystery writers.”—Louise Penny

In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father’s funeral takes place. Once loved and cherished, the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.

Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.

The case calls Matthew back into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.

An astonishing new novel told with compassion and searing insight, The Long Call will captivate fans of Vera and Shetland, as well as new readers.In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his father’s funeral takes place. Once loved and cherished, the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.

Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on  his neck, stabbed to death.

The case calls Matthew back into the community he thought he had left behind, as deadly secrets hidden at its heart are revealed, and his past and present collide.

An astonishing new novel told with compassion and searing insight, The Long Call will captivate fans of Vera and Shetland, as well as new readers.

Review:
The Long Call is an atmospheric, character-driven murder mystery set in North Devon.  Cleeves has an obvious gift for setting a scene with the tone and mood drawing both characters and readers into the story.  Like any good police investigation, this story is slow to develop with evidence and clues being gathered and accessed by an array of unique characters.  I applaud the author's sensitive yet straight-forward inclusion of several social issues including religion and the social injustice and abuse often demonstrated toward the disabled, mentally impaired, and gays.  

DI Matthew Venn is a complex, smart, introspective, married gay man who, as the story opens, is standing outside a church watching his father's funeral.  He has been estranged from his family ever since he was banished from the evangelical church years ago.  As he slips away, a phone call draws him to a nearby beach where a body has been discovered.  Venn has no idea that his past and present will soon collide in a major way. While Venn is a highly efficient detective, he also clearly has self-confidence issues making for a unique if somewhat puzzling character and somehow, I never fully connected to him.  

As the story unfolds, readers are introduced to a rather large support cast including Venn's husband Jonathan who is head of The Woodyard, a center for disabled adults.  Clues will soon tie the murder to this center as well as to some of its residents leaving readers to unravel the mystery as they work through the multiple plot lines and many lies and secrets people will do anything to keep hidden.  Red herrings are plentiful as this story slowly unfolds through twists and turns until near the end when the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place, and the author ties it all together.  While the story moved a bit too slow for me, The Long Call will appeal to murder mystery fans who enjoy a slow moving case that's character driven - one in which they can follow the clues to solve the crime.  A well-written, highly atmospheric police procedural that tackles some tough issues.

My Rating:  3 Diverse Hearts

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

♥Sandra♥

The Last Widow

Title:  The Last Widow
Series:  Will Trent #9
Author:  Karin Slaughter
Publisher:  Harper Collins/William Morrow
Release Date:  Aug. 20, 2019 (USA)
Purchase Link:  Amazon


My Rating:  5 Thrilling Hearts


*With special thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book!

From the No.1 bestselling author comes a gripping new crime thriller featuring Will Trent and Sara Linton

Synopsis:
It begins with an abduction. The routine of a family shopping trip is shattered when Michelle Spivey is snatched as she leaves the mall with her young daughter. The police search for her, her partner pleads for her release, but in the end…they find nothing. It’s as if she disappeared into thin air.
A month later, on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, medical examiner Sara Linton is at lunch with her boyfriend Will Trent, an agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. But the serenity of the summer’s day is broken by the wail of sirens.
Sara and Will are trained to help in an emergency. Their jobs – their vocations – mean that they run towards a crisis, not away from it. But on this one terrible day that instinct betrays them both. Within hours the situation has spiralled out of control; Sara is taken prisoner; Will is forced undercover. And the fallout will lead them into the Appalachian mountains, to the terrible truth about what really happened to Michelle, and to a remote compound where a radical group has murder in mind…

Review:
The Last Widow is one of my most anticipated books of 2019.  After reading it, I can say it's a powerful, relevant story that I won't soon forget.  Slaughter clearly spent a great deal of time researching social and political issues of our time as well as the radical, militia style groups that emerge, along with the idealistic views of people who tend to join them.  The author captures the atmosphere and essence of a cult group practicing segregation as they believe it their duty and right to do whatever it takes to keep their bloodlines pure.  This is the type group that is at the center of the story in The Last Widow.

First let me say, The Last Widow is part of a fantastic series, but this author includes everything you need to read and enjoy this book as a standalone.  However, the character and character relationship development are huge in this series so I highly recommend you read them in order.  The setup is clear from the blurb so I'll only touch briefly on it.  A month after a scientist working for the Center of Disease Control is kidnapped, Sara and Will are spending an afternoon with her family.  Some of these early "domestic" scenes play out through both Will and Sara's eyes which fascinated me as it clearly demonstrates how they still have different views and manners of coping with their developing relationship.  Well done, KS!  When their afternoon is interrupted by explosions in a nearby city, Sara and Will race toward the scene to assist, running straight into a situation that results in Will being badly injured and Sara being kidnapped by a group of radical domestic terrorists.  In a race against time, Will works with his partner Faith Mitchell and other law enforcement led by Amanda Wagner to find and infiltrate the group to free Sara and save society.

The Last Widow is intense, graphic, and rich in detail as can be expected from this author.  It emphasizes the practice and horrors of pedophilia, the superiority of males over females, senseless murder, and biological warfare as well as the dangerous atmosphere that breeds militia-style cults.  The suspense builds at a frantic pace as the story unfolds from two narrators - Will and Sara.  Through Will's eyes, the focus is on the efforts of law enforcement to find the cult, the dangers of going undercover, and his panicked frame of mind which includes major guilt over what he perceives as his failure to keep Sara safe.  There are interactions with Will and Sara's mother/family during this time that are priceless gems for readers of the series.  Fantastic, telling scenes!  Through Sara's eyes, readers view life within the terrorist camp, and it's there that the depravity of their leader and horror of their plan become apparent.  

Slaughter's ability to manipulate characters through a highly visual, atmospheric setting is key to the rising, menacing tone throughout.  Her mastery of plot, character, and character relationship development is brilliant, as always, as she pulls every single thread together by the end.  The Last Widow is a taut, fast-paced, graphic thriller with a timely message that people everywhere should heed.  And by the way,  I read the last page several times over before closing the book with a smile on my face.  Great setup for the next book in one of my favorite series ever!  May our wait be short!  For suspense and thriller fans, this is one you don't want to miss.

My Rating:  5 Thrilling Hearts 

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

♥Sandra♥

The Year I Left Blog Tour & Review

Title:  The Year I Left
Author:  Christine Brae
Publisher:  Vesuvian Books
Release Date:  Aug. 20, 2019
Purchase Link:  Amazon


My Rating:  4 Emotionally Charged Hearts


*With many thanks to Vesuvian Books for an arc of this book.



Synopsis:
Carin Frost doesn’t understand what’s happening to her. A confident businesswoman, wife, and mother, she begins to resent everything about her life. Nothing makes sense. Nothing makes her feel. Maybe it’s the recent loss of her mother in a tragic accident. Or maybe she’s just losing her mind.

Enter Matias Torres. As their new business partnership thrives, so does their friendship—and his interest in her. Carin is determined to keep her distance, until a work assignment sends them to Southeast Asia where a storm is brewing on the island. In the midst of the chaos, Matias asks her to do something unimaginable, exhilarating, BOLD. Carin knows the consequences could be dire, but it may be the only way to save herself.

An honest look at love and marriage and the frailties of the human heart, this is a story of a woman’s loss of self and purpose and the journey she takes to find her way back.

Review:
The Year I Left is a story for anyone who's ever felt lost and adrift in a life that no longer gives them what they need to thrive and grow and feel alive.  A story for anyone who's ever felt the need for something more out of life.  A story for anyone who's ever yearned for something they can't define or grasp but know they need like their next breath.  It would be easy to say this is a story for women . . . and I suppose it is.  But truthfully, I think it applies to both men and women.  It's a story for anyone who's ever asked themselves the question:  Is it ever okay to put your own personal needs first . . . especially if they come at the expense of loved ones?

Carin Frost is a wife, mother, and successful career woman who appears to have it all - fabulous home, business, and lifestyle, gorgeous devoted husband and child.  So why is she so unhappy and unsatisfied with her life?  Carin is sleep-walking through life, going through the motions and playing her expected role while silently screaming for help.  Until she meets her new business partner Mattias Torres - a man who gives her a taste of the life she can have if she's willing to give it and him a chance.  A co-business trip to Southeast Asia results in a life or death situation where a split-second joint decision drastically changes both their lives.  For the first time in forever, Carin feels alive.  But can she live with the consequences of her actions? 

This is my first book by Christine Brae, and I'm highly motivated to seek out more.  Her lyrical, descriptive writing style enhances this emotionally charged story that I think will hit close to home for many.  Brae tackles some tough issues like depression, responsibility to others as well as to ones self, resentment, guilt, and redemption - all part of life choices and lessons.  Told in a unique voice that reads like a journal written by Carin, The Year I Left conveys a range of emotions from deep sadness to giddy joy and everything in between.  The author delivers some life lessons through Carin and Mattias's story with reminders that you can't continuously live your life for everyone else at the expense of your own happiness; however, for every action, there is a reaction that includes living with the consequences.  Every individual must decide if true personal happiness is worth any cost.  What some will view as a selfish choice may feel like a lifeline to others.  The Year I Left is a poignant, heartfelt romance that touched this reader's heart and soul, still resonating within me days after I read the final page.  I'll add here (without spoilers) that I loved the way the author chose to end this story, leaving readers a little leeway to interpret the ending.  This is a fantastic Must Read for anyone who's ever wondered if they're truly living life to the fullest!

My Rating:  4 Emotionally Charged Hearts . . . And that's the truth!

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra

About the author:  Christine Brae is a full time career woman who thought she could write a book about her life and then run away as far as possible from it. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same story to tell. Christine is the author of The Light in the Wound, His Wounded Light (2013), Insipid (2014). Her latest book, In This Life, released in 2016 and is currently under option for TV and Film.

Two more books, Eight Goodbyes and The Year I Left are scheduled to be released in 2018 & 2019.

When not listening to the voices in her head or spending late nights at the office, Christine can be seen shopping for shoes and purses, running a half marathon or spending time with her husband and three children in Chicago.

Christine is represented by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin Literary Management.

On the Corner of Love and Hate Review

Title:  On the Corner of Love and Hate
Series:  Hopeless Romantics #1
Author:  Nina Bocci
Publisher:  Gallery Books
Release Date:  August 20, 2019
Purchase Link:  Amazon


My Rating:  3 Stubborn Hearts


*Special thanks to the publisher for an arc of this book!


Synopsis:
For fans of Christina Lauren and Lauren Layne comes a delightfully sassy and sexy romance about a campaign manager who reluctantly works with the local Lothario to help revamp his image for the upcoming mayoral elections, only to discover that he’s hiding something that can turn both their lives upside down.

What’s a campaign manager’s worst nightmare? A smooth-talking charmer who’s never met a scandal that he didn’t like.

When Emmanuelle Peroni’s father—and mayor of her town—asks her to help rehab Cooper Endicott’s image, she’s horrified. Cooper drives her crazy in every way possible. But he’s also her father’s protégé, and she can’t say no to him without him finding out the reason why: Cooper and her have a messy past. So Emmanuelle reluctantly launches her father’s grand plan to get this Casanova someone to settle down with and help him lose his lothario reputation.

Cooper Endicott wanted to run for Mayor, but he never wanted the drama that went with it. Now that he’s on the political hamster wheel, the other candidates are digging up everythingfrom his past. Even though he’s doing all the right things, his colorful love life is the sticking point for many of the conservative voters. He wants to win, badly, and he knows that if he wants any chance of getting a vote from the female population, he needs to change his image. The only problem? He might just be falling in love with the one person he promised not to pursue: the Mayor’s off-limits daughter.

Review:
On the Corner of Love and Hate is a small town, enemies-to-lovers romance featuring childhood friends turned enemies Emma Peroni and Cooper Endicott.  Emma's father (outgoing mayor) talks her into being Cooper's campaign manager in an effort to revamp his shady ladies-man image and help him get elected as the next town mayor.  Emma reluctantly agrees to it even though she continues to hold a long-time grudge against the man who once broke her heart.  As they begin working together, the sarcastic remarks fly . . . and so do the sparks!

One of my favorite tropes in romance is small town and enemies-to-lovers!  The author does a great job with setting up a small town scene, including the prevalence of everybody-knows-everything-about-everybody atmosphere . . . a town where it's hard to outrun your past mistakes as you're constantly reminded of them.  The town people are authentic, adding a special ambiance to the story.  Bocci also excels at writing realistic dialogue with some much needed humorous banter which I enjoyed.  

This story unfolds through Emma's point of view which understandably doesn't paint Cooper in a very good light.  While I wanted to be sympathetic to Emma's plight, I found her to be so consumed by past betrayals that she continuously took one step forward and then two steps back, causing her to appear too stubborn and wishy-washy.  Unfortunately, Cooper doesn't fare much better.  His in-your-face immature attitude is flaunted a bit too often as are his womanizing, alley-cat ways.  He shows growth by the end which is a plus, as does Emma; however, it became a case of too little, too late for me to feel much empathy with either character.  The result is a lack of true chemistry between these two main characters, making it hard for me to identify with either.

While I liked the premise of On the Corner of Love and Hate, I think the story would have resonated more with me if it had concentrated more on the romance building between Emma and Cooper and less on their ongoing feud over a broken past.  Having said that, there are some great humorous scenes that I enjoyed.  Fans of enemies-to-lovers stories should check this one out.

My Rating:  3 Stubborn Hearts . . .

Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra