Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but pretends that she can.Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don’t get along. Next stop: paradise! But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen . . . but maybe a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two.
Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last. [from the publisher]
Early readers are asked not to share quotes from ARCs until they are compared to the final published version. This, of course, isn't generally possible, as the whole point is to create early buzz. Even if I could, I wouldn't know where to start—there are just too many nuggets from which to choose. As I was going through my notes, I decided that I'll order one signed and personalized hardcover and one unadorned hardcover to use as my reading/sticky flagging copy. Who am I kidding? I'll probably buy the audio as well. If you are a KC fan, too, be quick like a bunny to get yourself on the library hold list and/or to Center's website to preorder the book from one of the independent bookstores that have signed books (with bonus swag) available for preorder.
This is what I can tell you: I laughed; I learned; I cried (at least once); I sobbed (at least twice); I might have stopped breathing a few times.
As is typical of KC's recent catalog, deep relationships between a varied cast of characters are featured in the story, including Katie's cousin/best friend Beanie; Katie's jerky coworker Cole; Cole's brother Hutch; Hutch and Cole's Aunt Rue (and The Gals—her besties); and Hutch's rescue Great Dane George Bailey. The fact that Aunt Rue and The Gals reminded me of my Granny and The Girls played no small part in my immersion in the book.
The book is slow-burn hot and sexy, but not smutty—which is my personal preference. The first kiss doesn't happen until Chapter Twelve (almost halfway through). If that's not your favorite, still come for the humor, action, all types of love, and emotional nourishment.
While I have a fairly full pipeline right now, I have no doubt that a third reading is in my not-too-distant future. When life is tough, books like The Love Haters offer restorative positive energy.
This unbiased review is based on ARCs supplied by the publishers—St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected May 20.
If your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life, Bennet Taylor is failing miserably . . . with a big emphasis on the miserable. Where’s that zest she keeps hearing about? She’s a temp worker in New York City with no direction, no future, and no social life. And at the painful center of this listlessness is grief over the death of her first love.When Bennet runs into Henry Adams just hours after standing him up for a first date, she makes an alcohol-fueled confession: She’s not ready to date. In fact, it’s been years since she felt passion for something. Not even pottery, or organized sports—not anything. Rather than leaving her to ruminate, Henry jumps at the opportunity for adventure: Bennet needs to find a passion for life, and Henry will help her find it. Every Saturday, they’ll try something new in New York City. As friends, of course.
As their “passion project” continues, the pair tackle everything from carpentry to tattooing to rappelling off skyscrapers, and Bennet feels her guarded exterior ebbing away. But as secrets surface, Bennet has to decide what she wants, and if she’s truly ready to move on. With emotional resonance and sparkling banter, Passion Project is a fun, flirty, thoughtful story of finding a spark—and igniting happiness. [from the publisher]
Things about which I might be ambivalent: Bennet's roommate, Sonya, and Sonya's girlfriend, Jamie, both of whom meddle.
What I really didn't like: Bennet . . . for the vast majority of the book. Starting around Chapter Twenty-Three, Bennet starts to take responsibility for planning some of the passion project activities, at which point she becomes more present, starts caring more about others (Twenty-Four), and becomes more independent (Twenty-Five).
Overall, I felt the publisher's blurb massively misstated the tone of the story. The bulk of the book was oppressively angsty and dark, and there is precious little comic relief. We do eventually get to a happy-ever-after, but the ride is unnecessarily long and painful.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—PENGUIN GROUP Viking | Penguin Books. Publication is expected April 8.
For over a hundred years, the Evans women have kept the undead in their strange southeast Texas town from rising. But sometimes the dead rise too quick—and that’s what left Lenore Evans, and her granddaughter Luna, burying Luna’s mother, Grace, and Lenore’s mother, Ducey. Now the only two women left in the Evans family, Luna and Lenore are left rudderless in the wake of the most Godawful Mess to date.But when the full moon finds another victim, it’s clear their trouble is far from over. Now Lenore, Luna, and the new sheriff—their biggest ally—must dig deep down into family lore to uncover what threatens everything they love most. The body count ticks up, the most unexpected dead will rise—forcing Lenore and Luna to face the possibility that the undead aren’t the only monsters preying on their small town. [from the publisher]
The audiobook is again narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker, whose talent gets a workout with a broad range of characters.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected April 15.
The moon has turned into cheese.Now humanity has to deal with it.
For some it’s an opportunity. For others it’s a moment to question their faith: In God, in science, in everything. Still others try to keep the world running in the face of absurdity and uncertainty. And then there are the billions looking to the sky and wondering how a thing that was always just there is now . . . something absolutely impossible.
Astronauts and billionaires, comedians and bank executives, professors and presidents, teenagers and terminal patients at the end of their lives—over the length of an entire lunar cycle, each get their moment in the moonlight. To panic, to plan, to wonder and to pray, to laugh and to grieve. All in a kaleidoscopic novel that goes all the places you’d expect, and then to so many places you wouldn’t.
It’s a wild moonage daydream. Ride this rocket. [from the publisher]
There's a lot of wordplay, humor ranging from light chuckles to full-blown hilarity, satire, political and social commentary, pop culture, and even a few philosophical moments.
Among the notable characters are scientists; a president who doesn't read security briefings; a billionaire with pet Congresspeople; a female astronaut who wishes she had become a firefighter instead (and other astronauts); three retired men from different backgrounds who hang out together at a diner (they also interact with a server and a reporter over the course of the book); a pastor and his church community; movie script writers and executives; a group of nerdy highschoolers; feuding brothers who own competing cheese stores in the Wisconsin capitol (Fromagery and DemocraCheese), along with their wives and college-student employees; and an author. I especially liked the beginning of the Annette (Fromagery employee) and Felix (DemocraCheese employee) storyline. Don't skip the Afterword.
This was great vacation reading: I started the book on a flight and continued enjoying it poolside. This definitely isn't my favorite Scalzi work, but I was engrossed and did annotate heavily while I was reading, so I bumped up the rating a bit. Too, I find myself anxious for publication, when I'll be free to share specific parts with certain people and to discuss it generally with even more people. I will likely read it again in the near future, with my ears.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Tor Publishing Group | Tor Books. Publication is expected March 25.
Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.
When the focus of the investigation widens to include Finlay’s ex-husband, Steven, though, Finlay and Vero are left with little choice but to get closer to Mrs. Haggerty and uncover her secrets . . . before the police start digging up theirs. But who will solve the mystery first? [from the publisher]
This fifth installment in the Finlay Donovan series is so funny—bursting with banter and silliness! The series continues to be relationship-heavy, as well, with deepening relationships for some of the recurring characters, and new, interesting relationships between combinations of characters that one wouldn't expect.
Both of Finlay's children—school-age Delia and preschooler Zach—play bigger roles than in previous books. Other characters returning with medium or large roles are ex-husband Steven, nosy neighbor Mrs. Haggerty, hacker Cam, agent Sylvia, nanny/partner in crime Vero, hot cop boyfriend Nick, and even more—I'll keep a few cameos a secret, just for fun. There's a new animal companion with a hilarious name. I'm counting on that feature continuing.
It's hard to believe that the action in all five books takes place within just four months. As I have in the past, I strongly recommend that the series be read in order.
Just like in Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice (book 4), Cosimano ties everything up nice and neat before hitting us with a whammy at the very last minute. She is the Queen of Cliffhangers.
Finlay Donovan never fails to delight and entertain me, and this installment is the best yet! My longtime book buddies know I almost never give 5 stars. Even shocking confusion around how to make poached eggs (Chapter 10) isn't going to deter me from awarding the full score in this case. [Funny story: I don't cook to speak of (though I do bake), but poached eggs are in my repertoire. I'm happy to give lessons.]
Angela Dawe continues to be the perfect narrator for Finlay and friends. I hope she and Cosimano have a long, fruitful working relationship!
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected March 4.
FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He also has a blind spot on the human side of investigations, a blindness that sometimes even includes people in his own life, like his beloved seven-year-old daughter Camila. Gardner and his squad of brilliant yet quirky agents make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, the FBI’s hidden edge, brought in for cases that no one else can solve.When DNA links a murder victim to a serial killer long presumed dead, the team springs into action. A second victim establishes a pattern, and the murderer begins leaving a trail of clues and riddles especially for Gardner. And while the PAR team is usually relegated to working cold cases from behind a desk, the investigation puts them on the road and into the public eye, following in the footsteps of a killer.
Along with Gardner, PAR consists of a mathematician, a weapons expert, a computer analyst, and their leader, a career agent. Each of them must use every skill they have to solve the riddle of the killer’s identity. But with the perpetrator somehow learning more and more about the team at PAR, can they protect themselves and their families . . . before it’s too late? [from the publisher]
Note to self: Excellent narrator. Have I heard him before?Research results: Without reviewing even half of Will Damron's considerable number of credits, I was able to confirm that I have heard him before, including reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt, and A Matter of Will, by Adam Mitzner.
Note to self: Hope there will be more.Research results: Great news—Head Cases is a series debut! As far as I can tell, this is only McMahon's fourth novel—the first three forming a different series.
The story is reminiscent of the television versions of Dexter, Slow Horses (of which I have also read two installments), and Psych (the third for the keen powers of observation/eidetic memory only—Gardner Camden is a more serious character than Shawn Spencer).
It's pretty gory, and no one (e.g. children and women) is exempt from threats of harm. There is precious little comic relief, but one such instance actually made me snort.
I stubbornly stayed up way past my bedtime—I just couldn't stop reading. Not only will I welcome sequels, I am open to reading McMahon's first series as well.
If you like police procedurals, thrillers, smart/clever/talented outcast characters (some differently abled), or logic puzzles—and have at least a moderately high gore tolerance—I'd recommend Head Cases for you.
This unbiased review is based on ARCs supplied by the publishers—Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books (print/e-book). Publication is expected January 28.
At long last, Sadie has vanquished her lifelong academic rival—her irritatingly charming, whip smart next door neighbor, Seb—by getting the coveted, only spot to her dream college. Or at least, so she thinks. When Seb is unexpectedly pulled off the waitlist and admitted, Sadie has to compete with him all over again, this time to get a spot on the school’s famous zine. Now not only is she dealing with the mayhem of the lovable, chaotic family she hid her writing talents from, as well as her own self doubt, but she has to come to terms with some less-than-resentful feelings for Seb that are popping up along the way.But the longer they compete, the more Sadie and Seb notice flaws in the school’s system that are much bigger than any competition between them. Somehow the two of them have to band together even as they’re trying to crush each other, only to discover they may have met their match in more ways than one. [from the publisher]
All too quickly, I was bored by Sadie's repetitive whining. That might have been improved by writing from dual point of view with Seb.
The good: campus activism; Sadie and Seb pushing each other to perform well; Sadie finally asserting herself with her sisters (though this relates to Sadie's likely misperception of their parents' expectations).
The bad: excessive whining; Sadie being terribly dense about her mutual attraction with Seb.
The neutral: college kids finding their independence, even as they're a bit homesick [I'm not sure I ever knew anyone who was].
By far, my favorite characters were Daisy—writer/sunshine wife—and Betty—a pancake restaurateur/grumpy wife. I wish they played much bigger roles in the story, and that I could share a quote from Daisy. If you read it, please let me know when you get to Daisy and whether you are similarly amused by her.
The audiobook is narrated by Jesse Vilinsky, whom I like.
This unbiased review is based on an audio ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners. Publication is expected January 21
I got my first library card at age 4, at the Blackstone Branch of the Chicago Public Library, and have been a regular user of public and university libraries ever since. I am a trustee of the Palatine [Illinois] Public Library District in my second term, currently serving as board president.
I read books for all age groups, from all time periods, and from practically all genres, though my all-time favorite genre is mystery. I love to talk about books with others, so please join me in conversation about a book we both read or tell me about a book you think I'd like.
I'm never not reading.