Some people visit Florida for theme parks and beaches. High school junior Virginia Tillis is there for murder. Accidents, electrocution, tainted hand lotion: every victim meets a different end at her grandmother Lainey’s rococo pink condo. Such is life (and death) when you roll with a crew of theater retirees who roleplay murder mysteries from the comfort of their own home in a game they fondly call Killing Me Softly.But this summer, fictional murder has given way to the very real death of the building's beloved owner and his dramatic last testament has the vultures circling, from estranged relatives to sleazy property developers, dead set on getting the most from his will.
Adding to the tension for Virginia is the appearance of Felix, the cute guy she met at the airport who turns out to be the grandson of one of the condo’s residents. With his charm and musical theater chops, he’s the person Virginia most wants to beat at Killing Me Softly. That is, until the day they discover an actual dead body while playing the game, forcing them to work together to figure out whodunit.
In this comedic mystery about finding the Watson to your Holmes, Virginia and Felix must banter their way from rivals to co-detectives in time to save their eccentric grandparents from a shocking disruption to the community they've always loved. [from the publisher]
There is a sequel in the works, expected Spring of 2027. I'll be ready!
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books. Publication is expected April 21.
There are two kinds of people no one ever expects to be murderers: little girls and old ladies. Meet Mad Mabel.Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old. She's lived on her idyllic street, Kenny Lane, for sixty years—longer than anyone else. Aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else's business, few would suspect that Elsie has a past that she has worked exceedingly hard at concealing. Because when it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, once a little girl and now an old lady, has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end.
When a new little girl (talkative, curious, nosy) moves into the neighborhood and stops at nothing to befriend Elsie, her carefully-constructed life threatens to come crashing down as the secrets in Elsie's past start coming to light. Who was “Mad Mabel” fifty years ago? Who is Elsie Fitzpatrick today? And if the past has a habit of repeating itself, who has the most to lose? [from the publisher]
The difficult content I expected is indeed present: Elsie Mabel's [Mabel is her middle name—I'll use Elsie for the remainder of the review] life was shaped by heartbreaking, infuriating acts of evil . . . from multiple sources and start to finish. Thankfully, she was also shaped by enough love and support to allow her to build determination and resilience. The result is a story that is largely smart, funny, warm, tender, and endearing. I appreciated Elsie's shared wisdom about friendship, the patriarchy, religion, and more.
The story is told in dual timelines—the 1950s—when Elsie was growing up—and the present. I was able to predict several plot points, but was also rewarded with a couple of surprises.
The supporting (and supportive—I'm not discussing the nasty characters here) cast of characters include Elsie's aunt (mom's sister) and her friend; Elsie's childhood best friend Daphne; pesky, persistent seven-year-old neighbor Persephone, along with a few other present-day neighbors; and a couple of young podcasters who want to get the real scoop on Elsie's story once her past is revealed.
The audiobook is narrated by Hannah Fredericksen and Jenny Seedsman, who differentiate Elsie's two featured ages, as well as gamely bring all the other characters to life.
As this is only the second of Hepworth's novels I've finished—I did bail on one of her earlier works—maybe I can't attest that this is her best book yet. But that's what plenty of others are saying, and Mad Mabel is definitely my favorite of Hepworth's . . . and one of my favorites from any author in recent memory. I watched an interview with the author after reading and my first review draft. I'm not at all surprised that she's clever and funny, with a dark side that all mystery lovers adore (and likely share).
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected April 21.
Sutton knows she needs therapy. After all, she’s managing her newly opened restaurant remotely while taking care of her ungrateful sick mother. Plus, her boyfriend of two years just dumped her over the phone. But does therapy with a handsome stranger, who she has to pretend to be engaged to, in order to help her friend’s struggling relationship count? Probably not. Then why did she just agree to go? Because she’s had a few too many drinks? Because this stranger, Elijah, is smug and annoying and really, really handsome? Because she feels guilty that she abandoned her best friend, Tara, after high school and this might just make up for it? Whatever the reason, she has committed to this unhinged plan.What the hell is Sutton doing?
Helping Tara prove a point: a good therapist can tell the difference between real love and fake love. That’s what she’s doing. But as they attend their sessions, Sutton and Elijah only seem to be proving one thing—the lines between pretend desire and real desire are very blurry. This true connection forming between them is threatening to unravel everything Sutton thought she knew about family, friendship, and her own heart. [from the publisher]
Well into the book, the question arises of whether smashing wedding cake into each other's faces is a good tradition. This was a hill on which I was willing to die. [How's that for a horrible expression?!] I told my beloved that if he did that, we would have the shortest marriage in history. We are approaching our 37th anniversary. In other words, we both chose wisely.
Karissa Vacker is a consistently deft narrator. I enjoyed her performance of this broad range of characters.
This unbiased review is based on ARCs supplied by the publishers—St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books and Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected April 14.
When steamy text messages between tenacious US Congresswoman Isabella Rhodes and her opposing candidate, Levi Cross, go public just before the election, Izzy’s reputation takes a nose dive and her political career comes to a crashing end.Desperate to have some time out she returns to the gorgeous Italian village of La Musa, which she last visited when she was nineteen, to lick her wounds and recover. Welcomed with open arms at the Villa Farentino by matriarch Anita, she doesn’t get the same reception from her grumpy son Benito who’s just returned from England to take over as mayor after his father, Rafaello, left town . . . and his wife.
But Izzy can’t escape politics or matters of the heart and she quickly becomes embroiled in the village’s mission to stop Rafaello’s greedy development company from building a 5-star hotel, and along the way discovers that there’s a lot more to Benito than she thought.
When Izzy unwittingly becomes the face of the proposed development her cover is blown and she has to decide—can she save the town, mend her broken heart, and have the life she’s worked so hard for or does she want to stay out of the limelight and risk it all? [from the publisher]
The story is pretty slow—not much happens—which might be a conscious choice of the author's relating to the small Italian village. I especially liked Italian villa owner (and MMC's mom), Anita, including her storyline's arc. There are a couple strong female politicians as side characters. There are multiple happily-ever-afters.
This might be my first experience with narrator Anthea Greco, who gave a fine performance. I'm open to more of both author's and narrator's work.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Keeperton Audiobooks | Arndell. Publication is expected April 7.
Rainy March is a proud, third-generation Book Witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps in and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes like a modern-day magical Nancy Drew.Book Witches live by a strict code: Real people belong in the real world; fictional characters belong in works of fiction. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it.
Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.
But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, King Arthur, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets. [from the publisher]
Sadly, I found myself irritated much of the way through The Book Witch because I couldn't stop making comparisons to Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series and the movie Stranger Than Fiction. In either case, Shaffer's third offering falls short. This niggling disappointment caused me to struggle to sit down to read.
Rainy—and other characters—come across as shallow and immature. The bulk of her quest was very slow—that is, the writing lacked the urgency I would expect from this type of story. It's fairly repetitive. There are fun literary and pop-culture references, some mild humor, commentary on book-banners, and a couple nods to introverts.
I liked the tail end the best, but is that enough? It's not for me, but may be for you—especially if you're going in fresh, without risk of comparison to the examples given above.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Ballantine Books. Publication is expected April 7.
After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way. [from the publisher]
So, what does the The Shippers have going for it? For starters, it has Cooper, who is a cinnamon roll—sweet as can be, despite considerable hardships. As expected from both genre and author, the story includes humor and banter. Narrator Patti Murin's artistry keeps the audiobook flowing. Finally, we are rewarded with a happily ever after. Who doesn't need a load of that?
Center's previous four summer releases were hits for me. I rated them 4.0, 4.35, 4.5, and 5.0! These are stunning ratings from me. I will hope that this year's disappointment will be a one-off, and keep her on my auto-read list. Remember, as always, that your mileage may vary—hopefully, this will check off your boxes for summer reading.
This unbiased review is based on ARCs supplied by the publishers—St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected May 19.
A Cornish clifftop, a sunny afternoon, a quaint little teashop . . . but wait a minute. Is that jam, or blood? Maddie Penrose is determined to find out!Maddie Penrose is staying with her beloved grandmother, Nor, at her gorgeously idyllic Cornish farm. She’s looking forward to days helping out in Nor’s little teashop and evenings wandering down the cliff path to watch the sunset. But before Maddie has even finished serving up scones on her first morning, a man bursts through the door: Nor’s neighbour Clive has found a body in the field behind the teashop. . . .
Maddie is straight to the scene, fancying herself as a bit of an Agatha Christie. But solving this mystery is far from a piece of cake. Her list of suspects is jam-packed with locals, with some a little too close to home: the newcomer renting out one of Nor’s barns is acting suspiciously, the victim’s boyfriend has disappeared without trace, and Clive isn’t really Maddie’s cup of tea either. . . .
But the proof is in the pudding when there’s another murder—her prime suspect is dead. And when Maddie finds a backpack belonging to the first murder victim, her diligent notetaking and quick thinking leads her to discover that the killer will act again, and soon. Maddie is horrified to discover that it looks like she is their next target. . . .
Can Maddie and Nor work as a team to piece together the puzzle? Or will murdering Maddie be the icing on the cake for the killer? [from the publisher]
The audiobook is narrated by Harrie Dobby, whose voice is clear and pleasant.
Even though I tend to prefer less-cozy mysteries, I wouldn't shy away from reading more of Chester's work, especially in this series.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Bookouture Audio. Publication is expected March 11.
Benny Abbott and Joy Moore host one of the most beloved podcasts in the world. Each week, they delight listeners with a different “against all odds” survival story, gleefully finding the weird, life-affirming humor in near-death experiences. Since their first episode on Joy’s experience with severe narcolepsy, they’ve been the best friends everyone wants to befriend—and thanks to the meticulous management of Joy’s husband, Xander, they’ve built a lucrative empire.The problem is, their next survival story may be their own. When Benny arrives at Joy and Xander’s one morning to record, he finds shattered glass and an empty house. The one clue shedding light on the couple’s disappearance is the incomplete, previously unseen first draft of Joy’s memoir. Benny is desperate to find them, even when the police soon zero in on him as their prime suspect.
Millions of devoted listeners think they know the “real” Benny and Joy. But as the hours tick by, and the odds seem increasingly stacked against Joy and Xander being found alive, not even the most devoted fans could guess the terrible secrets their favorite famous BFFs have hidden from the world—and from each other. [from the publisher]
The story gets tense early on, and I didn't want to put the book down. The tension is well-maintained—and escalated—such that my resistance to stopping reading only increased as I approached the 65% mark. There are no wasted characters. There is manageable repetition of events being told from different points of view. I can't tell you anything else specific about the book for fear of spoiling your experience. I never would have guessed that this is Crum's debut, which I only discovered when I went in search of more of her work to read. It looks like we'll all have to be patient.
Content warnings include gaslighting, emotional and physical abuse, stalking, and murder.
Narration by Julia Whelan—one of my all-time favorite narrators—and Sean Patrick Hopkins—with whom I am less-acquainted—was fantastic. They handled every circumstance perfectly, resulting in seamless storytelling.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected March 10.
Jax has a slight issue with control—as in, she needs it. Always. Too bad she has power only over the Painted Lady Bookstore, the Victorian mansion turned bookshop she inherited. No one else listens to a word she says. Her ex gets engaged for questionable reasons. Her beloved sister, Ryleigh, wants to move away to find a husband. And the handsome contractor Jax has chosen to convince Ryleigh to stay is only interested in Jax.Still, she’s living the bookworm dream—until an unhappy accident erases the names from the bookshop lockboxes where the town keeps their diaries. Which means the only way to find a diary’s owner is . . . to read it.
As secrets spill and scandals surface, life at the Painted Lady Bookstore gets a lot more colorful and chaotic. But for a woman who’s always had to take charge, Jax will see that losing control—especially with the right wrong guy—can set you free. [from the publisher]
Overall, the book is soap opera-ish and super-repetitive, centering on sisters Jax and Ryleigh, as well as Jax's African gray parrot, Ramon. Jax and Ryleigh are both pretty whiny. Ramon offers both a bit of comic relief and some stress. He also might be the most bookish character, which is a bit of a stretch. The most appealing character is probably hot contractor Marcus, who is working on the bookshop.
This might be only my second experience with narrator Tanya Eby. I didn't care for her work in this book. I don't remember her part in my previous experience—it was several years ago and she was part of a bigger cast. She has over 900 audiobook credits, so she must be popular with others.
While this was not a big hit for me, it might be for the prolific author's regular fan base, or for pretty much anyone who is looking for a romance (not a rom-com), without the expectation of heavy bookish action.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Harlequin Audio | HarperCollins. Publication is expected March 3.
Theodore Copeland has created a fabulous life in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, where he shares a fabulous pink mid-century home with three fabulous friends: Barry, a former actor still clinging to his youth, his hair, and the memory of the dream role that killed his career; Ron, an uprooted Christian from the Midwest with a big heart but no one to give it to; Sid, who, after coming out late in life, has never found love. Teddy is the caustic, unspoken leader of “The Golden Gays”—the foursome’s monthly drag tribute to The Golden Girls. Despite their foibles and bickering, they have turned their golden years into a golden era.But the harmony of their desert enclave becomes a carousel of emotional baggage when Teddy’s estranged sister, Trudy, shows up on their doorstep, her dramatic teenage granddaughter in tow. While Teddy keeps Trudy at arm’s length, she manages to wheedle her way into the lives of the Golden Gays, until the real reason for her visit is revealed and the secrets they’ve all been keeping from each other unravel faster than a hastily stitched hemline. [from the publisher]
I enjoyed getting to know each friend in their dedicated chapters. Main themes include the use of humor and sarcasm as coping mechanisms and found family. In addition to the Golden Gays, I especially liked Teddy's teenaged great-niece, Ava, and Sid's bestie, Esther. The business names are a hoot: Teddy's vintage clothing store is Dorian Gay; beauty parlor The Curl Up and Die was owned by Ron's childhood best friend Jolene's mom; and the friends' Palm Springs hangout, A Street Bar Named Desire.
The book is narrated by Daniel Henning, Joel Leslie, Art Brown, and George Newbern. This helped differentiate the characters.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Harlequin Audio | HarperCollins. Publication is expected March 3.
In the wake of the extreme losses to the Bureau during the war with Dylan Van Helsing and the magicians, Amari has stepped back from being a Junior Agent to spend the school year as a normal kid. But as she prepares to graduate eighth grade, she's faced with a decision: Return to the Bureau and join the elite new Junior Special Agent Program, or retire for good—which would mean safety, but also losing her memories of the supernatural world.But soon she finds that she may not have a choice. A deadly new curse is threatening both the supernatural and mortal worlds as, beneath their skin, people are slowly becoming machines—and losing their very humanity. And it's somehow related to the First Magician.
Hundreds of cases have been cropping up, with no cure in sight. And when the curse hits someone close to Amari, it's up to her to get to the bottom of this deadly mystery—even if it means trusting an old enemy. [from the publisher]
The subject matter seems weighty for middle-graders, but Alston doesn't talk down to them for even a minute. Topics include the importance of rehabilitation vs. punishment, the dangers of advanced tech tools in the wrong hands, and doing what's right even if it's not what you want. Book 4 ends on a doozy of a cliffhanger, so there must be another installment planned. [Yes, I'm manifesting!]
Imani Parks continues to be the voice of the series. I wouldn't want it any other way.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—HarperAudio Children’s | Storytide. Publication is expected February 24.
On the heels of their thrilling appearance in Rhythm of Time, best friends Rahim and Kasia are back traveling through time in Time for a Change. Last time around, they were on their own—now they are working with Aevum, a mysterious organization from the future that tasks them with averting disaster and safeguarding the flow of history.The first assignment sends Rahim to Hawaii to recover a rock that Aevum insists is key to stabilizing the future. But things take a dramatic turn when he inadvertently jeopardizes the mission, thrusting him and Kasia into a web of intrigue populated by a diverse cast of time-travelers with their own enigmatic motives. There are doppelgängers from parallel dimensions. There are robots who may be allies but may be enemies. As Rahim and Kasia move like pinballs through time, they must navigate a treacherous path to unveil the truth and avert a devastating future across multiple realities. [from the publisher]
Just as in the debut, Rahim is subject to bullies. Mention is made of how libraries are a safe space for kids like Rahim. One of the people he meets in his time travel is extra-special. We see it coming, and recognize the implications of a potential disturbance in the timeline. AI is used for evil in this story—as it has the great potential to be used in real life (aside from the ecological and economic resource-suck).
Just as in the series opener, Zeno Robinson narrates with great feeling and enthusiasm.
The second installment didn't hit quite the same way for me as the first, but it is still plenty exciting and it leaves us hanging for the conclusion. I'm looking forward to it!
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners. Publication is expected February 17.
Ari Shumba never expected to make it to the Winter Games, let alone be the one to lead Great Britain’s women’s ice hockey team through the most important competition of their lives. When her teammate's unexpected injury catapults her to the role of captain, Ari reluctantly shoulders the responsibility while trying to navigate family drama and dodge her toxic ex.Drew Dlamini has always feared taking risks. After breaking up with his girlfriend and dropping out of college to handle a family crisis, he’s desperate for a fresh start. When he finds himself in London for the holidays, he rekindles his dream of becoming a professional photographer.
When Ari and Drew meet at a New Year’s Eve party, neither of them is looking for love. Though their chemistry is instant, they live on opposite sides of the Atlantic, so they spend the night revealing their glaring red flags, thinking they’ll never see each other again. But when they unexpectedly cross paths in the snowy Swiss Alps two months later, their feelings for each other rise to the surface.
As the competition heats up, the combination of complicated exes, overinvolved families, and stress-inducing teammates convinces them that the perfect solution to their problems is to fake-date their way through the Games. After all, there’s no risk of falling in love if it is doomed from the start . . . right? [from the publisher]
I didn't feel adequate chemistry between Ari and Drew. Beyond the romance, there was an unhealthy past romantic relationship resurfacing; a team rivalry; and family drama, including a family adjusting to dementia. I related to Drew's passion for photography, and I enjoyed the Olympic village setting. Most interesting was several mentions of the disparity of resources between men's and women's teams, which seems to be a problem at all levels. The main story, then, really seems to be about female athletes and female empowerment.
I found Lillie-Pearl Wildman's narration dull and stiff for the bulk of the book. She performs best with an American female voice in conversation (as opposed to straight narration).
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected February 3.
It's always sunny in Detroit for Faith Richards. The popular TV meteorologist, endearingly referred to as “The Fair Weather Friend” by her viewers, has the world by the tail. But one night, Faith leaves work on a dinner break and never returns. Her body is found the next morning.The town is reeling, suspects emerge, and long-buried secrets are uncovered. While her allies rally, her list of adversaries also grows. Little does anyone know that only the deepest secrets will expose the truth. [from the publisher]
Content warnings include childhood emotional abuse, stalking, gaslighting, and murder, at the very least.
Gail Shalan narrates the audiobook, managing this large and diverse cast of characters pretty well.
This unbiased review is based on ARCs supplied by the publishers—St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected January 20.
It’s not easy being a teenager, and it’s no different for Rahim, who is trying to balance everything in his busy Philly life: school, parents, bullies, his secret hopes of becoming a hip-hop star, and the constant schemes of his brilliant best friend, Kasia. When Kasia invents a new kind of cell phone that is also a time machine, it sends Rahim into the past, where he must outmaneuver a secretive government agency without altering history's delicate balance.This electrifying book puts Rahim and Kasia at the center of an ever-widening mystery that will illuminate their own pasts (and futures) and test their friendship. Dynamic and richly written, with crisp commercial prose and charming interior illustrations, The Rhythm of Time is an infinitely readable sci-fi adventure that is sure to delight younger listeners. [from the publisher]
Fairly early in the book, narrator Zeno Robinson infuses so much energy into a single word to express Rahim's panic that I cracked up. Fantastic!
I loved the ending, which set up the sequel. I can't wait for more!
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR). Publication is expected January 13.
In this sequel to McMahon's electrifying series debut, Head Cases, Gardner Camden and the PAR team return to investigate potentially connected cases.FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He 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.
PAR’s latest case involves a militia group stockpiling weapons. When their confidential informant in the case is killed, it quickly becomes clear that the militia did not kill him.
As the squad looks into the evidence surrounding his murder, an unidentified man is caught on camera with their informant. This mystery man’s picture is connected to another case at the FBI, an unsolved series of murdered women, buried in the ground in north Florida. Could they have uncovered a serial killer? And if so, what is his connection to their C.I.?
As PAR juggles an investigation into both the dead women and the militia, they enroll a new informant, only to find the case escalating in dangerous ways. How will PAR handle a case that increasingly looks like a terrorist plot? And in the serial case, with no puzzles or witnesses, and few leads, how will a group set up to decode riddles be successful? [from the publisher]
Will Damron again narrates spectacularly. He has become one of my favorite narrators.
I'm hopeful that the series will continue. From the acknowledgments, it appears that there is interest in developing it for television, which I'll take as an encouraging sign that more books will follow.
This unbiased review is based on ARCs supplied by the publishers—St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected January 13.
Georgia Rose is not going on the hit reality dating show Love Shack to find love. She’s there to write a killer exposé on the producers, which will guarantee the journalism job of her dreams. But when Georgia’s unforgettable one-night stand from the year before, country singer Rhett Auburn, steps into the Malibu mansion as the season’s new host, all of her carefully crafted plans unravel.Caught up in the drama of backstabbing contestants, producer blackmail, and death-defying dates, Georgia must keep her identity—and history with Rhett—a secret. Despite the lies between them, it isn’t long before Georgia and Rhett’s heated behind-the-scenes moments start to feel more genuine than the romance Georgia’s faking for the cameras. But with her assignment unfinished and the executive producer on her tail, a second chance with Rhett could be her riskiest move of all. [from the publisher]
The audiobook is narrated adequately—including male and female voices, and a couple/few regional accents—by Amanda Leigh Cobb.
This unbiased review is based on ARCs supplied by the publishers—St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio. Publication is expected January 13.
Five years after her husband, Owen, disappeared, Hannah Hall and her stepdaughter, Bailey, have settled into a new life in Southern California. Together, they’ve forged a relationship with Bailey’s grandfather Nicholas and are putting the past behind them.But when Owen shows up at Hannah’s new exhibition, she knows that she and Bailey are in danger again.
Hannah and Bailey are forced to go on the run in a relentless race to keep their past from catching up with them. As a thrilling drama unfolds, Hannah risks everything to get Bailey to safety—and finds there just might be a way back to Owen and their long-awaited second chance.
A gripping, rich, and deeply moving novel about the power of forgiveness, The First Time I Saw Him picks up right where the epilogue for the “genuinely moving” (The New York Times) The Last Thing He Told Me left off, giving readers the eagerly awaited and absolutely exhilarating sequel to Dave’s global blockbuster. [from the publisher]
The novel clocks in at under 300 pages, which should have flown by quickly. Indeed, at eight percent in, I noted that there was already plenty of excitement. Unfortunately, that excitement fizzled pretty quickly—much of the book dragged, with lots of repetition and exhausting flashbacks into the histories of Nicholas's and Frank's professional, personal, and family relationships. Because of this, the book felt longer to me than its pages or my reading time proved true. Ever the outlier, I guess, I actually preferred Dave's The Night We Lost Him (which is not part of this series), whereas several of my bookish friends found the Hannah Hall books much more fast-paced and exciting. As always, the more of my reviews that you read; the better you can probably gauge how much you'll enjoy the books we share.
What I liked most about The First Time I Saw Him was Hannah's immediate execution of her plan to get herself and stepdaughter Bailey to safety. Hannah's fierce defense of her daughter never wavered. If there is another installment—which I'd guess is likely—I will probably read it.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC supplied by the publisher—Scribner. Publication day is January 6.
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 third 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.