Runaway Train by Lee Matthew Goldberg

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

They told me I was an out-of-control train about to crash…

Everything changed when the police officer knocked on the door to tell me – a 16-year-old – that my older sister Kristen had died of a brain aneurysm. Cue the start of my parents neglecting me and my whole life spiraling out of control.

I decided now was the perfect time to skip town. It’s the early 90’s, Kurt Cobain runs the grunge music scene and I just experienced some serious trauma. What’s a girl supposed to do? I didn’t want to end up like Kristen, so I grabbed my bucket list, turned up my mixtape of the greatest 90’s hits and fled L.A.. The goal was to end up at Kurt Cobain’s house in Seattle, but I never could have guessed what would happen along the way.

At turns heartbreaking, inspiring, and laugh out loud funny, Runaway Train is a wild journey of a bygone era and a portrait of a one-of-a-kind teenage girl trying to find herself again the only way she knows how.

my thoughts:

Love, love, love! This book was fantastic. I absolutely LOVED all of the 90s references and getting caught up in Nico's story.  It was such a treat to read Runaway Train by Lee Matthew Goldberg. 

Nico's older sister Kristen dies suddenly.  Her parents favored her older sister, she was the "perfect" daughter.  Nico is left with all of these emotions and so she turns to her favorite music - Nirvana, anyone? Deciding that she will not wind up dead like her sister, Nico decides to head to Seattle, home of her idol, Kurt Cobain.  She has a bucket list and determination, so off she goes. Of course, a road trip like that begs for the unexpected to happen along the way.  And let me just say, reading all about Nico's journey was amazing - her road trip was not just about dealing with the grief of losing her sister, but also of discovering who she really is and wants to be. Runaway Train is an emotional and engaging story that will have you laughing out loud, crying, and smiling as you hum along to the 90s soundtrack playing throughout the story. Such a great read!

I would happily recommend Runaway Train to anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book to bits!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Runaway Train

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

In this sweeping debut, Asha Bromfield takes readers to the heart of Jamaica, and into the soul of a girl coming to terms with her family, and herself, set against the backdrop of a hurricane.

Tilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica.

When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him.

In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise―all in the midst of an impending hurricane.

Hurricane Summer is a powerful coming of age story that deals with colorism, classism, young love, the father-daughter dynamic―and what it means to discover your own voice in the center of complete destruction.

my thoughts:

Wow. What an emotional and engaging story. Hurricane Season had me from the start and I just could not put it down for anything. I absolutely LOVED this book to bits. It was fantastic!

Bromfield sets the story in Jamaica and manages to bring the island to life with her rich and vivid descriptions of the country, its people and their culture. It's intoxicating to read about. As for the characters, they are unforgettable. Tilla and her sister, Mia, are sent to Jamaica to spend their summer with their father.  A man who has always managed to be absent from their lives.  Once on the island, Tilla finds herself learning about so much more than her father, she discovers her sexuality, what it means to grow up, and the influence of culture and society on the personal.  Hurricane Season is a filled with top notch writing, powerful storytelling, and interesting characters that make for quite the story. This is one book that you won't want to miss out on. I enjoyed it so much and found myself turning each page, faster and faster. I just had to find you what would happen with Tilla, her family, and her future. Such a great read.

I would happily recommend Hurricane Season to anyone looking for their next YA read - you will LOVE this book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Venice Sketchbook: A Novel by Rhys Bowen

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Caroline Grant is struggling to accept the end of her marriage when she receives an unexpected bequest. Her beloved great-aunt Lettie leaves her a sketchbook, three keys, and a final whisper…Venice. Caroline’s quest: to scatter Juliet “Lettie” Browning’s ashes in the city she loved and to unlock the mysteries stored away for more than sixty years.

It’s 1938 when art teacher Juliet Browning arrives in romantic Venice. For her students, it’s a wealth of history, art, and beauty. For Juliet, it’s poignant memories and a chance to reconnect with Leonardo Da Rossi, the man she loves whose future is already determined by his noble family. However star-crossed, nothing can come between them. Until the threat of war closes in on Venice and they’re forced to fight, survive, and protect a secret that will bind them forever.

Key by key, Lettie’s life of impossible love, loss, and courage unfolds. It’s one that Caroline can now make right again as her own journey of self-discovery begins.

my thoughts:

Love, love, love! The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen is a terrific story that will sweep you away with its vivid descriptions of Venice, captivating star-crossed romance, and box filled with keys and a sketchbook. Told in dual timelines via two separate points of view, this story is chock full of history, art, and love. This is one book you won't want to miss out on. 

Bowen has created a wonderful cast of characters that you will easily fall in love with.  Juliet is young, excited, and eager to explore Venice.  She meets Leonardo and they quickly fall in love. Their families are not happy and Juliet it taken back home to England.  It's nearly a decade later when she returns to Venice and meets up with Leonardo. However, things are different now and war is nigh.  Fast forward, Juliet has passed away and left her great-niece Caroline with a mission - Venice.  Armed with a sketchbook, some keys, and a box, Caroline heads off to her great-aunt's favorite city.  She plans to scatter her ashes and figure out her great-aunt's secrets.  

What a story! I just loved getting to know Juliet and Caroline. And, I absolutely enjoyed reading about Venice. Italy is a beautiful country and Bowen highlights is magic all through her story. The Venice Sketchbook was such a treat to read. I would happily recommend it to fans of Bowen and anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Venice Sketchbook

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

No Pain, No Gaines: The Good Stuff Doesn't Come Easy by Chip Gaines

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Chip Gaines likes to sweat. 

That’s been true ever since he was a little pint-sized hustler selling candy and Capri Suns down at the public tennis courts in northeast Texas. You’ve probably seen him sweat on his television show, Fixer Upper. Deep in his bones he has always known that hard work yields great results, even when there’s little observable evidence of it. On the cusp of launching into what might be the hardest work he and his wife, Joanna, have ever done—building a network—Chip realized that none of it would be possible without his network of people.

Call it a network, a community, a home team. We’ve all got one. Today it might be made up of your family, your neighbors, the people you work with. But if you want a network that will pull you into a life of meaning, a life of joy and connection, you need to be intentional about choosing the people in it. People who are enlivened and electrified by the power of living according to their purpose, who are always in pursuit of lifelong learning, and who have a sincere belief that relationships are more than transactions. Chip Gaines has been building that kind of network his whole life, and he can tell you, it doesn’t come easy.

To say it requires sweat equity would be an understatement. It requires faith in people. It requires hope. And it requires a willingness to grow even when it hurts. From hard-won lessons and personal stories from Chip, No Pain, No Gaines is a by-the-bootstraps manual for building a network you can count on.

my thoughts:

I was a fan of Fixer Upper and I am in LOVE with all things Hearth and Hand with Magnolia at Target.  So, to say I was excited to read No Pain, No Gaines is a bit of an understatement. As soon as I received my copy, I settled into a cozy corner and started to read. I didn't stop reading until I turned the very last page later that night. I just loved reading Chip's personal stories and his advice - he's all about creating a strong network of people to have in your life, along with staying true to your self.  No Pain, No Gaines is part memoir, part self-help and it is a fantastic read. I absolutely LOVED it!

Chip shares his struggles, failures, and his successes in his book. We learn about how he had to pivot rather swiftly once he realized that baseball was not going to be his future. We read about what woke him up to realizing that life is right in front of you and happening all around you - pay attention.  He writes with such honesty and humor, that you can't help but enjoy the conversational tone of the book. No Pain, No Gaines is an engaging read that provides some interesting food for thought. I certainly enjoyed reading the bits about the Magnolia Network and how you have to just go for it - bigger dreams can come true. 

I would definitely recommend No Pain, No Gaines for fans of Chip Gaines and anyone looking for their next self-help book - you will LOVE this book!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Hot Stew: A Novel by Fiona Mozley

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from NetGalley)

In the middle of the bustle of London's Soho, among the theaters and sex shops and pubs, sits a building. It isn’t particularly assuming. But it’s a prime piece of real estate, and a young millionaire, Agatha Howard, wants to convert it into luxury condos as soon as she can kick out all the tenants.

The problem is, the building in question houses a brothel, and Precious and Tabitha, two of the women who live and work there, are not going to go quietly. And another problem is, just where did Agatha’s fortune come from? The fight over this piece of property also draws in the men who visit, including Robert, a one-time member of a far-right group and enforcer for Agatha’s father; Jackie, a policewoman intent on making London a safer place for all women; Bastian, a rich and dissatisfied party boy who pines for an ex-girlfriend; and a collection of vagabonds and strays who occupy the basement. In this much-anticipated follow-up to Fiona Mozley's brilliant debut, Elmet, as these characters—with surprising hidden connections and shadowy pasts—converge, the fight over the property boils over into a hot stew.

Entertaining, sharply funny, and dazzlingly accomplished, Hot Stew confronts questions about wealth and inheritance, gender and power, and the things women must do to survive in an unjust world.

my thoughts:

Out April 20th, Hot Stew by Fiona Mozley is an addictive and fascinating story.  Set in London's Soho area, this book introduces us to Precious and Tabitha, two women working in an old brothel.  They are not happy when they find out that millionaire Agatha Howard wants to convert their brothel, a place they consider home, into a luxury condos. Yep, Agatha wants to gentrify the neighborhood and looks like this building is her ticket.  Except, the people who reside in Soho are not keen on losing their workplace, their home, their bit of history.  So, they set out to make things difficult for Agatha.  Yep, a class war erupts and it makes for quite the story. 

Mozley has written an engaging and interesting story about gentrification, class, ownership, and identity. She's created an unforgettable cast of characters that will intrigue you.  Her vivid and realistic portrayal of London is spot on and makes you feel as if you are visiting the city.  And the story she's written showcases her storytelling prowess. Hot Stew is unputdownable.  It's a story that will captivate you from start to finish. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Mozley and anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Last Thing To Burn: A Novel by Will Dean

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

A woman being held captive is willing to risk everything to save herself, her unborn child, and her captor’s latest victim in this claustrophobic thriller in the tradition of Misery and Room. 

On an isolated farm in the United Kingdom, a woman is trapped by the monster who kidnapped her seven years ago. When she discovers she is pregnant, she resolves to protect her child no matter the cost, and starts to meticulously plan her escape. But when another woman is brought into the fold on the farm, her plans go awry. Can she save herself, her child, and this innocent woman at the same time? Or is she doomed to spend the remainder of her life captive on this farm?

Intense, dark, and utterly gripping The Last Thing to Burn is a breathtaking thriller from an author to watch.

my thoughts:

Wow. What an intense read. Will Dean's latest book, The Last Thing To Burn, explores human trafficking. It is a raw, horrifying, and, truly emotional story. This book is a definite MUST-READ for everyone.

Jane (not her real name) is being help captive.  It's been seven years since Lenn kidnapped her.  She does everything he orders her to do, because if she doesn't she will be punished.  Punishment can be in the form of him burning her personal items (things from home she cherishes) or him threatening to harm her younger sister.  Jane's life is a living nightmare.  It gets worse when she finds out she is pregnant. She is horrified at first, but then she grows to love the baby.  She decides she must escape to protect her child.  However, a new woman has been brought to the house.  She can hear her crying from the basement.  Jane begins to make new plans to escape.  She wants to save her child and herself, but also the woman in the basement. Will she succeed? Will she finally be free? Talk about a disturbing and riveting story. I could not stop reading once I started. I just had to know what would happen to Jane. I had to find out if she would ever be free. 

Dean has written an important story that is smart, suspenseful, terrifying, graphic, harrowing, and just about everything you can imagine a book about human trafficking to be. He has created a book that will haunt you, lead to discussions, and make you more aware of a topic that needs to be addressed.  His writing is top notch and his storytelling is compelling. The Last Thing To Burn is the book that I will be recommending to anyone and everyone this reading season. 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman: A Novel by Julietta Henderson

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Little Miss Sunshine meets Wonder in this delightfully charming, uplifting book club debut about a twelve-year-old would-be comedian who travels across the country to honor his dead best friend’s dream of performing in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe—the only problem being that his friend was the funny one of their duo.

Twelve-year-old would-be comedian Norman has got a lot going on, including a chronic case of psoriasis, a distinct lack of comic timing and a dead best friend. All his life it’s just been him, his single mum Sadie, and Jax, the ‘funny one’ of their comedy duo. So when Jax dies not only is Norman devastated, it’s also the end of the boys’ Five Year Plan to take their comedy act to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe when they turned fifteen.

But Norman decides to honor Jax by performing at the Fringe, on his own. And not when he’s fifteen—but rather in four weeks’ time. But there’s another, far more colossal objective on Norman’s plan that Sadie wasn’t quite ready for: Norman wants to find his father. Eager to do anything that might put a smile on her boy’s face, Sadie resolves to face up to her own messy past and track down the father who doesn’t even know Norman exists, and whose identity Sadie herself isn’t quite sure of.

Thus begins a road trip from Cornwall to Scotland, featuring a mother and son who will live in the reader’s heart for a long time to come.

my thoughts:

What a wonderful story! Sweet, funny, and tender are three words I'd use to describe Julietta Henderson's debut novel, The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman. She's created a terrific story about friendship, family, loss, love, and life. You can't help but get caught up in Norman's grief and his plan to honor his BFF Jax, along with his other plan of seeking out his father. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. This book will have you sobbing, laughing, and smiling all the way through. 

Norman is twelve years old. His BFF is Jax. They are a comedy duo with dreams of performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe when they turn fifteen.  Except, Jax suddenly dies.  And, Norman is left with a Jax-sized hole in his life. He's lost his BFF, his partner in comedy, and the one person who always managed to get him to try new things and enjoy life.  Mired in grief, Norman decides he will honor Jax.  Yep, he's going to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe THIS year.  Oh, and he's decided that it's about time he met his father.  Say what? Norman is determined and he's made a new plan.  Sadie, his mother, is also missing Jax.  She worries about Norman as she watches him coping with his grief. And when she learns about his new plan, she shares her concerns with an older friend named Leonard.  After listening to Sadie, Leonard hatches a plan to help Norman.  He decides they are going to take his car and they are going to get Norman to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to perform and they are going to find his father.  Sadie was not expecting this at all. She's not really sure who Norman's father is and she worries how Norman will handle a critical audience when he performs. And yet, she goes along with Leonard's plan, because she is willing to try anything to make her boy smile.  Plus, Norman keeps reassuring her that the worst has already happened, so everything to come must be better than what's already happened. So, off they go, packed for an adventure and filled with hope, along with some anxiety and nervousness.  And, that is all I will write about this fantastic story. You MUST read it for yourself - you are going to fall in LOVE with The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman. 

The writing is top notch. The characters are unforgettable. And the story is unputdownable.  Henderson has written a truly delightful read that will warm your heart.  This is one book you won't forget. So, I would happily recommend The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - check it out! 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

Why I Never Finished My Dissertation by Laura Foley

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Named one of seven Best Indie Poetry Books of 2019 by Kirkus.

Foley’s writing may appear sparse and reserved but it harbors a subtle power. The poet’s greatest strength is her acute sense of observation. She possesses the ability to thread sensuousness into the fabric of everyday life. . .This is a dazzling volume of poetry that delights in crisp imagery and tender recollections.
—Kirkus Reviews

Eric Hoffer/Montaigne Medal Finalist
Eric Hoffer/da Vinci Eye Finalist
Eric Hoffer Book Award Honorable Mention

The quest to discover why this poet does not complete a dissertation, leads to an astonishing read. This collection reveals a wide range of life-changing experiences beginning with a marriage to a hunchback Moroccan, almost twice the writer’s age. Other poems express revelations and observations that arise out of travels, such as a trip to Tehran, where the poet stands on a bullet-riddled balcony watching a hurried crowd “spill Khomeini from his coffin.” The signature poem unveils a suddenly busy domestic life in a second marriage with three young children and puppies. Toward the end readers experience love which results in marriage with a same-sex partner. No matter one’s personal story, what makes a story great is how it is told.
—The US Review of Books

my thoughts:

It's National Poetry Month, so that means I am reading more poetry and LOVING every minute with it. I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of new-to-me poet Laura Foley's latest work, Why I Never Finished My Dissertation.  The title intrigued me. As someone who had to write two dissertations, I can see why someone would not finish. It is tedious work that drains you.  Plus, I just wanted to find out more about this woman who named her book after a fact about her life. Talk about reeling me in. 

Foley has written a terrific book of poems that share so much about her life. A green-card marriage, being a mom, loving a woman, visiting her sister who resides in a psychiatric home, and the beauty of nature and life. She writes about it all and you can't help but fall in deep with her words. The ways in which she uses words and phrases to reflect her emotions is intoxicating. She tells her stories about these experiences with such honesty, you can't help but imagine these scenes taking place and feel the pain, joy, and love within it.  Why I Never Finished My Dissertation is a must-read for fans of poetry - you will LOVE this book to bits!

I would happily recommend Why I Never Finished My Dissertation to anyone and everyone looking for a new book of poems to delve into - you don't want to miss out!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Summertime Guests: A Novel by Wendy Francis

(Thankyou to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Sip cocktails in the lounge, bask in the summer sun by the pool, and experience the drama of the rich and famous firsthand in Wendy Francis’s newest novel, SUMMERTIME GUESTS (Graydon House; April 6, 2021; $16.99 USD). With its rich history and famous guests, The Seafarer is no stranger to drama. But the bustle at the social hotspot reaches new heights one weekend in mid-June when a woman falls tragically to her death from the tenth floor, unwittingly intertwining her life with the lives of the hotels’ guests and staff.

Claire O’Dell, reeling from the loss of her husband and possibly her job, has gone to The Seafarer for a little vacation…and to reconnect with a long-lost-love.  Jean-Paul, the hotel’s manager, is struggling to keep his marriage and new family afloat. Bride-to-be Riley is at the hotel to plan her wedding with her fiancé ... or, she’s at the hotel with her fiancé while her mother-in-law tells them how to plan their wedding. Jason, whose romantic getaway with his girlfriend has not exactly gone the way he'd hoped and instead has him facing questions about his past that he can't bring himself to answer.

As their truths and secrets come to light, the lives of these four will collide in tragic, beautiful ways none of them could have expected that will teach them about the love they deserve and the strength they possess to change their lives for the better.

my thoughts:

A beautiful hotspot, a tragic death, and four hotel guests whose lives are connected in ways they never saw coming.  Summertime Guests definitely has it all - there's romance, love, friendship, wedding planning, and a bit of mystery. And let me just say, I definitely enjoyed spending a rainy afternoon with this book - it was such a treat!

It's summer and The Seafarer is THE place to be if you want to be seen. Of course, not everyone is there to be seen. Claire has decided to book a room at the hotel for a bit of an escape - she's lost her husband and her job.  Riley is trying to plan her wedding, except her mother-in-law won't let her.  Jason is trying to romance his girlfriend, 'trying' being the operative word.  And, Jean-Paul, is in charge of running the hotel, but can't seem to manage his own life.  Drama, drama, drama abounds.  And somehow, all four guests soon find themselves linked to one another in ways they never would have imagined. I'm not going to write anything else about the story, because you need to experience it for yourself. Suffice it to say, the writing is top notch, the characters are intriguing, and the story itself is unputdownable. Talk about the perfect summer read. 

I would happily recommend Summertime Guests to fans of Wendy Francis and anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Last Bookshop In London: A Novel of World War II by Madeline Martin

(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Inspired by the true World War II history of the only bookshop to survive the Blitz, a sweeping story of wartime loss, romance, and the enduring power of literature, perfect for fans of The Paris Wife and The Lilac Girls

London, autumn 1940: the Blitz has only just begun when Grace Bennett arrives in London to find the city she’s spent a lifetime dreaming about now cast in the clouds of war, and all of her plans unraveling at the seams. After accepting a job at a charming bookshop nestled in the heart of the city, a haven for literary-minded locals, she feels like a fish out of water – she’s never been much of a reader, after all.

As the bombs rain down on the city night after night, a devastating air raid leaves London’s literary center in ruins, and the libraries and shops of Paternoster Row are destroyed in a firestorm. But against all odds, one bookshop miraculously survives. Through blackouts and air raids, Grace continues staffing the shop, discovering a newfound comfort in the power of words and storytelling to unite her community in ways she never imagined, a power that triumphs even the darkest nights of war-torn London.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a story! I absolutely LOVED The Last Bookshop In London - it was fantastic!

First off, a title with the word 'Bookshop' in it - how could I resist? Secondly, the story is set in London - how can I not read a story set in London? And third, combine 'bookshop' and London - how can I not read a book with both of those words in the title? Suffice it to say, I gobbled this book up as soon as I got my hands on it. Oh, and did I mention that I enjoyed every second spent with this story? Because, I did!

The Last Bookshop In London is such a great story. The historical aspects are vividly detailed.  The characters are fascinating and show just how resilient Brits can be.  And the story itself, is captivating. You can't help but be swept away to London during the Blitz and navigating bookshop life with Grace - this story makes for such a treat. I just LOVED getting to know everyone and reading about Grace, a non-reader, discovering the magic of books. It was fun and emotional, getting to see Grace using books to help her community during this terrifying time in history. 

I would happily recommend The Last Bookshop In London to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you won't want to miss out!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!