The Summer Reunion by Leah Mercer

(Thank you to Bookouture Publishingf or providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Six friends on holiday. A secret worth dying for.

In a gorgeous French stone villa, a group of friends reunite for a weekend of reminiscing and laughter. But as glasses of wine are poured, they find they aren’t alone. 

Standing at the door is a man the friends thought they’d never see again. With a ferocious storm raging and roads closed, they have no choice but to let him in. Instantly the dream weekend takes a dark turn.

Because someone invited him here.

Because someone has been living a lie.

And someone wants revenge.

But when the truth is revealed, will anyone make it out alive?

A totally addictive psychological suspense thriller that fans of Lucy Foley, Adele Parks and Sally Hepworth will absolutely love.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this book! It was such a fun and thrilling story! I found myself hooked right from the start. Leah Mercer's novel, The Summer Reunion was chock full of drama, dysfunctional relationships, shocking secrets, and unbearable truths. What a humdinger of a book!

Okay, so what's this exciting story about? Well, it's about old college friends vacationing together. Except, this group of six aren't exactly besties. Plus, they all have one too many secrets they are keeping - all of which could make or break their lives. Oh, plus, their kids are also joining in on the trip - so, that adds another layer of familial tension. And, did I mention there is a thunderous and rainy storm brewing and everyone in town has been warned to stay indoors? Yep, the whole weekend is a recipe for disaster. And, I loved reading all about it!

I'm not going to share what happened, because it is too damn good to miss out on. You have to read it for yourself. Plus, there are so many people and storylines to parse through - I wouldn't want to ruin any of it for you. The fun was in keeping up with what was happening to who and when - it was all thrilling to read about. The Summer Reunion by Leah Mercer is a definite must-read! Make sure to grab a copy and dive right in  - you are going to LOVE it!

Thank you to Bookouture Publishing for providing me with a book!

Between Two Sounds: Arvo Pärt's Journey To His Musical Language by Joonas Sildre, Translated by Adam Cullen

(Thank you to Plough Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (from Goodreads)

Between Two Sounds follows the life of world-famous composer Arvo Pärt from his birth in Estonia in 1935 through 1980, when the Soviets forced him to emigrate because of the nonconformist and religious nature of his music.

Based on years of research and close collaboration with Arvo Pärt himself, Joonas Sildre paints an atmospheric portrait of a restless artist who does not shy away from confronting state control or his own internal contradictions. 

Arvo Pärt stormed Soviet-occupied Estonia's music scene in the 1960s as a brash young man pushing the limits of avant-garde modernism. Then he fell silent, no longer able to express what he felt through the musical language he had inherited. When he reemerged a decade later, he had found, in that silence between sounds, a new musical language inspired by ancient sacred music, the basis of his distinctive tintinnabuli technique. This graphic novel will appeal not just to fans of Arvo Pärt’s music but to anyone who has known the struggle to remain true to oneself whatever the cost.

my thoughts:

My knowledge about composers and Estonia are both nil, which is rather disappointing considering this wonderful book I had the privilege of reading. I was given an early copy of Between Two Sounds: Arvo Pärt's Journey To His Musical Language by Joonas Sildre and translated by Adam Cullen.  Then again, my ignorance turned out to be for the best, because I was able to learn so much about a talented composer and his life's story, which made for an exciting reading adventure. 

So, why did I fall in love with this book? Well, first off, I loved the title of the book - it immediately intrigued me. Secondly, the books' cover - oh, my! I loved it! It had me wanting to grab a copy of the book straightaway. And, third, it was a graphic novel - I love graphic novels! How could I resist reading this book, right? Plus, it was about a new-to-me topic, the composer, Arvo Pärt. I love learning new things and learning about a composer sounded like fun. It really did, especially given that it would be in graphic novel form - anything with illustrations will make learning a thrill. Suffice it to say, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book - it was eye-opening and fascinating. Learning about Arvo Pärt's journey is amazing - you can't help but get carried away in his story and the history - plus, the visuals add a layer of depth. Oh, and his music - what he composed was just brilliant! I found myself looking it up and listening to it as I read his story. Talk about an excellent soundtrack!

All in all, Between Two Sounds is a definite must- read! I enjoyed every second I spent with this book and would definitely recommend it to everyone - make sure to check it out!

Thank you to Plough Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book!

Jekyll & Hyde: Consulting Detectives by Tim Major

(Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Dr Jekyll and his monstrous alter-ego join forces with his ex-fiancée to solve a series of disappearances across Victorian London in this thrilling mystery, perfect for readers of Stuart Turton and James Lovegrove. 

When Muriel Carew attends a lavish society party, the last person she expects to bump into is her ex-fiancée Henry Jekyll, a man she's not seen for many years. When Jekyll turns out to be investigating a series of missing persons in London, Muriel is intrigued. But Jekyll is not working alone, and if Muriel wants to aid in the investigation, she must work with both Henry and his partner, the monstrous and uncouth Mr Hyde.

As their search takes a dark turn and a missing persons case becomes a murder investigation, Muriel finds herself deep in a mystery involving a nefarious group exploring their own hidden alter-egos within the beating heart of London's high society.

To solve the case and bring those responsible to justice, Muriel must find a way to place her trust in Mr Hyde, which might mean uncovering secrets about her own life she never dreamed of discovering.

my thoughts:

Entertaining and enjoyable, Tim Major's latest novel, Jekyll & Hyde: Consulting Detectives, is a treat to read. I loved it to bits! 

The idea of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde working together to solve a missing persons case is just ace! I loved Robert Louis Stevenson's gothic story, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - it's a favorite of mine. So, of course I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of Tim Major's book - Jekyll and Hyde as a crime solving duo!?! How amazing does that sound? And, we get to meet Jekyll's ex-fiance, Muriel Carew, who decides to help the dynamic duo. Talk about an unlikely trio, eh? I don't want to share much about the story, because it is so damn good - you really need to read it for yourself. Suffice it to say, the characters are smart, determined, and eager to find out what is happening in London. And, the mystery itself is unputdownable! I really enjoyed getting to know Muriel and her perspective on Jekyll and Hyde - it was refreshing, exciting, and eye-opening. Plus, to be in London once more, wandering the streets at night as Hyde lumbers about - it was familiar and new. I love when writers can infuse an old story and characters with a new sense of adventure and purpose - it makes me fall in love with the characters all over again. In fact, I'm itching to reread Robert Louis Stevenson's original story of Jekyll and Hyde. And, I'm hoping Major decides to make this book into a series - that would be awesome! 

Make sure to grab a copy of this terrific new book, Jekyll and Hyde: Consulting Detectives by Tim Major - you are going to LOVE it!! 

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

Monday Musings...

Feeling exhausted from this holiday weekend that consisted of decluttering, stressing out over ordering planners on the Hobonichi website, and feeling 'meh'. Ugh. And yet, it's a new month, so I am going to push those negative feelings aside and focus on the positive. Plus, did I mention that I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of Alexander McCall Smith's new book, The Great Hippopotamus Hotel - the 25th book in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. Woo hoo! I love that series - it's one of my favorites. I always look forward to each new book and immediately devour them. So, I will be gobbling this one up ASAP - hurrah! 

I just finished a journal and am ready to grab a new one for September. I've been filing up old journals that I left half-filled. It's fun to read old journal entries from twenty years ago. It's also kind of weird that I'm avoiding all the new, empty journals sitting on my shelves. Hmm...well, I do plan on using a brand new one for Halloween, so that will be good. What I mean is that I'm trying to use what I have, so I should be using the new, blank journals not the old ones. LOL! I'm overthinking it. 

I've been listening to The Chicks, because their album Fly turned 25 years old the other day. Plus, I love their music. And their cover of Landslide is ace! 

And now, I'm off to bake some sweet treats for the holiday - I'm thinking cupcakes and brownies. Yum! Wishing you all a lovely week! Happy reading!

Deadly Depths: A Novel by John F. Dobbyn

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

 

Adventure mystery novels are my new favorite genre! I love the excitement and thrills that these stories provide - they make for quite a fun reading experience. And, I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of John F. Dobbyn's new book, Deadly Depths. It was fantastic! Think Indiana Jones-ish adventure story - awesome, right? 

Okay, so what is the story about? Well, it's about a hidden treasure and a group of archaeologists who belong to a secret society called The Monkey's Paw. How cool does that sound? And if you need more information, here's a summary of the book (thanks to Goodreads!):

A notable archaeologist, close to finding a priceless artifact, meets his untimely demise— Matthew Shane vows to find his murderer

Matthew Shane is a law professor in Salem, Massachusetts, where he enjoys a rewarding mentorship with Professor Barrington Holmes, a well-known archaeologist. So when Professor Holmes is found dead in his office and the police rule it a suicide, something doesn’ t sit right with Matthew. He becomes determined to find the true cause of Holmes’ death and bring closure to his widow.

Matthew soon learns that Professor Holmes belonged to a group of notable archaeologists dubbed “ The Monkey’ s Paw,” who were all entangled in an expedition to find an unknown object of unprecedented historical and financial value. Each member had been given one piece of the instructions to find the object, but some of the men had encountered horrific twists of fate before the group could reunite to continue in their search. Joining forces with the remaining members, Matthew’ s quest for the cause of the apparent curse of The Monkey’ s Paw leads him on a global wild goose chase that culminates in a turn of events not even Professor Holmes could have predicted.

Exciting, right? I know I was intrigued by that summary. And, once I started reading the book I was hooked right from the start. How could I not be? I had to find out what this object they were all seeking was and I had to find out what really happened to Professor Barrington Homes. Plus, I loved getting to know Matthew Shane. And, I mean, joining forces with The Monkey's Paw - well, you just knew that was going to be trouble and adventure all rolled into one, right?  So, yeah, I had to read this book, and let me just say, I'm so happy that I did. It was truly a treat to read. I loved the excitement and thrills of Matt's search for the truth. 

Deadly Depths is a definite must read for anyone and everyone looking for their next great action thriller - you will LOVE this book to bits! Make sure to check it out! 

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