Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: May 2015
ISBN: 9781476789637
HER PERFECT LIFE
IS A PERFECT LIE.
As
a teenager at the prestigious Bradley School, Ani FaNelli endured a
shocking, public humiliation that left her desperate to reinvent
herself. Now, with a glamorous job, expensive wardrobe, and handsome
blue blood fiancé, she’s this close to living the perfect life she’s
worked so hard to achieve.
But Ani has a secret.
There’s
something else buried in her past that still haunts her, something
private and painful that threatens to bubble to the surface and destroy
everything.
With a singular voice and twists you won’t see coming, Luckiest Girl Alive
explores the unbearable pressure that so many women feel to “have it
all” and introduces a heroine whose sharp edges and cutthroat ambition
have been protecting a scandalous truth, and a heart that's bigger than
it first appears.
The question remains: will breaking her silence destroy all that she has worked for—or, will it at long last, set Ani free?
My review
If you see the black rose on the cover, you can already guess that the luckiest girl alive maybe isn't so very lucky after all. On the first page we meet TifAni FaNelli and you can hear her thinking if she can use the Shun (knife) she is holding to plunge it into the belly of her fiance. Well, definitely not a very lucky girl...
In the first part of the book, the author gives you an insight of the current life of Ani (this is how TifAni calls herself lately) and her fiance Luke. The story alternates between the current life and the years of TifAni at the Bradley School. These flashes forward and backward are a bit confusing. Mainly because the author uses a lot of examples to subsribe how Ani is feeling about people and circumstances. It gets a bit confusing now and then and it's hard to keep on reading. It is clear that TifAni had a very rough time at school. The author shows you the desperate teenager, who will do practically anything to be accepted by her classmates and to ensure she doesn't get excluded. You can see how boundaries are crossed and how teenagers are crushed under group pressure and therefore end up doing very stupid things. It makes you wonder if your own teenager, currently sitting on your couch, is not doing something stupid like that.
The second part of the story is more easy to read. The story has more depth and action. You read about all the things that happened at Bradley and just as you think you understand TifAni and what caused her actions, the story just twists again. So up untill the last page, the story keeps unfolding and you finally realize the burdens TifAni is carrying. So, instead of the spoiled girl you give her for in the first part of the story, you realize she has a lot of moral issues to deal with and that she is actually very considerate towards some other people of her past. So, definitely worth reading, although you have to get through the first part. The story will be turned into a film by Reese Witherspoon. If they see a way to speed up the first part, without all the confusion, this will probably become a very nice film. I received an ARC from Hebban.nl in exchange of an honest review.
Publisher: Dutton Books
Published: March 2016
ISBN: 9780525426240
An honest and captivating memoir of the author’s childhood struggles as a result of a brain tumor, only discovered following a near-fatal car accident.
All her life, Emily has felt different from other kids. Between therapist visits, sudden uncontrollable bursts of anger, and unexplained episodes of dizziness and loss of coordination, things have always felt not right. For years, her only escape was through the stories she’d craft about herself and the world around her. But it isn’t until a near-fatal accident when she’s twelve years old that Emily and her family discover the truth: a grapefruit sized benign brain tumor at the base of her skull.
In turns candid, angry, and beautiful, Emily Wing Smith’s riveting memoir chronicles her struggles with both mental and physical disabilities during her childhood, the devastating accident that may have saved her life, and the means by which she coped with it all: writing.
My review
I usually don't read memoirs or biographies, because I'm not very interested in other peoples lives. I prefer the fantasy world and science fiction stories. However, when I read the synopsis of All Better Now, I got really intrigued by the fact that Emily has had the 'luck' of being hit by a car, to be saved from her benign brain tumor.
The book started out somewhat confusing, because it is written from the point of view of Emily at a young age. She keeps having tantrums and she is often angry, but she doesn't understand why. You can see that it's very frustrating for a young girl to be the outsider at school, to be mocked at and (very heartbreaking), getting taken advantage of by 'so called' friends. I admired that Emily could distinguish between real interest from people and the fake interest.
When the imaginary friend starts to write letters, it gets a little strange. Especially when some of the stories seem so real, you start to doubt if the friend is still imaginary or that he is somehow real. The second part of the book was even better to read. Probably due to the fact that the tumor was removed and Emily had a little better perspective of the world. I couldn't help but marvel about Emily's endurance during all of what she went through. With self mockery: I'm the lucky-girl-because-I -got-hit-by-a-car and perseverance, she builds up her life. Dealing with the lack of use of her hand and the Whoo-head and just keep going.
So, my utmost respect for Emily Wing Smith and four stars for this book (I received an ARC from FirstToRead).
Publisher: NAL
Published: March 2016
ISBN: 9780451476296
A novel of love, forgiveness, and the unbreakable bonds of family from award-nominated author Marin Thomas . . .
When it comes to family, Ruby Baxter hasn’t had much luck. The important men in her early life abandoned her, and any time a decent boyfriend came along, she ran away. But now Ruby is thirty-one and convinced she is failing her teenage daughter. Mia is the one good thing in her life, and Ruby hopes a move to Kansas will fix what’s broken between them.
But the road to redemption takes a detour. Hank McArthur, the biological father Ruby never knew existed, would like her to claim her inheritance: a dusty oil ranch just outside of Unforgiven, Oklahoma.
As far as first impressions go, the gruff, emotionally distant rancher isn’t what Ruby has hoped for in a father. Yet Hank seems to have a gift for rehabilitating abused horses—and for reaching Mia. And if Ruby wants to entertain the possibility of a relationship with Joe Dawson, the ranch foreman, she must find a way to open her heart to the very first man who left her behind.
My review
The blurb of The Promise of
Forgiveness was enough to get me curious. At first, the story of Ruby
and Mia was getting of at a slow pace, so I was wondering if I should
read on, or that the blurb just gave the total story away. However,
halfway through the book I got hooked on Joe and the curious incidents
happening at the range. The strain in the relationship between Ruby and
Mia is perfectly shown and having a near teenager myself, I got a little
prevision of what my life will look like in a few years with a stubborn
teenager... So totally recognizable. Hank was the grumpy old man
character, with a hidden golden heart. Of course he has done wrong by
abandoning Ruby, but if you read all he has been through, you start to
feel sympathy for the man, just like Ruby. And Joe, what a lovely
character. I just wanted to hug him for all the sorrow he must feel. I
actually think that in real life, he is much too nice for Ruby, because
she can be a little closed off and just... mean. But after all the
events and incidents at the range, maybe Ruby will settle and become a
better version of herself. The underlying story of the sheriff and the
women in Unforgiven was a little confusing at some points, but it was
certainly entertaining. Let's just say: never get caught with your pants
down... Hilarious. So in all an easy read, which kept you wondering
about several things, including the motives of Ruby's mother to leave
Hank and her whereabouts in the last twenty years. There wasn't a very
satisfying answer to this, so when I was done with the book I still had a
little nagging feeling about this. However, it was a good read. So
three out of five stars for The Promise of Forgiveness. I received an
ARC from FirstToRead in exchange of an honest review.
Publisher: Razorbill
Published: February 2016
ISBN: 9781595147677
She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world...
When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years -- a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes.
But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?
As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.
My review
When I saw the cover of The Forbidden Wish, I just knew I had to read this book. I mean: a story about Aladdin, who wouldn't want to read about him? And now the twist: the genie in the lamp isn't a regular genie: he is a SHE this time. Well, that made the story even more interesting. Because before even reading the book I was wondering what would there be happening with the princess in the original story? And how can Jessica Khoury pull this off? Well, basically: she can. The story was build up from the view of Zahra, the jinni. And you can read about her thoughts and emotions as though she is 'talking' to her Habiba, her closest friend (I don't want to spoil the story, so I will not tell you, who she is talking to). The moment Aladdin finds the lamp (yeah, just like in the original story), the jinni gets unlocked out of her lamp and she has to fulfill three wishes for Aladdin. Unlike the Disney version of the story, where there is Abu (you know: the cute monkey), Aladdin is on his own and on a vendetta to revenge his parents death. But in this version of the story Zahra has an agenda of her own. So she convinces Aladdin to let her make him a prince and to try to convince princess Caspida (yeah: there she is), to marry him instead of her betrothed, so Zahra can have access to the palace. Princess Caspida doesn't have Raja the tiger to keep her save, she has Watchmaidens. And they are hilarious. Strong willed and powered women, who can take on their share of men. However, where princess Jasmine and Aladdin are falling in love, there is no chemistry between Aladdin and princess Caspida. Instead, there are sparks flying between Aladdin and his jinni. Interesting... Because what will happen if the jinni has to chose between her love and her freedom (being trapped in a lamp for over 500 years is a very, very long time...)? The story reads very easily, with a few twists and turns, but overall there is a high level of recognition of the original tale. And since I'm a sucker for happy endings, I really enjoyed this book. So, well done Jessica Khoury. Four stars for your Forbidden Wish.
Publisher: Dutton
Publication: February 2016
ISBN: 9780525954576
Flora Dane is a victim.
Seven years ago, carefree college student Flora was kidnapped while on spring break. For 472 days, Flora learned just how much one person can endure.
Flora Dane is a survivor.
Miraculously alive after her ordeal, Flora has spent the past five years reacquainting herself with the rhythms of normal life, working with her FBI victim advocate, Samuel Keynes. She has a mother who’s never stopped loving her, a brother who is scared of the person she’s become, and a bedroom wall covered with photos of other girls who’ve never made it home.
Flora Dane is reckless.
. . . or is she?
When Boston detective D. D. Warren is called to the scene of a crime—a dead man and the bound, naked woman who killed him—she learns that Flora has tangled with three other suspects since her return to society. Is Flora a victim or a vigilante? And with her firsthand knowledge of criminal behavior, could she hold the key to rescuing a missing college student whose abduction has rocked Boston? When Flora herself disappears, D.D. realizes a far more sinister predator is out there. One who’s determined that this time, Flora Dane will never escape. And now it is all up to D. D. Warren to find her.
My review
Although I'm not a true thriller-fan, occasionally I like to read a suspense novel. So when I read the synopsis of Find Her, I just had to request an advanced reading copy. When I read that Flora Dane was kidnapped for 472 days, I was intrigued. But when I received my ARC (yay, thank you FirsttoRead!) and started reading, I just fell face first into the nightmare of Flora Dane's kidnapping. Lisa Gardner takes the reader seven years back in time and let you relive the abduction of Flora. I was stunned, I was shocked, I was aghast... and I really had to keep reading. Throughout the book, Lisa takes you through 472 days of nightmares, in a multitude of flashbacks. You can feel the despair, the anguish and the self loathing of Flora. But these are only the flashbacks. The story of detective D.D. Warren and her case with the missing girls is the main course of the book. D.D. is a strong willed female, who has been hurt during a previous assignment. She can't perform her normal duties, but that doesn't mean she just sits back during desk duties. Lisa has done a well job in describing the frustration of a dedicated woman, who can't do her job in the way she wants to do. In the chapters from D.D.'s point of view, you understand her distrust of Flora and you wonder with her if Flora is indeed only a victim or maybe something more. And although some parts are a bit unrealistic (I mean: to kill a man, when you are totally naked, with you hands bound, and only using garbage, that is a tiny bit unrealistic, don't you think?!), the plot just keeps turning and just as you think you know what Flora's role is in the assaults and abductions, Flora gets taken herself. At that point in the book I was totally confused. Flora had just killed her assaulter and they were finding the evidence of his kidnapping of the other girls and now Flora is missing? I was tempted to re-read part of the book to see if I had missed an important clue. But no, after reading on, and siding with detective D.D. I still couldn't phantom who was behind the kidnapping. But when reading the chapters from Flora's point of view, the story just gets scarier and scarier. I'm not a fan of small spaces, but after reading this book, I don't think I'm stepping into a small room again. And you realize time is running out. Detective D.D. is realizing this also. So you just have to keep on reading, to find out if D.D. will make it in time to save Flora and to discover who is behind the horrors. Off course, I won't tell you "Who Dunnit", but you will be surprised! So, in all a very well written story. Afterwards I found out that detective D.D. has a total series of stories. So maybe, when I'm recovered from my fears of small spaces, I'll try another thriller of Lisa Gardner. Well done, four stars.
Publisher: Signet
Publication: January 2016
ISBN: 9780451418357
The New York Times bestselling author of Silver Thaw returns to Mystic Creek for a new novel about a love that inspires the courage to start over…and the strength to reclaim a dream.
When Taffeta Brown was viciously betrayed by her wealthy husband, she lost everything—including custody of their daughter, Sarah. Now that Taffy has moved to Mystic Creek, Oregon, to start over, she unexpectedly meets the one man who might help her get Sarah back.
Barney Sterling, a local lawman, finds himself drawn to the lovely, guarded Taffy, but he’s stunned by her proposition—that they marry immediately to improve her chances of regaining custody of her daughter. Barney takes marriage too seriously to commit himself to a woman he hardly knows. Yet soon his sympathies fall with the desperate Taffy, and pretending to be in love becomes the easiest part of the plan. But they have no idea what they’re up against, or what they’re willing to risk to make a miracle come true in Mystic Creek.
My review
I received an arc from First to Read in exchange for a review. New leaf is a roman. Although I like to read romans, I find that there are a lot of different types of romans. My preferred kind is the type of roman where there is a happy ending, but the road to romance is a rocky one. I like the sharky comments of the main figures and lots of humor during the ride. New leaf is not that kind of a romance unfortunately. Although Catherine has done a fine job in creating a wonderful and heartbreaking story about Taffeta and her daughter Sarah, the story was too sweet for my likings. And also a little bit unrealistic in some areas. For instance, the way Barney agrees to marry Taffeta just to help her regain custody? I think I still have to meet the guy who will agree that easily to something this big. Heck, I can't even get someone to get me a cup of coffee, let alone marry me! And Taffeta just blurts out the question and Barney is just like "okay"?! (For good measures: he thinks about it for a day, but still...). And the language Sarah is using? Some of it was definitely well done, but some was a bit over the top. Of course children will copy the vocabulary of the adults they live with, but I doubt the usage of certain phrases at the age of five. But yes, I did enjoy the book. It was an easy read. Light and fluffy, just to make you feel good. So if you have some time on your hands and you enjoy the reading of a sweet and romantic book, I would recommend New leaf. Be sure to brush your teeth afterwards. It also doesn't matter if you didn't read the first part of Mystic Creek. The story can be read stand alone. So three point five stars out of five for Catherine Anderson.
Publisher: Berkley
Publication: December 2015
ISBN: 9780399174483
No one does romantic suspense better than Jayne Ann Krentz. Now, the New York Times bestselling author of Trust No One and River Road delivers a novel that twists and turns into a read that will leave you breathless.
Madeline and Daphne were once as close as sisters—until a secret tore them apart. Now it might take them to their graves.
They knew his name, the man who tried to brutally attack twelve-year-old Madeline in her grandmother's hotel. They thought they knew his fate. He wouldn't be bothering them anymore...ever. Still their lives would never be the same.
Madeline has returned to Washington after her grandmother's mysterious death. And at the old, abandoned hotel—a place she never wanted to see again—a dying man’s last words convey a warning: the secrets she and Daphne believed buried forever have been discovered.
Now, after almost two decades, Madeline and Daphne will be reunited in friendship and in fear. Unable to trust the local police, Madeline summons Jack Rayner, the hotel chain’s new security expert. Despite the secrets and mysteries that surround him, Jack is the only one she trusts...and wants.
Jack is no good at relationships but he does possess a specific skill set that includes a profoundly intimate understanding of warped and dangerous minds. With the assistance of Jack's brother, Abe, a high-tech magician, the four of them will form an uneasy alliance against a killer who will stop at nothing to hide the truth....
My review
Since I didn't know what to expect from a romantic suspense, I asked for a ARC of the book Secret Sisters of Jayne Ann Krentz. I started the first page and I was immediately drawn into the story. From the first page the suspense is on a high level and throughout the book there are several twists and turns which you don't suspect and they keep you wondering. Fortunately I started the book early in the evening, so I could finish it the same day. Otherwise it would have kept me up all night! From the brutal attack on the girls Madeline and Daphne up until the latest murder attempt there are secrets lurking in the dark and people trying to cover up twenty years of mystery. So the suspense part was really brilliantly written and I felt the anguish and the shocks after every occurence (I don't want to spoil the entire story). The romantic part? Well, not overly romantic to be honest. Yes, there are some sparks between Jack and Madeline, but it's not an totally-of-the-charts romance (which I can fully appreciate, so therefore this romance was a bit tame). So, no badass romance, a little romantic scenery yes. And the second romance, between Abe and Daphne was even less exciting. So yeah, it had a high feel good factor (which you really need to compensate for all the shocks of the suspense-part), but further not very interesting. However, because the story was well written, the suspense had an awfully good build up and because the feel-good factor was just enough to leave a happy memory: 4,5 out of 5 stars for Secret Sisters!
