The Ripper’s Wife ~ By Brandy Purdy – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, Jack the Ripper, Mystery, Relationships

Thank you Brandy Purdy for sending me an autographed copy in exchange for an honest review!

Synopsis: It begins as a fairytale romance–a shipboard meeting in 1880 between vivacious Southern belle Florence Chandler and handsome English cotton broker James Maybrick. Courtship and a lavish wedding soon follow, and the couple settles into an affluent Liverpool suburb.

From the first, their marriage is doomed by lies. Florie, hardly the heiress her scheming mother portrayed, is treated as an outsider by fashionable English society. James’s secrets are infinitely darker–he has a mistress, an arsenic addiction, and a vicious temper. But Florie has no inkling of her husband’s depravity until she discovers his diary–And in it a litany of bloody deeds…

As in her newest book The Secrets of Lizzie Borden, Brandy Purdy combines fact with fiction in The Ripper’s Wife, and spins a twisted tale of murder and mayhem.

There have been many theories regarding the true identity of Jack the Ripper over the years. In 1992, James Maybrick’s supposed diary was “discovered” by Michael Barrett, an unemployed Liverpool scrap metal dealer. He originally claimed that it was given to him by a friend, although later on that story changed. In 1993 it was published as The Diary of Jack the Ripper. While his name isn’t mentioned, there are enough references in the diary which refer to what is known about Maybrick’s life that it’s seemingly apparent that it belonged to him. Included in the journal are passages detailing the slayings of the five victims of the Ripper. From the beginning the diary was the subject of controversy with many calling it a hoax. However many people vigorously defend it and insist it’s genuine. 

This is what Brandy Purdy bases her story on, and what unfolds is a horrifying portrait of two people who never should have gotten married. I have to be honest and say no one in this novel is likable, which for me made the story a little difficult to get into. Florie is a naive, flighty southern belle who is extremely immature even considering she’s only nineteen. While the book’s synopsis describes James Maybrick as handsome, in actuality he was a portly man who was twenty-three years older than Florie. They had absolutely nothing in common and to be perfectly honest I didn’t understand the attraction. But, as in real life, in the book these two mismatched souls do wind up tying the knot, and in doing so doom themselves to a life of misery and heartbreak.

It’s after their bucolic honeymoon that Florie discovers James is not only a hypochondriac and drug addict, but that he’s also an abusive misogynist. It’s at this point I began to sympathize with Florie. While I’m still unsure of her reasons for marrying this relative stranger, she seemed to genuinely love him. She certainly didn’t expect to be not only rebuffed by English society, but physically and emotionally abused by her husband. Even worse, she has absolutely no one she can turn to for help. It’s really no wonder that after discovering James’s numerous affairs, that she also sought solace outside their marriage. About midway through the book Florie’s chapters start alternating with James’s as he details not only the murders, but also the events leading up to them. Through them you see how a mind unravels from years of drug abuse until it’s twisted into something truly evil. The story keeps going long after James’s death, following the trial and conviction of Florie, as well as her life after her eventual release from prison, up until her death in 1941. While these years are filled with trauma and pain there are some happier moments and at the time of her death, Florie seems to finally be at peace with herself. 

The Ripper’s Wife is not an easy read. Some of the passages detailing the abuse that Florie suffers are truly horrifying. Even worse are the chapters that detail James’s/Jack’s crimes. The author doesn’t pull any punches regarding language, deviant sexual acts, and the actual murders themselves. I actually had to take some breaks from reading because of the dark and depressing nature of the story, but this didn’t make it any less compelling. While this is only the second book I’ve read by Brandy Purdy, it’s obvious to me that she’s a meticulous historical researcher and has the ability to turn unlikable characters like Florie and Lizzie Borden into ones you can emphasize with, and it’s made me want to catch up with the rest of her books.

 

 

Winter Doldrums

Tags

"Fight Song", Depression, Humor, Inspirational Songs, Rachel Platten

For some reason, every year starting January 2nd, I start feeling down. It goes from the regular post-holiday blues and gets progressively worse.

1st Week

2nd Week

3rd Week

4th Week

Seriously. I’m really like this. It’s a wonder that my husband hasn’t divorced me. If I ever doubt he really loves me it’s times like these that remind me how much he does!

So, this afternoon I was reading, listening to some music, and trying not to feel sorry for myself when Rachel Platten’s Fight Song came on. I’ve heard this many times over the past few months, but this was the first time I actually listened. And you know what? I felt better! Isn’t that weird? Being the techno-idiot that I am, I still haven’t figured out how to link to a video on my Kindle or iPad, so I thought I’d share my favorite part of the song. This is for all of you who, like me, need a pick-me-up now and then.

 

This is my fight song

Take back my life song

Prove I’m alright song

My power’s turned on

Starting right now I’ll be strong

I’ll play my fight song

And I don’t really care if nobody else believes

‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me

Know I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me

Burning Midnight ~ By Will McIntosh – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Friendship, Mystery, Science Fiction, YA Fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: February 2nd, 2016

Synopsis: Sully is a sphere dealer at a flea market. It doesn’t pay much–Alex Holliday’s stores have muscled out most of the independent sellers–but it helps him and his mom make the rent. No one knows where the brilliant-colored spheres came from. One day they were just there, hidden all over the earth like huge gemstones. Burn a pair and they make you a little better: an inch taller, skilled at math, better-looking. The rarer the sphere, the greater the improvement–And the more expensive the sphere.

When Sully meets Hunter, a girl with a natural talent for finding spheres, the two start searching together. One day they find a Gold–a color no one has ever seen. And when Alex Holliday learns what they have, he will go to any lengths, will use all of his wealth and power, to take it from them.

There’s no question the Gold is priceless, but what does it actually do? None of them is aware of it yet, but the fate of the world rests on this little golden orb. Because all the world fights over the spheres, but no one knows where they come from, what their powers are, or why they’re here.

When I saw Burning Midnight offered on NetGalley it piqued my interest mainly because the publisher recommended it for fans of The Maze Runner. Now that I’ve read it, the comparison has me scratching my head a bit, but it doesn’t really matter because I enjoyed the story just on its own merits.

I liked the characters, although I feel they all could have been developed a little more. Sully is sweet, loyal and has a strong moral compass, but he’s a little too naive and trusting for a sixteen-year-old. Hunter as the kick-ass, worldly-wise heroine is a nice contrast to Sully’s innocence and gullibility, but she’s a little too impulsive and is prone to acting on her own without taking her team’s feelings into consideration. Sully’s friends, Dom and Mandy complete this little Scooby gang, and are likable but I found myself wanting to know a little more about them. Finally, Alex Holliday, is your average cartoonish villain and I found myself rolling my eyes a few times at his antics.

The story itself is fast-paced and flows smoothly. There are many surprising twists and turns, and when the truth is revealed behind the spheres I was completely caught by surprise. The best thing about this book is the world-building. I thought the idea behind these mysterious spheres a totally unique and imaginative concept. The ending for the most part wraps everything up, but I was still left with a few unanswered questions. 

Burning Midnight is an exciting adventure filled with chills, thrills and a little light romance. Despite the ages of the characters ( 16-17 year-olds),  I think the writing style makes this more suitable for tweens and reluctant readers who are looking for something a little different. Will McIntosh has said that at this time he has no future plans for a sequel but I’m hoping he reconsiders because I think this has the potential for being a great trilogy or series. 

Challenger Disaster ~ January 28th, 1986

Front row: Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair

Back row: Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik

Thirty years ago today what started as a moment of excitement and hope turned into shock and tragedy when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven of it’s crew. According to Wikipedia 17% of Americans watched the launch live because of the presence of Christa McAuliffe, who was going to be the very first teacher in space. 

I was a twenty-one-year old preschool teacher at the time, and Christa was such a role model. We were all so excited and we had the tv on so the kids could watch the takeoff. When the shuttle exploded it took us a couple of minutes to realize what happened. Thankfully our four-year-olds were too young to understand. It’s one of those moments in history that if you witnessed it, you’ll never forget. Three decades later these seven brave souls still inspire and capture our imaginations.

“The crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved good-bye and ‘slipped the surly bonds of earth’ to ‘touch the face of God.'”

~ President Ronald Reagan ~

Staked (The Iron Druid Chronicles #8) ~ By Kevin Hearne – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: When a druid has lived for two thousand years like Atticus, he’s bound to run afoul of a few vampires. Even his former friend an legal counsel turned out to be a bloodsucking backstabber. Now the toothy troublemakers–led by power-mad, pain-in-the-neck Theopolis–have become a huge problem requiring a solution. It’s time to make a stand.

As always, Atticus wouldn’t mind a little backup. But his allies have problems of their own. Ornery archdruid Owen Kennedy is having a wee bit of troll trouble: Turns out when you stiff a troll, it’s not water under the bridge. Meanwhile, Granuaile is desperate to free herself of the Norse God Loki’s mark and elude his powers of divination–a quest that will bring her face-to-face with several Slavic nightmares.

As Atticus globetrots to stop his nemesis Theopolis, the journey leads to Rome. What better place to end and immortal than the Eternal City. But poetic justice won’t come without a price: In order to defeat Theopolis, Atticus may have to lose an old friend.

I’ve been a huge fan of this series since Hounded was published in 2011. While I don’t think this is the strongest story in the series, it’s still worth reading as it’s definitely setting things up for the ninth and final book.

My main disappointment with this is the way the author has changed the way the story is told. Instead of the third person POV of Atticus, chapters alternate between him, his mentor Owen, and his protege/love interest Granuaile. Hearne does a fabulous job as always when he’s focusing on Atticus. I especially love the conversations between him and his faithful Irish wolfhound Oberon who communicate via a mental link. Owen has his own unique voice, although I think his personality is so over-the-top at times that it’s grating. Granuile is a great character, but I find she sounds exactly like Atticus. The end result is that there isn’t any new character development.

My other issue with this book is that it has way too many sub-plots. Atticus is dealing with the vampires. Owen is embarking on a new mission with the werewolves, and fighting trolls. Granuaile still has the spectre of Loki looming over her, yet decides now is a good time to seek revenge against her stepfather. Then there’s also: Polish witches, a magical horse, the Fae, the Roman god Jupiter and Diana, and of course the fast approaching threat of Ragnarok, which according to Norse mythology is a series of events that will result in the world ending. That Kevin Hearne is able to include all these things in a book that’s about 330 pages is in some respects impressive, yet ultimately makes for multiple storylines that unfold at a frenetic and confusing pace until the characters finally come together in the final few chapters.

Despite it’s flaws, I still recommend that fans of The Iron Druid Chronicles read this. It’s quick and there are some fun moments including one at the end involving Oberon and Granuaile’s hound Orlaith. For readers who haven’t tried this series, but are animal lovers and fans of fantasy, filled with irreverent humor, you should definitely take a look. Because of all the characters and the somewhat complex worldbuilding, you need to read the books in order though.

Kevin Hearne started the multiple POVs with his last book Shattered, and since the next book is supposed to be the last, I’m fervently hoping he’ll go back to his original style of writing and send Atticus and company off in the grand fashion they deserve.

 

Interior Darkness ~ By Peter Straub-2.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Horror, Short Stories

Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: February 16th, 2016

Synopsis: Peter Straub has spent forty years at the forefront of modern literary horror. The stories assembled here represent his astonishing range and his ability to terrify, transport, and hold a reader hostage. 

“Mr. Clubbing and Mr. Cuff” is a darkly comic masterpiece in which a stern estate lawyer known as the Deacon hires a pair of “Private Detectives Extraordinaire” to investigate and seek revenge on his unfaithful wife. In “The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine”,  a man and his much younger lover explore their decadent and increasingly sinister fantasies on a luxurious yacht in the remotest stretch of the Amazon River. “Blue Rose”,  finds violence and power in the hands of the most innocent among us, leading to a conclusion that is fully surprising and devastating.

Each story cracks the foundation of our reality and opens our eyes, taking us further and further into the darkness that normally remains deeply, and safely, hidden. Interior Darkness is the gold standard of literary horror.

If anyone had told me I’d be giving a Peter Straub novel a two star rating, I would have said “No way! Never! Nuh uh!” Yet sadly, that’s exactly what I find myself doing and I can’t tell you how disappointed I am. 

The first problem is that every single short story in this collection has already been previously published in other anthologies, so if you’ve already own them, there’s nothing new here. My real issue though is the quality of the stories. This is supposed to be some of Straub’s best works, but except for a couple of the stories, at best they’re boring, at worst they’re stomach turning and repugnant. A grown man with a fetish for baby bottles, a child being molested in a movie theater, these are just a couple of the revolting offerings.  I did like the first story, Blue Rose which explores how childhood innocence can turn so terribly wrong when having the power over someone else is introduced, and Pork Pie Hat which is a creepy tale told by a jazz musician about why he never goes out on Halloween. These two came the closest to recapturing the Peter Straub I’ve known and loved since I was a teen. Unfortunately they’re not enough to save this book. There were several times I really felt like giving up, but since I had been approved for this e-Arc by the publisher I felt I had an obligation to read the whole thing. I usually advise people to try a book even if I didn’t care for it, but honestly, please spare yourselves from the horror I inflicted upon myself.

If you’re a long time fan, I really wouldn’t bother with this, and if you’re new to Peter Straub, I suggest you try some of his brilliant classics like Ghost Story, Shadowland, and The Talisman, and Black House, which he co-wrote with Stephen King. 

 

Simon Thorn and the Wolf’s Den (Simon Thorn #1) ~ By Aimee Carter – 3.5 Stars

Tags

Bullying, Family Relationships, Fantasy, Friendship, Juvenile Fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Childrens for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review. 

Release Date: February 2nd, 2016

Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Simon Thorn’s life has never been easy or normal, but things like being bullied at school and living in a cramped Manhattan apartment with his Uncle Darrell are nothing compared to his biggest secret: He can talk to animals.

But when his mom is suddenly kidnapped by a herd of rats, Simon finds out that he, his mom, and his uncle are all Animalgams–people born with the ability to change into an animal at will.

In search of his mom, Simon discovers the Animalgam Academy based at the Central Park Zoo. There he learns about the fractured five kingdoms that make up this secret world…and realizes he may be the only one who can save it.

Simon Thorn and the Wolf’s Den is a pretty decent start to a new children’s series, but despite some great world-building and an action packed story, the characters need a lot more development if this is going to be successful in the long run.

Simon himself is perfectly written, and between his appealing personality and his underdog status, I think kids will relate to him. What was problematic for me, were the secondary characters and Simon’s relationships with them. At best, they’re extremely shallow and lack any kind of an emotional connection. To be fair though, the author jams a lot of world-building into this 320 page book, so I’m hoping she’ll focus more on the characters in subsequent books.

The world-building is quite phenomenal and unique. Aimee Carter has created a fascinating mythology which does a wonderful job not only capturing the Animalgam world, but also the intricate politics at play. The story is very fast-paced and I finished it in one sitting. There are quite a few twists and turns and the ending caught me by surprise. 

This is the first middle-grade novel by Aimee Carter, who up until now has been a popular YA author. I’ve been a fan of hers for years and I have little doubt that Simon Thorn will end up being another successful series for her. Despite the flaws with its characters, this is one of those books that make me wish I was still a children’s librarian, because I’d be recommending it to just about all of the upper elementary and middle-school kids that walked through the doors. I’m looking forward to seeing where she takes Simon next.

 

Happy National Hugging Day!

Tags

Humor, National Hugging Day 2016

I can’t believe I almost missed this day! I’m a compulsive hugger! Thankfully I was over at Michelle Eastman’s blog at http://michelleeastmanbooks.wordpress.com and was saved! So, in honor of this auspicious day I’m sharing some adorable gifs that will hopefully inspire you to go hug someone, and um, hopefully not get clobbered for your effort.

 

And keep this in mind:

You can’t fix things with a hug, but you can’t make them any worse either.

~ Dean Koontz, Brother Odd ~

The Truth ~ By Jeffry W. Johnston – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Family Relationships, Mystery, YA Fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: February 2nd, 2016

Synopsis: When Chris wakes up tied to a chair in a dark basement, he knows that he’s trapped–and why. He shot and killed Derek’s little brother. He had his reasons, but no matter how far Derek goes to uncover the truth about that night, Chris’s story won’t change. It can’t. There is far too much at stake…

Derek is desperate to prove his brother didn’t deserve to die. And if kidnapping his brother’s killer is the only way to the truth, then he’ll go to extremes. But Chris’s truth is far more dangerous than Derek could have imagined, and knowing could cost both their lives…

The Truth is an intriguing mystery, but even more importantly it’s about how far you will go to protect the ones you love.

The story opens just as the synopsis says; with Chris duct-taped to a chair. He’s forced by Derek to relate not only what happened that fateful night, but also personal details about his relationship with his deceased father. Through his memories the reader finds out not only what happened, but the events that led up to the shooting. Sixteen-year-old Chris has been forced to grow up too quickly after his police officer father is killed after responding to a domestic call. Chris is now big brother and father figure to his ten-year-old brother Devon. He faithfully attends all of Devon’s baseball games, and even rubs his back at night when he needs comforting. Then one night when their mother isn’t home, Chris wakes up after hearing a noise in the kitchen. Before the night is over, an intruder lies dead, shot by the gun that is kept in a bedroom drawer. Chris is hailed as a hero, but he never seems comfortable with that mantle. When he finds out the burglar was only thirteen-years-old, he’s horrified. All of these tormented feelings pour out of Chris as he sits helpless, being threatened by Derek. But there’s one truth that he won’t reveal no matter what. Even if Derek follows through with his threat to cut off his fingers. 

Once revealed, the secret that Chris has so desperately tried to keep hidden, comes as no great surprise, but by that point the mystery has taken a back seat to the relationship developing between Chris and Derek, and the choices they’ve both made to protect their younger brothers. The story does take a slightly silly turn near the end, which makes it seem more like a Hollywood action movie, but the ending came as a huge surprise and left me wondering what would become of the characters.

The Truth is a great read for kids in 8th grade and up. The characters are appealing and the storyline suspenseful enough that I guarantee they won’t want to put the book down.

River Road ~ By Carol Goodman – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Alcoholism, Mystery, Relationships

Thank you NetGalley and Touchstone for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 19th, 2016

Synopsis: Nan Lewis–a creative writing professor at a state university in upstate New York–is driving home from a faculty holiday party after finding out she’s been denied tenure. On the way, she hits a deer, but when she gets out of the car to look for it, the deer is nowhere to be found. Eager to get home and out of the oncoming snowstorm, Nan is forced to leave her car at the bottom of her snowy driveway to wait out the longest night of the year–And the lowest point in her life…

The next morning, Nan is woken up by a police officer at her door with terrible news–one of her students, Leia Dawson, was killed in a hit-and-run on River Road the night before. And because of the damage to her car, Nan is a suspect. In the days following the accident, Nan finds herself shunned by the same community that rallied around her when her own daughter was killed in an eerily similar accident six years prior. When Nan begins finding disturbing tokens that recall the death of Nan’s own daughter, Nan suspects the two accidents are connected.

As she begins to dig further, she discovers that everyone around her, including Leia,is hiding secrets. But can she uncover them, clear her name, and figure out who really killed Leia before her reputation is destroyed for good?

Although I found River Road a little slow at the beginning, it didn’t take me long to become thoroughly engrossed in the story and its characters.

Nan is someone I think many readers will emphasize with. Struggling with guilt and self-loathing since her young daughter was killed, she’s a functioning alcoholic. Because of her emotional issues, she’s the perfect person for the true villain to frame. The big questions are who is this mysterious figure and what are their motivations? While I had figured out fairly early on who the murderer was, it didn’t really spoil my enjoyment of the story particularly because there are just enough red herrings thrown in to leave a small cast of doubt as to whether I was right. Adding to the compelling nature of the story is the way in which Carol Goodman creates her characters. They’re all flawed, yet entirely relatable. They’re written so realistically that you feel as though they could be friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors. 

The story itself is suspenseful and filled with many twists and turns. There are even some clever ties to Greek mythology. There’s a light romance that develops between Nan and the police officer who is in charge of the investigation, but it takes a back seat to the rest of the story. The ending wraps not only the mystery up perfectly, but also the potential road ahead for Nan. While it may not be easy, she has the love and support of family, friends, and colleagues.

While River Road isn’t filled with non-stop excitement, it’s likable characters and compelling plot make it a fast-paced read nonetheless. It’s a moody and atmospheric mystery which should appeal to readers of this genre.