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Christine A. (965 KP) rated His and Hers in Books
Jul 29, 2020
Will keep you guessing until the big reveal
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
There are three sides to every story, his, hers, and the truth. In Alice Feeney's latest, His & Hers, there is his, hers, and a killer out for vengeance.
Narrators Richard Armitage and Stephanie Racine skillfully bring Feeney's thriller to life as a detective and his news journalist ex-wife who are separately trying to solve/report the murders of people from their past while trying to stay out of the crosshairs of a serial killer on a mission. The chapters alternate between DCI Jack Harper and Anna Andrews, which allows us to see the story from both sides as it unfolds. The killer, using a voice disguiser, breaks the fourth wall to explain his/her reasons.
Because of Feeney's clever writing, I was unable to figure out the killer until the big reveal. I switched suspects with each suspenseful chapter I read. Her red herrings were flawless.
Richard Armitage is an actor and audio-book narrator known for his role as Thorin in The Hobbit trilogy. Stephanie Racine narrated numerous novels, including Feeney's three best-sellers, Sometimes I Lie, I Know Who You Are, and His & Hers.
Goodreads lists Feeney's next novel, as of yet untitled, to be released in 2021.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/28/20.
There are three sides to every story, his, hers, and the truth. In Alice Feeney's latest, His & Hers, there is his, hers, and a killer out for vengeance.
Narrators Richard Armitage and Stephanie Racine skillfully bring Feeney's thriller to life as a detective and his news journalist ex-wife who are separately trying to solve/report the murders of people from their past while trying to stay out of the crosshairs of a serial killer on a mission. The chapters alternate between DCI Jack Harper and Anna Andrews, which allows us to see the story from both sides as it unfolds. The killer, using a voice disguiser, breaks the fourth wall to explain his/her reasons.
Because of Feeney's clever writing, I was unable to figure out the killer until the big reveal. I switched suspects with each suspenseful chapter I read. Her red herrings were flawless.
Richard Armitage is an actor and audio-book narrator known for his role as Thorin in The Hobbit trilogy. Stephanie Racine narrated numerous novels, including Feeney's three best-sellers, Sometimes I Lie, I Know Who You Are, and His & Hers.
Goodreads lists Feeney's next novel, as of yet untitled, to be released in 2021.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/28/20.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Crossings in Books
Jul 31, 2020
Clever story that can be ready 2 different ways
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
I loved reading "choose your own adventure" books. Everyone started reading at the same place, but you could decide how the story played out. You could spend hours rereading without taking the same path twice. In Crossings by Alex Landragin, there are two paths to choose from, the linear path or what is referred to as the Baroness sequence. I followed the Baroness sequence and was in for quite an adventure.
Crossings is the first novel I read that can be read in two ways. It can be read straight through which contains a collection of loosely connected stories. You can choose to follow the Baroness sequence and follow an alternative page sequence that cleverly reworks the stories into a single novel.
I was going to read Crossings both directions it can be read but decided to wait a few months to read the linear version. The concept of writing the novel is imaginative and creative, and I added a star because of how well it works.
The e-book links to the next section in the sequence were not always accurate. If that occurs in the final draft, go to the "note to reader" and click the links from there.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/30/20.
I loved reading "choose your own adventure" books. Everyone started reading at the same place, but you could decide how the story played out. You could spend hours rereading without taking the same path twice. In Crossings by Alex Landragin, there are two paths to choose from, the linear path or what is referred to as the Baroness sequence. I followed the Baroness sequence and was in for quite an adventure.
Crossings is the first novel I read that can be read in two ways. It can be read straight through which contains a collection of loosely connected stories. You can choose to follow the Baroness sequence and follow an alternative page sequence that cleverly reworks the stories into a single novel.
I was going to read Crossings both directions it can be read but decided to wait a few months to read the linear version. The concept of writing the novel is imaginative and creative, and I added a star because of how well it works.
The e-book links to the next section in the sequence were not always accurate. If that occurs in the final draft, go to the "note to reader" and click the links from there.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/30/20.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Game in Books
Aug 4, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
The game is known by many names - Assassin, Tag, Human vs. Zombies. The ways to "kill" vary greatly - water gun, dart gun, steal a spoon, steal a rag, etc. The one constant is the concept of the game - people join a game in which someone is ordered to "kill" either a specific target or a different team. The winner is the one left standing.
The Game by Linsey Miller is a YA version of a 1982 movie, Tag: The Assininasion Game. In both, the game becomes deadly, when one of the players decides to "kill" the players in real life.
Miller moves the age group to High School seniors playing the yearly game before graduation. Lia has been following in her brother's shadow and knows Assassin is her opportunity to outshine her brother's record in the game. She has been planning this for years by following and gathering information about her classmates' schedules, hobbies, paths to school, etc. She makes the perfect fall guy for a killer who uses Lia's detailed notes to track down their targets.
Readers in middle school would enjoy the story. While enjoyable, the story felt short and would need "more" to attract older YA readers.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/3/20.
The game is known by many names - Assassin, Tag, Human vs. Zombies. The ways to "kill" vary greatly - water gun, dart gun, steal a spoon, steal a rag, etc. The one constant is the concept of the game - people join a game in which someone is ordered to "kill" either a specific target or a different team. The winner is the one left standing.
The Game by Linsey Miller is a YA version of a 1982 movie, Tag: The Assininasion Game. In both, the game becomes deadly, when one of the players decides to "kill" the players in real life.
Miller moves the age group to High School seniors playing the yearly game before graduation. Lia has been following in her brother's shadow and knows Assassin is her opportunity to outshine her brother's record in the game. She has been planning this for years by following and gathering information about her classmates' schedules, hobbies, paths to school, etc. She makes the perfect fall guy for a killer who uses Lia's detailed notes to track down their targets.
Readers in middle school would enjoy the story. While enjoyable, the story felt short and would need "more" to attract older YA readers.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/3/20.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Night Swim: A Novel in Books
Aug 4, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
Having worked in the criminal court system for years, I was looking forward to The Night Swim by Megan Goldin. The premise that you follow along with a podcast to reach your own verdict of a current and controversial trial sounded intriguing. I found myself angry by the main character's obvious slant on her podcast. If her role was to present an unbiased reporting of the events in court, she failed at her job. Her reporting of the case proceedings and the investigation taken are accurate, detailed, and complete. Goldin successfully captures the emotions involved in sensitive cases such as the one podcaster Rachel Krall covers for the third season of her podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty.
Goldin's story of the trial, the people involved, and the overlapping, interconnected tale from the past are woven into a clever novel narrated by Bailey Carr, January LaVoy, and Samantha Desz. All three narrators are accomplished voice actors. LaVoy narrated books by Patterson, Deaver, Grisham, and Goldin's New York Times Bestseller, The Escape Room.
The narrators' voices matched the story well, but the speed in which they spoke was too slow for me, and I listened to the story at a faster rate.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/3/20.
Having worked in the criminal court system for years, I was looking forward to The Night Swim by Megan Goldin. The premise that you follow along with a podcast to reach your own verdict of a current and controversial trial sounded intriguing. I found myself angry by the main character's obvious slant on her podcast. If her role was to present an unbiased reporting of the events in court, she failed at her job. Her reporting of the case proceedings and the investigation taken are accurate, detailed, and complete. Goldin successfully captures the emotions involved in sensitive cases such as the one podcaster Rachel Krall covers for the third season of her podcast, Guilty or Not Guilty.
Goldin's story of the trial, the people involved, and the overlapping, interconnected tale from the past are woven into a clever novel narrated by Bailey Carr, January LaVoy, and Samantha Desz. All three narrators are accomplished voice actors. LaVoy narrated books by Patterson, Deaver, Grisham, and Goldin's New York Times Bestseller, The Escape Room.
The narrators' voices matched the story well, but the speed in which they spoke was too slow for me, and I listened to the story at a faster rate.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/3/20.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Dead Air in Books
Aug 6, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
It is no secret I am proud to be from Philly. I love the people, the sports, the arts, and the energy. Philadelphia is not perfect, but if you want to get my attention, set a novel in my city. I will read it. Michael Bradley, a southern Jersey native, set his third novel in Philly and combined his knowledge of the area and radio broadcasting to write Dead Air: A Novel of Suspense.
Kaitlyn Ashe, a radio DJ in Philadelphia, receives anonymous letters that threaten the life she built for herself. That life hides secrets she does not want to be revealed but, when the letters escalate, her fiance insists on calling the police. Kaitlyn needs to figure out who knows about the Shallows before her life crashes down around her, and her secrets revealed.
Rachel Fulginiti, an Audie-nominated narrator and veteran of the stage, skillfully narrates the audiobook, allowing us to hear Kaitlyn's "radio voice" and her normal voice. You can imagine Rachel is Kaitlyn conveying the story to us.
I found the audiobook a little slow to listen to at 1.0 speed. Philadelphians do not talk slowly so I played it at a more comfortable, higher rate.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/5/20.
It is no secret I am proud to be from Philly. I love the people, the sports, the arts, and the energy. Philadelphia is not perfect, but if you want to get my attention, set a novel in my city. I will read it. Michael Bradley, a southern Jersey native, set his third novel in Philly and combined his knowledge of the area and radio broadcasting to write Dead Air: A Novel of Suspense.
Kaitlyn Ashe, a radio DJ in Philadelphia, receives anonymous letters that threaten the life she built for herself. That life hides secrets she does not want to be revealed but, when the letters escalate, her fiance insists on calling the police. Kaitlyn needs to figure out who knows about the Shallows before her life crashes down around her, and her secrets revealed.
Rachel Fulginiti, an Audie-nominated narrator and veteran of the stage, skillfully narrates the audiobook, allowing us to hear Kaitlyn's "radio voice" and her normal voice. You can imagine Rachel is Kaitlyn conveying the story to us.
I found the audiobook a little slow to listen to at 1.0 speed. Philadelphians do not talk slowly so I played it at a more comfortable, higher rate.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/5/20.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Shadows in Books
Aug 24, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
While I have "read" audiobooks for years now, this is the first one I was given to review. Let me catch my breath before starting. Wow! OK. Wow! That needed to be said.
Alex North's "debut" novel, The Whisper Man, was a 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Mystery & Thriller. When I finished reading it, I immediately added his second book, The Shadows, to my must-read list.
The narrators of The Shadows are Hannah Arterton and John Heffernan. The combination of North's writing and Arterton and Heffernan's narration provides a story that feels as if the narrators are the characters themselves, sitting by a fire, retelling North's story, and not merely reading the story. It is their narration that helps North bring the listener down the rabbit hole and ending up questioning everything they thought was true. I needed to reread sections to see how I could have gotten everything so wrong.
North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name. According to Goodreads, this is Arterton's first narration. While Heffernan has narrated a few novels, he writes mostly for film and TV but also wrote Driver For The Dead, his first comic book series.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/14/20 and updated on 8/24/20.
While I have "read" audiobooks for years now, this is the first one I was given to review. Let me catch my breath before starting. Wow! OK. Wow! That needed to be said.
Alex North's "debut" novel, The Whisper Man, was a 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Mystery & Thriller. When I finished reading it, I immediately added his second book, The Shadows, to my must-read list.
The narrators of The Shadows are Hannah Arterton and John Heffernan. The combination of North's writing and Arterton and Heffernan's narration provides a story that feels as if the narrators are the characters themselves, sitting by a fire, retelling North's story, and not merely reading the story. It is their narration that helps North bring the listener down the rabbit hole and ending up questioning everything they thought was true. I needed to reread sections to see how I could have gotten everything so wrong.
North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name. According to Goodreads, this is Arterton's first narration. While Heffernan has narrated a few novels, he writes mostly for film and TV but also wrote Driver For The Dead, his first comic book series.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/14/20 and updated on 8/24/20.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Somebody’s Daughter (Detective Natalie Ward #7) by Carol Wyer in Books
Aug 24, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
Somebody's Daughter is the 7th book in Carol Wyer's Detective Natalie Ward series. If you have read my reviews of her earlier works, you know I enjoy her series. Somebody's Daughter is no exception.
This time, significant changes have shaken up and changed the dynamics of the team. Detective Natalie Ward has been promoted to DCI and Lucy Carmichael is now the DI for the team.
The new team's first case finds Natalie not sitting behind the desk as much as she should. But would anyone expect anything else from her? At first, the killings seem unrelated, and Lucy is unsure if it is even one murderer or two. The bodies pile up, and the team begins to doubt themselves and feel pressure from the top to close the case.
Wyer's police procedurals are well-written with relatable characters. She focuses on solving the crime but also on the police team's interactions with each other and with their home life. By now, they are so familiar they feel like old friends.
No future books are listed on Goodreads, but Wyer recently tweeted she completed the first draft of her 25th novel! Of course, I will be on the lookout for it.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/15/20 and updated on 8/24/20.
Somebody's Daughter is the 7th book in Carol Wyer's Detective Natalie Ward series. If you have read my reviews of her earlier works, you know I enjoy her series. Somebody's Daughter is no exception.
This time, significant changes have shaken up and changed the dynamics of the team. Detective Natalie Ward has been promoted to DCI and Lucy Carmichael is now the DI for the team.
The new team's first case finds Natalie not sitting behind the desk as much as she should. But would anyone expect anything else from her? At first, the killings seem unrelated, and Lucy is unsure if it is even one murderer or two. The bodies pile up, and the team begins to doubt themselves and feel pressure from the top to close the case.
Wyer's police procedurals are well-written with relatable characters. She focuses on solving the crime but also on the police team's interactions with each other and with their home life. By now, they are so familiar they feel like old friends.
No future books are listed on Goodreads, but Wyer recently tweeted she completed the first draft of her 25th novel! Of course, I will be on the lookout for it.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/15/20 and updated on 8/24/20.
Merissa (13293 KP) rated Fire in the Rain (Wraidd Elfennol #4) in Books
Aug 27, 2020
Fire in the Rain is the fourth and final book in the Wraidd Elfennol series and brings this fantastical series to a fitting end.
Afon and Necia are a married couple, which makes a nice change, who have been together for five years. They are both Chosen to bring back the balance once more although Necia copes with it easier than Afon does.
Just the same as with Of Land and Sky, time has moved on and we meet the great-grandchildren of Bran and Shyla, Rhosyn and Opal. I love how past characters are brought into the story whilst each story stands by itself, although I would recommend reading them as a series as there is an overall story arc.
This book has a faster pace than the others but it is just as nail-biting in places. Packed full of emotions, this story deals with self-confidence and self-worth as well as other subjects.
This has been a full-on fantasy series that I have thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend to all fantasy lovers, especially if you have a love of Welsh mythology.
"The one thing that always remained true, no matter what other change occurred, was the love to be found within the silence of beats of the heart of Wraidd Elfennol."
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Afon and Necia are a married couple, which makes a nice change, who have been together for five years. They are both Chosen to bring back the balance once more although Necia copes with it easier than Afon does.
Just the same as with Of Land and Sky, time has moved on and we meet the great-grandchildren of Bran and Shyla, Rhosyn and Opal. I love how past characters are brought into the story whilst each story stands by itself, although I would recommend reading them as a series as there is an overall story arc.
This book has a faster pace than the others but it is just as nail-biting in places. Packed full of emotions, this story deals with self-confidence and self-worth as well as other subjects.
This has been a full-on fantasy series that I have thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend to all fantasy lovers, especially if you have a love of Welsh mythology.
"The one thing that always remained true, no matter what other change occurred, was the love to be found within the silence of beats of the heart of Wraidd Elfennol."
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Merissa (13293 KP) rated Daimon (Guardians of Hades #6) in Books
Sep 29, 2020
Daimon is the sixth book in the Guardians of Hades series and we finally meet Mr Cool himself, Daimon. From the start, my heart has gone out to him. Just like Ares, he can't touch anyone without his power hurting them. Ares was lucky with Meghan but Daimon is still alone.
Cass first showed up with Mari and Cal in book five. She is strong and not prepared to sit on the side-lines. She can't help but be near to Daimon. At first, she thinks it's just an itch but realises it's so much more.
I loved this one and, to be honest, that took me by surprise. Although I have loved Daimon from the start, Cass came across as a bit abrasive in the other book. So I was delighted to find out there was a heart there after all AND the reasons behind her mask.
As with the others, the connection is immediate but these two sure work hard to make anything happen. A cat and mouse game of give and take, one step forward, two back... and it was PERFECT!
I am loving the overall story arc which becomes more intense with each book, plus the hint to Keras' book. A fantastic addition to the series that I absolutely recommend. Now I really can't wait for Keras!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Cass first showed up with Mari and Cal in book five. She is strong and not prepared to sit on the side-lines. She can't help but be near to Daimon. At first, she thinks it's just an itch but realises it's so much more.
I loved this one and, to be honest, that took me by surprise. Although I have loved Daimon from the start, Cass came across as a bit abrasive in the other book. So I was delighted to find out there was a heart there after all AND the reasons behind her mask.
As with the others, the connection is immediate but these two sure work hard to make anything happen. A cat and mouse game of give and take, one step forward, two back... and it was PERFECT!
I am loving the overall story arc which becomes more intense with each book, plus the hint to Keras' book. A fantastic addition to the series that I absolutely recommend. Now I really can't wait for Keras!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Whatever You Do, Be Happy: 400 Things to Think Do for a Happy Life in Books
Sep 29, 2020
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
Julia Dellitt's Whatever You Do, Be Happy: 400 Things to Think & Do for a Happy Life is the perfect book for 2020.
I think everyone can agree that 2020 is an incredibly stressful year chock full of negative thoughts. Scrolling through any social media exasperates one's anxiety. This book will lessen your stress.
It is not a book to read in one sitting. Rather, it includes 400 activities, ideas, tips, and quotes to help calm you and relieve your stress.
Not every item was something I was interested in, but you do not need to do all of the activities. They act as a guide or suggestion and doing some made 2020 start to seem manageable.
My favorite activity was to list three things for which you are thankful. It was similar to an assignment I did for a Positive Psychology class. I forgot how reminding yourself of something good that happened to you or how you are grateful for can drastically improve your state of mind.
Dellitt's other works are Get Your Life Together(ish): A No-Pressure Guide for Real-Life Self-Growth and Self-Care for College Students: From Orientation to Graduation, 150+ Easy Ways to Stay Happy, Healthy, and Stress-Free.
This review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/28/20.
Julia Dellitt's Whatever You Do, Be Happy: 400 Things to Think & Do for a Happy Life is the perfect book for 2020.
I think everyone can agree that 2020 is an incredibly stressful year chock full of negative thoughts. Scrolling through any social media exasperates one's anxiety. This book will lessen your stress.
It is not a book to read in one sitting. Rather, it includes 400 activities, ideas, tips, and quotes to help calm you and relieve your stress.
Not every item was something I was interested in, but you do not need to do all of the activities. They act as a guide or suggestion and doing some made 2020 start to seem manageable.
My favorite activity was to list three things for which you are thankful. It was similar to an assignment I did for a Positive Psychology class. I forgot how reminding yourself of something good that happened to you or how you are grateful for can drastically improve your state of mind.
Dellitt's other works are Get Your Life Together(ish): A No-Pressure Guide for Real-Life Self-Growth and Self-Care for College Students: From Orientation to Graduation, 150+ Easy Ways to Stay Happy, Healthy, and Stress-Free.
This review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/28/20.