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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2672 KP) rated Helpless in Books

Mar 19, 2025 (Updated Mar 19, 2025)  
Helpless
Helpless
Annette Dashofy | 2023 | Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Murder and Kidnapping in a Storm
With the remains of a tropical storm hitting the area, the last thing that Zoe Chamber-Adams and Pete Adams need is a criminal running around the area. But that’s just what they’ve got. They are called to a horrific scene on a neighbors’ farm. The wife has been shot, the husband left for dead, and their daughter kidnapped. As Pete tries to find the daughter before she is taken out of the area, Zoe tries to learn what she can from the husband. Will the storm help or hurt them?

This is more of a ticking clock thriller than a mystery, with the book taking place over the course of a day. As much as I love this series, this one was a bit of a letdown. I found Zoe’s portion of the story slowed the plot down, and I found it a very dark book, even by this series’ standards. On the other hand, the overall plot of the book was great and I was still always reluctant to set the book down. It was great spending time with Zoe and Pete, and I enjoyed seeing the updates we still got on the series regulars and some ongoing stories. Fans of this great series will still be glad they picked up this book.
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Blush in Books

Nov 18, 2021  
Blush
Blush
Jamie Brenner | 2021 | Fiction & Poetry
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
BLUSH tells the story of three generations of women who discover that the trashy novels of the Jackie Collins/Judith Krantz era might hold the key to saving their family’s winery. Jamie Brenner’s BLUSH is the second book in my ABC author challenge [B].

This is a sweeping novel that gives a lot (!) of details about wine and vineyards. The Hollander family owns their Long Island winery—belonging to matriarch Vivian and her husband, Leonard. Leonard, who is quite firm in his ideas about gender roles, would not let their daughter Leah take over, so she runs a cheese shop in New York City. Leah’s daughter Sadie is struggling in college with her thesis.

When they all converge at the vineyard, they discover Leonard is thinking of selling. He refuses to accept any of Leah or Vivian’s ideas to help save it. But when Sadie finds Vivian’s trashy old novels from her book club days, the three women come together. It’s fun to hear about the old novels (you’ll enjoy this book if you like Krantz or Collins) and watch the women triumph over Leonard, who, honestly can be sort of awful. The themes of marriage, sexism, and family run strong and make this an interesting read, even if the characters sometimes frustrate you to no end. 3 stars.