Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison

 

Her Dark Lies had an interesting premise.  The story centers around Claire and her fiancé Jackson.  They're polar opposites but feel extremely lucky to have found each other.  Jackson is rich beyond words and Claire, an artist, but in some ways, struggling is looking forward to their dream wedding on Jackson's family villa.  The villa is on a secluded island and the perfect backdrop for a wedding. 

However, there's one shadow that Claire can't seem to shake.  Jackson has been married before and is now a widower. His wife's body was never found.  A part of Morgan's body was found at one point in the story,  but Claire learns that there's more to her death than the family is letting on.  Between Jackson's mother, brothers and father, it seems like everyone is hiding something or has something to lose. 

Before Claire and Jackson can leave for the villa, strange things start happening.  A man breaks into their home shattering their pre-wedding happiness.  Claire tries to banish the incident from her mind and focus on the wedding, but when they leave for the villa and finally arrive, more strange things happen. I won't ruin it all for you, but suffice to say, it looks like someone on the villa is out to ruin Claire's happiness.  And what about the intruder back at home? There are a lot of questions.

Here's an excerpt: 

1

Beginnings and Endings

She is going to die tonight.

The white dress, long and filmy, hampers her effort to run. The hem catches on a branch; a large rend in the fabric slashes open, exposing her leg. A deep cut blooms red along her thigh, and the blood runs down her calf. Her hair has come loose from its braid, flies unbound behind her like gossamer wings.

In her panic, she barely notices the pain.

The path ahead is marked by towering cypress and laurel, verdant and lush. A gray stone waist-high wall is all that stands between her and the cliffside. It is cool inside this miniature forest; the sky is blotted out by the purple-throated wisteria that drapes across and between the trees. Someone, years ago, built an archway along the arbor. The arch’s skeleton has long since rotted away and the flowers droop into the path, clinging trails and vines that brush against her head and shoulders. It should be beautiful; instead it feels oppressive, as if the vines might animate, twist and curl around her neck and strangle her to death.

She tries not to look down to the frothing water roiling against the rocks at the cliff’s base. She thinks the ruins are to her right. From what she remembers, they are between the church and the artists’ colony, the four cottages cowering on the hillside, empty and waiting.

A horn shrieks, and she realizes the ferry is pulling away. A crack of lightning, and she sees the silhouette of the captain in the pilothouse, looking out to the turbulent seas ahead. A gamble that he makes it before the storm is upon them.

Don’t panic. Don’t panic.

Where is the church?

There it is, a flash of white through the trees. The stuccoed walls loom, the bell tower hidden behind the overgrown foliage. Now the path is moving upward, the grade increasing. She feels it in her calves and hopes again she is going the right way. The Villa is on the hill, on the northwest promontory of the island. If she can reach its doors, she will be safe.

It is too quiet. There are no birds, no creatures, no buzzing or cries, just her ragged, heavy breath and the scree shuffling underfoot as she climbs. The furious roar of the water smashing its frustration against the rocks rises from her left, echoing against the cliffside.

The dogs begin to howl.

Climb. Climb. Keep going.

She must get to the Villa. There she can call for help. Lock herself inside. Maybe find a weapon.

A branch snaps and she halts, breathless.

Someone is coming.

She startles like a deer, now heedless of the noise she’s making. Fighting back a whimper of fear, she breaks free of the cloistered path to see an old decrepit staircase cut into the stone. Careful, she must be cautious, there are gaps where some steps are missing, and the rest are mossy with disuse, but hurry, hurry. Get away.

She winds up the steps, clinging to the rock face, until she bursts free into a sea of scrubby pines. Two sculptures, Janus twins, flank a slate-dark path into a labyrinth of rhododendron and azalea.

This isn’t right. Where is she?

A hard breeze disrupts the trees around her, and a rumble of thunder like a thousand drums rolls across her body. Lightning flashes and she sees the Villa in the distance. So far away. On the other side of the labyrinth. The other side of the hill.

She’s gone the wrong way.

A droplet of water hits her arm, then her forehead. Dread bubbles through her.

She is too late. The storm is upon her.

The howls of the dogs draw closer. The wind whistles hard and sharp, buffeting her against the stone wall. She can’t move, deep fear cementing her feet. Rain makes the gauzy dress cling to the curves of her body, and the blood on her thigh washes to the ground. None of it matters. She cannot escape.

When he comes, at last, sauntering through the storm, the barking beasts leaping and growling beside him, she is crying, clinging to the wall, the lightning illuminating the ruins; the ancient stones and stark, headless statues the only witness to her death.

She goes over the wall with a thunder-drowned scream, the jagged rocks below her final companions.

*********************************************************************

So, why this all sounded mysterious and intriguing, it was so obvious to me who was behind it all from the very beginning. I kept at it thinking the author may pull out some twist at the end, but it never came. Also, in my opinion only, there wasn't really one likeable character in this book. I read some reviews where some fans of this author were saying that they had problems believing this was the same author as prior books. I don't know but this is one I didn't really enjoy.  Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity. 

When Harry Met Minnie by Martha Teichner

 

Martha Teichner has a very distinct way of telling stories.  If you ever watched the show CBS Sunday Morning, Ms. Teichner's distinct voice alone makes you sit up and take notice. Personally, I think she could talk about anything and I would listen.  

In her personal and moving story, she tells of the circumstances that are "coincidences" that lead her to meeting her friend Carol and her dog, Harry.  We all know that these types of "coincidences" are anything but.  Carol, unfortunately is dying of cancer, a victim of the toxic air around her apartment post 9/11.  Harry himself has a lot of health problems and Carol is very worried that when she passes, Harry won't have anywhere to go.  However, due to a chance meeting with Carol's friend, Stephen, a plan is set in motion for Ms. Teichner and her dog Minnie to meet Carol and Harry. 

What continues is a story of friendship not only between Minnie and Harry, but the friendship between Carol and Ms. Teichner.  The battle Carol faces is not surprising in it's sadness, nobody deserves to go through that kind of illness, but it seems even more poignant that it's another casualty of 9/11 years after the fact.

I am a huge animal lover.  I have my own dog and have lost 3 in the last 11 years. I can't imagine having to worry about my dog's future due to being sick.  I'm sure Carol was heartbroken when she thought about it, but then Ms. Teichner came along and eased Carol's mind about Harry.  If you are an animal person, you will enjoy this story.  I would have liked a little MORE about Harry and Minnie, if possible. There were a few stories and information that I felt weren't exactly relevant, but still interesting.  The story is a good one and you might need tissues.   It's not all sunshine and rainbows, obviously, but a bittersweet tale of friends all the way around. 

Here's a video of Ms. Teichner talking about her story.  It's really no spoilers, just another view into this tale. 

Olive Bright, Pigeoneer by Stephanie Graves

 

Olive Bright wants to serve her country against the Germans during the war. She wants to contribute like her late mother, Serena did.  Serena was a nurse and Olive admires her and misses her greatly.  Olive's family owns a pigeon coop and have trained their flock to be exceptional racers and homing birds. Olive's father wants nothing more than the National Pigeon Service (NPS) to come calling and request the Bright pigeons to serve in the war. 

Another opportunity arises for the pigeons to be used, but only Olive knows about it and cannot tell her father about it.  All Olive knows is that she's thrilled to finally feel useful.  Olive sets about her work with pride.  While life in her village is hard enough during wartime, everyone knows each other and tries their best to help one another.  However, someone in the village, Ms. Verity, Husselbee is not so popular, being known as the neighborhood busybody and also known for not being so pleasant.  Without giving too much away, Ms. Husslebee ends up being a murder victim.  On top of everything else Olive is involved in, she ends up being an amateur sleuth and quickly learns not everyone is who they seem. 

I enjoyed this book because I ended up looking more into the history of the pigeons used during the war.  I was absolutely amazed at the accomplishments of these birds.  The author also give a short history at the end of the book which I enjoyed reading. I also enjoyed seeing the progression of Olive's journey, as well as the mystery woven in throughout. 

I thought the writing was done very smartly and felt at times I was transported back to the times when I first started reading longer books as a youth.  I would have given the book more stars except there was one thing I didn't like.  I thought there was almost TOO much description and not enough dialogue.  Because of this, it took me longer than usual to finish.   hear this book is the start of a series and I am not dismissing it just because of those two things.  I think the author did a really good job in relaying information about the war and the pigeons and also with bringing Olive to life. I wish her the best with the rest of the series and am interested in where Olive will go.

Watch Her by Edwin Hill

 

This was a great, fun read!  

This book revolves around several people.  First up is Maxine who works with a blind loyalty to the rich Matson family.  They are the name behind Prescott University and have MORE than their share of secrets, secrets that for some reason, Maxine is more than happy to keep under wraps. 

But like all things in the dark, secrets always come to light, even if they are decades old.   Working on these secrets are Angela, a police sergeant and Hester, a librarian who has a knack for uncovering things. She helps Angela with her investigation regarding the Matsons and their son in law, Gavin.  People around them are being murdered and time is running out. 

I was happy to find out this was a series.  I hadn't heard of it before, but I will be going back to the first two and looking forward to the fourth! It's hard for me to find books where I am interested in the characters lately.  This covered it all for me.  Good characters, interesting story and good mystery.  Thank you to Bookish First for the copy.  

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

 Why is it, do you think, that authors write books where there isn't ONE likable person in the story?  Don't they know we need at least someone to cheer for?  I hate to go into plot on a review but, basically it's this:

Jane is a dog walker in a affluent community and is all full of entitlement.  She is jealous of the folks who live there and wants what they have.  I couldn't even figure this part out. Why would anyone want the kind of lifestyle they scoff at?  All she did was make it known (to the reader) how much she loathed the women in the neighborhood, but fought like anything to get "in" with them. 

She meets Eddie whose wife, Bea disappeared from their lake home along with her best friend Blanche.  Well, Eddie has all the things Jane wants.  After all, she lives in a crappy apartment so why shouldn't she have those nice things and lavish lifestyle that she didn't work for (insert eye roll)?

So things move along pretty fast between Jane and Eddie and all of a sudden they're engaged.  Jane tries to find out more about Bea but it's difficult. And, really it's not for the reader because it's in the title. The story goes on and more is learned about the fateful night that Bea and Blanche went out on Bea and Eddie's boat at the lake.  Who else was actually there? What actually happened? Also in the mix is Jane's "secret." I say that lightly.  I found it pretty underwhelming. 

Well, I am not going to spoil it but suffice to say, I figured out what the "twist" was and I am usually not good at that.  It was so hard for me to enjoy this book because everyone, and I mean, EVERYONE was obnoxious. Also not helping matters was that I listened to the audiobook and almost every time someone said something there was a self deprecating, I can't really say laugh, because it wasn't. It was more or less an exhale of air supposed to sound like a heh heh, silly me! Furthermore, entitled, poor Jane sure liked the F word a lot.  She needed a good punch. 

The more I discuss this book I feel more rating stars dropping.  The other thing that turns me off of a story is when the reader knows what's going on before the characters.  We should  ALL be surprised at once.  By the time the character finds out what the reader already knows, it's no surprise.  I am sure this book will do very well.  This genre is on fire and it should be, if it's a good story. But, I hope my next book has SOMEONE I like. Oh wait, there were dogs in here.  I liked them. 

Thanks to Macmillan  Audio and to Netgalley.  I am always appreciative of the opportunity. 

The Forgotten Sister by Nicola Cornick

 

The Forgotten Sister by Nicola Cornick is coming soon!  It's a time slip novel which I usually enjoy.  This one is about Amy in 1560 who is married to Robert Dudley but the marriage is anything but loving.  Robert has his eyes on the future Queen Elizabeth and treats Amy with no regards whatsoever.  Finally, after trying to be a good wife with no positive results, she knows she has to break free to attempt to salvage her life.  What happens next may not seem that it relates to modern times, but it does. 

In present day, Lizzie Kingdom and her best friend Dudley have always been the subject of scrutiny.  Both have been in showbusiness most of their lives so they're always in the public eye.  Lizzie has no further feelings for Dudley besides their best friend relationship, but others always speculated there was more than meets the eye.  They're wrong, but Lizzie can't seem to convince anyone regardless of the fact that she was at Dudley and his wife, Amelia's wedding and wouldn't cross that line.  So she seems content to live her life and put up with the rumors, but that proves to be almost impossible when tragedy strikes. 

How these two time lines merge will be up to you to read about.  I don't want to ruin anything for anyone! 

I was happy to get a copy of this book from Harper Collins and was excited about the premise. Unfortunately, I couldn't get invested in any of the characters or the story. It seemed more written for the YA genre in my opinion.  I also found it kind of irksome that the characters in both time frames to have the same names. I understand surnames being used, but not first names. I usually really love time slip stories, but now I know it has to be (at least for me) done just right. This one took me way too long to finish. 

With all that being said, I think it will be a hit with a big crowd and I wish the author huge success with the book when it releases on November 10, 2020. Thank you very much to the publisher for this opportunity.

Here's your opportunity to read an excerpt from the book: 

PROLOGUE

Amy Robsart, Cumnor Village

They came for me one night in the winter of 1752 when the ice was on the pond and the trees bowed under the weight of the hoar frost. There were nine priests out of Oxford, garbed all in white with tapers in hand. Some looked fearful, others burned with a righteous fervour because they thought they were doing the Lord’s work. All of them looked cold, huddled within their cassocks, the one out ahead gripping the golden crucifix as though it were all that stood between him and the devil himself.

The villagers came out to watch for a while, standing around in uneasy groups, their breath like smoke on the night air, then the lure of the warm alehouse called them back and they went eagerly, talking of uneasy ghosts and the folly of the holy men in thinking they could trap my spirit.

The hunt was long. I ran through the lost passageways of Cumnor Hall with the priests snapping at my heels and in the end, exhausted and vanquished, my ghost sank into the dark pool. They said their prayers over me and returned to their cloisters and believed the haunting to be at an end.

Yet an unquiet ghost is not so easily laid to rest. They had trapped my wandering spirit but I was not at peace. When the truth is concealed the pattern will repeat. The first victim was Amyas Latimer, the poor boy who fell to his death from the tower of the church where my body was buried. Then there was the little serving girl, Amethyst Green, who tumbled from the roof of Oakhangar Hall. Soon there will be another. If no one prevents it, I know there will be a fourth death and a fifth, and on into an endless future, the same pattern, yet different each time, a shifting magic lantern projecting the horror of that day centuries ago.

There is only one hope.

I sense her presence beside me through the dark. Each time it happens she is there too, in a different guise, like me. She is my nemesis, the arch-enemy. Yet she is the only one who can free me and break this curse. In the end it all depends on her and in freeing my spirit I sense she will also free her own.

Elizabeth.

I met her only a handful of times in my life. She was little but she was fierce, always, fierce enough to survive against the odds, a fighter, clever, ruthless, destined always to be alone. We could never have been friends yet we are locked together in this endless dance through time.

I possessed the one thing she wanted and could not have and in my dying I denied it to her forever. For a little while I thought that would be enough to satisfy me. Yet revenge sours and diminishes through the years. All I wish now is to be released from my pain and to ensure this can never happen again.

Elizabeth, my enemy, you are the only one who can help me now but to do that you must change, you must see that the truth needs to be told. Open your eyes. Find the light.

Excerpted from The Forgotten Sister by Nicola Cornick Copyright © Nicola Cornick. Published by Graydon House Books.

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Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger

 

Alllllllll aboard!! Don't miss your train!  This is what may happen if you DO miss it. 

Selena misses her original train home from work so she boards the later train.  On the train she meets Martha who she feels an immediate connection to that she can't explain.  They begin talking and Selena starts unloading all of her problems while they sit there.  She's going through a very tough time (no spoilers) and feels relief when she confides in Martha.  Martha, in turn, confesses her own secret and they seem to form a quick, if not short bond. 

Well, without giving it all away, Selena's life starts falling apart, not only because of the problem she confessed to Martha, but then to top everything off,  Selena's nanny, Geneva goes missing and suspicion falls on Selena's home. 

Did Selena meet a friend or did she open her life up for more chaos? If only she had caught her regular train home! 

There's so much that goes on in this book after Selena meets Martha, my head was swimming, but in a good way! I enjoyed it but it went down some paths I wasn't totally buying.  But, sometimes that's the kind of story you need-a good escape. So, all in all, I really did enjoy it.  It is just a good, fun ride and if you can suspend SOME belief, you're going to have a good time! Lisa Unger really does deliver in her books. 

Click here for an excerpt from the book: Excerpt from Confessions on the 7:45

                                      Q and A with author Lisa Unger

 

Q: Please give the elevator pitch for Confessions on the 7:45. 

A: Selena Murphy is a young mother who is having a terrible day. When she gets on her commuter train home, it stalls, dying on the tracks. The beautiful stranger sitting next to her strikes up a conversation with a confession. Maybe it’s her awful day, or the drink she shouldn’t have had, or the dark of the train, but, whatever the reason, Selena shares a secret of her own. When the train comes back to life and Selena is finally headed home, she’s embarrassed. What would lead her to confess her darkest secret to a complete stranger? She hopes she’ll never see the mysterious woman from the train, ever again. But, of course, she will. 

Q: How do the ideas come to you for these bestsellers?

A: Every novel begins with a germ. A little zap of interest that starts me on an obsession for a particular topic. It could be a news story I read, or a sentence I hear or just an image that inspires me. One time it was even a piece of junk mail! Then, if that obsession connects to something larger that’s going on with me, I start to hear a voice or voices.I follow those voices, and they carry me through the narrative. 

Q: Can you explain the popularity of the psychological thriller genre?

A: People have a deep and abiding desire, a need even, to understand themselves and those around them. This includes having some insight into the darkest aspects of human nature. Crime fiction is the perfect place to explore some of the big questions people have about what makes people who they are. Also, in difficult times, crime fiction provides a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end where some type of justice is delivered. Not so with the real world. So I think there is some comfort to be found even in the darkest and most suspenseful novels.

Q: There are so many twists in the story.  Did you know the ending before you plotted all of the surprises?

A: When I sit down to write, I have no idea what’s going to happen, who’s going to show up or what they’re going to do day to day.  And I certainly have no idea how things will end.  It’s kind of a crazy way to write a book, but I’ve never done it any other way.  I write for the same reason that I read, because I want to know what’s going to happen.

Q:  What would you like to do if you were not an author?

A: I don’t know! I’ve never wanted to be anything other than an author. Psychology has always fascinated me, so maybe being a psychiatrist or counselor.

Q:  If Confessions on the 7:45 were made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the lead roles?

A: I would cast Scarlett Johansson as Selena and Gal Gadot as Martha. The supporting cast would be important, too, and Anne Hathaway would be perfect as Geneva and I’d love to see Bradley Cooper as Graham.

Q:  Which of your books would you like to see televised or produced by Hollywood as a movie?

A: Any of them! Currently, THE RED HUNTER and UNDER MY SKIN are under options. So fingers crossed there! If I had to choose some others, I’d pick FRAGILE or INK AND BONE. I’d love to see my fictional town The Hollows come to life on the big or small screen.

Q: Which came first: the characters or the plot line? 

A: The characters, always. My stories always begin for me with a voice, someone with a story to tell.

Q: Why do you love Selena and why should readers root for her?

A: As most of my characters are, Selena is imperfect. The pressures she experiences from the world around her are matched by those she places on herself. She is struggling, but she also knows she has reserves of strength from which to draw to overcome the obstacles she faces, some of which are catastrophic. I think we’re all stronger and braver than we believe ourselves to be, so when we’re rooting for Selena, we’re really rooting for the warrior within us all.

Q: How do you come up with your stories? Is anything based on or influenced by real life? 

A: Everything in fiction is autobiographical -- and nothing is! If we’re writing from a deep and authentic place, then all of our experiences, our observations, the people we meet, the situations we observe, the conversations we have and overhear, inform our fiction. Sometimes inspiration comes from the news, from travel, from questions I have about people and the world. My fiction is always influenced by my real life but in really layered and mysterious ways. 

Q: What was your last 5-star read? 

A: I’ve read so many fantastic books recently! GOOD GIRLS LIE by JT Ellison, IF IT BLEEDS by Stephen King, and LITTLE SECRETS by Jennifer Hillier are some of my favorite recent reads.

Q: What is one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you?

A: I worked for a publisher before I became an author, so I was lucky to have a lot of insight into the business of publishing. So I suppose I’d like to share what I knew going in that a lot of writers don’t.  I knew that the book contract was not the end of the journey, but the beginning of the writing life. And that no matter where you are in your career -- an aspiring writer, or a published writer just starting out, or a mega bestseller, it never stops being about the writing. What you do on the page is always the most important element of your career, so never stop trying to get better.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.