Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah is a 2021 HQ publication.
Okay, it’s official- Kia Abdullah, having only read two of her books, has earned a place on my ‘Next of Kin by Kia Abdullah is a 2021 HQ publication.
Okay, it’s official- Kia Abdullah, having only read two of her books, has earned a place on my ‘favorite author’ list.
Leila is a high-powered businesswoman- by all accounts an ‘against the odds’ success story. Her life would be a complete, except that her dream of having a child has not been realized. But she’s a super aunt to her sister’s son, Max. So, when her brother-in-law calls one morning begging Leila to take Max to day care for him that morning, she readily agrees. But then an urgent work situation pops up and her focus automatically switches to the crisis at hand forgetting all about Max…
And now the unimaginable has happened and Leila’s career, her marriage, her family relationships, and even her very life, as she knows it, could be over, when she’s arrested, and charged with manslaughter.
Whew! This is one heart-stopping- gut wrenching legal drama with twists that will knock the wind out of you.
This book deals with subject matter that pulls at the heart and horrifies our sensibilities. As the story develops and begins to play out via a riveting courtroom drama, the suspense builds to a crescendo- but just when you think you can’t take much more, you get hit with another blow- leaving you in a complete state of shock.
I really like this author! Her stories are very smart, thought-provoking and super intense. Not only that, but her books also fit the description of a pure legal thriller- with some great courtroom interactions- something I find missing in most books that fall into his category these days- so overall, I’m getting something I don’t find every day, with a unique storyline, and a psychological suspense story that will certainly linger in my mind for a while- so I’m giving this one all the stars!...more
Nobody’s Magic by Destiny O. Birdsong is a 2022 Grand Central Publication.
This book is a trilogy of stories centered around three black women born wiNobody’s Magic by Destiny O. Birdsong is a 2022 Grand Central Publication.
This book is a trilogy of stories centered around three black women born with albinism.
The first story features Suzette, a young woman of some privilege whose parents are alternately overprotective, manipulative, and controlling.
Suzette is now in her early twenties, but has never learned to drive, has never held a job or seriously considered her future. But she’s becoming restless, ready to break free from her parent’s restraints and live a normal life.
The second story involves Maple who is reeling from the aftermath of her mother’s murder. She leaves her grandmother’s home, finds a part-time job and a place to stay, then meets Chad, a man struggling with his own tremendous loss. Through the sharing of his grief and pain, Maple is able to come to terms with her own.
The third story is centered around Agnes, who appears to live in the shadow of her sister and harbors intense resentment towards her family. She’s struggled to find her niche, barely scraping by- but then she meets ‘Prime’ who could be the person she’s been longing to find. But she does something that propels her to finally return home to confront the family she’s avoided for so long.
All three stories are set in the deep south along the ARK/TX/LA area- primarily in Shreveport, Louisiana-which is key in setting the stage and creating the atmosphere and undertones.
Of the three stories, the second one is the strongest and Maple was the character I was most connected to. The third story is the weakest and felt out of place compared to the first two.
Overall, I rarely read short stories- but this was a well-written collection, despite some unnecessary content and inconsistencies, and touches on a variety of topics and emotions. It was an enlightening change of pace for me, and I will certainly be keeping an eye on this author....more
Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand is a 2017 Little, Brown and Company publication.
I think this series was supposed to be a trilogy- but it was onlyWinter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand is a 2017 Little, Brown and Company publication.
I think this series was supposed to be a trilogy- but it was only fitting that one more book was added- finally giving Bart his own story.
Though bittersweet, this was a lovely send off for the series. The Quinn’s have closed one chapter in their lives, but are now set to move on to another phase- one that will see them finally receive stability, peace after a time of uncertainty and chaos.
I have enjoyed each minute with the Quinn’s and will miss them- but I’m glad I got to know them and will always remember them fondly.
White Coat Diaries by Madi Sinha is a 2020 Berkley publication.
Realistic medical drama
Norah Kapadia has just entered her residency, with a combinatiWhite Coat Diaries by Madi Sinha is a 2020 Berkley publication.
Realistic medical drama
Norah Kapadia has just entered her residency, with a combination of excitement and nerves. Right off the bat, she makes a horrible mistake, magnifying her self-doubt. To complicate matters her family obligations tug at her, as do the many things in life she has yet to experience, causing her to second guess her career choice.
As time passes, Norah will live and learn, leading her to an ultimate crisis of conscience that will decide her future.
When I added this book to my reading list, the top genres Goodreads users placed the book in was 'contemporary romance/fiction', adding the word Medical into the mix, which gave the impression, this was a medical drama-ala Grey’s Anatomy, with some degree of romantic elements included.
Once I finished reading the book, my first thought was that it was mislabeled. A little digging on other sites shows the book categorized simply as 'Medical Fiction" which is a far more apt description- in my opinion.
As the saying goes- ‘Write what you know’- and that is what Madi Sinha has done here. As a medical professional she gives readers a close up and personal view of the drama that goes on behind the scenes in the lives of doctors and exposes hospital politics, some of which blur ethical lines.
The story is compelling on several levels- the cultural expectations Norah has to contend with, the intense pressures on health care professionals, the risks, the human mistakes and the coping mechanisms physicians use, as well as the enormous possibility of severe burnout- certainly gave me something to chew on.
Unfortunately, the drama depicted never grabbed me emotionally, nor did the characters. While I felt Norah’s frustrations, self-doubt, and her palpable crisis of conscience, no matter badly I wished for it, I didn’t find her character inspirational enough to worry about her or to root for her. I did see her character evolve as she goes from a green resident to a more wise, mature woman- which was a plus- and I did applaud the decisions she made at the end of the day.
The ending was also a bit ambiguous and I would have preferred an epilogue or something that hints at Norah's future contentment.
Overall, this book turned out to be a little different from what I was expecting. There is plenty of sudsy hospital theatre here, ala Grey’s Anatomy- as the blurb suggests- but it lacked the angst, urgency, and passion, I was craving.
Other than Norah, the characters are not especially likeable, and I hoped Norah would achieve healthier relationships, both personally and professionally.
Overall, despite the detachment I felt while reading this novel, I do think it is a solid debut. I did enjoy the authenticity the author brought to the table, and the insight into the medical profession, including the various factors that go into patient care- including the machinations of doctors and administrators, behind the scenes. It was interesting, to be sure.
Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok is a 2019 William Morrow publication.
A poignant family saga highlighting cultural, gender, and generational divSearching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok is a 2019 William Morrow publication.
A poignant family saga highlighting cultural, gender, and generational divides.
About Sylvie:
Sylvie is a thirty-three-year old woman of Chinese descent, who up until she was nine years old, lived in the Netherlands with her extended family- which included her maternal grandmother, her mother’s cousin, Helena, her husband, Willem Tan, and their son, Lukas. She is the daughter of ‘Ma and Pa’, the sister of Amy, the wife of Jim. She’s vibrant, focused, brilliant and highly successful… And… she’s missing.
Sylvie initially flew to Holland to care for her ailing grandmother. After her grandmother passes away, it was presumed Sylvie had returned to New York, but no one has seen her. Amy is alerted by Lukas that Sylvie has vanished, which sets off alarm bells in Amy’s mind. After checking the usual places, it becomes clear Sylvie never left the Netherlands. So, Amy travels to Holland to search for her, encountering her extended relatives for the first time.
She is immediately struck by their apathy towards Sylvie’s absence, the hostility she senses from Helena, and the mysterious behavior Sylvie exhibited before she disappeared. But her cousin’s blasé attitude is nothing compared to their demand that Amy not seek outside help- such as from the police. As Amy works to uncover the truth about her sister, she discovers a part of Sylvie she never knew existed.
The story is a very taut, suspenseful mystery, but not in the traditional sense. Where is Sylvie? Did she take off deliberately? Why would she do something so out of character?
While this mystery unfolds, at the core of the story is a very complex family drama. ‘Ma’ immigrated to the US, but the adjustment was very hard, leading her to take the Tans up on their kind offer to have Sylvie come live with them. She never intended for Sylvie to stay so long and had no idea how difficult things became for her before she returned home to New York to live with parents again.
Amy also has no idea what Sylvie’s life was like in the nine years she spent in Holland. She loves her sister dearly, but is also a little jealous of her, too. Could Sylvie be a bit envious of Amy, as well?
Besides the exploration of sisterly bonds, the story also addresses the hardships immigrants endure, the racism the family encountered, both in Holland and in New York. These events shaped them as a family unit and as individuals.
Amy’s persistent search for answers unveils layers of sorrow, secrets, resentments, and a host of bitter regrets.
The novel is fast paced, but everything remains shrouded in mystery until the very end, which tempted me to start over and read it again so I could view it from with an insider’s advantage.
The mysteries and revelations emerge slowly, but the atmosphere becomes increasingly puzzling and alarming. Once the mystery is resolved, one is left to reflect upon the characters, their motives, limitations, desires, fears, and the perception of oneself that others may view differently.
While this book is categorized as a mystery, I strongly urge those familiar with the genre not to expect anything like a criminal investigation here. This is the desperate search for a missing person without the help of any official agencies. But, rest assured, the mystery of Sylvie Lee’s disappearance deepens as the story progresses, leaving one feeling on edge with ever growing sense of urgency.
However, for me, the cultural struggles of immigrating to another country, and the absolute poison of racism humming beneath the surface, along with the complex family dynamics, is what I’ll remember most about the journey.
It’s a heart wrenching tale with a valuable lesson tucked inside these pages, one that should give us all something to contemplate. Empathy is evidently a rare strait and one we should all try harder to develop. You never really know what someone is going through until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes…...more
A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford is a 2014 RosettaBooks publication. (originally published in 1979)
A Classic saga that stands the test A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford is a 2014 RosettaBooks publication. (originally published in 1979)
A Classic saga that stands the test of time-
This is the story of Emma Harte, a poverty ridden young woman employed by a wealthy family, who eventually works her way to the top of a rich and powerful business empire. Her personal disappointments, hardships, loves and losses all play a role in solidifying Emma’s fortitude, as her instincts for human nature develops, helping her to become a wizened, formidable businesswoman.
The story begins in the twilight of Emma’s life as she sits on top of the world basking in the daily operations of her empire and all the accoutrements of her vast wealth. But, when she is informed that forces are working to overthrow her, taking her decision -making authority away- she sets a plan in action…
But, as she schemes to preempt a coup de grace, the reader is transported back in time to Emma’s humble beginnings, following her through the years as she builds her business, makes friends and enemies, makes fateful decisions, falls passionately in love, all while plotting her revenge against the powerful family that betrayed her.
In 1979, this book was of zero interest to me, but I think I vaguely remember hearing some buzz about it. I think it was one of those books everyone was reading and talking about, especially those a few years older than me. But, I was in my mid-teens when the book was published, and I just didn’t find many long family sagas of interest. It wasn’t until a few years later, after I graduated from high school that I began to read anything besides horror or mystery novels. Still, I don’t recall reading anything by this author. (although there were some passages in this book that seemed vaguely familiar) I did, however, read plenty of Judith Krantz, Barbara Delinsky, Danielle Steel, and Jackie Collins- to name a few. But, over the years, the historical sagas- the ones that continued over several subsequent installments became a huge favorite of mine- but still I didn’t put this book in that category, for some reason.
There was even a movie based on this book, which was also well- received, but I have no memory of watching that either. My taste and interest changed many times over the years, and on many occasions I felt a pang of regret for missing out on so many great books in my teenage and young adult years- this book being one of them. Many times, I have thought to read this book, but, with a such a huge TBR pile and review deadlines, the length of the book deterred me. However, when I realized the book was in digital format- and in the Kindle Unlimited program I decided to finally take the plunge.
Now I am asking myself why on earth it took my so long to read this book! I loved it!! This story once again reminds me of how much I miss those epic sagas!! Emma’s life story was an amazing journey, and she is an inspiration and model of true grit and determination. There’s nothing better than a ‘rags to riches’ story, especially when it features a smart woman willing to do what it takes to become successful. Emma got a few lucky breaks, but mainly she was smart, thought ahead, and worked hard. Her drive may have stemmed from unhealthy emotions at times, but who could blame her? It just made her success that much sweeter!!
There are several more additions to this long running saga and I can not wait to read them!! I see now why this book was so popular and remained so for decades, and why so many people still say it is one of their favorite books of all time.
In the meantime, I hope the family saga makes a comeback in one form or another. They really are awesome!
Love and Other Consolations Prizes by Jamie Ford is a 2017 Ballantine publication.
A stirring, poignant story of love in its various stages and forms,Love and Other Consolations Prizes by Jamie Ford is a 2017 Ballantine publication.
A stirring, poignant story of love in its various stages and forms, crossing oceans and spanning decades-
This is my first novel by Jamie Ford. I haven’t read his bestselling first novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, but of course, I still plan to someday. This book, though, has been loitering around on my Kindle for a little while, and I’m trying to grab more books from the bottom of the TBR pile this year. This turned out be a great choice.
As the blurb states, the story has a basis in fact, drawing from the raffle drawing at the 1909 World’s Fair, for a young boy!
Earnest Young, a mixed -race young boy, is raffled off to Madam Flora, who runs a brothel. He is stunned to find himself reunited with Fahn, a Japanese girl who was on the boat with him, during his trip to America. In short order, he is also introduced to Madam Flora’s daughter, Maisie, with whom he forges a close bond. Earnest falls in love with both girls. But a series of heartbreaking circumstances threaten to tear the three of them apart for all time…
As difficult as it is to learn about the Chinese and Japanese orphans and the cruelty they were subjected to, and exploitation of these young girls, this book was absolutely riveting and flush with historical details. I fell in love with the characters, and became emotionally invested in their plight.
The story is told with a dual timeline- ‘current day’ 1962, which alternates with the events that transpired in the early 1900’s. The reader knows that Earnest has a wife named 'Gracie' with whom he has two daughters and that Gracie is suffering from an unnamed malady that affects her memories and mood. Running in the backdrop is the Seattle World Fair, which of course brings back all those memories for Earnest, and piques the curiosity of his daughter, an investigative reporter, who wishes to write an article about him.
What we don’t know, is who 'Gracie' really is or what the mysterious ailment is that plagues her, or what secrets Earnest and Gracie have kept from their daughters.
I will admit I did find myself as conflicted as Earnest, understanding how he could love two women, and hoping desperately they found true peace and happiness, and that they all ended up with the person the really wanted to be with. The conclusion was simply lovely and so very bittersweet. I may have dabbed at my eyes just a little, but overall, I was very satisfied with the way things wrapped up. In fact, once I really thought it over, I can’t see how could have turned out better.
After reading this book, I can’t wait to see what wonderful discoveries are waiting for me at the bottom of my seemingly endless TBR pile....more
The Sunshine Sisters by Jane Green is a 2017 Berkley publication.
This book is the ideal beach read.
Ronni Sunshine was once a famous actress, defininThe Sunshine Sisters by Jane Green is a 2017 Berkley publication.
This book is the ideal beach read.
Ronni Sunshine was once a famous actress, defining the narcissist personality we so often associate with that occupation. But, she also has three daughters, Nell, Meredith, and Lizzy, all of whom couldn’t wait to get away from Ronni… and each other.
But, now they have all been summoned home by Ronni, who has been diagnosed with a fatal disease… for real this time. She only has a little time left to get her daughters back together in one place, and to apologize to them for being such a wretched mother, and hopefully receive their forgiveness, but she also needs their help to carry out one final, shocking request.
After years of estrangement from their mother, the girls gather together with all their resentments and baggage coming along for the ride. Can they make peace with their mother and mend their broken relationship with each other?
All of Ronni’s daughters bring high drama with them- Nell, a single mom, who has never been able to get over her first love, no matter how hard she tries to feel a connection and real passion with someone else.
Meredith took a dull job, has a boring boyfriend, and finds great comfort in food, while trying to make everyone else happy.
Lizzy, is the youngest, and the most like her mother. She’s a successful celebrity chef, with a husband and young son, but she is also having a long running affair, she can’t seem to withdraw from, having also inherited her mother's spoiled self-absorbtion.
Under the same roof, the sisters become catty, with their barely contained annoyance with each other simmering just underneath the surface. But, when they find out their mother is gravely ill, they each take stock of their lives, and find the courage to take risks, embrace their sisterhood, and commonality with each other, and embark on a new chapter in their lives.
The story got off to a slow start, for me, but I’m glad I stuck it out. The real turning point comes when a writer shows up at Ronni’s, hoping to do a documentary over her life. His presence allows the sisters to look back over their mother’s life, and helps them put their childhood’s in perspective.
Other than Ronni’s illness, the story is not too heavy, and there are several comical moments along the way, but the emotional levels stay on an even keel, so you won’t have to worry about doing the ugly cry sitting poolside.
But, mostly this is a story about three sisters who did not have a strong parental influence in their lives, because their mother was so caught up in her career, always trying to keep the attention on herself and was a real life drama queen, and father who chose his second family over them. They all endured some kind of side effect from their upbringing that influenced the decisions they made and the actions they took as adults, with disastrous results.
They now have the rare chance to change the course of their lives, to make peace with the past and with each other and enjoy the last, but best gift their mother ever gave them… each other.
Overall, this is a nice and easy read, with nice character growth, and a feel good ending.
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