This is the first time that I have read any of Michael Farris Smith’s writing and I wasThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This is the first time that I have read any of Michael Farris Smith’s writing and I was quite impressed by how his writing pulled me in. I read this book over the course of a single day. When I did put it down, I quickly found myself coming back to it. This isn’t a feel-good story. It is a story of desperation filled with flawed characters that came to life through the writing. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
Jessie finds herself on the run with her toddler son, Jace. She decides to go home to her father, Wade, whom she hasn’t seen since she left when she ran off with Jace’s father as a teen. Jessie knows that people are after Holt and running was the only option but she is worried about what might have happened to him. There aren’t a lot of options in the hurricane-ravaged lands of southern Mississippi where the land is too wet to grow crops anymore. They will find themselves in more danger before things are over.
The descriptions in this book were incredibly vivid. I felt Jessie’s worry when she was on the run with her son and I loved seeing Wade encounter the grandchild that he didn’t know existed. All of the characters in this story were flawed but they were doing the best that they could, with a few setbacks. They obviously cared about each other even though they didn’t always know how to show it.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this book was not only incredibly well-written but also entertaining and thought-provoking. I would not hesitate to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Little, Brown and Company....more
This was great! I had such a great time with this creepy story set in a town stuck in 1This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! I had such a great time with this creepy story set in a town stuck in 1994. I found this book almost impossible to set aside once I started reading and couldn’t wait to find out what was really behind the things happening on Clifford Island. Willow comes to the island after finding a clue in her deceased son’s room. She hasn’t been heard from for a while either so her brother comes to try to get to the bottom of things.
We see things from various points of view during the story which let the reader see just how strange this island really was. The descriptions in this book were incredibly well-done so I could clearly envision this town where OJ Simpson chase plays on repeat because everyone is stuck in the past. I was eager to find out why they went to such lengths and what was really going on in this strange community.
I thought that this cast of narrators did an amazing job with this book. They were able to bring the characters to life which took the story to the next level. There are several sections of the book that consisted of interviews which were especially well done. I do believe that the narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.
I would recommend this book to others. I had such a great time with this creepy tale set on an incredibly strange island. I thought that this was a fantastic debut novel and cannot wait to read more of this author’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Dutton and Penguin Random House Audio....more
I thought that this was a very entertaining story. Piper has recently moved in with herThis review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I thought that this was a very entertaining story. Piper has recently moved in with her father, stepmother, and half-siblings. She feels out of place and starting a new school in her senior year is less than ideal. She decides to start a podcast investigating the death of another student 17 years earlier as her senior project. She is paired with another student, Jonas, who runs his own podcast and will serve as her mentor. I loved the way that Piper dived into this project headfirst and couldn’t wait to learn what really happened to Layla Trello.
Layla Trello went missing after a party and her body was found in a secluded area 2 weeks later. Some people think her boyfriend or his brother was involved but the case remains unsolved. Piper starts interviewing people immediately, and I was surprised by some of the things she discovered. Piper has her own issues to deal with and I feel like she grew a lot over the course of the story. Jonas was also a great character and I thought his story added a lot to the story as well.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to others. The pacing of the book was very well done and I felt like the short chapters helped to make this feel like a very speedy read. I hope to read more of April Henry’s work again very soon in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers....more
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I like to read the occasional historical romance and tThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I like to read the occasional historical romance and this one looked like it would be worth a try. This is the first book in the Hazards of Dukes series and I thought that it kicked off the new series quite well. I was hooked by this story in the first few pages and found the book to be a very pleasant read. I am so glad that I decided to pick up this book.
Sebastian, Duke of Hasford, finds his life changed through no fault of his own. Because of a lie his mother told, he is no longer a Duke. He had his life figured out before but now he must find a new path. He has to learn how to do a lot of things for himself that have always been done for him. He is up to the task and doesn't want help from his cousin who is the new Duke or his friend who happens to be a Duke.
Ivy runs a gaming club, Miss Ivy's. Her club is a little different in that she expects debts to be settled right away and anyone who can pay is allowed to play. Ivy was once considered a Lady but she decided to gamble to win back her future which was lost by her father. Ivy's won that card game and her freedom but it changed how others looked at her. She is very competent to run the club and is surrounded by a very dedicated staff but she decided to take a chance and offer a job to Sebastian.
I really liked Ivy and Sebastian. They have both had to deal with some pretty big changes in their lives and are doing what they can to move forward. They are both very invested in making sure that their loved ones get the best in life. I loved the chemistry that they shared and I really liked the way they were able to work as a pair. These two just seemed to fit with each other perfectly.
I thought that the premise of the story was rather unique and very well done. I really enjoyed being with Sebastian as he learned to navigate his new life. He really had a lot to deal with and I think he made the best of things. There was some excitement in the story to keep things interesting. The secondary characters in this book were wonderful and I hope to see more of them in future books.
I would recommend this book to fans of historical romances. I thought that this was a well-done romance with wonderful characters. I can't wait to read more of this wonderful series!
I received an advanced review copy of this book from HarperCollins - Avon.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this book a lot. I liked the premise and thought that watching Sebastian learn to move on with his life now that he is no longer a Duke was great. I thought that Ivy and Sebastian were well paired and I loved their chemistry. It did take a while for things to heat up for them but then everything moved quickly. I would be interested to read more of this series....more
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