Reading Right Now! (293)

 What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

Hello Girls by Brittany Cavallaro and Emily Henry -- This is definitely a fast read. I'm liking it okay. I don't necessarily agree with these two girls decisions. I don't really like the no big deal vibes they give to stealing. I think they should have been caught a lot quicker then is currently happening. Their car choice was not smart. Lucille, I just don't buy her all the way. She acts too tough girl, and then she judges Winona for the same kind of stuff that she does. Maybe it doesn't look as cool or attractive when you see someone else doing it. This might just be because I'm not young and carefree like these two are and I'm reading it from older, more judgemental eyes. This trip that they are on feels more like fantasy then real life. I don't really feel the urgency, the danger that I think Winona and Lucille should be feeling. 

This does have an abusive parent/abusive situation and reading those chapters really did make me feel uncomfortable. 

I've heard this is supposed to be a Thelma and Louise kind of thing. I'm thinking this might just turn out to be a meh read for me. I'm over 200 pages in.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust -- This is a slower read, but I'm interested. I like the kind of fairytale feel it has to it and I'm interested to see where it's going to go.

And that is what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

BLOG TOUR: Silence Is a Sense by Layla AlAmmar

 I am excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Silence Is a Sense by Layla AlAmmar. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Layla AlAmmar for letting me be a part of this tour and giving me the chance to read Silence Is a Sense.

 

 

Title: Silence Is a Sense

Author: Layla AlAmmar

Published by: Algonquin Books

Released: March 16, 2021

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: A profound and life-affirming debut about migration, trauma, and the healing power of community. 

A young woman sits in her apartment in an unnamed English city, absorbed in watching the small dramas of her assorted neighbors through their windows across the way. Traumatized into muteness after a long, devastating trip from war-torn Syria to the UK, she believes that she wants to sink deeper into isolation, moving between memories of her absent boyfriend and family and her homeland, dreams, and reality. At the same time, she begins writing for a magazine under the pseudonym "the Voiceless," trying to explain the refugee experience without sensationalizing it—or revealing anything about herself.

Gradually, as the boundaries of her world expand—as she ventures to the neighborhood corner store, to a gathering at a nearby mosque, and to the bookstore and laundromat, and as an anti-Muslim hate crime shatters the members of a nearby mosque—she has to make a choice: Will she remain a voiceless observer, or become an active participant in her own life and in a community that, despite her best efforts, is quickly becoming her own?   

With brilliant, poetic prose that captures all the fragments of this character's life, and making use of fragments of text from Tweets and emails to the narrator's own articles, journals, and fiction, Silence Is a Sense explores what it means to be a refugee and to need asylum, and how fundamental human connection is to survival. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: Powerful and Emotional are words that come to mind when thinking about Silence Is a Sense. Our narrator spends a lot of time in her own head, observing the world around her, but not really taking part in it. She makes a lot of judgements about the people she views through her window. She is also mute. Traumatized from her experiences. She also starts writing for a magazine under a pseudonym about what a refugee really feels.

What I really liked about this story is that you come to see the refugees as different people rather then a mass. They are people that left their homes for different reasons, but they might come to a place where they still don't feel welcome and safe. It's a very important story in what it covers.

This is a very important story that is very powerful and beautifully told. I'm glad I got to read it and experience it. 

 

 

 

Layla AlAmmar is a writer and academic from Kuwait. She has a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh. Her short stories have appeared in the Evening Standard, Quail Bell Magazine, the Red Letters St. Andrews Prose Journal, and Aesthetica Magazine, where her story "The Lagoon" was a finalist for the 2014 Creative Writing Award. She was the 2018 British Council international writer in residence at the Small Wonder Short Story Festival. Her debut novel, The Pact We Made, was published in 2019. She has written for The Guardian and ArabLit Quarterly. She is currently pursuing a PhD on the intersection of Arab women's fiction and literary trauma theory.

 

 

 

 Thank you so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Silence Is a Sense by Layla AlAmmar. Thank you to Algonquin Books and Layla AlAmmar for letting me be a part of this fun tour. This book is a good one, and I'd say, Read It!

BLOG TOUR: Fractals by Alicia Anthony

 I'm excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Fractals by Alicia Anthony. I was provided with a free electronic copy for honest review. Thanks so much to Drury Lane Books and Alicia Anthony for giving me the chance to review this one.

Title: Fractals

Author: Alicia Anthony

Published by: Drury Lane Books, LLC

Released: March 16, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: From award-winning author Alicia Anthony comes a gripping novel of redemption and revenge, fueled by the traumas that shape us.

Seventeen-year-old Carly Dalton should’ve known Asher Thompson had secrets. Why else would he be in a truck stop bar in the middle of a school night? And she definitely shouldn’t have accepted his offer. But here she was, new school, new friends, same old problems. Now she sat in the police station, keeping secrets of her own, with nowhere to go and only one person left to care.

High school science teacher Asher Thompson only wanted to help. He first told himself that the night he pulled Carly, a rain-soaked teenager, from the floor of the local truck stop bar. Now, with the girl’s father dead and sister missing, he was doing it again, opening his home to her as a temporary guardian. But as Carly’s brutal present begins to crack open a door to Asher’s own painful past, he’s forced to choose … protect his student or save himself.

And Asher already knows … no good deed goes unpunished.

***
Fractals is an emotionally intense psychological thriller that explores the impact of trauma on our perception of right versus wrong. Readers of Lisa Unger, Ruth Ware, and Alice Feeney will delight in the edge of your seat twists in this complex thriller.
Content Warning: This book contains elements of human trafficking which may be difficult for sensitive readers. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This book was not exactly what I was expecting it to be. I thought there were going to be romantic things going on. Student and Teacher. Now, the synopsis didn't really say anything like that was going to happen, but it kind of gave you that feeling that it could. Even though it didn't have a romance, it was a enjoyable thriller. I was interested from page one and I wanted to know what was going to happen.

This book covers some dark subjects, as noted in the synopsis, so if human trafficking is triggering, this might not be the book you want to read. It was tough to read because you know these kinds of awful things happen to real people. It's a dark truth that people don't tend to think about in their happy lives. There are mean people out there who take advantage of girls.

I can honestly say that Fractals kept my attention throughout. I liked the way that the story was told in duo perspectives. I liked learning about the lives and secrets of Asher and Carly. I like the protector relationship that formed between the pair, not romantic, but just kind of caring. I couldn't wait to see where everything was going to go and how it was going to be wrapped up. If this sounds like something you'd like, I definitely recommend giving it a read.

Alicia Anthony’s first novels were illegible scribbles on the back of her truck driver father’s logbook trip tickets. Having graduated from scribbles to laptop, she now pens novels of psychological suspense in the quiet of the wee morning hours. A full-time elementary school Literacy Specialist, Alicia hopes to pass on her passion for books and writing to the students she teaches.

A two time Golden Heart® finalist and Silver Quill Award winner, Alicia finds her inspiration in exploring the dark, dusty corners of the human experience. Alicia is a graduate of Spalding University’s School of Creative & Professional Writing (MFA), Ashland University (M.Ed.) and THE Ohio State University (BA). Go Bucks! She lives in rural south-central Ohio with her amazingly patient and supportive husband, incredibly understanding teenage daughter, two dogs, three horses, a plethora of both visiting and resident barn cats, and some feral raccoons who have worn out their welcome.

When she’s not writing or teaching, Alicia loves to travel and experience new places. Connect with her online at www.AliciaAnthonyBooks.com. She’d love to hear from you!

Thank you so much for checking out my post for Fractals by Alicia Anthony. Thanks to Drury Lane Books and Alicia Anthony for giving me the chance to read and review this one. It's an intense ride, but if you can handle it, then I definitely recommend giving it a read.

BLOG TOUR: The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson

 I am very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Hanover Square Press and Nadine Matheson for letting me be a part of the tour. I needed some thrills in my current reading life!

Title: The Jigsaw Man (#1)

Author: Nadine Matheson

Published by: Hanover Square Press

Released: March 16, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy provided by Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery... 

When body parts are found on the banks of the River Thames in Deptford, DI Angelica Henley is tasked with finding the killer. Eerie echoes of previous crimes lead Henley to question Peter Olivier, aka The Jigsaw Killer, who is currently serving a life sentence for a series of horrific murders. 

When a severed head is delivered to Henley's home, she realises that the copycat is taking a personal interest in her and that the victims have not been chosen at random. 

To catch the killer, Henley must confront her own demons - - and when Olivier escapes from prison, she finds herself up against not one serial killer, but two. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I love thrillers. They are so fun to read. I also love police procedurals. I was also very excited to learn that this was the start of a new series. The Jigsaw Man was tense, gritty, and thrilling! I definitely enjoyed my time being introduced to DI Angelica Henley. This killer is not playing any games and he seems to be targeting her.

I definitely enjoyed the case and the chase. I was kept on the edge of my seat waiting to see where it would go next. It is a bit of a chunky book though, but I'm always excited for a longer book then a shorter book. I feel like I'm getting more.

This is not a thriller for the weak of stomach. There are a lot of body parts, a lot of gruesome discoveries. And we also have the baddie bad, The Jigsaw Killer! Terrifying.

This was a really fun read. If you like thrillers, then I'd definitely recommend checking this one out. It's a great start to a new series. I can't see what cases are going to come next.

Nadine Matheson is a criminal defense attorney and winner of the City University Crime Writing competition. She lives in London, UK.
NadineMatheson.com

Thank you so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson. Thanks so much to Hanover Square Press and Nadine Matheson for giving me the chance to read this book and be a part of the Blog Tour.

Review: Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuire

 

Title: Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day

Author: Seanan McGuire

Published by: Tor

 Released:

Source: Library

 

Synopsis: When her sister Patty died, Jenna blamed herself. When Jenna died, she blamed herself for that, too. Unfortunately Jenna died too soon. Living or dead, every soul is promised a certain amount of time, and when Jenna passed she found a heavy debt of time in her record. Unwilling to simply steal that time from the living, Jenna earns every day she leeches with volunteer work at a suicide prevention hotline.

But something has come for the ghosts of New York, something beyond reason, beyond death, beyond hope; something that can bind ghosts to mirrors and make them do its bidding. Only Jenna stands in its way.

Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day is a new standalone urban fantasy novella from New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire.  (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was okay. I'm not sure if I'm the biggest fan of the novella format when it comes to stories. It just feels like the story is over right when it's getting started, which is what I felt with Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day. There's this sense of not being all the way satisfied because it's just too short.
The world presented in this was interesting, but a little on the complicated side. More than half of this novella is spent explaining how time for the ghosts work, how the witches come into play and the rules about them, plus the relationship between witches and ghosts. It takes a little bit to wrap one's mind around.

Jenna is working at a suicide hotline to earn her time when she can move on, which was a noble cause. There could be triggers for suicide in this, but it's more of a feeling for the people left behind. That feeling of loss that comes with losing someone who chose to leave. 

The first chapter of this book, the backstory, was just a weird little thing. Jenna's death was kind of ridiculous in a way. It was just very odd.

The second half of the book is what I was excited for. I was ready to get into the meat of the story, the action, but it was over as soon as it began. It was so abrupt that I didn't really feel satisfied. The story did have a definite ending for Jenna though, so I'm not really left wondering what happens next.

I don't know, I liked this well enough, but I was hoping for something a little more too. This could have been a whole book and I probably would have been more satisfied. It's a fast read, a quick one, so if it sounds interesting to you, I'd say read it.

 

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.4/5

Over right when it was just starting. 

 

Reading Right Now! (292)

 I'm starting some new books this Friday because I've finished (or just about finished as of writing this post) my reads I've been working on this week. So, what I'm Reading Right Now! is...

Hello Girls by Brittany Cavallaro and Emily Henry -- I don't really know what this one is. I have a general idea of it being two girls coming from bad home lives who decide to run away together. I've heard Thelma and Louise vibes, but then also people being disappointed because it's not really Thelma and Louise. This was just a random library grab for me. I saw it on the shelf and picked it up. We'll see if I like it or not.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust -- I don't really know the details of this one either. I think it has some fairy tale kind of vibes. This book is for my Deck of TBR for a book with flowers on the cover. I'm hoping for good things with this one. It's very pretty.

So that is what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading this weekend?

BLOG TOUR: Meant to Be by Jude Deveraux

 I am excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Meant to Be by Jude Deveraux. I received an electronic copy for free for review from the publisher. Thanks so much to MIRA and Jude Deveraux for letting me be a part of the tour!

Title: Meant to Be

Author: Jude Deveraux

Published by: MIRA

Released: March 16, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: An inspiring new family saga by New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux

Two headstrong sisters are bound by tradition but long to forge their own path. 

It’s 1972 and times are changing. In the small farming community of Mason, Kansas, Vera and Kelly Exton are known for their ambitions. Vera is an activist who wants to join her boyfriend in the Peace Corps. But she is doing her duty caring for her widowed mother and younger sister until Kelly is firmly established. Kelly is studying to become a veterinarian. She plans to marry her childhood sweetheart and eventually take over his father’s veterinary practice.

But it’s a tumultuous time and neither sister is entirely happy with the path that’s been laid out for her. As each evaluates her options, everything shifts. Do you do what’s right for yourself or what others want? By having the courage to follow their hearts these women will change lives for the better and the effects will be felt by the generations that follow. Meant to Be delivers an emotional, smart, funny and wise lesson about the importance of being true to yourself. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I always love a story about sisters. I also really love family stories and family sagas, so this had so many things I wanted. We follow the family from 1972 to 1996. It's a story of where life will take you, and trying to figure out how to capture happiness. Vera and Kelly both think that life will go one way for them, but they are met with curveballs. They have to figure out just what direction they want to go in.

I liked this. It was a very poignant story, moving and relatable. It kept up a good pace throughout. We also follow the timeline of another character in the present day whose is important to what is going on.

It's a great new series from Jude Deveraux. This is an author that has a lot of stories. I'd definitely check this one out when it releases.

Jude Deveraux is the author of forty-three New York Times bestsellers, including For All Time, Moonlight in the Morning, and A Knight in Shining Armor. She was honored with a Romantic Times Pioneer Award in 2013 for her distinguished career. To date, there are more than sixty million copies of her books in print worldwide.

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Meant to Be by Jude Deveraux. Thanks so much to MIRA and Jude Deveraux for giving me the chance to read this book and having me on the tour. Look for this one March 16, 2021!