#netgalley2018

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Feared Lisa Scottoline Scottoline delivers a perfect blend of characters, setting and story in this delightful series of strong women lawyers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ SUMMARY Feared, is the sixth book in the Rosato and DiNunzio series. A baby shower for Mary is interrupted when papers are served announcing that three men are suing the law firm for reverse sex discrimination. They claim they were not hired because it’s a all female firm, and there are no opportunities for men. Mary and Bennie are outraged. But to make matters worse the one male attorney, John, intends to resign, and just in the midst of a huge anti-trust suit, claiming there is some truth to this reverse sex discrimination case. The plaintiffs lawyer is Nick Machiavelli who has already lost to Mary once. Now he will stop at nothing, he not wants only win, but to destroy the Rosato and DiNunzio firm. It soon becomes clear that Machiavelli will do anything in his power to achieve his end, even if the case turns deadly. The stakes have never been higher for Mary and her associates as they try to keep Machiavelli at bay, win an anti-trust case, solve a murder and save the law firm they love. All while Mary is eight months pregnant. Is it better to be loved or feared? REVIEW Reading a Lisa Scottoline novel is like putting on your most comfortable pair of jeans or sitting down with an old friend with a glass of wine and catching up. It just feels good. The women in the Rosato and DiNunzio firm are amazing and diverse. They are all strong and fearless women with heart and humanity. If you are looking for a great book with strong women characters, this is it. Mary bravely battles with both Machiavelli and her pregnancy. Her family and the growing number of Tonys are so funny you can’t help but giggle! They just love Mary so much and will do absolutely anything for her. And it seems everyone in South Philly loves Mary, and she likes it that way. Machiavelli, on the other hand, would rather be feared than loved, just like his namesake the real Niccolo Machiavelli. I love how this theme plays out in the book throughout the book. The part I liked most was the unique flavor of the people, the dialect, and setting of South Philly. The description of the Italian neighborhood is vivid. The short chapters are full of action and suspense making this a snappy page-turner, with plenty of twists and turns and a huge surprises the end. Scottoline has as usual, created a perfect blend of characters, setting and story. Her writing continues to be effortless and is engaging. Anyone who likes Scottoline, legal thrillers, or strong women characters would love this book. And if you have never read one of her book you should! She was born in Philadelphia and earned a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania, and then graduated from the University of Pennsylvania law school. She clerked for judges at state and federal appellate courts and later became a litigator in Philadelphia. After the birth of her daughter, she left the law and started writing, and hasn’t stopped yet. She has since written 30 best-selling novels. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publisher St. Martin Press Published August 14, 2018 Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

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The Myth of Perpetual Summer Susan Crandall

Great writing and interesting characters combine for a complex and moving coming-of-age story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ SUMMARY Tullulah James would be lost if it were not for her old older brother, Griff, and her Southern grandmother. Her parents are volatile and erratic and are rarely even home. Tallulah has taken personal responsibility for shielding the family‘s reputation and for raising her younger twin siblings.

Following a family death and abandonment Tullulah sets out alone for a new life in California. But her dysfunctional childhood makes it difficult for her to develop close relationships. When disaster strikes her family once again, she must return home to pick up the pieces and is finally able to uncover long held family secrets.

REVIEW This is Tullulah’s coming of age story and is set in Mississippi in the tumultuous 1960s. Tullulah narrates the complicated story and her character is both brave, and vulnerable. She tries so hard to make the family right, and you so want her to succeed. My favorite part of the story was when she takes her grandmother’s boat downriver river to gather mayhaws to make jelly for a mother’s day gift, but gets in over her head when a storm approaches.

I’m not really sure what the “myth of perpetual summer” is, but the book is a satisfying read despite a slow start. It’s a emotional story of a once prominent family that is burdened with the blood of mental illness and its’ declining reputation in the community. THE MYTH OF PERPETUAL SUMMER addresses a wide array of additional topics including murder, suicide, cults and bullying, There is a diverse cast of interesting characters, but my favorite was the blue-eyed Ross, who is from New Orleans and is a modern day knight in shining armor for the James family.

Susan Crandall is a critically acclaimed author of women’s fiction, romance suspense. She has written several award winning novels including Back Roads (2003) and Whistling Past the Graveyard (2014). Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of The Myth of Perpetual Summer in exchange for an honest review. Publisher Gallery Books Publication June 19, 2018

www.bluestockingreviews.com

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Remind Me Again What Happened Joanna Luloff A interesting character-driven debut novel about complex relationships and the secrets that can transform those relationships forever.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ SUMMARY Claire, a journalist on assignment in India is stricken by a mysterious illness. She wakes up in a hospital in Florida with no idea how she got there or why. She has lost a portion of her memories, and is having seizures. Her husband Charlie and her best friend Rachel rally to help her with her recovery and her memories. They take her back to their house in Vermont. Claire attempts to piece together her past by looking at old photos and notes. She senses a feeling that something is not right. She’s not sure where she is supposed to be, but she is pretty sure it’s not where she is. She is not even sure if Charlie is still her husband or if Rachel is still her friend.

Before her illness Claire was a bright, fearless, vibrant woman alway on the go. Charlie and Rachel try to help her regain her good memories as much as possible, but they are all keeping secrets from each other. Secrets of hurts and resentments from long ago that have never gone away. Secrets that could have made a difference back in the day when they were all roommates.

REVIEW The novel is told from alternating perspectives that pull you into the minds of the three friends. Using this approach gives breadth to the story and a wealth of information about the characters. But the more you learn about the characters and their past together, you can’t help but develop feeling about them. You may find you do not like them very much: one is restless and self-centered, one is dutiful but passive, and one is selfless, stoic but very angry and sad.

REMIND ME AGAIN WHAT HAPPENED is a emotional story with frustrating circumstances and unlikable characters. The story was slow-paced and leaves questions unanswered. My favorite part of the book was when one of the characters in a fit of anger, finally lets loose and gives some clarity about past events that have cause so much dissension among the friends.

Readers who like character-driven novels of complex relationships may appreciate this story. Remind Me Again What Happened is the debut novel for JOANNA LULOFF. She has also authored a collection of short stories titled The Beach at Galle Road. She lives in Denver, Colorado where she teaches at the University of Colorado. Thanks to Netgalley, Algonquin Books and Joanna Luloff for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publisher Algonquin Books. Publication Date June 26, 2018

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Jar of Hearts Jennifer Hillier A suspenseful thriller that will hold you captive till the last page is turned.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️ SUMMARY Jar of Hearts captures you on the first page, with the trial of the Sweetbay Strangler, Calvin James. He is on trial now, for the murder of sixteen-year-old Angela Wong fourteen years ago. Her body was just found, only half a mile away from her home. Georgina, Angela’s best friend is in the witness box—a witness for the prosecution—to shed light on the events of the night Angela was murdered. Georgina is sentenced to five years in prison and Calvin will go away for life for killing Angela and three other women. But before he does, he slips Georgina a note right after she testifies. What did the note say, and what did it mean?

Calvin had been Georgina‘s first love fourteen years ago when she was sixteen and he was 21. Georgina knew what happened to Angela fourteen years ago, but she told no one. She kept the secret of Angela‘s death, until she was arrested and sent to prison. Now she has served her time and has been released. While everyone thinks they know the truth, there are even more dark secrets about that fateful night that no one can even imagine. And now new bodies are beginning to show up, killed in the same manner as Angela.

REVIEW JAR OF HEARTS has a perfect blend of well-developed characters. The beautiful and popular girl, her best girlfriend, the bad boy turned serial killer, and the girls’ skinny, acne-face friend, Kaiser, now a handsome detective with the Seattle PD all coalesce to propel this nail-biting story. You’ will have love-hate feelings about each of them at some point in the story. Author JENNIFER HILLIER has skillfully crafted a story that flows fast and easy and is cleverly layered between the past and the present. It has just the right amount of suspense, surprises and twists to keep you entertained for hours. And who doesn’t like a suspenseful thriller with a dark and twisted ending? The film rights for Jar of Hearts were purchased earlier this year, so you better read it now. You know the book is always better than the movie!

All of Jennifer Hillier books are set in the Seattle area where she lived for eight years. She was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and has returned to live there once again. She has written five novels. She writes about dark and twisted people who do dark and twisted things. Jar of Hearts is no different!

Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Jennifer Hillier for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publisher Minotaur Books Publication Date June 12, 2018

Check out other reviews at bluestockingreviews.com

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Meltdown GP James An suspenseful story that grabs you from the beginning with unrelenting tension throughout. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ SUMMARY August 6 started out as any other day for Control Room Supervisor Trace Crane. It was a hot summer morning and Trace had been in the office, sitting at his metal desk with his favorite mug, filled with coffee, since six am. At 8:27am an earthquake registering 6.4 on the Richter scale hits Peekskill NY, an area just 35 miles from New York City. The Bear Mountain Energy Center was hit hard, and the control room for Reactor three is in chaos. Alarms lights are flashing red all over the control room and sirens are blaring. Trace’s nuclear operators are in panic mode. Reactor pressure is dropping, coolant is falling, feed water is down and there is a fire in the auxiliary building. Trace, with fifteen years experience, fights to save the reactor, while his wife Avi searches for their daughter, Brooklyn, who had been at daycare when the earthquake hit. The roads are impassable and communication lines are down. As the condition of the reactor plummets and radiation is released into the environment, Trace is left to choose between saving the nuclear plant, and the 20 million residents of the New York City metro area or finding his family and saving himself. REVIEW MELT DOWN grabs you from the beginning and the intensity and tension rarely lets up. Chapters alternate between Trace and Avi, documenting their parallel experiences, giving two different perspectives. The writing is good, although there were a couple of places that Trace’s thought processes or mindset was a little overdone. Trace and Avi were both well developed characters. Trace’s feeling and raw emotions were evident throughout the book. I particularly appreciated Avi’s strength and fortitude in overcoming obstacles in looking for Brooklyn and getting out of the city. Let me preface my next comments by saying in a previous life I was a utility company regulator. I have been in several nuclear plants and am familiar with the required safety regulations, requirements and NRC’s daily oversight of each plant. The lack of maintenance described in the book is unrealistic. There is no doubt earthquakes can happen and maybe a scenario like this could occur, but it is doubtful it will be from lack of maintenance at a nuclear plant. The more I read the more I felt like I was reading another anti-nuclear energy scare-tactic propaganda. Author GP JAMES Is a “multi-faceted creator living in Los Angeles, crafting works that explore social awareness and the human psyche - delving into the nature of reality, consciousness and existential questions faced by many. He has written four screenplays and two novels and several volumes of poetry.” Thanks to NetGalley, Wyatt-MacKenzie and GP James for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Book publication date May 15, 2018.

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Send Down The Rain Charles Martin

MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ PUBLISHER Thomas Nelson PUBLISHED May 8, 2018

A masterful love story draped in sacrifice, secrets, suffering, solitude and healing.

SUMMARY Allie’s second husband is killed tragically when his 18-wheeler crashes into the rocks near their home in Cape San Blas, Florida. The tanker was full of fuel in the explosion could be seen a hundred miles away. Allie had already lost the beloved waterfront restaurant her parents started, and now losing her husband might just push her over the edge.

Joseph’s time in Vietnam left him with scars that will never heal. No matter what he does he can’t pull himself out of the wreckage of his former life. He is to far gone. He isolates himself in a remote and rustic cabin in North Carolina, and listens to a popular nighttime radio call-in show. After midnight one snowy evening Roscoe, Joseph’s dog, hears a sound from the woods. Joseph and Roscoe rescue a mother and her two children lost in the woods. He further helps them make their way back to family in Florida. While in Florida he is near enough to witness the fiery crash of the 18-wheeler. He knows that his childhood sweetheart may need him, but it’s been a long time and the secrets of his life may be to hard for her to bear.

REVIEW It’s always a pleasure to read a book written by Charles Martin. Send Down the Rain is no exception. It is a powerful and moving story with a troubled and flawed character whose generosity and sacrifices will earn your respect and admiration. It’s a gritty and breathless ride with up and downs, exploring issues of family secrets, the struggles of Vietnam combat veterans, PTSD, abandonment and violence. Martin subtlety introduces issues of faith, compassion and forgiveness. Much of the book takes place on Cape San Blas, Florida which is my home away from home, and one of Florida’s best beaches, rocks and all! Charles Martin fans will love this one, as will anyone who appreciates love stories or family drama. Thanks to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Charles Martin for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.