A gritty ride into the world of professional adult dancers (strippers) and the killer who is out to get them. Their world is one ruled by men, their purpose is enjoyment for men and their danger is from those same men. The responsibilities that these women have , their stories, their fears or joys are of no concern. One police detective with secrets of her own is brought in to find a missing dancer and needs their help to find her. This book does not sugar coat the dancers or strip clubs and it presents their story in every hard, gritty detail. 3 stars
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Just like the galaxies that are searched for future generations and the discovery of a mummified girl that unleashes a horrific plague the connective tissue between these stories is vast and infinite. A scientist continues his daughter's work after she dies discovering a mummy so that he can understand her better, the people who work to help grief stricken parents or give a child a last happy day, the humanity found in a talking pig , and the space ship that will travel to far reaching galaxies in search of a second Earth as well as insight into how it all began are explored in this stunning fantasy debut. Each story is introspective and intimate taking us through desperate times to uncover the love and hope beneath. This one will leave you looking to the stars with tears in your eyes hoping for a better future. Although it is futuristic, readers who normally do not read science fiction will appreciate the deep characters.
4 1/2 stars A story of redemption, guilt and a mother's love for her child no matter what. Stefan has just been released from prison and has come home to his childhood town to find that most people there are not happy to see him. To them, he is a monster who as a teen killed his girlfriend while out of his mind on drugs but to his mom and dad, he is a young man who made a tragic mistake and has paid the price. The mom of the murdered girl is making very vocal threats, their home has been vandalized and Stefan's mom is getting strange texts from someone who knows what really happened that night. A determined mom, a son who is doing his best to come out from the tunnel and take responsibility, and help from the detective who was on the case all set the tone for a gripping family drama with a surprising ending. Perfect for fans of the tv show RECTIFY or DEFENDING JACOB. 4 stars
Social media superstars Chloe Cates and her family have become the darlings of the teenybopper internet. But, now Chloe is a teen and really tired of having her whole life micromanaged by mom and every move choreographed - get the picture Spectaculares? One morning Chloe goes missing without a trace and the detectives are called in. Detective Emilina Stone has a painful history with Chloe's mom and isn't too happy about now having to deal with the family. The goal is to find Chloe and possibly solve another murder along the way but Jennifer is turning Chloe's disappearance into a media circus and time is running out. This reminded me so much of the Jon Bennet murders where the public is judging the family as much as the killer. A firecracker debut with a very different spin on the usual child abduction stories and a family you want to hate.
Believe it or not but Bill Hayes has traced a manual on exercise and all those bodily excretions back to Girolamo Mercuriale written in 1569. He takes us from the ancients to Jazzercise, from Greco/Roman style wrestling to swimming using Mercuriale's DE ARTE GYMNASICA as a base. Traveling across the globe to locate these rare books Hayes gives us an overview of various sports and interjects some of his own journeys into the realm of exercise. An interesting look, both personal and historical, of why we want and need to move and sweat. 3 stars
A darkness lies beneath the old amusement park called Jazzland and it is this darkness that preys on young women without a voice. Caroline and her daughter Lila know it all too well as have countless other women who fight back the urge to tell someone. Each is searching for praise and acceptance from the men in their lives. This dark scary story feels like Little Red Riding Hood meets the bogeyman from Stephen King's THE OUTSIDER. Feminist horror bottled up in a story both real and imagined that fans of SORROWLAND, BIRD BOX and THE OUTSIDER will eat right up. 4 stars
Another look at the complex lives of women of color, in this story Nigerian-Brits, straddling two cultures and wanting to be independent but also trying to follow the traditional roles of their parents and grandparents expectations for them. It is common for Yinka to hear her mother and aunties shout, "Where is your husband?" and she does her best to navigate these shark infested waters. She tries to make up for what her family feels is fault on here part to snag the perfect man or not get too caught up in those little fibs she has been telling but it is getting more difficult to ignore those perfect relationships around her and the fact that her promotion at work turned out to be a pink slip. This non traditional romcom brings us back to the fact that all families meddle (or at the very least have a strong opinion) and that desire for your soulmate is universal. Yinka needs to find herself before she can find the right partner. 3 1/2 stars
Covering thousands of miles and time this historical masterpiece is a journey. A set of orphaned twins, a slave yearning for freedom and family, an indigenous woman looking for open space and a Chinese gold miner ashamed of his good fortune - all journeys leading westward looking for the promised land. The other voices are those of their descendants also on a journey and the fateful train ride that brought them together. It is a glorious look at the melting pot of America - the good, the bad, the ugly and the generous spirit that kept them moving one foot after the other. Jonathan Evison calls to the adventurous spirit in all of us using fully crafted characters so we feel all the hardships and joys they endured. This is the history of the westward expansion told as complete as James Michener's CENTENNIAL, John Steinbeck's EAST OF EDEN, Jamie Ford's LOVE AND OTHER CONSOLATION PRIZES and Maggie Shipstead's GREAT CIRCLE. 5 stars
A debut that mixes a lush blend of Chinese mythology and magic with the warfare and court politics of Mulan, She Who Became the Sun and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Xingyin's mother is the banished Goddess of the Moon forbidden to join the mortal world and she must keep Xingyin's existence a secret. Once Xingyin's magical powers make themselves known she flees going to the Celestial Kingdom and becoming a companion to the crown prince. Doing every activity the prince does has its advantages and soon her skills as an archer get her a coveted spot in the Emperor's army. Each battle they face dangerous mythical creatures and tougher foes. Knowing how to fight and survive is one thing but knowing who she can trust proves more difficult. The author presents a beautiful fantasy world complete with fantastic creatures and a full array of Chinese myths blended iwith a classic story of a rogue female warrior searching for identity and undoing the curse that broke her family apart. 4 stars
4 1/2 stars
I love a thriller that misdirects me and let's me think I know what going on when clearly I have no idea until the big reveal that leaves me with my mouth hanging open. A chilling debut knuckle biter that is full of dead ends, near misses and unreliable leads. Chloe's dad is in prison for life and she helped put him there by presenting damning evidence at the age of 12. Years have passed and Chloe is a skilled psychologist about to marry the man of her dreams when the killings begin again. The copycat killer's victims all have a connection to Chloe but she is already over stressed and too self medicated to be taken seriously. She takes matters into her own hands going after the killer but she may end up like the others. Lock the door and plan for a long night reading because you won't stop til its done. Stacy Willingham deserves to be in the select group of the top female thriller authors and I am looking forward to her next book. 4 1/2 stars |
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