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A handful of girls in foster care and others are forever joined by their ties to a serial killer. Ansel Parker wasn't always a killer and he wasn't always at death's door but now as he faces his last hours on death row he looks back at the choices he made or didn't make. We follow the detective desperately trying to prove his guilt and stop him, the victims and their families, his abused mother who ran off leaving him and his infant brother alone and the prison guard who may be his last hope. Amidst the violence is quiet reflection and while justice is served we can't help but feel it isn't enough. This is a chilling look at what we are all secretly fascinated by - what makes a killer and the horrible fear of wondering if we would recognize them if we walked by them on the street. Readers of true crime, psychopath killers, crime docudramas as well as GREEN MILE and DEAD MAN WALKING will be fully engrossed in the story all the way to the last page. 4 1/2 stars 
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An Italian family saga full of hope, jealousy, fierce love and just as fierce abandonment as seen through the eyes of Marco Carrera. Called the hummingbird due to his small stature and graceful agility as a child, Marco seems to take things in stride as he tries to find love, happiness and approval from his family and others. After a series of tragedies beginning with the death of his sister, Marco tries to be there for everyone navigating the rough waters as husband, father, lover, professional doctor and son not as a trained sailor but more like a guy in a lifeboat with only one oar. It is an introspective novel of a man's journey to get it right and to see his mission - to raise his granddaughter proclaimed to be the "man of the future" even though she happens to be a woman. The audio sounds beautiful (there is nothing like hearing Italian names and places in my mind) but I admit to becoming a bit lost in the back and forth of years and the minute details that I didn't find relevant. I am chalking it up to a translation issue and audio versus reading the book and that didn't take away my enjoyment of the beautiful writing. 3 1/2 stars  Liesl finds herself as acting head of the rare book library at a large university when her boss is felled and left in a coma after a heart attack. The timing couldn't be worse as they are planning for a huge event to honor a recent priceless manuscript and her day gets much worse when it is discovered missing from the safe. Playing amateur detective, resisting the charms of an old suitor, massaging the egos of the university head and wealthy donors is tough enough but Liesl must dissect the private lives of her colleagues to find the thief. Swimming in the shark infested waters of academia with stolen manuscripts, missing persons and counterfeits should be more than enough for a great mystery so I didn't quite get the secondary themes of early depression detection, her musing about her wonderful daughter or questioning the strength of her marriage. If you are a fan of any book about books or are interested in the underbelly of rare book acquisitions than this will be of interest to you. 3 1/2 stars  An inspiring romcom debut that tackles the question -Are you happy? Nora works at a business publishing house. After five years expecting a promotion she is handed a pay cut and with no one but herself to fall back on she needs to find another source of income. She makes the decision to work free lance for a competitor that could lead to her dream job and secretly keeps her full time job that she can't afford to let go. Her life gets more hectic and morally compromised as she juggles her business and personal relationships as secrets threaten to come out in the open. I don't want to give up too much of the story but it was refreshing to find a story where the automatic secret to happiness wasn't the cute guy on his white horse saving her. Readers who are not overjoyed with their personal happiness number or stuck in a career rut might find guidance in some of the methods spelled out in the book. It certainly doesn't hurt that it revolves around books, publishers and authors so the reader "must love books". Included is a helpful reading group guide and author chat. 4 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  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  The three women have been friends forever bonding over their Nigerian background. Over wine and good food they have shared the highs and lows of relationships, career paths and bad breakups. Now a new exciting woman has joined the inner circle. Isobel is fun, rich and sympathetic to their woes but you know what they say about things that seem too good to be true. This is an electric story of friendship, loyalty, sisterhood with backstabbing and gossip that makes Sex and the City look tame. The more they share the tighter they become and the more ammunition they give Isobel will make it harder for her to go away. One terrific debut with mouthwatering recipes included - chick lit with a poisoned blade. 4 stars  Three stories in different timelines that connect with common themes. The first takes place in an alternative "Free States" America in 1893. David is born into a wealthy family and his grandfather is trying to marry him off to an older gentleman but David is secretly in love with a less worthy man who might be a hustler. The second story is more familiar 1980's America caught in the HIV/AIDS crisis. The third story is the longest and takes place in the faraway future where a series of shattering viruses , climate change and living under a totalitarian government add up to less than a desirable vision of the future. Many of the same names are used in the three stories so it can be a bit confusing and I wanted to think of them as related to each other. The overwhelming themes that I took from this 700 page tome is the longing for love, loneliness, the need to pull away from meddling family and a connection to being of Hawaiian descent (although it is not a Hawaii we recognize). It was refreshing to think of relationships and marriage as between two people without caring if that was between a man/woman, man/man or woman/woman. The writing is emotional and deep and it will quietly pull you in. 3 1/2 stars  All mothers have a bad day but Frida had a really bad day when she left her baby home alone and got caught. Even after her realizing her mistake and vowing never to let it happen again, Harriet is taken away from her and placed with Frida's ex-husband. Frida is sent to the School For Good Mothers where she will, with the help of a robotic baby, learn to become a good mother and hopefully get Harriet back. This is a strange mix of brainwashing, mom prison and psychiatric unit where your brain waves and emotions are held against you. Even in this scary environment, Frida works diligently and bonds with her robot child. Will it be enough? This heartbreaking look at motherhood (especially a single mom) and how society judges and can punish for a single offense. It is a mix of futuristic sci-fi like programs and a deep dive into moms without instruction manuals and necessary skills with the threat of foster care hanging over them. It is emotional and jarring. 4 stars  Olga runs a successful high end wedding planner business, her brother is a representative for Brooklyn and has higher political aspirations. Both of them are hiding secrets and living a lie of sorts. They are torn between family obligations of giving back to their people- the Puerto Rican community both in New York and the island. These roots run deep as their mother left them as children to join the revolution and free Puerto Rico. This all takes place after Hurricane Maria decimates the island and Brooklyn is dealing with gentrification. A powerful story and love letter to the Brooklyn Puerto Rican community that speaks to finding your voice, overcoming family history and fighting for your people. Readers who enjoyed CAUL BABY by Morgan Jenkins and Alyssa Cole's WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING will find much to love here. 4 stars  |
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