Something terrible happens on the night of Annabelle and Bayard (Bay) Van Duyvil’s Twelfth Night ball celebrating the completion of their new family home in Cold Spring, New York. Bay is found dead with a knife in his chest and Annabelle is missing, feared drowned. Janie, Bay’s sister finds herself trusting and teaming up with… Continue reading The English Wife by Lauren Willig ★★★★
When the Columbine massacre occurred in April of 1999, I recall judging the parents. After all, there had to have been some extremely obvious signs for their sons to be able to do something like this. Or, they were so disengaged in their lives they were just plain oblivious. If nothing else was accomplished (and… Continue reading A Mother’s Reckoning by Sue Klebold ★★★★★
I recently read Sue Klebold's A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy, which is outstanding, so I thought it best to listen to a definitive account of not only what happened at Columbine but also objective analyses of the two shooters, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris. Sue made some assertions about Eric Harris… Continue reading Columbine by Dave Cullen ★★★★
Ove is a grumpy, older man, defined as such because he lives his life by a code that’s pretty black and white and inflexible. His point of view has also been shaped by a system that’s often been cruel and unfair and has let him down at critical times in his life. But, there is… Continue reading A Man Called Ove by Frederik Bachman ★★★★★
Harrison Conrad is a world-renowned alpinist and superior athlete, having reached Everest’s summit twice. On his last attempt with his long-time climbing partner and best friend, he was the lone survivor following a freak accident that killed his friend and the two climbers they were taking up the mountain. After 15-months in recluse with Tibetan… Continue reading Holding On by Pamela Clare ★★★★ (Colorado High Country #6)
Angela Powell’s orderly and comfortable life is upended when her husband Jason, an NYU economics professor and best selling author, is accused of sexual harassment by a student. The situation escalates when another woman, Kerry Lynch, accuses him of rape. I thought this was going to be another traditional story where the wife dutifully stands… Continue reading The Wife by Alafair Burke ★★★★★
Frances Bloom, stay-at-home mother of three, is the connection between four families who live on the same block in Los Angeles. She voluntarily carpools their seven children to school each day, ranging in age from 4-to 14-years old, and often helps in other ways. They all seem to have lives that are working well from… Continue reading Other People’s Houses by Abbi Waxman ★★★★
A normal set of events on New Years Eve sets off a catastrophe that slowly turns the world on end. Half of the population is gone, governments lose control, law and order are a thing of the past and magick is unleashed...some good and definitely some dark and evil. The story chronicles the paths of… Continue reading Year One by Nora Roberts ★★★★★ (Chronicles of The One #1)
Rachel Farrell opens her laptop and sees a provocative tweet that she believes is between her husband and another woman, planning a tryst. When she surreptitiously shows up at the location close to the appointed time, she witnesses a terrible hit and run accident and has her own minor one out of shock from what… Continue reading If He Wakes by Zoe Leah ★★★1/2
Flight attendant Cassie Bowden has a flirtation with the passenger in First Class 2C that continues once they land in Dubai. Nights of heavy drinking and sex are familiar behaviors for her and this night is no different. But the morning after is quite unique when she wakes in his hotel room next to her… Continue reading The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian ★★★★
Blue Mood Café 