Interview with Pam Jenoff - The Orphan's Tale

ENJOY this interview with Pam Jenoff, courtesy of Harper Audio.

 
Pam Jenoff Author Photo credit: 
Mindy Schwartz-Sorasky

Listen here.

 

A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell

Mothers,  Friends, Secrets....Stephanie and Emily were mothers, ​they were ​friends, and they both had secrets even though they thought they knew each other better than they knew themselves.

A SIMPLE FAVOR begins when Stephanie keeps Emily's son, Nicky, after school because Emily is going to be late.  But...after school turns into overnight, then after school turns ​into another day and ​another ​night, and then ​yet ​another day and another ​night with no Emily.

Stephanie didn't know where to turn except to her "mommy blog."  Stephanie waits and waits and writes and writes.  Stephanie finally calls Emily's husband, Sean, who was in London to tell him his wife has disappeared and that she has been keeping Nicky. Sean didn’t even know who Stephanie was.

Sean doesn't seem concerned since Emily said she was going on a business trip, but the problem is that Emily never returns from the business trip.

Sean, Stephanie, and the two boys spend a lot of time with each other until they find out the truth that Emily is dead.

As we read, Stephanie places her thoughts and emotions on her blog ​and also with Sean.

A SIMPLE FAVOR keeps having secrets pop up about all of the characters both current and past.

A SIMPLE FAVOR had a unique style with Stephanie's blog taking up most of the chapters ​and all the other chapters also being about Stephanie as she lives her daily life with her son and now Sean and Nicky.​  Chapters only about Stephanie change as the book continues, and the scare factor definitely moves up a few notches.
    ​
My interest in the book was very high simply because of the wonderful writing and story line.  The characters were authentic, but it was difficult to believe someone could act that way and think of ways to hurt others.

I had my doubts about Stephanie's sanity and motives and about the life she lead.  Stephanie was quite gullible and insecure.

Emily was a difficult one to figure out, a character I didn't like, and a character I grew to hate.  She was conniving and evil.

Sean seemed like a nice enough guy that was caught in the middle of everything.
    ​
​A SIMPLE FAVOR is an excellent psychological thriller that kept me guessing and wondering what really was going on in the lives of the characters.  ​

​Were they honest with each other, honest with themselves,  or were they all just fakes?​   Can we really trust or truly believe anyone?

The story line became quite intense and very good as the book continued.

The wrap up is amazing.  A brilliant debut.   5/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens

You can't wear that, I saw you smiling at that man, you don't need to leave the  house.

Those things happened to Lindsey as her marriage progressed.   Andrew was so sweet and caring especially during her pregnancy, but it got worse every day.​  She was afraid of her husband, Andrew, and she knew that wasn't how it should be. ​

Lindsey finally left Andrew, and in his rage Andrew was in a car accident, killed a woman, and went to jail for ten years.

Andrew is now out of jail​​, and Lindsey’s fears are back.  She knows he will find her and follow her because he always told her he will never let her go.

NEVER LET YOU GO has tension oozing through the pages and keeps you turning the pages as you want to know what is going to happen next.  The ending is one marvelous surprise.

If you enjoy suspense and edge-of-your seat tension, NEVER LET YOU GO is a book you don't want to miss. Living through the nightmare with Lindsey is gripping and a tribute to the skillful writing style of Ms. Stevens.

There are no gory murder scenes but you become emotionally drained along with the characters as we follow them through their stress as well as their love.

Ms. Stevens addresses a social problem that I am sure plagues more women than we know of.  Domestic abuse is most likely overlooked because the victims do not want to report the abuser. 
 
If you are in the mood for a tense, well-written book with an unforgettable ending in more ways than one, you will want to read NEVER LET YOU GO.  5/5  

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.

A Great Organizing Calendar - Brown Bear

I wanted to share this calendar that my sister found with everyone.  

I have been using it to keep track of my reviews and the dates they will be posted on my blog.

I will use it along with my other printed tools of organizing.

The link to the FREE calendar is HERE.

I hope you find it useful.  

A wonderful feature about this calendar is that others can also add things to it, and all users can see what has been added. 

Let me know if you decide to use it, and if you have any other organizing tools to share with everyone.

THANKS. 

Spotlight of WILDCAT by Sara Paretsky

***********

It is my pleasure to host this spotlight of WILDCAT.

WILDCAT sounds like an excellent read.

ENJOY if you read it!!

 ***********

ALL INFORMATION BELOW IS COURTESY OF JULIE PAULAUSKI OF HARPER COLLINS

***********

About the Book

Sara Paretsky, one of the most legendary crime writers of all time, presents an exclusive and thrilling short story featuring beloved investigator V.I. Warshawski as a ten-year-old girl on her first investigation.

***********

V.I. Warshawski developed her strength and sense of justice at a very early age.  

It’s 1966 and on the south side of Chicago racial tensions are at an all-time high. Dr. Martin Luther King is leading marches at Marquette Park and many in the neighborhood are very angry. 

With nothing but a bicycle, eighty-two cents in her pocket, and her Brownie camera hanging from her wrist, Victoria sneaks off to Marquette Park alone to protect her father Tony, a police officer who is patrolling the crowds. 

What begins as a small adventure and a quest to find her father and make sure he is safe turns into something far more dangerous.  

As the day goes on and the conflict at the park reaches a fever pitch Victoria realizes she must use her courage and ingenuity if she wants to keep herself and her family members out of harm’s way.

***********

About Sara Paretsky

Hailed by P.D. James as "the most remarkable" of modern crime writers, Sara Paretsky is the New York Times-bestselling author of nineteen previous novels, including the renowned V.I. Warshawski series. 

She is one of only four living writers – alongside John Le Carré, Sue Grafton, and Lawrence Block – to have received both the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain. 

She lives in Chicago with her husband.

Publishing Info:

ISBN-13: 9780062689504

Price: $0.99

Publisher: Witness Impulse

Format: e-only, novella

Windy City Blues by Renee Rosen

Leeba lived in the Jewish section of Chicago, had an ear for music, and worked in a music store.

Outside the music store Leeba heard Red Dupree playing his guitar and became fascinated with him.  Many musicians played on the streets of Chicago trying to be discovered, but Red was different, and Leeba couldn't stop thinking about him.

WINDY CITY BLUES is set in Chicago during the coming of the Blues Era.

I really have no knowledge of music, but Ms. Rosen's marvelous research definitely got me acquainted with the Blues Era and brought up some names I have heard of.  I enjoyed learning how records were made and how the "sellers" of the records had to hand sell them at the beginning of this era.

​Following the characters through their days and music careers was very entertaining and interesting.  WINDY CITY BLUES was a pleasurable read.​​  

The characters were fun.
    
Leeba's mother was my favorite character because she ​was ​always trying to find a Jewish boy for Leeba.  Leeba was sweet and talented.  Leonard the owner of Chess Records was high energy.

WINDY CITY BLUES is a marvelous read and a treasure for music fans and historical fiction fans.  The multiple love stories also add to the book's interest.​  

WINDY CITY BLUES is a memorable read with characters that will be missed when you turn the last page. 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest re​view.

Land of Hidden Fires by Kirk Kjeldsen

A motherless child who disliked her father, a downed airplane during WWII, an escape, and a German officer searching for the downed pilot.

Kari did not get along with her father and simply just made it through each day. Her father was not like her.  Kari was always curious about things.  Her father just wanted to go on with his farming and take no interest in what was going on around him.

The day Kari saw a plane crash was the day she realized she had to do something for the pilot and the day she saw her chance to leave. She decided she would take Lance, the American soldier, to Sweden.

LAND OF HIDDEN FIRES allows the reader to experience the dangerous trip Kari and Lance took in the freezing weather while they feared being caught by the Germans and as Kari felt remorse about leaving her father and taking his horse and carriage. 

We continue as three characters pursue three different journeys but for connected reasons.

We follow Kari and Lance as they head to freedom for Lance in Sweden.

We follow Kari's father, Erling, as he searches for his young daughter.

We follow the German officer as he searches for Lance.

Mr. Kjeldsen has wonderful descriptions of the landscape, the characters, and the thoughts and feelings of the characters.

I liked the thought at the end of the book that said:  “People seemed to be full of hidden fires, invisible to one another and often even invisible to oneself.”  If you have the pleasure of reading this book, you will understand the quote.

I enjoyed LAND OF HIDDEN FIRES.  The book was sensitive, thoughtful, but definitely tense. 

I think readers will enjoy the hidden, emotional messages as well as Mr. Kjeldsen’s marvelous writing style and story line that kept me turning the pages and wanting to get back to the characters' journeys.  4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the author in return for an  honest review.