Review: The Ghost in the House by Sara O'Leary

What if a ghost were haunting your house? What if you were the ghost?

Everything in Fay's life is perfect--living in the house she dreamed of as a child, married to a man she loves, and planning her life as an artist. Her life seems full of possibility. Then, late one night, Fay realizes that something has gone wrong.

Things have altered in the house and some-how time, and Fay's husband, Alec, seem to have gone on without her. Fay--who thought her life was on the verge of beginning--finds it has abruptly ended. And she comes to learn that sometimes the life you grieve may be your own.

This glimmering and darkly comedic novel explores both the domestic and the existential, delving into the dark heart of marriage and the meaning of a life.

Paperback, 208 pages

Published July 7th 2020

 by Doubleday Canada

3.5/5 stars

This is a quick little book coming in at 190 pages.

It’s hard to put into words my thoughts on this one. It’s a unique story, funny at times but also sad. Faye seemed a little confused in the beginning, kinda like myself but it didn’t take long to grasp the storyline and feel her wide range of emotions. That being said I think another 50 pages or so would have been great to get a good handle on the situation, even to hear from Alex would have been a welcome addition, though I understand the direction the author was going for - which was to get Faye's perspective.

This is my first time reading Canadian author Sara O’Leary and I’ll be in the lookout for more.

This book is part of my 2020 Reading off my Shelf challenge

Review: The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright

1928

The Bonaventure Circus is a refuge for many, but Pippa Ripley was rejected from its inner circle as a baby. When she receives mysterious messages from someone called the "Watchman," she is determined to find him and the connection to her birth. As Pippa's search leads her to a man seeking justice for his murdered sister and evidence that a serial killer has been haunting the circus train, she must decide if uncovering her roots is worth putting herself directly in the path of the killer.

Present Day

The old circus train depot will either be torn down or preserved for historical importance, and its future rests on real estate project manager Chandler Faulk's shoulders. As she dives deep into the depot's history, she's also balancing a newly diagnosed autoimmune disease and the pressures of single motherhood. When she discovers clues to the unsolved murders of the past, Chandler is pulled into a story far darker and more haunting than even an abandoned train depot could portend.

Kindle Edition

Bethany House

Expected publication: September 1st 2020

4/5 stars

I have been a big fan of Jaime Jo Wright every since reading her debut The House on Foster Hill. She writes dual time period story’s that don’t just have a great mystery but tackles issues that are relevant and usually affects me on a personal level.

The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus is no exception. I’ll confess that circus books are not my thing but because of who penned this one I dove right in. Between the 1928 story line and present day this is a book about courage, of taking a stand but also having the courage to accept assistance.

There is everything that makes for a great mystery - unsolved murder, an old haunted train depot, secrets disappearances and suspicious characters, including a serial killer. All in Jaime Jo Wright fashion everything clicks into place with a satisfying conclusion.

Anyone who loves a good mystery should give her a try. This is what I call Christian Fiction at it’s finest, meaning it isn’t overly preachy but the message of faith, love and finding acceptance is predominant.

“Remember, what to us seems like God’s biggest errors, to Him they are His largest promises.”

My thanks to Bethany House (via Netgalley) for an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen's new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind.

As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly, disturbingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story—until the next day, when Ingrid disappears.

Searching for the truth about Ingrid's disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew's dark past and into the secrets kept within its walls. Her discovery that Ingrid is not the first apartment sitter to go missing at the Bartholomew pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building's hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent.

Hardcover, 371 pages

Published July 2nd 2019 

by Dutton Books

3/5 stars

I discovered Riley Sager just this past summer. Last Time I Lied is a book I’ve been recommending, it has that nice blend of mystery, suspense and ghosty vibes. Likeable characters and an intricate plot that I loved. Home Before Dark was darker, ghostier (not really a word I know) and creepy but it still worked for me. Going through his back list I cracked open Lock Every Door and I got stuck. Reading just over 100 pages I struggled, my interest waned with the slow pace. I switched over to the audiobook and quickly loved it. A coincidence that the book pickup for? Maybe but I highly recommend the audio.

The Bartholomew is a fictional place, I can certainly envision such a place. A place for high society, mysterious and full of scandals. Jules was an interesting character with a past that she keeps close to the surface.  As weird things happen she becomes entangled in an unimaginable web of betrayal and scariness.

As for the ending...well...I don’t even really know what to say without causing a major spoiler. So suffice to say I have mixed feelings. On one hand it was unique and kinda worked, but also came out of left field. But on the other hand it irked me and if you want to know why follow this link to my spoiler on Goodreads.

Though this might not have been a perfect fit for me it isn’t enough to dis sway me from reading more Riley Sager books.

My copy obtained from the public library

Review: The End of Her by Shari Lapena

The new domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and Someone We Know .

In upstate New York, Stephanie and Patrick are adjusting to life with their colicky twin babies. The girls are a handful, but Stephanie doesn't mind being a stay-at-home mom, taking care of them while Patrick does the 9-5 to pay the bills.

And when a woman from Patrick's past drops in on them unexpectedly, raising questions about his late first wife, Stephanie supports her husband wholeheartedly. She knows the car accident all those many years ago was just that--an accident. But Erica is persistent, and now she's threatening to go to the police.

Patrick is afraid his job--and his reputation--will be at risk if he doesn't put an end to Erica's questioning immediately. And when the police start digging, Stephanie's trust in her husband begins to falter, and Patrick is primed to lose everything. As their marriage crumbles, Stephanie feels herself coming unglued, and soon she isn't sure what--or who--to believe. Now the most important thing is to protect her girls, but at what cost? 

Paperback, 352 pages

Published July 28th 2020

 by Doubleday Canada

4/5 stars

I really enjoyed a couple of Shari Lapena’s books (that I've read so far) and that is the reason that I went into this one blind.  It's fun and can also be dangerous in terms of not knowing what to expect. 

The End of Her has a number of different points of view. On one hand I had to pay attention but on the other hand I was so curious as to what was going on I couldn’t stop reading. With short chapters it was easy to just read one more and then next thing I knew I was done.

Without going into too many details I devoured this over the weekend. So lets see,  there is the happily married couple, Stephanie and Patrick who are sleep deprived new parents to twins. The story pretty much revolved around them when the past comes back it adds more drama and sets in motion a roller coaster ride of lies and red herrings. Erica Voss is the past that invades not just their lives on a number of different levels. She seems to be the connection to all the plots but is she telling the truth?

 I had trouble liking some of the characters let alone trusting them. As for the ending I couldn’t figure it out, so hats off to Shari Lapena for keeping me in suspense for so long. The ending was neat and tidy but still left me scratching my head a little.

This book was part of my 2020 reading off my shelf challenge

Review: How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior

A curmudgeonly but charming old woman, her estranged grandson, and a colony of penguins proves it's never too late to be the person you want to be in this rich, heartwarming story from the acclaimed author of Ellie and the Harpmaker.

Eighty-five-year-old Veronica McCreedy is estranged from her family and wants to find a worthwhile cause to leave her fortune to. When she sees a documentary about penguins being studied in Antarctica, she tells the scientists she’s coming to visit—and won’t take no for an answer. Shortly after arriving, she convinces the reluctant team to rescue an orphaned baby penguin. He becomes part of life at the base, and Veronica's closed heart starts to open.

Her grandson, Patrick, comes to Antarctica to make one last attempt to get to know his grandmother. Together, Veronica, Patrick, and even the scientists learn what family, love, and connection are all about.

Paperback, 368 pages

Published June 16th 2020

 by Berkley

4/5 stars

What’s not to love about a feisty older lady with attitude? She is opinionated, has some weird fetishes but ultimately is lonely and while thinking of the future must address the past. Add in an unemployed unknown grandson, Patrick, who smokes pot it’s a great mix of entertainment.

It may sound far fetched, someone hopping on a plane heading to a desolated penguin research facility in the Antarctic- especially when one is 85 years old but sometimes you just need to suspend your disbelief and go with the flow. And it works.

As the story alternates between these two characters Veronica's past comes to light shining light on who she is and how she got there. The penguins are adorable and just add so much to the story.

How the Penguins Saved Veronica is a story of letting go of the past, no matter the pain or ones age and going forward. Of opening your heart and embracing life. It was a fun read, another new author (to me) and has me looking at penguins a little differently now.

This book was part of my 2020 reading off my shelf challenge, obtained in my June 2020 Callistocrate Box

Review: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager

What was it like? Living in that house.

Maggie Holt is used to such questions. Twenty-five years ago, she and her parents, Ewan and Jess, moved into Baneberry Hall, a rambling Victorian estate in the Vermont woods. They spent three weeks there before fleeing in the dead of night, an ordeal Ewan later recounted in a nonfiction book called House of Horrors. His tale of ghostly happenings and encounters with malevolent spirits became a worldwide phenomenon, rivaling The Amityville Horror in popularity—and skepticism.

Today, Maggie is a restorer of old homes and too young to remember any of the events mentioned in her father’s book. But she also doesn’t believe a word of it. Ghosts, after all, don’t exist. When Maggie inherits Baneberry Hall after her father’s death, she returns to renovate the place to prepare it for sale. But her homecoming is anything but warm. People from the past, chronicled in House of Horrors, lurk in the shadows. And locals aren’t thrilled that their small town has been made infamous thanks to Maggie’s father. Even more unnerving is Baneberry Hall itself—a place filled with relics from another era that hint at a history of dark deeds. As Maggie experiences strange occurrences straight out of her father’s book, she starts to believe that what he wrote was more fact than fiction.

In the latest thriller from New York Times bestseller Riley Sager, a woman returns to the house made famous by her father’s bestselling horror memoir. Is the place really haunted by evil forces, as her father claimed? Or are there more earthbound—and dangerous—secrets hidden within its walls?

Hardcover, 409 pages

Published June 30th 2020 

by Dutton Books

4.5/5

This is my second Riley Sager book, The Last Time I Lied was my first - loved it!

There are 2 different story lines going on. From Maggie’s pov it’s her story as she returns to Baneberry Hall, an abandoned building that used to be home until the family fled in the middle of the night over 20 years ago. Is it haunted? Maggie has very little recollection and the book her father penned, House of Horrors is too unbelievable to be true (that’s the other pov).

My inner voice was already telling Maggie not to return, but alas no one in bookland ever listens when I give my opinions.

This book was darker then Lied, it had that tension, suspense feel throughout. ‘Every house has a story’ and what a story it was. As I dove deeper into the book I honestly I had a hard time figuring things out. The book within the book was a nice touch. Yes I was creeped out a few times, I gave up trying to predict the ending and just enjoyed the ride - through a few times enjoyed wasn’t exactly the term that conveyed my feelings. Atmospheric and tension filled is a good description for this book that I finished off in a couple days.

My reading likes have changed during this pandemic, I find myself reading more thriller, suspense books. These two Riley Sager books fit the bill nicely.

‘My copy obtained from the public library’

Audio Review: Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen (Six Tudor Queens #3) by Alison Weir

A novel of the devout young woman who became the unwilling object of King Henry VIII's ardor - and the mother of his only son.

In this third book in the epic Six Tudor Queens series, the acclaimed historian and best-selling author brings new insight to this dramatic story, showing how pure fear for her life determined Jane Seymour's actions.

Twenty-five-year-old Jane Seymour wants nothing more than to become a nun. But her ambitious father has forced her to live at court as lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine of Aragon, a fellow Catholic whom she soon comes to love and admire. So Jane is appalled when King Henry shunts Katherine aside in his lustful pursuit of Anne Boleyn, but even more so when he takes Anne's life in his rush to wed - Jane herself!

Unwilling to marry but terrified to resist Henry's advances for fear she might share Anne's fate, and propelled by her family, Jane becomes queen of England a mere 10 days after Anne's execution. She knows she must produce a male heir without fail. Her very life depends on it.

Hardcover, 531 pages

Published May 3rd 2018

 by Headline Review

3.5/5 stars

Jane Seymour, the 3rd wife of Henry VIII and supposedly the one he truly loved (could it be because she gave him a son?).  There is very little historical info about Jane, she left no writings or anything behind to give a true sense of who she was.  The author notes were great on that level.

This is the 3rd book in Alison Weir's series on the wives of good old King Henry VIII and one I was really looking forward to reading.  While the story's do overlap - Jane was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine and again for Anne Boleyn, but coming from the point of view of Jane just gave another view of this time.  I enjoyed getting to know Jane through her life before arriving at court, her plans to be a nun along with her brothers (whom I am sure will show up in subsequent books).

As always I enjoy Alison Weir's writing, her knowledge of the time brings the era to life and the author notes explain some of the issues that could be up for debate. Heavily researched  I enjoyed getting to know Jane even though I felt the book dragged here and there a bit.  Definitely recommend for Tudor fans.

This book was part of my 2020 Reading of my Shelf Challenge #36

 

Review: The Woman Before Wallis by Bryn Turnbull

For fans of The Paris Wife and The Crown , this stunning novel tells the true story of the American divorcée who captured Prince Edward’s heart before he abdicated his throne for Wallis Simpson.

In the summer of 1926, when Thelma Morgan marries Viscount Duke Furness after a whirlwind romance, she’s immersed in a gilded world of extraordinary wealth and privilege. For Thelma, the daughter of an American diplomat, her new life as a member of the British aristocracy is like a fairy tale—even more so when her husband introduces her to Edward, Prince of Wales.

In a twist of fate, her marriage to Duke leads her to fall headlong into a love affair with Edward. But happiness is fleeting, and their love is threatened when Thelma’s sister, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, becomes embroiled in a scandal with far-reaching implications. As Thelma sails to New York to support Gloria, she leaves Edward in the hands of her trusted friend Wallis, never imagining the consequences that will follow.

Bryn Turnbull takes readers from the raucous glamour of the Paris Ritz and the French Riviera to the quiet, private corners of St. James’s Palace in this sweeping story of love, loyalty and betrayal.

 

“Brimming with scandal and an equal amount of heart…a sweeping yet intimate look at the lives of some of history’s most notorious figures from Vanderbilts to the Prince of Wales… A must-read.”—Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of When We Left Cuba and Next Year in Havana

“Bryn Turnbull takes a story we think we know and turns it on its head, with captivating results… A beautifully written, meticulously researched and altogether memorable debut.”—Jennifer Robson, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Gown

Kindle Edition, 416 pages

Published July 21st 2020 

 by MIRA 

3.5/5 stars

 

The woman before Wallis Simpson is Thelma Morgan and this is her story.  

From the title some might believe this to be a book about the royal family and abdication of King Edward. But really its about Thelma, her relationship with twin sister Gloria, her husband Duke and yes Prince Edward.  I'll admit most of my knowledge of this time came through watching The Crown which has piqued my interest - hence why I wanted to read this book.  In 1926 Gloria Vanderbilt is playing matchmaker for Thelma then jump to 1934 and the custody battle of the century is about to take place.  There is a lot that goes on in those years, I was kept on my toes with the transitions and the wide cast of characters.

The author definitely researched quite thoroughly, as the title says A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilt's and Royal Scandal.  But there is more, it's not just the lifestyle of those family's but society in general, even going through the depression it was interesting to read what the rich and famous were up to. How they hid indiscretions, or not. At times I might have felt it progressed a little slowly but all in all an enjoyable read.

My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Last Flight by Julie Clark

Two women. Two Flights. One last chance to disappear.

Claire Cook has a perfect life. Married to the scion of a political dynasty, with a Manhattan townhouse and a staff of ten, her surroundings are elegant, her days flawlessly choreographed, and her future auspicious. But behind closed doors, nothing is quite as it seems. That perfect husband has a temper that burns as bright as his promising political career, and he's not above using his staff to track Claire's every move, making sure she's living up to his impossible standards. But what he doesn't know is that Claire has worked for months on a plan to vanish.

A chance meeting in an airport bar brings her together with a woman whose circumstances seem equally dire. Together they make a last-minute decision to switch tickets ― Claire taking Eva's flight to Oakland, and Eva traveling to Puerto Rico as Claire. They believe the swap will give each of them the head start they need to begin again somewhere far away. But when the flight to Puerto Rico goes down, Claire realizes it's no longer a head start but a new life. Cut off, out of options, with the news of her death about to explode in the media, Claire will assume Eva's identity, and along with it, the secrets Eva fought so hard to keep hidden.

The Last Flight is the story of two women―both alone, both scared―and one agonizing decision that will change the trajectory of both of their lives.

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published June 23rd 2020

 by Sourcebook

5/5 stars 

It’s not that often that I can polish off a book in like a day and a half but honestly I had no choice with The Last Flight. Now I understand all the hype and 5 star reviews.

  The tension starts right away and doesn’t let go till the very end. I was like holding my breath through the last third of the book - enduring the wrath of some nasty mosquitoes along the way while eating cookies so my nails would stay intact.

 A chance meeting, a snap decision and viola Claire’s life is turned upside down. It needed a turn but it wasn’t what she had painstakingly planned and what Claire got was not the fresh start she was looking for. Told from the point of view of both Claire’s and Eva, we can’t forget about Eva. She tells her story of the previous 6 months.

 The Last Flight is the story of 2 women each taking drastic steps to get out bad situations. It’s about friendship, taking a stand and longing. It’s about standing strong when it is so hard to.

 Definitely, definitely (yea I said that twice) a book I highly recommend to those that love a good suspense physiological thriller. 

 This book is part of my 2020 reading off my shelf challenge #35

Review: The Switch by Beth O'Leary

Leena is too young to feel stuck.
Eileen is too old to start over.
Maybe it’s time for The Switch…

Ordered to take a two-month sabbatical after blowing a big presentation at work, Leena escapes to her grandmother Eileen's house for some overdue rest. Newly single and about to turn eighty, Eileen would like a second chance at love. But her tiny Yorkshire village doesn’t offer many eligible gentlemen… So Leena proposes a solution: a two-month swap. Eileen can live in London and look for love, and Leena will look after everything in rural Yorkshire.

But with a rabble of unruly OAPs to contend with, as well as the annoyingly perfect – and distractingly handsome – local schoolteacher, Leena learns that switching lives isn’t straightforward. Back in London, Eileen is a huge hit with her new neighbours, and with the online dating scene. But is her perfect match nearer to home than she first thought?

Hardcover, 328 pages
Published April 16th 2020
by Quercus
4/5 stars

 

The Flatshare is one of my favorites reads this year. In fact, it might actually be my first rom/com, what have I been missing, right? So it only stands to reason that I preorder Beth O'Leary's new book The Switch from the UK. Release dates can be earlier there and BookDepository offers free delivery worldwide. A win-win.

Now the wonderful folks at Netgalley have launched a new app and offer audiobooks for review. It gets better...The Switch was available to listen to.  How could I say no to that? Well, I didn't and decided that a test of the app and a combination read/ listen was in order.

However, in the end, I ended up just reading it. The readers were wonderful in the audio but I just felt I’d enjoy the book more reading it myself.  Obviously this is my issue because most loved the audio.

The Switch is told from the pov of grandmother Ellen and her granddaughter Leena which gave this book a nice contrast in the narrative. Where Ellen is spunky and rather fearless in her adventures, Leena is burdened with past hurts but hid behind a cloud of keeping busy trying to ignore them.

The Switch is a delicious rom/com that tackles grief. Is that even possible? It takes a talented author that can do that with respect to the situation and make it work. Grief is such an individual thing, everyone handles it their own way and this book showed the effect it has on others.  I think I would have loved a little more interaction between a couple of players here on that level. But all in all, this was a great read and one I recommend.

Well done Beth O’Leary, you have cemented yourself as a go-to author, can’t wait to see what comes next...actually Road Trip does in 2021.

This book was part of my 2020 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #29