Review: "A Long and Faraway Gone" by Lou Berney

9.5 out of 10 Stars

A well written, fast past mystery crime novel.   The two main characters-Wyatt and Julianna both bring something unique and fresh to the story.  Although the novel is written in duel narratives neither story or character takes a back seat to the other.  Each aspect, each clue, each new development whether coming from Wyatt or Julianna drives the story and keeps you turning the page.

Wyatt is the sole survivor of a robbery and shooting when he was 15.  That same summer, Julianna’s older sister disappears with no leads as to where she could have gone.  25 years later finds these two characters still struggling with the grief and tragedy of their perspective mystery.  Both are looking for closure, answers and will ultimately do whatever it takes to find out what really happened all those years ago. 

The only complaints I have of this other-wise brilliant novel is the ended seemed to wrap up too quickly.  I was hoping for more of…something.  The ending did not kill the novel but it did not hold up to the rest of the story.  The other is there really is no real reason why Wyatt and Julianna’s stories are being told in the same book.  I kept waiting for something to happen to drive these two together but nothing ever happens.  It is not that big of a deal but there is a line on the back of the book that suggests that these two characters will come together but they never really do. 

Other than those two rather small things, the novel is a must read!

 And here is my video review

Review: A Cliche Christmas

"A Cliche Christmas" by Nicole Deese

 

9 out of 10 Stars.  Everything you want and hope for in a Christmas tale and so much more. 

I was expecting your average Hallmark/Lifetime-ish Christmas story chalked full of predictable plots and cheesy characters, but “A Cliché Christmas” blew me away and I did not want it to end.  The story itself was still rather predictable, in that when Georgia and Weston first meet you know that this is the love story that will unfold and you know that Georgia going home for the holiday’s will change her life, however, the way everything plays out is the farthest thing from predictable. 

The main characters themselves were well developed with more depth than one would expect in a 180 page novel.  I enjoyed that throughout the novel they reacted to circumstances, situations and life in a believable way.  Also, their faith was woven so nicely into the essence of the character, that it did not come across as preachy or cliché.  The faith aspect was also not overly done or just thrown in there randomly but it always had a purpose or a reason to be mentioned and displayed. 

One of things I liked the most about this novel was Deese’s description of emotion and setting.  When she is describing a kiss you are right there feeling it too.  Or when she is setting a scene you are there in the snow, freezing as well.  Each detail had a purpose and helped drive the plot or bring more depth to a character. 

I truly have only one complaint and that is the novel was not long enough.  There was enough closure to the story that it was still satisfying but it left me wanting me more.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves a good Christmas story and is looking for a feel good romance.  

Here is my video review of the book if you would like to hear what else I have to say about the book.

Review Mash Up

Video Review on "Don't Look Back" and "Before I Go to Sleep"

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Review: "Don't Look Back" by Jennifer l. Armentrout

“Don’t Look Back” was fantastic!  A great suspense, mystery novel with some romance thrown in there.

The book follows Sam, who is found walking down a highway not knowing how she got there or even who she is.  To add to the mystery her best friend Cassie has also gone missing and Sam was the last person to have seen Cassie alive.

The character development was interesting because as the reader you only get what Sam gets.  Armentrout did a great job of not bogging us down with details of Sam’s past but instead she brings us into Sam’s frustration and slowly feeds us information.  I liked that I was just as lost as Sam and it made for a more suspenseful story.  I connected well with Sam and thought her development and acceptance of who she was and who she wants to be made for an interesting sub-plot.

I appreciate that the romance in the book was not so over the top and was not the main focus of the story.  It felt natural and all the feelings Sam describes having brought me back to my high school days of falling in love. I also liked that the friendships that drive the story are not the ones you think will and I cheered Sam on when she tells some of them off.

Overall this book is a must read.  The ending will leave you feeling satisfied in a creepy way and each page will keep you turning way into the night.

 *Spoiler Alert*  turn back now or forever be spoiled…..

Just a few little details that I wanted to go more in depth. 

First, Sam’s love interest.  I was with Scott the entire time with his thinking of Del.  I could tell that Del was hiding something from Sam when he told her the reason why she had taken off the heart necklace.  Del was such a good unlikable character.  You didn’t feel like you were forced to hate him, you just did.   I was so glad when Sam and Carson got together however, I wish that Sam never had doubted him.  I can see how as she gets little snippets of her past life how she could believe that Carson was Cassie’s killer but it just added to some unnecessary drama.  It also made me mad at Carson for keeping the fact that Sam had threatened him about what she saw with Diana.  I liked that he seemed to be the only one who was fully honest with Sam but in the end, he too lied-or withheld valuable information.  Overall though, I am glad that Sam ended up with Carson.  And that she talks about how their relationship is not perfect but they are learning and growing.

Second, I loved how Sam’s visions were described.  How everything goes grey and she loses herself in them and wakes up not fully understanding what is going on.  Then how her hallucinations of Cassie, the shadow man and herself in the mirror are so creepy…you too wonder, is this real?  I don’t really know how I feel about the notes Sam finds being from herself.  It felt a little silly that it did not fit with the rest of the story. 

Lastly, the father being the killer.  I suspected the dad when Sam goes to Cassie’s house and mentions how they have the same music box.  I thought, “Sam and Cassie have the same dad…”  The last scene with the dad and his telling of the events leading up to Cassie’s death was beautifully done.  Although I liked how it ended, It is so hard to grasp a dad doing that to his own child.  It made for a creepy ending.