REVIEW: Snow Day by Julie Lipson

Title: Snow Day
Author: Julie Lipson
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi, Victor Bevine, Fred Berman, Elizabeth Jasicki, Eliza Foss, Kevin Pariseau, Angelo Di Loreto, Clara Francesca and Fulvio Della Volta
Publisher: Audible
Publication Date: November 2020
Genre: Christmas Holiday / Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon| BN | Audible

Description: What makes for a wonderful life? On a crowded Christmas train from Milan to Paris, Amy, an American headed to meet her fiancé, and Martijn, a Finn headed anywhere but home, meet cute.

But when their train gets delayed in an Italian Alps hill town due to a snowstorm, they, along with a passel of fellow stranded passengers, find comfort and joy in a cozy inn, run by a wise Italian man who forces them to look at the holiday and each other in a whole new light.

My Thoughts: My 2022 Christmas reading begins with the very short and whimsical Snow Day by new to me author Julie Lipson. I chose this audiobook because traveling by train in Europe is one of my bucket list items and being delayed by snow in the Italian Alps on Christmas Eve sounds exciting.

This story centers on Amy, an American architect traveling from Milan to Paris to meet up with her fiancé and his mother and Martijn, a Finn who has the wanderlust bug with no real destination in mind. As we get to know these two strangers, we learn they have a lot more in common than what appears on the surface.

The story runs just under 1 hour and 15 minutes, so there isn’t a lot of time spent on the “getting to know you” phase of the relationship. As Amy and Martijn trudge around town hoping to find another means of transportation out, they get the opportunity to assess their lives and what’s important, rather than living according to the plans of others.

This story felt like a movie in my mind as there are multiple narrators and sound effects. The sounds of trains in the background and an Italian men’s choir singing Silent Night brings life to this story. All of the performances were wonderful with the accents of Martijn’s Finnish background, Englishwoman Delores and her child and the numerous Italians. Mixed in with the English language, are numerous Italian phrases. I was in audible heaven.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a delightful story, but I wish it had been a couple of hours longer to see what happens to Amy and Martijn after boarding the train to leave. I recommend this story to readers who like their time in the snow short but enjoy the quaintness of spending Christmas in a small village in the Italian Alps.

REVIEW: Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens

Title: Never Let You Go
Author: Chevy Stevens
Narrator: Rachel Fulginiti and Caitlin Davies
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Publication Date: March 2018
Genre: Thriller / Suspense
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A stunning and thrilling novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Still Missing.

Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped into the night with her young daughter and left an abusive relationship. Her ex-husband, Andrew, was sent to jail and Lindsey started over with a new life.

Now, Lindsey is older and wiser, with her own business and a teenage daughter who needs her more than ever. When Andrew is finally released from prison, Lindsey believes she has cut all ties and left the past behind her. But she gets the sense that someone is watching her, tracking her every move. Her new boyfriend is threatened. Her home is invaded, and her daughter is shadowed. Lindsey is convinced it’s her ex-husband, even though he claims he’s a different person. But has he really changed? Is the one who wants her dead closer to home than she thought?

With Never Let You Go, Chevy Stevens delivers a chilling, twisting thriller that crackles with suspense as it explores the darkest heart of love and obsession.

My Thoughts: To begin with, I have to wonder how I have never read anything from this author before, but she has definitely been flying below my radar. My love of all things thriller, suspenseful, twisty and edgy are fed fully with Never Let You Go. This story kept me on the edge of my seat, guessing nearly all the way to the end about who the culprit is, right about the same time our protagonist, Lindsey, realizes it. I like being surprised like this rather than figuring it out in the first few chapters then feeling impatient for everyone else to catch up.

The girl meets a boy then realizes he’s dangerous and escapes him only to be stalked and terrorized down the road plot device is used quite extensively, and I do enjoy them immensely. This one resonates with me because the author does a wonderful job of humanizing the characters, so the reader gets a real sense of the empathy, love and confusion the victims feel towards the villain. When there are potentially multiple villains, it makes the story more complex. Initially, the reader is told the backstory of Lindsey and Andrew in flashbacks building up the tension and fear Lindsey feels at the hands of this man she loves, but who she is convinced is going to kill her one day.

In the present day, eleven years later, the reader gets both Lindsey and Sophie’s perspectives when Andrew reenters their lives and I could empathize with both of them regarding their feelings about Andrew and whether or not he could be trusted. Obviously, most readers will automatically assume he’s the one who is stalking them now and though I understood why, I kept thinking that would be the obvious choice. The author sets up the story to offer up other viable suspects that kept me guessing and doubting.

The story moves at a reasonable pace and once the backstory of Lindsey and Andrew’s lives is revealed, the story begins to get more twisty and, though some of the events occurring were quite disturbing, they were very relevant. I thought the characters were masterfully developed, easy to relate to and get to know.

I went with the audiobook edition of this story, narrated by Rachel Fulginiti and Caitlin Davies. Both performing alternating points of view from Lindsey and her daughter, Sophie, which I enjoyed because the voices are distinctly different in their pitch and tone so it gave me a better listening experience. It gives the reader more of a sense of performance than just being read to.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I found this story to be very good, offering up a twisty, edge of my seat, nail-biting experience. Fans who enjoy being surprised, shocked and a little terrified will enjoy this book. I recommend the audiobook edition for the added emotional impact of the performances which gave me the sensation of being in the house with the characters rather than observing from a distance.

REVIEW: Before I Do by Sophie Cousens

Title: Before I Do
Author: Sophie Cousens
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication Date: October 2022
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: What would you do if 'the one that got away' turned up the night before your wedding?

Head-in-the-stars Audrey is about to marry down-to-earth Josh. Though they are polar opposites, they have a healthy, stable relationship; Josh is just what Audrey needs. But romance should be unpredictable and full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey's found herself wondering if Josh really is The One.

So, when Josh's sister shows up to the rehearsal dinner with Fred, Audrey's What If? guy--the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with--Audrey finds herself torn. Surely Fred's appearance the night before she is due to get married can't be a coincidence. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to ask herself: Is fate trying to stop her from making a huge mistake? Or does destiny just have a really twisty sense of humor?

My Thoughts: I have learned through my many years as a bookworm that the “what if” plot device is used a lot and not always successfully. I usually avoid this plot device because it just seems pointless to live in the past wondering “what if” instead of embracing the present and living life to the fullest. In Before I Do, engaged to be married Audrey is faced with a major “what if” on the night before her wedding when her future sister-in-law shows up with the man Audrey spent a wonderful day together six years ago and never saw again…until now.

I was drawn to this story because, unlike other “what if” plots, this one really intrigued me. Audrey and Fred had only one day. Just one. They made plans to meet up the next day and he never shows up. Audrey never receives a call from him and she is unable to call him because the numbers are smudged and she can’t make them out. I’m not sure she even knew his last name, come to think of it. What happened to Fred?!

Over the next six years, Audrey moves on; sort of. She meets Josh whose name she can never remember and keeps calling him James. They eventually get together and everything seems perfect and right on track for a happily ever after…until Fred shows up. Now, Audrey is filled with doubt about herself, her relationship, her future. Instead of talking to Josh about her fears, she bottles it all up until she is walking on glass. It doesn’t help when bats fall from the belfry onto Josh’s grandmother, the wedding dress tears, the bride figurine decides to take a suicidal leap from the top of the cake and the vicar has a heart attack during the wedding ceremony. It certainly seems like the universe is trying to tell her something, doesn’t it?

I liked Audrey and thought she was intelligent and certainly mature enough to manage this mess like an adult. Other than to entertain me, what other reason could there possibly be for her to allow this chaos to take over what should have been the happiest day of her life? This story is told in flashbacks to the past allowing the reader to see what Audrey experienced and how she met Fred, meeting Josh as well as giving the reader insight into the relationship she has with her mother, who turned out to be quite a surprising character for me.

I personally never warmed up to Fred and couldn’t understand how Audrey could be rethinking all of her life’s choices based on one day with one man instead of the several years she has built with Josh. Even with all of Audrey’s insecurities and indecisiveness, I found this story to be heartwarming and I was eager to see how it all would play out.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I haven’t read anything by this author before and am wondering why. I really enjoyed her voice and writing style. She creates characters that I found easy to relate to and could easily see myself being friends or family with. I wanted to help Audrey through this mess, but we all know this is the kind of situation one must face on their own.

I highly recommend this story to fans of the chick-lit and women’s fiction genres, as well as readers who enjoy stories with characters with real-world problems and lives. I look forward to reading more by this talented author.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Before I Do from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Before He Kills Again by Margaret Murphy

Title: Before He Kills Again (Detective Cassie Rowan #1)
Author: Margaret Murphy
Narrator: Bianca Amato
Publisher: Joffe Books
Publication Date: July 2020
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A serial predator on the prowl in Liverpool. Seven victims so far. And he’s already got his next victim.

The police can’t catch him. He leaves no trace of himself, and no one has been able to provide a reliable description of him.

Detective Cassie Rowan is working undercover and on his trail. But now he has Cassie in his sights.

Meet Detective Cassie Rowan
DC Cassie Rowan is a young policewoman who has been the main carer for her little brother Neil since their parents died. She has to balance this role with her demanding job. She is working undercover on the streets of Liverpool trying to find the ‘Furman’, a man who has been brutally assaulting sex workers. Cassie blames herself and another detective, Wicks, for not catching him sooner. Forensic scientist Dr. Ian Chan is on her side, but her boss Detective Chief Inspector Pat Warman thinks she is uncooperative and needs to work as part of a team.

My Thoughts: For the first book in a new series, this one doesn’t hold back and delivers some solid punches. The story moved a bit slowly for me as I worked through the introductions of all the characters and trying to figure out where to place them in the story. I would have preferred that there had been less secondary characters introduced before I got to know who the key players were.

I enjoyed the story overall; I thought Cassie was a great character, full of the frustrations, insecurities and emotions that make us human. I admired her grit and determination to bring in the monsters who hunt the innocent of Liverpool as well as the struggles she faces raising her little brother and the worries she tries to hide away from her family, friends and colleagues. She is a supervisor’s worst nightmare, however. On more than one occasion, she is brought to task and given a verbal smack-down for not following orders. We don’t know but she may be unemployed in the next book.

There were so many characters that could have been the baddie in this story that I found it difficult to keep it all straight. I felt a lot of frustration for Cassie when she figures out who it is and her chain of command don’t want to hear it, believing they already have the suspect in custody.

There are quite a few loose threads at the end that annoyed me. Specifically, Detective Wicks and what happens to him as well as Cassie’s friend, Tasha. Hopefully, the next book will pick up some of these threads and tie them up.

I enjoyed meeting Dr. Palmer, the psychoanalyst contacted by Cassie as one of his patients may or may not be the rapist. There is an interesting side story about him and his practice and family life.

The audio edition of this story made this story more intense for me and I enjoyed the narration by Bianca Amato. Her performance brings to life the frustrations, fears, pain and horror experienced by these characters, making the story more vivid and realistic.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this is a gritty and sometimes graphic thriller that might disturb some readers with its intense scenes. Fans of twisty thrillers, police procedurals and mysteries will enjoy this one.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Before He Kills Again from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Pants on Fire by Maggie Alderson

Title: Pants on Fire
Author: Maggie Alderson
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: September 2005
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: When London editor Georgia Abbott comes to Sydney to work on Glow, a glossy woman's magazine, she has high hopes for a bright new start. Leaving behind a broken heart (her own) and a philandering ex-fiancé, she's looking forward to immersing herself in the Tim Tam-eating sisterhood of women's mags. Not to mention being whisked off into the dusty Australian sunset by a suntanned, Akubra-hatted fantasy man.

At first, things seem promising, as Georgia is swept up in a whirl of A-list parties, dancing, dinners, and debauchery. But while Australian water may go down the plughole the other way, Australian men are starting to look all too familiar. And then there's the chaotic bunch of women Georgia works with on Glow, to whom every relationship disaster is a potential article, not least of all Georgia's, whose quest for love is fast becoming headline material. What to do when all the blokes you've found are either gay, married, unfaithful, unable, or just plain unworthy?

My Thoughts: Pants on Fire by new to me author Maggie Alderson was an enjoyable story but fell flat for me with character development. I thought Australians, in general, were painted in a negative light in this story as party animals who spend their lives boozing it up, popping pills and snorting lines left and right and indiscriminately sleeping with whoever crosses their path. I honestly could not understand why Georgia would waste her time hanging around these people. I get that they showered her with affection and adoration, and she really needed that in her life at the moment, but it seemed to go on longer than it should. Maybe it’s just me (and it probably is), but I would think if you moved to another country to get over your cheating ex of a fiancé, the last thing you would immerse yourself in is more of the immoral personality types you left behind.

The relationship dynamics I did enjoy witnessing Georgia having were those with Debbie’s family. The reader is led to believe that Georgia’s only family is a brother living in Scotland, so making a family type connection seems to be what Georgia needs more than the debauchery she has been engaging in. Though I didn’t believe these encounters Georgia embarked on were meaningful or healthy for her in any way, I was entertained by the antics of Antony and his friends.

I wish Georgia and Rory got themselves sorted out before the end (and I mean the very end) of the book. It was obvious from the beginning that they were meant to be together, obvious to everyone, but them, of course. I rolled my eyes so hard at this, I gave myself several brain cramps.

My Final Verdict: If you are looking for a light and fluffy read that gives you a tour around Sydney, Australia and the surrounding area or a silly chick-lit story featuring people that just “want to have fun”, then give this one a go. If you prefer strong character development and stories with characters who are capable of getting their act together before the last chapter, you may want to pass on this one.

REVIEW: Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

Title: Sometimes I Lie
Author: Alice Feeney
Narrator: Stephanie Racine
Publisher: HQ
Publication Date: March 2017
Genre: Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me:

1. I’m in a coma.
2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore.
3. Sometimes I lie.

Amber wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea. Amber doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a suspicion her husband had something to do with it. Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from twenty years ago, this brilliant psychological thriller asks: Is something really a lie if you believe it's the truth?

My Thoughts: I honestly do not know where to begin with this story! This book left me breathless with anticipation, anxiety and shock. The lines between good and evil were hard to define and this story is full of characters that you are unsure of whether or not they can be trusted. I’m still not sure who the real villains and heroes are after the book ended. I am not a fan of cliffhanger endings usually and this one dropped a whopper of a cliffhanger on my head. I hope there will be another book explaining what in the world happened.

This story begins with the lead character, Amber Reynolds, realizing she’s in a coma and confessing that her husband doesn’t love her and sometimes she lies. This opening sets up the reader trying to decipher everything going on as the story shifts between now, then (the week leading up to the accident) and before (the period of over 20 years ago when Amber was a child). I had a lot of sympathy for Amber as she tries to process what is happening, being able to hear the voices around her but they don’t know she can hear them. The author does a very good job presenting several viable candidates as the perpetrator of Amber’s accident, including Amber herself.

I didn’t like any of these characters, to be completely honest. I found them all to be dishonest, shady and keeping secrets of their own. My opinions fluctuated as I got further in the book, but I was still shocked at some of the revelations.

Considering the extensive amount of detail the reader has to sift through during the course of this book, the pace of the story allowed me to process the specifics without feeling overwhelmed. The character development was fantastic. How often does a reader dislike every character in a book, but still enjoy the story? Is it even possible? With this book, I have learned that it is possible.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to readers who love suspenseful thrillers that give the reader the sense of being on a rollercoaster. Sudden twists, turns and drops that make your stomach jump into your throat. I enjoyed the audiobook format of this story quite a bit and recommend it over other formats. The narration by Stephanie Racine added so much more depth to the story than I would have gotten by reading a print format.