Review: The Flight Attendant

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian 

Rating: 3 Stars

Chris Bohjalian’s The Flight Attendant is a wonderful example of what a thriller should be. I was captivated by the story, particularly the hot mess that is Cassie, from the very beginning. I couldn’t see how she would get herself out of the mess she was in, and was compelled to keep reading in order to find out.

The best part about this novel, though, is that the ending completely surprised me. As the pieces all started to fall into place, they didn’t go together the way I expected, keeping this from being a run of the mill mystery that any armchair detective could solve halfway through. Bohjalian did an excellent job of parceling our bits of information that kept me engaged all the way to the end. 

This is a fantastic story for anyone who likes smart thrillers and spy novels.

Thanks to NetGalley for the complimentary copy of the book.

Review: A Conspiracy in Belgravia

A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas

Rating: 2.5 Stars

I’m struggling a little bit with my feelings on this book. On the one hand, I think Sherry Thomas is an excellent writer and the cliffhanger at the end of the book insures I’ll pick up the next installment. 

On the other hand, I struggled to get through this book. I felt too bogged down in details for most of the story. I loved that the ending of the mystery had a twist I didn’t expect, but I honestly couldn’t explain, even immediately after finishing it, what the plot/mystery actually was. It went in and out of my brain almost immediately. It’s how I felt about the first one as well. And it’s been over a year since I’ve read that one, so I had a hard time following all of the characters and storylines that were brought back from the first story. 

I found the relationships to be the most compelling parts of the book, and I’m particularly interested in reading more about how the main characters continue to relate to each other.

I give this 2.5 Stars, because Thomas is a great writer and I think she writes a good mystery, but I also think there’s too much happening for one book. That is most likely a writing style preference on my part, and I would recommend this to anyone interested in historical mysteries. I will also definitely be reading the next one because I want to know what happens next; not so much the next mystery, but where she takes these characters and their relationships to each other.

Review: Ain't She A Peach

Ain't She a Peach by Molly Harper

Rating: 3 Stars

This is the second full-length installment in Molly Harper's Southern Eclectic series, but could be read as a stand-alone. There have also been two novellas, but again, those don't need to be read to understand and enjoy the story. Harper does a good job of catching the reader up on any important information from the other stories, although that comes off as a little repetitive if you've read the novellas.

I've read all of Harper's other books, and was a  little skeptical about picking this series up, since I didn't like her complementary novels nearly as much as I've enjoyed her paranormal books, and was starting to wonder if her style only worked for me in a paranormal setting. I am pleasantly surprised to say that that appears to not be the case, as I've enjoyed this entire series. 

Ain't She a Peach is full of quirky characters, funny story-lines, and at it's heart, a family that truly loves each other. It is billed as a romance, and that element is there,  but I felt the more compelling relationship was between Frankie, the heroine, and her parents, and how they've all dealt with her childhood illness. 

This was a a fairly quick and easy read, but extremely entertaining. I hope that Harper will write at least one more novel in the series, because I'd love to see Duffy settled. If you like a lighthearted story filled with quirky characters, be sure to pick this one up when it's released 6/12/2018.

Thank you to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

Review: The Day the World Came to Town

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede

Rating: 4 Stars

This book was a fascinating look into how the tragedy of 9/11 effected those people who were in the air that day, and those who took them in. We often forget how that day rippled throughout the world, and how many people stepped up to help. 

This was a lovely story about the best of humanity. I enjoyed the narrative and found myself crying more than once at the kindness shown to these people I’ve never met. I liked the writing style, the pieces of each person’s story, although I know some other readers found it hard to follow. 

If you’re looking for a story that will make you feel all the emotions, but mostly the good ones, this is the book for you.

Review: The Sea Keeper's Daughters

The Sea Keeper’s Daughters by Lisa Wingate

Rating: 3 Stars

I enjoyed this book. The story was interesting and the subject was something I didn’t really know anything about, which I always enjoy. I did feel like there was a little too much going on, plot-wise, and it could have been tightened up a little bit, but overall this was a fun and fairly easy read. 

Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

Review: The Swans of Fifth Avenue

The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin

Rating: 3 Stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. Melanie Benjamin is a good writer, and the subject matter was interesting. I found that the writing made me feel what I'm sure Benjamin wanted me to feel as the reader, but I also never felt fully engaged with the characters. 

I found it hard to follow; the jumps in the timeline weren't always clear to me. I also struggled with the sheer number of characters introduced throughout the book. It felt like one giant name-drop, which was probably on purpose, I know, but still hard to follow. It didn't help that I didn't really like any of the characters, even the ones we got to know. I felt sorry for a lot of them, but they were all selfish, with very few redeeming qualities, making it difficult for me to be overly interested in anything any of them were doing. 

I believe a lot of what I didn't like about the writing; the gossipy voice, the name dropping, the jumpy narrative, was all done on purpose to emulate what it must have been like in Truman Capote's head, and in that regard, Benjamin did an excellent job. Even though I didn't enjoy it, I appreciate what she was doing, and can acknowledge the mastery of that. Overall, this was an interesting read, but not one I'd pick up again. I will be sure to try another of Benjamin's books, though, because I do believe she's an excellent writer. 

Thank you to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

Review: Great American Outpost

Great American Outpost by Maya Rao

Rating: 4 Stars

I've spent almost my entire life in southwestern North Dakota, only a few hours away from the epicenter of the recent oil boom in the Bakken. And even down here on the fringes of the boom, it's hard to believe how much has changed in such a short period of time. 

Maya Rao spent two years in the Bakken, investigating these changes, talking to farmers and ranchers, oil workers from around the world, oil executives, and government officials. Rao has written a book that brings to light how complicated this boom has been for everyone involved, while keeping an open mind and remaining neutral. The boom was romanticized, then villainized by everyone who has survived it (depending on which side you're on, of course). Rao is unbiased in her reporting of the issues, making this a perfect read for anyone who is interested in learning what life was and is really like in the Bakken. As someone who lives on the very edge of the oil activity, it gave me a much more clear idea of what happened during the boom/bust to my neighbors to the North. It's not as clear cut as some would believe, and Rao does an excellent job showing both sides of the story. This is a great book for anyone who is interested in learning about the largest oil boom in modern history, told by the people who lived it.

Thank you to NetGalley who provided me an advanced copy of this book.