Everything To Lose

Everything To Lose by Andrew Gross

A half million dollars is a lot of money. Enough to pay the back taxes on her outrageously expensive home and catch up on the mortgage her ex-husband conveniently handed to her. It would help her loyal parents through a rough patch, and most importantly, continue to send her special needs son to a school where he shows vast improvement. As she caresses the crisp currency and daydreams about financial security, her inner self knows that this split-second decision will alter the course of her life. She knows right from wrong; but desperate times call for desperate measures. So she devises a way to take the money that clearly doesn't belong to her, setting in motion a series of events that will send her life spinning out of control...

While driving down a dark deserted road, Hilary Cantor witnesses a fatal car accident. She doesn't know the dead man whose contorted body is twisted in the mangled wreck but she soon will. He is a man with a secret. He is a man with an exorbitant amount of money that someone desperately wants back along with incriminating evidence from twenty years ago. Hilary unwittingly is now caught in a web of murder and blackmail with a very dangerous and sinister group of individuals who threaten the one person she loves the most; her son. She joins forces with a determined police officer from Staten Island that is reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Many characters emerge as the story goes back in time. Like in a a game of dominoes, the pieces begin to fall revealing the final lone suspect. And it all begins with the enticement of money.

This is a fast-paced cliff-hanger; easy to read and hard to put down. From the same author who wrote 15 Seconds, the story touches upon relevant current issues of our times like the devastation of a storm that destroyed lives and fractured the human spirit, and a woman so overcome with despair and hopelessness, that she resorts to unthinkable measures in order to save her needy child. Who knows what the future holds and how we will react.  Life is never just black and white; rather it is a myriad of countless shades of gray.

Andrew Gross writes of hope, love and resilience, with suspense all around. Maybe not the ending you desire, but it will certainly keep you engaged for hours as you slip away into the thrill of it all.        

Glitter and Glue

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan

This book is for mothers and daughters everywhere.

Author Kelly Corrigan writes a poignant and touching memoir revolving around her own life and the trials and tribulations of the mother daughter relationship, eventually coming to the understanding that perhaps Mom's words of wisdom have some merit after all.

"Your father is the glitter, and I'm the glue." How many times did Kelly hear those words spoken by her mother?  Far too numerous to count along with those endless quotes about every trivial event and circumstance in her life. And what in the world do those words mean? In any case, it's time to move on after college graduation. The adventure and glamour of Australia beckons Kelly and friend, Tracy, so they depart for the other side of the world.. Soon her savings account is exhausted and she finds herself accepting a job as a live-in nanny for a widower named John. The package includes scrawny  five-year-old Martin, precocious eight-year-old Milly, lonely Grandpa Pop, and intriguing stepson Evan. The book chronicles Kelly's days and nights of making monotonous meals, wiping runny noses, and daydreaming of scuba diving on the The Great Barrier Reef. As time passes, however, an attachment grows to this grieving family, and she slowly begins to understand that the untimely loss of a mother has far-reaching consequences. To her surprise, Kelly begins to feel an unexpected love for a family that courageously attempts to move on after days filled with emptiness and sorrow. And in the process her own mother's advice begins to take on a whole new meaning. When she returns to the States, her past experiences in a faraway place in 1992 prepare her for the challenges she faces today, with mom by her side.

This is a heartrending emotional story filled with a bevy of "mom" quotes; I marveled at exactly how many were familiar to me, spoken by my own mother throughout those formative teenage years. Sad at times yet surely captivating, it also is very amusing. After all, laughter is good for the soul. It explores that mysterious ever-changing bond between mothers and daughters that evolves over time; that protective nature one experiences when a child enters your life.

"And it occurs to me that maybe the reason my mother was so exhausted all the time wasn't because she was doing so much but because she was feeling so much."  Yes, indeed, an insightful window into the phenomenon known as motherhood. And may I be the first one to wish you...

Happy Mother's Day.

Keep Quiet

Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline

"A father is supposed to be a parent, not a friend. It's Parenting 101, but you didn't get the memo."

Jake Buckman drives aimlessly through unfamiliar residential streets as wife Pam's words echo in his ears, over and over and over.  He never should have allowed his sixteen-year-old son, Ryan, behind the wheel.
He knew it was wrong. But Ryan was only months away from getting his driver's license, and Pike Road has little traffic in the late evening hours; a perfect opportunity to reconnect with the teenage son who seems to be drifting farther and farther away. But then the unthinkable happens; that terrifying moment when both father and son realize a crumpled, lifeless body lies beneath the wheels of their car. Jake must act quickly, making monumental decisions in a matter of minutes. The young female jogger is dead. There is nothing they can do to bring back an innocent life. It was an accident. But Jake knows that Ryan could go to prison and that can't happen.  So they drive away with a rehearsed plan, praying that this nightmare will end, knowing in their hearts it's only begun......

Secrets don't stay hidden for long. Unsettling texts to Ryan begin to unravel this young man already on the brink of self-destruction. When an unsavory character by the name of Lewis Deaner threatens blackmail, Jack knows that prying eyes witnessed every moment of that fateful night. He realizes that what was a horrible lapse in judgement on his part is now a complicated web of deceit and lies. When Deaner is found murdered, Jack begins to connect clues that point to several suspects, including Pam, who has deceptions of her own. It is now a race against time to shield and protect his wife and son from potential deadly harm. And when all the pieces begin to fall into place, Jack braces himself for the frightening conclusion to this agonizing ordeal.

Once again Lisa Scottoline writes a suspenseful, enjoyable page-turner with just enough mystery to make the reader curious as to how it all ends. As a former attorney herself, Scottoline always adds legal flavor to her novels and this is no exception. This one is an easy read, quite fast-moving and hard to put down. Perhaps you will guess the puzzle as you read the final chapters; nevertheless, I found it to be an entertaining read filled with moral and ethical questions. How far will a parent go to protect their child? Where do you draw that fine line between parent and friend?

Food for thought for many of us; of that I am sure.....        

Still Life with Bread Crumbs

Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen

The time has come. Sixty-year-old Rebecca Winter must reinvent herself. She finds it hard to admit, but this new catchphrase applies to her in so many ways. Her acclaimed black-and-white photographs once graced the walls of prestigious homes, the most famous being the Kitchen Counter Series that depicted the chaos of a typical harried housewife. At one time her fans adored her. People clamored to buy her work. The royalties from her esteemed prints paid for the Manhattan penthouse, the exclusive hairdresser, and the five-star restaurants. But fame is fleeting. Now Rebecca finds herself alone. Divorced from Peter with the wandering eyes, she faces dwindling finances, increased responsibilities with elderly parents, and the sinking feeling that her once creative self has disappeared.

Forced to cut expenses, Rebecca sublets the apartment overlooking Central Park and moves to the middle of nowhere, living in a run-down cottage in dire need of repair. A handyman by the name of Jim Bates comes to the rescue as he repairs her roof and opens her heart to the possibility of love once again.  And as she explores her newfound feelings for Jim, she realizes that her peaceful surroundings create the perfect backdrop for photography. The hours spent walking through the woods provide beautiful shots of nature. Then unexpectedly, she stumbles upon a series of small homemade crosses adorned with childhood mementos; a yearbook, a trophy, a tattered, faded picture of mother and child. Mysterious and perplexing. Yet she is compelled to photograph these makeshift memorials, only to find that the next day they have disappeared. Who or what is lurking in the shadows watching her every move?

This is a fun, quirky, often amusing story with a hint of mystery and surprise. The author deals with relevant issues many people face each and every day; the responsibilities of taking care of aging parents, the daunting prospect of making ends meet on a limited budget, the challenge of finding joy in life and overcoming obstacles that stand in our way. It is a novel both lighthearted and thought provoking. It is a simple little love story told with warmth and insightful observations from an award-winning journalist.

Reinvent yourself.

The Winter People

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon

Spooky, scary, bone-chilling. This modern-day ghost story tells the tale of the "people who are stuck between here and there, waiting...."

It is 1908 in West Hall ,Vermont. Sara Harrison Shea  and her husband, Martin, live on the farm of her ancestors;  run-down, barren land  in a lonely space where folklore says you can hear the whispers of the dead that roam everywhere. Many peculiar and mysterious disappearances have occurred over the years in this desolate place. Gertie, their precious daughter, is missing now, too.  Eventually her body is found at the bottom of an abandoned well. Tormented and grief-stricken, Sara imagines that Gertie's soul is very much alive. She spends her days and nights communicating with the child she adored, steadfastly believing that this was no accident. It was murder. Months later, Sara is found dead  in the field behind their home, mangled beyond description. What sinister phantom spirits inhabit the town of West Hall?

Now 100 years later, nineteen-year-old Ruthie Washburne lives in Sara's old farmhouse with little sister, Fawn, and their eccentric mother, Alice. One day their mother vanishes without explanation, and Ruthie begins to delve into the history behind this place they call home. The sisters are shocked to find Sara's diary pages, hidden and tucked away long ago. With this discovery, the sisters begin a dangerous journey to find their mother, suddenly realizing that there is a distinct connection to a disturbing story from the past. It takes them into a deep, dark, and eerie world that Sara believed existed; a supernatural world filled with long-lost secrets. And the girls aren't the only ones searching for answers......

Jennifer McMahon has written a spine-tingling, frightening novel dealing with the hereafter. This is her first venture into a hardcover book after writing paperbacks. Somehow she manages to intertwine characters from the past and present into a stunningly engaging story from start to finish. As a reader, pay attention to all the details and watch the pages slip through your fingers as the captivating story unravels. She examines the power of undying love between mother and child and  the power of grief. You may not believe in ghosts. You may not believe in the paranormal, but you just might have a shadow of doubt at the end.

Keep the lights on.......

   


                                                                       

The Weight of Blood

The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh


Her name is Lila, this raven-haired beauty with the moss green eyes. People around these parts secretly call her a witch. Nestled deep in the Ozark Mountains, the residents of Henbane, Missouri seldom welcome new faces to their small town. But Lila longs for stability, at least for awhile, after being tossed from one foster family to another. So she accepts an offer to become a contract employee on a farm owned by a Mr. Crete Dane. Soon this enchanting young woman casts a spell over many of the townspeople and falls in love with Crete's brother, Carl. They have a daughter, Lucy, who strikingly resembles her lovely mother. When Lila vanishes without a trace, folks whisper about her disappearance, but do little to uncover the truth. Last seen with a pistol in her hands, Lila was supposedly swallowed at the mouth of  Old Scratch Cavern. Truth or fiction? Tucked away in their own little world, the citizens of Henbane vow to protect one another at all costs. Who are they protecting now?

Now ten years later, another person is missing. This time it is Lucy's good friend, Cheri. A young girl from a troubled home, everyone believes she ran away from the neglect and abuse of her mother. Plagued by recurring thoughts that she could have done more, Lucy regrets not being there for Cheri when she desperately needed a friend. Her mutilated body is found after many months, displayed for all to see, and people assume a drifter committed the crime. Lucy believes differently when she discovers a necklace belonging to Cheri in a familiar place. The mother she never knew; the friend savagely killed. Could these two cases possibly be related after all these years? She knows the answers lie in the heart of this town. However, the revelations of her discoveries prove to be more unsettling than she could ever imagine. Sometimes it's best to let the past quietly slip away. If only ghosts could talk. "But ghosts never came when you wanted them to......"

Laura McHugh's debut novel certainly suggests she is on her way to becoming  a successful author. This one is a compelling thriller. Be prepared for some dark, disturbing themes, all of which set the tone for a shocking intense mystery. Once again, alternating chapters are narrated by the main characters and give the reader an insightful window into their lives. McHugh does a superb job of describing the rural backwoods of small-town America in the Ozarks where she actually lived as a teenager. It is a story of secrets and lies; family loyalty and sacrifice. You may have a hard time putting this one down.

Blood is thicker than water....

After I'm Gone

After I'm Gone by Laura Lippman

Five women love Felix Brewer. Now one of them is dead, and former homicide police detective, Roberto "Sandy" Sanchez is determined to uncover the truth after all these years....

When Bambi Gottschalk  meets Felix at a Valentine's Day dance in 1959, she immediately falls under his spell. He is not particularly handsome, rough around the edges, not at all what her parents envision for their only child. However, within months they are married, and Bambi begins to believe her husband's many outlandish promises. Yes, she knows that his business dealings are shady, but it makes life so much easier to put those thoughts in the back of her mind and enjoy all the material things Felix provides. He is a devoted father to their three daughters. He is a loyal friend to his lawyer and childhood friend, Bert. Unfortunately, another object of his dedication is the alluring Julie Saxony, his mistress.

Now Felix, facing prison, disappears into the night without a trace, leaving behind the women he loves. Bambi finds herself alone with financial woes and so many unanswered questions. Is Julie the recipient of all his money? Ten years to the day that Felix vanished, Julie also disappears. Everyone assumes the two have arranged a rendezvous. Then Julie's body is found in a secluded park, and Bambi and her daughters have theories as to who committed the crime. Theories they hide from one another. The murder remains unsolved until twenty-six years later when Sandy Sanchez, a lonely former cop, decides to re-open the cold case of Julie's demise. With each step he takes back in time, a story begins to unravel of greed, family secrets, jealously and bitterness. A complicated tale emerges of the women who love and adore one  man; women who are ultimately loyal to one another when all is said and done.

The chapters in this novel alternate over a span of  fifty years. A wide cast of characters provide the reader with many credible suspects in Julie's murder. It is a fun, fast-paced mystery filled with intricate details and clues. So many lies and suspicions; this story is a tangled web just waiting to be solved.

You'll have to wait until the very end to uncover the truth.  And of course finally discover...

What really happened to Felix Brewer?