“That summer in Berlin” Lecia Cornwall

Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. Berkley (Penguin Random House). 2022.

It was 1935 and Viviane Alden missed her father terribly. During a World War I battle he inhaled poisonous gas and was never the same. They always had a close bond but, after he died, her life was uprooted. Her mother had hated being poor and remarried for money. She was now the rich stepmother of four stepsisters, but Viviane was the only one not interested in marriage. She enjoyed being her own person, and photographing anything that caught her interest. After she broke off her engagement, she and her stepsister were sent to visit a family friend in Germany, in the hopes she would find a husband.

At that time Germany was immersed in preparations for the 1936 Olympics. Viviane had been recruited to act as a tourist and photograph anything to help Britain’s war effort. As she wandered Germany, photographing its secrets to pass on to an undercover reporter, she doesn’t know her cover has been blown wide open. It’s only a matter of time before she will disappear like many others before her unless she can find a way out.

Cornwall’s descriptions of the populace’s fixated devotion to Hitler were chillingly realistic and reminded me of current politics. I was riveted and couldn’t stop turning pages to find out what would happen next to Viviane. You won’t be disappointed.

Highly recommended for adults.

“A scatter of light” Malinda Lo

Rated 4 stars **** ARC. ebook. Dutton Books. Published October 2022.

Eighteen-year-old Aria was supposed to be hanging out on Martha’s Vineyard with her two best friends for their last summer before college. Instead, her invitation was rescinded, and she was banished to her grandmother’s house in California for something that wasn’t her fault. Aria expects to be bored out of her mind but soon finds herself attracted to Steph, her grandmother’s gardener.

Though Aria had been with guys before, she’d never felt anything emotional with them. However, the more time she spent with Steph, the more she felt as if they were two halves of a whole. Throughout the summer she, Steph and her Queer friends had movie nights, attended concerts, and hung out. While realizing she was in love with Steph, wasn’t Straight, and working out what all that meant, Aria also had to face the fact that she was only in California for the summer and Steph already had a girlfriend. Would this be the best summer of her life, or the worst?

Malinda Lo writes convincingly of what it feels like to make an important, life changing self-discovery. Though I liked the book I thought the transitions were too abrupt. One minute Aria is doing something, or thinking about something, and in the very next paragraph she’s moved on to something completely different or is in a different day. Sometimes I had to go back and reread to make sure I hadn’t missed anything (I hadn’t.) I’ll still recommend it for my readers, as it contains helpful information for anyone wondering about their own feelings for either the opposite or the same sex.

Recommended for ages 18 and older.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Watch out for her” Samantha M. Bailey

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Simon & Schuster. To be published April 19, 2022.

Holly is the twenty-two year old daughter of John Monroe, the extremely wealthy owner of Health ProX. Her mother died when she was born, her stepmother barely notices her, and she only feels her father’s love when she gets rich investors for his company. Though she spent her life using petty thievery and sex to feel important, her stepsister is the only one who loves her unconditionally.

As Sarah Goldman has gotten older she feels as if she’s lost part of herself by taking care of her husband and son’s needs. When her husband suggests she hire Holly to babysit six-year-old Jacob over the summer so she could focus on her photography Sarah is thrilled. In a short time Holly becomes the daughter and confidant she never had, while Holly sees her as the mother she’s never known.

Through alternating voices and flashbacks, Sarah and Holly tell their stories of how they went from a love filled mother-daughter relationship to one of anger and betrayal. Sarah was so upset about what happened that she and her family moved far away, leaving Holly all alone. However, even in their new city, it seems as if Holly is obsessed and doesn’t want to let them go. How does a mother protect her son from someone who loves him as much as she does?

Bailey’s cliffhanger chapter endings and tension-filled pages kept me eagerly reading, while her plot twists and turns had me biting my nails. Sarah and Holly were believable, likable characters and my heart ached for them, as they both just wanted to be loved and accepted.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Twice a quinceañera” Yamile Saied Méndez

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Kensington Books. (Includes Reading Group Guide with discussion questions). To be published July 26, 2022.

Nadia spent thirteen years with Brandon. Though he’d cheated and made her life miserable, she plowed on with the plan she made when she was just fourteen. One month before their wedding, she gathered the strength to kick him out of her life. Her nervousness of being without him was muted by the dread of telling her parents and extended family that the wedding was cancelled. When she came across a magazine article about women celebrating successful lives with double quinceañeras, Nadia decided to celebrate herself, her achievements and her family. This would be her second chance at her life.

Marcos spent his life running away when things got difficult. His family knew he could never follow through, so didn’t expect much from him. His mother had been a wedding planner but, with her death, his uncles schemed to steal the property from his dad who was incapacitated by Alzheimer’s. Marcos only planned to hold up the business until his sister returned from a road trip, but never expected to enjoy the work. He definitely never expected to run into Nadia, who had been the love of his life in college. Back then he’d run away from her and ruined everything. Was this his second chance?

In alternate voices Marcos and Nadia tell their stories. I loved reading about their hot and cold relationship. Méndez infused strength into all female characters, and the strength of family tied everything together. “Twice a quinceañera” is a romantic love story that will make females rethink their lives and draw on their inner Nadia to boot out anything keeping them down to celebrate their successes.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Lies we bury” Elle Marr

Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. Thomas & Mercer. 2021.

Marissa and her sister Jenessa lived with Mama Rosemary, Mama Nora, and Mama Bethel in the small basement of a man named Chet. Three years earlier Mama Nora left, and Mama Bethel went to heaven when Sweet Lily was born. Mama Rosemary has been talking about Escape Day for a long time now that they are seven years old and Chet wants to spend more time with them. The girls aren’t sure what Escape means, but they want to be together as a family.

Twenty years later, memories of her time in the basement still fill Marissa’s mind with pain. She changed her name to Claire and spent most of her life avoiding stalkers, hiding her identity, lashing out at those who called her the devil’s spawn, and feeling as if everything was out of control. To make matters worse, Chet is being released from prison and a new frenzy is churning on social media over her life in his basement.

A few days before Chet’s release, Claire receives a riddle about a body in Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels.  As crime photographer for the local paper Claire has to be present at the scenes, but soon realizes each body is tied to something personal from Chet’s basement. As she struggles to piece together the riddles, Claire finds herself drawn more deeply into her past. With time ticking towards Chet’s release, she and her sisters find themselves embroiled in something that was born in the basement but grew to monstrous size in the twenty years since they left.

“Lies we bury” is told through flashbacks and the present time, skillfully making readers wonder what could possibly happen next to Claire. The surprise ending was definitely a surprise.

Highly recommended for Adults.

Available on Kindle Unlimited.

“Survive the dome” Kosoko Jackson

Rated 4 stars **** ARC. Sourcebooks. 324 p. To be published March 29, 2022.

Despite his mother’s disapproval, Jamal felt a moral obligation to attend the BLM protest in Baltimore after the recent police killing of another Black man. As a budding photojournalist, he knows his photos from the event will boost his college application. Upon arrival Jamal is immediately accosted by a cop but is rescued by Marco, a handsome stranger. Soon afterwards a dome is raised over the city, and the police are armed with special suits that give them the inability to be hurt.

No one can leave the city, no one can enter, and technology is shut down so no one can report anything when the police arbitrarily begin to attack everyone in sight. With Marco’s help Jamal manages to escape the area but, as the police grow more aggressive, they know their only hope is to figure out how to disable the Dome and share proof of what’s happening in their city.

I found the characters to very believable, and I know their stress-filled situations will draw in teen readers. The ending left open the possibility of another book covering more of the corruption that created the Dome, which will excite new fans.

Recommended for ages 15 and older.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Circus of wonders” Elizabeth Macneal

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Emily Bestler Books (Atria). To be published February 1, 2022.

Jasper knew from the time he was a little boy that he was destined for greatness. Everything he wanted came to him easily. It didn’t matter if he hurt anyone in the process of getting what he wanted, because he was the best and believed everyone needed to know it too. He was better than Toby. Everyone knew that.

Toby grew up in the shadow of his brother Jasper, always admiring and always loving him. While Jasper was handsome and talkative, Toby was quiet and felt dull around him and his friends. They vowed to always stick together, brothers forever, and form their own circus when they grew up. Toby believed him.

Nell was born with spots all over her body. Life in her small village was hard for someone who looked so different, but her older brother Charlie fought her battles and stayed close to her side. She knew there was no future for her, and hoped to be content to live out her days in their village. However with Charlie getting married and expecting a baby soon, what would happen to her?

In alternating chapters the three of them tell their stories of life during circus mania in 1860’s Great Britain. Jasper has a fine circus, relegating Toby to laborer duties. Nell’s father sells her to his circus, and she’s terrified. However, as she learns to use her skills and becomes the public’s darling, confidence in her abilities grows. Toby had always thought he was nothing, but loving Nell gave him a boldness he never thought he could find.  Jasper has never been content with his lot in life so, when Nell begins to outshine him in the eyes of the public and gives herself to Toby instead of him, all he wants is revenge.

Macneal deftly weaves together Nell, Jasper and Toby’s voices, bringing to life the difficulties (and rewards) of circus life during Queen Victoria’s reign. I was engrossed from the first page to the last.

Highly recommended for Adults.

I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“Under Lying” Janelle Harris

Rated 5 stars ***** ebook. Lake Union Publishing. 2019.

A drunk driver killed her brother the day he and Susan turned twenty-one. Bereft without her twin, Susan allowed herself to fall into a hole of despair. Needing something to distract herself, she found purpose as Paul’s doting wife and mother of Amelia. When her two-year-old went missing from a neighborly gathering she and Paul started to blame each other. Neither knew that each was hiding secrets so terrible that, if revealed, would forever tear them apart.

This story of betrayal, lies, suspense and murder, told through flashbacks and the present time, will leave readers eagerly turning pages to find out whodunit.

Recommended for Adults.

“Merci Suárez can’t dance” Meg Medina

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. Candlewick Press. Merci Suárez #2. To be published April 6, 2021. 

Merci was first introduced in the 2019 Newbery award-winning book “Merci Suárez changes gears.” Now in seventh grade, Merci is back with new adventures and heartaches.

The seventh grade is in charge of putting on the annual Heart Ball. Since Edna (her mortal enemy) is in charge of making sure it goes off without a hitch, she’s become even more obnoxious. Merci is not happy Hannah is on her decorating committee because Merci feels like she’s losing her best friend to Edna. Her feelings are also confused when she thinks about Wilson, a boy she barely knew who her Principal paired with her to run the school store. After getting to know him more she’s starting to feel as if she likes him, but wonders what it means to like a boy.

As if everything wasn’t bad enough at school, Merci still has to take care of her annoying twin cousins and worries about her grandfather’s worsening Alzheimer’s. Tía is spending too much time with Simón, which Merci finds bothersome. She used to talk to Lolo about everything, but his Alzheimer’s makes that impossible. With Tía working so much, then spending all her free time with Simón, Merci feels as if she’s losing her too. Life has gotten so complicated that Merci is going to have to do a lot of soul searching to find her way without Lolo’s advice.

Once again, Meg Medina has created a believable character in Merci as her struggles, hopes, dreams and failures all ring true of middle school, making her very relatable to her young readers. 

Highly recommended for ages 11-14.

“You were never here” Kathleen Peacock

Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. HarperTeen (HarperCollins). To be published October 20, 2020.

Seventeen-year-old Cat Montgomery got into trouble in New York, which cost her a friend, her phone, her laptop and her freedom. Her angry father shipped her to Montgomery Falls Canada, where she was expected to spend the summer with her aunt at her boarding house.

Cat hadn’t been there in 5 years and was surprised to learn that Riley, her best friend and neighbor, had been missing for months. She doesn’t want to get involved in finding him but, when she finds a body, gives in to his grieving brother’s wish to use her family legacy to search for clues. What she finds out is worse than she’d ever imagined.

I was sucked in – hook, line and sinker. As I followed clues with Cat I thought I had a pretty good idea of the guilty party, but was SHOCKED to be proven wrong. Kathleen Peacock was very devious. Very devious indeed.

Highly recommended for ages 16 and older.

I received a digital advance reading copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.