Review: House On Fire, by Bonnie Kistler

House On Fire, by Bonnie Kistler

Simon & Schuster - Available March 12, 2019
General Fiction
Page count: 416

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for this Digital Review Copy provided via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kistler has created a gripping family drama that is definitely in tune with our society. 

Leigh Huyett knows about family tensions. As a divorce lawyer, she sees how families crumble under "normal" everyday stresses, and she knows that second marriages have additional stresses and issues that lead to an even higher failure rate. Not her family though. She and her husband Pete Conley have the perfect blended family - or so she thinks. 

While out for dinner, celebrating their perfect union, they start to receive frantic phone calls. Her daughter Chrissy and step-son Kip were in an accident. Chrissy and Kip both say he swerved to avoid a dog, but he is facing drinking and driving charges. Then the unthinkable happens, and Chrissy dies. At first Leigh harbors no ill will towards him, after all it was just a youthful mistake with tragic results, but Kip then recants his statement and says that Chrissy was driving even though she was underage. Pete is thrilled to hear this and rallies behind his son, but Leigh is astonished that he would lie and tarnish Chrissy's memory to save his own skin. Without definitive proof about what happened that night, Pete stands by his son, and Leigh stands by the memory of her daughter.

Can any family survive this situation? In a time when blended families are common, Kistler spins a story that could easily happen to many of us in today's society. What happens to a family when one child is being blamed (rightly or wrongly) for harming or killing their step-sibling?  This is the kind of thing that would be difficult enough within a nuclear family, but even more so when it is a blended family where loyalty will likely fall along blood-lines.

While I really did like this story, I felt it was a little longer than it needed to be (last year my books read averaged 345 pages, this book is 416 pages). There were some sub-plots that I felt were really unnecessary and dragged out and clouded over what was otherwise a very good story. Because I liked the main story so much, I am still scoring it pretty high, but I think I would have scored it higher had some of the unnecessary elements been removed.  I think Kistler has some real talent and some great story ideas, I just think that this - her debut novel, would have benefited from a little restraint.  I would certainly consider reading any books she puts out in the future.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: THE OUTSIDER, by Stephen King

THE OUTSIDER, by Stephen King

Audio book

Simon & Schuster 2018

Narrated by Will Patton

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stephen King has been writing successful novels since before i could read ,so there really isn't much I can say about his writing that hasn't already been said. He co-authored a book called THE TALISMAN, with Peter Straub, way back in the 80's, that still has a spot on my favorites list easily 20 years after first reading it.  One of my first forays into fantasy and probably the point when I realized that it wasn't exactly horror books I liked, but dark fantasy instead.

One of the most prolific writers of our time, I think you  would be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn't come across his work.The majority of Kings books range from the gory to the darkly fantastical.  Some of his best books, in my humble opinion are the ones that go to the evil inside of mankind.  We often hear people utter terms like "monster" and "evil" when describing acts of men we hear about in the news  It is human nature i think to try and and explain away some of the horrific acts perpetrated by mankind by trying to distance ourselves from it by describing the perpetrator as such. A man or a woman could never hurt a child, - the person who did such a thing must be a monster.  We know on some level that these people are mere mortals, that is why we build prisons and jails and penitentiaries to house them and "punish" them.  But on another level, we still describe  them as otherworldly evil.

In this book, a young child is found murdered and defiled.  The police investigate, and they are sure they have the evidence to prove this apparent pillar of society is really a "wolf in sheep's clothing".  That their beloved community coach is in fact - evil. After all, you can't argue with fingerprints and DNA, right? But there are witnesses and evidence pointing just as clearly to his innocence.  Two families are destroyed. The family of the victim and the family of the suspect. How can the evidence showing guilt be as strong as the evidence proving innocence?  When the detective on the case goes looking for answers, he has to put aside all of his former beliefs, and re-examine the evidence with a mind open to what he believed was impossible.

This is the Stephen King I like.  I don't read all his work. I find some of it too gory for my own tastes.  But there is no arguing that the man can write good books. 

Paired with one of the most popular and prolific authors, is veteran audio book narrator Will Patton.  The man's voice can warm the cockles of your heart one second and give you the heebie-jeebies the next, which makes him a great fit for a Stephen King novel.

Happy Reading,
Christine

Review - THE RULES OF MAGIC, by Alice Hoffman

THE RULES OF MAGIC, by Alice Hoffman

Audio Book
Simon & Schuster Audio - 2017
Narrated by Marin Ireland

 

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hoffman is of the most revered magicians - a gifted writer.

Susanna Owens is a mother of three in the late 1950's and early 1960's.  Every mother knows their child to be unique, but for Susanna, it goes a step further.  In an effort to protect her children, she has set down some unique and specific rules.  No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And the most important rule, NEVER fall in love.

One day, the children receive an invitation to visit an Aunt in Massachusetts for the summer.  People in the town they visit avoid them and fear them, but why? They soon learn more about their history and themselves than they thought there was to know. 

The Owens' have been cursed since the 1600's when their ancestor Maria Owens was charged as a witch because of whom she loved. As each of them navigates their way into adulthood, they must find a path through tragedy and pain, each trying to defy the curse that has defined generations of Owens'.  But in the end remaining true to oneself is the only course, and to be in love is not something you cannot decide whether to do or not. Ultimately each must find a way to break free of the curse, or learn to live with the painful consequences of it. 

This story is so beautiful and touching. It is rich with emotion, and leaves the reader at turns devastated and delighted, and heartbroken and heart-warmed - but always enchanted.

  

Narration by Marin Ireland was in itself a thing of beauty, seemingly effortless in portraying the emotions of the story. It was a pleasure to listen.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: The Favorite Sister - by Jessica Knoll

The Favorite Sister - by Jessica Knoll (Audio Book)

Simon and Schuster Audio - 2018
Audio Book narrated by Ashlie Atkinson, Jenni Barber, and Aja Naomi King


My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐½

This audio book was a difficult listen for me.  First of all, I don't think I am in the target demographic for this one. I am probably too old (yes, I said it!). Second of all, I think I might have liked it better had I read it as either an e-book or print copy. The thing is, for me - at my age, I found the characters annoying.  Perhaps their whining, sarcasm, and overly mocked up impersonations of each other would have been less annoying as an internal soundtrack to reading, rather than an actual audio stream of their constant bleating, backstabbing, and scheming. I was unable to "connect" to any of the characters.

The story revolves around a group of women on a reality T.V. show about successful young women - specifically two sisters who are both on the cast. There is a lot of both real and scripted scheming, backstabbing, lying, jockeying-for-position, jealousy, and infidelity surrounding this group of women. As the show's season is coming to an end, and each of the women tries to ensure her return the following season, one of the sisters ends up murdered.

Like I said earlier, I think I am of the wrong demographic.  Also, I don't know why I chose to get into a story about a reality T.V. show when I do not like most reality T.V. shows. I get it though - all those negative characteristics that I referred to that annoyed me so, are the bread and butter of reality T.V., and as such, the writing of these characters was not off point.  As I said, I think i would have enjoyed it at least a little more had I actually read it instead of listening to the audio-book.

Happy Reading,
Christine

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Review: Her Pretty Face - by Robyn Harding

Her Pretty Face - by Robyn Harding

Simon & Schuster - Available July 10, 2018

This Advance Reading Copy provided by the publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This thriller runs deep.

Frances is a struggling mother.  She is lonely and anxious to fit in socially, especially with the parents at Forrester Academy - the elite school her son Marcus attends. But it becomes seemingly impossible after Marcus commits an act that shocks the other parents, and almost sees him expelled.  Lonely and with little self esteem to see her through, Frances is struggling; until she meets Kate.

Kate is also a mother whose son Charles also attends the elite Forrester Academy.  Unlike Frances she appears strong, self confident and in control. She has little desire to align with the snobbish mothers of the school and instead strikes up a friendship with Frances. 

The women form a fast friendship and alliance with each other. Both these women have secrets from their past, but one of these women is a cold blooded murderer.   

While on the surface this book is a thriller, it runs deeper in its layers.  As the book develops, this story also examines the deep seated human desire within all of us to connect with others and what it means to not have that connection, and the damage that our own demons do to not only us, but our relationships and loved ones as well. It shows us how self forgiveness and acceptance are the keys to our own happiness. There is a certain beauty to the way the deeper layers of this story develop.  

A very enjoyable read.

 

Happy Reading,
Christine

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Book Review: Fatal: A Novel - by John Lescroart

Fatal: A Novel - by John Lescroart

Audio Book - Narrated by Jacques Roy
Simon & Schuster Audio, 2017
(This is a stand alone novel, not associated with any of the several series written by this author).

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

A single afternoon of passion turns into an obsession far more dangerous than expected.

While attending a dinner party at a friend's place, the beautiful (and married) Kate meets charming (and married) Peter.  Unable to put Peter out of her mind, she seduces him.  Thinking that things with Peter could begin and end in one passion filled afternoon, she returns to the routine of her life.  Unfortunately, Peter does not find putting Kate out of mind and returning to his routine life as easy, and now this one time tryst, has become dangerous. 

Jacques Roy is an able narrator and performs the story well.

This story is all that it promises to be, and all that you would expect from a veteran writer like Lescroart.  Filled with lies, deception, and danger.  Easy to get into and hard to put down.

Happy Reading,
Christine

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