Melody's Reading Corner

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

Melody

HarperCollins Publishers | October 2017 | 560 pgs (Large Print)

Source: Library

Amber Patterson always feels she's a nobody and she's tired of her life. But, she's had her eyes set on the rich and beautiful Daphne Parrish and she intends to use her as her path towards power and money. Knowing Daphne had a sister who died from cystic fibrosis and has set up a fund foundation in her memory, Amber feigned the same fate with an nonexistent sister with the same illness. It didn't take long for her to blend into Daphne's life, and in no time they become best friends.

But Amber has set her goal far; being associated with the Parrishes isn't enough for her. She wants more and she intends to steal Jackson, Daphne's husband, and be the next Mrs. Parrish. But Jackson is a devoted husband and only has his eyes on Daphne; and then there's also their two young daughters who Amber has to please. Amber has worked out a plan but her past may bring her down if she's not careful.

At its core, this domestic suspense is about obsession and revenge. Divided into three parts, Amber's voice took the first part and Daphne's the second. The last part is written in third voice and wrapped up the overall story. Amber's voice, I think, will irritate many readers because she was passive, manipulative and most of all she didn't seem remorseful. Daphne, on the other hand, appeared more sincere and compliant in the beginning but perspectives started to shift once we get to know more about Daphne as well and unfortunately, this is also when the story started to go downhill.

Having read many suspense thrillers with unlikeable and/or unreliable characters, I think some of their actions or motives could be justified depending on circumstances but in this case I just couldn't fathom the logic and the truth behind the outcome. Suspense-wise, it was not a bad one but the ending left me feeling more than unsettled. I don't agree with the resolution (if one has to call it that) at all and thought that the bigger, underlying issue (trying to be vague to avoid spoilers) should be rectified instead of being deemed as an "accomplishment".

© 2019 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 8 comments |

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

Melody

HarperCollins | January 2019 | 400 pgs

Source: Purchased

"Some people, given just the right amount of pressure, taken out of their usual, comfortable environments, don't need much encouragement at all to become monsters." ~ Pg 64

There's something about the remote wilderness and the snowbound situation that are so widely featured and we find irresistible in books, especially thrillers. I'm a sucker for such books, and they remind me so much about Agatha Christie's mysteries novels, which I loved. Anyway, this was a buddy read with my blogging friend, Lark, and I hope you'll enjoy reading our thoughts on it (click here to Lark's blog.)

So in this story we have a group of nine old college friends meeting up at a remote hunting lodge in the wintry landscapes of the Scottish highlands. It's kind of a tradition for them to gather and to celebrate the arrival of the new year but no one expects that they'd be snowbound. Heather and Doug, the lodge manager and the gamekeeper, have ensured the guests meet the needs until a guest goes missing. They never found the guest but Doug did find a body. By the look of the body it seemed it was no accident and this speculation sent Heather in a frenzy state. You see, Heather had experienced something which made her chose to work far away from the city. Doug is the same, but what he'd gone through was far more complicated and traumatic.

Onto the nine friends, we've the beautiful and perfect couple, Julien and Miranda. Married couple Giles and Samira are happily devoted to their 6-month-old baby. Mark and Emma, another couple with the latter more as a new addition than old college-mates. And then there's gay couple, Nick and Bo. Finally, there's Katie who's single and a successful lawyer. But that's not all, there's an Icelandic couple who had booked the lodge earlier as well, much to the group's chagrin. So what's the dynamic amid this group of people and what really happened?

This book was unputdownable right from the beginning. Though I found the multiple POVs a bit confusing initially, I got over it pretty quickly once I had familiarised with the characters and that the story was well under way. Aside from all the drama and suspense, one interesting aspect of this story is the identity of the victim isn't revealed until the last few chapters. While I'd had a good guess over this, I was still surprised by a few circumstances as the story progresses. Overall it was an engrossing suspense; and all the more better I read it with Lark as we'd fun discussing our thoughts thereafter.

As like our previous buddy reads, we'll ask each other some questions on the book and here's my answers to her questions:

1) In your opinion, did telling the story from multiple viewpoints add to the plot, or subtract from it? Which character's POV was your favorite? And who was your least favorite character?

This is a good question. I love reading different POVs as you can find out a lot about the characters and what they're thinking. However, they can be tricky as having too many might lead to confusion. I suppose it's fine as long as the viewpoints contribute to the story; and what's more it's fun to analyze the characters and see if we're right about them towards the end.

I think my favourite POV in this book will be Miranda. She was the most interesting person among all and she was the kind many women would envy and hate for her beauty, confidence and arrogance. She wasn't my favourite character, though, but her story was ever so "colourful" and dramatic. And my least favourite character would be Julien.

2) Did you have a favorite line/quote ... or moment from the book?

Yes; it's right up at the beginning of this post. The quote says everything about the characters here and I couldn't agree more.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 8 comments |

Urban Legend II bk. 4: Food Delivery [都市传说第二部4: 外送]

Melody

奇幻基地 | February 2018 | 304 pgs

Source: Library

This is book 4 of the second urban legend series by Ling Jing (笭菁). All her books read as stand-alones and her stories are based on various urban legends with some imaginations and other elements of her own.

Note: The main characters in this series are different from the first series as the author felt a change for new blood is necessary to offer a new and different perspective.

Urban Legend origin: Hong Kong, 1989. An eatery received a food order call and had one of their staff to deliver the food. However, the boss discovered some hell bank notes among the stack of money he'd collected the next day. The same incident happened the following day and thinking the staff was playing a prank on him, he decided to make the delivery himself and had ensured it's genuine money he collected. He kept the money aside from the others but the next day what he found was, as you guessed, hell bank notes. He reported this incident to the police and this led to the discovery of four corpses in the apartment. But what most shocking was although the forensic concluded these bodies had been dead for a week, the food found inside their stomach were recent. And the hell bank notes had the fingerprints of the same deceased. The report later revealed they died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Summary: When one of the characters encountered the same incident as the urban legend origin, the members of the Urban Legend Society decided that they'd visit the delivery address again for further investigation. However, the place couldn't be found. Before this, there are news of some delivery staff who had gone missing and they wondered if the two are related. When they did find the place again, they discovered there's more than meets the eye surrounding the death of the deceased and their guess is murder. But they didn't realise that they'd stepped into another dimension until later and they've to find their way back or they'd be trapped within forever.

My thoughts: This story was scary from the origin's perspective. Imagine the eatery's boss suspected nothing and have the staff continued to deliver the food, does that mean the case will never surface? Onto the fiction, I think the feature of the other dimension connects well with the urban legend origin. What appeared to be a supernatural event became a horrific murder case and I liked how they're all interlinked and solved in the end. My verdict is, you can never know what humans are capable of doing and in some ways they're more terrifying than ghosts.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Chinese Fiction, Horror, Suspense Thriller 6 comments |

Into the Jungle by Erica Ferencik

Melody

Scout Press| May 2019| 336 pgs

Source: Library

Erica Ferencik's first novel (The River at Night) takes readers to the remote Allagash wilderness whereby hiking and rafting were part of the activities the characters had to play. In this second book, she transports us to the Bolivian jungle in which contact with the outside world is minimal and that threats come in all forms of shapes and sizes.

Our protagonist, Lily Bushwold, thought she'd escape the miserable life of living in foster homes and is looking forward to her teaching job in Cochabamba until she realises the gig falls through and she is stuck with a cleaning job. Together with a few girls they stay in a local hostel and occasionally Lily will resume her stealing habits. Her life begins to take a turn after meeting a man named Omar. Omar grew up in a remote jungle village in Ayachero but decided to make a living in the city of Cochabamba. Lily and Omar fell in love; but that bliss is short-lived as Omar has to return to Ayachero after hearing the death of his young nephew. Killed by a jaguar, the Ayachero residents decided that a hunt is inevitable and they want Omar to join in with their mission. Omar leave the choice to Lily as to whether or not to follow him; and ultimately Lily chose to go with him as she thought it'd also be an eye-opening experience for her.

Lily would never imagine what'd be in store for her in the following months. Aside from the wild and deadly creatures, she also faces the threat of lawless poachers as well as various infectious diseases which may take away one's life easily if they aren't careful. Lily's excursion into the wilderness suddenly becomes a fight for survival and would she be able to walk out of Ayachero alive given all the unforeseeable challenges?

This was a totally different take from the author's first novel. While both books' have the wilderness theme as their setting, this book didn't have the unreliable and complicated characters like her first book. This was a straightforward thriller with Mother Nature and nasty creatures as threats; and of course there are villians as well in the form of poachers and the likes. After reading several thrillers with unlikeable and unreliable characters lately, this was a refreshing read in which I didn't have to guess the whodunit but to live vicariously through Lily's experiences in the Bolivian jungle (after all I doubt I'd have that kind of courage or skills to step into this wilderness no matter how tranquil and beautiful the place might be). Character-wise, Omar was easy to like from the start. He taught Lily many things; and he was so protective of her that it'd melt any girl's heart. Lily, on the other hand, took me a while to warm up to her but she won me over gradually and I found myself rooting for her for the obstacles and challenges she's to face later. Overall I enjoyed reading this book and I'm really curious where the author would take us in her next book.

Labels: 4 stars, Adventure Thriller, Book Review 8 comments |

Our Little Secret by Roz Nay

Melody

St. Martin's Press | April 2018 | 272 pgs

Source: Library

Our Little Secret, at its core, is a love story and the case of a missing woman.

The book opens with our protagonist, Angela Petitjean, being interviewed by Detective Novak after Saskia was found missing. Angela claims she has no knowledge or involvement of Saskia's disappearance, as she kept saying to the police before Novak. But she can tell Novak is different from the rest, and she is willing to tell her story on the condition that Novak listen if he wants answers from her.

And so Angela begins her story. It all started with knowing a boy called HP during her teenage years. Angela didn't have many friends and HP was the one who befriended and acted like her protector. Their friendship blossomed; and it didn't take long for them to fall in love. When Angela left to pursue her studies, Saskia walked into HP's life. Saskia was warm and cheerful; and her charms was hard to resist. By the time Angela realised something has changed between her and HP, it was a little too late. Her story goes on to reveal her life after HP and Saskia, but is she responsible for Saskia's disappearance? Or is there something more than meets the eye? This is the question which Novak and the reader will keep asking until the last chapter.

This is not your typical psychological suspense with many red herrings and twists; in fact there wasn't much actions involved but just the exchanges between Angela and Detective Novak as well as her account of the past. Despite the lack of "real life" events, the suspense element is still coming on strong as Angela's voice is distinctive and she was capable in pulling you along with her for a trip down to memory lane. The book may be a slow-burn but there wasn't a bored moment throughout my reading journey. And then not to mention the author's writing sucked me in and I'll be looking forward to seeing what she'll be writing next.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Suspense 6 comments |

Urban Legend II bk. 2: The Cursed Commercial [都市传说第二部2: 被诅咒的广告]

Melody

奇幻基地 | May 2017 | 272 pgs

Source: Library

This is book 2 of the second urban legend series by Ling Jing (笭菁). Ling Jing had completed twelve books in her first series and this second series is still ongoing with the ninth installment as the latest. Each book read as a stand-alone although there will be character developments as the series go (but not much of a big issue if you ask me). Ling Jing's books are based on various urban legends added with some imaginations and other elements of her own.

Urban Legend origin: A tissue commercial from Japan aired in 1986 was taken down after theories revolve around the cast and crew dying mysterious deaths.

Summary: A well-known actress, including the crew of staff, suffered a mishap respectively after shooting an apple juice commercial. Before the shoot, an assistant claimed he heard someone running on the staircase but no one was seen around the area upon checking. Thereafter, accidents began to happen. A group of students, who are members of the "Urban Legend Society" in their University, decided to look into the case and discover something horrific that happened in the studio awhile back.

Note: The main characters in this series are different from the first series as the author felt a change for new blood is necessary to offer a new and different perspective. On top of that, people do grow up and change, don't they?

My thoughts: I don't know why but this made me think of the Japanese movie, The Ring. The similarity between these two is that the cursed video tape (in this case the shooting of the commercial) will lead victims to encounter unfortunate incidents. But, what made this story refreshing is the author blends urban legend with a mystery case which may or may not be supernatural and the creepy/suspense factors were intense. Each character portrays their strengths and weaknesses and these give readers some ideas what's their personality traits are like (also how one or two of them have some kind of specialty, e.g. one has sixth sense, and another is a female professional martial arts fighter - she's fearless and has a sharp observation skill in terms of combat as well as critical thinking. I didn't mention that she's the rose among the thorns and she's my heroine.) My verdict - this is a great series for those who enjoy urban legend tales with a twist. And I hope there'll be an English translation version of them in the near future.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Chinese Fiction, Horror, Suspense, Urban Legend 8 comments |

Murder Lo Mein by Vivien Chien

Melody

St. Martin's Press | March 2019 | 304 pgs

Source: Library

This is the third installment of A Noodle Shop Mystery series and this time around our protagonist, Lana Lee, finds herself in another mystery with a noodle contest as its core of the premise.

Now that Lana's been made manager of her family's Chinese restaurant, she devotes all the time and attention in the business so when Asia Village organises a Best Noodle Contest, she decides that she'll win it at all costs. But of course there are others who are eyeing for the first place too, and competition is stiff considering there is a newcomer who decides she wants to join, despite she is running a lounge (although to be fair, she does serve noodle as a side). And then, there's a participant who felt he was unfairly judged by the past contest. There are three judges and one of them is a food critic.

However, before the contest come to a close, one of the judges was found dead, face-down in a bowl of lo mein. Lana, as always, decides to take matters into her own hands and begin to take a closer look at everyone who's involved in the contest. Detective Adam Trudeau, who's officially her boyfriend in this installment, doesn't want her to get involved in the case for her own safety but of course Lana wouldn't listen. As Lana digs further, she soon learned that some people are trying to keep their past a secret and Lana intends to find out why.

Once again, Vivien Chien has "cooked up a storm" in this latest installment (can be read as a stand-alone but I'd suggest to start from the first book for the character developments). I find myself enjoying this series the more I read them and am glad to note the relationship between Lana and Adam has finally come to light in this book. Lana is easy to like and then there's her black pug which is named Kikko (short for Kikkoman, a soy sauce brand). The reader will also get to know a bit more of Adam in this story, since there's not much mention of his history in the previous books. And of course, it was fun reading Lana going about and digging for the case, even if her stubbornness can get to you at times but that's one of her traits. Overall this is an enjoyable cozy mystery series; most of all I couldn't resist the cute book covers.

Books in order:
1) Death by Dumpling
2) Dim Sum of All Fears

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Cozy Mystery 6 comments |

I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney

Melody

HQ | May 2019 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

I'd mixed reactions reading the author's first novel, Sometimes I Lie, but I thought her writing was engaging so I decided to give her next book another try. Regrettably, it turned out this book was much more of a disappointment than her first.

When the book opens, the reader knows that our main protagonist, Aimee Sinclair, is an actress and she is not to be trusted. Although she isn't really a superstar, she's well-known in the industry and have starred in various films. One day after filming, she finds her husband's cell phone and wallet on their dining room table but he's nowhere to be seen. At first she isn't that concerned, after all they'd had a row the night before. However, her nonchalance turns to anxiety the following morning as she realised her cards have been denied and that $10,000 has been withdrawn from her bank account. With the disappearance of her husband, her initial suspect is him but the teller told her it was Aimee herself who closed out the account. Now here comes the unreliable part because Aimee has sort of a memory disorder due to a traumatic childhood. So what really happened to her husband and is she even responsible for his disappearance?

This story is narrated by Aimee between the present day and the past when she was a six-year-old girl. What seemed like a compelling read became a difficult reading route to me because of some disturbing topics. The reader knew she'd had a sad and a difficult childhood but what was later revealed in the end turned out to be too far-fetched and revolting to me. I understand there must be a certain level of "shock value" in psychological thrillers but this is way over the top. The author's writing was good (otherwise I'd have DNF'd it) but I just wished the story shouldn't have gone to that direction.

Labels: 2 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 8 comments |

How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee

Melody

Oneworld Publications | May 2019 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

February 8th 1942 marked the start of the Battle of Singapore and ended on the 15th when the British officially surrendered Singapore to the Japanese forces. Despite the stiff resistance from Allied troops, the island eventually fell in the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army and for 3 years and 7 months, Singapore was known as "Syonan-To" during the Japanese Occupation.

In this novel, author Jing-Jing Lee blends fiction and history about the connection between a courageous woman who survived the Japanese Occupation and a 12-year-old boy who's stumbled on a secret which may change his and someone else's life altogether.

17-year-old Wang Di lives with her family in a neighbouring village. As the eldest, she helps her mother by selling vegetables and eggs at their village, forsaking her education not only they are poor but also they believe that boys should have a better education instead. When the news broke that the Japanese have marched into Singapore, everyone tries to keep a low profile until one day a troop come across the village where Wang Di is and tear everything apart. During the struggle, Wang Di, as well as a few girls, are forced into their troop carrier and drive off to military brothels where they are to become "comfort women". In a more harshly term, they are forced into sexual slavery.

Forward to year 2000, 12-year-old Kevin hears a confession from his grandmother which isn't meant for him by her deathbed. Her mumbled confession then led Kevin into finding the truth which happened so many years ago. And what he later found out will not only uncover the mystery behind his late grandmother's message but also the grief-stricken life story of a man and wife during the Japanese Occupation.

This book was not an easy read as it not only reminds me of the sad and horrific past set in my homeland but also how horrible it was for the "comfort women" to remain silent during that era. It also sadden me to read about the guilt and the shame they felt even though they'd done nothing wrong under that circumstances. That said, I felt their voices deserve to be heard and what they'd gone through will never be forgotten.

Onto the story, I felt the author has done a great job in weaving the two timelines together and bringing the two main narrators to life. I enjoyed reading both Wang Di's and Kevin's perspective and they have their own traits which are admirable; Wang Di for her perseverance and endurance during the difficult times and Kevin for his determination in searching the truth. I found myself invested in their stories the more I turned the pages. I don't want to say more about the premise but I can tell you that this is a beautifully written story filled with heartbreak and hope and I turned the last page with a lump in my throat.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Fiction, Historical 6 comments |

The Other Mrs. Miller by Allison Dickson

Melody

G.P. Putnam's Sons | July 2019 | 352 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Phoebe Miller may be a heiress but she's living an unhappy and an isolated life in her exclusive house in a suburban neighborhood in Chicago. Her late father, Daniel Miller, was quite a character and had left a bad name to the Millers. Phoebe hates to be associated with him, and this explains why she keeps to herself and drowns her sorrow in alcohol and ice cream. It doesn't help that she and her husband, Wyatt, have different views when it comes to the baby issue and as a result their relationship is strained.

It is at this time that she begins to notice a blue car that always park by her driveway and it seems like whoever in the car is watching her. Whether she's being paranoid or not, Phoebe doesn't like the feeling of being watched and it's only when the Napiers family move in across the street that her attention starts to shift. Dr. Ron Napier has an intimidating demeanor while his wife, Vicki, appears friendly. But Phoebe's attention is on their handsome college-bound son, Jake, and it didn't take long that the two began to get close to each other. Phoebe does feel a bit guilty towards Vicki; after all they've become good friends and will confide with each other regarding their marriage woes. Just when she thought she has all the things balanced and work out her way, she receives an anonymous threatening note stating her secrets.

Now where shall I even begin? There was a lot of things happening in this story; not to mention it was filled with red herrings and all the twists and turns. The characters are not likeable but they do make you wonder about their characteristics and their motives. There are two parts in this story and I've to say the first part was the most intriguing. The second part felt a bit disjointed, though, and I think it's due to the shift of characters and the change of direction (and of course the big surprise reveal). As much as it was all very compelling, I felt the reader has to suspend some belief to fully appreciate the story. Overall it has a catching plot and as this is the author's debut, I'm curious to see what she'll have in store next.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Domestic Suspense 10 comments |

The Last Woman in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets

Melody

Berkley | March 2019 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

Marian Engström works as a conservationist and her job requires her to work with rescue dogs and travelling about places amid the wilderness. Her first assignment takes her to northern Alberta; there she learn her ropes from the adventurous and experienced Tate, who is her mentor turn lover. Working in the remote wilderness can make one lonely, but Marian loves her job and on top of everything Tate makes her feel special. Their togetherness is not long as they go different ways for their assignment and during the course of their separation Marian receives news about Tate's death.

Tate's death may be accidental as some speculate, but the murder of four women is not. Dubbed as the Stillwater cases, the mysteries remain unsolved and till this day it still haunts the retired forensic profiler, Nick Shepard. Having diagnosed with a brain tumour, he now devotes his time with his wife until he receives a call from Marian. Saddened by the news of Tate's death, Marian's thought has been occupied by the things Tate had mentioned casually to her in the past and some of the stuff didn't sound right to her and for once she wondered if Tate had to do with the four women's murder. Whether to testify her doubts or to clear Tate's name, she decides that Nick may be the person who could unravel the truth with her.

I really enjoyed reading this novel. For starters, the author's prose is smooth and precise and her descriptions of the snowy wilderness and the role of a conservationist are all well defined. I think some readers may think these may slow down the intensity but personally I appreciate the extra information which allow me to take a deeper look into that profession. As for character- and plot-wise, I think they are well executed, too. I also enjoyed reading about Nick's perspective and think he was a great character not to be ignored. There's even some write-ups about the four victims from Nick's profile and these allow the reader to understand a bit more about the women and how they behaved before tragedy struck.

Finally, and most importantly, this book also focus on how some male criminals exerting their power over females and too often women fail to trust their intuition when something doesn't feel right (this is not a spoiler but a general portrayal of the four victims' behaviours before the murder. That said, I feel it is an important message which we shouldn't ignore, too.)

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Thriller 4 comments |

The Blame Game by C.J. Cooke

Melody

HarperCollins | March 2019 | 416 pgs

Source: Library

Helen and Michael are spending a wonderful vacation at Belize with their two children when Helen starts to feel they're being watched. On their way to the airport upon returning home, a van crashed onto their car and the accident left Michael injured and their young daughter, Saskia, in a coma. Although Helen and their teenage autistic son, Reuben, are left unscathed, Helen couldn't help but to wonder if the accident has something to do with her hunch of someone watching them.

Well, Helen has reasons behind her paranoia. It all happened during her college years when a hiking expedition had gone wrong. To complicate matters, Helen's then-boyfriend, Luke, was buddies with Michael and they'd all planned the hiking trip together with Luke's twin brother, Theo. Michael didn't know Helen then but he knew she had sort of spoilt their trip by tagging along. But as the days go by Michael soon see a new side of Helen. He didn't want to put himself between the couple but at times he wondered if Helen was being abused by Luke after he saw some bruises on her. His questions never got answered as Luke had fallen to his death. Till this day Michael and Helen still question themselves if what they'd done was right.

But that's not all, throughout the few years Michael has been receiving some letters from the lawyers pertaining Luke's death and all the while he's been ignoring them as they move about. They didn't really think about this until the car accident. Is the accident even connected to Luke's death? And where did Michael go after he's secretly left the hospital?

The Blame Game wasn't what I expected in the first place. Yes, it's a thriller but it also explores the family dynamic and how an act from the past may make an impact to the present, which in turn lead to some life changing consequences. The story is narrated by Michael, Helen and Reuben and there are flashbacks as well. Though I was curious where this story will take me, truth be told it was Reuben's POV and how he viewed things outside his world and the relationship he's had with others is what I enjoyed the most among the three characters. Overall it was an OK read; I think I'd have liked it more if the pace was faster and more gripping.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 6 comments |

Growing Things and Other Stories by Paul Tremblay

Melody

William Morrow | July 2019 | 352 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Having read two of Paul Tremblay's books (A Head Full of Ghosts and The Cabin at the End of the World) and enjoyed them, I knew I've to read this even though short stories are hardly my usual fare. Yes, this is a collection of nineteen short stories ranging from psychological suspense to literary horror all packed in this anthology and knowing the author's stories can be bizarre in some ways (I mean this in a good way) I read this book with a thrill of anticipation. Although I can't possibly write out the blurbs and thoughts of all the nineteen short stories, I can tell you a few which are my favourites.

Growing Things - This is an imaginative tale about the mysterious growing plants and two sisters from his previous novel, A Head Full of Ghosts.

Where We All Will Be - Zane was told his brain is different since young. Growing up with no major issues, he is astonished to find that one day his father seemed like another person and kept muttering about getting "There". This one has a bit of the apocalyptic vibe and that ending sent chills down my spine.

The Teacher - Mr. Sorent is one teacher you'll never forget and that's all I'm saying.

Notes from The Dog Walkers - Initially this read like ordinary notes from the day of a life of a dog walker but then it slowly spirals towards an array of madness when the topic changes as you go along.

Her Red Right Hand - This is a story about a girl called Gemma and her ailing mother and how her mother's death led her into sketching and creating a hero-like figure. Think Hellboy.

The Thirteenth Temple - I don't want to divulge too much of this since it read like a sequel to A Head Full of Ghosts. This is also the last short story of this collection and I liked how the author featured the two sisters in AHFOG in Growing Things as the beginning and finally ending it with The Thirteenth Temple.

I think short stories are hard to write and even harder to review. They don't often have the kind of details and well-defined developments like fictions do and the author has to input some extra "punch" to their stories or narrating them in various writing formats and I've to say Paul Tremblay did well in these two.

As in short stories collection, one may have some favourites and dislike a few others. There are also some which made you race through the pages, while some will make you think hard of the message behind it and still comes up with not much of a verdict (partly due to the ambiguity of it; which the author often does with his stories). That said, each story is unique and though I'm not really a fan of short stories I'm glad I read this because it's Paul Tremblay's.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Horror, Literary Fiction, Suspense 9 comments |

I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

Melody

Farrar, Straus and Giroux | May 2017 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

This book caught my attention because of the diversity of the characters (a Korean-American heroine, a Caucasian hero and the heroine's BFF is a gay) and most of all it is literally a tribute to Korean rom-com dramas so being a fan of the latter, I couldn't possibly turn my attention away, right?

So the book opens with the introduction of our heroine, Desi Lee. She's smart and actively involved in various clubs and sports in school. Heck, she even set her goals into getting Stanford. The only problem - she's never been good with the opposite sex and it's no wonder she has never had a boyfriend. The confidence she has for other things immediately diminish whenever she meets a guy she fancies.

Desi lost her mother since young and she is very close with her father. One thing she couldn't understand about her father is his love for Korean dramas. She finds their storylines cliché and formulaic and no matter how different the two protagonists are or how they were thrown in difficult circumstances, they always end with happiness tied with a big red bow. Her opinions in Korean dramas start to change after she encounter a guy named Luca Drakos. Moody and ever elusive, Luca is also an expert in Arts and Desi is immediately drawn to his charisma. What she thought of the romance in Korean dramas has a plan in making a relationship work and she decided to work out a list by following their "tactics".

Now while I find this book entertaining, hilarious and even adorable at times, I do have a few issues concerning Desi's plans. While there are positivity in a few of them, there are one or two issues which had me shaking my head. I think it is understandable of Desi to come up with some plans of having Luca to take notice of her, but it is totally not right to lie and manipulate and this is the point which I couldn't agree with her. Onto other topic, it was refreshing to read about the dynamic between Desi and her father; their interactions and the moments they shared tell a lot about their father-and-daughter bond and I found this perspective endearing since I've read so much about the relationship between mother-and-daughter but rarely this. Overall this was an 'OK' read to me and while I didn't like this book well enough, I'll still read the other books by this author.

* This is a scheduled post as I'm currently taking a short break off of blogging. Comments and blog hopping will resume thereafter.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Romance, Young Adult 4 comments |

After the End by Clare Mackintosh

Melody

Penguin Publishing Group | June 2019 | 400 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

This latest release by Clare Mackintosh is unlike any of her previous novels. Instead a psychological thriller which she usually writes, this book tackles on an entirely different subject which would not only pull our heartstrings but will question the choices you'll make under difficult circumstances.

Max and Pip is a happy family with their 3-year-old son. Then little Dylan is diagnosed with brain tumor and despite of various treatments, the medical team has decided that there wouldn't be any cure for him as the brain damage is irreparable. Even if he lives, he'll not be able to walk, talk or to communicate his needs. Given this diagnosis, Max and Pip have to make a decision as to whether they should extend his life through further treatment or to allow doctors to give him palliative care till his final day. Both Max and Pip love Dylan and would do anything for him but for the first time, they aren't on the same page. Each thinks their decision is the best and fits the principle of humanity after seeing Dylan's suffering. Under this circumstances they've no choice but to leave it to the courts to decide.

The first half of the book is the most difficult to read as the reader follow Max and Pip's thoughts and struggles regarding Dylan's future. There're lots of emotional evoking scenes here that would make you ache for the couple as well as little Dylan. The doctor-in-charge, Dr Leila Khalili, is a great supporting role as the author allows her reader to see another side of her, whether if it's professional or personal. The second half takes on a much slower pace and allow readers to see the two sides of a decision reached.

This is a beautifully written story, though a sad and an emotional one. I've enjoyed this author's writing and this book stands out all the more due to a similar difficult decision she'd had to make thirteen years ago. As a parent, I couldn't imagine all the pain and the decision one has to make for his/her child. The weight of that decision is too heavy and no one can predicts the future. One would always question if he/she has made the right decision and then there's always these two words lingering in mind: "What if?"

Like Max and Pip, I was curious to know the verdict of the courts' decision but after closing this book and pondering about the issues, I think no matter whatever the decision is, it is sufficient as long as we feel we've done what's best under that circumstances and being hopeful for the future.

* This is a scheduled post as I'm currently taking a short break off of blogging. Comments and blog hopping will resume thereafter.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Fiction 10 comments |

Playing for Keeps by Jill Shalvis

Melody

Avon Books | January 2019 | 384 pgs

Source: Library

This is the seventh book of A Heartbreaker Bay series but each installment works as a stand-alone, too.

The book opens with our two leading protagonists co-rescue an abandoned dog from a storm. Sadie Lane is a tattoo artist who work two jobs to make ends meet. Caleb Parker is a venture capitalist who has learned the hard way of climbing up the corporate ladder. Sadie and Caleb have seen each other around since their workplace is nearby but they rarely talk though they've a few common friends. Sadie doesn't believe in love after being burned from her previous relationship three years ago, while Caleb's focus is on his business. Plus, his three over-protective sisters drive him crazy through their tight scrutiny of his past or potential girlfriends. So when the two meet up close for the first time, love is the last thing on their mind. However, as they co-owned the dog thereafter, which they later named her Lollipop, they couldn't help seeing more of each other and each meeting brings them closer and enable them to see the other's vulnerable side. It didn't take long for Caleb to have his wall comes crumbling down but for Sadie, it's another matter since she has so many things and issues on her plate. How and what'd Caleb do to break down that strong wall she's built?

This is such a romantic story about two different people finding each other. Plus, there're so many things to like about this book. For starters, there's Lollipop. She's adorable and made me want to hug her tighter after reading her sad, pathetic days before Caleb and Sadie. Then, there's Caleb. He has personality and charisma, though perhaps he doesn't notice the latter since he was a victim to bullies and was so insecure when he was a boy. I loved reading about his past and seeing how he's changed with the help of his mentor. Finally, there's Sadie and although I liked her strong spirit and her independency, they're times she frustrated me due to her insecurities and her sense of inferiority.

Anyway, it is satisfying reading how they overcome their own inner obstacles and accepting each other. I think my favourite of all is reading the dialogues because they can be so witty. Jill Shalvis is one of my favourite romance authors and I'd recommend her books anytime should you're in need of a romance fix.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Contemporary Romance 8 comments |

Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre

Melody

Tom Doherty Associates | July 2018 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Liv and Morgan are two best friends happily living their lives when an automobile accident took away one of them. When Liv wakes up in the hospital with all the bandages, she thought it's a mistaken identity when everyone thinks she's Morgan. Yet when the bandages come off, it's not her face but Morgan's. Trying to grasp what's happened, she decided to keep quiet and to observe, while hoping it's all nothing but a horrible nightmare. When the truth finally sets in that she's indeed living inside Morgan's body, she decides that it's up to her to find out more about the accident and what happened.

But the more she digs into it, she realises that Morgan had secrets; and it seemed Morgan had done some researching regarding her late mother's life. But that's not all, Lucy also has to confront with Morgan's boyfriend, Clay, who thinks Morgan has escaped from the brink of death. And the worst thing is, she couldn't even acknowledge her existence with her own parents and her boyfriend, Nathan, who's Clay's younger brother. As Lucy comes to know Clay the more they get together, she thinks he's more reliable than Nathan, whom she later discovers he has a few secrets of his own, too. As complicated as these all sound, Lucy still has to unravel the truth surrounding Morgan's secrets for it seems someone is planning to kill to keep somthing under wraps.

Ah. I've no idea if this YA novel is meant to be a paranormal, a suspense or a romance because they were all over the place. The beginning has an interesting premise; with the soul possession kind of theme and a mystery to solve but then it veers in another direction once the triangle love sets in. Don't get me wrong, I do love a romance element in a suspense but it seems this one often set in with bad timings; it was just when the mystery was getting somewhere we get to read a bit more about the romance complications instead.

Then again, I've to say the author has done a good job in capturing the emotional aspect of each character. Overall this book was an enjoyable read and I'd have given this book a higher rating should the theme is more straight forward. I suppose this will appeal to readers who enjoy a bit more romance in their thrillers.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Suspense Thriller, Young Adult 5 comments |

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth

Melody

St. Martin's Press | April 2019 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

We've all heard enough stories about the complexity relationship between daughter- and mother-in-laws but I've rarely come across a domestic thriller that features on these two characters. I dived into this book with anticipation and had a pleasant surprise as it wasn't what I'd first expected.

When Lucy first met Diana, she has the impression that Diana isn't a person who's easily warmed up with. She also knew Diana has earned lots of respect from the community for her voluntary works for the women refugees and helping them to find shelters and so forth, and this makes her wonder Diana's cool attitude towards her. Even after getting married to Oliver and have children, Lucy still finds herself keeping at arm's length no matter how hard she tries to get in her good books.

Their lukewarm relationship continues until one day the police arrives at their house to inform that Diana has been found dead, leaving a suicide note. Diana had only told them about her cancer until later and they didn't think Diana was the suicidal type, after all she and Lucy's father-in-law were so loving to each other. The autopsy later reveals there is no poison running in her blood although they found a bottle of drug near her body, but they did find signs of bruises and evidence of suffocation so the police thinks it may be a homicide case. But who will want to murder Diana? As the story progresses, the reader will soon learn that everyone in the family has something to hide, including Diana herself.

This story was narrated between Lucy and Diana and in the past and present. I think I enjoyed reading Diana's flashbacks the most as it shows the other interesting side of her. The present timeline was interesting too, but the complicated relationship gets a bit tiresome at some point although it portrays the differences between Lucy and Diana in terms of their thinking and the generation gap (e.g. the interpretation of one's words/actions are often misunderstood by the other and vice versa). I've to admit I didn't like any of the characters here, but it's fine since I was more interested in reading about the family dynamics and finding out who killed Diana and why. I think the author has done a good job in the characterisation department, whether if it's the two lead characters or the other supporting characters. All in all it was an engrossing read, although the ending left me feeling just sad.