The Personal Assistant - Kimberly Belle

The Personal Assistant is Kimberly Belle's latest domestic suspense novel. 

Alex has it all - two great kids, a loving husband and enough money that she doesn't have to worry. Oh, and she's a very successful social media mommy influencer. So successful (one million followers!) that she needs an assistant. But all it takes is one horrific post and the walls come tumbling down. Alex knows she didn't write that post. Was she hacked? Did her assistant, AC, post it? Where is she? Things rapidly go from bad to worse...

Belle tells her story through multiple characters, points of view and time periods. Belle does a good job of playing with the listener, directing our attention down more than one garden path. 

I liked the premise and was initially behind Alex. But she started to grate on my nerves. She started coming off as entitled and over the top in general. She's very self focused. I wish I had started counting the sentences with 'my husband' in them. (Hint: there's a lot). The other characters are over the top as well and felt like caricatures instead of believable players.

There are a few holes in the plot for this mystery reader. However, the final whodunit was a surprise. Kudos. I would have been happy with that being the final pages, but Belle seems determined to tie up every last point with a detailed explanation. 

There are some truths on social media, woven into the book. 

I had enjoyed Belle's 2021 book, My Darling Husband and had higher hopes for this newest. A three stars listen for me.  

I chose to listen to The Personal Assistant. I liked that three distinct and easily identifiable readers were used.  Chelsea Stephens (Narrator), Chris Andrew Ciulla and Megan Tusing. Ciulla voiced all of the male characters and provided believable voice all of them. He's a reader I've listened to in the past. I find his voice easy to listen to, clearly enunciated and captured the action and emotions. I'm not sure which reader played Alex and who read AC. Both captured and presented Belle's work very well. Each had a firm grasp of their character and captured that 'over the top' feeling I mentioned earlier. The Alex reader captured the 'look at me' sense I got from Alex. Hear for yourself - listen to an audio excerpt of The Personal Assistant. 

Safe in My Arms - Sara Shepard

Safe in My Arms is the new novel from Sara Shepard.

The Silver Swans preschool is the place the yummy mummys want to send their children. Three moms have just enrolled their children. But they don't fit the mold and it seems someone doesn't want them at the school. Vitriolic notes are found in their kid's backpacks telling them quit the school.

The three meet each other and band together - they're determined not to be drummed out of the school. The thing is though....Andrea, Lauren and Ronnie all do have secrets that they don't want brought to light. And the person leaving the notes seems to know those secrets....

I quite liked the three moms, although I admit to having a soft spot for Andrea.
Each of the women bring a different mindset and skill set to the friendship. The reader becomes privy to what their secrets are as the story progresses and three new plot lines are added to the book. Things at the school escalate and the three friends seem to now be suspects. So.....they decide to investigate on their own. I did find I had to suspend disbelief in a number of situations, including the police investigation into the crime at the school.

Shepard is the author of the successful teen series Pretty Little Liars. I'm not aware of any other adult books that she's penned, but I could be wrong. For me, I found this book to have a simpler style of writing. The tone was what I would call light suspense, not the edge of your seat suspense. Shepard does throw some turns into her tale as the end draws near. And kudos for doing it for all four plotlines. I did find the wrap up went on too long for me as the explanation for everything that has gone on is detailed in the run up to the final pages. And she throws in one more twist. Not sure that last one worked for me.

In the author's notes at the end, Shepard says that "As I wrote this story, much of the world felt unstable, uncertain and in flux, though as a result, I felt even more inspired to acknowledge the struggles of motherhood and how it's not always about being the 'best' or 'perfect", but accepting where you're at and cutting yourself some slack." Safe in My Arms was an interesting vehicle to carry this message.

A good book for the beach, but not as suspenseful as I had expected.  See for yourself - read an excerpt of Safe in My Arms.

Search for Her - Rick Mofina

Rick Mofina is a new to me author. His latest book is Search for Her. 

Mofina starts off with a frightening premise. Fourteen year old Riley decides to wait in the RV while the rest of her newly blended family heads into the truck stop. When they get back on the road, they assume she is taking a nap in the bedroom. It's not until they're miles down the road that anyone genuinely checks. And yup, you guessed it - she's missing....

The search for Riley is anything but easy. The police don't seem to believe Grace and husband John that it was an accident. Instead they're focusing on the family as suspects. The police work in Search for Her is busy, with many agencies involved as the case crosses state lines. Although all the right words are there, I had a hard time believing some of the investigation. Information or leads are discovered at fortuitous points in the story. Technology breaks down and isn't discovered for days. Mofina gives us lots of suspects right from the get go including the family. It seems every one of them is hiding something. The listener is given hints as to each family member's hidden secrets, but it takes a while before they are revealed. This does serve to keep the listener engaged. There are also lots of peripheral characters that may or may not have a bearing on the case. One caught my eye as the way they were portrayed was just too 'good' IMO. 

Understandably, the family is panicked. Especially Grace. And I felt for her - I really did. But I got so tired of her caterwauling 'Where's Riley?' I know, I know, her child is missing. Character development takes a back seat in Search for Her. Instead, it action that propels the book forward. There are twists along the way, but some of them seemed awkward to me, including the reasoning and mind set of the initial suspect.

I chose to listen to Search for Her. The reader was Jennifer Jill Araya. This was a first listen of this narrator for me. She has a nice clear speaking voice, enunciates well, paces her speaking speed, and is, for the most part, really easy to listen to. She provides tones and voices for many, including males that are believable. She is indeed a very expressive reader and captures the tone of Mofina's book with her interpretation.  Hear for yourself - listen to an excerpt of Search For Her.

Mofina hits all the right notes for what I would call 'light suspense.' But, I prefer my suspense a little darker and my police procedures a little more believable. I encourage you to check out the other reviews on Goodreads. Overall, an easy read for the beach bag this summer.

I Know My Name- C.J. Cooke - Review AND Giveaway!

I Know My Name is the debut novel of C.J. Cooke. And I have a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader!

The book opens in 2015. A woman is washed up on an isolated Greek island. She has no idea who she is or what she was doing when her boat wrecked on the island's rocky shore. And in England a man is frantic - his wife has gone missing, leaving her two small children behind.

The reader is privy to more than either lead character. We know what is happening in the England investigation. And what is happening on Kommeno Island. The island is not completely deserted, as we discover that there are four other people on the island. Their behavior is odd and they seem determined to keep our unnamed woman with them. "The only way to get off this island is to remember."

I always enjoy a back and forth narrative - it's guaranteed to keep me reading later than I had planned. Cooke inserts a third narrative about a quarter of the way into the book. It is set in 1983 - and explains much. With that information, I had a strong inkling as to how the two 2015 narratives would connect. I was partially right, but Cooke throws in a twist at the end.

I found myself drawn more to the London search than the time on the island. Perhaps because there were numerous characters and more happening. I found the island scenes and dialogue very off kilter with it's decidedly strange inhabitants. Things did make more sense in the run up to the final answer. That ending goes on a bit longer than I would have preferred. Now, being deliberately oblique - Cooke uses those last chapters to 'educate' the reader. While I appreciate this, it was more than I wanted as the pieces had already been put together. Warning to gentle readers - there are some disturbing elements to this tale.

I Know My Name is a good debut - here's an excerpt. If you too would like to read I Know My Name, enter to win a copy using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada, no PO boxes please. Ends January 27/17.

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Little Black Lies - Sandra Block

Little Black Lies is Sandra Block's debut novel.

Zoe Goldman is a resident on the psychiatric ward of a Buffalo hospital. Balancing her work and personal life becomes even more challenging for Dr. Goldman when a difficult patient is assigned to her. This woman killed her mother as a teenager. Her case spurs Zoe to again try to piece together memories from her own past. She's adopted, has ADHD, fragmented nightmares and more. And the only woman who may have the key to unlock the past is succumbing to dementia.....

Block has crafted a calculated suspense novel with an eye for the finish line - and the final twist. I must admit the twist was a good one. But careful readers will suss out the reveal before the final chapters. Although I did, it didn't detract from my finishing or enjoying the rest of the book to confirm my suspicions. Some plot points do seem quite coincidental though, as do some actions and omissions on Zoe's part in investigating her past.

A love interest does add a nice side plot to a novel. Block includes two for Zoe - one (Mike) absolutely works. I really still can't figure out Jean-Luc's yes/no/maybe so inclusion in the story - it seemed extraneous to me.

Block is herself a doctor and the medical jargon (prescriptions) procedures, (hypnosis, therapy. etc.) diagnoses and treatment of mental illness absolutely reflect her 'insider' knowledge.

Those looking for a entertaining, light suspense novel will find it in Little Black Lies. Try it now - read an excerpt of Little Black Lies.  Sandra Block is working on the second Zoe Goldman book. You can find Sandra Block on Facebook as well as on Twitter.

That Night - Chevy Stevens

Chevy Steven's latest book That Night, is newly released.

"I traced the lines of my tattoos, counting the years, thinking back to that summer. I was thirty-four now and had been in custody since I was eighteen, when Ryan and I were arrested for my sister's murder."

Toni Murphy knows she and Ryan are innocent. But it made no difference. The trial was a joke - and the witnesses lied. They know what really happened that night. Toni just wants to reclaim her life after so many years locked up and returns to Campbell River to start over, but the past just won't leave her alone.

Stevens has written That Night in a past and present narrative - all through Toni's eyes. We learn what led up to that fateful night as she struggles in present day to rebuild her life.

Campbell River is home to some mean girls. Really mean girls. The degree of bullying is more than uncomfortable to read about, especially in light of recent news stories. The response of some of the adult figures is disturbing. But on the other hand, I found myself asking Toni out loud...why would you....? There are some dubious choices made and some questionable actions taken that help to seal Toni's fate - from both Toni herself and the adults in the book, including her parents. (They bullying theme is continued in the present day prison chapters as well.)

But it's fiction right? Stevens has given the reader lots of scenarios to react to.

Having just read Orange is the New Black, I found many of the details and scenes of Toni's prison time somewhat familiar - the running on the track, the foot massages, the mother figure who works in the kitchen and more.

The reader has a pretty good idea who has killed Nicole from the beginning and the novel is more about confirming that and proving Toni and Ryan's innocence. (Although Stevens does throw in a nice little twist) There are no real details of the crime or court case given. Instead the focus is on our protagonist, fighting back - against mean girls in her youth, against her own family, against mean girls in prison, against...

Who will enjoy That Night? Well, there's a lot of YA in the past chapters - teenage angst, rebellion, young love, loving the local bad boy etc. So if you had a little of that bad girl in you in your younger years (or wish you did) you'll enjoy sharing Toni's early years. Stevens does brings a real note of truth to adult Toni's life with her struggle to re-enter society after prison. And of course, there's always the question - does she ever see Ryan again? Can she clear her name? Beat the mean girls?

I enjoyed the Canadian setting, having visited the areas described. Stevens makes her home in the area and brings it to the page very well.
 
In my opinion, That Night is not quite the 'taut thriller' the cover blurb advertises, but it is an entertaining read and would be a good addition to your beach bag this year. Read an excerpt of That Night.  You can find Chevy Stevens on Facebook and on Twitter.

Notorious - Allison Brennan

Allison Brennan is a prolific author and her books get taken out quite often at the library. But Notorious, is the first book I've read by this best selling author.

Notorious is the first book in the Max Revere series. Max is an investigative reporter with her own cold case television show. She'll head anywhere in the country to tackle those unsolved murders. One case she's never been able to solve is the death of her childhood friend Lindy. Max heads back to her hometown to attend a funeral. While at the airport she is approached by a couple who beg her to look into their son's death as well. Max agrees and also starts re-looking at Lindy's case as well.

Brennan has come up with two good whodunits that had me interested. But here's the problem - I didn't like the investigator. At all. Brennan has written Max as a very tough, strong personality, which, on paper would seem to work for a reporter. But for this reader, it just didn't make the leap.  I just found her obnoxious, pushy, rude and self absorbed with an 'anything you can do I can do better' chip on her shoulder. The annoying dialogue and sanctimonious attitude only increased as the book progressed and had me gritting my teeth by the end.

The main plotting of Notorious was just fine and I did read to the end to see the final reveal. But I was glad to turn the final page on Max Revere. Established fans of Allison Brennan will most likely enjoy this book. Read an excerpt of Notorious. You can find Allison Brennan on Facebook and Twitter.

Hush Little Baby - Suzanne Redfearn

Hush Little Baby is Suzanne Redfearn's debut novel.

You never really know what goes on behind closed doors - sometimes until it's too late. Jillian Kane has what looks to a perfect life - a great job, the millionaire family - a boy and girl, and her husband Gordon, who's a cop and dotes on his children. Sounds like a perfect marriage....except it's not. Gordon is a controlling, cruel man who is mentally and physically abusive to Jillian. And after nine years of hiding it from the world, Jillian is fast reaching her breaking point - except no one believes her - she's done such a great job of hiding everything.

"How easy it is to sabotage a life. For a year, he’s used my vanity and pride to my own demise. While I’ve covered up his abuse, his deceit, his lies, he took every opportunity to flaunt, exaggerate, and advertise every mistake of mine. Like a magic trick, the illusion is seamless and unchallenged, and without another explanation, it’s believed."

Readfearn tackles the abuse issue realistically, with questions anyone would ask. Why would Jill cover it up? Why would she stay? That final catalyst is her children - but again, Redfearn raises questions - would Jill be better off to leave them with Gordon?

Jill does decide to run. Without spoiling the storyline, I am quite glad Redfearn chose to not have this turn into a seamless getaway. And to not portray Jill as a perfect mother. Redfearn slows down the story down midway to provide a 'healing' time for Jill and her kids. Her location and the characters at this juncture, although idyllic, seemed a bit far-fetched to me. But the premise introduces and reinforces what is important in life and what will sustain us at the worst of times.

The suspense is excellent, with Gordon seemingly one step ahead of Jill all the time. I was invested in her attempts to best her husband at his own game and quickly kept turning pages to see if she could. This isn't a new story, but Redfearn puts her own stamp on it and does it justice.

Redfearn captures the angst and terror of her main character well.  Redfearn's character is an architect, borrowing from her own life. (Although she is quick to point out in the author's notes, the similarities end there - here husband is "to a wonderful, kind, not-abusive-in-any-way man".)

Redfearn has blended a sensitive and always timely issue with suspenseful storyline to create a very strong debut. I quite enjoyed Hush Little Baby. Fans of Joy Fielding and Jodi Piccoult would enjoy this new author. Read an excerpt of Hush Little Baby. Suzanne has prepared reading group questions as well.

Suzanne Redfearn is a summa cum laude graduate from California Polytechnic University and, like her protagonist, is an architect. She is an avid surfer, golfer, skier, and Angels fan. She lives with her husband and children in California.

Congrats to Suzanne for being chosen as one of Target's Emerging Authors for their November '13 promotion. You can find  Suzanne Redfearn on Facebook and on Twitter.