Susan Coventry's Blog, page 40

The Captain’s Daughter by Leah Fleming

The Captain's Daughter is a historical fiction novel about the Titanic.  May Smith boards the doomed ship with her husband and baby girl, Ellen, but only May will survive.  While she awaits rescue on a lifeboat, Captain Smith hands her an abandoned infant and when no one claims the girl, May decides to raise the child as her own.  Years later, when May is on her deathbed, she shares her secret with her "daughter" (also named Ellen), which leads Ellen on a quest to find her real family.  This story is rich with details about the sinking of the famous ship as well as the emotional side effects suffered by the survivors.  It also raises an interesting question about May's decision to claim someone else's child as her own.  The Captain's Daughter is one of my favorite Titanic tales; I highly recommend it.

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No Limits by Lori Foster

No Limits is book 1 of a contemporary romance series featuring ultimate fighters and the women they love.  In this story, Cannon is a successful MMA fighter with a gentle soul! He helped rescue Yvette from a dangerous gang three years ago, and now she's back in his life, stronger and more beautiful than ever.  Yvette is in town to settle her grandfather's estate but she's also struggling with an obsessive ex-boyfriend who won't leave her alone.  Once again, it's Cannon to the rescue!  I've read several novels by Lori Foster and they all feature strong, alpha males with big hearts and women who are helpless to resist them. No Limits was predictable yet engaging.  If you like romance novels with a bit of an edge, give Lori Foster a try.

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I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman

I'd Know You Anywhere is the first suspense novel I've read by this author and I enjoyed her writing style. Elizabeth was kidnapped at age 15 by a young man named Walter who had already kidnapped and killed a few other teenage girls.  The police catch up with Walter before he can add Elizabeth to his list, giving her the dubious distinction of being his only living victim.  Years later, Elizabeth is a wife and mother who enjoys a peaceful life, until Walter reaches out to her from death row.  Laura Lippman focuses on the psychological aspects of the story rather than providing graphic details of the crimes that Walter committed. Still, it's a haunting tale that will keep the reader engrossed.  I liked it well enough that I will probably try other books by this author.

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See You Then at local bookstores

I'm so excited to share the news that my debut novel is now available at two local Michigan bookstores. I've partnered with Past Tense Books in Holly and Fenton's Open Book in Fenton, where they're happy to display books by local authors.  These indie bookstores are great, especially for readers who still like to browse through the shelves and hold a book in their hands!  Count me in!

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After by Anna Todd

After is book 1 of a popular new adult contemporary romance series.  Tessa is a college freshman who leaves her boyfriend Noah behind when she decides to go away to school.  As she gets acclimated and starts making new friends, she meets Hardin, a tattooed, angry bad boy, that she has nothing in common with.  However, she somehow finds herself attracted to him...sound familiar romance readers??  As Tessa gets to know Hardin, he opens up about his painful past and they develop an on-again, off-again relationship while Noah is left waiting in the wings.  You would have to read the rest of the books in the series to find out what happens, which I haven't.  If you like your romances to include good girls/bad boys, love triangles and plenty of angst, you may like After.  I would recommend other new adult novels over this one, such as Bad Romeo or Thoughtless.

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Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki

Sisi is the third book I've read about the famous Empress of Austria and it was just as engaging.  This historical fiction novel covers Sisi's life as a middle-aged woman up until the time of her death.  During this time period her life is a mix of extreme highs and extreme lows.  She ends her love affair with Count Andrassy of Hungary but she finds a new infatuation with Bay Middleton, an expert horseman and hunter.  She meets Bay while on a foxhunt in England and their mutual interests and physical attraction fuels her spirit, even though he's engaged to another woman.  Tragedy strikes multiple times throughout the story with the deaths of her beloved cousin Ludwig, her oldest son and heir to the throne, Rudolf and her sister Sophie.  Sisi rallies back after each loss but she continues to be restless and unhappy in her role as the Empress.  In her older years, near the time of her death, it appears that she softened toward her husband Franz, but they will never have the chance to reconcile.  Sisi is a fascinating character; she was a strong-minded, passionate woman with a restless soul.  I find it tragic that she could never be with her true loves, first Andrassy and then Bay Middleton.  One of the biggest criticisms about her was that she was away from her husband and children much of the time, as she traveled extensively.  To me, it's another sad commentary about Sisi's life; she was constantly seeking an escape.  If you've never read about Sisi or even if you have, I highly recommend this book.

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Kirkus Reviews

I was excited to receive positive feedback from Kirkus Reviews on my debut novel, See You Then.  An excerpt of their comments appears on my website's home page as well as on my Goodreads blog and Amazon.  To read the full review, please follow the link below:

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/susan-coventry/see-you-then/

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Kirkus Reviews

I'm pleased to share an excerpt from Kirkus Reviews on my debut novel, See You Then.

"As Coventry describes the complex issues of age and love that Jason and Sam must navigate, she also touches on other weighty topics, such as grief, friendship, and emotional renewal. She tells the story at a fast clip, building the suspense in a way that will keep even the most experienced romance fans engaged." - Kirkus Reviews

To read the entire review, please click on the following link:

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson

Somewhere in France is a historical fiction novel set in Europe during WWI.  Lilly comes from a wealthy British family with an over-bearing mother.  Longing for an escape, Lilly joins the war effort and becomes an ambulance driver on the front in France.  This puts her in close proximity to danger in more ways than one as Lilly is reunited with Robbie, a handsome doctor and friend of her brother's.  I've read a great many war-related novels and this one focuses more on the love interest between the characters than on the details of war.  If you're looking for a good love story with a historical backdrop, Somewhere in France is very satisfying.

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Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman

Cover of Snow is a fast-paced suspense novel that takes place in rural upstate New York.  After the apparent suicide of Brendan, a police officer, his wife Nora retraces his last few days and uncovers a slew of secrets about her husband and the local police department.  Nora's life becomes endangered as she attempts to bring down the police with the help of an autistic man and a local reporter.  Cover of Snow is action-packed with a fair share of violence, but if you're a fan of say James Patterson, you might like this book.

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