Kim Ebner's Blog, page 10

Sister Sister

Publication Date: 6 January 2017Goodreads DescriptionAlice: Beautiful, kind, manipulative, liar.Clare: Intelligent, loyal, paranoid, jealous.Clare thinks Alice is a manipulative liar who is trying to steal her life.Alice thinks Claire is jealous of her long-lost return and place in their family.My ReviewHaving never read a book by this author before, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Well, let me tell you, you can expect a lot. She really delivered with this book. The plot was interesting, the characters believable and reading this book got my emotions pumping. The first half of the book deals with Alice's return to the family circle and Clare's reactions to her return. Instead of feeling elated and excited about Alice's return, as Clare thought she would, Clare finds herself being suspicious and jealous. And you know what? A lot of the time I could actually understand Clare's feelings and I shared in her mistrust of Alice. Alice, the one who returns to the loving, open arms of their mother, making her happier than she's been in a long while. Alice, the one who's hanging out with Clare's husband, Luke, in his art studio at 3am while Clare is supposed to be asleep. Alice, the one who goes on day trips with Luke and her two little girls, doing fun and interesting things, while Clare works on a difficult case at her law firm. Alice, the one who prances around the kitchen every morning in nothing but a large T-shirt, despite the fact that Luke's in the kitchen making breakfast. All things considered, Alice's behaviour was such that it got my blood pumping.By the second half of the book I was asking myself why Luke, who's been married to Clare for over eight years, keeps doubting her. Why doesn't he listen to her and give her the benefit of the doubt. Would a loyal husband do that? Would he side with a stranger over his own wife, the mother of his children? I wanted to throw a bucket of ice water over his head, just to wake him up. And then the seed of doubt crept into my mind - who's really telling the truth and who can be trusted?As I'm sure you can tell, I was gripped. This psychological thriller had all the elements of a great read - it moved quickly, it got the emotions pumping, there were characters to love and hate and a plausible plot that never let up. It's a great read, plain and simple.My rating: * * * *Thanks to author, Sue Fortin, publishers HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for my copy.

Between You and Me

Publication Date: 17 March 2016Goodreads DescriptionThey say every marriage has its secrets.But no one sees what happens behind closed doors.And sometimes those doors should never be opened …Sal and Charlie are married. They love each other. But they aren’t happy. Sal cannot leave, no matter what Charlie does – no matter how much it hurts.My ReviewI can't remember when last I read a book that had my blood boiling by the second chapter. And boil it did! All I can say is that Charlie is very lucky that he didn't find himself alone with me. Okay, so perhaps this is another book (I've read a few lately) where you want to shout at the lead female character, shake her by the shoulders and ask her just what exactly she thinks she's doing. Personally, I couldn't begin to fathom why Sal chose to stay in such a crazy relationship. Without getting into the psychology behind why abused woman stay in abusive relationships, a topic that I'm definitely not qualified to discuss, all I can say is that this book had my emotions churning within the first ten pages.

Her Every Fear

Publication Date: 19 January 2017Goodreads DescriptionGrowing up, Kate Priddy was always a bit neurotic, experiencing momentary bouts of anxiety that exploded into full-blown panic attacks after an ex-boyfriend kidnapped her and nearly ended her life. When Corbin Dell, a distant cousin in Boston, suggests the two temporarily swap apartments, Kate, an art student in London, agrees, hoping that time away in a new place will help her overcome the recent wreckage of her life.Soon after her arrival at Corbin’s grand apartment on Beacon Hill, Kate makes a shocking discovery: his next-door neighbor, a young woman named Audrey Marshall, has been murdered. When the police question her about Corbin, a shaken Kate has few answers, and many questions of her own—curiosity that intensifies when she meets Alan Cherney, a handsome, quiet tenant who lives across the courtyard, in the apartment facing Audrey’s. Alan saw Corbin surreptitiously come and go from Audrey’s place, yet he’s denied knowing her. Then, Kate runs into a tearful man claiming to be the dead woman’s old boyfriend, who insists Corbin did the deed the night that he left for London.When she reaches out to her cousin, he proclaims his innocence and calms her nerves--until she comes across disturbing objects hidden in the apartment and accidentally learns that Corbin is not where he says he is. Could Corbin be a killer? What about Alan? Kate finds herself drawn to this appealing man who seems so sincere, yet she isn’t sure. Jet-lagged and emotionally unstable, her imagination full of dark images caused by the terror of her past, Kate can barely trust herself, so how could she take the chance on a stranger she’s just met?My ReviewThere's no doubt about it, this author is a master of his craft, with heaps of writing talent. I love his easy style, which leads to stories that just flow naturally.This is more of a character driver story, and although it can definitely be classified as a psychological thriller, this story progresses at a steady pace, with fewer shocks, twists and turns. Having said that though, don't think for one minute that this story isn't gripping. After the opening chapters where we are introduced to Kate and learn about her move to Boston, the story changes focus and moves onto Corbin. From that moment, I was well and truly hooked. Corbin's story and his new friendship formed at University with the outgoing and charming Henry was totally engrossing and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.For me, one of the strengths of this story is the believability of the characters. Kate, with her flaws, seemed very real to me, as did many of the other characters, including the slightly dark Corbin. This is a story that I would describe as a character based thriller. Is it full of "wow, I didn't see that coming" moments? No, it isn't. But boy, this is still a great story. Peter Swanson can add another feather to his cap with this one.My rating: * * * *Many thanks to author Peter Swanson, Faber and Faber Ltd publishers and NetGalley for my review copy. It was my pleasure to read this book and to write an honest review.

The Girl Before

Publication Date: 2 February 2017Goodreads DescriptionJane stumbles on the rental opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to live in a beautiful ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect, on condition she abides by a long list of exacting rules. After moving in, she discovers that a previous tenant, Emma, met a mysterious death there - and starts to wonder if her own story will be a re-run of the girl before. As twist after twist catches the reader off guard, Emma's past and Jane's present become inexorably entwined in this tense, page-turning portrayal of psychological obsession.My ReviewSometimes being a book reviewer and book blogger is tough. It's important to be able to form an independent opinion of a book despite hearing and reading the reviews of others. This is especially difficult when a book has been receiving sterling reviews, as this one has. But in this case, I need to go against the grain and say that this read just didn't do it for me.Despite this book getting off to a promising start, I found that it very soon became unrealistic and lacked substance. I found myself constantly asking "why would anyone do that?" or saying to myself "that would never happen in real life." Without giving anything away, let me just say that I don't know of a single person that would agree to rent and live in a house in which they were not even allowed to put a coffee mug down, or to leave the book they are busy reading in the lounge. A house that required the lessee to sign a lease with more than 200 prohibitive conditions, where the lessee had to agree to random surveys about themselves and if not completed within a short time period, certain fundamental appliances in the house would not work, like the shower or the stove. That is all just too ridiculously far fetched for me. I also found Edward to be an unrealistic character and one that would not get very far in real life, let alone be absolutely adored by not one but two woman. I know we are talking about a fictional story here, but still, for me a story must always be believable or else you lose me. So, unfortunately I must conclude by saying that this one won't make it onto my favourites list for this year. In fact, I think it might be down towards the bottom somewhere.My rating: * *Many thanks to the author, J. P Delaney, Quercus Books and NetGalley for my review copy. It was my pleasure to furnish an honest and unbiased review.

Blink

Publication Date: 16 February 2017Goodreads DescriptionWhat if the person you love most in the world was in terrible danger … because of you?Three years ago, Toni’s five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace.But Toni believes her daughter is alive. And as she begins to silently piece together her memories, the full story of the past begins to reveal itself, and a devastating truth.My ReviewMy feelings about this book are simple really - I loved it! This is a page turner of a read, and as far as psychological thrillers go, this one had me truly gripped. The characters were believable and I loved little Evie. The whole story moved at a good pace and the dialogue was spot on. This gripping story is told in short chapters that alternate between the present day and three years earlier. The story flows well even with the alternating chapters. The author expertly lines up numerous suspects and creates many different scenarios and as the reader, you are never quite sure which way the story is going. And as with most psychological thrillers, I eagerly awaited the twist, which in this story did not disappoint. I highly recommend this easy and clever read.My rating: * * * * *Many thanks to author K. L Slater, Bookouture publishers and Netgalley for my review copy. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.

The Forgetting Time

Publication Date: 11 February 2016.Goodreads DescriptionNoah wants to go home. A seemingly easy request from most four year olds. But as Noah's single-mother, Janie, knows, nothing with Noah is ever easy. One day the pre-school office calls and says Janie needs to come in to talk about Noah, and no, not later, now - and life as she knows it stops.For Jerome Anderson, life as he knows it has stopped. A deadly diagnosis has made him realize he is approaching the end of his life. His first thought - I'm not finished yet. Once a shining young star in academia, a graduate of Yale and Harvard, a professor of psychology, he threw it all away because of an obsession. Anderson became the laughing stock of his peers, but he didn't care - something had to be going on beyond what anyone could see or comprehend. He spent his life searching for that something else. And with Noah, he thinks he's found it.Soon Noah, Janie and Anderson will find themselves knocking on the door of a mother whose son has been missing for seven years - and when that door opens, all of their questions will be answered.My ReviewI really wanted to love this novel and from the description I thought that I would. The concept of reincarnation and, in fact, topics about death and the afterlife have always fascinated me. I'm fascinated by haunted houses, possessions, ghosts, orbs, connecting with people that have passed over and anything related to the afterlife. So, it was a great disappointment to find that I didn't really enjoy this book. It was decidedly mediocre. The main problem for me was that I never really felt absorbed by the story. At times I even found myself skimming chapters that didn't hold my interest. There seemed to be a fair amount of padding which slowed the story down. I also felt that the quality of the writing was slightly weak, especially in the first half of the story when the author seemed to rely on far too many similes and metaphors which, personally, I find a sign of weak writing. Things did seem to improve in the second half and the story picked up pace but I still wasn't engrossed and I found myself checking how many pages I had left to read to finish the book.Was this book terrible? No it wasn't, and I can see how it may appeal to book clubs as the topics covered in the book could lead to great conversations. And let me also say that a number of people I know really enjoyed this book, so all is not lost. If the blurb appeals to you, then perhaps give this one a try. Unfortunately, for me this one will be logged as one of my reading disappointments of 2016.* I bought my own copy of this book for review purposes.

Her Husband's Lover

Publication Date: 26 January 2017Louisa is desperate for a fresh start. Not only is her husband dead, but both her children are too. And the only way that she can even vaguely think about rebuilding her life is by moving to a big city where no one knows her and won't be able to find her, including her husband's mean and vindictive lover, Sophie. Not only did Sophie steal her husband but now she won't leave Louisa alone. She wants everything that Louisa has, everything that she believes is rightfully hers. But how far will Louisa go to protect her world. Sophie thinks that she knows Louisa, she's heard enough stories about her from her lover, Louisa's husband, but how much does she really know?Wow people, just wow! This is a cracker of a psychological thriller. The author sure knows how to toy with our emotions. I found myself feeling sorry for one character before suddenly thinking, "no ways", and changing my alliances. There are twists and turns, shocks and more shocks, deranged characters and crazy events. This is a book that won't allow you to settle down onto your favourite couch, comfortable in your love for one character and hate of another. No ways. Nothing is clear cut in this novel. And just when you think you understand the characters, you'll be thrown off course. This is a difficult book to review without giving anything away and so I'm not going to go into too much detail other than to say, read this one! It's great. My only reason for not giving a 5 star review is because it's quite a long read, and I felt that certain parts could have been cut down or perhaps left out entirely, namely events around Adam and the construction site. Also the ending. It was great but frustrating! I'm generally not a fan of loose ends. The ending definitely leaves one wanting more though.My rating: * * * *Many thanks to author Julia Crouch, Headline publishers and Netgalley for my review copy. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.

The Gift

Jenna isn't well and she needs a heart transplant. Eventually the good news comes - her doctor has found a donor. Jenna receives a new heart and the surgery is a success, but something has changed. Since the surgery Jenna's been having very vivid, detailed and scary dreams. Dreams that seem so real that on waking, Jenna feels like the events have happened to her, but yet she knows that they haven't. Could these memories belong to the donor? And if yes, it's obvious to Jenna that something was very wrong in that person's life. Jenna embarks on a mission to find out who the donor was and to figure out just exactly how and why this person died.Let me say at the outset that I liked this read, without loving it. It's classified as a psychological thriller, which is my favourite genre. I've read tons of books that fall into this category and perhaps that's why it's more difficult to impress me. So, I didn't find myself head over heals in love with this one. It's a good thriller that builds at a good pace. I found myself dying for the story to progress more quickly so that I could get to the heart of the story and find out all that I was wanting to know. For me personally, I found that the story took a while to get moving. There seemed to be a number of events that took place that didn't actually progress the story in any way. One example, is the event that happens with Sam's younger brother. Also, I didn't think that the ending contained any major twist. For some, the ending will be good enough, but for me, I like to be left with a shock. That didn't happen here. But, having said all that, I did find the concept of Cellular Memory - the term used to describe the feelings and memories that some transplant patients experience after surgery - fascinating. The fact that people sometimes experience memories of the donor, defies logic and there is no rational explanation. But apparently such a thing exists. Wow! All in all, this is a good, solid read, but lacks a wow factor.My rating: * * *I would like to thank the author, Louise Jensen, the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC. It was my pleasure to write an honest review.

December: I can't wait to read these!

Being the bookworm that I am, there are constantly books, both old and new, that catch my eye and that must be added to my TBR pile. For those of you not familiar with bookish language, that means my "To Be Read" pile. :-). I'm never short of books to add and in fact, I'm sure that I don't have enough days left on this earth to get through all the books that I want to read. Anyone who's seen my bookshelf at home can probably attest to this fact, never mind the 200+ books on my Kindle. But, alas...*sigh*...there are constantly more books to add. Here are my four picks for this month, books that I currently have my eye on and that I can't wait to read. Perhaps a few of them will appeal to you too!Good Me, Bad Me (by Ali Land)Goodreads description'NEW N A M E .NEW F A M I L Y.S H I N Y.NEW.ME . 'Annie's mother is a serial killer.The only way she can make it stop is to hand her in to the police.But out of sight is not out of mind.As her mother's trial looms, the secrets of her past won't let Annie sleep, even with a new foster family and name - Milly.A fresh start. Now, surely, she can be whoever she wants to be.But Milly's mother is a serial killer. And blood is thicker than water.Good me, bad me.She is, after all, her mother's daughter...Oooh, this blurb just appeals to me, end of the story. I've actually had it on my TBR pile for months now. Luckily for me, the book is due to be published in January 2017 and trust me, I'll be the first person in the queue to buy myself a copy. Apparently it's pipped to be a big one in 2017.Behind Her Eyes (by Sarah Pinborough)Goodreads descriptionDavid and Adele seem like the ideal pair. He's a successful psychiatrist, she is his picture-perfect wife who adores him. But why is he so controlling? And why is she keeping things hidden?As Louise, David's new secretary, is drawn into their world, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can't guess how wrong – and how far someone might go to protect their marriage's secrets.This book has been getting some great reviews and on that basis alone, I'm keen to get my hands on a copy. It sounds utterly gripping.When Breath Becomes Air (by Paul Kalanithi)Goodreads descriptionWhat makes a virtuous and meaningful life? Paul Kalanithi believed that the answer lay in medicine’s most demanding specialization, neurosurgery. Here are patients at their life’s most critical moment. Here he worked in the most critical place for human identity, the brain. What is it like to do that every day; and what happens when life is catastrophically interrupted?When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable reflection on the practice of medicine and the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.I've heard and read some absolutely glowing reviews about this book. And the subject matter - neurosurgery - is one that I have a specific interest in. Having had major surgery to my back, and having had a number of consultations with a neurosurgeon prior to the surgery, I've developed a bit of a fascination with the whole process and with just how amazing these surgeons are. Apparently this is a book that tugs at the heart strings and stays with the reader for a long time afterwards. I cannot wait to read this one.The Two O'Clock Boy (by Mark Hill)Goodreads descriptionTWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS...ONE BECAME A DETECTIVE...ONE BECAME A KILLER...One night changed their livesThirty years ago, the Longacre Children's Home stood on a London street where once-grand Victorian homes lay derelict. There its children lived in terror of Gordon Tallis, the home's manager.Cries in the fire and smokeThen Connor Laird arrived: a frighteningly intense boy who quickly became Tallis' favourite criminal helper. Soon after, destruction befell the Longacre, and the facts of that night have lain buried ...until today.A truth both must hideNow, a mysterious figure, the Two O'Clock Boy, is killing all who grew up there, one by one. DI Ray Drake will do whatever it take to stop the murders - but he will go even further to cover up the truth.What's not to like about this one? Two friends, both choosing a different path in life and landing up on separate sides of the social spectrum. Never mind the fact that I'm a sucker for a good serial killer story. Yip, this one's a must.

December: Books That Have Caught My Eye

Being the bookworm that I am, there are constantly books, both old and new, that catch my eye and that I feel must be added to my TBR pile. For those of you not familiar with bookish language, that means my "To Be Read" pile. :-). I'm never short of books to add and in fact, I'm sure that I don't have enough days left on this earth to get through all the books that I want to read. Anyone who's seen my bookshelf at home can probably attest to this fact, never mind the 200+ books on my Kindle. But, alas...*sigh*...there are constantly more books to add. Here are my four December picks, books that I currently have my eye on and that I can't wait to read. Perhaps a few of them will appeal to you too!Good Me, Bad Me (by Ali Land)Goodreads description'NEW N A M E .NEW F A M I L Y.S H I N Y.NEW.ME . 'Annie's mother is a serial killer.The only way she can make it stop is to hand her in to the police.But out of sight is not out of mind.As her mother's trial looms, the secrets of her past won't let Annie sleep, even with a new foster family and name - Milly.A fresh start. Now, surely, she can be whoever she wants to be.But Milly's mother is a serial killer. And blood is thicker than water.Good me, bad me.She is, after all, her mother's daughter...Oooh, this blurb just appeals to me so much, and to be honest, I've had it on my TBR pile for months now. Luckily for me, the book is due to be published in January 2017 and trust me, I'll be the first person in the queue to buy myself a copy. Apparently it's pipped to be a big one in 2017.Behind Her Eyes (by Sarah Pinborough)Goodreads descriptionDavid and Adele seem like the ideal pair. He's a successful psychiatrist, she is his picture-perfect wife who adores him. But why is he so controlling? And why is she keeping things hidden?As Louise, David's new secretary, is drawn into their world, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong. But Louise can't guess how wrong – and how far someone might go to protect their marriage's secrets.This book has been getting some great reviews and on that basis alone, I'm keen to get my hands on a copy. It sounds utterly gripping.When Breath Becomes Air (by Paul Kalanithi)Goodreads descriptionWhat makes a virtuous and meaningful life? Paul Kalanithi believed that the answer lay in medicine’s most demanding specialization, neurosurgery. Here are patients at their life’s most critical moment. Here he worked in the most critical place for human identity, the brain. What is it like to do that every day; and what happens when life is catastrophically interrupted?When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable reflection on the practice of medicine and the relationship between doctor and patient, from a gifted writer who became both.I've heard and read some absolutely glowing reviews about this book. And the subject matter - neurosurgery - is one that I have a specific interest in. Having had major surgery to my back, and having had a number of consultations with a neurosurgeon prior to the surgery, I've developed a bit of a fascination with the whole process and with just how amazing these surgeons are. Apparently this is a book that tugs at the heart strings and stays with the reader for a long time afterwards. Definitely one that I need to get my hands on soon.The Two O'Clock Boy (by Mark Hill)Goodreads descriptionTWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS...ONE BECAME A DETECTIVE...ONE BECAME A KILLER...One night changed their livesThirty years ago, the Longacre Children's Home stood on a London street where once-grand Victorian homes lay derelict. There its children lived in terror of Gordon Tallis, the home's manager.Cries in the fire and smokeThen Connor Laird arrived: a frighteningly intense boy who quickly became Tallis' favourite criminal helper. Soon after, destruction befell the Longacre, and the facts of that night have lain buried ...until today.A truth both must hideNow, a mysterious figure, the Two O'Clock Boy, is killing all who grew up there, one by one. DI Ray Drake will do whatever it take to stop the murders - but he will go even further to cover up the truth.What's not to like about the sound of this one? Two friends, both choosing a different path in life and landing up on separate sides of the social spectrum. Never mind the fact that I'm a sucker for a good serial killer story. Yip, this one's a must.