Ruth Anne Benziger's Blog, page 30
May 20, 2020
Book Review: Killman Creek (Stillhouse Lake #2) by Rachel Caine
Every time Gwen closed her eyes, she saw him in her nightmares. Now her eyes are open, and he’s not going away.
Gwen Proctor won the battle to save her kids from her ex-husband, serial killer Melvin Royal, and his league of psychotic accomplices. But the war isn’t over. Not since Melvin broke out of prison. Not since she received a chilling text…
You’re not safe anywhere now.
Her refuge at Stillhouse Lake has become a trap. Gwen leaves her children in the protective custody of a fortified, well-armed neighbor. Now, with the help of Sam Cade, brother of one of Melvin’s victims, Gwen is going hunting. She’s learned how from one of the sickest killers alive.
But what she’s up against is beyond anything she feared—a sophisticated and savage mind game calculated to destroy her. As trust beyond her small circle of friends begins to vanish, Gwen has only fury and vengeance to believe in as she closes in on her prey. And sure as the night, one of them will die.
My Thoughts:
The sequel to Stillhouse Lake was just as riveting as the first. I found the change in POV was smartly executed. It added to the suspense and gave insight into what was happening from different vantage points of the story. I really enjoyed it and spent my Friday with my nose in the book. It was a page-turner.
In the sequel to Stillhouse Lake, Gwen saves her kids from Melvin Royal but the danger is still in the air. Her kids may be safe from her husband, but there are other dangers out there. When she receives a mysterious text, she must decipher what the text means and what to do about it. Unwilling to be a sitting duck, she decides to enlist the help of Sam Cade to go hunting. Through a series of travels and struggles, she finds the answers she needs. Her kids are left in the care of a man she trusts, she seeks out those who deem to destroy her and her children’s lives. With blood in her eyes and revenge in her heart, she vows that one of them will die. Who will it be? Again, I was enthralled with the book and couldn’t put it down.
Book Review: Desperate Measures by Kat Lee and Elle Casey
Drawn together over a love of books, three women strike up an unlikely friendship, and end up forming bonds that move well beyond what any of them ever imagined possible. Desperate Measures serves up laughter, romance, cookies, tea – and a whole lot of love.
Aimee: A housewife left in the dust by her philandering husband, with an outdated high school education but a serious talent when it comes to confections…
Elizabeth: An accountant tired of crunching numbers for hundreds of clients with more money than they know what to do with…
Kiki: An exotic dancer who wants nothing more than to get out of the game…
Content warning: Due to sexy situations and content, this book is definitely not appropriate for younger readers.
A message from Elle about this book: Being a huge bookworm myself, the idea of writing a story about friends finding one another through books was really appealing to me. One thing I’ve learned about people who love books is that they come in all shapes and sizes and from all backgrounds and places, but the common ground of literature somehow makes everything work. When I was younger, I was the only bookworm I knew. Now that I’m an adult, I’ve found the joy of seeking others out and spending time with them. It’s like a whole new world has opened up to me, and so of course I wanted to write about it! Not that I have a former stripper in my book club or anything…
My Thoughts:
The perfect, turning your life around story. I enjoyed the story of Elizabeth, Kiki and Aimee and the overwhelming struggles they overcame. The story was mostly relateable and thrilling. I especially loved the colorful and funny Betty. It was honestly the perfect book that could be as close to my currently situation, I could have picked.
Book Review: The Deal of a Lifetime by Fredrik Backman
In this short story enhanced with beautiful illustrations, the bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown delivers an insightful and poignant tale about finding out what is truly important in life.
A father and a son are seeing each other for the first time in years. The father has a story to share before it’s too late. He tells his son about a courageous little girl lying in a hospital bed a few miles away. She’s a smart kid—smart enough to know that she won’t beat cancer by drawing with crayons all day, but it seems to make the adults happy, so she keeps doing it.
As he talks about this plucky little girl, the father also reveals more about himself: his triumphs in business, his failures as a parent, his past regrets, his hopes for the future.
Now, on a cold winter’s night, the father has been given an unexpected chance to do something remarkable that could change the destiny of a little girl he hardly knows. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he must find out what his own life has actually been worth, and only his son can reveal that answer.
With humor and compassion, Fredrik Backman’s The Deal of a Lifetime reminds us that life is a fleeting gift, and our legacy rests in how we share that gift with others.
My Thoughts:
First read of Fredrik Backman and I’m already going to check out some of his other works.
I will say that I paid more than I thought for such a short story. However, I found that the reason for that is worth it. He raises money for cancer research and I feel good about that. So, it was well worth it.
I love that he chose to include real places from his hometown. I loved that this was an open letter and I will say that I’m not ashamed to say that I cried at the end. I won’t go into detail, at the risk of giving it away, but sacrificing a life wasn’t what I thought it would be.
A great read with a strong message. Remarkable insights.
Book Review: Home for Christmas by Nora Roberts
After years of world travel, prizewinning reporter Jason Law was back in Quiet Valley, New Hampshire, with the most difficult assignment he’d ever faced: winning back Faith, the woman he’d loved then left ten years before. Jason had found that home was where the heart is, and Faith held his.
My Thoughts
Jason returns home after ten years to see the woman he left behind. When he gets there, he finds a lot more than he bargained for.
A very sweet and dramatic story with a happy ending. Simple, romantic, and angsty.
Book Review: Real Men Will by Victoria Dahl
It was meant to be a one-night stand. One night of passion. Scorching hot. Then Beth Cantrell and Eric Donovan were supposed to go their separate ways. That’s the only reason he lied about his name, telling her he was really his wild younger brother. Hiding his own identity as the conservative Donovan. The “good” one.
But passion has its own logic, and Eric finds he cannot forget the sable-haired beauty with whom he shared one night of passion. When Beth discovers that Eric has lied, however, she knows he cannot be trusted. Her mind tells her to forget the blue-eyed charmer. If only every fiber of her being did not burn to call him back.
My Thoughts
Nicely written and the love story was actually very nice to follow. They were made for each other and it just goes to show how much doubting one’s self can keep you apart from the person you love. I enjoyed this story along with the character development, made for an easy and enjoyable read.
Book Review: Mr. Sunny is Funny by Dan Gutman
A.J.’s family rented a beach house for the summer, and you’ll never guess in a million hundred years who rented the house next door. Well, you have to read the book to find out. So nah-nah-nah boo-boo on you!*
*Okay, okay, it’s Andrea and her family. And she has a monster crush on Mr. Sunny, the hunky (but weird) lifeguard. Ooooh! When are they gonna get married?
My Thoughts
This book was a read-aloud for my homeschooling curriculum and it was hilarious. I love that it’s from a little kid’s perspective and the characters in the book are all relatable. It is so funny and my kids were giggling the whole time we read the book.
We normally read two chapters, but we ended up reading half the book in one sitting. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Book Review: Just Neighbors by Charity Ferrell
Every day, my neighbor tells me to have a good morning.
Every day, I tell him to f*ck off.
Kyle Lane is the town’s hottest cop.
He’s also the man I’ve despised since high school.
Each morning, he stands on his porch with an annoying smirk on his perfect face.
He’s made it his life’s mission to get under my skin.
Until one day, he’s no longer on his porch but on mine.
He claims he wants to redeem himself for ruining my reputation.
My instincts tell me to stay away, but with each morning he shows up, it becomes harder and harder to resist his charm.
I was never supposed to fall in love with my neighbor and once he finds out my secret, we’ll forever be enemies.
My Thoughts
It’s always interesting to see a story of a love-hate relationship. However, what I liked about this book was there were some deep seeded issues under the playful banter. A man who is trying to make up for the wrongs he’s done. A woman with a past that she can’t run from. The dynamics of the relationship between these two starts off playful. When Kyle makes amends for his transgressions, helps Chloe with her family troubles, and breaks down her walls, he’s putting his heart on the line. As the relationship grows, you see the struggle of what is going on in Chloe’s world and the adverse affect it has on Kyle. The hate is pungent when he uncovers a secret she holds.
There was some heaviness in this novel that I wasn’t expecting. So much that it brought me to tears. There was so much life, struggle, and realness. In the end, it’s who you are and what you are willing to put on the line for someone you love.
Thanks to Carly for the recommendation.
Book Review: Cranberry Bluff by Deborah Bluff
Molly Elliott’s quiet life in Tallahassee, Florida, is disrupted when routine errands land her in the wrong place at the wrong time: the middle of a bank robbery. Accused and cleared of the crime, she flees both media attention and mysterious, threatening notes, to move across the country to Cranberry Cove, where she has inherited her Aunt Maggie’s bed and breakfast on the Northern California coast. Her new beginning is peaceful – that is, until five guests show up at the inn for a weekend, each with a hidden agenda.
Mix together one blushing honeymoon couple, one flamboyant boutique owner, a deadpan traveling salesman, and a charmingly handsome novelist, and there’s more than scones cooking at Cranberry Cottage Bed and Breakfast. As true motives become apparent, will Molly’s past come back to haunt her or will she finally be able to leave it behind?
My Thoughts:
Molly is given the opportunity to flee Tallahassee where she was mistaken as a bank robber. After her aunt passed away, she left Molly a Bed and Breakfast in Cranberry Cove. One group of occupants seem to be her usual clients. Little does she know that she’s being watched and investigated. A really cozy mystery where people aren’t who they seem to be. I really enjoyed the story.
Book Review: Sit…Stay…Beg by Roxanne St. Claire
Garrett Kilcannon, a former dot com super-success who now devotes his life to rescuing dogs and finding them homes, prefers to keep his secrets buried as deep as a dog hides his bone. So when he learns his father has invited a journalist to Waterford Farm to write and produce an in-depth profile on him, he doesn’t care that she’s a childhood friend or drop dead gorgeous. He has zero tolerance for the media…until he sees a different side when she gets through the walls of a rescue dog who’s refused to eat during her short stay at Waterford. Unwillingly charmed and undeniably attracted, Garrett agrees to the interview that could break down a few of his emotional walls, too.
Garrett might not want to share the story of his colorful former life, but Jessie Curtis has the skills to peel back the layers of this sexy, complicated, caring man. In the process, she not only discovers his secrets, she finds herself falling for a man who touches her heart in a way she never thought possible. Her entire career is riding on this one explosive interview, but can she bear to repay Garrett’s trust by selling his secrets? Or can a woman who gave up on happiness a long time ago learn to believe that all it takes to rescue a lost heart is the love of a good man?
My Thoughts:
Sit Stay Beg had the combination of dogs and people and the mix and mingle of emotion that captures what life is about. It had the perfect amount of secrets and drama to not be too overwhelming. The story of the Kilcannon clan was enough to draw me in. Gramma Finny was a hoot and reminded me of my Grandma Myra.
The characters were compelling and dynamic. The relationships were strong and the bond between Lola and Jessie melted my heart. Of course, I can’t forget Jessie and Garrett and the link they had as teenagers that grew into friendship and then to love. Great storytelling and the author had a sense of humor and genuine goodness that I enjoyed.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book with the Kilcannon clan. The Dogfather and his dynamic children who seem to want to work more than they want to fall in love. So, clever to write a story about siblings with the same drive and motivations. Let’s see where this journey takes us.
Book Review: Landing Eagle by Harley Stone
One last time.
That’s the promise Naomi and Eagle break every time the whiskey flows.
Focusing on her hard-earned military career, Naomi Lincoln has kept her secret and highly carnal rendezvous hidden from her protective older brother, the president of Eagle’s motorcycle club.
Until one reckless night of uninhibited lust and passion changes everything and challenges them to see if their irresistible chemistry can lead to more than mind-blowing sex.
This time, will Houston “Eagle” Archer be able to protect his woman?
Or will she end up like the last one?
My Thoughts
I expected this recommended read to be nothing but a sexy novel of flirtation and sex, but I was surprised that there was a deeper meaning behind it. The motorcycle club is full of veterans who deal with the emotional and physical trauma of battle. Add that to to Eagle losing his lover in war and the fear of letting another person in, and it goes beyond the sexiness of the novel. To be honest, I liked that the sex took a backseat and didn’t overwhelm the story. The ending was nice and you can tell there are more novels in the series as indicated by the title. Good read, good message, and not as cheesy as I first suspected it might be.
