C.J. Zahner's Blog, page 2
May 3, 2023
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Rating: 10
General Rating: If you’ve ever wondered how a girl could find herself in an abusive relationship, read Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us.
Skip factor: 1%. Only a little at the beginning when I thought it was a romance novel.
Who should read: Women and girls of any age.
Summary: I’ll admit this begins like a love story, but doesn’t most domestic violence?
For the first quarter of this novel, I questioned why people raved about it. If I hadn’t loved Lily, Ryle, and Allysa so much, I might have set it on the nightstand and forgot it. I’m that “not into” romance.
But, I held out and am thankful. There is something so realistic about this book that I am still thinking about it weeks later.
Lily’s father has just passed away and she’s venting alone on a Boston rooftop over her speechless eulogy when she crosses paths with Ryle, the neurosurgeon. Lily is sweet, independent, and hard-working. Ryle is good-looking, intense and hard-working. They part ways but neither can stop thinking of each other.
Serendipitously (and because they live in the same downtown area) Lily becomes best friends with Allysa, Ryle’s sister, and a relationship between Lily and Ryle seems meant to be.
But wait, who is this homeless guy, Atlas Corrigan, from Lily’s past?
My dedication to not spoiling a book with a review makes me end this summary right here, but briefly, Lily is the child of an abusive father and can’t understand how the mother she loves could allow herself to fall in love and remain with an abuser.
She’s about to find out.
I must say this. Hoover gets this so right that I didn’t hate the abuser. There are two men in Lily’s life and, at times, I cheered for them equally. Both seemed like decent human beings. And isn’t that true life? No one wears a big black A on their forehead to let the world know they are abusing someone. They hide it. Regret it. Atone for it.
Read this one girls. You’ll love it.
Writing: The writing is just plain excellent. So good that I debated whether to call it character or plot driven.
Read this author again? Yes, I’ll read anything she writes.
To find more good books click here.
Read on!
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CJ Zahner is the author of The Suicide Gene, a psychological thriller; psychic thrillers Dream Wide Awake, Project Dream, and The Dream Diaries; and Chick Lit novels Friends Who Move Couches and Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. Zahner’s dream series novels were inspired by first-hand experiences. See the video of her 9/11 premonition here. Download her Beyond Reality Radio podcast here. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, or LinkedIn. Purchase her books on Amazon.
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April 26, 2023
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
Rating: 9
General Rating: Crawled out from under my rock this week and read my first Kristin Hannah book. (Don’t judge.) Steinbeck would be proud. Of Hannah, not me.
This novel is of “Grapes of Wrath” caliber. Over 170,000 Wind reviews versus 19,000 Grape reviews, both garnering over 70% 5-star reviews.
Skip factor: 2%. Only because I’m not a fan of settings, especially historical.
Who should read: Any woman who likes The Grapes of Wrath or historical fiction and anyone who feels remotely sorry for themselves. (This will cure that.)
Summary:
This is not an easy read. It’s heart-wrenching at times. The Four Winds follows one woman’s journey through the devastating drought of the Great Plains in the 1930s.
When Elsa Wolcott finds herself pregnant and unmarried at age 25, her parents drop her off at the father of the child’s house. Because the boy is Italian, her family disowns her.
Rafe, the father, is an only child. Though kind-hearted, he is spoiled, a dreamer. He marries Elsa but eventually leaves, and she’s forced to raise their two children with his parents, Tony and Rose Martinelli. Living with Tony and Rose, Elsa learns to farm and, for the first time in her life, feels loved. When the draught becomes too much for one of her children’s damaged lungs, however, Elsa must move away from them.
She heads to California, alone for the first time in her life, a single mother with two children depending on her.
This is the story of the underserved, the hard-working poor who scoured the country searching for jobs, mothers who didn’t know where their children’s next meal would come from. It’s a story of unfairness and devastation. Of faith and perseverance.
Writing: This reads like a classic. The character development is realistic. Elsa’s demureness will astound (and at times infuriate) you. Loreda’s fire will win your heart, and you will fall in love with Ant, Tony, Rose, and Jack.
Hard to read, but fabulous.
Read this author again? Yes! Ordered The Magic Hour. And people are saying hurry and read The Nightingale and The Great Alone.
To find more good books click here.
Read on!
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CJ Zahner is the author of The Suicide Gene, a psychological thriller; psychic thrillers Dream Wide Awake, Project Dream, and The Dream Diaries; and Chick Lit novels Friends Who Move Couches and Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. Zahner’s dream series novels were inspired by first-hand experiences. See the video of her 9/11 premonition here. Download her Beyond Reality Radio podcast here. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, or LinkedIn. Purchase her books on Amazon.
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April 13, 2023
Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
Rating: 9
General Rating: This story flows like a song, like a simple breath of air. It was easy to read yet deep. Powerful, yet appalling.
I struggled between an 8.5 and 9 rating because the story is quieter than most. The characters are, at times, flat. However, I feel the author’s character development was more realistic than lacking as those who bear struggles often appear insensitive. Detachment is often a way to deal with adversity.
Skip factor: 1%.
Who should read: Any woman. (Not girls. While the author wrote this at a young age, the content is too sensitive for the young.) I enjoyed this book’s focus on women. Strong women. The men were incidental.
Summary: Sophie lives in Haiti with her Tante Atie (Aunt) when a plane ticket to the US arrives from her mother. The author mentions Sophie looks different than them, giving her first hint something’s amiss, sparking the reader’s interest. (Though fiction, the author herself is a Hattian immigrant.)
In the United States, Sophie reconnects with her mother who experiences severe nightmares, so the reader knows she’s troubled. Without spoiling the storyline, I’ll reveal only that the mother, along with other Haitian women, experienced sexual trauma–some cultural.
Breath, Eyes, Memory is a story about surviving the past, relationships, forgiveness, and culture.
Writing: This is simple writing at its finest. Lots of nouns, verbs, and short sentences relay a harsh story of resilience to the reader.
As a writer, I loved the flow. Many reviews say it flowed like a poem.
Read this author again? Yes, I would.
To find more good books click here.
Read on!
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CJ Zahner is the author of The Suicide Gene, a psychological thriller; psychic thrillers Dream Wide Awake, Project Dream, and The Dream Diaries; and Chick Lit novels Friends Who Move Couches and Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. Zahner’s dream series novels were inspired by first-hand experiences. See the video of her 9/11 premonition here. Download her Beyond Reality Radio podcast here. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, or LinkedIn. Purchase her books on Amazon.
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April 12, 2023
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
Rating: 9
General Rating: Ever read a book you couldn’t put down and you don’t know why? This is it.
Skip factor: 1%. Here’s another oddity about this novel. I would not classify this as fabulous, but, very unlike me, I hardly skipped any sentences and no paragraphs. So, maybe it was fabulous?
Who should read: Women who like to hate characters. Women who believe women should be on the same team and hate those who aren’t. And protective women who empathize, love, and yet are exasperated by sweet, clueless characters.
Summary: Amber is the cunning new girl in town who decides she wants to be the next Mrs. Parrish. She befriends the sweet, innocent, gullible, current Mrs. Parrish, Daphne. Jackson is Daphne’s loving, rich husband.
Prepare yourself for an I’m-going-to-steal-your-man-right-out-from-under-your-five-carrot-diamond story but don’t get too sure of yourself. Nothing is as it seems. (Is it ever in a book?)
The writing is great and the character development superb. Constantine controlled my emotions from start to finish. She had me loving characters she wanted me to love, hating characters she wanted me to hate, then she twisted and turned the storyline, manipulating my emotions.
At times I was so mad at Amber and so upset by Daphne that I literally stayed up reading.
Writing: Good overall writing. There were times when it was predictable, but overall it kept my undivided interest.
Read this author again? It’s a yes from me.
To find more good books click here.
Read on!
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CJ Zahner is the author of The Suicide Gene, a psychological thriller, Dream Wide Awake, Project Dream, and The Dream Diaries, three thrillers that carry a sixth-sense paranormal element, and chic lit novels Friends Who Move Couches, and Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. These last two novels were inspired by Zahner’s own experiences. See the video of her own paranormal experience, a premonition of 9/11 here. Download her Beyond Reality Radio podcast here. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, or LinkedIn. Purchase her books on Amazon.
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April 1, 2023
Do You Have a Friend Story to Share?
Happy April Fool’s Day! Who’s that friend who makes you laugh the most?
Email your funniest friend experience to cyndie@cyndiezahner.com, and I’ll e-mail you a free e-book copy of one of my chick-lit books—your choice!
I’ve heard from lots of women about friend mishaps since I wrote the first story of Nikki’s unquenchable thirst for and innumerable debacles over friendship. I’ve used some of those moments I’ve heard about in my second novel, Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. I’m always looking for more.
Nikki’s third book, Please Post Bail, Love Mom will be out later in 2023. (Thank you, Robin LaFleur for your novel-worthy job interview story. I wrote an entire book because of it!)
This year, 2023, in honor of Nikki’s foolhardiness, the Friends Who Move Couches’ e-book will be 99¢ and the paperback will be $9.99 April 1 through April 8. And check back at the end of the week for the Friends Who Move Couches Book Club Questions.
Happy April Fool’s Day to all those fool-hearty women who love their friends, unconditionally, inexhaustibly, vulnerably, and limitlessly! There’s no greater gift than a good friend.
Keep laughing, keep reading, keep cherishing those friends!
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CJ Zahner is the author of The Suicide Gene, a psychological thriller; psychic thrillers Dream Wide Awake, Project Dream, and The Dream Diaries; and Chick Lit novels Friends Who Move Couches and Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. Zahner’s dream series novels were inspired by first-hand experiences. See the video of her 9/11 premonition here. Download her Beyond Reality Radio podcast here. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, or LinkedIn. Purchase her books on Amazon.
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March 28, 2023
With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson
Rating: 9
General Rating: Readers have come to expect a fast-paced thriller from Joshilyn Jackson and this doesn’t disappoint.
Skip factor: 0% skipping. (Um. This doesn’t happen often for me. I admit, sheepishly, that I normally skip a sentence or two or twenty.)
Who should read: Puzzle solvers who love thrillers, mysteries, a bit of romance, and one or two unique characters thrown in to coax an occasional smile out of us during all that fretting.
Summary: With My Little Eye is a hard-to-put-down thriller with an age-old actress-stalking protagonist and enough flare to make its storyline interesting. The writing is great overall. Perfect for suspense. Not too wordy. And just the right amount of dialogue.
There are lots of moving parts in this book to keep readers engaged. Actress Meribel Mills and her adopted daughter, Honor, flee Hollywood after a stalker sends “gifts” to Meribel. They move back to Georgia where Meribel once lived with her first husband. After a few weeks, Meribel feels eyes on her and believes her stalker has followed her. When a neighbor she meets in the coffee house, Cooper, befriends her and arrives at her apartment, dinner in hand, he finds a package at her door with several gifts. Meribel immediately knows the stalker has found her.
Enter several characters, ex-husband James, ex-LA boyfriend Cam, neighbor lady and daughter, back-alley homeless girl, and various others. Readers quickly jump on the who-dun-it wagon, pointing a finger from character to character, attempting to identify who her stalker, “Marker Man,” (because he signs his notes with flamboyant-colored, fruity-smelling markers) really is.
Without spoiling the plot, I’ll say the suspense the author created kept me turning pages. I tossed all my other books aside to quickly finish this one.
Jackson’s character development is exceptional. I loved Meribel; adored her daughter Honor (who was autistic, intelligent, clever, and humorous); liked Honor’s friends Sheila and Maxine; and felt the appropriate amount of suspicion for all others mentioned.
Because no book can be completely perfect, I’ll mention there is a not-so-believable coincidence. (Would the lives of Cooper and Marker Man intersect in real life?) Some unimportant deliberating and minor loose ends. (Prior marriage. Internet birthday party with LA friends. Meribel’s mother.)
Overall, a great read. Thoroughly enjoyed.
Would I read this author again? Absolutely. Again and again.
Read on!
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CJ Zahner is the author of The Suicide Gene, a psychological thriller; psychic thrillers Dream Wide Awake, Project Dream, and The Dream Diaries; and Chick Lit novels Friends Who Move Couches and Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. Zahner’s dream series novels were inspired by first-hand experiences. See the video of her 9/11 premonition here. Download her Beyond Reality Radio podcast here. Read her Shepherd link. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, or LinkedIn. Purchase her books on Amazon.
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March 22, 2023
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
Rating: 8.5
General Rating: But for the ending, this would be a nine.
Skip factor: 1%. I skipped next to nothing.
Who should read: Readers who like books that jump (POVs and time), and those who like to analyze a good mystery.
Summary: Without spoiling this entire book, the gist of the story is two troubled women, Claire Cook and Eva James, meet at an airport and switch flights. Claire is the wife of a powerful politician who has controlled and abused her, and Eva was orphaned by a drug-addicted mother but grew up brilliant—except for her taste in men. Eva tangled with the wrong guy in college and got herself kicked out of Berkeley. Afterward, because of her chemistry acumen, another man convinces her to assemble a drug lab then threatens to kill her when she wants out.
Now they attempt to escape their lives. The planes take off and one crashes. Afterward, twists and turns keep the reader wondering if this was serendipitous or if both women boarded their planes.
There are coincidences. My book club friends questioned the believability of little events but overall, every single one of us (over twenty) liked this book. And that doesn’t happen often!
Which narrows down to my complaint. The ending. Don’t not read this because of the ending. It’s a great book—at times can’t-put-down great. And the ending isn’t horrible. I simply felt it didn’t do the book justice.
Writing: Yes, good. Fabulous character development. Kept moving the entire time.
Read this author again? Absolutely.
To find more good books click here.
Read on!
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CJ Zahner is the author of The Suicide Gene, a psychological thriller; psychic thrillers Dream Wide Awake, Project Dream, and The Dream Diaries; and Chick Lit novels Friends Who Move Couches and Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. Zahner’s dream series novels were inspired by first-hand experiences. See the video of her 9/11 premonition here. Download her Beyond Reality Radio podcast here.
Follow her on: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, or LinkedIn. Purchase her books on Amazon.
The post The Last Flight by Julie Clark appeared first on CJ Zahner.
March 20, 2023
Dawn Girl by Leslie Wolfe
Rating: 9
General Rating: A fast, hard-to-put-down, detective crime thriller.
Skip factor: 1%. Only skipped when I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
Who should read: Readers who like thrillers—especially detective-crime junkies—this is for you. I neglected chores and duties to sort out who the fictitious serial killer was.
Summary: Detective Tess is called to the scene of a crime. The body of a girl has been found on the beach in the early morning hours and tagged with the name Dawn Girl. Quickly, Tess suspects this is the result of a serial killer. Suffering PTSD herself, Wolfe’s protagonist keeps readers in suspense as to what happened to her that makes her such a good detective. She’s solved every single case she’s led—except one. Was that her own case? We don’t know.
The fast-paced writing is what kept me reading. Lots of dialogue combined with just the right amount of description. It wasn’t so graphic that it turned me away but intense enough to make me cheer for Tess to find the killer.
This novel tells the age-old, serial-killer story but with enough flare to keep you turning pages. Character development is great. Where normally I’m not a fan of detectives, I found myself liking Tess, along with the side-kick Officer Fradella. Other characters filter in, some I liked immensely, others not so much, yet each was perfectly placed. The author wasted not a minute on the non-essential.
Writing: Good overall and great for those who like to pick a story apart through dialogue.
Read this author again? Absolutely.
To find more good books click here.
Read on!
The Suicide Gene_________________________________________________________
CJ Zahner is the author of The Suicide Gene, Dream Wide Awake, Project Dream, The Dream Diaries, Friends Who Move Couches and Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. Zahner’s Dream Series novels were inspired by true-life experiences. Listen to her interview about her 9/11 a premonition here. Download her Beyond Reality Radio podcast here or her Online Book Circle podcast here. Read more about Zahner in Voyage Raleigh. Purchase her books on Amazon and follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, or LinkedIn.
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February 9, 2023
The Secret Drug
My daughter, Jackie, was born thirty-eight years ago today. She lived 15 hours.
Between 1938 and 1971, millions of pregnant women took a drug that doctors and pharmaceutical companies have long avoided discussing, Diethylstilbesterol (DES). My mother was one of those women.
Prescribed as both a means to alleviate morning sickness and a miracle drug to prevent miscarriage, the drug was banned in the US after research proved it caused multiple cancers in the mothers who took the drug, and later, cancer, infertility, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancies, and stillbirths in the babies who grew into adulthood, now referred to as DES babies or DES daughters.
In 2017, a French study added neurological disorders to DES’s long list of side effects.
Of 740 DES subjects studied, 83.8% had psychological disorders; 15.1% had behavioral disorders; 22.9% had schizophrenia; 34.4% had bipolar disorder/anxiety; and an unfathomable 85% of the 740 participants had attempted suicide.
Do you have a DES story to share? Email me at Cyndie@cyndiezahner.com.
My story begins like this:
Momma would not remember the four words that hinted of upcoming hardship until thirty-eight years after the doctor uttered them: There is no heartbeat.
She buried that moment in time deep inside herself, unable to bear the fear that she’d never have a child.
She didn’t question what made her want a baby so desperately. Whether a woman is born with that ravenous desire, or whether the people, places, and things around her inspire such hunger.
She grew up in a fading industrial town where children dreamed, mothers prayed, fathers worked, and the winds blew viciously past the vacant buildings.
Like most little girls in that faith-driven town, Momma dreamed life was magical. She imagined the road ahead as flanked by long-lashed grasses, snaking in the wind to and fro like a cat’s tail. A mansion atop a steep, verdant hill punctuated that path, and she was sure, after God guided her to that castle, a prince would come rap his knuckles against its massive door.
She remained in that storybook world until she was twenty-seven.
Like others who lived in the middling city that kissed the treacherous Lake Erie shoreline, Momma believed if you went to church on Sunday and prayed hard enough, God granted your wishes, no matter what they were. He protected you, no matter where you roamed.
She grew up believing faith could move mountains.
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CJ Zahner is the author of The Suicide Gene, Dream Wide Awake, Project Dream, The Dream Diaries, Friends Who Move Couches and Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. Zahner’s Dream Series novels were inspired by true-life experiences. Listen to her interview about her 9/11 a premonition here. Download her Beyond Reality Radio podcast here or her Online Book Circle podcast here. Read more about Zahner in Voyage Raleigh. Purchase her books on Amazon and follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, or LinkedIn.
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November 11, 2022
Life and Other Near-Death Experiences
Rating: 9 – 9.5
General Rating: Keeps your attention throughout.
Skip factor: 0% which doesn’t happen too often.
Who should read: Any woman would like this story. But those who enjoy great writing will love.
Summary: The story starts off with a bang. When Libby Miller arrives home to break the news to her husband that she has terminal cancer, he announces he’s gay. W-w-w-what? (I was as shocked as she was.) So she doesn’t reveal she’s dying to Tom, the hubby, but instead tries to grasp that their marriage has been a lie.
Immediately, Libby decides to live the remainder of her life on her terms. She refuses to answer the doctor’s calls about treatment. Years ago, her mother died of cancer, and she’s determined to enjoy the time she has left rather than exhaust it with treatment. She quits her job—doesn’t tell her egotistical boss, Jackie, the truth—and leaves her house in the hands of a friend who is a realtor to sell.
Because she has nothing to lose, she sets off on a month-long vacation to an island and—here comes my favorite part—strikes up a relationship with the pilot who flies her in.
Characters: I am new to Camille Pagan and enjoyed this book, partially because of her great character development. I fell in love with all of the island people, and although I didn’t love Libby at the start, I grew to like her. I also loved Libby’s brother, but my favorite character was, by far, the pilot, Shiloh.
Storyline: The storyline is great. Of course, you can’t stop reading because you want to see if Libby will live or die, but I found myself reading for other reasons, as well. There are enough peaks and valleys in her story to maintain your interest, but what kept me reading, was how Pagan told the story. Simply, her writing is wonderful
Writing: Pagan is a new favorite author. (Don’t you love when that happens!) Her writing is fabulous. 5-star good. Maybe 5+-star good.
Read this author again? Yes, yes, yes. Already have!
Read on!
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CJ Zahner is the author of The Suicide Gene, Dream Wide Awake, Project Dream, The Dream Diaries, Friends Who Move Couches and Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House.Zahner’s Dream Series novels were inspired by true-life experiences. Listen toher interview about her 9/11 a premonition here.Download her Beyond Reality Radio podcast here orher Online Book Circle podcast here. Readmore about Zahner in Voyage Raleigh. Purchaseher books on Amazon and follow her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, BookBub, or LinkedIn.
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