Author: readwithsama

Book Review & Meet The Author – THE WINTERS by Lisa Gabriele

by readwithsama

THE WINTERS

RWS RATING: 4/5 STARS

RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 16TH 2018

thewinters 

SYNOPSIS

A spellbindingly suspenseful new novel set in the moneyed world of the Hamptons, about secrets that refuse to remain buried and consequences that can’t be escaped

After a whirlwind romance, a young woman returns to the opulent, secluded Long Island mansion of her new fiancé Max Winter—a wealthy politician and recent widower—and a life of luxury she’s never known. But all is not as it appears at the Asherley estate. The house is steeped in the memory of Max’s beautiful first wife Rebekah, who haunts the young woman’s imagination and feeds her uncertainties, while his very alive teenage daughter Dani makes her life a living hell. She soon realizes there is no clear place for her in this twisted little family: Max and Dani circle each other like cats, a dynamic that both repels and fascinates her, and he harbors political ambitions with which he will allow no woman—alive or dead—to interfere.

As the soon-to-be second Mrs. Winter grows more in love with Max, and more afraid of Dani, she is drawn deeper into the family’s dark secrets—the kind of secrets that could kill her, too. The Winters is a riveting story about what happens when a family’s ghosts resurface and threaten to upend everything. (Goodreads.com)

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First off, when I received this book from Penguin RandomHouse Canada, I fell in love with the cover!! (Yes, Guardian, I am going to comment on the beautiful cover because book covers are a perfect, artistic representation for both the author and the story, so tough luck). So, don’t be fooled by the beautiful cover of this book… because the story within is mysterious, obscure, and curious.

I opened up the book, read the first chapter, and was hooked. 

It starts off with the description of Mr. Winters, his castle, and his relationship with the protagonist. Then, it dives into the history of their relationship, and finally brings us to the present – the protagonist and Mr. Winters move into the Asherley Estate, and the protagonist meets his daughter – Dani Winters. Some creepy events take place, and the protagonist endures the bullying from her step daughter. This book had major Jane Eyre vibes. For those of you that don’t know, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is my favourite book, and I actually studied the book for a whole semester! After reading Jane Eyre, I read and studied Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.

This book is a feminist and anti-colonial response to Jane Eyre. It describes Mr. Rochester’s marriage from the point of view of his mad wife, Antoinette Cosway. Antoinette is Rhys’ version of Bronte’s devilish madwoman in the attic. Antoinette’s story is told from the time of her youth in Jamaica, to her unhappy marriage to a certain unnamed English gentleman, who renames her Bertha, declares her mad, and then takes her to England. Antoinette is caught in an oppressive patriarchal society in which she neither fully belongs to Europe nor Jamaica. Wide Sargasso Sea explores the power relationships between men and women and develops postcolonial themes, such as racism, displacement and assimilation. (Goodreads.com)

So, the reason why I bring this up is because The Winters is so alike to both of these beloved novels/stories: a strange estate, an independent woman who fell in love, an odd, rich gentleman with a secret past, and an eerie setting.

As I continued to read the story, the events taking place were getting spookier, stranger, and overall interesting. The most interesting part of the book, is that as a reader, we never find out the protagonist’s name. Through dialogue, description, thought process, her name is never spoken. I loved this part about the book because it added so much more mystery to the entire story. 

After reading this book, I was so lucky to have the author, Lisa Gabriele, come on RWS to answer a few questions! Check it out:

 

Who’s your favourite author?

I have to say Daphne du Maurier, and not just because my book, The
Winters, is inspired by her best known novel, Rebecca, but because of
the sheer range of her work. She has written speculative fiction,
historical fiction, suspense, horror, romance, essays and biography. But
there’s a through line and it’s her impeccable language and surprising
plots. She’s a damn great storyteller.

Favourite book or genre to read?

I have a new favourite book all the time. Right now it’s Less, by Andrew
Sean Greer, tied with Daisy Jones and the Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid,
which you’ll be hearing a lot about before its publication in March, 2019.
I tore through both books recently, and they left me breathless and
excited about the possibilities of writing meaningful fiction that has
wide commercial appeal.

When was the moment you realized that you loved literature?

I say this all the time but I am a far more passionate and talented reader
than writer. I love writing, but I fell in love with literature as a reader
first, devouring them once I learned how to read, and I’ve never
stopped.

What made you want to be a writer?

It was such a natural progression, I don’t ever remember not writing.
Since I was eight years old it’s been a compulsion. I have filled
notebooks with short stories and have written in diaries well before I
ever published a thing. What truly makes me a writer is an inherent
need to work something out on paper, usually through made up people.
Or to bring to life the stories that seem to float in the ether around me.
Writing is also a form of entertaining myself, something I have always
enjoyed doing.

What inspired you to write your latest book, The Winters? While
I was reading it, I got MAJOR Jane Eyre vibes!

Funny you should say that. My book is a response to du Maurier’s Rebecca,
which itself was a response to Jane Eyre. My mother was the one who
introduced me to Alfred Hitchcock’s movie version of Rebecca first, and whenever I miss her I reach for it. In the fall of 2016, in the despairing days of the U.S. election, I bought some ice cream and threw in the DVD to drown out the bad news. But this time, instead of comforted, it left me feeling deeply uneasy. I had to remind myself that in Daphne du Maurier’s book Maxim de Winter killed his sexually rebellious first wife, a fact that Hitchcock, due to Production Codes at the time, erased. I suddenly felt this strong desire to avenge Rebecca and punish Maxim. So I guess you could say nostalgia inspired me to reread the book, but anger drove me to write mine.
I found it interesting that we never know the protagonist’s name in the book…what’s the reason? 

This was a trope I borrowed from Rebecca, which also has an unnamed narrator, mostly just to see if I could do it, write a book with a nameless narrator. Needless to say it was much harder than I thought it would be.

Did your writing process change at all when you began writing
more books?

Luckily, I have always been disciplined. I get up in the morning and have
breakfast and then just start writing. I write for four to six hours and
then take a nap. Then I try to exercise before supper. I keep my schedule
light when I’m writing, so I don’t break a mood. The thing that helps me
the most is having a deadline.

Can we expect any more books from you coming up?

Yes, I’m laying the tracks for my next book now, which I think will be in
the same suspenseful vein as The Winters, this one about an older
women, newly sober, who helps out a younger one, who may not be who
she says she is.

Do you have any advice for young writers out there?
Read like crazy, read everything. When you’re not writing, you must be
reading. And if you’re not reading, you must be writing.

 

Thank you Lisa, for coming on RWS to chat!

Gabriele’s novel The Winters, will be available in stores OCTOBER 16th 2018!

You can also visit her website: www.lisagabriele.com

MEET THE AUTHOR – Sonia Faruqi

by readwithsama

THE OYSTER THIEF

RWS RATING: 3.5/5 STARS

RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 2ND 2018

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SYNOPSIS

“It took her a journey across the ocean to learn what she knew of love and fear and hate, but the essence of it came to her in an instant, as she succumbed to the churning black depths of the deep sea.”

Coralline is a shy mermaid in the Atlantic Ocean whose idyllic life is ruined by an oil spill that gravely sickens her little brother. Desperate to save him, she embarks on a quest to find a legendary elixir.

She encounters a human man, Izar, who’s left his life on land behind to find a cure for his dying father. He doesn’t tell her that his family runs Ocean Dominion, an enemy corporation whose ships plunder her waters daily.

Fate pushes the two of them together, even though their worlds are at odds. Accompanied by a colorful troupe of animals, Coralline and Izar travel through coral reefs and seabed cities, trailed by murderous adversaries and warring ships. Their secrets threaten to tear them apart, while a growing attraction adds to the danger. Ultimately, each of them faces an impossible choice. Should Coralline remain with the world she knows, including her fiancé, or should she relinquish everything for a stranger who might betray her? And Izar holds a secret of his own—one that might cause him to lose Coralline forever.

Magnificent and moving, set against a breathtaking ocean landscape, The Oyster Thief is an enthralling fantasy destined to become a classic. (Goodreads.com)

——

This is definitely different than my usual reads – but it was such a beautiful story! Faruqi has such a talent for building up such an incredible world through poignant, and fluid writing. Faruqi was able to eloquently create complex characters in a magical, underwater world. I loved reading Coralline and Izar’s adventures  through coral reefs, and Faruqi had such intricate details involved in this underwater world. This book is dreamy, refreshing, and heartening.

Sonia Farqui first made her writing debut with her book, Project Animal Farm. A novel about that the world’s food system inspired by her visit to a dairy farm. She dropped everything she knew, to travel and find solutions to benefit animals, health and environment. Now, Farqui has turned to imagination in her newest book, The Oyster Thief. 

I had the pleasure of having Sonia on RWS to answer a few questions! Check it out below bookies:

Who’s your favourite author?

People are often surprised when I say Ayn Rand. But I find her writing beautiful and I love how she combines purpose and art in her works, particularly Atlas Shrugged. Her life story is also inspiring—she arrived in the U.S. as a poor immigrant from Russia and became among the greatest literary voices of the last century.

Favourite book or genre to read?

I read across genres spanning nonfiction and fiction. Some books that have particularly resonated with me are The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, and Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.

When was the moment you realized that you loved literature?

I can’t think of one particular moment, but I’ve loved reading ever since I was a girl. I wrote my first stories when I was nine!

What made you want to be a writer?

I love lots of topics and have lots of interests. Writing is one of those interests, and also a way to explore my other interests through this channel of expression.

What inspired you to write your first book, “Project Animal Farm?”

One night, I arrived at the doorstep of a dairy farm looking for a rural volunteer vacation. I had no idea then that the visit would mark the beginning of a journey that would ultimately wind all the way around the world. Concerned by issues of animal welfare and the environment, I decided to search the planet for solutions. My journey took me from egg warehouses in Canada to dairy feedlots in the United States, from farm offices in Mexico to lush green fields in Belize, from villages in Indonesia to bustling cities in Malaysia.

Over the course of living with farmers, hitchhiking with strangers, and risking my life, I developed surprising insights and solutions—both about the food industry and myself.

What gave you the inspiration for your newest novel, “The Oyster Thief?” Why the change in genres?

The Oyster Thief journey began as organically as the Project Animal Farm journey. I wasn’t planning it. The idea of an underwater world fell into my mind on January 1st, 2015. It was a freezing-cold morning in Canada, and I wished I could escape into tropical waters. But it was too expensive to book a last-minute flight, so I decided to escape in my mind. With a cup of tea in hand, I started inventing an underwater world. 

I found that I really enjoyed disappearing underwater for hours at a time through the novel, and I hope readers do as well!

Did your writing process change at all when you began writing this book, compared to any writing you’ve done before?

I had the impression that nonfiction requires research and planning, and fiction doesn’t. Boy was I wrong about that! After spending about two thousand hours on my manuscript, I decided to throw it all out and start from scratch.

Making the underwater world feel “real” required considerable research, I found. The challenge, however, is that researching the ocean is not like researching things on land. Parts of the ocean are less known to scientists than the moon. And of the millions of species thought to live in the ocean, the majority are unknown to us. To get my bearings underwater and depict the deep blue as accurately as possible, I snorkeled, scuba-dived, swam with sharks, and pored over books and countless articles about the ocean.

All the animals and algae you’ll see mentioned in The Oyster Thief are true-to-life. Even the names of all the characters are scientifically grounded, drawn from the sea and the stars. The Oyster Thief is also current in its themes. For instance, the book contains a premise of underwater diamond mining that was fictional when I started the book but has, just last year, become fact.

Can we expect any more books from you coming up?

There may be a sequel to The Oyster Thief.

Do you have any advice for young writers out there?

Don’t be afraid to take big, bold steps, including starting over. 

——

Thank you, Sonia, for coming on RWS to chat with me!

Faruqi’s debut novel The Oyster Thief, will be available in stores OCTOBER 16th 2018!

You can also visit her website: http://www.soniafaruqi.com

MEET THE AUTHOR – Angela Dyson

by readwithsama

THE LOVE DETECTIVE

RWS RATING: 3.5/5 STARS

RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 28TH 2018

 

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SYNOPSIS

“He’d thought himself the hunter, that I was easy prey but what he hadn’t bargained for, was contending with a woman who hadn’t eaten a square meal in twenty-four hours. I get mean when I’m hungry.”

Clarry Pennhaligan, low on ambition but high on energy, can’t seem to come up with a proper grown-up plan to kick-start her life. Planning really isn’t her thing. But then she happens upon her true vocation: Snooping. Discovering other people’s secrets and getting paid for it. What could possibly go wrong? Well……as it turns out, just about everything and soon Clarry finds herself in real danger. (Goodreads.com)

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Although the title leads you to believe that this story is a light, & fun mystery… it is in fact loaded with dark themes, and an almost sinister storyline. The Love Detective by Angela Dyson is a story about a woman who realizes her place, and what she wants out of life, all while involving herself in a world of mystery and snooping. When I got this novel, I was excited to indulge in a chick-lit type of novel after all the thrillers/suspense reads I get into. But – I was in for a surprise! The book takes quite a dark turn, and honestly, I loved that part about it!

I was thrilled to have author Angela Dyson come on RWS to discuss her debut novel, The Love Detective! Check it out below bookies:

Who’s your favourite author?

Oh, this is a tricky question. If I choose only one, it feels almost like being unfaithful to all my other favourites! But Sue Grafton I always enjoy.

Favourite book or genre to read?

There isn’t really a genre that I don’t read…except maybe Science Fiction. What’s so wonderful about novels is that you can choose them to match your mood, but one of my all-time favourites has to be Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne Du Maurier. Written in 1941, it’s about Lady Donna St Columb, a headstrong heroine who escapes from the tedium of life with her dull husband in 17th century London to live in Cornwall where she meets an infamous French pirate. I love it.

When was the moment you realized that you loved literature?
As a child I read The Wind in The Willows by Kenneth Grahame
over and over again. I wanted to live by the river bank with Ratty
and Mole and stay in Badger’s house right in the heart of the
Wild Wood.

I remember distinctly how alive their world seemed to me, how
vividly their different personalities and individual voices shone
out from the pages. And even today, many, many years on, I re-
read it regularly. This novel brings me comfort, peace and has
always made me feel safe. Literature does that and I’m a life-long
devotee.
What made you want to be a writer?

It allows me to dream. To create worlds that provide an outlet for
escapism, not just for myself, but for my readers.
What draws you to the “detective” type genres?
I love the idea of the amateur detective meddling and asking
questions and stirring up trouble. And by creating my own young
female private investigator, Clarry Pennhaligan in The Love
Detective, I could make her so much bolder, braver and more of a
bad-ass than I, in real life, could ever be! She gets to do things
that I long to do… but don’t have the chutzpah.
What gave you the inspiration for your newest novel, “The Love Detective?”
Female friendships are very important to me. Throughout your life, lovers, boyfriends, husbands, may come and go but your girlfriends can be depended upon to offer sympathy, understanding and many glasses of wine. Oh, and tough-love too, when it’s needed. Clarry in The Love Detective is enlisted by her best friend, Laura, to check out whether the new man in Laura’s life is on the up-and-up. What Clarry discovers does not go down well with Laura. It’s that whole don’t shoot the messenger thing. I wanted to explore the strength of friendship. In fact, the very first question in the book club notes that accompany the novel is: What did you think of the row between Clarry and Laura? Have you ever experienced the issue of jealousy (or at least the perception of it) with a friend?

I will be fascinated to hear how my readers answer that question!
Did your writing process change at all when you began writing this
book, compared to any writing you’ve done before?
I have always written in spurts. I’m not someone that compels
themselves to write every day. Honestly, sometimes I’m just not in
the mood! And I’ve learnt that there is nothing more depressing
than sitting down at the computer trying to find inspiration and
coming up empty. But with The Love Detective, there were
definitely far fewer gaps between writing binges. I just wanted to
keep going because I so loved the experience.

Can we expect any more books from you coming up?
I am currently working on the second in the series featuring
Clarry. It’s called The Love Detective: Next Level and it will be out in 2019.
Do you have any advice for young writers out there?

Yes, and it’s to find your own way to becoming a writer. Let it
become organic. Write when you have something to say, when a
story is so vivid to you that you absolutely have to get it down.
And, to prepare yourself for this, write about what you see… in a
casual way. Get used to expressing yourself on paper. This can take some of the fear out of the process and will ultimately release that particular voice that is yours and yours alone.

———–

Thank you Angela Dyson for coming on RWS to chat with me!

Dyson’s debut novel The Love Detective, will be available in stores SEPTEMBER 28th 2018!

You can also visit her website: https://angeladyson.com

 

 

BOOK REVIEW – The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

by readwithsama

THE SEVEN DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE

RWS RATING: 4/5 STARS

RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 18TH 2018

Imagine waking up in someone else’s body? Imagine reliving the same day over & over? Now, imagine you wake up in a beautiful mansion, in someone else’s body to solve a murder? Would you give up, or would you keep going?

In Stuart Turton’s debut novel, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, the concept of self discovery, right or wrong, and ultimate sacrifice are explored within this complex mystery.

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PLOT SUMMARY

A brilliantly original high concept murder mystery from a fantastic new talent: Gosford Park meets Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express

‘Somebody’s going to be murdered at the ball tonight. It won’t appear to be a murder and so the murderer won’t be caught. Rectify that injustice and I’ll show you the way out.’It is meant to be a celebration but it ends in tragedy. As fireworks explode overhead, Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed.

But Evelyn will not die just once. Until Aiden – one of the guests summoned to Blackheath for the party – can solve her murder, the day will repeat itself, over and over again. Every time ending with the fateful pistol shot. The only way to break this cycle is to identify the killer. But each time the day begins again, Aiden wakes in the body of a different guest. And someone is determined to prevent him ever escaping Blackheath…(www.kobo.com)

OPINION

Well, this book is going to stay with me for a long time. I’ve always been a fan of mystery stories – particularly murder mysteries. This book has so much to direct, interpret, and I think it would make a perfect October book club pick! It’s got a mixture of personalities all in one setting over the course of a few days. This is important to me in a murder mystery because it really does catch you off guard in terms of who the murderer is, and also the true nature of each of the characters. When faced with such traumatic events, a person’s true colours begin to show when faced under pressure and scrutiny. The beginning of the book actually includes a cordial invitation to the Hardcastle’s Masquerade which outlines every guest that is set to attend and their relationship to each other. This was SO incredibly helpful because there are so many characters to keep track of! Aiden Bishop bounces between different “body hosts” in the book, and at times it would get confusing at what was going on, and who was involved, but at the same time…I kind of liked that! I loved the amount of personalities that were involved in this book, and how everyone can be seen as guilty or innocent depending on the situation, and the body host. It’s all about perspective, right?

Along with that, the setting of the Blackheath house, owned by the Hardcastle family is so interesting, and so vast that it’s difficult to keep track, but it keeps you on your toes! At the beginning of the novel, a map of Blackheath House is actually included, allowing the reader to reference back throughout the story.

The main protagonist in the story, Aiden Bishop, is so complex, that at times I felt so bad for everything he was going through. One moment he was invited to a party by a well known, respectable family, and the next moment he is waking up in different bodies trying to solve a murder of one of his dear friends. Not only is this a classic murder mystery in some ways, but I loved the gothic element in this story. This novel had plague doctors, footmen, and just so much mystery, suspicion, and superstition! This novel kind of reminded me of a 1930’s murder mystery, with the ghosts of Mary Shelley’s past coming to visit. 

All in all, this book was eerie, curious, and really pushed the boundaries of an ordinary murder mystery. I loved the twists, and I loved how Turton was able to conjure up such a unique story within such a beloved archetype. Turton’s writing is eloquent and crisp, and truly had me wanting to turn the page and never put the book down.

Pick this novel up if you’re looking for a murder mystery with a twist!

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The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton will be available September 18th 2018 at Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, Google Books, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and this does not affect my views , opinions, or thoughts on this book.

BOOK REVIEW – An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

by readwithsama

AN UNWANTED GUEST

RWS RATING: 4/5 STARS

RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 7TH 2018

READ IF YOU LIKE: 

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

 

A quiet hotel in the midst of Winter, contrasting personalities put together, and murderous events happening over the course of a weekend makes up this chilling and suspenseful murder mystery by Shari Lapena. Lapena is known for her novels, The Couple Next Door and A Stranger in the House – a mixture of dialogue with strange, unique characters, and mysteries that keep you guessing until the very end of the book. But, An Unwanted Guest is most definitely her best novel yet.

uwg

PLOT SUMMARY

A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away
It’s winter in the Catskills and Mitchell’s Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing–maybe even romantic–weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery.

So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity–and all contact with the outside world–the guests settle in for the long haul.

Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead–it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic.
Within the snowed-in paradise, something–or someone–is picking off the guests one by one. And there’s nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm. (www.goodreads.com)

OPINION

This book would be the perfect winter read…cozying up by the fire, while it’s storming outside, and trying to figure out a puzzling mystery within this book. I loved the Agatha Christie vibe throughout this entire book. When I say that though, it’s got a more And Then There Were None type of feel. A bunch of strangers are together during a certain amount days, and slowly, one by one, a guest gets murdered.

When I first heard of Shari Lapena, it was November 2016, and I got her first book, The Couple of Next Door as an early Christmas gift. I devoured that book so quickly. And by quickly I mean I literally finished it in about seven hours because I was just dying to know how this baby went missing. The Couple Next Door had a lot of dialogue – more of “he said” then “she said” type of dialogue, which at times, began to get hard to read and a bit repetitive with no proper flow to the story, or the characters.

But this book has shown how much her writing has grown and flourished since her first one. Shying away from the “he said, she said” type of dialogue, Lapena carefully crafted together the dialogue between characters that made the book flow together perfectly! Page by page, chapter by chapter, I was eager to find out who was behind the murders, and by the end, Lapena did deliver and surprise with the big murder reveal.

The one thing I do wish this novel had was a bit more character background. I loved how each chapter had a different character telling their perspective and feelings, and some of those characters were so interesting, that I just wanted to read more about them!

An Unwanted Guest had themes of human survival and instinct, complex characters, and an incredible mystery!

————-

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena is in stores at Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, Google Books, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and this does not affect my views , opinions, or thoughts on this book.

BOOK REVIEW – Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

by readwithsama

RATING: 4/5 STARS

CANADIAN RELEASE DATE: SEPT 4TH 2018

A heartbreaking read of revenge, justice, and the love of community. Backman’s Us Against You, the sequel to his highly acclaimed Beartown, is so well written, that the characters stay with you forever. Fredrik Backman is known for his novels like A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Sends Her Regards And Apologies, and of course, Beartown. Fredrik Backman’s writing in his novels are so unique, that the characters are relatable to the reader, and the events that take place in his books are almost like they are true events.

       beartown2

PLOT SUMMARY

After everything that the citizens of Beartown have gone through, they are struck yet another blow when they hear that their beloved local hockey team will soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in Hed, take in that fact. Amidst the mounting tension between the two rivals, a surprising newcomer is handpicked to be Beartown’s new hockey coach.

Soon a new team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the enmity with Hed grows more and more acute.

As the big match approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt grows deeper. By the time the last game is finally played, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after all they’ve been through, the game they love can ever return to something simple and innocent. (Goodreads.com)

MY REVIEW

Backman is an incredibly talented writer, & that reigns true through each sentence of this book. Every character is carefully thought out, rounded, with ample growth shown throughout the book, not to mention they are mixed in with such an intense plot that leaves you wanting more.

Benji and Amat are probably the two most real, and heartbreaking characters within the book. Benji is an 18 year old boy, who’s best friend committed such a horrific act, left town, and now Benji is left to discover who he is and what he stands for. Benji is quiet, and so misunderstood, that he doesn’t even understand himself at times. But, I think that’s what makes him so endearing as a character, and so relatable. Amat is a 16 year old with such a profound love for hockey, but an even more intense love for his mother, and the search for truth and justice. Amat is a character that completely represents the right in a right or wrong situation, and even when the rest of the world is against him, he rises to the occasion with bravery. Both these characters in this book are so admirable on so many levels, and I think they both gave this book such depth.

It’s hard to review such an amazing book like this without giving anything away.. but all I can really say is that I was literally hooked from the first page, and with the dialogue between these interesting people residing in Beartown, I just couldn’t put it down.

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman is now available everywhere at Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, Google Books, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

MEET THE AUTHOR – Sara Blaedel

by readwithsama

Detective Louise Rick at your service…

A world of missing persons, murders, and dangerous secrets come to play in Sara Blaedel’s novels with Detective Louise Rick at the centre of it all. 

Sara Blaedel is well known for her famous #1 international best selling detective series, featuring the character Louise Rick – originally a rookie homicide detective in Copenhagen, who quickly becomes enthralled with strange cases of all kinds. Blaedel’s novels are what most would categorize as nordic noir – a genre of books set in the Icelandic countries. Before writing her most famous novels, Blaedel wanted the genre of nordic noir to expand in popularity, and thus launching her own publishing company Sara B, to give those novels a chance to be seen and read.

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Blaedel’s success and talent does not go unnoticed – winning Denmark’s most popular novelist for the fourth time. She is also a recipient of the Golden Laurel, Denmark’s most prestigious literary award.

The genre of nordic noir always intrigued me – was it the icy, snowy setting? The intense dialogue between detectives, police, and suspects? The talented writing from Icelandic authors? Or could it be my favourite type of stories set in a world that I have not seen or discovered for myself?

I was so excited and honoured that Blaedel was able to come on RWS and answer a few questions! Check it out below:

Who’s your favourite author?

I am such an impassioned reader and book lover.  I’ve been reading for nearly as long as I can remember and have devoured works of all genres.  I hold so many authors in the highest esteem, and while I couldn’t possibly point to one single writer, I do have many favorites.  To name a few, Michael Connelly, Karin Slaughter, and the Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurdsdottier are brilliant storytellers whose imaginations captivate and rivet.  I’m always waiting excitedly for their new releases.

Favourite book or genre to read?

The answer to that question very much depends on my mood. Some days, a deliciously humorous story is just what I crave; other times, I’ll hungrily dig into non-fiction. Most often, though, I’ll have an engrossing and provocative work of crime fiction in my hands. I have always been a devoted and obsessive fan of suspense.

When was the moment you realized that you loved literature, more specifically, crime fiction?

That moment goes all the way back to my childhood. I fell madly in love with “The Famous Five,” by the incomparable Enid Blyton. Mysteries for children- how ingenious. I found it exciting and positively thrilling to get involved; to work to solve the cases.  I’ve been hooked ever since. It was truly love at first sight.

What inspired you to open your publishing company, “Sara B”?

It was long before we experienced a crime fiction wave in Scandinavia, so the now explosively hot genre was not particualrly popular. But I was already a devotee- I wanted more, more, more availability and fabulous new titles.  So, my idea was to publish the novels in paperback and get them out everywhere. At that time, it was more common to publish all new books expensively, in hardcover. But I wanted to give people compelling and entertaining stories, reasonably.  Before that, only trashy novels were so affordable.

After opening your publishing company, what drew you to write your own novel that was published in 2004?

Actually, I no longer had my publishing house by the time I started write myself – stupid me! That surely would have been a better business model. I ran my press for 5 years, but also worked as a journalist,  It wasn’t until years later that the first story concept came alive in my head. And I think it all ultimately worked out perfectly. It’s been far better for me to have amazing teams to work with than it would have been to write and publish my own books.

What gave you the inspiration for the character, Louise Rick?

Louise emerged and came to life in my head. I did not plan it – or her. When she first spoke to me, I thought she was a journalist like I was, but then I realized that no; she had a different path.  She blossomed into a homicide police detective in Copenhagen. To be perfectly honest, for a long time I was really just telling myself a story; I had no idea that it would end up in a book. It started on a ”what if” note,  but at some point I grew really curious and started to do some research. And then it hit me- I knew that I was working on my first book.

Did your writing process change at all when you began writing your second book?

It didn’t.  I was still working as a journalist when I started writing the second as I’d done all throughout the first, but after the publication, I was able to quit my job and become a full- time writer.  Which meant I didn’t have to ”work” in the evenings and all weekend anymore. I felt (and still do) so incredibly lucky and filled with gratitude that readers discoverd and took a chance on me so quickly.  What an honor!

Would you ever write a novel in a different genre?

No, I don’t think so. But, as they say: never say never. Because so much of the process is born from the stories that appears in my head, I can’t really predict. Early on, I wrote biographies. But crime fiction, suspense, and mysteries- well, those are the genres which inspire and motivate me now.  And quite likely always will.

Can we expect any more books from you coming up?

Ohhhh yes! For now I have nine Louise Rick novels and a trilogy about Ilka Jensen who inherits a funeral home in Racine, Wisconsin. I have just finished the third and last book in that series, and I’m so excited- can’t wait to share them all with my readers. And the next book coming up will be a new Louise Rick novel.  I so look forward to spending some time with her again.

Do you have any advice for young writers out there?

For me, the most important step is getting to know my characters before I start writing in earnest. I create them intensively and with depth.  I create background stories and full personalities, so I really feel that I know them; that they are true beings who exist and breathe air. I must hear and get their distinct voices so that they can talk roots and inhabit me.  I cannot write them if I don’t believe they are alive and kicking.

I love when my characters take over – and then, I can also get annoyed when they take too much over.  The whole process is complicated and wonderful! When I write, it feels like a movie playing out in my head, for my eyes only.  I am the person with her fingers on the keyboard, making decisions that feel organic and authentic (that is what I endeavor to do).  I tell myself the stories first, and then grow and build them to share with my amazing readers.

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Without a doubt, Blaedel is one of the most interesting, and talented suspense thriller authors out there. With her dedicated passion for nordic noir novels, I am sure that genre will continue to flourish in popularity more than it is now!

Thank you Sara Blaedel for coming on RWS to chat with me!

Blaedel’s newest novel The Daughter, will be available in store AUGUST 28th 2018 at Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, Google Books, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

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author-sara_blaebel

https://www.sarablaedel.com

TOP FIVE MUST READS OF SUMMER 2018

by readwithsama

Orange leaves, the smell of cinnamon & pumpkin, crisp cool mornings, warm lattes… sorry, am I getting ahead of myself here, or is anybody else excited for Fall to begin?!

With just a few weeks left of summer, I’ve decided to pick my top five reads that I’ve read during the sunny, hot days! I hope that you enjoy these reads too to end off your summer reading – I am left STILL thinking about them. Here we go…

5. ALL WE EVER WANTED by Emily Giffin

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SUMMARY

Nina Browning is living the good life after marrying into Nashville’s elite. More recently, her husband made a fortune selling his tech business, and their adored son has been accepted to Princeton. Yet sometimes the middle-class small-town girl in Nina wonders if she’s strayed from the person she once was.

Tom Volpe is a single dad working multiple jobs while struggling to raise his headstrong daughter, Lyla. His road has been lonely, long, and hard, but he finally starts to relax after Lyla earns a scholarship to Windsor Academy, Nashville’s most prestigious private school.
Amid so much wealth and privilege, Lyla doesn’t always fit in—and her overprotective father doesn’t help—but in most ways, she’s a typical teenage girl, happy and thriving.

Then, one photograph, snapped in a drunken moment at a party, changes everything. As the image spreads like wildfire, the Windsor community is instantly polarized, buzzing with controversy and assigning blame.
At the heart of the lies and scandal, Tom, Nina, and Lyla are forced together—all questioning their closest relationships, asking themselves who they really are, and searching for the courage to live a life of true meaning.

OPINION

I remember opening this book on a hot July morning by the lake, and I completely devoured this in that ONE DAY. I loved it! Now, this is a fairly typical opinion because I am a huge Giffin fan. Once I read her novels Something Borrowed and Something Blue on my two month Morocco trip a few years ago, I had to go find every book Giffin wrote at my public library and read them all in a month. But this one may have to be my second favourite Giffin, right after Something Blue.

My favourite thing about Giffin’s writing is her ability to jump from character to character in each chapter to offer a fresh, and different perspective. This really gives you a chance as a reader to form an opinion about every character, and where you stand on what’s right or wrong. I couldn’t stop reading about the lives of Nina, Tom, and Lyla. Giffin was able to take a complex situation in modern day, and give a thought provoking intake!

I really do wish we were able to read from Finch & Kirk’s perspective. I think it would have added a refreshing take on a scenario that seems to be too common. Nonetheless, the way the situation/dialogue was written had me so captivated – I just wanted to keep reading it!
This is a great summer read by the beach!

4. THE PERFECT MOTHER by Aimee Molloy

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SUMMARY

Vanity Fair calls it one of the most anticipated books of the summer. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Scandal’s Kerry Washington.

An addictive psychological thriller about a group of women whose lives become unexpectedly connected when one of their newborns goes missing.

They call themselves the May Mothers—a collection of new moms who gave birth in the same month. Twice a week, with strollers in tow, they get together in Prospect Park, seeking refuge from the isolation of new motherhood; sharing the fears, joys, and anxieties of their new child-centered lives.

When the group’s members agree to meet for drinks at a hip local bar, they have in mind a casual evening of fun, a brief break from their daily routine. But on this sultry Fourth of July night during the hottest summer in Brooklyn’s history, something goes terrifyingly wrong: one of the babies is abducted from his crib. Winnie, a single mom, was reluctant to leave six-week-old Midas with a babysitter, but the May Mothers insisted that everything would be fine. Now Midas is missing, the police are asking disturbing questions, and Winnie’s very private life has become fodder for a ravenous media.
Though none of the other members in the group are close to the reserved Winnie, three of them will go to increasingly risky lengths to help her find her son. And as the police bungle the investigation and the media begin to scrutinize the mothers in the days that follow, damaging secrets are exposed, marriages are tested, and friendships are formed and fractured.

OPINION

Ah, my favourite! A domestic thriller twisted with suspense. I loved this novel! It had everything I look for in a domestic thriller: dialogue between unusual, curious characters, a bizarre mystery, & a plot that made a full circle by the end – definitely caught me by surprise.
This was a book that was on my TBR the moment I saw it be announced, and it did not disappoint. This was another novel that I could not put down, and was completely immersed into the lives of the May mothers.

3. THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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SUMMARY

Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds through the decades—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

OPINION

I know that this book is about a year old, so I am WAY behind! It was sitting on my TBR shelf for quite some time, and I don’t know what came over me to start reading. But I was really happy and thankful that I did! Definitely a different read than my usual mystery/suspense thriller, but it was just.so.GOOD. 

I was in awe! This book was wonderfully crafted, heart wrenching, and at times inspiring. I found Evelyn Hugo to be frustrating, yet endearing in some of the choices she made throughout her life. But… it must be so difficult having to live in the spotlight, with everyone in the world knowing every single thing about you. I couldn’t imagine not having any of my own privacy. I found myself at times having to remember that this is a fictional story – that’s how real and raw the dialogue and characters are! Easily one of my favourite books!

2. THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN by Dot Hutchison

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SUMMARY

Near an isolated mansion lies a beautiful garden.

In this garden grow luscious flowers, shady trees…and a collection of precious “butterflies”—young women who have been kidnapped and intricately tattooed to resemble their namesakes. Overseeing it all is the Gardener, a brutal, twisted man obsessed with capturing and preserving his lovely specimens.

When the garden is discovered, a survivor is brought in for questioning. FBI agents Victor Hanoverian and Brandon Eddison are tasked with piecing together one of the most stomach-churning cases of their careers. But the girl, known only as Maya, proves to be a puzzle herself.

As her story twists and turns, slowly shedding light on life in the Butterfly Garden, Maya reveals old grudges, new saviors, and horrific tales of a man who’d go to any length to hold beauty captive. But the more she shares, the more the agents have to wonder what she’s still hiding…

OPINION

So.. back to the mystery/suspense thrillers… this one may just be one of my favourite books I’ve ever read. I’m still sitting here thinking about it, trying to put my thoughts and feelings about this book into coherent sentences.

It was creepy, eerie, chilling, sad and beautiful. Hutchinson’s writing was unique, and while the story was written based on the victim, Maya’s retelling of her time in the Garden, it was wonderfully crafted. This book had me in chills, and at times tears on public transportation! This book messed me up in a good way. Maya retells the story of her time in the Garden, and she even gives the reader an in depth description of the “Gardner” and what he was like. And honestly, at times, the Gardner was humanized in a way where for a split second you actually feel bad for him. But then, you remember that he kidnaps young girls, tattoos butterfly wings on their back against their free will, and continues to do horrific things to them – all while taking care of them medically, nutritionally, and seeing them as his most prized possessions. I’m mad at myself for waiting this long to read this book, but it was so enjoyable with every page and chapter. I’ll definitely be getting the second and third book in this series!

*** This book does contain sexual violence that may be triggering to some readers.

1. I’LL BE GONE IN THE DARK by Michelle McNamara

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SUMMARY

A masterful true crime account of the Golden State Killer—the elusive serial rapist turned murderer who terrorized California for over a decade—from Michelle McNamara, the gifted journalist who died tragically while investigating the case.

“You’ll be silent forever, and I’ll be gone in the dark.”

For more than ten years, a mysterious and violent predator committed fifty sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated ten sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area.

Three decades later, Michelle McNamara, a true crime journalist who created the popular website TrueCrimeDiary.com, was determined to find the violent psychopath she called “the Golden State Killer.” McNamara pored over police reports, interviewed victims, and embedded herself in the online communities that were as obsessed with the case as she was.

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark—the masterpiece McNamara was writing at the time of her sudden death—offers an atmospheric snapshot of a moment in American history and a chilling account of a criminal mastermind and the wreckage he left behind. It is also a portrait of a woman’s obsession and her unflagging pursuit of the truth. Framed by an introduction by Gillian Flynn and an afterword by her husband, Patton Oswalt, the book was completed by McNamara’s lead researcher and a close colleague. Utterly original and compelling, it is destined to become a true crime classic—and may at last unmask the Golden State Killer.

OPINION

It was really difficult choosing this or The Butterfly Garden as my number one.. but it’s been so long since I’ve read a good true crime novel, that this book easily takes the #1 spot.

Riveting, creepy, & a “look over your shoulder” descriptive writing had me captivated in this read. I’m in awe of McNamara’s writing…she is talented no doubt. Her passion for true crime, let alone the strange case of the Golden State Killer bled through her carefully chosen words, and writing. What started out as a true crime blog, has now become a popular, must read book about a real serial killer.

The way she was able to describe the GSK’s crimes and how some of the living victims described what they saw and heard when the GSK entered their homes sends a chill up your spine. “Little eyes, in the dark, watching you…” I can safely say that reading this was most definitely a journey.
At times, I did find myself a bit confused in terms of the quick change in chapters, and the amount of people working on this case. BUT – the fact that this was real, the victims are real, the actions perpetrated by this monster were real, makes the deliverance of this story all the more terrifying. This isn’t just another fictional story about a killer, or a plot surrounding some domestic suspense, this a real story with actual encounters and descriptions from living victims. 

I find McNamara to be so inspiring – and it’s so tragic that she passed away before seeing the horrific GSK actually being caught.. thanks to her amazing work.

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So bookies, there it is! My top five must reads of the summer! It was very difficult to choose, and I spent a lot of time thinking about why I chose each one.

Will you be picking any of these up? Let me know 🙂

Until next time bookies,

Sam

BOOK REVIEW – Girls’ Night Out by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

by readwithsama

RATING: 2/5 STARS

RELEASE DATE: JULY 24TH 2018

With three best friends, a troubling past, and hurtful secrets, Girls Night Out by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke delivers an interesting take on what friendship should, and shouldn’t be.

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PLOT SUMMARY

For estranged friends Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren, it’s time to heal the old wounds between them. Where better to repair those severed ties than on a girls’ getaway to the beautiful paradise of Tulum, Mexico? But even after they’re reunited, no one is being completely honest about the past or the secrets they’re hiding. When Ashley disappears on their girls’ night out, Natalie and Lauren have to try to piece together their hazy memories to figure out what could have happened to her, while also reconciling their feelings of guilt over their last moments together.

Was Ashley with the man she’d met only days before? Did she pack up and leave? Was she kidnapped? Or worse—could Natalie or Lauren have snapped under the weight of her own lies? (goodreads.ca)

The book starts off in an intriguing way, and had me wanting to keep turning the page to see what would happen next. Each chapter was either before Ashley went missing, or after, and showcased the little details that would foreshadow the main plot of the book, and had each character give their own perspective. As the book continued on, you start to learn about why Ashley, Lauren and Natalie slowly began to drift away from each other, and why suddenly Ashley wanted them to come back together as friends.

But – by the time I reached the middle of the book, I began to find myself a little bit irritated at the three main characters. These three women were middle aged, married mothers, and rather than being somewhat mature regarding the problems in their friendship, they just really acted like young girls in high school. Although each of the characters have gone through terrible things, everything they said or done was childish, and unrealistic in a way. There wasn’t a sense of realism in these characters, but rather, it seemed that these characters prefered to drown themselves in drama and self pity. None of these characters had a speck of empathy for their friends, and just continued to fight with each other, and all those around them.

The plot was very interesting, and the premise of the entire book had me excited to finish the story and see how the mystery unravelled. But unfortunately, the characters ruin the book. The three women did not grow as the story progressed, they remained flat through the whole book. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately found it disappointing.

Overall, I’d give this read a 5/10 stars. It had a great plot, and at times, a great dialogue between characters, but, the character development and just overall characters within the book were frustrating and childish.

Girls’ Night Out by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke will be hitting stores on JULY 24th 2018 at Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, Google Books, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble.

BOOK REVIEW – The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

by readwithsama

A man comes up to you and tells you that everything is “going to be okay”. That, “none of what is about to happen is your fault”. Do you run? Or do you fight?

Paul Tremblay is known for his novels like A Head Full of Ghosts, and Disappearance at Devil’s Rock. His novels feature chilling, mysterious stories, with an almost supernatural element to them. But his newest novel, The Cabin at the End of the World is so well written, it may might actually be my favourite of his novels so far.

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PLOT SUMMARY

Seven-year-old Wen and her parents, Eric and Andrew, are vacationing at a remote cabin on a quiet New Hampshire lake. Their closest neighbors are more than two miles in either direction along a rutted dirt road.

One afternoon, as Wen catches grasshoppers in the front yard, a stranger unexpectedly appears in the driveway. Leonard is the largest man Wen has ever seen but he is young, friendly, and he wins her over almost instantly. Leonard and Wen talk and play until Leonard abruptly apologizes and tells Wen, “None of what’s going to happen is your fault”. Three more strangers then arrive at the cabin carrying unidentifiable, menacing objects. As Wen sprints inside to warn her parents, Leonard calls out: “Your dads won’t want to let us in, Wen. But they have to. We need your help to save the world.”(goodreads.ca)

This was a whirlwind of a read in the two days that I read this book! Totally engrossing, thrilling, edge of your seat kind of novel.The descriptions, dialogue, and thought processes from the characters leave you wanting more of this terrifying & strange encounter, but also leaving you too scared to turn the page in fear of what might happen.

I think so many important themes were intertwined within this story and it’s characters, and it really opens up a discussion for faith, survival, hope and trust. It’s got that typical, what are the lengths you’d go to save your loved ones type of feel to it… but then it takes your heart, and stomps all over it. Wen, Eric and Andrew are such raw, relatable characters in the novel, that relating with them makes you feel even more paranoid once Leonard begins conversing with them. It’s hard to review this novel in fear of spoiling something – but by the end of the book, I felt almost exhausted from the paranoia and curiosity of the plot (in a totally good way).

A novel instilled with mystery, chilling dialogue, intense emotion, and paranoia, The Cabin at the End of the World is perfect for those that love a good thrilling story!

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay will be hitting stores on TOMORROW, June 26th, 2018 at Chapters/Indigo, Kobo, Amazon, Google Books, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble.