Review: The Proposal

The Proposal by S.E. Lynes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have just finished reading The Proposal by S. E. Lyons. This is the second book that I have read by this author and they just keep getting better.
The Proposal was basically the story of a teacher and writer, Pippa who has written a book that is just so-so and is looking desperately for inspiration for her next novel. When a vagrant comes to her door selling cleaning products she asks him in to tell her his story of how he ended up where he is.
This is the one book of the year for me that can truly be described as the best page turner of my reading year. I have two more of Ms. Lynes novels lined up and away I go to start reading the next in line.
A super read.

Review: Lethal White

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was the fourth in the Cormoran Strike series and I did really like the first 60% of the story. After that I found that it became very convoluted and I felt the writing was done with a lot of fillers. Not really my cup of tea now.

Review: The Other Woman

The Other Woman by Sandie Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well this book was certainly a surprise. Emily falls in love with Adam and they plan a lovely wedding. What Emily didn't anticipate was that her new mother in law would be so evil. She did everything to break them up and made them postpone their wedding.

All along I could not anticipate what would happen next and it was a surprise at every turn.

An excellent read.

Review: A Ladder to the Sky

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of Maurice Swift. Maurice has ambition and wants to become a writer in a big way. That is his only focus. He has one tiny problem; he doesn't have talent. Well, he can put stories together and do rewrites, he has that ability. But a real writer would be able to think up his own plots.

Maurice is very attractive and when working in a hotel in Berlin he manages to become friendly with a famous novelist, Erich Ackerman. Our Maurice is able to get Erich talking about his past and to confide things that he did during the war. Maurice grabs on to this realizing that he has found his perfect first novel.

We visit Maurice in his different stages of life and a leopard never changes his spots.

Review: I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Terrific book by Michelle McNamara who tried to identify the ERA (East Area Rapist) for over forty years. She followed every lead possible and never gave up until she lost her own life . Some people say that the book had an unfinished feel to it. Yes, it would because Michelle died before she finished it. Also, they still have not been able to find the killer.

The remainder of the book had to be completed from reading Michelle's notes, of which there were many.

It was an excellent read. 

Review: Sometimes I Lie

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those times when I wish I had a book club and people to discuss the book with.

Two girls, one from parents who drank too much and she was not welled cared for. The other was from a family who cared for her and cherished her. Both girls are shunned at school for not fitting in. When the underprivileged girl attends a new school and meets cherished girl, she becomes her friend and saviour.

The story goes back and forth from current and to notes in one of the girls' diary. It was almost like the girls were interchangeable and even at the very end of the book you had to think hard as to who was who. There were some twists that you would not have anticipated at all.

An excellent read.

Review: The House We Grew Up In

The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Basically this was a story about a hoarder, probably the worst hoarder in England. It was a family story also and of how each member fitted into the outcome. There are four children growing up in the story until one loses his life.

The story went back and forth in timeframes, each time a question arose we would revert to the time that was relevant.

I am not a fan of spoilers in reviews. Just so that you know that this is not a thriller or mystery. Its a very human family story. An excellent read.

Review: Commonwealth

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had such high expectations for this book but it was disappointing for me. I think it fell apart when this blended family of six quite young children, were left to their own devices while the parents slept in, at a motel. They went to the cafe for breakfast and it was still so early. They decided to take themselves to the lake. First though, they broke into the parents car and took a bottle of gin and a handgun.

It was well written and imaginative and I wouldn't discount it completely. Just to say that it wasn't quite my cup of tea.