A Mother's Love by Danielle Steel

 

A Mother's Love   by Danielle Steel 271 pages

On the occasion of her daughter Valerie’s wedding and her upcoming fiftieth birthday, bestselling author Halley Holbrook finds herself reflecting. Raising twins Valerie and Olivia is her proudest accomplishment. Halley has been able to give them the loving and safe home she never had, having survived a childhood so traumatic she’s never talked about it with her girls. Long ago, Halley decided to live in the sunlight of the present, not the dark shadows of the past. After Valerie moves to Los Angeles with her producer husband, and Olivia follows to remain close to her sister, Halley is empty-nesting in her Fifth Avenue apartment. Facing her first holiday alone in years, she books a trip to Paris. On the flight over, she meets charming Bart Warner, and the two become fast friends. Halley hasn’t dated since her partner died three years ago, yet she quickly begins to feel more like herself. But when a cunning thief makes off with her handbag and then begins to harass her, it reawakens old ghosts from her past. Vowing not to be a victim, and with Bart’s help, she chooses a bold course of action.

Not my favorite from Danielle Steel but it kept me interested all the way through.  It was a great story and kind of believable.  I love her stories about family.  This one really pulled at my heart strings with a mother and her children facing the world. 

The Sixth Wicked Child

 

The Sixth Wicked Child by J.D. Barker  626 pages

In the riveting conclusion of the 4MK trilogy, Barker takes the thriller to an entirely new level.

Hear No Evil
For Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades.
See No Evil
Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles.
Speak No Evil
Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.
Do No Evil
With unrelenting tension and pulse-pounding suspense, the past unravels at breakneck speed as the truth behind the Four Monkey Killer’s motive is finally revealed in this masterfully crafted finale.

This one is a bit more interesting than The Fifth To Die. You HAVE TO read this to understand why he last book ended the way it did. All in all, it as a satisfying ending with a nice twist.

Trigger warning: sexual abuse of children

NO ONE CAN KNOW by Kate Alice Marshall

 

No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall  325 pages

Emma hasn't told her husband much about her past. He knows her parents are dead and she hasn't spoken to her sisters in years. Then they lose their apartment, her husband gets laid off, and Emma discovers she's pregnant―right as the bank account slips into the red.

That's when Emma confesses that she has one more asset: her parents' house, which she owns jointly with her estranged sisters. They can't sell it, but they can live in it. But returning home means that Emma is forced to reveal her secrets to her husband: that the house is not a run-down farmhouse but a stately mansion, and that her parents died there.

Were murdered.

And that some people say Emma did it.

Emma and her sisters have never spoken about what really happened that night. Now, her return to the house may lure her sisters back, but it will also crack open family and small-town secrets lots of people don’t want revealed. As Emma struggles to reconnect with her old family and hold together her new one, she begins to realize that the things they have left unspoken all these years have put them in danger again.

This was a fast paced read with short chapters that was hard to put down. 

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

 

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen - 405 pages

After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle’s talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. Until now.

For years, behind the closed doors of their farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, their sadistic mother, Shelly, subjected her girls to unimaginable abuse, degradation, torture, and psychic terrors. Through it all, Nikki, Sami, and Tori developed a defiant bond that made them far less vulnerable than Shelly imagined. Even as others were drawn into their mother’s dark and perverse web, the sisters found the strength and courage to escape an escalating nightmare that culminated in multiple murders.

Harrowing and heartrending, If You Tell is a survivor’s story of absolute evil—and the freedom and justice that Nikki, Sami, and Tori risked their lives to fight for. Sisters forever, victims no more, they found a light in the darkness that made them the resilient women they are today—loving, loved, and moving on.

This is a heartbreaking story of torture and abuse of not only three girls but the murder of three individuals at the hands of this horrible, sadistic mother, Shelly Knotek.  She is a master manipulator and pure evil.  What these victims endured is mind boggling.  It is heartwarming that the sisters came together to put a stop to her terrible ways.   

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

 I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy-CD Audio (5 discs, 6 hrs. 50 min.)-304 pages in print

I was looking for a shorter listen for my road trip this past weekend and I happened upon this. It stood out on the shelf, so I checked it out. I'm glad I did. I watched a few episodes of iCarly as a kid/teen, but not many. McCurdy's childhood sounds anything but mundane. Her mother had breast cancer when Jennette was two and she used it as leverage to get what she wanted. Her mom was extremely manipulative and volatile. She would kick her husband, Jennette's and her siblings' dad (although it would be revealed later he was not their biological dad), out often for a variety of questionable reasons. Jennette's mom would shower her well into her teens and sometimes even with one of her brothers together. Her mom would also go into the bathroom with her and wipe her butt until she was a tween. Her mom pushed her to get into acting even though she really didn't want to. Jennette thought her mom was perfect and wanted what was best for her, even though she didn't always like it. Jennette's mom taught her Anorexia when she was 11, which was right before she started on iCarly. Jennette thought she was failing if she didn't eat very little and keep her weight down. She wanted to keep looking like a kid. Her mom died of cancer (it came back) when she was around 26. Somewhere in all that time, she began to struggle with Bulimia and alcoholism to drown out her emotions. Through various relationships and other life events Jennette began to realize she had a problem with Bulimia and sought therapy. Her first experience with therapy ended poorly. Her second attempt went much better. It seems that she has gotten past her struggle with Bulimia, although I'm sure it's like any mental health struggle in that it's hard to truly get past it and it's a daily struggle to stay "sober." Jennette McCurdy's voice (she's the narrator) lends gravitas and richness to the listen and I thought this was a really good listen/read. I can see why the book is titled I'm Glad My Mom Died. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

 

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy - 320 pages

Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.

In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.

Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair. 

I both loved and hated this book.  It was a hard read for me, not because it was poorly written, but because it was tough to read what this woman went through.  Highly recommend!

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

 I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, 304 pages

I'm Glad My Mom Died is autobiographical tour through Jennette McCurdy's formative years, wherein her narcissist mother's dreams of being a Hollywood starlet were imposed on the daughter. With an unflinching, offbeat voice, expertly weaving humor and heartbreak, McCurdy details her life as a child star, the abuse she suffered at the hands of her codependent mother, and the eating disorders she developed.  

I don't read a lot of nonfiction or biographies, but I couldn't put this book down. I never watched iCarly so I was only tangentially aware of Jennette McCurdy. It is a testament to the openness of the narrative that non-fans can just pick up the book and connect with it. 

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

 Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens-368 pages

I've had this on my to-read list for a while, but was finally motivated to read it with the impending release of the movie. I was not disappointed. I liked this book and would recommend it to anyone. Kya's somewhat unlikely story of raising herself in the North Carolina marsh is captivating and heartbreaking. Her family leaves her alone in the marsh at a young age and the nearby town ostracizes and isolates her. I really liked the ending. It caps the story off in a good, fitting way.

Dig by A.S. King

Dig by A.S. King - 394 pages

Four teenagers -- The Shoveler, WhatCanIGetYou?, Loretta the flea circus ringmistress, and privileged Malcolm -- are guided by The Freak to better their lives and discover their connection.

This book won the Printz Award this year so I decided to try to read it.  It is told from multiple points of view including the five connected teenagers, a racist teen, and a couple who have lost connection with their family.  While the premise was interesting I was very distracted by the very heavy-handed way it conveyed its message.  There was literally a point in the book where a character starts yelling at the reader to wake up and stop being racist.  I also think the book did what too many "realistic" fiction books do -- stuff too many issues into a story including racism, abuse, death and more.

Undercurrents by Nora Roberts

Undercurrents by Nora Roberts - 436 pages

Zane grew up in an abusive home.  No one suspected that the prominent family was so dysfunctional until it imploded.  Now he's returning to his home town of Lakeview.

Darby escaped an abusive marriage.  Then she up and moved after her mother was killed in a hit and run accident.  Now she's moved to Lakeview to start over.

Zane and Darby find they have an immediate attraction.  However, that attraction and their pasts will put them both into dange.

This is Nora Roberts latest romantic suspense novel.  I liked the characters and enjoyed the story.

These Gentle Wounds by Helene Dunbar

These Gentle Wounds by Helene Dunbar - 308 pages

Gordie is living with his half-brother Kevin.  Kevin is the only one able to keep Gordie safe and focused on getting his life on track after the horrible day their mother tried to kill Gordie by driving into a lake.  But just when things seem to start to be getting better, Gordie's father comes back into the picture.  Now Gordie is falling into a tailspin . . . .

While this was not a happy book to read, I did enjoy it.  It was well written.  I think it does a good job of showing the aftereffects of abuse and how it stays with a person forever. 

Under Currents by Nora Roberts

Under Currents by Nora Roberts - 436 pages

Zane Bigelow seemingly has the perfect family -- surgeon father, stay at home mother, and loving sister.  But beneath the surface there are the undercurrents of abuse.  Then one terrible night everything blows up.  Now, years later, he is returning to town and meets Darby who has knowledge of undercurrents herself.  Will they be able to face the past together to survive them.

This is the latest by Nora Roberts.  I enjoyed it.  It stretched the imagination a little that one couple would endure so much violence in their lives.  Still, I really enjoyed the book.

A Red Heart of Memories by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

A Red Heart of Memories by Nina Kirki Hoffman - 329 pages

Even though Matt can talk to inanimate object, she is surprised when a cemetery wall starts to move and a man walks out of it.  That is how she meets Edmund, who is a witch following Spirit to help others.  Now Matt must help Edmund reconcile the parts of himself to discover what happened to cause Edmund to forget an event that changed his life.

This was an interesting book. I picked it up because it had a color in the title for this month's reading challenge.  However, it had one of the more unusual set-ups for a story that I've read.  I'm looking forward to continuing to read Matt and Edmund's story in the sequel.

The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis

The Dangerous Art of Blending In by Angelo Surmelis - 325 pages

Evan is fighting to survive.  He just wants to get through the days before he can escape his family, his town, and his life.  But it's getting more difficult to keep everything apart.  His mother is getting increasingly bitter and violent towards him.  His friends are putting pressure on him to be more open.  And worst of all, his feelings for his best friend Henry are getting harder to ignore.

This is not a happy book.  The abuse from his mother permeates the entire book.  Even with the somewhat "happy ending" with him getting together with Henry is tempered with what he lost.  The afterword was very interesting as the author reveals that he wrote the book to help himself deal with the abuse experience growing up.  It also gives several hotlines and web addresses for those facing abuse.

The Nerdy and the Dirty by B.T. Gottfred

The Nerdy and the Dirty by B.T. Gottfred - 292 pages

Benedict is socially awkward but looking for a girlfriend.  Penelope is popular but obsessed with sex.  They have nothing in common when their families drag them off to Wild Wolf Resort for the holidays.  But when they spend time together they find that the other is exactly what they've been looking for.

This was an interesting book.  The character of Benedict is almost definitely on the spectrum yet it is never explicitly stated.  It's definitely a romance but not one I would recommend to everyone.  This is definitely a book for older teens.  It is very graphic, yet clinical, it's descriptions of sexual encounters between Benedict and Penelope.

Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts

Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts - 388 pages

Nell Channing is done with running when she reaches Three Sisters Island.  She finds a job at the local bookstore as the manager of the cafe and a friend in the store's owner.  She starts to set down roots for the first time in long time.  Then she meets the sheriff Zack Todd and starts to fall in love.  Will her secrets tear them apart?

This is the first in book in Nora Roberts supernatural romance series about three witches who must work together to save their island.  It's also one of her earlier trilogies that I hadn't read yet.  I look forward to finishing the series.

Smoke by Ellen Hopkins

Smoke by Ellen Hopkins, 543 pages

Smoke is the sequel to the teen book Burned.  It continues right where it left off.  Pattyn is a teen on the run after taking the blame for killing her father. She and her mother and sisters had been abused for years by the man they called Dad.  She killed him to save her sisters from the years of abuse she suffered.  What she takes is the blame for killing her Dad when really it was her sister Jackie who killed him. While on the run, Pattyn finds a friend, a new job and a new love by the name of Angel.  But after losing her true love, Ethan and their unborn baby, Pattyn fears she will never be able to love again.

Echoes in Death by J.D. Robb

Echoes in Death by J.D. Robb - 371 pages

Eve and Roarke are returning from a late night party when they literally run into an assault victim.  Daphne Straza was brutally assaulted while her husband was killed.  Now Eve must work quickly to find the man responsible for a string of monstrous assaults before he murders again.

I listened to this newest J.D. Robb book on audio.  I always enjoy listening to this series.  The narrator does a great job of distinguishing between the characters.  The story was well done this time leaving just enough clues for the reader (or listener) to figure out before the reveals.

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch - Alison Arngrim

Confessions of a Prairie Bitch - Alison Arngrim - 320  pages

Okay, so I watched a lot of Little House when I was growing up, and even now if I see a re-run, it is ON (does anyone else do that?  Re-watch all those shows you watched as a kid to see exactly how they warped you?).  And, confession time: Nellie Olsen was bar none my favorite character in Walnut Grove.  Especially when she was doing mean things to that goodie two shoes Laura.  Get her, Nellie!

I picked this up thinking there'd be some juicy behind the scenes insider stuff about Little House, and there was some, but mostly the take away here is what Arngrim's done with her Nellie success.  From the attitude to the exposure, she's used her time in ringlets as a vehicle to propel her into activism for both abused children and AIDS awareness.  Her narrative is sassy, thoughtful, compassionate, and at times brutally honest about her childhood experiences of abuse and neglect that inspired her to speak up and speak out.

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick - 273 pages

It is Leonard Peacock's 18th birthday.  Instead of getting presents from others, he plans to give presents to his four "best" friends and then one a gift to himself.  He's going to take his grandfather's World War II Nazi gun and shoot his former best friend Asher Beal and then himself.  How his gifts are received will determine what happens to both himself and Asher Beal.
This book has been on my list to read for a couple of years.  The uncertainty of what would happen was intriguing to read.  *** SPOILERS*** However, once I realized that the author also wrote Silver Linings Playbook I realized that the book would most likely have a redeeming ending.  Once figuring out the ending, a lot of the "need" to read the book disappeared.  I did think the addition of letters from his future family were an interesting touch for most of the book.  Although, that too fell a little flat at the end of the story.