The Girl at the Party: a thriller mystery of a young girl's death and someone wants to keep it unsolved

The Girl at the Party by Danielle Stewart is a thriller mystery of one girl’s death. Stephanie left the end of the year party and walked home alone. Some say she was crying while others heard an argument between Stephanie and someone else. However, no one would see her alive again. Four years later, Stephanie’s friends are still haunted by the events of that night. She was the perfect one, who stayed out of trouble and looked out for her friends. Where were her friends looking out for her? Laura is truly stuck as she cannot move past Stephanie’s death especially since her case went cold. All she wanted was to forget that horrible night. Until one day when another friend, Chris Mills comes to her with a proposal: help him investigate Stephanie’s death and discover the truth. Together, they start their investigation and it becomes clear that someone does not want them to discover the truth. Warnings and break ins meant to scare them off. Is Stephanie’s killer closer than they think? 

The Girl at the Party starts off interesting as readers see the final moments of Stephanie’s life However, as Laura and Chris start their investigation, the story slows and gets bogged down. The book is described as a slow burn mystery; unfortunately, it is so slow that almost nothing happens until the mad run to the ending. I didn’t care for the long winded paragraphs about the patriarchy, women being forced to be caretakers and ableism. While those topics are interesting and important to discuss, there is a better way to blend them into the story without being a lecture. The mystery of Stephanie’s death certainly became secondary and the personal lives of the other characters were the main focus. Even with Chris and Laura’s statements that Stephanie had been forgotten and they seem to forget why they are investigating in the first place. And the reveal about the details of Stephanie’s death was so disappointing. I did not enjoy this story. I do not recommend The Girl at the Party. 

The Girl at the Party is available in available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Goodbye Storm: the topsy turvy road of grief

The Goodbye Storm by Danielle Stewart is the first book in the Rough Waters series. A story of grief, guilt and finding the strength to move forward. On an icy road and a dark night, two cars collided and lives were changed forever. Grief is a beast that is not easily chased off as Autumn Chase knows all too well. Since losing her beloved husband, Charlie, in a car accident, she has been hiding from the world. Noah Key lost his wife in that same accident. As an emergency room doctor, he has been on the opposite side of devastating news, however, nothing prepares him to hear that news himself. Noah devotes himself to working just enough hours to forget that his wife is gone, hoping that work and exhaustion will keep him from remembering. As life goes on around them, can Autumn and Noah learn to survive the storm? Or will they be destroyed by it? 

Danielle Stewart knows how to write emotionally charged stories and The Goodbye Storm is no exception. The Goodbye Storm gives a peek into the raging storm that is grief for those who haven’t yet experienced it and gives comfort to those who have. Grief is a highly personal experience as demonstrated by Autumn’s and Noah’s reactions to the deaths of their spouses and both struggles with this new normal. While Noah shuts everyone out, Autumn risks hurt again by opening up to new people and discovers a necessary support system she didn’t know she needed. I enjoyed all the characters, especially Jamie and Travis. My heart broke for Autumn as she experiences the topsy turvy road that is grief as well as for Noah, as he spirals out of control. It is an emotional story with an emotional ending. Definitely a tear jerker and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly recommend The Goodbye Storm. 

The Goodbye Storm is available in paperback and eBook

The Pier at Jasmine Lake: the next step in an adoptee's journey

The Pier at Jasmine Lake by Danielle Stewart is the second book in the Missing Pieces series. Mark Ruiz’s life has been a structured routine and after exhausting days and forty one years of hard work, he was looking forward to retirement. The only problem is retirement is better in theory than in actual practice. In three months, he realizes that retirement is as stale as old bread. His cabin on Jasmine Lake was supposed to be a place of relaxation but he can’t seem to find peace. Filled with boredom and resigned to the ins and outs of retirement, he receives a letter that will change his life forever. A glimpse into a life he could have had but dangerously complicated. As Gwen searches for her father, she faces another dilemma. Is she willing to be a part of his struggles as well? Is not knowing better than the burdens truth can bring? 

The Pier at Jasmine Lake is a continuation of Gwen Fox’s adoption story and details the complexity of one’s journey to discovery of where they come from and the lives impacted when the story is revealed. Told between the perspectives of Gwen and Mark, we see both sides of Gwen’s journey to find her birth father and how Mark handles learning he had a daughter he didn’t know about. I enjoyed seeing that Gwen still struggled with her decision to find her birth parents, despite reassurances from her parents that her journey doesn’t change their feelings or her place in their family. Her continued struggle shows the reality of an adoptee’s search. That once the truth is discovered, it doesn't mean life is sunshine and roses. There is still questions that Gwen struggles with and as she gets closer to who her father is, will she like what she finds? I recommend The Pier at Jasmine Lake. 

The Pier at Jasmine Lake is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

The Bend in Redwood Road: a search for answers and confronting the pain of the past

The Bend in Redwood Road by Danielle Stewart is the first book in the Missing Pieces series. Gwen Fox was adopted by two loving people and had the idyllic childhood that most people only dream of and yet there’s a deep ache and soul longing she tried to ignore. Some days were manageable but the wondering of what became of the baby she left behind hangs on the edges of her mind. Smiling through her pain and suffered in silence, Leslie Laudon marched forward, living the life so skillfully designed by her husband, Paul. She was the life as a dutiful wife and mother, she did everything for her husband and her children. But as her youngest daughter gets ready to head off to college and Leslie faces an empty nest, thoughts of her other child become more and more prominent. Riddled with doubt and waves of unanswered questions, Gwen and Leslie start a complex journey for answers, redemption and an identity. Gwen seeks the truth about the day she was born and Leslie seeks an identity, the woman she was before she was a wife and mother. As they begin down the road of no return, can they navigate the blame, the guilt? Are they prepared for the answers to their questions? 

The Bend in Redwood Road is a story about family: the one of genetics and the one of memories and love. Gwen is a great character caught between two worlds: the family she has grown up with and loved and the family she doesn’t know. She feels guilty seeking answers about her birth family. She feels she’s betraying the parents who lovingly raised her and possibly regretting the answers she finds when she seeks answers through her genetics. Leslie is a woman who made an impossible choice, one she questioned every day since she left her baby behind at the hospital. These two women are surrounded by great supporting characters and one not-so-great husband. My only complaint is that it seemed to drag out the climax and then rush to a resolution. The resolution is emotional and the answers to Gwen’s questions are gasp worthy revelations. I teared up at the end as these women realize they need to confront the past in order to move forward. There were moments of humor and heartfelt words of wisdom. A couple quotes I liked that I highlighted to write down when I finished. I highly recommend The Bend in Redwood Road. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. 

The Bend in Redwood Road is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

Flowers in the Snow: a sweet story but left much to be desired

Flowers in the Snow by Danielle Stewart is the first book in The Edenville series which opens with Betty with her family as she receives the last letter from a dead, old friend. As she struggles with opening the letter, she tells her family how she met her friend. Rewind to 1961 in Edenville, North Carolina at the height of the KKK and the continued struggle to integrate the schools. Betty, then 11, meets Alma, 10, as she is running away from a group of boys who mean to harm her. Betty defends her and takes her home where she meets Alma’s family. Despite the social climate and warnings to stay away, Betty is drawn to the warmth and love of Alma and her family. As the tensions rise, Betty and Alma must find a way to stay friends. Will there ever be peace in their tiny town, or will it be destroyed by hate?

Flowers in the Snow is a sweet, dramatic story about a friendship that society didn’t want. The events of the story were a little farfetched and, in some cases, over too quickly. For instance, one male character in the beginning is as mean as they come and in a few short chapters, has made a complete 180. It was a good read, but I think it was over far too much and the author probably is hoping readers will continue the series to learn more. I’ve read other books which did a better job in telling a story of unlikely friendship in an uncertain time. I feel, as a first book in a series, Flowers in the Snow, should have gone a little more in depth and set up the rest of the series better. I doubt I will continue the series. Overall, I liked the series, there just isn’t anything pulling me to read further.

Flowers in the Snow

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook