There's No Coming Back From This: one woman's journey to reinvent herself

There’s No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin is one woman’s journey to recover from a disaster and find a new greater life. As she drops her daughter off at the airport for a summer in New York City, Poppy Lively is internally crumbling. After her accountant fled with her money, leaving Poppy with a massive debt to the IRS and virtually bankrupted, Poppy is on the verge of losing everything she worked so hard for. With perhaps a work of kismet, Poppy runs into an old flame, now a big time producer, who offers her a job. A job in the costumes department on a Hollywood film set. She doesn’t know anything about costumes but willing to learn anything and with nothing to lose, she accepts. Added bonus, she is unaware of the ins and outs of Hollywood intrigue and the star status of the actors. As an outsider, Poppy stumbles across corruption with a surprising person at the center of it all. Now she is faced with a choice. Does she keep her head down and not say anything as she usually does? Or does she find the inner strength to show others not to underestimate her? 

There’s No Coming Back From This was an Amazon First Read pick and I have not read anything by Ms. Garvin before. I was intrigued by a “witty and emotional” book. I was quickly annoyed at how whiny Poppy was. Right off the bat, I did not like her. At one point, she recalls a call to the bank and she explodes at the teller because she assumed Poppy was married: “There’s no husband! What year is this?” I understand she was under immense stress, owing money to the IRS will do that, but geez louise! The main thing that really irritated me about this story is the violation of the Writing Golden Rule: “show, don’t tell.” Poppy, throughout the story, tells the reader how much of an outsider she is, how much her boss doesn’t like her and how she has grown as a person. Readers should be shown how much she is an outsider, show how much her boss doesn’t like her, etc, etc. Is she ignored? Pranked? Overall, I did not enjoy There’s No Coming Back From This. I may not be Ms. Garvin’s target audience but if you are a fan of Ms Garvin, you may enjoy this book. 

There’s No Coming Back From This is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Tents, Trails and Turmoil: murder, tourism and a secret in the forest

Tents, Trails and Turmoil is the eleventh book in the Campers and Criminals series by Tonya Kappes. Tourism is important to Normal and the Daniel Boone National Park and it is important to Mae West. Nothing stops tourists like a dead body. When Yaley Woodard, a local tour guide, is found dead at the Happy Trails Campground, Mae is determined to find the killer before it ruins the upcoming tourist season. With a few suspects on the list, there is  much to keep them busy. As Mae and the Laundry Club ladies investigate, they learn that Yaley’s death caused much more turmoil than they could have imagined. Such turmoil that maybe her death is linked to someone trying to close down the tourism for good? 

Tents, Trails, and Turmoil was a fast and enjoyable read. With each book, this series keeps getting better and better. I love the continued growth and development of Hank and Mae’s relationship. Added to the stress of saving the tourism and her campground business, Mae is worried about Dottie, her office manager and close friend. Even though Dottie was grating at the beginning of the series, she has grown on me and I worried along with Mae, hoping nothing seriously wrong with Normal’s favorite chain-smoker. Overall, I am loving this series. It has become my go-to cozy mystery series and I am now eagerly awaiting the next book on my To Be Read List! I recommend Tents, Trails and Turmoil and the previous books in this series!

Tents, Trails and Turmoil is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Dark Corners: a monster hiding in plain sight?

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin is the second Rachel Krall book. This story picks up after the events of Night Swim (2020). Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering. He has been a suspect in the abduction and murders of at least six women. In the six years he’s been in prison, he has only gotten one visitor. Maddison Logan is a young social media influencer who goes missing hours after visiting Bailey. Is her disappearance connected to Bailey? The FBI investigation hits a wall, Special Agent Joe Martinez seeks out Rachel’s help. Hoping for a break, Rachel reluctantly agrees. Going undercover as an influencer, Rachel attends BuzzCon where she discovers rivalries that might have turned deadly. When a link between a victim and Bailey raises a chilling possibility: did he have an accomplice? An accomplice who is hiding in plain sight? 

I thoroughly enjoyed Ms Goldin’s Night Swim and Stay Awake, I looked forward to reading Dark Corners. I like Rachel as she doesn’t scare easily and has a strong sense for justice, she is able to get information that some cops couldn’t get. Overall, I enjoyed Dark Corners and I look forward to more of Rachel’s adventures. However, it was a bit overwhelming with the sheer number of chapters and the switching between Rachel, Joe, the past and the killer. I was able to figure out some of the twists and the final “battle” with the killer was very fast. Despite all this, Dark Corners was fast paced and I was able to finish it in a few days. Readers do not need to read Night Swim to follow the story of Dark Corners, however, it is a story I highly recommend. If you enjoy crime suspense, I recommend Dark Corners. 

Dark Corners is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

North of Nowhere: two teens running for their lives in a snowstorm, who do they trust?

North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan is a cat-and-mouse suspense. Kristin and Ryan McIntyre have been in hiding for the last five years and the day they were dreading has arrived. Their murderous father, Boyd McIntyre, the head of a Los Angeles crime family, has found them! Along with a man who has kept them safe, they attempt to escape in a small plane, when gunfire hits the fuel line and they crash in the middle of the Montana wilderness with a storm moving in. Kristin and Ryan have been taught survival skills and they make their way to their safe house. Ruby McIntyre, Boyd’s sister and the children’s aunt, walked away from the family business to join the army. She vowed never to return; however when the call comes that her niece and nephew need her help, she doesn't hesitate to help them. Ruby soon discovers she and Boyd aren’t the only ones looking for Kristin and Ryan and whoever finds them first will determine if they live or die. 

I hadn’t heard of Allison Brennan or her books before; however, the synopsis intrigued me. From the opening paragraph, readers are promised an edge-of-your-seat suspense. And it delivered for the first two thirds of the story. The story started to falter a bit during the last third and there seemed a rush to finish as the action piled on for a spectacular finish. The ending was satisfying and overall, I enjoyed North of Nowhere. I cheered for Kristin as she fought to protect herself and her brother and was unsure who to trust. I enjoyed Ruby’s character as a hardened veteran who fears her family. Boyd was an interesting villain but the true villain is revealed near the end and he was terrifying. I may have gasped as he was revealed. As this book was my first by Ms Brennan, I am curious about her other books and will be checking out her backlist. If you enjoy suspense with a survival aspect, you will enjoy North of Nowhere. 

North of Nowhere will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on August 8, 2023

The Easy Life in Kamusari: where modern meets traditional life

The Easy Life in Kamusari by Shion Miura and translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter is the first book in the Forest Series. It is a story where modern and traditional life meets in the gorgeous splendor of Japanese mountain life. Yuki Hirano has graduated high school and his parents enroll him in a forestry training program in the remote mountain village of Kamusari. Against his will and with no phone, no interest, he is thrusted into the small, inviting community where the motto is “take it easy.” At first, Yuki fumbles with the tools, asks silly questions and feels every bit the outsider. However, the pull of the scent of the cedars and breathtaking beauty begins to have a lasting effect on him. As he learns the trade, he embraces the traditions of the village and learns a new respect for the forests with its secrets and harmony. 

The Easy Life of Kamuari is a warm coming of age story told in Miura’s lyrical style which sets a mood and will entrance readers as they take this journey into a Japanese mountain community. It is a beautiful and yet simple story of one young man’s life in a mountain village where he learns to work hard when he can and rest when it’s needed. One of my favorite quotes is “Running around won’t make the trees grow faster. Get plenty of rest, eat hearty, and tomorrow take what comes.” It is a beautiful way to say let tomorrow worry about tomorrow. While readers will see the story through Yuki’s eyes, the mountain itself is a character filled with vibrant life and mysterious secrets. It is an easy read as the story flows like a river, calm and relaxing. I highly recommend The Easy Life in Kamusari. 

The Easy Life in Kamusari is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Sunsets, Sabbatical, and Scandal: a dating app, a hacker stealing money and murder

Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal by Tonya Kappes is the tenth book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. Some of the local single gals are on a dating app and someone has hacked into several bank accounts and drained the funds. But the smalltown of Normal, Kentucky is shocked and shaken when one of their own is found dead on the floor of the diner. Mae and the Laundry Club ladies aren’t about to sit idly by as a murderer is on the loose. When a connection to Mae’s hometown pops up in the investigation, she must face a past she has tried to keep away. Who has murdered their beloved friend and citizen? And who is their hacker? Are they one and the same? 

Tonya Kappes has really found a rhythm with this cozy mystery series. When I first started the series, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy continuing. But I kept going and now I’m hooked. Learning more about Mae’s past was heartbreaking. The discovery of the victim was shocking; however the capture of the killer was oh so satisfying. I enjoyed seeing more of Hank and Mae’s relationship become closer and closer. I am thoroughly enjoying this series and I look forward to the many books in the future. These books are a great way to spend a lazy afternoon reading and so engaging that you will have a hard time putting them down. I recommend Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal.  

Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Fake Out: a hilarious rom-com that will have you smiling for days!

The Fake Out is the newest Sharon M Peterson rom-com. Mae Sampson is the librarian in the small town Two Harts, Texas. One night, after closing, she discovers a man asleep at a desk. She doesn’t recognize him which is unusual for a small town but the two have a bit of a fun banter after he wakes up and she shoos him out the door. When they run into each other again, she learns he is Chris Sterns, the handsome “world’s sexiest man” all-star NFL player. He has chosen Two Harts for some R&R and, somehow, ropes Mae into a two person book club. Despite begrudgingly agreeing, she can’t help but enjoy their banter. When a compromising video starts circulating and everything Chris has worked hard for is in jeopardy. He proposes a fake engagement to both their benefit: he needs damage control and she needs money for mounting medical bills. What could possibly go wrong? 

I absolutely loved Ms. Peterson’s debut novel, The Do-Over and I had to get The Fake Out. It delivers on the laugh out moments, the uplifting and inspirational moments and oh-so-sweet friends to lovers romance. I completely related with Mae, the bookish librarian who takes charge when her mom falls ill and her father left long ago. And Chris is a man with a big heart. I loved the banter between Mae and Chris and I think I grinned nonstop! One of my favorite moments is when Mae and Chris are in a bookshop and Mae thinks “Forget about firefighters. Hot guy plus books… where was that calendar?” Yeah, I’d buy that calendar! I could not put it down. I read while I made dinner. I read while I ate dinner. I read until I closed the final page with a grin and a sigh. The Fake Out is so good. I highly, highly recommend The Fake Out! 

The Fake Out is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook