The Names by Florence Knapp

 

The impact a decision can make can not be underestimated. This fact is proven in The Names by Florence Knapp.

Dora is a young mother that is tasked with registering the name of her new baby boy. Her abusive husband wants the child named after him as is the family custom. Dora does not want her child to become the monster her husband is and wants his name to be his own so he can create his own path without the shadow of his forefathers. The Names is a tale of three different scenarios for this young child, and for the rest of the family, based on three different names he could be given. 

I really liked The Names. While I don't think the actual name really mattered, it was the decision to follow what the abusive husband wanted or to do something different. What would be the ramifications of those decisions. It is a sad book in many ways, especially for anyone that has been in or known someone that has been in an abusive relationship. It is so well written. I would recommend The Names to readers that have an open mind for a different approach in telling the story. Also for those that enjoy books on what could be reality in fiction format.

Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman 4 Stars

 

The secrets we keep and the trouble that follows is a major thread in Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman.

The setting is an affluent seaside town. The characters are two families the three Gold sisters and the three Silver brothers, neighbors and lifelong friends. However when a neighborhood friend is killed, the innocent relationships of these two families are put to the test. Secrets and lives are exposed placing these young people on a course of suspicion and regret. Noteworthy is Goodman's ability to show the perspectives of the different characters. Each character had their own idea of who was guilty and it was interesting how the individual personalities played into their opinions.

Lies Between Us is wonderfully written. The story flows well and the characters are well defined. I would go back and forth on who was guilty and was wrong right up until the end. These are my favorite mysteries, when they continue until the last chapter. I would recommend Lies Between Us by Jessica Goodman to readers that are drawn to who done it mysteries with quality characterizations. This will be great in the teen scene.

.I received this advanced copy from the Penguin Random House through a Goodreads giveaway. This review is my honest opinion.

The Roads That Led to You by: S. Grant 4 Stars

 

If only I had known then what I know now. Famous words that are echoed in The Roads that Led to You by S. Grant.

Sydney is a young lady with a not so great home life. Like many in that situation, her strongest relationships are in friend circles. This is where Sydney meets E. From the beginning there is a connection that is soulful. Their souls move in tandem. It often appears timing is the problem with the friendship not growing to more, but there are also signs of self esteem issues with Sydney that could be holding things back. E, on the other hand, is the stronger one. He has self worth and patience with Sydney that just makes the reader want more. Then here comes Jake. The perfect boyfriend, any girl would want him. This adds more to the anguish of the reader. 

Grant did a great job with characters. I loved them all. I did get irritated with Sydney several times. Actually wanting to shake her a couple of times. But the characters were real, you could see this situation happening. And the reader knew someone was going to get hurt. There can only be two. The only question was who the hurt one would be.

I would recommend The Roads That Led to You to readers that enjoy romance with mystery. It is a slow burn.

Family by K.T. McWilliams 5 Stars

 

Guilt, fear, and anger are strong reactions to critical events in our lives. In Family, K.T. McWilliams shows how faith, loyalty and forgiveness are also common reactions.

Elizabeth is a young midwife and has recently lost her father to murder. Following his murder, Elizabeth is placed into the care of Edmund Colskill, a King's Goldsmith and family friend. The social status she finds herself with is a stark difference to that she was raised with. This becomes an element to the story in which Edmund consistently tries to change Elizabeth. Elizabeth, however, is very strong willed.

Besides the personality struggle Edmund and Elizabeth are facing, they are also receiving threats from an unknown (at least to Elizabeth) person.  Family is the journey they go on to end the threats and resolve the differences between them. 

I enjoyed Family. I could see Elizabeth struggle with the guilt and pain she felt following her fathers murder. Those emotions lead her in much of the story. She also realizes the people around her are keeping secrets which creates a great deal of anger. The joyous part for me was her ability and dedication to take those negative feelings and repeatedly give them to God. From her faith and prayer she is able to work through the situations and see from others eyes. She begins to realize that secrets and what she considers lies are also products of loyalty. We often have to keep secrets from one in order to be loyal to another. McWilliams does a beautiful job in depicting these difficult realities. Faith is beautifully woven into the story.

Family is part of the On The Wings of an Angel Series by K.T. McWilliams, however, it does stand on its own. I will be reading the rest. I would recommend Family to readers who enjoy a clean but intriguing story.

French Honeymoon by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

 

Anger, greed, desperation and social media, what could go wrong? The French Honeymoon by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau shows the reader some possibilities of how that combination can go very wrong.

Cassie, a self proclaimed social media goddess, has recently came into an inheritance from her estranged father's estate. While at his funeral she meets Olivier, a Frenchman at the end of his visa and desperately looking for a way to stay in the US. The third wheel in this dynamic group is Taylor, Cassie's adopted sister and nemesis. Through spontaneously twisted decisions the three are on a crash course to disaster. And in the middle is the love city of Paris.

Jauhanneau did a really good job of bringing the contradictory aspects of social media and reality to the forefront. Who Cassie was in real life and that in her make believe world had real impacts throughout the story. Also, the deception that each of the characters portrayed was scary, but it wasn't over the top. I could see this happening. It makes you look at the people around you and say "ok, so how do you really feel about me".

I think the story had room for more depth. It would have been more interesting if it was slowed down and more character detail was added. But, overall, I enjoyed The French Honeymoon and would recommend it to readers can get lost in mystery.

The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz 4.0 Stars

 

The Sequel is just that. It is the sequel to Korelitzs' book, The Plot. This book will stand on its own, however, reading The Plot first will add to the overall thoughts on the story. 

Anna is a recent widow to a successful author, Her husband is thought to have committed suicide due to accusations and harassment surrounding plagiarism. Everyone but Anna thinks it's suicide, but Anna knows the truth. Anna goes on to write her own successful book that is also plagued with an accusation of plagiarism. However, this allegation is much more serious and very personal to the new author. The lengths she goes to uncover the source of allegations is psychotic.

I enjoyed the mystery and would recommend The Sequel to readers that like to figure out twists and turns. 

Head Shot by Otho Eskins 4.3 stars

 

I have to read more! That is what was on my mind when I finished the action thriller Head Shot by Otho Eskins.

Marko Zorn is a homicide detective with the D.C. police department and he is quite a character. He has his own style of investigating and is successful in finding his suspects. In this book, Detective Zorn is investigating multiple murders including the murder of someone from his past. He is also brought into a mission assigned by the state department to protect a foreign dignitary. The story is fast paced and twisting. It makes for a great read.

Head Shot is part of a series, however, this book can stand on its own. I will be reading more in the series. I would recommend this to readers that enjoy fast paced thrillers with characters that are well defined.