Book Review: The Last Word by Taylor Adams

March 10, 2024March 10, 2024 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 11 Comments

The Last Word
by
Taylor Adams

There’s something irresistible about the anticipation of diving into an atmospheric suspense novel. I like the thrilling escape it provides so I downloaded The Last Word. I recognized the author because I have No Exit calling to me from my bookshelf. I knew that was a popular one, so I thought I’d dive into this one first and, if I liked it, read No Exit. There’s no logic to my thinking, that’s just what I did!

The premise of the story interested me very much. Emma Carpenter, housesitting in an isolated beach property, posts a 1-star review on Amazon of Murder Mountain, a horror novel. The author, H.G. Kane takes offense and asks her to remove the review. She says no and that’s the beginning of a revenge rage. Soon she feels like someone is watching her while she sleeps. That’s not all. Emma suffers from other demons. She’s depressed, possibly suicidal after a tragic accident with her husband. After the funeral, she quit her job and left home. Now her only contact is a loner neighbor a quarter mile away, a former writer who drinks through his afternoons and nights. Although they have never met in person they strike up a friendship via telescopes and white board messages.

Emma tries to ignore the sensation that someone is watching her and to prove herself wrong she conducts searches and sets sand at all entrances to detect footprints. Fear or paranoia? Only the pages will tell.

About half-way through the book, after many developments, the book became grisly. I debated whether to finish. It just wasn’t my thing. But I liked the premise and was curious about the finish. I even posted a poll on X, asking what other readers might do.

I’m reading a suspense/horror ebook that is just a little too gory, but despite that I feel I need to finish it just to find out how it ends. With about 2 hours estimated reading time left, what would you do?
— 🧢 Barbara Vitelli (@BookClubMom) March 9, 2024

More than other thrillers, I felt that this one required a lot of suspension of disbelief. I questioned the Amazon review comments because people can’t add comments to reviews, but it seems as if this story takes place earlier, before Amazon disabled that feature. So that one doesn’t count. Next, I wondered about the telescope whiteboard relationship and how Emma, without the telescope, could see her neighbor through the windows. Does anyone know if that’s possible a quarter mile away? And even when the lights are out, they’re able to send messages. Hmmmm.

I didn’t mind that Emma exhibited super-human strength and presence of mind throughout many gory confrontations. She’s the heroine and we want her to make it. And it’s easy to hate the author, whose horror books may represent real murders. I just didn’t care for all the blood and evil.

I liked that the author gave us Emma’s back story. It explains why she is in such a bad mental spot and thought it was realistic. I also liked the question of whether readers have the right to leave nasty reviews that threaten the livelihood of small authors. And whether authors have the right to ask readers to take down their reviews. A good discussion point!

I finished it. The twists and turns kept me going, although they got a little ridiculous in the final pages. Some were to be expected, like the false calm when you think it’s all resolved, but there’s one nagging loose end out there.

All in all, just not my thing, but I’m glad I tried it out. Have you read The Last Word or No Exit? Leave a comment.

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In case you missed them! Jan-Feb 2024 Posts

March 3, 2024 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 10 Comments

Hi Everyone, I hope you’re all doing well! In case you’ve missed them, here are my posts from January and February.

BOOK REVIEWS

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
4-star family drama, set during Covid

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
3-star tome, engrossing drama, but depressing

First Line Wins by Ashley Elston
3.5-star clever mystery, not really a thriller

The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson
4-star nonfiction about infamous Lizzie Borden. Did she do it?

Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict
3.5-star historical fiction, a bit of a stretch, but good

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
4-star 600-plus page family drama with a 3-star ending

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
4-star twisty mystery/suspense, worthy of a second read

WHO’S THAT INDIE AUTHOR AND AUTHOR UPDATES

Grace Blair
Alethea Kehas
Joseph Hallet
Joy Neal Kidney

YOUTUBE VIDEO

MISCELLANEOUS POSTS

TBR Reckoning: books I said I would read in 2023 but haven’t gotten to yet
It rained, and then the lights went out
Music to complement reading The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Six books in my future – Today I went on a bit of a book-buying binge
All-time most popular post: “House of Flowers” by Truman Capote
Grammar check – login or log in?
Short story review of “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck

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Book Review: Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

February 24, 2024 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 43 Comments

Rock Paper Scissors
by
Alice Feeney

Wow, I haven’t read a book with this many satisfying twists in a long time! Rock Paper Scissors is a clever mystery about a couple whose marriage is in big trouble. We first meet Adam and Amelia and their dog, Bob in 2020 as they travel by car from London to Blackwater Loch in the Scottish Highlands for a weekend meant to repair some serious tears in their relationship. Unfortunately, the weather is horrible and Amelia’s ancient car can barely manage the snow and ice. And it’s no better when they arrive at an isolated and equally ancient stone chapel that has been converted to we’re not sure what…a bed and breakfast for just one party? The place is covered in dust, clearly neglected. A cryptic message tells them they can find food in the freezer and to enjoy their stay! Think noises outside, a jumpy dog, roaming sheep, thick stone walls, cold floors, and darkness when the lights go out.

Interestingly, Adam suffers from a unique condition: prosopagnosia, or “face blindness.” He can’t see distinguishing features on faces, even his wife’s and including his own! That doesn’t just mean he can’t recognize other people. It also means he can’t read their emotions. You can bet this has made his life complicated.

The tension between Adam and Amelia indicates a history of deceit and bad feelings. To fill in the details, the author includes letters to Adam, written on each wedding anniversary, beginning in 2007. Here we learn about Adam’s career as a screenplay writer, which takes off when famous mystery/thriller author Henry Winter signs Adam on to convert his novels to movies. The money is good, but Adam yearns to see his own screenplay, Rock Paper Scissors made into a movie. Meanwhile, there’s tension over his wife’s career at a dog shelter. Shouldn’t she just help Adam? Is her job less important? That’s how she feels. The author also fills us in on her characters’ tragic and lonely childhoods, helping to explain why they act the way they do.

As expected, strange things happen at the Blackwater Chapel. Someone else is in the village and she’s messing with them. What can she want?

No spoilers here, but expect a lot of suspense and crazy plot twists, right until the end. I read this book for my mystery book club and we all agreed it was a great read, worthy of a re-read, just to be able to pick up on the clues the second time around. Believe me, you won’t be able to do that with a first read.

I recommend Rock Paper Scissors to readers who like a good suspenseful mystery and who are willing to suspend disbelief for a bit. I recently read one of Feeney’s more recent books, Daisy Darker (read my review here) and was pleased that I enjoyed this one just as much.

Thanks for visiting—come back soon!

Book Review: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

February 7, 2024 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 22 Comments

First Lie Wins
by
Ashley Elston

I did not know about First Lie Wins, but I was instantly attracted to the cover. This style, with a house at night and someone looking out gets me every time! In addition, I’ve read a few books from Reese’s Book Club selections and I felt like this would be an entertaining read. Other than that, I went in blind.

The story begins in Lake Forbing, Louisiana as the narrator, who goes by Evie Porter, fills us in on her situation. It turns out that Evie is her alias and her new boyfriend, Ryan, is her mark. Her mysterious boss, Mr. Smith, runs the show and although he intimidates her, Evie is chippy enough to push back, and sometimes go rogue. Readers also learn about Lucca Marino, Evie’s actual identity. At a party, Evie must hide her shock when a woman who looks a lot like Evie introduces herself as Lucca. Mr. Smith is messing with her, but what’s his angle?

We flash back ten years when the real Lucca’s life of crime begins, first as a self-employed thief and then as one of Mr. Smith’s team of high-stakes criminals. He speaks only by phone via a voice distorter and Lucca does not know the other people working for him.

From here, the author anchors the story in the present and uses a series of additional flashbacks to fill us in on Lucca’s past. Here we see how Lucca operates, how quickly she thinks on her feet, and how she keeps her emotions and reactions under wraps. And while we learn about her motivation, we also learn about her questionable morals and her dangerous tendency to go off script.

Evie/Lucca’s present-day job poses additional problems. She likes Ryan. They have chemistry. She also likes the beautiful home he inherited from his grandparents. But Ryan’s darker side raises questions and she reminds herself that Ryan is her target, emotions be gone.

Unexpected events may expose her to Ryan, but she still has a few tricks up her sleeve, if the favors she’s acquired over the years come through.

I’m deliberately vague here because this story is complicated and you don’t want a second-hand telling. You can go two ways with a book like this: keep close attention to the details and take notes (me, I can’t help it) or just go along for the ride. I think you can enjoy the book either way, however, it helps to keep track because the tie-up is complex and readers who have paid attention will appreciate the detail. That said, I think the multiple aliases and scenarios make the story more difficult to follow. If you’re a techie, you may also question the feasibility of some of her jobs, but there’s always a required suspension of disbelief with books like this.

I enjoyed First Lie Wins because I love stories about deception. I would describe this as a clever mystery, but not a chew-your-nails thriller.

Thanks for visiting—come back soon!

I’m working my way through a recent Kindle-haul. See what other books are in the queue here.

Who’s That Indie Author? Joseph Hallett

February 5, 2024February 7, 2024 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 29 Comments

Joseph Hallett

Name: Joseph Hallett

Book Title: Emergence Ascended

Genre: Science Fiction/Magical Realism

Tell us about yourself: I am 51 years old living in the Pacific Northwest. I enjoy the outdoors, camping hiking. I enjoy most music (closet Swifty) but I tend toward rock and metal.

Tell us about your writing career. When did you first start writing? I tried a few times over the years, but only have gotten serious in the last few. I wrote a short story “Alone” and submitted it to a contest a podcast I listen was having for Halloween stories. I came in first place. That gave me the confidence to try again. I started Emergence Collective shortly after “Alone” but life happened and I put it down for a few years. In 2020 I picked it up and gave it my all and published it in October of 2021. I recently published Emergence Ascended which is book two of the duology Emergence.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? No. I work full time in Aerospace and Defense, and typical family duties

For fiction writers, have you ever based a character on yourself? If so, tell us about it Not directly but there is a little bit of “me” in a lot of my characters.

For fiction writers, have you ever based a character on a family member or close friend? If so, tell us how you navigated what could be tricky portrayal. Yes, In Emergence Collective, the character, Fran is a good friend, Uncle Charlie (Yes he knows).

How do you keep track of all your ideas? Do you have a little notebook? Do you keep a running document on your computer or phone? I keep a journal (paper), for most of them. Ideas that I am excited about.

Describe your editing and publishing process. What has worked for you and what hasn’t? I self-published through Kindle publishing from Amazon. Although I am not great at formatting to Amazon standards, I found the software to be rigid, not very user friendly. I recently published through Direct2digital and that process was far easier and would recommend.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? If so, tell us about it: No, but I found a great community on Threads and Instagram.

Name three people who have had the greatest influence on you and why: Robert A Heinlein, H.P. Lovecraft and Ray Bradbury.

Did you have a favorite children’s book when you were growing up? If so, tell us about it and why it’s your favorite: Not technically a children’s book but I picked up The Strange Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft when I was 7 or 8. I was hooked ever since.

What is the most difficult thing about being a writer? For me it’s finding the time to write.

Tell us about your writing routine. What time of day works best for you? Do you write at home? Someplace else? Do you write on a computer or do you use paper and pen/pencil? I do most writing in the mornings on Saturday and Sunday. My house is usually quiet and I can get quality me time to space out and dream.

What beverage gets your creative juices flowing? Coffee, tea, soda, energy drink, water, or something else? Coffee of course.

What do you do to relax? I play video games. I do laser engraving art as a hobby, as well.

What are you reading right now? Starfire by BV Larson

Please share your website and social media links: https://linktr.ee/jshallett

Are you an indie or self-published author? Do you want to build your author network? Get your name out on Who’s That Indie Author!

Email bvitelli2009@gmail.com for a bio template and other details.

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Great reads of 2023 – Book Club Mom’s 4-star and 4.5-star reads

January 3, 2024 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 56 Comments

These 4-star and 4.5-star reads were some of my favorite books of 2023 and I totally recommend them to readers looking for a great book!

What’s up with my rating system? Why 4 stars and not 5? I do what Goodreads does. So if I give a book 3 stars, that means I liked the book. And 4 stars means I really liked the book! Not everyone is comfortable with that, but I feel strongly that there has to be a way to distinguish between good books, very good books and great books.

You can read my full explanation here. So here are my 4s and 4.5s. Curious about the rest? Check out the full list of what I read in 2023 here.

The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks:

American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land by Monica Hesse

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

The Other Passenger by Louise Candlish

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

The It Girl by Ruth Ware

Sleeping Giants by Rene Denfeld

I’ve read three books since my last review and I’m looking forward to telling you about them. Meantime, what great books did you read in 2023? Leave a comment!

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Book Review: The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones

December 10, 2023 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 19 Comments

The Guilt Trip
by
Sandie Jones

Last weekend I had some time to kill at a train station, so I bought a paperback at the concession. The Guilt Trip seemed like a book I could read without thinking too much. It also had the kind of cover I like with, a rocky cliff and a roaring sea, so my decision was easy. I hadn’t bought a paperback in a long time and this was one of those smaller pocket paperbacks. What I realized right away was that I absolutely had to crack the book’s spine to read it. In fact, I couldn’t even see some of the inside words until I did! That was kind of fun.

I just finished reading it and right off I’m going to tell you that, although this was a very average book with a ridiculous plot and some extremely self-centered and annoying characters, I also found it to be a good, although somewhat mindless choice for what became a very busy week for me.

Sometimes you just have to crack the spine!

It’s described as a thriller, but it’s more of a soap opera, about two forty-something married English couples who travel to Portugal for a wedding. The story begins with a first-person prologue by an unnamed narrator, after something terrible has happened at the wedding. The group includes Rachel, her husband, Jack, and the other couple, Paige, and Noah all who have been friends for decades. Now they are guests at Jack’s younger brother, Will’s wedding to Ali. Ali is the outlier, a beautiful twenty-something woman who insists on being the center of attention. When she sees how Jack and Ali interact, Rachel is convinced they are having an affair.

That’s just the beginning of what turns into a complex and convoluted drama, described through Rachel’s point of view. We learn everyone’s back stories and must decipher conversations that are easily misunderstood. In fact, the author depends on it!

The setting is great and you just know the steep roads and wedding venue atop craggy rocks and rising waters will play into the plot. You will never be able to predict the big event, however, you may also scratch your head at the implausible plot.

The Guilt Trip was indeed a mindless read, good for the beach…or sitting at the train station. I doubt I would pick up another book by the author, but I don’t feel guilty for reading this one!

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Who’s That Indie Author? Noah William Smith

December 4, 2023 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 20 Comments

Noah William Smith

Name: Noah William Smith

Book: 2024… Your Year of More

Genre: Self-help

When did you first decide you wanted to be a writer? Growing up, I had a love for numbers and words. I chose numbers as a full-time career because I was unaware of jobs using words and creative thinking (information was not so readily available then!). I felt the need to be creative was enormous as a young adult, so I started writing at 29. I am 38 now.

Do you write full-time? If not, do you have an outside job or other responsibilities? I am a part-time writer (often 4 am before the work day starts!) but plan to be full-time in the future if possible. My full-time job is highly analytical and relies heavily on one side of my brain, whereas writing taps into the other.

If you write nonfiction, tell me about your projects. What subjects motivate you? I am motivated by what is underneath the surface. Examples include values, how people make decisions, and what motivates each of us. I am inspired by wisdom and finding better ways to approach everyday life.

What kind of research and preparation do you do before you write? I feel others influence us so much that I do not perform external research when I write. To be as original as possible, I view myself as the research subject and carefully structure my thoughts and ideas.

What is your editing process? Do you hire an outside editor? When I need an outside editor, I find a professional. However, I often do the bulk of the editing because I know how I want the words to look, feel and sound. Clarity, simplicity, logical flow and the right tone are essential.

How do you decide on your book covers? Do you outsource? Sometimes the book covers are from personal, memorable experiences, for example, a holiday. The cover of 2024… Your Year of More was created from scratch, and the vibrant red and yellow colours were selected to motivate the reader to take action in their life.

How did you come up with the title of your latest book? So often, New Year’s resolutions focus on people wanting more of something. The word “more” got stuck in my head, and I liked the focus to be on now. Now is 2024, when the book is well-known to readers. 2024 also rhymed with more, so it felt good.

What route did you take to get published? Describe your experience. I published 2024… Your Year of Moreindependently because it provided me total creative freedom to do as I wish.

Have you ever tried to get an agent? If so, what steps did you take? I consider myself and my writing niche, so I am not a typical candidate for a literary agent who may prefer a mainstream title or author.

What kinds of things do you do to promote your book? I gave thousands of copies of my first books away for free. It garnered ratings and reviews. It helped build up a loyal readership that continues to grow daily. These days, I am regularly featured in the book blogger community. 2024… Your Year of More has been performing well in book contests. I sought numerous editorial reviews and featured these widely online.

Have you ever had a book-signing event? Tell us about your experience. I have not yet, but I will in the future!

Have you taken writing courses? I have written communications exams and taken communications courses. I enjoy writing straightforward English, so much editing time goes towards simplifying the language used. The focus is on relating with the reader and creating clear and concise messages.

Do you belong to a writer’s group? If so, is it in-person or online? Tell us about your experience. I am a member of Goodreads groups. It is a fun experience when a fellow author reviews my book or asks me to review theirs.

Are you in a book club? If so, tell us about it. Is it in-person or online? Friends or acquaintances? Yes, I am in a book club that contains friends and acquaintances. My favourite thing about the book club is hearing each person’s honest reading experience. When people share, it is an opportunity to relate and connect.

Do you ask friends/family to read your WIP? I don’t, but I keep them informed about progress because they appreciate regular updates.

Name three unread books on your bookshelf. 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, Lonely Planet’s The World, and Jamie Cooks Italy

What is the last book you read? Lately, I have been enjoying puzzle books and travelling books!

How many pages do you think a book of fiction/nonfiction should be? It should not be too short or too long. The sweet spot is different for each book. My book is 114 pages long, and it felt right.

What is the riskiest or wildest thing you’ve ever done? The Otter Trail Hike in South Africa. It felt risky because I was not used to carrying a heavy bag on my back for five days while hiking up and down hills. In the dark, it felt surreal to be next to the wild ocean while it rained and the wind gushed. Being away from everyday creature comforts like my favourite couch, and coffee felt wild!

What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done? The hardest thing for me is to be highly determined and motivated, which feels authentic, even while being acutely aware of loved ones’ health problems and general suffering in our world.

What advice can you give to new writers entering the writing and publishing arena? Writing is an intense experience and often comes from a need to share messages and stories to relate with others. You process your feelings and thoughts by writing about what gives you goosebumps. When you receive positive feedback on your writing, take that as a blessing, but never expect that! Write a lot, and enjoy the process of creating something!

Website and social media links:
Amazon.com: Noah William Smith: books, biography, latest update
Noah William Smith (Author of How to Motivate Yourself in 15 Minutes) | Goodreads

Are you an indie or self-published author? Do you want to build your author network? Get your name out on Who’s That Indie Author!

Email bvitelli2009@gmail.com for a bio template and other details.

Thanks for visiting—come back soon!

In case you missed them! Sep-Nov 2023 Posts

December 4, 2023 ~ Book Club Mom ~ 11 Comments

Hi Everyone, I hope you’re all doing well! I’ve fallen way behind with my monthly summaries, so…in case you missed them, here’s a recap of my posts from September through November.