What kind of trouble has to have occurred to leave an American journalist stranded in Croatia with her husband because the U.S. is unsafe for her? In Our American Friend, Anna Pitoniak’s new novel, it’s her subject who’s the problem. Sofie Morse was chosen by Lara Caine, the president’s wife to write her biography. How dangerous could a First Lady’s life be? But the more Lara ... Read More...
State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton
We’ve all heard of crossover artists. Singers who become actors. Actors who become writers. But politicians? Not so much. Politicking is a skill that doesn’t often translate to other arenas. I tried reading fiction by a politician that I admire tremendously and I quit at 10%. So, it was with great trepidation that I decided to read Hillary Clinton’s fictional debut, State of ... Read More...
Impostor Syndrome: A Novel
One Julia is the wildly successful COO of Tangerine, one of the world’s largest technology companies (think Facebook). She’s happily married, living a life most of us only dream about. The other is a watchful, young Russian orphan desperate to be adopted. Plain and quiet, she’s ignored until later she catches the eye of Leo, a recruiter for the SPB, Russia’s secret intelligence ... Read More...
Where’s an Editor When You Need One?: Mini-Reviews
We’ve all read novels by authors who have a way with words, know how to shape a sentence, generate tension…all the good stuff, right? But what about when that good stuff keeps going and going until what felt like a perfect balance turns into words and plot piling on unchecked? I’m left either annoyed or crushed under the weight of too much verbiage. It’s at that point ... Read More...
It’s Monday, April 2nd: What Are You Reading?
Good morning, lovely readers! A new week and a new month. Monday is usually the day I post a review of a book I loved but last week I was stuck with reading that left me either riled or meh—not what I look for in a Monday book. I don’t know about the rest of you, but indifference is the kiss of death when describing a book (actually, it’s the kiss of death for a lot of things ... Read More...
The Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMille
Nelson DeMille and his long-time protagonist, John Corey, have been my go-to guys for action for decades. Generally, I’m not a fan of the spy/political thriller/blow-things-up genre, but I read all of the Corey series and loved them for his smart ass attitude towards authority and rude humor. DeMille is one of those authors who does exhaustive research for his books so by the ... Read More...
