March 2022 – Brooke & Binding

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

My Rating: 3 Stars

Here’s why

This was my March 2022 Book of the Month selection and I was immediately intrigued!

Nell Young comes from a family of cartographers where maps are not only a profession, but an addiction and love. However, is it also something that had torn her family a part. After not speaking to her father for seven years, Nell learns he has died at his office at the New York Public Library under potential “suspicious circumstances.” But what Nell doesn’t realize is his death is the start of uncovering a massive secret her father – and deceased mother – held on to for years. Part mystery, part fantasy, The Cartographers reveals the opportunities maps give us to explore and learn, not only about the past, but ourselves as well.

***

This book definitely wasn’t as “adventurous” as I was anticipating, but still a good read.

When I first heard this book’s description I immediately thought “National Treasure”, but Shepherd takes this unique story a different way. She really unravels the importance behind this one map for this group of friends through flashbacks, plot developments, and how the map affected each of their lives. It does have its “drama” side, but don’t be fooled, it also does have a lot of mystery and action, just maybe not in the way I was originally thinking!

I am giving this book 3 stars because it is a pretty solid read. Good characters, fun and unique story, and the conclusion is pretty decent. I do feel like the ending could’ve been a bit better but she does wrap it all up within the last two pages, so I appreciated that. If a book isn’t going to have a sequel, it’s always nice to not have a cliff-hanger at the end – which we almost did! – but she gave enough to the reader for us to feel the story has come to a conclusion.

If this book sounds intriguing to you, I would say give it a go! I haven’t read her other novels, but I know some are highly rated! This one seems like a hit-or-miss for her fans, but as a newbie, I could appreciate it.

HAPPY READING 🙂

Genre: Mystery/Fantasy Realism/Fiction/Books about Books

The Appeal by Janice Hallett

My Rating: 3 Stars

Here’s why

I just got this book for my birthday last week and was so excited to crack it open!

Have you ever wanted to play detective? Think you can pick up on hints and clues to piece together what actually happened on the night of a crime – or even leading up to the crime itself? This is your chance. Told through a collection of emails, flyers, letters, and WhatsApp conversations, you (the reader) and two young detectives partner up to try and figure out what happened the night of July 4, 2018 and how each person in this group of community members is – or could be – involved.

***

When I first heard about this book concept I was so excited and intrigued!

I didn’t know really what to expect when I first picked it up, but after a while I realized that it was laid out in a creative and unique way that maybe I wasn’t 100% prepared for? The continual emails with no real chapters started to get monotonous after a while, but little WhatsApp conversations throughout helped break it up for me. However, with so many characters to try to keep track of, you do start to get a feel/voice for each person through the email correspondents.

I am giving this book 3 stars because of the uniqueness of it. Was the plot/crime super surprising or catch me off guard? Not necessarily, although there were some elements that made it different than other thrillers.

I would definitely not shy away from this novel solely because I was not in love with the overall plot/twist. If The Appeal sounds appealing to you, then check it out today!

HAPPY READING 🙂

Genre: Crime/Mystery/Suspense

Pieces of Her (Andrea Oliver, #1) by Karin Slaughter

My Rating: 4 Stars

Here’s why

This psychological mystery-thriller was brought to my attention when Book of the Month had it as a special highlight in its add-on section and luckily I was able to grab it from the library! However, what I have just recently learned is that there is a Netflix show that has just began airing March 4, 2022 of a TV adaptation, too!

Andrea Oliver has recently moved back home to sleepy Belle Isle from the bustle of Manhattan and is living with her mother, Laura. Laura is your standard suburban mother, a speech therapist, and knows anyone and everyone in their little town. She has helped so many people over the years and Andrea feels like she knows her – and her life story – like the back of her hand. But one day, they are thrown into a chaotic and life-threatening situation that has Andrea looking at her mom in a different light. Who is this woman who has raised her all these years? What secrets could she be hiding? Over the course of events, Andrea finds herself following a trail of breadcrumbs to try and put together all the pieces of her in this thrilling psychological story.

***

Like I said, I was originally drawn to this book because I saw it highlighted on Book of the Month, but now I am intrigued to see how well they have adapted this story for screen.

Andrea is a character that I think a lot of people could relate to in how she handles everything that gets thrown her way throughout the journey of uncovering the truth about her mom. She doesn’t always say, or do, the right thing, she struggles to comprehend everything she is learning, and tries to piece together all of these complicated stories and other characters to make sense of how her mother relates/fits in. This is my first Karin Slaughter novel and I’m not sure if she always plays with timelines, but this book has two: one is the present with Andrea and the other is a story about who/what/when/where/why/how everything occurs. You are getting the “pieces of her” before you even know who “she” is.

I am giving this book 4 Stars because I think the writing is very creative, there is a lot of depth to the content and characters, and after I understood how the two timelines fit together, it became more of an enjoyable and quicker read for me. I almost gave it 3 Stars because it can drag along a bit, but like I said it does pick up the pace towards the end. Also, she does write pretty long chapters, if you’re not used to that, so be forewarned! 😉

I definitely would read another Karin Slaughter if anyone has any recommendations, and I will definitely be reading the second book of Andrea Oliver coming out this summer!

HAPPY READING 🙂

Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Crime/Suspense/Psychological

Our Violent Ends (These Violent Delights, #2) by Chloe Gong

My Rating: 3 Stars

Here’s why

I was so excited when I got notified that book #2 was available for pick up at my local library! Especially because I had just finished book #1 so the story was still nice and fresh.

We pick up this Romeo and Juliet retelling in Our Violent Ends with the blood feud as intense and violent as every before. Juliette has had to make some hard choices and sacrifices, not only for herself, but for the Scarlet Gang as a whole. After what happened to his cousin at the end of These Violent Delights, Roma has become unrecognizable to Juliette. Looking more and more like his father everyday, the heir to the White Flowers seems like a totally different person than the one Juliette has known. However, fate intercedes as the two gangs team up against a common enemy, partnering Roma and Juliette on a mission to collect information and stop their enemy from taking over Shanghai. In the conclusion to this duology, Gong adds her own voice to this classic tale, while pulling on real-life historical events and bringing the characters – and this story – to life.

***

This book took some twists and turns I was not expecting!

I am glad I read this duology because I am a lover of Shakespeare and even was a part of a stage production of Romeo and Juliet in college. It was fun to see where Gong added her own choices throughout the story and it even got to a point where I feel like the lines were very blurred and I couldn’t remember how the original actually went. Although her conclusion isn’t the same as Shakespeare’s, she still nods to his ending while also getting the same results – but in her own way – later on if that makes sense!

I am giving this book 3 Stars because it was a really solid read for me. The characters had depth, the plot was unique enough that it could stand on its own, while also embracing the story it originated from. I also didn’t realize how much historical details Gong tried to add because of the specific timeline and location that she chose for her setting, which was really cool.

If you are at all interested in this duology, I would recommend picking up a copy and giving it a try! It is full of action, intensity, violence, romance, and even some sci-fi/fantasy elements, too! My review for These Violent Delights will be down below 🙂

HAPPY READING 🙂

These Violent Delights (These Violent Delights, #1) review: https://brookeandbinding.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/these-violent-delights-these-violent-delights-1-by-chloe-gong/

Genre: Retelling/Young Adult/Fantasy/Historical Fiction

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead (Finlay Donovan #2) by Elle Cosimano

My Rating: 4 Stars

Here’s why

I pumped out the first novel of this series and immediately put the newest release on hold at my local library to pick up!

Finlay has found herself in some pretty interesting situations over the past month or so, but now she feels like life is back on track. She has a major book deal, a massive advance already in the bank to help pay the bills, and she can get back to focusing on her daily life with her kids and Vero (their live-in nanny). However, one day Finlay gets a mysterious letter in her mailbox with no return address with a hit on her ex-husband Steven for $100,000. How will she tackle this crazy turn of events? She doesn’t want to kill him – although she probably could have in the past – but that means someone out there wants him dead, and she needs to help him and the kids stay safe, without giving away how she knows there is a bounty on his head. Full of humor, romance, twists, and unforeseen connections, this second novel is one that will keep you on your toes until the last page!

***

I will say straight up, I did enjoy the first novel better than this one.

I feel like this novel had a lot of elements that felt a little too far out there in what Vero and Finlay find themselves doing. In book one, there are both fumbling through this new world of mobsters, killings, and trying to stay off of the police’s radar, but this time they seemed a little too good, a little too confident in their choices/steps. They definitely don’t get all the connections right and make some big mistakes, but this one felt a bit tidier, if that makes sense. Also, the kids are hardly in this one – not to say they aren’t taken care of or mentioned being watched/staying the night somewhere – but I feel like book one was more about a struggling mom trying to juggle multiple things at once, and this was more about a woman who has more time on her hands to focus on this big issue.

Am I being a bit harsh? Maybe! But I’m also being knick-picky because I really like these characters, the storyline, and the side romance characters, which is why I am still giving this book 4 stars instead of 3! The book is just starting to get pretty complicated as these two women find themselves deeper and deeper in a life of crime/mobsters.

I would still highly recommend this series and will be anticipating the next release in the future. I will link my review to the first book down below!

HAPPY READING 🙂

Finlay Donovan is Killing It (Finlay Donovan #1) review: https://brookeandbinding.wordpress.com/2022/02/17/finlay-donovan-is-killing-it-finlay-donovan-1-by-elle-cosimano/

Genre: Mystery/Crime/Humor/Suspense

These Violent Delights (These Violent Delights #1) by Chloe Gong

My Rating: 3 Stars

Here’s why

Okay, so this is embarrassing. This was my November 2020 Book of the Month selection and I FINALLY read it!

1926 Shanghai: the city is controlled by two major gangs, The Scarlet Gang and the White Flowers. These two have had a blood feud for years, leaving disaster in their path; however, when a madness begins to sweep through the city, people are dying left and right, and not by their hands. The heirs of each gang, Roma Montagov and Juliette Cai, are put on the mission by their fathers to figure out what is causing the madness and how to stop it, but if anyone knew they put their differences aside to work together, it would be disastrous.

***

This book was super intriguing to me when I first picked it, but for some reason didn’t feel drawn to reading it at the time. Now here I am, finally getting around to it, and it was pretty solid!

This is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (if you hadn’t guessed yet), but since there is a second book out as well, I had no clue how she was going to conclude this first one. The title of both books is actually from a Shakespeare line “These violent delights have violent ends,” referencing the rashness and and speed that teenagers make decisions without thinking things through. Since Roma and Juliette are both eighteen/nineteen in the novel, you can clearly see this quality in their actions.

I am giving this book 3 Stars because it was a really solid, interesting, and unique story that has the classic ties to the original, but didn’t feel like a “copy and paste” situation. I only have one big issue with the ending of this first book with how a pretty big element was explained – of lack thereof. I reread the pages a few times looking for more detail or to see if I missed something, but I still feel like it’s just not explained/not there. Maybe in book two? We shall see!

If you are intrigued as I was, give these books a try! Luckily for us, now both are out! Haha

HAPPY READING 🙂

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Retelling/Mystery/Romance