Review: The Lake Season

Summary: Set in the weeks leading up to an idyllic New England wedding, this “enticing and refreshing” (Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author) novel sparkles with wry wit, sweet romance, and long-kept family secrets.

Iris Standish has always been the responsible older sibling: the one with the steady marriage, loving family, and sensible job. But all of a sudden, as her carefully-constructed life spins out of her control, a cryptic postcard from her estranged sister Leah arrives at the perfect time: Please Come. Iris seizes her chance to escape to her childhood lakeside home, where Leah is planning her summer wedding to a man their New Hampshire clan has never met.

Against a backdrop of dress fittings, floral arrangements, and rehearsal dinners, Leah hides secrets of her own. And while her sister faces a past that has finally caught up to her, Iris prepares to say good-bye to a future that is suddenly far from certain. As new love beckons and Hampstead Lake shimmers in the background, Iris must decide when to wade in cautiously and when to dive—and, ultimately, how to ferry herself to safe harbors in this enticing novel of second chances and the ties that bind. -- Emily Bestler Books

I am embarrassingly behind on reviews! That's an understatement because I have stacks of books that I've read this summer and haven't gotten around to reviewing. As I was looking through the stacks to try to find a book to review, I discovered THE LAKE SEASON by Hannah McKinnon. I read this novel earlier this summer when I was in the Outer Banks, and I remember expecting a light and fluffy beach read about two sisters. Rather, it was a really well written book that tackled some serious issues. I thoroughly enjoyed THE LAKE SEASON.

THE LAKE SEASON tells the Iris Standish, the older of two sisters who has always been the dependable one. She is happily married with kids and holds down a steady job... until recently. Her life is in a bit of out-of-control, so when she receives a postcard from her sister Leah (the wild one!) asking her to come home, Iris rushes to her family's lakeside home in New Hampshire.

When Iris arrives, she finds her mother and sister caught up in Leah's wedding plans. As Iris tries to come to terms with what's happening in her life, she finds a friend from the past who further complicates her life... but also provides some much needed attention. In addition to discovering more about her own life, Iris realizes that her sister Leah has her own set of problems.

I really, really liked THE LAKE SEASON. As I mentioned earlier, I was expecting more of a beach read given the setting and the potential romance aspect of the story; however, I quickly discovered that this was a novel with some substance. This book delves into some complex family dynamics as well as mental illness, and I thought the author handled these subjects very well.

One thing that really stood out to me about this novel were the characters, especially the two sisters Iris and Leah. These two sisters couldn't have been more different on the outside, and they really weren't even very close as adults. However, when Leah asked Iris to "come," she immediately dropped everything and was there for her sister. I think all sisters understand that! And that's probably one of the beautiful things about this novel is that is shows how special (albeit complicated) the relationship between sisters is.

I really enjoyed seeing how much Iris changed throughout the course of the novel. She was seemingly the stable sister with a good husband, family and career; however, her life wasn't as perfect as it appeared. She went back home to help with her sister's wedding, but she also needed to be grounded to figure out her own life. What I loved about this story is that not only did Iris figure out her situation, but she was also able to see (maybe for the first time) Leah's complicated life. It wasn't an easy road for Iris, but when push came to shove, she was there for her sister.

This is the first novel that I've read by Ms. McKinnon -- she has written two books for young readers, and I have to say that I was impressed. I liked how she took a somewhat predictable plot about a middle-aged woman at a crossroads in her life and made it special. Her storytelling abilities are great. She incorporated just enough humor to make the book fun, while also touching upon some very serious issues. And her character development was very, very good. I wouldn't hesitate to read another novel, and I'm actually looking forward to more from this promising author.

I'm sure you can already predict that THE LAKE SEASON would make a good book club selection. I love books with complex (or dysfunctional) families and this book has two sisters with a very interesting relationship. There really is a great deal to discuss from character relationships to the book's themes to symbols. There is a reading guide available with thirteen questions along with some ideas for ways to enhance your book club meeting. Some of the themes you might want to explore include families, loss, second chances, mental illness, forgiveness, self-awareness, truth, sisterhood, and love.

THE LAKE SEASON is a touching and thought-provoking novel about two very different sisters. I enjoyed this well written story and recommend it to fans of women's fiction.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Review: The Life We Bury

Summary: College student Joe Talbert has the modest goal of completing a writing assignment for an English class. His task is to interview a stranger and write a brief biography of the person. With deadlines looming, Joe heads to a nearby nursing home to find a willing subject. There he meets Carl Iverson, and soon nothing in Joe's life is ever the same.

Iverson is a dying Vietnam veteran-and a convicted murderer. With only a few months to live, he has been medically paroled to a nursing home, after spending thirty years in prison for the crimes of rape and murder.

As Joe writes about Carl's life, especially Carl's valor in Vietnam, he cannot reconcile the heroism of the soldier with the despicable acts of the convict. Joe, along with his skeptical female neighbor, throws himself into uncovering the truth, but he is hamstrung in his efforts by having to deal with his dangerously dysfunctional mother, the guilt of leaving his autistic brother vulnerable, and a haunting childhood memory.

Thread by thread, Joe unravels the tapestry of Carl's conviction. But by the time Joe discovers the truth, it is too late to escape the fallout. -- Seventh Street Books

After reading and enjoying LITTLE PRETTY THINGS by Lori Rader-Day a few weeks ago -- you can read my review here, I decided to try another book from the publisher Seventh Street Books. This one is called THE LIFE WE BURY by Allen Eskens, and I think I enjoyed it even more than LITTLE PRETTY THINGS... which is really saying something. This novel received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and it's an Edgar Award Nominee for Best First Novel.

THE LIFE WE BURY is about Joe Talbert, a college student who has an interesting writing assignment for his English class. He is supposed to interview someone he doesn't know and then write his story. Joe decides to visit the local nursing home and ends up interviewing Carl Iverson. Carl has quite the story!

Carl is a Vietnam Vet who has been found guilty of the murder and rape of a young girl. He has been incarcerated for 30 years and has only been released to a nursing home for his final weeks. He is dying of cancer and wants to tell his story to Joe.

As Joe learns about Carl's heroic time in Vietnam, he finds it hard to believe that this is the same man who brutally raped and murdered a young girl. After talking with Joe's only friend, he's pretty sure that there's more to the story. Joe and his attractive female neighbor decide to pursue the truth. Along the way, they receive some help from an unlikely source -- Joe's autistic brother. Along with Joe's writing assignment and potential romance, he has taken in his brother after one too many incidents/arrests of their alcoholic mother. But that's a whole other story!

I absolutely adored THE LIFE WE BURY and I couldn't put it down. I doubt I can convey to you how much that speaks to this novel since I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately. I appreciated the characters (I kind of loved Joe!), and I thought the pace of the story was outstanding. I honestly was intrigued with Carl's story from the moment I "met" him, and I loved the twists and turns of the mystery aspect of the novel.

Joe was a fantastic character. He's a survivor and desperately tries to make the best of his awful situation. He is an extremely hard worker, and I loved that he tried to do the right thing. When he took in his autistic brother, at the expense of having to give up college, I was so impressed. I found myself rooting for him, especially as it concerned getting the attention of his female neighbor. I couldn't figure out how she could play hard to get -- he was so sweet!

I appreciated Joe even more when he started to learn Carl's story. He could have easily gone through the motions of writing a paper for his class and never gave Carl another thought. Heck! Carl only had weeks to live. Rather, he wanted to find out the truth and clear Carl's name... even if it meant that he (or those he loved) could be in danger. Joe was an unlikely hero but one that I would love to see again! (Good news: There's a followup novel to THE LIFE WE BURY!)

One of my favorite parts of this novel was that Joe's autistic brother cracked the case. Joe had gathered a lot of documents, including the victim's diary; and the victim had coded entries in the days leading up to her murder. Neither the police nor Joe were able to figure out the code, but Joe's brother was. I loved that he helped play a role in solving the case!

As far as mysteries go, I had a few clues along the way and wasn't totally shocked about the true culprit. Having said that, I don't think I was particular astute when it came to seeing the truth. I had my doubts and even changed my mind a few times. So even though I said I wasn't surprised, I couldn't have sworn that my suspicions were all that accurate. What I can say though, is that the mystery was complex (with a pretty good twist) and I thought the ending was satisfying.

Overall, I really liked THE LIFE WE BURY and can't wait for Mr. Eskens' next novel. I highly recommend this book to fans of mysteries!

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read. Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books t

Kid Konnection: Happy Birthday, Cupcake!

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week we celebrated Booking Son's birthday, so I thought I'd feature a fun "birthday" picture book.

Summary: What’s a cupcake to do when she needs to plan her birthday party? In this hilarious, kid-friendly homage to food and birthdays, Cupcake runs through tons of ideas while her best friend, Blueberry Muffin, finds reasons why they won’t work: Soup gets seasick; Donut melts in the sun; someome might get squashed during musical chairs; and Cupcake is not very good at limbo (her icing might get sliced off!). Just as Cupcake is ready to crumble, Blueberry Muffin has one last idea that just might save the day.

With laugh-out-loud visual gags (like a band made up of beans–the musical fruit, of course), this book is sure to put a birthday smile on any kid’s face (and on adult faces as well). -- Philomel

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CUPCAKE! is the perfect book for our house this month since we celebrate both of my kids' birthdays! Unfortunately, this picture books is a little young for my 11 and soon to be 16 year-old; however, Booking Daughter still thought it was adorable. (She should have loved this book when she was younger!) It's written and illustrated by Terry Border who is the creator of the photography site Bent Objects -- you have to check out his amazing food photographs as well as the adorable BuzzFeed article where Terry has constructed scenes based on some of the most famous children’s books: http://www.buzzfeed.com/penguinyoungreaders/your-favorite-childrens-books-guest-starringpe-eltl#.sknZlpQN3.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CUPCAKE! is so cute. The story is simple. A cupcake is planning her birthday party and no idea is perfect for all of her friends. Cupcake keeps coming up with ideas while her best friend, Blueberry Muffin, is a bit of a Debbie Downer (or a realist if you prefer!) For example, Soup could get seasick on a boat, while Donut and Ice Cream Cone might melt in the sun. Donut is just about ready to forget about a party when Blueberry Muffin has the perfect solution!

I loved HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CUPCAKE. The story is cute with few words, yet humor is an evident theme throughout the story. Toddlers and early elementary age kids are going to love the banter between Cupcake and Muffin while also appreciating the adorable photographs of the food.

Terry Border's food creations are positively precious! He has taken sweets like muffins, cupcakes, cookie, eclairs, and more and has added metal limbs (and even a leash!) to make them come alive. He has then photographed them in hilarious scenes like a makeover party, a boat, and a game of musical chairs to name a few. I absolutely love the pictures, and every time I read the story, I have to giggle at the "characters." The potato and corn on the cob are especially funny!

This picture book is a must-have for kids with a sweet tooth or for anyone celebrating a birthday! Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Review: The Flying Circus

Summary: From the bestselling and award-winning author of Whistling Past the Graveyard comes an adventure tale about two daredevils and a farm boy who embark on the journey of a lifetime across America’s heartland in the Roaring Twenties.

Set in the rapidly changing world of 1920s America, this is a story of three people from very different backgrounds: Henry “Schuler” Jefferson, son of German immigrants from Midwestern farm country; Cora Rose Haviland, a young woman of privilege whose family has lost their fortune; and Charles “Gil” Gilchrist, an emotionally damaged WWI veteran pilot. Set adrift by life-altering circumstances, they find themselves bound together by need and torn apart by blind obsessions and conflicting goals. Each one holds a secret that, if exposed, would destroy their friendship. But their journey of adventure and self-discovery has a price—and one of them won’t be able to survive it.

As they crisscross the heartland, exploring the rapidly expanding role of aviation from barnstorming to bootlegging, from a flying circus to the dangerous sport of air racing, the three companions form a makeshift family. It’s a one-of-a-kind family, with members as adventurous as they are vulnerable, and as fascinating as they are flawed. But whatever adventure—worldly or private—they find themselves on, they’re guaranteed to be a family you won’t forget. -- Gallery

I really enjoyed Susan Crandall's novel WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD -- you can read my review here. When I heard that she had a new novel out called THE FLYING CIRCUS, I jumped at the chance to read it. While I liked this novel, it didn't quite live up to my expectations... and I really wanted to love it. For me, it was just ok -- not especially good or bad.

THE FLYING CIRCUS is an adventure story about three very different individuals who join forces to fly airplanes during the 1920s. There is Henry, the son of German immigrants who is running from a questionable past; Gil, a psychologically damaged WWI fighter pilot; and Cora, a young woman from a once rich family who has since lost their wealth. The seemingly have nothing in common -- except for secrets from their pasts.

The threesome (along with a special pup) form the Mercury's Daredevils, a traveling barnstorming act. As they travel around the midwest, they have many exciting adventures and become a family of sorts. One day, they see the famous Hoffman's Flying Circus and they join their group... albeit reluctantly from one or two of them!

Together, these three travel across the country and the secrets of their pasts are eventually revealed. Not only do they get to know each other, but they also better understand themselves as a result of their friendships.

I can't put my finger on exactly why I didn't love THE FLYING CIRCUS. There was nothing negative that really stood out to me, but on the same account, there was nothing that really excited me. The characters were interesting, especially given their secrets; however, I never really felt an affinity with any of them. (I know that shouldn't matter, but in a book like this, it kind of does.) In addition, I don't think I was as interested in barnstorming and planes quite as much as I needed to be to appreciate those parts of the story.

Maybe I'm just not the right audience for this story because I can certainly see the appeal for many readers. The characters are their dilemmas are definitely intriguing and the book does touch upon many relevant issues -- both in the 1920s and even today. In addition, the relationships between the three are pretty darn interesting, especially the love triangle aspect. I also have to mention that the dog in the story is just too adorable!

Because the characters are all rather complex, THE FLYING CIRCUS could make an interesting book club selection. There is a reading guide available with twelve questions along with some ideas for enhancing your book club experience. I have to admit that as I read the reading guide, I did have a greater appreciation of the what the author was trying to do with this story. Some of the themes you might want to explore include past mistakes, the effects of war, guilt, forgiveness, family, a sense of belonging, risk, women's rights, and love. In addition, you could certainly discuss the symbolism of flying and what it meant to each of the three characters.

Overall, THE FLYING CIRCUS was a good, but not great, read for me. I do recommend this book to fans of the author as well as individuals interested in the early days of flying.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Review: Rome in Love

Summary: When Amelia Tate is cast to play the Audrey Hepburn role in a remake of Roman Holiday, she feels as if all her dreams have come true. She has a handsome boyfriend, is portraying her idol in a major motion picture, and gets to live in beautiful, Italian city of Rome for the next two months.

Once there, she befriends a young woman named Sophie with whom she begins to explore the city. Together, they discover all the amazing riches that Rome has to offer. But when Amelia's boyfriend breaks up with her over her acting career, her perfect world begins to crumble.

While moping in her hotel suite, Amelia discovers a stack of letters written by Audrey Hepburn that start to put her own life into perspective. Then, she meets Philip, a handsome journalist who is under the impression that she is a hotel maid, and it appears as if things are finally looking up. The problem is she can never find the right time to tell Philip her true identity. Not to mention that Philip has a few secrets of his own. Can Amelia finally have both the career and love that she's always wanted, or will she be forced to choose again?

With her sensory descriptions of the beautiful sites, decadent food, and high fashion of Rome, Hughes draws readers into this fast-paced and superbly written novel. Rome in Love will capture the hearts of readers everywhere. -- St. Martin's Griffin

I have enjoyed some novels by Anita Hughes over the past few years, and her latest ROME IN LOVE  definitely appealed to me. I love books set in Italy and it doesn't hurt that the cover is absolutely gorgeous. But that's no surprise! If you check out the covers of Ms. Hughes' books, they are always stunning!

ROME IN LOVE is a charming story that fans of Roman Holiday will love. In this novel, Amelia Tate is cast to play the role in the movie that Audrey Hepburn made famous. Amelia's life is seemingly perfect -- she's an up-and-coming actress, she's engaged to a great guy, and she gets to film in Rome for two whole months.

That's not to say that Amelia doesn't have concerns though. It's a lot of pressure to take on such an well-known role played by such an iconic actress. In addition, her boyfriend is less than thrilled with her newfound fame. Fortunately, she finds a friend in Sophie, a young woman who is a bit of a crossroads too; and together, they see Italy and great time.

Amelia is actually staying in the same suite as Ms. Hepburn for her stay in Rome and discovers a hidden treasure. Behind her desk, she finds letters that Ms. Hepburn wrote to a friend while filming Roman Holiday. It's difficult for Amelia to believe that Audrey Hepburn had similar concerns and issues, but she finds comfort in the notes.

Amelia ends up meeting a reporter named Philip one night, and instead of telling the truth about who she really is, she tells him she is a hotel maid. As the two get close, Amelia finds that it's harder and harder to tell him her true identity. However, Philip is also keeping a secret or two from Amelia!

In many ways, ROME IN LOVE is a coming-of-age story for Amelia, and I found it very entertaining. (You know how I love coming-of-age stories!) Amelia's time in Rome forces her to evaluate what she wants out of life -- husband, career, etc.; and the letters written by Ms. Hepburn help her to learn about what's really her priorities. It's a cute, quick read that's perfect for the summer.

Probably my favorite thing about ROME IN LOVE were Ms. Hughes' descriptions. As someone who dreams about visiting Rome, I loved everything she wrote about the city -- the people, the building, and most definitely the food! As I read this novel, I was longing to visit Italy (which isn't going to happen anytime soon), but even worse, I wanted to eat non-stop! I say this jokingly, but I dare you not to be hungry while reading this book!

I also really appreciated how the author brought Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck to life in the story through Ms. Hepburn's letters. It was fun to imagine them making this movie and the early days  of their friendship. I liked how the letters mirrored much of what was happening in Amelia's life but were different enough that I could make my own conclusions. I also enjoyed seeing how Amelia used what Ms. Hepburn lived through to help her figure out her own life.

ROME IN LOVE would make a cute book club pick -- and just imagine the food and wine you could serve! It would also be fun to discuss the book and watch Roman Holiday. There is a reading guide available if you want a little help with coming up with discussion topics. Some of the themes you might want to discuss include dreams, honesty, break-ups, pressure, family expectations, staying true to one's self, and of course love!

If you are looking for a light, but very enjoyable, read these last few days of summer, then I definitely recommend ROME IN LOVE.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Review: Orphan #8

Summary: A stunning debut novel in the vein of Sarah Waters’ historical fiction and inspired by true events, it tells the fascinating story of a woman who must choose between revenge and mercy when she encounters the doctor who subjected her to dangerous medical experiments in a New York City Jewish orphanage.

In 1919, Rachel Rabinowitz is a vivacious four-year-old living with her family in a crowded tenement on New York City’s Lower Eastside. When tragedy strikes, Rachel is separated from her brother Sam and sent to a Jewish orphanage where Dr. Mildred Solomon is conducting medical research. Subjected to X-ray treatments that leave her disfigured, Rachel suffers years of cruel harassment from the other orphans. But when she turns fifteen, she runs away to Colorado hoping to find the brother she lost and discovers a family she never knew she had.

Though Rachel believes she’s shut out her painful childhood memories, years later she is confronted with her dark past when she becomes a nurse at Manhattan’s Old Hebrews Home and her patient is none other than the elderly, cancer-stricken Dr. Solomon. Rachel becomes obsessed with making Dr. Solomon acknowledge, and pay for, her wrongdoing. But each passing hour Rachel spends with the old doctor reveal to Rachel the complexities of her own nature. She realizes that a person’s fate—to be one who inflicts harm or one who heals—is not always set in stone.

Lush in historical detail, rich in atmosphere and based on true events, Orphan #8 is a powerful, affecting novel of the unexpected choices we are compelled to make that can shape our destinies. -- Wm Morrow

At this year's BEA, I had the pleasure of meeting author Kim van Alkemade. The folks at William Morrow were very excited about her new novel ORPHAN #8, and they wanted me to meet her. Since I consider authors to be my version of rock-stars, I jumped at the chance. After talking for a few minutes, we realized that we are practically neighbors. We live less than a half hour away. Ms. van Alkemade mentioned her book release party -- which just happens to be tonight; and I can't wait to see her again and tell her how much I adored her book!

I picked up ORPHAN #8 with pretty high expectations, and I'm so happy to say that I wasn't disappointed. Rather, I fell in love with this story and the writing. I was surprised to discover while reading the Acknowledgments Section that there were characters in the story based on the author's own grandfather and great-grandmother. I love how well the author blended fact with fiction!

ORPHAN #8 tells the story of Rachel Rabinowitz. Rachel is just four years old living with her parents and her older brother Sam when a tragedy occurs leaving both Rachel and Sam, for all intents and purposes, orphans. The children are divided with Rachel going to live in an a Jewish home for infants, while Sam is moved to the larger school for older children. At this orphanage, Rachel is first introduced to Dr. Mildred Solomon, a radiologist who conducts medical research on Rachel and other orphans. The X-ray experiments she conducted had many negative and lasting effects on Rachel which she had to deal with the rest of her life.

Fast forward almost 40 years when Rachel is a nurse working at the Old Hebrews Home in Manhattan. She is shocked when Dr. Solomon becomes her patient. Dr. Solomon is in the last stages of cancer and only has a short time to live, and Rachel discovers that everything about her painful past resurfaces. Rachel is determined to make Dr. Solomon admit and repent for her treatment of the orphans; however, Dr. Solomon, drugged on morphine most of the time, isn't quite willing to apologize. As Rachel tries to "make" Dr. Solomon face her past, Rachel discovers many things about her own self in the process and learns that life is far from being just black and white.

Wow! ORPHAN #8 packs a very powerful punch and I just loved it. The novel is highly readable, which is a testament to the author, but also very thought-provoking; and I think readers are going to love the complexities of the story and Rachel's character. Needless to say, there are many difficult scenes in this story that made me both disgusted and heartbroken. And I just appreciated all of them because they made me think and feel!

I really appreciated how ORPHAN #8 was written. The story is told in both first and third person, alternating chapters between Rachel present and her past. And I probably don't have to tell you that balancing this method of storytelling probably wasn't easy for the author. Yet, the transitions were smooth and the different voices worked extremely well.

It's hard for me to decide what I liked more about ORPHAN #8 - the story itself or the characters. Good thing I don't really have to decide! Suffice it to say that readers who enjoy character driven stories and readers who like a good plot will both find many things to appreciate about this novel. I honestly can't stop thinking about Rachel which is always a sign of a good book, but I was also blown away by her story. This little girl went through so much at the orphanages before she was even 16 years old. And then the next few years of her life weren't exactly a walk in the park either. Thank goodness she found some kind people that taught her some valuable lessons during her journey or the book could have been one big cryfest for me.

I have to give huge props to Ms. van Alkemade for creating a character in Rachel that I fell in love with. She was far from perfect -- how could she have been?, but she was so amazing complex and real to me. There were times in this novel when she disappointed me, and had it been most characters in books I read, I would have had a hard time getting past it. However, Rachel's mistakes only made my heart break. I felt so bad for her.

The story of Rachel's life was also a page-turner. I had a hard time putting this book down, but I also didn't want it to end. I love it when that happens! A lot happens to Rachel in the pages of this book, and the story itself is well-paced. I was just very impressed with how Ms. van Alkemade made everything work in this story. It was very interesting with complex characters, its historical information blended well with the story, and most importantly, it made me feel! What more can I really say but that?

ORPHAN #8 would make a perfect book club selection. I say that a lot here at Booking Mama, but this time I'm going to put my money where my mouth is! I am selecting ORPHAN #8 for the September book for my group... and I'm hoping Ms. van Alkemade can join us in person to discuss her novel. There is a reading guide available with twelve great questions. Some of the themes you might want to discuss include grief, loss, parenting, abandonment, friendship, betrayal, trust, medical testing, revenge, love, and redemption. Your group will also enjoy discussing Rachel -- she's fascinating.

I highly recommend ORPHAN #8 for fans of historical fiction and women's fiction. There are some fascinating characters and some very touching moments which will appeal to many readers.

I received a copy of this novel at the 2015 BEA.

Guest Review: Secrets of State

Summary: Sam Trainor’s career of overseas work coupled with a penchant for being outspoken has left him on the outside of the competitive Washington establishment. Formerly the top South Asia expert in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Trainor has moved to the private sector, working as an analyst for the consulting firm Argus Systems.

But Sam soon discovers that for all their similarities, the government and their hired contractors have vastly different motives. As he struggles to adjust to a more corporate, profit-driven version of the work that had been his life, he stumbles across an intelligence anomaly—the transcript of a phone conversation about the fastest ways to upend the delicate political balance keeping India and Pakistan from all-out war. Yet Sam knows that conversation can’t have occurred—because he is having an affair with one of the alleged participants.

As he digs into the source of this misinformation, he realizes that more is at stake than just bad intel. Someone is deliberately twisting the intelligence to stoke the simmering conflict between India and Pakistan, nuclear-armed rivals that have already fought multiple wars. And Sam’s new employer could be up to its neck in it. -- Putnam

Good thing I have Booking Pap Pap or you'd never get political thriller reviews on this blog. His latest read was SECRETS OF STATE by Matthew Palmer, and it sounds like a pretty interesting look at the India/Pakistan conflict. Here are his thoughts:

With more than 20 years of experience in U.S. Services including activity in South Asia, author Matthew Palmer is certainly well qualified to write a novel like SECRETS OF STATE with its international political intrigue.

In SECRETS OF STATE, the protagonist is Sam Trainor, a former State Department expert on Southeast Asia who is adjusting to life in the private sector working as an analyst to provide intelligence to the CIA. Sam accidently comes across a transcript of a phone conversation he knows to be false because he was having a romantic tryst with one of the speakers, the Political Counselor at the Indian Embassy, at the time of the purported phone call. After the untimely death of a friend-analyst who was helping to further the investigation, Sam realizes his life is also in danger. Sam soon discovers a plot that a terrorist group is planning to explode a nuclear device in Mumbai, India in an effort to bring a conflict between Pakistan and India and give the U.S. an excuse to destroy Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. To add a little more excitement to the novel Sam’s beautiful daughter is currently living in Mumbai and her life is now threatened. Sam, of course heads to Mumbai to rescue his daughter. At that point the action picks up the pace after a slow start.

At the same time we learn about a shadowy organization who may be tied to the plot. This group seems to move historic events when they think it is necessary to keep the U.S. safe. Several short chapters in the book suggest that this organization has been active in their cause since the beginning of the nation. These chapters drift back to important historic events such as the Revolutionary War, the Lincoln Assassination, the Battleship Maine, Pearl Harbor and the Kennedy Assassination.

Even though the plot is rather implausible, the author has developed interesting characters and provides sufficient twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Additionally, Palmer has given the reader an insight into some real-life issues such as the Indian Caste system, outsourcing national security to private corporations and nuclear weapons in the hands of rogue states.

SECRETS OF STATE is a well written international suspense/political thriller that I think fans of this genre will enjoy.

Thanks to Booking Pap Pap for his insightful review and to the publisher for providing a review copy of this novel.

Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read. Mystery Mondays is a regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.