Goodreads Giveaways!! I Won Another Book!!

 

I've been a member of Goodreads since 2014. During my tenure,  I have entered many of the free book giveaways and won many free books over the years. 

My most recent win from the Goodreads Giveaways program is The Flip Side by Jason Walz, which is a new, paperback, graphic novel. It looks like a fun read I hope to read later on this year.

I love winning free books, don't you as well?

The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman

I read the advanced reader's paperback edition of The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman, which I received for FREE through the Goodreads Giveaway program. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman.

I enjoy reading true crime books and nonfiction books about other books. So with this in mind, I wanted to read The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman. The irony is that I've yet to read Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. I hope to read this classic novel some day... Hopefully sooner rather than later. 

The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman combines the true crime genre by chronicling the kidnapping and rape of 11 year old Sally Horner, who was held for almost 2 years by her abductor, Frank La Salle. This book goes on to additionally discuss Vladimir Nabakov's life and his writing of Lolita. Sarah Weinman makes a very compelling case that Nabokov's novel, Lolita, was inspired by the events surrounding Sally Horner's abduction, rape, etc. and sets out to uncover "how much Nabokov knew of the Sally Horner case and the efforts he took to disguise that knowledge during the process of writing and publishing Lolita."

I really enjoyed reading The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman. In fact, I was pretty impressed with Weinman's writing overall in that it kept me captivated throughout the entire book from start to finish. I also liked the way in which Ms. Weinman organized her book to keep her readers riveted. Additionally, I found The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman to be a quick read.

Below is a summary for The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman from Amazon:

“The Real Lolita is a tour de force of literary detective work. Not only does it shed new light on the terrifying true saga that influenced Nabokov’s masterpiece, it restores the forgotten victim to our consciousness.” —David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon

Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita is one of the most beloved and notorious novels of all time. And yet, very few of its readers know that the subject of the novel was inspired by a real-life case: the 1948 abduction of eleven-year-old Sally Horner.

Weaving together suspenseful crime narrative, cultural and social history, and literary investigation, The Real Lolita tells Sally Horner’s full story for the very first time. Drawing upon extensive investigations, legal documents, public records, and interviews with remaining relatives, Sarah Weinman uncovers how much Nabokov knew of the Sally Horner case and the efforts he took to disguise that knowledge during the process of writing and publishing Lolita.

Sally Horner’s story echoes the stories of countless girls and women who never had the chance to speak for themselves. By diving deeper in the publication history of Lolita and restoring Sally to her rightful place in the lore of the novel’s creation, The Real Lolita casts a new light on the dark inspiration for a modern classic.

I am giving The Real Lolita: The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel That Scandalized the World by Sarah Weinman a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Ain't She A Peach by Molly Harper

I received a review paperback copy of Ain't She A Peach by Molly Harper through the Goodreads Giveaway program. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Ain't She A Peach by Molly Harper.

Ain't She A Peach by Molly Harper is the fourth novel in Molly Harper's 'A Southern Eclectic' series. I've read two previous works written by the author, but this is the first novel I've read that is part of Harper's 'A Southern Eclectic' series. 

Although, I found Ain't She A Peach by Molly Harper to be a good summertime beach read, it just didn't have the depth of feeling I would have liked to make this a better read for me. The plot, storyline, and characters are good, but as I already mentioned there is lacking that little bit of something extra to make this novel great... For instance, the humor was entertaining, but wasn't as funny as I thought it could. Otherwise, I enjoyed reading this contemporary work of fiction. I highly doubt I'll read the rest of the novels in the 'A Southern Eclectic' series by Molly Harper. 

Below is the plot summary for Ain't She A Peach by Molly Harper from Amazon:

An Atlanta ex-cop comes to sleepy Lake Sackett, Georgia, seeking peace and quiet - but he hasn’t bargained on falling for Frankie, the cutest coroner he’s ever met.

Frankie McCready talks to dead people. Not like a ghost whisperer or anything - but it seems rude to embalm them and not at least say hello.

Fortunately, at the McCready Family Funeral Home & Bait Shop, Frankie’s eccentricities fit right in. Lake Sackett’s embalmer and county coroner, Frankie’s goth styling and passion for nerd culture mean she’s not your typical Southern girl, but the McCreadys are hardly your typical Southern family. Led by Great-Aunt Tootie, the gambling, boozing, dog-collecting matriarch of the family, everyone looks out for one another - which usually means getting up in everyone else’s business.

Maybe that’s why Frankie is so fascinated by new sheriff Eric Linden...a recent transplant from Atlanta, he sees a homicide in every hunting accident or boat crash, which seems a little paranoid for this sleepy tourist town. What’s he so worried about? And what kind of cop can get a job with the Atlanta PD but can’t stand to look at a dead body?

Frankie has other questions that need answering first - namely, who’s behind the recent break-in attempts at the funeral home, and how can she stop them? This one really does seem like a job for the sheriff - and as Frankie and Eric do their best Scooby-Doo impressions to catch their man, they get closer to spilling some secrets they thought were buried forever.

I am giving Ain't She A Peach by Molly Harper a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

A Killer Kebab by Susannah Hardy

I enjoy reading cozy mystery novels from time to time. In fact, there's nothing better than reading a well written cozy mystery novel! 

I recently read A Killer Kebab by Susannah Hardy, which I received for FREE through the Goodreads Giveaways program. Below is my honest, unbiased review of A Killer Kebab by Susannah Hardy.

A Killer Kebab by Susannah Hardy is the third cozy mystery novel in the 'A Greek To Me' mystery series. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first book I've read by Susannah Hardy. 

I truly enjoyed reading A Killer Kebab. The characters, the plot, and writing were all really good. I'm even considering reading the two previous books in the 'A Greek To Me' mystery series. So, if you're a cozy mystery lover like myself, I recommend reading A Killer Kebab by Susannah Hardy!

Below is the plot summary for A Killer Kebab by Susannah Hardy from Amazon:

The Bonaparte House is closed for the season, and Georgie Nikolopatos looks forward to fixing up the Greek restaurant and historic landmark—until her renovation plans hit a fatal snag in this Greek to Me mystery.

With her divorce underway, her mother-in-law returning to Greece, and the tourists gone, Georgie finally has life under control—and the Bonaparte House to herself. She quickly hires a contractor for some much-needed renovations to reopen in time for a special Greek-style Thanksgiving meal. Georgie is suspicious though when former dishwasher Russ Riley arrives with the construction crew. He still has an axe to grind with the Nikolopatos family—but is it sharp enough to kill?

When Georgie finds the body of her divorce lawyer amid the construction debris and Russ is quickly arrested for murder, something about the case doesn’t add up. While Georgie is no fan of Russ, even a bad egg deserves a crack at justice.

I'm giving A Killer Kebab by Susannah Hardy a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel

I read the uncorrected paperback proof edition of The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel in three days! 

I received The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel through Goodreads Giveaways earlier this year. Below is my honest unbiased review of The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel.

First off, let me begin by saying that The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel is the second novel I've read and reviewed by the author. I read The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel (click on the link to read my review) in March 2017 and LOVED this novel... So I couldn't wait to hunker down and read The Familiar Dark. 

I wasn't disappointed! Amy Engel has another winner of a novel with The Familiar Dark. Engel's writing is great... Crisp and engaging from start to finish! I loved the twists and turns in this novel along with the red herrings. If you like mysteries/thrillers with dark, gritty characters, then The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel may be the novel for you! 

The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel will be released March 31, 2020.

The following is a plot summary for The Familiar Darkby Amy Engel from Goodreads:

A spellbinding story of a mother with nothing left to lose who sets out on an all-consuming quest for justice after her daughter is murdered on the town playground.

Sometimes the answers are worse than the questions. Sometimes it's better not to know.

Set in the poorest part of the Missouri Ozarks, in a small town with big secrets, The Familiar Dark opens with a murder. Eve Taggert, desperate with grief over losing her daughter, takes it upon herself to find out the truth about what happened. Eve is no stranger to the dark side of life, having been raised by a hard-edged mother whose lessons Eve tried not to pass on to her own daughter. But Eve may need her mother's cruel brand of strength if she's going to face the reality about her daughter's death and about her own true nature. Her quest for justice takes her from the seedy underbelly of town to the quiet woods and, most frighteningly, back to her mother's trailer for a final lesson.

The Familiar Dark is a story about the bonds of family--women doing the best they can for their daughters in dire circumstances--as well as a story about how even the darkest and most terrifying of places can provide the comfort of home.

I am giving The Familiar Dark by Amy Engel 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Where the Lost Girls Go by R. J. Noonan

I received the finished, hardback edition of Where the Lost Girls Go by R. J. Noonan through Goodreads Giveaways.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Where the Lost Girls Go by R. J. Noonan.

Where the Lost Girls Go by R. J. Noonan is my first read for 2020. This novel falls into the mystery/thriller genre and is the first novel in the 'A Laura Mori Mystery' series. And, to the best of my recollection, Where the Lost Girls Go is the first book I've read by R. J. Noonan. 

I love the beautiful cover design/artwork for Where the Lost Girls Go by R. J. Noonan. I also enjoyed Noonan's writing and storytelling as she's written a really good mystery novel that kept me engaged from start to finish. Lots of red herrings throughout this novel that keeps the reader guessing whodunnit. The characters were all well done for the most part too.

I pretty much guessed whodunnit towards the end of Where the Lost Girls Go by R. J. Noonan and why... Additionally, there were a few minor things about this novel that didn't sit well with me. Otherwise, I really enjoyed Where the Lost Girls Go by R. J. Noonan.

Favorite quotes from Where the Lost Girls Go by R. J. Noonan are as follows:

"Sometimes you can't fix things. Sometimes the broken pieces simply don't fit together anymore." (page 179)

"Another Japanese proverb: 'If you understand everything, you must be misinformed'." (page 189)

I liked reading Where the Lost Girls Go so much, that I am thinking about reading the second novel in the 'A Laura Mori Mystery' series by R. J. Noonan titled, In the Line of Fire.

Below is the publisher's summary for Where the Lost Girls Go R. J. Noonan, which I discovered on Goodreads:

Rookie cop Laura Mori catches her first investigation when the fiery crash of a sports car lights up the night sky. The fire burns the body beyond recognition, but the police are able to identify the car as that of Kent Jameson, celebrity author and benefactor of Sunrise Lake. And Jameson fears that the unidentified body is his seventeen-year-old daughter Lucy, who stormed out of the house that night after an argument.

When lab reports reveal that the body was not Lucy, but a teen runaway named Kyra whose disappearance has been linked with other missing persons--more than half a dozen “lost girls” who disappeared while living on the streets of Portland--the investigation takes a drastic turn. How did Kyra come to land at the Jameson estate in rural Oregon, and what was she doing driving their car? And who cut the brake lines on the vehicle?

Just when Laura is making progress in the case, she comes across a suspicious lane in the forest that uncovers new evidence that will once again alter the course of the investigation and rock Sunrise Lake to its core.

I am giving Where the Lost Girls Go by R. J. Noonan a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Undertow by Kelly Cozy

I received the paperback edition of Undertow by Kelly Cozy through the Goodreads Giveaways program. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Undertow by Kelly Cozy.

Undertow by Kelly Cozy is a mystery novel. I read it in three days. I liked Undertow overall. I found it a bit difficult to get into at first, but it picked up pretty quickly. I liked the storyline and characters... plus the unexpected ending!

Below is a plot summary for Undertow by Kelly Cozy from Goodreads:

Drew Finley was a crime journalist, until his mind couldn't shut out the images of blood and bodies. Alcohol made the images go away, but also ruined Drew's career and innocents' lives.

Drew's eager to make amends and he's got a story that will help him: a profile of a local celebrity who may have been framed for murder. As he digs deeper, he'll uncover secrets and grudges that will put the people he loves in danger.

I am giving Undertow by Kelly Cozy a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Calling all Goodreads Members... Check Out These 12 Goodreads Hacks!

I've been a member of Goodreads for about 2.5 years and I have yet to fully explore and utilize the site.

So, when I discovered an article on Bustle's website titled, 12 Goodreads Hacks That Will Totally Change The Way You Use The Site by Emma Oulton, I looked forward to discovering the different hacks mentioned. 

In the article, Emma Oulton wrote:

If you're a bookworm with an extensive TBR that you can't keep track of, or if you can't read a book without checking the reviews first — then I'm guessing you've already discovered the bookish wonders of Goodreads. The bookish social media site is the go-to place for book-lovers to mark the books they'd like to read, as well as to rate and review books they've finished — but it also does so much more than that. With these twelve Goodreads hacks, your reading experience might be about to change forever. 

Once you've learned these handy little tricks, Goodreads will transform from just a place to record your reading journey into a vibrant social community, bursting with personalized recommendations just for you. Goodreads can interact with your home bookshelf, and it can give you information about your local library. Thanks to these sneaky Goodreads hacks, you can even get some of the most exciting new releases seriously reduced, or you might even be able to nab them for free. You can chat to your favorite authors. You can push yourself to new reading heights. It's every book-lover's dream — and a ton of users have no idea that these features even exist.

So, what are you waiting for??? Click the very top link and see all 12 Goodreads hacks!