Waiting on Wednesday (2-27-13)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, you highlight an upcoming release that you are eagerly anticipating. This week, I'm looking forward to Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline (release date: April 9, 2013).

Synopsis (from Amazon): When Dr. Mike Scanlon is called to serve as an army doctor in Afghanistan, he’s acutely aware of the dangers he’ll face and the hardships it will cause his wife Chloe and newborn baby.  And deep inside, he doesn’t think of himself as a warrior, but a healer.

However, in an ironic turn of events, as Mike operates on a wounded soldier in a war-torn country, Chloe dies at home in the suburbs, in an apparent household accident.  Devastated, he returns home to bury her, only to discover that the life he left behind has fallen apart.  His medical practice is in jeopardy, and he is a complete stranger to the only family he has left - his precious baby girl.  Worse, he learns a shocking secret that sends him into a downward spiral. Ultimately, Mike realizes that the most important battle of his life faces him on the home front and he’ll have to put it all on the line to save what’s dearest to him – his family.  Gripping, thrilling, and profoundly emotional, Don’t Go is Lisa Scottoline at her finest.

I always enoy Scottoline's books and I hope that this one is as good as her last few. So, what are you wating on this Wednesday?

Review: Come Home by Lisa Scottoline

 

Come Home
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Published: April 10, 2012
Genre: thriller
Hardcover: 384 pages
Source: borrowed from the library

My Rating: 3 stars

Synopsis (from GoodReads): Jill Farrow is a typical suburban mom who has finally gotten her and her daughter's lives back on track after a divorce. She is about to remarry, her job as a pediatrician fulfills her---though it is stressful---and her daughter, Megan, is a happily over-scheduled thirteen-year-old juggling homework and the swim team.

But Jill’s life is turned upside down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up on her doorstep late one night and delivers shocking news: Jill’s ex-husband is dead. Abby insists that he was murdered and pleads with Jill to help find his killer. Jill reluctantly agrees to make a few inquiries and discovers that things don’t add up. As she digs deeper, her actions threaten to rip apart her new family, destroy their hard-earned happiness, and even endanger her own life. Yet Jill can’t turn her back on a child she loves and once called her own.

Come Home reads with the breakneck pacing of a thriller while also exploring the definition of motherhood, asking the questions: Do you ever stop being a mother? Can you ever have an ex-child? What are the limits to love of family?

My Thoughts: I enjoy Lisa Scottoline's books and was excited when I saw her newest novel out. Focusing on Jill Farrow, a woman who is struggling with her role as an ex-stepmother when her ex-stepdaughters are in trouble following the death of their father. It's a unique situation and the plot had me guessing the entire time. While seeing Jill struggle with her relationship with her former children, along with that of her daughter and her fiance, Jill must also try and figure out what exactly happened to her ex-husband. It's a twisting plot, one that I didn't want to walk away from and constantly found myself trying to figure out what was going to happen next.

I did have one complaint with this book, which is why I only gave it three stars. For me, the dialogue was just too stilted. It felt forced and unorganic. The conversations between Jill and her daughter Megan were just too fake for me. I don't know many parents and children who speak to each other that way, constantly polite and saying, "I love you!" (I mean, her daughter is 13. How many 13 year olds are constantly saying that to their moms?!?) That was the only detractor for me in this novel. I loved the characters, loved the action and the thrill of the hunt as Jill attempts to solve this case. It was fast-paced and something that I was able to read in a few days. I enjoyed this one and look forward to more of Scottoline's work.

Review: Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline

Lady Killer
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Published: February 1, 2008
Genre: thriller
Hardcover: 355 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 2.5 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): Mary DiNunzio is a trademark Lisa Scottoline heroine--she's strong, she's smart, and she's got plenty of attitude. In recent years, she's become a big-time business-getter at Rosato & Associates, but the last person she expects to walk into her office one morning--in mile-high stilettos--is super sexy Trish Gambone, her high school rival. Back then, while Mary was becoming the straight-A president of the Latin Club and Most Likely to Achieve Sainthood, Trish was the head Mean Girl, who flunked religion and excelled at smoking in the bathroom. As it turns out, however, Trish's life has taken a horrifying turn. She's terrified of her live-in boyfriend, who's an abusive, gun-toting drug dealer for the South Philly mob. There's only one problem--Mary remembers the guy from high school too. Unbeknownst to Trish, Mary had a major crush on him. Then Trish vanishes, a dead body turns up in an alley, and Mary is plunged into a nightmare, one that threatens her job, her family, and even her life. She goes on a one-woman crusade to unmask the killer, and on the way, finds new love in a very unexpected place. But before the novel's shocking surprise ending, Mary is forced to confront some very uncomfortable truths about her own past, and the profound effects of lifelong love--and hate.

My Thoughts: I have read two other books by Lisa Scottoline and really enjoyed them, so I picked up Lady Killer, thinking that I would like it. Unfortunately, this one wasn't as good as the other two, but not anawful book. For me, I just didn't feel the pull from the characters that I had in the other books. I thought that Mary was a great character and very strong, but everyone around her just seemed to blend into the background. I also thought the plot could have been a bit stronger. It wasn't a great as her other novels, but wasn't so bad that I wanted to stop reading. I know I will continue to look for Scottoline books when I'm at the library, but this wasn't my favorite work of hers.

Waiting On Wednesday (2-22-12)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Each week, you highlight an upcoming release that you are eagerly awaiting. This week, my pick is: Come Home by Lisa Scottoline (expected publication date: April 10, 2012).

Synopsis (from bn.com): Jill Farrow is a typical suburban mom who has finally gotten her and her daughter's lives back on track after a divorce. She is about to remarry, her job as a pediatrician fulfills her—-though it is stressful—-and her daughter, Megan, is a happily over-scheduled thirteen-year-old juggling homework and the swim team.

But Jill’s life is turned upside down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up on her doorstep late one night and delivers shocking news: Jill’s ex-husband is dead. Abby insists that he was murdered and pleads with Jill to help find his killer. Jill reluctantly agrees to make a few inquiries and discovers that things don’t add up. As she digs deeper, her actions threaten to rip apart her new family, destroy their hard-earned happiness, and even endanger her own life. Yet Jill can’t turn her back on a child she loves and once called her own.

Come Home reads with the breakneck pacing of a thriller while also exploring the definition of motherhood, asking the questions: Do you ever stop being a mother? Can you ever have an ex-child? What are the limits to love of family? 

I've read two of Scottline's books now and have really enjoyed them, so I can't wait to read this one! What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Review: Look Again by Lisa Scottoline

Look Again
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Published: April 14, 2009
Genre: thriller
Hardcover: 337 pages
Source: borrowed from library


My Rating: 4 stars


Synopsis (from GoodReads): When reporter Ellen Gleeson gets a “Have You Seen This Child?” flyer in the mail, she almost throws it away. But something about it makes her look again, and her heart stops—the child in the photo is identical to her adopted son, Will. Her every instinct tells her to deny the similarity between the boys, because she knows her adoption was lawful. But she’s a journalist and won’t be able to stop thinking about the photo until she figures out the truth. And she can’t shake the question: if Will rightfully belongs to someone else, should she keep him or give him up? She investigates, uncovering clues no one was meant to discover, and when she digs too deep, she risks losing her own life—and that of the son she loves. 


My Thoughts: I found this book to be a great read and perfect for someone who is a bit of a wuss like me. I like a good thriller/mystery, but nothing too scary. This book was perfect in that it had me guessing what was going to happen next and never wanting to stop reading. Focusing a woman, Ellen, who has adopted a young boy only to believe that he was kidnapped, Lisa Scottoline takes the reader on a great adventure to get to the bottom of this mystery.


For me, the best thing about this book was the premise. I'm sure that we all have seen those "Have You Seen This Child?" fliers, posted at local stores and sometimes in the mail. But have you ever wondered if those kids are ever found? And where do they go? Scottoline explores this idea, following Ellen as she comes to the realization that her adopted son may have been kidnapped from his loving family. Ellen is determined to get to the bottom of the matter. The plot twists and turns and had me guessing throughout. I was surprised by the ending and glad that it wasn't what I thought it was going to be.


If you are looking for a good thriller, then I would definitely check this one out. Scottline has crafted a great novel around such an interesting premise. I can't wait to read another one of her novels.

Review: Save Me by Lisa Scottoline

Save Me
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Published: April 12, 2011
Genre: contemporary fiction
Hardcover: 384 pages
Source: borrowed from the library


My Rating: 3.5 stars


Synopsis (from goodreads.com): Rose McKenna volunteers as a lunch mom in her daughter Melly’s school in order to keep an eye on Amanda, a mean girl who’s been bullying her daughter. Her fears come true when the bullying begins, sending Melly to the bathroom in tears. Just as Rose is about to follow after her daughter, a massive explosion goes off in the kitchen, sending the room into chaos. Rose finds herself faced with the horrifying decision of whether or not to run to the bathroom to rescue her daughter or usher Amanda to safety. She believes she has accomplished both, only to discover that Amanda, for an unknown reason, ran back into the school once out of Rose's sight. In an instance, Rose goes from hero to villain as the small community blames Amanda’s injuries on her. In the days that follow, Rose's life starts to fall to pieces, Amanda’s mother decides to sue, her marriage is put to the test, and worse, when her daughter returns to school, the bullying only intensifies. Rose must take matters into her own hands and get down to the truth of what really happened that fateful day in order to save herself, her marriage and her family.


My Thoughts: There were so many things that I loved about this book! As I was sitting there reading it, I found it difficult to put down and was already starting to plan my review in my head. One of my favorite things about this book is that Lisa Scottoline jumps right into the action. There isn't a big build-up, no slow reveal of all the characters and their histories. Nope, she just puts you in that school moments before the explosion occurs. I LOVED it! She wasted no time in pulling you into this story! I loved the characters and found them to be interesting people. Rose is a woman who has finally found contentment in her life and is trying to find that peace for her daughter, Melly, who has port wine birthmark on part of her face. She is bullied about it, causing them to move to this new school district that was committed to anti-bullying. Rose is a real person. If I had a child, I would do the exact same things that Rose did to help Melly. 


You may be wondering why I'm saying that I loved this book but only gave it 3.5 stars. Well, let me explain: as I was reading this novel, I knew it was going to be a 4 star book. The last one hundred or so pages really changed my mind, though. Instead of progressing through the issues that were already presented, Rose decides she is going to solve this crime and learn why the school was blown up. And it's amazing how quickly she does it: in about a week. I mean, come on. It was just a little too unrealistic for me. I wish that Scottoline had stayed with the course her book was on, because I would have found that so much more interesting. I still really liked the book, especially the ending, but where Rose goes to solve the crime, I was turned off just a little from the book.


I will definitely be checking out more of Scottoline's work. It was fast-paced, interesting, and something that I couldn't put down! I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good legal thriller (which part of this book was).