review: the cradle by patrick somerville

I adored the story Patrick Somerville told with The Cradle. It all begins when Matthew’s pregnant wife decides she needs their baby to sleep in the same cradle she slept. That wouldn’t be too difficult if it weren’t for the fact that Marissa’s mom took off and the cradle was stolen from the house shortly after that. Marissa believes her mom was behind the theft, but she has no idea where her mom is. Matthew eventually agrees to track down the cradle, which is made a little easier when his father-in-law offers up some contact information for his ex-wife’s family. His search leads to a surprising discovery that causes Matthew to revisit painful memories of his time in foster care.

Alternating with Matthew’s story is Renee’s story, which takes place years later. With her son fighting in Iraq, Renee finally breaks down and confesses a secret--one she's kept since the Vietnam War--to her husband. Although I had to keep reminding myself, it’s not hard to put together how Matthew and Renee are connected. How the revelation is made to Renee, however, did come as a surprise. Every paragraph of this book made me want to read the next.
5/5
Review copy provided by the publisher, Back Bay Books.

giveaway winners: admission

Congratulations to etirv and Elise, who have won Admission!

giveaway: stay a little longer

Another book giveaway from Hachette! This time it's Stay a Little Longer by Dorothy Garlock. Three people will win.

From Publishers Weekly:
"The prolific Garlock (The Moon Looked Down) returns to a familiar setting—a smalltown boarding house run by a struggling young woman—in her true-to-form latest. In Carlson, Minn., circa 1926, Rachel Watkins ekes out a living overseeing an inn owned by her mother and her likable drunk uncle. She's also a part-time midwife, just as her mother was before Rachel's sister, Alice, died while giving birth to her daughter, Charlotte. Eight years have passed since Mason Tucker, Alice's husband, was presumed dead in WWI, and now Mason's greedy brother, Zachary, wants to force Rachel's family to sell the boarding house. But when Charlotte discovers a shell-shocked hobo with a familiar voice living in a decrepit cabin nearby, she begins to think that he's Mason. As Rachel and her family try to outwit Zachary, love blooms in heartwarming, predictable Garlock fashion. If you've read Garlock before, you'll know what to expect."

The rules: Enter by leaving a comment to this post with your email (if I can't contact you, you can't win). You can gain additional entries by leaving separate comments letting me know that you're a follower or have posted a link to the giveaway on your site. The deadline to enter is 11:59pm Pacific on May 22. Winners will be selected at random. Since this is from Hachette the winners must have mailing addresses in the US or Canada; no PO Boxes.

review: the opposite of me by sarah pekkanen

This post contains affiliate links.

Since my days of reading Sweet Valley books, I’ve loved the idea of twins and their differences. The Opposite of Me brings the tale of fraternal twins Lindsey and Alex from Lindsey’s perspective. Lindsey has always been the smart one while Alex is the drop-dead gorgeous one. An unfortunate turn at work finds Lindsey moving back home where she must again deal with Alex head-on. At the center of The Opposite of Me is a very interesting question: Are we who we are because of what we’ve been told about ourselves and who the others around us are? Lindsey always believed she was the smart one and pursued it to set herself apart from her twin who Lindsey felt was the pretty one. But is any of that true?

I absolutely fell in love with Lindsey; I related to her so much, especially at the beginning when she was still in her full-on pursuit of a promotion. The relationship between Lindsey and Alex was very realistic and the parents were well done too. I enjoyed every page. Although it’s a small part of the book since Lindsey is the focus, I loved the little bits about Alex’s work in television. Before it was over, I cried for Lindsey, then I cried for Alex, then I rejoiced when each twin found her own happiness. It’s a stunning debut; I’ll be looking out for Sarah Pekkanen’s next book.
5/5
Review copy provided by the author's publicist.

review: freefall by ariela anhalt

Ariela Anhalt’s debut makes use of a clichéd plot. Two high school boys (one a newcomer, of course) are rivals both on the fencing team and for the love of a girl named Nicole. Add in the initiation ritual that leaves one boy dead and the other accused of murder and you've got the typical cheesy made-for-TV movie. Anhalt even throws in some drug abuse for good measure. I will give Ahhalt credit for good exposition and pacing, but the dialogue is atrocious. I don't for one second believe Luke's bank manager mother would speak as she does. Luke's favorite phrase is "I don't know." While that may be how a high school student would answer questions about a death he witnessed, it comes across as lazy writing that does nothing to move the plot forward.
2/5
Review copy provided by BookDivas.

giveaway: forbidden passion

Thanks to Hachette, I can offer up three copies of the third book in Rita Herron's Demonborn series! I can't wait to start reading my copy of Forbidden Passion.

Below is the publisher description:
"SHE SEES HIM IN HER DREAMS...

Fueled by her family's murder years ago, Dr. Marlena Bender has devoted her life to understanding violent criminals. But when a serial killer in this small Southern town starts taking the lives of women in diabolical ways--leaving trophies of his kills on Marlena's doorstep--it all hits too close to home. Terrified, Marlena turns to the only man she can trust...the man who saved her life.

BUT HIS SECRET IS HER WORST NIGHTMARE.

Sheriff Dante Valtrez would move heaven and earth to keep Marlena safe, but he's not the savior she thinks he is. A dark legacy runs through his blood and a dangerous secret lies within him. Now a fierce, hot, ruthless desire draws Dante and Marlena together--as a demonic force from his past threatens to rip them apart, destroying everything they hold dear."

The rules: Enter by leaving a comment to this post with your email (if I can't contact you, you can't win). You can gain additional entries by leaving separate comments letting me know that you're a follower or have posted a link to the giveaway on your site. The deadline to enter is 11:59pm Pacific on May 22. Winners will be selected at random. Since this is from Hachette the winners must have mailing addresses in the US or Canada; no PO Boxes.

giveaway winners: the swimming pool and dark deceptions

Congratulations to the winners!

The Swimming Pool: kelly at keeping up with kelly and Bethie
Dark Deceptions: Judylynn, booklover0226, and Cheryl F.