I went into Winter in Paradise thinking that it would be the perfect beachy blend of mystery and family drama. Irene gets a phone call on New Years that her devoted husband has died from a helicopter crash while away on business. What follows is the dangling of the proverbial mystery bait, where hints abound that not everything is as it seems. And then some more bait dangling. And then the book just ends, on a cliffhanger, without anything being resolved.

Ugh! That was not at all what I expected. I knew this book was the first in a series, but I assumed that the mysteries of this book would be solved by the end of the book (or at least big parts of it), and the following books would have new mysteries to uncover and unravel. A big reason I even picked up this book in the first place was for the mystery, and to have it end without any forward progress is a huge disappointment.

Most of this book is just fluffy drama between the characters, and unfortunately, the main characters are not likable. Irene is a mother who plays favorites but can't see it. The two brothers both act like spoiled children, trying to best each other. The whole family keeps secrets from each other, sometimes for no particular reason. And there is so much insta-love I feel like I got whiplash.

Will I read the rest of the series when those books come out? Maybe, but only because I have been so thoroughly baited with this mystery. I do hope the payoff is good eventually, if it's going to take three whole books to get there.

Readaroo Rating: 2 stars

Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix is the sequel to Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, and I've been eagerly anticipating it ever since I finished the first book last year. The sequel switches gears and focuses on Jade (east Asian Snow White, reimagined), who is destined to overthrow her evil stepmother Xifeng and save the kingdom. We follow her as she learns of her destiny and sets out on a series of adventures and tasks that will help her achieve her goals.

Many people mentioned they are disappointed with Jade because Xifeng was such an riveting evil heroine in the first book, while Jade pales in comparison as a goody two shoes who can do no wrong. I agree that just based on the main hero of the books, the first one was more interesting, yet I found this sequel to be no less compelling.

Dao took some small parts from the classic fairy tale, and weaved a whole world around it, fleshing it out and really making this story her own. There are so many unique and imaginative parts to it that it just sucked me right in. The quest that Jade undertakes to journey through the lands of her kingdom and find the five relics of the gods makes the book feel epic, all culminating in the final fight that determines whether good or evil will triumph.

I've been trying to put my finger on exactly what it is about this duology that is so fun, and in the end, I think it's my enjoyment of the characters and how entertaining the plot is. Dao has a real knack for crafting likable characters I can sympathize with and cheer for, whether they be good or bad. And she has shown a skillful ability to weave a tale that is complex and riveting. This duology is Dao's first books, and I look forward to reading more from her.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

In Sometimes I Lie, Amber is lying in a coma at the hospital, with no memory of how she got there. She can hear everything going on around her, but she can't move or speak. The story is told through three alternating timelines: right now while she is lying in the hospital, one week before this in the lead up, and many years ago through the diary entries of a young girl.

Pretty much nothing is as it seems in this story. I give a lot of credit to author Alice Feeney for coming up with and fitting more twists and turns into this one story than I have ever seen. The many reveals are definitely fun, though they require a big suspension of disbelief, because it's hard to believe that so many crazy things would all be happening around one person.

The one thing I don't like is that the main character Amber is rather unlikable. She's secretive, self-pitying, and waffling with indecision. She often withholds information from people around her and then acts very hurt when they don't read her mind. She assumes things but won't come out and ask, therefore spending much time nursing hurt feelings and mired in misunderstandings. The other characters in the story aren't much better either.

Overall though, the good outweighed the bad, and I found this book to be decently enjoyable. There are enough unexpected things going on in here to keep my attention. If you're looking for a domestic thriller with lots of outrageous twists and turns, this is a worthwhile one to consider.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

Sleep No More is a collection of six murderous short stories. Most aren't whodunnits, but rather contain tales of murders with unusual twists and turns. They're fun and taken together, have this vein of creepiness that runs through them, which I found delightful. It's my first time reading P.D. James and I look forward to reading more from her, including some of her full length stories.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

Whatever was coming next, this was a story we could own.

What an extraordinary and formidable undertaking it must have been, to be the one standing next to the first black President of the United States. And it was made all the more so because Michelle Obama was scrutinized and held to a bar far higher than any previous First Lady. And yet, she came through it with grace, intelligence, and humor, and in the process, inspired an entire generation of women and people of color, including me.

Becoming feels like I'm not just reading the words of one woman's incredible journey from lower middle class to being one of the most respected women of our time, but also the potential story of what could be for so many women of color. Michelle makes clear that her life was able to take its remarkable trajectory in large part due to the influence of her parents, extended family, teachers, and mentors, who all loved and invested in her through her crucial formative years.

Reading this, I'm struck by how honest and forthright she is. She is open with all the difficulties and struggles she has gone through, both public and personal. She talks about how she tries to balance her drive for a career in public service with her husband's political calling, all while raising two young children. It must have been extraordinarily challenging, yet she handled it all with enviable poise.

One of the things I most enjoyed about this book is its message of optimism and hope. She's incredibly resilient and driven, even in the face of so much opposition, criticism, and disparagement of herself and her family. She accomplished so much during her time as First Lady, and reading her words in this memoir is a true inspiration.

Michelle Obama encompasses all that I admire: authenticity, kindness, and resilience. And this book is not just a candid self-reflection, but also a hopeful call for us all that we can do better and can achieve anything we put our minds to, as long as we aren't afraid of hard work.

I'm so glad I picked up this memoir of a truly exceptional woman. There's a lot in here to digest, and I will be taking the time to think over all that I've read in the coming weeks and months. I know her words will stay with me for a long time.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

I've had Saints for All Occasions in my physical to-read pile for a while now. I keep picking it up due to the great reviews, and then putting it down again after reading the book jacket, wondering if there is enough in this book to keep my attention. I'm so glad I finally took the plunge and read this beautiful book.

It's a multi-generation story that starts out with sisters Nora and Theresa. As their lives take unexpected turns and fill with hardships, each has to make difficult decisions and sacrifices, which in turn drives them away from each other. It's not until tragedy strikes that they come together once again.

I really enjoyed the portrayals of family relationships in this book, in all their complexities and subtleties. Each person in the family has their own views and expectations, while bringing with them lots of baggage. As a result, each relationship is fraught with all that is left unsaid and unknown. Sullivan gently probes and explores that side-by-side with the power of love and the bonds of family.

I'm so glad I picked up this eloquent and moving book. While the topic isn't one that would normally interest me, I found this to be no less riveting and compelling due to it, largely because of the author's vividly graceful writing and astute perspectives on relationships. This is the first book I've read by Sullivan, and I'm definitely going to pick up more books by her.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

A Fatal Grace is the second installment of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, when he is called back to the small town of Three Pines to investigate another murder. This time the victim is someone everyone disliked, though the crime was almost impossible to pull off. So there were plenty of motives but not enough opportunities.

I thought the murder mystery was interesting enough, though the solution felt a little far-fetched, since a bunch of things had to have happened for the murderer to remain secret. I enjoyed being back at Three Pines, with its cozy neighborly feel, and some of the lovely characters from the first book make appearances in this one too. As a result, this is a series best read in order, since the reappearance of characters and their conversations do give hints about the outcome of previous books.

One thing I didn't like is the focus that someone is out to get Gamache, related to his previous Arnot case that had been briefly mentioned in the first book too. This story, murder investigation, and detectives are interesting enough to stand on their own. It comes across as rather forced to read about this other tangential issue, as if without a overarching nemesis, this series would fall apart. Also, the annoying and incredibly weird Agent Nichol is back, acting simultaneously slavish and petulant through every scene she is in. Ugh, I really wish she would either grow up or stop showing up in this series.

In general, I'm enjoying this series. I love the cozy backdrop of Three Pines, the interesting murders, and Gamache's thoughtfulness and intelligence. I just wish the other peripheral dramas would be kept to a minimum.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars