Review: Family Family

Family Family by Laurie Frankel
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Thank you so much to Henry Holt & Co. and Library Journal for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title!

Frankel (One Two Three) has written a funny, heart-wrenching, deeply personal story about the meaning of family and holding fast to one’s beliefs. India Allwood has been a talented, determined actress from a young age. She works her way from stage plays in college to Broadway and finally to a TV role in Hollywood. After starring in a melodramatic movie about adoption, India tells a reporter that she believes the film misrepresents adoption; as an adoptive mother herself, India knows firsthand that not every such story is tragic. The media feedback to India’s interview is ruthless, and soon secrets from her past come to light. Suddenly her career is at risk, and India must decide if she wants to save face or continue defending her choices. India is the star of Frankel’s novel, but the supporting characters are warm and vibrant, each getting their own opportunity to shine. VERDICT Highly recommended for fans of Frankel and those who enjoy literary fiction featuring witty dialogue and thought-provoking topics. Reviewed by Carmen Clark , Nov 01, 2023

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Review: Blood Betrayal

Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Booklist for the ARC and the opportunity to review Ausma Zehanat Khan's second installment in the Blackwater Falls series.

Detective Inaya Rahman’s past in the Chicago Police Department comes back to haunt her in the second book in Khan's Colorado-set Blackwater Falls series. John Broda, the man who abused and humiliated Inaya because of her Islamic faith, has come to town seeking her help. Broda’s son, a Denver street officer, has been accused of shooting an unarmed man, but Broda is convinced his son is innocent and offers Inaya a deal she can't resist. Meanwhile, a young artist is gunned down by a veteran officer, and the hostility between the sheriff and the Community Response Unit continues. Like Blackwater Falls (2022), this is a compelling and deeply emotional thriller. Khan tackles the heartbreak of losing a child as well as the internal struggle faced by officers of color when forced to choose between a call to service and their communities. As always, she addresses these issues with straightforward honesty and grace. Highly recommended for those who enjoy complex procedurals with a human touch, such as Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.

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Review: The Beautiful and the Wild

The Beautiful and the Wild by Peggy Townsend
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thank you to Booklist for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title.

Liv Russo is being held captive by a man she believed to be dead—her husband, who disappeared and left Liv to care for their son alone. Visible through the single window in the shipping container where she's being held are his small cabin and the vast Alaskan forest. As Liv reconciles her feelings and prepares for escape, she must wrestle with the choices from her past that brought her to this terrifying present. Facing starvation and the harsh winter will push Liv past her own physical and mental limits. Townsend (The Thin Edge, 2019) constructs a lush and dangerous Alaskan landscape, using it to build tension and suspense. Liv is a strong and flawed protagonist whom readers will admire for her determination and feral need to protect her son. The shifting perspectives and fast-paced plot will keep even the most avid suspense readers on the edge of their seats. Recommended for fans of scrappy female leads facing the most dire circumstances, such as those in titles by A. J. Finn, Greer Hendricks, and Ruth Ware. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.

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