Weekly Reading Wrap Up (SP/IMWAYR?)

Woman No. 17 by Edan Lepucki

Lady hires a live in nanny to care for her 4 year old son while she writes her memoir about her life as a mother to nonverbal son Seth (now 18).  She hires "S" on the spot. S is an artist working on a project that will also allow her to nanny Devin.  As Lady works on her writing we learn about her early life leading up to the present.  The project that S is working on entwines itself with Lady and the repercussions lead to a huge mess that threaten to destroy her relationships. The chapters alternate between Lady and S's POVs that leave you with mixed emotions about these two characters and their choices. A well written train wreck that you can't put down.

Always by Sarah Jio

Kailey and her fiancee Ryan are leaving a restaurant when a homeless man bumps into them. She is stunned to realize that he is Cade her boyfriend that disappeared ten years ago.  The next day she goes back to try to find him and get answers.  He doesn't recognize her or respond to her and she is convinced something terrible happened to him.  Instead of focusing on her upcoming engagement party and wedding she is determined to find out what happened to Cade and get him help. Alternating between the present and past delivers the story of Kailey, Cade and Ryan.  Can Kailey get Cade the help he needs?  If he recovers fully, will she have to make a choice between Ryan and Cade? Quite a few questions go unanswered a the story wraps up, but over all an enjoyable read.

At Close Range by Laura Griffin (#11)

Detective Dani is given the lead on a double homicide. When the evidence points towards Scott, her brother's best friend and Tracer ballistics expert, Dani finds it hard to believe.  It soon becomes clear that this evidence has been carefully set in motion.  Scott is suspended and everyone seems to believe the evidence. Dani needs to be objective despite her long time crush on Scott, and as she investigates she also becomes a target.  A fast paced, action filled installment in one of my favorite series.

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

After the death of her mother Lane moves to Kansas to live with grandparents she didn't even know. When she arrives she learns about the family history. Roanoke girls either stay or run. The reasons are family dysfunction at its finest. Despite the subject matter the story is absorbing and hard to put down as Lane will either stop the cycle or allow it to continue.

Thanks to Crown Publishing via Librarything Early Reviewer for this copy

Purple Hearts by Tess Wakefield (audio)

Cassie is a singer/songwriter and has dreams of being signed.  She works two jobs to help support herself and her dream.  When she is fired from her paralegal job she is sure it just means more time for her and her band to get gigs.  While working at the bar she runs into her childhood friend Frankie shortly before he and his friends are deploying.  Luke is one of the friends and is the DD of the evening.  He has been working hard to turn his life around and joining the Army has been good for him.  Cassie and Luke don't hit it off for a variety of reasons. Shortly after Cassie's band is playing a gig, she faints, and finds out she has diabetes.  With mounting medical bills and costs to take care of her condition she asks her friend Frankie if he will marry her so she can take advantage of his military benefits.  After he declines his friend Luke says he will do it.  He keeps his reasons for needing the extra money a secret. They both go their separate ways thinking everything is fine.  When Luke gets injured and comes home his past comes calling and threatens both their lives.  Told in alternating voices of Cassie and Luke, narrated by Shayna Thibodeaux and Kyle Mason. Cassie is a hard character to like in the beginning, but for me she did redeem herself.  Loved Luke from the beginning. An enjoyable debut book that was made better with the narrator duo.

*Thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for this review copy*

Up Next:
The Girl With The Make Believe Husband by Julia Quinn
The Young Wives Club by Julie Pennell
The Trespasser by Tana French
Down A Dark Road by Linda Castillo

Book Thoughts Posted:
The Twilight Wife by A.J. Banner

It was a busy week with the grandkids.  My husband and I celebrated our 37th anniversary last week with a nice dinner, and our son celebrated his 30th birthday. 

Linking to these memes:

Kathryn at Book Date hosts IMWAYR?, a place to  meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great opportunity to organize yourself, visit, comment, and add to that every growing TBR pile.

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.