The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison @PenguinPbks #ASAHarrison #thesilentwife #bookreview

The Silent Wife 
by A.S.A. Harrison 
(Penguin Group 2013)

Do you live a separate life from your significant other? Do you ignore or rationalize indiscretions of that person? Perhaps, taking the long view that harmony will return after intermittent transgressions? Do you enjoy thinking about the psychology of what drives aberrant behavior?

The Silent Wife is an engaging read from a variety of standpoints. Jodi is a therapist working part-time. Her long-term, unmarried relationship with Todd has survived his serial affairs. He is apparently an insecure entrepreneur, always pursuing the next project, who also suffers recurrent depression. He commences a love affair with the young daughter of his best friend from childhood. She gets pregnant. Jodi is told of this by the girl’s father. She says nothing to Todd until he announces that he is leaving within the hour to take up living with the expectant Natasha.

This engaging story is told in Her and Him seriatim fashion. We are treated to the evolution of their story from each side of the strange relationship. Todd has his share of doubts about what he is doing, as does Jodi. What will each of them do? Will Jodi continue turning the other cheek? As Todd longs for the peacefulness of life with Jodi, in contrast to the chaos of life with a pregnant child, will he return to the fold?

As the story evolves, I was riveted by the back and forth. The anxieties of each take root. What will they do? How will it turn out? Surely, it will not proceed in the manner it appears, will it? These were my thoughts as I turned page after page, unable to put the story down until I closed the last page. There are also other elements, including details of Jodi’s childhood within her own family that plainly impact her own psyche.

At the denouement, which I certainly had not anticipated, I smiled. Actually, I was looking for someone to discuss it with. I will continue to look forward to that!

This is a wonderful, engaging read. You will enjoy it as I did. You will also keep thinking about the story. How could two people be so stupid in their lives together? Enjoy!

Warms, Cym

Amazon

USA Today

NYTimes Books

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Never Go Back by Lee Child #JackReacher

Never Go Back

by Lee Child

(Bantam Press)

Synopsis:

After an epic and interrupted journey all the way from the snows of South Dakota, Jack Reacher has finally made it to Virginia. His destination: a sturdy stone building a short bus ride from Washington D.C., the headquarters of his old unit, the 110th MP. It was the closest thing to a home he ever had. 

Why? He wants to meet the new commanding officer, Major Susan Turner. He liked her voice on the phone. But the officer sitting behind Reacher’s old desk isn't a woman. Why is Susan Turner not there?

What Reacher doesn’t expect is what comes next. He himself is in big trouble, accused of a sixteen-year-old homicide. And he certainly doesn't expect to hear these words: ‘You’re back in the army, Major. And your ass is mine.’

Will he be sorry he went back? Or – will someone else?

 

Links:
Amazon
An excerpt from Lee Child's "Never Go Back", MSNBC
Lee Child's WebSite

Enjoy!

CYM

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Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Synopsis:

Cult horror director Stanislas Cordova hasn't been seen in public since 1971.

To his fans he is an enigma.

To journalist Scott McGrath he is the enemy.

To Ashley he was a father.

On a damp October night the young, beautiful Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Her suicide appears to be the latest tragedy to hit a severely cursed dynasty.

For McGrath, another death connected the legendary director seems more than coincidence. Driven by revenge, curiosity and a need for the truth, he finds himself pulled into a hypnotic, disorientating world, where almost everyone seems afraid.

The last time McGrath got close to exposing Cordova, he lost his marriage and his career. This time he could lose his grip on reality.

Book Trailer:

Links:

RandomHouse

Amazon

MarishaPessl

-CYM

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Launch of a Novice Fiction Writer’s Path – Part II

How Does It Feel to be a Newbie?

In this series of posts, I thought it would be interesting for me to trace my feelings about commencing a fiction career. As I noted in Part I, I have written several thriller manuscripts over the years, self-published Riddle of Berlin in 2008, and then decided that I would take advice of successful thriller writers and undertake to develop the skills and habits of a successful fiction writer.

I should also note that I am age 67 and have had successful careers as an international tax lawyer, author of taxation books, and director of a family company that has become a major multinational. Success in other areas, of course, means nothing on a new path.

When people on planes, beaches, or otherwise ask what I am doing when I am writing or editing, I inevitably answer that I am learning to become a fiction writer. After asking what genre and how many stories have you published, the next question is usually “how does it feel to be a nobody.” Actually, the comments are far more polite, but this is the underlying questions. I often think that these questions come from the commenter’s own self-question of “could I do that.”

I answer these questions based on my feelings of the moment. As I now head down this path with patience and persistence, I have thought about what it does feel like to be a newbie, rookie, novice, neophyte, or whatever other terms one chooses to describe someone at the precipice of beginning. 

The answer is that it feels good. I am proud of myself for learning that I have a hobby that is relaxing and joyful (I did it for about 15 years before deciding to get serious). I am not one whose hobbies are television, watching sports, hunting, fishing, or other pastimes. My hobby became fiction writing.

I am also proud that I have taken the time and coaching to prepare myself for striving to achieve my dream of becoming a skilled fiction writer. One benefit of age (life experience) and success in other areas, I think, is that I can approach this process with perspective. I will have fun regardless of whether my stories become bestsellers. If there is such success, via reviews or royalties, that will be great, of course. 

At ThrillerFest each year, new published authors are introduced. This year, there were 60 of them. My immediate dream is to be so introduced one year in the future. It may be that I will be the oldest newbie on the dais, but there will be no one happier and prouder to say a few words.

Another question that I am often asked is whether, as a newbie, I am prepared to “have fun.” This is a polite way of asking whether I am prepared to be a critical and commercial non-event. It is another good question, to be addressed in the next blog of this series.

Warms, Cym

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Winner of the 4 book GIVEAWAY!!

     
*all winners are selected by Random Number Generator *

And the winner of the 4 book bundle giveaway from Wednesday's Review Party is...

(**Drums Rolling in the Background**)

Congratulations to Create with Joy!!



Be sure to check out Create with Joy and leave a comment!


Warms-
CYM

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