All the Beautiful Lies by Peter Swanson

William Morrow | April 2018 | 304 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Having read Peter Swanson's previous novels (The Kind Worth Killing and Her Every Fear) and enjoyed them, I was thrilled when I learned that he has a new book coming out. His latest work revolves around lies, obsessions and taboo relationships and although it was an easy, fast-paced read, it somewhat lacks the punch of his previous works, which I found brilliant and kept me on edge. 

This story is written in two time frames "Then" and "Now" alternatively and at times it reads like a coming of age as it centers around a woman named Alice, as we read about her teenage years and how she has grown up to be an attractive woman with dark motives. All the while, she has had a fondness with older men partly due to an unhappy adolescence. Her relationship with her mother is lukewarm and her attraction to older men only began with her mother's remarriage to Jake. This is simply one of the "Then" segments and I figured I should skip whatever transpired thereafter to avoid spoilers. 

Onto the "Now" segment, Alice has found her man in Bill Ackerson and thought she would live a happily-ever-after but that bliss is short-lived as Bill is believed to have committed suicide. Bill's son, Harry, is due to attend his college graduation ceremony and he rushes home upon receiving Alice's call. Harry has always thought his stepmother sexy and beautiful and it seems Bill's death has kind of bring them together as they lend support to each other and try to find out what had happened to the man in their life. Enter Grace McGowan, who is mysterious and alluring in her own way and she has aroused Harry's interest and curiosity. Who is this young woman and why does she seem to appear in their range right after Bill's death? 

As much as I enjoyed this story, I felt this was something different from his other works. The characters are intriguing but they failed to captivate me, no matter if it's secretive Alice or even young innocent Harry. Then of course there is the taboo relationships which is part of the plot, which I suppose may either raise a few eyebrows or be intrigued by the complexity and bizarreness of it. The suspense is fairly predictable at some point, and the ending seemed a bit too abrupt and convenient to me. Nevertheless, it was a readable story and Peter Swanson's writing sucks you in. I'm currently reading his first book, The Girl with a Clock for a Heart and I'm enjoying it so far. 

© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Drama Review: Madame Antoine (安托万女士)

Madame Antoine is a romance story between a fortune teller impostor and a psychologist with a psychological theme and if this isn't enough to attract your attention, the good-looking cast probably will.

Known as Madame Antoine, Go Hye Rim's (starring Han Ye Seul) profession is a fortune teller but that is a lie, including her story as being spiritually connected to Marie Antoinette but she is sharp and observant, thus most often she easily gain some information about her clients either through her insistent inquiries or their body language. She also runs a café so it is like killing two birds with one stone. A divorcee with a daughter who is studying abroad, she works hard to make ends meet. Despite her divorce, she still hopes for love and is a romantic at heart.

Choi Soo Hyun (starring Sung Joon) is a well known psychologist and is looking for a space to open his clinic. He found the perfect place, and it is located above Hye Rim's café. And the problem is, both the café and the clinic share the same name - Madame Antoine. Although Dr. Choi isn't bothered by it, Hye Rim sees red but she take in stride considering she needs the café to run both her businesses.

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Despite their clash of personalities, they finally see eye to eye and Hye Rim even agree to participate in Dr. Choi's psychological test project although he didn't tell her the real reason behind the test. Truth be told, it is an experiment about love and Dr. Choi's goal is to prove that there is no true love and it doesn't exist. With other two men and himself acting as Hye Rim's pursuers, his motive is to make Hye Rim falls hard in love and ultimately declare her love to the man she's in love with in public. But of course there are complications and Dr. Choi soon finds himself falling in love with her as well.

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Madame Antoine was a fun romcom and while I don't approve of Dr. Choi's project, I can see where his concern and doubts come from considering he is traumatised by a childhood experience whereby his mother left him to pursue a new life. There are also side plots involving a few Dr. Choi's patients with various mental issues as well as the romances of the secondary characters, but at its core it is very much a life story about Dr. Choi and Hye Rim and how they have struggled with their own fears and obstacles before they found each other. I may disagree with Dr. Choi's initial motive for his project (manipulation?) but I've to say I was totally touched by his actions in the end (sigh).

© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis

HarperCollins Publishers | September 2017 | 384 pgs

Source: Library

[I know Christmas was long over, but this is a library copy which I'd been eyeing for a while. Plus the story wasn't too Christmas-y so...]


Although this is the fourth book in the Heartbreaker Bay series, it could be read as a stand-alone. 

Colbie Albright is a bestselling author of a YA fantasy series by the pen name of CE Crown. With the stress of writing another manuscript and dealing with her family who is always in need of her, she feels a break is in order and thus she decided to book herself a trip to somewhere where she can relax and be herself. A place where it's away from New York and no one would be able to reach her easily. San Francisco isn't her first choice but it is the next best option since a number of flights are either delayed or cancelled due to the hurricane. Within an hour of arrival, she is shoved into the waters of a historic San Francisco fountain, thanks to a dog named Daisy.

Spencer Baldwin is doing his friend a favor by walking her dog when Daisy pounced onto a gorgeous woman. Fortunately for him, the woman waves it off and has a good laugh over the situation. Attracted by her warm and easygoing demeanour, he has a good chat with her and after learning that she is looking for a place to settle, he tells her that there is a studio apartment available in the building where he is staying. But he leave out the fact that he is the owner of the building and that he is working on a huge project involving apps and drones. In short, Spencer is a tech geek who has both the look and wealth but is staying low profile due to an article which has exposed his private life and a past failed relationship.  

Colbie and Spencer do not know about each other's real identity initially and this is what made this book such a fun read. Both introverts and devoted of their work, they are in many ways similar to each other. Due to this reason and the fact that Colbie wouldn't stay long and that Spencer is more into his work than in relationship, they become comfortable with each other as the days go by until they began to realise that they wanted each other to be part of their life. Are they able to make their relationship work despite their job demand and the long distance? 

I've enjoyed most of Jill Shalvis's books and this is no exceptional. She writes fleshed out characters who are relatable and it is so much fun reading about them and their life experiences. 

© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

If I Die Tonight by Alison Gaylin

William Morrow | March 2018 | 384 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

If I Die Tonight is a character driven story set in a small town of Havenkill revolving a carjacking/hit-and-run incident turns deceptions and conspiracies in this psychological suspense.  

Thirteen-year-old Connor Reed finds his elder brother, Wade, in his room late one night with his clothes soaked by rain. It is a rainy night and Connor has no idea why Wade was out so late (or early since it's around 3 a.m.) in the first place. Thinking he must be dreaming, he cast the thought aside until the news of Liam Miller was involved in a hit-and-run accident rouse his suspicion. The timeline of the accident was around the time when he thought he saw a drenched Wade in his room. Could it be a coincidence or what?

On the other end, Aimee En reports about a carjacking incident and how a teenage boy was run over when he tried to help. Liam Miller is believed to have responded to her cries when a guy dressed in black hoodie tried to steal her car. Once a celebrity in the music industry during the 80s, Aimee's fame has gone downhill as the years go and she is trying her best to earn back her name and fame through performances thrown in her way. The carjacking incident has made her a victim and a hero of Liam, and both of them got sympathies from the community. Wade, on the other hand, is not so lucky. Classified as a loner and an outcast in school, Wade quickly becomes the suspect after Aimee claimed Wade fits the build of the perpetrator, even though that night was rainy and everything happened in a blur. Social media has also snowballed into a finger-pointing frenzy yet all this while Wade keep quiet instead of defending himself. Is he really the perpetrator?

Told from a few viewpoints, this novel is more than a psychological suspense in my opinion. As I mentioned before this is very much a character driven story, it also cover issues such as single parenting, past trauma, teenage angst as well as secrets and perceptions. There is also a little backstory about a female police officer which I found interesting. I think she would make an intriguing character should the author decides to feature her in her upcoming books (I could only hope). Suspense aside, I also found this story to be a little heartbreaking, what with the challenges a single mother has to face as well as the malicious comments on social media platforms could do to a person. All in all this was one thought-provoking read and I'll be sure to check out Ms. Gaylin's future releases. 

© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Innocent Wife by Amy Lloyd

Century | December 2017 | 384 pgs

Source: Purchased

Dennis Danson was arrested and imprisoned for the brutal murder of an eleven-year-old girl Holly Michaels. He was barely eighteen years old then and the news had caused an uproar in his small hometown in Red River County, Florida. Dennis's adolescence years were considered an unhappy one. Living with an abusive father and a mother who could barely help herself, his only friend was Howard Harries, whose father is a police officer. Officer Eric Harries doesn't trust Dennis; he thinks he is a bad influence to Howard and whatever bad things Howard did, he would blame it on Dennis's responsibility in leading his son astray. It is also Officer Harries who was the first who interviewed Dennis after Holly's body was found. Whether if he has a personal grudge against Dennis, nobody knows.  

Now an adult and still serving time for murder on Florida's Death Row, Dennis is the subject of a true-crime documentary and while there are people who detest what he had done, there are also supporters who feel he is wrongfully convicted. Samantha, a schoolteacher who lives a thousand miles away in England, is both fascinated and obsessed by Dennis's case. She begins to write him letters, while on the other hand campaigning for his release with the other supporters. And Dennis replies to all her letters; soon their relationship takes on to another level and Samantha decides to leave her old life in England to be with Dennis, even if they are separated by a pane of glass. Soon, Dennis ask Samantha to marry him and she say yes. Thereafter, the campaign is a success and Dennis is released but Samantha begins to notice a new side of him which have her wondering if she has made a terrible mistake in supporting the campaign and marrying him. 

The Innocent Wife is Amy Lloyd’s debut and is the winner of the Daily Mail First Novel Competition. While I'd enjoyed this gripping psychological suspense, I also have a few issues with it. To avoid spoilers, I won't go into the specifics but here are a few issues which bugged me generally. For starters, I don't understand why Samantha is attracted to Dennis, or a convict in that particular? (Sure, he is handsome and charismatic, but...) Whether if Dennis is guilty or not, Samantha gave me the impression as being reckless and compulsive for leaving everything at home to meet a stranger. Even at the point where Samantha is suspicious, she doesn't leave right away. While I understand this is part of and allure of the plot, in reality it is totally a different thing. These aside, it was a compelling read - both character-driven and plot-driven. The ending threw me off a little, but then it wasn't too hard to guess if given much thoughts to it. I'm curious to know what Ms. Lloyd will have in store for her next book. 

© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Drama Review: Prison Playbook (機智牢房生活)

I've to say this black comedy drama between prisoners and the correction officers will either be a hit or a miss to viewers. For starters, it isn't your typical prisoners stories with lots of chaos and fights. Sure, there are still some scenes about those (after all, it's set in a prison and some bullying and fighting are inevitable) but basically it is focused more on the emotional connection between inmates and inmates, inmates and officers, and even officers and wardens (hope this make sense). To be exact, this story depicts the friendship and connections within a group of inmates locked together in a cell and at its heart of the story is about the downfall of a popular baseball pitcher, Je Hyeok (starring Park Hae Soo) and how he survives in prison and get his groove back through the help of his inmates and a few officers. So if you are expecting lots of fighting scenes and actions in this drama, probably this drama isn't for you. 

To begin with, Kim Je Hyeok (starring Park Hae Soo) committed a crime out of justice for his younger sister. He managed to save her virtue, but unfortunately by doing so he had assaulted and injured the man. As a result, he receives a 1-year sentence in jail. His best friend, Lee Joon Ho (starring Jung Kyoung Ho) is a correction officer in prison and you could say Je Hyeok is lucky to have him on his side. 

But that is not all, what also makes this story interesting is the other inmates who share the same cell as Je Hyeok. Each of them has a past and a story to tell - there are a few who are serving time for the crimes they did, but there are also some who are wrongfully convicted and are awaiting for a chance for retrial (their interactions are one of the highlights to watch - some are amusing while some are touching but nevertheless they show their bond and the things they will do for one another). And, you would probably think that a correction officer would be cold and oblivious to the welfare of the prisoners but not so in this story. One may argue that they are not following protocols (no matter whatever the reason is), but who can really judge when compassion and humanity are concerned? 

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Prison Playbook (aka Wise Prison Life) may be a slow-burn at the beginning and not much of an action film but I liked it that it was inspiring and heartwarming in some ways. I'd recommend it if you prefer something different out of this genre. 

(Watch trailer here.)

© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

The Blackbird Season by Kate Moretti

Atria Books | September 2017| 352 pgs

Source: Library

When a thousand dead starlings fall onto a high school baseball field in a quiet Pennsylvania town, no one could foresee that this is just the beginning of a catastrophe which will rock the close-knit community for the days to come. 

Nate Winters is a baseball coach and high school teacher and is well loved by many of the students in school. He follows his students on social media platforms as an onlooker and it says a lot about his concern for them but to some people his actions seem a bit overrated. He and Alecia are married and have a five-year-old son, Gabe, who is autistic. Before Gabe, Nate and Alecia used to have a wonderful marriage life but that all changed once Alecia has to stop working to take care of Gabe. 

Their relationship is further challenged when one of the many reporters investigating the fallen birds catches Nate embracing a student, Lucia Hamm, in front of a sleazy motel. Lucia has a wild reputation in school and is often called a "witch" by some of her schoolmates. Nate, on the other hand, feels she is just a troubled teen with a broken family who needs attention. The news causes an uproar within the community when Lucia claimed she and Nate are in love. Nate denies they are engaged in an affair, but what happens next is the beginning of his nightmare when Lucia suddenly disappears and he seemed to be the last person who has seen her. 

Bridget Peterson is Nate's coworker and is friends to both Nate and Alecia. She and her late husband used to mingle a lot with the Winters couple but after Holden passed away with cancer and with Alecia busy with Gabe, Bridget retreats from their life but she is still close with Nate, considering they work in the same school. Lucia used to be a student at Bridget's creative writing class and while Bridget is bothered by some of her journal entries, there are others which perplexed her and have her wondering if there are some hidden messages within those entries. She has no doubts about Nate's innocence, but it seems no one believes in him, not even Alecia. Alecia has her own theory though, and in her opinion she thinks Nate only tells her part of the truth after she has found out that he had "liked" one of Lucia's pictures and what it is isn't flattering or even appropriate. So what happened to Lucia and who is telling the truth? 

Told in four alternating point of views (Lucia, Nate, Alecia and Bridget) and shifting back and forth in time, The Blackbird Season is a multi-layered story about a girl coming of age, teenage angst, a depiction of a marriage in crisis, issue of sexual assault as well as the effects of secrets amid a small town community. Sounds like a lot going on, isn't it? Although it came across as a more character-driven story than a plot-driven story in my opinion, there was still a mystery element within the story and I was curious to see how it all unfold towards the end and most of all, the truth behind Lucia's disappearance. Kate Moretti's writing is smooth and precise so this is another reason why I was drawn to the story. I'll definitely keep a look out for her future releases. 

© 2018 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.