HER SISTER'S CHILD

4 stars out of 5

Clever but complicated. The second conclusion - which happened because of the sheer number of characters, multiple identities and ever-changing time frames - almost caused me to pack it in. But the first one started to kick in somewhere around the halfway point - and from then on, I was glued to my Kindle till the very last page.

Paula Donnelly regularly visits the grave of her older sister, an alcoholic who died when she was 24 (at the time of Paula's current visit, Lizzie would have been 40). Their parents gave up on Lizzie many years ago, but Paula remains loyal. Besides that, she's convinced that Lizzie had been pregnant, and gave birth shortly before she died. Paula, now divorced with two children of her own, is intent on finding out what happened to that baby (if, in fact, there really was one).

Next up is Charlie, who is pregnant and not at all sure she really wants a baby. Still, she resists her parents' demand that she have an abortion and moves out to a flat she shares with the birth father, who's a real cad. 

Then it's back to Paula, who meets a former schoolmate at a bar she happens to visit while trying to decide how to proceed with her baby search. As it turns out, he's very willing to help - although it's questionable whether it's altruistic, or wants to curry favor with Paula or something more sinister. The plot shifts perspective from these and other characters until it finally turns enlightening - and exciting. A good bit of the tale is predictable once things start coming together, although there's one big reveal that comes as a surprise (at least it did to me).

All in all, I really enjoyed the book, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. I do advise other readers, though, to do what I always do (mostly as a memory aid when it comes to writing my reviews): Keep notes on names and relationships along the way. It's a lot easier to refer to notes, especially if you're reading on a Kindle as I do, than trying to locate the place in the book to find the character who appears several chapters later but you can't remember who he or she is. 

Her Sister's Child by Alison James (Bookouture, November 2020); 351 pp.

THE MAN SHE MARRIED

4 stars out of 5

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive!"

--Sir Walter Scott

I've read, and enjoyed, two other books by this author. So when the publisher made an advance copy available for review, you bet your boots I jumped at the opportunity. And once again, I was not disappointed.

Chapters flash from "then" and "now" primarily for main character Alice, who runs her own successful catering business. Not one to trust relationships ever since a former fiance left her almost at the altar, she's a bit hesitant when she meets handsome and eligible Dominic. But not for long; early on, he convinces her of his love by proposing marriage - followed by asking to move into her beautiful home in London.

For the most part, happiness abounds for the first three years of their marriage - and Alice is overjoyed to learn she's pregnant.  But just as she's planning the perfect Valentine's Day dinner to celebrate the news, she gets a knock at her door and it's not good news: Her husband has been in a terrible accident and is dead.

Alas, the news gets worse. Despite his plausible excuses, Alice has always been a little curious as to why Dominic has kept her from meeting his brother and mother. In fact, he may have had good reason. When said brother comes to identify the body, both he and Alice get the shocker of a lifetime: The body is the guy Alice married, but according to the brother, it's not the real Dominic. 

Say what? At this point, "oops" is an understatement. Dominic's brother is certain it's not his brother, while Alice certainly knows it's the man she was married to for three years. So who is he, really? At this point, Alice realizes she's been living with some kind of liar - but he's also the father of her child. Now, the important thing is to determine who he really was.

In the end, the only option is to hire a private investigator - but a very busy and reluctant one at that. And it is at this point that I'll stop my review; if you want to learn more - and I hope you do - you'll just have to read it for yourself. Well done!

The Man She Married by Alison James (Bookouture, January 2020); 1244 KB).

THE FRIENDSHIP PACT

4 stars out of 5

As a relatively prolific reviewer of pre-publication books I request through NetGalley.com, I've been fortunate to have been put on the pre-approved list by publisher Bookouture (meaning if it's available for review, I don't have to ask for it). That also means I need to pay attention; in the case of this book, I somehow missed the window of opportunity to get it before it was archived. And since I'd read and loved another of this author's books - The Missing Child - I was bummed. But never fear - Amazon is here. And since I happened to have a few dollars in earned credits, I was easily able to buy it there.

I'm glad I did; for sure, it takes "pinky swear" to a whole 'nother level. And while it's a story that isn't unlike other stories I've read, it certainly got - and held - my attention throughout.

It begins in the past, 1995 to be exact, when Lucy Gibson is a young girl who is less than popular in school. From an affluent family in England, she forms a rather unlikely friendship with Adele Watts, who might be considered a wrong-side-of-the-tracks kind of gal. Something bad happens at the local swimming hole - so bad that both girls swear they'll never tell anyone else what really happened.

Then it's 2018; Lucy, who hasn't seen Adele for 18 years, has been married for five years to ultra-successful heart surgeon Marcus Wheedon. He's a divorcee with two kids, and, to put it bluntly, is despicable. He treats Lucy like his servant, berates and belittles her (stopping short of physical violence) and drives her crazy in just about every possible way. Problem is, Lucy has no support system; her understanding mother has died, and her father, who is in poor health, worships the ground Marcus walks on.

Lucy tries to run away more than once, but always, Marcus tracks her down. Because of his professional status, Lucy doesn't think the police will even believe her claims of abuse, let alone be able to do anything to stop him. At her wit's end, one day she runs into Adele in the supermarket. Her childhood friend - with whom she's made a pact of silence - hasn't changed much. She's still relatively poor, has two kids but no husband and even spent time in jail. Aha, Lucy thinks: Who better to put me in touch with someone who can get me fake documents, like a birth certificate and driver's license, that will allow me to escape once and for all? 

Adele comes through and Lucy gets the documents she needs from a seedy guy named Denny and runs away yet again. But somehow, Marcus finds her; and this time, he locks her inside their fancy home and cuts off all forms of communication with the outside world.

Now, she's helpless - that is, until she gets a surprise visitor who makes a suggestion. Her response - and what happens after that, including a couple of surprising turns - is the stuff of which intriguing plots are made. Even though it's a tale I've heard before, this is a tale well told. Definitely worth reading!

The Friendship Pact by Alison James (Bookouture, July 2019); 280 pp.

THE MISSING CHILD

5 stars out of 5



What makes a winner in my book? One way I can tell is when life intervenes - like fixing dinner or putting laundry in the machine - I'll do whatever it takes to keep on reading, if only for a few more minutes. That certainly happened here. If you don't believe me, just ask my husband, who's rather hungry by now (on second thought, don't; my "Just one more chapter, hon" defense is starting to wear thin).

Not only is the book very well written, but it's reminiscent of another of my favorite series: J.D. Robb's "Death" series that features life-scarred Lt. Eve Dallas and her hunky Irish husband Roarke (the latter near the top of my all-time list of favorite book "heroes," BTW). Here, it's the debut of Detective Rachel Prince, with a hint of romance-to-be from another Irish hunk she works with on occasion from a neighboring law enforcement agency in England.

Rachel may not be as emotionally damaged as Eve, but she's every bit as irascible and dedicated to her job. She bristles when things don't go her way, banters with her partner Mark Brickell and fights on through injuries that would put me in a hospital for months. Here adventure begins with the disappearance of Lola Jade Harper, a 6-year-old whose mother insists was abducted by the girl's father (from whom she's estranged). Although he strongly denies any involvement, the belief that he's the culprit intensifies when he suddenly disappears. 

As the investigation continues, though, Rachel's nose keeps twitching; clues just aren't adding up right. Then, a local woman with possible ties to the abduction is murdered - followed by the abduction of another young girl. In between, subplots of a drug ring investigation, career-threatening actions by Rachel's partner and the dogged appearance of a person of interest from Rachel's past are interspersed, adding to the interest.

As a devout champion of women's rights, I admit I was less than happy with Rachel's handling of the issue related to her partner's possible job loss. But that doesn't change my love of the book as a whole - nor my eagerness to read more in this series. Reportedly, next up is Unlucky Ones - and I'm hoping to see it soon!

The Missing Child by Alison James (Bookouture, February 2018); 315 pp.