The Unveiling of Polly Forrest

 “The Unveiling of Polly Forrest” by Charlotte Whitney 310 pages  

Readers get ready to block off some to when you start reading this historical mystery! Definitely a page-turner. 

Polly Wolcott is only twenty years old when she marries the much older Sam Forrest. She marries him because she doesn’t want move from rural Michigan to Connecticut to help her mother take care of her grandmother.  And, it doesn’t hurt that Sam appears to be wealthy. He has his own thriving farm. 

But it is 1934; the Great Depression has gripped America. Even Sam is affected. Crops and farm animal’s prices are at the lowest anyone has even seen. Then Sam is killed in a freak farm accident that is brutal. Polly isn’t mature enough to, nor does she want to, take over the farm by herself. So what will happen? 

Author Whitney’s novel is narrated by three individuals: Polly, Polly’s sister Sarah, and Sarah’s husband, the local preacher Reverend Wesley Johnson.  Three distinct voices in short chapters that tell the story from all three points of view. 

In the beginning, Polly is not accused of murdering Sam. After all it does appear to be an accident. However, the Sheriff’s Office is looking into his death. He and his deputy question Polly, Sarah and Wesley for what seems like an eternity. The novel is set from February 7 to December 25, 1934. The questions last through the summer. 

The two strangers claiming to be White House Police show up at Polly’s door, demanding answers to their questions and thoroughly search the house and all the outbuildings. Seems like Sam was involved in some pretty shady dealings that left me reading the pages as fast as I could.  

During the course of the story, Polly’s unveiling comes in many ways---from her views and days as a flighty young woman to a more wizened, experienced woman. I thoroughly enjoyed this who-dun-it set in the glories of rural Michigan and the hardships of farm life. “The Unveiling of Polly Forrest” is a thrilling read and receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

Rose Royal: A Love Story

“Rose Royal: A Love Story” by Nicolas Mathieu (translated from the French by Sam Taylor) 96 pages  

This dark gem of a novella packed a powerful punch. Rose is almost fifty years old, divorced and has had it with men. Her favorite thing to do after work is to head to her favorite bar, the Royal, where she loves to drink beer, gin and vodka (but not together). One of the fascinating things about Rose is that she carries a .38 caliber handgun with her at all times. Like I said, she’s had it with men and their tendencies toward violence. 

Her friend, Marie-Jeanne, joins her every night and two nights a week, she sets up a small hair salon in the bar’s corner. Personally, I wouldn’t want anyone cutting my hair after they have had a few. 

On this night, the bar is basically empty. Near closing time, a group of teenagers, “seniors at a local private school,” come in to celebrate that they are only one hundred days from final exams. After Fred, the bartender, clears them out, the place is quiet until a man stumbles in carrying a dog that has been hit by a car. Rose helps him with the animal.  

His name is Luc and he drives a very expensive car. Luc and Rose are attracted to each other and soon begin dating. Despite the problem that they incur, neither one walks away. Instead Rose moves into his country house. But things don’t get any better. 

The story roars to a shocking conclusion. I was so shocked, I went back and re-read the entire novella.  I’m not sure that I truly understand why what happened, happened. And I don’t fully understand the title. Rose is the protagonist and Royal is the name of her favorite bar. Other than that, “Rose Royal” is a thrilling read and receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Saving Ruby King

Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West 320 pages 

This novel could not have come at a more appropriate time with the Black Lives Matter movement at the forefront of our national consciousness.  And it’s wonderfully written! I loved that the church, Calvary Hope Christian, has a voice---it added to the sinisterness underlying the novel’s mysteries. 

Ruby King and her family are trying to pick up the pieces of her mother’s recent murder, tragically inside their family home. The people in their Chicago South Side neighborhood believe that Ruby’s father, Lebanon, is responsible for Alice’s death. He had served time for killing a man and he had a hellacious temper. The neighbor’s know that Lebanon abused Alice and fear he is taking his rage out on Ruby.

Ruby’s best friend is Layla. Their mothers were close and their grandmothers even closer. Layla and her mother do what they can to protect Ruby. However, Lebanon is best friends with Layla’s father, pastor of the Church. Rev. Potter forbids Layla to interfer, yet readers get to watch him giving Lebanon large sums of money.

At the heart of this story is secrets and mysteries and the repercussions they inflict on the two families and the neighborhood.

I felt the novel got off to a slow start, but that was okay. It really ramped up about of the fourth of the way through.  As Author West began to foreshadow the deepest and ugliest of the secrets, I think she gave away too much, as I had it figured out, without trying, before it was revealed. That diminished the climax somewhat for me.  Therefore, “Saving Ruby King” gets 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Inheritance

 

 Inheritance  by Evelyn Toynton   272 pages

"Inheritance" in this novel is not what readers may assume it is; there’r nothing to do with physical assets.

When Annie Devereaux’s husband suddenly dies she then has the opportunity to follow her wildest dreams.  She leaves New York and moves to London with no plan but to live like the Brits do.

Shortly after her arrival, she meets Julian and moves in with him. As their relationship drags on, he becomes more and more abusive.

Then the narrative shifts. Annie has made friends with Julian’s sister, Isabel. While this section is mostly about Isabel, reads get to learn more about what makes Julian Julian.

The narrative shifts again, but I didn’t get it.  I’m not sure where the author was going, or even what she was talking about. Section Three did not tie into Sections One and Two, leaving me lost and dazed. Therefore, “Inheritance” receives 2 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Someone Like Me

Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey   500 pages

"SHE LOOKS LIKE ME. SHE SOUNDS LIKE ME. NOW SHE'S TRYING TO TAKE MY PLACE.

Liz Kendall wouldn't hurt a fly. She's a gentle woman devoted to bringing up her kids in the right way, no matter how hard times get.

But there's another side to Liz---one which is dark and malicious. A version of her who will do anything to get her way, no matter how extreme or violent. And when this other side of her takes control, the consequences are devastating.

The only way Liz can save herself and her family is if she can find out where this new alter-ego has come from, and how she can stop it."

This is the summary from Goodreads, which I felt gave a good outline of the story without revealing too much.  What the summary doesn't mention is another character in the story whose storyline is running parallel to Liz's own: Fran Watts.  Fran has survived being kidnapped as a young child, but has continued to have hallucinations of a protector called Lady Jinx, a talking fox.  Fran and Liz intersect when Fran becomes friends with Liz' son, Zac.  Right away, Fran can see something odd about Liz but initially chalks it up to another hallucination. However, when Liz' personality begins to change, Fran realizes it was no hallucination; she was seeing something real and very dangerous.

I thought this was a creative story that had a nice, dark edge to it.  Carey has written a very unsettling story that has some almost supernatural edge to it, but he also is tackling the very realistic horror story of what it's like to experience domestic violence.  I think the book could have used a little editing, as it felt slow in a few places.  However, I found myself hooked on the story and making time to sit and read and get immersed in the book.

Always Forever Maybe

Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi, 249 pages

Betts meets Aiden while at work at the candy shop and falls head over heels.  Aiden is nothing like the kids in her school.  He rides a motorcycle and dropped out of school.  Betts has to hide her relationship from her family and can’t even tell her best friend, Jo, everything.  Jo thinks that Aiden is too possessive but she just doesn’t understand that their love is all consuming.  Betts can’t imagine living without him, even when Aiden goes too far.  This was a great book about domestic violence.  Every teen girl should read this because no one ever believes it will happen to them.  This book really highlights how it can sneak up on someone.

The Great Alone

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah    440 pages

In 1974, Ernt Allbright, a former Vietnam POW, makes the decision to move his family north to Alaska, where they will live off the grid. Ernt's wife, Cora, and daughter Leni, aren't sure if this is best idea, especially since Ernt is a man with a volatile personality. And, as soon as they arrive in Alaska and see where they're going to live, it becomes clear that none of them are in any way prepared for life in Alaska. At first, Alaska seems to be the balm to the troubled marriage of Ernt and Cora, even as the family struggles to learn how to prepare for the coming winter. The small community they've moved into is supportive, and even Ernt seems more at peace. However, as winter approaches and the nights grow longer, Ernt's fragile mental state starts to unravel, putting Cora and Leni in danger. Soon, the two of them learn the awful truth: they are truly on their own, with no one to save them but themselves.

I devoured this story, becoming irritated when I had to put the book down (like when I had to go to work). Hannah creates such a compelling story that I found I was just caught up in it. It's easy to visualize not only the characters, but Alaska, itself, complete with all of its beauty and danger. There's a true sense of unease through much of the story, and you don't get a sense that everything will be ok for Cora and Leni (which I liked because it made me turn the pages even faster). The relationship between Ernt and Cora is complicated, and heartbreaking --- and thus, pretty realistic. The entire story, actually, rings very true --- whether it's the characters, the setting or the storyline, it's all completely believable. Really a good book.

How to Run with a Naked Werewolf

How to Run with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper, 317 pages

Tina has been on the run from her crazy husband for a couple of years.  When she's afraid he's getting close to finding her, she picks up and moves again, changing identities each time.  She recently had to leave a community of werewolves who she'd been treating as the pack doctor for some time and shortly after that, had to leave her situation again.  this time she ended up running with a werewolf, Caleb, who is from the pack she had left such a short time before.  The problem is, she thinks she might be falling in love with him.  If she can't fix her problem with her husband, or figure out how to tell Caleb the truth about her situation, she can't possibly stay.  I like Harper's stories a lot.  They're pretty formulaic but light, fun, and enjoyable.  Fans of the paranormal romances will want to read them.