Family Issues – Page 3 – Talk Nerdy Book Blog

Saccharine Yet Endearing: Heart Strings by Melanie Moreland

By Sarah

In 4-stars, ARC, Book Review

September 29, 2020

S

Series: Standalone

Release Date: October 12, 2020

Synopsis:

A woman drowning in sorrow. Invisible.

A man that notices it all. Sees her.

The only thing that gets Charlotte Prescott through the day is the haunting eyes and magnetic voice uplifting her in the subway station every evening.

All Montgomery Logan wants to do is ease the pain of the woman he feels a strange, protective pull to. He serenades her from afar, knowing their worlds will never intersect.

Until the day they do.

And everything changes.

Will their differences make them stronger or tear them apart?

A standalone contemporary romance coming October 12, 2020 from NYT/USA Today Bestselling Author Melanie Moreland.

Ending:

HEA with Extended Epilogue

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Death of parent due to heart attack when a child
• Death of brother due to leukemia when a child
• Discussion of homelessness and starvation

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• No OW/OM drama
• No pushing away
• No separation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: eARC

Rating: 4.75/5 stars

Note: I received Heart Strings through Melanie Moreland’s team in exchange for an honest review.

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Earnest Yet Superficial: Winter of the Wolf by Martha Hunt Handler

By Sarah

In 2-stars, ARC, Book Review

September 26, 2020

E

Series: Standalone

Release Date: July 7, 2020

Synopsis:

A tragic mystery blending sleuthing and spirituality

An exploration in grief, suicide, spiritualism, and Inuit culture, Winter of the Wolf follows Bean, an empathic and spiritually evolved fifteen-year-old, who is determined to unravel the mystery of her brother Sam’s death. Though all evidence points to a suicide, her heart and intuition compel her to dig deeper. With help from her friend Julie, they retrace Sam’s steps, delve into his Inuit beliefs, and reconnect with their spiritual beliefs to uncover clues beyond material understanding.

Both tragic and heartwarming, this twisting novel draws you into Bean’s world as she struggles with grief, navigates high school dramas, and learns to open her heart in order to see the true nature of the people around her. Winter of the Wolf is about seeking the truth—no matter how painful—in order to see the full picture.

In this novel, environmentalist and award-winning author, Martha Handler, brings together two important pieces of her life—the death of her best friend’s son and her work as president of the Wolf Conservation Center—to tell an empathetic and powerful story with undeniable messages.

Ending:

HFN

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Suicide
• Accidental death by auto asphyxiation

Mature Themes

• Underage drinking
• Underage drug use (marijuana)
• Discussion of auto asphyxiation
• Discussion of teenage sex and masturbation
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: eARC

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Trigger Warning: This review discusses topics that can be triggering for some. Please read the ‘Possible Triggers’ tab above for details.

Note: I received Winter of the Wolf through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to FSB Association for the opportunity.

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Striking Yet Harrowing: Searching For Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

September 23, 2020

S

Series: Standalone

Release Date: June 4, 2019

Synopsis:

A poignant and suspenseful drama that untangles the complicated ties binding three women—two sisters and their mother—in one Chinese immigrant family and explores what happens when the eldest daughter disappears, and a series of family secrets emerge, from the New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Translation

It begins with a mystery. Sylvie, the beautiful, brilliant, successful older daughter of the Lee family, flies to the Netherlands for one final visit with her dying grandmother—and then vanishes.

Amy, the sheltered baby of the Lee family, is too young to remember a time when her parents were newly immigrated and too poor to keep Sylvie. Seven years older, Sylvie was raised by a distant relative in a faraway, foreign place, and didn’t rejoin her family in America until age nine. Timid and shy, Amy has always looked up to her sister, the fierce and fearless protector who showered her with unconditional love.

But what happened to Sylvie? Amy and her parents are distraught and desperate for answers. Sylvie has always looked out for them. Now, it’s Amy’s turn to help. Terrified yet determined, Amy retraces her sister’s movements, flying to the last place Sylvie was seen. But instead of simple answers, she discovers something much more valuable: the truth. Sylvie, the golden girl, kept painful secrets . . . secrets that will reveal more about Amy’s complicated family—and herself—than she ever could have imagined.

A deeply moving story of family, secrets, identity, and longing, Searching for Sylvie Lee is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive portrait of an immigrant family. It is a profound exploration of the many ways culture and language can divide us and the impossibility of ever truly knowing someone—especially those we love.

Ending:

Tragedy; HFN

Representation

• Chinese main and supporting characters

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Racism
• Statutory r@pe
• Discussion of suicide
• Emotional and physical abuse
• Infidelity

Mature Themes

• Childhood abandonment
• Missing person (the resulting grief that goes with that)
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 4.75/5 stars

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Calming and Genuine: The Secret Women by Sheila Williams

By Sarah

In 5-stars, Book Review

September 19, 2020

C

Series: Standalone

Release Date: June 9, 2020

Synopsis:

Elise Armstrong, Carmen Bradshaw, and DeeDee Davis meet in a yoga class. Though vastly different, these women discover they all have one thing in common: their mothers have recently passed away. Becoming fast friends, the trio make a pact to help each other sort through the belongings their mothers’ left behind. But when they find old letters and diaries, Elise, Carmen, and DeeDee are astonished to learn that each of their mothers hid secrets—secrets that will transform their own lives.

Meeting each month over margaritas, the trio share laughter, advice, and support. As they help each other overcome challenges and celebrate successes, Elise, Carmen, and DeeDee gain not only a better understanding of the women their mothers were, but of themselves. They also come to realize they have what their mothers needed most but did not have during difficult times—other women they could trust.

Filled with poignant life lessons, The Secret Women pays tribute to the power of friendship and family and the bonds that tie us together. Beautiful, full of spirit and heart, it is a thoughtful and ultimately uplifting story of unconditional love.

Ending:

HFN

Representation

• Black biracial main character
• Black main and supporting characters

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Mental Illness — Bipolar disorder
• Attempted suicide and murder of children
• Death of parent

Mature Themes

• Death of parent
• Allusions to teenagers drinking
• (Amicable) divorce
• Children (who are late 40s to early 60s) lashing out at parents who start dating after their spouse dies
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Paperback

Rating: 5/5 stars

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Clever and Bold: The Body Politic by Brian Platzer

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

September 11, 2020

C

Series: Standalone

Release Date: March 3, 2020

Synopsis:

New York City is still regaining its balance in the years following 9/11, when four twenty-somethings—Tess, Tazio, David, and Angelica—meet in a bar, each yearning for something: connection, recognition, a place in the world, a cause to believe in. Nearly fifteen years later, as their city recalibrates in the wake of the 2016 election, their bond has endured—but almost everything else has changed.

As freshmen at Cooper Union, Tess and Tazio were the ambitious, talented future of the art world—but by thirty-six, Tess is married to David, the mother of two young boys, and working as an understudy on Broadway. Kind and steady, David is everything Tess lacked in her own childhood—but a recent freak accident has left him with befuddling symptoms, and she’s still adjusting to her new role as caretaker.

Meanwhile, Tazio—who once had a knack for earning the kind of attention that Cooper Union students long for—has left the art world for a career in creative branding and politics. But in December 2016, fresh off the astonishing loss of his candidate, Tazio is adrift, and not even his gorgeous and accomplished fiancée, Angelica, seems able to get through to him. With tensions rising on the national stage, the four friends are forced to face the reality of their shared histories, especially a long-ago betrayal that has shaped every aspect of their friendship.

Elegant and perceptive, The Body Politic explores the meaning of commitment, the nature of forgiveness, the way that buried secrets will always find their way to the surface, and how all of it can shift—and eventually erupt—over the course of a life.

Ending:

HFN… I guess.

Representation

• Black-Thai biracial supporting/main character
• Latino biracial supporting character
• Latina side character
• Trans woman side character
• Challenges ableism: the MC is working through living with chronic dizziness

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Witnessing the murder of a parent by another parent
• Depression
• Parental abandonment
• Physical abuse
• Rape
• Alcoholism
• Death of parent

Safety Rating (of the married couple, Tess and David): Not Safe

• Does have cheating (Tess has cheated on David multiple times and with little regret)
• Does have OM drama
— OM is David and Tess’s best friend, Tazio, who is a main supporting character
— Tess also recently cheated on David with a co-star
• Does have OW drama
— Tess brings up feel like David’s business partner wants to get with him… but decides to trust David (it’s left unresolved)
• Does have the Hero and Herojne pushing each other away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 4/5 stars

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Sentimental and Perfervid: Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

August 8, 2020

S

Series: Twilight Saga*

Release Date: August 4, 2020

Synopsis

When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella’s side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward’s version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun.

This unforgettable tale as told through Edward’s eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his years as a vampire. As we learn more fascinating details about Edward’s past and the complexity of his inner thoughts, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger?

Ending

  HFN

Representation

• Quileute side characters

Possible Triggers: Yes

• Violence (Blood and gore)
• Torture (Psychological and physical)
• Planning of murder
• Murder
• Death
• Allusions to rape
• Allusions to pedophilia

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• Does have OW and OM drama
– Tanya has been into Edward for decades and thought him going to Alaska was for her (nothing happens though)
– Rosalie is upset that Edward never wanted her and yet he falls for unremarkable Bella
– Bella is asked out repeatedly be three boys, all of whom she turns down
• Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 4.75/5 stars

*Companion to Twilight (told in Edward’s perspective)

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From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata

By Sarah

In 4-stars, Book Review

March 15, 2018

F

Series: Standalone

Release Date: February 1st, 2018

Synopsis:

If someone were to ask Jasmine Santos to describe the last few years of her life with a single word, it would definitely be a four-letter one.

After seventeen years—and countless broken bones and broken promises—she knows her window to compete in figure skating is coming to a close.

But when the offer of a lifetime comes in from an arrogant idiot she’s spent the last decade dreaming about pushing in the way of a moving bus, Jasmine might have to reconsider everything.

Including Ivan Lukov.

Ending

 HEA

Representation

• Hispanic main and supporting character
• LGBTQIA+ supporting characters
• Main character with learning disability (dyslexia)
• Addresses ageism

Possible Triggers

• No OTT sad parts
• No abuse
• The Heroine has a really bad relationship with her father. He undermines her whole career and doesn’t acknowledge her dyslexia.

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• No OW
– It’s never clarified if the Hero dated/slept with his last partner.
• Does have OM
– The Heroine’s ex-BF was also her ex-skating partner. He tries to make things right at the end, but the Heroine isn’t having it.
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4/5 stars

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Lure of Oblivion (The Mercury Pack, #3) by Suzanne Wright

By Sarah

In 5-stars, Book Review

January 25, 2018

L

Series: The Mercury Pack*

Release Date: November 21st, 2017

Synopsis:

Gwen Miller may be a human, but she has no problem taking a stand against her own kind. She’s going to testify against the teenage boy she saw viciously assault a lone shifter female—and no amount of pressure from the boy’s wealthy family will make her back down. But when the harassment turns violent, help comes in the form of a lean, toned wolf with winter-gray eyes.

As a guest at Gwen’s inn, shifter enforcer Zander Devlin can’t help but notice that the fierce and leggy brunette is in serious trouble. Since she’s putting herself at risk for one of his kind, keeping her safe is the least he can do. That’s not the only reason Zander wants her close. He desires her, even as the wolf inside him backs away from her. But his feral instincts are hard to keep down, and as they take shape, they’re harder for Gwen to resist. Then again, embracing them could be the only thing that could save her life.

Ending

 HEA

Representation

• BIPOC supporting characters
• LGBTQIA+ supporting characters

Possible Triggers

• Violence
• Domestic abuse (Heroine’s mother, off-page and memories)
• Emotional abuse

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• No OW
• Does have OM drama
– Unrequited (and they never dated) by the Heroine
• Does have the Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 5/5 stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

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The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

By Sarah

In 3-stars, Book Review

November 23, 2017

T

Series: Standalone

Release Date: August 9th, 2016

Synopsis:

Insert Here

Ending

 HFN

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers

• Emotional abuse
• No OTT sad parts.

Safety Rating: Safe

• No cheating
• Does have OW and OM drama
– The Hero’s ex-girlfriend marries his brother. But he makes it very clear he isn’t pining for her. (The Heroine only finds this out at the wedding; she’s the Hero’s date.)
– Lucy goes out on a date with OM, at the Hero’s insistence. But, it never goes beyond the first date.
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does not have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.25/5 stars

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Branded (Sinners, #1) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

By Sarah

In 1-star, Book Review

November 2, 2017

B

Series: Sinners

Release Date: June 27th, 2013

Synopsis:

Fifty years ago The Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society.

To punish the guilty, he created the Hole, a place where sinners are branded according to their sins. Sinners are forced to live a less than human existence in deplorable conditions, under the watchful eye of guards who are ready to kill anyone who steps out of line.

Now, LUST wraps around my neck like thick, blue fingers, threatening to choke the life out of me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit, and the Hole is my new home.

Ending

 HFN

Representation

No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia

Possible Triggers

The heroine, Lexi, is branded and convicted of Lust which results in her continued victimization in the Hole, where she is faced with:
• Threat of Rape
• Attempted Rape
• Torture and violence
• Gaslighting
• Psychological abuse

Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions

• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 1/5 stars

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TagFamily Issues

Saccharine Yet Endearing: Heart Strings by Melanie Moreland

Earnest Yet Superficial: Winter of the Wolf by Martha Hunt Handler

Striking Yet Harrowing: Searching For Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok

Calming and Genuine: The Secret Women by Sheila Williams

Clever and Bold: The Body Politic by Brian Platzer

Sentimental and Perfervid: Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

From Lukov with Love by Mariana Zapata

Lure of Oblivion (The Mercury Pack, #3) by Suzanne Wright

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Branded (Sinners, #1) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

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