Vanessa Lillie

I always have two books going at once, one I read-read, and the other I listen to-read as I commute. Trust me, the other drivers appreciate how it keeps the road rage at bay ;)

Young Rich Widows was my most recent listen to-read. The title is the book: four young women are suddenly widowed when their spouses' plane mysteriously goes down leaving behind a law firm of secrets, a mob-connected land deal, and Tiger, the infamous hitman. And in a nutshell, one wife learns another had been sleeping with her husband, a stripper comes forward as the partner and heir to the firm's only female partner, and the matriarch learns her husband and son weren't quite the people she thought. Through their strife, the women must learn to work together in order to save themselves and their families.

The book is read by four different voices, who are mostly distinct, but sometimes too close for my ear to discern and I found myself jumping out of character and back into reality to work out who was speaking. This of course meant that I was transported back to my actual surroundings of the road and the idiots on it.

The story was good, entertaining even, and well-done. It certainly won't change the world or linger in your brain like an earworm song, but, you won't regret it either. I can only give it a four because, as an audible book, the last thing that should happen is confusion with the characters because the author chose four actors to read. Other than that, it's a five. But, I've been called easy before...

Until next week's audio review, keep your eyes on the road, your foot off the flux capacitor (a nod to Back to the Future for all you younins, and enjoy Young Rich Widows, you won't regret the time.… (mais)

Syd Walker is an archeologist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Rhode Island. She left her home in Oklahoma over a decade ago after a night of violence changed her life forever. Now her sister has disappeared, and Syd has been called home to investigate human remains found near the location of the earlier tragedy.

This was a dark and gritty mystery that I was invested in right away, though around the halfway point I started losing interest. Syd was a difficult, guilt-ridden character throughout most of the book, and her questionable actions endangered herself and others. The pacing was sluggish until the end when we’re thrown some wild twists. BLOOD SISTERS was an ok read for me, but I struggled with the pacing and melodrama.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book. Opinions are my own.… (mais)

I don't give very many five star ratings, but this one truly deserves it! Syd Walker is a Two Spirit Cherokee woman who works for the BIA on the east coast as an archaeologist. She is originally from northeast Oklahoma but haunting memories of childhood trauma have driven her to a new life. But now her regional director wants her to return to her home town and work for that regional director on temporary assignment. A skull has been found on Syd's parents' property with a taunting message for Syd. In addition her sister is missing, so reluctantly Syd returns. But as she seeks answers and searches desperately for Sister, the memories that have haunted her can no longer be pushed aside and she must relive her past. But there are many secrets her - family, friends, and even secrets buried in the ground. She must uncover them to discover the mystery of the skull and to find Sister. I read Lillie's first two books and while both were very good, this one, inho, surpasses them both. The book is populated with well developed and relatable characters and a plot that twists so many times it will spin your head around as it unravels. Haunted by ghosts, driven by need, and desperate to save her sister, Syd finds herself in over her head. There are no spoilers here, but the ending leaves open the possibility that Syd will return in another book. I hope she does. This is probably the best book I've read in 2023!!… (mais)