The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain

 

Title: The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle

Author: Matt Cain

Publisher: Kensington Books/RB Media

Release Date: May 24, 2022 

In a humorous, charmingly wise novel perfect for fans of Fredrik Backman and TJ Klune, the forced retirement of a shy, closeted postman in northern England creates the opportunity for him to track down his lost love, embrace his true self, connect with his community, and finally experience his life’s great adventure….

Every day, Albert Entwistle makes his way through the streets of his small English town, delivering letters and parcels and returning greetings with a quick wave and a “how do?” Everyone on his route knows Albert, or thinks they do—a man of quiet routines, content to live alone with his cat, Gracie.

Three months before his sixty-fifth birthday, Albert receives a letter from the Royal Mail thanking him for decades of service and stating that he is being forced into retirement. At once, Albert’s simple life unravels. Without the work that fills his days, what will he do? He has no friends, family, or hobbies—just a past he never speaks of, and a lost love that fills him with regret. And so, rather than continue his lonely existence, Albert forms a brave plan to start truly living, to be honest about who he is...and to find George, the man with whom he spent one perfect spring and summer long ago.

One painful yet exhilarating step at a time, Albert begins searching for George and revealing his story to those around him. As he does, something extraordinary happens. Albert finds unlikely allies, new friends, and the courage to help others—even as he seeks the happiness he’s always denied himself.

Beautifully written, funny, and wise, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle is a book to fall in love with and to be inspired by, one that proves it is never too late to live, to hope, and to love.

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Albert Entwistle has worked his whole adult life delivering the mail. He knows his route like the palm of his hand. Yet, he has kept to himself for 50 years without interacting with anyone on his course. 

He lives alone with his cat Gracie and listening to music is the highlight of his day. He has no friends and no human love in his life. 

Albert doesn't like surprises and the biggest one is coming. He receives a letter from the Royal Mail telling him that in 3 months' time he has to retire. Albert is frantic. He doesn't know what he will do if he doesn't have his routine anymore. 

Albert knows he can't keep on living this way. He knows he has made mistakes and he lost the love of his life, George. They were teenagers when they fell in love and Albert is responsible for their breakup. After much self-analyzing, he makes a decision. He will open up to people, start looking for George and apologize for what he did. 

This was a good story! I was able to care for Albert and I was sad about how alone he was and how his life was so full of fear. I enjoyed his journey to self-discovery with the help of Nicole, his workmates, and Edith. What I wasn't sure about was him trying to look for George after so long and not realizing that maybe George already had a family or a special someone. 50 years is a long time to wait. 

Kudos to Simon Vance for a wonderful narration and for transporting me to Albert's homeland.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by RB media via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Golden Prey by John SandfordLucas Davenport #27

 

Title: Golden Prey

Series: Lucas Davenport #27

Author: John Sandford

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: April 25, 2017

The man was smart and he didn’t mind killing people. 

Welcome to the big leagues, Davenport. 

Lucas Davenport’s first case as a U.S. Marshal sends him into uncharted territory, in the thrilling new novel in the #1 New York Times-bestselling series.

Thanks to some very influential people whose lives he saved, Lucas is no longer working for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, but for the U.S. Marshals Service, and with unusual scope. He gets to pick his own cases, whatever they are, wherever they lead him.

And where they’ve led him this time is into real trouble. A Biloxi, Mississippi, drug-cartel counting house gets robbed, and suitcases full of cash disappear, leaving behind five bodies, including that of a six-year-old girl. Davenport takes the case, which quickly spirals out of control, as cartel assassins, including a torturer known as the “Queen of home-improvement tools” compete with Davenport to find the Dixie Hicks shooters who knocked over the counting house. Things get ugly real fast, and neither the cartel killers nor the holdup men give a damn about whose lives Davenport might have saved; to them, he’s just another large target.

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Lucas is back on form!

Lucas is now a US Marshall after saving the life of a presidential candidate. Luckily, he is still his own man. For the most part, Lucas is able to select the cases that interest him and proceed with an investigation.

The newest case that attracts him, involves the robbery and murder of five people at a Honduran drug cartel counting-house in Biloxi. One of the victims was a 5-year-old girl. Everything points to the killer being Garvin Poole. Yet, no one has been able to catch him before. He is a cold-blooded killer without a conscience. Poole's only weakness seems to be that he is in love with Dora Box. An ex-beauty queen who loves him despite his tendencies.

Also on the hunt, are two killers, Soto and Kort, who are hired by the cartel to find the people who stole the money from them and eliminate them.

Joining Lucas, is two other US Marshalls, Bob, and Rae. Both are as determined as Lucas to catch Poole and his associates.

I liked this one. Everything was new to Lucas. He isn't in the twin cities anymore. He has to start making new connections and learning this new gig as a Marshall. Lucas is all about the hunt and catching the bad guy or girl. ( I still don't forgive him for Clara Rinker). He is like a bloodhound, once he has the smell, he can't stop until he finds his prey.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

Extreme Prey by John SandfordLucas Davenport #26

 

Title: Extreme Prey

Series: Lucas Davenport #26

Author: John Sandford

An extraordinary Lucas Davenport thriller from #1 "New York Times" bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner John Sandford.

After the events in "Gathering Prey", Lucas Davenport finds himself in a very unusual situation—no longer employed by the Minnesota BCA. His friend the governor is just cranking up a presidential campaign though, and he invites Lucas to come along as part of his campaign staff. “Should be fun!” he says, and it kind of is—until they find they have a shadow: an armed man intent on killing the governor . . . and anyone who gets in the way.

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Lucas Davenport is not a cop anymore!

Yes, Lucas decided at the end of the last book to quit the Minnesota BCA. He hates politics and paperwork. What he loves is the hunt and catching the bad guys. 

Out of a job, he is spending his time watching the renovation of his cabin (and driving the contractor crazy) when he gets a call from the Governor of Minnesota, Henderson. He wants to meet Lucas to discuss something with him.

Lucas meets with the Governor. Here, he tells him that even though he is running for President, he doesn't believe he will win. His competitor Michaela Bowden has the best chance but while he was on the campaign trail, he was approached twice. First by an older woman and another time by a young man who seemed to be related. They both pretty much told him the same thing. They believe Michaela Bowden has to go. Henderson got a bad feeling from both interactions. He believes they are plotting to kill Bowden. The Governor asks Lucas to look into it further, find them and see if the threat is real.

This one was so different for Lucas. He really has no power since he doesn't have a badge anymore. When someone doesn't want to talk to him, he can't force them. He is also working without his friends and contacts. He has to work along with the local police who don't know him well. Despite his limitations, Lucas is great at what he does. 

A solid Lucas Davenport thriller. The action was vast with good characters and the dry humor was there which I have come to expect in this world. As always, Ferrone does an amazing job narrating Lucas. 

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

The Car Share by Zoe Brisby

Title: The Car Share

Author: Zoe Brisby

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release Date: March 25, 2021

A ninety-year-old woman with Alzheimer's and a heartbroken young man end up sharing a ride to Brussels that changes their lives forever.

When Alex pulls up to meet "Max", he expects everything but a ninety-year-old lady who has her heart set on getting to Brussels by carpool.

As for 'Max', who is actually called Maxine, she could not be more ill at ease when settling into the seat next to this young man with bloodshot eyes. God help her if he turned out to be a drug addict who hasn't slept in days!

When it becomes clear that Maxine is suffering from Alzheimer's and wants to take matters in her own hands while she still can, and that Alex battles severe depression, a wonderful friendship starts to form between the unlikely pair. Before long, their travel plans take an unexpected turn...

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Maxine and Alex were quite a pair. Not in the way you are thinking. She is a ninety-year-old lady and he is only twenty-five. Yet, their friendship works.

Max(ine) lives in a retirement community and using the app car share, she pays Alex for a trip to Brussels. Maxine is going there to end her life. She believes she has Alzheimer's and she doesn't want to live that way. So she has an appointment she can't miss.

Alex is a depressed young man who is going to Brussels after having his heart broken. He needs a vacation but needs help with gas so he puts an announcement in the app. At first, he is not sure about Maxine. She seems to be crazy but soon he realizes she is just that way. A spirited and funny lady who he starts caring for. 

Between Maxine and the neurotic Alex, the trip is quite memorable. In a way, both helped each other open up about their current situation and realized that life is not so bad after all if you have someone who cares about you. 

I love Maxine, she was full of life and her purse was the bomb. Alex was a little harder to like at the beginning but this mismatched pair worked in the end. 

3/5 Fangs

Cliffhanger: No

A complimentary copy was provided by Hodder & Stoughton via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Out of the Clear Blue Sky by Kristan Higgins

 

Title: Out of the Clear Blue Sky

Author: Kristan Higgins

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: June 7, 2022

From New York Times bestselling author Kristan Higgins comes a funny and surprising new novel about second chances--and why the lies we tell ourselves are the most dangerous.

Lillie Silva knew life as an empty nester would be hard after her only child left for college, but when her husband abruptly dumps her for another woman just as her son leaves, her world comes crashing down. Besides the fact that this announcement is a complete surprise (to say the least), what shocks Lillie most is that she isn't...heartbroken. She's furious.

Lillie has loved her life on Cape Cod, but as a mother, wife and nurse-midwife, she's used to caring for other people...not taking care of herself. Now, alone for the first time in her life, she finds herself going a little rogue. Is it over the top to crash her ex-husband's wedding, dressed like the angel of death? Sure! Should she release a skunk into his perfect new home? Probably not! But it beats staying home and moping.

She finds an unexpected ally in her glamorous sister, with whom she's had a tense relationship all these years. And an unexpected babysitter in of all people Ben Hallowell, the driver in a car accident that nearly killed Lillie 20 years ago. And then there's Ophelia, her ex-husband's oddly lost niece, who could really use a friend.

It's the end of Lillie's life as she knew it. But sometimes the perfect next chapter surprises you...out of the clear blue sky.

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When my favorite romance writer writes a novel, I request it. But not only do I request the ARC (thank you Berkely and NetGalley!) I also preordered the e-book and preordered my signed physical copy from her local bookstore too.

Why? because I like to have all of it. If Kristan Higgins writes it, I buy it.

Although I mentioned earlier that she is my favorite romance novelist, in the last few years, she has transitioned to women's fiction. Do I mind? not in the least! Why? because her stories are always interesting and they leave me with a smile.

In Out of the Clear Blue Sky, we meet two very different women.

One is our main protagonist, Lillie Silva. She is of Portuguese descent and loves her family, cooking, her little town on Cape Cod, and her job as a nurse-midwife. She feels like she has it all. She is perfectly happy although sad that her son is leaving for college in Montana. Soon to be an empty-nester, Lillie is planning to surprise her husband with a trip when he tells her that he wants a divorce and he is in love with another woman. He wants to have joy back in his life. This statement hits Lillie like a ton of bricks. She had no clue her marriage was dying. She never knew he was unhappy. Worst, he decides to tell her this when her son is leaving her too.

Then, Kristan Higgins throws me a curveball. The other woman's POV is Melissa's. The woman responsible (in part since we can't forget the douche ex-husband) for upending Lillie's life as she knows it.

At first, it was so easy to root for Lillie. She was a nice person who loved her family and was helpful to others. Definitely, someone, who deserved better than the hand she got played. What shocked me is how I learned to like Melissa too. Yes, she had been manipulative and superfluous but as the story progresses, we get to see another side of her. We get to know her motivations for the way she behaved. Not that it excused what she did but she didn't do it alone.

The one constant in this book is how much of a moron the ex-husband was. I had zero sympathies for him. Talk about selfish and egotistical. Good riddance!

As always, Kristan Higgins can make me smile and cry on the same page. Lillie had me laughing with her antics. I adored Zeus (her dog) and liked the other secondary characters including Beth, Hannah, her dad, and of course, Ben.

Even though this book was awesome, I wouldn't have minded seeing more of Ben on page....just saying (romantic at heart-point finger towards herself).

Now, I just have to wait for my next Kristan Higgins fix in 2023.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Heroic Hearts by Jim Butcher and Kerrie Hughes

 

Title: Heroic Hearts

Author: Jim Butcher, Anne Bishop, Kelley Armstrong, Annie Bellet, Kevin Hearne, R.R. Virdi, Chloe Neill, Charlaine Harris, Nancy Holder, Jennifer Brozek, Patricia Briggs

Publisher: Ace

Release Date: May 3, 2022

An all-star urban fantasy collection featuring short stories from #1 New York Times bestselling authors Jim Butcher, Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, Kelley Armstrong, and more . . .

In this short story collection of courage, adventure, and magic, heroes--ordinary people who do the right thing--bravely step forward.

But running toward danger might cost them everything. . . .

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher's "Little Things," the pixie Toot-Toot discovers an invader unbeknownst to the wizard Harry Dresden . . . and in order to defeat it, he'll have to team up with the dread cat Mister.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs's "Dating Terrors," the werewolf Asil finds an online date might just turn into something more--if she can escape the dark magic binding her.

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris's "The Return of the Mage," the Britlingen mercenaries will discover more than they've bargained for when they answer the call of a distress beacon on a strange and remote world.

And in #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's "Comfort Zone," the necromancer Chloe Saunders and the werewolf Derek Souza are just trying to get through college. But they can't refuse a ghost pleading for help.

ALSO INCLUDES STORIES BY Annie Bellet * Anne Bishop * Jennifer Brozek * Kevin Hearne * Nancy Holder * Kerrie L. Hughes * Chloe Neill * R.R. Virdi

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This is the way an anthology should be done. I was surprised at how much I liked it. Maybe it's because I'm familiar with half of the series in this book.

As a huge Dresden and Alpha and Omega fan, I knew I needed to read this one. The audible version helped so much in helping keep track of all the characters, new and old.

LITTLE THINGS by Jim Butcher

Toot-Toot is a sprite that protects Harry in the way he can. Toot-Toot also loves that Harry can provide him with his favorite food: Pizza. So Little things have Major General Toot-Toot Minimus defend Harry, his friends, and pizza from evil gremlins.

Glad I didn't have to wait to read this one. James Marsters does the perfect voices in the Dresden world. I couldn't listen to a book without his voice. I also love Toot-Toot and his attempts to gain the love of Lacuna.

THE DARK SHIP by Anne Bishop

The Others is at the top of my favorite fantasy series. The Dark Ship just made me want to be in this world again. Vedetta "Dett" is the protagonist of this short story. She has "feelings" about boats. She saves a pony and knows that she will be punished by the evil man who rules Pyetra, Captain Starr. What she wasn't counting on was the Black Ship and Corvo Sanguinati.

Loved it! I just wished that it was a full novel. I can get behind these new Others characters.

COMFORT ZONE by Kelley Armstrong

Chloe Saunders is a necromancer who is contacted by a ghost named Justin who asked for help saving his sister from the people who killed him. She and her boyfriend Derek Souza will decide to help find the 13-year-old girl and save her.

I read The Darkest Powers series so many years ago. I almost didn't remember who Chloe was. I remembered that I did like her and at that time she was not with Derek yet. I do remember loving Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld series. Elena and Clay were my favorite couple.

TRAIN TO LAST HOPE by Annie Bellet

Raina comes looking for Cassidy and asks her to follow her. She believes she has found the trail to find their missing daughter, Mairi.

I'm not familiar with this series but the horse "Nightmare" intrigued me.

FIRE HAZARD by Kevin Hearne

I haven't read this series in a while. I do remember loving Oberon and I see now that Atticus, the druid has another dog, Starbuck. This short story is told from Oberon's POV. By the end of it, Oberon will know that courage and sausages are not the same.

GRAVE GAMBLES by R.R. Virdi

Vincent Graves can move his soul into a recently departed corpse and bring it back to life. He has a time limit where he needs to find the monster who killed the body he is inhabiting and dispose of him.

I can see myself reading more about this character.

SILVERSPELLby Chloe Neill

I used to love Merrit and Ethan until something happened that made me stop reading the Chicagoland Vampire series. Now, I see this is a new series, a spin-off where Elisa Sullivan and her boyfriend Connor are the main characters. After, reading this short story, I'm tempted to give Merrit and Ethan another try.

TROLL LIFE by Kerrie L. Hughes

I loved this one. The Troll, Harzl Hellirverja was nice, he had a dog, Snori, and communicated with the trains. I will look into this series further.

THE RETURN OF THE MAGE by Charlaine Harris

After a beacon is activated and the majority of the team dies, Batanya and Clovache decided to follow the beacon signal accompanied by Vandler to look for the rest of the team.

This was my least favorite series in this book. It was hard to follow all these different characters or care about them in such a short time.

THE VAMPIRES KARAMAZOV by Nancy Holder

Alexie is a vampire who used to be a monk. He worries about the sins of his father and brothers who are all vampires. He knows his brothers are planning something and he must find the courage to stop them. I haven't read this series but I did like Alexei and I'm intrigued by another one of his brothers, Dmitri.

THE NECESSITY OF PRAGMATIC MAGIC by Jennifer Brozek

Two witches trying to stop a daydream nightmare from happening. I like the two ladies. She seems to be fierce and determined.

DATING TERRORS by Patricia Briggs

Love Asil and him finding a good date was the best!! My only wish would have been for his story to be 6 more hours. He deserves some happiness and so does his wolf.

Of note, the sad thing about this book is that Rachel Caine was supposed to be part of it but she died before she could join them. She was a good writer and she will be missed.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gathering Prey by John SandfordLucas Davenport #25

 

Title: Gathering Prey 

Series: Lucas Davenport #25

Author: John Sandford

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: April 28, 2015

The extraordinary new Lucas Davenport thriller from #1 New York Times–bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize–winner John Sandford.

They call them Travelers. They move from city to city, panhandling, committing no crimes—they just like to stay on the move. And now somebody is killing them.

Lucas Davenport’s adopted daughter, Letty, is home from college when she gets a phone call from a woman Traveler she’d befriended in San Francisco. The woman thinks somebody’s killing her friends, she’s afraid she knows who it is, and now her male companion has gone missing. She’s hiding out in North Dakota, and she doesn’t know what to do.

Letty tells Lucas she’s going to get her, and, though he suspects Letty’s getting played, he volunteers to go with her. When he hears the woman’s story, though, he begins to think there’s something in it. Little does he know. In the days to come, he will embark upon an odyssey through a subculture unlike any he has ever seen, a trip that will not only put the two of them in danger—but just may change the course of his life.

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Back into the Lucas Davenport World.

Lucas's adopted daughter, Letty is in college now. Here is where she meets a couple of Travelers and buys them a meal. When Letty comes back to Minnesota, she gets a phone call from Skye, the woman traveler she befriended in California and she is asking Letty for help. Her friend (whom Letty met) has gone missing and she thinks that Pilate and his people have tortured him and killed him.

When Letty tells the story to Lucas, he tells her it's probably nothing but decides to accompany Letty to meet her. Lucas soon finds himself believing Skye and realizing that this group has murdered others before. The hunt will send Lucas outside his state in search of Pilate and his people through Juggalo gatherings.  After an incident with Letty, his pursuit of Pilate becomes personal.

Lucas had to deal with a band of crazies that maimed and murdered without thinking twice. Scary people who felt more like a cult than anything else. They drove through states causing harm to innocents. 

Another good installment to the series although not a favorite. I liked that Lucas is helped by small-town sheriffs and cops in this one. It made the whole ordeal more believable. 

Also at the end of this novel, Lucas has to make some decisions that have been percolating for a while. 

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs