Rosepoint Publishing

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff #AudiobookReview #FamilyLifeFiction

Book Blurb:

When April and Leo’s house burns in the middle of the night, they escape with their two young children and the quiet knowledge that the fire is not the only thing threatening their family. They retreat to April’s childhood home in Dallas, where her spirited parents and siblings provide both comfort and complication.

As the family reckons with the aftermath—grief, guilt, logistics, and memories scorched and intact—the fire exposes the cracks already forming in April and Leo’s marriage. The novel unfolds in alternating perspectives: from April, who feels the crushing weight of motherhood, marriage, and self-blame; from Leo, a high school history teacher shaped by a lonely, fractured childhood; from Deb, April’s generous and no-nonsense mother who has to contend with her husband’s recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis; and from flashbacks that trace April and Leo’s relationship from its earliest days of connection to the devastating decisions that led them here.

A family saga suffused with humor, longing, and heartbreak, The Burning Side is about what we inherit and what we choose, about forgiveness and the ache of being known. It is, above all, about the meaning of home and the costs of long love.

My Review:

A new-to-me author delivers a family life portrait and then does a deep dive into family dynamics.

April and Leo have been having marital problems and grown apart, somewhat estranged. He announced to her, during dinner preparation, that he wants a divorce, and as it will sometimes, the food and the fire are forgotten until the flames threaten their entire family.

With no home, the loss of everything, and nowhere to go, they move to her parents house. Leo has a tight tie with his inlaws who always treated him as their own son. Now Deb has been dealt with a diagnosis of her husband’s Alzheimers and is learning to come to terms with it.

They say events comes in threes…that old rule has happened more than once…and comes into play here. The reader is allowed POA’s of all three, April, Leon, and Deb. My perspective changes with all three, and might have changed more than once throughout the narrative.

The tension ebbs and flows while the reader begins to understand the experience of each, the pressure of a mother of little ones, while Leo exhibits increasing arm distance with little or no communication with his wife. It helps that all characters are likable but there are times when you’d like to yell at both to just talk to each other. Feelings of alienation can’t quite swallow the love each obviously still has for the other.

There are themes of abandonment, trust, loyalty, loss, and family bonds. It’s emotional but didn’t always feel authentic to me. No surprises here; the plot and storyline followed a rather predictable pattern. There is definitely a failure to communicate and that ends only one of two ways—the way you expect.

The novel is engaging, providing enough tension and interesting characters to carry the read to conclusion. If you’re a fan, you’ll no doubt find it well written and satisfying.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Family Life Fiction, Literary Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Narrators: Stacy Gonzalez, Timothy Andrés Pabon, Jackie Sanders
Release Date: May 19, 2026

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Sarah Damoff is the author of the debut novel, THE BRIGHT YEARS, published by Simon & Schuster in 2025. It was a national bestseller; a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist; and Southern Literary Review Book of the Year. Her second novel, THE BURNING SIDE, is out now. Sarah’s books are being translated into over twenty languages. Her writing has also appeared in Oprah Daily, Porter House Review, Ruminate Magazine, Texas Highways, and Open Global Rights, among other publications. A Texas native, Sarah lives with her husband and children in Dallas, where she has worked in child welfare. Her third novel, STATE OF CARE, is forthcoming.

#Audiobooks

Rosepoint Reviews – October Recap – All the News That’s Fit to Print

Rosepoint Reviews October Recap

I mentioned last recap that I moved my water garden critters inside as the weather took a cool turn and these can’t tolerate cold water. Inside, I have no lid, no light, no heater. So far, they’ve done well, but I had read that cool water (between 64-68 degrees) will keep the female snails from laying eggs. Nope. Now I have a clutch of eggs despite the temp. I’m wondering what colors they will produce, however, as I have both orange and ivory and don’t know which female laid the eggs. Always something!

In order to attend the local library American Mahjong games (they also have Chinese games), I’ve been studying any free apps I can find. Most have introductory games then a monthly fee. The games are several hours long and held weekly—no way I can do that—but was hoping to learn enough not to embarrass myself. Do you play?

Also, last recap I mentioned that Punkin the Pom would have her birthday in October, and she did, but it was her eighth, not the seventh. She continues to stretch her boundaries with us, finally getting comfortable enough with us to do so and continues to be a picky eater.

As usual a very busy month in which I take on far more than capable of accomplishing, but do it anyway, so, yes, my reviews have suffered. In the middle of trying to get a review to post during the month, discovered I could no longer use the Classic Editor without upgrading. The “happiness engineers” were pretty thrilled, I wasn’t. I paid for the basic and still getting used to it. The biggest problem for me is opening but not being kept in the dashboard. Despite the trauma and much gnashing of teeth, the CE and I read and reviewed four ebooks and six audiobooks in October.

I’m woefully behind reviewing audiobooks, with five read and sitting out there waiting for much needed attention. If I can get those caught up, it’ll go a long way towards my Goodreads goal for the year.

#RosepointPublishing - October Recap

EBooks

Secrets of the Artis Zoo by Paulette Mahurin (CE review)
Lady Reid’s Legacy by Jean Grainer
The Seagull by Wes Snowden (CE review)
Conspiracy by Colleen Coble

Audiobooks

Forget You Saw Her by Noelle W Ihli
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce ( book club selection)
He Started It by Samantha Downing
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Favorite Book of the Month

I liked both Too Old for This and Lady Reid’s Legacy but have to give the nod to Too Old for This because it was unique, shocking, and fast-paced. Never a dull moment there!

Favorite for October – Too Old for This

My Reading Challenges page…Once again, just too much going on with aquatic critters, cleaning up the yard, and trying to learn Mah Jong. Goodreads now at 107 books of a 125 book challenge, putting me at 86%. Also wrestling with my Amazon Vine goal and it’s looking like it’s going to be a squeaker.

To my readers and fellow bloggers: I appreciate every view and like and thank you so much for taking the time to check out my posts and leave your comments. You still remain the reason I keep posting and now own a two-year subscription.

Halloween books

Malibu Rising: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday #FictionSagas

Best Books of 2021

Award Winner for Readers’ Favorite Historical Fiction (2021)

Book Blurb:

Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, the family drama that ensues will change their lives forever.

Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.

Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.

My Review:

Yes, it’s Taylor Jenkins Reid—and it’s 100% character-driven. Not that I don’t like some character-driven inclusions, but 100%?

No plot. Just characters. Now and back then.

I read Daisy Jones and the Six back in 2023 and really enjoyed it. Then I read Atmosphere in 2025 but didn’t find it up to the level of enjoyment as Daisy Jones.

Malibu Rising - US cover — Malibu Riding – US cover

Having listened to this one some time ago, I’m even having a problem remembering it at all, except that just that fact tells me what I felt about it at the time. It’s a deep dive into the character of four siblings who are facing the annual celebrity party.

Yes, they have daddy issues and each have struggled with it according to their own personalities. The Riva family has a tragic history, creating flawed characters all. Each has widely different interests. I was awed by Nina’s sacrifices. The roles in the Riva family flip early, making the kids the mature, responsible members while the parents abdicated being adults and were more about play time.

Malibu Rising - UK cover — Malibu Rising – UK cover

I did like the well-drawn atmosphere of the California 50s. I could almost relate except that Malibu never figured into our moves. And I liked the way the ending settled the father fiasco and Nina’s rewards. Thank you—gave me another half star. Otherwise, if you’re a die-hard Reid fan, you probably enjoyed it. For me, the glow of Daisy has worn very thin.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Two point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Fiction Sagas, Family Saga Fiction, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Random House Audio
Narrator: ‎ Julia Whelan
Release Date: June 1, 2021

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid is the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, as well as One True Loves, Maybe in Another Life, After I Do, and Forever, Interrupted. Her newest novel, Malibu Rising, is out now. She lives in Los Angeles.

You can follow her on Instagram @tjenkinsreid.

audiobook reader — Graphic image courtesy ChatGPT

He Started It by Samantha Downing #AudiobookReview #TuesdayBookBlog #DarkHumor

Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Book Blurb:

From the twisted mind behind mega hit My Lovely Wife comes the story of a family—not unlike your own—just with a few more violent tendencies thrown in….

Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan haven’t all been together in years. And for very good reasons—we’ll get to those later. But when their wealthy grandfather dies and leaves a cryptic final message in his wake, the siblings and their respective partners must come together for a cross-country road trip to fulfill his final wish and—more importantly—secure their inheritance.

But time with your family can be tough. It is for everyone.

It’s even harder when you’re all keeping secrets and trying to forget a memory, a missing person, an act of revenge, the man in the black truck who won’t stop following your car—and especially when at least one of you is a killer and there’s a body in the trunk. Just to name a few reasons.

But money is a powerful motivator. It is for everyone.

My Review:

Without realizing it, I borrowed two audiobooks by the same author within a month. I previously read and reviewed Too Old For This and greatly enjoyed it, perhaps because it involved a female senior main character. Major dark satire. This book is also dark. Very dark and also quite original.

This one, however, doesn’t include the satire; no sense of humor. At first I thought the bickering between siblings was meant to establish a sense of familial connectedness. Boy, was I wrong. Grandpa died and the inheritance comes after a road trip.

He Started It by Samantha Downing — He Started It – US cover

Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan all have widely different personalities and they all remember their grandfather differently. For that matter, they remember their parents differently as well.

Not the first book I’ve read recently with totally unlikeable characters, truly dysfunctional. They all have secrets and are disturbed to varying degrees. You can’t believe what happens on this cross-country trip they are forced to recapture of the one with their grandpa when they were all little—some twenty years ago. There are caveats, of course, but they must all do the trip just like they did before, including the dumps they stayed in and the greasy spoons where they ate. Beth, the middle child, is both the narrator and a liar.

He Started It by Samatha Downing — He Started It – UK cover

This trip is a little more complicated, given that now there is a marriage involved along with another significant partner. Beth was given the edict to find their missing sister by their mother—now in prison. But guess how that goes.

Yes, it’s a mind-blowing, skull-numbing read, with twists and whip-fast, shocking turns. Once I got my eyes back and focused, I’d reread that passage. No, that’s what I read. Who writes this stuff?!

Okay, so the deal was that the siblings had to complete the trip, report back and get their inheritance—no small change. So, how in hell did this ending solve that one? Hated the ending. So much drama, never-ending bickering, one extra little zinger after another. (Who is following them? Why did grandpa whisk the kids away from their parents and what’s with the calls? What’s the deal with Eddie?) It’s clever, keeps you hooked, entertained until the end. And did we find out what happened with the missing sister?

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Dark Humor Literature & Fiction, Dark Humor, Psychological Thrillers
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Narrator: ‎ Karissa Vacker
Release Date: July 21, 2020

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Samantha Downing is an internationally bestselling thriller author. Her novels include My Lovely Wife, He Started It, For Your Own Good, and A Twisted Love Story. Her debut novel, My Lovely Wife, was nominated for Edgar, ITW, and Macavity awards in the US, the CWA award in the UK, and was the winner of the Prix des Lectrices award in France.

Her latest thriller, Too Old For This, was released in August 2025.

#ThrowbackThursday

The Girl on the Train: A Novel by Paula Hawkins #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday #psychologicalthriller

Best Books of the Year 2015

Book Blurb:

The #1 New York Times bestseller, USA Today Book of the Year and now a major motion picture starring Emily Blunt.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple having breakfast on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

My Review:

Sorry, not sorry, that I did not find Rachel sympathetic.

This is a novel I sucked into because it was a book of the year. Not the first time I’ve wondered if I read the same book alluded to in the raves. It wasn’t until I actually started this review that I discovered it also became a successful movie starring Emily Blunt. Well…Emily Blunt. Now I’ll have to go and look for the flick, but it won’t be involved in my review of the novel.

The Girl on the Train - US cover — The Girl on the Train – US cover

There are actually three main characters but Rachel Watson has the predominant POV. Also included in short chapter bursts are Anna and Megan. They all share the storytelling, but it’s Rachel who is the most dominant and unreliable narrator. Excuse me, but did they all have to be so nasty? There’s no one here to invest in.

It’s Megan who goes missing. It’s Anna who is the sweetie who stole Rachel’s hubby (the rat) and became pregnant just to spite Rachel. Anna obviously knew Rachel couldn’t conceive, thank heaven, as with the amount of booze Rachel consumed, the poor thing would come out in the shape of a bottle.

Never mind all that. Rachel manages the money to continue to commute to the city every morning where she was fired for drinking and being totally obnoxious on the job. One morning on the way in though, she believes she witnesses what has to be a crime and she attempts to report it.

HA! No one takes her seriously. Would you? So she decides to find out what happened herself. Does this sound familiar at all?

The Girl on the Train - UK cover — The Girl on the Train – UK cover

The narrative manages a timeline shift as well as POV shifts, some stretching disbelief, some little more than a repeat, but therein lies a heavy philosophical study in the mind of three disparate women. There are twists galore, because…who do you trust to tell this tale?

The denouement, when it comes, may not be one of the answers you’d thought of, but is rather a let down anyway and my summation: meh.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Three Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thrillers, Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Narrators: Clare Corbett, Louise Brealey, India Fisher
Release Date: January 13, 2015

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: PAULA HAWKINS worked as a journalist for fifteen years before writing her first novel. Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, Paula moved to London in 1989. Her first thriller, The Girl on the Train, has sold more than 23 million copies worldwide. Published in over fifty languages, it has been a Number 1 bestseller around the world and was a box office hit film starring Emily Blunt.

Paula’s thrillers, Into the Water and A Slow Fire Burning, were also instant Number 1 bestsellers.

Audiobooks with headphones — Graphic books and coffee courtesy Freepik.com

Conspiracy (A Sanctuary Novel) by Colleen Coble #BookReview #ChristianMystery

A small town, second chance romantic suspense

Book Blurb:

In the third book in USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble’s Sanctuary series, Paradise Alden learns firsthand that a conspiracy of lemurs is a family . . . but a conspiracy of people can be deadly.

Fifteen years of secrets. One chance for justice.

Just as wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden begins to envision a future with Blake Lawson, the ghosts of her past return with a vengeance. The murder of her parents has shadowed her for fifteen years, but a new threat brings the cold case into the terrifying present. A trained leopard–a chilling embodiment of Paradise’s deepest fears–is now stalking her.

Haunted by resurfacing memories, Paradise, Blake, and her newfound brother, Drew, follow a trail of clues that leads them into a web of dark family secrets. The deeper they dig, the more shocking the connections become, linking their families to a dangerous conspiracy that someone is still willing to kill to protect.

With every step closer to the truth, the killer becomes more desperate. Paradise, Blake, and Drew must race to expose a murderer who has remained hidden for fifteen years, but this time, they are the ones being stalked. If they can’t unmask the killer, the past will destroy both the fragile future Paradise and Blake are trying to build and the family she has finally found with her brother.

Colleen Coble’s Conspiracy combines gripping suspense with slow-burn romance and includes intriguing mysteries from both the past and present, sabotage and danger, second-chance romance, found family, and themes of overcoming pain and how the past doesn’t have to define you. Perfect for fans of Laura Dave, Allison Brennan, and Lynette Eason.

The Sanctuary series: Ambush (book 1), Prowl (book 2), and Conspiracy (book 3)

My Review:

My guess is that I acquired this book hoping Book 3 could read as a standalone and, for the most part, it does. I didn’t read either Book 1 or 2 and missed that it is faith based. I expected a suspenseful mystery story and, again, for the most part, it is.

First, the names of the two main characters began to annoy me: Paradise and Blake. Her half-brother Drew, perhaps more formally Andrew, possibly based from Celtic roots. I’m not sure why the clash bothered me, but I kept tripping over “Paradise.”

Then I realized I’d missed the part that called it a slow burn. And, indeed, it is. Guess I prefer that to she and Blake jumping into bed at every opportunity for some afternoon delight.

When Paradise lost her parents, she became a ward of the courts and foster care, where, once again, descriptions of abuse at the hands of caregivers is enough to make a twelve-year-old opt to live on the streets instead. (How do I manage to have successive books with the same theme? Usually it’s the same names.)

Then there is Drew, a (former?) detective, who is ready to join the half-sister train and move to Alabama. Together, their goal is to solve the murders of Paradise’s parents and Drew’s dad. Yup—can’t be a coincidence—but that’s how they found each other.

I was impressed, however, that Paradise is written as a wildlife veterinarian at an animal refuge in Alabama. Blake’s mother owns it. This book doesn’t go deeply into how Paradise comes to work there or where she came from or how with such varied and sufficient knowledge. My bad for not reading Book 1 and 2 first! Not a fan of apes in general, however, was interested in the different origins and biology of a “wet-nosed” primate. Lemurs came before apes. “Conspiracy” is the collective noun for lemurs as is a “murder of crows.”

In between twists, some building tension, and clues dropping like bread crumbs, there are slow areas for me (i.e., romance). The relationship with Blake is a sweet one though, since she has no family and he has plenty, a believable match. There are numerous references to faith and prayers.

Although an interesting or unique plot, I had a little problem with the pacing, losing the thread, and the protagonists’ half-brother, as well as the MC names.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance, Christian Mystery & Suspense
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: July 7, 2026

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Colleen Coble has captivated readers with over 6 million books in print, earning #1 spots on Amazon. Her novels blend suspenseful plots, emotional depth, and faith-filled redemption that keep fans turning pages late into the night.

Colleen also teamed up with attorney Rick Acker. Together they launched the high-octane Tupelo Grove series which infused her signature coastal intrigue with Rick’s courtroom-sharp twists. Multiple high concept novels continue to flow from their fun and exciting collaboration including I Think I Was Murdered, a ripped-from-the-headlines AI suspense novel.

A passionate mentor to aspiring writers, Colleen has served on the American Christian Fiction Writers board for 20 years, helping foster a warm and supportive community. A life-long Hoosier, she and her husband recently moved to Arizona where she continues to spoil her grandchildren and craft stories in the sunshine.

*Rafael Peier

The Seagull by Wes Snowden – #BookReview #seaadventuresfiction #NetGalley

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

In the turbulent years leading up to the American War of Independence, one man’s journey will redefine his destiny and the future of a nation.

Jeremy Whitehall, a privileged young man from London, suddenly finds himself stripped of wealth and thrust into the hands of his ruthless uncle. Forced into an unwelcome mission to Nantucket, Jeremy’s task is clear: manipulate the burgeoning New England candle industry to serve his uncle’s greed. But as the Atlantic swells beneath him, Jeremy’s conscience awakens, leading him to question the path laid out for him. Upon arrival in Nantucket, Jeremy crosses paths with the spirited daughter of a whaling ship captain, who ignites a transformation within him. Together, they plot to thwart his uncle’s sinister plan. However, an unforeseen disaster at sea catapults Jeremy into a world of peril and opportunity, where he must navigate treacherous waters, both literal and moral. From the lavish halls of London’s elite to the wild, unforgiving seas off the coast of Brazil, The Seagull charts Jeremy’s thrilling metamorphosis from a pampered wastrel to a man of honor and determination. Set against the backdrop of a world on the brink of revolution, this spellbinding tale of adventure, romance, and personal redemption will captivate readers from the first page to the last.

His Review:

Mr. Jeremy Whitehall was born into wealth in Great Britain. The colonies were suppressed by exorbitant taxes on every transaction payable to George the Third. The taxes help support a war with France and the colonists get no benefit from the taxes. Also, all shipping is required to sail through British ports and pay a fee to the King before delivering or selling anything developed in the Colonies. The British merchants and King have a monopoly on all production and deliver no benefit to the Colonies.

Jeremy could care less. The bars in London are loaded with beer and spirits. He works for his uncle but in reality is a “Never-do-well”. His well-to-do uncle tires of his wild ways and sends him to America as a hand on a sailing ship. He works at every job on the ship and becomes a very good sailor.

He meets a lovely young lady in the Colonies and decides he wants to wed her. However, a whaling ship goes out for an indefinite period of time and he is not sure she will wait for him.

A well written novel and believable tale of love. There is romance and clashes between some of the characters. It’s a well plotted and paced narrative, well worth the reader’s time. Despite a slightly slow start, I found my interest growing as I read and by halfway through the book did not want to put it down. Read and enjoy. You will not be disappointed. CE Williams

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this ebook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Sea Adventures Fiction, US Historical Fiction
Publisher: Corvent Creative
Publication Date: September 5, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: Wes Snowden is an author primarily as a result of an unforeseen event.

A born storyteller, Wes would often find himself surrounded by groups of excited kids. Their high-pitched voices demanding to hear the latest chapter on the adventures of Pirate Joe, or The Lost Princess, The Magic Opal, or whatever was current.

One day, a good a teacher friend listened in. At her gentle insistence, Wes was encouraged to commit those early verbal stories to paper for the benefit of future generations of youngsters.

However, as is often the case in life, that first bite of the apple produced an intense desire for more. After honing his craft writing several children and young adult books, Wes now focuses on writing unique, entertaining full-length stories for adults.

White Swan Wishes, Zachary’s Gold, One Last Move, and The Leprechaun Wars will be joined by Firebug, the latest novel in the fall of 2020.

After a successful career as an international business owner, Wes now spends his writing time between Toronto, Vancouver, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Wes Snowden is a member of Writers & Editors Network.

The Music Shop: A Novel by Rachel Joyce #AudiobookReview #bookclub #TBT

Best Literature & Fiction

Another book I’d have never chosen, but a book club selection for September. An older book, albeit one that caught a lot of attention including a star rating of 2 (Kobo) to 4.3 (Amazon-US), that, once again, I struggled with. Being honest, it moved so slowly I might have DNF’d it, had it not been a book club pick we would be discussing at our October meeting.

My Thoughts

The glacial pace, for me at least, was occasionally moved to cruise when discussing the nuances of a particular portion of a popular song, whether contemporary or classic. The ensuing discussion often led to a new understanding of the lyrics and what they might really have meant. Not that the author was just happy at that point that the lines rhymed.

The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce — The Music Shop – US cover

Frank has a gift…no, not a gift, as he’s had a lifetime to build that acute sense of music and the acquired expertise, memory for songs instilled in him by a mother consumed by music. More devotion to her music than even for a son, longing for acknowledgment, love, and respect by devouring everything from old to new pieces, artists, and genres.

His loss is palpable. Sad. But his talent is in hearing a customer’s story and recommending the one song that will absolutely resonate with them, bring them back to joy and heal.

There were times when I got annoyed with Frank and his insistence on staying with vinyl. I could imagine, and knew, he’d be left behind with new technology and changes with the delivery of music and that he’d be woefully left behind times. Not that his whole neighborhood wasn’t changing, battling new ideas for development that didn’t include him.

So when Ilse is introduced to the storyline, I couldn’t see where in the world she’d fit in the scenario and what her angle might be. Frank has his secrets, so does she, and both so stubborn they’d lose twenty-one years of what might have been. ARGH!

I perked up near the conclusion and the flash mob idea with Handel’s Messiah Hallelujah Chorus. Still, even that disappointed and I had to search YouTube for a better version.

Book Club Thoughts

Once again, the book provided many a lively discussion, often times getting off topic with music providing such a wide arc for thought and conversation. Lots of sharing favorites—those songs that resonate deeply, personally, the lyrics that spoke to you. A variety of questions, most from author suggestions rather than the publisher.

A few of the questions specifically examined were:

► Why is Frank so insistent on staying with vinyl?

He inherited his mother’s huge collection; that is where his heart is.

► What did the people on Unity Street mean to him?

He was left alone after his mother passed and they were what constituted his family.

► What does Frank’s gift tell us about himself, his childhood?

He had absorbed the absolute meaning and feeling that music represented and could interpret what was most appropriate for the one seeking solace.

► Do you listen to music a little differently now?

Yes.

Reflecting on the music that gives me goosebumps, I can’t listen to Elvis singing, You Gave Me a Mountain without getting them. Of course, there are others. Having lost my brother during the ‘Nam war, it’s hard not to cry when I hear Bring Him Home (Josh Groban).

The book stirred some emotions, but, mercy—slow and sad just doesn’t do it for me. What did you think of the book? Your favorite song?

Book Details:

Publisher: Random House Audio
Narrator: Steven Hartley
Publication Date: January 2, 2018

Title Link(s):

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The Author: Rachel Joyce is the author of the Sunday Times and international bestsellers The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Perfect, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, The Music Shop, the instant New York Times best seller Miss Benson’s Beetle, Maureen Fry & the Angel of the North and a collection of interlinked short stories, A Snow Garden & Other Stories. Her latest novel The Homemade God will be published in April ’25 in UK, and June ’25 in US and Canada.

Rachel’s books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold millions of copies world-wide. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book prize and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. The critically acclaimed film of the novel, for which Rachel wrote the screenplay, was released in 2023 starring Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton, and in 2025 the musical will open in Chichester Festival Theatre, for which Rachel also wrote the script. Miss Benson’s Beetle won the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2021, Rachel was awarded the Specsavers National Book Awards ‘New Writer of the Year’ in December 2012 and she was shortlisted for the ‘UK Author of the Year’ 2014. In 2024 she was given an honorary doctorate by Kingston University.

Rachel has written many original afternoon plays and adaptations of the classics for BBC Radio 4 and she is currently adapting Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen which will be aired later this year. You can follow her on Instagram at rachelcjoyce.

The YMCA Bookclub