Coco’s Secret

By: Niamh Greene

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Penguin Books

Coco Swan has always been embarrassed by her name.

With a name like Coco, she thinks people expect her to be as exotic and glamorous as the famous designer, not an ordinary-looking small-town antiques dealer who could win an award for living cautiously.

But when a vintage Chanel handbag turns up in a box of worthless bric-a-brac, Coco’s quiet world is turned upside down. Where did it come from? And is it just coincidence that it’s the same bag Coco’s late mother always wanted for her?

When Coco discovers a mysterious, decades-old letter hidden in the bag’s lining, she sets off on a quest to piece together the story behind it, stumbling across secrets that span three generations as she goes.

Could the beautiful Chanel bag be about to teach Coco more than she wants to learn? Or will it show her just where her heart can take her if she lets it lead the way?

Coco’s Secret is a gripping and thoroughly satisfying story about a young women finally finding courage to become the kind of woman she always had it in her to be. It will go straight to readers’ hearts just like her previous bestselling novels, including the bestselling and award-nominated Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife. Her other novels are Confessions of a Demented Housewife, Lessons from a Love Rat, Rules for a Perfect Life and A Message to Your Heart.

Review:  Coco, named after Coco Chanel, lives with her grandmother who owns an antique shop. She always felt a bit out of place and as if she could never live up to her name.  At an auction she attends for the store, she receives a box, which happens to contain a real, authentic Chanel handbag. Upon finding the bag, she finds a love letter. Which she then tries to track down the owner. As she digs a bit deeper to find more about the owner, she discovers a whole other story than what she thought she would discover. Filled with charm, a bit of sadness, and a warm feel, this book was absolutely lovely.

This book was an easy read. It is the kind of book that you bring to the beach or curl up in bed to read. Charming and delightful, the writer instantly connects you with the characters. Coco is beautifully characterized. She is believable, relatable, and actually feels like a real person.  Although predictable, I must admit I could not put the book down.

Rating: 4/5

The Never List

 

By: Koethi Zan

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books

For years, best friends Sarah and Jennifer kept what they called the “Never List”: a list of actions to be avoided, for safety’s sake, at all costs. But one night, against their best instincts, they accept a cab ride with grave, everlasting consequences. For the next three years, they are held captive with two other girls in a dungeon-like cellar by a connoisseur of sadism.

Ten years later, at thirty-one, Sarah is still struggling to resume a normal life, living as a virtual recluse under a new name, unable to come to grips with the fact that Jennifer didn’t make it out of that cellar. Now, her abductor is up for parole and Sarah can no longer ignore the twisted letters he sends from jail.

Finally, Sarah decides to confront her phobias and the other survivors—who hold their own deep grudges against her. When she goes on a cross-country chase that takes her into the perverse world of BDSM, secret cults, and the arcane study of torture, she begins unraveling a mystery more horrifying than even she could have imagined.

 

Review:

The one rule my parents taught me when I was younger was ‘Don’t get into a strangers car’, and I feel this book paints a pretty good picture of what could happen. Mysterious, dark, and terrible are words that come to mind when I reflect on this book. But that did not stop me from continuing. I am, almost, to a point where I am speechless. There are so many things to say about this book, yet I am not sure where to begin. Sarah, the main character, is now thirty one and it has been about ten years since she was captured, and tortured. Struggling to live a normal life, she decides to confront her past, enough to solve some mysteries regarding her friend, Jennifer.

Chilling and believable. For anyone who has seen the Hostel movies, this book is the equivalent. It never failed to keep me on the edge of my seat. With every page, I felt drawn to it. I could not put it down. As the writers first book, and being a thriller, I feel the author did a very good job.

Rating: 4/5

The Debutante

By: Kathleen Tessaro

Can the secrets of one woman’s past change another woman’s future?

A gifted artist, Cate has come to London from New York to escape her recent past. Working for her aunt’s auction house, she is sent down to Devon to value the contents of Endsleigh House, the once gracious but now crumbling estate of a former socialite. There, hidden in the back of a dusty bookshelf, Cate discovers an old shoebox. Inside is a strange assortment of objects: an exquisite pair of dancing shoes circa 1930; a diamond brooch; a photograph of a young sailor; a dance card; and a pearl and emerald Tiffanys bracelet.

Intrigued by her find, Cate sets out to solve the mystery of the box, becoming immersed in the story of its owner, Baby Blythe. Bright, beautiful, and reckless, Baby was the most famous debutante of her generation . . . and the most dangerous. As the clues begin to reveal a shocking tale of destructive, addictive love, Cate finds herself being drawn deeper into Baby’s tragic life story–a story that will force Cate to face some dark truths about her own.

 

Review:

I must begin by saying how I was extremely disappointed by this book.  I was very excited since I love alternating sub-stories within the actual story but was not developed enough. The book showed glimpses of great character and story development. However, it was extremely hard to get into. The story, I felt, went nowhere and went nowhere very fast.  The idea was great. But,  was not executed well.  At points, I felt like I had to push myself to even finish it. The mystery surrounding the sisters was great, but where is the rest of ,what could be, great story?  Do not get me wrong, it was a charming read. But, I am not sure if I would recommend it.

 

Rating: 2/5