My Book Reviews

Category: Fiction

  • The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman

    The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman

    The Enemy's DaughterThe Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman

    Release: February 18, 2025

    Format: Ebook
    Publisher:  ‎ Viking Books for Young Readers
    Source: Amazon
    Find it at: Amazon , GoodReads

    In the spirit of Lauren Wolk and Ruta Sepetys comes the tale of a girl fighting her way back home after surviving the sinking of the Lusitania. And she learns to think for herself rather than accept the prejudice of wartime.

    The year is 1915 and the world is at war. Marta and her father are passengers on the Lusitania, desperately trying to get back home to Germany. While aboard, they must hide their identities or risk as enemy spies. Then a German submarine attacks the Lusitania . They just make it off the sinking ship. The Germans discover her father and detain him.. Marta suddenly finds herself alone in enemy land.

    To survive, Marta must draw upon a deep well of bravery she never knew she had. Fortunately, she meets Clare, a young Irish girl who can talk a mile a minute, and her kind family. Believing that Marta is a Dutch refugee, they welcome her into their home. She can’t risk letting her new friends know she’s actually from Germany. And the very nation that the Irish and English are fighting against. But could these people who have shown her nothing but kindness truly be her enemy?

    About the Author:

    Anne Blankman parents named her for Anne of Green Gables in the hope of her becoming a writer. She grew up in an old house with gables (gray, unfortunately) in upstate New York. When she wasn’t writing or reading, she was rowing on the crew team, taking ballet lessons, fencing and swimming. She graduated from Union College with degrees in English and history, which comes in handy when she writes historical fiction.

    After earning a master’s degree in information science, Anne began working as a youth services librarian. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her family. When she’s not writing young adult fiction, she’s playing with her daughter, training for races with her husband, working at her amazing library branch, learning to knit (badly), and reading.

    Anne Blankman is the author of PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG, the first in a three-book deal slated for publication in spring 2014 from Balzer + Bray | HarperCollins. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.

     

    Website , Goodreads , Amazon

    The Enemy’s Daughter Review:

    The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman begins with an immediate sense of danger and urgency that pulls you right in. The story opens aboard the Lusitania, where Marta and her father, both Germans, find themselves in peril as the ship meets its tragic fate. From the very first pages, the tension is gripping, and you can’t help but wonder whether they will ever be reunited after the chaos that unfolds.

    What stands out most is Marta’s emotional journey. Her friendship with Clare is heartfelt and genuine, showing how compassion can bridge divides even in the midst of wartime prejudice. Through Clare and her family, Marta begins to see people in a new light, challenging her own assumptions and grief. Blankman captures Marta’s inner turmoil beautifully, where you truly feel her longing for her parents and the confusion of being caught between two worlds.

    The historical setting of World War I is well-portrayed, with enough realism and intensity to spark curiosity in young readers who might want to learn more about the era. There are also a few tense and dramatic moments, especially involving characters like Mr. Evans, that keep the plot moving.

    However, the pacing slows considerably in the middle, with several chapters focused on reflection rather than action. While this deepens Marta’s character, it also causes the story to lose momentum. The ending, too, feels somewhat abrupt; while open endings can be powerful, this one leaves you wanting just a bit more closure. And though the cover is striking, it doesn’t quite match the warmth of Marta and Clare’s friendship.

    Overall, The Enemy’s Daughter is a touching and thoughtful middle-grade historical novel that explores empathy and courage, even if it leaves a few loose ends untied.

  • The Motel by Nancy Savage

    The Motel by Nancy Savage

    The MotelThe Motel by Nancy Savage

    Release: September 7, 2025

    Format: Ebook
    Publisher:  ‎ Inkubator Books
    Source: Amazon
    Find it at: Amazon , GoodReads4Stars

    Pearl just checked in. To her own personal nightmare.

    Things aren’t going well for Pearl Fuller. Reeling from a breakup and struggling to make ends meet, she’s sleeping on her ex’s couch and working nights at The Driftwood Motel.

    The same motel that years ago was the scene of the legendary Berkman murder. They say that room 52 has been empty ever since that night. But if that’s true why can Pearl see someone moving around in there? And why is she the only one who can hear that eerie voice?

    No one else seems concerned. But they don’t have to spend every night sitting alone at the front desk, certain that someone is hiding out there in the darkness, watching.

    The only bright spot in Pearl’s life is Noah, a guy she recently met .He has drawn her in with his charm and good looks. But it’s beginning to feel as though Noah isn’t who he says he is. And soon Pearl suspects he knows a lot more about room 52 than he’s letting on.

    Will Pearl discover the truth before it’s too late? Or is she about to open the door to a nightmare so twisted that her worst fears will pale in comparison?

    About the Author:

    Nancy Savage is the author of chilling psychological thrillers The Couple in Cabin 14 (2024) and The Motel (2025). She lives in a house overlooking the hills. She has her long-time partner, their six kids, and two cats.

     

    Website , Goodreads , Amazon

    The Motel Review:

    The Motel by Nancy Savage was a fun and surprisingly engaging read that blended drama, romance, and suspense in an entertaining way. One of the main aspects I liked was following Pearl as she searches for love while caught between two men, Noah and Peter. Though I personally felt both were wrong for her, it was interesting to watch her navigate her emotions and see who she would ultimately choose.

    Another big highlight for me was Lucas. It’s rare to find a character who starts off as sleazy and ends up being genuinely lovable, but Lucas completely won me over as the story progressed. I really appreciated how the author gave his character growth and maturity. Similarly, Heather turned out to be another unexpected favorite. While she is mean most of the time, she’s dramatic and over the top at times in an entertaining way that she often lightened the mood.

    The ending was another strong point, packed with twists I didn’t see coming, especially the reveal about the watcher. There are multiple surprises in those final chapters, and they tied the story together in a satisfying way.

    If I had one critique, it would be that the book leaned a bit more into drama than suspense. While the drama kept things lively, I sometimes wished for more tension and mystery. Some of the suspense scenes also felt repetitive, like the repeated instances of Pearl checking on the Branson house and finding another animal missing. Moreover, though I liked Edsel as a character, his role didn’t feel entirely necessary to the plot.

    Still, The Motel delivers a solid slow-burn thriller that truly picks up in the second half. With its engaging characters and twisty finale, it’s an enjoyable read that keeps you guessing right up to the end.

  • The Apartment Across the Hall by Jack Dane

    The Apartment Across the Hall by Jack Dane

    The Apartment Across the HallThe Apartment Across the Hall by Jack Dane

    Release: January 3, 2025
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher:  ‎ Back Alley Press
    Source: Amazon
    Find it at: Amazon , GoodReads

    They say you can’t pick your neighbors… but can you survive them?

    When Salem Ripley moves into her apartment in New York City, she’s disheartened to find it isn’t exactly like the pictures. Still, with her past, she’s lucky to find a place at all.

    Her neighbor across the hall is tall, dark and handsome. After seeing his beautiful girlfriend, Salem can’t help but obsess over the couple and their perfect life.

    Then Salem sees her neighbor with another girl. And another. And another. The strangest part? She never sees the women leave.

    Salem should ignore it.. After all, it’s really none of her business. But she can’t shake the strange feeling that something is wrong–and that lives are at stake. She has no choice–she has to find out what’s going on in the apartment across the hall…

    Fans of Freida McFadden and Daniel Hurst will love this page-turning psychological thriller, filled with twists, turns and an ending so shocking it’ll make you want to read the whole book over again.

    About the Author:

    Jack Dane is the author of twisted psychological thrillers, many of which are set in New York City, where he lives. When not writing, Jack enjoys getting lost in the Park, going to jazz clubs, and people watching for new ideas. 

    Website  Goodreads , Amazon

    The Apartment Across the Hall  Review:

    The Apartment Across the Hall instantly gave me the same chills and intrigue as Hitchcock’s Rear Window. Jack Dane has a way of setting a scene that feels both familiar and unsettling, and this book is no exception.

    The protagonist, Salem (such a fantastic name for a lead character), moves into a new apartment building and quickly begins noticing things that don’t quite add up—the superintendent who never answers, a neighbor who blasts the TV at all hours, and Victor, a shadowy figure who seems to carry the trace of something sinister. From the start, the tension is electric, and I couldn’t look away.

    Having lived in New York myself during my student years, I found Dane’s portrayal of the atmosphere in these kinds of buildings to be remarkably realistic. He captures the closeness, the anonymity, and the eerie possibility that something could be happening just a few steps away without anyone truly knowing. Add his signature touch of suspense and dread, and you get a story that feels grounded yet deeply unsettling.

    The pacing makes it easy to fly through in a single sitting, and the cast of characters—Salem, Victor, Derek, and others—leave a lasting impression. I also appreciated how the author plays with perception: given Salem’s history with mental health, the reader is left constantly questioning whether what she observes is real or imagined. This added layer of psychological suspense made the story even more gripping.

    And then there are the twists—completely unexpected and delivered in a way that stays with you long after turning the last page. Overall, this was another standout read from Jack Dane. Suspenseful, atmospheric, and memorable—a solid 5 stars.