Book Review: Valley of Ashes by Cornelia Read

Title: Valley of Ashes
Series: Madeline Dare #4
Author: Cornelia Read
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (August 14, 2012)
Genre: Mystery/Women's Fiction

Format Read: Hardback
Length: Novel
Source: Publisher 

Madeline Dare trades New York's gritty streets for the tree-lined avenues of Boulder, Colorado when her husband Dean lands a promising job. Madeline, now a full-time homemaker and mother to beautiful toddler twin girls, has achieved everything she thought she always wanted, but with her husband constantly on the road, she's fighting a losing battle against the Betty Friedan riptide of suburban/maternal exhaustion, angst, and sheer loneliness. A new freelance newspaper gig helps her get her mojo back, but Boulder isn't nearly as tranquil as it seems: there's a serial arsonist at large in the city. As Madeline closes in on the culprit, the fires turn deadly-and the stakes tragically personal. She'll need every ounce of strength and courage she has to keep the flames from reaching her own doorstep, threatening all she holds most dear. 

 

Teaser: “Ah, just what I’ve always yearned for ...,” I said, feeling the sides of the sweatshirt I’d slept in grow instantly hot and wet against my skin, “leakage.” 

On the bright side, their crib sheets were still dry. [p. 85 Hardback. These lines could make someone not really want babies. LOL!]

Review: Madeline Dare can only stand by and watch as everything she loves goes up in flames in Cornelia Read’s Valley of Ashes.

Although I haven’t read the previous Madeline Dare novels, I found the storyline easy to pick up. Madeline struggles to keep her house together with twin children while trying to regain a sense of her independence back by picking up a newspaper gig. Her husband seems more content to be away from his family than with them, and I felt Madeline’s frustration and helplessness at her situation.

The mystery about the fires seemed to take second place to Madeline and her family’s issues. This novel was very character driven, although the plot still was fast-paced. Madeline’s focus was very much on her twins, who could make a childless reader want to consider remaining that way. 

Valley of Ashes by Cornelia Read touches the heart and is a compelling read.

 

Five Bookworms = I loved it!

Teaser Tuesdays: MAD MAX: UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES by Betsy Ashton

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

Page 56 of Paperback

“No ‘but firsts.’”

“‘But firsts’?”

“You know, I need to clean the kitchen, but first I have to reread War and Peace.”

As soon as I read these lines, I not only laughed out loud, but I read them to my mom.

What's your teaser?

Book Review: MAD MAX: UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES by Betsy Ashton

Title: Unintended Consequences
Series: Mad Max, #1
Author: Betsy Ashton
Publisher: Koehler Books (March 1, 2013)
Format: Paperbook
Source: Author
Genre: Women's Fiction with mystery elements 

Mad Max Davies lives a privileged life in Manhattan when her only daughter is seriously injured in an auto accident. She rushes to Richmond, Virginia, to care for her daughter and her two grandchildren, including the paranormally gifted twelve-year-old, Emilie. When her mother’s behavior deteriorates, Emilie uses her special gift to feel the thoughts of others, and acts as an early warning system . When her daughter is murdered, Mad Max and her grandchildren set out to solve the crime and bring the killer to justice.

 

Review: Betsy Ashton’s Mad Max: Unintended Consequences delights with a unique protagonist this reader won’t soon forget.

Unintended Consequences drops the reader into the glamour of New York City, but one phone call sends the protagonist, Mad Max, flying to homely Richmond, Virginia to take care of her daughter and her daughter’s family. Ashton creates characters that produce strong reactions to the reader. For example, I often wanted to shake Max’s daughter and son-in-law for their behavior. Max’s grandchildren are so much fun to read about, particularly Emilie. I want to learn more about her fantastic paranormal gift.

Then, there is Mad Max. She is perhaps one of my favorite protagonists. She’s strong, smart, witty, sophisticated, caring, independent, and the list goes on and on. She’s the voice of the new grandma—just don’t call her “Grandma,” though. She loves her life the way it is, but duty won’t let her back down from a challenge—even if it is taking care of her grandchildren or catching her daughter’s murderer.

The fast-paced writing style draws the reader into the action. Ashton unfolds a unique story that tugs on your heartstrings, clenches your fists at the injustice that happens to the characters, and then lightens with a humorous quip to release the tension and sadness. I laughed. I cried. I didn’t want to put the book down until the very end.

I highly recommend Mad Max: Unintended Consequences by Betsy Ashton, and I hope to read more of Mad Max Davies in the future.

 

Five Bookworms = I loved it!

Waiting on Wednesday: MAD MAX: UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES by Betsy Ashton

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Mad Max: Unintended Consequences
By Betsy Ashton
Publication Date: March 1, 2013

From Goodreads: 

Mad Max Davies lives a privileged life in Manhattan when her only daughter is seriously injured in an auto accident. She rushes to Richmond, Virginia, to care for her daughter and her two grandchildren, including the paranormally gifted twelve-year-old, Emilie. When her mother’s behavior deteriorates, Emilie uses her special gift to feel the thoughts of others, and acts as an early warning system . When her daughter is murdered, Mad Max and her grandchildren set out to solve the crime and bring the killer to justice.

Betsy Ashton is the President of my writers' group, and even though I'd only heard bits and pieces of Mad Max in my writers' group before getting a copy of this book, I couldn't wait to read more. Betsy has a fast-paced style that makes it easy for the reader to get swept away in the story.

What's your "waiting on" pick?