I’ve done companion novel posts in the past, but not one
specifically nicknamed Novellas (includes short stories). I don’t think
this will be a regular post annually, but I wouldn’t be opposed.
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<This short
story fills the gap between Books 2 and 3.>
It’s her special day, the day she’s marrying the man of
her dreams, and it starts with a death threat. Wilhelmina “Millie” Calloway has
helped multiple women get away from abusive men, so threats aren’t uncommon in
her line of work. But, come on, it’s supposed to be the happiest day of her
life! Between the threat and a very important dress not fitting perfectly as it
did a week ago, problems are being had. Millie tells herself she will tell her
fiancé, Enzo Accardi. Tomorrow. All she has to do is fit into her dress, get
married and contend with an unplanned obstacle, one that wants her dead.
While
not my usual way, my first book by McFadden is her short story. The hard part
about short stories is that they can feel rushed and contrived, and that’s how
this one felt. I know that her novels are hugely popular (I work in a library
and see this firsthand), so I’m disappointed by this short story. Sure, there’s
a thriller element, but the danger never feels intensive, and the wedding takes
up nothing more than a piece of a short chapter. I would not spend money on
this unless you’re a diehard McFadden fan. Consider checking it out from the
library, as I did.
Book 1: The Housemaid
Book 2: The Housemaid’s Secret
Book 2.5: The Housemaid’s
Wedding
Book 3: The Housemaid is
Watching
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The Shifting
Current (May 2, 2023) by Dani Pettrey.
<This is a companion novella ending a series.>
When the call comes from Tom Mahoney, his
high-school-buddy-turned-hometown-sheriff, Coast Guard Investigative Service
(CGIS) Special Agent Logan Perry is on the next flight to Silver City, New
Mexico, with his teammate, CGIS Special Agent Emmy Thorton, the woman he also
secretly loves. His grandfather’s been murdered in his own home in [fictional]
Cauldron Creek. It looks like a robbery gone wrong. Their prime suspect is a
female drifter who’d been staying in one of the guest bunkhouses. She always
seems to be one step ahead. They suspect there’s at least one other person
involved who’s male. Emmy’s grateful to be along to assist the investigation
however she can without overstepping their bounds (since it’s not their
jurisdiction). Logan thinks she’s there to be his teammate as she would on any
assignment, but she secretly loves Logan and considers him to be husband
material despite his playboy past. If they want a chance to grow their
relationship, they’ve got to catch the killer before they become the next
victims.
Although
I miss that this isn’t a full-length novel, this is a compact, romantic
suspense tale of the Coastal Guardians
series. It’s got grit to balance the pain, love and friendship to outweigh
hatred and vileness with faith to cover everything. A little rushed, I felt,
because of the short page count, but Pettrey still manages to include a solid
plot, clean romance and danger that you know will be turned into a happy
ending. After all, how can it not when the book includes the occasional Stetson
hats, Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots and horses?
Book
One: The Killing Tide
Book
Two: The Crushing Depths
Book
Three: The Deadly Shallows
What Does It Feel Like? (Oct. 8, 2024) by
Sophie Kinsella.
<This is
a standalone novella.>
She’s a bestselling novelist whose books have been movies
and garnered her walks on red carpets, photos with celebrities and time on
movie sets. She buys a Jenny Packham dress, because “an occasion will present
itself.” That’s Before. Then After arrives, and Eve Monroe awakes in a hospital
bed with a brain that’s forgetful. She’s made her success with her words, and
now she looks at a picture of a shirt and calls it a bag. She relearns how to
walk and reminds herself that she has five children, her husband’s name is
Nick, and what are the lyrics to ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ again? With her
lacking short-term memory, many days are the first time she learns that she has
glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that does not have a good
prognosis. All she wants is to keep going. That is her happy ending.
Author
Jodi Picoult states that, “This is the bravest book you’ll read all year,” and
she may be right. While Eve Monroe is a fictional character, this story is the
author’s. Sophie Kinsella has been battling glioblastoma and has survived
longer than the average. This contemporary, adult fiction novella is funny in
parts, sad in others, but is full of optimism and love throughout. Kinsella’s
work of autobiographical fiction is a story of triumph, courage and strength,
but vulnerability, too. It stirs the soul and encourages us all to live our
best lives. This book is a gem, and I’m so glad that my coworker, Maggie,
recommended it to me. Let it embolden us to be glowing beacons in heavy
darkness, in our lives and the lives of others!
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