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Book Review

Review: A Stranger in the House

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A Stranger in the House

A Stranger in the House
By Shari Lapena
Pamela Dorman Books, 9780735221123, August 2017, 320pp.

The Short of It:

A happy couple, an unexplained accident and a case of amnesia leave this couple wondering if anyone is really who they say they are.

The Rest of It:

Karen and Tom Krupp find themselves questioning everything after an accident that leaves Karen with amnesia. Why was she driving so fast? What was she doing in that neighborhood? These are questions that neither of them can answer but when a body is found in the same location as the accident, the police begin to investigate.

I had a really hard time reading this review copy because my eBook was corrupted! Every other sentence was gibberish. However, I do believe I was able to piece together enough of the story to give it a fair review.

I have to admit, the story felt a little familiar and in the end, it was too predictable but I think it held up better than the other book I read by this author, The Couple Next Door. This story had some tense moments and I felt as if we got to know this couple a little better than the couple in her previous book. Overall, it was okay but nothing really stayed with me after I put it down.

Source: Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.

Bookish Talk, Life

Sunday Matters: Celebration Time

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Sunday Matters

What am I celebrating? First, it’s a long weekend and I have no commitments. Second, my birthday is on Tuesday so I am celebrating another year by stretching this weekend out as much as possible. Last night we went to a great restaurant for prime rib and then followed it up with Footloose the Musical. I always buy a book for my birthday but I am not sure what to buy this year.

Right Now:

I’m thinking that breakfast is needed. Preferably, breakfast that I do not have to cook. Eggs Benedict sounds really good. I know this one place that puts it on top of fresh tomatoes for me and then tops it with avocado.

This Week:

I am taking my actual birthday off but I decided to serve my daughter’s volleyball team lunch that day so I will be heading down to the high school for that and then will return later to watch the game.

I have book club this week. I suppose I should read the book. It’s my book too, Lincoln in the Bardo.

Reading:

I just finished A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena. Let me tell you, it was quite the challenge because my eBook was corrupted!! Every other sentence was gibberish. Amazingly, I don’t think I missed any key points but it was a review copy so I didn’t want to give up on it as long as the story was making sense.

In addition to my book club pick (Lincoln in the Bardo) I am beginning my #RIPXII reading.  I may start with Bird Box by Josh Malerman.

Watching:

Oh man. Guess what starts on my birthday? American Horror Story!! I know exactly what I will be doing that night. It comes on late but I am going to try to stay up to watch it.

Making:

I made this awesome Baked Chicken Caesar dish that could not have been any easier. All you do is place boneless chicken breasts in a baking dish, top with a good quality creamy Caesar dressing, bake it at 400 for about 20 minutes. Top with shredded Parmesan and then bake for another 15 minutes. It turned out so good and so tender. I served it with boiled red potatoes and roasted green beans.

I am also making ham steaks, scalloped potatoes and peas. I am still on the lookout for a great casserole cookbook so if you know of one that is not heavy on gluten, let me know.

Grateful for:

I had a health scare a few weeks back but I got the results on Friday and I am good. SO grateful for those results and that the doctor stayed there to read them to me. A long holiday weekend of worry would not have been good.