Audiobook Review: The Summer House by James Patterson and Brendan DuBois
The Summer House
Authors:
James Patterson
Brendan DuBois
Narrator: Ari Fliakos
Published: June 8, 2020
Audiobook: 10 hours 19 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: April 7- April 12, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 3 stars
Book Description:
One historic lake house. Seven murder victims. Four accused Army Rangers. Two versions of the truth.
Only one can survive.
Sullivan County, Georgia, belongs to Sheriff Emma Williams. But not when Army Rangers posted to the local base are implicated in a major crime. To an elite team of investigators led by Major Jeremiah Cook, the physical evidence Williams swears by presents clues to an entirely different story. The small-town sheriff has never worked a multiple homicide, and Cook knows it. Unless he can convince the locals that the recent crimes are part of a larger mystery, this outsider may never unlock the century of secrets hidden inside The Summer House.
Jessica’s Review:
Patterson is 78-years-old and has been ‘co-authoring’ his books lately. If you research these books, it appears that Patterson creates an outline for the novel while the ‘co-author’ develops the novel into what it becomes. Patterson then reviews the drafts, gives feedback and revises the novels to make sure the novels stay in his style. Of course, Patterson is the more well-known name that gets the attention of readers. It’s a ‘give and take’ collaboration that both Patterson and his co-author benefits from.
I have only read two other novels written by Patterson, both of the “Zoo” series books. The Summer House is very different from Zoo. The Summer House is a military thriller that starts off with the murder of seven civilians, including a small child. A group of Army Rangers is implicated in the murders.
This novel just really didn’t work for me. The characters were unlikeable for me and they consisted of stereotypes rather than multi-dimensional characters. The novel takes place in a small, fictional Georgia county and the narrator tended to exaggerate the accents of several characters. Being I am a Georgia native my thoughts were, “We don’t all talk like this!”
I as curious as to how the book was ultimately going to end and was happy to see one character get what they deserved. If this had been an introduction to Patterson for me, I would not have been impressed. I would probably stick with his earlier works or if it’s a collaboration, look to see who the co-author is, and if I like that person then I would read it, such as JD Barker who has collaborated with Patterson several times. Barker has also become a named author that I will make a point to read.
I had recently listened to another novel that Ari Fliakos had narrated and he really brought more to that narration unlike The Summer House. This was just a book that was not for me. Maybe military thrillers are not for me. I did like the cover!
Book Review: The Stranger In Her House by John Marrs
The Stranger in Her House
Author: John Marrs
Narrators:
Elizabeth Knowelden
Soneela Nankani
Steve West
Published: February 13, 2024
Audiobook: 10 hours 11 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: March 24-29, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
A stranger has infiltrated your family…and now he’s taking over.
Paul’s just here to help, or so he claims—sent by a charity for vulnerable people to do odd jobs for elderly widow Gwen. But for Gwen’s daughter Connie, there’s just something about Paul that rings alarm bells from day one. He’s a little too kind, a little too involved…Worse still, Gwen seems to have fallen under his spell.
The last thing Connie wants is a stranger meddling in the safe routine she’s built around Gwen. She loves being the one Gwen turns to for cooking, cleaning and company. But the more Paul visits, the more Gwen is relying on him. By the time he conveniently finds himself between homes and has no choice but to move in, Connie is certain he’s trying to push her out completely.
It’s her word against his, though, and as her attempts to unmask him become ever more desperate she’s not the only one left wondering if she’s lost her grip on reality. But when events start spiralling rapidly out of her control, should Connie wage all-out war on Paul and risk losing Gwen forever—or has that been his plan all along?
Jessica’s Review:
Whoa: Another John Marrs book that delivers! How does he come up with these twisted ideas?!?! We have mother Gwen and daughter Connie. Connie takes care of Gwen who suffers from Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Then Paul comes into the picture: He was sent in by a charity that helps the elderly who are also sick. Paul starts doing small jobs and pulls himself fully into Gwen’s life. Slowly he begins taking over Gwen and her home. Is Paul honest or does he have ulterior motives? What is Connie to do?
Both Connie and Paul were unlikeable to me. Connie just rubbed me the wrong way despite trying to help her mother. The only one I felt empathy for was Gwen. Marrs captured a character’s descent into Dementia and Alzheimer’s with compassion and understanding. It seems like he must know someone who has suffered from those dreaded diseases.
This novel is so much more than it seems! I can’t give my thoughts on one character without it being a possible spoiler. John Marrs can just do a one, two, three punch when it comes to twists: Just when he delivers one doozy of a twist, you better get ready, because he is about to deliver another one!
I will definitely be working on reading more of Marrs books.
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Blog Tour: An Extract from How to Fix a Broken Heart by Nicola May
TODAY is publication day for How to Fix a Broken Heart by Nicola May and I am sharing an extract! This is one I will definitely be adding to my kindle to read.. I’ll consider it an early birthday present to myself since my birthday is at the end of the month!
Book Description:
Gracie Davies is at an all-time low. After a devastating loss, the last thing she needs is a colleague hinting over coffee that it’s time to lose her baby weight. Then her boyfriend betrays her, and her world totally falls apart.
Rebuilding her life from scratch – with the support of her free-spirited sister, an unorthodox therapist, and a feisty new friend – Gracie finally begins to get her mojo back. Add in a passionate fling with handsome landscaper Ed, a fairytale encounter with a Hollywood film star and the persistence of her adulterous ex, and life is anything but predictable…
Soon she finds that community, purpose, and perhaps even new love might be the perfect prescription for a broken heart.
But can a heart that’s been so utterly shattered ever trust again?
Warm, witty, wildly sexy and deeply moving, Nicola May’s unforgettable novel is perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, and Amanda Prowse.
A heart-wrenching and life-affirming story of love and loss from number one bestselling author Nicola May.
This is a revised version of The Women of Wimbledon Common/The SW19 Club.
How to Fix a Broken Hear is out NOW! Buy your copy here.
Background on the extract: Gracie getting used to single life bumps has an embarrassing moment when she meets the handsome landscaper on Wimbledon Common.
~~~
Gracie pulled into the packed car park. What was it with all these women who didn’t have to work? She looked around at all the 4x4s, the odd Smart car and the space-age-looking electric cars. There were also a couple of dog-walking branded vans. Naomi had told her that quite a lot of famous people walked their spoilt pooches here, too. There was actually nothing common at all about Wimbledon Common!
As soon as Gracie opened the passenger door of her red Ford Puma, Boris jumped out, barking and running around her feet in excitement.
Gracie liked the comfort that having a dog on a lead brought. It gave her the same comfort she felt pushing a pram. She had loved looking after Jack when he was a baby. The love she felt for him was so intense, she thought it must almost be like having a baby of her own. She tried to convince herself of this. Yes, her nephew obviously loved her dearly, but he would never be hers, not properly. The familiar sadness of knowing that nobody would ever call her Mum washed over her.
She set off on her trail, breathing in the early April air and enjoying the feeling of sun on her face. If she closed her eyes maybe, just maybe, she could magic all her angst away; she would wake up and still be pregnant, still have Lewis, her lover, by her side. A Lewis who hadn’t cheated. A Lewis who hadn’t ruined everything between them. The Lewis she had been so in love with.
Boris was in his element off the lead. He knew the paths of the common like the backs of his paws.
Gracie didn’t think she had ever seen so many dogs in one place. A lot of them were with the professional dog walkers, some of whom were walking seven at a time. Some were with joggers, most with yummy mummies bitching about one thing or another, in the knowledge that their little Jemimas and Scarlets had been safely deposited at their respective private schools.
All these people had the dog code down to a T. You didn’t really acknowledge the person, just talked about little Pooks, Rudi or Poppytail, then off you went. Mummy duties set aside, the talk now turned from dirty nappies and school uniforms to poo bags and studded collars.
Gracie chose not to join in. Caught up by a mixture of hurt and hatred, she wasn’t in the mood for conversation and, when her button decided to pop right off her jeans, complete self-loathing, too. When Boris decided to have a poo in the most open part of the path, it was just about the last straw.
‘Oh, you little devil, couldn’t you have done it in the woody part?’ She put a hand through her hair in despair and sat down on a bench which, she noticed had been skilfully carved out of a tree trunk.
‘Well, I’m glad he didn’t. I’m always getting shit on my boots. Have you got any bags?’ The North London accent was evident.
‘Oh God, no, I didn’t think.’ The man in front of her was grinning at her agitation.
‘Here, let me. I always carry a couple. I can’t bear the bloody mess.’ He ripped a bag from a roll and swiftly picked up the offensive-smelling litter.
‘I haven’t seen you here before. I work here, see, get used to everyone who comes through. Same old faces, same old habits, same dirty bitches, oh, and their dogs.’ He smiled broadly.
Gracie noticed a good set of teeth along with cropped brown hair, a slightly outgrown goatee beard which she didn’t mind, even though Lewis had always been clean shaven. She also noticed his smouldering brown eyes and beautifully shaped big lips. She loved big lips on a man. He was in his late twenties, she reckoned.
‘You didn’t have to do that, you know.’ His small act of kindness made Gracie feel like she wanted to cry and just not stop. ‘But thank you. Thank you very much.’
‘I know I didn’t, but I did. By the way, my name’s Ed. I would shake your hand but…’
Gracie smiled, looking at the green bag hanging from his finger.
‘So what do you do here then, Ed?’ She felt she ought to make a bit of an effort as he had just picked up her dog’s shit and he was rather handsome.
‘Ground work on the common. Keep it shipshape, you know. I charge around on my quad bike, trying not to run over any posh birds and get sued.’ Gracie liked his devil-may-care attitude. ‘Well, good to meet you…’ Ed hung waiting for answer.
‘Gracie, my name’s Gracie, and this is Boris.’ Boris was now dragging around a stick wider than the length of his body and growling. ‘And he’s actually my sister’s, hence my amateur attempt at canine shit disposal.’
‘Well, he’s a lucky boy having you at the end of his lead.’ Ruffling Boris’s brown coat, the handsome one winked. ‘Right. I’d better do some work.’
Gracie, not sure what to do with this obvious flirtation, stood up, then swore loudly as her jeans began to slowly slip down her hips. She sat down again abruptly.
‘You OK?’ Ed called back.
‘Not really, but I’ll get over it. Seeing all these runners makes me think I should get fit.’
‘You look fit enough to me.’ He grinned. ‘But if you need a bit of a push there’s a running club that meets here regularly.’ He assumed a posh voice. ‘The SW19 Club,’ he laughed. ‘There should be details on the café noticeboard.’
With that he leapt on his bike and whizzed past her with a smile and a wave.
About the Author:
Nicola May is a bestselling rom-com sensation, with over a million copies sold. The author of eighteen romantic comedies, her books have been translated into fifteen languages and consistently appear in the Kindle bestseller charts. She made a remarkable achievement by reaching number one on Amazon twice as a self-published author and has been a vocal advocate for indie authors, campaigning for their own chart in The Bookseller magazine.
When she’s not writing, Nicola can be found enjoying cream teas in her favourite Devon spots, hiking in nature, or placing a bet at the races.
Contact Nicola:
website
X: @nicolamay1
Instagram: author_nicola