This book was just Meh.....
Layla, a struggling artist, goes on a road trip with her half sister, Bette, after their career criminal father dies.
There is just way too much drama, quirks, problems going on in this book to really dig deep into any one of the problems that these characters face. Because of that, I couldn't get attached or really care about what happened to any of them. I really think that author tried to make these characters deeply flawed and quirky, but not very much effort was put into those flaws or quirks or explaining why they acted the way they did. With delving more into the characters, I think this book could've been so much better, but it just wasn't.
Also, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator barely changed her voice between the characters, which made it hard to discern between who was talking/whose mind we were in.

Following the death of her estranged father, Vic, Layla and Bette, Vic’s other daughter, go on a cross-country road trip. With Vic’s history of being a career criminal, travelling doesn’t come easy and the two soon find themselves in the middle of some unsettled business between Vic and someone who might know the truth behind the death of Layla’s mom, years ago.

I thought the premise of this was fascinating and I was easily pulled into the story. Though it would’ve been nice for Layla to have a bit more context on Vic, it was still nice to see her befriend and learn more through Bette. The family aspect was endearing, but I did find myself confused at times regarding the past. It felt like something was missing, though I’m not sure what. I did also enjoy the narration and overall adventure.

Thank you NetGalley for my arc!

First, I need to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook. I thought the narrator, Christine Williams, had a nice voice to listen to. I have to admit, I did not find the story all that believable. No depth to the characters.

This book is one of those that sounds like one thing in the description and is really something else. It sounded more mysterious and thrilling but turned out to be pretty slow. Not that the story itself didn’t turn out to be a good one. I just had to push myself through it to get to the point that I said to myself, “That was alright.” The characters come off really flat and hard to connect with in a meaningful way. I found I didn’t much care to find out anything.

A strange story about a death of a criminal brings together two half sisters who may or may not known of each other. The inheritance enforced Layla to take to her half sister Bette; their trip helped bring them together emotionally. A book for readers who like to read mysteries and thrillers. For an audiobook it’s a great listen. As I go to sleep listening to audiobooks which helps me to keep a calm mind from wool gathering, listening to negative thoughts and emotions including childhood traumatic memories which can lead to nightmares. So if I wake during the night I can hear the book and it’s very important for the times of sleeplessness. So listening to one audiobook is something that takes a number of nights until I understand and have knowledge of the entire story. It’s certainly a audiobook to keep on hand for when I have trouble sleeping.
#IMeanYouNoHarm #NetGalley.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Imbrifex Audio via NetGalley for my honest review of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own thoughts, feelings and viewpoints of the book

This book I Mean You No Harm is written by Beth Castrodale, an author who I’ve never heard of previously to said book. I’ve never read any of her previous work.

I liked the sound of this book before starting so I put in for an arc of this one and was pleased when the publisher allowed me this copy.

This book is fiction though I believe it can easily be related to crime families and the like. It is not a crime book however there is a lot of reference to crime in this book.

After a difficult childhood Layla has found a way to escape her life in submersing herself in her artwork. She has a fractured relationship with her father and her sister Bet.

Further down the lines Layla is now an adult and after attending her father’s funeral she starts to work at her relationship with her sister Bet and they open up to each other, over time.

Finding out some home truths is difficult for Layla and it is explored in the book.
She finds they both share a lot in common.

After the funeral Bet asks Layla to go on a trip with her, it’s here she tells her of life changing news. Both figuratively and literally. More than one type of news also.

Where will Layla go from here? How will she handle this?

I felt this book was a good read. I may check out the author again.

Thanks to @netgalley, Beth Castrodale and the publishers for an arc copy of this audiobook.

#NetGalley #IMeanYouNoHarm

I mean You No Harm tells the story of Layla and her half-sister Bette. Layla’s mother had caught the eye of what may have been a ruthless stalker. Not soon after her mother passed away, under questionable circumstances, it was left for Layla to be raised by her maternal grandparents.

Layla’s sister, Bette, grew up with both of her parents Vic and her mother. Although, Vic had served prison time, he was mildly invested in his daughters getting to know one another. Some years later when Bette contacted Layla to tell her Vic was dying, Layla learns that her father left her an inheritance. For good reason, Layla was not particularly keen on accepting an inheritance that most probably emanated from illegal activities.

Following Vic’s passing Layla and Bette embark on a road trip. Traveling together just the two of them, the sisters get to know each other better. Unfortunately, it appears danger may be imminent along their cross-country trip.

I Mean You No Harm is an interesting journey into the lives of two sisters and how they deal with the circumstances of their separate, yet connected lives. As the reader, I became engrossed in Layla’s journey. I was invested in Layla finding out the true details of her mother’s death all those years ago.

I am a big fan of mysteries and the premise of this story seemed interested.

Story starts when Layla Shawn who has been raised by her grandparents attends their father’s funeral.
Both her parents have been out of the picture.
Her mother apparently committed suicide and her father Vic Doloro is a criminal.
Layla finds out that her father has left her a great deal of money. Hmmm. Since Layla is sure the money was probably not his to give, Layla doesn’t want to accept it. Her half-sister Betty, Vic’s other daughter urges Layla to take the money.
The two go on a road trip and find out things about the past; someone seems to have good reason to believe her mother’s death wasn’t suicide.

Story wasn’t a big Wow for me ~ doesn’t mean someone else will think differently and just love it!
.
Want to thank NetGalley and Imbrefex Audio ~ for this audio eGalley. This file has been made available to me for an honest professional review.
Publishing Date was August 21, 2021

DNF

Just couldn’t get into it and wasn’t interested in trying further. Couldn’t hold my attention.

A good mystery book with multiple timelines and perspectives. The author manages to capture the story in simple snapshots like the Polaroid artist’s exhibit featured in this novel. A great read for a holiday trip (maybe not a road-trip though). Narrator reads quite slowly but has a pleasant voice and adds to story with different characters’ intonations.

I Mean You No Harm by Ruth Castrodale, had an interesting plot, but unfortunately for me, fell short of great execution.

This review is for the audiobook version. The narrator for this story, Christine Williams, did a good job with reading and delivery, even though I found there was little to no change for different character voice. Her voice pleasant, easily understood, reading with proper emphasis.

The MC’s background deals with the art world, (hence the interesting cover), bur there was little in the way of suspense. The book read more like mystery, mixed with some family drama, with a grain of suspense. It dragged and felt dull being a slow burn to where I was losing some interest, I skimmed and fast-forwarded (never a good sign). Also, I’m not a fan of unnecessary and excessive f*bombs especially in an audio version in which the listener has no idea it’s coming, therefore, it’s forced upon the ear like a slap. More and more authors rely on what some still feel as an offensive word to show anger, aggression or surprise, and this story was peppered liberally with them.

Sadly, this one didn’t work for me on many levels - unanswered questions, too many holes, it felt incomplete, the swearing.. However, it may appeal to others. Perhaps, I was just the wrong audience.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the providing an AAC in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.

This was a 3 star read for me. The storyline was believable - a thriller, suspense, mystery - and the characters were fleshed out. I figured out who the culprit was at the beginning of Chapter 16, but it didn’t deter me from finishing the book.

I would read other books from this author.

Despite the somewhat amateurish writing and lots of cliches in the plot, I found myself anxiously awaiting the culmination of the action. Not a bad thriller!

In this mystery thriller by Beth Castrodale, two half sisters go on a trip they may not return from alive.  Layla and Bette share the same father whose life of crime may be the reason for the death of Layla's mother.  Now at their father's funeral, Layla learns just how sketchy their father really was. Both siblings decide to go on a road trip they don't realize could cost them their lives.  On the way, Layla learns more than she bargained for about the sister she never got to know and the death of her mother. 

I loved the pace of this book.  It's a short novel that quickly gets you into the action and keeps you guessing until the end.  I listened to the audio book and the narrator did a wonderful job with the various character voices and personalities.  I highly recommend this.

I have just finished listening to this audiobook and can't say that I overly enjoyed it. I Mean You No Harm tells the story of Layla, estranged daughter of a recently deceased career criminal, and her journey to discover her family and attempt to solve the mystery of who killed her mother.

I didn't find either of the two main characters - Layla and Bette - to be overly likeable and I just couldn't relate well to them. The story was a little flat and I found it to be quite slow paced. The final quarter of the book was the best, and where we learned the truth to the situation.

The narrator was good and it was an 'ok' listen, but not one I'd rush out to buy.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in return for an honest review.

I completed the audiobook review of this novel.

The narrator was excellent and kept readers engaged the whole way through. I actually listened to the entire thing in one setting.

I highly enjoyed the story, however I found that certain parts towards the end, such as the end of the road trip, the mystery reveal of the person sending letters, etc. Was hurried and could have had more pages to describe how all of these things happened. The last 30% or so felt very rushed.

Christine Williams does a good job with the narration.

The book is okay. The name and cover will spark a memory, unfortunately the story not so much. There are high areas of interest, however, there are too many mundane pages. I was ready for this to end.

I would recommend this as a crowd book. There is no need to concentrate, and if your bookmark falls out, you can easily settle back into the story.

Thank you NetGalley for accepting my request to read and review I mean You No Harm.

#NetGalley
#ImbrifexAudio
#NarratorChristineWilliams
#BethCastrodale
#Audiobook
#Mystery

The enemy of my enemy is my sister

Layla Shawn has been estranged from her career criminal father for most of her life. The loss of her mother haunts her as she is left with questions but now answers. When her father, Vic dies, she learns that he has left her money and her half-sister, Bette, convinces her to go on a cross country road trip where they attempt to mend fences while being followed. Both women have demons, but will they have enough chutzpah to go up against the man who has a lethal score to settle with their father.

The premise for me was much better than the book. I did enjoy the narrator who at times sounded like Kathy Bates. But the plot felt as if something was missing. I really didn't care for either woman and was left feeling a little let down when the book finished.

Again, wonderful narrator but this book missed the mark for me.

Thank you to Thank you to Imbrifex Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I Mean you No Harm is the story of Layla Shawn, raised by her grandparents after her mother's death. Layla's father was never really in the picture,, but he did have another daughter Betty. after the death of their father, Betty asks Layla to come to pick up something that as he has left to her. The journey begins with road trip as the two sisters begin to get to know each other better and and Layla begins to unravel the mystery of her mother's death.

Their father, Vic, was not exactly on the straight and narrow. Many of his associates will be drawn into their story as they make their drive. The story does get a bit far fetched,, however. I never felt totally engaged with the characters,, but I did find the sister relationship to be the most interesting part of the book..

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Love this book. Narrator was great. A very interesting story about how bad a father was but what he did helped his family in the end. Even though it cost one of his daughters the chance to have her mother and almost cost her her life after she had grown up.