Review: Sisters of Sword and Song

Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This was in interesting book with definite ancient Greek/Hellenistic influences. It is the story of two sisters who have been separated for many years and their struggle to reunite their family and save their kingdom from sinister magic. While the threads of Ancient Greek mythology were very interesting, the story lagged and the pacing was very uneven. After about the half-way point I had a hard time feeling urgency and suspense any time a character was in danger or facing death, because it seemed they'd just find a way to literally resurrect themselves. I needed a more cohesive and naturally flowing story.

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Review: The Night We Burned

The Night We Burned by S.F. Kosa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book through Early Reads.
This was a very interesting book. It is the story of Dora, a woman who works in journalism and is trying to move on from a tragic past. The reader also follows the unfolding of the events that seem to be a part of Dora's past: the decline and downfall of a cult in rural Oregon, which Dora is desperate to keep hidden. Dora's desire to leave her past behind is seriously threatened when the few surviving members of her former cult are being found murdered and her colleagues are working to find the truth.
The book started off just a bit slow, but Dora is a fascinating character who quickly draws the reader in with her struggles to function "normally" in the present and her quest to leave her past behind. In the earlier timeline, the reader knows bad things will happen and really doesn't want to witness them occur, yet the way the author tells the story is terribly compelling.
I really had no idea what would happen with Dora in the present storyline, and wondered how exactly she would get out of the "cult" in the earlier storyline. There were definitely some suspicious characters who I wondered if they could be responsible for the murders and I was kept guessing. There was a very big twist that I did suspect from about halfway through, but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book at all.
If you enjoy thrillers, suspense, or twisty mysteries, then I would recommend this book.

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Review: The Last Daughter of York

The Last Daughter of York by Nicola Cornick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I know this was a very well-researched book about a very fascinating topic. I really wanted to enjoy this book. My problem was that I had a very hard time connecting with both the main characters, Ann or Serena. During Ann's timeline, in the beginning her tone was very much more mature than any five-year-old's should be, and it didn't feel organic. And with Serena, her narration felt disconnected--almost as if she were observing the things that were happening to her and the events she was participating in, instead of experiencing them. I didn't feel that either character came across as a real person. It was disappointing, because it really took away from my enjoyment of the book. I felt as though I were reading an essay instead of an immersive historical novel. I would not recommend this book.

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Review: The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France

The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. An examination of the last trial by combat "duel" in France, it details the story of Jacques Le Gris and Jean de Carrouges and their duel to the death in order to determine who was lying and who was being truthful when Jean and his wife, Marguerite, accused Jacques of rape. The book goes through a bit of background of what was going on in France at the time, the history duels, the French judicial system, and Jean and Jacques themselves. The reader learns about the two men, their lives, and their relationship with each other. In setting up all of this information, it would be easy to get lost and bogged down in dry information, but the author relates just the perfect amount of detail while still keeping the story interesting and moving along at an engaging pace. As much as he is able, hundreds of years later, he uncovers some of the personality of each of the three main individuals in this case, and the reader feels that he or she really understands a bit of Jean, Marguerite, and Jacques. And as the event in question occurs, then the trial, and then the actual combat comes to pass, the reader is caught up in a fascinating tale. What exactly happened, and why did it happen? The reader desperately wants to know.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys medieval history, or even true crime. It is an event worth knowing more about, and the author does a wonderful job relating the events.

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Review: Nanny Dearest

Nanny Dearest by Flora Collins
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I tried with this book, but I just did not like it. It was very slow, the characters were all unlikable, and by the end I just got to the point where I didn't care what happened to any of them. There were some things that were described in completely unnecessary, almost gory, detail, while other things that should have been important to the plot were left just hanging. I guess the reader is supposed to draw his or her own conclusions, but that only works if the reader cares enough about the characters and the story to spend time thinking about them once he or she is finished reading. And sadly, I did not. If a book is going to be "slow-moving," it needs to create the kind of atmosphere that keeps the reader engaged despite the lack of action. This book did not have that.
Annelise was fascinating, but completely unsympathetic. I tried to root for Suzy, but by the end I was just fed up with her. Every time I put the book down, I had no real feeling of urgency to return to the book. And I did not like the ending at all. I would not recommend this book.

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Review: Dark Things I Adore

Dark Things I Adore by Katie Lattari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book through Early Reads.
I am rounding up my review on this book just a bit, but I did really enjoy it. This story of Audra, an Art Student who seems to be playing some sort of cat-and-mouse game with her advising professor, was atmospheric, griping, and suspenseful. Trying to decipher just exactly what Audra had planned for Max, her professor, was compelling, as was the earlier timeline following a group of artists at a camp in rural Maine. While I attempted to deduce who was who in the earlier timeline and how it related to Audra and Max I was completely drawn into the setting of the woodlands of Maine and its scenery, sights, smells, and textures. The author did a great job of creating a slow-burning yet intense feeling of impending doom, and it was obvious action in both the timelines would move to a powerful climax.
Audra, while perhaps not exactly a sympathetic character to every reader, was relatable; the reader could understand her motivations. Max was well-drawn as well, and Juniper--from the earlier timeline--served as a sort of witness to events that the reader could identify with.
My only issue with the book, and why I would give it 3.5 stars, is the Mantis part of the storyline. He ended up being very important to the story but I felt he was not quite fleshed-out enough--especially at the very end. I personally needed a little bit more there. 
Despite that, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great autumn read, or anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers, or slow-burning mysteries with twisty plots and perhaps unreliable points-of-view.

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Review: The Chalk Man

The Chalk Man by C.J. Tudor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was in interesting book. It was a mystery, and there were some suspenseful aspects, but it was more slow-moving than I expected. I think the blurb led me to believe this book would be more of a thriller, with perhaps creepy elements involving the chalk drawings. That's not what this book was, however. But that did not take away my enjoyment of the story, and Eddie was a compelling character (although I had a hard time really connecting with him). The mystery of what happened during a handful of months during the childhood of Eddie and his friends did draw me in and I wanted to see how he would find answers and perhaps closure. But the book was not "gripping" or engrossing. Elements and threads from different events and various characters were woven into the fabric of the tale, but it did not feel like there was a solid and clear plot line that was moving toward a climactic ending--and I really wanted one. The ending was a bit of a twist, but I suspected it from about 2/3 of the way through the book.
So I am rounding this up from 3.5 stars. It was as good read, but not quite what I wanted or was expecting. And maybe that's my fault for coming into it with unfounded expectations. If you want a slow-burn mystery with twists that unfolds at its own pace, then this is for you.

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Review: A Rush of Wings

A Rush of Wings by Laura E. Weymouth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received and ARC of this book.
I enjoyed this book. It was a lush and lyrical retelling of the Six Swans fairy tale. I was transported to a magical Scotland of several centuries ago. The descriptions were immersive and the story was compelling. If you enjoy YA Fantasy, fairy tale retellings, or stories set in Scotland, I would definitely recommend this book.

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Review: The Ex Hex

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I saw this book everywhere and was looking forward to reading it, especially at this spooky time of year. A "witchy" romance sounded like the perfect read for Halloween. But the book just did not meet my expectations. At all.
The main premise of the story, that Vivi and Rhys had such an amazing relationship 9 years ago that they have not been able to forget or get over each other, is kind of flimsy given that they were 19 years old at the time, and only "dated" for 3 months. The reader isn't really given much context for their past "relationship" either, other than they were extremely attracted to each other. Did they share their hopes, dreams, plans for the future? Did they even TALK to each other?
When they do see each other again and spend more time together, I just was not detecting any chemistry or attraction. I felt like I was TOLD over and over how much they were attracted to each other instead of being shown how their relationship was evolving.
This book had all of the great Halloween vibes and all of the pumpkin spice caramel apple jack-o-lantern black cat spookiness you could want...but the characters felt two-dimensional. I would not recommend this book. It was just "meh" for me.

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Review: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really really enjoyed this book. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting when I began this book, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. I have been wanting to read it for more than a year, and have had it on hold at the library for several months. I was very excited when I finally got the email that I could start reading it! This is not a light-hearted tongue-in-cheek romp about Southern ladies hunting vampires with wooden stakes and bushels of garlic. But it is a compelling look at how society can marginalize people and sometimes it is up to those very people to take a stand when no one else will.
The book introduces us to Patricia Campbell, a "good Southern housewife" living in 1990s Charleston. She joins a book club with some other women from her suburban neighborhood, and they really enjoy delving into true crime novels. One day, after wishing for a bit more excitement in her life, Patty is viciously attacked by her elderly neighbor, who subsequently dies. Patty--due to her aforementioned Southern upbringing--feels compelled to take her neighbor's family a casserole. At her neighbor's house she meets a strange man who says he is the great nephew of the dead woman. He is mysterious, odd, has no ID, a great deal of cash, ...and Patty somehow feels compelled to help him. But amidst creepy warnings from Patty's dementia-stricken mother-in-law, completely bizarre deaths, and tragic incidents surrounding children, Patty begins to feel like her new neighbor might somehow be involved.
While reading this book I know that I said, "Oh no!" out loud and put my hand over my mouth once. I whispered, "No...she didn't!" a couple of times. At least once I muttered, "Why did he do that?!" I grabbed my husband's arm, squirmed, and groaned, "no...no...no...no!" out loud during one particularly gruesome part. And I am not one to react OUT LOUD to books!
One of the best things about this book that is often lacking in other stories that are intended to be suspenseful is the way the author set up the scenes. Several times we knew our characters were walking into a tense situation, or something terrible was about to happen. The author was able to describe the scenery and setting and create an atmosphere of terrible suspended anticipation without making me want to skip over the set-up and just get to the action. The description made the action that ensued that much richer, instead of feeling like filler.
This book was interesting, intriguing, gory and gruesome in places, and full of gripping characters. I loved the setting and the imagery. I would definitely recommend this book.

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Review: Little Thieves

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book--I have not read a YA Fantasy that I liked this much in a REALLY long time. This twist on the fairy tale "The Goose Girl" was intriguing, compelling, fun to read, and hard to put down.
Vanja, a maid servant to a gorgeous and pampered aristocratic girl, has found a way (by means of enchanted pearls) to impersonate her former mistress. Vanja is now living in a castle, engaged to a powerful man, AND...stealing jewels to fund her escape from her godmothers: Death and Fortune. If that's not enough, after stealing from the wrong person, not only does Vanja find herself under a fatal curse, but she discovers she is being pursued by a determined detective who somehow suspects Vanja is not what she seems.
I liked so many things about this book, but Vanja was my favorite. Too many times in YA Fantasy books, the main character turns out to be just plain annoying--they snark and pout and make DUMB self-centered decisions to the point that I can't stand them. But not Vanja. She has JUST THE RIGHT mix of pluckiness, sarcasm, self-preservation, capability, and vulnerability to make her relatable, realistic, endearing, and a character you want to root for, despite her mistakes.
I also really liked the tone of the book. The "fairy tale" interludes were beautiful, evocative, and poetic. Starting the book off with one of these little chapters before jumping right in to Vanja on a jewel heist completely drew me in and made me want to know more about Vanja and where her story would go.
The secondary characters were also great. Everyone from the shape-shifting "guardian" to our dogged detective totally added to the story. This, added to the wonderful world-building and completely immersive descriptions allowed me to become totally lost in the story. I could totally see everything playing out in my head, like a movie.
I just really loved this book. It wasn't at all what I was expecting and I was so pleasantly surprised by it. I would absolutely recommend it to any one who enjoys Fantasy, fairy tale retellings, YA, or YA Fantasy.

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Review: The Mother Next Door

The Mother Next Door by Tara Laskowski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am rounding up a bit on this review. Was it an amazing book? No. But was it a fun, easy read that quickly satisfied my desire for a fall-themed thriller full of secrets and lies? Absolutely. The Mother Next Door takes place in an upscale neighborhood on an exclusive cul-de-sac full of a group of moms who most everybody else in the neighborhood envies. They stick together through thick and thin, and Theresa, who recently moved to the street, would love to join their clique. When Theresa seemingly gets her wish, she discovers that the moms may not all be quite what they seem, especially the "Queen Bee" Kendra. But Theresa has some secrets in her own past that could not only threaten her standing with her new friends, but also could destroy her life as she knows it.
One of the best things about this book was the fact that it is set in the lead-up to Halloween. It begins just as the school year starts, and then concludes with the annual epic Halloween neighborhood party thrown by the moms of the cul-de-sac. I found it a perfect read for this time of year, to get you in the mood for all things fall. That being said, the descriptions could have been more immersive--if you are looking to feel transported to a place full of crisp breezes with brittle leaves dancing in the air, creepy moonlit mists, and the smell of cider, this isn't where you'll find it. But pretty much everything you would associate with fall is mentioned, from pumpkin coffee to candy corn to inflatable lawn decorations to slasher movies to backyard bonfires. But as I stated, it felt as though these things were thrown in with an intended "casualness" that didn't quite hit the right note (almost like there was a check list of things that should be included in the book). These things really made me see and smell and FEEL the season.
My favorite character in the book was Kendra. I feel like her motivations and personality were really explored well. I knew where she was coming from, and even if I didn't always like her actions or agree with her decisions, she felt like an engaging character. I had a hard time relating to Theresa, however. She just felt a little flat to me and I couldn't connect with her. The problem this created was that, as the reader, I was supposed to sympathize with her and feel her anxiety... But I didn't. And this may be a spoiler, but--(view spoiler)[the character of Alice ended up confusing me a bit in the end. I kind of felt like there was more there that could have or should have been explored. Or maybe that I had missed something... (hide spoiler)]
The plot was good. I followed along on Theresa's journey to fit in as the school year progressed through bake sales, football games, and committee meetings--all while someone is out there threatening the tenuous status quo of Theresa's new neighborhood. I guessed a couple of the secrets and twists, but some were a complete surprise. I did like the ending; it felt like if fit the tone of the book very well.
I have read other books that evoke that feeling you get in autumn much better than this book did. I have read thrillers that really ratchet up the tension better than this book did. I have read books about seemingly idyllic neighborhoods that reveal the painful reality behind the "perfect" residents better than this book did. Which made me want to give it 3 stars. BUT...over-all I did enjoy this book quite a bit! It was fun. It was a quick read that kept me wanting to know what would happen next. It really got me in the mood for fall. It had just the right amount of "soapy" elements to keep me entertained without making me want to roll my eyes. The characters might have been slightly one-dimensional, but sometimes you want a book like that! (SO many books have tortured, deeply flawed, terribly complex characters these days that a break from that can be nice.) So, because I liked the book, despite its shortcomings, I am giving this 4 stars. If you are looking for a fun, light thriller to get you ready for Spooky Season, then I would recommend this book

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Review: The Love Hypothesis

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read about two people who pretend to date each other (one of my favorite tropes) and what ensues as their feelings grow and their relationship begins to become real. The characters were well-drawn out and the story moved along at a believable pace. Olive and Adam were each compelling and relatable and it was easy to root for them. I enjoyed the academic setting, and it was clear that the author knew what she was talking about as she described the situations that arose in a post-grad science department. I also liked how everything moved along in a realistic fashion. It was more interesting and more realistic to see things unfold slowly than watch "insta-love" happen. And I was never quite sure how everything was going to end up; and I liked it that way! I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance, the "fake-relationship" trope, or just a good romance novel!

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Review: The Lighthouse Witches

The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am giving this book 4 stars, but I am rounding up. There were parts of the book that I really enjoyed, parts of the book that felt disjointed, and parts of the book that I did not like at all.
The main story begins when Liv shows up at a remote lighthouse, apparently to take a commission to paint a mural on its wall. The lighthouse is decrepit, the sketches of the proposed mural are strange, and an eerie feeling permeates the landscape. Nevertheless, Liv is determined to do her job, despite the strangeness of some of her new neighbors and the growing hostility of her oldest daughter Saffy. Meanwhile Saffy has discovered a grimoire, written by a man named Daniel in the 17th century, detailing the witch hunts that went on in the area. When hints of their new home's dark past begin to be revealed, Liv is not sure who or what to trust.
Twenty-two years in the future, Luna, Liv's middle daughter has carried on the search for her missing mother and two sisters, and feels called to return to the island lighthouse when Clover, her youngest sister, suddenly reappears. But Clover looks just the same as she did 22 years ago--she is still seven years old. Luna, just as her mother all those years earlier, is not sure who or what to trust.
I enjoyed Liv's storyline, even though at times I didn't agree with her reasoning or decisions, I also really enjoyed Luna's storyline; once she "reunited" with Clover it was quite creepy.
I had the biggest issue with Daniel and his storyline. It really didn't feel like it flowed with the rest of the threads of the story. I realize it was supposed to explain some of what was going on in the present-day, and add some background information as well as motivations for what was happening to Liv and her girls, but it just didn't weave into the other threads of the story in a logical or organic way. And--without giving away any spoilers--at the end, when Daniel's fate was revealed, I just got mad. After all the things he had been through, and all the things he had witnessed, for him to make the decision he did regarding what to do with the rest of his life was, to me, not only disappointing, but also cowardly. In the light of Daniel's actions at the end, the whole "wildling" aspect was truly horrifying--and not in the fun "I am reading a scary book" way, but in a truly repugnant way that really bothered me. That really left me with a bad taste in my mouth about the whole book.
I'm not sure if I would recommend this book. I know I would NOT recommend it to anyone who has lost a young child. I think if Daniel's storyline had been reworked, or if he'd been left out completely and all the reader had from that time was the grimoire, the book would have been much better.

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Review: Vespertine

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from Goodreads.
I enjoyed this book. I was immediately drawn into the atmosphere of this book, and the story soon took off in a way that made me not want to put the book down. Artemisia is a young girl living in a convent, haunted by trauma in her past, and when she is confronted by evil spirits she must decided whether to trust one of the most powerful spirits of all--The Revenant--to help her defeat the spirits that are threatening her fellow sisters, her fellow countrymen, and her world. She could use the Revenant to save everyone, but could lose herself in the process.
The atmosphere that the author is able to evoke is completely immersive. The descriptions and settings were so well done. The reader really gets a feel for the dark, Gothic, eerie, and ethereal world the characters are living in. Artemisia is also very compelling, and a heroine who is easy to root for. The Revenant is also a fascinating character, which is saying a lot, considering it is really just a "spirit" who is communing with Artemisia in her head.
The world-building is quite good. The author uses words and terms that are slightly similar to real-world things, which gives the reader and idea of what is going on or what the author wants you to associate things with.
I got a little lost about 1/3 of the way through the book, because I realized I wasn't really sure why Artemisia had embarked upon her quest to literally save her world and why she was going where she was going and doing the things she was doing. I had to go back and reread, and I still was a bit confused. But I just kept going, and despite the ambiguity of how Artemisia ended up fighting to save a city full of people, I enjoyed her journey and was rooting for her the whole way. That being said, the ending was a bit anticlimactic. I was waiting for a big bang and it was more like a loud pop... That being said, I still liked the ending.
I have enjoyed every book this author has written. I am glad this book will get a sequel at least, because I am very interested to see what else Artemisia and the Revenant will do together, not to mention the other characters in the book, especially Leander. If you enjoy YA fantasy, I would recommend this book

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Review: Last Girl Ghosted

Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book. 

This book started off so good. In the middle it seemed like a completely different book. And by the end I was just kind of confused...
I was excited to read this story about Wren, who is encouraged by her best friend to try a dating app, and through it meets Adam, an intriguing and mysterious man with whom Wren feels an immediate connection. The two begin a relationship which lasts for 3 months, until one day when Adam completely disappears (after Wren has confessed something to him about a serious time in her past). Wren tries to find Adam and discover what is really going on when she is confronted by a private investigator who reveals Adam may not be at all what he seemed, and is probably connected to the disappearance of 3 other women.
At this point, I was loving the book. I felt like I was reading an episode of Dateline or something, and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. But then the book took a turn. In Wren's flashbacks the reader discovers more about her painful past and what has made her into the woman she is today. While this part of the book was compelling, it was not at all what I was expecting, and the book became much less of a mystery or psychological thriller, and more of an exploration of Wren's personal journey as she tried to live with her demons. It was dark, depressing, and hard to read.
Then, the book started to pick up again as it looked like Adam--or whoever was behind his disappearance--may be close to coming out in the open and revealing what exactly was going on. I was rooting for Wren to take charge and make whoever was responsible pay for what was going on. But in the last 1/3 things got weird. Wren made questionable decision after questionable--actually terrible--decision (I expected more of her), the timeline of the book got very confusing, and things that should have been elaborated on and delved into were barely mentioned. Things that didn't have much bearing on the story were described in incredible detail. I just got confused. Then the "climax" of the book was more than a little convenient and unbelievable. And I was left feeling a bit disappointed.
I am not sure what this book was trying to be--a twisty psychological thriller, a story of a woman's quest to confront her past and become the best version of herself, a tense and creepy suspense-filled mystery? It's like it was trying to be all three, and failed. I am not sure if I would recommend this book or not.

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Review: Certain Dark Things

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. I was completely drawn into the world created by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and felt completely immersed in the Mexico City that Atl and Domingo were living in.
Atl, a vampire (or Tlahuihpochtli), is trying to survive in an alternate Mexico City after a rival vampire clan destroyed her family. She reluctantly teams up with Domingo, a young trash collector, to hopefully evade her enemies--including the authorities, drug gangs, and other vampires--so she can make it out of Mexico City alive.
The way this book blends vampire lore with pre-Hispanic Mexican mythology and culture was very compelling, as was all of Moreno=Garcia's vampire "backstory." Not only that, but the characters were extremely compelling as well. The plot plus the setting sucked me in (pun intended...?). Atl is fascinating as she navigates a treacherous road to safety. She is not always likable but does have rooting value, and even if I didn't like or agree with some of her choices, they did feel organic, and it was obvious that those choices made sense to Atl. Domingo is also a well-drawn character. I immediately connected with him, and rooted for him; I wanted everything to end up okay for Domingo! The secondary characters added to the story as well, and rounded out the book.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Silvia Moreno-Garcia's work in the past, or anyone who enjoys vampire fiction.

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Review: Never Saw Me Coming

Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from Netgally.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It was fun, refreshing, different, and engrossing. That might be hard to believe if you've just read the synopsis, but it is true.
Chloe is a freshmen ready to tackle her first year of college and all it brings: new roommate, new friends, challenging classes, and...killing Will Bachman. It turns out Chloe is one of seven students participating in a study of psychopaths and their behavior. Chloe doesn't mind participating in the study--hey, her tuition is paid for!--and has learned to live quite well with her diagnosis. But she is not going to let anything get in the way of her most important goal: ridding the world of Will. When another student in the study is murdered, Chloe wonders if she now needs to watch out for another murderer on campus. Could it be another psychopath? Can she trust any of the other study participants?
When I began reading this book I thought it would be more angsty, very dark, full of unreliable narrators, and disturbing. But I was wrong. While it definitely has its dark moments and Chloe and her fellow psychopaths do often engage in questionable behavior, the more lighter "normal" moments really serve as a wonderful contrast. Told mainly from Chloe's perspective, the matter-of-fact way in which she describes and relates things that are completely normal to a psychopath and yet completely strange and shocking to someone without that diagnosis can be jarring, but in a good way. Chloe has definite rooting value, even as the reader questions if Chloe's actions should be worth rooting for. Charles and Andre and great counterpoints to Chloe, and make an amazing trio that I wanted to read more and more about.
The plot moved along well, and I had really no idea what was going to happen next. I was completely drawn in and did not want to put the book down. I wanted to keep reading because I could not wait to see what would happen next, but at the same time I did not want the book to be over, because I enjoyed Chloe, Charles, and Andre so much.
The book--while it feels a bit bizarre to call this a fun read, and to me this absolutely was--also does raise some questions that will really make the reader think. Are all psychopaths destined to be criminally "bad?" Is it alright to make assumptions about people, even if it is based on "science?" How safe is our digital and social network infused world? Does the public's obsession with true crime dehumanize the people involved in those crimes? I don't want to give away any spoilers if you haven't read the book yet, but towards the end, Dr. Wyman's attitudes and beliefs about whether or not criminals deserve the chance to be rehabilitated was very interesting, considering Chloe's attitudes. It created a fascinating dichotomy.
This was a great book. It had all the fun, soapy young adult things you'd expect in a book about college students, the suspense-filled elements of a thriller about a murder, and some very thought provoking elements you'd expect in a book about people with different psychological issues trying to function in "normal" society. I will say that there was one climactic moment that wasn't quite as climatic as I'd wanted, but it definitely did not ruin the book for me. I would absolutely recommend it. And I really hope we can get more adventures with the "Scooby Gang." I loved them (even while questioning if I should love them or not)!

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Review: The House of Ashes

The House of Ashes by Stuart Neville
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I wouldn't call this a fun or quick read, but it was definitely a good book. The story and characters really stayed with me even after I finished the book.
The story starts with Sara, a young wife whose husband has moved the couple to a remote Irish cottage that has been in disrepair. But the book really, in my opinion, picks up with Mary's story, who apparently lived in the same house some years earlier. Mary was incredibly compelling, even as a very young girl. The author is able to use Mary and her point of view to relate some of the horrifically tragic events that take place in the house, and very effectively does that without being graphic or gratuitous. In a book that deals with such serious issues, this was a very smart way to let the reader know what was going on without having to implicitly describe things in detail that would be very unwanted.
I was completely drawn in by Mary and, even though I had some idea of what would happen to her, I was rooting for her throughout the book. Even though the reader pretty much knows what heinous event took place in that house decades ago, the author still does a superb job of building the tension to a point that when it does finally occur, it almost feels like a relief.
I would have liked a little more fleshing out with Sara. While she was a main character I feel like I knew her less that may of the secondary characters.
This is a haunting book that deals with serious issues. I did like it, despite thinking early in that I would not. It is very well written.

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Review: The Disappearing Act

The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
The Disappearing Act is about Mia, a British actress on the cusp of hitting it big, who takes a little time to visit Hollywood during pilot season. She’s never been there before and so is quite happy to make a connection with a fellow actress at an audition. But when Mia’s new “friend” disappears into thin air, Mia is confused and concerned to say the least. Did she really disappear, did she ever really exist, or is someone playing a disturbing game with Mia?
This was quick easy read and I enjoyed it. It’s a perfect beach/vacation ction book.

Things that I liked:
* The reliable, single narrator. It seems like EVERY book right now has multiple points-of-view, multiple timelines, and at least one narrator that the reader isn’t sure can be trusted for whatever reason. While those books can be fun, it was refreshing to read an “old-fashioned” mystery.
* The author did a wonderful job of evoking the almost magical quality of Hollywood juxtaposed with the harshness of the city. The isolation that Mia feels as a newcomer is palpable.

Things that I didn’t like:
* The author had a habit of ending a chapter with a big event or reveal and then skipping over the aftermath and fall-out in the next chapter until Mia reveals what happened in an offhand way that makes each of these big incidents seem not quite so important. Every time that happened it felt like a bit of a let-down.
* Without giving away any spoilers, I wasn’t a fan of how the ending/“epilogue” was spread out over two chapters. If those had been re-worked into one “event” I think it would have been more impactful.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!

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Review: The Last Mona Lisa

The Last Mona Lisa by Jonathan Santlofer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.

I am in the minority, but I did not like this book at all. I tried. I slogged through it. But it just seemed like a straight-to-home-video movie, instead of a summer-blockbuster mystery/action/thriller.
The quest that the main character, Luke, goes on to try to discover just exactly what happened when his great-grandfather stole the Mona Lisa just wasn't compelling enough to keep me interested. The characters were all two-dimensional and I felt no connection to them. Their motivations did not seem organic or realistic. The action scenes felt tacked-on. The chapters alternated points-of-view and narrators, and so switched from first person present-tense, to third person past-tense, to third person present-tense, and it felt jarring every time. My least favorite chapters were the ones narrator by Vincent. To me he came across as a self-absorbed, self-pitying, melodramatic guy who believed he was a great artist and should not be expected to take a "menial" job that would actually provide for his wife and unborn child. I had no patience with him. (For that matter, I didn't really like Luke, either. And don't get me started on Alex. Their insta-love was not at all believable.)
I would not recommend this book. But I know a lot of people have really enjoyed it. So what can I say? Maybe you'll love it, and maybe you won't. I certainly didn't.

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Review: Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche

Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche by Nancy Springer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

This was the first Enola Holmes book I have read (I did watch the movie), and I absolutely loved it! I usually hesitate to read books in a series if I haven't read the previous books, but--maybe because I did watch the movie--I didn't feel like I was lost or missing any information or confused. I was able to pick up the action right as it started and was ready to begin this fascinating investigation along with Enola.
The book begins with Sherlock himself giving the reader a bit of background, and then moves to the POV of Enola, as she inadvertently, yet with resolute determination, joins her brother in discovering the whereabouts of the young wife of an aristocrat. According to her husband, she died quickly from a mysterious illness, but her twin sister doesn't believe that she is actually dead. The reader follows Enola as she sets out investigating the presumed dead wife, the "cad" of a husband, and where exactly troublesome women actually might go when they "disappear."
The author struck just the right cord of independent spirit in Enola and recklessness in her adventures to be entertaining and fun without being unbelievable and outlandish. The plot was rollicking and fun yet also really enlightening about the plight of women living in Victorian England. Enola is an endearing character, and the other characters who inhabited the book were just as compelling and interesting.
I could not recommend this book enough. It was a fun quick read, yet also engaging and intriguing. Enola was fascinating, and her quest to solve the mystery was compelling. I definitely will read the other books in this series. I even told my fifteen-year-old daughter that she absolutely should read this book--that should tell you all you need to know!

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Review: Such a Good Wife

Such a Good Wife by Seraphina Nova Glass
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy, soapy kind of mystery that would be great for a vacation or beach read.
Melanie is a seemingly perfect wife. She cares for her mother-in-law who is suffering from dementia, her young son who has autism, as well as her teenaged daughter and husband. She gets everyone to school and their practices, makes healthy meals, and does her best to be diligent with her mother-in-law's and son's care. And so it is easy to see how Melanie feels a bit invisible and worn out. When she encounters a best-selling author at a local bookstore, she allows herself to get caught up in a steamy affair. While she can't believe that she is doing it, she also enjoys the feeling of having someone really see her and put her first. But then when she discovers the dead body of the man she's been involved with, the perfect life she's built threatens to fall down around her. Why is he dead? How did he die? Did anyone see her leaving his house? Does anyone know her secret?
This was a fun book. It was a quick read and hard to put down. I liked Melanie. Even though she made some pretty bad decisions--especially in the beginning, deciding to get involved with another man--her feelings of being overwhelmed by her responsibilities and invisible to those around her give the reader some insight into the motivations for her behavior.
The setting was very immersive too. I felt drawn into the steamy heat of small-town Louisiana, and enjoyed all the details.
The plot and the mystery were well-done as well. There were several unscrupulous characters, some red herrings, and lots of secrets to untangle. I will admit I never say the end coming. The "resolution" might have been a bit far-fetched and a little too easy when all was said and done, but I still enjoyed it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick, fun mystery to read at the beach or on vacation.

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Review: The Death of Jane Lawrence

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This book just wasn't for me. I should not have read it. I was worried about that going into it, because I am not a big fan of horror or really scary books. But that was not why I didn't like this one.
The first 1/3 or 1/2 was actually pretty creepy and frightening, and I surprisingly enjoyed that part.
The book lost me once Jane embarked upon her personal and VERY very very solitary journey into magic and finding the power of that magic inside herself. At that point the book just got repetitive (One horribly graphic description of swallowing the contents of an egg is enough. Really.), esoteric, a bit boring, and hard to follow. It was just too much for me. I skimmed and skipped a lot. This part of the book could have been cut down quite a bit and it would have made a much tighter, more meaningful story. The "big" chapter towards the end was good, but after so much metaphysical rigamarole in the preceding chapters, it kind of took away from the impact. I got a bit confused to tell the truth, and had to go back and reread (reluctantly, I might add). And I still wasn't quite sure what happened and how everything turned out in the end.
I would not recommend this book. I think Mexican Gothic tackled a similar concept much better.

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Review: Palace of the Drowned

Palace of the Drowned by Christine Mangan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC for this book.
It is hard for me to figure out how to review this book. It was well-written. The setting was incredibly evocative. The characters were strangely compelling.
But I didn't just didn't like it. The story of author Frankie, and what happens during her (perhaps forced) sabbatical to (a surprisingly dismal!) Venice during the off-season in the mid-sixties really did transport me there. The descriptions of everything from the decaying palazzo to the stench of the water at high tide to the fizzy Prosecco drew me into the book. And the promise of a dark and twisty mystery kept me there. But I kept waiting for the dark and twisty mystery to actually...start.
And it got harder and harder to wait, because not only were the descriptions of how doleful everything was in Venice--from the miserable weather to the rotting buildings--verging on redundant, I just didn't like the characters. I kept trying to like Frankie, but just couldn't. I didn't like Gilly AT ALL. Jack was a horrible friend. Even Harold and Maria seemed miserable. And I just felt bad for Leonard having to put up with all of them.
I know that the relationship...friendship?...between Frankie and Gilly was intended to be ambiguous, nebulous, and uncertain. But I just couldn't figure out how Frankie, who seemed to be an intelligent person, would put up with Gilly, not to mention allow the young girl into her life. It just made me feel sorry for Frankie and what her once promising life had devolved to, which perhaps was the point.
I really contemplated not finishing the book, not because it wasn't well-written, but because I just didn't like the characters or their almost repetitive desultory conversations in various cafes and landmarks. Once the torrential rain storm began, the action picked up, and I continued reading with a bit more anticipation, because I was wondering how everything would turn out.
But to me, this book was just depressing--which again, was perhaps the point--and when I finished, I was underwhelmed. The ending felt sadly predictable.
As I said, I am not sure how to rate this book. I didn't like the story or characters. I never want to visit Venice because it seems like a water-logged, decaying, stinking place full of rude people. But maybe all of that is a testament to how well-written the book is. I don't think I would recommend it--at least if you are after a twisty suspenseful mystery. That is not what this book is at all.

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Review: The Fiancée

The Fiancée by Kate White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. The author used the setting, the plot, and the characters to create a feeling of tense and slightly eerie suspense that permeated the book.
Summer is very excited about accompanying her husband and young step-son to her in-laws' idyllic, rural, and extensive property for their annual family vacation. Amazing meals and cozy accommodations, all over-seen by the family matriarch Claire, create an atmosphere of relaxation at its best. Summer is also looking forward to spending time with her extended family, until one of her brothers-in-law brings his new girlfriend, Hannah. Summer is immediately suspicious of Hannah after she catches her in a lie. Hannah's strange behavior--apparently only obvious to Summer--only increases until Summer cannot shake the feeling that Hannah is not at all what she seems. When someone ends up dead, Summer knows Hannah must be involved somehow, and tries to find a way to root out exactly what Hannah's agenda could be. As another body appears and even more secrets and lies are exposed, Summer has to find a way to save the family she loves.
The first thing that I loved about this book was the setting. The author does a great job of transporting the reader to an intentionally casual yet lavish country retreat where the affluent Keaton family spends their vacations together. The descriptions of the food, the colorful gardens, the cozy cottages, and the al fresco meals with wine freely flowing and fireflies dancing really made me want to vacation with the Keatons, too! The setting really became a character in the story. Then when Hannah joins the group, the author is able to subtly introduce tension. Is the tension truly there, or is it only visible to Summer? The reader is not sure, but it is definitely there.
I also really enjoyed Summer. She is a character that is relatable and worth rooting for. While it seems to the reader that Summer might go a bit overboard when it comes to her distrust of Hannah, and there are a few times when Summer doesn't always make the best decisions, Summer doesn't ever get annoying or stupid. And I really appreciated that. It seems I have read so many books lately in which the main character is either extremely naive (too-dumb-to-live!) or just so unlikable that there is no rooting value. Summer was someone I liked and enjoyed reading about. It was refreshing.
The mystery was well-done, too. While the initial crime might be a little obscure (I don't want to give away any spoilers), I liked it nonetheless. The way that the tension in the family ratcheted up every time Summer overheard a private conversation or stumbled upon a secret encounter worked to change the atmosphere from a bucolic country retreat to an isolated, insular tract of land cut off from the rest of the world.
I would absolutely recommend this book. It would be great to take on a summer vacation for anyone who enjoys mystery, domestic suspense, and thrillers.

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Review: Her Dark Lies

Her Dark Lies by J.T. Ellison
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am rounding up a little. This book was kind of all over the place. The premise sounded good: the glamorous destination wedding of a billionaire and a young artist, on an isolated island during a violent storm. The reader knows something is going to happen, but is not quite sure what. The soon-to-be bride is feeling a bit overwhelmed, especially when suspicious activity begins to occur, both at home and at the incredibly posh Italian villa where the wedding will soon be held.
The author does a fairly good job of ratcheting up the tension at the beginning of the book, creating an atmosphere of ominous gloom, isolation, and slight creepiness. About a quarter of the way in, though, the book seems to lose that focus. Other points of view are added in, and instead of upping the suspense and contributing to the story, it just gets kind of muddy. At about about halfway the action and plot (while a bit unbelievable) get more exciting, but at three-quarters the wheels just kind of fall off. I wasn't sure where the author was going and wasn't really sure that I cared.
The characters were at best naive, at worst cartoonish. There were quite a few murders and dead bodies, but instead of adding suspense and gravitas, they were treated a bit off-handedly.
I wanted to like this book, but I didn't. I wouldn't recommend it.

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Review: All of Us Villains

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This book sounded interesting, but I just could not get into it. I know a lot of people are loving it, but to me the plot was confusing, the backstory was too convoluted, and the characters were cartoonish and immature.
I did not finish it.

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Review: The Perfect Couple

The Perfect Couple by Jackie Kabler
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really tried with book, but I did not like it. The characters, the "mystery," the plot--it just wasn't good. Gemma, who returns home from a business trip to find her "perfect" husband missing, was just a bit too naive (maybe "dumb" is a better word?) for me. I just did not understand most of the decisions she made, and the way she would go on and on with her inner monologues about how upset she was, and how she did not want to shower, or how she could not eat got very old, very fast. It was perfectly understandable for her to be upset, but Gemma just became repetitive and boring, instead of a character you could have sympathy for.
The detectives tasked with trying to figure out what happened to the missing Danny, and several other men who had been killed, were not very smart either. They seemed to focus on Gemma and Danny, instead of trying to find the killer of the two men who had been murdered. The author also seemed to spend way too much time on the detectives' personal lives. I assume this was to flesh them out and give them some personality, but instead I just found it boring and irrelevant.
The plot was a bit all over the place, and the reveal of the culprit and the mystery of Danny's disappearance made me say, "...seriously...?..." instead of, "Oh! Wow! Really?!"
I just wasn't impressed with this book and would not recommend it.

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Review: The Duke Who Loved Me

The Duke Who Loved Me by Jane Ashford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book--until the very last chapter. I usually do my best to review books without including spoilers, but I don't think I can in this case.
I loved the characters, I loved how they related to each other, I loved the dialogue and how their relationship developed. The secondary characters were great. The plot moved along nicely. Until I got to the very end. I felt completely let down.
Anyone who reads Regency Romance knows that in almost every book, there is a misunderstanding, disagreement, or wrong assumption between the two main characters, and that causes conflict. Once the issue has been resolved, the two characters can live "happily ever after." And anyone who has read Regency Romance for decades, as I have, knows that often the misunderstanding that has caused all the problems is just something kind of silly, like a misheard conversation or an interrupted conversation, and if the two characters would just take a minute and talk honestly about their feelings, everything would come out alright. In a good Regency, we are rooting for the characters to have the opportunity talk to each other and "have it out," and in a badly-written one, we are just frustrated with the characters, want to scream at them, and wonder why they are so dumb that they can't simply talk to each other. Well, in this book, about 2/3 of the way through, this "misunderstanding" happens when an important conversation between our two main characters doesn't quite go as it should. The thing at ruins this book for me is not the "misunderstanding" itself, but what happens after. (view spoiler)[
Cecelia interrupts James as he is about to profess his love and propose because of his true feelings, and she proposes a business-like arrangement for marriage. James is just so happy to have her agree to marriage that he goes along with it, thinking he'll take her any way he can get her. Then marriage ensues, but not quite the marriage either of the two wanted. James gets mad at Cecelia for being so bossy, disregarding his feelings, and taking over all the decisions in their life. Cecelia gets mad at James for what she perceives as him leading an indolent and uncaring lifestyle and fobbing off all the major decisions on her. As the reader, I knew what was really going on. I was waiting for James to say the words "I love you" to Cecelia, and for Cecelia to actually start believing in James and his desire to be better, because she was so preoccupied with the way he'd lived his life in the past that she couldn't see his changed behavior. It started to bother me that Cecelia was expecting James to "change his ways" when it was already more than obvious that he had. The way she took over everything because she assumed that was what James wanted her to do, but then also got mad at James every time she did it, also got on my nerves--if she didn't want to do it, she shouldn't be volunteering to do it! But I was willing to kind of overlook it, because I knew the big "resolution" conversation would have to be coming soon, in which James would say, "of course I love you," and Cecelia would say, "What? You do?! I shouldn't have interrupted you that day and assumed you only wanted to marry me because I like to make lists and am good at organization! I am sorry that I assumed you'd never changed when it was GLARINGLY obvious that you have." And then James would say, "I know in the past I acted like a spoilt teenager, but you have helped me find a way to be better, and I should have said 'I love you' sooner."
Buuuuut...that was not the conversation that occurred. I was to the last few pages of the book and getting worried, because the BIG resolution had not happened yet, and I didn't think there was enough time left. And I was right. James told Cecelia he loved her, and apologized. The Cecelia pretty much said, "You DO love me? Okay. I'm not mad anymore, then." AND that was it. The book was over. Literally. (hide spoiler)]
The ending was terribly underwhelming. I had really enjoyed this book up to that point. The last pages really disappointed me quite a bit. That is why I am taking away a star in my rating. So despite all the wonderful things that went on in this book up to that point, I cannot recommend this book.

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Review: The Temple House Vanishing

The Temple House Vanishing by Rachel Donohue
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am rounding up a bit... I tried, but I really didn't like this book. I tried, but I just didn't.
I am not really sure how to rate this book. The author did a great job of setting up a compelling mystery about the sudden and inexplicable disappearance of young girl and her slightly questionable art teacher. The oppressive, creepy, and twisty atmosphere of "wrongness" that the author is able to create also really adds to the story. The writing itself is beautiful, lyrical, and very immersive.
But the characters are where the book kind of falls flat. Louisa is a fascinating character and the reader really wants to know more about her. But the other two central characters, Victoria and Mr. Lavelle, seem rather 2 dimensional. This is really not good because so much of Louisa's actions and the plot points of the book revolve around Victoria and Mr. Lavelle. It is hard for the reader to understand these two characters, because there is little development there, which in turn makes it difficult for the reader to understand Louisa's motivations. A pivotal portion of the book is also narrated by a journalist who is another character lacking in development. The reader really gets no reason as to why this journalist plays such a pivotal role in the story, other than she used to live across the street from Louisa.
By the end, the book had become very predictable, and I found that I just didn't care. This book had some things that were very well done, but some things that really needed some work.

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Review: Such a Quiet Place

Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. The story of a terrible tragedy that changed a once quiet and idyllic neighborhood, this book does a wonderful job of creating an aura of suspense and oppressive paranoia. A year and a half ago, two residents of Hollow's Edge were found dead, and a neighbor, Ruby, was found guilty of the crime. But her conviction was overturned, and now she has returned home and surprised her former roommate, Harper. Why is Ruby back? Was she truly guilty? Is Harper now in danger? And if Ruby wasn't responsible for the murders, which resident of this seemingly tight-knit community could be the killer? What secrets are these neighbors hiding?
This setting of this book reminded me of To Tell You the Truth, The Therapist, and even Those People. What seems on the surface to be the perfect neighborhood has actually turned out to be a prison-like enclave full of suspicion and tension. Can anyone really be trusted? Who is peeking through their blinds in the middle of the night, or tiptoeing around the security cameras in the dark?
This was a great slow-burn whodunnit. The author used the secluded neighborhood, the isolated and forested lake-side setting, and the heavy summer heat to really evoke a sense of high suspense. It was very well-done. Harper doesn't always make the smartest decisions, and sometimes I wanted to yell at her to do something different, but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. The ending was just a little too "easy," but I still liked the fact that the mystery was solved.
I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful mystery and wants something to read on a summer vacation!

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Review: Never Fall for Your Fiancée

Never Fall for Your Fiancée by Virginia Heath
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I give this 4.5 stars. I loved this book! I have not read a Regency Romance I have enjoyed this much in years!! It felt like vintage Julia Quinn. The main characters, their chemistry, the plot, the secondary characters--it was all so much fun.
The relationship that developed between the two main characters felt organic and real. The dialogue didn't come across as forced (sometimes authors in this genre try too hard to make witty repartee feel fun, but it just comes across as fake--either too snarky or too flowery), but this was fun, quick, and enjoyable to read.
The reader knows that the house of cards that has been built by Hugh and the conveniently-named Minerva will collapse at some point, but the road to destruction is so much fun. I knew something bad was going to happen at some point, but it did not make me want to quit reading or give up on them.
One other thing I really appreciated about this book was that there was no deep, dark angst. Both Hugh and Minerva had issues that they needed to work through, but the author managed to avoid manufactured misery while still addressing the fact that both characters had some personal demons to conquer.
My only complaint with the book was Vee. She really got on my nerves and I did not enjoy her character at all.
I would HIGHLY recommend this book, and have immediately put this author in my TBR pile!! I eagerly await the next installment in this series. If you are a lapsed Regency Romance reader like I was, check this book out.

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Review: A Slow Fire Burning

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This is an interesting book. I'm not really sure how I would classify it. The book is full of secrets, lies, unlikeable characters, mistakes, and tragedies.
If you are looking for a tense, suspenseful triller, this isn't it. If you are looking for a jaw-dropping psychological twisty tale, this isn't it, either. I would say it is exactly what the title describes--a slow-burning mystery. The pacing is a bit slow and hard to figure out, especially in the beginning, and once "The One Who Got Away" comes in, things get a bit more hazy. As the book moves to its conclusion, things begin to come into focus, and--while VERY shocking things are revealed, or at least insinuated--there is no huge twist, just a desire to find justice and to see the characters we've come to care about find satisfaction and maybe even the resolution they deserve.
I did enjoy this book, but my biggest issue was Daniel. His character was a big component of the story--his murder, his relationships, his personality--yet the reader doesn't really get to know him. That left me a bit unsatisfied.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for a mystery with lots of compelling yet unreliable and unlikable characters.

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Review: Half Sick of Shadows

Half Sick of Shadows by Laura Sebastian
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I know a lot of people are loving this book, but it was just not for me. I thoroughly enjoy Arthurian legend and retellings of the familiar stories, so I was really looking forward to reading this, but I had a very hard time getting through it. The storytelling style of jumping back and forth through time, from the past to the present, with glimpses of the future thrown in, just made me frustrated and impatient. Others may enjoy the feeling of impending doom that this created, and find that it contributes to the pacing and way the story unfolds, but I just did not. Knowing what was going to happen to the characters in the future just made me want to hurry up and get there, so I could see how the characters were going to deal with the events and circumstances that were to come. But constantly flashing back to the past made me keep thinking, "Ugh. Let's move on!" The characters were compelling, and I am sure not very many will agree with me on my feelings about the book, but to me, knowing that awful things were going to happen and having everything drawn out so much really made me not enjoy the book. If things had moved in a more linear, chronological manner, I think I would have liked the book more.

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Review: Hostage

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
Let me say I was hesitant to read this book, because I HATE flying. But Oh. MY. GOODNESS. This book was so good.
The story of a Mina, a flight attendant on the inaugural nonstop flight from London to Sydney, who suddenly faces a hijacking situation is tense, thrilling, action-packed, and thought-provoking. It's hard to talk too much about it without giving away important plot points, but I will say that the moment Mina discovers that her plane has been hijacked is just tip of the iceberg. Mina knows her young daughter Sophia, who is supposed to be in the care of her estranged husband, is in serious danger, and the worry about Sophia adds another important layer of real terror to the book.
I wish I could say more, but I really don't want to ruin anyone's enjoyment of the story. I will say that the plot, the characters, the motivations and the story are very well-done. Everything moves along to a very thrilling conclusion. I thought I had things figured out about 1/3 of the way through, then decided I had to be wrong about my suspicions, then I thought I was right again, then back and forth again! And the ending was exactly what the story called for.
I would absolutely, definitively recommend this book!

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Review: The Therapist

The Therapist by B.A. Paris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I'm rounding up a bit on this book about a couple who moves into a house in which a brutal murder occurred a few years earlier, because I did enjoy it. It wasn't amazing, but it was good.
The book does have a few flaws, mainly with the main character Alice. She was just so naive and so gullible and so heedless that I kind of wanted to yell at her...often. She'd get an idea into her head and just so fecklessly run with it that it got very annoying. She literally suspected everyone in her neighborhood of being responsible for the murder of Nina, the therapist who'd lived in the house before. Literally everyone. With little to no evidence. And then she'd run off accusing him or her of foul and evil deeds. And then wonder why people were getting upset with her and growing suspicious of her. I kept thinking, "Stop! Why do you think what you're doing right now is a good idea?! Take a minute! Take a breath--think about how illogical you are being right now!" And on top of that she would ignore or be completely oblivious to things that were glaringly suspicious and should have made her stop and think.
All that being said, the redeeming factor was that everyone else in the book was telling Alice the same thing. So while it was frustrating, it helped to know that EVERYBODY was getting frustrated with Alice as well.
Due to the fact that there were MULTIPLE red herrings (most of them recklessly chased down by Alice), I didn't see who the true villain was until very late in the book. I had no idea what was going to happen. Other readers may see it much earlier than I did, but when I did figure it out, it was a shocker.
This was a quick, easy read, and, if you can handle Alice, I would recommend it for anyone who wants a fun suspenseful thriller book for the beach or a weekend getaway.

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Review: Crossbones

Crossbones by Kimberly Vale
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This is a terrible pun, but this book had good bones... sorry! The problem with it was in how those bones were fleshed out. The premise of the story was very good, and plot was compelling, but in some spots the story lagged and got a bit boring. Things that should have been elaborated on were glossed over and things that could have been mentioned in passing were described in detail. The characters were fun, but also kind of trope-y (if that's a word); everyone had their "part" to play. Let me say that each character played their part well, and I enjoyed them...but they were not very original. The world-building was good, but the mythology that went along with it was not especially clear, especially at the end, when unfortunately it became rather important.
But I liked the book. It was a fun, easy read, and if you're looking for a light YA adventure with swashbuckling intrigue, romance, and excitement, I would recommend it. It could have been better, but it was good.

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Review: Rock Paper Scissors

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I just loved this book. I just loved it.
It was very well-written and I could not put it down. The author did a great job of creating an aura of suspense and tension without any real obvious or overt threats to the main characters. The story was told from the points of view of three different people, and the things that were related through each character revealed just enough to keep the story going but left enough questions to keep the reader guessing.
I will admit that I went into this book expecting a huge twist, so I started looking for clues by Chapter 3. I DID guess what was going on very early, but that in no way took away from my enjoyment of the book--in fact, it added to it! Having my suspicions and always looking for little tidbits to support or refute my theory was a lot of fun and made my reading even richer.
I would definitely, absolutely, totally recommend this book!

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Review: Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I'm rounding up a little bit on this book, because while it did have its problems, I really did end up enjoying it.
This story, of 3 women who are expecting babies very soon and how they interact with each other, was set up to be a great psychological mystery. But it got slightly confusing after the first several chapters. About 1/4 to 1/3 of the way through, the pacing began to feel off: Rachel's relationship with Helen felt very glossed over in its beginning stages--what exactly is it about Rachel and her personality that makes her so compelling to Helen? The reader knows there must be something, because Helen lets Rachel insinuate herself into Helen's life, but it's hard to really figure out why. Rachel, who is a pivotal character, isn't really as developed as I would have liked. I kept reading, hoping I would learn more about her and the reasons she was acting so suspiciously. I really needed more in the beginning of the book to really seal up Rachel and her relationship with Helen. I felt like I was missing something that was very important, which unfortunately set the tone for the rest of the book.
As the story continues, and more characters and their points of view are introduced, more tension and doubts creep in and the story really picks up. Is Helen being gaslighted? Is she on the verge of a breakdown? Is there someone in her life who is really out to get her? Who is it? And why? Although Helen is naive and gullible, the reader really roots for her to smarten up and start seeing things as they actually are, even if the reader is not sure how things "actually are." Serena is interesting as well; the reader isn't quite sure what to make of her: is she really a good friend? Is she worth Helen's adoration? Does she truly have Helen's best interests at heart? I also enjoyed Kate and her storyline quite a bit, but towards the end I really was not sure how exactly that all fit into the narrative--it almost felt kind of extraneous...which was actually kind of sad, because I didn't want it to be!
Saying all this, I think my biggest problems with the book were Rachel and Kate. I really liked them both--A LOT!--but... Rachel was so organically important in the book, and I didn't get to really know her in a way I felt she deserved and that would have added more depth and complexity to the story. On the other hand Kate felt INorganically important in the book, and while I did enjoy getting to know her, I'm not sure she really "fit in" to the way the story developed--she ended up almost feeling like some sort of plot device or deus ex machina. (She's a great relatable character, but once the twist was revealed and I went back to reread and pick up all the clues I missed, I skipped over most of Kate's parts, because I felt they really didn't have much relevance to the "mystery," and therefore the overarching story.)
All that being said, I haven't read a book with an ending like this in a very long time. I LOVED it!! I really don't want to give away any spoilers, so read ahead at your own risk, but I almost cheered out loud after reading the last several lines! It was incredibly satisfying, and absolutely added to my enjoyment of the story. It was great.
I would recommend this book. It's a twisty mystery, and although it is far from perfect, its definitely worth checking out.

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Review: The Duke Goes Down

The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I was not a fan of this book. The pacing was strange, with flashbacks all over this place. It interrupted the action for me and I felt it would have made much more sense, and helped to develop the characters and their relationship better, if things had been related in a more chronological manner. That being said, the character development left a lot to be desired. I didn't like either of the characters. Perry was a vapid jerk and Imogen was very petty. Then the geography kept throwing me off. Was Shropshire supposed to be a town, or the actual county? I got very confused. I wanted this to be an interesting book with fun characters--which it could have been--but it was not.

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Review: Talk Bookish to Me

Talk Bookish to Me by Kate Bromley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed this book for the most part. But about half-way to 2/3 of the way through, the pacing got very weird. For the most part, I liked the character development, which really says something, as I do not usually like "second-chance" stories in which the characters already have a past. I did feel like their "new" relationship evolved well, though.
As a romance novel, I knew a wrench would be thrown into the relationship of our two main characters, and was not expecting what happened at all--I did not see it coming. But as soon as the big "event" happened, the story felt strange. It was like everything took a hard right turn and I was reading a completely different book. Without giving away any spoilers, I wasn't sure if the one character should even forgive the other one, and a new--very interesting--character was introduced who I felt I really wanted to know much more about.
The last portion of this book was kind of a let-down, as it didn't feel coherent or organic. Due to that, I am taking off a star from my rating. The book was good, but could have been much better.

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