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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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!

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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!

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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!

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews

Review: The Guilt Trip

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. That's not to say it didn't have it's flaws, or couldn't have been a little tighter in it's storytelling. But it was a quick, intriguing, soapy book with lots of tension and suspicious events. The red herrings and twists and turns made for fun reading. I had my guesses as to what was going on, but didn't guess all of it until the end. The last pages, while maybe not the most satisfying, did really fit in with the story. I would absolutely recommend this book for a vacation or day at the beach.

View all my reviews

Review: A Peculiar Combination

A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
A Peculiar Combination is a bit of a peculiar book. It really took me several chapters to really get into the story and feel like I had a handle on the characters. I really thought about not finishing it, but after reading several positive reviews I decided to keep going, and I am glad that I did. Once I really kind of figured Ellie out I began to enjoy her and root for her. The way she and her uncle were pulled into espionage slightly against their will was intriguing and fun. I really enjoyed the burgeoning, and very reluctant, relationship between Ellie and Major Ramsey.
This was a light, quick, easy read (after getting through the first few chapters) and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a cozy period mystery. I would definitely read the next installment.

View all my reviews

Review: Mother May I

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. I connected with Bree right from the beginning, and I rooted for her throughout this heart-stopping story of what all she must go through to recover her kidnapped child. The different points of view helped move the story along, and I never was really sure how everything would be resolved, or even if things could be resolved. The ending was just a bit muddled, but I enjoyed in nonetheless. Bree's husband and "the woman's" daughter were fascinating characters as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or thriller.

View all my reviews

Review: Realm Breaker

Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I have mixed feelings about this book. While I did enjoy it and found it well-written, I left feeling a bit unsatisfied. I know this is the first installment to a series, and so many things had to be set up, groundwork needed to be laid, and backstory needed to be built. But I didn't get the sense that our heroes had really accomplished much when I finished the book. I liked the characters, and rooted for them, and enjoyed their journeys. But the book didn't really leave me wanting more--it left me feeling like more could have and should have happened. This was not a quick or easy read, so I felt like I put a lot of time and effort into reading this book and didn't get that much out of it.
I also had a hard time with all of the "geography" in the book. I could not get a handle on it, found it confusing, and wasn't quite sure what was going on--which was a problem since travel was such a huge part of the book.
I really don't know if I will read the second installment of this series. I did like the characters and do want to see what will happen next, but I invested quite a bit of time in this book, and after feeling so unsatisfied, I'm not sure I want to do that again. I would probably recommend it, but will say that readers should go into it knowing that this is NOT a fast read and that they will be left waiting for the next installment.

View all my reviews

Review: The Wolf and the Woodsman

The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were compelling and the story was original and hard to put down. The journey of Evike really drew me in, and once she and Gaspar realized they had similar goals the story tightened up and became truly fascinating. The glimpses of influences from real cultures, events, and mythologies were gently woven in and really added to the depth and complexity of the story.
My only issue with the book was when Evike and Gaspar were in the city the story seemed to lose its way and, to me, became a bit confusing and convoluted. When the two characters had a clear and common goal (whether their motivations aligned or not) was when the story was at its best. I would recommend this book and thought it was well-written.

View all my reviews

Review: House of Hollow

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This book was a bit weird, and it took me several chapters to really get into it. It felt very cliched and the characters felt stereotypical, especially Vivi. The beginning chapters seemed to me to be trite and like every other YA supernatural fantasy I've ever read. I kept reading, even though I really didn't want to, because the story--with it's unsettling creepiness and beautiful eldritch quality--wouldn't let me go. The book had aspects that really reminded me of The Ten Thousand Doors of January and An Enchantment of Ravens, but with a very modern flavor. I did figure out what really happened to the sisters early on, but I still was intrigued enough with the story to see how everything would end. But with saying that, I didn't really like the last bit of the book.
I know that there will be a lot of YA supernatural fantasy readers who will love this book. I myself didn't love it, but there were definitely fascinating aspects. Is it worth checking out? Maybe, but it wasn't for me.

View all my reviews

Review: The Wedding Night

The Wedding Night by Harriet Walker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This book seems to think it is a suspenseful thriller, but it is not. At all. After finishing it, it really reminded me of one of those feel-good best friend movies. Which I'm sure seems very strange. And it was...
The story starts off when one of a group of friends tells everyone coming to her destination wedding next week that the event has been canceled. A small group of core friends decides to go ahead and head to France anyway to get away and recover/recharge. But someone seems to be very upset that there will be no wedding and decides to menace all of the guests. Who is doing it, and why?
The problem is that the guests aren't actually very threatened. The author does create an oppressive and ominous atmosphere, which is impressive when it is combined with the magnificent and lavish setting of the story. But the actual "threats" aren't that scary. Slightly creepy, maybe, but not enough to justify the edgy unease and fear the characters seem to be feeling.
Then SO much time is spent on the backstory of the characters and how they have ended up at the point in their lives where they feel unsatisfied, unaccomplished, inadequate, and unhappy. I found myself skimming these pages, because they just didn't fit in to what I thought the book was trying to do.
Once I got to the end of the book, I was underwhelmed. The person responsible for causing all the problems seemed to go out with a whimper rather than a bang, which is not what a reader wants for the conclusion of a thriller. And then everything was resolved in such a "perfect" manner that I felt like I had been reading a completely different book and didn't realize it until the end.
If you would like a book about three women who are able to find themselves and discover how to be happy with who they are, set in a fabulous sun-drenched location, then this book is for you. If you want a suspenseful thriller, then look elsewhere.

View all my reviews

Review: Red Wolf

Red Wolf by Rachel Vincent
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.

I really tried with this book, but I was just not a fan. I could not figure out the through-line of the main character--what exactly was the journey she was supposed to be on? Once she discovered the secret about the woods and her family, instead of following the advice and instructions of wiser women that had gone before her, she made decisions that did not make much sense. Then when her actions brought her whole village in danger, she again made decisions in direct contradiction to what she had been told that then led to terrible destruction. By the end of the book, I really didn't feel like any of the things the main character had done were justified, and she was just trying to, as they say, slap a bandaid on a bullet hole. I get that she was young and impulsive, but her mistakes were glaringly obvious and she didn't seem to have much remorse for what she was bringing about, especially in the last pages of the story. I wasn't sure what the point of this book was, and really kind of felt like it was a waste of my time to read it.

View all my reviews

Review: The Night Hawks

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I have been wanting to read a book from this series for a while, but this was the first one I have read. Knowing that, I went into it a bit hesitantly, because often when jumping in mid-series, a new reader can feel lost or like things are going over his or her head. I did not have this problem at all, however, and felt like I was getting just the right amount of backstory explanations, combined with things also being left vague enough to make me want to read other books.
I also enjoyed the characters and the story. The combination of lives of the various people tasked with trying to help solve the mystery and the actual plot itself was very interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and history/archaeology, and I look forward to reading more books in this series.

View all my reviews

Review: The Burning Girls

The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This was a very interesting book. It was atmospheric, creepy, unsettling, and suspenseful. It really drew me in. It started off as a creepy mystery, evolved into a suspenseful thriller, and added in several touches of an unsettling supernatural ghost story. I enjoyed all aspects of it, and I must say I picked up on the hints and figured out the "twist" fairly quickly. But that just added to my enjoyment. The ending was a bit unexpected but then again fit it exactly with the story. I would recommend it.

View all my reviews

Review: The Night Swim

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.

This was an interesting and thought-provoking book. It wasn't quite a thriller, but there definitely was a mystery, and I followed along really hoping that the main character would solve it, as well as find justice for the present-day crime that occurred.

View all my reviews

Review: The Push

The Push by Claire McGowan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I enjoyed this book about the fatal fall of an attendee of a summer barbecue, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding it. Was this person pushed? The themes of this book are tied up in motherhood and pregnancy, and women's struggles with these matters. While this story unfolds, it follows the members of a group for pregnant parents, their "celebratory" barbecue just after the projected births of their children, and the police who investigate whatever crime may have been committed during this time. This book had quite a few twists, many of which were easily deduced by the reader. I have read several reviews that list this as a fault of the book, but I feel that surely the author meant for the reader to figure out what was going on much before the characters in the book did. As the story moved to its end, I feel like the conclusion tied up the loose ends and was very satisfactory.

View all my reviews

Review: The Hunting Wives

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
Nope. I did not enjoy this book at all. I kept trying, because the summary of the book sounded so interesting. But as I read, I kept thinking the main character Sophie would develop some kind of self-awareness and stop her destructive behavior. I have read plenty of books with characters who do questionable things, or who are just unlikeable. Yet, in a good book, these unlikeable characters have something about them that is relatable, or something that makes them compelling and gives them rooting value. Sophie had none of this. She very willingly left a successful career in Chicago to pursue a slower pace of life for her young family in East Texas. And yet she wasn't happy about it. She kept reiterating how isolated, restless, and unhappy she was, but then she would go on and on about how she would spend all morning meticulously weeding her vegetable garden and spend all afternoon creating intricate meals. And these activities were described **in incredible detail.** If she was so unhappy, why was she spending all her time doing things like planting basil to make homemade pesto and devoting herself to the very things she did not like? And when she became obsessed with Margot, Sophie became even more unsympathetic. She made incredibly stupid decision after incredibly stupid decision, completely disregarding her husband or young son. I did not like Sophie at all and found myself not caring what happened to her, because she was acting so stupidly. I would not recommend this book at all.

View all my reviews

Review: Curse of the Specter Queen

Curse of the Specter Queen by Jenny Elder Moke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I was very excited to read this book--it sounded like a great book: a young girl who works with old books embarks upon a journey to Ireland with old friends to uncover a mystery that could lead to the next Great War. It stared off in a very promising manner, and I was carried along on the adventure of Sam and her friends, from the destruction of her bookshop to a thrilling escape by train to the sister ship of the Titanic on a transatlantic voyage. But as the action continued, it became less and less believable. At first, as things became a bit unrealistic, I told myself that this was an adventure story, and things might be a bit far-fetched, but they needed to be exciting. But by the middle of the book, actions by the characters began to be completely unnecessary and strange. Major plot points were based upon things that made no sense. I couldn't figure out why the characters were visiting certain locations, or running from various people. Things got confusing because I couldn't see the reasoning behind the characters actions. I was extremely disappointed. There are many who may enjoy this book, but the plot points were too flimsy and characters too unorganic for me. I ended up skimming by the end of the book.

View all my reviews

Review: The Night Before

The Night Before by Wendy Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.

This was an interesting book. I'm not sure how I would classify it. I wouldn't really say it was a "thriller" until the very end. There were definitely a few mysteries that needed to be solved, and the dual time line made it a little hard to follow. I enjoyed Laura's story, but Rosie's seemed a little bit lacking. And once I figured out what was going on, I wasn't very impressed with Rosie. But the way everything unfolded was well-done, and it was a good, quick read.

View all my reviews

Review: Sixteen Scandals

Sixteen Scandals by Sophie Jordan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I am not quite sure how to review this book. It definitely had its flaws, but I have read way too many books like this that were just so awful I couldn't finish them. But... I didn't feel that way about this book. As I read, I felt like I had gone back in time and was reading one of the light, quick, fun Regency Romance books I used to read in the mid-90's while I was in high school. There was very little angst or darkness and the characters were young and fun and, dare I say, simple. And that's not a bad thing! I felt like it was aimed at young teenagers and did a fairly good job at reaching that audience and speaking to their mentality.
However, once I got about 1/3 of the way in, I found myself getting a bit frustrated. So many times, when the main character was asked a question, or faced with a decision, or must take some kind of action, she would spend 3 to 5 paragraphs in inner dialogue pondering what she should do or say--often going over something that had happened in the past that really had no bearing at all on the present situation. It got very tiring. The author could have really slimmed these passages down by not including unnecessary "backstory," or by cutting them down to two or three sentences.
There wasn't a lot of character development, and all of the problems were solved at the end in perhaps an overly simplistic "happily ever after" manner.
All that being said, despite some faults, I really can see some good things in this book. It was not an earth-changing novel. But it would be so great for young teenagers who want to delve into the romance genre without having to worry about too much content that is not age-appropriate.

View all my reviews

Review: Finlay Donovan Is Killing It

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This was a fun book to read. It was a light, easy, quick read and very entertaining. The reader had to suspend belief a little bit, but I do not think this was intended to be a gritty, hard-hitting novel about the Russian mob or professional hitmen. It was a book about a heroine who was easy to identify with and root for, despite all of the questionable decisions she makes throughout the book. Finlay was a great protagonist and I really enjoyed reading about her, including all of the problems with her ex-husband, job, love life, and mistaken identity. I would love to see more adventures with Finlay and Vero.

View all my reviews

Review: The Mitford Murders

The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I did enjoy this book, but it took me a bit to get into it, because I feel it is perhaps mis-categorized. I'm not sure exactly what genre I would put it in, but it is not a mystery--or at least not entirely. While there is a mysterious murder that unfolds throughout the book and is eventually solved, a great deal of time is also spent on the new young maid/nanny brought into the Mitford family, how she ended up in their employ, and how she fits into the household. It is a very interesting look into life just after WWI, and I would urge readers to keep that in mind. Do not expect a cozy mystery that will be solved by a plucky heroine. But you will find a captivating look into society, both above and below stairs, in England just after the Great War, with an undercurrent of mystery for extra spice.

View all my reviews

Review: Just My Luck

Just My Luck by Adele Parks
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I was not a fan of this book. It had a great premise, but the execution was lacking. It began from the viewpoint of two of the characters, but in the middle jumped to the viewpoint of several other characters, then went back to the original two, then added others at the end. It took me out of the story. The way the author jumped back in forth in time also made me feel like I was missing out on important events and others were being rushed through. There were also very few likable characters. I know the author was trying to get the point across that money changes people, but this seemed a kind of clunky was to do that.

View all my reviews

Review: White Ivy

White Ivy by Susie Yang
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This was a hard book for me to get through. The beginning chapters, in which we are introduced to Ivy, were quite good and really made me feel for this young Chinese immigrant whose parents' expectations of her are stifling and perhaps unrealistic. But once Ivy graduates from college and the reader meets her again, she is still acting like a middle-schooler. She has not grown up at all. She is selfish, short-sighted, self-centered, and not a pleasant person. I really did not want to read a whole book about her, and found myself skimming pages. By the end of the book, I was underwhelmed.
This story was written well, and Ivy was compelling in a sordid kind of way. But she was terribly unlikable, and I when I finally read the last page, I found myself wondering, "What was the point of all that?" I don't think I would recommend this book.

View all my reviews

Review: The Searcher

The Searcher by Tana French
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I would give this 4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this book and am glad I had the opportunity to read it. This is the first book I have read by Tana French, so I was going into it with no expectations, and I was very pleasantly surprised. While this is a mystery/crime book, it is different from most that I have read in that it moves very slow. I think that is to reinforce to the reader how "slow" things move in the isolated Irish countryside, where retired Chicago cop Cal has moved to live in peace and quiet. While it may seem peaceful and quiet, Cal soon realizes more is going on beneath the surface, and the locals aren't sure they need an outsider poking around in their business. Cal wouldn't mind leaving well enough alone, but when he befriends 13-year-old Trey--whose brother has gone missing--he can't help but delve deeper into what mysteries the seemingly placid and easy-going people of his new home might be hiding.
This book was kind of slow reading, and it did take a while for "action" to pick up. While that may bother some readers, it didn't bother me, because I knew the pieces fo the story were falling into just the right places. It also mimicked the development of the relationship between Cal and the inhabitants of his new home, especially Trey. Instead of feeling impatient and frustrated with the pacing of the story, I had the feeling of a warm, cozy blanket. I enjoyed the descriptions of the Irish countryside, the quaint little village, and the rundown cottage that Cal intended to make his home.
As the story progressed, I also loved reading the dialogue between the characters, namely the older men in the pub, and Mart, Cal's neighbor. It was quick, funny, authentic, and often made me laugh. Without giving away too much, it also made the ending of the story and the reveal of the true circumstances of the disappearance of Trey's brother even more poignant and striking.
Cal was a great character, and I enjoyed reading about him. Trey was fascinating as well, and very well-written. The journey that Trey goes on during the book was compelling.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries, crime, or books about Ireland. Don't let the slow pace deter you from finishing the book: enjoy it!

View all my reviews

Review: An Unexpected Earl

An Unexpected Earl by Anna Harrington
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.

I just could not get into this book. I usually do not like books in which the hero and heroine already have a past together, and this book really reinforced my feelings about books like this. We were **told** over and over about how much the two characters cared for each other in the past, how much time they spent together, and how much they depended on each other. And it really felt like the author depended on this fact to build the characters' relationship with each other--which meant it was not BUILT at all. One of the biggest components of a romance novel is the development and growth of their relationship; this book was completely lacking in this. All of the talk of how much the two meant to each other years ago also made it hard to understand how they could let so much time go by without trying to get in touch with each other. Once the two did make contact again, the obstacles thrown in their path seemed incredibly flimsy. And I was able to figure out the "twist" very early on. I would not recommend this book.

View all my reviews

Review: To Love and to Loathe

To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.

I was not a fan of this book. I read the first book in the series, and while I didn’t love it, I felt like the problems I had with it could easily be fixed, so I was willing to give this book a try. I shouldn’t have. It was almost like the author was trying too hard to imbue every scene with witty repartee and clever comebacks, and it got boring. I found myself not caring about the characters or what they were doing. I also felt like the “bet” plot point was flimsy. (He knew his former mistress was infuriated with him, but he still took her disparaging comments to heart?) I had no desire to find out how the MCs’ journey to each other wound end. And soooo much time was devoted to backstory, especially that of side characters, that I found myself skimming paragraphs before I was a quarter of they way into the book. I really don’t like to rate books that I do not finish, but this is an exception. At 30% I was having to force myself to keep reading, so I just stopped. As a fan of Regency Romance, there are much better books out there.

View all my reviews

Review: The Lost Village

The Lost Village by Camilla Sten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this creepy thriller. When an aspiring documentary filmmaker decides to gamble it all on a project detailing the strange disappearance of every resident of a small miming town, she soon realizes that the years-old mystery may not want to come to light. Alice has been obsessed with what might have happened in 1959 in Silvertjarn mainly due to the fact that her great-grandparents and great-aunt were part of the missing residents of the town, and she would like to find out exactly what happened to them. She convinces a small group to go out with her to scout the location for her prospective documentary, and the group very soon fears that someone else may still be in the town, and doesn't want them there.
This book is incredibly creepy and the author does a great job of giving the reader chills at the perfect times. A pervading sense of unease and wrongness give the reader a feeling of eldritch eeriness. Even though some of the characters make questionable decisions at times (the usual go-into-the-abandoned-building-alone type of stuff), they still have rooting value and the reader can identify with their motivations.
I did not want to put the book down and was never sure what would be the final cause of the mass disappearance, or what would happen to Alice's group of visitors.
This was a quick, fun, creepy read, and I would recommend it!

View all my reviews

Review: Only Truth

Only Truth by Julie Cameron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
I would give this book 4.5 stars. This was a gripping unsettling thriller that I could not put down. The main character, Isabel, is a complex interesting woman who suffered a horrible trauma as a young teenager that completely changed her life and causes lingering problems as an adult. When her husband convinces her a move to the countryside will be just what they need, Isabel goes along, albeit a bit unwillingly. Their new home feels oddly familiar and very threatening to Isabel, causing her to fall into old behaviors of anxiety and instability that threaten her ability to function, and even her sanity. Sometimes she is unlikable, sometimes she is very sympathetic, but she is always someone the reader roots for.
Conversely, the reader knows there is a killer out there. He has killed in the past and has now set his sights on Isabel. As the book goes on the reader finds out more and more about this mysterious man and what his reasons for obsessing over Isabel might be.
The author did a wonderful job of creating an atmosphere of tension, anxiety, and impending doom. What I enjoyed even more was the fact that there were several "suspects" who might be the mysterious killer. The reader knows one of these people is the one menacing Isabel, and that the author has written in such a way that the author knows that the reader knows. And so as each clue is revealed the reader gobbles it up, comparing what information has been shared before with what is now known, to try to whittle down the line-up of suspects. By the time I was half-way through the book, I could not put it down and stayed up much to late to find out how everything would turn out. It was so hard not to skip ahead to see who the "bad guy" would turn out to be.
I usually enjoy more domestic suspense, and this book contains some very violent and graphic crime. This book was great, though. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers, suspense, and mysteries.

View all my reviews

Review: A Curse of Ash and Embers

A Curse of Ash and Embers by Jo Spurrier
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This was a good book, and I enjoyed it, but... I just really wasn't into it. There was nothing in it to really draw me in and keep me there. While I was reading it, I liked it, but when I had to put it down, I did so with very little reluctance. And when it was time to read it again, I didn't find myself wondering about what would happen next or looking forward to returning to the story. It was missing something. I am just not sure what that is. There are many out there who might really love this book, though, so give it a try. It might be for you; it just wasn't for me.

View all my reviews

Review: Tall, Duke, and Dangerous

Tall, Duke, and Dangerous by Megan Frampton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this. book.
I did not enjoy this book. As far as the action and plot went, it should be fine as a stand alone book. But as far as character development goes, I really felt like I was missing out on who the two main characters were and their motivations. Although towards the beginning of the book it is revealed that the two MC spent very little time together, as soon as they saw each other they were instantly in love. And then all that Nash did was "grunt," and all Ana Maria did was have inner monologues about how oxymoronic she was. It got tiresome. Then there were plot points that just didn't make sense. Nash felt as though he had to completely ignore Ana Maria so he would not be tempted to abuse her. And yet he did not ignore his other friends. Nash's grandmother came and told Nash he HAD to get married so his reprehensible relative wouldn't inherit the title. But I kept thinking, "this guy's still going to be reprehensible, whether he's got a title or not. If he's going around beating people, shouldn't that be the bigger issue...?" And then why would Nash say, "Okay, I'll go find myself a wife," just because his grandmother tells him he should? It was a VERY flimsy plot point that the book seemed to hinge on from the beginning. Speaking of, Ana Maria did quite a few things that would not have been very proper for a lady during that time period, including showing up at Nash's house multiple times alone so he could teach her how to defend herself using hand-to-hand combat. Really? I found myself skimming through pages.
This is not a book I would recommend. It had too many things that just did not gel.

View all my reviews

Review: A Lady's Formula for Love

A Lady's Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.

In my opinion the first few chapters of this book--which I assume were supposed to start off the action with a bang!--were kind of a mess. There were way too many characters, a flurry of activity, and so much going on, that I was just confused. After a bit everything seemed to calm down and I began to enjoy the story and the two main characters. But then again, after about half-way through, the book seemed to lose it's focus. I couldn't tell if the author was trying to give us clues to the "mystery" in a much too heavy-handed manner, or if things were already being set up for sequels, or what. The main conflicts between the two main characters were confusing, as well. I really didn't understand what the big deal was about why they couldn't be together. This book was just not for me.

View all my reviews

Review: The Perfect Couple

The Perfect Couple by Lisa Hall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received an ARC of this book.
This was a quick read, and it did keep me interested, but once I got to the last part of the book, the story kind of fizzled for me. The author did a good job of ratcheting up the tension and suspense, and I had no idea what was going to happen next. I knew someone was harassing Emily, but I had no idea who exactly it was--her new husband, Rupert; her old flat-mate, one of her new "best friends;" her ex-boyfriend, or even her new husband's supposedly dead wife. Once I did figure out what was happening, I was eagerly awaiting the exciting climax and conclusion, but all I got was a "twist" that, while I wasn't expecting it, didn't really seem to fit in with the rest of the book. I didn't think, "What! Oh my goodness! Oh yeah--it makes sense now!" I instead thought to myself, "Oh. Really...hmmm. Ok."
I would probably recommend this book, but don't expect it to knock your socks off. It's just a fun quick read.

View all my reviews

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.

View all my reviews