Psychologist Sam Statler’s life is about to change and not in the way he thinks. He went on a shopping spree buying everything from expensive knifes to a New top of the line Lexus with the promise that he would come in to some money from his neglectful father. Two million dollars to be exact. Happily married to Annie Potter to add to the positives in his life. But what could go wrong? But then Sam disappears. And the police decide that due to his financial troubles, he probably decided to disappear. But did he?
This book had me fooled a few times. And just about every time I thought I had a clue of what was going on, well…. let me just tell you. This is definitely a rollercoaster ride. I decided to go in blind because well, it just seems that books are more fun when you don’t know what to expect. Am I right? I had no idea what to expect and I got so much more. When, in the beginning of the book they keep talking about the person about the practice listening in on the conversations, I kept thinking that it was his wife listening in. But it wasn’t. Every time I thought I knew who we were talking about in the book, the author had me surprised that it was someone else.
There is so much more I could say about this book but like I said before, I think it’s better if you go in blind to get the best reading experience. The author’s writing is phenomenal and as the reader I felt like I had a deep connection to the characters. And the psychological issues of each patient, including Albert.
Goodnight Beautiful left my head spinning. It is a cleverly plotted psychological thriller for sure. If you are looking for a thriller that will leave your jaw on the floor, pick up Good Night Beautiful.
I remember thinking that twenty twenty would never end but here we are three months into twenty twenty one. Its crazy how fast time is flying. And it’s crazy that our short virus has almost been around a full year. I can’t believe that we have been doing this whole mask thing and not leaving our houses for almost a full year. But enough of that. What have you guys been reading this month? My first pick for the month was a Kindle Unlimited book that I have been seeing some people leave reviews on, but not very many mentions. And those are my favorite kinds to find. Every now and again I will stumble upon a book through KU that doesn’t have a lot of reviews but turns out to be just fantastic. So lets jump in!
The Best of Friends follows Lindsey, Dani, and Kendra who have been lifelong friends forever. They all grew up together. Their children, Sawyer ( Kendra’s son), Jacob ( Lindsey’s son), and Caleb ( Dani’s son) are all just as close as their mothers. As typical teenage boys, they enjoy the normal things as friends. But one night ends deadly. Sawyer is dead, Jacob is brain dead and Caleb isn’t talking. Questions and blame arise and the lifelong friends fall apart.
Okay, so… this book deserves all the stars but I only gave it four. Here’s why.
The first quarter of the book was confusing. The chapters were fairly short and as soon as I was starting to figure out which kid belonged to which parents, the chapter would end and we would start all over. But after the first half of the book, I finally figured out who was who and I couldn’t stop reading. SPOILER* I wouldn’t really say there was any big twist to the book, but get the tissues ready. I didn’t expect it to end the way it did but it wasn’t a punch to the stomach so to say.
4/5 stars.
The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood
The Obituary Writer follows two different story lines at two different times in history. Vivien and Claire. Vivien is an obituary writer in 1914. Looking for her lost love, David, who disappeared after a earthquake. Claire is a housewife in 1961 who is struggling with having an affair and not really loving her husband. Both stories eventually collide.
I picked this book up through Thriftbooks.com. It was a suggested book on my last order and sounded good. I’ve never heard of this author before but I will say that although the ending of the book was pretty predictable, her writing is beautiful.
This was the perfect light read/summer read. The author really connects to the reader. There were a few times I couldn’t put the book down. I felt every emotion with Vivien or “Birdy” as she looked for David. Was he alive? She waited for him for thirteen years. Were those years wasted? I don’t feel like they were.
I gave this book 3.5~4/5 stars.
*SPOILER ALERT* (This book review may have spoiler alerts )
Goodnight Beautiful By Aimee Molloy
Psychologist Sam Statler’s life is about to change and not in the way he thinks. He went on a shopping spree buying everything from expensive knifes to a New top of the line Lexus with the promise that he would come in to some money from his neglectful father. Two million dollars to be exact. Happily married to Annie Potter to add to the positives in his life. But what could go wrong? But then Sam disappears. And the police decide that due to his financial troubles, he probably decided to disappear. But did he?
This book had me fooled a few times. And just about every time I thought I had a clue of what was going on, well…. let me just tell you. This is definitely a rollercoaster ride. I decided to go in blind because well, it just seems that books are more fun when you don’t know what to expect. Am I right? I had no idea what to expect and I got so much more. When, in the beginning of the book they keep talking about the person about the practice listening in on the conversations, I kept thinking that it was his wife listening in. But it wasn’t. Every time I thought I knew who we were talking about in the book, the author had me surprised that it was someone else.
There is so much more I could say about this book but like I said before, I think it’s better if you go in blind to get the best reading experience. The author’s writing is phenomenal and as the reader I felt like I had a deep connection to the characters. And the psychological issues of each patient, including Albert.
Goodnight Beautiful left my head spinning. It is a cleverly plotted psychological thriller for sure. If you are looking for a thriller that will leave your jaw on the floor, pick up Good Night Beautiful.
Everyone is talking about Jennie Sue Baker and the mess she made of her life in New York. The former high school queen bee and wealthy darling of Bloom Texas has returned home after all these years. In a town that thrives on gossip, Jennie’s fall from grace has shamed her mother, set the town buzzing, and caused old, jealous enemies to whisper in delight. They say she’s taken a job as a housekeeper, gotten a garage apartment, and might be crushing on Rick Lawson, a simple farmer with modest dreams.
As Romance starts to bud, Jennie relishes what it means to follow her heart, find real new friends, and finally be herself, regardless of all the lying town chatter. But fate has another twist in store. Rumor has it that Jennie now stands to lose what matters most…unless she can convince Rick of one true thing and that’s love.
I am so happy I found Carolyn Brown’s books. And to make it even better, they are all on Kindle unlimited and have free audiobooks! At the end of last month, I read my first of Mrs. Brown’s books and was instantly sucked in. Small Town Rumors sucked me in from the beginning as well. I couldn’t put it down. I live in a small town and rumors and gossip fly around town.
“On a slow day, gossip hung over the town like smoke in an old western honkey-tonk. On a good day, in the opinion of the community, it obliterated the sun.”
I loved that Jennie Sue didn’t feel sorry for herself about mistakes she had made in the past or all the wrong that had been done to her. Instead, she decided to do what made her happy and not live with regret. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would recommend any of Carolyn Brown’s books. Expecially if you are needing something lighthearted and a book that will make you smile.
4 /5 stars.
The upside of Falling down by Rebekah Crane
Meet Clementine Haas. She is the lone survivor of a plane crash in Ireland. They tell her she’s lucky to be alive, but she feels anything but. She woke up in the hospital with no memory of well…anything. As she begins to panic, she makes an escape from the hospital and decides to hide out in a near by town. What she discovers sends her on an adventure and a lifetime of memories.
“what is the point of cheating death if a life doesn’t exist when you wake up?’
I LOVED this book. This was a kindle unlimited book that I picked because I loved the cover. And I know, don’t judge a book by its cover but, it was just something about this book that I liked.
Going in, I had no idea what this book was about. I decided not to read what it was about and instead just jump in. I’m so glad I did. Its been a long week. (The week before week long vacations always are.) I’m usually not a fan of YA books but this one was different. It was definitely a surprise.
I enjoyed the quirky names the author used. Clementine and Kieran, haven’t really heard those in a book. I also enjoyed Kieran’s nickname for her “bunny.” Oh and lets talk about that ending! You guys. Didn’t see that coming. Threw me for a loop. But I won’t spoil it.
If you haven’t given this one a try, pick it up at your local store or kindle unlimited soon!
5/5 stars.
The Empty Nesters by Carolyn Brown
Empty Nesters follows friends Diana, Carmen, and Joanie. As Army wives, they have been through war, rumors of war, marital problems, motherhood, fears, joy, and heartache. But these women are prepared when their daughters decide to enlist in the army together. Facing an empty nest won’t be easy. Especially for Carmen. With emotions already high, she suffers an even greater blow; divorce papers. Diana understands the fury and tears. She’s been there.
With nothing to lose and no one at home, the girlfriends impulsively accept an unexpected offers from their elderly neighbor. The recently widowed Tootsie has an RV, a handsome nephew at the wheel, and an aim for tiny Scrap, Texas to embrace memories of her late husband. Still grieving, she can use the company as a balm for her broken heart. So can the empty nesters.
I enjoyed this book. Carolyn Brown is becoming one of my favorite authors. This book had a cute story.
3/5 stars.
Confessions on the 7:45 by Lisa Unger
On the way home from work, Selena meets a random stranger on the train one evening. She strikes up a conversation and their connection is easy. The woman introduces herself as Martha and confesses that she has been caught in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with their nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again.
but days later, Selena’s nanny disappears.
Soon Selena finds her once perfect life upended. As she is pulled into the mystery of the missing nanny, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, Selena begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover.
Holy Cow! What did I read? And I mean that in the best way possible. This book had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down. There were so many turns. If you are looking for something to blow your mind, pick this book up.
Three simple words, but to Addie LaRue, they mean a lot. She was always told to not pray to the Gods of the dark. But she did. She sold her soul to get out of marrying someone. To get out of living a life like everyone else did. But here she is, three hundred years later and she has never met a person that remembers her. She goes to a restaraunt to eat and after the waiter has taken her order and walked away, they no longer remember who Addie is. The guys she goes home with, no longer remember her the next morning. She has spent three hundred years doing this until she walks into a book store and hears “I remember you…”
Oh my God ya’ll … I literally have no words for this book. This was a fantastic read! I usually read anything but fantasy and sci-fi. But I had heard such great things about this book that I had to give it a try. I’ve never read any of V.E Schwab’s book either. But I’m positive after this one, I will be back.
“Blink and half your life is gone. I do not want to die as I have lived. Born and buried in the same ten meter plot.
The author really connects with the reader and makes them feel like they are in the book. I felt as if I was walking the streets. I felt a connection with the characters. And I loved the different centuries. This book skips back and forth between 1600/1800 to now time period. I never felt like I wanted to put the book down or DNF. A good author leaves quotes that make you want to save them. I had quite a few from this book. Such as:
“Small places make for small lives. And some people are fine with that. They like knowing where to put their feet. But if you only walk in other people’s steps, you cannot make your own way. You cannot leave a mark.“
I also loved that Addie read books to keep herself going. “ What she needs are stories. Stories are a way to preserve one’s self. To be remembered. And to forget. Stories come in so many forms: in charcoal, and in song, in paintings, poems, films. And Books. Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives– or to find strength in a very long one.”
Finishing this book was bittersweet being as I did not want it to end but it was my first finished novel of 2021. Do yourself a favor and pick up this gem. You wont be disappointed.
5/5 stars.
The marriage pact by michelle Richmond
Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture perfect couple. Alice is a lawyer and received an enticing gift from one of her prominent clients. Her and Jake decide to join a “cultish” group called “the pact.” The rules are simple, stick to the pact rules. Don’t break even a small one, or you’ll regret it.
This book was okay. But I lost interest about halfway through and finished it just to finish it. It was creepy and a little monotone for me. Would not recommend.
2/5 stars.
The Night swim by Megan goldin
After the first season of her true crime podcast became an overnight sensation and set an innocent man free, Rachel Krall is now a household name- and the last hope for thousands of people seeking justice. But she’s use to being recognized for her voice, not her face. Which makes it all the more unsettling when she finds a note on her car windshield, addressed to her, begging for help.
The small town of Neapolis is being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. The town’s golden boy, a swimmer destined for Olympic greatness, has been accused of raping a high school student, the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make Season three a success, Rachel throws herself into interviewing and investigating -but mysterious letters keep showing up in unexpected places. Someone is following her and she won’t stop until Rachel finds out what happened to her sister twenty five years ago. Officially, Jenny Stills tragically drowned, but the letters insist she was murdered-and when Rachel starts asking questions, nobody seems to want to answer. The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases that will change the course of the trial and the lives of everyone involved.
This was a Book of the month selection for the month of August 2020. I love true crime podcast so this one seemed right up my alley. Megan Goldin is a new author for me. The Night Swim is told by three different POV. Hannah, Rachel, and Rachel’s podcast. The book kept me interested throughout. And I had no problem connecting with the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced thriller and highly recommend. 4/5 stars.
The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher
Have you ever been wrong about someone? Juno was wrong about Winnie Crouch. Before moving in with the Crouch family, Juno thought Winnie and her husband, Nigel, had the perfect marriage, the perfect son, the perfect life. Only now that she’s living in their beautiful house, she sees the cracks in the crumbling façade are too deep to ignore.
Still, she isn’t one to judge. After her grim diagnosis, the retired therapist simply wants a place to live out the rest of her days in peace. But that peace is shattered the day Juno overhears a chilling conversation between Winnie and Nigel… She shouldn’t get involved… She really shouldn’t…But this could be her chance to make a few things right. Because if you thought Juno didn’t have a secret of her own, then you were wrong about her, too.
Ohh how I LOVVEEEE Tarryn Fisher. I discovered her books last year after finally giving in and reading The Wives. The Wrong Family was definitely a wild ride. I couldn’t put it down. I really liked Juno but Winnie and Nigel put me off for some reason and I can’t put my finger on it.
Tarryn Fisher has a way of building up the characters and making them so complex but enjoyable. I could not put this book down. And just when I thought we were getting to the part where things would start winding down, well Tarryn does what she does best and threw a huge curve ball at us.
Mrs. Fishers books always seem to blow my mind one way or another. I highly recommend The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher. 4.5/5 stars.
The Family Journal By Carolyn Brown
The Family Journal follows single mom Lily Anderson who decides, after catching her kids smoking and drinking, to move them to back to her childhood home in Comfort Texas.
This was my final Kindle Unlimited book for the month of January. I have never read or heard of Carolyn Brown before now but this popped up in my “books you may like” section in my kindle app. So I thought what the heck. I’m so glad I did. The family journal was Mrs Brown’s one hundredth book. Yep, You read that correct. She has written One hundred books.
Right off the bat I couldn’t help but root for Lily because her focus was on her kids. She wasn’t worried about anything but making things good for them, even if they didn’t know it at the time. A little tough love and things worked out in the end for her. The way she handled issues with her ex husband was amazing too. I couldn’t stand the guy but he got what was coming to him in the end.
This book was a fantastic read and would recommend. 4.5/5 stars.
(From goodreads): Riley MacPherson has spend her entire life believing that her older sister Lisa committed suicide as a teenager. Now, over 20 years later, her father has passed away and she’s in New Bern, North Carolina cleaning out his house when she finds evidence to the contrary. Lisa is alive. Alive and living under a new identity. But why exactly was she on the run all those years ago, and what secrets are being kept now? As Riley works to uncover the truth, her discoveries will put into question everything she thought she knew about her family. Riley must decide what the past means for her present, and what she will do with her newfound reality.
This was my first Diane Chamberlain book and I was not disappointed. Picked it up at my local library a week ago and once I started it, it drew me in. I could not put it down. I loved the way the book unfolded and the different relationship and family dynamics that were. I felt a connection to the characters and they were well developed. I enjoyed that the author kept giving you little clues here and there that all fit together to make the bigger picture. And then she throws in a twist that I NEVER SAW COMING! OMG!
The story is told between Riley in present day and Lisa in past day. I enjoyed the two voices in the story giving two points of view. This was for me an enjoyable and solid read that I couldn’t put down.
4/5 stars.
Layla by Colleen Hoover
Leeds meets Layla at a wedding one night. He is the base player of the band that played the weeding and she is the bride’s sister. They hit it off and pretty much move in together. Leeds crazy ex girlfriend shoots Layla one day. After Layla’s recovery, Leeds takes her back to the place they met at (a bed and breakfast) because he is wanting to try and bring back the old Layla. Since the shooting, she has been withdrawn and doesn’t eat. She just isn’t herself. So he thinks she will “come alive” if he brings her back where they first met. (Oh and he’s looking at buying the bed and breakfast as well.) Weird things start to happen at the b & b. Things start moving on their own and Layla is acting even weirder. Leeds finally figures out that it is a spirit or a ghost. He finds ways to communicate with the ghost and soon he is waking up and looking forward to talking to the ghost more than he is looking forward to spending time with his girlfriend. Soon his decision to figure out what is going on puts him in direct conflict with Layla’s well being. He finally decides that he has to make a decision to help Layla or the ghost (willow). Because he can’t help both. But what choice will he make?
oh my God! Mind is blown! I love Colleen Hoover. She definitely takes you for a ride on any of her books and Layla is no different. There isn’t many authors that I will put down what I’m reading to read their books or that I will not read what it’s about before I read it but Anything for COHO. When i found out this was a paranormal romance, I wasn’t really sure at the beginning but I figure COHO can do no wrong so I would give it a chance. She blew it out of the water! I am not a fan of Paranormal books but this one takes the cake. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time trying to figure out what was going on. I loved it. And I love that she had a sense of humor writing this book. (The ghost sitting on the bed watching ghost the movie.) Each and every one of her books is different and stands out in their own way. If you haven’t picked up a COHO book, what are you waiting for?
Highly recommend! 4/5 stars
The other wife by Claire McGowan
(goodreads) Suzi did a bad thing. She’s paying for it now, pregnant, scared, and living in an isolated cottage with her jealous husband Nick. When Nora moves into the only house nearby, Suzi is delighted to have a friend. So much that she’s almost tempted to tell Nora her terrible secret. But there’s more to Nora than meets the eye. It’s impossible–does she already know what Suzi did?
Meanwhile, Elle spends her days in her perfect home, fixated on keeping up appearances. But her husband betrays her, it unravels a secret going all the way back to her childhood. She’ll do whatever it takes to hold on to him, even if it means murder. After all, she’s done it before…
Caught up in their own secrets and lies, these strangers will soon realize they have more in common than they could ever have imagine. When a shocking event brings them together, their lives will never be the same again.
This is my first book by this author. I’ve never came across her books before, but as I’ve said before I’m glad I have Kindle Unlimited for this specific reason. Kindle Unlimited has opened up a world of books that I would have never picked up other wise. I’m so picky when it comes to reading books. I will sit and stare at a group of books for what seems like hours (I swear its only a few minutes though) and read the first few pages over and over just to see if it catches and if that’s the book I’m suppose to read. The book has to spark interest. With KU I can pick a book, decide its not the one for me at that particular time and chose another and another until I find one I want to read. And I only pay one price per month for that. So all those books I would never pick up because I haven’t heard of, the author are given a second chance.
This book had me on my toes. On the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down. I even had to pick it up and finish it at work, which I never do. I couldn’t wait to see what the next twist or turn was with this book. The Other Woman is told through three different women’s perspectives. (Nora, Ellle, and Suzi.) The whole time we are trying to figure out how they fit together and what is about to happen. There were so many twist that I didn’t see coming and by the time I was at the end of the book and didn’t see anything else, the author knocks you off your feet with even the last words.
I feel like the connections with the characters were there and the book was thought out well. All the twist and turns flowed together nicely. But in the beginning of the book when the reader is trying to learn who is who, I feel like the author may have switched from one character to the next a little too quickly. I had a hard time keeping up with who was who and feel like I may have missed some important info. This seems to be a overall complaint with every review I’ve read on this book so far. Definitely a wild ride.
4.5/5 stars.
The Secrets of married women by Carol Mason
(goodreads):When Jill’s husband discovers he can never have children, it tears a hole in their marriage that Jill doesn’t know how to repair. Frustrated, she seeks comfort in her friends; fierce Leigh, with her high- powered career and doting family, and sweet uncomplicated Wendy, who has a rock-solid marriage any woman would envy. Leigh and Wendy’s lives seem perfect. But, beneath the surface are secrets that could tear their friendship apart. Leigh has grown tired of her stay at home husband and is looking for excitement –outside of the marriage bed. And after 17 years of marriage, Wendy can’t shake the sense that there is something missing from her life. As Jill is drawn deeper into her friends’ relationships, she is confronted by a temptation of her own; an intriguing stranger whose good looks and charm spark an instant connection.
whoa…This book was a ride for sure. This is my second book by Carol Mason and another random find from Kindle Unlimited. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters. I feel like the reader is able to connect with them very easily and they were brilliantly written. Although it wasn’t a thriller, it had a few twist and turns that kept me on my toes. One big one I never saw coming. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It makes you think about how you live your life and what effects that has on your friends as well as the other way around.
4/5 stars.
Girl Gone Mad by Avery Bishop
Emily Bennett lives in Philadelphia and works as a therapist. In middle school, her and her friends (known as the harpies) bullied a girl named Grace Farmer. Now years later one of the friends (from the harpies) commits suicide. Emily thinks nothing of it until a few weeks later another friend (from the harpies) commits suicide as well. After the first suicide, Emily decides after being pushed by her mother to reconnect with one of her old friends (another former harpy member(Courtney)). Both girls attend the funeral for the first friend and find out that the death may be connected with Grace. After investigating it a little further, Emily and Courtney realize that the suicides may be connected with Grace Farmer. As they dig deeper, the secrets start pilling up and it may change things forever…
OH MY God yall. This book was a wild goose chase. And I mean that in the BEST WAY possible. I couldn’t put this book down. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something else happened. This book gave me “One of us is lying by Karen M. McManus” vibes. This shows you what happens after the mean girls grow up. What becomes of them. These girls were insane. And took it too far at some points.
My brain is smoking and I have a book hangover. This book was one I couldnt put down. Very entertaining. Give it a try…you won’t be sorry…
4.5/5 stars
In a holidaze by Christina Lauren
Maelyn Jones finds herself in a groundhog dream or ehh.. nightmare? She’s reliving the same day over and over again. Spending Christmas week at the family’s holiday cabin, she keeps waking up back on the plane flying to the cabin for the week. She can’t figure out whats going on. Before she started over the first time, she ask the universe to show her what would make her happy. And then she is back starting the first day all over again. She finally realizes that she has to make choices to lead her to happiness. If she makes a wrong decision, well she’s back on the plane starting all over again. Will she ever get out of this day on repeat?
I have seen so much hype for this book so I went into it blindly. I started seeing it right before it was released as a Book Of the month choice. So when I saw it on there for the month of December, I thought how perfect. I never read Christmas books during Christmas but this year I thought, why not?! I love Christina Lauren books but this one just did not do it for me. I would even venture to say this was least favorite. Here’s why:
Who are all these characters and why? I feel like this book was centered around just a few people for all these “extra” people to be in there. I’m still confused on who half these people are. The story is centered around Theo, Mae, and Andrew. The others make a few appearances but not enough to make to much sense. You also have included in the story; Aaron, miles, Kennedy, Benny, Lisa, Ricky, and Kyle.
The book has no substance. No guts, no middle. Its just beginning and end. The middle is just a bunch of words that are just there to make the book. They don’t really add anything to the book in my opinion. Where is the good stuff?
The ending was cute but it never really explained why she reliving the day over and over. I mean it did, but it didn’t. The book just moves on as if it never really even happened.
I did love Andrew and Mae together. They just seemed to fit. And their cute nicknames for each other were a little cringe-ish but didn’t bother me enough to make a complaint about them as I have seen in a lot of reviews.
Overall I would not recommend or read again. This book is on its way out the door as we speak. The only thing I liked about it was the cover.
2.5/5 stars.
Listen To The Marriage By John Jay Osborn
This book follows Gretchen and Steve who have been married for many years. Their marriage has fallen apart and they are living separately and seeing other people. They are knocking on the door of divorce. They have started going to a marriage counselor to try and save their marriage. Will it work?
This was my first book by this author. I was not a fan of it. It started out interesting but took a turn for the worse about halfway through. It was as another reviewer put it, “like nails on a chalkboard.” This book was a song stuck on repeat. I almost DNFed but it was such a small book (under 200 pages), I had to finish it. This book had no hidden meaning that I could see. It was just nonsense. The characters were unlikeable. They were whiney and hard to deal with. Save yourself the headache and don’t read this book.
(from goodreads) : London, 1944. Two young nurses meet at a train station with a common purpose: to join the war effort. Scarlet longs for the chance to find her missing fiance, Thomas, and to prove to her family- and to herself- thatshe’s stronger than everyone thinks. Nursing is in Ellie’s blood, but her humble background is vastly different from Scarlet’s privileged upbringing. Though Ellie puts on a brave face, she’s just as nervous as Scarlet about what awaits them in France.
In Normandy, the two friends soon encounter the seemingly unflappable Lucy. Scarlet and Ellie are in awe of her courage and competence, but the experienced nurse is well aware of the dangers of the job they’ve chosen- and even she is terrified they won’t make it home alive.
Pushed to their limits by the brutality of a world at war, Scarlet, Ellie, and Lucy will need to rely on each other- and the power of their friendship- to survive.
Wives of War is an epic story of Friendship, survival and resilience. The author quickly sucks you in with the story of Ellie and Scarlet. I felt so much pain and happiness with this book. I cheered them on during the good times and cried during the hard times. Lane knows how to write a book that tugs at your heartstrings.
I have never been much of a historical fiction type of reader, but after reading The Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I decided to dive into this genre of books. If you have not yet gave this book a try, I suggest you pick it up.
This is a Historical Fiction or a historical romance book so not all facts are going to be completely accurate. Please remember this if you decide to read this book. I have seen so many one and two star reviews on goodreads because people want every single fact and statement to be spot on. But its fiction so it’s not going to be.
And the cover is excellent. I was always told not to judge a book by its cover but its hard to not. Any book reader is going to tell you honestly they pick up a book and the cover makes you feel some type of way. This cover is stunning and drew me in immediately.
Overall Wives of War is a fantastic read that deserves all the praise. The characters are written very well and as I said before the author writes in a way that makes you feel every emotion for these characters. The scenes are so real and come to life in the readers head. And there are twist that you will not see coming. 4/5 stars.
The unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
Olive seems to have the worst luck. Like lose you job, your boyfriend and your best friend all in one day bad luck. Her twin sister Ami is the complete opposite. She is so lucky. She is on the verge of getting married and most of her wedding is being put on by things Ami won online. (including the honeymoon). Olive has to spend the whole wedding as her sisters Maid of Honor, right along side her enemy Ethan. (who also happens to be her soon to be brother in laws brother). But when the whole wedding party comes down sick from the seafood at the wedding, Ami begs Olive to take her free honeymoon posing as her twin sister. Putting their mutual hatred aside for an all expenses paid honeymoon in Hawaii, Olive and Ethan head to paradise. Determined to avoid each other at all cost until Olive runs into her future boss and the little lie that she told becomes a lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds. But the weird thing is, she doesn’t mind pretending..
Oh my goodness! I loved this book. This was my second Christina Lauren book and I’ve heard so many great things about it. When I saw it on the shelf in my local library, I figured I would give it a try. I felt like I could connect with the characters and the adventures they were on. The humor was great as well. I loved Olivia and Ethan. Their love hate relationship in the beginning was fantastic and had me laughing the whole time. And it reminds you not to always trust what other people say. I love that Olive was so family oriented.
I would highly recommend this book. 4/5 stars.
The moment of truth by Shari Low
Laney, millie and Tash own a business doing wedding proposals. They are in the business to make people happy. But when Cara walks into their office saying she wants to propose to her boyfriend, things take a turn. Cara’s boyfriend happens to be Laney’s husband. But could it be the same man? We’re about to find out.
This was a new author for me and I absolutely love her! Her story was cute. It had me on the edge of my seat trying to see if Cam was a lying, cheating dirtbag. Which spoiler alert, he was. But I could not put this book down. I had to know if he did it or not. I loved how Laney, millie, and Tash had each others back no matter what. And i don’t know how Laney managed to keep it together after she found out that he was cheating on her. I wanted her to throw things and yell at him; maybe throw things at him. But she didn’t. I admire her patience in not wanting to kill him. But honestly in the end she got the best revenge.
3/5 stars would recommend. Perfect quick read.
I found you by Lisa Jewell
So we have three different story lines going on. At first it’s a bit confusing but about a hundred pages in, I’m intrigued. I cant put the book down. We have the story of Alice & the mystery man she invited into her home. The man she found on the beach who doesn’t remember anything. Story line two is lily who’s husband has gone missing and she has no idea where he’s gone. And then story line three is 23 years earlier, the story of Grey & his sister kirsty & the mysterious Mark…
5/5 would recommend
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Vanishing Acts follows Delia Hopkins, father Andrew, daughter Sophia, fiance and best friend. Delia grew up in New Hampshire, raised by her widowed father. One day after a policeman knocks on her door and hauls her Dad off for kidnapping charges, her world comes crashing down. In shock and confusion, Delia must sift through the truth.
This was my second Jodi Picoult book. The first one I loved! But this one, well…. I had to push through all 400 pages of this book to finish it. It was very uneven, uneventful, and just blah. There was no depth to the characters and situations unrealistic. In one part towards the end of the book, Delia’s fiance catches her kissing her best friend. (All three of them have grown up together and always been friends.) So her fiance tells the other guy, “If shes going to leave me for someone else, I’d rather it be you.” NO! like no. Who does that? Literally no one. No dude is going to catch one of his guy friends kissing his soon to be wife and just be like nahh dude it’s ok. No big deal.
This book had a lot of “Fluff” or extras that weren’t needed and a lot of BS writing just to keep the book going. Words just to draw out the book. Looking through reviews on this book and it seems that my opinion is right with 90% of the other reviewers.
2/5 stars would not recommend. Don’t waste your time. I wish I hadn’t.
Home front by Kristin Hannah
(From goodreads): Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life- children, careers, bills, chores- Even as their twelve year marriage is falling apart. Then a deployment sends Jolene deep into harm’s way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a solider, she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own– for everything that matters to his family.
Thoughts at page 86: I love Kristin Hannah and her books always make me cry. I already know this one is going to make me cry. Not even a hundred pages in and its already tugging at my heartstrings. Michael is already pissing me off. And Thank you Kristin Hannah for putting the woman as the one who is going off to war and leaving Dad home with the kids. Show people that women do this too! Most stories that revolve around military have the man in the military and the woman staying home.
Thoughts after I finished the book: HOLY CRAP this book deserves all the stars. I’m at a loss for words. I knew, that because this was a Kristin Hannah book, that it would hit me in the feels one way or another. But this book hit me in the feels, backed up and hit me a few more times.
I Loved that Kristin Hannah flipped this story around. Usually military books are about the father or the man of the house being in the military. However this is the first book I’ve read that the woman was in the military and ended up deploying. I appreciate the time and effort KH put into what really goes on in a military family and the struggles not only the person in the military goes through but also their family. I don’t think I’ve mentioned it on here but my husband is prior military. So some of the things such as When Jo tried to get an appointment with VA and they told her the next available appointment was 2 months away…yeah thats pretty accurate.
This book put me through so many feels. I was angry and sad, frustrated, heartbroken and then happy and then heartbroken again. My heart broke for Tami’s family. I’ve never had a book make me physically cry til now. Home front broke me. I hated the way Jo’s daughter treated her and her husband’s attitude at the beginning. Home front opens up the true sacrifices our military makes every day. The sacrifices their families make and what its like for them when they come back home. I cannot reccommend this book enough! Home front will forever be one of my favorites.
Lizzie Kitsakis receives a call from an old friend, Zack. He’s asking for her help. He needs her to represent him as his lawyer because he has been targeted by the police as the main suspect for his wife’s murder. Zack is in jail and Lizzie is racing against time to get him out. Will he be charged with murder? But did he actually do it?
So this book was interesting. It was my first legal thriller. I’m not sure how I feel about it yet. It did keep me on my toes with twist and turns, however I feel like the book had this big build up and at the end it just didn’t deliver. There was too much going on to keep everything and every one straight. I feel like some of the characters were just pointless and didn’t add to the story. They had no depth and I didn’t feel a connection to them at all.
Just wasn’t my thing. This was my first Kimberly McCreight book so not sure if it was the author or just the type of book. I will give both a try again in the future. I gave this 3/5 stars.
Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover
I was So excited to see that Colleen Hoover had a new book coming out and even more excited when I spotted it on Kindle Unlimited a few weeks ago. I Love Colleen Hoovers books. In total this is my fifth book of hers I think. I’ve read Verity, Regretting you, it ends with us, Ugly love and Heart bones. I must say, COHO doesn’t disappoint.
Heart bones follows 19 year old Beyah. She comes home one day to find her mother has overdosed on drugs leaving Beyah homeless. She moves to Texas near the beach to live with her father she never knew until she goes away to college in a few short months. Her father has remarried and has a new wife and step daughter Sara. Heart bones follows her Beyah’s summer at the beach.
Oh my gosh! I have never felt so much in a book. This book broke my heart into a million pieces. I felt for Beyah. How could you not? I loved the way Colleen Hoover drew everything together. She put me through every emotion. I love that this book took place 30 minutes from where I live. Coho can do no wrong!
This book deserves all the stars!
five out of five would recommend!
Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
Tate Collins moves in with her brother to get a fresh start. Thats when she meets Miles Archer, who doesn’t think it’s love at first sight. They wouldn’t call themselves friends. The only thing they have between them is mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love and she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her. Never ask about the future And don’t expect a future.
This main story is told from Tate’s POV. But we do get alternating chapters from past Miles. The description on the back of the book does not do this story justice. Colleen Hoover had me laughing and crying til the end. I LOVE Hoovers writing style. She makes you fall in love from page one and never look back. She makes you feel all the emotions. She’ll make your heart soar just to rip it out in a few chapters. But then she ALWAYS brings it back to the perfect ending. Hoover is a auto buy for me even if the book hasn’t come out yet.
This book was perfect! would recommend 4/5
The Southern side of paradise by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Ansley Murphy has a lot of secrets. She is dating the man of her dreams is back in her life and her three daughters are happy. But she feels like its too good to be true. Emerson, also known as “Em” is engaged to Mark her lifetime love. And she is starting to make it big in Hollywood as an actress. Her two sisters Sloane and Caroline are planning her wedding and trying to put their lives back together after ones husband cheating and ones husband going MIA in the military. When Ansley’s secrets come out, everything comes crashing down testing their family bond more than anything.
This is my second novel by Kristy Woodson Harvey and her last one I read in just about twenty four hours. This one came in a close second finishing in just 2 and half days. But seriously Wow. I love this author and her writing. She pulls you in with her writing and gives you a great story! They are heartwarming and always end perfect. They show that things aren’t perfect but they will usually work out in the end. Oh and I hate Mark. ***spoiler alert**** I’m so glad Em didn’t marry him. I mean come on! How do you not support the woman you love?! Why are you getting married to her if you don’t support her and love her. Just because she was the one that got away before? Ugh!
I didn’t realize that this was a third book in a series but Harvey gives so much background on each character and makes sure the reader connects with each character that I do not feel like I was missing anything by not reading the first two. But I do plan on finding the first two just to join in on the full story. I loved these characters. Their personalities. This was such a fun story to read and I cannot wait to read Harvey’s newest book coming out next year.
I would highly recommend this book. 4/5 stars.
Look for me by Lisa Gardner
(from goodreads) –The home of a family of five is now a crime scene: four of them savagely murdered, one — a sixteen year old girl — missing. Was she lucky to have escaped? Or is her absence evidence of something sinister? Detective D.D Warren is on the case — but so is survivor turned avenger Flora Dane. Seeking different types of justice, they must make sense of the clues left behind by a young woman who, whether as victim or suspect, is silently pleading, look for me.
After reading this book, I discovered that this was the ninth book in a series of books about D.D Warren. However, this worked great as a stand alone book as well. I was pleased with the fast paced chapters. This is my first Lisa Gardner book and I’m sure it won’t be my last.
Look for me is told in alternating chapters between D.D Warren and Flora and there are also chapters that are a essay Roxy wrote for a high school class. Here is where we discover Roxy’s heartbreaking childhood.
SPOILER ALERT: There are certain parts in this book that are difficult to read. They deal with things such as child abuse, and some frightening elements of the foster care system.
Overall it was a good book, and I think ill go look for the other eight books I missed before this one.
3/5 *
Pretty girls by Karen Slaughter
(from goodreads) – Twenty years ago Claire Scott’s eldest sister, Julia, went missing. Noone knew where she went- No note, no body. It was a mystery that was never solved and it tore her family apart.
Now another girl has disappeared, with chilling echoes of the past. And it seems taht she might not be the only one.
Claire is convinced Julia’s disappearance is linked.
But when she begins to learn the truth about her sister, she is confronted with a shocking discovery, and nothing will ever be the same.
So before we jump into this review….WTF…. Like what the actual F did I just read?
Now that I got that out. Ummmm wow. I was recommended this book by a friend and this was my first Karen Slaughter book and it might be my last. Not saying she is a bad author; far from actually, however just not my cup of tea. I read about two hundred and fifty pages in and had to put it down. To me, it was dragging. Sure things were happening, but it wasn’t keeping my interest. I picked it back up about two weeks later to see what all the fuss was about. Everything I read about this book was great! And I was trying to figure out what I was missing. But good God. .
This book should have some trigger warnings for everything. It was so dark. It has a little bit of anything and everything you can imagine: Violent rape, murder, sexual assault, suicide, graphic violence, & torture. Slaughter did well with connecting her readers with her characters although I wish she would have added a little more info about Julia. I didn’t feel like I really connected with Julia and I think that played into me now really feeling a connection to her missing case. I did feel a lot for Lydia and Claire and their relationship. So much time wasted on lies.
This book was very powerful and made me feel some type of way I’ve never felt with any other book. I’m not sure if I will pick up another Karen Slaughter book because I’ve heard most of her books are dark. It was a bit much. But I will be careful who I recommend this book to. I don’t think it should be read by just anybody. Choose wisely with this author if this is your first Slaughter book.
2/5 *
Evvie drake starts over by Linda holmes
Evvie Drake married to doctor Tim Drake. One night after years and years of abuse she decides to pack her bags and leave her husband. Except when she’s standing in the drive way about to leave, she gets a phone call that her husband has been in a car accident….and he didn’t make it.
Now she has to live her life as widow Drake and pretend that she wasn’t trying to leave him. To make ends meet she agrees to let her friend Andy’s friend Dean Tenney rent her garage apartment. But only for a short period of time. Dean is a former pitcher for the major leagues but is having issues with his pitching. So he takes up space in Maine.
This book was a cute story. Quick read. I felt like I connected with the characters. I also loved Linda Holmes writing style. I also enjoyed that there was no games between Dean and Evvie. There was no back and forth. They acted like adults and when one of them made a mistake, they didn’t fight and go back and forth, they apologized like adults.
Evvie Drake starts over was definitely a cute quick story. I would recommend. 3/5 stars.
Leave the world behind by Rumaan Alam
Amanda and Clay rent a house out in the middle of nowhere with their two teenage children. A simple vacation to take time to unwind. But they just are getting settled in when an older couple knock at the door. They claim that its their house that Amanda and Clay are renting and the world is having a worldwide blackout. The couple; George and Ruth want to stay at their house with Amanda and Clay.
Should Amanda and Clay trust this couple? Should this couple trust Clay and Amanda? Is this vacation home the safest place force for all of them to be?
When I first read this plot, I figured it sounded interesting. And after reading this book, I still feel that the plot would have been interesting if it would have been done correctly. This was my first book by this author and I was not impressed. Everything was over sexualized for no reason. And the ending feels like it stopped abruptly. It didn’t feel finished. Or it was rushed. It made no sense.
I have never disliked a book so much. Characters were flat and the writing style was bland. It was a waste of a read. And I dont say that about books. But this one I just can’t. One star. Do not recommend.
Thursday’s husband, Seth, has two other wives. She’s never met them, and she doesn’t know anything about them. She agreed to this unusual arrangement because she’s so crazy about him.
But one day, she finds something. Something that tells a very different—and horrifying—story about the man she married.
What follows is one of the most twisted, shocking thrillers you’ll ever read.
You’ll have to grab a copy to find out why.
Whoa, what did I just read? At a forth of the way into the story I thought, these people are crazy. This dude has 3 wives and NONE of them of them are even curious about the other two. That’s nuts. Halfway though I thought, wait maybe Thursday is just crazy and I shouldn’t believe anything she says. Three/forth of the way through and I was back to Seth is crazy. And then the ending….
This book had so many twist and turns and definitely kept me on my toes. I didn’t know who to trust and who was just plain crazy. I couldn’t put this book down. Now Two days later and I still have a book hangover.
This was my first book by Tarryn Fisher and I am so sad that it has taken me this long to read her books. The Wives definitely wont be my last TF book. I love an author who can make me think things and question myself through out the book and then at the end leave me blown away.
5/5*
The One by John Marrs
Imagine, it’s the future and a simple DNA test will tell you who your soul mate is. Seems like a dream right? Like it’s the perfect thing. How could it go wrong…
But the discovery has its downside; test results have led the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love. Five different people have received the notification that they have been “matched.” They each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others…
I Love John Marrs. This is my second book by him and he has yet to disappoint me. I’ve heard so many great things about his book “The One” and he followed up to the hype. I love how he keeps the book going with different perspectives of people that have taken the test and how it effects their lives. My favorites were the Cop and the Serial killer that were matched. Never saw that ending coming. And the girl and guy that were engaged to get married. They both took the test and he got a match, she did not. His match was another man. Can you imagine a test telling you that you were gay before you even knew it?
John Marrs unique style of writing with his cliff hangers on the ending of each chapter has me flying through his book unable to put them down. I also recently found out that this is being made into a Netflix series! While I cannot wait, I wish it was on something other than Netflix. ( after recent events, I no longer support Netflix). However for those of you that still use that platform, let me know how it is. This book was an emotional roller coaster. And I suggest taking notes to keep up with who is who.
John Marrs sucks you in and leaves you wanting more. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are looking a cleaver and thrilling novel.
It’s summertime on the North Carolina coast and the livin’ is easy. Unless, that is, you’ve just lost your mother to cancer, your sister to her evangelical husband, and your husband to his much younger executive assistant. Meet Gray Howard. Right when Gray could use a serious infusion of good karma in her life, she inadvertently gets a stranger fired from her job at the local pharmacy. Diana Harrington’s summer isn’t off to the greatest start either: Hours before losing her job, she broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their shared house with only a busted Impala for a bed. Lucky for her, Gray has an empty guest house and a very guilty conscience.
With Gray’s kindness, Diana’s tide begins to turn, but when the one that got away comes back, every secret from her past seems to resurface all at once. And, as Gray begins to blaze a new trail, she discovers, with Diana’s help, that what she envisioned as her perfect life may not be what she wants at all.
I love reads like these! This stand alone novel reminds me so much of the PERFECT summer read. The perfect book to sit out on the beach and read. The book was a little slow in the beginning. But once it got going, I couldn’t put it down. I’m pretty sure I finished about 3/4 of this book in one day. Seriously, I read three hundred of the three hundred and eighty two pages in less than twelve hours.
Feels like Falling is one of those feel good books that warms your heart. I love how Harvey alternated between Gray and Diana so each chapter we got a little bit of both their stories. The characters had depth and I really felt like I could connect to them. These characters are so real and authentic. I could feel their emotions come alive through the writing.
Feeling like falling covers everything from Divorce, dating after divorce, dealing with a ex’s new partner, grief, death and dying, and friendships. What a perfect book for a pandemic. Definitely put me in another world.
This was my first Kristy Woodson Harvey book but will not be my last. Her writing is fantastic and clear. I would recommend. 4 stars.
Anxious people by Fredrik Backman
“This story is about a lot of things, but mostly about idiots.” This story is about bank robbers and an apartment viewing and a real estate agent but nothing in particular either.
This is my first Fredrik Backman book and why have I waited so long to pick one up?! His style of writing is fantastic. He’s humorous and simple. His writing seems light but it is full of meaning. Backman is a genius when it comes to writing.
“Anxious People” deals with human connection and the impact we have on other people. It deals with how everyone is just doing the best they can. And how things are completely different from the inside looking out. You see a bank robber and automatically assume its a man who has lost his mind. Who would do something so stupid and greedy, but what if that’s not at all what is happening?
Backman has a way of writing these characters where they are unforgettable. I felt I connected with them. “Everyone inside the apartment had their own complexes, their own demon’s and anxieties: Roger was wounded, Anna-Lenna wanted to go home, Julia was tired, Ro was worried, Zara was in pain and Estelle…well….noone really knew what Estelle was yet. Possibly not even Estelle.”
Backman writing is genius. If you haven’t read any or his books, I highly recommend u pick up this one and give it a try.
As one of the most popular influencers on social media, Mia Bell has lived her life online for years. With her celebrity dog and gorgeous fiance, she is planning the ultimate virtual wedding– expensive, elaborate, and entirely paid for by sponsors. But off camera, her world is far from picture perfect. After being jilted by her fiance and faking her nuptials to please her sponsors, Mia has finally had enough. She heaves her phone off a cliff, ready to live, and maybe find love, offline for a change.
Mia’s sudden absence doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by techie loner Paige Miller, who hacks Mia’s account and begins impersonating the internet celebrity. Paige has her reason. Her half sister, Jessica, idolizes Mia and desperately needs something to believe in. If taking over Mia’s online persona is Paige’s only means of connecting to her sister, so be it.
Creating a like worthy life is more fun than Paige expected. But when she grows too bold and is caught in the act, a fiasco ensues that could forever change Mia, Paige, and the people who love them. Because somewhere amid the chaos is an invaluable lesson. One that only real life can teach.
I loved this book! This was my second book by Kelly Harms. I didn’t realize it til I got about halfway done with this one and went to look up reviews on this book. ( I enjoy reading at least half way before I look at any types of reviews so I can form my own opinion of the book with out influence from other people.) At the bottom of the page I saw “Books also by this author” and saw one of my favorites from last year “The overdue life of Amy Byler.”
This book caught my attention from the first page. How many times have you opened up Instagram or Facebook and seen someone on the perfect vacation and thought to yourself…I wish that was me. How nice it would be if I had the perfect life?
I love Kelly Harms. Someone made a review and stated that Kelly Harms is a sneaky good writer. And I couldn’t agree more. She has a way of writing these books that blend in so well and then you pick it up and read it and it just sucks you in. I get so lost in her books. Her books are witty and amusing. Charming and intriguing. The Bright Side of going Dark is the dilemma that we all face with social media. Our dependency on our phone and how we all want to “show off” that we have the “perfect life.”
Mrs Harms books always seem to fall in my lap at the right time in life. I recently lost my best friend. My dog. He was three legged due to an accident when he was little. But he followed me everywhere and was my reading buddy. In this book unknowingly to me, The main character has a three legged dog that she recently lost to cancer. As soon as I saw that, I thought how perfect. So last week we took in a rescue named Sadie. She is a mix of chihuahua and long hair dachshund. SPOILER** At the end of the book Mia adopts a puppy and is “It’s some unhappy mix of chihuahua and long haired dachshund.” Talk about PERFECT. oh and lets just talk about the anxiety of Mia throwing her phone over the cliff. I cannot go far without my phone. Anymore its just an automatic pickup and scroll type of thing. Much like Mia, my whole life is on my phone and if I ever lost it, I hate to think about what I would do.
This book not only covers addictions but also mental health issues. The author has written such a fantastic book over these heavy issue, while also delivering laughter and smiles along the way. She makes me want to hug these characters in the book. This novel really shows that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
I highly recommend this book.. 5/5*
How to save a life By Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
Dom is having a very bad day- one he literally can’t escape.
When Dom bumps into Mia, his ex fiance whom he hasn’t seen in almost a decade, he believes they’ve been given a second chance and ask her out. When Mia dies tragically on their first date, Dom makes a desperate wish: to be given the chance to save her life. And when he wakes the next morning to the shock that she’s alive, he thinks his wish may have been granted. But day after day, no matter what he changes about their time together, she still meets a terrible fate.
Dom frantically searches for answers to save his beloved Mia and rekindle their former love. But the further he digs, the more obsessed he becomes, making him realize that slowing down time may be the only way to see things clearly. As he’s forced to confront the truth about himself and those he’s closest to, Dom vows that he’ll watch Mia die a thousand times if it means he can save her once.
*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
This book y’all. This was my first book by Liz and Lisa,a new author for me. I guess I should say authors. I’m sad that I haven’t discovered these wonderful authors before now, but also thrilled because I have some reading to catch up on. I had never heard of Liz or Lisa before this book but I kept seeing this particular book on Instagram and figured I would give it a try. My new favorite thing is to go into books blind. Know absolutely nothing about the book before I start reading it. That way I won’t preconceived thoughts. The last book I finished before this one was “The bright side of going dark by Kelly Harms.” You can find my review at the top of the page. The main character in that book was named Mia Bell. And lo and behold the main character in this books name….Mia Bell.
The build up to the big reveal at the end was FABoulous! My heart broke each time Dom couldn’t save Mia. And I figured that maybe in the end he would finally save her. I was hoping for the sake of what they had gone through, that fate wanted them to finally meet up and make things work. I was rooting for him to save Mia. I was hoping. But then the big reveal and you understand that sometimes things don’t work out for a reason. This reminded me of Rebecca Serle’s In Five Years. If you loved that book, you will love this one for sure!
4.5/5*
The Good Widow by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
School teacher Jacqueline “Jacks” Morales’s marriage was far from perfect, but even in its ups and downs it was predictable, familiar. Or at least she thought it was…until two police officers showed up at her door with devastating news. Her husband of eight years, the one who should have been on a business trip to Kansas, has suffered a fatal car accident in Hawaii. And he wasn’t alone.
For Jacks, laying her husband to rest was hard. But it was even harder to think that his final moments belonged to another woman– one who had left behind her own grieving and bewildered fiance. Nick, just as blindsided by the affair, wants answers. So he suggest that he and Jacks search for the truth together, retracing the doomed lovers’ last days in paradise.
Now, following the twisting path of that fateful road, Jacks is learning that nothing is ever as it seems. Not her marriage. Not her husband. And most certainly not his death….
OH MY GOODNESS! Y’all! So I discovered these co-authors middle of this month when I read their newest book, “How to save a life.” And let me tell you, They DO NOT disappoint. This makes me want to devour all of their writing. Their books take ahold of you and leave you wanting more. I never see the ending come. And usually I am at least close if not spot on to figuring out the ending. But not from these ladies!
I enjoyed the different Point Of View from past and present characters. And the author threw in something that not a lot of people know about. Endometriosis. I’ve lived with Endo for a little over five years now. I applaud these ladies for posting this topic in this book. Maybe more people will look into this disease and learn more about it and the issues with it.
I’m so bad at starting these post on my Instagram (Www.instagram.com/bookwebs28) and never finishing them. So I figured why not put this altogether in one post. Let’s dive in!
Why do you love to read?
I love to read because it takes me to another place. I can sit in the hot sticky weather of Texas and have my feet in the sand in another book world. I can live a thousand other lives and never even spend a penny.
2. Do you have a favorite place to read?
I enjoy bringing my books to the beach when I can and spending my time in the sand with a good book. But since I can’t always make it down to the beach, I enjoy sitting on my porch and read while my kids play out in the yard. I especially love those rainy porch days.
3. What book or series got you into reading?
I wouldn’t say it was a certain series or book that got me into reading, but when I was in elementary school they had the pizza hut rewards. Which for each book you read, you got a sticker. And after so many books read (maybe 10-20 I don’t remember) and filling your card up, you received a free small pizza from pizza hut. I also gained my love of reading from my Grandmother, who always had a book laying around in almost every room of the house. She would let me spend time in her room with her many many bookshelves and just pour over every book.
4. What kind of books do you like to read?
My go to books are always thriller, mystery, or crime. Especially true crime books! But I’ve been branching out and reading a lot of contemporary, romances and even historical fiction books.
5. Do you prefer hardback or paperback and why?
I think I lean more towards paperback books just because i feel like they form to my hands better.
6. Do you read more than one book at a time?
Yes, I just recently started doing this and it seems that I have not had any book slumps since. I feel like once I finish one book, my head is wrapped in the other book that I’m also reading so I don’t have that in between time. Don’t get me wrong though, I still do take time to pause and reflect on that book I just finished. Usually by the next day I’m ready to start something new and finish the other book that I’m usually halfway thought by that point. It’s like a constant stream of books.
7. What book or book series are you most excited to read this year?
I have a few different ones.
This won’t End well by Camille Pagan came out a few months ago as well as Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster. As for the rest of the year Lie, lie again by Stacy Wise is on my list as well as Don’t look for me by Wendy Walker
8. Do you reread books? Why or why not?
No, I do not. I feel like there is so many good books out there that I’ll never get to read, why waste the time reading one where I already know what happens?
9. Do you have a monthly book budget?
HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA what’s that mean?
10. Who is your favorite book tuber?
I have a many many booktubers that I watch but I always look first to see if Emmabooks or Gabbyreads have put out any new content.
I Hadn’t meant to tell you this by Jacqueline Woodson
Happy July ya’ll. I can’t believe that we are over the halfway mark for this year! It doesn’t even seem like it should be here already. For the last month or so I’ve been trying to read books that I have at home. Ya’ll I have SO MANY BOOKS. It’s ridiculous. When I pick a book to read, I’m not worried about who wrote it, weather they are female, male, young, old, black, Hispanic, or white. However this month I am conscientiously trying to find more authors of color to add to my collection. This book I bought back in 2013 and have had it sitting on my shelf for I don’t know how long. I’ve picked it up a few times, and never have heard of this author. I tried to read the first few pages and just couldn’t get it to it. But I finally picked it up and figured with it being under 150 pages (around 114), it would be a quick read to start the month off with. But boy was I wrong. It was a quick read but it was so much more deeper than I thought it would be.
I hadn’t meant to tell you follows 12 year old Marie. She lives in Chauncey, a prosperous black suburb. There are not many white kids that go to her school, but the ones that do they refer to as “white trash.” Lena Bright, a white girl, appears in school one day and Marie’s teacher tells her to show Lena around. The two girls are drawn to each other because they both don’t have a mother or mother figure in their life.
This book broke my heart and ran me through every emotion. I didn’t think that small book would be packed with all this but it was a fantastic book. Lena’s mother died from breast cancer and Marie’s mother walked out on her and her father when she was younger. She randomly will send postcards from places that she has been but never gives a return address. The innocence of Marie’s feeling about her mother broke my heart. She states that when she gets older she will go looking for her mother. . .
” My first stop will be Paris. I’ll drink wine and eat bread and cheese at a sidewalk cafe. I’ll look at the faces of the black women who pass, and search for my mother. When I find her, I’ll send for my father, and even though it’s years and years and years away, we’ll be a family again.”
There was some deep quotes burried in this book. .
“White, Black — it shouldn’t make no difference. We all just people here. But it does make a difference. I said. But Why it got to? I heard her say.”
And there are many instances where you can tell that it’s the fathers that are teaching color and racism in to their daughters. The two girls just want to be friends and don’t understand why it matters what color they are. They continuously get looks from people in stores, people in stores, and kids in school while they are together. For such a short book, it sure is a powerful message. Expectantly with the world the way it is now. These two have experienced so much heart break in their short lives. Powerful powerful book. I highly recommend.
5/5*
Little white secrets by Carol Mason
Emily Rossi has a great career and a great family. A house in the country and a solid marriage. Or so she thinks…
Her son Daniel is a tennis superstar and Zara, her quiet perfect fourteen year old daughter. But soon Zara befriends Bethany and things spiral out of control. Suddenly Zara is staying out late and drinking, taking drugs and hanging out with older boys. When Emily needs her husband Eric to be her rock and help her out, he is the complete opposite. He’s sucked into his job in London and drinking heavily. What will Emily do when dark secrets from the past come to light and everything is not what it seems?
Holy smokes! This book was..woah.. This is a great example of why I love kindle unlimited. I have found many great books that without KU, I would have never picked up. Kindle Unlimited lets you read as many books as you can in a months time for the low price of $9.99. You can borrow up to 10 books at a time. There is tons of books I would never pick up because I dont want to pay $4.99,$3.99 or more if I’ve never heard of the author. But with KU, I can “check out” the book and give it a try. If I don’t like it, I can simply return it. No harm.
Anyway back to what you came here for; the book review. Carol Mason isn’t new to writing. She is the kindle #1 and Amazon charts best selling author of After you left, The Secrets of Married Women, The Last Time We Met, Send Me A Lover,and The Shadow Between Us. Little White Secrets was released May 1st 2020 but was a early release on Amazon’s first reads for the month of April. This book has so many twist & turns and is definitely a book that you have to keep up with and pay close attention to. I caught myself yelling at Emily and Eric more than I’d like to admit. Their parenting skills I found myself questioning. But none the less all the characters were easily believable and relatable. Mason does a great job of keeping the reader interested in the story line. Will be looking into Mason’s other books.
4/5*
Ill be gone in the dark by Michelle McNamara
For more than ten years, a mysterious and violent predator committed fifty sexual assaults in Northern California before moving south, where he perpetrated ten sadistic murders. Then he disappeared, eluding capture by multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area. Three decades later, Michelle McNamara, a true crime journalist who created the popular website TrueCrimeDiary.com was determined to find the violent psychopath she called “the Golden State Killer.” Michelle pored over police reports, interviewed victims, and embedded herself in the online communities that were obsessed with the case as much as she was.
At the time of the crimes (mid-late 1970’s), the Golden State Killer was known as the EAR or the east area rapist. He was between the ages of 18 and 30, white male who was athletic because he was always jumping over fences. He always wore a mask. After choosing a victim,(usually a suburban couple), he entered their home when no one was there, studying photos and mastering the layout. He attacked while they were asleep, using a flashlight to wake them and blind them. Although his victims couldn’t recall his face because of the mask, they could recall that his voice was ruff, abrupt and threatening.
So sad to find out that this book wasn’t published til after the author unexpectedly died. I wish she had lived to her work come to life and the fact that he was finally caught, 40 years after his crimes.
This book really interested me in that all the time Michelle spent on this case. She poured her life into solving this. And no matter what police say, I believe it was finally solved because of her work in to putting this case back into the public’s eye and her research. She did things that the cops had given up on. The last few chapters were a bumpy ride in my opinion because after Michelle passed away, her husband hired someone to try and fit together the rest of the book based off of Michelle’s many many files of notes. Although I am forgiving because of the circumstances, I’m just warning that it is a bumpy ride. It amazes me that this guy was able to get away with all this for so long. But like Michelle’s husband kept saying in the end of the book, “he will be caught soon.” It will eventually happen. He can’t be free forever.
He loses his power when we know his face…
4/5
Sorry I missed you By Suzy Krause
Mackenzie, Sunna, and Maude moved in to a converted rental house. They are strangers but all of them have one thing in common; Someone important “ghosted” them. Mackenzie’s sister, Sunna’s best friend, and Maude’s fiance– all gone with no explanation.
So when a near unreadable letter arrives in their shared mailbox –hinting at long awaited answers- each tenant assumes it’s for her. The mismatched trio decides to stake out the local coffee shop named in the letter and in the process, a bizarre kinship forms. But the more they learn about each other, the more questions they have (and suspicions) they begin to have. All the while, creepy sounds and strange happenings around the property suggest that the ghost from their past might not be all that’s haunting them…
Will any of the housemates find the closure they are looking for? Or are some doors meant to remain closed?
This book was first on my radar after Amazon’s first reads published it as one of their “first reads” choices a few months back. Then it recently popped up on my Kindle Unlimited subscription. It sparked my interest so I figured I would give it a try.
Newly published in 2020, this is Krauze’s second novel. The first novel has 3.5 stars on goodreads. I think this novel hits a string with everyone. No matter who you are, you have had someone in your life that stopped talking to you and seemly “dropped” off the face of the earth. And you have no idea why. I picked this book because like I said before, it had showed up in my first reads from Amazon and then on My Kindle Unlimited subscription. At the time I was looking for something light-hearted and a good summer read. But I gotta say, This is not it.
As much as I wanted to like this book, I just cannot. Its characters are not likeable. To be honest, I wouldn’t want to try and be friends with Any of them in real life. And that’s got to say something. I stopped and restarted this book Twice after reading and finishing another book between times. It was horrible. I tried to keep reading to see who wrote the letter and what the out come was, but its just too slow. The whole book drug and nothing really exciting happened. On this one I have to say I wouldn’t recommend.
UPDATE: I broke one of my own rules..Never finish a book review before I have decided if I’m going to finish the book or now. And here we are. I finished this review when I thought I had decided to DNF this book. It did drag on for the first 40% but after that it struck a cord of interest and had me reading until about 85/90%. I do still agree that the book drug too much. But I have changed my opinion on this book. I would now rate it 3.5 stars instead of 1.5/2 stars. I’m not fully sure if I would recommend it though. But for intents and purposes, it was a okay book with a cute ending.
Sorry Not Sorry by Naya Rivera
I love reading biography & memoirs of celebrities because usually they go one way or the other. 1. They are so full of themselves and think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread or 2. They are so down to earth and thankful for where they are in life. They know the hard work it takes to make it. And they haven’t been handed everything in life.
Naya Rivera, queen that she is, is a 2. She explains in this book the struggles her family went through when her dad worked and struggled with finding and keeping a job. The struggles of being young and trying to be an actress and go to public school. She talks about the days she barely made it by and the days she worked at hooters.
I feel like most people change when they get their big breakout roles, but Naya never did. She stayed true to herself and her friends she had before getting the Glee role. I loved her character on Glee and feel like she is more of that person in real life. Naya is very much blunt and sassy and she knows that’s she is not for everybody. And that’s ok.
She doesn’t try to hide the things she’s done and she’s true in her feelings. This book is very raw and unapologetic. And this breaks my heart that she is gone so soon. If you read nothing else in your life, at least read this.
RIP queen
This Much I know Is True by Wally Lamb
On the afternoon of October 12, 1990, my twin brother, Thomas, entered the Three Rivers, Connecticut, public library, retreated to one of the rear study carrels, and prayed to God the sacrifice he was about to commit would be deemed acceptable. . . .
One of the most acclaimed novels of our time, Wally Lamb’s I Know This Much Is True is a story of alienation and connection, devastation and renewal, at once joyous, heartbreaking, poignant, mystical, and powerfully, profoundly human.
This book was published when i was 8. Usually I don’t go for books that are over 20 years old but a friend recommended this book and I had to give it a try. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in 3 days. This book was excellent all the way through. Another reader stated that after they finished the book, they sat in their chair and cried and they don’t know why. That’s what this book did for me as well. It was an emotional account of a brother that felt everything and felt so much for his brother who had many many issues and was failed by the system. This book was astonishing. And I would recommend.
Jessie Hunt, 29 is a newlywed and criminal profiler discovers that dark secrets lurk in her new suburban town; when a body turns up dead, she finds herself caught in the cross-hairs of her newfound friends, her husband’s secrets, her serial killer caseload and the secrets of her own dark past.
The perfect wife is a fast-paced psychological suspense thriller with unforgettable characters and heart pounding suspense, that will keep you up all night.
I picked this one up because the main character had my dream job, criminal Profiler. But I feel like the book wasn’t very interesting until the halfway mark. The first part just played into the ending of the book. It’s marked as a thriller but wasn’t really anything thrillerish until the ending. I feel like it was just strung out and hollow. I think the whole book just fell flat from what the author was intending the book to be. I would not recommend and give it 3 out of 5 stars. Would have been two stars but I am happy that someone wrote a book with the main character being a Criminal Profiler.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Set on a remote island off the Irish coast, this is one guest list no one would want to be on… Will and Jules are the couple that everyone loves to hate. They are rich and everything in their life is perfect. They drag everyone to a deserted island off the Irish coast. They say its for privacy, but is it really? Will is a rising television star and Jules owns a lifestyle magazine. The reader is swept through the day before and the day of Jules and Will’s wedding. We see different points of view from many different characters, who each have an important part of making the ending come together.
I picked this one up early before it’s release date from Book Of The Month. I only bought it because it seemed like the it was a very sought after book. I’ve never read any of Lucy Foley’s books but I figured that if this many people were talking about this book, it had to be good. The hype was real. I started out super excited but slowly lost my will to read. Three weeks in to dragging this one along and I just about DNFed it.
Every guest had a secret. As the alcohol starts flowing, secrets start coming out. And I must say, some of them I was not expecting. I think the twist and turns towards the ending of the book definitely pushed the book from a two star to a three star book for me. Some of the different language threw me off at times. For example, the “loo” was the word for bathroom.
By the time the person that is killed is revealed, you are suspecting everyone of the guest. I mean each one of them had a reason to kill them, or at least wish them the worst. So who did it? This tangled web gets more tangled as we go on through every twist and turn.
The Guest list gave me the same feels of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. All the way down to who dies at the end. I guess it wasn’t that bad but it wasn’t worth all the hype in my opinion either. I feel like I had to many questions still in the end. Like did the person holding the knife when everyone showed up really go down for the murder? And Did Jules ever really find out about the baby? It was just too much left unanswered in my opinion.
I give The Guest List 3.5/5 stars.
What lies between us by John Marrs
They say every house has its secrets, and the house that Maggie and Nina have shared for so long is no different. Except that these secrets are not buried in the past.
Every other night, Maggie and Nina have dinner together. When they are finished, Nina helps Maggie back to her room in the attic, and into the heavy chain that keeps her there. Because Maggie has done things to Nina that can’t ever be forgiven, and now she is paying the price.
But there are many things about the past that Nina doesn’t know, and Maggie is going to keep it that way—even if it kills her.
Because in this house, the truth is more dangerous than lies.
Holy smokes! Talk about dysfunctional. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had recently watched a youtube video with GabbyReads and she recommended reading this book. She said the best thing to do with this book was to go in and not read what it was about and not to read any reviews. So when I got in a slump I went looking for books with audio on my kindle unlimited account and came across this one and thought why not?
One or two unreliable narrators…who do you trust? Who do you not trust?…
Maggie knows when the neighbors forget to check their mail or when the people across the street go on vacation. Why you ask? Because 68 year old Maggie spends her days in the attic watching everyone. To them she doesn’t exist. But she hasn’t put herself up there in the attic. Her daughter has her locked away. A heavy chain keeping her from going anywhere else. Nina’s reasoning for putting her own mother there is simple. She feels her mother owes her for all the things she has done to her. All the time she has lost, 19 years to be exact.
“How can I ask for forgiveness when I truly believe that what I did was the right thing to do.”
This was my first John Marrs book. And it won’t be my last. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much. It got me out of my reading slump. And I couldn’t put it down. The twist and turns I was not expecting. And the ending I didn’t expect. I knew something was going to happen, but wasn’t sure.
There was so many unseen things the reader cannot predict. And the amount of unstable and mental health issues is crazy. It made me wonder if Nina was the crazy one or was it really Maggie. And although this was a five star read for me there was one thing that just killed the beginning of the book. When authors don’t do their research and end up putting something wrong in the book, it annoys me. The following is a passage from the book.
” When we decided we wanted to give them a home, they were aged four and had a lot of behavioural difficulties… They’d been left to run wild by their biological parents. There was neglect, a lack of rules and boundaries, no schooling, they ate junk food, they didn’t go outside and play and they couldn’t read or write. We’ve spent the last three years helping them catch up to kids their own age.”
The passage is talking about a couple that adopted two twins at the age of four. They couldn’t read or write. And if Mr. Marrs had done his research he would have seen that kids at the age of four do not know how to read or write and they aren’t in school til they are five. And that starts preschool. They start learning to read at around age seven. So this passage was just off to me.
However even with this small issue, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book.
5/5*
The Other Family by Loretta Nyhan
Ally Anderson is recently separated from her husband. Her finances are stretched thin and her life is up in the air. Her biggest concern is that of her daughter, Kylie, who’s health problems, is a bigger issue. All her symptoms point to a compromised immune system, but every doctor has a different theory. Then they finally get a breakthrough moment. Its possible that Kylie’s illness is genetic. But Ally (Kylie’s mother) is adopted. So Ally takes a DNA test to hopefully find some answers. She finds out that she has an aunt not living far from where they live. This aunt is wild and willing to help out any way she can. Trying out the new ropes of single parenting and dealing with new relatives, things are about to change for Ally. And we will find out what being a mother is all about.
This was a new author for me and a suggested reading from Amazon Unlimited. And I know, I’m not suppose to judge a book by its cover but I do. I’m really bad it. I also enjoy the covers. Sometimes without reading anything else about the book, the cover makes me want to read the book. So this cover caught my attention right away. It did take me a little more time to read this book than usual. That being only because while this was a cute story, definitely a feel good story, it had no features that kept me reading. It had nothing I needed to hurry up and figure out. This author did a great job of connecting relationship and bringing them to life. And I applaud her for writing about something I don’t see a lot of books about; autoimmune disease and all the struggles with it.
Overall The Other Family is a very uplifting story.
3/5 stars.
This Won’t End Well by Camille Pagan
Annie Mercer’s new rule is no new people. Recently jobless, (well unless you count her house cleaning business) due to sexual harassment from her boss. After her fiance, Jon ask for space and runs off to Paris, Annie is left questioning if she is doing the right thing in all of this. While living with her mother after her father passed away she decides that she needs space from everyone. So she makes the rule, no new people.
Then Harper moves in next door and Annie can’t help but keep a watchful eye on her. But keeping an eye on Harper means teaming up with Mo, a maddening optimistic amateur detective who is investigating Harper for a reason that Annie can’t quiet figure out. Soon Annie has let more new people into her life than she intended to. Then Jon reappears and he wants her to come to France and see him. Will she go choose to take a risk?
Camille Pagan has done it again. I have read many of Pagan’s books and must say they always leave me with a smile on my face. She writes about love, loss, and figuring out life. Her books are just outright fun. I’ve been wanting to read this book before it came out just because I knew it would be good. And it didn’t disappoint. This was a fun fast paced read and kept me wanting to find out what happened with Annie.
Pagan often writes about how sad endings can lead to happy beginnings. And a lot of her quotes in this book stuck out to me. Not just for the meaning they had in the book, but also that they were just great quotes that resonate in my own life.
“When I close my eyes one last time , I’m counting on us all being together again. Each word was slow and labored, but she continued. It’s the only way I know how to keep on living without the people I can’t live without.”
what an awesome way to think about the ending of life. The loss of someone.
And lastly I cracked up out loud at the marketing angle from Leesa, Annie’s friend. She kept sending out emails about trying to sell her weight loss product and Annie like many of us were getting annoyed at her friend’s level of irritating sales pitches. I know that no matter what the book is about, if it’s written by Camille Pagan, then I will something relatable somewhere in that book and it will leave me with a smile on my face.
The Ink Drinkers 