Historical Fiction is a genre that I love but don’t read nearly enough. When I saw the Luck of the Titanic, I was intrigued because everyone knows theHistorical Fiction is a genre that I love but don’t read nearly enough. When I saw the Luck of the Titanic, I was intrigued because everyone knows the fate of the Titanic but we can only guess at the majority of the passengers lives and ultimately, their fates. I’m interested in their stories.
Valora Luck smuggles herself onboard the Titanic hoping to reunite with Jamie, her twin. Her hopes are to make it to America with him and live their dream of performing as acrobats for the Ringling Brothers. Things have changed, though, and Jamie’s dreams don’t quite match up to Val’s anymore.
Once upon the ship, Val gets a first-hand view of the classism and racism aboard the ship, which really comes into sharp focus once the ship begins to sink and lives need to be saved.
I enjoyed seeing Val’s perspective of what may have happened those last days on the ship; while it’s no secret what happened to the Titanic, the mystery of so many passengers has been lost or never recorded. Ms. Lee explored a whole found family of characters and the lengths they would go to protect one another.
While this may not be a hair-raising read, it is no less engaging and compelling because Ms. Lee wrote the characters to be those that I became invested in. Knowing that they would be part of a doomed sinking ship made their plight that much more dramatic and intense.
Final thoughts: Ms. Lee wrote a captivating book focusing on the Asian passengers experience and she did this with thorough research into actual passengers that survived; writing an extraordinary story to recognize the hardships and racism they went through.
My thanks to Penguin Teen for providing me with a DRC in exchange for my review....more
The Last Thing To Burn is a horrifying look at one woman’s struggle to survive human trafficking and it is a brutal look at survival when almost all hThe Last Thing To Burn is a horrifying look at one woman’s struggle to survive human trafficking and it is a brutal look at survival when almost all hope is gone.
Jane (Not her real name) arrives to the UK with her sister, Kim Ly from Vietnam. After a few rough ‘jobs’ on various farms, she is separated from Kim Ly and taken to the isolated farm of Lenn. Lenn, who has camera’s watching Jane’s every move and doesn’t hesitate to punish her if he doesn’t like her behavior. Lenn uses Jane’s sister as a means of behavioral control, promising harm to Kim Ly if Jane doesn’t behave and Jane knows this is something that Lenn and his friends are fully capable of.
Seven long years go by and Jane becomes pregnant, Jane is mentally and physically traumatized by Lenn’s abuse but this pregnancy gives her new hope and a reason to survive, to escape. There’re a few wrenches that get thrown in Jane’s plan that kept me turning pages and at the edge of my seat but I’ll leave these for the reader to discover.
This is a tough book to read and yet, as I said earlier, I couldn’t put it down. Jane’s plight became my plight. I became invested in Jane’s story and I rooted for her through every indignity she suffered and hoped she’d hang in there one more day. Mr. Dean wrote an incredible story of survival through cruelty, bravery through intense fear but most of all, that of deep and abiding love at all costs.
My thanks to Atria Books for providing a DRC in exchange for my honest review....more
Tessa Wegert is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller writers. After reading Death in the Family, The Dead Season was on my auto-read list. I wTessa Wegert is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller writers. After reading Death in the Family, The Dead Season was on my auto-read list. I was excited to join up with @LetsTalkBooksPromo to buddy read and feature this chilling thriller that follows investigator Shana Merchant as she navigates crime-solving and murder in a close-to-home atmosphere.
Shana (Shay) finds herself on administrative leave and recovering from PTSD after her ordeal with Blake Bram. During this time as she awaits her reinstatement, old ghosts from the past call her back to her hometown with the discovery of a decades old body. Shortly after this, a boy goes missing in A-Bay and Shay has a strong suspicion that these two crimes are connected to the serial killer that she has ties to. Keeping secrets from her superiors and basically everyone, Shay hopes to draw out Bram and involves herself in the thick of both crimes, her investigation draws out more secrets and past hurts than she expected and forces Shay to reckon with her own past traumas and memories.
I am loving this series and cannot wait for the next book. There are a whole host of amazing characters that I’ve become invested in and a cliff-hanger that had me gasping and I admit, a bit vexed. Well-plotted and twisty, with secrets and deception that only a small town can pull off, The Dead Season is a stellar second book that left me wanting more.
My thanks to Tessa Wegert for #Gifting me a copy of The Dead Season for review. ...more
Red Island House is quite unlike anything I’ve read before, not quite a linear story and not quite alternating timelines but more of a collection of sRed Island House is quite unlike anything I’ve read before, not quite a linear story and not quite alternating timelines but more of a collection of stories told by main character Shay. Shay married dynamic Italian businessman Senna who built a beautiful palatial vacation home in Madagascar. There Shay will spend months where she casually observes the islanders around her and their customs, the intricacies of the lives that struggle with poverty and the beauty of their heritage and through the years, life and death.
I appreciated Shay’s narrative and the cultural observations of the Malagasy people, there’s something both poignant yet inspirational as she recounts her interactions with the local people. There is a definite level of discomfort to some of her stories and I felt her internal struggle with the way that some of the women have chosen to survive and those that would take advantage of this. Beautifully written and gorgeously descriptive, Red Island House gave me a lot to think about and opened up a new genre of writing that I haven’t really explored before. ...more
Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica has a lot going on and I loved every second of it. Shelby, A local woman goes missing and then, shortly after MeredLocal Woman Missing by Mary Kubica has a lot going on and I loved every second of it. Shelby, A local woman goes missing and then, shortly after Meredith and her 6-year-old daughter, Delilah goes missing, too. Are the two connected? When Delilah returns eleven years later, she has no memories of what happened in the interim, she was kept in a dark basement for all this time and is lucky to be alive. So, just what happened?
What a tangled web of lies and deception Kubica has woven. The neighborhood in which the women go missing have a lot of secrets, past hurts and it seems that more than one person has a motive to wish these women gone but who? While there’s a lot of characters and timelines to keep track of, it didn’t deter from my enjoyment of this chilling tale of bad choices made worse. As usual, Kubica has written a complex and twisty tale that drew me in with compelling characters and a well-plotted storyline. Just when I thought I had a handle on what was going on, some new development would occur, surprising or shocking me all over again.
As with all of her books, I highly recommend this suspenseful story that is strong in character and plot. My thanks to Park Row books for gifting me a copy for review. ...more
Jacob has wanted nothing more in his life than to be a celebrated and successful author. He has enjoyed the moderate success of one book but since hasJacob has wanted nothing more in his life than to be a celebrated and successful author. He has enjoyed the moderate success of one book but since has watched his career slowly nose dive over the years.
When Jacob meets Evan Parker at a summer writing program that he teaches every year, he discovers that Evan has ‘The Plot’ that is guaranteed to be a winner. When he first meets Evan, he calls him for what he is, a boastful rude narcissistic ass but …. He does have that ‘Plot’. A few years of tedious life go by for Jacob when he finds out that Evan passed away shortly after the writing program, and alas! He never wrote his book. What’s Jacob to do? He writes a book with Evan’s perfect plot but of course! At first, it’s all amazing, book signings and movie options, everything Jacob has worked for his whole life but It isn’t going to be all wine and roses because someone out there knows that isn’t Jacob’s plot and begins to threaten him with exposure of plagiarism. Thus begins Jacob’s plight to find out just who knows what he did before he gets outted to his adoring public and publisher.
This is one of those ‘plots’ (ha) that I had a good idea of who the antagonist was and I was right but this is where any sense of rightness I had stops. There are so many well-plotted twists in this story, most I didn’t see coming. Throughout The Plot, there is an actual ‘story within a story’ and it was fun to try and figure out just who’s story is being told. Little tidbits are revealed slowly and the tension amps up as Jacob’s stalker takes their time tormenting him, leading to the ultimate game of cat and mouse.
I really enjoyed this thriller, at first, I didn’t like Jacob, I found him to be a bit whiney and pretentious but his growth through the book is remarkable and I found myself rooting for him. The antagonist is so shrewd and so cleverly done! Even though there’s an idea of who it could be, the actual story behind it is mind-blowing and shocking, a delicious puzzle that I had fun decoding right to the very end.
My thanks to Macmillan Reading Insiders Club for #gifting me a copy of The Plot. ...more
This is one of those thrillers that made me think of an intricate game of cat and mouse but in this case, it’s never quite clear who’s the cat and whoThis is one of those thrillers that made me think of an intricate game of cat and mouse but in this case, it’s never quite clear who’s the cat and who’s the mouse until the very end.
The Next Wife is well-plotted and as twisty as they come. Kate and John have built a hugely successful company and have a seemingly perfect marriage but it’s only when Tish enters the picture that the fine cracks in their stressed relationship begin to show. John has no problem dumping Kate for Tish, who refers to herself as a newer model (Gag) but it doesn’t take long for him to become disenchanted with her. But don’t think she doesn’t notice ….
Secrets, Lies, Deception, Oh My! Everyone has a secret and nobody tells the truth, this is the heart and soul of this and every great thriller and, to me, the best part is getting to the how and why of every lie and secret – and when it all falls together perfectly? Ah, chefs kiss! I will say that Ms. Rouda made me work for it and I was still shocked at the ending but so absolutely satisfied! I feel like because I was enraged at some of the characters and their abhorrent behavior throughout most of the book that I chucked my moral code out the door at the end and said, good, y’all deserved it.
The Next Wife is extremely well-plotted, engagingly written and highly entertaining, perfect for any fan of psychological/domestic thrillers. My thanks to Megan Beatie Communications and Kaira Rouda for gifting me a copy of The Next Wife and Thomas & Mercer for the DRC....more
“For Everyone knows: Those who walk in the shadow of Death can see only its nearest face.”
The Way Back by Gavriel Savit is lush with the beauty of Eas“For Everyone knows: Those who walk in the shadow of Death can see only its nearest face.”
The Way Back by Gavriel Savit is lush with the beauty of Eastern European Jewish folklore and in the tiny village of Tupik, a story begins with two teens at its center, Bluma and Yehuda Leib. The two venture off separately on a journey through the Far Country – the realm of demons and demon royalty and all manners of horrible things that go bump in the night.
“Everyone knows: you must never stray from the path in a cemetery once darkness has fallen.”
Bluma has just lost her beloved Bubbe and has taken something from the Angel of Death and Yehuda Leib is fleeing Tupick in fear of Avimelekh, a dark dangerous man who is feared by all that has come looking for him. Each event leading the kids to the cemetery where the realm to the Far Country is thinnest at night. This sets them on a journey through the Far Country with no visible way back and many nefarious characters out to take advantage of them; poor decisions are made for the right reasons and Bluma and Yehuda Leib will have to use their wits and what their families and Rabbi have taught them if they are to make it out of the Far Country alive.
I was able to listen to this thanks to @PRHAudio for the gifted Audiobook and it is narrated beautifully by Allan Corduner – he has a lilting rhythm that invited me into the story and kept me invested. His voice is beautifully accented in all the right places and moved effortlessly between characters. An absolute pleasure to listen to!
If you enjoy folklore with a dash of darkness, I think you’ll enjoy this! ...more
After Fireborne, I couldn’t wait to read Flamefall by Rosaria Munda. I loved Fireborne and I got everything I loved about it in Flamefall plus a lot mAfter Fireborne, I couldn’t wait to read Flamefall by Rosaria Munda. I loved Fireborne and I got everything I loved about it in Flamefall plus a lot more. First off, the addition of Griff, a lowborn from New Pythos and a voice that added such depth to the story. Annie and Lee are two other POV that perfectly round out this story.
There are a few things about Flamefall that really just sucked me in and made this series an all-time favorite: I loved that there is a same-sex romance that crosses the social caste system set in place. I loved being able to see the character growth compared to the first book. The character arcs and sense of consciousness between the narrators worked so well in Flamefall and I loved the insight it gave me on both sides of the political issues plaguing this world. And then, there’s the real terror and penalties of war, especially when there may be a personal stake or involvement in both sides.
The Aurelian Cycle series is one of the best political fantasies that I’ve read and this is because it has what I call the triple threat: 1) Great world-structuring 2) Emotive Characters that are easy to become emotionally invested in & 3) A well developed plot that makes me want to know more.
Flamefall is a 5-star read for me and I cannot wait to see where Ms. Munda takes the third book in this series. Thank you @PenguinTeen for #Gifting me a copy of #Flamefall ...more
Ah, unreliable narrator combined with a tangled twist of a tale? Yes, please and thank you! Survive the Night is one of those thrillers that threw outAh, unreliable narrator combined with a tangled twist of a tale? Yes, please and thank you! Survive the Night is one of those thrillers that threw out a catchy and horrifying synopsis and I was here for it. As usual, I thought I had it all figured out but nope, not even close. I used to think it was hard to surprise me because I’m highly suspicious of everyone in a thriller/suspense book. Everyone is suspect in my mind but wow! I was expecting some curveballs and maybe a few well-plotted twists; I got that and a whole lot more. Plus, there’s nothing quite like two strangers in a dark car on a lonely highway and ‘maybe’ one is a serial killer that gets me turning pages!
Most people who know me, know that I am a huge fan of thrillers but as it turns out, I’m beginning to question a few things about myself. Like, if I were an actual character in a psychological thriller, I feel like one of two things would be my most likely role and/or ending:
A) I’ll either be the first to die (probably slowly & horribly) or B) I’ll be the terribly unimaginative serial killer sitting on death row or you know, just dead because, again, lacking imagination.
Was I expecting a terrifying ride on a dark highway with a potential nutjob? Absolutely! But when it takes a sudden turn into Weirdsville, where I’m pretty much the Mayor, I remembered just why I love thrillers so much! This is where main character, Charlie is so much braver and smarter than I am. Her mental health makes it hard for her to distinguish between reality and movies that play in her head; her brains effort to protect her from strong & overwhelming feelings. But Charlies is a great deducer of evidence and this works out in her favor, usually, but those pesky head-movies that make life a little easier to handle also make her question reality vs. fantasy, leaving her open to manipulation by the wrong people. The setting is perfectly eerie and atmospheric and the secondary characters are well-developed and amplified at just the right times; some are hero’s and some are wolves in sheep’s clothing but finding out which is which is the best part!
Cat meet mouse. But who’s the cat and who’s the mouse! Read Survive the Night and find out! All the stars for this perfectly atmospheric psychological thriller that gave me all the chills with a twisty and brilliantly plotted thrill ride!
Thank you to Penguin Group – Dutton for gifting me this DRC in exchange for my review....more
“For Everyone knows: Those who walk in the shadow of Death can see only its nearest face.”
The Way Back by Gavriel Savit is lush with the beauty of Eas“For Everyone knows: Those who walk in the shadow of Death can see only its nearest face.”
The Way Back by Gavriel Savit is lush with the beauty of Eastern European Jewish folklore and in the tiny village of Tupik, a story begins with two teens at its center, Bluma and Yehuda Leib. The two venture off separately on a journey through the Far Country – the realm of demons and demon royalty and all manners of horrible things that go bump in the night.
“Everyone knows: you must never stray from the path in a cemetery once darkness has fallen.”
Bluma has just lost her beloved Bubbe and has taken something from the Angel of Death and Yehuda Leib is fleeing Tupick in fear of Avimelekh, a dark dangerous man who is feared by all that has come looking for him. Each event leading the kids to the cemetery where the realm to the Far Country is thinnest at night. This sets them on a journey through the Far Country with no visible way back and many nefarious characters out to take advantage of them; poor decisions are made for the right reasons and Bluma and Yehuda Leib will have to use their wits and what their families and Rabbi have taught them if they are to make it out of the Far Country alive.
I was able to listen to this thanks to @PRHAudio for the gifted Audiobook and it is narrated beautifully by Allan Corduner – he has a lilting rhythm that invited me into the story and kept me invested. His voice is beautifully accented in all the right places and moved effortlessly between characters. An absolute pleasure to listen to!
If you enjoy folklore with a dash of darkness, I think you’ll enjoy this! ...more
The Universe is collapsing … what do you do? Hopefully, if this ever happens IRL, I’ll have the Argus’s motley crew of criminal misfits around to saveThe Universe is collapsing … what do you do? Hopefully, if this ever happens IRL, I’ll have the Argus’s motley crew of criminal misfits around to save my ass. The Sentinels are basically the dregs of society who’ve ended up on the Argus, surfing the Divide with the job of keeping the universe’s border safe, when things start to go south, well this, my friends, is when things get interesting.
First off, I want to point out that Dewes has written one of the best SFF books I’ve read in a long time. It is both strongly plot driven and strongly character driven, that makes this an absolute gem in my eyes. The characters are all so well written and emotive; humorous, real, flawed but my favorite is the main character - Adequin Rake. She is quite literally one of the most badass leads, she is wholly unique and respected by all – with good reason. I’m going to refrain from gushing about the entire crew but suffice to say I fell in love with them all.
The plot is exciting, action-packed, dramatic, terrifying, tense and grabbed me right by my heart! There’s so much to love about this book. If you enjoy SFF at all, do yourself a favor and read or listen to this! If you’ve never read it before, The Last Watch is a great book to start with.
Narration: Andrew Eidon and Nicol Zanzarella narrated The Last Watch and they are phenomenal. Each with a unique tone that is affecting and melodic; carrying a perfect rhythm that invited me into the story and kept me invested.
Bring on the next book, please!
My thanks to @MacmillanAudio& @TorBooks for gifting me an ALC and a physical copy of this stellar SFF. ...more
The Good Neighbour by R.J. Parker is a chilling story that takes stalking to next level madness with a huge side of creepy serial killer to keep thingThe Good Neighbour by R.J. Parker is a chilling story that takes stalking to next level madness with a huge side of creepy serial killer to keep things interesting. Leah’s life hasn’t been quite the same since her accident a few years ago; her estranged husband is self-centered and uncaring, at best and she works from home. One dark night after hitting a deer, she’s kindly assisted by a welcoming light on the deserted road near her village. Martin Tate has helped Leah at her most vulnerable time, a time when she’s feeling particularly lonely and unloved so naturally, she can’t help feeling drawn to this warm and charming man, right? It’s not until the next day when she finds out that charming Martin is a serial killer that she realizes she’s lucky to have escaped with her life but has she?
What a thrill ride this is! I will not go into any spoilery details except to say that this cat and mouse game kept me turning pages and I read this in one day – nothing got done but I have zero regrets! This is a suspenseful and chilling read that I’d recommend to any fan of the genre....more
The Good Neighbour by R.J. Parker is a chilling story that takes stalking to next level madness with a huge side of creepy serial killer to keep thingThe Good Neighbour by R.J. Parker is a chilling story that takes stalking to next level madness with a huge side of creepy serial killer to keep things interesting. Leah’s life hasn’t been quite the same since her accident a few years ago; her estranged husband is self-centered and uncaring, at best and she works from home. One dark night after hitting a deer, she’s kindly assisted by a welcoming light on the deserted road near her village. Martin Tate has helped Leah at her most vulnerable time, a time when she’s feeling particularly lonely and unloved so naturally, she can’t help feeling drawn to this warm and charming man, right? It’s not until the next day when she finds out that charming Martin is a serial killer that she realizes she’s lucky to have escaped with her life but has she?
What a thrill ride this is! I will not go into any spoilery details except to say that this cat and mouse game kept me turning pages and I read this in one day – nothing got done but I have zero regrets! This is a suspenseful and chilling read that I’d recommend to any fan of the genre....more
A Queen of Gilded Horns is the last book of A River of Royal Blood duology and it’s the perfect ending to this magical royal fantasy.
The narrative inA Queen of Gilded Horns is the last book of A River of Royal Blood duology and it’s the perfect ending to this magical royal fantasy.
The narrative in A River of Royal Blood came only from Eva but in AQoGH we hear from a variety of characters, including Isa who I was so curious to get to know through her perspective. I enjoyed the variety of different perspectives and gathering insight in to the other characters.
The world building is phenomenal! There’s political intrigue that is so tangled and corrupt and a host of unique magical beings which combined makes for a complex atmosphere where no one can be trusted. Family pitted against family, friend against friend, there were times I wasn’t quite sure what the underlying motivation of each character was but it’s wrapped up tightly at the end, much to my satisfaction!
Eva is a character that I can get behind and root for; she is an underdog who has fought for her beliefs despite being met with a harsh and unloving mother, a talented beautiful sister – who could possibly murder her for the crown, and feelings of inadequacy based on classism throughout the country she lives in.
This is a duology I’d recommend to any fan of fantasy with compelling world building and an intricate plot that carries a strong message!
My thanks to Penguin Teen for gifting me a DRC of A Queen of Gilded Horns for review....more
Saving Grace is the story of Mary Grace Dobbs, the first female sheriff, won by default, of the small town of Repentance, Arkansas. Orphaned at 11 yeaSaving Grace is the story of Mary Grace Dobbs, the first female sheriff, won by default, of the small town of Repentance, Arkansas. Orphaned at 11 years old, she is sent to live with her disabled aunt, bible selling uncle and very disturbed cousin, Noah, who has a penchant for torturing animals. When worldly teen Nadia moves to town, Mary Grace feels understood and important for the first time, but when she and another girl go missing and a sketchy man from town disappears around the same time, well, conclusions are made.
Told in alternating timelines, Saving Grace gives unique insight on both young Grace and older Grace, now a mother herself to Felicity. When a girl disappears in the present and the sketchy dude returns, Grace begins looking at both the past and the present in her search to answers. Small town secrets are big in Repentance and they go far back down the generations.
I really enjoyed this gothic and atmospheric thriller; it is bendy and twisty with a shocking ending that was both dark and wholly unique. 4 stars from me ...more
House of Hollow gave me all the dark chills and thrills I look for in YA horror and then added in a dash of modern-day fairytale, Grimm style, for gooHouse of Hollow gave me all the dark chills and thrills I look for in YA horror and then added in a dash of modern-day fairytale, Grimm style, for good measure. It is eerie and haunting, creepy and fantastical and left me wanting more. I had an overwhelming feeling throughout that I can only describe as sinister and foreboding but in the most delicious way possible.
Iris knows there’s something different about herself and her two older sisters, Vivi and Grey. Since the Hollow sisters returned from a month-long absence when they were children, an absence they don’t remember, there’s been certain changes. Black eyes and hair that changed color from dark to white and each girl with a hook shaped scar on their chest and …. a few other things that I’ll leave for the reader to discover. When Grey disappears again, Iris and Vivi set out to find her using an odd set of clues that only the sisters can decipher. Following Greys clues just may get them more than they bargained for and a past they may have to reckon with.
There was a time during the book that I had to question just where exactly my own moral compass lay but to uncover this would be to spoil and I won’t do that! I think that going in to this book with the synopsis alone is the chefs kiss to experiencing the pure horror of this tale to its full extent.
Ms. Sutherland wrote a spectacular tale, rich in detail and world building with enigmatic characters that were easy to invest in. House of Hollow is a spell-binding page-turner, twisty and bendy in all the right places and I. Could. Not. Stop. Reading.
My thanks to Penguin Teen and the author for gifting me a DRC in exchange for my review....more
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon is a deliciously suspenseful and haunting story! Told in alternating timelines, we hear from Jax in the present The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon is a deliciously suspenseful and haunting story! Told in alternating timelines, we hear from Jax in the present and Ethel in the late 1920’s. They both have something in common – they’ve had intimate contact with a dark bottomless pool that is said to have healing powers.
Jax is a wounded healer, working in mental health and trying to set boundaries between herself and her Bipolar older sister, Lexie. There’s some history in this dysfunctional family and Jax is wrestling with some resentment towards Lexie and her inheritance of their Grandmothers estate, Sparrow Crest. It’s here that Lexie drowns in the healing pool after calling Jax multiple times. Thing is, Lexie is a champion swimmer, so how did she drown in the pool?
Ethel and her doctor husband want nothing more than a child, when they take a trip to Brandenburg, Vermont to visit the Brandenburg Springs Hotel, Ethel finds the locals to be both frightened of and in awe of, the springs. They say it has magical healing powers but it doesn’t give without taking back. When Ethel whispers her greatest wish to the pool, it comes true but at what cost?
This is one of the times when I looked forward to hearing from both characters in their timelines. The characters are so affecting and real, the atmosphere and creepiness keeping me on a knives edge, and I admit, turning on lights and looking suspiciously at my own pond! The plot moves at a perfect pace, keeping the tension mounting and adding in some bendy twists that I did not see coming.
Narration: Joy Osmanski and Imani Jade Powers are amazing narrators; each with the perfect pitch and cadence making this an enjoyable listening experience. They move seamlessly through the chapters with emotive voices that really upped the tension with haunting and believable clarity.
I enjoyed listening to this chilling tale that cleverly explores the deepest parts of wants and longings and the lengths some will go to obtain and keep them. My deepest thanks to Simon and Schuster Audio for providing me an ALC to listen to for review....more
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