The House in the Cerulean Sea is remarkable in all its greatness. From start to finish, there was nothing mo What a wonderful story this one is!!
The House in the Cerulean Sea is remarkable in all its greatness. From start to finish, there was nothing more that I wanted to do but to keep on listening.
The characters all became dear to me in every way possible. They were all so charming in their own special way and I love how Linus was able to give them something while getting something back in return.
Linus Baker is a man that likes order. He abides by the Rules and Regulations and has the book to prove it. Linus has been in the same job for almost two decades but has never wanted a supervisor job. As part of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, his job is to investigate the orphanages housing magical children and to make a recommendation as to keep them open or closed for good.
When Linus gets a memo from Extreme Upper Management and he's asked to travel to investigate Marysas Island Orphanage, his shock is real. He has never heard of the place. It's even worse when his assignment takes him (and his cat Calliope) to the island and he meets the children living there and the man supervising them, Arthur Parnassus.
Linus has four weeks to learn more about the children and Arthur. As the days pass, to say the children were not what he was expecting would be a lie. Yes, they can be perceived as dangerous but exactly to who?
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a moving story with magnificent characters, wonderful humor, and love in all its manifestations. Quite priceless.
The One is a futuristic novel with enough interesting characters to keep you turning the pages, or in my case listening to every chapter.
A discovery The One is a futuristic novel with enough interesting characters to keep you turning the pages, or in my case listening to every chapter.
A discovery has been made. A gene has been found that can tell you who is your soulmate. When you meet the One, you know they are itfor you. With Match Your DNA, now anyone can find that special someone who will make your life the happiest.
Yet, not everyone is happy. Match Your DNA has broken marriages and relationships left and right. Then, of course, there are so many questions.
What if your match has decided not to run the test?
What if the person you matched is not morally bound like you are?
What if the test ruins your life?
The One will follow five characters' "love stories" after finding their match.
How could anything go wrong?
John Mars does a wonderful job at making us think about the implications of something like this happening in our time. There is a scene in the book where two characters are debating the pros and cons of Match Your DNA. I thought it brought solid points to the table for both sides.
If you asked me to pick a favorite "match" couple, I will have to go with Nick's match undoubtedly.
I read the next two books in this world and I'm glad I went back to listen to this one. I was happy to follow the characters through each of their personal ordeals and knowing what the future held was a plus.
If you want to be depressed about the world by all means grab this book.
I’ll be an OUTLAW, sorry meant an OUTLIER and say it: The story fell short forIf you want to be depressed about the world by all means grab this book.
I’ll be an OUTLAW, sorry meant an OUTLIER and say it: The story fell short for me. I do believe the author had great characters especially Duchess and Walk but something was missing for me to rate it higher.
What did I like about We Begin at the End?
-I liked how much Duchess loved her brother, Robin. She was willing to do anything for him.
-Walk being there for his best friend Vincent, Star, Star's kids, and his town despite what was happening in his personal life.
-Hal's patience with Duchess.
-Dolly being there when she was needed.
-Martha bringing spice to Walk's life.
What did I learn from We Begin at the End?
If you have been born into a bad life, you will live a bad life and you will probably die because of your bad life too.
In my opinion, this novel didn't have much hope, redemption or forgiveness.
The ending frustrated me. I don't need to read rose-colored glass stories but if a story is having an against all the odds type of feeling, then I want more from it.
Take my opinion for what it is, my opinion. I know so many of my book friends truly loved it and I'm glad they did.
Lastly, I switched back and forth from the ebook to the audio. The audio narrator did a good representation of the characters and kept the flow of the story.
David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David P
David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man.
Now I understand why all my friends love this book.
It was everything I wanted from a fantasy. For me, it was like Heroes and X-man had a kid while an 80's soundtrack was playing.
How cool is that?
At the center of the storyline we have a few main characters:
Jack Thatch (or Pip): an eight-year-old boy who meets a girl on a bench while visiting his parent's grave on August 8, 1984. You see, Jack's parents died in a car accident and he was the sole survivor. His aunt Jo is now his guardian.
Stella Nettleton: the girl on the bench. The girl with an extraordinary vocabulary for her age. A girl who uses gloves and reads her favorite book by Dickens, Great Expectations. She will arrive year after year in a white SUV surrounded by people dressed in white.
Subject D: a boy who wears a mask. A boy with power so grand that he has to be confined for years.
Detective Faustino Brier: The cop who knows every year someone will die on August 8th. A body "burned but not burned" will appear. on August 9th.
Detective Joy Fogel: who will join forces with Brier to discover the mystery of his Wall of Weird.
Duncan "Dunk" Bellino: a kid who becomes Jack's friend. As a teenager, he will make some not so legit choices.
"Preacher": a guy with a good sense in cars.
With this fabulous cast, how can you not enjoy it? I certainly did. My heart was beating fast. The action at the end was non-stop leading to a very fulfilling culmination.
I wanted a fun audio to listen to and I had Meet Cute in my audible library for a while. The audio was just what I thought it was going to be. SomethiI wanted a fun audio to listen to and I had Meet Cute in my audible library for a while. The audio was just what I thought it was going to be. Something rom-com with a side of heartfelt that was perfect entertainment during my commute. Meet Cute made me laugh and it made me swoon a little bit too.
Kailyn's favorite TV show was It's My Life. She grew up watching it and she had the memorabilia to prove it. She loved the protagonist and on her first day of law school, she crashes into Daxton Hughes, the actor of the show. The man she has had a crush on since she was a teenager! However, by the end of law school, she wants to murder him. And this all happens in the prologue!
Then eight years later, they are face to face again. He's seeking her help with his parents' trust. He's becoming his sister Emme's guardian. His life is changing in all the ways that matter. He's losing most of his independence but he knows he has to fight for Emme.
In the beginning, Kailyn is not sure about his motives but the more time she spends with Dax and Emme the more she starts falling for both.
At first, I wasn't sure about Kailyn. She was a little too harsh and calculating but as the story and their feelings progressed, I warmed up to her. I loved how much she cared about the show. She was the perfect fangirl and I could relate to that. Dax was all kinds of nice. He went above and beyond to show Emme that she could trust him.
Since I'm reviewing the audio, I've to say that I thought the narrator did a great job at interpreting the characters and their feelings.
I've made no secret that I absolutely loved The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. When audible alerted me that they had an original novella where Agatha ChristI've made no secret that I absolutely loved The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. When audible alerted me that they had an original novella where Agatha Christie meets Osla Kendall, I couldn't download it fast enough.
I haven't read The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict but I absolutely loved the female code breakers from Bletchley Park. I was happy to have more of their world.
The novella has Agatha and Osla meeting twice, once during the war and the second time after it has ended. They compare notes and realized that due to a certain oath, a spy couldn't be stopped earlier.
If you have read The Rose Code, this audio is a must. The narration takes 1 hour and 10 minutes which was perfect for my work commute.
I'm very thankful to Kate Quinn and Marie Benedict for coming up with this character's meeting.
Both, Nicola Barber and Saskia Maarleveld did an amazing job in bringing these women to life.
Can I say that I love Saint? I won't give you more, I don't want to spoil it for you.
Before you read this book you havThis was the perfect conclusion!
Can I say that I love Saint? I won't give you more, I don't want to spoil it for you.
Before you read this book you have to know this is a duology and you must read Fable to understand Namesake.
At the end of Fable, our heroine was in dire straits, Wasn't she?
Onboard in the Luna, Fable doesn't have a friend. The crew wants to kill her and the man she thought was a friend has betrayed her and Saint. Worse, she has no clue if West knows what happened to her.
Fable is given an ultimatum. She must dredge for her freedom. Then, things get worse, Koy is in the same boat and the last time they parted ways, he promised to kill her ...more
A Million Reasons Why was a sad story but a believable one.
With the help of a DNA kit, Sela is able to locate her half-sibling, Caroline. Sela is in A Million Reasons Why was a sad story but a believable one.
With the help of a DNA kit, Sela is able to locate her half-sibling, Caroline. Sela is in need of help. She has chronic kidney failure. She feels tired, unable to do much exercise and sometimes feels like she can't take care of her child. Her best friend and her ex-husband are pushing her to do the Big Ask. To ask her half-sibling whom she has never met for a kidney. Sela feels conflicted but she also wants to live.
Caroline had no clue that her husband's Christmas gift to her family was going to be the one responsible for creating chaos. Caroline's world implodes when Sela's email arrives. She is shocked, to say the least. She can't believe that one of her parents was not faithful. It shocks her to her core. Worse, she and Sela are almost the same age.
Sela's email also opens old wounds for Caroline. Sela lives in the town Caroline thought about moving to with her boyfriend, Keaton many years ago. When a job doesn't pan out, Keaton breaks her heart without a good explanation. Yes, she is now married to Walter, she has three children and Walt is attentive, sweet and a great dad but Caroline still thinks about what it could have been.
The road for Sela and Caroline is not an easy one. So many secrets affecting them all. Some are hard to forget and to forgive but can they find a way to do so?
A Million Reasons Why was a well-written and well-developed novel. I was rooting for both sisters to find a way to each other and also I really wanted Sela to get a new kidney. At times, I felt like Caroline had it all and Sela was due for something good to happen to her. I was not happy with the decisions taken by Caroline's parents but I guess, it works in the end.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
5 stars for this new psychological thriller by Alessandra Torre.
Six teenagers have been murdered. They have been sexually assaulted and their sexual o5 stars for this new psychological thriller by Alessandra Torre.
Six teenagers have been murdered. They have been sexually assaulted and their sexual organs have been removed and discarded like trash. So it's shocking when the seventh victim returns to his home, hurt but alive, after weeks of his absence. He was able to escape and is pointing the finger at his high school teacher, Randall Thompson!
Dr. Gwen Moore is a psychiatrist. She treats the worse kind of patient. She treats the ones who have urges to harm others. Gwen tries to guide them into a place where they can self-control these fantasies. However, a recent client and his wife are dead and now the police want to talk to her about it. At the same time, Robert Kavin, a defense attorney, wants her to come up with a profile for the Bloody Heart Killer and Randall. There is one caveat, Robert is the father of the sixth victim and he believes the man is innocent.
But how can he be sure?
I have to tell you as soon as I opened the first page I was pulled into the story. There is no way you can put this book down. I absolutely love everything about it. The dark setting, the intrigue, the twist, Gwen, her job, her psych friend, her pet.
Everything about it was perfect!
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Meet her: Tiffy is going through a bad time. Her ex-boyfriend has kicked her out of his apartment and she needs a place to staWhat a delightful story!
Meet her: Tiffy is going through a bad time. Her ex-boyfriend has kicked her out of his apartment and she needs a place to stay. She is a tall woman who dresses with things she enjoys and doesn't care what people think of it. She is an editor and currently, she is editing a crochet book. She has 3 great friends who support her despite her troubled relationship with Justin.
Meet him: Leon is a hospice nurse. He is a quiet person, an introvert, bordering on a loner. His brother is in prison and Leon constantly worries about how to get him out. His relationship with his current girlfriend is at a standstill. Leon needs more money to be able to help his brother out sharing his flat sounds like a good idea.
As you can imagine, Leon offers his flat to Tiffy but they never meet. He works nights, she works days.
They will never cross paths or will they?
I laughed, I smiled, I couldn't get enough of Tiffy and Leon. I loved how they started learning about each other because of what they ate, drink, read, dress, etc.
The best part was all the post-it notes. Really a fun read.
The audio was fantastic. Carrie Hope Fletcher and Kwaku Fortune brought both characters to life for me.
The Queen's Weapons was a great addition to the Black Jewels series!
A dark seed has had years to move around the realm and her tentacles are closing iThe Queen's Weapons was a great addition to the Black Jewels series!
A dark seed has had years to move around the realm and her tentacles are closing in around unsuspecting victims. The Queen's Weapons will need to stop this taint before another Dorothea emerges.
The kids have grown. What are they doing?
Titian has found the strength to request going to a new school to further her painting.
Daemonar just like his father (Lucivar) and his uncle (Sadi) is a Warlord Prince. He is loyal to Witch and to his family. He will protect and serve. As a child, he was always there to help Jaenelle. However, Jaenelle is not acting like her old self. He wants to keep an eye on her and his sister.
Jaenelle wants to forge her own path. She wants nothing to do with the name she was given. She believes her new friends at the school are guiding her into the right aristo ways.
Zoey, a Queen, who as a child befriended Daemon Sadi and later on became friends with Titian and Jaenelle will be attending the same school.
A line is drawn and each of them will pick up a side.
Who will survive the cold fury of the Lord of Hell?
~~
I was so happy to be back in this world. I love that Deamonar has become such a great warrior. He is ready to help and defend. He also listened and learned. He understood Sadi and he loves Witch. He was a great big brother too.
Jaenelle was such a disappointment. I don't think she really learned her lesson. She hurt everyone with her words and her actions. She was so spoiled and rotten. She knew what she was doing was wrong but she still did it. Her punishment was too small.
Other thoughts:
-I love how strong Jillian has become. Kiss Kiss.
-Surreal was less impressive in this one but I think it's because Witch is more prevalent in it.
-I liked Zoey but I didn't love her. She might be something better in the next book.
-My hats off to Mrs. Beale. She sure showed them what she could do in the kitchen...more
Fable has been left to survive on the island of Jeval. She was only fourteen when her father, Saint, the famous trader of tSurprisingly entertaining!
Fable has been left to survive on the island of Jeval. She was only fourteen when her father, Saint, the famous trader of the Narrows left her there. For four years Fable has been dredging to keep herself fed. Her intention has been to accumulate enough coin to ask for passage on a boat to take her back to her father and ask for what is hers.
During the last two years, she has traded her stones with West, the Marigold's trader. When Fable's life is in danger, she asks West for help off of the island. She soon discovers that West has his secrets but so does she.
Great beginning to the series. The descriptions were so well done that I could picture the waves, the birds, the sails, and the jewels.
I was intrigued by Fable's mother Isolde and also for their affinity to the gems. I like Fable, West, and the rest of the crew of the Marigold.
I want to know more about Saint. I wish I could get a prequel and learn how Saint met Isolde.
I can't wait for the second book that comes out in just a few days.
Book friends, listen to me. Finding Tessa is a book that you won't be able to put down.
Who hasn't met a Tessa or know about a Tessa? Women who make tBook friends, listen to me. Finding Tessa is a book that you won't be able to put down.
Who hasn't met a Tessa or know about a Tessa? Women who make the wrong decisions about a man over and over. Women who are abused mentally or physically. I certainly do!
Tessa has had bad luck with "Assholes". Her latest "Asshole" has punched her in the face leaving her black and blue but this time she is going to disappear and make him pay for it. So when Jace Montgomery arrives at his home and his wife, Tessa is gone, he calls the cops. Of course, the cops know the drill. The husband did it especially after finding broken glass, hair, and blood. But is it always the husband?
With Finding Tessa, we get two different points of view. We are giving glimpses of the real Tessa and Jace. The more info I got, the more intricate the story became.
As a domestic thriller, Finding Tessa receives a two thumbs up from me. Both Tessa and Jace were smartly crafted. There was no way, I wouldn't sympathize with Tessa and her bad luck. With all the times' men have hurt her, she was due to find someone nice but looks can be deceiving.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Scarlet via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beth Hardcastle's life is upended when the police come knocking on her door.
Her husband, Tom, a wonderful father, and loving husband, is taken for quBeth Hardcastle's life is upended when the police come knocking on her door.
Her husband, Tom, a wonderful father, and loving husband, is taken for questioning over the death of his ex-girlfriend Katie, who disappeared eight years ago.
Beth is shocked. Is her husband guilty?
Beth can only think that her wonderful life is imploding. She has to protect her daughter, Poppy, the best way she can while keeping her store open too. Living in a small town, she knows people can turn on them in the blink of an eye.
Thankfully, there is Adam. He has gone through something awful too and he seems to understand her and wants to help them.
But is Beth hiding something? Does she know more than she should?
~~
As soon as I saw this novel on NetGalley, I knew I wanted to read it. From the cover to its name, it called to me.
For the most part, I will say that I enjoyed it despite seeing the twist a mile away. I found myself still reading along.
Good debut novel.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Avon Books UK via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had to push myself to continue reading ACoSF. Nesta was so rude and mean for the first or almost half of the book that I waNot what I was expecting.
I had to push myself to continue reading ACoSF. Nesta was so rude and mean for the first or almost half of the book that I wanted to quit so many times. The constant self-pity and anger were detrimental to my enjoyment.
I believe in part, this was an editing issue. The same things were repeated over and over. A book that was more than seven hundred pages with good editing could have easily been 400.
The worse mistake I believe SJM did was the way she wrote Rhys in this one. In order to make us feel bad about Nesta, SJM decided to change Rhy's character into a horny teenager with little respect for his wife that it was ok to hide a huge thing from her. This is not the Rhys of prior books. (I still love you, Rhys. What SJM did to you was undeserving. I’m going to forget all the awful things she wrote you said or did as to not damage your character in my mind.)
Other things that made me think: WTH?
-The way Elaine is portrayed. She is nothing but a wimp.
-Amren: She was cruel when she never has been before.
-Morgan was almost not in the picture.
-Poor Az is always described as aloof and alone.
-The amount of smut. Yes, I can't believe I'm saying this but it was just too much. It felt unnecessary,
Since I talked about the things I didn’t like let me say the things that I did love about ACoSF.
I love the training sessions between all the women and Cassian and Az.
I love that Nesta creates her own family just like Feyre did.
I love the last third of the book. The route to self-discovery and the fighting were hugely entertaining.
I love that I can still see Feyre and Rhys together again ❤️.
As a fan of her Tracers series, I always welcome a book by Laura Griffin.
In Flight we get to know two new characters: Miranda Rhoads and Joel Breda.
ThAs a fan of her Tracers series, I always welcome a book by Laura Griffin.
In Flight we get to know two new characters: Miranda Rhoads and Joel Breda.
The novel begins with Miranda, a photographer, taking pictures of birds at sunrise. After her perfect shot is done, she encounters two dead bodies arranged on a boat. The coupled looked staged. A feather is found at the crime scene. Miranda, who is a CSI on a break, calls the cops after taking pictures of the bodies to preserve the scene since rain is on its way.
Joel Breda is the lead detective of the small town of Lost Beach. He’s in charge of finding the killer. He knows that Miranda can be of help, Her expertise could be invaluable to the investigation. He will do anything to convince her to join his team.
But the closer they get to the answers, the clearer it is that Miranda’s life is in danger.
Who is trying to hurt her?
Laura Griffith writes great romantic suspense. I’m always ready to jump into the story because I know I will relish it.
The Flight was no different. Enjoyable characters that I wanted to learn more about. Of course, there are always secondary characters that make you think: I want to read about them next!
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkely via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Two timelines. Two different centuries. Women impacted by deceit.
In 1791, we meet Nella. She is a woman in her forties. She owns an apothecary just lTwo timelines. Two different centuries. Women impacted by deceit.
In 1791, we meet Nella. She is a woman in her forties. She owns an apothecary just like her mother did before her. The difference is that while her mother used it for healing purposes, Nella after a terrible event in her life has decided to use it for murder. Nella supplies poisons to women who want to eliminate a man in their lives. It can be a brother, a father, a husband. Nella's only rules are not to harm women and to keep a log with the names of the women who requested her help.
Eliza Fanning is a twelve-year-old who has been sent to work as an employee for her mistress, Mrs. Amwell. Just like so many other women, Mrs. Amwell is in need on Nella's help and this serves as a conduit for Eliza to meet Nella. Eliza is immediately taken with Nella and her shop. She wants to learn more about the poison and wants to help her around the store.
In the present, we meet Caroline Parcewell who is in London celebrating her ten-year marriage anniversary alone. Just before her planned trip with her husband, she learns about his infidelity. She needs time to process what she has learned and to take some decisions about where she wants her life to go.
A finding during a mudlarking event will make Caroline go digging with the help of Gaynor, a librarian at the British Library, about the apothecary and the murders which occurred in the 18th century.
An original debut by Sarah Penner. It was a slow burn that had good characterization and ambiance.
I had some issues with the part of the story that involved Caroline. At some point, she is in trouble but the resolution felt rushed and simplified.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by HARLEQUIN/ Park Row via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of the times when I wish Lucas wasn't so lucky.
Who doesn't remember Clara Rinker? She was the one that got away. A killer for hire that wThis is one of the times when I wish Lucas wasn't so lucky.
Who doesn't remember Clara Rinker? She was the one that got away. A killer for hire that was created and used by the St. Louis mob. She was the best at what she did, then she met Lucas, even danced with him, and she was almost able to beat him. She disappeared without a trace and the FBI had nowhere to go.
Years later, Clara is back on the FBI watch. Clara has been hiding in Mexico, she was in love and was pregnant when someone shot and killed her boyfriend, the son of a drug lord. They shoot her too and she loses her baby. The FBI will ask Lucas for help in tracking her. They believe she is coming back to the USA to seek revenge and they know he can help capture her and put her away for good. Lucas who is in the middle of a house renovation and wedding planning jumps at the opportunity to have another go at Clara.
This one was so well done! We know some of the FBI characters and Lucas meets a few more ex-cops that help with the investigation. The pace is fast and the twists are good ones.
Clara's character made me sad. She has lost everything and she has been used and manipulated for years. She was turned into a killer after years of abuse by men. She never had a chance.
Will she give her child away to give her or him a better life?
Will she sell her body to eWhat will a mother do for her kid?
Will she donate an organ?
Will she give her child away to give her or him a better life?
Will she sell her body to earn money to bring food to the table?
Or will she sell opiates to pay for a medical treatment that is cost-prohibitive?
The last one is exactly the scenario Dr. Emma Sweeney is living.
Emma has only wanted one thing since her parents died: to have a family. Meeting Nate and having their son, Josh has been the best thing that happened to her. She loves her husband and adores her child.
Emma is a doctor at a local clinic, she is still paying her student loans and her husband Nate is a detective. They live a modest life without luxury but they're happy. Then the blow comes, Josh is diagnosed with AML and he needs treatment right away. He can either have chemo and a poor prognosis or he can go with CAR T-cell therapy which will cost them 100k plus insurance.
Emma, who knows time is of the essence and money is needed or the hospital won't help Josh, does the unimaginable. She decides to sell signed prescriptions of opiates for cash. She needs to be smart about it. She has old connections she can push to help her while making sure her smart husband, the cop, doesn't discover her.
What a heartbreaking story! Christina McDonald does a great job at describing some of the broken pieces in medicine including the cost of cancer treatment, the opiate crisis, addiction, the power of insurance companies, to name a few.
I was surprised how easy it was for Emma to leave her conscience behind. Yet, I understood her motives. I felt for her dilemma and her fear of losing Josh. However, I can't say that agree with what she was doing. The world of drugs is a dangerous and usually a lethal one.
I had some minor issues with the story and it might because of my job. Nowadays, Eforce is becoming universal. PDMP is checked regularly. Most prescription pads are under lock and key and we never have opiates at the office.
Despite the above, Do No Harm was a gratifying thriller.
I do know now that whatever Christina McDonald writes next, I will read.
Eddie is safe. Thornfield Estates is safe. You’re safe now.
You know when you have a character that is not a nice one but regardless of the way she
Eddie is safe. Thornfield Estates is safe. You’re safe now.
You know when you have a character that is not a nice one but regardless of the way she thinks about people and how she uses them, you are still (grudgingly) rooting for her? Well, that was Jane for me.
The setting: a southern town in Alabama, Thornfield Estates. A place that is full of mansions, with perfectly manicured lawns and where the women are in shape, wearing too much jewelry and scheduling their next Neighborhood Beautification Committee meeting while alcohol runs freely.
The heroine: Jane, a young woman without means. Currently working as a dog-walker for all the rich neighborhood couples. She is smart, conniving, and deceitful.
The Hero: Eddie Rochester, a recent widower who's handsome and sexy. Someone who makes the heroine feel safe and wanted.
The dead wife, Bea: no one can forget the perfect wife who everyone adored now that she is dead. She died in a boating accident with her best friend Blanche.
The Twist: The one thing that prompts me to keep on reading it.
As a huge fan of Jane Eyre and Rebecca, this one was just up my alley. I loved Rachel Hawkins's twisted version of the story. Many years ago, I read her YA fantasy series and I remember enjoying it but The Wife Upstairs demonstrates that she can venture into the domestic thriller setting any time she wants to.
He's the shadow of a man and yet, he's strong enough to capture his victims.
How does he do it?
Helen Fields has given us a quite dark and disturbing tHe's the shadow of a man and yet, he's strong enough to capture his victims.
How does he do it?
Helen Fields has given us a quite dark and disturbing tale. One that for the most part kept me entertained.
A woman, Elspeth, has been abducted, and to find her Connie Woolwine, an American forensic psychologist, and detective Brodie Baarda have teamed up. Connie is making a profile of the psychopath and soon she learns that the body of a woman named Angela has a connection with Elspeth's abduction. Connie knows there has to be a reason for these women to be selected. She and Baarda know time is running out. Will they find her in time?
The Shadow Man had some quite gruesome scenes that made my stomach queazy. My imagination ran wild with all the things The Shadow Man did. Same with some of the discoveries that were described. The last showdown was terrifying.
Connie was a great character! Someone smart, unflappable, and resourceful.
I will like to see her back with Baarda for another investigation.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Avon Books UK via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well, I'm going to be an outlier with this one. I didn't like Layla. Not because of Layla but because of Leeds.
Do I like Paranormal stories? Yes.
Do IWell, I'm going to be an outlier with this one. I didn't like Layla. Not because of Layla but because of Leeds.
Do I like Paranormal stories? Yes.
Do I like Romances? Yes, I do.
Do I like douchy boyfriends? A resounding NO!
Pinpoint my major problem with Layla? LEEDS.
He was condescending. He was making decisions without consulting his girlfriend (who doesn't ask his girlfriend before deciding to buy a home?). He abused his girlfriend's trust in him. He let Willow do whatever she wanted without taking into account anything Layla needed.
Without major spoilers, I had to say that this is COHO's weakest male character for me. I know, I know, some are going to love him but I'm not a fan AT ALL. There's is a scene with wine that completely severed any good emotion I had left for him. Douchbag is the least of what I can say about him.
I know I like happy endings with a good HEA but this one left a sour taste in my mouth. I was unhappy with what happened to Sabel.
Another thing that bothered me was the reason for bringing in an "expert". He didn't stay to help when he was needed the most.
On the eleventh of February, you will kill a man called Arthur Grimm . . . With good reason. And of your own free will.
Well, that certainly is eno
On the eleventh of February, you will kill a man called Arthur Grimm . . . With good reason. And of your own free will.
Well, that certainly is enough to wake up Norah! Who needs espresso when a fortune teller is telling you are going to commit murder on a certain date?
Norah Richter is starting over. She is a journalist and due to a piece she wrote, she has lost her job, her relationship and now she is ready to reinvent herself. She moves from Berlin to Vienna and starts a new job which she is happy to take on until a homeless woman approaches her and speaks those chilling words.
Norah's greatest fear is to kill someone so she is sure nothing will happen on February 11th since there is no way she will do what she is told. Although, February 11th does have a meaning for her. She lost someone dear to her on that day. But how does Arthur Grimm connects with any of it?
Quite an interesting story! Norah was in pain and dealing with a lot. However, I was upset she was getting all these signs but instead of carefully examining them, she was drinking, smoking and sleeping around too much. Her saving grace was her trusty friends who were there for her despite it all.
Every time, Norah described her surroundings, I was transported back to Vienna. I could feel the chill in the air and the threatening darkness.
Kudos to the author and to the audio performer for the atmospheric surroundings.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Spiderline via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Well, Abby Jimenez, has done it again. I have fallen in love with this couple in the most charming way.
Life's Too Short is full of humor, sweet momentWell, Abby Jimenez, has done it again. I have fallen in love with this couple in the most charming way.
Life's Too Short is full of humor, sweet moments, and awareness. We only have one life to live and you have to make a decision on how you want to live it.
For Vanessa Price, the answer is simple. She wants to live in the now and in the fullest way possible. She wants to travel and do things that make her happy. She has lost loved ones and with her sister's death, she knew she had to make a change.
Vanessa quits her job, cashes in her savings, began a Youtube channel, and went on living. Now, she has loyal followers in the millions who support her (for the most part). Then, her traveling ceases completely when her half-sister falls into drugs again and Vanessa must take care of her niece until she is clean again.
Adrian Copeland is a lawyer. He owns the building where Vanessa lives and he's her neighbor. When a child's constant crying interferes with his night, he will knock on Vanessa's door for the first time. Vanessa looks overwhelmed with a crying child in her arms, and Adrian will offer to help her while she cleans up. After this exchange, a friendship will blossom until they realize they want more from each other.
Can they take the next step?
I love how Abby Jimenez introduced these two characters. Everything that they did together that included the baby and the dog was wonderful. I laughed so much reading it but I also shed a few tears.
Life is Too Short is wonderful in all the ways that matter and Abby Jimenez has become one of my must-read authors.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Forever via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
And that is how you should finish a trilogy! Well done Holly Black!
So I got way invested in this series. The Cruel Prince was a good beginning, The WiAnd that is how you should finish a trilogy! Well done Holly Black!
So I got way invested in this series. The Cruel Prince was a good beginning, The Wicked King so much more interesting (with a WTH ending), and then we get The Queen of Nothing which was everything I wanted it to be.
Jude's schemings were the best. She could forge a plan in her head even better than her father and that is saying a lot.
At the end of The Wicked King, Jude is exiled but when Taryn needs help, Jude agrees to go back as Taryn to help her get out of her ordeal. To be honest, her "ordeal" really surprised me. I wasn't expecting it but I'm guessing the author has her reasons for doing it.
What did I love about the Queen of Nothing?
*Sisters. When push comes to shove, the sisters were together, fighting together.
*Cardan. What he tells Jude when she is finally back. Sigh!
*Vivi in every scene.
*Jude and Cardan finally telling each other the truth.
The best was seeing the change in Jude. She had a tough choice ahead of her and her humanity and her ambition were doing their own battle of sorts.
I know Taryn has to come next. There is no way the author implies certain things without giving us more of this world.
What a cliffhanger ending! If you know me, you know I don't like cliffhangers but this one was a masterful one. Thankfully, luck is on my side and theWhat a cliffhanger ending! If you know me, you know I don't like cliffhangers but this one was a masterful one. Thankfully, luck is on my side and the last book is already out so with one click, I will know what is next for this couple. However, before I go there, let me tell you what I think about the Wicked King.
When the Wicked King begins, five months have already passed. Jude's time as a seneschal is running out. She needs to obtain a new bargain from Cardan before it is too late. Yet, there are other pressing things happening. Queen Orlagh from the Undersea is ready for battle. Jude believes she has created an alliance with Cardan's brother, Balekin despite him being in prison and she's sure her brother Oak's life is in grave danger. She is ready to protect Cardan, the crown, and Oak in every way possible with the help of the Court of Shadows. But can she?
I thought The Wicked King was superb. I love the fights, the betrayals, the scheming, the twists.
I also love to hate the baddies like Madoc, Queen Orlagh, Locke, and Balekin.
The court of Shadows which included Ghost, Roach, and the Bomb have all become an important part of the storyline and I was upset with one of the twists despite expecting it.
A thriller where the bad guys are not that bad...maybe?
The Thursday Murder Club involves a retirement community (Coopers Chase), a murder, a recently A thriller where the bad guys are not that bad...maybe?
The Thursday Murder Club involves a retirement community (Coopers Chase), a murder, a recently relocated cop (PC Donna de Freitas), and four friends in their seventies.
I don't know why it happened but I just couldn't read this book at my usual pace. It took me about a week to finish it. I had to buy the audio which made all the difference. I just didn't understand it, I enjoyed the main characters: Elizabeth, Ron, Joyce, Ibrahim, Chris and Donna and I liked the story as a whole. Who knows why I couldn't get into it at times!
Anyway, the book begins with 4 retired friends, Elizabeth, Ron, Joyce, and Ibrahim. They meet at the Jigsaw Room every Thursday and what do they do? They tried to solve cases of different murders.
Then a real murder occurred, Tony Curran, a local builder is found bludgeoned to death. The four friends will insert themselves into the investigation forcing Donna and her boss Chris to work with them in order to find the murderer.
Like I said earlier, the characters were engaging, and I liked them. Yes, I did think that there was no way in real life that the cops will share all their secrets with them. I also don't believe they were able to be one step ahead of the cops but regardless of those issues, it still works.
The Chestnut Man was an atmospheric thriller with the right amount of suspense.
A murder has been committed and detective Thullin and Hess are the onesThe Chestnut Man was an atmospheric thriller with the right amount of suspense.
A murder has been committed and detective Thullin and Hess are the ones investigating it.
Thullin is a single mother and a very good detective. She has done the time in the department she is in but she's ready for an upgrade and recently has applied to the cyberunit.
Hess has been working with Europol solving cases. He's a nomad and doesn't really put any roots anywhere. He recently got in hot water during his last investigation and he was sent to Copenhagen as a form of punishment. At first, nothing is really interesting to him until the dead woman is found. He becomes even more invested when the fingerprint of an abducted twelve-year-old is found at the scene of the crime. The killer has left his calling card, a chestnut man and her prints are on it.
The twelve-year-old is presumed dead. Someone confessed to raping and murdering her over a year ago, so how can her fingerprint be there?
That's the million-dollar question.
There is one undeniable fact about the gruesome murders, the women who have been targeted have all failed their children in one way or the other. There has to be a connection but what is it?
The audio (which I did parts of it) was excellent. I felt like I was there, experiencing the cold dark days. I liked both detectives and I wanted to learn more about them. I do think that they needed to interact a lot more than they did.
I would love for this to become a series. I want more Hess and Thullin's cases.
Raw: The feelings The Push brought out in me. The feelings Ashley Audrain masterful made me have about Blythe. The raw pain Blythe narrates as sR.A.W.
Raw: The feelings The Push brought out in me. The feelings Ashley Audrain masterful made me have about Blythe. The raw pain Blythe narrates as she is drowning in pain.
This novel is disturbing in the right kind of way. No one says motherhood is easy. We all know it is not. But giving birth to a child who doesn't love you and might be evil is not something that is spoken about or thought about. After all, babies are cute and sweet. Or are they? Some might say they are very hard work with the sleepless nights, the tantrums, the teething, the terrible twos but how about the complete emotional disconnection with one parent. Is it possible?
The main character is Blythe. She came from a line of women who failed at being mothers. Either from depression or just a lack of maternal instinct or a mixture of both. She tells us a story of how she met the man she fell in love and after marrying him, he started pushing her to get pregnant. Blythe is not sure she wants to be a mother but she knows she wants to make her husband happy.
Once the baby comes, nothing goes the right way. Little by little, Blythe starts to believe that Violet, her daughter, has something wrong with her. She's calculating, manipulative and cold. Violet only has eyes for her father. While he is home, she's a perfect angel but when she is alone with Blythe there is never peace. Is Violet evil or is Blythe suffering from post-partum depression/psychosis?
Chilling with its frankness, The Push is a novel that I will never forget.
I still can't fathom how some humans can endure so much pain, mentally and physically, and survive it and find happiness.
I don't think I could've survI still can't fathom how some humans can endure so much pain, mentally and physically, and survive it and find happiness.
I don't think I could've survived Auschwitz-Birkenau. I couldn't have survived the Vorkuta gulag in Siberia and most definitely, I wouldn't have survived both places.
How can a sixteen-year-old survive all of those thirteen years of misery? I have no clue. Like Lale Sokolov said: "She was the bravest person I knew".
“Everyone affected by war, captivity, or oppression reacts differently — and away from it, people might try to guess how they would act, or react, in the circumstances. But they do not really know.”
Even though this is a work of fiction, Cilka Klein was a real person. She was a Jewish girl born in Bardejov. She was a prisoner in both Auschwitz and Siberia. She endured rape, abuse, hunger, and so much death. Everyone she loved, was taken from her. Yet, she found new friendships and a doctor in Siberia who was sympathetic to her and decided to help her and train her.
The story is devastating in the horrors humans inflict on other humans. Despite it all, it does end up with a sense of hope that all is not lost.
Loading...
