Malcolm Gephardt is a bartender and now the owner of The Half Moon bar which was his dream. Malcom bought it from his prior boss. Well, he made an arrMalcolm Gephardt is a bartender and now the owner of The Half Moon bar which was his dream. Malcom bought it from his prior boss. Well, he made an arrangement with him and he pays him an amount every month. However, his dream is now a nightmare. His debt is piling up and his shady ex-boss wants to get paid ASAP.
Jess Gephardt is a lawyer. Yet, her dream has been to become a mother. Her infertility has been a long road of pain and loss. She feels like she has lost the support from Malcolm.
During a storm they both have to reconsider the choices they have made and get on with their lives but will it be alone or together?
Mary Beth Keane wrote characters that are believable. They are selfish and arrogant at times but also heartbroken and relatable. I liked Malcom more than I liked Jess. She made some choices that I didn't agree with. I did feel bad for her not being able to get pregnant. Malcolm also made huge decisions without getting much input from Jess.
Even though I enjoyed it, I did think the resolution was too easy.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Scribner via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This novella is about Blay and Quinn. There is a personal tragedy but with the help of Zsadist and Lassiter, it ends up hopeful instead of heartbreakiThis novella is about Blay and Quinn. There is a personal tragedy but with the help of Zsadist and Lassiter, it ends up hopeful instead of heartbreaking.
It is Christmas time and a blizzard is coming. The brothers all have to stay in and protect their homes from the elements. After the storm, despite close calls, they are all okay except for one.
Besides the main storyline, we also meet two human girls. Their father’s BMW is stuck in the snow and the only way to get it out will be with the help of a tow guy in the form of Quinn. Yet things don’t go the way they should.
I found A Warm Heart in Winter to be quite a tear-jerker in parts. Yet, as I mentioned earlier, it's hopeful too. J. R. Ward is doing a great job at making me love Lassiter more with every book.
I do have one request and it's that I would like to see these two young human girls show up in later books.
In the beginning, we meet Mae. She is searching for Rhev in an underground fighting club to ask for his help. InstThis novel is about Sahvage and Mae.
In the beginning, we meet Mae. She is searching for Rhev in an underground fighting club to ask for his help. Instead, she is confronted with meeting Sahvage, a vampire about to start fighting a human. Mae is in desperate need to find The Book. She needs a spell from it or she will lose everything. When Sahvage is harmed, she can't stay away and decides to help.
Savage knows the Book and it's spells are a no-go. It can only bring more problems to the race. He knows The Book needs to be destroyed but he also can’t let this female fight alone the evil that she has attracted and is near her.
Another great couple has been added to the BDB series. I liked both main characters and the seeds planted for the next book involving Balthazar and Erika.
I cried so much when Trez lost Selena, his shellan in book 13. I was devastated.
This novella, Where Winter Finds You was just Love this happy ending!
I cried so much when Trez lost Selena, his shellan in book 13. I was devastated.
This novella, Where Winter Finds You was just perfect. It was Trez's turn for his HEA. Thankfully, this story delivers in a huge way.
Therese is working as a waitress for Trez's brother's iAm restaurant. She moved to Caldwell from Michigan after finding out she was adopted. This is the first time she has been alone and she is trying hard to keep afloat with her expenses. She lives in a bad part of town and she is saving what she can from her tips to move out.
Trez Latimer is heartbroken after losing the woman he loved. He goes through the motions and continues to work at his club but most days, he thinks about just giving up. When he meets Therese, he is in shock. She is a replica of Selena.
Can he there be hope Therese is Selena?
Loved it. Was perfect for a Christmas story with a fallen Angel twist.
Fern Brookbanks is dealing with the loss of her mother after a car accident. Her mother had left the reMeet Me at the Lake is a second-chance romance.
Fern Brookbanks is dealing with the loss of her mother after a car accident. Her mother had left the resort she owned to her. Fern knows she needs help managing the property but she doesn’t know if she wants to do it. Her life is in the big city, of Toronto. She has been living there for the last few years. Then, as if losing her mother was not enough shock, she learns her mother had hired a company to help her stay in the black and the person who shows up is none other than Will Baxter, the man she met ten years before and who broke her heart.
Ten years earlier, Fern had the best day with Will. Will, who is an artist, is painting a mural in the coffee shop where she was working. As soon as they meet, a spark is there. Yet, both have a significant other but they make a pact to see each other a year later at the resort. A year later, Fern is there but Will never shows up.
In the present, Will is in front of her and she is still furious at him but she knows she needs his help if she wants to keep the business afloat or if she decides to sell.
Meet Me at the Lake had 3 timelines if we count Fern's mom's diary entries and one main POV.
It was easy to like Fern. I understood why she didn’t want to take over the resort after college. She wanted to do her own thing. I like Will except during the conflict. He didn’t act the way I thought he should.
Overall, I did like it and I would read another romance by Carley Fortune.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Viking via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There is Edith who used to be a store detective. She is now in her eighties and was tricked inShocking twists!
The story revolves around several women.
There is Edith who used to be a store detective. She is now in her eighties and was tricked into signing a power of attorney, placed in a care home and her dog was taken away from her and sent to a rescue.
Edith's daughter is Clio. She is a therapist who likes to help people but is unable to help herself. She lives in her pink house alone with the memories of happier times.
Frankie is the prison librarian. She has a secret. Frankie did a bad thing but for a good reason. Frankie suffers from anxiety and the only thing that helps her is counting.
Patience works at the senior care center where she does housekeeping. She befriends Edith and saves her dog. However, she is hiding who she really is.
Then a murder happens.
"Three suspects, two murders, and one victim."
DCI Chapman is called in to process the scene. She believes Clio, Patience, or Frankie are involved and all she has to do now is prove it.
The novel has several POVs and past and present chapters. The story flows and the characters are all very original and interesting. The last few twists were freaking amazing and the narration by Katherine Press and Stephanie Racine was superb! A sure winner for me.
I wouldn't mind seeing DCI Chapman in another novel and please keep the strand of pink hair!
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have made no secret that Will is one of my favorite male characters with his 6'3" height, lean body, A new Will Trent book is always a treat for me.
I have made no secret that Will is one of my favorite male characters with his 6'3" height, lean body, three-piece suits, dyslexia, and as the proud owner of Betty (his Chihuahua dog).
What is not to like?
Now back to what the novel is about....
After That Night brings more heartache for Sara Linton. If you follow this series, you know that Sara is currently Will's fiancee and that about 15 years ago, she was raped at Grady's while she was a resident. This event changed her future. Instead of becoming a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, she moved back home and joined the local pediatrician.
A few years back, she moved back to Atlanta after another shocking event in her life, and during one of her ER shifts, she tried to save the life of a young woman, Dani Cooper, who had been brutally attacked. Before dying, Dani whispered that she was raped. Only Sara heard her. At present, Sara is testifying about the case fulfilling the promise she made to Dani and herself that she was going to do anything to make the man who attacked her pay.
To her surprise, the attacker's mother tells Sara that her rape and the attack on Dani are all linked!
"Don't you remember the mixer?"
This statement will shock her to her core and will make Will and his partner Faith Mitchell, start their own investigation into the matter before presenting the case to Amanda, their boss.
A lot of intrigue in this one as well as women's violence although not as graphic as other books I read by her.
I liked how solid Will and Sara have become as a couple. Also, how Will has learned how to engage with Faith. He knows when she needs time or when he needs to press for her to open up.
Was I shocked by the ending? Nope, not at all. The clues were all there.
I can't wait for the next book. Probably a murder during Sara and Will's wedding. One can only hope...
The Writing Retreat is the debut novel by Julia Bartz. I didn't particularly like it.
The story begins with the main character Alex. When we meet he2.5
The Writing Retreat is the debut novel by Julia Bartz. I didn't particularly like it.
The story begins with the main character Alex. When we meet her, she doesn't enjoy her job or her boss. She is also suffering from writer's block and she still stalks her ex-best friend's Instagram posts regularly.
Her luck changes when she is invited to a writing retreat offered by non-other than her favorite horror author, Roza Vallo at her home in Blackbriar Estate. Alex isn't alone, four more women are there with her: Taylor, Poppy, Kiera, and as luck will have it, her ex-best friend Wren is there too.
Roza notifies them that they will be competing to finish a book within the next four weeks and each of them will be helping edit the book of the others. Whoever wins, by having the best novel, will be getting a seven-figure publishing deal.
Alex wants to win badly. She wants to beat Wren as well. The only problem is that she has no clue how to get rid of her writer's block but she is guided toward writing a historical fiction novel based on a demon.
Then strange things started occurring......
I thought the book had a good premise and I enjoyed the first half of it. The last 20% not so much. It went off the rails and was too unbelievable to be taken seriously.
Cliffhanger: No
2.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Atria/Emily Bestler Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Megan is a married woman in her twenties. Her husband is abusive. She is estranged from her sister who is her twin. Her sisterGreat attention grabber!
Megan is a married woman in her twenties. Her husband is abusive. She is estranged from her sister who is her twin. Her sister Leah has taken everything from her for as long as Megan can remember.
Then Megan discovers Leah's latest betrayal and she loses it. Taking Leah's place may not be the easiest thing, especially during a pandemic lockdown, and if someone knows what she did!
From the very beginning, I was engrossed with this novel. I am one of those readers who enjoys thrillers where twins are the main characters. This one didn't disappoint me. There were multiple times I was shocked by the twists although, I guessed the last one. Several narrators brought to life these interesting characters of a solid debut novel.
If you have read the first 3 books, you know Atlee is an FBI agent. She is also a great fighter and anThis is the conclusion to the Atlee Pine series.
If you have read the first 3 books, you know Atlee is an FBI agent. She is also a great fighter and an even better weightlifter. At the age of six, someone came into her room and kidnapped her twin sister Mercy and hurt Atlee badly enough that she ended up in the hospital for a while.
Clues discovered during the prior books have led Atlee and her friend Carol Blum to believe that Mercy might be alive and that she was able to escape her captors.
Atlee knows she needs to find out the truth and she hopes her sister is alive and she can get to her before it's too late.
Mercy was a great way to end the series. Baldacci has created great female characters in this last installment. The novel was action-filled and the suspense continued to increase all the way to the end.
I'm sad this is the end of the road for Atlee. I wouldn't mind reading more books about her solving cases.
Liz Bennet has a nice home. She is married to Arno, a quite successful businessman. They have a small daughter, Emma.
Liz has been experiencing some diLiz Bennet has a nice home. She is married to Arno, a quite successful businessman. They have a small daughter, Emma.
Liz has been experiencing some difficulties. She is a published author and her first novel was successful. However, since delivering the baby, she has suffered from writer's block and has been unable to finish her second one. Having her agent call her on her progress is not helping. The second issue she is dealing with is the lack of a bond she has with her daughter. Then, things get worse when one morning, her husband receives a text from a female worker. Liz becomes suspicious of Arno. Is he cheating? Are all those late nights not really work-related?
Liz spirals into a frenzy of stalking the woman's social media and her husband's other coworkers in the hope of finding clues.
I didn't mind following Liz's decompensation. She was a little nuts for sure. I also thought her postpartum depression had something to do with her paranoia. The narrator, Kelli Tager did a great job in making me feel sorry for Liz's predicament. I did love how lucky Liz got with her babysitter. She was awesome to Emma and Liz.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a huge fan of the Lucas Davenport series, I could not in good conscience skip Virgil Flowers. I had to give him a try. Happy I did.
Virgil is smart,As a huge fan of the Lucas Davenport series, I could not in good conscience skip Virgil Flowers. I had to give him a try. Happy I did.
Virgil is smart, patient, and not afraid to set a trap for the bad guy/or girl. He is not your typical cop. He looks more like a surfer. Blonde, tall and lean. He likes to wear music band T-shirts instead of suits. He also has 3 ex-wives but the failed marriages have not made him bitter. Furthermore, he likes the ladies, and the ladies like him back.
I was pleased with Dark of the Moon as the first installment and I enjoyed how Virgil handled himself. I'm sure he is only going to get better. I didn't like Lucas in book 1 so Virgil is already ahead.
I'm an outlier for this one. I did not enjoy On the Savage Side.
I was hoping for a different type of book. This was a dark novel without hope.
On the SI'm an outlier for this one. I did not enjoy On the Savage Side.
I was hoping for a different type of book. This was a dark novel without hope.
On the Savage Side was inspired by the murders of the Chillicothe Six. I was hoping to see more justice for these women in the novel since in real life the actual women who were murdered have not had it since two of the missing women are still missing, presumed dead but no body has been recovered.
What rang true was the lack of worry the police felt about trying to find who was killing the prostitutes and drug addicts.
The main character is Arc Doggs. She has a twin named Daffy. They live with their mother and aunt. Both prostitutes and heroin drug addicts. The twins experience child and sexual abuse. They grow up poor and without anyone helping them after their grandmother is killed. So as teenagers, they succumb to drugs and to be able to afford their addiction they become prostitutes themselves.
As I said earlier this book was not for me. The prose was slow and the novel was full of imagery, symbolism, and constant metaphors. Too much for my taste.
Cliffhanger: No
2/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Knopf via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Wishing Game stars Lucy Hart. She is a woman in her twenties, working as a teacher's aide. She loves The Wishing Game touched all my heartstrings!
The Wishing Game stars Lucy Hart. She is a woman in her twenties, working as a teacher's aide. She loves her job but she mostly loves her time with one student, Christopher Lamb. He is a seven-year-old boy who has lost his parents and is in foster care. Lucy dreams of becoming Christopher's foster mother and then adopting him. Yet, her economic and living situation makes the dream impossible.
When Lucy was a kid, she ran away from home. She went to Clock Island for the sole purpose of becoming Jack Masterson's sidekick. Jack Masterson is the famous author of the children's series called Clock Island. While on the island, Lucy also met Jack's young book illustrator, Hugo Reese.
In the present, Jack has not written a new book in the last few years but Lucy introduced the Clock Island books to Christopher after the loss of his parents. To their shock, an announcement is made and Jack has written a new book and has started a contest and one of four lucky contestants will have the chance to win the new novel. Furthermore, Lucy is one of the four contestants. She and Christopher are ecstatic. This gives hope to Lucy. If she wins, she can use the book to get money to help her become Christopher's mom.
The Wishing Game was adorable. It was easy to fall for all the main characters. Lucy, Christopher, Hugo, and Jack all had an important part to play. As a huge book lover, the idea of books helping through difficult times is relevant and truthful.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Ballantine Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
VenCo is about an organization of witches. The whole premise is based on the belief that if seven special witches get together, womenIt had potential.
VenCo is about an organization of witches. The whole premise is based on the belief that if seven special witches get together, women will become more powerful.
Lucky St James is the sixth witch. She is living in Toronto with her grandmother who is suffering from cognitive changes when she is found by Venco. Lucky is in possession of a special spoon that has the letters Salem inscribed in it. As soon as Lucky touches the spoon, she feels differently. When VenCo comes knocking she accepts traveling from Canada to the USA to meet a possible employer. She brings her grandmother with her and when they arrive at their destination they meet five women who are living together. Here is where Lucky learns she is a witch and she has to find the last spoon and the witch who will complete their coven. But, things are not easy, an ancient being is on the prowl. His name is Jay Christos, and he wants all the witches to die. He is responsible for the death of many and he is on the hunt for the last seven.
The book had a very slow beginning, only the last third had some action. I wished we had seen more of their powers and their backstories than what we got. The ending felt a little rushed. Yet, overall I enjoyed the story.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by William Morrow via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say that I'm disappointed. I mean the Princess Diaries' first book was refreshing and cute. This one not so much.
The novel is supposed to bI have to say that I'm disappointed. I mean the Princess Diaries' first book was refreshing and cute. This one not so much.
The novel is supposed to be about Princess Mia dealing with the pandemic arriving at her doorstep. In my opinion, the author had a great chance to give some substance to the characters instead the majority of the book is just fluff. No real conflict. Worse, Mia is still insecure about her husband Michael. She passes her time drinking wine in sweatpants. She says she is worried about her family and the people of Genova but she doesn't do much except a couple of indictments to mandate masks and social distancing. Worse, all the fun of reading it went away between how political the book was and Mia making fun of Americans.
No one is sadder that I didn't like it than myself.
Cliffhanger: No
2/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Avon Impulse via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Happy Place is the latest book by Emily Henry. This one is about friendship and of course love too.
It's about best friends who met in college and who Happy Place is the latest book by Emily Henry. This one is about friendship and of course love too.
It's about best friends who met in college and who reunite once a year to spend time together in Coastal Maine where so many of their memories have been created.
The main couple is Harriet and Wyn who were best friends first, and after a year, they became more. Later on, engaged but in the present, they are not together anymore. Between two timelines past and present, we learned how they met, fell in love, and why they broke up.
In the present when Harriet arrives, she is surprised to see Wyn there, she never thought she was going to see him there again. She is shocked, to say the least, but the shocks keep on coming, her friend Sabrina is going to marry at the end of the week and the house they have loved for so many years is being sold!! So of course Harriet and Wyn need to fake being still together not to upset the dynamics despite not being a couple for the last six months. Harriet still loves Wyn so she is not sure how to navigate the situation without getting hurt further.
Happy Place had me wanting to go visit Maine right away and follow all the places they enjoyed and the food they ate. It also had me rooting for a happy ending for the main characters and for their friendship between the six to survive the passing of time.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Atlee Pine and her assistant Carol Blum are on the trail for answers. Atlee wants to know what happened to her sister A great addition to the series!!
Atlee Pine and her assistant Carol Blum are on the trail for answers. Atlee wants to know what happened to her sister Mercy who was abducted from their bed when she was six.
Her latest clue takes her to New Jersey and a man named Ito Vincenzo who seems to be the person who kidnapped her. No one knows where Ito is but she trails his grandson and when she tries to ask questions, he runs away. Unbeknownst to Atlee, she was interfering with a military bust by nonother than John Puller, military CID.
Feeling intrigued about where John Puller's case was taking them, she decides to stay and help with the investigation, hoping to find more clues about Mercy in the process.
Baldacci can make you root for his characters every single time. Atlee has become a quick favorite. A good FBI agent which for the most part uses her intellect but is not scared to use her strength to catch a bad guy.
I haven't read the John Puller series but my husband is a fan and he was excited to see the crossover of worlds.
By the end, we have more shocking discoveries and more clues into Mercy's fate. I can't wait to start the next one.
In The Lives of Puppets, we are taken to a world in the future where robots run free.
At the beginning of the story, we getAnother hit for T. J. Klune!
In The Lives of Puppets, we are taken to a world in the future where robots run free.
At the beginning of the story, we get to know the hero Victor, a young human living in a secluded home with his adopted father Gio, and two robots, Nurse Ratched and Rambo.
Victor was the one who fixed Nurse Ratched and Rambo and he is always on the lookout for another machine he can reactivate. So when he finds an android who for a minute was still "alive" before his battery stops, he knows he will do anything to fix the android who he names HAP (Hysterically Angry Puppet). At first, he hides him from GIO until HAP is fully operational. Without realizing by saving HAP, Victor has put his life in danger. Next thing he knows, androids are surrounding his home and GIO is taken prisoner to the City of Electric Dreams. Gio has left a message not to try to find him but Victor can't stop himself but embark on a trip to save the only father he has ever known.
In regards to the characters, even though I care about Victor and root for his success and love HAP's evolution, my heart was stolen by Nurse Ratched and Rambo. Who doesn't love a nurse who can engage in an empathy protocol but truly has a murderous streak with the sole goal of drilling? And Rambo with his sweet disposition, innocence, ferocious loyalty, and the need to be brave?
Worth mentioning is the narrator Danny Henning who does a marvelous job with these wonderful characters just like he did with Cerulean which is still my favorite of Klune's novels.
Adorable characters that make you feel are the recipe for Klune's success. I can't wait for any of his books to become a movie.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Tor Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed prior Kerry Wilkinson's books and I was excited to start a new series by this author.
Millie Westlake volunteers at the nursing home where heI enjoyed prior Kerry Wilkinson's books and I was excited to start a new series by this author.
Millie Westlake volunteers at the nursing home where her friend Jack works. Millie lives in Whitecliff where everyone knows each other and gossip spreads faster than you can say hi. Millie is well known but not with affection but with recrimination. She has committed two crimes in the minds of the inhabitants. First, she cheated with a politician, broke her marriage, and lost the custody of her son when the affair was found out, The second crime is that they believed she killed her parents and she got away with it plus inherited their home after they passed. The only job Millie can have is being a dog groomer although the reviews left on the net are not as nice as she would like.
One day, after spending time with Ingrid, a nursing home patient, she is told by Ingrid that the night before she saw a woman being pushed off the roof of a home close by through her window. Millie can't let it go and decides to investigate. This decision will put a target on her back but she can't stop digging with the help of Guy, an ex-reporter now blogger.
I liked Millie, her story was intriguing and I wanted to know more about her affair, her parent's death, and of course, if a woman was truly pushed and why. The story grabbed me from the very beginning and I was happy with the way the novel unfolded. The narrator Helen Keeley did a great job of bringing the character to life.
I will read the next one in the series and hope to see more of the characters. Hopefully, she can get her son back.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Bookouture via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sam Montgomery is an archaeoentomologist who just finished a job in Arizona. After her brother calls her to tell her something I liked it well enough.
Sam Montgomery is an archaeoentomologist who just finished a job in Arizona. After her brother calls her to tell her something seems off with their mother, she decides to go visit her in North Carolina. Sam is excited to spend her time off watching crime tv shows and drinking wine.
Sam's mother is usually a carefree, easy-going, and stress-free woman but when Sam sees her, she can't believe this thin, jumpy, and distracted person is her mother. In addition, her home feels off too. Her mother had painted all the walls white like when her Gran Mae was alive instead of the vibrant colors they were the last time she visited. Is her mother getting dementia or is someone harassing her? And why are all these crows watching the house and her every move?
A House with Good Bones had an entertaining character to keep my interest throughout. The gothic elements were well-balanced. Furthermore, the narrator, Mary Robinette Kowal did a fantastic job of keeping things moving for me.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Nora Goes Off Script so it was a no-brainer to request this one.
In the Same Time Next Summer, we meet Sam. She is going to her family's beach I loved Nora Goes Off Script so it was a no-brainer to request this one.
In the Same Time Next Summer, we meet Sam. She is going to her family's beach house in Long Island in search of a venue for her wedding. Her fiance Jack is going with her.
Sam is shocked to find out that Wyatt, her first love is there too. He broke her heart when she was eighteen. Now more than a decade later, she is not ready to see him again.
This second chance romance was just what I needed. I loved Sam's character and learning about her romance with Wyatt. The dual POV helped me root for Wyatt.
I won't second guess requesting Annabel Monaghan's next book.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by G.P. Putnam's Sons via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The novel tells the story of Beatrix "Bea" Thompson. Is 1940 and World War II is raging. London is getting bombed
Beyond sad but uplifting at the end!
The novel tells the story of Beatrix "Bea" Thompson. Is 1940 and World War II is raging. London is getting bombed regularly and her parents, Millie and Reggie decided to send her to America to live with a family in Boston.
Millie doesn't want to send her but Reginald insists. He wants her daughter to be safe.
When Bea arrives in Boston, the Gregorys are there to pick her up. She meets Mr. and Mrs. G and their sons, William and Gerald.
William behaves like a regular teenager, angry at times, thinking about enlisting when he is of age, and desperate to leave the house and travel all over.
Gerald is the youngest son. He is big-hearted and sweet. Even though both sons are so different, they both clicked with Bea, becoming one of them pretty quickly.
Bea who starts as scared and angry towards her mother-teenager, blossoms into a wonderful young woman. She falls for William but when the war is over, she must return to London. Readjusting her life is not easy but she knows she has to continue her life although the Gregorys are never far from her mind.
Heartbreak, death, divorce, and sorrow plague these two families and when it felt that there was no hope, a sliver will show up.
Ell Potter, the narrator, helps bring Bea, Mrs. G and Millie alive. I thought she did a great job narrating them.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lee Gulliver is down on her luck. She runs to Seattle after her business goes under due to the pandemic. She is living in her car and working in a plaLee Gulliver is down on her luck. She runs to Seattle after her business goes under due to the pandemic. She is living in her car and working in a place for illegals. She is in hiding after the man who helped her with the money to start her restaurant wants her to pay him back. She knows if he finds her, she won't live long. He has already shown her that he can hurt her.
One morning, Lee is sleeping near the beach when she hears a woman cry. The woman, Hazel, is trying to drown herself. Lee doesn't think twice and jumps in the water to save her. Hazel is angry with her. She tells her she is a prisoner in her own home due to an abusive husband. However, the next morning Hazel shows up next to Lee's car. She thanks her for saving her life and brings food for Lee. They start meeting every morning.
Lee starts to believe that things are turning for good. She considers Hazel to be a true friend and she meets a man named Jesse. He is sweet to her and very understanding of her situation.
Then Hazel asks her to cover for her. She is tired of the abuse and she is ready to disappear. She asks Lee to dress like her and to replace her at home in front of all the cameras while she makes her escape.
Then someone is murdered!
I like that Robyn Harding provided us with both female POVs. Lee and Hazel had in common that both wanted to disappear and escape their situations. Their ordeals sounded quite plausible. The Drowning Woman had a good couple of twists that kept the story moving forward and made it engaging from the very beginning.
I loved Mr. Wrong Number and now I can say that I loved The Love Wager too.
This book is about Hallie and Jack.
The first time they meet, HallLoved it!!
I loved Mr. Wrong Number and now I can say that I loved The Love Wager too.
This book is about Hallie and Jack.
The first time they meet, Hallie is working as the bartender for Jack's sister's wedding. It's also the time when Jack's almost fiancee decides to be nasty and attack Hallie. This leads to Jack breaking up with her and instead spending the rest of the time with Hallie. One thing leads to another or should I say, one drink leads to another, and Jack and Hallie will spend a one-night stand together. Yet, this is not the end for this pair. They will meet again while using an app known for finding true love and meeting "The One". At first, their interactions are messages, then texts, and then phone calls. Their conversations are about everything including sharing their bad dates from the app and deciding to meet after those dates to discuss what went wrong while eating tacos together.
You can guess what happens next. Hallie and Jack both start developing feelings for each other but what is the best course of action? Ruin the friendship they have and enjoyed or try to become a couple and wish for the best.
Love both characters, their banter, and their very real friendship. Also, I loved how perfect they were for each other.
I can't wait to read a new book in this series. Will it be about Hallie's roommate? She seems like an awesome character.
Grayson Hale has been accused and found guilty of killing his classmate Liam Stewart. Grayson justifies the killing by sayingThe Devil is in Scotland.
Grayson Hale has been accused and found guilty of killing his classmate Liam Stewart. Grayson justifies the killing by saying that the Devil made him do it. Over a year later, he is found dead in his cell by suicide.
After his death, a manuscript written by him comes to light. From it, we learn that Grayson's father was a pastor and that his life was not easy growing up. As a kid, Grayson was terrified of the devil and anything related to him. As a teenager, he became an atheist.
When his father passes. Grayson decides to go to Scotland, a place his father had visited as a young man. Grayson believes living there will bring him closer to his father. Then a stranger asks him to become a ghostwriter for a novel about the devil. This act will forever change the course of his short life.
To be honest, I was disappointed. The story was not scary. I found the narrative to be repetitive. The pace was also too slow. I did feel terrible for Grayson. He had a terrible life and a worse ending.
Cliffhanger: No
2.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Valerie is distressed about her memory. Her mother had Alzheimer's and she saw what the disease did to her. She'd rather n
I liked A Mother Would Know.
Valerie is distressed about her memory. Her mother had Alzheimer's and she saw what the disease did to her. She'd rather not find out. Valerie's daughter, Kendra worries about her health and living alone but Valerie doesn't want to leave her home. So instead when her son needs a place to crash, she is more than happy for him to stay with her. Yet, the neighborhood disagrees. You see, years prior the next-door neighbor's daughter's death was associated with Hudson since he was her boyfriend.
Valerie worries about Hudson. She remembers some incidents when Hudson was growing up that perturbed her and of course, she knows about Helen, the girlfriend that died. Making matters worse, two new deaths occurred in the neighborhood and they have a connection to Hudson. What is she going to do?
I listened to the audio and Vivienne Leheny helped keep things straight between the past and the present. The majority of the book is narrated by Valerie. She is an unreliable narrator due to her memory loss. I felt bad for her. She was in an impossible position. Do you believe your son is a killer or are you a terrible mother for thinking it?
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by MIRA via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve always been a sucker for frenemies to lovers trope. You, with a View, is just that.
Noelle Shepard is grieving the loss of her grandmother. She feI’ve always been a sucker for frenemies to lovers trope. You, with a View, is just that.
Noelle Shepard is grieving the loss of her grandmother. She feels lost. She is back living with her parents after being let go of a job she didn’t enjoy five months ago. Then she discovers love letters written by her grandmother to a man who was not her grandfather. Noelle thought her grandmother told her everything during their Tell Me A Secret sessions but she never shared this one.
Noelle decides to do a TikTok video with all the info she has available trying to find out the identity of the man her grandma loved. The next morning, to her shock someone answered "That’s my grandfather".
When she meets Paul (the man her grandmother loved) she also sees her high school classmate, Theo Spencer. It turns out that Paul is Theo's grandfather. In high school, Noelle and Theo used to compete constantly for first place. They tried to surpass each other every chance they got. Now, Theo is a very successful businessman and she has nothing to show for all the time they have not seen each other. She feels like a failure.
When Noelle learns that her grandmother had planned to marry Paul and they already had their honeymoon sketched, she decides she should do the trip her grandmother never got a chance to do. Paul asks to join her and Theo won't let Paul go alone so of course he decides to come too.
You, With A View, was so freaking cute. Great debut romance with likable characters all around. The MC connection felt real. They had a past together so it was easy to believe they were falling for each other in the present. Paul was so adorable. Such a great grandfather and constant supporter of Theo.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love Loreth Ann Books. They are always a treat for me.
The Maid's Diary is another success.
Without giving too many details away, the story centers onI love Loreth Ann Books. They are always a treat for me.
The Maid's Diary is another success.
Without giving too many details away, the story centers on Kit Darling, a maid for wealthy people. She likes to snoop around the houses she cleans.
When she gets a new client, she realizes she knows the couple (Daisy and Jon Rittenburg) and she can't stop herself from snooping and planning an act of revenge.
However, if she is successful how come there is a murder when the novel begins in the present?
There are different timelines with several points of view including diary entries by Kit, Daisy, Jon, and Detective Mallory Van Alst who is called to the scene of the crime.
I'm very pleased with the novel, its delivery, and its conclusion. Loreth Ann White will always be an auto-buy for me.
This time, I listened to the audible and I thought Jane Oppenheimer did a fantastic job.
A Minute to Midnight is the second book in the Atlee Pine series.
After catching a little girl's kidnapper and beating him almost to death, Atlee PineA Minute to Midnight is the second book in the Atlee Pine series.
After catching a little girl's kidnapper and beating him almost to death, Atlee Pine's boss makes her take a leave. He knows Atlee needs to step away from work and look into her past to be able to move forward.
Atlee decides to go back to Georgia. The last place she saw her twin sister, Mercy. They were six when a man came into their bedroom and took her and hit Mercy so hard that she ended up in the hospital with severe head trauma. However, during the trip down memory lane, Atlee is not alone. Her assistant Carol Plum is with her.
Coming back home brings all kinds of feeling for Atlee and when she starts asking questions to the people who used to know her parents, she realizes more than one is hiding things from her making it harder for her to follow a trail.
When a series of murders start occuring. Atlee lends a hand to the investigation. Another FBI agent is called to help out. He and Atlee have some history but they will put their feelings aside to help with the task at hand.
Quite an interesting novel this was. Trying to figure out if the murders were related to Atle's sister's disappearance and what really happened all those years ago had me on my toes.
As for the characters, Atlee was likable. She was a good agent. She was smart and logical without being the usual broken-need-fixing protagonist. I also liked Carol. She was loyal to Atlee and always gave the support she needed but also made her see her faults when Atlee was making mistakes.
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