I didn’t hate it but unfortunately I didn’t love it either. This book was painfully average.
Lucy’s husband gets killed in a traffic accident and fromI didn’t hate it but unfortunately I didn’t love it either. This book was painfully average.
Lucy’s husband gets killed in a traffic accident and from that moment her life starts falling apart. It turns out he had a lot of dangerous secrets, and his death was most likely not an accident. Lucy, fearing for her life, goes back to her family home to reunite with her estranged mother and brother.
A lot of things were not adding up in this story. Lucy was supposed to be an intelligent woman, capable of taking care of herself and making her own decisions. And yet, so many people had managed to trick her somehow it was painful to read. Some things were so painfully obvious and she couldn’t figure them out until it was convenient for the plot. Other clues were so contrived I was rolling my eyes.
I was not a fan of the main characters, they had little personality and felt like cardboard cutouts. The dialogues were mostly clunky, sometimes downright cringe when trying to be funny.
Overall it wasn’t all bad, there were parts of this book that I enjoyed, hence the three stars. However, “an utterly addictive historical mystery” I was promised, it was not.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
This was even better than the first one, I couldn’t put it down!
Sebastian is investigating the murder of Jacob Harrow, a journalHappy Publication Day!
This was even better than the first one, I couldn’t put it down!
Sebastian is investigating the murder of Jacob Harrow, a journalist and an acquaintance of the late Victor Tate. His reasons to speak to Gemma about the case are flimsy at first (he just wants to see her...more
Millie has everything; a charming, handsome husband, loving parents and a beautiful house. However something goes horribly wronThe book is out, enjoy!
Millie has everything; a charming, handsome husband, loving parents and a beautiful house. However something goes horribly wrong during her housewarming party. She wakes up a few weeks later to a cold and empty house without any recollection of what happened. What’s even more disturbing, everyone around her is acting strangely.
This book was creepy and made me feel uneasy but it also kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Gaslighting is a powerful weapon, unfortunately still in use, especially against women. Millie’s predicament might seem outlandish at first, but it’s really not that unrealistic, which was a rather chilling realization.
The way the story unfolded was excellent; new details being revealed at just the right moments, unexpected plot twists and a much appreciated love story that balanced out the heavy plot.
Highly recommended for historical fiction and thriller fans.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book was more than your usual romance novel. The focus was on the journey of self-discovery and trauma-processing. There was also a road trip to This book was more than your usual romance novel. The focus was on the journey of self-discovery and trauma-processing. There was also a road trip to take and a mystery to solve.
It sounds like a lot but the themes were interwoven in a perfect way. The topic was not easy but the author approached it with her usual wisdom and respect for human emotions. I loved Jess and the bond she had with her sister. Their relationship was complex but wonderful and maybe even more important than the romance.
The romance itself was good but it wasn’t a magical, butterflies-in-your-belly, I-want-this-for-myself sort of thing. Both MCs were working through some heavy stuff and it was a lot to take at times. It was however wholesome how they found each other. I loved how Adam got Jess to trust him and how he protected her, and how Jess got out of her comfort zone for him.
Four stars and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Thanks Kensington Books and NetGalley for the arc ...more
A woman’s body is found on the Highgate Cemetery, and the only person who could have seen the killer dies in a traffic accidentHappy Publication Day!
A woman’s body is found on the Highgate Cemetery, and the only person who could have seen the killer dies in a traffic accident. Gemma Tate doesn’t believe in coincidences and is determined to find out what exactly happened to her brother. Luckily she finds an ally in the brooding Inspector Sebastian Bell.
I enjoyed the intricately crafted mystery and the way all the pieces of the puzzle came together in the end. There was just the right amount of clues and some red herrings to keep things interesting. The dynamic between Gemma and Sebastian was great too and I hope that their relationship develops in the future installments of the series.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy well written historical mysteries in a dark setting of Victorian London, where crimes remain unsolved, women are always at a disadvantage and The Great Stink is taking its toll.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
If you like Dora the Explorer but feel like you're too old for it, try this book. You will learn a lot and, since it’s a version for older kids, thereIf you like Dora the Explorer but feel like you're too old for it, try this book. You will learn a lot and, since it’s a version for older kids, there are dicks getting chopped off left and right, so you stay awake.
This book has been written by a history teacher. Do you know how do I know that? Because there’s a history lesson on every. Single. Page. There’s Florence Nightingale and Joseph Paxton, there is syphilis, cholera and teenagers dying in labor. There’s even a whole lecture about the history of sewerage in London. Sadly the storyline gets lost in all the lessons.
Don't get me wrong, I like and appreciate well researched books. I even enjoy details inspired by true events, but a historical background should be just that, a background. Unfortunately the plot-background balance in this book is off and it’s really annoying when you’re trying to solve a mystery and instead you keep getting irrelevant historical tidbits.
However if you read between the lines you will find a murder mystery and even a subtle hint of a romance.
The mystery started off well but went downhill pretty quickly and it had some very disturbing angles so I’m currently busy forgetting it. I’ll focus on all the new things I learned about Victorian England instead.
Thanks Kristina for going through this with me, at least we had fun ranting ...more
The premise of secret paranormal abilities and a murder mystery was great but unfortunately the execution was disappointing.
AftHappy publication day!
The premise of secret paranormal abilities and a murder mystery was great but unfortunately the execution was disappointing.
After her father dies Rayna is terrified that she could’ve caused it and for the first time in her life googles her paranormal abilities. As we all know Google is evil and googling something is an equivalent of announcing it to the world, so the government tracks her down and sends a hot agent Damon to keep an eye on her. So as you can see there was a lot of potential to this story…
Rayna was such a frustrating doormat! She was Captain-America-level perfect (also his level of fun), which was not very credible and frankly a little boring. She was such an angel she couldn’t even defend herself when her life was in danger ...more
Violet writes thrillers and because of that is by some considered an expert in solving mysteries. A stranger shows up atThis was some horror alright…
Violet writes thrillers and because of that is by some considered an expert in solving mysteries. A stranger shows up at her door; she is convinced that her friend is being held hostage and asks Violet to investigate. At the same time people start getting killed in strange circumstances.
This book was exhausting and way too long. It was so cluttered with irrelevant details that it was almost impossible to follow the actual story. It badly needs an editor. Or Marie Kondo. Or both.
It is told from the pov of Violet with a running commentary of a bunch of characters from her books whose voices she hears in her head. Which is not a bad idea per se, but there’s no moderation whatsoever here; these characters have nothing to do with the storyline but they just won’t shut up! It’s overwhelming and confusing.
The second star is for the humor because some of the comments are witty and astute. It is however not enough to recommend this book; I posted all good stuff in my updates, the rest is not worth your time.
My favorite part of reading this book was buddy reading it with Kristina and sharing our daily mini rants ...more
I feel deadly betrayed, I love romance with mystery, but this book…
Cassie and JD were childhood sweethearts but they were separated as teenagers. Now I feel deadly betrayed, I love romance with mystery, but this book…
Cassie and JD were childhood sweethearts but they were separated as teenagers. Now life throws them back together to solve the murder of JD’s ex girlfriend.
My favorite thing about this book is that it was short, because unfortunately both the romance and the mystery felt flat. The storyline was mostly predictable and boring. There were some potentially interesting plot twists but it was all poorly written so I didn’t really feel anything.
The characters were so underdeveloped that they felt like cardboard cutouts; there was a lot going on but it was barely reflected in the characters’ emotions. JD was mostly angry, and rightly so, but I would expect more feelings from him, there were good things happening for him too. However the worst was Henry Kyle - a ten year old boy who was just, after five years, reunited with his father and whose mother had just been murdered. The kid was acting as if he was on vacation; perfectly relaxed, barely any tears. A normal little boy would be more devastated after losing his hamster.
All in all I’m glad it’s over…
Thank you Backlit PR and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review....more
Cliff’s boss is a psychopath. And a powerful one at that. He managed to ruin Cliff’s career, have his best friend murdered and make the giWhat a ride!
Cliff’s boss is a psychopath. And a powerful one at that. He managed to ruin Cliff’s career, have his best friend murdered and make the girl Cliff liked commit suicide. Cliff is a nice guy, but he decides to kill his boss for the greater good. He fails miserably but that’s where the McMasters “finishing school” (pun intended) comes to play.
The beginning of this book reminded me of Monty Python and Futurama, it was bizarre and so funny! The academy with its seemingly jovial and good natured dean was idyllic and cozy which contrasted with its murderous purpose in a brilliant way.
There are kitchen gardens so the food is fresh and there’s an ice cream van to complete the bucolic setting. But there are also poison gardens and there is ground glass in the ice cream.
As the story progressed it got darker. It should not have been a surprise, given the subject, but it was a little. All the twisted logic about murder (or deletion) being basically the only option for some individuals. All the mind tricks making you understand the motives and subsequently… root for the killer.
My only complaint is that this book is very long and at some point it started dragging. However if you like dark humor and witty, intelligent writing, you will love it!
Thank you NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review....more
I was promised a paranormal novella with a touch of slow burn romance. I was so excited! Well…
Madame Chalamet can talk to ghosts and her skills come I was promised a paranormal novella with a touch of slow burn romance. I was so excited! Well…
Madame Chalamet can talk to ghosts and her skills come in handy when solving murder cases. Unfortunately she sometimes knows things that should absolutely not be repeated. Or that’s what the Duke de Archambeau thinks. Since said Duke doesn’t trust her to keep her mouth shut he locks her up.
The castle Moreau has been built in the early eighteen hundreds and the talk about women vaniHappy publication day!
I binged it in less than 24 hours!!
The castle Moreau has been built in the early eighteen hundreds and the talk about women vanishing in there started roughly at the same time. This is a story with two parallel timelines and both heroines, Daisy in 1870 and Cleo in the present day, are curious about the mystery. They are both suspicious and a little scared at times but also drawn to the castle which despite its curse provides refuge from their own demons.
This is a compelling gothic novel with a unique storyline, fascinating mystery and a hint of a romance. There are some plot holes here and there, maybe some slightly weird or unrealistic details but I couldn’t put it down nevertheless. The ending was unexpected and more satisfying than I thought possible.
If mysteries of old castles are your thing don’t hesitate to pick it up!
Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review....more
There is a (very insta) love story with slightly cringy sex scenes and even a ridiculous third act breakup, but this is not your typical romance novelThere is a (very insta) love story with slightly cringy sex scenes and even a ridiculous third act breakup, but this is not your typical romance novel. The American Duke is a combination of drama, mystery and romance in a unique historical setting.
When Sar’s father gets murdered two family secrets come to light. The first one, Sar’s father was a duke’s son and Sar is now the heir to the dukedom. The problem is the other secret; Sar’s mother is a granddaughter of a slave which makes him and his sisters illegitimate as marrying between races is illegal in America. The family has to flee to England but despite its more liberal marriage laws, the English society is in no way less racist and some are not ready to accept a “mixed blood” duke.
I was very intrigued by the premise of this book; this story definitely has a lot of potential. Unfortunately the writing was very challenging. The narrative jumped from one pov to another and new characters appeared out of nowhere without any introduction. A lot was unclear or left unsaid which was confusing and a little irritating, especially since there was a lot going on.
Another thing, I’m not sure how historically accurate this story is. All those super casual and instantly on first name basis aristocrats and very forward thinking gentlemen of the ton seemed a little out of place in the early 19th century England.
Having said that I still enjoyed the story!
3 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Girl Friday for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review....more
Don’t let the title fool you, this book is not slow at all!
Emily has been hired to investigate a century old mystery involving a stash of whiskey andDon’t let the title fool you, this book is not slow at all!
Emily has been hired to investigate a century old mystery involving a stash of whiskey and a piece of art. Are the dusty bottles really the long lost treasure?
This is a clean romance combined with a mystery and the story itself is actually pretty interesting. I liked the idea of parallel timelines and the mystery, even though it was easy to solve.
What I was missing was character development and depth. This book was simply too short for all its plots and subplots and there was not enough time to delve into them. As a result the romance wasn’t very romantic and the banter and emotional connections (not only the romantic ones) felt rushed and awkward.
There were two couples, Emily and Marcus in the present day and Sarah and James in the twenties. At first everyone was extremely rude for absolutely no reason, but it proved to be an excellent seduction technique. ...more
This was absolutely unputdownable; I spent the last 48 hours either reading it or thinking about reading it. What a brilliantly written, gripping bookThis was absolutely unputdownable; I spent the last 48 hours either reading it or thinking about reading it. What a brilliantly written, gripping book!
After the death of her husband Margaret is left without resources and finds a position as a governess to a ten year old boy in a remote manor house. She quickly realizes that the house is nothing like the places she used to work at before she got married. The staff is scarce for such a large estate, on top of that the villagers spread rumors about the house being haunted and the mistress being a witch. Margaret doesn’t believe in ghosts but something is not right…
I am absolutely amazed by how atmospheric this book is. The tension is so well done that I almost heard eerie music and creaking doors in the back of my head. All the sounds at night, strange shadows.. Was that just a light or is someone there? All the whispers, mysterious letters… Why does everyone seem to be hiding something? Even her lover?
There is only Margaret’s pov so we see how the story unfolds through her eyes. Some of my suspicions regarding the mystery were correct but some turns of events I had not expected. I did not love the ending but I have to admit that it made sense (even if it broke my heart a little).
Highly recommended to all mystery and historical fiction lovers!
Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review....more
This will be a long one because I am so torn! It was an entertaining and uplifting read but there were a lot of things that bothered me.
Grace, LilliaThis will be a long one because I am so torn! It was an entertaining and uplifting read but there were a lot of things that bothered me.
Grace, Lillias and their father travel together to meet Lillias’s new fiancé. The wedding is planned for the following week but when Lillias’s secrets come to light the marriage contract is in jeopardy. Luckily Lillias’s father has a second daughter, Grace, who is maybe slightly unorthodox but brave enough to step in.
At the beginning I adored that Grace was so much like Anne Shirley. Who doesn’t love an intelligent, well-read eleven year old with boundless imagination? And isn’t it entertaining that she always says the wrong thing? Well, yeah, but only if it’s an eleven year old. Grace was nineteen and quirks of an eleven year old unfortunately didn’t suit her well. Her positive attitude and cheerful personality were inspiring enough and could have done without the verbal diarrhea.
Instead of charming she looked silly and naïve and just not like other girls. Anne Shirley was way more polished at nineteen. If you then add her patronizing fiancé referring to her as “child” the love story becomes cringy if not outright creepy.
I needed a moment to recover from that thought but after that I liked how enthusiastic and accepting both Grace and Frederick were about their union. Despite the circumstances they were determined to make the best out of it and it was very refreshing and comforting. On top of that this book has a rare and my absolutely favorite quality which is NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP ...more
I loved the murder mystery! That was so much fun to read. The chemistry was great, although I didn’t like that Myles was such a prick. I mean ok, I geI loved the murder mystery! That was so much fun to read. The chemistry was great, although I didn’t like that Myles was such a prick. I mean ok, I get it, he’s a bad boy, but… I don’t knoooow, maybe I’m just not that much into bad boys? ...more
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