John Marrs has such an interesting mind, and I love these wild and crazy books he creates. The Family Experiment is set in the same world as The PasseJohn Marrs has such an interesting mind, and I love these wild and crazy books he creates. The Family Experiment is set in the same world as The Passengers, The Marriage Act, The One, etc., and I'm really glad I started at the beginning of publication with those books to fully appreciate the dystopian world-building that is going on across the board. There are also easter eggs that are not to be missed throughout! The Family Experiment looked at what could happen if we had the ability to create AI children in a metaverse and using a VR headset actually parent these children. It happens in an accelerated timeframe on reality TV, but the concept is there and it's scary to think about with AI being so prominent these days.
The layout of the book screams for a full cast on the audiobook, so I was happy that that is exactly what we got! Clare Corbett, Clifford Samuel, Eilidh Beaton, Joshua Riley, Justin Avoth, Thomas Judd, & Nneka Okoye all did an incredible job and even though there are a lot of characters, I think the audio is the way to go and I was never confused. Along with mixed media that brought fantastic sound effects with the audio, we also have viewpoints from the various couples as well as others. There were some great jaw-dropping moments and twisty twists, and it made me think about that Tamagotchi I had a million years ago as a kid. If you enjoy dystopian worlds, thrillers, sci-fi, and a dash of speculative fiction this is the book for you, and I highly recommend starting with the oldest publication dates and working your way through!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Stranger at the Wedding is A.E. Gauntlett's debut novel and DANG! It had a couple of twists that made my mouth drop open, as well as being a book I could not put down. I saw readers saying there was nothing groundbreaking here, and while I agree to some extent, it still threw me for a loop, and I loved the deviousness of one of these characters. I don't think I actually liked a single person in the story, but that was fine by me and definitely kept things interesting.
I loved the audiobook and thought Sophie Rundle did a fantastic job. There are a few different viewpoints with quite a few characters, and I will admit it was sometimes hard for me to keep track of them all while I was listening. However, once we were introduced to each of them I found it a bit easier though it may be helpful to keep a list if you go the audiobook route. Overall, I was incredibly satisfied with this domestic suspense (I wouldn't call it a thriller) novel, and I will be looking forward to seeing what else Gauntlett writes!
I received an advanced listening copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Christmas Camp Wedding by Karen Schaler was such an adorable continuation to Christmas Camp and I'm so glad Schaler decided to keep Haley and Jeff's story going. This short novella was the perfect length and was laugh-out-loud funny. I loved the addition of Trisha (Jeff's ex) as the wedding planner, and of course everything that could go wrong does which made the book even better (you'll see what I mean). The end made me excited that there might be more of these books coming, and I would love a continuation of this series! It has the best characters and each book is heartwarming and entertaining. This has some serious Hallmark vibes as well, and it was the perfect, quick read for around Christmas. There was no audio, but the novella was super short and it's such a quick read that I didn't mind not having it. If you loved Christmas Camp, then I have a feeling you love Christmas Camp Wedding as well!
Merged review:
Song/s the book brought to mind: Here Tonight by Brett Young
Christmas Camp Wedding by Karen Schaler was such an adorable continuation to Christmas Camp and I'm so glad Schaler decided to keep Haley and Jeff's story going. This short novella was the perfect length and was laugh-out-loud funny. I loved the addition of Trisha (Jeff's ex) as the wedding planner, and of course everything that could go wrong does which made the book even better (you'll see what I mean). The end made me excited that there might be more of these books coming, and I would love a continuation of this series! It has the best characters and each book is heartwarming and entertaining. This has some serious Hallmark vibes as well, and it was the perfect, quick read for around Christmas. There was no audio, but the novella was super short and it's such a quick read that I didn't mind not having it. If you loved Christmas Camp, then I have a feeling you love Christmas Camp Wedding as well!...more
A Patient Man by S. Lynn Scott is very short coming in at just 240 pages, but it is definitely one odd little book!
What it's about: It is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
A Patient Man by S. Lynn Scott is very short coming in at just 240 pages, but it is definitely one odd little book!
What it's about: It is the 1970s and Mikey is only eight, but he's not your typical eight-year-old. Growing up in a family with a mother that doesn't really care, a dad that's away in London a lot, and a brother and sister that don't really pay him any mind - he has his run of Canvey Island, even skipping school most days. But this doesn't stay the same for long when his older neighbors, the Freemans, win a huge amount of money. They become the victims of a criminal act that leaves the wife dead and the husband wanting revenge. Aiming his sights on Mikey's family, Mr. Freeman comes up with a very special way of trying to bring them down, one that leaves Mikey not very happy. But is Mr. Freeman actually right about who killed his wife?
A Patient Man is definitely a bit of a coming-of-age novel, while also touching on things like greed, revenge, and crime. The mystery of who committed the act that killed Peggy seems like somewhat of a minor plot point compared to what happens after Mr. Freeman initiates his revenge. Who killed Peggy is what starts everything, but the novel is really about so much more.
Reading things from Mikey's POV was very interesting, albeit sometimes frustrating for me. I would have maybe liked to have had at least 1 other viewpoint. The touches of humor in the book caught me off guard a few times, and even though there are very serious themes, I found myself laughing out loud in a few spots. Sometimes even at just how ridiculous something was. Mikey's story really is quite sad though when you think about most of his upbringing, and I really liked how his story evolved in the book as he got older. Note: The book is written from Mikey's POV of what happened, looking back as an adult.
The reason I say A Patient Man is odd is mainly because of the writing style. It was very unique, and I haven't read anything like it that I can compare it to. It almost made things a little confusing for me, and I did get a little lost in the beginning. I also wouldn't necessarily call this book gripping, I wanted to know what would happen, but it didn't keep me glued to the pages like some books do. It's definitely a slow burn that is highly character based/driven.
Song/s the book brought to mind: 7 Years by Lukas Graham
Final Thought: Overall, I was very satisfied with A Patient Man though, and it definitely provided for a very unique reading experience. If you are a fan of character driven novels told in a unique writing style, I would definitely recommend checking this book out. It kind of gave me a bit of The Bird Tribunal vibe although it is not a Scandinavian fiction novel. This book is out now and available for purchase on Amazon!
Thank you to Random Things Tours and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Merged review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
A Patient Man by S. Lynn Scott is very short coming in at just 240 pages, but it is definitely one odd little book!
What it's about: It is the 1970s and Mikey is only eight, but he's not your typical eight-year-old. Growing up in a family with a mother that doesn't really care, a dad that's away in London a lot, and a brother and sister that don't really pay him any mind - he has his run of Canvey Island, even skipping school most days. But this doesn't stay the same for long when his older neighbors, the Freemans, win a huge amount of money. They become the victims of a criminal act that leaves the wife dead and the husband wanting revenge. Aiming his sights on Mikey's family, Mr. Freeman comes up with a very special way of trying to bring them down, one that leaves Mikey not very happy. But is Mr. Freeman actually right about who killed his wife?
A Patient Man is definitely a bit of a coming-of-age novel, while also touching on things like greed, revenge, and crime. The mystery of who committed the act that killed Peggy seems like somewhat of a minor plot point compared to what happens after Mr. Freeman initiates his revenge. Who killed Peggy is what starts everything, but the novel is really about so much more.
Reading things from Mikey's POV was very interesting, albeit sometimes frustrating for me. I would have maybe liked to have had at least 1 other viewpoint. The touches of humor in the book caught me off guard a few times, and even though there are very serious themes, I found myself laughing out loud in a few spots. Sometimes even at just how ridiculous something was. Mikey's story really is quite sad though when you think about most of his upbringing, and I really liked how his story evolved in the book as he got older. Note: The book is written from Mikey's POV of what happened, looking back as an adult.
The reason I say A Patient Man is odd is mainly because of the writing style. It was very unique, and I haven't read anything like it that I can compare it to. It almost made things a little confusing for me, and I did get a little lost in the beginning. I also wouldn't necessarily call this book gripping, I wanted to know what would happen, but it didn't keep me glued to the pages like some books do. It's definitely a slow burn that is highly character based/driven.
Song/s the book brought to mind: 7 Years by Lukas Graham
Final Thought: Overall, I was very satisfied with A Patient Man though, and it definitely provided for a very unique reading experience. If you are a fan of character driven novels told in a unique writing style, I would definitely recommend checking this book out. It kind of gave me a bit of The Bird Tribunal vibe although it is not a Scandinavian fiction novel. This book is out now and available for purchase on Amazon!
Thank you to Random Things Tours and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own....more
I was a huge fan of The Last Story of Mina Lee, so I was excited to see what Nancy Jooyoun Kim's sophomore novel What We Kept to Ourselves would bringI was a huge fan of The Last Story of Mina Lee, so I was excited to see what Nancy Jooyoun Kim's sophomore novel What We Kept to Ourselves would bring. This was a slow-burn character-driven work of literary fiction with a mystery element, and while I loved the end and the twists, I don't think it needed to be almost 400 pages. It also moved too slowly for my liking and felt repetitive, but only as far as the same topics being brought up repeatedly. I did appreciate the subject of Agent Orange, and knowing someone who was in the Vietnam War and hearing stories about it previously, made that part really stand out for me even though that piece was relatively small.
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed Jennifer Kim as the narrator, but I would have appreciated a full cast for the various viewpoints. That wasn't a huge deal for me, but something I want to point out all the same. Honestly, I was close to a DNF multiple times, but the audiobook kept me going and I HAD to find out what happened with Sunny. I will admit that my attention wandered quite a bit almost the entire time I was listening to What We Kept to Ourselves, but in no way should this stop you from reading. I am definitely in the minority here and did enjoy multiple things including the exploration of secrets. If you enjoy slow burns and character studies with a focus on other cultures, I would still recommend giving this a go.
Thank you to the publishers and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I love finding new authors to read and thanks to a friend of mine setting up the cover reveal for The New Neighbour by Miranda Rijks, I was able to fiI love finding new authors to read and thanks to a friend of mine setting up the cover reveal for The New Neighbour by Miranda Rijks, I was able to find another one to love! I knew I had to read this book right away and I'm glad I did since it was very pacy and suspenseful throughout. It made for one super quick read, and it was very easy to find myself saying one more chapter during it. I always love a good neighborhood drama, and the addition of the new neighbor really creates quite a stir. Most of the story is told from Isobel's viewpoint and I really enjoyed it that way. It was a great way to build suspense, and I found myself suspecting every single neighbor of devious deeds. I especially liked the way the first chapter drew me in, and I found myself going back to reread it after I had finished seeing it with new eyes.
I also really liked the fact that The New Neighbour was something different from the typical thriller I am used to reading. Rijks manages to fit in more than a couple of surprises and made it a great blend of twisty neighborhood drama, domestic drama, and suspense all rolled into one. I also enjoyed Isobel as a character and appreciated that she wasn't a pushover since I don't like that type of protagonist at all. As the neighbor's secrets slowly unravel and tensions run high, I found myself regretting the times I had to put it down. Really, the only issue I had with the book was the repetitiveness I found which maybe because of the ARC and not in the finished copy. There were quite a few phrases and facts repeated which always bugs me, but I had zero other complaints. I would love to get my hands on a finished copy to double-check the repetition so be sure to take that with a grain of salt. Definitely looking forward to checking out more from Rijks and I recommend reading The New Neighbour if you want something quick and twisty.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Merged review:
I love finding new authors to read and thanks to a friend of mine setting up the cover reveal for The New Neighbour by Miranda Rijks, I was able to find another one to love! I knew I had to read this book right away and I'm glad I did since it was very pacy and suspenseful throughout. It made for one super quick read, and it was very easy to find myself saying one more chapter during it. I always love a good neighborhood drama, and the addition of the new neighbor really creates quite a stir. Most of the story is told from Isobel's viewpoint and I really enjoyed it that way. It was a great way to build suspense, and I found myself suspecting every single neighbor of devious deeds. I especially liked the way the first chapter drew me in, and I found myself going back to reread it after I had finished seeing it with new eyes.
I also really liked the fact that The New Neighbour was something different from the typical thriller I am used to reading. Rijks manages to fit in more than a couple of surprises and made it a great blend of twisty neighborhood drama, domestic drama, and suspense all rolled into one. I also enjoyed Isobel as a character and appreciated that she wasn't a pushover since I don't like that type of protagonist at all. As the neighbor's secrets slowly unravel and tensions run high, I found myself regretting the times I had to put it down. Really, the only issue I had with the book was the repetitiveness I found which maybe because of the ARC and not in the finished copy. There were quite a few phrases and facts repeated which always bugs me, but I had zero other complaints. I would love to get my hands on a finished copy to double-check the repetition so be sure to take that with a grain of salt. Definitely looking forward to checking out more from Rijks and I recommend reading The New Neighbour if you want something quick and twisty.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I literally have no idea (as per usual these days) how I stumbled across Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop by Emmeline Duncan, but I'm real glad I did!I literally have no idea (as per usual these days) how I stumbled across Chaos at the Lazy Bones Bookshop by Emmeline Duncan, but I'm real glad I did! I love cozy mysteries, and this one was perfect for some light spooky season reading. I loved that the storyline featured a bookstore called Lazy Bones, and Bailey along with her four-legged friend Jack Skeleton were the best. I didn't realize that Duncan is the author of the Ground Rules series which I have had on my TBR ever since before the first book came out, and I am now inspired to move them up on the list!
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Emily Durante, and I thought she did a wonderful job. I loved listening to her and everything from her pacing to tone to the flow was top-notch. The mystery surprised me as well as the addition of a certain aspect of Bailey's life ...more
I have never read Laura van den Berg before and I am still collecting my thoughts for State of Paradise. This is a very short book coming in at just oI have never read Laura van den Berg before and I am still collecting my thoughts for State of Paradise. This is a very short book coming in at just over 200 pages, and though it was about the same main character throughout (a ghostwriter whom we never learn the name of) it almost felt like short stories. The story's structure is also interesting with it being broken into 3 time periods: May 15 - July 1, July 1-14, and July 15 - x. Clearly a continuous storyline, but it was like we got a look into various aspects of this woman's life. I got lost in the Florida setting, and I am sure some (many? ...more
For some reason, I was under the impression that Trouble in Queenstown was Delia Pitts' debut, but it is not! I thought she didAudiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For some reason, I was under the impression that Trouble in Queenstown was Delia Pitts' debut, but it is not! I thought she did a wonderful job of using the showing not telling method, almost to the point where sometimes I wasn't quite sure what she was getting at, but it felt electric all the same. I loved our FMC Evander “Vandy” Myrick, and she was a very relatable character between her quest for justice and the way her dad was the center of her world. Loss of a child is discussed among other things, so I would make sure to check your triggers as this book does get a little dark.
I loved Bahni Turpin as the narrator for the audiobook, and thought she made the entire storyline along with its characters come alive in an exciting way. She was on it during the action scenes as well, and I was impressed with the way she made Vandy shine. I loved how the book was broken down into Vandy's different cases though it also came along with the progression of the plot itself. I love a gritty PI novel, but I also felt like something was missing from this one to keep me from connecting with it fully. ...more
This was my first novel by Chris Bohjalian and I have very mixed feelings about it.
You could definitely tell that Bohjalian did his research for this book. For the cities, the details, the flight attendants, the laws talked about, everything. I thought The Flight Attendant was incredibly detailed, and I really enjoyed the FBI reports throughout the book.
This was more of a slow-burning thriller to me, and I didn't think the book was especially fast-paced. However, that didn't seem to be a problem with this one even though I usually like faster paced books better.
I loved the multiple POVs. You got Elena and Cassie which was really nice to have those 2 viewpoints throughout the book. Multiple viewpoints always hook me. I just wish there would have been more Elena and Cassie's wouldn't have been so much because she drove me crazy.
This book definitely keeps you interested, and I didn't see the ending coming AT. ALL. Like literally I was 92% done with my ARC and still had no idea what the ending was going to be. It totally blew me away.
Now some things I didn't like. Cassie was one hot mess, and I didn't feel like she learned a thing throughout the book (I really hate when that happens). She was idiotic, unstable, and usually in a drunken stupor even after she knew she was in trouble. Like get yourself together already woman... She just functioned on the mantra "we are who we are" and didn't even TRY to change or grow in the slightest. And her habit of stealing from hotels began to irritate me as well. I found her extremely unlikeable as a character. I guess this just goes to show how well Bohjalian can portray his characters though. I saw another reviewer had pointed that out and it is so true. He really makes you dislike Cassie.
Honestly, I can't think of one character I really liked all that much besides Ani (she cracked me up), I just didn't feel like you got any real depth from them so it was hard for me to feel a connection. I wasn't invested in any of the characters, and frankly couldn't have cared less what happened to Cassie.
Two minor things: I felt like the book was a little repetitive at times, and caught myself thinking "haven't I read this already?" a few times. Also, both Ani and especially Cassie, had a tendency to say "go on" when they wanted another character to continue speaking. Sometimes it seemed to be said in unnecessary areas as well and was a little odd. Apparently this must mean I'm weird, because I seem to be the only person that has noticed this, or at least chosen to point it out in a review. It drove me crazy for some unknown reason and I picked up on it.
Ok and this ending. The epilogue felt SOOOO unbelievable to me. Did anyone else feel like this, or just me? I just can't comprehend it ending like that after everything else. I don't know guys....
Final Thought: I definitely still want to read other books from Bohjalian. I didn't hate this book by any means, but apparently it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. I definitely wouldn't buy it, but I appreciate the opportunity to have read it. It's got a lot of great reviews so I still recommend reading it for yourself to see what you think.
*This book is set to be published on 13 Mar 2018*
*HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book. My review is completely honest and unbiased*
Merged review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
My reviews and (maybe) some other random thoughts can also be seen at
This was my first novel by Chris Bohjalian and I have very mixed feelings about it.
You could definitely tell that Bohjalian did his research for this book. For the cities, the details, the flight attendants, the laws talked about, everything. I thought The Flight Attendant was incredibly detailed, and I really enjoyed the FBI reports throughout the book.
This was more of a slow-burning thriller to me, and I didn't think the book was especially fast-paced. However, that didn't seem to be a problem with this one even though I usually like faster paced books better.
I loved the multiple POVs. You got Elena and Cassie which was really nice to have those 2 viewpoints throughout the book. Multiple viewpoints always hook me. I just wish there would have been more Elena and Cassie's wouldn't have been so much because she drove me crazy.
This book definitely keeps you interested, and I didn't see the ending coming AT. ALL. Like literally I was 92% done with my ARC and still had no idea what the ending was going to be. It totally blew me away.
Now some things I didn't like. Cassie was one hot mess, and I didn't feel like she learned a thing throughout the book (I really hate when that happens). She was idiotic, unstable, and usually in a drunken stupor even after she knew she was in trouble. Like get yourself together already woman... She just functioned on the mantra "we are who we are" and didn't even TRY to change or grow in the slightest. And her habit of stealing from hotels began to irritate me as well. I found her extremely unlikeable as a character. I guess this just goes to show how well Bohjalian can portray his characters though. I saw another reviewer had pointed that out and it is so true. He really makes you dislike Cassie.
Honestly, I can't think of one character I really liked all that much besides Ani (she cracked me up), I just didn't feel like you got any real depth from them so it was hard for me to feel a connection. I wasn't invested in any of the characters, and frankly couldn't have cared less what happened to Cassie.
Two minor things: I felt like the book was a little repetitive at times, and caught myself thinking "haven't I read this already?" a few times. Also, both Ani and especially Cassie, had a tendency to say "go on" when they wanted another character to continue speaking. Sometimes it seemed to be said in unnecessary areas as well and was a little odd. Apparently this must mean I'm weird, because I seem to be the only person that has noticed this, or at least chosen to point it out in a review. It drove me crazy for some unknown reason and I picked up on it.
Ok and this ending. The epilogue felt SOOOO unbelievable to me. Did anyone else feel like this, or just me? I just can't comprehend it ending like that after everything else. I don't know guys....
Final Thought: I definitely still want to read other books from Bohjalian. I didn't hate this book by any means, but apparently it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. I definitely wouldn't buy it, but I appreciate the opportunity to have read it. It's got a lot of great reviews so I still recommend reading it for yourself to see what you think.
*This book is set to be published on 13 Mar 2018*
*HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book. My review is completely honest and unbiased*...more
From what I can tell, Ladykiller is Katherine Wood's debut, and it is just the kind of salacious and drama-filled book I love to read. The viewpo4.5/5
From what I can tell, Ladykiller is Katherine Wood's debut, and it is just the kind of salacious and drama-filled book I love to read. The viewpoints rotate between Abby and Gia’s manuscript, and if you don’t like the unreliable narrator trope this will not be for you. I loved the way the manuscript and Abby’s viewpoint ended up tying together, and I definitely spent the entire book wondering how true Gia’s story was. The pacing is on the slower side but still steady, and I just completely fell into this world of sex, money, and bad behavior with a dash of mystery.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Marcella Black & Hallie Ricardo and thought they both did a bang-up job. I did like whoever narrated Gia’s manuscript slightly better, but honestly, they were both rockstars and I LOVED the audio even on a (slow for me) 2x speed. Ladykiller was super close to being a 5-star ⭐ read for me had it not been for the rather ambiguous ending. I typically prefer more closure than what I got here, and I literally shook my fist at the end. ...more
I don't know why it took me so long to pick up a book by Shanora Williams, but now I want to read all of her other thrillers. The Bitter Truth is fastI don't know why it took me so long to pick up a book by Shanora Williams, but now I want to read all of her other thrillers. The Bitter Truth is fast-paced, super bingeable, and filled with jaw-dropping twists that I never saw coming. Some parts were tough to read, and I appreciated Williams including triggers at the beginning of the book in a dear reader section. If you have triggers, I would be sure to read it as there are definitely a few in here. The two main viewpoints in the beginning are Jolene (Jo) and her husband Dominic, but then it flips around midway, and we have more female POVs. I loved the way that and some focus on the past made the story flow and it certainly kept me on my toes.
The entire audiobook is narrated by Sable Lyn & Roderick Ross with Ross narrating Dominic and Lyn narrating all the female viewpoints. Thankfully, Williams labeled each chapter, so I didn’t have any confusion over whose POV I was in. I loved Ross’ narration and I just love his voice in general. Lyn was a bit of a mixed bag for me, and while I liked her narration, I didn’t love it. She had pauses in odd spots throughout, and it just felt pretty unnatural overall instead of flowing. I don’t want to say too much about the actual storyline, and I think besides knowing triggers, The Bitter Truth is best to go into as blind as possible. I loved the strong friendship that was in the book as well and that bond is something I don’t get to see too often in thrillers, so I was happy. If you are in the mood for something that is dark, twisty, and packs a punch this is it! ...more
I loved Holly James' 2023 release The Deja Glitch, so I was super excited to get Name Your Price! I am a Reality TV fan, and I thought it was such a gI loved Holly James' 2023 release The Deja Glitch, so I was super excited to get Name Your Price! I am a Reality TV fan, and I thought it was such a great idea for James to take this storyline into a TV show about people doing things they REALLY don't want to do for prize money. I loved Olivia and Chuck even when they were fighting, and their chemistry was off the charts. There is a dab of spice in the book but mostly it was a rom-com with forced proximity and lots of sexual tension. ...more
I did not know headed into Lowcountry Lost by T.I. Lowe that it was Christian fiction (not a normal genre for me), but since I love Lauren K. DentonI did not know headed into Lowcountry Lost by T.I. Lowe that it was Christian fiction (not a normal genre for me), but since I love Lauren K. Denton it shouldn't be a surprise that I loved it. The entire book is told from the viewpoint of Avalee and man did I love this headstrong leading lady. She is basically trying to hide her trauma in a box and not think about it, but once her ex-husband arrives onsite to help with the reconstruction of the ghost town she is bringing back to life, she can't help but deal with it and all the pain that brings. There are triggers in this book that I felt despite not experiencing them myself, and I would definitely check subject matters prior to reading.
I loved the found family elements as well as the rekindling of a romance that was thought long gone on Avalee's end. This is a slow burn with a setup much like an HGTV show and I was hooked from the very beginning. The southern vibes are off the chart since this is set in South Carolina, and there are so many food references that it was literally making my mouth water. The secondary characters are anything but second, and I fell in love with every single person (and animal - looking at you Preacher!) in the novel.
Lowcountry Lost exceeded any expectations I could have possibly had, and I ended up laughing but also crying my eyes out, especially after the must-read note from the author. Even if you aren't a fan of clean romance/Christian fiction but are in the mood for something that will rip your heart out and put it back together again with plenty of laughs along the way I would highly recommend giving this incredible story a chance. I will definitely be looking into reading more from Lowe!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
"I thought detectives come in pairs, like socks." - Anthony
I'm trying to get through some old backlist NetGalley, so I've been trying to target books "I thought detectives come in pairs, like socks." - Anthony
I'm trying to get through some old backlist NetGalley, so I've been trying to target books that don't have an audiobook out. The Secret She Kept by J.S. Ellis is a very quick read that kept me guessing but did end up being pretty middle of the road for me as far as thrillers go. I didn't like any of the characters which usually isn't a problem, but they are all adults and some of the childish behavior started getting on my nerves.
I loved the format of this book and the way it alternated with Anthony's viewpoint and the clips of Lottie's videos. It created quite an air of mystery as well as a speedy plot that made me not want to put it down! I did notice a lot of editing mistakes such as missing words and other grammatical errors that were in the finished book which I will admit turned me off a bit as well. Overall, The Secret She Kept was a pretty solid read, but not one that I will be recommending to everyone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
"Love is patient, love is kind, love means slowly losing your mind." - 27 Dresses
My love for rom-com movies is vast, so I can't believe it took me so "Love is patient, love is kind, love means slowly losing your mind." - 27 Dresses
My love for rom-com movies is vast, so I can't believe it took me so freaking long to read Better than the Movies! I also didn't realize this is Lynn Painter's debut and man, what a doozy to start with. Liz and Wes are my favorite, and even though I could see the connection between them, it was much more fun to see Liz have the realization of what she really wants as the book goes on. I would certainly watch this if it got turned into a movie, and I LOVED the quotes at the beginning of each chapter from different rom-com movies.
I also loved the audiobook which is narrated by the one and only Jesse Vilinsky. She is quickly becoming one of my favorites, and she was the perfect fit for Liz. Better than the Movies is an emotional read in many ways as it is also about family, grief, and letting people in not just the HEA. Liz is such a quirky character with a style all her own, and I loved seeing the message of being who you are no matter what anyone else thinks. I cried, I laughed, and I aww'd my way through this delightful young adult romance. ...more
I didn't have Karen E. Olson on my radar until I started seeing An Inconvenient Wife everywhere, but if she writes more books like this I am in!4.25/5
I didn't have Karen E. Olson on my radar until I started seeing An Inconvenient Wife everywhere, but if she writes more books like this I am in! It was a 1-day read for me and once I started, I just couldn't put it down. Through various viewpoints, we get lots of twists and turns as well as some fantastic suspense. I had no idea until after I was done that this is a retelling of Henry VIII and his many wives set in the present-day as a rich businessman instead of royalty. After reading about him further I could see so many similarities, and I loved how Olson brought him and all that craziness into life in a crime novel.
One of the ways I was able to turn An Inconvenient Wife into a one-sitting read was thanks to the audiobook, and while a full cast would have been helpful for all of the different POVs, Nikki Thomas still knocked it out of the park. I thought she did a great job changing her voice up for the various characters and she was a delight to listen to. While the reader finds out rather early on part of what is going on, there is still much to discover and lies to unravel. The ending gave me actual chills, and I sure love it when an author can do that....more
The Drowning House was a weird one for me, which was especially sad because I LOVE Cherie Priest's series The Booking Agents. This was definitely a veThe Drowning House was a weird one for me, which was especially sad because I LOVE Cherie Priest's series The Booking Agents. This was definitely a very far departure from that kind of cozy crime mystery, and it had all the witchy, eerie, and gothic vibes that make for a perfect fall read. However, I thought the pacing got bogged down by the inclusion of the 1985 timeline as well as the other viewpoints minus one at the very end. I would have been perfectly fine staying in the present time exclusively from Melissa's viewpoint.
The audiobook is narrated by Mara Wilson, and I thought she did an excellent job of heightening the seclusion and creepiness of the storyline. I love an isolated location and the setting at an exceptionally spooky house on a rural beach was perfection. Wilson is probably what kept this from being a DNF for me and in between the disjointedness I felt and some aspects that were just plain bizarre (I kept thinking wth as I was listening), it was mostly a miss for me. That being said I know some readers will truly love it, so I wouldn't let my review stop you and there were many elements I did love.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Holy moly, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is Briony Cameron's debut, and I couldn't put this action-Holy moly, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is Briony Cameron's debut, and I couldn't put this action-packed thrill ride down. Cameron focuses on a woman who may be fictitious or made up from many forgotten women in the past with Jacquotte, and brings her idea of what her story could have been to life in this swashbuckling pirate tale. This was unlike any other historical fiction novel I have ever read, and I was completely wrapped up in both the storyline and worrying about how things would end for our fearless FMC.
I listened to the audiobook and have to say Angel Pean did an incredible job narrating. It felt like she was destined to be the voice of Jacquotte, and I thoroughly loved every bit of her narration. There is a lot of violence which can be expected when we are talking about pirates, and I could totally see this being made into an amazing movie. There is also a queer romance at its heart that I couldn't get enough of and Jacquotte is just the type of badass female lead that I love. She was unbreakable even at the hardest times, and this work of fiction will be something I remember long into the future....more
After seeing countless rave reviews for We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer on Bookstagram, I knew I had to move it up on thAudiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
After seeing countless rave reviews for We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer on Bookstagram, I knew I had to move it up on the list instead of waiting for full-on spooky season. I can hardly believe this is his debut novel, let alone Netflix already picking up the rights to make it a movie. I have a feeling this will be super creepy onscreen if how eerie and disturbing the book was is anything to go by. It kept me on my toes from the very start, and I LOVED the map at the beginning and the various multimedia aspects throughout.
I would highly recommend having a copy of the book but listening on audio as the audiobook was ...more
Loading...
