Tag: 4 Stars

Review

The Boyfriend: A Psychological Thriller by Freida McFadden – My Review

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Title: The Boyfriend: A Psychological Thriller

Author: Freida McFadden

Release Date: October 1st 2024

Genre: Psychological Thriller

She’s looking for the perfect man. He’s looking for the perfect victim.

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it all: men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can’t shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He’s charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim…

A dark story about obsession and the things we’ll do for love, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden proves that crimes of passion are often the bloodiest…

I do enjoy a good Freida book. There’s always something I don’t see coming. At this point, I don’t even try to figure out how it ends or who did it, I just let it take me on that ride. That’s what happened with The Boyfriend. I was suspicious of everyone! Can you blame me?Some parts were a little slow but it picks up and then you’re at the end going what the f… just happened. While I enjoyed the book, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the way it ended at first. Then after sitting with it for a week, I’ve decided it ended okay. 

Reading a Freida McFadden book feels like a guilty pleasure for me. I devour each book of hers I can get my hands on. I give this 4 stars. 

*Affilate link*

Review

Perfect Circle (The Physical Collection) by A.R. Hadley – My Review

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Title: Perfect Circle (The Physical Collection)

Author: A.R. Hadley

Release Date: April 2nd 2023

Genre: Gay Erotica

What happens when two longtime friends decide to take things a little further than planned?

When acrophobic Meg ends up suspended at the top of a Ferris wheel with her sassy friend Ava Hawks, she gets much more than she bargained for.

However, the bi-curious girls also have boyfriends. Leo and Owen will soon be joining them at the county fair. And in the bedroom.

Will this be a night to remember? Or a tryst the four of them would rather soon forget?

Perfect Circle is a 5,600-word short story. Part of The Physical Collection: a series of sexy standalones written by A.R. Hadley.

This is a cute, steamy, and quick read. Best friends who explore what could be between them. Although this is a short read, I did get the sense that these two cared a lot about each other and I think that adds to their story. Makes their exploration special. I give this 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Fireflies: An LGBTQ Novel (The Physical Collection) by A.R. Hadley – My Review

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Title: Fireflies: An LGBTQ Novel (The Physical Collection)

Author: A.R. Hadley

Release Date: May 15th 2023

Genre: Gay Erotica

Three’s company, but is four a crowd?

Mike and Dane are a bisexual couple living the good life in a tucked-away Florida beach town.

But things start to shift when Dane announces he’d like to add a third to their seven-year relationship. A woman.

What ensues is a journey neither man expected. And after a few rather interesting hookups, two women enter the picture, forever changing the course of their lives.

Will the men get everything they’ve always wanted? Or will their polyamorous relationship prove to be more than they can abide?

Author Note: Fireflies is a 45,000-word novel. Part of The Physical Collection: a series of sexy standalones by A.R. Hadley. More literary fiction, less romance. The characters and their intense and realistic actions drive the plot. Contains graphic content that may trigger some readers.

I enjoyed this story. The characters were different and also relatable in some ways. Do we choose who we love or does our heart choose for us? The story was both emotionally deep, thought provoking, and steamy. The intimate scenes were pretty smoking. This was a really unique story. Not a traditional love story but one nonetheless.

If you’re looking for something new and different to read, I highly suggest this one. I give this 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Waiting for Darkness Book 1 by Tony Reyes – My Review

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Title: Waiting for Darkness Book 1

Author: Tony Reyes

Release Date: July 30th 2013

Genre: Vampire Thriller, Horror

Cruz Espinoza, a brilliant young surgeon, has his life ripped from him as he is pulled into the supernatural world of the Darkling. Cruz looks for answers to millennia old questions. Where did the Vampire myth come from? Who gave them these powers? And why? He finds the answers, answers that shake his faith.

Vampires? Horror? Yes, please!

Cruz’s life was changed forever in one night.

The story as a whole was interesting and entertaining at times. The beginning was a little shaky for me and sometimes I couldn’t separate past events or scenes from what was happening in the present. All that aside, I did enjoy the story. I enjoyed how different it was from other vampire stories I’ve read. The ending was a total surprise!

If you like horror and vampires, check out Waiting for Darkness! I give this 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Fool Me Once: A Novel by Ashley Winstead – My Review

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Title: Fool Me Once: A Novel

Author: Ashley Winstead

Release Date: April 5th 2022

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Second Chance

“A simmering slow burn bursting with banter… This is a romance for anyone who’s ever felt too messy to be loved.”

—ROSIE DANAN, author of The Roommate

In this fierce and funny battle of the exes, Ashley Winstead’s Fool Me Once explores the chaos of wanting something you used to have.

Lee Stone is a twenty-first-century woman: she kicks butt at her job as a communications director at a women-run electric car company (that’s better than Tesla, thank you), and after work she is “Stoner,” drinking guys under the table and never letting any of them get too comfortable in her bed…

That’s because Lee’s learned one big lesson: never trust love. Four major heartbreaks set her straight, from her father cheating on her mom all the way to Ben Laderman in grad school—who wasn’t actually cheating, but she could have sworn he was, so she reciprocated in kind.

Then Ben shows up five years later, working as a policy expert for the most liberal governor in Texas history, just as Lee is trying to get a clean energy bill rolling. Things get complicated—and competitive—as Lee and Ben are forced to work together. Tension builds just as old sparks reignite, fanning the flames for a romantic dustup the size of Texas.

Fool Me Once is a quirky and fun read. Lee Stone is smart, strong, and funny. She also has her issues which we see come out during the story. While this was a fun read for me, it had some cringe moments. It made me say “Girl what are you doing?!” more than once. I think that is what makes Lee relatable. The other characters are not perfect and some are not likable at all. The energy between Lee and Ben is great. The playful banter between the two had me laughing. I kept saying “Just kiss already!”

This is not my normal kind of read and I’m glad I took a chance on it! It was fun along with some heartfelt moments that caused me to tear up. This is a new to me author and I will be looking into her other book. If you love fun quirky romance reads, I highly recommend you check this book out! I give it 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

A Good Day for Chardonnay: A Novel (Sunshine Vicram Book 2) by Darynda Jones – My Review

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Title: A Good Day for Chardonnay: A Novel (Sunshine Vicram Book 2)

Author: Darynda Jones

Release Date: July 27th 2021

Genre: Mystery

From the New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones comes the second novel in her laugh-out-loud Sunshine Vicram mystery series, A Good Day for Chardonnay.

Running a small-town police force in the mountains of New Mexico should be a smooth, carefree kind of job. Sadly, full-time Sheriff—and even fuller-time coffee guzzler—Sunshine Vicram, didn’t get that memo.

All Sunshine really wants is one easy-going day. You know, the kind that starts with coffee and a donut (or three) and ends with take-out pizza and a glass of chardonnay (or seven). Turns out, that’s about as easy as switching to decaf. (What kind of people do that? And who hurt them?)

Before she can say iced mocha latte, Sunny’s got a bar fight gone bad, a teenage daughter hunting a serial killer and, oh yes, the still unresolved mystery of her own abduction years prior. All evidence points to a local distiller, a dangerous bad boy named Levi Ravinder, but Sun knows he’s not the villain of her story. Still, perhaps beneath it all, he possesses the keys to her disappearance. At the very least, beneath it all, he possesses a serious set of abs. She’s seen it. Once. Accidentally.

Between policing a town her hunky chief deputy calls four cents short of a nickel, that pesky crush she has on Levi which seems to grow exponentially every day, and an irascible raccoon that just doesn’t know when to quit, Sunny’s life is about to rocket to a whole new level of crazy.

Yep, definitely a good day for chardonnay.

I love the Sunshine Vicram series! It’s addicting and I’m totally hooked.

The mystery continues as Sunshine searches for answers to her past. She’s also solving a new case that seems to have more than meets the eye. We also get more of Levi Ravinder! He’s totally book boyfriend material. I love the chemistry and the push and pull between Sunshine and Levi. There’s a lot of snark between the characters which is funny cause I love a good snark. However, at times it was a bit too much. The beginning is slow going. Which I now know is how these books will go. Once it gets going, there’s no putting the book down. Twists I didn’t see coming and that ending! Whyyyy!! I need the next book asap!

This book has it all! Suspense, snark, book boyfriend material, and murder. Start this series today! You’ll be entertained and falling in love with a new series. I give this 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

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The Golden Couple: A Novel by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen – My Review

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Title: The Golden Couple: A Novel

Author: Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

Release Date: March 8th 2022

Genre: Domestic Thrillers

Wealthy Washington suburbanites Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all—until Marissa is unfaithful. Beneath their veneer of perfection is a relationship riven by work and a lack of intimacy. She wants to repair things for the sake of their eight-year-old son and because she loves her husband. Enter Avery Chambers.

Avery is a therapist who lost her professional license. Still, it doesn’t stop her from counseling those in crisis, though they have to adhere to her unorthodox methods. And the Bishops are desperate.
When they glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.

You’ve seen those couples. You know which ones I’m talking about. The ones who have the perfect life. Or so it seems…..

I never really know what to expect when I pick up a Hendricks/Pekkanen book. I was intrigued by the description and was excited to dive in. The story begins and you meet the characters. Right off the bat, I don’t like any of them. I know I’m supposed to feel that way but I couldn’t help feeling irked. Yet it’s not enough to turn me off from the book. More like, let’s see where this is going. The story unravels lots of suspense and turns. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, it’s a dead end. LOVED THAT! What an ending! Totally satisfying. It felt like the sun came out after being hidden by the clouds. Very nice.

This is a great read! You have suspense and that thrilling feeling like something bad is going to happen but you’ll get all your answers. I highly recommend this book! I give it 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Master Debater: A Billionaires of Boston Novel by Cynthia Page – My Review

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Title: Master Debater: A Billionaires of Boston Novel

Author: Cynthia Page

Release Date: September 2nd 2021

Genre: Romantic Comedy

He’s always right… except when it comes to love.

In need of a fresh start, I move to Boston to fulfill my music-writing dreams. Next up, fixing my other pressing issue—ever since my ex-husband’s infidelity, I’ve been struggling to um, get there, regardless of how many oddly-named toys I try. Naturally, I’m carrying a whole box-full when my new, smokin’ hot neighbor barrels into me. My collection goes flying, and just like that, my unmentionables are on display.

Nathan Fox is a high-powered attorney intent on taking down the rival law firm that screwed over his family on his way to the top. When he overhears my solo-play struggle, he offers to be on top of something else—me. Turns out, his controlling tendencies are the key to unlocking my wildest fantasies.

As our heated nights extend into blissful days, I quickly begin to fall. But how can I give my heart to a man who’d rather be right and enact vengeance than give himself over to love?

A hot & hilarious standalone romantic comedy about a woman who gets in way over her head with her sexy billionaire next-door neighbor. Guaranteed HEA!

It has been awhile since I’ve read a book like this. I was not disappointed! It was a welcome escape from reality.

Willa is a very likable character. I was drawn to her. Related to her and her situation. I rooted for her the whole time. Nathan is a man who has his beliefs questioned when he meets Willa. The chemistry between the two is very sensual. Those scenes are steamy and seductive. Oh my! The story was entertaining as well as delightful. If you enjoy romance with a great story and some steam, this book is for you! This author is new to me and I will look for more books by her. I give this 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Ember of Night by Molly E. Lee – My Review

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Title: Ember of Night

Author: Molly E. Lee

Release Date: May 4th 2021

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

“What to read after A Court of Thorns and Roses! Full of twists you’ll never see coming!” –UppercaseYA

I’ve never been a stranger to the darkness. But when darkness comes knocking and looks thatgood, who wouldn’t invite him in?

Draven is mysterious, evasive, and hot as sin. The only thing more infuriating than how much he won’t say is how obnoxious he is every time he does open his mouth. But when a group of strangers attacks me and he fights back, causing them to vanish into a cloud of black dust, I know Draven is more than he seems.

He finally shows me there’s a veil separating the world I know from a world of demons living all around us. Turns out, good and evil are just words. Some of the demons don’t fall into either category. And I’m realizing just how easily I fit in among the ancient warlocks, the divine soldiers, and the twisted supernaturals…

There’s so much more to me. To my past. And to what I am truly capable of than I ever thought possible. So when all signs point to me having the ability to unleash Hell on earth? I’ll have to decide if I want to do the world a solid and save it, or give it one hell of a makeover.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate this cover! Love the colors and the vibe. Totally eye catching!

Right from the start, I was pulled into the story. It was dark and dangerous, which called to my black heart. Harley has been through a lot. My heart went out to her right away. Weird things are happening but it’s all in her head right? Enter Draven. Who gives so little but surprises her at almost every turn. As you’re reading, you can feeling the danger simmering just below the surface and you know things are gonna start to happen! The author does a fantastic job of building suspense and keeping the reader engaged. I loved the push and pull between Harley and Draven. The heat factor is definitely there! That ending! I need book two like NOW!

As a whole, this book is darkly entrancing. It has suspense, action, secrets, and a really hot guy who is book boyfriend material. This is a new to me author and I quite enjoyed her writing and storytelling style. I look forward to reading more from this author. If you love paranormal with a dark vibe, I highly recommend this book! I give this 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

The Memory Collectors: A Novel by Kim Neville – My Review

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Title: The Memory Collectors: A Novel

Author: Kim Neville

Release Date: March 16th 2021

Genre: Fantasy Fiction 

Perfect for fans of The Scent Keeper and The Keeper of Lost Things, an atmospheric and enchanting debut novel about two women haunted by buried secrets but bound by a shared gift and the power the past holds over our lives.

Ev has a mysterious ability, one that she feels is more a curse than a gift. She can feel the emotions people leave behind on objects and believes that most of them need to be handled extremely carefully, and—if at all possible—destroyed. The harmless ones she sells at Vancouver’s Chinatown Night Market to scrape together a living, but even that fills her with trepidation. Meanwhile, in another part of town, Harriet hoards thousands of these treasures and is starting to make her neighbors sick as the overabundance of heightened emotions start seeping through her apartment walls.

When the two women meet, Harriet knows that Ev is the only person who can help her make something truly spectacular of her collection. A museum of memory that not only feels warm and inviting but can heal the emotional wounds many people unknowingly carry around. They only know of one other person like them, and they fear the dark effects these objects had on him. Together, they help each other to develop and control their gift, so that what happened to him never happens again. But unbeknownst to them, the same darkness is wrapping itself around another, dragging them down a path that already destroyed Ev’s family once, and threatens to annihilate what little she has left.

The Memory Collectors casts the everyday in a new light, speaking volumes to the hold that our past has over us—contained, at times, in seemingly innocuous objects—and uncovering a truth that both women have tried hard to bury with their pasts: not all magpies collect shiny things—sometimes they gather darkness.

The Memory Collectors is an interesting and unique story concept. I was intrigued by the blurb and wanted more. The cover is really pretty and also caught my eye.

We are introduced to two characters. Similar, yet different. There’s a mystery surrounding both of these characters. Both had endured something and I wanted to know! It took me awhile to warm up to Ev. Her character isn’t very likable at first. I did like and feel for Harriet. The pacing of the story is slow in some places. I was already invested in the story, so it didn’t stop me. I did not expect that ending. I always say that’s a good thing. There’s a sense of lightness at the end. Like a burden had been lifted and it had. You’ll have to read the story to see what I mean!

A wonderful debut for this author! I enjoyed her writing and story telling style. I can’t wait to see what’s next from her! I give this 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*