Tag: 4 Stars

Coming Soon · Review

Girls of Brackenhill by Kate Moretti – My Review

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Title: Girls of Brackenhill

Author: Kate Moretti

Release Date: September 22nd 2020

Genre: Domestic Thrillers

Haunted by her sister’s disappearance, a troubled woman becomes consumed by past secrets in this gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year.

When Hannah Maloney’s aunt dies in a car accident, she returns to her family’s castle in the Catskills and the epicenter of a childhood trauma: her sister’s unsolved disappearance. It’s been seventeen years, and though desperate to start a new life with her fiancé, Hannah is compelled to question the events of her last summer at Brackenhill.

When a human bone is found near the estate, Hannah is convinced it belongs to her long-lost sister. She launches her own investigation into that magical summer that ended in a nightmare. As strange happenings plague the castle, Hannah uncovers disturbing details about the past and startling realizations about her own repressed childhood memories.

Fueled by guilt over her sister’s vanishing, Hannah becomes obsessed with discovering what happened all those years ago, but by the time Hannah realizes some mysteries are best left buried, it’s too late to stop digging. Overwhelmed by what she has exposed, Hannah isn’t sure her new life can survive her old ghosts.

Let’s start with the cons. At times I struggled through the story. It lagged in a lot of places and seemed to drag on. Hannah wasn’t a very likable character but maybe that was the point. I found myself many times putting the book aside and doing something else but I refused to give up on the book! I hoped it wouldn’t disappoint me. 

What I DID enjoy about the book, was all the mystery behind Brackenhill. There’s stories and the history behind the families that have lived there. We got just a taste and I wanted more! I did enjoy the “THEN” scenes. The secrets and lies made for some really great twists. One I did not see coming. Nice. I’m really glad I didn’t give up on the book. 

All of that being said, this is a pretty good read. If you can be patient, the payoff is worth it. I wasn’t disappointed. I was pleased at the ending! I am curious about more books by this author and will look into them. I give this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

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

Coming Soon · Review

Somewhere in the Dark: A Novel by R.J. Jacobs – My Review

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Title: Somewhere in the Dark: A Novel

Author: R.J. Jacobs

Release Date: August 11th 2020

Genre: Psychological Thrillers

Exploring lives on the brink of disaster, R. J. Jacobs returns with another compulsively readable novel of suspense for fans of B. A. Paris and Mary Kubica.

Do the mistakes of the past mark us as guilty for life?

After a childhood marred by neglect, Jessie Duval’s finally got it together. With an apartment in Nashville and a job with a catering company, she’s thriving.

But all that changes when Jessie works an event where celebrities will be in attendance–including the one person from her past she must avoid at all costs: singer Shelly James. Jessie doesn’t hate Shelly. Quite the opposite. One summer, she followed Shelly’s tour everywhere. Only, Shelly wasn’t flattered; she was terrified by Jessie’s devotion–especially after Jessie was arrested. But after a year of therapy, Jessie understands what happened. She’s not the same person anymore.

Jessie keeps her head down, but when Shelly is found dead, Jessie’s troubled past comes tumbling out and she quickly becomes a suspect in the high-profile murder. As the police close in on her, ignoring other credible leads, Jessie realizes Shelly’s murder will be pinned on her–the perfect scapegoat–unless she finds the real killer. And no one knows Shelly’s life and inner circle better than her. But she will have to go deeper into the dark–if ever she wants to find her way out.

This was a fast paced read that will have you guessing until the end.

I was looking for something to read that would give me a reality escape and this book was the answer! I loved that the author gave us a backstory right away. It helped me understand the character much more. While this was a highly enjoyable read for me, there were some parts that lagged and some parts that felt rushed. It wasn’t enough to take away from the story and the story ended up finding its way. There are some really good twists and I like that I couldn’t figure out who did it. I was so engaged in the story that I didn’t put it down once. I HAD to know how it would end!

This is a great thrilling suspense filled read! Somewhere in the Dark is my first R.J. Jacobs read. I enjoyed his writing style and look forward to reading more. I give this 4 stars. 

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

Coming Soon · Review

Mayhem: A Novel by Estelle Laure – My Review

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Title: Mayhem: A Novel

Author: Estelle Laure

Release Date: July 14th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

The Lost Boys meets The Female of the Species in this supernatural feminist YA novel.

It’s 1987 and unfortunately it’s not all Madonna and cherry lip balm. Mayhem Brayburn has always known there was something off about her and her mother, Roxy. Maybe it has to do with Roxy’s constant physical pain, or maybe with Mayhem’s own irresistible pull to water. Either way, she knows they aren’t like everyone else.

But when May’s stepfather finally goes too far, Roxy and Mayhem flee to Santa Maria, California, the coastal beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhem’s questions about who her mother is, her estranged family, and the mysteries of her own self. There she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and it opens the door to the magic that runs through the female lineage in her family, the very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit and which will change her life for good.

But when she gets wrapped up in the search for the man who has been kidnapping girls from the beach, her life takes another dangerous turn and she is forced to face the price of vigilante justice and to ask herself whether revenge is worth the cost.

From the acclaimed author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back, Estelle Laure offers a riveting and complex story with magical elements about a family of women contending with what appears to be an irreversible destiny, taking control and saying when enough is enough.

This book had me at The Lost Boys mashup. That is one of my favorite movies and I wondered if this book would do it justice.

I went into this excited about the mashup, not going to lie. I wanted to see how the author was going to incorporate it into the story. I gotta say it was interesting. I didn’t hate it. While I appreciated the mashup, I worried if there was blatant copying of said movie. Worries aside, I began reading. The story was pretty enjoyable for me. I was surprised that this YA read had a dark vibe to it. I personally loved that. Being set in the 80’s was also a plus for me. A total 80’s chick right here! I loved the mystery surrounding the magic. The author gave just enough for the reader to know but still keep it a mystery. The characters were pretty cool. Some I wasn’t sure about but you can’t love them all! 

Tragedy, secrets, and empowerment is what fueled the story for me. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I plan on checking out more of her work. All in all, this was enjoyable for me and I recommend giving it a chance. Especially if you’re a fan of said movie. I give this 4 stars.

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

Coming Soon · Review

Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin – My Review

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Title: Happy and You Know It

Author: Laura Hankin

Release Date: May 19th 2020

Genre: Fiction

A dark, witty page-turner about a struggling young musician who takes a job singing for a playgroup of overprivileged babies and their effortlessly cool moms, only to find herself pulled into their glamorous lives and dangerous secrets….

After her former band shot to superstardom without her, Claire reluctantly agrees to a gig as a playgroup musician for wealthy infants on New York’s Park Avenue. Claire is surprised to discover that she is smitten with her new employers, a welcoming clique of wellness addicts with impossibly shiny hair, who whirl from juice cleanse to overpriced miracle vitamins to spin class with limitless energy.

There is perfect hostess Whitney who is on the brink of social-media stardom and just needs to find a way to keep her flawless life from falling apart. Caustically funny, recent stay-at-home mom Amara who is struggling to embrace her new identity. And old money, veteran mom Gwen who never misses an opportunity to dole out parenting advice. But as Claire grows closer to the stylish women who pay her bills, she uncovers secrets and betrayals that no amount of activated charcoal can fix.

Filled with humor and shocking twists, Happy and You Know It is a brilliant take on motherhood – exposing it as yet another way for society to pass judgment on women – while also exploring the baffling magnetism of curated social-media lives that are designed to make us feel unworthy. But, ultimately, this dazzling novel celebrates the unlikely bonds that form, and the power that can be unlocked, when a group of very different women is thrown together when each is at her most vulnerable.

This book is one of those unexpected surprise reads that I ended up enjoying.

I started the book and was kind of iffy. These women were a little annoying. I couldn’t relate to most of them. I gave it a chance and kept going. I am SO glad that I did! While some of the characters were annoying to start, I had changed my mind about most of them by the end. There are twists and turns I didn’t see coming. That is what made this book enjoyable for me. I love when I don’t see how a book is going to end! The author had a plan and I am glad I stuck it out! Secrets, lies, and deceit make for a pretty good read. 

I am open to reading more from this author and look forward to seeing what she releases next. I give this 4 stars. 

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

Review

The Return by Rachel Harrison – My Review

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Title: The Return

Author: Rachel Harrison

Release Date: March 24th 2020

Genre: Thriller

A group of friends reunite after one of them has returned from a mysterious two-year disappearance in this edgy and haunting debut.

Julie is missing, and no one believes she will ever return—except Elise. Elise knows Julie better than anyone, and feels it in her bones that her best friend is out there and that one day Julie will come back. She’s right. Two years to the day that Julie went missing, she reappears with no memory of where she’s been or what happened to her.

Along with Molly and Mae, their two close friends from college, the women decide to reunite at a remote inn. But the second Elise sees Julie, she knows something is wrong—she’s emaciated, with sallow skin and odd appetites. And as the weekend unfurls, it becomes impossible to deny that the Julie who vanished two years ago is not the same Julie who came back. But then who—or what—is she?

Julie disappears without a trace and her loved ones were left to mourn. Julie comes back with no memory of where she’s been or what’s happened to her. She’s changed. What happened?

This book is different than what I’ve been reading lately. There’s a certain creepy vibe to it but it only enhanced the story for me. I was curious to find out what had happened to Julie. You’re introduced to Elise and the other best friends. Their personalities are different and why they’re so close. I both liked and disliked them all. Especially Elise. I think that’s a big part of why the story worked for me. Yeah I’m weird. Strange things start to happen and you feel like maybe you’ve been transported to parts of The Shining. Then the story takes an unexpected turn and it kind of blows your mind. I didn’t see that ending coming. Nice job Miss Harrison. The story will haunt you long after you’re done. I’m still thinking about it. This is a wonderful debut for the author. I look forward to reading more. I give this 4 stars.

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

Review

The New Husband by D.J. Palmer – My Review

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Title: The New Husband

Author: D.J. Palmer

Release Date: April 14th 2020

Genre: Psychological Thriller

The New Husband is a riveting thriller about the lies we tell ourselves from D. J. Palmer, the author of Saving Meghan.

Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you know them.

Nina Garrity learned that the hard way after discovering that her missing husband, Glen, had been leading a double life with another woman. But Glen’s gone—presumably drowned while fishing on his boat—so she can’t confront him about the affair or any of his other misdeeds. A year and a half after the accident, Nina considers herself a widow, even though the police never found a body. Following a chance encounter with Simon Fitch, a teacher from her daughter Maggie’s middle school, Nina finds love again and has hopes of putting her shattered life back together.

Simon, a widower still grieving the suicide of his first wife, has found his dream girl in Nina. His charm and affections help break through to a heart hardened by betrayal. Nina’s teenage son, Connor, embraces Simon as the father he wishes his dad could have been, but Maggie sees a far darker side to this new man in their lives. Even Nina’s good friends wonder if Simon is supremely devoted—or dangerously possessive.

But Nina is committed, not only to her soon-to-be new husband but also to resuming her former career as a social worker. Before she can move forward, however, Nina must first clear her conscience that she’s not making another terrible choice in a man. In doing so, she will uncover the shocking truth: the greatest danger to her, and her children, are the lies people tell themselves.

The New Husband is a psychological thriller.
The story was a bit slow going in the beginning. Not enough to make me lose interest. I realize it’s building up to what’s to come. I’m impatient! To me, most of the characters were not very likable. I had trouble relating to Nina or even Maggie. Simon was a piece of work and I give props to the author on that. Hey, I can appreciate a well written character. He did his job. All that being said, I did enjoy this book. The story was a thriller with a touch of dark. Once it hit a certain point, I pretty much read straight through until the end. I needed to know how this was all going to end! I can’t wait to read more from this author! I give this 4 stars.

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

Review

Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin – My Review

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Title: Saint X

Author: Alexis Schaitkin

Release Date: February 18th 2020

Genre: Thriller

Hailed as a “marvel of a book” and “brilliant and unflinching,” Alexis Schaitkin’s stunning debut, Saint X, is a haunting portrait of grief, obsession, and the bond between two sisters never truly given the chance to know one another.

Claire is only seven years old when her college-age sister, Alison, disappears on the last night of their family vacation at a resort on the Caribbean island of Saint X. Several days later, Alison’s body is found in a remote spot on a nearby cay, and two local men–employees at the resort–are arrested. But the evidence is slim, the timeline against it, and the men are soon released. The story turns into national tabloid news, a lurid mystery that will go unsolved. For Claire and her parents, there is only the return home to broken lives.

Years later, Claire is living and working in New York City when a brief but fateful encounter brings her together with Clive Richardson, one of the men originally suspected of murdering her sister. It is a moment that sets Claire on an obsessive pursuit of the truth–not only to find out what happened the night of Alison’s death but also to answer the elusive question: Who exactly was her sister? At seven, Claire had been barely old enough to know her: a beautiful, changeable, provocative girl of eighteen at a turbulent moment of identity formation.

As Claire doggedly shadows Clive, hoping to gain his trust, waiting for the slip that will reveal the truth, an unlikely attachment develops between them, two people whose lives were forever marked by the same tragedy.

Saint X is a thrilling read with a dark touch to it.

Something bad happens while Claire and her family are on vacation. Claire wants the truth and searching for the truth is consuming her. What she uncovers is eye opening. How much do you really know a loved one?

The beginning threw me off just a bit. We had multiple points of views right off the bat. Along with flashbacks. I struggled with that but then the story found it’s footing. The authors story telling is different than what I’m used to. Once I got used to the format of the book, I was engrossed into the story. I HAD to know how it would end. The story itself is suspenseful. You get an intimate look at how these characters handled grief and how that one moment affected the lives of everyone. There are some twists that I didn’t see coming. LOVE when that happens! These characters were well written. I don’t know if I had a favorite but they each contributed to making the story work. All in all this is a pretty good read. I give this 4 stars.

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

New Release · Review

Flames of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms Book 1) by Amelia Hutchins – My Review

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Title: Flames of Chaos (Legacy of the Nine Realms Book 1)

Author: Amelia Hutchins

Release Date: January 20th 2020

Genre: Fantasy, Erotica

Aria and her sisters return to the Human Realm of Haven Falls to find one of their own that’s gone missing. They soon discover things have changed in the Human Realm and that nothing is what it seems, including Knox, the egotistical, self-centered, frustratingly gorgeous man who declared himself King during their absence.
Sparks fly when the two enter a fiery battle of wills as Aria learns she is more than just a witch in the Hecate bloodline; she is much, much more.
Will Aria embrace her savage side to find her sister and save her family, or will she burn to ashes from his heated kisses and burning hot embrace?
Knox has ulterior motives for being in Haven Falls and never expected the little witch to show up and brazenly challenge his rule.
It was supposed to be easy; get in and get out. Move pieces into place and set the stage for the war he’s been planning for over five hundred years. Aria is his sworn enemy but something within her calls to him and he hates himself for craving the fiery kisses that have reignited his cold, dead heart. One taste, and he thought he could get her out of his system. He was wrong.
Will Knox let go of the memories of the past, driving his need for revenge that will destroy the pretty little witch he craves, or will he push the boundaries to fight for and claim what is his by right? Either way, war is inevitable. And nothing will stop him from reaching for what is his.
Epic Fantasy with heavy love-hate situations with adult situations.

This book is one hell of a ride! It is not soft or fluffy. It is dark and rough. This book was right up my alley.

The author has created a great fantasy world along with some great characters. We have witches, wolfs, vampires, magic, and more! Some I liked and some not so much but that’s part of why the book worked for me. I liked that not everyone was good. On top of the darkness, we have some pretty steamy sex scenes. NICE! It took me a bit to fully get into the story at first. Some parts I felt were repetitive and I struggled through those. That being said, as a whole, this was a pretty great read. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a dark book and this made my dark loving heart happy. I need more! I can’t wait for the next book. I give this 4 stars.

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

Review

Only Lies Remain: A Psychological Thriller by Val Collins – My Review

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Title: Only Lies Remain: A Psychological Thriller

Author: Val Collins

Release Date: February 19th 2020

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Award-winning author Val Collins returns with a suspenseful, twisty thriller

Everyone thought Danny Walsh deserted his family when his sons were young. But when Danny’s body turns up fifteen years later and his wife, Maura, is implicated in his murder, accusations and old rumours surface.

Aoife rushes in to clear her mother-in-law’s name. But why is it that Maura’s story concerning Danny’s disappearance doesn’t quite add up?

Aoife’s investigation uncovers old secrets, long-held jealousies, and lies upon lies. With every new revelation, Aoife realises she doesn’t know her family at all. Now her new boss is acting strangely, her best friend is more and more distant, and her husband is no help at all.

With her support network crumbling and her family threatened, Aoife must race to keep one step ahead of danger before more innocent lives are lost. But how will she uncover the truth when only lies remain?

~Add To TBR~

The synopsis is what hooked me. You know I love me a good thriller!

I appreciated the authors note in the beginning in regards to proper pronunciation of common Irish names. The book is a bit slow to start. Everything is being set up and you’re getting background information. I started having my suspicions as things slowly started to come together. I also wasn’t exactly sold on the characters at first but as the story progressed, I came around. None of them are very likable but yet it worked for the story. Then the story takes off and holy hell you’re in for a ride! There are some twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I was guessing till the very end. Then sat there and was like whoa. Yeah, so good.

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I plan on checking out other works by her. I truly enjoyed this book. If you’re a fan of thriller, I highly recommend checking this book out. I give this 4 stars. 

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

Review

War: Satan’s Pride by A.G. Kirkham – My Review

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Title: War: Satan’s Pride

Author: A.G. Kirkham

Release Date: July 9th 2019

Genre: MC, Romance

~Synopsis~

They call him ‘War’. Growing up without a family to call his own, Xander Cole spent a lot of time on the streets. Time had changed him. Hardened him. But his inner turmoil—the war inside—always raged on, eventually leading him to Satan’s Pride, the Motorcycle Club and band of brothers he came to consider family. They patched him in as War for his loyalty and willingness to fight for the Pride. Life with the MC is everything he’s ever wanted, and the only thing he thinks he’ll ever need—until he meets Maddie Holden, and suddenly, there’s something he needs even more.
Music has been Maddie’s solace for as long as she can remember. After a turbulent upbringing, Maddie left home at seventeen to form the band, The Smoking Guns, with her brother, Paul. But just as their band starts taking off, Maddie suffers a traumatic experience at the hands of a crazed fan, who obsesses over her, stalks her, and ultimately holds her against her will. Maddie retreats from performing in the band. Until one day, Guard, the President of the Satan’s Pride MC, approaches the band with a request. He wants The Smoking Guns to perform for his wedding anniversary, and that includes Maddie.
Guard assigns War as Maddie’s bodyguard, to protect her and keep her safe from a stalker –a job War is ever so eager to manage. With War at her side, Maddie’s confidence, passion for life and provocative side blossoms. Will War find the one thing he needs?

~Add To TBR~

~My Review~

What a wild ride this book was! This is one of those guilty pleasure reads. It has that thrill factor and a ton of sexy time scenes. I was pulled into the story right from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down! I needed to know what was going to happen. Who needs sleep? The author has created some really great characters and I want to know everyone’s story! I truly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more! I give this 4 stars.

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

~Buy Now~