For estranged friends Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren, it’s time to heal the old wounds between them. Where better to repair those severed ties than on a girls’ getaway to the beautiful paradise of Tulum, Mexico? But even after they’re reunited, no one is being completely honest about the past or the secrets they’re hiding. When Ashley disappears on their girls’ night out, Natalie and Lauren have to try to piece together their hazy memories to figure out what could have happened to her, while also reconciling their feelings of guilt over their last moments together.
Was Ashley with the man she’d met only days before? Did she pack up and leave? Was she kidnapped? Or worse—could Natalie or Lauren have snapped under the weight of her own lies?
As the clock ticks, hour by hour, Natalie and Lauren’s search rushes headlong into growing suspicion and dread. Maybe their secrets run deeper and more dangerous than one of them is willing—or too afraid—to admit.
First all thank you Net Galley for a chance to read this before it hits shelves next month. OMG this book had me going the whole time. I liked how the story was told, with the nights leading up and the days after what happened. I also like that it was told from all three friends POV's. I had my suspicions about what was going on, I mean everyone had a reason for what happened, and the ending really got me. I mean I thought I had it figured out until I read the last entry for Ashley, and then my mind was blown. I didn't really care for any of the husbands or the death friend as Lauren liked to call Annie. I mean I know why they had to be in the story I just wanted to slap them lol. I can see where Natalie and Lauren were both coming from. I felt like Ashley was being selfish also. This was the first book by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, but it won't be my last for sure.
Saturday, June 23, 2018
The New Girl by Ingrid Alexandra
You’ve only just met.
But she already knows you so well.
When Rachel moves into the spare room in Mary’s flat, everyone is quick to jump to the conclusion that there’s something strange about her. Everyone apart from Mary.
And when Rachel starts sleepwalking, everyone’s fears grow. But there’s something about the new girl that Mary can’t help but trust, and having recently escaped a toxic relationship, she needs the support.
Rachel becomes a friend and an ally, and Mary soon discovers that they have more in common than she ever could have imagined.
In fact, Rachel seems to know more about Mary than she knows about herself…
But she already knows you so well.
When Rachel moves into the spare room in Mary’s flat, everyone is quick to jump to the conclusion that there’s something strange about her. Everyone apart from Mary.
And when Rachel starts sleepwalking, everyone’s fears grow. But there’s something about the new girl that Mary can’t help but trust, and having recently escaped a toxic relationship, she needs the support.
Rachel becomes a friend and an ally, and Mary soon discovers that they have more in common than she ever could have imagined.
In fact, Rachel seems to know more about Mary than she knows about herself…
| First of all thank you Net Galley and Ingrid Alexandra for the chance to read this before it hits shelves later this year in return for an honest review. At first I was kind of confused on what was going on I wont lie, but the further I read, it started to make sense to me, I didn't have the ending figured out yet. I really liked her friend Cat, and was a little worried about Rachel for sure, I mean she just gave off that vibe. The diary entries is what made me confused, but I liked it in the end. I liked the ending it made all the ties and connections I needed for the book to make sense to me | ||
The Surviving Girls by Katee Robert
Twelve years ago, Lei Zhang and her friend Emma Nilsson miraculously lived through the notorious Sorority Row Murders that left twenty-one of their sisters dead. Still wrestling with the trauma but finally out of the limelight, Lei and Emma are now devoted to helping other victims find closure. But most disturbing for Lei—beyond the gut-wrenching survivor guilt—is that the killer was her boyfriend. He’s behind bars, but she’ll never lower her guard again.
When a copycat killer targets Lei and Emma, FBI Agent Dante Young is put in charge of anticipating the sociopath’s every move. But what he doesn’t expect is his immediate and overpowering attraction to Lei. The closer they get to each other, the more desperate and terrifying the questions become: Who wants to finish what the killer started—and why?
Now Agent Young vows to protect Lei at all costs. If they have any chance of a future together, first they have to stay alive…
When a copycat killer targets Lei and Emma, FBI Agent Dante Young is put in charge of anticipating the sociopath’s every move. But what he doesn’t expect is his immediate and overpowering attraction to Lei. The closer they get to each other, the more desperate and terrifying the questions become: Who wants to finish what the killer started—and why?
Now Agent Young vows to protect Lei at all costs. If they have any chance of a future together, first they have to stay alive…
| First all thank you for the opportunity to read this book. One word: AMAZING. This book had it all for me, romance, revenge, killing, and the best ending ever. I cant say enough about this book. I loved all the characters and the twists that were thrown in were perfect. I love books about things like this. I want to go back and read the other two in the series now. | ||
The Date by Louise Jenson
Something bad has happened to Alison Taylor.
Her Saturday night started normally. Recently separated from her husband, Ali has been persuaded by her friends to go on a date with a new man. She is ready, she is nervous, she is excited. She is about to take a step into her new future.
By Sunday morning, Ali’s life is unrecognizable. She wakes, and she knows that something is wrong. She is home, she is alone, she is hurt and she has no memory of what happened to her.
Worse still, when she looks in the mirror, Ali doesn’t recognize the face staring back at her. She can’t recognize her friends and family. And she can’t recognize the person who is trying to destroy her…
Her Saturday night started normally. Recently separated from her husband, Ali has been persuaded by her friends to go on a date with a new man. She is ready, she is nervous, she is excited. She is about to take a step into her new future.
By Sunday morning, Ali’s life is unrecognizable. She wakes, and she knows that something is wrong. She is home, she is alone, she is hurt and she has no memory of what happened to her.
Worse still, when she looks in the mirror, Ali doesn’t recognize the face staring back at her. She can’t recognize her friends and family. And she can’t recognize the person who is trying to destroy her…
| First I want to thank Net Galley, Louise Jensen and Bookouture for the chance to read this before it hits shelves. This was my second book by Jensen and it won't be my last This book is about Ali who goes on a date and the next morning cant remember anything. It was a little strange and took me a little bit to get in to but once I did it was non stop reading. She ends up with a medical condition that makes her not be able to remember faces and this causes a problem for her since some one it out to get her. It had me guessing like three different people for the person behind everything and when the final twist got thrown in there I was open mouthed shocked! I can see why but it was still not what I had foreseen coming. This book was good. I liked the ending the best. | ||
Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage
Meet Hanna.
She’s the sweet-but-silent angel in the adoring eyes of her Daddy. He’s the only person who understands her, and all Hanna wants is to live happily ever after with him. But Mommy stands in her way, and she’ll try any trick she can think of to get rid of her. Ideally for good.
Meet Suzette.
She loves her daughter, really, but after years of expulsions and strained home schooling, her precarious health and sanity are weakening day by day. As Hanna’s tricks become increasingly sophisticated, and Suzette's husband remains blind to the failing family dynamics, Suzette starts to fear that there’s something seriously wrong, and that maybe home isn’t the best place for their baby girl after all.
From blazing new talent Zoje Stage, Baby Teeth is a story about a perfect-looking family, and a darling little girl who wants nothing more than to kill her mother.
First I want to thank Net Galley, St. Martins Press and Zoje Stage for the opportunity to read this book before it hits shelves next month. WOW is all I can say. I will say that this may not be for everyone, but it is a good book. I was hesitant to start it just from reading the blurb, but I read it in one day. I had to know what was going on with little Hanna and her mommy. I was a little turned off on some things that Hanna did, I won't lie. This book is different from any other book that I read just because I think the villain is a child, and not an adult. This story is told from Hanna and Suzette's point of view. I liked that, because yeah Hanna doesn't talk but we get to see her view on things. At the beginning I didn't care for Alex, the husband, just because I thought that he was spoiling and not listening to his wife when she would tell him the things that Hanna had done. I like the fact that Suzette stood firm in her belief that there was something wrong with her daughter. I also liked that they finally found some one that was willing to help them as a family. The ending was a little rushed for me, but all in all it wasn't a bad book.
She’s the sweet-but-silent angel in the adoring eyes of her Daddy. He’s the only person who understands her, and all Hanna wants is to live happily ever after with him. But Mommy stands in her way, and she’ll try any trick she can think of to get rid of her. Ideally for good.
Meet Suzette.
She loves her daughter, really, but after years of expulsions and strained home schooling, her precarious health and sanity are weakening day by day. As Hanna’s tricks become increasingly sophisticated, and Suzette's husband remains blind to the failing family dynamics, Suzette starts to fear that there’s something seriously wrong, and that maybe home isn’t the best place for their baby girl after all.
From blazing new talent Zoje Stage, Baby Teeth is a story about a perfect-looking family, and a darling little girl who wants nothing more than to kill her mother.
First I want to thank Net Galley, St. Martins Press and Zoje Stage for the opportunity to read this book before it hits shelves next month. WOW is all I can say. I will say that this may not be for everyone, but it is a good book. I was hesitant to start it just from reading the blurb, but I read it in one day. I had to know what was going on with little Hanna and her mommy. I was a little turned off on some things that Hanna did, I won't lie. This book is different from any other book that I read just because I think the villain is a child, and not an adult. This story is told from Hanna and Suzette's point of view. I liked that, because yeah Hanna doesn't talk but we get to see her view on things. At the beginning I didn't care for Alex, the husband, just because I thought that he was spoiling and not listening to his wife when she would tell him the things that Hanna had done. I like the fact that Suzette stood firm in her belief that there was something wrong with her daughter. I also liked that they finally found some one that was willing to help them as a family. The ending was a little rushed for me, but all in all it wasn't a bad book.
You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston
ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
WATCH YOUR BACK
I'M COMING FOR YOU
Lylah and her friends can't wait to spend a night out together. Partying is the perfect way to let loose from the stress of life and school, and Lylah hopes that hitting the dance floor with Chace, her best friend, will bring them closer together. She's been crushing on him since they met. If only he thought of her the same way...
The girls are touching up their makeup and the guys are sliding on their coats when the doorbell rings. No one is there. An envelope sits on the doormat. It's an anonymous note addressed to their friend Sonny. A secret admirer? Maybe. They all laugh it off.
Except Sonny never comes home. And a new note arrives:
YOUR TURN
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
WATCH YOUR BACK
I'M COMING FOR YOU
Lylah and her friends can't wait to spend a night out together. Partying is the perfect way to let loose from the stress of life and school, and Lylah hopes that hitting the dance floor with Chace, her best friend, will bring them closer together. She's been crushing on him since they met. If only he thought of her the same way...
The girls are touching up their makeup and the guys are sliding on their coats when the doorbell rings. No one is there. An envelope sits on the doormat. It's an anonymous note addressed to their friend Sonny. A secret admirer? Maybe. They all laugh it off.
Except Sonny never comes home. And a new note arrives:
YOUR TURN
| I really enjoyed this book, I like the author a lot and will probably read anything that she writes. This book had me thinking that it was someone else in the end but when the final twist came I was in shock, I can see where the author was coming from in putting said twist in but come on that was crazy. I really liked Layla from the start and Chace as well. I was happy with the ending. I like stories that are set in college like this, it was a quick read. | ||
The Ex-Wife by Jess Ryder
You’ve got everything she wants …
Newly married Natasha has the perfect house, a loving husband and a beautiful little girl called Emily. She’d have it all if it wasn’t for Jen, her husband’s ex-wife who just won’t leave them alone
Then Natasha returns home one day to find her husband and Emily gone without trace. Desperate to get her daughter back, Natasha will do anything even if it means accepting an offer of help from Jen. But can she trust her? And do either of them really know the man they married?
I would like to thank NetGalley, Jess Ryder and Bookouture for the chance to read this before it hits shelves in June. This was a wild ride for sure. At first I didn't like Jen and then I did and then I didnt. I never really cared for Nick he just seemed like a player. I really never liked Haley, Nick's sister. I did like Natasha. It was kind of confusing reading the then and now under each name. And after part two things really got twisted. I liked the ending, I read through it about two days. I feel like the ending was perfect. Thanks again for the opportunity to read it!
Newly married Natasha has the perfect house, a loving husband and a beautiful little girl called Emily. She’d have it all if it wasn’t for Jen, her husband’s ex-wife who just won’t leave them alone
Then Natasha returns home one day to find her husband and Emily gone without trace. Desperate to get her daughter back, Natasha will do anything even if it means accepting an offer of help from Jen. But can she trust her? And do either of them really know the man they married?
I would like to thank NetGalley, Jess Ryder and Bookouture for the chance to read this before it hits shelves in June. This was a wild ride for sure. At first I didn't like Jen and then I did and then I didnt. I never really cared for Nick he just seemed like a player. I really never liked Haley, Nick's sister. I did like Natasha. It was kind of confusing reading the then and now under each name. And after part two things really got twisted. I liked the ending, I read through it about two days. I feel like the ending was perfect. Thanks again for the opportunity to read it!
Tell Me A Secret by Samantha Hayes
Everything in Lorna’s life runs like clockwork, from her 6 a.m. morning run to the strict 60-minute counseling sessions she gives. It’s the only way she can deal with the terrible secret she carries.
When a new client arrives for his first appointment, Lorna feels her perfect life unravel in a matter of seconds. It’s Andrew, the man she’s spent the last year desperately trying to forget. It seems he can’t forget her either…
Against her better judgment she anonymously contacts him on a dating site. Messaging him could mean the end of her marriage and her career, but she needs to know if his motives are genuine.
When Andrew is found dead in his home, grief quickly turns to fear when messages from him continue to arrive on Lorna’s phone. Somebody knows her secret and wants to use it to destroy everything she has.
When a new client arrives for his first appointment, Lorna feels her perfect life unravel in a matter of seconds. It’s Andrew, the man she’s spent the last year desperately trying to forget. It seems he can’t forget her either…
Against her better judgment she anonymously contacts him on a dating site. Messaging him could mean the end of her marriage and her career, but she needs to know if his motives are genuine.
When Andrew is found dead in his home, grief quickly turns to fear when messages from him continue to arrive on Lorna’s phone. Somebody knows her secret and wants to use it to destroy everything she has.
| First of all I want to think Net Galley, Samantha Hayes and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book before it hits shelves later this week. I wont lie, I wasn't really felling the book until about 65%, I didn't like Lorna at all. I didn't like some of the things that she was doing, especially when she had Mark at home, but he's a whole other story for later. Once I got past 65% I had to keep reading to know what was going on. I needed answers and I was confused on what part Nikki was playing at, I am so glad that I kept reading, it was a good ending and I liked it more than I thought I would. | ||
Dying Truth by Angela Marsons
When teenager Sadie Winter jumps from the roof of her school, her death is ruled as suicide – a final devastating act from a troubled girl. But then the broken body of a young boy is discovered at the same school and it’s clear to Detective Kim Stone that these deaths are not tragic accidents.
As Kim and her team begin to unravel a dark web of secrets, one of the teachers could hold the key to the truth. Yet just as she is about to break her silence, she is found dead.
With more children’s lives at risk, Kim has to consider the unthinkable - whether a fellow pupil could be responsible for the murders. Investigating the psychology of children that kill brings the detective into contact with her former adversary, Dr Alex Thorne – the sociopath who has made it her life’s work to destroy Kim.
Desperate to catch the killer, Kim finds a link between the recent murders and an initiation prank that happened at the school decades earlier. But saving these innocent lives comes at a cost – and one of Kim’s own might pay the ultimate price.
First I want to thank NetGalley, Angela Marsons, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this amazing book. I really liked it, and I want to go back start book one of this series now. I have a fascination with books that have to do with school and universities, and this one hit the nail on the head. It was so good, it had murder, secrets, secret societies and so much more. I liked how it all tied back to what happen in the past. I had so many questions and I thought I had the answers for what was happening but I didn't, until the end of the book. I was sad for the ending for sure, just because of what happened. I liked how everyone got their justice. I didn't care for the parents nor did I care for the coach. I was a little put off about the principal just because I couldn't quite put my finger on how he felt about what was going on. He wasn't ever upfront with what as going on. But yes I did like it and will be reading more, Thanks again!!
As Kim and her team begin to unravel a dark web of secrets, one of the teachers could hold the key to the truth. Yet just as she is about to break her silence, she is found dead.
With more children’s lives at risk, Kim has to consider the unthinkable - whether a fellow pupil could be responsible for the murders. Investigating the psychology of children that kill brings the detective into contact with her former adversary, Dr Alex Thorne – the sociopath who has made it her life’s work to destroy Kim.
Desperate to catch the killer, Kim finds a link between the recent murders and an initiation prank that happened at the school decades earlier. But saving these innocent lives comes at a cost – and one of Kim’s own might pay the ultimate price.
First I want to thank NetGalley, Angela Marsons, and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this amazing book. I really liked it, and I want to go back start book one of this series now. I have a fascination with books that have to do with school and universities, and this one hit the nail on the head. It was so good, it had murder, secrets, secret societies and so much more. I liked how it all tied back to what happen in the past. I had so many questions and I thought I had the answers for what was happening but I didn't, until the end of the book. I was sad for the ending for sure, just because of what happened. I liked how everyone got their justice. I didn't care for the parents nor did I care for the coach. I was a little put off about the principal just because I couldn't quite put my finger on how he felt about what was going on. He wasn't ever upfront with what as going on. But yes I did like it and will be reading more, Thanks again!!
Thursday, May 17, 2018
The Good Twin ~ Marti Green
The Good Twin ~ Marti Green
Mallory Holcolm is an unfulfilled waitress and aspiring artist living in a Queens boardinghouse when she learns something astonishing about her past: she has an identical twin sister named Charly she never knew existed.
Charly is a Princeton graduate, a respected gallery owner, and an heiress married to her handsome college sweetheart, Ben. Charly got everything she ever wanted. Everything Mallory wanted, too. And now it might be easier than Mallory ever imagined. Because Ben has reasons of his own for wanting to help her.
It begins with his startling proposal. All Mallory has to do is say yes.
But as their devious plan falls into place, piece by piece, Mallory learns more about her sister and herself than she ever meant to—a discovery that comes with an unexpected twist. A chilling deception is about to become a dangerous double cross. And it’s going to change the rules of Ben and Mallory’s game to the very end.
Mallory Holcolm is an unfulfilled waitress and aspiring artist living in a Queens boardinghouse when she learns something astonishing about her past: she has an identical twin sister named Charly she never knew existed.
Charly is a Princeton graduate, a respected gallery owner, and an heiress married to her handsome college sweetheart, Ben. Charly got everything she ever wanted. Everything Mallory wanted, too. And now it might be easier than Mallory ever imagined. Because Ben has reasons of his own for wanting to help her.
It begins with his startling proposal. All Mallory has to do is say yes.
But as their devious plan falls into place, piece by piece, Mallory learns more about her sister and herself than she ever meant to—a discovery that comes with an unexpected twist. A chilling deception is about to become a dangerous double cross. And it’s going to change the rules of Ben and Mallory’s game to the very end.
| I would like to thank Net Galley, Marti Green and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read this book. I was so happy with this book. I liked the way that it was set up, the way we got to hear from Mallory, Ben and Charley. I especially liked how it was broken in to three parts. I loved parts one and two, Part three kind of threw me for a loop, not to say I didn't love it. I mean I did, I just didn't see it coming. I liked it kind of gave me The Wife Between Us sort of feel. You should read this book because its not your normal run of the mill thrillers. It was different to me just because of the characters. I sort of wanted to hate on Charley too, the way that Ben described her and then at the same time I wanted to hate on Mallory just because she was being selfish about not getting everything that Charley had. I mean she was the one that got kept. She should have been happy about that at least. I really liked the Grandfather in the story, I mean he to me felt like he knew more than he was letting on. I mean telling and not telling at the same time, he figured things out at the end when no one else could have. Like I said the ending threw me for a loop, I couldn't believe what I had read and had to reread it to make sure that I got it right. I think it just goes to show you that even if you have all the money you never had before you still wont be happy unless you have your family beside you. This was such a good book, and I want to read more by Marti Green for sure! Thanks Again | ||
Monday, May 14, 2018
Every Single Secret ~ Emily Carpenter
Emotionally guarded Daphne Amos always believed she’d found a kindred spirit in her fiancé, Heath. Both very private people, they’ve kept their pasts hidden from the world, and each other, until Heath’s escalating nightmares begin to put an undeniable strain on their relationship. Determined to give their impending marriage the best chance of succeeding, Heath insists that Daphne join him on a seven-day retreat with Dr. Matthew Cerny, a psychologist celebrated for getting to the root of repressed memories. Daphne reluctantly agrees—even though the past is the last place she wants to go.
The retreat’s isolated and forbidding location increases her unease, as do the doctor’s rules: they must relinquish their keys and phones, they’ll be monitored at all hours by hidden cameras, and they’re never to socialize with the other guests.
One sleepless night, Daphne decides to leave her room…and only then does she realize that the institute is not at all what it seems—and that whatever’s crying out from Heath’s past isn’t meant to be heard. It’s meant to be silenced.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing and Emily Carpenter for the chance to read this before it hits stores later this month. It was a wild ride from the start. I was a little concerned about this retreat that Heath wanted to go on to help figure out why he was having the nightmares. I mean who needs to go out on the middle if no where with no phone or anything. I did like how Daphne went with him to be supportive. I liked how the author went a out telling you the background on Daphne. The way that the story plot moved was kind of different which isn't a bad thing. When all the pieces started to fall into place my mouth dropped. I mean that is a lot of planning to go through just to not really get revenge but to tell someone about your past. I liked Lucas from the start just because I felt that he was trying to help without helping and getting caught. I didn't care for the doctor at all, and the same goes for Heath, I knew that there was something about him that gave me the creeps. I liked the ending for sure and how she was going to be open from the start.
The retreat’s isolated and forbidding location increases her unease, as do the doctor’s rules: they must relinquish their keys and phones, they’ll be monitored at all hours by hidden cameras, and they’re never to socialize with the other guests.
One sleepless night, Daphne decides to leave her room…and only then does she realize that the institute is not at all what it seems—and that whatever’s crying out from Heath’s past isn’t meant to be heard. It’s meant to be silenced.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Lake Union Publishing and Emily Carpenter for the chance to read this before it hits stores later this month. It was a wild ride from the start. I was a little concerned about this retreat that Heath wanted to go on to help figure out why he was having the nightmares. I mean who needs to go out on the middle if no where with no phone or anything. I did like how Daphne went with him to be supportive. I liked how the author went a out telling you the background on Daphne. The way that the story plot moved was kind of different which isn't a bad thing. When all the pieces started to fall into place my mouth dropped. I mean that is a lot of planning to go through just to not really get revenge but to tell someone about your past. I liked Lucas from the start just because I felt that he was trying to help without helping and getting caught. I didn't care for the doctor at all, and the same goes for Heath, I knew that there was something about him that gave me the creeps. I liked the ending for sure and how she was going to be open from the start.
I Let You Go ~ Clare Mackintosh
In a split second, Jenna Gray's world descends into a nightmare. Her only hope of moving on is to walk away from everything she knows to start afresh. Desperate to escape, Jenna moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, but she is haunted by her fears, her grief and her memories of a cruel November night that changed her life forever.
Slowly, Jenna begins to glimpse the potential for happiness in her future. But her past is about to catch up with her, and the consequences will be devastating .
wow this book definitely took me for a ride. The way that the author set up the whole plot was perfect. This book is different from others that I have read just because I felt like the author was telling two different stories at the same time. and that takes some talent. The story got me because I was sure that the woman that I was reading about was the woman that had lost the child. I wasn't really a fan of Jenna just because I thought she had run away because the police weren't helping. Then as I got to part two of the book some things started to make sense. I didn't really care for Ray the detective just because I felt that he had some feelings for his partner Kate. I liked the friends that she made by the little cottage that she lived in. I was thrown for a loop for sure when more of Jenna's past came to light. I even liked the ending, I like how the author is alluding to what could happen. I mean the history and emotional scares that domestic violence leaves on a person is never ending. Is it over or is still happening to her? This was my first book Clare Mackintosh and it wont be my last.
The Retreat ~ Mark Edwards
A missing child. A desperate mother. And a house full of secrets.
Two years ago, Julia lost her family in a tragic accident. Her husband drowned trying to save their daughter, Lily, in the river near their rural home. But the little girl’s body was never found—and Julia believes Lily is somehow still alive.
Alone and broke, Julia opens her house as a writers’ retreat. One of the first guests is Lucas, a horror novelist, who becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to Lily. But within days of his arrival, the peace of the retreat is shattered by a series of eerie events.
When Lucas’s investigation leads him and Julia into the woods, they discover a dark secret—a secret that someone will do anything to protect…
What really happened that day by the river? Why was Lily never found? And who, or what, is haunting the retreat?
I want to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book before its set to publish. This book is quiet unlike most that I have read. It felt more like life imitating art with the story plot. I really enjoyed reading it. I liked Lucas from the beginning and wanted to see where this story was going. I liked how it went back and forth from present to Lily's POV. I had my mind set on who it was but I was wrong too. I definitely felt that the ending was the spookiest part. I mean I can see her reasoning but still creepy. I felt that this book reminded me of Jeepers Creepers and Slender man all rolled into one. Definitely a good read.
Two years ago, Julia lost her family in a tragic accident. Her husband drowned trying to save their daughter, Lily, in the river near their rural home. But the little girl’s body was never found—and Julia believes Lily is somehow still alive.
Alone and broke, Julia opens her house as a writers’ retreat. One of the first guests is Lucas, a horror novelist, who becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to Lily. But within days of his arrival, the peace of the retreat is shattered by a series of eerie events.
When Lucas’s investigation leads him and Julia into the woods, they discover a dark secret—a secret that someone will do anything to protect…
What really happened that day by the river? Why was Lily never found? And who, or what, is haunting the retreat?
I want to thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book before its set to publish. This book is quiet unlike most that I have read. It felt more like life imitating art with the story plot. I really enjoyed reading it. I liked Lucas from the beginning and wanted to see where this story was going. I liked how it went back and forth from present to Lily's POV. I had my mind set on who it was but I was wrong too. I definitely felt that the ending was the spookiest part. I mean I can see her reasoning but still creepy. I felt that this book reminded me of Jeepers Creepers and Slender man all rolled into one. Definitely a good read.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
April's Books
At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson
Tommy and Ozzie have been best friends since second grade, and boyfriends since eighth. They spent countless days dreaming of escaping their small town—and then Tommy vanished.
More accurately, he ceased to exist, erased from the minds and memories of everyone who knew him. Everyone except Ozzie.
Ozzie doesn’t know how to navigate life without Tommy, and soon suspects that something else is going on: that the universe is shrinking.
When Ozzie is paired up with new student Calvin on a physics project, he begins to wonder if Calvin could somehow be involved. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is for him to deny the feelings developing between them, even if he still loves Tommy.
But Ozzie knows there isn’t much time left to find Tommy–that once the door closes, it can’t be opened again. And he’s determined to keep it open as long as possible.
Omg this book shook me. It was my first book by this author and I wanted so much more. I didn't want it to end at all. I was hesitant to read it at all I guess just because of the title prompt that I used it for...book with a LGBT character. But once I started reading it I totally forgot about that. I had to know what happened to his boyfriend Tommy. I liked the way that the author used the shrinking of the universe to convey his message. I genuinely liked all the characters which almost never happens. I liked that they all had something that made them jacked up. Like his best friend that wasn't sure if he wanted to be a girl or a guy and how everyone still accepted him. How he tried to help Calvin when he realized what had happened to him for him to be doing what he was doing. I liked as the universe shrunk and the concept of the world ending made since for what he was going through. I definitely recommend this book for anyone to read, by far one of my favorites this year!
Tommy and Ozzie have been best friends since second grade, and boyfriends since eighth. They spent countless days dreaming of escaping their small town—and then Tommy vanished.
More accurately, he ceased to exist, erased from the minds and memories of everyone who knew him. Everyone except Ozzie.
Ozzie doesn’t know how to navigate life without Tommy, and soon suspects that something else is going on: that the universe is shrinking.
When Ozzie is paired up with new student Calvin on a physics project, he begins to wonder if Calvin could somehow be involved. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is for him to deny the feelings developing between them, even if he still loves Tommy.
But Ozzie knows there isn’t much time left to find Tommy–that once the door closes, it can’t be opened again. And he’s determined to keep it open as long as possible.
Omg this book shook me. It was my first book by this author and I wanted so much more. I didn't want it to end at all. I was hesitant to read it at all I guess just because of the title prompt that I used it for...book with a LGBT character. But once I started reading it I totally forgot about that. I had to know what happened to his boyfriend Tommy. I liked the way that the author used the shrinking of the universe to convey his message. I genuinely liked all the characters which almost never happens. I liked that they all had something that made them jacked up. Like his best friend that wasn't sure if he wanted to be a girl or a guy and how everyone still accepted him. How he tried to help Calvin when he realized what had happened to him for him to be doing what he was doing. I liked as the universe shrunk and the concept of the world ending made since for what he was going through. I definitely recommend this book for anyone to read, by far one of my favorites this year!
Stiff The Secret Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Stiff is an oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers—some willingly, some unwittingly—have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. In this fascinating account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries and tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no longer with them
I read this book for my Micro History book. I went through a few books before I found that I wanted to read and still this one I had to trudge through. It was interesting but it took me longer to read than most just because I wasn't interested in reading it. I liked some things that I learned but it's not one that I will be reading again anytime soon.
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy."
So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.
Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.
This book I used for the allegory prompt. I absolutely love this book. I read it to my students when I taught. I love Shel Silverstein. I use to read his poems as a child. This story is about a tree and a boy. How the boy depends on the tree for everything and the tree willingly gives the boy what he needs from her. It depicts how we depend on society for everything.
Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz
When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires. The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.
The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?
I used this book for book with favorite color in the title prompt. I loved this book, I can't wait to read the rest of them. I haven't found a vampire book that I liked since I read The Morganville Vampires and House of Night series. This one may make the list behind them.
Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier
With planning the town's annual Halloween Party, the drought wreaking havoc on her garden, and her brood of four children, Lucy Stone's got her hands full this fall. As the air turns crisp and the trees blaze red and gold in the tiny town of Tinker's Cove, Maine, a newcomer arrives who seems to suit the Halloween season. Diana Ravenscroft has just opened Solstice, a charming little shop featuring candles, crystals, jewelry, and psychic readings. But after an unnervingly accurate reading by Diana, Lucy starts to get more than a little spooked.
Then there's the dead body Lucy finds, way up on one of the old logging roads behind her house. The deceased is identified as Malcolm Malebranche, a seemingly harmless magician who worked at children's birthday parties. When it turns out that Diana knew the murder victim, Ike Stoughton, a prominent local businessman, starts a campaign against Diana, blaming 'the witch' for everything from the unseasonal dry spell to his wife's illness and his pumpkins' lack of plumpness. But Lucy's not so sure that Ike himself is innocent. Still, as the town Halloween party approaches, Lucy's more concerned about the costume competition, pin-the-nose-on-the-pumpkin, and baking three dozen orange cupcakes and Beastly Bug cookies. But as the October moon rises, a killer plans a lethal celebration of his own and Lucy's the guest of honor.
I used this book for my about or set on Halloween prompt.
The Woman in the Window by A.J Finn
Anna Fox lives alone—a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors.
Then the Russell's move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble—and its shocking secrets are laid bare.
What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems.
I read this book for the book published in 2018 prompt. This book was so good. I loved it. I wasn't sure what was happening and I questions everyone in the story. I really didn't believe the ending was actually the ending, I mean it was probable but I didn't see that twist coming at all. I liked but at the same time didn't like Anna. She seemed off for sure, I mean who spends their days spying on their neighbors and drinking the day away; especially after she says that is one of the reasons that her husband and daughter moved out. I thought that the neighbor that lived in her basement was weird too. I mean why wouldn't he give the info that he knew to the cops??
This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
10:00 a.m. The principal of Opportunity High School finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.
10:02 a.m. The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.
10:03 a.m. The auditorium doors won't open.
10:05 a.m. Someone starts shooting.
Told from four different perspectives over the span of fifty-four harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.
This book was okay as well. It wasn't like the other books that I have read about school shootings, and with this prompt I have read quite a few not meaning too. I started this book with high hopes, it was okay, but I really only finished it, to see who the was doing the shooting. The characters didn't really have a lot of depth like one would have if it was involved in a school shooting, I mean I see where each of them were coming from but still. I would say that it is definitely YA for a reason and yes some kids should probably read it for that reason, to know what being a bully really does to a person. I read this book for the prompt on death and grief for the challenge.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Esther Greenwood is brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under—maybe for the last time. In her acclaimed and enduring masterwork, Sylvia Plath brilliantly draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that her insanity becomes palpably real, even rational—as accessible an experience as going to the movies. A deep penetration into the darkest and most harrowing corners of the human psyche, The Bell Jar is an extraordinary accomplishment and a haunting American classic.
I read this for the prompt about feminism. I remember buying this book after I watched 10 Things I Hate About You, because Kat was reading it. I never got around to reading it I mean I tried a few times but never could get into it. After reading it I had a few questions, I mean I understand that she was deeply depressed and that that's what caused her to feel like she was in the bell jar but I think that at the end when she got the electroshock therapy and all a sudden she was better that seems a little off to me. She only had the shock treatment a few times and then they let her go home and live her life and she was completely normal again. I don't see how it worked that quickly when she was so deeply depressed s she was. I mean I also understand that this was a glimpse into the real life of Plath and at the age of thirty she ends up taking her own life.
Don't Close Your Eyes by Carlene Thompson
Nestled on the shores of Lake Erie, the small town of Port Ariel, Ohio, is a welcome haven for Natalie St. John. Back home for the first time in years, she plans to visit old friends, mend a broken heart, and take a break from her busy veterinarian practice. But her peace is shattered her first night back, when she discovers the murdered body of her friend, Tamara Peyton.
Was it a random act of violence...or something personal? The answer becomes clear as Natalie is stalked by the voice of "Tamara," whose terrifying phone calls warn her that she too, is going to die.
One by one, the people closest to Tamara are being savagely murdered. But neither Natalie nor Sheriff Nick Meredith recognizes the face of the devious killer who walks among them, hiding behind a well-crafted lie. Now, a murderer's deadly act of vengeance demands one more sacrifice-and Natalie has been chosen to pay the price...
This one wasn't bad, it kept me drawn in from the beginning all the way to the end. I will be reading more from her for sure. There were a lot of people that could have been the murderer and I think that she set it up perfectly in the end. I think my favorite characters were the kids in the book, that were trying to solve the mystery.
Still Mine by Amy Stuart
Clare is on the run.
From her past, from her ex, and from her own secrets. When she turns up alone in the remote mining town of Blackmore asking about Shayna Fowles, the local girl who disappeared, everyone wants to know who Clare really is and what she's hiding. As it turns out, she's hiding a lot, including what ties her to Shayna in the first place. But everyone in this place is hiding something from Jared, Shayna's golden-haired ex-husband, to Charlie, the charming small-town drug pusher, to Derek, Shayna's overly involved family doctor, to Louise and Wilfred, her distraught parents.
Did Shayna flee? Was she killed? Is it possible she's still alive?
As Clare uncovers the mysteries around Shayna's disappearance, she must confront her own demons, moving us deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of lies and making us question what it is she's really running from. Twisting and electrifying, this is a get-under-your-skin thriller that will make you question what it means to lose yourself and find yourself in the most unlikely places.
This was an okay book too, I didn't care for that way that is ended at all, but I now know that there is a sequel coming out and it should answer all the questions that I was left with. But I still didn't understand why she was there to begin with I mean I do but I don't, if that makes sense. I mean why instead of just bringing her back to her husband did the bounty hunter of sorts send her on a wild goose chase????
When We Were Friends by Elizabeth Joy Arnold
Lainey Carson and Sydney Beaumont were the closest of friends—until they reached high school and Sydney’s burgeoning popularity made it easy for her to leave the contemplative, ungainly Lainey behind.
Eighteen years later, Lainey, who lives at home caring for her mother, is an artist who’s never found the courage to live her dreams. When Sydney shows up on her doorstep with her infant daughter, insisting that Lainey is the only friend she can trust, Lainey reluctantly agrees to take temporary custody of the baby to protect her from an abusive father.
But that very night, Sydney appears on the evening news—claiming that her daughter has been kidnapped. Unsure of whom she can trust, Lainey is forced to go on the run with a child who is not her own—but whose bond with her grows stronger every day they spend together. In search of a safe place to stay, Lainey befriends a man who, concerned for their welfare, offers them a home. But as the two grow closer she starts to realize that he may be harboring his own secrets.
This book just made me mad. I didn't like that way that Sydney treated her. This book too me longer to read than normal, I guess because it felt drawn out to me. I mean why did she have to go through all that if she just wanted to leave her husband? And the fact that she meets a random guy and goes to stay with him at his house is kind of unrealistic. I mean no one these days just goes to live with some guy that they have just met. This book was not my favorite at all.
What She Knew by Gilly Mcmillian
Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. It’s an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry—until Ben vanishes.
Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion.
As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent’s nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most.
This book also gave me some anxiety I think just because it involved a missing child. I don't know why I read books like this but I like them, so I guess that's why. This book made me not like pretty much everyone in it but the mother. I actually had thought it was someone completely different until I read a little further into the book. I mean with the blurb saying that its always someone close to you that is the kidnapper basically. I am really confused on the title though, I mean who is the SHE in What She Knew? Is it Rachel, Nicky, Emma or Joanna. I also felt that there was an unresolved issue with that Clemo was telling his therapist about what happened with his father and sister, I know that he play a role in her other books, so I am assuming that its a continuing story line for him. I didn't understand that she was so bad mouthed about letting him run ahead of her a little ways, it wasn't like she let him run ahead to the swings and she ran back to the car to get something, she as right behind him. I would like to read more about Clemo in her other books.
The Gift by Louise Jensen
Jenna is given another shot at life when she receives a donor heart from a girl called Callie. Eternally grateful to Callie and her family, Jenna gets closer to them, but she soon discovers that Callie’s perfect family is hiding some very dark secrets…
Callie’s parents are grieving, yet Jenna knows they’re only telling her half the story. Where is Callie’s sister Sophie? She’s been ‘abroad’ since her sister’s death but something about her absence doesn’t add up. And when Jenna meets Callie’s boyfriend Nathan, she makes a shocking discovery.
Jenna knows that Callie didn’t die in an accident. But how did she die? Jenna is determined to discover the truth but it could cost her everything; her loved ones, her sanity, even her life.
This book was really good, I read it in one day. I didn't really care for her friends that made her feel like she shouldn't be trying to reach out to the parents of the heart that she received. I mean I would want to know about the girls life that gave me a chance to live again. I really didn't like Linda the Vet, either and I thought what she was doing was petty, I mean it wasn't Jenna's fault what happened. I was a little concerned with the uncle and I thought that he had done something. I really didn't like that she got involved with the boyfriend either. I definitely want to read more by her, I wish my library had her books but they don't :(
The Outsiders by S.E Hinton
The Outsiders is about two weeks in the life of a 14-year-old boy. The novel tells the story of Ponyboy Curtis and his struggles with right and wrong in a society in which he believes that he is an outsider. According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc, The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser.
I read this book for my last prompt for the Popsugar challenge; A female author who uses a male pseudonym. I can't believe that it took me as long as it did to read this book! It was so good, I don't remember having to read it in school either and you would think I would have considering I live in Oklahoma and only about an hour or so away from Tulsa. This book brought things in to perspective for me about the way that things use to be. IT made me realize that family isn't always blood too, if you have a group that has your back no matter what that's what count for family. After reading this I want to watch the movie to see that words come alive as I read them in my head. I know that pain affects everybody and also affects them differently and at the same time the same way, it doesn't matter if you are white, black, yellow, or brown, tall short, or round or thin, in the end we all deal with pain no matter what.
Liar by K.L Slater
Single dad Ben is doing his best to raise his children alone, with the help of his devoted mother Judi. Life isn’t easy, but Judi’s family means everything to her and together, they manage.
Then Ben meets Amber. Everyone thinks this is a perfect match for Ben but Judi isn’t sure … there’s just something about Amber that doesn’t add up.
Ben can’t see why his mother dislikes his new girlfriend. And Amber doesn’t want Judi anywhere near her new family. Amber just wants Ben and the children.
The further Judi delves into Amber’s personal life, the closer she gets to shocking secrets that could change everything. And Judi must make a decision that could lead to the most disastrous consequences.
Wow I devoured this book in one sitting, it gave me anxiety while reading it thought just because I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I didn't like Amber at all, and questioned Judi for sure. I really didn't like Henry, Judi's husband, just because of the way he treated her, didn't stand behind her and I found out some things about him that really made me not like him. I felt bad for the boys in the book. I really liked the twist at the end, I am glad things worked out for the best considering what she did. I wont say who, Amber or Judi. The way that the author started with the last chapter first made me really think about which one did it, and how it was going to end, even though you know how it will end they flat out tell you in the beginning of the book, you just have to read to figure it out. I will be reading more by this author for sure.
Our Little Secret by Roz Nay
They say you never forget your first love. What they don't say though, is that sometimes your first love won't forget you...
A police interview room is the last place Angela expected to find herself today. It's been hours, and they keep asking her the same inane questions over and over. "How do you know the victim?" "What's your relationship with Mr. Parker?" Her ex's wife has gone missing, and anyone who was close to the couple is a suspect. Angela is tired of the bottomless questions and tired of the cold room that stays the same while a rotating litany of interrogators changes shifts around her. But when criminologist Novak takes over, she can tell he's not like the others. He's ready to listen, and she knows he'll understand. When she tells him that her story begins a decade before, long before Saskia was in the picture, he gives her the floor.
twenty-something young professional, Angela claims to have no involvement. How could she? It's been years since she and H.P., Mr. Parker that is, were together. As her story unfolds, it deepens and darkens. There's a lot to unpack... betrayal, jealousy, and a group of people who all have motives for retribution. If Angela is telling the truth, then who's lying?
I received this book as an ARC, I was super excited to read it and be able to post a review for the author. I devoured this book. It was really good. I liked how the author told you a whole life story in one sitting and based on the story timeline in a matter of 12 or so hours. I kind of felt bad for Angela and the way that her and HP ended things in the beginning of their relationship but for things to end like they did really blew my mind. I liked how her mom and her friend came to be by her side and tried to help fix things. I have a few questions but if I ask them I will spoil the ending so I wont. I can not wait for others to read this book. I am also looking forward to reading more from Roz Nay for sure. Thanks again for the ARC!
The Birthday Girl by Sue Fortin
When Joanne’s friends reluctantly accept an invitation to her birthday party, it quickly becomes clear that there is more to this weekend than they are expecting.
One of them is hiding a secret.
And Joanne is planning to reveal it…
A weekend away in a cottage in the woods sounds like fun – until no one can hear your cries for help.
Wow, I read this in one sitting, I had to know what was going on. It starts out with four friends going on a girls weekend way and ends in murder, that is my kind of book. I mean they all had their issues with each other that's for sure. I had the who did it picked out about half way through but I was still sorting out the why. I have never read anything by Sue Fortin before but I will be finding more of her books that's for sure, she sends you on a wild ride and them ties everything up nicely with a bow at the end of the book. I liked that it was from Carys point of view also I liked the voice over that is thrown in for extra added mystery, you don't know who is doing the talking but they seem to know what is going on at the cottage. like I said I will be looking into her other books for sure.
It's Always the Husband by Michelle Campbell
Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge . . and someone else is urging her to jump.
How did things come to this?
As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other—but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?
I really liked the premise of the book and had wanted to read it since it came out. My library didn't have it so when I found it on Facebook I snatched it up. I liked the story and at the same time I didn't. I didn't care for how it went back and forth past and present. I did like how it turned out. I mean it tied things up nicely. I wouldn't say that they were still friends after what happened in college, maybe acquaintances. Their lives intertwined, but there was a lot of hostility in the air. I thought that I had it pinned down to what happened but nope my guess was wrong. In the end is it the friends or it is the husband?
Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig
Flynn's girlfriend has disappeared. How can he uncover her secrets without revealing his own?
Flynn's girlfriend, January, is missing. The cops are asking questions he can't answer, and her friends are telling stories that don't add up. All eyes are on Flynn—as January's boyfriend, he must know something.
But Flynn has a secret of his own. And as he struggles to uncover the truth about January's disappearance, he must also face the truth about himself.
This book had been in my TBR pile for awhile and I got lucky and found it on Facebook and bought it. I kinda wish I hadn't spent my money on and waited until I found it at the goodwill or library. The book had its ups and downs, and I liked the ending just knowing that it worked out, but getting there seem to take forever. I knew his secret before the author even outted it. I could definitely see this as a YA book, and it might be I am not sure. I didn't really care how the friend freaked out on him, he could have been a little more supporting of what was going on. All in all it was okay also.
In a Cottage in a Wood by Cass Green
A strange encounter
Neve comes across a troubled woman called Isabelle on Waterloo Bridge late one night. Isabelle forces a parcel into Neve’s hands and jumps to her death in the icy Thames below.
An unexpected gift
Two weeks later, as Neve’s wreck of a life in London collapses, an unexpected lifeline falls into her lap – a charming cottage in Cornwall left to her by Isabelle, the woman on the bridge. The solution to all her problems.
A Twisted secret
But when Neve arrives, alone in the dark woods late one night, she finds a sinister-looking bungalow with bars across its windows. And her dream home quickly becomes her worst nightmare – a house hiding a twisted secret that will change her life forever…
This book I received in my book exchange group that I am in on Facebook. I had been wanting to read it for a while and when I got it I was so excited, until I read it. It is definitely not in my top favorite reads for this month. I mean it was good, but I just didn't care for it. I wanted too and maybe that's why it was a let down. I didn't really care for Neve, or her sister and brother in law they seemed to be snotty people who couldn't stand to have Neve around at all. I didn't like her new neighbors either once she got into the cottage. They seemed to be hiding something from everyone, and just gave me a weird vibe. I did like how she learned things and found things out. I guess it was an okay book.
The Other Woman by Sandie Jones
Emily thinks Adam’s perfect; the man she thought she’d never meet.
But lurking in the shadows is a rival; a woman who shares a deep bond with the man she loves. Family chose Adam, but she didn’t choose his mother Pammie. There’s nothing a mother wouldn’t do for her son, and now Emily is about to find out just how far Pammie will go to get what she wants: Emily gone forever.
Wow this book took me on a wild spin of a ride for sure. I wasn't sure what I was going to be reading going into it, I wasn't sure how things were going to go and I sure as heck didn't see that twist that got me at the end. I received this book as an ARC from the author, this book comes out in August. I was so concerned with Pammie and what she was doing I was missing something else. I think everyone should read this book when it comes out. I had questions about James, the brother and I didn't really care for Adam at all. I didn't like the way that he talk to Emily. I was definitely surprised when the twist came.
Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier
With planning the town's annual Halloween Party, the drought wreaking havoc on her garden, and her brood of four children, Lucy Stone's got her hands full this fall. As the air turns crisp and the trees blaze red and gold in the tiny town of Tinker's Cove, Maine, a newcomer arrives who seems to suit the Halloween season. Diana Ravenscroft has just opened Solstice, a charming little shop featuring candles, crystals, jewelry, and psychic readings. But after an unnervingly accurate reading by Diana, Lucy starts to get more than a little spooked.
Then there's the dead body Lucy finds, way up on one of the old logging roads behind her house. The deceased is identified as Malcolm Malebranche, a seemingly harmless magician who worked at children's birthday parties. When it turns out that Diana knew the murder victim, Ike Stoughton, a prominent local businessman, starts a campaign against Diana, blaming 'the witch' for everything from the unseasonal dry spell to his wife's illness and his pumpkins' lack of plumpness. But Lucy's not so sure that Ike himself is innocent. Still, as the town Halloween party approaches, Lucy's more concerned about the costume competition, pin-the-nose-on-the-pumpkin, and baking three dozen orange cupcakes and Beastly Bug cookies. But as the October moon rises, a killer plans a lethal celebration of his own and Lucy's the guest of honor.
I used this book for my about or set on Halloween prompt.
The Woman in the Window by A.J Finn
Anna Fox lives alone—a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors.
Then the Russell's move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble—and its shocking secrets are laid bare.
What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems.
I read this book for the book published in 2018 prompt. This book was so good. I loved it. I wasn't sure what was happening and I questions everyone in the story. I really didn't believe the ending was actually the ending, I mean it was probable but I didn't see that twist coming at all. I liked but at the same time didn't like Anna. She seemed off for sure, I mean who spends their days spying on their neighbors and drinking the day away; especially after she says that is one of the reasons that her husband and daughter moved out. I thought that the neighbor that lived in her basement was weird too. I mean why wouldn't he give the info that he knew to the cops??
This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
10:00 a.m. The principal of Opportunity High School finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.
10:02 a.m. The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.
10:03 a.m. The auditorium doors won't open.
10:05 a.m. Someone starts shooting.
Told from four different perspectives over the span of fifty-four harrowing minutes, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.
This book was okay as well. It wasn't like the other books that I have read about school shootings, and with this prompt I have read quite a few not meaning too. I started this book with high hopes, it was okay, but I really only finished it, to see who the was doing the shooting. The characters didn't really have a lot of depth like one would have if it was involved in a school shooting, I mean I see where each of them were coming from but still. I would say that it is definitely YA for a reason and yes some kids should probably read it for that reason, to know what being a bully really does to a person. I read this book for the prompt on death and grief for the challenge.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Esther Greenwood is brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under—maybe for the last time. In her acclaimed and enduring masterwork, Sylvia Plath brilliantly draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that her insanity becomes palpably real, even rational—as accessible an experience as going to the movies. A deep penetration into the darkest and most harrowing corners of the human psyche, The Bell Jar is an extraordinary accomplishment and a haunting American classic.
I read this for the prompt about feminism. I remember buying this book after I watched 10 Things I Hate About You, because Kat was reading it. I never got around to reading it I mean I tried a few times but never could get into it. After reading it I had a few questions, I mean I understand that she was deeply depressed and that that's what caused her to feel like she was in the bell jar but I think that at the end when she got the electroshock therapy and all a sudden she was better that seems a little off to me. She only had the shock treatment a few times and then they let her go home and live her life and she was completely normal again. I don't see how it worked that quickly when she was so deeply depressed s she was. I mean I also understand that this was a glimpse into the real life of Plath and at the age of thirty she ends up taking her own life.
Don't Close Your Eyes by Carlene Thompson
Nestled on the shores of Lake Erie, the small town of Port Ariel, Ohio, is a welcome haven for Natalie St. John. Back home for the first time in years, she plans to visit old friends, mend a broken heart, and take a break from her busy veterinarian practice. But her peace is shattered her first night back, when she discovers the murdered body of her friend, Tamara Peyton.
Was it a random act of violence...or something personal? The answer becomes clear as Natalie is stalked by the voice of "Tamara," whose terrifying phone calls warn her that she too, is going to die.
One by one, the people closest to Tamara are being savagely murdered. But neither Natalie nor Sheriff Nick Meredith recognizes the face of the devious killer who walks among them, hiding behind a well-crafted lie. Now, a murderer's deadly act of vengeance demands one more sacrifice-and Natalie has been chosen to pay the price...
This one wasn't bad, it kept me drawn in from the beginning all the way to the end. I will be reading more from her for sure. There were a lot of people that could have been the murderer and I think that she set it up perfectly in the end. I think my favorite characters were the kids in the book, that were trying to solve the mystery.
Still Mine by Amy Stuart
Clare is on the run.
From her past, from her ex, and from her own secrets. When she turns up alone in the remote mining town of Blackmore asking about Shayna Fowles, the local girl who disappeared, everyone wants to know who Clare really is and what she's hiding. As it turns out, she's hiding a lot, including what ties her to Shayna in the first place. But everyone in this place is hiding something from Jared, Shayna's golden-haired ex-husband, to Charlie, the charming small-town drug pusher, to Derek, Shayna's overly involved family doctor, to Louise and Wilfred, her distraught parents.
Did Shayna flee? Was she killed? Is it possible she's still alive?
As Clare uncovers the mysteries around Shayna's disappearance, she must confront her own demons, moving us deeper and deeper into the labyrinth of lies and making us question what it is she's really running from. Twisting and electrifying, this is a get-under-your-skin thriller that will make you question what it means to lose yourself and find yourself in the most unlikely places.
This was an okay book too, I didn't care for that way that is ended at all, but I now know that there is a sequel coming out and it should answer all the questions that I was left with. But I still didn't understand why she was there to begin with I mean I do but I don't, if that makes sense. I mean why instead of just bringing her back to her husband did the bounty hunter of sorts send her on a wild goose chase????
When We Were Friends by Elizabeth Joy Arnold
Lainey Carson and Sydney Beaumont were the closest of friends—until they reached high school and Sydney’s burgeoning popularity made it easy for her to leave the contemplative, ungainly Lainey behind.
Eighteen years later, Lainey, who lives at home caring for her mother, is an artist who’s never found the courage to live her dreams. When Sydney shows up on her doorstep with her infant daughter, insisting that Lainey is the only friend she can trust, Lainey reluctantly agrees to take temporary custody of the baby to protect her from an abusive father.
But that very night, Sydney appears on the evening news—claiming that her daughter has been kidnapped. Unsure of whom she can trust, Lainey is forced to go on the run with a child who is not her own—but whose bond with her grows stronger every day they spend together. In search of a safe place to stay, Lainey befriends a man who, concerned for their welfare, offers them a home. But as the two grow closer she starts to realize that he may be harboring his own secrets.
This book just made me mad. I didn't like that way that Sydney treated her. This book too me longer to read than normal, I guess because it felt drawn out to me. I mean why did she have to go through all that if she just wanted to leave her husband? And the fact that she meets a random guy and goes to stay with him at his house is kind of unrealistic. I mean no one these days just goes to live with some guy that they have just met. This book was not my favorite at all.
What She Knew by Gilly Mcmillian
Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. It’s an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry—until Ben vanishes.
Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion.
As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent’s nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most.
This book also gave me some anxiety I think just because it involved a missing child. I don't know why I read books like this but I like them, so I guess that's why. This book made me not like pretty much everyone in it but the mother. I actually had thought it was someone completely different until I read a little further into the book. I mean with the blurb saying that its always someone close to you that is the kidnapper basically. I am really confused on the title though, I mean who is the SHE in What She Knew? Is it Rachel, Nicky, Emma or Joanna. I also felt that there was an unresolved issue with that Clemo was telling his therapist about what happened with his father and sister, I know that he play a role in her other books, so I am assuming that its a continuing story line for him. I didn't understand that she was so bad mouthed about letting him run ahead of her a little ways, it wasn't like she let him run ahead to the swings and she ran back to the car to get something, she as right behind him. I would like to read more about Clemo in her other books.
The Gift by Louise Jensen
Jenna is given another shot at life when she receives a donor heart from a girl called Callie. Eternally grateful to Callie and her family, Jenna gets closer to them, but she soon discovers that Callie’s perfect family is hiding some very dark secrets…
Callie’s parents are grieving, yet Jenna knows they’re only telling her half the story. Where is Callie’s sister Sophie? She’s been ‘abroad’ since her sister’s death but something about her absence doesn’t add up. And when Jenna meets Callie’s boyfriend Nathan, she makes a shocking discovery.
Jenna knows that Callie didn’t die in an accident. But how did she die? Jenna is determined to discover the truth but it could cost her everything; her loved ones, her sanity, even her life.
This book was really good, I read it in one day. I didn't really care for her friends that made her feel like she shouldn't be trying to reach out to the parents of the heart that she received. I mean I would want to know about the girls life that gave me a chance to live again. I really didn't like Linda the Vet, either and I thought what she was doing was petty, I mean it wasn't Jenna's fault what happened. I was a little concerned with the uncle and I thought that he had done something. I really didn't like that she got involved with the boyfriend either. I definitely want to read more by her, I wish my library had her books but they don't :(
The Outsiders by S.E Hinton
The Outsiders is about two weeks in the life of a 14-year-old boy. The novel tells the story of Ponyboy Curtis and his struggles with right and wrong in a society in which he believes that he is an outsider. According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc, The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser.
I read this book for my last prompt for the Popsugar challenge; A female author who uses a male pseudonym. I can't believe that it took me as long as it did to read this book! It was so good, I don't remember having to read it in school either and you would think I would have considering I live in Oklahoma and only about an hour or so away from Tulsa. This book brought things in to perspective for me about the way that things use to be. IT made me realize that family isn't always blood too, if you have a group that has your back no matter what that's what count for family. After reading this I want to watch the movie to see that words come alive as I read them in my head. I know that pain affects everybody and also affects them differently and at the same time the same way, it doesn't matter if you are white, black, yellow, or brown, tall short, or round or thin, in the end we all deal with pain no matter what.
Liar by K.L Slater
Single dad Ben is doing his best to raise his children alone, with the help of his devoted mother Judi. Life isn’t easy, but Judi’s family means everything to her and together, they manage.
Then Ben meets Amber. Everyone thinks this is a perfect match for Ben but Judi isn’t sure … there’s just something about Amber that doesn’t add up.
Ben can’t see why his mother dislikes his new girlfriend. And Amber doesn’t want Judi anywhere near her new family. Amber just wants Ben and the children.
The further Judi delves into Amber’s personal life, the closer she gets to shocking secrets that could change everything. And Judi must make a decision that could lead to the most disastrous consequences.
Wow I devoured this book in one sitting, it gave me anxiety while reading it thought just because I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I didn't like Amber at all, and questioned Judi for sure. I really didn't like Henry, Judi's husband, just because of the way he treated her, didn't stand behind her and I found out some things about him that really made me not like him. I felt bad for the boys in the book. I really liked the twist at the end, I am glad things worked out for the best considering what she did. I wont say who, Amber or Judi. The way that the author started with the last chapter first made me really think about which one did it, and how it was going to end, even though you know how it will end they flat out tell you in the beginning of the book, you just have to read to figure it out. I will be reading more by this author for sure.
Our Little Secret by Roz Nay
They say you never forget your first love. What they don't say though, is that sometimes your first love won't forget you...
A police interview room is the last place Angela expected to find herself today. It's been hours, and they keep asking her the same inane questions over and over. "How do you know the victim?" "What's your relationship with Mr. Parker?" Her ex's wife has gone missing, and anyone who was close to the couple is a suspect. Angela is tired of the bottomless questions and tired of the cold room that stays the same while a rotating litany of interrogators changes shifts around her. But when criminologist Novak takes over, she can tell he's not like the others. He's ready to listen, and she knows he'll understand. When she tells him that her story begins a decade before, long before Saskia was in the picture, he gives her the floor.
twenty-something young professional, Angela claims to have no involvement. How could she? It's been years since she and H.P., Mr. Parker that is, were together. As her story unfolds, it deepens and darkens. There's a lot to unpack... betrayal, jealousy, and a group of people who all have motives for retribution. If Angela is telling the truth, then who's lying?
I received this book as an ARC, I was super excited to read it and be able to post a review for the author. I devoured this book. It was really good. I liked how the author told you a whole life story in one sitting and based on the story timeline in a matter of 12 or so hours. I kind of felt bad for Angela and the way that her and HP ended things in the beginning of their relationship but for things to end like they did really blew my mind. I liked how her mom and her friend came to be by her side and tried to help fix things. I have a few questions but if I ask them I will spoil the ending so I wont. I can not wait for others to read this book. I am also looking forward to reading more from Roz Nay for sure. Thanks again for the ARC!
The Birthday Girl by Sue Fortin
When Joanne’s friends reluctantly accept an invitation to her birthday party, it quickly becomes clear that there is more to this weekend than they are expecting.
One of them is hiding a secret.
And Joanne is planning to reveal it…
A weekend away in a cottage in the woods sounds like fun – until no one can hear your cries for help.
Wow, I read this in one sitting, I had to know what was going on. It starts out with four friends going on a girls weekend way and ends in murder, that is my kind of book. I mean they all had their issues with each other that's for sure. I had the who did it picked out about half way through but I was still sorting out the why. I have never read anything by Sue Fortin before but I will be finding more of her books that's for sure, she sends you on a wild ride and them ties everything up nicely with a bow at the end of the book. I liked that it was from Carys point of view also I liked the voice over that is thrown in for extra added mystery, you don't know who is doing the talking but they seem to know what is going on at the cottage. like I said I will be looking into her other books for sure.
It's Always the Husband by Michelle Campbell
Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge . . and someone else is urging her to jump.
How did things come to this?
As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other—but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?
I really liked the premise of the book and had wanted to read it since it came out. My library didn't have it so when I found it on Facebook I snatched it up. I liked the story and at the same time I didn't. I didn't care for how it went back and forth past and present. I did like how it turned out. I mean it tied things up nicely. I wouldn't say that they were still friends after what happened in college, maybe acquaintances. Their lives intertwined, but there was a lot of hostility in the air. I thought that I had it pinned down to what happened but nope my guess was wrong. In the end is it the friends or it is the husband?
Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig
Flynn's girlfriend has disappeared. How can he uncover her secrets without revealing his own?
Flynn's girlfriend, January, is missing. The cops are asking questions he can't answer, and her friends are telling stories that don't add up. All eyes are on Flynn—as January's boyfriend, he must know something.
But Flynn has a secret of his own. And as he struggles to uncover the truth about January's disappearance, he must also face the truth about himself.
This book had been in my TBR pile for awhile and I got lucky and found it on Facebook and bought it. I kinda wish I hadn't spent my money on and waited until I found it at the goodwill or library. The book had its ups and downs, and I liked the ending just knowing that it worked out, but getting there seem to take forever. I knew his secret before the author even outted it. I could definitely see this as a YA book, and it might be I am not sure. I didn't really care how the friend freaked out on him, he could have been a little more supporting of what was going on. All in all it was okay also.
In a Cottage in a Wood by Cass Green
A strange encounter
Neve comes across a troubled woman called Isabelle on Waterloo Bridge late one night. Isabelle forces a parcel into Neve’s hands and jumps to her death in the icy Thames below.
An unexpected gift
Two weeks later, as Neve’s wreck of a life in London collapses, an unexpected lifeline falls into her lap – a charming cottage in Cornwall left to her by Isabelle, the woman on the bridge. The solution to all her problems.
A Twisted secret
But when Neve arrives, alone in the dark woods late one night, she finds a sinister-looking bungalow with bars across its windows. And her dream home quickly becomes her worst nightmare – a house hiding a twisted secret that will change her life forever…
This book I received in my book exchange group that I am in on Facebook. I had been wanting to read it for a while and when I got it I was so excited, until I read it. It is definitely not in my top favorite reads for this month. I mean it was good, but I just didn't care for it. I wanted too and maybe that's why it was a let down. I didn't really care for Neve, or her sister and brother in law they seemed to be snotty people who couldn't stand to have Neve around at all. I didn't like her new neighbors either once she got into the cottage. They seemed to be hiding something from everyone, and just gave me a weird vibe. I did like how she learned things and found things out. I guess it was an okay book.
The Other Woman by Sandie Jones
Emily thinks Adam’s perfect; the man she thought she’d never meet.
But lurking in the shadows is a rival; a woman who shares a deep bond with the man she loves. Family chose Adam, but she didn’t choose his mother Pammie. There’s nothing a mother wouldn’t do for her son, and now Emily is about to find out just how far Pammie will go to get what she wants: Emily gone forever.
Wow this book took me on a wild spin of a ride for sure. I wasn't sure what I was going to be reading going into it, I wasn't sure how things were going to go and I sure as heck didn't see that twist that got me at the end. I received this book as an ARC from the author, this book comes out in August. I was so concerned with Pammie and what she was doing I was missing something else. I think everyone should read this book when it comes out. I had questions about James, the brother and I didn't really care for Adam at all. I didn't like the way that he talk to Emily. I was definitely surprised when the twist came.
I really enjoyed all the books that I read this month, and loved all the ones that I received as ARC's. I received Bring Me Back by B.A Paris today in the mail as an advanced copy as well, I cant wait to dive into it.
I have also finished the 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge. All 50 prompts. I am now working on my TBR pile, which is dwindling down slowly.
Friday, March 30, 2018
March Reads
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
used for my author of a different ethnicity than you prompt
So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos.
Wow this book will hit you in the feelers for sure. It definitely pulled me in from the beginning and didn't let go until I was done. This book looks at family secrets in a way I never thought about, the relationships between parents and kids and the relationships between parents. Then you have to throw in the neighbors who had a say about everything. The struggle to live lives and understand the lives that they are living. This was the first book by Ng, and I want to read more, the way that she set the story was like a movie playing in my head. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that wants an inside like look at the average family that's hiding things from each other.
Columbine by Dave Cullen
used for my previous good reads award winner prompt
What really happened April 20, 1999? The horror left an indelible stamp on the American psyche, but most of what we "know" is wrong. It wasn't about jocks, Goths, or the Trench Coat Mafia. Dave Cullen was one of the first reporters on scene, and spent ten years on this book-widely recognized as the definitive account. With a keen investigative eye and psychological acumen, he draws on mountains of evidence, insight from the world's leading forensic psychologists, and the killers' own words and drawings-several reproduced in a new appendix. Cullen paints raw portraits of two polar opposite killers. They contrast starkly with the flashes of resilience and redemption among the survivors.
I wish I had read this book sooner. This book took you deeper into the minds of the students who did this and why they did it. No it wasn't because they were bullied, or because they listened to Manson. It was because they had so much hate in them, and they that this was the only way out. I find it strange how opposite they boys were. Also that Harris fit the psychopath persona so well, he could lie to your face and make you believe it, but that's also what got him caught. I also find it upsetting that the neighbors called the cops on them multiple times and had a file on them and knew what he was capable of but never did anything about it. They just slapped them on the wrist when they did something and let it go. I think had the cops actually did something the first time that Brooks Brown parents went to them this could have been avoided in some ways. The boys knew how it was going to end, I mean they left a goodbye tape to be found and journals so that they could some what understand what was going on in their lives. They had been planning this for a year, so they knew what they were doing. If the bombs that Harris had made would have went off like planned it would have been a bigger massacre than it already was. I also am not really sure I understand why they didn't try to save Sanders, I mean they could have moved him and he might have had a chance at a life. I was happy to see that the survivors banded together and went on to lead normal lives. The fact that the principal was such a part of their lives I think was also really important, he showed that he cared by just having lunch with them. More administration needs to be able to just sit around with their students and see what is happening first hand. They need to let the kids know that they are in a safe environment. I also think that kids need to read this book as bad as that sounds. They need to know what happens, and they need to know that if they don't feel safe they can go to an adult and not feel bad or like a snitch for telling.
Coraline by Neil Gaimen
Used for my childhood classic that I never read prompt
The day after they moved in, Coraline went exploring....
In Coraline's family's new flat are twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close.
The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another flat in another house just like her own.
Only it's different.
At first, things seem marvelous in the other flat. The food is better. The toy box is filled with wind-up angels that flutter around the bedroom, books whose pictures writhe and crawl and shimmer, little dinosaur skulls that chatter their teeth. But there's another mother, and another father, and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.
there children are trapped there as well, lost souls behind the mirrors. Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits and all the tools she can find if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself.
This was a cute story and I am glad that I chose this one for my prompt. It makes me want to watch the movie now. There isn't much to say about it.
The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
book by two authors prompt
When you read this book, you will make many assumptions.
You will assume you are reading about a jealous wife and her obsession with her replacement.
You will assume you are reading about a woman about to enter a new marriage with the man she loves.
You will assume the first wife was a disaster and that the husband was well rid of her.
You will assume you know the motives, the history, the anatomy of the relationships.
OMG this book was absolutely perfect! I am so glad that I chose it for a prompt and that my library had it lol. This book like some of the reviews said it was like The Last Mrs. Parrish BUT it had so many more twists that I never saw coming especially the last one! At the beginning I was a little confused but once I kept reading I straightened things out and then I could get tangled up in the twists again. I didn't really care for the husband nor did I care for the husbands sister either. You definitely do not need to assume anything when going in to this book at all. This is definitely one of my favorite books this year. I read it in one day so that must say something. I cant say much more or I will give it away, just read the book!
Where They Found Her by Kimbelry McCreight
book that was given to me
An idyllic suburban town A devastating discovery Shocking revelations that will change three lives forever At the end of a long winter in well to do Ridgedale New Jersey the body of a newborn is found in the woods fringing the campus of the town s prestigious university No one knows the identity of the baby what ended her very short life or how she came to be found among the fallen leaves But for the residents of Ridgedale there is no shortage of opinions When freelance journalist and recent Ridgedale transplant Molly Sanderson is unexpectedly called upon to cover the disturbing news for the Ridgedale Reader the town s local paper she has good reason to hesitate A severe depression followed the loss of her own baby and this assignment could unearth memories she has tried hard to bury But the disturbing history Molly uncovers is not her own Her investigation reveals a decades old trail of dark secrets hiding behind Ridgedale s white picket fences.
I have wanted to read this book ever since I read Reconstructing Amelia by her. I just never could find it and luck was on my side I think it was either the Goodwill or a thrift shop that I finally found it in. I read through it in one day. I loved the twist and turns that it took me through. The story is told by three women Molly, Barbra and Sandy. I thought I had it figured out but at the last minute she throws out a curve ball and I was like WOAH. I really liked how she added in the comments from the newspaper articles, that was one part that I thought I had figured out but nope. I really enjoyed this book and will look forward to anything else that she writes.
The Snowman by Jo Nesbø
Nordic Noir book prompt
One night, after the first snowfall of the year, a boy named Jonas wakes up and discovers that his mother has disappeared. Only one trace of her remains: a pink scarf, his Christmas gift to her, now worn by the snowman that inexplicably appeared in their yard earlier that day. Inspector Harry Hole suspects a link between the missing woman and a suspicious letter he’s received. The case deepens when a pattern emerges: over the past decade, eleven women have vanished—all on the day of the first snow. But this is a killer who makes his own rules . . . and he’ll break his pattern just to keep the game interesting, as he draws Harry ever closer into his twisted web. With brilliantly realized characters and hair-raising suspense, international bestselling author Jo Nesbø presents his most chilling case yet—one that will test Harry Hole to the very limits of his sanity.
WOW is all I can say about this book. Yes I liked it, no it wasn't my usual read and I may or may not read anything by him again. I am not sure how I felt about this book actually. Maybe it was because like I said not my usual reading choice, it was a little out of my comfort zone for sure... and it was the 7th book in the Harry Hole series. I did like the ending though, I liked the twist a lot, I didn't see it coming at all. I kind of would like to watch the movie to see if I like it better than the book, I know that hardly happens but I want to know lol
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Used for my animal in the title prompt
Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.
This was my first John Green book that I have ever read, and I would like to someday read his others. It was very well written and I liked the main character. I felt connected to her in a way. After reading the blurb I thought it might be a mystery but in the end it was about Aza finding herself and being true to herself. When I said I felt connected to her, she has anxiety and some of the things that she does I can relate to. I really liked her best friend Daisy who helped to balance Aza out, and was there for her when she needed her. I like how the author used the analogy of the turtles for her way of thinking like everything dwindles down in the end. I also liked how it gave you a view of how different people live their everyday lives with the things that they are going through.
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
Prompt from a previous challenge( Book with a number in the title)
Ginny Blackstone never thought she’d spend her summer vacation backpacking across Europe. But that was before she received the first little blue envelope from Aunt Peg.
This letter was different from Peg’s usual letters for two reasons:
1. Peg had been dead for three months.
2. The letter included $1000 cash for a passport and a plane ticket.
Armed with instructions for how to retrieve twelve other letters Peg wrote—twelve letters that tell Ginny where she needs to go and what she needs to do when she gets there—Ginny quickly finds herself swept away in her first real adventure. Traveling from London to Edinburgh to Amsterdam and beyond, Ginny begins to uncover stories from her aunt’s past and discover who Peg really was. But the most surprising thing Ginny learns isn’t about Peg . . . it’s about herself.
Everything about Ginny will change this summer, and it’s all because of the 13 little blue envelopes.This was a cute book, much lighter than the books I have been reading so it was a nice change. I liked this book a lot. I liked that even though she was mad at her aunt she went ahead and did what she asked. I think that she learned a lot about herself while traveling around following the advice from her aunts letters. I would do this in a heartbeat no doubt. I have recently learned that there is a sequel to this book and its about the last letter, which is returned to her, I will be reading this book as soon as I find the time and find it at the library lol.
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffery Eugenides
Used for a book made into a movie that I have seen
The shocking thing about the girls was how nearly normal they seemed when their mother let them out for the one and only date of their lives. Twenty years on, their enigmatic personalities are embalmed in the memories of the boys who worshipped them and who now recall their shared adolescence: the brassiere draped over a crucifix belonging to the promiscuous Lux; the sisters' breathtaking appearance on the night of the dance; and the sultry, sleepy street across which they watched a family disintegrate and fragile lives disappear.
I watched the movie first and I really like it. The book was just as good I felt. I felt that this was just as much about the boys that are trying to figure out why all five of the Lisbon sisters committed suicide, even twenty years later, as it about the girls and why they did what they did. It never really tells but you can make an assumption based on the things that you read and the interviews that the boys did with the people who were involved. And while I say its about the girls and the boys its also not at the same time, its about memory, nostalgia, reminiscence, childhood, mystery, loss of innocence.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
book with an ugly cover prompt
Under the influence of their charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality they slip gradually from obsession to corruption and betrayal, and at last - inexorably - into evil.
This book wasn't anything like I was expecting....it was so much more. It had so many different twists and turns. I wasn't really sold on some of the characters and really didn't care for the professor. I could somewhat figure things out but at the same time I was lost and confused. I felt bad for the main character for a while just because he couldn't see the things that I could see were happening, I was glad when he finally started to put two and two together to get four. I cant say much with out giving spoilers but I really liked it a lot.
The Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
book title with alliteration in it prompt
When editor Susan Ryeland is given the manuscript of Alan Conway’s latest novel, she has no reason to think it will be much different from any of his others. After working with the bestselling crime writer for years, she’s intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pünd, who solves mysteries disturbing sleepy English villages. An homage to queens of classic British crime such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, Alan’s traditional formula has proved hugely successful. So successful that Susan must continue to put up with his troubling behavior if she wants to keep her job.
Conway’s latest tale has Atticus Pünd investigating a murder at Pye Hall, a local manor house. Yes, there are dead bodies and a host of intriguing suspects, but the more Susan reads, the more she’s convinced that there is another story hidden in the pages of the manuscript: one of real-life jealousy, greed, ruthless ambition, and murder.
This was a charming whodunit for sure. I liked that it was like two mysteries in one and it was. I hadn't figured things out until I read the last page, that's how good it was. I was guess the entire time but everything that I guessed was wrong. I liked that it linked new age with old age writing. I don't normally like old age like the British language that they use but this one was good, I think it was because it kind of reminded me of Agatha Christie's work, which I have recently found that I am rather fond of. I hope to read more from him.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
book set in the decade I was born prompt
Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.
Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.
Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.
Wow when I first heard of this book, I was like the reviews were raving about it and I was a little scared to read it because of all the hype that it had connected with it. It really was as good as everyone was saying. I really liked both characters a lot and was happy to see them grow and learn about each other. I didn't care for Eleanor's mom and step dad at all, I mean you put your children first above any guy, there is no way I could live knowing that my children are unhappy because of that. I was happy to see that everyone in the community kind of knew what her stepdad was like and they understood what she was going through and they didn't give Park a hard time for doing what he did. I really enjoyed the part where the girl that she didn't like even came to her aide and took her side. I think that lots of kids coming of age need to read this book, I fell in love with it as a 31 year old, I know it will speak to their tender hearts lol.
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Book set at sea prompt
The year is 1954. U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels and his new -partner, Chuck Aule, have come to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, to investigate the disappearance of a patient. Multiple-murderess Rachel Solando is loose somewhere on this barren island, despite having been kept in a locked cell under constant surveillance. As a killer hurricane bears relentlessly down on them, a strange case takes on even darker, more sinister shades--with hints of radical experimentation, horrifying surgeries, and lethal counter moves made in the cause of a covert shadow war. No one is going to escape Shutter Island unscathed, because nothing at Ashecliffe Hospital is remotely what it seems
WOW! This book had me going for two days and when I finally finished it I just sat there shook. I didn't see that coming at all, I had started to guess what was happening by the time the author let us in on his little secret. It was all tied together so perfectly. I mean once you realize what you just read, it kind of made me want to read it again just to see where things started to shift. I definitely want to watch the movie now, just to see it with my own eyes.
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
book about sports prompt
At Westish College, a small school on the shore of Lake Michigan, baseball star Henry Skrimshander seems destined for big league stardom. But when a routine throw goes disastrously off course, the fates of five people are upended.
Henry's fight against self-doubt threatens to ruin his future. College president Guert Affenlight, a longtime bachelor, has fallen unexpectedly and helplessly in love. Owen Dunne, Henry's gay roommate and teammate, becomes caught up in a dangerous affair. Mike Schwartz, the Harpooners' team captain and Henry's best friend, realizes he has guided Henry's career at the expense of his own. And Pella Affenlight, Guert's daughter, returns to Westish after escaping an ill-fated marriage, determined to start a new life.
As the season counts down to its climactic final game, these five are forced to confront their deepest hopes, anxieties, and secrets. In the process they forge new bonds, and help one another find their true paths. Written with boundless intelligence and filled with the tenderness of youth, The Art of Fielding is an expansive, warmhearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitment - to oneself and to others.
I was a little worried about this book going into it because its about sports, I mean like watching but I didn't think I would like to read about them at all. but this story pulled me and I couldn't stop reading. There were so many different stories going on but some how he managed to tie them all together perfectly. I liked learning about the families that these people came form especially how the made the book what it was, how they were all involved. I didn't really see the ending twist that happened coming at all but I can see why it happened. I think that Owen was my favorite character out of all of them, mainly because he was so straight forward about everything that was going on in the plot. This book is more than football its about life and every curveball it throws at you.
Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes
book set in a country that fascinates you
Anna Walsh is officially a wreck. Physically broken and emotionally shattered, she lies on her parents' Dublin sofa with only one thing on her mind: getting back to New York. New York means her best friends, The Most Fabulous Job In The World™ and above all, it means her husband, Aidan.
But nothing in Anna's life is that simple anymore... Not only is her return to Manhattan complicated by her physical and emotional scars – but Aidan seems to have vanished. Is it time for Anna to move on? Is it even possible for her to move on? A motley group of misfits, an earth-shattering revelation, two births and one very weird wedding might help Anna find some answers – and change her life forever.
It might have been a stretch to use this for the prompt that I did but I couldn't find one that I wanted to read or that really grabbed me from the title or blurb. omg this book was so good, I really want to read more from her and about this crazy family. It took me a little bit to figure out what had happened but once I did I was still surprised. I liked the emails from her mom and sister. I loved the best friend. I loved that she tried everything to talk to him and when she finally realized, she became a better version of herself. I cant say more without giving anything else away but you need to read this book, I read over 80% the first day that's how good it was!
I read a total of 16 books this month, which means I am 9 away from finishing the 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge and 19 away from my Goodreads goal for the year, I think I am going to have to up my goal because I have been buying books left and right and hiding them in my trunk so my best friend doesn't see them lol I do think that I will be putting the titles of said hidden books in my book jar, I think that is what has contributed to my reading so much and so fast so far this year. I will probably hit a slump at some point in the next 7 months but I am ahead for the time being. That's all for March, see ya in April, Happy Reading!
Thursday, March 1, 2018
February Endings
Wow I cant believe that I read 18 books this month! Its the last day of this month so I figured I would do my review.
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter~ book I meant to read in 2017 prompt
Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind…
Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father — Pikeville's notorious defense attorney — devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.
Twenty-eight years later, and Charlie has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer herself — the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again — and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized — Charlie is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it's a case that unleashes the terrible memories she's spent so long trying to suppress. Because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly thirty years ago won't stay buried forever…
This was also my first book by Slaughter. I really enjoyed it. I liked how it started out with the crime from years before and every so often she would flip back to the crime to give a little more information about what happened that night and how things ended. I didn't really care for the dad until the end of the book, which maybe that was the intent. I like that it had relevance to things that are going on today in the world.. I liked how the twist and turns came about and then the ending I never saw coming happened. It was a great book.
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman ~ book with fruit or vegetable in the title prompt
With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there.
I spent a good amount of time while reading this, trying to figure out who was who in the series. The book was good. I liked how she told us what she went through and what happened to her after she got out. I have watched a little but of the series on Netflix and since I know that they always add more to the movie than the book, I was a little let down that the book wasn't as filled with the same stuff as the series. Like that fact that her last name in the show is Chapman, and she doesn't do her time with Alex, just the little bit while they are transferring her.I liked the fact that she meets all kinds of people and in their own ways they help her through her time at the prison. You learn a lot about the prison system with the way she wrote about her experience.
All Our Wrong Today's by Elan Mastai ~ book about time travel prompt
It's 2016, and in Tom Barren's world, technology has solved all of humanity's problems—there's no war, no poverty, no under-ripe avocadoes. Unfortunately, Tom isn't happy. He's lost the girl of his dreams. And what do you do when you're heartbroken and have a time machine? Something stupid.
Finding himself stranded in a terrible alternate reality—which we immediately recognize as our 2016—Tom is desperate to fix his mistake and go home. Right up until the moment he discovers wonderfully unexpected versions of his family, his career, and the woman who may just be the love of his life.
Now Tom faces an impossible choice. Go back to his perfect but loveless life. Or stay in our messy reality with a soulmate by his side. His search for the answer takes him across continents and timelines in a quest to figure out, finally, who he really is and what his future—our future—is supposed to be.
This book wasn't terrible but it was by far not my favorite at all. It took me a few days to read it. I do not do Time Travel at all. I guess the only reason I got through it was I needed to see what happened and if he ended up with the girl. Romance isn't dead after all. I don't really have a lot to say about it.
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule ~ true crime book prompt
Utterly unique in its astonishing intimacy, as jarringly frightening as when it first appeared, Ann Rule's The Stranger Beside Me defies our expectation that we would surely know if a monster lived among us, worked alongside of us, appeared as one of us. With a slow chill that intensifies with each heart-pounding page, Rule describes her dawning awareness that Ted Bundy, her sensitive coworker on a crisis hotline, was one of the most prolific serial killers in America. He would confess to killing at least thirty-six young women from coast to coast, and was eventually executed for three of those cases. Drawing from their correspondence that endured until shortly before Bundy's death, and striking a seamless balance between her deeply personal perspective and her role as a crime reporter on the hunt for a savage serial killer -- the brilliant and charismatic Bundy, the man she thought she knew -- Rule changed the course of true-crime literature with this unforgettable chronicle
Oh this book, I do not think I can even put into words how much I enjoyed this book. It should probably scare me how much I enjoyed it along with Helter-Skelter, but it doesn't lol. Bundy was the all American boy next door, literally. And then he just snapped, he kept this all hidden and never even broke a sweat about the things that the he had done.He wasn't even worried about getting caught. and when he did get caught he still wasn't worried. I want to own this book as well for myself, just so I can read it again.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas ~ book being read by a stranger prompt
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin--one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin--and his world--forever.
I am also ashamed that it took me so long to read this one too. I have a problem though I have read the first book in a few series that I will have to eventually finish. This was a good book. I was rooting for Tamlin before I even knew how things would end for them. I really liked Feyre, she was the only one in her family that was helping to support them and when she is taken away she is devastated. I like how Tamlin eases her mind and tells her that they are taken care of. I liked that it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I would read anything my Maas just after reading one of her books.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote ~ book with weather element in title prompt
On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues.
As Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, he generates both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy. In Cold Blood is a work that transcends its moment, yielding poignant insights into the nature of American violence.
Wow is all I can say about this book. After reading Helter-Skelter and The Stranger Beside me, I felt that this was book was lacking. It didn't really pull me in at any part of the story. I didn't really care for the way that he wrote it. I liked learning about what happened but I now that I read it, I wouldn't read it again. I would definitely recommend the others for sure.
Gemina by Amy Kaufman ~ next book in series prompt
Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault. Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion. When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands. But relax. They've totally got this. They hope. Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.
OMG this book and the other book and the one that will be released later this year are quickly becoming one of my favorites. I never thought I would be one to like books set on different planets but I guess its the way that the author ties things together and the way that she writes it. Its not your ordinary book, it uses emails, and chats and surveillance videos to explain what is going on. Plus you have a love hate relationship involved in the book. I was rooting for Nik the whole time, and once I learned what was going on I was really rooting for him. I cant wait for the next installment to come out. I will be reading it even if it doesn't fit into a prompt lol.
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen ~ book about mental health prompt
In 1967, after a session with a psychiatrist she'd never seen before, eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen was put in a taxi and sent to McLean Hospital. She spent most of the next two years in the ward for teenage girls in a psychiatric hospital as renowned for its famous clientele—Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, James Taylor, and Ray Charles—as for its progressive methods of treating those who could afford its sanctuary.
Kaysen's memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perception while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers. It is a brilliant evocation of a "parallel universe" set within the kaleidoscopically shifting landscape of the late sixties. Girl, Interrupted is a clear-sighted, unflinching document that gives lasting and specific dimension to our definitions of sane and insane, mental illness and recovery.
I watched this movie years ago when it came out and liked it. Reading the book was more insight but I didn't really care for the book. It was good and I am glad that I read it. I think this is one time that I liked the movie better than the book, and that hardly happens for me. I liked learning about the other patients and their problems were. I don't regret reading this book at all. I am looking forward to reading The Bell Jar which is on my list too.
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy ~ book set in a country that fascinates you prompt
Stoneybridge is a small town on the west coast of Ireland where all the families know one another When Chicky Starr decides to take an old decaying mansion set high on the cliffs overlooking the windswept Atlantic Ocean and turn it into a restful place for a holiday by the sea everyone thinks she is crazy Helped by Rigger a bad boy turned good who is handy around the house and Orla her niece a whiz at business Chicky is finally ready to welcome the first guests to Stone House s big warm kitchen log fires and understated elegant bedrooms John the American movie star thinks he has arrived incognito Winnie and Lillian are forced into taking a holiday together Nicola and Henry husband and wife have been shaken by seeing too much death practicing medicine Anders hates his father s business but has a real talent for music Miss Nell Howe a retired schoolteacher criticizes everything and leaves a day early much to everyone s relief the Walls are disappointed to have won this second prize holiday in a contest where first prize was Paris and Freda the librarian is afraid of her own psychic visions.
This was my first book by Binchy but I am glad that I have one more on my list by her. It was nice to read about something nice and fluffy I guess. I liked how all the stories came together in one. I liked that all the characters found something out about themselves and some even found themselves while they were staying at Inn. I liked Chicky for sure, I mean she had enough faith in herself to able to run it even though no one in town or her family did. I also liked that it was set in Ireland, in her writing I could just see all the landscapes that she was describing.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie ~ book mentioned in another book prompt
Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Without a shred of doubt, one of his fellow passengers is the murderer.
Isolated by the storm, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man's enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again.
This was my second Christie book and wont be my last, I have one more on my list of books for the challenge. I really liked this one, it took me a bit to get interested in it, but once I did I had to see how it ended. I needed to know why they did it. I liked the way that she weaved the story together and that's just what she did. Like an intricate spiders web, she weaved the story with just enough to get you to see and understand why who did it and why they did it. When I got to the end I was like mouth hanging open shock and awe, because I didn't see it coming. I like books like that, where when I think I have it figured out BAM the author is like nope not today. I cant wait to read the next one!
Cinder by Marissa Meyer~ used for cyperpunk prompt
A New York Times bestseller Book One in the Lunar Chronicles and a reboot of the Cinderella story Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing A deadly plague ravages the population From space a ruthless lunar people watch waiting to make their move No one knows that Earth s fate hinges on one girl Cinder a gifted mechanic is a cyborg She s a second class citizen with a mysterious past reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister s illness But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai s she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle and a forbidden attraction Caught between duty and freedom loyalty and betrayal she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world s future.
This book was AMAZING! I want to read the rest of them and would love to find a place fort hem to fit in other prompts but I think I will have to wait, I am halfway done with the challenge and its only March so I should be able to read them this year. It was so good, I read it in one day. Cinderella was one of my favorite stories as a kid. I have never been one for cyberpunk but this book definitely turned that around for me. I didn't really care for the step mother or the sisters but one of them was actually nice. I liked the few twists that the author threw in for good measure, made it much more interesting for sure.
You by Caroline Kepnes ~ Prompt for book with a Villain or antihero
When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.
There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.
As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.
It took me a while to finally read this book and I feel ashamed for waiting so long. I really enjoyed it and now I need to read the second book Hidden Bodies, just to see what happens. I really didn't like Joe at all , and maybe I wasn't supposed too. I thought that Beck should have been a little more careful about the way that she lived her life. I did however like her friends, they reminded me of my two best friends. Always there for her and giving her the advice that she needed to hear. I still cant believe that he got away with so much in the book.
School Days by Robert Parker ~ used for a book that was published the Year I graduated H.S
When a Massachusetts boy is accused of mass murder, his socially prominent grandmother, who hires Spenser to investigate, is convinced of his innocence. But Spenser isn’t convinced of anything—except that there’s trouble ahead...
I was a little undecided about how I felt about starting this book, I had never heard anything about this author. It took me a little bit to get into the story but once I did I couldn't put the book down, I had to know why the kid confessed, I mean I even as reading it didn't feel like he did it. I really liked the kids grandmother a lot and felt that she cared more than his actual parents did about him. I liked how the main character didn't give up on finding out the truth even after the parents told him too.
Camino Island by John Grisham ~ used this book for my prompt about a heist
gang of thieves stage a daring heist from a vault deep below Princeton University’s Firestone Library. Their loot is priceless, impossible to resist...Bruce Cable owns a popular bookstore in the sleepy resort town of Santa Rosa on Camino Island in Florida. He makes his real money, though, as a prominent dealer in rare books. Very few people know that he occasionally dabbles in unsavory ventures.Mercer Mann is a young novelist with a severe case of writer’s block who has recently been laid off from her teaching position. She is approached by an elegant, mysterious woman working for an even more mysterious company. A generous monetary offer convinces Mercer to go undercover and infiltrate Cable’s circle of literary friends, to get close to the ringleader, to discover his secrets.
This was my first John Grisham novel and it wont be my last. I liked his writing style a lot and I normally don't read books written by males. This month I read two by males and would like to look at more of their works. This book really drew me in from the beginning, I read it in one day which may say a lot about me, maybe I don't have a life but I work at a post office that hardly has anyone come in. It makes me want to go to this imaginary place and look through his books and go to these author dinners that his wife and him threw. I think it drew me in also because I am a huge Gatsby fan, and it was about how these thieves stole the original manuscripts from the Princeton Library. you should definitely look into this book.
Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire ~ used this for my local author prompt
Fiercely independent Camille “Cami” Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.
Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt.
Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red.
As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a much needed breath of fresh air, after reading all the other books. I fell in love with the Maddox brothers when I read Beautiful Disaster by McGuire. I wont lie I was a little confused about the ending, I mean liked it but why so secretive about what was going on? I really want to read some more by her about the brothers I will be looking for them in bookstores for sure.
After writing the reviews I didn't realize how many books that I have read about school shootings, I guess sub consciously its on my mind. I have two more I think on my list about books that involve school shootings, I find it ironic, considering that was my worst fear while I was teaching, that it was going to happen.
The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter~ book I meant to read in 2017 prompt
Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind…
Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father — Pikeville's notorious defense attorney — devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.
Twenty-eight years later, and Charlie has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer herself — the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again — and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized — Charlie is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it's a case that unleashes the terrible memories she's spent so long trying to suppress. Because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly thirty years ago won't stay buried forever…
This was also my first book by Slaughter. I really enjoyed it. I liked how it started out with the crime from years before and every so often she would flip back to the crime to give a little more information about what happened that night and how things ended. I didn't really care for the dad until the end of the book, which maybe that was the intent. I like that it had relevance to things that are going on today in the world.. I liked how the twist and turns came about and then the ending I never saw coming happened. It was a great book.
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman ~ book with fruit or vegetable in the title prompt
With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Convicted and sentenced to fifteen months at the infamous federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, the well-heeled Smith College alumna is now inmate #11187–424—one of the millions of people who disappear “down the rabbit hole” of the American penal system. From her first strip search to her final release, Kerman learns to navigate this strange world with its strictly enforced codes of behavior and arbitrary rules. She meets women from all walks of life, who surprise her with small tokens of generosity, hard words of wisdom, and simple acts of acceptance. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman’s story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison—why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they’re there.
I spent a good amount of time while reading this, trying to figure out who was who in the series. The book was good. I liked how she told us what she went through and what happened to her after she got out. I have watched a little but of the series on Netflix and since I know that they always add more to the movie than the book, I was a little let down that the book wasn't as filled with the same stuff as the series. Like that fact that her last name in the show is Chapman, and she doesn't do her time with Alex, just the little bit while they are transferring her.I liked the fact that she meets all kinds of people and in their own ways they help her through her time at the prison. You learn a lot about the prison system with the way she wrote about her experience.
All Our Wrong Today's by Elan Mastai ~ book about time travel prompt
It's 2016, and in Tom Barren's world, technology has solved all of humanity's problems—there's no war, no poverty, no under-ripe avocadoes. Unfortunately, Tom isn't happy. He's lost the girl of his dreams. And what do you do when you're heartbroken and have a time machine? Something stupid.
Finding himself stranded in a terrible alternate reality—which we immediately recognize as our 2016—Tom is desperate to fix his mistake and go home. Right up until the moment he discovers wonderfully unexpected versions of his family, his career, and the woman who may just be the love of his life.
Now Tom faces an impossible choice. Go back to his perfect but loveless life. Or stay in our messy reality with a soulmate by his side. His search for the answer takes him across continents and timelines in a quest to figure out, finally, who he really is and what his future—our future—is supposed to be.
This book wasn't terrible but it was by far not my favorite at all. It took me a few days to read it. I do not do Time Travel at all. I guess the only reason I got through it was I needed to see what happened and if he ended up with the girl. Romance isn't dead after all. I don't really have a lot to say about it.
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule ~ true crime book prompt
Utterly unique in its astonishing intimacy, as jarringly frightening as when it first appeared, Ann Rule's The Stranger Beside Me defies our expectation that we would surely know if a monster lived among us, worked alongside of us, appeared as one of us. With a slow chill that intensifies with each heart-pounding page, Rule describes her dawning awareness that Ted Bundy, her sensitive coworker on a crisis hotline, was one of the most prolific serial killers in America. He would confess to killing at least thirty-six young women from coast to coast, and was eventually executed for three of those cases. Drawing from their correspondence that endured until shortly before Bundy's death, and striking a seamless balance between her deeply personal perspective and her role as a crime reporter on the hunt for a savage serial killer -- the brilliant and charismatic Bundy, the man she thought she knew -- Rule changed the course of true-crime literature with this unforgettable chronicle
Oh this book, I do not think I can even put into words how much I enjoyed this book. It should probably scare me how much I enjoyed it along with Helter-Skelter, but it doesn't lol. Bundy was the all American boy next door, literally. And then he just snapped, he kept this all hidden and never even broke a sweat about the things that the he had done.He wasn't even worried about getting caught. and when he did get caught he still wasn't worried. I want to own this book as well for myself, just so I can read it again.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas ~ book being read by a stranger prompt
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin--one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.
As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin--and his world--forever.
I am also ashamed that it took me so long to read this one too. I have a problem though I have read the first book in a few series that I will have to eventually finish. This was a good book. I was rooting for Tamlin before I even knew how things would end for them. I really liked Feyre, she was the only one in her family that was helping to support them and when she is taken away she is devastated. I like how Tamlin eases her mind and tells her that they are taken care of. I liked that it was a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I would read anything my Maas just after reading one of her books.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote ~ book with weather element in title prompt
On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues.
As Truman Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, he generates both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy. In Cold Blood is a work that transcends its moment, yielding poignant insights into the nature of American violence.
Wow is all I can say about this book. After reading Helter-Skelter and The Stranger Beside me, I felt that this was book was lacking. It didn't really pull me in at any part of the story. I didn't really care for the way that he wrote it. I liked learning about what happened but I now that I read it, I wouldn't read it again. I would definitely recommend the others for sure.
Gemina by Amy Kaufman ~ next book in series prompt
Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault. Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion. When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands. But relax. They've totally got this. They hope. Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.
OMG this book and the other book and the one that will be released later this year are quickly becoming one of my favorites. I never thought I would be one to like books set on different planets but I guess its the way that the author ties things together and the way that she writes it. Its not your ordinary book, it uses emails, and chats and surveillance videos to explain what is going on. Plus you have a love hate relationship involved in the book. I was rooting for Nik the whole time, and once I learned what was going on I was really rooting for him. I cant wait for the next installment to come out. I will be reading it even if it doesn't fit into a prompt lol.
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen ~ book about mental health prompt
In 1967, after a session with a psychiatrist she'd never seen before, eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen was put in a taxi and sent to McLean Hospital. She spent most of the next two years in the ward for teenage girls in a psychiatric hospital as renowned for its famous clientele—Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, James Taylor, and Ray Charles—as for its progressive methods of treating those who could afford its sanctuary.
Kaysen's memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perception while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers. It is a brilliant evocation of a "parallel universe" set within the kaleidoscopically shifting landscape of the late sixties. Girl, Interrupted is a clear-sighted, unflinching document that gives lasting and specific dimension to our definitions of sane and insane, mental illness and recovery.
I watched this movie years ago when it came out and liked it. Reading the book was more insight but I didn't really care for the book. It was good and I am glad that I read it. I think this is one time that I liked the movie better than the book, and that hardly happens for me. I liked learning about the other patients and their problems were. I don't regret reading this book at all. I am looking forward to reading The Bell Jar which is on my list too.
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy ~ book set in a country that fascinates you prompt
Stoneybridge is a small town on the west coast of Ireland where all the families know one another When Chicky Starr decides to take an old decaying mansion set high on the cliffs overlooking the windswept Atlantic Ocean and turn it into a restful place for a holiday by the sea everyone thinks she is crazy Helped by Rigger a bad boy turned good who is handy around the house and Orla her niece a whiz at business Chicky is finally ready to welcome the first guests to Stone House s big warm kitchen log fires and understated elegant bedrooms John the American movie star thinks he has arrived incognito Winnie and Lillian are forced into taking a holiday together Nicola and Henry husband and wife have been shaken by seeing too much death practicing medicine Anders hates his father s business but has a real talent for music Miss Nell Howe a retired schoolteacher criticizes everything and leaves a day early much to everyone s relief the Walls are disappointed to have won this second prize holiday in a contest where first prize was Paris and Freda the librarian is afraid of her own psychic visions.
This was my first book by Binchy but I am glad that I have one more on my list by her. It was nice to read about something nice and fluffy I guess. I liked how all the stories came together in one. I liked that all the characters found something out about themselves and some even found themselves while they were staying at Inn. I liked Chicky for sure, I mean she had enough faith in herself to able to run it even though no one in town or her family did. I also liked that it was set in Ireland, in her writing I could just see all the landscapes that she was describing.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie ~ book mentioned in another book prompt
Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Without a shred of doubt, one of his fellow passengers is the murderer.
Isolated by the storm, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man's enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again.
This was my second Christie book and wont be my last, I have one more on my list of books for the challenge. I really liked this one, it took me a bit to get interested in it, but once I did I had to see how it ended. I needed to know why they did it. I liked the way that she weaved the story together and that's just what she did. Like an intricate spiders web, she weaved the story with just enough to get you to see and understand why who did it and why they did it. When I got to the end I was like mouth hanging open shock and awe, because I didn't see it coming. I like books like that, where when I think I have it figured out BAM the author is like nope not today. I cant wait to read the next one!
Cinder by Marissa Meyer~ used for cyperpunk prompt
A New York Times bestseller Book One in the Lunar Chronicles and a reboot of the Cinderella story Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing A deadly plague ravages the population From space a ruthless lunar people watch waiting to make their move No one knows that Earth s fate hinges on one girl Cinder a gifted mechanic is a cyborg She s a second class citizen with a mysterious past reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister s illness But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai s she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle and a forbidden attraction Caught between duty and freedom loyalty and betrayal she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world s future.
This book was AMAZING! I want to read the rest of them and would love to find a place fort hem to fit in other prompts but I think I will have to wait, I am halfway done with the challenge and its only March so I should be able to read them this year. It was so good, I read it in one day. Cinderella was one of my favorite stories as a kid. I have never been one for cyberpunk but this book definitely turned that around for me. I didn't really care for the step mother or the sisters but one of them was actually nice. I liked the few twists that the author threw in for good measure, made it much more interesting for sure.
You by Caroline Kepnes ~ Prompt for book with a Villain or antihero
When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.
There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.
As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.
It took me a while to finally read this book and I feel ashamed for waiting so long. I really enjoyed it and now I need to read the second book Hidden Bodies, just to see what happens. I really didn't like Joe at all , and maybe I wasn't supposed too. I thought that Beck should have been a little more careful about the way that she lived her life. I did however like her friends, they reminded me of my two best friends. Always there for her and giving her the advice that she needed to hear. I still cant believe that he got away with so much in the book.
School Days by Robert Parker ~ used for a book that was published the Year I graduated H.S
When a Massachusetts boy is accused of mass murder, his socially prominent grandmother, who hires Spenser to investigate, is convinced of his innocence. But Spenser isn’t convinced of anything—except that there’s trouble ahead...
I was a little undecided about how I felt about starting this book, I had never heard anything about this author. It took me a little bit to get into the story but once I did I couldn't put the book down, I had to know why the kid confessed, I mean I even as reading it didn't feel like he did it. I really liked the kids grandmother a lot and felt that she cared more than his actual parents did about him. I liked how the main character didn't give up on finding out the truth even after the parents told him too.
Camino Island by John Grisham ~ used this book for my prompt about a heist
gang of thieves stage a daring heist from a vault deep below Princeton University’s Firestone Library. Their loot is priceless, impossible to resist...Bruce Cable owns a popular bookstore in the sleepy resort town of Santa Rosa on Camino Island in Florida. He makes his real money, though, as a prominent dealer in rare books. Very few people know that he occasionally dabbles in unsavory ventures.Mercer Mann is a young novelist with a severe case of writer’s block who has recently been laid off from her teaching position. She is approached by an elegant, mysterious woman working for an even more mysterious company. A generous monetary offer convinces Mercer to go undercover and infiltrate Cable’s circle of literary friends, to get close to the ringleader, to discover his secrets.
This was my first John Grisham novel and it wont be my last. I liked his writing style a lot and I normally don't read books written by males. This month I read two by males and would like to look at more of their works. This book really drew me in from the beginning, I read it in one day which may say a lot about me, maybe I don't have a life but I work at a post office that hardly has anyone come in. It makes me want to go to this imaginary place and look through his books and go to these author dinners that his wife and him threw. I think it drew me in also because I am a huge Gatsby fan, and it was about how these thieves stole the original manuscripts from the Princeton Library. you should definitely look into this book.
Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire ~ used this for my local author prompt
Fiercely independent Camille “Cami” Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.
Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt.
Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red.
As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a much needed breath of fresh air, after reading all the other books. I fell in love with the Maddox brothers when I read Beautiful Disaster by McGuire. I wont lie I was a little confused about the ending, I mean liked it but why so secretive about what was going on? I really want to read some more by her about the brothers I will be looking for them in bookstores for sure.
After writing the reviews I didn't realize how many books that I have read about school shootings, I guess sub consciously its on my mind. I have two more I think on my list about books that involve school shootings, I find it ironic, considering that was my worst fear while I was teaching, that it was going to happen.
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