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To Die For

by Lisa Gray

I just finished reading “To Die For” by Lisa Gray. Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This novel follows the lives of a real estate company who receives a lucrative offer to find a buyer for a very expensive home in Malibu. Whoever finds a buyer will receive a 1 million dollar commission. All agents are eager to get the commision but one agent in particular, Andi, is the focus of the novel. For some reason her boss wants and expects her to find a buyer and the reader is given tiny hints throughout the novel as to why. The other agents play a supporting role and show how fierce the competition is in the housing market and what agents will do to get the ultimate prize.

Andi is a likeable and mysterious character who has a back story that is slowly told throughout the novel and questions about her and her motivation are explained. The rest of the agents play supportive roles but they are, in my opinion stereotypical side characters who are not very likeable at all. There are a few interesting plot twists, but non that surprised me. The ending managed to tie all the plot lines up and revealed the big mystery to me satisfaction.

I liked the police characters in the book. They provided comic relief and excitement. I didn’t like the lack of depth of the side characters.

I didn’t find this book overwhelmingly good or bad. It was alright. Enough suspense to keep me interested, but easily forgotten.

I liked the premise of the book but the execution could have been better. The characters , like I said before, were too clliche to be intersting in any way.

Thanks for reading.

#todiefor #lisagray #netgalley #amazonpublishers #womensfiction #mystery #femaleleadcharacter #booklover

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What the Neighbors Saw

by Melissa Adelman

I just finished reading “What the Neighbors Saw” by Melissa Adelman. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This book is about a. young couple (Alexis and Sam) who move into an upscale neighborhood into a house they can’t afford and are faced with the daunting task of trying to renovate their home and care for two young children. Their neighbors are all super wealthy and a bit too picture perfect…expecially Blaire and Teddy, the seemingly “perfect family”. As Alexis tries to cope with a new baby and a husband who doesnlt really support her, she befriends Blair and is her suppport system when Blair’s husband Teddy is murdered while jogging along the cliffside trail which is in the neighborhood. Aliexis is slowly drawn into the mystery of how and why Teddy was killed and slowlt begins to realize that all her neighbors have secrets and that nothing is as it seems.

The book continues steadily along until the last fifty or so pages when all is revealed….with quite the surprises.

I wish I could say I really enjoyed this book…but I didn’t. The characters were all despicable and horrible people who I would never want to know. Even the main character was confusing to me. Her husband was a compete jerk to her one minute…and then the next they were laughing…It didn”t make sense.

Also, there was so much back and forth in the book, almost like the author was writing about one thing and then would take a left turn into something else…WHAT? There was alot of unimportant events or descriptions or thoughts in the book that I didn’t really see the point of. And one major question I had throughout the book? If Sam and Alexis were in so much financial trouble that they couldn’t afford really important renovations, why on earth could they afford a live-in Nanny. It didn’t really make sense to me..

In order for me to really enjoy a book, I need to feel invested in the characters, but these characters were vacuous and arrogant and had no integrity. The comparisons to Desperate Housewives is a bit of a reach. There was not character in this book that was the voice of reason. Even the main character was self-absorbed and willing to bend the truth when it suited her.

Lastly, the nig reveal…Ewwwww. That is all I am going to say.

This book is a big no for me…Maybe others will enjoy it more. Maybe I’m not the targeted audience.

Happy Reading everyone.

#netgalley #whattheneighborssaw #mystery #femaleleadcharacter #melissaadelman

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All the Missing Girls

by Megan Miranda

I just finished reading “All the Missing Girls” by Megan Miranda. Here are my thoughts.
I just love it when I happen upon a not so new book by an author I’ve read before (and enjoyed). and I read it for the first time. It was absolutely wonderful to read this book. Told from the end in reverse it can be a bit confusing but that it what makes it all the more interesting.

The story centers around Nic who goes back home because her Father is ill and she along with her brother have to sell the house. Going home reminds her of the reason she left so quickly: her best friend from childhood one night disappeared never to be seen again. She is forced to revisit the events especially when another girls goes missing, and we learn about Nic and her brother David and her childhood love Tyler (I love him) and Corinne (the girl who went missing). We know that something terrible happened, we know that all the main characters have secrets about that night, and we know that there are many people involved (including Nic’s Dad who is old and somewhat senile).

The mystery of that night is slowly revealed chapter by chapter, and it is a wonderfully paced and well written reveal. All to serve the purpose of finding out what really happened to Corinne and what Nic and her friends are hiding.

I loved the dynamic between Nic and Tyler. It was sweet and innocent and lovely and was rooting for them throughout the book.

I loved that each small action or event in the story served a purpose and I loved the inner dialogue of Nic herself. I could feel her pain and agony as she was trying to come to grips with what happened so many years ago.

There were definately some surprises as the book progressed: but to say what they were would spoil the story.

I will say that I really liked this book. It was filled with mystery, angst, sorrow and…a little bit of true love.

The next time you are in a used book store, see if you can find this book…or try to order it on Amazon. It will be worth it…Trust Me.

Happy Reading.

#meganmiranda #allthemissinggirls #teenagesecrets #mystery #nooneeverjustdisappears #needtoread #femalelead

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None of This is True

by Lisa Jewell

I just finished reading “None of This is True”, by Lisa Jewell. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.
So this is me being honest…OHMIGOD! I LOVED this book. It was soooo good and can’t even believe how the author made up this story in her head and wrote it perfectly in such a fascinating way, interweaving interesting characters with so many different quirks and issues that it was making my head spin. It is not the type of book that you can read in one sitting because there was so much to deal with and so much alarming and shocking behaviour..that I c ould only read a few chapters at a time…but I always went back because I wanted to know what would happen next.
The story is about two “birthday twins”, both 45, both with families. One (Josie) was married very young and has many secrets she wants to share. And the other (Alix) a young mother who has done well in life as a podcaster but has struggles as well (especially with her husband). After the two meet at a bar where they are celebrating their birthdays, Josie comes up with an idea for Alix to do a podcast about her and her journey towards changing her life. What follows is an explosive journey towards the truth and inside the mind of a clearly imbalanced woman and her quest to change her life.
What I liked about the book…EVERYTHING! It was so well-written and well paced and the characters were genuine and elusive and full of mystery. I especially loved the characters of Josie’s two girls. Their stories were slowly rvealed but not until the very end of the novel, which was so perfect. I also loved the character of ALix and the way her struggles as a wife and mother where written. The character of Josie left me unsettled with a sense of dread. The author created such a fascinating character that I will not soon forget.
There was nothing I didn’t like, except some of the things that happened to the characters, but to say anymore would be to spoil the story.
All I will say is you must read this book. I think this is the best one yet by this author. Absolutely fabulous.
Happy Reading!
#netgalley #noneofthisistrue #lisajewell #needtoread #thriller #femalleadcharacter #simon&schuster #fivestarread #bookoftheyear #mystery #obssessed

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Have You Seen Her

by Catherine McKenzie

I have just finished reading “Have You Seen Her” by Catherine McKenzie. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cassie Peters is escaping an abusive husband and leaves New York for the quiet of Mammoth California where she joins a Search and Rescue Team at Yosemite Park. She used to do this job 10 years prior but left when a search and rescue operation that she was involved in went wrong. Throughout the book Cassie is very guarded and private. She is tortured by her past experience and by the possibility that her husband may find her. Through her job, she meets Jada and Petal who have their own storied background with secrets of their own. The story hops between present (where Cassie has possibly killed someone) and past (where we find out how Cassie got to Mammoth and how she is dealing with being on her own). The ending brings all three women together in what seems to be a bit of a far fetched plot and sequence of events. The story also got a little political, commenting on media bias.

All in all, it was a pretty good book. What I liked about it was the way the story weaved between past and present and also having the perspective of both Cassie and Petal, made the plot more interesting.I liked the characters although they were a bit flat at times.

What I didn’t like about the book was the far-fetched ending. Without giving too much away, I thought the big reveal at the end came out of nowhere. I felt like I had to suspend disbelief to accept who the three women were connected.

I do like this author. She keeps you turning the pages…that is for sure. She created an interesting plot line and did an excellent job of establishing a beautiful setting.

Happy Reading!

#haveyouseenher #catherinemckenzie #netgalley #mystery #thriller #femalelead #atriabooks

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Lovely Girls

by Margot Hunt

I just finished reading “Lovely Girls”, by Margot Hunt. Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas and Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I am struck by the irony of the title. The girls in this novel are not lovely in any way. They are absurdly mean and vicious, expecially the ring leader Daphne, who is absolutely despicable. The story takes place in small town Florida, when a mom (Kate) and her daughter Alex move there to get a fresh start. Alex is a senior at the local high school and right away becomes a target for the mean girls (Daphne, Shae and Callie).. Kate in turn, befriends the. moms of the girls, despite many warnings to stay away from them. What follows is a look at how mothers enable their daughters to do monstrous things and are monsters themselves.
There is a murder that takes place towards the end, that begins the process of settling the conflict between Kate and Alex and the horrible mean girls and their equally horrible mothers.

I thought this book was a little cartoonish at times. It is hard to believe that these girls and mothers could get away with such atrcocious behaviour, and that noone would fight back or expose them. The main characters of Alex and Kate were a little flat and not very interesting. I didn’t feel compelled to wish for their happiness.

I did finish the book, quite quickly in fact. It was a very easy read, and well paced. The characters all had essential roles to play in the story and it moved along quite quickly. But I just felt …meh…about this book.

I feel like this storyiine is nothing new and while it was intersting and I finished it…it didn’t blow me away.

Happy Reading!

#netgalley #lovelygirls #margothunt #suspense #meangirls #femaleleads #ThomasandMercer

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Dark Corners

By Megan Goldin

I just finished reading “Dark Corners” by Megan Goldin. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I didn’t realize that this book was the second in a series featuring the main character Rachel Krall, who is a true crime podcaster. She tries to advocate for men and woman who have been unjustly put in prison for crimes that she did’nt commit. This time she is called to Florida to help solve the mystery of a soon to be released prisoner who is about to be released and who has talked about her to another young influences (Madison) who has disappeared. What follows is a series of events told in the past and in the present, includinng one section by a mystery character who is utterly evil and smells really bad (believe me when I say this is important)

Rachel decides to investigate Madison’s disappearance at the same time as the FBI agent (Joe) and the two go through many hurdles and mysteries to uncover the truth which is very satisfying.

What I liked about this book was the grit and determination of Rachel Krall. She is a great character and i now wnat to read the first book in the series. I also liked the covergence of all the characters at the end. It was very well written and not confusing at all. The author did a great job of creating rootable characters who weren;t perfect but were intertesting and entertaining. I also liked the exposure of the world of influencers by the author. It was an interesting look into a world that I have no understanding of. I also loved how the main bad guy was
writen: methodically and deliberately as if the author was slowly pulling the reader into his madness.

Was there a part I didn’t like? I feel like some of the questions I had while reading the story weren’t answered. If I say anymore then I will ruin the story, So I will end with this…

A great book that I had a hard time putting down. It was filled with mysteries and revelations that kept coming until the very end. This is the second book that I have read by this author and it certainly won’t be the last.

Happy Reading!

#netgalley #mustread #psychologicalthriller #megangoldin #darkcorners #femalelead #stmartinspress

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Her Father’s Daughter

by T.M. Dunn

I just finished reading “Her Father’s Daughter” by T.M. Dunn. Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about secret lives and finding the truth, and horrible parents, and relationships between daughters and their fathers. Linda, the main character is very close to her father and they own an exterminating company. She wants to leave her dad to go to college, but before she leaves she is called to do one moe extermination at a ritzy complex in New York where she finds a woman dead. What follows is a. mystery as her Dad becomes a suspect and disappears leaving Linda with ALOT of questions…Why did her dad leave? What is he hiding? And then she finds his journal….BOOM..

The story is written from the perspective of the father and the daughter, so we know about the Father’s secret life but reading about how Linda finds our is riveting and incredible. To say anymore would be to spoil the story…so I will just say…Read this book. You will not regret it. It was a pretty incredible ride and surprising and horrifying and the perfect thriller.

What I liked about this story was that the characters were very imporatant to the story. There was no useless story telling..it all had a point. I liked how the story unfolded slowly, how I coldn’t believe what. was reading and I was so intrigued by the father and daughter and the mother as well. I read this book very quiclkly becuase I could not stop thinking about the tragedy surrounding the realtionship between the father and the dauther.

Was there anything I didn’t like? Not really, It was a very satisfying read. Well written and well paced with an icredible and unique storyine.

My congratulations to the author for weaving such a wonderful and horrifying story together in such a creative way. I have found a new must-read author, and I am exciited to read more books by this author. Well Done…
Happy Reading!

#herfathersdaughter #tmdunn #netgalley #needtoread #thriller #femaleleadcharacter #psychologicalthriller #fathersanddaughters

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The Other Mistress

by Shanora Williams

I just finished reading “The Other Mistress” by Shanora Williams. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. In order to properly review this book you almost have to divide it into two parts…before the reveal and after…More about that later.

This book is about a very successful woman, Adira, who is afraid that her husband is having an affair. She turns to his other mistress Jocelyn, to get the other woman out of the picture so she can have him to herself. As I was reading this book, I kept wondering why such a beautiful and successful woman like Adira would want to remain with a loser like Gabriel…he was unemployed, lying to her and being unfaithful. I was almost going to put the book away because I was unimpressed with Adira until…the big reveal>. Which changed my perspective on Adira and Gabriel and their relationship. In the end, everything came together perfectly, there was even a delicious finale which kept the reader guessing.

What I liked about this story was that the author wrote it in a way that left the reader shocked with the big reveal. It was crafty and well written.

What I didn’t like was it almost took too long to get to the explanation for Adira’s actions. I was almost going to put the book down. In the end I am glad I didn’t.

Well written characters, important relationships that played important parts in the ending of the story, and an almost perfect ending. (Gabriel was a little too perfect in my opinion). All in all, a unique story idea that created an entertaining read.
Happy Reading!

#theothermistress #netgalley #shanorawilliams #psychologicalthriller #femalelead #bigreveal #secretlife

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The Block Party

by Jamie Day

I just finished reading “The Block Party” by Jamie Day. Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in return for an honest review. Here are my thoughts.
This book has many characters but each character has an important role to play in this masterfully written book about what. happens in a suburban street during an annual block party. This book is about relationships family, friendship, grief, and revenge, and whether or not it is truly satisfying.
The story begins at the end and then goes to one year before the event happened and the reader gets to know all the characters and their relationships with each other. The author gives just enjough information to create intrigue and interest in the story and what happens at the block party. I loved the female characters in this book. While not perfect they were well written and rootable. The men..not so much, but. maybe that was the point. The character I was most intrigued by was Jay Kumar…was he good or bad…or a little of both.
What I liked about this story was that there were alot of things happening that led to more interest into what happeded at the Block Party. I loved that I couldnt figure out who the bad guy was… I mean I had some ideas but I was pleasabtly shocked be some of the reveals at the end, especially with Riley… I also really liked )or was interested in Mandy Kumar’s back story.
What I did’nt like. I didn’t really like the male characters as I said…but I suppose that was the point. In the end, I am glad that some of the men were written the way they were….except for the Bug Man…what was the point of that other that to expose the truth about the main bad guy?
Overall, a great read by an author who masterfully took 10 or so characters and somehow found a way to intertwine them into a great story from start to finish..

#theblockparty. #jamieday #netgalley #stmartinspress #psychologicalthriller #mysterythriller #needtoread #toreadornottoread #strongfemalecharacter #revenge #menbehavingbadly

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