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THE GUEST

BY B.A. PARIS

I just finished reading “The Guest” by B.A. Paris. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Matin’s Press for the advanced copyin exchange for an honest review.

This story is about a married couple Iris and Gabriel who are trying to get over a traumatic event when their friend Laure arrives at their home and asks to stay because her husband Pierre announced he has a daugher and is tryiing to sort himself out. Gabriel is dealing with his own personal crisis and as it turns out so is Iris..we just don’t know until we are well into the book. There are many mysteries in this book and we don’t quite know who the bad guy is or what the big secret is…until we know…and then the story gets really interesting. It is all revealed at the end in a fairly spectacular way and the reader is left quite satisfied.

What I liked about this book is that it provided a lovely backstory for the two couples and the reason why they are so invested in each other. There are definately some secrets involved which, when they are revealed, explain much of what happened throughout the book.

What I didn’t like about this book was the implausibilty of some of the events that occured. Without giving anything away I ask myself how they were able to get away with what they did. There was a bit of suspension of disbelief, kind of like when you are watching a Soap Opera and the character returns from the dead and everyone accepts it. Okay…

Overall, a good read, entertaining and easy to follow. Good for lovers of this genre or lovers of this author.

Happy Reading everyone.

#netgalley #baparis #theguest #mysterythriller #femalelead #murdermystery #womensfiction

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THE HEIRESS

BY RACHEL HAWKINS

I just reading “The Heiress” by Rachel Hawkins. Thank to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This a book with an interesting in intriguing plot damaged characters and exposed secrets…and they all come together to create a wonderfully written story with a bang up ending.

The story centers around wealth status narcicism and of course love. Jules and her husband Cambden return to his childhood home to deal with his inheritance which he doesn’t want because it is tainted with lies an deceit. He was adopted into the wealthy world of the McTavish family and his mother Ruby who had a storied past.
Camden has secrets that he is keeping from Jules and…Jules has. bigger secrets that she is keeping from Camden. When they return to the “Ashby House” slowly the secrets start to unravel and reveal themselves in a delicious and twisted way. Let’s just say that no-one is innocent in this story.

What I liked about this book was the way the author crafted this mystery. She told the story through different narrators: Jules, Camden and a series of letters from Ruby McTavish which are written to who we don’t know until the very end. I loved the character of Ruby McTavish and her story was fascinating: POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL! I liked how she tried to make ammends at the end of the novel

What I didn’t like about the story was some of the characters were a bit cartoonish and some of the sub-plots were unecessary. But the story revealed perfectly the impact of money, wealth and power and how the rich can get away with way too much.

I read this book quickly and it was hard to put down, A great pace and a great mystery that was perfectly ended with a final perfect reveal.

Happy Reading

#MYSTERYTHRILLER #RACHELHAWKINS #THEHEIRESS #BOOKLOVERREVIEWS #NETGALLEY #NEEDTOREAD #WOMANSFICTION #FAMILYDYSFUNCTION

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WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING

BY DELIA OWENS

I just read “Where The Crawdads Sing”, by Delia Owens. Here are my thoughts. If I am looking at this book as a story of resiliency of the human spirit and the connections between human and nature, then this book is a noteworthy accomplishment.

It is a story of a girl named Kya who battles early odds of being in a family controlled by an abusive and alcoholic father who drives all of Kya’s family away; brothers, sisters and her own mother. With her father Kya learns to fish and manouever herself around the swamp. Then still youg, she is abandoned by her father. She learns to survive by selling mussels to the friendly dock owner (JUMpin) and befriending a young boy named Tate. Tate teachers Kya to read and write but then he moves away to and she meets Chase who becomes obsessed with her. They have a relationship but she finds out he is engaged and then…he ends up dead… Murder mystery, love story, tale of survival. There is alot of stuff happening.
What I liked about this book was the character of Kya and how it showed her humanity and longing for love in nature and in the human world. Her resiliency and survival against all odds was inspiring. I loved that she was able to turn her love for the swamp into respectable career, having written so many bookks ( although a little far fetched). I also loved her relationship with Jumpin and Mabel…and how she considered them her parents

What I didn’t like about the book…it was a little far fetched. Are we to believe that her whole tamily left and no one (except her brother) came back for her. I am not sure about that. I felt like this book tried to be too many things to too many people.

In the end, it is a great read…well written…pulls at your hearstrings and even has some great poetry….and I loved the ending of Kya’s story…finally she finds what she has always longed for…love and acceptance.

Happy Reading!

#FICTION #BOOKREVIEW #DELIAOWENS #WHERE THE CRAWDADSSING #RESILIENCYAND SURVIVAL #STRENGTHOFSPIRIT

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THE TRUTH ABOUT MELODY BROWN

BY LISA JEWELL

I just finished reading “The Truth about Melody Brown” by Lisa Jewell. Here are my thoughts. This book was such a treat. It’s not a new book and I knew nothing about it but I am so glad I read it because it was a masterpiece. I don’t know how she does it, but anything Lisa Jewell is just awesome.

This book is about a young woman who goes on a personal journey to discover her past. A past that is filled with pain, dissapointment and love. Melody Brown doesn’t remember anything from before she was nine years old. One day she goes to see a magic show and somehow her memory is unlocked and she starts to see snippets of her childhood which prompt her on a journey of discovery. Along the way we meet wonderful parts of her past including sisters and step parents and her actual parents.

This book is written in an interesting way as the reader is told of her past in one part and in the other is told of how Melody Brown discovers what happened to her.

What I liked about this book was the quality of the writing first of all. Lisa Jewell is a master writer and she has a way of creating these characters that I completely fall in love with. All I wanted was for Melody to be happy because I liked her sooo much. All the supporting characters were also interesting and flawed and very very human.

There is nothing I didn’t like. This book was easy to read and virtually un putdownable. I recomment this boor very much as it was entertaining and left me with a joyful soul at the end. Well done Lisa Jewell…Well DOne.

Happy Reading everyone

#WOMENS FICTION #MUSTREAD #LISAJEWELL #THETRUTHABOUTMELODYBROWN #FICTION #NEEDTOREAD #FEELGOODSTORY

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The Secret

by K.L. Slater

I just finished reading the book “The Mistake” by K.L. Slater. Here are my thoughts. First of all these books that K.L Slater write are well crafted with a central mystery than unravels slowly with some red herrings thrown throughout to put the reader off track. n
This story involves a young woman who lost her brother to murder and she finds a piece of evidence that might prove that the man convicted of the murder might be innocent. She is torn because the man convicted of her brothers murder did some horrible things to her and to one of her friends.
I felt great sympathy for the main character. She was root-worthy and I just wanted her to be happy. The bad guy was bad…really bad and very well written. The hatred I felt towards him was palpable and I wanted him to suffer.
What I liked about this book were the main characters. They were root worthy and very well written. The ending was perfect. I will just say that everyone got what they deserved. The writing was consistent and well paced.
What I didn’t like about this book was that there were a few unanswered questions..not overyly important ones, but ones that I would’ve enjoyed having (like did the Library end up closing?)

All in all, a great read by an author I will definately rad again.

Happy Reading everyone!

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Only if You’re Lucky

by Stacy Willingham

I just finished reading “Only If You’re Lucky”, by Stacy Willingham. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This book took me a long time to read. It started well and I was introduced to the character of Margot who is involved in a mystery involving her best friend who died. She goes off to college and meets some girls including Lucy who also has many secrets and seems overly interested in Margot. There is a lot of mystery and suspense in this book which slowly unravels and exposes all the truths in a succint way.

The part I liked about this book was the way all the characters were connected to each other in a way that makes sense. I also liked how each part of the mysteries unraveled slowly because the author took time to carefully construct each part of the novel. I liked how the book ended and that all the loose ends were tied up.

What did I not like? I didn’t like the main character Margot. She seemed a bit narcisistic and self-absorbed. I didn’t really feel an important connected to her and I didn’t feel any sympathy for her. I felt less sympathy for Lucy. She was an awful person and her story didnt resonate any sympathy from me. I didn’t like what happened to her at the end but I didnt care about her enough to feel anything more than “meh” at he end about her.

That is why the book took so long to read. It was good but not great. It was okay. But I am not sure I can recommend it.

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BETRAYAL

BY PHILLIP MARGOLIN

I just finished reading “Betrayal” by Philip Margolin. Here are my thoughts. First of all, many thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This book started of with a bang. A neighbour notices movement across the street of her home and then sees police cars. A family that lives across from her has been murdered. Then we find out about the murdered family-the Finches. They are not very nice, a mother who is a lawyer for the Russian mob, a father with a gambling addiction who makes drugs on the side, a son who is a loser and sells drugs for his father, and a daughter who is very young and is a bully in her highschool.

We also learn about a young lawyer who used to be a MMA fighter, and lost a fight many years ago to a superior oponent who is now accused of killing the entire Finch family.

There are many possible suspects and the lawyer (Robin) desperately tries to save her client. In court she has to face a smart District Attorney (who she is incidentally dating and must keep secret) and she thinks she has lost the case until…SURPRISE!

This book certainly. had a lot of promise, but it became bogged down with too many characters and uneccessary detail and information. I don’t care what she had for dinner (things like that). There were so many characters that they were almost cardboardish (is that a word). And what exactly was the betrayal? The description of the novel says that Robin has to defend her old nemesis, but she literally fought her once. I don’t think that qualifies her as a nemesis.

The ending was satisfying…but again, everything was wrapped up too quickly. I feel like this book started well but got caught up in unecessary detail and then ended abruptly and a little too perfectly.

All in all, I did finish it because I wanted to find out who the killer was…but I can’t recommend it.

#betrayal #netgalley #stmartinspress #mysterythiller #phillipmargolin #femalelead #courtroomdrama #robinlockwood

Happy Reading

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WATCHING YOU

BY LISA JEWELL

I just finished reading “Watching You” by Lisa Jewell. Here are my thoughts.

First of all, I am obsessed with Lisa Jewell right now. Every time I see one of her books in the library I immediately pick it up and read it because I know that it will be awesome…This one did not dissapoint.

I takes place on a street in a small town and includes characters who are connected but the reader doesn’t know how or why and the mystery is slowly uncovered throughout the novel. There is a headmaster and his family with s slightly needy wife and a son who is on the spectrum which makes him interesting and engaging. Across the street are a brother and sister who are both married to not very nice people as it turns out. There are also two teenage girls who may or may not be involved in an innapropriate relationship with the headmaster.

The story begins with a murder and everyone is a suspect. The story is told from different perspectives and also involved an incident which happened far in the past involving the headmaster and a young woman. You know immediately that this incident is important but not sure how.

So the story slowly evolves and slowly uncovers the truth about all the main characters which is absolutely genius…so well done. This is were Lisa Jewell shines…in slowly unraveling how characters are related or connected to each other.

I liked this story because of how it was written. Well paced and an excellent mystery. The characters were compelling, complicated and full of mystery. To say not everything is as it seemed is an understatement, especially the females in this book…I won’t say anymore.

There is not much I didn’t like. It was readable and well written and not boring at all.

All in all, a great read. Happy reading everyone.

#lisajewell #mysterythriller #watchingyou #summerthriller #needtoread #fiction

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THE MOTHER-IN-LAW

BY SALLY HEPWORTH

I just finished reading “The Mother-In-Law” by Sally Hepworth. Here are my thoughts.
This is not a new book, but I so enjoy this author’s books that when I saw this book in the library I jumped to take it out and was I glad I did.

The book begins with a death which is thought to be a murder. This means that every character in the story is a suspect and that means that the author goes back and tells the backstory of each character so that the reader has a better idea of who these characters are and how they interact with eachother.

The story revolves around the mother-in- law and the daughter-in-law and their relationship which seems fractures and typical of most relationships between mother and daughter in laws. But as the story unfolds the reader learns that nothing is as it seems.

I loved the relationship between the mother-in-law and her husband. It was full of genuine love and true feelings. I really enjoyed reading their backstory.

The kids I found unlikeable and selfish. They only carried about their inheritance and money. They were self serving and completely entitles, especially the daughter. The daugher-in-law was a mother of three who struggles and I thought all her actions were justified…I wont explain further. Suffice it to say that it was real. Towards the end of the book, the relationship with the mother-in-law was further developed and that is when the reader truly understand the mother-in-law and her intentions. She really does want the best for her spoilt entitled children. Its too bad they don’t realize that…but the daughter-in-law does.

All in all, while not my favourite Sally Hepworth book, it is definately worth a read.

Happy reading everyone

#themother-in-law #sallyhepworth #summerreading #mysterythriller #familyrelationships

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THE VACATION

BY JOHN MARRS

I just finished reading “The Vacation” by John Marrs. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for the advancec copy in return for an honest revew. Here are my thoughts.

First of all, John Marrs has done it again. He has written a story which in some ways is a departure from his previous works but still manages to employ techniques of his past books. He manages to create characters each with very sad and problematic pasts who converge in a hostel in Los Angeles. These characters and their backstories, which are all very interesting ans compelling, all manage to converge in a way that is authentic and enthralling. I loved all the characters and their backstories. I loved the way the book evolved with small snippets being added about the characters and clues as to how their lives would end up. I loved the twists and turns throughout the book which kept me reading hopelessly even though the sun was shining outside and I was inside. I wasn’t sure how the book would end and there were parts that grossed me out, but…overall it was a big hit for me.

I have to admit though, I put my tablet down for a couple of weeks. I wasn’t thoroughly on board with this book at first. I actually put the tablet down and read another John Marrs book and it was awesome. So awesome that I thought…I should go and read The Vacation and I am so glad I did. Sometimes you just need to read on a bit more before it gets super good that you can’t put it down.

So , if the reader finds themselves thinking…Umm…No… KEEP READING. It gets really good the more you find out about the backstories of the characters.

All in all, an excellent book by John Marrs which is extremely well written (except for some gross parts towards the end) and has a satisfying, surprising and great ending.

Happy Reading everyone!

#johnmarrs #thevacation #mysterythriller #needtoread #summerfiction

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