Review: Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage

Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage 

Release Date: July 17, 2018 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 

Genre: Adult, Thriller & Mystery 

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Add to Goodreads!

Amazon | BN | Indiebound 

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.

Review:

Twisted.
Jaw-dropping. 
Unputdownable. 
Those are just some of the words that describe Zoje Stage's explosive debut. 

When Baby Teeth first appeared on my radar, I wasn't too sure about it. It sounded unique and interesting, but a book about a young girl wanting to kill her mother? It definitely wasn't my typical read. However, the other week I decided to read a chapter to get a feel for it. Luckily, that chapter turned into two, and before I knew it, it was 2 am and not only was I finished but also completely and utterly shook. That last scene? I reread it twice, because I couldn't believe my own eyes! 

Baby Teeth contains two POVs - Suzette's as well as Hannah's. Zoje did a fantastic job of bringing the two voices together. It was also incredibly worthwhile as well as eye-opening to see from both of their perspectives. The interesting thing here, however, is that I could never exactly pinpoint a villain.  Instead, Suzette and Hannah are both victims as well as instigators, in my opinion. In their minds, they both believe they are doing the "right" thing. Suzette is attempting to save her marriage, daughter, and health through her occasional tough-love yet mostly understandable actions while Hannah believes the only way to be happy is to get rid of her mother. While Hannah's reasoning is a bit more wild, I felt bad for the girl. Yes, she did some truly evil things in this book; however, at the end of the day, she was a little girl who needed help. The only problem was that no one seemed to know what that help should be. 

At its core, Baby Teeth is a game of cat-and-mouse. The majority of the book focuses on the back-and-forth between Hannah and Suzette, their constant need to one-up each other as well as win. I was always on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would happen next. Would Hannah finally succeed in killing her mother? Would Suzette find help that would work? Those were just some of the questions swirling around in my head. As the book progressed, things only became crazier. I couldn't believe some of what I was reading. Gosh, if I was Suzette, I would've been running from that house screaming. I also enjoyed the conflict Suzette's husband/Hannah's father brought to the table. In a way, he played a Switzerland type role. He refused to believe that his little angle could be so evil but he also couldn't believe his wife could be lying about such things. For the majority of the book, he tries to play the middle man, sometimes making things better but sometimes making them even worse... 

In addition to the conflict/dynamic between Hannah and Suzette, the book also includes Suzette's struggles with Crohn's disease. I appreciated the fact that Zoje included this and addressed the everyday issues that arise with the disease. Several people close to me have suffered from Chron's, and I thought Zoje did a fantastic job of giving it a realistic, honest feel. 

Overall, Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. While I don't think this book will be for everyone, I think it will definitely find its audience within those craving a dark, mind-bending thriller. I look forward to reading more by Zoje in the future. 

4 stars!!

Review: The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James  
Release Date: March 20, 2018 
Publisher: Berkley 
Genre: Women's Fiction, Historical Fiction 
Source: ARC provided by the publisher via First to Read in exchange for an honest review 

Add on Goodreads! 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BAM | Indiebound 

The “clever and wonderfully chilling” (Fiona Barton) suspense novel from the award-winning author of The Haunting of Maddy Clare, now in trade paperback!

Vermont, 1950. There’s a place for the girls whom no one wants–the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It’s called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it’s located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming–until one of them mysteriously disappears. . . .
Vermont, 2014. As much as she’s tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister’s death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister’s boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can’t shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past–and a voice that won’t be silenced. . . .

Review:

I'm always in the mood for a new thriller/mystery read. Therefore, as soon as I saw the intriguing summary and haunting yet gorgeous cover for The Broken Girls by Simone St. James, I was sold. I couldn't want to learn more about Idlewild Hall and how the two mysteries - years apart! - connected. 

The Result? The Broken Girls was EXCELLENT! Combining two nail-bitting mysteries and a touch of the paranormal, The Broken Girls successfully intrigues, compels, and thrills. 

The Broken Girls beautifully blends together two timelines - Vermont, 1950 and Vermont, 2014. I thought Simone did a wonderful job of developing both times, and I especially enjoyed seeing Idlewild Hall at its prime as well as at its ruin. Learning about the private school and the bad as well as good it brought the girls firsthand truly added to the quality of the novel - it was nice to put faces to specific stories. I also enjoyed the additional mystery Vermont, 2014 had to offer. 

Idlewild Hall and the small town provided such a haunting setting. I read The Broken Girls at night, and some parts of me regretted that decision. From the decaying buildings to the intimidating ghosts to the dead bodies yet to be discovered, even the bravest of readers will surely find something to be frightened by. 

The Broken Girls features five POVs - the four Idlewild roommates (Katie, CeCe, Sonia, and Roberta) and Fiona Sheridan. To be honest the five POVs worried me at first, especially since those of the four Idlewild roommates blended together in the beginning. As the story continued however, each POV started to stand on its own, and by the end, I can truly say I got to know each girl on a personal level. Even with decades between the four roommates and Fiona Sheridan, all five women are incredibly similar - they're lost and flailing through life, hoping one day they'll find their peace. The four Idlewild roommates truly struck a cord in me. Their stories were so terrible yet they still managed to try their hardest to move on and make the best of the scary Idlewild Hall. Additionally, I enjoyed how Simone incorporated parts of history within their narratives - some parts of history that even I didn't know much about. 

In all, The Broken Girls is an incredibly strong thriller, and while it does plenty of chilling and thrilling, it also gives a story and face to some of the worst past and present history has to offer. 

5 stars!!

Review: Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hiller 

Release Date: June 12, 2018 

Publisher: Minotaur Books, St Martin's Press

Genre: Adult, Thriller/Mystery 

Source: ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

Add to Goodreads! 

Amazon | BN | Indiebound 

This is the story of three best friends: one who was murdered, one who went to prison, and one who's been searching for the truth all these years . . .

When she was sixteen years old, Angela Wong—one of the most popular girls in school—disappeared without a trace. Nobody ever suspected that her best friend, Georgina Shaw, now an executive and rising star at her Seattle pharmaceutical company, was involved in any way. Certainly not Kaiser Brody, who was close with both girls back in high school.

But fourteen years later, Angela Wong's remains are discovered in the woods near Geo's childhood home. And Kaiser—now a detective with Seattle PD—finally learns the truth: Angela was a victim of Calvin James. The same Calvin James who murdered at least three other women.

To the authorities, Calvin is a serial killer. But to Geo, he's something else entirely. Back in high school, Calvin was Geo's first love. Turbulent and often volatile, their relationship bordered on obsession from the moment they met right up until the night Angela was killed.

For fourteen years, Geo knew what happened to Angela and told no one. For fourteen years, she carried the secret of Angela's death until Geo was arrested and sent to prison.

While everyone thinks they finally know the truth, there are dark secrets buried deep. And what happened that fateful night is more complex and more chilling than anyone really knows. Now the obsessive past catches up with the deadly present when new bodies begin to turn up, killed in the exact same manner as Angela Wong.

How far will someone go to bury her secrets and hide her grief? How long can you get away with a lie? How long can you live with it?

Review: 

Jar of Hearts was a fast read. The story was interesting enough to keep me hooked; however, there were a few things missing from it, in my opinion.

For one, I never thought the characters were incredibly well developed. It's told from two POVs - Geo and Kaiser - and while Jennifer did a great job of splitting up the POVs, I never felt a real connection. Emotion and feelings weren't overly present. I never got a good feeling of who they were, what they stood for, and honestly, neither one was all that likable or likable in that unlikable kind of way.

I felt that Geo was selfish, and while she was presented as being resourceful and put together, I never truly saw that. I also didn't like how everything just always fell into place for her. Yes, she struggled in prison, and yes, she faced events that no woman should have to face, but yet she always seemed to come out on top. She found protection easily in prison, she got the prison job she so desperately wanted....it was just a little too perfect.

Kaiser, on the other hand, was supposed to be the former nerdy boy turned hot cop, but I never found him all that swoon worthy. For one, I didn't like how nonchalant he was about being involved with a married woman, or how cold he was in certain aspects of his life. His hot-and-cold relationship with Geo also didn't interest me. The relationship and thus romance that evolved between them never seemed natural, as there wasn't much chemistry.

The plot in this reads like a CRIMINAL MINDS episode. There's a notorious serial killer called the Sweetbay Strangler; however, he always seems to invade the authorities just at the right moment. When the book first begins, the sweetbay strangler is identified as Calvin Harris. He's put away, bringing Geo, his former girlfriend, down with him for his first ever murder involving Geo's best friend Angela.

Jennifer slowly reveals the details of what happened that night. It's not overly obvious as to what Geo's role was, and given the note Geo receives from Calvin ("You're welcome"), it's clear there's more to it than either one admitted out loud. From the first chapter, I was intrigued...I wanted to know more about that night, what events lead up to the death, and throughout it's slowly pieced together. However, when the big moment is finally reveled, it felt slightly underwhelming. It wasn't incredibly twisty - I had somewhat predicted it earlier. It also didn't help that I never felt the bond between Angela and Geo. They never seemed like best friends; instead, they felt more like frenemies, as they both gave and they took wickedly from each other.

In addition to the Angela mystery, there's also series of new murders introduced. While the new murders did add a shock factor to the novel, they also didn't feel incredibly well done. Maybe I've watched too many crime shows and read too many thrillers, but there were so many times at which I could see the writing on the wall when it came to who was responsible, and the fact that the police, especially Kaiser, refused to see the whole picture, putting the blame on the easy target, drove me insane. Also, I didn't like how some parts of this novel were so unbelievable. For example, it didn't make sense that Kaiser - someone who was incredibly close to the victim AND the perpetuator - was the main guy on the case. Isn't that a case of conflict? Plus it was so easy to see that he was biased because of it...even his partner called him out on it... Additionally, there's a moment at the end that also seemed out there. I won't go too much into it, but once again, it was one of those moments were Geo seemingly faced no repercussions.

Overall, Jar of Hearts was more of a miss than a hit for me.

Did it keep me entertained? Yes. 

Do I think lovers of thrillers will enjoy it? Probably. 

But would it be my top recommendation? No. I feel that other upcoming thrillers (Baby Teeth for example) are better done.

2.5 stars

Review: Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea

Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea
Release Date: May 29, 2018
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Adult, Thriller & Mystery
Add to Goodreads!
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound

From acclaimed author Charlie Donlea comes a twisting, impossible-to-put-down novel of suspense in which a filmmaker helps clear a woman convicted of murder—only to find she may be a puppet in a sinister game.

The Girl of Sugar Beach is the most watched documentary in television history—a riveting, true-life mystery that unfolds over twelve weeks and centers on a fascinating question: Did Grace Sebold murder her boyfriend, Julian, while on a Spring Break vacation, or is she a victim of circumstance and poor police work? Grace has spent the last ten years in a St. Lucian prison, and reaches out to filmmaker Sidney Ryan in a last, desperate attempt to prove her innocence.

As Sidney begins researching, she uncovers startling evidence, additional suspects, and timeline issues that were all overlooked during the original investigation. Before the series even finishes filming, public outcry leads officials to reopen the case. But as the show surges towards its final episodes, Sidney receives a letter saying that she got it badly, terribly wrong.

Sidney has just convinced the world that Grace is innocent. Now she wonders if she has helped to free a ruthless killer. Delving into Grace’s past, she peels away layer after layer of deception. But as Sidney edges closer to the real heart of the story, she must decide if finding the truth is worth risking her newfound fame, her career . . . even her life.

Review: 

Have you ever read a book were the big twist came at you so fast, so unexpectedly, that you had to go back and re-read what had just happened simply because you couldn't believe it? That's what happened to me with Charlie Donlea's Don't Believe It. 

I couldn't believe my own eyes. 
I didn't want to believe my own eyes.
It was cruel yet deliciously so. 

Most importantly, it's a large part of why I love this book so much, because while it was easy to spot the true culprit in the beginning, there were ample twists, a surplus of oh-my-gosh moments, and even a few red herrings to keep me on the edge of my seat, constantly double guessing myself. 

Similar to Making a Murderer, Charlie Donela's Don't Believe Me focuses on a documentary aiming to set the story straight on a crime that shocked the nation years prior. I liked the incorporation of the documentary. It made this novel more unique, setting it apart from previous thrillers I've read this year. I also liked that it was primarily from the filmmaker's perspective. It was exciting to follow Sidney as she set out to find the truth. 

I will admit that I had a hard time connecting to Sidney at first. It's a problem I usually have with books set in third person; however, as time went on, Sidney began to grow on me. She was an ambitious women. I admired her determination to give the innocent a voice. Not too many people would take on the daring situations she got herself involved in. Additionally, I liked that there was more to Sidney's ambition than what meets the eye. Charlie presented some interesting things about her backstory, and while at times I did wish they were slightly more developed, it still worked well in creating Sidney's character. 

In addition to Sidney a variety of other characters were included. Some good, some evil, and some falling somewhere in between. From the moment Grace, the supposed killer, was introduced, I didn't know what to think. On one side, her case was convincing. It did seem like the authorities rushed the case, only focusing on clues that worked in their favor; however, on the other side, she seemed to be hiding something. Her relationship with her brother, in particular, never set well with me. There was a disturbing air around  it, but I couldn't always put my finger on what exactly made it that way. Grace's friends also added a lot to the novel. Ellie and Daniel were just as suspicious as Grace at times, and I was always dying to know what would be revealed next about each. 

It's hard to talk about Don't Believe It's plot without giving too much away so I'll keep it short and simple here. Basically, it was good. I thought Charlie did a great job of building up the story, using the documentary aspect to really reel the reader in. The build-up was slow at times, especially in the beginning, but as more was known about the case, the more thrilling everything became. By the middle, it seemed as if there was a race against time in Sidney's case. She was caught in the middle of a dangerous situation, one that she didn't have even half the answers to. 

Overall, Don't Believe It may be my first book by Charlie Donlea but it certainly won't be my last. It's not everyday that a thriller manages to take me completely by surprise, and I hope that Charlie's other books will have the ability to do the same. If you love thrillers, you simply must check this book out! It's GOOD. 

4 stars!! 

Review: Lies by T.M. Logan

Lies by T.M. Logan 

Release Date: September 11, 2018 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 

Genre: Adult, Mystery & Thriller 

Source: ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

Add to Goodreads! 

Amazon | BN | Indiebound

What if you have the perfect life, the perfect wife and the perfect child―then, in one shattering moment, you discover nothing is as it seems? Now you are in the sights of a ruthless killer determined to destroy everything you treasure.

“[T. M. Logan's Lies] is assured, compelling, and hypnotically readable―with a twist I guarantee you won’t see coming.” ―Lee Child

It’s the evening drive home from work on a route Joe Lynch has taken a hundred times with his young son. But today, Joe sees his wife meet another man―an encounter that will rip two families apart. Raising the question: Can we ever really trust those closest to us?

Joe will do whatever it takes to protect his family, but as the deception unravels, so does his life. A life played out without any rules. And a cunning opponent who’s always one step ahead.

T. M. Logan’s Lies is an unputdownable thriller that will keep readers guessing until the jaw-dropping finale.

Review: 

I came *so* close to giving up on T.M. Logan's  Lies in the beginning. It wasn't catching my attention, and I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style. It was very cut-and-dry, using a lot of "I did this, then I did that." However, I decided to stick it out, and I'm so glad I did. It may have taken a while to warm up, but at 1/4 of the way through, it gained MAJOR speed. By the end, I was (1) shocked, as the major twist was INSANE, (2) completely scared, as I made the big mistake of reading this at night, and (3) craving more books by T.M. Logan! 

To be honest, Joe is a somewhat bland character, especially at first. He's soft spoken, not very motivated, and slightly spineless. He wasn't exactly someone that was easy to root for; however, I was still intrigued by his life. I was curious to see what would happen to him. Would he stop trusting everyone? Would he start demanding answers? Would he prove his innocence before his life was forever ruined? Those were the questions circling my mind. Over the course of Lies, Joe does experience a transformation. He becomes more gutsy and fearless, knocking down doors to get answers, and while he still made some reckless decisions, I gave him props - he was willing to risk it all if it meant proving his innocence and keeping his son. 

The other characters in this were interesting, and I loved that almost everyone was a suspect. It kept me on the edge of my seat! For example, there always seemed to be something off about Joe's wife Alice. She was aloof and mysterious, obsessed with social media and bad at telling the truth. I questioned everything she said, and I never thought she was a good person. Ben, the antagonist, in this was scary from the get-go. I got so many chills from the things he did or said! I couldn't understand why he was so determined to ruin Joe's life; however, as more and more were revealed about his motive, the more hooked I became. 

The plot in in Lies mainly focuses on Joe and Ben's game of cat-and-mouse. As I said before, it took a while for Lies to warm up; however, once the game got in full swing I was hooked! There were so many shocking moments. I never knew what Ben and Joe were going to do next, and that was part of what made it so much fun to read. While sometimes I couldn't believe how willing everyone was to jump to conclusions (Joe, the police, etc.), it didn't hinder my reading experience too much. There were some moments, though, where I wanted to scream "Really?!"  I also liked how T.M. also addressed social media in Lies (i.e. the addicting quality, the problems it may bring, etc.). When the book first begins, Joe and his wife are obsessed with social media, documenting their lives online; however, Joe's social media is eventually used against him. He's made to look guilty and unhinged through the hacking of his account, even photos of him online are altered to make him look suspicious...It makes you question just how much you put out there, could someone do to you what they did to Joe? And it makes you wonder how willing you are to trust posts, because as they say, sometimes something it nothing like it seems. 

My only real problem here besides the slow start was the writing style. As I said before, it was very cut and dry, and while I eventually got used to it, I wished that it was a little more descriptive. I think it would've allowed for more character development, as sometimes the characters were slightly one dimensional. 

Perfect for fans of thrillers, Lies is sure to entice and engage readers. I can't wait to see what T.M. writes next! 

4 stars!! 

Review & Giveaway: Trespassing by Brandi Reeds

Trespassing by Brandi Reeds 

Release Date: April 1, 2018

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing 

Genre: Adult Fiction, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Thriller

Source: eARC provided by publisher and author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

Add to Goodreads! 

Amazon | BN | Indiebound 

In a novel of mounting psychological suspense, a young mother follows a dangerous path to find her missing husband.

Veronica Cavanaugh’s grasp on the world is slipping. Her latest round of fertility treatments not only failed but left her on edge and unbalanced. And her three-year-old daughter, Elizabella, has a new imaginary friend, who seems much more devilish than playful. So when Veronica’s husband fails to return home from a business trip, what’s left of her stability begins to crumble.

Given her family’s history of mental illness, and Elizabella’s insistence that her daddy is dead, Veronica starts questioning herself. Every move she makes is now suspect. Worse still, Veronica is positive that someone wants her and her daughter dead, too—unless it’s all in her mind…

Somewhere beneath her paranoia is the answer to her husband’s vanishing. To find it, she’s led to a house in the Florida Keys. But once there, she isn’t sure she wants to know the truth.

Review: 

Does anyone else think that thrillers this year just keep getting better and better? Honestly, I think each one I read is better than the last, and Brandi Reeds's Trespassing only proves this further in my opinion. 

Trespassing is not good, not great, but EXCELLENT! I made the fatal mistake of starting this at 10 pm at night. Silly me...I thought I could read a couple of chapters and put it down for the night, but of course that's not what ended up happening. Before I knew it 3 am rolled around and I had read Trespassing from start to finish without taking a single breather. Was I tired the next day? Yes. Did I end up sleeping in way longer than I had anticipated? Yes. But was it worth it? OF COURSE! 

At first, I was worried this was going to turn into Baby Teeth #2 due to Veronica's struggles with her daughter Elizabella. Luckily, that wasn't the case. Trespassing is its own thrilling story. From the first page, everything is a whirlwind. Brandi quickly sets the scene, introduces the major players and then dives right into the mystery of Veronica's husband's disappearance. What made me especially happy with this was that the action and twists didn't mean that character and plot development suffered one bit; instead, Trespassing was a well developed novel. The disappearance storyline was my favorite part. There were so many layers to it, and every twist and turn had me fully shook. I don't think I've been this frightened from a book in a long, long time, and even though I had to leave the lights on and double check that my doors were locked, I couldn't get enough of it. 

Additionally, I came to love Veronica as the book progressed. When Veronica's first introduced she's incredibly naive. She never questioned her husband on their bank accounts, their property, and his job, and now she's paying the price. Suddenly, everything in their world is turned upside down, and what she thought was a idyllic life is anything but that. 

One part of me couldn't believe that Veronica didn't demand to know more, but another part of me could understand why she could've become so complacent over the years. She put her focus on Elizabella and getting pregnant again, trusting and loving her husband enough to take care of them and make the right choices. As the book progressed, Veronica took control of her life, and I couldn't have been happier. Suddenly, she was taking names and starting her own investigation of sorts. She gained courage as well as fearlessness. I also appreciated that Brandi included Veronica's struggles with IVF. I fell like it's a topic that no one seems to want to talk about; however, that's not the case here. Veronica many ups and downs are a central part of the novel, and it was eye-opening. My heart broke for her. I couldn't even begin to imagine going through something that was so uncontrollable, so uncertain. 

Besides Veronica Brandi also introduces several other key players. Elizabella, for one, was an interesting little girl. There were so many times at which I didn't understand what was going on with her. She spoke with such certainty of what her imaginary friend was telling her. Like Veronica, I began to wonder if ghosts were a possibility. The sweet neighbor of Veronica's in Florida was also a high point. I couldn't get enough of him, and I loved that he brought lightness and fun to Veronica's life. 

Overall, Trespassing is suspenseful and wonderfully crafted thriller. This may be Brandi's first foray into adult psychological thrillers, but I certainly hope it won't be her last. 

5 stars!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser 

Release Date: March 27, 2018 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 

Genre: Adult, Women's Fiction, Contemporary, Thriller 

Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

Add to Goodreads!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound

An innocent night of fun takes a shocking turn in Not That I Could Tell, the next page-turner from Jessica Strawser.

When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It’s a rare kid-free night, and they’re giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal.

By Monday morning, one of them is gone.

Everyone knows something about everyone else in the quirky small Ohio town of Yellow Springs, but no one can make sense of the disappearance. Kristin was a sociable twin mom, college administrator, and doctor’s wife who didn’t seem all that bothered by her impending divorce—and the investigation turns up more questions than answers, with her husband, Paul, at the center. For her closest neighbor, Clara, the incident triggers memories she thought she’d put behind her—and when she’s unable to extract herself from the widening circle of scrutiny, her own suspicions quickly grow. But the neighborhood’s newest addition, Izzy, is determined not to jump to any conclusions—especially since she’s dealing with a crisis of her own.

As the police investigation goes from a media circus to a cold case, the neighbors are forced to reexamine what’s going on behind their own closed doors—and to ask how well anyone really knows anyone else.

Review: 

Not That I Could Tell left me with a book hangover, but I wasn't even angry. The exhaustion was so worth it, because Not That I Could Tell is something pretty darn special. 

It's suspenseful. 
It's unputdownable. 
It's heartfelt. 

Not That I Could Tell starts with dramatics: several neighbors return to their houses after a party but when they wake up the next morning one of them has disappeared into thin air along with her two small children. What makes matters worse? No one really remembers what happened that night. They all remember having fun, but when it comes to specific details, everyone's minds are a little fuzzy. Did Kristin willing leave, or is there something much more sinister at play? 

Not That I Could Tell contains three POVs - Clara, Izzy, and Kristin. Each of the women are in incredibly different places in life. Clara is a married stay-at-home mom, spending most of her days exhausted yet happy. Izzy's new to the neighborhood and on the run from a heartbreaking case of unrequited love. Kristen appears to be the perfect one out of the three. She's manicured, well spoken, and incredibly kind, but below the surface, she's dealing with a serious, dangerous problem in the form of a cunning ex-husband out for blood. 

In stories like this, I always have a favorite POV/character; however, in this case, I can't say I did. I loved each POV, and I also found each woman to be likable as well as incredibly easy to root for. I enjoyed getting to know each, and I found parts in each of their lives that I could relate to. For instance, Izzy's case of unrequited love? Been there done that. Not nearly as tragic - thankfully - but soul-crushing all the same. Kristin's POV was the most mysterious out of the three. Her parts were short yet to the point, and they also did a fantastic job of building up suspense and intrigue. I was dying to know what happened to her, and while I prepared for the worst, I hoped for the best. 

The plot in Not That I Could Tell primarily focuses on the mystery of as well as the fallout from Kristin's disappearance. Jessica did a fantastic job of setting the scene. The women's street seemed so perfect, so idyllic; however, as they always say, nothing is nearly as perfect as it appears. Jessica also exceeded at building up suspense as well as slowly revealing clues. What I liked the most about the plot, however, was the focus on friendship. When the book first begins, the women aren't incredibly close - they know each other but they don't know, know each other. However, over the course of the book, Clara, Izzy, and the rest of the neighbored slowly comes together. I loved the friendship as well as the girl power that resulted, and I also appreciated that we saw the women at their best as well as their worst. They had their own struggles, their own demons, which made the story all the more realistic as well as rich, in my opinion. 

Last but not least: the ending! Just when I thought the book couldn't have gotten anymore explosive, BAM another big reveal. I won't say much, of course, but I will say I couldn't have asked for a better ending. It so vastly bittersweet, and I will admit I shed a few tears, but goodness, I don't think I could've asked for better endings for the characters. 

Overall, Not That I Could Tell is yet another must-read, in my opinion. Perfect for fans of Desperate Housewives as well as Big Little Lies, Not that I Could Tell is yet another explosive yet emotionally charged story of how people aren't nearly as flawless as they appear.  

4.5 stars!!

Blog Tour: The Window by Amelia Brunskill (Review & Giveaway!)

The Window by Amelia Brunskill

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: April 3, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 
Add to Goodreads! 
Amazon | BN | Kobo | iBooks | Book Depository 

Synopsis:

Anna is everything her identical twin is not. Outgoing and athletic, she is the opposite of quiet introvert Jess. The same on the outside, yet so completely different inside--it's hard to believe the girls are sisters, let alone twins. But they are. And they tell each other everything.

Or so Jess thought.

After Anna falls to her death while sneaking out her bedroom window, Jess's life begins to unravel. Everyone says it was an accident, but to Jess, that doesn't add up. Where was Anna going? Who was she meeting? And how long had Anna been lying to her?


Jess is compelled to learn everything she can about the sister she thought she knew. At first it's a way to stay busy and find closure . . . but Jess soon discovers that her twin kept a lot of secrets. And as she digs deeper, she learns that the answers she's looking for may be truths that no one wants her to uncover.

Because Anna wasn't the only one with secrets.

Review:

The cover is what originally earned The Window a place on my TBR pile. Now that I've read the book, I have two things to say. First, the cover is spot on. It perfectly captures the atmosphere of the story - eerie, dark, and attention-grabing. Second and best of all, The Window posses a lot more than just a stunning cover. 

When The Window begins Anna is already dead and Jess is reeling from the loss. Jess can't believe, won't believe, that it was just a simple accident. She knows there must be more to the story, that there must be a better explanation of what went on that night; however, no one wants to listen to her theories. They just want to move on with their own lives and not dwell in the past, but Jess refuses to give up. 

Jess is an interesting main character. I can't say she's the most likable or personable one ever, but there was something so compelling about her, something that made me want to know more about her. She's serious as well as detail and fact orientated. She has an incredibly blunt way of talking, one that sometimes hurts her more than helps her. At the end of the day, however, I give Jess major props. Not only does she know who she is but she also knows what she wants and she won't let anyone stand in her way. She's incredibly unapologetic, and I greatly admired that about her. 

Over the course of the book, Jess's relationship with Anna is uprooted. Suddenly, there's secrets coming out of the woodwork, secrets that make Jess question everything she thought she knew, and worst of all, Anna isn't there to clear everything up. 

I found the bond between the two sisters to be the best part of the book. Amelia did a wonderful job of building it up, and even though Anna was already gone by the time the story began, I still felt that I truly got to know her through Jess's eyes as well as the small snippets included from Anna's POV. 

What I liked the most about the dynamic here, however, was seeing how the girls begin living without the other one. For Anna, it began before she died. She had a secret life, as Jess learns, and that life had many highs and lows to it. The worst low of all, though, was feeling the bond with her sister begin to fade. For Jess, she's always been defined by her relationship with Anna. She's always been the darkness to Anna's light, the seriousness to Anna's happy-go-lucky. More importantly, Anna was always her link to the world, the person who would remind her to interact with her parents, etc. After Anna's death, Jess doesn't know how to be Anna-less. It's the little things that get her the most...Not having Anna as a buffer, not having someone to eat lunch with, etc. It broke my heart. Over the course of the story, Jess begins to live a little more each day. She starts putting herself out there, joining in on track, making new friends, and I loved seeing this transformation occur. It was sad yet hopeful and stunning. 

The mystery in The Window isn't the most twisty. It didn't keep me on the edge-of-my-seat, dying to know what would happen next. At the same time, though, I can't say I was bored. Instead, I found other parts of the story to be more captivating. 

At first I found the writing slightly hard to get into. It was very cut-and-dry; however, the more I got to know Jess, the more appreciation I had for it. The narrative truly reflected Jess's personality, it was as serious and blunt as she was, and overtime it allowed me to get an even better feel for her character. 

Overall, The Window is a slow-burn, compelling debut. It won't be for everyone, especially those who like their action non-stop, but for those who love character development, The Window is the perfect choice. 

4 stars!! 

About the Author:

Amelia Brunskill was born in Melbourne, Australia, but she grew up mostly in Washington state where she picked a lot of blackberries, read a lot of books, and failed to properly appreciate the epic beauty of the mountains and the Pacific ocean.

She earned her bachelors degrees in psychology and art from the University of Washington and her master in information studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She now lives in Chicago, where she eats as much Thai food as possible and works as a librarian.

The Window is her debut novel.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads  

Follow the tour HERE!!

Giveaway: 

3 copies of THE WINDOW by Amelia Brunskill

There will be 3 winners

US Only

Please read the rules in the Rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
Release Date: March 13, 2018
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Genre: Adult, Mystery & Thrillers
Source: eARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Add to Goodreads!
Amazon | BN | Indiebound | Kobo

My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me:
1. I’m in a coma.
2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore.
3. Sometimes I lie.

Amber wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea. Amber doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a suspicion her husband had something to do with it. Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from twenty years ago, this brilliant psychological thriller asks: Is something really a lie if you believe it's the truth?

Review: 

Sometimes I Lie intrigued me as soon as I read Amber Reynolds's three things. Unreliable narrators always fascinate me, and I was curious to see how Amber's story unraveled...why was she in a coma? And why didn't her husband love her anymore? 

The end result? Sometimes I Lie took me on a wild, twist-laced ride from start to finish. So many times I thought I had figured everything out; however, Alice Feeney always managed to be prove me wrong, and I was so incredibly grateful for that! I love a book that keeps me on my toes. 

Sometimes I Lie is a difficult book to describe. It's one of those mind-twisting thrillers you just need to experience for yourself, but I'll try my best here to describe the reasons why I loved it so much. 

For one, Amber is an incredibly compelling character. It's easy to tell that there's something off about her, that there's more to her story than what she's willing to offer. She's never exactly likable; however, I still became incredibly committed to her story. I wanted her to wake up from her coma. I wanted her to face her demons. I wanted her to fall in love with her husband once again. The quality I liked the most about Amber, however, was her compulsion to lie. It made for an incredibly twisty read, as mentioned above, and it was also interesting to think about why she lied, why she felt that it was so pertinent to surviving.  

Sometimes I Lie is split divided into three time periods- journal entries from childhood, now, and before. I thought Alice did such a fantastic job of interweaving all three timelines. Each blended beautifully together, and I always loved/hated when something in one timeline contradicted something in another one. It consistently made me wonder which timeline was true. The plot in Sometimes I Lie is also incredibly fast paced. I read this book on a plane ride to Florida, and I don't think I've ever had a flight go faster. Nothing could distract me from what was at play here - the coma, the lying, the conniving sister, and the mysterious husband. One aspect I particularly liked about the plot was how Alice utilized relationships to drive things forward. So many events/problems originated from the messed up, codependent relationship between Amber and her sister, and it was juicy to say the least. 

I can't end this review without talking about the ending! Alice Feeney BLEW my mind! The last chapter was so incredibly out there, and I couldn't have loved it more. It wasn't the ending I had anticipated and I had to read it twice just to believe it; however, I don't think there could've been a better option. 

Overall, Sometimes I Lie is a stellar debut! Now that I've read it I can definitely understand why it's receiving so much praise - it's a must read for sure! 

4 stars!! 

Review: The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 

Genre: Adult, Women's Fiction, Mystery 

Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

Add to Goodreads!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound 

A gripping domestic page-turner full of shocking reveals, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Amanda Prowse and Kerry Fisher.

The small suburb of Pleasant Court lives up to its name. It's the kind of place where everyone knows their neighbours, and children play in the street.

Isabelle Heatherington doesn't fit into this picture of family paradise. Husbandless and childless, she soon catches the attention of three Pleasant Court mothers.

But Ange, Fran and Essie have their own secrets to hide. Like the reason behind Ange's compulsion to control every aspect of her life. Or why Fran won't let her sweet, gentle husband near her new baby. Or why, three years ago, Essie took her daughter to the park - and returned home without her.

As their obsession with their new neighbour grows, the secrets of these three women begin to spread - and they'll soon find out that when you look at something too closely, you see things you never wanted to see.

Review: 

The truth was, despite appearances, she didn't know much about her neighbors at all. - eARC, Loc 663  

Throw in a Liane Moriarty comparison, as Sally Hepworth's The Family Next Door does in its synopsis, and a book quickly becomes a instant must read for me, no questions asked. 

As it turns out, The Family Next Door is indeed perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty. Gripping, well constructed, and deeply emotional, The Family Next Door sets out to answer an important question: how well do we know our neighbors? 

The Family Next Door focuses on five neighbors: Isabelle, Ange, Fran, Essie, and Barbara. Five seemed like a daunting number at first. I was worried about keeping everyone's narrative straight. Luckily, Sally Hepworth makes it easy. Each character is well developed, possessing a unique voice as well as their own distinctive issues. What I liked even more, however, was how the stories overlapped and came together. At the beginning of the book, the five women weren't all that close, but as the book progressed, they came closer and closer together, and I loved the freindship that developed. It wasn't perfect by any means - some bonds were stronger than others, sometimes lines were crossed and words misconstrued - but it gave the book an authentic feel. Additionally, I appreciated that none of the five women were flawless. I won't go too much into each women, but I will say that I found all to be likable as well as easy to root for. Even the ones who appeared villain-like were still likable - I could always find the redeemable amongst the bad. 

Additionally, I thought Sally Hepworth did a fantastic job of developing the plot. It was intricate as well as suspenseful. It was so hard to put this book down once I started. I just wanted to know more - what was Fran hiding? What were Isabelle's true intentions regarding her move? What was going on with Ange's husband? All these questions and more drove this book in a fast and tantalizing pace. I especially appreciated that Sally Hepworth relied on everyday problems to drive the book forward. It brought a realistic feel to the book. I also enjoyed that nothing was as it seemed. Sally Hepworth put so many fantastic twists and turns into play. I also thought she did a great job of evoking emotions with her story lines as well as her characters. Let me say it's so hard to maintain dry eyes during some of this book. 

In all, Sally Hepworth's The Family Next Door is a compelling addition to contemporary fiction. This may be my first book by her, but it certainly won't be my last. 

Also that ending? PERFECTION! It was bittersweet in some respects, but I couldn't have been happier with how we left the characters. 

4.5 stars!

Blog Tour: Devil's Gold by Amanda McKinney (Review & Giveaway!)

Devil’s Gold

Amanda McKinney

Publication date: February 13th 2018

Genres: Adult, Mystery, Thriller

Despite being chronically late, occasionally disheveled and a tad disorganized, Dixie Knight is one of the top private investigators in the country, and when a young woman goes missing in the small, Southern town of Devil’s Den, Dixie takes the case. She expected it to be another ordinary missing person case—until Lizzie Meyers is found naked and beaten to death at a local, seedy motel.

While visiting relatives on his two-week leave, Marine Liam Cash bumps into Dixie at the local bar, and his attraction to her is immediate. When Liam connects Dixie’s current case to two unsolved murders in his hometown, he steps in to help find the killer, and keep her safe, whether Dixie wants him to or not.

After another woman is found brutally beaten, Dixie turns the town upside down trying to solve the mystery—could it be the rumored witch that lives in the mountains; the rich, neurotic doctor’s wife; or the perky, blonde receptionist at the local medical clinic?

Time is running out and Dixie knows she has to put the pieces of the puzzle together before another body turns cold in Devil’s Den.

Review:

DEVIL'S GOLD truly managed to surprise me! Going into it I expected to like it. I'm a sucker for a good mystery; however, I never expected to like it as much as I did. Combining a page-turning mystery, a feisty, sarcastic main character, and even a touch of romance, DEVIL'S GOLD proves just how enchanting a novella can be. 

DEVIL'S GOLD introduces Dix, a private investigator at her family's Black Rose Investigations. Dix has always been the black sheep of her family. Constantly late, occasionally crass, preferring casual to fancy, she doesn't exactly fit in well with her sisters. However, given her her superior sleuthing skills, it doesn't seem to matter. I loved Dix from the get-go. Amanda did a fantastic job of capturing her voice, and honestly, it was just so much fun to see into Dix's head. I loved her observations, her sleuthing skills, etc. Plus, she's someone who constantly gets herself into trouble due to her head strong ways, which was funny to read about. 

Given DEVIL'S GOLD novella length, I was slightly worried the mystery wouldn't be well developed. However, that wasn't the case at all. Amanda presented an exciting whodunit here, and I loved the surprising twists and turns it constantly took. In addition to the mystery, a little swoony romance is included as well! The dynamic between Dix and Liam was chemistry laden. I enjoyed the back-and-forth banter. I also liked that Liam was a man of mystery. At first, I couldn't tell if he was going to be a good guy or a bad guy. 

The writing in DEVIL'S GOLD was on point. The story flowed well, and I liked how Amanda incorporated different POVs. It's fun to see someone else's perspective at times. 

Overall, DEVIL'S GOLD is perfect for fans of mystery! My only complaint? I wish I had the second once ready as soon as I finished this! I need to know what trouble Dix and Liam get into next!

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Amanda McKinney, author of Sexy, Suspenseful Mysteries wrote her debut novel, LETHAL LEGACY, after walking away from her career to become a writer and stay-at-home mom. When Amanda isn’t tending to her two beautiful boys, she’s hidden behind her computer screen crafting page-turning murder mysteries, peppered with titillating love scenes. Having been born and raised in the south, Amanda’s books are set in small, country towns and reflect southern culture at its finest.

Amanda’s debut novel, LETHAL LEGACY, was released in January 2017, followed by the first two books in the BERRY SPRINGS SERIES, THE WOODS and THE LAKE. The third book in the series, THE STORM is scheduled to be released in the Winter of 2017.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Glass Town by Steven Savile

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

There's always been magic in our world We just needed to know where to look for it

In 1924, two brothers both loved Eleanor Raines, a promising young actress from the East End of London. She disappeared during the filming of Alfred Hitchcock’s debut, Number 13, which itself is now lost. It was the crime of the age, capturing the imagination of the city: the beautiful actress never seen again, and the gangster who disappeared the same day.

Generations have passed. Everyone involved is long dead. But even now their dark, twisted secret threatens to tear the city apart.

Joshua Raines is about to enter a world of macabre beauty, of glittering celluloid and the silver screen, of illusion and deception, of impossibly old gangsters and the fiendish creatures they command, and most frighteningly of all, of genuine magic.

He is about to enter Glass Town.

The generations-old obsession with Eleanor Raines’s unsolved case is about to become his obsession, handed down father-to-son through his bloodline like some unwanted inheritance. But first he needs to bury his grandfather and absorb the implications of the confession in his hand, a letter from one of the brothers, Isaiah, claiming to have seen the missing actress. The woman in the red dress hadn’t aged a day, no matter that it was 1994 and she’d been gone seventy years.

Long buried secrets cannot stay secrets forever. Hidden places cannot stay hidden forever.

The magic that destroyed one of the most brutal families in London’s dark history is finally failing, and Joshua Raines is about to discover that everything he dared dream of, everything he has ever feared, is waiting for him in Glass Town.

Review:

When Steven Savile's Glass Town appeared on my doorstep it was my first time hearing about it; however, as soon as I read the synopsis, I decided it may be the book for me and dove right in. 

The Result? Glass Town has left me feeling incredibly torn. On one side I enjoyed it. I found the premise unique, the mystery multilayered and suspenseful, and the characters complex. On the other side, however, it was too odd for my liking. Some parts left me flabbergasted and even churned my stomach. 

Eleanor Raines.
That was her name.
My obsession.
The object of my desire. I was going to say affection, but there was nothing remotely affectionate about it. Desire is a much better word. Less wholesome. Desire speaks of dark places, of yearning, sweat. - pg. 1 

Glass Town is built upon obsession as well as desire. 

Obsession can be a dangerous thing - it can cause you to lose your grip on reality as well as your friends and family. There's something about it, however. Something you just can't resist. That's what Isaiah and his brother Seth discovered over 90 years ago in their respective quests for Eleanor Raines's love and attention. With obsession there's a winner as well as a loser, and Isaiah unfortunately lost; however, he never gave up and passed that obsession - that compulsion - to find Eleanor to generation after generation. 

It amazed me how much Steven Saville could build upon two men's desires. He brought along mystery, the supernatural, and magic with it. The later of the three truly managed to fascinate me. I've also been curious about magic and the illusions a magician creates. The illusion in Glass Town is more complex than you'd ever imagine, and it shocked me how deep it ran. Additionally, throughout Glass Town I had so many questions: Where had they hidden Eleanor? How does one get into Glass Town? What was Seth's end game? Would Josh survive? These questions kept me hooked, turning page after page in search of answers. At sometimes I couldn't believe that so many events could be based on one person - someone who "existed" over 100 years ago. Was she really worth it? However, I guess, that's the crazy thing about obsession - it doesn't depend on worth but desire. 

Glass Town never settles on one POV. Over the course of the book a variety of POVs are introduced -  Seth, Josh, Damiola, Julie, Taff, and Gideon. While each character comes from different backgrounds each are connected through obsession. For Seth, the man who started it all, his obsession with Eleanor may just break him. Seth is the ultimate villain. He's frightening as well as chilling and he always plays dirty. Josh, the great-grandson of Isaiah, is obsessed with solving the case, no matter at what cost. Josh's obsession was almost as large as Seth's, which I found surprising at time given the short timeline. I will say, however, that no character was incredibly well developed, nor did I ever truly forge a connection with any of them. 

Overall, Glass Town is a book I liked but didn't love. Some parts just didn't appeal to me; however, there was something about it that kept me reading. I suggest this to fans of magic and illusion. 

3 stars!! 

Glass Town is now available!

Source: Hardcover provided by publisher for review

Add on Goodreads!

Buy Links: 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound | Kobo 

Author Links: 

Website | Twitter | Facebook