Review: This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada 
Release Date: November 27, 2017 
Publisher: Simon Pulse 
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian 
Source: Library 

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In this gripping debut novel, seventeen-year-old Cat must use her gene-hacking skills to decode her late father’s message concealing a vaccine to a horrifying plague.

Catarina Agatta is a hacker. She can cripple mainframes and crash through firewalls, but that’s not what makes her special. In Cat’s world, people are implanted with technology to recode their DNA, allowing them to change their bodies in any way they want. And Cat happens to be a gene-hacking genius.

That’s no surprise, since Cat’s father is Dr. Lachlan Agatta, a legendary geneticist who may be the last hope for defeating a plague that has brought humanity to the brink of extinction. But during the outbreak, Lachlan was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called Cartaxus, leaving Cat to survive the last two years on her own.

When a Cartaxus soldier, Cole, arrives with news that her father has been killed, Cat’s instincts tell her it’s just another Cartaxus lie. But Cole also brings a message: before Lachlan died, he managed to create a vaccine, and Cole needs Cat’s help to release it and save the human race.

Now Cat must decide who she can trust: The soldier with secrets of his own? The father who made her promise to hide from Cartaxus at all costs? In a world where nature itself can be rewritten, how much can she even trust herself?

Review:

Books with lots of hype worry me. Why? Because I don't want to be that one person who doesn't see the greatness. So even though I've been dying to read Emily Suvada's This Mortal Coil since the moment I first heard about it, I've been putting it off; however, a couple of weeks I decided to get over my worries and order a copy. As it turns out, I'm so glad I did, because now that I've read this book all I can think is: "Why did I wait so long to read it?!" and also "WHAT?! NO! I NEED MORE!?" but I'll get to that portion later on. 

This Mortal Coil is a very smart book. It's easy to tell that Emily knew what she was talking about it, and more importantly, she does a great job of conveying the science behind the virus and its implications. I have a chemistry degree so I was already familiar with the majority of science she talked about it; however, even if I didn't have that background, I would have had an easy time digesting it. Better yet, even though this book was incredibly science based, it didn't read like a textbook; instead, she perfectly intertwined the science into the characters, romance, and action, leaving me a very happy reader. Basically, this book shows that science can be so COOL, and as a science nerd/lover, this made me so incredibly happy - my heart was rapidly beating from the excitement of it all! 

Catarina, the main character, was easy to like. She was strong as well as talented and always willing to go the extra yard to help the people she loved and valued the most. When the story first begins, she's in a bad place. Living on her own has only gotten harder since her father's disappearance. She's running out of food and supplies and the virus is closing in her more and more as the days continue. Because of this, she trusts almost no one. She's been taught to believe that no one, especially Cartaxus, can help her.

As the book progresses, though, she begins to open up and starts to question and ponder the things she knew about her father, the supposed truths he told her to live by, and her world is torn upside down. I felt bad for Catarina. It's bad enough to loose a loved one, but to loose a loved one and then learn some shady stuff about them? Even worse. I thought Catarina did a great job of weighing both sides to the story - she was never quick to jump to a conclusion. I also liked that she learned to stand on her own in this. Yes, she was strong when the book began, but she got even stronger and grew confidence in her smarts and talents. 

The Mortal Coil also introduces Cole, Catarina's love interest and protector. Sexy, strong, and mysterious, Cole's the kind of boy I love in a dystopian type novel. I especially enjoyed that Catarina's influence and eventual friendship humanized him to a point. At first, he was so cold and aloof, but by the end, he was the kind of guy you'd want on your side no matter what. Also, Catarina and Cole were an unstoppable force. Most of the book only involved them and their adventures, and honestly, I could read about those all day. Seriously, book boyfriend right here, ladies and gentlemen! 

The plot described in two words? Action packed! Honestly, I don't think there was one time where this book lagged or made me feel bored. The twists and turns kept me on my toes, and while some of them seemed slightly out there, I could deal.  

My only compliant? The sort-of love triangle that occurred. In The Mortal Coil, we're presented with two boys: Cole and Dax. I've already talked about Cole above so I won't go into anymore about him other than to say: team Cole all the way. Dax, on the other hand, is the best friend/young teenage crush. When the story begins, Catarina hasn't seen him for two years, as he was taken away with her father, but she's been pinning about him to a certain degree. We're introduced to him in an flashback scene, and at that point, I mostly liked what I saw - he was a tad bit arrogant but him and Catarina had some good chemistry. Then flash forward to the point where he's eventually introduced in present times, and gosh is he now such an arrogant piece of work. I couldn't stand him, and I just wished he would go away. He treated Catarina like dirt so all I can say is please don't let the tables turn in the future - let him stay a forgotten crush and a current annoyance. 

In all, This Mortal Coil is smart, fresh, and fast paced. Despite its large size (over 400 pages), I raced through it in one sitting. Simply put, The Mortal Coil is reminiscent of The Hunger Games just with an extra large helping of mad scientists and DNA. 

5 stars!! 

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

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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: Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey

Not My Daughter by Rea Frey
Release Date: August 21, 2018
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Adult, Women's Fiction, Thriller & Suspense
Source: ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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Gripping, emotional, and wire-taut, Not Her Daughter raises the question of what it means to be a mother—and how far someone will go to keep a child safe.

Emma Townsend. Five years old. Gray eyes, brown hair. Missing since June.

Emma is lonely. Living with her cruel mother and clueless father, Emma retreats into her own world of quiet and solitude.

Sarah Walker. Successful entrepreneur. Broken-hearted. Kidnapper.

Sarah has never seen a girl so precious as the gray-eyed child in a crowded airport terminal. When a second-chance encounter with Emma presents itself, Sarah takes her—far away from home. But if it’s to rescue a little girl from her damaging mother, is kidnapping wrong?

Amy Townsend. Unhappy wife. Unfit mother. Unsure whether she wants her daughter back.

Amy’s life is a string of disappointments, but her biggest issue is her inability to connect with her daughter. And now Emma is gone without a trace.

As Sarah and Emma avoid the nationwide hunt, they form an unshakeable bond. But what about Emma’s real mother, back at home?

Review: 

Not Her Daughter completely surprised me. I had heard numerous good things about it - almost all the reviews on Goodreads are 4 or 5 stars - and the synopsis had me intrigued. I expected to like it but I never expected to love it as much as I did. This book grabbed my heart from the start and never let it go.  

Simply put, Not Her Daughter is a whirlwind of a read. It made me feel so many different emotions - happiness, sadness, hope, anger, etc. I feared yet anticipated the ending. How could it possibly end happily for everyone? More importantly, did I want it to end happily for everyone? I wasn't too sure...

Not Her Daughter starts off slow. The reader is slowly immersed into the lives of Sarah Walker and Amy Townshed, two women who couldn't be any more different yet are connected through a little girl named Emma. 

Sarah had a difficult childhood. Her mother wasn't much of a mother, forever making Sarah feel as if she was a burden rather than a blessing. Even to this day it has a strong hold on Sarah. No matter how much she accomplishes, it's a pain that forever lingers. At first, I didn't know if I liked or disliked Sarah. One part of me felt so incredibly bad for her. It was easy to see how much she was hurting from her past as well as her recent break-up, and I could somewhat understand why she would be so desperate to save a child from pain and disappoint like hers. On the other side, I didn't like how willing she was to grab a child. While I know obsessions can grab ahold of someone, sometimes it was hard to believe that a women who was so successful, so steadfast would do something as reckless as go on the run with a child. Throughout the book, I shifted back and forth with my feelings. Did she have good intentions? Yes. Did she go about them in the right way? No. But did she love Emma? Completely! Her bond with Emma was one of my favorite parts of the book. It was heartwarming yet bittersweet, and it made me happy to see how much they helped one another. 

Amy, on the other hand, is struggling. Struggling with the challenges of motherhood, a marriage based on settling rather than love, and the overwhelming desire that something was missing in her life, that she took the wrong path. I could see that Amy was doing the best that she could, but at the same time, I didn't approve of her actions. I didn't like that she bullied her daughter, that she was so willing to lie to the police to save face. It wasn't right; however, as more was revealed about her past, my empathy towards her increased. At the end of the day, she was broken. Did it excuse her behavior? No, but I still wanted her to find peace as well as happiness even if it meant turning her whole world upside down. Her bond with Emma was much different than Sarah's. Even though she knew she shouldn't, she resented Emma, sometimes she was even a tad jealous of her. It was hard to stomach, but it was realistic. 

Not Her Daughter switches back and forth between Amy and Sarah's POVs and shows during three time periods (before the kidnapping, during the kidnapping, and the aftermath). I thought Rea did a great job of developing both voices. The book wouldn't be the same without both, and I appreciated how they should two very different type of women - one who wanted a child so desperately and one who regretted ever having children. The plot here mainly focuses on the kidnapping; however, it also includes details about both women's pasts. While this book can't exactly be described as an edge-of-your-seat thriller, it's still a readable, addicting story. I devoured the entire book in one sitting simply because I needed to know what would happen next. Would Sarah return Emma? Would Amy tell the truth? What went wrong in both of their lives? Those were the questions swirling around in my head. I also appreciated the way in which Rea went about discussing abduction. The abduction storyline, in particular wasn't very black-and-white. There was many layers to it, and it truly made me think. For most of the book, I was torn. I didn't know who I wanted to "win" - Amy or Sarah - but I did know one thing: I wanted Emma to be happy. 

Bittersweet as well as thought provoking, Rea Frey's Not Her Daughter is the kind of that makes me wish I was part of a book club, because I want to discuss it with everyone! 

5 stars!!

Review: Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson 
Release Date: January 24, 2017 
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books 
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary 
Source: Library

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Mary B. Addison killed a baby.

Allegedly. She didn’t say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: A white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it? She wouldn’t say.

Mary survived six years in baby jail before being dumped in a group home. The house isn’t really “home”—no place where you fear for your life can be considered a home. Home is Ted, who she meets on assignment at a nursing home.

There wasn’t a point to setting the record straight before, but now she’s got Ted—and their unborn child—to think about. When the state threatens to take her baby, Mary must find the voice to fight her past. And her fate lies in the hands of the one person she distrusts the most: her Momma. No one knows the real Momma. But who really knows the real Mary?

Review:

I've been wanting to read Tiffany D. Jackson's Allegedly for a while now. I have a soft spot for hard, emotional reads, which I could gather from the synopsis and reviews was exactly what Allegedly would be. 

So when I won an ARC of Tiffany's second novel Monday's Not Coming on Twitter, I decided that before diving into that one (which also looks amazing by the way!), I would start with her first book, and I'm so glad I did. 

It's hard to describe my feelings about this one because my brain seriously turned into complete and utter mush after reading it. All I could think was wow....wow...wow. And even though it has been about a week since I've read it, I'm still completely and utterly shook as well as still thinking about the way it ended. 

Allegedly is in fact a tough read. 

It will play with your emotions - you'll feel hope, sadness, anger, horror, and even some happiness believe it or not. 
It will make you think, really think - Is Mary truly guilty? Should she be given the chance to raise her baby? Was Mary truly given a fair trail? Or was the verdict driven by the media attention?  Those are just some of the questions.... 
It dives into a lot of important topics - mental illness, "baby jail," the mistreatment teens often face in group homes, race, and how the media can twist a case. 
It will make you question everything. 
It captures the voice of a character I won't forget - Mary's voice is interesting - it's childlike yet wise beyond her years, it's seemingly innocent yet a tad bit conniving. I was especially fascinated by her relationship with her mother. How much did that relationship, in particular, charge her thoughts and actions? Throughout the book, I was torn. I wondered if Mary was innocent, I wondered if Mary's mother was guilty... what was true about that horrid night and what was false. At times, I even questioned if Mary was an reliable narrator - could I trust her to be telling the truth? 

So yes, it may be a hard read,  but it also is an vastly important one. Tiffany D. Jackson has an incredible debut here. It's well written and it punches you right in the gut. I could go on about this book forever, but I don't think I would ever give it the justice it deserves. 

So I'll live you with this...buy it or borrow it but definitely read it! Tiffany D. Jackson is a new powerhouse in YA, and I can't wait to see how her stories develop and grow as the years go on. 

5 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 

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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 

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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
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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 

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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: Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris

Bring Me Back by B.A. Paris 

Release Date: June 19, 2018 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 

Genre: Adult, Thriller/Suspense 

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

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She went missing. He moved on. A whole world of secrets remained―until now.

Finn and Layla are young, in love, and on vacation. They’re driving along the highway when Finn decides to stop at a service station to use the restroom. He hops out of the car, locks the doors behind him, and goes inside. When he returns Layla is gone―never to be seen again. That is the story Finn told to the police. But it is not the whole story.

Ten years later Finn is engaged to Layla’s sister, Ellen. Their shared grief over what happened to Layla drew them close and now they intend to remain together. Still, there’s something about Ellen that Finn has never fully understood. His heart wants to believe that she is the one for him...even though a sixth sense tells him not to trust her.

Then, not long before he and Ellen are to be married, Finn gets a phone call. Someone from his past has seen Layla―hiding in plain sight. There are other odd occurrences: Long-lost items from Layla’s past that keep turning up around Finn and Ellen’s house. Emails from strangers who seem to know too much. Secret messages, clues, warnings. If Layla is alive―and on Finn’s trail―what does she want? And how much does she know?

A tour de force of psychological suspense, Bring Me Back will have you questioning everything and everyone until its stunning climax.

Review:  

As soon as I read the synopsis for Bring Me Back, I added it to my TBR pile. "Secret messages, clues, warnings" is what reeled me, and I couldn't wait to see how everything would unfold - was Layla truly alive? 

The result? Bring Me Back was unfortunately a mixed bag. On the bright side, it was an easy to read, and the storyline was interesting enough to keep me hooked. On the negative side, however, there were several aspects of Bring Me Back that brought my enjoyment down considerably. 

Bring Me Back starts off strong. It opens several years prior with Finn being interviewed by the police in regards to his girlfriend's disappearance. Finn claims innocence, but there's a doubt hanging in the air, a feeling of suspicion that can't be fully eradicated. At this point, I was hooked. I liked the mysterious feel to his story. Layla seemingly disappeared into thin air at a dark, desolate rest area, and I could tell there was more to the story. Was Finn completely involved? I didn't know for sure, but I knew for certain that there was more to the disappearance that he was unwilling to share. After that, the book quickly jumps to current times. Finn has moved on from that day. He's ended up in a relationship with Layla's sister of all people, and he's just proposed to her. That's when the the creepy things start happening, and to say I was hooked would be an understatement. I was on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would happen next. I loved the eeriness, and how B.A. captured the scene in such an attention-grabbing way

Unfortunately, as Bring Me Back continued, it slowly began to loose its mojo for a variety of reasons. For one, the pacing slowed down considerably. For such an exciting start, I couldn't believe how tiresome the story soon became. I didn't like how such a big piece of the mystery was revealed in the beginning, because (1) it cut down on the suspense and (2) it made the book proceed to go in circles, in my opinion. Finn's constant struggling with telling or not telling grew old fast. I couldn't understand why he would keep everything to himself, and I also couldn't believe who he choose to finally tell, especially considering what he previously thought about that person. The back-and-forth between Finn and the person assumed to be Layla also grew to be repetitive. I felt that they kept having the same conversation over and over again with the same arguments, the same threats, but no action. I wanted more excitement. To be more specific, I wanted the excitement from the start to come back. 

It also didn't help that I couldn't bring myself to care about Finn. Honestly, I thought he was a horrible man. He was incredibly selfish, and this selfishness often brought danger to the ones he supposedly loved. I also didn't find his relationship with Ellen to be all that interesting. For the most part, I felt bad for the women. He obviously was only with her because of who her sister was, and in some ways, she realized that but then proceeded to make excuses for him. It just wasn't likable...I also felt that the secondary characters were undeveloped. Very little was known about the cop and Finn's best friend, for example, and they only appeared when Finn needed help... 

The part, however, that disappointed me the most was the big twist at the end. I had this feeling that it was going to turn like that from the beginning, and I was really hoping it wouldn't be the case. I felt as if it was the cheap way out in some respects. It also didn't help that I found it so completely unbelievable...Yes, I know it's supposed to be fiction, but for everyone not realize this *BIG* thing? It didn't make any sense! And I'm still annoyed to think about it now. I wish I could go more into this, but I don't want to spoil the book for anyone. 

Overall, I'm torn on Bring Me Back. If it would've kept up the pace and intrigue it possessed in the beginning, I would've loved it. It probably would've been a 4-star book. However, given the lack of development and the unbelievable twist, I can't truly say I liked it. Was it an easy read? Yes. Was it hard to finish? Not really. But did it completely infuriate me by the end? Sadly yes. 

As always, this is just my opinion. Others have loved this book, and honestly, I can see people enjoying this, especially as a summer read. 

2 stars!! 

The Three Books that Demolished my Reading Slump (Reviews!)

A History of Jane Doe by Michael Belanger 
Release Date: June 5, 2018 
Publisher: Dial Books 
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary 
Source: ARC provided by publisher via First to Read in exchange for an honest review 
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History buff Ray knows everything about the peculiar legends and lore of his rural Connecticut hometown. Burgerville's past is riddled with green cow sightings and human groundhogs, but the most interesting thing about the present is the new girl--we'll call her Jane Doe.

Inscrutable, cool, and above all mysterious, Jane seems as determined to hide her past as Ray is to uncover it. As fascination turns to friendship and then to something more, Ray is certain he knows Jane's darkest, most painful secrets and Jane herself--from past to present. But when the unthinkable happens, Ray is forced to acknowledge that perhaps history can only tell us so much.

Mixing humor with heartache, this is an unmissable coming-of-age story from an exciting new voice in YA.

Review:

The History of Jane Doe was such a wonderful surprise! I loved the characters. They were so awkward, so endearing, so funny, so REAL. I loved Burgerville. It was quirky and eccentric- the definition of small-town America - but I wanted nothing more to visit it, to look for the mutant green cows with Jane, Ray, and Simon. I loved the writing. Michael made every word count. Never once did I feel bored or distracted; instead, I soaked it all in - embracing every feeling, good OR bad, that Michael brought my way. 

Why You Should Read The History of Jane Doe: 

(1) Ray - Ray's the main character, and I loved him to pieces. Over the course of The History of Jane Doe, the reader witnesses two Rays - the one with Jane and the one without Jane. Ray with Jane was a whole new Ray. He was daring and reckless. He lived his life with his heart on his sleeve, and while it got him into trouble at times, he didn't care. He wanted Jane. He wanted her respect, her love, her appreciation. He wanted her to know just how special she was. What I loved the most about Ray, however, was that he fully embraced his quirks. He loved history - talking about it, reading about it, etc. - and he never shied away from that love. His history related talks with Jane were some of my favorites, because I felt that it showed just how strong the bond was between them. The Ray without Jane broke my heart. He was angry and sad. He was a shell of himself, and he didn't know how to move on, how to live his life after he had experienced his own "mutant green cow," something so different, so life-changing that no one else could understand. While I didn't always approve of his anger or his outbursts, I could understand them. I would probably be the same in his shoes. Plus, seeing those low points made seeing the high points, especially towards the end, even more worthwhile. 

(2) The History - Like Ray, I'm a huge history nerd. I love learning about new place and new people, and that love transited over quite well when it came to learning about Ray's small town. Michael Belanger has created such a rich history within the pages of The History of Jane Doe. I loved how fresh and unique it was, how Michael as well as his characters made me want to be a green cow believer. I also enjoyed the reflections on history. They made me think, and they always tied in beautifully with the overall story. 

(3) Jane - It was easy to see why everyone was so fascinated with Jane. On the surface, she gave off a tough, don't mess with me vibe; however, underneath there was this sweetness to her, this personable side. I enjoyed seeing her find a family with Ray and Simon. I loved that she brought so much good to their lives, that she made them come out of their shells and do more, be more. I also appreciated that Michael never shied away from Jane's problems. Over the course of the book, Jane deals with depression, and it's never a cut-and-dry type issue. It's something she deals with everyday, and it has varying effects on the book. I won't say too much about it, but I will say I appreciated that Michael presented it in such a three-dimensional way. 

(4) Action - The History of Jane Doe doesn't contain much action; however, I still liked reading about all the adventures the characters went on and seeing them just live their lives. Michael made the mundane interesting, because of how rich and developed the characters were. I wanted to know everything about them, to see all the parts of their lives, and that's exactly what I received. 

Overall, The History of Jane Doe is a noteworthy debut. Books like this are the reason why I always make a point to read as many debut books as I can during the year, because there's so much potential, so much goodness to be found within them. I've found a new favorite author here, and while Michael did manage to break my heart, he also built it up again by the end. 

Side note: If you love Down and Across (another amazing book!!), you need this one in your life ASAP!!

4 stars!!

Lies You Never Told Me by Jennifer Donaldson 

Release Date: May 29, 2018 

Publisher: Razorbill 

Genre: Young Adult, Suspense, Thriller 

Source: ARC provided by publisher via First to Read in exchange for an honest review 

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Gabe and Elyse have never met. But they both have something to hide.

Quiet, shy Elyse can't believe it when she's cast as the lead in her Portland high school's production of Romeo and Juliet. Her best friend, Brynn, is usually the star, and Elyse isn't sure she's up to the task. But when someone at rehearsals starts to catch her eye--someone she knows she absolutely shouldn't be with--she can't help but be pulled into the spotlight.

Austin native Gabe is contemplating the unthinkable--breaking up with Sasha, his headstrong, popular girlfriend. She's not going to let him slip through her fingers, though, and when rumors start to circulate around school, he knows she has the power to change his life forever.

Gabe and Elyse both make the mistake of falling for the wrong person, and falling hard. Told in parallel narratives, this twisty, shocking story shows how one bad choice can lead to a spiral of unforeseen consequences that not everyone will survive.

Review:

Jennifer Donaldson's Lies You Never Told Me has officially brought my reading slump to an end, and I couldn't be happier. 

To put it simply, this book is WILD! It's suspenseful, action packed, and the perfect amount of creepy. Reading this book during the day was one of the best choices I made because I think I would've been scared of my own shadow if I had read it at night. There were some truly chill-inducing moments contained! 

Lies You Never Told Me features two POVs - Elyse and Gabe. I thought Jennifer did a fantastic job of switching between them. She always ended the chapters at the most perfect moments. There were so many times, I was like "Wait, I need more!!" only to be switched to Elyse's POV or Gabe's POV, which made me read this book even faster! I also found Elyse and Gabe easy to like. While they made some truly horrible decisions over the course of Lies You Never Told Me, I still wanted nothing but the best for them. I wanted Elyse to see that happiness and freedom shouldn't come at the cost of alienating the ones closest to you, and I wanted Gabe to find his voice again, to take control rather than cave to his ex-girlfriend's stalker-like actions. I also appreciated that there were so many fun, lovable side characters introduced. I loved getting to know Gabe's and Elyse's best friends and families, and I especially loved seeing such positive, loving friendships! Gabe's and Elyse's friends would do anything for them.

When Lies You Never Told Me begins Gabe and Elyse appear to be in different parts of the country; however, as the book progressed and the action built up, it made me feel as if they were closer than we were lead to believe. While I did accurately predict the big twist, I still found the reveal to be exciting and well done. I was still fully shook. Plus I just love when I correctly call a plot twist! It makes me feel like a super sleuth. While the romance did give a slight insta-love feel, I wasn't too bothered by it. I found the connection to be believable, and I loved the Romeo-and-Juliet feel that came with it. 

Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars and the The Truth Beneath the Lies, Lies You Never Told Me is an exhilarating debut; however, if you're anything like me, be sure you block out a few hours to read it. Trust me, you'll NEED to know what's next - so much in fact that you'll be considering canceling all your plans. I know I was! 

4.5 stars!!

The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir 

Release Date: June 12, 2018 

Publisher: Knopf Books 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Source: ARC provided by publisher via First to Read in exchange for an honest review 

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A debut novel of family, fame, and religion that tells the emotionally stirring, wildly captivating story of the seventeen-year-old daughter of an evangelical preacher, star of the family's hit reality show, and the secret pregnancy that threatens to blow their entire world apart.

Esther Ann Hicks--Essie--is the youngest child on Six for Hicks, a reality television phenomenon. She's grown up in the spotlight, both idolized and despised for her family's fire-and-brimstone brand of faith. When Essie's mother, Celia, discovers that Essie is pregnant, she arranges an emergency meeting with the show's producers: Do they sneak Essie out of the country for an abortion? Do they pass the child off as Celia's? Or do they try to arrange a marriage--and a ratings-blockbuster wedding? Meanwhile, Essie is quietly pairing herself up with Roarke Richards, a senior at her school with a secret of his own to protect. As the newly formed couple attempt to sell their fabricated love story to the media--through exclusive interviews with an infamously conservative reporter named Liberty Bell--Essie finds she has questions of her own: What was the real reason for her older sister leaving home? Who can she trust with the truth about her family? And how much is she willing to sacrifice to win her own freedom?

Review: 

I tend to stay away from books dealing with religion; however, there was something about The Book of Essie that intrigued me. I wanted to know more about Essie. I wanted to know more about her family's reality show as well as the many secrets hidden behind the scenes of the show. As it turns out, The Book of Essie was an engrossing, interesting read. I easily finished it in one day, but there were several times where I felt more plot/character development was needed. 

The Book of Essie contains three POVs: Essie's, Roarke's, and Liberty-Bell's. The good? I found them easy to like. While Roarke was my favorite out of the three, I still admired Essie's determination and willingness to make things right as well as Liberty-Bell's urge to give Essie a chance and help someone similar to her former self. They were all strong, caring characters, and while each of them experienced their respective shortcomings, it easy easy to see that there were good people. The bad? Even though three POVS are featured, I felt that Essie's over shined the other two in development. Honestly, sometimes I didn't understand why three POVs were used, because at the end of the day, Essie's was the focal point. While Liberty-Bell and Roarke deal with their own issues and problems, they always felt more like an "assistant" to Essie rather than their own person, and that bothered me, because I wanted to know more about Roarke and Liberty-Bell. I wanted to know more about Roarke's childhood, more about his relationship with his family, more about how being shipped away changed him as a person. I wanted to know more about Liberty-Bell's past. Yes, we know that she was part of an religious cult; however, there was never much below the surface.I felt that their stories were important as well, and honestly I felt jibbed when it came to their narratives. Even at the end, Liberty-Bell and Roarke were sort of thrown to the side, Essie only mentioning little things about where each had ended up. 

The plot of The Book of Essie relies heavily on the dramatics. There were so many times where I couldn't believe what I was reading. Essie's family was truly horrible, and while I wanted to be able to see some good in them, it was incredibly hard to do. It's horrible to see just how much people will put aside and ignore for the sake of money. The plot primarily focuses on Essie's upcoming nuptials, used as a cover for her pregnancy, and Essie's plans to bring her family's empire down once and for all. As mentioned before, I thought it was an interesting storyline, and I did feel that Meghan did a decent job exploring tough issues within in (teen pregnancy, religion, sexual assault, etc.). However, once again, I felt that there could have been more here. Everything moved very fast, and while I loved a fast paced book, I don't love it when it sacrifices development for the sake of speed. There were several times I wish Meghan would've slowed down - the wedding, the big revel/takedown, Essie's discovery of her sister, etc. - or cut down the number of events to develop the remaining ones. I also didn't feel that the ending was particularly believable. Yes, it made me happy, but there was also a voice in my head saying "But would it really be that easy?" 

Overall, The Book of Essie is a enjoyable read based on the dramatics and the reality TV like feel; however, the lack of development and even focuses brought down my enjoyment considerably. It left me wanting more, and not in a "I can't get enough" kind of way, but in a "wait, what just happened?" way. 

3 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 

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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!! 

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