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: 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: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton 
Release Date: February 6, 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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After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity–and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution…

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba’s high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country’s growing political unrest–until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary…

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa’s last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth. 

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba’s tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she’ll need the lessons of her grandmother’s past to help her understand the true meaning of courage.

Review: 

I've been eager to read Chanel Cleeton's Next Year in Havana ever since I first saw the cover. I can never resist books with gorgeous dresses on the cover. Plus, after reading the synopsis, I was one hundred percent sure it was the book for me - I LOVE books with past and present POVs. 

The Result? Next Year in Havana is a stellar read! Beautifully blending together two POVs, Next Year in Havana is a book filled with hope, sadness, and revolution, as two young women - decades apart - fight for the ones they love and for a life filled with purpose as well as happiness. 

I didn't know much about Cuba and its politics going into Next Year in Havana. I knew of Fidel Castro, of course, as well as the harrowing times Cuba faced at his hands; however, I didn't realize the extent to which the people of Cuba suffered as well as the challenges they still face to this day. Simply put, Next Year in Havana was eye opening as well as thought provoking.

Next Year in Havana provides much more than romance- it gives a detailed look into the politics surrounding the end of Batista's residency and start of Castro's ruling. It also brings both sides into play - why the rich put their hope in Batista, why Castro's politics were so appealing at first to the masses, how families were torn apart over their differing views... It's not a simple black-and-white picture, as both main characters begin to see during their respective lives. More importantly, it shows that the bad doesn't end with Castro's death, as present day Marisol learns. People are still suffering the negatives that came with his ruling to this very day. 

Additionally, I enjoyed the descriptions of Havana. It came to life in front of my eyes, and more importantly, I loved seeing it through the main character’s perspectives. 

If I were to describe Marisol and Elisa, I would say that they are strong, determined, unapologetic, and passionate. Out of the two, Elisa's story resonated the most with me. 

When Elisa is first introduced, she appears to have it all – status, wealth, and a loving family. She’s always been the quiet, reserved sister – the one who stands to the side while her two beautiful, adventurous old sisters catch everyone’s attention. With the introduction of Pablo, a secretive yet alluring man she meets at a party, she begin to live a little more – stealing moments with him away from the eye’s of her family and society. With Pablo, Elisa also begins to see her home in a new light. For so long, she believed in what her parents believed in - Batista  but suddenly, she begins to wonder if there’s more than meets the eye. What I truly respected and admired the most about Elisa, however, was how far she would go to protect her family and the sacrifices she took in doing so. As secrets of her life began pouring out at the end, my heart broke for her. Yes, her family held onto their wealth and status and she had an “easy” life, but she gave up so much in the process – her best friend, her first love, her home, etc. She was truly an amazing woman. 

Marisol was also an interesting as well as loveable main character. It was interesting to see how her narrative shifted upon her arrival in Cuba. She’s grown up on the stories passed down from her great aunts and grandparents. However, as Marisol finds out, being in a country is very different than hearing about a country. In Cuba, she experiences a homecoming, a rebirth of sorts. She learns things about herself she never knew, and begins to see her grandmother in a new light – one that shocks yet awes her. She also experiences love like never before – love that makes her risk everything. In most ways, she was like her grandmother – fearless, loving, a believer in the glass-half-full not half-empty. 

There was only one aspect that I didn’t completely love: the romance. I felt that it could have been more fleshed out in both perspectives; however, at the end of the day, I appreciated and enjoyed the time and development Channel put into the main characters’ journeys, and if that meant less romance, I could live with it. 

In all, Next Year in Havana has introduced to me to a new favorite story as well as a new favorite author, and given that exciting twist at the end, I can’t wait to read Beatriz’s story.

5 stars!! 

Review: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Release Date: June 5, 2018
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Adult, Romance
Source: ARC provided by publisher via Bookish First in exchange for an honest review
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A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.

Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but crave all of the other things he's making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...

Review: 

The Kiss Quotient has been high on my wish list ever since I stumbled upon it last winter. I love the title (Can we PLEASE have more math related titles? It makes the math lover in me so incredibly happy!). The cover is all kinds of adorable. Most importantly, the synopsis was screaming "Read me, Read me!"

I will admit, however, that I was beyond nervous when I finally did get my hands on a early copy. I was so worried that it wouldn't leave up to my expectations, that I wouldn't love it as much as everyone else. Luckily, the worse case scenario didn't occur. Because the The Kiss Quotient? It's I-can't-stop-smiling adorable, burn-the-house-down sexy, and pee-your-pants funny. It's one of my favorite romance reads of the year (right up there with The Wedding Date!), and honestly, I can't suggest it highly enough. 

I knew from the synopsis that I was going to connect with Stella. I mean, how couldn't I? I love math nearly as much as she does. As it turns out, my predication was correct. Stella was so incredibly easy to love. She's smart, fearless, and incredibly thoughtful. I loved her bunt way of speaking. It broke my heart, though, that there were several times that she didn't believe she was worthy of a true, all consuming type of love. Those were the times where I wished I could talk to her, give her pep talk, and tell her things were going to work out. She was perfect the way she was, and anyone who told her otherwise wasn't worth her time. Her thoughts about numbers and math also completely reflected my own. There's something just so marvelous about numbers, perfect in a sense, and I could understand why she was so driven by her work. Additionally, Stella has Aspergers, and Helen did a fantastic job of intertwining it within Stella's character. I appreciated the representation. What I appreciated the most, however, was that Helen stressed that Stella could have the world and more, that nothing was out of her reach, even with being on the spectrum. It was incredibly positive to say the least. 

While I do admit Stella was my favorite character in The Kiss Quotient, Michael also managed to wiggle his way into my heart. Like Stella, he's come to the conclusion that true love isn't meant for him as well but for completely different reasons. Michael is in a sense the ultimate hero. He's compassionate and stunning on the inside as well as the outside. I loved how patient he was with Stella, how he never questioned her quirks, and instead worked with her to make things right. It was heartwarming to say the least, and it made me fully believe that they were meant to be. 

The Kiss Quotient primarily focusses on Michael and Stella's business agreement turned relationship, and I loved every single second of it. Michael and Stella's first meeting was one of my favorite parts of the book (I'm still laughing about the word wholly). Plus it established their chemistry, making me committed to their story from that moment onward. As the book continues, Michael and Stella have a push-and-pull kind of relationship. Every time Michael or Stella feels that they aren't meant to be, they push the other away, only to have that person pull them back. I also loved that this book took on so many different tones. There were times I thought this was going to be nothing but a spicy hot romance novel (some of the scenes in this are OFF THE CHARTS), and I was okay with that - I love fluff just as much as the next person. However, Helen managed to throw me a curveball here, as she also made The Kiss Quotient so incredibly personable as well as emotional. We see Michael and Stella at so many highs as well as lows, not only in their relationship but in their lives in general. Michael  struggles with his family's reputation as well as the sacrifices he made to help his mother and sisters. Stella struggles with living her life to the fullest and not letting her Asperger's control what she does and doesn't do. Both story lines wormed their way into my heart, and I felt every emotion hard. 

My only compliant? I wish the secondary characters would have been slightly more developed. I wanted to know more about Michael's sisters and cousin as well as Stella's parents. 

Regardless, The Kiss Quotient is a standout debut, and I can't wait for June to come so I can suggest this book to everyone I know. I'm probably a broken record by now, but I'll say it again...

Adorable as well as sexy, The Kiss Quotient contains all my favorite romance book traits while also bringing with it honesty, charm, and enough emotions to have even the most stoney person smiling.  

4 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!! 

Sabotage, Scotland, and Romance: Fair Game & Under a Storm-Swept Sky (Reviews!)

Fair Game by Taylor Lunsford

Release Date: April 23, 2018 

Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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In her designer shoes and power suits, Vivien Monroe couldn’t be more out of place in the video game company she inherited from her eccentric father. Not only does she have to sort out her father’s last request and deal with a younger sister she barely knows, she has to go toe-to-toe with her father’s protégé—a man who makes her think about the last thing she should be thinking about right now.

With his thick-framed glasses and graphic tees, Liam Hale is the exact opposite of what she needs right now. His relaxed, out-of-the-box attitude reminds her too much of her father’s more exasperating quirks, but his dedication and quiet stubbornness begin to drive her crazy in a completely different way.

All Vivien wants is to get back to her life in New York, but someone is stealing the company’s best game ideas, and an FBI agent is sniffing around. She’ll save her father’s legacy for her sister and then she’s out of there—if she can leave Liam behind.

Review: 

I requested Fair Game on a whim. I hadn't heard anything about Taylor Lunsford and/or Fair Game before, but the synopsis had me intrigued. A video game company seemed like a unique setting, and I wanted to know more about the FBI agent. Why were they snooping around?! 

The Result? I can't believe I waited so long to read Fair Game, as it is SO GOOD! Addicting as well as fast paced, Fair Game introduces not only a swoony romance but also strong, kick-a$$ characters AND an exciting, suspenseful mystery! 

On the surface, Vivien seems like the ultimate ice queen. She's cold and uninviting. She doesn't want to make small talk and, most importantly, she doesn't want to dwell on the past. While I wanted her to give her family and the company a chance, I could completely understand her actions. I would've been just as angry as Vivien was if I was in her shoes. It wasn't cool what her father did after her mother died, pulling away from Vivien while in the process becoming closer and closer to her sister. I think it would be easy to develop resentment. As the book progresses, however, Vivien begins to loosen up (thanks to Liam!), and I adored the "new" Vivien. She was just as tough and fearless as before, but she now had some more heart, some more compassion. She focused on fixing past relationships with her sister and best friend and she even dove into some new relationships. It wasn't an instantaneous fix, and that's what made it more believable, in my opinion. Vivien is someone you can't help but root for. I wanted her to find her family as well as peace, and if she found romance on the way...well, I wouldn't be complaining. 

The best way to describe Liam? An adorable and sexy nerd! As soon as he was introduced, I knew I was going to love him. I loved how passionate he was about his work, especially when it came to keeping the company the way Vivien's father envisioned it. He was a trustworthy guy, one you would want on your side no matter what. I also adored how nerdy he could get. He loved his video games - that's for sure - and he wasn't willing to hide that love for anyone even someone as icy as Vivian.  What I liked the most about Liam, however, was how positive and go-with-the-flow he was. He was always willing to see the best in everyone. Some people wouldn't have tried so hard with Vivien, but her personality and the wall she had built didn't detour him. 

Fair Game mainly focuses on Vivien's return to Texas. She had a lot on her plate, such as finding a new CEO, discovering who was leaking their new games to other companies, and dealing with all the people that get in her way in the process. I'll admit that I was slightly worried about the video game focus. I've never been big on video games, and I don't know the first thing about them; however, my lack of knowledge didn't hinder my enjoyment one bit. Vivien turned out to be the same way I was. Additionally, I loved the mole storyline. It was suspenseful, and while the bad guy was apparent from the start, it didn't dull my enjoyment one bit. Instead, the mystery focused on finding the evidence, which was harder to find then one would expect. I also liked how Taylor used the mole storyline to increase Vivien's interest in the company and her family. I enjoyed seeing Vivien became so determined to save the day, slowly understanding why Liam and her sister would do anything for the company in the process. Last but not least, the romance between Liam and Vivien? One of the best parts! I loved how they started as frenemies and slowly morphed into something else, as not only did it bring about some excellent tension but also some great banter. They had an easy, natural relationship as the book progressed. 

Overall, Fair Game is an exciting new romance, perfect for fans who love their romance with a side of sabotage. This may be my first book by Taylor but it certainly won't be my last! 

4.5 stars!! 

Under a Storm-Swept Sky Beth Anne Miller 

Release Date: April 16, 2018 

Publisher: Entangled: Embrace 

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance 

Source: ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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An eighty-mile trek across the rugged, stunning beauty of Scotland’s Isle of Skye isn't something I imagined myself doing. Ever. This isn't a trail for beginners. And I'm not a hiker.

But I have to finish it, even if it kills me. I have no choice.

With the ever-changing weather and relentless terrain, I’m in over my head.

Rory Sutherland, my guide on this adventure, is not happy. We clash with every mile, but we recognize a shared pain. Not only is the journey a struggle, but the tension between us is taut with unsaid words. And hope.

He’s broken. I’m damaged. Together, we’re about to make the perfect storm.

Review:  

Since I don't travel much I love reading books set in foreign locations. Therefore, as soon as I saw that Under a Storm-Swept Sky was set in Scotland, I added it to my TBR pile. 

The result? Emotional as well as heartwarming, Under a Storm-Swept Sky offers much more than just a stunning, wanderlust-inducing setting. Beth Anne Miller brings out the emotions in full force here, as Rory and Amelia make peace with their pasts and look toward the future. 

My favorite part about Under a Storm-Swept Sky? The setting of course! Scotland is one place I would love to visit, and that feeling is only stronger now that I've read Under a Storm-Swept Sky. In the book Beth does a fantastic job of fleshing out the Isle of Skye. The descriptions of the mountains, the lakes, and the small towns were drool-wrothy, and even though I'm not much of a hiking fan, Beth Anne made me want to sign up for a hiking experience similar to Amelia and Rory's! 

As for Amelia and Rory, they were likable and relatable. When the story first begins, Amelia and Rory are dealing with their own respective emotional baggage. While Rory struggles to move past an accident that shattered his childhood, Amelia is struggling with a car accident that landed her best friend in the hospital indefinitely but left her with barely a scratch. Through Amelia and Rory, Beth Anne Miller displays a surplus of emotions. Amelia, for one, is heartbroken. Even though she knows she shouldn't, she takes on full blame for the accident, and it's affected her life in so many ways. She's on a hike that she doesn't want to do, she's become distant, and she spends most of her time thinking about Carrie, her best friend. Rory, on the other hand, is constantly jerky, especially when it comes to Amelia. In the years since the accident, Rory has thrown himself into hiking and pushing himself to the extreme. When Amelia and Rory meet, sparks fly, and I loved seeing them come together and work through their issues. There were some rough times (they love fighting with each other, poking at each other's weaknesses) and good times, but no matter, I thought they were perfect for each other.  

The plot here focuses on the hike as well as Amelia and Rory's emotional journeys. I liked how Beth Anne Miller used the different parts of the hike to develop Amelia and Rory's characters, pushing both to become stronger and even a tad freer. I also liked the different side characters the hike brought along with it. Tommy, for example, was a riot. I loved that he could always see what Amelia and Rory couldn't. 

I did have one problem with Under a Storm-Swept Sky and that was the length. The first part of this book moved at a great speed. I found it easy to get through the chapters, and I enjoyed the alternating perspectives; however, at about half way, the book began to drag. It became repetitive, and I began to lose interest. I just wanted some more action, some more development. Instead, I felt that the hike was going to go on and on. I feel that if had been 100-150 pages shorter, it would've been a lot better. 

Regardless of that, Under a Storm-Swept Sky is an enjoyable read, perfect for fans of slow burn romances. 

3 stars!! 

Review Tour: One Baby Daddy by Meghan Quinn

One Baby Daddy (Dating by the Numbers, #3) by Meghan Quinn
Release Date:  May 17, 2018

Publisher: Self Published 

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: ARC provided by publicist in exchange for an honest review 

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"What are you doing now that your team is out of the running for the Stanley Cup?"

Forget.
I need to forget. I need an escape.
Only one person isn't falling for my reputation as the NHL's Golden Boy; she captured my attention the minute she called me out for snooping through my best friend's house. She didn't want to hear my reason--she only wanted to playfully give me a hard time.
Adalyn is bold, sassy--and the perfect escape.
She's everywhere. In town and in my dreams, and suddenly I need to spend every waking moment with her.
And I do, making this summer the best off-season I've ever had.
But in the midst of getting lost in Adalyn, what I don't expect is to get her pregnant.
And what I definitely don't expect is having to fight for her affection.

Review:   

To be completely honest, I wasn't 100% pumped about Hayden's book. He was one of the most aloof, distant characters in Three Blind Dates, and while I knew he was getting over a certain somebody, I wondered if I would truly find a book about him all that interesting. 

The result? As per usual, my worrying was for nothing, because (surprise, surprise!) One Baby Daddy is by far my favorite book in the series. Don't get me wrong, I loved Three Blind Dates and I really enjoyed Two Wedding Crashers, but One Baby Daddy knocks both right out of the park. This book contains 3 Ss (a.k.a the "musts" in my romance reads): sweetness, a swoon factor, and sexyness. If Hayden and Adalyn's romance doesn't make you feel some kind of emotion, I'll be shocked. 

In Three Blind Dates we learned that Hayden had his heart broken prior to his arrival in LA; however, much of the details remained a secret. Luckily, One Baby Daddy not only shows Hayden and Adalyn's romance from the very start but also those moments in LA. 

I LOVED the way in which Meghan set this book up. It was so much fun to see Hayden and Adalyn fall in love. From the moment they run into each other in Racer's kitchen, I knew that they were going to become a favorite couple of mine. There was so much chemistry, so much sass (from Adalyn in particular!), so much oomph! I was hooked. 

It also didn't hurt that I adored Hayden and Adalyn to pieces. 

As it turns out, Hayden has quite the personality when he's not down in the dumps. He's sweet as well as sassy. He can dole the trash talking out just as well as he can take it. He's an amazing friend - his friendships with Racer and Calder brought so many smiles to my face, I couldn't get enough of them- as well as an amazing son - the story about his mother's cooking lessons? SO ADORABLE! - and as Adalyn finds out, he's an amazing boyfriend. Honestly, he may just be my favorite hero of the year, and that's a big honor considering how many romance books I read. 

Like Hayden, Adalyn can be sassy when she wants to be (a.k.a all the times she's with Hayden), and she's also fearless as well as fierce. As she shows in the book, she can stand on her own just fine, no matter the situation. I had so much respect for her, and it also didn't hurt that I found her personality to be hilarious. 

Just like Three Blind Dates and Two Wedding Crashers, the romance in this is HOT, HOT, HOT. I loved/hated the slow burn aspect to it, because while I loved the build-up, there were so many times I was internally screaming, Just kiss already!! Hayden and Adalyn's banter was also a highlight. They both knew how to dole out the trash talking at just the perfect/worst moment. I laughed out loud several times, especially during the dinner scene in New York. Besides the romance aspect, Meghan included storylines about their families, careers, and friends. I enjoyed being exposed to so many aspects of their lives, and I especially liked that they experienced the same ups and downs that any twenty something is facing (hectic work schedules, sudden career changes, family pressure, etc.) It made the book more realistic and heartwarming in my opinion. 

Overall, One Baby Daddy is by far my favorite book in the series. I can't tell y'all how much I didn't want it to end. The last 10 percent of this book crept up on me so fast! I kept thinking, how can that it be ending so soon?! 

If you've loved the previous books in the series, you're sure to love this one, and if you haven't read the previous books in the series but love a good slow burn romance, give it a try. These books stand alone quite well.

5 stars!! 

About the Author:

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

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Review: How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

How to Walk Away by Katherine Center 

Release Date: May 15, 2018 

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 

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

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

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From the author of Happiness for Beginners comes an unforgettable love story about finding joy even in the darkest of circumstances.

Margaret Jacobsen has a bright future ahead of her: a fiancé she adores, her dream job, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in one tumultuous moment.

In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Margaret must figure out how to move forward on her own terms while facing long-held family secrets, devastating heartbreak, and the idea that love might find her in the last place she would ever expect.

How to Walk Away is Katherine Center at her very best: an utterly charming, hopeful, and romantic novel that will capture reader’s hearts with every page.

Review: 

Recently, I binge-read several of St. Martin's Press's Spring 2018 titles. Each brought something  worthwhile to the table. 

Sally Hepworth's The Family Next Door and Jessica Strawser's Not That I Could Tell provided suspenseful, intricate mysteries as well as questioned just how well one can know their neighbors. 

Corrine Sullivan's Indecent was raw and gritty look at how an all-consuming love can make or break you. 

And now for Katherine Center's How to Walk Away. It's by far the most emotionally charged out of the four. It's heartbreaking, poignant, and inspirational. It made me cry, laugh, and smile - sometimes all three in the matter of minutes- and while it broke my heart in more ways than I count, I can't suggest it highly enough. 

How to Walk Away begins on the day Margaret thinks will be her best one yet. Her long-term boyfriend has something special planned, and Margaret is convinced that something special involves a proposal. At first, she's completely correct - Chip proposes at last - but by the end, she's completely wrong. It's not her best day ever; instead, it's the day that changes her life forever...

When Margaret is first introduced, she's sweet, slightly paranoid, and a tad bit quirky, which is to say I completely adored her. In the first chapter, it was so incredibly easy to feel her excitement. From the synopsis I knew what would happen; however, I still had a tiny sliver of hope that it was wrong, that it would in fact be her best day ever. After the accident, Margaret's life takes a 180. She's scared. She's angry. She's hopeful but also pessimistic. She wants her life to stay the same, but she knows deep down that that's out of the question. I appreciated the fact that Katherine showcased Margaret's  highs as well as her lows. It made her story all the more authentic as well as realistic; however, what I loved the most was how much Margaret grew over the course of the book. It takes a while, but she becomes this strong, kick-a$$ woman, and gosh, I couldn't have been prouder.  

How to Walk Away's plot mostly involves Margaret's recovery, but it also fits in some swoony romance as well as a great sister relationship. Margaret's recovery was incredibly detailed. It was easy to see how much time and research Katherine put into getting everything right. I enjoyed reading about the therapy sessions (and not just because of the broody yet sexy Scottish PT) as well the small successes Margaret experienced. The romance was slow-burn and oh-so-yummy. I loved the angst as well as the sexiness that came with it. I will say, however, that Margaret's relationship with her sister was by far my favorite part of the book. It brought out the laughs, especially during the tough times, and it also was vital to Margaret's recovery...this book honestly wouldn't have been the same without it. 

In all, How to Walk Away is a pitch-perfect tale of loss, forgiveness, and moving on. And that epilogue? It SLAYED me! So many happy and sad tears! So mark your calendars and put aside a box of tissues, How to Walk Away walks into the world May 15th. Trust me you don't want to miss it! 

4.5 stars!!