Valentina
Holy Crap! I think I have whiplash!!!! What a wild roller coaster of a ride full of secrets, lies, and manipulation! S.E. Lynes blew me away with this gripping and thrilling tale! Just when I thought I had things figured out, S.E. Lynes pulled the carpet out from under my feet! I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a fabulous job of bringing this book to life!!!! Shona McGilvery has moved with her boyfriend, Mikey and their baby to a home in the Aberdeenshire countryside. It’s isolated and quiet and with Mikey going away to work offshore, Shona begins to feel all alone. That is until she meets, Valentina, a lively and fun yoga instructor. They bond, have drinks, and spend time together. It’s just what Shona needs as she is feeling lonely, abandoned, and lacking in companionship. Wowza! I had no idea what I was in for when I picked up this book. I had a lot of fun listening to the audiobook. I loved the tension, the unraveling of the plot, the twists, turns, and shocking reveals which crept up on me along the way. The characters were fantastic and so well done. I loved how the author had me changing how I felt about them throughout the book. Entertaining, dark, thrilling, gripping, shocking, and deliciously good! Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Cornish Cottage by the Sea
Who wouldn’t want to spend time at a Cornish Cottage by the sea? I know I would. There is something really refreshing about reading a book by Kim Nash. I love her themes of starting over, new beginnings, new possibilities, old and new friendships, community, romance, family, and finding your voice. Plus, the beautiful location by the sea! Jo Jenkins has always put the needs of others before her own. But now that her marriage is over and her children are grown, it’s time for her to put herself first. When she inherits a cottage in Cornwell, she sets off to start her new life. The cottage could use a little TLC, and Jo gets a little help from her new friends in Cornwall. Seamus, a local handyman agrees to help, and her new cottage begins to feel like a home! Not everything is going to be smooth sailing for Jo. When she attends her daughter’s wedding, things get interesting. Her ex-husband was naturally there, and man did he tick me off. Talk about being an insufferable jerk. Then there are her daughters who, well, were not going to win any popularity prizes from me either. I enjoyed the drama, the times Jo stood her ground, and the interactions she had with others. I enjoyed Jo quite a bit and adored her and her straight talking Mum. I enjoyed how Jo did her best to stay positive in all scenes even in ones where I quite frankly wanting her to give someone a complete and through piece of her mind. I also enjoyed her interactions with Seamus and their banter. I found The Cornish Cottage by the Sea to be heartwarming, charming, and to be a fast read. I enjoyed the drama, the romance, the sense of community, the charm, the humor, and the location. As with her other books, I found this book to be wonderfully written and captivating. I love the focus on starting over and taking chances. I also enjoyed the twists, turns and the reveal in this book. Charming, heartwarming, and a joy to read. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
They Fear Not Men in the Woods
This book might have you thinking twice about taking a walk in the woods. Dark and horrific, They Fear Not Men in the Woods begins with a daughter’s quest to disprove her missing father (a forest ranger) death. This book gives a whole new meaning to “you don’t miss with Mother nature.” This began a little on the slow side but built to a lot of tension, creepy moments, dread, danger, body horror, and atmosphere. Jen Monre is not willing to believe that her father is dead when his remains are believed to have been found. Coming home was not something she ever wanted to do but she does as she wants answers to the many questions she has about her father’s disappearance. When an ex-boyfriend invites her and a few others to go on a camping trip in the woods, she agrees…… I enjoyed the atmosphere and the descriptions of the woods. I enjoyed the eerie feel of the woods and the unease the characters began to feel when they thought they saw things moving out of the corner of their eyes. This book began slowly for me but once the book picked up – it really picked up. With each step in the woods, the tension and eerie vibe began to seep from the pages. There is a nice amount of tension which begins to mount during their hike as well. When you-know-what begins to hit the fan, the book takes a horrific and dark turn. If body horror is not for you, be warned as this book has it. This book also has some social commentary on the logging industry and a touch of politics as well. Overall, a dark and horrific tale which began slowly but won this reader over with its twists, eerie vibe, atmosphere, vivid descriptions, and shocking reveal. Thank you to DAW and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Wasp Trap
Clever, clever, clever! I always get excited when I see that Mark Edwards has a new book coming out! He has delivered yet again with the gripping, dark, suspenseful, and hard to put down The Wasp Trap! I am drawn to books that have a ‘trapped’ feeling and The Wasp Trap nailed it when Six friends gather in a Notting Hill townhouse to celebrate the life of their former professor. They won’t be celebrating for long!!! The friends were once classmates in 1999 and worked with their professor on a dating website. A website based on psychological testing. The love questionnaire they developed has become turned into a tool known as The Wasp Trap. Here’s a hint – it’s not for trapping annoying stinging insects! As the night progresses, they find themselves held at gunpoint and are informed they must share their deepest darkest secrets to the group or be picked off one by one. As the group scrambles, the book goes back and forth to the past and then the present day as their predicament becomes dire. This was a twisty, dark, clever, and suspenseful book which had the group wondering just how well they knew/know each other. It kept me on my toes and turning the pages. I enjoyed the tension, the dread, the questioning that begins, and the shocking reveal. Mark Edwards has pulled off another thrilling and gripping mystery thriller. I can’t wait to read what he writes next! Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Man Made of Smoke
This is a simmering and thought-provoking book that looks at guilt, justice, action, inaction, and trauma. This is a slow burn, and I do struggle with them, and I did struggle in the beginning of this book. Thankfully the second half of this book picked up for me and I enjoyed the mystery, mystery, suspense, tension, dread and the way this book is told through both Dan and John. Dan witnessed a crime involving a notorious serial killer as a boy and has been haunted his entire life by what he saw after he and his father, John made a stop to use a restroom. Dan silently watched as a killer, who will become known as ‘the man make of smoke’ said “Nobody Sees, and Nobody Cares.” as he led a frightened boy away. Dan was too frightened to do anything at the time to help the boy. Guilt, shame, remorse never leaves Dan. Since that day, Dan has carried his quilt like an imaginary sack on his back everywhere he goes. He can’t put down this heavy burden and has become a criminal profiler who seeks justice for victims. His father, John, who was a police officer at the time, has spent many years looking into the case. This had become a heavy burden for him as well. When Dan is informed that his father has died under suspicious circumstances, Dan returns home…… As I mentioned this is a slow burn. This was initially a struggle for me. I enjoyed how both father and son were affected by that visit to the rest stop and what Dan observed. How it affected their lives and relationship. I thought Alex North did a fantastic job of showing how guilt affects an individual and all aspects of their lives. What haunts us, what burdens we carry, what pain we feel, as humans are all on display in The Man Made of Smoke. The mystery is solid, haunting, intriguing, and well thought out. I just wished the pacing was a little faster. The Whisper Man remains my favorite book by Alex North but this one just might haunt you! Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Left of Forever
Gripping, steamy, sexy, evoking emotion, charming, thrilling and hard to put down! Left of Forever had me falling in love with Tarah DeWitt’s writing all over again! Tarah DeWitt first came on my radar when I read and loved, Savor It. If you have read that book, you may recognize some of the characters in this book! If you love second chance romances, this is the book for you! I adored both Wren and Ellis Byrd. They fell in love as teenagers, got pregnant, got married, then got divorced. Both are likeable and enjoyable characters who had me rooting for them the entire book. They are both relatable, likeable, vulnerable, and warm. They grew up together, grew apart, yet always longed for the other. Sigh. I was instantly invested in this book from the very beginning. I loved the sense of community, friendship, and family. I also loved how readers get both Ellis and Wren’s POV’s. This was a very nice touch and plays out wonderfully in the audiobook! As I mentioned, I felt for both characters and the journey they both went on individually and together. Their journey is not just an emotional one, they go on a physical one after they drop their son, Sam off at college. Several of the pluses for me in this book, besides the characters, are the emphasis on communication, being open and honest, being vulnerable, listening, and working on oneself. There is also talk of therapy and growth. There are also fun moments, great banter, longing, heartfelt moments, steam, and adventure. The supporting characters are awesome as well. Wonderfully written, well thought out and perfectly paced. My biggest beef in romance books is rushed endings. Nothing felt rushed or dragged out in this book. Everything evolved at a steady and realistic pace. I was lucky enough to have both the book and audiobook version of this book! The narrators of this book, Connor Crais and Megan Wicks, did an amazing job of bringing this book to life. If you have not read a book by Tarah DeWitt, what are you waiting for???? I have loved the two books that I have read by this author and will be reading more as soon as possible. Charming, heartwarming, sexy, streamy, emotional and brimming with love. I highly recommend Left of Forever! Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Valentina
Holy Crap! I think I have whiplash!!!! What a wild roller coaster of a ride full of secrets, lies, and manipulation! S.E. Lynes blew me away with this gripping and thrilling tale! Just when I thought I had things figured out, S.E. Lynes pulled the carpet out from under my feet! I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a fabulous job of bringing this book to life!!!! Shona McGilvery has moved with her boyfriend, Mikey and their baby to a home in the Aberdeenshire countryside. It’s isolated and quiet and with Mikey going away to work offshore, Shona begins to feel all alone. That is until she meets, Valentina, a lively and fun yoga instructor. They bond, have drinks, and spend time together. It’s just what Shona needs as she is feeling lonely, abandoned, and lacking in companionship. Wowza! I had no idea what I was in for when I picked up this book. I had a lot of fun listening to the audiobook. I loved the tension, the unraveling of the plot, the twists, turns, and shocking reveals which crept up on me along the way. The characters were fantastic and so well done. I loved how the author had me changing how I felt about them throughout the book. Entertaining, dark, thrilling, gripping, shocking, and deliciously good! Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Cornish Cottage by the Sea
Who wouldn’t want to spend time at a Cornish Cottage by the sea? I know I would. There is something really refreshing about reading a book by Kim Nash. I love her themes of starting over, new beginnings, new possibilities, old and new friendships, community, romance, family, and finding your voice. Plus, the beautiful location by the sea! Jo Jenkins has always put the needs of others before her own. But now that her marriage is over and her children are grown, it’s time for her to put herself first. When she inherits a cottage in Cornwell, she sets off to start her new life. The cottage could use a little TLC, and Jo gets a little help from her new friends in Cornwall. Seamus, a local handyman agrees to help, and her new cottage begins to feel like a home! Not everything is going to be smooth sailing for Jo. When she attends her daughter’s wedding, things get interesting. Her ex-husband was naturally there, and man did he tick me off. Talk about being an insufferable jerk. Then there are her daughters who, well, were not going to win any popularity prizes from me either. I enjoyed the drama, the times Jo stood her ground, and the interactions she had with others. I enjoyed Jo quite a bit and adored her and her straight talking Mum. I enjoyed how Jo did her best to stay positive in all scenes even in ones where I quite frankly wanting her to give someone a complete and through piece of her mind. I also enjoyed her interactions with Seamus and their banter. I found The Cornish Cottage by the Sea to be heartwarming, charming, and to be a fast read. I enjoyed the drama, the romance, the sense of community, the charm, the humor, and the location. As with her other books, I found this book to be wonderfully written and captivating. I love the focus on starting over and taking chances. I also enjoyed the twists, turns and the reveal in this book. Charming, heartwarming, and a joy to read. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
They Fear Not Men in the Woods
This book might have you thinking twice about taking a walk in the woods. Dark and horrific, They Fear Not Men in the Woods begins with a daughter’s quest to disprove her missing father (a forest ranger) death. This book gives a whole new meaning to “you don’t miss with Mother nature.” This began a little on the slow side but built to a lot of tension, creepy moments, dread, danger, body horror, and atmosphere. Jen Monre is not willing to believe that her father is dead when his remains are believed to have been found. Coming home was not something she ever wanted to do but she does as she wants answers to the many questions she has about her father’s disappearance. When an ex-boyfriend invites her and a few others to go on a camping trip in the woods, she agrees…… I enjoyed the atmosphere and the descriptions of the woods. I enjoyed the eerie feel of the woods and the unease the characters began to feel when they thought they saw things moving out of the corner of their eyes. This book began slowly for me but once the book picked up – it really picked up. With each step in the woods, the tension and eerie vibe began to seep from the pages. There is a nice amount of tension which begins to mount during their hike as well. When you-know-what begins to hit the fan, the book takes a horrific and dark turn. If body horror is not for you, be warned as this book has it. This book also has some social commentary on the logging industry and a touch of politics as well. Overall, a dark and horrific tale which began slowly but won this reader over with its twists, eerie vibe, atmosphere, vivid descriptions, and shocking reveal. Thank you to DAW and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Wasp Trap
Clever, clever, clever! I always get excited when I see that Mark Edwards has a new book coming out! He has delivered yet again with the gripping, dark, suspenseful, and hard to put down The Wasp Trap! I am drawn to books that have a ‘trapped’ feeling and The Wasp Trap nailed it when Six friends gather in a Notting Hill townhouse to celebrate the life of their former professor. They won’t be celebrating for long!!! The friends were once classmates in 1999 and worked with their professor on a dating website. A website based on psychological testing. The love questionnaire they developed has become turned into a tool known as The Wasp Trap. Here’s a hint – it’s not for trapping annoying stinging insects! As the night progresses, they find themselves held at gunpoint and are informed they must share their deepest darkest secrets to the group or be picked off one by one. As the group scrambles, the book goes back and forth to the past and then the present day as their predicament becomes dire. This was a twisty, dark, clever, and suspenseful book which had the group wondering just how well they knew/know each other. It kept me on my toes and turning the pages. I enjoyed the tension, the dread, the questioning that begins, and the shocking reveal. Mark Edwards has pulled off another thrilling and gripping mystery thriller. I can’t wait to read what he writes next! Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Man Made of Smoke
This is a simmering and thought-provoking book that looks at guilt, justice, action, inaction, and trauma. This is a slow burn, and I do struggle with them, and I did struggle in the beginning of this book. Thankfully the second half of this book picked up for me and I enjoyed the mystery, mystery, suspense, tension, dread and the way this book is told through both Dan and John. Dan witnessed a crime involving a notorious serial killer as a boy and has been haunted his entire life by what he saw after he and his father, John made a stop to use a restroom. Dan silently watched as a killer, who will become known as ‘the man make of smoke’ said “Nobody Sees, and Nobody Cares.” as he led a frightened boy away. Dan was too frightened to do anything at the time to help the boy. Guilt, shame, remorse never leaves Dan. Since that day, Dan has carried his quilt like an imaginary sack on his back everywhere he goes. He can’t put down this heavy burden and has become a criminal profiler who seeks justice for victims. His father, John, who was a police officer at the time, has spent many years looking into the case. This had become a heavy burden for him as well. When Dan is informed that his father has died under suspicious circumstances, Dan returns home…… As I mentioned this is a slow burn. This was initially a struggle for me. I enjoyed how both father and son were affected by that visit to the rest stop and what Dan observed. How it affected their lives and relationship. I thought Alex North did a fantastic job of showing how guilt affects an individual and all aspects of their lives. What haunts us, what burdens we carry, what pain we feel, as humans are all on display in The Man Made of Smoke. The mystery is solid, haunting, intriguing, and well thought out. I just wished the pacing was a little faster. The Whisper Man remains my favorite book by Alex North but this one just might haunt you! Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Left of Forever
Gripping, steamy, sexy, evoking emotion, charming, thrilling and hard to put down! Left of Forever had me falling in love with Tarah DeWitt’s writing all over again! Tarah DeWitt first came on my radar when I read and loved, Savor It. If you have read that book, you may recognize some of the characters in this book! If you love second chance romances, this is the book for you! I adored both Wren and Ellis Byrd. They fell in love as teenagers, got pregnant, got married, then got divorced. Both are likeable and enjoyable characters who had me rooting for them the entire book. They are both relatable, likeable, vulnerable, and warm. They grew up together, grew apart, yet always longed for the other. Sigh. I was instantly invested in this book from the very beginning. I loved the sense of community, friendship, and family. I also loved how readers get both Ellis and Wren’s POV’s. This was a very nice touch and plays out wonderfully in the audiobook! As I mentioned, I felt for both characters and the journey they both went on individually and together. Their journey is not just an emotional one, they go on a physical one after they drop their son, Sam off at college. Several of the pluses for me in this book, besides the characters, are the emphasis on communication, being open and honest, being vulnerable, listening, and working on oneself. There is also talk of therapy and growth. There are also fun moments, great banter, longing, heartfelt moments, steam, and adventure. The supporting characters are awesome as well. Wonderfully written, well thought out and perfectly paced. My biggest beef in romance books is rushed endings. Nothing felt rushed or dragged out in this book. Everything evolved at a steady and realistic pace. I was lucky enough to have both the book and audiobook version of this book! The narrators of this book, Connor Crais and Megan Wicks, did an amazing job of bringing this book to life. If you have not read a book by Tarah DeWitt, what are you waiting for???? I have loved the two books that I have read by this author and will be reading more as soon as possible. Charming, heartwarming, sexy, streamy, emotional and brimming with love. I highly recommend Left of Forever! Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
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