The Lifeboat Orphans
Gripping, moving, riveting, thought provoking, and hard to put down! The writing duo, Catherine Curzon and Helen Barrell, who write as Ellie Curzon have once again dazzled me with their writing and endearing characters in The Lifeboat Orphans: An utterly gripping and heartbreaking World War Two novel! The Blitz kids are back and one again I found myself feeling so many different emotions for them while reading The Lifeboat Orphans: An utterly gripping and heartbreaking World War Two novel. I rooted for them, I worried for them, I cried for them, and I kept my fingers crossed for them. This book highlights the strength of their bonds and friendship, their bravery, their sacrifices, their antics, their hope, their fears, and their unwavering fight for survival. World War 2 was full of tragedies, deaths, and horrific events. Orphaned children were forced to survive unspeakable horrors. This book begins in London and by the end sees some of the children traveling by ship to America. But between the beginning of the book and the ending, there will be a lot of trials, a lot of struggles, a lot of love, a lot of heartbreak, a lot of hope, and a lot of moving scenes. If you have not read the first book in the series, The Lost Orphans, I highly recommend it. That introduces you to many of the characters and how the children became known as the Blitz kids. Would this book work as a stand-alone novel? Yes, but do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. Well researched, wonderfully written, moving, captivating, thought provoking and well thought out! Thank you to Bookouture 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.
Such Sheltered Lives
Rush’s Recovery caters to the ultra-elite who need privacy and discretion while battling their demons. Some come for treatment for addiction, some for eating disorders, some to avoid scandal, and some to explore trauma. What better place to bear your soul than in a rehabilitation center set in a lavish and beautiful location. The guests consist of Lord Edward of Essex who is fighting an addiction; Amelia Blue Harris who is struggling with an eating disorder; and Florence Bloom is a pop star with a tabloid scandal. Will they get the help they need, or will they self-destruct while enjoying all the center has to offer. Each will have their own POV, which is a nice touch. I enjoyed the setting and the atmosphere in this book. I also enjoyed the look at rehab; the many reasons people check in and some of the reasons why people do not check out. Everyone has a secret; some secrets are bigger than others. There are also drama and tension throughout the book. I also enjoyed the mystery of the dead body on the beach. This book was not fast moving, nor was it slow. Such Sheltered Lives is less than 300 pages but it felt much longer. While I enjoyed it, I didn’t quite connect with any of the characters or feel for any of them. I had high hopes for this book and while it didn’t quite wow me, it was an enjoyable and dramatic read. Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Secrets Like Ours
Gripping, brimming with secrets, deception, lost memories, and twists! S.T. Ashman has delivered yet again with Secrets Like Ours! Emily had a rough upbringing and many questions about the past which she cannot remember. She wants a quiet, stress-free life. When she meets Daniel Winthrop, she can’t believe that this wealthy and handsome man was expressing interest in her. But Daniel couldn’t help but notice Emily and they went on to get married. Emily has her issues, and Daniel is supportive and understanding. After all, he has some issues in his past as well. After some time, they decide to visit his family home on the cliffs. It’s breathtaking and picturesque but beneath the surface, secrets lie. I enjoyed the setting of this book – a mansion on the cliffs in New England. I also loved how atmospheric it felt at home with the ocean, and surging ocean waves, and an impending storm! The is more than one storm brewing in this book! This book is packed full of secrets and strange occurrences. I enjoyed the mental health aspect of this book. I appreciated how the author had Emily seeking mental health treatment. I felt this was handled very well. Emily at times wasn’t sure if what she was experiencing was real or if she was hallucinating. I enjoyed not knowing if Emily was unreliable or if Daniel and the employees at the home were unreliable. I love the who can-be-trusted trope in books. I enjoyed the tension, the mounting dread, the sense of danger, and the eerie vibe during certain sections of this book! I had no idea where this book was going, and the twists and turns kept me on my toes, and the reveals were shocking! I had a hard time putting this book and found the plot to be riveting! I look forward to reading what S.T. Ashman writes next! Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op 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 Forest of Missing Girls
Creepy, creepy, creepy! The Forest of Missing Girls instantly drew me in. I was intrigued by Lia Gregg and her fear of the woods surrounding her home. She did not live in the forest where, like the Robert Frost poem where “the woods are lovely, dark and deep.” No, she lived in the woods which were full of darkness, secrets, and whispers. Girls have gone missing in those dark woods. She’s not a child anymore and when she returns home after a breakup, a teenage girl goes missing…… This book was equal parts, atmospheric and chilling. As I mentioned, I was instantly drawn into this book and them whamo this book took a shocking and unexpected turn! I did not see THAT coming at all. The book veered off from being creepy and chilling to being horrific, shocking, and heck, I don’t even know what to call it. It felt as if it came out of the left field. Its horror meets Science fiction meets what-in-the-world-did-I-just-read?????? Seriously, hello left field!!!! I have the feeling that readers are either going to love this one for its uniqueness, originality, and sci-fi turn, or you’ll be sitting there thinking well, that was something……. The author gets big points for creating a chilling and eerie atmospheric setting. I can almost feel the chill in the air and feel the twigs snap under the characters’ feet as they walked through the woods. This book is very unique and has a very interesting premise. If you are looking for something a little different, a little off the beaten path, and you are willing to suspend some disbelief, this book might be right up your alley. From the premise I thought I had a fair grasp on what this book was going to be about. I was WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! Dark, horrific, atmospheric, chilling, and unique! Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press 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.
Last Rites
“I have a genuine love affair with my audience When I’m on stage they’re not privileged to see me. It’s a privilege for me to see them.” – Ozzy Osbourne He loved music, he loved performing, he loved his family, he loved his friends, and he loved his wife. I can’t think of Ozzy without hearing him in my mind yelling “Sharon.” He was also complicated, he was an addict, he was a heavy metal icon, he was a father, he was a grandfather, he was a husband, and he rocked the world! He had many friends in the music industry and shared some of his experiences and tales about them as well. “I’m about caring. I’m about people, and I’m about entertaining people. I’m a family man. A Husband. A father. I’ve been a lot of other things over the years, which we don’t really want to talk about.” – Ozzy Osbourne In Last Rites, Ozzy Osbourne shares health struggles and declining health. He also shares about his humble and poor beginnings to being in Black Sabbath, being fired, and like the phoenix, rising from the flames to go on to be a HUGE solo artist. Along the way he stumbled, he fell; he got back up, and he never gave up. In Last Rites he shares about his antics, his love of music, his love of performing, his use of drugs and alcohol, those he admired, those he lost, and those who mattered most to him. “Has he lost his mind? Can he see, or is he blind? Can he walk at all? Or if he moves, will he fall?” – Iron Man, Black Sabbath Last Rites is Ozzy being honest, humorous, reflective, and unpolemically himself. He wasn’t the most handsome man, he wasn’t the most graceful on stage, but he had charisma, that recognizable voice, and his ability to be both a rock god and an ordinary human being. He provided many with an outlet and someone to relate to. He up grew poor, he understood what it meant to struggle and go without, and he appreciated what he gained. He didn’t give a fuck and yet he did. He was complicated and yet fans felt as if they knew him. Whether it be through his music or his reality TV show, Osbourne lets fans into his life – the good, the bad, and the ugly. “Crazy, but that’s how it goes Millions of people living as foes Maybe it’s not too late To learn how to love And forget how to hate” – Crazy Train, Ozzy Osbourne Fans of heavy metal, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, or just music in general, may enjoy this book. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator was fantastic. Man, his death, hurt. But his music, will go on. “Times have changed and times are strange Here I come, but I ain’t the same Mama, I’m coming home Times go by, it seems to be You could have been a better friend to me Mama, I’m coming home You took me in and you drove me out, yeah You had me hypnotised, yeah Lost and found and turned around By the fire in your eyes” – Mama, I’m Coming Home – Ozzy Osbourne Highly Recommend. Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Innocence Road
Gripping, chilling, thrilling, shocking, and hard to put down! Innocence Road is an engaging and riveting mystery thriller which had me doing my best to determine whodunit along with Detective Leanne Everhart! I had a hard time putting this one down and enjoyed every single page! Leanne Everhart has been called back to her hometown of Marfa, Texas by her brother following her father’s death. What awaits her besides the beautiful landscape is a fresh crime scene involving a murdered young woman. Marfa, Texas has a long memory, and they cannot forget the wrongful murder conviction involving the murder of a popular young woman years ago. When Leanne decides to investigate the current murder case, she finds several cold cases involving dead young women. I was instantly invested in Innocence Road. I enjoyed Detective Leanne Everhart’s character. She is not willing to give up, walk away, or turn her check when things get ugly. She also has big shoes to fill as her father was in local law enforcement. She is up against the local boy’s law enforcement club. As secrets of the past are revealed, tension, suspense, and danger begin to mount. I found this to be a well thought out mystery/crime investigation. I enjoyed the characters, the town itself with its long memory, the cold cases, Leanne as a strong and intelligent female lead, and how the plot unfolded. Nothing felt rushed nor drawn out. Plus, the pacing was fantastic!! Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group 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 Lifeboat Orphans
Gripping, moving, riveting, thought provoking, and hard to put down! The writing duo, Catherine Curzon and Helen Barrell, who write as Ellie Curzon have once again dazzled me with their writing and endearing characters in The Lifeboat Orphans: An utterly gripping and heartbreaking World War Two novel! The Blitz kids are back and one again I found myself feeling so many different emotions for them while reading The Lifeboat Orphans: An utterly gripping and heartbreaking World War Two novel. I rooted for them, I worried for them, I cried for them, and I kept my fingers crossed for them. This book highlights the strength of their bonds and friendship, their bravery, their sacrifices, their antics, their hope, their fears, and their unwavering fight for survival. World War 2 was full of tragedies, deaths, and horrific events. Orphaned children were forced to survive unspeakable horrors. This book begins in London and by the end sees some of the children traveling by ship to America. But between the beginning of the book and the ending, there will be a lot of trials, a lot of struggles, a lot of love, a lot of heartbreak, a lot of hope, and a lot of moving scenes. If you have not read the first book in the series, The Lost Orphans, I highly recommend it. That introduces you to many of the characters and how the children became known as the Blitz kids. Would this book work as a stand-alone novel? Yes, but do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. Well researched, wonderfully written, moving, captivating, thought provoking and well thought out! Thank you to Bookouture 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.
Such Sheltered Lives
Rush’s Recovery caters to the ultra-elite who need privacy and discretion while battling their demons. Some come for treatment for addiction, some for eating disorders, some to avoid scandal, and some to explore trauma. What better place to bear your soul than in a rehabilitation center set in a lavish and beautiful location. The guests consist of Lord Edward of Essex who is fighting an addiction; Amelia Blue Harris who is struggling with an eating disorder; and Florence Bloom is a pop star with a tabloid scandal. Will they get the help they need, or will they self-destruct while enjoying all the center has to offer. Each will have their own POV, which is a nice touch. I enjoyed the setting and the atmosphere in this book. I also enjoyed the look at rehab; the many reasons people check in and some of the reasons why people do not check out. Everyone has a secret; some secrets are bigger than others. There are also drama and tension throughout the book. I also enjoyed the mystery of the dead body on the beach. This book was not fast moving, nor was it slow. Such Sheltered Lives is less than 300 pages but it felt much longer. While I enjoyed it, I didn’t quite connect with any of the characters or feel for any of them. I had high hopes for this book and while it didn’t quite wow me, it was an enjoyable and dramatic read. Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Secrets Like Ours
Gripping, brimming with secrets, deception, lost memories, and twists! S.T. Ashman has delivered yet again with Secrets Like Ours! Emily had a rough upbringing and many questions about the past which she cannot remember. She wants a quiet, stress-free life. When she meets Daniel Winthrop, she can’t believe that this wealthy and handsome man was expressing interest in her. But Daniel couldn’t help but notice Emily and they went on to get married. Emily has her issues, and Daniel is supportive and understanding. After all, he has some issues in his past as well. After some time, they decide to visit his family home on the cliffs. It’s breathtaking and picturesque but beneath the surface, secrets lie. I enjoyed the setting of this book – a mansion on the cliffs in New England. I also loved how atmospheric it felt at home with the ocean, and surging ocean waves, and an impending storm! The is more than one storm brewing in this book! This book is packed full of secrets and strange occurrences. I enjoyed the mental health aspect of this book. I appreciated how the author had Emily seeking mental health treatment. I felt this was handled very well. Emily at times wasn’t sure if what she was experiencing was real or if she was hallucinating. I enjoyed not knowing if Emily was unreliable or if Daniel and the employees at the home were unreliable. I love the who can-be-trusted trope in books. I enjoyed the tension, the mounting dread, the sense of danger, and the eerie vibe during certain sections of this book! I had no idea where this book was going, and the twists and turns kept me on my toes, and the reveals were shocking! I had a hard time putting this book and found the plot to be riveting! I look forward to reading what S.T. Ashman writes next! Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op 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 Forest of Missing Girls
Creepy, creepy, creepy! The Forest of Missing Girls instantly drew me in. I was intrigued by Lia Gregg and her fear of the woods surrounding her home. She did not live in the forest where, like the Robert Frost poem where “the woods are lovely, dark and deep.” No, she lived in the woods which were full of darkness, secrets, and whispers. Girls have gone missing in those dark woods. She’s not a child anymore and when she returns home after a breakup, a teenage girl goes missing…… This book was equal parts, atmospheric and chilling. As I mentioned, I was instantly drawn into this book and them whamo this book took a shocking and unexpected turn! I did not see THAT coming at all. The book veered off from being creepy and chilling to being horrific, shocking, and heck, I don’t even know what to call it. It felt as if it came out of the left field. Its horror meets Science fiction meets what-in-the-world-did-I-just-read?????? Seriously, hello left field!!!! I have the feeling that readers are either going to love this one for its uniqueness, originality, and sci-fi turn, or you’ll be sitting there thinking well, that was something……. The author gets big points for creating a chilling and eerie atmospheric setting. I can almost feel the chill in the air and feel the twigs snap under the characters’ feet as they walked through the woods. This book is very unique and has a very interesting premise. If you are looking for something a little different, a little off the beaten path, and you are willing to suspend some disbelief, this book might be right up your alley. From the premise I thought I had a fair grasp on what this book was going to be about. I was WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! Dark, horrific, atmospheric, chilling, and unique! Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press 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.
Last Rites
“I have a genuine love affair with my audience When I’m on stage they’re not privileged to see me. It’s a privilege for me to see them.” – Ozzy Osbourne He loved music, he loved performing, he loved his family, he loved his friends, and he loved his wife. I can’t think of Ozzy without hearing him in my mind yelling “Sharon.” He was also complicated, he was an addict, he was a heavy metal icon, he was a father, he was a grandfather, he was a husband, and he rocked the world! He had many friends in the music industry and shared some of his experiences and tales about them as well. “I’m about caring. I’m about people, and I’m about entertaining people. I’m a family man. A Husband. A father. I’ve been a lot of other things over the years, which we don’t really want to talk about.” – Ozzy Osbourne In Last Rites, Ozzy Osbourne shares health struggles and declining health. He also shares about his humble and poor beginnings to being in Black Sabbath, being fired, and like the phoenix, rising from the flames to go on to be a HUGE solo artist. Along the way he stumbled, he fell; he got back up, and he never gave up. In Last Rites he shares about his antics, his love of music, his love of performing, his use of drugs and alcohol, those he admired, those he lost, and those who mattered most to him. “Has he lost his mind? Can he see, or is he blind? Can he walk at all? Or if he moves, will he fall?” – Iron Man, Black Sabbath Last Rites is Ozzy being honest, humorous, reflective, and unpolemically himself. He wasn’t the most handsome man, he wasn’t the most graceful on stage, but he had charisma, that recognizable voice, and his ability to be both a rock god and an ordinary human being. He provided many with an outlet and someone to relate to. He up grew poor, he understood what it meant to struggle and go without, and he appreciated what he gained. He didn’t give a fuck and yet he did. He was complicated and yet fans felt as if they knew him. Whether it be through his music or his reality TV show, Osbourne lets fans into his life – the good, the bad, and the ugly. “Crazy, but that’s how it goes Millions of people living as foes Maybe it’s not too late To learn how to love And forget how to hate” – Crazy Train, Ozzy Osbourne Fans of heavy metal, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, or just music in general, may enjoy this book. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator was fantastic. Man, his death, hurt. But his music, will go on. “Times have changed and times are strange Here I come, but I ain’t the same Mama, I’m coming home Times go by, it seems to be You could have been a better friend to me Mama, I’m coming home You took me in and you drove me out, yeah You had me hypnotised, yeah Lost and found and turned around By the fire in your eyes” – Mama, I’m Coming Home – Ozzy Osbourne Highly Recommend. Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Innocence Road
Gripping, chilling, thrilling, shocking, and hard to put down! Innocence Road is an engaging and riveting mystery thriller which had me doing my best to determine whodunit along with Detective Leanne Everhart! I had a hard time putting this one down and enjoyed every single page! Leanne Everhart has been called back to her hometown of Marfa, Texas by her brother following her father’s death. What awaits her besides the beautiful landscape is a fresh crime scene involving a murdered young woman. Marfa, Texas has a long memory, and they cannot forget the wrongful murder conviction involving the murder of a popular young woman years ago. When Leanne decides to investigate the current murder case, she finds several cold cases involving dead young women. I was instantly invested in Innocence Road. I enjoyed Detective Leanne Everhart’s character. She is not willing to give up, walk away, or turn her check when things get ugly. She also has big shoes to fill as her father was in local law enforcement. She is up against the local boy’s law enforcement club. As secrets of the past are revealed, tension, suspense, and danger begin to mount. I found this to be a well thought out mystery/crime investigation. I enjoyed the characters, the town itself with its long memory, the cold cases, Leanne as a strong and intelligent female lead, and how the plot unfolded. Nothing felt rushed nor drawn out. Plus, the pacing was fantastic!! Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group 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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