Beneath a Broken Sky
Tornados are scary enough, but when you throw murder into the mix, things become downright terrifying. Detective Ben Packard is investigating the murder of a woman in her home who was upset that the local school was doing nothing to protect her gay son from being bullied. On top of the investigation hitting too close to home for Packard, a blast from his past arrives in the form of the sister of Marcus, a man he used to date. I have enjoyed the Ben Packard series since the very beginning. I enjoy the author’s take on a small-town life paired with Ben Packard being a gay detective trying to make a name for himself while protecting his new community. Beneath a Broken Sky was atmospheric, tense, and brimming with dread. As storm chasers’ descent upon the town, so do those looking to fix roofs. This makes for a book full of many characters and more than one murder. Who is taking advantage of the damage done by the storm to do their own damage? How many will come to harm before the case(s) is solved. I always like to try and figure out whodunit, while reading a mystery and could not come up with a viable suspect while reading. Joshua Moehling provides readers with a bigger look into Packard’s personal life while also having him investigate the murders in town. I always enjoyed his banter with Thielen and was happy to see her in this book. This investigation is not an easy one, and readers watch as Packard investigates clues after clues. There were some twists, turns, and reveals in this book. There were also, as I mentioned, quite a few characters. I believe I would have enjoyed this book a bit more if there were less characters to keep track of. While this was not my favorite book in the series, I still found it to be enjoyable and look forward to reading more books in the series. 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.
Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line
Don’t cross the line until you read the Finlay Donovan series! Seriously, this series is a hoot. Finlay Donovan is a single mom and author who with her trusted nanny, Vero, get into some crazy and tense situations as they get in hot water trying to solve crimes. In Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line, Vero is facing charges for a crime she claims she did not commit! Throw in some threatening messages and you have yourself a find mess! Finlay is committed to getting to the bottom of things. She is not going to let Vero go down for a crime she did not commit! As with the other books in this series, this snippet of a book (I did not get to read the entire book- just the first chapters) was engaging, delightful, and fun. I love how this book focuses on motherhood, friendship, loyalty, romance, and mysteries. This series is a fun one and I can’t wait to read the rest of the book! This snippet of a book has me salivating for more! I look forward to reading what comes next! I had both the e-book and the audiobook. The narration of the audiobook was fantastic and brought the characters and story to life! Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur 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 Weekend
What would you do?????? Six friends (3 couples) go away to celebrate the new year. On a walk through the countyside, a water bottle gets lost in a cave/mine and they find a leather bag filled with cash!!!! What to do?????? It’s a HUGE amount of money. They could all use some, but will they take the moral high ground and turn it in to the police or will they keep the money????? What would you do? It’s a slippery slope and soon the group has made their decision. But is it a decision that they can live with? Tensions rise and soon, the group of friends will find out that there are consequences for the decisions they have made. This was a fast and gripping read. I love how the friends begin to unravel as they grapple with the decision they have made. Secrets, lies, and decisions will soon see the light of day. Tension and dread ooze from the pages. I enjoyed the suspense and tense feel of this book. Thank you to Bonnier Books UK | Zaffre 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.
Dollface
Why would a plastic faced serial killer want to off PTA moms? Dollface is a suburban slasher where no one is safe! Jill is a horror author who is new in town and hoping to make some friends. Her obnoxious new neighbor, did I say obnoxious? I meant to say assertively friendly new neighbor, invites her to join the school’s PTA. All the PTA moms are picture perfect with their fully made-up faces and perfect outfits. The blood begins to fly before the first bake sale! Someone is killing the moms, but who and why???? If horror and gore are not for you, this book is not too scary or gory. Yes, there are some death scenes but if you close one eye while reading, I promise who will get through it unscathed. Lindy Ryan loves her horror, and this book was on the horrific side. Again, more light horror, but heavy on the creepy and bizzarro characters. Fans of Lindy Ryan may enjoy this one. Bless Your Heart remains my favorite book by this author. Having said that, Dollface was a bloody enjoyable book with an original premise which delivered an eerie vibe, creepy scenes, and dread. Side note – Am I the only one who thought Jill’s overly friendly next-door neighbor might look like Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? That is the image I had of her for the entire book. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur 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.
And Now, Back to You
B.K. Borison can do nothing wrong in my book! I have been a HUGE fan since reading Lovelight Farms! And Now, Back to You is the sixth book which I have read by this author, and she delivers every single time! As with her other books, I found And Now, Back to You to be wonderfully written, well thought out, captivating, hard to put down and swoon worthy! Jackson is a radio weatherman who has custody of his two sisters. He has a lot on his plate and loves routine and being organized. He struggles with anxiety and enjoys staying in his lane and reporting on the weather. Delilah loves being out in the field, engaging in zany and silly antics, and meeting her fans. She is spontaneous, fun loving and responsible. They have orbited around each other for years and now that a HUGE snowstorm is about to hit, they have been tasked with working together to report on it. Deliah wants to be taken seriously as a reporter and offers to help Jackson find his fun side if he can help her with this assignment. Enter chemistry stage left!!!!! Both Jackson and Delilah are adorable. I enjoyed both of their characters and rooted for both of them. I enjoyed how the author showed both their strengths and weaknesses. This made both feel more real and relatable. I felt for Jackson and his anxiety but also felt for Delilah when she shared her care for her grandfather. I enjoyed their banter and how they both had to deal with a nasty character in this book. Romantic, charming, captivating and a wonderful addition to the Heartstrings series!!! 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 Gossip
Tongues are wagging and rumors are swirling in Rona Halsall’s The Gossip! Secrets and lies are the name of the game in the village of Talysarn! All it takes is one rumor is said, an accusation made, and the someone tells someone who tells someone who tells…you get the picture. The rumor spreads like wildfire and it doesn’t matter if it is true or not, the villagers will believe what they want to believe and people’s lives will be changed!!!!! I have read seven of Rona Halsall’s books, and she always delivers dramatic, twist-filled, shocking and thrilling books! Nia, a young widow, has recently moved to the village of Talysarn. It is the fresh start she is looking for, until a horrible rumor is started- that she is having an affair with an older married man! When the man’s wife hears the rumor, well, the you-know-what hits the fan! This book is packed full of drama, secrets, adults behaving badly, gossip, and shocking revelations!!! I loved the tension and the feeling of dread which seeped from the pages. Plus, there are a nice number of characters who kept the drama high and the tensions higher. There are secrets and then there are secrets! This was an entertaining, twisted, and thrilling read! Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Beneath a Broken Sky
Tornados are scary enough, but when you throw murder into the mix, things become downright terrifying. Detective Ben Packard is investigating the murder of a woman in her home who was upset that the local school was doing nothing to protect her gay son from being bullied. On top of the investigation hitting too close to home for Packard, a blast from his past arrives in the form of the sister of Marcus, a man he used to date. I have enjoyed the Ben Packard series since the very beginning. I enjoy the author’s take on a small-town life paired with Ben Packard being a gay detective trying to make a name for himself while protecting his new community. Beneath a Broken Sky was atmospheric, tense, and brimming with dread. As storm chasers’ descent upon the town, so do those looking to fix roofs. This makes for a book full of many characters and more than one murder. Who is taking advantage of the damage done by the storm to do their own damage? How many will come to harm before the case(s) is solved. I always like to try and figure out whodunit, while reading a mystery and could not come up with a viable suspect while reading. Joshua Moehling provides readers with a bigger look into Packard’s personal life while also having him investigate the murders in town. I always enjoyed his banter with Thielen and was happy to see her in this book. This investigation is not an easy one, and readers watch as Packard investigates clues after clues. There were some twists, turns, and reveals in this book. There were also, as I mentioned, quite a few characters. I believe I would have enjoyed this book a bit more if there were less characters to keep track of. While this was not my favorite book in the series, I still found it to be enjoyable and look forward to reading more books in the series. 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.
Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line
Don’t cross the line until you read the Finlay Donovan series! Seriously, this series is a hoot. Finlay Donovan is a single mom and author who with her trusted nanny, Vero, get into some crazy and tense situations as they get in hot water trying to solve crimes. In Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line, Vero is facing charges for a crime she claims she did not commit! Throw in some threatening messages and you have yourself a find mess! Finlay is committed to getting to the bottom of things. She is not going to let Vero go down for a crime she did not commit! As with the other books in this series, this snippet of a book (I did not get to read the entire book- just the first chapters) was engaging, delightful, and fun. I love how this book focuses on motherhood, friendship, loyalty, romance, and mysteries. This series is a fun one and I can’t wait to read the rest of the book! This snippet of a book has me salivating for more! I look forward to reading what comes next! I had both the e-book and the audiobook. The narration of the audiobook was fantastic and brought the characters and story to life! Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur 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 Weekend
What would you do?????? Six friends (3 couples) go away to celebrate the new year. On a walk through the countyside, a water bottle gets lost in a cave/mine and they find a leather bag filled with cash!!!! What to do?????? It’s a HUGE amount of money. They could all use some, but will they take the moral high ground and turn it in to the police or will they keep the money????? What would you do? It’s a slippery slope and soon the group has made their decision. But is it a decision that they can live with? Tensions rise and soon, the group of friends will find out that there are consequences for the decisions they have made. This was a fast and gripping read. I love how the friends begin to unravel as they grapple with the decision they have made. Secrets, lies, and decisions will soon see the light of day. Tension and dread ooze from the pages. I enjoyed the suspense and tense feel of this book. Thank you to Bonnier Books UK | Zaffre 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.
Dollface
Why would a plastic faced serial killer want to off PTA moms? Dollface is a suburban slasher where no one is safe! Jill is a horror author who is new in town and hoping to make some friends. Her obnoxious new neighbor, did I say obnoxious? I meant to say assertively friendly new neighbor, invites her to join the school’s PTA. All the PTA moms are picture perfect with their fully made-up faces and perfect outfits. The blood begins to fly before the first bake sale! Someone is killing the moms, but who and why???? If horror and gore are not for you, this book is not too scary or gory. Yes, there are some death scenes but if you close one eye while reading, I promise who will get through it unscathed. Lindy Ryan loves her horror, and this book was on the horrific side. Again, more light horror, but heavy on the creepy and bizzarro characters. Fans of Lindy Ryan may enjoy this one. Bless Your Heart remains my favorite book by this author. Having said that, Dollface was a bloody enjoyable book with an original premise which delivered an eerie vibe, creepy scenes, and dread. Side note – Am I the only one who thought Jill’s overly friendly next-door neighbor might look like Bette Davis in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? That is the image I had of her for the entire book. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur 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.
And Now, Back to You
B.K. Borison can do nothing wrong in my book! I have been a HUGE fan since reading Lovelight Farms! And Now, Back to You is the sixth book which I have read by this author, and she delivers every single time! As with her other books, I found And Now, Back to You to be wonderfully written, well thought out, captivating, hard to put down and swoon worthy! Jackson is a radio weatherman who has custody of his two sisters. He has a lot on his plate and loves routine and being organized. He struggles with anxiety and enjoys staying in his lane and reporting on the weather. Delilah loves being out in the field, engaging in zany and silly antics, and meeting her fans. She is spontaneous, fun loving and responsible. They have orbited around each other for years and now that a HUGE snowstorm is about to hit, they have been tasked with working together to report on it. Deliah wants to be taken seriously as a reporter and offers to help Jackson find his fun side if he can help her with this assignment. Enter chemistry stage left!!!!! Both Jackson and Delilah are adorable. I enjoyed both of their characters and rooted for both of them. I enjoyed how the author showed both their strengths and weaknesses. This made both feel more real and relatable. I felt for Jackson and his anxiety but also felt for Delilah when she shared her care for her grandfather. I enjoyed their banter and how they both had to deal with a nasty character in this book. Romantic, charming, captivating and a wonderful addition to the Heartstrings series!!! 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 Gossip
Tongues are wagging and rumors are swirling in Rona Halsall’s The Gossip! Secrets and lies are the name of the game in the village of Talysarn! All it takes is one rumor is said, an accusation made, and the someone tells someone who tells someone who tells…you get the picture. The rumor spreads like wildfire and it doesn’t matter if it is true or not, the villagers will believe what they want to believe and people’s lives will be changed!!!!! I have read seven of Rona Halsall’s books, and she always delivers dramatic, twist-filled, shocking and thrilling books! Nia, a young widow, has recently moved to the village of Talysarn. It is the fresh start she is looking for, until a horrible rumor is started- that she is having an affair with an older married man! When the man’s wife hears the rumor, well, the you-know-what hits the fan! This book is packed full of drama, secrets, adults behaving badly, gossip, and shocking revelations!!! I loved the tension and the feeling of dread which seeped from the pages. Plus, there are a nice number of characters who kept the drama high and the tensions higher. There are secrets and then there are secrets! This was an entertaining, twisted, and thrilling read! Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
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