The Roommate Experiment
Charming, cute, and fun, Camilla Isley delivered with The Roommate Experiment. This book worked perfectly as a stand-alone book for me as I have not read the first two books in this series. I enjoyed the two main characters, their banter, and their journey. I also enjoyed their group of friends who I assume were featured in the earlier books in this series. Hunter has been in love with her best friend Nina’s brother, Dylan for years. When he becomes her roommate after her spare bedroom becomes available, she knows she will need to keep her feelings in check. She has lusted after him for so long and now they live together but there is one small hiccup – he has a girlfriend! I had a feeling when I read the blurb of this book that there was going to be some bumps in the road and this became a major one. I enjoyed Hunter, who I feel readers become more acquainted with throughout the book. She is smart and savvy. I enjoyed seeing her step up to the plate at work while trying to keep her feelings in check at home. Dylan is also enjoyable but, and this is big BUT, he did have a girlfriend for most of the book. Sure, he tries to untangle himself from this relationship on multiple occasions but come on, grow a pair already. There were some fun scenes in this book, some aggravating scenes, and some where I wanted to have a private chat with Dylan (about growing a pair to name a few). Yes, he is a nice guy and doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings but…… It’s all about the journey with romance books. fI enjoyed these character’s journey despite their bumps in the road. I enjoyed the tension, reading Hunter’s thoughts, cheering for Hunter as she rocked self-confidence at work, and enjoyed watching Dylan get his head out of the sand. I also cheered for Dylan when he opens up and shares something with Hunter that he does not share with others. I was smiling and clapping for his openness and vulnerability in that moment. Plus, the epilogue was fantastic. Fans of Camila Isley will not be disappointed. This was a cute close proximity, roommates-to-lovers book, which was charming, cute, and enjoyable. 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.
The Wife’s Silence
Gripping, shocking, thrilling and dramatic, Amanda McKinney delivered with The Wife’s Silence! Coming in at under 300 pages, The Wife’s Silence is a fast paced, page turner which kept me entertained and glued to the pages! Lucy Greer is desperate for a job and is overjoyed when Thomas Caine, a successful entrepreneur, hires her to care for Emilia, his wife who suffered a stroke and is mainly bedridden. It soon becomes apparent that things are not as they seem in this home. This book is told in two timelines- one being when Emilia is younger and showcases her relationship with her husband, Thomas. The other timeline is in the present as Lucy has been hired to care for Emilia after her stroke. Just when I thought I knew where this book was headed, Amanda McKinney threw in a shocking twist! There were many twists, secrets, and lies in this roller coaster ride of a book. I enjoyed the pace, the tension, and the shocking revelations! Thank you to Storm Publishing 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.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping
I feel like a witch for saying this but A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping was dreadful. I hate writing bad reviews, I know authors put a lot of time, heart, and soul, into the writing of their books, but I found no enjoyment reading this book. As you can see from the many reviews, other reviewers loved it. Not every book is for every reader. I am happy that this book is getting some love -just not from me. I could not get into this book at all, but I kept going as I enjoyed the authors other book, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. I was hoping that I would find this book to be warm, charming, and a fun read. Unfortunately, I did not connect with the characters, the quest to get magic back, the romance, and did not enjoy the ‘unique’ side characters. I kept reading hoping that this book would get better, but sadly, I never warmed up to this book. It fell flat for me and I was left disappointed. I cannot recommend this book, but I can recommend one of the author’s previous books, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping did not cast its spell on me. We can’t love them all. Again, many enjoyed this book so please look for their reviews. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley 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. 18 likes
The Last Ferry Out
The Last Ferry Out has a great premise and takes place in an enticing setting. Abby travels to Isla Colel, a tropical island where her fiancée, Eszter’ died. I enjoyed the premise of a woman searching for answers on an island with only one ferry going in and out on a weekly basis. I loved how this created a sort of trapped feeling which I enjoy in books. Plus, another person goes missing, well I thought this would be a slam dunk for me. Unfortunately, it was missing that little bit of something as well as a faster pace which would have earned this book a higher star rating. I found this book to be slow moving, and I struggle with slow burns. I wanted things to hurry up quite a bit while reading. Some of those characters including Abby annoyed me at times. Hey, it happens we aren’t meant to like them all. What I did enjoy was the setting, the atmosphere, the mystery, the secrets, and the twists. The book is told mainly in the present but goes back and readers get to see Abby and Eszter together. This book looks at love, loss, secrets, and grief. This was a solid three-star book for me. Enjoyable yet too slow in parts for me. Others enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
The Lake Escape
A week at a lake sounds like bliss! The water, the sun, old friends, and cookouts makes for an enjoyable vacation. Unfortunately for Julia, David, and Erika, old friends who spent their summers at their family’s idyllic Vermont lake homes, this week will become a nightmare! Instantly gripping and atmospheric, The Lake Escape, grabbed my attention and never let go! Now that they are adults, Julia, David, and Erika have a lot on their plates – relationships, children, financial responsibility, sex and secrets! They are no longer the carefree teenagers who enjoyed their summers together! David has arrived with Izzy, his newly hired Nanny, children and younger girlfriend to show off his newly renovated home which just happens to block his friends cherished lake views. When his girlfriend goes missing, an investigation is underway. Friends will look differently at friends and a long-ago mystery about two missing women at the lake surfaces. This was book is told through the POV’s of a couple of characters and slowly secrets emerge as do memories. I enjoyed the setting which was nostalgic and ideal. I could imagine the lake, the woods, and the homes. It looks like such a relaxing setting, but it is anything but relaxing for the friends and those in their lives. As the mystery builds, so does the suspense. There were times that I wanted this book to move a little faster. There are quite a few characters and at times I felt as if they bogged down the story a little bit. What doesn’t bog down the plot is the atmosphere, the tension, the suspense, the twists, and the setting. I was lucky enough to have both the book and audiobook which made for a wonderful reading experience! What a great thriller to enjoy this summer! Wonderfully written, well thought out, and gripping. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan 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.
Our Last Wild Days
Dark, atmospheric, with tension lurking just below the surface, Our Last Wild Days sucked me in and never let go. This book began as a bit of a slow burn for me and I do struggle with them, but the author won me over with her wonderful writing, vivid descriptions, and the mystery surrounding Cutter Labasques’s death. I could almost feel the humidity of the swamp, as the family of alligator hunters in Jacknife, Louisiana, went about their business. When Cutter is found face down in the swamp, it is not her brothers but her childhood friend, Loyal May questions Cutter’s death. If you are looking for a book that is heavy on emotion with a fantastic southern setting, Our Last Wild Days may be the book for you! You could cut the tension with a knife as this gritty southern book gets closer to the reveal. The story slowly builds and readers soon get to meet several of the key characters who are flawed, damaged, and beaten down. If you struggle with slow burns as I do, hang in there as Anna Bailey will win you over with her searing plot and vivid descriptions. This was my second book by Anna Bailey, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. Wonderfully written, atmospheric, and gritty. 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 Roommate Experiment
Charming, cute, and fun, Camilla Isley delivered with The Roommate Experiment. This book worked perfectly as a stand-alone book for me as I have not read the first two books in this series. I enjoyed the two main characters, their banter, and their journey. I also enjoyed their group of friends who I assume were featured in the earlier books in this series. Hunter has been in love with her best friend Nina’s brother, Dylan for years. When he becomes her roommate after her spare bedroom becomes available, she knows she will need to keep her feelings in check. She has lusted after him for so long and now they live together but there is one small hiccup – he has a girlfriend! I had a feeling when I read the blurb of this book that there was going to be some bumps in the road and this became a major one. I enjoyed Hunter, who I feel readers become more acquainted with throughout the book. She is smart and savvy. I enjoyed seeing her step up to the plate at work while trying to keep her feelings in check at home. Dylan is also enjoyable but, and this is big BUT, he did have a girlfriend for most of the book. Sure, he tries to untangle himself from this relationship on multiple occasions but come on, grow a pair already. There were some fun scenes in this book, some aggravating scenes, and some where I wanted to have a private chat with Dylan (about growing a pair to name a few). Yes, he is a nice guy and doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings but…… It’s all about the journey with romance books. fI enjoyed these character’s journey despite their bumps in the road. I enjoyed the tension, reading Hunter’s thoughts, cheering for Hunter as she rocked self-confidence at work, and enjoyed watching Dylan get his head out of the sand. I also cheered for Dylan when he opens up and shares something with Hunter that he does not share with others. I was smiling and clapping for his openness and vulnerability in that moment. Plus, the epilogue was fantastic. Fans of Camila Isley will not be disappointed. This was a cute close proximity, roommates-to-lovers book, which was charming, cute, and enjoyable. 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.
The Wife’s Silence
Gripping, shocking, thrilling and dramatic, Amanda McKinney delivered with The Wife’s Silence! Coming in at under 300 pages, The Wife’s Silence is a fast paced, page turner which kept me entertained and glued to the pages! Lucy Greer is desperate for a job and is overjoyed when Thomas Caine, a successful entrepreneur, hires her to care for Emilia, his wife who suffered a stroke and is mainly bedridden. It soon becomes apparent that things are not as they seem in this home. This book is told in two timelines- one being when Emilia is younger and showcases her relationship with her husband, Thomas. The other timeline is in the present as Lucy has been hired to care for Emilia after her stroke. Just when I thought I knew where this book was headed, Amanda McKinney threw in a shocking twist! There were many twists, secrets, and lies in this roller coaster ride of a book. I enjoyed the pace, the tension, and the shocking revelations! Thank you to Storm Publishing 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.
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping
I feel like a witch for saying this but A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping was dreadful. I hate writing bad reviews, I know authors put a lot of time, heart, and soul, into the writing of their books, but I found no enjoyment reading this book. As you can see from the many reviews, other reviewers loved it. Not every book is for every reader. I am happy that this book is getting some love -just not from me. I could not get into this book at all, but I kept going as I enjoyed the authors other book, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. I was hoping that I would find this book to be warm, charming, and a fun read. Unfortunately, I did not connect with the characters, the quest to get magic back, the romance, and did not enjoy the ‘unique’ side characters. I kept reading hoping that this book would get better, but sadly, I never warmed up to this book. It fell flat for me and I was left disappointed. I cannot recommend this book, but I can recommend one of the author’s previous books, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping did not cast its spell on me. We can’t love them all. Again, many enjoyed this book so please look for their reviews. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley 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. 18 likes
The Last Ferry Out
The Last Ferry Out has a great premise and takes place in an enticing setting. Abby travels to Isla Colel, a tropical island where her fiancée, Eszter’ died. I enjoyed the premise of a woman searching for answers on an island with only one ferry going in and out on a weekly basis. I loved how this created a sort of trapped feeling which I enjoy in books. Plus, another person goes missing, well I thought this would be a slam dunk for me. Unfortunately, it was missing that little bit of something as well as a faster pace which would have earned this book a higher star rating. I found this book to be slow moving, and I struggle with slow burns. I wanted things to hurry up quite a bit while reading. Some of those characters including Abby annoyed me at times. Hey, it happens we aren’t meant to like them all. What I did enjoy was the setting, the atmosphere, the mystery, the secrets, and the twists. The book is told mainly in the present but goes back and readers get to see Abby and Eszter together. This book looks at love, loss, secrets, and grief. This was a solid three-star book for me. Enjoyable yet too slow in parts for me. Others enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
The Lake Escape
A week at a lake sounds like bliss! The water, the sun, old friends, and cookouts makes for an enjoyable vacation. Unfortunately for Julia, David, and Erika, old friends who spent their summers at their family’s idyllic Vermont lake homes, this week will become a nightmare! Instantly gripping and atmospheric, The Lake Escape, grabbed my attention and never let go! Now that they are adults, Julia, David, and Erika have a lot on their plates – relationships, children, financial responsibility, sex and secrets! They are no longer the carefree teenagers who enjoyed their summers together! David has arrived with Izzy, his newly hired Nanny, children and younger girlfriend to show off his newly renovated home which just happens to block his friends cherished lake views. When his girlfriend goes missing, an investigation is underway. Friends will look differently at friends and a long-ago mystery about two missing women at the lake surfaces. This was book is told through the POV’s of a couple of characters and slowly secrets emerge as do memories. I enjoyed the setting which was nostalgic and ideal. I could imagine the lake, the woods, and the homes. It looks like such a relaxing setting, but it is anything but relaxing for the friends and those in their lives. As the mystery builds, so does the suspense. There were times that I wanted this book to move a little faster. There are quite a few characters and at times I felt as if they bogged down the story a little bit. What doesn’t bog down the plot is the atmosphere, the tension, the suspense, the twists, and the setting. I was lucky enough to have both the book and audiobook which made for a wonderful reading experience! What a great thriller to enjoy this summer! Wonderfully written, well thought out, and gripping. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan 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.
Our Last Wild Days
Dark, atmospheric, with tension lurking just below the surface, Our Last Wild Days sucked me in and never let go. This book began as a bit of a slow burn for me and I do struggle with them, but the author won me over with her wonderful writing, vivid descriptions, and the mystery surrounding Cutter Labasques’s death. I could almost feel the humidity of the swamp, as the family of alligator hunters in Jacknife, Louisiana, went about their business. When Cutter is found face down in the swamp, it is not her brothers but her childhood friend, Loyal May questions Cutter’s death. If you are looking for a book that is heavy on emotion with a fantastic southern setting, Our Last Wild Days may be the book for you! You could cut the tension with a knife as this gritty southern book gets closer to the reveal. The story slowly builds and readers soon get to meet several of the key characters who are flawed, damaged, and beaten down. If you struggle with slow burns as I do, hang in there as Anna Bailey will win you over with her searing plot and vivid descriptions. This was my second book by Anna Bailey, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. Wonderfully written, atmospheric, and gritty. 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.
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