The Survivor
Gripping, tense, twisted, dark, and deadly! The Survivor was a fast-paced high intensity page turner which mainly takes place on the subway. This book had my heart beating, my fingers crossed and my mind reeling. Ben Cross is having a bad day. He was fired on the first day of his job. He takes the NYC subway on his way home when he starts receiving text messages with text and pictures showing that one person has already been killed and more were to come. Ben is shocked when another subway rider is killed getting off at the next stop. Meanwhile, NYPD detective, Kelly Hendricks is working with the transit police, and she is the first one to arrive at the murder scene. She quickly hops on the train, and things get even more interesting. Ben is no ordinary person. He has a very dark past and someone out there has knowledge about it. He is being targeted by why???? I enjoyed the tension and twists in this book. Being on a subway train provided that “trapped” feeling that I love in books. The suspense mounted at the same pace as the danger. I also enjoyed getting to know more about Ben’s past. It’s a dark and horrific one. I enjoyed this debut book and look forward to reading more books by this author. 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.
Served Him Right
Welp! I really wanted to love this one. I enjoy Lisa Unger’s books. I had high hopes going into this book. I loved the idea of female rage/revenge. Plus, the thought of a woman seeking justice. The beginning of the book grabbed my attention right away, but then it took a turn and I was left thinking, “what just happened?” I liked the take on a woman wronged and this book mainly focuses on sister’s Ana and Vera. The sisters couldn’t be more opposite. The book veers off into some witchcraft, and potions. The book gives readers multiple POV’s but never quite won the reader over. There were too many characters, and I couldn’t get past the part that a police officer would be allowed to investigate someone he had a one-night stand with. That just seemed wrong. Many are enjoying this book more than I did, so please read their books as well. I typically love all things witchy but this one just never cast its spell on me. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row 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.
Marion
A twist on Psycho! Yes, please. How could I resist when the leading lady doesn’t die in the shower but turns the tables on her attacker! Marion is no wilting flower; she was raised by her mother to fight back, and in Marion she takes the bulls by the horn and likes it! Marion has made some bold and bad choices. She steals from her employer so that she can help her sister out of a bad situation. When her bus breaks down on the way to her sister’s home, she gets a room at a remote place on the outskirts of town. Norm, the young innkeeper caring for his mother, is more than happy to help her out. He also tries to off her in the shower, but, as I mentioned, Marion turns the tables on him. Now she is in an even bigger pickle than before. I enjoyed how the author turned the tables and the proverbial blonde victim becomes the hero. This book had dread, tension, danger, twists and characters in two different storylines which finally come together in the end. The beginning of the book piqued my attention, then the middle slowed up a bit, then the author kicked it into overdrive. I enjoyed the two storylines which provided some background on one of the characters while keeping readers engaged. This reader wanted to know when the two storylines would come together and when they did, it was very satisfying. I also enjoyed how the author had two characters having a strong ‘bond’ with their “Mother.” This was a very clever and nice touch. Wonderfully written, well thought out, and thrilling! Thank you to St. Martin’s 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.
Over Her Dead Body
I can’t get over how Over Her Dead Body was gripping, fun, entertaining, humorous, deadly, and dark! I didn’t know whether to cover my eyes or cover my mouth as body parts were discussed in a very snarky, quirky, and funny way! This was not your typical mystery thriller about a hunt for a serial killer. This book had me turning the pages and rooting for Ruth, the main character, the entire way! Speaking of Ruth, she was a hoot! I enjoyed reading her thoughts and motivations. She doesn’t always think before she thinks or acts, but man is she likeable. Ruth had me feeling for her, shaking my head at her, and I kept my fingers crossed for her the entire book! Ruth used to be a journalist who not only wrote about but was on the hunt for serial killer until her co-worker and friend, Greta’, was killed by the notorious killer! Ruth not only lost her friend, but she also lost her job and found herself living in the shed of her ex-husband and his live-in boyfriend. While working for her uncle, she still tries to solve the case, not willing to let her friend’s killer get away with murder! But Ruth has a strange way of trying to catch a killer! She takes hearts from the deceased while working at her uncle’s funeral home. She leaves the hearts around town staging murder scenes! I found myself saying “oh, Ruth” several times while reading this book. I loved the humor, the many unconventional ways that Ruth attempted to draw out the killer while trying to get the police to take another look at the serial killer’s crimes. This book had it all – tension, humor, dread, danger, wit, and heart. It also shows the effects of grief, loss, trauma, guilt, revenge, and friendship. Wonderfully written, well thought out, original, moving, dark, fun, and twisted! 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.
In Time with You
Second Chances – if you could go back and change one thing, would you do it? Nieve Monroe is heartbroken when her boyfriend Carter dies while saving her life. She feels survivor’s guilt, loss, grief, and heartbroken. She can’t help but feel that his death is her fault. Carter’s best friend, Max, was there the day Carter saved Nieve from drowning, and he blamed her as well. Lost in grief, Nieve goes to stay with her eccentric grandmother who talks about magic and unusual happenings. The next morning, Nieve wakes up on her first day of her first year of college. A year before Carter dies, saving her. Can she change the future? What and how will this affect those in her life? This was an enjoyable book that goes back and forth in time as Nieve meets Carter and Max once again. She has the knowledge of the future and strives to make different choices. This was an interesting concept and I enjoyed the characters. This is a YA book and most of the characters are college aged. This book also has magical realism and time travel. One must be open to both concepts to enjoy this book. While I did enjoy this book, I’m not sure if I will remember this book in months to come. Other than that, if you are looking for a cute, contemporary romance book which involves time travel/loops/lapses and magical realism, this might be the book for you. I enjoyed the author’s writing, the well thought out plot, and the focus on grief, second chances, first love, perception, loss, hope, and a bit of magic! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday 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 Shippers
I always get excited when I see a new Katherine Center book coming out! When I saw The Shippers I was over the moon! Diving in with high expectations, I found that the first half of the book was a bit of a letdown. The female main character, while certainly book smart, felt very immature and more like a YA character to me. Whereas the other characters felt their age. This made me shake my head but not enough to make me want to stop reading. After calling off her own wedding after her childhood best friend, Cooper Watts, arrives and tells her not to get married. Cooper declined to attend her wedding but showed up unannounced, and JoJo followed his advice. Months later it is her sister’s turn to get married – a destination marriage on a ship! JoJo is determined to woo the man who gave her an amazing first kiss. A kiss she has been fixated on since that time. Once again, Cooper shows up. Katherine Center pulls out all the troupes for The Shippers. While their first half of the book had me worried, I did enjoy the second half of the book much more. I enjoyed the banter, the miscommunication, the missed chances, the family secrets, and the the journey the characters went on along the way. Cooper was my favorite character, and I rooted for him the entire time. I found that JoJo grew on me as the book progressed and as more was revealed about her childhood and her parent’s issues, some things began to make sense, but I still felt she had some growing up to do. Plus, I didn’t think she could see the forest for the trees! Come on already, a man flies all the way from London to tell you not to get married and you don’t explore that more?????? But again, she was a little immature at the beginning of the book. Despite my rocky start with this book, I did enjoy it and was happy with the resolution. I am happy that I didn’t abandon ship and stuck with The Shippers. It did become a delightful read by the end. Thank you to St. Martin’s 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.
The Survivor
Gripping, tense, twisted, dark, and deadly! The Survivor was a fast-paced high intensity page turner which mainly takes place on the subway. This book had my heart beating, my fingers crossed and my mind reeling. Ben Cross is having a bad day. He was fired on the first day of his job. He takes the NYC subway on his way home when he starts receiving text messages with text and pictures showing that one person has already been killed and more were to come. Ben is shocked when another subway rider is killed getting off at the next stop. Meanwhile, NYPD detective, Kelly Hendricks is working with the transit police, and she is the first one to arrive at the murder scene. She quickly hops on the train, and things get even more interesting. Ben is no ordinary person. He has a very dark past and someone out there has knowledge about it. He is being targeted by why???? I enjoyed the tension and twists in this book. Being on a subway train provided that “trapped” feeling that I love in books. The suspense mounted at the same pace as the danger. I also enjoyed getting to know more about Ben’s past. It’s a dark and horrific one. I enjoyed this debut book and look forward to reading more books by this author. 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.
Served Him Right
Welp! I really wanted to love this one. I enjoy Lisa Unger’s books. I had high hopes going into this book. I loved the idea of female rage/revenge. Plus, the thought of a woman seeking justice. The beginning of the book grabbed my attention right away, but then it took a turn and I was left thinking, “what just happened?” I liked the take on a woman wronged and this book mainly focuses on sister’s Ana and Vera. The sisters couldn’t be more opposite. The book veers off into some witchcraft, and potions. The book gives readers multiple POV’s but never quite won the reader over. There were too many characters, and I couldn’t get past the part that a police officer would be allowed to investigate someone he had a one-night stand with. That just seemed wrong. Many are enjoying this book more than I did, so please read their books as well. I typically love all things witchy but this one just never cast its spell on me. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row 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.
Marion
A twist on Psycho! Yes, please. How could I resist when the leading lady doesn’t die in the shower but turns the tables on her attacker! Marion is no wilting flower; she was raised by her mother to fight back, and in Marion she takes the bulls by the horn and likes it! Marion has made some bold and bad choices. She steals from her employer so that she can help her sister out of a bad situation. When her bus breaks down on the way to her sister’s home, she gets a room at a remote place on the outskirts of town. Norm, the young innkeeper caring for his mother, is more than happy to help her out. He also tries to off her in the shower, but, as I mentioned, Marion turns the tables on him. Now she is in an even bigger pickle than before. I enjoyed how the author turned the tables and the proverbial blonde victim becomes the hero. This book had dread, tension, danger, twists and characters in two different storylines which finally come together in the end. The beginning of the book piqued my attention, then the middle slowed up a bit, then the author kicked it into overdrive. I enjoyed the two storylines which provided some background on one of the characters while keeping readers engaged. This reader wanted to know when the two storylines would come together and when they did, it was very satisfying. I also enjoyed how the author had two characters having a strong ‘bond’ with their “Mother.” This was a very clever and nice touch. Wonderfully written, well thought out, and thrilling! Thank you to St. Martin’s 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.
Over Her Dead Body
I can’t get over how Over Her Dead Body was gripping, fun, entertaining, humorous, deadly, and dark! I didn’t know whether to cover my eyes or cover my mouth as body parts were discussed in a very snarky, quirky, and funny way! This was not your typical mystery thriller about a hunt for a serial killer. This book had me turning the pages and rooting for Ruth, the main character, the entire way! Speaking of Ruth, she was a hoot! I enjoyed reading her thoughts and motivations. She doesn’t always think before she thinks or acts, but man is she likeable. Ruth had me feeling for her, shaking my head at her, and I kept my fingers crossed for her the entire book! Ruth used to be a journalist who not only wrote about but was on the hunt for serial killer until her co-worker and friend, Greta’, was killed by the notorious killer! Ruth not only lost her friend, but she also lost her job and found herself living in the shed of her ex-husband and his live-in boyfriend. While working for her uncle, she still tries to solve the case, not willing to let her friend’s killer get away with murder! But Ruth has a strange way of trying to catch a killer! She takes hearts from the deceased while working at her uncle’s funeral home. She leaves the hearts around town staging murder scenes! I found myself saying “oh, Ruth” several times while reading this book. I loved the humor, the many unconventional ways that Ruth attempted to draw out the killer while trying to get the police to take another look at the serial killer’s crimes. This book had it all – tension, humor, dread, danger, wit, and heart. It also shows the effects of grief, loss, trauma, guilt, revenge, and friendship. Wonderfully written, well thought out, original, moving, dark, fun, and twisted! 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.
In Time with You
Second Chances – if you could go back and change one thing, would you do it? Nieve Monroe is heartbroken when her boyfriend Carter dies while saving her life. She feels survivor’s guilt, loss, grief, and heartbroken. She can’t help but feel that his death is her fault. Carter’s best friend, Max, was there the day Carter saved Nieve from drowning, and he blamed her as well. Lost in grief, Nieve goes to stay with her eccentric grandmother who talks about magic and unusual happenings. The next morning, Nieve wakes up on her first day of her first year of college. A year before Carter dies, saving her. Can she change the future? What and how will this affect those in her life? This was an enjoyable book that goes back and forth in time as Nieve meets Carter and Max once again. She has the knowledge of the future and strives to make different choices. This was an interesting concept and I enjoyed the characters. This is a YA book and most of the characters are college aged. This book also has magical realism and time travel. One must be open to both concepts to enjoy this book. While I did enjoy this book, I’m not sure if I will remember this book in months to come. Other than that, if you are looking for a cute, contemporary romance book which involves time travel/loops/lapses and magical realism, this might be the book for you. I enjoyed the author’s writing, the well thought out plot, and the focus on grief, second chances, first love, perception, loss, hope, and a bit of magic! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Wednesday 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 Shippers
I always get excited when I see a new Katherine Center book coming out! When I saw The Shippers I was over the moon! Diving in with high expectations, I found that the first half of the book was a bit of a letdown. The female main character, while certainly book smart, felt very immature and more like a YA character to me. Whereas the other characters felt their age. This made me shake my head but not enough to make me want to stop reading. After calling off her own wedding after her childhood best friend, Cooper Watts, arrives and tells her not to get married. Cooper declined to attend her wedding but showed up unannounced, and JoJo followed his advice. Months later it is her sister’s turn to get married – a destination marriage on a ship! JoJo is determined to woo the man who gave her an amazing first kiss. A kiss she has been fixated on since that time. Once again, Cooper shows up. Katherine Center pulls out all the troupes for The Shippers. While their first half of the book had me worried, I did enjoy the second half of the book much more. I enjoyed the banter, the miscommunication, the missed chances, the family secrets, and the the journey the characters went on along the way. Cooper was my favorite character, and I rooted for him the entire time. I found that JoJo grew on me as the book progressed and as more was revealed about her childhood and her parent’s issues, some things began to make sense, but I still felt she had some growing up to do. Plus, I didn’t think she could see the forest for the trees! Come on already, a man flies all the way from London to tell you not to get married and you don’t explore that more?????? But again, she was a little immature at the beginning of the book. Despite my rocky start with this book, I did enjoy it and was happy with the resolution. I am happy that I didn’t abandon ship and stuck with The Shippers. It did become a delightful read by the end. Thank you to St. Martin’s 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.
