Tag: book-reviews

Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda

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Daughter of Mine is another nail-biting, shocking, twisted mystery by the amazing storyteller Megan Miranda. With so many questions seemingly not answered and no idea where the plot is going, the reader will be lulled into just enjoying this rollercoaster but hold on tight for each surprise!

Hazel Sharp is an architect who has come home to Mirror Lake to bury her father who died suddenly. She does not come home often as she does not particularly get along with her brother Caden. Her other brother Gage has always been the one to referee the two. But now she must face not only the death of her father, a police officer in the town, as well as her brothers who have followed in his footsteps, but also her past which includes her mother’s abandonment of her years ago leaving her only a note.

At the same time, the town is experiencing a drought like no other. It’s been over 60 days since there has been any rain. The lakes have receded including the one their own house overlooks.

Suddenly, a car emerges from lake a few miles from their house. As her brother Caden goes to investigate, she must now deal with another reason she left years ago. Her best friend Jamie from childhood decided to go and marry her brother Caden without even mentioning to Hazel while she was away at college they were dating.

So, Hazel decides she will stay at their house which was her father’s, and some chilling things begin to happen. Motion sensor flood lights go on for no reason in the middle of the night and batteries seem to have been taken out of the fire alarms in the house when she was asleep.

Then another car is unearthed from the lake only this time it is their lake, and Hazel knows whose it is. Her best friend Jamie disappears after looking at some old pictures, and her brother Caden doesn’t seem all too concerned; only they have a young daughter who wants to know where her mother has gone.

Does she really want to know what happened all those years ago? As she begins to try and figure things out, she is being stopped by her father’s own co-workers who tell her to let sleeping dogs lie. But she can’t and she won’t, and this determination will open a can of worms which could possibly kill her.

What happened all those years ago and why now is this all coming to the surface?

Daughter of Mine is a twisty, warped mystery with page after page of shocking revelations. Your head will begin to spin. And of course, the always unexpected Megan Miranda ending you never would have seen coming and all you can do is gasp!

Published by S&S/Marysue Rucci Books. Thank you Bookreporter.com for the advanced copy.

The Lake Escape by Jamie Day

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Put a lifejacket on before diving into Jamie Day’s new thriller, The Lake Escape! It’s a haunting story of loss, mystery and murder which spans decades. Follow a trio of best friends from childhood now adults with their own children who take their annual vacation together at their lake houses which have been passed on to them from their parents. But when something unexpectedly happens which will reek havoc on all their lives forever, what can they do to save themselves? The lake knows…

Julia, David and Erika grew up coming to their family’s vacation houses on a lake in Vermont since childhood. They have kept that tradition alive with their own families. Over the years their lives have changed both for the good and bad. They have also all grown up with secrets not shared with each other. That is about to change.

This vacation is different right from the start because David who has come into money has decided to expand his lake house and unfortunately Julia and her husband’s view of the lake is impeded. Erika, a lawyer decides to stay out of this fight.

Joining the friends are their children and David’s new nanny, Izzy who was extremely eager to get the position and come to the lake. Also, there is David’s new girlfriend, Fiona a young spitfire no one can figure out.

But after a night of heavy drinking (and other things) they awake to find Fiona missing. David is not too concerned but the others know the secrets of the lake. For the past thirty years every ten years someone has disappeared with no trace. Folklore is that the lake who hungers satisfies itself by taking someone. Is it a coincidence it is exactly 10 years since the last victim?

As the search begins for Fiona, we see the real personalities of the friends who all have secrets, some dark. Their facades and relationships begin to explode in front of our very eyes.

Once the pieces of the puzzles begin to surface like sludge from the deep lake they have always enjoyed, they begin to discover no one really knew the other and the one thing they all seem to have in common is death.

The Lake Escape is as exhausting as swimming in the water for a long period of time, but as exhilarating as well as the shocking outcome will roll over the reader like a wave!

Thank you #Netgalley #St.Martin’sPress # JamieDay #TheLakeEscape for the advanced copy.

Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret By Benjamin Stevenson

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Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret is one of the most unique and funniest books I have read in a very long time. Although this is the third in the series, I can promise you not only will that not hinder the read, but more than likely have you go back and buy the previous two (on their way). The story is told by Ernest Cunningham a detective/not a detective getting ready to be married and oh, it’s less than a couple of weeks before Christmas.

Unfortunately for Ernest it will not be the most wonderful time of the year!

When his ex-wife Erin calls him to say she is in police custody because she was found with blood all over herself when she woke up that morning and to her horrible surprise discovered her beloved boyfriend, Lyle Pearse a wealthy philanthropist who has an organization for struggling addicts dead in the kitchen, well, what else was she supposed to do?

Ernest was planning to go see a magician named Rylan Blaze at a holiday party at Pearse’s Foundation. So of course, he decides to go early and see what he can sniff out for suspects. And of course, to help his ex!

As he begins to question those on staff as well as volunteers, most of whom owe their lives to Lyle Pearse, it seems like there are no suspects. Until that evening during the show, Rylan himself is murdered. Yes, during the show.

So now everyone is a suspect and what a cast of characters they are: the executive, a hypnotist, the twin of the hypnotist, the assistant and a fired volunteer. And yes, they all carry secrets.

As the days on the advent calendar count down…remember this clue…Ernest is baffled. But he will try and put the pieces of the puzzle together, giving the reader hints to follow along. He will also remind us he has done this!

The story and investigation move quicky and with the hysterical dialogue and its snarky tone (in my head), it’s a very enjoyable murder, yes, I know that’s an oxymoron… but it is riveting and quite amusing and of course a shocking twisted ending!

You will fall in love with Ernest the detective/not detective in this can’t put down book Everyone This Christmas Has A Secret!

Thank you #NetGalley #MarinerBooks #BenjaminStevenon #EveryoneThisChristmasHasASecret for the advanced copy.

The Tapes by Kerry Wilksinson

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Imagine you’re mourning the loss of your father, cleaning his house out and in the garage, you find old, dusty cassette tapes one of which has your name written in your mother’s handwriting. Except your mother disappeared years ago. You begin to listen and after the shock of hearing your mother’s long forgotten voice you hear…If they say I’m missing, I’m not. If you are listening to this, I have been murdered.

Thus begins a quest for answers in this absolutely chilling all-consuming mystery which involves a missing woman who had emotional issues, her daughter hanging on by a thread to her sobriety and keeping her daughter in check and also, a serial killer. Get ready for the ride of your life!

Eve’s life has been hard. She dealt with her mother leaving years ago, got into trouble herself but now she is clean and sober, and she and her daughter Faith are now trying to deal with the death of her father who they will be burying at the end of the week.

But now after finding a tape made by her mother, Angela, and not being able to ask her father about any of this, she begins to investigate. Her mother had many emotional issues including she was a habitual liar and a kleptomaniac. As Eve begins to read the tapes, she discovers that her mother says she had stolen a jewelry box which she insisted was from the Earring Killer, a serial killer who tortured their town years ago. She also states she knows the name of the killer. But is any of this true? With her mother’s history, what should she believe?

Where is this jewelry box? Eve has never seen one in their house. Does she go to the police? She feels like with her history they would discard anything she has to say. So, she begins to try and not only piece whether her mother was killed, but also if her disappearance could really have been from this mysterious killer who after torturing their victim took one of their earrings as a souvenir.

Solving this mystery will not be easy for Eve. But what she does not realize as she begins her search is that she has accidentally awakened a serial killer who has been dormant for years and now she could possibly be the next victim.

The Tapes is a terrific murder mystery with a great deal of heart and soul and love. You won’t be able to put the book down and you won’t be able to breath until you discover the shocking, twisty ending you never saw coming.

Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture #TheTapes #KerryWilkinson for the advanced copy.

Eat Post Like by Emily Arden Wells

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Eat Post Like is a deliciously funny love story about loss, food and love, all of which are important to making a very heartwarming story with a strong woman as the main character. A woman who through trauma and sadness is able to pull herself together to become not only stronger but is able to decide what she truly wants in her life. And change her life she does.

Cassie Brooks is a workaholic lawyer who loves her life, or so she thinks. Although she works long hours her boyfriend James an accountant also puts in long hours, so he is not put off. He appreciates her hard work and instead of badgering, he takes to out for dinner to try new restaurants. He truly appreciates her life and she his.

Then tragically James dies. Cassie is lost. She can’t even go over to his apartment to figure out how to organize his things. When she finally does go, she discovers that James had a secret life she never knew about. How could he have kept something from her. Weren’t they soulmates?

James was not an accountant. He was actually a food critic with an Instagram account called @NewYorkSecretDiner, a beloved food account with millions of followers. Why did he not tell her?

Devastated at first, she decides to post on the account. Well, that does not go over very well…until Cassie decides to do something she never imagined she could. She accepts an invitation that @NewYorkSecretDiner had received. An invitation which will take her all over Europe tasting food and drinking wine at the most fabulous restaurants and visiting incredibly beautiful places.

But be careful what you wish for! As the trip begins, she never imagined the time and effort it took to research not only the dishes and wines, but the ingredients and locations. What a mess she feels she is making of Jame’s secret legacy.

So, she decides to create her own account…Eat Post Like. And well, you’ll just have to see what happens to Cassie next. But know there is delicious food, handsome men, very funny characters but especially, Cassie’s personal discoveries about herself, who she is and what she wants out of life. But it’s also about James who may have lived a secret life but loved a wonderful woman!

Thank you #NetGalley #HarperCollins #EatPostLike #EmilyArdenWells for the advanced copy.

Murder Takes A Vacation by Laura Lippman

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Murder Takes A Vacation is a wonderful combination of Agatha Christie and Jessica Fletcher from the Murder She Wrote series. It’s an enjoyable who-done-it with wonderful locations and tempting cuisine. But there is so much more to this mystery as our heroine, an older woman who is a widow now at a crossroads in her life with some regrets to come to terms with. Yet who would ever imagine that a murder could be so much fun!

Muriel Blossom is a senior whose husband passed away a decade ago. She lives for her daughter and grandchildren. But, through no luck of her own she won the lottery! Which should be great news but unfortunately, she has just found out her daughter and her family are moving to Japan! And she was not invited to go with them.

So, Muriel and her best friend Elinor decide to go on a European cruise! This should take her mind off of her sorrows…or so she thinks. Muriel used to work for a detective agency many years ago and looks at life and the world a bit differently than others. So, when she meets a charming man, Allan at the airport well, she is suddenly smitten, yet a bit reserved. Why on earth would he be interested in a frumpy old woman?

But she begins to see him differently and as they make their way to Paris where they will separate, Muriel decides to take a risk. Something she has never done since her husband’s untimely death years ago. And she finds she’s enjoying the attention. But as luck would have it once they arrive in Paris and go their separate ways Muriel discovers Allan has died. Muriel’s radar begins to see something is not right, but alas she will be leaving on the cruise in a few days.

Suddenly she meets another stranger named Danny who decides Muriel needs a makeover and talks her into buying herself a new wardrobe. But again, Muriel feels in her gut something is not right. When she discovers Danny is on the same cruise, well she firmly believes something is going on. But what?

What she discovers is there is a missing statue, a Pakastani jewel encrusted one. And now she believes Allan had something to do with its high jacking! So, Muriel begins to investigate onboard the ship and discovers no one is who they say they are, except for her best friend Elinor of course!

Was Allan killed? But why? And who is Danny? Why won’t he leave her alone?

Murder Takes A Vacation is an exciting mysterious read, with clues galore. You will fall in love with Mrs. Blossom for not only her way of thinking, but all the lessens she will learn as well as secrets she’s been holding on to for years which will change her life forever!

Thank you #NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #LauraLippman #MurderTakesAVacation for the advanced copy.

The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose

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I know I say this every time, but once again, get your box of tissues out because you are certainly going to need them reading the final installment of the wonderfully heartwarming saga of our dear Molly Gray, the most loving, caring and real character who has ever existed in the character world. This story will fill your heart full as we finally get answers to Molly and her late Gran’s life and legacy. And my goodness, what an ending!

Molly Gray is preparing to marry the love of her life Juan Manuel. With very little money they are trying to keep the wedding simple. But a glitch in their plan has them beside themselves. Their landlord is selling the building and now on top of all the other stress they must now find another place they are able to afford to live.

Both are still working at their jobs at The Regency Grand Hotel, Molly as head maid and also manager of Special Events. Juan Manuel is still working on his desserts in the kitchen. And yes, even though they are stressed and struggling, their love always finds a way to keep them going.

When a television antiques appraisal show decides they want to do a live broadcast from The Regency, and with Molly in charge, Juan Manuel convinces her to take a couple of her grandmother’s trinkets to be appraised. One of course is her grandmother’s special teacup which Molly now uses, and the other an egg ornament which had been her Grans.

No one could imagine that live on television, Molly would discover one the items is worth a great deal of money, perhaps millions! How on earth did Gran get it and why did she not tell Molly about it? So many questions but without Gran here no answers. Molly and Juan Manuel decide, with a little pushing from the television hosts to sell the item to the highest bidder live on another broadcast. Who on earth would steal the item?

But when they go live to sell the item, after the final bid, and they go to get it, the item is missing. It was stolen right before their eyes! Confusion abounds, and Molly is heartbroken, but when a key is found which leads to a diary her Gran had been writing before her death well suddenly Molly’s story becomes Grans.

Although a surprising yet hard life, Gran lived with hope, understanding and of course a love for her granddaughter Molly which was unmatched except for one man. As Molly reads, she sees a side of Gran she never imagined and of course loves her even more than she ever imagined she could.

The Maid’s Secret is perfect. Yes, there is a mystery to solve, but more importantly we get to see why Molly and Gran’s love story was so important to each of them and those who loved both of them. Although I certainly did not want to say goodbye, I feel the wonderful circle of love was closed and know Molly and Juan Manuel will have their well-deserved happy ending.

Thank you #NetGalley #BallantineBooks #NitaProse #TheMaid’sSecret for the advanced copy.

Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich

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Oh yes…Julie Tudor is a psychopath, in the book Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath, for real, but the more interesting question we should ask ourselves in this very dark but absolutely hysterical story is why? How on earth does a woman in her forties who has been perhaps killing lots of stuff over the years have so much confidence in herself to believe a young man in his twenties would ever look at her and find her, well, interesting, um romantically. And really believe it!

The story which jumps from one era to the next explains Julie’s logic as to why she feels the need to do what she does. When she’s bored, or when she believes someone is standing in her way or when she wants what she wants when she wants it. But unfortunately for Julie her reign just might be coming to an end with her “love affair” with her co-worker.

When Sean becomes an employee at the company Julie has worked at for years, after being unable to fulfill getting her nursing license…you’ll find out why…well she just knows he’s into her. No matter that he has a girlfriend. She knows Sean is only with her for her rent money. But, when they (Sean and his girlfriend) become engaged, well, that’s a totally different story. So of course, Julie must fix the situation, for Sean, of course something she has been doing for years for those who need help.

For me, the most interesting piece of Julie’s life is just exactly how she became a psychopath. Dispersed throughout the story, believe it or not, you will find you are empathizing with Julie. Does that mean I am a psychopath?? Well, back to the review. Anyway, Julie did not have a very good childhood and perhaps or probably that could be why Julie Tudor is now a psychopath.

Julie Tudor Is Not A Psychopath is darkly hysterical yet extremely empathetically sad as the reader perhaps begins to understand Julie and although absolutely knows she’s crazy, wants to see what she will try next. This is certainly a can’t put down book because you want to see where this is going, and no surprise, the ending is everything!

Thank you #NetGalley #SourcebooksLandmark #JenniferHoldich #JulieTudorIsNotAPsychopath for the advanced copy.

Last Dance Before Dawn by Katharine Schellman

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Last Dance Before Dawn is the riveting finale in the Nightingale Club mystery series. The stories take place during the 1920’s where speakeasys were popular and dangerous. A time in which cops could be easily paid to look the other way, and women were second class citizens no matter what job they had. Even when a woman was a nightclub owner. More importantly it’s about the way women were treated, and what they had to hide in order to exist. But there was one woman, Vivian Kelly who was street smart, had a day job as a seamstress, and a secret night job at the Nightingale where she danced with male customers. some of whom were very shady.

Over the years Vivian saw a number of dead bodies. She tried to hide her second job from her beloved hardworking sister Florence. But now, Florence is settled and it’s time for Vivian to make some hard choices in her life.

Once again there is trouble brewing at the Nightingale Club. A mystery man from Chicago shows up and begins looking for people. Vivian is frightened as she knows who he is looking for and doesn’t know why. One thing is for sure; he has killing on the brain!

So, Vivian goes to her boss and friend Honor, the extremely bright and savvy owner of The Nightingale. She is also intrigued but warns Vivien to stay out of the situation. Vivian thinks Honor knows more than she is saying, but Vivian must think about her sister and niece and keeping them safe.

But of course, she begins to quietly investigate and discovers a shocking story which unfolded a few years ago in Chicago in which people were killed and money was stolen and never recovered. It also has hints of a love story. On top of all that, questions about her parents especially about her father will come to light and be scandalous to both her and her sister.

Last Dance Before Dawn is truly a heart palpitating conclusion to a wonderfully written series about the jazz era and what it was like to live back then as women, some of whom were on the good side of the law and others not so much. It will satisfy the reader with all the unanswered questions, and prove that even back then, women could be strong, smart and cunning.

Thank you #NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #KatharineSchellman #LastDanceBeforeDawn for the advanced copy.

The Love Haters by Katherine Center

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I am truly amazed at how Katherine Center not only comes up with incredibly inspiring, funny yet moving storylines, but also is able to weave such important empowering messages into the plot which only makes the reader empathize so much more with the characters. The Love Haters will inspire you, make you laugh and want to hug yourself.

Katie Vaughn works at a video design company, and she also has a small YouTube channel in which she posts inspiring stories of a day in the life of a hero. But unfortunately for Katie who has had the worst year of her life, it’s about to get even bleaker.

After the love of her life, a musician who suddenly hit stardom and they then became engaged decided to cheat on her with a gorgeous, skinny LA girl, Katie has spent the last year drowning her sorrows in black clothes, lots of ice cream and a great deal of beating herself up. Something her best friend Beanie is trying to help her with.

Now, a co-worker Cole has just informed her that the manager of the company is cleaning house and massive layoffs are coming. He knows for a fact she is on the hit list. BUT he has a job for her in Florida in which she will spend time with a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer named Tom “Hutch” Hutchinson. Now, here are a few important facts…Katie can’t swim and Katie will not be putting a bathing suit on. Of course she takes the job!

Her first introduction to Hutch is spectacular with his Great Dane, George Bailey barreling into her at a pool and causing needed attention to her ahem, backside. Of course, he immediately realizes she can’t swim and insists on giving her lessons. Did I mention Hutch is a sexy god?

But she begins to fit in as a part of Hutch’s family, his Aunt Rue whose housing she is living in as well as her clothing store which she continually brings beautiful bright clothes for Katie, much to Katie’s embarrassment.

She also soon discovers that Cole who got her the job is Hutch’s brother so what’s that about? And Hutch is pretty angry at Katie because Cole was supposed to come to Florida for a family reunion of sorts with Rue.

But when Katie discovers she is being dissed on social media she wants to go back home and hide forever, but it is Hutch who changes her mind, again ahem.

Unfortunately, their developing friendship seemingly ends when Cole decides to make an appearance and tells a few lies, lies Katie cannot at this point shed light on. Now, Katie has once again lost out not only a terrific job but someone she could see herself with.

Take a trip to Florida with Katie and Hutch and of course George Bailey and read about their amazingly funny adventures as a woman who thought she knew everything about herself learns she knew nothing. The Love Haters will have you wanting more of these two pretty dysfunctional people who teach each other lessons about life.

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #KatherineCenter #TheLoveHaters for the advanced copy.