What a wonderful work of historical fiction! This is the second book that I have read by Patti Callahan Henry and she has dazzled me yet again with heWhat a wonderful work of historical fiction! This is the second book that I have read by Patti Callahan Henry and she has dazzled me yet again with her wonderful writing, well thought out plot, vivid descriptions, great characters, and intriguing mystery. The first book I read by her was The Story She Left Behind, and if you have not read that book, I recommend it as well as this one! This book touches on family, war, guilt, life choices, family, love, storytelling, and loss.
During the second world war, Hazel and her younger sister, Flora are sent to a rural village to live with Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry. It is there that Hazel crates stories involving magical lands (Whisperwood) where they can go to escape their troubles. One day, Flora vanishes on the banks of the Thames River, and Hazel will carry her loss and guilt with her wherever she goes. Twenty years later, Hazel will open a book which contains the magical stories she created for her sister years ago....
This book is told through two timelines which provides reader with glimpses into the past while telling the story in the present (1960's) setting of the book. I so felt for Hazel and her feelings of lost and the guilt that she felt over her sister's disappearance. Although she felt loss and guiIt, Hazel also never gave up on knowing the truth about her sister's disappearance. She never gave up and was determined to get answers. I thought the author did a fantastic job at showing how loss and guilt can shape and affect someone's life. Like Hazel, I also tried my best to figure out what might have happened to Flora but never guessed the truth.
I loved how the author brought everything together. This book had me feeling all kinds of emotions and I found it to be equal parts, heart wrenching and hopeful. I loved the emphasis on storytelling and how stories can help us escape and travel to magical places. I also loved the emphasis on bonds, family, love, never giving up, being hopeful, and connections. This book will break your heart but will also mend it along the way.
Gripping, evoking emotion, hard to put down, and a joy to read.
*This was a lovely witches words buddy read with Mary Beth, Carolyn, and Brenda. Please read their wonderful reviews as well!
**I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a wonderful job.
*CRACK* That is the sound of Lisa Regan hitting it out of the ballpark yet again with another thrilling, shocking, addictive and hard to put down book*CRACK* That is the sound of Lisa Regan hitting it out of the ballpark yet again with another thrilling, shocking, addictive and hard to put down book in her amazing Detective Josie Quinn series!!!! Seriously, this series keeps getting better and better!!!! Lisa Regan had my heart pounding, and my emotions stirred the entire book. I feel as if I were on an emotional roller coaster of mystery and thrills! Plus, that ending!!!!! Holy Crap! It left me with my jaw hanging open! I was literally speechless!
Whew! The book begins with Josie and Noah painting a room in their home, their thoughts on the future and their dreams of having a family. After Josie returns home after investigating a crime scene, she finds her home ransacked, blood on various surfaces and Noah is missing! I felt for her and was anxious and desperate for answers as well. The entire Denton police team jumped into action to not only find one of their own but to solve the mystery of the crime scene that Josie was initially investigating.
There were several times in this book where I wanted to high five several characters and time when I wanted to shake a couple of others. I have to say that Turner has begun to grow on me, and I am beside myself trying to figure out his connection with Josie's twin sister, Trinity.
This book is full of tension, dread, unease, and danger. It is also full of love, hope, and support from those in Josie's life. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and fully invested. Lisa Regan stunned and amazed me with this shocking, wonderfully written, and gripping page turner.
Wowza! This book was beyond fantastic! I loved every single page of it! Lisa Regan has outdone herself yet again. Each time I read a book in the series, I come away saying 'that one was the absolute best one yet'. Here I am again and will happily say, This is the absolute best book in the series thus far!!!!!! I love the characters, the character development in this series, the relationships between the characters, the mysteries, and the setting. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
Highly Recommend!
*This was a wonderful Witches Words buddy read with Carolyn, Brenda, and DeAnn. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on Husband Missing
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.
This is not your usual witch tale - not by a long shot! Told in three timelines, The Bewitching is mesmerizing, intriguing, bizarre, mysterious, and tThis is not your usual witch tale - not by a long shot! Told in three timelines, The Bewitching is mesmerizing, intriguing, bizarre, mysterious, and thought provoking. Three women are told “Back then, when I was a young woman, there were still witches.” These are not Disney witches, nor are that what will be found when you follow the yellow brick road. These witches are way beyond that.
Alba, Minerva, and Beatrice are three women connected with interesting tales and fates. Each has an interesting backstory, and each has a distinct personality. Each has a connection to witchcraft and beyond.
The first half of the book was a slow burn for me, but I stuck with it as the premise was intriguing. The second half of the book picks up and I was fully invested and wanted answers. I never knew where this book was going or where Silvia Moreno-Garcia was going to take me. The aspect of witches and warlocks was intriguing and piqued my interest. There was one part of the book which was a bit cringe-worthy and other parts that were a bit graphic but otherwise, I found this to be an interesting albeit different book.
Intriguing, dark, well written, and mysterious.
3.5 stars
*This was a witches Words buddy read with Carolyn and Brenda. Please read their reviews as well to see if they were bewitched by The Bewitching.
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey 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.
Who knew collecting eggs was a thing? It was actually a Big thing! I'm a bit of an outlier because I found this book to be a bit odd. The writing feltWho knew collecting eggs was a thing? It was actually a Big thing! I'm a bit of an outlier because I found this book to be a bit odd. The writing felt very stream of consciousness and it took me quite some time to grasp the flow of it. The Impossible Thing focuses on the stealing and trafficking of eggs. Egg climbers would be lowered over cliffs to collect the eggs of the birds which lived there. Depending on the bird and the color of the egg, it could be a lucrative thing/hobby/collection etc. This book is told in two timelines and proved to be a slow burn as eventually the two timelines connect
In the past timeline (1920-1930), Celie Sheppard is tiny and petite. She proves to be the perfect size to lower over the side of a dangerous cliff that no one else dares to go over. She is successful in finding and obtaining a gorgeous red guillemot egg. She does this year after year as crowds gather to watch. My heart broke for the birds she stole from. They fought to save their egg to finally learn it is to no avail and to simply turn its head unable to watch.
Patrick and Weird Nick are in the present day and looking for a scarlet egg that was stolen during a robbery. They go looking and find and learn more than they expected. They are both interesting and great characters.
While I enjoyed the characters of Celie, Nick, and Patrick, this book failed to wow me as it did most readers. I found it too be too slow in spots and I struggled with the writing. What worked were the three main characters and a very unlikeable character that I found myself booing and hissing at.
There are some wonderful descriptions and characterizations in this book. The author did a great job with that. This just didn't wow me as it did other readers. Speaking of other readers and reviewers, please read their reviews as well.
*This was a witches words buddy read with Carolyn, Brenda, and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews to see if they enjoyed this book or if it was a hard egg for them to crack.
Thank you to Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly 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.
What a lovely book with a beautiful cover! I loved this book about a missing mother, a daughter looking for answers, a secret language/words/writing aWhat a lovely book with a beautiful cover! I loved this book about a missing mother, a daughter looking for answers, a secret language/words/writing and love. This wonderful book touched on a quest for answers, abandonment, love, loss, legacy, family, found family, longing, and forgiveness. I was intrigued by the secret language, the mystery, and the characters.
Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham was a world-renowned author who became a child prodigy when she wrote a bestselling book written in a secret language when she was 12 years old. When her daughter Clara was eight years old, she disappeared and left her husband and Clara behind.
Clara grew up to become a children's book illustrator with a young daughter named Wynnie. She is shocked when she receives a phone call from Charlie Jameson, in London informing her that a dictionary of her mother's secret language has been discovered. Clara and her daughter, Wynnie, set sail and arrive during the Great Smog of London. Clara hopes to find answers, obtain her mother's papers, and be able to move on.
What a wonderfully written and well thought out book. I was swept away along with Clara and Wynnie as they set out for answers and found more than they were looking for. I was fully invested in this book and the journey that each of the characters took as secrets and the truth merged between the pages.
This was my first book by Patti Callahan Henry, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Captivating, gripping, and a delight to read.
4.5 stars
*A witches words buddy read with Norma, Brenda DeAnn, and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews as well to see their thoughts on The Story She Left Behind.
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.
Gripping, shocking and full of danger, Rage, grabbed my attention from the very first page and never let go! If there is a crime in Painters Mill, youGripping, shocking and full of danger, Rage, grabbed my attention from the very first page and never let go! If there is a crime in Painters Mill, you know that Chief of Police Kate Burkholder will be on the case! This is the 17th book in the Kate Burkholder series and Linda Castillo has delivered yet again! Plus, readers get to see Kate's husband, John Tomasetti, on the case as well.
A dismembered body of a local Amish man is found, Kate is called to the scene. When the body of the man's best friend is also found murdered, the community is rocked. Initially no one is willing to talk but when a woman finally comes forward, Kate learns that the Amish victims had dark dealings with some violent and dangerous individuals. Secrets, lies, manipulation, power, control, and diabolical characters, make for a timely and gripping read.
Kate Burkholder, who was once Amish herself, is one tough cookie who often takes dangerous chances in the pursuit of justice! She finds herself in more than one sticky situation with some vile and violent characters. I enjoy her grit, her determination, her drive, and her commitment to solving crimes.
I enjoyed the action, the plot, and the characters. This book, like the others in the series, gives readers glimpses into Kate's professional and personal life. She is a well-rounded character who I root for every single book. I enjoyed the tension, the mounting danger, and the relevant storyline. Wonderfully written, well thought out, gripping, and hard to put down!
*Witches Words buddy read with DeAnn and Dorie. Please read their reviews as well to see what they thought of Rage!
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.
It kills me to write this, but Too Old for This was so bloody good! Seriously, Samantha Downing killed it with her tale of a retired serial killer whoIt kills me to write this, but Too Old for This was so bloody good! Seriously, Samantha Downing killed it with her tale of a retired serial killer who just wants to enjoy the later years of her life, going to church, playing bingo, and enjoying her quiet time. Sure, thoughts of killing annoying people in her life might creep into her mind, but she keeps them to herself....
Lottie thought her days of killing were behind her. She is a grandmother now and has Bingo to play. But when Plum Dixon, an investigative journalist, knocks on her door and begins to question her, Lottie knows that all those unsolved cases might come back to haunt her, and she can't have that!!!
Oh, how I enjoyed Lottie and her inner thoughts. She was a hoot, and I enjoyed reading about her moral compass on what is proper and what is not. She is not as young as she used to be and well, murder - let's just say it can be exhausting. But Lottie is not a quitter...
Samantha Downing has delivered another clever, gripping, shocking, fun, and thrilling page turner! I could not put this book down! I loved every second of it. Lottie is such a well-drawn character and Samantha Downing made me feel sorry for Lottie with her aches, pains, and struggles while doing what Lottie does best! Too Old for This reminded me of An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good which I also adored. Not in the storyline or plot, but with the aging female serial killer.
This book had a nice amount of tension, humor, wit, cat-and-mouse, and danger. Lottie is a bloody good killer, and some scenes may not be for everyone.
Addictive, clever, dark, and hard to put down!
*A bloody good witches words buddy read with Dorie, Norma, Carolyn. Please read their reviews as well to see their thoughts on Too Old for This!
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.
Absolutely brilliant and beautiful. My friends, I encourage you all to grab a copy of My Friends and enjoy it in your favorite reading spot! I loved, Absolutely brilliant and beautiful. My friends, I encourage you all to grab a copy of My Friends and enjoy it in your favorite reading spot! I loved, loved, loved this book. All the stars and then some! I love books about found family, underdogs, and flawed individuals. I also love with books with beautiful writing and Fredrik Backman out did himself with My Friends! Every single page of this book was a gift. This book evoked emotion, had me rooting for the characters, feeling their pain and their joy. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and there is so much beauty in this book. Beauty in the friendships, beauty in the artwork, beauty in found family, and beauty in the kindness of strangers. There is also love. Love for friends, love for those who are not related to us but become our family, love for family (even if they are horrible) and love of art.
It is a piece of art but it also so much more. It is the embodiment of a bond, it was their life, it was their friendship, it was a found family, it was a summer day, and it was everything to the group of teens who were painted by their friend, the artist. Louisa, a young artist herself, sees what the artists intended while looking at the artwork at a museum while others only see the Sea.
A chance meeting with the artist in an alley will change Louisa's life. He sees in her what she can't see herself. He sees her beauty, her perceptive eye, her loss, her grief, and her love of art. He bequeaths her the painting and unknowing/knowingly gives her so much more. Ted, the artists childhood friend and one of the teens in the painting, gives Louisa the painting and along their journey together shares with her the story behind the artwork.
What a joy this was to read. It is brilliant, and beautifully written. I found myself highlighting section after section. My Friends is now my favorite book by Backman. This book gives all the feels while also giving some humor, some smiles, some tears, and some hope. I loved his flawed characters and how they came together and became each other's family. The friendships of our youth are special and life altering, and Fredrik Backman captured that beautifully. Plus, the ending - priceless.
Told in two timelines, My Friends is a masterpiece itself. Beautifully written, evoking emotion well thought out, and moving. Highly Recommend.
*A Wonderful Witches words buddy read with Brenda, Norma, and Dorie! Please read their reviews as well to see what they thought of My Friends!
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.
Tracy Crosswhite is back in this tale of memories, revenge, redemption, and high stakes! A Dead Draw was slow to start but built to the ultimate showdTracy Crosswhite is back in this tale of memories, revenge, redemption, and high stakes! A Dead Draw was slow to start but built to the ultimate showdown! This cat-and-mouse book has Tracy going back to basics, remembering the past, while planning for her family’s future.
Tracy is usually cool under pressure but after a tense interrogation with the evil and diabolical, Erik Schmidt, who has ties to the man who murdered her sister, she loses her cool and detached demeanor. She goes on to make a shocking mistake on the shooting range that sees her being asked to take time off to regroup. Along with Dan, her husband, their daughter and nanny, Tracy goes back to her hometown of Cedars Grove to regroup and relax at their weekend house. Tracy meets with her former shooting coach and meets his granddaughter, Lydia, who has her own unique way of approaching shooting which Tracy may find beneficial. Bur relaxing will not be in her future after Schmidt is freed......
Fans of the series know that Tracy and her sister participated in shooting competitions and that Tracy is an excellent shot. So, when she makes a mistake on the shooting range, I felt bad for her knowing how much prides herself on her shooting. This gives Dugoni an opportunity to show how stress, trauma, PTSD, and pressure affects Tracy. I appreciated him bringing attention to PTSD.
This book has a BIG emphasis on guns and shooting. As I mentioned this book was slow in the beginning and I do struggle with slowness in books. I started getting worried and thought "this is not the Tracy Crosswhite series that I am used to". Thankfully the last half of the book picked up and things become more tense, more dangerous, and more deadly. While this was not my favorite book in the series, I found it to be enjoyable, shocking, and left me wanting to know what comes next!
3.5 stars
*Be sure to read the Author's note at the end of the book.
**A wonderful Witches Words buddy read with Carolyn and Dorie. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on the book!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer 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.
After the glaciers have melted, Nonie, her family, and a group of researchers stayed behind living in a settlement on top of the American Museum of NaAfter the glaciers have melted, Nonie, her family, and a group of researchers stayed behind living in a settlement on top of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Survival is the name of the game for them. They learn to be self-reliant but when a superstorm hits, Nonie and her family flee, taking with them a book that holds their records. Along the way they encounter civilizations that have been created, they suffer, experience loss, experience community, and do their best to survive.
This book was very slow going and I struggled with that while reading. This book was also dark and dreary as one would expect the world to be after the effects of climate change changes the world. Nonie is an interesting character and has a connection to the water. It is all she has ever known. She can't recall a time when there wasn't water everywhere.
This book provided a lot of food for thought concerning climate change, survival, choices, moving on, and formed communities. I so wanted to love this book, but it was so slow moving that I put this book down and turned to other books. One positive is I listened to the audiobook, and I thought the narrator did a fantastic job. I also thought the author did a good job creating the dystopian world.
Much too slow for my tastes but others are enjoying this book, so please read their reviews as well.
2.75 for me rounded up to 3 stars.
*This was a buddy read with Mary Beth and Carolyn. Please read their reviews as well to see their thoughts on All the Water in the World.
Thank you to 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.
With Senseless, Ronald Malfi has crafted a creepy, captivating, supernatural, horrific and shocking tale. I had no idea where this book was going withWith Senseless, Ronald Malfi has crafted a creepy, captivating, supernatural, horrific and shocking tale. I had no idea where this book was going with the various subplots, but Malfi wove this book together expertly and brilliantly. This book touches on secrets, family, loss, relationships, the underbelly of Los Angeles, mental health, marriage, and horrific crimes.
Whew! The body of a young woman has been found horribly mutilated outside of L.A. and Detective Bill Renney, who recently lost his wife, can't help but see the similarities between the murder and horrific mutilation of a woman the year prior.
Maureen Park has recently become engaged to Hollywood producer, Greg Dawson and finds herself increasingly uncomfortable and feeling uneasy around his son, Landon. He seems to enjoy making people uncomfortable.
Toby Kampen, is a young man who refers to himself as a Human Fly. He lives a solitary existence but when he meets a unique woman a bar who piques his interest and has him wondering if she human or something else altogether.
As I mentioned, I had no clue where this book was going or how everything was going to come together. but Malfi pulled it off brilliantly. The characters are an interesting bunch with many of the characters being more unlikeable than the next. One or two were likeable, but ALL had secrets!
This book was oozing with unease, tension, dread, and chilling moments! Plus, the atmosphere was top notch and added to the eerie vibe of this book. Hats off to Malfi for such a horrific, wonderfully written, and well thought out book!
Fans of Malfi will not be disappointed. If you have not read a book by Malfi, you will want to sink your teeth into this one!
*A Witches Words buddy read with Brenda ~The Book Witch. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on Senseless
Thank you to Titan 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.
A gripping and moving tale of family, motherhood, love, resiliency, identity, and class. The Girls of Good Fortune had a great opening scene with a woA gripping and moving tale of family, motherhood, love, resiliency, identity, and class. The Girls of Good Fortune had a great opening scene with a woman waking up, wearing clothes that are not hers, and not knowing her surroundings. From there readers learn the story of Celia, a half Chinese young woman who falls in love with her employer's son in Portland in the late 188o's.
Celia's life is not easy. She is living during a time of anti-Chinese sentiment. Kristina McMorris weaves the Hells Canyon massacre into the story as well as how many found themselves "shanghaied" to be shipped off for forced labor. Celia, who can pass as white, endures many hardships during the novel. Being a young woman, she is naive and often exhibits poor decisions making and judgement calls. She also is brave, determined, resourceful, and loving.
In the beginning of the book, I went from being gripped by the captivating opening scene to wondering if this was the book for me. That changed drastically in the second half of the book where I was hooked, hoping for the best, fearing the worst, and rooting for Celia the entire way. She goes through a lot in this book from falling in love and being kidnapped to name a few, I wondered just how much more can one person take?
I appreciated the amount of research that went into the writing of this book. I also enjoyed how the book picked up and slowly wrapped me around its finger. I felt for several of the characters and the injustice that they faced.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, moving, and captivating.
*A wonderful witches words buddy read with Carolyn and Mary Beth! Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on The Girls of Good Fortune!
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark 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.
*CRACK* That is the sound of Angela Marsons hitting it out of the ballpark with 36 Hours! I can't believe that this is the 21st book in the addictive,*CRACK* That is the sound of Angela Marsons hitting it out of the ballpark with 36 Hours! I can't believe that this is the 21st book in the addictive, captivating, and thrilling DI Kim Stone series! 36 Hours was addictive, original, and tense! Whew! Angela Marsons always has delivers and had me turning the pages and on the edge of the seat as Kim and her team worked against the clock to catch a killer!!!!!!! I was instantly gripped from the very beginning of this book. I was on the edge of my seat with my fingers crossed and my heart pounding as things became grim and deadly.
Detective Kim Stone gets an early morning phone call from journalist Tracy Frost who has received an alarming message. Kim has 36 hours to follow the clues and if she fails, people will die! Talk about pressure! Her team gathered and worked together to solve the clue which led them to a hidden box in the woods which contained another clue and a tape. Kim and her devoted team worked tirelessly to solve the clues to stop a killer before it is too late. The killer is diabolical, clever, and deadly. As the clock continues to wind down and things become dire, the team is pushed to the brink in their pursuit for justice.
Kim continues to be such a fabulous character. I love how she is both tough as nails yet has a heart of gold. She is clever, intelligent, spunky, hardworking and will stop at nothing to get to the truth. She along with her team have great banter, teamwork, and camaraderie. I enjoy the glimpses into their private lives. I also appreciate how Marson's shows how their investigations affect each of them personally. Don’t get me started on the dynamic between Kim and Frost!
36 Hours was brimming with tension, twists, dread, and danger. There were several scenes that had my pulse pounding and had me wanting to know what was going to happen next! Speaking of what comes next, I can't wait to read what Angela Marsons writes next!
I had the pleasure of having both the book and audiobook and enjoying switching back and forth between the two. The narration of the audiobook was fantastic and made for a lovely reading experience.
Wonderfully written, fast paced, addictive and hard to put down!
*A Witches Words Buddy read
Thank you to Bookouture, Bookouture 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.
New Orleans is the home of secrets and We Don't Talk About Emma shows the dark, gritty, and ugly underbelly of the city. This book is full of dark secNew Orleans is the home of secrets and We Don't Talk About Emma shows the dark, gritty, and ugly underbelly of the city. This book is full of dark secrets, lies, danger, powerful players, and revenge. Is murder ever justified? This book was co-written with E.J. Findorff who is from New Orleans, and I am sure he provided his knowledge of the city, the food, the streets, and the vibe.
New Orleans Detective, Nikki Mayeaux is tasked with investigating the murder of a serial rapist. A man she intended to kill that very night! She believes that his killer is Emma, a runaway who was one of his victims. She will be investigating the case with Detective Keith Teague, a man she once had a relationship with. Together they will hit the streets of New Orleans and meet with the haves and the have nots while trying to get to the truth. What they uncover will be dark, dangerous, and deadly. Those in power want to protect their sick secrets while there are those who want justice. This book becomes a cat-and-mouse hunt from Bourbon Street to beyond. It's a dog-eat-dog world and I thought the authors did a great job depicting that in this book.
I struggled with the first half of this book. I am usually fully invested in J.D. Barker's books, but this one had me worried. The second half of the book picked up for me as more was revealed and things began to come together, and I had several 'aha' moments while reading. I can't fault the writing; I just found this one just didn't quite hit the mark for me. That won’t stop me from reading more of J.D. Barker's books and it did pique my interest in reading books by E.J. Findorff.
*A witches words buddy read.
Thank you to Hampton Creek Press, J.D. Barker 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.
I wanted to give Gail a great big giant hug after reading this book. This book may be short on pages but packs quite a powerful quiet punch. I found tI wanted to give Gail a great big giant hug after reading this book. This book may be short on pages but packs quite a powerful quiet punch. I found this book to be beautifully written, moving, gripping, and thought provoking. Relationships are the name of the game in this wonderful book!
Three Days in June provides readers with a look into the life of Gail Baines over the course of, you guessed it, three days. One the first day, we along with Gail, learns she is losing her job. Add that to the fact that she was not invited to the spa day prior to her daughter, Debbie's wedding. Then Max, her ex-husband, shows up with a cat and no place to stay. Whew!
I enjoyed getting to know the characters and see Gail's present life and relationships while getting glimpses into her past and past relationships. Gail may not be a people person, but she has a heart, feelings, and emotions. The characters are quirky, unique, interesting, and memorable.
I enjoyed reading along as Gail, Max, and Debbie interacted amongst themselves and others. In three days so much happened and changed for all for all of them in quiet but BIG ways
This is the first book Anne Tyler book that I have read, and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
Beautifully written and a joy to read.
*A Witches Words buddy read.
Thank you to Knopf 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 coming-of-age story that centers around the mystery of children and teens vanishing in Harting Farms. Their bodies often being found near Decemb1993
A coming-of-age story that centers around the mystery of children and teens vanishing in Harting Farms. Their bodies often being found near December Park. Everyone in town is on edge. The kids dub the killer the Piper and for one group of teenage friends, finding the piper and solving the mystery consumes their free time and shapes their summer and relationships.
I enjoyed the group of friends Angelo, Michael, Scott, Adrian and Peter and their quest to find the truth. Angelo's (Angie) family was wonderfully drawn and who would not want to come over and have some of his grandmother's cooking?
I agree with other reviewers who have mentioned that this book reminded them of Stephen King's The Body (i.e. Stand By Me in movie form). I enjoyed the sense of nostalgia that seeped from the pages of December Park. I also enjoyed the camaraderie between the group of friends. As they hunt down clues and come face to face with bullies, I found myself wanting to warn them, hug them, scold them, and cheer them on.
This book was a bit of a slow burn, and I struggle with slow burns. December Parkdid feel long at times. But I hung in there and I am glad that I did. I did not see the HUGE twist/reveal that came at the end. That was a shocker.
Overall, an enjoyable, nostalgic but long book that follows a group of teenage boys as they hunt down clues, face challenges, make friends, and face the harshness of life.
Amateur Sleuths who are part of an online true crime community throw themselves into hunting for a diabolical killer and solving the recent murders ofAmateur Sleuths who are part of an online true crime community throw themselves into hunting for a diabolical killer and solving the recent murders of three college young women. They leave their armchairs where they have done their sleuthing online to join up and hunt down a killer of the women. Along the way this 'found family' of online sleuths will bond, will ponder, will question others, and will question themselves.
Jane Sharp, who is still grieving the recent death of her father, joins the online group who fill a void in her life. There she finds friends, a purpose, a distraction from her grief, and danger! The group is an interesting one with distinct, flawed, interesting and flawed individuals. They have a common goal and do their best to get to the bottom of things.
I found this book to be enjoyable, intriguing, and well thought out. My one main issue is that it does lag in the middle. I feel a little editing could have benefitted the book a bit. Having said that, I enjoyed the twists, reveals, the sense of danger and suspense toward the end of the book.
If the setting Delphine, Idaho and the killing of the college women rings a bell, Abigail Williams and Liberty German, were murdered and their real like murders have been dubbed the “Delphi murders” This book may feel to close and too soon for some and several reviewers have voiced this in their reviews.
Overall, an enjoyable book about online sleuths hunting for a killer. As with her other books, this book was well written, well thought out, thought provoking, and tense.
*A Witches Words Buddy read
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark 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.
T.J. Klune has dazzled me yet again with his gripping and wonderful The Bones Beneath My Skin! This book had me feeling all the feels. I was completelT.J. Klune has dazzled me yet again with his gripping and wonderful The Bones Beneath My Skin! This book had me feeling all the feels. I was completely immersed in this book, the descriptions, the characters, and the plot. T.J. Klune excels at writing about found family(s), relationships, and love. His characters are equal parts quirky and endearing. I just want to hug them all and spend time with them all.
The book begins with Nate Cartwright returning to his hometown after being fired from his job as a journalist. His estranged parents are dead, and he inherited their cabin in Oregon. He hopes to enjoy the solitude and have some time to himself to figure out what comes next. He never imagined what he would find when he arrived. A man named Alex and a little girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Who could not fall a little bit in love with her? I mean seriously with that name alone I fell hook line and sinker for her quirkily little self!
It's interesting how lives can change on a dime. How one moment you are living your life and the next everything changes. This happens to the three characters in this book. I adored them all. With most of Klune's books, the characters go on a quest/adventure of sorts. They are outsiders who are endearing, brave, loveable, and strong (even if they don't know it).
As I mentioned, this book had me feeling all kinds of emotions ranging from, hope, anxiety, sadness, happiness, and joy. The Bones Beneath My Skin has secret agencies, a quest for survival, and even romance. I love the found family aspect of his books. The coming together or people, the acceptance, the bonds, the love, and even the spats.
This book was heartwarming, beautifully written, and moving. T.J. Klune could write the phone book and make it magical! I love how he gives readers characters to root for, to be inspired by, and to fall in love with. There were so many insightful and beautiful passages in this book about love, what it means to be human, and connection! I simply adore T.J. Klune's books and highly recommend them.
Beautifully written, heartwarming, and imaginative!
*A Witches Words buddy read with Mary Beth! Please read her review as well to see her thoughts on The Bones Beneath My Skin!
Thank you to Tor 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.
Gripping, shocking, and hard to put down! Gillian McAllister delivered a gripping and brilliantly thought out storyline with Famous Last Words! I was Gripping, shocking, and hard to put down! Gillian McAllister delivered a gripping and brilliantly thought out storyline with Famous Last Words! I was instantly engrossed in the beginning of the book as Cam (Camilla) learns that her husband, Luke, is holding people hostage at gunpoint! She is utterly shocked as it is so out of character for him but then again him leaving in the morning without saying a word and only leaving a note behind, was out of character as well.
Holy Moly, this book took me on a wild ride as Niall, the hostage negotiator comes on the scene! I had no idea where this book was taking me and I had a lot of fun trying to figure out where this book was going, what was behind Luke's actions, and how things were going to wrap up! There were some jaw dropping moments, moments when I wanted to yell at the characters, and a moment when I wanted to slap my forehead when a reveal occurred that I felt that I should have seen it coming but didn't!
Clever, well thought out, thrilling, and hard to put down! I can't wait to read what Gillian McAllister writes next!
*A wonderful buddy read with Brenda~ The Sisters and Norma ~ The Sisters. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on Famous Last Words!
Thank you to William Morrow 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.
Told in two timelines, The Sirens was a thought provoking book about sisters, strength, secrets, and determination. I really enjoyed The Sirens despitTold in two timelines, The Sirens was a thought provoking book about sisters, strength, secrets, and determination. I really enjoyed The Sirens despite it being a tad slow in the beginning. I enjoyed the 'finding out who you are' aspect of this book. I also enjoyed the relationships and the themes of family, family secrets, female friendships and sisterhood. Not to mention the look at how women are/were persecuted yet remained strong throughout history. I also enjoyed the atmosphere and the feeling of being called to the sea, feeling a part of it, and being drawn to it. I liked how Mary and Eliza in the past (1800), had a strong bond and how they changed on the convict ship. I also enjoyed how Lucy (2019) (went searching for Jess, her sister and found out the truth of who she and Jess truly are.
I found this to be a very thought provoking and original book. It is wonderfully written and captivating. The characters are likeable, intriguing, and their plight is gripping. As I mentioned, this book had a slow start for me but soon I was won over and I wanted to know how things would turn out. This book combines mystery, fantasy, magical realism, and history.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Harper Collins UK/ The Borough 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.
*A Witches Words buddy read with Brenda - The Book Witch. Please read her review as well to get her thoughts on The Sirens.
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