Book Reviews & Thoughts |
Goodreads Synopsis: Terence Bailey is about to be released from prison for breaking and entering, though investigators have long suspected him in the murders of six women. As his freedom approaches, Bailey gets a surprise visit from Maddison Logan, a hot, young influencer with a huge social media following. Hours later, Maddison disappears, and police suspect she’s been kidnapped—or worse. Is Maddison’s disappearance connected to her visit to Bailey? Why was she visiting him in the first place? When they hit a wall in the investigation, the FBI reluctantly asks for Rachel’s help in finding the missing influencer. Maddison seems only to exist on social media; she has no family, no friends, and other than in her posts, most people have never seen her. Who is she, really? Using a fake Instagram account, Rachel Krall goes undercover to BuzzCon, a popular influencer conference, where she discovers a world of fierce rivalry that may have turned lethal. When police find the body of a woman with a tattoo of a snake eating its tail, the FBI must consider a chilling possibility: Bailey has an accomplice on the outside and a dangerous obsession with influencers, including Rachel Krall herself. Suddenly a target of a monster hiding in plain sight, Rachel is forced to confront the very real dangers that lurk in the dark corners of the internet. Rachel Krall, the true crime podcaster star of Megan Goldin’s acclaimed Night Swim returns to search for a popular social media influencer who disappeared after visiting a suspected serial killer. Dark Corners (Rachel Krall, #2) by Megan Goldin | Goodreads Thank you to Megan Goldin, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an ebook copy of Dark Corners for me to read and review. This story was full of so many twists and turns and little details that I was kept engrossed from cover to cover. This is the second book in the series following the main character, true crime Podcaster, Rachel Krall. I read Dark Corners directly following book one and I already am wishing for book 3. That's how much the characters and the storytelling and the plot style have truly hooked me. I love that along the way we gradually find out more and more details about the main character and her personality. This story was filled with so many interwoven pieces of the puzzle that I was kept guessing how they all would fit together. There were a few details that I had figured out or strongly suspected along the way, but the suspense of the story kept me intrigued right to the very end. I am anxiously awaiting book 3. 5 Stars!
0 Comments
Goodreads Synopsis: After the first season of her true crime podcast became an overnight sensation and set an innocent man free, Rachel Krall is now a household name―and the last hope for thousands of people seeking justice. But she’s used to being recognized for her voice, not her face. Which makes it all the more unsettling when she finds a note on her car windshield, addressed to her, begging for help. The small town of Neapolis is being torn apart by a devastating rape trial. The town’s golden boy, a swimmer destined for Olympic greatness, has been accused of raping a high school student, the beloved granddaughter of the police chief. Under pressure to make Season Three a success, Rachel throws herself into interviewing and investigating―but the mysterious letters keep showing up in unexpected places. Someone is following her, and she won’t stop until Rachel finds out what happened to her sister twenty-five years ago. Officially, Jenny Stills tragically drowned, but the letters insists she was murdered―and when Rachel starts asking questions, nobody seems to want to answer. The past and present start to collide as Rachel uncovers startling connections between the two cases that will change the course of the trial and the lives of everyone involved. Electrifying and propulsive, The Night Swim asks: What is the price of a reputation? Can a small town ever right the wrongs of its past? And what really happened to Jenny? The Night Swim by Megan Goldin | Goodreads What an intense read! The Night Swim is a unique twist on a crime thriller/legal drama! The podcast angle is interesting and intriguing. The plot had me feeling so many emotions; angry, sad, outraged, fearful and so many more. The blunt way Goldin delved into the divisive nature of rape cases, especially those where the accused and victim are known to each other was done so powerfully. The Night Swim was the first book I've read by Megan Goldin and I can't wait to read more! This is definitely one that I will be recommending! 5 Stars! Goodreads Synopsis: From treadmill to true love? Zara isn’t what Oliver expects when he enlists a personal trainer named “Zee” to shed his Covid kilos. She’s blonde, brainy, and never says no to a Magnum – something Oliver can get on board with being an ice cream lover himself. Suddenly, exercising is less excruciating with Zara slogging it out next to him on the treadmill – even if he is paying her for his pain. Zara isn’t oblivious to Oliver’s charms and, as they become closer, considers breaking her “never date a client” rule for him. But she could be too late to the party. Other women are noticing his newly toned physique and aren’t being shy about it. With Oliver’s ego swelling along with his muscles, and their friendship hanging in the balance, can they even remain gym buddies, let alone grow into something more? A sweet/clean, dual POV, friends-to-lovers romantic comedy for fans of Portia MacIntosh and Beth O’Leary. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/142643267-you-had-me-at-ice-cream Thank you to Angela Pearse, C.G. Lambert, and BookSirens for providing me with an ebook copy of You Had Me at Ice Cream for me to read and review. What a cute, fun, feel-good romance. This story was filled with interesting, unique characters. The character development of the 2 main characters was well written. The story was filled with plenty of awe moments as well as laugh out loud moments. Overall a fun, cute, quick read. 4 Stars! Goodreads Synopsis: The first time I see my high school crush since graduation, I’m a thirty-year-old woman laying on the table for a pap smear. He’s the hot, newly single doctor who just moved back to his hometown, hoping to find some stability for his daughter. Meanwhile, I’m a hot mess, just fired from my job and ousted from company housing. I’m living in my old bedroom and trying to get my appointments in before my insurance runs out along with what little is left of my money. That’s when Fletcher tells me we may be able to help each other out. He needs a live-in nanny for his daughter over the summer, and the last three have quit after a day. With no other job options in my small hometown, I quickly accept. After all, I’ve dealt with pigheaded, balding middle managers. I can handle an eight-year-old girl… right? If I can’t help her and set aside my feelings for this hot single dad, I’ll need to find a new job away from my family and outside of the town I love. Hello Doctor is full of sweet moments with a firecracker of a little girl, her dad with a heart of gold, and the woman who brings them both together. Grab your copy of this spicy contemporary romance between a nanny and her smoldering boss today! Hello Doctor by Kelsie Hoss | Goodreads Thank you to Kelsie Hoss and Social Butterfly PR for providing me with an advanced ebook copy of Hello Doctor for me to read and review. Wow! This was such an emotional, addictive, rollercoaster of a story! I was sucked in right from the very first chapter and I did not want to put it down! Great character growth and development throughout the story and it was great to see the vulnerable sides of so many characters in this story. It really gave the plot so much depth. This was the first book I read by Hoss and she is now on my must-read list! Definitely recommend for all romance lovers! 5 Stars! Goodreads Synopsis: Sharp and propulsive, The Damages is an engrossing novel set in motion by the disappearance of a student during an ice storm, and explores themes of memory, trauma, friendship, and identity. What I remember best about that week in January is trying to keep track of all the lies I told. 1997: For Ros, starting university at Regis is an opportunity for reinvention--a chance to be seen as interesting, to be accepted by the in-crowd, and maybe even get a boyfriend. But when she meets her roommate, Megan, with her pleated jeans and horse-print bedding, she sees her as a social liability. Outside of their dorm room, Ros distances herself from Megan and quickly befriends the cool kids, seeking status at all costs. Just after winter break, an intense ice storm hits campus, triggering a reckless, days-long dorm party, during which Megan goes missing. Ros is blamed for the incident and abruptly dropped by her social circle, casting a shadow over the next two decades of her life. 2020: Ros's former partner, Lukas, the father of her eleven-year-old son, is accused of a sexual assault. The accusation brings new details of an old story to light, forcing Ros to revisit a dark moment from her past. Ros must take a hard look not only at the father of her child, but also at her own mistakes, her own trauma, and at the supposed liberal period she grew up in. The Damages is a page-turning, thought-provoking novel about the lies we tell other people and the lies we tell ourselves. The Damages by Genevieve Scott | Goodreads Thank you to Genevieve Scott, Penguin Random House Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced ebook copy of The Damages for me to read and review. This is an addictive, page-turner of a story! I loved seeing the main character during both of the time periods shown and the character growth she has undergone by the end of the story was excellent. The interconnected themes of identity and lies was very thought provoking and this is one of those stories that will stick with me for a long while. 4 Stars! Goodreads Synopsis: William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he's been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper. Hours later, Avery's family declares her missing. Suddenly Stanhope doesn't feel so safe. And William isn't the only one on his street who's hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery's neighbors become increasingly unhinged. Who took Avery Wooler? Nothing will prepare you for the truth. Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena | Goodreads Thank you to Shari Lapena, Penguin Random House Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced ebook copy or Everyone Here is Lying for me to read and review. This was a fast paced mysterious thriller with tons of twists and turns. There was a large cast of characters with a wide variety of personalities and roles that inspired feelings anywhere from sympathy and care all the way to disgust. The chapters being short helped keep the pace of the story fast, but the constant switching between points of view without true distinction was a bit difficult to follow at first. However, I came to really enjoy the small insights into each point of view and they truly helped make the story keep you guessing with the different perspectives throwing theory after theory and suspect after suspect at the reader. The portrayal of ADHD was done poorly in my opinion. The writing of this character makes it seem like every person diagnosed with ADHD will have the same type of challenges and behaviors which is very inaccurate and paints ADHD with an unnecessarily negative brush. This could have been researched better and either made more clear that not all people with ADHD are anywhere near as challenging or a different diagnosis used that would be more singular to the type of personality and behaviors shown by this character. Also, the ending seemed very rushed and ended super abruptly. It was such a quick sudden end that I was left feeling like that wasn't an adequate conclusion and maybe I was missing a few pages. For the most part it was a great, enjoyable story and I would read another by this author in the future. 3.5 Stars! Goodreads Synopsis: MIA He's making me an offer I can't resist. So, get this. I'm slaving away at my waitressing gig, dealing with the world's pickiest customer, when he drops a bombshell. He wants me to be his assistant. Me! I couldn't believe it! I mean, sure, I needed the cash and some time to focus on my art. But seriously, working for this guy? I must be out of my mind. He's got all the looks, like he walked straight out of a romance novel. But boy, does he have an ego the size of Mount Everest. He's the type who thinks he's always right, even when he's dead wrong. But, against my better judgment, I'm starting to think there might be something more to him. Could he actually be the one? --- DEREK I'm doing everything in my power to avoid a colossal business disaster. I made the crazy decision to hire Mia Kamaka as my assistant, and now I can't help but feel a spark of excitement. She's drop-dead gorgeous, and I want to spoil her rotten. But let's face it, things are complicated. We're on a dangerous path, and I'm not sure if it's the right one. Maybe there's a better way, a better match. But what if Mia is the one who can turn my life around? --- Match for the Billionaire is a standalone novel in the Seattle CEO series. You don't need to read the other books in the series, but hey, they're all pretty awesome too. Warning: This book contains sizzling love scenes, saucy language, and lots of grown-up stuff. Match for the Billionaire (Seattle CEO #1) by Eve Madison | Goodreads Thank you to Eve Madison for providing me with an ebook copy of Match for the Billionaire for me to read and review. What an addictive story! I was immediately sucked into the characters world and did not want to put this book down! Match for the Billionaire is filled with an interesting, entertaining plot, great characters, and just the right amount of spicy, sexy adult activities. I loved the strong, sassy attitude of the female main character and the incredible growth that she goes through gaining back her confidence. The male main characters past and challenges are different, but the growth he also went through parallels hers beautifully. Madison also pulled off a couple of excellent twists that I didn't predict and she dropped a couple of well placed red herrings into the story to draw readers minds in one direction before turning them right around when the twist is dropped. Definitely can't wait to read the next one in the series! 5 Stars! |
Currently Reading...The Guest
by B.A. Paris Caution Contents Are Hot
by Sandra Alex Search for a previous post:
Archives
April 2024
|