I have read and listened to a few of Lisa Jewell’s books and I have enjoyed them all. This one kept me gripped and I finished it in just a couple of sittings.
Ellie Mack was fifteen when she went missing over ten years ago. Ellie was a very smart, lovely girl whose disappearance left a hole in the lives of those who loved her. Ellie’s mother, Laurel Mack has never given up hope of finding her daughter.
The book opens from Ellie’s point of view ten years earlier. Life is going great for Ellie. She’s doing well in school and the boy she’s had her eye on seems to like her too. Her future is bright.
Then she leaves home one morning to go to the library and doesn’t return.
The police thought Ellie might have run away. But Laurel knew that wasn’t possible. The years went by and although Laurel kept pushing the police to do more…there was only so much they could or would do.
Ten years later, Laurel is still struggling. She doesn’t socialize. She just works and visits her mother once a week. Though it seems everyone else has moved on, Laurel feels stuck in place. But then, she meets someone new. Suddenly, all of those thoughts and questions come rushing back with a vengeance.
What happened to Ellie Mack? Will her mother ever learn the whole truth?
Once again, I am impressed with Lisa Jewell’s storytelling. I thought this was a terrific story. Told from multiple points of view, alternating between ‘then’ and ‘now’, I was enthralled as everything was revealed.
Populated with fantastic characters, this was a fascinating and moving story about obsession, loss, and family. Some suspension of disbelief may be necessary, but it didn’t really bother me, I just enjoyed what I found to be a unique and absorbing story.
Gripping and heartbreaking, I shed more than a few tears as the book came to an end with a gut-wrenching epilogue.
As you can tell, I loved this novel. I can’t wait to read more of Lisa Jewell’s previous novels and of course, I'm looking forward to reading what she writes next....more
I listened to this audiobook last year and loved it. It was actually my first book from the series.
I'm not sure why I didn't update this sooner. It wI listened to this audiobook last year and loved it. It was actually my first book from the series.
I'm not sure why I didn't update this sooner. It was seeing Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill's review today that reminded me how much I enjoyed this. If you have a chance check out her excellent review.
“Bottled Goods is written in short bursts of “flash fiction” and explores universal themes of empowerment, liberty, family, and loyalty.”
Bottled Goods is set in the 1970’s Romania during Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s repressive regime. Alina and her husband, Liviu are both teachers living in Romania. While life is far from easy, they are relatively happy.
Then came the Saturday when everything changed…
They arrive home one afternoon and find two men in grey suits waiting for them. “Please come with us. We have to ask you a few questions.”
It seems Alina’s brother-in-law; Mihai is not planning on returning to Romania.
They are persecuted for Mihai’s defection and immediately put under surveillance. They are harassed by authorities and ignored by their friends. Alina is visited by the secret police weekly, and the visits become even more terrifying.
Alina and her husband struggle for freedom. But freedom can come at a great cost.
How can they possibly escape if the government is watching and listening? Plus there are others who may want to jinx their plans.
Will Alina’s Aunt Theresa be able to help?
To be honest, “Bottled Goods” is not likely a book I would have chosen for myself. However, I’ve been trying to broaden my horizons by reading books I might not normally read.
This was a very quick read at 192 pages, and the short chapters seemed to make it go even faster. The story is told from Alina’s point of view.
The author created some very intriguing characters, especially the superstitious Aunt Theresa. I couldn’t help but feel for Alina and I can’t imagine how I would have handled the situations she was in. I enjoyed learning more about Romanian folklore, and while I’m not a huge fan of magical realism, it seemed to fit in well here. I’m not sure how I felt about the ending but overall, I thought this was an enjoyable read.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
Wow! My thoughts are all over the place. I’ve read one other book by Colleen Hoover. “It Ends With Us” was an emotional read that I enjoyed. This probably wasn’t the best book to read right before I went to sleep. Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. It’s all I could think about.
Author Lowen Ashleigh is on her way to a meeting when she witnesses a deadly car accident. A man asks her if she's hurt. Lowen realizes he’s asking because evidence of the accident is all over her shirt. The impact of what she just witnessed hits her and she starts to feel light-headed. The man, Jeremy helps her clean up. He asks if she'll be okay as he needs to get to a meeting. Lowen reassures him that she will be fine and they part ways.
Lowen and her agent, Corey are meeting with a publisher about a potential offer. They both must sign a non-disclosure agreement before the meeting begins. On the way to the elevator, Lowen runs into Jeremy again. His meeting is on the fourteenth floor which is also where Lowen’s meeting is scheduled to take place.
What are the odds?
When Lowen hears the offer she’s both stunned and wary. Jeremy’s wife is author, Verity Crawford. They are looking for an author to complete the remaining three books in Verity’s best-selling series. Verity is unable to finish them herself due to medical reasons. Although Lowen needs the money, she doesn’t think this will work for her. She hates social media, having to do meet and greets, and all the other things that go along with promoting a book.
But when Jeremy and Lowen speak again privately, their conversation ends with her accepting the offer…
This will change Lowen’s life in more ways than she can imagine.
Jeremy suggests that Lowen visit their home to see if she can find some of what she may need to get started in Verity’s office. Lowen is nervous about staying in their home, but she doesn’t have a lot of options at the moment. As she starts to go through Verity’s office she comes across a manuscript. Lowen isn’t sure if she should be reading it, but once she starts, she can’t stop. What Lowen reads shocks her to her very core.
THIS BOOK!
This is one wild novel that goes places I never would have expected. The story-line had me gripped.
The opening (still makes me shudder) was rather gruesome but it pulled me in. I can’t even imagine how I would react in that situation.
Colleen Hoover knows how to create intense scenes with complex characters. There's no shortage of drama and thrills in this novel. Some of the subject matter is very dark and there are also a lot of explicit sex scenes, so I understand that this book may not be for everyone.
In the words of Verity herself…
“There is no light where we’re going. This is your final warning. Darkness ahead”
A diabolical read about obsession, love, secrets, lies, manipulation, and revenge! ...more
I was really intrigued after reading the description for this novel. Three women mistreated by one man will have their chance to get revenge for all that he has put them through.
Phillip Rochester is a police officer who treats the women in his life terribly.
We first meet Imogen (the second Mrs. Rochester). Imogen suffered a devastating loss early in her marriage to Phillip. She never did find out who was responsible but she had her suspicions. Her already unhappy marriage continued to deteriorate. Phillip blamed Imogen for everything. Now she is the midst of a bitter divorce from the abusive, controlling, and unfaithful, Phillip. She doesn’t want their son, Alistair to suffer because of the divorce, but Phillip wants to make things difficult. If she doesn’t agree to his terms he has threatened to take sole custody of Alistair.
Naomi is Phillip’s current girlfriend. The younger woman is supposed to make Phillip look good. An interaction with Naomi leaves Imogen feeling like Phillip is still using the same tactics he’s used before. She wants to help Naomi but Naomi declines her help.
The next time Imogen sees Phillip he’s back to threatening to take their son. He wants her to sign papers he’s had drawn up. He continues to belittle her, telling her how useless she is. Finally, Imogen has had enough, and she makes a very impulsive decision.
For the first time, SHE is in control. But what will she do next? And when a visitor shows up unexpectedly, will she once again lose to Phillip? Or will help come from where she least expects it.
Will the man who made three women’s lives a living hell FINALLY get what he deserves?
Most of the story is told from Imogen’s point of view, though there are a few chapters told from other characters perspectives. The chapters go back in time and help tell each woman’s story.
I enjoyed this novel. The characters were interesting. I hated Phillip of course. The author was good at creating the vile character that you love to hate. Though the story lulled in a few spots, I still read it rather quickly. I was interested in the plot and curious to see how things were going to play out for Phillip and the women he mistreated. There were a few things that were over the top so I had to put my issues with believability aside. However, it was still a good story…pure escapism.
“The Exes’ Revenge” was an engrossing story of betrayal and revenge. A good debut novel that has me looking forward to Jo Jakeman’s next book.
I'd like to thank Berkley Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. ...more
“Sunrise Highway” opens in 2017 with the investigation of a body that recently washed up on the shores of Rockaway Beach. Investigating is Lourdes Robles, a detective for the NYPD. Lourdes is an excellent detective who was recently promoted. However, she’s also being accused of using NYPD resources for personal reasons. Lourdes younger sister, Ysabel is missing. Anytime a young woman’s body is found, Lourdes can’t relax until she confirms that it’s not her sister.
There are some unusual things about this present murder case and when Lourdes finds a link to a murder case from forty years earlier, she’s determined to bring the person/persons responsible to justice.
Forty years earlier, Kenny Makris is a local prosecutor attending a crime scene where a fifteen-year-old girl’s body has been found. Kenny meets up with Detective William Rattigan known as “Billy the Kid”. The detective has a high success rate when it comes to solving homicides. But some there are some people that question his methods. The detective's other nickname is “The Prince of Pain”.
The detective tells Kenny that this case could make his career. He says that Kenny is either with them or against them. But he’s pleased when Kenny agrees that they should do whatever it takes to make sure someone pays for this crime. They have someone in custody that they say is responsible for the young girl’s death. They also have a witness named Joseph Toliver (Joey T) who can help make their case.
Forty years later Joey T is now JT the Chief of Police. Is it possible that his actions long ago enabled a killer to go free? Did it lead to more than a dozen dead women all found along the Sunrise Highway?
Now Lourdes is determined to find out just how everything is connected. Unfortunately, there are people who don’t want the truth to come out, people who will stop at nothing to keep Lourdes from investigating further.
This was my first read from Peter Blauner. When I started reading this novel, I didn’t realize it was the second book in the Lourdes Robles series. While I don’t think it’s necessary to read book one, it may have filled in a few blanks if I had read it.
This novel started strong with a prologue that grabbed my attention immediately. I was intrigued. The timeline shifts between past and present and there's a lot going on. I did have a bit of a hard time, in the beginning, keeping all the characters straight, but it did get easier as I continued on. The characters were well developed and I especially liked Lourdes Robles. She is a great character and I look forward to reading more about her in future books.
“Sunrise Highway” was an interesting and intense read with a good plot and great characters. A story of murder, politics, and corruption with an ending that I never saw coming. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series as well as other books from this author.
I'd like to thank Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review....more
Andrea Cooper and her mother, Laura are having lunch and celebrating Andrea's thirty-first birthday at the Rise n’Dine restaurant at the mall of Belle Isle.
Just as they are about to finish up their lunch...
Suddenly it feels like the world explodes.
People are screaming and crying, trying to take cover. Andrea’s mother tackles her to the ground. What happens next shocks Andrea to her core. When it's over, Andrea tries to make sense of what happened. Laura Oliver is a quiet middle-aged speech pathologist. She's been a great mother to Andrea. She's not the type of person who keeps secrets.
But it turns out Andrea may not have known her mother at all.
Why is her mother telling her not to speak to the police? She wants her to claim she can’t remember what happened. “Promise me, don’t talk to the police”. Then on top of everything else, her mother wants her to move out. She wants her to leave that same night. She says she needs space. Andrea is confused. Why is her mother acting so angry and cold towards her? Andrea wonders what she did wrong. But as she's packing up to leave that evening something else happens that changes everything....and sends Andrea spiraling in a whole new direction.
As she tries to figure out just who her mother really is, Andrea learns more about herself as well. But is she strong enough for what's ahead?
Will Andrea be able to save her mother? And herself?
Karin Slaughter excels at storytelling. Her novels are known for their heart-pounding intensity, twists and turns, and well-developed characters. This was an exciting and intense read that had me gripped, wondering what was going to happen next.
The majority of the story alternates between Andrea's mother’s point of view in the past and Andrea’s point of view in the present. I liked the length of the chapters and found it easy to follow the alternating viewpoints.
"Pieces of Her" was a well-paced intriguing read with some very startling and unexpected twists. As usual, the author has written an exciting story loaded with suspense and fascinating characters.
I am a proud member of the "Slaughter Squad" and I can't wait to read what the author writes next.
I'd like to thank William Morrow for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Jane is frustrated. It feels like her writing career is going nowhere. She has six unpublished novels and the rejection is starting to get to her. Her husband, Leon, on the other hand, is a well-published author. He tries to reassure her, “It’s not your fault they don’t want your work…but I don’t get why it has to hit you so hard every time”. But he doesn’t get it. He’s a successful PUBLISHED author. His work pays the bills. Of course, Jane is happy for him but it doesn’t make the constant rejection any easier to take.
But on Leon’s 46th birthday as they are heading to his mother’s house for dinner, Leon is attacked by an unknown assailant. The attack leaves him in a coma.
Jane doesn’t understand. Who would do this? And why?
As Jane tries to deal with the fallout of everything that has happened she wants answers. But what she ends up with is more questions. One thing that does become clear is that her husband has been keeping secrets. She can’t pretend everything is fine anymore. Everything is FAR from fine.
What else has Leon been keeping from her?
What will happen if/when Leon wakes up from his coma?
Will Jane finally get the answers she deserves? And if so, will she be able to handle what she hears?
So many secrets. So many lies.
Jane starts to wonder if she knew her husband at all.
I’ve enjoyed quite a few of Paula Daly’s previous novels so I was really looking forward to reading this novel. After a really intriguing beginning, I did find it a bit difficult to get into the story. However, I’m really glad I stuck with it as it definitely picked up again. Even though I needed to suspend my disbelief at times, I still enjoyed the story.
With an engaging plot and some intriguing characters, “Open Your Eyes” was a quick and interesting read. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
I'd like to thank Bantam Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. ...more
“How can you repair something broken if pieces are missing?”
Wow! What an emotional roller-coaster. This was a great read and one that will likely stay with me for a long time.
With two daughters and a new baby on the way, Linda and Tom Sadler should have been on top of the world. Unfortunately, a tragic loss devastates the family.
Twenty-five years later the Sadler family still lives with the blame, guilt, and grief that has kept them all stuck in place.
Part one of the book starts 21 days after the tragedy in 1985. The second half of the book starts 9610 days after the tragedy (twenty –five years later) in 2011. The story is told from alternating points of view which I found easy to follow. Interspersed throughout the book are letters that help tell the story of what this family has gone through.
“What if the one thing that kept you together was breaking you apart?”
Will breaking the silence of what happened all those years ago finally help the family to forgive and heal?
Honest, painful, and realistic. “Missing Pieces” was a heartbreaking and emotional read. Once or twice, I had to stop reading …but only for a moment as I was anxious to continue on with the story. I really liked how the author pulled everything together (although at times I was reading with tears in my eyes). Thankfully, I didn't have anywhere I needed to be as once I started this novel I didn't want to put it down. I ended up reading it in just one sitting.
"Missing Pieces" is Laura Pearson’s debut novel and what a great debut it was. Powerful and raw but also tender. I was completely immersed in the Sadler family and all they had been through.
In my opinion, this was an excellent novel with a great plot and well-developed and memorable characters. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.
I'd like to thank Ipso Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. ...more
Kat Jenkins is separated from her husband, Andrew. It's now just her and her son, Ethan. Her divorce is taking a long time due to Andrew’s constant demands. There’s also a restraining order in place after a vicious incident. Kat doesn’t care about the material things, Andrew can have it all, she just wants her son.
Ethan’s class is going on a camping trip. At first, Ethan was excited, but now that they are on their way to meet his class, he is hesitant. Kat was worried about Ethan going away overnight but was reassured by his teacher that everything would be fine. Kat’s not worried about his physical safety but how he’ll handle his peers. Ethan is extremely intelligent but has trouble socially and there have been previous incidents of bullying.
They get to the meeting spot and she sends Ethan off with a wave….
“We’ll take good care of him, I promise”
Just three hours later Kat wishes she had never let Ethan get on that bus.
When Kat is awakened that evening by someone pounding on her door she automatically assumes it must be her ex-husband. But it’s not Andrew, it’s the police. And what they tell her is one of her worst nightmares come true.
Ethan is missing.
Where is Ethan? Did he wander off and get lost or hurt? Or could someone have taken him?
Across town, Stephanie Huntington, wife to Mayor Sam Huntington hears about the missing boy. Ethan is in her son, Sammy’s second-grade class. They are on the same camping trip. When she hears what has happened she wants to drive up to the camp to pick up her son. But she tells herself he’s fine. Then she gets a call that changes everything.
Who was on the other end of that phone call? What did they say that has Stephanie racing to the camp?
The story is told from both Kat and Stephanie’s perspective. Two very different perspectives that I thought were very well-written. Though I liked one woman more than the other, I was still rooting for both of them.
The two stories come together very well. I thought this was a great read. The suspense and tension are full on right up until the very end. A few things may have pushed the boundaries of belief but I was so interested in the story that it didn’t really bother me. And I thought the ending was fantastic!
“Three Days Missing” is my first read from Kimberly Belle. This was a well-written and intriguing domestic suspense novel. I hope I don’t have to wait long to read more from this author.
I'd like to thank Park Row Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review....more
“They say you never forget your first love. What they don't say though, is that sometimes your first love won't forget you”
Sometimes the biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
Angela Petitjean says she has done nothing wrong. She doesn’t understand why she’s being questioned by police in regards to a missing woman. She tells the police again that she’s done nothing wrong and until she knows what’s going on she’s not going to speak with them.
But then a different Detective comes in. His name is Detective Novak. He tells Angela that they really need her help. For some reason, she feels like she can talk to him. Angela will talk to him but it is going to be on HER terms. She is going to start at the very beginning. Angela is actually desperate to tell her story. She believes that if Detective Novak listens to everything ….then it will give him the answers he is looking for.
She talks about when she first met HP. It was in Grade 10 and she had just started at Lakeside High. HP was the guy everyone wanted to be friends with. As the new girl, Angela got picked on quite a bit. But one day HP stepped in and rescued her. After that, no one picked on Angela anymore. And soon Angela and HP they were inseparable. They had no secrets…. they told each other everything.
“I know what real happiness looks like. I lived it with HP that summer, and the memories are burned into my mind.”
As she tells her story, Detective Novak keeps interrupting. He wants to know how she feels about Mr. Parker (HP) now. How close they are.....if she’s still in love with him. Angela starts to feel like Detective Novak is missing the point.
“If he spent more time actually listening, he’d be able to see the truth. Everything would become clear”
Does Angela know where the missing woman is? Is she protecting herself or someone else?
What is Angela hiding?
This was a really quick read at only 272 pages. I was still really intrigued by Angela’s story and anxious to find out what happened. The author kept me guessing and although I’m not entirely sure how I felt about the ending, I’m still really glad I read this novel.
Roz Nay has written an absorbing psychological suspense novel about first love, secrets, obsession, and revenge. This was a very good dark and twisted debut novel. I am really looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.
I'd like to thank St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review....more
“Tell Me Lies is about that one person who still haunts you—the other one. The wrong one. The one you couldn’t let go of. The one you’ll never forget”
This was such an addictive read. The blurb and that cover pulled me right in. I started the book and was finished a few hours later. Thankfully, I had no plans for the day. Groceries and cleaning house? Bah…they could wait!
2017 - Lucy Albright is on her way to a friend’s wedding. She is extremely anxious…because HE’S going to be there.
“the sickness in my stomach is growing worse by the minutes, the familiarity of the pain creating a nauseating déjà vu. The same gut-wrenching dread I lived with for years.”
2010 - Lucy’s mother doesn’t understand why Lucy won't attend University closer to home. But Lucy chose Baird because she wanted to be as far away from her mother as possible. A few years ago her mother did what Lucy calls “The Unforgivable Thing”.
Now she’s finally at college. A new start. She loves it. She has great classes, awesome new friends, and attends great parties. She meets Stephen DeMarco at one of these parties.
When they first meet, Lucy isn’t really interested. Something about him seemed a bit off. She almost wished she could ask her mother but “when you have a mother who did the Unforgivable Thing, you can’t ask her those kinds of questions.” She runs into Stephen a few more times and it's not long before she realizes she's falling for him.
To say Steven is confident and self-assured is putting it mildly. He’s charming when he wants to be, and when he wants something, he goes after it full throttle. “When I decide I like someone, my first step is to gather as much information as possible about every aspect of her life in order to more closely resemble her ideal partner.”
Stephen has secrets. Things he doesn’t want anyone to know. The night he meets Lucy, Stephen is drinking to get rid of the anxiety that often creeps up on him…reminding him of THAT night.
Wow...what a read!
This is definitely NOT your typical love story. This is about a toxic and an all-encompassing obsessive kind of “love”.
Many of us have had “the one that got away” some have “the one that we would have done anything to keep”. I think many people could relate to parts of this story. But there were times I wanted to scream at the characters. Yes, I found a few parts a bit over the top, but relationships are like that sometimes…. over the top. Many of us have known a Lucy. Some of us have been Lucy.
The story is told from Lucy and Stephen’s alternating perspectives. The storyline also alternates, focusing on the years from 2010 to what is happening currently in 2017. There is a bit of repetition, but for the most part, I found it interesting reading both perspectives of some of the situations that came up.
I'm pretty satisfied with how it all came together although part of me wishes things ended a little differently. I really wanted a couple of things…sorted out. But we can’t always have what we want and like I mentioned at the beginning, I was still addicted to this story, unable to put it down.
“Tell Me Lies” is a fascinating and gripping read about toxic love, addiction, obsession, secrets, and betrayal. Carola Lovering got me hooked on Stephen and Lucy’s story and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
I'd like to thank Atria books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. ...more
“Cross Her Heart” was my first read from, Sarah Pinborough and I really enjoyed it.
The first chapter pulled me right in. Someone is very angry. The letter this person is reading has sent him into a rage. He starts to make a plan…
He wants to destroy her.
Lisa is a mother in her thirties who likes her quiet life. She’s devoted to her sixteen-year-old daughter, Ava. Ava loves her mother but feels that she is way too over-protective. Ava has started keeping secrets. One special secret in particular. She won't even tell her friends this secret.
It’s something just for her….
Lisa knows her daughter deserves privacy but she just wants to keep her safe and protect her. She has to protect her…because she knows “how terrible it can be out there.” Lately, Lisa has been feeling like something isn’t right. Little things keep throwing her off. A picture is misplaced, a familiar song on the radio. She’s not sure if she’s being paranoid, but it’s making her even more nervous than usual.
Marilyn is Lisa's best friend. They met at work and have been close ever since. Marilyn is also very attached to Lisa's daughter. So when Lisa and Ava need her help, she will do whatever she can. But will her own situation get in the way?
Lisa, Ava, and Marilyn are very different but the one thing they do have in common is that they are all keeping secrets…some bigger than the others. And when some of the secrets start to come out, things start to unravel. Unfortunately, there's much more to come.
I really enjoyed this novel. I liked the alternating perspectives and the short chapters that were broken into Before, Now, and After. I really thought I knew where the story was headed. Although I was right about a few things, some of the twists really threw me for a loop. I could easily have read this in one sitting if life hadn't gotten in my way. However, I picked up this book whenever I found a free minute, and as I neared the ending, sleep was the last thing on my mind. I was up reading until I finished the last page.
“Cross Her Heart” was an addictive, intense, and entertaining domestic suspense novel. A story about secrets and lies and how sometimes no matter how hard you try to hide things, in the end, they always seem to find a way to come out.
Sarah Pinborough sure knows how to tell an interesting story. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
I'd like to thank HarperCollins for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review....more
I really enjoyed this author’s previous novel "Watching Edie” so I had high hopes for this novel. I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed it.
"The Lies We Told" opens in Cambridgeshire in 1986. We see right away that something is very wrong. A mother isn’t sure what she’s looking at, but it’s not long before it becomes clear what has happened. She’s horrified at what her daughter has done. And she’s even more terrified when she sees that her daughter is smiling.
All Beth wanted was to be a mother. When she finally got her miracle baby, she couldn’t have been happier. Beth and her husband, Doug doted on Hannah. They finally had their family. But as time when on, Beth began to notice that Hannah didn’t act or react like other children did. After awhile Beth couldn’t deny it…something was wrong with Hannah. It wasn’t that she wasn’t intelligent, Hannah was extremely smart. But she seemed to get pleasure from hurting others.
“The reaction of pain was what motivated her.”
Was this karma or some kind of payback for the choices they made years earlier?
Beth doesn’t know what to do. She’s desperate, and desperate people don’t always make the best decisions. Unfortunately, Beth makes a decision that has devastating results. Just when she thinks things can’t possibly get worse…they do.
London 2017 – Clara doesn’t want to be the kind of girlfriend who checks up on her boyfriend. They just moved in together six months earlier. But she’s worried. He didn’t come home the night before and he didn’t text or call either. He has a very important interview that day so it doesn’t make sense that he wouldn’t come home.
Clara and their mutual friend, Mac contact the police but are told there isn't much they can do at this point. Clara and Mac start to investigate on their own. Clara realizes that Luke has been keeping things from her. She starts to wonder if she ever really knew him at all….
Where is Luke?
"The Lies We Told" was an entertaining and quick read that held my attention and kept me guessing.
The story alternates between Clara and Beth’s perspectives in 1986 and 2017. Alternating chapters tell two different stories, but we see how everything relates as it all comes together. I definitely had to suspend disbelief quite a bit, but I still really enjoyed the story.
I am looking forward to seeing what Camilla Way writes next.
I'd like to thank Berkley Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. ...more
Someone comes into your life, like “the wind working on a rooftop weather vane. And when they leave, as the wind always does, you are different; you have a new direction. And it’s not always north.”
Taylor Bishop knows why she did what she did…”love – broken love – made me do it”
She tells us the how is more complicated. And the when? Well she can tell us that exactly…
“it started four days, eighteen hours and twenty-three minutes after the strongest gust of wind I’d ever known decided to leave me”.That gust of wind was Angus Hollingsworth.
The book opens as Taylor, after a night of drinking, is using Google to search for ways to ruin a man.
What do they always say about a woman scorned?
We learn about Taylor’s relationship with Angus through memories she shares. He called her his “Sunday Girl”.
In the beginning:
“With Angus life was like a movie: a dozen red roses at work for no reason, phone calls from the restaurant bathroom in the middle of a business lunch just to say that he missed me, long baths together chatting about nonsense.”
But after a few months…things start to change. When Angus was happy he was wonderful, but when he wasn’t happy?
But something made her stay. However, everybody has a limit.
Taylor might have been able to move on and get over it. But then she receives an email with an attachment. When she opens it, she’s BEYOND shocked by what she sees…and it changes EVERYTHING. Then a friend gives her a copy of “The Art of War”.
“That’s when I had the idea that would change the course of my life forever.”
A gripping and exciting read!
At the beginning of each chapter is a quote from “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu which I found really interesting.
In my opinion, this really was a fantastic read. I may have had to let go and not worry if everything was believable or plausible, but it was worth it.
“The Sunday Girl” was an escape from everyday life that I really enjoyed.
A fantastic debut novel about love, anger, and revenge!...more
Throughout High School, Georgina (Geo) Shaw, Angela Wong, and Kaiser Brody were best friends. They were practically inseparable… until the day Calvin James entered their lives. From then on nothing was the same….
Angela was the captain of the cheerleading squad, the one everyone wanted to be friends with. She craved attention and Georgina was fine with letting her have it. But Angela didn’t like it when Georgina caught the eye of the good-looking, and older Calvin James.
“When she spoke to you, she could make you feel like you were the only person in the room, or she could shred you with one dirty look”.
Soon, Calvin is all Georgina can think of and her friends aren’t impressed. And then one night after a High School party, Angela goes missing. Fourteen years later her remains are found.
Over the years, Georgina had done well for herself. She's thirty years old and is the youngest VP at Shipp Pharmaceuticals. She’s even engaged to the company's CEO. She built a new life and kept all her secrets tucked away into compartments in her mind. But her new life ended the day she was arrested by her former best friend, Detective Kaiser Brody, as “Wonderwall” by Oasis played in the background.
“Today is gonna be the day that they’re gonna throw it back to you”
The book opens as Calvin James aka The Sweetbay Strangler is on trial for the murder of four women, including Angela Wong. Georgina Shaw is a witness and after she’s finished giving her testimony, she will be sent to Hazelwood (Hellwood) Correctional Institute to serve a five-year sentence. This was the plea deal for her testimony, though many think five years isn’t enough for Georgina’s part in what happened.
“in every story, there’s a hero and a villain. Sometimes one person can be both”
Detective Brody still has questions for his old friend Geo. He feels that there is more to the story. Will he ever find out exactly what happened that night? And when new bodies start showing up... will the detective be able to be able to do his job properly? Or will old feelings cloud his judgment?
SEE ME
“Jar of Hearts” was an interesting read packed with well-developed characters and an engrossing plot. The story shifts between past and present and is broken into five parts. The five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The majority of the story is told from Georgina’s point of view but also includes chapters from Kaiser Brody’s perspective.
An extremely well-written story of friendship, obsession, jealousy, and murder. One that does require some suspension of disbelief, but still had me flipping pages quickly to see what was going to happen next.
The author tells an exciting story, one that drew me in right from the very first page. And though I figured out a couple things early on… my jaw still dropped as I came to the unexpected ending of this twisted and addictive read.
This was my first read from Jennifer Hillier and I can guarantee that it won’t be my last.
I'd like to thank Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review....more
“Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you back in.”
I really enjoyed this story. “Sailing Lessons” explores how a family copes after the father leaves but then drops back into their lives twenty-four years later.
Wren, Shannon, and Piper Bailey were used to their father coming and going when they were young. But one summer he leaves and doesn't return. His leaving effects his three daughters in very different ways.
Wren was the middle child. She’s now a single mother of six-year-old, Lucy. Wren has been working hard to prepare for the grand opening of her shop, “The Fisherman’s Daughter”. A whimsical and unique eco-boutique that she hopes both tourists and the locals will love.
And then an envelope comes in the mail. A handwritten envelope with handwriting that she hasn’t seen in twenty years. It’s a letter from her father, Caleb.
He’s coming home.
As the oldest of the Bailey sisters, Shannon appears to have it all. She married her best friend and has wonderful children. Shannon was hit the hardest by her father’s abandonment. Lately, her anxiety has been keeping her up at night. But for now, she’s found her own way of coping. She tells herself and others that she’s doing fine, but the cracks are beginning to show.
Piper is the youngest, and her memories of her father and that time are different from Shannon and Wren’s memories. There are things that Piper wants to remember and things her sisters want to forget.
The Bailey sisters all have a different reaction to the letter, especially to the fact that their father is coming back to The Cape. Their stepfather, Hank isn’t thrilled about Caleb coming back …..but he wants what’s best for all of his girls.
Why is Caleb Bailey coming back now? What does it mean for the sisters and the rest of the family?
Caleb Bailey isn’t the only one who has made mistakes and kept secrets. It seems that everyone has things that they need to face up to. Will Caleb coming back heal some of the hurt caused by his leaving or will it all end up in disaster?
As I already mentioned, I really enjoyed this novel. I loved reading about this family’s journey. The story is well-paced and told from multiple perspectives that were easy to follow. The character development was excellent. I loved the grandmother, with her wicked sense of humor. Hank was another of my favorites for many reasons. He reminds me of my stepfather, who is always there for us. Hank is a great stepfather, and he loves the girls like they were his own.
I thought this was a well-written story about complicated relationships and family dynamics. The author’s descriptions were so vivid, I could easily picture summer on the Cape. I was completely absorbed in this engaging story and finished it in just two sittings.
A beautiful and moving story about love, family, hurt, anger, and forgiveness.
This was my first read from Hannah McKinnon, but I know it won’t be my last!
I'd like to thank Emily Bestler Books/Atria for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. ...more
I’ve never been big of fairy tales, but the description of this novel had me intrigued. “All the Ever Afters” is the story of Princess Cinderella told from the point of view of her stepmother, Agnes.
Agnes has heard all of the rumors….how cruel she apparently was to Elfilda (Ella), that Ella’s step-sisters vied for Prince Henry’s attention, and so much more.
“Compelling fiction often obscures the humble truth.”
Princess Elfilda (Ella) is now the most celebrated woman in the kingdom. Commoners will wait for hours in hopes of catching a glimpse of her face. Any time she changes her hairstyle or tries out a new accessory….every female, even the peasant girls will do what they can to imitate her appearance. Agnes knows more about Princess Elfilda’s history than anyone. But it’s not as much of a fantasy as everyone might believe.
“Nobody is interested in the story of a flesh-and-blood nobleman’s daughter, one who wet her bed, complained of boredom, fought with her kin, and turned up her nose at winter greens just like any mortal child.”
However, Agnes is not going to write the princess’s story, she’s going to write her own.
Agnes was only ten when she was sent to work as a servant at The Manor House, leaving her family behind. She thinks the Manor is beautiful but she doesn’t yet know the evilness that goes on behind closed doors. Agnes yearns for home. All she has is a little clothing and her treasured collection of stones. Although her future is bleak, Agnes is creative and clever and finds ways to make herself indispensable wherever she is sent. She makes her way in a world that is built to keep her down.
“To the abbess, I was a pack-horse, an animal that has value as long as it can work, nothing else”
Then she meets someone who changes the course of her life completely. Agnes feels that she may have finally found a place where she can be happy.
But happiness is never guaranteed to last forever after…
This was an interesting read and the prose was often poetic. I don’t think I will ever look at any fairytale in the same way….especially Cinderella. I liked the short chapters and enjoyed reading Agnes’s journal which was interspersed throughout the novel. We are given insight into both the past and the present. I did have a bit of a hard time in the beginning. There were lots of names and titles to try to keep straight. It was a slow burn but it did pick up and I found it to be quite an entertaining story.
A creative and unique story that gives a deeper perspective on good and evil, complicated relationships, and the many different kinds of love. It also shows that everything is not always what it seems.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
I'd like to thank William Morrow for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review....more
19 year old, Sadie and her younger sister, Mattie struggled to get by. Cold Creek is a small town with very few opportunities for employment. Many have to go to a neighboring town for work and school.
Mary Beth Foster was Mattie and Sadie's neighbor and the manager of the trailer park where they lived. Mary Beth tried to look out for the sisters but basically, it was just the two of them. Their mother, Claire had been out of the picture for quite a while.
The bond between the sisters was very strong, but something horrific happens that severs that bond forever. Now Sadie is missing and Mary Beth Foster just wants to find someone who can help. Someone who will give a damn...
West McCray is a radio personality who just happens to overhear a little bit of Sadie and Mattie’s story. At first, he thinks what many others seem to be thinking…
“Girls run away all the time; girls go missing, there isn’t anything new here.”
West and his producer have been talking about West hosting his own podcast. His producer is the one who suggests he dig a little deeper into Sadie's story. West doesn't really want to do it at first, but finds that he can't stop thinking about their story and ends up creating a serialized podcast called “The Girls”
“when a devastating crime reveals a deeply unsettling mystery.”
After working on the story for awhile, West starts to get nervous. He's scared of what he might find.
"If you want the truth, I didn't even want this story. And the more I have it, the less I want it because I don't think it's headed anywhere good. But I'm in this now, so I have to see it through."
So where is Sadie? What or who is she looking for?
I thought this was an incredible read. A fantastic and powerfully written story. I was addicted and hated having to put the book down.
I thought the layout of the novel was interesting and the characters all very well developed. We get to hear from many people that knew Sadie and Mattie which was a great addition to the story. The story jumps back and forth between Sadie’s journey and “The Girls” podcast whose investigation retraces Sadie's steps. The novel deals with some tough subject matter, but I thought the author handled these issues with sensitivity and respect. I was hooked from start to finish.
"Sadie" is a compelling and riveting story about love, loss, revenge, and the power of a sister's love.
I'd like to thank Wednesday Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review....more
“When you don’t know what to do for yourself, do something for somebody else”
Sometimes a book comes along that makes my heart skip a beat. This is“When you don’t know what to do for yourself, do something for somebody else”
Sometimes a book comes along that makes my heart skip a beat. This is one of those times. I may not have come across this novel but a friend had just finished reading it and loved it. She thought I might enjoy it too.
She was right. I loved it!
Margaret Jacobsen has worked hard all of her life and things are starting to pay off. She’s dating an awesome guy, she’s going to be starting a great new job, and on a night out with her boyfriend, Chip, she has a strong feeling that things are about to get even better.
We’ve all heard that saying that life can change in a moment, or the blink of an eye. And for Margaret, nothing could be truer when the greatest day of her life quickly turns into the worst day of her life. Her life is forever changed.
“They say your life flashes before your eyes, but it wasn’t my life as I’d lived it that I saw. It was the life I’d been waiting for. The one I’d never get a chance to live.”
“How to Walk Away” really was a fantastic read populated with so many awesome characters. Some good guys…some villains…but all well-developed and entertaining! Margaret is such a great character. Her personality won me over instantly. Her habit of filling the quiet with very strange but hilarious comments was just one of the things I loved about her.
Heart-breaking one moment and laugh out loud funny the next (“Mes jambons sont eclatés” ). This was an incredibly inspiring read that made me look at a few things in my own life in a different way.
Katherine Center writes with honesty and includes all of the messy parts. For me this was more than just a good story….it was fantastic! Strained relationships and family secrets, many things were easy to relate to. A story about strength, determination, love and so much more. The plot held my interest from start to finish and the characters captured my heart. I may have been able to see where things were going but the journey was just so much fun. Witty, loving, and optimistic, I started reading slower because I didn’t want it to end.
“Carry the sorrow when we have to, and absolutely savor the joy when we can”
I’m looking forward to reading whatever comes next from Katherine Center. She has written five other novels about love and family. You can bet I’ll be checking out those books out too.
I'd like to thank St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review....more
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