Blog Tour Review-Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

Publisher: Berkley

Published: March 17, 2020

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Source: E-ARC

Rating: 3 stars

GOODREADS

Blurb:
Sharp Objects meets My Lovely Wife in this tightly drawn debut that peels back the layers of the most complicated of mother-daughter relationships...

For the first eighteen years of her life, Rose Gold Watts believed she was seriously ill. She was allergic to everything, used a wheelchair and practically lived at the hospital. Neighbors did all they could, holding fundraisers and offering shoulders to cry on, but no matter how many doctors, tests, or surgeries, no one could figure out what was wrong with Rose Gold.

Turns out her mom, Patty Watts, was just a really good liar.

After serving five years in prison, Patty gets out with nowhere to go and begs her daughter to take her in. The entire community is shocked when Rose Gold says yes.

Patty insists all she wants is to reconcile their differences. She says she's forgiven Rose Gold for turning her in and testifying against her. But Rose Gold knows her mother. Patty Watts always settles a score.

Unfortunately for Patty, Rose Gold is no longer her weak little darling...

And she's waited such a long time for her mother to come home.

Review:
This has to be one the creepiest books I’ve read this year. Granted, we’re only so many days into the new year but still—THIS IS ONE THE CREEPIEST (and dare I say grossest?) BOOKS I’VE READ THIS YEAR. Sorry, but it bears repeating. At the end, I was left feeling majorly uncomfortable. If truth be told, the whole entire book make me feel that way.

Told in alternate POVs—Rose Gold and Patty—in past and present. We are told the story of Rose Gold in the aftermath of her mother going to prison for five years. Then the present and after prison in Patty’s own voice. Being stuck in these two characters was a doozy and as I mentioned before, a bit uncomfortable. But I was hooked. It reminded me of the Gypsy Blanchard case. When I saw the documentary to that, I got the same sick feeling I got while reading this.

I had to know all the secrets the book was bound to tell us—and the only way to do that was to keep reading. The story was interesting enough to keep my mind occupied the entire time. The lovely mother and daughter duo were unreliable ad they come—both had secrets and agendas only known to them. I didn’t know what else to think except for the fact that they were as unpleasant as they seemed.

In the end, the story held its own and kept my attention throughout. There were only a handful of times that I had to stop reading because some things were just a little too much for me. To some it might not be a big deal, but for me, it just made me feel gross inside. If you're looking for a thriller to read this year, let this one be put on the top of your list. It may have been a little predictable at times, but it was good read.

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are subjective but my own.

Buy the book:
Amazon US
Amazon UK

About the author:
Stephanie Wrobel grew up in Chicago but has been living in the UK for the last three years with her husband and dog, Moose Barkwinkle. She has an MFA from Emerson College and has had short fiction published in Bellevue Literary Review. Before turning to fiction, she worked as a creative copywriter at various advertising agencies.

Darling Rose Gold (US & Canada)/The Recovery of Rose Gold (UK) is her first novel, coming March 17, 2020.

Review—The Au Pair by Emma Rous

Publisher: Berkley Books 

Published: January 8, 2019

Genre: Mystery

Source: Print ARC

Rating: 4 Stars

GOODREADS

Blurb:

A grand estate, terrible secrets, and a young woman who bears witness to it all. If V. C. Andrews and Kate Morton had a literary love child, Emma Rous’ The Au Pair would be it.

Seraphine Mayes and her twin brother Danny were born in the middle of summer at their family’s estate on the Norfolk coast. Within hours of their birth, their mother threw herself from the cliffs, the au pair fled, and the village thrilled with whispers of dark cloaks, changelings, and the aloof couple who drew a young nanny into their inner circle.

Now an adult, Seraphine mourns the recent death of her father. While going through his belongings, she uncovers a family photograph that raises dangerous questions. It was taken on the day the twins were born, and in the photo, their mother, surrounded by her husband and her young son, is beautifully dressed, smiling serenely, and holding just one baby.

Who is the child and what really happened that day?

One person knows the truth, if only Seraphine can find her. 

Review:

The Au Pair is both ominous and mysterious, to say the least. It took a bit before I really started to get into the story. But when I did, it was amazing. We follow two separate time periods and two different women—Seraphine and Laura, the au pair for Seraphine’s older brother. 

I can’t even begin to tell you how well written the story was. At times, I could see that it dragged a bit but then something would happen to bring me right back into the story. It was glorious. The characters were intriguing and had me on the edge of my seat. 

The dual POVs gave the story an extra sense of suspense to it. I was ready to get down the mystery asap. Which was probably why I finished the book so fast. Readers who enjoy books that keep you guessing until the very end, no doubt love this one. I’m excited to see what Tous brings us next!

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Buy the Book:

AMAZON US
AMAZON

About the Author:

Emma Rous grew up in England, Indonesia, Kuwait, Portugal and Fiji, and from a young age she had two ambitions: to write stories, and to look after animals. She studied veterinary medicine and zoology at the University of Cambridge, and worked as a veterinary surgeon for eighteen years before starting to write fiction. Emma lives in Cambridgeshire, England, with her husband and three sons.

The Au Pair is her first novel. It will be published in ten countries, in nine languages. She is currently writing her second book.

She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EmmaRousAuthor/
and on instagram as emmarousauthor.

Blog Tour Review—Like Never and Always by Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Tor Teen

Published: July 17, 2018

Genre: YA Mystery

Source: Print ARC

Rating: 4 Stars

GOODREADS

"An intense, emotional, compelling read." —Kate Elliott

Liv Burnham thinks nobody knows Morgan Frost like she does, but a terrible accident pushes her down the rabbit hole where Morgan's secrets hide and she'll be lucky to make it out alive....

On a hot summer night, Liv, Morgan, Clay and Nathan are on the way home from a party in Clay's convertible. Best friends dating brothers? It doesn't get better than that. But the joyride ends in sudden impact, a screech of brakes, and shattering glass. On that lonely country road, four lives change forever.

Liv wakes in the hospital. At first she's confused when they call her Morgan, but she assumes it's a case of mistaken identity. Yet when the bandages come off, it's not her face inthe mirror anymore. It's Morgan's.

Morgan always seemed to have the perfect life. But as Liv tries to fit herself into Morgan's world, she discovers endlessly disturbing secrets of the criminal and murderous variety and a dark task to finish...if she doesn't lose her mind first.

Forced to confront the disturbing truths that Morgan kept hidden in life, Liv must navigate a world of long-buried murder, a dangerous love affair—and a romance that feels like a betrayal.

Review-

Hmm. If you’re looking good for a story that’s completely different, then I suggest looking no further. For Never and Always was a fast-paced thriller/sci-fi story that confused me at times, but was interesting all the same. 

Liv and her friends Morgan, Clay and boyfriend, Nathan, are in a terrible accident one night. Leaving Liv dead and alive. Her soul is now in Morgan’s body, while her physical self has passed on. Now she has to navigate her way into Morgan’s seemingly perfect world that may not be so perfect after all. 

I’m not gonna lie, this was one weird book. I was a bit upset at the fact that I never truly got an answer as to why Liv became Morgan. I guess I just expected more or maybe it just completely went over my head. That tends to happen. I did love seeing Liv find out how she never truly knew her best friend at all. Do any of us truly ever know someone?

Clay was a great book boyfriend and I enjoyed watching him become someone that Liv could love and depend on. Overall, I think this was a great story that definitely kept me on my toes. 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

***Best Friend Guest Post***

I think best friends make the world go round. Who do we go to when we’re hurt or sad or those times we’re extremely happy for whatever reason. That’s an easy question to answer—our best friends. Which brings me to how I met my best friend, Sarah. I started blogging back in December of 2011 when I picked up a book I loved and reviewed it on Goodreads. A publisher asked if they could get my email so I could join some blog tours and my thoughts immediately led to what in the world is that. 

Then started my love for writing about books I adore with people who also adored books as much as me. One in particular became a friend. I needed help with reviews and asked if anybody would be interested in joining my team. Sarah, applied and we’ve been best friends ever since. 

The cool thing about meeting your best friend online is the sole fact that you get closer from all the talking through text, email, and phone calls. Sarah’s from Nevada while I’m from Texas. Two people who probably never would have ever crossed paths, became best friends through a mutual love for books. How amazing is that? Still been six years and I’ve seen Sarah a handful of times. I’ve visited her in Vegas when RT was happening and she’s come down to Texas to visit and explore as well. Several times she’s even come to book events with me!

There have been many times where I wondered where I would be without her. She’s my sounding voice when things get tough, or someone to help put a smile on my face when I need it most. I’m so grateful for her and everything she’s done for me. While we both have different tastes in books, our love for the written word will never change. Especially since it’s the whole reason we became best friends. 

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the Author:

Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. She likes all kinds of books, emo music, action movies and Doctor Who. She writes all kind of fiction in multiple genres, both YA and for adults.

Blog Tour Review—Lies You Never Told Me by Jennifer Donaldson

Publisher: Razorbill

Published: May 29, 2018

Genre: YA Contemporary/Mystery

Source: Print ARC

Rating: 4.5 Stars

GOODREADS

BOOK DESCRIPTION 

"A compulsive page-turner with a shocking twist--get ready to stay up all night!" --Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars

"This conversation-starting page-turner is...Fatal Attraction meets Big Little Lies." --Kirkus Reviews

     Gabe and Elyse have never met. But they both have something to hide.

     Quiet, shy Elyse can't believe it when she's cast as the lead in her Portland high school's production of Romeo and Juliet. Her best friend, Brynn, is usually the star, and Elyse isn't sure she's up to the task. But when someone at rehearsals starts to catch her eye--someone she knows she absolutely shouldn't be with--she can't help but be pulled into the spotlight.

     Austin native Gabe is contemplating the unthinkable--breaking up with Sasha, his headstrong, popular girlfriend. She's not going to let him slip through her fingers, though, and when rumors start to circulate around school, he knows she has the power to change his life forever.

     Gabe and Elyse both make the mistake of falling for the wrong person, and falling hard. Told in parallel narratives, this twisty, shocking story shows how one bad choice can lead to a spiral of unforeseen consequences that not everyone will survive.

Review:

Holy moly! I finished the book in three hours. I meant to read a few pages before bed, but then I couldn’t stop reading. This was so damn good! I just thought I’d throw that out there. There’s a juicy forbidden romance plotline, betrayals, crazy ex-girlfriends, and pretty much spending the whole book wondering how everything comes together. 

Oh boy, did it deliver! The twist was perfection that I didn’t even see it coming. It was so obvious but I still didn’t see it. I love a good mystery. I’m the story we follow two separate characters—Gabe and Elyse and the side characters, Catherine, Sasha, and Aiden. All these characters lives are entwined in some kind of way. Gabe is dating Sasha—she’s crazy and manipulative though, so luckily he sees the light and breaks it off. 

That is until he starts getting threatening texts on social media that he knows pinpoint to Sasha. But proving it’s her is only half the battle. Then Gabe meets Catherine in an unusual way and he obviously can’t stop thinking about her. Catherine’s got secrets that leave her guarded and somewhat standoffish. Gabe wants her anyway. 

Elyse has always been okay with being in the shadow of someone else’s spotlight. Her home life isn’t great, so she does what she can to get by. The day she wins the coveted role of Juliet in Romeo + Juliet, is the day her life changes. And not for the better—though she wished it was. 

I want to shout on the rooftop at the top of my lungs how much I loved this story and the characters. It wasn’t a complex story but it did pull at my heartstrings. The biggest thing an author can do, is make me feel all the feels. Once that happens, I usually become a fan for life of said author. If you’re looking for a story that seems quiet in presentation but takes a mean punch in the end, don’t hesitate to read this! I dare you to try to put it down after the first chapter. 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon UK

AUTHOR BIO

Jennifer Donaldson graduated from Reed College and received her MFA from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently lives in Austin with her family.

SCHEDULE 

WEEK ONE

May 14 – Brooke Reports – Playlist

May 15 – Lindseyybooks – Review + Insta Photo

May 16 – Lo’s Lo-Down on Books – Review 

May 17 – Novel Grounds – Book Aesthetic and Creative Instagram Picture

May 18 – Little Bookworm Reviews – Review + Book Aesthetic

WEEK TWO

May 21 – Just Add a Word – Review + Book Aesthetic

May 22 – The Nerdy Girl Express – Review

May 23 – The Lovely Books – Review

May 24 – Next Book Review – Creative Picture

May 25 – Snarky Yet Satisfying – Creative Instagram Picture

WEEK THREE

May 28 – Coffee Cocktails and Books – Review + Book Tag

May 29 – HelloJennyReviews – Creative Bookstagram Picture

May 30 – Young Adult Reads – Review

May 31 – Seeing Double In Neverland – Review + Creative Photo

Blog Tour Review—The Elizas by Sara Shepard

Publisher- Atria Books

Published- April 17, 2018

Genre- Mystery

Source- E-ARC

Rating- 3 Stars 

GOODREADS

Blurb-

When debut novelist Eliza Fontaine is found at the bottom of a hotel pool, her family at first assumes that it’s just another failed suicide attempt. But Eliza swears she was pushed, and her rescuer is the only witness.

Desperate to find out who attacked her, Eliza takes it upon herself to investigate. But as the publication date for her novel draws closer, Eliza finds more questions than answers. Like why are her editor, agent, and family mixing up events from her novel with events from her life? Her novel is completely fictional, isn’t it?

The deeper Eliza goes into her investigation while struggling with memory loss, the closer her life starts to resemble her novel until the line between reality and fiction starts to blur and she can no longer tell where her protagonist’s life ends and hers begins. 

Review-

My first thought as I finished The Elizas is “this book was weird as shit”. And it was, but I couldn’t stop reading. The entire novel we’re led down a rabbit hole with an unreliable main character. Eliza is quirky, eccentric, and sees things that may or may not be real. She’d had a brain tumor that affected her in more ways than one. As her debut novel is set to come out, someone is after Eliza and  wants her dead. They won’t stop coming until the score is evened out. 

After a near-drowning sets everything in motion, the readers are sent on an adventure where nothing is as it seems and no one is trustworthy. Not even Eliza—especially not her. So many times I had to put the book because it was slow moving and I kept getting confused. I wanted to know the mystery so still read on. While I liked the book, it wasn’t a favorite of mine from Sheppard. I loved the first 8 books in the Pretty Little Liar series. 

I did love reading excerpts from the novel that Eliza wrote about Dot and Dorothy—fictional characters that looked eerily alike but bad things always happened around them. I wanted so bad to see how that story fit into the actual story I was reading, and while it was predictable, I liked it. The end was a cool twist. Sheppard knows how to keep a reader on their toes until the very end. Overall, if you’re a fan of PLL, fans wont want to miss out on this one. Sheppard does seem to follow similar storylines which I don’t mind. 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Buy from Amazon

Buy from Amazon UK

About the Author-

Sara Shepard graduated from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. She has lived in New York City, Brooklyn, Tucson, Arizona, Philadelphia, and now lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Sara's Pretty Little Liars novels were inspired by her upbringing in Philadelphia's Main Line.

Review—The Glass Forest by Cynthia Swanson

Publisher: Touchstone 

Published: February 6, 2018

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Source: E-ARC

Rating: 3 Stars

GOODREADS

Blurb:
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bookseller comes a gripping literary suspense novel set in the 1960s about a deeply troubled family and three women who will reveal its dark truths.

In the autumn of 1960, Angie Glass is living an idyllic life in her Wisconsin hometown. At twenty-one, she’s married to charming, handsome Paul, and has just given birth to a baby boy. But one phone call changes her life forever.

When Paul’s niece, Ruby, reports that her father, Henry, has committed suicide, and that her mother, Silja, is missing, Angie and Paul drop everything and fly to the small upstate town of Stonekill, New York to be by Ruby’s side.

Angie thinks they’re coming to the rescue of Paul’s grief-stricken young niece, but Ruby is a composed and enigmatic seventeen-year-old who resists Angie’s attempts to nurture her. As Angie learns more about the complicated Glass family, staying in Henry and Silja’s eerie and ultra-modern house on the edge of the woods, she begins to question the very fabric of her own marriage.

Through Silja’s flashbacks, Angie’s discovery of astonishing truths, and Ruby’s strategic dissection of her parents’ state of affairs, a story of love, secrets, and ultimate betrayal is revealed.

Review:
Hmm...that was not at all what I expected. I’d like to point out that if you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller/mystery aspect, you aren’t going to get it with this book. It’s achingly slow. To the point I almost stopped reading a few times. The twists are interesting but way too predictable. The ending left me...jarred. I have to say, The Glass Forest is creepy as hell. 

The storyline follows Angie, a 21 year old newlywed and mother, Ruby, a teenager and child of our last narrator, Silja. Silja and Angie are sister-in-laws to the charming and Cary Grant look-a-like, Paul and Henry. There are so many secrets surrounding these characters and one thing I truly did love about it, was the fact that it was so character driven. It was just too slow for my liking. 

There’s so much I could say about the book but it’s hard when anything I do write and say could potentially ruin the book for you, if you do plan on reading. The author writes very well, and great enough to keep my interest. While it wasn’t as fast as I would have liked, it still was decent. Let me know what you think about the book below! And if you finished hit up my email so we can discuss. 

*Thank you the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Amazon UK

About the Author:
Cynthia Swanson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Bookseller, which is soon to be a motion picture starring Julia Roberts. An Indie Next selection and the winner of the 2016 WILLA Award for Historical Fiction, The Bookseller is being translated into over a dozen languages. Cynthia's second novel, The Glass Forest, released from Touchstone / Simon & Schuster in February 2018. She lives with her family in Denver, Colorado.

Review - Club Deception by Sarah Skilton

Publisher: Grand Central Pub

Pub. Date: July 25, 2017

Genre: Mystery

Source: Print ARC

Rating: 4

GOODREADS

Blurb:
A glamorous romp through the scandals and secrets of LA's most exclusive fictional magician's society, CLUB DECEPTION.

Claire Fredericksson is the beating heart of CLUB DECEPTION, LA's most exclusive magician's society. She's the Queen Bee of Magician WAGs (Wives and Girlfriends), and the genius behind her philandering husband Jonathan's award-winning magic show. Claire's life is upended by the arrival of two new women to the closed group of wives-Jessica, a young trophy wife with a secret, and Kaimi, an art expert looking for the long-lost Erdnase papers by posing as a girlfriend. When a magician rivalry erupts into murder, the women must uncover the truth and set things right for the men they love. With a cast of endurance experts, Vegas stage stars, and close-up card handlers, this novel weaves a tale of murder, fame, and many, many illusions.

Review:

Club Deception was a great mystery that kept me on my toes. I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading but I needn't have worried because what I got was girl power to the max. The women of the story were amazing and I was glad to see them painted in such a strong light. Fortunately, my hopeless romantic-self was presented with some romance to keep me tied over. 

We follow the POVs of four different characters; Claire, Jessica, Kaimi, and Felix. Each one brings the story close together and ties it up with a big pretty bow in the end. There was so much happening at times that my head would spin. That being said, it started off a little slow for my taste in the beginning. Luckily, that didn't last long. 

Claire is beautiful and intelligent. Jessica is the young and hot new wife of magician, Cal. Kaimi's character is a little more complex but amazing all the same. I wish we had more scenes with her in them. Felix is a magician in training. All these characters have so much depth and I enjoyed reading their stories. 

Now as you know, this book is about magicians (really the wives and girlfriends of them.) We get a a glimpse into the behind the scenes ways of what one does when entertaining people with illusionary tricks. I know nothing of magic shows or anything like that. But it sounds like it would be a lot of fun. I always wished that I knew how to do tricks. Anyways, Club Deception is the exclusive club of, you guessed it, magicians and their wives/girlfriends. It got me thinking about secret little societies in our world now. Guess they wouldn't be so secret if we all knew about them. 

 

Overall, I liked the book. It's one filled with betrayal, lies, and all the goodness of high drama. Oh, and then there's a murder. What more could one want? 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

BUY

Amazon

Amazon UK

About the Author:
Coming in Summer 2017: Sarah's first book for adults, CLUB DECEPTION (Grand Central), about the magicians who belong to an exclusive underground magic club in Los Angeles, and the women who love, inspire, or control them.

Sarah is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a fact that came in handy while writing her martial arts-themed debut YA novel, BRUISED (Amulet Books), which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and which the Horn Book called "nuanced and honest." Her second YA novel, HIGH AND DRY (Amulet Books), was called "A dark, well-constructed mystery with a strong voice" by Kirkus.

Sarah and her husband, a magician, live in Southern California with their toddler son. She's never been sawed in half, but there's still time. She loves to read coming-of-age novels, effed up memoirs, and edgy non-fiction. Find her on twitter: @Sarah_Skilton

HOUSE OF THIEVES by Charles Belfoure

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Pub. Date: September 15, 2015

Genre: Historical Fiction, mystery

Source: Print ARC

Rating: 3 Stars

GOODREADS

Blurb:
In 1886 New York, a respectable architect shouldn’t have any connection to the notorious gang of thieves and killers that rules the underbelly of the city. But when John Cross’s son racks up an unfathomable gambling debt to Kent’s Gents, Cross must pay it back himself. All he has to do is use his inside knowledge of high society mansions and museums to craft a robbery even the smartest detectives won’t solve. The take better include some cash too —the bigger the payout, the faster this will be over.
With a newfound talent for sniffing out vulnerable and lucrative targets, Cross becomes invaluable to the gang. But Cross’s entire life has become a balancing act, and it will only take one mistake for it all to come crashing down —and for his family to go down too.


 Review:
House of Thieves was an exceptionally written historical thriller set back in New York in 1880. John Cross, the main character, is a well rounded society man and respected architect. The night his son George graduates college, Cross leaves some pretty disturbing news. His son, who has a bright future ahead of him, is gambler. One who owes a butt load of money. Money that he won't be able to pay off; can't lay off because it's such a high amount. James Kent, a gangster and the man who took George, wants his money. And he wants John to pay it off or he'll have to say goodbye to his son. Forever.

John is sent on a crazy journey as he fights to find a way to save George. Will it be too late? How will Cross come up with a way to find enough money and save his son from being killed? Well, the thugs hatch up a plan for John to use his expertise in architecture to help rob the places he built based on his knowledge on the building plans. It must be done whether he likes it or not. His sons life depends on it as well as the family it will initially effect.

Overall, I liked reading about this time period and the wonderful descriptions the author had. It was an interesting book that taught us about family value. And how far will your family go for you if you were to be in trouble? I'm lucky to say I have a wonderful family who would do just that for me. I look forward to reading more of the author's works. I feel as if he can write well developed characters that I can connect with. Pick this up if you're in for a thrilling ride!

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Buy Links:

Amazon

Amazon UK

About the Author:
Charles Belfoure is the nationally bestselling author of The Paris Architect, and the forthcoming novel, House of Thieves. An architect by profession, he graduated from the Pratt Institute and Columbia University, and he taught at Pratt as well as Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. His area of specialty is historic preservation, and he has published several architectural histories, one of which won a Graham Foundation national grant for architectural research. He has been a freelance writer for The Baltimore Sun and The New York Times. He lives in Maryland. 

ALL THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDES (Graveyard Falls, #1) by Rita Herron

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Pub. Date: September 15, 2015

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Source: Print ARC

Rating: 2.5-3 Stars

GOODREADS

 

Blurb:

A young woman lies dead at the bottom of a waterfall, dressed in a wedding gown with a rose stem jammed down her throat. And in the small town of Graveyard Falls, the horrifying vision stirs a long-ago nightmare back to life…

FBI Special Agent Cal Coulter gets called in to investigate the murder, which bears a terrifying resemblance to a series of killings committed thirty years ago: three teenage girls were found dead at the waterfall’s base, all bearing rose stems in their throats. But the high school football star was convicted and imprisoned for those murders, leading Cal to suspect that the killer is still out there.

Now, the body count is rising again. The monster’s sights are set on counselor Mona Monroe, Cal’s best friend’s widow…and the woman he’s always loved. Can Cal stop the killer before Mona becomes the next victim?

Review:
On one hand I liked All the Beautiful Brides but on the other hand, I realized that it was just okay. Okay as in, it didn't wow me or bring anything new and special to the plate. The book centers around a murder that happened thirty years prior - three beautiful girls were pushed off of a cliff and fell to their death. The murderer? The town golden boy, Johnny Pike. But he swears he was set up and didn't do it. Now, thirty years later, a copycat murderer is killing young girls and leaving them in wedding dresses with a rose stuck down their throats. Is someone trying to keep Johnny from getting parole? Or does someone truly envy him and want to make a name for themselves as a killer? We don't know, but Agent Cal Caulter will do everything in his power to bring justice.

What I found annoying, was the fact that I couldn't empathize or connect with any of the characters but one. I found them dull and deceiving. There was so many lies and secrets going on, like what the hell, no one knows how to tell the truth anymore? That ending also was disappointing. I'm all for everything turning out happy but when things turn out to be too perfect...I get bored. And suspicious. Everything in the book worked out in a HEA. I love happily ever after, but this one was flawless and it made me gag. One part of the book really had me fuming. Things would happen...such as a huge secret that Cal keeps from Mona, and he says sorry. Then everything is okay in the end. Like everything involving that scene and everyone involved in that seen, were at peace.

What. The. Hell?

Then another scene happens where a character should be pissed but ends up forgiving and everything is alright in the end. Seriously, what the hell? At least show us some emotion. Not everything needs to be all hell breaks loose, but it beats it becoming too perfect. In the end, I was left with a feeling of eh. I like the writing style, which consisted of third person pov with several characters from the book. I would have enjoyed one or two. There were some twists that got me but for the most part, I was able to figure things out. Readers, if you're looking for a quick read, I suggest reading this one. It's easy and entertaining; otherwise I wouldn't have finished it!

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Buy Links:

Amazon

Amazon UK

About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. Although she wanted to be a writer then and actually scrawled her first novel at age twelve, she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a kindergarten teacher instead. Ten years ago, she traded her classroom storytelling and puppets for a computer and now writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job.
Having sold over fifty books to date, she enjoys spinning spine-tingling romantic suspense tales filled with murder, mayhem, and spicy romance as well as sexy romantic comedies. Rita Herron currently writes romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue and she’s writing dark, gritty romantic suspense thrillers for Amazon Montlake.

If you want to know more about Rita or have a question for her about her books, or writing in general, email Rita and she’ll be happy to answer

Review: The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster by Scott Wilbanks

Publisher- Sourcebooks Landmark

Published- August 4, 2015

Genre- Time Travel Adult

Source- Print ARC

Rating- 5 Stars

Goodreads- http://bit.ly/1IeVRxY

Blurb:

Annabelle Aster doesn’t bow to convention—not even that of space and time—which makes the 1890s Kansas wheat field that has appeared in her modern-day San Francisco garden easy to accept. Even more peculiar is Elsbeth, the truculent schoolmarm who sends Annie letters through the mysterious brass mailbox perched on the picket fence that now divides their two worlds.

Annie and Elsbeth’s search for an explanation to the hiccup in the universe linking their homes leads to an unsettling discovery—and potential disaster for both of them. Together they must solve the mystery of what connects them before one of them is convicted of a murder that has yet to happen…and yet somehow already did.

Review-

Time travel. Murder. Mayhem. Magic. The Lemoncholy Life of Annie Aster is full of twist and turns you should but won't see coming. This is one of those books where the synopsis doesn't do it justice; it's one of those ones that surprise you. It's hard to believe this is a debut novel! I wish the story didn't have to end because I fell in love with the characters as if they were my own friends and family. In the beginning I had no idea how everything would come together and it had me a bit skeptical. But I shouldn't have feared anything because it ended up being a damn good story. 

Annabelle lives a somewhat lonely yet peaceful life. When she buys a door at an antique shop, her life will forever be changed. In her own backyard in the middle of San Francisco, mysteriously lies a cabin along with a wheat field. Annie's life is forever changed when she receives a letter from a woman by the name of Elsbeth Grundy. Even more amazing, it's dated back from eighteen ninety-five. What would you do if you received a letter that seemed to have come from another time? Well, you write back of course! 

Here starts the wonderful story where life gets tons more complicated for Annie and gang. She'll be tested beyond anything she could imagine. And when she tries to stop a murder from happening, she'll have to go back in time to try and clear Elsbeth and her from a murder she didn't commit. Along the way, Annie meets some young kids that are willing to help her frame a very bad man. Not only will it benefit Annie and Elsbeth, it will also help them out too. 

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading this. My eyes were glued to the pages as if my life depended on it. Overall, I suggest this book to readers who enjoy a good plot and even better
character building. Time travel has always been confusing to me and it still is. But I loved every
minute of the story. I look forward to reading more from the author and can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Buy Links:

Amazon- http://amzn.to/1VX9VDo

Amazon UK- http://amzn.to/1VXa8qh

About the Author:

They say, “Write what you know.” Who ‘they’ may be still remains a mystery, but I took the advice to heart when I wrote a book about five misfits who found themselves walking a path I trod daily, seeking understanding in an indifferent world, but more on that later.

With my life constantly pushed and pulled by a pair of opposing bugaboos—ADD and drive—I surprised myself by graduating summa cum laude from The University of Oklahoma while also garnering a handful of titles in the sport of gymnastics.

Life-changing accidents, lost loves, and an unremarkable career path followed, that is until a lawsuit and Mike changed everything. The lawsuit motivated me to step away from my career. Mike added the extra push, convincing me to take a leap of faith, and move to the country of his birth, New Zealand, while also encouraging me to “see where this writing will take me.”