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Release date: June 1, 2017

Publisher: Lake Union 

Genre: Domestic Suspense 

Blurb: 

Bestselling authors Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke make their suspense debut in this twisty, emotional thriller.

Elementary school teacher Jacqueline “Jacks” Morales’s marriage was far from perfect, but even in its ups and downs it was predictable, familiar. Or at least she thought it was…until two police officers showed up at her door with devastating news. Her husband of eight years, the one who should have been on a business trip to Kansas, had suffered a fatal car accident in Hawaii. And he wasn’t alone.

For Jacks, laying her husband to rest was hard. But it was even harder to think that his final moments belonged to another woman—one who had left behind her own grieving and bewildered fiancé. Nick, just as blindsided by the affair, wants answers. So he suggests that he and Jacks search for the truth together, retracing the doomed lovers’ last days in paradise.

Now, following the twisting path of that fateful road, Jacks is learning that nothing is ever as it seems. Not her marriage. Not her husband. And most certainly not his death… 

Review: 

If you’re looking for a perfect, super addictive, summer read you can thank me now because I found it for you! The Good Widow was a highly entertaining, twisty read that is ideal for reading poolside, bonus points if you can read it on the beach. I had planned on reading it when I go to Mexico next month, but I’m bringing my kids and just knew it wouldn’t happen. I’m so glad I read it early, it was an ignore your family type of read, one where you cannot put it down until you finish. 

It opens with a fantastic prologue, an unknown couple is cruising in Hawaii and she has a secret. But what is she hiding? Why is she so scared to tell him (whoever he is?) I was obsessed with getting the answers to these questions, hooked after two pages. We skip to After where Jacks is getting the devastating news that her husband died in a car accident. He had been traveling for work, but the cops inform her he wasn’t in Kansas like he told her, he was in Hawaii, with another woman named Dylan. 

I loved Jacks and felt so awful for her, first she loses her husband, then on top of trying to deal with her grief and heartache, she realizes she didn’t really know James at all. When Nick contacts her and suggests making their own trip to Hawaii, she accepts, though she’s hesitant. She needs closure and hopes this is the key. As she starts to find some answers she also discovers that she has more questions as well. 

There are also Before chapters narrated both from Jacks and Dylan. I loved how you slowly find out more about how Dylan and James began their affair and you also find out more about James and Jacks relationship. Their marriage was far from perfect, it shows an ugly, hidden side and things eventually start to form a clear picture. The pacing is spot on and relentless as you follow both women and try to figure out where it all went wrong. 

It all culminates in an explosive manner with a pretty shocking twist, I sure didn’t see it coming! I had one of those gut punching, breathtaking moments where I had to stop for a second and soak it all in. This is perfect for fans of The Marriage Lie and Everything We Keep, if this is the dynamic duo’s first (impressive) foray into suspense I’m SO excited to see what they come up with next. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Kathleen at Goldberg McDuffie for my review copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: May 2, 2017

Publisher: Riverhead Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller and global phenomenon The Girl on the Train returns with Into the Water, her addictive new novel of psychological suspense. 

“Hawkins is at the forefront of a group of female authors – think Gillian Flynn and Megan Abbott – who have reinvigorated the literary suspense novel by tapping a rich vein of psychological menace and social unease… there’s a certain solace to a dark escape, in the promise of submerged truths coming to light.” –Vogue

A single mother turns up dead at the bottom of the river that runs through town. Earlier in the summer, a vulnerable teenage girl met the same fate. They are not the first women lost to these dark waters, but their deaths disturb the river and its history, dredging up secrets long submerged.

Left behind is a lonely fifteen-year-old girl. Parentless and friendless, she now finds herself in the care of her mother’s sister, a fearful stranger who has been dragged back to the place she deliberately ran from—a place to which she vowed she’d never return.

With the same propulsive writing and acute understanding of human instincts that captivated millions of readers around the world in her explosive debut thriller, The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins delivers an urgent, twisting, deeply satisfying read that hinges on the deceptiveness of emotion and memory, as well as the devastating ways that the past can reach a long arm into the present.

Beware a calm surface—you never know what lies beneath. 

Review: 

Along with most of the free world, Into the Water was very high on my list of most anticipated reads for 2017. I think it’s always difficult for an author that has had a successful first novel to release their second, imagine the pressure, the doubt, the insecurity. When you wrote one of the best selling books of all time and had tremendous global success, I would gather it’s even scarier, even more intimidating. I saw a tweet from Clare Mackintosh the other day and I couldn’t agree more. Here’s what she said:

#intothewater is out today. Intelligent and beautifully written. It’s not #thegirlonthetrain, and nor should it be. Don’t compare – enjoy.

I’m glad I saw that before I picked this up, she’s totally right and I did my best not to compare the two books. How can you even top TGOTT anyway? Simple answer? You can’t. Hawkins second book shows her writing style has gotten even more sharp and refined, she is a sure footed author and a talented one to boot, however this one never did grab me the way I expected it to.

This one is slow going and at the beginning is downright confusing. I think I counted twelve different perspectives, which the fact that I can’t remember an exact number pretty much speaks for itself. It’s told through flashbacks, parts from a manuscript written by Nel, and present day happenings. Each chapter shows a different narrator which never gave me the proper time to form a solid connection to any of them. There was so much going on, and I’m no slouch when it comes to reading books that follow this formula, but it was even a bit too much for me.

The middle is where I finally felt drawn in, I remember thinking, finally, this is what I’ve been waiting for! This is also where Hawkins shines, the various plot threads started to vaguely come together and there was a sinister feeling that I couldn’t shake, along with a hint of the supernatural that really worked for me. Unfortunately, as things neared the end she lost me again. The intensity did increase as did the chapters, and I was eager to see where things would head, but I kept feeling like something was missing. I wanted more suspense, tension, that addictive quality that makes a book a real page turner. 

My overall feeling when I was finished was that I was underwhelmed. Hawkins does have an uncanny ability to tie several plot threads together effortlessly and I’m immensely impressed by this ability. This wasn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t my favorite, I’m feeling pretty apathetic about it. I think people will be divided about it and I’m so curious to see what others think, if you’ve read it I would love to chat! Or when you do read it, come back and we can discuss. 

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to BookSparks for my review copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: April 18, 2017

Publisher: MIRA Books

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Blurb:

The highly anticipated sequel to #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr’s What We Find transports readers back to Sullivan’s Crossing. The rustic campground at the crossroads of the Colorado and Continental Divide trails welcomes everyone—whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or a whole new lease on life. It’s a wonderful place where good people face their challenges with humor, strength and love. 

For Sierra Jones, Sullivan’s Crossing is meant to be a brief stopover. She’s put her troubled past behind her but the path forward isn’t yet clear. A visit with her big brother Cal and his new bride, Maggie, seems to be the best option to help her get back on her feet. 

Not wanting to burden or depend on anyone, Sierra is surprised to find the Crossing offers so much more than a place to rest her head. Cal and Maggie welcome her into their busy lives and she quickly finds herself bonding with Sully, the quirky campground owner who is the father figure she’s always wanted. But when her past catches up with her, it’s a special man and an adorable puppy who give her the strength to face the truth and fight for a brighter future. In Sullivan’s Crossing Sierra learns to cherish the family you are given and the family you choose. 

Review: 

This is the second book in a series about the residents of Sullivan’s Crossing but I haven’t read the first, though it wasn’t an issue at all. Apparently the first book followed Cal as he meets and falls in love with Maggie, and the second follows Cal’s sister, Sierra as she moves to town after completing rehab for an alcohol addiction. She meets a local firefighter and sparks fly, but of course issues arise. This was the standard girl meets boy, both have baggage, they fall in love, something dramatic happens, they persevere, the end. BUT what makes this book standout in a sea of similar romance novels is the fact that the characterization is fantastic and the story is infused with plenty of heart, humor and even a little suspense. 

The town itself was an utterly charming place, the perfect quaint little setting for a romance novel. Sierra immediately strikes up an unlikely friendship with Sully, who is Maggie’s father and their relationship was beyond cute. All of the residents of Sullivan’s Crossing were endearing in their own way and I can easily imagine hearing more about them in future books. This was a totally lighthearted read, the secondary characters were almost as well drawn as the main ones, the writing had an easy, laid back charm, and the storyline was sweet without being cheesy. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Claire at Little Bird Publicity for my review copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: May 1, 2017

Publisher: Lake Union 

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb: 

Best friends Annie and Sarah need cash—fast. Sarah, a beautiful, successful lawyer, wants nothing more than to have a baby. But balancing IVF treatments with a grueling eighty-hour workweek is no walk in the park. Meanwhile, Annie, a Harvard-grad chemist recently transplanted to Southern California, is cutting coupons to afford her young autistic son’s expensive therapy.

Desperate, the two friends come up with a brilliant plan: they’ll combine Sarah’s looks and Annie’s brains to sell a “luxury” antiaging face cream to the wealthy, fading beauties in Annie’s La Jolla book club. The scheme seems innocent enough, until Annie decides to add a special—and oh-so-illegal—ingredient that could bring their whole operation crashing to the ground.

Hilarious, intelligent, and warm, Crimes Against a Book Club is a delightful look at the lengths women will go to fend for their families and for one another.

Review: 

This was such a wickedly fun read! Annie and Sarah are long time best friends who both find themselves under financial strain.  Sarah needs cash for her IVF treatments and Annie needs money to pay for her son’s therapy. When they hatch a scheme to sell a “luxury” face cream to Annie’s wealthy neighbors it seems like the easiest way to earn money EVER, but Annie’s special, secret ingredient may land them both in deep trouble. 

This was such a funny book, Cooperman infused so much sarcasm and wit into the pages that I laughed out loud way too many times to count. Besides the two main characters, the women being duped were all colorful, quirky additions to a fantastic cast. Most are members of a book club that Annie attempts to join, but she quickly realizes these women can be downright cruel, think Mean Girls for the over forty crowd. In between each chapter Cooperman inserted snippets of each characters thoughts on different books they’ve read in the past, a very clever and funny addition. 

This was a light, playful read, totally perfect to dive into this summer, I would recommend reading it poolside with a cocktail in hand. I was highly entertained and delighted by the antics of the upper class, high society women of La Jolla and touched by the depth of the relationship between Annie and Sarah. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Lake Union for my review copy.