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Release date: August 1, 2016

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Mystery

Goodreads blurb: 

Wall Street Journal & #1 Amazon Kindle Best Seller 

A luminous debut with unexpected twists, Everything We Keep explores the devastation of loss, the euphoria of finding love again, and the pulse-racing repercussions of discovering the truth about the ones we hold dear and the lengths they will go to protect us.
Sous chef Aimee Tierney has the perfect recipe for the perfect life: marry her childhood sweetheart, raise a family, and buy out her parents’ restaurant. But when her fiancé, James Donato, vanishes in a boating accident, her well-baked future is swept out to sea. Instead of walking down the aisle on their wedding day, Aimee is at James’s funeral—a funeral that leaves her more unsettled than at peace.
As Aimee struggles to reconstruct her life, she delves deeper into James’s disappearance. What she uncovers is an ocean of secrets that make her question everything about the life they built together. And just below the surface is a truth that may set Aimee free…or shatter her forever.
Review: 

Man, Lake Union is quickly becoming one of my go to publishers for fantastic and engaging books! I’ve been seriously impressed by the books I’ve read from them lately and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next. Everything We Keep has been getting so much hype for months now and after reading it, I can clearly see why. When this book showed up in my Fall Reading Challenge box from Booksparks I was thrilled! Lonsdale is a talented writer who wrote an incredible story with a heroine that I immediately connected with. 

Aimee was one of those characters that you’re instantly drawn to. Her fiancé, James is dead and instead of getting ready for her wedding day, she’s attending his funeral. Heartbreaking stuff and you can feel her pain come through the pages. She is grief stricken and lost with no idea how to move on with her life. Besides, how is she supposed to move on when she still has so many questions about what happened to James? She can’t shake the feeling that he’s still out there somewhere and when questions start to arise she has to decide how far she’s willing to go in order to uncover the truth. 

One of my favorite aspects of this book was learning about how James and Aimee fell in love through Aimee’s memories of their shared past. The two met when she was just eight and the tenderness of their love story was so sweet and endearing. Hearing about how much they loved each other really made you understand the depth of Aimee’s grief. I saw some reviewers that had issues with the way she went back and forth in terms of being able to move on with her life or not. The past kept dragging her back no matter how hard she tried to move forward. But her conflicting emotional upheaval only made her more real and honest to me. I can’t imagine how erratic my behavior would be if I were in her shoes so it was completely understandable to me.

Lonsdale managed to surprise me several times with plot twists and turns which impressed me. Aimee’s emotional journey to the truth was full of betrayal, lies, and secrets and the ending was a fantastic cliffhanger that only made me eager to read the next book in this series. Everything We Keep was a really admirable debut and I’ll be following Lonsdale’s work closely.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Booksparks for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Release date: October 4, 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Genre: YA/Mystery Thriller 

Goodreads blurb: 

Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Are they labels or a warning? The answer could cost Sera everything.

Murder, justice, and revenge were so not a part of the plan when Sera set out on her senior camping trip. After all, hiking through the woods is supposed to be safe and uneventful.

Then one morning the group wakes up groggy, confused, and with words scrawled on their wrists: Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Their supplies? Destroyed. Half their group? Gone. Their chaperone? Unconscious. Worst of all, they find four dolls acting out a murder—dolls dressed just like them.

Suddenly it’s clear; they’re being hunted. And with the only positive word on her wrist, Sera falls under suspicion… 

Review: 

I kept having one thought come to mind while reading this, over and over again and it was this; I feel like I’m watching a typical teenage horror movie. You know how when you’re watching said movie and you end up yelling at the screen because the main character (s) keep making stupid decisions and walking into obvious traps? There was quite a bit of that happening here. Similar to the way I feel after watching one of these movies I can’t quite decide if I liked it or not. Were parts of this book enjoyable? Sure. Predictable? Sometimes. Creepy? Yes. Satisfying? That’s the part I’m having trouble nailing down.

Four teenagers are trapped in the woods with their teacher. They’ve been separated from the rest of the group and though they can’t totally tell what happened to their classmates, they can see that it’s not good. Weird and chilling things keep happening; they’re being drugged, their things are destroyed and someone is definitely watching them. While there were absolutely some disturbing moments, unfortunately they weren’t quite enough to get my pulse pounding. 

I feel like this yet another case where I’m just the wrong reader for this book. There was nothing inherently wrong here, Richards is a good writer and the plot was alright. The pacing was a little too frenzied for me, it made me feel anxious in a uncomfortable way. The characters were fine too, maybe not as fleshed out as I would have liked them to be, but otherwise good. I think if I had read this while I was a teenager I would have enjoyed it more. For readers first starting out with thrillers this would be a good place to begin, but for the more seasoned thriller readers I would pass on this one.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to Sourcebooks for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Release date: October 4, 2016

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller 

Goodreads blurb:

Julie Prentice and her family move across the country to the idyllic Mount Adams district of Cincinnati, hoping to evade the stalker who’s been terrorizing them ever since the publication of her bestselling novel, The Murder Game. Since Julie doesn’t know anyone in her new town, when she meets her neighbor John Dunbar, their instant connection brings measured hope for a new beginning. But she never imagines that a simple, benign conversation with him could set her life spinning so far off course.

After a series of misunderstandings, Julie and her family become the target of increasingly unsettling harassment. Has Julie’s stalker found her, or are her neighbors out to get her, too? As tension in the neighborhood rises, new friends turn into enemies, and the results are deadly. 

Review: 

Have you ever read a book by a new to you author then immediately felt the need to rush out and buy all their previous work? It has only happened to me a few times in the past, most notably with Karin Slaughter and Harlan Coben, but now I’m adding Catherine McKenzie to that list. I had really high hopes for Fractured based on the blurb alone and I’m so pleased to say that it exceeded my expectations.

Julie is a bestselling author trying to escape a stalker gone too far. Her and her family move to a picturesque new suburb in Cincinnati to try and find their fresh start. Julie finds that fitting into her neighborhoods social circle is more difficult than she anticipated and she really only connects with her neighbor, John.  This book uses one of my favorite storytelling approaches, that of flashing back from events in the past to present day and is narrated by both Julie and John. It begins at present day and slowly goes hour by hour through one day, while the past is revealed over the course of the previous year. It’s apparent right from the start that something awful has happened, but McKenzie withholds all pertinent information until the very end keeping the reader primarily in the dark. This approach usually works for me as I’m inherently nosy and it makes me desperate to know what really happened.

Though I’m sadly not a part of any book clubs I found myself thinking that Fractured would be a perfect selection for one. There are so many things a group could discuss, from the cast of characters that you love to hate, especially the queen bee of the neighborhood, Cindy, to the questions this book prompts, like is Julie likable or not? Is there really something off about her? Or is she truly just constantly thrust unwillingly into the role of the victim? The power of individual choices is also very much at play here, it could spawn a great discussion about whether or not these choices really have the power to impact people’s lives.

I was reminded of two books while reading this, Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and The Drowning Girls by Paula Treick DeBoard. Both books nailed domestic suspense and I feel McKenzie did the same with this one. This book consumed me in the same manner as the other two and despite having a busy schedule I still managed to finish it in a day, I just had to know how it would all end and what event could possibly effect the lives of so many people. It was a page turning, tightly wound narrative dripping with tension. McKenzie is releasing The Murder Game writing as Julie Apple in November, isn’t that clever? I know after reading this I’m dying to get my hands on that one.

Overall rating: 5/5

Huge thanks to Kathleen Zrelack at Goldberg McDuffie Communications for my review copy.

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Release date: September 29, 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Goodreads blurb: 

A killer behind bars is still killing… 

When the body of a man is discovered with multiple stab wounds, Detective Jessica Daniel thinks it could be another drug-related murder. But then two more victims are found with similar markings. Each of the men were hardened criminals but is that the only link?   

As Jessica is drawn into her most difficult case yet, dead bodies continue to pile up and the media go to town with headlines of a ‘Vigilante’ on the streets. 

Then forensics match blood from the killer to a man already behind bars: Donald McKenna. Serving life in prison, Donald is a dangerous individual with the perfect alibi. But Jessica is sure he’s lying – and that he’s not the only one. 

Can she catch a ruthless killer before he takes his next victim? And as Jessica inches nearer to the truth, can she protect those closest to her? 

The second novel in the bestselling Detective Jessica Daniel series is a chilling serial killer thriller full of twists and turns. 

Review: 

This is the second book in a series and I rather liked the first one, if you missed it you can find my review of The Killer Inside here. While this one was an overall enjoyable read, I’m afraid there was a bit of a sophomore slump here and I can’t say I liked Vigilante as much as the first book.

The premise was promising, I was interested in the idea of a killer who was already locked up. How is that even possible?! It’s up to Jessica Daniel to unravel the mystery. I was happy to revisit her character as I was a fan of hers after being introduced to her in the first book. She’s the same old gutsy and ambitious girl who I loved and she has her work cut out for her again. This case is full of dead ends and improbable scenarios, but all physical evidence points to Dennis McKenna being the killer. But how can he possibly be guilty when he’s currently serving a life sentence behind bars?

I think my biggest problem here was that once things started to fall into place and Jess was able to fit puzzle pieces together the explanation was really far fetched. It wasn’t even a few moments where the reader has to suspend disbelief, (I actually have no problem doing that) it kept reminding me of outlandish soap opera storylines where things are explained by someone coming back from the dead or something similar. No, that’s not exactly what happened here, but it’s not too far off, but as usual I don’t want to give away major plot points.

The saving grace for me was Jess. I really like her as a lead character and I can’t help myself  from rooting for her even when she’s behaving badly. It’s her compassionate side that really wins me over, she truly cares about her victims families and they are the driving force behind her desire to bring killers to justice. Despite my disappointment with this one, I’m still looking forward to reading more of this series. It’s a massive hit in the UK so I’m confident that it only gets better.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Release date: October 4, 2016

Publisher: Seventh Street Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Goodreads blurb:

Detective Max Rupert is convinced that Jennavieve Pruitt was killed by her husband, Ben. Max’s friend, attorney Boady Sanden, is equally convinced that Ben, his client, is innocent. The case is pushing their friendship to the breaking point and forcing each to confront personal demons. 

Max is still struggling with the death of his wife four years earlier and the Pruitt case stirs up old memories. Boady hasn’t taken on a defense case since the death of an innocent client, a man Boady believes he could have saved but didn’t. Now he is back in court, determined to redeem himself for having failed in the past. 

Vividly told from two opposing perspectives, the story of Jennavieve Pruitt’s death disrupts many lives and the truth remains a mystery till the very end. 

Review: 

Part police procedural and part legal thriller, The Heavens May Fall is also shrouded in mystery. Max Rupert is a detective who gets assigned to the murder of Jennavieve Pruitt. Initially, all signs point to her husband, Ben being the culprit. Boady Sanden is Rupert’s longtime friend, but when Ben begs him to represent him their friendship is strained. Loyalties are tested and past transgressions threaten to surface.

This story is told from both Max and Boady’s point of view. This was particularly riveting as you are able to see both sides of the story in terms of the murder case. Obviously, Max’s side is police procedural while Boady’s is the legal side, but showing flip sides of the same coin encouraged the reader to guess, and second guess themselves repeatedly. I swear I’ve never flip flopped more! There were moments where I was totally convinced that Ben was guilty as sin immediately followed by hesitancy that maybe he was innocent after all. So is he a killer or is he blameless? You’ll have to read and see for yourself…

Max and Boady are both rich and complicated characters who are struggling with personal turmoil. Max’s wife died four years ago and he is overwhelmingly haunted by his loss. Boady quit practicing law and switched to teaching it after losing a critical case and he has never quite come to terms with the outcome. Will this be the case that rights the wrongs of the past? Or will it break these two men for the final time?

It’s apparent that Eskens has a background in law as he incorporated what could be very dry and frankly, boring legal jargon into the story frequently. But I was far from bored as he was able to explain these dense terms in a way that was easy to fully understand and this added something notable to the book. 

While I was able to see a few minor plot twists coming, the ending more than made up for that. The final chapters were completely unexpected and ultimately satisfying. Full of taut writing, flawed heroes and an impressive plot, The Heavens May Fall will be on my must read list for all.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to Seventh Street Books for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Release date: July 12, 2016

Publisher: HQN

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Chick Lit

Goodreads blurb:

With Joy, Love and a Little Trepidation, Courtney, Sienna and Rachel Invite You to the Most Emotional Wedding of the Year… Their Mother’s 

Courtney 

~ The Misfit ~ 

As the awkward one, Courtney Watson may not be as together as her sisters, but she excels at one thing—keeping secrets, including her white-hot affair with a sexy music producer. Planning Mom’s wedding exposes her startling hidden life, changing her family’s view of her—and how she views herself—forever. 

Sienna 

~ The Free Spirit ~ 

When Sienna’s boyfriend proposes—in front of her mom and sisters, for crying out loud—he takes her by surprise. She already has two broken engagements under her belt. Should she say “I do” even if she’s not sure she does? 

Rachel 

~ The Cynic ~ 

Rachel thought love would last forever…right up until her divorce. As Mom’s wedding day draws near and her ex begs for a second chance, she’s forced to acknowledge some uncomfortable truths about why her marriage failed, and decide if she’ll let pride stand in the way of her own happily-ever-after.

Review:

I’ve never read one of Susan Mallery’s books before though I’ve seen them everywhere. They usually seem too romancey for me, I like my romances to have more humor and fun. But when I saw Daughters of the Bride on Netgalley it caught my eye. I liked the concept of three grown women helping their mother with her wedding and I love a good story about sisters. This one was just ok for me, there wasn’t enough substance for me to really enjoy it.

Maggie is the mother and at first I assumed that she would have a larger presence in the story, but I’m really glad she didn’t. Her husband died when they were young and left her in a bad way financially. While her story is sad, she wasn’t a very good mother to the girls, especially Courtney. On top of that, she’s a total bridezilla which is just never a good look for anyone. Rachel is the oldest and has been divorced for two years. Her character was alright but she loved to play the role of the martyr too much for my liking. Sienna is the middle child and she gets engaged to her boyfriend, David. It’s clear the two aren’t meant to be and I grew bored waiting for her to realize this. I did really like her job, she fundraises for a thrift shop that supports abused women trying to leave their awful situations. Seeing her at work brought a warmth to an otherwise cold character. My favorite hands down was Courtney. She suffered the most under her mothers neglectful manner when they were kids as she had a learning disability that was undiagnosed for far too long. Her family treats her like crap and I really wanted her to succeed to prove them wrong in thinking she’s a loser.

The love stories were all predicable and formulaic, there just wasn’t enough going on to make me enthusiastic about this book. It started off really slow too and took me awhile to even muster up a vague interest in the characters lives. Thank god for Courtney, she’s the only one who kept me reading. It was a cute enough book and if you want something really light and fluffy then this is for you. I was just too annoyed by the majority of the characters to fully immerse myself in the story. 

Overall rating: 2.5/5

Thanks to HQN for my copy in exchange for an honest review.