Goodreads

Release date: March 1, 2023

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

After the sudden death of her husband, Kate Turner is looking for a fresh start for herself and her teenage daughter, Alex. They relocate to the beachside town of Shoreham, Florida, where all is not as sunny as it seems.

Although Kate makes fast friends with a trio of fellow moms, their daughters take an instant dislike to Alex, who attempts to document their bullying in her video diary. Kate brushes off Alex’s concerns—until she receives a series of chilling warnings about the clique of moms from other parents and neighbors. As it becomes harder for her to ignore the malicious undercurrent she senses among her new friends, Kate grows increasingly unsure of who to believe—and who to trust.

As small-town gossip weaves a harrowing web of jealousy, deceit, and betrayal, Kate and Alex discover that whether you’re in or out, the status quo can turn on you deadly fast.

Review:

As a straight up popcorn thriller this one was alright. I enjoyed it in the moment and found it to be entertaining but will I remember it later? Probably not but that’s ok with me because sometimes a book being good in the moment is really all I need. Most of it was fairly easy to predict too, especially if you read a lot of thrillers but there was definitely still something that compelled me to keep turning the pages. There’s something to be said about an author that has that ability despite a plot that’s not super exciting. I was pretty confident this would be a three star read until the last chapter and the way it ended makes me want to bump it up a half star. In the end this would be a easy one to devour over a weekend, or better yet on vacation as it’s mindless entertainment.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 14, 2023

Publisher: St. Martins

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Gina Morales wants to make it big. In her four seasons on The Dance Off, she’s never even made it to the finals. But her latest partner, the sexy star of an Alaskan wilderness show, could be her chance. Who knew the strong, silent, survivalist-type had moves like that? She thinks Stone Nielson is her ticket to win it all—until her producer makes it clear they’re being set up for a showmance.

Joining a celebrity dance competition is the last thing Stone wants. However, he’ll endure anything to help his family, even as he fears revealing their secrets. While the fast pace of Los Angeles makes him long for the peace and privacy of home, he can’t hide his growing attraction for his dance partner. Neither wants to fake a romance for the cameras, but the explosive chemistry that flares between them is undeniable.

As Stone and Gina heat up the dance floor, the tabloids catch on to their developing romance. With the spotlight threatening to ruin everything, will they choose fame and fortune, or let love take the lead?

Review:

If you’re a fan of Dancing With the Stars and like romance novels this is the book for you. I am a fan of the show and I really enjoyed having a reality TV show as the backdrop for a romance. It was super interesting to see behind the scenes and I thought the author did a great job at portraying that aspect. Gina and Stone had great chemistry instantly, there’s something so sexy and intimate about ballroom dance and their dance scenes were almost as hot as the actual sex scenes. Despite the reality tv setting this still had lots of depth too with Gina dealing with being a woman of color in a brutal industry. This was actually the authors debut back in 2017 and it’s being rereleased with a new cover! So a solid debut and since we’ve seen what the author can do this just places her firmly in my must read author list.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 24, 2023

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

When a couple starts to feel like they’re married to a stranger, a flirtatious game of pretend becomes the spark they need to reignite their relationship.

Eliza and Graham are anticipating an anything-but-sexy, weeklong getaway to celebrate their five-year anniversary. Nestled on the Northern California coastline, the resort prides itself on being a destination for those in love and those looking to find it. For Eliza and Graham, it might as well be a vacation with a roommate.

When a well-meaning guest mistakes Eliza and Graham for being single and introduces them at the hotel bar, they don’t correct him. Suddenly, they’re pretending to be perfect strangers and it’s unexpectedly…fun? Eliza and Graham find themselves flirting like it’s their first date, and waiting with butterflies in their stomach for the other to text back.

Everyone at the retreat can sense the electric chemistry between Eliza and Graham’s alter egos. But when their scintillating game of roleplaying ends, will they still feel the heat?

Review:

I love a marriage in crisis story and I was really interested in the premise here. A little role playing in order to reconnect sounded cute but I didn’t realize that it was going to be one long and drawn out acting gig between Eliza and Graham. I was in it for the first half but by the second I just kept thinking, why the hell wont these two just talk to each other already? Or better yet just go see a marriage counselor? Yes, they had issues but they seemed fairly easy to overcome and all could’ve been solved by an open and honest conversation because they still loved each other so I just found myself wondering why they couldn’t get it together. I did listen to much of this on audio and Brittany Pressley and Dan Bittner were both phenomenal. 3 star story and 5 star narration for sure. This one missed the mark for me but I loved their previous book so I’ll give them another shot for sure.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 10, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

A stranded detective tries to solve a murder in a tiny Alaskan town where everyone lives in a single high-rise building, in this gripping debut by an Academy Award–nominated screenwriter.

When a local teenager discovers a severed hand and foot washed up on the shore of the small town of Point Mettier, Alaska, Cara Kennedy is on the case. A detective from Anchorage, she has her own motives for investigating the possible murder in this isolated place, which can be accessed only by a tunnel.

After a blizzard causes the tunnel to close indefinitely, Cara is stuck among the odd and suspicious residents of the town—all 205 of whom live in the same high-rise building and are as icy as the weather. Cara teams up with Point Mettier police officer Joe Barkowski, but before long the investigation is upended by fearsome gang members from a nearby native village.

Haunted by her past, Cara soon discovers that everyone in this town has something to hide. Will she be able to unravel their secrets before she unravels?”

Review:

If you’re looking for a great thriller to read this winter this would be ideal. It has an isolated and claustrophobic setting where it’s basically always freezing and everyone who lives in the town lives in one building. That was such an unsettling thought for me, I would hate the feeling of being trapped and even more so when there’s body parts popping up. So the atmosphere sucked me in initially but I was soon drawn in by the characters as well. There are several narrators in the story and it did take me a few POV shifts to keep them straight but it wasn’t too bad and each viewpoint was integral to the story. The residents of the town are super kooky and I had my suspicions about everyone and what the hell they were up too but the author was clever and I didn’t have everything totally figured out in the end. Overall I found this to be a suspenseful and engaging read with a unique setting and a solid plot.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 20, 2023

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Don’t go in the guest bedroom.” A shadow falls on Douglas Garrick’s face as he touches the door with his fingertips. “My wife… she’s very ill.” As he continues showing me their incredible penthouse apartment, I have a terrible feeling about the woman behind closed doors. But I can’t risk losing this job—not if I want to keep my darkest secret safe…

It’s hard to find an employer who doesn’t ask too many questions about my past. So I thank my lucky stars that the Garricks miraculously give me a job, cleaning their stunning penthouse with views across the city and preparing fancy meals in their shiny kitchen. I can work here for a while, stay quiet until I get what I want.

It’s almost perfect. But I still haven’t met Mrs Garrick, or seen inside the guest bedroom. I’m sure I hear her crying. I notice spots of blood around the neck of her white nightgowns when I’m doing laundry. And one day I can’t help but knock on the door. When it gently swings open, what I see inside changes everything…

That’s when I make a promise. After all, I’ve done this before. I can protect Mrs Garrick while keeping my own secrets locked up safe.

Douglas Garrick has done wrong. He is going to pay. It’s simply a question of how far I’m willing to go…

Review:

When I talk about a popcorn style thriller this book is exactly what I mean, the very definition of one for me. It’s juicy and fast paced, it’s wickedly fun and twisty and it’s addicting and unputdownable. Really I couldn’t want anything more and if I was worried this wouldn’t be quite as good as the first book I shouldn’t have even wondered for a second. I don’t even really want to discuss the plot at all, it’s too fun for me to even allude to anything but just know if you enjoy devious thrillers this is a must.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 10, 2023

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

In a fast-paced new novel in the vein of Big Little Lies, a single mom goes undercover to investigate a host of disturbing secrets held by the leaders of a local suburban parent-school association, including embezzlement, bribery, adultery, and murder—by the bestselling author of Wish You Were Gone.

Paige Lancaster, single mom and prodigal daughter, has returned to the East Coast from her prestigious, well-paid job in Los Angeles, writing for the smartest detective series on television. Something terrible happened to her back in Hollywood. Okay, two terrible things, one featuring a misplaced tire iron—and now she’s broke, homeless, and living with her widowed mother and eight-year-old daughter, Izzy, in her Connecticut hometown.

Paige needs to buckle down and find a new writing gig but first, she meets the movers and shakers of Izzy’s school’s Parent Booster Association, run by the intimidatingly gorgeous Ainsley Anderson, who just happens to be married to Paige’s old high school flame, John.

Then she shows up at the annual Parents and Pinot fundraiser, held at Ainsley and John’s dazzling mansion in the toniest part of town, where she’s caught in a compromising position with John, accidentally destroys the guest bathroom, overhears an incriminating conversation, and discovers that her purse has gone missing. And later that night, Ainsley turns up dead at the bottom of her own driveway.

Did she fall? Or was she pushed?

Paige may have only written about detectives, but she is convinced she can handle a little undercover sleuthing. After all, it’ll give her an excuse to spend more time with John. Still, she can’t help but wonder: could he be capable of murder? Or could one of the PBA members have planned a dastardly crime to reach the top? But the most important question of all: will Paige ever get her life back on track?

Review:

When a book is compared to Big Little Lies I’m always curious and then if the book lives up to the comparison I’m thrilled. I’m happy to say I think the comp was pretty spot on here, it had that same juicy and entertaining feel to it. I’m such a sucker for suburban dramas featuring rich and entitled people behaving badly and this one had plenty of those types making questionable decisions. I loved all the secrets the characters were keeping and while some of them were fairly obvious I was still wildly entertained by them. There are several viewpoints that switch back and forth between chapters and I enjoyed the bird’s eye overlook of what was going in the characters lives and the town in general. Some of the characters actually made me laugh so despite this being super dramatic I also found it to be humorous. Overall I definitely recommend as a fun popcorn thriller.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.