Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 11, 2020

Publisher: Knopf

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

For more than seven hundred years, the vast, rambling Trelawney Castle in Cornwall–turrets, follies, a room for every day of the year, four miles of corridors and 500,000 acres–was the magnificent and grand “three dimensional calling card” of the earls of Trelawney. By 2008, it is in a complete state of ruin due to the dulled ambition and the financial ineptitude of the twenty-four earls, two world wars, the Wall Street crash, and inheritance taxes. Still: the heir to all of it, Kitto, his wife, Jane, their three children, their dog, Kitto’s ancient parents, and his aunt Tuffy Scott, an entomologist who studies fleas, all manage to live there and keep it going. Four women dominate the story: Jane; Kitto’s sister, Blaze, who left Trelawney and made a killing in finance in London, the wildly beautiful, seductive, and long-ago banished Anastasia and her daughter, Ayesha. When Anastasia sends a letter announcing that her nineteen-year-old daughter, Ayesha, will be coming to stay, the long-estranged Blaze and Jane must band together to take charge of their new visitor–and save the house of Trelawney. But both Blaze and Jane are about to discover that the house itself is really only a very small part of what keeps the family together.

Review:

This isn’t my typical kind of read but there was something so intriguing to me about an aristocratic, dysfunctional family that I decided to take a chance on it. I’m really glad that I did because I found this one to be witty, quirky and entertaining. Sometimes it’s nice to step outside my comfort zone a little and that’s one of my personal reading goals for the year.

This one was really character driven, it focused on the family dynamics and the eccentricities of each family member and they were an odd bunch. It was a little over the top, very satirical and even a little theatrical at times, but I liked that aspect especially since the plot itself almost seemed secondary to the cast of characters as well as the House of Trewlaney. The house was a character all on its own, there was SO much history, and if I’m honest maybe a tiny bit too much for me, but overall I did enjoy this one and the author is a very talented writer.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 11, 2020

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Being the second wife can be murder . . .

“Once a cheat, always a cheat,” they say. Marcie Maddox has worked hard to get where she is after the illicit affair that started her new life a few years ago. But her world of country clubs, yachts and sumptuous houses in Savannah, Georgia, isn’t easy to maintain, no matter how hard she tries. Nor is keeping her husband, Jason, truly interested.

So, when Jason’s boss brings home a hot new wife from his trip to London, the young Mrs William Radford IV isn’t quite the souvenir everyone expected. Sexy, drop-dead gorgeous and black—Keisha quickly usurps Marcie’s place as the beautiful second wife. But when Marcie sees the extra spark in the room when Keisha and Jason are together and their obvious, magnetic attraction, the gloves come off.

Revenge is best served cold, but in the steamy Savannah heat, blood runs so hot that this summer it might just boil over into murder. 

Review:

Do you ever read a book and really like the first half and then the second half everything just kind of falls apart? That’s what happened for me here unfortunately, I was definitely interested in the first half and then after that things just got weird and while I like weird stuff sometimes, this time it just didn’t work for me at all. I found it to be predictable and just slightly annoying with a bunch a stuff that felt like it was added in just for the sake of it.

Ok so even though this one wasn’t great for me I do think that a certain type of reader would like this. If you like unlikable characters with secrets and domestic drama, this one has all of that. If you like a strong atmosphere, this one had a great one. (That was actually one of the things that kept me reading) If you are interested in voodoo and black magic, this one had that too. It’s also pretty sexy and a bit tawdry so if that’s your thing, check it out. For me, all of that together was messy and blah and left me disappointed in the end, I wanted more.

Overall rating: 2.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 18, 2020

Publisher: Blackstone

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

I am the legion of the night …

He appears in the darkness like a ghost, made of shadows and fear—the Midnight Man. He comes for the parents but leaves the children alive, tiny witnesses to unspeakable horror. The bedroom communities of Los Angeles are gripped with dread, and the attacks are escalating.

Still reeling from her best friend’s close call in a bombing six months ago, FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin Hendrix has come to Los Angeles to assist in the Midnight Man investigation and do what she does best—hunt a serial killer. Her work is what keeps her going, but something about this UNSUB—unknown subject—doesn’t sit right. She soon realizes that this case will test not only her skills but also her dedication, for within the heart of a killer lives a secret that mirrors Caitlin’s own past. Hesitancy is not an option, but will she be able to do what must be done if the time comes? 

Review:

If you a thriller fan and you haven’t read this series it’s a MUST! Bonus if you’re a fan of shows like Criminal Minds because this book (and the whole series) is like an insane episode of the show but better. Also, you could probably read this as a standalone and be fine but don’t, because all three books are phenomenal and you’ll be missing out.

What makes a perfect thriller for me? A few things, first the case has to be somewhat original so and MG managed to explore something I’ve really never read about before. I won’t say exactly what, but it’s dark, horrifying and fascinating all at the same time and I was mesmerized. I also like solid characterization, this is even more important to me in a series since there’s time to dive deep, and not only do I feel like I really have a strong sense of who Caitlin is as person, I care about her. She’s not some perfect, save the day heroine, don’t get me wrong she’s badass but she’s deeply flawed as well and who can’t relate to that? Finally, I need good writing and MG is one of the best. Her style is both bold and crisp and her pacing is spot on. This had it all for me friends, gimme book four ASAP because that ending has me shook and dying to see what happens next!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 18, 2020

Publisher: Park Row

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

She tried to run, but she can’t escape the other Mrs.

Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbor Morgan Baines is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie.

But it’s not just Morgan’s death that has Sadie on edge. And as the eyes of suspicion turn toward the new family in town, Sadie is drawn deeper into the mystery of what really happened that dark and deadly night. But Sadie must be careful, for the more she discovers about Mrs. Baines, the more she begins to realize just how much she has to lose if the truth ever comes to light. 

Review:

I was a longtime fan of Kubica, her first few books were so good but her last book was not my favorite, so to say I was a little hesitant about this one is an understatement. I am thrilled to say that she’s BACK!! This one was a huge improvement for me over her last and I’m back on the Kubica train.

Since I don’t really wanna discuss the plot at all let me tell you about the fantastic atmosphere that made an already unsettling story even better. The Foust family relocates to Maine where they live in an isolated island where the last ferry leaves every night at eight o’clock. They’re stuck there unless there’s some sort of huge emergency and this added such a strong sense of unease because you just know that’s going to be an issue (and there’s already a a whole host of other issues). Throw in some twists, a few viewpoints that you’re not quite sure make sense at the start and I was hooked! Definitely a solid thriller that held my attention, a few slightly implausible parts but I just rolled with it and let myself be entertained.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

I don’t know about you guys but when it’s cold outside all I want to do is stay inside and curl up with a good book! Honestly, I feel the same way no matter the season, but here are 7 books I loved that make for a perfect winter read. As an added bonus my friends at ReallyIntoThis have a list of cold weather cocktails that would pair perfectly with any of these books!

White Out by Ragnar Jonasson is a classic whodunnit set in a stark and isolated town during a snowstorm. Not only is the mystery itself solid, the authors writing style is sparse yet beautiful, truly unique.

A Season to Lie would be perfect to curl up with during the colder months, it’s the dead of winter in Cedar Valley and the setting is so well crafted that it’s practically a character of its own. A murder set against a series of blizzards makes a chilling combination and while it wasn’t twisty in the truest sense of the word, it still kept me on my toes and engaged throughout.

The Deep Dark Descending follows Max who for five years has been haunted by his wife’s death and he’s finally tracked down her killer. This opens with Max and an unknown man locked in an intense situation in the middle of nowhere near the Canadian border and Max finally has the chance to get justice for his Jenni. It’s tense and thrilling, the frozen atmosphere lends to the chilly scene becoming a character all of it’s own and adding a layer of danger to an already deadly story. It flips back to three days prior as you follow Max as he tracks down the killer, then flips back and forth throughout all the way up to an explosive conclusion.

The River at Night is a story about survival, and friendship as a group of female friends realize that their only hope of coming out of this relatively safely is by banding together. It would be a fantastic movie, Ferencik’s writing style made the wilderness come to life so brilliantly that it was playing out like a movie for me. If you’re looking for a heart pounding read with depth, look no further. There were as many twists and turns as the river itself and I loved how the river was a character of its own. Between the river and the woods, this setting was crafted so well by Ferencik that I could easily picture its breathtaking beauty. 

Rapid Falls This follows two sisters, Anna and Cara and flips between the late nineties and 2016. The girls were in high school in 1997 and were both in a tragic accident that killed Cara’s boyfriend. Anna’s life went down the drain afterwards, she spent time in prison and developed an alcohol addiction while Cara moved on and has a picture perfect life with her husband and daughter. Two very different outcomes and both women were interesting and complex.

Beartown is a heavily hyped book that’s still talked about years later and for good reason. I wasn’t sure a book based on a small towns obsession with hockey would work for me but boy was I wrong. It’s SO much more than that, it’s deep, profound and extremely moving, it’s subtle and gorgeous and the language is amazingly simple but haunting in spectacular way. I will never forget this book or its characters and I highly recommend this to any reader, I truly think everyone can learn something from this one or at the very least be touched by it in some way.

No Exit was super fast paced, had relentless action and a really great atmosphere. I loved the whole locked room vibe with a crazy snowstorm and so many unknown factors. Yes, there were definitely some implausible parts but I can definitely recommend this based on binge read factor alone! 

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 4, 2020

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

A wedding planner left at the altar. Yeah, the irony isn’t lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite that embarrassing blip from her past, Lina’s managed to make other people’s dreams come true as a top-tier wedding coordinator in DC. After impressing an influential guest, she’s offered an opportunity that could change her life. There’s just one hitch… she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man from her own failed nuptials. 

Tired of living in his older brother’s shadow, marketing expert Max Hartley is determined to make his mark with a coveted hotel client looking to expand its brand. Then he learns he’ll be working with his brother’s whip-smart, stunning—absolutely off-limits—ex-fiancée. And she loathes him. 

If they can survive the next few weeks and nail their presentation without killing each other, they’ll both come out ahead. Except Max has been public enemy number one ever since he encouraged his brother to jilt the bride, and Lina’s ready to dish out a little payback of her own. 

But even the best laid plans can go awry, and soon Lina and Max discover animosity may not be the only emotion creating sparks between them. Still, this star-crossed couple can never be more than temporary playmates because Lina isn’t interested in falling in love and Max refuses to play runner-up to his brother ever again… 

Review:

Give me a rom com about weddings and I’m a happy woman, seriously I can read about wedding related mishaps over and over again and never get tired. Then I had the added bonus of reading a new to me author who was just SO good, she nailed every aspect of this for me from the witty dialogue and banter to the sexy and playful steam all the way around to Lina’s spicy Brazilian family that made me legit laugh out loud, this one had it all.

Besides the enemies to lovers thing between Lina and Max there was also a hint of forbidden romance since at one point they were supposed to be inlaws and I really liked that added twist. I mentioned Lina’s family earlier and they just about stole the show for me, they were over the top and hilarious and really added so much to an already highly entertaining book. Definitely recommended for romance fans, make sure you snag this one because they’ll be a second book soon enough and I can’t wait!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 28, 2020

Publisher: Ballantine

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

No other author I’ve read before manages to write quite like C. J. Tudor does, she blends a classic thriller with just a hint of the supernatural and she freaking knocks it out of the park every single time for me. If I had to describe her books in one word it would definitely be creepy, there is always a sense of menace and something sinister at play in all of her books and this was no exception.

As much as this made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up there was also an emotional component here that raised the stakes even higher. You have a father at the end of his rope, his despair and desperation was a palpable thing and the combination of a twisty thriller, the emotional connection to the characters and the spooky unknown stuff at play made this one a true page turner. In a time when most thrillers feel stale and frankly bore me to death, this one was a breathe of fresh air for me. All of the authors books are solid reads and this one is too!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 28, 2020

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Can guys and girls ever be just friends? According to Audrey Tate and Clarke West, absolutely. After all, they’ve been best friends since childhood without a single romantic entanglement. Clarke is the charming playboy Audrey can always count on, and he knows that the ever-loyal Audrey will never not play along with his strategy for dodging his matchmaking mother—announcing he’s already engaged…to Audrey.

But what starts out as a playful game between two best friends turns into something infinitely more complicated, as just-for-show kisses begin to stir up forbidden feelings. As the faux wedding date looms closer, Audrey and Clarke realize that they can never go back to the way things were, but deep down, do they really want to?

Review:

This is the third and final book in a series, I absolutely loved the first two, Passion on Park Avenue and Love on Lexington Avenue and can highly recommend this trilogy. If you’re a fan of romance these books are just way too much fun and are super easy, entertaining reads that always leave me in the best mood when I finish!

I’ve been dying to get to Audrey and Clarke’s story and a fake engagement trope never fails to engage me. I also love a friends to lovers story, maybe it’s because me and my husband were friends first for years before we started dating, but I love stories where the two leads have an extensive history. Besides a great friendship between Audrey and Clarke they also have amazing chemistry and LL’s signature witty banter always makes me laugh. I’ve said it before but if you like Christina Lauren books you have got to check out LL, her books are just as great! Such a great end to what was a super funny, charming and sexy series, I’m sad it’s over and only wish we had more to look forward to with this one.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Mermaid Inn by Jenny Holiday

Release date: January 28, 2020

Publisher: Forever

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Eve Abbott has a problem-actually, make that a lot of problems. And they’re all going to get worse the moment her toes hit the sand in Matchmaker Bay. Once a blissful summer escape, now the tiny town just reminds Eve of loss. Inheriting her aunt’s beloved Mermaid Inn is the only reason Eve is coming back. She’s definitely not ready to handle nosy neighbors, extensive renovations, or the discovery that a certain heartbreaker still lives down the street…

Police Chief Sawyer Collins always does the right thing, even when it costs him everything. Like Evie. He’s spent the past ten years trying to forget her–to forget how right she felt in his arms, to forget the pain in her eyes the day she left. The last thing he expects is to see her back in town or to find that the spark between them is as strong as ever. Sawyer knows this is his only chance to prove that his feelings have always been real… before Eve turns tail and leaves for good.

Review:

Lately I’ve been super into small town romances and if they’re part of a series I’m allllll in. I love cute and quaint little fictional towns and a cast of quirky secondary characters that I can get to know over time, plus a new budding romance with each installment? Yes please! On the surface this book had everything I’ve been about lately but it in the end I found it to be lacking.

This started out really strong for me, I really liked both Evie and Sawyer and the opening chapter was both funny and charming and really set a great tone for the story. Second chance romances are one of my favorite tropes and Evie and Sawyer’s backstory was sweet. Really there was plenty to like here for me but my one gripe was that it just felt a bit too long. Parts from the middle to the last quarter dragged on a bit and for something that felt long for me, I wanted more depth. Look, I knew going into this that I would be reading a predictable book, I’m totally ok with that, in fact it was what I was in the mood for, but there was something missing for me in the end that made this one just ok for me instead of a good, solid game book. I did like it enough that I plan to continue on with the series though, the author is a good writer and I’m curious to see where things go. I know beginning a new series sometimes requires setting the stage a bit so I’m definitely willing to give this another chance, I’m hopeful that the next book will win me over and make me a firm fan.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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