Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 19, 2019

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

She has every reason to hate her ex …

Every day on her way home from work, Dove Damiani drives past her ex-house, where her ex-husband lives with her ex-dog and her ex-yoga instructor, next to her ex-neighbors and the ex-life she once affectionately described as “frighteningly perfect.”

To outsiders, Dove is bitter and resentful. The divorce left her alone, with nothing but a set of car keys and 50% of a paltry savings account. 

…but it doesn’t mean she wants him dead.

When the lifeless body of her former husband is discovered in the birch grove outside Dove’s apartment on what would have been their fifth wedding anniversary, investigators waste no time making Dove a person of interest. She swears she didn’t do it. She’s never so much as killed a spider in her thirty years. 

But as evidence mounts against her, Dove finds herself questioning her memory, her sanity, and even—her innocence. 

Review:

Have you guys heard of Minka Kent? I discovered her books a couple of years ago and really like her style. She writes fast paced and addictive thrillers that are always pretty entertaining. I say all of this because the author of this is actually MK writing under a pseudonym, so if you’re a fan of her books don’t miss this one!

If you’re looking for your next weekend binge read this would be a good choice, it’s super fast and there was always a lot going on to keep my attention. I never knew quite who to trust and the whole thing was one big guessing game right up until the end. It was also pretty twisty and kind of read like a lifetime movie, a little over the top and dramatic but also fun, you can’t really stop reading because it just sucks you in, even if it’s a little out there.

A quick side note, I’ve still been struggling with thrillers and this one held my attention so that’s saying a lot for me at the moment! I can’t tell you how many thrillers I’ve set down in the last couple of months and this one made the cut 🙌🏻

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 17, 2019

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

There are no good men left in New York City. At least that’s Claire Hayes’s conviction after finding out her late husband was not the man she thought he was. Determined to rid her home of anything that reminds her of her cheating husband, Claire sets out to redesign her boring, beige Upper East Side brownstone and make it something all her own. But what starts out as a simple renovation becomes a lot more complicated when she meets her bad-tempered and rough-around-the-edges contractor Scott Turner.

Scott bluntly makes it known to Claire that he only took on her house for a change of pace from the corporate offices and swanky hotels he’s been building lately, and he doesn’t hesitate to add that he has no patience for a pampered, damaged princess with a penchant for pink. But when long workdays turn into even longer nights, their mutual wariness morphs into something more complicated—a grudging respect, and maybe even attraction… 

Review:

I am obsessed with this series you guys, it’s so much fun! This is the second in a series, the first one is Passion on Park Avenue and there’s a third book coming out in early 2020. You could read this on it’s own but don’t, both books are such fun, fast and entertaining reads you don’t wanna miss out!

One of the best things about an LL book is her trademark humor and snark and this one does not disappoint in that area whatsoever. Claire and Scott are both smart and witty and their banter is amazing, there were so many funny one liners that made me legit laugh out loud. They also have fantastic chemistry and while there are a few slightly racy parts, there isn’t a ton of steam, the perfect balance for me in terms of flirty fun and sex. I really liked both Claire and Scott as characters, they’re the type of leads you’re rooting for the whole time and when they finally get their acts together I was thrilled. Recommended for fans of any rom coms, super cute and light and highly entertaining.

Love on Lexington Avenue in three words: Sparkling, Adorable and Charming

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 17, 2019

Publisher: Pantheon Books

Genre: Horror

Blurb:

Noah Turner see monsters.

His father saw them–and built a shrine to them with The Wandering Dark, an immersive horror experience that the whole family operates.

His practical mother has caught glimpses of terrors but refuses to believe–too focused on keeping the family from falling apart.

And his eldest sister, the dramatic and vulnerable Sydney, won’t admit to seeing anything but the beckoning glow of the spotlight . . . until it swallows her up.

Noah Turner sees monsters. But, unlike his family, Noah chooses to let them in . . . 

Review:

I’ve maybe read five horror novels my whole life, the genre is just slightly out of my comfort zone but when I saw high praise from two of my most trusted reviewers (Chelsea and Abby) I knew I had to give it a shot. And I’ve once again learned why it’s so important to step out of my comfort zone occasionally because this one was really good!

While this is definitely a horror novel it’s also not your typical gory, over the top classic horror novel, it’s way deeper and more sophisticated than I expected. Literary horror would be an apt description, there was a quiet beauty to the authors writing even in the midst of such a dark and disturbing tale. I’m not gonna lie, this one is weird you guys, there’s a few moments where I went, wait, WHAT?! But I loved the weirdness and so appreciated that I was reading something wholly unique and like nothing else I’ve read before. It’s beyond dark too and deals with some disturbing stuff but again, there’s something beautiful about the way the author handles deep issues. The structure was also fantastic, there are seven different sections and there’s leaps of years sometimes which really propelled the plot forward at a rapid pace. I really don’t want to say too much more because this was so unique and I went in blind and feel like that’s the best way, but I’ll close by saying that if you like dark thriller try this, it’s a standout, for sure and is unlike much of what is on the market today.

The Cosmology of Monsters in three words: Harrowing, Unique and Dark

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 3, 2019

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb:

Novice stylist Amber Green is taking on the glittering celebrity world of Manhattan one fashion disaster and wardrobe malfunction at a time! 

When her TV producer boyfriend Rob announces that he’s been offered a job in New York, filming with the infamous Angel Wear lingerie models, Amber knows its her perfect chance to take the New York fashion world by storm.

But Amber wasn’t counting on unruly toddler photo shoots, clandestine designer handbag scams and a Hollywood star who is determined to wear as little as possible on the red carpet. Until she meets a disgraced former designer who could turn her career around…or leave it all in tatters.

Fun, adventure, glamour and high-fashion make this is the perfect feel good women’s fiction read.

Review:

I’m a HUGE sucker for British chick lit, and as soon as I read the description of this one I immediately was reminded of Becky Bloomwood, who in my opinion is like the funniest heroine of all time. Anyway, this one was similar in a lot of ways and was just a super fun and silly read. This is the second book in a series and I didn’t read the first one but I was totally fine, although I had so much fun with this one I’m wondering how the first book slipped under my radar? 🤔

Amber is the type of character who constantly finds herself in outrageous situations that always end up being highly entertaining. There is never a dull moment with her and there were many moments of slapstick style comedy and over the top hilarity that had me giggling. In between reading a few dark thrillers this was exactly the escape that I needed and besides Amber the supporting cast of characters were also fun and a nice balance to her wild escapades. Things were left open ended enough that I’m hoping there will be another book, I would love to read more about Amber and her adventures for sure!

The Stylist Takes Manhattan in three words: Cheeky, Glitzy and Sassy

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 3, 2019

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

All’s faire in love and war for two sworn enemies who indulge in a harmless flirtation in a laugh-out-loud rom-com from debut author, Jen DeLuca.

Emily knew there would be strings attached when she relocated to the small town of Willow Creek, Maryland, for the summer to help her sister recover from an accident, but who could anticipate getting roped into volunteering for the local Renaissance Faire alongside her teenaged niece? Or that the irritating and inscrutable schoolteacher in charge of the volunteers would be so annoying that she finds it impossible to stop thinking about him?

The faire is Simon’s family legacy and from the start he makes clear he doesn’t have time for Emily’s lighthearted approach to life, her oddball Shakespeare conspiracy theories, or her endless suggestions for new acts to shake things up. Yet on the faire grounds he becomes a different person, flirting freely with Emily when she’s in her revealing wench’s costume. But is this attraction real, or just part of the characters they’re portraying?

This summer was only ever supposed to be a pit stop on the way to somewhere else for Emily, but soon she can’t seem to shake the fantasy of establishing something more with Simon, or a permanent home of her own in Willow Creek. 

Review:

This book was absolute perfection for me y’all. While I wouldn’t exactly say I’m picky about romance novels, for one to be five stars for me it has to have the perfect balance of sweetness and spice, and for me that’s not exactly no steam but I definitely want more romantic moments than just straight up sex scenes. I also want it to be funny and warm and I want both a hero and heroine that I adore, this is not asking too much, is it?! I say no, but it’s pretty rare for me to find all the elements I want and this one had all of them and more!

Emily was adorable and totally relatable, her hesitation about the Faire at the start of the book rivaled my own, so I knew she was my kind of people. Simon may as well be called Swoonworthy Simon, my lord this man knows how to woo a lady. Throw in a supporting cast of characters that are just as lovable, sizzling chemistry between Em and Simon and an absolutely adorable and heartwarming story and I’m done 😍 If you haven’t already guessed, this one comes highly recommended by me, did I mention this is a debut?! I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next, I feel like there could easily be a follow up focusing on some secondary characters, but whatever she writes I’m reading!

Well Met in three words: Adorable, Sweet and Charming

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 27, 2019

Publisher: Hampton Creek Press

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

In the riveting conclusion of the 4MK trilogy, Barker takes the thriller to an entirely new level. Don’t miss a single word of the series James Patterson called “ingenious.” 

Hear No Evil 

For Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades. 

See No Evil 

Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles. 

Speak No Evil 

Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved. 

Do No Evil 

With unrelenting tension and pulse-pounding suspense, the past unravels at breakneck speed as the truth behind the Four Monkey Killer’s motive is finally revealed in this masterfully crafted finale. 

Review:

I LOVE a good serial killer thriller and the trilogy that this book is part of is one of the best that I’ve ever read. It is such a complex and compelling series throughout, now looking back in hindsight I realize just how freaking brilliant the author is, I’m seriously blown away with how clever the plotting is and how perfectly this whole series was set up from beginning to end.

I really don’t want to speak to the plot too much here, but don’t read this as a standalone, these books must be read in order and yes, they’re worth it! SO much has happened since the first 4MK book and if you jump in here, you’re just missing out on some truly amazing storytelling. I always say this in my reviews of these books, but these books are not for the faint hearted, they’re fearless and explore the truly dark depths of humanity. There are some really graphic and brutal scenes and a lot of it is terrifying. This IS a serial killer thriller though, it’s not pretty but it’s damn good. Between the bold story and the meticulous attention to detail, and the intensity that’s maintained throughout , I can’t say enough good things about this one. If you like serial killer thrillers this is an absolute must read. Normally I have complaints about the ending of a series but I seriously can’t find a flaw here, everything was wrapped up perfectly and there were so many twists and turns along the way, so absolutely nothing was done I order to take the easy way out. I’ll stop rambling and just say, read 👏 the 👏book 👏 PLEASE and come chat to me when you’re finished because I bet your mind will be just as blown as mine was!

The Sixth Wicked Child in three words: Clever, Meticulous and Tense

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 27, 2019

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

When Connor McGuire loses out on his dream job of being the head coach of the local high school football team, he thinks life can’t get any worse. Then he discovers just who got the coveted position—it was a handout to the kid of a well-known, successful college coach. Connor’s sure this is just a publicity stunt, but the kid turns out to be not only a sharp strategist, but a driven and sexy young woman, too. Frustrated in more ways than one, Connor realizes that he might have to step up his game or risk losing altogether.

Coach Charlotte “Charlie” Gibb calls a flag on the play when she finds out that her very male, very attractive, but definitely-rooting-for-her-to-lose assistant coach resents her for taking what he considers to be his rightful position. But never one to back down from a little healthy competition, Charlie is determined to prove her worth—both on and off the field.

Baltsar’s “sweet, funny, witty, addictive writing,” (New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young) is not to be missed! 

Review:

I love an enemies to lovers storyline and even though I’m not a football fan whatsoever, the premise of this just sounded too cute to pass up. Initially, I wasn’t too sure about this one because it seemed pretty in your face with its message of female empowerment. That sounds awful, don’t get me wrong, I love a strong female character more than just about anything, but it was kind of in your face right from the start. Thankfully things settled down a little pretty quickly and I wound up really enjoying this one in the end. It was fast and flirty and there was lots of pretty cute, playful banter between Connor and Charlie, which is basically the most important thing to me in any romance. Overall a breezy summer read, if you like super strong female leads, you’ll enjoy this one!

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 20, 2019

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

What’s a campaign manager’s worst nightmare? A smooth-talking charmer who’s never met a scandal that he didn’t like.

When Emmanuelle Peroni’s father—and mayor of her town—asks her to help rehab Cooper Endicott’s image, she’s horrified. Cooper drives her crazy in every way possible. But he’s also her father’s protégé, and she can’t say no to him without him finding out the reason why: Cooper and her have a messy past. So Emmanuelle reluctantly launches her father’s grand plan to get this Casanova someone to settle down with and help him lose his lothario reputation.

Cooper Endicott wanted to run for Mayor, but he never wanted the drama that went with it. Now that he’s on the political hamster wheel, the other candidates are digging up everything from his past. Even though he’s doing all the right things, his colorful love life is the sticking point for many of the conservative voters. He wants to win, badly, and he knows that if he wants any chance of getting a vote from the female population, he needs to change his image. The only problem? He might just be falling in love with the one person he promised not to pursue: the Mayor’s off-limits daughter.

Review:

The first time this one caught my eye was when I saw it being compared to one of my favorite author duos, Christina Lauren. I was obviously excited to see that comparison because I seriously can’t get enough of rom coms lately, especially theirs, but this was really nothing like a CL book. Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t bad at all, it definitely had its own redeeming qualities, but anyone expecting a similar book will be disappointed.

One of the aspects that worked really well for me here was the setting, I absolutely love a small town romance and as this is the first in a new series, there were plenty of lovable characters that could definitely appear in future books. Hope Lake is a tight knit community and I love nothing more than a small town united. This focuses mainly on the towns mayoral race and while I’m pretty sick a real life politics, the author did a really good job of keeping things fairly light. There was definitely no apparent political agenda on behalf of the authors personal beliefs, it centered solely on the towns own political race. I wanted to make that clear in case anyone was hesitant at even the mention of politics, it was handled very well.

Before I wrap this up I think the main thing that missed this mark for me here was my lack of connection to both main characters. I found Emma to be a little annoying and Cooper was just ok for me. Neither of them wowed me and I didn’t feel any real chemistry between them until the very end. I think if you went into this expecting more of a Women’s Fiction read that’s very light on the romance you’ll enjoy this one a bit more than I did.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 20, 2019

Publisher: Dutton

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

A sensational crime, a missing teen, and a mother and daughter with no one to trust but themselves come together in this shocking debut thriller by R. H. Herron.

“Mama? Help me.”

Laurie Ahmadi has worked as a 911 police dispatcher in her quiet Northern California town for nearly two decades. She considers the department her family; her husband, Omid, is its first Arab American chief, and their teenaged daughter, Jojo, has grown up with the force. So when Laurie catches a 911 call and, to her horror, it’s Jojo, the whole department springs into action.

Jojo, drugged, disoriented, and in pain, doesn’t remember how she ended up at the home of Kevin Leeds, a pro football player famous for his on-the-field activism and his work with the CapB—“Citizens Against Police Brutality”—movement. She doesn’t know what happened to Kevin’s friend and trainer, whose beaten corpse is also discovered in the house. And she has no idea where her best friend Harper, who was with her earlier in the evening, could be.

But when Jojo begins to dive into Harper’s social media to look for clues to her whereabouts, Jojo uncovers a shocking secret that turns everything she knew about Harper—and the police department—on its head. With everything they thought they could rely on in question, Laurie and Jojo begin to realize that they can’t trust anyone to find Harper except themselves . . . and time is running out. 

Review:

Thrillers and I have not been the best of friends lately, to say I’ve struggled with the majority of them is putting it mildly, so while I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this one, I was very hesitant. Thank god I set my hesitation to the side and gave this a fair chance, because it was excellent y’all! It’s much more than just a synopsis that sounds good and doesn’t actually deliver, what’s described is actually the tip of the iceberg and I was here for it the whole way through.

This is inspired by the authors time as a 911 dispatcher which was cool, it definitely gave the whole thing an air of authenticity, something that I always appreciate, especially in a sea of unbelievable thrillers. The action begins right from the start when Laurie gets an emergency call from her teenaged daughter and it never lets up for a second. The story unfolds at a rapid pace and then there are some seriously sharp twists and turns. This one definitely kept me guessing, but I was also invested as well, I not only wanted to know what would happen next, I cared about what would happen as well.

I’m going to go ahead and recommend this to anyone who has been struggling with thrillers as of late, it reeled me in instantly and was one of the only books I’ve read recently that I felt drawn to when I wasn’t reading it, the characters were calling to me even when I wasn’t reading! This probably would’ve even received a five star rating for me, but the ending felt a little rushed and I would’ve liked a little more closure, but overall a solid read.

Stolen Things in three words: Addictive, Pacey and Gritty

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy