Audiobook Review: The Next Thing You Know by Jessica Strawser

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Release date: March 22, 2022

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

A musician facing the untimely end of his career. An end-of-life doula with everything, and nothing, to lose. A Star Is Born meets Me Before You in this powerful novel by the author of A Million Reasons Why.

As an end-of-life doula, Nova Huston’s job—her calling, her purpose, her life—is to help terminally ill people make peace with their impending death. Unlike her business partner, who swears by her system of checklists, free-spirited Nova doesn’t shy away from difficult clients: the ones who are heartbreakingly young, or prickly, or desperate for a caregiver or companion.

When Mason Shaylor shows up at her door, Nova doesn’t recognize him as the indie-favorite singer-songwriter who recently vanished from the public eye. She knows only what he’s told her: That life as he knows it is over. His deteriorating condition makes playing his guitar physically impossible—as far as Mason is concerned, he might as well be dead already.

Except he doesn’t know how to say goodbye.

Helping him is Nova’s biggest challenge yet. She knows she should keep clients at arm’s length. But she and Mason have more in common than anyone could guess… and meeting him might turn out to be the hardest, best thing that’s ever happened to them both.

The Next Thing You Know is an emotional, resonant story about the power of human connection, love when you least expect it, hope against the odds, and what it really takes to live life with no regrets.

Review:

Have you ever heard of an end of life doula? I hadn’t before this one and it instantly fascinated me. I can’t even imagine having such an emotionally draining job but I sure was interested in reading about it and that was just the tip of the iceberg as far as interest goes. Normally I wouldn’t describe a contemporary fiction novel as surprising or twisty but this one got me a few times which I was pleasantly surprised by. Surprised enough that I had to rewind actually to make sure I had heard what I thought I did. It was emotionally charged as well, I mean it deals with death but there’s so much more than death as far as emotional upheaval goes here. The audio narration was fantastic and engaging as well, if you enjoy unique character driven novels with plenty to discuss consider this one, it would also be a great book club read with tons to discuss.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Blog Tour: The Summer Getaway by Susan Mallery

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Release date: March 15, 2022

Publisher: HQN

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

One woman discovers the beauty in chaos in this poignant and heartwarming story about the threads that hold family together from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery.

With her divorce settlement about to run out and a mortgage she can’t afford, Robyn Caldwell needs a plan for her future. She nurtured her family and neglected herself. But how’s she supposed to think when her daughter has become the most demanding bride ever, her son won’t even consider college, her best friend is on the brink of marital disaster and her ex is making a monumentally bad decision that could bring everything crashing down on Robyn’s head? So when her great-aunt Lillian invites her to Santa Barbara for the summer, Robyn hops on the first plane.

But it’s hard to run away when you’re the heart of the family. One by one, everyone she left behind follows her across the country. Somehow, their baggage doesn’t feel as heavy in the sun-drenched, mishmash mansion. The more time Robyn spends with free-spirited Lillian, the more she sees the appeal in taking chances—on dreams, on love, on family. Life is meant to be lived on purpose. All she has to do is muster the courage to take a chance on herself.

Good morning! I’m so happy to participate in the blog tour for The Summer Getaway today! Check out the excerpt below.

Excerpt:

He reached out, inviting her close. When she’d moved next to him, he laced his fingers with hers.

“I don’t want to fight,” he said. “It’s just Austin has so much potential. It’s hard to see it wasted.”

She knew what he meant, but somehow his words made her feel defensive. Or like a bad mother.

“I’m giving it some time. I’m hoping working for his dad isn’t the thrill he’s expecting. Austin can get stubborn, and I don’t want him making decisions because he feels trapped.”

“I get that.” He leaned back against the sofa. “Have you decided what to do about the house?”

“I’m still leaning toward selling. It’s too big and expensive. I haven’t talked to Harlow or Austin yet. I might start looking for something first. If I find a suitable replacement, then the idea of me moving will be less upsetting to them.”

Jase looked at her quizzically. “They’re adults with their own lives. Why do they get a say?”

“They don’t get a say, exactly. But Austin will be living with me for a while longer, and—”

Jase shifted away from her. “I thought he was moving out.”

“It’s just for the summer.”

“Since when?”

Since he’d told her yesterday, but she didn’t say that. “He’s not ready to be on his own permanently. He’ll be back in the fall.”

“You’re letting him move in and out? So, when he’s forty, he can move back? You’re letting him run your life?”

She put down her drink and told herself to stay calm. “He’s not running my life. He’s my kid, and I love him. If he wants to stay for a couple more years, that’s fine. He’s eighteen, not forty.”

“You’re making a mistake, letting him think you’ll always be his fallback plan.”

“Why do you have so much energy on the topic? It shouldn’t matter to you if Austin lives with me or not.”

“What does that mean?”

The sharp question surprised her. “I have my own place. Why do you care if my kids live with me? It doesn’t affect you.”

“I’m not ready for us to live together.”

Audiobook Review: In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer

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Goodreads

Release date: March 15, 2022

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Franny Doyle is having the worst day. She’s been laid off from her (admittedly mediocre) job, the subway doors ripped her favorite silk dress to ruins, and now she’s flashed her unmentionables to half of lower Manhattan. On the plus side, a dashing stranger came to her rescue with his (Gucci!) suit jacket. On the not-so-plus side, he can’t get away from her fast enough.

Worse yet? Someone posted their (entirely not) meet-cute online. Suddenly Franny and her knight-in-couture, Hayes Montgomery III, are the newest social media sensation, and all of New York is shipping #SubwayQTs.

Only Franny and Hayes couldn’t be a more disastrous match. She’s fanciful, talkative, and creative. He’s serious, shy, and all about numbers. Luckily, in a city of eight million people, they never have to meet again. Yet somehow, Hayes and Franny keep running into each other—and much to their surprise, they enjoy each other’s company. A lot. But when Franny’s whole world is turned upside down (again!), can she find the courage to trust in herself and finally have the life—and love—she’s always wanted?

Review:

This one had one of the funniest and cutest openings I’ve read in awhile, a totally awkward yet adorable meet cute that instantly pulled me into the story all the while set in NYC which I always enjoy. Franny and Hayes are total opposites but in a weird way they still fit in the end. You get both of their perspectives and that means tow narrators for the audio version and I love seeing things from each of their viewpoints. Hayes can come off like kind of an ass but reading his chapters gives insight into who he is and he’s not actually a jerk, he’s just shy and a little awkward. Franny was great as well, I really liked her sense of humor and I loved her relationships with her two best friends. This one is a slow burn and closed door giving it more of a women’s fiction vibe, but I didn’t mind because it was so charming and lighthearted. Definitely recommended as an escapist, flirty little read!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose

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Goodreads

Release date: April 26, 2022

Publisher: Blackstone

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Meet the women of Buckhead–a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships.

Shannon was once the queen bee of Buckhead. But she’s been unceremoniously dumped by Bryce, her politician husband. When Bryce replaces her with a much younger woman, Shannon sets out to take revenge …

Crystal has stepped into Shannon’s old shoes. A young, innocent Texan girl, she simply has no idea what she’s up against …

Olivia has waited years to take Shannon’s crown as the unofficial queen of Buckhead. Finally, her moment has come. But to take her rightful place, she will need to use every backstabbing, manipulative, underhand trick in the book …

Jenny owns Glow, the most exclusive salon in town. Jenny knows all her clients’ secrets and darkest desires. But will she ever tell?

Who amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead–and who will wind up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly.

Review:

As the weather (hopefully) gets a little warmer and we all start to find ourselves in the mood for a vacation/beachy type of read allow me to introduce you to one of the juiciest reads I’ve found lately! This one was pure fun, totally brain candy think Real Housewives but make it darker and cattier and that’s this book. It did take me a few chapters to settle into things and keep all the women straight, they seemed interchangeable at first 😂 but once I figured it out I was IN. Rich people behaving badly and hiding all sorts of terrible secrets is my catnip and this delivered in a big way. These women are total disasters, mean girls doesn’t even begin to describe how awful they behave and I couldn’t get enough. You know someone ends up dead but you don’t know who until they very end and the ride to the truth was such wickedly delicious fun. I really thought I had it all figured out, I was paying close attention to the gossip and chatter about everyone’s lives and secrets the whole time but I will admit the ending got me pretty good! Definitely recommended as an entertaining, addictive, campy and soapy type of read that you should pick up when you want something over the top and outrageous.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

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Goodreads

Release date: March 15, 2022

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Timesbestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.

In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect–a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.

Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases–a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea’s surprise, Beth says yes.

They meet regularly at Beth’s mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she’s not looking, and she could swear she’s seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn’t right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?

Review:

Well this author is now 3 for 3 with me and it’s safe to say she’s landed herself a firm spot on my auto read list! This isn’t an easy feat for thriller authors for me as of late, I’ve gotten super picky as of late and my expectations are incredibly high. All of that to say, I count this one as a must read for thriller fans but especially for those of you who like a supernatural aspect as well because she pulls this off so well!

I’m not one to read many supernatural type books no matter the genre but the reason I think I’m always so drawn to this authors books is that the way she infuses the paranormal into her books. What I mean by that is she creates these situations that feel like they actually could happen, there’s a layer of plausibility here that gives me full body goosebumps just thinking about it. So if you’re hesitant about a thriller with that aspect I promise that as chilling as the authors books are they still feel grounded in reality. Once again the author managed to craft a story with alternating timelines, a creepy ass atmosphere and a compelling mystery. I was equally invested in both timelines and totally fascinated by Beth, was she a stone cold killer or is there more to her story? Shea was also interesting as well and the way their stories are weaves together was ultimately satisfying. Highly recommended by me if you like disturbing, creepy and chilling books!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

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Goodreads

Release date: April 5, 2022

Publisher: St. Martins

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Stephen Aston is getting married again. The only problem is, he’s still married to his first wife, even though she is in a care facility for dementia. But he’ll take care of that easily, by divorcing her–even if his adult daughters protest.

Tully and Rachel Aston look upon Heather as nothing but an interloper. Heather is the same age as Rachel and even younger than Tully. Clearly she’s a golddigger and after their father’s money. Heather has secrets that she’s keeping close, and reasons of her own for wanting to marry Stephen.

With their mother unable to speak for herself, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is. But will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses…in all of them?

Review:

I struggled with the authors last book but have absolutely loved many of her others so I went into this one with some very slight hesitation. I say slight because that description basically has all of my favorite things in a thriller so I was actually fairly confident that I would enjoy this one and I was right! It was just pure enjoyable entertainment for me, messy family dynamics never get old and these people has plenty of mess. You get to hear from sisters Tully and Rachel and also from the new wife, Heather and each of them were interesting. I enjoyed Rachel the most, she was very likable and while I didn’t necessarily like Heather or Tully all that much they were pretty damn intriguing to read about. Most of what ended up happening were things I saw coming, there’s nothing super surprising going on but the author has a style that is still compelling. And the ending really kinda made me go WHAT?? But it definitely won’t be for everyone, it’s gonna be polarizing for sure. I mostly liked it I think? I didn’t hate it that’s for sure, it’s one that will stay with you.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Audiobook Review: Hook, Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey

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Goodreads

Release date: March 1, 2022

Publisher: Harper Audio

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time–in bed and out–and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah’s in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she’s nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can’t deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost.

Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she’s walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and… and… man overboard! He’s fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he’s all in, she’ll choose him instead?

In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man…

Review:

The first book in this series, It Happened One Summer was my new favorite Tessa Bailey book until this one and now they’re tied because they were both SO good!! As per usual when I adore a book this much I’ll leave you with a list of exactly what made me swoon.

💗The most adorable text message exchanges between Hannah and Fox that left me giddy

💗Forced proximity as Hannah temporarily moves in with Fox when she’s in town for work

💗Steamy sex and filthy talk from Fox 🥵

💗Friends to lovers that actually truly built upon the friends portion of the trope

💗So many amazing musical references 🎶

💗An equal balance between humor and heart and some tenderness that melted my cold black heart

💗An epilogue that almost brought me to my knees

I’ll stop here but I’ll say while the audio was fantastic and Lauren Sweet has the voice of an angel I’m sure this would be amazing in whatever format you choose because this book was just that good!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The Suite Spot by Trish Dollar

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Goodreads

Release date: March 8, 2022

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Rachel Beck has hit a brick wall. She’s a single mom, still living at home and trying to keep a dying relationship alive. Aside from her daughter, the one bright light in Rachel’s life is her job as the night reservations manager at a luxury hotel in Miami Beach—until the night she is fired for something she didn’t do.

On impulse, Rachel inquires about a management position at a brewery hotel on an island in Lake Erie called Kelleys Island. When she’s offered the job, Rachel packs up her daughter and makes the cross country move.

What she finds on Kelleys Island is Mason, a handsome, moody man who knows everything about brewing beer and nothing about running a hotel. Especially one that’s barely more than foundation and studs. It’s not the job Rachel was looking for, but Mason offers her a chance to help build a hotel—and rebuild her own life—from the ground up.

Review:

Float Plan was one of my favorite reads last year so it’s safe to say I’ve been dying to read this follow up ever since. The author wrote such a beautiful and tender love story that really pulled on my heartstrings but also made me laugh too. A winning combination for me always and I’m so happy to say I loved this one just as much.

There’s a sunshine and grump trope here and I’m quickly realizing that it’s one of my latest faves. Rachel and Mason are both incredibly likable so you’re behind their pairing pretty fast and the addition of Rachel’s daughter, Maisie was just delightful. You do get to check in with Anna and Keane from the first book which is always a treat and it’s set in a cute little town which is another bonus. There is a grief element here once again but the author handles this really beautifully and delivers a really well rounded romance that I adored.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Tell Me the Truth by Kiersten Modglin

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Release date: March 1, 2022

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

It’s not the first time Edith’s husband, Joe, has lied to her.
But it will be the last.

When she finds photos of a mysterious woman on her husband’s phone, the heartbreaking implications are all too familiar, and Edith sets out to discover her identity. What starts as a desperate search for answers quickly becomes a terrifying spiral of obsession and subterfuge.

With each new secret uncovered about her life, her marriage, and the man she loves, Edith is left with even more questions.

What exactly is Joe hiding?
Who is the woman in his photos?

Refusing to accept Joe’s lies any longer, Edith soon finds herself living a double life, telling lies and keeping secrets of her own. When she uncovers a final piece of the puzzle, something darker and more gut-wrenching than even she could’ve anticipated, Edith is forced to make a choice about the future of her marriage.

The truth always comes at a price.
Sometimes, that price is your life.

Review:

The other night I was in the mood for a super fast paced and twisty thriller and when I was browsing my shelves I remembered that this book had landed on my Kindle and I knew it would be exactly what I was in the mood for. I was right, I devoured this in just a few hours because I couldn’t put it down. It was full of the authors signature twists and turns, it took a well known trope of a cheating spouse but she put her own unique spin on it and if you’ve read a KMod book before you know that means things were unexpected. The ending was tense, satisfying and thrilling all at once, just overall a solid thriller read. The less you know the better here so just take my advice and add this one to your TBR for the day you’re in the mood for a binge read.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Audiobook Review: Would I Lie to You? by Aliya Ali-Afzal

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Release date: February 22, 2022

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Genre:

Synopsis:

When money and lies come between Faiza and her husband, Faiza will do anything to fix it, even if it means taking risks that could ruin their lives forever–if she’s caught.

At the school gates, Faiza fits in. It took a few years, but now the snobbish white mothers who mistook her for the nanny treat her as one of their own. She’s learned to crack their subtle codes, speak their language of fashion and vacations and haircuts. You’d never guess, seeing her at the trendy kids’ parties and the leisurely coffee mornings, that her childhood was spent being bullied and being ashamed of her poor Pakistani immigrant parents. When her husband Tom loses his job in finance, he stays calm. Something will come along, and in the meantime, they can live off their savings. But Faiza starts to unravel. Creating the perfect life and raising the perfect family comes at a cost – and the money Tom put aside has gone. Faiza will have to tell him she spent it all.

Unless she doesn’t…

It only takes a second to lie to Tom. Now Faiza has mere weeks to find $100,000. If anyone can do it, Faiza can. She’s had to fight for what she has, and she’ll fight to keep it. But as the clock ticks down and Faiza desperately tries to put things right, she has to ask herself: how much more should she sacrifice to live someone else’s idea of the dream life?

Review:

This is a tricky one for me because there was plenty that I enjoyed and I was definitely entertained by this one, but there was also plenty that didn’t work so well for me either. The first half really held my attention, Faiza was digging herself a huge hole with all of her lies that I wondered how she would ever climb out of it and honestly, I was totally hooked. I think about halfway in is where I started to lose interest. I think it was too long, seriously one hundred pages could’ve been cut and it would’ve been fine, there were some side plots and characters that just didn’t add anything of value to the story, unnecessary for me personally. I did appreciate what the author was trying to say about money and class and I loved reading about the desi culture as well. But overall this one just ended up being a middle of the road read for me as so many of the plot points were silly and too over the top for me, they ventured into the unbelievable and absurd unfortunately. However the audio narration was top notch so if you’re gonna give this one a shot I can definitely recommend that version.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.