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Release date: December 27, 2016

Publisher: Touchstone Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

From bestselling author A.J. Banner comes a dazzling new novel of psychological suspense in the vein of S.J. Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep and Mary Kubica’s The Good Girl that questions just how much we can trust the people around us.

Thirty-four-year-old marine biologist Kyra Winthrop remembers nothing about the diving accident that left her with a complex form of memory loss. With only brief flashes of the last few years of her life, her world has narrowed to a few close friendships on the island where she lives with her devoted husband, Jacob.

But all is not what it seems. Kyra begins to have visions—or are they memories?—of a rocky marriage, broken promises, and cryptic relationships with the island residents, whom she believes to be her friends.

As Kyra races to uncover her past, the truth becomes a terrifying nightmare. A twisty, immersive thriller, The Twilight Wife will keep readers enthralled through the final, shocking twist. 

Review: 

I’ve always found memory loss morbidly fascinating, so when I saw that this book was based on a woman who lost four whole years of her life, my interest was piqued. Can you even imagine losing that kind of time? For me, I would remember my oldest daughter being four, my middle daughter being one and I wouldn’t have any memories of my son at all. That’s insane, right?! Though Kyra doesn’t have any children, she still had a full life before her accident and these missing years are unnerving her in a major way. She also struggles with her short term memories as well, so the only thing she can fully trust is everything before she even met her own husband. They live on a remote island with a small population so unfortunately for Kyra, she’s entirely dependent on Jacob’s guidance alone. As much as she wants to have faith in him, it’s clear there is more than meets the eye in terms of their marriage.

This could have easily been a one sitting type of read for me but life got in the way. It’s less than three hundred pages, easy to devour in a weekend. There is something effortless about the way this story unfolds, the pages just flew by. Though there is an unsettling sense of dread throughout the book, things really start to heat up once Kyra begins to put the puzzle pieces of her life back together. I loved figuring out what had really happened both before her accident and during as she unraveled the mystery herself. It helped enhance my connection with Kyra, I could feel her confusion and frustration easily.

The setting was haunting, this isolated island was the perfect backdrop for the story. Alongside a slew of unreliable characters you had an unreliable living situation as well as Kyra didn’t even have a functioning internet connection and the one ferry off of the island was breaking down constantly. 

I’ve seen some complaints about the ending being a little bit too neat and tidy, but I love that, I hate loose ends in books. As things for Kyra spiraled out of control towards the end, there was a pretty killer twist and in hindsight I could definitely see how some could have possibly guessed what it would be, but I truly did not see it coming, which always impresses me and leaves me a satisfied reader.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy, I greatly appreciate it!

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Release date: December 16, 2016

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb: 

The perfect daughter. The perfect girlfriend. The perfect murder? 

Jenna is seriously ill. She’s lost all hope of getting the heart transplant she needs to live. But just as her life is ebbing away, she receives a donor heart from a girl called Callie. 

Who was Callie and how did she die? Jenna is determined to find out. 

The closer Jenna gets to those who loved Callie, the more questions arise about her untimely death. Someone knows what happened to Callie. Why won’t they talk? 

Jenna is about to uncover the truth, but it could cost her everything; her loved ones, her sanity, even her life. 

A compelling, gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist from the author of the Number One bestseller The Sister. 

Review: 

I was a HUGE fan of Jensen’s debut novel, The Sister so I’ve been eagerly awaiting her second book, The Gift since the cover reveal a few months back, isn’t it stunning?! I love how it has a similar look to the cover of The Sister and I would’ve been able to tell it was her book without even seeing her name on the cover. I’m so pleased to say that I absolutely loved this book, in fact I may have even liked it a little bit more than The Sister even though I wouldn’t have thought that was possible.

Six months ago Jenna needed a heart transplant or she would’ve died. Now that she’s on the mend, she has an unexplainable urge to contact the donors family. Everyone in her life is against this, her therapist especially thinks it’s a terrible idea but Jenna cannot let it go. She wants to thank them, but she also wants to find out about the woman who’s heart she received. I can’t say I blame her, the trauma she’s been through is a tremendous one and I felt like if it was something she felt so strongly about, then she needed to do it. As Jenna starts to delve into Cassie’s life, she gets more than she expected. 

This is the type of book that grips you from page one and never lets you go until the final page. I was completely absorbed in Jenna’s story and really felt for her. After her transplant she breaks up with her longtime boyfriend, Sam because she doesn’t want to be a burden. She cuts herself off from the outside world as she struggles to deal with her new life. I can only imagine what she’s going through and Jensen did a beautiful job telling her story with empathy and grace. Besides the physical changes Jenna is dealing with she is also experiencing some other side effects. There is something called Cellular Memory which is a phenomenon that transplant recipients sometimes experience. This fascinated me, I want to read more about it. For Jenna, she has very vivid dreams, more like memories that are not hers. She knows they are Callie’s, but what is the dead woman trying to tell her? She’s inexplicably connected to her beyond the physical and she finds herself a bit obsessed with the woman who gave her the gift of life. But things quickly turn dangerous and Jenna may be in over her head.

That’s about all I can say plotwise, but I can’t recommend this book highly enough. The Gift has the same awesome sense of paranoia that I loved in The Sister and I again found myself looking over my own shoulder. There are several smaller twists followed by a big whopper that left me breathless. By the last twenty percent of the book you would’ve had to prise it out of my cold dead hands to get me to put it down, it was honestly that gripping. Fans of The Sister will not be disappointed and if you haven’t read that, what are you waiting for?! Get cracking on both of these, you won’t regret it.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy.

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Release date: December 8, 2016

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb: 

‘This is men,’ said Gran. ‘When they vant you, but you don’t vant them, they stay. But let them know you vant them, they no longer need you, and they go! It’s like that movie, Nanny McPhee.’

Natalie Love has worked hard to have it all. She runs a successful London theatre that’s about to host one of Hollywood’s leading stars, Ryan Harrison. She’s pretty sure she’s found her man in yoga boyfriend Benjamin, despite his annoying habit of saying Namaste! every time he speaks. And her eccentric, glamorous Hungarian Gran is always on hand to offer sage advice and steaming bowls of goulash. 

Life in the bright lights of London has always been Natalie’s escape from her chaotic country family in rural Devon and Jamie, the childhood sweetheart she left at the altar fifteen years ago. Until he turns up at her theatre door…

Jamie is in town producing a West End show and with rivalry suddenly clouding old feelings, this isn’t quite the reunion Natalie was expecting. 

Will Benjamin prove to be Natalie’s perfect match? With Ryan turning her head, Natalie is more confused than ever. And what about Jamie – could he be her second chance at first love? 

Charming, hilarious and totally unputdownable, Miss Wrong and Mr Right will put a huge smile on your face and keep you guessing who Natalie’s ‘Mr Right’ is until the very last page.

Review: 

Having only read Bryndza’s Ericka Foster series, I was admittedly a bit hesitant about this book. The blurb/cover really drew me in so I decided to push my hesitations to the side and go for it, after all he IS one of my favorite authors and Bookouture IS one of my most trusted publishers. Thank goodness I went ahead, I should never have doubted the two, what a delightfully fun read this was! 

The book opens with Natalie burning her wedding dress. She’s left her fiancé, Jamie at the alter and immediately after she heads to London to start afresh. Now it’s been fifteen years since the wedding that never was and she hasn’t seen Jamie since. She’s settled well into her life, she’s dating, has a successful career and a fantastic best friend Sharon. Things are peachy, until Jamie begins working right across the street from her. 

The characters here are just a big ball of outrageous fun, they’re all perfectly relatable imperfect people. Natalie is smart and successful, but she finds herself in some laugh out loud funny situations. Her boyfriend, Benjamin is such a tool, he’s a yoga instructor who’s answer to any question is namaste. Total arrogant ass, but I couldn’t help but laugh at him. Natalie’s Gran was the best. She’s Hungarian with a flair for drama and her accent made me giggle with delight. Ryan is an American actor who is starring in a play Natalie’s company is producing, and then Jamie is her jilted fiancé. The whole time I was unsure who she would end up with, though I was praying it wasn’t Namaste. Seriously the guys is such a douche. Most chick lit novels tend to be predictable when it comes to working out the love story so I really appreciated that this one kept you guessing.

This was such an easy, breezy read. There is humor, heart, fun, and entertainment in spades. It was the perfect book to escape into and not a boring moment to be found. There is so much fun to be had here, some of the best scenes include rogue pigeons, a bathroom cat fight,  Natalie getting locked out in the rain on one of the most important nights of her career, and so many more! It probably sounds a tad crazy from all that, but trust me, it really caused me to giggle.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy.

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Release date: December 27, 2016

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

Even the perfect marriage has its dark side… 

Iris and Will’s marriage is as close to perfect as it can be: a large house in a nice Atlanta neighborhood, rewarding careers and the excitement of trying for their first baby. But on the morning Will leaves for a business trip to Orlando, Iris’s happy world comes to an abrupt halt. Another plane headed for Seattle has crashed into a field, killing everyone on board, and according to the airline, Will was one of the passengers on this plane. 

Grief-stricken and confused, Iris is convinced it all must be a huge misunderstanding. But as time passes and there is still no sign of Will, she reluctantly accepts that he is gone. Still, Iris needs answers. Why did Will lie about where he was going? What is in Seattle? And what else has he lied about? As Iris sets off on a desperate quest to find out what her husband was keeping from her, the answers she receives will shock her to her very core. 

Review: 

The premise for this immediately stood out to me. Losing a loved one in a plane crash is the stuff nightmares are made of, but imagine trying to grieve while simultaneously uncovering a tangled web of deceit and betrayal. As soon as Iris finds out her husband Will, perished in a plane crash she realizes that she didn’t know her husband at all. The more she digs into who her husband was and what he was actually up to, the more lies she uncovers. The hits keep on coming and they don’t let up until the bitter end.

You can’t help but feel for Iris, she had a blissfully happy marriage, or so she thought and having that image completely shattered breaks her. Belle crafted her character in a manner that laid all of Iris’ emotions on the table and allowed the reader to feel every single one right along with Iris. This made me just as desperate as Iris to unlock the truth and solve the mystery of what really happened to Will. Both of them are multi layered and complex with vulnerabilities and raw emotions. 

The momentum never let up, the only part that wasn’t fraught with tension was the opening chapter and that just laid the groundwork for what was to come. The whole time you’re not sure who to trust or what to believe, it’s a real guessing game. Filled with plenty of OMG, did that really just happen moments, this one kept me up late at night. The ending was utterly perfect and gasp worthy, I so love a well executed, surprise ending. 

(I did guess one of the twists, so that’s what knocked my rating down slightly. It wasn’t bothersome for me though as there were so many other fantastic turns that it truly didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.)

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to MIRA and Emer Flounders for my review copy.

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Release date: January 3, 2017

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

Full of twists and turns, Everything You Want Me to Be reconstructs a year in the life of a dangerously mesmerizing young woman, during which a small town’s darkest secrets come to the forefront…and she inches closer and closer to her death.

High school senior Hattie Hoffman has spent her whole life playing many parts: the good student, the good daughter, the good citizen. When she’s found brutally stabbed to death on the opening night of her high school play, the tragedy rips through the fabric of her small town community. Local sheriff Del Goodman, a family friend of the Hoffmans, vows to find her killer, but trying to solve her murder yields more questions than answers. It seems that Hattie’s acting talents ran far beyond the stage. Told from three points of view—Del, Hattie, and the new English teacher whose marriage is crumbling—Everything You Want Me to Be weaves the story of Hattie’s last school year and the events that drew her ever closer to her death.

Evocative and razor-sharp, Everything You Want Me to Be challenges you to test the lines between innocence and culpability, identity and deception. Does love lead to self-discovery—or destruction? 

Review: 

Wow, What a roller coaster ride this one was!  I’m really excited about this book and I predict that it will be a standout in 2017. It had everything I look for in a solid mystery; intrigue, suspense, twists and surprises. But it also had so much more, it’s racy, edgy and provocative and Mejia cast quite an intoxicating spell on me. This is one that will be hard to review without revealing the plot, but here goes.

Sometimes having multiple perspectives works brilliantly, and other times it reads as confusing and disjointed. It worked beautifully here. Hattie’s chapters are in the year before her death and knowing how it all ends for her added a sense of mounting dread and made me think of my own morality. She is an actress, but not just on the stage in her high school play, she is constantly playing a role, and she adjusts who she is based on who she is talking to at any given moment. She’s intelligent, calculated, and dangerous, a total millennial Lolita. Peter is Hattie’s English teacher, and though it’s no big secret how he fits in, Mejia has plenty of tricks up her sleeve. Finally, Del is the sheriff of Pine Valley and my favorite character. He’s a close family friend of Hattie’s family and I love a personal connection to a case. 

The plot here is beautifully and meticulously executed, there is no confusion to be found. It’s one of those books that as you’re reading, you’re thinking, I totally have this all figured out followed by pats on the back. Except you don’t and you’re blindsided when the truth is revealed. This is perfectly paced, the beginning discloses enough to draw you in, and then when you’re around seventy five percent in, things start to come to a head and there is no way you’ll be able to put it down. The ending is explosive, shocking and completely unpredictable and oh so satisfying. Put this on your radar for next year and clear a day on your calendar so you can devour Everything You Want Me To Be in the manner that it demands.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler for my review copy.

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Release date: May 24, 2016

Publisher: Crown Publishing

Genre: Chick Lit 

Blurb: 

Meet Lily Wilder: New Yorker, lawyer extraordinaire, blushing bride. And totally incapable of being faithful to one man.

Lily’s fiancé Will is a brilliant, handsome archaeologist. Lily is sassy, impulsive, fond of a good drink (or five) and has no business getting married. Lily likes Will, but does she love him? Will loves Lily, but does he know her? As the wedding approaches, Lily’s nights—and mornings, and afternoons—of booze, laughter and questionable decisions become a growing reminder that the happiest day of her life might turn out to be her worst mistake yet.

Unapologetically sexy with the ribald humor of Bridesmaids, this joyously provocative debut introduces a self-assured protagonist you won’t soon forget. 

Review: 

My initial impression after reading only a few pages of this book was that I was going to hate it. Lily is engaged and getting married in one week and cheats on her fiancé, Will constantly. Soon enough I was surprised because I had fallen under Lily’s spell, much like most of the men that she meets. She’s charming, self effacing, bold, and unapologetic. I definitely do not condone her appalling behavior, cheating sucks no matter how much you dress it up and make it look pretty. But I found that I didn’t have to agree with her actions to enjoy her story.

As if Lily isn’t outrageous enough, the supporting cast of characters puts her to shame. Her best friend Freddy is smart and hilarious and the dialogue between the two was sarcastic and snappy. They are WILD and are always down to party. Sex is fun for them and they are unashamed. Will is a somewhat nerdy goofball, but his quirks made him pretty interesting. Then there is Lily’s family; her father has been married five times and is a lovable lothario, her mother and her two stepmothers are oddly close, even though they have been through hell and back, and her grandma is also a lawyer and a meddling old lady. They are all delightfully wicked and up to no good, it’s no wonder where Lily gets it from.

This is not a book to take seriously, it’s a playful romp, however it does touch on some interesting social issues. There’s talk of the double standard between men and women, mainly regarding sex. Why are women who are promiscuous labeled in a derogatory manner while men are considered casanovas? It also touches on monogamy, and feminism. Often it is also brash and vulgar, so it definitely won’t be for everyone, but if you can handle strong language and some sexiness, you may like this one. I am clearly in the minority here though as the average rating on Goodreads is very low. But despite my initial hesitations, I did warm to Lily and crew and appreciated the refreshing take on a standard Chick Lit heroine. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Crown Publishing and Blogging For Books for my review copy. 

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Release date: July 26, 2016

Publisher: Little Brown

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

Katie and Eric Knox have dedicated their lives to their fifteen-year-old daughter Devon, a gymnastics prodigy and Olympic hopeful. But when a violent death rocks their close-knit gymnastics community just weeks before an all-important competition, everything the Knoxes have worked so hard for feels suddenly at risk. As rumors swirl among the other parents, revealing hidden plots and allegiances, Katie tries frantically to hold her family together while also finding herself drawn, irresistibly, to the crime itself, and the dark corners it threatens to illuminate. From a writer with “exceptional gifts for making nerves jangle and skin crawl,” (Janet Maslin) You Will Know Me is a breathless rollercoaster of a novel about the desperate limits of desire, jealousy, and ambition. 

Review: 

Much like Abbott’s previous novel, Dare Me this book explores the world of teenage girls, but this time instead of cheerleading, it’s the cutthroat world of gymnastics. I’ve always been totally intrigued by gymnastics, though it’s nothing I’ve ever attempted myself, and though I thought I knew just how brutal this industry can be, You Will Know Me was an real eye opener for me. 

Katie and Eric’s daughter, Devon is the rare type of gymnast that only comes along once in awhile. She could be an Olympian one day and her parents have dedicated their entire lives to ensure her success. Things are told from Katie’s point of view, which is a bit different for Abbott, but for the most part I liked this approach. The strain and pressure that Devon is under to be such an elite athlete is crazy, but her parents are bearing the weight of the world on their shoulders as well. There is a heavy financial strain, countless hours lost driving to practice and meets, fellow parents that are intense and jealous, and the worst part of all (for me at least) is that Devon’s younger brother, Drew is pretty much forgotten about. 

My favorite part of this book was the look into this insane world. The families at the gym Devon is a part of were morbidly fascinating. Everyone is very close, it’s a tight knit community, but at the same time everyone is uber competitive. You have families that are literally sacrificing everything for their daughters, at any and every expense you can dream of. When someone closely related to the gym is killed, things ramp up even more and the tension is palpable.

The mystery aspect here didn’t work so great for me, I found it a tad predictable. Had I not been so caught up by the gymnastics, I probably would’ve been more disappointed.I wasn’t very satisfied by the ending either, and as a whole I would’ve liked to see a little more depth in the characters, maybe this is due to everything being told from Katie’s perspective, I’m not sure. I wasn’t a big fan of the majority of the characters either, Devon especially was so cold, she always had a laser like focus even when she was at home and school. I had a huge soft spot for poor little Drew though.

 Abbott’s writing style is razor sharp and intense and there was an underlying sense of dread throughout, which undoubtedly made me give her a pass for a so so “twist”. If you’re already a fan of Abbott’s then you’ll enjoy this I think. Or if you want to read a very dark book about the competitive world of gymnastics, give this a try. But if you want a surprising mystery, this isn’t it.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to Little and Brown for my review copy.

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Release date: December 6, 2016

Publisher: Lake Union 

Genre: Women’s Fiction 

Blurb: 

From the bestselling author of Everything We Keep comes a gripping tale of long-buried secrets, the strength of forgiveness, and the healing power of returning home for good.

After a harrowing accident tore her family apart, Molly Brennan fled from the man she loved and the tragic mistake she made.

Twelve years later, Molly has created a new life for herself and her eight-year-old daughter, Cassie. The art history professor crafts jewelry as unique and weathered as the surf-tumbled sea glass she collects, while raising her daughter in a safe and loving environment—something Molly never had. But when Cassie is plagued by horrific visions and debilitating nightmares, Molly is forced to return to the one place she swore she’d never move back to—home to Pacific Grove.

A riveting exploration of love, secrets, and motherhood, All the Breaking Waves is the poignant story of a woman who discovers she must confront her past, let go of her guilt, and summon everything in her power to save her daughter. 

Review: 

I absolutely loved Lonsdale’s debut novel Everything We Keep and after reading her follow up All The Breaking Waves I am now an even bigger fan. This book had all the same wonderful elements that shone so beautifully in EWK; polished writing, a gripping plot and characters that leave a lasting impression.

Molly was a character that I could relate to on all levels. She’s a mom who loves her eight year old daughter, Cassie and will do anything to protect her. I have an eight year old daughter as well, so this definitely struck a chord with me. All of the women in their family have special gifts in the form of premonitions and while this sounds inherently amazing, there are definitely downfalls. Molly struggles to let Cassie live the life of a normal little girl despite her special gifts. I can’t imagine trying to explain paranormal abilities to a child when they don’t even make sense to most adults. 

This is so much more than a typical women’s fiction novel, it seamlessly blends genres in a style that is uniquely Lonsdale’s own. There is suspense, magical realism, drama, deep family histories,  and romance. Somehow this all works perfectly and even though I don’t normally read much with a paranormal aspect, it added something special to the story here.

There were some nice twists here, which for some reason I didn’t expect, I’m not sure why, I should have known better after all the turns in EWK! Lonsdale has a spellbinding quality to her writing that make her books real page turners. There are also several themes present here and some great discussions could stem from the topics, perfect for a book club.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Lake Union for my review copy.

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Release date: January 1, 2017

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

Andy Boyd thinks he is the luckiest man alive. Widowed with a young child, after his wife dies in childbirth, he is certain that he will never again experience true love. Then he meets Anna. Feisty, fun and beautiful, she’s his perfect match, and she loves his son like he is her own. When Andy ends up in the hospital on his wedding night, he receives his first clue that Anna is not all that she seems. Desperate for that happy-ever-after, he ignores it—a dangerous mistake that could cost him everything. 

Review: 

Remember a few months back when I was raving everywhere I possibly could about Behind Closed Doors? I even said it was domestic noir at its finest. I still adore that book, but A Suitable Lie is edging it out of it’s spot now. This book really gets under your skin, it consumes you and I mean that in the best possible way. 

I don’t think this is a huge spoiler, but just in case here is your warning. Andy and Anna are in a abusive relationship, but the unique twist here is that Anna is the abuser and Andy is the victim. There are loads of books about domestic violence where women are being abused, but there are not many with a male victim. Malone sheds some light on an important issue in a profound and harrowing manner. 

I totally fell in love with Andy right from the start. He’s bold, funny, vivacious, strong, and loving. He’s a single father as his first wife, Patricia passed away. When he meets Anna, he’s immediately drawn to her and as they fall in love he feels like the happiest man alive. As soon as the marriage begins, Anna reveals a side of herself that is ugly and cold. As the story progresses, watching the breakdown of Andy truly broke my heart. Seeing him shrink and wither away before my eyes was both upsetting and unsettling. He became a shell of his own self and was almost completely unrecognizable. The beauty of this unraveling is that as a reader I was able to experience the awful transformation of Andy right along with him. This brought up so many different feelings that by the end, I was emotionally spent. I don’t mean that in a negative way, it was quite the experience and it left a lasting impression with me that I won’t soon forget.

A Suitable Lie is exquisitely crafted and tightly plotted. Watching a dysfunctional relationship was much like watching a car accident in that I couldn’t look away even if it was painful to watch. This book is truly special and unforgettable, I was moved to tears more than once but there were also moments of joy and laughter. I can’t recommend it more highly and I only hope that my review conveyed how highly I regard both this novel and the author. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Karen at Orenda Books for my review copy.