Good reads|Amazon

Release date: March 3, 2020

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

New York City is still regaining its balance in the years following 9/11, when four twenty-somethings—Tess, Tazio, David, and Angelica—meet in a bar, each yearning for something: connection, recognition, a place in the world, a cause to believe in. Nearly fifteen years later, as their city recalibrates in the wake of the 2016 election, their bond has endured—but almost everything else has changed.

As freshmen at Cooper Union, Tess and Tazio were the ambitious, talented future of the art world—but by thirty-six, Tess is married to David, the mother of two young boys, and working as an understudy on Broadway. Kind and steady, David is everything Tess lacked in her own childhood—but a recent freak accident has left him with befuddling symptoms, and she’s still adjusting to her new role as caretaker.

Meanwhile, Tazio—who once had a knack for earning the kind of attention that Cooper Union students long for—has left the art world for a career in creative branding and politics. But in December 2016, fresh off the astonishing loss of his candidate, Tazio is adrift, and not even his gorgeous and accomplished fiancée, Angelica, seems able to get through to him. With tensions rising on the national stage, the four friends are forced to face the reality of their shared histories, especially a long-ago betrayal that has shaped every aspect of their friendship.

Review:

I don’t think I was in the right headspace for this book and I really should’ve thought about that before I picked it up. With all the uncertainty in the world I’ve been gravitating to lighter reads and this one was pretty heavy and depressing which is just not what I need right now. It’s not a bad book, in fact the writing was strong, but between the heavy subject matter and the feeling that the storyline was a bit scattered, I just couldn’t get into this one. I will say that while the characters weren’t very likable or enjoyable they were well developed and complex, but I didn’t like them all that much so it was hard to care about them. It also focused heavily on politics, specifically in 2016 and I get enough of that in real life and look to reading for a total escape. Not much more for me to say except I really wish I would’ve liked this one more because I thought I would.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 17, 2020

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

For the first eighteen years of her life, Rose Gold Watts believed she was seriously ill. She was allergic to everything, used a wheelchair and practically lived at the hospital. Neighbors did all they could, holding fundraisers and offering shoulders to cry on, but no matter how many doctors, tests, or surgeries, no one could figure out what was wrong with Rose Gold.

Turns out her mom, Patty Watts, was just a really good liar.

After serving five years in prison, Patty gets out with nowhere to go and begs her daughter to take her in. The entire community is shocked when Rose Gold says yes.

Patty insists all she wants is to reconcile their differences. She says she’s forgiven Rose Gold for turning her in and testifying against her. But Rose Gold knows her mother. Patty Watts always settles a score.

Unfortunately for Patty, Rose Gold is no longer her weak little darling…

And she’s waited such a long time for her mother to come home. 

Review:

I know many of us have been on a search for the next five star thriller as of late and hallelujah you guys DRG is it! This one was dark, twisted and disturbing which is just how I like my thrillers and I could not get enough of this one.

You hear from Patty in the present as she’s being released from prison and Rose Gold in the past and I was equally hooked on both timelines. Munchausen by proxy is something that has always simultaneously fascinated and sickened me and that’s basically how I felt reading this book but I mean that in the best possible way. These two are both seriously psychologically damaged people and the author developed their characters in a manner that blew me away. It’s a seriously impressive debut and a highly compulsive read that I highly recommend if you like your thrillers super dark.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 10, 2020

Publisher: Minotaur

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 10, 2020

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef. 

Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club. 

Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assist Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart… even while she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned. 

Review:

I’ve been dying to find out more about Mack since reading (and absolutely loving) The Bromance Book Club last year and I’m so glad he played a starring role in the latest installment. The fact that he was the founder of the book club immediately fascinated me, what really made this super charming man pick up a romance novel in the first place? Besides learning so much about him, you also get to hear from Liv (Thea’s sister from book one) in alternating chapters. It has the same hilarious humor and supporting cast of characters as the first book but it also has a fresh plot that made this one just as much fun as the first.

Once again this had the perfect balance of sexiness and humor for me and there was also plenty of depth as Liv is dealing with the fallout from not only losing her job, but also from trying to take down her former boss who is a sexual predator and the lowest of the low. There’s a lot going on here but also a lot to love and I’ll be following this series as long as the author keeps writing it!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 3, 2020

Publisher: Ballantine

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 3, 2020

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

A moment on the platform changes two lives forever. But nothing is as it seems…

‘Take my baby.’

In a split second, Morgan’s life changes forever. A stranger hands her a baby, then jumps in front of a train.

Morgan has never seen the woman before and she can’t understand what would cause a person to give away her child and take her own life.

When the police question Morgan, she discovers none of the witnesses can corroborate her version of events. And when they learn Morgan longs for a baby of her own, she becomes a suspect.

To prove her innocence, Morgan frantically tries to retrace the last days of the woman’s life. She begins to understand that Nicole Markham believed she and her baby were in danger. Now Morgan might be in danger, too.

Was Nicole a new mother struggling with paranoia?

Or was something much darker going on?

Pulse-pounding, heartrending, shocking, thrilling. This is one book you won’t be able to stop thinking about. 

Review:

Let me start by saying that this book wasn’t perfect for me but I’m still going to say it’s worth a read solely based and sheer entertainment value. It’s short and reads incredibly fast and is definitely gripping. It’s also twisty and maybe if you’re newer to thrillers you’ll be surprised but I found the turns to be predictable. You also just have to kind of let things go and realize it’s a bit of a crazy story and not worry too much about plausibility, but I swear if you can just not nitpick it’s a really fun one. Was I blown away? No, but I wasn’t mad that I read it either. I’m thinking this would be a perfect vacation read honestly as it’s written in a super compulsive and breezy style that doesn’t require intense concentration. I also liked it enough that I would read another book by the author as well she definitely has potential and the premise was intriguing.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 1, 2020

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

On the surface, Rachel Marin is an ordinary single mother; on the inside, she’s a fierce, brilliant vigilante. After an unspeakable crime shatters her life, she changes her identity and moves to a small town in Illinois, hoping to spare her children from further trauma…or worse. But crime follows her everywhere.

When the former mayor winds up dead, Rachel can’t help but get involved. Where local detectives see suicide, she sees murder. They resent her for butting in—especially since she’s always one step ahead. But her investigative genius may be her undoing: the deeper she digs, the harder it is to keep her own secrets buried.

Her persistence makes her the target of both the cops and a killer. Meanwhile, the terrifying truth about her past threatens to come to light, and Rachel learns the hard way that she can’t trust anyone. Surrounded by danger, she must keep her steely resolve, protect her family, and stay one step ahead, or else she may become the next victim.

Review:

There’s been a theme in many thrillers over the past few years (especially if the main character is a woman) where she’s delusional and helpless and frankly, I’m beyond sick of reading books with these pathetic women. This book had none of that nonsense, Rachel is the polar opposite of a weak woman, she’s the kind of kickass character that you can not only root for, you can respect her and I couldn’t get enough of her sheer grit and determination.

I was pleasantly surprised that a big aspect of this book focused on police procedure but it was coupled with Rachel’s own story and it was revealed slowly via flashbacks, you know something awful happened but getting to the what takes some time. It build up suspense slowly with that storyline but the other plot line in contradiction was fast paced making for a really engrossing read. Basically if you like domestic suspense AND a police procedural you’ll like this because you get a little bit of both worlds. A super solid start to a new series and finally, a heroine I can enjoy!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Good reads|Amazon

Release date: March 3, 2020

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Summer has come to Atlantic City but the boardwalk is empty of tourists, the casino lights have dimmed, and two Jane Does are laid out in the marshland behind the Sunset Motel, just west of town. Only one person even knows they’re there.

Meanwhile, Clara, a young boardwalk psychic, struggles to attract clients for the tarot readings that pay her rent. When she begins to experience very real and disturbing visions, she suspects they could be related to the recent cases of women gone missing in town. When Clara meets Lily, an ex-Soho art gallery girl who is working at a desolate casino spa and reeling from a personal tragedy, she thinks Lily may be able to help her. But Lily has her own demons to face. If they can put the pieces together in time, they may save another lost girl—so long as their efforts don’t attract perilous attention first. Can they break the ill-fated cycle, or will they join the other victims?

Evocative, eerie, and compelling, Please See Us is a fast-paced psychological thriller that explores the intersection of womanhood, power, and violence. 

Review:

I had very high hopes for this one, maybe a little too high if I’m honest and while this wasn’t a bad book by any means, it didn’t live up to my expectations. It’s very slow paced and while I was initially interested in how things would play out, I also found it to be slightly disjointed. It switches between a few viewpoints and while I appreciate multiple narrators, it felt choppy for me.

One thing that really kept me reading despite my issues was the authors gorgeous writing, she’s really talented and her sense of place was amazing. This one is bleak y’all, and not just in terms of the plot, it’s atmospheric and incredibly well written with a strong sense of despondency throughout every component. If you’re going to give this one a try I recommend taking your time with it, definitely not one to race through, and be prepared for a more subtle style of suspense.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 25, 2020

Publisher: Forever

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Firefighter Luke Marini moved to the small town of Sweetwater Springs with the highest of hopes – new town, new job, and new neighbors who know nothing of his past. And that’s just how he wants to keep it. But it’s nearly impossible when the gorgeous brunette next door decides to be the neighborhood welcome wagon. She’s sugar, spice, and everything nice – but getting close to someone again is playing with fire. 

Brenna McConnell put college on hold to raise her little sister. Now that Eve is grown, Brenna is ready to leave Blueberry Creek and finish what she started. Moving on isn’t easy, however, when her gruff new neighbor gives Eve a dangerous firefighting job. And yet, even as Brenna is telling him off for putting her sister in harm’s way, she can’t deny the sizzling chemistry between them. She put her dreams on hold once. Is she willing to make that sacrifice again for a chance at forever?

Review:

This is the fourth book in the Sweetwater Springs series and this lives up to it’s name, it doesn’t get any sweeter than this! You can definitely read this on it’s own but after four books I’ve become really attached to the residents of this adorable town and really believe I’ve enjoyed this series as much as I have because I’ve read all of the books.

As much as I’ve liked every single book in this series this one was my absolute favorite so far. I say so far because I’m hoping Annie Rains keeps on writing these books for a long time. You know those books that truly provide an escape for you when you read them? The ones where you forget about anything troubling in your own life because you get so caught up in the story and you forget you’re not actually living in a picturesque little town with a hot firefighter as your next door neighbor? Ok, that last part is just me, but what I mean is this was the perfect little escape for me and a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Small town romance fans, this series is not to be missed!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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.