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Release date: April 1, 2019

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

Honesty is the best policy…except maybe when it comes to marriage in this brilliant novel about the high price of perfection from bestselling author Camille Pagán.

Wife. Mother. Breadwinner. Penelope Ruiz-Kar is doing it all—and barely keeping it together. Meanwhile, her best friend, Jenny Sweet, appears to be sailing through life. As close as the two women are, Jenny’s passionate marriage, pristine house, and ultra-polite child stand in stark contrast to Penelope’s underemployed husband, Sanjay, their unruly brood, and the daily grind she calls a career.

Then a shocking tragedy reveals that Jenny’s life is far from perfect. Reeling, Penelope vows to stop keeping the peace and finally deal with the issues in her relationship. So she and Sanjay agree to a radical proposal: both will write a list of changes they want each other to make—then commit to complete and total honesty.

What seems like a smart idea quickly spirals out of control, revealing new rifts and even deeper secrets. As Penelope stares down the possible implosion of her marriage, she must ask herself: When it comes to love, is honesty really the best policy? 

Review:

I am SO the target audience for this book, I’m just an average mom and wife trying to keep my family running and stay sane while juggling more balls than I should be, and the main character, Penny is doing exactly the same thing, and she’s struggling in a major way. #relatable So if you’re a middle aged wife/mom grab this one because I have a feeling that you’ll see a piece of yourself in Penny as well. And if you’re not, grab it anyway because it was a great read.

Penny and her husband Sanjay decide to try and revitalize their marriage and the first step is total honestly, especially concerning their own personal wants and needs. At first glance this sounds like a solid plan, but is total honesty ever a truly good idea? That’s a hard no from me, I mean I like to think I’m an honest person but do you know how many times a day I bite my tongue in order to avoid sounding like a huge bitch? The answer to that question is a lot of times a day and I most certainly keep quiet when my husband says or does something to annoy me on the regular. All of that to say, the idea of true and sometimes harsh, honestly in a marriage is downright scary. It brought some really interesting questions to light and even made me examine my own life, which is always something I appreciate in a book, especially one that is super fun and light in so many ways. A mix of depth and fun is such a great balance and when it’s done well, it’s a little magical. It was done very well here! This would be a great choice for a book club, plenty of themes to discuss and enough humor and heart to stick with you after you’ve finished.

I’m Fine and Neither Are You in three words: Witty, Heartfelt and Realistic

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 19, 2019

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Kidnapped and raised by serial killers, Charlotte Rowe suffered an ordeal that made her infamous. Everyone in the world knew who she was. But no one in the world has any idea what she’s become…

Charlotte is an experiment. And a weapon. Enabled by a superpower drug, she’s partnered with a shadowy pharmaceutical company to hunt down and eliminate society’s most depraved human predators. But her latest mission goes off the rails in a horrifying way. Unsettled by her own capacity for violence, Charlotte wants some time to retreat so she can work on her new relationship with Luke, a sheriff’s deputy in the isolated Central California town she now calls home.

If only the threats hadn’t followed Charlotte there.

Something sinister is evolving in Altamira, California—a massive network of domestic terrorists with ties to Charlotte’s influential and corrupt employers. As a vast and explosive criminal conspiracy grows, the fate of Charlotte’s hometown hangs in the balance. With everyone she cares about in danger, Charlotte has no choice but to bring her powers home.

Charlotte Rowe has been triggered, and now she’ll have to take matters into her own powerful hands.

Review:

Some of my most trusted bookstagram friends have been raving about Christopher Rice for awhile now so late last year I finally picked up the first book in this series, Bone Music. They all told me that not only is his writing amazing, but that this series in particular had a unique edge, and man were they right! Even though this falls under the general umbrella of a thriller there are some sci fi elements which, surprisingly didn’t bother me at all even though that genre is way out of my comfort zone. Just a heads up!

As I said earlier this is the second book in a series and it is crucial to read both books. I did listen to the first book on audio and then flipped between the two for this one and the narration was great if you want that as an option. Anyway, do not start here and think you can get all caught up easily, there is imperative information in the first installment so do yourself a favor and start there.

I want to circle back to the sci fi angle I mentioned earlier, there is definitely some supernatural activity here but it was handled in the most believable way possible. Weird, I know, but even though things should seem far fetched it just all makes sense here and I didn’t actually feel like I was reading something out there or that I had to suspend disbelief at all. I think part of this is because the characterization is great, especially with Charlotte and while I feel like two books in we’ve taken a deep dive into who she is, I also get the sense that there is so much more to explore with her.

The pacing here is a little odd, it starts out fast and full of intensity and then things slow down a bit and then bam, you’re back to excitement and one hell of an ending. I’m a serious fan of the author now and really can’t wait for the next book, this is just a really cool concept and like nothing that I’ve read before.

Blood Echo in three words: Unusual, Complex and Dark

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 26, 2019

Publisher: Graydon House

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

The follow-up to Raintree’s sparkling debut Perfectly Undone, MIDNIGHT AT THE WANDERING VINEYARD brilliantly meshes the provocative relationship fiction of Jennifer Weiner with the nuanced family dynamics of Karen White in this story of a young woman who reconnects with her estranged best friend to complete their teenage bucket list, but the man who came between them years ago reappears to challenge their bond once again.

A young woman at a crossroads in her life returns home to her family’s vineyard in California when tragedy strikes and reconnects with her estranged childhood best friend. They decide to complete the bucket list they created the summer they were 18, the summer that saw their friendship torn apart. But when the man who came between them all those years ago reappears, it challenges their fragile new bond and pushes each woman to confront past hurts and buried truths.

Review:

It was love at first sight for me as soon as I saw this stunning cover, I had a feeling that with a cover this beautiful the inside would have to be just as gorgeous and I was right, this was a really lovely story about forgiveness, family and doing what makes you happy.

One of the things I enjoy most about the authors books is her ability to create realistic characters with messy lives and histories that could be any one of us. Mallory is back home for the first time in ten years and she didn’t leave on the best of terms with a few people in her life. So much has changed since she’s been gone and the changes she experiences just throughout the book are amazing. The characterization is where the author shines, she writes about different types of relationships with an assuredness and accuracy that I find refreshing.

This book was a very solid read for me all the way up until the very end and things just fell flat for me in those last couple of chapters. Admittedly I need a strong, tidy ending to fully enjoy most books and this one was left wide open. I also felt like some of the last minute decisions made by Mallory were out of character and not entirely fitting with the way she behaved throughout the book, but again, I truly need things all tied up with a bow to be totally satisfied, so keep that in mind.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 26, 2019

Publisher: Dutton

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Assistant DA Alexandra Cooper of the Manhattan Sex Crimes Unit is finally back at work following a leave of absence, and not a moment too soon. With more women feeling empowered to name their abusers, Alex is eager to return to the courtroom to do what she does best. But even she can’t anticipate the complexity of her first case when she meets Lucy, a young woman who testified years earlier at a landmark federal trial…and now reveals that she was sexually assaulted by a prominent official during that time.

Yet Lucy’s isn’t the only secret Alex must uncover, with rumors swirling about one colleague’s abusive conduct behind closed doors and another’s violent, mysterious collapse. As the seemingly disparate cases of her client, adversary, and friend start to intertwine, Alex, along with NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace, finds herself in uncharted territory within Manhattan’s Rockefeller University, a premier research institute, hospital, and cornerstone of higher learning. But not even the greatest minds in the city can help her when unearthed secrets begin to collide in dangerous ways…and unless she can uncover the truth, the life-saving facility just may become her grave. 

Review:

Right before I cracked this one open I realized it was the twentieth book in a series, yes the TWENTIETH and my initial reaction was, ugh no way I’ll be ok starting here! Against my first instinct I went ahead and gave it a try anyway, I mean that blurb got me, and I’m really glad I did because this was fantastic and oddly enough, starting this far into the series didn’t turn out to be a huge deal for me at all.

I could easily see how the protagonist, Alexandra Cooper, can carry a series so far, she’s extremely likable and intriguing and had me won over within a few chapters. She’s just coming back to work at the start of the book and is thrust straight back into the thick of things with a complicated new case. It focuses on a historic sexual assault case and was so timely in the era of the Me Too movement. Besides that case, one of Alex’s colleagues (and a friend) is attacked for no apparent reason, so there was a ton going on here. Not too much though, everything was relevant to the story and all of the various threads kept things moving along at a fast pace.

One that thing was a pleasant surprise for me here was that the author used the setting of NYC as a platform to share some seriously fascinating history lessons. That sounds like it could be boring or unnecessary but it was really cool and the tidbits she interspersed throughout the story both made sense to the plot and taught me something new, a win/win. Even though I’m way late to the game on this series I’ll be following it from here on out, a super engaging and entertaining read.

Blood Oath in three words: Timely, Sharp and Engrossing

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 26, 2019

Publisher: HQN

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

After the death of their mother, sisters Daisy and Beatriz Davenport found a home with their aunt Stella in the beautiful and welcoming town of Cape Sanctuary. They never knew all the dreams that Stella sacrificed to ensure they had everything they’d ever need. Now, with Daisy and Bea grown, it’s time for Stella to reveal the secret she’s been keeping from them—a secret that will change their family forever. 

Bea thought she’d sown all her wild oats when she got pregnant far too young. The marriage that followed was rocky and not destined to last, but it gave Bea her wonderful, mature, now eleven-year-old daughter, Marisol. But just as she’s beginning to pursue a new love with an old friend, Bea’s ex-husband resurfaces and turns their lives completely upside down. 

Then there’s Daisy—sensible, rational, financially prudent Daisy. She’s never taken a risk in her life—until she meets a man who makes her question everything she thought she knew about life, love and the power of taking chances.

In this heartwarming story, Stella, Bea and Daisy will discover that the path to true happiness is filled with twists and turns, but love always leads them back home. 

Review:

A few years ago I became a huge fan of Thayne’s contemporary romance series, Haven Point, so when I saw she was releasing a new book with more of a women’s fiction feel I was SO interested. There is still some of her trademark sweet romance here, but it definitely explores the dynamics of the women in the Davenport family while the romance plays a much smaller role giving it a more mature vibe.

This is told via multiple viewpoints, you hear from Stella, Daisy, Bea and even Gabe, who is Daisy’s love interest. I liked hearing a males POV, I’ve not read any in Thayne’s other books and she did a great job bringing a man to life. While the relationships between the women were at the forefront of the story, each of them were also involved romantically and it was nice to see a bunch of different relationships at various stages grow and develop instead of just focusing on one. All of the characters were authentic and relatable in some way and had really interesting histories and careers, they were an intriguing bunch and really well developed.

There were some secrets sprinkled around throughout the storyline that added a fun layer and also kept me on my toes in a light mystery sort of way. From the gorgeous cover to the sweet epilogue, I was enthralled with every single page of this one. Fans of Thayne will be pleased and if you enjoy books by authors like Sarah Morgan and Jenny Hale check this one out!

The Cliff House in three words: Captivating, Endearing and Uplifting.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Little Bird Publicity for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 26, 2019

Publisher: Kensington

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Crime writer Julia Gooden has just completed the most important story of her life—a book about her beloved brother’s childhood abduction and how she found his killer after thirty years. But that hasn’t taken her focus off her day job—especially with what looks to be a serial killer terrorizing the city. Female runners are being snatched off jogging trails, then slaughtered in abandoned churches. 

As Julia begins investigating, with help from Detective Raymond Navarro, she realizes just how personal this case has become. The murders, planned and executed with uncanny precision, are of women who share traits with Julia. Now he’s contacting her directly, insisting things will get much worse unless Julia makes him famous through her writing. 

But no matter how skillfully she plays along, her opponent’s ultimate goal is clear. And only by unraveling the threads that link a killer’s twisted mind to her own dark past can Julia prevent herself from becoming his final victim . . . 

Review:

This is the fourth book in a series following crime reporter Julia Gooden but I jumped into this series at book three and had no problem catching on. I think you could read any of these as standalones as each book focuses on a new case and also fills in enough background information that it’s easy to follow along.

Julia is such a fun lead character, she’s smart, feisty and fearless which makes for some seriously interesting and entertaining scenarios. There was a personal angle for Julia with this case which is one of my favorite approaches, I love simultaneously learning something new about the character while exploring a new, creepy case. The case here was super creepy, think voodoo, black magic and rituals and I was caught up in the intricacies and details the author provided all the while being super engaged throughout.

I feel like both of the books I’ve read in this series have been like classic whodunnits, they’re well thought out and always keep me on my toes and manage to surprise me in the end. Combine a good old fashioned murder mystery with a compelling protagonist and I’m happy. I’m quickly learning that Haseldine delivers on all counts and is an author I’ll continue to follow.

You Fit the Pattern in three words: Sneaky, Sinister and Solid.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

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Release date: March 12, 2019

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Fiction

Blurb:

Divorce lawyer Leigh Huyett knows all too well that most second marriages are doomed to fail. But five years in, she and Pete Conley have a perfectly blended family of her children and his. To celebrate their anniversary, they grab some precious moments of alone time and leave Pete’s son Kip, a high school senior, in charge of Leigh’s fourteen-year-old daughter Chrissy at their home.

Driving back on a rainy Friday night, their cell phones start ringing. After a raucous party celebrating his college acceptance to Duke and his upcoming birthday, Kip was arrested for drunk driving after his truck crashed into a tree. And he wasn’t alone—Chrissy was with him.

Twelve hours later, Chrissy is dead and Kip is charged with manslaughter.

Kip has always been a notorious troublemaker, but he’s also a star student with a dazzling future ahead of him. At first, Leigh does her best to rally behind Pete and help Kip through his ordeal. Until he changes his story, and claims that he wasn’t driving after all—Chrissy was, and he swears there is a witness.

Leigh is stunned that he would lie about such a thing, while Pete clutches onto the story as the last, best hope to save his son, throwing his energy and money into finding this elusive witness. As they hurtle toward Kip’s trial date, husband and wife are torn between loyalty to their children and to each other, while the mystery of what really happened that night intensifies.

This richly conceived and tightly plotted psychological exploration of family and tragedy will have you racing toward its shocking and thought-provoking conclusion. 

Review:

Full disclosure here, this is labeled as a mystery/thriller on Goodreads and I wholeheartedly disagree with that, enough so that I would say it’s fiction and leave if at that. I feel like expectations are super important to me as a reader and this is really not a thriller whatsoever. I’m actually not even sure what it is to be totally honest, so there’s that too. Is there a mystery? Sure I suppose so but I mean that in the loosest sense of the word. Is it a thriller by any means? Nope, not at all. Is it really an examination of a family on the brink? Yes, that’s the most accurate explanation that I can come up with.

I enjoyed the dynamics of this family that were explored and couldn’t even imagine being in the same situation myself, losing a child is unfathomable but having your other child be at fault? Horrific, and seeing Pete and Leigh deal with the aftermath was fascinating and heartbreaking. How do you chose between your child and your wife? You don’t, it’s an impossible dilemma.

The author did a great job bringing the main storyline to life, but there were several side plots as well that made it sorta messy for me. I just don’t think it any added value to the story, in fact it was distracting for me. Just unnecessary and made the book longer than it needed to be. Overall an interesting book that mostly worked for me in the end, well drawn characters and solid writing, definitely enough to make me pick up her next book but it needed to be scaled back a little for me.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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Release date: March 21, 2019

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

What is it about the coast that attracts people running from their past?

When Olivia moves to Port Townsend, her marriage is floundering, and her life is in pieces. She doesn’t know if things with her husband Mark are truly over, or quite why the phone call she longs for on her daughter’s birthday will never come.

Joining a letter-writing club seems like a harmless decision. But when she meets Ned, an ex-soldier badly wounded in Afghanistan, this unlooked-for friendship revives unexpected emotions and memories she’d rather forget.

Can Olivia find the courage to confront what she’s hiding from and finally begin to heal the wounds that have torn her life apart? From the bestselling author of After You Left comes a story about finding hope in second chances. 

Review:

Whenever I read a book from a new to me author I’m always excited of course, but also oddly nervous as I’m never quite sure what to expect. The description of this one appealed to me, I got a Catherine Ryan Hyde sort of vibe from it and while that’s somewhat fitting, Mason has a unique style that is all her own. This was so much more than I expected, in a good way, this had depth and heart and was written in such a pretty style, I’m a new fan of the author now!

It’s clear from the start that Olivia is troubled and running from something, it’s not just her strained marriage to her husband, Mark or even just her issues with her daughter, you get the sense that it’s something deeper and despite this not being a mystery, that aspect kept me guessing throughout. I wanted to know what had happened to Olivia in her past, what had caused her pain, enough pain that she fled her home to live someone brand new. She was a complex character for sure, I found her fascinating and by the time I finished the book and everything came together, it was a lightbulb moment for me, everything made sense suddenly.

Besides Olivia and Mark there are a handful of secondary characters that added another dimension to the story. Beth is the woman who owns the local coffee shop/bookstore and Ned is an ex soldier with his own demons. Olivia’s developing relationships with both characters were telling, both because they were all harboring guilt and murky histories, but also because of how all three of them helped each other deal with their issues. I learned a lot about each character based on their interactions with each other and to see relationships being newly formed that weren’t romantic was a surprising treat.

This had some heavy themes that I won’t get into because I don’t want to spoil things, this is not a light read, it’s a thought provoking one. It’s fast paced and I read it quickly (even for me) because I was so desperate to find out the secrets Olivia was carrying and it paid off in the end, big time!

The Shadow Between Us in three words: Lyrical, Emotional and Moving

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 26, 2019

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in this wildly compulsive debut thriller about a couple whose fifteen-year marriage has finally gotten too interesting…

Our love story is simple. I met a gorgeous woman. We fell in love. We had kids. We moved to the suburbs. We told each other our biggest dreams, and our darkest secrets. And then we got bored.

We look like a normal couple. We’re your neighbors, the parents of your kid’s friend, the acquaintances you keep meaning to get dinner with.

We all have secrets to keeping a marriage alive.

Ours just happens to be getting away with murder. 

Review:

Oohh this was a wickedly twisted read, one of those thrillers that is just really fun to read in a dark and disturbing way. The blurb says it best, an average married couple with a penchant for murder, does a domestic thriller get any darker than that?! Spoiler alert, it doesn’t.

This is told entirely from the point of view of the husband and something that was interesting in a quirky sort of way was that you never know his name. Yep, that’s right not once is her referred to by his real name though he does have an alias….intrigued yet?! I sure was and this was one fast paced, page turner of a read. The story progressed in a way that I didn’t predict (for the most part) so I won’t ramble on about the storyline itself, but if you like domestic thrillers and don’t mind macabre, then this one is for you! It takes a look at a marriage that has crossed way over to the dark side and does it in the most entertaining way possible.

This is an impressive debut from an author to watch, she has the whole engaging, simple, pacey writing style down and came up with a really fresh and exciting story. Recommended for a weekend binge read, it’s one you won’t want to put down once you start.

My Lovely Wife in three words: Disturbing, Wicked and Fiendish.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 19, 2019

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb:

Elise Sontag is a typical Iowa fourteen-year-old in 1943–aware of the war but distanced from its reach. Then her father, a legal U.S. resident for nearly two decades, is suddenly arrested on suspicion of being a Nazi sympathizer. The family is sent to an internment camp in Texas, where, behind the armed guards and barbed wire, Elise feels stripped of everything beloved and familiar, including her own identity.

The only thing that makes the camp bearable is meeting fellow internee Mariko Inoue, a Japanese-American teen from Los Angeles, whose friendship empowers Elise to believe the life she knew before the war will again be hers. Together in the desert wilderness, Elise and Mariko hold tight the dream of being young American women with a future beyond the fences. 

Review:

Last year I fell in love with Meissner’s gorgeous writing style after reading As Bright As Heaven and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her latest book. I’m beginning to realize she has a knack for writing about specific historical topics that are not common and anytime I can learn something new while I’m reading I’m excited!

This follows Elise, an American girl whose parents are German immigrants and is told solely from her point of view and spans over the course of almost her entire life. I knew next to nothing about German Americans being sent to internment camps during WW2 and the way Meissner uncovered this piece of history for me was simultaneously heartbreaking and beautiful. The majority of the story takes place during the war but there are a few key chapters set in 2010 that added a certain gravitas to an already profound story.

This had the feel of an epic saga that explores so many themes and issues, from the unbreakable bonds of family to deep, true friendship and even some romance. I was wholeheartedly invested in Elise’s life and experienced such a wide variety of emotions throughout, the ending even made me teary eyed and I’m NOT a crier, definitely one that gave me all the feels. Highly recommended for HF fans!

The Last Year of the War in three words: Hopeful, Poignant and Affecting

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.