Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 8, 2019

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 8, 2019

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Dr. Leigh Culver loves practicing medicine in Timberlake, Colorado. It is a much-needed change of pace from her stressful life in Chicago. The only drawback is she misses her aunt Helen, the woman who raised her. But it’s time that Leigh has her independence, and she hopes the beauty of the Colorado wilderness will entice her aunt to visit often.

Helen Culver is an independent woman who lovingly raised her sister’s orphaned child. Now, with Leigh grown, it’s time for her to live life for herself. The retired teacher has become a successful mystery writer who loves to travel and intends to never experience winter again.

When Helen visits Leigh, she is surprised to find her niece still needs her, especially when it comes to sorting out her love life. But the biggest surprise comes when Leigh takes Helen out to Sullivan’s Crossing and Helen finds herself falling for the place and one special person. Helen and Leigh will each have to decide if they can open themselves up to love neither expected to find and seize the opportunity to live their best lives. 

Review:

This is the fourth in a series and while I’ve wholeheartedly enjoyed every book, this one is hands down my favorite so far. I’m not sure exactly what made me love it so much this time, maybe it was that the two main characters this time around were so lovable or maybe it was just that I’ve grown to love reuniting with the residents of Timberlake, but whatever it is, Carr has made me a huge fan of this series.

There is always a lot going on in Carr’s books but this one had two separate developing romances and I was fully invested in both. I don’t want to ruin things for anyone but Helen ends up in a relationship with one of my favorite reoccurring characters and I was so excited about this storyline. The characters truly make this series special as well as the authenticity with which Carr writes, I always feel like I’m reading about real people in ordinary relationships which is so refreshing and appreciated.

The Best of Us in three words: Touching, Satisfying and Warm.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Little Bird Publicity and the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 27, 2018

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

PI Jessie Cole is about to discover that there’s no revenge too wicked as New York Times bestselling author T.R. Ragan’s gripping series continues.

When you search for the missing, there’s no telling what you’ll find. PI Jessie Cole learned that painful truth firsthand when her sister disappeared. Now a new case will test Jessie and Ben once again.

Owen Shepard, the public face of one of the country’s biggest health insurance companies, has become the target of a vengeful father. The man blames Shepard for his child’s death and plans to make the CEO know what it’s like to live with a broken heart—and watch others die. After killing two employees, the desperate father kidnaps Shepard’s daughter. Tasked with finding her, Jessie and crime reporter Ben Morrison are running out of time to save her.

Meanwhile, Ben is still seeking insight into the man he used to be before a car crash erased his memories. And each discovery is leading Jessie and him down a frightening road. What they find could scar both of them forever. 

Review:

This is the second in a series that follows PI Jessie Cole and I really enjoyed the first book, she’s a character that intrigued me and while you learn quite a bit about her in the first book, there was still many questions left unanswered. I’m pleased to say that this may have answered a few of my burning questions about both her and Ben, but it still left plenty of room for more in the next books!

Much as with the last book there were several various plot threads to keep you on your toes. Jessie is hired to help find a killer so clearly it’s an intense case, and then Ben is still curious about his own past so Jessie is looking into that and then finally Jessie is also hired to help a mother find her daughter that was kidnapped as a newborn. I know that sounds like a lot, maybe even too much but Ragan is a pro and everything flows together seamlessly, definitely never a dull moment in this one.

Sometimes with the second book in a series that had a really strong start things start to get shaky but there was none of that here. It was a solid follow up and I’m eager to see what happens next!

Deadly Recall in three words: Dark, Multilayered and Gripping.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 8, 2019

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

It all started at the school fair…

Charlotte was supposed to be looking after the children, and she swears she was. She only took her eyes off of them for one second. But when her three kids are all safe and sound at the school fair, and Alice, her best friend Harriet’s daughter, is nowhere to be found, Charlotte panics. Frantically searching everywhere, Charlotte knows she must find the courage to tell Harriet that her beloved only child is missing. And admit that she has only herself to blame.

Harriet, devastated by this unthinkable, unbearable loss, can no longer bring herself to speak to Charlotte again, much less trust her. Now more isolated than ever and struggling to keep her marriage afloat, Harriet believes nothing and no one. But as the police bear down on both women trying to piece together the puzzle of what happened to this little girl, dark secrets begin to surface—and Harriet discovers that confiding in Charlotte again may be the only thing that will reunite her with her daughter….

This breathless and fast-paced debut—perfect for fans of Big Little Lies and The Couple Next Door—takes you on a chilling journey that will keep you guessing until the very last page. 

Review:

What is it about a missing child premise that always intrigues me?! It’s one of my biggest fears as a parent, yet it always grabs my attention and this one more than grabbed my attention, it consumed me, I seriously could not put it down! I read it in two sittings in one afternoon and even my husband interrupted and said, wow you’re really into this one aren’t you Amy?! I just nodded and shushed him because, yes I am haha!

While I love a missing child storyline I’m always so excited when an author puts their own unique spin on the premise and Perks did just that. Imagine being in charge of your best friends daughter and then losing the child, how guilty and absolutely wretched would you feel? That’s the case for Charlotte and I truly felt sorry for her, there’s nothing you can do and surely nothing you can say to make things better in such a situation. Then poor Harriet, not knowing where her little girl is destroys her and I felt just as bad for her as I did for Charlotte. This flips back and forth between both women’s POV and I was really invested in both of their lives.

This is where I stop discussing even the most minor of plot details because things went in SO many unexpected directions that I don’t even want to hint at a possible spoiler. There are secrets galore and jaw dropping twists, I really didn’t see any of them coming, but I also wasn’t playing detective and looking too closely because I was entirely wrapped up in every single page. What a gripping read, it was incredibly well done, intense and complex, highly recommended!!

Her One Mistake in three words: Compulsive, Secretive and Twisty.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 8, 2019

Publisher: Harper

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

When your life is a lie, the truth can kill you

When her fiancé’s private plane crashes in the Colorado Rockies, Allison Carpenter miraculously survives. But the fight for her life is just beginning. For years, Allison has been living with a terrible secret, a shocking truth that powerful men will kill to keep buried. If they know she’s alive, they will come for her. She must make it home.

In the small community of Owl Creek, Maine, Maggie Carpenter learns that her only child is presumed dead. But authorities have not recovered her body—giving Maggie a shred of hope. She, too, harbors a shameful secret: she hasn’t communicated with her daughter in two years, since a family tragedy drove Allison away. Maggie doesn’t know anything about her daughter’s life now—not even that she was engaged to wealthy pharmaceutical CEO Ben Gardner, or why she was on a private plane.

As Allison struggles across the treacherous mountain wilderness, Maggie embarks on a desperate search for answers. Immersing herself in Allison’s life, she discovers a sleek socialite hiding dark secrets. What was Allison running from—and can Maggie uncover the truth in time to save her?

Told from the perspectives of a mother and daughter separated by distance but united by an unbreakable bond, Freefall is a riveting debut novel about two tenacious women overcoming unimaginable obstacles to protect themselves and those they love. 

Review:

This is my first review of the new year and what a read it was, this one begs to be read in one breathless sitting, a total binge read. From the brief, incredibly fast paced chapters to the switch between points of view it’s a truly entertaining read with a fresh premise, what more could you want?!

This flips between Allison for one chapter and then her mother Maggie the next, Allison’s story begins from the minute her plane crashes and Maggie’s from the moment she finds out about the accident. As Allison fights to stay alive you slowly and steadily find out about her life over the past few years and the events that led to to the crash while simultaneously Maggie struggles to piece together what her daughter had been doing for the past two years. I was so invested in these two women and so eager to find out what was really going on, both possessed an inner strength that was remarkable and then add in a super tense environment for both women and I was all in.

While I did see a few things coming, the author did shock me in the end, and the aspects I did work out on my own didn’t take away from my enjoyment whatsoever. A really impressive debut, recommended for fans of pacey, exciting thrillers.

Freefall in three words: Entertaining, Dynamic and Fast.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: December 4, 2018

Publisher: Grand Central

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Troubled and brilliant, Detective Sergeant Gemma Woodstock finds herself lost and alone after a recent move to Melbourne, brokenhearted by the decisions she’s had to make. Her new workplace is a minefield and Detective Sergeant Nick Fleet, the partner she has been assigned, is uncommunicative and often hostile. When a homeless man is murdered and Gemma is put on the case, she can’t help feeling a connection with the victim and his lonely, isolated existence. 

Then Sterling Wade, an up-and-coming actor filming his breakout performance in a closed-off city street, is murdered in the middle of an action-packed shot, and Gemma and Nick have to put aside their differences to unravel the mysteries surrounding the actor’s life and death. Who could commit such a brazen crime? Who stands to profit from it? Far too many people, and none of them can be trusted. Gemma can’t imagine a pair of victims with less in common–and yet as Gemma and Fleet soon learn, both men were keeping secrets that may have led to their deaths. 

With riveting suspense, razor-sharp writing, and a fascinating cast of characters, INTO THE NIGHT proves Sarah Bailey is a major new talent to watch in the world of literary crime fiction.

Review:

I’ve been meaning to read the first book in the series for quite some time and just never managed to get around to it and then this one just sounded right up my alley, so I took a chance and just started with book two. It was totally fine but I enjoyed this one so much that I’m kicking myself for not having started at the beginning!

There was a lot going on here plot wise, Gemma is a busy detective working on multiple cases and as much as I was intrigued by the cases, what really engrossed me was the outstanding characterization. Gemma is fascinatingly complex and just so well drawn that I was immediately invested in her. The setting of Melbourne was also a standout, I haven’t read many thrillers set there and it’s always nice to read about someplace new and fresh to me. I imagine as the series continues Gemma will become more and more interesting and I’ll definitely be following along. Recommended for thriller fans, especially those who feel like they want something slightly different and written by an incredibly gifted author.

Into the Night in three words: Engaging, Intriguing and Nuanced.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.