Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: October 2, 2018

Publisher: Ballantine

Genre: Fiction

Blurb:

The warm fall day starts like any other at the Center—a women’s reproductive health services clinic—its staff offering care to anyone who passes through its doors. Then, in late morning, a desperate and distraught gunman bursts in and opens fire, taking all inside hostage.

After rushing to the scene, Hugh McElroy, a police hostage negotiator, sets up a perimeter and begins making a plan to communicate with the gunman. As his phone vibrates with incoming text messages he glances at it and, to his horror, finds out that his fifteen-year-old daughter, Wren, is inside the clinic.

But Wren is not alone. She will share the next and tensest few hours of her young life with a cast of unforgettable characters: A nurse who calms her own panic in order save the life of a wounded woman. A doctor who does his work not in spite of his faith but because of it, and who will find that faith tested as never before. A pro-life protester disguised as a patient, who now stands in the cross hairs of the same rage she herself has felt. A young woman who has come to terminate her pregnancy. And the disturbed individual himself, vowing to be heard.

Told in a daring and enthralling narrative structure that counts backward through the hours of the standoff, this is a story that traces its way back to what brought each of these very different individuals to the same place on this fateful day.

Jodi Picoult—one of the most fearless writers of our time—tackles a complicated issue in this gripping and nuanced novel. How do we balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn they carry? What does it mean to be a good parent? A Spark of Light will inspire debate, conversation . . . and, hopefully, understanding.

Review:

Oh my god you guys, I actually read this book months ago and I’m still thinking about it today. As soon as I received a copy I dropped everything and started it and it totally blew me away. It has her trademark hard hitting subject matter and deeply moving storyline and she rips her storylines straight from the headlines like no ones else does. If you read one book I recommended this year I urge you to make it this one, I feel like we can all learn something profound from this book.

The structure of this was amazing, it’s told in reverse order which always sounds super confusing but if it’s done well then it’s a little bit of magic and if anyone has the magic touch it’s Picoult. I don’t know how else to describe her writing other than to say it’s beautiful and even poetic at times and she’s writing about this god awful tragedy and still hope and beauty shines through.

Abortion is arguably one of the hottest of hot button topics of all time and I so admire how Picoult examines the issue from every single angle you can think of, and also from some you would never think of yourself. She forces you to consider your own personal values and morals while doing so sensitively and with so much respect. I don’t usually expect straight up fiction novels to be twisty but she also manages to throw a knock down punch (or two) that made me gasp in disbelief. This book was total perfection in my eyes and I cannot wait to see where she takes me next.

Spark of Light in three words: Profound, Emotional and Incredible.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Amazon|Goodreads

Release date: December 1, 2018

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

Forgive and forget? In this twisty thriller of psychological suspense, the past and present collide for two sisters who survived a tragedy—and must now survive the truth behind it.

It’s been twenty years since Cara’s boyfriend died in a horrible accident and her sister, Anna, went to prison. The tragedy has become a local legend, but Cara has moved past her grief to have a successful career and a happy family. Pity about Anna. Recently released from incarceration, she’s struggling with addiction, guilt, and shame—a shattered life. Cara’s forgiveness seems to be the only thing that helps her pick up the pieces.

But as Anna pulls herself together, her memories of that night on the bridge start to come into focus. And few of them match her sister’s.

As past secrets unfold and nothing is what it seems anymore, Anna desperately searches for the truth. But what if Cara doesn’t want her to find it?

Review:

My immediate thought after finishing this was, now THAT is how you write a psychological thriller! I’m blown away that this is a debut, Cowie’s writing is polished and sharp and she plotted one hell of a story, if this is how she begins her career as an author I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

This follows two sisters, Anna and Cara and flips between the late nineties and 2016. The girls were in high school in 1997 and were both in a tragic accident that killed Cara’s boyfriend. Anna’s life went down the drain afterwards, she spent time in prison and developed an alcohol addiction while Cara moved on and has a picture perfect life with her husband and daughter. Two very different outcomes and both women were interesting and complex.

The events leading up to the accident are slowly revealed in alternating chapters as you begin to piece together what really happened. Let me tell you, I thought I knew what happened and I was way off, this had a good reveal, a twist if you wanna call it that but it’s not a book that’s solely dependent on a shocking twist but instead was awesome all the way through. If you can’t tell, I loved this one and highly recommend it to thriller fans!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 25, 2018

Publisher: HQN

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

In the snowy Highlands of Scotland, Suzanne McBride is dreaming of the perfect cozy Christmas. Her three adopted daughters are coming home for the holidays and she can’t wait to see them. But tensions are running high…

Workaholic Hannah knows she can’t avoid spending the holidays with her family two years in a row. But it’s not the weight of their expectations that’s panicking her—it’s the life-changing secret she’s hiding. Stay-at-home mom Beth is having a personal crisis. All she wants for Christmas is time to decide if she’s ready to return to work—seeing everyone was supposed to help her stress levels, not increase them! Posy isn’t sure she’s living her best life, but with her parents depending on her, making a change seems risky. But not as risky as falling for gorgeous new neighbor Luke…

As Suzanne’s dreams of the perfect McBride Christmas unravel, she must rely on the magic of the season to bring her daughters together. But will this new togetherness teach the sisters that their close-knit bond is strong enough to withstand anything—including a family Christmas?

Review:

Yes, I realize that it’s only September and I’m already reading Christmas books and I’m totally ok with that! I’m like a little kid when it comes to the holiday season and I’m always more than ready to get into the holiday spirit, even before fall has officially started haha. The Christmas Sisters was the perfect book to bring the magic of the season to life and it made me even more excited about the holidays than I already am.

This follows a mom and her three daughters and you hear from each of them throughout the book. Suzanne adopted the girls when they were young after a tragic accident took both of their parents and it was so fascinating to see how their deaths affected each woman in a profoundly different manner. Beth, Hannah and Posy all have their own unique issues but they all stem from the past and I became entirely wrapped up in their lives and very invested in what would happen to each one.

This is set in Scotland and it was such a picturesque and gorgeous setting and Morgan described it beautifully. Her brand of writing works so well for me, it’s fun and flirty, but also heartfelt and poignant and left me with a sense of comfort in the end. I always end up caring deeply about her characters and this was no exception, I was rooting for all of the McBride women and their men weren’t too shabby either. Highly recommended for holiday reading lists!

The Christmas Sisters in three words: Enchanting, Cozy and Sweet.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher and Anna at Aro Publicity for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: April 9, 2019

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Dystopian

Blurb:

BREAKING: Nuclear weapon detonates over Washington

BREAKING: London hit, thousands feared dead.

BREAKING: Munich and Scotland hit. World leaders call for calm.

Jon Keller was on a trip to Switzerland when the world ended. More than anything he wishes he hadn’t ignored his wife Nadia’s last message.

Twenty people remain in Jon’s hotel. Far from the nearest city, they wait, they survive.

Then one day, the body of a girl is found. It’s clear she has been murdered. Which means that someone in the hotel is a killer…

As paranoia descends, Jon decides to investigate. But how far is he willing to go in pursuit of justice? And what happens if the killer doesn’t want to be found?

Review:

I admittedly don’t read a ton of dystopian novels, but holy hell did this one scare the crap out of me! The main reason? It seemed entirely possible, it wasn’t all that far fetched and made me think, but what if SO many times.

This is told entirely from Jon’s point of view in journal style entries beginning at day one. He’s writing down his own personal experience after nuclear war begins as a way to document events for future generations. I loved the style, parts felt frantic, almost manic especially in the beginning but that made it feel super authentic. Who wouldn’t be feeling crazed when the world as they know it ends? As the days go by and Jon settles into a new way of life he finds his groove and the writing evens out and you begin to get more details about what happened and how a small group ended up at a hotel. The hotel itself was a fantastic setting, you get a locked room feeling coupled with an eerie, unnerving vibe due to the unknown activity outside the hotel and then you also have a murder mystery at play. Really creepy stuff, and again, so terrifying because it’s plausible.

This one raises tons of moral questions and dilemmas, when the end is nigh you see both the best and worst of humanity and it’s full of untrustworthy and unlikable characters lending to its authenticity once again. It definitely makes you think and would be perfect for fans of shows like The Walking Dead, it’s not out for awhile but put this on your radar for next spring!

The Last in three words: Haunting, Unnerving and Creepy.

Overall rating: 4/5

Special thanks to my girl Chelsea and the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 5, 2019

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Genre: Fiction

Blurb:

Everyone knows Daisy Jones & The Six, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock and roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.

Review:

So as soon as I was approved for this one I immediately abandoned my other reads and dove right in. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was one of my very favorite books last year so I knew I had to read this one right away. I had promised myself that I would wait to share my thoughts publicly until, oh I don’t know maybe the same calendar year the book is being released hahahaha but I can’t wait any longer, because you guys. This is an epic, phenomenal read that I will never forget. I’m scared to even try and write a review because no way can I do it justice but I have to try. Here goes!

The structure of this was amazing, it’s composed of oral interviews with the members of Daisy Jones and the Six and those people closest to them, so you have a large cast of characters to love. And I loved many of them. The band is clearly fictional but TJR has the uncanny ability to create these fake celebrities that feel so very real and authentic that you find yourself thinking, wait did I actually miss a huge band in the seventies called DJATS? She’s that good, I don’t know how she does it but she’s genius. Why are these characters so memorable? Because they’re so well developed, they’re larger than life and they just feel real. On top of outstanding characterization the story itself is a thing of beauty. It’s fun, wild, totally rock and roll but it’s also poignant, touching and incredibly moving. It is absolutely everything and it is a story for everyone.

If you’re a music fan in general, but especially if you loved (or still do!) music from Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, etc this is a must read. TJR captures that era beautifully and will make you want to listen to it as a background while you’re reading. Once again this read like an epic saga of a group of people’s lives, an intimate inside look behind the scenes of band and I could not get enough of it. Also, Reese Witherspoon is making a TV show and I cannot wait! If you loved Evelyn you’ll adore this one as well, if you haven’t read Evelyn go catch up while we wait for it to come out and basically if you like reading in general just do yourself a favor and pre order it now. You’re welcome.

Daisy Jones and the Six in three words: Epic, Innovative and Moving.

Overall rating: 5/5 (ALL THE STARS)

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 4, 2018

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

Lisa lives for her daughter Ava, her job, and her best friend Marilyn, but when a handsome client shows an interest in her, Lisa starts daydreaming about sharing her life with him too. Maybe she’s ready now. Maybe she can trust again. Maybe it’s time to let her terrifying secret past go. Then her daughter rescues a boy from drowning and their pictures are all over the news for everyone to see. Lisa’s world explodes, and she finds everything she has built threatened. Not knowing whom she can trust, it’s up to her to face her past to save what she holds dear.

Review:

Sarah Pinborough has to be one of the most clever writers I’ve come across in recent years, she has a unique style of writing that works perfectly for me and I’m never quite sure exactly what to expect when I start one of her books. I was a huge fan of Behind Her Eyes, WTF ending and all so I was prepared to be surprised again and while I definitely was with this one, it had a different appeal that I appreciated greatly. I always like when an author switches things up slightly with each new book and doesn’t rely on a tried and true but formulaic gimmick and that’s exactly what happens here!

This is told from various viewpoints; Lisa, her daughter Ava and Lisa’s best friend Marilyn. All three women have secrets and half the fun of this story was trying to figure out exactly what each persons secret was. I admit, I was feeling pretty confident about where things were going but I was wrong. Yes, a few minor details were exactly as I expected but there were still some major shocks along the way.

I loved the pacing of this, it moved along swiftly and was divided into three parts which big revelations at the end of each one that just kept urging me to continue reading. Overall a fast and engaging read that gripped me and satisfied in the end.

(I do want to warn that this does contain some disturbing content that was a little shocking to me. There is nothing in the blurb that alludes to it but wanted to give a heads up that parts are hard to read. If you want more info just let me know, I don’t want to say more here)

Cross Her Heart in three words: Fluid, Devious and Disturbing.

Overall rating: 4/5

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 4, 2018

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Hazel Camille Bradford knows she’s a lot to take—and frankly, most men aren’t up to the challenge. If her army of pets and thrill for the absurd don’t send them running, her lack of filter means she’ll say exactly the wrong thing in a delicate moment. Their loss. She’s a good soul in search of honest fun.

Josh Im has known Hazel since college, where her zany playfulness proved completely incompatible with his mellow restraint. From the first night they met—when she gracelessly threw up on his shoes—to when she sent him an unintelligible email while in a post-surgical haze, Josh has always thought of Hazel more as a spectacle than a peer. But now, ten years later, after a cheating girlfriend has turned his life upside down, going out with Hazel is a breath of fresh air.

Not that Josh and Hazel date. At least, not each other. Because setting each other up on progressively terrible double blind dates means there’s nothing between them…right?

Review:

I found a new favorite author to stalk! Ok two, because Christina Lauren is actually a writing duo, and I’m so serious when I say I’m obsessed with this book. I’m ordering their backlist and devouring them first chance I have. If someone doesn’t make this into a rom com movie it’s a big mistake. HUGE. Because this was one of the most witty, cute, charming and hilarious books I’ve read in ages.

This is told from both Josh and Hazel’s point of view and while Josh is my new book boyfriend (you guys I usually don’t even do the whole book BF thing, I broke my own rule for him, swoon worthy fictional man) I’m totally in love with Hazel as well. She is a quirky, big hearted and incredibly endearing woman and he is basically her polar opposite. The best part of their pairing was that Josh just gets Hazel, he doesn’t get embarrassed when she’s the only one dancing like a maniac at a concert, in fact he embraces her exactly as she is and I just seriously can’t get enough of that attitude. This world needs more of that type of acceptance and total lack of judgement.

The friends to lovers trope is one of my favorites, I love the mounting tension and heightened chemistry that is evident between two people claiming to be just friends when clearly they are so much more than friends. Christina Lauren blends the perfect combination of sweet, sexy and funny and I loved watching Josh and Hazel fall in love. And that final chapter? Don’t know if I’ve ever read anything more perfect in my life, turned me into a total mush ball. Must read for romance fans!!

Josh and Hazel in three words: Spicy, Adorable and Endearing.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: September 11, 2018

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

What if you have the perfect life, the perfect wife and the perfect child—then, in one shattering moment, you discover nothing is as it seems? Now you are in the sights of a ruthless killer determined to destroy everything you treasure.

It’s the evening drive home from work on a route Joe Lynch has taken a hundred times with his young son. But today, Joe sees his wife meet another man—an encounter that will rip two families apart. Raising the question: Can we ever really trust those closest to us?

Joe will do whatever it takes to protect his family, but as the deception unravels, so does his life. A life played out without any rules. And a cunning opponent who’s always one step ahead.

Review:

Lies is one of those psychological thrillers that you can binge in one sitting, it’s fast paced and fun and one of those reads that flies by and before you know it you’re finished. In a market that’s over saturated with domestic thrillers Lies manages to stand out from the crowd and Logan brings his own unique twist to the genre.

One of the things I liked the most about this one was that Joe was the kind of character that you can root for. So many times psychological thrillers have highly unlikable characters and while that’s fun, it was a nice change of pace to enjoy a protagonist and not want to smack them upside the head! I also enjoyed Joe’s relationship with his adorable son, Will it felt authentic and sweet and was so nice to see in a thriller.

So of course this was twisty, it’s a thriller after all but I really was surprised by the main twist in the end and that’s always appreciated especially as I’m a pretty good armchair detective. Social media also played a huge role in the plot and that made it feel so fresh and relevant, probably yet another reason that this was a standout for me. If you like PT you’ll enjoy this one, it’s basically everything I look for in one with its own unique spin.

Lies in three words: Gripping, Propulsive and Tense.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 31, 2018

Publisher: Notting Hill

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb:

Meet Phoebe, who’s 28, and Laney, Dot and Maggie, who are 68, 78, and none of your business. Together they’ll prove that age doesn’t matter when it comes to friendship, belonging and an unquenchable zest for life.

Laugh-out-loud uplifting chick lit about the ties of community, the strength of love and how nobody is truly ordinary.

When Framlingham’s famously all-female senior living home goes co-ed, a war between the sexes is declared.

Stuck in the middle, chef Phoebe Stockton is desperate to help her friends plot to keep the community that means so much to them. It’s become her life raft, too. She finds comfort in her beloved career that might finally make her parents proud. But Phoebe’s darling Nick is lining up on the other side of the battle, and their relationship is suffering collateral damage.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. If the home’s owner can’t improve business by moving the men in, he’ll have to close down Friendship House.

The women aren’t about to let that happen.

Review:

Ahh chick lit is my first true love and it’s so nice to go back and read it from time to time! Bartlett is quickly becoming one of my go to authors to turn to when I need an uplifting read full of positivity and hope and her latest provided me with just what I was looking for. If you want a book that will make you forget about all the terrible things going on in the world for a few hours and leave you with a smile on your face then look no further, Bartlett has you covered.

I loved the premise of this, a chef working in a senior living home, because I just knew it would be full of fun and memorable characters and I was so right. Phoebe was exactly the kind of character I love in CL, she’s a normal woman living an ordinary life but she’s someone I would want to be friends with and she has a wonderful personality. The residents of the senior home were an eclectic bunch and they both made me laugh and made me say aww so many times.

This was just an adorable read with a ton of heart, it was a delightful way to spend an afternoon and I was sad to see it end, though it did end on a high note. Recommended to curl up with when you’re having a bad day and want to change that, super light and breezy!

The Not So Perfect Plan to Save Friendship House in three words: Warm, Sweet and Fun.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: August 30, 2018

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Meet Amy Winter: Detective Inspector, daughter of a serial killer.

DI Amy Winter is hoping to follow in the footsteps of her highly respected police officer father. But when a letter arrives from the prison cell of Lillian Grimes, one half of a notorious husband-and-wife serial-killer team, it contains a revelation that will tear her life apart.

Responsible for a string of heinous killings decades ago, Lillian is pure evil. A psychopathic murderer. And Amy’s biological mother. Now, she is ready to reveal the location of three of her victims—but only if Amy plays along with her twisted game.

While her fellow detectives frantically search for a young girl taken from her mother’s doorstep, Amy must confront her own dark past. Haunted by blurred memories of a sister who sacrificed herself to save her, Amy faces a race against time to uncover the missing bodies.

But what if, from behind bars, Grimes has been pulling the strings even tighter than Amy thought? And can she overcome her demons to prevent another murder?

Review:

Whenever I’m in the mood for a smart, super fast paced thriller that is guaranteed to shock me I grab a Caroline Mitchell book. While I love her psychological thrillers I really am obsessed with her series and while I was sad when her trilogy ended late last year, I was thrilled to find out Truth and Lies is the first book in a brand new series, and let me tell you, it’s one hell of an introduction!

The premise of this is fascinating, you have Amy (great name 😜) who is a dedicated police officer who finds out her biological parents are notorious serial killers. She knew she was adopted, but she repressed all her memories of her life with her evil parents and when her mother comes back into her life she begins to slowly remember some harrowing events from her childhood. The past chapters were my favorite aspect, there were only a handful but to see what Amy had endured as a young girl was simultaneously heartbreaking and interesting. It was so crazy to think the daughter of two heinous killers was such an admirable officer of the law with strong values and morals, brings up the whole nature versus nurture conundrum which is always something to think about.

As always this was a fastidiously plotted police procedural that kept me guessing all the way until the end. I always say Mitchell’s books are fast reads and that’s because once you’re hooked you’re not eager to put it down until you find out the truth. I absolutely loved the final chapter, it sent chills down my spine and set the stage for the next book so perfectly.

Truth and Lies in three words: Gripping, Relentless and Clever.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.