Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 10, 2018

Publisher: HQN

Blurb:

Life is meant to be savored, but that’s not easy with no family, limited prospects and a past you’d rather not talk about. Still, Callie Smith doesn’t know how to feel when she discovers she has a brother and a sister–Malcolm, who grew up with affection, wealth and privilege, and Keira, a streetwise twelve-year-old.

Callie doesn’t love being alone, but at least it’s safe. Despite her trepidation, she moves into the grand family home with her siblings and grandfather on the shores of Lake Washington, hoping just maybe this will be the start of a whole new life.

But starting over can be messy. Callie and Keira fit in with each other, but not with their posh new lifestyle, leaving Malcolm feeling like the odd man out in his own home. He was clever enough to turn a sleepy Seattle mail-order food catalog into an online gourmet powerhouse, yet he can’t figure out how to help his new sisters feel secure. Becoming a family will take patience, humor, a little bit of wine and a whole lot of love.

But love isn’t Malcolm’s strong suit… until a beautiful barista teaches him that an open heart, like the family table, can always make room for more.

Review:

I love the idea behind this story, I can’t imagine finding out I had not one, but two half siblings as an adult. How hard would it be to form a familial bond later in life? Difficult I’m quite sure, especially when every one of the siblings comes from a completely different background. Malcolm is the oldest and moved to his grandfathers home as a teenager, Keira was discovered when she was twelve and Callie as a woman in her twenties. Each age would present a new set of challenges and many are explored throughout this book.

The handful of Susan Mallery books that I’ve read in the past have leaned to the contemporary romance genre but this one definitely fits better under women’s fiction. There are bits and pieces of developing romances, even some spicy, sexy scenes, but the exploration of complex family dynamics is really the heart of this novel. Not only are the Carlesso family’s relationships with each other complex, their own individual personalities are also extremely complicated. I was invested in each of them right away and enjoyed watching them grow and blossom throughout the book.

This had the perfect blend of lightness and depth, plenty of heart and humor but also intrigue and even a light mystery too. It’s full of relatable and well drawn characters and written in an easy, fluid way. If you’re already a fan of Mallery you’ll love this and if you haven’t read her before this is the perfect place to start.

When We Found Home in three words: Heartwarming, Engaging and Relatable.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 10, 2018

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

In the thrilling sequel to The Fourth Monkey, a new serial killer stalks the streets of Chicago, while Detective Porter delves deeper into the dark past of the Four Monkey Killer.

Detective Porter and the team have been pulled from the hunt for Anson Bishop, the Four Monkey Killer, by the feds. When the body of a young girl is found beneath the frozen waters of Jackson Park Lagoon, she is quickly identified as Ella Reynolds, missing three weeks. But how did she get there? The lagoon froze months earlier. More baffling? She’s found wearing the clothes of another girl, missing less than two days. While the detectives of Chicago Metro try to make sense of the quickly developing case, Porter secretly continues his pursuit of 4MK, knowing the best way to find Bishop is to track down his mother. When the captain finds out about Porter’s activities, he’s suspended, leaving his partners Clair and Nash to continue the search for the new killer alone.

Obsessed with catching Bishop, Porter follows a single grainy photograph from Chicago to the streets of New Orleans and stumbles into a world darker than he could have possibly imagined, where he quickly realizes that the only place more frightening than the mind of a serial killer is the mind of the mother from which he came.

Review:

You may remember me raving about the first book in this series, The Fourth Monkey last summer, it was one of my favorite reads of the year, so I mentioned it several times. If you didn’t take my solid advice and snatch a copy for yourself last year then go grab one now and then come back to this review when you’re done!

This picks up shortly after the first book ends and while the bulk of the story is told from Porter’s perspective, there are also several other important points of view as well that provided a birds eye view that really enriched my reading experience. The pacing of this is once again fast and furious and never let up for a second. It’s one of those books that grabs ahold of you tightly from page one and just pulls you in tighter as the story progresses. Gripping is the first word that comes to mind but I’m not even sure that’s enough of an explanation as to just how very compelling Barker’s books are.

The style of this is daring, there’s an unflinching quality where Barker is not afraid to get nitty gritty, he holds absolutely nothing back and keeps you on the very edge of your seat wondering what in the hell will happen next. While many questions that were left unanswered in the first book are addressed, this did end on a pretty big cliffhanger, when can I get my hands on book three Mr. Barker?! I’m dying over here, SO AMAZING! Recommended for fans of serial killer thrillers written by an incredibly talented author who writes one hell of a messed up and thrilling story.

The Fifth to Die in three words: Bold, Dark and Engrossing.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 3, 2018

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

Award-winning photographer Ian Collins made only one mistake in life, but it cost his mother her freedom and destroyed their family, leaving Ian to practically raise himself. For years he’s been estranged from his father, and his mother has lived off the grid. For just as long, he has searched for her.

Now, Ian seemingly has it all—national recognition for his photographs; his loving wife, Aimee; and their adoring daughter, Caty. Only two things elude him: a feature in National Geographic and finding his mother. When the prized magazine offers him his dream project on the same day that Aimee’s ex-fiancé, James, returns bearing a message for Ian but putting a strain on his marriage, Ian must make a choice: chase after a coveted assignment or reconnect with a mysterious woman who might hold the key to putting his past to rest. But the stakes are high, because Ian could lose the one thing he holds most dear: his family.

Review:

Before I get into my thoughts I want to warn you guys that if you’re planning on reading this series and haven’t yet, don’t read any further because there will definitely be things that spoil the first two books. Everything We Keep is the first book and Everything We Left Behind is the second, Everything We Give is the third and final installment and I can highly recommend this series, it is such a blend of genres that it will appeal to a variety of readers. There’s a mystery, some romance and plenty of family drama all woven together in a seamless way.

This book is Ian’s story and I couldn’t be happier that we finally get to see his point of view. Of course you hear a little from Aimee which is always a treat, I’ve adored her since the first book, but this is truly Ian’s side of the story and it’s engrossing to say the least. Getting to hear about his past, especially his early childhood was fascinating and utterly heartbreaking, and it becomes clear that the devastating things he experienced as a young boy shaped him into the man he is now. As always, Lonsdale has crafted another complex character that I can root for and I was behind Ian one hundred percent, he had so many endearing qualities, I can’t say enough about how much I love his character.

This was a bittersweet ending to an amazing series, I’m so sad to say goodbye to these characters that I’ve grown to love over the past two years. I’m really satisfied with how things wrapped up though and I feel like things ended in the best possible way. A very solid end to one of my favorite women’s fiction series from an author I adore, I absolutely love Lonsdale’s writing style, she makes reading effortless and she’s so talented.

Everything We Give in three words: Emotional, Bittersweet and Surprising.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 17, 2018

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Family ties so strong you can’t escape…

Mary Olivia Pentecost, known as Mop, was born into one of the wealthiest families in the country—and one of the most guarded. Now, two years after her mother’s mysterious death, Mop is seeking closure on the disquieting tragedy by returning to the New England seaside estate of her cloistered Aunty Liv—once her closest relative and confidante.

But behind the walls of the isolated estate, the shadows of the past are darker than Mop imagined. The puzzles of the family history are not to be shared, but unearthed. With each revelation comes a new, foreboding threat—and for Mop, the grave suspicion that to discover Aunty Liv’s secrets is to become a prisoner of them.

How well do we know the people we love? How well do we want to know them? The answers are as twisted as a tangle of vines in this throat-clutching novel of psychological suspense.

Review:

If you’re craving a super dark and highly compelling read to binge on this summer, look no further because In the Vines has all of that and much more. This was a creepy gothic read that bordered on horror at some points, it sure as hell scared me half to death and you guys know how much I love that!

This is told alternately from Mop’s point of view and her Aunty Liv’s and it does jump around time wise, but everything is clearly labeled and easy to follow. Mop was a great character, but what does it say about me that I loved the mentally unstable and totally unhinged Aunty so much? (No need to answer that one 😜) Following her down a rabbit hole full of dark secrets and bat shit crazy musings was the most fun I’ve had in awhile, Kirk is such an outstanding writer that seeing Aunty’s stream of consciousness felt incredibly authentic, a true glimpse into the mind of someone living in total hysteria and paranoia.

Besides the fabulous characterization the level of detail in Kirk’s writing is truly amazing. Her prose is so rich and packed full of meticulously detailed descriptions that this is one book I would recommend that you savor. The atmosphere she created of a seaside New England mansion that’s the center of several family tragedies and horrifying secrets was vividly drawn and extremely creepy. I could wax poetic for ages about how much I enjoyed her writing style, but I won’t bore you and will just finish by saying read the damn book, SO GOOD!

In the Vines in three words: Immersive, Rich and Menacing.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 10, 2018

Publisher: Dutton

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Two Truths and a Lie. The girls played it all the time in their tiny cabin at Camp Nightingale. Vivian, Natalie, Allison, and first-time camper Emma Davis, the youngest of the group. The games ended when Emma sleepily watched the others sneak out of the cabin in the dead of night. The last she–or anyone–saw of them was Vivian closing the cabin door behind her, hushing Emma with a finger pressed to her lips.

Now a rising star in the New York art scene, Emma turns her past into paintings–massive canvases filled with dark leaves and gnarled branches that cover ghostly shapes in white dresses. The paintings catch the attention of Francesca Harris-White, the socialite and wealthy owner of Camp Nightingale. When Francesca implores her to return to the newly reopened camp as a painting instructor, Emma sees an opportunity to try to find out what really happened to her friends.

Yet it’s immediately clear that all is not right at Camp Nightingale. Already haunted by memories from fifteen years ago, Emma discovers a security camera pointed directly at her cabin, mounting mistrust from Francesca and, most disturbing of all, cryptic clues Vivian left behind about the camp’s twisted origins. As she digs deeper, Emma finds herself sorting through lies from the past while facing threats from both man and nature in the present.

And the closer she gets to the truth about Camp Nightingale, the more she realizes it may come at a deadly price.

Review:

Last summer I had the pleasure of reading Final Girls, I absolutely loved it’s campy vibe and horror movie like situations and scenes, and it’s tense thrilling premise. I’ve been so anxious to get started on my copy of The Last Time I Lied but I was a tiny little bit apprehensive, what if this wasn’t quite as good? It does happen sometimes unfortunately, but I have to say I was once again impressed with Sager and am definitely a firm fan.

This definitely had some similarities to FG, another amazing atmosphere that’s on the campy side (and no that’s not a pun since it’s set in a summer camp haha) an old mystery that wasn’t solved and a plot that was compelling. What’s different is that this is much less gory and graphic, it’s still creepy but it doesn’t rely on slasher type murders but rather paranoia and that creepy feeling of being watched that worked so well for me.

I have to admit that I wasn’t immediately drawn in to this, not fully invested at initially. However, once I was hooked I was alllll in! This flips from present day as Emma heads back to Camp Nightingale and fifteen years ago during her first time there. I was initially more interested in the past timeline than the present which I think was part of my issue because those chapters were spaced out and it was mainly told in the present day. BUT THEN. Something changes and it was one of those moments where I had to reread just to clarify. Or maybe reread four times like my friend Chelsea at The Suspense is Thrilling Mebut who’s counting? Excellent execution and very well played, several things happened in the last half of the book that I in no way ever saw coming and I was knocked on my ass, some real stunners! You guys know how picky I am about endings and this one was good, satisfying as hell, I thunk Sager has another smash hit on his hands.

The Last Time I Lied in three words: Eerie, Intricate and Deceptive.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: July 10, 2018

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

When Michael Frazier’s ex-wife, Erica, shows up on his doorstep pleading for help, she drops a bombshell that threatens to rip his family apart: Erica’s nine-year-old daughter is missing–and Michael is the father. Unable to quickly determine if Erica is telling the truth, and unwilling to leave the little girl’s fate to chance, Michael has no choice but to follow the elusive trail of the child he has always wanted and never knew he had.

But finding Felicity comes at a price–the closer Michael gets to the truth, the further into jeopardy his marriage falls and the faster his family begins to unravel. As lies that span a decade bubble to the surface and the window for Felicity’s safe return closes, Michael will have just a few short days to decide who can be trusted and who is hiding the truth.

Review:

Wow. To say I was blown away, satisfied and completely engrossed in this one would be a huge understatement, this book totally consumed me. The blurb is enticing enough but trust me my friends, it does not even come close to conveying just what a twisty, wild ride Somebody’s Daughter is. I know I say this every summer when Mr. Bell releases a new novel, but I’m saying it again anyway, this is my favorite of his books to date and his best yet.

Bell is the master of taking ordinary people and thrusting them into outrageous yet wholly believable situations. Michael is happily married to Angela, so when Erica shows up unexpectedly one night and drops a bomb, he’s shook. The revelation is the first of countless shocking announcements, I swear this one was so surprising I truly never knew what would happen next.

The pacing of this was relentless, short chapters, tons of mini cliffhangers and a super intense plot that made this unputdownable. I could go on and on about how much I loved this one, but I’ll end by urging you to read this, it’s outstanding.

Somebody’s Daughter in three words: Shocking, Compulsive and Quick.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: June 19, 2018

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

For years, unbeknownst to his wife and teenage daughter, Martin Reese has been illegally buying police files on serial killers and obsessively studying them, using them as guides to find the missing bodies of victims. He doesn’t take any souvenirs, just photos that he stores in an old laptop, and then he turns in the results anonymously. Martin sees his work as a public service, a righting of wrongs.

Detective Sandra Whittal sees the situation differently. On a meteoric rise in police ranks due to her case‑closing efficiency, Whittal is suspicious of the mysterious source she calls the Finder, especially since he keeps leading the police right to the bodies. Even if he isn’t the one leaving bodies behind, how can she be sure he won’t start soon?

On his latest dig, Martin searches for the first kill of Jason Shurn, the early 1990s murderer who may have been responsible for the disappearance of his wife’s sister. But when he arrives at the site, he finds more than just bones. There’s a freshly killed body—a young and missing Seattle woman—lying among remains that were left there decades ago. Someone else knew where Jason Shurn left the corpses of his victims…and that someone isn’t happy that Martin has been going around digging up his work. And when a crooked cop with a tenuous tie to Martin vanishes, Whittal begins to zero in on the Finder.

Hunted by a real killer and by Whittal, Martin realizes that in order to escape, he may have to go deeper into the killer’s dark world than he ever thought…

Review:

As much as I’m a serial killer thriller junkie I’m always on the lookout for a unique twist on the genre and this one was definitely original. Sure, you have a cop tracking down a murderer and the killer himself, but the addition of Martin, who isn’t a killer but instead a bizarre combination of vigilante and everyday family man. He hunts the burial sites of victims, he doesn’t search for women themselves and he definitely doesn’t hurt them. A strange little hobby to say the least, but one that makes for a very interesting premise.

Martin was the sort of highly complex character that I love, you never quite know what to make of him. Is he really just a normal husband and father with an odd hobby? Or does he have some darkness inside himself, a desire to have a close brush with death? If kept me on my toes, and Whittal the detective investigating the case was another character I really enjoyed.

This is definitely a slow burn, there is plenty of simmering tension but it does require some patience, but for me, the wait was worth it. Ripley is an extremely gifted writer, his prose had a subtle intensity and feel of sophistication that worked so well for me. Recommended for those wanting a read that takes time to reveal its hand and also those who like a thriller that delves into a literary type of read.

Find You In the Dark in three words: Subtle, Original and Fluent.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: June 26, 2018

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment but the resulting collision was enough to rob her not only of her beloved daughter but ultimately of her marriage, family, and friends—and thanks to the nonstop media coverage, even her privacy. Now she lives in Vermont under the name Maggie Reid, in a small house with her cats and dog. She’s thankful for the new friends she’s made—though she can’t risk telling them too much. And she takes satisfaction in working as a makeup artist at the luxurious local spa, helping clients hide the visible outward signs of their weariness, illnesses, and injuries. Covering up scars is a skill she has mastered.

Her only goal is to stay under the radar and make it through her remaining probation. But she isn’t the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friend’s teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, accused of hacking a powerful man’s Twitter account, Maggie is torn between pulling away and protecting herself—or stepping into the glare to be at their side. As the stunning truth behind their case is slowly revealed, Maggie’s own carefully constructed story begins to unravel as well. She knows all too well that what we need from each other in this difficult world is comfort. But to provide it, sometimes we need to travel far outside our comfort zones.

Before and Again is a story of the relationships we find ourselves in—mothers and daughters, spouses and siblings, true companions and fair-weather friends—and what kind of sacrifices we are or aren’t willing to make to sustain them through good times and bad.

Review:

Before and Again was my first Barbara Delinsky book so I really wasn’t sure what to expect, when a book is labeled as women’s fiction it’s hard to know if it’ll be on the light, funny side or if it’ll be more serious and emotional. This one definitely fell on the emotional side, though it wasn’t too heavy, more thought provoking than depressing and definitely hopeful in the end.

Maggie had one of those life changing moments when she was in an accident, her daughter passed away and her marriage crumbled. Fast forward five years and she’s finally settled into a very different life from her old one, but if she’s not exactly happy she has found a small bit of peace in Vermont. Maggie as a character was highly complex with a host of issues and traumas and Delinsky did a great job of exploring her issues in a deep way. The growth and discovery she experiences throughout the book is outstanding and I was very empathetic to her, I can’t even imagine what she went through after her accident.

Besides Maggie there is a colorful cast of supporting characters that added so much life and vitality to the story, I really enjoyed them all. This read like a family saga with plenty of drama and a vast range of emotions and it took me on my own emotional roller coaster. If a book can make me feel something I’m happy and this one made me happy, angry, reflective and sad among many others. Recommended for a book club but also for anyone looking for a women’s fiction read that has tons of emotional depth.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Before and Again in three words: Evocative, Deep and Moving.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: June 26, 2018

Publisher: Ballantine

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

Nina Browning is living the good life after marrying into Nashville’s elite. More recently, her husband made a fortune selling his tech business, and their adored son has been accepted to Princeton. Yet sometimes the middle-class small-town girl in Nina wonders if she’s strayed from the person she once was.

Tom Volpe is a single dad working multiple jobs while struggling to raise his headstrong daughter, Lyla. His road has been lonely, long, and hard, but he finally starts to relax after Lyla earns a scholarship to Windsor Academy, Nashville’s most prestigious private school.

Amid so much wealth and privilege, Lyla doesn’t always fit in—and her overprotective father doesn’t help—but in most ways, she’s a typical teenage girl, happy and thriving.

Then, one photograph, snapped in a drunken moment at a party, changes everything. As the image spreads like wildfire, the Windsor community is instantly polarized, buzzing with controversy and assigning blame.

At the heart of the lies and scandal, Tom, Nina, and Lyla are forced together—all questioning their closest relationships, asking themselves who they really are, and searching for the courage to live a life of true meaning.

Review:

I’m a huge fan of Emily Giffin, when she has a new book out I don’t hesitate to add to my TBR without reading the description, I always know I’ll like whatever she releases. While Something Borrowed and Something Blue will always be my firm favorites, AWEW has now landed itself a spot next to them, this was insanely good you guys!

This is told from several perspectives; Nina mother of Finch who is accused of snapping a wildly inappropriate picture of another narrator, Lyla and then you also hear from her father, Tom. I always admire an author who can not only write about timely, important issues in a relatable manner, but when they can give each character a strong and distinct voice, I’m seriously impressed. In a culture where sexual assault/harassment victims are banding together to be heard, the plot of this one could not be more relevant. I related the most to Nina, a mother who is just doing her best each and every single day who finds out that her best still may have not been enough to teach her son how to be the type of man she can be proud of.

Book clubs should go right ahead and make this your next choice, the discussion topics are endless and I would venture to guess that anyone could find at least one aspect they could relate to. Giffin explores parenthood, marriage, moral choices and how said choices can impact your life in extreme ways and so, so much more. This had a slightly darker edge than her previous work, but for me it made it all the better.

All We Ever Wanted in three words: Relevant, Thoughtful and Absorbing.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: June 19, 2018

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Genre: Dystopian

Blurb:

Find her. You need to keep looking, no matter what. I’m afraid of what might’ve happened to her. You be afraid too.

A young Marine, Carter Quinn, comes home from war to his fractured family, in a near-future America in which water is artificially engineered and technology is startlingly embedded in people’s everyday lives. At the same time, a fertility crisis has terrifying implications for women, including Carter’s two beloved sisters, Fred and Gardner. Fred, accomplished but impetuous, the eldest sibling, is naturally pregnant—a rare and miraculous event that puts her independence in jeopardy. And Gardner, the idealistic younger sister who lived for her job as a Nurse Completionist, has mysteriously vanished, after months of disturbing behaviour.

Carter’s efforts to find Gard (and stay on Fred’s good side) keep leading him back home to their father, a veteran of a decades-long war just like Carter himself, who may be concealing a painful truth that could save or condemn them all.

Review:

Dystopian fiction can be a tricky genre for me, it either works incredibly well or it just flat out doesn’t most of the time and The Completionist sounded like it would be one that worked well for me. On the whole it was excellent and there were many aspects that I enjoyed, but I had enough issues that I’m torn, I’m not even sure if I actually liked it or not, so bear with me while I try to explain my thoughts.

I’m gonna expand on the blurb just a bit because it doesn’t give enough detail for once. Carter has just returned home after being in the war, there is a huge water shortage and now even engineered H2.0 is not readily available unless you have money. No showers, no running taps period and a fertility crisis is rampant as well. Women only usually get pregnant by using Insemnia, again for the wealthy but his sister, Fred gets pregnant the old fashioned way and is considered a miracle. They live in New Chicago and the world building was pretty great, the premise was interesting and I loved both Fred and Carter’s characters. So what went wrong….

I can be pretty picky about endings of books, they can truly make or break it for me. I’ve bumped books up an entire star rating based on an amazing ending and I’ve also bumped them way down for a weak ending and if I’m being brutally honest this had one of the most disappointing endings I’ve encountered in a long time. Everything was great, I was predicting a solid 4 star read, the mystery surrounding Gard was intriguing and the writing was top notch. Then the book just ended. Zero resolution and way too many questions left unanswered for me, it irritated me enough to bump my rating way down. If there was a planned sequel I guess I wouldn’t be as annoyed, but I can’t get past all that time and being invested in the story to leave with no clear answers.

Overall rating: 2.5/5

Thanks to the publisher and Booksparks for my review copy.