Tag: books

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The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware- Book Review

I love Ruth Ware’s books. I have read many by her and have enjoyed all of them so far, and I had no doubt I would love this one as well. I loved the main character Rowan and really the entire story as a whole. It’s great a suspense story with a little paranormal activity mixed in. I was hooked from the beginning and I loved all the secrets that were involved in making this story so intriguing. I also loved how this book was written. It’s in the form of a letter from the main character, Rowan, to a leading lawyer. The letter is basically her telling him her story, from the beginning, in order to get him to defend her against a charge for a murder she didn’t commit. I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ because I loved the character and all the twists and turn in the story. Thank you to NetGalley, Scout Books, and Gallery books for the ARC. This book will be published August 6th and you will want to add it to your tbr list for sure!

Synopsis:

When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family. What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder. Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant. It was everything. She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.

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All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda- Book Review

I have been seeing Megan Miranda books everywhere, so I thought I would read one. I picked up All the Missing Girls at a second-hand book store for $4 (what a steal?), and I dove right in. Through the first few chapters I was a little lost because I didn’t realize the story is told backwards. Once I figured that out, I was able to really get into the book. The middle and ending were fast-paced and kept me on edge until I finished it. There were so many twist and turns and so many secrets. I really enjoyed this book. Since I was a little lost during the first part of the book, I rated it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The ending made this book and it won’t be the last I read by Megan Miranda.

Synopsis:

Like the spellbinding psychological suspense in The Girl on the Train and Luckiest Girl Alive, Megan Miranda’s novel is a nail-biting, breathtaking story about the disappearances of two young women—a decade apart—told in reverse. It’s been ten years since Nicolette Farrell left her rural hometown after her best friend, Corinne, disappeared from Cooley Ridge without a trace. Back again to tie up loose ends and care for her ailing father, Nic is soon plunged into a shocking drama that reawakens Corinne’s case and breaks open old wounds long since stitched. The decade-old investigation focused on Nic, her brother Daniel, boyfriend Tyler, and Corinne’s boyfriend Jackson. Since then, only Nic has left Cooley Ridge. Daniel and his wife, Laura, are expecting a baby; Jackson works at the town bar; and Tyler is dating Annaleise Carter, Nic’s younger neighbor and the group’s alibi the night Corinne disappeared. Then, within days of Nic’s return, Annaleise goes missing.

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Never Tell by Lisa Gardner- Book Review

I received this book to read and review from NetGalley and Dutton. I didn’t realize until after I’d finished it that it’s actually the second book in the D.D. Warren and Flora Dane series, but I still really enjoyed it. I was able to read and enjoy it without reading the first book in the series. I really liked Flora Dane’s character. She is a hard-ass, but given what she went through (more detailed in the first book), she has every reason to be. There were lots of twist and turns and a shock at the ending. This story mainly revolves about a character named Evie Carter who has found her husband dead. Secrets are exposed about her husband that she could never have imagined. She is also haunted by the shooting and death of her father, which is still unsolved. I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I would probably have enjoyed it more if I had read the first book before so that’s on me. I just finished the first book so that review will be coming soon.

Synopsis:

A man is dead, shot three times in his home office. But his computer has been shot twelve times, and when the cops arrive, his pregnant wife is holding the gun. D.D. Warren arrives on the scene and recognizes the woman–Evie Carter–from a case many years back. Evie’s father was killed in a shooting that was ruled an accident. But for D.D., two coincidental murders is too many.  Flora Dane sees the murder of Conrad Carter on the TV news and immediately knows his face. She remembers a night when she was still a victim–a hostage–and her captor knew this man. Overcome with guilt that she never tracked him down, Flora is now determined to learn the truth of Conrad’s murder.  But D.D. and Flora are about to discover that in this case the truth is a devilishly elusive thing. As layer by layer they peel away the half-truths and outright lies, they wonder: How many secrets can one family have?

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Little Darlings by Melanie Golding- Book Review

The best way to describe this book would be creepy and haunting- it’s definitely one to read with a nightlight on. I read it a few times in the dark and creeped myself out a little. This book did a great job of incorporating a dark fairy tale along with the story, and I think that’s what madeit so intriguing. I really liked the main character Lauren, who is a new mom to twin boys and who lives in fear of something happening to them. She sees a vision of a creepy woman wanting to swap her twins with hers, but there is something not quite right with the fake twins. Lauren has to do the unthinkable, which is why it was so hard for me to put this book down- I had to know what was to come. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me the ARC of this book to read and review. I also just found out that this book will be made in a movie oh so soon! I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I really enjoyed it, but there were a few main characters who got on my nerves, and I felt that they sometimes took away from what was going on.

Synopsis:

Everyone says Lauren Tranter is exhausted, that she needs rest. And they’re right; with newborn twins, Morgan and Riley, she’s never been more tired in her life. But she knows what she saw: that night, in her hospital room, a woman tried to take her babies and replace them with her own…creatures. Yet when the police arrived, they saw no one. Everyone, from her doctor to her husband, thinks she’s imagining things. A month passes. And one bright summer morning, the babies disappear from Lauren’s side in a park. But when they’re found, something is different about them. The infants look like Morgan and Riley—to everyone else. But to Lauren, something is off. As everyone around her celebrates their return, Lauren begins to scream, These are not my babies. Determined to bring her true infant sons home, Lauren will risk the unthinkable. But if she’s wrong about what she saw…she’ll be making the biggest mistake of her life.


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As many books as I have read, I have had this thought more times than I can count. Here are some of my top examples:

1. When Louis Creed decides to bury Gage at the MicMac burial ground.

2. When Harry steps right into Voldemort’s trap by rushing to The Ministry of Magic to save Sirius.

3. When Elizabeth Bennett falls for all of Mr. Wickham’s bullshit.

What do you feel is the dumbest decision a character has ever made in a book?

Found this quote on Pinterest

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A Few of My Favorite Books

My 35th birthday was just a few days ago, so since it’s still my birthday month I thought I would share a few of my favorite books! I loved each of these books for different reasons. Some are in the same genre of suspense/thriller but they are all easy going and beautifully written stories.

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The First Mistake by Sandie Jones- Book Review

I was sent this book by Minotaur Books and St. Marin’s Press before this book was published and just want to say thank you! This was the first book I’ve read by Sandie Jones and it definitely won’t be my last- I loved it. From page one to the last page, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters and the story. The ending was a complete shocker and mind blowing. I had to re-read the last chapter just to make sure that what I read was right. The main character Alice is relatable and easy to like. She has a normal life, so the thinks, and is working to move past the grief of losing her first husband. While her friend, Beth, is single and raising her daughter alone, there is something that draws them together and the secret is perfect. I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Synopsis:

THE WIFE: For Alice, life has never been better. With her second husband, she has a successful business, two children, and a beautiful house. HER HUSBAND: Alice knows that life could have been different if her first husband had lived, but Nathan’s arrival into her life gave her back the happiness she craved. HER BEST FRIEND: Through the ups and downs of life, from celebratory nights out to comforting each other through loss, Alice knows that with her best friend Beth by her side, they can survive anything together. So when Nathan starts acting strangely, Alice turns to Beth for help. But soon, Alice begins to wonder whether her trust has been misplaced . . .


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The Last Time I Saw You by Liv Constantine- Book Review

I was so happy to receive this book from Harper Books before it was published. I loved Liv Constantine’s first book The Last Mrs. Parrish, so I couldn’t wait to read another book by her (them really, since the books are co-authored by sisters who write under the name Liv Constantine). I dove right into this book with out skipping a beat. It had a lot of twist and turns. I was continuously questioning different characters and their roles in the story. While I enjoyed this book, it didn’t compare to The Last Mrs. Parrish. The ending was very interesting and I definitely wouldn’t have guessed it, but I felt as though it was a little extreme. I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️. It had a quick pace held throughout, but the ending had me wishing it had turned out differently.

Synopsis:

Dr. Kate English has it all. Not only is she the heiress to a large fortune; she has a gorgeous husband and daughter, a high-flying career, and a beautiful home anyone would envy. That evening, Kate’s grief turns to horror when she receives an anonymous text: You think you’re sad now, just wait. By the time I’m finished with you, you’ll wish you had been buried today. More than ever, Kate needs her old friend’s help. Once Blaire decides to take the investigation into her own hands, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems in Baltimore high society. As infidelity, lies, and betrayals come to light, and tensions rise to a boiling point, she begins to alienate Kate’s friends and relatives with her relentless, accusatory questions, as she tries to find Lily’s killer. The murderer could be anyone—friend, neighbor, loved one. But whoever it is, it’s clear that Kate is next on their list. . .

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling

I love a good series and one of my favorites of all time is of course the Harry Potter series. While I enjoyed the whole series and all the magic involved, my favorite book in the series is The Order of the Phoenix. I feel like this was a turning point in the stories where it turned a little darker and the characters began to have more depth. I know, I know, Professor Umbridge is the worst (worse than Voldemort even), but without this book we wouldn’t be able to see how corrupt the Ministry of Magic truly was orA how horrid someone can look wearing all pink. That being said, the ending is what I loved about the book. I don’t want to give anything away if you haven’t read this series but an entertaining battle between teenagers who are still learning what they can do with magic and grown ass men was super entertaining. What’s your favorite Harry Potter book in the series?

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid- Book Review

I had seen this book everywhere and everyone was giving it lots of great reviews so I was definitely intrigued. But sometimes a book being reviewed so well gets me nervous that I may not like it. Fortunately, I was worried over nothing, because there is no doubt that this book met the expectations I had because of all the great reviews. Evelyn is irresistible in every way. She’s bold, beautiful and gives her opinion freely which is why I loved her character. I couldn’t wait to find out more and more about the story of Evelyn Hugo. This book dives into the many stories of Evelyn’s life and relationships plus a secret that she has held closely for decades. Also, since June is pride month I encourage you to read this book now. You won’t regret it! This is one of my favorite reads this year and it’s definitely a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!

Synopsis:

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.