Blagica Jankuloska

Enjoyable

If you know me then you know that my short list of favorite hobbies includes reading, writing, movies and music. I have this habit of picking up memoirs from celebrates just to break up my thrillers and gore. I have to say listening to Jessica read the book herself made this much more enjoyable for me as the reader.
She could have taken the easy road, but she chose honesty. The crappy thing about honesty is it's not easy to do & it's almost never pretty. She could have just made Hollywood sound glamorous and call it a day. When someone is ready to tear back those layers and say here, this is me, this is what I've been through, you know they have come to terms with themselves.... that's priceless. It doesn't mean that they have the perfect life or that they figured out life just means they are ready to put out the best versions of themself and to let you know that celebrates are humans too.

I am not sure what compelled me to buy this book. To be fair I am not the biggest Jessica Simpson fan. I listened to her music I did watch Newly Weds with her and Nick but I can't say I had to have it. This book however impressed me. It was real and raw and it showed that she is not the same girl she was when she first started. After reading it I have much more respect for her she seems to be owning her mistakes and living her best life. I wish her family would have been more supportive of what she wanted when she first started because I don't think her early years were pleasant. I also feel that maybe she got the raw end of the deal with her divorce. Over all this was a solid three star read. If you are looking for a memoir and like a celebrity one I would recommend this one.

Not Bad for My First Mafia Romance

“Giulia encompassed that word “love,” that feeling, in every action, every smile, every fiber of her being.”

She is the reason I think I stuck with the book because she was super sweet that I needed to see the end.
When it comes to mafia romances, I heard nobody does quite like this author. So when I saw that I could listen to this on Scribd and made it one of the last few listens of 2020 I was thrilled. It took me lots longer than it should have and I will admit that I am hoping 2021 is better for my reading then this year has been. Here is to hoping.

One of the things that made this story enjoyable was Cassio and Giulia. The chemistry and sexual tension between them throughout this book were so captivating and steamy. I also loved the banter and dynamic between these characters. Giulia was such a feisty, strong, and lovable heroine that I wish existed in more mafia romances. It was so refreshing to come across a heroine like her and it just made me love this book even more. In addition, I loved the moments between Giulia and Cassio's children. Those scenes were always so entertaining and heartwarming. Just seeing the development of her relationship with the children just tugged at my heartstrings.

I will for sure be picking up more Cora Reilly books and more mafia romances. Take it from me, Sweet Temptation is one romance you don't want miss. It has the perfect blend of heart, intrigue, and steaminess. I cannot recommend it enough!

I was very late to this party with this imaginative story but the romantic in me loved it.
This is a genre-breaking book with elements of thriller, science fiction, New Adult, and even romance. Which may or may not be a good thing. A boy commits suicide, but does not die—he simply is transported to another location—sans clothing. He soon learns to use his ability to get out of difficult situations. Unfortunately, every time he does this, he loses some of his memories of his past. He names himself Aristotle and writes his own obituaries. Awesome concept, right? I at first could not wrap my head around this one but I managed to enjoy it. I also would love to be able to control my own fate like that.

As the story unfolds, he learns that he has a genetic abnormality that allows him to have this, an ability that some unscrupulous people—rich men who want their lineage to be perpetuated ad infinitum and scientists—want to harness his genetics.

Aristotle falls in love with Lilyanne who is a carrier of the same recessive genetic mutation. Aristotle dies one more time and loses Lilyanne. That was heart breaking and I almost stopped right there. My issue with this story is that suicide is romanticized and Aristotle is “addicted” to killing himself. He seems to have neither any particular emotional revulsion about repeatedly killing himself or significant psychological trauma from doing so. There are some sex scenes that really aren't X-rated, but also aren't in keeping with the rest of the story; they do, however, add to the New Adult genre.

Though there is a romance and Aristotle is billed as “the last romantic,” I didn't find him particularly romantic. His idea of romance seems to be stuck in the early adolescent phase. I do like the come of age feel to it and will actually read more from this author in the future just to see what imaginative story comes next.

So, I made it to my 80-book goal and I am so happy that this is my last book of the year. Sophie Sullivan you made me laugh out loud and made my sister think I have lost my mind with this read and for that I thank you. Have you ever felt like a book just gets you? Ten Rules for Faking It is a romcom with a great deal of substance along with the expected witty banter and funny situations, and it totally gets me.
What I loved was the banter between all the characters. The inner monologs that had me snorting while in bed reading and for the record, I want my own Stacey. I love the way that Everly tries to break her norms and get past her anxiety to find a better version of herself. Hello Chris awesome job for knowing when to say all the right things and to understand a girl. This book gave me all the feels. I loved the attraction, undeniable chemistry and slow-burn romance between radio producer Everly Dean and her station manager Chris Jansen. I will for sure accept this rose and read anything by Sophie Sullivan hands down. Now go read this book my best friend is already getting a copy.

Unlike many readers, I came to the book “Mindhunter” because I wanted to watch the Netflix series. The book is filled with actual cases Douglas assisted with, so if you are a fan of true crime, you will enjoy it. I was intrigued by the novel techniques Douglas used to capture killers. His profiles were often spot-on, but he was also a pioneer of using the media to draw out criminals, and he also created some effective interrogation tactics. Some of the cases Douglas describes are familiar to fans. Once again, I recommend the book to any true crime fan for the wealth of law enforcement information. I loved reading about how Douglas and his team solved these terrible crimes. However, “Mindhunter” flags whenever Douglas inserts too much of his personality–primarily his ego–into it. He constantly boasts about how busy and successful he was, how he flouted FBI conventions to get things done, how he singlehandedly developed the profiling wing, how his profiles were never wrong, even things as unnecessary to the story as how successful he was with women and how attractive his wife was. I suppose it takes a great deal of confidence to create profiles of unsubs and pass them off to other law enforcement personnel, convinced of their accuracy. Douglas at one point also veers from his profiles and starts giving the reader his opinions on capital punishment and ways to fix the amount of violent crime in the US. He is of course entitled to his beliefs, and he has a lot of direct experience to base them on, but they do not always have a place in this book. Douglas never shows us any adversity. Except for one case (Green River killer), he never mentions a profile that did not work. He even depicts his relationship with his wife as more successful now than ever, even though she divorced him. And he talks up his TV appearances and the fact he advised Thomas Harris (“Tom”) when Harris was writing books like “Silence of the Lambs.” We get it: Douglas is awesome. But he never seems to realize that his ego and opinions take a backseat to the gruesome killers in this book and how the killers were ultimately caught in the end. I enjoyed this and may pick up book two in this series but I did not love it.

Better then Temptation

Ivy Smoak is a new author to me. I have recently decided to do readathons to try and reach my reading goal and decided to finally finish book two since the series is on kindle unlimited. I will be continuing this series into 2021 for sure. I enjoyed picking up James and Penny's story and I am starting to like Penny lots and have more questions about James then I know what to do with. This installment in the series had it's ups and downs in true Penny and James fashion it was a very good read. I am not sure why I put it down. The love between the two characters and their developing relationship is captivating. I would like to point out that even though Penny ends up with James I do have a soft spot for Tyler as a character. Will he get his own books please and thank you that would be amazing. New to this author so I will not ask for too much.

This was more emotional and drama filled then the first book but it worked well. James has lots of secrets and she doesn't exactly trust him 100%. Isabella turns up the heat by leaking James and Penny's story to the press. The reader is left in a mess of emotions. Will James get it right will the ex-ruin things for them or will we get our happy ending. I personally can't wait to find out. I have had such a rough go with books lately that finishing everything I have started is my mission before the end of the year.

I just want to say this book was great but I had a dysfunctional moment with it. I couldn't get it to play on the kindle at all and then decided to spend some time on my phone and just listened. This is my first book by Louise Penny and this is book sixteen in the Chief Inspector Gamache series. I will say that this reads beautifully as a standalone. The Paris setting was amazing. I felt as if I were there, even though I never have been. I felt like I was walking the streets, seeing the statues and architecture, and eating the delicious-sounding food they were eating. Paris is definitely a major character in this book. Armand and his family are , of course, the main human characters. Some of the revelations are heart-breaking; and others, joyous.
The plot is labyrinthine with many twists and surprises and crosses and doubles crosses. It was an exciting ride.
It gave me Dan Brown Angels and Demons vibes and I loved the who done it aspect that the book inspires. I enjoyed the quiet and felt like things were wrapped up nice even though it left room for a book seventeen. I am for sure going to go backwards and read book one just to get a better love for the characters.

Thriller

I have said this time and time again this year that I am in such a slump and all these books are getting neglected because of it. This was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley and my apologize go out to them for my delay. Claire McGowan writes a thrilling thriller that is worth your time and energy. Six diverse couples living in a suburban area of London are looking forward to parenthood and sign up for a group for expectant parents. The couples don't have much in common, but agree to a reunion at the home of one of the couples a few weeks after the group's meetings have ended. The reunion has several awkward and tense moments and then tragedy strikes - someone at the barbecue has fallen to their death from an upstairs balcony. It appears to be an accident but one detective can tell the survivors from the party are hiding something and thinks she is looking at a case of murder.

This book has two main narrators. Jax Culville, one of the expectant mothers from the prenatal group, narrates much of the story. Jax is in her late thirties and is insecure about her relationship with her much younger boyfriend, as well as over past indiscretions. I do not agree with everything Jax does, but I liked her from the beginning. I sympathize with her because she wants to do the best she can and feels she is constantly coming up short. The other main narrator is DS Alison Hegarty who is investigating the death at the party. I like Alison, too. She is determined to find out the truth even though questioning all the new moms is difficult for her since she has been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant. She has a new work partner as well that she isn't sure about. I was slow to warm up to her partner, but by the end I really liked her and liked how they managed to wrap up the case and make a good team. I do hope that this is a series that fallows D.S Alison and we get more development.

“The Push” is one part procedural and one part domestic drama. What I loved is that I could sit down and finish this in one long sitting it was that good. I also enjoyed the fact that we were not given the name of the person who died at the party until the very end. I kind of figured it out who it was just by speeding through pages but the pacing and the guessing was very well done. If you are looking for a new author and love a good thriller this is the book for you. It is also a part of kindle unlimited if you have that as well check it out. Four star read I will be reading more of this in the future.

4.5

Phenomenal

Do you enjoy atmospheric ghost stories with a literary bent to them? Then you will not want to miss The Residence by Andrew Pyper's. Many of the reviews have said this is up to par for the author by this is my first read by him. I am thankful to NetGalley that this book was put on my raider. I have been doing readathons to try and get my self out of my reading slump and finished this at 1am. Even though my review is delayed with the publication I loved the spooky factor. I felt like this could be part of an episode of Supernatural and considering it is one of my favorites shows I am here for it for sure. The Residence is historical fiction, a fact I did not realize when I picked it up, and I thought the setting gave it a wonderful, Gothic sensibility. I requested this book on an impulse because I loved the concept and the cover. But this story is not only creepy and terrifying in places, but it is also quite sad. I loved this combination of terror and emotion when you add the lyrical writing style it is magical.

The story takes place in 1853 and follows the 14th President of the United States, Franklin Pierce and his wife Jane, and their terrifying experiences in the residence of the White House. The story opens with a personal tragedy. Right before the inauguration, Franklin, Jane, and their eleven-year-old son Bennie are traveling by train when the train goes off the rails and Bennie is instantly killed. Jane is destroyed, having already lost two other sons to disease and complications with childbirth, and she refuses to participate in her duties as First Lady. Instead of doing her duties she urges Franklin to get someone to fill in for her at the important events. Instead of trying to function and try to get better Jane spends her time in a room across the hall that was suppose to be Bennies room where she spends her time writing letters to her dead son.

She is so at a loss that she invites the Fox sisters to do a séance in order to communicate with Bennie. She gets so much more then she bargained for when the séance brings forth a demon who has been attached to her since childhood and is hell bent on bringing destruction to everyone it comes across. This was so creepy that it had me jumping at my own shadow. It has elements of the obvious ghosts as in Bennie, but it also has moving dolls that gave me Chuckie vibes. Both Franklin and Jane see ghosts of their dads and that adds to the sadness because Jane feels responsible for her father's death because of the close relationship with the demon she calls Sir.

The creepy atmosphere the sad circumstances that led to everything taking place makes this one of those reads that can really scare you. This is a very short book that packs a very big punch. I know I mentioned that this is a historical fiction and out side of a few mentions of Franklins leadership skills and democratic choices this is more of a spooky story meant to chill you to the bone. Not only do I recommend this to everyone who loves a good scare I recommend going back and reading more books by this author like I plan to. 4.5 stars a solid spooky read.

Rough Read
This was a rough read – gang rape, facial disfigurement, abuse at home and school. My heart went out to Jodie This is the first time that I had a hard time reading a book with these trigger warnings. I went through lots of bullying when I was younger so I guess that part of the story hit too close to home for me.

Zara Kaleel, a former lawyer, takes on Jodie's case. She is now working with abuse victims. While it seems that no one else believes Jodie, Zara does. Zara is also Muslim, as are the guys accused of raping Jodie. This creates a powerful subplot to the story – a Muslim prosecutor, a non-Muslim victim, and Muslim defendants. This leads to Zara being ostracized in her community. Zara in my opinion goes through a rough transformation herself which was also hard to read.

Surprisingly, I had a hard time getting into the book. I think it just tried to cover too much. Rape, abuse, religion, islamophobia, race. Perhaps fewer issues dealt with more thoroughly would have made it better. Just my opinion. While a good read just covered too much and didn't give everything enough time to breathe in my opinion. Now let's talk about the end.... Don't get me wrong we all love a good plot twist but when it comes as the last two sentences it leaves the reader confused and needing more answers. A solid three star read just rough from start to finish.

Loved it!

This has to be one of creepiest reads that I have read in 2020. I have many five star reads this year but I do not have many that are my favorites this book has made my short list. This came on my radar because of Netgalley so I want to thank everyone involved in me getting a copy of this book. While my review is late I actually did manage to finish this a day before the book came out. Again, my apologies. Now to tell you how much I enjoyed this book. This is my first book by this author but the things that stands out to me are a well-written story with characters that have depth and there is an interesting plot where the story line pulls the reader in and never looks back.

Monk Addison is a private investigator whose skin is covered with the tattooed faces of murder victims. He is moving to Pine Deep to be close to his friend tattoo-artist Patty Cakes. When tattoos start to fade on multiple people, their memories associated with those tattoos also start to fade. Who or what is causing this? Will they ever get their memories back?
Overall, this was a creepy suspenseful read. I loved the reaction it brought out in me and the uneasiness that I had during the entire read. I will for sure be looking for other reads by Jonathan Maberry. Thank you for introducing me to an awesome new author.

Strengthen Your Heart Bone

Stunning. Seriously, just a really beautiful, powerful romance. I had no idea what to expect going into this - and that's how I'd recommend everyone go into it - so the story unraveled in such an organic, mesmerizing way. From page one, you can tell that there's an intensity about the book that sets it apart from the rest; a heaviness that gives this love story such WEIGHT. And it truly is a love story. Our heroine goes on her own journey throughout the course of the book, but through it all, there's that one guy who makes an impact. It's one of the best books I've read all year, hands down, and the kind of story that you'll want to reread with fresh eyes as soon as you turn the last page. I can say for sure that this has made my favorites box this year. I just finished Layla by the same author and that was such a different experience.

I'm not going to go into a lot of detail about the plot on this one, because I think you should discover it as you read. There's an incredible build in intimacy, a slow burn romance with depth, and a mysterious quality to both our hero and the story as a whole. The book kicks off on a somber note and does have a heavy feel to much of it, but there is also so much wonder and that feeling you only get with young love. It's new adult romance with a 19-year-old heroine who is just starting to really live. She comes from a troubled background, with many, many triggers in her history, and they appear right away. I think that the triggers are needed to show depth of character and makes me love Beyah even more. As for Samson I felt him to be so genuine and so broken that you couldn't help but love them as a couple.

My favorite part about the book? It is so engaging yet makes you really think about love, yourself and the world around you and how people make the best of the life they are given. Told exclusively from the heroine's perspective, there are little breadcrumbs along the way that tell us more about the hero. These two seem so different on the surface, but the more they wade into the depths, the more commonalities they discover. At one point, I was so convinced that I knew where the story was heading... but I was completely wrong. And I love that. It kept me engrossed from start to finish, and I ended up devouring it in one sitting. Even though my review is days after I read it. That doesn't take away from how much I enjoyed it.

Hot for Teacher!

I absolutely this first installment. I have just finished book two tonight and did not realize that I had not done a review for book one so here we are. I do not understand why people give a bad review because a book ends on a cliffhanger. It is easy to see if a book is a standalone or in a series, either by the blurb or the reviews. Also, the author gives you the first book free so you can see if you like It or not. If you do, then, no brainer, buy the next book. You don't buy it if you don't. I happened to love this series so far. I do not even have to worry about buying it because the entire series from what I can tell is on Kindle Unlimited so that is a plus.

Teacher/student romances is one of my favorites when I read taboo, and Penny and James are dynamite together! Their chemistry is so palpable and the heat simmered off my Kindle! I think everyone has had a crush on a teacher at some time or another, so it is a fantasy come true to get to live it vicariously thru this couple. Yes, there is a cliffhanger. Yes, I borrowed the next book and have already finished it. I will also be reading the succeeding books! That is what a good story and author will get you to do! At least you do not have to wait on them. They are all available now!!! Here is to hopping James does not mess up royally and they stay together.

My best friend bought me audible for Christmas and she could not wait to give it to me so I have been digging for gems since I got it. This is one of those gems in the Plus Catalog. Lauren Tranter is the new mother of twin boys, Morgan, and Riley. She is overwhelmed, experiencing postpartum depression and if that was not enough, one of the nights while she is still at the hospital, a young woman with twins wants to exchange/take her babies. Lauren runs away and hides in the bathroom and calls the cops. Of course, no one can find the woman and her babies. They all think it was Lauren hallucinating. She is tired, she was given medications during delivery so the conclusion is that she was imaging the whole event. DS Jo Harper reviews the report the next morning and something about the event pushes her to meet Lauren and to further investigate it. Jo believes Lauren. She knows something happened to Lauren at the hospital. Sadly, her boss does not agree with her and using the police resources is not something he wants to agree on. Jo does not want to leave the case and she starts using her own free time to follow some leads. What I loved about this novel the most is the folklore details that the author infuses in this modern tale. Lauren quickly becomes an unreliable narrator and it adds so much more to the story.

Then the unthinkable happens her twins are missing and or stolen and Laurens fears come to life. The span of the children being gone is very short and the children are quickly found, still in the stroller, looking the same and unharmed but the new mom knows they are not her children. All and all this read is worth the time and energy and is very uniquely written.

P. I. Perfection
So, I have to say this book surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. Now do not get me wrong if you have read my reviews then you know I love mysteries so this is not a stretch for me but what is surprising is I read this in one sitting and can see myself going backwards and reading the books between one and seven. This novel starts with Rick waking up in a dark void. Rick was apparently shot in the face at the end of the last novel. The tissue around his optic nerves was damaged and swelled resulting in his blindness. What I loved about this novel is that Rick has a love interest and is not alone. In the first novel Yesterday's Echo's I felt so bad Rick because he was so crushed over his wife's death that he did not really have a love interest but more of a fling. While his girlfriend does split her time between La Jolla and Santa Barbra where she has her business, I felt that their connection was extremely genuine good job Mr. Coyle with that aspect.

The novel starts off with Rick getting a knock at the door from his P.I friend Moira and she asks for assistance on a case that she has been asked to work. Rick is extremely reluctant and even though his P. I. license is good for another year he is unsure if he wants to continue a job in this field. The only reason he agrees to go with Moira is because the case involves his old friend Turk. Moira needs Rick to be there for the initial meeting so that she can get a feel for if Turk is being truthful.

What unfolds after that initial meeting is a great story. Rick and Moira tail Turks girlfriend to see if she is cheating on him and a few days into their investigation the girlfriend is found dead and Turk is in the middle of it all. Along with finding out if Turk in fact killed his girlfriend what I loved about this novel is that Rick was able to find a purpose for himself. Another aspect that is beautifully well written is Rick's blindness and how it impacts the case. You can really tell that research went into all the details. Like I previously mentioned this is not a standalone novel there are clearly previous plot points weaved into this story but I never once felt lost or confused in the slightest all I felt is that I would enjoy the rest of the previous books. All and all a 4.5 read. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good cop read or a mystery.

When I got an email that I had received an arc of The Pearl I have to tell you that I felt like I had just received an early christmas gift. This series is one of those guilty pleasures that I truly look forward to. This is book three book one is The Red and book two is The Rose and while you do not have to read the two books to understand The Pearl, I highly recommend reading the first two books as well they are flawless. Now before I begin if erotica as a genre is not your speed then I would skip this one all together but if this is your jam like it is mine you are in for a fun ride. Recently widowed and the new owner of The Pearl, Lady Reagan Ferry is upholding the mystique and debauchery of the hotel. When a client runs up a sizable bill, Reagan's solution is to fetch Lord Arthur Godwick to reconcile his brother's debt and exact revenge on his family. Arthur is forced to be Lady Reagans sexual servant in order to wipe the slate clean for his brother. While Lady Reagan has no problem taking what she wants and taking pleasure from Arthur. He on the other hand has always felt shame for his desires. What I love with all of the books in this series is how Ms Reisz amazingly weaves poetry and knowledge of history, art and mythology beautifully with her erotica that it paints a beautiful picture the whole way through.

I will not give too much of the story away just because I think it is beautiful to read something like this blind with no opinions formed but I will say that the sensual and sexual scenes are hot yet tasteful if you like the genre. This one is full of lust, revenge, twists and turns that make your heart stop. It is also a world of submission and domination that keeps you completely riveted until the end. I thought it was so well done that I recommended it to two people who take part in the life style just to get their opinion I can't wait to see what they think. I have only read this series specifically by this author but after reading this book I will be going through more of the things she has written just to hold me over until the next one is written if there is another which I really hope there is. This book will definitely be making it into my favorite reads of 2020. If you are in the mood for something well written and different you will not be disappointed with this one. GO READ IT! Thank you to NetGalley and everyone involved in the process of me receiving an arc of this book. Also thank you to the author for writing a series that has without a doubt become one of my favorites

A Good Guy

I decided to read this book because I recently got an arc of Blind Vigil which comes out tomorrow and is book seven in the Cahill series. Sometimes when I get an arc of an author, I am unfamiliar with I will go ahead and purchase the first book to see how the character started and where it developed. I will say that if you are not a series type of person these books read as great standalones.
YESTERDAY'S ECHO is a great first novel. The author writes well and knows how to bring a reading audience in, mixing crime, mystery, action, revenge and a host of emotions into the pot to simmer and boil. He does not just drop hints to his mystery along the way, he grows them so the reader can pluck them up at the appropriate time. Rick Cahill is an engaging protagonist. If you prefer your heroes to be squeaky clean, he's probably not for you, but if you like your main characters to live with their flaws and take life on at their level best, then I suggest you read this book. It is character driven, but the plot is intricately woven, and will not let you down for the read. I am looking to see how the story develops. I am curious to see which characters remain in the story as I continue to finish book six and how it progresses all together. I will for sure be reading the books in between the first and the sixth. A very compelling read.

A Good Read
I have never picked up a Brandi Reeds books until this one and I am very happy that Netgalley has put her on my radar. I am a big fan of thrillers and this truly fits the bill. This is a good read and definitely one of those books you can finish in one sitting like I did.

In The Day I Disappeared, five-year-old Amy's older brother was supposed to be watching her. Instead he was outside fishing. However, when he came home later, Amy was missing. A little bit of time later little Amy's body is found drown and her brother never forgives himself.

Holly was kidnapped as a child at the age of five. She was returned months later essentially unharmed. While Holly remembers nothing, she had a wound on her forearm and a missing tooth. One of her church members was convicted of the crime but the more I continued turning pages I am not sure about it at all.

Twenty years later, Detective Jason contacts Holly. He believes Holly is the first in a string of abductions and that she is the only hope of finding Skyler the latest victim alive and well. Only one of the ten was found alive—Holly. Another was found dead. The fate of the others is unknown but presumed dead.

Holly tries to help Jason, by trying to remember details of her own abduction. But with her mother stuck in a coma in the hospital, her best friend's upcoming wedding, and her on-again-off-again relationship with her boyfriend, she already has a lot on her plate.

The Day I Disappeared is an immensely twisty tale combining a serial child abductor story with some intense family drama. Both Holly and her best friend, Kitten, struggle with their relationships with their parents. While in a coma, Holly's mother, Cecily, is also narrating part of the book. Which adds so much more dimension to the story I found myself enjoying the voice of Holly's mom very much. Be prepared to dislike many of the characters, my least favorite is the best friend once you read it you will know why. Never Holly though she goes above and beyond to try and figure these abductions out not only for the little girls but for herself as well.

Seeing Red

Insomnia is a good thing when it comes to reading some nights. I want to say that Megan Collins writes a very twisty story in this book and it was worth every minute of lost sleep. Before I continue I do want to say that this book does contain Child Abuse, Kidnapping and Mental Abuse so if these are triggers for you then I will say tread lightly. I do not want to warn you away from the book because it is such a great read so please give it a chance just go at your own pace.
Now that all the trigger warnings are out of the way let us talk about the good parts and why I loved this so much. Fern is a school teacher who has the summer off and gets a call from her father to come help him move and the call in my opinion came across like Fern was bothered by it. She is always looking for her father's approval and she seems to never get it. When she comes across a book by Astrid Sullivan and for a reason, she couldn't figure out it made her uneasy. It also is important to mention that Astrid was missing and is now missing again twenty years later.

I loved the creepy feeling that this book gave me and the questions I had all the way through. What Megan Collins does beautifully in this book is that she answers all your questions and still leaves you wanting more. While this is my first exposure to this author it will not be the last. I enjoyed the fast paced ride that this book was able to offer. I do want to say I was sorry to all parties involved in deciding in my arc of this novel. My delay has nothing to do with the book and more to do with life.

My Favorite So Far

Soulless was the fourth book in the King series by TM Frazier. It is also the bow that wraps up the love story of Bear and Thia. This isn't your typical story though it has grit and I am here for it.
Soulless began exactly where Lawless ended; however, it did take us on a tour back to the past from time to time in order to explain the present. Although the focus of the story continued the conflicts from the previous book, the MC struggle was the primary plot. It was confusing at times and somewhat disjointed but it came full circle at the end, revealing twists along the way. I have said in the past that this series has lived on my kindle for a long time and I am sad to say that today has been the first time in months that I have wanted to read something remotely resembling romance and I wanted to see how this was wrapped up.

I enjoyed the suspense and the fast pace. I enjoyed that it wasn't predictable. I enjoyed that the drama came from outside the relationship versus from within. Overall, I enjoyed most of the book. What I didn't enjoy as much were the confusing storylines and the editing errors. Other than that, I was captivated, spellbound and entertained.
Frazier had kept Preppy front and center creatively throughout each book in the series. What's not to love about Preppy? However, I wasn't sure how I would feel about reading his story with his current state. Based on the teasers that Frazier left us, I'm definitely looking forward to the next three series books: Preppy, the Life and Death of Samuel Clearwater. Preppy is still my favorite character so I can't wait to see what comes next.

Strangely Enjoyable

This is my first read by T. Kingfisher this is one of my first attempts at reading the genre of fantasy in 2020. I have a hard time connecting with the genre there for I am super selective. The book however had many spooky qualities that made it closer to horror for me which made me intrigued enough to want to read it. To me this book is like Alien meets The Chronicles of Narnia which shockingly enough I just finished a day ago with my nephew. At page one I fell in love with Carrots relationship with her friend Simon and what made it more enjoyable for me is that one of my closest friends has the name Simon. I felt like I was Carrot and he was in the story with me. I loved how Kara (Carrot) moves in with her Uncle and pretty much runs the museum as her uncle recovers and what is more entertaining is that while he is recovering the world comes undone. I loved every minute. There is a hole in the wall of the museum that leads to a new creepy place that the readers get to explore. creepy willows, shadow things, scary people, other worlds, bizarre bunkers, and so much more to keep the pages turning. I want to apologize for my delayed review to all involved because my delay has no baring on how good this book is. I recommend this to anyone who loves horror mixed with a little bit of fantasy. Also a Finalist in the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards very well deserved!

[b:Shadow Sands 48676331 Shadow Sands (Kate Marshall, #2) Robert Bryndza https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1595235127l/48676331.SY75.jpg 68327340]Another HomerunHave you ever loved reading and yet the world just doesn't let you get to it as much? I have honestly had such a hard time getting into reading this last couple months that Shadow Sands is just what I needed Robert Bryndza books are such a joy that I feel more like myself after reading this. Shadow Sands is a beautifully written thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from page one. Nine Elms is book one in the Kate Marshall and while Shadow Sands can be read as a standalone, I really do recommend you read it first. You will not only fall in love with Kate and the cast of intellectual people that have been penned you will also feel like you are solving the case with them. This installment is two years after Nine Elms it packs a punch just like book one. In this installment Kate and her son Jake find a dead body of a young man while on a diving trip. From the beginning the prologue draws you in and chapter one shows you that this book will be like that movie Speed where you just can't take your foot of the gas. While the ending is satisfying and I can see the direction of where the series is going I was truly sad that it was over. I know I haven't said much on what actually happens but I am afraid to give too much away because I feel like you really should enjoy this like a great cup of coffee. I will say that I loved catching up with Kate. The way that Robert Bryndaza writes his characters you get a sense that they are beautifully flawed and to me that makes the read more enjoyable. Kate has gone through a ton of things in Nine Elms and she will continue to be put through her paces in Shadow Sands. Tristian is also back in this installment and I can't have my Kate fix without him. I loved how Tristian got more dimension in this book and I am hoping that he continues to grow in the next book. If this is your first book by Robert Bryndaza book welcome to the party. If you love crime thrillers I can tell you that this is going to be a first class well researched book that is worth your time. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read. If you are looking for other books you will also love Girl in the Ice. Five Stars all the way this was great.

Top Five Material

So, I am not one to usually gravitate to a carnival or magical storylines. Now don't get me wrong I did read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern much delayed compared to everyone else and I did like it. Pandemonium was so magical and intense that it made me want to read more like this so thank you Ms. Willow Anderson. This is one of those books that if you are in a reading slump that this will get you out of it quickly because it's just so different and fun.

I loved the atmosphere that it created this magical yet spooky read that I couldn't put down. Towards the end I just felt like how did I miss this read. The character development was well paced, the descriptions were perfect to paint pictures in my mind, the world building was beautiful. The magic and illusions are flawless and beautifully done. Somehow, I am always drown to the morally grey characters and wow was this character one I completely was drawn to from the beginning. Willow leaves us wondering who the bad guy is in this book. When you are done you are going to be like it was in front of you the entire time and you are just under the spell of the book. Have you seen the cover! I am ready to learn more about this world, and honestly, I need book two to be out already. If you are looking for a book that is different from what you generally read this is the one to take a chance on.

Playing Nice or just Playing?

J.P Delany books are one of the few books on any book platform that I recommend to anyone without even needing to think. If You love thrillers or an outside of the box concept these books are truly for you. I started my reading love with The Girl Before and never really stopped. Now lets talk about Playing Nice. The story begins with Pete and his partner Maddie have an adorable and precocious (get into everything) son named Theo. Pete is a stay at home dad after his job as a freelance reporter disappears. Miles and Lucy Lambert are the wealthy parents of little David, not precocious, in fact barely aware of his surroundings. Pete and Maddie don't believe any of this until they decide they go to the home of the Lamberts and meet David.
After meeting they make a pact not only to try and have a good relationship for the sake of the kids but also to make an alliance against the hospital who made the mistake. The more pages I turned the more I realized that I wasn't sure if the hospital had made a mistake or there was another evil entity that is at play here. I love the couple dynamic that occurs with Maddie and Pete. I also have a soft spot for both kids they are innocent in this whole story. This was a very good slow burn book for me. It gave me the creeps and was layered with deception and questions all the way through. I want to apologize to NetGalley and everyone involved in my delay with this review I did actually finish it in July just never realized my review never went through. Hands down a five star review I can not wait to see what is next.

It's July and I was finally able to get to a book store. This pandemic is really hurting my routine of going to the bookstore one every month picking up my fix of physical books and going on about my day. I made it to B&N and they had a display of books that said. “Read with the Lights on” and this book was on that shelf and I see why. First, I will say while horror is always in my wheelhouse this dystopian style is not. This was a quick read easy to follow and enjoyable.
It starts off with Clare wanting to relax like she normally does on Sundays, with a good book. I have to say the concept of doing nothing but reading an entire Sunday has become more appealing after reading this book. it seems however the world has other plans for Clare at least. The cities all over the world are suddenly going quiet and dark. She tries to reach her sister Beth and her aunt Marnie but gets trapped in a snow storm. The more you read the more you realize they can't be contacted. It seems that anyone who goes into a dark zone never comes out. There is not one person who knows what is going on and the quiet zones are spreading. The plan was that she would bunker down with her sister she never makes it. She has a car crash in a forest area. She wakes up in a stranger's mansion with a guy taking care of her. His name is Dorran. And she initially can't remember everything that happened Sunday morning before the crash. As more time passes in the house the creepier things get.

I must say I absolutely loved the atmosphere and the crazy winter weather! The atmosphere, the weather and the mansion which was following apart which I loved and were so well done. The first half of the book is slow but I was never bored. I was taken with what I was learning about the world, the setting, the creepy old house that's falling apart, the characters. I had a sense that something was wrong in the house for the majority of the book and I loved it. I really enjoyed the characters, Clare and Dorran are such an interesting pair and the dynamic is different. I love how I thought the book was going to go one way and it went a complete other way. I will be reading book two in this series when I take down the pile of stuff that I have started.