REVIEW: The Missing Ones by Patricia Gibney

Title: The Missing Ones (D.I. Lottie Parker #1)
Author: Patricia Gibney
Narrator: Michele Moran
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: March 2017
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: The hole they dug was not deep. A white flour bag encased the little body. Three small faces watched from the window, eyes black with terror.

The child in the middle spoke without turning his head. I wonder which one of us will be next?

When a woman’s body is discovered in a cathedral and hours later a young man is found hanging from a tree outside his home, Detective Lottie Parker is called in to lead the investigation. Both bodies have the same distinctive tattoo clumsily inscribed on their legs. It’s clear the pair are connected, but how?

The trail leads Lottie to St. Angela’s, a former children’s home, with a dark connection to her own family history. Suddenly the case just got personal.

As Lottie begins to link the current victims to unsolved murders decades old, two teenage boys go missing. She must close in on the killer before they strike again, but in doing so is she putting her own children in terrifying danger?

Lottie is about to come face to face with a twisted soul who has a very warped idea of justice.

My Thoughts: First time reading this author and I feel like I’ve been tossed out of a window from a very tall building. There were so many twists and turns coming at me from every direction. The main character, Lottie Parker is a multi-layered character that even after reading this book and seeing what she has gone through in her life, it feels like we have barely scraped the surface, so this series should be read in order.

I really liked this character and empathized with the burden she is carrying and the challenges she is facing. I love that the author depicts this character carrying an immense amount of emotional baggage and struggles with guilt over her job taking her time and attention away from her kids. She also struggles with sobriety, and after witnessing what she is going through and the horrors of the job, who can blame her? I would be grabbing a bottle and joining her.

This story is very triggering, so prepare yourself as this book is filled with horrific episodes of murder, abuse and torture of children and the coverup by corrupt church officials. I paired the audiobook format with the book and it helped me maintain a bystander’s perspective of the events, though it was very dark and disturbing.

I enjoyed the interactions between Lottie and Boyd and hope the reader will be given more detail into their relationship. It’s obvious they care for one another but Lottie keeps him at arm’s reach, likely because of her status as a widow. I also enjoyed meeting Lottie’s children and her mother and hope they will continue to be present in future books.

My Final Verdict: The series is currently sitting at fifteen books so there is a lot to unpack. I highly recommend this book to readers who love thrillers and mysteries.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Love, Lies and Lemon Cake by Sue Watson

Title: Love, Lies and Lemon Cake
Author: Sue Watson
Narrator: Hilary MacLean
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: June 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Love, Lies and Lemon Cake is a hilarious, bittersweet comedy about taking your life back before it’s too late.

Faye Dobson has lost her sparkle . Living on film star fantasies and vague memories of a marriage that once was, she can’t help feeling that life is passing her by. She dreams of being whisked to Paris for dinner, making three wishes at the Trevi fountain and having sex under the stars. But the wrinkles are multiplying, her husband’s passion is for plumbing, and the nearest she’ll get to Rome is a take-away pizza.

So when Faye meets Dan the gorgeous Australian surfer guy working in the local deli she can’t help but wonder what it would be like to see the world. He is blonde, tanned, ten years younger and bakes the most amazing lemon cake. Unlike her husband Dan actually listens to Faye, his smile makes her feel fizzy inside, and when he smiles... Oh. My. God.

But is Faye being silly? What would Dan see in someone like her? Even if he did have feelings for her, could she give up everything to be with him?

My Thoughts: Sue Watson is an amazing author. When I pick up one of her books, I know that I will either get my funny bone tickled with a side dish of warm fuzzies or I will get the rug pulled out from under me with twisty suspense. Love, Lies and Lemon Cake dishes up lots of laughs and warm fuzzies and I’m now craving lemon cake and want to go to Santorini to see the sunset. I paired the reading of this book with the audiobook narrated by Hilary MacLean. Her performance added to the character’s personalities, which made the story more enjoyable.

This story introduces us to Faye Dobson, a woman in her early forties who has realized that her life is somehow passing her by. Married for over twenty years to a man who shows no interest in her and a daughter attending university and beginning her own life, Faye comforts herself with Ryan Gosling fantasies and her job as a hair stylist at a local salon. She has unrealized dreams but thinks it’s too late for her.

Dan is an Australian working in his aunt’s deli and talking to him makes Faye feel young and vibrant again. Initially, I thought this story would be about Faye leaving her marriage for Dan, so let me assure you that it’s not. Faye’s marriage has been dead and over for a while but Faye has never had the motivation to do anything for herself so when she leaves the marriage, she is doing it for herself and her living list. I really enjoyed how Faye and Dan begin as friends talking about their love of food and Faye’s dreams of travel. Dan is very supportive and encourages Faye to stop holding herself back and grab life with both hands. In Faye, Dan finds a supportive friend who can empathize with him over the death of his mother and his brother’s illness.

I loved this story. I laughed out loud so many times and I will never think of bikini waxing the same way again. This story also made me a little misty eyed and sentimental. I’m planning on reading the follow-up to Faye’s story in Love, Lies and Wedding Cake. This story moves at a wonderful pace and is a wonderful reminder that our lives are meant to be lived and sometimes the unknown can be a little scary, but once you put yourself out there, you may discover that what’s missing is often within reach.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedies.

REVIEW: The Second Marriage by Jess Ryder

Title: The Second Marriage
Author: Jess Ryder
Narrator: Rosamund Hine
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Publication Date: November 2021
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: ‘They’re lying,’ my little stepson whispers, his blue eyes shining with tears as I tuck him into bed for the first time. ‘They think I’ve forgotten, but I remember everything. I know my mummy is still alive.’

My best friend warned me that it was too soon to marry Edward, a widower with an adorable but troubled little boy. She said we were moving too fast. But all I could see was a kind, loving man, struggling with grief, who needed my help.

Yet as storm clouds gather above our small wedding ceremony, my hopes and dreams fall apart. None of my husband’s family turn up to support us. Instead of a honeymoon, we have a quiet night in. My wedding bouquet is placed on his first wife’s grave. And then my new stepson tells me he’s sure his mother is still alive.

What does Noah remember and why is his father trying to make him forget? Have I been completely wrong about my husband? What happened to the woman who came before me, and how far will he go to stop me finding out the truth?

My Thoughts: This story began in what I consider a very predictable manner. Lily marries the man who hired her to homeschool his young son, Noah. He’s a bit older, successful, wealthy, etc., and so forth. His first wife died and he also has two grown daughters. Despite any red flags she may have noticed, Lily goes through with the wedding. Afterward, Lily’s new stepson informs her they are all lying and he remembers everything and that his mother is still alive.

This story has all the Alfred Hitchcock gaslighting feels and the more Lily uncovers, the more lies are told and the more unsettled I felt. It’s obvious Edward and his daughters, Tara and Georgia, are keeping secrets and downplaying everything Noah has revealed to Lily, but if your son says he is communicating with someone who is supposed to be dead, how do you not involve the police? As a parent, shouldn’t you be concerned that an online predator or someone may be targeting your child? That is, if you have nothing to hide…

The tight plot gets increasingly sinister and the suspense continues to amplify upward as Lily desperately tries to uncover the memories locked away in Noah’s mind to find out what really happened to his mother and who Noah is communicating with.

I have a few of this author’s books on my to be read pile but this is the first time I have read her work. I am looking forward to reading more and having the rug pulled out from under me. The audio narration performed by Rosamund Hine was exceptional, employing the right amount of emotion which added to the tension and suspense.

My Final Verdict: I enjoy a good spine-tingling thriller but when the people you love and have put your trust in are lying to you and gaslighting you, it makes the experience more edgy and uncertain. I recommend this story to fans who like danger closer to home.

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture Audio, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril

Title: A Christmas Candy Killing (Killer Chocolate #1)
Author: Christina Romeril
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: October 2022
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: Their chocolates are to die for—but things aren’t so sweet when a real killer comes to town, in this debut mystery perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Laura Childs.

Identical twin sisters Alex and Hannah are the owners of Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookshop that sells their famous poison-themed Killer Chocolates. But now, there’s a real killer in their midst. Shortly before Christmas, their septuagenarian neighbor, Jane, confides to Alex that a murderer from a true-crime show has taken up residence in the village. Unfortunately, she’s also shared her suspicions with town gossip Netta. The next morning, Alex shows up at Jane’s house to watch the show, but instead discovers Jane's body, with a box of Killer Chocolates nearby.

The sheriff quickly zeroes in on two suspects: Alex, a beneficiary in Jane’s will, and Zack, a handyman who was seen leaving the crime scene. But Alex maintains her innocence and sets out to draft a list of other potential suspects—townsfolk who’d recently been seen arguing with Jane.

When Alex gets hold of Jane’s journal, she begins to understand the truth. But a bearer of ill tidings is arriving early this year—and Alex just might not make it to Christmas.

My Thoughts: A cute start to a series that features a bookshop that sells only mysteries and chocolates named after poisons as the backdrop is something that immediately piqued my interest. Alex and her identical twin sister, Hanna, own and operate Murder and Mayhem and it’s Christmas time in their small Montana village. When Alex is told by one of her elderly friends that there is a murderer hiding in their village and wants Alex to watch the true crime episode proving it, Alex goes over to her home and no surprise finds her body. The bad news is that Alex somehow ends up on the sheriff’s radar as a potential suspect.

I don’t read cozy mysteries looking for riveting or intense stories that pull the rug out from under me with jaw dropping suspense and surprise. Most cozy mysteries are fairly predictable and easy to suss out who the villain is. However, this one did surprise me with not only the identity of the killer but the lengths this person was willing to go to hide their tracks. I also have come to accept that the main characters in cozies put themselves in danger due to their investigating and I felt the usual frustration with Alex continuing to do so, even after she is specifically told to back off. Of course, if she had backed off, she may have well been arrested as the sheriff in this community seemed to be doing literally nothing to solve the crime.

I loved the atmosphere of this story. The village has a lot of charm and the bookstore gave me wonderful vibes. I also loved that the chocolates are all named after a type of poison and Alex’s dog is named Watson. There is definitely a lot to enjoy here and I look forward to what Alex and Hanna get into next.

My Final Verdict: I recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries with a Christmas theme. The charm of the bookstore and the village will draw you in as you tag along with Alex on her adventure.

Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: All About Us by Tom Ellen

Title: All About Us
Author: Tom Ellen
Narrator: Michael Fox
Publisher: Harper 360 | HQ
Publication Date: October 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: If you could turn back the clock, would you choose a different life?

Ben’s always loved the month of December, but this year, with his relationship with Daphne on the rocks, it’s missing its usual magic. And then his old friend Alice gets back in touch. Ben’s always thought of Alice as the one that got away, and he can’t help but wonder: what if he’d done things differently all those years ago?

He never imagines he might get to find out… but when a stranger sells Ben a mysterious watch one freezing winter’s night, he’s astonished to wake up the next morning on 5th December 2005: the day he first kissed Daphne, leaving Alice behind.

Now Ben must make the biggest decision of his life, all over again. But this time around, will he finally find the courage to follow his heart?

All About Us is a captivating novel of heartbreak and loss, friendship and hope – and how the choices we make throughout our lives will shape our destiny.

My Thoughts: In all honesty, most of us have been exactly where Benjamin is. At a crossroads in life, things not going quite as well as we expect or wished and we find ourselves wondering what we would do if given a chance to do it all over. Tagging along with Benjamin as he explores his past, facing the same choices and deciding if he will make the same decisions was both enlightening and scary. Some things, like his mother’s death, he wishes he could change, have more time with her.

I loved this story and the Christmas Carol vibes it gives. Visiting the Christmases of your past, present and future is one thing but trying to figure out if you are living the life you are meant to and what needs to change is another matter entirely. I loved traveling back in time with Benjamin to relive his first meeting Daphne, seeing their relationship develop, his frustration with his writing career, his close relationship with his mother. There were so many poignant moments that had me in tears as well as laughing out loud. I also loved witnessing Benjamin grow and evolve from someone who initially comes off quite selfish and dissatisfied with his life to someone who learns how important our choices and decisions are.

This is my first time reading this author and I look forward to reading more of his work. The story flows smoothly and though there is so much happening, I was easily drawn in and anxious to know what would happen next and if Benjamin would ever make it back to the present. I paired the reading of this book with the audio format narrated by Michael Fox, which was delivered with amazing clarity and emotion.

My Final Verdict: My biggest takeaway from this book is that our lives are shaped by our decisions and choices. If we don’t like the life we’re living, we can change it. I find that to be so empowering and we don’t have to travel back in time to realize that. I highly recommend this book to everyone in the hopes they, too, will come to that realization before they become mired down in misery as our friend Ben was.

Thank you to the publisher, Harper 360 | HQ, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey

Title: Window Shopping
Author: Tessa Bailey
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: December 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Two weeks before Christmas and all through Manhattan, shop windows are decorated in red and green satin. Stella is standing alone outside a famous department store, when a charming man asks her opinion on the décor.

It’s a tragedy in tinsel, she says, unable to lie. Then he asks for a better idea, with a twinkle in his eye. She didn’t know he owned the place, when he put her on the spot, and now she’s working for that man, trying to ignore that he’s hot.

But as a down-on-her-luck girl with a difficult past, Stella knows how to make a good opportunity last. So she gives it her all, working without stopping. Trying to resist temptation because she’s just window shopping.

My Thoughts: This book was very enjoyable, making me laugh out loud and cry several times. I don’t recall reading a story where the main female character has a criminal record and it worked so well here. This opposites attract storyline plays well alongside Stella’s guilt and self-loathing about her past. I loved that she is trying really hard to change who she used to be and doesn’t want special treatment. She wants to earn redemption on her own merits to prove to herself she is worthy.

Aiden knows the importance of wanting and needing to prove himself. He has been trying to get his father and grandmother’s approval his whole life even though they continue to treat him with distant acknowledgement. He sees himself in Stella, I think, and she intrigues him. I loved their chemistry and how they interact with one another.

This book has a lot of sizzle so I recommend the book format. If you are a fan of audio, wear earbuds as some of the content will raise eyebrows.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy snow melting shenanigans around the Christmas tree that will make Santa blush.

REVIEW: 25 Days 'til Christmas by Poppy Alexander

Title: 25 Days ‘til Christmas
Author: Poppy Alexander
Narrator: Helen Keeley
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: October 2019
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: In this heartwarming, feel-good holiday novel, one woman needs to find a little inspiration in the 25 days leading up to Christmas to help her remember the magic of the season and the magic of falling in love—perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan and Josie Silver.

Kate Potter used to love Christmas. A few years ago, she would have been wrapping her presents in September and baking mince pies on Halloween, counting down the days and hours to Christmas. But that was before Kate’s husband left for the army and never came home. Now she can hardly stand December at all.

Kate can’t deny she’s lonely, yet she doesn’t think she’s ready for romance. She knows that her son, Jack, needs a Christmas to remember—just like Kate needs a miracle to help her finally move forward with her life. So she’s decided if there isn’t a miracle on its way, she’ll just have to make her own.

As Kate’s advent countdown to the best Christmas ever begins, she soon realizes that even with the best laid plans, you can’t plan for the unexpected. For when the path of the loneliest woman in town crosses with that of the loneliest man, these two destined hearts might find a way to save the holiday for both of them.

My Thoughts: I really liked this story, but if your Christmas themed reading preferences run toward the fun, whimsical side of Christmas, this may not be the book you should grab first. Despite the cover leading me to believe this is a fun and cute story, there are a lot of heavy soul-crushing tropes within the pages that might trigger some readers.

At the center of the story is Kate. A young widow trying to give her six year old son a Christmas to remember. Romance really isn’t at the center of the story as the story centers more on this woman coping with the death of her husband and trying to make ends meet working for a department store and assigned to sell Christmas trees while wearing a skimpy elf costume. I have a good idea how depressing and miserable this job is for Kate as it was depressing to me seeing her putting on her happy face while enduring rude customers and a creep of a boss.

Meanwhile, her son is struggling in school and the powers that be want to expel him from the public school and send him to a remedial school, which appears to be nothing short of a detention center for juvenile delinquents. Kate cannot afford the private school he would thrive at and the town council doesn’t appear inclined to make an exception for Jack and waive the fees. I felt so bad for Kate. Her son is not a troublemaker but having lost his father, he would benefit from quality one on one attention from a teacher that actually cares.

She meets Dan while selling trees, though they don’t know each other’s name. He refers to her as the Christmas Tree Girl. He’s struggling with his own losses, mourning the deaths of his parents and sister all in a two year period. He tries to stay busy and volunteers his free time at a crisis call center hoping to be the lifeline of compassion and empathy for those struggling. Kate and Dan could both use a magical Christmas.

I got pulled into this story despite the sadness and loneliness both of these characters struggle with because I just had to know how it would all turn out, believing that Christmas is the time for miracles and the good guys don’t always finish last.

This was my first experience reading this author and I hope to read more of her work. I paired the reading of this book with the audiobook narrated by Helen Keeley. Her performance accurately conveyed the emotions of these characters which gave me more understanding of their individual situations.

My Final Verdict: Would I have chosen this book if I had not assumed this book was a light and fun read based on the cover? I don’t know, but I am glad I did. This book is a great reminder that not everyone is full of Christmas Spirt and cheer. Many people struggle during the holidays and seeing a Christmas miracle at work in the lives of Kate, Jack and Dan was very heartwarming.

REVIEW: Stuck on You by Portia MacIntosh

Title: Stuck on You
Author: Portia MacIntosh
Narrator: Karen Cass
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Publication Date: September 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Could a post-it note really lead to love...?

Sadie doesn't have time for finding love. She's too busy as PA for famous artist Damian Banks. When she's not arranging exhibitions, she's organizing his dry cleaning or dumping his never ending stream of girlfriends.

But when she strikes up an unusual friendship with her desk share buddy, she finds a confidante and a new potential love interest. Problem is, they've never actually met...

With Christmas just around the corner, can Sadie put herself first for a change and find what she's been looking for all along? The brand new romantic comedy from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh. Perfect for fans of Sophie Ranald, Mhairi McFarlane and Zara Stoneley.

My Thoughts: This was a really cute and fun story. I really enjoyed meeting Sadie and Damian and though he comes across as very moody and needy in the beginning, Damian really grew on me. I also loved the idea of sharing post-it notes with someone you have never met in person and how nice it is for Sadie to have someone to commiserate with over their mutual annoyance at their overbearing boss. As the boss’s assistant, Sadie is excluded from the rest of the staff, which I understand but don’t like so having an ally who understands was refreshing.

The story is very predictable but it didn’t matter because it was so adorable and I was enjoying myself thoroughly getting to know these characters. The scenes of Christmas with Sadie’s family were so much fun.

This author continues to provide wonderful stories that make me want to jump in them. I paired the reading of this book with the audiobook narrated by Karen Cass. Her narration was performed very well and gave me more insight into these characters and their personalities.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story if you are looking for a fun book at Christmas time that provides lots of warm fuzzies and laughter.