REVIEW: The Queen's Man by Terri Brisbin

Title: The Queen’s Man
Author: Terri Brisbin
Publisher: Jove Time Passages
Publication Date: September 2000
Genre: Time-Travel Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: A man born an heir, but raised a bastard. . .
A woman with the proof to put him on the throne. . .
A love endangered by the intrigue of Elizabeth’s court. . .

Richard Granville, an illegitimate son of Henry VIII, has always wanted to be king of England, but a bastard cannot inherit that position. So, he contents himself by serving his half-sister Queen Elizabeth. When her enemies approach with claims of his rights to the throne and with a plot to put him there, he is tempted. . . oh so tempted. Sharon Reynolds, a museum curator on holiday in present-day England, discovers proof of a legitimate male heir to Henry VIII and is shocked to be thrown back through time with that proof. Believing she was sent back to right the wrongs done to Henry VIII’s rightful heir, she searches for the man who should be king. Unfortunately, by the time she uncovers his identity she has fallen in love with him. Giving Richard the evidence may bring his death if he fails. Giving him the proof will mean losing his love if he becomes king for a commoner is no fit wife for him then. Danger, intrigue, and deception surround them as they struggle to find the path that fate means for them. . . and their love.

Can their love help them survive in Elizabethan England or will Richard forever remain the queen’s man?

My Thoughts: If you are a fan of time travel romance like I am, you accept the certainty that you will have to suspend disbelief that the concept of traveling through time is real as well as the care the traveler must take to ensure their presence in the past doesn’t alter the future to the point of wiping out their own existence. Pretty big responsibility that I doubt I would be able to manage, but the idea in itself is thrilling…once you get over the complete shock and terror you feel at discovering your surroundings.

Sharon Reynolds is a typical twenty-first century woman, lives in Chicago and picking up the pieces of her life after a professional catastrophe calls not just her reputation but her entire career into question. She accompanies her friend, Mo, to England to an archaeological site where she can be of assistance with different fabrics and textiles. Upon entering a previously undiscovered room, she finds a trunk filled with fabrics and dresses from the Elizabethan period and upon closer inspection of one dress, a stack of parchment disclosing that the previously thought dead son of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn lived, making him the rightful heir to the throne of England and not Elizabeth I. After her initial shock and amazement dissipates, Sharon leaves the room, only to discover that everyone around her is dressed in Elizabethan era costume and she is assumed to be a lady of the court assigned to the Queen’s wardrobe. Like Sharon, I also would think that I had somehow wandered into a Renaissance Fair cosplay and marvel at how authentic and real everyone’s performances are. Luckily for Sharon, she realizes quickly that the impossible has happened and she has to figure out why she came over four hundred years into the past and how she will get back home.

Richard Granville is the master of the Queen’s stables and has quite a reputation for being a seducer of women. Growing up knowing he is the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, he has had to prove himself worthy, though he has always dreamed that he would sit on the throne and rule England. He is drawn into a plot to take the throne and he is the rightful heir in the eyes of the Church in Rome. He loves his half-sister, Elizabeth, and would not want to see her come to harm. When he meets Sharon, he begins to dream of a future away from court where he can live out his life breeding prized stallions on his own stable farm.

Can you just imagine the type of deceptions and intrigues that occur at the royal court? One whisper of a rumor about a plot to overthrow the current monarch could find you imprisoned in the Tower of London waiting to have your head removed. One whisper of a rumor that you are from the future could have you labeled as a witch and burned at the stake. Honestly, how anyone made it to a ripe old age in this time period is beyond amazing.

I thought this story was well researched and described with the perfect amount of detail, which gave me a better view of Sharon’s new surroundings. I also enjoyed the small details regarding the furnishings, clothing and the meals. It certainly made me appreciate the luxuries of indoor plumbing, central heat and air, motorized vehicles and electricity.

I liked Sharon and Richard quite a lot individually and as a couple. I felt enormous empathy for the situation they find themselves in and grave concern for their safety. I was on pins and needles at what would happen as well as when Richard learns the truth about his birthright and that the woman he has come to love is from the future. I felt that actual historical characters like Queen Elizabeth I and William Cecil were depicted as I expected, but with a few unexpected surprises that were wonderful.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to fans of time travel romance as well as readers who enjoy historical settings and time periods and aren’t bothered if there are a few liberties taken. My biggest regret about this book is that it took me so long to finally read it, but I’m not interested in going back in time to remedy that.

REVIEW: The Bloom Girls by Amy Pine

Title: The Bloom Girls
Author: Amy Pine
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik / Caitlin Davies / Fred Berman
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: August 2021
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Gilmore Girls meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding in this humorous, multi-generational story about a mother and daughter who discover that life happens when you least expect it.

Gabi Bloom doesn't believe in signs. She believes in photographic evidence, the view through her camera lens, and the snap of the shutter. It's why she traveled to Europe—to satisfy her wanderlust and to kick off her photography career. But in Ireland, all of that changed when Gabi gazed into the impossibly blue eyes of an American bartender. She wasn’t prepared for their intense and immediate attraction, or the fact that she’d be bringing Ethan home with her . . . as her fiancé.

Gabi's upcoming marriage is the cherry on top of her mother's current predicament. Stumbling toward forty, Alissa is a pastry chef who raised her daughter single-handedly while Gabi’s father traveled the globe. Now her baby girl is getting married after a whirlwind romance and Alissa—well, Alissa is pregnant. Again. And not only is her ex the father, he wants her back. For good. Until she can figure out that part of the puzzle, Alissa is hiding her big little secret even as she helps Gabi plan a happily-ever-after wedding. But somewhere between disaster and hope, life might just bloom in a way that is breathtakingly unexpected . . .

My Thoughts: I really liked this story and will start by saying it was much better than I was expecting. Honestly, a story about a woman who after raising her daughter primarily on her own for 22 years finds herself pregnant again by her ex-husband seemed a little cliché to me and I was expecting it to be overwrought with emotions, tears and drama. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised that this story centers on family, friendship, forgiveness, second chances and missed opportunities that had a little bit of weepy emotion but weighed much more heavily on humor and heartwarming moments.

This story is told from the two perspectives of Gabi Bloom and her mother, Alissa Adler. I really liked this because it gave me more a sense of each character’s personality and nature and I empathized with them both. Gabi is fresh out of college and goes on a trip to Ireland when she meets fellow American, Ethan Harris. After a whirlwind romance, they return to Chicago engaged to be married, with neither family knowing anything about it.

After a very brief marriage to Gabi’s father, Matthew Bloom, Alissa has been single and on her own for most of her life. She owns a bakery and her world is completely centered on her daughter, the light of her life. Gabi’s father has been a world traveler working in the conservation field and comes and goes. After Gabi’s college graduation, Alissa and Matthew spend a night together and surprise, surprise, she discovers she’s pregnant.

I enjoyed watching how each woman faces their lives and the situations they find themselves in, while figuring out what they are going to do. Is Gabi rushing into marriage before she’s ever had a chance to see the world and figure out what wants? Is Alissa ready to take on the challenges of starting over with another baby at this stage in her life? Will Matthew stick around for good?

The only issue I had with this story was the abrupt cliffhanger ending that came out of the blue. I have never been a fan of this and I didn’t feel it was needed in this story either. I really enjoyed this author and look forward to reading more of her work. The audio format for this story was fantastic too. The narration performed by Barrie Kreinik, Caitlin Davies and Fred Berman was wonderful and gave me more insight into the characters, their thoughts, feelings and personalities.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy women’s fiction but also stories that are rich in character and relationship driven. I think, like me, you will find yourself rooting for these characters to find their happily ever after.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Bloom Girls from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: She's Having Her Baby by Lauren Sams

Title: She’s Having Her Baby
Author: Lauren Sams
Publisher: Legend Press
Publication Date: July 2018
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Georgie Henderson doesn’t want to have kids, but her best friend, Nina, has wanted to have a baby for as long as she can remember. Sadly, Nina’s uterus refuses to cooperate. One drunken evening, Nina asks Georgie for the ultimate favor: would she carry a baby for her?
Georgie says yes and spends the next nine months wondering why. With intense bacon-and-egg roll cravings and distant memories of what her feet look like, Georgie tries to keep it all together in her dream job as the editor of Jolie magazine. Her love life’s a mess and sauvignon blanc’s off the menu, leaving Georgie to deal with twists in her life she never expected.

My Thoughts: This book was utterly amazing, funny, heartwarming and got me right in the feels numerous times. We all could use a friend in our lives like Georgie Henderson. She’s a career driven professional, though she is behind the eight-ball when it comes to staying on top of the technological advances in the world and especially digital publishing. The thing I loved about Georgie is she doesn’t make any apologies for who she is and that kind of person is who we all need in our lives. She is open, honest, blunt and would bend over backwards for her friends.

Georgie doesn’t want children, the jury is out whether she wants marriage as well, but when her best friend Nina suffers another failure with fertility, Nina asks Georgie to be a surrogate. Not having children, myself, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that asking someone to carry a baby for you is a BIG deal and the decision should not be taken lightly. Surprising herself, Nina, and everyone around her, me included, Georgie agrees. She doesn’t bother to tell her live-in boyfriend, however so you know there’s a huge can of worms just waiting to open here.

Life has a way of throwing curve balls at us, especially when we think we are in control of our collective fates and destiny and Georgie is no exception. When she goes in for the embryo implantation, the doctor tells her it cannot be done because she is already pregnant! Yes, the woman who has no interest in having children of her own has a bun in the oven and it’s a huge understatement to say neither Georgie nor Nina respond well to the news.

What I absolutely loved about this story is we get to join Georgie on this detour that life has thrown her. Without adding any personal beliefs or preferences, the author gives Georgie the freedom to explore all her options. Georgie is in a state of shock and is newly single since the above mentioned can of worms was opened and the live-in boyfriend doesn’t respond well to Georgie’s decision to carry someone’s baby without telling him. Georgie is struggling with whether or not she wants the baby and, more importantly, can she do this? Can she be who this baby will need her to be? Can she love this baby enough? Can she manage the responsibility of another person depending on her 24 / 7 / 365 for their very survival? I honestly was on pins and needles wondering what Georgie would do.

My Final Verdict: The story was hilarious and the author was amazing. I absolutely loved Lauren Sams’s voice and look forward to reading more from her. I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that make them laugh and that feature characters that are easy to relate to and empathize with.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of She’s Having Her Baby from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrator: Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan and Robin Miles
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: June 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction / LGBT / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: 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 nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

My Thoughts: "Heartbreak is loss. Divorce is a piece of paper.” ~ Evelyn Hugo.

With Evelyn Hugo, the reader is introduced to a woman who knows what she wants, will pull out all the stops to achieve her goals and makes no apologies. She’s brash, brazen, willful, secretive, interesting and painfully human. At seventy-nine years of age, Evelyn is still beautiful and breathtaking with the posture of a ballerina.

Monique Grant is the complete opposite. She’s a hard worker and talented writer. She’s the child of a mixed-race marriage, raised by her white mother after her black father died when she was a child. She is desperate to make a name for herself as a writer. She’s newly single after less than a year of marriage and nobody is more surprised than she is when the reclusive film star, Evelyn Hugo, requests her, specifically, to write her authorized biography. Right away, one can’t help but wonder what the connection is between the two women.

I absolutely loved this story and how it is told in flashbacks from Evelyn’s point of view as she is relaying it to Monique for the biography. Evelyn was born Evelyn Herrera of Cuban heritage and grew up in Hell’s Kitchen. Her mother died when Evelyn was young, leaving her with an abusive father. Evelyn will do anything to escape this life, even marrying Ernie Diaz at the age of fifteen. Together, they make their way to Hollywood where Ernie secures employment as a film grip. Evelyn knows she is not suited to life as a housewife and quickly learns how to use her looks and sexual prowess to her advantage.

This story follows Evelyn over sixty years, seven husbands, a daughter and navigating her way as a bisexual woman in a society where marriages are arranged and dismantled at the whim of the studio for publicity and where Evelyn and so many performers like her have to keep their sexual identity a closely guarded secret. Evelyn’s life, loves and losses are laid bare for the reader to see and I couldn’t help but admire this woman for her survival skills and mourn her losses and cheer her victories.

I also liked Monique and understood her fan girl awe meeting Evelyn for the first time. She obviously has so many questions for Evelyn and I felt her frustration at being stonewalled. When their connection is revealed at the end of the story, I understood the sense of betrayal and rage Monique feels and thought it was portrayed realistically and accurately.

I chose the audiobook format of this story and the narration performances of Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan and Robin Miles was nothing short of brilliant. Their performances made the story and the characters come alive. It made the characters easy to connect to and empathize with.

Major kudos go out to Taylor Jenkins Reid. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was the first book I have read by this very talented author and I am most eager to read her entire backlist.

My Final Verdict: I suspect this story will stay with me for a very long time. Evelyn’s life and her seven husbands pulled me in and I couldn’t look away. I wasn’t sure what to make of her at first, but without even realizing it, she wormed her way into my heart and I was completely mesmerized by her, as most people around her were. I highly recommend this story to all readers who enjoy stories of real-world life and struggles involving people who are just like all of us, trying to find our place in the world and carve out a little slice of happiness that will last a lifetime.

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Narrator: Jim Dale
Publisher: Pottermore Publishing
Publication Date: November 2015
Genre: Children’s / Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: ‘Give me Harry Potter,' said Voldemort's voice, 'and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded.'

As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid's motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves and to stop him Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin - Harry must stand and face his enemy...

Having become classics of our time, the Harry Potter stories never fail to bring comfort and escapism. With their message of hope, belonging and the enduring power of truth and love, the story of the Boy Who Lived continues to delight generations of new listeners.

My Thoughts: My feelings while reading this book were very bittersweet. Even knowing how it would play out, I wanted to savor this last Harry Potter story. Knowing I would cry as some of the main characters are killed did not deter me. The same feeling of hopelessness I felt before came back, compassion for Harry to lose so many loved ones, anger on his behalf for the cruelties and evil committed against him for no good reason and lastly pride that in spite of it all, Harry continues to be a giver instead of a taker, a boy quickly becoming a man and putting the needs of others in front of his own. Even at the very end, knowing that one of them must die, he is willing to make that ultimate sacrifice.

Most of this story takes place away from Hogwarts, unfortunately. Though Rowling does an amazing job of drawing us into the world Harry is currently situated, I still found myself missing the days at Hogwarts, as I’m sure Harry did. Sadly, there was no Diagon Alley trip to buy school supplies, no boarding of the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 ¾ , no sorting hat ceremony, no Quidditch, no pranks by Peeves to contend with, no excursions to Hogsmeade on the weekends and no Halloween feast, just to name a few. After seven years, I had become so enamored of life at Hogwarts that not being able to be there bothered me a great deal. Instead, Harry is living in hiding with Ron and Hermione as public enemy #1. He is being hunted by Death Eaters constantly, so they are not staying in one place for too long. After a very near miss when Harry is being moved from the Dursleys and again at Bill and Fleur’s wedding, Harry’s only choice is to hide while hunting the Horcruxes. Luckily for him and Ron, Hermione foresaw this eventuality and planned ahead with supplies. Unfortunately, none of them know where to find the Horcruxes or how to destroy them.

Their quest takes them to several places as they try to decipher the clues that Dumbledore left for them. Tempers are short as well. They are all frustrated and I felt frustrated for them. Ultimately, the war comes full circle as Harry and his friends return to Hogwarts for the final showdown with Voldemort and his followers. Harry learns many truths that were kept from him until now and I felt that finding them out now made his resolve stronger. I don’t think he could have or would have appreciated the significance of the Deathly Hallows in his first or second year.

So now I have finished the series for the fourth time, breaking my own rule of never re-reading a book. I have thoroughly enjoyed this adventure with Harry, Ron and Hermione once again and I must say that this time around was even better. I am sad to see it end, however. This is a story that could have stretched into another 3 books, in my opinion. The audio narration performance by Jim Dale was both riveting and brilliant and makes the enjoyment of this series more pronounced.

I will miss Harry, Ron and Hermione but I know they are just a short distance away from me anytime I want to visit them again. And as Sirius said to Harry at the end of Azkaban, “the ones who love us never really leave us, you can always find them in here.”

My Final Verdict: As with every reading of the books in this series, there are things that stand out and resonate much louder for me than in prior readings that I somehow overlooked or forgot. In this reading those moments, in no particular order, were as follows:
1. Tonks and Remus get married and are having a baby, but Remus seems to be a reluctant father and Harry is angry and chastises Remus for not doing all he can to be with his family.
2. When Harry and the lookalikes all leave the house on Privet Drive, Harry’s destination is the home of Tonks’s parents before going to the Burrow.
3. Harry provides the hair for the Polyjuice potion willingly instead of Hermione yanking it out of his head.
4. Hermione wipes her parents’s memory and they go to Australia with new names. I don’t remember anything being clarified before about where or how they ended up.
5. Their departure from the Burrow is planned ahead instead of being a spur of the moment decision.
6. Ron puts out the story that he is ill with spattergroit to explain his absence from Hogwarts. Honestly, it never occurred to me in prior readings that their absence from Hogwarts would ever be an issue, in light of the events occurring in the wizarding world.
7. Hermione makes the connection of the ability of basilisk venom to destroy horcruxes before they leave the Burrow.
8. Harry uses Polyjuice potion to disguise himself at Bill and Fleur’s wedding.
9. Hagrid and Viktor Krum are both guests at the wedding.
10. Arthur Weasley sends his Petronus to Harry, Hermione and Ron to let them know everyone escaped and are fine.
11. Kreacher and Regulus went to the cave to switch out the lockets and Kreacher was ordered to leave and return to Grimmauld Place. Regulus was dragged into the water by the infieri. It was heartbreaking to hear Kreacher relating this to Harry and explained so much about why Kreacher was behaving the way he was up to this point. Kreacher’s attitude towards Harry, Hermione and Ron begins to thaw after he is shown kindness and when he tells Harry that he will have supper waiting for them upon their return from the ministry got me right in the feels.
12. Harry and Hermione use Polyjuice potion to disguise themselves as an elderly couple for their trip to Godric’s Hollow.
13. Phineas Nigellus Black reveals to Harry that the sword of Gryffindor destroyed the ring horcrux.
14. Rita Skeeter used veritas serum on Bathilda Bagshot to write her novel on Dumbledore. Honestly, she could give Dolores Umbridge a run for her money on which one I would love to slap into next week.
15. Bathilda is Grindelwald’s great aunt.
16. Harry realizes the resurrection stone is inside the snitch that was left for him by Dumbledore.
17. Harry, Hermione and Ron don’t get grabbed by the Snatchers right after leaving Lovegood’s house.
18. Griphook tells Harry that Gryffindor stole the sword himself and the goblins are the rightful owners.
19. A Deatheater confronts Harry, Hermione and Ron when they go to Gringotts to get into Bellatrix’s vault. Of course, I already knew that the bank had been warned of imposters but forgot that a Deatheater would be present.
20. Voldemort kills Severus Snape in the shrieking shack. The location didn’t really matter to me but I was surprised that I had forgotten something from one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the book. I will always wish that Harry and Snape could have mended their fences, but finally knowing the truth of everything and the role Snape played was therapeutic for Harry.
21. The gem in the ring worn by Marvolo Gaunt, that later was turned into a horcrux that cursed Dumbledore, was the resurrection stone. Has this book been edited and content changed? Did I read the same book the last three times? I honestly don’t remember this at all.
22. Kreacher makes an appearance at Hogwarts fighting alongside the elves.

REVIEW: Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards

Title: Seven Dirty Secrets
Author: Natalie D. Richards
Narrator: Natasha Soudek
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: November 2021
Genre: Teen / Young Adult / Mystery / Thriller

Description: I know seven dirty secrets:

One caused the fall. One did nothing. One saw it all.

One didn't care. One used their head. One played the hero.

One was left for dead.

On her eighteenth birthday, Cleo receives a mysterious invitation to a scavenger hunt. She's sure her best friend Hope or her brother Connor is behind it, but no one confesses. And as Cleo and Hope embark on the hunt, the seemingly random locations and clues begin to feel familiar.

In fact, all of the clues seem to be about Cleo's dead boyfriend, Declan, who drowned on a group rafting trip exactly a year ago. A bracelet she bought him. A song he loved. A photo of the rafting group, taken just before Declan drowned. And then the phone calls start, Declan's voice taunting Cleo with a cryptic question: You ready?

As the clock on the scavenger hunt ticks down, it becomes clear that someone knows what really happened to Declan. And that person will stop at nothing to make sure Cleo and her friends pay. Can they solve the hunt before someone else winds up dead?

My Thoughts: Told in first person point of view from Cleo, the reader is introduced to so many characters that I found it not only hard to keep it all straight, but started to get dizzy with all the who did what and to who merry-go-round.

In a nutshell, one year after her abusive boyfriend dies on a rafting trip, on her eighteenth birthday, Cleo finds a box in her home after she gets out of the shower. As she was the only person in the home, she has no idea who the sender is and the contents and clues are an invitation to a scavenger hunt. Sounds pretty interesting, right? Especially as the clues all point to her dead boyfriend, Declan, and the threat that if she doesn’t complete the scavenger hunt in time, this unknown person will ruin her life and tell everyone what really happened. Cleo ran track in high school and is looking to get into college to study forensics, so she has a lot to lose. Of course, I immediately assumed that Declan wasn’t dead, but has decided being the abusive jerk is fun and wants to torment Cleo, but that got old really quick and the only thing motivating me to continue was to just find out who was behind this and why.

There are several flashback scenes where the reader gets more than a passing introduction to Declan and the levels he would go to hurt Cleo, often without remorse. Major trigger warning for me and to be honest, pushed some hot buttons that nobody noticed what was happening to Cleo. It shouldn’t have surprised me as Cleo, her brother and all these so-called friends keep a lot of secrets, themselves. I didn’t rate this book higher than I am because I felt almost zero sympathy or compassion for any of them and when the identity of the person behind it is finally revealed, it wasn’t a surprise and really anti-climactic.

The narration performance by Natasha Soudek was well done. She demonstrated appropriate levels of emotion and tension to make the situation Cleo and her friends are going through realistic

My Final Verdict: This was my first book by this author and though overall, I found the book to be just OK, I would be willing to read more of her work. The premise of the story was amazing and is what drew me to the story in the first place, but the delivery left me disappointed.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Seven Dirty Secrets from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Her Sister's Killer by Michelle S. Smith

Title: Her Sister’s Killer
Author: Michelle S. Smith
Publisher: Joffe Books
Publication Date: August 2021
Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

Description: A beautifully crafted psychological thriller that will have you hooked until the stunning conclusion.

How well do you really know your family?

You should never have left.

This is what Victoria Wharton’s mother tells her every time she calls.

But this time she’s calling to say that Vicky’s twin sister, Becky, has been murdered.

Vicky is one of Chicago’s best police detectives. She thought she’d never return to her tiny New England hometown. But she needs justice for her sister.

As Vicky is drawn inexorably back into her family’s dysfunctional relationships, she finds things aren’t quite as they seem.

When the death threats start, and a local man is beaten half to death, Vicky must look closer to home to find her sister’s killer.

A taut family drama unfolds in this chilling domestic thriller.

My Thoughts: Honestly, I don’t know where to even begin with the hot mess that is this book.

1. Victoria Wharton, a “highly skilled detective” from Chicago PD returns to her hometown after her twin sister, Rebecca, is found murdered and is working with local detective Steve McCade to solve the crime. 

• There is absolutely no way any reader can or should suspend disbelief on any level to think that any law enforcement agency would allow a detective to get anywhere close to an investigation involving a close friend or family member. Not going to happen and I find it highly insulting that the author would do this.

2. The author throws a bunch of characters at the reader in rapid succession without any rhyme or reason. Who are all these people and how do they fit into the story?

• Besides Victoria and Steve, who the reader is led to believe are the main characters and have history, the reader is given bits and pieces of Rebecca, Victoria’s mother, Vera, John Gardner, John Gardner’s mother, Victoria’s friend, Janet, Victoria’s father, the Jenkins family and on and on. How does the author expect the reader to develop any connection or bond with the main characters? When the reader is introduced to so many people it feels like I’m lost in Grand Central Station.

3. With so many characters to keep track of, no time is spent making these characters multi-dimensional.

• The reader is given brief glimpses into the characters and their past relationships and current situations but not enough time is spent developing these characters. They felt cardboard to me and as a result, I felt no connection with them.

4. The story structure is very choppy. The plot is all over the place, making it nearly impossible for me to follow, keep up or understand.

• Victoria turned her father in for… (seriously? The author can’t just tell us what he was turned in for? I have to wait several pages for Victoria’s inner monologue to tell me he used to creep into her bedroom?) At this point, if this book were in print format, it would have been a wall-banger.

• Victoria doesn’t like to be touched and demonstrates nervous apprehension around John Gardner. If she’s supposedly a highly skilled detective in Chicago, of all places, I find it completely unbelievable that being in close proximity to a man, even with her background, would cause her to react this way. How did she manage to pass her psych evaluation to get hired by Chicago in the first place if this is the case?

• At the 25% mark, Victoria tells her friend, Janet, that she thinks Steve might be interested in more than friendship, but nothing in the story up to this point remotely suggests this.

• Steve interrupts John Gardner in his veterinary operating room during a surgical procedure. Not only is this beyond inappropriate, but quite tacky and doesn’t fit. Additionally, the reader is led to believe that out of the blue, there’s bad blood and hostility between the two due to Steve attacking John prior to the story beginning. If the author wants to refer to previous events, then build up to it. Please do not throw it at the reader as an afterthought.

• Gavin Jenkins rats out his parents and the bogus lawsuit they filed against the hospital Rebecca worked at and then tells Victora that his father, Maurice, had a thing for Rebecca, and either one of his parents could have been the killer. I get that kids may not always like or even love their parents, but to go to the lengths that Gavin does didn’t ring true for me.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this book did not work for me on any level, unfortunately. The choppy and uneven flow of the plot, one-dimensional characters and pointless red herrings made this book one I cannot recommend to anyone. The only character I did feel the slightest bit of empathy for in the beginning was Rebecca.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Her Sister’s Killer from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: My Sister's Wedding by Vicky Pattison

Title: My Sister’s Wedding
Author: Vicky Pattison
Publisher: Sphere
Publication Date: June 2017
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: For better or worse, two families are about to become one . . .

The Ashworth sisters couldn't be more different. Becky is focused, driven and about to marry her lovely fiancé, Daniel Balfour. Lizzie, on the other hand, bounces from one temp job to another, keeps falling for the wrong man and is a whirlwind of chaos in Becky's otherwise well-ordered life. But they love each other fiercely and the Ashworth way has always been family comes first.

As preparations for Becky and Daniel's wedding get underway, it soon becomes clear that the Ashworth way is not the Balfour way. Daniel's family have never thought Becky was good enough for him but he loves her and that's always been enough for the happy couple. But when Lizzie gets caught in the crossfire between Becky and the Balfours, Becky and Lizzie find themselves drifting apart at a time when they need each other the most. Will they be able to repair the damage before Becky walks down the aisle?

Warm-hearted, fun, witty and romantic, My Sister's Wedding will have you crying with laughter one second, and then crying with emotion the next. It's Vicky Pattison at her very best!

My Thoughts: I absolutely love it when I find a book where I immediately feel a connection to the characters. In this case, sisters Becky and Lizzie Ashworth are as close as sisters can be and then some. Their mother abandoned them when they were little and their father raised them. Lizzie was very young when her mother left, so Becky was the only mother-figure she had ever known.

Becky is a book editor, lives in Notting Hill with Daniel, who has finally popped the question. Everything is coming up sunshine and daisies. Unfortunately, Lizzie is a bit of a hot mess. After getting fired, yet again, she doesn’t seem able to hold down a job or even figure out what her life’s passion is beyond hitting the pubs and waking up with raging hangovers.

The proverbial fly in the ointment is Daniel’s family. His parents are complete snobs. Daniel’s sister, Nicole, is a total witch, who will stop at nothing to break Daniel and Becky up. She’s extremely competitive and wants her father to make her the head of their multi-million-pound company instead of Daniel. Her idea of charity is taking presents to a children’s hospital and sneaking out the back door without actually spending time with the children. She will use anyone to her advantage and for her benefit. She pays local paparazzi to be where she is so they take staged photographs that she will approve for publication. I kept hoping someone would push her into the path of a red double-decker bus.

Due to her imminent nuptials into one of the most prominent families in London, Becky finds herself at the center of a media frenzy, with her picture being taken constantly and companies sending her their products to try and promote. Things turn sour at Becky’s engagement party when a near brawl occurs between Lizzie and Nicole which drives a wedge between Lizzie and Becky. I was so taken in with the Ashworth sisters, I couldn’t put the book down, intensely anticipating what would happen next.

Meanwhile, Lizzie, who lied to her sister about having a job as a dog-walker, spends her days in the park taking photographs of dogs when she meets Justin, a singer she has had a crush on after seeing his band perform. As they get to know each other, things take a sudden turn when Lizzie and Becky’s mother turns up unannounced and the rift between the sisters gets wider.

I absolutely loved this story and the author had me laughing at so many moments in this book. I never sided with either sister but kept hoping they would find their way back to each other and clear the air. The story is told from alternating points of view from Becky and Lizzie, which made it easier to empathize with both of them. I honestly didn’t want it to end and really enjoyed some of the unexpected twists that the author throws in.

My Final Verdict: Readers who like a happily ever after without any cliffhangers should grab this book. Additionally, readers who like romantic comedies or books that feature characters the reader immediately feels a bond with will enjoy this and, like me, wish they were part of the Ashworth family. I will be on the lookout for more of this author’s work and am hoping I will get to spend time with these characters again.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of My Sister’s Wedding from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier

Title: Little Secrets
Author: Jennifer Hillier
Narrator: Kirsten Potter
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: April 2020
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: All it takes to unravel a life is one little secret....

Marin had the perfect life. Married to her college sweetheart, she owns a chain of upscale hair salons, and Derek runs his own company. They're admired in their community and are a loving family—until their world falls apart the day their son, Sebastian, is taken.

A year later, Marin is a shadow of herself. The FBI search has gone cold. The publicity has faded. She and her husband rarely speak. She hires a PI to pick up where the police left off, but instead of finding Sebastian, she learns that Derek is having an affair with a younger woman. This discovery sparks Marin back to life. She's lost her son; she's not about to lose her husband, too. Kenzie is an enemy with a face, which means this is a problem Marin can fix.

Permanently.

My Thoughts: Little Secrets was my introductory ear-read to author Jennifer Hillier and it won’t be my last! This story was quite riveting and the lines between good and evil are definitely blurry here. After her four-year-old son is taken in broad daylight in a packed Seattle marketplace, Marin has lived her life just going through the motions. Video footage shows Sebastian leaving the area with someone dressed as Santa and no trace of him is ever found. She had one attempted suicide several months ago, but she had made a promise to herself that if Sebastian is found dead, she will be following him.

Fifteen months later, Marin is seeing a therapist, participating in a support group and has hired a private investigator to keep searching. Through the P.I., Marin discovers her husband, Derek, is having an affair. Though I do not condone Derek’s actions, their marriage is practically nonexistent. They rarely see one another or speak and for all intents and purposes are living separate lives.

The rage that Marin feels is so palpable and so blinding in its intensity it drives Marin to do the unthinkable and remove the threat to her marriage from her life. While I had a hard time with Marin’s decision, I certainly understood it and I felt massive quantities of empathy and compassion for her. It’s certainly easy for someone to Monday morning quarterback the situation, but how can any of us say, with complete certainty, how we would react to our child being taken and then having this bombshell land in our laps? I enjoyed that this story dives into Marin’s choices and her thoughts and feelings about it, which drive her to make other choices.

I really wanted to hate the other woman, Kenzie, but she elicited some empathy and compassion from me too once I got to know her backstory and understood what was driving her motivation. As with Marin, I didn’t approve of the choices Kenzie was making in life, but she is one of those characters that make an impact. She’s a survivor, she’s had loads of experience getting the short end of the stick and she knows that nobody is going to look out for her so she has to do it herself.

Marin’s best friend, Sal, was also an interesting character and his unwavering love for Marin was keenly felt. I also enjoyed the scenes with Marin and her support group, listening to their experiences and how they were coping with their own loss and pain.

This story packed quite a punch and Ms. Hillier does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into Marin’s life with all the feels. I began to feel anxiety whenever the private investigator reached out, terrified at what news she had to impart. Please, God, let Sebastian be found alive. I went with the unabridged audio format for this book and I think my enjoyment of this story was in great part to the wonderful narration by Kirsten Potter. Her performance brought these characters to life and their thoughts and emotions were portrayed realistically.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this story was equally intense and convincing. At the heart of the story, my main concern was who took Sebastian and what happened to him. My need for closure was strong and Ms. Hillier delivered on all fronts. I highly recommend this story to readers who love thrillers and novels of domestic suspense. All the threads are neatly tied off with this story, though I can’t say it ends with a happily ever after, there is hope for healing.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Little Secrets from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Narrator: Jim Dale
Publisher: Pottermore Publishing
Publication Date: November 2015
Genre: Childrens / Young Adult / Fantasy
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: There it was, hanging in the sky above the school: the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue, the mark Death Eaters left behind whenever they had entered a building... wherever they had murdered...

When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shriveled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort's darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny...

Having become classics of our time, the Harry Potter series never fails to bring comfort and escapism. With their message of hope, belonging and the enduring power of truth and love, the story of the Boy Who Lived continues to delight generations of new readers.

My Thoughts: This book definitely did not hold the same shock factor for me in this reading that it did 18 years ago. On this, my fourth read of Half-Blood Prince, knowing what’s coming helped me actually focus more on the story instead of worrying about what may or may not happen. On the heels of Book 5 when Harry lost Sirius, I was dreading finding out who Harry would lose next. If Rowling could kill off Harry’s godfather, then nobody was safe. Having grown up without his parents, unfortunately, Harry has become accustomed to losing the people he loves.

After a long summer at the Dursley’s, Harry is collected from Privet Drive by none other than Professor Dumbledore who takes Harry on an excursion to contact an old colleague and then escort him to the Burrow.

Harry, Ron and Hermione finally receive their long anticipated O.W.L. exam results and Harry finds himself in an advanced Potions class with a new professor, Horace Slughorn. Potions have never been Harry’s favorite class, especially when Snape was the instructor. Harry acquires a potions book that belonged to someone calling himself the “Half-Blood Prince” and following the notes and tips provided within the book by the previous owner, Harry outperforms Hermione.

Harry is convinced that Draco is up to something sinister and spends a lot of time trying to figure out what it is. There are a few occurrences of students being cursed by unknown perpetrators that add to the suspense of the story. I enjoyed that Harry is made Captain of the Quidditch team and puts together a team that will hopefully win the House Cup.

The best part of the book, for me, are the private lessons Harry has with Professor Dumbledore where he learns what Dumbledore already knows about Voldemort’s early years and family. Through Dumbledore’s memories, Harry witnesses Dumbledore’s first meeting with the boy who would become the most evil wizard of all time. Harry is also tasked with finding out the true memories of one of the professors that had been tampered with. Harry has his work cut out for him in this installment and as with the whole series, I enjoyed every minute of it.

Also, the narration of the audiobooks is absolutely brilliant and makes my enjoyment of this series so much more. Jim Dale is no stranger to the arts, being a highly talented and experienced actor, himself. The decision to use him for the narration was and continues to be perfect. Once again, as always, much love and all the stars to J.K. Rowling for bringing Harry and this wonderful world to life and then sharing it with us.

My Final Verdict: As with most of the fans of this much beloved series, I have watched the movies and though Snape is quite despicable in the books, I was completely head over heels with Alan Rickman’s performance. Though most people should find his actions in the book deplorable, Rickman’s performance in the movie made me feel heartbroken, but a little sympathetic. Though there are always many every time I read these books, I can’t help but notice some major differences between the books and the movies that really stood out for me. These observations didn’t create any negative feelings or take away any enjoyment of the story, but were more of an hmmm, that’s interesting moment.
• The muggle Prime Minister is aware of the wizarding world
• Cornelius Fudge has been replaced as the Minister of Magic by Rufus Scrimgeour (I can’t remember if that is ever addressed in the movies at all, but I do recall him making an appearance in the first half of Deathly Hallows)
• In the book, Narcissa speaks the words of the unbreakable vow and not Bellatrix
• Dumbledore collects Harry at the Dursley’s, not at the London tube and disrupting his potential date
• Ginny and Molly have an intense dislike for Fleur. This was interesting because the movies don’t spend any time on the courtship between Fleur and Bill until it’s time for their wedding. Additionally, Ginny calls Fleur ”Phlegm” behind her back, which I found hilarious
• Harry, Hermione and Ron use extendable ears to eavesdrop on Draco when he is in Borgin and Burkes and Hermione goes into Borgin and Burkes to try to determine what Draco wants held for him on reserve
• Tonks finds Harry on the train and fixes his broken nose and not Luna
• Luna is announcing the Quidditch match, or rather, making offhand remarks about complete nonsense, infuriating McGonagall which was quite entertaining
• Bellatrix isn’t one of the Death Eaters on the astronomy tower
• At the end when Harry is dueling with Snape, Buckbeak attacks Snape to protect Harry

REVIEW: Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane

Title: Pretty Little Wife
Author: Darby Kane
Narrator: Xe Sands
Publisher: Harper Audio
Publication Date: December 2020
Genre: Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Debut author Darby Kane thrills with this twisty domestic suspense novel that asks one central question: shouldn’t a dead husband stay dead?

Lila Ridgefield lives in an idyllic college town, but not everything is what it seems. Lila isn’t what she seems. A student vanished months ago. Now, Lila’s husband, Aaron, is also missing. At first these cases are treated as horrible coincidences until it’s discovered the student is really the third of three unexplained disappearances over the last few years. The police are desperate to find the connection if there even is one. Little do they know they might be stumbling over only part of the truth….

With the small town in an uproar, everyone is worried about the whereabouts of their beloved high school teacher. Everyone except Lila, his wife. She’s definitely confused about her missing husband but only because she was the last person to see his body, and now it’s gone.

My Thoughts: Pretty much from the beginning of the book, the reader is made aware that Lila’s marriage is terrible. The fairy-tale ending that Lila was hoping for when she and Aaron got married is far from the reality. He’s abusive and controlling. Their conversations are layered with contempt and hostility and he’s dead. Lila should know because she’s the last one to see his body. The problem is now that Aaron’s body is no longer in the place she left it. She left it in a very public place, hoping it would be discovered as well as the evidence of the atrocities he had committed. But, no, the body is gone and instead of the police investigating an assumed suicide, they are now investigating a missing persons case and logically wondering why Lila doesn’t seem upset about her husband’s disappearance.

The provocative questions I had at the start were did she kill him? If so, why? Where is he? Is he really dead? Lila is not a likable character but as I got to know her, I began to respect her ability to survive and think fast on her feet. I didn’t agree with a lot of the choices she makes, but by the end of the book I had a lot of admiration for what she has gone through and survived and come out on the other side with scars and damage she keeps neatly hidden.

Finding out you’re married to a monster is pretty bad, but better the monster you know, right? Lila has experience dealing with monsters. She’s been dealing with them her whole life. It took me a long time to figure out who the current monsters were and what they had planned, but though I found this book good, it really didn’t really knock my socks off. The ending was well played and I had to hand it to Lila. I can’t decide whether she’s a true victim and survivor or if she is another monster but I was impressed with her determination to not only survive, but win.

I chose the unabridged audio format for this story. Xe Sands’ performance was quite good blending the tension, suspense and emotions of the characters together making their behavior, decisions and actions believable.

My Final Verdict: I recommend this story to fans of mysteries, thrillers and domestic suspense novels. Some of the subject matter may be hard to read as it may be triggering.

REVIEW: Flying by the Seat of my Knickers by Eliza Watson

Title: Flying by the Seat of my Knickers (The Travel Mishaps of Caity Shaw #1)
Author: Eliza Watson
Publisher: Elizabeth Watson
Publication Date: February 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Why run from your troubles when you can fly instead?

When Caity Shaw is fired from her first job that doesn’t require an elf uniform, her older sister, Rachel, an event planner, hires her to work a meeting in Dublin. Caity jumps at the opportunity to travel abroad and escape her pathetic life. However, even four thousand miles from home, there’s no avoiding debt collectors, an overbearing mother, and haunting memories of a controlling ex.

While in Dublin, Caity suffers a series of humiliating mishaps, causing her to lose even more faith in herself. Caity struggles to earn Rachel’s respect — and to keep Declan, her hot Irish coworker, at arm’s length. Declan repeatedly saves Caity’s butt and helps boost her self-confidence, making it difficult to keep her distance from the charming womanizer. When Declan helps her research her Irish grandmother, Caity discovers the mysterious past of the courageous woman she barely knew might hold the answers to her future.

My Thoughts: Flying by the Seat of my Knickers is the first book in a series by new to me author Eliza Watson. Please note this series is best read in order as each book follows our main character, Caity Shaw, on her travels. This story is set in Ireland and I found it to be well researched and illustrated in my mind so eloquently that I really need to get myself over to the Emerald Isle. Note to self: update bucket list.

Upon first meeting Caity, the first thing I noticed is she’s a hot mess. She is newly single, after leaving an abusive relationship with her narcissistic ex who was stalking her. It got so bad that her performance at her job suffered and she was fired. Now, she’s working for her sister, Rachel’s events planning company, trying to prove to herself and everyone around her she can be a functioning adult. She is struggling to learn her job, not mess it all up, not make her sister regret hiring her all while trying to figure out what her next step will be. Now that her car has been repossessed back in Wisconsin and the only job prospects sitting in her email inbox is a seasonal gig as an elf and working at the local motor mart convenience store, let’s just say that Caity has hit rock bottom and the only direction for her is up.

In addition to this, yes there is more, Caity learns that her grandmother came from Ireland and in between doing her job and getting information from her mother, she is tracing her genealogy to find out where her grandmother came from and discover if there are members of her family left in Ireland. I found this bit quite interesting as I am experiencing this with my husband who is researching his family tree and finding relatives he never knew he had. I am hopeful that there will be more time spent on this in future books.

Caity works with Declan and Gretchen. I thought Declan was a great character and though there is some hint of attraction, nothing happens, but the relationship may develop over the series. On the flip side, Gretchen was a complete witch. I found her to be condescending and full of herself. When she isn’t flipping her hair and making pouty lips and fluttery eyeballs at Declan, she’s trying to sabotage Caity in front of Rachel.

My Final Verdict: It appears that each book in this series features a new travel destination, so readers who love stories set in interesting locations will enjoy this series. I liked Caity for the most part, but she needs a lot of work. She needs to grow a spine, stand up for herself more and take her power back. There wasn’t a lot of time spent on the abusive relationship, but I had a good sense that she is terrified of her ex showing up and this detour pulled me out of the overall story a few times. The next book in the series takes place in Paris and it will be interesting, if not entertaining, watching Caity try to make her away around. Hopefully, Declan will be there to offer a hand.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Flying by the Seat of my Knickers from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Title: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Author: Judy Blume
Narrator: Laura Hamilton
Publisher: Listening Library
Publication Date: January 2010
Genre: Teen / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Margaret Simon, almost 12, has just moved from New York City to the suburbs, and she’s anxious to fit in with her new friends. When she’s asked to join a secret club, she jumps at the chance. But when the girls start talking about boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret starts to wonder if she’s normal. There are some things about growing up that are hard for her to talk about, even with her friends.

Lucky for Margaret, she’s got someone else to confide in...someone who always listens.

My Thoughts: Though this book has been around for a very long time, originally published in 1970, it never crossed my mind to pick it up until I heard about the movie coming out. I'm still on the fence about whether or not I will watch the movie, but enjoyed this book, a coming-of-age story about a girl who has meaningful conversations with God about getting her period, growing breasts, liking boys and whether she should be Jewish or Christian.

I liked Margaret and thought she was pretty typical of most girls her age, though it was never my experience to brag to my friends about who got their period or, more importantly, who got it first. Additionally, it was never an occasion that was celebrated, at least not with my parents.

I listened to the unabridged audio format that was a fast listen at just over 3 hours in length. Laura Hamilton’s performance was very good and breathed life into all of the characters, giving me a better understanding of them and their personalities.

My Final Verdict: This book’s target audience is for children ages 9-12, but I may not have understood the references had I read this then. Judy Blume is a talented author with an excellent insight and voice that will appeal to readers of all ages.

REVIEW: The Empty Nest by Sue Watson

Title: The Empty Nest
Author: Sue Watson
Narrator: Jasmine Blackborow
Publisher: Hachette UK - Bookouture
Publication Date: November 2019
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: "Sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of us, Kat. Everyone has secrets, even the people we love, the people we live with...."

Kat remembers the days when her only daughter Amy wouldn't leave her side. Amy was the baby who cried when you walked out of the room, the toddler who was too shy to speak to strangers, the small child who clung to Kat's legs in the school playground.

But now Amy is grown up, and Amy is gone - to university in a town several hours away. Kat's house - which once felt too full, too noisy, too busy - is deathly quiet, and Kat awaits the daily phone call to tell her that her beloved daughter is thriving and happy.

But one day Amy doesn’t call. Kat’s husband and friends think she is being paranoid - surely Amy is just out, having fun with her friends. But Kat knows right away that something is very wrong. Her daughter would never forget to call. She would never just disappear.... After all, Amy has nothing to run from. Or does she?

A gripping and suspenseful psychological thriller with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. Fans of The Wife Between Us, The Girl Before, and Gone Girl will be gripped by this story about a mother’s obsessive love for her child.

My Thoughts: I am so conflicted with this book. Sue Watson is one of my go-to authors when I crave the twisty and suspenseful, but this one just didn’t pull me in gripping the edge of my seat in high anticipation like she has with her other stories. The story was good, it definitely wasn’t that, so the only thing that I can conclude is the audio narrator really had me annoyed and irritated at Kat for most of the book. I just couldn’t connect with her, though I felt tremendous empathy for the fear and anxiety she is feeling. It was just so over the top and like a lot of the other characters in the book, I wanted to tell her to chill the eff out.

Obviously, it turns out that Kat was right to worry, but she was in near hysterics and panic mode practically from the moment the book started. Yes, I get it. You and your daughter have a special relationship. You’re extremely close. What I couldn’t help wondering, like a lot of people, is maybe Amy needed a breather from her helicopter mom, always hovering overhead, breathing down her neck. She’s away at university in Wales and for the first time in her life living on her own so maybe the girl just wants to embrace that freedom for a hot minute without her mother smothering her. Five minutes after Amy is supposed to walk through the door for a weekend home, her mother is obsessively checking her phone, scrolling through Amy’s Instagram, calling the friends.

Five minutes turns into 24 hours turns into 48 hours turns into 8 days and the police are involved. Facebook pages have been created for people to post information about her and then things start to turn quite ugly. Amy’s roommates tell the police that they saw Amy with an old guy the night before she was supposed to go home for the weekend. Then the roommate tells the police that the man is Richard, Amy’s stepfather. Shut The Front Door! Why was Richard in Amy’s flat? Why didn’t Kat know about it?

I’m all in now, let me tell you. Still not enough information to determine if Amy was taken or if she left on her own and who she left with remains a mystery until nearly the end. In typical and brilliant Sue Watson fashion, she rips the rug right out from under me and I’m completely blown away.

Thumbs up must also go to Jasmine Blackborow for her superb narration performance. In addition to making Kat sound as neurotic as humanly possible, she breathes life into the other characters so magnificently that when the final twists come, the reader is so trusting of the people around, just like Kat, that I could hardly believe what was happening!

My Final Verdict: Readers who like a very slow burning story and don’t mind characters that get on your nerves in the beginning will adore this story. It wasn’t my favorite, but once things started to heat up beyond Kat’s hysterics, I couldn’t pull myself away.

REVIEW: Making Your Mind Up by Jill Mansell

Title: Making Your Mind Up
Author: Jill Mansell
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: May 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Love is a complicated thing...

Lottie Carlyle is happy enough. Living in a beautiful cottage with her two adorable-sometimes-kids in an idyllic village, on good terms with her ex-husband, and with friends all around, everything is going just fine. But when she meets her new boss, her peaceful world is thrown into delightful, exciting, and frustrating chaos. Tyler is perfect for Lottie, but her kids do not agree. To make matters worse, the handsome and mysterious Seb appears on the scene, intriguing-and distracting-Lottie and charming her children, making it more and more difficult for her to make up her mind...

My Thoughts: Quite an enjoyable story, rich in detail and so character driven, I honestly had a challenging time who I wanted to see more of. Though Lottie and Tyler are major characters, there were also several that I felt a deep connection with. Cressida, Freddie, Mario, Amber, Jojo as well as Lottie’s children, Ruby and Nat who were quite bratty for two thirds of the book. Usually books with this many characters all with different storylines can be a challenge to follow and keep everything straight, but Ms. Mansell does it so seamlessly without dragging the reader out of the story.

As the reader gets to know Lottie, Cressida and Amber and how they are all connected, I loved how each of them are in a place in their lives where they need to make up their minds. Lottie needs to make up her mind about Tyler. Will she allow her children to dictate her love life? They like Seb, but he’s really just an overgrown kid himself. Will he be there when life throws hurdles in their path?

Cressida lives a solitary existence making greeting cards and spends lots of time with Jojo, who is her ex-husband’s daughter. I found this relationship surprising and a little disturbing, but I quickly warmed up to these two and realized how well they got along and felt bad that Cressida’s husband left her for not giving him a child but relies on her to take care of the child he has with his next wife. Wouldn’t have minded seeing that guy get run over by a bus. Cressida meets Tom and his son Donny and may have a chance at romance but will need to make up her mind about Jojo and her role in Jojo’s life.

Amber is dating Lottie’s ex-husband, Mario. She gets along wonderfully with Ruby and Nat (don’t get me started about how unfair these kids are towards Tyler dating Lottie) but she has trust issues with Mario and begins to wonder if his bad boy persona is just that or if he really is a liar and cheater. Amber needs to make up her mind about whether she needs to find someone who she can fully trust and will make her happy or if she should stay with Mario.

In addition to all of this going on, Lottie’s boss, Freddie wants Lottie’s help tracking down people from his past that he needs to make amends with, as he has already made up his mind about his life and the direction it will go.

My Final Verdict: A story with so much to unpack but leaves me caring so much about what happens to them is a book not to be missed. This book made me smile and cry. There were some laugh aloud moments and some moments of righteous indignation and irritation. What more could a reader ask for? Fans of romance and fiction will find something in this story that will tug on their heartstrings. You just need to make your mind up but save yourself the trouble of indecision and just go for it.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Making Your Mind Up from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.