REVIEW: Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea

Title: Those Empty Eyes
Author: Charlie Donlea
Narrator: Vivienne Leheny
Publisher: RB Media, Recorded Books
Publication Date: March 2023
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: You know her name.

You know her face.

You know those eyes…

Ten years after she was exonerated for the slaughter of her family, the girl the tabloids called “Empty Eyes” is the only one looking for the truth in this propulsive thriller from #1 internationally bestselling author Charlie Donlea.

Alex Armstrong has changed everything about herself—her name, her appearance, her backstory. She’s no longer the terrified teenager a rapt audience saw on television, emerging in handcuffs from the quiet suburban home the night her family was massacred. That girl, Alexandra Quinlan, nicknamed Empty Eyes by the media, was accused of the killings, fought to clear her name, and later took the stand during her highly publicized defamation lawsuit that captured the attention of the nation.

It’s been ten years since, and Alex hasn’t stopped searching for answers about the night her family was killed, even as she continues to hide her real identity from true crime fanatics and grasping reporters still desperate to locate her. As a legal investigator, she works tirelessly to secure justice for others, too. People like Matthew Claymore, who’s under suspicion in the disappearance of his girlfriend, a student journalist named Laura McAllister.

Laura was about to break a major story about rape and cover-ups on her college campus. Alex believes Matthew is innocent, and unearths stunning revelations about the university’s faculty, fraternity members, and powerful parents willing to do anything to protect their children.

Most shocking of all—as Alex digs into Laura’s disappearance, she realizes there are unexpected connections to the murder of her own family. For as different as the crimes may seem, they each hinge on one sinister truth: no one is quite who they seem to be . . .

My Thoughts: Based on the description of Those Empty Eyes by new to me author Charlie Donlea, I anticipated a thrilling and twisty ride of suspense and mystery. Unfortunately, this book failed to deliver. Instead, I was given a very choppy story, disjointed writing and excessively repetitive details (how many times does the reader need to be told that hiding behind the grandfather clock saved Alex’s life?) Honestly, I got it the first time! If that wasn’t bad enough, the author adds insult to injury by giving me an ending that provided absolutely zero closure with a whopper of a cliffhanger! Is Alex going to be privy to the nuclear explosion you just dropped in my lap? Will there be a sequel or will Alex live out the rest of her life never knowing the whole bloody truth of what really happened to her family and who was involved?

Come on dude, you can’t end a book like that, with some out of left field twist without any follow-up or resolution after everything Alex has gone through with losing her family, being accused of the crime, being stalked and harassed by paparazzi to eventually learning the truth and rebuilding her life.

So, what did I like? I liked the cover and the narration of the audio by Vivienne Leheny. This was also my first audiobook narrated by Ms. Leheny and I found her performance to be realistic and the characters authentic. She employed the right amount of emotion of verbal tension to make their actions more believable.

My Final Verdict: I would have liked this book so much more had there been logical resolutions that fit the plot instead of twists that seemed to be thrown in as an afterthought. Fans of suspense, mystery and thriller novels will find much better options elsewhere.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Those Empty Eyes from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: One Night Only by Catherine Walsh

Title: One Night Only
Author: Catherine Walsh
Narrator: Jessica Regan
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Publication Date: July 2021
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Who could have predicted this? Being at the same wedding. In Ireland. There’s a reason one-night stands are one-night stands. You’re not supposed to see each other again, especially not when you’re the maid of honor, and he’s the groom’s brother…

Sarah Anderson has never been more excited about anything in her life. She’s going to her best friend’s wedding. And not just any wedding. An Irish wedding. Goodbye New York, hello rolling green hills and men with beautiful accents and twinkling eyes.

But Sarah should have known that not all guests are fairy-tale princes…

There’s the chinless Uncle Trevor, whose idea of small talk is to claim climate change is a conspiracy.

Then there’s Great Aunt Eileen, who doesn’t talk at all (she’s too busy replacing the hotel cutlery with her own set).

Worst of all, there’s Declan Murphy. Best man. Brother of the groom. And the man Sarah last saw naked.

Is there anything more mortifying than bumping into a one-night stand halfway across the world? Especially as Declan seems determined to embarrass Sarah at every turn. At least when the wedding’s over she’ll never have to see him again.

But, back in New York, Sarah finds the more she tries to forget Declan, the more she can’t shake the thought of that infuriatingly charming smile and the way he wears a tux…

Was he really just for one night only, or might Declan Murphy be The One?

Prepare to laugh until you cry with this perfect feel-good romantic comedy about taking a chance on love. Fans of Sophie Ranald, Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes won’t be able to put this down!

My Thoughts: Fun premise for a story I enjoyed but did not love. How awkward would it be to have a one-night stand with a hot guy with an Irish accent only to have him show up at your best friend’s wedding because he is the groom’s brother? For Sarah Anderson, this is exactly what happens.

I liked Sarah for the most part, but I thought her aversion to relationships became tiring and annoying. The reason for her aversion was completely understandable, but get over it, already! Not every guy is your ex who dumps you after you tell him you love him or your mother who bailed.

Declan Murphy, on the other hand, was a great character. He has looks, charm, a great sense of humor, loves his family and has a fantastic work ethic. Sarah, and every dang unattached woman in this book, should be clamoring to catch Declan’s eye. In spite of their initial hook-up, Sarah and Declan have great chemistry and, when she isn’t trying to ruin it, what it takes to make a go of a relationship.

Lots of great supporting characters add to the story and it should be a keeper shelf book, right? I went with the audiobook edition and enjoyed the narration by Jessica Regan. Her Irish accent was lovely and her American accent was good, though I caught hints of her Irish lilt in Sarah’s voice at times. I will check out more of Catherine Walsh’s stories, especially if the protagonist male is anything like Declan.

I would have loved to see Sarah cut loose a little bit and let her hair down, which you would think she does considering she has no problem picking up and sleeping with men she just met. Unfortunately, not Sarah. She’s wound tighter than a straight man’s butt cheeks in prison. Hopefully with Declan around, she will learn to lighten up, grab life by the horns and live in the moment.

My Final Verdict: Fans of the romantic comedy, chick-lit and women’s fiction genres will likely enjoy this book. Books set in interesting locales such as New York and Ireland also hold great appeal.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of One Night Only from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan

Title: The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris
Author: Jenny Colgan
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: August 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Life is sweet in this heartwarming tale of a little chocolate shop in Paris, by the bestselling author of Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams and Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe.

Mouth-watering recipes inside!

As dawn breaks over the Pont Neuf, and the cobbled alleyways of Paris come to life, Anna Trent is already awake and at work; mixing and stirring the finest, smoothest, richest chocolate; made entirely by hand, it is sold to the grandes dames of Paris.

It's a huge shift from the chocolate factory she worked in at home in the north of England. But when an accident changed everything, Anna was thrown back in touch with her French teacher, Claire, who offered her the chance of a lifetime - to work in Paris with her former sweetheart, Thierry, a master chocolatier.

With old wounds about to be uncovered and healed, Anna is set to discover more about real chocolate - and herself - than she ever dreamed.

My Thoughts: Jenny Colgan writes the kinds of books that tempt the reader so subtly, like a whisper, drawing the reader ever closer with thoughts of cupcakes, bakeries and chocolate that before the reader realizes what has happened, they are drawn into the story and completely mesmerized by their surroundings. Having a major sweet tooth and sugar craving, The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris captured all of my senses, the sights, sounds and scents of Paris and the elite Le Chapeau Chocolat where the chocolate is made daily and by hand and is sought out by the entire city of Paris, it seems.

As Anna Trent learns, once you have tried the chocolate made by Thierry Girard, no other chocolate will ever come close and she knows first-hand, having worked in a chocolate factory in England. She also knows that what she thought she knew about making chocolate doesn’t even come close to what she witnesses in Paris. After a tragic accident finds her out of a job and recuperating, she crosses paths with her old French teacher, Claire, who not only helps Anna improve her French but puts her on a path of self-discovery and an opportunity to learn from the best.

This story is really two stories with Anna’s story told in the present and Claire’s story told in the past. Though these women lead very different lives and walk different paths, fate brings these women together at a time when they needed one another, with Anna recuperating from her accident and Claire battling cancer.

I really liked that these characters are flawed humans, not perfect, living lives that are far from perfect, filled with daily challenges that so many of us take for granted. I felt a deep connection with both of these amazing women. I could relate to Anna as she takes her first steps, moving to another country, trying to fit in and find her place. I empathized with her on her accommodations leaving a lot to be desired, but the view of the Eiffel Tower from her tiny balcony is breathtaking. I could also relate to Claire and the lifetime of opportunities that were missed and the regret she carries with her, which is probably just as painful as the cancer ravaging her body.

The secondary characters are just as vibrant, breathing additional life into this story. Thierry, his son, Laurent, Thierry’s partner, Alice, Claire’s ex-husband, Richard, Anna’s eccentric roommate, Sami were all interesting to varying degrees. The detail the author gives for the intricate process of making the chocolate was fascinating.

This story made me laugh and made me cry and made me catch my breath when events come full circle, as life usually does.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story for the charm and excitement of Paris, for the melt in your mouth chocolate, but most especially for the opportunity to meet two characters who live life on their own terms even if it pulls them out of their comfort zone.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: One of Those Flings by Lauren Blakely

Title: One of Those Flings
Author: Lauren Blakely
Narrator: Andi Arndt, Jason Clarke, Erin Mallon, Savannah Peachwood, Emma Wilder, Jakobi Diem, Dan Bittner
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication Date: August 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Audible | Amazon

Description: Skyler’s breakup survival plan is simple: Swear off men for a year and celebrate her man cleanse with a solo tropical vacation to Hawaii. Snorkeling, sightseeing, zip lining, and leisurely dinners by the sea are just what the doctor ordered to mend her broken heart.

That is, until she meets a hunky adventure tour guide who makes her want to break all her own rules. Handsome, funny, and exciting, Caleb is by far the hottest local attraction. Will a romantic island fling lead to more heartbreak - or a new beginning?

My Thoughts: Initially, what I thought was going to be a fun adventure for a woman taking a manbatical after her latest break-up just didn’t measure up. I really liked the idea of taking a year off of dating and focusing on self-care with a tropical vacation to Hawaii thrown in to celebrate it. I just didn’t feel invested in Skylar or her journey and never felt connected to Caleb.

Books with the vacation fling premise can be quite fun and entertaining, but this one just fell flat for me and honestly, I think it’s because it was an audiobook and it was only 1 hour and 17 minutes long so there was absolutely no time to flesh out Skylar and Caleb so the reader can get to know them better. Also the sound effects were too much. By this, I felt like I was in a crowded restaurant with all the white noise in the background; flatware scraping on plates, conversations that aren’t clear enough to make out what’s being said but distracting enough to pull me out of the story. The most annoying for me were the scenes where Skylar is texting her friend about Caleb. There were sound effects for the sounds on the phone when you are typing out a text. I’m rolling my eyes so hard, I began to worry, they would get stuck. At one point, I started to think there was a problem with the recording and that something else had been recorded with this book. Sometimes too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing.

I enjoyed the performances of all the narrators and the story itself was OK. I think I would have enjoyed it more as a Kindle book with quality time spent getting to know the characters better.

My Final Verdict: If you are a person that is easily distracted by a lot of extraneous noise may want to give this one a pass. If you are a reader looking for a quick fix and welcome the plethora of sound effects, this book will fit the bill.

REVIEW: The Werewolf's 15 Minutes by Jonathan Maberry

Title: The Werewolf’s 15 Minutes
Author: Jonathan Maberry
Narrator: Ray Porter and Dina Pearlman
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication Date: October 2021
Genre: Fantasy / Urban Fantasy
Buy The Book: Audible | Amazon | BN

Description: Gary Bruce is a slacker of epic loserness. Can't keep a job. His friends are as bad as he is. No girlfriend. No direction.

Gary Bruce is also a werewolf.

Desperate for any kind of success, Gary decides to out himself on You Tube. The moment this ordinary guy goes full-on fur, fangs, and claws, the world can't get enough of the biggest thing on social media, he's on every talk show, book and movie deals fall in his lap, and for the first time in his life he gets invited to all the best parties.

But celebrity is a special kind of voracious monster. And when Gary's star begins to lose its luster, he has to decide how far he'll go to stay relevant in a world that discards has-beens in favor of the next big thing.

Fortunately, Gary has a plan....

My Thoughts: Audible has struck a goldmine with their original stories, in my opinion. This one is less than two hours in length, but is thoroughly entertaining, funny and shocking.

Gary Bruce is a slacker, a loser, someone you would expect to be living in their mother’s basement in his fifties and the type of guy most girls want to avoid on the online dating apps. But Gary does have one thing going for him. He’s a werewolf and he decides to out himself by filming his change and posting it on YouTube. Of course, the initial reaction is huge, though most of the comments are assumptions about the use of a morphing software app for special effects.

Once Gary proves it’s real, he’s an overnight celebrity. People can’t get enough of him, he’s invited to talk shows, there are book deals, movie deals in the works, medical professionals want to examine him to figure out how this is possible. There are even werewolf groupies and he has an agent.

The funny thing about overnight fame and glory is it can be short-lived and over-rated and Gary finds himself caught between staying relevant to the public and possibly losing his humanity completely or embracing his life and taking charge of his own destiny on his own merits.

New to me author Jonathan Maberry’s writing is clever and witty while also depicting the trauma one would expect a werewolf to suffer, especially once they have been outed. The narration by Ray Porter and Dina Pearlman was fantastic and kept me riveted on what Gary’s next move will be. I enjoyed that while in wolf form, Gary speaks with a throaty, growl of a voice and the performance of these parts really add to the story, making Gary one of the most interesting characters I have come across in fiction.

My Final Verdict: Werewolf fans will definitely want to sink their teeth into this story, but I think it will appeal to fans of urban fantasy genres and readers who like to root for the underdog…or underwolf.

REVEW: In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer

Title: In a New York Minute
Author: Kate Spencer
Narrator: Amanda Dolan and Neil Hellegers
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Publication Date: March 2022
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: A clever, tender, and romantic novel for readers of Christina Lauren, Jasmine Guillory, and Sophie Cousens, this laugh-out-loud debut is a perceptive reminder that fate can have a sense of humor, and that love can happen…In a New York Minute.

Franny Doyle is having the worst day. She’s been laid off from her (admittedly mediocre) job, the subway doors ripped her favorite silk dress to ruins, and now she’s flashed her unmentionables to half of lower Manhattan. On the plus side, a dashing stranger came to her rescue with his (Gucci!) suit jacket. On the not-so-plus side, he can’t get away from her fast enough.

Worse yet? Someone posted their (entirely not) meet-cute online. Suddenly Franny and her knight-in-couture, Hayes Montgomery III, are the newest social media sensation, and all of New York is shipping #SubwayQTs.

Only Franny and Hayes couldn’t be a more disastrous match. She’s fanciful, talkative, and creative. He’s serious, shy, and all about numbers. Luckily, in a city of eight million people, they never have to meet again. Yet somehow, Hayes and Franny keep running into each other—and much to their surprise, they enjoy each other’s company. A lot. But when Franny’s whole world is turned upside down (again!), can she find the courage to trust in herself and finally have the life—and love—she’s always wanted?

My Thoughts: This story was so much fun! Great characters and an interesting story are what every reader seeks and In a New York Minute hits all the marks. It’s bad enough that Franny Doyle gets laid off from her job, but on her way home, her dress gets caught in the subway door and tears the dress exposing her backside. Yes, dig me a hole right here so I can crawl in and die from mortification. Fortunately for us, Franny does not. A handsome guy, who Franny nicknames "Hot Suit", gives her his suit jacket to salvage her modesty. A few tears are shed, she snots all over him, he gets off the train and she has no idea who he is or how she is going to return his jacket to him.

Unbeknownst to either one of them, the entire scene is recorded and appears on social media, making them instant celebrities. #SubwayQTs. At this point, I would be considering a change of identity and city. Instead, Franny meets her rescuer, Hayes Montgomery III, when they are invited to do a television interview and my first impression is he is kind of a stuffed suit, hot or not. The jacket is returned and really, is there any reason to think these two would meet again under any circumstances? Over the course of this story, not only do they cross paths multiple times, but are so dang stinkin’ cute, it got me right in the feels.

Franny is a wonderful character with great spirit and attitude and Hayes is like that box of chocolates Forrest Gump’s mother told him about. Not only was he not a stuffed suit, but he was also fabulous. The arrogant persona he presents to the world is the outer shell to protect the mushy center he keeps private.

This story was hilarious right from the start. The writing was spot on, but the narration performed by Amanda Dolan and Neil Hellegers was fantastic. They captured the essence and personality of these characters perfectly. The supporting characters Cleo, Lola, Eleanor and Perrine added to the fun of the story and New York City is a character in its’ own right. I want to go across the Brooklyn Bridge and eat at Grimaldi’s mainly to see if the Arizona locations actually do it justice.

My Final Verdict: This story is pure fluff, but it works! If you’re looking for something cute and light that doesn’t require a degree in rocket science to understand, give this one a try. This would have been a great rom-com movie from Nora Ephron.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of In a New York Minute from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The New Wife by Sue Watson

Title: The New Wife
Author: Sue Watson
Narrator: Tamsin Kennard
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: November 2021
Genre: Thriller / Mystery
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: You can never truly know what goes on behind closed doors…

My darling son, Sam, is marrying his childhood sweetheart and I couldn’t be prouder of the man he’s grown into. Walking out on his abusive father all those years ago was the best thing I ever did. And today he stands, tall and handsome, saying ‘I do’ to my dream daughter-in-law. If I hadn’t pushed them together all those years ago, he might never have found a girl as perfect as Lauren. It’s true what they say, mother always knows best.

But weeks later, Lauren is dead and police cars fill the driveway of their idyllic countryside home. As they question Sam, I sense he’s hiding something. Why won’t he look me in the eye? And who does he rush off to meet as soon as the police are gone?

Desperate, I do what every good mother would do: I let myself into Sam and Lauren’s bedroom. What I see, I will never be able to forget. My son’s beautiful new wife was hiding a dangerous secret. Can I clear my son’s name? And could my life be in danger now too?

A completely gripping, utterly twisted thriller that will leave your jaw on the floor. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, The Wife Between Us and The Woman in the Window.

My Thoughts: What do you call a writer that authors a story that is fun, tugs on your heartstrings with all the feels and on a dime can switch to a story that holds you by the throat in a grip so tight that you are completely powerless to move or utter a sound? You call that author talented and not just talented but freaking brilliant and Sue Watson is such an author.

Her whimsical, fun and heartwarming stories are what drew me to this author in the first place, but her domestic thrillers and mysteries knock me down like an NFL linebacker and leave me wondering if I need a seatbelt for the very harrowing ride I am about to embark on.

With The New Wife, we are introduced to Georgie who has raised her son, Sam, as a single parent after leaving his abusive father. When Sam is still knee-high to a grasshopper, he meets Lauren on their first day in nursery school and for the next twenty plus years the Jackson and Moore families become the best of friends and even refer to themselves as The JackMoore’s. So, it comes as no surprise that Sam and Lauren grow up together, fall in love and get married.

The surprising part comes just a few months after the wedding, Lauren is dead, her broken and bloody body found at the foot of the stairs. It comes as no surprise that the first person to be under suspicion is Sam. The spouse is always the first suspect and I admit, I had my suspicions of him too. Another surprising part of this story is that every character in this book caused me to question their own involvement, including Sam’s mother! See what I mean about this author’s ability to draft a story that pulls you in so intensely?

When the final reveal comes, it’s not very surprising as it is more heartbreaking, especially because it didn’t have to happen that way and even with the conclusion, there really isn’t a happily ever after for anyone. My one and only issue with this book is there is a major cliffhanger thrown in at the end that I wish had been dealt with as it definitely creates more problems for the characters in this story.

I was fortunate to listen to the audiobook format and found the narration performed by Tamsin Kennard to be riveting and entertaining. The story is told from Georgie’s point of view and Ms. Kennard did a fantastic job capturing Georgie’s personality, spirit and emotions.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I highly recommend this story to fans of the author because, we love her stories and she’s a must read. If you haven’t read anything by Sue Watson yet, what are you waiting for? I also recommend this book to fans of the mystery, thriller and suspense genres who enjoy stories that are rich in character development and can shock you while entertaining you at the same time.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The New Wife from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream by Sue Watson

Title: Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream (The Ice-Cream Café #2)
Author: Sue Watson
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: June 2017
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Dani’s on a mission to get her life back on track by the end of the Summer. Running, rowing, aerobics and more, but perhaps all she needs are sweet treats and a second chance?

Twenty years ago, Dani fled Appledore with a broken-heart and a suitcase full of shattered dreams. Only now is she brave enough to put her past behind her and return for a summer selling homemade ice-cream and getting fit by doing sit-ups by the sea.

But the new-look cafe is filled with old memories of Jude, her teenage sweetheart-turned-sour. She thinks of him every time she swirls warm sauce onto a “chocolate-bockaglory” and even with the help of Chris, her gorgeous personal trainer, the urge to break her diet is everywhere she turns.

When Jude makes an appearance at the cafe on the eve of Dani’s birthday party, history threatens to repeat itself. Is Dani strong enough to say no? And is the love she’s been longing for much closer than she thinks?

My Thoughts: Book #2 in The Ice-Cream Café series by the very talented Sue Watson was just as yummy as the first book! Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream introduces the reader to Dani Sheridan, the new assistant manager Ella hires for the Ice-Cream Café. I found Dani to be 100% relatable and easy to empathize with. As a fellow ice-cream addict, erm…connoisseur of all things ice-cream, I completely felt for Dani and the journey she is on.

I loved being back in Appledore with the gang and getting to know Dani. One of the best things about this book, for me, is the author tells a new story instead of rehashing the same story from before. The original characters all make numerous appearances, but this story is all about Dani and her struggles with her weight and self-esteem. Her early experiences at the gym and meeting Chris had me wiping tears of laughter from my eyes and thanking the good Lord I didn’t endure the gym catastrophes Dani did, but I admired her determination and tenacity to keep moving forward.

I was mortified for her when the newspaper article comes out and though it is highly humorous, I understood how Dani felt and would have joined her on a splurge. She is so human, after all, and like the rest of us have highs and lows.

When the reader finally learns what happened to Dani that drove her away for twenty years, I just wanted to cry and hug her. I admired the strength of her character for wanting to put the past behind her and start over in a town she has always called home and ring in her fortieth birthday in style.

I also enjoyed watching Dani’s relationship with Chris blossom from professional training to friendship and hoped pretty please with a cherry on top that their friendship would bloom into more.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this book worked for me on so many levels. Characters that are easy to relate to and care about, locales that have so much charm and appeal you want to go there immediately and a story that serves up so much sweet and yummy goodness, you want to dive head-first into the story and be a part of it. I highly recommend this story to readers of the chick-lit, contemporary romance and women’s fiction genres, but also to readers who like to see good people get a break and find success.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice-Cream from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Ella's Ice-Cream Summer by Sue Watson

Title: Ella’s Ice-Cream Summer (The Ice-Cream Café #1)
Author: Sue Watson
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: May 2017
Genre: Chick-Lit / Romantic Comedy / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Ella’s life just hit rock-bottom, but can a summer by the sea mend her broken heart? When life gives you lemons… make ice-cream!

Life hasn’t always been easy for single mum Ella, but she has just hit an all-time low; she’s jobless, loveless, very nearly homeless and, to make matters worse, now the owner of a pocket-sized pooch with a better wardrobe than her.

Packing her bags (and a bigger one for the dog), Ella sets off for the seaside town of Appledore in Devon to re-live the magical summers of her youth and claim her portion of the family ice-cream business: a clapped-out ice-cream van and a complicated mess of secrets.

There she meets gorgeous and free-spirited solicitor, Ben, who sees things differently: with a little bit of TLC he has a plan to get the van – and Ella – back up and running in no time.

Ella’s Ice-Cream Summer is a heart-warming and hilarious romance that will scoop you off your feet and prove it’s never too late for a fresh start.

My Thoughts: This story is so much fun! I want to drive a pink ice-cream van on the beach serving homemade ice-cream with a Pomeranian in designer duds along for the ride! Ella is a fantastic character that you can’t help rooting for. She is experiencing a lot of bad luck all at once with her children taking off to begin their lives when she is let go from her job and learns that her slimeball ex-husband is selling the house out from under her. Her favorite aunt, Sophia, has recently passed away and Ella wants to go to the funeral and learn more about her inheritance. Ella’s mother thinks it’s a terrible idea and has been on the outs with her sister for most of Ella’s life but won’t explain why. Frustrating, isn’t it? Luckily for Sue Watson’s readers, Ella doesn’t give up that easily.

This story made me laugh and cry and I felt immense empathy for Ella as well as irritation at her mother and her cousin for all the secrets that have kept Ella separated from her extended family. It didn’t take me long to figure out what the secrets were and once it came out and Ella finally got answers, I shed a few tears along with her.

The extended cast of supporting characters add a lot of depth and dimension to this story. As annoying as Ella’s mother was, I thought she was quite entertaining with her misunderstanding of the difference between sexting and texting and what Netflix and chill really mean. Ella’s cousin, Gina, was a very interesting character. At the first meeting, the reader is given the impression that Gina is very vain and full of herself but learn it’s a façade that she erects to protect herself. I also liked Ben immensely and hope he will make an appearance in future books as I thought he and Ella had great chemistry.

My Final Verdict: You don’t have to be a fan of ice-cream to enjoy this book, but it sure won’t hurt. The concoctions Ella creates demonstrates she has a special talent for the family ice-cream business. I highly recommend this story to fans of chick-lit, romantic comedies and women’s fiction as well as readers who are looking for something delicious to appease their sweet tooth.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Ella’s Ice-Cream Summer from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Wife Support System by Kathleen Whyman

Title: Wife Support System
Author: Kathleen Whyman
Narrator: Natalie Drew
Publisher: Saga Egmont Audio
Publication Date: March 2021
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: We’ve got the balance all wrong. Instead of living with our partners, struggling to do everything by ourselves and only seeing each other now and then, we should do it the other way round. We should live together and see them now and then.

Erica knows her suggestion sounds extreme, but when her nanny leaves without notice, she’s extremely desperate. Polly and Louise aren’t convinced, but when circumstances force them to move into Polly’s enormous but run-down house, they have to admit that life’s much easier when the childcare and workload is shared.

At first, communal living seems like the answer to all their prayers - childcare on tap, rotas for cleaning, and someone always available to cook dinner (no more last-minute pizza delivery!). But over time, resentment starts to grow as they judge each other’s parenting styles and bicker over cleaning, cooking and whose turn it is to buy toilet rolls.

And as one woman has her head turned by a handsome colleague, one resorts to spying on her husband and another fights to keep a dark secret, they need each other more than ever. But can Polly, Louise and Erica keep their friendship and relationships strong? Or will their perfect mumtopia fall apart?

Essential reading for anyone fed up with never-ending housework/homeschooling/preparing healthy meals that their kids reject … Will have you shrieking with laughter! Fans of Why Mummy Drinks, Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life? and Beth O’Leary won’t want to miss this one!

My Thoughts: Wife Support System by new to me author Kathleen Whyman was not only relatable on so many levels to me, as a woman, but was very clever and entertaining! So many women in the world are performing a juggling act, trying to balance careers, spouses, partners, children and home. Some women appear to manage it flawlessly but come on! They are either Stepford Wives or aliens.

This story introduces us to Erica, Louise and Polly who all share a common trait of many pots on the stove and not enough hands to stir. Erica has a brilliant suggestion after her nanny abruptly quits. Why not share a house with each other and see their respective partners on the weekends? Share everything…housekeeping, the shopping and the child minding. Erica’s partner of ten years, Dan, is hardly ever there and when he is, he can’t be bothered to help. Louise is uber organized and appears to be critical of her husband, Nick. Polly is a single parent who is struggling with anxiety and could use a helping hand but is afraid of letting anyone in close enough to ask.

One house, three women and five kids. As you can expect, it’s not long before tension and resentments build and relationships begin to feel the strain.

I loved this story for many reasons. Relatable characters with real world issues, concerns and problems are a huge draw for me. Add in the entertaining aspect of humor and tears and I couldn’t look away. I liked these women but I often felt like Erica and Louise were selfish and taking advantage of Polly, especially when it came to the child minding. Polly doesn’t work outside the home and it’s her house that everyone moves into. Though it makes sense for Polly to be the primary caregiver, I started to feel a little put out on Polly’s behalf when it started to feel expected.

Erica works on a television show and for a good part of the story is more plugged into her phone and her job instead of being available for her daughter but resents it when her daughter and Polly become close.

Louise struggles with her weight and has a lot of resentment towards her sister. She takes her husband for granted and there are major trust issues for her with her husband. She also ignores her children because she is so wrapped up in her own head. She is a bit of a control freak and it shows with the numerous lists she creates.

Polly is a bit of a push-over. She is dealing with major trauma in her life, raising two children after the man she loves dies suddenly. She is living in a very large house but it is run-down and she could use some friends.

As this story goes on, we learn much more about these women that made me see them more openly with all the baggage they each are carrying. I ended up rooting for all of them to come out on top and this story did not disappoint.

Kathleen Whyman is an author I will be on the lookout for. Her ability to create characters that the reader will connect to is wonderful. This story made me laugh, cry and even shocked me. The plot flows so seamlessly that I was a little surprised that it was ending. I could easily see it continuing and myself catching up with these women over coffee or wine. I went with the audio format for this story and Natalie Drew’s narration was fantastic. She does a brilliant job of conveying multiple emotions and tones for the characters that will draw the reader into the story.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to readers who like connecting to the characters on a deep emotional level, who like stories that are relationship driven and like surprises mixed in with the laughter and tears. This story reminded me that we all have times in our lives where a little support goes a long way and we just have to be brave enough to ask for it and seize it.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Wife Support System from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza

Title: The Girl in the Ice (Detective Erika Foster #1)
Author: Robert Bryndza
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: February 2016
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one.

When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation.

The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound and dumped in water around London.

What dark secrets is the girl in the ice hiding?

As Erika inches closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is closing in on Erika.

The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband. With her career hanging by a thread, Erika must now battle her own personal demons as well as a killer more deadly than any she’s faced before. But will she get to him before he strikes again?

My Thoughts: First of all, the gorgeous cover is what captured my notice. Major applause and thumbs-up to the talent who designed it. Secondly, like other authors, who initially are only known for their work in one genre, I thought Robert Bryndza’s work was solely in the romance genre. Having enjoyed Miss Wrong and Mr. Right, I had a lot of anticipation with this one.

The Girl in the Ice is the first installment of a multi-book series featuring a character so damaged by what life has handed her, I applauded her ability to get out of bed, much less think straight and solve a heinous murder. Erika Foster is introduced to us on her first day at the Lewisham police station. She was previously at Manchester but was on an extended leave after she was injured in the line of duty that also took the lives of five other officers, including Erika’s husband, Mark. Right away, Mr. Bryndza paints a very precise picture of the pain Erika has endured on the inside and the outside as well as the feeling that she is being drop-kicked into the deep end of the pool on her first day as lead investigator. I felt very overwhelmed for Erika and admired her tenacity and resolve, especially as she meets with resentment from a fellow officer.

The victim is the daughter of a high-ranking member of the government and Erika’s superiors try at every opportunity to keep her and her team on a very tight leash. Erika’s first meeting with the family doesn’t go well either even though both Erika and the victim’s mother are of Slovak heritage. This actually surprised me as I thought it would give Erika and the family some common ground they could connect on, but the family is less than cooperative with the investigation and wield a lot of control with the authorities.

As Erika’s investigation gets more complex, we learn that the killer is watching Erika’s movements very closely and brazenly puts themselves in very close proximity to Erika on multiple occasions. The author does an amazing job of throwing many suspects at the reader, including members of the victim’s family, ex-boyfriends, fiancé and I even began to suspect some of Erika’s associates and superiors. This made for quite a twisty novel for me, trying to figure out the identity of the killer, which took me to nearly the end of the story.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very good story filled with nail-biting suspense and characters that are drawn so well that the reader can easily connect with them. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series to readers who enjoy multi-layers of suspense and intrigue, like to be shocked at the outcome and appreciate that a talented author can cross genre lines and do so quite well.

REVIEW: Harry Potter and the Order Of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter #5)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Narrator: Jim Dale
Publisher: Pottermore Publishing
Publication Date: November 2015
Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Harry Potter is about to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unlike most schoolboys, Harry never enjoys his summer holidays, but this summer is even worse than usual. The Dursleys, of course, are making his life a misery, but even his best friends, Ron and Hermione, seem to be neglecting him.

Harry has had enough. He is beginning to think he must do something, anything, to change his situation, when the summer holidays come to an end in a very dramatic fashion. What Harry is about to discover in his new year at Hogwarts will turn his world upside down...

My Thoughts: At 15 years of age, Harry Potter has seen more and experienced more than anyone around him and more than anyone should or could expect. He’s nearly a man and yet everyone continues to treat him like the eleven-year-old little boy he was when he discovered he was a wizard. The gloves are completely off with book #5. Harry is very angry in this book and with good reason. He is attacked and is forced to use magic which results in a hearing to determine if he will be expelled from Hogwarts. Everyone seems to know more than he does about why he is experiencing strange dreams about “you know who” but nobody will tell him anything. Professor Dumbledore goes out of his way to avoid looking at him or even speaking to him. Everyone is tip-toeing around Harry as if he were made of glass.

After the hearing is over and he returns to Hogwarts, things don’t get better at all. The new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher is a despicable and twisted witch who quite quickly uses her influence and connections at the Ministry to take over the school and not teach any actual defense tactics. People are convinced that Harry is an attention seeking lunatic who has made up the entire story of Voldemort’s return.

The first time I read this book, I immediately despised Dolores Umbridge, the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher. She’s a very sadistic individual who takes great pleasure in punishing people. Though the readers can certainly empathize with Harry’s hatred of Professor Snape, I can state that Umbridge beats Snape hands down in characters you would most like to see receive the Dementor’s kiss. That feeling has not changed one bit between then and now.

Unfortunately for Harry, he doesn’t seem to have an ally at the school. Professor Dumbledore is conspicuously absent and when he does make an appearance, he avoids looking at or speaking to Harry. I felt frustrated for Harry. Hagrid has been gone and when he finally returns, Harry still feels isolated. The only thing he truly looks forward to is playing Quidditch, especially now that Ron is on the team. Unfortunately, Professor Umbridge is determined ruin that for Harry too.

As a result of Umbridge’s refusal to teach true Defense Against the Dark Arts, Hermione insists the only way the students will learn is to do it themselves. After some persuading, Harry agrees to start secretly coaching other students on performing defense spells. They even call themselves “Dumbledore’s Army.”

Ultimately, Harry has to rely on those around him as Voldemort and his Death Eaters make their move. Just like Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix does not have a happy ending for Harry. The wizarding world is officially at war and the stakes are higher than ever.

My Final Verdict: This marks my fourth read of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It's amazing how many differences I notice between the books and the movies, as well as details in the books I had forgotten. The audio format is my favorite and Jim Dale's narration is excellent. Whether you are new to this series or a loyal fan who loves to revisit Harry and his world, this is a series not to be missed.

REVIEW: Dorothy by Anya Wylde

Title: Dorothy (Fairweather Sisters #3)
Author: Anya Wylde
Publisher: Smashwords
Publication Date: October 2016
Genre: Historical Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: Anya Wylde is back with yet another Fairweather sister novel full of comedy, adventure and, of course, toe curling romance.

The Fairweather sisters adore each other and always stand by one another. But when circumstances force Dorothy May Fairweather to marry Lord William Edmund Huxley, the man her best friend is in love with and the Duke’s arch enemy, things change.

With her one foolish mistake, Dorothy manages to vex all those that mean the most to her.

Now all alone and miserable, Dorothy has to win back her sisters, the duke, her in-laws and her breathtakingly handsome new husband.

My Thoughts: This series is such a hoot and the author is fantastic. Her extraordinary talent of creating stories of romance, comedy and adventure has made me a die-hard fan. In addition, these stories feature characters that are so well drawn, I feel as if I know them personally so I am helpless to stand by as a third-party observer when I have become so invested in their well-being. Dorothy introduces us to a third Fairweather sister, who is living with eldest sister Penelope and this story appears to have taken place several years after the last story.

Dorothy is convinced she is in love with Lord Lumley and no other man will do. Never mind the fact that she has been in London for three seasons and has yet to procure a marriage proposal from any eligible bachelor of the ton. It doesn’t matter. Dorothy believes that Lord Lumley is malnourished, the skin is practically falling from his bones, he has dreadful circles under his eyes and she is determined to rescue him by marrying him and feeding him.

On the other hand, Dorothy’s best friend, Kitty, is in love with Lord William Huxley, the Duke’s neighbor and enemy. Lord Huxley shows absolutely no interest in Kitty and is, in fact, quite rude to her and Dorothy on one occasion. When Kitty goes missing, Dorothy is convinced that Lord Huxley has kidnapped her and in typical Dorothy fashion, heads off to his residence to rescue Kitty. Unfortunately, Dorothy and Huxley find themselves in a situation that is misinterpreted and leads to a wedding that neither party wants.

Dorothy now has to figure out how to obtain the forgiveness of her sisters, the Duke and Lord Huxley while navigating her new role as Lady Huxley and getting to know Huxley’s stepmother and sister, who are also less than pleased with the sudden marriage.

Dorothy is my favorite Fairweather sister. Of course, I said that about Penelope and Celine when I was reading their stories, but I truly think Dorothy has topped them all. Jane will have some very big shoes to fill when I get my hands on her story. I thought Dorothy was truly delightful and I loved how she perseveres when faced with difficult situations. Lord Huxley comes across as you would expect of the aristocracy of Regency England. Stuffy, arrogant and completely full of themselves. Hmmm, sounds familiar, doesn’t he? That’s right, he reminds me of the Duke, when I first met him in Penelope’s story. And, with the Duke, I grew to like him enormously once he let his guard down. I even warmed up to his sister a little, but the stepmother, not so much. I loved how Dorothy had the woman questioning her sanity with the stunts Dorothy was pulling.

The ragamuffin child that Dorothy is determined to take under her wing whether he likes it or not was also an interesting character that brought quite a bit of entertainment to their lives. I’m sure Huxley will never look at another Renaissance type painting without imagining a curly moustache added to the woman.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I loved this story and highly recommend it to readers of historical romance, but also comedies and adventure genres in a historical setting. There wasn’t that much romance in this story, but I give Dorothy high marks for her attempts to steal a kiss or two or three from her new husband.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Dorothy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

Title: The Locked Door
Author: Freida McFadden
Narrator: Shaina Summerville
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication Date: September 2021
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Some doors are locked for a reason…

While eleven-year-old Nora Davis was up in her bedroom doing homework, she had no idea her father was killing women in the basement.

Until the day the police arrived at their front door.

Decades later, Nora’s father is spending his life behind bars, and Nora is a successful surgeon with a quiet, solitary existence. Nobody knows her father was a notorious serial killer. And she intends to keep it that way.

Then Nora discovers one of her young female patients has been murdered. In the same unique and horrific manner that her father used to kill his victims.

Somebody knows who Nora is. Somebody wants her to take the fall for this unthinkable crime. But she’s not a killer like her father. The police can’t pin anything on her.

As long as they don’t look in her basement.

My Thoughts: I’ve heard so much about this author and am happy that I was finally able to get around to trying her and I went with the audiobook version. I regret that. Allow me to explain. I am a huge fan of the mystery / thriller / suspense genre and have found I enjoy them more when I listen to the audio format, but unfortunately for me, the narration performed by Shaina Summerville was not enjoyable. The various voices she used for the characters sounded forced and over wrought in tone and emotion level. Save yourself the agony and go with the print or e-book format.

The premise of this story is very interesting. Main character Nora Davis is a surgeon whose point of view used in telling the reader about her father, Aaron Nierling, who has been in prison for over 25 years for multiple murders. As a child, she had no idea, but she discovers his secret and is the one who turns him in when she is around 11 or 12 years old. Her mother is also arrested but commits suicide. Nora is sent to live with her grandmother and changes her last name, goes to college, becomes a highly skilled surgeon and is trying to move on with her life and leave her past in the past. Unfortunately for Nora, some of her patients are being found murdered and their hands removed, which is a trademark of her father. This whole scenario rings the creepy bell for me. Is there a copy-cat? Is Nora picking up where her father left off? In addition to Nora, the author deftly throws a couple more potential suspects at the reader to further muddy up the waters. It took me nearly the entire book to decide and guess whether Nora was the killer or if it was someone else.

When the ending comes and the killer’s identity is finally revealed, I was shocked. This author did an excellent job of distracting me with just enough details and red herrings that I didn’t see the linebacker sized surprise waiting to tackle me from left field.

Another aspect of this story that I really enjoyed is hearing Nora’s point of view both in the present and twenty-six years ago. Seeing Nora as a child added to the confusion of whether she is a true protégé of her father’s.

Besides the narration, I took issue with Nora and her hypocrisy. She keeps everyone at arm’s length for obvious reasons. The question is does she do this because she is like her father and can’t be discovered continuing his work or does she do this because she is terrified of how people will react if they found out? Being a surgeon, her reputation is everything, and it would be dragged through the mud once people found out who she really is. When she crosses paths with Brady Mitchell, the guy she dated for three months in college, she is very stand-offish with him. What annoyed me is her reaction when she finds out he has a daughter but kept it from her. What?! Hello?! Are you kidding me here, Nora? You are going to judge Brady when you are keeping the biggest whopper of a secret yourself? People in glass houses shouldn’t be throwing rocks, Miss Nora. I mean, I get it. Keeping quiet about your dad is a legitimate action. I would do the same thing. I just think she overreacted in way too many instances where Brady was concerned.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this was a very good story that kept me engaged all the way to the end. Although I found Nora annoying for a lot of the book, I had a lot of empathy for the situation she found herself in and was hopeful that she really is an innocent party in the events occurring. I highly recommend this story to fans of mystery / suspense / thriller stories who like to be kept on edge and shocked to the core. I will be on the hunt for more of Freida McFadden’s work and look forward to my next read of one of her books.

REVIEW: Those Summer Nights by Mandy Baggot

Title: Those Summer Nights
Author: Mandy Baggot
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: May 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Sunshine, soft white sand and a sizzling hot millionaire – you don’t get trouble in paradise, right?

Imogen Charlton is sorted. Dead-beat husband? History. Dream job? Application sent. But then her impulsive brother, Harry, spends every last penny on a Greek restaurant in Corfu, and is determined to run it himself. It’s up to Imogen to bring him to his senses.

When sexy millionaire Panos Dimitriou offers to buy back his family taverna, Imogen wonders if all her prayers have been answered (and all her fantasies about to come true). But Harry won’t budge, and his enthusiasm is infectious.

Bright pink bougainvillea tumbling over whitewashed walls, endless blue skies, the sparkling Mediterranean; it’s hard not to fall for Corfu. And that’s not all Imogen is falling for…

As the sparks of passion fly between Imogen and Panos, is Imogen having second thoughts on selling the restaurant? And will she have to choose between love and a new dream?

This summer, spend long sunny days on the beach, and balmy nights in Greek tavernas on the gorgeous island of Corfu. Perfect for fans of Lucy Diamond, Miranda Dickinson and Lindsey Kelk.

My Thoughts: A story set in a locale so richly described in detail with characters that you are rooting for is not a book to be missed. I am ready to pack my bags and get on a plane to Corfu and I’m not a huge fan of the beach setting.

Just like Imogen, I had deep reservations and concerns about Harry’s purchase of a restaurant, sight unseen in another country. My first thought is why isn’t there some kind of power of attorney in place to ensure that these type of over the top situations don’t happen in the first place as we learn early on that Harry is suffering from a manic depressive behavior disorder. Just like Imogen, I found myself visibly cringing when, upon arrival at the restaurant, they find a dilapidated wreck needing extensive work. Lastly, just like Imogen, I began to change my opinion of this adventure once I could see the potential this restaurant has and witnessed the enthusiasm and drive in Harry to make it successful. I couldn’t do anything else but root for the guy and admire his determination to make it work and reunite his family.

I liked Panos and knew there was more beneath the stuffy shirt and tie persona he presents to the world. Once his walls began to crumble and I learned why he does what he does, a tidal wave of empathy rose up for him. His grandmother, Elpida, was a spitfire and I laughed myself silly at some of her antics and loved that she was willing to help out two English strangers get this restaurant up and running.

The only issue with this story is that it ended where it did. I would have liked a little more closure regarding Imogen and Panos. I assume they got together on a more permanent basis, but is she really going to work in her brother’s restaurant after all her dreams and ambition to work in the hotel industry? I would like to think that with Panos’ influence and contacts, she could explore that more.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to readers who like to be swept away to exotic locations to spend time with amazing characters, food and drink.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Those Summer Nights from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The People Next Door by Keri Beevis

Title: The People Next Door
Author: Keri Beevis
Narrator: Shakira Shute
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: January 2022
Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Suspense
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Her new house has a mysterious past—and her new life in the English countryside is about to take a dark turn . . .

When Ellie and Ash move into a beautiful old house in rural Norfolk, England, they believe they’ve found their perfect home. Intrigued by the people next door, Ellie befriends shy but sweet Benjamin, and as time goes by, becomes ever more curious about his elusive sister, Virginia.

But when she discovers that her new home has a darker past and that Ash has been keeping secrets, what she thought was a perfect life in the countryside begins to unravel. Is her best friend to be trusted, are the new neighbors all that they really seem, and why is her new puppy so obsessed with the cellar? Most worrying of all is the mystery of what happened to the former occupants of the house.

When Ash goes away on business and strange things begin to happen, Ellie’s paranoia goes into overdrive. But are these all coincidences—or is she really in danger?

My Thoughts: Ellie Summers and her boyfriend Ash Brady move into their dream home. It’s in the boonies and needs a lot of work, but it has a beautiful garden. In between working on the home and adopting a dog she accidentally hit with her car, Ellie befriends her neighbor, Benjamin, who lives next door with his sister, Virginia.

Upon learning that a brutal murder occurred in the house five years before and the seventeen-year-old daughter of the murder victim is missing, Ellie is less than happy that she was not made aware of this before purchasing the home. This right here is why I prefer to buy my homes brand spanking new. I want to be the first owner in the home. I want my bum to be the first on the toilet. I can’t be having no murder nonsense happening in the home prior to my owning it.

Ellie comes across as very skittish and highly nervous and slightly paranoid. Several scenes made me feel more tense probably because she was. Maybe if she hadn’t let her guard down later on in the book, she wouldn’t have ended up in the horrific situation she finds herself. See what I did just there? Now you are just going to have to read this book to find out what the horrific situation is. I will say the mounting terror and suspense made me feel like I was in the middle of an Alfred Hitchcock movie and Norman Bates is lurking around every corner with a giant butcher knife.

Overall, I liked Ellie and Ash and thought they were good together. Ash’s best friend, Pete seemed a likable character as well. I detested Pete’s wife, Roxanne. I found her to be an overbearing and controlling character. She talks down to Ellie and is hyper-critical of everything Ellie does, from the house to the dog. The more I learned about Roxanne, the less I liked her.

Benjamin and his sister Virginia set off my creeper alarm almost immediately. Ellie meets Benjamin at the veterinarian’s office when she brings in the dog she hit with her car. They strike up a conversation and realize they are neighbors, so Ellie befriends him. The more he comes around, the more creepy he seems. It doesn’t take me long to realize he’s obsessed with Ellie and it seems like he’s always finding an excuse to come over. As creepy as he appears, he also seems harmless. His sister, on the other hand, comes across as even more creepier. She’s mentally ill, doesn’t verbalize and never leaves the house. Ellie tries to interact with her but is unsuccessful.

Things become really sinister for Ellie when Ash leaves for a week-long business trip and I’m still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor at what went down. Some of the events didn’t come as a surprise to me, but there were many twists and turns that shocked me.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the performance by Shakira Shute for the most part. Her use of various accents was performed flawlessly. Ash is from Australia and living in England and I enjoyed hearing the inflection in his voice. I found Benjamin’s voice to be highly annoying and pictured myself probably not wanting to engage in conversation with him because of it. I am going to chalk it up to not liking him in the first place, so my subconscious was probably looking for reasons to dislike him more.

My Final Verdict: This was my first Keri Beevis novel and I look forward to reading more of her work. She weaves a story that is filled with dark thoughts and darker deeds that left me tiptoeing up to doors and cautiously peering around corners in case she had something waiting to jump out at me. Readers who enjoy suspenseful mysteries and thrillers should pick this one up. I highly recommend the audiobook, as it adds to the suspense.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The People Next Door from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.