REVIEW: Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

Title: Christmas Presents
Author: Lisa Unger
Publisher: Penzler Publishers
Publication Date: October 2023
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Instead of presents this Christmas, one true crime podcaster is opening up a cold case…

When true crime podcaster Harley Granger drifts into Madeline Martin's bookshop days before Christmas, he seems intent on digging up a past that Madeline would much rather forget.

Granger's work has earned him fame and wealth - and some serious criticism for his various unethical practices. Granger also has a lot of questions about the night Madeline was left for dead, the only surviving victim of killer Evan Handy.

Handy, who also murdered Madeline's best friend and is suspected in the disappearance of two local sisters, has been in jail for a decade. Since then, though, three other young women have gone missing in similar circumstances. Is the true predator still out there somewhere?

As Christmas approaches and a blizzard bears down, Madeline must confront the past to answer questions that have haunted her since that day. Is the truth more terrible than she ever imagined?

Coupling a picturesque, cozy setting with a deeply unsettling and suspenseful plot, Christmas Presents is a chilling seasonal tale that can be enjoyed all year long.

My Thoughts: I was super excited to see Lisa Unger had published a Christmas thriller and though it’s not what most people would call a full-size story, it packs quite the punch and is a fairly quick read. Readers who enjoy some bloodshed underneath the Christmas tree will enjoy this story quite a bit. The Christmas ambience was there as well as the sinister chill in the air.

I really liked Madeline and loved that she owns her own bookstore. After the events that occurred when she was seventeen, she has come a long way trying heal from the trauma of seeing her friend murdered and nearly losing her life as well. She still bears the scars, physical, emotional and psychological from that night but she has worked hard to build a life beyond that and doesn’t want to be defined by that alone.

When Harley Granger shows up out of the blue, Madeline is less than happy. He walks a very fine line ethically and his work as a true crime podcaster has earned him a lot of notoriety, fame and wealth. He is investigating Madeline’s case and wants to interview her.

I liked Madeline right away. I admired her spirit and determination. I had a hard time warming up to Harley. True crime podcasts are rapidly gaining in popularity lately but it just seemed like he was more intent on the ratings this story would give him instead of the lives that were lost and the ones that were damaged.

Adding to the suspense are the women who have gone missing over the last several years. The man who tried to murder Madeline has been sentenced to life without parole for his crimes, so the big question stands out whether he is really innocent or is there a copycat?

The author does an amazing job of building on the tension for the reader and I loved how the story visits both the past and present from Madeline’s point of view as well as the perception of the most recent missing woman. I felt so much anxiety over whether she would be rescued in time and who was behind this. The author doesn’t disappoint with the twists in the story and some big surprises I didn’t see coming.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to fans of this author as well as readers who enjoy thrillers and suspense stories. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

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

REVIEW: Christmas at Silver Falls by Jenny Hale

Title: Christmas at Silver Falls
Author: Jenny Hale
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: October 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Curl up with this completely enchanting winter romance! A stunning festive read about the joy of Christmas with family, second chances, and finding love under the falling snow. Get cozy and keep some tissues on hand. You’re in for a truly magical story…

White Oaks Inn has always been at the heart of Christmas celebrations for Scarlett Bailey and her family. Her adored gran has owned the rambling, old-fashioned hotel, filled with the scent of cinnamon and chocolate, since Scarlett was a little girl. But now her gran’s home is under threat. And it looks like it could be the Baileys’ last Christmas together there…

Over the holiday season, amidst much-loved festive traditions of baking cookies and decorating the tree, Scarlett throws herself into saving the hotel. When she hears that Charlie Bryant, a handsome, successful property developer, is spending December in Silver Falls, Scarlett is hopeful he might be the answer to their problems.

When they meet, sparks fly between impulsive Scarlett and business-like Charlie – as they both have very different ideas for the future of White Oaks. Scarlett is determined to show him how much White Oaks Inn means to her family and the guests who return there every year and, as they spend more time together, she begins to realize there is more to Charlie than his serious appearance…

But Charlie is struggling with a secret from his own past. Will he be able to face it, or will it stop him from truly opening up and getting close to anyone? And can Scarlett share the true meaning of Christmas with him and save her gran’s beloved hotel along the way?

My Thoughts: A Christmas themed story by Jenny Hale never fails to get me in the festive holiday spirit. Lots of snow, yummy treats, hot chocolate and eggnog are a must and this book delivers all of the Yuletide celebrations.

Scarlett and her family are gathering for what will likely be their last Christmas at White Oaks Inn, where her family has celebrated the holiday all of her life. Started by her grandparents, her grandmother now struggles to run the Inn on her own and is drastically losing money. Scarlett and her family have decided that it’s time to convince her grandmother that the Inn needs to be sold, but finding a buyer who will preserve the original spirit of the Inn looks to be an impossibility. When Scarlett learns that Charlie Bryant is in town, she resolves to meet him and convince him to buy the Inn. Unfortunately, Charlie is wrestling with his own troubles and isn’t very receptive to anyone. I really enjoyed Scarlett’s persistence in getting through to Charlie and getting to know Charlie as the many layers of his personality and life are peeled back.

This was a very heartwarming story and I loved meeting all of the characters in Silver Falls as well as all of Scarlett’s family. This story isn’t just about a family coming together to solve a problem, but it also illustrates the sense of community and togetherness that is found in this little town. It felt like it would be a wonderful place to not just visit but also live.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy stories at Christmas time full of the cheer and celebratory spirit that permeates every nook and cranny.

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

REVIEW: A Dog Called Jack by Ivy Pembroke

Title: A Dog Called Jack (Christmas Street #1)
Author: Ivy Pembroke
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: January 2019
Genre: General Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: It’s a winter of joy on Christmas Street . . .

Jack is one lucky dog, adopted by the families of every house on Christmas Street. Or is it the other way around? For Sam, a widower recently returned to London, Jack is Christmas Street’s unofficial welcoming committee. For Sam’s young son, Teddy, the small, scruffy mutt is a much-needed friend.

But Christmas Street isn’t what it used to be. Just ask Bill, the street’s oldest, grumpiest resident. He remembers when everyone knew and looked out for each other. Now, people live side by side, scarcely interacting.

As Sam and Teddy settle in, Jack’s four-legged charm brings the neighbors of Christmas Street closer together. And with the season’s first snow comes a sense of new beginnings. But it will take a small act of kindness to transform Christmas Street into a wonderland of lasting memories . . .

My Thoughts: This was such a heartwarming story and I loved meeting Jack and getting to know all the residents of Christmas Street. The story primarily centers on recently widowed Sam and his young son, Teddy, who move back to London from America. After losing his wife, Sam wants Teddy to grow up around family. Sam notices several things about his new neighborhood. The residents don’t seem to know or interact with one another and Jack, a suspected stray dog, appears to belong to the whole street. Every home provides him with food, snacks and a place to rest his head.

As Sam and Teddy begin to acclimate to their new surroundings, Sam makes several efforts to get to know his neighbors by hosting a barbecue or introducing them to the American Thanksgiving holiday traditional festivities. Sam also has a crush on Teddy’s teacher, Ms. Quinn.

In addition to getting to know Sam and Teddy, the author does a wonderful job of introducing the rest of the people living on this quaint street and giving the reader a good opportunity to get to know them. This is the first book in a series and it would be better to read this series in order.

My Final Verdict: I loved this book and it was an excellent choice to begin my holiday season of reading. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories that focus on relationships and the four-legged fur friends who bring people together.

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

REVIEW: The Year of Starting Over by Karen King

Title: The Year of Starting Over
Author: Karen King
Narrator: Rachel Louise Miller
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: February 2019
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: What if – to find yourself – you had to run away?

Last year was meant to be when Holly got her happy-ever-after. But stuck in a job that’s going nowhere, and a relationship that feels more like it’s going backwards… this year Holly has decided it’s time to change her life. She just has to:

– End the relationship with the commitment-phobic boyfriend
– Go on a proper adventure
– Learn to be herself again
– Definitely, categorically not fall in love.

Cramming her belongings into her little yellow Mini, Holly drives on to a ferry bound to Spain, to stay at a remote farmhouse near a beautiful village in the Andalusian hills.

But the day she arrives she nearly crashes her car into a gorgeous guy on a motorbike. He’s called Matias and their paths keep crossing, much to Holly’s irritation. Because as she learns to speak Spanish from the locals, finally starts laying out plans for her own design business, and sips sangria in the sunlit village square, Holly is beginning to remember who she is and what she wants.

So she won’t allow herself be distracted by Matias. Because this year – for Holly – there are more important things in life than love. And she won’t let yet another bad relationship ruin everything… will she?

A moving and uplifting romantic comedy about living each moment and learning to trust yourself again, for fans of Jenny Hale, Debbie Macomber, and Sophie Kinsella.

My Thoughts: Sometimes I honestly don’t know why the publishers provide a description of a book, especially when the story really doesn’t align with said description. This story did not convey that Holly was supposed to get her big happy ending the year prior or that her job is going nowhere. It glosses over exactly why her relationship with commitment phobic boyfriend is a dead end street and especially doesn’t touch on why she chooses Spain for her identity rediscovery. She’s definitely not sitting around sipping sangria. I’m beginning to think that I should go in blind when starting a book so I don’t build up any expectations.

I enjoyed the story and paired the reading with an audio format. By the end of the book, the narrator’s voice for Holly started to grate on me and pull me out of the story. Though the narrator did well with the Spanish accents of Matias and the locals of the village, I do not recommend the audio format for this book.

I liked Holly and thought she was very brave to go on this journey of self-discovery and figuring out what she wants in life even though she comes across as very wishy washy about whether or not she likes Matias or if he likes her. Initially, Matias seems very hostile but once I got to know him and the reasons behind his demeanor, it made sense. I also liked that the author gives the reader some backstory about Matias and his family. In addition, I loved the adorable Shih Tzu, Luna, who turns out to be a wonderful character throughout the story.

My Final Verdict: Though this story did not knock my socks off, I enjoyed it. Readers who enjoy stories set in interesting locales will enjoy the attention to detail the author gives of Spain. I recommend this story to fans of contemporary romances, chick-lit and cute and feisty dogs.

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

REVIEW: Young Rich Widows by Kimberly Belle, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan and Vanessa Lillie

Title: Young Rich Widows (The Widows #1)
Author: Kimberly Belle; Layne Fargo; Cate Holahan; Vanessa Lillie
Narrator: Dina Pearlman; Karissa Vacker; Helen Laser; Ariel Blake
Publisher: Audible Originals
Publication Date: April 2022
Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: When the four partners of a prominent law firm are killed in a mysterious plane crash, their widows must come together to uncover the truth in this explosive, edge-of-your-seat novel.

It’s 1985 in Providence, Rhode Island, and the four partners of a prominent, mafia-affiliated law firm have been killed in a private jet that went down outside New York City. Four very different women have just lost the loves of their lives: Justine, a former fashion model adjusting to suburban life; Camille, a beautiful, young second wife some suspect is a gold digger; Krystle, committed to leaving the firm to her sons after her husband worked his whole life to support them all; and Meredith, a stripper at the local club who was in a secret relationship with the firm’s sole female partner. While the crash is initially ruled a tragic accident, something’s not adding up: The team wasn’t supposed to be in New York that day, and it’s soon revealed that there was a very large sum of cash that burned up with the plane. The women find themselves thrown together in search of the truth, with new danger and threats unfolding at every turn.

Could a dissatisfied client be seeking revenge? Or were the partners involved in something bigger—something dangerous and deadly? What other secrets were the partners keeping, and how far might people go to ensure they stay hidden? The widows must find the answers in order to protect their inheritance, their families, and their lives.

Please note: This audio contains strong language, distressing situations, and descriptions of violence that some listeners may find upsetting. Discretion is advised.

My Thoughts: I honestly did not expect to love this book as much as I did! Instead of another run of the mill mystery, thriller, suspense type genre, the writing team of Kimberly Belle, Layne Fargo, Cate Holahan and Vanessa Lillie deliver plenty of thriller suspense but also lots of snark, wit and humor as the reader gets a front row seat into the train wreck that is the lives of our four widows, Krystle, Justine, Camille and Meredith. I also did not expect to love these characters as much as I did either. These women are very different, come from different backgrounds, live different lives and if they weren’t all connected to the founding partners of this law firm, they would likely never know one another. They demonstrate a strength of spirit, the likes of which I have never seen before. As tragic as the death of all of their spouses is, these women don’t waste any time taking the next step forward. They aren’t really given a choice, but rather than run or cower in fear with faced with threats and danger, they push up their shoulder pads, fluff up their Aqua Net sprayed hair and join forces to find out why their spouses died and who is behind it.

In between the many secrets being revealed and the copious tears being shed, these women face the threats head on and refuse to stop until all of their questions are answered. I felt so much empathy for these women and though I liked some more than others, I enjoyed seeing them set aside their differences to work together.

This book was my first reading experience by these authors, both as a team and individually. The story was well crafted and tightly woven. Each author wrote a character, which was really interesting as each widow’s unique and different personalities were so integral to the story. Additionally, the audio performances were also exceptional, with multiple narrators, which also highlighted the different personality nuances.

This story packs many twists and surprising, jaw dropping moments. Additionally, the secondary characters also added depth and dimension to this story. This story sets up the reader for the next installment so I recommend they be read in order. I am excited to see what the widows get into next.

My Final Verdict: If you remember the decade of decadence, the 1980’s, I highly recommend this book. Fans of thrillers, suspense and women’s fiction will also enjoy this story.

REVIEW: What Holly's Husband Did by Debbie Viggiano

Title: What Holly’s Husband Did
Author: Debbie Viggiano
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: May 2018
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: A hilariously funny romp with a twist that will make you gasp! Perfect for fans of Tracy Bloom, Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes.

Holly Hart has been married for fifteen blissful years to hubby Alex. Well… if you don't count last Christmas, when she accidentally found a load of flirty texts on Alex's phone. But every marriage has its ups and downs and Alex had a perfectly reasonable explanation… so why can't Holly forget what she saw?

With the help of best friends Jeanie and Caro, as well as their handsome neighbour Jack, Holly resolves to settle her mind once and for all with a bit of sneaky detective work. So what if her husband isn't exactly Brad Pitt? He's hers, and if someone else is trying to steal him she wants to know who…. But the truth is way more shocking than Holly ever anticipated. Can Holly, let alone her marriage, ever recover from what she discovers?

A laugh-until-you-cry, feel-good novel from the bestselling author of Stockings and Cellulite and The Corner Shop of Whispers.

My Thoughts: My least favorite plot device is adultery and I usually steer clear of books where this is the main character’s primary focus. I felt equal levels of empathy and frustration for Holly. Suspecting your spouse of infidelity, with or without proof, is one of the worst feelings someone could have and after fifteen years of marriage, I empathized with her fear that her marriage has been one big lie.

I got frustrated because rather than stealthily building her case and checking facts, she goes off the deep end with childish stunts like stalking her husband’s Facebook account. Her over the top behavior often worked in Alex’s corner as any logical excuse or explanation he provides makes Holly begin thinking she’s overreacting.

I was also frustrated for Holly because even though she suspects Alex of cheating, she doesn’t know who the other woman is. I didn’t either, but had many suspects, as did Holly.

The author does an excellent job of blending much needed humor in with the more serious aspects. I will never think about dishwashing gloves the same way again. The characters were well drawn and easy to get to know and relate to.

The story flowed well and I was on pins and needles at what Holly would discover and I was quite surprised how it all played out. This is my first time reading this author’s work. I really enjoyed her humor while not downplaying a serious relationship issue. I will be looking for more of her work.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I loved this story and as painful as the journey was for Holly, a happy ending can be born from the ashes of an agonizing experience. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy romantic comedies, chick-lit and contemporary romance.

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

REVIEW: The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth

Title: The Younger Wife
Author: Sally Hepworth
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik; Caroline Lee; Jessica Douglas-Henry; Zoe Carides
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: April 2022
Genre: Thriller / Suspense
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: THE HUSBAND
A heart surgeon at the top of his field, Stephen Aston is getting married again. But first he must divorce his current wife, even though she can no longer speak for herself.

THE DAUGHTERS
Tully and Rachel Aston look upon their father’s fiancée, Heather, as nothing but an interloper. Heather is younger than both of them. Clearly, she’s after their father’s money.

THE FORMER WIFE
With their mother in a precarious position, Tully and Rachel are determined to get to the truth about their family’s secrets, the new wife closing in, and who their father really is.

THE YOUNGER WIFE
Heather has secrets of her own. Will getting to the truth unleash the most dangerous impulses in all of them?

My Thoughts: When I was so much younger, I was all about the romance and happily ever after in my reading. I never realized how much I was missing out by not expanding my reading experiences to include thrillers and suspense stories. I am so glad it didn’t take until now to rectify that as I would have never had the wonderful experience reading this book provided. This is one of those books where I was riveted to the page in high anticipation of what was going to happen next. The drama, anxiety and fear continuously ramped up and, like several characters, wondered if I was imagining what was going on.

Though I have a few of this author’s titles in my library, The Younger Wife was my first time reading this author’s work. I will be adding more of her backlist to my library because she is that good. Her ability to create characters that are easy to empathize with as well as characters that are surprising, both good and bad are part of why I enjoyed this story so much. I thought this story was going to be about Rachel and Tully going to war with their future stepmother and conflict with their father over divorcing their mother who has dementia. This story went completely over that rail and into territory much darker, more sinister and completely unexpected. There are several trigger inducing moments in this book but the author was very concise in relating them to the story that made sense and was integral.

Additionally, the audio narration performed by Barrie Kreinik, Caroline Lee, Jessica Douglas-Henry and Zoe Carides was excellent. I love audiobooks and I am loving multiple narrators more and more. I feel it gives the story more depth and gives the reader a better insight to the characters.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this book completely knocked me off my feet. So many twists and turns that left my jaw hanging open. I’ve come to accept that not all stories get a swoon worthy happily ever after. Some stories deliver a swift punch to the throat that leaves the reader feeling as ambushed as the characters and that is a wonderful thing. I highly recommend this book and if I could give this book all the stars, I would.

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