REVIEW: Jillian Spectre & The Dream Weaver by Nic Tatano

Title: Jillian Spectre & The Dream Weaver (Jillian Spectre #2)
Author: Nic Tatano
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Publication Date: April 2015
Genre: Teen / Young Adult
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: There’s a new villain in town…

One who can manipulate dreams and reality to the point that people can’t tell the difference.

This is a job for Jillian Spectre.

The snarky eighteen year old redhead with paranormal powers has already saved the world once but now she’s under attack by a force that might be above her pay grade.

The Dream Weaver.

When Jillian’s own dreams are invaded she finds herself desperately trying to separate reality from fantasy – and struggle with a totally inappropriate crush on someone who isn’t her mind reading boyfriend, Ryan.

When her own soul is on the line as the Dream Weaver manipulates her, Jillian has one shot to save herself and the rest of the world… or she and the rest of the world could be trapped in their dreams forever.

My Thoughts: It was great to meet up with Jillian Spectre and her friends again. A lot has changed for them since they defeated Jillian’s evil father. He now lies comatose in a vegetative state, high school is a memory, Jillian is now a college freshman and she and Ryan are dating. The future is bright and exciting for Jillian, Roxanne, Ryan and Jake or it would be if they didn’t have to take on a siren and possibly a dream weaver with nefarious plans to continue her father’s work and destroy the world. As in the first book, I really enjoyed how these four young people come together as a team, using their powers to make them stronger as they fight the evil surrounding them.

I really enjoy this author’s voice. He does an amazing job breathing life into these characters, making them easy to relate to and very likable. It’s very easy for the reader to connect with these characters and care about them. He blends the tension of the story-line with equal and appropriate amounts of humor and romance that propels the story forward at a pace that keeps the reader engaged and interested. There were major plot twists with the villains that I was not expecting but really enjoyed.

My Final Verdict: I really hope this series doesn’t end here as I would love to know what Jillian experiences next, as well as what’s in store for Jillian’s mom and Fuzzball. I’m also curious as to what will become of Jillian’s father, as I really don’t think we have seen or heard the last of him. I hope there may be more in store for us.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Jillian Spectre & The Dream Weaver from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Waiting For Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey

Title: Waiting for Tom Hanks (Waiting for Tom Hanks #1)
Author: Kerry Winfrey
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: June 2019
Genre: Chick Lit / Romantic Comedy
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Can a romcom-obsessed romantic finally experience the meet-cute she always dreamed of or will reality never compare to fiction, in this charming debut adult novel from Kerry Winfrey.

Annie Cassidy dreams of being the next Nora Ephron. She spends her days writing screenplays, rewatching Sleepless in Seattle, and waiting for her movie-perfect meet-cute. If she could just find her own Tom Hanks—a man who’s sweet, sensitive, and possibly owns a houseboat—her problems would disappear, and her life would be perfect. But Tom Hanks is nowhere in sight.

When a movie starts filming in her neighborhood and Annie gets a job on set, it seems like a sign. Then Annie meets the lead actor, Drew Danforth, a cocky prankster who couldn’t be less like Tom Hanks if he tried. Their meet-cute is more of a meet-fail, but soon Annie finds herself sharing some classic rom-com moments with Drew. Her Tom Hanks can’t be an actor who’s leaving town in a matter of days...can he?

My Thoughts: You don’t have to be a fan of romcom’s or Tom Hanks to enjoy this book, but if you are, then this book will be a true delight! If the talented Nora Ephron were still with us, I would bet this book would already be optioned into a movie she is directing. There are definitely worse things in life to be hung up on than romcoms and Tom Hanks and our darling heroine, Annie, has set the bar pretty high looking for the perfect man. Her dream of becoming a screenwriter comes a bit closer when Annie lands a job on a movie set assisting the director. Her meet-cute with the lead actor, Drew, leaves Annie mortified and wishing she could crawl under a rock, but, hey, not everything in life is perfectly scripted with full hair and makeup.

I’m a complete sap for romcoms and Tom Hanks so I knew this book would appeal to me. It just had to! And though this isn’t my pick for the best book I have read in 2020 and it probably won’t win any awards of literary acclaim, I loved this book because it was pure fluff and fun. I loved the story, of course, but the characters were so easy to like and get to know. The plot flows beautifully and kept me engaged the entire time. I’ve never read anything else by this author but by the end of the first chapter, I found the sequel and have it ready to go. Yes, there’s a sequel because sometimes a good romcom needs more after that happily ever after and I’m still disappointed that I have yet to learn what happens to Annie and Sam after they leave the Empire State Building.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to fans of all fiction because everyone needs a story to make them smile and that’s always a good thing.

REVIEW: Switch A Wish by M.B. Earnheardt

Title: Switch A Wish
Author: M.B. Earnheardt
Publisher: Three Worlds Press
Publication Date: September 2015
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon

Description: Chris and Amanda Claridge are that couple. They look happy. They live in a well-kept house, have three little girls and fit squarely into the traditional roles of a husband and wife.

Chris is a handsome college professor, and easily charms most everyone he meets. He loves his job and can’t wait to go to work each day. Amanda is a dedicated mother and caretaker. She tends to the kids and appreciates how important her job is, even if others don’t get it.

Underneath the surface of this functioning family, things are unraveling. Their marital problems are about to split them apart when something magical happens. Chris and Amanda make a bedtime wish that forces them to live the life of the other person.

Chris must pretend to be his wife as he takes on childcare and household chores. Amanda steps out of her heels and into Chris’ shoes to tackle his job as a college professor. The role reversal is a revelation for the couple. Neither one has it as good, or bad, as they expected.

Can Chris and Amanda’s newfound understanding of each other survive when the secrets come out? Or, did a magical wish just cost them their marriage? Will they be able to switch back?
Switch A Wish examines the complexity of a stressed relationship through the eyes of partners who are required to live as each other. This unique perspective allows Chris and Amanda a chance to find their way back to the feelings of the love they once shared.

My Thoughts: I truly believe the biggest problem facing most relationships is the inability to communicate because the couple has lost the ability to relate to one another. Various reasons cause the couple to drift apart, lose the spark that connects them not just intimately but what brought them together in the first place. Resentments build because frustrations are not being communicated and that’s when the trouble begins. Chris and Amanda are just such a couple. They’ve been together a long time and have three children. Amanda gave up her journalism career so she could take care of the home and the children and often is taken advantage of by her mother in law, running errands for her as well. Chris is a university professor who is focused on his career and promoting to the chair of his department. Amanda is frustrated because she doesn’t feel like Chris supports her and never seems to engage with her and the family. She thinks life would be better if they got a divorce. Chris is frustrated because Amanda doesn’t show him any affection and he can’t remember when the last time they had great sex was. He is considering having an affair with one of his students. One night while putting the kids to bed, they each make a wish that the other one understood them. The next morning, they wake up to discover they have switched bodies.

They now have to live life as their spouse and figure out how to do that without making things worse. Along the way, they learn that their spouse doesn’t have it as good as they thought and they realize that the love that brought them together hasn’t gone away, it just needs a freshening up. As secrets are revealed, Chris and Amanda have to decide if what they have is worth fighting for.

My Final Verdict: I felt a lot of empathy for these characters and felt bad for the mess their relationship had become. I really enjoyed watching these characters struggle to figure out how they switched and wondering if they will ever be able to switch back. As both Chris and Amanda experience many realizations they never considered before and begin to fall in love with one other again, it gave me a good feeling to know that relationships are a lot of work, but worth it. I recommend this story for readers who enjoy a story that cuts to the heart of the matter with characters that are easy to relate to as their situation is all too realistic.

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

REVIEW: Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Title: Pretty Girls
Author: Karin Slaughter
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: September 2015
Genre: Thriller / Suspense
Buy the Book: Amazon BN Audible

Description: Twenty years ago, Claire Scott's eldest sister, Julia, went missing. No one knew where she went - no note, no body. It was a mystery that was never solved, and it tore her family apart.

Now another girl has disappeared, with chilling echoes of the past. And it seems that she might not be the only one.

Claire is convinced Julia's disappearance is linked.

But when she begins to learn the truth about her sister, she is confronted with a shocking discovery, and nothing will ever be the same...

My Thoughts: This story was riveting and very intense, but also hard to read due to the subject matter. Those who are faint of heart may not be able to stomach the events that transpire in this story. The best word to describe what Claire Scott and her family have endured is horrific. After witnessing it all, I’m shocked that Claire, Lydia and their mother can form coherent thoughts much less rise above the evil they have endured and fight back.

Claire and her sister Lydia lead very different lives despite what they have gone through and their relationship is practically non-existent. After their older sister vanishes without a trace, Lydia’s life spirals into addiction and bad choices and Claire becomes a trophy wife of Paul, living a life of luxury. I had a hard time relating to Claire at first. She comes across as very spoiled, but I began to admire and respect her more after her husband is murdered. This is not a spoiler as this happens early in the story and segues into the rest of the story. Claire begins to undercover a lot of things she probably wishes she hadn’t, but it leads her on a discovery of what a sham her marriage and life are and reconnects her with her sister and reconciliation.

This story was very graphic and violent, but as horrified and disgusted as I felt at what was happening, I couldn’t look away. I had to know what was going to happen next and I had a lot of admiration at the courage both Claire and Lydia demonstrate to stop this evil from destroying more lives.

My Final Verdict: The road to justice and vindication is paved with the horror done to the victims and their families and in the end, I found the story satisfying and thrilling and heartbreaking.

REVIEW: Sweet Girl by Rachel Hollis

Title: Sweet Girl (The Girls #2)
Author: Rachel Hollis
Publisher: Lake Union Press
Publication Date: May 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Max Jennings is in a bad mood. It’s not anything you did; it’s just that secrets from her past make it her natural state of being. But she’s not going to talk about it or share her feelings, so don’t bother asking.

Max’s bad mood means that very few people actually truly understand her or know that her secret dream is to be a pastry chef. When a rare opportunity to work for world-famous Avis Phillips presents itself, Max jumps at the chance. Avis and her staff aren’t stingy with the tough love, so Max spends every spare minute practicing her craft. As she bakes brownies and custards, cookies and galettes, she builds an unlikely friendship with a man she once loathed and finds herself falling into something she’s spent the last six years avoiding. Will she let her painful past stand in the way, or will she muster the strength to forgive herself and realize her full potential?

My Thoughts: I first met Max Jennings in Party Girls, the first book in this series. Her bad mood and snarky attitude in this book came as no surprise to me as she was very snarky and cranky in the first book. However, instead of disliking her, I found her intriguing, independent and sassy. I was very curious why she kept most people at arm’s length with her biting sarcastic commentary or icy stare. She only allows a very small group of people into her inner circle, but if they piss her off, she would probably give them the boot to the curb too.

Max is still working in the same bar she worked at in the first book and life seems to be going pretty much as it always has. She plays her cards close to her chest so she doesn’t share her dream of being a pastry chef with anyone. When the opportunity unexpectedly presents herself, Max confides in the one person she never thought she would ever have a conversation with much less a friendship. Bennett Taylor is an extremely likable character and never lets Max’s bad mood or insults throw him off. Their banter is fun and illuminates the attraction they feel for one another but are trying so hard to hide not only from everyone around them, but from themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed watching their adversarial (on Max’s part) relationship shift into friendship and then something much more meaningful.

As with the first book, this author does another excellent job of bringing these characters to life. I felt great empathy for Max when it’s revealed what happened to her to make her wrap her heart in chains. I found her behavior and reactions logical and I loved how she changes when she realizes the people she loves aren’t going to abandon her. There is a scene where Max is wallowing in self-pity and her best friends show up with snacks and decide it’s time for a Sandra Bullock marathon. Max isn’t very welcoming or receptive to them, but she has a hard time staying in a shell and allows herself to enjoy the moment, which allows the ice to begin to crack.

My Final Verdict: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was tickled to get to know Max and Taylor better. This story played on my emotions a little bit, so keep a box of tissues at the ready.

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

REVIEW: Silent Scream by Karen Rose

Title: Silent Scream (Romantic Suspense #11)
Author: Karen Rose
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date: June 2010
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: When a teenage girl dies in a suspicious fire, Detective Olivia Sutherland is assigned to track down the arsonist. Then she discovers something more sinister: a vicious blackmailer who preys on young people and murders without hesitation. Making her work even harder is sexy firefighter David Hunter. He's not only sharing the case but sparking memories of their long-ago night of passion, when feelings were left unspoken and hearts were broken.

David has his own ghosts, and a million regrets. But while he and Olivia try to face the wall of pain between them, a diabolical puppet master is pulling strings to make a group of twentysomethings do his bidding. Soon Olivia and David are scouring the city for a calculating criminal who seems tantalizingly close--and is moving in for the kill.

My Thoughts: I really like a series where the characters have deep connections with another, but I must admit it does begin to get difficult to keep it all straight. I remember reading about David in Eve’s story, but he has been a part of this series going all the way back to the first book. I just don’t remember him or Olivia for that matter. Happily, this did not prevent me from thoroughly enjoying the story and getting to know David and Olivia better, especially with their history.

David has decided to stay on in Minneapolis after coming out to help Eve. He’s starting a new life and is hoping he and Olivia can figure out where they went wrong all those years ago. Olivia doesn’t seem as eager to open that can of worms. She is very good at keeping people at arm’s length and her go-to reaction when people get too close is to run. It seems funny to me that a police detective can be so tough on the outside but so fragile and vulnerable on the inside. There is no other way to describe Olivia, however. She’s great at her job and it’s obvious to anyone who knows her how much of herself she puts in to her work, but you definitely get the sense that she’s holding back a bit of herself keeping it tucked away where no one can see.

The author does a fantastic job of not only creating characters that are so complex and interesting, but the plots of each story hold my attention, anticipation rising with the turn of each page. That is a major undertaking all on its own as a series can quickly get stale and boring after several books, but Karen Rose makes each story fresh, stimulating and riveting.

My Final Verdict: With eleven books in this series and so far, a total of twenty-four, there is so much more this author has to offer. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy the element of romance blended within the suspenseful background. Fans of thrillers and mysteries will enjoy the often dark and disturbing story lines and subject matter. Fans of these genres will be entertained regardless of what motivated them to read it. This series should be read in order to give the reader a greater understanding of each character without giving anything away.

REVIEW: Stirred With Love by Marcie Steele

Title: Stirred With Love
Author: Marcie Steele
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: September 2015
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Sometimes the best friends can be found where you least expect them…

Still grieving after the loss of her beloved husband, Lily Mortimer is determined to do something with the time she has left.

After the end of her fairytale marriage, thirty-something Kate is trying hard to mend her broken heart.

Chloe, a young woman with the world at her feet, is struggling to know what to do with her life.

When Lily embarks on a new venture in the picturesque town of Somerley, the three women come together to open The Coffee Stop, the most charming café for miles around.

But opening a coffee shop is never as simple as it seems, especially when you add neighboring competition, local heart throbs and heartbreak to the mix.

When tragedy strikes, can the three women pull together to make the new business fly, or will Lily’s last chance disappear down the drain along with yesterday’s coffee grinds?

My Thoughts: In Stirred With Love, readers are introduced to three wonderful characters that are as different as night and day but come together by chance and become closer than family. Grieving the loss of her husband, Lily decides to re-open the café she and her husband ran and turn it into a stylish coffee shop. She advertises and Kate and Chloe apply. Kate is going through a divorce and nursing a broken heart. Chloe is at a cross-road in her life deciding what path she wants to take so she decides to take the summer working in a coffee shop to help her figure it out.

I loved this story. All three characters are so different in their life experiences and the journey they have taken but they all have one common goal of making the coffee shop a success. These women bond over their life experiences and become fast friends as they work together to bring the coffee shop to life.

The author does an amazing job of taking the reader into each character’s life, giving the reader a front-row seat into what each character has gone through and is currently dealing with. I had a lot of empathy for each character and felt great compassion for each of them. They were easy to relate to and were very likable. This story brought many moments of laughter and tears while reading. I had a hard time putting the book down and hated to see it end.

One thing I especially liked was the coffee shop felt like a living character. I was completely entranced and mesmerized as the place begins to take shape and become a place of warmth, comfort and cheer to the customers. Lily, Kate and Chloe make this into a place they can call home. I wanted to spend my days there, bringing joy to the people sitting at the tables by the windows.

I highly recommend this book to all readers who look for a connection to the characters in the books they are reading.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Stirred With Love from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Cupid's Match by Lauren Palphreyman

Title: Cupid’s Match
Author: Lauren Palphreyman
Publisher: Wattpad
Publication Date: July 2017
Genre: Young Adult / Paranormal Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: He's mythologically hot, a little bit wicked, and almost 100% immortal. And he'll hit you right in the heart . . .

Lila Black doesn't believe in matchmaking, let alone soul mates. So then why is she constantly being hassled by the Cupids Matchmaking Service? But this gilded, cherub-bedecked dating agency isn't exactly what it seems...and it’s about to turn Lila's entire world upside down.

It turns out that Cupids Matchmaking is the real deal. As in, it's run by actual cupids―who don't look at all like they do in the paintings―and they have a serious problem with Lila's “match.” Because this guy shouldn't be in the system. He shouldn't have a match. And while he's irresistibly hot, he's also incredibly dangerous. Because Lila's true love match is Cupid. The original bad boy of love. And he wants her.

Now Lila's once-normal teenaged world has exploded into a mythological nightmare overrun by crime-lord sirens, wrathful cupid hit men, magic arrows that cause no end of trouble, and a mischievous, not-so-angelic love god she can't seem to stop herself from falling for . . .

My Thoughts: Enjoyable story about a teenager whose life is turned upside down when she finds out she has been matched by an online dating service to none other than Cupid. One might ask themselves why this would be a problem, and as Lila discovers, being matched to Cupid could bring about not only her death but the destruction of the world by Cupid’s evil and insane mother, Venus. Yes, Cupid’s mother is the goddess of love, but she is far from loving or lovable and with an army of cupid hit men wielding deadly bows and arrows at her disposal, Lila has to think fast if she hopes to save herself and her friends.

I liked the story and the characters. I honestly thought everyone was overreacting about Lila and Cupid being matched and hearing everyone droning on to Lila that the match must not happen or it is forbidden, blah blah blah, I wanted to take a few of those arrows and stab a few of these people myself. Until Cupid and Lila finally realize they have feelings for one another which returns Venus to Earth. Venus was one crazy loon. Call me crazy but wouldn’t a mother be happy that her son found his soul-mate? Wouldn’t she be happy that her son found “the one”? Wouldn’t she be happy that her son is happy? Apparently not in this family. I found it interesting that Venus’s return was feared and dreaded, but turns out was unavoidable. As soon as Cupid and Lila begin to have feelings, Venus returns and her primary focus is killing Lila, Cupid and everyone else she thinks has betrayed her.

I especially enjoyed the back story of Crystal and the Minotaur and meeting Pandora and Medusa. Fans of mythology will enjoy this book as well as readers who enjoy paranormal romances and young adult themes. This book is the first in a series and Lila and Cupid’s story continues in the next book.

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

REVIEW: Sundaes With Nora by Anna Garner

Title: Sundaes with Nora (Sweet Dreams #2)
Author: Anna Garner
Publisher: Anna Garner
Publication Date: February 2015
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy the Book: Amazon

Description: Nora Finch has a sweet life. She’s married to one of San Francisco’s wealthiest venture capitalists, she lives in a gorgeous old Victorian mansion in one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods, and she just launched an ice cream business with her two best friends, Cricket and Lindsay. However, exactly one week after Sweet Dreams opens its doors to the public, Nora’s husband, Kenneth, informs her he wants a divorce. Talk about bad timing. Now, on top of the tremendous pressure she feels to drive sales, Nora has to deal with the breakdown of her marriage, adjust to a more frugal lifestyle, find a new place to live and prepare to dip her toes in the dating pool for the first time in four years. If that weren’t enough, everyone keeps trying to get her to “process” her feelings. For an overachiever like Nora, juggling the demands of a new business along with a total overhaul of her personal life should be doable…right?

My Thoughts: Sundaes with Nora picks up where Sugar Spun Sister left off. Cricket, Nora and Lindsay have opened Sweet Dreams and they are still basking in the thrill and excitement of venturing out on their own, working for themselves. I was so excited to receive this story because I absolutely adored the first book and I was dying of curiosity to see how the girls made out fulfilling their dreams. Sounds divine, doesn’t it. For Nora Finch, it would be, except her husband, Kenneth, has just asked her for a divorce. Apparently, he feels she has lost her edge, has become weak and no longer has the killer instinct in the corporate world that attracted him to her in the first place. Nora is heartbroken and humiliated, obviously and with the stress of getting the business up and running, she now must worry about finding a place to live that she can afford and doesn’t want to burden Cricket and Lindsay with her personal drama.

I loved this story. Nora came across as a strong woman who can conquer the world and bring giants of industry to their knees immediately in the first book. The Nora in this book is not the hard as nails gladiator I believed her to be. She’s strong on the outside but carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. She soldiers on with grace and does a pretty darn good job of dealing with her personal issues and working her tail off to market Sweet Dreams. My admiration and respect for her grew by leaps and bounds.

It was wonderful hanging out with Nora, Cricket and Lindsay again. The story flows seamlessly, the characters are so likable and easy to relate to, you can’t help but empathize with them. Ms. Garner does a beautiful job creating the perfect world for these characters that drew me in so completely, I didn’t want the story to end.

My Final Verdict: I really hope this series continues. Nothing pulls on my sweet tooth the way ice cream does and I really would like another scoop.

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

REVIEW: Lending A Paw by Laurie Cass

Title: Lending a Paw (A Bookmobile Cat Mystery #1)
Author: Laurie Cass
Publisher: NAL
Publication Date: December 2013
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: With the help of her rescue cat, Eddie, librarian Minnie Hamilton is driving a bookmobile based in the resort town of Chilson, Michigan. But she’d better keep both hands on the wheel, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride…

Eddie followed Minnie home one day, and now she can’t seem to shake the furry little shadow. But despite her efforts to contain her new pal, the tabby sneaks out and trails her all the way to the bookmobile on its maiden voyage. Before she knows it, her slinky stowaway becomes her cat co-pilot!

Minnie and Eddie’s first day visiting readers around the county seems to pass without trouble—until Eddie darts outside at the last stop and leads her to the body of a local man who’s reached his final chapter.

Initially, Minnie is ready to let the police handle this case, but Eddie seems to smell a rat. Together, they’ll work to find the killer—because a good librarian always knows when justice is overdue.

My Thoughts: I enjoy the cozy mystery genre because they typically are lighter, more humorous and whimsical than the grittier mysteries and when I’m not in the mood for the intensity that the harder mysteries oftentimes will bring, I’ve had excellent luck with the cozier variety.

This story is the first in a series featuring Eddie the feline who makes himself more than comfortable aboard a bookmobile and the librarian he adopts. I usually like stories that feature a dog or cat as one of the central characters and this one is no exception. Eddie has a lot of personality and communicates very effectively. The problem is he isn’t allowed on the bookmobile and I spent a lot of the story just waiting for him and Minnie to get caught by her supervisor, who has quite a large stick up his rear end.

For me, the story dragged a bit and seemed to veer away from the mystery and sleuthing, but everything works out in the end and Eddie’s presence on the bookmobile remains a secret, for now.

My Final Verdict: There are currently nine stories in this series and I’m looking forward to Eddie’s next adventure on the bookmobile.

REVIEW: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Title: The Silent Patient
Author: Alex Michaelides
Publisher: Caladon Books
Publication Date: February 2019
Genre: Thriller / Suspense
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion photographer, she lives in a grand house with big windows overlooking a park in one of London’s most desirable areas. One evening her husband Gabriel returns home late from a fashion shoot, and Alicia shoots him five times in the face, and then never speaks another word.

Alicia’s refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into something far grander, a mystery that captures the public imagination and casts Alicia into notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets, and she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids and spotlight at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London.

Theo Faber is a criminal psychotherapist who has waited a long time for the opportunity to work with Alicia. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband takes him down a twisting path into his own motivations—a search for the truth that threatens to consume him...

My Thoughts: A gripping and intense story about a woman who appears to have the perfect life and marriage. She is a talented painter, married to a very successful fashion photographer. They live in a beautiful home in a very posh neighborhood. Alicia’s life takes a downward spiral one evening when her husband comes home late and she shoots him multiple times and then becomes near catatonic, never uttering another word.

An explosive premise creating more questions than answers to Alicia’s actions kept me engaged throughout the entire story. Why did she kill her husband? Why is she not speaking? Her guilt was never a question as she was found with the weapon and the forensic evidence proved her guilt. The reasons why she did it appear to be locked in her mind and she isn’t telling anyone.

Theo was an interesting character. He has followed Alicia’s case from the beginning and is excited at the opportunity to be Alicia’s psychotherapist. He is determined to be the one to unravel the secrets locked away in Alicia’s mind, to get her to open up and speak about what happened. I kept wondering why he was so interested in Alicia’s case and what was driving him to near obsessive measures to reach her. He’s a likable character and appears to care about his silent patient’s well-being. Alicia is a murderer and there were moments that I truly believed she would kill Theo, but I felt a lot of empathy for her. I was rooting for Theo to succeed and break Alicia out of her self-imposed prison.

This story takes the reader into the lives of both Alicia and Theo, both present-day and in the past. The author does an excellent job of creating characters that are easy to relate to but are also intriguing and very mysterious. He has a brilliant talent of writing the scenes so descriptively that the reader feels they are more than a casual observer or bystander. The plot flows easily and the transitions between present-day and the past are smooth.

My Final Verdict: There are some major twists and turns in this story that I did not see coming and it completely blew me away making this my favorite book of 2020. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an interesting story with characters who will shock and surprise the reader to the very end.

REVIEW: The Power Of Love by Kemberlee Shortland

Title: The Power Of Love
Author: Kemberlee Shortland
Publisher: Tirgearr Publishing
Publication Date: October 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Christmas Holiday
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: When Elaine Donovan discovers she's pregnant, she hesitates telling her husband, Ethan. They're newlyweds and plan to wait until they're ready to start a family. Ethan surprises her by accepting early parenthood, embracing the idea more fully than either of them expects.

When they receive bad news after a prenatal exam, both must face that their charmed lives are about to come crashing down around them.

Do Christmas wishes really come true? Elaine is staking her life on it!

My Thoughts: This book has a happy ending, but what a heart-wrencher it was getting there! Kemberlee Shortland is a master at pulling on my heartstrings with this highly emotional story of newlyweds Elaine and Ethan who face the hardest of announcements at a pre-natal exam. I loved how this couple has a love for one another that brings them closer together with the arrival of bad news instead of tearing them apart.

The story flows smoothly and I really liked Elaine and Ethan. Their emotions come alive on the page, in bright color and sound. I felt like I was in the room with them praying alongside them for a Christmas miracle.

My Final Verdict: This is a short and quick read that readers looking for a little boost to their reading pile should grab a copy.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Power Of Love from the author in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas by Darcie Boleyn

Title: A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas
Author: Darcie Boleyn
Publisher: Canelo
Publication Date: November 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit / Women’s Fiction / Christmas Holiday
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Lucie Quigley hates Christmas. It’s the time of year when everything goes wrong in her life. So this year, when she’s asked to be a bridesmaid at her friend Petra’s Manhattan wedding, she jumps at the invitation to escape the festivities.

Dale Treharne has been best friends with Lucie for as long as he can remember. He’s used to looking out for his oldest friend and when she asks him to be her plus one, he can’t seem to find a reason to refuse. Instead, he sees it as a way to help Lucie get through what is, for her, the most miserable time of the year.

In New York, as the snow starts to fall, Lucie and Dale start to realize that their feelings run deeper than just friendship. But can they overcome their pasts, and make it a very merry Manhattan Christmas?

My Thoughts: I had high expectations with this book to really make the charm and whimsy of Christmas explode around me. Christmas in Manhattan sounds wonderful and it was, but it just took too long for Lucie and Dale to get there. Instead, I felt like too much time was spent lying to family and friends about their fake relationship as an excuse for missing Christmas and how they will “break up” when they get back.

I also felt completely uninformed and in the dark about what happened to Lucie’s mother and why she hates Christmas. Hints are dropped all over the book with a large thud that took me out of the story wondering what happened and wishing they would spit it out already.

What I really liked about this book is the real relationship Lucie and Dale have. The one they are ignoring, or trying to. The deep love and friendship they have for one another is something few people find but most of us spend a lifetime looking for. I loved how Dale is there for Lucie, day or night, rain or shine. It was obvious to me how deeply his feelings for Lucie are and how hard he tries to hold it inside. I was very happy when they finally got honest with one another and bared their hearts and souls.

This book has a lot of interesting characters and I had a difficult time understanding how Lucie and Petra were even friends, much less having Lucie be a bridesmaid. However, the starts and stops I had to endure in the beginning were made up for by the interesting twist the story takes when Lucie and Dale get to Manhattan. I loved the horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park and going to Rockefeller Center to see the tree and ice-skating.

My Final Verdict: Although this book had a lot of moments that dragged for me, I liked the story overall. I thought Dale and Lucie were good characters and their emotions were so raw and powerful in their intensity at times. I even felt a little compassion for Petra by the end. This was a good choice for my Christmas themed stories and readers who think Manhattan at Christmas time is the place to be should give this one a look.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Connections In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Connections in Death (In Death #48)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: February 2019
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Mystery
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: In this gritty and gripping new novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Eve Dallas fights to save the innocent—and serve justice to the guilty—on the streets of New York.

Homicide cop Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband, Roarke, are building a brand-new school and youth shelter. They know that the hard life can lead kids toward dangerous crossroads—and with this new project, they hope to nudge a few more of them onto the right path. For expert help, they hire child psychologist Dr. Rochelle Pickering—whose own brother pulled himself out of a spiral of addiction and crime with Rochelle’s support.

Lyle is living with Rochelle while he gets his life together, and he’s thrilled to hear about his sister’s new job offer. But within hours, triumph is followed by tragedy. Returning from a celebratory dinner with her boyfriend, she finds Lyle dead with a syringe in his lap, and Eve’s investigation confirms that this wasn’t just another OD. After all his work to get clean, Lyle’s been pumped full of poison—and a neighbor with a peephole reports seeing a scruffy, pink-haired girl fleeing the scene.

Now Eve and Roarke must venture into the gang territory where Lyle used to run, and the ugly underground world of tattoo parlors and strip joints where everyone has taken a wrong turn somewhere. They both believe in giving people a second chance. Maybe even a third or fourth. But as far as they’re concerned, whoever gave the order on Lyle Pickering’s murder has run out of chances…

My Thoughts: One of the things that make Eve and Roarke such interesting and intriguing characters is how they have pulled themselves out of a life of violence, despair and ultimate misery and made something of themselves, individually and as a couple. Yes, Roarke is the richest man in the universe who buys and sells planets like they are baseball trading cards, but at his heart, he is a humanitarian who happily uses his wealth, power and influence to make life a little better for those who society discards and writes off.

Roarke has taken on the building of a school and youth shelter, which he hopes will help the children in the area make better choices to help them on the path to success. He hires child psychologist Rochelle Pickering because she knows better than anyone what a life of addiction and crime can do. Her brother, Lyle, lived that life until she helped him overcome it and with her help he has found his way back to sobriety and stability.

Unfortunately, Lyle’s success is short-lived when Rochelle comes home to find him dead with a syringe, an apparent overdose, another statistic. Eve doesn’t see it that way and quickly determines that Lyle’s death has been staged to appear as an overdose but she knows he was murdered. Eve knows that Lyle’s former gang is involved but tracking down who gave the order is a little more difficult and not so obvious. This story had a lot of unexpected twists and turns, several villains and agendas. A lot more than meets the eye, but Eve does not let that slow her down. In fact, I think it motivates her more to solve it.

My Final Verdict: With forty-eight installments in this series and more to come, what surprises me about this series is how thorough and meticulous Eve continues to be. I love how her brain works, organized and compartmentalized. She remembers the most trivial and smallest of details. I’m starting to wonder if she’s actually human or droid. More surprising is that she can solve the most intricate and twisted of murder cases, but she has been unable to figure out who the candy thief in her office is. Or, maybe she has…stay tuned…

REVIEW: Leverage In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Leverage In Death (In Death #47)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: September 2018
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Mystery / Suspense
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Lieutenant Eve Dallas puzzles over a bizarre suicide bombing in a Wall St. office building in the latest in the #1 New York Times bestselling series…

For the airline executives finalizing a merger that would make news in the business world, the nine a.m. meeting would be a major milestone. But after marketing VP Paul Rogan walked into the plush conference room, strapped with explosives, the headlines told of death and destruction instead. The NYPSD’s Eve Dallas confirms that Rogan was cruelly coerced by two masked men holding his family hostage. His motive was saving his wife and daughter―but what was the motive of the masked men?

Despite the chaos and bad publicity, blowing up one meeting isn’t going to put the brakes on the merger. All it’s accomplished is shattering a lot of innocent lives. Now, with the help of her billionaire husband Roarke, Eve must untangle the reason for an inexplicable act of terror, look at suspects inside and outside both corporations, and determine whether the root of this crime lies in simple sabotage, or something far more complex and twisted.

My Thoughts: What an intense nail-biter plot this story offers! I could not wrap my mind around the abject fear, horror, misery and anguish these people felt knowing they were going to die, choosing to die because the alternative is too horrible to imagine. Once again, J.D. Robb pulls out all the stops to deliver another in death installment that knocks my little white cotton socks right off my feet.

More than that, I get such a good buzz from hanging around these characters, they are interesting and fun to be around. I especially love that Robb makes them real. They aren’t just one dimensional characters. They have so many layers to their personalities and after forty-seven books, I still believe there is much more to them.

My Final Verdict: Stories that continue to deliver intensity while maintaining an intriguing edge and characters that always entertain and surprise me remains the biggest reason I keep coming back to this series. I try to figure the case out before Eve and Roarke put it together, but I usually fail and that’s completely fine with me.

REVIEW: Lizzie's Christmas Escape by Christie Barlow

Title: Lizzie’s Christmas Escape
Author: Christie Barlow
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: October 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit / Christmas Holiday
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: A gorgeous country house hotel, a liberal dusting of snow, a cozy weekend away…what more could Lizzie ask for at Christmas?

Every Christmas Lizzie promises herself that things will change and she will leap into the new year a new woman. And yet here she is again, at the beginning of December and nothing is different. Her girls have grown up and left home, her husband Henry is slumped in front of the TV and she is alone in the kitchen, seeking refuge in the cooking sherry and talking to her Gary Barlow calendar. She’s also been very diverted by handsome new neighbor Marcus and she knows she shouldn’t be …

So when best friend Ann suggests a weekend away in the country, Lizzie jumps at the chance. Will this Christmas escape give Lizzie some much needed perspective and allow her to mend her marriage? Or will Marcus prove to be too much of a distraction?

My Thoughts: There is so much more to this story than what meets the eye and I had to struggle a little bit as my feelings for Lizzie changed quite a bit as I got further into the story. I began with a lot of empathy for her and her situation. She’s been married a long time, her children are grown and away at university and her husband barely acknowledges her existence other than to ask when dinner is ready. I felt bad for her and when she meets her new neighbor Marcus, it seemed innocent but then the flirtation starts to take on a very serious tone and I had a much harder time feeling any empathy for Lizzie. I began to get angry because as cold and distant as Henry was, Lizzie never communicates her feelings to him. He deserved a swift kick and a shoe thrown at his head, but it annoyed the living daylights out of me that Lizzie so quickly embarked on this fling with Marcus without even TRYING to resolve the issues in her marriage! Also, the Christmas escape is more of an afterthought that occurred near the end of the story after Lizzie’s life is already in shambles.

I’m glad I didn’t give up on this story, however, because I was surprised at how it all played out and it resolved very well. In the end, I ended up feeling a lot of empathy for Lizzie, but also admiration. I was pleased to see her take full responsibility for her actions when confronted by not only her husband but her daughters. She also demonstrates a lot of courage by starting her own business, something she always wanted but never dared to try.

The story flows well and the characters were easy to engage with. I especially liked Lizzie’s friend, Ann, who demonstrates loyalty to Lizzie even though she is going through her own trials. Lizzie is lucky to have her as a friend. There are some surprise twists that came out of left field, but it enhanced the story very well.

My Final Verdict: Although I struggled with a few parts of the story, I recommend this story to readers who are looking for a story about forgiveness and second chances because isn’t Christmas the season of hope?

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Lizzie’s Christmas Escape from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: A New York Love Story by Cassie Rocca

Title: A New York Love Story (Blame It On New York, #1)
Author: Cassie Rocca
Publisher: Aria
Publication Date: October 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Giving a present is not always easy. Clover O’Brian knows that only too well: her job consists of helping people in the arduous task of choosing unusual gifts. Christmas is coming, New York is buzzing, and Clover, who has always loved the festive period, savors the atmosphere.

Cade Harrison already has everything in life. A Hollywood actor, he is handsome, rich, famous and popular. Success, however, has its downsides; having just emerged from a disastrous relationship with an actress, he feels a need to hide away in an area unfrequented by stars, in a house lent to him by a friend, far from prying eyes – especially those of tabloid reporters. But as chance will have it, the house in question is right opposite the one occupied by Clover, who until now has seen Hollywood actors only on the big screen. Two quite different lives meet by chance, at the most exhilarating time of year…

My Thoughts: Christmas in New York is one of my bucket list items. Watching the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center, ice-skating (OK, watching the ice-skaters), horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park, hot-chocolate at Serendipity all bring an atmosphere of Christmas joy to my mind and in this story, I got to tag along with Clover and Cade and experience it through their eyes. Not all of these things happen in this story, but these are the things I would love to do in New York at Christmas.

I liked Clover and Cade, but it was little off-putting for me at first how abrasive she comes across when she meets Cade for the first time. She struck me as a little rude and obnoxious at first, but I soon chalked it up to her trying to keep things light. After meeting her family, I understood why she keeps many people at arm’s length. Cade is very guarded and suspicious of people, being a Hollywood superstar and with good reason. Hiding out on Long Island for Christmas sounds like the perfect escape from the Hollywood gossip rags and the bad breakup he left there.

Clover and Cade couldn’t be more opposite in everything; in fact their lives, likes and dislikes are polar opposites from one another. I really didn’t see how they would find their way to one another; much less create enough chemistry to fill a story. Cassie Rocca does a good job of revealing not only both characters in all of their vulnerability, but using their insecurities to break down the walls they each have built around themselves. I enjoyed watching this couple learn to trust each other and let their guard down.

My Final Verdict: A good choice for readers who enjoy a cute story in New York at Christmas. It will make you want to go outside and make snow angels.

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

REVIEW: Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Title: Twelve Slays of Christmas (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #1)
Author: Jacqueline Frost
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: October 2017
Genre: Cozy Mystery / Christmas Holiday
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: When Holly White's fiancé cancels their Christmas Eve wedding with less than two weeks to go, Holly heads home with a broken heart. Lucky for her, home in historic Mistletoe, Maine is magical during Christmastime--exactly what the doctor prescribed. Except her plan to drown her troubles in peppermints and snickerdoodles is upended when local grouch and president of the Mistletoe Historical Society Margaret Fenwick is bludgeoned and left in the sleigh display at Reindeer Games, Holly's family tree farm.

When the murder weapon is revealed as one of the wooden stakes used to identify trees on the farm, Sheriff Evan Grey turns to Holly's father, Bud, and the Reindeer Games staff. And it doesn't help that Bud and the reindeer keeper were each seen arguing with Margaret just before her death. But Holly knows her father, and is determined to exonerate him. The jingle bells are ringing, the clock is ticking, and if Holly doesn't watch out, she'll end up on Santa's naughty list.

My Thoughts: You are probably thinking how schmaltzy that this story takes place in the town of Mistletoe, Maine, the female protagonist is named Holly and she comes home to her childhood home, Reindeer Games, where the best Christmas trees are sold as well as yummy snickerdoodles and hot chocolate. I agree but it still didn’t stop me from wanting to be there, especially at Christmas time.

Holly doesn’t have a lot of time to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere as the town grump who also happens to be the president of the town’s historical society is murdered and Holly’s father appears to be the primary suspect. Having your dad arrested for murder does not contribute to a holiday spirit, so Holly quickly begins looking into the matter herself, despite the hunky new Sheriff telling Holly to butt out.

I really enjoyed the premise of this story and was a great addition to my annual Christmas theme reading. The author creates very personable characters that the reader can relate to easily and quickly. The story flows smoothly and is well-written. I especially liked how the town of Mistletoe, Maine is one of the characters readers will also love. The author did such a fantastic job of illustrating the town, I got a strong sense of Mistletoe’s charm very quickly which added to the whimsy of the holiday season.

My Final Verdict: If you like your bludgeoning and murdering to be packed with festive Christmas cheer, you can’t go wrong with this book. The next book in the series, ’Twas The Knife Before Christmas is ready to go for next Christmas and I’m looking forward to more from this author.

REVIEW: Dark In Death by J.D. Robb

Title: Dark In Death (In Death #46)
Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: January 2018
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: It was a stab in the dark.

On a chilly February night, during a screening of Psycho in midtown, someone sunk an ice pick into the back of Chanel Rylan’s neck, then disappeared quietly into the crowds of drunks and tourists in Times Square. To Chanel’s best friend, who had just slipped out of the theater for a moment to take a call, it felt as unreal as the ancient black-and-white movie up on the screen. But Chanel’s blood ran red, and her death was anything but fictional.

Then, as Eve Dallas puzzles over a homicide that seems carefully planned and yet oddly personal, she receives a tip from an unexpected source: an author of police thrillers who recognizes the crime—from the pages of her own book. Dallas doesn’t think it’s coincidence, since a recent strangulation of a sex worker resembles a scene from her writing as well. Cops look for patterns of behavior: similar weapons, similar MOs. But this killer seems to find inspiration in someone else’s imagination, and if the theory holds, this may be only the second of a long-running series.

The good news is that Eve and her billionaire husband Roarke have an excuse to curl up in front of the fireplace with their cat, Galahad, reading mystery stories for research. The bad news is that time is running out before the next victim plays an unwitting role in a murderer’s deranged private drama—and only Eve can put a stop to a creative impulse gone horribly, destructively wrong.

My Thoughts: Another winner in the series and what makes this one so interesting is the murderer is committing the murders exactly as they are written by an author of police thrillers. Usually with serial killers, there are patterns to be followed. There is often a common thread connecting the victims or the MO of the crime is typically the same. This killer uses different methods and the victims are pretty random. Until the author comes forward, this doesn’t seem like a case that Eve will easily solve.

How frightening it must be for an author to recognize their work being copied by a maniac, someone trying to take credit for their work and takes their revenge in the most heinous manner. The killer in this story was insane, no doubt about it, but the precision with which they carry out their retribution gave me chills.

I really enjoyed that Eve and Roarke have to delve into the author’s others works to research how and where the killer may strike next. It totally helps that Summerset is out of the house, away on vacation so Eve and Roarke are afforded peace, quiet and privacy to work the case.

With all too many series, the stories begin to stagnate and are often not as large. They become cookie-cutter and repetitive and the reader can figure everything out pretty quickly. Happily this series has not done that. Each installment features an interesting plot that blends gritty murder scenes, spot-on investigations, humor and romance all neatly packaged with characters that continue to impress and amaze me.

My Final Verdict: I prefer this series on audio. The emotion and depth the narrator gives the characters, especially Eve, brings more enjoyment to the story. Eve’s snark and sarcasm shine through brighter and more vivid than on the page, which heightens the entertainment value of the story. Whatever format the reader chooses to read this series, they are sure to be entertained for several hours and will anticipate the next installment with equal parts anticipation and impatience.

REVIEW: Christmas Kisses by Allison May

Title: Christmas Kisses
Author: Alison May
Publisher: Choc Lit
Publication Date: November 2017
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Three girls, three kisses, three gorgeous Christmas stories...

Holly hates Christmas with a passion and can't wait to escape it - but then the flight to her once-in-a-lifetime holiday destination is canceled...

Cora has had the year from hell, and faces a bleak Christmas working in Golding's department store - in the most unflattering reindeer costume imaginable...

Jessica is in denial after her husband's betrayal, and can't help but think back to when her life still seemed so full of hope and promise...

Three years from hell, three sets of broken dreams, three girls in desperate need of Christmas spirit. Is the perfect Christmas kiss all it takes?

Includes Holly's Christmas Kiss, Cora's Christmas Kiss and Jessica's Christmas Kiss.

My Thoughts: My first pick for Christmas themed reading of 2019 started out magnificently with Christmas Kisses by new to me author Alison May. Three individual stories focusing on a different character who have all lost the Christmas spirit. The main thing I enjoyed is that even though each story is individual, they are all connected and I really enjoyed all of them. I found the character’s engaging and their experiences intriguing and interesting and I had a difficult time putting the book down. Thinking back, I’ve tried to pick a favorite of the three, but it’s nearly impossible. I had empathy for each character and their situation and was invested in their situation from the beginning.

My Final Verdict: Readers looking for a wonderful story to bring out the Christmas cheer and the spirit of the holiday should definitely start here. Though this was my first read by Alison May and the publisher, I hope it won’t be my last.

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