Dennis's bookshelf: 2017-read en-US Sat, 26 Aug 2023 06:51:42 -0700 60 Dennis's bookshelf: 2017-read 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg The Innocent Wife 36360900
You Trust Him.

So Why Are You So Scared?

Twenty years ago, Dennis Danson was arrested and imprisoned for the brutal murder of a young girl. Now he's the subject of a true-crime documentary that's whipping up a frenzy online to uncover the truth and free a man who has been wrongly convicted.

A thousand miles away in England, Samantha is obsessed with Dennis's case. She exchanges letters with him, and is quickly won over by his apparent charm and kindness to her. Soon she has left her old life behind to marry him and campaign for his release.

When the campaign is successful and Dennis is freed, however, Sam begins to discover new details that suggest he may not be quite so innocent after all.

But how do you confront your husband when you don't want to know the truth?

The winner of the Daily Mail First Novel Competition, Amy Lloyd's The Innocent Wife is gripping psychological suspense from a brilliant new voice in crime fiction.]]> 356 Amy Lloyd Dennis 5 The Innocent Wife this morning on my subway commute to work and couldn't put it down! I read it during my lunch break, commute home, on the stair master (I literally kept going until my legs tired—so keep that in mind if you need a cardio read), and when I got home. It was just that addicting!

Twenty years ago, high school jock, Dennis Danson was arrested for the murder of Holly Michaels in Red River County, Florida. The death of Holly Michaels sparked a nationwide investigation into the deaths of several other women in the small rural town—sending shockwaves through the media. Dennis's story is picked up by a documentary team and the rest is history. Dennis is a worldwide topic, gathering the attention of many celebrities, politicians, influencers, and 31 British schoolteacher Samantha. Samantha becomes immersed in Dennis's story and becomes an active member in the online following that he has garnered. After a brutal break up with her boyfriend Mark, Samantha goes out on a limb and decides to write Dennis and try to show him support. Samantha is surprised when Dennis appreciates the introduction and the two begin to have a budding relationship. It isn't long before Samantha and Dennis are married. As the case continues to gain recognition, evidence is released the proclaims Dennis's innocence. Samantha is more than ready to begin her life with Dennis and start their happy life together as husband and wife, but as their time together begins to grow, things are not what they seem. Why is Samantha growing suspicious of the man she once trusted with all her might?

The Innocent Wife is a quick, light mystery that will hook you in from the beginning. I was deeply drawn into Amy Lloyd's interpretation of society's interest in these Making a Murderer-esque shows and her original storytelling thereafter. When you first pick up this book, you will feel as if this is a typical suspense story and that you have it all figured out, but you're wrong. The Innocent Wife goes from zero to sixty real fast, with no lack of emotion and suspense. If you like Ruth Ware and Riley Sager, you'll love this one. I have always wondered what the perspective was from the eyes of these people who marry inmates in jail. I wonder, 'what are they thinking?', 'are they desperate?', 'are they mentally sound?'. These types of questions do not go unnoticed in this novel.

Thank you Hanover Square Press for my advanced copy for an honest review.

Merged review:

Well... any time I start a new book and finish it within the same day will always get a 5 star rating from me. I picked up The Innocent Wife this morning on my subway commute to work and couldn't put it down! I read it during my lunch break, commute home, on the stair master (I literally kept going until my legs tired—so keep that in mind if you need a cardio read), and when I got home. It was just that addicting!

Twenty years ago, high school jock, Dennis Danson was arrested for the murder of Holly Michaels in Red River County, Florida. The death of Holly Michaels sparked a nationwide investigation into the deaths of several other women in the small rural town—sending shockwaves through the media. Dennis's story is picked up by a documentary team and the rest is history. Dennis is a worldwide topic, gathering the attention of many celebrities, politicians, influencers, and 31 British schoolteacher Samantha. Samantha becomes immersed in Dennis's story and becomes an active member in the online following that he has garnered. After a brutal break up with her boyfriend Mark, Samantha goes out on a limb and decides to write Dennis and try to show him support. Samantha is surprised when Dennis appreciates the introduction and the two begin to have a budding relationship. It isn't long before Samantha and Dennis are married. As the case continues to gain recognition, evidence is released the proclaims Dennis's innocence. Samantha is more than ready to begin her life with Dennis and start their happy life together as husband and wife, but as their time together begins to grow, things are not what they seem. Why is Samantha growing suspicious of the man she once trusted with all her might?

The Innocent Wife is a quick, light mystery that will hook you in from the beginning. I was deeply drawn into Amy Lloyd's interpretation of society's interest in these Making a Murderer-esque shows and her original storytelling thereafter. When you first pick up this book, you will feel as if this is a typical suspense story and that you have it all figured out, but you're wrong. The Innocent Wife goes from zero to sixty real fast, with no lack of emotion and suspense. If you like Ruth Ware and Riley Sager, you'll love this one. I have always wondered what the perspective was from the eyes of these people who marry inmates in jail. I wonder, 'what are they thinking?', 'are they desperate?', 'are they mentally sound?'. These types of questions do not go unnoticed in this novel.

Thank you Hanover Square Press for my advanced copy for an honest review. ]]> 3.40 2018 The Innocent Wife
author: Amy Lloyd
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.40
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/27
date added: 2023/08/26
shelves: 2017-read, 2018-pub, domestic-thriller, mystery, suspense
review:
Well... any time I start a new book and finish it within the same day will always get a 5 star rating from me. I picked up The Innocent Wife this morning on my subway commute to work and couldn't put it down! I read it during my lunch break, commute home, on the stair master (I literally kept going until my legs tired—so keep that in mind if you need a cardio read), and when I got home. It was just that addicting!

Twenty years ago, high school jock, Dennis Danson was arrested for the murder of Holly Michaels in Red River County, Florida. The death of Holly Michaels sparked a nationwide investigation into the deaths of several other women in the small rural town—sending shockwaves through the media. Dennis's story is picked up by a documentary team and the rest is history. Dennis is a worldwide topic, gathering the attention of many celebrities, politicians, influencers, and 31 British schoolteacher Samantha. Samantha becomes immersed in Dennis's story and becomes an active member in the online following that he has garnered. After a brutal break up with her boyfriend Mark, Samantha goes out on a limb and decides to write Dennis and try to show him support. Samantha is surprised when Dennis appreciates the introduction and the two begin to have a budding relationship. It isn't long before Samantha and Dennis are married. As the case continues to gain recognition, evidence is released the proclaims Dennis's innocence. Samantha is more than ready to begin her life with Dennis and start their happy life together as husband and wife, but as their time together begins to grow, things are not what they seem. Why is Samantha growing suspicious of the man she once trusted with all her might?

The Innocent Wife is a quick, light mystery that will hook you in from the beginning. I was deeply drawn into Amy Lloyd's interpretation of society's interest in these Making a Murderer-esque shows and her original storytelling thereafter. When you first pick up this book, you will feel as if this is a typical suspense story and that you have it all figured out, but you're wrong. The Innocent Wife goes from zero to sixty real fast, with no lack of emotion and suspense. If you like Ruth Ware and Riley Sager, you'll love this one. I have always wondered what the perspective was from the eyes of these people who marry inmates in jail. I wonder, 'what are they thinking?', 'are they desperate?', 'are they mentally sound?'. These types of questions do not go unnoticed in this novel.

Thank you Hanover Square Press for my advanced copy for an honest review.

Merged review:

Well... any time I start a new book and finish it within the same day will always get a 5 star rating from me. I picked up The Innocent Wife this morning on my subway commute to work and couldn't put it down! I read it during my lunch break, commute home, on the stair master (I literally kept going until my legs tired—so keep that in mind if you need a cardio read), and when I got home. It was just that addicting!

Twenty years ago, high school jock, Dennis Danson was arrested for the murder of Holly Michaels in Red River County, Florida. The death of Holly Michaels sparked a nationwide investigation into the deaths of several other women in the small rural town—sending shockwaves through the media. Dennis's story is picked up by a documentary team and the rest is history. Dennis is a worldwide topic, gathering the attention of many celebrities, politicians, influencers, and 31 British schoolteacher Samantha. Samantha becomes immersed in Dennis's story and becomes an active member in the online following that he has garnered. After a brutal break up with her boyfriend Mark, Samantha goes out on a limb and decides to write Dennis and try to show him support. Samantha is surprised when Dennis appreciates the introduction and the two begin to have a budding relationship. It isn't long before Samantha and Dennis are married. As the case continues to gain recognition, evidence is released the proclaims Dennis's innocence. Samantha is more than ready to begin her life with Dennis and start their happy life together as husband and wife, but as their time together begins to grow, things are not what they seem. Why is Samantha growing suspicious of the man she once trusted with all her might?

The Innocent Wife is a quick, light mystery that will hook you in from the beginning. I was deeply drawn into Amy Lloyd's interpretation of society's interest in these Making a Murderer-esque shows and her original storytelling thereafter. When you first pick up this book, you will feel as if this is a typical suspense story and that you have it all figured out, but you're wrong. The Innocent Wife goes from zero to sixty real fast, with no lack of emotion and suspense. If you like Ruth Ware and Riley Sager, you'll love this one. I have always wondered what the perspective was from the eyes of these people who marry inmates in jail. I wonder, 'what are they thinking?', 'are they desperate?', 'are they mentally sound?'. These types of questions do not go unnoticed in this novel.

Thank you Hanover Square Press for my advanced copy for an honest review.
]]> We Are the Ants 23677341 The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley comes a brand-new novel about a teenage boy who must decide whether or not the world is worth saving.

Henry Denton has spent years being periodically abducted by aliens. Then the aliens give him an ultimatum: The world will end in 144 days, and all Henry has to do to stop it is push a big red button.

Only he isn’t sure he wants to.

After all, life hasn’t been great for Henry. His mom is a struggling waitress held together by a thin layer of cigarette smoke. His brother is a jobless dropout who just knocked someone up. His grandmother is slowly losing herself to Alzheimer’s. And Henry is still dealing with the grief of his boyfriend’s suicide last year.

Wiping the slate clean sounds like a pretty good choice to him.

But Henry is a scientist first, and facing the question thoroughly and logically, he begins to look for pros and cons: in the bully who is his perpetual one-night stand, in the best friend who betrayed him, in the brilliant and mysterious boy who walked into the wrong class. Weighing the pain and the joy that surrounds him, Henry is left with the ultimate choice: push the button and save the planet and everyone on it…or let the world—and his pain—be destroyed forever.]]> 455 Shaun David Hutchinson 148144963X Dennis 5 "Because sometimes it’s easier to start over with a clean slate than to drag the baggage of your past with you wherever you go."

We Are the Ants is not just a book surrounding Henry Denton’s difficulty in school due to bullying and his dilemma on whether or not the world is deemed necessary to save from unforeseen disaster. We Are the Ants is a book about life and the mechanisms to cope with the hurdles and pain people go through to just get by. This book truly resonated with me because as Henry, I was a kid in school who was bullied a lot throughout my high school years- not only for my sexuality, but for other reasons as Henry is in this book. Coping with the suicide of his boyfriend Jesse, Henry struggles to pick up the pieces as his hope for humanity and himself are dying out.

We Are the Ants is a book that recently got on my radar due to the glowing reviews that I’ve read via 카지노싸이트, but I didn’t hear much press about it. I was hesitant to pick this one up as it is not a thriller and my attention span for anything that isn’t tends to diminish. The first chapter throws a lot of in-your-face semi-corny themes in the very beginning, and I considered that a scare tactic. Once you can get passed that first chapter, I promise you this book will change your life.

Every single character in this book is flawed-realistically and apologetically. Whether it’s Henry’s alcoholic mother, his grandmother with Alzheimer’s, his brother Charlie who gets his girlfriend pregnant, his friend Audrey who takes blame for the death of Henry’s boyfriend, Marcus the popular joke who has a secret, or Diego who won’t let the past dictate his future.

Safe to say that I’m giving this book 5 stars. If I could give a representative star for every star in the universe for this book, I would. We Are the Ants is truly a remarkable book. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.

"The universe may forget us, but it doesn’t matter. Because we are the ants, and we’ll keep marching on."]]> 4.12 2016 We Are the Ants
author: Shaun David Hutchinson
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2017/09/29
date added: 2021/05/26
shelves: favorites, lgbt, sci-fi, 2017-read, young-adult, coverporn, contemporary, gay
review:
"Because sometimes it’s easier to start over with a clean slate than to drag the baggage of your past with you wherever you go."

We Are the Ants is not just a book surrounding Henry Denton’s difficulty in school due to bullying and his dilemma on whether or not the world is deemed necessary to save from unforeseen disaster. We Are the Ants is a book about life and the mechanisms to cope with the hurdles and pain people go through to just get by. This book truly resonated with me because as Henry, I was a kid in school who was bullied a lot throughout my high school years- not only for my sexuality, but for other reasons as Henry is in this book. Coping with the suicide of his boyfriend Jesse, Henry struggles to pick up the pieces as his hope for humanity and himself are dying out.

We Are the Ants is a book that recently got on my radar due to the glowing reviews that I’ve read via 카지노싸이트, but I didn’t hear much press about it. I was hesitant to pick this one up as it is not a thriller and my attention span for anything that isn’t tends to diminish. The first chapter throws a lot of in-your-face semi-corny themes in the very beginning, and I considered that a scare tactic. Once you can get passed that first chapter, I promise you this book will change your life.

Every single character in this book is flawed-realistically and apologetically. Whether it’s Henry’s alcoholic mother, his grandmother with Alzheimer’s, his brother Charlie who gets his girlfriend pregnant, his friend Audrey who takes blame for the death of Henry’s boyfriend, Marcus the popular joke who has a secret, or Diego who won’t let the past dictate his future.

Safe to say that I’m giving this book 5 stars. If I could give a representative star for every star in the universe for this book, I would. We Are the Ants is truly a remarkable book. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.

"The universe may forget us, but it doesn’t matter. Because we are the ants, and we’ll keep marching on."
]]> Boy Culture 720561 ]]> 181 Matthew Rettenmund Dennis 1 lgbt, 2017-read, gay 3.75 1995 Boy Culture
author: Matthew Rettenmund
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.75
book published: 1995
rating: 1
read at: 2017/08/13
date added: 2021/05/26
shelves: lgbt, 2017-read, gay
review:

]]> Untamed 52129515 Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live. It is the story of navigating divorce, forming a new blended family, and discovering that the brokenness or wholeness of a family depends not on its structure but on each member’s ability to bring her full self to the table. And it is the story of how each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honor our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts so that we become women who can finally look at ourselves and say: There She Is.]]> 333 Glennon Doyle 1984801252 Dennis 4 3.98 2020 Untamed
author: Glennon Doyle
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2020/04/02
date added: 2020/04/02
shelves: non-fiction, self-help, 2017-read
review:
This book is insightful and really makes you think. I highly suggest reading Glennon Doyle's new book while in quarantine because it really is just a great "feel good" type of book. I really felt much better about my current surroundings. I didn't identify with everything that the book talks about, but the pieces that I did, really hit home for me. I feel like a better person after finishing this book.
]]> Macbeth 33952851 512 Jo Nesbø 1781090262 Dennis 3 Macbeth is a standalone retelling of William Shakespeare's Macbeth with a modern day, Joe Nesbø crime fiction spin that we all love and respect from the Stephen King of police drama novels. The novel starts sets the stage in the 1970s, in a destitute, crime and drug ridden town in rural Norway, where the townsfolk are ruled by addiction. Both drug ring leaders, Sweno and Hecate, are the supreme leaders of the organized crime and drug power in the town. Another ruler of the town is Lady, who owns and operates the town's casino, Inverness. After a successful crime bust, Macbeth is promoted to the Head of the Organized Crime Unit. Through manipulation and the thirst for power, the shift of balance in the crime force is completely descended. If you are a lover of William Shakespeare or the New York production of Sleep No More, I encourage you to check this story out.

My rating
I am giving this story right down the middle 3 stars out of 5 and I'll tell you why. Although I'm not the biggest Shakespeare fan, I do enjoy Macbeth and was excited to pick up this retelling. I have broken down reasons why Joe Nesbø's upcoming book gets a right down the middle review for me.

1. The characters in this story are very similar to Shakespeare's story. Mainly, most of the characters are named exactly as their original counterparts, which at first was interesting, but then sort of bored me. I've read other retellings where the cast of character slightly deviate from the characterization in their original work and it has worked astoundingly for me. It allows the reader to not guess the next steps of each character and also not be bored by a story that they've read or heard already. It keeps the reader engaged, focused, and confused (but in a good way!). This was my main concern about this story and I felt the need to get that out there first before getting into the good stuff.

2. In contrast to the character originality, the story presented to us is uniquely defined and was masterfully done. Rather than the story be about royals and servants, this retelling involves crime units and drug lords–still interconnecting the main themes that you come to expect with this story: manipulation, power, greed. These centralized themes are portrayed perfectly from the moment you crack open the book, until the final chapter. Human behavior can be it's own worst enemy.

3. This was my first read by Jo Nesbø, but everyone I know has been raving about him for a long time so I figured, let me start off with a standalone and see what I thought. Jo Nesbø is truly an artist when it comes to creating the picture with words. I could picture exactly what Nesbø was describing and it was incredibly captivating for me. He can uniquely describe a setting better than most authors I've come across lately, and that is a skill that can't be taught

My final thoughts: If you've never read Macbeth or absolutely loved it, pick up this book! If you're hesitant because you know what happens already, or want something a little more original–maybe sit this one out. Retellings can be difficult to review, because everyone has a different emotional attachment to the story being reenacted and I truly believe that this story will also be polarizing.

Macbeth will be released in April 2018. I was provided an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.]]> 3.42 2018 Macbeth
author: Jo Nesbø
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2017/11/18
date added: 2018/04/12
shelves: crime-fiction, drama, retelling, slow-burn, 2017-read, 2018-pub, nordic-noir
review:
Joe Nesbø's Macbeth is a standalone retelling of William Shakespeare's Macbeth with a modern day, Joe Nesbø crime fiction spin that we all love and respect from the Stephen King of police drama novels. The novel starts sets the stage in the 1970s, in a destitute, crime and drug ridden town in rural Norway, where the townsfolk are ruled by addiction. Both drug ring leaders, Sweno and Hecate, are the supreme leaders of the organized crime and drug power in the town. Another ruler of the town is Lady, who owns and operates the town's casino, Inverness. After a successful crime bust, Macbeth is promoted to the Head of the Organized Crime Unit. Through manipulation and the thirst for power, the shift of balance in the crime force is completely descended. If you are a lover of William Shakespeare or the New York production of Sleep No More, I encourage you to check this story out.

My rating
I am giving this story right down the middle 3 stars out of 5 and I'll tell you why. Although I'm not the biggest Shakespeare fan, I do enjoy Macbeth and was excited to pick up this retelling. I have broken down reasons why Joe Nesbø's upcoming book gets a right down the middle review for me.

1. The characters in this story are very similar to Shakespeare's story. Mainly, most of the characters are named exactly as their original counterparts, which at first was interesting, but then sort of bored me. I've read other retellings where the cast of character slightly deviate from the characterization in their original work and it has worked astoundingly for me. It allows the reader to not guess the next steps of each character and also not be bored by a story that they've read or heard already. It keeps the reader engaged, focused, and confused (but in a good way!). This was my main concern about this story and I felt the need to get that out there first before getting into the good stuff.

2. In contrast to the character originality, the story presented to us is uniquely defined and was masterfully done. Rather than the story be about royals and servants, this retelling involves crime units and drug lords–still interconnecting the main themes that you come to expect with this story: manipulation, power, greed. These centralized themes are portrayed perfectly from the moment you crack open the book, until the final chapter. Human behavior can be it's own worst enemy.

3. This was my first read by Jo Nesbø, but everyone I know has been raving about him for a long time so I figured, let me start off with a standalone and see what I thought. Jo Nesbø is truly an artist when it comes to creating the picture with words. I could picture exactly what Nesbø was describing and it was incredibly captivating for me. He can uniquely describe a setting better than most authors I've come across lately, and that is a skill that can't be taught

My final thoughts: If you've never read Macbeth or absolutely loved it, pick up this book! If you're hesitant because you know what happens already, or want something a little more original–maybe sit this one out. Retellings can be difficult to review, because everyone has a different emotional attachment to the story being reenacted and I truly believe that this story will also be polarizing.

Macbeth will be released in April 2018. I was provided an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
]]> Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1) 13453029
The first Wool story was released as a standalone short in July of 2011. Due to reviewer demand, the rest of the story was released over the next six months.

This is the story of mankind clawing for survival, of mankind on the edge. The world outside has grown unkind, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they profess to want: They are allowed outside.

Alternate cover for B0071XO8RA]]> 509 Hugh Howey Dennis 1 4.22 2012 Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1)
author: Hugh Howey
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2012
rating: 1
read at: 2017/05/22
date added: 2018/04/03
shelves: slow-burn, sci-fi, 2017-read, dystopian
review:

]]> The French Girl 35235624
For Kate Channing, Severine was an unwelcome presence, her inscrutable beauty undermining the close-knit group's loyalties amid the already simmering tensions. And after a huge altercation on the last night of the holiday, Kate knew nothing would ever be the same. There are some things you can't forgive, and there are some people you can't forget, like Severine, who was never seen again.

Now, a decade later, the case is reopened when Severine's body is found in the well behind the farmhouse. Questioned along with her friends, Kate stands to lose everything she's worked so hard to achieve as suspicion mounts around her. Desperate to resolve her own shifting memories and fearful she will be forever bound to the woman whose presence still haunts her, Kate finds herself buried under layers of deception with no one to set her free.]]> 304 Lexie Elliott 0399586938 Dennis 4
The French Girl is a remarkable debut by newcomer Lexie Elliot, who’s writing style can already be considered in the same ranks as Ruth Ware, Fiona Barton, and Paula Hawkins. The story takes place in the current day London, where Kate Channing receives a phone call from college friend Tom, about the French police re-opening up a case about a missing person; an acquaintance that they met during a vacation in France – Severine. Severine’s body has been found in the bottom of a closed-up well with clues leading up to the possibility of a murder charge being discussed. The problem is, Kate, her boyfriend Seb, and her friends Lara, Tom, Theo, and Caro were all the last ones to be linked to Severine. With the police re-opening the case, what will be discovered? Why do the police suspect that it could be one of them, and if someone has a secret – how willing are they to keep it under wraps? The French Girl single-handedly paints the picture of how wicked some people may go to get what they want, even if it means destroying the lives of others to get ahead.

The French Girl is going to be a polarizing book for many for a multitude of reasons but I am going to break down my thoughts and how it was painted for me and let’s see what you think:

1- This is a slow-burn light mystery, rather than an in-your-face suspense where you’ll have to check behind the shower curtain before going to bed. It took me awhile to sink my teeth in, but when I did, I was addicted. It’s also a light read, so you won’t even realize how quickly you are breezing through this, until it’s 1 AM and you realize you have to go to bed for work in the morning.

2- The characterizations of all the main and supporting characters are vividly drawn out, which is great because you end up being wrapped right into the chaos, without being lulled by the slow-pacing of the plot.

3- The French Girl gave me serious Ruth Ware vibes in terms of writing style (yassss!!!) and unreliable characters. The French Girl is what The Lying Game was trying to be but failed.

4- There was a lot of talk about the economic environment of England and the lack of job security, which peaked my interest. After a little research, I read that Lexie Elliott took up writing after losing her job in the Great Recession. I found this really intriguing because as a millennial, I have many people in my life who have been greatly affected by the economic downturn and still are. It was refreshing to read about characters who were going through situations that I could relate to and feel sympathy for.

5- Based on the previous point, as well as Ms. Elliott’s incredible characterizations, I was sooo into the cast of characters that she presented. I loved Kate and her trying to keep it together but slowly falling apart psyche; I loved some of the characters’ alcoholic tendencies covering up insecurities; I loved the minor love story taking place during the sequence of the plot, as it wasn’t overbearing and it maintained relevance; and lastly, I loved how wicked some of these characters truly are. It maintained my attention throughout the story.

Overall, The French Girl is a solid debut by a new author that I can’t wait to hear more from.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Publishing Group for my advanced copy for an honest review. It was a pleasure.

You can also follow me on Instagram | @scared_str8]]> 3.51 2018 The French Girl
author: Lexie Elliott
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2017/10/24
date added: 2018/04/02
shelves: crime-fiction, drama, mystery, slow-burn, thriller, whodunnit, 2017-read, 2018-pub, light-mystery
review:
4/5 stars!

The French Girl is a remarkable debut by newcomer Lexie Elliot, who’s writing style can already be considered in the same ranks as Ruth Ware, Fiona Barton, and Paula Hawkins. The story takes place in the current day London, where Kate Channing receives a phone call from college friend Tom, about the French police re-opening up a case about a missing person; an acquaintance that they met during a vacation in France – Severine. Severine’s body has been found in the bottom of a closed-up well with clues leading up to the possibility of a murder charge being discussed. The problem is, Kate, her boyfriend Seb, and her friends Lara, Tom, Theo, and Caro were all the last ones to be linked to Severine. With the police re-opening the case, what will be discovered? Why do the police suspect that it could be one of them, and if someone has a secret – how willing are they to keep it under wraps? The French Girl single-handedly paints the picture of how wicked some people may go to get what they want, even if it means destroying the lives of others to get ahead.

The French Girl is going to be a polarizing book for many for a multitude of reasons but I am going to break down my thoughts and how it was painted for me and let’s see what you think:

1- This is a slow-burn light mystery, rather than an in-your-face suspense where you’ll have to check behind the shower curtain before going to bed. It took me awhile to sink my teeth in, but when I did, I was addicted. It’s also a light read, so you won’t even realize how quickly you are breezing through this, until it’s 1 AM and you realize you have to go to bed for work in the morning.

2- The characterizations of all the main and supporting characters are vividly drawn out, which is great because you end up being wrapped right into the chaos, without being lulled by the slow-pacing of the plot.

3- The French Girl gave me serious Ruth Ware vibes in terms of writing style (yassss!!!) and unreliable characters. The French Girl is what The Lying Game was trying to be but failed.

4- There was a lot of talk about the economic environment of England and the lack of job security, which peaked my interest. After a little research, I read that Lexie Elliott took up writing after losing her job in the Great Recession. I found this really intriguing because as a millennial, I have many people in my life who have been greatly affected by the economic downturn and still are. It was refreshing to read about characters who were going through situations that I could relate to and feel sympathy for.

5- Based on the previous point, as well as Ms. Elliott’s incredible characterizations, I was sooo into the cast of characters that she presented. I loved Kate and her trying to keep it together but slowly falling apart psyche; I loved some of the characters’ alcoholic tendencies covering up insecurities; I loved the minor love story taking place during the sequence of the plot, as it wasn’t overbearing and it maintained relevance; and lastly, I loved how wicked some of these characters truly are. It maintained my attention throughout the story.

Overall, The French Girl is a solid debut by a new author that I can’t wait to hear more from.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Publishing Group for my advanced copy for an honest review. It was a pleasure.

You can also follow me on Instagram | @scared_str8
]]> <![CDATA[There's Someone Inside Your House]]> 15797848
Makani Young thought she'd left her dark past behind her in Hawaii, settling in with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska. She's found new friends and has even started to fall for mysterious outsider Ollie Larsson. But her past isn't far behind.

Then, one by one, the students of Osborne Hugh begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasingly grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and her feelings for Ollie intensify, Makani is forced to confront her own dark secrets.]]> 287 Stephanie Perkins 0525426019 Dennis 2 There's Someone Inside Your House by YA romance author Stephanie Perkins is a debut thriller that initially gives off Scream vibes from the initial synopsis. Makani Young is a student at Osbourne High School in rural Kansas, moving from Hawaii to live with her maternal grandmother as a vitriolic divorce battles between her parents rages on. The story starts off with the murder of one of Osbourne High School's prized students, Haley Whitehall—crippling the town's status quo and jumpstarting a new era of turmoil for this small town. One by one, Osbourne's student body is slowly coming to the demise by a sadistic, yet savvy killer. Who's the killer? Why is this person attacking "innocent" (wink wink) people, and how can it be stopped?

*breathes deeply* Welp. Alright guys and gals, this was bad. I guess this is what happens when you have an author switch genres from young adult romance to thriller slasher horror. It just doesn't work for me and I'll tell you why.

The Characters
The character development is lacking so hard in this book. We are introduced to Makani, her love interest Ollie, her grandmother, and her friends Darby and Alex. We are also introduced to a plethora of secondary characters who end up taking a more prominent role than a majority of the main deck of characters that Ms. Perkins provides for us. This tactic just doesn't work for me because I really don't care what a character we meet on one page does to affect the story. Why not divulge more into that/those character/s so I'm fully vested? It just doesn't make sense that poorly discussed characters have too much power in this plot.

When we do learn more about the main characters, there really aren't any personality traits or prominent portrayals about them either. You could literally take the person's name and almost interchangeably use someone else and the story could go on.

The Story
I picked this book up expecting it to be nostalgic of 90s slasher films like Scream or I Know What You Did Last Summer (I was praying to my gay training guide that there'd be a Ryan Phillippe -esque character here but alas that was also not given to me with this story), but what I got was more Nickelodeon's Degrassi. I feel like I was hoodwinked by the synopsis and the initial discussion about the book. This book is a romance novel with a minor slasher/whodunnit theme and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

What also lacked was minor secondary and tertiary plot developments in this book that really didn't amount to anything of significance. We touch on Makani's life before moving to Osbourne—yawn. We touch on Ollie's relationship with his brother and family farm—ok, I guess. Why not further develop these sub-plots and loop them into the story?

What I did enjoy
The one and maybe only thing I really enjoyed about There's Someone Inside Your House was that the characters were very diverse. This isn't your #whitepeopleproblems story where everyone is blonde, blue-eyed, straight, white people drinking pumpkin spiced-lattes and listening to Taylor Swift. We see racially diverse people, lgbtq characters, and also hear the perspectives of those who are bullied, rather than the cheerleading squad or football quarterbacks complaining that they "can't even".

Final Thoughts
So now that I've complained and moaned with this review, I do believe that people who enjoy romance novels and young adult novels shouldn't be deterred by this review. In fact, I encourage you to pick this one up if those genres interest you because There's Someone Inside Your House is a spot-on choice for those seeking teen romance reads with something a little more complicated.]]> 3.39 2017 There's Someone Inside Your House
author: Stephanie Perkins
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.39
book published: 2017
rating: 2
read at: 2017/11/12
date added: 2018/04/02
shelves: drama, mystery, whodunnit, 2017-read, young-adult, romance, coverporn, light-mystery
review:
There's Someone Inside Your House by YA romance author Stephanie Perkins is a debut thriller that initially gives off Scream vibes from the initial synopsis. Makani Young is a student at Osbourne High School in rural Kansas, moving from Hawaii to live with her maternal grandmother as a vitriolic divorce battles between her parents rages on. The story starts off with the murder of one of Osbourne High School's prized students, Haley Whitehall—crippling the town's status quo and jumpstarting a new era of turmoil for this small town. One by one, Osbourne's student body is slowly coming to the demise by a sadistic, yet savvy killer. Who's the killer? Why is this person attacking "innocent" (wink wink) people, and how can it be stopped?

*breathes deeply* Welp. Alright guys and gals, this was bad. I guess this is what happens when you have an author switch genres from young adult romance to thriller slasher horror. It just doesn't work for me and I'll tell you why.

The Characters
The character development is lacking so hard in this book. We are introduced to Makani, her love interest Ollie, her grandmother, and her friends Darby and Alex. We are also introduced to a plethora of secondary characters who end up taking a more prominent role than a majority of the main deck of characters that Ms. Perkins provides for us. This tactic just doesn't work for me because I really don't care what a character we meet on one page does to affect the story. Why not divulge more into that/those character/s so I'm fully vested? It just doesn't make sense that poorly discussed characters have too much power in this plot.

When we do learn more about the main characters, there really aren't any personality traits or prominent portrayals about them either. You could literally take the person's name and almost interchangeably use someone else and the story could go on.

The Story
I picked this book up expecting it to be nostalgic of 90s slasher films like Scream or I Know What You Did Last Summer (I was praying to my gay training guide that there'd be a Ryan Phillippe -esque character here but alas that was also not given to me with this story), but what I got was more Nickelodeon's Degrassi. I feel like I was hoodwinked by the synopsis and the initial discussion about the book. This book is a romance novel with a minor slasher/whodunnit theme and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

What also lacked was minor secondary and tertiary plot developments in this book that really didn't amount to anything of significance. We touch on Makani's life before moving to Osbourne—yawn. We touch on Ollie's relationship with his brother and family farm—ok, I guess. Why not further develop these sub-plots and loop them into the story?

What I did enjoy
The one and maybe only thing I really enjoyed about There's Someone Inside Your House was that the characters were very diverse. This isn't your #whitepeopleproblems story where everyone is blonde, blue-eyed, straight, white people drinking pumpkin spiced-lattes and listening to Taylor Swift. We see racially diverse people, lgbtq characters, and also hear the perspectives of those who are bullied, rather than the cheerleading squad or football quarterbacks complaining that they "can't even".

Final Thoughts
So now that I've complained and moaned with this review, I do believe that people who enjoy romance novels and young adult novels shouldn't be deterred by this review. In fact, I encourage you to pick this one up if those genres interest you because There's Someone Inside Your House is a spot-on choice for those seeking teen romance reads with something a little more complicated.
]]> House of Spines 35960866
‘A beautifully written tale, original, engrossing and scary. It’s a wonderful mixture, a psychological thriller with a touch of a ghost story (sort of), a dollop of the supernatural (but not really) and murder (perhaps), told through the vision of a druggie poet who hasn’t taken his medicine and is therefore an unreliable witness (or is he?) … a dark joy’  The Times

 ‘A deeply satisfying read’  Sunday Times

‘A fine, page-turning thriller’  Daily Mail

_________________

What you see isn’t always real… 

Ran McGhie’s world has been turned upside down. A young, lonely and frustrated writer, and suffering from mental-health problems, he discovers that his long-dead mother was related to one of Glasgow’s oldest merchant families.

Not only that, Ran has inherited Newton Hall, a vast mansion that belonged to his great-uncle, who had been watching from afar as his estranged great-nephew grew up. Entering his new-found home, it seems Great-uncle Alexander has turned it into a temple to the written word – the perfect place for poet Ran.

But everything is not as it seems. As he explores the Hall’s endless corridors, Ran’s grasp on reality appears to be loosening. And then he comes across an ancient lift; and in that lift a mirror. And in the mirror … the reflection of a woman.

A terrifying psychological thriller with more than a hint of the gothic,  House of Spines  is a love letter to the power of books, and a reminder that lust and betrayal can be deadly…

_________________

Praise for Michael J.

‘ House of Spines  is a gothic ghost story and psychological thriller all rolled into one. Brilliantly creepy, with a dash of Glasgow humour, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. A spine-tingling treat’  Lisa Gray,  Daily Record

‘From the stunning opening chapter, I was hooked. House of Spines is an intriguing tale with a haunting, gothic quality that compels you to keep reading till the end’  Howard Linskey

‘At first it seems like a poet’s paradise, but something sinister lurks within the corridors … a MUST READ’  Daily Express

‘The story twists and feints, pulling us along with it at every turn, the edginess of its central character making every development even more unsettling … a chilling read, best savoured late on a dark night’  Herald Scotland

‘You might not want to be alone when you read this spine-chilling gothic thriller ... As he explores its endless corridors his grip on reality seems to be evaporating in this terrifying exploration of lust and betrayal’  Sunday Post

‘Prepare to have your marrow well and truly chilled by this deeply creepy Scottish horror … A complex and multi-layered story – perfect for a wintry night’  Sunday Mirror

‘Beautifully crafted and colourfully descriptive … keeps the reader gripped by an uneasy presence, a chill, literally, down the spine’  Undiscovered Scotland

‘Malone is a massive talent … get on board now so you can brag you were reading his books long before the rest of the world’  Luca Veste

‘Vivid, visceral and compulsive’  Ian Rankin

‘A terrific read … I read it in one sitting’  Martina Cole

‘A deeply personal thriller that will keep the reader turning those pages, with twists and turns designed to keep the heart pumping’  Russel D. McLean]]> 276 Michael J. Malone 1910633860 Dennis 4 House of Spines is a poetically written gothic ghost story, weaving in family dynamics, tragedy, and some romance in between. The story starts off with 20-something year old Ranald McGhie meeting with his family attorney after his Great-Uncle, Alexander Fitzpatrick passes away and leaves his beautiful Victorian mansion to him, with the condition that the library stay in tact and the housekeeper and her husband maintain their own cottage on the property. Ranald is skeptical because his relationship with his Great-Uncle is non-existent, but little does he know, his uncle has been watching him from afar, proudly ready to hand the keys of the kingdom to Ran. Ran learns the hard way how family dynamics could get the worst of you when it comes to life and death. People can be brutal when it comes to money and inheritance, leaving the forces of human nature to take their victims unwillingly.

House of Spines was a very different read for me because it was a gothic-yet not scary, ghost story intertwined with real life issues that could affect anyone at any given moment. We all could either have experienced or know someone who has experienced family death, mental illness, sexual promiscuity, divorce, financial instability, and betrayal. Michael Malone beautifully blends these themes throughout the story without going overboard; allowing human nature to provide the outcomes to this conflicts. The writing style at some points tended to lull me or lose my focus, but the story really kept me focus on what was going to happen. It could be a bit of a slow-burn in terms of action, but I wouldn't necessarily categorize this book as a slow burn because there was enough of the story to go around. With a unique story and very satisfying ending, I was very pleased to finish this novel and look forward to reading more from Mr. Malone.]]> 3.57 2017 House of Spines
author: Michael J. Malone
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.57
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/11/10
date added: 2018/04/02
shelves: mystery, supernatural, 2017-read, gothic
review:
Michael J. Malone's House of Spines is a poetically written gothic ghost story, weaving in family dynamics, tragedy, and some romance in between. The story starts off with 20-something year old Ranald McGhie meeting with his family attorney after his Great-Uncle, Alexander Fitzpatrick passes away and leaves his beautiful Victorian mansion to him, with the condition that the library stay in tact and the housekeeper and her husband maintain their own cottage on the property. Ranald is skeptical because his relationship with his Great-Uncle is non-existent, but little does he know, his uncle has been watching him from afar, proudly ready to hand the keys of the kingdom to Ran. Ran learns the hard way how family dynamics could get the worst of you when it comes to life and death. People can be brutal when it comes to money and inheritance, leaving the forces of human nature to take their victims unwillingly.

House of Spines was a very different read for me because it was a gothic-yet not scary, ghost story intertwined with real life issues that could affect anyone at any given moment. We all could either have experienced or know someone who has experienced family death, mental illness, sexual promiscuity, divorce, financial instability, and betrayal. Michael Malone beautifully blends these themes throughout the story without going overboard; allowing human nature to provide the outcomes to this conflicts. The writing style at some points tended to lull me or lose my focus, but the story really kept me focus on what was going to happen. It could be a bit of a slow-burn in terms of action, but I wouldn't necessarily categorize this book as a slow burn because there was enough of the story to go around. With a unique story and very satisfying ending, I was very pleased to finish this novel and look forward to reading more from Mr. Malone.
]]> The Broken Girls 35305625 A breakout suspense novel from the award-winning author of The Haunting of Maddy Clare.

Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants--the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it's located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming--until one of them mysteriously disappears. . . .

Vermont, 2014. As much as she's tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister's death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can't shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past--and a voice that won't be silenced. . . .]]> 326 Simone St. James 0451476204 Dennis 4 The Broken Girls is set in Barrons, Vermont, during two different time periods and ultimately merging into one storyline.

1950- In a generation of people affected by the aftermath of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War, there is a boarding school in rural Vermont called Idlewild Hall. This all girls boarding school is home to many of society's "degenerates", trouble-makers, family secrets, and broken girls. A group of outcasts, Katie, CeCe, Sonia, and Roberta are the best of friends, forging their time at Idlewild with their own sisterhood, showing each other that they can handle anything life throws at them, as long as they have each other.

2014- After decades of Idlewild Hall being shutdown, a mysterious buyer decides to reopen the boarding school under suspicious circumstances. Journalist Fiona Sheridan decides to pick up the story because it is near and dear to her heart. Idlewild's operations ceased after her sister was tragically murdered by the facility owner's son. Why is Idlewild being restored? Why now, after all this time? And... who or what is looming over the property? As time progresses, secrets start unraveling at the seams. Not everything in Barrons is what it seems.

The Broken Girls really kept me engaged from the moment the storyline was established. It was my first read by Simone St. James and I will definitely be interested in seeing what else she has in her pocket in the future. Usually I don't like stories that follow two or more different timelines, as I feel like it becomes an over-zealous attempt at creating an in depth story, but St. James really has a good handle on weaving in the past to the present here. Slowly, each puzzle piece locks in for an epic conclusion.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.]]> 4.04 2018 The Broken Girls
author: Simone St. James
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2017/10/09
date added: 2018/03/12
shelves: thriller, suspense, crime-fiction, 2017-read, historical-fiction
review:
What a marvelous and unexpected on-the-edge-of-your-seat kind of read! Simon St. James's The Broken Girls is set in Barrons, Vermont, during two different time periods and ultimately merging into one storyline.

1950- In a generation of people affected by the aftermath of World War II and the beginning of the Cold War, there is a boarding school in rural Vermont called Idlewild Hall. This all girls boarding school is home to many of society's "degenerates", trouble-makers, family secrets, and broken girls. A group of outcasts, Katie, CeCe, Sonia, and Roberta are the best of friends, forging their time at Idlewild with their own sisterhood, showing each other that they can handle anything life throws at them, as long as they have each other.

2014- After decades of Idlewild Hall being shutdown, a mysterious buyer decides to reopen the boarding school under suspicious circumstances. Journalist Fiona Sheridan decides to pick up the story because it is near and dear to her heart. Idlewild's operations ceased after her sister was tragically murdered by the facility owner's son. Why is Idlewild being restored? Why now, after all this time? And... who or what is looming over the property? As time progresses, secrets start unraveling at the seams. Not everything in Barrons is what it seems.

The Broken Girls really kept me engaged from the moment the storyline was established. It was my first read by Simone St. James and I will definitely be interested in seeing what else she has in her pocket in the future. Usually I don't like stories that follow two or more different timelines, as I feel like it becomes an over-zealous attempt at creating an in depth story, but St. James really has a good handle on weaving in the past to the present here. Slowly, each puzzle piece locks in for an epic conclusion.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
]]> <![CDATA[Her Last Day (Jessie Cole, #1)]]> 34671960 In this page-turner of a thriller by bestselling author T.R. Ragan, unlikely partners PI Jessie Cole and crime reporter Ben Morrison search for clues to a mystery buried in their own pasts—only to discover that sometimes the truth is better off buried.

Ten years ago, PI Jessie Cole and reporter Ben Morrison each suffered a tragedy that changed their lives—and now these two strangers are about to share a nightmare.

For Jessie, who makes her living finding missing persons, no case has consumed her more than the disappearance of her younger sister, Sophie. But left alone to raise Sophie’s daughter, she realizes that solving the case has become an unhealthy obsession.

For Ben, a horrific car accident resulted in scars both physical and emotional—and amnesia that has made his life a mystery. But curiously, out of his shattered memories, there’s one person he recognizes without a doubt: Jessie’s sister. He just doesn’t know why. Yet.

But Sophie isn’t the only phantom drawing Jessie and Ben together. An elusive serial murderer known as the Heartless Killer has reemerged from the shadows. His next move will cut even deeper into Jessie’s worst fears. And for Ben, what happens this time is going to be unforgettable.]]> 318 T.R. Ragan 1542096065 Dennis 5 Her Last Day by TR Ragan is just a whirlwind of everything I love in an action-packed thriller. I've never read anything by TR Ragan before, but you have just earned yourself a new fan. Her Last Day is the beginning of Ragan's Jessie Cole series, and can be compared to notable works like UNSUB by Meg Gardiner or the upcoming Two Girls Down by Louisa Luna. The story starts off with tragedy as private investigator Jessie Cole and crime reporter Ben Morrison both suffer major losses that will ultimately affect them in the future. Unbeknownst to either of the two, this tragic event will intertwine them forever. As Jessie juggles her life as a private investigator, she also has the responsibility of raising her niece Olivia, while also navigating her relationship/non-relationship with Colin who she's shared a difficult past with. Set in Sacramento, California, the media is in a frenzy over this Heartless Killer that nobody can seem to get any dirt on. Who is this killer? Why doesn't he have a set pattern like other serial killers? And why does he get a kick out of torturing his victims in such vindictive, sadistic ways? As Jessie gets roped into a missing person's case, Ben tries to get to the truth of their shared series of unfortunate events 10 years ago. Who would have thought everything has a connection?

I knew that I'd love Her Last Day from the moment I got to Chapter 2—SERIOUSLY! This book alternates through different plot twists and turns while not being too over the top for a 300-page read. We not only get into the perspective of this Heartless Killer, but we also see how these characters struggle through various levels of conflict. We see secondary and tertiary plot developments grow and hinder Jessie and Ben, while also providing a catalyst for the main overarching story. I think this is a type of read that you really need to go in blind to truly enjoy. It's wickedly smart and super immerse and I guarantee that you'll be on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Thank you Wunderbooks PR for my copy. It was a pleasure to read and review this story! ]]> 4.21 2017 Her Last Day (Jessie Cole, #1)
author: T.R. Ragan
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/17
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: 2017-read, crime-fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller, coverporn
review:
Oh, don't mind me—I'm just trying to pick my jaw up from the floor as we speak. Her Last Day by TR Ragan is just a whirlwind of everything I love in an action-packed thriller. I've never read anything by TR Ragan before, but you have just earned yourself a new fan. Her Last Day is the beginning of Ragan's Jessie Cole series, and can be compared to notable works like UNSUB by Meg Gardiner or the upcoming Two Girls Down by Louisa Luna. The story starts off with tragedy as private investigator Jessie Cole and crime reporter Ben Morrison both suffer major losses that will ultimately affect them in the future. Unbeknownst to either of the two, this tragic event will intertwine them forever. As Jessie juggles her life as a private investigator, she also has the responsibility of raising her niece Olivia, while also navigating her relationship/non-relationship with Colin who she's shared a difficult past with. Set in Sacramento, California, the media is in a frenzy over this Heartless Killer that nobody can seem to get any dirt on. Who is this killer? Why doesn't he have a set pattern like other serial killers? And why does he get a kick out of torturing his victims in such vindictive, sadistic ways? As Jessie gets roped into a missing person's case, Ben tries to get to the truth of their shared series of unfortunate events 10 years ago. Who would have thought everything has a connection?

I knew that I'd love Her Last Day from the moment I got to Chapter 2—SERIOUSLY! This book alternates through different plot twists and turns while not being too over the top for a 300-page read. We not only get into the perspective of this Heartless Killer, but we also see how these characters struggle through various levels of conflict. We see secondary and tertiary plot developments grow and hinder Jessie and Ben, while also providing a catalyst for the main overarching story. I think this is a type of read that you really need to go in blind to truly enjoy. It's wickedly smart and super immerse and I guarantee that you'll be on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Thank you Wunderbooks PR for my copy. It was a pleasure to read and review this story!
]]> Bad Girls with Perfect Faces 34144430 When I looked up, his smile was wide and real. “Ready?” he said.

I faked a smile back. I had gotten so good at faking things.

I thought: You brought this on yourself, Sasha. You will have to pretend forever now.
He squeezed my hand again. He couldn’t begin to imagine what this actually was. He had no idea what I’d done. What any of us had.

When Sasha’s best friend Xavier gets back together with his cheating ex, Ivy, Sasha knows she needs to protect him. So she poses as a guy online to lure Ivy away.

But Sasha’s plan goes sickeningly wrong. And she soon learns to be careful of who you pretend to be because you might be surprised by who you become…]]> 285 Lynn Weingarten 1481418602 Dennis 5
I really didn't think I'd find a YA novel before the new year to give 5 stars to, but I'm pleasantly surprised! Lynn Weingarten's Bad Girls with Perfect Faces is the perfect YA quick-read to pick up this year. Main character, high school student Sasha, has a platonic friendship with fellow student Xavier, but dreams to one day make the next step towards having a romantic relationship with him. Sasha sets the perfect night to reveal her true feelings for Xavier—his birthday celebration. Sasha and Xavier have a low key celebration, partying at the local dive bar, and everything is set in motion, until Xavier's ex-girlfriend Ivy shows up. Ivy is a manipulative, impulsive, and a somewhat sociopathic foil to Sasha's plans. Xavier and Ivy end up rekindling their romance that night—spiraling Sasha to the point of no return.

Sasha arrives back at her place and plots her revenge. To prove Ivy's disloyal behavior, Sasha poses as a guy on Instagram and sets up the account perfectly. She plans on catfishing Ivy and showing Xavier exactly what kind of person he is dealing with. That is, until something horribly goes wrong.

Guys and gals, it's happened. I fell in love with a YA novel. Bad Girls with Perfect Faces is campy, dark, dramatic, and the ending is CHILLING. Honestly no tea/no shade, but this is everything that There's Someone Inside Your House tried to be and failed. Sure, the level of campiness here may not be suitable for everyone, but it really is a contemporary piece of a dramatic love story that is not only raw, but captivating (who knew?).

I really enjoyed that this book didn't carry on for longer than it needed to. At less than 300 pages, Ms. Weingarten covers the entire story, throwing twists that you will not see coming along the way. I was happy that this could be finished in either one or two sittings easily. Now what's my next read by Lynn Weingarten?

]]> 3.56 2017 Bad Girls with Perfect Faces
author: Lynn Weingarten
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/01
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: 2017-read, drama, romance, thriller, young-adult, coverporn, contemporary
review:
5 stars!

I really didn't think I'd find a YA novel before the new year to give 5 stars to, but I'm pleasantly surprised! Lynn Weingarten's Bad Girls with Perfect Faces is the perfect YA quick-read to pick up this year. Main character, high school student Sasha, has a platonic friendship with fellow student Xavier, but dreams to one day make the next step towards having a romantic relationship with him. Sasha sets the perfect night to reveal her true feelings for Xavier—his birthday celebration. Sasha and Xavier have a low key celebration, partying at the local dive bar, and everything is set in motion, until Xavier's ex-girlfriend Ivy shows up. Ivy is a manipulative, impulsive, and a somewhat sociopathic foil to Sasha's plans. Xavier and Ivy end up rekindling their romance that night—spiraling Sasha to the point of no return.

Sasha arrives back at her place and plots her revenge. To prove Ivy's disloyal behavior, Sasha poses as a guy on Instagram and sets up the account perfectly. She plans on catfishing Ivy and showing Xavier exactly what kind of person he is dealing with. That is, until something horribly goes wrong.

Guys and gals, it's happened. I fell in love with a YA novel. Bad Girls with Perfect Faces is campy, dark, dramatic, and the ending is CHILLING. Honestly no tea/no shade, but this is everything that There's Someone Inside Your House tried to be and failed. Sure, the level of campiness here may not be suitable for everyone, but it really is a contemporary piece of a dramatic love story that is not only raw, but captivating (who knew?).

I really enjoyed that this book didn't carry on for longer than it needed to. At less than 300 pages, Ms. Weingarten covers the entire story, throwing twists that you will not see coming along the way. I was happy that this could be finished in either one or two sittings easily. Now what's my next read by Lynn Weingarten?


]]> The Wife Between Us 34189556
You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife.

You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love.

You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.

Assume nothing.

Twisted and deliciously chilling, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage - and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.

Read between the lies.]]> 432 Greer Hendricks 1250130921 Dennis 5 anything until you get to the end. The Wife Between Us is that book for me. The synopsis given to us by the publisher is very brief, and for good reason. When you initially pick up this book, you'll immediately think of 'oh here we go another jealous wife who's trying to break up a couple and get her man back, #antifeminism101." WRONG.

The Wife Between Us is a very mainstream read―insert alcoholic woman, unreliable narrator, domestic thriller(?)-esque plot, but as you read on, the storyline becomes not only much more sinister, but engaging and difficult to pinpoint (in the best way possible). You are led on a path that can best be described as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride―seriously, you will not expect these twists and turns, I promise you that. This story is so compelling to me and it completely engulfed my daily routine since I picked it up. I was so engaged and driven to finish this book that I cancelled my errands to run to the grocery store, bought an umbrella today due to unexpected rain on my commute home in order to make sure that by beloved copy of The Wife Between Us didn't get tarnished by NYC's sludge rain, and stayed up later than normal so I can write this review and rave about it to all of you. Please please please pick up a copy because I need to talk to you all about this book!]]> 3.81 2018 The Wife Between Us
author: Greer Hendricks
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2017/11/07
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: psychological-thriller, favorites, 2017-read, 2018-pub, coverporn
review:
Once in awhile, you stumble (or luckily enough to be given a copy by the amazing Chelsea Humphrey) across a book that just pulsates throughout your entire thoughts, your day-to-day, grasping to find out what happened; not allowing yourself to do anything until you get to the end. The Wife Between Us is that book for me. The synopsis given to us by the publisher is very brief, and for good reason. When you initially pick up this book, you'll immediately think of 'oh here we go another jealous wife who's trying to break up a couple and get her man back, #antifeminism101." WRONG.

The Wife Between Us is a very mainstream read―insert alcoholic woman, unreliable narrator, domestic thriller(?)-esque plot, but as you read on, the storyline becomes not only much more sinister, but engaging and difficult to pinpoint (in the best way possible). You are led on a path that can best be described as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride―seriously, you will not expect these twists and turns, I promise you that. This story is so compelling to me and it completely engulfed my daily routine since I picked it up. I was so engaged and driven to finish this book that I cancelled my errands to run to the grocery store, bought an umbrella today due to unexpected rain on my commute home in order to make sure that by beloved copy of The Wife Between Us didn't get tarnished by NYC's sludge rain, and stayed up later than normal so I can write this review and rave about it to all of you. Please please please pick up a copy because I need to talk to you all about this book!
]]> The Grip of It 31574739 A chilling literary horror novel about a young couple who purchase and live in a haunted house. Jac Jemc’s The Grip of It tells the eerie story of a young couple haunted by their new home.

Julie and James settle into a house in a small town outside the city where they met. The move—prompted by James’s penchant for gambling, his inability to keep his impulses in check—is quick and seamless; both Julie and James are happy to leave behind their usual haunts and start afresh. But this house, which sits between ocean and forest, has plans for the unsuspecting couple. As Julie and James try to settle into their home and their relationship, the house and its surrounding terrain become the locus of increasingly strange happenings. The architecture—claustrophobic, riddled with hidden rooms within rooms—becomes unrecognizable, decaying before their eyes. Stains are animated on the wall—contracting, expanding—and map themselves onto Julie’s body in the form of bruises; mold spores taint the water that James pours from the sink. Together the couple embark on a panicked search for the source of their mutual torment, a journey that mires them in the history of their peculiar neighbors and the mysterious residents who lived in the house before Julia and James.

Written in creepy, potent prose, The Grip of It is an enthralling, psychologically intense novel that deals in questions of home: how we make it and how it in turn makes us, mapping itself onto bodies and the relationships we cherish.]]> 276 Jac Jemc 0374536910 Dennis 5
Just a quick FYI before we get started... I started Jac Jemc's The Grip of It yesterday morning before work, continued reading it on my lunch break, on my commute home on the subway, before getting ready to meet up with friends for a pre-Halloween night out, left my friends early so I could come home and read this, and then stayed up until 2:30 am to finish this. If that doesn't mean that this book deserves 5 stars, then I don't know what else to tell you, but I digress. Let's get started on this review, shall we?

Jac Jemc's The Grip of It is intoxicating and enchanting from the very beginning. The story revolves around a couple from the city, James and Julie, moving to the countryside to escape the drama surrounding them and to get a fresh start. James suffers from an addiction to gambling and the couple relocates to try and rid themselves of this horrible dilemma. Insert typical introduction to all haunted house stories: couple finds a cheap house that is way too big for them but provides them rustic charm and latches onto their egos and dreams, couple purchases the house and decides to not do any research into why the massive house is so cheap, couple moves in immediately. Once they move in, they realize that things aren't quite what it seems - shadows lurking around the house, random horrific growls coming from who knows where, little hidden rooms leading to areas of the house that have no value for the typical person, and a neighbor who won't keep his eyes off of them. This is just the start for the naive couple, but what is wrong here and what has James and Julie done to invoke these nightmarish plagues against them?

If you haven't read the first part of my review, I just wanted to reiterate how epic and awesome this story was for me. The Grip of It is not your typical horror story that has in-your-face gore and fright at every page. This story is a psychological thriller, mixed with suspense and a domestic thriller component all blended together with minor horror features. The slow build-up to the story is engaging and left me begging for more. I love this story - and now time for a nap because I'm exhausted. :) ]]> 3.17 2017 The Grip of It
author: Jac Jemc
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.17
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/10/28
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: horror, psychological-thriller, suspense, supernatural, favorites, domestic-thriller, 2017-read, coverporn
review:
5/5 stars!!

Just a quick FYI before we get started... I started Jac Jemc's The Grip of It yesterday morning before work, continued reading it on my lunch break, on my commute home on the subway, before getting ready to meet up with friends for a pre-Halloween night out, left my friends early so I could come home and read this, and then stayed up until 2:30 am to finish this. If that doesn't mean that this book deserves 5 stars, then I don't know what else to tell you, but I digress. Let's get started on this review, shall we?

Jac Jemc's The Grip of It is intoxicating and enchanting from the very beginning. The story revolves around a couple from the city, James and Julie, moving to the countryside to escape the drama surrounding them and to get a fresh start. James suffers from an addiction to gambling and the couple relocates to try and rid themselves of this horrible dilemma. Insert typical introduction to all haunted house stories: couple finds a cheap house that is way too big for them but provides them rustic charm and latches onto their egos and dreams, couple purchases the house and decides to not do any research into why the massive house is so cheap, couple moves in immediately. Once they move in, they realize that things aren't quite what it seems - shadows lurking around the house, random horrific growls coming from who knows where, little hidden rooms leading to areas of the house that have no value for the typical person, and a neighbor who won't keep his eyes off of them. This is just the start for the naive couple, but what is wrong here and what has James and Julie done to invoke these nightmarish plagues against them?

If you haven't read the first part of my review, I just wanted to reiterate how epic and awesome this story was for me. The Grip of It is not your typical horror story that has in-your-face gore and fright at every page. This story is a psychological thriller, mixed with suspense and a domestic thriller component all blended together with minor horror features. The slow build-up to the story is engaging and left me begging for more. I love this story - and now time for a nap because I'm exhausted. :)
]]> If We Were Villains 30319086
As one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite arts college, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingenue, extra. But when the casting changes, and the secondary characters usurp the stars, the plays spill dangerously over into life, and one of them is found dead. The rest face their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, and themselves, that they are blameless.]]> 354 M.L. Rio 125009528X Dennis 5
If We Were Villains is an intoxicating, modern day tragedy that spectacularly shows the effects that loyalty, betrayal, jealousy, and rage can affect not only yourself, but everyone around you. Oliver Marks has been released from jail after serving a ten year sentence. Detective Joseph Colborne sits down with Oliver and simply just wants to know; "Why?"

Flashback to the moment of truth, we are introduced to Oliver and his actor friends; Richard, Meredith, Wren, Filippa, Alexander, and lastly, James; attending an elite drama school for the gifted. These young adult students (think college age) are driven, obnoxious, privileged, and desperate to succeed at all costs. As their tenure at the school progresses, their roles on stage start to become their roles off stage. As competition begins to get more intense, inner demons and drastic measures are taken, leaving people to face their deepest and darkest secrets.

If We Were Villains is a beautifully written and tragic masterpiece. M.L. Rio's debut novel miraculously intertwines Shakespeare, love, and betrayal so effortlessly that I could not put the book down. I was drawn in originally by the cover and the title of this novel, but I stayed because of the story. I can't wait to see what M.L. Rio comes up with next.

I'm more fun on Instagram @scared_str8
]]> 4.10 2017 If We Were Villains
author: M.L. Rio
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/10/11
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: drama, thriller, 2017-read, coverporn
review:
4.5/5 stars so I'm rounding up.

If We Were Villains is an intoxicating, modern day tragedy that spectacularly shows the effects that loyalty, betrayal, jealousy, and rage can affect not only yourself, but everyone around you. Oliver Marks has been released from jail after serving a ten year sentence. Detective Joseph Colborne sits down with Oliver and simply just wants to know; "Why?"

Flashback to the moment of truth, we are introduced to Oliver and his actor friends; Richard, Meredith, Wren, Filippa, Alexander, and lastly, James; attending an elite drama school for the gifted. These young adult students (think college age) are driven, obnoxious, privileged, and desperate to succeed at all costs. As their tenure at the school progresses, their roles on stage start to become their roles off stage. As competition begins to get more intense, inner demons and drastic measures are taken, leaving people to face their deepest and darkest secrets.

If We Were Villains is a beautifully written and tragic masterpiece. M.L. Rio's debut novel miraculously intertwines Shakespeare, love, and betrayal so effortlessly that I could not put the book down. I was drawn in originally by the cover and the title of this novel, but I stayed because of the story. I can't wait to see what M.L. Rio comes up with next.

I'm more fun on Instagram @scared_str8

]]> <![CDATA[Best Day Ever (Family Secrets, #1)]]> 34007977 I glance at my wife as she climbs into the passenger seat, and I am bursting with confidence. Today will be everything I’ve promised her…and more…

Paul Strom has the perfect life: a glittering career as an advertising executive, a beautiful wife, two healthy boys and a big house in a wealthy suburb. And he’s the perfect husband: breadwinner, protector, provider. That’s why he’s planned a romantic weekend for his wife, Mia, at their lake house, just the two of them. And he's promised today will be the best day ever.

But as Paul and Mia drive out of the city and toward the countryside, a spike of tension begins to wedge itself between them and doubts start to arise. How much do they trust each other? And how perfect is their marriage, or any marriage, really?

Forcing us to ask ourselves just how well we know those who are closest to us, Best Day Ever crackles with dark energy, spinning ever tighter toward its shocking conclusion. In the bestselling, page-turning vein of The Couple Next Door and The Dinner, Kaira Rouda weaves a gripping, tautly suspenseful tale of deception and betrayal dark enough to destroy a marriage…or a life.]]> 384 Kaira Rouda 1525811401 Dennis 5 Best Day Ever is gripping, addictive, and dark! Talk about a storyline that throws a complete plot twist as the story unfolds. Best Day Ever begins with Paul and Mia Strom heading from their McMansion in Columbus, Ohio, to their lakeside house in rural Ohio. Paul has set up the perfect "best day ever" for his wife and cannot wait to spend one-on-one time with her, in what seems to be a rather rare occurrence for the couple. As the day unfolds (as the story takes place over a period of 24 hours), things are not what it seems. What is peculiar about the Stroms? What is odd about this "best day ever"? What is really going on here?!

I really enjoyed Best Day Ever and the psychological aspect of this domestic thriller. Kaira Rouda gets you in the mindset of one of the most intense and dark psyches of a person that I've ever read. It's a rare treat to see the story from a different perspective than usual thrillers and it really kept me engaged throughout the novel. At first, the story can appear to be a little bit of a lag, but I promise you that it's to set the stage for the entire plot. I can't wait to read the next book by Kaira Rouda. ]]> 3.65 2017 Best Day Ever (Family Secrets, #1)
author: Kaira Rouda
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/09/24
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: psychological-thriller, suspense, thriller, domestic-thriller, 2017-read, coverporn
review:
Kaira Rouda's Best Day Ever is gripping, addictive, and dark! Talk about a storyline that throws a complete plot twist as the story unfolds. Best Day Ever begins with Paul and Mia Strom heading from their McMansion in Columbus, Ohio, to their lakeside house in rural Ohio. Paul has set up the perfect "best day ever" for his wife and cannot wait to spend one-on-one time with her, in what seems to be a rather rare occurrence for the couple. As the day unfolds (as the story takes place over a period of 24 hours), things are not what it seems. What is peculiar about the Stroms? What is odd about this "best day ever"? What is really going on here?!

I really enjoyed Best Day Ever and the psychological aspect of this domestic thriller. Kaira Rouda gets you in the mindset of one of the most intense and dark psyches of a person that I've ever read. It's a rare treat to see the story from a different perspective than usual thrillers and it really kept me engaged throughout the novel. At first, the story can appear to be a little bit of a lag, but I promise you that it's to set the stage for the entire plot. I can't wait to read the next book by Kaira Rouda.
]]> The Cutaway 30753708 “The Newsroom meets Gone Girl.” —Cosmopolitan

The Cutaway draws you into the tangled world of corruption and cover-up as a young television producer investigates the disappearance of a beautiful Georgetown lawyer in this stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.

When brilliant TV news producer Virginia Knightly receives a disturbing “MISSING” notice on her desk related to the disappearance of a beautiful young attorney, she can’t seem to shake the image from her head. Despite skepticism from her colleagues, Knightly suspects this ambitious young lawyer may be at the heart of something far more sinister, especially since she was last seen leaving an upscale restaurant after a domestic dispute. Yet, as the only woman of power at her station, Knightly quickly finds herself investigating on her own.

Risking her career, her life, and perhaps even her own sanity, Knightly dives deep into the dark underbelly of Washington, DC business and politics in an investigation that will drag her mercilessly through the inextricable webs of corruption that bind the press, the police, and politics in our nation’s capital.

Harkening to dark thrillers such as Gone Girl, Luckiest Girl Alive, and Big Little Lies, The Cutaway is a striking debut that will haunt you long after you reach the last page.]]> 320 Christina Kovac 1501141694 Dennis 2 The Cutaway is a political, journalism themed novel where the main character, Virginia Knightly is an executive producer for a news station in Washington DC. After Virginia gets informed about a missing person's report, she immediately becomes engulfed in the story, desperate to find out what happened. Not only will this help put her station on top of her competitors, but she is invested in getting justice served. Virginia not only deals with the missing person's case as she is also dealing with office politics and the difficulty of managing her work/life balance.

I don't like giving negative reviews so I will keep personal opinions about the story to a minimum. However, can publishers please stop advertising their books as the next Gone Girl?! I immediately will base part of my review on that advertisement because they insinuate that the book will be shocking, twist driven, and suspenseful; The Cutaway was none of that. This is not to say that the book isn't a well-thought out, political thriller that many will love and think highly about. I know I'm in the minority with this one and will probably get crap for not enjoying this one. Sorry folks, I just didn't care about the dwelling on Virginia's office and peers. It just kept me from focusing on the main story. This book will engage people who are interested in public relations and journalism and/or people who love the show Scandal.]]> 3.43 2017 The Cutaway
author: Christina Kovac
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2017
rating: 2
read at: 2017/09/15
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: thriller, slow-burn, 2017-read, coverporn
review:
The Cutaway is a political, journalism themed novel where the main character, Virginia Knightly is an executive producer for a news station in Washington DC. After Virginia gets informed about a missing person's report, she immediately becomes engulfed in the story, desperate to find out what happened. Not only will this help put her station on top of her competitors, but she is invested in getting justice served. Virginia not only deals with the missing person's case as she is also dealing with office politics and the difficulty of managing her work/life balance.

I don't like giving negative reviews so I will keep personal opinions about the story to a minimum. However, can publishers please stop advertising their books as the next Gone Girl?! I immediately will base part of my review on that advertisement because they insinuate that the book will be shocking, twist driven, and suspenseful; The Cutaway was none of that. This is not to say that the book isn't a well-thought out, political thriller that many will love and think highly about. I know I'm in the minority with this one and will probably get crap for not enjoying this one. Sorry folks, I just didn't care about the dwelling on Virginia's office and peers. It just kept me from focusing on the main story. This book will engage people who are interested in public relations and journalism and/or people who love the show Scandal.
]]> Fierce Kingdom 33155777
Joan’s intimate knowledge of her son and of the zoo itself—the hidden pathways and under-renovation exhibits, the best spots on the carousel and overstocked snack machines—is all that keeps them a step ahead of danger.

A masterful thrill ride and an exploration of motherhood itself—from its tender moments of grace to its savage power—Fierce Kingdom asks where the boundary is between our animal instinct to survive and our human duty to protect one another. For whom should a mother risk her life?]]> 288 Gin Phillips 0735224277 Dennis 3
3 stars
The story takes place in real-time, with the plot unfolding within two or so hours, at a zoo featuring Joan and her 4 year old son Lincoln. Joan and her son are about to wrap up their trip to the zoo when something has gone drastically wrong, sending her to hide with her son and plan for a means of escaping. Fierce Kingdom engages the audience by exploiting the love that a parent has for his or her children, and harnesses that emotion to build a foundation for the story's plot. Fierce Kingdom is relatable in a sense that it plays upon people's natural instinct to survive. Joan must protect her son and escape the zoo by whatever means necessary.

I had trouble thoroughly enjoying the plot and there were several things that just didn't make sense to me. My first grievance was that Lincoln was portrayed as an unbelievably smart and social inept four year old. At four years old, Lincoln was more intellectually connected to what was happening than any four year old that I've ever met. It came off as more frustrating than believable to me. My second grievance was the marketing behind Fierce Kingdom . The book is not really a thriller or suspenseful but rather more of a drama in my opinion. I just felt that the book kind of lulled as I was expecting a twist, or something/someone to drastically change the plot, but really Fierce Kingdom primarily focused the story on Joan and her relationship with her son. It's not to say that I didn't enjoy the way the story unfolded, but it wasn't exactly a story that would keep me guessing.

I just think certain books aren't meant for everyone, but I do think that if you read the synopsis and are interested then you should definitely give it a chance. I gave my mom my copy of the book and I think that she will enjoy it much more than me.]]> 3.54 2017 Fierce Kingdom
author: Gin Phillips
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2017/08/19
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: giveaways, drama, 2017-read, coverporn
review:
Disclaimer: This is probably the hardest review that I've submitted since I activated my 카지노싸이트 account.

3 stars
The story takes place in real-time, with the plot unfolding within two or so hours, at a zoo featuring Joan and her 4 year old son Lincoln. Joan and her son are about to wrap up their trip to the zoo when something has gone drastically wrong, sending her to hide with her son and plan for a means of escaping. Fierce Kingdom engages the audience by exploiting the love that a parent has for his or her children, and harnesses that emotion to build a foundation for the story's plot. Fierce Kingdom is relatable in a sense that it plays upon people's natural instinct to survive. Joan must protect her son and escape the zoo by whatever means necessary.

I had trouble thoroughly enjoying the plot and there were several things that just didn't make sense to me. My first grievance was that Lincoln was portrayed as an unbelievably smart and social inept four year old. At four years old, Lincoln was more intellectually connected to what was happening than any four year old that I've ever met. It came off as more frustrating than believable to me. My second grievance was the marketing behind Fierce Kingdom . The book is not really a thriller or suspenseful but rather more of a drama in my opinion. I just felt that the book kind of lulled as I was expecting a twist, or something/someone to drastically change the plot, but really Fierce Kingdom primarily focused the story on Joan and her relationship with her son. It's not to say that I didn't enjoy the way the story unfolded, but it wasn't exactly a story that would keep me guessing.

I just think certain books aren't meant for everyone, but I do think that if you read the synopsis and are interested then you should definitely give it a chance. I gave my mom my copy of the book and I think that she will enjoy it much more than me.
]]> Meddling Kids 32905343 1990. The teen detectives once known as the Blyton Summer Detective Club (of Blyton Hills, a small mining town in the Zoinx River Valley in Oregon) are all grown up and haven't seen each other since their fateful, final case in 1977. Andy, the tomboy, is twenty-five and on the run, wanted in at least two states. Kerri, one-time kid genius and budding biologist, is bartending in New York, working on a serious drinking problem. At least she's got Tim, an excitable Weimaraner descended from the original canine member of the team. Nate, the horror nerd, has spent the last thirteen years in and out of mental health institutions, and currently resides in an asylum in Arkham, Massachusetts. The only friend he still sees is Peter, the handsome jock turned movie star. The problem is, Peter's been dead for years.

The time has come to uncover the source of their nightmares and return to where it all began in 1977. This time, it better not be a man in a mask. The real monsters are waiting.]]> 322 Edgar Cantero 0385541996 Dennis 2
What "Meddling Kids" does well is engaging the audience with a very unique storyline infused with a Scooby Doo satire. The story is extremely humorous and I caught myself laughing at some of the jokes that the characters pulled. Nate hands down was my favorite character and the way the book deals with mental illness is refreshing.

What I could not tolerate about this novel was Cantero's odd use of similes and metaphors. It really took away from the story for me, and it became very frustrating. Cantero also switches writing styles throughout the story, engaging in different ways to allocate character discussions. Both these writing styles completely threw me off and continually got me off track with the story.

SPOILERS FOR THE NEXT PART-



As a gay man, I found it incredibly offensive to showcase a character in the LGBT community trying to win over a straight friend romantically. It's hard enough as it is to come to terms with your sexuality, and I believe storylines like this can lead to homophobic beliefs of how the LGBT community is perceived by mainstream/hetero-media. That could be just me, but it completely took a star off this book for me.]]> 3.51 2017 Meddling Kids
author: Edgar Cantero
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2017
rating: 2
read at: 2017/08/04
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: mystery, 2017-read, coverporn, retelling
review:
"The night was cold but gentle like a x-rated metaphor." - what? Edgar Cantero's "Meddling Kids" successfully combines Scooby Doo nostalgia with a X-files-esque vibe. Andrea (Andy), Kerri, Nate, and a weimaraner named Tim (couldn't Edgar come up with something more interesting than Tim?) decide to pick up an old case that was apparently closed. Each of the main characters in this story cannot seem to get over the night in question and decide to see if there's anything that they missed.

What "Meddling Kids" does well is engaging the audience with a very unique storyline infused with a Scooby Doo satire. The story is extremely humorous and I caught myself laughing at some of the jokes that the characters pulled. Nate hands down was my favorite character and the way the book deals with mental illness is refreshing.

What I could not tolerate about this novel was Cantero's odd use of similes and metaphors. It really took away from the story for me, and it became very frustrating. Cantero also switches writing styles throughout the story, engaging in different ways to allocate character discussions. Both these writing styles completely threw me off and continually got me off track with the story.

SPOILERS FOR THE NEXT PART-



As a gay man, I found it incredibly offensive to showcase a character in the LGBT community trying to win over a straight friend romantically. It's hard enough as it is to come to terms with your sexuality, and I believe storylines like this can lead to homophobic beliefs of how the LGBT community is perceived by mainstream/hetero-media. That could be just me, but it completely took a star off this book for me.
]]> The Last One 27245997
She wanted an adventure. She never imagined it would go this far.

It begins with a reality TV show. Twelve contestants are sent into the woods to face challenges that will test the limits of their endurance. While they are out there, something terrible happens—but how widespread is the destruction, and has it occurred naturally or is it human-made? Cut off from society, the contestants know nothing of it. When one of them—a young woman the show’s producers call Zoo—stumbles across the devastation, she can imagine only that it is part of the game.

Alone and disoriented, Zoo is heavy with doubt regarding the life—and husband—she left behind, but she refuses to quit. Staggering countless miles across unfamiliar territory, Zoo must summon all her survival skills—and learn new ones as she goes.

But as her emotional and physical reserves dwindle, she grasps that the real world might have been altered in terrifying ways—and her ability to parse the charade will be either her triumph or her undoing.

Sophisticated and provocative, The Last One is a novel that forces us to confront the role that media plays in our perception of what is real: how readily we cast our judgments, how easily we are manipulated.]]> 295 Alexandra Oliva 1101965088 Dennis 5
Reviews on instagram at @scaredsstr8]]> 3.61 2016 The Last One
author: Alexandra Oliva
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.61
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2017/07/05
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: drama, thriller, 2017-read, contemporary
review:
4.5 stars so I bumped it up to 5. Great read and awesome story. I knocked it down half a point because I felt that it dragged at some points. I highly recommend but be warned, it's addictive and you'll want to try to finish it as soon as possible.

Reviews on instagram at @scaredsstr8
]]> <![CDATA[One of Us Is Lying (One of Us is Lying, #1)]]> 32682118
Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.
Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.
Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.
Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.
And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose?

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has something to hide.

An alternate cover edition for this book can be found here.]]> 361 Karen M. McManus Dennis 5
One of Us is Lying is Karen McManus's debut YA thriller and honestly I don't know how she can top this awesome read. The synopsis describes One of Us is Lying as The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, and that's spot on.

When 5 teenagers are sent to detention and only 4 come out alive, the school is quickly thrown into turmoil. When a blog pops up out of nowhere, alluding to more information and secrets about the 4 survivors, it leaves the reader with one question, "They all have a motive but is one of them a murderer?!"

McManus shows how everyone, no matter privilege or socio-economic status, has a multi-faceted mask that they are afraid to take off. It isn't until times of confrontation and challenge that will allow you to overcome these self-imposed hurdles. Easily one of the best reads of 2017 for me, and it will be for you too. You won't be disappointed.]]> 3.94 2017 One of Us Is Lying (One of Us is Lying, #1)
author: Karen M. McManus
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/06/22
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: favorites, lgbt, whodunnit, 2017-read, young-adult, coverporn, mystery, contemporary
review:
"We all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin." - André Berthiaume

One of Us is Lying is Karen McManus's debut YA thriller and honestly I don't know how she can top this awesome read. The synopsis describes One of Us is Lying as The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars, and that's spot on.

When 5 teenagers are sent to detention and only 4 come out alive, the school is quickly thrown into turmoil. When a blog pops up out of nowhere, alluding to more information and secrets about the 4 survivors, it leaves the reader with one question, "They all have a motive but is one of them a murderer?!"

McManus shows how everyone, no matter privilege or socio-economic status, has a multi-faceted mask that they are afraid to take off. It isn't until times of confrontation and challenge that will allow you to overcome these self-imposed hurdles. Easily one of the best reads of 2017 for me, and it will be for you too. You won't be disappointed.
]]> <![CDATA[Confessions of a Sociopath: A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight]]> 15841837 Confessions of a Sociopath is an engrossing, highly captivating narrative of the author's life as a diagnosed sociopath.

She is a charismatic charmer, an ambitious self-promoter, and a cunning and calculating liar. She can induce you to invest in her financial schemes, vote for her causes, and even join her in bed. Like a real-life Lisbeth Salander, she has her own system of ethics, and like Dexter, she thrives on bending and occasionally breaking the rules. She is a diagnosed, high-functioning, noncriminal sociopath, and this is her world from her point of view.

Drawn from the author's own experiences; her popular blog, Sociopathworld.com; and scientific literature, Confessions of a Sociopath is part confessional memoir, part primer for the curious. Written from the point of view of a diagnosed sociopath, it unveils for the very first time these people who are hiding in plain sight. The book confirms suspicions and debunks myths about sociopathy, providing a road map for dealing with the sociopath in your life.]]> 320 M.E. Thomas 0307956644 Dennis 2 3.21 2013 Confessions of a Sociopath: A Life Spent Hiding in Plain Sight
author: M.E. Thomas
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.21
book published: 2013
rating: 2
read at: 2017/01/01
date added: 2018/02/28
shelves: non-fiction, memoir, 2017-read, coverporn
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Stillhouse Lake (Stillhouse Lake, #1)]]> 33128934 An Amazon Charts and USA Today bestseller.

Gina Royal is the definition of average—a shy Midwestern housewife with a happy marriage and two adorable children. But when a car accident reveals her husband’s secret life as a serial killer, she must remake herself as Gwen Proctor—the ultimate warrior mom.

With her ex now in prison, Gwen has finally found refuge in a new home on remote Stillhouse Lake. Though still the target of stalkers and Internet trolls who think she had something to do with her husband’s crimes, Gwen dares to think her kids can finally grow up in peace.

But just when she’s starting to feel at ease in her new identity, a body turns up in the lake—and threatening letters start arriving from an all-too-familiar address. Gwen Proctor must keep friends close and enemies at bay to avoid being exposed—or watch her kids fall victim to a killer who takes pleasure in tormenting her. One thing is she’s learned how to fight evil. And she’ll never stop.

]]> 301 Rachel Caine 1477821554 Dennis 5 The Chalk Man was less than stellar) and sometimes the hype can be right on the money. Well..with Stillhouse Lake IT WAS SPOT ON! I am so glad to confirm that the hype is real here folks! So, let's dive in!

Have you ever wondered how people like Casey Anthony or anyone who's been acquitted of a crime (although guilty by the court of public opinion) are able to hide in the shadows of society without being traced? Well, insert Gina Royal—stay-at-home mother, two kids, and a loving husband. That is, until one day when police arrest her and her husband after linking her husband, Melvin Royal to vicious and sadistic crimes sprouting out around the area. Melvin Royal is tried and convicted of the heinous crimes that were brought up against him. Gina however, is acquitted and maintains her innocence. The Internet was not havin' it. As usual, trolls began to harass and torment Gina and her two kids so she goes under the grid. New identities, new lives, and a fresh start. Gina Royal is now Gwen Proctor and she does freelance work in her new home in rural Stillhouse Lake, Tennessee. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, Gwen can now rest assured that her family's new start will be just what they need. It isn't until dead bodies begin sprouting around town that Gwen starts to panic. As things begin to crumble, Gwen must do what it takes to protect her family at all costs.

Stillhouse Lake was a fantastic read, people! At first I was skeptical because it's been hyped since its release this past summer and I really didn't want to get my hopes up. It started a little slow for my liking and the chapters are off unbearably long at first, but as I kept reading I felt invigorated, worried, excited, and exasperated at the same time! How does that happen? Rachel Caine (real name Roxanne Longstreet Conrad) expertly pulls on the reader's heartstrings without it being too over the top. You begin to fall in love with Gwen and her children, while still maintaining skepticism over what is really happening. That craft can't just be pulled by anyone—that's talent. As I kept reading, my questions grew while others were answered in inconspicuous ways. This isn't the same ole generic thriller that you may think (i.e.: Jennifer Lopez's Enough doesn't hold a candle here). The book successfully builds on anticipation with a phenomenal ending. I'm ordering Killman Creek (the second book in this series) as we speak. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.]]> 4.12 2017 Stillhouse Lake (Stillhouse Lake, #1)
author: Rachel Caine
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/19
date added: 2018/02/27
shelves: 2017-read, psychological-thriller, suspense, thriller, favorites
review:
Sometimes the hype can ruin a book for you (my review for The Chalk Man was less than stellar) and sometimes the hype can be right on the money. Well..with Stillhouse Lake IT WAS SPOT ON! I am so glad to confirm that the hype is real here folks! So, let's dive in!

Have you ever wondered how people like Casey Anthony or anyone who's been acquitted of a crime (although guilty by the court of public opinion) are able to hide in the shadows of society without being traced? Well, insert Gina Royal—stay-at-home mother, two kids, and a loving husband. That is, until one day when police arrest her and her husband after linking her husband, Melvin Royal to vicious and sadistic crimes sprouting out around the area. Melvin Royal is tried and convicted of the heinous crimes that were brought up against him. Gina however, is acquitted and maintains her innocence. The Internet was not havin' it. As usual, trolls began to harass and torment Gina and her two kids so she goes under the grid. New identities, new lives, and a fresh start. Gina Royal is now Gwen Proctor and she does freelance work in her new home in rural Stillhouse Lake, Tennessee. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, Gwen can now rest assured that her family's new start will be just what they need. It isn't until dead bodies begin sprouting around town that Gwen starts to panic. As things begin to crumble, Gwen must do what it takes to protect her family at all costs.

Stillhouse Lake was a fantastic read, people! At first I was skeptical because it's been hyped since its release this past summer and I really didn't want to get my hopes up. It started a little slow for my liking and the chapters are off unbearably long at first, but as I kept reading I felt invigorated, worried, excited, and exasperated at the same time! How does that happen? Rachel Caine (real name Roxanne Longstreet Conrad) expertly pulls on the reader's heartstrings without it being too over the top. You begin to fall in love with Gwen and her children, while still maintaining skepticism over what is really happening. That craft can't just be pulled by anyone—that's talent. As I kept reading, my questions grew while others were answered in inconspicuous ways. This isn't the same ole generic thriller that you may think (i.e.: Jennifer Lopez's Enough doesn't hold a candle here). The book successfully builds on anticipation with a phenomenal ending. I'm ordering Killman Creek (the second book in this series) as we speak. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
]]> <![CDATA[Killman Creek (Stillhouse Lake, #2)]]> 35433676 Every time Gwen closed her eyes, she saw him in her nightmares. Now her eyes are open, and he’s not going away.

Gwen Proctor won the battle to save her kids from her ex-husband, serial killer Melvin Royal, and his league of psychotic accomplices. But the war isn’t over. Not since Melvin broke out of prison. Not since she received a chilling text…

You’re not safe anywhere now.

Her refuge at Stillhouse Lake has become a trap. Gwen leaves her children in the protective custody of a fortified, well-armed neighbor. Now, with the help of Sam Cade, brother of one of Melvin’s victims, Gwen is going hunting. She’s learned how from one of the sickest killers alive.

But what she’s up against is beyond anything she feared—a sophisticated and savage mind game calculated to destroy her. As trust beyond her small circle of friends begins to vanish, Gwen has only fury and vengeance to believe in as she closes in on her prey. And sure as the night, one of them will die.]]> 333 Rachel Caine 1542046416 Dennis 5 Killman Creek takes Gwen and company to the darkest levels of modern day crime. Melvin Royal isn't the only criminal at play this time, but who else? This time around is Melvin Royal only a pawn in a much bigger, sinister, evil chess game—but who's leading the game?

When I first read Stillhouse Lake, I was completely addicted. I fell in love with Gwen, her children, and her allies. I was rooting for them! I immediately ran to Amazon and pressed "buy now" without question. It was like it was a reflex or something involuntary. Excited to pick up Killman Creek , I began immediately and was excited to see what was next for the Proctors. This book differs from Stillhouse Lake in many ways and I want to break it down for you because this read is not going to be for everybody, but I hope everybody who read Stillhouse Lake reads this!

When reading Stillhouse Lake, we are greeted to a backstory and only get bits and pieces of the story, leading up to suspenseful chapters and moments that could tingle up your spin. With Killman Creek , forget it because that will not happen. This read is not so much suspense, but more of an action-packed thriller. That's not to say it isn't worthy of a five star rating! I was so hooked right from the beginning. Killman Creek basically starts with chaos and continues its action until the very end. If you liked Stillhouse Lake, Killman Creek blows it out of the water! ]]> 4.20 2017 Killman Creek (Stillhouse Lake, #2)
author: Rachel Caine
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/26
date added: 2018/02/27
shelves: 2017-read, mystery, thriller, favorites
review:
Stillhouse Lake was only the beginning. Gwen Proctor has been betrayed and trapped with her two children, Lanny and Connor. Gwen's husband—serial killer Melvin Royal has planned his revenge on his ex wife. Melvin's master scheme has been meticulously planned for years—including a cyber security spider web, dark net trafficking, and an operative set of cult-like followers. Killman Creek takes Gwen and company to the darkest levels of modern day crime. Melvin Royal isn't the only criminal at play this time, but who else? This time around is Melvin Royal only a pawn in a much bigger, sinister, evil chess game—but who's leading the game?

When I first read Stillhouse Lake, I was completely addicted. I fell in love with Gwen, her children, and her allies. I was rooting for them! I immediately ran to Amazon and pressed "buy now" without question. It was like it was a reflex or something involuntary. Excited to pick up Killman Creek , I began immediately and was excited to see what was next for the Proctors. This book differs from Stillhouse Lake in many ways and I want to break it down for you because this read is not going to be for everybody, but I hope everybody who read Stillhouse Lake reads this!

When reading Stillhouse Lake, we are greeted to a backstory and only get bits and pieces of the story, leading up to suspenseful chapters and moments that could tingle up your spin. With Killman Creek , forget it because that will not happen. This read is not so much suspense, but more of an action-packed thriller. That's not to say it isn't worthy of a five star rating! I was so hooked right from the beginning. Killman Creek basically starts with chaos and continues its action until the very end. If you liked Stillhouse Lake, Killman Creek blows it out of the water!
]]> Heartless 18584855 Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

In her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times-bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.]]> 453 Marissa Meyer 1250044650 Dennis 2
The main character, Catherine Pinkerton, daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of the land of Hearts. Catherine aspires to open a bakery with her servant, Mary Ann, and through society's sexist views on woman, has trouble doing so. She captures the heart of the King, while at the same time falling for another man. What is Catherine to do?

What I enjoyed:
I loved how Meyer was able to take a familiar world and build upon it. All the main characters (besides Alice) from Lewis Carroll's masterpiece have been weaved in throughout the story and they are beautifully represented throughout the book. I also enjoyed references to Edgar Allen Poe's Raven, and the interpretation of Fates appearing as three sisters. Both Disney's and Lewis Carroll's Queen of Hearts is considered ridiculous - she isn't taken very seriously and people become scared of her illogical sentence of self. In Heartless, Meyer stops before this actually happens but the reader can quickly follow what is to come.

What I would have liked more:
I felt that the book could have been reduced in size by 200 pages. The first 70% of the book was incredibly slow and mainly consisted of dialogue between Catherine, her parents, Mary Ann, and Jest. I would have enjoyed having a twist or some kind of intense storyline to show Catherine's struggle with her mental stability.

Long story short, 2 stars for a creative and "cute" storyline about love and tragedy, minus 1 star for lagging too much, and minus 2 stars for having a lack of captivating moments (for me).

That being said, I'm sticking to what I enjoy best.

Follow me on IG @scared_str8]]> 4.10 2016 Heartless
author: Marissa Meyer
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2016
rating: 2
read at: 2017/07/18
date added: 2018/02/27
shelves: retelling, slow-burn, 2017-read
review:
I feel awkward about writing a review for Heartless because it's not that this is a bad book, I just didn't enjoy it. I should stick with what I enjoy, which are thrillers, suspense, mysteries, and horrors. Heartless was just not my cup of tea (pun intended). Now that that is out of the way, let me get to the story and what I liked and didn't like out of it. Possible spoilers - depending on what you deem a spoiler.

The main character, Catherine Pinkerton, daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of the land of Hearts. Catherine aspires to open a bakery with her servant, Mary Ann, and through society's sexist views on woman, has trouble doing so. She captures the heart of the King, while at the same time falling for another man. What is Catherine to do?

What I enjoyed:
I loved how Meyer was able to take a familiar world and build upon it. All the main characters (besides Alice) from Lewis Carroll's masterpiece have been weaved in throughout the story and they are beautifully represented throughout the book. I also enjoyed references to Edgar Allen Poe's Raven, and the interpretation of Fates appearing as three sisters. Both Disney's and Lewis Carroll's Queen of Hearts is considered ridiculous - she isn't taken very seriously and people become scared of her illogical sentence of self. In Heartless, Meyer stops before this actually happens but the reader can quickly follow what is to come.

What I would have liked more:
I felt that the book could have been reduced in size by 200 pages. The first 70% of the book was incredibly slow and mainly consisted of dialogue between Catherine, her parents, Mary Ann, and Jest. I would have enjoyed having a twist or some kind of intense storyline to show Catherine's struggle with her mental stability.

Long story short, 2 stars for a creative and "cute" storyline about love and tragedy, minus 1 star for lagging too much, and minus 2 stars for having a lack of captivating moments (for me).

That being said, I'm sticking to what I enjoy best.

Follow me on IG @scared_str8
]]> Mister Tender's Girl 35023989
At fourteen, Alice Hill was viciously attacked by two of her classmates and left to die. The teens claim she was a sacrifice for a man called Mister Tender, but that could never be true: Mister Tender doesn’t exist. His sinister character is pop-culture fiction, created by Alice’s own father in a series of popular graphic novels.

Over a decade later, Alice has changed her name and is trying to heal. But someone is watching her. They know more about Alice than any stranger could: her scars, her fears, and the secrets she keeps locked away. She can try to escape her past, but Mister Tender is never far behind. He will come with a smile that seduces, and a dark whisper in her ear…

Inspired by a true story, this gripping thriller plunges you into a world of haunting memories and unseen threats, leaving you guessing until the harrowing end.]]> 381 Carter Wilson 149265650X Dennis 5 Mister Tender's Girl is one sick, twisted, WILD RIDE! Wow... I feel like I just got off of a roller coaster and my brain is still rattling. I need to take deep breaths while I write this because I'm still gasping.

Alice, what did the penguin always tell you?

Alice Hill is fourteen years old when she was horribly attacked by two of her classmates and left for death. Melinda and Sylvia Glassin both claim that they repeatedly stabbed Alice because it was a sacrifice to Mister Tender, a fictional character in a popular graphic novel series created by Alice's father. Alice, her mother, and her brother Thomas all leave their home in England and forge to the United States. After bouts of depression, drug abuse, and failed attempts to overcome the grief of her attack, Alice moves to Manchester, New Hampshire and changes her name. Alice Hill is now Alice Gray—resident coffee shop owner and fitness enthusiast. Alice's typical day includes working at her coffee shop, boxing sessions at the gym, and intense panic attacks about her past at night. As her time in Manchester develops, Alice is noticing subtle hints around her that seem off-balance. Alice quickly learns that someone is watching her and it might not be someone who just wants to talk.

Mister Tender's Girl is so original it's not even funny. I haven't read a thriller like this one that completely kept me guessing until the end. Not going to lie though, I was initially drawn into this story by the cover as it has such a beautifully/creepily crafted design to it. I swear these eyes on the cover follow me everywhere! This book is a detail-oriented, no plot left unhinged kind of story that will draw you in immediately from the beginning. Carter Wilson expertly exposes the vulnerabilities of this novel's primary and secondary characters without going off-topic. I was so engulfed into this story, snagging little moments throughout my day to read this story—whether it be on the subway, before my day in the office, checking the tree at Rockefeller Center (DON'T JUDGE ME!), or late up at night. I thoroughly enjoyed Wilson's creative approach in drawing out the plot without giving too much information. Each chapter gave me snippets of the foundation to a major puzzle that needed more information before it could be solved. There was never a "ah-hah!" moment until the very end for me here, and that is really important to me if you want to maintain my interest.

Mister Tender's Girl will be released February 2018 and I thank Source Books for providing this advanced copy for my honest review. I can't wait to hear what you think about this one!

Now then, if you get the sudden urge to start trusting someone, be smart and do away with it.]]> 3.70 2018 Mister Tender's Girl
author: Carter Wilson
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/21
date added: 2017/12/21
shelves: 2017-read, 2018-pub, mystery, psychological-thriller, suspense, thriller, favorites
review:
Mister Tender's Girl is one sick, twisted, WILD RIDE! Wow... I feel like I just got off of a roller coaster and my brain is still rattling. I need to take deep breaths while I write this because I'm still gasping.

Alice, what did the penguin always tell you?

Alice Hill is fourteen years old when she was horribly attacked by two of her classmates and left for death. Melinda and Sylvia Glassin both claim that they repeatedly stabbed Alice because it was a sacrifice to Mister Tender, a fictional character in a popular graphic novel series created by Alice's father. Alice, her mother, and her brother Thomas all leave their home in England and forge to the United States. After bouts of depression, drug abuse, and failed attempts to overcome the grief of her attack, Alice moves to Manchester, New Hampshire and changes her name. Alice Hill is now Alice Gray—resident coffee shop owner and fitness enthusiast. Alice's typical day includes working at her coffee shop, boxing sessions at the gym, and intense panic attacks about her past at night. As her time in Manchester develops, Alice is noticing subtle hints around her that seem off-balance. Alice quickly learns that someone is watching her and it might not be someone who just wants to talk.

Mister Tender's Girl is so original it's not even funny. I haven't read a thriller like this one that completely kept me guessing until the end. Not going to lie though, I was initially drawn into this story by the cover as it has such a beautifully/creepily crafted design to it. I swear these eyes on the cover follow me everywhere! This book is a detail-oriented, no plot left unhinged kind of story that will draw you in immediately from the beginning. Carter Wilson expertly exposes the vulnerabilities of this novel's primary and secondary characters without going off-topic. I was so engulfed into this story, snagging little moments throughout my day to read this story—whether it be on the subway, before my day in the office, checking the tree at Rockefeller Center (DON'T JUDGE ME!), or late up at night. I thoroughly enjoyed Wilson's creative approach in drawing out the plot without giving too much information. Each chapter gave me snippets of the foundation to a major puzzle that needed more information before it could be solved. There was never a "ah-hah!" moment until the very end for me here, and that is really important to me if you want to maintain my interest.

Mister Tender's Girl will be released February 2018 and I thank Source Books for providing this advanced copy for my honest review. I can't wait to hear what you think about this one!

Now then, if you get the sudden urge to start trusting someone, be smart and do away with it.
]]> The Chalk Man 35356382
In 2016, Eddie is fully grown, and thinks he's put his past behind him. But then he gets a letter in the mail, containing a single chalk stick figure. When it turns out that his friends got the same message, they think it could be a prank . . . until one of them turns up dead.

That's when Eddie realizes that saving himself means finally figuring out what really happened all those years ago.]]> 280 C.J. Tudor 1524760986 Dennis 3 everyone you know in the bookstagram and 카지노싸이트 communities are raving about an upcoming book, you get your hands on said book, and all you can say when it's over is "MEHHHHHHHHHHHH?! As always, let me debrief you on the synopsis and then divulge into my 3 star rating (if I can make it that far without one of you trying to end me).

The Chalk Man alternates between 1986 and 2016 with a full set of uniquely cast of characters for us all to enjoy. Eddie, Fat Gav, Hoppo, Nicky, and Mickey are all on the on-set of adolescence where they are teetering on the joys of youth, while also deeming themselves as young adults. Without giving too much of the story away, Eddie and his friends start creating a secret code using chalk figures throughout the town. This secret code ironically ends up mysteriously leading the group to a dismembered body in the woods. WHAT? HOW? Who's behind this?

Flash-forward to 2016, the group has all "moved-on" from this Chalk Man hysteria and have grown apart for the most part, until one day Eddie gets a letter in the mail containing a chalk stick figure. After further investigation, Eddie realizes that the entire friend group has received this same letter. Eddie decides that once and for all he needs to get to the bottom of this case and settle it, but the main question here remains—why does he care so much?

*takes a deep breath* OK well that synopsis sounds great, right?! Well, as you can see with my 3 star review, I broke it completely down the middle. There were points in The Chalk Man where I felt that the story deserved a 4 star rating and there were other points in the story where I felt that this book deserved a 2 star rating. I will go over my dilemma with you right now.

The Writing
C.J. Tudor has an amazing talent as a writer! I cannot fathom how this is her debut novel because she expertly crafts a story here for your enjoyment. She's better than many pro's I've seen lately and that in itself is a feat of it's own. However, the story is written in past-tense and when I'm reading a First Person POV narrative, I'd rather the writing be written in the present-tense so I can feel like I'm there and actually being thrown into the story. With the POV being in past-tense, I kinda felt like I was sitting down on a couch with my grandpa where he tells me all the stupid shit he got away with doing when he was a kid—a time where things were simpler. I tried to get past (*badum tish*) this annoyance, but it was really hard to when the plot began to get juicy. C'est la vie.

The Plot
The story in The Chalk Man is rather original and unique in its own way. I did get Stranger Things and IT vibes, but the story here rests on its own accord. At 277 pages, I felt that this story lacked an initial hook to keep me engaged to the story. It took me three days to get through this story and at some points, I wanted to just stop reading and start skimming. NO DENNIS, WE CAN'T DO THAT. This story could be called a slow-burn as it takes forever to get to anything of real sustenance, but for such a short narrative—it shouldn't be.

Once we got to the "meat and potatoes" of the story, my thoughts on the plot bumped up to 4 stars and I was secretly screaming yasssss in my head! However, as the plot amounted to a conclusion, I was equally frustrated as I was in the beginning of this read.

Final Thoughts
The Chalk Man is an excellent debut novel with an author who has real, expertly tailored writing skills. CJ Tudor, I cannot wait to read your next book. This isn't the first time I've fallen victim to hype-depression and won't be my last, but I think a good learning lesson for me here is to always give each read a fair chance, rather than always blindly following the hype factor. I do recommend people picking up The Chalk Man as it is an original story with a lot of diverse factors to enjoy that you may not get with "the next Gone Girl-esque types of books that publishers are shoving down our throats.]]> 3.68 2018 The Chalk Man
author: C.J. Tudor
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2017/12/13
date added: 2017/12/13
shelves: 2018-pub, thriller, botm, 2017-read, mystery, whodunnit
review:
I already know that you are all going to kill me with this review. I know, I know, I hate me too. Don't you hate when everyone you know in the bookstagram and 카지노싸이트 communities are raving about an upcoming book, you get your hands on said book, and all you can say when it's over is "MEHHHHHHHHHHHH?! As always, let me debrief you on the synopsis and then divulge into my 3 star rating (if I can make it that far without one of you trying to end me).

The Chalk Man alternates between 1986 and 2016 with a full set of uniquely cast of characters for us all to enjoy. Eddie, Fat Gav, Hoppo, Nicky, and Mickey are all on the on-set of adolescence where they are teetering on the joys of youth, while also deeming themselves as young adults. Without giving too much of the story away, Eddie and his friends start creating a secret code using chalk figures throughout the town. This secret code ironically ends up mysteriously leading the group to a dismembered body in the woods. WHAT? HOW? Who's behind this?

Flash-forward to 2016, the group has all "moved-on" from this Chalk Man hysteria and have grown apart for the most part, until one day Eddie gets a letter in the mail containing a chalk stick figure. After further investigation, Eddie realizes that the entire friend group has received this same letter. Eddie decides that once and for all he needs to get to the bottom of this case and settle it, but the main question here remains—why does he care so much?

*takes a deep breath* OK well that synopsis sounds great, right?! Well, as you can see with my 3 star review, I broke it completely down the middle. There were points in The Chalk Man where I felt that the story deserved a 4 star rating and there were other points in the story where I felt that this book deserved a 2 star rating. I will go over my dilemma with you right now.

The Writing
C.J. Tudor has an amazing talent as a writer! I cannot fathom how this is her debut novel because she expertly crafts a story here for your enjoyment. She's better than many pro's I've seen lately and that in itself is a feat of it's own. However, the story is written in past-tense and when I'm reading a First Person POV narrative, I'd rather the writing be written in the present-tense so I can feel like I'm there and actually being thrown into the story. With the POV being in past-tense, I kinda felt like I was sitting down on a couch with my grandpa where he tells me all the stupid shit he got away with doing when he was a kid—a time where things were simpler. I tried to get past (*badum tish*) this annoyance, but it was really hard to when the plot began to get juicy. C'est la vie.

The Plot
The story in The Chalk Man is rather original and unique in its own way. I did get Stranger Things and IT vibes, but the story here rests on its own accord. At 277 pages, I felt that this story lacked an initial hook to keep me engaged to the story. It took me three days to get through this story and at some points, I wanted to just stop reading and start skimming. NO DENNIS, WE CAN'T DO THAT. This story could be called a slow-burn as it takes forever to get to anything of real sustenance, but for such a short narrative—it shouldn't be.

Once we got to the "meat and potatoes" of the story, my thoughts on the plot bumped up to 4 stars and I was secretly screaming yasssss in my head! However, as the plot amounted to a conclusion, I was equally frustrated as I was in the beginning of this read.

Final Thoughts
The Chalk Man is an excellent debut novel with an author who has real, expertly tailored writing skills. CJ Tudor, I cannot wait to read your next book. This isn't the first time I've fallen victim to hype-depression and won't be my last, but I think a good learning lesson for me here is to always give each read a fair chance, rather than always blindly following the hype factor. I do recommend people picking up The Chalk Man as it is an original story with a lot of diverse factors to enjoy that you may not get with "the next Gone Girl-esque types of books that publishers are shoving down our throats.
]]> Best Friends Forever 34129111 How well do you really know your best friend?

Kat Grant and Alice Campbell have a friendship forged in shared confidences and long lunches lubricated by expensive wine. Though they’re very different women—the artsy socialite and the struggling suburbanite—they’re each other’s rocks. But even rocks crumble under pressure. Like when Kat’s financier husband, Howard, plunges to his death from the second-floor balcony of their South Florida mansion.

Howard was a jerk, a drunk, a bully and, police say, a murder victim. The questions begin piling up. Like why Kat has suddenly gone dark: no calls, no texts and no chance her wealthy family will let Alice see her. Why investigators are looking so hard in Alice’s direction. Who stands to get hurt next. And who is the cool liar—the masterful manipulator behind it all.]]> 330 Margot Hunt 077833113X Dennis 4 Best Friends Forever is a deeply engaging, light mystery surrounding the unorthodox friendship between Alice Campbell and Kat Grant. Alice is a logician and former teacher turned children's logic book writer, with a husband and two kids living in a modest household in Jupiter, Florida. On her way back from a family trip in New York, Alice meets Kat Grant, an extremely flamboyant, welcoming, and insanely rich construction empire heiress. The two women immediately hit it off and forge a friendship. Flash-forward to the present day, Alice is greeted by two detectives wanting to speak with her in regards to the mysterious death of Kat's husband Howard. Howard was an abusive, alcoholic, womanizing disgrace of a husband to Kat, so was his death a consequence of foul play?

Alice sits down with police and discusses her friendship with Kat, her marriage to Howard, and the background information that the police may find pertinent to the investigation. Afterwards, Alice is shunned and immediately ghosted by Kat and her family. Why has her best friend so able to immediately cut her from her life? Are the Grants hiding something? Alice quickly questions her friendship with Kat and everything she's come to understand about the Grant family crashes into turmoil. How far will people go to manipulate the lives of others to get what they want?

Best Friends Forever is a fun read that is not only interesting, but also very easy to follow. It's definitely not the most original story by any means, and I immediately knew how the story was going to unfold, but I kept churning through to the end. I just needed to know how it unfolded and if my suspicions are correct. Best Friends Forever intelligently portrays the depth of how low some people will go to prey on the weaknesses of others, while also showing the the facets of the human psyche. If you are ready for a light story for a rainy/lazy day, this book may be a good contender to pick up. ]]> 3.87 2018 Best Friends Forever
author: Margot Hunt
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2017/12/10
date added: 2017/12/10
shelves: 2017-read, 2018-pub, mystery, thriller
review:
Margot Hunt's Best Friends Forever is a deeply engaging, light mystery surrounding the unorthodox friendship between Alice Campbell and Kat Grant. Alice is a logician and former teacher turned children's logic book writer, with a husband and two kids living in a modest household in Jupiter, Florida. On her way back from a family trip in New York, Alice meets Kat Grant, an extremely flamboyant, welcoming, and insanely rich construction empire heiress. The two women immediately hit it off and forge a friendship. Flash-forward to the present day, Alice is greeted by two detectives wanting to speak with her in regards to the mysterious death of Kat's husband Howard. Howard was an abusive, alcoholic, womanizing disgrace of a husband to Kat, so was his death a consequence of foul play?

Alice sits down with police and discusses her friendship with Kat, her marriage to Howard, and the background information that the police may find pertinent to the investigation. Afterwards, Alice is shunned and immediately ghosted by Kat and her family. Why has her best friend so able to immediately cut her from her life? Are the Grants hiding something? Alice quickly questions her friendship with Kat and everything she's come to understand about the Grant family crashes into turmoil. How far will people go to manipulate the lives of others to get what they want?

Best Friends Forever is a fun read that is not only interesting, but also very easy to follow. It's definitely not the most original story by any means, and I immediately knew how the story was going to unfold, but I kept churning through to the end. I just needed to know how it unfolded and if my suspicions are correct. Best Friends Forever intelligently portrays the depth of how low some people will go to prey on the weaknesses of others, while also showing the the facets of the human psyche. If you are ready for a light story for a rainy/lazy day, this book may be a good contender to pick up.
]]> UNSUB (UNSUB, #1) 32811580
Caitlin Hendrix has been a Narcotics detective for six months when the killer at the heart of all her childhood nightmares reemerges: the Prophet. An UNSUB—what the FBI calls an unknown subject—the Prophet terrorized the Bay Area in the 1990s and nearly destroyed her father, the lead investigator on the case.

The Prophet’s cryptic messages and mind games drove Detective Mack Hendrix to the brink of madness, and Mack’s failure to solve the series of ritualized murders—eleven seemingly unconnected victims left with the ancient sign for Mercury etched into their flesh—was the final nail in the coffin for a once promising career.

Twenty years later, two bodies are found bearing the haunting signature of the Prophet. Caitlin Hendrix has never escaped the shadow of her father’s failure to protect their city. But now the ruthless madman is killing again and has set his sights on her, threatening to undermine the fragile barrier she rigidly maintains for her own protection, between relentless pursuit and dangerous obsession.

Determined to decipher his twisted messages and stop the carnage, Caitlin ignores her father’s warnings as she draws closer to the killer with each new gruesome murder. Is it a copycat, or can this really be the same Prophet who haunted her childhood? Will Caitlin avoid repeating her father’s mistakes and redeem her family name, or will chasing the Prophet drag her and everyone she loves into the depths of the abyss?]]> 367 Meg Gardiner 1101985526 Dennis 5 UNSUB is this masterpiece! Wow... I hope I can give this review any justice, but let's see.

UNSUB initiates the story with father and police officer Mack Hendrix running a mission to capture San Francisco's deranged serial killer, nicknamed The Prophet. The Prophet has been known to leave riddles to justify the murder and torture of people and has never been caught. Hmm... sounds like the Zodiac killer? Flash-forward to the present day, 20 years after Mack's investigation has gone cold, young Caitlin Hendrix has followed in her father's footsteps and has begun to pick up the pieces. After coming across a murder that is eerily similar to the plethora of murders done by The Prophet, the Bay Area police initiate a once-cold, now super-hot investigation for him. Caitlin's life is completely engulfed in The Prophet's sinister and wicked games, but can she crack the code and stop this sick and twisted madman before it's too late?

As Caitlin gets closer and closer to the case, questions arise that need answers. Is this a copycat case? How and why has The Prophet returned after decades of tranquility? What do these riddles and clues mean? This killer tortures his victims before killing them, calls/contacts the victims' families repeatedly to taunt and torment them, and speaks with the press—he has no conscience. What can Caitlin do that hasn't already been done? Time is against her this time around and she needs to solve this case before it consumes her.

UNSUB is my first read by Meg Gardiner and I'm telling you now, Ms. Gardiner I AM AT YOUR MERCY. #queen #slay. I have never been so frightened by a book before—so frightened that I had trouble walking around my residence yesterday and ran to bed and shut the door! UNSUB is the type of book that not only resonates with any thriller book junkie, but will have a lasting impact on you. People are comparing this book to the tv series Criminal Minds, but I've never watched it. I can see people comparing this novel to The Saw Series, because it's not only a crime-fiction horror, but also one big puzzle that you need to solve while reading. Forget about my 2017 favorite reads, UNSUB is the most intelligently written crime fiction novel I've ever read.]]> 4.02 2017 UNSUB (UNSUB, #1)
author: Meg Gardiner
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/12/07
date added: 2017/12/07
shelves: 2017-read, crime-fiction, detective, mystery, police-procedural, suspense, thriller, favorites, horror
review:
There comes a point in every bibliophile's life where you find a book that is so unsettling, dark, and scary that it completely changes your perspective on how you view a normal thriller/horror read and how you view a masterpiece in action. Ladies and gentlemen, UNSUB is this masterpiece! Wow... I hope I can give this review any justice, but let's see.

UNSUB initiates the story with father and police officer Mack Hendrix running a mission to capture San Francisco's deranged serial killer, nicknamed The Prophet. The Prophet has been known to leave riddles to justify the murder and torture of people and has never been caught. Hmm... sounds like the Zodiac killer? Flash-forward to the present day, 20 years after Mack's investigation has gone cold, young Caitlin Hendrix has followed in her father's footsteps and has begun to pick up the pieces. After coming across a murder that is eerily similar to the plethora of murders done by The Prophet, the Bay Area police initiate a once-cold, now super-hot investigation for him. Caitlin's life is completely engulfed in The Prophet's sinister and wicked games, but can she crack the code and stop this sick and twisted madman before it's too late?

As Caitlin gets closer and closer to the case, questions arise that need answers. Is this a copycat case? How and why has The Prophet returned after decades of tranquility? What do these riddles and clues mean? This killer tortures his victims before killing them, calls/contacts the victims' families repeatedly to taunt and torment them, and speaks with the press—he has no conscience. What can Caitlin do that hasn't already been done? Time is against her this time around and she needs to solve this case before it consumes her.

UNSUB is my first read by Meg Gardiner and I'm telling you now, Ms. Gardiner I AM AT YOUR MERCY. #queen #slay. I have never been so frightened by a book before—so frightened that I had trouble walking around my residence yesterday and ran to bed and shut the door! UNSUB is the type of book that not only resonates with any thriller book junkie, but will have a lasting impact on you. People are comparing this book to the tv series Criminal Minds, but I've never watched it. I can see people comparing this novel to The Saw Series, because it's not only a crime-fiction horror, but also one big puzzle that you need to solve while reading. Forget about my 2017 favorite reads, UNSUB is the most intelligently written crime fiction novel I've ever read.
]]> <![CDATA[The Naturalist (The Naturalist, #1)]]> 34330645
As a computational biologist, Theo is more familiar with digital code and microbes than the dark arts of forensic sleuthing. But a field trip to Montana suddenly lands him in the middle of an investigation into the bloody killing of one of his former students. As more details, and bodies, come to light, the local cops determine that the killer is either a grizzly gone rogue… or Theo himself. Racing to stay one step ahead of the police, Theo must use his scientific acumen to uncover the killer. Will he be able to become as cunning as the predator he hunts—before he becomes its prey?]]> 382 Andrew Mayne 1612184979 Dennis 3
If you enjoy the tv channel Investigation Discovery or shows like Forensic Files, then Andrew Mayne's The Naturalist is the perfect read for you! It is a quick, dark read that doesn't sugar coat the plot, while not explicitly getting too grotesque. The story starts off with Dr. Theo Cray being questioned about the disappearance of one of his past students, Juniper, who police claim has a direct link to Dr. Cray. After routine questioning, police confirm Juniper's death as an accidental bear attack in the nearby woods. Dr. Cray, professor and biologist, can't leave well enough alone because if Juniper was a dedicated student of his, she would know how to react to a bear in the woods. As Dr. Cray investigates the small Montana town that he's visiting, he begins to see how a town crippled by drugs, poverty, and a lack of education can only continue on by keeping their darkest secrets hidden. Through Dr. Cray's investigation, he realizes that things aren't always what it may seem.

The Naturalist was very different read for me—it had a lot of science background in it that I was not familiar (nor really wanted to be familiar) with, while keeping me on the edge of my seat by keeping the mystery at bay. Dr. Cray was sarcastic, witty, and a profound protagonist for me. This book is approximately 400 pages, but the dialogue isn't overtly sophisticated so you can easily brush through this read quickly. The Naturalist 's storyline was very original in a sense that it took key common themes (i.e.: drugs, town corruption, crime), and interweaving it into a robust plot development. I would also recommend anyone who enjoys anything by David Bell or Noah Hawley to definitely pick this one up. I immediately got Bring Her Home and Before The Fall vibes as I was trekking on with the story although neither book is similar in terms of content.

This book will not be for everyone—I'm telling you now. If you really aren't into the multifaceted world of biology, genetics, DNA, etc; this isn't the read for you. At points The Naturalist can be a little too technical and I had to catch myself from skipping through those sections. Once I was about 1/3 of the way into the story, I actually began to care more about the characters and was focused on finishing.

I was provided a copy of The Naturalist in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Wunderbooks PR, it was a pleasure.]]> 4.09 2017 The Naturalist (The Naturalist, #1)
author: Andrew Mayne
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2017/12/05
date added: 2017/12/05
shelves: 2017-read, crime-fiction, science, mystery
review:
3.5/5 stars

If you enjoy the tv channel Investigation Discovery or shows like Forensic Files, then Andrew Mayne's The Naturalist is the perfect read for you! It is a quick, dark read that doesn't sugar coat the plot, while not explicitly getting too grotesque. The story starts off with Dr. Theo Cray being questioned about the disappearance of one of his past students, Juniper, who police claim has a direct link to Dr. Cray. After routine questioning, police confirm Juniper's death as an accidental bear attack in the nearby woods. Dr. Cray, professor and biologist, can't leave well enough alone because if Juniper was a dedicated student of his, she would know how to react to a bear in the woods. As Dr. Cray investigates the small Montana town that he's visiting, he begins to see how a town crippled by drugs, poverty, and a lack of education can only continue on by keeping their darkest secrets hidden. Through Dr. Cray's investigation, he realizes that things aren't always what it may seem.

The Naturalist was very different read for me—it had a lot of science background in it that I was not familiar (nor really wanted to be familiar) with, while keeping me on the edge of my seat by keeping the mystery at bay. Dr. Cray was sarcastic, witty, and a profound protagonist for me. This book is approximately 400 pages, but the dialogue isn't overtly sophisticated so you can easily brush through this read quickly. The Naturalist 's storyline was very original in a sense that it took key common themes (i.e.: drugs, town corruption, crime), and interweaving it into a robust plot development. I would also recommend anyone who enjoys anything by David Bell or Noah Hawley to definitely pick this one up. I immediately got Bring Her Home and Before The Fall vibes as I was trekking on with the story although neither book is similar in terms of content.

This book will not be for everyone—I'm telling you now. If you really aren't into the multifaceted world of biology, genetics, DNA, etc; this isn't the read for you. At points The Naturalist can be a little too technical and I had to catch myself from skipping through those sections. Once I was about 1/3 of the way into the story, I actually began to care more about the characters and was focused on finishing.

I was provided a copy of The Naturalist in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Wunderbooks PR, it was a pleasure.
]]> Sometimes I Lie 32991958 My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me:
1. I’m in a coma.
2. My husband doesn’t love me anymore.
3. Sometimes I lie.

Amber wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea. Amber doesn’t remember what happened, but she has a suspicion her husband had something to do with it. Alternating between her paralyzed present, the week before her accident, and a series of childhood diaries from twenty years ago, this brilliant psychological thriller asks: Is something really a lie if you believe it's the truth?]]> 279 Alice Feeney Dennis 5
Hold up, let me pick my jaw up from the floor please. Wow.

Alice Feeney's Sometimes I Lie is a prime example of how unreliable narrators should be! We start the story with Amber Reynolds in a coma fighting for her life and confused as to how she got there. Her sister Claire and husband Paul are both extremely worried for her and can't provide any additional information on how Amber ended up in the hospital. The points of view for Sometimes I Lie balance between current day comatose state Amber, the events leading up to how she ended up in the hospital, and a series of diary entries from the early 1990s. Together, each storyline compiles together to provide you with a robust, deeply rooted, and engaging narrative.

I really can't go into the plot more than I already have and trust me, you'll thank me for that later. One of the best unreliable narrators that has ever been provided to me is in this story. There were moments where I was completely shocked, confused, and engaged—all because this story is just one big puzzle, slowly giving you puzzle pieces as the story moves on. I enjoyed trying to follow the story, while being given a new sliver of information along the way. Sometimes I Lie started a little slow and disjointed for me which is why I cannot give this a full 5 star rating, but once the story began to unfold I was hooked! Sometimes I Lie can provide you all the similar characteristics that you've come to love about a psychological thriller, but without all the unnecessary secondary plotlines that are regurgitated from past novels to elongate the narrative. It's a quick read, but also very enchantingly dark.

Thank you Netgalley and Flatiron Books for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.]]> 3.90 2017 Sometimes I Lie
author: Alice Feeney
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/11/30
date added: 2017/11/30
shelves: 2018-pub, 2017-read, psychological-thriller, thriller, suspense
review:
4.5/5 stars.

Hold up, let me pick my jaw up from the floor please. Wow.

Alice Feeney's Sometimes I Lie is a prime example of how unreliable narrators should be! We start the story with Amber Reynolds in a coma fighting for her life and confused as to how she got there. Her sister Claire and husband Paul are both extremely worried for her and can't provide any additional information on how Amber ended up in the hospital. The points of view for Sometimes I Lie balance between current day comatose state Amber, the events leading up to how she ended up in the hospital, and a series of diary entries from the early 1990s. Together, each storyline compiles together to provide you with a robust, deeply rooted, and engaging narrative.

I really can't go into the plot more than I already have and trust me, you'll thank me for that later. One of the best unreliable narrators that has ever been provided to me is in this story. There were moments where I was completely shocked, confused, and engaged—all because this story is just one big puzzle, slowly giving you puzzle pieces as the story moves on. I enjoyed trying to follow the story, while being given a new sliver of information along the way. Sometimes I Lie started a little slow and disjointed for me which is why I cannot give this a full 5 star rating, but once the story began to unfold I was hooked! Sometimes I Lie can provide you all the similar characteristics that you've come to love about a psychological thriller, but without all the unnecessary secondary plotlines that are regurgitated from past novels to elongate the narrative. It's a quick read, but also very enchantingly dark.

Thank you Netgalley and Flatiron Books for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
]]> Witch 140400 234 Barbara Michaels 0425118312 Dennis 1 Witch is set in rural Virginia, where Ellen March purchases a farmhouse to reside in with lots of land, with a humble, quaint, small town atmosphere. Prior to purchasing the house, Ellen is warned by the current owner about the rumors surrounding the property—the myth of a witch's ghost haunting the premises. Unfazed, Ellen excitedly purchases the property and seeks to set a new life for herself. She meets with the local townsfolk, neighbors; and learns more about the town and the ghost story surrounding her property. As her time at her new property lingers, Ellen quickly finds out that a witch would be the least of her problems.

Alright alright alright—this book bored me to death. I really wanted to like this book after seeing it on a fan-site (forgot where). I wanted to pick up an older book that hasn't been on my feed and show some support. I know my tolerance for formal writing has dissipated over the years, but the dialogue between Ellen and the secondary characters was brutal. I am aware that Witch was originally published in the 1970s, and I really did take that into account but I don't care what decade this is in, the language used by Barbara Michaels was ridiculous. The other excruciating focus of this book for me was that it was hardly about the witch and more about Ellen's drama with her neighbors. W.H.O. C.A.R.E.S.?

Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer but this was just a painful and boring read. Maybe I'll just stick to contemporary works from now on. If you had a good time with Witch , please let me know! I'm curious to hear other opinions.]]> 3.81 1973 Witch
author: Barbara Michaels
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1973
rating: 1
read at: 2017/11/28
date added: 2017/11/28
shelves: drama, supernatural, 2017-read
review:
Well.... it's happened everybody. I promised myself that I would never give a 1 star review for a book. I really tried to like this book, but it was painful to even get to the end. Barbara Michaels' Witch is set in rural Virginia, where Ellen March purchases a farmhouse to reside in with lots of land, with a humble, quaint, small town atmosphere. Prior to purchasing the house, Ellen is warned by the current owner about the rumors surrounding the property—the myth of a witch's ghost haunting the premises. Unfazed, Ellen excitedly purchases the property and seeks to set a new life for herself. She meets with the local townsfolk, neighbors; and learns more about the town and the ghost story surrounding her property. As her time at her new property lingers, Ellen quickly finds out that a witch would be the least of her problems.

Alright alright alright—this book bored me to death. I really wanted to like this book after seeing it on a fan-site (forgot where). I wanted to pick up an older book that hasn't been on my feed and show some support. I know my tolerance for formal writing has dissipated over the years, but the dialogue between Ellen and the secondary characters was brutal. I am aware that Witch was originally published in the 1970s, and I really did take that into account but I don't care what decade this is in, the language used by Barbara Michaels was ridiculous. The other excruciating focus of this book for me was that it was hardly about the witch and more about Ellen's drama with her neighbors. W.H.O. C.A.R.E.S.?

Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer but this was just a painful and boring read. Maybe I'll just stick to contemporary works from now on. If you had a good time with Witch , please let me know! I'm curious to hear other opinions.
]]> <![CDATA[Two Girls Down (Alice Vega, #1)]]> 34688589
With little to go on, Vega and Cap will go to extraordinary lengths to untangle a dangerous web of lies, false leads, and complex relationships to find the girls before time runs out, and they are gone forever.]]> 304 Louisa Luna 0385542496 Dennis 4 Two Girls Down is a binge-worthy whodunnit crime fiction novel that realistically paints how rural America is affected by today's drug epidemic. The story starts off with single mother Jamie Brandt taking her two daughters Kylie and Bailey to the mall so they can get a gift for Kylie's friend's birthday party. Jamie is a struggling single parent in a town where income inequality is rampant. Denville, Pennsylvania is a small town outside of Philadelphia—modest, poor, ignorant, and proud, 'Murica. After Jamie returns from the mall to get her daughter's friend a gift, she is startled to see that her daughters are missing. The kidnapping of Kylie and Bailey Brandt has received considerable attention in the news; throwing the town of Denville on a loop. The police force is struggling to find any leads, so the Brandt family hires private investigator Alice Vega to help with the case.

Alice Vega is a no-nonsense Californian who acts first and speaks later. She has an impeccable track record in finding missing children, arriving to Denville and ready to investigate. The town doesn't take to Alice very well—they too proud to accept her services. Alice quickly starts figuring out that things in Denville aren't exactly what they seem. Everyone has an alibi, everyone has a story, but who has something to gain from these two missing girls?

Two Girls Down was a very interesting read for me because when I first picked it up, I was initially thinking, "oh this will be just like every other crime fiction/detective novel", but I was happily mistaken. Alice Vega might actually be my favorite heroine of all time. She is a bad ass to the Nth degree! She is witty, strong, funny, smart—ugh I can keep going. I really hope Louisa Luna continues writing stories including Alice Vega because she really is just amazing and nothing I can say here can perfectly describe how much I fangirl over her. Alice Vega easily gives me the ability to give this read a 4 star rating without even batting an eye.

I also really enjoyed the way the plot began to unfold before my eyes. I really thought this story was going to take a certain turn, but I was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. It kept me on my toes and captured my attention. The story unfolds in an interesting, unique way; without the gimmicky plot twists that many novels are throwing out there to try to shock the reader. Ms. Luna also intelligently mentions the drug epidemic sprawling throughout America; showcasing it through the town of Denville and its inhabitants. I really haven't picked up anything recently that portrays that aspect of American society and it was something that actually made me take a second to think about. It was a really robust story that pieced everything together seamlessly.

Two Girls Down will be released January 9, 2018. Thank you Doubleday Books for my advanced copy for my honest review. ]]> 3.88 2018 Two Girls Down (Alice Vega, #1)
author: Louisa Luna
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2017/11/23
date added: 2017/11/23
shelves: crime-fiction, detective, whodunnit, thriller, mystery, 2018-pub, 2017-read
review:
Louisa Luna's Two Girls Down is a binge-worthy whodunnit crime fiction novel that realistically paints how rural America is affected by today's drug epidemic. The story starts off with single mother Jamie Brandt taking her two daughters Kylie and Bailey to the mall so they can get a gift for Kylie's friend's birthday party. Jamie is a struggling single parent in a town where income inequality is rampant. Denville, Pennsylvania is a small town outside of Philadelphia—modest, poor, ignorant, and proud, 'Murica. After Jamie returns from the mall to get her daughter's friend a gift, she is startled to see that her daughters are missing. The kidnapping of Kylie and Bailey Brandt has received considerable attention in the news; throwing the town of Denville on a loop. The police force is struggling to find any leads, so the Brandt family hires private investigator Alice Vega to help with the case.

Alice Vega is a no-nonsense Californian who acts first and speaks later. She has an impeccable track record in finding missing children, arriving to Denville and ready to investigate. The town doesn't take to Alice very well—they too proud to accept her services. Alice quickly starts figuring out that things in Denville aren't exactly what they seem. Everyone has an alibi, everyone has a story, but who has something to gain from these two missing girls?

Two Girls Down was a very interesting read for me because when I first picked it up, I was initially thinking, "oh this will be just like every other crime fiction/detective novel", but I was happily mistaken. Alice Vega might actually be my favorite heroine of all time. She is a bad ass to the Nth degree! She is witty, strong, funny, smart—ugh I can keep going. I really hope Louisa Luna continues writing stories including Alice Vega because she really is just amazing and nothing I can say here can perfectly describe how much I fangirl over her. Alice Vega easily gives me the ability to give this read a 4 star rating without even batting an eye.

I also really enjoyed the way the plot began to unfold before my eyes. I really thought this story was going to take a certain turn, but I was pleasantly surprised to be proven wrong. It kept me on my toes and captured my attention. The story unfolds in an interesting, unique way; without the gimmicky plot twists that many novels are throwing out there to try to shock the reader. Ms. Luna also intelligently mentions the drug epidemic sprawling throughout America; showcasing it through the town of Denville and its inhabitants. I really haven't picked up anything recently that portrays that aspect of American society and it was something that actually made me take a second to think about. It was a really robust story that pieced everything together seamlessly.

Two Girls Down will be released January 9, 2018. Thank you Doubleday Books for my advanced copy for my honest review.
]]> Ten 11958033 Vengeance is mine. And things only get worse from there.

With a storm raging outside, the teens are cut off from the outside world . . . so when a mysterious killer begins picking them off one by one, there’s no escape. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on one another, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?]]> 296 Gretchen McNeil 0062118781 Dennis 3
3.5/5 stars for me on this one. I enjoyed the book but had to take away .5 of a star because I felt that the book read a little too immature for me. I think my little sister would enjoy the writing style more than me. I also took a full star off because as people started dying, I realized that I actually didn't care about any of the characters in the first place. I only really disliked one of them, while the others were all lukewarm for me. It's hard to enjoy a book when you don't have anyone to root for and hate on. Overall, a nice rainy day book for one to enjoy.]]> 3.69 2012 Ten
author: Gretchen McNeil
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2017/07/22
date added: 2017/11/21
shelves: thriller, whodunnit, 2017-read, young-adult
review:
Think Agatha Christie's, "And Then There Were None" meets Ryan Murphy's "Scream Queens". The story takes place in the suburbs outside of Seattle where two friends, Meg and Minnie, were invited to an exclusive weekend house party on Henry Island. As the weekend progresses, things start unraveling, people start dying, and the group is stranded with no means of communication. Meg tries to get to the bottom of it and tries to figure out who wants them dead...and why?

3.5/5 stars for me on this one. I enjoyed the book but had to take away .5 of a star because I felt that the book read a little too immature for me. I think my little sister would enjoy the writing style more than me. I also took a full star off because as people started dying, I realized that I actually didn't care about any of the characters in the first place. I only really disliked one of them, while the others were all lukewarm for me. It's hard to enjoy a book when you don't have anyone to root for and hate on. Overall, a nice rainy day book for one to enjoy.
]]> <![CDATA[The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike, #1)]]> 16160797 456 Robert Galbraith 0316206849 Dennis 4 3.88 2013 The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike, #1)
author: Robert Galbraith
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2017/05/29
date added: 2017/11/21
shelves: slow-burn, whodunnit, 2017-read, crime-fiction, detective
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Butterfly Garden (The Collector, #1)]]> 27383717
In this garden grow luscious flowers, shady trees…and a collection of precious “butterflies”—young women who have been kidnapped and intricately tattooed to resemble their namesakes. Overseeing it all is the Gardener; a brutal, twisted man obsessed with capturing and preserving his lovely specimens.

When the garden is discovered, a survivor is brought in for questioning. FBI agents Victor Hanoverian and Brandon Eddison are tasked with piecing together one of the most stomach-churning cases of their careers. But the girl, known only as Maya, proves to be a puzzle herself.

As her story twists and turns, slowly shedding light on life in the Butterfly Garden, Maya reveals old grudges, new saviors, and horrific tales of a man who’d go to any length to hold beauty captive. But the more she shares, the more the agents have to wonder what she’s still hiding…]]> 276 Dot Hutchison 1503934713 Dennis 5 3.99 2016 The Butterfly Garden (The Collector, #1)
author: Dot Hutchison
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2017/06/06
date added: 2017/11/21
shelves: favorites, thriller, 2017-read, detective
review:

]]> I See You 26233572
Winner of the Richard and Judy Summer Book Club 2017

When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it's there. There's no explanation: just a grainy image, a website address and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it's just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.

Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make...

If you like Shari Lapena, Paula Hawkins, Rachel Abbott, B A Paris, Fiona Barton, Ruth Ware and CL Taylor, you'll love this gripping psychological thriller.]]> 386 Clare Mackintosh 0751554138 Dennis 4
They think they've won the game...they think its all over. They're wrong. This is just the beginning. I have you. Hundreds of thousands of you, doing the same thing every day. I see you, but you don't see me. Until I want you to.

That scrubbed (to prevent spoilers) quote alone bumps my score to a 4/5 rating rather than a 3/5 rating.

Clare Mackintosh's I See You is a story that invokes paranoia that can easily be felt by anyone who lives in a city or anyone who is afraid of living in a big city. The main character, Zoe Walker catches a photo of her in a daily newspaper advertisement, and after researching the origin, the advertisement is more sinister than anyone could have ever expected. Things take a turn for the unexpected (seriously! I thought I knew what was going to happen and was completely fooled)! As the advertisements continue, women begin being stalked throughout London; murders and rapes being reported daily - all linking them to the same advertisement series. Is Zoe being paranoid or does she need to fight for survival?

I felt that the storyline was a slow burn, especially in the beginning. It was hard for me to feel engaged with the characters because the storyline really focused on the relationships that the two main characters have with the secondary characters, rather than their emotions and personality traits. The POV switches from first person, Zoe Walker, to third person, Kelly Swift, and I felt that Zoe's portions were more compelling while Kelly's were more procedural and weak. The second half of the book was definitely more engaging and thrilling for me and it captured my interest to continue reading. I've seen many people argue that the best portion of the book was the epilogue, and sadly I have to agree. I do believe the story was rather original, and the twists were AWESOME. If you want to pick up a book that you can space out for a couple of readings, this is definitely your book. ]]> 3.87 2016 I See You
author: Clare Mackintosh
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2017/09/05
date added: 2017/11/21
shelves: thriller, crime-fiction, 2017-read, police-procedural
review:
3.5 stars

They think they've won the game...they think its all over. They're wrong. This is just the beginning. I have you. Hundreds of thousands of you, doing the same thing every day. I see you, but you don't see me. Until I want you to.

That scrubbed (to prevent spoilers) quote alone bumps my score to a 4/5 rating rather than a 3/5 rating.

Clare Mackintosh's I See You is a story that invokes paranoia that can easily be felt by anyone who lives in a city or anyone who is afraid of living in a big city. The main character, Zoe Walker catches a photo of her in a daily newspaper advertisement, and after researching the origin, the advertisement is more sinister than anyone could have ever expected. Things take a turn for the unexpected (seriously! I thought I knew what was going to happen and was completely fooled)! As the advertisements continue, women begin being stalked throughout London; murders and rapes being reported daily - all linking them to the same advertisement series. Is Zoe being paranoid or does she need to fight for survival?

I felt that the storyline was a slow burn, especially in the beginning. It was hard for me to feel engaged with the characters because the storyline really focused on the relationships that the two main characters have with the secondary characters, rather than their emotions and personality traits. The POV switches from first person, Zoe Walker, to third person, Kelly Swift, and I felt that Zoe's portions were more compelling while Kelly's were more procedural and weak. The second half of the book was definitely more engaging and thrilling for me and it captured my interest to continue reading. I've seen many people argue that the best portion of the book was the epilogue, and sadly I have to agree. I do believe the story was rather original, and the twists were AWESOME. If you want to pick up a book that you can space out for a couple of readings, this is definitely your book.
]]> <![CDATA[19 Souls (Sin City Investigation, #1)]]> 35260163
A tough private detective faces off against a serial killer in this noir mystery by J.D. Allen, the bestselling author of the Sin City Investigations series.

SHE’S OUT FOR BLOOD…

Sophie Evers always gets what she wants, and Dan Hodge is at the top of her hit list. Standing over her latest victim, she dials the number for Sin City Investigations with a bloody hand.

Detective Jim Bean will serve her well.

HE NEEDS A CLIENT…

Jim Bean is dead broke. So when a high-paying client hires him to find her brother Dan, he jumps on the case without questioning her true motives, unaware that this might be the last mistake he ever makes…

BUT WHEN SHE TRACKS DOWN HER PREY…

Jim locates Dan, unwittingly leading a serial killer straight to her prey. As Jim discovers the truth about Sophie, he’ll risk everything to protect the latest targets on her list—and himself.

ALL BETS ARE OFF.

When Sophie captures someone close to Jim as a hostage, he must stop her from carrying out her twisted plan—before she adds another name to her list of 19 victims.]]> 360 J.D. Allen 073875403X Dennis 5
J.D Allen's 19 Souls is gripping, addictive, and INSANE (in the best way possible). In the same vein as the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling, Allen's shocking debut (seriously, I would never think this was a debut novel) sets the stage for us in Las Vegas, NV where protagonist Jim Bean holds a private investigation company. Jim is attractive in the subtle don't-give-a-damn kind of way, and meets with new client Sophie Ryan Evers about her missing brother. Sophie meets Jim to discuss the whereabouts of her missing brother as he has been disconnected from the family for a very long time due to drugs. Jim takes on the case and begins investigating, believing this will be a simple case to win and good money in his pocket. As time progresses, things quickly don't add up for him. Who really is Sophie, why does she desperately want to find someone who has purposely fell off the radar? *This is in the synopsis so I am not spoiling the story* Sophie is not Daniel's brother, but a woman so desperate to be with Daniel that her delusions have gotten the best of her. In her mind, they are meant to be together and she will stop at nothing to get her picture perfect fantasy. Ultimately the story ends up being crashed on it's head and completely steered in a twisty and riveting direction. The less you know, the better it will be - I promise.

I really loved the way J.D. Allen wrote the characters in 19 Souls . C'mon, there's a million other crime fiction books, why should this one be any different? Well... let me just tell you. The characters in 19 Souls are flawed, personable, current, and relatable. Each character in this book has a backstory that is not quickly overlooked nor drawn out. I really started to fall in love with these characters - even Sophie! The way the book covers the perspective of a psychopath is done in such an interesting and respectful way that it kept getting me to turn to the next page, not even realizing that I just skipped dinner. I really see this series taking off, and I for one will be excited for the ride.

Thank you Net Galley for my advanced copy.

I'm much more fun on Instagram | @scared_str8]]> 3.70 2018 19 Souls (Sin City Investigation, #1)
author: J.D. Allen
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2017/09/09
date added: 2017/11/21
shelves: thriller, 2017-read, detective
review:
4.5/5 stars

J.D Allen's 19 Souls is gripping, addictive, and INSANE (in the best way possible). In the same vein as the Cormoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith/JK Rowling, Allen's shocking debut (seriously, I would never think this was a debut novel) sets the stage for us in Las Vegas, NV where protagonist Jim Bean holds a private investigation company. Jim is attractive in the subtle don't-give-a-damn kind of way, and meets with new client Sophie Ryan Evers about her missing brother. Sophie meets Jim to discuss the whereabouts of her missing brother as he has been disconnected from the family for a very long time due to drugs. Jim takes on the case and begins investigating, believing this will be a simple case to win and good money in his pocket. As time progresses, things quickly don't add up for him. Who really is Sophie, why does she desperately want to find someone who has purposely fell off the radar? *This is in the synopsis so I am not spoiling the story* Sophie is not Daniel's brother, but a woman so desperate to be with Daniel that her delusions have gotten the best of her. In her mind, they are meant to be together and she will stop at nothing to get her picture perfect fantasy. Ultimately the story ends up being crashed on it's head and completely steered in a twisty and riveting direction. The less you know, the better it will be - I promise.

I really loved the way J.D. Allen wrote the characters in 19 Souls . C'mon, there's a million other crime fiction books, why should this one be any different? Well... let me just tell you. The characters in 19 Souls are flawed, personable, current, and relatable. Each character in this book has a backstory that is not quickly overlooked nor drawn out. I really started to fall in love with these characters - even Sophie! The way the book covers the perspective of a psychopath is done in such an interesting and respectful way that it kept getting me to turn to the next page, not even realizing that I just skipped dinner. I really see this series taking off, and I for one will be excited for the ride.

Thank you Net Galley for my advanced copy.

I'm much more fun on Instagram | @scared_str8
]]> Exquisite 34735173
Bo Luxton has it all – a loving family, a beautiful home in the Lake District, and a clutch of bestselling books to her name.
Enter Alice Dark, an aspiring writer who is drifting through life, with a series of dead-end jobs and a freeloading boyfriend.
When they meet at a writers’ retreat, the chemistry is instant, and a sinister relationship develops…
Or does it?
Breathlessly pacey, taut and terrifying, Exquisite is a startlingly original and unbalancing psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page.


‘The characters are so untrustworthy you wont know what to believe, but you won’t put it down till you’ve found out. A superb debut’ Sunday Mirror

'Cunningly constructed and gorgeously written, this is outstanding’ Express

'It’s a remarkable debut in the crowded psychological thriller field, written with great sureness of touch and tone' Times Crime Club

‘Slickly claustrophobic, this arch story of obsessive, forbidden love taken to the extreme will have you squirming in your seat’ Sarah Pinsborough

‘Whip-smart, lushly written and truly page-turning … Sarah Stovell is a thrilling talent’ Holly Seddon

‘A moving, gripping story … twists keep coming till the very last page. I loved it’ Erin Kelly

‘Addictive, terrifying and beautifully written, Exquisite is up there with the best psychological thrillers I’ve ever read. Fucking awesome’ Chris Whittaker]]> 300 Sarah Stovell 1910633747 Dennis 4 Exquisite is exhilarating and suspense-driven in such a realistic way that it really kept me engaged throughout the book. I will be short in my description of the book because the blurb is purposely cut short, and I believe that this is necessary to enjoy the story as it could easily be unfolded if you know more than what I am going to provide you. Exquisite takes place in several different towns/cities in England and mainly features two protagonists, Bo Luxton and Alice Dark. Bo Luxton is a famous author, who has what many may deem as a perfect life. After meeting Alice Dark at a writer’s retreat, Bo and Alice develop a relationship in which can be best labeled as toxic, at best. And that’s all I’m going to tell you folks!

At first, I was hesitate with the storyline and felt like it was all just adding to some build-up and I was going to be disappointed. I will tell you right now, this story does not disappoint in the slightest! The writing kept me engaged and I churned through a majority of the book last night. One thing I will say is that ending – WOW! I am kind of speechless on what else to say.

Thank you Net Galley, Sarah Steovell, and Orenda Books for my advance copy for an honest review.

IG: @scared_str8]]> 3.87 2017 Exquisite
author: Sarah Stovell
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/09/18
date added: 2017/11/21
shelves: drama, slow-burn, 2017-read, romance
review:
Exquisite is exhilarating and suspense-driven in such a realistic way that it really kept me engaged throughout the book. I will be short in my description of the book because the blurb is purposely cut short, and I believe that this is necessary to enjoy the story as it could easily be unfolded if you know more than what I am going to provide you. Exquisite takes place in several different towns/cities in England and mainly features two protagonists, Bo Luxton and Alice Dark. Bo Luxton is a famous author, who has what many may deem as a perfect life. After meeting Alice Dark at a writer’s retreat, Bo and Alice develop a relationship in which can be best labeled as toxic, at best. And that’s all I’m going to tell you folks!

At first, I was hesitate with the storyline and felt like it was all just adding to some build-up and I was going to be disappointed. I will tell you right now, this story does not disappoint in the slightest! The writing kept me engaged and I churned through a majority of the book last night. One thing I will say is that ending – WOW! I am kind of speechless on what else to say.

Thank you Net Galley, Sarah Steovell, and Orenda Books for my advance copy for an honest review.

IG: @scared_str8
]]> Here and Gone 32336395 Here and Gone is a gripping, wonderfully tense suspense thriller about a mother's desperate fight to recover her stolen children from corrupt authorities.

It begins with a woman fleeing through Arizona with her kids in tow, trying to escape an abusive marriage. When she's pulled over by an unsettling local sheriff, things soon go awry and she is taken into custody. Only when she gets to the station, her kids are gone. And then the cops start saying they never saw any kids with her, that if they're gone than she must have done something with them...

Meanwhile, halfway across the country a man hears the frenzied news reports about the missing kids, which are eerily similar to events in his own past. As the clock ticks down on the search for the lost children, he too is drawn into the desperate fight for their return.]]> 304 Haylen Beck 0451499573 Dennis 4 Here and Gone is one wild ride full of action-packed drama! It is bone-chilling and unnerving from the very beginning until the very end. The story begins with Audra Kinney leaving New York with her two children to stay with a friend on the West Coast; fleeing from her abusive and mentally disturbed husband. Audra is almost at her destination when she is pulled over in Arizona for a traffic violation and taken into custody after a scuffle with the local sheriff. When Audra arrives at the station, she demands to know where her children are. It isn't until the local police inform her that they never saw her traveling with kids that a media frenzy in this small town in Arizona begins to devour nationwide coverage. I can't really divulge more into the plot for Here and Gone because it is a quick, binge-worthy read, that will only take you a couple of hours to digest. It is a countdown to find Audra's children and a battle against the clock.

Here and Gone was a pleasant surprise for me, as I have been in a slump with mystery thrillers lately (if you've seen some of my latest reviews). I was apprehensive picking this one up but I am glad I did. Here and Gone 's plot was predictable, but nevertheless juicy! It reminded me of an episode of Law and Order: SVU and I believe that if you're looking for a quick read, this is your book. If you're an avid thriller reader, this story might be a little unsurprising for you, but it will definitely hold your attention.

Disclaimer: The subject matter of this book is highly controversial and dark. If you cannot stomach watching shows like Law and Order: SVU or Taken - I highly suggest you give this book to a friend who may be interested instead. ]]> 3.96 2017 Here and Gone
author: Haylen Beck
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/10/03
date added: 2017/11/21
shelves: suspense, thriller, 2017-read, detective, crime-fiction, police-procedural
review:
Haylen Beck's Here and Gone is one wild ride full of action-packed drama! It is bone-chilling and unnerving from the very beginning until the very end. The story begins with Audra Kinney leaving New York with her two children to stay with a friend on the West Coast; fleeing from her abusive and mentally disturbed husband. Audra is almost at her destination when she is pulled over in Arizona for a traffic violation and taken into custody after a scuffle with the local sheriff. When Audra arrives at the station, she demands to know where her children are. It isn't until the local police inform her that they never saw her traveling with kids that a media frenzy in this small town in Arizona begins to devour nationwide coverage. I can't really divulge more into the plot for Here and Gone because it is a quick, binge-worthy read, that will only take you a couple of hours to digest. It is a countdown to find Audra's children and a battle against the clock.

Here and Gone was a pleasant surprise for me, as I have been in a slump with mystery thrillers lately (if you've seen some of my latest reviews). I was apprehensive picking this one up but I am glad I did. Here and Gone 's plot was predictable, but nevertheless juicy! It reminded me of an episode of Law and Order: SVU and I believe that if you're looking for a quick read, this is your book. If you're an avid thriller reader, this story might be a little unsurprising for you, but it will definitely hold your attention.

Disclaimer: The subject matter of this book is highly controversial and dark. If you cannot stomach watching shows like Law and Order: SVU or Taken - I highly suggest you give this book to a friend who may be interested instead.
]]> Incarnate 32620334
Brilliant psychiatric resident Dr. Kim Patterson has one major she is too committed to her patients. Her willingness to break the rules and use unconventional methods to help her patients heal has already gotten her thrown out of several hospitals. And when Scarlett Hascall is brought into the psychiatric ward, Kim can’t resist getting involved, even if it means breaking protocol—because Kim can see what the other doctors cannot. Scarlett is suffering from a rare Dissociative Identity Disorder, otherwise known as Multiple Personalities.

But even Kim is at a loss when she realizes that some of Scarlett’s alternate identities are claiming to be people who have gone missing from their town. And when Scarlett’s alter identity “Izzi” knows way too much about the whereabouts of the missing Isabel Wilcox, the police begin to suspect that Scarlett may have been involved with Isabel’s disappearance. Only Kim defends Scarlett, certain of the girl’s innocence. But her new theory is a radical one, one she can hardly believe What if Kim is channeling the troubled souls of these victims?

With the help of local police officer Zack Trainor, Kim digs further into Isabel’s case, trying to find proof that Scarlett wasn’t involved. The more they discover, the more it becomes apparent that something strange and frightening is going on with Scarlett. Is it possible she is truly harboring lost souls? Or is Scarlett playing a twisted game with her doctors and the police?]]> 343 Josh Stolberg 1501136577 Dennis 4
Josh Stolberg's Incarnate is a bone chilling, modern-day concoction of The X-Files meets M. Night Shyamalan's Split. Seriously guys, this book is so original though, it really engaged me from the prologue until the very end. Incarnate takes place in a rural town in Alaska, where Dr. Kim Patterson resides over a stringent hospital. One day, a nineteen year old woman named Scarlett Hascall enters the psychiatric ward of the same hospital Kim works in, and Kim cannot help but get herself involved from the get-go. All evidence points Scarlett as a cold-blooded killer, but how come she can't remember if she is innocent or not? Kim ends up deducting that Scarlett could possibly suffer from dissociative identity disorder, but are her alternate identities benevolent or is there something darker here? Everyone is stumped as they realize that Scarlett's alternate identities also identically relate to people who are turning up missing in town. What is Scarlett up to and can they find out before anyone else gets hurt?

Incarnate is a read that was so unexpected for me, as I really didn't know much about the author or the premise before getting my hands on it. Turns out, Josh Stolberg is a co-writer for the next Saw film, Jigsaw and it totally makes sense. No spoilers here, but there were moments where I had to just pause and take deep breaths because I was so engaged that I ended up feeling what the characters were going through. Ugh, my pinkies still feel weird any time I think about one of the chapters. <--- is that a spoiler? Psshhh... Perfect Halloween read for October. I hope this ends up becoming a series.]]> 3.72 2017 Incarnate
author: Josh Stolberg
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/10/19
date added: 2017/11/21
shelves: supernatural, crime-fiction, thriller, 2017-read, detective
review:
A solid 4 stars!

Josh Stolberg's Incarnate is a bone chilling, modern-day concoction of The X-Files meets M. Night Shyamalan's Split. Seriously guys, this book is so original though, it really engaged me from the prologue until the very end. Incarnate takes place in a rural town in Alaska, where Dr. Kim Patterson resides over a stringent hospital. One day, a nineteen year old woman named Scarlett Hascall enters the psychiatric ward of the same hospital Kim works in, and Kim cannot help but get herself involved from the get-go. All evidence points Scarlett as a cold-blooded killer, but how come she can't remember if she is innocent or not? Kim ends up deducting that Scarlett could possibly suffer from dissociative identity disorder, but are her alternate identities benevolent or is there something darker here? Everyone is stumped as they realize that Scarlett's alternate identities also identically relate to people who are turning up missing in town. What is Scarlett up to and can they find out before anyone else gets hurt?

Incarnate is a read that was so unexpected for me, as I really didn't know much about the author or the premise before getting my hands on it. Turns out, Josh Stolberg is a co-writer for the next Saw film, Jigsaw and it totally makes sense. No spoilers here, but there were moments where I had to just pause and take deep breaths because I was so engaged that I ended up feeling what the characters were going through. Ugh, my pinkies still feel weird any time I think about one of the chapters. <--- is that a spoiler? Psshhh... Perfect Halloween read for October. I hope this ends up becoming a series.
]]> Our Little Secret 33305530 In a Dark, Dark Wood and All the Missing Girls comes Our Little Secret, a compulsive and thrilling debut about a missing woman, a tangled love triangle, the secrets we keep and the secrets we share.

The detective wants to know what happened to Saskia, as if I could just skip to the ending and all would be well. But stories begin at the beginning and some secrets have to be earned.

Angela is being held in a police interrogation room. Her ex’s wife has gone missing and Detective Novak is sure Angela knows something, despite her claim that she’s not involved.

At Novak’s prodding, Angela tells a story going back ten years, explaining how she met and fell in love with her high school friend HP. But as her past unfolds, she reveals a disconcerting love triangle and a dark, tangled web of betrayals. Is Angela a scorned ex-lover with criminal intent? Or a pawn in someone else’s revenge scheme? Who is she protecting? And why?

Twisty and suspenseful, Our Little Secret is an intense cat-and-mouse game and a riveting thriller about the lies we tell others—and ourselves.]]> 228 Roz Nay 1501142801 Dennis 5 Our Little Secret is a delectably dark and twisted thriller that I am now obsessed with! Right from the very beginning, you meet the main deck of characters that will come into play here, with the protagonist Angela Petitjean being pulled in by Detective Novak for questioning. Detective Novak is seeking answers to the disappearance to Saskia Parker, but Angela is confused as to why they are keeping her in interrogation. Angela is just leaving out one piece of the puzzle, Saskia is her ex's wife. As things start to unravel, Angela starts letting Detective Novak (and us) in on the past she had with her ex, HP, and how Saskia and HP became a couple and back into Angela's life.

I seriously loved Our Little Secret so much! At 228 pages, it is a quick fast read (read it within a day) that I recommend anyone to pick up if they have a lazy day, beach day, or just want to relax after work. The story is very engaging from start to finish, and leads you to many different possibilities, with an ultimately shocking end. The book is a light read in a sense that it doesn't really dig too deep, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you're in the mood for. Luckily for me, it's exacting what I wanted. I really loved hearing about Angela's backstory with HP and it made my heart skip a beat or two thinking of what a beautiful romance they shared before things hit the fan. With an unreliable(?) narrator, characters with dark secrets, and a deeply sinister and depressing storyline, it proves that everyone has a past, and some just can't get passed it. ]]> 3.64 2017 Our Little Secret
author: Roz Nay
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/10/30
date added: 2017/11/20
shelves: mystery, psychological-thriller, 2017-read, 2018-pub
review:
Roz Nay's Our Little Secret is a delectably dark and twisted thriller that I am now obsessed with! Right from the very beginning, you meet the main deck of characters that will come into play here, with the protagonist Angela Petitjean being pulled in by Detective Novak for questioning. Detective Novak is seeking answers to the disappearance to Saskia Parker, but Angela is confused as to why they are keeping her in interrogation. Angela is just leaving out one piece of the puzzle, Saskia is her ex's wife. As things start to unravel, Angela starts letting Detective Novak (and us) in on the past she had with her ex, HP, and how Saskia and HP became a couple and back into Angela's life.

I seriously loved Our Little Secret so much! At 228 pages, it is a quick fast read (read it within a day) that I recommend anyone to pick up if they have a lazy day, beach day, or just want to relax after work. The story is very engaging from start to finish, and leads you to many different possibilities, with an ultimately shocking end. The book is a light read in a sense that it doesn't really dig too deep, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what you're in the mood for. Luckily for me, it's exacting what I wanted. I really loved hearing about Angela's backstory with HP and it made my heart skip a beat or two thinking of what a beautiful romance they shared before things hit the fan. With an unreliable(?) narrator, characters with dark secrets, and a deeply sinister and depressing storyline, it proves that everyone has a past, and some just can't get passed it.
]]> <![CDATA[Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)]]> 9969571 Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found here

IN THE YEAR 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.

But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.]]> 480 Ernest Cline 030788743X Dennis 5 dystopian, sci-fi, 2017-read
Ready Player One was the ride of a lifetime! Ernest Cline's soon-to-be-released-as-a-movie dystopian futuristic novel is immersive like no other book that I've ever picked up. It pulls you into a totally new (but very realistic and sadly possible) future world where we meet teenager Wade Watts, a poverty-stricken kid who lives with his aunt in the "stacks" - trailer homes built on top of each other like towers. Wade informs us immediately that it is 2044 and the world has basically gone massively downhill over time. First the Great Recession of 2008 had never ended, then the energy crisis/shortage causes mass hysteria, wars between countries have erupted all over the world (we get hints that the War in Afghanistan is still ongoing) and lastly disruptive climate change has destroyed the natural habitat of the world. Many people are destitute, living in hotel rooms (if they're lucky), while many are homeless and need help from government subsidies. Wade also introduces us to OASIS - Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation, which is an interactive world that people can dive into with their avatars. Think the matrix, but wayyyyyyyyyy cooler. Wade spends most of his time in OASIS; school, avoiding his drug addicted abusive aunt, and trying to find the creater of OASIS, James Halliday's fortune. Mr. Halliday has passed away, leaving his fortune hidden in the game, letting one lucky winner have the possibility of becoming a multi-billionaire! Problem is, corporate conglomerate IOI - Innovative Online Industries is after the fortune too, and they're at a complete advantage because they have the money, power, and influence over modern-day society. In 2044, little hope is promised, but Wade is up for the challenge.

I've been sitting on Ready Player One now for months and kept making excuses on why I should hold off on reading this. I saw a commercial for the movie on a YouTube ad and figured, ugh why not pick it up now so I can complain about how poorly the movie was made, right?! Well, I am so glad I did because I was completely hooked into the story and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I just needed to figure out what was going to happen, who was going to win, and if Wade was going to get the girl! Ready Player One invites you to an ingeniously creative world that is also magnificently written. I was legitimately like a kid in a candy store while reading this book. USA Today calls this "Enchanting...Willy Wonka meets the Matrix." and they hit the nail on the head with this one. I urge you all, please pick this one up before the movie comes out!]]> 4.21 2011 Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)
author: Ernest Cline
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2017/11/03
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: dystopian, sci-fi, 2017-read
review:
5/5 stars!!!

Ready Player One was the ride of a lifetime! Ernest Cline's soon-to-be-released-as-a-movie dystopian futuristic novel is immersive like no other book that I've ever picked up. It pulls you into a totally new (but very realistic and sadly possible) future world where we meet teenager Wade Watts, a poverty-stricken kid who lives with his aunt in the "stacks" - trailer homes built on top of each other like towers. Wade informs us immediately that it is 2044 and the world has basically gone massively downhill over time. First the Great Recession of 2008 had never ended, then the energy crisis/shortage causes mass hysteria, wars between countries have erupted all over the world (we get hints that the War in Afghanistan is still ongoing) and lastly disruptive climate change has destroyed the natural habitat of the world. Many people are destitute, living in hotel rooms (if they're lucky), while many are homeless and need help from government subsidies. Wade also introduces us to OASIS - Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation, which is an interactive world that people can dive into with their avatars. Think the matrix, but wayyyyyyyyyy cooler. Wade spends most of his time in OASIS; school, avoiding his drug addicted abusive aunt, and trying to find the creater of OASIS, James Halliday's fortune. Mr. Halliday has passed away, leaving his fortune hidden in the game, letting one lucky winner have the possibility of becoming a multi-billionaire! Problem is, corporate conglomerate IOI - Innovative Online Industries is after the fortune too, and they're at a complete advantage because they have the money, power, and influence over modern-day society. In 2044, little hope is promised, but Wade is up for the challenge.

I've been sitting on Ready Player One now for months and kept making excuses on why I should hold off on reading this. I saw a commercial for the movie on a YouTube ad and figured, ugh why not pick it up now so I can complain about how poorly the movie was made, right?! Well, I am so glad I did because I was completely hooked into the story and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I just needed to figure out what was going to happen, who was going to win, and if Wade was going to get the girl! Ready Player One invites you to an ingeniously creative world that is also magnificently written. I was legitimately like a kid in a candy store while reading this book. USA Today calls this "Enchanting...Willy Wonka meets the Matrix." and they hit the nail on the head with this one. I urge you all, please pick this one up before the movie comes out!
]]> The End We Start From 32991198
Written with poise and poeticism, The End We Start From is an indelible and elemental first book—a lyrical vision of the strangeness and beauty of new motherhood, and a portentous tale of endurance in the face of ungovernable change.

"The End We Start From is strange and powerful, and very apt for these uncertain times. I was moved, terrified, uplifted – sometimes all three at once. It takes skill to manage that, and Hunter has a poet’s understanding of how to make each word count.”—Tracy Chevalier]]> 136 Megan Hunter 0802126898 Dennis 3 dystopian, 2017-read The End We Start From is a truly beautiful poetic framework of an eerily possible future that we all should consider. The story starts off with a woman in the hospital about to give labor, nervous about what the news keeps reporting as an impending disaster brewing. Several days later, she has to evacuate with her husband and son to safer grounds. The story vividly portrays the couple seeking refuge, while trying to remain safe and protecting their family. The creepiness factor of this possibly happening is not lost on me here.

The End We Start From can best be described as a bare bones distant cousin to Station Eleven, illuminating a dystopian society beautifully, as the words come across as art. Megan Hunter accurately portrays human emotion in dealing with conflict and natural uprising in times of adversity. This story is relatively short and can be finished in one sitting. If you need a quick read for your daily commute, lunch break, or cardio session; this one could be a contender for you.

Thank you Grove Atlantic/Grove Press for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. It was a pleasure.]]> 3.41 2017 The End We Start From
author: Megan Hunter
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.41
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2017/10/26
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: dystopian, 2017-read
review:
Megan Hunter's The End We Start From is a truly beautiful poetic framework of an eerily possible future that we all should consider. The story starts off with a woman in the hospital about to give labor, nervous about what the news keeps reporting as an impending disaster brewing. Several days later, she has to evacuate with her husband and son to safer grounds. The story vividly portrays the couple seeking refuge, while trying to remain safe and protecting their family. The creepiness factor of this possibly happening is not lost on me here.

The End We Start From can best be described as a bare bones distant cousin to Station Eleven, illuminating a dystopian society beautifully, as the words come across as art. Megan Hunter accurately portrays human emotion in dealing with conflict and natural uprising in times of adversity. This story is relatively short and can be finished in one sitting. If you need a quick read for your daily commute, lunch break, or cardio session; this one could be a contender for you.

Thank you Grove Atlantic/Grove Press for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. It was a pleasure.
]]> Bring Her Home 32766484 In the breathtaking new thriller from David Bell, bestselling author of Since She Went Away and Somebody I Used to Know, the fate of two missing teenage girls becomes a father's worst nightmare....

Just a year and a half after the tragic death of his wife, Bill Price's fifteen-year-old daughter, Summer, and her best friend, Haley, disappear. Days later, the girls are found in a city park. Haley is dead at the scene, while Summer is left beaten beyond recognition and clinging to life.

As Bill holds vigil over Summer's bandaged body, the only sound the unconscious girl can make is one cryptic and chilling word: No. And the more time Bill spends with Summer, the more he wonders what happened to her. Or if the injured girl in the hospital bed is really his daughter at all.

When troubling new questions about Summer's life surface, Bill is not prepared for the aftershocks. He'll soon discover that both the living and the dead have secrets. And that searching for the truth will tear open old wounds that pierce straight to the heart of his family...

READERS GUIDE INCLUDED]]> 434 David Bell 0399584447 Dennis 4
Bring Her Home by David Bell is an action packed thriller that can be described as being locked stuck in a speeding car, without being given the access to get out! Holy cow, what the hell did I just read? The story takes place with Bill Price, a middle-aged widower running to the hospital after finding out that his daughter Summer is in the emergency room after being severely attacked by a random person. As time progresses, everyone becomes suspect to Bill. Things at the hospital start unraveling at the seams, forcing the police force and the town to continue venturing in different directions. What happened to Summer? What are the motives of this/these horrible human being/s? And why haven't they found the culprit/s?! Who's next and why?

Bring Her Home is such a page turner that you can easily run through this book at an exponential pace. It started off insanely strong and carried some amazing, unforeseen twists and turns along the way, but sort of lulled in the middle. It kept me on the edge of my seat begging for more. I literally wanted to telepath into the book and hug Bill Price and make sure he was ok, which kind of makes me feel like I need a better social life, but also made me realize that I have never sympathized with a protagonist as much as I have with Bill. I really can't divulge more of the story without ruining anything so please take my word for it if you are looking for a new thriller to read while drinking coffee or on your lunch break. David Bell, you have a new fan in me! ]]> 3.78 2017 Bring Her Home
author: David Bell
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/10/26
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: crime-fiction, mystery, thriller, 2017-read
review:
I'm torn between 3.5 stars and 4 stars so I'm rounding up.

Bring Her Home by David Bell is an action packed thriller that can be described as being locked stuck in a speeding car, without being given the access to get out! Holy cow, what the hell did I just read? The story takes place with Bill Price, a middle-aged widower running to the hospital after finding out that his daughter Summer is in the emergency room after being severely attacked by a random person. As time progresses, everyone becomes suspect to Bill. Things at the hospital start unraveling at the seams, forcing the police force and the town to continue venturing in different directions. What happened to Summer? What are the motives of this/these horrible human being/s? And why haven't they found the culprit/s?! Who's next and why?

Bring Her Home is such a page turner that you can easily run through this book at an exponential pace. It started off insanely strong and carried some amazing, unforeseen twists and turns along the way, but sort of lulled in the middle. It kept me on the edge of my seat begging for more. I literally wanted to telepath into the book and hug Bill Price and make sure he was ok, which kind of makes me feel like I need a better social life, but also made me realize that I have never sympathized with a protagonist as much as I have with Bill. I really can't divulge more of the story without ruining anything so please take my word for it if you are looking for a new thriller to read while drinking coffee or on your lunch break. David Bell, you have a new fan in me!
]]> He Said/She Said 31393997 Don't be left in the dark.

In the hushed aftermath of a total eclipse, Laura witnesses a brutal attack. She and her boyfriend Kit call the police, and in that moment, four lives change forever.

Fifteen years on, Laura and Kit live in fear.

And while Laura knows she was right to speak out, she also knows that you can never see the whole something is always hidden . . . something she never could have guessed.]]> 416 Erin Kelly 1444797174 Dennis 4
Erin Kelly's He Said/She Said creeped me out to my core! After arriving to a festival for eclipse chasers (which I just found out recently was a thing), Laura and her boyfriend Kit witness a violent attack. After calling the police, the couple is immersed in a highly publicized court case and stand to provide testimony that could irrevocably change a person's life. Laura ends up getting herself more involved in the case than she should be, permanently lodging herself within the framework of the case permanently. Years pass and Laura and Kit are still completely unhinged due to the aftermath of this situation. Their lives are being lived with a shadowy eye always watching. How did they get to this point?

He Said/She Said is a brilliantly written mystery novel for anyone who wants to be left speechless after being tricked by Ms. Erin Kelly's plot twists and turns. As the synopsis says, you may think you know, but you can never see the whole picture. Ms. Kelly takes that theme and runs with it throughout the novel, taking the storyline and turning it on its head. This is a slowburn with a lot of exposition, which definitely provides you a link to the backstories of these characters. The story provides alternate POVs, but with unreliable narrators (which I love), don't be too sure you know what's happening until you gather your thoughts based on both POVs. Not everything is what it seems.
]]> 3.84 2017 He Said/She Said
author: Erin Kelly
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/10/16
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: psychological-thriller, thriller, 2017-read
review:
I'm torn between 3.5 stars and 4 stars with this one so I'll round up.

Erin Kelly's He Said/She Said creeped me out to my core! After arriving to a festival for eclipse chasers (which I just found out recently was a thing), Laura and her boyfriend Kit witness a violent attack. After calling the police, the couple is immersed in a highly publicized court case and stand to provide testimony that could irrevocably change a person's life. Laura ends up getting herself more involved in the case than she should be, permanently lodging herself within the framework of the case permanently. Years pass and Laura and Kit are still completely unhinged due to the aftermath of this situation. Their lives are being lived with a shadowy eye always watching. How did they get to this point?

He Said/She Said is a brilliantly written mystery novel for anyone who wants to be left speechless after being tricked by Ms. Erin Kelly's plot twists and turns. As the synopsis says, you may think you know, but you can never see the whole picture. Ms. Kelly takes that theme and runs with it throughout the novel, taking the storyline and turning it on its head. This is a slowburn with a lot of exposition, which definitely provides you a link to the backstories of these characters. The story provides alternate POVs, but with unreliable narrators (which I love), don't be too sure you know what's happening until you gather your thoughts based on both POVs. Not everything is what it seems.

]]> Don't Close Your Eyes 32768286 A gripping novel of psychological suspense centered on two sisters whose lives have taken them apart, and the shocking family secrets that bind them together.

Twin sisters Robin and Sarah haven’t spoken in years.

Robin can’t leave her house. A complete shut-in, she spends her days spying on her neighbors, subtly meddling in their lives. But she can’t keep her demons out forever. Someone from her past has returned, and is desperate to get inside.

Sarah can’t go home. Her husband has kicked her out, forcibly denying her access to their toddler. Sarah will do anything to get her daughter back, but she’s unraveling under the mounting pressure of concealing the dark secrets of her past. And her lies are catching up to her.

The novel takes readers back in time to witness the complex family dynamics that formed Robin and Sarah into the emotionally damaged, estranged young women they’ve become. As the gripping and intricate layers of their shared past are slowly peeled away, the shocks and twists will keep readers breathless long after the final page.]]> 336 Holly Seddon 1101885890 Dennis 3 Don't Close Your Eyes is a story about sisterhood, about love and acceptance, and about the struggles of family dynamics. Robin and Sarah Marshall are twin sisters who haven't seen each other in years. Robin suffers from agoraphobia, keeping herself locked away, people watching, and somewhat instigating drama in her neighbors lives. Sarah on the other hand, is dealing with relationship problems with her family. She has been kicked out and excommunicated from both her husband and her daughter, Violet. Sarah is desperately trying to find her sister, but cannot seem to get in contact with her. Sarah's secrets and lies are catching up to her, and Robin is the only person in her life that can help her. As the story unfolds, both women begin to unravel, showing their vulnerabilities and the damage that the past has done to them. What are they hiding that is affecting both of them so much, and why?

Don't Close Your Eyes is one of those books that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story predominately features twin sisters, Sarah and Robin Marshall, but also beautifully characterizes the supporting characters as well. The story is written with two POVs, each being one of the sisters. It is an extremely slow burn so it can get be of mundane in the beginning, but as the pages kept turning, small pockets of new information regarding the story kept unfolding and pulling me back in. Honestly, both sisters really pissed me off and weren't really likable, which is fine because (in my opinion) if you love/like to hate a character, it still locks you into the story. I really enjoyed the secondary characters more than Robin and Sarah, so I got really hooked when we started learning more about them. The story is not really a thriller but a mystery that provides snippets of new information while continuing to move the story along. I wish that it was a little more fast-paced because it really didn't thoroughly engage me until 75% of the story was over. Don't Close Your Eyes jumps between the present and the early '90s while they were growing up, and honestly their past was more enjoyable and binge-worthy than the present. If you're looking for a book to enjoy during your lunch break, or while having a coffee, look no further because this is your book!]]> 3.69 2017 Don't Close Your Eyes
author: Holly Seddon
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2017/10/06
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: thriller, slow-burn, 2017-read
review:
Don't Close Your Eyes is a story about sisterhood, about love and acceptance, and about the struggles of family dynamics. Robin and Sarah Marshall are twin sisters who haven't seen each other in years. Robin suffers from agoraphobia, keeping herself locked away, people watching, and somewhat instigating drama in her neighbors lives. Sarah on the other hand, is dealing with relationship problems with her family. She has been kicked out and excommunicated from both her husband and her daughter, Violet. Sarah is desperately trying to find her sister, but cannot seem to get in contact with her. Sarah's secrets and lies are catching up to her, and Robin is the only person in her life that can help her. As the story unfolds, both women begin to unravel, showing their vulnerabilities and the damage that the past has done to them. What are they hiding that is affecting both of them so much, and why?

Don't Close Your Eyes is one of those books that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The story predominately features twin sisters, Sarah and Robin Marshall, but also beautifully characterizes the supporting characters as well. The story is written with two POVs, each being one of the sisters. It is an extremely slow burn so it can get be of mundane in the beginning, but as the pages kept turning, small pockets of new information regarding the story kept unfolding and pulling me back in. Honestly, both sisters really pissed me off and weren't really likable, which is fine because (in my opinion) if you love/like to hate a character, it still locks you into the story. I really enjoyed the secondary characters more than Robin and Sarah, so I got really hooked when we started learning more about them. The story is not really a thriller but a mystery that provides snippets of new information while continuing to move the story along. I wish that it was a little more fast-paced because it really didn't thoroughly engage me until 75% of the story was over. Don't Close Your Eyes jumps between the present and the early '90s while they were growing up, and honestly their past was more enjoyable and binge-worthy than the present. If you're looking for a book to enjoy during your lunch break, or while having a coffee, look no further because this is your book!
]]> Environmentally Friendly 29740508
Out of all the criminals in Los Angeles, he's the number one target being hunted by the LAPD tonight.

And out of the entire LAPD, one officer is hell-bent on helping him complete his mission.]]> 19 Elias Zanbaka Dennis 4 short-story, 2017-read Environmentally Friendly is a quick, fast-paced, enjoyable read. As the story unfolds, it basically becomes a war between a "target" (the criminal) and one of the police offers in the LAPD. It's beautifully written and kept me on edge throughout - which is interesting as it is only 19 pages. I can't give you more information on the plot than that or else it will ruin the story's twist that I completely didn't pick up on! I can see this being the introduction to a bigger story in the near future (wishful thinking) and if it ends up becoming one, I would really enjoy reading it.

Thank you to Elias Zanbaka for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. I love supporting self-published authors! ]]> 3.56 2016 Environmentally Friendly
author: Elias Zanbaka
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2017/09/25
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: short-story, 2017-read
review:
Environmentally Friendly is a quick, fast-paced, enjoyable read. As the story unfolds, it basically becomes a war between a "target" (the criminal) and one of the police offers in the LAPD. It's beautifully written and kept me on edge throughout - which is interesting as it is only 19 pages. I can't give you more information on the plot than that or else it will ruin the story's twist that I completely didn't pick up on! I can see this being the introduction to a bigger story in the near future (wishful thinking) and if it ends up becoming one, I would really enjoy reading it.

Thank you to Elias Zanbaka for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. I love supporting self-published authors!
]]> Lie to Me 33258453 They built a life on lies

Sutton and Ethan Montclair's idyllic life is not as it appears. They seem made for each other, but the truth is ugly. Consumed by professional and personal betrayals and financial woes, the two both love and hate each other. As tensions mount, Sutton disappears, leaving behind a note saying not to look for her.

Ethan finds himself the target of vicious gossip as friends, family and the media speculate on what really happened to Sutton Montclair. As the police investigate, the lies the couple have been spinning for years quickly unravel. Is Ethan a killer? Is he being set up? Did Sutton hate him enough to kill the child she never wanted and then herself? The path to the answers is full of twists that will leave the reader breathless.]]> 413 J.T. Ellison 0778330958 Dennis 5 Captivating, spellbinding, and a whirlwind of chaos. Those are the first things that pop into my head after reading J.T. Ellison's Lie to Me . Seriously, one of the best books I've read this year! Lie to Me sets the stage with Ethan and Sutton Montclair residing in their home in Franklin, Tennessee. Ethan finds a note from his beloved wife basically telling him she's left him and to not look for her. Confused, desperate, and unsure, Ethan begins a search of his own. As the police investigate, lies begin to unravel and secrets begin to be uncovered. Someone's lying, but who?

This was my first book by J.T. Ellison and it will definitely not be my last. I just want to note that I am soooo happy that Mira Books did not compare this to Gone Girl. However, this book kept me guessing until almost the very end. I really encourage you to pick this one up if you are looking for something original, but sinister. ]]> 3.75 2017 Lie to Me
author: J.T. Ellison
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/09/21
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: favorites, crime-fiction, thriller, suspense, whodunnit, domestic-thriller, 2017-read
review:
Captivating, spellbinding, and a whirlwind of chaos. Those are the first things that pop into my head after reading J.T. Ellison's Lie to Me . Seriously, one of the best books I've read this year! Lie to Me sets the stage with Ethan and Sutton Montclair residing in their home in Franklin, Tennessee. Ethan finds a note from his beloved wife basically telling him she's left him and to not look for her. Confused, desperate, and unsure, Ethan begins a search of his own. As the police investigate, lies begin to unravel and secrets begin to be uncovered. Someone's lying, but who?

This was my first book by J.T. Ellison and it will definitely not be my last. I just want to note that I am soooo happy that Mira Books did not compare this to Gone Girl. However, this book kept me guessing until almost the very end. I really encourage you to pick this one up if you are looking for something original, but sinister.
]]> What Happened 34138013 “In the past, for reasons I try to explain, I’ve often felt I had to be careful in public, like I was up on a wire without a net. Now I’m letting my guard down.” —Hillary Rodham Clinton, from the introduction of What Happened

For the first time, Hillary Rodham Clinton reveals what she was thinking and feeling during one of the most controversial and unpredictable presidential elections in history. Now free from the constraints of running, Hillary takes you inside the intense personal experience of becoming the first woman nominated for president by a major party in an election marked by rage, sexism, exhilarating highs and infuriating lows, stranger-than-fiction twists, Russian interference, and an opponent who broke all the rules. This is her most personal memoir yet.

In these pages, she describes what it was like to run against Donald Trump, the mistakes she made, how she has coped with a shocking and devastating loss, and how she found the strength to pick herself back up afterward. With humor and candor, she tells readers what it took to get back on her feet—the rituals, relationships, and reading that got her through, and what the experience has taught her about life. She speaks about the challenges of being a strong woman in the public eye, the criticism over her voice, age, and appearance, and the double standard confronting women in politics.

She lays out how the 2016 election was marked by an unprecedented assault on our democracy by a foreign adversary. By analyzing the evidence and connecting the dots, Hillary shows just how dangerous the forces are that shaped the outcome, and why Americans need to understand them to protect our values and our democracy in the future.

The election of 2016 was unprecedented and historic. What Happened is the story of that campaign and its aftermath—both a deeply intimate account and a cautionary tale for the nation.]]> 494 Hillary Rodham Clinton 1501175564 Dennis 5 “When I sat with Putin in meetings, he looked more like one of those guys on the subway who imperiously spread their legs wide, encroaching on everyone else’s space, as if to say, ‘I take what I want,’ and ‘I have so little respect for you that I’m going to act like I’m lounging at home in my bathrobe.’ They call it ‘manspreading.’ That was Putin.” LOL sorry but this is hilariously accurate.

Hillary Rodham Clinton's What Happened is a brilliantly written, deeply honest, humbling account of her upbringing, family life, and of course - her 2016 run for President. I will keep my review short and as objective as possible, as I do not want to be attacked by trolls (which is also covered explicitly in an entire section of this memoir), nor do I want my review to be baiting to anyone politically. Coming into this with an open mind, Hillary takes accountability for her mishaps in the election; how the media and the press, along with Russian intelligence and Wikileaks helped shape Donald Trump into being the 45th President of the United States. I thoroughly enjoyed Hillary's candor in regards to how they campaigned in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. She also dives into the Flint, Michigan water crisis and other varying social controversies taking place in modern day America. I thoroughly enjoyed that the book was broken up into distinct sections, where for the most part could be read at its own pace, and not consecutively. It was refreshing to see her own up to campaign oversights while also being vulnerable like a normal human being. The media has portrayed her to be robotic and unsympathetic to the average American. After reading What Happened , they couldn't be further from the truth.]]> 3.90 2017 What Happened
author: Hillary Rodham Clinton
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/10/29
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: memoir, non-fiction, political, 2017-read
review:
“When I sat with Putin in meetings, he looked more like one of those guys on the subway who imperiously spread their legs wide, encroaching on everyone else’s space, as if to say, ‘I take what I want,’ and ‘I have so little respect for you that I’m going to act like I’m lounging at home in my bathrobe.’ They call it ‘manspreading.’ That was Putin.” LOL sorry but this is hilariously accurate.

Hillary Rodham Clinton's What Happened is a brilliantly written, deeply honest, humbling account of her upbringing, family life, and of course - her 2016 run for President. I will keep my review short and as objective as possible, as I do not want to be attacked by trolls (which is also covered explicitly in an entire section of this memoir), nor do I want my review to be baiting to anyone politically. Coming into this with an open mind, Hillary takes accountability for her mishaps in the election; how the media and the press, along with Russian intelligence and Wikileaks helped shape Donald Trump into being the 45th President of the United States. I thoroughly enjoyed Hillary's candor in regards to how they campaigned in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. She also dives into the Flint, Michigan water crisis and other varying social controversies taking place in modern day America. I thoroughly enjoyed that the book was broken up into distinct sections, where for the most part could be read at its own pace, and not consecutively. It was refreshing to see her own up to campaign oversights while also being vulnerable like a normal human being. The media has portrayed her to be robotic and unsympathetic to the average American. After reading What Happened , they couldn't be further from the truth.
]]> Dead Woman Walking 33602123 Dead Woman Walking, from master of suspense Sharon Bolton, the sole survivor of a hot-air balloon crash witnesses a murder as the balloon is falling.

Just before dawn in the hills near the Scottish border, a man murders a young woman. At the same time, a hot-air balloon crashes out of the sky. There's just one survivor. She's seen the killer's face - but he's also seen hers. And he won't rest until he's eliminated the only witness to his crime. Alone, scared, trusting no one, she's running to where she feels safe - but it could be the most dangerous place of all...]]> 352 Sharon J. Bolton 1250103444 Dennis 5 suspense, thriller, 2017-read
Quick synopsis: Jessica Lane and her sister Isabel decide to take a hot air balloon excursion for a birthday party. While on the hot air balloon, a murder is being witnessed - and shortly after the hot air balloon crashes out of the sky. The witness and the murderer recognize each other and it becomes a cat and mouse game.

I haven't read any of Sharon Bolton's other works, but she has made me a fan! I was completely thrown for a loop and literally gasped at the turns this book took. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read a thriller and is sick of the same ole generic "gone girl" plot that's been done countless times and wants to read something fresh.

Thank you Minotaur Books for my advanced copy. ]]> 3.93 2017 Dead Woman Walking
author: Sharon J. Bolton
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/08/07
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: suspense, thriller, 2017-read
review:
Talk about a complete mind ****! Sharon Bolton, you completely had me all over the place with Dead Woman Walking. Sharon Bolton's new novel is intense, gripping, frightening, and realistic. I really can't give out any plot details, and you will thank me later.

Quick synopsis: Jessica Lane and her sister Isabel decide to take a hot air balloon excursion for a birthday party. While on the hot air balloon, a murder is being witnessed - and shortly after the hot air balloon crashes out of the sky. The witness and the murderer recognize each other and it becomes a cat and mouse game.

I haven't read any of Sharon Bolton's other works, but she has made me a fan! I was completely thrown for a loop and literally gasped at the turns this book took. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read a thriller and is sick of the same ole generic "gone girl" plot that's been done countless times and wants to read something fresh.

Thank you Minotaur Books for my advanced copy.
]]> <![CDATA[The Good Daughter (Good Daughter, #1)]]> 33199875 Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind.

Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn's happy small-town family life was torn apart by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father—Pikeville's notorious defense attorney—devastated. And it left the family fractured beyond repair, consumed by secrets from that terrible night.

Twenty-eight years later, Charlotte has followed in her father's footsteps to become a lawyer herself—the ideal good daughter. But when violence comes to Pikeville again, and a shocking tragedy leaves the whole town traumatized, Charlotte is plunged into a nightmare. Not only is she the first witness on the scene, but it's a case that unleashes the terrible memories she's spent so long trying to suppress--because the shocking truth about the crime that destroyed her family nearly thirty years ago won't stay buried forever. Packed with twists and turns, brimming with emotion and heart, The Good Daughter is fiction at its most thrilling.]]> 511 Karin Slaughter 0062430246 Dennis 5
Wow...what can I say. The Good Daughter might be one of the most intelligently written books that I've read in a long time. The story starts off in 1989 with the Quinn family in the outskirts of Atlanta, in this town called Pikeville. The father, Rusty is a defense attorney in a seemingly very conservative neighborhood; defending criminals who most would turn the other way without a second glance. Without getting into anything spoilerific (made up word), the family drastically changes for the worse after an attack at their home. Rusty's two daughters, Sam and Charlotte now have to deal with the repercussions of what happened for the rest of their lives. It isn't until there's another violent crime 28 years later, that the Quinn family has to re-open their old wounds. See, I can make reviews vague...

I thought that Karin Slaughter's The Good Daughter was an exceptional read, with beautifully written characters. I felt like I knew these people...these people who aren't just one dimensional words written on a page. The research done by Slaughter for The Good Daughter is smart, on-point, and unpretentious. It can be a bit of a slow burn at parts, especially mid-way, but it is forgiven because the pages still easily flew by for me, without complaint. If you are teetering on whether or not to read this one, listen to me - pick this one up! You won't be disappointed.

IG: @scared_str8 ]]> 4.06 2017 The Good Daughter (Good Daughter, #1)
author: Karin Slaughter
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/08/29
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: drama, crime-fiction, slow-burn, 2017-read
review:
4.5/5 stars.

Wow...what can I say. The Good Daughter might be one of the most intelligently written books that I've read in a long time. The story starts off in 1989 with the Quinn family in the outskirts of Atlanta, in this town called Pikeville. The father, Rusty is a defense attorney in a seemingly very conservative neighborhood; defending criminals who most would turn the other way without a second glance. Without getting into anything spoilerific (made up word), the family drastically changes for the worse after an attack at their home. Rusty's two daughters, Sam and Charlotte now have to deal with the repercussions of what happened for the rest of their lives. It isn't until there's another violent crime 28 years later, that the Quinn family has to re-open their old wounds. See, I can make reviews vague...

I thought that Karin Slaughter's The Good Daughter was an exceptional read, with beautifully written characters. I felt like I knew these people...these people who aren't just one dimensional words written on a page. The research done by Slaughter for The Good Daughter is smart, on-point, and unpretentious. It can be a bit of a slow burn at parts, especially mid-way, but it is forgiven because the pages still easily flew by for me, without complaint. If you are teetering on whether or not to read this one, listen to me - pick this one up! You won't be disappointed.

IG: @scared_str8
]]> A Monster Calls 8621462
At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting - he's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It's ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth.

From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd - whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself - Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined.]]> 226 Patrick Ness 1406311529 Dennis 3 A Monster Calls is a beautifully orchestrated original story that is probably too emotionally characterized for my liking. The story takes place with thirteen year old Conor, dealing with his cancer stricken mother, his unruly grandmother, bullies who torment him at school, and a monster who arrives at his bedroom at 12:07 every night. I will keep this review short because it's a really short story that could be read within a day, in a few hours, or even a long commute. It's a very deeply emotional story that quickly dives into the pain of love, heartbreak, betrayal, and loneliness. I did feel like this read was not for me, even though the story is very moving. This should be the type of book that kids read in high school or in a creative writing class, as it's story is beautiful painted throughout the novel-from beginning to end. Maybe I'm a little too much of a cold-hearted stooge for this read...]]> 4.35 2011 A Monster Calls
author: Patrick Ness
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2017/11/08
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: drama, supernatural, 2017-read
review:
A Monster Calls is a beautifully orchestrated original story that is probably too emotionally characterized for my liking. The story takes place with thirteen year old Conor, dealing with his cancer stricken mother, his unruly grandmother, bullies who torment him at school, and a monster who arrives at his bedroom at 12:07 every night. I will keep this review short because it's a really short story that could be read within a day, in a few hours, or even a long commute. It's a very deeply emotional story that quickly dives into the pain of love, heartbreak, betrayal, and loneliness. I did feel like this read was not for me, even though the story is very moving. This should be the type of book that kids read in high school or in a creative writing class, as it's story is beautiful painted throughout the novel-from beginning to end. Maybe I'm a little too much of a cold-hearted stooge for this read...
]]> The Lying Game 32895291 New York Times bestselling author of blockbuster thrillers In a Dark, Dark Wood and The Woman in Cabin 10 comes Ruth Ware’s chilling new novel.

On a cool June morning, a woman is walking her dog in the idyllic coastal village of Salten along a tidal estuary known as the Reach. Before she can stop him, the dog charges into the water to retrieve what first appears to be a wayward stick, but to her horror, turns out to be something much more sinister...

The next morning, three women in and around London—Fatima, Thea, and Isabel—receive the text they had always hoped would NEVER come, from the fourth in their formerly inseparable clique, Kate, that says only, “I need you.”

The four girls were best friends at Salten, a second rate boarding school set near the cliffs of the English Channel. Each different in their own way, the four became inseparable and were notorious for playing the Lying Game, telling lies at every turn to both fellow boarders and faculty, with varying states of serious and flippant nature that were disturbing enough to ensure that everyone steered clear of them. The myriad and complicated rules of the game are strict: no lying to each other—ever. Bail on the lie when it becomes clear it is about to be found out. But their little game had consequences, and the girls were all expelled in their final year of school under mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the school’s eccentric art teacher, Ambrose (who also happens to be Kate’s father).]]> 370 Ruth Ware 1501156004 Dennis 2 slow-burn, drama, 2017-read
I was so excited to pick up Ruth Ware's The Lying Game , as The Woman in Cabin 10 was one of my favorite reads of this year. Let me tell you right now, if you're expecting The Lying Game to be another iteration of the same story, you will be un/pleasantly surprised. I say it that way because, this story is told in a very different tone and manner than Ware's last two works so you might be caught off guard. The Lying Game starts off with Isa Wilde and her family, where she receives a text from her friend Kate - "I need you." - Immediately, Isa packs up and heads back to Salten, a boarding school set by the English Channel, where Kate resides by. June meets up with Kate and her other high school best friends Fatima and Thea to uncover mysteries surrounding their time at Salten, and reveal the truths about the effects of their dangerous game that they played; the lying game. As the story unfolds, the reader learns a lot about each character without it going too deep into non-relevant characterizations. The best part about this book is the feeling of girl power that I got while reading. I think it'll serve a nice purpose in that aspect.

The Lying Game is more of a teen drama than a thriller or mystery to me and it was too much of a slow burn for me to actually enjoy that much. It's not to say that you won't enjoy it, because I can tend to be stuck in my own mindset of what I enjoy with books. Ruth Ware's writing is one of the many reasons why she can slap me in the face, and I'd keep coming back for more. I will be back for the next Ruth Ware novel!

]]> 3.51 2017 The Lying Game
author: Ruth Ware
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.51
book published: 2017
rating: 2
read at: 2017/09/27
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: slow-burn, drama, 2017-read
review:
2.5 stars

I was so excited to pick up Ruth Ware's The Lying Game , as The Woman in Cabin 10 was one of my favorite reads of this year. Let me tell you right now, if you're expecting The Lying Game to be another iteration of the same story, you will be un/pleasantly surprised. I say it that way because, this story is told in a very different tone and manner than Ware's last two works so you might be caught off guard. The Lying Game starts off with Isa Wilde and her family, where she receives a text from her friend Kate - "I need you." - Immediately, Isa packs up and heads back to Salten, a boarding school set by the English Channel, where Kate resides by. June meets up with Kate and her other high school best friends Fatima and Thea to uncover mysteries surrounding their time at Salten, and reveal the truths about the effects of their dangerous game that they played; the lying game. As the story unfolds, the reader learns a lot about each character without it going too deep into non-relevant characterizations. The best part about this book is the feeling of girl power that I got while reading. I think it'll serve a nice purpose in that aspect.

The Lying Game is more of a teen drama than a thriller or mystery to me and it was too much of a slow burn for me to actually enjoy that much. It's not to say that you won't enjoy it, because I can tend to be stuck in my own mindset of what I enjoy with books. Ruth Ware's writing is one of the many reasons why she can slap me in the face, and I'd keep coming back for more. I will be back for the next Ruth Ware novel!


]]> Station Eleven 20170404 An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse—the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.

Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.]]> 333 Emily St. John Mandel 0385353308 Dennis 4 drama, dystopian, 2017-read 4.05 2014 Station Eleven
author: Emily St. John Mandel
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2017/08/12
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: drama, dystopian, 2017-read
review:
What a heartbreaking, thought-provoking read! The book showcases the 'before and after' effects of a world-wide pandemic, but the real story is the showcase of loss, family, and perseverance. I have never been more emotionally affected by a book before. It really makes me think of what I currently take advantage of and what I should appreciate more. Definitely recommend.
]]> The Silent Wife 16171291
Todd Gilbert and Jodie Brett are in a bad place in their relationship. They've been together for twenty-eight years, and with no children to worry about there has been little to disrupt their affluent Chicago lifestyle. But there has also been little to hold it together, and beneath the surface lie ever-widening cracks. HE is a committed cheater. SHE lives and breathes denial. HE exists in dual worlds. SHE likes to settle scores. HE decides to play for keeps. SHE has nothing left to lose. When it becomes clear that their precarious world could disintegrate at any moment, Jodie knows she stands to lose everything. It's only now she will discover just how much she's truly capable of...]]> 326 A.S.A. Harrison 0143123238 Dennis 2
Harrison does a marvelous job showing us exactly how Todd and Jodi are thinking and showing us the inner workings of their thought process and consciousness. Other than that, The Silent Wife is dreadfully slow, with little to no suspense, action, or delivery. In the beginning, I enjoyed looking as a spectator in the Gilbert's relationship woes, but by the halfway point, it became obvious that nothing was really happening with this book. You can easily skip half of each chapter, still being completely 100% looped in with the plot. The Silent Wife was a very frustrating read for me. ]]> 3.24 2013 The Silent Wife
author: A.S.A. Harrison
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.24
book published: 2013
rating: 2
read at: 2017/07/24
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: psychological-thriller, slow-burn, domestic-thriller, 2017-read
review:
"Life has a way of taking its toll on the person you thought." The Silent Wife beautifully dives into the psyche of Todd and Jodi Gilbert, a couple with common-law marriage, been together since their college days. Jodi is cold, distant, and well put together. Todd is more emotional, womanizing, and insecure. For years Jodi has allowed and excused Todd's infidelity because they had a "seemingly" perfect life. It's not until Todd decides to not come home that Jodi decides to take matters in her own hands.

Harrison does a marvelous job showing us exactly how Todd and Jodi are thinking and showing us the inner workings of their thought process and consciousness. Other than that, The Silent Wife is dreadfully slow, with little to no suspense, action, or delivery. In the beginning, I enjoyed looking as a spectator in the Gilbert's relationship woes, but by the halfway point, it became obvious that nothing was really happening with this book. You can easily skip half of each chapter, still being completely 100% looped in with the plot. The Silent Wife was a very frustrating read for me.
]]> The Twilight Wife 29562590 In this psychological suspense novel, a woman suffering from memory loss begins to wonder just how much she can trust the people who claim to love her.

Marine biologist Kyra Winthrop remembers nothing about the diving accident that left her with a complex form of memory loss. With only brief flashes of the last few years of her life, her world has narrowed to a few neighbors on the island where she lives with her devoted husband.

But when Kyra begins having visions—or are they memories?—of a rocky marriage, broken promises, and cryptic relationships with the island residents she believes to be her friends, she can’t help but wonder if her new life is all a carefully constructed lie.

As Kyra races to uncover her past, it soon becomes clear that the truth is a terrifying nightmare.]]> 295 A.J. Banner 1501152114 Dennis 4
The Twilight Life introduces the reader to Kyra and Jacob Wynthrop, and the aftermath of a scuba diving excursion gone wrong. Although a very quick and predictable (to me) read, I would definitely recommend for a night in or a day at the beach. I finished this book in a couple of hours. 👫🏝

Check out my new IG dedicated to thriller/suspense/horror aficionados @scaredsstr8 ]]> 3.55 2016 The Twilight Wife
author: A.J. Banner
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2017/07/02
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: psychological-thriller, suspense, thriller, domestic-thriller, 2017-read
review:
*Technically I'd give this book 3.5 stars but I really enjoyed it.

The Twilight Life introduces the reader to Kyra and Jacob Wynthrop, and the aftermath of a scuba diving excursion gone wrong. Although a very quick and predictable (to me) read, I would definitely recommend for a night in or a day at the beach. I finished this book in a couple of hours. 👫🏝

Check out my new IG dedicated to thriller/suspense/horror aficionados @scaredsstr8
]]> Hex (Robert Grim #1) 25533076
Welcome to Black Spring, the seemingly picturesque Hudson Valley town haunted by the Black Rock Witch, a 17th century woman whose eyes and mouth are sewn shut. Muzzled, she walks the streets and enters your homes at will. She stands next to your bed for nights on end. Everybody knows that her eyes may never be opened.

The elders of Black Spring have virtually quarantined the town by using high-tech surveillance to prevent their curse from spreading. Frustrated with being kept in lockdown, the town's teenagers decide to break their strict regulations and go viral with the haunting, but in so doing send the town spiraling into the dark, medieval practices of the past.]]> 384 Thomas Olde Heuvelt 0765378809 Dennis 4 3.69 2013 Hex (Robert Grim #1)
author: Thomas Olde Heuvelt
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2017/06/30
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: horror, supernatural, 2017-read
review:
Hex was a great and very original horror novel. I felt very engaged for about 65% of the book, but then noticed that the last 35% of the book started to become predictable and dragged out. I took away 1 star for that. The ending is a little confusing, but I think it's meant to be that. Highly recommend!
]]> Final Girls 32796253  
Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past.
 
That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa's death come to light, Quincy's life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.]]> 352 Riley Sager 1101985364 Dennis 5
Follow me on Instagram @scared_str8]]> 3.81 2017 Final Girls
author: Riley Sager
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/07/13
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: favorites, psychological-thriller, suspense, thriller, whodunnit, 2017-read
review:
I'd rate Riley Sager's debut 5 stars... it starts a little slow but throughout the story I was completely engaged. Halfway through the book everything picks up and it's a non-stop thriller with twists you wouldn't believe! I had nightmares from this book last night so it definitely did what it's supposed to. Highly recommend!

Follow me on Instagram @scared_str8
]]> And the Trees Crept In 28449150 Stay away from the woods…

When Silla and Nori arrive at their aunt’s home, it’s immediately clear that the manor is cursed. The endless creaking of the house at night and the eerie stillness of the woods surrounding them would be enough of a sign, but there are secrets too—questions that Silla can’t ignore: Why does it seem that, ever since they arrived, the trees have been creeping closer? Who is the beautiful boy who’s appeared from the woods? And who is the tall man with no eyes who Nori plays with in the basement at night… a man no one else can see?]]> 341 Dawn Kurtagich 0316298700 Dennis 3 3.55 2016 And the Trees Crept In
author: Dawn Kurtagich
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2017/06/11
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: supernatural, horror, 2017-read
review:

]]> Before the Fall 26245850
Was it by chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something more sinister at work? A storm of media attention brings Scott fame that quickly morphs into notoriety and accusations, and he scrambles to salvage truth from the wreckage. Amid trauma and chaos, the fragile relationship between Scott and the young boy grows and glows at the heart of this stunning novel, raising questions of fate, morality, and the inextricable ties that bind us together.]]> 391 Noah Hawley 1455561789 Dennis 2 3.69 2016 Before the Fall
author: Noah Hawley
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.69
book published: 2016
rating: 2
read at: 2017/06/17
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: slow-burn, thriller, 2017-read
review:

]]> The Breakdown 31450633
But since then, she’s been forgetting every little thing: where she left the car, if she took her pills, the alarm code, why she ordered a pram when she doesn’t have a baby.

The only thing she can’t forget is that woman, the woman she might have saved, and the terrible nagging guilt.

Or the silent calls she’s receiving, or the feeling that someone’s watching her…]]> 328 B.A. Paris 1250122465 Dennis 5 Behind Closed Doors and fell in love with her writing style so I was really excited to start The Breakdown as soon as it was released. Ms. Paris did not disappoint me at all! The story takes place through the eyes of the main character, Cass Anderson. As she leaves a party, she sees a woman stalled in her car on the side of the road. The next day, Cass finds out that this same woman is brutally murdered and the details become ingrained in her mind. Cass can't stop thinking about the case, while slowly forgetting details about her day-to-day. It isn't until she keeps getting silent, threatening phone calls, that Cass slowly begins to question everything. Is someone watching her, or is she going mad?

I really enjoyed The Breakdown and even more so than Behind Closed Doors. B.A.'s style of writing is in the same vein as her debut, but is definitely a much stronger and addictive read. This was definitely one of the more addictive can't-put-down reads that I've read this year. While the story was not insanely original, it was extremely compelling.

NOTE: If you're the type of person (like me) who has to check the behind the shower curtain and make sure your windows are locked after a scary movie - you will be that person while reading this book. It is c-r-e-e-p-y, in the best possible way.

]]> 3.87 2017 The Breakdown
author: B.A. Paris
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2017/08/16
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: favorites, psychological-thriller, suspense, thriller, 2017-read
review:
I recently read B.A. Paris' Behind Closed Doors and fell in love with her writing style so I was really excited to start The Breakdown as soon as it was released. Ms. Paris did not disappoint me at all! The story takes place through the eyes of the main character, Cass Anderson. As she leaves a party, she sees a woman stalled in her car on the side of the road. The next day, Cass finds out that this same woman is brutally murdered and the details become ingrained in her mind. Cass can't stop thinking about the case, while slowly forgetting details about her day-to-day. It isn't until she keeps getting silent, threatening phone calls, that Cass slowly begins to question everything. Is someone watching her, or is she going mad?

I really enjoyed The Breakdown and even more so than Behind Closed Doors. B.A.'s style of writing is in the same vein as her debut, but is definitely a much stronger and addictive read. This was definitely one of the more addictive can't-put-down reads that I've read this year. While the story was not insanely original, it was extremely compelling.

NOTE: If you're the type of person (like me) who has to check the behind the shower curtain and make sure your windows are locked after a scary movie - you will be that person while reading this book. It is c-r-e-e-p-y, in the best possible way.


]]> Behind Closed Doors 29437949
But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable.

Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows.

Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed.]]> 293 B.A. Paris 1250121000 Dennis 4 3.96 2016 Behind Closed Doors
author: B.A. Paris
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2017/06/01
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: thriller, psychological-thriller, domestic-thriller, 2017-read
review:
Very quick read, fast-paced, and enjoyable. Minus 1 star for a predictable plot and another minus 1/2 star for having a lack of depth to the characters. I would still recommend this book to anyone who wants a nice thriller to read on the beach, or someone who has a long commute. I am excited to read other novels by the author.
]]> In a Dark, Dark Wood 23346377 What should be a cozy and fun-filled weekend deep in the English countryside takes a sinister turn in Ruth Ware’s suspenseful, compulsive, and darkly twisted psychological thriller.

Sometimes the only thing to fear…is yourself.

When reclusive writer Leonora is invited to the English countryside for a weekend away, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. But as the first night falls, revelations unfold among friends old and new, an unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a haunting realization creeps in: the party is not alone in the woods.]]> 352 Ruth Ware 1846558913 Dennis 3 thriller, suspense, 2017-read 3.65 2015 In a Dark, Dark Wood
author: Ruth Ware
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2017/05/15
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: thriller, suspense, 2017-read
review:
The beginning of this book had real promise but then after the halfway mark, it ended up being very repetitive and I started noticing that I didn't care anymore about what happens. I enjoyed The Woman In Cabin 10 more and I would recommend reading that book first.
]]> <![CDATA[The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)]]> 38447
Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid's Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.]]> 311 Margaret Atwood 038549081X Dennis 4 dystopian, 2017-read 4.15 1985 The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)
author: Margaret Atwood
name: Dennis
average rating: 4.15
book published: 1985
rating: 4
read at: 2017/05/11
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: dystopian, 2017-read
review:
I did the mistake of watching the show and then reading the book. Great book, reads a little too slow for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
]]> Luckiest Girl Alive 22609317
As a teenager at the prestigious Bradley School, Ani FaNelli endured a shocking, public humiliation that left her desperate to reinvent herself. Now, with a glamorous job, expensive wardrobe, and handsome blue blood fiancé, she’s this close to living the perfect life she’s worked so hard to achieve.

But Ani has a secret.

There’s something else buried in her past that still haunts her, something private and painful that threatens to bubble to the surface and destroy everything.

With a singular voice and twists you won’t see coming, Luckiest Girl Alive explores the unbearable pressure that so many women feel to “have it all” and introduces a heroine whose sharp edges and cutthroat ambition have been protecting a scandalous truth, and a heart that's bigger than it first appears.

The question remains: will breaking her silence destroy all that she has worked for—or, will it at long last, set Ani free?]]> 338 Jessica Knoll 1476789630 Dennis 3 thriller, drama, 2017-read 3.50 2015 Luckiest Girl Alive
author: Jessica Knoll
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2017/05/05
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: thriller, drama, 2017-read
review:

]]> Dark Places 5886881
Since then, she has been drifting. But when she is contacted by a group who are convinced of Ben's innocence, Libby starts to ask questions she never dared to before. Was the voice she heard her brother's? Ben was a misfit in their small town, but was he capable of murder? Are there secrets to uncover at the family farm or is Libby deluding herself because she wants her brother back?

She begins to realise that everyone in her family had something to hide that day... especially Ben. Now, twenty-four years later, the truth is going to be even harder to find.

Who did massacre the Day family?]]> 424 Gillian Flynn 0307341569 Dennis 5 3.95 2009 Dark Places
author: Gillian Flynn
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2017/01/01
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: favorites, thriller, suspense, whodunnit, 2017-read
review:

]]> The Girl on the Train 22557272
An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found here.]]> 336 Paula Hawkins 1594633665 Dennis 5 3.97 2015 The Girl on the Train
author: Paula Hawkins
name: Dennis
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2017/01/01
date added: 2017/11/14
shelves: favorites, psychological-thriller, suspense, thriller, 2017-read
review:

]]>