Ship of Dreams by Donna Jones Alward

 

My thoughts

I read and loved When The World Fell Silent. It was so good. I grabbed this one too with the highest of expectations....

This book is set aboard the Titanic. Two friends, Hannah and Lou, along with Hannah's husband Charles boarding. Both women have secrets. Even from each other. 

Hannah is hoping to rekindle the spark between herself and Charles. Since the loss of their first baby things have been pretty much nonexistent.. She is afraid that Charles blames her or has just fallen out of love with her. She also has something very important to say to Charles. This could be lifechanging. 

Lou is a strong woman. She marches for the betterment of women's rights. For them to not be treated so harshly. She also has a secret reason for going on this trip. Not just to spend time with her very best friend but she has a secret. Also she meets a man onboard that she falls head over heels for. Though she has always said she will never marry. Her father is forcing her to marry or be totally cut off from financial support. To a man she truly despises.

The first half of this book is a little slow. Repetitive. But also filled with information that lets you know what is going on. The second half is fast and furious. So so sad too.

This story takes you aboard the Titanic and then the rescue boat the Carpathia. How nice the passengers where on the Carpathia. And so understanding. These two women, Hannah and Lou, went through so much. But they were ever vigilant to each other. After one big hiccup that is. When Hannah found out what Lou was hiding... Oh my.

I shed so many tears reading this book. It was very good. Emotional is not the word for it. It was devastatingly sad in places. 

This book has one of the best last lines I've ever read: "I'm coming. Hold on, dearest." I left off the to and from for a reason. If you read this one you should know that line and how much it meant to these two women. Best friends. Sisters.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this ARC. Beautiful story...

4 stars 

About

From the author of the internationally bestselling novel, WHEN THE WORLD FELL SILENT, comes a breathtaking tale of secrets, betrayal, and the enduring power of friendship. 

Aboard the Titanic, where opulence knows no bounds and the horizon seems limitless, two women fight for the futures they dream of, fraught with secrets that could change everything.

Hannah Martin is clinging to the hope that six days on this grand ship will heal the wounds in her marriage to Charles. Beneath her poised exterior lies a desperation to mend what was shattered and conceal a secret that could upend their lives forever.

Louisa Phillips, spirited and uncompromising, is escaping her family’s insistence on a passionless marriage. But this daring step could also sever the deepest bond in her life.

As the ‘unsinkable' ship strikes the iceberg, amidst the chaos and icy waters, lives are changed forever. In the face of impending doom, what dreams will Hannah and Lou decide are worth saving, and at what cost?

This evocative historical fiction will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, this is a poignant tale of love, choice, and survival against the odds.

Haven't Killed In Years by Amy K. Green

 My thoughts

This was truly a fun read. It was about the child of a serial killer but still enjoyable. I laughed in parts and yes cringed in others. It was a serious story in ways but also on the light side too. Hard to explain. It was just a good one for me. 

When Marin Haggerty was just nine years old she went through a lifetime of events. Her dad was a serial killer. Her mom was a bit cold and also knew what her dad was doing. Marin knew but she was a child. She had seen her dad kill. He was in many ways it seemed grooming her to follow in his footsteps. Until he got caught. With her parents in prison now, Marin was sent to a whole new life. Complete with a name change. 

Gwen Tanner is very reclusive. She goes to work. Goes to a pottery place and paints. She has very few friends. Gwen is almost thirty years old. Gwen has secrets and when body parts start showing up on her doorstep she thinks things are about to unfold. And boy are they. Gwen is in for a complete change in her life. In her friendships. In everything she thought she was keeping hidden.

You get to know these women/girls from when they were young. From a time before. There are several secondary characters to get to know but it's not hard to keep them straight. They each play a pivotal role in Gwen's life. Also in Marin's life. 

When things start coming together you get a whole new take on things. Yes this was a fun read. A serious one also. The author keeps you guessing and wanting to know more. So well written and easy to follow. I felt so bad for Marin and I truly liked Gwen. Gwen was resilient. Much more than she allowed herself to admit. 

I enjoyed reading this book. It's a page turner for sure. It's about the daughter of a serial killer and what all she goes through just to live an almost normal life after her parents are sent away.

About

No one is supposed to know harmless office worker Gwen Tanner is the vanished daughter of serial killer Abel Haggerty. But a low profile and a new name aren’t going to cut it when an obsessive new killer starts targeting her, in this lively and propulsive thriller with a standout voice.

Marin Haggerty, the daughter of a notorious serial killer, was only a child when they arrested her father. Ripped from her home and given a new identity, Marin disappeared.

Twenty years later, Gwen Tanner keeps everyone at a distance, preferring to satirize the world around her than participate in it. It’s for her safety—and theirs. But when someone starts sending body parts to her front door, the message is clear: I Know Who You Are.

To preserve her secrets, Gwen must hunt down the killer, a journey which immerses her in the twisted world of true crime fandom and makes her confront her past once and for all. Maybe she is capable of deep, human connections, but she’s not the only one keeping secrets. Will opening herself up to others help her find the killer, or remind her why it was necessary she hide her true self in the first place?

The apple never falls too far, after all.

Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester

 

My thoughts

I have to admit this is one of my favorite books. From the first page to the last. Yes it made me cringe in so many places and parts were pretty sickly. The thought of what was happening was truly sickening. Not just the things that were happening to some of the women inside themselves but how the so called religious men treated them. 

Three time frames. Three women. All interconnected by blood. The horrors of what happened. This book is not for the faint of heart in any way. But it's so good. I devoured it. From 1750, 1953, and 2007. The women in each time are expected to be so obedient and godly. Wifely. Motherly. To be just what their husbands want them to be. 

In 1750 there was Anna Bolton and her daughter Florence. They had to flee their home for a new place because of being accused of being witches. Florence was so angry at her mother. The land they called home began to flourish. Some others came there and they all seemed to do good. Until something happened. Then it was darkness and dread to be passed down for ages...

In 1953 you meet Mary. Mary was a descendent of Anna and Florence. Mary fell in love with the wrong person. She was married and had a child. A little girl. Her friend Vera also had secrets. The men made the rules and women had to abide them or face the consequences. 

In 2007 there is Camilla. A young lady who wants more. She has always been the obedient preacher's daughter. A good girl. Her mother was a descendent of Anna and Florence also. And of course of Mary. This era was about Camilla though. Anna's daughter. Anna was a resilient and courageous young lady. She tried to do what was right but when she reached her limit things happened.

Through this whole story there is a tree. A mighty Walnut tree....

Thank you St Martin's Press and Brilliance Audio for this ARC. Also thank you to St Martin's for the beautiful hardcopy they sent me. 

Five stars 

About

Three women. Three centuries. One legacy of fury, love, and a power that refuses to die

In this fiercely captivating novel, horror meets historical fiction when a curse bridges generations, binding the fates of three women. Anne Bolton, a healer facing persecution for witchcraft, bargains with a dark entity for protection—but the fire she unleashes will reverberate for centuries. Mary Shephard, a picture perfect wife in a suffocating community, falls for Sharon and begins a forbidden affair that could destroy them both. And Camilla Burson, the rebellious daughter of a preacher, defies conformist expectations to uncover an ancient power as her father’s flock spirals into crisis. 

Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

 

My thoughts

Another winner from one of my favorite authors. 

How do I begin. This book took me completely by surprise in many ways. A lot of people were killed writing this one. In a manner of speaking. I didn't figure it out. I didn't figure out which sister was the murderer. Maybe it was both. 

Two sisters. Both accusing the other of murdering their father. He was not just murdered, he was demolished. Shredded. Picturing the scene was gruesome indeed. Each sister called the police. Each blamed the other. Could they have been working together to get the millions that awaited them. Or was one just greedy enough to want it all for herself...

There were a few times I gasped out loud reading this book. It felt so real. The speed of the motorcycle. The rush of the wind. The plunging of an ax into a person or person's head. The howl of a dog. The opening of the doors and holding your breath until you find out who was taken out. The reason you already know. No lose ends. Tie it all up. Set up your sister. Inherit it all. You are set for life. And you have one of the best lawyers there is; Eddie Flynn. 

This book kept me turning the pages. I found it to be both heartbreaking and making me hold my breath. How can two sisters be so filled with hate. What happened to cause that. One seemed to be emotionless in so many ways. The other maybe a bit to emotional. Maybe.

Thank you Atria Books for this ARC.

4.75 stars 

About

Two sisters on trial for murder. They accuse each other. Who do you believe?

“911 what’s your emergency?”

“My dad’s dead. My sister Sofia killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.”

“My dad’s dead. My sister Alexandra killed him. She’s still in the house. Please send help.”

One of them is a liar and a killer.

But which one? 

The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini

 

My thoughts

First thing you need to know about this book is that it's so good. 

It also has a few triggers. Miscarriage, though it's only talked about lightly. Also the death of a baby. Not elaborated on but mentioned. 

I listened to the audio and it was great. The three narrators kept this story going at a great pace and gave much emotion. Brought it to life. Made it feel more realistic. I appreciate that. 

When Lauren is confronted with the suspicion that the little boy she has was taken from another couple she is distraught. It can't be happening. She has his birth record. His passport. He is hers. Or is he? She does the only thing she knows to do.... She runs. With the help of her very understanding neighbor Gabe, Lauren has a place to go. To hide. To come to terms with what is about to happen.

Hope and Drew are new parents. After three miscarriages they are finally going to have the baby they dreamed of. What more could they want. Drew it seems wants other women. Or another woman. He has an affair but confesses to his wife. Hope of course is devastated. She is also way more understanding that most women would be. Especially when it came out. When Drew told her. He wasn't to bright. But then was it truly over. When Hope goes into premature labour then their baby has to have surgery they have to work together. For the sake of their baby they put everything else aside. Some very big secrets.... 

This is a heartfelt book. I didn't find it to be a thriller but a who is who. Who was this woman that took Sam. Why did she take him. Whose child is he. Was he the product of a surrogacy or is it the mental derangement of a women who has nothing left to lose. Who truly believes he is hers. Or is this a punishment for something way more sinister. Still not a thriller. But a heartbreaking story of two mothers, one father, and a little boy. 

I cried my eyes out in the last few chapters. It was a very good story. From start to finish. Even when things started coming out it was surprise after surprise for me. I had no idea. This story was truly easy to follow. It was a very quick read for me too. 

Thank you Harper Perennial and HarperAudio Adult for the ARC.

4.75 stars 

About

The internationally bestselling author of The Woman on the Ledge returns with a twisty thriller about a missing child and three adults whose shared secrets and hidden history could prove deadly.

“I need to report a crime. My baby has been stolen.”

All Lauren wants is a new life in Spain. She’s suffered an unimaginable loss, but at last she has found a home in the pretty seaside town of Mantilla de Mar. Everyone deserves a new start, and Lauren needs to put her past firmly behind her.

Hope has an interesting career as a therapist, an attractive husband, a dream home in the countryside - and, finally, the baby she always longed for. Sam. Her beautiful boy.

But Sam has gone missing.

So when the police tell her that a woman has been found in Spain with a child matching Sam’s description, Hope thinks that her nightmare might be coming to an end.

But Lauren is insisting Sam is her baby. She even has his passport and birth certificate to prove it.

So what really happened to Baby Sam? And who still has secrets to hide?

One child. Two mothers. And a past that won’t let them go.

The Devil's Glove by Lucretia Grindle

 

My thoughts

I’m not sure what to say. I was expecting a story about witches. No mention of witches until the last couple of chapters. I’m not saying this book was bad though. It was just not a book about witches. Witch trials. Accusations of witches. Anything witches. The last few chapters brought out talk of the main character and her mother possibly being accused of being witches. 

I was going to go right into the second book and may still. At this point maybe it will be what I expect. 

A story of a girl who lives with her mother in the 17th century while it seems her father is abroad working. Maybe he just left them. Who knows. Not a whole lot about him. 

I’m really at a loss as to what to say about this book. It was good but not a story about witches or trials or witchcraft. No accusations of witchcraft really. Talk of it near the end is all. It was good but left me with a lot of head scratching. I’m hoping that when I do read the second book I’ll be able to give a better review. I can’t even remember names in this one. Well except Abigail. Abigail was somewhat of a wild child. Possibly even a murderer. And Thaddeus. He was Abigail’s older brother and a love interest to the main character. 

I gave this one 3 stars. It will not be a memorable read for me. 

About

Northern New England, summer, 1688.

A suspicious death. A rumor of war. Whispers of witchcraft.

Salem started here.

Perched on the brink of disaster, Resolve Hammond and her mother, Deliverance, struggle to survive in their isolated coastal village. They're known as healers taught by the local tribes - and suspected of witchcraft by the local villagers.

Their precarious existence becomes even more chaotic when they are summoned to tend to a poisoned woman. As they uncover a web of dark secrets, rumors of war engulf the village, forcing the Hammonds to choose between loyalty to their native friends or the increasingly terrified settler community.

As Resolve is plagued by strange dreams, she questions everything she thought she knew - about her family, her closest friend, and even herself. If the truth comes to light, the repercussions will be felt far beyond the confines of this small settlement.

THE DEVIL'S GLOVE is a meticulously researched tale of supernatural suspense and intrigue, based on the true story of the fear and suspicion that led to the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Will Resolve be able to uncover the truth before the town tears itself apart, or will she become the next victim of the village's dark and mysterious past?

The Haunting Of Paynes Hollow by Kelley Armstrong

 

My thoughts

This book is so good. A bit over the top, but still so good. It has just enough family drama, inheritance info, creepy vibes, scary and thriller effect, to keep you wanting to know the truth. Is it really a family curse, a family gift, a folklore, or just someone playing a mean cruel trick?

Samantha inherits nothing when her grandfather dies. Well she can inherit quite a bit if she stays in the family home for a month. Just one month. Other family are upset over this. They think they should inherit this. So Sam does along with her aunt. Almost immediately Sam's aunt goes missing. The local sheriff is called and things go from there. The caretaker is a man who Sam knows. His younger brother was killed on this land. By Sam's dad. Or at least that is what Sam always said. Her grandfather was angry over this. He insisted that Sam was wrong and he wants her to stay on the land in hopes of her finding the truth.

This book is another great by Kelley Armstrong. One of my favorite authors. She writes in a way that you begin to believe in things that are in no way possible. Or are they? This book kept me on edge in a few places and had me questioning everyone. I had so many suspects that I may have invented a few. I was wrong on every account.

Sam needs this inheritance to help her mother stay in an assisted care facility. For herself to be able to go back to college. And to help Ben, the one whose brother was murdered. Or to continue with the helping of his dad. Sam and Ben work together to solve the mystery of what happened to Sam's aunt and maybe what really happened to Ben's younger brother.

I enjoyed this book. It would be a perfect Halloween read. Maybe even a book group read. All the mystery and edge of your seat thrills. Along with a glimpse into the legend of the headless horseman. Only he is on this land now. And he will hurt anyone who hurts "HER."

Thank you St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for this ARC. It was my BOTM choice last month ago also.

4.5 stars

About

From New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a nail-biting supernatural horror about a haunted lakeside property and twisted family secrets.

When Samantha Payne’s grandfather dies, she figures she won’t even get a mention in the will. After all, she hasn’t seen him in fourteen years, not since her father took his own life after being accused of murdering a child at their lakefront cottage. Her grandfather always insisted her father was innocent, despite Sam having caught him burying the child’s body, his clothing streaked with blood.

But when she does attend the reading of the will at the behest of her aunt, she discovers that her grandfather left her the very valuable lakefront property where the family cottage sits. There’s one catch: Sam needs to stay in the cottage for a month. To finally face the fact she was wrong and her father was innocent, in her grandfather's words.

Traveling to Paynes Hollow, Sam is faced with the realities of her childhood and the secrets kept hidden in the shadows of her memories. When her aunt goes missing a couple days into their stay, Sam begins to question everything again. Plagued by nightmares and paranoia, she begins hearing sounds in the forest and seeing shapes crawling from the water as the rippling waves of the lake promise something unspeakably dark lurking just below their surface.