I Know How This Ends by Holly Smale

 

My thoughts

I wasn't sure about this book initially. I didn't know what to expect. It was an audio and from an author I have not read before. I was so pleasantly surprised. I hated having to put this one down. Sometimes life just gets in the way of a good book. A good story. One that captivates you. This is one such story. I highly recommend this one. 

This one will be in my top twenty for the year. 

Margot Wayward was hurt deeply by her fiance. After being together for ten years he cheated on her with her best friend. One of her best friends that is. She had four. They were so close, but she didn't see it coming. I'll say right here that I would never have forgiven her. It was just as much her fault as it was his. Even if she is being treated badly. Well I think she deserves it. She did the one thing that best friends are not suppose to ever do. Cheat with your friends boyfriend/fiance. No exceptions. No excuses. No matter what. But it happened and set Margot on a course of action to check out men before they could hurt her. A list. She would go on a date and then decide what potential they may or may not have. She set a goal of twenty dates. Always meeting at her favorite Italian restaurant. 

When Margot meets Henry everything changes. Henry worked at the restaurant and was date seventeen. Not a planned date exactly but still he was number seventeen. He had observed each date and what went on. He saw what Margot was doing. He saw how awful some of these men were. Even one being married with children. 

This is a love story between Margot and Henry. All the ups and downs. The scary parts. The tender parts. I absolutely adored Henry. And Winter, his little girl. Henry was a waiter and had been going to medical school until his wife got cancer and passed. He became a single dad. A widower. Henry put his heart out there for Margot and she aggravated me to pieces when she would bolt. She had fears yes. Very understandable. But Henry was such a nice man. 

Margot has visions. She can see her future with Henry. At first she doesn't realize it's him. When she does though she's all in. Until she gets scared. And Margot has quite a bit of fear in her. 

This story will make you laugh, cry, scream, hold your breath. It has all the feels. It's a true love story and oh my the ending really held me. Parts of this story made me cry so hard. It's just that good. 

Thank you Harlequin Audio for this ARC. 

Five big stars.    

About

If you knew how your life would turn out, what would you change now?

The second brilliantly uplifting and page-turning novel from the multi-million bestselling author of Geek Girl and Reese's Book Club Pick Cassandra in Reverse.

Margot Wayward is in manically gleeful self-destruct mode. Following the implosion of a ten-year relationship, she’s wilfully derailing her successful career, joyfully taking down men on dating apps, and living in total chaos.

Until one day, when Margot has a vision of herself with a man she’s never met before. She doesn’t believe in fate. But when Margot meets single-dad Henry, the vision comes true: exactly as she’d foreseen it.

As her future continues to reveal itself, a glimpse at a time, Margot realises she knows exactly what’s going to happen, and when. And there’s nothing she can do to change any of it.

So Margot has to decide how to live, how to love again, and how to be herself… Because if you can’t change your destiny, how on earth do you live your present?

All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan

 

My thoughts

This author is one I automatically read. Sometimes her books grab me and I can't let go. Other times they are ok and I can put them down. This one is a just ok for me. It was good. It wasn't a could not put down. 

The audio was good. The narrator did a great job. She even sounded like a male in parts. Made me believe there was more than her narrating. 

The story is about an author. A debut author on tour. The many hotels she stays in. The many fans she has. The many people she meets. What happens in the places she tours. And the things that happened in her past. The things she can't seem to let go of. Can't stop blaming herself for. Things that were not her fault. 

You get to know her very well. You meet everyone she meets and read about the things that she fears. Her past. Even though she was just a child for the most part. How her mother treated her. I didn't like her mom. Even in the end I just could not make myself like the way she treated Tessa. I believe she could have protected her and showed her unconditional love at the same time. 

You get to know Tessa's children and husband. The ups and downs of being a wife and mother while on the road/in the air, touring. How hard it is. How much you miss your family. How easy it is to possibly almost lose trust in someone you love so much your heart hurts. 

This book is well written and was good. I did figure out who the blackmailer was but it didn't take away from the story. I felt like the first half of the book was a bit slow. Though it did have a lot in it. A lot to set you up for what was coming maybe. But also it was just a bit too much. 

I liked all the characters in this book. Tessa was so likable. She was quite silly at times but also afraid. She didn't want to lose her family. She needed family so bad. 

I have to admit that the chapters at the end gave me a few chuckles. For the most part I didn't really feel many emotions while reading this so that was good. I was glad Tessa was able to reconnect with someone that I can't name. 

Thank you #StMartinsPress, #Minatour, and MacmillianAudio, for this ARC. 

3.75 stars 

About

Debut sensation Tessa Calloway is on a whirlwind book tour for her instant bestseller, All This Could Be Yours. In a different city every night, Tessa receives standing ovations from adoring fans while her husband Henry and their two children cheer her on from their brand-new dream house.

But there's a chilling problem with Tessa's triumphant book tour—she soon realizes she is being stalked by someone who's obsessed not only with sabotaging her career, but also with destroying her perfect family back home.

Tessa fears the fallout from an impossible decision she once made—what felt like a genuine deal with the devil—appears to be coming due. And she’s realizing that every high-stakes bargain comes with a high-stakes price. If Tessa can't untangle who's threatening to expose her darkest secrets, she'll lose her career, her family—and possibly her life.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

A Killer Motive by Hannah Mary McKinnon

 

My thoughts

This author always delivers a good thriller. This one is her latest and it's so good. This book was a true edge of your seat thriller. 

There are five female narrators and one male. They all did a good job of bringing this book to life but the females, with the exception of Charlene's pov, sounded the same to me. I honestly could not tell them apart. The male was just ok. I felt he dragged out his part a bit to much. He did pull you into the scenes though. Just took his time about it. 

When Stella Dixon's younger brother goes missing she blames herself. She let him sneak out for a night of partying on the beach. She dedicated herself to finding out what happened to him. Stella and her best friend started a podcast that involves helping people find loved ones. It's Stella's goal to find out what happened to Max through this podcast. Finding clues and possibly help. 

Stella and her husband have been married five years. After Max disappeared they got married. Before that fateful night they were dating. There are a few secrets between them. There marriage becomes strained when Stella starts getting emails from someone claiming to have knowledge about Max. Also Max's best friend has gone missing. If Stella doesn't do as she's told Kenji will suffer great harm. Possibly death. But is Kenji truly still alive? Is Max alive after all this time? Will Stella find one or both? Will she survive this. Can her marriage survive?

This book is well done. Well written and keeps you guessing. I did guess who the serial killer was. It just seemed obvious to me. I was hoping I was wrong.

The story takes you through the mind of a serial killer and the woman they decide to destroy. What could have happened to stop this person before now? Probably nothing....

Thank you Harlequin Books and Harlequin Audio for the arc. 

4.25 stars... 

About

You never know who’s listening.

To Stella Dixon, sneaking her teenage brother out of their parents’ house for a beach party was harmless fun—until Max disappeared without a trace.

Six years later, Stella’s family is still broken, and she can’t let go of her guilt. The only thing that keeps her going is helping other families find closure through A Killer Motive, her true crime podcast.

In a bid to find new sponsors and keep making episodes, Stella goes on a local radio show. But when she says on air that if she had just one clue, she’d find Max and bring whoever hurt him to justice, someone takes it as a challenge.

A mysterious invitation to play a game arrives, with the promise that if Stella wins, she’ll get information about what happened to Max. Stella thinks it’s a sick joke…until Max’s best friend vanishes. And she’s given new instructions: tell nobody or people will die.

Desperate and unable to trust anyone, Stella agrees. But beating a twisted, invisible enemy seems impossible when they make all the rules…

Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross

 

My thoughts

I've not read Divine Rivals or Ruthless Vows. I will asap though. I had no idea this was a prequel to them until I read a few reviews. I loved this book. It was both heartbreaking, interesting, and magical. It was filled with so much. A fantasy, romantasy, fiction, and so much more. I enjoyed it from start to finish. I also shed a few tears while reading this. Especially in the last Act. It has five Acts and each is better than the last. Told from Matilda and Vincent's POVs. 

This book takes you through three realms. Matilda is a goddess. She has powerful magic. She lives in the underworld but can go to other worlds. There are doors that take her. She meets her father after losing her mother. He is from the upper world. He is not a warm sort. He is a brute in my opinion. 

Matilda meets Vincent through his dreams. As children. She helps him in many ways with the nightmares he has. When they finally do meet face to face though the story really reaches a whole new plateau... I loved reading about them. About the tension between them. The love blossoming. Vincent is human. A mortal. Vincent will age and eventually die. Matilda will not. 

This book is stunning. It's written in such beautiful detail that you will feel it in your heart. It brings out emotions. Hopes. You root for Matilda. For Vincent. You get involved with Vincent's world and love the people there. His brother. It's just a great story. One I will most likely want to read again. After I read the first two that is. 

Thank you #StMartinsPress/SaturdayBooks for this ARC. 

About

Born ​in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic. But in a land where gods often kill each other to steal power and alliances break as quickly as they are forged, Matilda must come of age sooner than most. She may be known to carry words and letters through the realms, but she holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest of allies to ensure her survival. And to complicate matters . . . there is a mortal boy who dreams of her, despite the fact they have never met in the waking world.

Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life―begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. When his request went unanswered, Vincent moved on, becoming the hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda. That is, until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.

As Fate would have it, Matilda and Vincent were destined to find each other beyond dreams. There may be a chance for Matilda to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, but at immense sacrifice. She will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: to be vulnerable, and to allow herself to finally be loved.

Gone In The Night by Joanna Schaffhausen

 My thoughts

This series has been so good. All of the books have been great and this one is too. It is a bit of a touchy subject though.

I was cringing throughout a lot of this story. From all the murdered men to why they were murdered. While I do believe they all deserved it we can't just take justice in our own hands. Can we? If you were abused, either beat by a spouse or sexually assaulted by a predator, wouldn't you want to get even? If you could. If you could get away with it. I think most of us would. If we are honest. At least in the cases of the women in this book I can see it happening. While I don't condone violence I also believe in justice and in so many cases there is no justice. Especially when it comes to defending a child who has been violated. A slap on the wrist maybe. If that....

Annalisa and Nick are married. Expecting a baby. Annalisa is a PI now but things are slow as no one seems to want to hire a pregnant women to investigate anything. When her brother asks her to visit him in prison, where she put him, she is a little dismayed. But she goes. She listens to what he has to say. She meets with this guy named Joe. Joe who has spent thirteen years for the murder of a man and claims he is innocent. Annalisa takes the case. You will learn all about what he did or didn't do. You get to know Joe. You also get to know the women from Ruby's Place. A home for abused and battered women and children. You get to know them well.

This book is hard in places. It deals with abuse. It deals with child sexual abuse too. Very young girls. It's heartbreaking to know there are people in this crazy world who would do such horrendous things. To know that they do it and get away with it. This is the story of abused women and how Annalisa and Nick solve a serial killer case. 

Thank you #StMartinsPress/MinotaurBooks for this ARC.

4.75 stars. 

About

Detective Annalisa Vega hasn’t forgiven her brother for his role in a murder, and he hasn’t forgiven her for turning him in, so she’s surprised when he asks her to visit him in prison. Turns out, he has a possible case for her: one of his fellow inmates, Joe Green, may be innocent of the murder that landed him behind bars.

Joe is doing hard time for killing his ex-wife’s lawyer, but an anonymous letter sent to the prison warns that the eyewitness in Joe’s trial made up her story. With her private investigation business foundering, Annalisa is desperate enough to start poking around into Joe’s meager case. She immediately finds two problems: One, the eyewitness definitely lied about what she saw the night of the murder, and two, Annalisa’s husband Nick was the cop who arrested Joe in the first place.

Faced with correcting Nick’s mistakes, Annalisa digs deeper into Joe’s past and discovers he has two ex-wives with nothing good to say about him. The women may have orchestrated an elaborate frame to put Joe in prison, but one wife has completely disappeared since then. Did Joe somehow kill her? Or is he the real victim? Annalisa’s search for the truth tests the bounds of her marriage, her family, and her own sense of justice. Meanwhile, a devious killer keeps sending men to a watery death in the vastness of Lake Michigan. If Annalisa doesn’t figure out the truth about Joe soon, her husband might be next. 

The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin

 

My thoughts

This is a must read. It will be in my top twenty at the end of the year. This book was so good. A sad tale of what life was like for women who loved reading back in 1895. And what happened if they disobeyed their husband. Yes I said disobeyed. Can you imagine? 

This is about four women: Mrs Eleanor Clarke. She was married and had a baby boy. Her husband was a beast. You will thoroughly hate him. His abuse knows no boundaries. Mrs Rose Wharton. She's also married. Her husband truly loves her. But he had banned books for her because of his brother. Lady Lavinia Cavendish. She's the youngest. Not married. She lives with her parents and siblings. She suffers from what to me seems like social anxiety. Writing poetry helps her deal with that. Lady Duxbury. She is the one who invited the other three to her Secret Book Society. She's truly a force. A caring, understanding, force. She's been married three times. She gives these women a place where they feel safe. Feel like they can express themselves. Not just with books. With their thoughts. Their wishes. Their lives. Their hurts.

This book is so well written. You truly can feel each woman's pain and happiness. The way they deal or can't deal. Most likely you can relate to at least one of these women in some way. 

I have to say this book is emotional. It will have you in tears in many places. Also give hope to these women. Give hope that all will be ok. Eventually. The sad part is that women are still held hostage by most men. In one way or another we have to answer to them for something. But we have honestly come a long way since they could ban books from us. Now it's the government that bans the books. Go figure.

Add this one to your tbr list. I promise you won't regret it.

Thank you to the publisher for this arc.

Five big fat stars. 

About

A captivating new historical novel from Madeline Martin, set in Victorian London about a forbidden book club, dangerous secrets, and the women who dare to break free.

You are cordially invited to the Secret Book Society...

London, 1895: Trapped by oppressive marriages and societal expectations, three women receive a mysterious invitation to an afternoon tea at the home of the reclusive Lady Duxbury. Beneath the genteel facade of the gathering lies a secret book club-a sanctuary where they can discover freedom, sisterhood, and the courage to rewrite their stories.

Eleanor Clarke, a devoted mother suffocating under the tyranny of her husband. Rose Wharton, a transplanted American dollar princess struggling to fit the mold of an aristocratic wife. Lavinia Cavendish, an artistic young woman haunted by a dangerous family secret. All are drawn to the enigmatic Lady Duxbury, a thrice-widowed countess whose husbands' untimely deaths have sparked whispers of murder.

As the women form deep, heartwarming friendships, they uncover secrets about their marriages, their pasts, and the risks they face. Their courage is their only weapon in the oppressive world that has kept them silent, but when secrets are deadly, one misstep could cost them everything. 

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham

 

My thoughts

I've read an enjoyed all of this author's previous books. I enjoyed this one. The best in my opinion was her very first book, A FLICKER IN THE DARK... It was so good. 

This book is about a young woman whose sister went missing. Natalie was the oldest of the two sisters. When she went out the window to meet up with someone it was the last time she was seen. Claire seemed to blame herself for what happened. Because she didn't tell. Because she was only eleven and thought she would get in trouble if she told. Natalie was never seen again. The older man that everyone thought she was dating was blamed for her murder. Though no body was ever found he still got life in prison. 

Claire went home to see about her mother and ended up staying at the Galloway farm where her sister had worked that last year of her life. She finds a diary written by a teen and starts reading it. That is when this book really takes off. You find out a lot about other missing and possibly abused girls. Including Natalie. Some secrets about their mother are brought forth also. 

This book is not at all a thriller but it is a good mystery. I did figure out a few things, but it didn't take away from my interest in any way. I liked Claire. I liked Liam. I was on the fence about her mother until I got to know why she did what she did pushing Claire away. There were some things that I wish would have been written about more. Like Claire and Natalies parents. Yeah they divorced but good grief they certainly should not have. Not over what I found out later was the reason. I just felt like there were a few things unanswered in this book. Little things though. 

Well written for the most part. The beginning kind of dragged. But when Claire finds the diary this book is harder to put down.

There is a cult experience in this book. A cult of young ladies being abused. Taken away from their family. Never to be seen or heard from again. A man who likes submissive females I suppose. He gets them at eighteen. They seem to be in need of attention and he preys on that. I do feel like this story was missing something but I can't quite figure out what. I loved the ending. I loved how Liam ended up and how Claire and her mother finally came to terms with each other. 

This was good but not as good at A Flicker In The Dark...

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC. Thoughts are strictly my own.

3.75 stars.  

About

A pulse-pounding new Southern thriller from the author of the runaway bestseller A Flicker in the Dark.

Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared shortly after her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed. In the decades since, Claire has attempted to forget her traumatic past by moving to the city and climbing the ranks as an investigative journalist... until an unexpected call from her father forces her to come back home and face it all anew.

With the entire summer now looming ahead—a summer spent with nothing to do in her childhood home, with her estranged mother—Claire decides on a whim to accept a seasonal job at Galloway Farm, a muscadine vineyard in coastal South Carolina less than an hour away from where she grew up. At first glance, Galloway is an idyllic escape for Claire. A scenic retreat full of slow-paced nostalgia, as well as a place where her sister seemed truly happy in that last summer before she vanished, it feels like the perfect plan to pass the time. However, as soon as Claire starts to settle in, she stumbles across an old diary written by one of the vineyard's owners, and what at first seems like a story of young rebellion and love turns into something much more sinister as it begins to describe details of various unsolved crimes. As the days stretch on, Claire finds herself becoming more and more secluded as she starts to obsess over the diary's contents… as well as the lingering feeling that her own sister's disappearance may be somehow tied to it all.

Galloway was supposed to be a place to help her move forward, but instead, Claire quickly finds herself immersed in her own dark and dangerous past.