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.

Fallen City by Adrienne Young

 

My thoughts

To say that I enjoyed this book is not even close to realistic. I loved it. I devoured it. This one captured me and now I have to wait for the sequel.....

A boy and girl fall in love story and so much more. Told from the before and the now. By Maris and Luca. As their love story unfolds. As a war begins. As they are torn apart.

Maris and Luca are both being used. Maris's mother and Luca's uncle only need them in a political way. Maris will carry on after her mother dies and Luca after his uncle. They are from different places and not suppose to be together. But they are. They fall in love. They are meant to be together despite all that stands in their way. 

This story keeps you turning the pages. Keeps you wanting to see Maris and Luca end up together. For each to be able to do what is needed for their people. But some things are just destined for a different outcome. 

Well written and with so much love. So much meaning. There is a lot of action in this story. A lot to take in. Quite a lot of characters, but not where you have to keep them straight. They are just there. In the fighting. In the friendships. In the play. In these two fall in love even though it was very much forbidden. From two different worlds and on opposite sides in a battle raging on the horizon, they fall deeply in love. But will they be able to hold on to that love. Will it work out for them or against them. I guess we will find out in the sequel. 

The ending or last few chapters had my heart breaking but hopeful. 

Thank you St Martin's and Saturday Books, Macmillan Audio, for this arc. 

5 stars 

About

In the great walled city of Isara, political turmoil ignites a rebellion one hundred years in the making. But when a legionnaire falls in love with a Magistrate's daughter, their love will threaten the fate of the city and the will of the gods.

Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city's Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.

Maris Casperia was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel's inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.

As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.

The Mad Wife by Meagan Church

 

My thoughts

This author is an automatic go to for me. I read her first two books and grabbed this one as soon as I could. It is her best yet. Though the other two were so good too.

I listened to the audio along with reading an ARC. The narrator did a magnificent job. She gave this story so much life and depth. Made it come alive. 

Living in this timeframe had to be so hard for women. The 1950s. It's before I was even born so I wonder how the women in my family dealt. The best they could I suppose. 

The women in this story are all neighbors. Friends. All mothers and wives. They had schedules. Actual schedules that they were expected to adhere too. A layout for their days. Cleaning, primping, cooking, laundry, visiting each other. And yes they judged each other. Why women never have stood together is more than my fickle mind can comprehend. Together possibly we could make it a much nicer place. But that was not how it was nor is it how it is now....

When the huge twist is reveal, and I mean huge, I actually gasped out loud. I also broke out in tears. After that what happens is beyond barbarrick... A woman's biggest fear I suppose. Back then anyway. As I was reading I tried to picture what was going through this person's head. I mean really going through it. Not what I read but if she had been real just exactly how scared she must have been. How scared any woman was back then when threats of being institutionalized seemed to be normal. And they did lobotomies. Actually did them. And electro shock. Good grief what it mush have been like. Please don't let us go back to a time like that....

This author wrote a story that will pull you in and make you turn the pages. It was sad but lyrical. Haunting but real. A gut wrenching story of how things were for women back in the 1950s. 

You really need to read this book. It's beautiful in a scary sort of way. Jaw dropping. Heart melting and heartbreaking. The prose is spot on. One that will definitely stick with me. 

Thank you Source Books and RBmedia for this ARC.

Five big stars and will be in my top twenty for the year.

About

They called it hysteria. She called it survival.

Lulu Mayfield has spent the last five years molding herself into the perfect 1950s housewife. Despite the tragic memories that haunt her and the weight of exhausting expectations, she keeps her husband happy, her household running, and her gelatin salads the talk of the neighborhood. But after she gives birth to her second child, Lulu's carefully crafted life begins to unravel.

When a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in, Lulu suspects that something darker lurks behind the woman's constant smile. As her fixation on Bitsy deepens, Lulu is drawn into a web of unsettling truths that threaten to expose the cracks in her own life. The more she uncovers about Bitsy, the more she questions everything she thought she knew—and soon, others begin questioning her sanity. But is Lulu truly losing her mind? Or is she on the verge of discovering a reality too terrifying to accept?

In the vein of The Bell Jar and The Hours, The Mad Wife weaves domestic drama with psychological suspense, so poignant and immersive, you won't want to put it down. 

Her One Regret by Donna Freitas

 

My thoughts

This book left me speechless. It was truly one of the best I've read. 

I read some of the reviews and was flabbergasted at the a couple of very low stars and saying hardly anything other than "it's not a thriller." Or that it was flat. I so disagree. Yes most of the way it was more mystery. But it did have some parts that kept me on the edge. Parts that shook me to my core. This is a subject that needs to be talked about more. Women go through a lot after giving birth. Yes some have big regrets. I believe most of us do to an extent. That doesn't mean we don't love our babies more than life itself. It's just something that happens. Being a mother is hard. The hardest job we will ever face. And yes there are times when a woman can feel regret at becoming a mother. Just like she might regret becoming a wife...

This book is about three women. Three mothers. Three wives. Each has a story. Each has a child or children. One goes missing and you won't know what happened to her until almost the end. There are actually two mysteries going on. One is the next door neighbor. What might he be hiding. The other is, what could have happened to Lucy. Was Lucy really taken or did she run. 

This is a very touchy subject. One I really never gave much thought to. I think in many ways we all have some postpartum going on after giving birth. I mean your body goes through so much and what happens to your brain is just unbelievable. Hormones going nuts. And a crying baby that is totally dependent on you. But it seems you can't really talk about it or you get crushed. The judgement is awful. If you are lucky enough to be able to afford therapy it might help. 

Having a best friend to talk to is the best. Even when what you have to say is not what she wants to hear. Such is the case with Lucy and Michelle. They have been friends since college. The best of friends. They know everything about each other. Almost... 

This book is about Lucy, Michelle, and Julia. What each women is dealing with. What secrets they have. How they feel about being new mothers. About being a wife too. The book gives you a fairly deep look at how some women feel about being a mom. How other women judge them if they feel it was a mistake. 

Julia was, in my opinion, the one going through the most. She didn't have anyone to confide in. No one to talk to about how she was feeling. No one to give her any relief or time to just be herself. Her son was with her all the time no matter what. And boy did he cry. That didn't mean she didn't love him. Julia really needed someone...

No woman should be shamed for what she deals with being a mother. You have no idea what she's going through or gone through. Every woman is different. What may appear to be the perfect life could be one you would never imagine...

Thank you RBmedia and BOTM for this book/audio. So worth reading.

4.85 stars 

About

From the author of the book club favorite The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano comes a riveting feminist thriller that tackles an unspeakable taboo: regretting motherhood.

When successful Rhode Island real estate agent Lucy Mendoza vanishes, leaving her baby behind in a grocery store parking lot, the news quickly makes national headlines. Lucy’s best friend, Michelle, is devastated, and terrified that Lucy’s life is at stake. But she knows something that could complicate the police investigation. Lucy had confessed something unspeakable: She regretted becoming a mother so much that she’d fantasized about faking her own kidnapping. If the police and media were to find out, Lucy would become a monster in public opinion. Michelle is sure Lucy would never abandon her daughter. But could she be wrong? Could Lucy have been so desperate she chose to escape her life?

Bestselling author Donna Freitas has drawn from ground-breaking research to bring readers this unforgettable novel. Her One Regret is at once a pulse-pounding feminist thriller, a moving depiction of the realities of motherhood, and a rich exploration of a subject our culture and society have rendered nearly verboten—the possibility that for some women, motherhood is an unfixable mistake.

A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan

 

My thoughts

This is a debut book and it's so good. Very well written and puts a whole new spin on witchcraft and WW2. 

Could Witches have help to make or break WW2. Could Hitler have taken over the world if they would have helped him?

This isn't really a book that goes into what happened during that time period. It's a story of what might have happened had witches been involved. Had some of them been followers of Hitler. Had they wanted to help him take over everything. The fallout that would have caused. 

History is an amazing thing. Writing is also very amazing. When an author writes a debut that keeps you wanting to know more then you can bet it's a good book. But thank goodness it is only a story and not what happened. This book will keep you turning the pages. 

A coven of witches are tasked with finding a book. A book called Grimorium Bellum. It's a book of what I'd call horrors. Not a good thing by any means. And it's up to Lydia to find this book. To bring it back with her so the Nazi witches can't use it's power for evil. Or destroy it. Whichever way is best. 

Lydia is on a mission to save the world. She has some selfish reasons for doing what she does too. The loss of her best friend being one. 

When Lydia Polk, Rebecca Gagne, and Henry Boudreaux all meet this story is on a whole other level. They go through a lot of fighting and pain. Henry also has some magic. He and Lydia seem to like each other. They fight to help each other until the very end. 

A story that will make you laugh out loud and cry hard ripping tears. A lesson in trust. Friendship. Family. A lesson steeped in magic and bloodshed. 

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was very good and as a debut this author has to feel very proud of her work.

Thank you Penguin Group Viking Penguin for this ARC.

4.5 stars 

About

RESISTANCE IS MAGIC

“War II meets A Discovery of Witches…I raced through this one.” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Briar Club

“Historical fantasy at its absolute best.” —Alexis Henderson author of The Year of the Witching and An Academy for Liars

As World War II rages around her, a witch abandoned by her coven must journey to find a book of unspeakable power before it lands in Nazi hands

Stubborn, plain-spoken and from an unimpressive family, Lydia Polk never expected to be accepted into the Royal Academy of Witches. Now, with Hitler’s army rampaging across Europe, the witches of Britain have joined the war effort, and Lydia is key to the she must use her magic to track down magical relics before Hitler and his sycophants can. When a Nazi witch infiltrates the Academy with heart-breaking consequences, the coven is left shaken, exposed and divided. The elder British witches have no interest in further loss of coven life in service of a government that has forced them into hiding for decades, no matter the consequences to the world. But with the discovery of the Grimorium Bellum, an ancient book that leaves a trail of death and destruction wherever it goes, Lydia knows her mission has never been more urgent.

Alone and woefully outnumbered, Lydia makes her way to the heart of occupied France, where she finds allies in Rebecca Gagne—a fierce French resistance fighter chockful of secrets—and Henry Boudreaux—a handsome Haitian-American art historian with a little magic of his own. Together, they traverse the country, stalked by the natural and supernatural alike, in search of the grimoire. But, as Lydia soon discovers, finding the book is only half the battle—the Grimorium Bellum has a dark agenda all its own. Lydia must subdue it before the Witches of the Third Reich can use it—but she’ll have to survive the book herself, first.