THIS WON’T END WELL by Camille Pagan

An ingeniously witty novel about the risks—and rewards—of opening your life to new people by Amazon Charts bestselling author Camille Pagán.

No new people: that’s Annie Mercer’s vow. It’s bad enough that her boss sabotaged her chemistry career and her best friend tried to cure her with crystals. But after her fiancé, Jon, asks for space while he’s gallivanting around Paris, Annie decides she needs space too—from everyone.

Yet when Harper moves in next door, Annie can’t help but train a watchful eye on the glamorous but fragile young woman. And if keeping Harper safe requires teaming up with Mo, a maddeningly optimistic amateur detective, who is she to mind her own business?

Soon Annie has let not one but two new people into her life. Then Jon reappears—and he wants her to join him in France. She’s pretty sure letting anyone get close won’t end well. So she must decide: Is another shot at happiness worth the risk?

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TRACE OF EVIL by Alice Blanchard

My first book by this author and will not be my last.

From the book:
Oddly enough, dogs still barked. The mail somehow got delivered. Kids still played in their front yards. Farmers went out to plow their fields. The shops were open for business. But nobody would ever forget the day when tragedy struck and normalcy was shattered. Somehow the town felt ruined.

This book takes you deep into a town with lots of secrets. Many years ago a teen was brutally murdered. Over the years several people, called The Nine, have gone missing. Today a teacher is murdered and another homeless woman is missing. Are they all connected or is it just coincidence? Is someone in this small close knit town a serial killer or is there more than one killer.

Natalie was a child when her sister was murdered. She herself was attacked by a boy of about 18 or 19 who had a butterfly birthmark on his upper arm. No one ever found him and she managed to escape. Another young man was sent to prison for Natalie’s sisters murder. But did he do it? He always maintained his innocence. He was so in love with Willow and said he could never have hurt her. But evidence proved he did it. Was the evidence correct though? Natalie grew up to become a cop. She took on a lot to help the town and spent many nights unable to sleep because of the things she saw. Then one night her friends wife was found murdered. She worked so hard to find the killer. What she found would haunt her forever. What she learned would never leave her mind.

This book did contain several characters that I truly liked. I think they were very well developed and the way it is written they would become people you would root for to come out on top. From a homeless woman who everyone in the town loved and tried to help to the teacher who was killed this book is filled with mysteries for sure. There is a lot going on but it was easy for me to follow. It was not told in a way that would confuse you but to enlighten you about the past and present and putting the two together.

The thing I really liked was that all of my questions were answered. You will find out who did what to whom both past and present. A few surprises thrown in to throw you off too. There are several things going one from teens practicing witchcraft to big drug parties in the woods. You will feel like you are there. During the girls trying to put spells on people and the lies they tell you will see a side to them that is not pretty. I felt like two of the teens should have got into deep trouble for things they did, but it was not written that way and it was still good. It explores things that kids do and even down to a crush on a teacher that is typical of some young silly girls in high school.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It kept me wanting to read and find out who did what. I loved that it didn’t rush into an ending that would leave you hanging. I think this author did a great job of tying up loose ends and answering all the questions. The descriptions of the area felt so realistic. From the freezing cold water to the deep dense woods. The rain falling to the dark nights following someone. I felt like I was right there and in places it was a tad scary. Well done Alice Blanchard. Very well done.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Alice Blanchard, #St Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book.

I give it 4.5 stars and a very high recommendation. You will want to read this one.

THE OTHER MRS by Mary Kubica

WOW, what a jaw dropping good book.

Mary Kubica has written one of the best thrillers ever. This book will keep you turning pages until the very end and you will be surprised by the ending. It’s one that will give you chills. Make you take a close look into the darkness to see who is there. It’s totally great for anyone who loves a good thriller.

What would you do for your family? Would you kill for them? Would you have your whole world turned upside down to protect the ones you love? Sadie would and did. She was many people. She was a mother, a Dr, a wife. A friend when you let her be and somewhat of a detective when need be. She loved her husband and two sons more than anything and would do anything to protect them. But would she commit murder? Would she put herself in a position to lose everything? Or would she stand and fight for what was hers?

Will, Sadie’s husband took her and their two boys from Chicago to Maine to live after his sister died. They had to take care of his niece who was sixteen and somewhat of a wild child in many ways. She was also very emotionally upset over what happened to her mother. She didn’t get along well with Sadie and seemed to resent them being there. Will had lost so much of Sadie’s trust after he had an affair. She was trying to learn to forgive him and he was trying to earn back what he lost. He was a part time teacher at the local college and Sadie was the breadwinner of the family. That was just the way they planned things and it seemed to work for them. Personally I didn’t not like or trust Will at all. He was a cheat and sneaky much of the time. I just didn’t like him.

You’ll meet and hear from two other people in this story. Their stories. Camille who was at one time Sadie’s roommate and Mouse, a nickname, who was a child who had a dad she loved dearly and a “fake mom” who treated her terribly when her dad was gone. I hated the “fake mom immensely.” She was just evil. I felt very sorry for Mouse. Camille I didn’t like a lot. She liked Will and would do almost anything to have him.

This book starts out fast and furious and does not let up. It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last. All your questions will be answered in this wonderful thriller. You won’t be left hanging or wondering what happened to who. It was a pleasure to read this one. It sure did surprise me so much. I did figure out one part. I loved how the author did handle the mental illness aspect of this story. Bringing to light the things that can and do happen when someone suffers from such illness. It was a very well written story that hit on subjects that will make your skin crawl. Make you hold your breath. Make you cringe. It will definitely make you wonder.

I think this was a fantastic thriller.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Mary Kubica, #Harlequin Park Row Publishers

A 5 star book that I most highly do recommend.

THE LEAVING PARTY by Lesley Sanderson

This was my first book by this author. It was a very interesting one and sure had me wanting to know what happened next. I did figure out who was doing what with the exception of someone’s little sister. That part got me. The best friend is not always who they seem to be. But a best friend will always be there for you. Won’t they.

This is a story of two best friends who experienced a tragedy thirteen years ago. A girl was killed and one was hurt badly. One saved her best friend. It’s told from two different people’s view and from the two timelines. From the past when the accident happened and the present when the party happened. Ava is moving far away to be with her boyfriend, Ben. Her best friend, Lena, doesn’t want her to leave but is also happy for her. At least she wants to be. She honestly does not want to loose Ava but doesn’t know what to do to keep her from going. She throws Ava a huge going away party and the fun begins. At least the mysteries and the stories.

This book didn’t really have any likable characters in it for me. Though it was a good story and kept me wanting to read more, it just didn’t have any characters that I liked. Lena was to needed and Ava seemed to be afraid of her own shadow and totally did not have a mind of her own. Whether it was Lena or Ava’s sister, Martha. One of them was constantly taking Ava by the hand and telling her what to do and how to feel. And with all the alcohol they drank I do not see how any of them, with the exception of Martha, could stand up much less tell anyone what to do. There was enough going on that it held my interest and made me want to know what was going to happen next and find out who was doing the mean things that were being done and I wanted to know who did what back in 2005. It was a good story just no good characters to connect with. It had lots of twists going on and will make you hold your breath in parts. In places it’s a bit repetitive though. But that aside I still am glad I read this book. It definitely is one that I had to finish.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Lesley Sanderson, #Bookouture for the ARC of this book.

I gave it three stars. I do recommend you read it for yourself as things to appeal to different people in different ways. It was one that I had to finish and I enjoyed it in many ways.

FOLLOW ME by Kathleen Barber

This is a first for me by this author. While I truly liked the book it seemed to go on a bit to long in parts. I did enjoy learning about some of the things that can be done via the internet and from behind the lens so to speak. Cyber stalking is an all to scary thing and it does happen. It has to be awful to be caught up in this and never even know you are.

Audrey was a very popular instagramer. She had millions of followers and lived the life of someone who had all the popularity she could handle. But did she have any real true friends. Was anyone completely there for her? When she moved to DC from New York there her best friend from college, Cat, was excited to have her there. She wanted Audrey to move into her guest room but Audrey had already got an apartment and wanted to be on her own finally. Did she make the right choice or was it one big mistake to think she could live alone. Audrey really hated being alone. She had always hated it even as a small child.

Cat was an up and coming lawyer who had been in love with Connor for years. She had absolutely no confidence in herself though and depended on her best friend Audrey to make things work for her. But was she really a friend or was she just another user. Cat was very selfish in my opinion. I never through this whole story liked her at all. She was way to needed and clingy for someone who worked so hard to be a lawyer with a big firm. She didn’t have a clue how to put herself out there for anything. She was totally dependent on Audrey. What’s worse was I kept wondering how did she survive before Audrey moved to DC. How did she make any decisions on her own. She did love to blame all of her problems on others. I just didn’t connect with her at all.

Max... He was a sad kind of person. He tended to fall in love at the drop of a dime but always over did everything. He too was another clingy type. But he was loyal in his own way. He did some pretty bad things but he did mean well. At least I think he did. He did things that he thought were the right things to do for the one he loved, or was obsessed with at the time. But he was sincere.

Nick. I liked him. He was the only one that seemed to be up front and completely honest. Him and Audrey were both pretty much themselves and didn’t put up fronts for others. Well Audrey may have a bit for her followers, but in her private life she was truly sincere with her feelings. Could Nick really be trusted though?

One of the people in this story is a stalker and you will have many guesses before the end. While I did figure out who it was, it was fairly on into the book before it clicked with me. There were many intense moments in this story that will keep you on edge and wondering what will happen next and who is doing what. It’s a good book though a bit long and in places could have been shortened to make it even better. Some parts just seemed to drag on to me. But over all I enjoyed it.

There were no characters besides Audrey and Nick that I liked. None that seemed likable at all except in places Audrey and Nick. Well I have to admit I did like Nick. I think he was very likable. Audrey was in places but she was also an attention grabber so that made her a bit out there.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Kathleen Barber, #Gallery Pocket Books for this eARC. This is my own true review.

I give it a 3.5 star and would have given it more if it would not have dragged in places. I still recommend it as it’s a good one and you will learn somethings from it.

WILDLAND by Rebecca Hodge

What a debut novel by Rebecca Hodge. From start to finish it is so good you won’t want to put it down. It will keep you captivated all the way.

What would you do if the lives of two children and two dogs were totally dependent on you. And you are stuck in the middle of a raging forest fire. And you are on top a mountain and said fire is heading straight for you. And the children are not even yours. Could you make the decisions that would help these children and yourself escape alive. Would you want to give up and let the smoke fill you and lay down to just give up.

Kat went to a cottage in the Appalachian mountains to get away for a month. To think about her future and what she wants to do. She has already been through a lot with cancer. Having had breast cancer, having her breasts removed and gone through the horrible treatments that go along with cancer. Can she do it again for her daughter. For herself. It’s why she is there. Her daughter brings her a dog to keep her company and two other adults lower down the mountain visit with their children. One man, Scott and his daughter, Lily, are spending their time together on vacation. He has plans for them and he is somewhat judgmental toward others. His daughter is only 12 and loves meeting Kat’s dog. Then there is Malcolm who is there with his adopted son, Nirav. Nirav lost his parents in a fire of a different kind.

Kat has to make some very serious choices in this book. Some that will either save her, the children, and the dogs. Or they may not make it at all. She does not feel adequate in her choices. She’s not sure what she is doing is the right thing. The whole area is burning wildly around them and it seems hopeless. They don’t even know if anyone is going to come try to save them.

This book will make you feel actual pain. Not just pain in your heart, or tears in your eyes and believe me there are plenty of tears shed, but physical pain. The descriptions in this story take you right in the middle of everything. You feel all the things that these people feel. It describes in very good detail what happens and all the fears each character goes through. It’s so realistic I actually held my breathe and cringed in many many places.

Will everyone make it out alive. That is the ultimate question. Will they be ok if they do make it out. Will the father’s of the two children blame Kat for the choices she makes. This is a story of such intense feelings you will truly feel the fire’s heat. The pain when something happens to one of them. The sadness when they are sad. The hopelessness that is felt. The many many fears of all the adults.

This is a book that you won’t be able to put down until you know how it’s going to play out. How it’s going to end. It’s so realistic. This author did a wonderful job of writing her debut novel. I can’t wait to read more by her.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Rebecca Hodge,  #Crooked Lane Books for this eARC. This is my own true review.

I gave it 5 stars and highly recommend it to everyone I know. It’s a great book. It’s an edge of your seat book. Not a thriller but not exactly a mystery either. It’s just a story of three families who get caught up in Mother Nature in the worse way.

BEFORE FAMILIAR WOODS by Ian Pisarcik

This book is a bit different from most I read. It’s not a thriller but definitely will keep you on edge at times. It’s a mystery for sure as you will want to know what happened. You’ll want to know where the two husbands who are not really friends are. They were together and you’ll want to know why. It’s somewhat of a sad story in many ways. It’s about what drugs will do to a person. Things they never imagined they would ever do. I felt bad for some of the characters in this story but hated some also. Though you can’t really blame another person if someone you love gets hooked on drugs you can get angry that they would take advantage of someone or get a kid hooked. Some things are just wrong no matter what. I’ve seen up close and personal what drugs do to good people. I’ve lost family members to drugs and it makes you so angry. This country does have a huge problem with drugs and it can only blame itself. The big drug companies get things started then the person has to turn to something they can afford. They feel helpless and hopeless. It’s truly sad what drugs does to people. What they will cause you to do just to get that high.

This book hits hard on drugs. It is also about two families who lost their only children to a crazy camping trip and supposed drug use. Also a mother who abandons her child to run away with someone so she can get drugs. A man back from Iraq who loves his son and wants what is best for him. A mother who blames herself. Another mother who tries praying to get her through the loss of her son. Two dads who have to live with choices.

This book is told in two stories. One is Ruth Fenn telling a story of love and loss. Of looking into herself to try and fix things. She wants to find her husband before something happens to him. The loss her her teenagers son. She is a hard woman now but loves children and helps people also. She’s a kind woman in many ways but will not be messed with about some things. I loved her. Then we have Milk’s story. He has a son also. A nine year old son who he is trying to raise since his return from Iraq. He’s alone. His wife and the mother of his son left. But she returned and will try anything to get Daniel back. Even though it’s the worse place he could ever be. Ruth and Milk become friends via a social worker who recommended Ruth to Milk as someone who would help him out with his son so he could find a job.

As this story progresses you will wonder what happened to the men. What happened to the boys who were found dead in a tent. Were they murdered or was it a night of doing drugs gone horrible wrong. That one you’ll have to read and figure out for yourself. One father in this story I loved. One I totally detested. In that I mean the father’s of the dead boys.

This is a good story to help you understand what drugs do to people. To people who are good until they get involved with that drug for the first time. How they change and how it changes a family is horrible. But it’s reality unfortunately.

I felt so many conflicting emotions reading this book but it is what it is. It’s the raw truth as to what happens in towns where no one seems to care that drugs are taking over. Where the law turns a blind eye to things and blames an innocent person totally for something that he may or may not have done.

I have to thank #NetGalley #Ian Pisarcik and #Crooked Lane Books for the eARC of this book.

I gave it 5 stars for the lesson I hope can be learned from reading it and I believe the author did a fantastic job of bringing this story to life. It felt real. From the cold to the addicts to the deaths. It felt like I was seeing these things as they unfolded. To me that is what a good book is suppose to do. I give this a high recommendation.

A GOOD NEIGHBOR by Therese Anne Fowler

This is a book that really made me stop and think. It’s a story that I wish everyone would read and see it like it’s meant to be seen. It’s about a boy and about a girl. It’s about prejudice. It’s about someone not liking the word no or not getting what he wants. It’s about a man who thinks thoughts that no man should be thinking. It’s about a woman who loves her child, both mothers. It’s about a tree. It’s about the law, unjust in many ways. In terrible ways. It’s about hate and love. Life and death. Love and loss. It is one that will make you cry such hard tears. If you have a heart you will weep in a certain part of this story. Many parts for sure but one part in particular.

This book is written in such a way that you won’t want to stop reading for any reason. You will want to find out what is going to happen next. You will also wonder how some things are not seen. It’s about one mother who only wanted her daughter and herself to have a better life. It’s about a mother who has a son who happens to be biracial and will do anything for him. His dad died when he was just a toddler so his mother, who is black, raised him on her own. She sacrificed so much for him. It’s about neighbors. One family rich and one maybe middle class. It’s a story that brings so much. Like why is a biracial child consider black? Why not white? Or as should be both. Or just a child. Just a young man. Just a human being. It’s just not that way. Especially here in the south. There is way to much hatred in the south for a person who is not white. It’s quite sad and sickening too.

I had no idea exactly what this story was going to entail. I thought it was going to be about prejudice. But it’s much much more. The part about a tree is important. It’s like a focal point in this story for the events that will take place. It’s an old Oak tree that has been around many many years.

Quotes from this story: “It’s trite to say appearances can be deceiving, so we won’t say that. We’ll say no one can be known by only what’s visible. We’ll say, most of us hide what troubles and confuses us, displaying instead of the facets we hope others will approve of, the parts we hope others will like.”
“Why couldn’t we see one another as simply human and pull together, for goodness’ sake. The planet was dying while people fought over things like who was most American-or who was American at all.”
“This story isn’t a police procedural. It’s not a legal thriller. Is it a cautionary tale? We think it is-but we wish it weren’t.”
“Start here, please, in communion with one another despite our differences, recognizing that without start there is no end.”(this last one is my favorite)

This is a much needed to be read story.

Thank you #NetGalley #StMartin’sPress #TereseAnneFowler for the eARC of this book. This review comes straight from my heart.

A 5 star book and a very high recommendation.