Well hello Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland, how I enjoyed you!! And not least of all because the audiobook is narrated by my favorWell hello Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland, how I enjoyed you!! And not least of all because the audiobook is narrated by my favorite narrator, Julia Whelan. This book was a lot of fun, and it made me giggle as well as gave me all the family drama and summer vibes I could possibly want. This is a character-driven novel as well as being packed with them, so it is really helpful that the book has family trees for both the Goldman's and the Weingold's. I would recommend that if you are going to listen to the audiobook you should also have a copy of the physical book as well. The family trees aren't all that large, but they were so helpful to have. I loved getting to know all of the characters and it reminded me a little bit of the show Schitt's Creek for some reason.
I really enjoyed the switches between past and present, and Friedland did an incredible job of describing not just the characters, but the hotel as well. And oh, the drama, Last Summer at the Golden Hotel is a dramedy at its finest, and I loved the tension created between the two families. At its core that's what this book is all about, family, and I loved how heartwarming it ended up being. I haven't watched Dirty Dancing in an age so I can't speak to how much it reminds me of that movie (everyone is comparing it to that), but I can tell you that it immediately made me want to watch it again. This is my first time reading Friedland, but I definitely want to read more from her now and I have a sneaking suspicion I will be doing another listen of this one at some point.
I received a complimentary listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Okay Hannah Mary McKinnon, you got me again! The last book I read by this author (Sister Dear) had a controversial ending for me that I wasn't sure I Okay Hannah Mary McKinnon, you got me again! The last book I read by this author (Sister Dear) had a controversial ending for me that I wasn't sure I liked, and I had to spend a long time thinking about what I wanted to rate, and say, for You Will Remember Me as well. As soon as I read the first few words I was HOOKED to this novel. The pacing is quite quick and between that and the viewpoint changes, there is a lot of mystery and intrigue very quickly. Then we get introduced to the character of Maya and things get real weird, real fast. She was all kinds of messed up, and you can tell right away there is something not quite right with her. I love seeing characters like this in books, and McKinnon sure knows how to write them in a way that makes the reader uncomfortable while also propelling you to keep reading because you need to know what they are going to do.
A lot of this book is predictable which at first was a disappointment for me, but after spending more time thinking about it I realized it really is rather genius as well. The end left me feeling strangely satisfied, and there were a whole two characters I actually felt sorry for and Asher was not one of them. You Will Remember Me is a dark dive into family secrets, and the end will leave you wondering what on earth just happened. I recommend going into it as blind as possible, and just enjoy the ride it will take you on.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I read Meg and Jo when it first came out and loved it, so I jumped at the chance to read book 2 - Beth and Amy. Of course I was not disappointed,4.5/5
I read Meg and Jo when it first came out and loved it, so I jumped at the chance to read book 2 - Beth and Amy. Of course I was not disappointed, and I loved this book almost as much as I loved the first. I am a huge fan of the way Virginia Kantra writes and it had me gripped from the very first page just like Meg and Jo did. I will admit that Amy was my favorite storyline out of the 2, but I still appreciated Beth's and I really enjoyed the fact that Kantra threw in the girl's mom's point of view this time. It wasn't much, but it was just enough to get a better idea of her character and what she was thinking.
Beth and Amy brought tears to my eyes as well as made me laugh, and I love how conversational Kantra's writing style is. It makes you want to be friends with all of the sisters, and I really felt like I got to know each of the characters. I haven't read Little Women in many many years, so I really don't know much in regard to how this retelling compares, but I loved it as its own novel. I will say that I feel like it gives basically everything that happens in Meg and Jo away, so if you want to know each sister's story individually I would start with that one first. I would love to see these books continued, and I am looking forward to reading more by this author!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Okay Colleen Oakley, where have you been all my life?! The Invisible Husband of Frick Island is the first book I have read by Oakley, but I can tell yOkay Colleen Oakley, where have you been all my life?! The Invisible Husband of Frick Island is the first book I have read by Oakley, but I can tell you it made me immediately want to read every single one of her other novels ASAP. I binge-read this book in one afternoon because once I started I could not put it down. The premise is pretty simple and surrounds a woman named Piper who is walking around talking to her missing husband like he is right there. Enter a young, struggling journalist named Anders who comes to Frick Island to cover a cake walk piece for his newspaper, and finds a whole lot more than he bargained for. I loved the way the book switches between both Anders and Piper's viewpoints and they have very distinct voices and stories. Frick Island felt like a character in itself, and I loved the mysterious vibe the entire book had.
I loved the dash of romance in The Invisible Husband of Frick Island, and it is a very heartwarming and quick read. It took a while to find out the mystery of why the people of the island are pretending Piper's husband is there, and the whole way leading up to it was filled with laughter, some tears, and a whole lot of heart. The story completely consumed me, and I found myself wishing I could move to Frick Island just to be with all of these characters. I can't think of any that I didn't like, and Piper and Anders were the best. I loved Oakley's writing style and she has already become an autobuy author with just this book! I have an eGalley, but you can bet I will be buying a finished copy as soon as I can. Highly recommend The Invisible Husband of Frick Island to people that want to feel all the feels and wrap themselves up in these characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Words are almost not enough to describe how much I absolutely ADORED reading It Had to Be You by Georgia Clark. It made me laugh and cry in equal measWords are almost not enough to describe how much I absolutely ADORED reading It Had to Be You by Georgia Clark. It made me laugh and cry in equal measure, and while there are some sad moments this is overall a very heartwarming and optimistic read. It gave me serious Valentine's Day, New Year's Eve, and Mother's Day movie vibes, and it was just like reading a book form of one of them. If you are familiar with any of these movies and love them as much as I do, you will understand what I mean and love this book as well. I loved all of the different characters and their different stories, plus how they end up connecting in the novel. So many elements to love, and I think this NEEDS to be a movie. I would love to watch it play out on the big screen and it would definitely be something I would watch again and again.
There isn't much steam in the book, but that was fine by me, and I loved the romance there was. If you want a story that will make your heart swell, make you laugh-out-loud, and have a few *gasp* moments, It Had to Be You is the ONE for you, see what I did there? I also loved the representation in the novel and the way Clark handles all topics with directness and care. She created such vivid characters and made me want to be friends with every single one of them. She also mixes a lot of troupes, and I think it is impossible to pick my favorite one. There are a lot of characters and storylines which I know confused some readers, but luckily I had no issues at all. I am definitely going to be buying a finished copy of It Had to Be You, and even though I rarely do rereads, this is going to be one of those books where I do. I'm so happy I have other books of Clark's that I can read now, and I highly recommend this to romcom lovers who are a fan of the movies I mentioned!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Whew, talk about a complex debut. The Vines by Shelley Nolden has an incredibly intricate plot as well as 2 different timelines, and I am so impressedWhew, talk about a complex debut. The Vines by Shelley Nolden has an incredibly intricate plot as well as 2 different timelines, and I am so impressed that this is Nolden's first novel. The setting is appropriately creepy, and I thought she did an amazing job making this atmospheric and giving us history at the same time. At times it was hard to read, and it definitely has its disturbing parts, but I was completely captured by this novel and didn't want to put it down. Cora's character really frustrated me at times, but at the same time, my heart broke for her as well. All I wanted was for her to be completely free from her tormentors, and because of her, this book makes for a tough read.
The audiobook for The Vines is done very well and is narrated by Jess Nahikian. Since it's a very thick book, I mostly stuck to the audio as well as following along in my physical copy. A lot is going on and at times it is confusing, so reading this would be the way to go for some people. I was fine on audio for the most part though, and I loved how Nahikian brought the book to life. I think they picked the perfect narrator to voice this novel, and she did really well with each different viewpoint. I have to give props to Nolden for writing something this in-depth, especially when she was fighting leukemia, and I can't believe how scarily similar her plot ends up being with our current times. I didn't know anything about North Brother Island before reading The Vines, and I am pretty horrified to learn its past. If you are a historical fiction fan who likes eerie novels and medical thrillers, I highly recommend checking this one out.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Dead Season by Tessa Wegert is book 2 of the Shana Merchant series and what a book it was. Shana really has to face a big part of her past in thisThe Dead Season by Tessa Wegert is book 2 of the Shana Merchant series and what a book it was. Shana really has to face a big part of her past in this novel, and I don't think I will ever really understand why she does the things she does. It is my opinion that this series should be read in order, and you will understand more about Shana if you start with Death in the Family. You get to know Shana a bit better in this book as well as her relationship with various family members, and I loved the dive into her life. The mystery surrounding the murder of her uncle and the rush to find the missing boy made this a very suspenseful read and I was glued to the pages. The stakes keep getting higher in the game between Shana and Bram, and the end of the book made me need book 3 RIGHT NOW.
The audiobook for The Dead Season is again narrated by Callie Beaulieu and I love that they are keeping her as the narrator and staying consistent. She makes the perfect Shana and I always enjoy listening to her. The audio is very short at just over 9 hours and if you are as big a fan of audio as I am, I definitely suggest going that route but maybe having a physical copy on hand as well. There are a lot of characters and a lot going on, so it's really nice to have something to look back at. Wegert's writing is very immersive and engaging, and that was just as evident in this novel. I love crime fiction and The Dead Season has all the crime you could want while also feeling like a police procedural which I also love. This was another fantastic installment to the series, and I clearly can't wait until the next book comes out!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
If She Dies by Erik Therme was a suspenseful mystery that took me a little bit to get into but once I was hooked, I was HOOKED. This was a super quickIf She Dies by Erik Therme was a suspenseful mystery that took me a little bit to get into but once I was hooked, I was HOOKED. This was a super quick listen which I would assume would make it a quick read as well. Tess was such an interesting character and the entire book is told from her viewpoint. My heart broke for her but at the same time, she makes some very questionable choices as well. I loved the way Therme kept me guessing and the writing was very fluid and compendious, and you definitely won't find yourself wishing for less book. The audio is fairly short at just over 9 hours and it goes very fast. Marguerite Gavin is our narrator and I thought she did a really fantastic job. I haven't listened to anything else she has narrated but I would definitely not be upset if I got to listen to her again.
SO MANY SECRETS! This book is filled with secrets and as they slowly unravel you will be surprised at what you find out. Almost everyone was suspicious, and I don't think I trusted a single character in If She Dies. I was a little thrown by the ending and it wasn't really what I expected, but it sure was a ride to get there. I thought this was more drama than thriller, so I would keep that in mind if you choose to pick it up. I happen to love drama and between that and the suspensefulness of the novel, I didn't want to put it down. I hadn't heard of Therme before I read this, and I am very happy to have discovered another new-to-me author. I loved his writing and will definitely be seeking out more from him!
Thank you to the publisher and Let’s Talk Books Promo for my free copy. Thoughts and opinions are my own....more
To Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters is book 2 of the Regency Vows series, and just like book 1 (To Have and to Hoax), I simply adored it! It is fulTo Love and to Loathe by Martha Waters is book 2 of the Regency Vows series, and just like book 1 (To Have and to Hoax), I simply adored it! It is full of snark, humor, romance, and just enough steam to get you going. I usually don't read historical romance, but this is a series I love coming back to, and I really liked the way Waters brought back characters we have already had the pleasure of meeting in the first book. I am such a huge fan of the way this author writes, and even though I tend to read this series slower than I normally read, I still love every minute of it. I snickered and laughed out loud more times than I can count, and I loved our lead characters, Diana and Jeremy. The book is told from both of their perspectives and I wouldn't have had it any other way.
I do want to say a quick word about the audiobook since I decided to check that out for the last part of the book. Anais Inara Chase & Joel Froomkin narrate it and I thought it was so fantastically done. They were the perfect narrators for Diana and Jeremy and even though I always love when there is more than one narrator, I especially loved it for To Love and to Loathe. I think the audio is a great option if you like listening to books, and I can tell you that you definitely won't be disappointed by Chase and Froomkin. This is such a refreshing series and I always love the banter between all of the characters. Diana is one of my favorites by far, and I was so happy to get her story through this book. If you like romcoms in any form, I highly recommend both of the books in this series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Blessed Bones by Kathryn Casey is my favorite installment of the Detective Clara Jefferies series yet!! I loved this book so much, and it wa4.5/5
The Blessed Bones by Kathryn Casey is my favorite installment of the Detective Clara Jefferies series yet!! I loved this book so much, and it was filled with plenty of action and mystery. I love that Clara finally decided to face her past and stop running from what scares her (albeit for a good reason). We learn a lot more about what happened before she fled Alber, and it was nice to get to know her better even if it was at times hard to read. My heart hurt for her and it made me appreciate her as a character even more than I already did. There is a bit of romance in this one again even though it isn't mentioned in the synopsis, and I always love the relationship between Clara and Max. There are plenty of serious topics in The Blessed Bones, but Casey always infuses the perfect amount of wittiness and humor right when you need it the most.
Really there were a lot of hard things to read in this book in general, and I feel like it might the heaviest book of the series so far. I was very intrigued to learn where Casey got the idea for the plot, and I really appreciated the note about this at the end. The Blessed Bones is incredibly realistic and I think that made it even harder to read, but I was glued to the pages and it was an incredibly quick read. The last sentence gave me chills, and I am really excited to see where the next book will take Clara and what kind of trouble she will find herself in, because you can tell it is coming. The plot was complex, Casey's writing was incredible, and there isn't much not to love about The Blessed Bones. I highly recommend checking out this series if you haven't already. This is book 3 of the series and they all build on each other so I find it best to read in order, but whatever you do - you should pick them up!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Wow Debbie Babitt, look at this amazing debut novel you wrote!! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved Saving Grace. This book is heavy o4.5/5
Wow Debbie Babitt, look at this amazing debut novel you wrote!! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved Saving Grace. This book is heavy on religion which I didn't have any issues with, and I thought it was very interesting how it tied into every thread of the story. The first half of the book is more of a slow burn, but once you get to the second half things really start to ramp up and this one ends with a BANG. It made me think, made me mad, made me laugh at times, and overall, just really made me wonder why the people were making the choices they did.
I don't know if I really loved Mary Grace, but I felt awful for her and was happy to see a woman in a position of power in a novel. Being as she's a sheriff, there is a bit of a procedural feel as well as mystery elements while being a thriller at its core. I loved the way Babitt wrote Saving Grace which is broken into parts as well as two time periods. There are a lot of characters which will probably confuse some readers, but somehow, I managed to keep them all straight and didn't have any issues. The biggest thing for me was how almost every chapter would end on a cliffhanger and that kept me saying 'one more chapter' pretty dang near the entire book. It was a very quick read and I am excited to see what this author is going to write next!
Thank you to the publisher and Let's Talk Books Promo for my free copy. Thoughts and opinions are my own....more
I literally don't even know how Madeleine Henry thought of something as extraordinary as The Love Proof, but I am here for it. There is romance in thiI literally don't even know how Madeleine Henry thought of something as extraordinary as The Love Proof, but I am here for it. There is romance in this book, but it has to be the most unique take on a romance that I have ever seen. There is love, loss, and a WHOLE lot of science all thrown into one, and I think I had tears in my eyes half of the time I was reading this. I loved all of the random facts, and this is one of those books where I actually felt like I learned a lot, even though some of it takes place in the future. I am not always a tough sell on 5-star reviews, but this book deserves all of that and more, and you don't have to take my word for it - read all the other glowing reviews!
The Love Proof is incredibly different from Henry's debut Breathe In, Cash Out, and I definitely wasn't expecting a book so in depth into science and physics. There is a lot of information in this book and it might overwhelm some people, but I loved every single minute of it. Sophie was a great leading character, and I really appreciated the viewpoint changes between her and Jake. Henry expertly placed each POV change, and I especially loved where she added in their backstories along with the current story. This book literally wrecked me, and it is one of those novels where you are left wanting even more (Paul Harvey I want The Rest of the Story!). The end is more of a beginning than an end, and if Henry decided to give us another book with these characters, I wouldn't be mad about it. Overall, I was just blown away by this new take on a love story, and I am now forever in awe of this author.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own....more
Well what a ride this one was! If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier is a debut but you could have fooled me. I loved the tenseness in this book, and IWell what a ride this one was! If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier is a debut but you could have fooled me. I loved the tenseness in this book, and I thought it was both perfectly suspenseful while also giving the reader a very claustrophobic feel. It is definitely a slow burn, but I could not put it down and there is enough going on that you just want to keep reading until the very end. I love that every chapter starts with an excerpt from Rachel's true crime podcast, and that plus the short chapters made the book fly by. You can never be sure of Sera as a narrator, and she was a bit unreliable overall which I think brought something extra to the story.
The isolated ranch couldn't have been a better setting, and there are so many things that gave me the heebie-jeebies. If I Disappear is a very unsettling read, and while nothing is overly descriptive, there are still plenty of disturbing and chilling things about it. I thought the writing was fantastic and it was a very unique and smart debut. I definitely had no idea where it was headed, and the end left me with my mouth hanging open and chills. I don't normally love the kind of end this one has, but it really worked here, and I was satisfied with it. Maybe there will be a follow-up in the future?? I can only hope, and no matter what Brazier's next book is I will definitely be reading it!
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I absolutely loved The Au Pair by Emma Rous, so I was extremely excited to see she had The Perfect Guests coming out. It is everything I hoped it would be PLUS more, and I loved this one too! It reminded me a lot of a game of Clue, and switches between timelines and viewpoints which were all aspects I loved. It hooked me immediately from the very first page and I didn't want to put it down, so I read it in just two sittings. I started being especially intrigued by the 2019 timeline, but I quickly became equally as invested in the 1988 timeline with Beth as well. I loved the slower burn and the way Rous slowly unravels all of the secrets, and I can tell you I was NOT expecting that ending.
The Perfect Guests is getting a high rating from me for a few different reasons and let me tell you why. The biggest reason is that I loved the overall feel of the book and how it grabbed me right away and kept my attention the entire time. Another reason is that the end took me by complete surprise and the whole book kept me guessing. There was some suspense here, but overall, it is just a great, twisty tale. I couldn't believe how well Rous weaved this story and made all of the things tie together in a way that makes your mouth drop open. And last but not least, I loved the isolated setting and how Raven Hall was basically a character in itself.
I would have loved to be IN this book despite what happens, and it really made me itch to play a game of Clue. It has both some young adult and gothic vibes and makes for a great crossover novel. I thought everything was very distinctive so there is no getting confused, and there aren't any ambiguous endings which is something I am a fan of. If you want a fun book that will hold your attention this year, I recommend checking out The Perfect Guests and Rous' previous novel if you haven't already!
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I haven't read many (or any?) science fiction books with robots and I have to say I really enjoyed The Preserve by Ariel S. Winter. It is an incrediblI haven't read many (or any?) science fiction books with robots and I have to say I really enjoyed The Preserve by Ariel S. Winter. It is an incredibly unique take on a police procedural, and I loved the science fiction/dystopian aspect as well as the robots. I do wish the artificial intelligence details would have been explained since I wasn't familiar with them, but besides that this was a great, interesting slow burn.
The Preserve is told explicitly from the point of view of the Chief of Police Jesse Laughton, and I actually really hope this is going to be turned into a series because I couldn't get enough of him. There is a little bit of mystery surrounding him and I'd love to learn more about his backstory in future books. I also really liked his old (robot) partner Kir and the camaraderie between the two of them once Kir comes on the scene. The mystery was also really well done, and the twists all surprised me which I always appreciate.
I thought the pacing was slow but steady, and even though the book wasn’t very long there is a lot packed into it. It has a great concept, and I was very intrigued by this futuristic world the author created. I don't want to say too much and give anything away, so I will say if you like police procedurals with AI and science fiction elements The Preserve would be a great one to check out!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own....more
It should not be a secret that I have been loving Nordic Noir lately, and The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck was no exception! I'm very e4.5/5 rounded up.
It should not be a secret that I have been loving Nordic Noir lately, and The Witch Hunter by Max Seeck was no exception! I'm very excited that it is book one of a series, and I had a great time starting to get to know Jessica. There are multiple viewpoints, but Jessica's is the main one and I loved her. She has her secrets (who doesn't), but she is an incredibly smart character and made for an awesome detective. I actually think the synopsis gives a little too much away, so I would recommend not even reading it. If you like Nordic noir and police procedurals I would just give it a try to see what you think!
I personally loved the police procedural aspect, and there are quite a few pulse-pounding moments. It is a bit on the slower side but was paced well enough that you never feel bored. Every time it would slow down something else would happen and then we were off again! It did veer off into Jessica's backstory sometimes which was intriguing although I didn't know where it was going. In that respect it reminded me a bit of a Lars Kepler novel, but it was actually about a main character instead of a side character. Eventually you do find out why that period in her life was being brought up and WOW, it was definitely a mind blown moment for me.
The Witch Hunter has some more gruesome and disturbing moments, and there is also a trigger for rape, but overall it didn't go all that in depth so I think it would be ok for the more squeamish readers out there. It was CREEPY though, and I think it made for an excellent fall/October read. I will definitely be looking forward to book two which I hope will be released in the US sooner rather than later.
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
Man this book was rough, and by that I mean the subject matter. A Prayer For The Broken by Mark Tilbury is grisly, gritty, incredibly disturbing, and Man this book was rough, and by that I mean the subject matter. A Prayer For The Broken by Mark Tilbury is grisly, gritty, incredibly disturbing, and completely unputdownable. It's about eleven-year-old John McCormack after his mother is murdered and he gets put into a foster home with a Pastor's family. But Pastor Stone is not like any normal Pastor, instead he's incredibly evil and a killer to boot. The terror and abuse that John experiences in his clutches is what this book is all about, and at times it was very hard to read. The part that really breaks my heart is the fact that this isn't just fiction, but something that can, and does, happen in the real world.
I found A Prayer For The Broken graphic at times, and I think it is best suited for an older audience. I wasn't sure if I should call it young adult, or adult but as I got towards the end I decided on adult just due to how disturbing it is. That being said, it's clearly not going to be for the faint of heart and if child abuse (in any form) is a big trigger for you, this might not be the book you want to pick up. However, I think it is an important topic and I love that Tilbury tackled it head on. A Prayer For The Broken is suspenseful right from the get-go, and that continued until the very last page. There was a slight supernatural element at one point, but even if you don't like elements like that you shouldn't have any issue with this book since it’s such a small part.
I love the way Tilbury crafts his stories, and if you're up for it, A Prayer For The Broken is going to be a book you don't want to miss. It was super readable despite the subject matter, and I read it in only two sittings because once I started I had a hard time putting it down. This is the type of book that makes your skin crawl and at times, want to throw your book across the room, but it was worth the read and I highly recommend it!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advance review copy of this book! All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I am happy to report that Her Final Prayer by Kathryn Casey is another intriguing and twisty addition to the Detective Clara Jefferies series! This may only be book 2 but I already feel like I'm getting to know the (fictional) town of Alber, Clara, and Max a whole lot better. There was a little more of Clara's backstory mixed in with the grisly murder mystery, and I already feel a connection with them that I hope never ends. There are definitely some disturbing and chilling parts but nothing too gory so people who are only slightly squeamish should be ok with this book/series.
I really enjoyed the crime aspect to the novel and thought it was unpredictable and frankly, hard to put down. I really like Casey's books because they are paced so well and such quick reads, and that was definitely the case with Her Final Prayer. The Mormon community is so fascinating to me to read about, and it's really brought alive in this novel. Tensions run high and it made the suspense feel even higher as well. I had no idea where it was going to go and was surprised by ending plus impressed with Detective Jefferies. She's such a smart, strong female character and I love reading from her viewpoint. There is also some of Max's POV mixed in which I always appreciated, but Clara is my favorite overall.
If you are looking for a new crime series to grab, I highly recommend checking this one out. The books don't have to be read in order, but I think that would be helpful unless you want to miss some of Clara's backstory. I had a hard time remembering what happened in book 1 so I felt like I was missing some things there, which is why I recommend binging them in order! This series is perfect if you are looking for something quick and twisty, and I can't wait to see what happens next in Alber.
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own...more
Book two of a trilogy, and The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike did not disappoint! It was another sweeping tale of Celtic history and war in AD ScotlaBook two of a trilogy, and The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike did not disappoint! It was another sweeping tale of Celtic history and war in AD Scotland. Languoreth is back, but there are also viewpoints from her brother Lailoken and daughter Angharad as well. I appreciated getting a couple other viewpoints in this one, but Languoreth is still my favorite of them all. There is more violence in this book of course since it is war, but not too many super disturbing parts or anything that isn't skippable if you really wanted to. I listened to the audio again and of course it was fantastic. Toni Frutin is back as Languoreth, while Gary Furlong and Siobhan Waring voice Lailoken and Angharad, respectively. I liked all of them and was very happy to have Frutin back again.
I loved the ending of The Forgotten Kingdom, and while you know there will be a third book since it's a trilogy, I was pretty satisfied with it considering who knows how long we will have to wait for the final book. I don't love cliffhangers, and while there are definitely questions, it doesn't really end in a cliffhanger in my opinion which is something I appreciated. You definitely can't go wrong with reading it or doing the audio, and I highly recommend both. I like the book because it has a map and the author's note which the audio I listened to was missing.
I highly recommend reading these books in order, although they could also be read as standalones. I think you will get more of the story though if you read them in the correct order which is what I'm doing. I said it before and I will say it again, if you have any interest in Celtic history or historical fiction with a dash of fantasy, I highly recommend checking out both The Lost Queen, and The Forgotten Kingdom. They have both been five star reads for me, and I will be anxiously awaiting the third and final book in this moving tale.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I have got to be honest, I am still gathering all of my feelings up for Behind the Red Door by Megan Collins, but I will say this is a quick, engrossiI have got to be honest, I am still gathering all of my feelings up for Behind the Red Door by Megan Collins, but I will say this is a quick, engrossing, and frustrating read. I don't think I truly liked a single character in this book and Fern and her father both made me want to throw my book across the room. BUT, I have got to hand it to Collins for producing so many emotions in me! I did not see the end coming, and it was all a surprise to me. I had so many theories while reading the book and then it turned out not a single one was right. It may have its flaws, but I am always impressed when a book can keep me guessing and that is exactly what Behind the Red Door did.
It's a rather slow burn, but all of the chapters are fairly short, and it is a very quick read so this could easily be read in one sitting. This is my first time reading a book by this author and it will definitely not be my last! I really enjoyed Collins' writing style, and I am hoping characters in her other books will have more of a backbone. I prefer books that have strong female leads and that is not what I would call Fern, but she did redeem herself a bit in the end for me which I was happy about. And honestly she was definitely the way she was because of the story and if she would have been a strong lead this would have been a different book.
I don't think a whole lot can be said about Behind the Red Door without giving anything away so I highly recommend going in mostly blind. I do wish the end would have answered more of my questions, but overall this is a thrilling, suspenseful read that I highly recommend if you don't mind unlikable characters.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own....more