The Hitchcock Hotel is officially my favorite Stephanie Wrobel book to date and I'm not even a Hitchcock fan! I loved the quotes and other things thatThe Hitchcock Hotel is officially my favorite Stephanie Wrobel book to date and I'm not even a Hitchcock fan! I loved the quotes and other things that were all about Hitchcock including what I'm sure is a lot of nods to his movies throughout the book. I initially liked some of the characters, but as the book went on, I realized this “friend” group was not very nice. To each other and their general behavior. The more secrets that were revealed the viler you will think these people are, but man were they entertaining.
The audiobook really makes this story shine, and I loved Michael Crouch, Gail Shalan & Helen Lloyd as the narrators. While there aren’t any fun sound effects or things like that, the way the voices were blended into the experience were fantastic and I can’t imagine reading it would have hit quite the same way. Wrobel really nailed her twists in the book, and I was impressed by so many. Just when you think you know what is coming the tables get turned and it created that ...more
I have no idea why it took me so long to read Don't Look for Me by Wendy Walker, and I can see why this is one of her top-rated novels! I already loveI have no idea why it took me so long to read Don't Look for Me by Wendy Walker, and I can see why this is one of her top-rated novels! I already love how pacy and bingeable her books are, but this was also off the charts suspenseful, and I especially loved the dual viewpoints between Molly and her daughter Nicole. The twists left me reeling and I ended up with my jaw on the floor because I did NOT see the climax coming. Not even a little bit.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Thérèse Plummer and as usual she was a joy to listen to. It would have been nice to have a viewpoint for both the mom and daughter, but I loved Plummer's narration all the same and thought she was the perfect choice to voice the audio. Don't Look for Me is very mysterious, and the tension builds all the way until that earth shaking ending. This is now my favorite book by Walker!
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
When I was on my most recent road trip, I was looking for something quick to finish up with and I decided to make that All the Other Mothers Hate Me bWhen I was on my most recent road trip, I was looking for something quick to finish up with and I decided to make that All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman. I'm glad I did because this was a fast-paced, short, and very engrossing read that I read almost in its entirety before we got home. I will say it, I did not like a single character and sometimes I almost downright hated Florence. She is incredibly selfish, has an addiction problem, and sleeps with random men, some of whom are married. But her love and devotion to her son never wavered even in the face of something potentially terrible, so I guess she wasn’t all bad.
Florence might be one of the worst amateur sleuths I have ever seen, but she was also very determined no matter what was thrown at her, and I loved that she managed to make a true friend along the way. There were a lot of moments that made me cringe and laugh in equal measure and man does Harman know how write an entertaining storyline! The climax almost completely surprised me and though I did see one part coming, I didn’t have it completely figured out. This is Harman’s debut novel, and I wouldn’t hesitate to read more from her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I'm torn between a 4 or 5 ⭐ for Heads Will Roll byJosh Winning but one thing I do know is that I loved it! I expected this to be more of a blood bath I'm torn between a 4 or 5 ⭐ for Heads Will Roll byJosh Winning but one thing I do know is that I loved it! I expected this to be more of a blood bath right away but instead the author sets the scene and the characters first and it is off to a bit of a slow start in that aspect. As we get closer to the end that definitely changes though and then heads are indeed rolling and there is gore and violence aplenty. My favorite character of them all is definitely Willow's favorite actress (Juniper?), and she was a badass until the very end.
I would thoroughly recommend the audiobook, and I loved the narrator, EJ Lavery. I loved listening to her, and I thought she had the perfect amount of emotion all the way to the end as well bringing the fear, terror, and confusion of the characters to life. I was shocked by a couple of the revelations, and the truth to many facets of the storyline was actually pretty sad. As being more of a horror newbie, I think that is who I would recommend this to over the seasoned horror reader who is looking for something darker/more slasher. Heads Will Roll was perfect for me and now I need to actually get to Winning's backlist!...more
Welcome to another edition of Bookstagram Made Me Do It, this time featuring Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M.J. Wassmer. I cannot believe this is a Welcome to another edition of Bookstagram Made Me Do It, this time featuring Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend by M.J. Wassmer. I cannot believe this is a debut novel, and it is one of the most unique books I have read in quite some time. It is both satire and speculative fiction, two genres that I am not usually a fan of under normal circumstances, but here they were perfection. And let’s not forget dystopian since the sun explodes and it is the end of the world as Dan knows it. Filled with quirky characters, action, and humor, this was a fun ride that would make a great beach read if you can get over the fact it’s about the end of the world happening on an island.
The audiobook is the way to go for Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend, and I thought Stephen R. Thorne was the perfect fit for Dan. He brought the storyline and characters to life in the best possible way, and I could feel every single emotion through his lively narration. The audio is clear and crisp as well, and delivery was on point! I loved the journey Dan goes on personally as well throughout the story and the way his underachieving turns into something different. His relationship with Mara is on center stage and I enjoyed watching them navigate the ups and downs of their circumstances with humor and determination. There is also a big twist that in hindsight I probably should have seen coming, but I didn’t, and I loved it. Read this if you want something different and funny while still having serious moments and an air of mystery....more
John Marrs has such an interesting mind, and I love these wild and crazy books he creates. The Family Experiment is set in the same world as The PasseJohn Marrs has such an interesting mind, and I love these wild and crazy books he creates. The Family Experiment is set in the same world as The Passengers, The Marriage Act, The One, etc., and I'm really glad I started at the beginning of publication with those books to fully appreciate the dystopian world-building that is going on across the board. There are also easter eggs that are not to be missed throughout! The Family Experiment looked at what could happen if we had the ability to create AI children in a metaverse and using a VR headset actually parent these children. It happens in an accelerated timeframe on reality TV, but the concept is there and it's scary to think about with AI being so prominent these days.
The layout of the book screams for a full cast on the audiobook, so I was happy that that is exactly what we got! Clare Corbett, Clifford Samuel, Eilidh Beaton, Joshua Riley, Justin Avoth, Thomas Judd, & Nneka Okoye all did an incredible job and even though there are a lot of characters, I think the audio is the way to go and I was never confused. Along with mixed media that brought fantastic sound effects with the audio, we also have viewpoints from the various couples as well as others. There were some great jaw-dropping moments and twisty twists, and it made me think about that Tamagotchi I had a million years ago as a kid. If you enjoy dystopian worlds, thrillers, sci-fi, and a dash of speculative fiction this is the book for you, and I highly recommend starting with the oldest publication dates and working your way through!
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
The Stranger at the Wedding is A.E. Gauntlett's debut novel and DANG! It had a couple of twists that made my mouth drop open, as well as being a book I could not put down. I saw readers saying there was nothing groundbreaking here, and while I agree to some extent, it still threw me for a loop, and I loved the deviousness of one of these characters. I don't think I actually liked a single person in the story, but that was fine by me and definitely kept things interesting.
I loved the audiobook and thought Sophie Rundle did a fantastic job. There are a few different viewpoints with quite a few characters, and I will admit it was sometimes hard for me to keep track of them all while I was listening. However, once we were introduced to each of them I found it a bit easier though it may be helpful to keep a list if you go the audiobook route. Overall, I was incredibly satisfied with this domestic suspense (I wouldn't call it a thriller) novel, and I will be looking forward to seeing what else Gauntlett writes!
I received an advanced listening copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
I have to imagine that the reason I wanted to read The Essence of Darkness by Tom Clearlake back in the day was because of the synopsis. It sounded liI have to imagine that the reason I wanted to read The Essence of Darkness by Tom Clearlake back in the day was because of the synopsis. It sounded like a great mystery with a procedural factor and the FBI thrown in. What this actually is, is a very strange mix of horror, sci-fi, mystery, and a dash of romance. It looks like this initially came out in French as we have a French author and was translated, but I don’t think the translation has anything to do with the strangeness of the story itself. It honestly stopped making sense at around the 50% mark and just became extremely outlandish and at some times ridiculous, even for the otherworldly storyline.
The disappearance of the children is at the start of this mess, but it devolves, and it felt like Clearlake was trying to cram too many things into one book. It was also a very slow moving plot and the romance between Eliott and Lauren didn’t really make sense. It went from just being a throwaway affair to an obsession and it left me shaking my head. There was also a spicy scene described from Lauren’s POV where you can tell this is written by a man who isn’t even TRYING to write from the woman’s viewpoint. Overall, I didn’t actually skim much but I feel like I wasted my time, and the author was clearly writing some of his bias into the ending which I could have done without. Would not recommend and would not read another book by this author. ...more
I love finding new authors to read and thanks to a friend of mine setting up the cover reveal for The New Neighbour by Miranda Rijks, I was able to fiI love finding new authors to read and thanks to a friend of mine setting up the cover reveal for The New Neighbour by Miranda Rijks, I was able to find another one to love! I knew I had to read this book right away and I'm glad I did since it was very pacy and suspenseful throughout. It made for one super quick read, and it was very easy to find myself saying one more chapter during it. I always love a good neighborhood drama, and the addition of the new neighbor really creates quite a stir. Most of the story is told from Isobel's viewpoint and I really enjoyed it that way. It was a great way to build suspense, and I found myself suspecting every single neighbor of devious deeds. I especially liked the way the first chapter drew me in, and I found myself going back to reread it after I had finished seeing it with new eyes.
I also really liked the fact that The New Neighbour was something different from the typical thriller I am used to reading. Rijks manages to fit in more than a couple of surprises and made it a great blend of twisty neighborhood drama, domestic drama, and suspense all rolled into one. I also enjoyed Isobel as a character and appreciated that she wasn't a pushover since I don't like that type of protagonist at all. As the neighbor's secrets slowly unravel and tensions run high, I found myself regretting the times I had to put it down. Really, the only issue I had with the book was the repetitiveness I found which maybe because of the ARC and not in the finished copy. There were quite a few phrases and facts repeated which always bugs me, but I had zero other complaints. I would love to get my hands on a finished copy to double-check the repetition so be sure to take that with a grain of salt. Definitely looking forward to checking out more from Rijks and I recommend reading The New Neighbour if you want something quick and twisty.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Merged review:
I love finding new authors to read and thanks to a friend of mine setting up the cover reveal for The New Neighbour by Miranda Rijks, I was able to find another one to love! I knew I had to read this book right away and I'm glad I did since it was very pacy and suspenseful throughout. It made for one super quick read, and it was very easy to find myself saying one more chapter during it. I always love a good neighborhood drama, and the addition of the new neighbor really creates quite a stir. Most of the story is told from Isobel's viewpoint and I really enjoyed it that way. It was a great way to build suspense, and I found myself suspecting every single neighbor of devious deeds. I especially liked the way the first chapter drew me in, and I found myself going back to reread it after I had finished seeing it with new eyes.
I also really liked the fact that The New Neighbour was something different from the typical thriller I am used to reading. Rijks manages to fit in more than a couple of surprises and made it a great blend of twisty neighborhood drama, domestic drama, and suspense all rolled into one. I also enjoyed Isobel as a character and appreciated that she wasn't a pushover since I don't like that type of protagonist at all. As the neighbor's secrets slowly unravel and tensions run high, I found myself regretting the times I had to put it down. Really, the only issue I had with the book was the repetitiveness I found which maybe because of the ARC and not in the finished copy. There were quite a few phrases and facts repeated which always bugs me, but I had zero other complaints. I would love to get my hands on a finished copy to double-check the repetition so be sure to take that with a grain of salt. Definitely looking forward to checking out more from Rijks and I recommend reading The New Neighbour if you want something quick and twisty.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
For some reason, I was under the impression that Trouble in Queenstown was Delia Pitts' debut, but it is not! I thought she didAudiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For some reason, I was under the impression that Trouble in Queenstown was Delia Pitts' debut, but it is not! I thought she did a wonderful job of using the showing not telling method, almost to the point where sometimes I wasn't quite sure what she was getting at, but it felt electric all the same. I loved our FMC Evander “Vandy” Myrick, and she was a very relatable character between her quest for justice and the way her dad was the center of her world. Loss of a child is discussed among other things, so I would make sure to check your triggers as this book does get a little dark.
I loved Bahni Turpin as the narrator for the audiobook, and thought she made the entire storyline along with its characters come alive in an exciting way. She was on it during the action scenes as well, and I was impressed with the way she made Vandy shine. I loved how the book was broken down into Vandy's different cases though it also came along with the progression of the plot itself. I love a gritty PI novel, but I also felt like something was missing from this one to keep me from connecting with it fully. ...more
From what I can tell, Ladykiller is Katherine Wood's debut, and it is just the kind of salacious and drama-filled book I love to read. The viewpo4.5/5
From what I can tell, Ladykiller is Katherine Wood's debut, and it is just the kind of salacious and drama-filled book I love to read. The viewpoints rotate between Abby and Gia’s manuscript, and if you don’t like the unreliable narrator trope this will not be for you. I loved the way the manuscript and Abby’s viewpoint ended up tying together, and I definitely spent the entire book wondering how true Gia’s story was. The pacing is on the slower side but still steady, and I just completely fell into this world of sex, money, and bad behavior with a dash of mystery.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Marcella Black & Hallie Ricardo and thought they both did a bang-up job. I did like whoever narrated Gia’s manuscript slightly better, but honestly, they were both rockstars and I LOVED the audio even on a (slow for me) 2x speed. Ladykiller was super close to being a 5-star ⭐ read for me had it not been for the rather ambiguous ending. I typically prefer more closure than what I got here, and I literally shook my fist at the end. ...more
I don't know why it took me so long to pick up a book by Shanora Williams, but now I want to read all of her other thrillers. The Bitter Truth is fastI don't know why it took me so long to pick up a book by Shanora Williams, but now I want to read all of her other thrillers. The Bitter Truth is fast-paced, super bingeable, and filled with jaw-dropping twists that I never saw coming. Some parts were tough to read, and I appreciated Williams including triggers at the beginning of the book in a dear reader section. If you have triggers, I would be sure to read it as there are definitely a few in here. The two main viewpoints in the beginning are Jolene (Jo) and her husband Dominic, but then it flips around midway, and we have more female POVs. I loved the way that and some focus on the past made the story flow and it certainly kept me on my toes.
The entire audiobook is narrated by Sable Lyn & Roderick Ross with Ross narrating Dominic and Lyn narrating all the female viewpoints. Thankfully, Williams labeled each chapter, so I didn’t have any confusion over whose POV I was in. I loved Ross’ narration and I just love his voice in general. Lyn was a bit of a mixed bag for me, and while I liked her narration, I didn’t love it. She had pauses in odd spots throughout, and it just felt pretty unnatural overall instead of flowing. I don’t want to say too much about the actual storyline, and I think besides knowing triggers, The Bitter Truth is best to go into as blind as possible. I loved the strong friendship that was in the book as well and that bond is something I don’t get to see too often in thrillers, so I was happy. If you are in the mood for something that is dark, twisty, and packs a punch this is it! ...more
"I thought detectives come in pairs, like socks." - Anthony
I'm trying to get through some old backlist NetGalley, so I've been trying to target books "I thought detectives come in pairs, like socks." - Anthony
I'm trying to get through some old backlist NetGalley, so I've been trying to target books that don't have an audiobook out. The Secret She Kept by J.S. Ellis is a very quick read that kept me guessing but did end up being pretty middle of the road for me as far as thrillers go. I didn't like any of the characters which usually isn't a problem, but they are all adults and some of the childish behavior started getting on my nerves.
I loved the format of this book and the way it alternated with Anthony's viewpoint and the clips of Lottie's videos. It created quite an air of mystery as well as a speedy plot that made me not want to put it down! I did notice a lot of editing mistakes such as missing words and other grammatical errors that were in the finished book which I will admit turned me off a bit as well. Overall, The Secret She Kept was a pretty solid read, but not one that I will be recommending to everyone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own....more
Holy moly, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is Briony Cameron's debut, and I couldn't put this action-Holy moly, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is Briony Cameron's debut, and I couldn't put this action-packed thrill ride down. Cameron focuses on a woman who may be fictitious or made up from many forgotten women in the past with Jacquotte, and brings her idea of what her story could have been to life in this swashbuckling pirate tale. This was unlike any other historical fiction novel I have ever read, and I was completely wrapped up in both the storyline and worrying about how things would end for our fearless FMC.
I listened to the audiobook and have to say Angel Pean did an incredible job narrating. It felt like she was destined to be the voice of Jacquotte, and I thoroughly loved every bit of her narration. There is a lot of violence which can be expected when we are talking about pirates, and I could totally see this being made into an amazing movie. There is also a queer romance at its heart that I couldn't get enough of and Jacquotte is just the type of badass female lead that I love. She was unbreakable even at the hardest times, and this work of fiction will be something I remember long into the future....more
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's otheAudiobook Rating: 5/5
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson was such a fun read and proved to me that I need to stop putting off this author's other books. I loved the dual timelines between Marlowe and the Ralston family in 1932 which eventually come together so the reader knows exactly what happened at Morning House. There was so much to uncover, and I loved all of the little clues and twists along the way. Marlowe made me LOL quite a bit, while the Ralston POV was more serious and ominous. Who knew candles could be so dangerous?!
I listened to and loved the audiobook and thought Katherine Littrell did a wonderful job as the narrator. I am a pretty large fan of hers in general, and she did an excellent job with every aspect of her narration here. Death at Morning House is a queer romance and murder mystery all wrapped up in one fast-paced story and thriller readers who love YA are sure to enjoy it. I especially enjoyed the end and the introduction with the articles! Plus, Marlowe's POV gives new meaning to the phrase if you can't be good, be careful. ...more
Things Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins felt very literary mystery to me, and though it is very character-driven I loved it to the maxThings Don't Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins felt very literary mystery to me, and though it is very character-driven I loved it to the max! The bonds of family run deep in this one, and the blend of Willa's quest to find her missing sister plus the alternating viewpoints and general heartbreak and drama created the perfect storm of readability. I listened to this in basically one sitting, and it grabbed me from the first page. I got lost in Collins' writing and I still can't believe this is a debut.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Christina Cole, Emily Lucienne & Nathalie Buscombe, and damn was it good! Each of these narrators did an excellent job with their characters and helped to completely envelop me in the story. I feel like I'm being really vague, but the synopsis is also pretty vague, and I don't want to give anything away. Things Don't Break on Their Own is an onion with many layers and excellent characterization, and I teared up and got chills at the same time. Just outstanding, and I can't wait for the author's next book.
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own....more
I have only just started dipping my toes into romantasy and smuttier books, and I LOVED Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee! It took until about the 70% marI have only just started dipping my toes into romantasy and smuttier books, and I LOVED Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee! It took until about the 70% mark for the spiciness to really even come into play, and by that time Cate and Lachlan had quite the rapport going. I loved both characters but especially our fierce FMC Cate. She is just the type of woman you want as the star of the show, and she wasn’t a weak character in any aspect. The majority of the story is told from her perspective with Lach coming in near the end. Even though his POV is minimal it gave me chills and it was a smart move on Lee’s part.
The audiobook is freaking fantastic with Raquel Beattie as the narrator for Cate and Aiden Snow narrating Lach. Even though it is a little lengthy at 14 hours and 27 minutes, I was so caught up in the story that it didn’t feel like it. And THAT CLIFFHANGER! I knew it was coming even though I still held out hope there would be some sort of closure, but nope, and now I’m dead. I hope we don’t have to wait long for book 2 of this series or I might lose my mind with the not knowing. Lee’s writing sucked me in from the first SENTENCE and it is very fluent, concise, and expressive which is everything I needed for Filthy Rich Fae. I will definitely need to read more from this author, and if you enjoy romatasy with an air of mystery I highly recommend this deliciously dark book! ...more
Finally, my first Catherine Cowles book, and boy was it a doozy! Fragile Sanctuary is this wonderfully crazy mix of steamy romance, serial killers, anFinally, my first Catherine Cowles book, and boy was it a doozy! Fragile Sanctuary is this wonderfully crazy mix of steamy romance, serial killers, and suspense that I could not put down. Told from the viewpoints of (view spoiler)[ex-FBI profiler (hide spoiler)] Anson and Rhodes who has to confront her past through renovation of her family home, this duo had lots of tension right from the beginning and I couldn't get enough of either of them.
I did find the audiobook to be a bit disappointing, and I thought Zachary Webber’s performance was very lacking. Andi Arndt is the narrator who stole the show here and I loved her for the voice of Rhodes. I don’t think I can say too much about Fragile Sanctuary without giving anything away, so I will end by saying that if you love suspenseful spicy romance with mystery elements and plenty of lovable characters, this is the book for you. I can’t wait to read more of this series and I’m so glad it’s book one!
I've probably said it before but I will say it again: I have not met a Robyn Harding book I haven't liked, and I was dying to read The Haters. This liI've probably said it before but I will say it again: I have not met a Robyn Harding book I haven't liked, and I was dying to read The Haters. This lived up to every expectation I could have had for it, and it completely blew my mind! ...more
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