Ruth Ware takes the readers to a isolated manor where nothing is what it seems: All she was looking for a change when she stumbles across a nannying add that seems too good to be true; the money, the location though a bit isolated is beautiful and the house has been completely renovated and has become a “smart” home. She believes that she has hit the jackpot of jobs, even though there seems to have been a high turn over nannies before her. What she doesn’t realize as why all those other nannies left and the nightmare that is about to begin and will endothelial the death of a child. She is doing everything she can to explain what happened, what it was truly like living there and to prove her innocence before it is too late. This is the first book that I have read by Ware and going into this book I had very high expectations, just based upon the reviews I had seen and it seemed to me that Ware and her books were turning up on all of my social media feeds. This book mainly met my expectations, there were a few times when I didn’t understand some of the main characters decisions while watching the children, seemed a little dumb especially for someone who had worked with children before and I was able to figure out one of the three main twists in the book. Ware has a way of writing that even though I did not think this was going to be a suspenseful book it was full of it especially when Rowan starts her Nanny job. Ware knows how to create a creepy atmosphere and ambiance through her writing skills. I felt like I could feel the draft coming from the closet or hear the creaks coming from the ceiling. Chills I tell you, Chills. You keeping reading wanting to know what is causing all the strange happenings occurring through out the house and ground. Is it ghosts, the smart house, the children or her employer; I’m not going to tell. I feel like the case against her would not have gone to court. The evidence was too circumstantial and no Crown would want to go to court with all the holes and lack of evidence, even with a confessions. A good lawyer totally would have been able to get that thrown out and it seemed to me like she was writing to a good one. While she is telling her story you cannot help but feel sorry for her and the for facts she tells this feeling just deepens, you want the purpose for her letter to succeed. I really enjoyed this book and I know that I will read another book by Ware again. Ware really seems to have the gift for writing and engrossing you in the story so I look forward to discovering her other works. Enjoy!!!!
Alright, this is the 10th and final book in this series, so do not read any further if you are considering starting this series as so many things will be spoiled for you that you will not enjoy the books as much as you could. If you are thinking of starting this series the 1st book is Magic Burns. I highly recommend this series. It was one of my favourite Urban Fantasy reads and one that I have continued to read even when I have stopped others.
Ilona Andrews is back with her Kate Daniels series, and everything is on the line but this time Kate has something even more important to fight for than just herself and Atlanta:
Kate has come a long way from as a solo mercenary taking on all the paranormal problems for the city of Atlanta. She has found not only a home but a family as well but her magic is too strong to not attract those who not only have power but crave it as well. She currently has an uneasy truce with her father Roland (who Kate knows is just looking for the right opportunity), mysterious visions from the Witch Oracle and a strange goo that has been found in a town outside of Atlanta's boarders. Kate knows that it is going to take every magical and paranormal person of Atlanta to fight this new threat and they may not win but she has to try, for everything she hold dear is on the line. Well it is the end, and as much as I am sad to have it occur (and I would be lying if I didn't say that I wanted it to continue on) I respect the Andrews' decision to end this amazing series. And Wow did it end on a high note but still there were many losses as well. Andrews has always strived for balance between life and death in this series and while you know the main characters are mainly safe there are secondary ones you come to love that may not be.
Kate has changed as her life and situation has changed. She has shed many of the teachings from her previous masters' and teachers and really has evolved into a formidable warrior with a softer side. I loved how this book showed the growth of Kate and Curran's relationship and then add in their child and now we're in a whole new type of story and phase of their life. Life as a parent is never easy and always complicates simple tasks, add in that the child is part shifter, well that just is a whole new can of worms. We do not get to see a lot of the settling in as a family process in this book as there are threats right from the beginning but it is there in the undertones. It was also interesting to see the length that Curran was willing to take to protect Kate and be a part of her life for as long as he could. I don't want to spoil things but it is a pretty drastic measure. I was not expecting a connection to the off shoot book in this series, Iron and Magic, and since I had not read that book yet (I was going to pick it up after this book to start something new), I feel like that book has been ruined a bit for me as well this book kind of tells you what is going to happen. I'll still read it but I think some of the spark from starting a whole new series there is gone. We have all followed Kate through many dangers and personal growth throughout this series, that I am really satisfied with this ending of this book and series. I will be sad when I look next year for the next book in this series and there not be one, but what do they say "All good things must come to an end". Also if you can recommend a series that you loved as much as this one, let me know. I need to find a new series to love :)
Courtney Summer follows the path of a missing girl and her journey of revenge:
Sadie has had to grow up very early in life from her mother's constant use of alcohol to the never ending men she brought home, Sadie has had to take care of herself and sister for a long time. This was especially true when their mother left them. Sadie dropped out of school and did everything she could to support Mattie and let her have a normal life. But when Mattie is found dead everything in her life crumbles. Sadie is determined to prove who murdered Mattie, in fact she's pretty sure she knows who did it and finding him will be the biggest challenge. West McCray is doing a segment about small town America when he hears about Sadie's story. Something about the story and Sadie herself compels him to not only tell Sadie's story but to find her as well, hopefully before it is too late. Sadie is one of the BEST books that I have read this year and I didn't even see it coming. It was recommended to me at the library and I thought why not I can give it a try. What occurred was a book that is filled a journey that is like any other that I have ever read that you will not want to put it down. You get sucked right into the story of Sadie and not only her journey for revenge but the hunt for her as well. This book has some content that is hard to read, mainly child abuse/molestation/murder and alcoholism so there could be triggers for some as Summers does not shy away from these harder aspects of Sadie's life and she does not romanticizes them either, if anything she tells them in all their gritty detail. Honestly, how can you not like Sadie more and more as you read this book. She made every sacrifice she could to help Mattie. As you read farther into the book you become more and more invested in her and what she is trying to achieve as well as West's attempt to find her. You also get hints of what her life was life before all this happened and you can only use the words strong and resilient to characterizer her. This book is told from Sadie's point of view and a serialized podcast produced by West, where he is trying to put together what happened to Mattie as well as trying to find Sadie. From the podcast we get additional information and points of view as West interviews people who the girls know and came into contact with. Due to the fact that we get these interviews happened after Sadie left there are time that you as the readers know more about Sadie and where she has been and what has happened to her before those in the podcast do. Usually, I would fault the book for this as you are waiting for characters to catch up to you, but it just works in this story. The ending will not be for everyone and I applaud Summers for ending it in the way she did and I feel like Summers did this book and topic justice and kept it as real as she possible could. I'm interested in reading another book Summers, and I HIGHLY recommended this book.
