Sally Hepworth: Darling Girls

Sally Hepworth shows that although the outside of the house made look Idyllic, it is anything but on the inside:

Jessica, Norah and Alicia are often told how lucky they are. How lucky they are to have been taken in by Miss Fairchild, to save them from some horrible situations in life. How lucky they are to live in such a beautiful home on a beautiful estate. But living with Miss Fairchild did not feel very lucky at all. Miss Fairchild had rules, Miss Fairchild was unpredictable, and Miss Fairchild was never to be crossed or there would be consequences. The girls were able to handle it till one faithful day where they needed to get away. Now 25 years later the home is being destroyed but in the process a body is discovered under the house, and now there are more questions about what happened in that house.

This is the first book by Hepworth and I now need to check out all of her backlist as once you start this book the mystery hits you full force and does not let you go till the end. Hepworth does a great job of keeping this high till the end as you question what is happening in both timelines and what each timeline is going to reveal, this is what makes this book a great domestic suspense book. I think that people need to realize that this is a domestic suspense book and not a straight-out mystery or thriller. For me a domestic suspense book has different parameters than the other two genres, often in domestic suspense things unfold a bit slower and I could see that not being appealing to everyone.

I'm a big fan of books that have the multiple timelines and POV, when i realized that this book was going to have those aspects to it, I knew I was going to love this book. I think that this created a well rounded book and no one was left out. Plus it gave insight as to some of the reason why the girls grew up into the women that they are today and the way that they cope in their everyday lives.

I think Norah (I made sure to have the h there, lol) was my favourite character, i just loved her don’t care attitude about things but made sure that all the girls and women had a voice. She did seem to be the one that was least affected by their time with Miss Fairchild and was often used as the comic relief in the book. In both timelines I could not help but feel sorry for Jessica and what she had endured. But i loved the aspect that the girls became sisters in this book and stuck up for one another and have stuck together even into adulthood, though that is probably a coping mechanism in itself.

The Manipulation factor is on point in this book and the methods that all the characters use in one way or another from subtle to blatant but I was here for both. And the manipulation stems all the way to the end of this book, and the ending is one of my favourites that I have read this year.

Excellent book and one to pick up if you are looking for a domestic suspense book, if you like manipulation as a main aspect in a book and man that ending was on point. Really can’t wait to check out other books that Hepworth has written, which do you recommend?

Enjoy!!!!

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L. M. Chilton: Swiped

In his debut novel, L.M. Chilton shows that one of the Cons to a dating app is murder:

Online Dating is never really fun. It's nerve racking, stressful and you never really know what you're going to get. At least that has been Gwen's experience. After a breakup with a long-term boyfriend, Gwen decides to give online dating a try, with some not so great results. The results become even worse when her date from the previous night turns up dead, and then another then another. Now the police think that Gwen is killing off her bad dates and she is forced to do some of her own detective work in order to prove her innocence and hope she can stop a killer before all her pervious dates are killed.

When I first read the concept of this book, I thought it was a pretty smart idea and very Now concept for it. I really wanted to like this book, but I fee like it's a case of "it's not you, it's me" as I was really feeling the first half of the book. Sure, it was a bit farfetched but I felt invested to see who would get murdered and the dates that Gwen went on.

I like that there was separate chapters for the dates that Gwen went on and was probably my favorite part of the book as it highlights the vast difference in dates that the men decide to meet Gwen on. It also shows the trouble with going on a date where who you have met online you get some preconceived notions of who they are and what they look like as it highlights how fake someone can be online and what they choose to show and what they choose not to show.

I don’t think I ever really liked Gwen as a character, the more I think back about her in the book, I struggle to find a redeeming quality or something that stood out in her character, other than her constantly saying that she is Funny? (I question this statement). I personally wished there would have been a second POV in the book, I just felt there was something lacking by only having Gwen's POV.

I got bored in this book like halfway through and i'm not sure why. It took me way longer to read this book than it should have. I just didn’t feel the need to pick this book up and felt like i was forcing myself to from the middle till neat the end. The book did pick back up near the end for the book, but i did struggle to get there.

Well, this book was not for me. I applaud Chilton in the plot ideas for this book but i just failed to really get into it, even though it had many elements I normally enjoy. 

Cheers!!!!

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Alex Finlay: If Something Happens to Me

Alex Finlay is back and this time not all is what it seems:

Ryan thought he had found the love of his life, Ali, and her piercing screams still haunt him at night. The only thing that Ryan saw was a man missing his pinky fingers before he receives a crushing blow to the head. No on believes his story, even though there is no evidence but with a good lawyer he is not charged. 5 years later while in Italy, Ryan swears he sees the same man again, back home Ali’s vehicle is recovered in a lake and there are two dead men inside and a very cryptic message. This prompts the police department to reopen Ali’s case and it is assigned to a young detective and what she finds out is truly shocking.

I have read most of Finlay's books so far and what I appreciate is that he has not repeated himself in content or formula, that is a great author make. This book had me hooked from the beginning, there is something about the start of this book that just drew me in and I needed to know what had happened.

You will have to be okay with multiple POV and locations to enjoy reading this thriller, for me I enjoy this type of format so I was able to sink into it. I was able to figure out some of the twists but not all. You may think that a few POV are way out there, but do not fret, Finlay is able to bring it all together.

I think the characters I enjoyed the most were Poppy and Sophia. I think that either could have their own spin off series in a way, especially with the skills that Poppy picked up in the military and the one that Sophia has had to acquire over time, just by what has happened in their life. I think there will be times when one is confused about how all of the POV are related to each other, keep going it will all makes sense and I think n that Finlay does a good job bringing it all together.

Online bullying is no joke, and you always hope that things will change, but i think that the incidents that Finlay has occur in this book are true of now and it is sad that after everything they are still occurring.

Another great novel from Finlay, and I think one of my favourites by him. I love how all his books are different but have some similar threads. If you are looking for a high paced thriller, then make sure to pick this one up.

Enjoy!!!!

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Kristen Ciccarelli: Heartless Hunter

In the first in a new series Kristen Ciccarelli shows the length a woman will go to, to protect witches:

When the revolution hit against witches, Rune's grandmother knew she had to do everything in power to protect Rune. This is why she sacrificed herself, and ever since that day Rune has made it her mission to save as many witches as she can, so she has become the Crimson Moth. Gideon loathes witches, no only for the harm that was done to humans but to his family as well. He will do everything in his power to catch them and put away the Crimson Moth who foils him over and over again. When evidence shows a connection to Rune, he decides that he must get close to her to figure out her connection, this works to Rune's advantage as well as she needs the information Gideon holds as witch hunter. Let the cat and mouse games begin.

This is the first book that i have read by Ciccarelli and i thoroughly enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the cat and mouse aspect that Ciccarelli uses throughout the book and it goes to the bitter end. Was the cat and mouse game original or the enemies to loves trope original, No, but I enjoyed the twist that Cicarelli took along the way as well as how she laid out the plot. I did not expect some things that happened at the end, total cliffhanger and you’ll feel the need to pick up the next book.

I loved that this book was a dual POV of both Rune and Gideon. I feel like it gave both sides of the story for the witch and the human and how they perceive and want to use each other. You get the sense at times that they are both right and are doing what they believe is right not only for themselves but everyone in the kingdom as well. I feel like you can feel the relationship between Rune and Gideon and the struggles they have internally about liking each other. And this is could only be achieved with a dual POV.

Some reviewers are getting mad about Rune using period blood to cast her spells need to get over themselves. Yeah, it may be gross, but I see it more as resourceful and doing what she needs to do not only to survive but to help other witches. Especially as blood is needed for any type of magic that witches use and that by using the magic it causes a sliver scar to occur so there is no may to hide what has been done. Additionally, I like that there was a price for how the blood is not only affects the magic but the magic user as well.

I know that this book deals with witches and blood magic but at the same time the world building is lacking in places, and it takes a bit to realize how Gideon and other people without powers have gotten to this place in the world. I just wish there was a little more at the beginning to explain other than witches are bad and need to be hunted down and killer. 

Personally, I loved this book and cannot wait for the next one. Highly recommend this book for people who love witch books as well as an enemies to lovers trope.

Enjoy!!!

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Elle Cosimano: Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice

So this is the third book in the series, so you will need to read the first three to grasped the concept, relations and overarcing story of the series, so do not start here, start with the first book Finlay Donovan is Killing it

Elle Cosimano is back for the fourth book in her Finlay Donovan series and Atlantic City is calling:

Finlay and Vero need a cover story and a girls weekend is in Atlantic City is an easy sell to everyone. So easy in fact that some how, Finlay’s mom, the Kids and Steven end up joining them on their “Girl’s Trip”. The real plan is to see if they negotiate out of the money Vero owes to a loan shark, find her childhood crush Javi, find the stolen Ashton Martin and oh stay alive in the process. Easy Right?

I was not sure where Cosimano was going to take this fourth book after the thrid one as I personally was not the biggest fan of that book. I am glad that Cosimano decided to have the whole gang (children included) take a trip to Atlantic City. The change of setting was what needed to bring this book and series back up. I liked that everyone there was out of their comfort zone and needed to think outside of the box in order to not only stay alive but hide what they are doing from the family and the detectives that show up

This book is much more like the first two books and I am happy that I continued on in this series after the third one. There were a lot  more laugh out loud moments in this one and a bit far fetched at time but hey I read in order to escape. There were some times too when I felt a bit whiplashed from plot point to subplot to plot point to new evidence that is was hard to keep it straight at times but it did not take me out of enjoying this book.

Kevin Bacon, loved it, and the jokes that occurred because of the name, cheesy but I was here for it.

I’m really  Glad that Finlay doesn’t fall for Steven's shit and puts him in his place a few times. It was also humbling seeing Steven try to care for the kids by himself and even makes a few comments about Finlay leaving it all to him and her just looking at him and basically saying you did that to me all the time. I love that Finlay has found some inner strength and her needs to come first from time to time. And Nick, well how can you not love Nick, I just wonder with all the lies how it can last.

Where does Cosimano take it here from here and i love that this story has wrapped up a bit? I mean a lot of loose ends are tied up in this book. I would read more about Finlay and Vero to see where Cosimano takes the story, but this book totally redeemed itself from the third book.

Enjoy!!!

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Jenna Levine: My Roommate is a Vampire

In her debut novel, Jenna Levine shows what happens when the rents seems too good to be true:

Cassie loves being an artist, but her form of art is not something that everyone understand and is not as commercial as a lot of artist out there and making a living as an artist is tough enough. When she is no longer able to pay her rent, she is out of options, she needs to find a cheaper place to live and when she finds an ad for a place, the price tag must mean there is something wrong with it. But it is what she can afford. Her new roommate keeps a very late night schedule and they will rarely see each other, and when he starts leaving Cassie notes as wat of communication she cant help but sigh for a bit. His words shows he cares and is interested in her, but when Cassie discovers bags of blood in the fridge she knows not all is what it should be. 

Well this book falls into the category of Super cute with vampires that have some powers, some strange ones at that and they are for sure the sparkle vampires from the early 2000. There is nothing in this book that remotely presents them as scary being so if that is what you are looking for, then just skip this one.

I feel like this book is an ode to the love letter and honestly this was probably my favourite part of the book. People don’t take the time to write each other notes, hell even emails anymore that I loved that Levine used notes on the kitchen counter between the two as the way that Cassie and Freddie got to know each other.

I think that this book needed more from Freddie's POV from this book, it was very much dominated by Cassie's and it felt like they only got the same amount of book time in regards to than the letters that they share from each other. With Cassie's POV and her struggles that she is constantly going through in order make her way in the world. Cassie struggles with confidence both in her personal life and in her passion of Art. I enjoyed going through Cassie finding her confidence in this book and I think lots of people can relate what she has gone through but for the relationship between Cassie and Freddie's it just fell a bit flat at times and struggled to get past the love letters. I did find Freddie's fish out of water antics pretty funny with him trying to adjust to the modern world from what wi-fi is to social media.

 This book was pretty anticlimactic in the end, I didn’t feel the suspense when I feel like Levine wanted me too. I think if Levine was going to have the events that occurred in this book she needed to do more for the reader to feel like there is actually that there is concern and that things are not going to work out. I feel like it came out of nowhere and was a complete plot change from what the book was before.

So this was a cute book that was good. I think you can tell it was a debut especially when Levine kind of switch up the plot when nearing the end. I think lots will enjoy this cute, sweet and little spicy book.

Enjoy!!!

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