Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson 5 Stars

Never Have I Ever has been talked about quite a bit this summer, and I am so grateful to William Morrow Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to read and review!

A quick description:
Don't play games you can't afford to lose...
Amy Whey is proud of her ordinary life and the simple pleasures that come with it -teaching diving lessons, baking cookies for new neighbors, helping her best friend, Charlotte, run their local book club.  Her greatest joy is her family: her devoted professor husband, her spirited fifteen-year-old stepdaughter, her adorable infant son.  But Amy's sweet, uncomplicated life begins to unravel when the mysterious and alluring Angelica Roux arrives on her doorstep one book club night.
Sultry and magnetic, Roux beguiles the group with her feral charm.  She keeps the wine flowing and lures them into a game of spilling secrets.  Everyone thinks it's naughty, harmless fun.  Only Amy knows better.  Something wicked has come her way -a she-devil in a pricey red sports car who seems to know the terrible truth about who Amy is and what she once did.  
When they're alone, Roux tells her that is she doesn't give her what she asks for, what she deserves, she's going to make Amy pay for her sins.  One way or another.
To protect herself and her family and save the life she's built, Amy must beat the devil at her own clever game, matching wits with Roux in an escalating war of hidden pasts and unearthed secrets.  Amy knows the consequences if she can't beat Roux.  What terrifies her is everything she could lose if she wins.

I was hooked from the very first chapter! Two strong female characters, circling around each other, ready to pounce at any moment.  So many twists and turns that kept me utterly enthralled.  This book shattered my mind.  Two different times, I had to put it down and walk away, just so I could absorb what I had just read.
Amy and Roux were so different, but also so similar.  I didn't particularly like either of them as people, but at least Amy had some redeeming qualities as a good mother/step-mother/wife. The drama was expertly woven as the different characters lives began to unravel.  This was an outstanding story, incredibly well written, and completely fascinating. I was guessing until the final pages.  A 5 star read!

What would you do to keep your darkest secrets hidden from those that you love? 

Release date: July 30th, 2019

The Passengers by John Marrs 4 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley & Berkeley Publishing Group for the ARC to read and review!

A quick description:
You're riding in your self driving car when suddenly the doors lock, the route changes and you have lost all control.  Then, a mysterious voice tells you, "You are going to die."
Just as self-driving cars become the trusted, safer norm, eight people find themselves in this terrifying situation, including a faded TV star, a pregnant young woman, an abused wife fleeing her husband, an illegal immigrant, a husband and wife, and a suicidal man.
From cameras hidden in their cars, their panic is broadcast to millions of people around the world.  But the public will show their true colors when they are asked, "Which of these people should we save?...And who should we kill first?"

I've read a few other books by John Marrs, so I was happy to see this book was available for review.  This book was definitely a fast paced thriller.  A glimpse in to a possible not-so-distant future, and a brilliantly twisted novel.

Each of the 8 passengers had their own secrets to hide, as well as reasons for what they did, and the hackers were diabolical in their actions.  From beginning to end, I was engrossed in this story.

The theme of this book was disturbing and thought-provoking, and the characters were all easy to relate to.  It was so simple to choose one passengers story over another.  Mob mentality at it's finest, I suppose!
I also really liked the references to his novel The One, which I just found out is going to be a Netflix series!  I guess I'm a bit behind, but I definitely want to watch it because I thought the book was outstanding!

I'm rating this 4 Stars, an amazing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Release date: 8/27/2019

Moth to a Flame by Cambria Hebert 4.5 Stars

Thank you to Cambria Hebert for giving me an ARC to read and review!  Any images used in this post were originally posted on Facebook by Cambria Hebert.

I'll start off by saying that Cambria Hebert is a 1-click author of mine.  She writes a book, I buy it and devour it.  This book was no different.  

A quick description for those who are new to this book:
The only thing drawn to her more than danger is him...Danger isn't Zoey's middle name.  But it is something she can't forget, something she's reminded of every time she looks in the mirror.  For those reasons, Zoey has become an expert at creating the perfect illusion.  Her ability to fool the eye, to create truth where there was previously none makes her the best in the business.
Working as a makeup and special effects artist for Hollywood combines her two life must-haves: her passion for makeup and hiding in plain sight,  It also doesn't hurt that she's safe within the heavily secured and secret studio sets, away from the public eye. 
Then her perfect job becomes her perfect nightmare.
Not only does her illusion slip with the blast of icy water, but it does so in front of the country's biggest action hero, and the gossipiest of celebrity TV shows.
At first, Zoey thinks danger hasn't caught to her and the worst thing about her mishap is the world's most perfect man sees her in all her not-so-perfect glory.
Until a series of unexplained accidents begins on set.
That's when Zoey knows.
Danger as caught up to her...and this time she fears death has too.


This was a great story!  Lots of twists and turns to keep you wondering.  Zoey is a strong well written character.  Her tough outer exterior is only surpassed by her inner strength.  Nick is the perfect Hollywood heartthrob with a heart of gold.  Their dynamic was fascinating.  All the secondary characters were written well.

Following the character development and the story line of this book was really fun because it was like watching them become 3 dimensional people, rather than book characters. Could this novel become a movie?  Definitely!  Would I watch it?  Absolutely.

This is a really hard review to write, because there is so many things I want to talk about that I CANNOT spoil for everyone!  So, read this book, and then COME BACK and we'll talk about it!  Comment, message, whatever!  We need to discuss this book.

I rate this book 4.5 Stars.  Another must-read winner by Cambria Hebert!

Release date: 8/2/2019

The Chain by Adrian McKinty 5 Stars

The book The Chain has been on my must read list for months now. I had a few others I wanted to read before I was going to start this one, but then I saw it made the Summer Book Club on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show and I didn’t want to wait anymore. 

The premise of this story is that a stranger kidnaps your child.  In order to free them, you must abduct someone else’s child. When your victim’s parents kidnap another child, yours will be freed.  If all of this doesn’t happen, your child will be killed. If you contact law enforcement, your child will be killed. If you stray from any of the directions, your child will be killed. 

You are now part of the chain. 

This novel really makes you think. What would you do in this situation?  Would you risk it all by going through law enforcement, or would you break the law and do whatever you could to get your child back safely?

I had a really tough time putting this book down last night, but I finally succumbed to exhaustion around 1 am.  Even after thinking about it all night, I still don’t know what I would have done in this situation. The emotional roller coaster that this made me go through is indescribable. You’ll have to read it for yourself. 

I have to rate this book as 5 stars. A definite must read. If you’ve read it, what did you think?  What would you do?

Release date: July 9th 2019

Making Up by Helena Hunting 4 Stars

Making Up is a standalone novel in the Shacking Up series.  Cosy Felton is a 22 year old free spirited college student, who works in a sex toy shop in Las Vegas while finishing her degree in hotel management.  She meets Griffin Mills while he is perusing the merchandise at her shop for a bachelor party. 

Griffin, the eldest Mills brother at age 33, is in Vegas on a business trip to escape an awful breakup, and while he is uncomfortably shopping for sex toys and lube he finds himself undeniably attracted to the quirky Cosy.  No matter the age difference, Griffin is convinced that Cosy is the only one for him...now if only he could persuade her to believe it too.

Helena Hunting is always on my 1-click list when it comes to new books, and Making Up was no different.  The story is filled with heat, angst, and the extremely humorous writing style that Hunting is known for in her bestselling novels.

I don't want to spoil the story for anyone, but I'll say that I laughed a lot while reading this book.  Cosy and Griffin were really well written, difficult not to fall in love with.  Making Up is a great addition to the Shacking Up world.  I look forward to the next Helena Hunting 1-click!

4 Star read!

Released 7/16/19

Beneath the Attic by V.C. Andrews 3.75 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC to read and review!

When I first found out that there was a new prequel to the Flowers in the Attic series, I was really excited!  I immediately called my mom to discuss.  See, it was her copy of Flowers in the Attic that I originally read so many years ago and while she probably didn't know that I borrowed it, she never censored my reading materials.

This is the story of Garland and Corinne Foxworth, Malcolm's parents.  It's set two generations before the second Corinne locked her own children in the attic at Foxworth Hall.  Corinne Dixon is a young, coquettish girl from a good family.  She meets Garland at an anniversary party of her parents friends, and is immediately struck by his charm.

Corinne is very manipulative, but also far too naive for a man of Garland's age and reputation.  After her pregnancy is discovered, Garland does the reputable thing and asks for her hand in marriage  Quickly she is moved into Foxworth Hall and rushed into matrimony and an omnious environment.  Even that many years ago, the Hall is full of mystery, sinister secrets, and obsessions.


My thoughts:
Obviously this was written by a ghostwriter, as V.C. Andrews passed many years ago.  It's a very familiar plot line, especially if you've read a lot of V.C. Andrews books.  I did enjoy the story though.  For years I've wondered about the early generations of Foxworth's, and some of my questions were answered.
The only inconsistency I noticed was a mention of Scarlett O'Hara.  This book was set in 1890.  Gone With the Wind (an AMAZING book) was written in 1936.  I look forward to the next book in this series.  If you liked the original series, you should read this book.
I give this 3.75 stars.

Release date: 8/27/19

The Silence by Tim Lebbon 4 Stars

The Silence is a novel written by Tim Lebbon.  Lebbon is a New York Times bestselling author who resides in the UK, and generally writes horror/dark fantasy.  Many of his novels have been produced into movies, including The Silence.

The Silence is an apocalyptic thriller that follows a teenaged girl named Ally, who was left deaf as a child due to an accident, and her family's survival in a world forced into silence.  Ally, her parents Hue and Kelly, her brother Jude, and grandmother Lynne have an advantage in this new world because they know sign language.

Like many horror stories, it begins with people going into a place that they should never enter. In this case, it’s a self contained ecosystem in an enclosed set of caves.  Within those caves is a ravenous creature that they call vesps.  The vesps are a weird bat like creature that are blind and hunt by sound alone. The creatures breed and multiply horrifically fast, and mature to adults in mere days, and have a gluttonous appetite and attack in swarms reducing humans and animals to bones.  Within weeks of their escape, entire countries have been destroyed and humanity is facing extinction.

Ally and her family leave their home and flee across the country to try and reach safety at a remote estate in Scotland.   I had a really tough time putting this book down so that I could go to sleep.  The story was engrossing, and there were so many threats to their lives other than the vesps.

I know that this has been made into a Netflix movie, but I haven’t seen it yet. Not only because I have to read the book first, but mainly because I cannot watch horror movies. Have you read the book and seen the movie?  What do you think?  Leave me a comment or send me a message!

I give this novel 4 stars!

Release date: 4/14/15

I’ll Never Tell By Catherine McKenzie 4 Stars

I'll Never Tell is an engrossing story of psychological suspense with enough twists and turns to keep any reader guessing!

What happened to Amanda Holmes?

Twenty years ago, she was found bludgeoned in a rowboat at the MacAllister family’s Camp Macaw. No one was ever charged with the crime.
Now, after their parents’ sudden deaths, the MacAllister siblings return to camp to read the will and decide what to do with the prime real estate the camp occupies. Ryan needs to sell. Margaux hasn’t made up her mind. Mary believes in leaving well enough alone. Kate and Liddie—the twins—have opposing views. And Sean Booth, the groundskeeper, just hopes he still has a home when all is said and done.
But it’s more complicated than a simple vote. The will stipulates that until they unravel the mystery of what happened to Amanda, they can’t settle the estate. Any one of them could have done it, and each one is holding a piece of the puzzle. Will they work together to finally discover the truth, or will their secrets finally tear the family apart?

This was definitely a complex story, told by all of the MacAllister siblings in their own way.  Ryan was not a likable character from the start and that didn't change for me as the story went on.  While not all of his actions were bad, enough of them were for me to dislike him.  Margaux, who was Amanda's best friend, wants to believe the best in everyone and seems to have the most difficulty in believing that one of her siblings had anything to do with what happened with Amanda.  Mary appears to be the least involved, as she was younger than Margaux and Amanda, but she has her own secrets.  The twins, Kate and Liddie are hiding the most things from their family, but since they were so young when the incident happened, how much of what they think they  saw that night really happened?  Sean, the groundskeeper, has the most to lose if the camp is sold and he really wants to protect Margaux above all else.

I really liked how the spreadsheet of where everyone was the night that Amanda was bludgeoned in the rowboat was updated at the beginning of each chapter, while the night in question is slowly explained by each character until you know who really did it....or do you actually know?  
I give this 4 stars!

Published: 6/1/19

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough 4.5 Stars

This review is going to be about an old favorite.  Maybe you've read it before, or have seen the miniseries.  Perhaps you've never even heard of it.  The Thorn Birds was originally published in 1977, written by Australian author Colleen McCullough and it became an international bestseller.  It was adapted into a television miniseries in 1983 and was one of the United States highest rated ever.  The novel spans between 1915 to 1969, and

The Thorn Birds is a robust, romantic saga of a singular family, the Clearys. It begins in the early part of this century, when Paddy Cleary moves his wife, Fiona, and their seven children to Drogheda, the vast Australian sheep station owned by his autocratic and childless older sister; and it ends more than half a century later, when the only survivor of the third generation, the brilliant actress Justine O'Neill, sets a course of life and love halfway around the world from her roots.
The central figures in this enthralling story are the indomitable Meggie, the only Cleary daughter, and the one man she truly loves, the stunningly handsome and ambitious priest Ralph de Bricassart. Ralph's course moves him a long way indeed, from a remote Outback parish to the halls of the Vatican; and Meggie's except for a brief and miserable marriage elsewhere, is fixed to the Drogheda that is part of her bones - but distance does not dim their feelings though it shapes their lives.
Wonderful characters people this book; strong and gentle, Paddy, hiding a private memory; dutiful Fiona, holding back love because it once betrayed her, violent, tormented Frank, and the other hardworking Cleary sons who give the boundless lands of Drogheda the energy and devotion most men save for women; Meggie; Ralph; and Meggie's children, Justine and Dane. And the land itself; stark, relentless in its demands, brilliant in its flowering, prey to gigantic cycles of drought and flood, rich when nature is bountiful, surreal like no other place on earth.

I cannot even remember the first time that I read this novel, but I've read it countless times since then.  The different relationships are fascinating. This novel, while a family saga spanning decades, continents, and generations, is mainly about relationships.  Relationships between brothers and sisters, parents and children, and men and women. The mother/daughter dynamic between Fiona and Meggie, and then Meggie and Justine is heart wrenching.  Meggie's relationship with Ralph, which started when she was a young girl and moves into romantic territory as she comes of age, is forced to an end when Ralph has to choose between his own ambition and the church and his heart's desire, Meggie.

Meggie's marriage with Luke is beyond awful, as he only sees women as sex objects, and married her for her money.  During leaving the marriage, Meggie has a child, Justine. Meggie's resentment of Justine due the situation of her birth causes many problems for them over the years.  Meggie is so much happier when she is at Drogheda, where she flees to after leaving her husband while pregnant, where she gives birth to Dane.

While her children grown up, Ralph visits Drogheda regularly, becoming a mentor to her son Dane.  Dane ends up following in Ralph's footsteps and becomes a priest.  Justine is much more modern and becomes an actress.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves sagas and family drama.  The Thorn Birds will meet your expectations and surpass them!
I give this 4.5 stars.

Originally released: 1977

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body - Joseph Addison

I don’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t reading. I started reading young, at age 3, because my older sister came home from school eager to teach me everything she learned. 

I would always raid my mom's bookshelves for new material, but since it was the 80’s/90’s and no one cared what I was reading, I often ended up with books that had subject matter more mature than I was ready for. For example, I was reading Stephen King’s novel It the summer I was 11.  For what it’s worth, I was watching the ABC miniseries at the same time. It was a terrifying 2 weeks. 

As I got older, I was able to join the family book circle.  Basically, you couldn’t visit with a family member without leaving with or passing on a bag of books.  You’d read the ones in your new bag, make your mark on the inside cover so the rest of the group knew you already read it, and pass them on to the next person. 

It was a great way to discover new authors and genres, and I miss the old book circle.

Now, I often do what I call “read-alongs” with my kids. I’ll read what they’re reading so we can discuss it.  It’s a great way to keep them reading and will start some amazing discussions! What are your reading traditions?

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett 4.5 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of The Grace Year to read and review!
Survive the year
No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.

In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.

Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for a chance to grab one of the girls in order to make a fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.

The Grace Year is a well written novel reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale, Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games and Mean Girls.  

Tierney lives in a small county where women are basically property.  The day before the girls are sent to a remote location for the "Grace Year", they are paraded through town so the eligible men can choose who they want to marry.  They are sent away so their "magic" won't taint the men in the county as they come into their womanhood.  The women who survive their grace year are not allowed to discuss it with anyone, and they can and will be physically punished if they disobey the men's rules.  

Tierney is not the average female in her county.  She was taught to hunt, build and survive in the wilderness by her father.  That gives her  major advantage during her time away.  These girls are hunted by poachers, and by each other.  Things get pretty out of control during the time of the banishment and the book really makes you think about women's relationships.  The way they go from best friend to worst enemy at a moments notice.

While I definitely enjoyed this story, I don't really know if the secondary romance was necessary.  I understand how it all fits into the ending, but I really liked Tierney as a strong female protagonist without being saved by a man.

I rate this book 4.5 stars.

Release date: 10/8/19

Lost and Found by Orson Scott Card 5 Stars

Description:
“Are you really a thief?”

That’s the question that has haunted fourteen-year-old Ezekiel Blast all his life. But he’s not a thief, he just has a talent for finding things. Not a superpower—a micropower. Because what good is finding lost bicycles and hair scrunchies, especially when you return them to their owners and everyone thinks you must have stolen them in the first place? If only there were some way to use Ezekiel’s micropower for good, to turn a curse into a blessing. His friend Beth thinks there must be, and so does a police detective investigating the disappearance of a little girl. When tragedy strikes, it’s up to Ezekiel to use his talent to find what matters most.

I received this copy of Lost and Found from NetGalley to read and review!

Orson Scott Card does it again! He is one of the few authors that I have read that are really able to bring his characters to life. Lost and Found is considered a YA sci-fi book, but I think it's a great book for almost any age.

Ezekiel wasn't the most loveable character, but Beth certainly brought out the best in him. As he discovers all the different ways he can use his power, he grows more confident in himself. The friendship between Beth and Ezekiel seemed quite natural, without out the forced romance you often find in YA books.

I give this book a solid 5 Stars, and I truly hope there will be a sequel/series. I'd like to read more of Ezekiel's adventures!

Release date: 9/10/19

The Whisper Man by Alex North 5 Stars

I received this copy of The Whisper Man from Celadon Books.  The book came with a card that plays the creepiest little song when you open it, which I used repeatedly to scare my children.  This novel had some supernatural undertones, but was what I would consider a thriller.

The story starts off with the abduction of 6 year old Neil Spencer and moves on to father and young son, Tom and Jake Kennedy.  The Kennedy family relocated to the town of Featherbank after the death of Tom's wife Rebecca, which is the very town Neil is missing from.  The town of Featherbank has a history of missing children, 5 young boys who were kidnapped and murdered by Frank Carter...also known as The Whisper Man.

Detective Inspector Pete Willis was the one who stopped his spree 20 years prior and to this day remains the only one Frank Carter will speak to about his crimes, except of course where the final body was placed, and whether or not he truly had an accomplice.

Neil Spencer is found 2 months later, in the very location he disappeared from, and Pete joins forces with DI Amanda Beck to try and solve this new mystery that is tied in with Frank Carter's original crime.  Pete is babysitting Jake while Tom goes out for a drink one night, and he gets mortally attacked and Jake is stolen from his home by the same man who kidnapped Neil.

Tom is able to figure out that Jake's classroom assistant George is actually the man who kidnapped Jake, and goes to his home for a confrontation, and is able to save his son.

This book has plot twists aplenty! 

The Whisper Man was an amazing story filled with intrigue and I'd totally recommend it to anyone!

I'd give this a solid 5 stars.

Release date: 8/20/19

The Dark Side by Danielle Steel 4.5 Stars

The first book I am going to review is The Dark Side by Danielle Steel.  Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC to read and review!

The Dark Side was not your usual Danielle Steel fare.  It was intense, gritty, and lacked the normal HEA you get with her novels.  The main character Zoe had a very traumatic childhood.  Her baby sister Rose was stricken with leukemia and tragically passed away.  During this time, her parents drew themselves into their own worlds of grief, abandoning Zoe to basically raise herself.  Zoe managed to persevere and start a good life for herself.  She met her husband Austin and started a family.

Zoe was an excellent mother to her daughter Jaime, too good even.  Jaime started having a series of small injuries.   Simple things, a fall here, a bump there.  But it was more than that.  Zoe had all the signs of a parent with Munchausen by Proxy, or MBP*.  Luckily, in Jaime's case, she had an observant father and grandmother who were able to recognize the signs and symptoms.  Combining forces with Jaime's doctor, Cathy, they were able to contact CPS and get the wheels turning to save Jaime.

Unfortunately, before they can remove Jaime from the grasp of her mother, she has an all too real allergic reaction to honey, giving Zoe the perfect weapon to be the savior once again.  Cathy interrupts Zoe just in time to save Jaime's life.  Zoe is arrested, put on trial, and permanently removed from her child's life in order to keep her safe.

I give this book a solid 4.5 stars.



*MBP has been in the media a lot recently, ever since Hulu aired it's series The Act.  The Act is based on a real life MBP case.  I'd suggest you watch it.
 

Release date: 8/27/19

Once you learn to read, you will forever be free. - Fredrick Douglas

When I was younger, I used to dream about owning my own bookstore/coffee shop.  I'd name it Books Galore & More, and it would be fabulous!  I figured out pretty fast that I really just wanted to read books and drink coffee.

My goal with this blog is to review at least one book a week.  I might review an ARC, or a new release.  Some weeks I might review an older book, or one of my all time favorites.  I enjoy almost every genre of books except true crime, so if that's what you're looking for...well, you're in the wrong place.

Welcome to my blog, and let's start reading!