The Hungry Dark
Ashley Whitelam saw strange things as a child, things that no one else could see. Things she called the ‘Heedful Ones’. As an adult, she works as a psychic. When children begin being murdered in horrific ways, she offers her services in exchange for free publicity. Soon the ‘Heedful Ones’ are back and Ashley finds the body of the last missing child.The press goes into a feeding frenzy as the police look at her with suspicion in their eyes. She teams up with Freddie Miller, a podcaster covering the crimes. Is this place/town haunted? Is Ashley haunted as well? I did enjoy the eerie and creepy vibe in this book. I couldn’t help but visualize the ‘Heedful Ones’ as looking like dementors (from Harry Potter). I like the spooky feel that they provided to the book. I also enjoyed the look at psychics and how they operate. Plus, the setting provided an atmospheric read. I had both the e-book and audiobook versions on The Hungry Dark and thought the narrator of the audiobook did a good job. Having said that, this book felt unnecessarily long and slow at times. I found my attention wavering and myself turning to other books.Others have enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well to determine if this is the right book for you. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Every Step You Take
Running 26 miles is hard enough, but when you are trying to figure out if your stalker is out there and watching makes it even harder! Molly needs to run the London Marathon to nab the last place left on the Olympic team. She has worked hard to recuperate after an injury and is feeling determined and ready to claim her place and compete in the Olympics! The last thing she expected was to begin receiving gifts and threats. She had a stalker who was arrested and sent away. Could he be behind the threats and gifts? Did he get out? Will he be watching her on race day? She reaches out and notifies her coach and the police and starts the marathon. Along the way, she can’t help but be hypervigilant during the race… I wanted to love this one. I enjoyed the two other books I have read by M.A. Hunter (Adrift and The Trail) and thought this book would be a slam dunk as well. But I had a hard time believing that a runner could do so much while running a marathon such as being on the phone for most of the race. I thought a runner would be thinking about pacing, hydrating, time, stride, etc. Molly is consumed by who might be out there and reaching out to people. This does affect her race as she falls behind, stumbles, etc. There are also scenes in the past, which show what Molly experienced with the stalker which do let readers know the extent of what Molly went through and the danger a stalker presents. There was a twist and reveal which I did not see coming and I enjoyed the shock of that. It was nicely done and well thought out, but it wasn’t enough to push my rating higher. While enjoyable, this one missed its stride with this reader. It won’t stop me from reading another book by M.A. Hunter in the future. We can’t love them all. #EveryStepYouTake #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks, #MAHunter Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lips Like Sugar (Bluebird Basin, #2)
Woohoo!!!!! Jess K. Hardy has delivered yet again! I love that Lips Like Sugar, as well as the first book in the Bluebird Basin series Come As You Are, features main characters in my age group!!!!! YAY! It is refreshing and exciting, plus this book works perfectly as a stand-alone. But trust me Come As You Are is awesome and I highly recommend it! Mira Harlow has a lot on her plate. She has a teenage son, and her mother has mild cognitive impairment. She is also a small-town family business owner of the town bakery. It is where her ex walks in with his new wife. They are in town to attend Madigan and Ashley’s wedding. Not only is Mira attending the wedding she is also making the wedding cake. Flustered, she tells them she is going to the wedding with her boyfriend and quickly kisses a total stranger who goes along with it. Cole Sanderson, a punk drummer who saw/experienced fame in the 90’s, lives in Seattle and is in town to attend Ashely and Madigan’s wedding. He and Madigan were in the same band and have been close ever since. When Mira kisses him, he goes along with it. When not kissing women in bakeries, he is a father and proud grandfather. This was a terrific book that has Mira and Cole fake dating while dealing with real life issues. Both have things on their plate, both have responsibilities, and both have had unlucky experiences with love. I enjoyed their banter, their texts, their chemistry, their openness, and their vulnerability. Both characters are likeable, and I was rooting for them the entire book. I always say with romance books, it’s all about the journey and I loved the journey that Mira and Cole took individually and together. Hats off to Jess K. Hardy for showing characters in their early 50’s being sexy, sensual, sexual, and fun loving. We are still hot and hot to trot! I also applaud her for showing the concern that Mira has for her mother who has mild cognitive impairment. She shows Mira’s worry, love, and concern that she feels for her mother. Hardy also shows her mother’s frustration, humor, and strength while dealing with her cognitive impairment. I found this book to be a gripping and endearing read. This book also touches on many things: friendship, family, responsibility, addiction, menopause, love, aging parents, ex’s, etc. As I mentioned, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey the characters went on. It was a joy to go on the journey with them! Plus, the mention of movies and music had me feeling nostalgic and warm and fuzzy inside. This book gave all the feels. If you have not read a book by Jess K. Hardy, what are you waiting for? I am a HUGE fan of this wonderful series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!!! Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Nowhere To Hide
Once I started this book, I didn’t want to put it down! Nowhere to Hide is gripping, shocking, and tense! Woohoo! Keri Beevis never disappoints! What an addictive page turner! He seemed like the perfect boyfriend. Duncan came across as charming, intelligent, caring, and generous. But soon after moving in, Callie learned his true nature. He is diabolical, controlling, and cruel. Getting away will prove to be beyond difficult. Now after being helped, she is in hiding and setting up a new life for herself in Norfolk. But due to everything Duncan has put her through, she has a hard time relaxing. She is constantly checking her surroundings and fearing for her safety. I thought Beevis did a great job showing how traumatized Callie is because of the abuse she suffered. She is hypervigilant and anxious as a result. This book was full of tension and a sense of danger. The pacing was spot on and kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed the mounting suspense and found myself feeling concerned for several characters. There is also a side story about a missing young woman that comes into play as well. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen next, Beevis threw in another twist and reveal. What a thrilling page turner! Well written, well thought out, gripping, shocking and tense! #NowheretoHide #NetGalley #KeriBeevis, #BoldwoodBooks Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Garden Party
The Garden Party was a gripping, addictive, and captivating page turner which kept me on my toes, turning the pages and wanting to know what was going to happen next! I found it to be well written, well thought out, dramatic, and hard to put down! Moving can be stressful, but when your new neighbors throw a garden party to welcome you to the neighborhood, it makes it all worth it, right? Wrong! Owen and Rachel have not moved into Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood! Nope, they have moved into a neighborhood full of secrets, deception, and a heartbreaking history. But like their new neighbors, Rachel and Owen have their own issues and secrets as well. I was instantly drawn into the story of this couple and their move into this tight community. There are many characters, and each has their own distinct personality and issues. This book moves at a nice pace and just when I thought I knew what was happening, a twist snuck up upon me, letting me know there was more to come. There is a nice amount of tension in the book. I also liked that I never fully knew who could be trusted, who was reliable, and what certain characters’ motivations were. What I did know was that I was enjoying the plot, the writing, the drama, and the pacing of this book. I was fully invested in this book from the very first page and my attention never wavered. There might be a garden party in this book but there is also so much more!!!! Well written, tense, dramatic, and shocking! Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Mistress
WOWZA! This book proved that you do not need a lot of pages to deliver a thrilling page turner with fully fleshed out characters! Coming in at less than 300 pages, The Mistress was pure enjoyment. I found this book to be gripping from the very beginning and had a hard time putting this book down when life got in the way. I thought I knew what I was getting into when I started this book, but boy was I wrong! Hannah Parker always gets what she wants – She wants her old flame, Mark, back in her life! But Mark is married to Susan! Ooh, La La, things are about to get tricky!!!! The characters in this book are fantastic! Hannah is a gorgeous woman who knows how to charm and manipulate to get what she wants. Susan is Mark’s wife and mother of his son. She begins to have suspicions about her husband’s behavior. She is not going to give up her husband so easily. This was such a fun psychological thriller! Readers are given both Hannah’s and Susan’s POV’s. This was a very nice touch and helped readers learn more about their characters, their thoughts, and motivations. Hannah is an ‘I love to hate’ character. She has no qualms about going after another woman’s husband, lying, cheating, or deceiving. But she grew on me throughout the book. I enjoyed Susan with her interesting “thoughts” and worry for those she loved (her son moving away to college & her husband). I enjoyed the journey Susan went on in terms of personal growth. This book is full of secrets and lies. There are a few twists thrown in as well. I found this page turner to be well written, brilliantly thought out, perfectly paced and so much fun. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was my first book by Valerie Keogh, and I can’t wait to read more of her books! 4.5 stars Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Hungry Dark
Ashley Whitelam saw strange things as a child, things that no one else could see. Things she called the ‘Heedful Ones’. As an adult, she works as a psychic. When children begin being murdered in horrific ways, she offers her services in exchange for free publicity. Soon the ‘Heedful Ones’ are back and Ashley finds the body of the last missing child.The press goes into a feeding frenzy as the police look at her with suspicion in their eyes. She teams up with Freddie Miller, a podcaster covering the crimes. Is this place/town haunted? Is Ashley haunted as well? I did enjoy the eerie and creepy vibe in this book. I couldn’t help but visualize the ‘Heedful Ones’ as looking like dementors (from Harry Potter). I like the spooky feel that they provided to the book. I also enjoyed the look at psychics and how they operate. Plus, the setting provided an atmospheric read. I had both the e-book and audiobook versions on The Hungry Dark and thought the narrator of the audiobook did a good job. Having said that, this book felt unnecessarily long and slow at times. I found my attention wavering and myself turning to other books.Others have enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well to determine if this is the right book for you. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Every Step You Take
Running 26 miles is hard enough, but when you are trying to figure out if your stalker is out there and watching makes it even harder! Molly needs to run the London Marathon to nab the last place left on the Olympic team. She has worked hard to recuperate after an injury and is feeling determined and ready to claim her place and compete in the Olympics! The last thing she expected was to begin receiving gifts and threats. She had a stalker who was arrested and sent away. Could he be behind the threats and gifts? Did he get out? Will he be watching her on race day? She reaches out and notifies her coach and the police and starts the marathon. Along the way, she can’t help but be hypervigilant during the race… I wanted to love this one. I enjoyed the two other books I have read by M.A. Hunter (Adrift and The Trail) and thought this book would be a slam dunk as well. But I had a hard time believing that a runner could do so much while running a marathon such as being on the phone for most of the race. I thought a runner would be thinking about pacing, hydrating, time, stride, etc. Molly is consumed by who might be out there and reaching out to people. This does affect her race as she falls behind, stumbles, etc. There are also scenes in the past, which show what Molly experienced with the stalker which do let readers know the extent of what Molly went through and the danger a stalker presents. There was a twist and reveal which I did not see coming and I enjoyed the shock of that. It was nicely done and well thought out, but it wasn’t enough to push my rating higher. While enjoyable, this one missed its stride with this reader. It won’t stop me from reading another book by M.A. Hunter in the future. We can’t love them all. #EveryStepYouTake #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks, #MAHunter Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lips Like Sugar (Bluebird Basin, #2)
Woohoo!!!!! Jess K. Hardy has delivered yet again! I love that Lips Like Sugar, as well as the first book in the Bluebird Basin series Come As You Are, features main characters in my age group!!!!! YAY! It is refreshing and exciting, plus this book works perfectly as a stand-alone. But trust me Come As You Are is awesome and I highly recommend it! Mira Harlow has a lot on her plate. She has a teenage son, and her mother has mild cognitive impairment. She is also a small-town family business owner of the town bakery. It is where her ex walks in with his new wife. They are in town to attend Madigan and Ashley’s wedding. Not only is Mira attending the wedding she is also making the wedding cake. Flustered, she tells them she is going to the wedding with her boyfriend and quickly kisses a total stranger who goes along with it. Cole Sanderson, a punk drummer who saw/experienced fame in the 90’s, lives in Seattle and is in town to attend Ashely and Madigan’s wedding. He and Madigan were in the same band and have been close ever since. When Mira kisses him, he goes along with it. When not kissing women in bakeries, he is a father and proud grandfather. This was a terrific book that has Mira and Cole fake dating while dealing with real life issues. Both have things on their plate, both have responsibilities, and both have had unlucky experiences with love. I enjoyed their banter, their texts, their chemistry, their openness, and their vulnerability. Both characters are likeable, and I was rooting for them the entire book. I always say with romance books, it’s all about the journey and I loved the journey that Mira and Cole took individually and together. Hats off to Jess K. Hardy for showing characters in their early 50’s being sexy, sensual, sexual, and fun loving. We are still hot and hot to trot! I also applaud her for showing the concern that Mira has for her mother who has mild cognitive impairment. She shows Mira’s worry, love, and concern that she feels for her mother. Hardy also shows her mother’s frustration, humor, and strength while dealing with her cognitive impairment. I found this book to be a gripping and endearing read. This book also touches on many things: friendship, family, responsibility, addiction, menopause, love, aging parents, ex’s, etc. As I mentioned, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey the characters went on. It was a joy to go on the journey with them! Plus, the mention of movies and music had me feeling nostalgic and warm and fuzzy inside. This book gave all the feels. If you have not read a book by Jess K. Hardy, what are you waiting for? I am a HUGE fan of this wonderful series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!!! Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Nowhere To Hide
Once I started this book, I didn’t want to put it down! Nowhere to Hide is gripping, shocking, and tense! Woohoo! Keri Beevis never disappoints! What an addictive page turner! He seemed like the perfect boyfriend. Duncan came across as charming, intelligent, caring, and generous. But soon after moving in, Callie learned his true nature. He is diabolical, controlling, and cruel. Getting away will prove to be beyond difficult. Now after being helped, she is in hiding and setting up a new life for herself in Norfolk. But due to everything Duncan has put her through, she has a hard time relaxing. She is constantly checking her surroundings and fearing for her safety. I thought Beevis did a great job showing how traumatized Callie is because of the abuse she suffered. She is hypervigilant and anxious as a result. This book was full of tension and a sense of danger. The pacing was spot on and kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed the mounting suspense and found myself feeling concerned for several characters. There is also a side story about a missing young woman that comes into play as well. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen next, Beevis threw in another twist and reveal. What a thrilling page turner! Well written, well thought out, gripping, shocking and tense! #NowheretoHide #NetGalley #KeriBeevis, #BoldwoodBooks Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Garden Party
The Garden Party was a gripping, addictive, and captivating page turner which kept me on my toes, turning the pages and wanting to know what was going to happen next! I found it to be well written, well thought out, dramatic, and hard to put down! Moving can be stressful, but when your new neighbors throw a garden party to welcome you to the neighborhood, it makes it all worth it, right? Wrong! Owen and Rachel have not moved into Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood! Nope, they have moved into a neighborhood full of secrets, deception, and a heartbreaking history. But like their new neighbors, Rachel and Owen have their own issues and secrets as well. I was instantly drawn into the story of this couple and their move into this tight community. There are many characters, and each has their own distinct personality and issues. This book moves at a nice pace and just when I thought I knew what was happening, a twist snuck up upon me, letting me know there was more to come. There is a nice amount of tension in the book. I also liked that I never fully knew who could be trusted, who was reliable, and what certain characters’ motivations were. What I did know was that I was enjoying the plot, the writing, the drama, and the pacing of this book. I was fully invested in this book from the very first page and my attention never wavered. There might be a garden party in this book but there is also so much more!!!! Well written, tense, dramatic, and shocking! Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Mistress
WOWZA! This book proved that you do not need a lot of pages to deliver a thrilling page turner with fully fleshed out characters! Coming in at less than 300 pages, The Mistress was pure enjoyment. I found this book to be gripping from the very beginning and had a hard time putting this book down when life got in the way. I thought I knew what I was getting into when I started this book, but boy was I wrong! Hannah Parker always gets what she wants – She wants her old flame, Mark, back in her life! But Mark is married to Susan! Ooh, La La, things are about to get tricky!!!! The characters in this book are fantastic! Hannah is a gorgeous woman who knows how to charm and manipulate to get what she wants. Susan is Mark’s wife and mother of his son. She begins to have suspicions about her husband’s behavior. She is not going to give up her husband so easily. This was such a fun psychological thriller! Readers are given both Hannah’s and Susan’s POV’s. This was a very nice touch and helped readers learn more about their characters, their thoughts, and motivations. Hannah is an ‘I love to hate’ character. She has no qualms about going after another woman’s husband, lying, cheating, or deceiving. But she grew on me throughout the book. I enjoyed Susan with her interesting “thoughts” and worry for those she loved (her son moving away to college & her husband). I enjoyed the journey Susan went on in terms of personal growth. This book is full of secrets and lies. There are a few twists thrown in as well. I found this page turner to be well written, brilliantly thought out, perfectly paced and so much fun. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was my first book by Valerie Keogh, and I can’t wait to read more of her books! 4.5 stars Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.