Month: February 2023

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Synopsis:

Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he’s teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what’s left of his self-respect; he hasn’t written—let alone published—anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn’t need Jake’s help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then…he hears the plot.

Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker’s first novel: But it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that—a story that absolutely needs to be told.

In a few short years, all of Evan Parker’s predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised, and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an email arrives, the first salvo in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says.

As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his “sure thing” of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom?   

My Mini Review:

Not all my books last month turned out to be amazing reads. This one was a bit disappointing because I had high hopes for it. I figured out the twist fairly early which is a bummer in mystery/thriller books. The author just didn’t provide enough suspects to make it hard. All the characters were very unlikable and I couldn’t root for any of them, not even our MC. Overall, I would not recommend.

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions on this blog are my own.

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Synopsis:

Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon – the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell”. But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.

My Review:

I loved this book so much. There’s something about grumpy old men that just makes me smile every time, so I knew this might be a book for me. Ove’s point of view was hilarious. It has always been very clear to me, that grumpy old men are not usually grumpy for no reason. I was eager to know all the reasons why Ove was who he was. I enjoyed discovering his background story piece by piece. I love Backman’s insightful writing coated with dark humor, and this story was so full of those funny-sad moments. This book reinforced my belief that small honest acts of kindness make the world go around, and that in the end, everyone needs somebody.

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions on this blog are my own.

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Synopsis:

Can you stop a murder after it’s already happened?

Late October. After midnight. You’re waiting up for your seventeen-year-old son. He’s late. As you watch from the window, he emerges, and you realize he isn’t alone: he’s walking toward a man, and he’s armed.

You can’t believe it when you see him do it: your funny, happy teenage son, he kills a stranger, right there on the street outside your house. You don’t know who. You don’t know why. You only know your son is now in custody. His future shattered.

That night you fall asleep in despair. All is lost. Until you wake . . .

. . . and it is yesterday.

And then you wake again . . .

. . . and it is the day before yesterday.

Every morning you wake up a day earlier, another day before the murder. With another chance to stop it. Somewhere in the past lies an answer. The trigger for this crime—and you don’t have a choice but to find it . . .

My Mini Review:

Wow I was not expecting that! This was slow at first, but once it picked up I couldn’t put it down. It took me a bit to wrap my brain around the whole time-loop thing, and I was glad the MC was just as lost as I was in the beginning. I got to figure everything out along with her which was great. As a mom of two, her character really resonated with me. I would also do everything possible and impossible to save my son. This was great mystery, full of unexpected twists. I highly recommend to all mystery/thriller fans!

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions on this blog are my own.

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People rarely see themselves the way others do. We all carry broken mirrors”

-Alice Feeney

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When a woman is murdered in Blackdown, a quintessentially British village, newsreader Anna Andrews is reluctant to cover the case. Detective Jack Harper is suspicious of her involvement, until he becomes a suspect in his own murder investigation.

Someone isn’t telling the truth, and some secrets are worth killing to keep.

My Review:

I enjoyed the multiple POV’s, even the one from the killer’s perspective which is really hard to do without the reader figuring it out. The red herrings were very well placed. This one had me guessing all the way till the very end. I thought I had it figured out, but nope. That is all I need from a good Mystery/Thriller! Amazing job Alice Feeney, you have made another reader for life!

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions on this blog are my own.

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But you cannot fix someone. In the end, if they can be fixed at all, they must do the repairs themselves.”

Cassandra Clare

Synopsis:

Cordelia Carstairs has lost everything that matters to her. In only a few short weeks, she has seen her father murdered, her plans to become parabatai with her best friend, Lucie, destroyed, and her marriage to James Herondale crumble before her eyes. Even worse, she is now bound to an ancient demon, Lilith, stripping her of her power as a Shadowhunter.

After fleeing to Paris with Matthew Fairchild, Cordelia hopes to forget her sorrows in the city’s glittering nightlife. But reality intrudes when shocking news comes from home: Tatiana Blackthorn has escaped the Adamant Citadel, and London is under new threat by the Prince of Hell, Belial.

Cordelia returns to a London riven by chaos and dissent. The long-kept secret that Belial is James and Lucie’s grandfather has been revealed by an unexpected enemy, and the Herondales find themselves under suspicion of dealings with demons. Cordelia longs to protect James but is torn between a love for James she has long believed hopeless, and the possibility of a new life with Matthew. Nor can her friends help—ripped apart by their own secrets, they seem destined to face what is coming alone.

For time is short, and Belial’s plan is about to crash into the Shadowhunters of London like a deadly wave, one that will separate Cordelia, Lucie, and the Merry Thieves from help of any kind. Left alone in a shadowy London, they must face Belial’s deadly army. If Cordelia and her friends are going to save their city—and their families—they will have to muster their courage, swallow their pride, and trust one another again. For if they fail, they may lose everything—even their souls.

My Review:

Once again I don’t know how Cassandra Clare does it. Such a complex cast of characters, yet I feel like I know and love them ALL. An even more complicated mystery. Everyone interconnects and small clues are scattered about. Yet she managed to keep my attention the whole 752 pages with her poetic writing, amazing chemistry between characters, and great character arcs. The banter between the merry thieves and between couples made my heart happy the whole way. I laughed, I cried, and I almost flung the book across the room. (It’s so massive, that throwing it would’ve caused more damage to my room than to it, so I decided against it). If you haven’t caught up with this series, what are you waiting for? It’s absolutely amazing!

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions on this blog are my own.

Life Update:

I’m currently reading Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun and really enjoying it. This series is hilarious and I highly recommend it as a palette cleanser in between more serious books.

I’ve been recently getting used to life as a stay at home mom, after leaving my job of 9 years as a 911 Dispatcher. It’s been tough getting used to sleeping at night like regular people for one. Being a regular person with a regular schedule is definitely an adjustment.

I’ve been enjoying the little things, like coffee in the mornings while I catch up on social media posts and cuddle with the dog on the couch. Also, my husband and I recently started playing pickle ball. He has been whooping my butt lately, but I’m getting better. I’ve been trying to be more present with the kids, especially on the way back from school when they take turns telling me all about their days.

I’ve been trying to heal and take it easy. One day at a time. I can’t heal 9 years of trauma in a few months. So I’ve been practicing being gentle with myself and giving myself grace.

How about you? How is life? Share anything you would like to share in the comments!

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

She’s got his back. 
Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka “bodyguard”), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.

He’s got her heart. 
Jack Stapleton’s a household name—captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.

They’ve got a secret. 
When Jack’s mom gets sick, he comes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah—against her will and her better judgment—finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, like a jerk, says no one will believe it.

What could possibly go wrong???
Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done.

My Review:

I’ve been in love with Katherine Center’s books for a while, but this one is definitely a new favorite. I fell in love with Hannah and Jack and their easy chemistry. I went into this one completely blind, which has become my new favorite way to read books. I didn’t even read the synopsis, because I knew as long as Center wrote it I would read it. This is a story about found family and self discovery. About knowing your worth. But mostly it was a hilarious fun ride packed with action and banter. Read it! You won’t regret it.

Disclaimer: I was not paid for this review, and all opinions on this blog are my own.

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