Tropical Girl Reads

The Toy Box – Book Review

Hey all! I just finished an awesome thriller today–The Toy Box by Charly Cox and wow!

The Toybox: A totally addictive, nail-biting crime thriller (Detective Alyssa Wyatt Book 2) by [Charly Cox]

You don’t want to play their games…

All around Albuquerque, New Mexico, young women are going missing, seemingly vanished into thin air. With no link between the victims, Detective Alyssa Wyatt is quickly plunged into a horrifying case with no obvious clues.

And when Jersey Andrews, the best friend of Alyssa’s teenage daughter, Holly, joins the list of vanished girls, the case becomes personal.

But this investigation will lead Alyssa and partner Cord into the most sinister depths of humanity; an evil place where life is expendable, and where the depraved can fulfil their darkest desires – if they have the money to pay for it.

As the first bodies appear, abandoned on the streets, Alyssa is forced into a frantic hunt to track down the killers – before more innocent women lose their lives. But when the truth comes out, it seems that the key to solving the case was hiding in the last place anyone expected…

A dark, tension-filled and absolutely nail-biting crime thriller with a twist – this one will have you reading until the small hours. Fans of Robert Bryndza, Melinda Leigh and Lisa Regan will not want to miss this addictive read.

No. of pages:- 316 pages

Date published:- June 3rd 2020

Genre:- Thriller/Mystery

Born in the South, raised in the Midwest, Charly now resides in the Southwest in the Land of Enchantment, Green Chile capital of the world, which is good because she enjoys eating copious amounts of the spicy food. When she’s not reading, writing, or plotting sinister evils with her antagonists, she enjoys doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles, hanging out with her husband and her spoiled Siberian Husky, visiting her son in Arizona, and traveling, preferably to places surrounded by sun, sand, and warm uncrowded beaches.

This is the book 2 of the Detective Alyssa Wyatt series. This book is not really a continuation of the series but has some mentions of what happened in the previous book. This is the first book I have read from this author.

Rachel Otis was attending a frat party with a friend named Anna but then she suddenly disappeared and found herself in a room, locked with other girls, wearing kimono designed clothes. Jersey Andrews, Detective Wyatt’s daughter, Holly’s friend also disappeared after arguing with her boyfriend Bear and cousin Sophie and she too also find herself in the same room with the other girls. Turns out that they are in a part of a sick and twisted sex ring. Meanwhile, Detective Wyatt along with her partner, Cord is running against time to find the two missing girls and then soon another thirteen year old girl goes missing.

I would say, this is a nail biting mystery! The writing was good, the author did a super good job of making the reader immerse into the story, as if they are a part of this chase to find the killer. I also like how Detective Wyatt is dealing with the emotional family issues as well at the thought of these girls being kidnapped. The book is fast paced, quiet a page turned and literally unputdownable that will give you chills and hooked into the story! There were twists and turns in the book and the ending was OMG!

Overall, this is a fast paced thriller that will make you read all night and a page turner. Worth five stars!

Rating Five Stars Motion Graphics Transparent Background Stock Video - Download Video Clip Now - iStock

First Date – Book Review

Hey all! I know I have been off from the blog for few days but today I am back with a review! First Date, a classy thriller written by Sue Watson

First Date: An absolutely jaw-dropping psychological thriller by [Sue Watson]

She’s been waiting her whole life to meet a man like Alex. But he’s been waiting too. And once he has her, he’ll never let her go…

Hannah has done everything to make sure her life is safe and secure. A long way from her unstable childhood growing up in foster care, she’s content with her sweet, little, messy apartment and her satisfying job as a social worker. She quietly worries that, aged 36, she might never fall in love. But otherwise her life is where she wants it to be.

Until, encouraged by her best friend to join a dating app, she meets Alex. He’s irresistibly handsome. He loves the same music as her. The same food as well. They both dream of travelling the world but agree they’d be equally happy escaping to a cottage by the beach in Devon. Both of them would love to own a Labrador one day. It’s like he’s made for her. It’s like he’s too good to be true.

Hannah’s friends aren’t so sure about him. But Hannah thinks he’s perfect.

Which is good. Because Alex knows she’s perfect for him too. In fact, she’s exactly the girl he’s been looking for…

And nothing Hannah’s done to make her life safe will ever be enough.

No. of pages:- 376 pages

Date published:- 16th October 2019

Genre:- Thriller

Sue Watson was a TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue has written sixteen novels, and many have been translated into several languages. Sue is now exploring the darker side of life with her latest thrillers OUR LITTLE LIES, THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR, THE EMPTY NEST, THE SISTER-IN-LAW and FIRST DATE out on 16th October.

Originally from Manchester, Sue now lives with her family in Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – okay, procrastinating, eating too much confectionery, and watching ‘My 600lb Life,’ on the sofa.

Thank You Netgalley and BOOKOUTURE for the ARC! This review is based on my honest opinion

Hannah at the insistence of her friend/colleague from work Jas goes on a date with a man named Alex, whom she met through online. Alex seems to be what Hannah has always dreamed of for a life partner–a handsome and charming solicitor who seems to share the same interests as Hannah. The two then embarked a relationship. But as their relationship continues, Hannah starts receiving roses with a threatening note and a musty aftershave in her car. Is someone stalking her or is Alex obsessed with her.

This is the first book I have read from this author. Initially, this book was boring at the beginning but then soon towards the middle, it got more and more interesting–learning more about Hannah’s relationship with her work colleagues, Jas, Sameera and Harry (particularly with Jas) and also her work as a social worker, as how she handles her case with a teenager named Chloe. The story was interesting, with Jas thinking Hannah is going too fast or that Alex is creepy. Is she right or is she plain jealous that Hannah is moving on? And with the façade Alex is showering Hannah with expensive gifts and love, is he obsessed with her or does he simply overprotective of her by showing her too much love? These are the questions that tumble the reader and so the author did a good job of making the reader want to know more. There were twists and turns in the book and the ending…it was good! The ending was so unexpected and I didn’t really expect that nail biting twist in the end!

Overall this is a good book–unputdownable thriller that will keep you up all night. Worth four stars!

The Green Lace Corset – Book Review

Hey all! Just finished with a book, The Green Lace Corset by Jill G. Hall.

The Green Lace Corset: A Novel by [Jill G. Hall]

Anne McFarland, a modern-day, thirty-something San Francisco artist in search of spiritual guidance, buys a corset in a Flagstaff resale boutique—a purchase that results in her having to make a decision that will change her life forever. One hundred and thirty-five years earlier, in 1885, naïve Sally Sue Sullivan, a young woman from the Midwest, is kidnapped on a train by a handsome but dangerous bank robber. Held prisoner on a homestead in Northern Arizona’s Wild West, Sally Sue discovers her own spunk and grit as she plots her escape.

Ultimately, both Anne and Sally Sue face their fears and find the strength to journey down their designated paths and learn the true meaning of love and family . . . with a little push from the same green lace corset.

No. of pages:- 313 pages

Date published:- October 13th 2020

Genre:- Historicsl/Women’s Fiction

Jill G. Hall’s dual-timeline novels The Black Velvet Coat, The Silver Shoes and The Green Lace Corset are about women searching for their place in the world connected by vintage finds. She is a seasoned presenter at seminars, readings, and community events. In addition, Hall creates whimsical mosaics using found objects, practices yoga, tap dances, and spends time in nature.On her blog, Crealivity, she shares her poetry as well as musings about the art of practicing a creative lifestyle. http://www.jillghall.com

Thank You Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me this free copy! This book is solely based on my opinion.

This book is the 3rd book of the Anne McFarland series but this is the first book I have read from this author. In a nutshell, Anne McFarland moves to San Francisco and is applying for a residency at the museum with her so called enemy, Karl. She also buys a Green Lace Corset from a Flagstaff resale boutique shop and this corset would change her life forever. Many years later, somewhere in 1885, Sally Sue is travelling from Missouri and she comes across a man named Cliff who is wanted for a bank robbery and murder. She is then kidnapped by this man and was then taken to somewhere remote in Arizona.

Because of this Green Lace Corset, this teaches both Anne and Sally Sue some life lessons and helps them to make decisions wisely.

I really like the whole story plotline. The beginning was a bit boring but towards the middle and towards the end, it got interesting. I like how the chapters changed from the present in Anne’s point of view to the past which is Sally’s point of view and how this corset affected both their lives in different ways. Though this book is a continuation of the series, it was not really necessary to know what really happened in the other two books. I like the friendship between Anne and Fay, Sally Sue seems to be a naive girl but the characters were actually likable. Really liked learning about the history during the late 1880’s in America so kind of learned a bit.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. Worth four stars!

Home At Summer’s End – Book Review

Hey all! I have just finished with Home at Summer’s End by Alys Murray and here is my review of the book!

Home at Summer's End: An absolutely perfect small-town romance by [Alys Murray]

Rose Anderson is done with being known as “the nice one” in the small town where she lives. She’s done with playing third, fifth, seventh wheel at loud gatherings on her family’s flower farm. And most of all, she is done with the pitying looks she gets about her single status from the way-too-interested townsfolk.

Busy with her flower-arranging business, Rose has no time for a man, thank you very much. And it has nothing to do with the scars she still nurses from her last breakup. So when she meets Cole McKittrick, Rose gets an idea. But first she needs to get beneath his aloof exterior and convince him to agree…

Cole McKittrick is trying to keep calm. So what if he quit a steady job for a shot at his dream, was dumped and his move to Yokel County, California is bringing back childhood memories he’d rather forget? It’s all about perspective. He doesn’t want to get any more involved in this town than he has to be, so his first instinct is to push Rose Anderson and her intriguing idea away. But the woman won’t get gone, and then she makes him an offer he can’t refuse.

The two are soon neck deep in deception, playing up a starry-eyed romance in public while they clash wits and wills in private. But Cole has been hiding a big secret from Rose about his past. And when Rose finds out could it spell the end for their picture-perfect romance, or will she realize that he has taken over not just her home, but also her heart…?

A fun, charming romance about family and finding the one, perfect for fans of Robyn Carr, Debbie Macomber and Carolyn Brown.

No. of pages:- 249 pages

Date published:- will be published on 15th October 2020

Genre:- Women’s Fiction

Alys Murray writes novels for the romantic in all of us. Born and raised in New Orleans, she received her BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and her Master’s in Film Studies from King’s College London. She loves black and white movies, baseball games that go into extra innings, and reminding people like Michael Bay has two films in The Criterion Collection.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC! This review is based completely on my honest opinion.

This book is the fourth and final book of the Full Bloom Farm Series. This is the second book I have read from this author, the first, Perfect Hideaway, which is book 3 of this series. This time, the book tells about Rose Anderson who is now the only single one in the family. She is happily running her flower shop and is creating perfumes with the flowers in her shack. Then meet Cole McKittrick, a famous Hollywood actor, who breezes into Hillsboro from L.A. for a movie shoot. Annie Martin sets the two of them together. Rose is not really interested in romance and Cole wants to act as if they are together, so he could get back together with his ex-girlfriend, Vivienne. So they fake that they are dating together and at the same time, Cole starts reading romance novels and Rose helps him with them. And soon, without realizing, they both fall for each other…

The story started out really good. The chapters were divided as Rose’s parts and Cole’s parts and there were some parts that were funny to read. The writing was good as well and I was drawn into the story, so the author did a good job making the reader go into the story. Both Rose and Cole’s characters are quiet likable as well. This romance book is cheesy and warm and cozy to read as well. Only thing was the story was not very realistic but other than that, I enjoyed reading this book and couldn’t really put the book down!

This book worth four stars!

Bonner General Health Earns 4 Star Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid | Bonner General Health

If you are interested in this book, this will be released on October 15th 2020 so you can pre-order your copy now on Amazon!

Everybody Lies – Book Review

Hey all! I am back with a book review, Everybody Lies by Emily Cavanagh

Everybody Lies: A gripping page-turner with a twist by [Emily Cavanagh]

Evvy has lived on the island of Great Rock all her life. Every year, after the holidaymakers have departed, storms begin to roll in off the Atlantic and the island returns to the small group of locals who, like her, have decided to make it their home.

When a body is found on the snow-covered beach it sends shockwaves through this tight-knit community and rattles Evvy to her core.

The dead woman worked on the island the previous summer and it seems strange she would have been visiting so out of season. What drew her back and who was she meeting? When Evvy learns that her partner,Ian, was the last person to see her alive, the shadow of the murder falls far too close to home.

As the icy weather closes in, the island is cut off from the mainland, and Ian is taken into custody. Rumours about what is really going on in Great Rock reach fever pitch, as Evvy works to prove Ian’s innocence before it’s too late.

But there are things about the people she loves that Evvy doesn’t know or has chosen not to see. The truth might not save the life she has worked so hard to build for herself. Instead, it might tear it apart…

No. of pages:- 296 pages

Date published:- will be published on 15th October 2020

Genre:- Women’s Fiction

A teacher as well as a writer, Emily Cavanagh lives with her husband and two daughters on Martha’s Vineyard Island. She is the author of EVERYBODY LIES (forthcoming October 2020), THIS BRIGHT BEAUTY and THE BLOOM GIRLS. Her work has been published in Red Rock Review, Grain Magazine, and Martha’s Vineyard Arts and Ideas, in addition to a variety of other print and online publications. Read more about Emily’s work and life at http://www.emilycavanaghauthor.com

Thank You Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC! This review is based on my honest opinion.

In a nutshell, a woman named Layla Dresser was found strangled on the beaches of a sleepy island, Great Rock. The story actually tells about how the murder of this girl had affected the lives on the people living in the island, particularly the lives of the three women–Caroline, Ennvy and Daisy.

The story is realistic and well written though I should say there were some parts in the story that was a bit boring. The story is told from the perspectives of Caroline, who is dealing with the separation of her husband, Jack, who is the chief of police in the area and whose son, Connor is suffering from drug addiction, Ennvy, who is in a relationship with a man named Ian, who is the suspect of the woman’s murder and who is suffering from domestic abuse and Daisy, Ennvy’s daughter and Connor’s friend. It’s actually interesting to know what each of these women think about this whole situation but I thought it was a bit unnecessary to highlight more on Daisy and her developing relationship with Todd. I like how the author did a good job of highlighting about how parents deal with their children who are addicted to drugs, the dangers of drug addiction and at what length they would do to protect their children from drugs. So I would say the author did a good job making the story realistic as possible. Some parts of the story captivated the reader and sometimes, it was a bit emotional story.

Overall, it was a good story. Worth three stars however.

If this book interests you, you can pre-order your copy now on Amazon, as this will be released on 15th October 2020!

Non Fiction Book Review – Surviving the Angel of Death

Hey all! I am back with a book review–a non fiction, Surviving the Angel of Death, based on the true story of Holocaust survivor, Eva Mozes

Surviving the Angel of Death: The True Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz by [Eva Mozes Kor, Lisa Rojany Buccieri]

Eva Mozes Kor was just ten years old when she arrived in Auschwitz. While her parents and two older sisters were taken to the gas chambers, she and her twin, Miriam, were herded into the care of the man known as the Angel of Death, Dr. Josef Mengele. Subjected to sadistic medical experiments, she was forced to fight daily for her and her twin’s survival. In this incredible true story written for young adults, readers learn of a child’s endurance and survival in the face of truly extraordinary evil and Eva’s recovery and her controversial but often misunderstood decision to publicly forgive the Nazis. Readers will learn of how she triumphed over unfathomable pain and suffering into a life-long work for peace, human rights, and Holocaust education.

The new edition provides interesting details and important context to the events related in the original story. A new Afterword by publisher Peggy Porter Tierney offers a richer portrayal of Eva as a person, the truth behind the controversies, and the eventful last ten years of her life.

Lisa Rojany has written dozens of children’s books, 2 adult books, a few YA novels, and a YA memoir, including several award-winning and bestselling titles. She is also a publishing executive and editor with over 20 years of experience in the industry. As well as spearheading four publishing startups, Lisa has simultaneously run her own business, Editorial Services of L.A. She has been Editorial/Publishing Director for Golden Books, Price Stern Sloan/Penguin Group USA, Intervisual Books, Gateway Learning Corp (Hooked on Phonics), and Intervisual Books. She loves working with authors to make their work the best it can be. She may be contacted at http://www.EditorialServicesofLA.com.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book is based on the true story of Eva Mozes Kor, who along with her twin sister Miriam were used as test subjects for one of the Mengele’s experiments. Josef Mengele was the one known as “Angel of Death”. The fact that this is actually a true story itself was unbelievable and as a reader, you can never imagine the type of horrors that the Holocaust survivors, including Eva and her twin sister had gone through. It was actually emotional, terrifying and also I admire how brave and courage both Eva and her sister were, as they were determined to survive and go through the horrors of the Holocaust. It’s really disturbing to read the experiment part in Auschwitz, how Mengele conducted the experiments on the twins. I also loved reading about how the twins led their lives before the war–Eva was a strong one while Miriam was the quiet one, how the twins wore identical clothes so people would not be able to identify which one is which one. Then with the war, the attack against the Jews in their small village Portz in Romania coupled with them taken to the ghetto and eventually to Auschwitz was so sad and emotional to read, particularly when her parents and her older sisters did not survive the war. I also like reading about their lives after the war, how communism would soon affect them, how they eventually emigrated to Israel where Eva was a draftsman and where she met her future husband Michael Kor and moved with him to U.S.A to start new life. I like how Eva still struggled with the nightmares of the Holocaust and how she eventually overcame her nightmares by simply forgiving the Nazis.

This book is actually the new edition, with a detailed page of what Eva’s life was after the war. Her willingness to forgive the Nazis and how even survivors also didn’t agree with her idea of forgiveness. Eva actually teaches us, readers how to give forgiveness and then only you will be able to survive whatever the nightmares you are going through. The story is actually really a good lesson to all of us, as it will remind us, never to forget the horrors of the WWII. A must read for those interested in WWII history and Holocaust.

Worth five stars!

The Unknown Woman – Book Review

Hey all! I am back with a book review! The Unknown Woman by Thomas Fincham

Would you sacrifice your life to save your daughter?

A man is found dead in a motel room with over two-hundred thousand dollars in cash and gold in his possession. The man has never made more than minimum wage in his entire life. As Detective Fisher and Detective Holt dig into the man’s past, they uncover something far more deadly and sinister.

Private Investigator Lee Callaway is pulled into a case by his daughter, Nina. She wants Callaway to help her friend find out the truth behind the death of her mother at the hands of her father. Reluctantly, Callaway takes on the case. But his search leads him down a path that may be far more complicated and dangerous for everyone involved—including his own family!

If you love a good mystery, you’ll love The Unknown Woman!

No. of pages:- 290 pages

Date published:- June 8 2020

Genre:- Mystery/Thriller

This is the first book I have read from this author although this is the eighth book of the Lee Callaway series. Luckily, this is not a continuation of the series.

Anyway, this begins with a murder of a man in a seedy motel and Detectives Fisher and Hold discover thousands of money in his room. Meanwhile, Detective Callaway who is a private investigator is hired by a classmate of his daughter, Millie as she believes that her mother is still alive, even though her mother was murdered by her father three years ago. The two cases seemed to be connected later on.

This is a fast paced thriller and also a quick read and so I really enjoyed the reading. There were some twists and turns in the books and the ending was so unexpected. The writing was good, making the reader draw into the story and the chapters were sort of short though there were lots of chapters. It was interesting from the beginning to the end, which is what I liked about the thrillers. However, there were some unnecessary parts in the book that was a bit boring and was thrown from the plot line of the story.

However, I really enjoyed reading the book–this was a fast paced thriller and quick read. Worth five stars!

Folklore Book Tag #Booktag

I am somewhat a fan of Taylor Swift but her recent album Folklore was actually good and manage to download the songs into my iTunes. Any of you all a fan of Taylor Swift? I really do listen to most of her songs and do enjoy listening to them, so yeah, you can say I am a fan of Taylor Swift. But then I really like her Wildest Dreams and Love Song and still listen to those songs.

There is a book tag going on with a mention of Folklore Book Tag. I wasn’t tagged but then I came across this tag from a blog, Books, Teacup and Reviews, and the original idea is from another blogger Ilsa @Whisper of Ink for this wonderful idea! Anyway, this blog post is an excuse to listen to her new album so I can match the songs with the books. So let’s follow the rules before we start on our pick!

THE RULES

Link to the original creator: Ilsa @ A Whisper Of Ink
Tag at least 3 people.
Declare the rules and list of prompts in your post
Thank whoever who tagged you and link to their post

So let’s start matching up the songs with the books.

Free Image on Pixabay - Music, Note, Music Note | Music notes, Music notes art, Music drawings — **The 1 – A Book with an ending that left you speechless**

This song is so catchy and really soothing…so the book with an ending that left me speechless is…Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris. I think I have a blog post with my review on it but the reason why I said it was speechless was…the book turned out to be really good and the ending was lame…so it kind of left me speechless in the end.

I really like the piano music in the background…so the book that made me happy and sad at the same time? Days of Wonder by Keith Stuart. A touching and emotional story between a father and a daughter, that story made me sad and happy at the same time.

Days of Wonder: From the Richard & Judy Book Club bestselling author of A Boy Made of Blocks: Amazon.co.uk: Stuart, Keith: 9780751563313: Books

I like the song…so catchy and soothing but the book I have chosen for this…not really my favorite book but was well written and realistic. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

Again, I like the piano music playing in the background along with Bon Iver’s voice. Anyway, the answer to this, I have so many books I wished I hadn’t read. But I would say, Chetan Bhagat’s Half Girlfriend was one of the books I wished I hadn’t read.

Half Girlfriend: Movie Tie-In Edition: Amazon.co.uk: Bhagat, Chetan: 9788129124029: Books

There are some books that actually made me cry—but Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns made me cry.

A Thousand Splendid Suns: Amazon.co.uk: Khaled Hosseini: 9780747585893: Books

Honestly I have no answer to this question, although I really like the song–Taylor Swift’s voice sounds so haunting in this song.

Even as a child, I read many books, by Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl but nothing makes me nostalgic as Harry Potter did to me. Harry Potter really affected me so much.

Nothing but the Lido by Libby really reminds me of summer.

The Lido: The most uplifting, feel-good summer read of the year: Amazon.co.uk: Libby Page: 9781409175209: Books

I like this song…it’s so haunting and soothing…is it the violin playing in the background? Anyway, The Secrets of Lost Stones by Melissa Payne really talks about being lonely and dealing with sadness and kind of matches with the song lyrics. I must have done a blog post on this book.

Harry Potter again!

OK, guilty as charged, Harry Potter wins this again as Harry Potter is the one that made me get into more reading.

I like again the piano tune at the beginning of this song. Anyway, here is a list of my favorite female characters

Hermione Granger from Harry Potter
Ella from The Girl I Left Behind
Louisa Clark from Me Before You
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
Kasia Kusmerick and Caroline Ferriday from The Lilac Girls

And there are many more

Again there are so many to choose from. But I would say The Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelley was a haunting book along with Daughter of Reich by Louise Fein. And I really like the song…

Lilac Girls: A Novel (English Edition) eBook: Kelly, Martha Hall: Amazon.fr

I like the harmonica at the beginning. A book couple? I would choose Simon and Blue from Love Simon and also Liz Lightley and Macky in You Should See Me in a Crown.

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

Hmm…too many to choose from.

I so love this song…the piano music makes it more haunting coupled with Taylor Swift’s voice. So the book I thought I would love but didn’t? Paper Towns by John Green. I don’t understand the hype about this book.

Paper Towns: Amazon.co.uk: Green, John: 9781408867846: Books

I tag Christopher | Plucked from the Stacks, JustReadingJess, Megan

Thanks for reading and leave a comment below of what are your favorite books and who your favorite book couple is! And also if you like Taylor Swift or not…

You Are Not Alone – Book Review

Hey all! I have just finished reading You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen.

You Are Not Alone: The Most Gripping Thriller of the Year from the Bestselling Authors of the Richard and Judy Smash Hit The Wife Between Us by [Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen]

You probably know someone like Shay Miller. She wants to find love, but it eludes her. She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end. She wants to belong, but her life is becoming increasingly isolated.

You probably don’t know anyone like the Moore sisters. They have an unbreakable circle of friends. They live a life of glamour and perfection. They always get what they desire.

Shay thinks she wants their life.

But what they really want is hers.

No. of pages: 353 pages

Date published :- February 27th 2020

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Sarah Pekkanen is the internationally-bestselling author of THE WIFE BETWEEN US and the upcoming AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, cowritten with Greer Hendricks.

THE WIFE BETWEEN US – an instant New York Times bestseller – is a twisty psychological tale that has been optioned for film by Amblin Entertainment. Sarah and Greer are penning the screenplay for Amblin.

AN ANONMYOUS GIRL is currently in production as a television series by eOne,with Sarah and Greer serving as executive producers.

Sarah is also the author of eight solo novels.

GREER HENDRICKS is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Wife Between Us. Prior to becoming a novelist, she spent over two decades as an editor at Simon & Schuster. She obtained her master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University, and her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Allure, and Publisher’s Weekly. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two children.

This is the second book I have read from this author duo. The first book I have read from these authors (and their second book), An Anonymous Girl was so fast paced thriller that I was actually excited to read their latest book. (I still haven’t read their debut books The Wife Between Us). And there were so many favorable reviews that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book and finally I did.

I am having mixed feelings about this book.

Shay Miller is a lonely thirty something year old woman who is into data and statistics having lost her job recently and coping with the fact that her roommate, Sean, whom she had secret crush on was dating another girl. One Sunday, while waiting for the subway train, Shay witness a woman committing suicide by jumping in front of the train. Then Shay’s life changes as she then meets two vibrant sisters, Cassandra and Jane at that woman’s memorial service, as Shay was struggling and dealing about the woman’s death. Shay’s life changes when she becomes friends with the two sisters, but the two sisters want something else from her…

I have to say, the story was good but sadly, this was not as good as An Anonymous Girl. However, the thrill in the book was there, with some twists and turns, though I should say, it was a bit predictable in the end. The writing was good however as the authors did manager to make the reader hook into the story. The characters to me was bland, Shay really naive and Cassandra and Jane seem to be those over the top villainess that you wouldn’t really want to mess up with.

Overall it was a good book, worth four stars as it was actually a fast paced thriller with twists and turns.

Holiday in the Hills – Book Review

Hey all! I just returned back from the trip to Trincomalee and boy, I am dog tired…but anyway, I managed to finish Holiday in the Hills, by Lilac Mills!

How do you write a romance novel with a broken heart?

Ivy is suffering from writer’s block after a disastrous affair with her (now ex) publisher. Her agent suggests an extended holiday to get her writing career back on track – a month’s stay in a stunning villa on the gorgeous island of Tenerife.

No WiFi, no TV, no distractions.

Except for the very attractive, very lovely Sebastián who comes by every day to clean the pool. Soon Ivy’s on a roll with her new novel and her relationship with Sebastián is growing into something more, despite the secrets he’s keeping.

But her ex isn’t done with her – professionally or personally. And with Sebastián keeping secrets, maybe a return to London is best…

A heartwarming, romantic escape perfect for fans of Sue Moorcroft, Mandy Baggot and Portia MacIntosh.

No. of pages:- 216 pages

Date published:- 8th October 2020

Genre:- Holiday romance

Thank you Netgalley and Canelo for giving me ARC! This review is based strictly on my honest opinion.

Ivy Winters is going through her heartbreak when her publisher/ex-lover Daniel insults her latest manuscript and then dumps her for another upcoming author. Her agent Nora, sends Ivy off to a villa in Tenerife so Ivy could come up with a manuscript in the span of six months she was going to be there. But the villa has no TV, no Wi-fi despite the fact that the villa has a beautiful view of the mountains and was a cozy place to live.

Along with a very handsome and hot man named Sebastian who comes to the villa every now and then as a maintenance worker and who cleans the pool. Ivy was soon mesmerized by Sebastian’s hotness that she immediately comes up a character based on Sebastian named Nathaniel and soon starts polishing up her novel. And while working on the novel, Ivy and Sebastian soon develops closeness…

I really like the plot line–the book itself is well written and the author did a good job drawing the reader into the story. Though I am not much of a romance novel fan, this book actually won me over–I really like how the chemistry between Ivy and Sebastian soon developed and began to turn into a romantic relationship. I also like how funny the story is too–there were some parts in the book where I actually burst into laughing! The description of the villa with the view of the mountains, the family ties with Sebastian, the description of the small town and also the food made me feel like I am in that place with Ivy and enjoying the lonely but nice vacation or something. I would say, I really enjoyed reading this book and looking forward to read more from this author–worth totally five stars!

The Fault in Our Five Stars. Art imitates life, life imitates art… | by Kevin Luke | RTA902 (Social Media) | Medium

For anyone who is interested in this book, you can pre-order your copy on Amazon as this will be released on 8th October!