Something Wilder – Book Review

Title:- Something Wilder

Author:- Christina Lauren

Date published:- May 17th 2022

No. of pages:- 326 pages

Genre:- Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4.5/5

Lily has never forgotten the man that got away . . . but she certainly hasn’t forgiven him either!

As the daughter of a notorious treasure hunter, Lily makes ends meet using her father’s coveted hand-drawn maps, guiding tourists on fake treasure hunts through the canyons of Utah. When the man she once loved walks back into her life with a motley crew of friends, ready to hit the trails, Lily can’t believe her eyes. Frankly, she’d like to take him out into the wilderness – and leave him there.

Leo wants nothing more than to reconnect with his first and only love. Unfortunately, Lily is all business: it’s never going to happen. But when the trip goes horribly and hilariously wrong, the group wonders if maybe the legend of the hidden treasure wasn’t a gimmick after all. Alone under the stars in the isolated and dangerous mazes of the Canyonlands, Leo and Lily must decide whether they’ll risk their lives, and their hearts, on the adventure of a lifetime . . 

I actually loved this book to my own utter surprise! The story starts with the romance between Lily and Leo up in Wyoming. But ten years later, Lily and Leo have broken up. Lily’s father Duke is dead and Lily is struggling organizing treasure hunts across Utah for adventurers. Then after many years, Lily meets Leo again. She was angry with him and soon while looking for the mysterious treasure that Lily’s father had hidden, Lily and Leo’s relationship seem to rekindle soon.

I read their My Half-Night Stand and to be honest, Something Wilder is very different although there is a romantic setting in the book. I actually felt like I am reading scavenger hunt in the area and actually simply couldn’t put the book down as I was wondering will they ever find that so called treasure. This book also had kind of an Indiana Jones vibe in it as well–sleeping in the tents with no mobile phone signals around, and I actually felt like a part of the story. The history of the treasure hunt also drew me into the story and the ending, was like a scene from an adventure movie! I also do like the frienship between Lily and Nicole and also the small budding romance between Nicole and Walter as well. There were some funny parts in the book which made me laugh out loud and overall, I simply couldn’t put the book down and greatly enjoyed reading this book.

Overall, I rate this book as 4.5 stars!

Serial Killers Thriller – Part 1

Part of what makes me interested in reading thrillers is the serial killer vibe in the book. I know it may sound disturbing but then it is sometimes fascinating to read about serial killers.

Here are some of the serial killer thrillers I have read.

  1. Jar of Hearts – Jennifer Hiller

2. A Flicker in the Dark – Stacy Willingham

3. My Sister The Serial Killer – Oyinkan Braithwaite

4. The Good Lie – A.R. Torres

5. The Surgeon – Tess Gerritson

Friends Don’t Lie – ARC Book Review

Title:- Friends Don’t Lie

Author:- Nell Pattison

Date published:- will be published on September 29th 2022

No. of pages:- 400 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

My name is Isabel Butterworth. Your name is Isabel Butterworth.

We’re around the same age. We live in the same town.

But your life is more exciting than mine, isn’t it? Richer, dramatic, more fulfilling.

Imagine if I’d never found out about you…

But I have. Because someone mistook me for you.

And now I can’t stop thinking about you because I know you’re in trouble. You need my help.

And I need a way to get to know you.

To save you.

To be you

Two women, with the same name–Isabella Butterworth. One is leading a sort of fancy life even though her marriage is failing. The other not much of a fancy life. Then one of them gets mistakenly attacked by a man and then the other one is determined to find out more about the other person.

This was a gripping psychological thriller. It was truly engaging and fast paced and towards the fifty percent of the book, it got more and more intriguing and interesting with the twists and turns along the way. I like the fact that the author gave the reader an unexpected twist which also made the reader wanting to know what is going to happen next. But unfortunately, the book which I was going to give five stars dropped down to four stars as I didn’t really like the ending. However, the twists and turns in each of the chapter made me hook into the story and I actually enjoyed reading the book. I have read books written by this author before and this book was a complete surprise.

So if you like a gripping twisty and unputdownable thriller then this book is one for you–worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

It Happened One Summer – Book Review

Title:- It Happened One Summer

Author:- Tessa Bailey

Date published:- July 13th 2021

No. of pages:- 379 pages

Genre:- Romance

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

Tessa Bailey is back with a Schitt’s Creek-inspired rom-com about a Hollywood “It Girl” who’s cut off from her wealthy family and exiled to a small Pacific Northwest beach town… where she butts heads with a surly, sexy local who thinks she doesn’t belong. 

As seen on E!Online, PopSugar, CNN, EliteDaily, Vulture, Buzzfeed, Bustle, the Nerd Daily, PARADE, LA Magazine, Country Living, USA Today, and more!

Piper Bellinger is fashionable, influential, and her reputation as a wild child means the paparazzi are constantly on her heels. When too much champagne and an out-of-control rooftop party lands Piper in the slammer, her stepfather decides enough is enough. So he cuts her off, and sends Piper and her sister to learn some responsibility running their late father’s dive bar… in Washington.

Piper hasn’t even been in Westport for five minutes when she meets big, bearded sea captain Brendan, who thinks she won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills. So what if Piper can’t do math, and the idea of sleeping in a shabby apartment with bunk beds gives her hives. How bad could it really be? She’s determined to show her stepfather—and the hot, grumpy local—that she’s more than a pretty face.

Except it’s a small town and everywhere she turns, she bumps into Brendan. The fun-loving socialite and the gruff fisherman are polar opposites, but there’s an undeniable attraction simmering between them. Piper doesn’t want any distractions, especially feelings for a man who sails off into the sunset for weeks at a time. Yet as she reconnects with her past and begins to feel at home in Westport, Piper starts to wonder if the cold, glamorous life she knew is what she truly wants. LA is calling her name, but Brendan—and this town full of memories—may have already caught her heart. 

OK, I didn’t realize that this book was so good!

Piper Bellinger is in heaps of trouble after her wild party back in LA. Her stepfather, Daniel sends Piper and her sister Hannah to Westport, Washington to learn about their biological father Henry Cross. Piper meets Brendan who is a moody captain of the ship. The two then eventually start falling into a romantic relationship.

I actually enjoyed reading this book–it was so engaging and I really like nearly all the characters in the book. The author has done a good job of drawing the reader into the story, and I really like how the relationship slowly developing between Piper and Brendan. There were steamy scenes in the book but it was OK. I also like the relationship between Piper and Hannah as well. The description of the small town also made me feel like I was in this small fishing town with the characters as well! Overall, the ending was expected but I actually enjoyed reading the ending.

Overall, this book worth five stars and can’t wait for the Bellinger sister series Book 2, Hook line and Sinker featuring Piper’s sister Hannah.

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.

A Secret in the Family – ARC Book Review

Title:- A Secret In the Family

Author:- Leah Mercer

Date published:- will be published on September 9th 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

No. of pages:- 248 pages

Genre:- Literary/Mystery

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

Rachel sat at the kitchen table, trying to take everything in. She still couldn’t believe what her father had done. Clutching a faded photograph and a necklace in her hands, all she knew was that in her mother’s final days, she would do anything to protect her.

The call came on a seemingly ordinary day. But as soon as Rachel heard the pain in her sister’s voice, she had to face the fact that life as she knew it was about to be shattered: “It’s mum. She’s not well. She doesn’t have much time.”

Though her heart breaks to leave her husband and children behind, Rachel knows the right thing is to return home to care for her mother Janet. Their relationship has been strained for years. This may be the last chance for them both to heal.

Walking up to the front gate of her childhood home, Rachel is overwhelmed with memories: of hazy summers playing with her sister, of laughter ringing through the house, of the accident which cost their father his life. After that day, Rachel’s relationship with her mother changed forever.

Rachel has never forgiven herself for what happened and it is clear Janet hasn’t either. Determined to make amends, Rachel begins to get her mother’s house in order. But hidden in the cellar, Rachel unearths a devastating secret. A faded photograph and a tarnished necklace are the only clues to unravelling a secret that should have remained hidden.

Can Rachel unravel the mystery when it has the power to destroy her family? And when she finally discovers the truth, will it destroy everything she has ever known?

Leah can’t remember a time when she didn’t love writing. From creating fake newspapers to writing letters to the editor, scribbling something was always on the agenda. Even the rejections she received after completing her first novel at age 13 didn’t dent her enthusiasm.

So it makes sense, then, that she pursued a career in anything but writing. Public relations, teaching, recruitment, editing medical journals — even a stint painting houses — until she finally succumbed once more to the lure of the blank page.

When she’s not being jumped on by her young son or burning supper while thinking of plot-lines, Leah can be found furiously tapping away on her laptop, trying not to check Twitter or Facebook.

Leah also writes romantic comedies under the name Talli Roland

Wow…..I actually enjoyed reading this book. From the start to finish, I was literally hooked into the book.

The story starts with Rachel Verma, who is happily married receives a call from her sister Victoria to help her to take care of their ailing mother. Rachel had an estranged relationship with her mother and was determined to rekindle her relationship with her mother. While cleaning up the cellar, Rachel comes across a faded photograph and a skeletal remains of a woman. Now Rachel realizes that her family had been hiding dark secrets.

The story divides between the present day in Rachel’s perspective and the past dated 1986 told in the form of a woman named Sam, who comes to the small village and meets a man named Sean and fall in love with him. As the story progresses, we find Rachel determine to protect her mother as she is trying to rebuild the relationship with her and the suspicion that Sam’s new boyfriend Sean might be married. The ending was what blew me away, although I kind of knew that it was going to happen. The author also has done a good job of drawing the reader into the story and making the reader feel like part of the story. I also like Rachel’s married life and her friendship with the policeman, Lucas.

Overall, if you like a family drama book packed with family secrets, then this book is one for you–quite unputdownable and emotional and heartbreaking as well. As this is the first time I am reading a book by this author, I am looking forward to read more. Worth five stars!

Christmas At The Borrow A Bookshop – ARC Book Review

Title:- Christmas At Thr Borrow A Bookshop

Author:- Kiley Dunbar

No. of pages:- 292 pages

Date published:- will be published on September 1st 2022

Publisher:- Hera Books

Genre:- Romance/ Holiday

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

‘Tis the season for finding love… and the perfect book

With just two weeks until Christmas, everything in Clove Lore should be perfect. But the latest holidaymaker to the Borrow a Bookshop is feeling far from festive…

Icelandic ex-bookseller Magnús Sturluson might be surrounded by love stories in the Bookshop, but he’s nursing a sadness that not even fiction can fix.

When Alexandra Robinson finds herself stranded in Clove Lore, she finds a safe place to hide from heartbreak. After all, all that’s waiting for her at home is a cheater boyfriend and the memories of her parents. As Alex finds herself embraced by the quirky village community, she finds her tough exterior thawing – and as she grows closer to Magnús, she finds an equally soft heart under his gruff shell.

It seems that Clove Lore is working its magic once again – until a great flood on Christmas Eve brings devastation in its wake. It’s up to Magnús and Alex to batten down the hatches and help bring the village back together again, while also introducing the locals to the Icelandic tradition of the jólabókaflóð – Yule book flood – where families and friends gather on Christmas Eve to exchange books and read together.

But can Magnús and Alex truly rescue the ruins of the village, and salvage their Christmas spirit? Or is there another complication lurking even closer than they thought?

A totally uplifting read that will lighten the winter gloom, for fans of Jenny Colgan and Trisha Ashley. Booklovers will adore this seasonal treat!

It’s almost Christmas time! Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop is a romance novel that will keep you hooked from the start till the end!

This is the second book of the Borrow a Bookshop series and I actually enjoyed reading both. The story follows an Icelandic man named Magnus who used to be a bookseller and who is nursing his old wounds. Then comes Alex, who finds herself stranded in Clove Lore saved by Magnus. The story follows how the friendship and eventually the romance between Alex and Magnus developed.

I do like the Icelandic phrases that were used in the book, making the reader feel a touch of Icelandic culture. I also like the writing and I feel like I was watching a really interesting Hallmark Christmas while reading the novel. I also found it interesting to read about Yule Book flood where families and friends get together to read a book and I thought it was such a unique thing to do.

Overall, if you like to read a good Christmas romance novel, then I would highly recommend this novel for you. Worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Hera for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Orphans of War – ARC Book Review

Title:- Orphans of War

Author:- Michael Reit

Date published:- will be published on 9th September 2022

Genre:- Historical Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

Amsterdam, 1941
Their whole world is about to shatter.

German forces have invaded the Netherlands, but the Dutch are trying desperately to believe it won’t be that bad. Meanwhile, Nazis openly terrorize Jewish people on the streets. Rumors of bone-chilling violence are getting harder to ignore.

Christiaan, a man of passion and principle, joins the resistance. He risks everything to shield the oppressed and fight for the freedom of his beloved nation.

Floris is a man with a plan. Promoted to the Bureau of Jewish Affairs, he becomes instrumental in organizing transports to Nazi death camps.

Floris’s wife, Nora, discovers his unspeakable atrocities as Nazi aggression grows more brutal. Defying him, she joins the fight to rescue orphans from the terror of the transport trains and to save them from the same fate.

The Reich’s grip on Amsterdam tightens. These three will find themselves in the middle of a maelstrom that will change the course of history. As ambition, fear, and desperation collide, no one is safe.

Not the Jewish.

Not the Dutch.

Not even the powers-that-be.

“Orphans of War” is the breathless first installment in the heart-wrenching “Dutch Resistance” trilogy. Enter the terrifying world of 1940s Europe, where the only thing eclipsing the violence of the regime is the bravery of the heroes and heroines of the resistance.

Michael Reit writes historical fiction based on true events and people. Writing what he loves, he spent years researching lesser-known events, locations, and people to produce his debut novel Beyond the Tracks.

Inspired by the Polish resistance, his new novel, Warsaw Fury, focuses on the struggle of the Home Army & Jewish resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII.

He’s currently writing his third novel, which will transport readers back to WWII Amsterdam, where two brothers find themselves on very different sides as the Nazis step up their persecution of Dutch Jews.

Born in the Netherlands, he now lives in beautiful Vienna, Austria, with his partner Esther, daughter Bibi, and Hungarian Vizsla Maggie. You can connect through michaelreit.com or Facebook(Michael Reit Author). 

This is the third book I have read written by this author and I have to say, this book did not disappoint me.

This time, the story is set in the Netherlands when the Nazis invaded the Dutch in 1942. The story follows about three people–Floris who was being promoted as an officer to oversee the transportation of the Jews, Nora, Floris’ wife who tries to be dutiful and is appalled the way Nazis treat the Jews and Christiaan, Floris’ brother who is involved in the resistance of saving the Jews and the children.

The author does a good job of drawing the reader into the story, making the reader feel like they are the part of the 1940’s Netherlands. The ending was what actually drew me, how Christiaan and Lisa escaped from Amsterdam and moving to Switzerland. Despite the fact that it was a fiction, it still feels emotional and heartbreaking to read that these events did actually happen in real life. The Dutch are one of those who had strong resistance group against the Nazis and Christiaan was involved in the resistance movement. You can see that though most Dutch people resisted against the Nazi rule, there were people like Floris who only seemed to care for his position. Overall, this was truly an emotional and touching story. Worth five stars.

Many thanks to the author for inviting me to read and review the book. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Death Among Diamonds (A Cressida Fawcett Mystery Book 1) – ARC Boko Review

Title:- Death Among The Diamonds ( A Cressida Fawcett Mystery Book 1)

Author:- Fliss Chester

Date published:- will be published on September 21st 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

No. of pages:- 304 pages

Genre:- Mystery/Historical Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Everyone in 1920s London knows the Honourable Cressida Fawcett: fiercely independent (though never apart from her little pug Ruby), lover of martinis and interior designer extraordinaire. She’s solved many crimes of fashion… so how about murder?

Cressida Fawcett is heading to the English countryside for a weekend of cocktails and partying at her friend’s glamorous mansion, the location of a recent diamond heist. But just hours after her arrival, Cressida is woken by an almighty scream. Rushing to the landing, she looks down into the great hall to find a trembling maid standing next to the body of Harry, the friendly young chandelier cleaner.

Everyone believes Harry’s death was an accident. But as Cressida examines the opulent hall and the beautiful grounds, she thinks something darker is afoot. Why clean a chandelier in the early hours of the morning? And who overheard Harry boasting about coming into unexpected wealth? A small piece of torn silk found near the body has Cressida looking at the guests’ elegant clothes with fresh eyes…

The short-tempered Detective insists that she keeps her curious nose out of the investigation, but it’s Cressida who realises the stolen diamonds were hidden in the sparkling chandelier. Convinced there is a connection between the theft and the murder, the case takes a sinister turn when a guest is killed in his sleep after a brandy-fuelled night of cards. With everyone unable to leave, can Cressida’s sharp eye for detail catch the killer before another life is taken?

If you are fan of Agatha Christie, then I would strongly recommend you try reading Death Among the Diamonds, the first book of A Cressida Fawcett mystery set in 1920’s London.

Everyone in London knows Honorable Cressida Fawcett. So one day, when Cressida is at a party at her friend Lady DottyChatterton, an accident happens inside the house which results in the death of a person. Soon the accident turned out to be a murder. Not to mention that a few days before the accident happened, Lady Chatterton’s diamonds went missing.Together with DCI Andrews, Cressida works to solve the mystery of the stolen diamonds and murder.

I do like the setting of the story and reading this story reminds me of those Agatha Christie novels I used to read. The story is also set in the elite circle as well, the 1920’s being the era of jazz and fashion. Besides the setting which I really enjoyed the most, I do like the writing as well and Cressida’s character is an amicable and likable character in my opinion. Truly enjoyed reading this and cannot wait for the second book! Worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Catch Her Death (Detective Madison Harper series Book 5) – ARC Book Review

Title:- Catch Her Deat (Detective Madison Harper Book 5)

Author:- Wendy Dranfield

Date published :- will be published on September 9th 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

No. of pages:- 344 pages

Genre:- Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 5/5

Overall rating:- 5/5

“Mommy, wake-up,” he cries, pulling at her beautiful blonde hair. She’s silent, and her skin is deathly white. Tears roll down his cheeks as he realizes something is very wrong…

As snow falls on the small town of Lost Creek, Colorado, a three-year-old boy is found playing quietly in his car seat, his mother, cold as ice, slumped against the steering wheel in front. Tearing herself away from reconnecting with her special agent father who abandoned her for his career, Detective Madison Harper is haunted by the fear in the boy’s sky-blue eyes, and vows to find justice for this innocent child, left motherless just days before Christmas.

Madison works around the clock on her only clue: a perfect circle of clean glass found on the car’s rear window. But she’s stopped in her tracks the moment another mother is found dead outside a church during Midnight Mass, her young boy left sucking his thumb on the frozen ground beside her. It can’t be a coincidence.

The need to spare the children might hint to the suspect being a woman, but the deeper Madison digs, the closer she gets to a serial killer her own father spent a lifetime chasing. Has the killer followed her father here? Could Madison, single mother to a son herself, be next?

As a blizzard closes in, wreaking havoc on the investigation, Madison hits the same dead ends her father did all those years ago. But when her closest friend goes missing, Madison must dive into the mind of this twisted soul and risk it all to stop another heart-shattering tragedy. But will she make it in time?

An absolutely gripping read that will get your pulse pounding! Perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot.

Wendy is the bestselling author of the Detective Madison Harper crime series.

She is a former coroner’s assistant turned crime writer who writes a mixture of standalone thrillers, crime series and short stories. Some of her books have been shortlisted for various writing competitions and awards, including the Mslexia novel competition and the International Thriller Writer Awards.

You can find more information on her website: wendydranfield.co.uk

Catch Her Death is the fitfh book of Detective Madison Harper series and just like her previous book, this is a five starred book and a nail biting thriller that will put you on the edge.

It’s almost Christmas Eve and a three year old boy was found in the car with his mother dead by the steering wheel. His mother had been brutally beaten to death. Madison Harper along with her colleague was called to the crime scene. Meanwhile, another woman was also found murdered in the similar fashion with a small boy playing next to her. As the investigation moves on, the detectives find that this case was similar to the ones that committed by an infamous serial killer back in 1990s–the one that Madison’s father was investigating as a special Agent FBI. Meanwhile, Nate gets a Facebook message from someone from his past.

This was really an intriguing read! The author really does a good job of making the reader hook into the story and making the reader wrong whenever the reader would think that this was going to happen–which in other words means the author does a good job of surprising the reader with completely unexpected twists and turns! The story itself is fast paced and too many suspects to really know who could be the actually killer. I do like the relationship between Madison and Nate and how her relationship with her father grew towards the end. Overall, this book would take you on a rolle coaster ride and you wouldn’t really want to put the book down. Guaranteed that this book will keep you up all night–worth five stars!

Cannot wait for the next book of Madison Harper series!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Someone’s Watching Me – ARC Book Review

Title:- Someone’s Watching Me

Author:- Zor Rossi

Date published:- will be published on 15th September 2022

No. of pages;- 249 pages

Publisher:- Amazon

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Is someone dangerous out to get her? Or is it all in her mind?

Becky’s life is almost perfect. Growing up, she could never have imagined living in such a safe, beautiful home, with a boyfriend as loving and kind as Alex, and hopes for a little family of her own. But then stand-offish Max moves in next door, and things begin to fall apart.

First, someone starts trolling her social media. Then she finds her tyres slashed. By the time she discovers the dead bird, left waiting for her like a prize, she’s sure someone is after her. And having spied some strange goings-on beyond her kitchen window, she suspects that person is Max.

Frightened, Becky turns to Alex for help, but she’s surprised to find that he and Max have become firm friends—and that Alex is convinced it’s all in her mind. But when news of a missing young woman breaks, Becky knows she has to do something. She’s sure she’s seen this woman in Max’s home—hasn’t she?

With Alex concerned that she’s losing her grip on reality, does Becky dare keep digging, knowing her almost-perfect life could shatter into imperfect little pieces?

The story starts with Becky, who seems to be having a perfect life with a perfect boyfriend Alex. But a stand offish man named Max move into the the next door house and soon, someone is coming after Becky–from ruining the estate open day to leaving a dead crow at the front of her car. Becky is convinced that someone is out getting revenge on her and she suspected Max, who has become friends with Alex. Alex doesn’t believe her and Becky would do anything to find out who is out about to ruin her life.

The plot wasn’t really original but the writing was great. There were some twists and turns along the way and Becky to the reader could be an unreliable narrator. However, even though the plot wasn’t original, I like the pace of the story–it was fast paced and the author did a magnificent job of drawing the reader into the story so to make the reader feel like they are part of the story. The ending was unexpected and completely shocking, though I suspected that person could be the one who is hell bent on ruining Becky’s life. Overall, this was a good gripping psychological thriller, quite unputdownable that will keep you at the edge of the seat. Worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Amazon publishing UK for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.