Tropical Girl Reads

The Couple Upstairs – ARC Book Review

The Couple Upstairs: An addictive psychological thriller with a gripping twist by [Shalini Boland]

Our new home was supposed to be a chance to leave our past behind. But was moving here the worst mistake of our lives?

All our friends and family were gathered, glasses raised to toast our fresh start. It should have been a night for happiness and celebration. Zac and I had worked so hard for this: our first home together, just minutes from the sea. But the dream quickly turned into a nightmare…

We’d invited our neighbours too. I wanted to make a good impression – to show them we’re exactly the sort of people they want living on their street.

I hadn’t thought about who they might be, the strangers I was letting in.

It was going so well. There was laughter in the air and the wine was flowing. But then I noticed the narrowed eyes, the whispers.

And then the lights went out.

As my heart thumped in my chest, all the little things that had been going wrong since we moved here flashed through my mind: the food poisoning, the arguments, the flood of nasty reviews shaking my business.

Am I going crazy? Or is someone trying to destroy us?

No. of pages:- 257 pages

Publisher:- Bookouture

Date published:- will be published on September 13th 2021

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:- 4.5/5 stars!

What will happen when you move into your dream house and instead ends up having a series of problems and troubles???

That’s what’s happening in this book.

Nina and Zac move into their new dream house and were greeted by a couple, Vanessa and Chris who live upstairs on the same house. As soon as they moved in, both Nina and Zac had bouts of food poisoning which signals a bad omen as many pointed out. As it turned out, it sort of did–Nina’s business turned downhill with people commenting and rating her business as one star, her products seemed to be awful on the night of the event, a power cut ruins her event. And someone was trying to break her relationship with Zac by saying that Nina was cheating behind Zac’s back. Is someone trying to sabotage Nina’s career and life? And why?

I must say, I was literally hooked into the story. Suspense was definitely there and though not much twists and turns, the book was fast paced as something on the other is happening to Nina, threatening to ruin her. Shalini Boland has done a good job drawing the reader into the story. The ending was a bit odd and I felt rushed and I kind of expected who the person might be who would ruin Nina’s life. Overall, I would say it was a gripping thriller that will keep you up all night and quiet unputdownable too!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Shalini Boland is the million-copy, USA-Today bestselling author of thirteen psychological thrillers: ‘THE GIRL FROM THE SEA’, ‘THE BEST FRIEND’, ‘THE MILLIONAIRE’S WIFE’, ‘THE SECRET MOTHER’, ‘THE CHILD NEXT DOOR’, ‘THE SILENT SISTER’, ‘THE PERFECT FAMILY’, ‘THE MARRIAGE BETRAYAL’, ‘THE OTHER DAUGHTER’, ‘ONE OF US IS LYING’, ‘THE WIFE’ and ‘MY LITTLE GIRL’.

THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS is now available to pre-order!

Her titles are published by Bookouture, Grand Central Publishing and Tantor.

Shalini lives by the sea in Dorset, England with her husband, two teens and their cheeky dog, Jess. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing psychological thrillers (in between re-stocking the fridge and dealing with endless baskets of laundry).

She is also the author of two bestselling Young Adult series as well as a children’s WWII novel with a time-travel twist.

Be the first to hear about her new releases here: http://eepurl.com/b4vb45

http://www.facebook.com/ShaliniBolandAuthorhttp://www.shaliniboland.co.ukhttps://twitter.com/ShaliniBoland

The Woman at the Gates – ARC Book Review

The Woman at the Gates : Epic, heart-wrenching and gripping World War 2 historical fiction by [Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger]

1944, Germany: Gazing through the barbed wire fence, up to the pale blue sky, Antonia dreams of home: cherry orchards, golden fields, and the man she loves, who she may never see again…

Resistance fighter Antonia is out in the forest behind her family’s beloved farm when the Nazi soldiers arrive. As she sees her sister Lena and her young nephews herded towards the trucks, guns pointed at their heads, she faces a split-second, heart-wrenching decision: to stay hidden, stay free and continue the fight. Or to give herself up and go with her family to protect them—no matter what lies ahead.

As she clutches her nephew’s little hand in hers, her other arm tight around Lena, she knows she has made the right choice. And as the truck rattles towards a brutal labor camp, and they start to wonder what fate has in store for them, Antonia’s only thought is of how to escape.

Because before they were captured, Antonia worked tirelessly to free her country from those who had turned her homeland into a bloody battleground. By her side had been clever, handsome Viktor. The man she was to marry, whose love shone like a light in the darkness of war surrounding them.

Antonia does not know if Viktor has been caught or executed. But she knows she must try to find a way back to him and she cannot wait any longer to be saved. Her precious nephews will die without proper food and they could all be killed at any moment.

The world outside the camp gates is full of danger, but they have to find a way through them first. And that is their only hope, even if it costs Antonia her life. The Nazis have taken everything from her, but they can never take away her courage…

A heartbreaking, inspiring and totally unforgettable story of the unbelievable courage and determination of extraordinary people in the darkest days of war. Fans of Kristin Hannah, Fiona Valpy, and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will be gripped from the very first page until the final, heart-stopping conclusion.

No. of pages:- 347 pages

Publisher:- Bookouture

Date published:- will be published on September 2nd 2021

Genre:- Historical Fiction

Rating:- 3.5/5

After reading The Girl from the Mountains, I was super excited to read her next novel, The Woman at the Gates this time, based in Ukraine about resistance movement.

Antonia is a professor at the university and she secretly is involved in freeing her country from the warshed. She works with a handsome man named Viktor. However, when Nazis take over the country, Viktor disappeared and Antonia assumed he is dead. She along with her sister, Lena and her nephews were taken to a labor camp and Antonia hacks up a plan to escape from the brutal camp.

The fact that this story was written based on true events fascinated me as many of you know, I am a sucker for WWII and Holocaust stories (be it fiction or non fiction). The first part of the story was a bit boring but nonetheless, I got hooked into the story, wanting to know what’s going to happen to Antonia, what really happened to Viktor and if Antonia and her lover Ivan would end up marrying together. The author seemed to have done tremendous research about the events that happened during the WWII in Ukraine, how these courageous men and women fought for freedom seemed all too realistic that there were parts in the book where it was emotional and heartbreaking. Though I would say, I liked The Girl from the Mountains more than this book, I actually enjoyed reading this book.

Thank you Chrystyna for inviting me to review this book and thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger was born in Minnesota in 1969 and grew up in the culture-rich neighborhood of “Nordeast” Minneapolis. She started her writing career with short stories, travel narratives, worked as a journalist and then as a managing editor for a magazine publisher before jumping the editor’s desk and pursuing her dreams of writing and traveling. In 2000, she moved to western Austria and established her own communications training company. She has won several awards for her short stories and novels and now primarily writes historical fiction. During a trip into northern Italy over the Reschen Pass, she stood on the edge of Reschen Lake and desperately wanted to understand how a 15th-century church tower ended up sticking out of the water. What stories were lying beneath? Some eight years later, she launched the “Reschen Valley” series with five books and a novella releasing between 2018 and 2021, in parallel to her WW2 novels and short story collections.

The Necklace – ARC Book Review

The clock ticks down in a heart-pounding crusade for justice

Susan Lentigo’s daughter was murdered twenty years ago—and now, at long last, this small-town waitress sets out on a road trip all the way from Upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the killer’s execution.

On her journey she discovers shocking new evidence that leads her to suspect the condemned man is innocent—and the real killer is still free. Even worse, her prime suspect has a young daughter who’s at terrible risk. With no money and no time to spare, Susan sets out to uncover the truth before an innocent man gets executed and another little girl is killed.

But the FBI refuses to reopen the case. They—and Susan’s own mother—believe she’s just having an emotional breakdown. Reaching deep, Susan finds an inner strength she never knew she had. With the help of two unlikely allies—a cynical, defiant teenage girl and the retired cop who made the original arrest—Susan battles the FBI to put the real killer behind bars. Will she win justice for the condemned man—and her daughter—at last?

No. of pages:- 304 pages

Publisher:- Oceanview Publishing

Date published:- will be published on September 7th 2021

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:- 4/5 stars

Here’s the thing–I did not expect this book to be really good.

A courageous heroine who after twenty years set on a journey from upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the death sentence of the man who killed her daughter some twenty years ago. However, on the journey, she finds a circumstantial evidence that seemed that the man who supposedly raped and murdered her daughter and who is behind the bars might be innocent and her daughter’s real killer might be still out. But none of them, the FBI agents and even her own mother wouldn’t believe her thinking she was still being emotional and delusional. But Susan is determined to prevent this innocent man from getting the death sentence and put the real man who is responsible behind the bars.

To me, this was somewhat an emotional read. Susan Lentigo seems to be a favorable and courageous character who would do anything to her daughter and so the character grew into me. The story is written in time span–from Present Day when Susan sets the journey to North Dakota to twenty yers ago that led her daughter Amy being murdered. The writing was flawless and engaging and the author did a good job drawing the reader to the story. I was so hooked into the book that I stayed up all night reading this book! The fact that the story is written in a realistic way that these things could happen in real life, where an innocent man could be sentenced to jail is too shocking and emotional to me. I heard this book might be made into a movie so looking forward for the movie as well.

Overall, this book is a heartbreaking, emotional read and quite unputdownable. Worth four stars.

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

Matt Witten, a graduate of Amherst and Brandeis Universities, is a TV writer, novelist, playwright and screenwriter. His television writing includes such shows as House, Pretty Little Liars, and Law & Order. His TV scripts have been nominated for an Emmy and two Edgars, and he has written four mystery novels, winning a Malice Domestic award for best debut novel. He has also written stage plays and for national magazines.

The Necklace has been optioned for film by Appian Way and Cartel Pictures, with Leonardo DiCaprio attached as producer.

Reasons for avoiding friends – ARC Book Review

Reasons for Avoiding Friends by [Megan Leavell]

Growing up, Gwen and Iris were the best of friends, even if they couldn’t have been more different. Now Gwen is living her hometown dream, or so she reminds herself while juggling endless parenting drama, an unemployed husband, and a neighborhood pyramid scheme. Never mind that at age thirty-nine, her social circle still resembles middle school. Her life is everything she ever wanted it to be, but nothing like she had planned.

Iris was never destined for the ordinary. When she moved to Manhattan, she shed her old life for a better one—but not without a cost. From a distance, Iris’s life couldn’t be more charmed, but no one knows about the cracks in the image she’s worked so hard to cultivate. No one knows the real Iris at all. Except for Gwen. But Iris and Gwen haven’t spoken for years. Until…

When Iris’s past catches up with her, she turns to the one person she could always count on—but she isn’t the only one keeping secrets, and as Gwen scrambles to preserve an illusion of domestic bliss, she finds herself wondering when they went from telling each other everything to sharing nothing. Now, a little wiser, and most certainly a little older, Gwen and Iris discover that the truest of friends accept you just as you are, and that loving yourself is sometimes the best way to find happiness.

No. of pages:- 305 pages

Publisher:- Cedar House Press

Date published:- will be published14th September 2021

Genre:- Women’s Fiction

Rating:- 3/5

I thought the front cover looked so cute that I decided to try out this book. But the book to me was OK in general.

Gwen and Iris were best friends but Iris moved to New York after getting married and Gwen is now a struggling mother of three, juggling with every day life. They haven’t spoken in years until one day, Iris decided to visit her hometown in Wisconsin and reconnect with her old friend.

The story is told from the perspectives of Gwen and Iris. To me the plot started a bit slow and it was a bit boring at first and to me the characters seem to be always whiny all the time complaining about weights and in general every thing. None of the characters to me were likable in my opinion. However, the writing was good and towards the middle, the story got a bit interesting with Gwen and Iris bonding and trying to bond with each other. The ending was a bit expected.

Overall, this was an OK book–worth three stars!

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

Megan Leavell is a full-time writer and part-time dreamer. She enjoys writing about the relationships that define our lives, and her books are sprinkled with her signature warmth and humor. Megan lives on the North Shore of Chicago with her husband, daughter, and an adorable pair of dogs. Visit her website at http://www.meganleavell.com

Thrillers Looking forward for next month

Hey guys! Today I thought I would do something different–it seems many great thrillers will be released in next month and so I thought I would share some of the thrillers that I am looking forward to read or I have already read and would recommend you all to read it.

Never Saw Me Coming – Vera Kurian

Why I am looking forward to this thriller?

The plot line sounds interesting to me. Normally, I have read psychological thrillers where the main protagonist could be either delusional, naïve with mental health issues. Here, the main protagonist is a psychopath and ends up becoming a victim. And the story sets on the grounds of campus so that makes it more intriguing to read. I have requested an ARC but so far I haven’t got one yet so I am looking forward for it.

This book will be published on September 7th 2021

Meet Chloe Sevre. She’s a freshman honor student, a leggings-wearing hot girl next door, who also happens to be a psychopath. Her hobbies include yogalates, frat parties, and plotting to kill Will Bachman, a childhood friend who grievously wronged her.

Chloe is one of seven students at her DC-based college who are part of an unusual clinical study for psychopaths—students like herself who lack empathy and can’t comprehend emotions like fear or guilt. The study, led by a renowned psychologist, requires them to wear smart watches that track their moods and movements.

When one of the students in the study is found murdered in the psychology building, a dangerous game of cat and mouse begins, and Chloe goes from hunter to prey. As she races to identify the killer and put her own plan into action, she’ll be forced to decide if she can trust any of her fellow psychopaths—and everybody knows you should never trust a psychopath.

Never Saw Me Coming is a compulsive, voice-driven thriller by an exciting new voice in fiction, that will keep you pinned to the page and rooting for a would-be killer.

2. Rock, Paper and Scissors – Alice Fenney

Why I am looking forward to this thriller?

The plot sounds interesting, and so many good raving reviews from this book, so I am looking forward to read this book!

This book will be published on September 7th 2021

Think you know the person you married? Think again…

Things have been wrong with Mr and Mrs Wright for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend away to Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can’t recognize friends or family, or even his own wife.
Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts – paper, cotton, pottery, tin – and each year Adam’s wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they didn’t randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone doesn’t want them to live happily ever after.

Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. And an anniversary they will never forget.

Rock Paper Scissors is the latest exciting domestic thriller from the queen of the killer twist, New York Times bestselling author Alice Feeney

3. Nice Girls – Catherine Dang

Why I am looking forward to this thriller?

Again the synopsis kind of made me interested in this book. A girl who studied at Ivy League returns back to hometown after dropping out of the college and works in a grocery store when the town’s sweet heart disappeared. Sounds appealing to me.

Will be published on September 7th 2021

What did you do?

Growing up in Liberty Lake, Minnesota, Mary was chubby, awkward, and smart. Earning a scholarship to an Ivy League school was her ticket out; she was going to do great things and never look back. Three years later, “Ivy League Mary” is back—a thinner, cynical, and restless failure. Kicked out of Cornell at the beginning of senior year, she won’t tell anyone why. Working at the local grocery store, she sees familiar faces from high school and tries to make sense of the past and her life.

When beautiful, magnetic Olivia Willand, a rising social media star, goes missing, Mary—like the rest of Liberty Lake—becomes obsessed. Best friends in childhood, Mary and Olivia haven’t spoken in years. Everyone admired Olivia, but Mary knows better than anyone that behind the Instagram persona hid a willful, manipulative girl with sharp edges. As the world worries for perfect, lovely Olivia, Mary can’t help but hate her. She also believes that her disappearance is tied to another missing person—a nineteen-year-old girl named DeMaria Jackson whose disappearance has gone under the radar.

Who was the true Olivia Willand, and where did she go? What happened to DeMaria? As Mary delves deeper into the lives of the two missing girls, old wounds bleed fresh and painful secrets threaten to destroy everything.

Maybe no one is really a nice girl, after all.

4. My Sweet Girl – Amanda Jayatissa

I have already read and reviewed this book–I enjoyed this book which was actually fast paced with twists and turns and an unreliable character you would hate or love. Set between two different time lines between Sri Lanka and USA, I would recommend this book if you are into thrillers with unreliable narrator (if you are not then don’t read this book)

Will be published on September 14th 2021

Paloma thought her perfect life would begin once she was adopted and made it to America, but she’s about to find out that no matter how far you run, your past always catches up to you…

Ever since she was adopted from a Sri Lankan orphanage, Paloma has had the best of everything—schools, money, and parents so perfect that she fears she’ll never live up to them.

Now at thirty years old and recently cut off from her parents’ funds, she decides to sublet the second bedroom of her overpriced San Francisco apartment to Arun, who recently moved from India. Paloma has to admit, it feels good helping someone find their way in America—that is until Arun discovers Paloma’s darkest secret, one that could jeopardize her own fragile place in this country.

Before Paloma can pay Arun off, she finds him face down in a pool of blood. She flees the apartment but by the time the police arrive, there’s no body—and no evidence that Arun ever even existed in the first place.

Paloma is terrified this is all somehow tangled up in the desperate actions she took to escape Sri Lanka so many years ago. Did Paloma’s secret die with Arun or is she now in greater danger than ever before?

Well, that’s all I have with the thrillers. I’ll make another list of romance novels that I’ll be looking forward for next month soon!

Which of these books would you want to read?

Thank You All!!! Giveaway

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Stranded – ARC Book Review

Stranded: A completely unputdownable psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist: Escape with the most twisty thriller of the year by [Sarah Goodwin]

Eight strangers. One island. A secret you’d kill to keep.

When eight people arrive on the beautiful but remote Buidseach Island, they are ready for the challenge of a lifetime: to live alone for one year.

Eighteen months later, a woman is found in an isolated fishing village. She’s desperate to explain what happened to her. How the group fractured and friends became enemies. How they did what they must to survive until the boat came to collect them; how things turned deadly when the boat didn’t come.

But first she must come to terms with the devastating secret that left them stranded, and her own role in the events that saw eight arrive and only three leave…

A gripping, twisty page-turner about secrets, lies and survival at all costs. Perfect for fans of The Castaways, The Sanitorium and One by One.

No. of pages:- 400 pages

Date published:- Will be Published on 16th September 2021

Publisher:- Avon

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating: – 4.5/5

If you were asked to live alone in an island with eight more people for one whole year, with no connection to the outside world, would you do it? This is what this story is about.

Maddy gets an opportunity to be a part of a show, where she along with seven other people–Zoe, Gill, Maxine, Duncan, Andrew, Frank and Shaun along with two camera men to spend one whole year in a remote island. But soon, while on the island, things take a sour turn with friends becoming enemies and one would do anything to survive in the remote island…even if it involves killing them…

The plot sounded interesting and intriguing and sounds so much like I am watching an episode of Lost! Maddy’s character actually grew into me–Maddy is socially awkward, introverted and into plants and botany with fair knowledge about the plants in the island and recently lost her parents who were very overprotective towards her. What was supposed to be a team work and developing friendships soon turned into sour and bitter enmity between the group, particularly towards Maddy who was soon casted out of the camp in the island. The descriptions and how the team members survive through eating plants, catching rabbits and eating fish all too well describe the life in an island so far from the outside world. There were twists and turns, with small portions dividing between the time spent on island and the interviewer doing a piece on how Maddy survived. Maddy certainly is an unreliable narrator with flaws so that makes this thriller more interesting and intriguing, I stayed up all night finishing the book, wondering what is going to happen next–quiet unputdownable and you would not be disappointed with the ending!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading thriller–an unputdownable twisty thriller and quiet an emotional one as well that will make you stay up all night!

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

Sarah Goodwin is a novelist who grew up in rural Hertfordshire. She was raised on ‘The Good Life’ ‘Anne of Green Gables’ and ‘Little House on the Prairie’ by her parents, who turned a blind eye to her dabbling in herbal medicine, feminism, eco-warrior ideals and witchcraft. They were understandably unsurprised when she developed the lifetime ambition of building a hut in the woods and living there like a soothsayer.

Her second preferred career, was author.

At Bath Spa University Sarah studied for a BA in Creative Writing and self-published many novels across various genres, including YA magical realism, contemporary women’s fiction, romance and horror.

Sarah graduated in 2014 with an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. After writing several historical novels, she decided to return to her roots and write instead about the wild, the darkness and survival, which led to her coming up with the idea for ‘Stranded’ which would become her first professionally published novel.

She’s Mine – ARC Book Review

She's Mine: A gripping psychological thriller with a truly jaw-dropping twist by [A. A. Chaudhuri]

Her missing daughter was just the start of the nightmare

Twenty years ago, Christine Donovan took a call she should have ignored while shopping. In those few seconds while her back was turned, her toddler, Heidi, was kidnapped. She’s never been seen again.

Despite having two other children with husband Greg, Christine remains guilt-stricken that her neglect caused her child to be stolen, while haunted by a secret that consumes her.

Just as she takes measures to finally heal, a note is posted through her door, with the words she has always longed to hear: Heidi isn’t dead.

Christine might finally get the answers she craves – but what she doesn’t know is that finding her daughter will uncover dark secrets close to home.

In seeking the truth, Christine might destroy everything that she loves … so how far is she willing to go to find Heidi?

With a truly jaw-dropping end twist, She’s Mine is a dark, scandalous, and gripping read from a major new talent in psychological thriller writing. For fans of Harriet Tyce, C.L. Taylor and Apple Tree Yard.

No. of pages:- 294 pages

Date published:- will be published August 18th 2021

Publisher:- Hera

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:- 4/5 stars

What an unexpected thriller!!

Christine Donovan has been living with guilt–because of her neglect and a secret love affair, she lost her own daughter Heidi. Now many years later, her marriage to her husband is strained, her two children she had with her husband Greg seemed to be hating her…and she got a confirmation that Heidi was very much alive.

Initially, the story started out a bit slow and multiple characters have given their perspectives–we read from the points of views of Christine, Miranda and Greg and a woman named Heidi. who happened to be Christine’s daughter. so to be honest it was a bit confusing at first. However, the unexpected twist and turn that was revealed in the ending was so good! I did not expect that type of ending! The writing was good, and the author did a good job of drawing the reader! The characters however are not likable in my opinion, particularly Christine’s character but nevertheless it was actually a good thriller!

This book worth four stars! Many thanks to Netgalley and Hera for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

A. A. Chaudhuri is a former City lawyer. After gaining a degree in History at University College London, she later trained as a solicitor and worked for several major London law firms before leaving law to pursue her passion for writing. She is the author of The Scribe and The Abduction, books 1 and 2 of her Kramer & Carver legal thriller series featuring the feisty Maddy Kramer, also published in audio. Her first psychological thriller with Hera Books, She’s Mine, will be published in 18th August 2021. Represented by Annette Crossland of A for Authors Literary Agency, she lives in Surrey with her family, and loves films, all things Italian and a good margarita!

#1 Amazon Australia Amateur Sleuth Mysteries (Aug ’19); #1 Amazon Canada Women Sleuth Mysteries; (Aug ’19) top 10 Amazon UK Legal crime thrillers (Aug ’19); #1 Amazon Australia Legal Thrillers (November ’19)

Whisper Cottage – ARC Book Review

Whisper Cottage: A completely addictive psychological thriller with a shocking twist by [Anne Wyn Clark]

How well do you know the woman next door?

When Stina and Jack move to an old rural cottage, they’re hoping for a fresh start. Their new home is run-down compared to their neighbour’s, but generous Mrs Barley quickly becomes a friend.

Until Stina sees a mysterious figure in the widow’s garden, and her happy new life begins to unravel. And when she hears strange noises in the night, she is forced to question if Mrs Barley is what she seems.

Why do the other villagers whisper about her? Why is she so eager to help the couple? And what is she hiding in her picture-perfect home?

No. of pages:- 368 pages

Date published:- will be published on September 2nd 2021

Publisher:- Avon

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:- 2.5/5 stars

Here comes my most unpopular review…

Stina and Jack moved to a quiet village hut to start their lives fresh. They meet a new neighbor, Mrs. Bradley who seemed to be friendly with the couple. Until Stina sees a mysterious man coupled with the noises coming from the Bradley’s house.

OK, the synopsis initially found it appealing but however as I read, the plot was boring, the story in general as a whole was boring to me that I almost DNF.. It was slow and I just only skimmed through the book. I didn’t really like the main character, Stina much. The only thing I liked about this book was the vivid descriptions of the village that makes the reader feel like they are in the village and the writing was ok.

Overall, this book worth 2.5 stars. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Anne Wyn Clark lives in the UK, in the Midlands, with her husband, son and a feisty chinchilla. She has three (now grown-up) children and five grandchildren. She is particularly partial to Italian food, decent red wine (or any coloured wine come to that…) and cake – and has been known to over-indulge in each on occasions. She is passionate about animals and their welfare. Whilst she has enjoyed writing for many years, a love of all things gothic inspired her to try her hand at producing something dark and twisty, culminating in the haunting Whisper Cottage.

One Year Gone – ARC Book Review

One Year Gone: A Novel by [Avery Bishop]

A mother will risk everything to find her missing daughter in this twisty thriller from the author of Girl Gone Mad.

“Sometimes teenagers run away…Give her a few days. She’ll be back.”

That’s what the police tell Jessica Moore when her seventeen-year-old daughter, Wyn, vanishes. All signs point to this being true. But days become weeks. Weeks become months. And Jessica begins to fear the terrible truth—that she may never see her daughter again.

Then, one year later, when all hope seems lost, Jessica gets a flurry of text messages from Wyn that freeze her blood: mom. please help. i think he’s going to kill me. But Wyn’s terrified plea comes with a warning not to call the police. Her kidnapper wears a badge.

As Jessica’s fears are raised again, so are the stakes. Delving into the months leading up to Wyn’s disappearance, Jessica stumbles upon information that could put her own life in danger. With each revelation, the nightmare deepens. Now she must decide just how far she’ll go to bring her daughter home.

No. of pages:- 366 pages

Date published:- 10th August 2021

Publisher:- Lake Union

Genre:- Women’s Fiction

Rating:- 3.5/5

I thought this book literally made me cry. It’s not a thriller, but it’s about a mother who is searching for her daughter who went missing almost a year ago, on the day of the pep rally in school. After a year, Jessica gets a series of messages from her daughter, asking her to help her, worried that her abductor was going to kill her. Then Jessica enlist the help of her husband and the FBI agent to track down her daughter’s whereabouts.

OK, the story divides between the day of the prep rally leading to Bronwyn’s disappearance and the present day and is told from the perspectives of Jessica, the mother and Bronwyn, the daughter. The story was a bit slow at first but then gradually, I got hooked into the story by the middle of the story. I didn’t like the characters much–particularly the main character but in general, none of the characters appealed to me. What got me interested in this book was when Bronwyn sends the message to her mother, asking her to help her and from then, I really wanted to find out what really happened to Bronwyn. The ending to me was bit sad and emotional, wondering how mean and selfish people can really be, particularly in the small town. Overall, it was an OK book, to me, not too bad, but I wouldnt’ particularly call this book thrilling.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.