Tropical Girl Reads

Welcome to Ferry Lane – ARC Book Review

Although thirty-three-year-old Kara Moon loves her hometown of Hartmouth in Cornwall, she has always wondered if she should have followed her dream of going off to study floristry. But she couldn’t bring herself to abandon her emotionally delicate single father, and has worked on Ferry Lane Market’s flower stall ever since leaving school.

When her good-for-nothing boyfriend cheats on her and steals her life savings, she finally dumps him and rents out her spare room as an Airbnb. Gossip flies around the town as Kara welcomes a series of foreign guests to her flat overlooking the estuary.

Then an anonymous postcard arrives, along with a plane ticket to New York. And there begins the first of three trips of a lifetime, during which she will learn important lessons about herself, her life and what she wants from it – and perhaps find love along the way.

No. of pages:- 348 pages

Date published:- will be published on July 22nd 2021

Publisher:- Hodder and Stoughton

Genre:- Holiday Fiction

Rating:-

I really like the book cover but initially, I was a bit skeptical about the book. This is the first book I have read from this author and seeing many raving reviews about this book, I was not disappointed at all! In fact, I enjoyed reading this book! This is the first book of the Ferry Lane Market series and so I was glad I got this opportunity to read the first book!

Meet Kara Moon–who had dreams of attending a floristry school but decided to remain in her hometown, working in a floral stand taking care of her father. So when her boyfriend cheats on her and uses up all her savings, she uses her spare room and invites foreigners to use the room. Then she gets a mysterious post card along with plane tickets, prompting on her to travel on a world adventure–from New York, Australia to Spain.

I thought the plot was cute and cheesy. Kara Moon is actually a very likable character in my opinion. The writing was good and engaging making the reader drawn into the story. I like Kara’s relationship with Billy and I also like the community relationship with each other in the small town in Cornwall. Through the vivid descriptions of the story, I felt like I was also a part of the story and travelling around the world with Kara as she embarks on this adventure. Overall, it is an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read more books from this series!

I give this book five stars! Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Nicola May is a rom-com superstar. She is the author of a dozen romantic comedies, all of which have appeared in the Kindle bestseller charts. Two of them won awards at the Festival of Romance, and another was named ebook of the week in The Sun.
The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay became the best-selling Kindle book in the UK, across all genres, in January 2019. Christmas in Cockleberry Bay, the fourth in the Cockleberry Bay series is OUT NOW! Welcome to Ferry Lane Market, book 1 of her forthcoming trilogy is out July 2021.

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur – Book Review

The Secret Keeper of Jaipur: A Novel (The Jaipur Trilogy Book 2) by [Alka Joshi]

Good Morning America’s “27 Books for June”

PopSugar’s Best Summer Reads of 2021

In New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi’s intriguing new novel, henna artist Lakshmi arranges for her protégé, Malik, to intern at the Jaipur Palace in this tale rich in character, atmosphere, and lavish storytelling.

It’s the spring of 1969, and Lakshmi, now married to Dr. Jay Kumar, directs the Healing Garden in Shimla. Malik has finished his private school education. At twenty, he has just met a young woman named Nimmi when he leaves to apprentice at the Facilities Office of the Jaipur Royal Palace. Their latest project: a state-of-the-art cinema.

Malik soon finds that not much has changed as he navigates the Pink City of his childhood. Power and money still move seamlessly among the wealthy class, and favors flow from Jaipur’s Royal Palace, but only if certain secrets remain buried. When the cinema’s balcony tragically collapses on opening night, blame is placed where it is convenient. But Malik suspects something far darker and sets out to uncover the truth. As a former street child, he always knew to keep his own counsel; it’s a lesson that will serve him as he untangles a web of lies.

No. of pages:- 309 pages

Date published:- June 22nd 2021

Genre:- Historical Fiction/Women’s Fiction

Rating:-

Clip Art Customer Review Star Stock - Black Transparent Background 5 Stars , Free Transparent Clipart - ClipartKey

This is the second book of the Jaipur trilogy by Alka Joshi, the first Henna Artist. This story takes place, twelve years after the events that took place in Henna Artist. The story takes place of course in Jaipur and as well as Shimla, where now Lakshmi is living with her new husband, Jay Kumar, a doctor.

Twelve years after Lakshmi leaves Jaipur with Malik and her sister Radha, she is married to Jay Kumar and is living in Shimla, tending a healing garden and helping her husband with the clinic. Radha gets married to a French man and moves to France, wanting to forget about the past, particularly about Nikhil, the son Radha gave birth to, now adopted by Kanta and Manu Agarwal. Malik is in love with a tribal girl named Nimmi who has two children, Rekha and Challoo from her previous marriage. Then Lakshmi sends Malik to Jaipur where Malik under Manu Agarwal works in Singh-Sharma architectural firm, where they are going to build a beautiful cinema complex in Jaipur. Then on the night of the grand opening, the balcony collapses, killing some people and injuring many. Manu is threatened to be thrown out of the company while the real people, who are responsible for the collapse wanted to get away. Meanwhile, Lakshmi back in Shimla finds an illegal gold trade happening around Chandigarh area to the Shimla.

I must say, from the beginning to the end, I was literally drawn into the story. The story is told from the perspectives of Malik, Nimmi and Lakshmi so we would know what each of them thinks about one another–about Malik’s stay in Jaipur and Nimmi’s relationship with Lakshmi. Since I listened to the audiobook, the narrators did a good job! The writing was great, making the reader feel like they are in Jaipur and Shimla. I also like getting to know some culture and tradition and the way of like when reading through Nimmi’s perspectives. Also, I have to say, the story is realistic, despite the fact that it’s fictional. As a Sri Lankan, where our country’s culture is a bit similar to India, I am not surprised when reading this book how rich can get away with anything by bribing and that it was the hardworking and poor people who get caught in the middle. The author did a good job, highlighting the corruptions in the system and the illegal smuggling of gold which is realistic. The characters in the book are likable particularly Malik and his love for Nimmi, although I thought his obsession with Sheela’s naked body was irrelevant in the book. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading this book and felt like I was a part of the story with me in Jaipur and Shimla.

Overall, I give this book five stars and cannot wait for the third book to come!

Alka Joshi was born in the desert state of Rajasthan in India. In 1967, her family immigrated to America. She earned a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts in San Francisco. Prior to writing The Henna Artist, Alka ran an advertising and marketing agency for 30 years. She has spent time in France and Italy and currently lives with her husband on the Northern California Coast.
Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPflbk14yjY&t=2s
More at: https://www.instagram.com/thealkajoshi/

Home Sweet Home — ARC Book Review

Home Sweet Home: A totally unputdownable psychological thriller with a shocking twist by [Nicole Trope]

Sometimes, the most perfect families are hiding the most terrible secrets. How well do you know the people next door…?

Everybody wants to live on Hogarth Street, the pretty, tree-lined avenue with its white houses. The new family, The Wests, are a perfect fit. Katherine and Josh seem so in love and their gorgeous five-year-old twins race screeching around their beautiful emerald-green lawn.

But soon people start to notice: why don’t they join backyard barbecues? Why do they brush away offers to babysit? Why, when you knock at the door, do they shut you out, rather than inviting you in?

Every family has secrets, and on the hottest day of the year, the truth is about to come out. As a tragedy unfolds behind closed doors, the dawn chorus is split by the wail of sirens. And one by one the families who tried so hard to welcome the Wests begin to realise: Hogarth Street will never be the same again.

A completely gripping, twist-packed psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Sally Hepworth and Lisa Jewell.

No. of pages:- 250 pages

Date published:- will be published on August 6th 2021

Publisher:- Bookouture

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Hogarth Street is a type of street that anyone would want to live in–tree lined avenue with white colored houses. A new family named Wests is living in one of those houses with their five year old twins. Despite the fact that they seemed to be a happy family, they seem to be hiding a deep secret, a secret that will change the lives living in Hogarth Street.

The story is told from the perspectives of Katharine, the wife, Gladys, the next door neighbor and Logan who seemed to be delivering posts around the neighborhood. While reading the novel, initially, my thought was, the story was direct and predictable. To my utter surprise…I was wrong! It was completely twisted, unexpected thriller with an unexpected ending that for a moment, I have to think…what did I just read!! Kudos to the author’s writing that kept the reader intrigued till the end of the story. The ending completely blew my mind away. The characters were all great–the situation seemed realistic to me but nonetheless I enjoyed reading this book! Can’t wait to read more from this author!

Overall, this book will not disappoint you–worth five stars in my opinion! Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature.
The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story. She went on to publish a further five novels in Australia before joining Bookouture in 2019. She is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.
She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children

A Familiar Sight – ARC Book Review

A Familiar Sight (Dr. Gretchen White Book 1) by [Brianna Labuskes]

A shocking murder carries echoes of the past for a psychologist in a startling novel of suspense by a Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author.

Psychologist and criminologist Dr. Gretchen White is a specialist in antisocial personality disorders and violent crimes. She’s helped solve enough prominent cases for detective Patrick Shaughnessy that her own history is often overlooked: Gretchen is an admitted sociopath once suspected of killing her aunt. Shaughnessy still thinks Gretchen got away with murder. It’s not going to happen again.

When a high-profile new case lands on Shaughnessy’s desk, it seems open and shut. Remorseless teenager Viola Kent is accused of killing her mother. Amid stories of childhood horrors and Viola’s cruel manipulations, the bad seed has already been found guilty by a rapt public. But Gretchen might be seeing something in Viola no one else does: herself.

If Viola is a scapegoat, then who really did it? And what are they hiding? To find the truth, Gretchen must enter a void that is not only dark and cold-blooded, but also frighteningly familiar.

No. of pages:- 367 pages

Date published:- will be published on August 1st 2021

Publisher:- Thomas and Mercer

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

I only have one word for this book….WOW! What did I just read? This book is so intense, gripping that the ending actually left me speechless!

This book is the first book of the Dr. Gretchen White series–Gretchen has identified herself as a sociopath and years later, she almost became a suspect of her aunt’s murder case and still, her colleague, Shaughnessy believes that she was behind her aunt’s murder. So when a high profile murder case lands on her desk with her friend Lena committing suicide, Gretchen along with another Detective Marconi investigates the case. The suspect was a girl named Viola Kent, a thirteen year old with a history of violent tendencies ranging from harming her brothers to hiding dead birds in the garage, was accused of stabbing her mother Claire numerous times. When Lena committed suicide, she has left a note to Gretchen saying Viola was like Gretchen–that she was innocent. Is Viola really innocent and is used as a scapegoat? If so, who is the real murderer.

The plot to me sounded interesting and intriguing to me–the story divides between Now which involves Gretchen and Marconi to the past spanning between the years with Reed Kent sharing his perspectives. The story was fast paced, a plus sign for a good thriller in my opinion with lots of twists and turns that makes you wonder, who really is the murderer. When reaching towards the end, it got more and more intense that I was so hooked into the story and couldn’t wait to see who is the real culprit!!! The ending was–WOW, didn’t expect that type of ending. I had such a roller coaster ride with this book that I actually enjoyed reading this book! The book mainly talks about power, social status as well as abuse which makes it both disturbing and interesting to read at times. In my opinion, the characters to me are a bit complex and intense, and to me, Gretchen seem to be an interesting character. I also like how the friendship and relationship developed between Gretchen and Marconi.

Overall, this is a fast paced thrilled packed with unexpected twists and turns with an ending that will leave you speechless–worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC–the review is based on my honest opinion only.

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Brianna Labuskes graduated from Penn State University with a degree in journalism. For the past eight years, she has worked as an editor at both small-town papers and national media organizations such as Politico and Kaiser Health News, covering politics and policy. Her historical romance novel, One Step Behind, was released by Entangled Publishing. She lives in Washington, DC, and enjoys traveling, hiking, kayaking, and exploring the city’s best brunch options. Visit her at http://www.briannalabuskes.com.

Stolen – ARC Book Review

Stolen: An unputdownable, gripping domestic psychological thriller by [Tess Stimson]

You thought she was safe. You were wrong…

Alex knows her daughter would never wander off in a strange place. So when her three-year-old vanishes from an idyllic beach wedding, Alex immediately believes the worst.

The hunt for Lottie quickly becomes a world-wide search, but it’s not long before suspicion falls on her mother. Why wasn’t she watching Lottie?

Alex knows she’s not perfect, but she loves her child. And with all eyes on her, Alex fears they’ll never uncover the truth unless she takes matters into her own hands.

Who took Lottie Martini? And will she ever come home?

A totally addictive thriller, with a twist you just won’t see coming. Fans of Lisa Jewell, Louise Candlish and T.M. Logan will be totally gripped from the very first page.

No. of pages :- 438 pages

Date published:- will be published on August 5th 2021

Publisher:- Avon

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

What is every mother’s nightmare will be? When your own child disappears in the middle of the crowd and you have no idea how your child disappeared and then fingers start pointing at you for being an irresponsible mother. That’s what happened to Alex Martini.

The story starts with Alex Martini coming to attend her friend’s Marc’s wedding in Florida with her three year old, Lottie. Then when Alex went on a brief rendezvous with a stranger on the beach, Lottie goes missing. Things become like a circus when the media gets involved, all blaming Alex for being an irresponsible mother, with the whole world getting involved as well. Flash forward two years later, Alex is still dealing with Lottie’s disappearance, not giving up on the search to find her.

The plot at first intrigued and fascinated me and from the beginning to the end I was so hooked into the book. Alex Martini maybe an irresponsible mother but then though I am not a mother, I could feel her emotions and feelings at her daughter’s disappearance, as she has no idea what really happened to her beloved daughter and where in the world her daughter is and at the same time, dealing with personal issues at home. The story feels realistic as if this had happened in real life and I really like how the author managed to draw the reader into the story. So many viable suspects that you have no idea who could have kidnapped Lottie. Twists and turns in each chapter that will make you confused and the story is fast paced as well, which is a plus sign for a good psychological thriller. The ending was so unexpected that I actually see the ending coming, but nonetheless the whole story left me breathless, yearning me to want more and I didn’ t put the book down as I want to know, what really happened to Lottie.

Overall, this is a fast paced thriller packed with actions, twists and turns that will keep you hooked from the beginning to the end! Worth five stars!

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

Tess Stimson is the author of thirteen novels, including top ten bestseller The Adultery Club, and two non-fiction books, which between them have been translated into dozens of languages.
A former British journalist and reporter, Stimson was appointed Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Florida in 2002 and moved to the US. She now lives and works in Vermont with her husband Erik, their three children, and (at the last count) two cats, three fish, one gerbil and a large number of bats in the attic.
For more information, visit http://www.tessstimson.com or follow Tess on Twitter and Facebook.

Audacity of Sara Grayson – Book Review

The Audacity of Sara Grayson: A Novel by [Joani Elliott]

What happens when your mother’s dying wish becomes your worst nightmare?

What happens when the world’s greatest literary icon dies before she finishes the final book in her best-selling series?

And what happens when she leaves that book in the hands of her unstable, neurotic daughter, who swears she’s not a real writer?

Sara Grayson is a thirty-two-year-old greeting card writer about to land the toughest assignment of her life. Three weeks after the death of her mother—a world-famous suspense novelist—Sara learns that her mother’s dying wish is for her to write the final book in her bestselling series.

Sara has lived alone with her dog, Gatsby, ever since her husband walked out with their Pro Double Waffle Maker and her last shred of confidence. She can’t fathom writing a book for thirty million fans—not when last week’s big win was resetting the microwave clock.

But in a bold move that surprises even herself, Sara takes it on. Against an impossible deadline and a publisher intent on sabotaging her every move, Sara discovers that stepping into her mother’s shoes means stumbling on family secrets she was never meant to find—secrets that threaten her mother’s legacy and the very book she’s trying to create.

No. of pages:- 331 pages

Date published:- May 25th 2021

Publisher:- Post Hill Press

Genre:- Romance/Comedy

Rating:-

What will happen when you find out that in your mother’s last will is for you to finish the best selling series? Well, that’s what happened to Sara Grayson.

Meet Sara Grayson, a thirty two year girl who recently got divorced and is dealing with her mother’s death. Her mother is a best selling author of the Ellery series that was made into a movie. When her mother died, Sara is forced to do an unthinkable task–to finish the final book of the Ellery series.

I actually enjoyed reading this book. The story is completely based on Sara’s perspective and also I like the plot as well. I do understand Sara’s hesitancy at finishing the book and at the same time, how she is determined to finish off the book by fulfilling her mother’s death wish. A few romances but mostly, the book talks about how Sara overcame her fears and at the same time, she and her sister, finds some dark secrets about their parents. I actually liked nearly all the characters, some parts of the book was funny and overall, it was actually an enjoyable book.

So overall, this book worth four stars! Many thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

oani Elliott believes in the magic of stories, a good cup of tea, and the power of living a creative life. She has taught writing at the University of Maryland and Brigham Young University. She lives with her husband and two daughters near Salt Lake City, Utah. For book club resources, virtual author chats, and more, visit joanielliott.com.

One Night Only – ARC Book Review

One Night Only: An absolutely hilarious and uplifting romantic comedy by [Catherine Walsh]

Who could have predicted this? Being at the same wedding. In Ireland. There’s a reason one-night stands are one-night stands. You’re not supposed to see each other again, especially not when you’re the maid of honor, and he’s the groom’s brother…

Sarah Anderson has never been more excited about anything in her life. She’s going to her best friend’s wedding. And not just any wedding. An Irish wedding. Goodbye New York, hello rolling green hills and men with beautiful accents and twinkling eyes.

But Sarah should have known that not all guests are fairy-tale princes…

There’s the chinless Uncle Trevor, whose idea of small talk is to claim climate change is a conspiracy.

Then there’s Great Aunt Eileen, who doesn’t talk at all (she’s too busy replacing the hotel cutlery with her own set).

Worst of all, there’s Declan Murphy. Best man. Brother of the groom. And the man Sarah last saw naked.

Is there anything more mortifying than bumping into a one-night stand halfway across the world? Especially as Declan seems determined to embarrass Sarah at every turn. At least when the wedding’s over she’ll never have to see him again.

But, back in New York, Sarah finds the more she tries to forget Declan, the more she can’t shake the thought of that infuriatingly charming smile and the way he wears a tux…

Was he really just for one night only, or might Declan Murphy be The One?

Prepare to laugh until you cry with this perfect feel-good romantic comedy about taking a chance on love. Fans of Sophie Ranald, Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes won’t be able to put this down!

No. of pages:- 314 pages

Publisher:- Bookouture

Date published:- will be published on 30th July 2021

Genre:- Romance/Comedy

Rating:-

Here’s the thing–I am not normally a fan of romcom novels but if I feel like I want to get a break from the usual genres I read AKA thrillers, then I opt to read a romcom novel. The book cover is cute, the title is appealing and…I actually loved this book!

Meet Sarah–an architect working in a firm in New York who recently didn’t get a promotion. After a failed relationship, she has one night flings with no string attached. The last man she had one night stand was with a man named Declan Murphy. Sarah vowed to forget the night she always does by flying over to Ireland to attend her best friend’s Annie’s wedding…only to find that Declan is also at the wedding and is the groom’s brother. The story then takes a cheesy romantic and funny term as Sarah for the first time is struggling with her feelings towards Declan–is her just a one night stand or more than that?

I really enjoyed reading this book! The plot, though is unrealistic and is more like a soap/romcom theme, I actually enjoyed reading it. The author, this book being her debut did a good job, drawing the reader into the story and once I started reading this, I actually couldn’t put the book as I want to know if Sarah and Declan would get back together or not! There were some funny parts in the book that I almost laughed out loud! I really like the main character- Sarah seems to be funny and witty and I also liked Declan as well. I also like Sarah’s relationship with her friend Annie and her roommate Claire, and also her colleague, Will, how they supported her and was always there for her. I also like how Sarah soon develop feelings towards Declan and I must say, the author did a good job capturing the budding relationship between Sarah and Declan. Even as her debut book, the author did a good job with her writing, making the reading more enjoyable and making the reader feel like a part of the story with Sarah and Declan!

Overall, this is a funny and quite enjoyable book to read that will make you laugh out loud and will not let you down! Worth five stars!

Catherine Walsh was born and raised in Ireland.

She lived in London for a few years where she worked in Publishing and the non-profit sector before returning to Dublin where she now lives between the mountains and the sea. When not writing she is trying and failing to not kill her houseplants.

The Henna Artist – Book Review

The Henna Artist: A Novel (The Jaipur Trilogy Book 1) by [Alka Joshi]

Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel.

Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own…

Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does.

No. of pages:- 317 pages

Published:- March 3rd 2020

Publisher:- Mira

Genre:- Women’s Fiction

Rating:-

The Henna Artist is one of the books that I have wanted to read for a long time and was finally glad when I got the chance to listen to the audiobook. The story is set during the 1950’s, in a colorful and vibrant city called Jaipur, Rajasthan, where a seventeen-year-old Lakshmi, after escaping from an abusive marriage, works as a henna artist and helping women with their “problems”, with a wide knowledge of herbal medicines. She mainly works for the elite ladies of Jaipur and has already established her name. However, she gets an unexpected visit–her ex husband, Hari brings a thirteen year old girl named Radha, who is Lakshmi’s younger sister. With the arrival of her sister, Lakshmi’s life starts to change drastically.

This story is realistic in so many ways that I have to give kudos to the author for doing so much research about the life of India during the 1950’s–the vast differences between the rich and poverty–how rich spend their summers in Europe and poor people remain fretting about money and loans (like Lakshmi), caste issues and of course various ideals and culture. If you read this book, as a reader, you would feel like you are in India in the city of Jaipur, experiencing the culture and traditions and going through the emotions and story with the main character, Lakshmi. The story is mainly told from the perspectives of Lakshmi and you would be surprised at the age of seventeen, how matured she sounds though she had taken rash decision that impacted on her relationship with her parents and her ex husband as well as her sister. The characters in the book are complex and realistic–both Lakshmi and her sister Radha are favorable characters, their emotions and feelings seem to be real in the book. Vividly, by reading through this book, I feel as if I was a part of the story and so the author–as well as the narrator did a good job drawing the reader to the story!

Overall, I give this book five stars–emotional, heartbreaking and you will never be able to put this book down–I devoured from the first chapter to the end!

This is the first book of the Jaipur triology and I am currently reading the second book, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, which is the second book of the series–so stay tuned for the review!

lka Joshi was born in the desert state of Rajasthan in India. In 1967, her family immigrated to America. She earned a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts in San Francisco. Prior to writing The Henna Artist, Alka ran an advertising and marketing agency for 30 years. She has spent time in France and Italy and currently lives with her husband on the Northern California Coast.

Little Secrets – Book Review

Little Secrets: 'For fans of Shari Lapena, Liz Nugent and Gillian Flynn' Will Dean, author of Dark Pines by [Jennifer Hillier]

All it takes to unravel a life… is one home truth.

Marin used to have it all. She’s married to the love of her life, Derek, she owns a chain of upscale hair salons, and is admired in her community as head of a loving family. Until the world falls apart the day her son Sebastian is taken…

A year later, Marin is a shadow of herself. The police search has gone cold. The publicity has faded. She and her husband rarely speak. With her sanity ebbing, Marin hires a private investigator to pick up where the police left off.

But instead of finding Sebastian, she learns that Derek is having an affair with a much younger woman. This discovery sparks Marin back to life. She’s lost her son; she’s not about to lose her husband. Derek’s mistress is an enemy with a face, which means this is a problem Marin can fix. Permanently.

No. of pages:- 320 pages

Published:- May 7th 2020

Publisher:- Corvus Publishers

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

This is the third book I have read of Jennifer Hiller and so far I have enjoyed reading her books — Jar of Hearts is one of her best books I have read so far. Little Secrets is a gripping psychological thriller that will keep you up all night!

One day, a few days before Christmas, Marin goes out shopping with her son Sebastian. Then Sebastian goes missing and was last seen leaving the shopping premises with a person dressed as Santa. Marin and her husband, Derek tried finding their only child but their search became fruitless with Marin succumbing to depression and suicide. Marin then soon decides to move on but soon, the PI she hired tells her something–that her husband, Derek is having an affair with a younger woman, named Mackenzie Li. And Marin would do anything to save her marriage, even if it involves, murdering the mistress.

Like all Jennifer Hiller’s books, this story was intense and intriguing. Her writing was really good and did a good job, capturing the reader into the story. The story is told from the perspectives of Marin and also Mackenzie Li, who happened to be Derek’s mistress. You could actually feel sorry for Marin, as you think of what she is going through with her child missing and no idea about what happened to her child. I am not a mother, but I could actually feel her pain and sorrow, not to tell the betrayal she felt when she found out her husband is found cheating behind her back. I am not saying that I don’t like Mackenzie, but then the more I read about her, the more I kind of disliked her as a character, though in the end, I started appreciating her as a character. The story is twisted, fast paced with numerous turns, and this book will keep you hooked till the end!

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book–Jennifer Hiller has become one of my favorite psychological thriller authors–worth five stars!

Jennifer Hillier writes about dark, twisted people who do dark, twisted things. Born and raised in Toronto and a proud Canadian, she spent eight years in the Seattle area, which is where all her books are set.

She loves her son, her husband, the Seahawks, and Stephen King. Not equally, but close. She’s the author of six novels, including JAR OF HEARTS, which won the Thriller Award, and was shortlisted for the Anthony and Macavity Awards.

Her newest psychological thriller, LITTLE SECRETS, will be out on April 21, 2020 from Minotaur Books.

The Woman in the Water- ARC Book Review

The Woman in the Water : A completely gripping mystery and suspense novel by [Kelly Heard]

I know my sister didn’t die by accident. Does someone know our secret?

I swore I’d never go home to Brightwater. It would be safer for everyone if I stayed away.

But now my sister is dead, and I am driving down the familiar highway, watching the sunlight glimmer off the lake, with the memory of her green eyes like a knife in my heart.

I know Holly didn’t slip and drown out by the old boardwalk, surrounded by trees and dark water. She would never have gone there, if she had a choice.

Her little girls need me now. I couldn’t save Holly, but I must protect them.

Because if whoever killed Holly knows what we did all those years ago, out on the water, then I need to find them before they come after me.

But how can I, when there are still so many things I don’t know about what really happened that night?

An absolutely gripping, twisty psychological thrillerabout secrets between sisters that will keep you turning the pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, The Woman in the Window and The Silent Patient.

No. of pages:- 345 pages

Publisher:- Bookouture

Date published:- will be published July 22nd 2021

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

After reading Silent Girl by Kelly Heard, I was so excited to read her next book, The Woman in the Water.

When her sister, Holly called, Felicity didn’t want to amend things with her. But when a call reaches to her that her sister died drowning, Felicity returns back to the small town she vowed never to return back. The police thing it was accidental drowning but Felicity things that Holly’s death was no accident. With Holly’s daughters Tess and Frankie under her care, Felicity tries to find the answers she had left behind, many years ago and someone is out there to stop her.

Just like the Silent Girl, the plot was intriguing and started fast paced. There were some twists and turns here and there and the story is mainly told from Felicity’s point of view. However, the story to me was a bit too direct and the story itself was a bit predictable. There were some sense of horror theme in the book but not really related to the book. So overall, it was an unputdownable thriller, and despite the flaws, the book will keep you hooked until the end.

This was a fast paced thriller with some twists and turns–worth four stars!

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