Mother Of The Bride.

 

 

 ★★★★

 4.5 ★

 Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Bookoture, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

My mother is obsessed with every detail of my wedding – controlling my dress, my ring, my happiness. But when the day finally comes, will she really let me go? Last year, my sister’s fiancé was murdered on his wedding day. And I found my mother’s corsage next to his body… 

I’m beaming as I walk down the aisle, but my smile masks a prickling fear, even though this is supposed to be the happiest day of my life. 

My husband-to-be, Owen, is everything to me, with his sandy hair and sparkling blue eyes. He keeps telling me it will all be fine. I pray he’s right as I slip a gold band onto his finger with trembling hands. 

Please let me be wrong about what my mother did. Please let Owen be safe. 

But when the priest asks if anyone objects, I turn to look at my mother. Her eyes are icy beneath the brim of her hat, and she’s staring right at me. 

Is my husband’s life in danger? Or is it mine…? 

 

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I wasn’t sure what to expect when I found this book on Netgalley. The cover is what drew my attention; simply looking at it is enough to grab any reader's attention. The cover itself is full of mystery, leaving you curious about the story. After that, I read the synopsis, which immediately grabbed my attention and led me to request the book. I’m delighted I got approved and got to read Mother Of The Bride . A lot was going on in this story, making it difficult to pick a stopping point. 

I loved Lizzie, though I wasn’t too sure about her mental health. I understood why she was cautious about her mother, considering what happened the year before during her sister’s wedding. However, I felt that she was overly concerned about her mother’s capabilities. On the other hand, the way that her mother was acting while Lizzie was staying with her, was suspicious. As the story progressed, I began to suspect that Lizzie’s mother was involved in what occurred during Shelley’s wedding. I couldn’t get away from the story at this point. 

I did feel that few parts would repeat, or drag on. However, those parts didn’t last too long. I loved the twists in this novel, and most of them surprised me, especially the last one. I enjoyed most of the characters, but Owen…I liked him, but I had a hunch that something wasn’t right about him. Mother Of The Bride is a novel you will not be able to put down once you begin reading it. Once the twists start, you’ll want to continue reading until the final page. I loved the amount of suspense in this book, which keeps you guessing until the last page. 

I would highly suggest this to anyone who likes mystery and suspense. It will keep you at the edge of your seat.

The House In The Pines.

 

 

★★★★

4.5 ★

Maya was a high school senior when her best friend, Aubrey, mysteriously dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man named Frank whom they'd been spending time with all summer. 

Seven years later, Maya lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is kicking the secret addiction that has allowed her to cope with what happened years ago, the gaps in her memories, and the lost time that she can't account for. But her past comes rushing back when she comes across a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over and dies in a diner while sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her Berkshires hometown to relive that fateful summer--the influence Frank once had on her and the obsessive jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey. 

At her mother's house, she excavates fragments of her past and notices hidden messages in her deceased Guatemalan father's book that didn't stand out to her earlier. To save herself, she must understand a story written before she was born, but time keeps running out, and soon, all roads are leading back to Frank's cabin.... 

 

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Captivating. 

I have read several books recommended by Reese’s Book Club and loved most of them. I should not be shocked. Yet I find myself caught off guard by another amazing story. I’d heard about House in the Pines for a while and finally had a chance to check it out from the library. I’ve read a few thrillers over the years, and what I liked about this one was that it was unique and unlike any other novel I’d read before. I believe that the title: The House In The Pines will catch the reader’s attention. As a thriller fan, I couldn’t stop wondering about the tale behind the title. 

Maya was different from the characters that I typically read about. I believe that is what distinguishes her. When it came to situations like hers, she thought differently than everyone else. However, that did not stop her from investigating and trying to piece together the truth of her best friend, Aubrey’s death. That was one of the things I admired about Maya: she never gave up, even when others refused to believe that Frank was involved. Like Maya, I knew that there was something about Frank; that he knew something that others did not. 

There were quite a few mysteries surrounding this story. There were a couple of moments that I felt were dragging on a bit too long but overall, I couldn’t pull away from this story. There was a lot that was going on in this novel, yet it didn’t feel confusing; everything fell together for me. I couldn’t believe that this was the author’s debut novel, and I can’t wait to see what adventures await us next.

The Last House Guest.

 

 

 ★★★

3.5 ★

The summer after a wealthy young summer guest dies under suspicious circumstances, her best friend lives under a cloud of grief and suspicion. 

Littleport, Maine, has always felt like two separate towns: an ideal vacation enclave for the wealthy, whose summer homes line the coastline; and a simple harbor community for the year-round residents whose livelihoods rely on service to the visitors. 

Typically, fierce friendships never develop between a local and a summer girl—but that’s just what happens with visitor Sadie Loman and Littleport resident Avery Greer. Each summer for almost a decade, the girls are inseparable—until Sadie is found dead. While the police rule the death a suicide, Avery can’t help but feel there are those in the community, including a local detective and Sadie’s brother, Parker, who blame her. Someone knows more than they’re saying, and Avery is intent on clearing her name, before the facts get twisted against her. 

 

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I haven't read a book by Megan Miranda in years. The last book I read by her was a young adult novel, Fracture, back in 2014. I had no idea she was writing adult thrillers until my friend from work mentioned it to me. When I went to the library, I chose to check out this book. The title, The Last House Guest , made me intrigued. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book because it had been a while since I had read novels by this author, but it didn't take long for me to get hooked on the plot and the mystery surrounding Sadie's death. It didn’t take me long to wonder if Sadie’s death was a result of suicide or something else. 

At first, I had no idea what to think of Avery, and I didn’t sense the connections that readers experience with a character. However, as the novel progresses, my feelings for Avery shift. I didn't think it was fair how she was treated after what happened to Sadie. it made me question if there was anything more. Was there something that they knew about Sadie’s death that they weren’t sharing? As Avery began to research further into Sadie's death, I began to become suspicious of a few people at the party that night, as if they were hiding something. At that point in the story, I couldn't get enough of it, and I needed to know what was going to happen. 

Although The Last House Guest was mysterious, it didn't start that way for me; the suspense took some time to build up. However, once the suspense built up, I found myself reading, unable to put the book down. Overall, I enjoyed the tale and most of the characters and would recommend it to thriller lovers.

A Fate Inked In Blood(Saga Of the Unfated,#1)

 

 

★★★★

A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series. 

Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back. 

Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate. 

Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

 

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Wow. 

How do I even begin this review? I was unsure what to anticipate from this book, as Danielle L. Jensen is a new author for me. I found this book while browsing Goodreads one day. The title caught my interest first, then the cover. I was fascinated by the plot, so I read the book’s summary, which immediately attracted my attention. I’m glad that I suggested A Fate Inked In Blood to the Bookclub and it was chosen for March. There were so many emotions that passed through my mind while reading this book, and I am still thinking about it as I write this review. A part of me wants to pick up and read it again. A Fate Inked In Blood is a book that will stay with you. 

I am a huge fantasy fan and read multiple novels through the years. This story is unlike any fantasy book that I had read before, and that’s what I admired about it. You can’t help but love Freya, despite everything she had to go through. Freya kept on going and doing everything that was needed of her to protect her family. I wanted to like her family, but the way that they treated her, they didn’t deserve her sacrifices for them. I admired how strong Freya was, always ready to fight. She was my favorite character in the novel, and I am looking forward to seeing what happens to her next. 

Bjorn. I loved how much he cared about Freya and was always willing to protect her. I’m not sure whether it was just me, but I felt that their desire for each other grew too fast. I couldn’t get enough of this story, which is why I finished it in only a few days. I can’t wait for the next book and see what adventures await everyone.

She's Not Sorry.

 

★★★★★

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review 

An ICU nurse accidentally uncovers a patient’s frightening past in this chilling thriller. 

Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom to a teenage daughter and working as a full time nurse. While on duty at the hospital one day, a patient named Caitlin arrives in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, having jumped from a bridge and plunging over twenty feet to the train tracks below. 

But when a witness comes forward with shocking details about the fall, it calls everything they know into question. Was Caitlin pushed and if so, by whom and why? 

Meghan has always tried to stay emotionally detached from her patients, but this time, she mistakenly lets herself get too close until she’s deeply entangled in Caitlin’s and her family’s lives. Only when it’s too late, does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims. 

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 Haunting. 

In 2022, I started reading Mary Kubica's works. I should've known that she'd become one of my favorite thriller authors. I had read two of her books before starting this one. I didn't think the twists in her books could get any more unexpected, but she astonished me again. I was excited to see that she was releasing a new book and requested it as soon as I saw it on NetGalley. I didn’t have time to read it right away, but once I did, I couldn’t get enough of the story, and the characters. There’s much more to say about the story, but I don’t want to give too much away. 

The title: She’s Not Sorry makes you curious, even if you never read the book by the author; there is the mystery behind the title. Even though I adored Local Woman Missing, & Just the Nicest Couple , this was my favorite one. I initially found the story to be slow-moving at the beginning, but it quickly became fascinating and difficult to put down. Just when I believed I had figured out what happened and who was behind it, another twist made me reconsider everything. I’ve never read a book with so many surprising turns. 

I liked Meghan, despite some of her decisions that I didn’t agree with. I loved the lengths that she would go, to protect her daughter. However, I wonder what Sienna would think of her mother if she knew the truth about what she had done. Caitlin, I liked her at first and wondered what made her jump. The feeling lasted until I discovered what Caitlin was truly like. I had so many questions about what happened. She’s Not Sorry is a book you won’t forget. 

This story hasn’t left my mind. I would strongly recommend this book to any thriller fans. Be prepared for a exhilarating ride.

We Were The Lucky Ones.

 

 

 ★★★★

It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe will become inescapable and the Kurcs will be flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her path to safety. 

As one sibling is forced into exile, another attempts to flee the continent, while others struggle to escape certain death, either by working grueling hours on empty stomachs in the factories of the ghetto or by hiding as gentiles in plain sight. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity, and inner strength to persevere. 

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Beautiful, heartbreaking, moving story. 

I can't... Once again, another book in which my emotions run high and I can't get the story out of my head. I can't picture what Kurc went through; it's sad. When I read the summary, I suspected that WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES would be a sad book. Nothing prepared me for what I read, and it was heartbreaking. I had to put the book down a few times because it became difficult for me to continue, and I found myself reflecting on it for a while before picking it back up. WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES Is one of those books that will shatter your heart several times, but you will be unable to stop reading. You will fall in love with the story and the characters, and you will be left wondering what will happen to the Kurc family next. However, you should expect an emotional roller coaster trip when reading this book. I found myself reaching for tissue boxes several times. I've read novels about the Holocaust before, but none had the same impact on me as WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES . I still can't get that out of my mind. 

I'm not sure which character I loved better, and if I had to choose just one, I doubt I'd be able to. They were each remarkable in their way. I adored Mila and the way she cared for her daughter, Felicia when her husband disappeared. I can't imagine what she must have gone through, and then having him reappear after all those years, and Mila believing he was dead. I also believe that her daughter Felicia was a smart and brave child, given what she had to go through at such an early age.I can't think she'll ever be able to overcome it, but I hope she will in the future. 

Felicia was my favorite character, and my heart broke for her, for everything she had to go through. Genek and Herta went through a lot as well, and I can't see how they'll ever get over such an agonizing experience. My heart grieved for them several times, and it was one of the rare instances when I struggled to read and reached for Kleenex. Those who are brave enough to go through such an experience. However, I couldn't get enough of everyone's experiences, and I was rooting for them all to make it through everything. 

WE WERE THE LUCKY ONES is a heartbreaking story, but one you won't forget. You'll ponder about it for years to come. If you enjoy historical fiction, you should read this one. It's worthwhile on every page. Incredible and strong.