Featuring ~ single 1st & multiple 3rd person POV, differing timelines, alcoholism, infidelity, voyeurism, r@pe references, death of a child
Amanda2.5⭐
Featuring ~ single 1st & multiple 3rd person POV, differing timelines, alcoholism, infidelity, voyeurism, r@pe references, death of a child
Amanda is our 1st person narrator and we have multiple 3rd person ones, including her husband, Nathan (I won't name them all as to not give spoilers). No one is very likable and all are unreliable.
Overall, not for me, but I did like the following: ~ unique premise ~ short chapters ~ how Amanda cared for her elderly neighbor, Mr. Beckles ~ the twist I didn't see coming ~ the last sentence
This was very slow going for me and I wasn't very invested in the story until about 80% in. I liked the interesting premise ~ will Amanda really be murdered on May 3rd as the crossword implies? With the multiple POV's and flashbacks within the chapters, it took an awfully long time to find out. And once we do find out it left me with a lackluster impression. Luckily there was a small twist that I hadn't figured out that gave me some excitement. Amanda struggles with alcoholism and she talks a big game of trying to get help, but really it didn't seem like she wanted to quit. I liked the last sentence, but I won't tell you why.
So again, overall not for me, but there are other reviewers that enjoyed this more than I did, so don't let my thoughts stop you from giving it a try if it sounds like something you'd enjoy.
*Thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Book 3 in the Getting Shipped! series ~ fine as a standalone, but you might as well read them all because they're a delight.
Fe4.75⭐ for the audiobook.
Book 3 in the Getting Shipped! series ~ fine as a standalone, but you might as well read them all because they're a delight.
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, close proximity, amnesia, farm life, goats galore, small town, slow burn, no steamage
Mallory & Aiden Shining Knight Aiden rescues Mallory after she crashes her car in a snow storm while on her 'one~y~moon' after calling off her wedding. A bump on her noggin causes her to have amnesia. As the weeks go by she slowly fills in the missing pieces of her life before she met the handsome farmer. Will she want to go back to her old city life or might she have 3 reasons, plus a slew of goats, to want to stay right where she is?
OMG ~ this is my favorite in the series. I lovedy love loved these two so much!!! They were both so sweet and when he got custody of his niece & nephew I was loving how they adapted so well. I didn't care for the inevitable 'break up' of course~ speak up ya love birds!
Perfect side characters that we've already loved from the previous books and an adorable epilogue to conclude the delightfulness.
Narrated by Amy McFadden and Will Damron for 10 hours and 35 minutes. They did a lovely job as usual.
Duke played a big part and I'm guessing he'll get his happily ever after in the next book and I'm ready for it.
*Thanks to Savannah Scott, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, single mom, dementia, references to child abuse
Shelly and her 10 year old daughter, Lauren, have moved into the t4⭐
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, single mom, dementia, references to child abuse
Shelly and her 10 year old daughter, Lauren, have moved into the tight-nit neighborhood of Beech Close after Shelly's mom has passed away. Shelly's house is the only rental out of 6 houses making her already feel like an outlier. But when she figures out the previous tenant, Danielle, moved out abruptly and is now deemed missing she can't help but suspect her neighbors know more than they are letting on.
It was a bit slow moving since there is a lot more monologue than dialogue making for some long paragraphs. It took me a few chapters to keep everyone's name and house number straight. There were some delightful and some not so delightful characters and everyone seemed like they could be a suspect one time or another. I really enjoyed Shelly and Josh's relationship ~ they were definitely bff goals. Josh's mom, Joyce, was great too. I loved Teddy the dog ~ he was referenced so often that I thought something bad might happen to him, but thankfully he was unharmed throughout.
My heart was really pounding at the end there ~ one of my biggest fears is what happened after she was out of the van. I was really pleased with how everything turned out. I'll definitely be reading more of Gemma's work in the future.
*Thanks to Gemma Rogers, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Our narrators are Emily in the present and Mari in the past.
BFF's and author's Emily and Chess head to Italy to reconnect and write. They stay at a Villa where a murder took place decades ago that involves Mari, who is an author too. Emily is fascinated by this and wants to figure out what happened. It's a book within a book since we have multiple authors putting their two cents in. Wasn't super in love with any of the characters really.
Regarding the infidelity ~ I called who it was with and I didn't like it and I didn't like how Emily dealt with it.
Had a bit of an eye roll at this part "So, maybe it wasn't completely crazy to think Mari came back here to hide one last thing. Maybe I just misinterpreted the riddle. That's when I spot it." seemed like she was in the right place at the right time to have this thought.
Overall, it was fine, not mind-blowing, with an eye catching cover.
I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. Both ways were fine, but I did more listening than reading. The narrators are Julia Whelan, Kimberly M. Wetherell and Shiromi Arserio for 7 hours and 57 minutes and 44 seconds. I was very pleased with all of them and so happy there were three.
*Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my audio and ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, very minimal steamage, slow burn, second chance
I didn't read the blurb and just requested this one blind because I loved book 1 so much. I was expecting to enjoy this one much more than I did. I mean it was fine, but I wasn't really wowed. There wasn't much rom or com.
I really liked Josh a whole bunch more than Gemma. My heart broke for him. I know that she couldn't help what was happening with her feelings, but there was lack of communication, which I'm not a super big fan of.
Ian is brought back into the story, which was fine, but the reason why puts more of a damper on Josh and Gemma finding their way back to each other. I did like that whole twist though.
Narrated by Erin Mallon for 8 hours and 37 minutes, easy to follow at 2-2.5x. She did a fine job again.
Overall, this was just alright for me. I wanted a little more pizzazz. I will read another installment if there is one though.
*Thanks to the author, Swift & Lewis Publishing LLC and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Book 3 in the Jansen Brothers series ~ fine as a standalone, but our characters from book 1 and 2 make quite a few appearances3.25⭐ for the audiobook.
Book 3 in the Jansen Brothers series ~ fine as a standalone, but our characters from book 1 and 2 make quite a few appearances, so it's nice to know their background ~ not essential to the story though.
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, small business owner, slow burn, friends to lovers, no steamage
Hailey & Wes I do prefer friends to lovers over enemies to lovers, but this was a super slow burn. I think maybe it was because their friendship only spanned a few months and wasn't from childhood, which I guess I prefer. Even though that makes me mad too cuz it's a time waster ~ and now I'm totally off topic of this one. So anyway, I didn't like their meet cute and how he was sure she was lying to him. I loved that Hailey had her own small business that she built on her own. Some of the salad combinations sounded lovely and now I've gotta head to the store for some salad fixings ~ my family will be thrilled ...more
Secrets run deep with childhood friends Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia and they're still haunted 22 years later. There were some nice twists I didn't see coming ~ whoop whoop! This was a solid suspenseful thriller with a shocking conclusion and this author is on my radar now. From what I gather this is her debut in adult fiction as she normally writes YA, so job well done.
BTW ~ I liked that Naomi never wanted to cover up her facial scars.
I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. Either way was great. Narration notes: Karissa is a well seasoned narrator and did a fantastic job as always.
*Thanks to Kate Alice Marshall, Macmillan audio, Flatiron Books and Netgally for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Featuring ~ single 1st person & 3rd person POV, dual timeline ~ now and 10 years ago, death, pedophilia references
We've got some amateur sleuthin3.5⭐
Featuring ~ single 1st person & 3rd person POV, dual timeline ~ now and 10 years ago, death, pedophilia references
We've got some amateur sleuthing going on by Kate when she comes back to town to care for her mother and her old BFF, Emma, dies. Initially deemed a suicide, Kate isn't so sure. And then she learns other men have turned up dead throughout the years in the same manner as Brad 10 years ago. BTW ~ Brad's death is the reason she hightailed it outta town, which was weird.
The now timeline is in the 1st person and 10 years ago is in the 3rd, which was really the only way I knew which timeline we were in. I could have went for it to be titled or something. Maybe it's easier to decipher in a print version? With that said I did enjoy this one for the most part. The dual timeline helped build the suspense of how Brad really died. There were some secrets and twistaroos I hadn't guessed.
I gotta round my 3.5 down because after Kate reads Emma's note it felt like I heard her wonder who she could trust like 87 times. I didn't really care for any other characters either, except for Kate's mom and Jimmy.
Narrated by Kate Handford for 10 hours and 57 minutes. She sounded robotic at times, but overall did a fine job.
*Thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, dual timeline ~ now & then, missing child, infidelity
Baby, Mason, was taken from his crib while Isabelle and Ben4⭐
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, dual timeline ~ now & then, missing child, infidelity
Baby, Mason, was taken from his crib while Isabelle and Ben slept down the hall. I was pretty pleased with most of the realisticness of it all ~ I probably wouldn't ever be able to sleep again either and I wouldn't rest until I knew what happened, however I wouldn't speak at the true crime conferences because I hate public speaking. I gotta say that I am getting pretty tired of husband's that are like Ben.
We have the 'then' timeline of Isabelle's childhood that revealed a few surprises that kept the story moving at a nice pace. I was also surprised about how Mason's disappearance played out, so jackpot with that. Overall, a pretty great psychological thriller.
Narrated by Karissa Vacker for 9 hours and 55 minutes, easy to follow at 2-2.5x. She did a lovely job. When she was in the 'then' she made her voice sound more childlike and I appreciated that.
*Thanks to Stacy Willingham, Macmillan Audio and Netgally for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
3.5⭐ Genre ~ thriller Setting ~ Boston, Massachusetts Publication date ~ December 27, 2022 Est page Count ~ 398 Audio length ~ 10 hours 33 minutes Narrator3.5⭐ Genre ~ thriller Setting ~ Boston, Massachusetts Publication date ~ December 27, 2022 Est page Count ~ 398 Audio length ~ 10 hours 33 minutes Narrators ~ Stephanie Cozart and Christina Moore POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ debut, police procedural, murder, childhood trauma, infidelity references
Molly is married to Jay, who turns up dead in their home after a night of partying for his 40th birthday. Rita is our detective on the case.
Molly had a traumatic childhood (I can't remember if we found out why early on, so I won't spoil why just in case), which makes her think Jay's murder has something to do with that. Could that be true or did Jay have some secrets of his own that lead to his demise?
Can't say I enjoyed Rita as a person, but I like that we had the police procedural side of things and I think they worked well to solve the case.
This was a bit slow moving at points, but I liked this one as a debut. I didn't see the murderer coming and that thrilled me, so for that I'll round my 3.5 up to 4. I'll give this author a whirl again.
Narration notes: Wasn't wowed by either of their voices really. Stephanie's voice sounded robotic at times.
*Thanks to Terri Parlato, RB Media and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Book 2 in the Getting Shipped series ~ yes a standalone, but Lexi and Trevor are heavily involved in this installment. We see how their life is p4.35⭐
Book 2 in the Getting Shipped series ~ yes a standalone, but Lexi and Trevor are heavily involved in this installment. We see how their life is progressing, so I suggest reading Friendshipped first.
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, childhood sweethearts, break~up, second chance, small town, no steamage, parental infidelity
Laura & Rob Rob broke up with Laura right before he left for college leaving her heartbroken. Flash forward 6 years and Rob is back in town. He realizes he was a dope, but Laura isn't falling for his antics so easily. Girl, make him work for it!
Most characters were delightful, except for Rob's mom who was really awful to Laura and I didn't like it. I liked how the town came together for the salon.
Narrated by Amy McFadden and Will Damron for 9 hours and 29 minutes, easy to follow at 2-2.5x. They did a fine job.
Overall, this was another cute addition to the series. As I said above, Lexi and Trevor are heavily involved and I loved that we got to attend their wedding. I'm looking forward to reading/listening more about Aiden in Townshipped.
*Thanks to Savannah Scott, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
CAAAAUUUUUTTTTTEEEEE! Lovedy love love!! It's like being wrapped in my blankie while bacon is being smoked over the fire or sand between my toes or neCAAAAUUUUUTTTTTEEEEE! Lovedy love love!! It's like being wrapped in my blankie while bacon is being smoked over the fire or sand between my toes or new baby smell delightfulness.
Book 2 in the Pride and Pranks series ~ fine as a standalone.
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, childhood crush, best friend's brother, sister's best friend, boss's sister, small town, farm life, slow burn, no steamage, sweet, fun
Tessa & Logan I really enjoyed this one so much! I can't possibly list everything I loved because I would essentially be giving the whole book away. They were the most adorable couple ever. Fun banter, fun dates, all around FUN! And that epilogue, I can't take it!
Delightful supporting characters, especially Jake. He came up with some fun dates for them to go on, so I bet his book will be just as delightful.
Narrated by Stacey Glemboski and David Bendena for 10 hours and 32 minutes. Stacey did a wonderful job, even her male voices. David was fine, as well, but he sounded a bit older than I think he should.
*Thanks to Cindy Steel, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV with game host commentary (? if that's what you'd call it?), infidelity references, murder mystery
Bla3.5⭐ rounded up
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV with game host commentary (? if that's what you'd call it?), infidelity references, murder mystery
Blake has whisked Becca away for a murder mystery themed weekend. He's hoping to get back in her good graces due to feeling guilty for cheating on her. When one of the actresses goes missing Becca gets her amateur sleuthing on and tries to find out what happened to her. I didn't mind this part of the story and how that all played out.
As much as I'd hoped this would be mostly about the game there was really more emphasis on their relationship, so that puts this more on the cozy mystery side. I am more of a thriller reader, so that made my interest wane a bit. Also, there were a lot of names to keep track of since all the characters had a different name for the game, plus all the actors/actresses.
I was able to listen to a final version as well. Narrated by Christine Lakin and David DeSantos for 10 hours and 39 minutes. Christine did a fine job. David had an animated voice that was fun to listen to.
Although this was on the okay side I'd still give this author another shot.
*Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Featuring ~ multiple 1st person POV, dual timeline with "many years earlier" in the 3rd person, co-workers, office environment, abduction, surviv4.25⭐
Featuring ~ multiple 1st person POV, dual timeline with "many years earlier" in the 3rd person, co-workers, office environment, abduction, survival, some violence
Our narrators are co-workers Deborah, Adrian, Yvonne and Merriel.
Chapter 1 gets to the nitty gritty as we read about Deborah being held captive. And let me just tell you she's a smart captive and seems to have her head on straight even though she's losing tremendously. Except...(view spoiler)[I really wish she peed after she got her wrists and ankles untied instead of going right for the door (hide spoiler)]
The multiple narrators really worked well for this as it kept up, not only the suspense of who the abductor is, but the intensity of Deborah and Izzy trying their best to escape. And we had the added chapters with the twins that kept us guessing how they would weave into the story. I did go back and forth with my thoughts of who it could be and I did figure it out, but I was pleased with how it all played out.
I do have to say there were some long paragraphs with lots of monologue and little dialogue, which made for some slowness. Also, there wasn't any police work ~ I guess since she's been missing for a few weeks they're not still trying to find her? I'd like my disappearance to be investigated until my bones are recovered please.
Can someone please tell me what the point of (view spoiler)[Beth was? Did I miss something or was her story unfinished? And Adrian really ~ was he just there to throw a man in the mix? (hide spoiler)]
Side note ~ why is the title Local Girl Missing and not Local Woman Missing?
Overall, a great psychological thriller that makes me hope I'd be as fierce as Deborah if I was ever held captive. I'd for sure read this authors work again..
*Thanks to J.A. Baker, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, slow burn, no steamage, political talk
June 24th is the day and Edie thinks it could be fate that the man sitti3.25⭐
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, slow burn, no steamage, political talk
June 24th is the day and Edie thinks it could be fate that the man sitting next to her on the plane is her one true love. Could he be the one she's been waiting for? You'll have to wait an awfully long time to find out.
This has an interesting and unique premise, but it puts a lot of pressure on how you think your life should play out. I do believe in soulmates and the one and whatnot, but I felt like it really consumed Edie's life and that's all she could think or talk about.
I enjoyed Edie's relationship with her family, especially grandma, Gloria.
Overall, this was a decent read, but I'm not sure how I feel about the ending.
I was able to listen to the final version on audio, as well, so I went back and forth between the two and either format worked out fine. It was narrated by Erin Ruth Walker for 9 hours and 33 minutes, easy to follow at 2-2.5x. She did a fine job.
*Thanks to Atria Books, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Book 3 in the LoveLight series ~ although a standalone, previous characters made quite a few appearances.
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, sunshin3.5⭐
Book 3 in the LoveLight series ~ although a standalone, previous characters made quite a few appearances.
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, sunshine/sunshine, bakery owner, teacher, no strings dating, small town, secret crush, good amount of steamage
Layla & Caleb Wasn't super dupes in love with this one like I thought I'd be. I enjoyed book 1, I skipped book 2, but that shouldn't really matter since we've got a different love story happening here. I really hate going out of order, but it's too late now. Yeah they had good chemistry, but I did not care for how the ending of the no strings dating played out. Eventually it works out, of course, but the journey there was just okay for me.
Narrated by Pippa Jayne and Julio Maxwell for 10 hours and 16 minutes, easy to follow at 2-2.5x. Julio was alright as Caleb, but pretty awful with any other voice he tried. Pretty sure Pippa narrated Lovelight Farms too, and she did a fine job as Layla, but not her male voices.
I'll probably go back and listen to book 2 if I can find it on Libby so I can see what Beckett and Evie have to offer.
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media, the author and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, characters in their early 20's, secret feelings, best friends to lovers, next door neighbors, wo4⭐ for the audiobook.
Featuring ~ dual 1st person POV, characters in their early 20's, secret feelings, best friends to lovers, next door neighbors, workmates, small town, slow burn, no steamage, sweet
Lexi & Trevor Holy slow burning me. These two have been bff's for years and each harbor secret feelings towards the other, but are too scared to make a move because they don't want to rock the friendship,...more
4.5⭐ Genre ~ romantic comedy Publication date ~ December 8, 2022 Page Count ~ 322 Audio length ~ 9 hours 6 minutes Narrators ~ Patrick Boylan, Stephanie C4.5⭐ Genre ~ romantic comedy Publication date ~ December 8, 2022 Page Count ~ 322 Audio length ~ 9 hours 6 minutes Narrators ~ Patrick Boylan, Stephanie Cannon POV ~ dual 1st Featuring ~ florist, childhood friends, roommates, forced proximity, brother's best friend, best friend's sister, off limits, reality competition, friends to lovers, he falls first, slow burn, no steamage
Dax & Hollyn Hollyn (cute name!) just got dumped in the worst way and moves in with her brother, River, and his roommate, Dax. It's only a two bedroom, so River stays with his girlfriend for the time being. Unbeknownst to her, Dax has been in love with her for like 15 years. The problem is that there's a bro code in effect and Hollyn has been off limits all these years. Was not feeling how River was going on and on and on and on about that.
Dax is book boyfriend material with his adorableness and sweetness and he's a florist, so he must be super romantic, right? right! And to want to follow in his father's footsteps, gah!
I liked watching Hollyn grow as a woman over the weeks and even though I knew what she was going to do with the money before she even had the check in her hands I loved it. I enjoyed the timestamps at the beginning of each chapter or page break, even if it only said moments ago or later that day.
I am totally looking forward to more books by Aimee that follow River and Mercy, Hollyn's bff....but not them as a couple.
*Thanks to Aimee Brown, Rachel @Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Featuring ~ dual 3rd person POV, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, neighbors to lovers, veteran, teacher, small town, closed door romance, no steamage
Liam & Tessa Liam spent over a decade in the military and has just purchased his first house next door to the overly cheery Tessa. They don't have anything in common, but become friends with benefits. It's not long before they catch feelings, but could they really make something work when they are so opposite?
Liam is the oldest with 4 siblings and is used to be in control with a 'my way or the highway' attitude. I'm not too sure I liked Tessa's past relationship or how Liam puts his nose in it, but all works out like we knew it would. Tessa was both outgoing and somewhat shy. She really pulled the grump right out of Liam and turned him into a sweet fella. Oh man with his grand gesture ~ I wish I could've seen the YouTube video for that.
Overall, a delightful read. I'm looking forward to the next book following Ryleigh, I just hope her mom isn't as hard on her as she was in this one.
I was lucky enough to also receive an audio copy. It was narrated by Carly Robins for 7 hours and 38 minutes. She did a great job, but I do wish there was a male narrator for Liam's parts.
*Thanks to Samantha Chase, Chasing Romance Inc, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Saskia is back home after her mother's death. There are some shocks when the will is read, so Saskia sets forth to get what's rightfully hers.
I liked that this was written with a multiple timeline that took us through Saskia's childhood, which led us to why the house was not left to her. She took matters into her own hands in a big way and I liked the reasoning behind why of why her mother did what she did. Wasn't loving Evelyn's 'fairy tales for little feminists' stories at the beginning of the chapters.
There's an inappropriate relationship between 14 year old Saskia and her much older teacher, Patrick, that some might not enjoy reading about. Being a mother with a daughter around the age of when Saskia was being manipulated might be reflecting on how I feel about this one. The story was well written, but that's a tough topic to read about for sure.
Narrated by Stephanie Willis for 12 Hours, 18 Minutes, 56 Seconds, easy to follow at 2-2.5x. It is on the longer side, but she did a good job keeping me listening. I was growing annoyed with the way she said Evelyn Harper Kreis though.
*Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Rachel Kapelke-Dale and NetGalley for my audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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