In Hidden Prey, Lucas is called in when a Russian is murdered. Bullets from a few decades ago have been used and it's not clear why this man was choseIn Hidden Prey, Lucas is called in when a Russian is murdered. Bullets from a few decades ago have been used and it's not clear why this man was chosen.
The night of the murder, a witness saw it all and Lucas will try to figure out who this person is. At the same time, Russia sends their own investigator who will join forces with Lucas to find the murderer.
As the clues start coming in, Lucas has to wonder if there has been a Russian spy ring in the midwest all along?
Not my favorite in the series. I liked it because it is Lucas and I know he will find the murderer. It's never easy but I do trust that Lucas and Co, will catch the bad one (most of the time). Yes, sometimes they get away with it but you know that Lucas knows who they are and he will be watching and waiting for them to make a mistake.
When I started reading Who is Maud Dixon? I was worried I wasn't going to like it. The protagonist, Florence Darrow brought no sympathy from me. She fWhen I started reading Who is Maud Dixon? I was worried I wasn't going to like it. The protagonist, Florence Darrow brought no sympathy from me. She felt cold and dry. Thankfully, I continued reading and I started appreciating Florence's character.
Florance Darrow is a young woman who is working at Forrester Books, a publishing house when the story begins. Florence seems to be an outcast but she doesn't really care. She's an editorial assistant but her plan is to write a novel and hopefully be as successful as Maud Dixon.
Maud Dixon is the pseudonym of the novelist who wrote Mississippi Foxtrot, the highly acclaimed novel of the year. Everyone who is anyone has read it and can't stop talking about it.
After losing her position, Florence receives a call from Maud Dixon's agent. Florence can't believe her luck. She is to become the assistant to the famous author. Her job will entail handling all of Helen's mail, transcribe her new book, and pay her bills. Without a second thought and after signing an NDA, she leaves NYC and moves to Helen's home in the small town of Cairo. The isolation and peace make Florence feel the beginning of true happiness.
Soon after, Helen decides that she must go to Morocco to look for inspiration and Florence must come with her. The next thing she knows, she is in Marrakech and what happens next is nothing short of crazy.
Who is Maud Dixon? is highly engaging with its disturbing plot. Florence was unlikable for most of the book but it was hard to pull me away from her machinations.
I love the twists and bends the story carried especially on the Morocco side of things. I found it was the perfect ambiance with its descriptive surroundings and darker tone.
One thing I found profoundly unlikable was the author's constant attack on Florida. I didn't care for it one bit.
Shelby is a dog walker. On this day, she is walking Pluto with other dogs as usual but what is different is that after thGreat short audible original!
Shelby is a dog walker. On this day, she is walking Pluto with other dogs as usual but what is different is that after their walk and while returning Pluto home, she makes a gruesome discovery.
Detective Grady is in charge of investigating the crime. She is the one who will follow the crumbs to find the murderer.
Sleeping Dogs Lie has two quite interesting female main characters. The dog walker, Shelby and Detective Grady.
The dual POVs gave me the chance to understand both characters.
The best thing was the reveal. I can’t say much because it will be a spoiler. I almost wish I could.
The narrators did a good job at keeping it entertaining. It was the perfect novella for my commute.
Usually, I don't enjoy books in epistolary narrative but maybe because I did it as an audio, I was able to truly enjoy it.
A manuscript has been found Usually, I don't enjoy books in epistolary narrative but maybe because I did it as an audio, I was able to truly enjoy it.
A manuscript has been found in room #108 and the person staying there, Anne-Lise Briard has tracked down the author. The author confesses writing it when he was twenty and losing it thirty years ago while in Montreal. Additionally, he also lets her know that he didn't write the second part of the story.
Anne-Lise and her friend Maggie decide to track the manuscript's movement from the present to the past with the idea of finding the person responsible for writing the other half.
Every new discovery brings another interesting person to the mix whose life was affected in one way or other by the manuscript.
Soon finding Waldo is a must!
So many good stories in this book! I love how persistent Anne-Lise was about finding the people who at some point had the book. David's story made me sad while Maggie's journey made my romantic heart happy.
From France to Great Britain to Montreal to the USA, the author takes us on a trip down memory lane for many.
Is not a secret that I absolutely loved The House in the Cerulean Sea. It made me a fan of T.J. Klune. So of course I was going to read his next book.Is not a secret that I absolutely loved The House in the Cerulean Sea. It made me a fan of T.J. Klune. So of course I was going to read his next book.
Under the Whispering Door had me at Apollo. Who doesn't like a ghost dog that is always happy to see you and lick you to death? (no pun intended)
Ok, maybe it had me at more. Quirky characters, a tea shop, a love story, and learning the lesson to be a better person and to enjoy life while you can. These are all things I took away from the story.
Wallace Price is a ruthless lawyer. When the book begins he is firing an employee who is already in an economic bind. For Wallace, the only thing that matters is his job. He spends enough hours to know this is what gives him satisfaction. His marriage failed because his priority was his job. So when Wallace suffers a heart attack and dies, no one is more shocked than him. Shocked and angry that is.
Wallace meets his reaper first, Mei at his own funeral. She is there to take him to the Ferryman who would help Wallace understand what is happening to him and then guided him to the next step. When they arrived at Charon's Crossing Tea and Treats, Wallace meets Hugo, the Ferryman, the ghost of Hugo's grandfather, Nelson, and Hugo's ghost dog, Apollo.
As the days progress, Wallace goes through similar stages of grief and he begins to understand and assimilate that he is dead. Then, the Manager shows up and gives him 7 more days before crossing and Wallace sets himself to right some wrongs before it's too late.
I listened to the audio which was fantastic. The narrator Kirt Graves does an amazing job at separating all the characters and making them fun to listen to. It made it so smooth and clear. Never doubting which "voice" was talking.
As I said earlier, Under the Whispering Door was charming and quirky in the most endearing way!
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Tor Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who has tried snowboarding before, Shiver was just up my alley.
Mila receives an invite to the ski resort in the French Alps. She has not bAs someone who has tried snowboarding before, Shiver was just up my alley.
Mila receives an invite to the ski resort in the French Alps. She has not been back in a decade and she has not seen her other four friends, Curtis, Dale, Heather, and Brent since then. A terrible thing happened the last time she was there and putting some distance was the only way to deal with her memories.
Saskia disappeared ten years ago. Saskia was Curtis's sister. She was also not so nice. She played games and loved to see her attacks deliver the punch she intended. Saskia was an excellent snowboarder and Mila was worried about competing against her. Mila knew she needed to train harder, be faster, and have some tricks under her sleeve to win a spot.
Then Saskia disappears the day of the competition.
At present and soon after arriving at the resort, they discovered they are stranded. Their phones have been taken. No one else is at the resort except for them. No help is coming!
There are so many questions:
Who is doing this to them and why? Is it Saskia? Is it revenge? And the biggest one, Is one of them a killer?
Great debut for this author! I truly enjoyed listening to the audio. The two timelines and the plot were well done. I could feel the snow, the impending storm, the fear, and the suspense. Yes, I did guess most of the twists but I was still unsure of a few.
I also liked that Shiver gave me some insight into what snowboarder competitors go through. The training, the injuries, the falls are all so intense and cutthroat.
Personally, I believe snowboarding to be hard. Going down the mountain can be exhausting. Falling is hard and painful. My rotator cuff and my knee can attest to it.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is remarkable in all its greatness. From start to finish, there was nothing mo What a wonderful story this one is!!
The House in the Cerulean Sea is remarkable in all its greatness. From start to finish, there was nothing more that I wanted to do but to keep on listening.
The characters all became dear to me in every way possible. They were all so charming in their own special way and I love how Linus was able to give them something while getting something back in return.
Linus Baker is a man that likes order. He abides by the Rules and Regulations and has the book to prove it. Linus has been in the same job for almost two decades but has never wanted a supervisor job. As part of the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, his job is to investigate the orphanages housing magical children and to make a recommendation as to keep them open or closed for good.
When Linus gets a memo from Extreme Upper Management and he's asked to travel to investigate Marysas Island Orphanage, his shock is real. He has never heard of the place. It's even worse when his assignment takes him (and his cat Calliope) to the island and he meets the children living there and the man supervising them, Arthur Parnassus.
Linus has four weeks to learn more about the children and Arthur. As the days pass, to say the children were not what he was expecting would be a lie. Yes, they can be perceived as dangerous but exactly to who?
The House in the Cerulean Sea is a moving story with magnificent characters, wonderful humor, and love in all its manifestations. Quite priceless. Simply put, it was cerulean magic.
I can't believe I waited this long to read her release of this year. I blame it on work. It has been a busy year for me.
Loreth Anne White's books are I can't believe I waited this long to read her release of this year. I blame it on work. It has been a busy year for me.
Loreth Anne White's books are a treat. I usually preordered (which I did) and then when the audio is available I listen to it while I drive. She is an auto-buy for me.
But I digress...
Beneath's Devil's Bridge is set in the small town of Twin Falls. A teenager, Leena Rai was found sexually assaulted and drowned in 1997. The detective in charge of the investigation, Rachel Walczak investigated Clayton Pelley whose confession sent him to jail for over twenty years.
In the present, Trinity Scott is doing her new podcast, Criminal, which follows Leena's case. When Trinity interviews Clayton, she gets the best soundbite. He tells her he is innocent and that means the real killer is still running free! Of course, Trinity goes in search of Rachel to find out what she remembers from that time and what did the cops miss during their investigation.
Beneath Devil's Bridge was a page-turner, audio-fast-speeding thriller for me. I couldn't wait to see what really happened to Leena and why.
Loreth Ann White does a wonderful job in leaving all the crumbs necessary for a perfect delivery.
The One is a futuristic novel with enough interesting characters to keep you turning the pages, or in my case listening to every chapter.
A discovery The One is a futuristic novel with enough interesting characters to keep you turning the pages, or in my case listening to every chapter.
A discovery has been made. A gene has been found that can tell you who is your soulmate. When you meet the One, you know they are itfor you. With Match Your DNA, now anyone can find that special someone who will make your life the happiest.
Yet, not everyone is happy. Match Your DNA has broken marriages and relationships left and right. Then, of course, there are so many questions.
What if your match has decided not to run the test?
What if the person you matched is not morally bound like you are?
What if the test ruins your life?
The One will follow five characters' "love stories" after finding their match.
How could anything go wrong?
John Mars does a wonderful job at making us think about the implications of something like this happening in our time. There is a scene in the book where two characters are debating the pros and cons of Match Your DNA. I thought it brought solid points to the table for both sides.
If you asked me to pick a favorite "match" couple, I will have to go with Nick's match undoubtedly.
I read the next two books in this world and I'm glad I went back to listen to this one. I was happy to follow the characters through each of their personal ordeals and knowing what the future held was a plus.
If you want to be depressed about the world by all means grab this book.
I’ll be an OUTLAW, sorry meant an OUTLIER and say it: The story fell short forIf you want to be depressed about the world by all means grab this book.
I’ll be an OUTLAW, sorry meant an OUTLIER and say it: The story fell short for me. I do believe the author had great characters especially Duchess and Walk but something was missing for me to rate it higher.
What did I like about We Begin at the End?
-I liked how much Duchess loved her brother, Robin. She was willing to do anything for him.
-Walk being there for his best friend Vincent, Star, Star's kids, and his town despite what was happening in his personal life.
-Hal's patience with Duchess.
-Dolly being there when she was needed.
-Martha bringing spice to Walk's life.
What did I learn from We Begin at the End?
If you have been born into a bad life, you will live a bad life and you will probably die because of your bad life too.
In my opinion, this novel didn't have much hope, redemption or forgiveness.
The ending frustrated me. I don't need to read rose-colored glass stories but if a story is having an against all the odds type of feeling, then I want more from it.
Take my opinion for what it is, my opinion. I know so many of my book friends truly loved it and I'm glad they did.
Lastly, I switched back and forth from the ebook to the audio. The audio narrator did a good representation of the characters and kept the flow of the story.
David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David P
David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man. David Pickford is a beautiful man.
Now I understand why all my friends love this book.
It was everything I wanted from a fantasy. For me, it was like Heroes and X-man had a kid while an 80's soundtrack was playing.
How cool is that?
At the center of the storyline we have a few main characters:
Jack Thatch (or Pip): an eight-year-old boy who meets a girl on a bench while visiting his parent's grave on August 8, 1984. You see, Jack's parents died in a car accident and he was the sole survivor. His aunt Jo is now his guardian.
Stella Nettleton: the girl on the bench. The girl with an extraordinary vocabulary for her age. A girl who uses gloves and reads her favorite book by Dickens, Great Expectations. She will arrive year after year in a white SUV surrounded by people dressed in white.
Subject D: a boy who wears a mask. A boy with power so grand that he has to be confined for years.
Detective Faustino Brier: The cop who knows every year someone will die on August 8th. A body "burned but not burned" will appear. on August 9th.
Detective Joy Fogel: who will join forces with Brier to discover the mystery of his Wall of Weird.
Duncan "Dunk" Bellino: a kid who becomes Jack's friend. As a teenager, he will make some not so legit choices.
"Preacher": a guy with a good sense in cars.
With this fabulous cast, how can you not enjoy it? I certainly did. My heart was beating fast. The action at the end was non-stop leading to a very fulfilling culmination.
I wanted a fun audio to listen to and I had Meet Cute in my audible library for a while. The audio was just what I thought it was going to be. SomethiI wanted a fun audio to listen to and I had Meet Cute in my audible library for a while. The audio was just what I thought it was going to be. Something rom-com with a side of heartfelt that was perfect entertainment during my commute. Meet Cute made me laugh and it made me swoon a little bit too.
Kailyn's favorite TV show was It's My Life. She grew up watching it and she had the memorabilia to prove it. She loved the protagonist and on her first day of law school, she crashes into Daxton Hughes, the actor of the show. The man she has had a crush on since she was a teenager! However, by the end of law school, she wants to murder him. And this all happens in the prologue!
Then eight years later, they are face to face again. He's seeking her help with his parents' trust. He's becoming his sister Emme's guardian. His life is changing in all the ways that matter. He's losing most of his independence but he knows he has to fight for Emme.
In the beginning, Kailyn is not sure about his motives but the more time she spends with Dax and Emme the more she starts falling for both.
At first, I wasn't sure about Kailyn. She was a little too harsh and calculating but as the story and their feelings progressed, I warmed up to her. I loved how much she cared about the show. She was the perfect fangirl and I could relate to that. Dax was all kinds of nice. He went above and beyond to show Emme that she could trust him.
Since I'm reviewing the audio, I've to say that I thought the narrator did a great job at interpreting the characters and their feelings.
I've made no secret that I absolutely loved The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. When audible alerted me that they had an original novella where Agatha ChristI've made no secret that I absolutely loved The Rose Code by Kate Quinn. When audible alerted me that they had an original novella where Agatha Christie meets Osla Kendall, I couldn't download it fast enough.
I haven't read The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict but I absolutely loved the female code breakers from Bletchley Park. I was happy to have more of their world.
The novella has Agatha and Osla meeting twice, once during the war and the second time after it has ended. They compare notes and realized that due to a certain oath, a spy couldn't be stopped earlier.
If you have read The Rose Code, this audio is a must. The narration takes 1 hour and 10 minutes which was perfect for my work commute.
I'm very thankful to Kate Quinn and Marie Benedict for coming up with this character's meeting.
Both, Nicola Barber and Saskia Maarleveld did an amazing job in bringing these women to life.
Meet her: Tiffy is going through a bad time. Her ex-boyfriend has kicked her out of his apartment and she needs a place to staWhat a delightful story!
Meet her: Tiffy is going through a bad time. Her ex-boyfriend has kicked her out of his apartment and she needs a place to stay. She is a tall woman who dresses with things she enjoys and doesn't care what people think of it. She is an editor and currently, she is editing a crochet book. She has 3 great friends who support her despite her troubled relationship with Justin.
Meet him: Leon is a hospice nurse. He is a quiet person, an introvert, bordering on a loner. His brother is in prison and Leon constantly worries about how to get him out. His relationship with his current girlfriend is at a standstill. Leon needs more money to be able to help his brother out sharing his flat sounds like a good idea.
As you can imagine, Leon offers his flat to Tiffy but they never meet. He works nights, she works days.
They will never cross paths or will they?
I laughed, I smiled, I couldn't get enough of Tiffy and Leon. I loved how they started learning about each other because of what they ate, drink, read, dress, etc.
The best part was all the post-it notes. Really a fun read.
The audio was fantastic. Carrie Hope Fletcher and Kwaku Fortune brought both characters to life for me.
Fable has been left to survive on the island of Jeval. She was only fourteen when her father, Saint, the famous trader of tSurprisingly entertaining!
Fable has been left to survive on the island of Jeval. She was only fourteen when her father, Saint, the famous trader of the Narrows left her there. For four years Fable has been dredging to keep herself fed. Her intention has been to accumulate enough coin to ask for passage on a boat to take her back to her father and ask for what is hers.
During the last two years, she has traded her stones with West, the Marigold's trader. When Fable's life is in danger, she asks West for help off of the island. She soon discovers that West has his secrets but so does she.
Great beginning to the series. The descriptions were so well done that I could picture the waves, the birds, the sails, and the jewels.
I was intrigued by Fable's mother Isolde and also for their affinity to the gems. I like Fable, West, and the rest of the crew of the Marigold.
I want to know more about Saint. I wish I could get a prequel and learn how Saint met Isolde.
I can't wait for the second book that comes out in just a few days.
I had to push myself to continue reading ACoSF. Nesta was so rude and mean for the first or almost half of the book that I waNot what I was expecting.
I had to push myself to continue reading ACoSF. Nesta was so rude and mean for the first or almost half of the book that I wanted to quit so many times. The constant self-pity and anger were detrimental to my enjoyment.
I believe in part, this was an editing issue. The same things were repeated over and over. A book that was more than seven hundred pages with good editing could have easily been 400.
The worst mistake I believe SJM made was how she wrote Rhys in this one. To make us feel right about Nesta, SJM decided to change Rhy's character into a horny teenager with little respect for his wife. Furthermore, she made it look like it was all right for Rhys to hide a huge thing from his wife. This is not the Rhys of prior books. (I still love you, Rhys. What SJM did to you was undeserving. I’m going to forget all the awful things she wrote you said or did to not damage your character in my mind.)
Other things that made me think: WTH?
-The way Elaine is portrayed. She is nothing but a wimp.
-Amren: She was cruel when she never has been before.
-Morgan was almost not in the picture.
-Poor Az is always described as aloof and alone.
-The amount of smut. Yes, I can't believe I'm saying this but it was just too much. It felt unnecessary,
Since I talked about the things I didn’t like let me say the things that I did love about ACoSF.
I love the training sessions between all the women and Cassian and Az.
I love that Nesta creates her own family just like Feyre did.
I love the last third of the book. The route to self-discovery and the fighting were hugely entertaining.
I love that I can still see Feyre and Rhys together again ❤️.
Dark Roads is another enjoyable tale by Chevy Stevens.
The story unfolds along the Cold Creek Highway. Over the years, multiple women have gone missingDark Roads is another enjoyable tale by Chevy Stevens.
The story unfolds along the Cold Creek Highway. Over the years, multiple women have gone missing without a culprit ever being caught in this area of British Columbia.
Hailey McBride is a seventeen-year-old girl. Her dad has recently passed away in an accident. Haley has moved in with her aunt and her husband. Her husband, Vaughn is a police officer. People called Vaughn the Iceman for a reason. He is mean and a bully and he wants to control Hailey. Luckily, Haley has a good friend in Johnny who helps her out when she needs it. Hailey also meets Amber, a waitress at the local diner. She falls for her but then Hailey makes a discovery that causes her to run away.
A year later, Beth, Amber's sister is in town. She wants to know what happened to Amber. She meets both, the Iceman and Johnnie and she will have to make her own choices and decide who she can trust.
Unfortunately for Beth, the killer has her eyes set on her and she is running out of time.
I liked Dark Roads. Yes, some areas were just too unbelievable for me but I was able to let it go and kept hoping for the best.
I do think that Wolf stole this book. He was such a good boy ...more
In Naked Prey, we confirmed that Rose Marie Roux was true to her word. Lucas has a new job with a new title, he now works in the Minnesota’s Bureau3.5
In Naked Prey, we confirmed that Rose Marie Roux was true to her word. Lucas has a new job with a new title, he now works in the Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. He reports to the governor and from the old crew, the only one remaining is Del.
A crime has been committed. A couple, a black man and a white woman, has been found hanged and naked in northern Minnesota. Everyone is worried this is a lynching and that's why Lucas is sent there to investigate but also to begin damage control if this is really the case.
The person who found the bodies, Letty West is a local teenager. She is smart and gives plenty of details to both Lucas and Del aiding their investigation. Lucas senses that not all is right in this small town. Between the nuns, the cars, the dump, and the bodies piling up, something dark is going on in this part of the state.
I'm not going to lie, I miss a lot of the characters from all the other books. I did like Letty and thought it was a great addition to the novel but I missed the banter between the well-known characters in this world.
Will she give her child away to give her or him a better life?
Will she sell her body to eWhat will a mother do for her kid?
Will she donate an organ?
Will she give her child away to give her or him a better life?
Will she sell her body to earn money to bring food to the table?
Or will she sell opiates to pay for a medical treatment that is cost-prohibitive?
The last one is exactly the scenario Dr. Emma Sweeney is living.
Emma has only wanted one thing since her parents died: to have a family. Meeting Nate and having their son, Josh has been the best thing that happened to her. She loves her husband and adores her child.
Emma is a doctor at a local clinic, she is still paying her student loans and her husband Nate is a detective. They live a modest life without luxury but they're happy. Then the blow comes, Josh is diagnosed with AML and he needs treatment right away. He can either have chemo and a poor prognosis or he can go with CAR T-cell therapy which will cost them 100k plus insurance.
Emma, who knows time is of the essence and money is needed or the hospital won't help Josh, does the unimaginable. She decides to sell signed prescriptions of opiates for cash. She needs to be smart about it. She has old connections she can push to help her while making sure her smart husband, the cop, doesn't discover her.
What a heartbreaking story! Christina McDonald does a great job at describing some of the broken pieces in medicine including the cost of cancer treatment, the opiate crisis, addiction, the power of insurance companies, to name a few.
I was surprised how easy it was for Emma to leave her conscience behind. Yet, I understood her motives. I felt for her dilemma and her fear of losing Josh. However, I can't say that agree with what she was doing. The world of drugs is a dangerous and usually a lethal one.
I had some minor issues with the story and it might because of my job. Nowadays, Eforce is becoming universal. PDMP is checked regularly. Most prescription pads are under lock and key and we never have opiates at the office.
Despite the above, Do No Harm was a gratifying thriller.
I do know now that whatever Christina McDonald writes next, I will read.
On the eleventh of February, you will kill a man called Arthur Grimm . . . With good reason. And of your own free will.
Well, that certainly is eno
On the eleventh of February, you will kill a man called Arthur Grimm . . . With good reason. And of your own free will.
Well, that certainly is enough to wake up Norah! Who needs espresso when a fortune teller is telling you are going to commit murder on a certain date?
Norah Richter is starting over. She is a journalist and due to a piece she wrote, she has lost her job, her relationship and now she is ready to reinvent herself. She moves from Berlin to Vienna and starts a new job which she is happy to take on until a homeless woman approaches her and speaks those chilling words.
Norah's greatest fear is to kill someone so she is sure nothing will happen on February 11th since there is no way she will do what she is told. Although, February 11th does have a meaning for her. She lost someone dear to her on that day. But how does Arthur Grimm connects with any of it?
Quite an interesting story! Norah was in pain and dealing with a lot. However, I was upset she was getting all these signs but instead of carefully examining them, she was drinking, smoking and sleeping around too much. Her saving grace was her trusty friends who were there for her despite it all.
Every time, Norah described her surroundings, I was transported back to Vienna. I could feel the chill in the air and the threatening darkness.
Kudos to the author and to the audio performer for the atmospheric surroundings.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Spiderline via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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