| | | | | 0593547780
| 9780593547786
| B09N91D2JS
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0
pp
| 3.60
| 5,024
| Apr 01, 2021
| Mar 15, 2022
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it was amazing
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I totally had a cheesy grin on my face when I finished this novella. It was classic Samantha Downing and despite the shorter length it managed to pack
I totally had a cheesy grin on my face when I finished this novella. It was classic Samantha Downing and despite the shorter length it managed to pack a punch. If you've never read anything by this author, you are missing out as she brings a lot of crazy and fun with her writing. This story involves a dog walker, and rather than give away a plot for something that's less than 100 pages, I say just sit back, and enjoy the show! Worked perfectly for me as an evening read after a stressful day.
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1
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Oct 06, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1542000114
| 9781542000116
| B07RW8TB3D
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365
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| 4.06
| 13,054
| Aug 01, 2020
| Aug 01, 2020
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liked it
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This thriller had some twists and turns but unfortunately they came at a point in which I had already lost most of my interest in the story. The book
This thriller had some twists and turns but unfortunately they came at a point in which I had already lost most of my interest in the story. The book starts off in a decent fashion and has potential but a key plot point annoyed me. I can go with the flow and believe one character doesn't recall certain events. But two characters? That's asking too much of this reader.
Lily Baker was unconscious and when she comes to she realizes she was a passenger in a bad car accident. That's pretty much the only thing she realizes as she has no idea who she is, how she got there, or the identity of the man in the driver's seat who is unresponsive. Her gut instinct is telling her she better quickly leave the scene of the accident.
Detective Kylie Milliard is investigating the murder of a young woman. The story will alternate between several characters including Lily and Kylie.
Lily has an interesting backstory and by far I felt most invested in the chapters featuring her. There wasn't anything horribly wrong with Kylie as a character but she didn't really stand out either. I have mixed feelings about the third character who was featured. I wish the author could have come up with a different way to incorporate him into the story that didn't involve him not remembering stuff either. And there were some minor things here and there that made me question if that's how a situation would realistically play out. Instead of losing myself in the story, eventually my interest level took a nosedive. . Even though my review sounds mostly negative, this wasn't a horrible read. It wasn't a simple plot that the author just churned out. I just think it needed some fine tuning. As a Kindle First Reads pick, it is slightly above average in the thriller category. This book appears to be the first in a planned series and while I did have some issues, I'm curious what the author has in store for future books.
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1
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Jul 01, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1542009839
| 9781542009836
| B07XJTDDC5
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332
pp
| 4.27
| 21,334
| Jul 01, 2020
| Jul 01, 2020
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really liked it
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This was my first time reading a Mary Burton novel although I have read one of the books she has written using the name, Mary Ellen Taylor. Never Look
This was my first time reading a Mary Burton novel although I have read one of the books she has written using the name, Mary Ellen Taylor. Never Look Back was a solid thriller with an intriguing main character. I didn't realize until after I had finished the book this is part of the Criminal Profiler series, however you can easily read this book as a standalone novel.
Agent Melina Shepard works for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and she goes undercover as a prostitute with the hope she can find some answers about the disappearance of two women. She barely escapes an attack by a john and soon it becomes clear that guy is a serial killer. FBI agent Jerrod Ramsey is sent to Nashville to help track down the killer. And that's all you really need to know other than Jerrod and Melina will be working together.
Melina is the main character but the story occasionally bounces back and forth between other characters, including Jerrod and the serial killer. Melina has an unusual but interesting backstory. I preferred the parts of the book that focused on her or Jerrod rather than the other characters however each character had a role in advancing the plot so I would say it was necessary to feature so many people in order to get all the pieces of the puzzle.
I will give the author credit because there was a major plot twist that I didn't see coming at all. Anytime a writer can catch me off guard that is a good thing. But I would say the rest of the novel follows more of a predicable path. It's enough to keep you entertained but I wouldn't place it among the best thrillers/mysteries I have ever read. It does make for a good, mindless escape from real life for a couple of hours type read. I would definitely read another book by this author as this book held my interest which isn't an easy task these days.
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1
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Jun 01, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1542093864
| 9781542093866
| B07S4MFSFG
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285
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| 4.03
| 17,162
| Jun 01, 2020
| Jun 01, 2020
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really liked it
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3.5 stars
First of all, I think it is important to note this story involves sexual crimes. It's big element of the story so if that is a topic that you
3.5 stars
First of all, I think it is important to note this story involves sexual crimes. It's big element of the story so if that is a topic that you try to avoid reading about, I suggest you take a pass on this book. While I wouldn't say this goes into the most graphic detail I have ever read, it still was disturbing and a lot to mentally process. I read mysteries and thrillers all the time and I would put it in the compelling but tough read category.
Crime reporter Sawyer Brooks has tried to leave the past behind her but some things stay with you forever. She has never forgotten that her older sisters left her behind as they fled their hometown of River Rock, and she was left alone to endure horrific abuse. Two teenage girls were murdered in River Rock and their cases remain unsolved. Sawyer's childhood friend went missing and again, the case remains unsolved. While Sawyer has kept her distance from the town she grew up in, she is back hoping to find answers as to what happened to these girls. What will she discover?
The story held my interest as there certainly was lot going on and Sawyer was a solid lead character. The story does bounce around occasionally to other characters and in some cases I thought it worked well having different perspectives but in others it didn't feel necessary in order to advance the plot.
I feel the author might have been too ambitious in her storytelling as it becomes a bit much in terms of how much feels realistic when you add everything up together. I also thought the plot that kicks off the book started off promising but veered into bad Lifetime movie territory. In general, some elements of the story needed to be more fully fleshed out or abandoned completely. A few less characters might have also helped as it is never a good thing when you are near the end of a book and a character pops up and you struggle to remember who they are.
With that being said, I did like this book even though it wasn't a perfect read. In terms of the mystery elements, there was nothing really here that I found surprising but I also read the genre often and it's difficult to catch me completely off guard. I'm curious to see what is in store for Sawyer as this appears to be the first book in a series. If you can handle tough subject material, this is a decent pick.
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1
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May 01, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1542004675
| 9781542004671
| B07WCP61XL
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328
pp
| 3.70
| 8,255
| May 01, 2020
| May 01, 2020
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liked it
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2.5 stars
I thought this book had a good premise but ended up being a bit of a disappointing read. If the story lost most of the thriller elements, I m
2.5 stars
I thought this book had a good premise but ended up being a bit of a disappointing read. If the story lost most of the thriller elements, I maybe would have liked it more. It also didn't help that the main character just didn't do much for me. There are quite a few good reviews for this book though, so as always take my opinions with a grain of salt.
Jackie Strelitz has been married for a few years now to a man named Miles. Harlan Crispin is her ex-lover and colleague. It might sound unusual but Jackie, Miles, and Harlan get together and socialize quite often. Everything is great until Harlan brings a new person to dinner one night. Nasira Amari is Harlan's date and she also happens to be the newest member on Jackie's research team. Jackie thought she was completely over her ex but seeing him with Nasira stirs up a lot of emotions in Jackie. When it looks like things are moving at a quick and serious pace between Nasira and Harlan that doesn't sit right with Jackie.
While Jackie is the main character, occasionally the story alternates to another character's perspective. And because of that, in my opinion the thriller elements of the story fall flat as there really isn't much excitement or anything that is unpredictable. The second half of the story veers into convoluted mess territory. I kept asking the question, why? and even though the author provides some backstories for certain characters, it just wasn't enough to satisfy me. It definitely didn't help that I never felt all that invested in Jackie as a character. She felt more like a caricature rather than a realistic character. Perhaps if I could have gotten on board with her, the rest of the story would have worked better for me.
I wish the story would have just stuck with a woman dealing with her feelings towards an ex plot rather than turning it more into a thriller. I think the author left a lot on the table to explore in regards to that and in the end the story didn't reach its full potential.
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Dec 17, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1542003822
| 9781542003827
| B07PSFHQPG
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413
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| 4.07
| 25,089
| Dec 01, 2019
| Dec 01, 2019
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really liked it
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4.5 stars
This was my first time reading anything by the author, and I enjoyed this one so much I'm gonna have to check out her other novels. This book
4.5 stars
This was my first time reading anything by the author, and I enjoyed this one so much I'm gonna have to check out her other novels. This book is kinda like a modern day retelling of the Agatha Christie mystery, And Then There Were None. In fact that book is actually a part of the storyline in this one. Speaking of that, there are quite a few spoilers about And Then There Were None in this book so if you haven't read that one and would like to, make sure you pass on this one until doing so.
Eight lucky guests have been promised a vacation at a fabulous spa located in the wilderness. After they arrive it soon becomes obvious they were lured there under false pretenses. And now they must worry about their lives because it looks like somebody wants to pick them off, one by one. They each have a secret. Is that why somebody wants them dead?
The story alternates between the past in which the murders are taking place as well as the present when we find out someone is alive and homicide cop Mason Deniaud and search and rescue expert Callie Sutton are trying to figure out what the heck happened. The author gave interesting backstories to both Mason and Callie and in my opinion they were the most fully developed characters in the book. It is a bit tricky at first to keep track of all the guests as the story bounces around from each of the characters. It does become easier after awhile though, no doubt helped by the fact the character list keeps getting shorter and shorter as people wind up dead.
I read mysteries and thrillers often and I was pretty impressed with this one. It might not be as good as the classic And Then There Were None, but it does stand on its own two feet. The mystery is complex enough I doubt most people would be able to figure out all of the pieces of the puzzle ahead of time. Everyone had something to hide and given you don't know what lengths a person is willing to go to in order to keep their secret, everyone is a suspect.
This is the type of story that I thought was very entertaining. What was interesting to me was even though I knew this was a story in which people were going to die, I still was caught off guard a few times. I found myself surprised more than once at how a person died, as well as the timing of the death. And that's why this was a page turner for me because it felt like the author kept my on my toes for so much of the story.
Definitely recommend this one for mystery fans. It's not perfect but it's a fun read if you like the genre.
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Nov 01, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| B07HJYTRMD
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324
pp
| 4.31
| 2,868,624
| Dec 07, 2018
| Dec 07, 2018
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really liked it
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4.5 stars
Wow, Colleen Hoover's writing talent certainly stretches across many genres as proven with this book. I'd normally place her books in the rom
4.5 stars
Wow, Colleen Hoover's writing talent certainly stretches across many genres as proven with this book. I'd normally place her books in the romance or women's fiction category but this one definitely had more of a thriller type feel to it. I enjoyed this one so much I hope she ventures into this territory again with future books.
Lowen Ashleigh has been hired to write the remaining books in a bestselling series that was started by author Verity Crawford. Verity has been severely injured and is unable to complete the books so her husband, Jeremy, and the publisher ask Lowen to finish the series. Lowen accepts Jeremy's invitation to come out to the family home and look through Verity's notes with the hope it will help Lowen better understand his wife's writing style. Lowen finds an unpublished draft of Verity's autobiography and even though she feels like this is a bit of an invasion of privacy, she starts reading it anyway. To say Lowen is unprepared for what she is about to learn about Verity, is a bit of an understatement. Buckle up folks, this is a crazy story!
This book has had a lot of hype and so I knew I needed to bring my A game if I was going to be able to figure this one out before everything was revealed. And much to my delight, I didn't completely call this one as Colleen had a trick or two up her sleeve. (Way better to be surprised a bit then be right, in my opinion) One of the reasons I think this book would be an excellent book club pick is I don't think the ending is completely clear cut and is somewhat open to interpretation. But that's all I am going to say as I don't like getting into spoilers in my reviews.
I took off a half star in my rating because the ending felt abrupt. It's not that I didn't like it, more I just thought the execution wasn't as strong when compared to the rest of the story. It's not a good feeling when you get to the Acknowledgment page and you are like "wait, it really is over? That was the ending?". I think it just needed to be fleshed out more.
Highly recommend checking this one out, although fair warning the book does have some graphic sex scenes. If you don't mind that though, be prepared for a disturbing but fun read!
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1
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Jun 09, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1472257944
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| B07NCY8385
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432
pp
| 4.29
| 5,069
| Mar 21, 2019
| Mar 21, 2019
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really liked it
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3.5 stars
I love when authors draw inspiration from real life events because it really enhances a story and with this historical fiction book I actuall
3.5 stars
I love when authors draw inspiration from real life events because it really enhances a story and with this historical fiction book I actually learned a few things about British and Australian history. Granted it was an ugly side of their pasts, but by using it in the story I felt emotionally invested in the characters and couldn't put the book down.
Essentially this story is a love triangle, but not in the romantic way you might be thinking. After a London air raid, a woman is left injured and can't remember her past, let alone even her name. Unfortunately, nobody can figure out who she is either but she is determined to find out the truth. Her young son, Jack, is placed in an orphanage after authorities deem his mother must have been killed in the blast. Even though he has been told she is dead, in his heart he believes she is alive. After the war ends he is shipped off to Australia as part of a program in which that country receives child migrants from the UK. The Bindoon boys town where he is sent to live is a horrific place as the children are forced to work long hours doing manual labor and are subject to all forms of abuse. Eventually, a woman who longs to be a mother, takes in Jack even though her husband isn't exactly thrilled with the idea. The story takes place over the course of many years and follows the lives of Jack, his biological mother in England, and the woman who is raising him in Australia.
Pretty much from the start you feel for poor Jack. It's also not hard to have compassion for the two mothers and the more you read you feel this uneasiness because given the situation you just know that there can't be a 100% happy outcome. And while the main characters in the story are fictional, just knowing real life families were torn apart with kids being shipped halfway around the world, it just makes this book even more heart wrenching. It really is a shameful part of history and if you know nothing about it, I highly recommend reading this book for that reason alone.
I liked what the author came up with in terms of the plot but I can't say I was overly impressed with the writing. It felt short, simple, and to the point rather than very descriptive writing. I'm not saying it's bad writing, and it was certainly good enough to keep me interested in the story, but I just feel it wasn't on the same level as some of my favorite historical fiction books. I also thought the weakest part of the story was actually the last quarter or so when it teetered into melodramatic territory. I felt like a few too many plot devices were used and it hurt rather than helped the story.
Even though it sounds like I'm nitpicking, I really did enjoy this book and am glad I read it. I loved reading the Author's Note and hearing what inspired her to write the book. Definitely recommend if you enjoy historical fiction.
I won a free advance digital copy of this book in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
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Mar 10, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1542090040
| 9781542090049
| B07DNDY87J
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329
pp
| 4.04
| 20,389
| Feb 01, 2019
| Feb 01, 2019
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it was ok
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I chose this book as my second free pick for January's Amazon First Reads because I was interested in reading a historical fiction novel that takes pl
I chose this book as my second free pick for January's Amazon First Reads because I was interested in reading a historical fiction novel that takes place in Spain after World War 2. The Spanish Civil War is also a subject addressed in the book and not knowing much about it was another reason I thought this would be a good fit for me. I love it when a book gives me the opportunity to learn something new but unfortunately the characters in this one really dragged the story down and I ended up feeling bored most of the time.
I just didn't connect with the main characters which is a shame because it's not like the author didn't at least try to make them people with interesting backstories. Rose Daniel hasn't heard from her brother in years and goes to Spain in search of him. Lola Aragon's family was killed during the Spanish Civil War and for the last eight years she has been caring for an orphan child. Their paths cross and well, things will never be the same.
I think I was about a quarter of the way into the book when I realized the characters just weren't doing anything for me. They just fell flat and as a result I just didn't really feel all that invested in their lives. A few times in the book the story went in a direction I did not see coming and I would think maybe I could get back on board and enjoy the rest of the book. Unfortunately after awhile my interest would start to wane again.
Sometimes a book just isn't the right fit for you which is fine. Most people enjoyed this book so take my opinions with a grain of salt.
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1
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Jan 22, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1503959171
| 9781503959170
| B07D6R3FQ6
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362
pp
| 3.74
| 20,802
| Feb 01, 2019
| Feb 01, 2019
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liked it
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2.5 stars
I appreciate the author's attempt to tell a story with complex characters and tough subject matter, but for me this one missed the mark. The
2.5 stars
I appreciate the author's attempt to tell a story with complex characters and tough subject matter, but for me this one missed the mark. The bare bones of a good story were there but the transitions from the past and present timelines felt disjointed at times and lacked a cohesive flow. When I finished the book one thought that crossed my mind was it felt more like a good rough draft of a book but needs some work and polishing to turn it into something more meaningful.
When Katie Gregory was a teenager her best friend accused Katie's father of sexual assault. He was convicted of the crime and after serving time in prison he is set to be released. Old memories pop back up to the surface and coupled with new information, Katie seems to question just about everything in her life.
The premise for the story had potential but the execution for the most part fell flat. I wish I would have felt more for Katie than I did because obviously she was in such a tough spot given that not only was her father accused of a horrific crime, but her best friend was the accuser. But other than a few moments here and there, I just never felt all that invested in the story.
There's a similar type storyline in a book I read awhile back, The Best Kind of People, and in my opinion that one is a better read than this one.
This was my free Amazon Kindle First selection for January 2019.
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1
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Jan 17, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1503959066
| 9781503959064
| B079DPT97R
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362
pp
| 3.99
| 11,491
| Apr 20, 2017
| Jan 01, 2019
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really liked it
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This book had a good mix of mystery and family drama. The story involves family secrets that have been held for decades and span multiple countries. I
This book had a good mix of mystery and family drama. The story involves family secrets that have been held for decades and span multiple countries. I really enjoyed Eleanor-Rigby slowly uncovering the truth about her mother and her past. Definitely satisfied with my Amazon Kindle First free selection this month.
Journalist Eleanor-Rigby Donovan receives a letter in the mail hinting that her mother committed a crime. Given that her mother is dead, she can't ask her if there is any truth to the letter and her father isn't really much help either. Eleanor eventually finds herself in Baltimore in search of the truth and soon meets George-Harrison Collins, a man who received a similar letter in the mail hinting his mother also committed a crime. This is a story of how sometimes the people you know aren't quite who you thought they were.
I liked the family dynamics in this one particularly with Eleanor-Rigby and her father and siblings. Finding out more about her mother and her life before she had children was definitely something that held my interest as well. My only small complaint about the book was I felt too many characters were used to tell the story and some of them weren't really necessary in my opinion. It's not that the story was hard to follow, it's more I'm just not a fan of seeing the story unfold through just about every single character that is introduced.
Overall though this was an interesting story and I would love to check out other books by the author.
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1
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Dec 01, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1503957977
| 9781503957978
| B07BDKJVWS
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325
pp
| 4.07
| 10,887
| Dec 01, 2018
| Dec 01, 2018
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really liked it
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This was such a heartbreaking story and one in which you feel so emotionally invested in the main character. Fifteen-year-old Wes Ballot is living wit
This was such a heartbreaking story and one in which you feel so emotionally invested in the main character. Fifteen-year-old Wes Ballot is living with his alcoholic parents in Minnesota when his mother drowns in a lake. His father sends Wes to temporarily live with his grandparents who aren't exactly warm and welcoming. As Wes waits for his father to return, he meets a girl who is also dealing with the death of a parent. This is the story of a boy who will learn long-buried secrets about his family history and will have to forge his own path in life.
Even though this book has such a sadness to it, in some ways it is uplifting as you watch this young boy deal with the crappy hand he was dealt and slowly develop into a man. While you are reading you just feel protective of him and want to shelter him from any pain or hurt. Haunting is a good word to describe the story as so many things about his family's past that he has no control over are affecting him in the present. And that's why Wes is a character to root for because in a way he's having to fight other people's demons and how could you not want him to find happiness?
Definitely recommend as a good coming of age story. This is one of the better Amazon Kindle First selections I have picked in recent months.
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1
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Nov 01, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| B07897773M
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338
pp
| 3.24
| 1,401
| Jan 15, 2019
| Jan 15, 2019
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liked it
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2.5 stars
I think I would have liked the book more if it didn't go in the Strangers on a Train direction and instead stuck to more regular fiction focu
2.5 stars
I think I would have liked the book more if it didn't go in the Strangers on a Train direction and instead stuck to more regular fiction focusing on #metoo movement issues. The intent behind the novel was certainly good but an outlandish type plot really hurt the book in my opinion.
Dana Diaz is trying her best to find success as a stand-up comedian. She meets Amanda Dorn one day after a set and the two start talking about men who have attacked and harrassed them. Amanda comes up with an idea that they each should go after the other's assailant. But will getting revenge be worth it in the end?
There's some really serious and timely themes going on in the story as one of the males is a Louis C.K. type character. I wish the story hadn't included the character of Amanda because I feel like there was more than enough to explore in Dana's life. The comedy world is indeed a boy's type club and it's not something that is typically featured in books. I think the book had potential but a crazy, overused plot device kinda ruined it.
I won a free advance copy of the book but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Oct 17, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1503958884
| 9781503958883
| B079JQ29M5
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348
pp
| 4.19
| 43,248
| Oct 16, 2018
| Oct 16, 2018
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really liked it
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3.5 stars
This was a really enjoyable work of fiction that had elements of romance and mystery. Lucy Kincaid was raised by her single mother, Beth. Aft
3.5 stars
This was a really enjoyable work of fiction that had elements of romance and mystery. Lucy Kincaid was raised by her single mother, Beth. After Beth dies, Lucy finds out she has inherited a house, known as the Winter Cottage, in the town of Cape Hudson, Virginia, which is where her mother grew up. Lucy knows nothing about her mother's past, and what made her leave her hometown as a teenager and never return. She stumbles upon some video recordings from the late 1980s of her then teenage mother interviewing the home's former owner, Catherine Buchanan, for a school project, and soon Lucy realizes this is a home filled with secrets of the past.
The story alternates between Lucy in the present day, her mother in the 1980s, and Claire working for the wealthy Buchanan family in the early 1900s. Each of these characters brought something to the table in making this an interesting read however I really felt the most invested in Claire's story.
There were a few things that I didn't particularly care for in the book. Some things just did not seem realistic in the year 2018. The whole this is a small town thing therefore things are done differently didn't ring true in a few instances. The other thing that bugged me was I thought the author tried to fill the story with too many twists to the point which it detracted from the characters and story. None of these things ruined the book for me though. They were just minor annoyances.
Definitely a good read if you are looking for something with interesting female lead characters. I would definitely read something again by Mary Ellen Taylor who also writes books under the name Mary Burton.
I won a free ebook in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
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1
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Oct 13, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1503944913
| 9781503944916
| B06XFS39KS
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334
pp
| 3.46
| 14,430
| Apr 01, 2018
| Apr 01, 2018
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really liked it
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3.5 stars
I've read a lot of true crime books over the years, and I have to say this is one of the more bizarre cases. In the early 1900s, Belle Gunnes
3.5 stars
I've read a lot of true crime books over the years, and I have to say this is one of the more bizarre cases. In the early 1900s, Belle Gunness lured unsuspecting men to her Indiana "murder farm". And these men vanished without a trace, that is until their butchered remains were eventually found buried on the farm. If you are unfamiliar with the case, I highly recommend you don't look up any information ahead of time because part of what makes this book interesting is all of the twists and turns.
I didn't know ahead of time that the "murder farm" was actually in a part of Indiana I have visited many times. I have family ties to the area that date back generations so while the relatives who would have been alive during this time period are deceased, I have no doubt in my mind they would have been very familiar with the case as it wasn't just a local story, it made headlines around the globe. When the book discusses the carnival type atmosphere the farm drew when the bodies are discovered I found myself wondering, were they one of the estimated 16,000 people who showed up to be a part of the spectacle? The weird, unexpected personal connection to the story is definitely part of the reason I couldn't put the book down.
Unfortunately not all questions that remain about Belle Gunness will be answered so if you are the type of reader that needs everything wrapped up in the end, this book probably isn't for you. However, if you enjoy reading about unusual true crime cases and are fine with drawing your own conclusions, than I say give this book a chance.
This was my free Kindle First pick for March 2018. I was under no obligation to post a review.
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1
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Oct 08, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1477830529
| 9781477830529
| B0776PQNLG
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319
pp
| 3.96
| 9,341
| Nov 01, 2018
| Nov 01, 2018
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liked it
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There is no shortage of World War 2 historical fiction on the market, however there are a few things that make this book stand out among the others. F
There is no shortage of World War 2 historical fiction on the market, however there are a few things that make this book stand out among the others. First, some of the story takes place in Yugoslavia which isn't a setting that is normally featured in this genre. The other thing that makes this story a bit unusual is the main character is a patient in an insane asylum a few years after the war. Looking for something different is what made made me choose this book for my free Amazon First Reads pick of the month.
The year is 1947 and Maud is a patient in an insane asylum in England but she is struggling to figure out how she ended up there. With the help of her doctor she slowly regains her memory and remembers her time during the war as a secret agent working in Yugoslavia. How is it all connected?
The main issue I had with this book is for about 3/4 of the story I just did not feel a connection with the main character which is weird because you would think the combination of someone in dangerous situations because of the war and being in an insane asylum would get me to feel something. But the writing just left me with this empty feeling, as if something was missing. Thankfully, things start to come together by the last part of the book. I just wish it hadn't taken so long to get to that point.
There were a few instances in which I thought the author waited too long to explain something or glossed over completely. To be honest, I think the premise of the book was unique but the execution wasn't the best. If I'm comparing it to other World War 2 historical fiction, it's not the most compelling. However, if you are looking for something a ittle bit different especially one that gives you a bit of a history lesson on what was going on in Yugoslavia during that time period, this is a decent pick.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 01, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| B07F75Z5YP
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371
pp
| 4.32
| 34
| unknown
| Sep 29, 2018
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liked it
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I jumped at the opportunity to read this one because I really enjoyed the author's previous novels. This book features Harry, who is the brother of th
I jumped at the opportunity to read this one because I really enjoyed the author's previous novels. This book features Harry, who is the brother of the main character in Hannah's Rainbow:Every Color Beautiful. So while I already knew a little about Harry's life from the other book, this goes into more detail and has his perspective on key moments in his life.
Growing up in the early 1900s in Ohio, Harry comes from a big family. When his older brother Erik leaves for college, Harry feels like he finally has the chance to make something of himself now out of his brother's shadow. He develops a closer relationship to his sister Hannah, and as a young adult, Harry ends up dating Kat, the sister of Hannah's boyfriend. But too much partying is going to catch up with him, and change his life forever.
I did like the book as it was nice to go back to familiar characters but unfortunately this didn't come close to matching the emotional reading experience I had with Hannah's Rainbow. I just didn't feel like the character of Harry was fully developed. I thought certain things were glossed over or didn't go into detail until much later in the story. Basically I felt like the book could use some polishing up to make it better. I wanted to feel for Harry the same way I did for Hannah when reading her story.
While this book could be read as a standalone novel, I highly recommend reading Hannah's Rainbow first as that's the stronger book of the two.
I won a free ebook in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 27, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| B071JLNL36
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401
pp
| 3.57
| 2,477
| Feb 13, 2018
| Feb 13, 2018
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really liked it
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I've been wanting to learn more about Wallis Simpson for awhile now. I didn't know much about her other than she was twice divorced when she married t
I've been wanting to learn more about Wallis Simpson for awhile now. I didn't know much about her other than she was twice divorced when she married the former king and both of them may have been Nazi sympathizers. I was hoping by reading this book I would learn more about their Nazi connections and just what it was about this woman that made a king give up everything for her.
She really was a piece of work, that's for sure. I pretty much came to the conclusion that you can't really trust anything she said because there were so many claims she made that have been proven false. Given I didn't know much about her before reading, I just assumed her relationship with the former king was a great romance but it actually in my opinion was pretty sad and pathetic. In a way you could say they both got what they deserved in the end.
I wish the book could have gone into more detail about their Nazi connections. I was hoping there would be a little more info but most of it was stuff that has been shown in tv shows like The Crown. Regardless, I think it is fair to say that their country was better off with the king giving up his title. World War 2 might have played out differently had he not abdicated.
I did end up learning quite a lot about her including her childhood, marriages, friendships, etc. . Given I knew very little about her prior to reading, I'm not sure if this book contains brand new information or just stuff that a royal fan would already know. Regardless, it does provide a good overview of her life and was full of interesting info.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 15, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1503956199
| 9781503956193
| B079P4H229
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338
pp
| 3.49
| 9,561
| Sep 01, 2018
| Sep 01, 2018
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liked it
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Truly a dysfunctional cast of characters to put it mildly. Trish wants nothing more than to have a baby with her husband James. But even her wealth an
Truly a dysfunctional cast of characters to put it mildly. Trish wants nothing more than to have a baby with her husband James. But even her wealth and privilege can't get her pregnant. James meanwhile has been naughty and got his mistress, Laurel, knocked up. When he tells Trish she should divorce him so he can be with Laurel and his newborn daughter, that doesn't go over well. Trish becomes obsessed with the baby and thinks her dream of having a family with her husband has finally come true.
I'll admit this book pretty much grabbed me right from the start. I was highly entertained at this messy love triangle. However, by the second half of the book the story line just becomes over the top and ridiculous. What had been a fun read just became frustrating and too much. I do appreciate though how this book was different and pretty unique in the fact that all of the characters minus the baby are really messed up individuals and you don't want to root for anyone other than the poor child.
Basically avoid this book if you can't handle a story with unlikable characters. If you don't mind that and are in the mood for a crazy but different plot, than maybe give this book a shot.
This was my free selection as part of the Amazon First Reads program.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 01, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| | | | | 1250081831
| 9781250081834
| 1250081831
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342
pp
| 3.72
| 9,571
| Jul 31, 2018
| Jul 31, 2018
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it was ok
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Boarding schools, much like summer camp, usually make great settings for mysteries. I think it's the lack of parental supervision that keeps things in
Boarding schools, much like summer camp, usually make great settings for mysteries. I think it's the lack of parental supervision that keeps things interesting because those darn kids are always able to sneak stuff past the adults in charge. In this book, twin sisters Rose and Bel Enright are sent by their grandmother to a boarding school in New Hampshire after the death of their mother. After arriving at The Odell School, the girls soon realize wealth and entitlement can lead to a whole lotta trouble. When someone connected to the school is murdered, authorities interview staff and students to try and piece together what exactly happened and just who is responsible for it.
Unfortunately, I just never got into that groove of reading when you just can't put down the book because you are so caught up in the story. Part of the problem was the writing style just felt very short, simple and to the point rather than being very descriptive. This hurt the story in my opinion because it never seemed to flow very well and the characters were underdeveloped.
What kept me reading was I was hoping that at least when the mystery was solved it would be something shocking. Unfortunately, it's not something you didn't see coming a mile away. So a predicable mystery, characters who I didn't particularly care for one way or the other, and a writing style that just didn't work for me are the reasons this was only a 2 star read for me. Others seem to really like this book though so take my opinions with a grain of salt.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 23, 2018
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Hardcover
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