Many thanks to my friends at @harperaudio and @williammorrow for the #gifted free copy of this book.  

 

Propulsive.  Addicting.  A jaw dropping 5⭐️ read! 

 

Nina and Simon headed out for a weekend hiking trip.  Nothing abnormal for the young couple very much in love.  But then, only Simon returned.  And now everyone, especially Nina’s family, is determined to find out what happened. 

 

From the first page, I was immediately engaged, and that lure never let up.  This book held me tight in its grasp, no chapter ending satisfying enough to take a pause.   Be forewarned: this is a book I couldn’t pull away from until I was finished. 

 

The storytelling takes on a true crime documentary style with a premise seemingly ripped from the headlines, and the plot rings (scarily) true.  From social media’s impact to the spread of misinformation and the power found in wealth, I found myself tense and maddened. 

 

The multiple POVs provided a depth to the storytelling and heightened the suspense within the mystery.  A mother’s despair.  A father’s anguish.  Raw emotion oozed through the pages and had me constantly questioning how I would respond in similar circumstances.  Just how far is too far when it’s your child in question?  

 

McTiernan has crafted a perfect crime thriller.  With rich characterization, a well-honed plot, a steady unfolding of the mystery, and thought-provoking themes, I could not get enough of this book. 

 

But the ending gets a shout out all its own.  THAT ENDING.  Just when you think every treat has been served, McTiernan wielded just one more.  And boy did I CHEER.  👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻  

 

There’s no doubt in my mind that What Happened to Nina will be on my end of the year favorites list! 

 

🎧 Full cast narration!! And this cast knocked it out of the park perfectly encapsulating the ever-increasing tension of the unfolding plot and the palpable emotion of each character.  

Thank you @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the free #gifted copies of this book. 

 

Funny.  Full of heart.  OH, how cheered for this couple! 

 

Dumped by her fiancé, Daphne must find a new home... and quick!  As it turns out, Miles, who’s ex is now shagging Daphne’s former fiancé, has an extra room. Total opposites.  Both pining after love gone bad.  

 

Enter scene ➡️ TV blaring a wine-fueled Bridgett Jones in pajamas singing “All by Myself.” Miles can’t listen to it loud enough.  Daphne thinks she might lose her mind if he rewinds the scene one more time.  

 

And that’s the moment I knew this story was perfect for me!  

 

I fell head over heels for Henry’s writing when I was introduced to her in Beach Read.  It checked ALL the boxes (and then some! 🥵).  

 

Then last year, I felt such intense letdown when I found no happiness in Happy Place.  

 

But then this book came along.  And not only did it feel reminiscent of everything I loved in Beach Read, but it also gave it a run for top billing as my favorite.  (5 letters--- Miles. 😮‍💨)

 

All the little details... they just worked for me.  The witty banter.  The friendship that emerged into so much more.  The introspection. The heat and chemistry. 🔥 The adventures they went on. The read-a-thon! The way they accepted and respected each other as they were.  

 

I closed this book with a big ole cheesy grin from ear to ear after having spent the entirety of the read blushing and giddy.  Funny Story perfectly satisfied.    

 

🎧 @justjuliawhelan delivers yet another brilliant performance.  I’ve come to think of her as the voice of Emily Henry’s books.  She effortlessly breathed life into both Daphne and Miles giving each nuance and distinction, and her delivery accentuated the tenderness, connection, and chemistry.  Does anyone else get a bit weak in the knees listening to Julia’s male voices?  😮‍💨  Whelan is at her best here, which should come as no surprise.  

 

 

Many thanks to my friends at @simon.audio and @scribnerbooks for #gifted free copies of this book.  

Some books lend to the very best of discussions.  And this one made for some of the best that I’ve had all year! 

 

Evocative.  Dark.  This modernized reimagining of Hades & Persephone had me cringing at the same time it had me deep in thought.  

 

Cory, our naïve Persephone, on the precipice of adulthood is easily lured by a rich older man with money.  And he, Rolo- our Hades, is eager to use his power to indulge and manipulate.

 

This is a fever dream of a storyline riding bizarre streams through a hazy consciousness.  And given the themes of indulgence, particularly with drugs and alcohol, that felt fitting. 

 

Yet, for me, the writing never quite enticed, and I can’t honestly say that I enjoyed this read.  

 

Ah, but the messaging... absolutely impeccable!!!  Lyon deftly explores themes of power, wealth, extravagance, and consumption. And that exploration led to some of the deepest and best conversations with book friends. 

 

Not many books leave me as perplexed as this one.  I didn’t enjoy the journey.  But I greatly enjoyed dissecting the modern implications of these themes.  

 

🎧 For those of you, like me, that need proper punctuation, the audiobook is absolutely the way to go.  As a bonus, it’s dually narrated by two of the best:  Carlotta Brentan and Joy Osmanski.  Where my enjoyment waned in the storyline, these performances, filled with tension and emotion, kept me engaged.  

Many thanks to @dreamscape_media for the #gifted free copy of this book.  

Horror mixed with family dysfunction.  Extra scary, right?  

A vacation to Italy sounds delightful to most, but with Anna’s family it’s more like a toxic nightmare.  They constantly question her.  Judge her.  Badger her.  And she gets the blame for anything that goes wrong.  Yet, they need her and rely on her.  

In the history of families, Anna’s might be the absolute worst.  (Be forewarned!)

Add to that a gothic villa with a violent past and a ghost set on retribution, and you’ve got one doozie of a horror story.  

As I read, I couldn’t decide if I was more afraid of the murderous apparition or Anna’s mom and sister!  If only I could’ve gone through the pages and punched someone!  The drama often offset the horror for me, making me more annoyed than terrified.  

Truly, I found myself conflicted for most of the read. 

But then there was that ending!  It revealed a cleverness within the premise that satisfied in a way I hadn’t expected.  

This is one of those books that begs for discussion, and I am so glad that my friends, @reading.with.my.goldens and @readbyregan, talked this one through with me.  It made me more appreciative of the elements and how they shined in that ending.  

🎧 The audiobook is THE way to go.  The narration by Andi Arnt lured me in and quickly took hold.  She excelled in giving the main character a nuanced voice while accentuating the creepiness of the storyline.   In those moments when I questioned the premise, it was Arnt’s voice that kept me hanging on just a little longer... until I finished the book.  

 

 

 

 

Thank you @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the free #gifted books.

 

Over the top, a tad absurd, and totally fun!  

 

Normally, I do things in a logical, orderly fashion.  This series though... for some reason, I decided to start at the end. And considering the amount of chaos and mischief within these pages, my decision seemed fitting.  

 

Last year, I was introduced to Sutanto in her heartwarming and hilarious Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.  Could there be another character as nosy, overbearing, and meddlesome as Vera?    

 

Well as it turns out, yes.  As impossible as it seems, the Aunties share much of the same outrageous qualities and maybe to the extreme!  

 

It’s apparent that Sutanto has a knack for writing wild storylines full of drama.  I can’t tell you how many times I rolled my eyes and laughed out loud at the Aunties and their antics.  From one misadventure to the next, I found myself fully entertained. 

 

But it’s not all hilarity and hijinks.  With the Chinese New Year celebration as the backdrop for the storyline, culture and tradition abound.  This read brims with strong family values and Asian pride.  

 

And the food!  Oh, the food! Be prepared for constant hunger pains!

 

🎧 The audiobook was such an easy listen.  Risa Mei’s narration brought an authenticity to Meddy and the Aunties, giving each a distinct voice and personality.  Her performance amplified both the humor and drama, making the listen a true treat.  

 

Many thanks to my friends at @atriabooks and @simon.audio for the #free gifted copies of this book.  

 

"Life is the prickly pear. It's always going to be a combination of beauty and hurt, no matter how hard you try to protect yourself from the hard parts."

 

Witty. Raw. Vulnerable. 

 

It’ll come as no surprise that a book about a road trip took me on quite the journey.  With Van Morrison queued up and the mile markers ticking by, I found myself immersed in this quirky little found family.  

 

A cancer dog and former kissing best friends.  Detours and McDonald’s stops.  Whatever it takes to make their teacher/mentor/father figure’s dying wish come true.  

 

Part rom-com.  Part exploration of grief.  This book broke my heart and filled it back up again.  Witty.  Tender.  Cathartic.  Swoony.  Comforting. 

 

It’s an examination of love, both familial and romantic.  It’s about the beauty found in connection, the bonds that change you, and the family you choose.  

 

I closed this book with a big smile on my face and tears rolling down my cheeks.  Cochrun reminded me how beautiful life is and how fortunate I am to be surrounded by love.  

 

A truly unforgettable read. 

 

🎧 With @natalienaudus and @jercarparvo as narrators, this audiobook is utter perfection.  I’m a big fan of both of their work, and here they expertly craft their performances, bringing nuance and distinction to their separate characters.  This is a book rife with emotion, and both portrayals kept me drawn in, whether leaning towards the witty or the tragic.  Truly an outstanding audiobook.  

 

 

Many thanks to my friends at @prhaudio for the free #gifted copy of this audiobook.

 

I have been in the worst reading slump.  Absolute worst.  

 

So when my bestie @bookmarked.by.becky texted me and told me I would LOVE Painter’s new book, I thought, “why not?” knowing that I had fallen hard for her last book, The Love Wager.  

 

Here’s how it went:  

⏰ Started Happily Never After Sunday afternoon.

⏰ Finished it early Sunday evening.  

 

Me….the girl struggling to connect with any books…finished this book in mere hours.  

 

And…. spoiler… I FREAKING LOVED IT!!!  

 

The cleverest concept.  Quality adult communication. The swooniest book boyfriend.  The witty banter.  The steamy chemistry.  

 

This book was everything I needed.  It is fun and flirty.  It’s fresh and unique.  I laughed out loud.  I sighed with contentment.  

 

WHAT an endorphin boost! Once again, Painter swept me off my feet.  

 

But now, I’m back in my slump…pining for more from Painter…eagerly awaiting next March. 

 

🎧 This audiobook was a pure delight.  I was fully engrossed by the dual narration by Helen Laser and Sean Patrick Hopkins.  Their performances drew me in and had me hanging on for each laugh or spark.  The friendship and chemistry were utterly convincing in Laser and Hopkins narrations

Thank you @uplitreads and @harpermusebooks for the #gifted copy of this book.  

 

1969: A baby tossed over the barbed wire that would become the Berlin Wall.  A young life thrust from the torment of oppression into the open arms of freedom.  

 

Harrowing.  Sacrificial.  

 

Twenty years later, that now grown adult and CIA agent seeks to free her father from the despair of a Stasi prison.  

 

Reay’s newest Cold War spy thriller proves a worthy education for readers.  This was an immersive history lesson, rife with tension and laden with details of the political turmoil and unrest.  

 

Both the 1969 and 1989 storylines unfolded at a quick pace and held my attention, though I found the 1969 timeline much more engaging and richly drawn.  Oftentimes, I found the 1989 storyline moving at a brisker (and easier) pace than would have been realistic.    

 

Even so, the accessibility of the storyline allowed Reay’s meticulous research to shine.

 

The history was exceptionally executed, fully encapsulating the essence of the Berlin Wall experience, from its rise to its fall.  

 

Thank you for the free #gifted book @berkley and @prhaudio

 

Witches, pirates, vampires, and mermaids… oh my!  This new series, Crimson Sails, by Katee Robert is the start of an enchanting new adventure on the high seas.  

 

Needing to escape her vampire girlfriend’s family, Evelyn jumps through a magical portal into a new realm and splashes down in the ocean beside Bowen’s ship, where she’s given a choice to join the crew or die. 

 

Well,… hello there, Mr. Brawny Pirate.  🔥  I’m not generally a fan of insta-love, but Bowen instantly caught my attention with his magnetic appeal from the very beginning.    

 

This is my first read by Robert, and it proved to be very different than what I expected.  While it delivered on the fun and spice, I was completely surprised at the exploration of the themes of authority and power.  

 

As the obvious tension built between Bowen and Evelyn, she began to question the doctrine behind how the crew operates.  Is it truly for good?  Or is it a mere stronghold in the name of power?

I appreciated the growth in Bowen as he evaluated the principles he had always taken at face value.  And I imagine much more will come of this in the next installment. 

 

As for the love story, it was fun, even if not my favorite.  I found the spicy scenes to be a bit awkward, and the relationship felt more infatuation than love.  

 

Still, this proved an easy read, and a fine foundation for the rest of the series to be built upon.  I’ll be interested to explore other reads by Robert.  

Thank you @williammorrowbooks for the #gifted free copy of this book.

 

Religion. Love. Murder.  It’s not only the makings of a good country song.  It’s also the basis of a compelling story. 

 

I can see Twyla now.  Old guitar in hand.  Stage lights shining bright.  She’s not quite comfortable with a crowd, but the music is an old friend.  

 

Once naïve and sheltered. Now, her dirty hands and even muddier conscience might be her best inspiration.  

 

Twyla took hold of me from the first scenes. A young girl desperate to find her own voice.  A love of Elvis. A need to escape.  There was a rawness to her, a bit rough around the edges. I found myself cheering for her even when I wanted to shake some sense into her.

 

Frost’s writing first won me over in her debut, The Shadows of Pecan Hollow.  Boy, can she turn a phrase!  And here, with music as a backdrop, her prose has a rhythm that easily allures.  It’s lyrical and poetic.  It’s sharply observed and beautiful in form.  

 

Though the writing is laden with tension in parts, this is much more a blend of character driven/coming of age and historical fiction.  There’s a bit of mystery at play.  But Twyla’s journey and the richly executed backdrop of 1970s Nashville take center stage.  

 

I’m naturally drawn to contemplative themes.  And here I found one of the most gripping explorations of prisons-- the ones thrust upon us and the ones we choose.  

 

This is the kind of book that pushes boundaries.  It’s gritty and full of complexity. Frost excels in the gray areas.  The lines between right and wrong are meticulously blurred, creating an incisive look at morality, fairness, and justice. 

 

Much like a legendary ballad from one of the greats- lonesome, mournful, redemptive- The Last Verse is deeply felt and hits all the right notes.