"There is no off switch to the love between sisters; no way to pause it, no way to destroy it."

This story was both a heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of the love between two sisters. Annie is a drug addict facing the biggest problem of her life. She is strung out, pregnant and in premature labor. Not knowing what else to do she calls her big sister, Lexie, for help. Lexie has always been more of a mother than a sister to Annie. She has always stepped in to help her little sister throughout the trials of her life, with unwavering love and compassion.

"Addiction is, in that way, just like love—in the early moments, you don’t see the potential for it to bring you pain—it’s just something you slide into between laughs and smiles and moments of bliss. It’s something that feels like a shield, until you realize it’s actually a warhead, and it’s pointed right at you."

Annie's addiction was fueled by her childhood. The early loss of her father and the traumatic years that followed led her down a dark path where drugs offered her the only escape she felt worthy of having. Now, she is faced with jail time and the possible loss of her daughter if she doesn't complete a rehab program and remain sober.

The story is told in alternating voices between Lexie's perspective as she struggles to take care of her newborn niece and Annie's journal entries. The journal entries offer insight into how Annie ended up the way she did and they are heartbreaking in their honesty.

Aside from the obvious bond between the sisters another aspect I really enjoyed from the book was Lexie's fiance, Sam. What an amazing man! Honestly, I know he was fictional but he seriously made me swoon. He was so patient, loving and compassionate.

On the other hand, I was so infuriated by Lexie & Annie's mother. I just wanted to shake her to knock some sense into her!

"It’s funny how every single thing in your life can shatter with a single decision."

Though I knew what the ending would hold it still broke my heart. There were no surprises in the plot but the story was well told. It was thought-provoking regarding the issue of drug addicted pregnant women & mothers. It was also an honest look at addiction, family, loss, secrets, love and forgiveness. This story definitely has triggers so go into it aware but I feel that Kelly Rimmer handled these tough topics with compassion, hope and honesty.

I'll be honest and say that this book has left me feeling conflicted. The concept of "ghosting" intrigued me but Ghosted ended up being something other than what I expected.

Sarah & Eddie meet, spend a week together & fall deeply in love. Maybe my romantic heart has hardened with age but the fact that this thirty-something year old woman became OBSESSED with Eddie after 7 days just didn't seem romantic to me. It felt unstable. All her frantic, unanswered attempts to reach out to Eddie crossed a line in my mind. She appeared desperate, unbalanced and stalkerish.

I found myself feeling annoyed with Sarah's behavior. I simply had no sympathy for her as a character, mostly because of the way she was acting. She was very self-centered not even noticing what her friends were going through around her due to her "Eddie Tunnel Vision". Yet, I admittedly was still intrigued by what could have actually led to Eddie "ghosting" her. Walsh laid out several breadcrumbs and my curiosity was definitely piqued. There was no doubt that I had to know what was actually going on. Was Eddie married? Was he a criminal? Was Sarah actually mentally unbalanced and imagining the connection they had?

So, back to my conflicted feelings regarding Ghosted. Sarah genuinely annoyed me and I found the whole insta-love aspect far-fetched. Yet, I have to also admit that I found the book compulsively readable. I couldn't put it down because despite its failings, I did want to find out what was actually going on. I couldn't look away from Sarah unravelling before my eyes. Her actions were reminiscent of a character in a bad Lifetime movie. If you're like me, you can't flip the channel on one of those either so you understand! One surprising aspect was that I really connected with the grief aspect of the story. The loss of a loved one is palpable, raw & real. I thought Walsh's portrayal of the way various family members handle grief differently in response to tragedy was empathetic, honest & very well done.

I enjoyed some of the twists this book took and it definitely wasn't what I expected going in. Unfortunately, I just never had a big enough connection to Sarah & Eddie's insta-love relationship to feel fully invested in what happened with them and that was the bulk of the book. If I'm going to be honest, it was definitely more curiosity than anything else, that kept me turning the pages to the end.

4 You Got Me stars for Kit Frick's See All the Stars!

Have you ever had a friendship or love/relationship that completely consumed you? You know the type that barely toes the line between normal and obsession. I think many of us have been there at some point in our lives. You almost lose yourself in the other person. That is the bulk or Ellory's tale told here in split timeframes - the then & now.

To be honest though, this was more than a complicated tale of first love, friendship and betrayal. It was also part mystery - unfolding in shattered, piecemeal flashbacks that felt as erratic as Ellory's emotions. Ellory is trying to come to terms with something and we are along for the completely addictive ride. Frick knows how to build tension and weaves a superb story of flawed characters. I thought I had this one all figured out & then BAM - she got me!

I won't spoil a thing here. I'll just say that this is not your typical, cliche YA read. It was addictive, suspenseful and there were important lessons to be learned on substance abuse, forgiveness, letting go and accepting things that are not within our power to change. See All The Stars was definitely a stunning debut by an author I'll be sure to follow in the future.

Shelter in Place 8 minutes - a mass shooting - a physical and emotional aftermath that leaves countless lives changed forever

This was a gut wrenching book to read in light of the mass shootings we have endured but I found it well written. Roberts' focus wasn't solely on the shooting itself. The book fast forwards and focuses instead mainly on the after effects of the shooting - on the lives of the victims and heroes and on the true mastermind behind the plot's warped quest for vengeance.

The story is part romance, part mystery & thriller. It's not always easy to blend these genres but Roberts does it well. She knows how to write an engaging plot with characters you become invested in and villains you hate. There were moments that required a definite suspension of belief but I was definitely invested enough in the story to be able to just go with it. After all, I enjoy a well written psychopath and we certainly had that here.

Overall, it wasn't my favorite Nora Roberts read but it definitely rates among the top 5. Shelter in Place is sure to draw in new fans while appealing to Roberts' tried and true readers as well.

🔥 3.5 Stars (rounded up) for J.R. Ward's Consumed! 🔥

I have been a J.R. Ward fan for years. Over time I have faithfully devoured each book in her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Consumed is the first book in her new series so of course I had to read it! I was happy to find that it mostly stays true to the writing style Ward's fans have come to love & expect with an added bonus that I loved - a mystery twist.

The book opens strong taking us right into a two-alarm fire that has life-altering consequences for two of our main characters - Anne and Danny. As to be expected from Ward we have strong-willed, emotional and relatably flawed lead characters. The book takes a turn from the initial opening scene and takes us through Anne and Danny's road to recovery as they deal with the physical and emotional scars left by the devastating decisions they had to make in the fire.

This was very much a "first book" in a series. It introduces us to the cast of characters and offers some backstory while setting the stage for more to come. I found the characters likable. The plot was interesting and I enjoyed the mystery twist with Anne becoming an arson investigator and having to uncover the truth behind a series of fires in the warehouse district.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable read. It did feel a bit slow towards the middle but it started and ended off strong for me which brought it all together. I understood it was a book 1 and as such was laying a foundation for the books to come so I gave some allowances for that. The title was very appropriate as the characters dealt with various things that "consumed" their lives - love, lust, work, ambition, desire, alcohol, etc. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next with this cast of firefighters.

Thank you to J.R. Ward, Gallery Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

👩🏻 3.5 Stars (rounded up) for this story of strength, bravery and truth 🏇

The opening scene of the book is powerful. Seelie is brutally attacked by Shane Mayfield, the son of a well respected and connected local judge. In the throes of defending herself against Shane's vicious attack she ends up killing him in self-defense.

"I knew he would kill me if he got back up so I made sure he couldn't... Don't you understand? I had to save myself. I had to."

Yet, due to various connections within the legal/justice system and pressure from Shane's well-respected father Seelie is arrested for murder. The story chronicles her experiences during the trial and the aftermath of her attack. While the story was interesting and dealt well with Seelie's feelings after the attack there were certain things that kept this from being a stronger read for me. I felt like there was a lot thrown into this book but much of it was only explored on a very surface level. One of the biggest unexplored aspects for me was Seelie's strained relationship with her mother. There was so much animosity and resentment between them but no real explanation was given for it.

I did enjoy the Faction which is the name Seelie and her group of close friends had given themselves. The friendship amongst them was strong, accepting, forgiving and a true lifeline for Seelie during her horrible ordeal. I also found it relevant that Seelie basically shut down after her assault. That is a very real response from survivors of assault. I enjoyed watching her come to terms with what happened to her and finding ways to slowly speak out and share all the details of her attack.

Overall, this was a well done YA novel. It started off strong and kept me turning the pages. I just personally would have enjoyed a bit more fleshing out of the back story and Seelie's life.

Thank you to Misha Thrace, North Star Editions and NetGalley for the advance copy.

An intense & dark psychological thriller that will make you shudder.

Portraits of the Dead by John Nicholl starts off exceptionally creepy with 19 year old college student Emma Jones being abducted by a sadistic serial killer who awaited his perfect opportunity, hidden silent and unmoving in her wardrobe. I swear the scene was right out of my worst nightmares! What a way to hook you in!

Emma awakens naked, bruised and bloody, finding herself in a windowless room adorned with portraits of girls who look just like her and no way out. Emma finds herself at the mercy of her captor who thinks of her as his plaything. Unfortunately the "Master's" games are brutal, horrific and sadistic. I rather enjoyed the scenes between Emma and her depraved captor. Emma was described as an intelligent, hard-working girl and that was definitely apparent during her interactions with the Master. Although she was forced to degrade herself for his enjoyment time and time again, she was always thinking, trying to earn his trust to stay alive and ultimately find a way out.

DI Gareth Gravel and DS Clive Rankin are investigating Emma's disappearance and quickly begin to tie her case to the killing of five young women whose bodies are discovered scattered in the woods. Will they find Emma in time before she becomes number 6?

Honestly, I did figure out fairly quickly who the "Master" was and was ready to give the book 3 stars for various reasons. First, the relationship with the mother was twisted and creepy but I just didn't fully buy into it. Secondly, DS Clive Rankin - what the??? I can't say more without spoilers but that threw me and I was upset with how it ended.

So where did the 4 star rating come from? The ENDING! It totally changed my mind. It was not what I was expecting and it was such a GOOD surprise. I found myself cheering and feeling quite satisfied in that crazy "You Go Girl!" way.

3.5 "What Would You Do?" Stars for Rea Frey's Not Her Daughter.

The beginning of the book pulled me in immediately. I devoured the first 60-70% of the story. Emma Townsend is a beautiful, precocious 5 year old girl with a cruel, unhappy and abusive mother and detached father. Sarah Walker is a successful, self-made business woman. On one of her business trips she comes across the Townsend family. It is apparent they are a dysfunctional, unhappy family and Sarah immediately feels strong emotions for Emma, who is unfortunately on the receiving end of all her mother, Amy's, unhappiness.

Had fate not intervened and brought Emma back into Sarah's life months later, she may have remained a sad memory, forgotten after awhile. When Sarah finds herself back in the presence of this little girl - she simply can't ignore it. It must be a sign! She is meant to rescue Emma!

Sarah makes a bold (& somewhat unbelievable choice) to kidnap Emma. Sarah's choice may have been extreme but it was definitely borne out of her own childhood. While, I had to certainly suspend believe here I was initially able to do so. The relationship between Emma and Susan was heartwarming. My momma heart was happy that this little girl was finally getting some positivity, love and nurturing. Even if it was in this outlandish, crazy way.

Unfortunately, there were a few things in the last 30% of the book that just didn't jive with me. Even in a work of fiction, I just can't suspend ALL belief. Things just kept getting more and more unplausible and I had a problem with it.

The following might be a bit spoilerish so please proceed with that knowledge:
The first thing that really bothered me (that was just beyond suspending my belief) was the entire section of the book with Ryan and his son Charlie. They meet at a park, he helps her find Emma, they have dinner together and he invites her to stay at his house & she accepts! What?! They end up staying with them for awhile and she even leaves Emma alone with him. That was bizarre, unsafe and I just didn't even see the point of having any of that in the book.

The second thing that I had a hard time accepting was the ending. I know many readers who loved it. While I found it to be a happy ending for Emma, it was just so unbelievable. Putting aside the fact that there had been a manhunt for Sarah & Emma, I couldn't believe that Amy who up till this point had been described as angry, resentful and honestly in mind jealous of her own daughter would simply allow for everything to end the way it did. She didn't strike me as the type who would sacrifice herself, as the prime suspect, for her daughter's happiness.

Overall, I did enjoyed a good bulk of the book. The part with Ryan was unnecessary and could have easily been cut out and it would not have affected the book at all. I honestly think it would have been better without it. The ending though - I would have liked to see it play out differently. I think Frey tried to tie things up, hastily, into a happy ending and the result fell a little flat for me.

Thank you to Rea Frey, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

😭⭐️😭⭐️😭⭐️😭⭐️ 4 it left me sobbing like a baby with a heart full of hope stars for Colleen Hoover's All Your Perfects!

“The problem is, love and happiness are not concordant. One can exist without the other.”

Oh, the emotions this book made me feel! I laughed, I cried, I wanted to hug it and I wanted to fling it across the room. Hoover certainly knows how to elicit feeling from her readers. It's because her characters are so real, raw and flawed. The characters and the situations they face resonate deeply with you.

In All Your Perfects Hoover tackles infertility and it's effects on life, love and marriage. It's a heavy topic and the book was without doubt an emotional and difficult read at times but it was also so much more. It was the kind of book that made me stop and think. It made me think about all those women who are faced with infertility. It made me think about the highs and lows of marriage. It made me think of all those moments where we have so much to say and choose to say nothing at all.

“Avoidance sounds like such a harmless word, but that one word can cause some sever damage to a relationship.”

Told in alternating timelines, we see how Quinn and Graham meet, fall in love and ultimately find their marriage falling apart. What happens when love is no longer enough? I love how Hoover took us past the "happily ever after" here. We are in a category 5 storm and things get messy. Things are not perfect, there is real turmoil here.

“No matter how much you love someone - the capacity of that love is meaningless if it outweighs your capacity to forgive.”

I loved Quinn and Graham's story. It was far from perfect. It was about making mistakes and losing your way but it was also about commitment and choosing to fight for love. I'm grateful I took the time to read this one. Sometimes it's important to have a reminder to focus on the positive, instead of shining a light on the negative.

“If you only shine light on your flaws, all your perfects will dim.”

🤔 What really happened to Summer 😵 ? Summer Marks was brutally murdered in the woods. Everyone thinks her best friends did it... they didn't.

Broken Things was definitely an engaging read, unfortunately it was also quite predictable. The story begins on the 5th anniversary of Summer's brutal murder. We know that her best friends, Mia and Brynn, didn't do it. Yet, each girl holds pieces of the puzzle, secrets they have never shared with anyone.

Mia and Brynn haven't spoken since they were accused of Summer's murder. While cleaning out her home Mia uncovers the book they were obsessed with - The Way into Lovelorn. In the early days of their friendship the girls spent their days recreating the book in their very own Lovelorn, a decorated shack in the woods. The girls' frenzy for the story lead to a shared obsession for writing a sequel. Mia knows the truth of Summer's murder is somehow tied to Lovelorn. Summer was the most obsessed of them all. She had introduced them to the world of Lovelorn and was its gatekeeper. After her death, Lovelorn had simply disappeared. One day the shack was there with its flowered wallpaper and decorations. The next, it was back to being just a dusty abandoned shack. It was as if their Lovelorn had never really existed. The police wrote off Mia's story as fantasy but she knew there was more to it. Lovelorn had existed and the key to solving Summer's murder lay with it.

I enjoyed the idea of the story and the main characters were well developed. Brynn and Mia were both struggling as a result of their friend's murder. I found the direction their lives had taken since the murder interesting and enjoyed watching them reconnect. The cast of side characters - Owen and Abby were quirky and awesome. So why then did I rate the book just 3 stars? The predictability factor did it for me. I figured out who really killed Summer very early on and while I was hoping to be proven wrong, I wasn't. I was also very underwhelmed by the entire reveal. Once I suspected who it was, I knew the reason - it was the only plausible one in my mind. I was really hoping for something more. All in all this was a good read. It just wasn't amazing.