"Sometimes you just can't see the things that are the closest to you."

All We Ever Wanted was a very thought-provoking read that addresses timely and pertinent subject matter for today's society and technological age. At first glance, Nina Browning seems to have it all. She is rich, focusing on doing charity work and her son has been accepted to Princeton. She has the kind of "ideal" life that others envy. Yet, she finds herself embroiled in a scandal that she never thought would happen to her. Her son, Finch, snaps a revealing photo of Lyla, his drunken underage classmate who is a scholarship student at the prestigious Windsor Academy. He captions the photo with a racist comment and shares it amongst his friends. The photo spreads throughout their upper class, privileged student body causing controversy amongst the students and parents.

The book's chapters are told in alternating voices/point of views. This made for an engrossing story as different tidbits were revealed by each character but also made you doubt everything - as we were left pondering whose version was actually true. I love how Giffin focused on the emotions of each character from their perspective as they dealt with the aftermath of the photo. We saw Lyla's struggle to be accepted in this upperclass world. We saw Nina question how money and privilege affected her choices and parenting style. Through her husband, we saw how ruthless and cold money can make a person. What happens when you are forced to see your partner and ultimately your child in a different light and you don't like what you see?

Life is full of choices. We face countless of them on a daily basis. Some are simply more far reaching and profound than others. As parents, we try to instill our children with the morals and ethics they need to make the right decisions. Ultimately, the choices and decisions they make are up to them and they have to deal with the consequences of their actions. As a parent I found this book thought provoking, especially the social media aspect which is so relevant today. I couldn't help but think about what I would do and feel if I were Nina or Lyla's dad, Tom. This one was engaging from beginning to end and made you think about the dynamics of marriage, money & power, morals & ethics and parenthood.

Oh, what a tangled web! 🕸 3.25 convoluted, family secrets filled stars ⭐️ for The Au Pair

Within hours of her birth Seraphine Mayes' mother Ruth had thrown herself from the cliffs near their family home. 25 years later, as Seraphine mourns the death of her father she comes across a hidden, old family photo. Seraphine never had a photo with her mother but in this photo dated on the day she was born her mother sits, smiling, cradling an infant, surrounded by her older son and husband. This photo would be a welcome discovery if not for the fact that there should be two babies in the photo. Seraphine has a twin brother, Danny. So which of them is in the photo and why is one of them missing?

Seraphine's mind becomes a swell of emotions, memories and stories. Growing up there had been many rumors shared about the Summerbourne twins. That they were not really from Summerbourne, they were sprites or worse - children Ruth had stolen at the height of her madness before killing herself. Seraphine can not shake the uneasiness this photo ignites in her. She becomes obsessed with finding out what happened on the day she and Danny were born. With both her parents dead and her grandmother Vera unwilling to discuss anything about the past Seraphine is determined to track down the only other person who knows what truly happened that day - her older brother Edwin's Au Pair, Laura.

The mystery unfolds, via alternating chapters of the past detailing Laura's eleven months spent as an Au Pair with the Mayes family and the present chronicling Seraphine's journey towards discovery of the truth. It is a slow unraveling of long hidden family secrets brought to light in much too convenient ways at times. I had definite theories early on about who was responsible for certain acts in Seraphine's present as well as what went on in the past. I was correct in both cases though I did have the twin aspect figured out incorrectly.

The story gets very confusing and convoluted at the end- a bit too much for my liking. I had a hard time accepting some of the reveal but overall the story was entertaining and definitely kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy stories about family secrets, tragedy, mental instability and deception everywhere then this one is definitely for you.

Thank you Emma Rous, Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss for an arc of this book.

What a suspenseful, psychological thriller!

Trespassing by Brandi Reeds was definitely not what I expected going into it! I honestly couldn't turn the pages fast enough as my mind raced with what-ifs only to be proven wrong, time & time again.

"I wish they understood that no one in her right mind would choose to go through what I’m going through."

In Trespassing we meet Veronica, a mom to 3 year old Bella who is struggling to get pregnant again via IVF. When we first meet Veronica & Bella they are at an appt with their family therapist. Bella has developed an "imaginary" friend, Nini, who resides in a strand of her hair and tells her things. Veronica, whose mom suffered from schizophrenia is very concerned about her daughter's mental well being.

At the onset, things were creepy with Bella and Nini. When Veronica's husband, Micah, goes missing it seems as if Bella knew things before they happened. Of course, the police suspect Veronica and given her family's mental health history we are in for a ride as even she begins to question her self and her own sanity. Should she listen to Bella? Might she actually know something? Or are her words the ramblings of a little girl with an overactive imagination?

"A pause. Static. A whisper: “Veronica.” I can’t identify the voice. “Who’s calling?” I say again. “Listen to your daughter.”

The book really kept me guessing as to what was "really" going on. There was a gradual reveal that I honestly did not have all figured out. I figured out bits & pieces but not everything. Though I felt like the ending didn't really tie up all the loose ends - it fit within the story line and made sense.

Veronica being the narrator was definitely what kept me reading. Her history, her anxiety, the lies, the insecurity & feelings of paranoia - they all worked well to keep me turning the pages.

👩🏻Have you ever made a snap decision you regretted?🚘

Snap by Belinda Bauer is a captivating, emotional and gripping read about tragic loss, grief, snap decisions and their devastating, longterm impact.

The opening scene of this one grabbed hold of my heart and never let go. 11yr. old Jack Bright and his sisters Joy and Merry are sitting in their stifling, broken down car on the side of the road on a hot August afternoon. They are awaiting the return of their pregnant mother. She was last seen over an hour before, walking away on the shoulder of the road towards a payphone to get help. She told the children to stay in the car. She told them she would be right back. Unfortunately, none of that was true. Jack, Joy & Merry would never see their mother again after that fateful day.

Snap is told via various voices and storylines as we find ourselves thrown into Jack, Joy & Merry's life three years after the tragic loss of their mother. Life has been anything but kind or easy for these children in that time. This mama wanted to reach right in the book and rescue the Bright children! Jack, now age 14, was left with the care of his two little sisters after his grief stricken father went out for milk one day and never returned. How can 3 young children survive on their own? Jack resorts to doing whatever is necessary to keep his family together and away from social services. Jack's story was truly an emotional one filled with anger, grief and his overwhelming sense of responsibility for his siblings. He is a child forced to quickly become an adult. You can't help but fall for his character and root for him and his sisters to finally be okay.

Detective Reynolds & Marvel are investigating a string of unsolved burglaries involving a suspect they have named Goldilocks. Goldilocks breaks into homes, cooks himself meals, sleeps in children's beds, takes a bath, grabs a few possessions & healthy food and has evaded capture for over a year. The relationship between these 2 officers was entertaining, as they were very much polar opposites.

I won't give away much more about the story. It's best to let it unfold the way Baur intended. Snap was a slow, character driven mystery/thriller that really grabs hold of you. I was invested in these characters and wanted to see Jack find closure about his mom. This one was a deliberate, addictive and unputdownable read. I highly recommend it for mystery/thriller fans who enjoy a masterfully told story with empathic characters.

Go ahead and Snap this one up to read today! You won't be sorry.

Thank you Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review "Snap" and share my honest opinion.

3.5 Twinkling Stars for The Space Between

"There's a lot more going on out there than what our eyes see."

Renowned astronomer Sarah Mayfield comes home from a NASA presentation to find her husband Ben missing. Initially Sarah is under suspicion as she was seen in a compromising position during the time Ben went missing. The Mayfield's marriage was going through a "rough patch" and upon her husband's death Sarah stands to inherit millions from his well off family's fortune.

Things escalate quickly when a potential business associate of Ben's is found murdered and he is now their prime suspect. The cameras in their home have been wiped, Ben's business partners are alleging that he was actually the one that stole money from them and not the other way around as he initially alleged, a gun shows up in their dresser drawer and suddenly a million dollars have been mysteriously wired into a relatively unused account. What is going on? Sarah has no idea and she has so many unanswered questions. None of the potential answers look good for Ben's innocence. Sarah's world is turned upside down - is her husband in danger or is he the dangerous one? How well does she really know the man she has been married to for the last 15 years.

Sometimes we really can't know the people we love."

While I was honestly engaged in this web of deceit, turning page after page. I was also troubled by a big aspect of it that I simply couldn't move past as the reader. I know this premise has been done before - unsuspecting women who live with a monster and are unknowingly deceived. I've read books where that was the premise & absolutely loved it (like Stillhouse Lake - I bought everything about it). Yet, I honestly never believed Ben was a monster in this book. Sarah's flashbacks were of a genuinely good guy and one that honestly loved her. The moments she thought about were touching and heartfelt. There was even mention from the reporter that everyone she interviewed loved Ben and spoke well of him. Why then was Sarah so quick to believe he could be possible of something so heinous as murder? Since I could never justifiably make that leap the whole premise of the book weighed on me.

I understand that Sarah was insecure in their relationship because Ben was supposed to be handsome and came from family money. Apparently, we were supposed to think he was therefore "out of her league". It was brought up quite a few times within the story to remind us (too many times if you ask me). I just found her insecurities to be whiny and unwarranted. Ben never gave her any actual reason to feel insecure. Her sister was quick to "villainize" him because he had money and was handsome. Therefore, he couldn't be suitable for Sarah. Why the heck not? I just couldn't make that leap. That aspect of the story bothered me quite a bit and it remained, persistently nagging the back of my mind as I read.

Honestly, Ben was actually my favorite character & he wasn't even in the book that much. I don't think this was the author's intention at all. Alas, we can't control our feelings on these types of things can we? As for the actual mystery - I had it figured out early on. I was actually unimpressed with how long it took Sarah to figure it out! She spent 75% of the book too "blinded" by supposed facts being thrown at her to actually figure out what was going on with Ben. She was supposed to be an intelligent scientist after all. I just felt like their relationship deserved a little more trust from her, despite the farfetched circumstances.

"I wonder if I've been accepting the facts of Ben's disappearance but ignoring what might be beyond them. I've failed to search for answers my eyes cannot see. The facts, like the stars we can see, command our attention with their bright lights. They also blind us to what else might be there."

Overall, this was an entertaining read. I really enjoyed the astronomy aspects that were woven in which surprised me. I learned a few new terms - win! The story started out strong but the middle definitely dragged for me. Unfortunately, I also found the plot to be a bit too predictable. Maybe I just couldn't throw myself wholeheartedly into it with the nagging thoughts in the back of my mind?

Thank you to Dete Meserve, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Space Between

"You can still feel the echoes of bad things. They imprint on the fabric of our reality, like a footprint in concrete. Whatever made the impression is long gone, but you can never erase the mark it left."

Joe Thorne finds himself pulled back to his childhood hometown. A place filled with tragedy, regret and mystery. He walked away from Arnhill years ago, vowing never to look back. With his life in shambles, Joe finds himself back at the place where it all started to go wrong. Summoned by an anonymous email that he couldn't ignore Joe goes home to finally get answers to the mystery that has plagued his life - what really happened to Annie?

"I know what happened to your sister. It's happening again.

Tudor has a brilliant mind for bringing small town life and its characters to life. I devoured the creepy backstory of this little town. A tiny dot on a map that outsiders may never have heard from. Yet, those who dwell there are shrouded in the town's eerie, unexplained mystical mystery.

Every town, village and city has a history. There's the official history. The bone-dry version collated in textbooks and census reports, related verbatim in the classroom. Then there's the history that is passed down through generations... The secret history."

It's been said this book has an early Stephen King vibe and it is definitely true. From the moment you open the book you are pulled in by a horrific opening scene and Tudor never loosens her grip on you. The entire story has that creepy, check under your bed, look behind your shower curtain and peer under the toilet lid vibe. I LOVED it! I could not stop turning the pages. I was drawn in by Joe's flawed but definitely likable character. This was a man marked by his past, living with demons and struggling daily. I enjoyed his witty, inner dialogue. I felt the tension and suspense build as he worked to uncover the truth. And the truth he was searching for - the ending - left me agape for a moment.

I must read The Chalk Man which has been on my TBR pile for too long. I have no doubt that I have been firmly made a fan of Tudor's writing. Bring on the creepy and horrific - I excitedly welcome it. I'll simply be sure to read all her books with the lights on.

Thank you to C.J Tudor, Crown Publishing and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn't sure how I wanted to rate this book. For such a strong, emotional topic - the book was very shallow in my opinion. It lacked depth and I had a hard time connecting to the characters.

With my own community suffering through a devastating school shooting it just seemed like there was so much more that could have been done in this book. Simply, put it was disappointing. In a time when this is unfortunately a very real issue - this book seemed to trivialize. There was just no depth to it for me.

4 Stars for this Alice in Wonderland retelling focused on the Queen of Hearts

Everyone hates the Queen of Hearts, right! She's so evil! I mean really - "Off with their heads!" Who has such a morbid catch phrase? Well, Heartless takes the Queen of Hearts & completely changes everything you think you know about her. I enjoyed seeing the Queen of Hearts in such a different light.

Here's the deal with this story - it's not really about The Queen of Hearts. It's about Catherine - the Queen of Hearts BEFORE she becomes the Queen of Hearts we know. It builds slowly. It's about the circumstances that lead to her transformation. I think it was well done. You get to know Catherine and see her, putting aside your preconceived notions of the Queen. That's important to the story.

I was surprised that I actually liked Catherine. She was GOOD! What?! I felt compassion for her. She was so in love, so happy & open. The build-up and transformation of Catherine to the Queen of Hearts was very well done. You know it's coming - we all know the end result. BUT, getting there was quite satisfying. The BIG turning point moment for Catherine - it was absolutely gut wrenching! You can't help but think - Oh, I get it! That's why she's so heartless! We are made to genuinely feel sorry for her!!! It's perfect that the end of Catherine in Heartless is the beginning of the Red Queen we all know & love (to hate)!

3.5 Stars for Blood Lines

I love this series & the character of Kim Stone. Unfortunately, this is my least favorite installment to date. It's not a bad read. It still has all the elements I have to come to love and expect from Marsons. I simply wasn't as into the case in this book as I have been with the other books though I think it was because I had high expectations.

I was psyched when I saw Dr. Alex Thorne was back - having previously enjoyed the back and forth power plays & mind games between her and Kim. That aspect of the book was definitely interesting and kept me reading. Alex is one hell of a sociopath/villain. I enjoyed delving deeper into Kim's life and how it shapes who she is. I also appreciated gaining more insight into her relationship with her team who I have come to regard as favorite characters.

I just wasn't overly impressed by the whodunnit in this book. I expected more based on all the emphasis put on the precise knife wounds, the lack of emotion displayed in the kills and the nonexistent leads which sent the team reeling. With that build-up, the killer simply didn't add up for me. I expected something bigger and definitely more sinister.

Aside from that, this was still a solid book in the series. It offered invaluable insight on Kim & included some great cat and mouse moments with Dr. Thorne. As always, looking forward to what the next book brings our way in what is definitely a top notch series.

"Life is paper thin and fragile. Any sudden change could rip it wide-open."

A short, easy read (I read it in a few hours in 1 sitting) about loneliness, heartbreak & eventual healing. It's slow paced - there isn't any real action in the plot. It's really centered around emotion - Marin's feelings which become clearer to us as we read, allowing us to learn her truths.

I enjoyed the story for what it was but I personally wasn't blown away by it. There were parts that dragged a bit for me and with it being such a quick/short read I didn't expect that. The end though - I really enjoyed it. There was so much love, raw emotion & hope within those last few pages. I just didn't enjoy the entire book as much as I did those last few pages making this one a 3.5 star read for me. It wasn't bad. It wasn't great. It was a book I enjoyed, just not one I think I will remember with much detail over time.