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Michelle Spivey, a scientist working for the CDC, is kidnapped while out shopping with her daughter. Weeks later bombs go off and Will Trent & his girlfriend Dr. Sara Linton attempt to help when they’re waylaid by a car accident. In the wrong place at the right time, Will is badly beaten & Sara is taken by the same people who have Michelle. Suddenly Will and Sara find themselves embroiled in a deadly conspiracy that threatens to destroy thousands of innocent lives. Will is forced to go undercover to save Sara, putting his own life on the line for the woman and the country he loves.
This is a relevant, frightening and brutally honest read which includes cults, pedophilia, rape, child murders, prejudice and biological warfare. The story centers around Alt-Right groups and the kind of people that run these groups including militias of ex-army men. I found the story disturbing at times because of how plausible it all is.
This is only the second book I have read in this series, yet I never felt lost. Slaughter gives enough back story to fill in any blanks and the story was so engrossing and fast paced that I was glued from the first to the last page. If you've ever wanted to experience Slaughter - this would be a heck of a book to start with!
This is a relevant, frightening and brutally honest read which includes cults, pedophilia, rape, child murders, prejudice and biological warfare. The story centers around Alt-Right groups and the kind of people that run these groups including militias of ex-army men. I found the story disturbing at times because of how plausible it all is.
This is only the second book I have read in this series, yet I never felt lost. Slaughter gives enough back story to fill in any blanks and the story was so engrossing and fast paced that I was glued from the first to the last page. If you've ever wanted to experience Slaughter - this would be a heck of a book to start with!
“It’s terrifying when you consider that every thought we have, every choice we could possibly make, branches into a new world."
For me, I couldn't think of a better quote for this book. It captures it's essence. I have to say that I am a Blake Crouch fan having enjoyed his Wayward Pines series but this book takes things to a whole new level of sci-fi. It got crazier and crazier as it went and was a pretty insane read - in a good way of course.
Are you happy with your life?
Don't we all have moments where we wonder about the road not taken? I think that's simply part of human nature to wonder - what if.... Crouch did a hell of a job exploiting (& exploring) that in this book and expanding the reader's mind and heart along the journey. Imagine if you could go back to one specific moment in time and choose a different path. Would you?
Jason Dessen's love for his family was the glue that held him and them together - I LOVED that! Despite all the science and sci-fi the heart of this book for me was simply love. Jason's love for his wife and the life and family they built was his compass, anchor and drive. It's what kept me tethered to the book and unable to put it down. I had to see it through and find out what happened to the Dessens.
“We're more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identity.”
That quote seems like the perfect way to end my review. My overall rating for Dark Matter - 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.
For me, I couldn't think of a better quote for this book. It captures it's essence. I have to say that I am a Blake Crouch fan having enjoyed his Wayward Pines series but this book takes things to a whole new level of sci-fi. It got crazier and crazier as it went and was a pretty insane read - in a good way of course.
Are you happy with your life?
Don't we all have moments where we wonder about the road not taken? I think that's simply part of human nature to wonder - what if.... Crouch did a hell of a job exploiting (& exploring) that in this book and expanding the reader's mind and heart along the journey. Imagine if you could go back to one specific moment in time and choose a different path. Would you?
Jason Dessen's love for his family was the glue that held him and them together - I LOVED that! Despite all the science and sci-fi the heart of this book for me was simply love. Jason's love for his wife and the life and family they built was his compass, anchor and drive. It's what kept me tethered to the book and unable to put it down. I had to see it through and find out what happened to the Dessens.
“We're more than the sum total of our choices, that all the paths we might have taken factor somehow into the math of our identity.”
That quote seems like the perfect way to end my review. My overall rating for Dark Matter - 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.
4 Stars for this Charming Contemporary Retelling of a Beloved Classic!
Virginia Kantra has reimagined Little Women and brought it to life with a modern day spin that I was so excited about as a fan of the original book. She found a way to remain true to the spirit of the classic revolving around family while making the characters modern and a bit more relatable to newer audiences. I mean Jo is a blogger - I loved that!!!
The traditional gender roles were still very much front & center and while I would have liked to see a bit less of that it did coincide with the original book and the thinking in the time in which it was written.
As with the original what I loved most was the bond between the sisters. When faced with a family crisis, who can you turn to if not your sisters even if it tests the strength of your relationship. While this book centered mostly around Meg & Jo, all the sisters played a part and I can't wait to read book 2 surrounding Amy and Beth! Overall, I found this to be a charming and inspired take on a cherished classic.
Virginia Kantra has reimagined Little Women and brought it to life with a modern day spin that I was so excited about as a fan of the original book. She found a way to remain true to the spirit of the classic revolving around family while making the characters modern and a bit more relatable to newer audiences. I mean Jo is a blogger - I loved that!!!
The traditional gender roles were still very much front & center and while I would have liked to see a bit less of that it did coincide with the original book and the thinking in the time in which it was written.
As with the original what I loved most was the bond between the sisters. When faced with a family crisis, who can you turn to if not your sisters even if it tests the strength of your relationship. While this book centered mostly around Meg & Jo, all the sisters played a part and I can't wait to read book 2 surrounding Amy and Beth! Overall, I found this to be a charming and inspired take on a cherished classic.
3.5 Slow Burn British Romance Stars
Twenty-nine-year-old Jess follows her dream and moves to London. She rents a room in a Notting Hill house-share with a college friend and three virtual strangers. On her first night, Jess meets Alex, the man sharing her floor and feels an instant connection. Unfortunately, when Jess returns from a two-week holiday, she finds Alex has started dating Emma, their housemate.
Jess and Alex become friends, walking all over London together. Their excursions were one of my favorite parts of the book. It brought London to life for me - a place I have always dreamed of visiting. Another plus was the cast of side characters - I loved Jess' relationship with her grandma, Rob the Chef and Becky. The scenes where the housemates were all together, eating and enjoying each other's company were some of my favorites.
Yet, while the story had promise it also fell a bit flat for me. Alex's relationship with Emma and his feelings toward Emma were maddening. He was painted as a "good guy" but honestly - his actions were not those of what I would deem a good guy. Plus, this was an extremely slow burn romance with very little steam factor so it felt a bit drawn out at times. It felt like I was waiting forever for their "spark" to finally ignite into something more than friendship.
Thank you to Rosie Curtis, Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Twenty-nine-year-old Jess follows her dream and moves to London. She rents a room in a Notting Hill house-share with a college friend and three virtual strangers. On her first night, Jess meets Alex, the man sharing her floor and feels an instant connection. Unfortunately, when Jess returns from a two-week holiday, she finds Alex has started dating Emma, their housemate.
Jess and Alex become friends, walking all over London together. Their excursions were one of my favorite parts of the book. It brought London to life for me - a place I have always dreamed of visiting. Another plus was the cast of side characters - I loved Jess' relationship with her grandma, Rob the Chef and Becky. The scenes where the housemates were all together, eating and enjoying each other's company were some of my favorites.
Yet, while the story had promise it also fell a bit flat for me. Alex's relationship with Emma and his feelings toward Emma were maddening. He was painted as a "good guy" but honestly - his actions were not those of what I would deem a good guy. Plus, this was an extremely slow burn romance with very little steam factor so it felt a bit drawn out at times. It felt like I was waiting forever for their "spark" to finally ignite into something more than friendship.
Thank you to Rosie Curtis, Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes a dream come true can turn out to be your worst nightmare!
YA Fantasy at its best - dark, mysterious and hauntingly beautiful!
This retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses is an absolute winner! Erin A. Craig brought this gothic and mystical world to life - I mean it literally leaps off the page! I had such a clear vision of Highmoor, the sea, the balls and the sisters in my mind. It was all so atmospheric and enchanting.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the writing. It was dark for YA - full of foreboding, mystery, and a rather creepy (almost gruesome) ghostly vibe which I loved. Annaleigh was a character that the intended audience can easily identify with - strong, family oriented and full of heart.
Did I have it figured out? Ultimately, Yes. Did that detract from my enjoyment? Absolutely Not! There were some great twists and turns here that I didn't see coming. I know I am not the intended age/audience for these books and yet, I unabashedly love them. This book was easy to get lost in. I read it mostly in 1 sitting and it proved to be an enchanting page-turner. I couldn't wait to get to the end to see if my plot predictions were correct.
All in all, this was a strong debut novel. Erin Craig creates a dark, enchanting world that you can easily get lost in. I can't wait to see what else we get from this author in the future!
This retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses is an absolute winner! Erin A. Craig brought this gothic and mystical world to life - I mean it literally leaps off the page! I had such a clear vision of Highmoor, the sea, the balls and the sisters in my mind. It was all so atmospheric and enchanting.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the writing. It was dark for YA - full of foreboding, mystery, and a rather creepy (almost gruesome) ghostly vibe which I loved. Annaleigh was a character that the intended audience can easily identify with - strong, family oriented and full of heart.
Did I have it figured out? Ultimately, Yes. Did that detract from my enjoyment? Absolutely Not! There were some great twists and turns here that I didn't see coming. I know I am not the intended age/audience for these books and yet, I unabashedly love them. This book was easy to get lost in. I read it mostly in 1 sitting and it proved to be an enchanting page-turner. I couldn't wait to get to the end to see if my plot predictions were correct.
All in all, this was a strong debut novel. Erin Craig creates a dark, enchanting world that you can easily get lost in. I can't wait to see what else we get from this author in the future!
4 Dark, Creepy & Completely Gripping Stars for C.J. Tudor's The Other People!
This was my second book by C.J. Tudor and I can safely say that I am a fan! I absolutely love her infusion of the supernatural/paranormal into her thrillers. It adds such a wonderful layer of suspense.
In The Other People we meet Gabe, a man dangerously at the end of his rope. Ever since his wife and daughter were murdered he has spent his life driving the motorways. Convinced he saw his daughter in a car on the day of her murder, he refuses to accept his daughter is dead and continues to search for her.
Fran is on the run with her daughter but never feels safe. Alice falls into troubling sleep trances. Never knowing when she will be pulled under she tries to avoid certain triggers - like mirrors. In mirrors, she sees a girl looking back at her that is not herself. When she wakes up she has little to no memory of what happened but she's always left with a pebble in her hand. How do they appear? How is it possible to grab something tangible from a dream?
Katie is a single mother working at one of the service stations Gabe frequents. She saves his life after he's attacked one evening and finds herself immersed in his life when he mentions "The Other People". They dole out justice on their own terms. Gabe is determined to find out what they have to do with his wife’s death and his daughter's kidnapping.
Just when you think you have this story figured out - another secret is revealed. Everyone has something to hide and something greater to lose. You will find yourself second guessing everything. This one kept me turning the pages well into the night.
Thank you to C.J. Tudor, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book to review.
This was my second book by C.J. Tudor and I can safely say that I am a fan! I absolutely love her infusion of the supernatural/paranormal into her thrillers. It adds such a wonderful layer of suspense.
In The Other People we meet Gabe, a man dangerously at the end of his rope. Ever since his wife and daughter were murdered he has spent his life driving the motorways. Convinced he saw his daughter in a car on the day of her murder, he refuses to accept his daughter is dead and continues to search for her.
Fran is on the run with her daughter but never feels safe. Alice falls into troubling sleep trances. Never knowing when she will be pulled under she tries to avoid certain triggers - like mirrors. In mirrors, she sees a girl looking back at her that is not herself. When she wakes up she has little to no memory of what happened but she's always left with a pebble in her hand. How do they appear? How is it possible to grab something tangible from a dream?
Katie is a single mother working at one of the service stations Gabe frequents. She saves his life after he's attacked one evening and finds herself immersed in his life when he mentions "The Other People". They dole out justice on their own terms. Gabe is determined to find out what they have to do with his wife’s death and his daughter's kidnapping.
Just when you think you have this story figured out - another secret is revealed. Everyone has something to hide and something greater to lose. You will find yourself second guessing everything. This one kept me turning the pages well into the night.
Thank you to C.J. Tudor, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book to review.
