If you’re a fan of this series you know the previous book, Six Graves was an emotional rollercoaster leaving Kim in a dark place. I won’t say more just in case you haven’t read it, but IYKYK. So I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as Kim and her team are concerned but things were definitely off and it was unsettling. Just another layer added to the multitudes the author already has laid out for us readers and somehow she’s always able to tug at my emotions while reading a thriller, which is not an easy task. She does it with a deft hand too, I never feel toyed with and I trust her process and know that everything is well thought out and handled meticulously. All of that to say, it’s a rocky beginning for the team when this book begins but soon enough you’re thrust straight into the action per usual. 

The author usually explores two different cases in each book and this was no exception. This is such a clever tactic because there is never a dull moment and it always adds even more tension and suspense to the story. This time Kim and company are investigating murders staged as suicides and it takes them inside the world of conversion camps. I knew very little about these horrific camps or clinics beforehand but as always Marsons took great care and an empathetic hand when exploring them. On the lighter side I always enjoy my time with Kim, Bryant, Penn and Stace and I devour any new information revealed about who they are and what makes them tick. The final chapter answered the long awaited question of Bryant’s name and I loved that it ended on a lighter note. Overall another fabulous read in an excellent series, if you’re a thriller fan and you’re not reading this series are you even a thriller fan?!

If you like mysteries with several different layers to them this was a super solid read. The author explores some heavy topics, mostly pertaining to motherhood and more specifically the postpartum experience and I thought she did such a good job at capturing those feelings that come right after having a baby. Rowan having to push through her traumatic birth experience to remember what exactly happened was just the tip of the iceberg in this tangled story. You also have her missing babysitter, June and in alternating chapters both women get a voice. This was a slow burn with some clever twists along the way that propelled things forward and in the end I liked how everything came together. My first from the author and now I’m excited to read her previous books, have you read any of hers before? 

I’ve been a huge fan of The Challenge since the beginning so I knew this book would be a lot of fun for me. If you’ve never watched the show this isn’t the book for you, it was more about revisiting old seasons and cast members than any true self help strategies but I didn’t care because I didn’t read it for that anyway. I was here for the awesome cast interviews and behind the scenes tidbits and it delivered on that front for sure. The format was great, each chapter focused on a winner and had interviews with them where they discussed iconic moments from their seasons as well as what techniques and strategies they used to get to the end. Overall a really entertaining and nostalgic read for die hard The Challenge fans! 

If you’re also a fan of the show what is your favorite iconic moment? I’ll never get over the Banana Backpack 😂

I’m sure you’ve seen this book everywhere, it’s getting a lot of well deserved attention so I’ll keep this short. If you’re looking for a really original and darkly humorous read try this! It’s an ideal pick for this time of year and I alternated between the physical copy and the audio with the audio version sucking me in more. 

KMod books are always tricky to review because I don’t want to give too much away, but I also want to make sure y’all know how much I enjoy her books. You never quite know what to expect when you start one of her books, her last release was super emotional but still tense and this one felt more like her usual style. It definitely gave me the same vibes as Just Married so if you’ve read and liked that one this one was even creepier for me. 

I love reading books with an author as a character and this one has five so that was fun! You have the present day timeline with Blakely at the writers retreat and then “before” chapters mixed in from an unrelated character. I had no idea how she would fit in or how anything would come together but in true KMod fashion when things merged I was totally surprised. This one had some super dark moments and I loved how you knew that Blakely had something mysterious and sinister in her past, but you don’t know exactly what it is until late in the game. Kept me on my toes for sure. If you liked locked room style stories with lots of suspense, a creepy atmosphere and a strong ending try this. 

This is the fifth book in a series and man, I’ve really enjoyed every single book which is honestly not all that common as a series goes on. I’ve been loving celebrity romances this year too so I was excited to get that side of Colton’s story as well as his history. This also has a sunshine and grump trope and when the guy is the happy go lucky one like Colton was I just swoon. This is definitely Christmassy but no too much of that’s not your thing, I was still satisfied with that aspect and my love of all things festive was pleased. The best part of this series is checking in with the boys and it was hilarious as usual when they all get together. Loved the latest installment in this series and adored the charm and humor as always. 

This was such an addictive and fun popcorn thriller! I know it’s early for me to be reviewing it but it was entertaining enough that I figured getting it on your radar early would be a good thing. One of the things I’ve come to enjoy the most about this authors books is the way she creates unsettling settings for her books and this was no exception. It flips back and forth between present day when Emily and Chess are vacationing in Italy and then back to the 1970s when Mari spends a summer at the same villa as Emily. I was very drawn to the past timeline because you already know the summer comes to a violent and deadly end but the lead up to the tragedy was so fascinating. The author did a really great job with these two timelines showcasing such similar and parallel experiences but it was still easy to keep things separate in my head. I think I expected a slightly more explosive ending after such a strong lead up but I appreciate what the author was doing and why she made the choices she did. Overall a solid read with a unique edge and very cool throwback vibes. 

I adored the authors last book, The Charm Offensive and had super high expectations for this one. I’m so happy to report that this one more than lived up to my expectations and I enjoyed it just as much. 

You have fake dating and instead of a love triangle you get a love trapezoid and that worked so much better for me than a boring triangle. The relationships between the characters are complicated to say the least so the entertainment value alone makes it worthwhile but it’s so much more than a sappy rom com with funny moments. It also has those too but the author does such an incredible job at representing a wide variety of people and handling their issues and problems in a delicate and sensitive way. The side characters don’t even feel like a secondary part of the story, every one adds value to the story and they were all so well drawn. Everything about this one felt thoughtful and combine that with a charming sapphic romance, a festive setting for a good portion of the book and Taylor Swift references and I was beyond happy. Loved this one!