March 24, 2020

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, and I was excited to see this one (and even more excited that there will be at least a third). But now I am getting ahead of myself.

Wait, before I get to the review, one more thing. Go On, Girl is FREE from 3/23-3/27, and you can pre-order Mom Boss (the third book) for $1.99. GO NOW

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08477RPVG
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940162943402
Apple – https://books.apple.com/us/book/mom-genes/id1496573777
Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mom-genes
Books2Read – Link to all the books – https://books2read.com/u/bMpaAk
Google Play – https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=csnMDwAAQBAJ

Okay, now to the review. This time, we get to follow Claire as she navigates a new family dynamic (her husband has moved out). Fortunately, the ladies of the Forest River PTA are there to help. Or hurt, as is the case with a couple of them.

I liked how Claire managed to keep her wits about her, even in the face of malicious gossip. I got an especially good laugh from the scene during “Snack with Snowflakes.” And that event in itself gave me a chuckle as it is a wry commentary on today’s pervasive over-sensitivity.

I also appreciated Claire’s journey to realizing who her friends were and how trustworthy they could be. That was some nice character growth from the previous book. Her realizations about relationships (dating) were also realistic.

I do have to say that given the current world situation, I was cringing through the scene where Claire was sick but interviewing for a job. It was amusing, but it is funny how quickly perspectives can change.

If people are not familiar with PTA moms (or other parent groups), the actions of Donna and Mia may verge on too much of a caricature. But I can tell you that they are accurate portrayals. There is always at least one person (and a few henchmen) who try to stir people up. Putting faces I know on the characters made some of the scenes much more enjoyable 😊

If you are looking for a book with wicked gossip, adults that act more immature than their kids, and a lot of heart, look no further. Grab this one today, but consider reading Go On, Girl (remember, it’s FREE for a limited time) first to get the whole backstory.

I found the last book in this series (Her Last Whisper) entertaining, so I was looking forward to this one. I wasn’t disappointed, and the author keeps getting better as the series continues.

Amazon: https://bit.ly/39a7hVs
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2U7txv9
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2U4MJcP
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2wfPMpC

The first scene is gruesome but sets the tone for what is yet to come. There are also a couple of gut punches along the way.

I like the way Katie and her co-workers, especially her partner in the cold cases (McGaven), relate to each other. There is a natural camaraderie, and their interactions are natural. The relationship between the undersheriff and Katie is also realistic; everybody has had a supervisor like him at one point or another.

I did think that Chad got the short end of the stick in this book, as their relationship didn’t seem to go anywhere. I understand that under the circumstances (and due to events), that isn’t where Katie’s focus was, but it still felt like he was extraneous. At the same time, it seemed as if the relationship between Katie and Nick grew. I’m not sure if that is where the author is going, but it gave me pause.

I also wish that there was more background on the motivations of the killer. I would have liked to had a few more scenes to be able to grasp why they did what they did. Oh, and I realize that this was an ARC (and it doesn’t affect my review at all), but there were an awful lot of grammatical errors that I hope an editor caught.

But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. I like Katie as a protagonist, and that the author has her maturing and addressing her PTSD. That shows growth, and I look forward to reading more as Katie progresses.

Author Bio

Jennifer Chase is a multi award-winning and best-selling crime fiction author, as well as a consulting criminologist. Jennifer holds a bachelor degree in police forensics and a master’s degree in criminology & criminal justice. These academic pursuits developed out of her curiosity about the criminal mind as well as from her own experience with a violent psychopath, providing Jennifer with deep personal investment in every story she tells.

In addition, she holds certifications in serial crime and criminal profiling. She is an affiliate member of the International Association of Forensic Criminologists, and member of the International Thriller Writers.