Book Reviews Archives

September 19, 2018September 19, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: Perfect Girls (Detective Rachel Prince Book 3)

As you’ve probably been able to tell, I don’t stick to one genre of books. I read whatever strikes me (or whatever is up next on my NetGalley list). As a result, I sometimes end up with a book that is part of a series. I usually don’t like to read these for two reasons: 1) it can feel like reading the end of something to know what happens before reading the rest or 2) there’s so much detail from the previous events, it’s not worth going back and reading the others. I get happy when I find a series that doesn’t do either. This is one of those. However, don’t be me: find the first one and start from the beginning. Below is my Goodreads review.

Perfect Girls (Detective Rachel Prince #3) — Published
9/18/2018

Perfect Girls by Alison James

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a cracking good crime thriller! The third in the Detective Rachel Prince series, it’s the first one I’ve read, and I will definitely be going back to read the first two. Det. Prince is a flawed heroine; she apparently has a tendency to think romantically about people she works with (according to references to previous events), tends to be obsessive, and seems off-balance in some of her familial relationships. All of this makes her more human, and not the usual “superhero cop” who solves a case easily. The story unfolds in “real time,” with the actions of Rachel and co-workers interspersed with brief perspectives from the perpetrator of the crimes. This lends authenticity to the story, and the glimpses of the criminal mind slowly draw the reader deeper into the investigation. The author has researched well; the description of travel and locations are accurate and vivid. The time constraint that Rachel is working under compels the reader to keep up with Rachel’s sense of urgency. The crimes at the heart of the story are timely, especially in the age of social media saturation. Not really a spoiler, but you probably won’t look at a certain growing trend in travel the same way ever again. A great read, and I look forward to adding this series to my “follow” lists. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

September 18, 2018September 18, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: Meet Me in San Francisco

Meet Me in San Francisco by Shana Gray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second in the “Girls Weekend Away” series, this book is as breezy as the first one. Half girlfriend road-trip, half wonderful guy sweeps woman off of her feet, there is plenty for everyone to like. Celia is the focus of this one, and moms of all types will definitely be able to relate to her desire to re-discover herself after a divorce. The only thing that disappointed me a little bit about this book is that there was too much focus on Landon impressing Celia. These scenes came at the expense of detailing other events. I understand the author’s focus for Celia, but I would have liked to have had a little more of the girl-talk between the four friends (because the author does it well), and a little less of the inner monologues of Celia and Landon. As in the first book, the conflict is fleeting, although I do hope the author follows Celia’s story through the next two books because the storyline with the ex is interesting. The ending was also a little abrupt; it almost seemed like an afterthought. I will give the author credit for doing her research on San Francisco and the California Coast. I’m a born and raised California girl (SF Bay Area), and reading the descriptions of Northern California brought me to the beautiful parts of the state that I miss the most. Looking forward to seeing what happens with Fredi and Ava! 3.5 stars, but bumped to 4 for the nostalgia that the scenes in Monterey and Napa Valley invoked. Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing LLC, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

September 17, 2018September 18, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: Consumed

38622279 — J.R. Ward
Release Date
10/02/2018

This was a really good book. It could have been set in a police station, because first-responder attitudes are very similar, but then the title wouldn’t have made any sense. And the title is very cleverly chosen in this case. Fire, passion, life…how easy it to be consumed by any or all of these things? Even the heroine’s name (Ashburn) is a nod to the fire theme of the story. This is not your typical romance, but it is one heckuva story. Below is my Goodreads review.

At times haunting and poetic, this book is a masterful crime story wrapped in a tale of loss, sorrow, and renewal. It opens with a tragic fire, and this event drives all facets of the plot. When it comes to the lives of firefighters, the author writes with precision. From the descriptions of the gear and machinery, to the procedures, and even the thoughts and attitudes, everything is accurate. I especially appreciated the voice in which the author wrote. No matter what the character, the “inner thoughts” matched the “outer voices.” There are several moments of dark and/or sarcastic humor, which is how first responders often cope with the issues they face. (One passage about “non-conforming conformists” was especially funny). The characters are real; their motivations and reactions are organic and not contrived for dramatic effect. I actually felt like I was reading a story that could have been told about any real-life firehouse and the members who inhabit it. I was slightly disappointed in the heroine at one point, because she veered into a stereotypical reaction that seemed out of character. But that moment was actually small enough that it didn’t affect her overall character. All in all, this was an excellent story and I would definitely recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

September 10, 2018September 10, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Petals and Stones”

Guys, this is one you don’t want to miss! The catalysts for the story are two things a woman hopes to never have to deal with in her marriage, and the main character, Uma, has to deal with them both in a short amount of time. Her journey as she deals with the emotions brought about by the events, while trying to recover and rediscover herself, is poignant but also thought-provoking. I know that it made me take a step back and answer some of the same questions Uma asked herself. Fortunately for me, my answers were different…but it definitely made me recognize some important things I had overlooked. My Goodreads review is below.

This exploration of what happens when two different life-changing events collide into one big maelstrom of emotion is hauntingly beautiful. Joanne Burn has created a story that is both reflective and thought-provoking. As Uma recovers from the one-two punch of events, she is forced to re-evaluate her life choices. Through Uma’s journey, the author explores issues such as the emphasis on image over truth in a marriage, whether something built on a lie is sustainable, and why it sometimes takes a tragedy to recognize the reality of a situation. The author also uses symbolism effectively, specifically the lighting of fires (for cooking or warmth) to illustrate Uma’s inner fire being relit. I especially liked that she used the four elements (air, fire, water, earth) as a basis for Uma’s healing: the way Uma was swept along by the breeze of her marriage (and the winds that signify change as she comes to her realizations), the previously mentioned fires, the ocean that calls to Uma and invigorates her, and the spices, stones, and flower petals that finally give her the answers she has been looking for. An excellent book that should be at the top of anyone’s TBR list! Thank you to NetGalley, Legend Press, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “All That Was Lost”

If you have a secret, do you have to lie in order to keep it a secret? Or is it possible to be truthful and still keep your secret? Can keeping a secret and lying about it negatively impact your well-being?

This was a fantastic book that explores these questions in an approachable and thought-provoking manner. Patrice is a well-known psychic who hires Leo to ghostwrite her autobiography. Through Patrice’s flashbacks to 1967, the reader gains insight as to her motivations. Leo has his own story that intertwines with Patrice’s, as does Louise. These three main characters’ points of view intertwine nicely without the reader feeling jarred when a perspective changes. There are a couple of minor twists, and a few major ones, but this isn’t a thriller. It’s more of a reflection on how life can throw us curveballs, how we deal with those curveballs, and how our actions can affect others. A really great read from Alison May.

(For more on this book, see my review on Goodreads!)

June 23, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “I Think I Love You” (An Oxford Novel)

This was a very fun and quick read. In fact, I read it in one day because I just couldn’t put it down. The author did a really great job of relaying those feelings that one gets in the early stages of a relationship, especially one that has been built upon years of friendship. The dialogue was crisp and witty, and the characters sounded like real people, not that stilted and contrived language that RomCom novels sometimes have. The friendships the characters shared, both male and female, were also fun. The only negative is of my own fault, because I didn’t realize that this was the last in a series, so there were references with secondary characters that I didn’t fully understand. That being said, even though I know the end results, I now have a new series that I can eagerly dig into. Oh, and (mini-spoiler alert) fans of a certain 90s sitcom will love the Epilogue. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

June 18, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “The Perfect Friend”

This book was very interesting. At the beginning, I found it to be confusing and felt that the author was trying to do too much within the story. However, as I read further I realized that she was actually creating an amazingly deep and complex story that had many twists and turns: some were revealed openly and some took much longer to unravel. There was one point where I realized that I was completely mistaken in my understanding of parts of what I had read so far, which was a neat twist in itself. After that, I found myself reading much more carefully and questioning everything that was happening. In addition, the deeper exploration of how sometimes souls can recognize each other without conscious acknowledgment is skillfully illustrated by the experiences of both Carrie and Alex and their growing friendship. “The Perfect Friend” is one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read. This was my first Barbara Copperthwaite novel and I can’t wait to read more!

June 18, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Girls’ Night Out”

What an amazing story! Based on the authors’ last book, I went in expecting another good thriller. While “Girls Night Out” certainly met that expectation, I was more intrigued by their thought-provoking analysis of long-term friendships. Anyone who has friends they’ve known for awhile will instantly be able to relate to the three main characters in this story. The authors have done a great job in layering the perspectives of Natalie, Lauren, and Ashley from both before and after “the night.” It was especially interesting that each woman had her own secrets that were revealed as the main “mystery” was unraveled. I thought the authors did a phenomenal job of illustrating the difficulties middle-aged women have when they come to a crossroads in life, and how even confiding in long-term friends can be a challenge. A definite must-read!

June 9, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “Lies”

WOW! It’s not often that a book leaves me speechless, but Lies certainly did. By the time the big reveal occurred (as it always does in psych thrillers) my jaw was hanging open and I couldn’t read fast enough! I really cannot say enough good things about this book. I loved that it was told from a male point of view, which is very different from many other psychological thrillers these days. I thought the plot was tightly written and there were no questions left unanswered; everything was “resolved” in the end. I especially liked the way the author wove a commentary about technology into the story, without preaching to the reader. Through Joe, the main character, we see how reliant we have become on the tech around us, and how that reliance can enable both good and bad events. A stand-out among psychological thrillers, and I can’t wait to read more from this author! Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

June 5, 2018September 7, 2018

BOOK REVIEW: “The Other Woman”

It’s so difficult to review a psychological thriller without giving away important plot points. I’m going to give it a try without giving too much away. This was one of the better books that I have read lately, but it had a few flaws. The author does a good job of making the primary villain extremely unlikable, almost too much so. At some points, I wondered why anyone would put up with someone so horrible, and not just walk away. However, I will say that that question does eventually get answered. Emily, the main character, goes through an awful lot, which is par for the course in a psychological thriller. I found her to be a little weak, but there was no particular reason given for her to be that way. In addition, the other antagonist (no name, don’t want to give it away) wasn’t fleshed out enough. I wanted more reasons for and/or examples of why and how that person was the way they were. The end reveal didn’t answer enough of those questions for me. All of that being said, it was still an enjoyable read, with a fairly tight plot. I would definitely recommend it to someone who likes the genre. I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.