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What would you do if your child disappeared? What about if someone showed up years later claiming to be her? That and overall family dynamics are the focus points in She Says She’s My Daughter, a new psych thriller by Lauren North.

The author had me going for most of the book. A lot of the story is from Sarah’s point of view, as she is the one most impacted by the loss of her child and the alleged return. Therefore, much of what we see is from her point of view.

There are also chapters from Abi’s point of view. Some are set in the past (“Then”), and some are in the present. They are all convincing, leaving the reader wondering about the truth of the whole matter.

There is also a mystery person who Abi is afraid of, who we learn has set everything in motion. But it is a shadowy figure – there are several characters who could be responsible.

The plot is evenly paced. I would warn readers to pay attention to the time stamps at the beginning of each chapter. They aren’t entirely vital to understanding the story, but if you have them in your head, you’ll understand the urgency of some of the events and how things occur as they do.

I know that sounds convoluted, but it’s the best I can do without giving anything away.

There are several twists and reveals. I did guess one of them, but I think that’s because I was in tune with Sarah and understood her perspective. However, the rest were a surprise. The author did a great job with red herrings and other false clues.

I really enjoyed She Says She’s My Daughter. The end was breathtaking. I will certainly be looking for the next psych thriller from Lauren North.

I’m a sucker for Jessica Peterson’s books, and I love her latest “Sex & Bonds” series. The Troublemaker is the second in the planned trilogy, and while I didn’t like it quite as much as the first one, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
It’s not a spoiler to tell you it covers both “first-time” and a “brother’s best friend” tropes, and they both balance nicely.
One of the things I like most about her books is that she creates worlds that just feel real. Her characters are very human and relatable. Even if their overall character isn’t anywhere in your personal orbit, a reader can usually find something about each one.
I couldn’t help but root for Greer – she was feisty and ambitious. But her awakening (in more ways than one) was tender and deep. Brooks was…well, I wish people like him existed. She does tend to write strong, vulnerable heroes that make you just want to hug them…before tearing their clothes off.
I won’t give away the plot, but this book felt different from others. First, there didn’t really seem to be a major conflict; no real “OMG, I can’t believe that happened” moments. An attempt by Brooks’ dad didn’t feel fully realized, and a personal scare between Brooks and Greer seemed thrown in.
I also missed more of the trading floor. It was mentioned, and it’s a location for several scenes. But I would have liked more of Brooks’ background. I think if we had been able to see MORE of what the Wall Street Bathroom said about him, his journey would have been much more interesting.
The same goes for the ultimate decision between Brooks and Greer moving forward (regarding Brooks’ sister Lizzie). That seemed to come out of nowhere.
That being said, I loved Kate’s (I want to go there). And I did enjoy Brooks and Greer’s relationship. It showed that when the heart knows, it just….knows. Maybe that’s why there was less drama. Sometimes things just go that smoothly.
I can’t wait for the 3rd book!

In A Gathering of Men, Rona Simmons uses vivid imagery to create a memorable historical fiction novel. There is no way to walk away from this book without being more informed about flying during WWII.

Good historical fiction is a plausible story in a known historical era. Great historical fiction puts the reader in that time and space, so they feel like they are experiencing it with the characters.

This book falls a bit beyond great historical fiction. It is obvious that extensive research has gone into crafting this story. The smallest of details are in sharp focus.

You know you are reading someone’s memory – not what the author imagines might have happened.

Of course, there is a good dose of that too. The story does need to have a shape. Otherwise, it is just a memoir. But the author weaves the fictional parts with the obvious “real” parts into a compelling narrative.

I would like to add here that anyone who had parents or grandparents who served in WWII knows that many men refused to talk about their experiences. My mom has often said that her father was a different man when he returned from the South Pacific.

He never elaborated, and she learned not to ask, but it is not an unusual story. He was gone before I was born so I never saw it for myself. But this is a story I hear often from friends.

What Rona Simmons has done is create a story that answers at least some questions for people who can no longer ask their relatives. It is raw, emotional, and sometimes difficult to read – and that is because of the “real” memories used as a base for the story.

I like how she separated the narrative into five parts. It makes for an easy trajectory of the friendship, especially between Lake and Roger. I don’t mind admitting that I teared up more than a few times.

The aftermath of a particular flight is especially emotional (they didn’t know about PTSD then). But sometimes it feels like the emotions of the men flow from the pages, reaching out, begging to be recognized and validated.

I am a huge historical fiction reader, and I cannot think of a more realistic “in the moment” story than A Gathering of Men. I highly recommend it.

Mr. Bad Influence by M.A. Foster

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are some authors that I am predisposed to read no matter what they write. MA Foster is one of them. I love how she creates full worlds and characters that are so realistic, you feel like you could visit them at any time. Or, with the characters, you feel like you know them (or people exactly like them). Usually, her longer books (like Cougar and Baller) are individuals’ stories in a bigger world. Mr. Bad Influence is a short story, but she still manages to create relationships that are full and complex. Honestly, I’m sure her storyboards are complicated, and I often feel like I should draw family trees if I fully want to understand the connections. (I may or may not do that for the longer books – I’m not saying). But I liked how this one just sort of skims along. She hits the high points of the story, but still manages to give enough detail to make it engaging without slogging it down. I liked Parker’s feistiness – she pulled no punches (literally). And Cooper wasn’t exactly your typical billionaire playboy. Additionally, I really liked the message that there is someone who is the perfect fit for you – sometimes you just have to NOT be looking for them to find them. Good thought to have in mind. I loved this short story, and hope that there will be more from these characters.



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Time for another Cover Reveal!

Your sister lives in your home. You trust her with your baby.
But what if you’ve got it wrong?

Alexa has always adored her big sister Carrie. So when Carrie is suspended from her job as a senior nurse, accused of the most terrible crime, Alexa refuses to believe she is guilty. She won’t desert her sister in her hour of need, and offers her somewhere to stay. And when Alexa sees her one-year-old daughter Florence gurgling and cooing whenever Carrie is around, she knows she’s made the right decision.

Alexa’s husband Perry doesn’t trust Carrie. He wants her out of the house, unable to ignore what people are saying about her. But when he suggests that Carrie could be a danger to their daughter, Alexa shuts him out. Nobody will ever come between her and her sister.

But while Alexa trusts her sister completely, she can’t stop thinking about the awful thing that happened in the past. She tries to suppress her worries, but when Florence goes missing, she realises that the secret that has kept the sisters together might just destroy her little girl…

A completely gripping rollercoaster of a read about the darkness families hide behind closed doors. Fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will be hooked on Dear Daughter.

Looks intriguing, right? Here’s the purchase info!

Author Bio:
For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents and collected an impressive stack of rejection slips. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating in 2012, she gained literary agent representation and a book deal. As Kim says, ‘it was a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’

Kim is a full-time writer. She has one daughter, two stepsons and lives with her husband in Nottingham.

I’m always excited to find a new crime/mystery/suspense series. I find it fascinating to compare how authors address law enforcement and criminal investigations. No two are ever the same. That’s certainly the case with this book, which is unique in several ways.

I liked how it seemed that the initial crime (Casey’s daughter’s kidnapping) would be the focus of the book…until it wasn’t. That background compelling Casey’s actions was smart, as it drove her forward even as she wasn’t always exactly on the ball. I can only imagine how losing one’s child could skew a person’s perspective.

And Casey can’t afford to make mistakes, because the investigation she finds herself a part of is quite complicated. I don’t want to give anything away, but two seemingly disparate crimes run parallel. However, they both involve young girls, and it soon becomes apparent that they have more in common than initially thought.

I also liked the way Casey was introduced to the location of the Outer Banks. Sometimes the best decisions are made thoroughly by following your gut and not overthinking it; that’s definitely the way Casey approaches things. Of course, she is ultimately driven by finding her daughter, but she is also open to new possibilities.

Without giving away the plot, I will say that the subject matter is timely and something that is often overlooked even though it is a global issue. That being said, I make it a habit never to read the full blurbs because I like to discover the book as I read. I look at the cover and a short description, and that’s enough for me to decide.

In other words, if you want to know the plot, you can find it elsewhere; but I enjoyed the book much more NOT knowing the secrets that would be revealed. I thought it was a great introduction to a new character, and the series has a lot of promise. I look forward to Detective Casey White’s next investigation.