Tag: Blog Tour

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The Family I Lost-Mercer-Fiction-Available Now

I have read a lot of Ali Mercer books (see list of past reviews at the end of this one). Her family drama stories are heartfelt and show the complicated nature of relationships. The Family I Lost has all of that in spades.

The setup is not unusual. After a prologue that sets the scene for later events, the action jumps right into Lisa finding some interesting items while cleaning out her mom’s house after her mom passes away.

The ensuing action is told in five parts. Part one alternates between Lisa and Amy in the present, and part two is largely Lisa’s. Part three then moves to Julie (Lisa’s mom) in the far past before part four focuses on Amy at two different time periods.

Finally, part five alternates between the stories of all three women from the entire time between the earliest of Julie’s story up to the present.

This sounds confusing, but it isn’t as long the reader pays attention to the headings for the timeframe and whose point of view is being told. It is actually deft handling of some complicated storylines.

Buy Link:  https://geni.us/B09VH9VCB4social
AUDIBLE: 
UK: http://ow.ly/62yH50IVH38
US: http://ow.ly/uxWM50IVH36

I don’t want to give away more than the blurb does but suffice to say that “complex family issues” is an understatement. This is the type of fiction that the author does so well.

There are revelations that surprise both Amy and Lisa. Everything they thought they knew about their family is questionable.

I found this one a little difficult to get into. There seemed to be a longer setup than in some of the author’s other books. However, the baseline of Lisa and Amy is vital to understanding the importance of Julie’s story.

I promise it all makes sense in the course of the plot. The action does pick up around part three and continues to the end.

In spite of the slow start, this may be my favorite of all of the Ali Mercer books. It is difficult to find more complicated family drama than her stories.

Other family drama/fiction books from Ali Mercer: The Marriage Lie; My Mother’s Choice

Author Bio:

Twitter: @AlisonLMercer
Instagram: @alimercerwriter
Facebook: AliMercerwriter

Author Bio:

Ali decided she wanted to be a writer early on and wrote her first novel when she was at primary school. She has two children, a daughter and a son who is autistic. Ali is fascinated by families, their myths and secrets, and the forces that hold them together, split them up, and (sometimes) bring them back together again.

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The Dachshund Wears Prada-Review-London-Rom Com-Available Now

The Dachshund Wears Prada by Stefanie London is a pithy rom com that doesn’t exactly break any new ground but is a thoroughly fun and enjoyable read.

Although, I will say that the way Isla loses her initial job is described in spectacular fashion. I think people who follow stars on social media secretly hope to eventually see something like this.

At least I would.

Anyway, the plot is fairly basic (that’s not a bad thing). Girl loses job, boy has job open, girl takes job (as strange as it is), there’s attraction, good things happen, bad things happen, etc.

Exactly what you expect from a rom com.

This one has something extra though. It has heart that many others are missing. As breezy as the story is, there are multiple relationships that are surprisingly deep.

I loved the relationship between Isla and her younger sister Dani. I never thought that a middle-aged person like me would be able to relate to a 14-year-old character. But I totally understood the passion for ballet. So, I think that endeared her to me a bit.

The Dachshund Wears Prada Cover
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Theo and Isla have a relationship that grows naturally and is haunted (there has to be conflict) but it also did not feel over-dramatized or “too much.” I guess that is a complicated way to say that everything felt “real.”

And then there is Camilla. The pooch of the title is a force to be reckoned with. The early descriptions of her going through dog sitters certainly invoked the proper images of Anna Wintour.

But even that little dog shows growth throughout the story. I imagine it isn’t always easy to do that for humans, much less a dog.

Stefanie London has created the perfect, beach-worthy rom com in The Dachshund Wears Prada. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

Social Links:
Author Website
Instagram: @stefanielondon
Facebook: @London’s Lovelies
Goodreads

Author Bio: 

Stefanie London is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. Originally from Australia, she now lives in Toronto with her very own hero and is doing her best to travel the world. She frequently indulges her passions for lipstick, good coffee, books and anything zombie related.

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The Perfect Family-Dounaeva-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

This is the first psych thriller I have read by Lorna Dounaeva, but The Perfect Family was just good enough to make me want to come back for more.

It is an intriguing look at how far a person will go to protect their image…and their family. But it also is a searing look at how quickly that image can disappear.

Victoria is a character who is easy to dislike. She is too perfect, too driven, and too clueless about the realities surrounding her situation.

Even as her image is “perfect” (hence “the perfect family”), there are several things that she chooses to stick her head in the sand about.

Her teenage daughter is pulling away from her.

Her son is showing all signs of being on the spectrum.

And she and her husband are hiding a deep secret that she will do anything to keep hidden.

As I said, she is easy to dislike because she is of a single mind about the last one. At least, that’s how it seems.

I got most annoyed with her when it came to her son. I have dealt with parents like her more often than I care to admit, and they bug the heck out of me. It does a kid no good to be protected to the point of “there is nothing wrong with them” when acknowledging an issue can do the kid a world of good.

Buy Links
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Perfect-Family-gripping-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B09Y1W92VZ
Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Family-gripping-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B09Y1W92VZ

But that is my little soapbox moment.

I think the author uses that to show just how narrow Victoria’s thinking is. Not that she is narrow-minded, just doesn’t have a large vision.

Anyway, the story is told from three points of view: Victoria, Anna (her daughter), and diary entries from Joey. To me, the last point of view is the most telling, and I wish there had been more of it.

To be frank, this is a decent psych thriller with okay plot points and a questionable lead character…right up until the end.

The choices made by the author for the climax and aftermath are shocking (given everything that comes before) and will leave you wondering what just happened.

I think it’s part character redemption (but who?) and part “let’s take the reader for a real ride.” I’m good with that.

So, pick up The Perfect Family and you will find that Lorna Dounaeva has created a story proving that perfection only exists on the surface.

Facebook: LornaDounaevaAuthor
Instagram: lorna_dounaeva/
Twitter: LornaDounaeva

About the Author

Lorna Dounaeva has a Masters in European Studies and used to work at the Home Office before turning to crime fiction. She lives in Godalming, Surrey with her husband, three children, and a crafty cat. 

The Perfect Family is her second psychological thriller with Inkubator Books.

Website: https://www.lornadounaeva.com

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The Girl Before Me-Wolfe-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Girl Before Me by Laura Wolfe has all the hallmarks of a good psych thriller.

Rachel is a likable heroine. It is easy to root for her because she is not a caricature. She is realistic, and her actions and thoughts are understandable. It is easy to see where the reader could make the same decisions she does.

There is a “locked room” vibe to the plot. It is obvious from the prologue that Annie is (probably) “the girl before me” – with the “me” being Rachel. But most of the important action occurs within a few apartments in one building.

This allows for a finite number of suspects when things start to go a little strange for Rachel. The author does a great job of casting each person who Rachel comes in contact with as a potential villain.

It also allows for a sense of claustrophobia to permeate through several scenes. I got a definite “Rosemary’s Baby” feeling from the people and the building.

And that’s all I have to say about that point.

Buy Link: 
https://geni.us/B09RQS5TSSsocial

A good psych thriller has red herrings. Part of that is which characters are suspicious. But part of it is also not allowing the red herrings to be unbelievable. This is another area where the author largely succeeds.

I did think that Rachel’s situation that led her to be in the apartment wasn’t quite as fleshed out as it could have been. It served as a good option for the events but could have used a little more oomph to be completely believable. The same goes for Rachel’s mom.

Some of the characters, however, were more like caricatures (kindly old couple, hot single guy, trendy girl, weirdo guy) – but I like to think that is by design. They didn’t bother me, they just felt familiar.

It is also a little strange that after the prologue, everyone is sort of like, “yeah, the person is gone” and…that’s it. On the surface, it seems odd that nobody would mention the police or offer more solid theories on where the person went.

However, in today’s transitory culture, especially in big cities, I don’t think it is unusual for people to adopt an “Oh well” type of attitude toward their neighbors. Especially when there are plausible excuses given for the person’s absence.

I know that sounds confusing, but I promise it makes sense in the context of the plot.

What I did like most about the book was that it all just made sense. Once the plot is revealed and the secrets are uncovered, it was possible to look back and see how everything was clearly laid out. It’s a good story when the author makes a clear path for the reader but then leads them astray.

Again, I know that is cryptic, but I don’t want to give anything away. Especially as there are a few final twists even after you think everything is wrapped up.

The Girl Before Me is another solid psych thriller from Laura Wolfe.

Facebook: LauraWolfeBooks/
Twitter: LauraWolfeBooks
Instagram: lwolfe.writes/

Author Bio

Laura Wolfe is an Amazon charts bestselling author who writes fast-paced and twisty psychological thrillers and suspense novels. Her recent titles published by Bookouture include WE LIVE NEXT DOOR, HER BEST FRIEND’S LIE, SHE LIES ALONE, and TWO WIDOWS. Laura is a lover of animals and nature. When she is not writing, she is hanging out with her husband and two kids, growing vegetables in her garden, or spoiling her rescue dog. She enjoys living in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Website: https://www.laurawolfebooks.com/

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The Caretaker-Shiner-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I will always grab a psych thriller written by Emily Shiner. I find her writing to be simple but engaging. The Caretaker is a perfect example.

It feels like this one is a little more elementary than her others. There are passages that are vague, and detail is sketchy or missing entirely.

That being said, the overall plot is a good one that built satisfying tension. Even though the reader knows (for the most part) what is going on, there are still a few surprises left.

I liked the setup of the old house needing rehab and TLC. That’s always a good setting for conflict…and secrets.

The gaslighting was in strong effect in this story as well. It is another effective plot trope that works well in this story.

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Caretaker-gripping-psychological-thriller-killer-ebook/dp/B09XQTTX27
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Caretaker-gripping-psychological-thriller-killer-ebook/dp/B09XQTTX27

Less effective was the whole pre-marriage/affair thread. I get that it is there to show that there is distrust between Amy and Tim. And it does provide a wedge to use against them by the villain. But there is another aspect that doesn’t work as well.

In fact, to me, this plot point served to be more melodramatic than anything else. And it took the characters in places that I didn’t feel were realistic or natural.

Back to the gaslighting for a second – I did like how the villain got to the couple. There were some very effective spooky moments, and it was easy to see how that could affect how people looked at other events with a crooked eye.

And I also liked how the author wrapped up the story. Often there is a hopeful note, where the hero and heroine have overcome (either separate or apart) and things go on.

This is not that ending. By the last pages, it is apparent just how much of a toll the events took on a main character – but I’m not saying which one.

All in all, it is a decent book. Some of the writing was lazy and elementary, but the overall plot was good for a psych thriller. I’ll continue to read books from Emily Shiner.      

Facebook: authoremilyshiner
Instagram: authoremilyshiner/

Author Bio 

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.

Emily writes psychological thrillers. Check out The Secret Wife and The Promise, also from Inkubator Books

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The Housemaid-McFadden-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I thought that The Housemaid by Freida McFadden was going to be a good psych thriller just from the description. I did not expect to be blown away.

But I was. This is by far one of the best psych thrillers I have read in recent memory. And yes, I may have said that a few times recently, but this one really shoots to the top of the list.

I feel like I repeat myself about plot spoilers, but I also feel like I cannot stress enough how important it is to me to NOT give anything away. Especially with this one.

The action is in three parts. The first part is from Millie’s point of view. If there is a definition of “down on your luck” it can be found in her situation. She is desperate and knows that she has slim chances at success in anything she does due to a mysterious past.

It is the perfect setup for the action of the rest of the book.

Millie’s dream come true job as the housemaid soon turns out to be nothing that she expected. But, as she is hiding secrets, she has to stick with it no matter how bad it gets.

And boy, does it get bad.

Nina is a real piece of work. I can’t say why (because…spoilers). I spent a lot of time in the first part wanting to scream at Millie, “GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!” I also wondered about Millie’s character…that she tolerated so much.

But the worse it got, the more I started thinking there had to be another reason for everything that was happening. I mean, it is a psych thriller. So, there should be.

And boy, are there reasons.

Buy link:
https://geni.us/B09TWSRMCBsocial

The second part of the book gives the reader an alternative viewpoint on the action of the first part. It may sound convoluted, but it isn’t. It’s a genius way to show what was really going on.

The third part converges the first two parts and secrets are uncovered, wrapping everything up to one of THE most satisfying conclusions in a psych thriller that one could hope for.

And just when you think the author has given you everything about the characters you could possibly know, she hasn’t. She saves the final surprise for literally the last page in the book.

I am not exaggerating when I say that my jaw dropped, and I instantly thought “what a frickin’ amazing twist that was!”

(Side note: I don’t know if it was intentional, but the last character introduced in the epilogue has an epic last name (sort of NSFW) that is a clue to what may happen).

Honestly, I can’t believe this is my first book from this author – how have missed Freida McFadden’s other psych thrillers?

I am headed to Unlimited right now because The Housemaid was amazing, and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Freida McFadden psych thriller author
Twitter: @Freida_McFadden
Instagram: @fizzziatrist

About the author

#1 Amazon bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

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The Widow’s Husband-Sanderson-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I enjoyed The Widow’s Husband by Lesley Sanderson. It is a solid psych thriller.

It is also a cautionary tale about relationships and how gut instinct may be the best indicator of who to trust.

There is not a lot to unpack from this book because it is not overly complicated or twisty. You don’t have to pay attention to every little detail.

However, if you feel like you should, you might figure out a few of the surprises. Otherwise, it is pretty straightforward.

The blurb clearly spells out the plot, so I don’t need to recap. I found Rachel to be a decent heroine. She is real and her reactions and thoughts are genuine.

I also found Heidi to be a bit more of an enigma, and I think that was on purpose. I have an inherent mistrust for people like her (who doesn’t?). It was difficult to tell if she was “typical” or if there was a surprise to be found in her character.

But of course, I’m not telling you which one of those is right.

Buy Links: 
Amazon: https://geni.us/B09QH35DMKsocial
Apple: http://ow.ly/1RSh50HvN6Q
Kobo: http://ow.ly/T3qv50HvN4r
Google: http://ow.ly/R7xC50HvNak

I will say that this book is heavy on the “psych” aspect of the psych thriller. Not necessarily because it plays with the reader’s mind, but because there is a lot of introspection.

The author delves heavily into character motivation, which results in long passages of inner monologues. They are good for development but they also do slow down the action.

A last note: I am a bit puzzled about the title. It seems to give away the plot. This is an odd choice given the way the story is crafted.

But regardless, it is still a good psych thriller.

Other books by Lesley Sanderson for you to check out: The Birthday Weekend, Every Little Lie, The Leaving Party, I Know You Lied

Facebook: lsandersonbooks/
Twitter: lsandersonbooks
Instagram: lesleysandersonauthor/

Author Bio

Lesley is the author of several psychological thrillers. She spends her days writing in coffee shops in Kings Cross where she lives and works as a librarian. She loves the atmosphere and eclectic mix of people in the area.

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Best Friends Forever-Grant-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

Best Friends Forever by Cathryn Grant is a psych thriller that wanders around for a while, drawing the reader in, finally leading to a surprising ending.

It is not exactly linear, but it is very easy to follow.

Abbey and Raven were best friends in college. A tragedy caused one of them to drop out. But neither of them has followed the best path into their current lives.

When the opportunity arrives for a road trip to a college reunion, they have the chance to bury some memories, clear up some misunderstandings, and create new beginnings.

It’s not a spoiler to say that things don’t go exactly as planned.

I’ll be boring and repeat that I don’t do spoilers. But I don’t think it is a spoiler to say that you have to suspend your disbelief for this one. People who haven’t spoken in over a decade don’t just randomly meet up and go on a road trip together.

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Friends-Forever-gripping-psychological-ebook/dp/B09X1SYJ8W
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Best-Friends-Forever-gripping-psychological-ebook/dp/B09X1SYJ8W

It makes for a good (and pivotal) plot point but isn’t exactly believable. Some of the actions of both women are also questionable and seem to be more for plot than for character development.

The point of the women traveling is that they have a shared incident from college that each has a completely different perspective on, and the road trip is a way to clear the air (so to speak).

I didn’t really like either one of them. They were each narcissistic in their own ways, and it is easy to see why their college (and subsequent) years turned out the way they did.

That being said, I liked how the author kept the past events a little mysterious so the reader never really knew who was the worst one and who was responsible for what aspects of the tragedy.

And the ending is a total shocker. The author went in a direction that is seldom taken in a psych thriller, and I applaud her for this. It was a great ending to a decent book.

Facebook: CathrynGrant.Writer/
Instagram:cathryngrant_fiction/
Twitter: CathrynGrant/

Author Bio 

Cathryn Grant writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and ghost stories. She’s the author of twenty-three novels. She is endlessly fascinated by the twists and turns, and the dark corners of the human mind.

When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats.

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Summer at the Cape-Thayne-Review-Women’s Fiction-Available Now

I enjoyed the first two visits to Cape Sanctuary, so I was excited to visit again in Summer at the Cape. RaeAnne Thayne has created a location that evokes childhood memories for me. You can see my reviews of The Sea Glass Cottage and The Path to Sunshine Cove for details about the setting.

While this one didn’t quite have the charm of the first two, I still was happy to be back on the Cape.

For whatever reason, this plot felt unnecessarily complicated. It’s not that it is difficult to understand, it just seemed that there is a lot going on.

Cami is the older sister of twins, one of whom (Lily) has met a tragic end. So, she is coping with being the odd one out but also with losing a sister.

Violet, the twin who is still alive, is dealing with her own demons. Who is she now that Lily is gone? It isn’t easy coping without her other half.

Their mom, Rosemary, who was all in on a glampground project with Lily, is a free spirit who begs Cami to come back and help sort out estate and land issues.

Buy Links:  BookShop.org Harlequin  Barnes & Noble
Amazon Books-A-Million Powell’s 

I should note that Cami left the more relaxed Cape Sanctuary when she was 14. She grew up with her dad in Los Angeles. She has a lot to adjust to when she returns, beyond the complicated family issues.

I didn’t really connect with any of the characters the way I did in the past two books. That makes a difference in how enjoyable a book can be. It is still an engaging story, but I didn’t have that personal connection that takes it to the next level.

As always, I liked the secondary characters. They seem realistic and are appropriate to the story. And I love the setting. This is another pleasant read from RaeAnne Thayne.

I can’t really say I loved it, but I definitely liked it and it is another solid entry in the Cape Sanctuary series. I’ll keep returning for the location alone.

Twitter: @raeannethayne
Facebook: RaeAnne Thayne
Instagram: raeannethayne

Author Bio: 

New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful norhtern Utah mountains where she lives with her family.   Her stories have been described as “poignant and sweet” with “beautiful honest storytelling that goes straight to the heart.”  She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

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Garden of Secrets-Kelman-Review-Historical Fiction-Available Now

Suzanne Kelman has become one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her stories are always well-balanced between contemporary and historical storylines. She always manages to find a unique aspect of history to use as a starting point. Garden of Secrets is no exception.

In this case, I feel like the author succeeds in unique settings for both timeframes. In the contemporary, Laura works as a garden restoration artist. After a personal loss, she accepts an offer to stay with friends and restore a garden on an old estate.

This leads her to a 75-year-old mystery that she feels compelled to solve. Is it because of her own losses? Or is there something else driving her to discover the truth behind the note and items she finds?

That is one thing I really enjoy about this author’s works. She allows the characters to have real reasons for their actions. They don’t fit a stereotype or only do what is expected. People react to things differently, and her characters are always individuals.

The story then unfolds with Laura in the present chasing down clues and trying to figure out the meaning of what she finds. Those chapters alternate periodically with Anya’s (in the past) and a few from Nikolai (also in the past).

Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B09RGD1VMWsocial
Audio:
UK: zpr.io/ZHdEfdPFKNie
US: zpr.io/hyTY6z7Us5Jd

Anya and Nikolai’s story is fascinating, although I was slightly slower to warm to it for some reason. I’m not sure why, because it is by far one of the most interesting threads I have read in recent memory.

It is more common to see Germany as the enemy in historical fiction novels, and it is rarely remembered that Russia was an enemy as well – at least to a point.

I don’t want to give anything of their plot away. Usually, I like one storyline slightly better than the other, but in this case, I was eager to get back to either plot. That’s the way to keep a reader engaged.

I do have to say that I love the analogy using the Avon River. Having been there (and it being one of my favorite places ever) I was able to picture it clearly. Not to mention, it was just good life advice as well.

Garden of Secrets is another great entry in the historical fiction genre, and I can never get enough of Suzanne Kelman’s books and I always look forward to the next one.

Try these great historical fiction novels from her as well: A View Across the Rooftops, Under a Sky on Fire, When the Nightingale Sings, When We Were Brave

Facebook: suzkelman
Instagram: suzkelman
Twitter: suzkelman

Author Bio:

Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State.

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