This was my first dive into a Sarah Pekkanen thriller, and I found the book to be quite enjoyable. It was a fun read, with moments of susp3.25 stars★
This was my first dive into a Sarah Pekkanen thriller, and I found the book to be quite enjoyable. It was a fun read, with moments of suspense, a fast pace, and engaging characters. The main letdown for me was how easy it was to predict. The romantic subplot at the end didn't quite click with me. IThe book would've been just fine without it, to be honest....more
"Give this a chance. The two of us. I'm not good with words, I'm not good at speaking things. I'm good with notes on a page. I'm good at mu
3.75 stars★
"Give this a chance. The two of us. I'm not good with words, I'm not good at speaking things. I'm good with notes on a page. I'm good at music—and that's what I tried to tell you on that stage just now."
I've been stuck in a major reading rut, and this book is the first one in a long time that I genuinely enjoyed and managed to finish, which speaks volumes! The writing, tension, and romance progression were all top-notch. Who would've thought that string instruments had such an alluring charm? if anyone is wondering if the cello scenes is hot yes it is ...more
Cordelia has always lived in fear of upsetting her mother, Evangeline. While it's common for young girls to seek their mothers' approval, Cordelia's mCordelia has always lived in fear of upsetting her mother, Evangeline. While it's common for young girls to seek their mothers' approval, Cordelia's mother is a harsh sorceress who takes pleasure in finding new ways to control her daughter. Evangeline imposes strict regulations on Cordelia, and the only moments of freedom Cordelia experiences are during her daily horse rides with falada, her mother's horse. Facing financial difficulties, Evangeline determines they must depart their town to find a new patron for her schemes.
When Cordelia crosses paths with Hester, the sister of the wealthy squire her mother is eyeing, she finds the courage to be bold for the first time in her life. Hester is puzzled by her distrust of Evangeline. Perhaps it's Cordelia's timid demeanor in her mother's presence, or maybe it's the sly glint in Evangeline's eyes when she believes no one is watching. Regardless, Hester is resolute in preventing Evangeline from further ensnaring her brother, and if she can rescue Cordelia in the process, all the better. However, Hester soon discovers that challenging Evangeline has consequences, leaving Cordelia torn between loyalty to her mother and doing what is right.
My first dive into T. Kingfisher's work, and it just didn't hit the spot. The length was dragging, and the plot felt like it was stuck in neutral with not much going on....more
In Hiding Lies, we follow Lydia, a forensic pathologist, as she's tasked with investigating the killings of a couple in a remote camping spot. A possiIn Hiding Lies, we follow Lydia, a forensic pathologist, as she's tasked with investigating the killings of a couple in a remote camping spot. A possible serial killer is at large, leaving a chilling message. Lydia resonates with this message deeply, and as the murders escalate, her suppressed dark childhood thoughts resurface. Amidst her probe, she crosses paths with Adam, a kindred spirit and avid reader grappling with his own inner turmoil.
This was a super fast-paced read. I was intrigued by the perspectives of a forensic photographer and a serial killer. I felt like there was potential for more depth in the story, so I gave it 3 stars. Nonetheless, what I did read was pretty engaging at the time!...more
Five years ago, Ryan was was about to have the most amazing night with his girlfriend. But instead, it turned into a nightmare. He got attac2.5 stars★
Five years ago, Ryan was was about to have the most amazing night with his girlfriend. But instead, it turned into a nightmare. He got attacked, Ali went missing, and a terrifying creature emerged from the darkness. Ryan was blamed for Ali's disappearance, faced ridicule, and decided to start fresh with a new identity. Now, as a law student on a class trip, he encounters the same monster and learns that Ali's car was found in a lake with two dead men and a mysterious note. Meanwhile, a Kansas sheriff's deputy and a Philadelphia mobster are entangled in their own chaotic situations. Somehow, these events are connected, and Ryan is determined to uncover the truth.
Alright, let's kick things off with the good! The pacing is super fast, and the short chapters kept me kinda engaged. But that's pretty much where the positives end for me.
The rest of it, well, it was a bit of a mess...more
“Her happiness is blinding, like staring into the sun. I don’t want to look away. I’d let her steal the sight from my eyes, the breath from3.75 stars★
“Her happiness is blinding, like staring into the sun. I don’t want to look away. I’d let her steal the sight from my eyes, the breath from my lungs. I’d let her do her worst and still be eternally grateful.”
Cross the Line is all about Willow and Dev, childhood pals connected through Willow's brother, Oakley. They had a secret kiss in the past, but lost touch...until life brings them together again. Dev then offers Willow a gig as his social media guru to boost his image and handle any potential drama.
The only thing holding me back from giving it a solid 4 stars is...During the first 14 chapters, I had a bit of a back-and-forth with Dev. He kept bringing up the need to get some action, which was annoying to read about. But at the same time, he would say something adorable that had me blushing. So I don't quite feel like this deserves a full 4 star rating.
Simone's writing truly captured the essence of representation! I absolutely loved how the book celebrated diverse backgrounds! It was incredible to witness the author's portrayal of different cultures and experiences throughout the story. Additionally, I adored how Willow's disability was depicted. Even though she deals with hypermobility , nobody ever treated as incapable or a source of inconvenience. The support and understanding she received from those around her, especially Dev, who remembered how to assist her from their childhood, was truly heartwarming.
I loved how Willow and Dev's relationship took its time to develop. It was so adorable to see them together, and their connection was just perfect in every way...more
“Good to keep your eyes open for the right one. You never know when it’s going to come into your life.”
Cassie's previous landlord totally3.25 stars★
“Good to keep your eyes open for the right one. You never know when it’s going to come into your life.”
Cassie's previous landlord totally kicked her out, and she's been on a wild hunt for a new place to call home. It's been a struggle, though, because none of the places she's been checking out seem to work out. She finally hit the jackpot when she started looking for houses outside of her town. She finds a sweet little spot in Boneyard Key! Turns out, nobody mentioned that Boneyard Key is actually quite unique. Boneyard Key is famous for its ghostly residents, but nobody bothered to mention that Cassie's house is haunted by a grumpy old spirit. At first, Cassie didn't buy it. Her laptop acting up? Must be faulty wiring, right? But the more time she spent in town, the more she started to think that maybe, just maybe, the locals weren't as crazy as she thought. Nick has been living in Boneyard Key his whole life. He owns the coffee shop and he's not even fazed by the ghost of the original owner who sends him text messages. When Cassie arrives, he transforms into her personal ghost tour guide, sharing all the chilling stories and secretly wishing she'll believe him. But deep down, he also hopes that she might decide to stay because he hasn't felt this way about someone in ages. Cassie maybe has the power to break down the walls he's carefully constructed. The more they hang out, the more they uncover the secrets of Cassie's new home and the resident ghost. And there's an unexpected twist that catches everyone off guard. The romance kinda took a backseat in the story, you know? Like, I didn't really care much about what was happening with Nick and Cassie. But man, Elmer, the ghost, was an awesome characters! His personalities just shined through the pages and made the whole thing so much more interesting. Cassie and Sarah's friendship, with their trash Tv marathons, was absolutely hilarious. The whole haunted town thing in the book, with the actual ghosts and everything, was seriously one-of-a-kind. It brought such a unique and captivating element to the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review!...more
In Dishonestly Yours, we follow Rocky and Phoebe, who come from different families of con artists. 2 stars★
“If you’re my shield, then I’m your crown.”
In Dishonestly Yours, we follow Rocky and Phoebe, who come from different families of con artists. They've been partners in crime, lying and scamming their way through various cities. But when a con goes wrong Hailey ,Rocky's sister & phoebe’s bestie, decides she wants out and convinces Phoebe to join her in starting a new life in a small town in Connecticut. Rocky catches up with them and decides to stick around.
As a fan of the Richie sisters, I was absolutely stoked to get my hands on this book. The premise sounded so unique and unlike anything I've read before. The first few chapters had me totally engrossed, dying to know what went down in that job that made them quit being con artists and why Phoebe and Rocky weren't already a thing. I thought it had the potential to be a 5-star read. But i was wrong...more
3 stars★ “I don’t know when you went from the girl I adored to the woman I can’t stop thinking about, but you did . You’ve always been in my heart, but3 stars★ “I don’t know when you went from the girl I adored to the woman I can’t stop thinking about, but you did . You’ve always been in my heart, but now you’re in my head too."
This story is all about Ian Chase, hockey player...more
“She said that even strong people need to fall apart. And if you go too long without letting yourself do that, your body’s going to do it for 3 stars★
“She said that even strong people need to fall apart. And if you go too long without letting yourself do that, your body’s going to do it for you. We’re not made of stone.”
We follow two teenage girls who find themselves at the center of a chilling mystery. Olivia, who was born at the camp where a notorious murder took place, and Reagan, whose mother was accused of the crime, are both determined to uncover the truth. When Camp Lost Lake reopens and they start digging for answers, they soon realize that a killer is on the loose and danger lurks around every corner.
I enjoyed how we to experience the perspectives of both Olivia and Reagan and even got those flashbacks to the original Lost Lake murders from 16 years ago. I managed to guess a few of plot twists. Even though I had a hunch about what was coming, the overall pacing of the book still had me hooked and entertained. I felt like the inclusion of romance subplot didn’t need to happen as it took away from suspenseful moments in the story. I think the last twist at the end wasn’t needed.
Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for this arc in exchange for an honest review! ...more
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