Category: book review

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell

Date of publication: April 9, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, LGBT, Retellings, Historical, Fiction, Queer, Romance, Lesbian, Adult

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Once a young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife, she’ll have to fight to keep herself—and the woman she loves—safe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale The Selkie Wife.

When a sharp cry wakes Jean in the middle of the night during a terrible tempest, she’s convinced it must have been a dream. But when the cry comes again, Jean ventures outside and is shocked by what she discovers—a young woman in labor, already drenched to the bone in the freezing cold and barely able to speak a word of English.

Although Jean is the only midwife in the village and for miles around, she’s at a loss as to who this woman is or where she’s from; Jean can only assume she must be the new wife of the neighbor up the road, Tobias. And when Tobias does indeed arrive at her cabin in search of his wife, Muirin, Jean’s questions continue to grow. Why has he kept his wife’s pregnancy a secret? And why does Muirin’s open demeanor change completely the moment she’s in his presence?

Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other people’s business, her growing concern—and growing feelings—for Muirin mean she can’t simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more harrowing than she ever could have imagined, she fears she may have endangered herself, Muirin, and the baby. Will she be able to put things right and save the woman she loves before it’s too late, or will someone have to pay for Jean’s actions with their life?

First Line:

The ship was burning.

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

Important details about A Sweet Sting of Salt

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Jean)

Content/Trigger: A Sweet Sting of Salt contains themes of animal death, homophobia, kidnapping, confinement, murder, pregnancy, animal cruelty, death, emotional abuse, infidelity, blood, medical content, stalking, lesbophobia, fire and fire injury, outing, gaslighting, domestic abuse, suicide*, death of a parent, rape*, sexual assault*, and sexual violence*. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Suicide—Jean’s mother commits suicide off-page, with a very brief description of how she was found.
  • Rape, sexual assault, and sexual violence—These all happened to Muirin off page. The author does not go into detail.

Language: A Sweet Sting of Salt contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is mild consensual sexual content in A Sweet Sting of Salt. The nonconsensual sexual content is alluded to, and the author gave no details other than it happened.

Setting: A Sweet Sting of Salt is set in Barquer’s Bay, Nova Scotia. 

My Review:

A Sweet Sting of Salt is the second book in a series of four books that have made my April must-read list. I was initially caught by the cover (isn’t it gorgeous?). But when I read the blurb, I was captivated. I haven’t read many retellings of The Selkie Wife and was curious how this retelling was. Well, I am happy to say that I loved this book.

The main storyline of A Sweet Sting of Salt centers around Jean (a young midwife), Muirin (the mysterious wife of her neighbor), their developing relationship, and the mystery of how Muirin came to be with Tobias (the neighbor). This well-written, gut-wrenching, and engaging storyline kept me glued to the story.

Jean was quickly one of my favorite characters in the book. As a midwife, she assisted women in the town and outlying areas with their pregnancies. But she didn’t have many friends due to her forced outing as a lesbian by her lover/best friend’s mother five years earlier. Her loneliness, discomfort, and sadness was palpable. After helping Muirin give birth and keeping her at her house, I could see Jean getting attached. And the struggle to keep away from Muirin was real, even when Tobias started threatening her on her land. But Jean wouldn’t let Tobias get the best of her and was determined to help Muirin.

Muirin was my other favorite character in the book. Despite her language barrier (she spoke Gaelic), she could communicate enough with Jean to let her know something was wrong at home. She didn’t bother hiding her feelings for Jean (they were apparent from the beginning). She was sweet, sassy, and very protective. Her love for Jean and her baby and her yearning for freedom was also palpable.

I want to mention Tobias since he is a significant character in the book. I had mixed feelings about him. On one hand, I was disgusted by what he did to Muirin and Jean. But on the other hand, I couldn’t help but pity him. His upbringing (which was chaotic and abusive) directly contributed to his capturing Muirin. He had this fantasy of having the perfect family. But the cracks started when Jean visited and spread after Jean’s ex’s mother told Tobias about Jean. The state of his mental health slowly deteriorated after that. His stalking of Jean and killing of her goat, Honey, was a small glimpse into his mind. What broke him was when Jean found Muirin’s pelt, and they left the house (after it caught on fire). I do not doubt in my mind that he would have killed Jean by the pond if Muirin hadn’t done what she did.

The LGBT angle was interesting. I liked seeing Jean, Muirin, and Lauri have so much love and support from their family and friends. Heck, before Jean met Muirin and after her ex left, Lauri’s mother tried to set her up with her Native relatives. It was refreshing.

The fantasy angle is kept in the background until the end of the book (when Muirin gets her pelt back). I liked that Muirin, through her uncle, explained everything. I also loved that Jean wasn’t as freaked out as I thought she would be.

The epilogue of A Sweet Sting of Salt made this book. I liked seeing what everyone was doing five years in the future. It was a HEA that made me smile.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell, NetGalley, and Rose Sutherland for allowing me to read and review this ARC of a Sweet Sting of Salt. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to A Sweet Sting of Salt, then you will enjoy these books:

Rhythm and Clues (Record Shop Mystery: Book 3) by Olivia Blacke

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Date of publication: March 26th, 2024

Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Music, Amateur Sleuth, Fiction, Family, Adult Fiction

Series: Record Shop Mystery

Vinyl Resting Place—Book 1

A Fatal Grove–Book 2

Rhythm and Clues—Book 3

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

The rhythm is gonna get you.

It’s been five whole months since the last murder in Cedar River, Texas, and Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie have been humming along when disaster strikes again.

Their struggling vinyl records shop/coffee nook, Sip & Spin Records, is under pressure from predatory investors, though the Jessup sisters aren’t ready to face the music and admit defeat. But the night after their
meeting, the sketchy financier is killed outside their shop during a torrential Texas thunderstorm that washes out all the roads in and out of town. Now the sisters find themselves trapped in Cedar River with a killer, and Juni is determined to solve the case.

When the river spits out an unexpected surprise, Detective Beau Russell asks for Juni’s help, never predicting her investigation will spin her into danger. Up until now, the Jessup sisters have been playing it by ear, but with
the whole town watching, can they catch a killer before he strikes again?

First Line:

I’ve never witnessed a murder before.

Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke

Important details about Rhythm and Clues

Pace: Fast

POV: 1st person (Juni)

Content/Trigger: Rhythm and Clues contains themes of alcohol consumption, dead bodies, grief & loss depiction, car accident, murder & attempted murder, physical assault, and flooding. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: Rhythm and Clues contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Series: This is the 3rd book in The Record Shop Mysteries and can be read as a standalone.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Rhythm and Clues.

Setting: Rythm and Clues is set in Cedar River, Texas. 

My Review:

Over the past few months, I have read cozy mysteries that take place in various places. But a vinyl record shop/coffee nook wasn’t even on my radar for cozy mystery settings. I can check it off because Rhythm and Clues is set in such a place. That was one of the main reasons I decided to review the book. Not because of the mystery or because it was in Texas (which weirdly is a huge deciding factor in some of the books I read) but because it features a vinyl record store.

Rhythm and Clues is the third book in The Record Shop Mysteries series. It can be read as a standalone, but I strongly suggest reading the first two books to gain an understanding of the different relationships in the book. I wish I had because I needed clarification on the love triangle presented.

The main storyline of Rhythm and Clues centers around the murder of a financier in front of Juni and her sisters’ shop. The story also focuses on Juni’s relationships (love and otherwise) and her investigation into the death. I found the storyline engaging, often funny, and a little twisty (the murderer did surprise me).

I liked Juni, but she managed to get into trouble. As I read the book, I realized there was no holding her back when investigating the murder. She was going to find out who killed Zack, even if it meant putting herself up as bait and possibly getting hurt.

I found the mystery angle of Rhythm and Clues to be a little twisty, which surprised me. In my experience, cozy mysteries are usually written with a particular character in mind, and twists are not the norm. But, in this case, I was genuinely surprised by not only who the murderer was but also the motives behind the murder (minor spoiler: it was an accident). A smaller side mystery about handles mannequins also started about the mid-book. I did figure out where that one was going, but how it tied into the main mystery was revealed at the end of the book.

Juni’s relationships were a huge part of the Rhythm and Clues storyline. Her relationships were the bedrock of the storyline. Those personal relationships helped her with investigating Zack’s murder. She got information out of people that the police would have had to fight for.

Juni’s love life was also a significant part of the storyline. For a good part of the book, she was in a love triangle. Since I hadn’t read the previous two books, I was confused. There is a resolution to the love triangle, but I was a little disappointed with who she picked.

The end of Rhythm and Clues was perfect for the book. I liked how the author revealed who Zack’s murderer was and the reasons behind it. The author also showed the fallout from the murder. The author also left some room open for book four.

Many thanks to Saint Martin’s Press, Saint Martin’s Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Olivia Blacke for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Rhythm and Clues. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Rhythm and Clues, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Olivia Blacke

Draw Down the Moon (Moonstruck: Book 1) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books

Date of publication: April 2nd, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic, Young Adult Fantasy, Fiction, Witches, Fantasy Romance, Paranormal

Series: Moonstruck

Draw Down the Moon—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

New York Times bestsellers P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast return with a new duology set in a dark and magickal world filled with incredible danger and irresistible romance.

Wren Nightingale isn’t supposed to have any powers. Born of magickal parents but not under a moon sign, she was destined for life as a Mundane—right up until she starts glowing on her eighteenth birthday. In a heartbeat, Wren’s life is turned upside down, and she’s suddenly leaving her home for the mystical Academia de la Luna—a secret magickal school on a hidden island off the Seattle coast.

Lee Young has always known about his future at the Academia. He has one goal: pass the trials, impress the Moon Council, and uphold his family’s reputation. But he wasn’t expecting to be attending alongside the girl he’s been secretly in love with for as long as he can remember.

As Wren and Lee are thrown into the Academie’s gruelling trials, they quickly learn there’s something different–and dangerous–about the school this year. Wren will have to navigate a web of secrets, prophecies–and murder. And Lee will have to decide who to protect–his family’s legacy, or the girl he loves.

First Line:

I’m pretty sure that, at any moment, blue and red lights will flash and the local sheriff will tear down the street and stop me. Again.

Draw Down the Moon by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Important details about Draw Down the Moon

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Wren and Lee)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Draw Down the Moon contains themes of death, violence, blood, grief, death of a parent, murder, gaslighting, toxic friendship, injury & injury detail, bullying, classism, misgendering, *anxiety & anxiety attacks, death of a sibling, boating accidents, and knife violence. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Anxiety & Anxiety Attack—Lee remembers anxiety attacks that plagued him as a child while talking with Wren.

Language: Lost & Hound contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Series: Draw Down the Moon is the first book in the Moonstruck series.

Sexual Content: There is very mild sexual content in Draw Down the Moon.

Setting: Draw Down the Moon is set in Oregon (Fern Valley and Seattle) and on an island in the Pacific Northwest (Moon Isle).

My Review:

I have been a big fan of P.C. Cast, having read her Tales of a New World series and loved it. So, when I saw that she had a new book, Draw Down the Moon, I knew I needed to read it, and I was thrilled when I got the widget from St. Martin’s Press in my email. Having read the book, I think it was an excellent start to this series.

The main storyline of Draw Down the Moon centers around Wren and Lee. Wren is born a Mundane in a world where magic is powerful. On the other hand, her best friend, Lee, is a potent healer and is going to the highly sought-after Moon Isle to learn how to harness his magic. But everything changes when, on the night of her eighteenth birthday, Wren suddenly develops magic. At a loss of how it happened, Wren soon finds herself on a ferry to Moon Isle. Once on the island, Wren is plunged into a treasure trove of secrets and lore. With the secretive head of the school seemingly watching her, the elemental assigned to her house protecting her, and her feelings for Lee growing daily, Wren must figure out what is going on. But the truth will have a cost, either breaking Wren or setting her on a path to right old wrongs.

The main storyline of Draw Down the Moon was well written. Even the fact that it was a dual POV didn’t bother me. The author could seamlessly go between Wren and Lee’s POV without disrupting the storyline. I also liked that while I figured out what was happening (around when Wren had the 2nd trial), I was still surprised at what happened and the fallout.

I did get some strong Harry Potter vibes during the chapters where the other students were assigned to their houses. But I did like how they were assigned (it was better than the Sorting Hat, and yes, I am prepared for backlash on that). The Harry Potter vibe got stronger when they entered the dorms. But, as soon as Wren got her room, those vibes stopped, and the book started to take shape. I will warn you, there is no kindly headmaster (actually, just the opposite) or teachers with an agenda (well, not that I saw). The only magical creatures are the elementals that allowed the school to be on the island, and they are dangerous.

I liked Wren. She was mischievous and not afraid to stand up for herself. She was also out of her element during the first few days in school. Her lack of magic did set her apart. But it was during the first trial that I noticed something about her power. That thought grew when the elementals started approaching and talking to her. I did wish that she and Lee weren’t so tight. I would have loved to see her interact with Sam or any other students she befriended more.

Lee was all right, and I felt terrible for him. The poor kid was under so much pressure to live up to the family name that he suffered panic attacks. Add in that his older sister was killed while at the school, and he was barely keeping it together. At times, I could see almost two different sides of Lee. There was one side where he was this carefree boy man who just wanted to hang with his girl, and there was the other side where he was this anxiety-ridden mess who couldn’t/wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize his family name. I wasn’t surprised by any of his decisions. They were all done to further his family name. The only thing he couldn’t control was Wren or his feelings for her.

The fantasy angle of Draw Down the Moon was amazing. I loved that the author chose the magic system based on astrology. At first, there wasn’t much information about the different signs and magic. But, as the book went on, the author did start explaining the origin story of the Moonstruck and the other magic. I also liked that the author used elementals instead of the usual creatures featured in these books. The fact that the elementals were aware of Wren and were protecting her, but no reason was given, was frightening.

The fantasy angle also included a book Wren could not read (the writing was messed up). How she got the book was pretty funny, but she needed to decode it once she got it. All she knew was that Lee’s older sister wrote it, and it was something explosive. I wasn’t prepared for what it was and the fallout that happened. But I did like seeing the lore and the island’s past brought into better focus. It explained a lot.

The last couple of chapters of Draw Down the Moon were heartbreaking. While I like it when an author kills off major secondary characters, I was very heartbroken and surprised by who the author chose. While I had figured out Wren’s magic, I was not prepared for what happened at the end of the book. The revelations that were revealed were earth-shattering, as was the fight that went along with them. I also didn’t blame Lee for what he did.

The author ended Draw Down the Moon on a cliffhanger. There were so many questions that needed to be answered. And when I say so many questions, I mean it. I cannot wait to read book two and see what the fallout from the death and Wren and Lee’s actions have on the island.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, P.C. Cast, and Kristin Cast for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Draw Down the Moon. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Draw Down the Moon, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by P.C. Cast

Catchpenny by Charlie Huston

Publisher: Knoph, Panteon, Vintage, and Anchor, Vintage

Date of publication: April 9th, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Adult, Fiction

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A thief who can travel through mirrors, a video game that threatens to spill out of the virtual world, a doomsday cult on a collision course with destiny, and a missing teenager at the center of it all. With the world on the brink of every kind of apocalypse, humanity needs a hero. What it gets is Sid Catchpenny.

“I absolutely loved it. Catchpenny is a brilliant book, full of heart and the language is pitch-perfect. If Elmore Leonard had ever written a fantasy novel, this would be it.” —Stephen King

Sidney Catchpenny has had a bad run. Laid low by a years-long bout of debilitating depression, he’s all but squandered his reputation as one of the most uniquely talented thieves in LA. There aren’t many who can do what Sid does. He’s a sly , a special kind of crook with the uncanny ability to move through mirrors. And the spoils he’s after are equally unusual. Forget jewels and cold cash—Sid steals curiosities— items imbued with powerful mojo , a magical essence gleaned from the accumulated emotion that seeps into interesting, though often banal objects. That spot on the carpet where your old dog used to lay at your feet? The passed-down family heirloom nobody wants but everybody refuses to throw away? These curiosities are full of mojo, which is both the currency of the criminal underground and the secret source of magic in the world.

When a friend from Sid’s past comes looking for his help with an important client, and the chance to pay off old debts presents itself, Sid seizes the opportunity … as best he can. But the case he stumbles into is more complicated than it seems, and it portends a seismic shift in the world, one that will leave no one untouched. As the fog of his depression begins to lift, Sid sees connections everywhere he looks, and the once disparate threads of the case—a missing teenage girl, an entire bedroom saturated with mojo, and Sid’s own long-dead wife—begin to coalesce.

First Line:

Circe’s mom started the ritual after she overheard the dectectives talking about her daughter at the end of the third day.

Catchpenny by Charlie Huston

Important details about The Taste of Storm and Brine

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Sidney)

Trigger Warnings: Catchpenny contains themes of bullying, alcoholism, anxiety & anxiety attacks, depression, mental illness, suicidal ideation, suicide, suicidal thoughts, alcohol consumption, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, blood & gore depiction, medical procedures, death of a partner, grief & loss depiction, blackmail, cults, disappearance of a loved one, murder & attempted murder, violence, and physical assault.

Language: Catchpenny contains moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is minor sexual content in Catchpenny.

Setting: Catchpenny is set in Los Angeles, California.

My Review

When I got the widget for Catchpenny, I almost didn’t accept it. I wasn’t looking for another book to review (I have been actively trying to get my NetGalley ARCs down to a manageable number). But then I read the blurb, which made me pause on deleting the email. After rereading the blurb (several times), I decided to accept the widget. I am glad that I did because I did enjoy reading Catchpenny.

I do want to give you guys a heads-up. There is a lot of lore and backstory thrown at you at once, and that might cause you to go, “Well, no. Not for me.” Trust me, get through the first few chapters, and the author will explain things.

The main storyline in Catchpenny was different. Sidney Catchpenny is a depressed thief who hasn’t left his bed in weeks. He gets pulled, kicking and screaming, out of bed and into the world when an old friend asks him to help him with a personal matter. That personal matter ends up being the disappearance of a teenage girl. As Sid investigates the case, he finds ties to a doomsday death cult, his old manager, a video game, and his dead wife. Sid needs to figure out what is going on and who is to blame before something awful happens, like the end of the world.

Sometimes, first impressions can be wrong, which was the case with Sid. When the book began, I doubted if he could help his friend-he was that depressed. I also noticed that he was a very unreliable narrator. His take on things was slightly different from what other people remember (like the death of his pregnant wife). But, as the book went on and as his depression subsided, I began to see Sid in a different light. Yes, he was significantly damaged, but he was a good person. And the good person in him wanted to find Circe (the teenager) and bring her home.

I enjoyed the magic system in Catchpenny. The magic was called mojo, and it was infused everywhere. Sid was a thief who stole items infused with mojo (an example used in the book: a rug that a beloved dog slept on until it died). The stolen mojo was then used by other parties to help themselves out (politicians were used as an example in the book). Sid also had a different sort of magic. He could travel by mirror to various places. Manikins and other magical beings are also mentioned throughout the book.

Catchpenny did make me feel like I was reading a script out of a fever dream for most of the book. Usually, that is something that I don’t like, but in this case, it suits the book. The fever dream feeling intensified towards the end (once Sid started putting the puzzle pieces together).

The only thing that I didn’t like about this book was who the bad guy ended up being. It was a twist that I didn’t see coming. I had it pegged on the defacto head of the doomsday cult/game developer. So, I was shocked when it was revealed who was behind everything and why. My mouth dropped open, and a “No shit” came out. There wasn’t a hint of this person being the bad guy or why this person did what they did. It is a huge surprise.

The end of Catchpenny was different. While the author wrapped up the main storylines (and made Sid face some facts about himself), much remained unanswered. I hope that the author addresses that in a second book.

Many thanks to Knoph, Panteon, Vintage, and Anchor, Vintage, NetGalley, and Charlie Huston for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Catchpenny. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Catchpenny, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Charlie Huston

All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Date of publication: April 2nd, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Race, Adult, African American, Adult Fiction

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A housemaid with a dangerous family secret conspires with a wealthy young abolitionist to help an enslaved girl escape, in volatile pre-Civil War Philadelphia.

The rebel . . . the socialite . . . and the fugitive. Together, they will risk everything for one another in this “beguiling story of friendship, deception, and women crossing boundaries in the name of freedom” (Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Friends).

Philadelphia, 1837. After Charlotte escaped from the crumbling White Oaks plantation down South, she’d expected freedom to feel different from her former life as an enslaved housemaid. After all, Philadelphia is supposed to be the birthplace of American liberty. Instead, she’s locked away playing servant to her white-passing father, as they both attempt to hide their identities from slavecatchers who would destroy their new lives.

Longing to break away, Charlotte befriends Nell, a budding abolitionist from one of Philadelphia’s wealthiest Black families. Just as Charlotte starts to envision a future, a familiar face from her past reappears: Evie, her friend from White Oaks, has been brought to the city by the plantation mistress, and she’s desperate to escape. But as Charlotte and Nell conspire to rescue her, in a city engulfed by race riots and attacks on abolitionists, they soon discover that fighting for Evie’s freedom may cost them their own.

First Line:

The city of Philadelphia wasn’t what it claimed to be.

All We Were Prominsed by Ashton Lattimore

Important details about All We Were Promised

Pace: Medium but does pick up to fast by the end

POV: 3rd person (Charlotte/Carrie, Nell, Evie)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Lost & Hound contains themes of slavery, violence, confinement, hate crime, racism, kidnapping, grief, classism, racial slurs, violence, sexual assault*, sexual harassment, white supremacy, child abuse, physical injuries, fire & arson, physical assault, and riots. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Sexual assault—There are scenes where Charlotte and Evie are made aware that Missus Kate can sell them to her brother. He is known for his brutal treatment of enslaved people. There is also an understanding that he regularly raped and impregnated his slaves.

Language: All We Were Promised contains no swearing but does contain language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no consentual sexual content in All We Were Promised

Setting: All We Were Promised is set in Philadelphia, PA, and features memories of Evie and Charlotte’s time on the plantation in Maryland.

My Review:

All We Were Promised storylines (there are three) are centered around three individuals: Carrie/Charlotte (the escaped slave), Nell (an upper-class free woman of color), and Evie (a slave and Charlotte’s friend). The storyline was well-written and compelling. I was immersed in all three women’s plights and was an anxious mess during the last half of the book. I will warn you all that this book does not hold back when it comes to the treatment of black people (both slaves and free) pre-Civil War.

The storyline that centered on Carrie/Charlotte was sad. Charlotte and her father, James, escaped from slavery four years before the book started. James, or Jack as he was known to his former owners and Evie, could pass as a white man. He took advantage of that and built a thriving woodworking business. But, for Charlotte, it was torture. She was kept on a short leash and couldn’t interact with anyone but her father and the cook (who was a free man of color). It drove her up the wall and was why she started going to Nell’s reading club and sharing her abolitionist views. Charlotte was sympathetic, but I felt she took some unneeded risks. Like not telling Nell the whole truth about herself and how she knew Evie. Or risking her freedom to attend speeches by famous abolitionists. She also blamed her father for everything that went wrong, which also factored into her behavior.

The storyline that centered on Nell was interesting. She was a free woman of color who was also upper-class and whose family held considerable power in Philadelphia. Nell did come across as a pampered, spoiled woman sometimes, but you could tell her heart was in the right place. Meeting Charlotte and getting involved with her quest to free Evie opened her eyes. I did have some unanswered questions about her (mainly about the engagement and whether she learned anything from what happened to her).

The storyline that centered on Evie caught my heart and my attention. Evie was the personal slave of Missus Kate, and what she endured was awful. His mother and brother were both sold, leaving her alone on the plantation with Kate and a handful of slaves. I couldn’t get past the cruelty that was so casual or Kate’s lack of empathy. My draw dropped when Kate told Evie her plans for her after Kate’s marriage and where she was going (the brother’s manor for reeducation). I was caught up in this storyline and was rooting for Evie to leave.

This book takes place thirty years before the start of the Civil War. Every event mentioned in the book is accurate, and the author explains everything in a beautifully worded afterword.

Philadelphia did not live up to its City of Brotherly Love motto during this time. There was racial tension and rioting that seemed to be almost every day. It was a stressful time to live in.

The end of All We Were Promised was a little bittersweet. The author did not cement the futures of the three girls. I want to think that Evie and Charlotte could live freely and happily. I’d also like to believe that Nell kept to her values and what she wanted to do (be active in the abolitionist movement and not marry).

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and Ashton Lattimore for allowing me to read and review this ARC of All We Were Promised. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to All We Were Promised, then you will enjoy these books:

Lost & Hound (“Sister” Jane: Book 15) by Rita Mae Brown

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Date of publication: October 24th, 2023

Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Animals, Cozy Mystery, Conservation, Mystery Thriller

Series: “Sister” Jane

Outfoxed by Rita Mae Brown—Book 1

Hotspur by Rita Mae Brown—Book 2

Full Cry by Rita Mae Brown—Book 3

The Hunt Ball by Rita Mae Brown—Book 4

The Hounds and the Fury by Rita Mae Brown—Book 5

The Tell-Tale Horse by Rita Mae Brown—Book 6

Hounded to Death by Rita Mae Brown—Book 7

Fox Tracks by Rita Mae Brown—Book 8

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Rita Mae Brown—Book 9

Crazy Like a Fox by Rita Mae Brown—Book 10

Homeward Hound by Rita Mae Brown—Book 11

Scarlet Fever by Rita Mae Brown—Book 12

Out of Hounds by Rita Mae Brown—Book 13

Thrill of the Hunt by Rita Mae Brown—Book 14

Lost & Hound by Rita Mae Brown—Book 15

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

When a body is found curiously displayed on “Sister” Jane Arnold’s foxhunting grounds, members of her hunt club realize someone is sending them a dire message, in this exciting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Rita Mae Brown.

Early fall in Virginia means shorter days, cooler temperatures, the blooming milkweeds of summer giving way to fields of fluffy seeds—and of course, the start of fox hunting season. It’s “Sister” Jane Arnold’s favorite time of year. And this year, the Jefferson Hunt Club is busier than ever, organizing a fundraising drive to help with the upkeep of their beloved hunting grounds.

But the festive season is interrupted by the appearance of a dead body, tied to a chair and placed directly in the path of an early-season hunt. No one recognizes the victim, but the intentional placement makes it clear that someone is sending a message. Then, one huntsman’s valuable stamp collection is stolen, and they discover the victim was also a stamp collector. Sister suspects a connection, which is confirmed when just one stamp is found taped to the garage door of her friend and treasurer of the hunt club Ronnie Haslip. Could Ronnie have been involved in either the murder or the theft, or has he been marked as the next victim? Sister must uncover who has been sending these cryptic signs to her friends—before any of them wind up dead.

First Line:

The long slanting rays before sunset illuminated the dancing milkweed seeds, silver white, turning them gold, then scarlet, and finally a rich lavender.

Lost & Hound by Rita Mae Brown

Important details about Lost & Hound

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (mainly Sister but also from various members of the hunt group)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Lost & Hound contains themes of murder, classism, racism*, blood, physical injuries, eyeball trauma, hospitalization, dead bodies, mutilation, death of a child*, grief & loss depiction, blackmail, gun violence, attempted murder, physical assault, hunting*, animal injury, and animal cruelty*. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Racism—is remembered
  • death of a child—graphic and in the past
  • hunting—fox hunting, and the group does not kill the foxes. They run them to their dens and then call off the dogs.
  • animal cruelty—one of the main characters is using his organization as a front for the shipping of endangered reptiles (to and from China). While the reptiles in this person’s care were well cared for, the shipped ones were not.

Language: Lost & Hound contains no swearing or language that might offend some people.

Series: Lost & Hound is the fifteenth book in the “Sister” Jane series and can be read as a standalone.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Lost & Hound.

Setting: Lost & Hound is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

My Review:

I love it when I open a book and see that the author has included a glossary of terms used in the book. That is helpful because sometimes, mainly in fantasy, I need clues about what those words mean. In this book, it was helpful because I am not familiar with foxhunting. Having a list of what the different sayings mean and how they are used is beneficial. The author also went a step above and gave a list of characters—humans and animals.

Lost & Hound is the fifteenth book in the Sister Jane series. It can be read as a standalone, but I strongly suggest reading the previous books first. There are backstories and relationships that I could have used better insight into while reading, and there are also references to previous books that left me confused.

The main storyline in Lost & Hound focused on Sister, the Hunt Club, and the various relationships between the members. Strangely, the murder and the investigation were not the focal points of the book. There was little to no insight into the investigation until halfway through the book. However, the storylines were interconnected and well-written.

I was not familiar with foxhunting until I read Lost & Hound. Foxhunting is a sport that I thought was exclusively in England, and I was surprised that people did the hunts in America. The author did a fantastic job of explaining what goes into running a hunt club. As stated in the first paragraph, the author has a glossary of terms that gives more insight into the different terms and positions in the hunt. Also, to clarify, no foxes are harmed in the book. The author also makes that very clear.

The author did something different, including the animals’ POV throughout the book. Seeing how the animals interacted (the whole cow conversation was hilarious) and their insights into their people was often funny and exciting.

The author kept the mystery angle to the background until well past the middle of the book. There were no hints or clues about why the person was killed or who would even want to kill him. So, when the reveal came, it was a huge surprise because it came out of nowhere. Yes, Sister did some digging and revealed the man’s name and occupation. But there were no suspects or reasons.

The end of Lost & Hound was confusing. The reveal of the murderer and the reason behind it was chaotic. I was truly surprised by who killed the man and why. At the risk of repeating myself, it was entirely out of left field, and I was not too fond of that. I also got the impression that there will be a book 16.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and Rita Mae Brown for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Lost & Hound.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Lost & Hound, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Rita Mae Brown

Sincerely, The Duke (Say I Do: Book 2) by Amelia Grey

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Date of publication: March 26th, 2024

Genre: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Regency Romance, Adult, Historical Fiction, Adult Fiction

Series: Say I Do

Yours Truly, The Duke—Book 1 (review here)

Sincerely, The Duke—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sincerely, The Duke is the second novel in the historical romance Say I Do trilogy about dukes needing to wed to tap into their wealth by New York Times bestselling author Amelia Grey.

Miss Edwina Fine has one shot at finding a husband before the ton learns her secret. With red hair, green eyes and being one of triplets, she knows the superstitions and rumors about women like her. So when a marriage proposal from the Duke of Stonerick arrives by mail, Edwina jumps at the chance to solve her problems. But nothing could prepare her for the attraction that sparks between them when they finally meet. It will take more than Edwina’s wit to navigate her past, reservations about marriage and the passion that ignites within her for the irresistible duke.

Rick, Duke of Stonerick, enjoys his life exactly as it honing his expert marksmanship, playing cards and fencing with his friends. He even enjoys exchanging affectionate humor with his mother about his lack of matrimonial engagement. But when a recurring illness reminds Rick he has no heir, he picks a name from the list of prospects his mother presents and writes a simple marriage proposal. Then he forgets about it—until that very lady with an iron will and breathtaking bravery shows up at his doorstep, ready to accept. Edwina tempts him like no other and suddenly, marriage doesn’t seem much of an inconvenience after all. But will keeping his illness a secret cost him her love?

First Line:

“She had a son.” Roderick Cosworth, the Duke of Stonerick, considered his mother’s frown as he bent to place a hello kiss onto her cheek.

Sincerely, The Duke by Amelia Grey

Important details about Sincerely, The Duke

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Roderick and Edwina)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Sincerely, The Duke contains themes of classism, sexism & misogyny, chronic illness, death of a parent, and grief & loss depiction. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: Sincerely, The Duke contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in Sincerely, The Duke.

Setting: Sincerely, The Duke is set in London, England.

My Review:

Regency romances are one of my favorite genres to read. So, when I get an invite to review, and it is a Regency romance, I automatically accept. And that was the case with Sincerely, The Duke. I was so excited to read it; this book did not disappoint.

The main storyline of Sincerely, The Duke centers around Roderick and Edwina, their romance, and Edwina’s secrets. I found this to be a well-written storyline that was easy to read. It also intrigued me with the folklore and superstitions that were introduced about triplets and redheads.

I liked Roderick, but I found him a little blind when it came to Edwina and her sisters. I was yelling at the book (when her sisters arrived for Roderick and Edwina’s wedding) when he did a double take when seeing them together. His surprise when he found out they were identical triplets did make me laugh. His illness was a significant part of this book. While the author didn’t come out and say what his illness was in the book (and for the record, I guessed it early on), she did address it afterward.

I loved Edwina. She was the youngest of the Fine triplets, and she took keeping their secret very seriously. I didn’t understand why she needed to marry first when she was introduced. But the author explained, and I got it. She was the more dependable of the three and needed to take care of her sisters. Her father had hammered it into her to protect the secret, and I understood why she was so hesitant to tell Roderick.

The romance angle of Sincerely, The Duke was sweet but had a little spice. I did get a laugh over who gave Edwina the sex talk. That led to one of the more humorous wedding night scenes I have read. And Roderick, bless him, did the right thing by not pushing Edwina.

The end of Sincerely, The Duke was sweet and what I thought it would be. I loved the epilogue. I liked seeing Edwina and Roderick five years into the future. I cannot wait to see what book three will be about. Since there are two more Fine sisters, the next book will feature one of them.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Amelia Grey for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Sincerely, The Duke. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Sincerely, The Duke, then you will enjoy these books:

Other Books by Amelia Grey

Off the Air by Christina Estes

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books

Date of publication: March 26th, 2024

Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary, Murder Mystery, Adult, Crime

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Equal parts thought-provoking and entertaining, Emmy Award winning reporter Christina Estes introduces Jolene Garcia in her Tony Hillerman Prize winning debut, Off the Air .

Jolene Garcia is a local TV reporter in Phoenix, Arizona, splitting her time between covering general assignments―anything from a monsoon storm to a newborn giraffe at the zoo―and special projects. Stories that take more time to research and produce. Stories that Jolene wants to tell.

When word gets out about a death at a radio station, Jolene and other journalists swarm the scene, intent on reporting the facts first. The body is soon identified as Larry Lemmon, a controversial talk show host, who died under suspicious circumstances. Jolene conducted his final interview, giving her and her station an advantage. But not for long.

As the story heats up, so does the competition. Jolene is determined to solve this murder. It’s an investigation that could make or break her career―if it doesn’t break her first.

First Line:

I’d like a cheeseburger with extra guacamole and —

Off the Air by Christina Estes

Important details about Off the Air

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Jolene)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Off the Air contains themes of abandonment, ageism, animal cruelty, child neglect, classism, homelessness, racism, sexism, sexual coercion, substance abuse, violence, death, murder, cultural appropriation, gun violence, hate crime, mental illness, grief, gaslighting, injury and injury detail, drug use, child abuse, and blood. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: Off the Air contains mild to moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Off the Air.

Setting: Off the Air is set in Phoenix, Arizona.

My Review:

When I started reading Off the Air, I realized I hadn’t reviewed many books where the main character is a reporter (newspaper or TV). So, I was very interested in what went on behind the cameras and how a reporter worked a story. Off the Air did explore this (alongside Jolene investigating Larry’s murder).

Off the Air’s main storyline centers on Jolene and her investigation into Larry Lemmon’s murder. Jolene’s investigation was well-written and gave good insight into how cutthroat reporting can be. But it felt a little flat when the focus was off the newsroom and onto Jolene’s personal life. It also didn’t help that Jolene was just as ruthless in her personal life as in her professional life.

I had mixed feelings about Jolene. Professionally, she was everything I thought a news reporter should be: focused and three steps ahead of her competition. But personally, that ruthlessness didn’t do her any favors. Everything I liked about her while she was working turned me off when the author switched to her personal life.

The mystery angle of Off the Air did keep me guessing. The victim was a shock jock who made enemies every time he opened his mouth. So, there were a lot of suspects and motives. I was shocked at not only who the murderer was but why that person chose to murder the victim. In a way, I did sympathize with that person, but to resort to murder. Nope. Of course, once Jolene revealed the motive behind Larry’s murder, there was an additional story to report.

The end of Off the Air was interesting. The author wrapped up the main storyline (Larry’s murder) but left other secondary storylines unresolved. It will be interesting to see how relationships change (for better or worse) throughout this series.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Christina Estes for allowing me to read and review Off the Air. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Off the Air, then you will enjoy these books:

The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: March 26th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Women’s Fiction, Adventure, Chick Lit, Family

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | Kobo

Goodreads Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Tracey Garvis Graves takes readers on a life affirming journey, where two lost souls find the unexpected courage to love again.

Thirty-four-year-old Wren Waters believes that if you pay attention, the universe will send you exactly what you need. But her worldview shatters when the universe delivers two life-altering blows she didn’t see coming, and all she wants to do is put the whole heartbreaking mess behind her. No one is more surprised than Wren when she discovers that geocaching―the outdoor activity of using GPS to look for hidden objects―is the only thing getting her out of bed and out of her head. She decides that a weeklong solo quest geocaching in Oregon is exactly what she needs to take back control of her life.

Enter Marshall Hendricks, a psychologist searching for distraction as he struggles with a life-altering blow of his own. Though Wren initially rebuffs Marshall’s attempt at hiker small talk, she’s beyond grateful when he rescues her from a horrifying encounter farther down the trail. In the interest of safety, Marshall suggests partnering up to look for additional caches. Wren’s no longer quite so trusting of the universe―or men in general―but her inner circle might argue that a smart, charismatic psychologist isn’t the worst thing the universe could place in her path.

What begins as a platonic road trip gradually blossoms into something deeper, and the more Wren learns about Marshall, the more she wants to know. Now all she can do is hope that the universe gets it right this time.

First Line:

It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest.

The Trail of Lost Hearts by Tracey Garvis Graves

Important details about The Trail of Lost Hearts

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Wren)

Trigger Warnings: The Trail of Lost Hearts contains themes of death, infidelity, pregnancy, grief, car accident, gun violence, sexual assault, physical abuse, toxic relationship, medical content, depression, alcohol consumption, childbirth, pregnancy complications, death of a partner, and the death of a sibling. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: The Trail of Lost Hearts contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is nonexplicit sexual content in The Trail of Lost Hearts.

Setting: The Trail of Lost Hearts is set in various Oregon, Ohio, and New York locations.

My Review:

After the last couple of books I read (which tired my brain), I due to read an easy book. That means a book where I don’t have to take notes every 5 minutes and googling words/phrases I need help understanding. And I was expecting The Trail of Lost Hearts to be a book similar to what I just finished. So, imagine my surprise when it was the complete opposite. Now, I am not saying that this book is an easy read (it deals with loss and grief), but it didn’t give me a headache reading it. Plus, I like the author, having read her previous books.

The Trail of Lost Hearts’ storyline follows Wren’s recovery after her fiancee’s death. I found the storyline to be well-written. It was also fascinating that Wren and Marshall’s hobby, geocaching, was featured. Geocaching is something that I need to become more familiar with, and the author opened a whole new world for me.

Wren’s story was heartbreaking. She was dealt two considerable blows in one night, and I didn’t blame her for crawling into bed and staying there. I liked seeing Wren’s healing as she got deeper into her geocaching journey. What she experienced on the trail helped her accept what happened, and her experiences toughened her for the next twist in her storyline.

I liked Marshall, but I wish the author had revealed his backstory to Wren sooner. What he went through significantly damaged him. Marshall’s healing was as well documented as Wren’s, but you could see it in his emails, texts, and phone calls with Wren. By the end of the book, Marshall seemed to be at peace.

I know this book was billed as a romance, but it was more about healing than romance. I enjoyed seeing both Wren and Marshall heal from their individual trauma. Wren’s journey to healing was incredible. She went from being angry, bitter, and grief-stricken to one who was at peace with what happened. While Marshall’s experience wasn’t as in-depth as Wren’s, I got the same sense of peace from him.

The romance angle of The Trail of Lost Hearts was sweet. I liked that both Wren and Marshall had to fight to keep their relationship going. Their relationship was one of the more true-to-life ones that I have read. They are also some of my favorite fictional couples.

The end of The Trail of Lost Hearts was bittersweet. I liked that Wren got closure (I can’t say with who or why because it is a huge spoiler). I also liked that Marshall made the right choice. And the epilogue was fantastic!!!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Travey Garvis Graves for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Trail of Lost Hearts. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Trail of Lost Hearts, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Tracey Garvis Graves

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam

Date of publication: September 12th, 2023

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Gothic, Adult Suspense, Adult Fiction

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A social media influencer with a secret past buys a murder house to renovate, but finds more than she bargained for behind the peeling wallpaper in this gothic psychological debut.

Sarah Slade is starting over. As the new owner of the infamous Black Wood House—the scene of a grisly murder-suicide—she’s determined that the fixer-upper will help reach a new audience on her successful lifestyle blog, and distract her from her failing marriage.

But as Sarah paints over the house’s horrifying past, she knows better than anyone that a new façade can’t conceal every secret. Then the builders start acting erratically and experiencing bizarre accidents—and Sarah knows there’s only so long she can continue to sleep in the bedroom with the bloodstained floor and suffer the mysterious footsteps she hears from the attic.

When menacing notes start appearing everywhere, Sarah becomes convinced that someone or something is out to kill her—her husband, her neighbors, maybe even the house itself. The more she remodels Black Wood House, the angrier it seems to become.

With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. Though she desperately clings to the lies she’s crafted to conceal her own secrets, Sarah Slade must wonder . . . was it all worth it? Or will this house be her final unraveling?

First Line:

Welcome to Black House.

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

Important details about The Stranger Upstairs

Pace: Fast

POV: 1st person (Sarah)

Trigger Warnings: The Stranger Upstairs contains themes of mental illness, murder, alcoholism, death, alcohol, animal cruelty, violence, blood, suicide, panic attacks/disorders, vomiting, infidelity, toxic relationships, psychosis, gaslighting, grief, addiction, stalking, injury/injury detail, bullying, emotional abuse, self-harm, chronic illness, suicidal thoughts, toxic friendship, domestic abuse, medical content, classism, eating disorder, death of a parent, drug abuse, and police brutality.

Language: The Stranger Upstairs contains moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in The Stranger Upstairs.

Setting: The Stranger Upstairs is set in Beacon, Australia.

My Review:

I enjoy reading psychological thrillers. So, when a psychological thriller ends in my emails, I either accept the request (if it is through a publisher) or buy the book. And that was the case with The Stranger Upstairs.

The main storyline in The Stranger Upstairs centers around Sarah. Sarah is a therapist/blogger/self-help writer who had just bought a house where a man killed his wife, attempted to kill his daughter, and then committed suicide. She and her husband bought the house thinking they would show the renovations step-by-step and eventually sell the home for double what they paid. I felt the storyline was well written when it centered on Sarah, keeping me glued to the book.

Sarah wasn’t a very likable character and wasn’t a reliable narrator. She wasn’t forthcoming with the truth, and what she did admit to was a little suspect. Everything she remembered about her life before she left with Joe seemed skewed, and I honestly couldn’t figure out if she was telling the truth. As her mental health declined, the more I tended not to believe anything that came out of her mouth. By the end of the book, she had me so twisted that I couldn’t figure out which end was up with her.

The whole murder house mystery was intriguing. I could see someone taking an old house with a history, like Black Wood House, and flipping it. There are people out there who would pay good money to live in an infamous house. I also see how a small town would close ranks against a new house owner. Even the nasty jerk whose uncle was the chief of police was believable (there is always that one nepobaby who thinks they rule the town).

The mystery/thriller angle kept me glued to the book. I figured out what was going on with the little nasty things (being unable to get local help, the cold shoulders, and the rat in the mailbox), but I couldn’t figure out the more significant things until almost the end of the book.

My only complaint about the book was the ending. Several twists made sense and explained some things. But I didn’t understand what happened during that last chapter. It just didn’t make sense and left me with more questions.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam, NetGalley, and Lisa M. Matlin for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Stranger Upstairs. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Stranger Upstairs, then you will enjoy these books: