Category: book review

The Block Party by Jamie Day

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: July 18th, 2023

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Contemporary, Adult, Psychological Thriller, Adult Fiction

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

This summer, meet your neighbors.

The residents of the exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road are entangled in a web of secrets and scandal utterly unknown to the outside world, and even to each other.

On the night of the annual Summer block party, there has been a murder.

But, who did it and why takes readers back one year earlier, as rivalries and betrayals unfold—discovering that the real danger lies within their own block and nothing—and no one—is ever as it seems.

First Line:

Alexandra Fox meant to have only a couple of drinks at the block party.

The Block Party by Jamie Day

Every summer, the residents of Alton Road throw a block party exclusive to their cul-de-sac. Usually, it runs smoothly. But this year, something tragic happened. Someone was murdered. Who was murdered? Why was that person murdered? Those questions would be tough to answer because Alton Road’s perfect facade has been marred by cheating, drug use, and domestic violence since the last block party. When the killer is revealed, it will change the lives of the remaining residents.

I was hyped to read The Block Party. Growing up in northeastern coastal Massachusetts and an upper-middle-class neighborhood, I know how close those neighborhoods can be. And how cliquey they are. But that isn’t what attracted me to the book. That was just a bonus content that I enjoyed reading. No, I initially accepted the invite because this book was getting great reviews and was in one of my favorite genres. I am glad that I did read this book because, oh man, it took me for a ride and a half. Put it this way, I couldn’t figure out who the killer was and was shocked when it was revealed.

The Block Party is a fast-paced book set in the fictional city of Meadowbrook, Massachusetts. I was pleasantly surprised that the author could keep the fast pace up. Why? The plotline was split between past and present with dual POVs of Alex and Lettie (also in 3rd person for Alex and 1st for Lettie). Having all that going on usually results in one or both storylines going on track. But, the author kept the storylines on track and the momentum going. I loved it!! I also liked the online forum that the author included when switching before past and present. Usually, it foreshadowed what was going to happen. I also love that she got the different types of people on those boards down pat.

The main storyline of The Block Party is the murder that happened during the present-day block party. The author then backs it up to last year’s block party and shows the events that led up to the murder. The author did a fantastic job of casting doubt on everyone involved in the storyline. I was astonished when everything came together at the end of the book. The murderer was the last person I thought it would be.

The secondary storylines added extra depth and intrigue to the main one. The author didn’t hold back on how dysfunctional these people are. Everything from adult/minor relationships to stalking to drug/alcohol abuse to mental illness is featured. These secondary storylines fed into the main one and gave me a list of suspects.

I didn’t exactly like Alex. Growing up around people like her made it difficult for me to form an attachment to her. But I did feel bad. She was under a lot of stress and had a lot of things on her plate. But, the book primarily focused on her and how she was directly connected to everything happening. Her issues were more of her own making than what Lettie was dealing with, which was more profound.

I liked Lettie, and I was rooting for her the entire book. She was passionate about different causes. She was passionate to the point where she vandalized a school and was turned in by her ex-best friend. The author formed Lettie’s storyline around that incident and the revenge she wanted. Once she took her revenge, Lettie was eaten up by guilt. There was a point in the book where I wanted to hug her and tell her to talk to her parents. I am going to stop right here because of spoilers.

The mystery angle of The Block Party was wild. I had zero clue who the killer was or who was killed. I did try to guess, but I wasn’t even close. The author did a great job throwing out red herrings and keeping that angle so twisty that I couldn’t figure it out.

The end of The Block Party was interesting. I liked how the murderer (and who was murdered) was revealed and the reason why that person did it. I also liked that the community page deleted the thread and had a warning aimed at one of the members (just like in real life). The epilogue was just as interesting as the rest of the book. The author gave updates on where the main characters were with their lives and how they dealt with the aftermath of everything.

I would recommend The Block Party to anyone over 21. There is language, violence, and nongraphic sexual situations.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Block Party. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of The Block Party, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Take the Honey and Run (A Bee Keeping Mystery: Book 1) by Jennie Marts

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Date of Publication: July 18th, 2023

Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Family, Contemporary

Series: A Bee Keeping Mystery

Take the Honey and Run—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N

Goodreads Synopsis:

The town is all abuzz when a murder occurs in Jennie Marts’ debut cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Amanda Flower.

As a successful mystery author, Bailey Briggs writes about murder, but nothing prepares her for actually discovering the dead body of the founder of her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado. Bailey grew up at Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch and was raised by her beekeeping grandmother, Blossom Briggs, aka Granny Bee, and her two eccentric sisters, Aster and Marigold—which is why she drops everything to come home and help Granny Bee after a bad fall.

A broken foot doesn’t stop her grandmother from ruling The Hive, her granny’s book club, or continuing to prepare and package her bee-inspired products. But when Bailey’s grandmother’s infamous “Honey I’m Home” hot spiced honey turns out to “bee” the murder weapon and her granny is now the prime suspect, Bailey has no choice but to use her fictional detective skills to help solve the murder and ‘smoke-out’ the real culprit.

With the help of Bailey’s witty bestie, a pair of meddling aunts, the feisty members of The Hive, and her computer-savvy daughter, this amateur sleuth is determined to solve the case. A malicious attack and an ominous threat reveal that someone wants Bailey to butt out of the investigation, but there’s no way she’s backing down. She must use her skills to uncover the truth and catch the clever culprit before her grandmother ends up bee-hind bars.

First Line:

The speedometer ticked up another notch, matching Bailey Brigg’s pulse as she and her daughter drove down the two-lane highway heading toward her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado.

Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts

Famous mystery author Bailey and her daughter Daisy are going home to Humble Hills, Colorado, to care for her grandmother, Granny Bee. Granny Bee had broken her foot and needed help around the apiary and cattle ranch. Soon after arriving, Bailey witnesses her grandmother run off the town’s mayor, Werner Humble, and threaten to kill him. Wanting to smooth things over (and figure out what was happening), Bailey goes to Warner’s house and sees him lying dead, covered in her grandmother’s signature hot honey. When her grandmother is brought in for questioning, Bailey is determined to clear her name. But in doing so, Bailey uncovers decades of deceit and blackmail. Warner wasn’t the upstanding citizen that the town thought he was. With Sawyer, the sheriff and her long-lost love, investigation tightening, Bailey is on a different deadline: To clear her grandmother’s name. Who killed Warner and why? Is Granny Bee innocent?

I had initially been on the fence when I saw this book. But I kept seeing it popping up in emails and on NetGalley’s homepage. It was a sign for me to download. I am glad that I did because I really enjoyed this book!! I was laughing my butt off at some of the jokes and quips sprinkled throughout the book. It isn’t often that a mystery combines with humor and works.

Take the Honey and Run was a medium to fast-paced book set in Humble Hills, Colorado. The pacing for Take the Honey and Run was good, but it could have slowed down some. I kept having to go back and reread the passage because I felt I missed something.

Usually, I would fill this with doom and gloom about reading previous books. But I’ll skip that because this is book one, and there are no previous books. Take the Honey and Run is the first book in the A Bee Keeping Mystery series.

The main storyline in Take the Honey and Run is the mystery of Warner Humble’s death, Granny Bee’s involvement (or noninvolvement), and Bailey’s investigation. I will say that this is the first time a honey allergy has been used (to my knowledge) to kill off a character in a mystery. I found it unique. I was very puzzled by who killed Warner. When Bailey started investigating, 3-4 other suspects besides her grandmother appeared. It made sense to me (and it should have to Bailey, with her being a mystery writer) that her grandmother would be the number one suspect because of the threat she made against him in front of the sheriff. I wasn’t a fan that Bailey took it upon herself to interrogate suspects and then didn’t share information with the sheriff. That is a pet peeve of mine when reading mysteries. It drives me up the wall when the heroine gets info and sits on it. But, saying that, Bailey did get some good leads and several great reasons why Warner would have been murdered.

A bunch of more minor secondary storylines fed into the main one. The author did use most of these as red herrings. And these storylines also outlined what scumbag Warner was.

I liked Bailey. Her wanting to clear Granny Bee’s name came from a good place, and I know she thought that with her background in writing mysteries, she could maybe stay one step ahead of the killer. But, honestly, while she got some great leads, she could have been better at it. The scene where she broke into Warner’s house and got her foot stuck in the toilet was funny and proved my point. I also liked that she brought a PI friend into the investigation, and that friend has sparks with Evie, Bailey’s best friend. I also guessed at her secret (the one she kept alluding to). It wasn’t tough to figure that out.

The secondary characters made this book. The Hive, as they are called, were the best friends a woman could have. They flocked (or buzzed?) around Granny Bee when everything happened. I liked that they were willing to take down a grown man (oh, did that scene make me laugh) because they suspected he killed Warner. But they also didn’t let a man come between them. Instead, it made their relationships stronger. Daisy and Evie also should be mentioned. Daisy because she was an awesome kid, and I liked that the author had her get into mischief while Bailey was out investigating. Evie, because she was Bailey’s ride-or-die. She was willing to help Bailey do anything with the investigation, including breaking and entering.

The mystery angle was well written. This plot was very twisty, with red herrings and misdirections being thrown like confetti. It made the book much more interesting to read. The reasoning behind Warner’s killing was sad and a little funny at the same time. I had no idea who the killer was. So, when it was revealed, I was shocked. I kept shaking my head and going, “No way.”

There was a hint of a love triangle between Mateo, Bailey, and Sawyer. It was enough to get me wondering. Will Bailey choose between her high school sweetheart or her best friend’s hot older brother?

Also, what intrigued me was why Sawyer disappeared. Bailey and Sawyer referenced it several times during the book. But it was when Evie and Bailey found the files, and Bailey gave Sawyer his file, the author answered that question. It wasn’t right what was done to him, and I am glad that the sheriff decided to go back. I do wonder what was in the Delgados and Granny Bees. The author revealed Bailey’s at the end, but nothing was said about it. It was very frustrating.

The end of Take the Honey and Run was exciting and sad. How will the missing files, what was in Granny Bee’s and Bailey’s files, and the want-to-be love triangle work out in the upcoming books? As I said, I didn’t see a twist about how the murderer was and why that person killed Warner. The author did leave the series open to book 2, though.

I recommend Take the Honey and Run to anyone over 16. There is mild language, moderate violence, and no sexual situations.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and Jennie Marts for allowing me to read and review Take the Honey and Run. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Take the Honey and Run, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Jennie Marts

Against the Odds (North Oak: Book 7) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Rebel House Ink

Date of publication: July 24th, 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Equestrian

Series: North Oak

Born to Run—book 1 (review here)

Yearling—book 2 (review here)

Morning Glory—book 3 (review here)

To Bottle Lightening—book 4 (review here)

Far Turn—book 5 (review here)

Dark Horse—book 6 (review here)

Against the Odds—book 7

Ride for Glory—book 8

Hard Boot—book 9

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Alex’s racing career starts with Venus Nights, the filly she helped birth into the world, and a head case mare named Florescent Cheerio who Brooke has claimed.

When things go missing around the North Oak barns, Alex is sure she is being stalked. What’s more is Venus Galaxies has foaled twins, fighting for their lives to survive. Can they beat the odds?

First Line:

Sixteen-year-old Alexandra Anderson zipped her racing silks, tucking the tails into her bright white breeches.

Against the Odds by Ann Hunter

Alex is finally getting her life back in order and is ready to start racing. She is racing again and excitedly waiting for Venus Galaxy to foal. But, when Alex notices that her belongings are going missing, Alex immediately thinks she is being stalked. Then she has an accident while warming up a horse known for being unpredictable and is benched while her arm heals. During that time, Alex is confronted by the past she left behind and her soul horse giving birth to twins. Will Alex be able to face her past? Will the twin foals and Venus Galaxy survive?

When I started to get ready to read this book, I did some brush-up reading about horse racing, horse farms, and jockeys. What I read fascinated me. Women make up 27.2% of jockeys in horse racing (stated in this article), making it a male-dominated sport. So, to have a teenage girl (OK, woman) trying to break into this world was fascinating. What I read aligned with what the author portrayed (the sexist remarks made to Alex at the beginning of the book). That, along with a twist I genuinely didn’t see coming (even though the author warned me), made this book fantastic.

Against the Odds is the 7th book in the North Oak series. While this could be read as a stand-alone book, I recommend reading books 1-6 first. That way, you better understand Alex, her background, and the backstories of the other people in the book.

Against the Odds is a fast-paced book mostly set on a horse farm in Hamlin, Kentucky. I feel that the book’s pacing was perfect for it. It matched Alex’s energy and her whip-fast responses to people and situations. I had no issue following the storyline. There was no backtracking or me going, “Huh, what?” at any point in this book.

The main storyline of Against the Odds is focused on Alex, her continuing recovery from rape, her racing ambitions, her relationships (romantic and otherwise), and her love of horses. Against the Odds was a well-written storyline that kept me glued to the book. There was also a massive twist in the storyline that I didn’t see coming.

I liked Alex, but was she stubborn, like her being mad at her foster mother about something I can’t mention because of spoilers. That went on for more than half the book!! I worried about her health, mainly when she started skipping meals and throwing herself up. I worried about how it would affect her racing (which it did) and how the people in her life would help her. I also worried for her mental well-being and wondered (out loud, which earned a look from my SO). But the author addressed my worries and some in the book. I also loved her interactions with the horses. Her respect and love for these animals shone through the book.

I was thrilled when the author let Brooke have her chapters. It was nice to see Alex through someone else’s eyes. It was also nice to see the races/training of the racehorses through someone else other than Alex. I did laugh when she rescued Fluorescent Cheerio (the name alone made me giggle), but I didn’t laugh when I realized precisely what horse Flo was and how she was treated.

Alex’s relationships were still as messy as in the previous six books. She still had feelings for both Dejado and Carol. But, what was interesting, was that the author threw Brooke into the mix. Brooke had feelings for Dejado, which he didn’t return. While I want a resolution to the jumble, I like figuring out who will end up with whom.

The horses were still the main focus of the book. I was on pins and needles with Venus Galaxies foaling. That whole chapter had me biting my nails. I know that twin foals sometimes don’t survive birthing, and I wondered if that was how the author would go with the storyline. Also, Fluorescent Cheerio was a welcome distraction to the book. I loved her personality. She also came so far in the book. From an abused horse to one that was happy but had quirks. I loved it!!

I didn’t see the twist in this storyline coming. Honestly, I thought it was Brad stalking Alex. I didn’t expect what was revealed. My jaw dropped, and I had to put my Kindle down. After the shock wore off, I got very angry with North. This was something that Alex should have known way before she found out the way she did. But, at the same time, I was pretty excited to see how this twist will affect Alex.

The end of Against the Odds was interesting. It set the stage for book 8. There were no endings of storylines; everything was left in the air.

I recommend Against the Odds to anyone over 16. There is language, mild violence, and no sexual situations.

Many thanks to Ann Hunter for allowing me to read and review Against the Odds. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Against the Odds, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Ann Hunter:

Play to Win by Jodie Slaughter

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

Date of publication: July 11th, 2023

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, LGBT, Adult Fiction

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Jodie Slaughter’s latest rom-com, Play to Win , is a sizzling romance where a winning lottery ticket is meant to be a new start but instead becomes a second chance at love.

Miriam Butler’s life is going nowhere in the slowest, most excruciating way possible. Stuck in the same barely-paying job she’s had since she was sixteen and spending every night sleeping in the spare twin bed in her mother’s house, her existence might be hilarious if it wasn’t so bleak. One trip to her favorite corner store upends everything when she finds herself the winner of a Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot. Unfortunately, not even life-altering roses come without their painful thorns. Hers just so happen to be in the form of an estranged husband who has the right to claim his share of her money.

It’s been eight years since Leo Vaughn has had a conversation with his wife. When she calls out of the blue, practically begging him to come back to Greenbelt, the last thing he expects her to tell him when he gets there is that she’s come into a whole heap of money. She offers him a life-changing proposition of his own. Take a lump sum, finally sign the divorce papers, and be done with her for good. Only, a forever without her is the last thing Leo wants. So he gives a proposition of his own. One that won’t cost her nearly as many millions, but will buy him the time to do the one thing he’s been hungry to do since he left — win her back.

First Line:

Digging a hole was not nearly as easy as it looked on TV. First off, shovels were heavy. Second, South Carolina dirt seemed to be as hard as her mama always said her head was.

Play to Win by Jodie Slaughter

Miriam is stuck in a rut and can’t seem to get out of it. Living at home with her mother and working the same job that barely pays her bills, her life doesn’t seem that great. That is until she stops at the corner store she usually frequents and, on a whim, plays a Mega Millions lottery ticket. That lottery ticket is the sole winner of the jackpot—over $200 million. Overnight, Miriam’s life is changed. But there is a downside to her winnings. Miriam finds out that her ex-husband (never divorced) is legally entitled to a portion of her winnings—if he doesn’t accept the offer of a divorce and a legally binding document with a payoff. When Miriam calls Leo (her ex) and asks him to come home, he is curious. They haven’t spoken in eight years. When Miriam presents Leo with the divorce papers, he counters with another offer. Let him win her back and use the money she would have given him to help out members of his family that need it. But Miriam is still hurt over Leo leaving and hesitates to let him back in. Will Leo be able to win Miriam back? Or will he have to sign the divorce papers and let the love of his life go?

Play to Win was several rom-coms on a limited time Read Now on St. Martin’s Press NetGalley page. Unlike the cozy mysteries I downloaded earlier this year, I read the blurbs before deciding to read them. This book’s blurb caught my attention because, in a way, it reflected my life. So, I downloaded it. Also, what figured into my decision was that I wanted to know what Miriam would do with the money she won. I am glad I read it because this was a sweet book.

Play to Win had a medium-to-fast storyline. The pacing of this storyline did fit it. The author was able to zip through some of the background noise and keep me focused on the storyline. Also, there was no lag in this book, which I appreciated.

Play to Win takes place in the fictional town of Greenbelt, South Carolina. This town is a small town with all of the small-town trappings. Everyone was in everyone else’s business. What I liked is that the author chose to showcase this but keep it in the background. But, on the same page, because it was a small town, I was surprised that Miriam could keep her lottery-winning under wraps.

The main storyline of Play to Win centers on Miriam, her winning the lottery, Leo, his attempts to win her back, and what she does with the money. It was a well-written storyline that kept me glued to the book. I became invested in the plotline and the characters. I am hoping that the author does another book in this universe!!

I was surprised by how much I connected with Miriam and loved watching her character grow throughout the book. She came across, at first, as a bit prickly, but as the book went on, that went away. Her astonishment over winning the lottery was perfect, and I loved how she was paying it forward. I did get a little irritated with how she treated Leo. But, there was no background about their relationship until well past the middle of the book (but not quite at the end). I wouldn’t have been so grumpy with her actions if it had been given earlier. Because once it was explained, I was furious on her behalf.

I liked Leo, but I felt he laid it on too thick with Miriam once he was back in Greenbelt. I understood why he was doing it, but at the same time, I was like, “Back off.” His past actions were directly influencing how Miriam felt about him. Once the author explained what happened, I was so mad at him. He took the coward’s way out. But, the good thing is that he understood what he did was wrong, that his way of thinking might be a little outdated, and that he was willing to do whatever it took to make it up to Miriam.

The romance angle of Play to Win was well written. The author did a great job with the second-chance romance trope. I loved that Miriam wasn’t easily won over and that Leo had to work to regain her trust. Also, he had to go through her friends and mother to romance her. That scene with Miriam’s mother (in the church basement) was pure gold. While I knew this was a romance, and there would be a happy ending, there was a point in the book where I didn’t think it would happen. And that, my friends, is one of the many things that made this book for me.

Miriam and Leo had insane chemistry, and I was waiting for it to combust. The author took her sweet time having them get together. The sex scenes were hot but graphic. I liked that the author was picky about when Miriam and Leo would have sex. It was a couple of times before they got back together, and once at the end of the book.

The end of Play to Win was everything I hoped and wanted it to be. I liked seeing Leo and Miriam get their happy ending. The author was able to wrap up all the storylines in a way that satisfied me. I smiled when I stopped reading, and I typically don’t do that.

I recommend Play to Win to anyone over 21. There is graphic sex, language, and mild violence.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Jodie Slaughter for allowing me to read and review Play to Win. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Play to Win, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Jodie Slaughter:

Thief Liar Lady by D.L. Soria

Publisher: Randon House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey

Date of publication: July 11th, 2023

Genre: Fantasy, Retellings, Adult, Romance, Fairy Tales, Fiction, Science Fiction, High Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Fairy Tale Retellings

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

I’m not who you think I am.

My transformation from a poor, orphaned scullery maid into the enchantingly mysterious lady who snagged the heart of the prince did not happen–as the rumors insisted–in a magical metamorphosis of pumpkins and glass slippers. On the first evening of the ball, I didn’t meekly help my “evil” stepmother and stepsisters primp and preen or watch forlornly out the window as their carriage rolled off toward the palace. I had other preparations to make.

My stepsisters and I had been trained for this–to be the cleverest in the room, to be quick with our hands and quicker with our lies. We were taught how to get everything we want in this world, everything men always kept for themselves: power, wealth, and prestige. And with a touchingly tragic past and the help of some highly illegal spells, I would become a princess, secure our fortunes, and we would all live happily ever after.

But there’s always more to the story. With my magic running out, war looming, and a handsome hostage prince–the wrong prince–distracting me from my true purpose with his magnetic charm and forbidden flirtations, I’m in danger of losing control of the delicate balance I’ve created…and that could prove fatal.

There’s so much more riding on this than a crown.

First Line:

I never thought the tale of my daring escape from servitude into the glittering world of the royal palace would be boring, but after the hundreth telling it had begun to lose its shine.

Thief Liar Lady by D.L. Soria

Ash (better known as Lady Aislinn) knew what she was doing when she met Everett at his birthday ball and used magic to have him fall in love with her. Under her stepmother’s tutelage, Ash had learned to lie, use her body, and use illegal magic to capture a man. Now that she has the prince, she needs to make it to the wedding, and she will be in the clear. Ash is marrying the prince for his money and title, and so much more is riding on her wedding. But, when she meets the hostage prince, the dashing Rance. Then everything she has worked so hard for is shaken. Ash cannot let Rance distract her from her plans. But when the unthinkable happens, and Rance is implicated, Ash must decide: Will she stand by her Prince Charming? Or will she follow her heart?

When I saw this would be a retelling of Cinderella, the book caught my interest. For some reason, I have seen many fairy tale retellings on my Goodreads home page, and when I saw that Random House had this as a wish on NetGalley, I decided to wish on it. I wasn’t expecting it to be granted, and when I got the email, I was thrilled. I was glad when Random House granted this wish because I enjoyed the book (even if I had a few quibbles about it).

Thief Liar Lady is a fast-paced book. Because it is a fast-paced book, the plot line lags slightly towards the middle (around the wedding and the events after). It didn’t affect how I liked the book or my ability to stay focused on it(I have outside influences that do that).

Thief Liar Lady takes place entirely in the country of Solis. Solis didn’t seem like a place that I would like to live. If you were a native Solisian, then you were alright. But there was much hatred and mistrust if you came from the kingdom that Solis had been at war with. I could go on about genocide and religious suppression, but I won’t. Just remember that it happened in this book and was heartbreaking to read.

Thief Liar Lady’s storyline centers around Ash and the various activities that she is involved with. I loved that the author took the Cinderella fairy tale and had it take such a turn. I loved its what-if factor (What if Cinderella had an agenda). I also loved the backstory that the author built up for her. Ash was mistreated by her stepmother, there is no doubt about that, but she and her stepsisters were equally mistreated and trained, just like Ash. I did have a quibble with how Ash’s story was laid out. I wouldn’t say I liked starting the book in the middle of the story. It left me feeling off balance while reading. Also, I felt off balance while reading Ash’s backstory (how she got engaged and why). It was thrown in with no lead-in. This book’s use of magic (or lusture) was interesting, but Ash relied too much on it. Also, if Rance trained Puppy to detect lusture, why didn’t anyone pay attention when she started going nuts everything Ash was around?

I liked Ash. She was very straightforward with her intentions and why she was marrying Everett. She showed early in the book that she wasn’t easily manipulated. By the middle of the book, I liked that she decided she wouldn’t let people walk on her. That scene with Ryland was gold. I did worry for her when she started caring more for Rance than she should. I knew she was head over heels for him by the cottage scene. That’s what made everything that happened afterward so bittersweet.

I liked Rance but didn’t know what to think about him. He was an enigma and remained an enigma until the end of the book. I did have questions about his feelings for Ash throughout the book. I questioned how he felt until the end of the book.

I liked Everett, but I couldn’t tell if what I was seeing was the actual prince or the prince that had been repeatedly dosed with lusture. So, reading his scenes with Ash made me a little sick. Here is what seems to be a nice guy forced to be in love with someone he would have never looked at. The author focused his entire character on Ash, so I wonder if the guy I was seeing when the magic wore off was real.

The romance angle of Thief Liar Lady was well written. The central romance between Everett and Ash slowly leads to a love triangle between Everett, Ash, and Rance. And that slowly gave way to just Ash and Rance. As I mentioned above, the romance between Ash and Everett was forced because Ash had Everett under magical control. I didn’t get to see the build-up. Instead, the author highlighted the downfall. The romance whose build-up was highlighted was Ash and Rance. It was a prolonged build-up. It seemed to stall out there until the rebels kidnapped Ash and Rance. After that, it got going.

The storyline with Ash, her grandmother, and the rebellion was sad. Ash believed what she was doing was for the best. But, I feel her grandmother used her for information and didn’t care about her. The scene at the cottage only cemented that for me.

The storyline with Ash, her stepsisters, and her stepmother made me angry. The author gave little information about Ash’s childhood, but the glimpses were abusive. Ash and her stepsisters went through hell growing up. I wondered when the control Ash’s stepmother exerted over those girls would snap. It did towards the end of the book, and the fallout was explosive.

The end of Thief Liar Lady was not what I thought it would be. I loved how Ash fixed everything. It was unconventional, but it worked. The author was able to wrap up and end all of the storylines in ways that satisfied me.

I would recommend Thief Liar Lady to anyone over 16. There is no language, but there is violence and sexual situations.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and D.L. Soria for allowing me to read and review Thief Liar Lady. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of Thief Liar Lady, then you will enjoy reading these books:

My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez

Publisher: Meryl Moss Media Group, Rosewind Books

Date of publication: June 6th, 2023

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Tessa Talman first meets Simon Fremont, not only is she attracted to him, she’s intrigued by how different their lives are. He’s a dedicated scientist, practical, pragmatic, and grounded. She’s a head-in-the-clouds romance author. As their relationship grows, they meet in places around the world, while continuing to live in different countries.

Though their feelings for each other deepen, their priorities remain the same. Simon is in a hurry to be financially sound and settle down, but Tessa is enjoying her freedom and newfound success. Neither is willing to give in, but as each goodbye gets harder, Tessa begins to wonder whether fame is the path to happiness, or if she has everything she needs in Simon.

Just as Tessa finds the courage to go after her own happily ever after, the unthinkable happens, separating them in ways she never imagined.

To move forward, she must let go of the past and determine once and for all if love is truly more powerful than the pain of goodbye.

First Line:

The day she met him, Tessa was second in the priority lane for the Boeing 777 bound for La Guardia from Boston.

My Goodbye Girl by Anna Gomez

Tessa and Simon meet while waiting for a flight to New York City. Tessa, an acclaimed author, is heading there for a book convention, while Simon, a scientist, is heading there to speak at a scientific convention. This meeting, as unconventional as it is, leads to a romance that grows with each stop they make around the country and the world. As their feelings grow and deepen, Tessa must come to terms with her issues regarding commitment. And Simon has a secret that he needs to tell Tessa. But, as Tessa gathers the courage to believe in her own happily ever after, the unthinkable happens, and Tessa is forced to abandon her dreams of a life with Simon. But, two years after, Tessa comes to terms with the past and her feelings for Simon. But is it too late for that? Had Tessa missed her chance? Will she have her happily ever after?

When I read the blurb for My Goodbye Girl, the blurb immediately captured me. I am a sucker for friends to lovers and second-chance romances. So, I decided to read this book. I am glad that I did. This book was a great romance. But be warned; you will need Kleenex while reading this book. Some scenes made my heart hurt.

My Goodbye Girl is a medium-paced book. The pacing of this book was a good fit for the storyline. I wasn’t expecting that because of all the travel involved and how fast Simon and Tessa’s romance progressed. But, as I said, it was a good fit for the book. The pacing allowed me to take in each location and enjoy the nuances of Tessa and Simon’s romance.

My Goodbye Girl is set in various cities/states in the United States and several countries worldwide. I was a little meh about the United States locations because I have read about these cities (Chicago, San Fransisco, New York City, Las Vegas) in other books. But the other countries, I loved. Simon and Tessa traveled to England, Greece, the Philippines, China, and France.

The main storyline of My Goodbye Girl is centered around Tessa, Simon, and their relationship. It was a well-written storyline, and it kept my attention.

While I liked Tessa, I thought she was immature during the book’s first half. She did things that constantly made me shake my head. Example: She left Simon high and dry in Las Vegas. He waited for her, but she never showed, and then Simon saw her with the cover model of her book, and they were all frisky. She also didn’t care or didn’t pay attention when Simon explained his medical condition to her. But, thankfully, she did grow out of the immaturity. The end of the book more than compensates for her lack of caring (for lack of a better word) about Simon in the beginning. I am not a massive fan of explosive secrets, either.

I liked Simon a lot, but there were points in the book where I wanted to shake him and say, “She’s just not that interested, man.”But he was like a dog with a bone, and he wouldn’t let up. I don’t think he had any right to be mad about Las Vegas (Tessa and he were not dating at the time). I also got strong stalker vibes from him when he just showed up in Greece and crashed her brother’s engagement party. Who does that? But, I felt that his medical condition fueled his single-minded pursuit of Tessa. I also believe it was what caused him to get in contact with Tessa 2 years after Paris.

The romance angle was well-written. I liked seeing Tessa and Simon falling in love. Instead of doing an Instalove type of romance, Tessa and Simon were friends first. The same thing also happened before they had sex. They had built up a friendship. I loved seeing a romance portrayed that way. It is more real life to me than the usual “I’ve known him/her for four days, and I am head over heels for him/her.” I also wasn’t a massive fan of the mutual cheating. I know it happens, but still, I’m not too fond of it.

I wasn’t too sure what to think about the ending. I liked that Tessa was able to come to terms with her trauma and that she was able to reconnect with Simon. But the secret that she kept from Simon overshadowed everything, as did the secret that Simon somewhat kept from Tessa. Other than that, I loved how it ended and hoped that Tessa’s vision came true!!

I would recommend My Goodbye Girl to anyone over 21. There is violence, language, and sexual situations.

Many thanks to Meryl Moss Media Group, Rosewind Books, NetGalley, and Anna Gomez for allowing me to read and review My Goodbye Girl. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of My Goodbye Girl, then you will enjoy reading these books:

Other books by Anna Gomez:

Macarons Can Be Murder (A Paris Kentucky Bakery Mystery: Book 1) by Rose Betancourt

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Date of publication: July 11th, 2023

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Contemporary

Series: A Paris Kentucky Bakery Mystery

Macarons Can Be Murder—Book 1

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of Ellie Alexander and Lucy Burdette, Rose Betancourt’s series debut is a culinary treat sure to charm.

Living in Paris, Kentucky, and having a sidekick cat named Pepe le Pew gives Marci Beaucoup’s life a certain je ne sais quoi . Combining her love of baking and France, Marci opened La Belle Patisserie to bring her small Southern hometown a bit of French flair and lots of croissants. Everything is sunshine and macarons at the bakery until her landlord calls to tell her she’s selling the property. Marci’s relieved to hear that if the top bidder, an enchanting Frenchman named Antoine Dubois, gets the property, he’ll renew her bakery’s lease. Charmed by Antoine, Marci figures this development isn’t half bad and sees a handsome new landlord in her future—but then Antoine’s estranged ex-girlfriend Kelly turns up dead in front of her bakery. Sacrebleu!

Everyone calls Marci’s pastries “to die for,” but nobody’s actually died at La Belle Patisserie before. Antoine quickly becomes the main suspect to everyone in Paris—including to womanizing detective Maverick Malone. Who else would have killed Kelly but the ex-boyfriend she was just seen fighting with on the day of her death?

Marci finds out from her landlord that if Antoine is arrested, his purchase of her building will fall through—and her landlord will sell to developers instead, who plan to demolish the building and construct a strip mall in its place. Enamored with Antoine and with her patisserie dreams hanging in the balance, Marci is determined to prove Maverick and the rest of Paris wrong and find the true killer before Antoine winds up in jail—and she has to say au revoir to her bakery.   

Now Marci finds herself mixed up in the murder investigation, and she must find the killer before her half-baked theories result in her untimely death.

First Line:

“I need to ask you something,” the woman said. After glancing around at the other customers in the bakery, the blone focused her attention on me again, leaning closer to the counter.

Macarons Can Be Murder by Rose Betancourt

Marci Beaucoup lives her best life, running a French bakery in the small town of Paris, Kentucky. Well, she was until two things happened. The first thing was that her landlord was selling her building to a handsome and charming Antoine Dubois, and the second thing was Marci stumbling across the dead body of Antoine’s ex-girlfriend outside her bakery. With Antoine under suspicion for murder and a developer who has plans to demolish the buildings and build a strip mall waiting for that deal to fall through, Marci decides to solve the case. But, when the killer targets her, Marci needs to find out who the murderer is and why this person killed Kellie before she becomes the next victim.

Macarons Can Be Murder is the last book in the series of mysteries that I downloaded from Crooked Lane Books on NetGalley. And I will admit, I only downloaded it because a cat was on the cover. I didn’t read the blurb or check out any early reviews. I wish I did because I didn’t enjoy reading this book.

Macarons Can Be Murder is the first book in A Paris Kentucky Bakery Mystery. Since it is the first book in the series, you do not need to read any previous books to understand the characters’ backstories/storylines.

Macarons Can Be Murder is a fast-paced book set in Paris, Kentucky. I wish the plotline had been slowed down (the book takes place within a week of Marci finding Kellie’s body). I had to reread chapters to understand what was going on.

The main storyline in Macarons Can Be Murder centers around Marci and her investigation into Kellie’s murder. There is also some focus on Marci’s love life, which I didn’t like. I did like the bare bones of this storyline (small-town baker turns detective to solve a murder), but I didn’t particularly appreciate how the author executed it. The storyline was all over the place, and several secondary storylines were introduced and never went anywhere. That alone drove me up the wall.

I liked Marci but found it very hard to connect with her. She came across as immature, and the way she went around investigating Kellie’s murder made me wince. She also was very hung up on what happened in high school. It was brought up several times with Maverick (she couldn’t trust him because his car broke down and another girl gave him a ride to prom, or as Marci thinks, he ghosted her and took another girl instead). It was also mentioned during different interactions with different people around town.

The storyline with Kellie’s murder and Marci’s investigation was interesting but was all over the place. I figured out who killed Kellie reasonably early in the book (there is a scene where Marci is talking to the B&B owner, and the person is mentioned). When the murderer was revealed, I almost missed it. I read that chapter several times to understand that person was caught. Marci’s investigation was well done, but she did take unnecessary risks while getting information.

There was a romance angle that ran throughout the book. It was a love triangle between Marci, Maverick, and Antoine. I wasn’t a huge fan of that at all. Why? Marci used Antoine to get evidence from him (she invaded his privacy and stole things from him). She also went back and forth about Maverick (see what I wrote above). I would have liked this angle better if I had connected better with Marci.

The end of Macarons Can Be Murder seemed rushed. Again, repeating myself, I had zero clue that the killer had been caught. The plotline was all over the place, and I had an issue keeping things straight. It was also creepy how the author dealt with the romance angle. With all this said, I will read book 2. Once I have started a series, I need to finish it.

If you enjoyed this review of Macarons Can Be Murder, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Rosa Betancourt:

A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe: Book 1) by Victoria Gilbert

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Date of publication: July 11th, 2023

Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Adult

Trigger Warnings: Mental Illness (Anxiety, Depression, OCD, Agoraphobia)

Series: Hunter and Clewe

A Cryptic Clue—Book 1

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

A retired librarian gets back to the books—and into a devilish murder case—in acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert’s new series, the perfect literary adventure for fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.

Sixty-year-old Jane Hunter, forced into early retirement from her job as a university librarian, is seeking a new challenge to keep her spirits up and supplement her meager pension. But as she’s about to discover, a retiree’s life can bring new thrills—and new dangers.

Cameron “Cam” Clewe, an eccentric 33-year-old collector, is also seeking something—an archivist to inventory his ever-expanding compendium of rare books and artifacts. Jane’s thrilled to be hired on by Cam and to uncover the secrets of his latest acquisition, a trove of items related to the classic mystery and detective authors. But Jane’s delight is upended when a body is discovered in Cam’s library. The victim, heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, was the last in line of Cam’s failed romances—and now he’s suspect number one.

Cam vows to use his intelligence and deductive skills to clear his name—but with a slight case of agoraphobia, rampant anxiety, and limited social skills, he’ll need some help. It comes down to Jane to exonerate her new boss—but is he truly innocent?

First Line:

On the day I met Cameron Clewe, I thought I was simply changing jobs. I had no idea I was also changing my life.

A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert

Jane has been forced into retirement as a university librarian. To make ends meet, she answers an ad for an archivist to catalog his collection of rare books and artifacts for Cameron Clewe, a reclusive billionaire. Jane is overjoyed. That is until she finds the body of Cameron’s ex-girlfriend in the library. With evidence pointing at Cameron, Jane and Cameron decides to clear his name. But that is easier said than done. Someone doesn’t want them to find out who killed Cam’s ex-girlfriend or the reason why. Will Jane and Cam find the killer? What was the motive?

Locked room mysteries are a favorite of mine. I love using my mind to figure out who the killer is and why they did it. So, it was no surprise that I decided to pick up A Cryptic Clue. The blurb did its job by capturing my attention and making me want to read this book. And guess what? I enjoyed reading it.

A Cryptic Clue is a medium-paced book. The pacing for this book was perfect. It would have been ruined if it had gone any faster. There was some lag towards the middle of the book, but it did not affect how much I enjoyed it.

I was tickled to read that this book is set in North Carolina. A Cryptic Clue takes place in central North Carolina, mainly in Bradfordville. There were mentions of Winston-Salem sprinkled throughout the book. I live further west of Winston-Salem (about an hour’s drive) and have been dying to visit. Now that I have read the book, I might take a day trip there.

The main storyline in A Cryptic Clue centers around Jane, Cam, the murder of Cam’s ex-girlfriend, and their investigation. This well-written storyline gave little clues as to who the murderer might be. I liked how Jane’s investigation (thanks to the mysteries she read) revealed some possible clues. Of course, I was shocked at who was behind the murder and the reason why. It was pretty sad.

I was going to start with Jane for the character section, but I decided to highlight Cam first. I loved that the author had Cam as neurodivergent (ADHD) and suffering from mental illness (OCD, anxiety, a bit of agoraphobia, and depression) and that he might have autism. He found it hard to connect to people and show emotions. I could understand why he was on Jane’s radar for a while after his ex’s murder and why it took him so long to open up to her. He was also insanely smart and was one step ahead of Jane in their investigation.

I loved Jane. She was a ball of sunshine in this book, and when she decided to help Cam clear his name, she committed to it. She was just an overall nice person. I was obsessed with her job (it is my dream job). I would be happy to sit and just catalog all day. This reason is why I wish the author had given more details about her doing her job. She was also a great detective and did unearth some things that surprised her.

The mystery angle of A Cryptic Clue was amazingly written. This book kept me guessing who the killer was and their motive. For a while, I did think Cam killed his ex. But she had a past and a laundry list of suspects. The more Jane dug into Cam’s ex’s history; the more people turned up. And the motives were as numerous as the suspects. The author had so many red herrings out that I almost didn’t believe it when the killer was revealed.

The end of A Cryptic Clue was one of the better endings I have read. I won’t get into it, but it was very twisty. I liked how the author ended with Cam and Jane bonding in her apartment. It makes me wonder what other books in this series will be like.

I recommend A Cryptic Clue to anyone over 16. There are no sexual situations, but there is mild violence and language.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and Victoria Gilbert for allowing me to read and review A Cryptic Clue. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed reading this review of A Cryptic Clue, than you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Victoria Gilbert

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: July 11th, 2023

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Womens Fiction, Adult, Adult Fiction

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | IndieBound | Indigo

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sadie Montogmery has had good breaks and bad breaks in her life, but as a struggling artist, all she needs is one lucky break. Things seem to be going her way when she lands one of the coveted finalist spots in a portrait competition. It happens to coincide with a surgery she needs to have. Minor, they say. Less than a week in the hospital they say. Nothing about you will change, they say. Upon recovery, it begins to dawn on Sadie that she can see everything around her, but she can no longer see faces.

Temporary, they say. Lots of people deal with this, they say. As she struggles to cope―and hang onto her artistic dreams―she finds solace in her fourteen-year-old dog, Peanut. Thankfully, she can still see animal faces. When Peanut gets sick, she rushes him to the emergency vet nearby. That’s when she meets veterinarian Dr. Addison. And she’s pleasantly surprised when he asks her on a date. But she doesn’t want anyone to know about her face blindness. Least of all Joe, her obnoxious neighbor who always wears a bowling jacket and seems to know everyone in the building. He’s always there at the most embarrassing but convenient times, and soon, they develop a sort of friendship. But could it be something more?

As Sadie tries to save her career, confront her haunting past, and handle falling in love with two different guys she realizes that happiness can be found in the places―and people― you least expect.

First Line:

The first person I called after I found out I’d placed in the North American Portrait Society’s huge career-making yearly contest was my dad.

Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

I am a vast Katherine Center fan. I have read almost all of her books and have loved them. So, when the publisher sent me an email inviting me to review Hello Stranger, I immediately accepted. And guess what? I loved it. I loved it so much that I gave it a rare 5-star review. This book did everything. It made me laugh and cry, and more importantly, it allowed me to connect with the characters.

Hello Stranger is a fast-paced book that takes place entirely in Houston, Texas. Almost all of Katherine Center’s takes place there, and I feel that she makes Houston an exciting place to live.

The plotline for Hello Stranger was unique. Before this book, I think I had only heard of face blindness mentioned on TV. And even then, I thought it was something the author made up. So, reading about it in this book (and googling it on my phone) made it fascinating.

Sadie is a struggling portrait artist living in a hovel on the roof of her best friend’s parent’s building. When a near accident reveals that she has a condition called cavernoma that requires immediate brain surgery, she declines. Earlier that day, Sadie had found out she had placed in a yearly contest that could be huge. But, given no choice (her mother died of the same thing), Sadie undergoes surgery only to discover that she has face blindness (prosopagnosia). To a portrait artist, this is career-ending, but Sadie decides to make the most of it. During this same time, she meets an enigmatic veterinarian when Peanut, her dog, suddenly gets sick. She also meets Joe, a resident in the building she lives in, who is happy to help Sadie when she needs it. Not disclosing her condition to them, Sadie starts dating and falling in love with both. With a deadline approaching and trying to choose between two men, Sadie must make a choice. Along the way, she also comes to terms with her estranged family and their choices. Can Sadie reconcile with her family? Who will she choose? Will she let Joe and the veterinarian know about her face blindness? And what about the contest? What sort of portrait will she paint?

The characters in Hello Stranger were well-written and wonderfully three-dimensional. Initially, I was not too fond of a couple of characters, but I liked them at the book’s end. The only character I consistently did not like was Parker. There was a particular sort of evilness to her, and it only amped up as the book went on.

  • Sadie—I loved her. She was one of the more authentic characters I have read in a book. She made me laugh (I annoyed my husband with the giggling I was doing), and she made me cry. But mostly laugh. I loved how she adapted to face blindness and used it in her art. I also loved how she was with Joe. I understood why she was so upset with her family, too. If I had been treated that way (being sent away to a special school for something that wasn’t even her fault), I would have had zero contact with them. It showed how forgiving (well, in a way, forgiving) she was. And I got her frustration with Parker. I wanted to punch that woman’s face (and I am not a violent person). She did some and said some unforgivable things to Sadie throughout the book.
  • Joe—Ok, so when I read that conversation that he was having about the overweight women who sat on his face and wouldn’t leave, I thought the same thing as Sadie. But, as I got to know him through the book, I started to like him. I thought he was good for Sadie. He even offered to help her with her portrait, which got pretty steamy for a minute. Then a lightbulb went off. I’m not going to say what, but I will say that it must have been confusing to him during a specific scene. I didn’t blame him for being angry.

Hello Stranger fits perfectly into the romance genre. I liked that the author took a more gradual approach to Sadie and Joe’s romance. There was no Instalove. Sadie didn’t like Joe because of the conversation I mentioned above. But, once the friendship turned to romance, it was awesome. What I also liked about this book is the author didn’t even mention that sex. Instead, the author had Sadie and Joe kiss a couple of times (and it was super hot), and the author kept it at that.

The storyline with Sadie, the contest, and her face blindness was well-written and well-researched. I loved seeing how Sadie tried to identify people (gait, hair, voice, personality). I also liked how the author incorporated it into the contest. I am not an artist (not even close to it) and had no clue how an artist with face blindness would use a grid to help paint people. But the author explained that (and I did a little research on my own).

The storyline with Sadie and her family was heartbreaking. It also made me extremely mad at her father and stepmother. I know her stepmother was trying to help during the book (and she did get brownie points for the dress) but believing Parker over Sadie was wrong. When overhearing what that witch said to her at the contest and what she did, I was furious for Sadie. I cried angry tears for her. Thankfully Sadie’s dad did hear and did try to set things right, but still. I had steam coming out of my ears. I hope Parker gets help (it sounds like she needs it).

The storyline with Sadie, Joe, and the veterinarian made me laugh. I figured everything out fairly early in the book. But it was fun to watch Sadie try to juggle two men. I winced during the breakup scene, and I felt so bad when Joe flipped out on Sadie. I 100% understood Joe’s anger and confusion (I would have been confused too). I did say (out loud), “This is why you tell people you have face blindness.”

The end of Hello Stranger was what I expected it to be. Sadie and Joe got their HEA. But, more importantly, other things were also on the way to being healed. I was sad when the book ended because I wanted to see where Joe and Sadie were in 5 years.

I recommend Hello Stranger to anyone over 16. There is no sex (a couple of kissing scenes), mild language, and very mild violence.

I want to thank Saint Martin’s Press and Katherine Center for allowing me to read and review Hello Stranger. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you liked reading Hello Stranger, you will enjoy these books:

Dark Horse (North Oak: Book 6) by Ann Hunter

Publisher: Rebel House Ink

Date of publication: March 1st, 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Equestrian

Series: North Oak

Born to Run—Book 1 (review here)

Yearling—Book 2 (review here)

Morning Glory—Book 3 (review here)

To Bottle Lightening—Book 4 (review here)

Far Turn—Book 5 (review here)

Dark Horse—Book 6

Against the Odds—Book 7

Ride for Glory—Book 8

Hard Boot—Book 9

Inquiry—Book 10

Purchase Links: Kindle

Goodreads Synopsis:

Just when Alex could hardly stand waiting another second to test for her jockey license, a brutal attack sends her spiraling into a depression. She’s a failure as a person, a rider and friend. Even Dejado and Carol can’t seem to reach her. Can they help her pull through, and realize her potential in time to get Venus Nights ready for her first race?

On the heels of Joanna Campbell’s beloved Thoroughbred Series, and Walter Farley’s Black Stallion, comes a brand new teen equestrian series that will sweep you away like a runaway Thoroughbred.

First Line:

Alex woke to the sensation of her arm suspended.

Dark Horse by Ann Hunter

On the eve of her second test for her jockeying license, Alex is brutally attacked by a person she thought was a friend. This attack sends her into a deep depression. Feeling like a failure to everyone, Alex retreats inside herself. With her career as a jockey on the line, can her family and friends get through to her?

I was surprised when the author contacted me to review the rest of this series. I had reviewed books 1-5 years ago (back in 2018ish, I think) and figured she hadn’t written anymore. When I got that email, I jumped on it. I enjoyed the previous books and couldn’t wait to read this one. I wasn’t disappointed.

Before I get into the review, I want to throw a warning up. I haven’t been doing this because of Amazon, but it is warranted. Dark Horse deals with the after-effects of rape. The author detailed the rage towards the rapist, the blame the person raped deals with (internally and from other people), and the frustration that the person raped deals with (police seemingly doing nothing and the rapist walking free) perfectly. These scenes in this book are raw and can be triggering. So read cautiously and keep a Kleenex close because some of these scenes will make you cry.

Dark Horse is a fast-paced book in Hamlin, Kentucky. This book starts fast and keeps the pace up for the entire book. There is no lag, which pleasantly surprised me.

The main storyline in Dark Horse centers around Alex, the after-effects of her rape, her racing dreams, and the horses she loves. My heart broke for Alex while reading this book. She was obviously in pain, and I wanted to reach into the book, hug her, and tell her it would be alright. I also couldn’t understand why her foster parents didn’t put her into counseling afterward. I couldn’t put this book down because I wanted to know what would happen to Alex. I needed to know if she would get better if she would get her jockey’s license, and if the police would do anything about what happened to her.

I liked Alex, but I didn’t like seeing her this way. I wanted old Alex back, but I understood that Alex would never be the same after what happened to her. I think she had a lot of guts to show up at school, still having a bitten lip and black eye from Brad. It disgusted me to see how Brad initially tried to intimidate her, which escalated to him stalking her in school. How the principal treated Alex when she was told about Brad also disgusted me. And don’t get me started on the police. Why is it always the women’s fault when reporting a rape? And the excuse that he was from a good-standing family disgusted me. Guess what? People from good-standing families do bad things, like beating and raping women. My heart almost imploded with sadness in the middle of the book when Alex discovered something was being kept from her. While keeping something important secret was wrong, I understood why Hilary did. But, the cherry on top of everything made Alex make a very rash decision.

The racing angle of the book was fascinating. While I am somewhat knowledgeable about show jumping/dressage, I am not knowledgeable about racing. So, I enjoyed reading about how she got her license and how she had to prove herself to the officials.

I also loved the horse angle of the book. I was pleased to see that Morning Glory, Venus Nights, and Promenade were in this book. Those horses were a big part of Alex’s healing.

The author did touch upon Alex’s sexuality several times during the book. She had an on/off-again relationship with Dejado. She also was romantically attracted to Carol. The hint of a love triangle is given during the huge confrontation scene with Brad and Dejado. But I am wondering if it will be like that. Something tells me that Carol doesn’t feel the same way about Alex.

The end of Dark Horse was excellent. I liked how Carol and Alex decided enough was enough (after Alex’s accident with Promenade). They wanted to nail Brad’s butt to the wall and make him pay. That was one of the best and most satisfying scenes in the entire book. But the author didn’t exactly end the storyline. Instead, if felt suspended (I am sure there will be a trial). The author also didn’t end any of the other storylines. Instead, they will be continued into the other books.

I recommend Dark Horse to anyone over 16. There is violence and mild language, but there are no sexual situations. There is also talk of rape (off-page), depression, one scene of self-harm (cutting), and reckless behavior around horses.

Many thanks to Anne Hunter for allowing me to read and review Dark Horse. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoyed this review of Dark Horse, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Ann Hunter: