A Light in the Desert by Anne Montgomery

A Light in the Desert by [Montgomery, Anne]

4 Stars

Publisher: Treehouse Publishing Group

Date of publication: November 6th, 2018

Genre: General Fiction

Where you can find A Light in the Desert: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

A Light in the Desert traces the story of a lonely pregnant teenager, a Vietnam veteran and former Special Forces sniper who, as he descends into the throes of mental illness, latches onto the girl, and a group of Pentecostal zealots – the Children of Light – who have been waiting over thirty years in the Arizona desert for Armageddon. The Amtrak Sunset Limited, a passenger train en route to Los Angeles, is derailed in their midst’s, a deadly act of sabotage. Their lives are thrown into turmoil when local and state police, FBI investigators, and a horde of reporters make camp by the twisted wreckage of the Sunset Limited. As the search for the saboteurs continues, the authorities find more questions than answers. The girl mysteriously vanishes, the assassin struggles to maintain his sanity, and a child is about to be born in the wilderness.

My Review:

Jason Ramm is a former Special Forces sniper/mercenary who is battling a mental illness called the Messiah complex and PTSD. Wanting to forget the horrors of the Vietnam War, Jason retreats to the Arizona desert. Going off of his medications, Jason slides into his mental illness. His only human contact is an Armageddon cult called the Children of Light, the owner of the general store he shops at and a disfigured, pregnant teenager. What will happen when he loses his hold on sanity?

Kelly Garcia is a pregnant teenager who suffers from Moebius syndrome. Her mother, embarrassed to have a disfigured child, hides her from the world. After Kelly’s stepfather impregnates her, Kelly is sent to live with the Children of Light. It is there that she meets Jason and her life changes in ways that she wouldn’t have even guessed.

Billy James is the son of the owner of the only gas station in town. His father had abused Billy until his mother left. The years of abuse that Billy endured at his father’s hands had warped him. He is now an amoral, sociopath who is willing to do whatever it takes to leave his message. Billy plans an event that he hopes will cause mass hysteria and death.

When I started reading A Light in the Desert, I wasn’t expecting to get as involved in the plotline as I did. From the beginning, this book sucked me in. There was no tiptoeing around Jason, Kelly, and Billy’s issues. The author plunged me right into it. Usually, I would be “No, give me a chance to get used to the book!!” But in this case, I am glad she did it.

The significant plotlines were Jason, Kelly, and Billy. Jason’s plotline was vividly written, and my heart broke reading those scenes. Kelly’s plotline broke my heart too. Put it this way; I wanted to boot her mother and stepfather through the window. Billy’s plotline was as tragic as Kelly and Jason’s. Yes, I thought Billy’s plotline was tragic.

I didn’t add the plotline of the train crash in with the major plotlines. I felt that it was overshadowed a little by everything that was going on with Kelly and Jason.

There was a significant plot twist that came at the end of the book. When it happened, I went “No way.” But, after reading the book, I can see the hints that were dropped. With everything else that was happening, I didn’t pick up on it.

I did feel bad for Jason. His PTSD issues were laid out within the first chapter. His slide into the Messiah complex was subtle. I won’t lie, I was surprised when he told Kelly what was happening to him and what the medicine was for. I was also surprised by the twist in his plotline. I didn’t see it coming, and I was blindsided. I had to take a break from reading the book to process that information.

I also felt awful for Kelly. What she went through in her short life broke my heart. I wanted to hug her and take her away from that thing that called herself her mother. I also wanted to punch her stepfather. Despite the abuse that she was put through, she was still a sweet girl.

As weird as this is going to sound, I also pitied Billy. The abuse by his father shaped Billy into what he became. I pitied him because all he knew was violence and that shaped him. I pitied him because he fell through the cracks in the system. But, because I pitied him, it didn’t mean that I liked him. He was an evil person who deserved what he got.

I enjoyed reading A Light in the Desert. It was a compelling read. The author did a fantastic job of tackling some serious issues (PTSD, mental illness, child abuse). I had never heard of the Messiah complex or Moebius syndrome before this book. While the book explained what they were, I ended up googling them for myself.

There is also a slight religious undertone when reading the book. The Children of Light are a fanatical Pentecostal sect. They were waiting for Armageddon. The characters in the Children of Light play a significant role in Kelly and Jason’s story towards the end of the book. The author was able to get their point across without being preachy, which is something that I loved.

I did have a bit of an issue deciding what genre this book fit well with. There is action, there is religion, and there is suspense. I would have to say that it fits well in all those categories.

As much as I liked the book, I wasn’t a fan of the ending. First off, there is the twist in the plot. Like I mentioned above, I didn’t see it coming, and it took me by surprise. I felt that Jason’s plotline didn’t get resolved. I did like how the author chose to end Kelly’s storyline. I thought that it was perfect for her. And Billy’s, well, as I said, he got what he deserved.

The epilogue was poignant. I did ask myself the same question that Kate asked Cooper. Why?

I would give A Light in the Desert an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread A Light in the Desert. I would reccomend this book to family and friends.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review A Light in the Desert.

Have you read A Light in the Desert?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

Darwin’s Cipher by M.A. Rothman

4 Stars

Publisher:

Date of publication: February 18th, 2019

Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller

Where you can find Darwin’s Cipher: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Juan Gutierrez, a cancer researcher, has spent years studying the genome of animals that exhibit immunity to some types of cancer. Over the course of his study, Juan discovers a pattern that allows him to predict the course of a species’ evolution across thousands of generations.

Using the algorithm he’s developed from the pattern, Juan uncovers what he believes to be the key to conquering humanity’s susceptibility to cancer.

Others are interested in using what Juan has dubbed “Darwin’s Cipher,” however, instead of cancer research, they see very different applications for the new genetic algorithm.

Nate Carrington, an FBI forensic analyst has been struggling with several cold cases when he’s alerted to an incident at a nearby ranch. It’s a case of a newborn calf who is found in the middle of a herd of dead cattle. It provides a single link to Nate’s other cold cases: the DNA analysis of the calf doesn’t match anything in the FBI’s database.

Somewhere in a rural hospital in West Virginia, four hospital workers are dead and a newborn child has been transported to the NIH’s level-4 bio-containment unit.

It’s only when the NIH sends out an alert to all hospitals and law enforcement agencies that the world realizes the danger that faces them.

My review:

I am not a medical thriller fan. I haven’t read a book in this genre that I liked. So when I was approached with an invite to review Darwin’s Cipher, I was hesitant. But then I read the blurb, and my interest was caught. So I accepted. I am happy I did because this book was fantastic.

The plot with Juan made me both angry and sad at the same time. I was sad because he poured his life into researching a cure for cancer. I was mad because people were using his research in the wrong ways. I was interested in seeing what went on behind the scenes in a research lab. The author was able to capture the sacrifices researches make in their quest to find a cure.

The plotline involving Nate and his investigation was interesting. It was interesting to see what he was going up against in his investigation. The scene where the evidence disappeared from the locker was huge. Like he said, how does evidence disappear from a protected federal agency?

Frank and Katie’s plotline showed a 3rd side to what was going on. It was refreshing to see everything happen from a regular person’s point of view. Every thing that Frank, and then Katie went through, horrified me. Even now, I get shivers thinking about it.

All the main characters in Darwin’s Cipher were well written. I was able to form a connection to them. They were 3d. Everytime I thought I had a character figured out, another layer would be revealed. Loved it.

Out of the three main characters, I’d have to say that I liked Katie the best. She was an ordinary woman caught up in something that bigger than her. Her actions and reactions would be close to what I would do. I also liked how her character developed throughout the book. She started as an immature girl and ended up as a mature woman.

Juan was a force of nature in this book. He was passionate about his research. The author did a fantastic job of portraying that. He sacrificed so much to get where he was. My only fault with him was that he had tunnel vision about his career. But, that passion came in handy at the end of the book.

Nate was the only character in the book that I felt I could have gotten to know better. Still, I liked him.

The secondary characters in Darwin’s Cipher added depth to the book. I will include the dog in with the secondary characters. Not saying why. Need to read the book to find out.

The bad guys gave me chills. While I understood why one of the bad guys did what he did, I couldn’t get past it. The other bad guys were evil. There were surprises about them, though. A couple of people who I thought were in on it wasn’t. And a person who I thought was on Juan’s side wasn’t.

Darwin’s Cipher does get technical. I don’t even begin to understand lab procedures. There was also technical jargon that made me go “huh.” I was able to google/use my Kindle dictionary to look that stuff up.

I wasn’t a fan of the Juan/Katie romance in the book. It did make sense at the end of the book. It fueled Juan to do what he did. But, I didn’t like it.

The end of Darwin’s Cipher was a nail biter for me. The author had everything happening so quickly that I almost couldn’t keep up reading. I had to reread pages so I could process what was happening. The way the book ended had me wondering if there was going to be another book.

I would give Darwin’s Cipher an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Darwin’s Cipher. I would also reccomend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Darwin’s Cipher.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Darwin’s Cipher?

What are your thoughts on it?

Let me know!!

Stone Mothers by Erin Kelly

3 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books

Date of publication: April 23rd, 2019

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Where you can find Stone Mothers: Amazon | Barnes and Noble| BookBub

Book Synopsis:

Erin Kelly, the masterful author of He Said/She Said, delivers another irresistible, unputdownable novel of psychological suspense.

You can’t keep the secret.
You can’t tell the truth.
You can’t escape the past…

Marianne was seventeen when she fled her home in Nusstead – leaving behind her family, her boyfriend, Jesse, and the body they buried. Now, thirty years later, forced to return to in order to help care for her sick mother, she can feel the past closing around her. And Jesse, who never forgave her for leaving in the first place, is finally threatening to expose the truth.

Marianne will do anything to protect the life she’s built, the husband and daughter who must never know what happened all those years ago. Even if it means turning to her worst enemy for help… But Marianne may not know the whole story – and she isn’t the only one with secrets they’d kill to keep.

My review:

Marianne was doing well for herself. She’s been married for 25 years to a wonderful and understanding man. Her daughter, who is mentally ill, hasn’t had an episode in over a year. Life is good. Then her husband surprises her with a trip to her home village of Nusstead. A place she has rarely gone back to since she left at 17. A place where a death occurred and was covered up.

Her happy life is in jeopardy when her ex-boyfriend threatens to expose her secret about what happened at the Nazareth Hospital.Marianne is forced to join forces with the only other person who knows what happened that night. But Helen has her motivation for aligning with Marianne. She has her secrets, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to keep those secrets from coming out.

When I started reading Stone Mothers, I thought that this was going to be a quick book to read. A book with an easy plotline to follow. One I could keep track of the main characters. An interesting book that would keep my attention. Unfortunately, Stone Mothers only hit two out of the three for me.

The Stone Mothers had two significant plotlines. I had a hard time following Marianne’s plotline. It was all over the place. It could be present day then morph back to the ‘80s and then again to the present day. It drove me nuts.

I found myself wondering when the colossal secret was going to be revealed and what it was. It was alluded to in Marianne’s plotline often, but it wasn’t explain until halfway through the book. At that point, I was so irritated by the constant flashbacks that I didn’t care about the secret.

Helen’s plotline was wonderfully written. It stayed in chronological order. There were none of the bouncings around that made Marianne’s plotline so hard to read. As weird as this sounds, I thought that Helen’s plotline was written better.

I do think that Helen’s plotline should have been first in the book. That way there would be no confusion about what was going on. Also, I would have liked to see Marianne’s stay in chronological order. No bouncing around. It would have made the book much easier to read.

I did like that the author got into the history of how the mentally ill were treated in England. It was eye-opening what was considered mentally ill back then. Husband beating you. Mentally ill. Gay or Lesbian. Mentally ill. Someone who was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. Mentally ill. A woman who wanted to get an abortion. Mentally ill. I could go on and on. It disgusted me.

I was horrified by how the mentally ill people were treated in the book. The treatments that they were put through were illegal and awful. How the staff managed the patients were horrible. Sure, there were a few that were nice, but they were few and far between. Most of the time, the staff was abusive towards the patients.

I liked also explored what it was like when those hospitals shut down. Unfortunately, what the book showed is the truth. I grew up about 10ish miles from a state hospital (Danvers State). They closed down in the mid- ‘80s. With nowhere to go, they put a bunch of patients out on the street. I remember not being allowed to play outside the summer it happened because my mother was terrified. She used to work there, and she said that there were sick people in there. People that shouldn’t have been allowed back on the street but were there because of cutbacks and lack of funding. So, what happened in Stone Mothers, I could believe.

I did like how the author was able to show how far treating mental illness has come. Marianne’s daughter had her struggles with mental illness. She was functioning because of therapy and medication. The stigma of having a mental illness has lessened but is still there. In this book, it shows how far it has come and how far there is still left to go.

I couldn’t get a feel for Marianne during the first half of the book. She did come off as having an “I am better than you” attitude. I didn’t understand her reaction to having an apartment bought for her until later in the book. Up until then, I thought she was an ungrateful snot. I also didn’t understand her codependent relationship with Jesse. It wasn’t explained until much later in the book. I did come to respect her towards the end of the book. Everything she did was for the love of her daughter.

I did not like Jesse. I did feel bad for him when everything happened with Clay. But other than that, nope. Didn’t like him. His identity was so wrapped up in Marianne’s that he didn’t know what to do when she broke it off. His behavior was erratic from the middle of the book on. By the end of the book, he scared me.

Helen was the only one out of the three that I liked. She worked hard to become who she was. While she had an outward facade of not caring, she did. As for her story, I am not going to go into it. All I have to say is that she deserved most of the stuff that happened in the book.

I didn’t feel that Stone Mothers was a good fit in with the thriller category. There was no thrill. Because of Marianne’s plotline jumping around, I never got that feeling.

As for the mystery/suspense categories, I was kind of eh. I felt that the plot moved too slow and jumped around too much for any suspense to be built. The mystery angle was also eh. I couldn’t get into it because of Marianne’s plotline jumping around.

There was a lag in the plotline about halfway through the book. The author was able to bring the book back on track. There was also the matter of dropped characters and insinuated plotlines. The way the book set up a particular character, I thought that she was the one killed. But, nothing else was mentioned about her until the end of the book. And it turned out to be different than what I thought. I went back and reread that passages to make sure I wasn’t confusing things.

The end of Stone Mothers seemed rushed. I wasn’t expecting what happened. It was also mentioned that something happened to another main character. Then that character was brought back into the book. I did like that it was from Honor’s POV. I liked that I was given an outsider’s perspective on the whole cluster. Still, I was left wanting at how the book ended.

I would give Stone Mothers an Older Teen rating. There are mentions of sex but the deed itself was never talked about. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I am on the fence if I would reread Stone Mothers. I am also on the fence if I would recommend it to family and friends.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Stone Mothers.

All opinions stated in this review of Stone Mothers are mine.

Have you read Stone Mothers?

What was your thoughts about it?

Let me know

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth

4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: April 23rd, 2019

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Mystery

Where you can find The Mother-in-Law: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

A twisty, compelling novel about one woman’s complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in murder…

From the moment Lucy met her husband’s mother, Diana, she was kept at arm’s length. Diana was exquisitely polite, and properly friendly, but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned. But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice who helped female refugees assimilate to their new country. Diana was happily married to Tom, and lived in wedded bliss for decades. Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law.

That was five years ago.

Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer.

But the autopsy finds no cancer.
The autopsy does find traces of poison and suffocation.
Who could possibly want Diana dead?
Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses?

With Lucy’s secrets getting deeper and her relationship with her mother-in-law growing more complex as the pages turn, this new novel from Sally Hepworth is sure to add to her growing legion of fans.

My review:

Lucy and Diana’s relationship has been tumultuous since they met. Diana has always kept Lucy at arm’s length, never letting her get close. In turn, Lucy imagined that Diana thought that she wasn’t good enough for her son. Their relationship is kept at a friendly stalemate.

Then came the day when the police showed up at Lucy and Oliver’s house. The day that they found out that Diana was dead with a suicide note near her body. But an autopsy shows that she was suffocated. And then there is the shocking news that Diana changed her will. Who could have wanted Diana dead?

A word of warning to those that think this book is going to be a psychological thriller. It isn’t. Not even close. It is a mystery, though. I did think that the mystery part of this book was well written. The author did a fantastic job at keeping who killed Diana under wraps. I did think it was another person until the chapter where the murder was seen through the killer’s eyes, who the killer was surprised me. Why that person killed Diana didn’t.

I loved watching Lucy and Diana’s relationship evolve. While Diana was standoffish at first, I did wonder how she felt about Lucy as the book went on. My questions about her feelings were answered when the author started writing the chapters from her perspective. The author did a fantastic job of showing how complex a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship was. It also showed how a lousy relationship could turn good.

When Lucy was first introduced in the book, she rubbed me the wrong way. She wanted an instant, loving relationship with Diana. Which I thought was ridiculous. She read into situations with Diana the wrong way and assumed things. But, it was after that confrontation at the hospital that I started to like her. My liking of her grew with what she did at Tom’s funeral. The secret she carried about Diana was a huge one. In the end, though, Lucy was the one who kept Diana’s dreams alive.

I did think that Diana came across as cool, calm and not that interested in Lucy. Her words during the dress fitting were cruel. But once the author started writing from Diana’s POV, I understood why she acted the way she did. I did think that she overstepped her bounds a couple of times (I mean, who brings a raw chicken to a nursing, new mother???). But her heart was in the right place.

Diana’s relationship with her children was odd. She did love them but believed in tough love. Her kids were not allowed to borrow any money (for anything). I do think that her tough love approach put a big rift in her relationship with her kids.

The end of the book was shocking. I was surprised at who killed Diana and why. But, at the same time, my heart broke for that person. The very end of the book, which takes place ten years after the fact, was eye-opening. I liked seeing what happened to the main characters after the story ended.

I gave The Mother-in-Law a 4-star rating. This is a gripping mystery that explores family bonds and secrets. The characters were relatable. The plot lines were well written. My only issue with the book was with who killed Diana and why. But, it was more of a personal bitch than anything. It didn’t affect my rating.

I would give The Mother-in-Law an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is mild violence. There is language. There are triggers. They would be the h of a parent, death of a spouse, forced adoption, ALS, assisted suicide. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread The Mother-in-Law. I would also reccomend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Mother-in-Law.

All opinion stated in this review of The Mother-in-Law are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Have you read The Mother-in-Law?

Love it?

Hate it?

Meh about it?

Let me know!!!

The Third Eye (The Four: Book 1) by Margaret Watson

The Third Eye (The Four Book 1) by [Watson, Margaret]

4 Stars

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of publication: April 9th, 2019

Genre: Romance, Paranormal

Series: The Four

The Third Eye-–Book 1

Where you can find The Third Eye: Amazon | Barnes and Noble| BookBub

Book Synopsis:

When evil invades her office building, Dr. Rowan Burke discovers her ‘gifts’ in the nick of time. After Detective Jack Murphy helps her avert a massacre, it’s clear he’s another ‘gift’ — one that draws her deeper into a new reality of darkness and magic.

While working together to defeat a powerful foe, Rowan and Jack become targets as they uncover a sinister conspiracy to create soldiers with extraordinary abilities. Struggling to stay one step ahead of an enemy who grows more terrifying by the moment, they must learn to see all the possibilities in each other’s gifts — if they’re going to survive.

My review

I have been reading a ton of PNR lately. I’m not complaining about it – actually, the opposite. I am loving reading them. When I read the blurb for The Third Eye, I was intrigued by it. I am glad that I read it. This was a fantastic PNR!!

The Third Eye starts with Rowan waking up to her grandmother screaming in her bedroom. After waking her up, Rowan is told that she has a gift. She can see in the future and past. She is hit with the news that there is a whole subculture of people like Rowan. Rowan didn’t believe it until she started seeing visions. While she was picking up her possessions from a job that she was fired from. These visions helped save people’s lives, along with her own. But, she makes a powerful enemy. Someone who wants her dead. Can Rowan stay one step ahead of this group? Or will she become a victim?

The main plotline of The Third Eye is Rowan and her dance with her dangerous enemy. I thought that it was well written. The author did a great job of keeping who the bad guy was until the end.

There were a few secondary plotlines. I liked how they added to the plotline. Sometimes the secondary plotlines will take over the main one. Not in this case. These were kept in the background until the author decided to merge them with the main plotline.

I loved Rowan in The Third Eye. For someone who had a whole lot of crap dumped on her, she dealt with it pretty well. I mean, if I went through what she did, I would have been a basket case. I liked how she embraced her gifts. I also liked how she was willing to stand her ground and fight.

I liked Jack. His belief in Rowan was rock solid. I wasn’t surprised that he had powers. I was surprised at what they were. Sometimes, I wish I had those powers. While I understood his anger at Mason, I thought he went a little overboard. He also irritated me at the end of the book.

The secondary characters were awesome. I loved Aislinn, Flynn (I want to know her backstory!!), Gianna, Mason, and Cal. I cannot wait to see who the author pairs together. But, I have a feeling that I know. There were a couple of scenes in the book that made me go “Hmmmm.”

I thought that The Third Eye was a great fit in the paranormal genre. Rowan’s introduction to her second sight was interesting as was her bonding with her Moonstone. I am interested in seeing where this series goes.

I also thought that The Third Eye was a great fit in the romance genre. I will warn everyone; this isn’t a “get to know you” romance. It is an Instalove romance. I am not a fan of Instalove, but but certain storylines need it. And The Third Eye’s is one. Jack and Rowan couldn’t have had a romance if it was any other way.

The sex scenes were steamy!! If it could have, my Kindle’s screen would have steamed up. Jack and Rowan also had significant sexual tension. I saw it right from the beginning. The author did a fantastic job of keeping it going, even after they had sex.

The end of The Third Eye was great. I liked how the author resolved Rowan’s issues. I did a fist pump and said “Yes” when that happened. But even more, I loved the last chapters. All I have to say is that Rowan was right and Jack was a fool. The epilogue has me interested. Because of who and what was introduced. It went well with what Rowan was experiencing. I am wondering how it is going to figure into the next book.

I would give The Third Eye an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread The Third Eye. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review The Third Eye.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

The Ash Family by Molly Dektar

The Ash Family: A Novel by [Dektar, Molly]

2 Stars

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Date of publication: April 9th, 2019

Genre: General Fiction

Where you can find The Ash Family: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book synopsis:

When a young woman leaves her family—and the civilized world—to join an off-the-grid community headed by an enigmatic leader, she discovers that belonging comes with a deadly cost, in this lush and searing debut novel.

At nineteen, Berie encounters a seductive and mysterious man at a bus station near her home in North Carolina. Shut off from the people around her, she finds herself compelled by his promise of a new life. He ferries her into a place of order and chaos: the Ash Family farm. There, she joins an intentional community living off the fertile land of the mountains, bound together by high ideals and through relationships she can’t untangle. Berie—now renamed Harmony—renounces her old life and settles into her new one on the farm. She begins to make friends. And then they start to disappear.

Thrilling and profound, The Ash Family explores what we will sacrifice in the search for happiness, and the beautiful and grotesque power of the human spirit as it seeks its ultimate place of belonging.

My review:

When I was approached to review The Ash Family, I was a little hesitant about reviewing it. As weird as this sounds, I didn’t like the vibe that I got from the blurb. But, since I don’t reject publisher book requests through my email, I accepted. Now that I have read it, I wish that I didn’t. It bored me.

I could see why Berie/Harmony was such an easy mark for Bay. She was naive. I could also see why she was able to fall under the sway of Dice. She was searching for a father figure. But, I didn’t like her. She came across as selfish. Her memories of her mother cemented that fact. Her behavior while in the cult highlighted it also. She refused to learn other jobs. She tried to form a relationship with Bay when it was against the rules. There were points in the book where I had doubts if they would keep her. To top it off, her actions at the end of the book disturbed me.

The plotline was slow. It crept along. I can’t tell y’all how many times I fell asleep reading this book. Even the exciting parts, like the Queenie’s miscarriage or the end of the book, were boring. I had figured out what Dice’s deal was early in the book. So, I had to push myself to finish reading it.

I do think that the story had potential, which saved this review from being a 1-star review. But it was bogged down by the slow plotline and unlikable characters.

I also liked how the author showed what life would be like in a cult. I also liked that the author explained what life was like living off the grid. She didn’t sugarcoat anything.

The end of the book left me scratching my head. I had no clue what was going to happen to Berie/Harmony or the cult. Well, I had a good idea of what happened to the cult. But Berie/Harmony? No. Nothing was wrapped up. I didn’t get to see if Berie/Harmony got help or even reconciled with her mother. It was disappointing for me to read.

I would give The Ash Family an Adult rating. There is sex (nothing graphic). There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age 21 read this book.

I would not reread The Ash Family. I also would not recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Ash Family.

All opinions stated in this review of The Ash Family are mine.

Have you read The Ash Family?

What were your thoughts?

Cults?

What are your thoughts on them?

Let me know

Love, Again by L.P. Dover

4 Stars

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Loveswept

Date of publication: April 9th, 2019

Genre: Romance

Where you can find Love, Again: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | BookBub

Book synopsis:

Sometimes all you need is a second chance.

“L. P. Dover knows how to create the men who make us swoon, the book boyfriends we all want.”—New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin

Aubrey Reynolds is a small-town girl who’s made it big. A successful Hollywood director, Aubrey doesn’t have time to linger on what could have been. But when a routine blood test comes back with a false positive, she decides to take some time off to do the things she’s always wanted to do: taste the famous chocolate chip cookies at the Minnesota State Fair, hike the Grand Teton National Park, scuba dive in the Caribbean. But after Aubrey admits to herself what she’s really missing, she heads back home to Dusty Valley, Oklahoma . . . and the man she left behind.

Cole Haywood is a small-town fireman and that’s just fine with him. Sure, when the love of his life left their hometown to chase her dreams he was heartbroken and—he’ll admit—damn mad. But Cole would have never forgiven himself if he had held Aubrey back from success. So the last thing he expects after all these years is to walk into his favorite bar one night and find the girl he’s always loved—there—looking for him. Maybe now’s the time to make his dreams come true.

Love, Again is about how a love lost can be revived. Aubrey left Cole behind when she moved to Hollywood to pursue her dream of being a successful director. Ten years, go by and Aubrey has never forgotten Cole. Then a misdiagnosis puts everything into focus. Aubrey puts her career on hold to follow her bucket list. The list includes going back to Oklahoma and making amends with Cole. Can Cole forgive Aubrey? Will they make amends? Will they revive their relationship?

I so needed to read Love, Again. I needed to read a book with a simple plot. The last few books I have read have had plots that were all over the place. So, reading a book that was focused only on one thing was terrific. It was a balm for my brain.

I liked that Love, Again was a second chance romance. Out of all the genres/troupes, second chance romances is in my top 5. I love reading about characters who get back together after being separated for years. I like seeing those characters reconnect. Audrey and Cole was no exception.

I liked Aubrey. I did think that she was too chill about certain things (like her misdiagnosis). I loved her bucket list. There were a few things on there that I want to do. She didn’t come across as a typical Hollywood person. She seemed genuine to the people that she met. I didn’t understand how she could leave Cole a month before the wedding. That was the only time I thought she was selfish. But, when it was revealed why she left and who was behind it, then I understood. My feelings about her being selfish went away, and I pitied her. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I did like Cole, but I didn’t get as good as a connection to him. His chapters were introduced rather late in the book. Don’t get me wrong; he was excellent for Aubrey. I felt that something was missing on my end. I wish I could explain it. But I can’t.

Love, Again was a perfect fit into the romance category. Being a second chance romance, I didn’t have an issue with Cole and Aubrey falling in love . Usually, I would be screaming “Instalove,” but in this case, it wasn’t. Aubrey and Cole had a history. They knew they were soulmates. So, yeah, I had no issue with them saying the “L” word as soon as they did in the book.

Aubrey and Cole’s romance was relatable to me. They were soul mates that separated. It did take them ten years, but once they got back together, it was almost like they were never apart. Their love for each other came off the pages.

The sexual tension and chemistry between Aubrey and Cole were steaming hot. From the minute they saw each other, I could see the zings. The author did have them have sex shortly after they saw each other. Again, something that would bother me, but in this case, it didn’t. The sex was red hot. The author was able to keep the sexual tension going, which made every single sex scene amazing.

I did have a small complaint. If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, then you know how I feel about the characters having unprotected sex. I know that Aubrey and Cole were soulmates but to go bareback after ten years? Yeah, no thank you.

I did have the ending figured out. I had it figured out when Aubrey and Cole went to Turk and Caicos. Of course, I liked how the book ended up. It was the ultimate HEA. But I thought that Aubrey took an unnecessary risk cliff jumping. The epilogue was my favorite part of the book. I was hoping for an Emilia/Bennet book, but from what I read, that isn’t happening.

The author did a fantastic job at wrapping up all the plotlines in Love, Again. There was no lag in the plot. All the storylines were wrapped up, which meant that there were no dropped storylines or characters. I liked that the author took events that happened at the beginning of the book and tied it in to the end. For some reason, that made me happy.

I would give Love, Again an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Love, Again. I would recommend it to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Love, Again.

All opinions stated in this review of Love, Again are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Have you read Love, Again?

What are your feelings on it?

Second chance romances?

Love them or hate them?

Let me know!!

Prince of Persuasion (The Novi Navarro Chronicles: Book 1) by Emigh Cannaday

Prince of Persuasion (The Novi Navarro Chronicles Book 1) by [Cannaday, Emigh]

4.5 Stars

Publisher: Silver Popular Press

Date of publication: March 5th, 2019

Series: The Novi Navarro Chronicles

Prince of Persuasion—Book 1

Crown of Contempt—Book 2 (expected publication date: June 3rd, 2019)

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Where you can find Prince of Persuasion: Amazon | BookBub

Book Synopsis:

A dying king…
A dynasty in danger…
A prince with one duty: secure the succession!

Created when they intermingled with demons, the dark elves of Sinaryos have come to rely on humans to keep their race alive. The royal family is no exception, with a king on the verge of death, a court riddled with spies, and a broken line of succession. Despite everything working against him, Prince Fallon Blackwood has met all the demands of the crown for nearly a hundred years… except for one!

After avoiding this obligation for too long, the time has come for him to take a harem and prove that he’s capable of continuing his family’s bloodline and ensuring their control of the throne. But underneath his cool and calm exterior, Fallon secretly yearns for a much different life than the one he was born into…

Novi Navarro is a working-class barmaid who’s used to running her tavern and running her mouth. When she gets assigned to Prince Fallon’s harem by mistake, she thinks it’s a complete joke. She makes a deal with Fallon for them to both get what they want from this administrative oversight. But when members of the Blackwood Court discover her true identity, she quickly learns that she must beat them at their game… or die…

Can I tell you all how excited I was to read this book. I love fantasy. I love romance. When there is a book that brings the two genres’ together, I almost always pick it up to read. When I was approached to review Prince of Persuasion, I accepted immediately. I am glad I did because this book was fantastic.

I loved Novi in this book. She took nothing from anyone. Well, except her boss/landlord and that was because she had to. She did try to fix the administrative mistake, but no one would listen to her. Novi had a bit of snark to her as well. I was dying when she made eye contact with Fallon while thinking about him. She didn’t know that he could read her mind, which made the dance that happened right afterward even more amusing. I also died laughing when she thought that Fallon and Cedric were “together.” Let’s not forget her helping Fallon by spreading the rumor that he finished fast. I. Was. Dying. At that point, she became one of my favorite heroines.

I felt terrible for Fallon. He had to deal with a scheming mother, a brother who was plotting against him, and a father who was dying. On top of that, he had his duties as Crown Prince. One of which was to produce an heir. So, when Fallon is introduced in the book, he is not happy about being forced to procreate and take a harem. At first, I thought Fallon was a jerk. But he became less jerklike as the book went on. By the end of the book, I loved him.

The sex scenes were hot. I did laugh, though, when Novi first saw Fallon’s member. Her reaction would be one of any woman seeing something that big. I liked that the author built up Novi and Fallon’s sexual relationship too. So when they did have sex, it was hot. The author was able to keep that going through the rest of the book.

It took me a while to figure out that Prince of Persuasion was set in the same universe as the Anika Brisby series. I am not giving anything away, but I made the connection to a particular character in The Darkest of Dreams (not Talvi!!).

I could not stand Queen Laena. For a race who depended on humans to keep their race going, she didn’t like humans. There was mention of her past, and that made me wonder what she was hiding.

Tristan was also on my list. I couldn’t decide if he was going along with Queen Laena because he wanted her approval or if he was concerned for Fallon. Still, after what he did to Callie and what happened at the end of the book, he ended up on my list.

The end of the book frustrated me. I can’t stand cliffhangers. But it did its job. I need to read the next book.

I would give Prince of Persuasion an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Prince of Persuasion. I would recommend this book to family and friends.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Prince of Persuasion.

The Promise by Teresa Driscoll

4 Stars

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Date of publication: February 7th, 2019

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Where you can find The Promise: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookBub

Book synopsis:

The chilling new psychological thriller from the #1 bestselling author of I Am Watching You.

It was their darkest secret. Three schoolgirls made a promise – to take the horrible truth of what they did to the grave.

Thirty years later, Beth and Sally have tried to put the trauma behind them. Though Carol has distanced herself from her former friends, the three are adamant that the truth must never come to light, even if the memory still haunts them.

But when some shocking news threatens to unearth their dark secret, Beth enlists the help of private investigator Matthew Hill to help her and Sally reconnect with estranged Carol – before the terrible act they committed as teenagers is revealed.

Beth wishes she could take back the vow they made.

But somebody is watching and will stop at nothing to ensure the secret stays buried. Now, with her beloved family in peril, can Beth still keep the promise

My Review:

Beth, Sally, and Carol became best friends when they met in boarding school. Their friendship was tested one fateful night when something horrible happened. Something that they vowed never to speak of again.

Thirty years later, the boarding school is being demolished. Terrified that their secret will be exposed, Beth and Sally try to contact Carol. Instead, Beth is warned to leave it alone. She is finally ready to face the past. But someone doesn’t want the past brought up. Someone is prepared to kill to keep the secret. But who is it? And what lengths will they go to ensure Sally and Beth stay quiet?

The plotline of The Promise did take some time getting going. Like I said in my WWW Wednesday post, I wasn’t a fan of the book at first. There was so much going on that I had an issue keeping storylines/characters straight. The author merged everything down to two main storylines. What happened to the girls at boarding school in the past and what was happening to them in the present. She was able to merge the two at the end of the book.

My dislike of Beth didn’t turn to like immediately. But, she acknowledged that she needed help. She also knew that telling people about the secret would be a weight lifted off her shoulders. I didn’t like how she handled what Carol told her. I thought that she could have handled it better. But when push came to shove, she was there for Carol.

Carol sideswiped me. I was with the majority of people in the book. I thought that Carol was being a snot. Talk about something that came out of left field. I also was taken aback by her confession to Beth in the hotel room. Again, out of left field.

I liked Sally. The secret she had to keep affected her more than she let on. Her home life when she was younger was awful. The tidbits that she told Matthew and what I read in Beth’s flashback, she didn’t have it good. I did have a good cry about her news at the end of the book. All I have to say about that is that she deserved it.

The Promise fit right in with the mystery/thriller/suspense genre. The author was a master at throwing out red herrings and false leads. I would have never of guessed at who was sending the messages to Beth and who ran Adam off the road. Never would have guessed at all. And what happened at the end of the book. That all came out of the blue for me.

The end of The Promise was one of the more intense ones that I have read to date. The author had a couple of huge plot twists thrown in there that made me go “WTH.” Like I mentioned above, I didn’t see them coming. I also liked that the author was able to wrap up all the storylines. Everyone got what they deserved and then some. Loved it!!

I would give The Promise an Adult rating. There is language. There is violence. There are mentions of sexual acts but no graphic sex.

I would reread The Promise. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Promise.

All opinions stated in this review of The Promise are mine.

Have you read The Promise?

What were your thoughts on it?

What are your thoughts on huge twists in stories?

Let me know?

The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

4 Stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: April 2nd, 2019

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Where you can find The Girl He Used To Know: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. Anxious in social situations where she finds most people’s behavior confusing, she’d rather be surrounded by the order and discipline of books or the quiet solitude of playing chess.

Jonathan Hoffman joined the chess club and lost his first game–and his heart–to the shy and awkward, yet brilliant and beautiful Annika. He admires her ability to be true to herself, quirks and all, and accepts the challenges involved in pursuing a relationship with her. Jonathan and Annika bring out the best in each other, finding the confidence and courage within themselves to plan a future together. What follows is a tumultuous yet tender love affair that withstands everything except the unforeseen tragedy that forces them apart, shattering their connection and leaving them to navigate their lives alone.

Now, a decade later, fate reunites Annika and Jonathan in Chicago. She’s living the life she wanted as a librarian. He’s a Wall Street whiz, recovering from a divorce and seeking a fresh start. The attraction and strong feelings they once shared are instantly rekindled, but until they confront the fears and anxieties that drove them apart, their second chance will end before it truly begins.

My review:

Annika was not expecting to fall in love when she met Jonathan. Shy and anxious in new situations, Annika keeps to herself. Annika has issues with personal relationships. She finds most people challenging to be around. But not Jonathan. He loves her for her quirks. Their relationship is perfect until a tragedy forces Annika and Jonathan apart.

Ten years later and ten years wiser, Jonathan reunites with Annika in Chicago. Jonathan realizes that his feelings for Annika never went away. Annika comes to the same realization, and they restart their relationship. Will their relationship be as strong as the first time? Or will another tragedy stop it before it can begin?

When I started reading The Girl He Used To Know, I didn’t know what to think about it. The book is told from two different 1st person perspectives. It is also told in two different time periods. In my experience, those two things do not go well together. I usually have issues following these types of storylines. I didn’t have those issues with The Girl He Used To Know.

I loved the storyline that revolved around Annika. I did guess that she had autism early in the story. I have a nephew who is non-verbal autistic, and he shares many of the earmarks that Annika did. What I also enjoyed was seeing how far Annika came from college. There was a point in the book where I thought she would give up.

I liked Jonathan. I did have my doubts about what his intentions were when he first started hanging out with Annika. But as their love story deepened, I could see that he cared about her. He never pushed her past her limits. By the end of their college romance, I was in tears. I didn’t want them to break up.

I do want to give some attention to Annika’s friendship with Janice. It was even more amazing that Janice chose to become Annika’s protector on campus. That scene where she saved Annika from a potential gang rape was short of amazing. Janice became my hero.

I thought that Annika and Jonathan’s romance was one of the sweetest romances that I have read. I couldn’t wait to see what the next step would bring. I was devastated when they broke up (and why they broke up too). When they reunited in Chicago, I did have my doubts if they would rekindle their relationship. And I was happy when they did.

The end of The Girl He Used to Know gave me chills. I am not going to get into what happened, but it was tragic. What Annika did and her determination to find Jonathan made me cry. I was a little confused by the last line of the book. It was the only thing that made zero sense to me. While I knew what it was referring to, I didn’t understand why it was at the end of the book.

I gave The Girl He Used to Know a 4-star rating. This was a well-written book that had me in tears. The characters were relatable. The plot-lines were well written. The only complaint I had about the book was the end. It made no sense to me.

I would give The Girl He Used to Know an Adult rating. There is sex (but not graphic). There is language. There is mild violence. There are triggers. They would be bullying, attempted rape and drug use. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread The Girl He Used to Know. I would also reccomend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Girl He Used to Know.

Category: book review

A Light in the Desert by Anne Montgomery

Darwin’s Cipher by M.A. Rothman

Stone Mothers by Erin Kelly