Tag: adult fiction

Wake Me Most Wickedly (Once Upon the East End: Book 2) by Felicia Grossman

Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever

Date of publication: April 9th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Jewish, Retellings, Historical Fiction, Adult Fiction, Fiction, British Literature

Series: Once Upon the East End

Shtup Me at Sunrise—Book 0.5

Marry Me by Midnight—Book 1 (review here)

Wake Me Most Wickedly—Book 2

Seduce Me in Secret—Book 3 (expected publication date: January 2025)

Dream of Me Until Dawn—Book 4 (expected publication date: January 2026)

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Solomon Weiss has little interest in power, but to repay the half-brother who raised him, he pursues money, influence, and now—a respectable wife. That is, until outcast Hannah Moses saves his life, and Sol finds himself helplessly drawn to the beautiful pawnshop owner.

Forever tainted by her parents’ crimes, Hannah sees only a villain when she looks in the mirror—no one a prince would choose. To survive, she must care for herself, even if that means illegally hunting down whatever her clients wish. So, no matter how fair or charming she finds Sol, he belongs to a world far too distant from her own.

Only neither can resist their desires, and each meeting weakens Hannah’s resolve to stay away. But when Hannah discovers a shocking betrayal in Sol’s inner circle, can she convince him to trust her? Or will fear and doubt poison their love for good?

First Line

Night was the best time to hunt-especially if you relied on stealth, not strength, to snare your prey.

Important details about Wake Me Most Wickedly

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Hannah, Solomon)

Content/Trigger Guidance: Wake Me Most Wickedly contains themes of nongraphic sexual assault, nonconsensual sexual contact, emotional abuse, antisemitic language, antisemitic behavior, classism, physical abuse, religious bigotry, injury and injury detail, bullying, violence, medical content*, grief, death of a parent, pregnancy, and deportation. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Medical Content: Solomon suffers anaphylactic shock after consuming a cake with nuts in it.

Language: Wake Me Most Wickedly does not contain swearing, but it does contain language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is explicit sexual content in Wake Me Most Wickedly.

Setting: Wake Me Most Wickedly is set in the East End of London, England.

My Review:

I enjoy reading historical romances, but reading the same romance format gets boring after a while. So, I am always on the lookout for different historical romances (but do keep in context with the era the book is written in). So, when the Wake Me Most Wickedly widget slid into my inbox, I accepted immediately. Also, I had read the first book in the series and liked it.

Wake Me Most Wickedly is also a fairy tale retelling. I like reading fairy tale retelling and discovering how different authors interpret fairytales. Wake Me Most Wickedly is the retelling of Snow White. I admit I had an issue figuring out how Snow White fit into this. Thankfully, that only lasted for the first couple of chapters, and I enjoyed seeing how this retelling played out.

The main storyline of Wake Me Most Wickedly was your typical romance storyline. Hannah was an outcast in the Jewish community due to crimes that her parents and herself committed while running their pawnshop. Hannah spent two years in prison, and her parents were deported to a penal colony island (I figure it was either Australia or New Zealand). She continued running the pawn shop and took up a side gig of illegally hunting down things for her fence and clients. During one of those jobs, she saved Solomon from being attacked. Solomon, raised by his older brother after their father and his mother died, grew up very sheltered and had almost no worldly experience. Solomon soon becomes enamored with Hannah, much to her dismay. But even she can’t deny the scorching heat between them. When Solomon is injured after being chased by a group of men, Hannah investigates his accident. What she uncovers will rock Solomon’s world. Will her discovery mean the end of her relationship with Solomon?

The author graciously included content guidance at the beginning of the book. I love it when authors do that because I don’t have to take notes about content. At the end of the book (and she did this with the first book), she explains the history of the Jewish people in London’s East End and their treatment throughout the centuries.

I found Wake Me Most Wickedly’s storyline much darker than the first book. I wasn’t sure if I would like it (the first chapter has nonconsensual sexual contact). But, the deeper I got into the storyline, the more I understood why the author wrote this book the way she did. Not everything was sunshine and roses in Victorian London. For people experiencing poverty and those forced to live on the outskirts of their communities, life was awful. The author was correct in reflecting the tone of the book. It made the book much more interesting to read.

Hannah started the book off with me not liking her very much. She had a chip on her shoulder that came across in her words and actions. But, the more the author got into her backstory, the more I saw how those events shaped her into the woman she was in the book. I felt terrible for her because she honestly didn’t think she was attractive enough to a man to commit to and was focused on getting a dowry for Tamara. What got me onto Team Hannah was her fantastic character growth. By the end of the book, I was amazed by her strength and devotion to those she considered family and friends.

I liked Solomon, but he reminded me somewhat of a puppy. How? Well, he was hard to train (no matter what Hannah did to push him away, he still came back), he was loyal, even when the person he was faithful to didn’t deserve it, and he was fiercely protective of his family and friends. I was also on Team Solomon because he deserved to be seen for the man he was instead of the image that he put out for family and friends. The one thing that I didn’t like was that he had a prominent blind spot when it came to his brother. But I also understood. It made what Hannah told him so painful to hear.

The romance angle of Wake Me Most Wickedly was spicy. The author turned the heat up on the sex scenes, and they had me fanning myself. But the sex was only a part of the romance. Solomon and Hannah falling in love was sweet. While Solomon immediately knew that Hannah was the one for him, Hannah fought it tooth and nail. She used every excuse in the book (the age gap: her 32 to his 26), her past, that he was just infatuated with her, his brother, and the considerable class divide to try and drive him away. Thankfully, Solomon didn’t care and pursued her anyway.

A secondary storyline that cropped up around the middle of the book involved Solomon, his brother, and Hannah. I was absolutely disgusted by what Solomon’s brother did, but I like how Solomon’s friends rallied around him and turned it around. It was poetic justice how that storyline ended.

I loved how Wake Me Most Wickedly ended. It was your typical HEA. The epilogue, which takes place five years later, almost made me cry. It also made me wonder who the next book will be about. I have a feeling I know who, but I can’t wait to see if I am right.

Many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever, NetGalley, and Felicia Grossman for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Wake Me Most Wickedly. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Wake Me Most Wickedly, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Felicia Grossman

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

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

Date of publication: March 26th, 2024

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

Series: Record Shop Mystery

Vinyl Resting Place—Book 1

A Fatal Grove–Book 2

Rhythm and Clues—Book 3

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

The rhythm is gonna get you.

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

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

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

First Line:

I’ve never witnessed a murder before.

Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke

Important details about Rhythm and Clues

Pace: Fast

POV: 1st person (Juni)

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

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

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

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

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

My Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other books by Olivia Blacke

All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Date of publication: April 2nd, 2024

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

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

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

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

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

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

First Line:

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

All We Were Prominsed by Ashton Lattimore

Important details about All We Were Promised

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Date of publication: March 26th, 2024

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

Series: Say I Do

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

Sincerely, The Duke—Book 2

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

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

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

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

First Line:

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

Sincerely, The Duke by Amelia Grey

Important details about Sincerely, The Duke

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Roderick and Edwina)

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

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

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

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

My Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Books by Amelia Grey

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam

Date of publication: September 12th, 2023

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

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

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

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

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

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

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

First Line:

Welcome to Black House.

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

Important details about The Stranger Upstairs

Pace: Fast

POV: 1st person (Sarah)

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

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

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

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

My Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam

Date of publication: March 5th, 2024

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Legal Thriller, Adult Fiction, Drama

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two parents, desperate to find their missing daughter, stand accused of murder. How far will they go to find the truth?

Someone is guilty.

For the last seventeen years, Harry and Zara King’s lives have revolved around their only daughter, Sophie. One day, Sophie leaves the house and doesn’t come home. Six weeks later, the police are no closer to finding her than when they started. Harry and Zara have questioned everyone who has ever had any connection to Sophie, to no avail. Except there’s one house on their block—number 210, across the street—whose occupant refuses to break his silence.

Someone knows what happened.

As the question mark over number 210 devolves into obsession, Harry and Zara are forced to examine their own lives. They realize they have grown apart, suffering in separate spheres of grief. And as they try to find their way back to each other, they must face the truth about their daughter: who she was, how she changed, and why she disappeared.

Someone will pay.

Told in the alternating perspectives of Harry and Zara, and in a dual timeline between the weeks after Sophie’s disappearance and a year later in the middle of a murder trial, Imran Mahmood’s taut yet profoundly moving novel explores how differently grief can be experienced even when shared by parents—and how hope triumphs when it springs from the kind of love that knows no bounds.

First Line:

I’ve been waiting six months for my trial but now that I’m here I can’t contain the panic blooming in my gut.

Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood

Important details about Finding Sophie

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Harry and Zara)

Trigger Warnings: Finding Sophie contains themes that include kidnapping, grief, murder, adult/minor relationship, bullying, child abuse, confinement, death, drug abuse, emotional abuse, rape, suicidal thoughts, blood, trafficking, gaslighting, injury/injury detail, stalking, grooming, and sexual harassment.

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

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Finding Sophie.

Setting: Finding Sophie is set around an unnamed village in England.

My Review

Finding Sophie’s storyline focuses on Harry and Zara, their desperation to find Sophie, and their murder trial. I am not fond of alternating storylines that go from past to present and back. But, in this case, it worked. The storylines complemented each other. There was no lag when the author switched characters or storylines. Instead, he took what the previous chapter talked about and used it in the present day or in the past to explain how Harry and Zara got to the point they were at. Overall, it was a compelling, well-written story that I was engaged with. My only complaint would be the ending (and I will explain why I wasn’t a fan of it).

I liked that the author portrayed Zara and Harry as parents at the end of their rope with a rebellious child. As a mother of two teenagers, I could sympathize with the talking back, the silence, the moodiness, and even being secretive. But, I did draw the line at what they did in desperation to Sophie. When Sophie went missing, the anguish, the rage, and the self-doubt came crashing back. They weren’t likable characters, but they were sympathetic.

I was surprised at how little Zara and Harry knew about their daughter. Maybe I don’t have typical teenagers, but my kids share (and sometimes overshare) everything with my husband and me. So, when Harry and Zara found out all of this information about Sophie weeks after she went missing, it was surprising.

I initially thought Sophie’s disappearance was due to her being a rebellious teenager and to certain events that happened in the prior weeks. I was NOT expecting the twist her storyline took. I was completely surprised and shocked because it wasn’t what I thought. Of course, I did think Harry was right in doing what he did (after the murder trial).

The events leading up to the murder were disturbing. I did have sympathy for 210 in the beginning, but that sympathy waned as the book went on. Harry may have gone slightly over the top in his actions. However, Harry’s actions became borderline obsessive, and Zara started to do the same thing. So, it wasn’t a surprise when the murder happened.

The trial angle of the book was interesting to read. I can’t remember a book where the author explained how British law works. It fascinated me because while it was similar to American law, it was also so different. There were two major twists in that plotline. One I didn’t see coming and was very surprised by the reveal. I was also astonished that the confession was caught on tape, and that confession almost made me get bookish whiplash. The other twist was who the murderer was. I will say that there were only two people, so I had a 50/50 chance of getting it right. I did somewhat see it coming, but I was shocked.

Now, the end of the book was different from what I thought it would be. I did like that the author wrapped up everything with a neat little bow. But he did something that I didn’t expect. He showed the aftermath of everything. I was with him until the very last chapter. It ended on a very creepy note, and I am still trying to figure out exactly what happened and what he meant in that last paragraph.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam, NetGalley, and Imran Mahmood for allowing me to read and review an ARC of Finding Sophie. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

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

Other books by Imran Mahmood

It Must Be True Then by Luci Adams

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

Date of publication: March 12, 2024

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

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

A funny and timeless novel from Luci Adams in the vein of Sophie Cousens and Kelly Harms

*One horrible, “bury your head under the covers” kind of day

*Two adorable children to nanny; and

*Their very hot, very single father

Daisy has realized you really can hit rock bottom when you lose your job, your boyfriend, and are estranged from your sister all at once. Seeking to claw her way out from the very definition of a bad year, her plan is to start by simply looking like she’s clawing her way out of rock bottom. On Instagram. Obviously.

But when she takes a stopgap job as a nanny to help a single father with his two young girls, being immersed in a close-knit, loving family starts to poke holes in her plan. Can making her not-so-picture-perfect life look perfect online really help her derailed career get back on track? Can it mend her relationship with her unreliable and painfully irritating sister? And can it get her back in the arms of her unbelievably beautiful and shallow ex…and as she gets closer to someone new, does she even want to?

A sparkling and bright novel of love, second chances, and finding your way in the age of ennui and influencers, It Must Be True Then is a delight for the millennial and Gen Z age.

First Line

You see, it all CAME down to the data in the end, I squeal, nervously.

It Must Be True Then by Luci Adams

Important details about It Must Be True Then

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Daisy)

Trigger Warnings: It Must Be True Then contains themes that include grief, car accident, bullying, cyberbullying, abandonment, anxiety & anxiety attacks, depression, alcohol consumption, the death of a parent, and the death of a spouse.

Language: It Must Be True Then contains moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in It Must Be True Then.

Setting: It Must Be True Then is set around Clapham North, England. Chapters also take place in Paris, France, and Anchorage, Alaska.

My Review

For some reason, I have been avoiding contemporary romances. But when NetGalley sent me the widget for It Must Be True Then, I decided to end my dry spell. Now that I have read the book (and enjoyed it), I want to say that I can’t wait to read more books by the author. From the prologue to the end, I laughed at Daisy’s antics or cried with her.

It Must Be True Then’s storyline centers around Daisy. In a matter of a few days, Daisy lost her boyfriend, job and stopped speaking to her younger sister. Giving herself a couple of weeks to mourn the loss of her job (where she worked for 13 years) and to plan on getting her boyfriend back, Daisy decides to look for a job that can tide her over until she gets one in her field (statistics). The job she gets is a nanny to two adorable children. As Daisy settles into nannying, she grows closer to the children and their father. But she has plans, including getting a new job, getting back her ex, and making up with her sister. But things don’t always go as planned.

The author had an interesting way of writing the past year of Daisy’s life. In between the chaos that was currently happening, the author snuck in chapters that detailed how she met Jackson and what their relationship was like (hint: it wasn’t much), what happened to cause her to lose her job, and the reason she wasn’t speaking to her sister. I thought it was brilliant because it allowed me to compare that Daisy to the Daisy presented throughout the book.

Daisy was tough to like. From the beginning, she was selfish and self-centered. The author made it very clear that this was the type of person she was and was very unapologetic about it. But as the book went on and her backstory took shape, I couldn’t help but feel bad for her. Not that it made me like her anymore, but I did pity her.

I wouldn’t say I liked Daisy’s relationship with Archie for the above reasons. It was all take and no give on her side. But, to be honest with you guys and me, she was actively trying to get her ex back, so how she acted made sense. I did find her speech about not wanting children, any children, very distasteful since Archie had two. I also felt her relationship with Archie was a little forced and held no sparks.

As I said above, the secondary characters made the book. I loved Archie, his girls, and his relationship with them. I liked Daisy’s best friend, who wasn’t afraid to call Daisy out on her BS but was also very supportive. I even liked Daisy’s younger sister once she realized her way of life wasn’t working. They made the book for me.

A very important secondary storyline is also centered on Daisy and her mother. I won’t get into it, but I felt bad for Daisy’s mother. Mistakes happen, and she paid dearly for them.

Despite everything I wrote in this review, I did like the book. Daisy’s character progression was terrific to read (she matured throughout the book). There were several laugh-out-loud parts (the Instagram pictures had me dying laughing). But the one that stood out the most to me was why she lost her job. It was a well-written chapter highlighting everything wrong with today’s society, and Daisy was correct with everything she said.

The end of It Must Be True Then was sweet, and I loved that Daisy had found peace with herself. The HEA with her and Archie wasn’t forever. It was more of a right now HEA (if that makes sense).

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Luci Adams for allowing me to read and review this ARC of It Must Be True Then. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to It Must Be True Then, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Luci Adams

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Date of publication: March 12, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Books about Books, World War II, Historical, War, British Literature, Adult Fiction, Chick Lit

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this heartwarming novel from the author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir

When new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds that Bethnal Green Library isn’t the bustling hub she’s expecting, she becomes determined to breathe life back into it. But can she show the men in charge that a woman is up to the task of running it, especially when a confrontation with her past threatens to derail her?

Katie Upwood is thrilled to be working at the library, although she’s only there until she heads off to university in the fall. But after the death of her beau on the front line and amid tumultuous family strife, she finds herself harboring a life-changing secret with no one to turn to for help.

Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee, came to London on a domestic service visa only to find herself working as a maid for a man who treats her abominably. She escapes to the library every chance she can, finding friendship in the literary community and aid in finding her sister, who is still trying to flee occupied Europe.

When a slew of bombs destroy the library, Juliet relocates the stacks to the local Underground station where the city’s residents shelter nightly, determined to lend out stories that will keep spirits up. But tragedy after tragedy threatens to unmoor the women and sever the ties of their community. Will Juliet, Kate, and Sofie be able to overcome their own troubles to save the library? Or will the beating heart of their neighborhood be lost forever?

First Line:

“Hurry, Sofie!” Her sister’s voice floated through the open door, echoing past the bookcases lining the walls.

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan

Important details about The Underground Library

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Juliet, Kate, Sofie)

Trigger Warnings: The Underground Library contains themes that include pregnancy, classism, poverty, refugee experiences, religious persecution, sexism & misogyny, indentured servitude, abandonment, childbirth, involuntary pregnancy, blood & gore depiction, body horror, dead bodies & body parts, death of a friend, grief & loss depiction, disappearance of a loved one, infidelity, explosions, and war themes & military violence.

Language: The Underground Library contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in The Underground Library.

Setting: The Underground Library is set in and around WWII-era London, England.

My Review

I am a big fan of reading books set in WWII. It is a time that fascinates and scares me. So, when I get widgets or see books on NetGalley that hint about WWII, I grab them. This was the case with The Underground Library. Random House sent me a widget, and I downloaded it. Now that I have read this book, it was a good read.

The Underground Library follows three women (Juliet, Kate, and Sofie) as they navigate life in a country at war. Juliet is the oldest of the three, and she is ambitious. But Juliet’s past threatens to derail everyone she worked so hard for. Kate is a young woman who is waiting for word from her fiancee, who is fighting in Africa against the Nazis. Her world is turned upside down when she is told he is missing in action. Sofie is a Jewish refugee working as a maid/cook in the vicinity of the Bethnal Library. Forced to leave Berlin by her sister and father, Sofie agonizes over not knowing what happened to her family. The three women meet at the library and soon become instrumental in setting up an underground library in the Tube tunnels, used as a makeshift bomb shelter. Over a few months, their lives will change for better and worse.

As I mentioned above, there are three separate storylines in The Underground Library. Usually, I’m not too fond of multiple storylines (or POV), but in this case, it worked. It only worked because the author could integrate all three storylines together at different points in the book but simultaneously keep them separate (if that makes sense). I was not confused by whose storyline I was reading (the author did label chapters with names). That made for a delightful read.

I liked Juliet. I liked that she was smart and wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted (the book club, children’s hour, and eventually, the library). Her backstory was sad with her fiancee going MIA in France. The more I read her storyline, the more I liked her. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed reading about a love triangle between her missing fiancee and her landlady’s nephew (who she also knew from school). It was pretty obvious who she was going to end up with. But everything does work itself out in the end.

I thought Kate was adorable. Her absolute devotion to her fiancee shone through the book, as did her devastation when she learned he was missing in action, presumed dead. The pregnancy was a neat twist that the author threw in there. When Kate’s mother found out about her pregnancy, I could see why she was so upset. During that era, girls didn’t get pregnant without being married (you and I know that this isn’t true, but people liked to believe it). But what Kate’s mother proposed and what she forced Kate into doing made me take a step back and go, “Whoa.” All I have to say is that she was desperate, looking for a way to keep her husband with her, and it would cost Kate. I was a little glad that this storyline ended the way it did (and the twist that came at the very end was heartwarming).

I pitied Sofie. Because of the Nazis, she was forced to leave her father and sister behind in Berlin (the near miss on the train took my breath away). It was explained that her sister got her a visa to work in England (her English was excellent). Sofie was going to be a live-in maid to an upperclassman who was willing to sponsor her. That wasn’t what Sofie wanted and not what she was used to (she came from a very wealthy family). The first half of her storyline details her job and how she deals with it (she has been there for over a year). The second half of her storyline got a little more exciting. Her inquiries into her sister’s location were answered, and she fell in love. Of the three storylines, hers was the one I enjoyed most.

The author included a note explaining the actual underground library that inspired the book at the end of the book. She tweaked some events, but everything that happened was mainly factual.

The end of The Underground Library was one of hope. I liked how every one of the characters got their HEA. I also liked that the author included some secondary characters in the HEAs. As I stated above, Kate’s storyline had a neat twist.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and Jennifer Ryan for allowing me to read and review an ARC of The Underground Library. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Underground Library, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Jennifer Ryan

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

Publisher: Atria Books

Date of publication: March 19th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Fiction, Magical Realism, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Love

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Being single is like playing the lottery. There’s always the chance that with one piece of paper you could win it all.

From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer comes the romance that will define a generation.

Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man , she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a Jake.

But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.

Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for.

First Line:

The paper is blank save for the name: Jake.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

Important details about Expiration Dates

Pace:  Medium

POV: 1st person (Daphne)

Trigger Warnings: Expiration Dates contain themes that include chronic illness, medical content, medical trauma, death, grief, cancer, infertility, and infidelity.

Language: There is mild swearing in Expiration Dates. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is mild sexual content in Expiration Dates.

Setting: Expiration Dates is mainly set in Los Angeles, California. There are also chapters set in Paris, France, and San Fransisco.

My Review

When I read the blurb for Expiration Dates, I knew that I wanted to read it. It hit all my likes (romance, magic), and there was enough in the blurb to make me even more interested. I am glad I accepted the invite because this book was fantastic.

The main storyline of Expiration Dates centers around Daphne. Since she was in middle school, Daphne had been receiving papers with the name of the person she just started dating and how long the relationship would last. This information has caused her not to be as invested in her relationships as she should have been. I loved the concept of this storyline and how the author executed it. Of course, a couple of twists in the storyline further shed light on Daphne’s attitude. But, the admission at the end of the book surprised me.

I loved the romance angle of Expiration Dates. Daphne’s dating life was interesting (and honestly, at times, heartbreaking). The author did show how knowing how long a relationship would last affected Daphne. By the time she met Jack, Daphne was no longer emotionally connected to any of her boyfriends. The only one she kept in contact with was Hugh (who was her best friend). Of course, a significant twist also figured into her not wanting to get attached. Once that was revealed, her reluctance made more sense.

The end of Expiration Dates was interesting. Not only did Daphne make a pretty big decision, but she also found something that blew her mind. It also blew my mind because of how much of a game-changer it was for Daphne. I loved the very end. It showed a very different Daphne than the one we got to know throughout the book.

Many thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley, and Rebecca Serle for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Expiration Dates. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

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

Other books by Rebecca Serle

Never Too Late by Danielle Steel

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Delacorte Press

Date of publication: March 5th, 2024

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

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

An act of terror. A summer of change . . .

Never Too Late is a stirring drama about the power of human connection and embracing brave change, from the billion copy bestseller, Danielle Steel.

Following the death of her beloved husband, Kezia Cooper Hobson decides to leave her home in San Francisco and move to a luxury penthouse in Manhattan, where she’ll be closer to her two adult daughters.

As she watches the 4th July firework display from her terrace, Kezia is shocked to see smoke and flames pouring from famous landmarks across New York City. Her neighbour, the famous movie star Sam Stewart, is also aware of the crisis, and watches in horror as the terrifying drama unfolds.

Determined to offer their assistance, Kezia and Sam hasten to the site and swiftly become involved in the rescue effort. Shocked and traumatized by the events they experience, Kezia and Sam bond in the days and weeks that follow one of the worst nights the country has ever known.

What follows is a summer of healing and change, and the discovery that it’s never too late for dreams to be born again . . .

First Line:

Kezia Cooper Hobson flew from San Fransisco to New York in first class, with four big suitcases that held the last of her things she was bringing to New York.

Never Too Late by Danielle Steel

Important details about Never Too Late

Pace:  Slow

POV: 3rd person (Sam, Kezia, Felicity, Kate)

Trigger Warnings: Never Too Late contains themes that include terrorism, adoption, adult-minor relationships, alcohol consumption, dead bodies & body parts, death of a parent, death of a spouse, grief & loss depiction, building collapse, explosions, gun violence, and murder & attempted murder.

Language: Never Too Late contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is mild sexual content in Never Too Late.

Setting: Never Too Late is set in New York City, New York. A couple of chapters are set in Southern Africa and one in France.

My Review

I have been reading Danielle Steel’s books since middle school. I have always found them to be quick, light reads, so I went into reading Never Too Late with a certain expectation based on previous reads. While I got it, I wasn’t a big fan of what was going on in the background (the terrorist attack). It left a sour taste in my mouth that didn’t go away once the author quickly wrapped it up. I also didn’t care for Kezia or her daughters. So, this book became a “meh” book for me.

The main storyline of Never Too Late centers on Kezia, Sam, and the terrorist attack that changed their lives. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, I wasn’t a big fan of this storyline. It brought back a lot of unneeded memories of 9-11. But, thankfully, the author did put that part of the storyline in the background. The storyline then focused on Kezia, Sam, Kate, and their issues. This was the storyline that I enjoyed reading (even if I didn’t like Kezia or her daughters). I enjoyed seeing Kezia and Sam’s relationship bloom from friendship to love.

I mentioned that I was not too fond of Kezia or her daughters. Kezia alone was fine. I enjoyed her interactions with Sam and seeing their relationship flourish. But when Kezia interacted with Kate or Felicity, two different sides came out. She was either a caring mother who equally loved both daughters, or she put Felicity up on a pedestal and flaunted it to Kate.

I didn’t have a really big opinion of Felicity. I thought it was a little icky that she was dating a man in his 30s and had been dating him for years (since she was in her late teens). Compared to Kate and Kezia, she was not as flushed out and came across as a little flat.

I couldn’t stand Kate. She rubbed me the wrong way. While I did feel bad for her (her birth father wanted nothing to do with her), she did have a great adoptive father who did everything for her. I can understand why she felt the odd one out, but it doesn’t excuse how she treated Kezia and Felicity throughout the book. Even after she returned from Africa, she was a douchecanoe. But, there was a slow shift in her attitude once she realized her boyfriend was only with her for the free ride (she had a trust fund and didn’t have to work). By the end of the book, she had a change of heart and attitude, but for me, it was too little too late.

The love angle of Never Too Late was pure Danielle Steel, which is why I didn’t give this book a 2-star rating. She knows how to write a love story, and she wrote this one in a way that I really enjoyed reading. You knew who was going to end up with how and possibly when. It was the in-between, the build-up that I enjoyed.

The end of Never Too Late was your typical HEA. I liked that everyone got an HEA. There was a character (coughKatecough) who I was firmly convinced would be bitter forever. So, I was surprised about that. I was also surprised at who she ended up with.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Delacorte Press, NetGalley, and Danielle Steel for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Never Too Late. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Never Too Late, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Danielle Steel