Tag: adult

The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell

Date of publication: March 12th, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Adult, Fiction, Historical Romance, Mental Health, Jewish, LGBTQ+

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

A passionate tale of plague, fire, and forbidden love in seventeenth-century London from the acclaimed author of Solomon’s Crown

1666. It is a year after plague has devastated England. Young widow Cecilia Thorowgood is a prisoner, trapped and isolated within the cavernous London townhouse of her older sister. At the mercy of a legion of doctors who fail to cure her grief with their impatient scalpels, Cecilia shows no signs of improvement. Soon, her sister makes a decision borne of she hires a new physician, someone known for more unusual methods. But he is a foreigner. A Jew. And despite his attempts to save Cecilia, he knows he cannot quell the storm of grief that rages within her. There is no easy cure for melancholy.

David Mendes fled Portugal to seek a new life in London, where he could practice his faith openly and leave the past behind. Still reeling from the loss of his beloved friend, struggling with his religion and his past, David finds himself in this foreign land, free and safe, but incapable of happiness—caring not even for himself, but only for his ailing father. The security he has found in London threatens to disappear when he meets Cecilia, and he finds himself torn between his duty to medicine and the beating of his own heart. He is the only one who can see her pain; the glimmers of light she emits, even in her gloom, are enough to make him believe once more in love.

Facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, David and Cecilia must endure prejudice, heartbreak, and calamity before they can be together. A Great Fire is coming—and with the city in flames around them, love has never felt so impossible.

First Line

Three springs had passed since the king’s return to England, when I married William Thorowgood.

The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel

Important details about The Phoenix Bride

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Cecilia and David)

Trigger Warnings: The Phoenix Bride contains themes that include antisemitism, fire and fire injury, confinement, death, medical content, grief, religious bigotry, death of a parent, alcohol, pandemic/epidemic, homophobia, vomit, classism, pregnancy, religious persecution, arranged marriage, forced marriage, depression, eating disorders, sleep disorders, attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, infertility, blood, dead bodies, and the death of a spouse.

Language: The Phoenix Bride contains no swearing or language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is mild (non-graphic) sexual content in The Phoenix Bride.

Setting: The Phoenix Bride is set in 17th-century London, England.

My Review

I have always loved England. I will try to read anything I can about England when given the opportunity. I do read books from the Victorian or Regency era, but I will read earlier if I find a book I like. The Phoenix Bride definitely fit what I liked, and seeing that it takes place before, during, and after The Great Fire (an event that I have read almost next to nothing about), my interest was caught.

The Phoenix Bride’s storyline centers on Cecilia and David, their backstories, their romance, and The Great Fire (and its aftermath). I found this a well-written, eye-opening book about life in 1666. I did have questions about the end of the book. It was vague, and I couldn’t tell if there was an HEA. But, considering how prejudiced people were, I went for not being an HEA—just an HEA for that moment.

Cecilia was a hot mess when the book started. Her mental health issues were addressed immediately, and you couldn’t help but pity her. She went into a deep depression when her husband died. But, the book didn’t dwell on Cecilia’s mental health for long. Instead, it steamed forward with her falling in love with David and her engagement to Sir Grey. In a world where women were considered property and often were regulated to the background, Cecilia refused to do so. When she wanted something (in this case, it was David), she went after it, no matter the consequences.

I liked David, and he was another one that I felt terrible about. He dealt with antisemitism daily (which would depress me). He also lost the man he loved to the plague and couldn’t talk to anyone about it (remember, being homosexual back in the 17th century could end up with jail time). He had taken over his ailing father’s practice and was busy with patients. I was surprised he agreed to go to Cecilia’s sister’s house. I was also surprised by his reaction to Cecilia. But, mostly, I was saddened by his grief and stress.

I was very interested in the medical aspect of The Phoenix Bride. I knew the basics of how doctors dealt with the plague back then (plague doctor masks filled with scented flowers), but I never knew what a doctor did on a day-to-day basis (besides bloodletting and leeches). Reading about the different herbs and flowers used to help with different afflictions was interesting. I wish the author had spent more time on that in the book.

Also, what was interesting to me in the book was how doctors treat mental illness and neurodivergent people. Bloodletting was very popular. Cecilia was also confined to a courtyard and her room, was not allowed to exercise, and didn’t visit anyone. It was a little disturbing how she was viewed and treated. Sir Grey was treated similarly (I think he had ADHD or maybe autism, but I am not sure).

I was also interested in how the homosexual community was treated back then. It seemed to me (even though it was technically illegal..the sodomy laws were enacted in 1533) that most people were accepting of the molly houses, and the police did periodic sweeps to appease the government. It seemed like people were accepting in the book. But, even with that, David and Jan (and maybe Sir Grey) had to keep their sexuality very quiet or risk being put in jail or to death.

The Great Fire of London was also incorporated into the plotline during the last half of the book. Only a few details about how it started were given, but there was speculation. I was surprised by how the upper class reacted to the fire. They were on barges watching London burn and people trying to escape. It seemed weird, but I could see why people did it. The author also detailed the aftermath of the fire from David’s POV. He escaped with his life but lost everything.

The romance between Cecilia and David did seem a little forced in spots. I know I am cynical, but I don’t believe in falling in love in only a week (or, in this case, a couple of days). But, even with it feeling forced, I did like their chemistry and how they interacted.

The end of The Phoenix Bride was good, but it was a little vague. I liked that Cecilia and David finally got back together (after being apart for a year). But I read that last chapter, and I couldn’t figure out if they were together with Sir Grey’s blessing or going behind his back. That’s why I mentioned it might be a HEA for now instead of forever.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell, NetGalley, and Natasha Siegel for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Phoenix Bride. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Phoenix Bride, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Natasha Siegel

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

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

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of Publication: March 5th, 2024

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

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

A missing baby. A fraught friendship. A secret that can never be told.

On a brisk fall night in a New York apartment, 35-year-old Billie West hears terrified screams. It’s her lifelong best friend Cassie Barnwell, one floor above, and she’s just realized her infant daughter has gone missing. Billie is shaken as she looks down into her own arms to see the baby, remembering—with a jolt of fear—that she is responsible for the kidnapping that has instantly shattered Cassie’s world.

So begins the story of Billie and Cassie’s friendship–both in recent weeks, and since they met twenty-three years ago, in their small Hudson Valley hometown the summer before seventh grade. Once fiercely bonded by their secrets, including a traumatic, unspeakable incident in high school, Cassie and Billie have drifted apart in adulthood, no longer the inseparable pair they used to be. Cassie is married to a wealthy man, has recently become a mother, and is building a following as a fashion and lifestyle influencer. She is desperate to leave her past behind–including Billie, who is single and childless, and no longer fits into her world. Hurt and rejected by Cassie’s new priorities, Billie will do anything to restore their friendship, even as she hides the truth about what really happened the night the baby was taken.

Told in alternating perspectives in Lovering’s signature suspenseful style, Bye Baby confronts the myriad ways friendships change and evolve over time, the lingering echoes of childhood trauma, and the impact of women’s choices on their lifelong relationships.

First Line:

The baby stops fussing, settling into my arms like a sleepy puppy.

Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering

Important details about Bye, Baby

Pace: Medium but does go too fast during crucial scenes.

POV: 1st person (Billie and Cassie)

Trigger Warnings: Bye, Baby contains themes that include sexual assault, kidnapping, toxic friendship, death of a parent, adult/minor relationships, rape, sexual harassment, child abuse, pedophilia, murder, dementia, bullying, grief, pregnancy, death, emotional abuse, mental illness, sexual violence, stalking, alcohol, alcoholism, body horror, chronic illness, domestic abuse, infertility, toxic relationships, vomit, abortion, gaslighting, classism, body shaming, and eating disorder.

Language: Bye, Baby contains mild to moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in A Smoking Bun.

Setting: Bye, Baby is set in New York City, New York.

My Review

When I read the blurb for Bye, Baby, my interest was caught. I enjoy psychological thrillers with a mystery element. However, as I read the book, I found that the storyline focused more on Cassie and Billie’s decades-long friendship rather than the kidnapping outlined in the blurb.

Bye, Baby’s storyline revolves around Cassie and Billie, their decades-long friendship, and the kidnapping of Cassie’s daughter. I thought this was a well-written storyline that showed society’s expectations of mothers and the pressure that women who choose not to have children go through by other women. The kidnapping was not the focal point of this book. It was a tiny part of a very complex storyline.

The author did something interesting with this storyline. She started the book fifty days before the kidnapping and detailed Cassie and Billie’s lives. As she was building the present-day storyline, she returned to when Billie and Cassie first met and detailed the trauma that Billie went through as a teenager. I liked seeing both Cassie and Billie in the present and past. So much was explained about each of them and how their friendship turned toxic and one-sided.

The mystery angle of Bye, Baby was interesting. The author tells you who kidnapped the baby, but the why and how are not explained. The author does build up to that, but it seemed to go on longer than it should have. It was the afterward that was drawn out.

I was very interested in the mothers vs. women choosing to be child-free. There were times when the author did lay it on thick for the mothers. The pressure and adult bullying that Cassie and her friends did to Billie about choosing to be child-free was disgusting but very spot on.

The behind-the-scenes look into what it takes to be an influencer was fascinating. Cassie was obsessed with her followers, comments, and likes. Even though she started the Instagram account to promote her business, it became more of a mom vlog and promoting different brands. Honestly, it sounds exhausting and not something I can see myself doing.

The childhood trauma that shaped Billie was heartbreaking. So much happened to her quickly, and it became a little hard to follow. I enjoyed seeing Billie bloom during college, but I couldn’t understand why she kept returning to Cassie every time something went wrong. It was explained towards the end of the book (and it is linked to her trauma), but still.

The end of Bye, Baby seemed a little rushed. I didn’t believe what Cassie did. Hell, I didn’t even believe what Billie’s boyfriend did (and he’s a police officer). I was a little irritated by how everything went down (Cassie’s new best friend has issues with Billie but did the right thing in the end).

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Carola Lovering for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Bye, Baby. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

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

Other books by Carola Lovering

A Smoking Bun (A Bakeshop Mystery: Book 18) by Ellie Alexander

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

Date of publication: February 20th, 2024

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Food, Family, Fiction, Adult

Series: A Bakeshop Mystery

Meet Your Baker—Book 1

A Batter of Life and Death—Book 2

On Thin Icing—Book 3

Caught Bread Handed—Book 4

Fudge and Jury—Book 5

A Crime of Passion Fruit—Book 6

Trouble is Brewing—Book 6.5

Another One Bites the Crust—Book 7

Till Death Do Us Tart—Book 8

Live and Let Pie—Book 9

A Cup of Holiday Fear—Book 10

Nothing Bundt Trouble—Book 11

Chilled to the Cone—Book 12

Mocha, She Wrote—Book 13

A Brunch with Death—Book 13.5

Bake, Borrow, and Steal—Book 14

Donut Disturb—Book 15

Muffin But the Truth—Book 16

Catch Me If You Candy—Book 17

A Smoking Bun—Book 18

Sticks and Scones—Book 19

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, OR!

The mountains are calling in Ashland, Oregon, where pastry chef turned amateur sleuth, Jules Capshaw, is baking up a bevy of spiced curry buns and chai cookies for a moonlit snowshoe tour. Ramiro’s family is visiting from Spain and Jules can’t wait to take them up to her beloved Mount A with its charming and rustic lodge, backcountry trails, and star-filled skies that stretch for miles. Their winter wonderland adventure is nothing short of magical and the merry party opts to return to the slope the next day for the Downhill Dummy.

The annual competition is a favorite amongst snow lovers. Contestants strap makeshift dummies to skis and send them hurling down a death-defying ski jump in hopes of catching big air. The team at Torte is in the mix this year with their own replica of a tiered cake and a baker who closely resembles their fearless leader. It’s a fun and festive atmosphere as dummies sail past the crowd to huge cheers and applause. Until one of the dummies takes a deadly detour and lands atop Fitz Baskin.

Fitz is a guide on the mountain and his icy dealings have made for frosty relationships with everyone he encounters. Suddenly there are more suspects than snowdrifts as Jules dives into the investigation. She unearths a web of secrets and motives that threaten to shake the rustic mountain lodge to its core. Can she catch the killer before they strike again, or will the truth be buried forever under fluffy layers of fresh snow?

First Line:

They say you should embrace the seasons of life.

A Smoking Bun by Ellie Alexander

Important details about A Smoking Bun

Pace:  Medium

POV: 1st person (Jules)

Series: A Bakeshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the previous books to understand backstories and relationships.

Trigger Warnings: A Smoking Bun contains themes that include alcohol consumption, blood, dead bodies, fire & arson, explosions, and murder & attempted murder.

Language: There is mild swearing in A Smoking Bun. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in A Smoking Bun.

Setting: A Smoking Bun is set in Ashland, Oregon.

My Review

After several weeks of reading books that were often difficult to read (because of the content), I was ready to read something lighter. When I saw that A Smoking Bun was next on my TBR, I initially had an “Oh no” reaction. I had thought this would be another book with heavy subject matter. But, since I have a weekly reading schedule, I started reading. I was pleasantly surprised! A Smoking Bun was a perfect balm to a mind that previous books had overloaded.

A Smoking Bun is the eighteenth book (yes, I had the same reaction you did when I saw the number) in the A Bakeshop Mystery series. Because I hadn’t read the previous books, I was expecting some confusion over the characters, their backstories, and how they related to the storyline I was reading. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. There was minor confusion, but the author quickly explained the characters’ relationships to Jules. The explanations occurred within the two to three chapters, and the author moved on after the explanations were given. The focus was solely given to the mystery.

The storyline of A Smoking Bun centers on Jules and her investigation into the murder of Fitz Baskin. Fitz was horrible, with many people who didn’t want him around. The author hones the focus on four main suspects: two former clients of Fitz who he left on the side of the mountain, off the trail and in subzero temperatures, on purpose, an outspoken member of the ski rescue team, and the owner of the ski chalet/resort. All four suspects had the motive and opportunity to kill Fitz. Jules started looking into the case when one of her employees begged her to (plus, she was there, along with most of the town, when the body fell off the sled during the dummy run). His best friend was one of the four, and her employee was sure he had nothing to do with it.

I am fond of mysteries set in restaurants, bakeries, and other food stores. I enjoy reading about the delicious food that these fictional places make. I also appreciate the recipes usually included at the end of the book. I don’t know if this is because I got an ARC copy; none was included here. There were some recipes included that I would have loved to copy down.

The mystery angle of A Smoking Bun was well written. It was predictable, but overall, I enjoyed it. Jules had a unique way of looking into the case. She also had a connection with the suspects and used that to ferret out clues. Now, I was surprised at who the killer was and why that person killed Fitz. The killer was on my list of suspects, but there wasn’t enough for me to go, “Yes, it is that person.” So, when everything was revealed (and it was revealed dramatically), I was astonished.

The end of A Smoking Bun was your typical mystery ending. The author wrapped up that storyline in a way I liked but left an opening for book 19.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Ellie Alexander for allowing me to read and review this ARC of A Smoking Bun. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to A Smoking Bun, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Ellie Alexander

The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffian

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Random House, One World

Date of publication: February 27th, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Civil War, Race, 19th Century, Adult, Adult Fiction, African American, Family

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

A gripping historical novel about a spirited young girl who joins a sisterhood of Black women working together to undermine the Confederates—from the award-winning author of We Cast a Shadow

The American Daughters follows Ady, a curious, sharp-witted girl who is enslaved alongside her mother, Sanite to a businessman in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Sanite and her mother Ady are an inseparable duo—taking walks along the river, working together in the fields and spending nights looking up at the stars, dreaming. Ady’s favorite pastime is listening to Sanite’s stories of her families’ origins, their fierce and rebellious nature, and the everlasting love that strengthens their bond.

When mother and daughter are separated, Ady is left hopeless and unmoored, until she stumbles into the Mockingbird Inn and meets Lenore, a free Black woman with whom she becomes fast friends. Lenore invites Ady to join a clandestine society of spies called The Daughters. With the courage instilled in her by Sanite—and help from these strong women—Ady learns how to choose herself. So begins her journey toward liberation and imagining a new future. The American Daughters is a novel of hope and triumph that reminds us what is possible when a community bands together to fight for their right to live free.

First Line:

Of all the tiresome habits of men, what drove Ady, known here as Antoinette Marianne du Marche, to her wit’s end was their impulse to expand the pettiest of their lives’ moments to epic proportions.

The American Daughters by Maurice Carols Ruffin

Important details about The American Daughters

Pace: Medium. It goes to a fast pace at the end of the book (during certain events) but returns to medium after those events are over.

POV: 3rd person (Ady), 2nd person (excerpts of Ady’s journal), and 1st person (passages of people interviewed over the years about Ady’s journal).

Trigger Warnings: The American Daughters contains themes that include slavery, racism, racial slurs, rape, sexual violence, violence, murder, colourism, classism, sexism & misogyny, white supremacy, dissociation & dissociative episodes, involuntary pregnancy, and war themes.

Language: There is moderate swearing in The American Daughters. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is minor consensual sexual content in The American Daughters. The nonconsensual content is alluded to.

Setting: The American Daughters is set in New Orleans, Louisiana.

My Review

The main storyline of The American Daughters centers around Ady. It is a well-written storyline that does make it uncomfortable to read. The author doesn’t try to sugarcoat or explain away what happened to slaves. I guarantee this content will make people uncomfortable, but it needs to be read.

I liked Ady. I wasn’t sure if I liked that she wanted to join The Daughters (with her owner being one of the prominent people they were gunning for), but once she did join, she was invaluable. The most valuable thing about her was that she could read and write (English and French). Her owner decided to pass her off as his daughter and educated her. Those skills gave information to The Daughters to do what they saw fit.

Besides the main storyline (which intrigued me), I also enjoyed the excerpts the author included. The author was able to fill in some blanks when it came to Ady and her life after the Civil War while also keeping it a mystery.

There is also a thread of romance intertwined in the book. I did think that Ady met her soulmate in this person. I was also sure that this person didn’t feel the same way. It wasn’t until almost the end of the book that the author discussed that.

The Civil War also takes up a considerable chunk of the book. The author doesn’t get into detail about the battles, but he does go into detail about how the city prepped for war and its effect on New Orleans. Even when the war came to New Orleans, the author kept it to a few paragraphs at the book’s end. Of course, there were descriptions of what Ady and The Daughters did to help the Union army. The chains were mainly mentioned (and yes, it is true).

I did enjoy reading about The Daughters and their work. While fictional, I have no issue imagining something similar existed. In a city where free blacks and slaves coexisted, I find it hard not to believe that a spy ring made up of free black women and slaves existed. The Daughters did a lot of damage, but they also took hits to their numbers. Towards the end of the war, only a few were left (including Ady), which led to what happened at her owner’s house (which was poetic justice in my eyes).

The ending kept me from giving this book a 5-star review (if you can make sense of my rambling above). I was happy with how Ady’s storyline ended. But then the author posted an interview with a twist I should have seen coming. This twist was so shocking, but it made sense. I was mad that I didn’t see it coming.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Random House, One World, NetGalley, and Maurice Carlos Ruffin for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The American Daughters. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The American Daughters, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

A Fate Inked in Blood (Saga of the Unfated: Book 1) by Danielle L. Jensen

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey

Date of publication: February 27th, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Mythology, Adult, Fiction, Magic, High Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

Series: Saga of the Unfated

A Fate Inked in Blood—Book 1

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.

Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband’s back.

Freya’s dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region’s jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: She possesses a drop of a goddess’s blood, which makes her a shield maiden with magic capable of repelling any attack. It was foretold such a magic would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath the one who controls the shield maiden’s fate.

Believing he’s destined to rule Skaland as king, the fanatical jarl binds Freya with a blood oath and orders Bjorn to protect her from their enemies. Desperate to prove her strength, Freya must train to fight and learn to control her magic, all while facing perilous tests set by the gods. The greatest test of all, however, may be resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn. If Freya succumbs to her lust for the charming and fierce warrior, she risks not only her own destiny but the fate of all the people she swore to protect.

First Line:

My mother taught me many skills to ensure I’d make a good wife to my husband.

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle J. Jensen

Important things you need to know about Ill-Fated Fortune:

Pace: Fast

POV: 1st person (Freya)

Trigger Warnings: A Fate Inked in Blood contains themes that include violence, war, death, blood, gore, death of a parent, fire & fire injury, murder, sexism, injury & injury detail, animal death, grief, bullying, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, infidelity, misogyny, physical abuse, vomit, kidnapping, gaslighting, classism, suicide attempt, bigamy, and toxic relationships.

Series: A Fate Inked in Blood is the first book in the Sage of the Unfated series.

Language: There is moderate swearing in A Fate Inked in Blood. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in A Fate Inked in Blood. But, the lead-up to Bjorn and Freya having sex is explicit.

Setting: A Fate Inked in Blood is set in Skaland.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

In an unwanted and abusive marriage, Freya lives to keep her husband, a child of the gods, happy. Freya is also hiding a huge secret, one so big that it could rip apart everything that she knows. And it happens; her secret is discovered the day her husband decides to have her killed by the king so he can marry another woman. What is Freya’s secret? She is also a child of the gods. She is The Shieldmaiden of a prophecy where she is foretold to unite a fractured Skaland.

Brought to the capital of Skaland by a fanatical Snorri (the king), Freya is forced to marry him and then is bound by a blood oath to keep his secrets. Snorri then orders his son, Bjorn, to train and protect Freya. Freya is desperate. She needs to learn to fight and control her magic to appease Snorri and the gods. Meanwhile, she survives attempts on her life and trials given by the gods. Freya is also battling an attraction to Bjorn, which is forbidden since he is technically her stepson. Can Freya live up to what the prophecy said and unite Skaland? Or do the gods have other plans for her?

My Review

I was browsing NetGalley (specifically the Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine page) when I noticed A Fate Inked in Blood and saw it was wish only. I was going to pass (the cover didn’t thrill me then), but when I read the blurb, I knew I needed to read it. This book was based on Norse mythology, and from the blurb, it looked good. So, I took the gamble and wished for it. I was thrilled when I got the email telling me it was granted. Now that I have read the book, I can tell you that it is fantastic. It was a rare five stars for me!!

A Fate Inked in Blood’s main storyline centers around Freya, her magic, and Bjorn. The author took Norse gods and goddesses and interwove them into a violent and bloody storyline that reflected how the way of life was back when people still worshipped the gods. But she put her own spin on things, which made this book so good.

I loved Freya. Her life wasn’t great the entire book. But she kept her wits about her and used her circumstances to better herself. I also liked how she handled being told that she would unite Skaland. Her reaction was something that I could see an ordinary person doing.

Freya’s magic was a huge aspect of the book, but at the same time, so little was known about it. Her training wasn’t excellent (she had to be trained fast), and most of what she knew was instinctive. A massive twist in her origin story took me by surprise. I hope that in book 2, she gets the training to understand and use her magic.

Oh, Bjorn, let me tell you about Bjorn. He was utterly devoted to Freya when his father made him her protector. But, even before that, he looked out for her. His backstory was tragic. It was a little drawn out, and I figured out what was happening before the book’s end. But, it was that drawn-out story, along with his utter devotion to Freya, that made him so amazing to read.

I want to warn you that A Fate Inked in Blood has a lot of gore and violence. But, considering when this book took place, I thought it was weird if there wasn’t any (if that makes sense).

Several secondary storylines involve Snorri and his war. From the threats to kill her family to marrying her to going into battle, it helped flesh out Freya’s storyline and made me better understand what she was going through.

The fantasy angle of A Fate Inked in Blood was terrific. The author did her research when it came to Norse gods and customs of that era. I couldn’t put the book down when Bjorn and Freya battled through the caves or when the gods came to witness her battle.

While I saw how Bjorn’s storyline would end, I did not expect the book to end the way it did. I was utterly floored by what was revealed about Freya and Bjorn. I didn’t see it coming, and I had to reread those chapters several times to understand everything. Events happened so fast that I did get turned around. It also made me very excited to read book 2. Because I can’t wait to see what a pissed-off Freya is capable of!!

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Danielle L. Jensen for allowing me to read and review this ARC of A Fate Inked in Blood. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to A Fate Inked in Blood, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Danielle L. Jensen

Nowhere Like Home by Sara Shepard

Publisher: Penguin Group Dutton, Dutton

Date of publication: February 20th, 2024

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

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars Sara Shepard’s next adult novel follows a group of mothers living in a mysterious “mommune,” each of whom is running from something

When Lenna gets a call from her old friend Rhiannon, she is startled; Rhiannon disappeared years ago without a trace. But Lenna is even more startled to learn that Rhiannon has a son and that she lives off the grid with a group of women in a community called Halcyon. Rhiannon invites Lenna, a new mother herself, to join them. Why suffer the sleepless nights by yourself? It takes a village, after all.

Lenna decides to go and hopefully repair her relationship with Rhiannon, but as she drives into the desert and her cell service gets weaker, she becomes suspicious. Who are these women and why did Rhiannon invite her here? And that is before she learns about the community’s rules (no outside phone calls, no questions about people’s pasts) and the padlock on the gate that leads out to the main road. But Lenna has other concerns, secrets from her past she is terrified will come out. When a newcomer arrives in the community, Lenna’s worst fears are confirmed—she was brought here for a reason.

Nowhere Like Home tackles themes of complicated friendships and trauma but all with Sara Shepard’s expert twists that you don’t see coming.

First Line:

It’s hard to sum up this place.

Nowhere LIke Home by Sara Shepard

Important things you need to know about Nowhere Like Home:

Pace: Medium to Fast

POV: Mainly 3rd person (Lenna, Rhiannon, and Sarah). There are some chapters told from the 2nd person (through Gillian’s Instagram posts) and one chapter told from the 1st person.

Trigger Warnings: Nowhere Like Home contains sexual assault, murder, pregnancy, toxic friendship, abandonment, kidnapping, violence, and the death of a parent. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book.

Language: There is mild to moderate swearing in Nowhere Like Home. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Setting: In the Present Day chapters of the book, Nowhere Like Home is set on a momune just outside of Tucson, Arizona. The past chapters of the book are set in Los Angeles, California.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Present Day: A new mother with a colicky baby and a husband isn’t helping, Lenna is drowning. So, when an old friend surfaces after two years and tells Lenna about a momune in the desert outside Tucson, Lenna jumps at it. But, once she gets to Halycon, Lenna notices that there seems to be something off with the commune. From barbed wire and padlocked gates to outrageous joining fees to cell and internet service being blocked, Lenna begins to think this paradise is more of hell. Only when she sees another familiar face from her past does she realize someone brought her here for a reason.

Past: Lenna is stuck at a dead-end job when she meets Rhiannon, a bright and vibrant editor at a well-known magazine. They instantly click and become the best of friends. But, when Rhiannon unexpectedly leaves, Lenna becomes friends with Gillian, who works at another magazine in the same building. But Lenna’s friendship with Gillian is strained, shadowed by Rhiannon’s absence. And Gillian starts to act more and more unstable in the passing days. Everything comes to a head one rainy afternoon, and the aftermath leaves Lenna, who already suffered from anxiety, a mess.

What happened that day? What is Lenna’s secret? Why did Rhiannon make contact with her out of the blue? Is the momune a place where Lenna can find peace? Or will Lenna be forced to face what happened two years ago?

My review:

I was intrigued when I saw that Sara Shepard had written this book. Like millions of others, I have watched Pretty Little Liars on TV. While I wasn’t a big fan of the show (it wasn’t up my alley), I did like the thought behind it. So, when Penguin Group Dutton sent me a widget containing this book, I decided to read it. Having read it, I was a little disappointed.

Nowhere Like Home has dual storylines. The first follows Lenna, Rhiannon, and the momune residents during Lenna’s first few days there. The second storyline follows Lenna, Rhiannon, Gillian (via her Instagram posts), and Sarah (who comes later on in the storyline). Both storylines were well-written and well-fleshed out. The momune storyline felt flat to me. It was less fleshed out than the storyline that takes place in the past. But they kept my attention focused on the book, and I didn’t get lost following the characters, which was a plus.

The storyline with momune did strike a chord with me. I have three children (as most of you know from my blog’s bio). My oldest had severe colic (it was discovered that she was lactose intolerant later on down the road). My SO was like Lenna’s husband; he couldn’t handle the crying. And sometimes, I wished I had a village of women to help me with her. I liked that the author also showcased how Lenna’s trauma over what happened to Gillian affected her. The not knowing and keeping it affected every aspect of her life, whether she knew it or not. I was surprised at who was behind everything and how that person connected to Rhiannon and Lenna.

The storyline that takes place two years before everything did explain a lot. It showed how Rhiannon and Lenna met and how Lenna and Gillian met. Rhiannon was a little shifty and kept things from Lenna (but, when it was revealed what, I was surprised). Rhiannon taking off was unusual for her, but the reason was surprising. The only thing that even bothered me was Lenna’s friendship with Gillian. Right from the beginning, I didn’t like Gillian. She was creepy, so I wasn’t surprised when what happened to her was revealed.

The mystery angle of the book was well-written. I was shocked at who was behind everything at the momune. There was a brief hint at it when Gillian got drunk (over two years before). I also got why Rhiannon was forced to do what that person wanted (her lies were figured out).

The author also tackled the mysteries brought up in the storyline set in the past. There was an explanation as to why Rhiannon left and about her backstory. I felt so bad for her, with everything that happened. And I also understood why she did what she did. I also liked that Sarah’s role in everything was explained. It cleared a lot of confusion around what happened that day on the trail.

The end of Nowhere Like Home was cathartic. Everything was explained. But, like Lenna, I wondered who saved everyone in that cave.

Many thanks to Penguin Group Dutton, Dutton, NetGalley, and Sara Shepard for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Nowhere Like Home. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Nowhere Like Home, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Sara Shepard

The Guest by B.A. Paris

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: February 20th, 2024

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

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author B. A. Paris captivated psychological thriller readers everywhere with Behind Closed Doors. Now she invites you into another heart-pounding home full of secrets, in The Guest.

Some secrets never leave.

Iris and Gabriel seem to have it all: a beautiful home in the British countryside, a daughter happily working in Greece, and good friends Laure and Pierre from Paris, who they often vacation with. But when a young man has a tragic accident in a nearby quarry, Gabriel is the one to find him and hear his final words, leaving Gabriel with a guilty burden.

As Iris tries to help ease her husband’s trauma, they acquire an unexpected house guest. Laure has seemingly moved in after her husband’s revelation that he has had a child with another woman. Iris and Gabriel insist Laure stay as long as she needs. But Laure keeps wearing Iris’s clothes, following her every move, and asking her about the recent death of the young man.

Their only respite from the increasingly tense atmosphere in their own home comes from a couple new to town and expecting their first child. But with them comes their gardener, who has a checkered past.

With fractured relationships and secrets piling up around them, can Iris and Gabriel’s marriage survive?

First Line:

Gabriel, his fingers shaking slightly on the stem, handed Iris a glass of champagne, and then gave one to Esme.

The Guest by B.A. Paris

Important things you need to know about The Guest:

Pace: Medium

POV: Goes between 3rd person (Iris and Gabriel) and 1st person (the killer)

Trigger Warnings: The Guest contains murder, alcoholism, death, infidelity, blood, grief, pregnancy, abandonment, alcohol, suicide, violence, car accident, fire and fire injury, abortion, and adult/minor relationships. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book.

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

Setting: The Guest is set in a small Scottish village. A few chapters also occur in Paris (Gabriel is looking for Pierre).

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Iris and Gabriel are living their ideal lives as empty-nesters in a small Scottish village when Gabriel happens upon a horrific accident. Hearing the victim’s last words weighs heavily on Gabriel since he told the police, the mother, and first responders that the victim said something different. Hoping to help Gabriel overcome his guilt, Iris plans a vacation for them. And it seemed to be doing the trick until they arrived home to find that their friend Laure had moved in while they were gone.

Laure left her husband, Pierre, after he told her he had a child with another woman. But the visit stretches into weeks, with Laure showing no sign of leaving, and she starts behaving erratically. Feeling like strangers in their own home, Iris and Gabriel’s marriage starts to crack. But relief does come when Iris befriends a new couple expecting their first child in the village. But they come with baggage—a family friend turned gardener with a checkered past.

Why isn’t Laure leaving, and where is Pierre? How is the gardener connected to everything that is going on? And will Iris and Gabriel’s marriage buckle under the pressure?

My review:

When I got the widget for The Guest, I was happy about it. I have read and enjoyed books by B.A. Paris before, and I figured that I would like this book. I am slightly ambivalent about it now that I have read the book. I didn’t love it, and I didn’t hate it. If I had to describe my feelings, it would be “meh.”

The main storyline of The Guest centers on Iris, Gabriel, their unwanted houseguest, the death of the boy in the quarry, their new neighbors, and the new neighbor’s gardener. There were parts of this storyline that went on for too long (the whole Laure situation) and other parts that the author seemed to rush through. All of this and the fact that I couldn’t get into the storyline contributed to the ‘meh” factor. And that was disappointing since I enjoy reading books by the author.

The characters were interesting, but I did feel that they weren’t as fleshed out as they could be. All of them felt a little flat. The only character I had a halfway good connection with was Iris, and even then, it was more of a “What the hell. Grow a backbone and throw her out.” connection.

As much as I was “meh” about this book, I will say it had a good mystery/thriller angle. The author did a great job of misdirecting and throwing out red herrings. Why? Because I didn’t see who the killer was until the last chapter. It was such a huge twist and took me entirely by surprise. And when the motive behind everything was revealed, I was shocked. Again, something that I didn’t expect. So, kudos to the author for such an explosive twist.

As I mentioned above, the book’s last chapter had a surprising twist, which I loved. But this is a book that I won’t be rereading. I couldn’t connect with the characters or get involved in the storylines.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and B.A. Paris for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Guest. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

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

Other books by B.A. Paris