Book Review: The Couple by Sarah Mitchell

Description:

Following a whirlwind four-month romance, lawyer Claire and hotel entrepreneur Angus are engaged to be married. Happy and successful, and ready to start their new life together, Claire and Angus find what they believe to be the perfect home. But when Claire meets Mark, the man selling them the house, he looks eerily familiar. He looks exactly like the man she loved five years ago, the man she couldn’t bear to lose. As Claire finds herself irresistibly drawn to Mark and crosses lines she never thought she’d cross, Angus’ behaviour becomes increasingly suspicious. Soon Claire doesn’t know whether she can trust Mark, Angus… or even herself.

Review: 3 Stars

Whatever you think you know...you are wrong. This is what the book cover says and that is the truth! I’m very conflicted about this book. I think the plot has a couple of surprising twists at the end but unfortunately I do not think they are executed very well. Instead of surprising you they confuse you, make you re-read and wonder if you misunderstood. Chapter 24 conflicts everything we’ve read before. I don’t know if it’s a mistake or a twist to be honest. What makes me believe that it’s a twist is that it has been alluded a couple of times in the book that Claire maybe uncomfortable with her brother’s wife’s pregnancy. Why would that be the case if Chapter 24 is a mistake and not a twist? Also the ending, where we read what Claire thinks when she sees Jamie makes me feel like chapter 24 is the twist. However, the conversation in chapter 8 contradicts the twist in chapter 24 or maybe this is a smokescreen to confuse the reader. I think the conversation in chapter 8 or Claire’s interactions with her family could have been written so as to not conflict with the twist- the execution of the twist made me rate the book lower than I would have otherwise. 

In terms of writing style, there are too many unnecessary adjectives that don’t really help build a better picture. The character development is not great. We don’t really know if Angus is a bad guy or not. He seems controlling but there isn’t enough about Angus’ character for the reader to make up their mind about him. Their whirlwind romance is not well described. Mark is shady from the start. I don’t understand why Claire has to lie to Angus when she goes to meet Mark to buy the antique mirror (another unexplained gap). Claire’s character too is all gray, you don’t know if she’s reliable or not. Some information about her cases keep dropping in but they do not add much to the plot, they don’t even help the reader build a better image of Claire. 

Overall the characters of this plot are not likeable, in fact they are easily forgettable. When I stopped reading for a few hours and returned to this book it took me a few mins to recollect and relate to the characters agin. Picking up where I left off from was not easy because I did not feel very involved in the book. 

My final gripe is with the title- nothing in this book focuses on one couple, it’s Claire’s story with 3 different men in her life so I don’t think the title is apt. 

I’ve truly struggled with rating this book. I like the twist but when I think back it does nothing for the plot. Is it surprising- yes, but does it change anything - Nope! 

I’ve been generous with my rating because the concept was a good one, there was a lot of potential in it but it certainly needed better execution. When I started this book I was hopeful and I’d love to rate it higher but after a lot of consideration I do not think that I could justify it if I rated this any higher than a 3. 

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley, #TheCouple

Book Review: The Suspect by Fiona Barton

Description:

When two eighteen-year-old girls go missing in Thailand, their families are thrust into the international spotlight: desperate, bereft, and frantic with worry. What were the girls up to before they disappeared? Journalist Kate Waters always does everything she can to be first to the story, first with the exclusive, first to discover the truth— this time is no exception. But she can’t help but think of her own son, whom she hasn’t seen in two years, since he left home to go travelling.  As the case of the missing girls unfolds, they will all find that even this far away, danger can lie closer to home than you might think…

Review: 3 Stars

I picked this book up thinking it was a stand alone but it was actually the 3rd book in a series. Now I haven’t read the previous 2 so I was less invested in Kate as the reporter. The premise was interesting enough but the writing style wasn’t for me. The book is definitely longer than it should be and it especially feel this way right around the middle since nothing is really happening. It’s tempting to stop reading at this point. The story is a little sad no doubt but is a good one all the same. The beginning is interesting enough and the climax is good too. The story is fairly predictable but there are some very good surprises in there. 

The writing style is good and I’d definitely read more by this author. The characters are well defined and you can feel for them. I do not know how correct her account of Thailand is, but I’ll treat it as fictional and that makes it ok for me. 

My quibble with this book is how Alex and Rosie do not get along at all. I mean why would you go on a trip that too overseas with someone you don’t really get along with? They keep arguing all through the book and that was annoying. I also do not think that the detective’s side story added much to the plot overall. 

For those that are fond of procedural Detective stories, this will probably deserve a higher rating. 

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley, #TheSuspect

Book Review: The Couple on Cedar Close by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Description:

One sunny August afternoon, the residents of Cedar Close throw their annual summer barbecue. Children play in the cherry-tree lined street, tables are laden with food, and the wine is flowing. For Laurie Mills, it’s her first time meeting the neighbours. And it’s the first time she discovers her husband Robert is having an affair. Cedar Close has always been a nice place to live – a quiet suburban street where everyone looks out for one another and bad things don’t happen. Until late one evening, when Robert Mills is found dead in his bedroom. Downstairs, in their beautiful kitchen, his wife Laurie sits alone in the dark with her head in her hands. She can’t remember the last few hours, but she knows she didn’t kill Robert. The trouble is, no-one believes her…

Review: 3 Stars

She did it, she didn’t do it...the reader is left oscillating between these two in the beginning. But as you read through it seems evident that she’s being set up. Early on in the plot as Laurie is preparing for the dinner with Robert, the narration makes it sound like she wants to kill him, phrases such as these “tonight she’s going to make sure that this will never happen”, “looks beautiful, one last meal”, “till death do us part, she says quietly...” when read in context make the reader believe she wants to kill him and not reconcile with him. But then as you read more you realize that while she said wanted him back, she actually wanted to be free of him but she never wanted him dead!

Monica seems to be standing by her friend Laurie, helping her even, but she gives off a strong frenemy vibe that makes you wonder where she actually stands. If you are an avid thriller reader, you have suspected this pretty early on and then about halfway through the book the author reveals the connections between Monica, Robert and Laurie. At this point you wonder what more can this story offer, you know the links and all that’s left is figuring out the logistics. And that’s exactly what happens. The book that starts off as a psychological thriller in the beginning turns in to a police procedural after that. There are no twists that surprise the reader and the rest of the book just focuses on the how.  The blurb touts this as the next Gone Girl and that it is definitely not! 

The side plot about Lucy, Dan, Fi and Delaney is interesting and while it does not add to the main plot it certainly does not distract either. Makes it more interesting to see other characters growing and developing.

The book is a tad longer than I would’ve liked, a little crisper editing would have made it more entertaining. 

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley, #TheCoupleOnCedarClose

Book Review: Watching You by Lisa Jewell

Description:

Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Bristol, England; home to doctors and lawyers and old-money academics. It’s not the sort of place where people are brutally murdered in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret. And everyone is watching you. As the headmaster credited with turning around the local school, Tom Fitzwilliam is beloved by one and all—including Joey Mullen, his new neighbor, who quickly develops an intense infatuation with this thoroughly charming yet unavailable man. Joey thinks her crush is a secret, but Tom’s teenaged son Freddie—a prodigy with aspirations of becoming a spy for MI5—excels in observing people and has witnessed Joey behaving strangely around his father. One of Tom’s students, Jenna Tripp, also lives on the same street, and she’s not convinced her teacher is as squeaky clean as he seems. For one thing, he has taken a particular liking to her best friend and fellow classmate, and Jenna’s mother—whose mental health has admittedly been deteriorating in recent years—is convinced that Mr. Fitzwilliam is stalking her. Meanwhile, twenty years earlier, a schoolgirl writes in her diary, charting her doomed obsession with a handsome young English teacher named Mr. Fitzwilliam…

Review: 5 Stars

Brilliant does not begin to cover it! Overall this an amazing read that you must have on your reading list.Lisa Jewell knows how to spin a web and knows exactly how to trap you in that web. 

The writing style is very detailed and helps you “see” the places being described. It’s almost like you are a spectator in the plot and not a reader of a book. Ms. Jewell defines her characters so well that you can form an image of them in your head, they come alive in your mind. It’s like Tom, Joey, Jenna etc. are all your neighbors and you know exactly how they look and act!

What I loved about her writing is that it makes you forget where you are, you get so lost that when you stop reading and lift your head, it takes you a few blinks to realize that you aren’t in Bristol, you are a real person and not an imaginary character in this book- it is that engrossing. The multiple points of view make it interesting and engaging.

The plot, while slow to start, is interesting from the very beginning. They mystery develops well and leaves you wanting more. As you read along you will wonder about how many people are actually ‘watching’ the people of Melville? Is Jenna’s mom crazy or is there a cause for her paranoid behavior? Who is Tom Fitzwilliam really? Why is someone interested in hacking a child’s computer? The goings on in this little town are strange and the people are stranger, and yet they pull you in, like quicksand. By the end of part one you are just left with so much information yet with so many questions that all you want to do is read on. This is a book that is truly hard to put down. 

As you read further along you begin to question your own assessment of each character and you can see the slow shift in your opinion of them as you’ve been reading, much like how your perception of an individual could gradually change with time.  Soon you are unsure who the real victim is and who is the predator. You begin to question if you’ve been too hasty to judge or have you just been a victim of misinformation. It makes you think long and hard about where this plot is actually headed and what roles do each character truly play. To write a book this mysteriously and intriguing is not an easy job but Ms. Jewell does it with a flair. The climax is a little sad and leaves you on a low but it is the only way this story could have ended. All loose ends are tied up well and there is no more mystery left.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley, #WatchingYou

Book Review: The Second Wife by Sheryl Browne

Description

She made her bed. You’ll lie in it.

Rebecca only wanted to help out – to be kind. Richard seemed so alone after his wife, Nicole, died, and Rebecca wanted to make sure he knew he had someone to rely on.

But now she’s in Nicole’s immaculate house. Drinking from her favourite crystal wine glass. Keeping shoes in her orderly closet. Comforting her sweet and grieving step-daughter. It feels like Rebecca is living another woman’s life.

And as she gets to know the neighbours, Rebecca hears stories that make her wonder: was free-spirited Nicole happy in this perfect life, or did she feel trapped? Did she feel, as Rebecca is beginning to, that something wasn’t quite right?

Review : 4 Stars

Something fishy is going on for sure, you can smell it right from the start! Everything seems normal but it isn’t. We have Nicole’s narration of the past and Rebecca’s narration of the present and they both seem to be building up for a collision! The past is just an year ago so it’s all very relevant and easy to keep the track of. The book is fast paced and enjoyable. It’s hard to put down because things are moving quickly and you want to find out as much as you can, as soon as you can. I finished this book in a day! There a number of twists and turns that keep you on your toes. The plot is enjoyable and the writing even more so. 

My only complaint is about the constant use of the words ‘the misogynist’ to refer to Nicole’s ex, that was annoying. I mean the point that he was misogynistic has been made clear fairly early on so he could just be referred to as her ex.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley, #TheSecondWife

Book Review: Once A Liar by A.F.Brady

Description: In this electrifying psychological thriller, a high-powered sociopath meets his reckoning when he’s accused of the brutal murder of his mistress. Did he kill Charlie Doyle? And if he didn’t…who did? Peter Caine, a cutthroat Manhattan defense attorney, worked ruthlessly to become the best at his job. On the surface, he is charming and handsome, but inside he is cold and heartless. He fights without remorse to acquit murderers, pedophiles and rapists. When Charlie Doyle, the daughter of the Manhattan DA—and Peter’s former lover—is murdered, Peter’s world is quickly sent into a tailspin. He becomes the prime suspect as the DA, a professional enemy of Peter’s, embarks on a witch hunt to avenge his daughter’s death, stopping at nothing to ensure Peter is found guilty of the murder. In the challenge of his career and his life, Peter races against the clock to prove his innocence. As the evidence mounts against him, he’s forced to begin unraveling his own dark web of lies and confront the sins of his past. But the truth of who killed Charlie Doyle is more twisted and sinister than anyone could have imagined…

Review: 3.5 Stars This is a hard book to rate. It does extremely well in some areas and not so much in others. It is the kind of book that is fascinating yet not too hard to put down. It starts at a good pace and is engrossing but then it quickly slows its pace and that does not help, also I did figure it out so that made it slightly predictable. The timeline of Peter’s life is a little messy so it takes effort to keep track of it. Other than that it’s fantastic. Peter is evil, unreliable, and cruel. He is a high functioning sociopath in my opinion. He has so many multiple facets to his personality that it is exhausting to read his story. There is so much fabrication and pretense with this character that it is hard to know what is the truth! I did not quite understand why any of the women in his life put up with him, he has no redeeming qualities in my opinion. He fits the image of a greedy, cunning and mean-spirited DA completely. This is a disturbing novel and I rate it a 4 only because of how much it made me feel!

Thank you NetGalley and HARLEQUIN for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley, #OnceALiar

Book Review: The Good Friend by Jo Baldwin

Description:

Heavenly Creatures meets The Hand That Rocks the Cradle in this exciting debut novel about friendship, love and jealousy. Once upon a time they were best friends. So when Jenny moved to Australia to focus on her swimming career, she not only lost Kath, but her soul-mate Tom. It was for the best. Or so they said. Now, eight years later, Jenny seeks out her childhood friend and heads to rural France where Kath has settled. At first, the women fall back into a close relationship, but before long strange and malicious behaviour leads Jenny to realise the truth: that Kath has played a clever game all along to manipulate and control those around her. And Jenny is her biggest victim. Set against the glorious backdrop of the Languedoc lavender fields, The Good Friend is a beautifully written psychological drama about love, lies and a dangerous obsession. Because once the truth is revealed, there’s no going back . . .

Review: 3 stars

This book was an average read. The plot had a lot more potential and I had much higher expectations. I think the publishers should not have classified this as a mystery/thriller. If it was classified as Drama or Women’s fiction then I would have probably rated it better. The book starts off pretty slowly and it take a lot to not just put it down and move on. But about 50% in it picks up pace and a lot of emotional baggage starts to come up. This book is more about jealousy, lies and tragedy than about twists. Unfortunately for me, I could not relate to the characters and the overt description of France did not do much for me either.

Thank you NetGalley and RedDoor books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! 

#NetGalley #TheGoodFriend

Book Review: Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks

Description
It all started at the school fair…Charlotte was supposed to be looking after the children, and she swears she was. She only took her eyes off of them for one second. But when her three kids are all safe and sound at the school fair, and Alice, her best friend Harriet’s daughter, is nowhere to be found, Charlotte panics. Frantically searching everywhere, Charlotte knows she must find the courage to tell Harriet that her beloved only child is missing. And admit that she has only herself to blame. Harriet, devastated by this unthinkable, unbearable loss, can no longer bring herself to speak to Charlotte again, much less trust her. Now more isolated than ever and struggling to keep her marriage afloat, Harriet believes nothing and no one. But as the police bear down on both women trying to piece together the puzzle of what happened to this little girl, dark secrets begin to surface—and Harriet discovers that confiding in Charlotte again may be the only thing that will reunite her with her daughter....

Review: 5 stars
The book is described very aptly as suspenseful, compulsively readable, and darkly twisted psychological thriller. It is not as simple as it seems based on the description. It is so much more. The book is a lovely description of relationships and the small things that can build or break them. It has the whodunit factor, the psychological thriller bits, the domestic drama angle as well as a whole mysterious angle. You will guess things many times while reading this book and more often than not you will be wrong! This book consumes you, it plays with you and is hard to put down. The author almost taunts you in to guessing things and then goes on to show you how twisted the plot actually is.
The ending was unpredictable and I loved it. The alternating before and current points of view work well for the plot and make it more engrossing. The pressure that the characters feel is relate-able based on all the police questioning. The characters are brilliantly developed and easy incite a strong emotion for. Highly recommend this book!
Thank you NetGalley and Gallery books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! 
#NetGalley #HerOneMistake

Book Review: The Liar’s Wife by Samantha Hayes

Description

Loving husband? Or total stranger? 

When Ella wakes up in a hospital following a hit-and-run incident, she is scared and confused. Close to tears, her eyes fall on a get-well-soon card on the window sill and the nurse reassures her that her loving husband will be back soon...But Ella has never been married. In fact, she has lived alone her whole adult life; working hard, rarely socialising, quietly harbouring a terrible secret from her past. Fear sweeps through Ella when she instantly recognises the man who enters the ward. He is not her husband, but she knows that she must do as he says and play the part of dutiful wife. What choice does she have? He was there the night of the fire, he knows her secret too… 

Review : 4 Stars

This books is very well written. It is interesting but seems pretty straightforward because it’s a slow burn. The plot moves between the present and the pst and told from Ella’s point of view. Given that it is slow moving it does take some effort to keep at it. The premise of the book is a standard domestic thriller cliche but still the writing is good enough to keep reading. And that keeping at it is rewarded with a great twist in the end! Not predictable at all. 

In terms of character development I thought Ms. Hayes did an excellent job. Ella, Zach, Meggie are all well sketched out. Harry’s character is a little elusive and as Ella’s brother I think it warranted a little more insight or background. I liked the thought process of Ms. Hayes behind how  the child was named by Jacob and by Ella herself. It is such small details that make you want to keep reading because you can see the spark that are in the author’s mind. I did find a few loopholes in the plot and found it hard to believe that Ella didn’t try to escape or get help even with a room full of her neighbors, one of whose husband is a detective!!! That was a hard pill to swallow but as the plot unfolds and we learn more about their past and you can emphasize with why Ella is so afraid of Jacob. It does not explain everything away but it does serve to add pause to the readers logical thought and forces the reader to re-consider things more emotionally. 

All in all it’s a good read and the ending is truly rewarding! 

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley, #TheLiarsWife

​

Book Review: The Perfect Family by Shalini Boland

Description

‘Mummy, she’s gone…’ Gemma Ballantine is getting ready for work one morning when her eldest child comes running down the stairs, saying the words every mother dreads. The front door is open. And her six-year-old daughter has disappeared. Frantic with fear, Gemma starts a nail-biting search for her little girl. After what feels like forever, her mother-in-law Diane finds Katie wandering lost a few streets away. Relieved to have her youngest child back in her arms, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair, Gemma thinks the nightmare is over.

But then her perfect family starts to fall apart. And she realises it’s only just beginning

Review: 3.5 Stars

Shalini Boland has a way with words. Her books are always interesting and make you want to keep reading. Like her other work, this one too is intriguing. In the beginning you don’t know who the second narrator is. You can’t figure out what she wants or how she is connected to Gemma. As we move along it becomes clear who this person is. What remains a mystery is the WHY. There are 2 possible people responsible for what Sadie is doing. Trying to figure out which one is the most fun part of this book. As you continue to read you pretty much guess who. But the reveal before the epilogues made me feel like I got it wrong. This was great because it made me feel like the book was not predictable. The only part I could not believe there was Sadie’s choice to share information. That convinced me that the real culprit is the one I was guessing all along. The epilogue explains everything nicely but leaves it slightly open since you do not know for sure what will happen in a few months. It’s difficult to review this books without revealing everything. I’d recommend that even if it’s a tad bit predictable, read it all the same. The writing is lovely, the characters are relatable, the plot twists are fun, all in all it’s an enjoyable book for sure.

 Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley, #ThePerfectFamily

Also shared on: https://romasharma.blogspot.com

​

Book Review: Secrets Between Us by Valerie Keogh

Description:

One letter a week for fifteen years. 780 identical white envelopes brimming with my sister’s darkest secrets. All the intimate details of a life as different to mine as could possibly be. I read each letter slowly to make sure I understand it perfectly, one day very soon it will be a matter of life and death…At the end of each letter, after signing her name, there is always one final sentence: Don’t forget to burn this letter. I’ll let you decide if I do…

Review: 3 Stars

This is a light read that does not consume the reader fully! I would not classify this as a thriller really, it is more of a domestic drama. The plot is predictable, pretty much from get go there are no twists that even a novice reader won't be able to predict. If you are looking for a quick easy read then this is a good pick.

All the characters are very self-centered and unlikeable. They make questionable choices many times all through the story. They are very calculating and do not behave like a real family or even a real couple. There are a quite a few loopholes in the plot that made me unable to rate this book better. I do not understand why Ellie would send weekly letters to Tia but not take the time to meet her even once in 15 years! There isn’t enough mentioned about their past to justify the resentment that Ellie holds perpetually for Tia. I also could not understand why Tia had to burn/shred the letters. Despite all this I wanted to keep reading, I give credit the author's writing that makes a reader want to read something that they can predict fairly well. The ending, while being something predictable, helps wrap the story up nicely explaining to the reader the how and the why. 

I do think the book needs a little more editing since the basic premise of the dynamics between the characters is established quickly and some of the details and instances do not really sway your opinion one way or the other.

The title really does not do the book any justice because there are no secrets really between them that are central to the plot. The publisher needs to work on the blurbs and descriptions because they are misleading. When the description/synopsis is so different from the actual plot, it causes dissatisfaction to the reader which

leads to a lower rating for a book simply because it does not meet the expectations that are set.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley, #SecretsBetweenUs

​

Book Review: When You Find Me by P.J Vernon

Description

Her husband is missing. Visiting her family’s South Carolina estate, socialite Gray Godfrey wakes from a night out to an empty bed. Her husband Paul is gone and a thrashing hangover has wiped her memory clean. At first, she’s relieved for the break from her tumultuous marriage; perhaps Paul just needed some space. But when his car is found abandoned on the highway, Gray must face the truth: Paul is gone. And Gray may not want him found. Her life is unraveling. When a stranger named Annie calls claiming to know Paul’s whereabouts, Gray reluctantly accepts her help. But this ally is not what she seems: soon Annie is sending frightening messages and revealing disturbing secrets only Gray could know. As Annie’s threats escalate and Gray’s grip on reality begins to slip, the life she thought she had and the dark truth she’s been living begin to merge, leaving an unsettling question:What does Annie want? And what will she do to get it?

Review :  4.5 Stars

This was a hard to put down kind of a book. The one that you want to read in every free minute possible because it is so interesting and intriguing. It’s clear early on that Gray has an alcohol problem but Paul’s barbs and Gray’s behavior around him makes you suspect something sinister lurking. Maybe that’s just me after reading too many thrillers. Chapters 3 and 4 where we are introduced to Annie and Nina make you sit up and wonder where this book is going to take you. It does slow down a tad bit after that and some declarations make you wonder if this book is going to be as predictable as it seems, but keep at it, this one needs just a little patience so you can scratch the surface off and be dazzled by the plot. 

I find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel! It’s written very well indeed. The subterfuge is brilliant. Who is Annie, what’s Charlotte’s role, what did the Kings do...so many questions that you must find answers to! The story is told from Detective Nina, Annie and Gray’s perspectives and each one adds more meaning to the book. The words ‘dysfunctional family’ take on a new meaning with the Kings. The characters and their relationships are not far fetched. They are believable and relatable. The story forces you through a roller coaster of emotions and you find yourself feeling intense emotions for the characters. 

Mr. Vernon drives home the narrative by dealing with tough subjects around power, betrayal and survival. It is scary to read how a single detail can cause someone to unravel and spiral. It’s not the big events but instead a small detail within that event that can lead to pain, distrust and damage over the years. 

The secrets build up a tad slowly but as  the plot intensified it is very difficult to figure it all out. If you are the sort of the reader that quickly aligns to the person searching for answers in the plot, then in this case you’ll figure it out at the same time that Nina figures it out! I absolutely loved the epilogue. This is a book that you will enjoy right up to its last word. This book is a domestic psychological suspenseful thriller. 

This book is a true thriller and I’d highly recommend it to everyone who likes suspense. I knocked off half a star because it was a bit of slow start that made me feel like this was an obvious book, making me want to almost give up on it! Very glad that I did not give up because just a few chapters later I was glued to the book. 

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley, #WhenYouFindMe

Book Review: As Long As We Both Shall Live by JoAnn Chaney

Description

What happens when you’re really, truly done making your marriage work? You can’t be married to someone without sometimes wanting to bash them over the head…As Long As We Both Shall Live is JoAnn Chaney’s wicked, masterful examination of a marriage gone very wrong, a marriage with lots of secrets…“My wife! I think she’s dead!” Matt frantically tells park rangers that he and his wife, Marie, were hiking when she fell off a cliff into the raging river below. They start a search, but they aren’t hopeful: no one could have survived that fall. It was a tragic accident. But Matt’s first wife also died in suspicious circumstances. And when the police pull a body out of the river, they have a lot more questions for Matt. Detectives Loren and Spengler want to know if Matt is a grieving, twice-unlucky husband or a cold-blooded murderer. They dig into the couple’s lives to see what they can unearth. And they find that love’s got teeth, it’s got claws, and once it hitches you to a person, it’s tough to rip yourself free.

So what happens when you’re done making it work?

Review: 5 Stars

I started this book and found it a little slow and verbose to begin with. But it was interesting enough so I kept at it and what a brilliant little gem this one turned out to be! It starts off simply with a story of 2 wives over a decade apart married to the same man. You think it’s pretty obvious what’s going on so you drag yourself wondering what to expect since it seems so obvious. And then WHAM, out of nowhere there is a twist that blows you away and shakes you awake! The best part is that the surprise is not a small one, it’s a complex layered twisted tale that makes you gasp! 

Initially you wonder how a man can commit the same crime twice and most likely get away with it twice!! But as you read it’s evident that this story is not that simple. The author has written a wickedly brilliant plot. She has given the readers a great perspective on marriage, partnership and on human psychology to a certain extent. I enjoyed the narration completely and found myself pausing many times to re-assess how I get about each character. I especially liked the change of narrators in the book and thy helped it be a real page turner. I enjoyed reading the insights on the 2 detectives that are handling this case and I also found their relationship with each other very insightful. The only thing that I fee did not add much to the plot overall was the subplot about Detective Loren and his past. I don’t think it added anything to the story and could be completely done away with. 

This book makes you relook at marriage on the whole and makes you realize that the lines between love and hate can be very blurred in this relationship. The author has thrown light of how intense the emotions can be in a marriage and had dropped in many life lessons along the way. My absolute favorite quote from this books is this: “You can never know what a person might do, and if you try to guess, you’ll almost always get it wrong. A person’s actions can’t be choreographed; life isn’t a ballet recital, after all, it’s a rave, and you have to keep your feet moving to the beat, keep your eyes open so you don’t get knocked to the floor.”

This books toys with the reader, it teases you and taunts you and then reels you in hook, line, and sinker! 

As soon as I finished this book I quickly checked what else this author has published and will definitely be reading more of her work. This is a book that you must have on your pre order list. It has the potential to become one of the best books of 2019. Enjoyed every minute of it, time most well spent. 

Thank you Flatiron Books and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley, #AsLongAsWeBothShallLive

Speak-up and be happy!

To be or not to be is the most popular existentially question, but there is one more question, that is not considered existential but should be...To speak-up or not to speak-up, to stand-up for yourself or to take everything lying down, to confront to not to confront? Yes it is 3 questions not one, but think hard about it and you will realize more often than not these 3 are synonymous. 

Sometimes, simply speaking/standing up for oneself can be construed as being confrontational. The word confrontation itself is enough to make people uncomfortable. A lot of people shy away from it simply because the act of confrontation has so much negativity associated with it. But there is a thin line between being confrontational and speaking up. Speaking-up can cause a confrontation but it is important to remember that you owe it to yourself to speak up for yourself, and if it leads to a confrontation- so be it.

Personally, I shy away from confrontation because I know that once I’m in it, I’m all in and I can be ruthless. I choose to be confrontational only about things that matter the most to me and the whole act of confrontation can cause a lot of heartburn, in the short term. So I try and avoid it, but I have realized with time that this approach of mine does me more harm in the long run. Allowing the emotions to fester and stay bottled up is not helpful at all. So does confrontation always have to mean hostility? Not necessarily, confrontation can be a calmly carried out act too. I understand there is a temporary unpleasantness that can be avoided by avoiding confrontation but when you avoid a confrontation with people that matter, in the long run all involved parties will suffer, that’s for sure. To be honest, you are doing yourself and the other person a disservice by playing the fool simply to avoid confrontation.

There are some situations where one should avoid confrontation and some where one should tackle it head on. For me the assessment is simply based on the following- will confronting this person, here and now, save me from dealing with a whole lot of hassle and non-sense later on? If the person involved or issue at hand is minor, non-repeatable, one time event I may choose to let it go based on what my priority at that given point in time is.

For example, while commuting some pushes me to move ahead quickly, mostly I’d let it go because it’s probably going to happen with me and this person just this once and I have better things to do with my time. But if this was a daily occurrence and the same person repeatedly did this, I’d be telling them exactly what I thought! Now if letting the person push me even once and not saying anything was going to make me feel upset all day long, then one time event or not, it warrants me acting on it there and then.

Sometimes there are situations when you find someone lying to you or trying to manipulate you and you choose to not confront because you have a long game planned and you intentionally pretend to be the fool. But there is a limit to how long you can play the fool, your personal limit or boundary is what you need to watch out for.

In today’s day, all it takes is 5 people who repeatedly call you a fool or spineless and you’ll end up believing it about yourself! We get too caught up trying to be labeled as good or nice. At such times it is important to remember that while people who avoid confrontation are usually considered nice sometimes they are even considered meek! Being perceived as nice is not important, because that is purely a perception you are creating. Being good and being happy matter more. Being good is based on your own moral compass. If your moral compass is aligned correctly then you will know that being good is more important than simply creating that perception. 

To be good to the world you need to be good to yourself. To be good to yourself, you must have self-respect and must not hesitate from taking a stand for what matters to you. When you let people get away with wrongdoings repeatedly by telling yourself that they are not worth your time, you need to pause and ask yourself if you are worth your own time. If you are, then why allow someone to misbehave with you repeatedly? Why give them the chance to manipulate you or lie to you constantly? You get nothing by allowing it. Will the other person magically change one day? No! How long do you want to play a martyr? If you call them out once and for all the worst that will happen? They will call you names, they will try and blame you, call you crazy and fight with you? Maybe, but the next time they want to try and play games with you they know you are not available, they can no longer waste your time by upsetting you or by making you play their game. You are simply not available for them to target you. Confronting someone about their lies is not about showing them you are superior and you know it all. It’s not about showing the world how smart you are that you figured out the other person’s deceit. It’s simply about valuing your own time and not allowing anyone to waste your time and energy in playing games that have nothing in them for you, in the long run. Human beings in general have a tendency to take silence as weakness and take advantage of others as much as possible. We owe it to ourselves to stop that cycle and not be a victim of our circumstances. Put your foot down and make yourself non available to people who add nothing to your life, both professionally and personally.

You can’t always be nice. That is how you get taken advantage of. You have to set boundaries. Eventually, the less you interact with negative people the more peaceful your life will become. Show them that you see through them, call them out on their behavior, express that you do not like what they are saying or doing. When you try and ignore wrongdoing by others, even when they impact you, you are the one that ends up suffering silently. You have to define what is acceptable for you and what isn’t. Not speaking up allows people to be unfair and unjust with you. 

If you think about it, you’ll realize that the whole global Me Too movement started with one person who decided to stand up for herself. To say enough, this mistreatment of me must stop, I need to speak up. In 2017, Alyssa Milano popularized the hashtag on twitter so women across the world could pause and get the courage to to stand up for themselves. The whole movement started to stop sexual assault and harassment at the workplace. But there is a key learning coming out of this movement for all of us, that is, to stop any kind of harassment, at workplace or elsewhere, of a man or woman; the guiding  principles remain the same, stand up to stop any kind of mistreatment of yourself by another person. 

In the end, you are responsible for your own wellbeing and happiness, you owe it to yourself to raise your voice and stop people from taking advantage of you and most importantly to be happy!

Book Review: A Version of the Truth by B A Walter

Description

There are three sides to every story...

2019: Julianne is preparing a family dinner when her son comes to her and says he’s found something on his iPad. Something so terrible, it will turn Julianne’s world into a nightmare and make her question everything about her marriage and what type of man her husband is or is pretending to be.

1990: Holly is a fresher student at Oxford University. Out of her depth and nervous about her surroundings, she falls into an uneasy friendship with a group of older students from the upper echelons of society and begins to develop feelings for one in particular. He’s confident, quiet, attractive and seems to like her too. But as the year progresses, her friends’ behaviour grows steadily more disconcerting and Holly begins to realise she might just be a disposable pawn in a very sinister game.

A devastating secret has simmered beneath the surface for over twenty-five years. Now it’s time to discover the truth. But what if you’re afraid of what you might find?

Review : 2.5 Stars

This books should come with a bunch of trigger warnings, gang rape, sexual violence, racism, homophobia to name some. 

The book starts off interestingly enough and intrigues the reader. The presentation of the story moving between the 90s and 2019 is interesting and you try to figure out how the past and the present are connected. It becomes evident at about 25% in. Holly’s character is well defines and her behavior and approach to everything in an elite university, coming from a middle class background herself, is understandable. Julianne’s story in the 90s on the other hand isn’t as well developed and she only seems like one of the side characters. Julianne’s mother is a completely unnecessary character in the plot. 

I was hooked enough throughout the book because the story was interesting. It was disturbing in many places but it still makes you want to read more. I would have rated this book a lot higher only if the ending was not so unsatisfying. Being based in 2019, I cannot believe how Ernest is unaffected and casual about everything being discussed. In light of the #MeToo movement it is impossible to believe that anyone would think they were untouchable by reality because of the money or position they held. This approach makes it seem like the whole #MeToo movement is being minimized or diminished. The author could have made the ending a lot more believable by using the #MeToo movement to the advantage of the women instead. I did not like how James was dealt with at all, just seemed more convenient than believable again. The epilogue too is wired. This was yet another missed opportunity to show that power MeToo movement. 

So while the book was an interesting read, the way it wrapped up left a lot to be desired and hence I would not rate it more than I have. If the ending was dealt with differently this book had the potential to easily be a 4-5 star book.  

Thank you Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth.

Description;

A twisty, compelling new novel about one woman's complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in death...From the moment Lucy met her husband's mother, Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Diana was exquisitely polite, and properly friendly, but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned. But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice who helped female refugees assimilate to their new country. Diana was happily married to Tom, and lived in wedded bliss for decades. Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law. That was five years ago. Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer. But the autopsy finds no cancer. The autopsy does find traces of poison and suffocation. Who could possibly want Diana dead? Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses? With Lucy's secrets getting deeper and her relationship with her mother-in-law growing more complex as the pages turn, this new novel from Sally Hepworth is sure to add to her growing legion of fans. 

Review: 4 Stars

This book is a fast-paced and interesting read. While it is titled Mother In Law, it could just as easily be titled Family Ties or The Goodwins! To be fair, the story does start with Lucy and Diana but as you move along every single family member is actively involved in it. I wouldn’t call it a thriller, it is more like a domestic mystery but is an enjoyable as a thriller. 

Ms. Hepworth has presented the story from both the sides, she gives us a view in to what the Diana is doing and thinking and at the same time how it is being perceived by the others. This is not something that many authors have done while writing such books and this gives the reader a very unique perspective. It helps you get a balanced view of everything that is going on and makes it much harder to pick sides. It also makes it hard to figure out what happened to Diana and while you can keep guessing who did it and why, it is difficult to be certain till the author chooses to reveal it. Each person has strong motives and peeling away the layers in this case is an enjoyable experience as a reader. I liked how the reader knows why things are a certain way but the characters probably don’t. The characters are well developed, very real and relatable. 

But then this book was written by Ms Hepworth so right when you think you finally know everything, there is sudden shocking twist. Something completely unexpected near the end of the book that makes you jaw drop and say “What??!!” 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, the 10yrs later part was great and gave some good closure. Would I have liked to see Patrick’s fate taking a different turn, sure but then that’s fate, unpredictable as ever. 

The book is like a jigsaw puzzle, just as you pick each piece of a puzzle and examine it, here you pick each character and their story and examine it. What’s wonderful is how it all comes together and gets neatly tied up in the end. Finishing this book gives you the same satisfaction you would get when you complete a puzzle. 

I have only 2 complaints about this book:

One, which was a little annoying was the way the story moves from one incidence to another in the Past chapters. This slowed me down because I had to re-read to try and figure it out.  I understand the chapter is titled as past but there is no demarcation between say the wedding day to a dinner that’s happening at a time when Lucy is 8 weeks pregnant. Or when Diana is meeting Nettie and suddenly recalling a meeting with Lucy. The writing seems a little disjointed in places and that causes some confusion to the reader. I think a simple double spacing or dotted line or a few words to indicate a flashback could make it easier to read. 

And second, I do feel like the whole lack of communication angle is done to death (our not intended). I mean this book is set in recent times so really there is no reason why something can’t be texted! For instance, Diana forgetting to explain the significance of the grapes/chicken she gets for Lucy, Lucy forgetting to say thank you to Diana for taking her kids. I mean, seriously people, if you can’t discuss these things then at least pick up the phone and type a few words!

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Forget Me Not by A.M. Taylor

Description

WHAT HAPPENED TO NORA?

When Maddie met Nora, their friendship felt as easy as breathing. And when Nora disappeared, all the air went with her. Without her best friend, Maddie’s life became impossible. Ten years later, Nora is still missing and Maddie is still searching. People have been questioned. People have even been accused. But no one has managed to find Nora.

Then, in the same spot where Nora went missing, the murdered body of Nora’s little sister is found. Convinced this is no coincidence, Maddie resolves to uncover the killer and find Nora – dead or alive. But will she be able to cope, when we learn what really happened to Nora…?

Review: 2.5  Stars

This book is a slow burn for sure. It is not a fast paced book. It’s a mystery but with a lot of emotional dwelling added to it. The story is about how deep the friendship between Nora and Maddie was and how Nora’s disappearance impacted Maddie. It was not just about what happened to Nora. I enjoyed the subtle psychological analysis that came up all through the book. The past vs. present format of storytelling is helpful to establish the emotions of the story. However I could not really connect with the book. To me there were too many gaping holes in the plot. The outcome was something I could figure out before i was even half way through with the book. 

There were way too many characters being introduced in to the story and a lot of them were entirely unnecessary. This lead to many smaller storylines potentially developing but going nowhere. It only contributed to creating confusion that was entirely avoidable. The story is told from Maddie’s perspective in some places and in others it’s being relayed when Maddie isn’t in the scene. This made it harder to follow and keep track since you can’t associate the plot with a narrator very easily. 

While the plot is in interesting the book doesn’t grip the reader the way it should. Partly to blame is the writing style. It is unnecessarily descriptive, gets boring and at times is even annoying. This book could easily be at least 25% shorter! I would expect better editing especially since it’s debut novel.

To sum it up- would I recommend this book? NO

Would I read this author again? Maybe if I was certain that the next one is edited much better than this. 

Thank you Killer Reads and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. O

Book Review: The Perfect Liar by Thomas Christopher Greene

Description:

A seemingly perfect marriage is threatened by the deadly secrets husband and wife keep from each other. Susannah, a young widow and single mother, has remarried well: to Max, a charismatic artist and popular speaker whose career took her and her fifteen-year-old son out of New York City and to a quiet Vermont university town. Strong-willed and attractive, Susannah expects that her life is perfectly in place again. Then one quiet morning she finds a note on her door: I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Max dismisses the note as a prank. But days after a neighborhood couple comes to dinner, the husband mysteriously dies in a tragic accident while on a run with Max. Soon thereafter, a second note appears on their door: DID YOU GET AWAY WITH IT? Both Susannah and Max are keeping secrets from the world and from each other —secrets that could destroy their family and everything they have built. Thomas Christopher Greene's The Perfect Liar is a thrilling novel told through the alternating perspectives of Susannah and Max with a shocking climax that no one will expect, from the bestselling author of The Headmaster’s Wife.

Review: 4 Stars

This book is a great read...it’s fast paced, mysterious and intriguing. It’s broken up in to 6 chapters only which really helps people like me ‘I’ll stop after this chapter’... sure, it’s only 40 more pages! This book is a true psychological thriller. In today’s day when every other book comes with a tag line of being ‘twisting gripping taut thrilling...’ this one actually is all that...without the tag line! The book speaks for itself. What makes it a really compelling read is how well the characters are developed. There are layers to each of them no matter how small a role they seem to play. Each character is vital to the story. The secrets Max and Susannah keep are dark. We know Max’s secret from the start but we don’t know much else. The plot keeps you on the edge yet when things are revealed it’s surprising. The anticipation of twist is beautifully crafted and every reader will succumb to it.
I enjoyed the introspection done by Max and Susannah a few times, it gives you great insight in to their devious minds. It makes you wonder who is playing whom and who the ultimate ‘perfect liar’ is. The book depicts the transformation of Susannah from a strong willed and rebellious young girl to a mellow routine-following homemaker. But you can catch glimpses of her real personality. Max on the other hand is a selfish ruthless man right from the start and there is no way you can like him. The fact that he is such a strong negative character draws the reader’s attention away from everyone else in the plot. Very little time is spent on giving us insights to Freddy and his relationship with Susannah- this is the only flaw of this book. I think a little more background or interaction between them would have helped the plot better.
The writing style is pretty easy to follow. At times the narrative shifts from Max to Susannah or vice versa pretty abruptly but their voices are distinct enough for the reader to follow.
Dolores plays a nice role as the investigator and I have to say that I was a little disappointed with the way she handled the situation in the end, highly questionable! It’s a bumpy ride but worth your while. The book actually releases in Jan 2019, but it is one that you should put a reminder for, you don’t want to miss it. I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Heads you win by Jeffrey Archer

Description

Leningrad, Russia,1968: When Alexander’s father is assassinated by the KGB, he and his mother must flee if they are to survive. The decision to board a container ship bound for America or Britain comes down to one coin toss. Heads You Win deftly explores the twists and turns of Alexander Karpenko’s life. Not since Kane & Abel have readers been treated to such a triumph of inventive and epic storytelling.

Review: 5 Stars

Jeffrey Archer is called a master story teller for a reason. His books are captivating and spellbinding. This one is no exception. I enjoy thrillers and I usually don’t like to read historical books or overly political books, but when it comes to Archer, the genre becomes irrelevant and the story is all that matters. I have devoured every novel and short story he’s ever published and never have I been disappointed. This book held my attention from the first word and it was a very easy and enjoyable read. 

Often in life we are faced with choices, we take our pick and live our life. Sometimes we do look back and wonder what if we picked differently. What would happen then, where would you be today? This book gives you a taste of that. The story of Alexander Karpenko starts in Russia, circumstances require him to escape from Russia and a coin toss is to decide his future for him. At this point the story splits in to two, Alexander becomes Sasha-headed to London and Alex- headed to New York. The chapters alternate and depict Alexander’s life story resulting from both outcomes of the coin toss. It’s almost like reading 2 books at once! I love that both the stories move towards one goal and almost converge so to say, it reinforces my belief that no matter what path you take in life you will eventually reach your destined destination. The 2 stories are intriguing and chalk out completely different paths for Alexander, yet whether  you are a  humble honest politician or a successful rich businessman all that matters in the end is your true calling. 

The twist at the end of the book is a master stroke. I’m not going to say much since I do not want to give the plot twist away but I will say that this may not be the last we hear of Alexander Karpenko. Heads or tail if you read this book you win for sure. 

Archer has merged real life incidents and politics so well with this fictional character that you begin to wonder if this is fiction at all or a true story! His knowledge and grasp on politics and his master story telling make an immensely satisfying read. The narration makes you want to keep reading and get lost in the plot. This one is another winner by Archer. Highly recommended!

Thank you St Martin’s Press and Jeffrey Archer for giving me an Advanced Reader edition of this book.