It's layers of story, well-developed characters and an engrossing plot that all come together to make each book almost impossible to set down.
The Lost Man by Jane Harper, 5 Stars
You Don’t Own Me by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke, 4 Stars
Reading a Mary Higgins Clark book is like slipping into an old, worn sweater.
The Suspect by Fiona Barton, 3.5 Stars
Whenever I think of Thailand and teenagers, I think of Brokedown Palace. The ultimate "be careful traveling internationally" story. You know, Claire Danes--fresh off of My So Called Life fame--and Kate Beckingsale are teen girls vacationing in Thailand when they fall into a trap with a cute boy who uses them to transport drugs without... Continue Reading →
The Au Pair by Emma Rous, 3.5 Stars
The premise of The Au Pair pulled me in right away. A woman throws herself off a cliff behind her isolated estate the night she gives birth to twins.
The Witch Elm by Tana French, 4 Stars
The reason I picked up The Witch Elm by Tana French is...well, Tana French. She's an amazing writer. And not all writers have the ability to write super thick and meaty books that are still page-turners from cover to cover. With a novel that is over 500 pages of smallish-print I'd expect a good portion... Continue Reading →
Before We Were Strangers by Brenda Novak, 3 Stars
How well do you remember your childhood? In my memory, I picture many experiences as a movie with a golden tinge to the picture. Is this normal? It feels like a dreamier time, mostly good memories but some of the details are fuzzy. I remember the friends, the fun, sitting on the hot wooden bench... Continue Reading →
Broken Things by Lauren Oliver, 3 Stars
Broken Things came on my radar when I saw some fellow bloggers post favorable reviews. It's mystery/suspense/fiction meets fairy-tale. They are interwoven together. That sounded interesting to me. And the book definitely had a Special Topics in Calamity Physics feel to it and I loved that book. I'd never heard of Lauren Oliver, perhaps because... Continue Reading →
Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough, 3.5 Stars
How have I not heard of Sarah Pinborough before? Like, how? I chose Cross Her Heart through the Book of the Month Club and as far as I knew it was a debut author. Now, maybe I should read a little closer when I make those selections, but I was very surprised to learn she... Continue Reading →
When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica, 3 Stars
It has been hard for me to sit down and read a book lately. I blame summer. Or rather, the hurried end of summer as we try to check every single last thing off our summer bucket list, go to all the dentist appointments and buy whatever it is that is the "best deal ever"... Continue Reading →
