The novel begins with a child, Kathy Stone, escaping capture. She had disappeared for a year when she was found wanderingThis had a disappointing end.
The novel begins with a child, Kathy Stone, escaping capture. She had disappeared for a year when she was found wandering around the road at night. Her parents are ecstatic to get her back but Kathy has been non-verbal since returning. Her mother knows she must get help and she believes the local child therapist, Robin Hart, can help her.
Robin followed the case of Kathy's shocking disappearance like the rest of the town. When Kathy's mother asks her to help her daughter, Robin can't say no and takes the case. Robin wants to help Kathy and her play sessions are usually quite successful. As Kathy starts trusting Robin, the therapy process, and her own safety, her reenactments become too real. It seems that Kathy is reenacting real murders!!
I have a few issues with the story and the characters.
Robin is supposed to be a great therapist but her relationship with her own mother is so dysfunctional and the whole thing with the dollhouse was nuts. Her behavior was beyond childish. You would think she would have learned some coping mechanisms to deal with her crazy mother.
The worst was where the story went at the end. In my opinion, the big reveal was too out there to be believable.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In The Lives of Puppets, we are taken to a world in the future where robots run free.
At the beginning of the story, we getAnother hit for T. J. Klune!
In The Lives of Puppets, we are taken to a world in the future where robots run free.
At the beginning of the story, we get to know the hero Victor, a young human living in a secluded home with his adopted father Gio, and two robots, Nurse Ratched and Rambo.
Victor was the one who fixed Nurse Ratched and Rambo and he is always on the lookout for another machine he can reactivate. So when he finds an android who for a minute was still "alive" before his battery stops, he knows he will do anything to fix the android who he names HAP (Hysterically Angry Puppet). At first, he hides him from GIO until HAP is fully operational. Without realizing by saving HAP, Victor has put his life in danger. Next thing he knows, androids are surrounding his home and GIO is taken prisoner to the City of Electric Dreams. Gio has left a message not to try to find him but Victor can't stop himself but embark on a trip to save the only father he has ever known.
In regards to the characters, even though I care about Victor and root for his success and love HAP's evolution, my heart was stolen by Nurse Ratched and Rambo. Who doesn't love a nurse who can engage in an empathy protocol but truly has a murderous streak with the sole goal of drilling? And Rambo with his sweet disposition, innocence, ferocious loyalty, and the need to be brave?
Worth mentioning is the narrator Danny Henning who does a marvelous job with these wonderful characters just like he did with Cerulean which is still my favorite of Klune's novels.
Adorable characters that make you feel are the recipe for Klune's success. I can't wait for any of his books to become a movie.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Tor Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sam Montgomery is an archaeoentomologist who just finished a job in Arizona. After her brother calls her to tell her something I liked it well enough.
Sam Montgomery is an archaeoentomologist who just finished a job in Arizona. After her brother calls her to tell her something seems off with their mother, she decides to go visit her in North Carolina. Sam is excited to spend her time off watching crime tv shows and drinking wine.
Sam's mother is usually a carefree, easy-going, and stress-free woman but when Sam sees her, she can't believe this thin, jumpy, and distracted person is her mother. In addition, her home feels off too. Her mother had painted all the walls white like when her Gran Mae was alive instead of the vibrant colors they were the last time she visited. Is her mother getting dementia or is someone harassing her? And why are all these crows watching the house and her every move?
A House with Good Bones had an entertaining character to keep my interest throughout. The gothic elements were well-balanced. Furthermore, the narrator, Mary Robinette Kowal did a fantastic job of keeping things moving for me.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Nora Goes Off Script so it was a no-brainer to request this one.
In the Same Time Next Summer, we meet Sam. She is going to her family's beach I loved Nora Goes Off Script so it was a no-brainer to request this one.
In the Same Time Next Summer, we meet Sam. She is going to her family's beach house in Long Island in search of a venue for her wedding. Her fiance Jack is going with her.
Sam is shocked to find out that Wyatt, her first love is there too. He broke her heart when she was eighteen. Now more than a decade later, she is not ready to see him again.
This second chance romance was just what I needed. I loved Sam's character and learning about her romance with Wyatt. The dual POV helped me root for Wyatt.
I won't second guess requesting Annabel Monaghan's next book.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by G.P. Putnam's Sons via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
David and Laetitia Brunelle and Sylvain and Tiphaine Geniot are the best of neighbors. Over the years, they have become best friends.
WhShocking twist!
David and Laetitia Brunelle and Sylvain and Tiphaine Geniot are the best of neighbors. Over the years, they have become best friends.
When Laetitia and Tiphaine become pregnant in the same year, their kids, Milo and Maxime grow up like brothers.
Everything is going so well for these couples until after a terrible accident. Maxime dies.
Could Laetitia have done something more to prevent the death? Is Tiphaine to blame for the accident? Or was it David's reluctance to connect their properties the real culprit?
This is a dark, chilling, shocking novel. I suggest going in blind (like I did) to get the maximum enjoyment. There is no way I can forget this book. Is not an easy one to forget.
I hear this is becoming a movie with Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain. My dog-mom's instinct is telling me it's going to be a good one.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by HarperVia via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Alix Summers is a well-known podcaster. She is celebrating her fortieth birthday at the local pub with her husband and friends. She i3.5
A strange one!
Alix Summers is a well-known podcaster. She is celebrating her fortieth birthday at the local pub with her husband and friends. She is happy. On a closeby table, Josie Fair is also celebrating her birthday. She is also turning forty. When Alix goes to the restroom, Josie follows. They have a brief interaction where Josie tells Alix, they are birth twins.
The next time they see each other, Josie is outside her children's school. Josie convinces Alix that she will be a great next subject for Alix's new podcast. Josie tells her, she is on the brink of major changes in her life and that she is ready to tell her story.
The more Josie reveals, the more shocked Alix is. On the one hand, Alix wants to stop because Josie has a dark energy but on the other hand, she knows she has gold in her hands. The podcast will be a sure success. Then Josie and her husband both disappear.
What has Josie done?
I did enjoy this book until the last part. I felt too many things were left open-ended. What was true? What was a lie? Who killed who? I am okay with leaving things for the reader to interpret but here there were way too many unanswered questions.
Would I read another book by Lisa Jewell? Of course, I would.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's time for Murderpalooza! The main thriller conference is for fans to get closer to their idols and for writers to network into theIt sucked me in!
It's time for Murderpalooza! The main thriller conference is for fans to get closer to their idols and for writers to network into their next book deal. The last evening of the conference, it finishes with an award ceremony.
Then, on the first morning of the event, one of the nominees to win the award, Kristin Bailey is found murdered in her hotel room. Kristin was quite famous and successful. She was liked well by other writers. Who would want to hurt her?
Suddenly, a new Twitter account pops up and goes by the handle @MpaloozaNxt2Die. This account is only following four writers, all with connections to Kristin:
Vicky Overton is another nominee. She lives in Florida (yay) with her boyfriend Jim. She is hoping to get her agent/publisher to promote her second book.
Davis Walton is the most famous author despite his novel not being published yet. He already has a movie deal and women are sweet on him.
Mike Brooks is the Has Been. He had a super successful first few years but now his books are not selling. He is working on promoting his newest novel which he co-wrote with a mystery author.
The last one in this quartet is Suzanne Shih. She has signed with an agent for her first novel. She is super excited about the whole event as a fan and a newbie writer. She is also Kristin's stalker.
Did one of them do it or is one of them the next one to die?
My favorite characters were Vicky and Mike. Davis was hateful for the most part and Suzanne needed to be committed.
I was able to guess the main twist but there was a couple that I didn't see coming
I truly enjoyed, Jaime Lynn Hendricks's Finding Tessa, didn't read her sophomore book but I'm glad I read I Didn't Do It.
I can't wait for what she has planned next.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Scarlet via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The novel tells the story of Beatrix "Bea" Thompson. Is 1940 and World War II is raging. London is getting bombed
Beyond sad but uplifting at the end!
The novel tells the story of Beatrix "Bea" Thompson. Is 1940 and World War II is raging. London is getting bombed regularly and her parents, Millie and Reggie decided to send her to America to live with a family in Boston.
Millie doesn't want to send her but Reginald insists. He wants her daughter to be safe.
When Bea arrives in Boston, the Gregorys are there to pick her up. She meets Mr. and Mrs. G and their sons, William and Gerald.
William behaves like a regular teenager, angry at times, thinking about enlisting when he is of age, and desperate to leave the house and travel all over.
Gerald is the youngest son. He is big-hearted and sweet. Even though both sons are so different, they both clicked with Bea, becoming one of them pretty quickly.
Bea who starts as scared and angry towards her mother-teenager, blossoms into a wonderful young woman. She falls for William but when the war is over, she must return to London. Readjusting her life is not easy but she knows she has to continue her life although the Gregorys are never far from her mind.
Heartbreak, death, divorce, and sorrow plague these two families and when it felt that there was no hope, a sliver will show up.
Ell Potter, the narrator, helps bring Bea, Mrs. G and Millie alive. I thought she did a great job narrating them.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lee Gulliver is down on her luck. She runs to Seattle after her business goes under due to the pandemic. She is living in her car and working in a plaLee Gulliver is down on her luck. She runs to Seattle after her business goes under due to the pandemic. She is living in her car and working in a place for illegals. She is in hiding after the man who helped her with the money to start her restaurant wants her to pay him back. She knows if he finds her, she won't live long. He has already shown her that he can hurt her.
One morning, Lee is sleeping near the beach when she hears a woman cry. The woman, Hazel, is trying to drown herself. Lee doesn't think twice and jumps in the water to save her. Hazel is angry with her. She tells her she is a prisoner in her own home due to an abusive husband. However, the next morning Hazel shows up next to Lee's car. She thanks her for saving her life and brings food for Lee. They start meeting every morning.
Lee starts to believe that things are turning for good. She considers Hazel to be a true friend and she meets a man named Jesse. He is sweet to her and very understanding of her situation.
Then Hazel asks her to cover for her. She is tired of the abuse and she is ready to disappear. She asks Lee to dress like her and to replace her at home in front of all the cameras while she makes her escape.
Then someone is murdered!
I like that Robyn Harding provided us with both female POVs. Lee and Hazel had in common that both wanted to disappear and escape their situations. Their ordeals sounded quite plausible. The Drowning Woman had a good couple of twists that kept the story moving forward and made it engaging from the very beginning.
I loved Mr. Wrong Number and now I can say that I loved The Love Wager too.
This book is about Hallie and Jack.
The first time they meet, HallLoved it!!
I loved Mr. Wrong Number and now I can say that I loved The Love Wager too.
This book is about Hallie and Jack.
The first time they meet, Hallie is working as the bartender for Jack's sister's wedding. It's also the time when Jack's almost fiancee decides to be nasty and attack Hallie. This leads to Jack breaking up with her and instead spending the rest of the time with Hallie. One thing leads to another or should I say, one drink leads to another, and Jack and Hallie will spend a one-night stand together. Yet, this is not the end for this pair. They will meet again while using an app known for finding true love and meeting "The One". At first, their interactions are messages, then texts, and then phone calls. Their conversations are about everything including sharing their bad dates from the app and deciding to meet after those dates to discuss what went wrong while eating tacos together.
You can guess what happens next. Hallie and Jack both start developing feelings for each other but what is the best course of action? Ruin the friendship they have and enjoyed or try to become a couple and wish for the best.
Love both characters, their banter, and their very real friendship. Also, I loved how perfect they were for each other.
I can't wait to read a new book in this series. Will it be about Hallie's roommate? She seems like an awesome character.
Grayson Hale has been accused and found guilty of killing his classmate Liam Stewart. Grayson justifies the killing by sayingThe Devil is in Scotland.
Grayson Hale has been accused and found guilty of killing his classmate Liam Stewart. Grayson justifies the killing by saying that the Devil made him do it. Over a year later, he is found dead in his cell by suicide.
After his death, a manuscript written by him comes to light. From it, we learn that Grayson's father was a pastor and that his life was not easy growing up. As a kid, Grayson was terrified of the devil and anything related to him. As a teenager, he became an atheist.
When his father passes. Grayson decides to go to Scotland, a place his father had visited as a young man. Grayson believes living there will bring him closer to his father. Then a stranger asks him to become a ghostwriter for a novel about the devil. This act will forever change the course of his short life.
To be honest, I was disappointed. The story was not scary. I found the narrative to be repetitive. The pace was also too slow. I did feel terrible for Grayson. He had a terrible life and a worse ending.
Cliffhanger: No
2.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Valerie is distressed about her memory. Her mother had Alzheimer's and she saw what the disease did to her. She'd rather n
I liked A Mother Would Know.
Valerie is distressed about her memory. Her mother had Alzheimer's and she saw what the disease did to her. She'd rather not find out. Valerie's daughter, Kendra worries about her health and living alone but Valerie doesn't want to leave her home. So instead when her son needs a place to crash, she is more than happy for him to stay with her. Yet, the neighborhood disagrees. You see, years prior the next-door neighbor's daughter's death was associated with Hudson since he was her boyfriend.
Valerie worries about Hudson. She remembers some incidents when Hudson was growing up that perturbed her and of course, she knows about Helen, the girlfriend that died. Making matters worse, two new deaths occurred in the neighborhood and they have a connection to Hudson. What is she going to do?
I listened to the audio and Vivienne Leheny helped keep things straight between the past and the present. The majority of the book is narrated by Valerie. She is an unreliable narrator due to her memory loss. I felt bad for her. She was in an impossible position. Do you believe your son is a killer or are you a terrible mother for thinking it?
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by MIRA via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve always been a sucker for frenemies to lovers trope. You, with a View, is just that.
Noelle Shepard is grieving the loss of her grandmother. She feI’ve always been a sucker for frenemies to lovers trope. You, with a View, is just that.
Noelle Shepard is grieving the loss of her grandmother. She feels lost. She is back living with her parents after being let go of a job she didn’t enjoy five months ago. Then she discovers love letters written by her grandmother to a man who was not her grandfather. Noelle thought her grandmother told her everything during their Tell Me A Secret sessions but she never shared this one.
Noelle decides to do a TikTok video with all the info she has available trying to find out the identity of the man her grandma loved. The next morning, to her shock someone answered "That’s my grandfather".
When she meets Paul (the man her grandmother loved) she also sees her high school classmate, Theo Spencer. It turns out that Paul is Theo's grandfather. In high school, Noelle and Theo used to compete constantly for first place. They tried to surpass each other every chance they got. Now, Theo is a very successful businessman and she has nothing to show for all the time they have not seen each other. She feels like a failure.
When Noelle learns that her grandmother had planned to marry Paul and they already had their honeymoon sketched, she decides she should do the trip her grandmother never got a chance to do. Paul asks to join her and Theo won't let Paul go alone so of course he decides to come too.
You, With A View, was so freaking cute. Great debut romance with likable characters all around. The MC connection felt real. They had a past together so it was easy to believe they were falling for each other in the present. Paul was so adorable. Such a great grandfather and constant supporter of Theo.
Cliffhanger: No
4.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book is narrated by Charlie Lindbergh's nanny, Betty Gow before he was kidnapped and months laterThis was an interesting historical fiction novel.
The book is narrated by Charlie Lindbergh's nanny, Betty Gow before he was kidnapped and months later found dead.
in 1939, Betty Gow is taking care of the baby when he disappears from his crib at night. A ramson note is left behind. When the police start investigating the crime, they immediately zoom in on Betty and make her a suspect. She was the last person to see the baby alive, she was a single woman going out with a Norwegian sailor named Henry, and she was a foreigner.
In Betty's words, she describes how she got the position of a nanny. She didn't like Charles Lindbergh. She thought he was an odd man. She especially didn't like the way he treated baby Charlie. The child's mother, Anne Morrow was a nice woman but Betty couldn't understand how she could leave the child for weeks at a time and then wondered why the child would cling to the nanny and not to her when she came back.
The Lindbergh Nanny had my attention from the very first page since it's based on a truly horrible crime with too many unanswered questions. Was it an inside job? Probably. Do I believe Betty had something to do with it? I doubt it.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't read the first in the series and now I know I want to go back and do it despite the spoilers.
Every Missing Girl starts with aShocking ending!
I didn't read the first in the series and now I know I want to go back and do it despite the spoilers.
Every Missing Girl starts with a good thing happening. At a gas station, a kidnapped teenager is found alive and the kidnapper is dead. The bad part is that the store's cashier is murdered too.
FBI Special Agent Kendall Beck is called to the crime because her job is to find missing children. Denver Homicide Detective Adam Taylor is there because of the double murder and he needs to figure out what happened before a good samaritan killed the kidnapper.
Kendall and Adam had worked together before and they have a good rapport. Then while they are both at Adam's niece's hockey game, the unthinkable happens: Frankie is taken.
Adam and Kendall embarked on a mission to recuperate Frankie from whoever has her.
I figured out early on what was happening but it didn't diminish my interest at all. Both Adam and Kendall are great characters that I want to see again working together to solve a crime.
The narrator Erin DeWard did a great job keeping the action moving.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Dreamscape Media via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was completely immersed in this Hollywood thriller!
A murder has been committed at the mansion of Hugh Iverson, the most famous actor who is engaged I was completely immersed in this Hollywood thriller!
A murder has been committed at the mansion of Hugh Iverson, the most famous actor who is engaged to the most beautiful actress, Nora Kemp.
A woman has been murdered on Hugh's property and the culprit of the murder-suicide seems to be none other than Hugh's twin brother, Trent, Hollywood's known bad boy.
Many questions pile up. Who is the woman? Why was the woman there? Why did Trent kill her? What was the woman hiding?
The story is told from several points of view, including The Husband, one of the detectives investigating the case, the Mom (murdered woman), the Kid (child of the deceased woman), Nora (The Leading Lady), the Accomplice, and the Leading Man.
I remember when this book came out some of my book friends didn't love it. Maybe because I went in with low expectations, I found myself enjoying this book so much. I couldn't put it away!
In regards to the characters, I liked the Detective the most. I wish I could see her in another story, I really like her.
Overall, yes, It was easy to guess the outcome and the murder but the ride was a good one.
Alessandra's work is always a hit with this reviewer.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Gracie Landing was in high school, she had a huge crush on her classmate, Colin Yarmouth who gave her nickname, EA rom-com that some might enjoy.
When Gracie Landing was in high school, she had a huge crush on her classmate, Colin Yarmouth who gave her nickname, Elvis, which stayed with her through the school years.
Years later, Gracie is a romance novel writer but she is suffering from writer's block and can't seem to finish her next novel after her fiancée left her for their impregnated wedding planner. A late night with her girlfriends and after having too much to drink, she contacts Connor via email which she doesn't remember doing until the next morning.
Connor, an estate attorney, is shocked to receive an email from Gracie. He remembers her from high school. Lately, his life has not been the greatest. He is recently divorced and this has impacted his life in more ways than one.
After exchanging multiple emails with Gracie, Connor feels happier than he has been in a while. When he learns she is an author, he offers to read her latest manuscript. Later on, he spills the beans about his failed marriage and encourages Gracie to use it in her book.
What starts as emails, leads to phone calls, which turn into in-person meetings and dates. The pair seem very happy with each other until an unlikely development.
I had fun reading this one. Both of the characters were entertaining and having both POVs helped with their romance growth. However, I did feel that both, and especially Gracie acted immature for their age group which created unnecessary drama.
3/5 Fangs
Cliffhanger: No
A complimentary copy was provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a huge Kristan Higgins fan, I knew I had to read A Little Ray of Sunshine.
This novel deals with adoption and all the feelings surrounding it from tAs a huge Kristan Higgins fan, I knew I had to read A Little Ray of Sunshine.
This novel deals with adoption and all the feelings surrounding it from the mom who gives her child to strangers, to the parents who get the new baby, to the child wanting to know more about his birth parents.
Harlow lives in Cape Cod with her family. She is a part owner of a bookstore in conjunction with her grandfather and her distant cousin, Cynthia.
Harlow receives the shock of her life when the child she gave away when she was seventeen walks into her bookstore. Of course, she was not ready, and proceeded to faint. When she comes back, she realizes her son Matthew is truly there with his adoptive father. Harlow couldn't be happier that Matthew came looking for her but how is she going to explain it to her family who have no clue she did this in college? The only person who knows of her devastation and sorrow was her roommate at that time.
Monica Patel works hard to make sure her family has what they need. She is always providing for them and her children's future. Since the moment she got Matthew in her arms, Monica has dedicated herself to be the best mom she could be.
As part of the summer, the Patels have always taken a vacation together, and this year the place her son picked was Cape Cod. When she finds out that he did it because of Harlow, she can't believe how sneaky he has become. She is so mad that he blindsided them and Harlow.
Cynthia Millstone is part owner of the bookstore too. Her personality is off-putting. She believes she is above others and more refined than the Smiths but her marriage fails and without any money, the only choice she had was to move to Cap Cod. The only person from that family she likes is Grandpop.
Pretty interesting and well-developed characters in this book. I do have favorites. I love Grandpop, Oliver Twist (the dog), and Grady Byrne.
I was able to see both sides of the coin in regard to Harlow and Monica. Felt super bad for Monica and all the sacrifices she had to make to give her family what they needed.
I'm not going to lie, I do miss some of Kristan's earlier books when the romance was forefront but I will read anything she writes.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Villa is narrated by two characters: Mari in 1974 and Emily in the present.
Emily and Chess have been friends Another good novel by Rachel Hawkins.
The Villa is narrated by two characters: Mari in 1974 and Emily in the present.
Emily and Chess have been friends since they were kids. Through the years, they have stayed in touch but they haven't been able to spend quality time together in a long time.
Emily is a writer of cozy mysteries. Her series' love interest is based on her ex-husband and because of it, she is having a hard time starting her next book without killing the character. On the other hand, Chess has become a very famous and successful self-help writer. When Chess invites Emily to spend a few weeks in Orvieto, Italy, Emily decides to go. Not long after arriving in Italy, Emily becomes quite intrigued by Villa Aestas' history. She learns the house has been the site of a murder in 1974. Emily starts thinking that a book and an album might have clues about what really happened that fateful day.
In the 1970s, Villa Aestas was known as Villa Rosato. Here a famous singer Noel Gordon stayed with Pierce Sheldon, his girlfriend Mari, and her stepsister, Lara. After Pierce is murdered, Mary writes the greatest horror novel of all time and Lara will compose a platinum album that everybody has heard and most own.
The question is:
Is the person who killed Pierce really the man accused of the crime or perhaps there is more to the story?
I enjoyed the two timelines and the two main characters. I liked how the story progressed. We are able to learn how things occurred in 1974 although when you think you know everything, you really don't.
I've been a fan of Rachel Hawkins since her Hex Hall series and now I'm a fan of her thrillers.
Lastly, if someone from Netflix is reading this review, I think the Villa could be a great movie!
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the first book in the series, I thought it was a breath of fresh air. It was fun and had me laughing out loud multiple times. So it made perfeI loved the first book in the series, I thought it was a breath of fresh air. It was fun and had me laughing out loud multiple times. So it made perfect sense for me to want to read Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead.
If you read book one, you know it ended with Finlay finding out about a hit set up on her ex-husband, Steve. Steve might not be a good husband, fiancee, or boyfriend material but Finlay doesn't want him dead. Well, maybe a little and if was up to Vero, she would have given ideas to the killer on how to cause the most pain before killing him.
Naturally, Finlay and Vero embarked on an investigation to try to find out who is trying to off him. Ramon, Vero's cousin is there to help a few times. A young IT millennial is there to help them with the clues (but not for free). A wig is needed for a certain dangerous visit. We get to see more of Susan, Finlay's mom. A nice car makes an unexpected appearance and of course the crazy situations Finlay and Vero get themselves in are abundant.
I can honestly say that I liked it and I laughed with poor Finlay's absurd and fantastical adventures she got herself tangled up with but I didn't love it like I did the first one. Yet, I was glad to see certain characters popping back in from the last book. I hope the trend continues.
What I did love was Finlay and Vero's friendship getting stronger despite certain secrets not being revealed. I want to know more about what happened to Vero before she met Finlay.
As for the love triangle, I like detective Nick Anthony but I still like the lawyer-to-be, Julian too. Decisions...decisions.
The next installment's path is set at the ending of this book. Can't wait for more Finlay and Vero shenanigans.
As for the narrator, Angela Dawe, Kudos!! She had me entertained all the way!
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the first book in the series, I thought it was a breath of fresh air. It was fun and had me laughing out loud multiple times. So it made perfect sense for me to want to read Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead.
If you read book one, you know it ended with Finlay finding out about a hit set up on her ex-husband, Steve. Steve might not be a good husband, fiancee, or boyfriend material but Finlay doesn't want him dead. Well, maybe a little and if was up to Vero, she would have given ideas to the killer on how to cause the most pain before killing him.
Naturally, Finlay and Vero embarked on an investigation to try to find out who is trying to off him. Ramon, Vero's cousin is there to help a few times. A young IT millennial is there to help them with the clues (but not for free). A wig is needed for a certain dangerous visit. We get to see more of Susan, Finlay's mom. A nice car makes an unexpected appearance and of course the crazy situations Finlay and Vero get themselves in are abundant.
I can honestly say that I liked it and I laughed with poor Finlay's absurd and fantastical adventures she got herself tangled up with but I didn't love it like I did the first one. Yet, I was glad to see certain characters popping back in from the last book. I hope the trend continues.
What I did love was Finlay and Vero's friendship getting stronger despite certain secrets not being revealed. I want to know more about what happened to Vero before she met Finlay.
As for the love triangle, I like detective Nick Anthony but I still like the lawyer-to-be, Julian too. Decisions...decisions.
The next installment's path is set at the ending of this book. Can't wait for more Finlay and Vero shenanigans.
As for the narrator, Angela Dawe, Kudos!! She had me entertained all the way!
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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