The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon

This author has always been on my radar, but I’ve never truly gotten a chance to pick up one of her novels and read it! I’m excited to finally get the chance to do so!

Thank you Gallery Books for my gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: When social worker Jax receives nine missed calls from her older sister, Lexie, she assumes that it’s just another one of her sister’s episodes. Manic and increasingly out of touch with reality, Lexie has pushed Jax away for over a year. But the next day, Lexie is dead: drowned in the pool at their grandmother’s estate. When Jax arrives at the house to go through her sister’s things, she learns that Lexie was researching the history of their family and the property. And as she dives deeper into the research herself, she discovers that the land holds a far darker past than she could have ever imagined. In 1929, thirty-seven-year-old newlywed Ethel Monroe hopes desperately for a baby. In an effort to distract her, her husband whisks her away on a trip to Vermont, where a natural spring is showcased by the newest and most modern hotel in the Northeast. Once there, Ethel learns that the water is rumored to grant wishes, never suspecting that the spring takes in equal measure to what it gives. 

Oh, this was eerie and haunting, in a good way! This had some supernatural aspects to it, which I’m beginning to love more and more lately. There is alternate timelines here, but this author does it really well. Normally, I’m not a fan…but this blended together perfectly. I couldn’t put this one down, and I can’t wait to pick up others by this author very soon!

5/5 Stars

The Woman Outside My Door by Rachel Ryan

I’m excited to share with you a debut thriller with the most gorgeous cover! Seriously, I’m obsessing over this cover. It’s stunning!

Thank you Gallery Books for my gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: All children have imaginary friends, Georgina tells herself. It’s perfectly normal, and they all grow out of it in the end. But when her seven-year-old son, Cody, tells her about New Granny, the new friend he’s met in the park, Georgina is instantly suspicious. Something—call it maternal instinct—tells her he isn’t making it up. But maybe Georgina is losing her mind. It wouldn’t be the first time, after all. And with her own mother’s recent death leaving her bereft and trying to cope with life as a busy working mom, it’s no wonder she’s feeling paranoid that Cody has invented a “New Granny” to replace his beloved grandmother. Her husband, Bren, becomes the voice of reason, assuring Georgina that it’s just a game, the product of their son’s overactive imagination. But what if Cody’s imaginary friend is not so imaginary after all?

Are you someone who had an imaginary friend growing up? I totally am – her name was Kinda (pronounced kin-duh) and I’m not afraid to flaunt her, haha! The premise of this book truly grabbed my attention from the start. The whole time it had me guessing, have they really gone mad? This was a fast-paced read that I could not predict the ending of (which is hard to come by for me these days). It’s not as suspenseful as I was expecting, but reads as a dark drama. I’m glad I didn’t pass this one by!

4/5 Stars

Man of the Year by Caroline Louise Walker

This is a book I’ve been keeping my eye on for a long time and cannot wait to share with you!

Thank you Gallery Books for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Dr. Robert Hart, Sag Harbor’s just-named Man of the Year, is the envy of his friends and neighbors. His medical practice is thriving. He has a beautiful old house and a beautiful new wife and a beautiful boat docked in the village marina. Even his wayward son, Jonah, is back on track, doing well at school, finally worthy of his father’s attentions. So when Jonah’s troubled college roommate, Nick, needs a place to stay for the summer, Hart and his wife generously offer him their guest house. A win-win: Jonah will have someone to hang with, and his father can bask in the warm glow of his own generosity. But when he begins to notice his new house guest getting a little too close to his wife, the good doctor’s veneer begins to crack. All the little lies Robert tells—harmless falsehoods meant to protect everything he holds dear—begin to mount. Before long, he’s embroiled in a desperate downward spiral, destroying the lives that stand in his way. It’s only the women in his life—his devoted office manager, his friends, his wife—who can clearly see the truth.

Thrillers have come with a lot of unreliable characters lately. This is one of those thrillers. I don’t have a problem with them, but most people don’t like when narrators mess with their heads. I think what really stopped me in my tracks with this book was that the characters were not likable (something that I truly believe was supposed to be that way) and that the ending was super rushed. I felt like the twists were quickly placed just to make this advertise as a thriller. I did enjoy reading the second half of the novel much more than the first. Not a bad debut read, but not something I would read again.

3/5 Stars

Mine by Courtney Cole

Nothing like a good thriller to pull you out of a reading slump!

Thank you Gallery Books for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

What would you do when you find evidence of your husband’s mistress while preparing for a hurricane? Tessa is headed to her parent’s house to drop off her teenage kids for a visit while she spends an overdue weekend with her husband. Turns out that her husband Ethan can’t make it after all. Tessa wasn’t aware that a hurricane was coming, but gets caught up in trying to weatherize the house when she comes across Ethan’s iPad full of text messages and naked images from another woman. Looks like there is more than just a hurricane storm brewing…

I have not read “Saving Beck” by Courtney, but have heard amazing things (and a book I will have to read very soon). Because of the rave reviews, I was really excited to come across this read! Courtney is a really talented writer. This novel does not disappoint! I read this in one night – I just HAD to know what happened! Was she going to confront her husband or the mistress instead?! This reminded me a lot of “For Better and Worse”. If you’ve read it and enjoyed it, you’ll like this one a lot! Perfect late night thrill ride that you don’t want to miss out on!

4/5 Stars

My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

In the mood for a feel-good juicy read? Then look no further!

A big thanks to Simon and Schuster CA for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Millie is one of the guys. The book starts off celebrating at Reid’s house playing Monopoly and drinking. Soon enough, Millie and Reid end up alone and one thing leads to the next. They’d never thought of each other this way and they don’t want to ruin their relationship. Meanwhile, their University has a gala coming up and no one has a date. Join along to find out how these men and Millie find dates in 21st century style. Will Millie end up with Reid in the end? (of course you knew I had to ask!)

Ah, what a cute, joyous read! I needed a good pick-me-up! The book was quick to jump into the story line. I wanted a little more development there as I knew where the plot was going as soon as it started.  Millie’s relationship with the guys was refreshing for me to read and it was such a fun adventure to jump along and follow. My Favorite Half Night Stand is everything you want in a contemporary romantic comedy novel and more! The ending was just what I hoped it would be.

4/5 Stars