Monday Reading Report

Yes, I know I still need to do my year-end wrap-up, but I still have a college student at home and it’s just been a bit crazy with Christmas and New Year and sending one back to school, getting things picked up, etc. We were thrilled to get the news that we have a new grandbaby coming our way next August! If you want to see additional book lists, head over to The Book Date

This post contains affiliate links, see disclosures for more detail. I voluntarily reviewed complimentary review copies of many of these books. All opinions are not required and are entirely my own.

Recently Completed Books

Hunting Annabelle by Wendy Heard, I gave this book 3 stars

About the Book:

Sean Suh is done with killing. After serving three years in a psychiatric prison, he’s determined to stay away from temptation. But he can’t resist Annabelle—beautiful, confident, incandescent Annabelle—who alone can see past the monster to the man inside. The man he’s desperately trying to be.

Then Annabelle disappears.

Sean is sure she’s been kidnapped—he witnessed her being taken firsthand—but the police are convinced that Sean himself is at the center of this crime. And he must admit, his illness has caused him to “lose time” before. What if there’s more to what happened than he’s able to remember?

Though haunted by the fear that it might be better for Annabelle if he never finds her, Sean can’t bring himself to let go of her without a fight. To save her, he’ll have to do more than confront his own demons… He’ll have to let them loose.

My Thoughts:

Wow, I was definitely not expecting that!
Seems like an odd choice of time of year to release this book, it seems more like a Halloween style book because it’s very, very dark. A twisted suspenseful thriller that is not for everyone (many trigger warnings, I’m not going to list them because of spoilers, but if you get triggered by pretty much anything this isn’t for you), but if you like that type of book this one will hit the spot.
Mental illness (or not?), murders, missing people, and some twists that come out of left field. I have some mixed feelings about the ending. It’s quite shocking, not the way I thought the book was going, and it left me with a bit of a bad aftertaste, but still…you have to credit the author for a unique conclusion that is both surprising and disturbing at the same time.
Sean is an unreliable narrator (you know this from the start, it’s not a spoiler) but his motivations are unclear until the end. I can’t say much more because I don’t want to give anything away. If you like dark thrillers, make sure to put this one on your list.

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han, I gave this book 3 stars

About the Book:

Given the way love turned her heart in the New York Times bestselling To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, which School Library Journal called a “lovely, lighthearted romance,” it’s no surprise that Laura Jean still has letters to write.

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.

She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.

When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

My Thoughts:

I liked it, but this series is a bit too juvenile for me to really get into it. It’s cute and I will read book three as well, but it’s not earth shattering literature, just entertaining YA

Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear, I gave this book 4 stars

About the Book:

Your father is a liar. But is he a killer? 
Even liars tell the truth . . . sometimes.

Twenty-six-year-old Cat Kinsella overcame a troubled childhood to become a Detective Constable with the Metropolitan Police Force, but she’s never been able to banish these ghosts. When she’s called to the scene of a murder in Islington, not far from the pub her estranged father still runs, she discovers that Alice Lapaine, a young housewife who didn’t get out much, has been found strangled.

Cat and her team immediately suspect Alice’s husband, until she receives a mysterious phone call that links the victim to Maryanne Doyle, a teenage girl who went missing in Ireland eighteen years earlier. The call raises uneasy memories for Cat—her family met Maryanne while on holiday, right before she vanished. Though she was only a child, Cat knew that her charming but dissolute father wasn’t telling the truth when he denied knowing anything about Maryanne or her disappearance. Did her father do something to the teenage girl all those years ago? Could he have harmed Alice now? And how can you trust a liar even if he might be telling the truth?

Determined to close the two cases, Cat rushes headlong into the investigation, crossing ethical lines and trampling professional codes. But in looking into the past, she might not like what she finds. . . .

My Thoughts:

Totally solid mystery/thriller debut. Kept me engaged throughout. I went back and forth between the audio book and the print book, I loved the narrator and could really picture the characters in my head with her descriptions.
I liked Cat quite a bit and look forward to future books featuring her and the rest of the squad. 
This particular book had a great mystery with many characters who were not who they seemed to be or pretended to be. The ending was great because things came full circle and all loose ends were tied.
I’m a fan of police procedurals and this is a fantastic UK offering in that genre, Frear reminds me of Lisa Gardner. 

Look Alive Twenty-Five by Janet Evanovich, I gave this book 3 stars

About the Book:

There’s nothing like a good deli, and the Red River Deli in Trenton is one of the best. World-famous for its pastrami, cole slaw, and for its disappearing managers. Over the last month, three have vanished from the face of the earth, and the only clue in each case is one shoe that’s been left behind. The police are baffled. Lula is convinced that it’s a case of alien abduction. Whatever it is, they’d better figure out what’s going on before they lose their new manager, Ms. Stephanie Plum.

My Thoughts:

Nothing new, same old Stephanie not deciding between Morelli and Ranger, same old antics with Lula. I did miss Grandma’s presence in this book (she’s still alive, she’s just not in this book very much), not one funeral viewing either, which was kind of disappointing. I know what to expect from this series. It’s not earth shattering, but it is comfortable and familiar, which is why I keep sticking with it because I totally know what to expect.

A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz, I gave this book 4 stars

About the Book:

Though Magnus MacLeish and Lark MacDougall grew up on the same castle grounds, Magnus is now laird of the great house and the Isle of Kerrera. Lark is but the keeper of his bees and the woman he is hoping will provide a tincture that might help his ailing wife conceive and bear him an heir. But when his wife dies suddenly, Magnus and Lark find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of accusations, expelled from their beloved island, and sold as indentured servants across the Atlantic. Yet even when all hope seems dashed against the rocky coastline of the Virginia colony, it may be that in this New World the two of them could make a new beginning–together.

My Thoughts:

Outlander fans take note! This is a faith-filled tale set in the same setting and era as the famous series. I really liked the slow burning romance between Magnus and Lark. Due to numerous circumstances, their obvious attraction to each other is denied for many years, but this only serves to make the tale realistic and much more satisfying in the end.
So many exotic settings, tumultuous events, and twists in each of their stories kept me invested in the ultimate outcome. I was happy to see that there will be another book in this series because this book left loose ends hanging. 
This is overall a beautifully told tale of longing, grace, forgiveness, and God’s mercy despite terrible circumstances. 

Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano, I gave this book 4.5 stars

About the Book:

Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high society world she’s always known and finds herself to be an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he’s unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.

Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora’s secret threaten those they love, they’ll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after.

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I looked forward to it every time I picked it up–wanting to see what would happen next with Izzie and Ian and the gang. 
This is a delightful tale filled with humor and heart, with a beautiful faith message. The overall themes of loving what is on the inside rather than the trappings of the outside shines through on the pages. 
The animals are a hoot, as are all of the supporting characters. The light-hearted novel has so much going for it, including a fast-paced plot and a bit of mystery surrounding what was going on at Glory Manor. I love Jen Turano’s writing, she makes late 1800s America come to life with its sights, sounds, and even smells. 
Izzie’s development as a person was absolutely captivating. Her evolution from headstrong but compliant heiress to “household manager” (with all of the corresponding foibles and catastrophes sprinkled in along the way) was enchanting to read. 
I excitedly look forward to the next installment of the series!

Novelly Upon a Time by Sarah Monzon, I gave this book 4 stars

About the Book:

Author Harper Jones prides herself on the impeccable research she does for her novels, so when early reviews come pouring in claiming her romance reeks of inauthenticity, her editor suggests pulling her nose out of her books and getting some real-life smooching experience. But her plans to do just that are thwarted by her archnemesis from high school who has recently returned to town. Now she’s left with an impossible decision—kiss her worst enemy or kiss her three-book contract goodbye.

My Thoughts:

Such a sweet, humorous novella filled with heart. The light, funny moments are coupled with some deeply emotional ones that allow both Kate and Kyo to explore their feelings. They not only figure out their feelings for each other, but they both look a bit more deeply into past events that still cause present pain.
Sarah Monzon knows how to pen a great story, I just wish this one was a bit longer so I could have spent more time with the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed my short time with this tale and will continue to look for more of the author’s books in the future.

An Anonymous Girl by Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks, I gave this book 3.5 stars

About the Book:

Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave.

Question #1: Could you tell a lie without feeling guilt?

But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding.

Question #2: Have you ever deeply hurt someone you care about?

As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

Question #3: Should a punishment always fit the crime?

My Thoughts:

I liked it but this writing duo set the bar high for me with The Wife Between Us and I think my expectations were a bit too high. Overall, this is an excellent thriller that will stand out well in the ever-growing psychological suspense crowd.

I loved the premise of Jessica lying her way into a research study about morality. The different twists along the way with the various characters keeping secrets kept me invested. It was never clear which characters were the “good guys” and which ones were the “bad guys” until the end. There was much vagueness with their individual interactions and their lies–both to themselves and to the others they were interacting with–enough that the novel keeps readers on their toes to puzzle through the mystery. 

The creepy factor is high in this tale, because certain characters know more than they should and when the reader figures out how they know this it creates an unease. If Jessica can get involved in this–could we? I didn’t love Jessica’s character overall, she made choices I disagreed with and at times was way too naive about what was going on, but she was intriguing to read about.

I will keep my eyes open for more books by this writing duo (and books by just these authors alone because they are equally as good). I look forward to seeing what they come up with next!

Clock Dance by Anne Tyler, I gave this book 3 stars

About the Book:

Willa Drake can count on one hand the defining moments of her life. In 1967, she is a schoolgirl coping with her mother’s sudden disappearance. In 1977, she is a college coed considering a marriage proposal. In 1997, she is a young widow trying to piece her life back together. And in 2017, she yearns to be a grandmother but isn’t sure she ever will be. Then, one day, Willa receives a startling phone call from a stranger. Without fully understanding why, she flies across the country to Baltimore to look after a young woman she’s never met, her nine-year-old daughter, and their dog, Airplane. This impulsive decision will lead Willa into uncharted territory–surrounded by eccentric neighbors who treat each other like family, she finds solace and fulfillment in unexpected places. 

My Thoughts:

I equate this novel as being very similar to Ann Patchett’s Commonwealth. I liked it, but it’s definitely not my favorite Anne Tyler book (that honor goes to The Amateur Marriage).
In the end, it didn’t give me enough. I get what she was doing: it’s a glimpse at people, real people with real-life failings and ordinary lives. Yet I wanted Willa’s past to mean more to her, to prod her into being better with relationships than her parents were. I thought her sister’s character was wasted and could have added a much-needed dimension to the story and to Willa’s life. I wanted Willa’s mother’s failings to show up in a real way in Willa’s adult life, because although the woman was depicted as mentally ill/abusive, I didn’t really see repercussions on Willa’s life other than the estrangement with her sister.
I did like the Baltimore portions of the story and found that it drew me into her character and made me root for her to grow a spine and do something for herself rather than for others. 

The Guy Who Died Twice by Lisa Gardner, I gave this novella 3.5 stars

About the Book:

D. D. Warren was pretty sure she’d seen it all. Then a man walks into police headquarters, attempting desperately to convince the squad that he’s dead. Explaining to him that he’s very much alive, they finally send him on his way . . . and then hours later, he turns up actually dead. And it’s on D. D. Warren to figure out how and why the dead man died . . . twice.

My Thoughts:

3.5 stars to this standalone DD Warren short story. Reminded me so much of an Agatha Christie or other similar whodunnit, because it involves a small cast of characters that DD brings together in the end in order to reveal the culprit. 
I enjoyed the mystery and the real-life science behind the story. Those looking for a short mystery will be intrigued and this one is both captivating and fast-paced.

I love all of Lisa Gardner’s books, if you haven’t read anything by her, this is a nice way to get your feet wet. I do recommend reading all of the other D.D. Warren books in order, because although the mysteries stand alone, the characters have gone through a great deal of change and development and that’s a big part of the story.

Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand, I gave this book 3.5 stars

About the Book:

Irene Steele shares her idyllic life in a beautiful Iowa City Victorian house with a husband who loves her to sky-writing, sentimental extremes. But as she rings in the new year one cold and snowy night, everything she thought she knew falls to pieces with a shocking phone call: her beloved husband, away on business, has been killed in a plane crash. Before Irene can even process the news, she must first confront the perplexing details of her husband’s death on the distant Caribbean island of St. John.

After Irene and her sons arrive at this faraway paradise, they make yet another shocking discovery: her husband had been living a secret life. As Irene untangles a web of intrigue and deceit, and as she and her sons find themselves drawn into the vibrant island culture, they have to face the truth about their family, and about their own futures. 

My Thoughts:

I was pretty surprised at how much I liked this book. Hilderbrand is often hit or miss for me, she has an affinity for cheating storylines which I don’t care for. This book had them, but they were portrayed as bad, hurtful, and shocking as opposed to the author’s typical accepting attitude.
I loved the setting, I’ve been to St John a couple of times and it was easy to picture everything the author was describing. Honestly, there’s no way to capture the island’s magic with words, but she certainly does it justice.
This is a great start to a new series, I connected with the characters and am very anxious to see what happens next. There’s a mystery with what exactly was going on with Russ, the book leaves off on a cliffhanger so it’s going to be difficult to wait until next year to see what happens next.
It’s a book filled with secrets–each of the characters has secrets they are keeping from each other and from themselves (I’m looking at you here Irene) and part of the soapy-ness of Hilderbrand’s books is how the characters grow and deal with secrets.
Two things I didn’t like, which made the book downgraded a half star:
1. Insta-love–gag–I hate it and this book has it in spades. Not believable AT ALL
2. I have been on MANY snorkeling trips. Never ever ever ever ever do they let *anyone* who is going to be snorkeling drink alcohol before doing so (not just staff, anyone). Never ever. Every booze cruise I’ve ever been on doesn’t serve the booze until after the snorkeling is over and everyone is done with being in the water. The fact that Cash was plastered and went snorkeling is absolutely not credible and the author should be ashamed for writing it.

I will keep reading this series, despite its shortcomings, because I like her storytelling and I want to know the outcome to the mysteries brought up.

Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan, I gave this book 2 stars

About the Book:

An accused killer insists she’s innocent of a heinous murder.A grieving journalist surfaces from the wreckage of her shattered life. 
Their unlikely alliance leads to a dangerous cat and mouse game that will leave you breathless.
Who can you trust when you can’t trust yourself?

My Thoughts:

Well…I wanted to like this book. And I did. For the first half. I was captivated and drawn into a story of a Casey Anthony-esque woman named Ashlyn on trial for the murder of her young daughter. Then it just got weird. And stopped really making any real sense. 

Spoilers below:

I could NOT for the life of me understand why Mercer, who believed wholeheartedly that Ashlyn was guilty, would start believing everything Ashlyn told her. It got so completely old having Ashlyn hedge and give non-answers and nothing getting revealed. And then going off on these wild conspiracy theory tangents that Mercer, in her grief, supposedly swallows without even questioning? When things actually get resolved it’s not a very good resolution either, it is anti-climactic and gives no sense of redemption for the poor murdered little girl. 
All of the characters were basically patsies in Ashlyn’s little mind game. You actually expect me to believe that this uneducated party girl could pull something over on absolutely positively everyone, leave no evidence behind, etc?
I so wanted Mercer to be in a coma and dreaming all of this when I got to the end. Or have this entire thing be an elaborate sting operation to get Mercer for her family’s deaths. It would have been so much better and made much more sense.

The Red Address Book by Sofia Lundberg, I gave this book 3.5 stars

About the Book:

Meet Doris, a 96-year-old woman living alone in her Stockholm apartment. She has few visitors, but her weekly Skype calls with Jenny—her American grandniece, and her only relative—give her great joy and remind her of her own youth.

When Doris was a girl, she was given an address book by her father, and ever since she has carefully documented everyone she met and loved throughout the years. Looking through the little book now, Doris sees the many crossed-out names of people long gone and is struck by the urge to put pen to paper. In writing down the stories of her colorful past—working as a maid in Sweden, modelling in Paris during the 30s, fleeing to Manhattan at the dawn of the Second World War—can she help Jenny, haunted by a difficult childhood, unlock the secrets of their family and finally look to the future? And whatever became of Allan, the love of Doris’s life?

My Thoughts:

I loved the story of Doris and her life through the years. It made me think that I really need to talk with parents/grandparents and discover what there is to know about their lives before they are gone and can’t tell me. It was a small part–but the way that some of her care workers talked to her, as if she were a small child rather than a woman with a rich history of life experiences–It gave me pause to caution myself not to do the same. Even if someone has limited ability to communicate, that doesn’t diminish their life and experiences.
I think the book lost a bit in translation. The conversations between Jenny and her husband were almost comically stilted and unrealistic. Maybe in the original Swedish they read better.
I really loved the ending. It was so beautiful it brought me to tears. Made the entire reading of the book worthwhile.

Freefall by Jessica Barry, I gave this book 3.5 stars

About the Book:

When her fiancé’s private plane crashes in the Colorado Rockies, Allison Carpenter miraculously survives. But the fight for her life is just beginning. Allison has been living with a terrible secret, a shocking truth that powerful men will kill to keep buried. If they know she’s alive, they will come for her. She must make it home.

In the small community of Owl Creek, Maine, Maggie Carpenter learns that her only child is presumed dead. But authorities have not recovered her body—giving Maggie a shred of hope. She, too, harbors a shameful secret: she hasn’t communicated with her daughter in two years, since a family tragedy drove Allison away. Maggie doesn’t know anything about her daughter’s life now—not even that she was engaged to wealthy pharmaceutical CEO Ben Gardner, or why she was on a private plane.

As Allison struggles across the treacherous mountain wilderness, Maggie embarks on a desperate search for answers. Immersing herself in Allison’s life, she discovers a sleek socialite hiding dark secrets. What was Allison running from—and can Maggie uncover the truth in time to save her?

My Thoughts:

Decent thriller. Kept me invested although the middle section was a bit slow. I figured out what was going on before it was revealed, but once things really got going it was a bit more exciting.
Some of it is just beyond believable, but if you can suspend some disbelief you’ll enjoy the ride as it happens.
I liked Maggie’s character quite a bit. I was rooting for her, and I loved the dual points of view. I didn’t love Allison, but I could understand what drove her away from Maggie and why she was reluctant/stubborn to renew the relationship. That part was authentic and kept me invested in the story.
If you’re looking for an edge-of-your-seat thriller, this one is a worthwhile choice.

Currently Reading:

The Drowning by J. P. Smith

About the Book:

It doesn’t take long for a little boy to disappear. Joey Proctor can’t swim, but that doesn’t stop camp counselor Alex Mason from leaving him out on a raft in the middle of the lake in a fit of rage. Alex only meant to scare the kid, teach him a lesson. He didn’t mean to forget about him. But now Joey is gone… and his body is never found.

More than twenty years later, Alex is a success. The proof is there for anyone to see, in the millions of dollars he makes, his lavish house, his beautiful wife and daughters. And no one knows what happened that summer at camp. At least, no one should know. But it looks like Joey Proctor may be back to take his revenge…

Currently Listening To:

If You Knew Her by Emily Elgar

About the Book:

A woman in a coma.

The man who could save her life—if only he could speak.

When young, beautiful Cassie Jensen arrives unconscious to the intensive care ward at St. Catherine’s hospital after being struck in a hit-and-run while out walking her dog, chief nurse Alice Marlowe thinks she looks familiar. She starts digging deeper into Cassie’s relationships, only to discover something about her patient that she’d been keeping secret from everyone, including her devoted husband and family. Soon Alice finds herself obsessed with her patient’s past and future, even willing to put her own career on the line in her single-minded search for answers. 

Frank, a patient on the same ward who has locked-in syndrome, can hear and see everything around him but cannot speak. Soon he comes to understand that Cassie’s life is still in danger. While the police continue to look for clues, only Frank holds the truth, but he’s unable to communicate it. 

As the novel flashes between points of view, the reader will get closer and closer to the truth of who Cassie Jensen was, and why she was out on the road that fateful night . . .

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith

About the Book:

Lethal White is the fourth book in the Cormoran Strike series from the international bestselling author Robert Galbraith.
“I seen a kid killed…He strangled it, up by the horse.”

When Billy, a troubled young man, comes to private eye Cormoran Strike’s office to ask for his help investigating a crime he thinks he witnessed as a child, Strike is left deeply unsettled. While Billy is obviously mentally distressed, and cannot remember many concrete details, there is something sincere about him and his story. But before Strike can question him further, Billy bolts from his office in a panic.

Trying to get to the bottom of Billy’s story, Strike and Robin Ellacott—once his assistant, now a partner in the agency—set off on a twisting trail that leads them through the backstreets of London, into a secretive inner sanctum within Parliament, and to a beautiful but sinister manor house deep in the countryside.

And during this labyrinthine investigation, Strike’s own life is far from straightforward: his newfound fame as a private eye means he can no longer operate behind the scenes as he once did. Plus, his relationship with his former assistant is more fraught than it ever has been—Robin is now invaluable to Strike in the business, but their personal relationship is much, much trickier than that.

The most epic Robert Galbraith novel yet, Lethal White is both a gripping mystery and a page-turning next instalment in the ongoing story of Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott.

Up Next:

Her One Mistake by Heidi Perks

About the Book

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….

What about you? Read or listened to anything good lately that you recommend I read?