ARC Review: A Tale of Two Cookies

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

In this third entry in the Cookie House cozy mystery series, Kate McGuire-pastery chef and now partner in The Cookie House-must help a friend find her missing groom, even if his family and the media are all saying there was never actually a wedding planned. At the same time, a reality show is filming in a house with a lot of pleasant and unpleasant memories. 

Honestly, what is there not to love about this series? There's colorful and caring characters, a vibrant setting, an adorable dog, delicious sounding cookies, and a mystery that always gets solved by the end of the book. The world of Coral Cay is one you will want to keep visiting-just make sure you have some cookies nearby, because you will definitely have a craving!

ARC: Girl, 11

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

Elle Castillo has always focused her work on helping children, and her now-popular true crime podcast examines unsolved cases of missing children. This season her podcast is centering around The Countdown Killer, a numerically-fixated child murderer who seemed to vanish himself years ago, but just might be back in action.

This was definitely a really intense, dark read. Had it been a true crime book rather than the fictional novel it luckily is, there is no way I would have been able to finish reading. You should definitely know going in that children are harmed. I normally don't read books where children get harmed in any way, but I think the podcast concept caught my attention (and the podcast idea is used really effectively here), but this was definitely a hard read in places.

So what I would say is, if you're interested, give this book a read. The podcast transcripts are powerful and interesting, and there is a really amazing twist that had me gasping out loud (though I did call a different big plot point within the first chapters). Just know you will be on a dark ride.

ARC Review: Mirrorland

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

Cat hasn't spoken to her twin sister, El, in a long time, so when El goes missing, Cat feels like she's stepping back into a life she tried so hard to forget about. Cat especially feels herself drawn back to Mirrorland, the space in their childhood home they turned into a gothic conglomeration of fearful fits of imagination. El seems to be leading Cat on a dark treasure hunt, one that threatens to bring back memories Cat's not sure she wants returned, but she's already in too deep to walk away.

This is a strange book, but that's not a bad thing. At first, I thought this was going to be a DNF (do not finish) for me. The first chapter was already so confusing, and I had a really hard time getting into the story. In looking at other reviews, it seems I was in no way alone in this. This is a book that seems to really divide readers, a one star or a five star read.

I am definitely glad I kept reading. By the time I hit 20%, I was completely hooked. There were so many twists I never saw coming, and I was really invested in the story. This is a dark read for sure, so be prepared for that, but it is a fascinatingly creative and creepy read as well. 

ARC Review: The Sky Blues

 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

For openly gay Sky, life isn't easy in his small town. The car accident that killed his father left him with physical and emotional scars, his mother kicked him out of the house after he came out, and his classmate Cliff is constantly bullying him. Wanting to reclaim his senior year, Sky is determined to produce an epic promposal for his longtime crush, Ali.

When pictures of his promposal plan are leaked to the whole school (and then spread to the whole town), Sky just wants to hide away again. But the actions of his classmates and town just may surprise him in the best possible way.

I loved this book so much. Every character is complex, nuanaced, and feels so real. Sky himself admits he isn't perfect, but that he's learning and trying. Sky's found family are so wonderful, I was rooting for them and Sky so much. Every storyline works, and many of them come together in unexpected ways. The hurt that Sky endures from his mother and brother, from Cliff, from his past, is real and palable. But so is the love that surrounds him.

This is a beautiful book, filled with so much light, the overcoming of obstacles and the power of coming together, loving yourself and loving others, embracing differences, finding your family, and achieving your dreams. I recommend this book so highly. It gave me hope and brought me joy.

ARC Review: Deadly Editions

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

In a bookstore in Edinburgh, Delaney Nichols, bookseller, is presented with a unique opportunity-an invitation to join a literary treasure hunt. The person making the offer may be a bit mysterious and even suspicious, but it's hard to resist the promise of not only a first edition of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but the guarantee of being gifted the organizer's entire library of highly valuable books. But when events from the past seem to be repeating themselves, Delaney has more than one mystery to solve.

I absolutely love Edinburgh, I've visited there twice now, so the location had me hooked from the start. Shelton made me want to travel back to Edinburgh right away and hit up all the bookshops and pubs. Delaney is a likable character, a smart and geninually kind book lover who makes a great team with her husband, pub owner Tom. The characters that surround them are unique and interesting, and all add to the story.

The mystery was a really fun one, especially as it was woven around the characters and ideas of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a book I love. I definitely did not see the ending coming, but it made sense looking back, which is always a plus for me.

The only thing I wasn't crazy about is that Delaney's intuition comes to her in the form of book characters and authors talking to her inside her head at important moments. I liked the integration of story and author quotes, but it just felt strange and out of place. Granted, I have not read the other books in this series, so it may be this would make more sense to me if I started from the beginning.

This was a fun, charming book with a fantastic setting, fun characters, and an enjoyable mystery. If the rest of the series is just like this entry, it's a world I would like to revisit.

ARC Review: The Drowning Kind

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

In The Drowning Kind, readers meet Jax, a social worker who has worked hard in her own therapy sessions to draw firm boundaries between herself and her sister, Lexie. Both Lexie and their father, Ted, have had manic episodes for as long as Jax can remember, so when Lexie calls over and over again, Jax ignores her. 

Then she gets the call that Lexie is dead, found drowned outside her home in the famous natural pool-famous because for decades, people have believed the springs feeding the pool can cure ailments and grant wishes. 

But everything comes with a price.

I am a big fan of Jennifer McMahon. My collection of her books has a special space all to itself. And while Burntown and The Invited, her two most recent full-length novels, were not my favorites of hers, I still enjoyed them.

But oh how I loved her newest book. The Drowning Kind is right up there for me, giving me The Night Sister (another McMahon book) vibes in all the best ways. McMahon does a really great job of weaving in journal entries from the past, building a crucial backstory using the personal papers of a woman visiting the "miracle springs" when there was an entire hotel built around the waters. The Drowning Kind is that fabulous kind of creepy where you don't quite know what is real, because the characters don't either. There is so much eerie suspense here, I still get chills thinking about the ending paragraphs. 

When you draw the curtains to settle down at night and read this chilling tale, make sure to light a candle to keep you safe. In the world of The Drowning Kind, they can get to you in the darkness.

ARC Review: Broken (in the best possible way)

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

I should start by saying, I am a huge fan of Jenny Lawson. She is not only so open and honest about her mental and physical illnesses, but she is also so, so funny. When someone asks me for recommendations of books about mental health, anything by Jenny Lawson is always at the top of my list.

Broken (in the best possible way) just continues my love for Lawson. Some chapters had me laughing so hard for minutes on end, and some chapters were so personal and meaningful they almost made me cry. Lawson not only keeps this balance beautifully, but she also makes sure all her readers know that they are not alone. She is such an important voice in the mental health community, and I absolutely recommend reading not only this book, but every other one of her previous books.

ARC Review: At Any Cost

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

Title: At Any Cost: A Father's Betrayal, A Wife's Murder, and a Ten-Year War for Justice

Authors: Rebecca Rosenberg and Selim Algar

Genres: True Crime/Non-Fiction

Publication Date: April 6, 2021

Right away, my first thought about this book is how in the world I had never heard of this crime before. There are so many twists and turns, so many egregious actions by both the murderer and the police--if this was the plot of a fiction book, I would have dismissed it as being far too unbelievable. But this is all too true. I won't spoil anything for anyone who like me walked into this knowing nothing about the case, but there are moments after moments that will make your jaw drop. 

My second thought is how well-written this book is. The facts are laid out in a narrative format, which really helps the reader get to know the people involved, the crime itself, and the shocking aftermath. Despite how complex and complicated the layers upon layers could get, Rosenberg and Algar make sure that the reader never gets lost.

I have read a lot of true crime over the years, and this is an excellent addition to the genre. It will open your eyes, engage your mind, and tug on every single one of your heartstrings. 

ARC Review: Under the Cover of Murder

 

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion or my review itself.

Addie is known both as a bookseller and as a bit of an amateur detective, someone who can't help but be intrigued by the mystery of a crime. So when one body is found, and then another, surrounding the luxury yacht where an over-the-top wedding has just occurred, Addie starts exploring the library in the hope of picking up some clues. When the guests and staff are all kept on the yacht as suspects, Addie knows she must hurry before the killer strikes again.

This was a fun, enjoyable read. Even though I haven't read the rest of the series, I didn't really feel confused or unable to follow the relationships and side plots. I really liked the relationships between Addie and her close friends, and Addie and her boyfriend. 

The solution to the mystery seemed a bit out of left field-there didn't really seem to be any way a reader could have figured it out from the previous pages. But the characters were well-done, and I loved that the mystery centered around books, especially an Agatha Christie.