Book Review: The Immortal Mansion by Taneshia Jayne Wilson

Thank you to the author Taneshia Jayne Wilson for contacting me with a free copy of this book to read and review.

The Immortal Mansion follows the life of Isabelle Cross. All her life she feels like something is missing but she cannot figure out what that something is. Until she meets some people and moves into a place called The Immortal Mansion. She slowly learns that the people living there with her know her from before but why can’t she remember them? She has never met any of them before, has she?

Without giving too much away this book is a must read. It was a pleasure to read from beginning to end and I hope there is another book in the future in this series. As you read this book and the story unfolds and questions are answered, it leaves you wanting to read more. The ending was great and you learn so much about all of the different character you can’t help but fall in love with all of them.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

 

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Book Review: Death and Taxes: Tales of a Badass IRS Agent by Mark Zaslove

Thank you to Aperient Press and Jane Wesman Public Relations for the free copy of this book to read and review.

This book follows the work and personal life of the main character Mark Douglas, an ex-marine and now IRS Agent. Along with his IRS gang, they go out to collect back taxes in many forms, from cash, trade, etc. One day Mark’s good friend Lila, who is also his boss, ends up murdered and Mark and his IRS team is determined to find out what exactly happened.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The main character Mark is a true badass IRS Agent. I loved his up front, blunt and tell it how it is attitude and outlook on everything. I enjoyed reading about his character and learning about his past, to get an understanding of what made him into the man and IRS Agent that he is today.

This book is full of many likable characters, and I enjoyed reading and learning about all of them. This book was hard to put down once I started reading and I found myself hooked from the very first page. The book is very well written in a way that draws you in and keeps your attention the whole way through and leads you wanting to continue reading to find out what happens next.

The book draws you in form the very beginning and I loved all the shocking twists and suspenseful turns in the story.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Blog Blast: The Lost Sister by Tracy Buchanan Publication Day July 20th, 2018 @bookouture @TracyBuchanan

This was the first book I have read by Tracy Buchanan but after reading the description of the book I couldn’t wait to read it. When I got the chance to take part in a Book Blast for this book I was thrilled.

This book is written in alternating points of view. Parts are written from the point of view of Selma the mother and parts are written from the point of view of Becky the daughter. When Becky was just a young girl her mother met another man and decided to leave the family home, leaving Becky and her husband to move into a cave with this new man and several other people. Becky was devastated and hasn’t forgiven her mother for her choices. What kind of mother just up and abandons their family and their child? Especially to live in a cave?

As Becky reunites with her mother many years later her mother reveals a major secret to Becky. A big secret she has kept quiet for years.

I was hooked on this book from the very beginning. It was very well written in a way that keeps the interest of the reader and leaves you wanting read more to see what happens next. The pages were turning themselves and it was so hard to put down.

I enjoyed reading about the main characters and you cant help but empathize with the main character and mother in the book. At times I found myself confused and angry with her for her choices and her actions but as you read more you get a sense and understanding of why she made the choices she did and get to understand her a bit more.

The book has a lot of shocking twists and turns with a big oh my shocker moment near the end that will catch you by surprise.

I loved this book and it was a great read. The pace was steady going and I didn’t find any slow parts in the book which I love. Once you begin reading you are hooked as you want to know what will happen next.

If you haven’t read this book yet be sure to check it out. It is a fabulous read that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat the whole way through.

Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Tracy Buchanan for the free ARC of this book to read and review. It was a pleasure to take part in the blog blast.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Book Review: Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear

Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for the free eARC copy of this book to read. This was my first book I have read by this author and it was quite enjoyable.

This book is about two women who wind up missing at different times. The main character in the book believes her father had something to do with it, as he had previously lied about knowing one of the women and was around the bar area she was in when she was found.

If you like police type suspense books then this is a great read. I initially thought this book was a psychological thriller but it was more of a police procedural type of book. The pace of the book I found was slow, and it took some time for me to get into it, but as the story continued on it all came together quite nicely.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5

Book Review: Under a Dark Sky by Lori Rader-Day

Thank you to Edelweiss, William Morrow Books and Harper Collins for the free ARC of this book to read and review.

This book follows the story of Eden Wallace who lost her husband. Since her husband passed away, Eden finds she is not the same person that she once used to be and is a shadow of her former self. She is afraid of the dark and has trouble sleeping, and even has nightmares. She finds some papers indicating that her husband had planned a trip away for their anniversary before his death, and Eden decides to take the trip anyways even though her husband is no longer there to go along with her.

When Eden arrives at the retreat house she finds out she is not alone. The place has also been rented out to a group of six friends all in their 20s and Eden is not happy with this. She thought she would have the week to herself to reflect and face her fears of the dark. She decided to stay the one night after a long drive, then head home in the morning. After she has gone to bed for the night everyone in the house is awoken by a scream in the house. Confused and afraid, they all look around the house trying to find the source of the scream, only to find one of the six friends dead on the floor – everyone, including Eden, is now a suspect.

This book was a great read. I enjoyed the different characters in the book and reading about them and what makes them who they are. A group of friends who argue and share secrets and lies. So thrilling. I enjoyed the character building of each character in the book and the “who done it” that kept you guessing and second guessing.

The book was written in a way to keep you the reader interested in finding out what would happen next. The pages turned themselves, and it was hard to out down. This was my first book I read by this author and it was a great read from beginning to end.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

 

Book Review: Foe by Iain Reid

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the free ARC copy of this book! It was such a pleasure to read and review.

Mysterious, puzzling, chilling. Three words to describe this book. This book follows married couple Junior and Hen. They are a quiet married couple that live on a farm in a small town. They live an isolated life, where it is often just the two of them. They don’t visit others, others don’t visit them. They live a pretty secluded and isolated life often in close quarters to one another. They do everything together. Just the two of them. That is until one day a mysterious car with strange green headlights pulls up slowly into their driveway. Knowing they were not expecting anyone, as they never are, they are puzzled to who this person could be and what they could possibly want. And what is up with those strange green headlights anyways!?

Slowly a man exits the car, wearing a suit, and knocks on their front door. Upon answering it, the man introduces himself as Terrance. He states that Junior has been randomly accepted to travel far away from the farm and tells them that arrangements have already been made for Junior to make the move and go on this mysterious journey.

The couple invite Terrance into their home so he can explain more about what is going on. They have a lot of questions about what is going on and what purpose Junior being selected has on the whole process. As you read on, it gets stranger and stranger. Terrance creeped me out in this book. I was unsure what to think of him.

This book was a very great book. It was well written and I found myself turning the pages into the late hours of the night to try to uncover the mystery of what exactly was going on. Just when I thought I had it figured out it turns out I was wrong. It was written in a way that had me asking lots of questions, but slowly those questions are answered as you read on in the book.

I loved learning about Junior and Hen’s marriage and what works for them and what doesn’t. Secrets and mysteries are revealed. At there are a few surprised and reveals near the end and wow. What an ending it was! I definitely didn’t expect that! I loved it! Very well written and such a fabulous ending!

If you haven’t read this book yet be sure to get it. It’s a fabulous read that will have you guessing and wondering the whole way through!

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Book Review: The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the free ARC copy of this book!

This was my very first book I have read by Ruth Ware. I have heard many wonderful things about books written by this author and I was over the moon when I received this book in the mail to read and review. I couldn’t wait to read this book, especially after reading so many wonderful and fabulous reviews from other book bloggers and reviewers online. I couldn’t wait to dive right in.

This book is about a young woman named Hal. Hal was raised by a single mother who had passed away due to a car accident a few years ago. Living on her own, Hal follows in her mother’s footsteps and reads tarot cards to make a living and pay her rent, bills, etc. One evening after arriving home from work Hal finds a letter addressed to her. Upon opening the letter, she finds out that a woman named Mrs Westaway has passed away and the letter declares that Hal is to receive a substantial inheritance. But who is Mrs Westaway? The letter states that Hal is Mrs Westaway’s granddaughter, but that isn’t right.

Hal quickly realizes that the letter was obviously intended for someone else. Hal doesn’t know what she should do. Should she use her skills as a tarot card reader to pretend to be the person the letter is intended for and attend Mrs Westaway’s funeral and hope no one questions her presence there? Maybe she can get away with gaining this inheritance. It will, after all, help pay off her debts including her bills and her rent that she is falling so desperately behind on.

Hal decides to attend the funeral and tries to obtain the inheritance. Many startling secrets are revealed and the Westaway family seem to be hiding something…but what!? It is clear there is something very wrong and off with this family and the inheritance. Hal is determined to figure it all out.

I love LOVED this book. It was very well written and I was hooked from the very first chapter. It was written in past and present, mostly focusing on Hal in the present, but we read diary entries from the past. But who has written these diary entries. As you read on the story unfolds and all the secrets and mysteries are revealed.

I loved the style of writing in this book. Ruth Ware pulls the audience in and captivates their interest, making you continue turning pages to find out what would happen next. So many lies and betrayal, and the Westaway family, wow, so many secrets there. Without saying too much this book was a wonderful read. I was sad when it was over as I could have read on and on, I didn’t want it to end. I enjoyed it that much!

You learn so much from all the characters in this book. You can’t help but to feel connected with them and learn about who they are as a person, how they think and why they act the way that they do. You learn how they were raised and how that shapes them into the adult they are today. I loved the character building in the book and how we learned about their pasts.

If you haven’t read any of Ruth Ware’s books yet be sure to check her out And if you haven’t read this book yet be sure to add it to your TBR list. It is so good!

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Book Review: Sanctuary by Caryn Lix

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the free ARC copy of this book! I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book that I couldn’t wait to begin reading it.

This book was awesome. It pulled me in from the very beginning and kept my interest piqued throughout the entire book. I read through it in just over a day, and would have read it in one sitting if I didn’t have a few things going on. Seriously get this book, it was amazing! I loved it and devoured it, and I found that the pages were turning themselves.

This book follows the main character, Kenzie, a prison guard in training aboard the Sanctuary – a prison in space that houses super-powered and dangerous teenage criminals. Kenzie lives aboard this space prison, with her mom and dad and other prison workers, and it is up to them to make sure the prisoners do not escape and to protect people on earth from the dangerous prisoners.

On the Sanctuary there are 5 prison levels, that houses the criminals on each level. One day the Sanctuary is attacked by mysterious creatures, and Kenzie becomes trapped on one of the prison’s main floors that houses the criminals. The criminals somehow manage to escape their cells and hold Kenzie hostage. She is terrified. Surely her Commanding Officer, which also is her mother, will come to her rescue? However, Kenzie soon learns that her mother will stop at nothing to follow policy of the Sanctuary, and that is to protect earth at all costs, even if it means sacrificing her own daughter!

What are these mysterious creatures that have attacked the Sanctuary and what is it that they want? What will the dangerous, super-powered criminals do with Kenzie now that they have her as a hostage? Will Kenzie escape?

Without giving too much away this book was amazing. I enjoyed reading this and it was a pleasure to connect with the main characters in the story.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Book Review: The Boy at the Door by Alex Dahl

Thank you to Head Of Zeus and NetGalley for the free ARC copy of this book! I was so excited to read this book after reading the description and was thrilled to begin.

The words to describe this book – thrilling, chilling, and lies! And that cover!? Oh my gosh, it gives me chills. I loved this book from beginning to end. It was very well written and I loved it from the beginning. I was hooked from the start and it kept my interest throughout the entire book, as I read more and more to see what would happen next. There wasn’t a dull moment at all in this book and I loved that.  There are so many shocking revelations, twists and turns, betrayal and lies.

This book follows the story of the Wilborg family – Cecilia, her husband  and their two daughters. Cecilia has it all – a loving and devoted husband who is very successful at his job and makes a lot of money, two beautiful daughters, and a lovely big home. To everyone in their community, Cecilia has a perfect life. Cecilia works very hard to keep up that image.

One day while Cecilia is leaving the community pool with her daughters, one of the workers at the pool asks if Cecilia will take a little boy with her and drop him off at his home. It appears the little boy was dropped off at the pool and someone hadn’t yet shown up to pick him up and the pool was closing. Cecilia wasn’t happy with this, but decided to take the boy with them, and took him to the address given to her to where the boy lived. When they arrive at the house, it appears to be abandoned. Cecilia asks the little boy if this is the correct address and the boy is adamant that it is. Cecilia and the boy enter the home (the door is unlocked) only to find it empty and barren. The boy couldn’t possibly live here?!?

The boy doesn’t say a lot, mostly nodding and shaking his head in answer to many questions. He does speak randomly, but getting him to talk is rare. Not wanting to leave the child alone in what appears to be an abandoned and run down house all alone, she is not sure what to do with the boy. With no other choice, Cecilia takes him back to her place until she can find out who the child belongs to and how to get in touch with them.

Cecilia is confused. Why would someone drop the young boy off at the pool and then not return for him? What was she going to do with the boy? He couldn’t possibly live with her and her family in her house?

Without giving too much away this book was seriously amazing! I loved it from beginning to end. Great for fans of any type of thriller books. Read this one, you won’t be disappointed!

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Book Review: Times Square – a novella by Rich Walls

This book was a quick and fun read. It is a heart-warming story of love and follows the main character Angie throughout the city of New York as she is sent on a scavenger hunt by a past love. Which past love is sending her on this journey of love? She will have to get to the end of the scavenger hunt to find out.

Angie receives a letter which starts her on her scavenger hunt journey. Each place she goes she gets a new clue to where she has to go next. We learn about some of her past loves and her present love. I loved reading about the journey she was on as she is taken throughout many parts of New York.

This book was cleverly written, and keeps your interest throughout. A great story of love.

I especially loved the ending, when you find out who was sending her on this journey. What a terrific story of love, both past and present.

Thank you to the author Rich Walls for sending me the free copy of this book. It was a pleasure to read.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐