Book Review: The Perfect Liar by Thomas Christopher Greene @StMartinsPress #ThePerfectLiar #partner #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger

PUBLISHER: St. Martin’s Press

PUBLICATION DATE: January 15th, 2019

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Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for gifting me a beautiful paperback copy of this book to read and share my review. All opinions are my own and are in no way influenced.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Susannah, a young widow and single mother, has remarried well: to Max, a charismatic artist and popular speaker whose career took her and her fifteen-year-old son out of New York City and to a quiet Vermont university town. Strong-willed and attractive, Susannah expects that her life is perfectly in place again. Then one quiet morning she finds a note on her door: I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. 

Max dismisses the note as a prank. But days after a neighborhood couple comes to dinner, the husband mysteriously dies in a tragic accident while on a run with Max. Soon thereafter, a second note appears on their door: DID YOU GET AWAY WITH IT?

Both Susannah and Max are keeping secrets from the world and from each other —secrets that could destroy their family and everything they have built. The Perfect Liar is a thrilling novel told through the alternating perspectives of Susannah and Max with a shocking climax that no one will expect.

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MY REVIEW:

The Perfect Liar had me hooked from the very beginning. This thriller was right up my alley. Who doesn’t love a good suspenseful, domestic drama filled with lies, deceit, betrayal and secrets? I know I do!!

I enjoyed reading this book from alternating perspectives of both Susannah and Max. As it turns out, neither of them were completely honest with not only themselves but with one another. They hid secrets, and betrayed not only each other but everyone else around them. They both had something to lose if others found out their secrets, and both came from a dark past. 

Max was an interesting character and as the story is told from his perspective we learn that he had gone through a lot. He makes his fair share of mistakes, has a lot of secrets from his dark past as well as the present, and is clearly a troubled man. he can be dark, mysterious and frightening. However, he presents as very friendly, charismatic, charming and successful. Everyone seems to adore him.

Susannah seems like a loving and doting wife to Max and mother to her teenage son. She will do anything for those she loves, and has a kind heart and is friendly with everyone she meets. However, she too has her own secrets and has a troubled past.

Both characters were complex and interesting to read about.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. If you love a good thriller then look no further than this book! With a gripping and addictive storyline, and a shocking ending that will rock you, this book was a fantastic read! 

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MY RATING: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Forget You Know Me by Jessica Strawser @StMartinsPress #ForgetYouKnowMe #partner #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger

PUBLISHER: St. Martin’s Press

PUBLICATION DATE: February 5th, 2019

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Thank you to St. Martin’s press for gifting me a copy of this book to read and share my review. All opinions are me own and are in no way influenced.

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ABOUT THE BOOK: 

When a video call between friends captures a shocking incident no one was supposed to see, the secrets it exposes threaten to change their lives forever.

Molly and Liza have always been enviably close. Even after Molly married Daniel, the couple considered Liza an honorary family member. But after Liza moved away, things grew more strained than anyone wanted to admit—in the friendship and the marriage.

When Daniel goes away on business, Molly and Liza plan to reconnect with a nice long video chat after the kids are in bed. But then Molly leaves the room to check on a crying child.

What Liza sees next will change everything.

Only one thing is certain: Molly needs her. Liza drives all night to be at Molly’s side—but when she arrives, the reception is icy, leaving Liza baffled and hurt. She knows there’s no denying what she saw.

Or is there?

In disbelief that their friendship could really be over, Liza is unaware she’s about to have a near miss of her own.

And Molly, refusing to deal with what’s happened, won’t turn to Daniel, either.

But none of them can go on pretending. Not after this.

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MY REVIEW:

This book was interesting from the start and had me hooked at the beginning. A video chat between two long time friends, Molly and Liza, who have grown apart over the years in an attempt to catch up. During the video chat Molly leaves to go check on one of her children, and while she is gone her friend Liza sees something shocking on the video screen – a masked person comes on the screen, and suddenly their connection is ended. Confused and worried about her friend, Liza tries calling Molly, and then when she finally is able to reach her Molly acts as if everything is fine and seems upset and angry with her friend Liza. What is going on? 

I went into the book thinking it was more of a thriller type book, but I would categorize it as more of a women’s fiction type novel. This story focuses on friendships and relationships, and how they can change and evolve over time. The story focuses on the friendship of Liza and Molly and how it has shifted over time. Also, the marriage and relationship between Molly and her husband Daniel.

There are so many secrets, lies and betrayal that will keep you interested in the story and wanting to know more and see what happens next. I was curious to find out who the masked person in the video chat was and why they were in Molly’s house in the first place.

Overall, an interesting read.

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MY RATING: 3/5 stars

Book Review: Freefall by Jessica Barry @jessbarryauthor @HarperCollinsCa @HarperCollins #Freefall #partner #bookblogger #bookblog #bookreviewer #bookreview

PUBLISHER: Harper Collins

PUBLICATION DATE: January 8th, 2019

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Thank you to the Publisher, Harper Collins Canada, for gifting me a paperback ARC copy of this book to read and share my review. All opinions are my own and are in no way influenced.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A propulsive debut novel with the intensity of Luckiest Girl Alive and Before the Fall, about a young woman determined to survive and a mother determined to find her.

When your life is a lie, the truth can kill you

When her fiancé’s private plane crashes in the Colorado Rockies, Allison Carpenter miraculously survives. But the fight for her life is just beginning. For years, 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?

Told from the perspectives of a mother and daughter separated by distance but united by an unbreakable bond, Freefall is a riveting debut novel about two tenacious women overcoming unimaginable obstacles to protect themselves and those they love.

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MY REVIEW:

This book! Wow! I was sucked into the addictive plot right from the very beginning. A plane crash where there is one sole survivor – Allison Carpenter. Stranded in the middle of nowhere, and injured from the plane crash, Allison is determined to survive and make it out alive. She has to survive and find help, but where is she to go for help? Is she presumed dead? Are others out looking for her? And if so, will the wrong people who wish her harm find her first?

I was immersed in the story line of this book the entire way through to the end. Who are the people that wish to harm Allison, and why would they want to hurt her? Who exactly is she afraid of? What are the circumstances surrounding why her and her mother haven’t talked to one another for the past couple of years?

I loved the fast-paced action in this book, that had me literally flipping through the pages to see what would unfold in the story next. I enjoyed reading about the complex characters of both Allison and her fiance Ben, who were both hiding their fair share of secrets not only from others but from each other as well.

I also enjoyed the story being told from alternating perspectives, from Allison as well as her mother.

Will Allison be able to find help and be rescued before it is too late?

All the stars for this addictive read! On sale now!

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MY RATING: 5/5 stars

Book Review: Links by Lisa Becker @lisawbecker #Links #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger

PUBLISHER: Becker Press

PUBLICATION DATE: August 1st, 2017

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Thank you to the author Lisa Becker for gifting me a paperback copy of this book to read and share my review. All opinions are my own and are in no way influenced.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

In high school, Charlotte Windham went through a typical ugly duckling phase – glasses and all, while harboring a crush on Garrett Stephens, the school’s athletic heartthrob. 

Fifteen years later, Charlotte and Garrett have a chance encounter at a Los Angeles restaurant. However, this time around, Charlotte has leveled the playing field. She’s a bestselling novelist and no longer “Glasses,” the humiliating nickname Garrett gave her. She’s a catch and, thanks to corrective eye surgery, it’s not just her eyes that see better…so does her heart! 

Garrett hasn’t fared poorly either, transforming from teen heartbreaker to adult lothario and is now a successful professional golfer suffering from a possible career-ending injury. 

Can Charlotte forgive Garrett for his past ways, and more recent Don Juan lifestyle? Will she even want to? And, can Garrett change his ways for a second chance with Charlotte, who may just be perfect for him?

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MY REVIEW:

This novel was a beautiful love story as it follows Charlotte and Garrett. Years ago Charlotte used to be Garrett’s tutor in his home, and she had a huge crush on him. He didn’t give her the time of day, oblivious to her feelings. Fast forward several years later and their chance encounter in a restaurant. They are now adults, all grown up, and happen to run into one another. Charlotte is nothing like she looked like before.

This story is told in alternating points of view, parts by Charlotte and parts by Garrett. I loved how we got to get a glimpse into how Garrett viewed things and I loved reading from his point of view, as we were able to understand his feelings and his thoughts.

After all this time we learn that Garrett is now attracted to Charlotte. She is successful, beautiful, witty and has a sense of humour that Garrett just loves. But will Charlotte give him the time of day, especially after the ridicule and heartache he caused her all those years ago? Will she be able to let him into her life as more than just a friend, and give a relationship a try?

A fantastic story that I devoured in one day. I enjoyed watching their story unfold, and watching them develop as people. A truly heartwarming story of friendship, love, and forgiveness.

A must read to add to your collection!

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MY RATING: 5/5 stars

Book Review: Clutch by Lisa Becker @lisawbecker #Clutch #bookreview #bookblog #bookblogger #bookreviewer

PUBLISHER: Becker Press

PUBLICATION DATE: August 2018

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Thank you to the author Lisa Becker for gifting me a beautiful paperback copy of the novel Clutch to read and share my review with others. All opinions are my own and are in no way influenced.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Clutch: a novel is the laugh-out-loud, chick lit romance chronicling the dating misadventures of Caroline Johnson, a single purse designer who compares her unsuccessful romantic relationships to styles of handbags – the “Hobo” starving artist, the “Diaper Bag” single dad, the “Briefcase” intense businessman, etc. With her best friend, bar owner Mike by her side, the overly-accommodating Caroline drinks a lot of Chardonnay, puts her heart on the line, endures her share of unworthy suitors and finds the courage to discover the “Clutch” or someone she wants to hold onto.

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MY REVIEW:

This book had me literally laughing out loud as I read along and flipped through the pages. A witty, light read that will have you in stitches, and laughing so hard that you cry and you read the trials and tribulations of Caroline Johnson’s love life and her dating experiences.

Caroline describes each of the men she goes on a date with and describes each as a type of handbag. I thought this idea was brilliant to the story and was such an interesting concept and I absolutely loved it….

There is the Hobo – a starving artist with no real job, no money, and no place to call his own, the Messenger – a man who frequently would quote the bible in his daily life, the Diaper Bag – a single dad, the Cosmetic Bag – a man who would dress us in drag for a local club and perform, and much more. That is, until she meets the man who is the Clutch – the man who is worth holding onto and never letting him go.

I loved reading about Caroline’s dating adventures and found it comical the way she would describe her dates as different types of purses. Caroline was a fun, witty character that was a joy to read about. I also enjoyed reading about her friend Mike and their friendship was like no other. He was her confidante, her best friend, and I loved Mike’s sarcasm, sense of humour and the way he would tease and get Caroline going. Such a cute, refreshing story that was a pleasure to read.

I highly recommend this book and loved it from beginning to end. Be sure to check out this book for a fabulous read!

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MY RATING: 5/5 stars

Book Review: Beautiful Bad by Annie Ward @_Annie_Ward @HarperCollinsCa @HarperCollins #BeautifulBad #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger

PUBLISHER: Park Row

PUBLICATION DATE: March 5th, 2019

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Thank you to the publisher, Park Row and Harper Collins Canada, for sending me a beautiful paperback ARC copy of this book to read and review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Things that make me scared: When Charlie cries. Hospitals and lakes. When Ian drinks vodka in the basement. ISIS. When Ian gets angry… That something is really, really wrong with me.

Maddie and Ian’s romance began with a chance encounter at a party overseas; he was serving in the British army and she was a travel writer visiting her best friend, Jo. Now almost two decades later, married with a beautiful son, Charlie, they are living the perfect suburban life in Middle America. But when a camping accident leaves Maddie badly scarred, she begins attending writing therapy, where she gradually reveals her fears about Ian’s PTSD; her concerns for the safety of their young son, Charlie; and the couple’s tangled and tumultuous past with Jo.

From the Balkans to England, Iraq to Manhattan, and finally to an ordinary family home in Kansas, sixteen years of love and fear, adventure and suspicion culminate in The Day of the Killing, when a frantic 911 call summons the police to the scene of a shocking crime.

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MY REVIEW:

This book is told from alternating timelines and alternating point of views. The story starts off from the POV of Maddie. She is married to Ian and it is clear they have their issues in their marriage. What exactly is going on? Who is to blame? Maddie thinks she may need therapy and slowly everything is revealed as we continue reading.

The story then jumps to the day of the killing, when a frantic 911 call is placed. What happened that fateful day? Who was killed? Who is responsible? As we read more into the story we get piece by piece of what unfolded leading up to that day.

I enjoyed how this book was written from Maddie’s and Ian’s alternating point of views as it allows us to get a better understanding of each of them and see things from their perspective and through their eyes. They each tell their own story, of how they first met, began dating, later got married, and it all unfolds to the present day. I also enjoyed the alternating timelines, from the past to the present and back to the past again, and the suspense building up the the day of the killing.

The suspense keeps building up and leaves you wanting to read more and more to find out what happened and who was killed and what truly happened.

Maddie’s best friend Joanna warned Maddie years ago that Ian was bad news… did she know something that Maddie didn’t know? Was she hiding something? Ian seemed dark and mysterious, attractive, secretive and dangerous, but Maddie seemed attracted to these traits of Ian’s.

A cleverly written book that builds up the suspense and is an addictive read from beginning to end.

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MY RATING: 3/5 stars

Book Review: The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton @KJHAuthor @Wildfirebks @HarperCollinsCa #ThePerfectGirlfriend #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger #partner

PUBLISHER: Graydon House

PUBLICATION DATE: March 26th, 2019

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Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for gifting me a beautiful paperback copy of The Perfect Girlfriend to read and share my review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

YOU’VE NEVER READ A LOVE STORY AS TWISTED AS THIS.

Juliette loves Nate. She will follow him anywhere. She’s even become a flight attendant for his airline, so she can keep a closer eye on him. They are meant to be. The fact that Nate broke up with her six months ago means nothing. Because Juliette has a plan to win him back. She is the perfect girlfriend. And she’ll make sure no one stops her from getting exactly what she wants. True love hurts, but Juliette knows it’s worth all the pain…

Juliette has everything going for her: she’s young, pretty, and driven, and she’s training for an exciting new career as a flight attendant.

The darkness in her past doesn’t matter, because she’s moved beyond all that, and she’s building a great new life for herself-one that will impress her ex-boyfriend, Nate, who left her in a foolish moment of commitment-phobia, one that he surely regrets now. But he’ll be so proud of her once he sees how much she’s grown. And he will see her. After all, he’s a pilot at the very same airline where Juliette is training.

What kind of man wouldn’t appreciate the effort Juliette has taken to win Nate back? She cleans his apartment when he’s not there, and makes sure to leave all his favorite foods in the fridge. It’s only a matter of time before he leaves his airheaded new girlfriend and realizes Juliette is the only one for him.

He will realize it. Juliette will make sure of it. After all, she is the perfect girlfriend.

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MY REVIEW:

Shocking, twisted and addicting! This book sucked me in from the very beginning and demanded my interest the entire way through to the shocking ending. I loved how fast paced this book was and I found myself so immersed in the story and with how crazy Juliette was, I wanted to read more to see what crazy thing she would do next.

Juliette was clearly obsessed with her ex Nate. She goes through great lengths to keep tabs on his daily life and to try to keep him in her life. She would do anything for him, and cannot understand what guy wouldn’t love that and want to be with a girl who puts them first, before everything. Determined to show Nate just how much she loves and adores him, Juliette is on a mission to win him back.

Juliette is a flawed character with so much going on. She is delusional, secretive, vindictive, and sneaky, which makes for a fabulous addictive read that will have you flipping through the pages until the very end. Will Nate realize just how much Juliette loves him and take her back?

A must read if you love thrillers. This book will not disappoint!

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MY RATING: 4/5 stars

Book Review: No Exit by Taylor Adams @WmMorrowBooks @Tadamsauthor @HarperCollinsCa #NoExit #bookblog #bookblogger #bookreview #bookreviewer #partner

PUBLISHER: William Morrow

PUBLICATION DATE: January 15th, 2019

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Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for gifting me a paperback copy of No Exit to read and share my review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK: 

A kidnapped little girl locked in a stranger’s van. No help for miles. What would you do?

On her way to Utah to see her dying mother, college student Darby Thorne gets caught in a fierce blizzard in the mountains of Colorado. With the roads impassable, she’s forced to wait out the storm at a remote highway rest stop. Inside, are some vending machines, a coffee maker, and four complete strangers.

Desperate to find a signal to call home, Darby goes back out into the storm . . . and makes a horrifying discovery. In the back of the van parked next to her car, a little girl is locked in an animal crate.

Who is the child? Why has she been taken? And how can Darby save her?

There is no cell phone reception, no telephone, and no way out. One of her fellow travelers is a kidnapper. But which one?

Trapped in an increasingly dangerous situation, with a child’s life and her own on the line, Darby must find a way to break the girl out of the van and escape.

But who can she trust?

With exquisitely controlled pacing, Taylor Adams diabolically ratchets up the tension with every page. Full of terrifying twists and hairpin turns, No Exit will have you on the edge of your seat and leave you breathless.

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MY REVIEW:

No Exit had me hooked from the very beginning. A child kidnapped and found on the back of a van in the middle of a snow storm. Several random strangers stuck in a building together due to the raging blizzard outside. So many things could go wrong. Especially if one (or more) of those strangers inside the building are up to no good. This book was divided into different sections – Dusk, Night, Midnight, and Witching Hours.

A random set of seemingly strangers, all with different personalities, secrets, and hidden truths and agendas. What could possibly go wrong? Everyone appears to be hiding something and holding something back, and you suspect that everyone is involved.

Without giving too much away about the book, you need to check this one out. it is definitely worth the read.

An addictive, edge of your seat thriller right through to the very end, you’ll love this book! Be sure to get your copy today!

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MY RATING: 5/5 stars

Blog Tour & Book Review: The Story of My Face by Leanne Baugh @BaughLeanne @_secondstory #thestoryofmyface #bookreview #blogtour #booksonthebookshelf #bookreviewer #bookblogger

PUBLISHER: Second Story Press

PUBLICATION DATE: September 10th, 2018

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Thank you to Second Story Press for inviting me to be a part of this Blog Tour for The Story of My Face by Leanne Baugh and for gifting me a beautiful paperback copy of this book.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

After being attacked by a grizzly bear in the Rocky Mountains, seventeen-year-old Abby Hughes’ facial scars are all she can think about, and all that she thinks anyone else can see when they look at her.

It’s now September, and Abby’s months of hiding out at home are over. Returning to high school feels as daunting as enduring seven plastic surgeries. She knew it would be hard to show her new face to the world, but she didn’t expect to be rejected by her so-called friends. If she wants others to move past the surface, Abby has to learn to do that herself. Her love of acting and her return to the drama club may be the key to going on with her new life, or it may be the disaster that sends her back into her protective shell.

Reminiscent to the book and film “Wonder”, Baugh’s story is full of the relatable struggles that teenagers face in high-school.  A character portrait on the importance of self-acceptance, The Story of My Face is a timely novel in the midst of the ever-growing image driven social media landscape.

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MY REVIEW:

I loved this book. A cleverly written novel about self-love, self-acceptance, and self-growth.

I enjoyed reading about Abby’s character in the book, and she was a very likeable character. It was enjoyable reading about Abby’s path to her self discovery, as she learned to love herself and be kind to herself, despite the many obstacles she faces on a daily basis. She is ridiculed, bullied, and embarrassed upon her return to her high school after the grizzly bear attack, and those who she thought were her friends have seemingly turned their backs on her. Her character was relatable, as she is faced with the many struggles that teenagers face in today’s society.

She is faced with many trials and tribulations after the bear attack, and she has to overcome them all to make herself a stronger person. A beautiful path of self-discovery and one’s ability to dig deep within yourself to be the best that you can be.

The Story of My Face was a brilliant read from beginning to end, and I loved this book. Be sure to check this book out, I am sure you will love it as much as I did!

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MY RATING: 5/5 stars