The Perfect Girlfriend

Analysis:  The story of a woman who goes to extreme lengths to get back the relationship that she's lost.  

Reaction:  Somebody needs to tell this girl when enough is enough.  She keeps pushing and pushing and you're thinking "would you just stop already".  But, I suppose we would all go to extreme lengths for the person we love.  The problem it takes two and if the other person doesn't do it too, it's like beating your head against a brick wall.  On the plus side, the background of this story is the airline industry, which the author has a background in and she does a very nice job of taking the reader behind the curtain to see behind the scenes without dumbing it down so much that you feel like an idiot.  As Hemingway once said, write about what you know about, and in this case Karen Hamilton, certainly does.

Courtesies:  Thank you to the author, Karen Hamilton, and the publisher, Graydon House, for the chance to read and review this book.  It was very enjoyable.

Sets Sail: March 26, 2019 (Still trying to play catch up but this one has only been out a couple weeks so get it if you see it .)

Beautiful Bad

(A note:  I am seriously behind on my ARCs and am trying to rectify that.  Some of the books posted might already be out)

Analysis:  How far would you go to save the one you love most in this world?  Would you even recognize the person you would have to become if you looked in the mirror?

Reaction:  One of the things that makes a good enjoyable book (at least to me) is if you can relate to it.  Yep, been there.  Oh, I've done that.  etc.  So, full disclosure, I have  a brain injury (as I mention in my About Me, so no need to rehash it. ) So it's interesting to see the similarities and differences, since symptoms vary from case to case.  Yep, got that.  No, don't do that.  I don't THINK I've plotted anybody's demise today =P

Courtesies: Thank you to the author, Annie Ward, and the publisher, Harlequin-Trade Publishing, for the opportunity to review this wonderful book.  It is a fascinating tale for anyone who loves a good puzzle.

Sets Sail:  March 5, 2019...aka this is one of the ones that's already out.  HIGHLY worth the money so get your copy today. 

Out Of The Dark

Analysis:  The newest, and thus most recent, edition to the Orphan X series.  Evan has to handle two missions at once, one personal and one professional, on opposite sides of the country.  Can he do them both justice or will he neglect one in favor of the other?  Will he succeed at them both?  The consequences for letting either slip are dire and far reaching.

Reaction:  You know that feeling when you've just spent time with someone and it's time to say goodbye, and you don't know when you're going to see them again?  Yeah, that.  I knew going into it that this was the newest book in the series, so maybe I'm guilty of trying to make it last.  But, as I'm going through it I'm thinking to myself "something is missing" and then it dawned on me it was a character from the last book, that I absolutely love.  Then, as soon as I thought that, she appeared and it got a lot better for me.  Not that it was bad before, it wasn't.  It was just that feeling of something, or in this case someone, was missing.  Fans of the series will know who I'm talking about.  No spoilers. =P

Courtesies: Thank you to the author, Gregg Hurwitz, and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for the opportunity to read and review this.  As always with his work, it was a pleasure.

Sets Sail:  January 29, 2019...so it's out this week.  Get your copy as soon as you can :)

An Anonymous Girl

*First off, an apology.  I honestly thought I'd done this one, but it slipped through the cracks.  For those who know me, life has been a little hectic lately.  Not that that's an excuse.  I try to review every ARC I read.  It's only fair since that's what they're there for.  Just letting you know what happened and why.  Again, my apologies.*

Analysis:  What would you do to get ahead? In the case of Jessica Farris, it is steal the spot of another person in an anonymous study to try and make a quick buck.  However, things quickly spiral out of control (getting more and more complicated as the book goes along) to the point that she is regretting her decision and trying to find a way out of the study entirely.

Reaction:  When I saw this was by the same authors as The Wife Between Us, I jumped at the chance to read this early because I've heard really good things about that book.  If this is any indication of what to expect, I will read it but I won't go out of my way to find a copy.  The story was good, it just got a little complicated as it went along.  Too many knots in the thread for me.  

Courtesies:  Thank you to the authors, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for making this available to read.

Sets Sail:  January 8, 2019

Her Last Move

Analysis:  This is the story of Joe, a "super recognizer",basically a photographic memory for faces.  If he's seen them, he can recall when and where, which makes it really helpful in remembering the bad guys, and Becca, an over worked London detective, who has a special needs daughter at home.  She's trying to balance work and home and failing miserably at both.  Together, they are on the hunt for a serial killer, trying to stop him before he strikes again.

Reaction:  First thought, "John Marrs? Why does that name sound familiar to me?". So I went back and looked at older entries and saw they I had reviewed one of his books before.  While I didn't like this one as much as I did that one, I can honestly say his books stick with you.  I could be at the grocery store and I'm suddenly thinking "I wonder what's going on with Joe and Becca".  I did not see the end coming at all, which is nice, as long as it makes sense.  You don't want something that comes completely out of left field.

Courtesies:  Thank you to John Marrs (quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I don't suspect I'll draw a blank next time I see his name on a book) and Thomas & Mercer, for making this ARC available to read.

Sets Sail:  November 8, 2018...so it's out.  Get your copy today whoever you do that.

When The Lights Go Out

Analysis: A book split into two stories, one about a woman's obsession to have a baby, to the point that it trumps everything else in her life, and the other about a girl on a quest to find out where she comes from, while battling insomnia and trying to determine what's real and what's not.  

Reaction:  Um, it was okay.  I picked this up because of the author.  I pretty much love everything she does.  Unfortunately, this was the exception.  I didn't hate it.  My bar for her is just so high, she didn't meet it this time.  One story was infinitely better than the other to me, as I just couldn't relate to the NEED to have a baby.  In that regard, I'm sure I wasn't the target audience.  Mary Kubica is REALLY good so the parts of this that were enjoyable were extremely much so.  I just groaned when it switched to the other story.  Could have done without that.

Courtesies:  Thank you to the author, Mary Kubica, and the publisher, Harlequin - Hanover Square Press, for making this available to read ahead of its debut on shelves.

Sets Sail:  September 4th, 2018 so it just came out the other day so rush out and get your copy today.  Just walk, don't run.  That's how people get hurt.  Better yet, order it online, then you don't have to go anywhere or get dressed.

Sold On A Monday

Analysis: A reporter has to undo what he did after faking a picture of two kids for sale that winds up getting them sold, and separated. He has to track down where they've and get them back.

Reaction:  Um, it was okay.  I liked it but I didn't feel any urge to rush to read it.  As it was, I barely finished it in the time I had to review it.  However, I did finish it and kept reading it, just not very quickly.  The story was good, not great.  

Courtesies:  Thank you to the author, Kristina McMorris, and the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for making this available to read and review, ahead of its release.

Sets Sail:  August 28, 2018