Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter

Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Well, that was disappointing! This started off so strong. I was flying threw the beginning and was hooked. As the story continued on and jumped back in time, I started to lose interest. I kept pushing through as I still wanted to know what was going to happen. I ended up getting so bored, I skipped ahead. I had no clue what was going on and had no desire to go back where I left off. This one just did not work for me.

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Forgiveness Road by Mandy Mikulencak

Forgiveness Road by Mandy Mikulencak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story follows a family in the 70’s around an issue no family ever wants to face: sexual abuse. Your heart will break from the first few pages to the very end. This does have triggers for cutting, sexual abuse, mental health, family tensions, and more.

Your heart will literally break for Cissy and what she is going through. This is a very raw look into sexual abuse by a family member and the way it can effect a child even after that person is no longer in their life. Some of the issues Cissy faces while in treatment are so true what survivors may go through once the abuse has stopped (or is still occurring). Cissy may have been facing some demons, but she also was so strong to stick up for herself and ensure the safety of her younger siblings. You get a look into what it may be like when a family member does not believe the abuse that had occurred. I really loved the grandmother, but she was also constantly blaming the mother of Cissy. It was a really powerful story.

This is not an action packed story and is pretty slow paced. If you love reading about hard hitting issues, you will love this. If you need a little more action around this, you may want to pass on this one.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and it made me feel all the feels!


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A Gift of Jacinth by Allie McCormack: Book Tour Spotlight

The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White

The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White


This is a case of it is me, not you! I have read three historical romances over the last few weeks. I knew I needed to get to this one and get a review up as I was sent a copy from the publisher. I just could not get into it. I am not giving up on this though and will hope to pick it back up another time to see if I can get into it.

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Shifter Mate Magic by Carol Van Natta: Book Tour spotlight

Eve of Man by Giovanna Fletcher

Eve of Man by Giovanna Fletcher
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The synopsis and the beginning of this story really caught my interest. I was really into the story at the start. Then things started to go downhill.

I really do not understand this world, even after getting to the end. There is little information about what happened, the "fake world" they are in and the real world. Maybe I missed more information in the middle as I did skip ahead.

I really liked the relationship between Eve and Bram. I wanted so much more from their relationship though, as I feel we really did not get much of the two together. I know that will be coming in the series from how this one ends though.

This took so many turns with some being way to out there. It was a little too dramatic at times (like an arm just getting cut off like nothing). I just did not love it and I started to lose interest towards the middle. Things were happening, but I also felt like nothing was happening at all. I ended up having to skip several chapters to get to the end as I really did want to see how it would wrap up.

Overall, this was just not for me. I am really surprised I even finished it.

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Summer on Mirror Lake by JoAnn Ross

Summer on Mirror Lake by JoAnn Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was sent a copy of Summer on Mirror Lake as part of an Instagram/Review Tour. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

Summer on Mirror Lake is the third book in the Honeymoon Harbor series. I was lucky enough to read the second book in the series so I was interested in reading this as well to see if the story followed the same characters or not. I ended up loving this one so much more than the book two. It can be read as a standalone as well.

I read this on my way to a small town with a lake which was just fitting for this story. It really put me in the mood for this one as well. I love small town romances and this was just the perfect summer read. I loved the relationship between Gabe and Chelsea.

This does involve a story around foster care. I am pretty critical when this is within a story since I work within the field. I think JoAnn Ross did it right within this story. I really enjoyed what it brought to the story.

Overall, this was win for me.


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The Wedding Crasher by Nikki Stern

The Wedding Crasher

by Nikki Stern

on Tour June 1-30, 2019

Synopsis:

A brunette in a bridal gown turns up in Pickett County, Tennessee, throat slit and ring finger missing. She’s the latest victim of the Wedding Crasher, a serial killer who murders women just weeks before their weddings.

Samantha Tate is Picket County’s yoga-loving, poker-playing new sheriff, a former Nashville homicide detective who struggles with her inner demons. To catch the meticulous murderer, Sam will have to follow her instincts and ignore her worst impulses. Can she stop the Wedding Crasher before another bride-to-be dies?

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery
Published by: Ruthenia Press
Publication Date: May 8, 2019
Number of Pages: 340
ISBN: 978-0-9995487-3-8
Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

The dead woman lay in the clearing like a macabre version of Sleeping Beauty. She was dressed in a long-sleeved, high-necked ivory gown, set off by luminescent pearl drop earrings and a matching necklace that almost hid the dried blood around her throat. Her head rested on a satin pillow, her silky walnut hair spread behind her like a fan. The right hand held a bouquet of wilted flowers and rested on her chest underneath the left, absent the fourth finger. The ring finger.
Sheriff Sam Tate stood to one side of the grim tableau, arms folded, and took it all in: the victim; the tall white-haired man who knelt by the body; the deputy who walked the scene in throwaway boots, snapping pictures; the pale young man in running gear sitting on a rock, head almost to his knees; the uniformed officer who squatted beside him.
Sam had dressed in her standard uniform of pressed black slacks and a spotless white shirt. A shaft of early-morning sun bounced off the polished badge at her left breast pocket. On her right wrist, she wore a utilitarian watch. Three small studs twinkled along one earlobe, her single visible concession to a rebellious streak. She’d pulled her unruly dark locks into a tight braid. Ray-Bans shielded her green eyes, though not the line that formed between her brows.
One of the victim’s low-heeled white pumps had dropped off to reveal a slim ankle in hosiery. Stockings, not pantyhose, held up by an old-fashioned garter. Sam didn’t need to look.
He’s back, she thought, adding a curse for good measure.
***
Excerpt from The Wedding Crasher by Nikki Stern. Copyright 2019 by Nikki Stern. Reproduced with permission from Nikki Stern. All rights reserved.

 REVIEW:  3.5 STARS

I was sent this book to review.  My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

Have you ever picked up a book and decided you were just not in the mood for it?  It is me, not you kind of thing!  That is what happened with The Wedding Crasher.  At first I thought I was not going to be able to get into this, but I put it down for a week and when I finally picked it back up I am glad I did.

I really enjoyed this one.  I will say I am not a huge fan of detective work in stories unless it is done right.  This was done pretty well and I found myself interested in everything going on and wanting to know how everything was going to unfold.  It was not repetitive like some stories that involve police/investigations.

Like some others mentioned, I also really appreciated the pacing of this story.  I had no issue wanting to reach for it once I finally got into the story.  I liked the story and the characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and the writing.  I would love to check out more from the author in the future.    

Author Bio:

Nikki Stern is the author of the inspirational HOPE IN SMALL DOSES, a 2015 Eric Hoffer Montaigne Medal finalist, and the thriller THE FORMER ASSASSIN, a 2018 Kindle Book Review category finalist. Her essays are included in three anthologies and she co-authored the interactive Café Noir murder mystery series, published by Samuel French. Eight of her short stories have been published in various online journals and she was a Mark Twain Royal Nonesuch finalist for her short story “Long Away and Far Ago.” Nikki is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America.

Catch Up With Nikki Stern On:
nikkistern.com, Goodreads, BookBub, Twitter, & Facebook!

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways!

06/01 Review @ From the TBR Pile
06/02 Showcase @ Eclectic Moods
06/03 Review @ Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
06/03 Review @ Nesies Place
06/04 Showcase @ Celticladys Reviews
06/05 Showcase @ Books Direct
06/06 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
06/07 Showcase @ The Bookworm Lodge
06/08 Showcase @ Read and Review
06/09 Review @ EienCafe
06/10 Interview @ Books Chatter
06/11 Review @ Wall-to-wall books
06/12 Review @ Books with Bircky
06/12 Review @ Brooke’s Library
06/13 Review @ Cheryls Book Nook
06/13 Showcase @ Loris Reading Corner
06/14 Showcase @ Reading a Page Turner
06/17 Review @ Bless their hearts mom blog
06/18 Showcase @ The Pulp and Mystery Shelf
06/19 Interview @ CMash Reads
06/19 Showcase @ The Reading Frenzy
06/20 Interview @ Reading a Page Turner
06/20 Review @ Cassandra M’s Place
06/21 Review @ Buried Under Books
06/22 Review @ Jessica Rachow
06/23 Review @ Cy Wyss, Author and Artist
06/24 Review @ Simply Kelina
06/25 Review @ Quiet Fury Books
06/26 Review @ The Magic Of Wor(l)ds
06/28 Review @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
06/30 Showcase @ Teatime and Books

Enter To Win!:

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Nikki Stern. There will be 2 winners of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card each. The giveaway begins on June 1, 2019 and runs through July 2, 2019. Void where prohibited.

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A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of Kody Keplinger and turn to her when I want a cute/fun read that usually throws in some darker subjects. I started this one day and wanted to finish it the same day.

This does deal with a forbidden romance and covers issues such as social media, rape, and family relationships. I am not normally a fan of romances like this, but since they meet before they know who they will be to each other it did not bother me. I actually really liked their relationship.

Was this anything spectacular? Not really, but I enjoyed it all the same!

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The Gift: The Story of Annie Laurie by Ta`Mara Hanscom

The Gift: The Story of Annie Laurie by Ta`Mara Hanscom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have loved following the Caselli family through books one through three, so I am not really sure why I was so hesitant to pick this one up. I was hesitating for no reason as as soon as I did, I was instantly taken in to this world just as I was with the rest of the series.

This picks up right where we leave off in the previous book. I recommend starting this series from the beginning to truly love and understand all of these amazing characters. You will not regret it, as I love Tillie and Angel. The Gift was no exception! I actually can not decide if this is my favorite book in the series so far!

There is one more book in the series in which I am hoping concludes everything nicely as most of the books have left us wanting to know more (some even have cliff hanger endings).

Overall, I love being a part of the Caselli family.

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Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter

Summer by the Tides by Denise Hunter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was sent this book to review. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

It is no secret that I love Denise Hunter and I will read everything she puts out. I was very excited when I knew I was getting an ARC of her new title, Summer by the Tides. Did I like it? Yes! Was it my favorite from her? Unfortunately, no.

This is a romance, but so much more. It is a story around love, second chances, and family. There are triggers for A LOT of infidelity. I really enjoyed seeing Conner get a second chance at love. I also liked seeing the family coming back together after so many years.

The one thing I was really shocked with was how much the story skipped so many details. I just wanted more details or a more in depth look into certain topics. I feel there were so many missed opportunities to bring this story to a different emotional level. Some aspects were just thrown in without much back story. I wanted to know more about Conner and his past and his previous loss. The story around forgiveness just ends and I wanted to see more development around the healing between the sisters and the sisters and their mother.

I loved the scenes with the Grandmother and the sisters. There was so much going in within their stories, but again I wanted more out of this storyline as well. I did not feel that all of the infidelity brought anything powerful or impactful to the story. I was just underwhelmed when everything came out with the Grandmother, Mother, and sisters.

Overall, I know it may sound like I did not enjoy this, but I did. I just expected a little more from one of my favorite authors.


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The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez

The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Everyone is talking about this book so you probably already know that this story does follow a taboo topic along with fertility and female issues. I related to Kristen on so many levels. I felt her every emotion as she talked about her cycles, the pain she was in, and the heartbreak of not knowing if she would have a child one day. I have suffered with many of the same issues and I just loved reading a story that actually took that conversation a little further than any other I have read.

It did have a cute romance as well. I liked both Kristen and Josh. I loved their building relationship and the fun they had together. However; I did not think it was anything extra special compared to other romances away from the female issues being discussed. Then BAM! Something happens that I was not expecting! It all worked within the story, and I did not see it coming. Even though it was very sad and emotional, I liked what it brought to the story.

Overall, I would recommend this.


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Sadie by Courtney Summers

Sadie by Courtney Summers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another very hyped book, another one I was hesitant about trying. I have tried several Courtney Summers books previously and have never been able to get into them. I love hard hitting contemporary reads though and this one interested me especially with a full cast of narratives for the audiobook.

I really enjoyed how this one started. I did not think I would like the podcast addition to the story and thought it would be repetitive. It was not and it worked very well. I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend the audiobook as it really differentiates between the Podcast and Sadie’s sections.
This does hit on very serious issues such as drug addiction and sexual abuse. It was very sad to see how everything unfolded. I was not a huge fan of the ending, but still enjoyed the story as a whole.

Overall, I recommend this one and really enjoyed it!


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Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson

Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson


DNF

Hannah, Avery, and Dani were all different. However; it took me a while to differentiate between their stories once they actually being at West Point. That was one thing I wish was a little more distinct as I had to take a second to run through my brain on who was being discussed when talking about things.

I cannot pin point why, but I kept wanting to put this down. Then again, I wanted to know what happened. It was like I had a love/hate relationship with the story. I was loving it and not enjoying it all at the same time. I really cannot even tell you why. It was just how I was feeling as I was reading. I ended up DNF this one.



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The Risk by Elle Kennedy

The Risk by Elle Kennedy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Where I was not a huge fan of The Chase, I loved The Risk! This was definitely more true to the Off Campus series and had elements within the story which I loved in her previous books. I read this in one sitting!

Yes! Sarcasm, fake relationships, and sarcasm! You get to see the development of the relationship between Brenna and Jake. This is what I missed in the first book. I just love banter between love relationships, and both characters give us just that.

This also brings more to the story than just a romance. There are issues with family relationships, drugs, pregnancy, and friendship. It had a little bit of everything. This is more of what I expect out of Elle Kennedy and I pray book three stays on this path.

Overall, I loved this one so much!!


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Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was so hyped when it came out. I tried picking it up once and only got a few chapters in and put it down. It was not from me not enjoying it, but just was never in the mood for it. I was so excited when this came out on audiobook. I knew I needed to give it another try.

I know everyone loved this, but I was still not expecting to love this as much as I did. It has a little bit of everything within the story. The characters bring love, friendship, heartbreak, and learning lessons. It deals with anxiety and suicide. I found myself smiling and tearing up all within in a few chapters.

I was not expecting this to tackle so many intense topics. Every time I heard someone talk about this I heard about how cute of a story it was. Yes, it is a very cute story but had so much more going on for both Eliza and Wallace. My heart was breaking when you hear about Wallace and his family. Eliza is also dealing with anxiety and the pressures of making others happy, that she is struggling with how to make herself happy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it. The audiobook was great, but you will not be able to see the comics that are in the published story. It did not take anything away for my love for this though. I still recommend the audiobook.


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Darkness to Light: A Memoir by Lamar Odom

Darkness to Light: A Memoir by Lamar Odom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

I was not really sure how this would go as some memoirs are really good and some fall really flat. I am a huge NBA fan and have followed a little bit around Lamar Odom over the years. My husband also really wanted to read this, so I was excited to have a copy sent my way.

When it started I did feel the writing was a little choppy, and the story was all over the place. However; it all came together for me in the end.

You will get a lot about his NBA career and the demons he has faced since he was a little kid. I was wondering if he would be open in regards to his drug use, and he was. This was very raw and made me cry several times. He does address his overdoses (there are more than one) which also made me cry my eyes out.

I learned so much about other NBA players, coaches, teammates, and owners. My jaw dropped with some of the information. There was interesting information around how Lamar ended up in school (very interesting especially with all the college scandals going on today).

There is some information around Khloe, but I do not think this is for you if you only want to read it for the KUWTK information. It is very limited, but really shows the love Lamar had for Khloe.

Overall, I really enjoyed this.

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The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas

The Darkest Corners by Kara Thomas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 Stars

I went into this thinking it was going to keep me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Unfortunetly, that did not happen.

This was so slow. The majoirty of the story is unraveling a mystery. It was too slow paced for me as I feel nothing really happened for almost half of the story. I would say this was only a two star read for me until the last little bit of the story, where it did finally pick up.

I loved the ending as it really did pick up. However; I did not love this and almost DNF so many times. I am giving this 2.5 stars for the ending.

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