Book Review: Thin Ice by Paige Shelton Release Date 12/03/19

5 Stars for Thin Ice by Paige Shelton! This one was a nail-biter y'all. Literally, I have no nails left to paint for Thanksgiving. I finished this book at 1:30am this morning and wanted to sneak away for a few minutes and let you all know about it. I hope you each find some time to read over the holiday. I'm so thankful for this book community, full of writers, readers, and people who get me.

I read this book in 2 sittings. Not because I had the time, but because I just couldn't put it down. I made my husband drive everywhere yesterday so that I could read. Set in Alaska, this book will practically freeze you to death. The book starts out with a detailed, harrowing flight on a teeny plane and Paige Shelton works her magic. Before you know it, you're with an author, hiding from her killer in Benedict, Alaska. Benedict, Alaska may as well be called Nostoplightsville, Alaska with a population of 500 where everyone knows everyone.

Running from her kidnapper and recovering from the life-threatening escape, Beth has a hard time trusting anyone, and when a murder in the small town brings them together, Beth finds herself in the middle of it all.

I highly recommend this one. I felt like the characters were all crafted around people that we would be able to point out if we visited this fictional town in Alaska. By the time I got to 85% (thank you, Kindle) I still was wide-eyed and freezing as I tried to piece together how Paige was going to package up the ending. Beautifully written, full of winter, warmth, ice, and plenty of suspense.

Thank you to @Netgalley @stmartinspress @minotaur_books @paigebooks for this gem of a read. I was provided this book in exchange for an honest review. #5stars #finishedreading #holidayreading #thinice #suspense #booklover #sendmebooks #loveabook #readmorebooks #bookworm #bookstagram #instabook #oakcity #thanksgivingbook #bookreviewer #bookblog

Book Review: Empty Nesters by Carolyn Brown Released 7/23/19

5 Stars for Empty Nesters by Carolyn Brown! Find your big fuzzy blanket, wool socks, and quiet corner to dive into this one. This is the perfect "feel good," read as fall quickly turns to winter. This book was charming, funny, heart-wrenching, and everything you want this time of they year.

Three military wives have lived in the same neighborhood since their girls were 5. Now, following in the footsteps of their fathers, they've all signed up for the military given their mamas a lot to deal with.  The mamas will have to lean on each other and their neighborhood granny, Tootsie to get through all the feelings that come with divorce, death, second chances, and acceptance. When they all pile in Tootsie's RV, they embark on a journey full of equal parts laughter, tears, and strength. They remind us that home is what we make it, with those we love. And, that with the right friends beside us we can weather any storm life throws our way.

There was a lovely surprise at the end, one I was hoping for and the way Carolyn captures the voice of her Texas characters is charming and just right.

If you're looking for a lighthearted, warm, and feel-good book, this is it. This book was released earlier in the summer but I'm really glad that I didn't dive into it until now.

I was provided this book in exchange for an honest review by @netgalley and @carolynbrownbooks. I'll be looking for more of Carolyn's books and suggest that you do the same :) #TheEmptyNesters #netgalley #5stars #bookreview #booklover #instabook #instareader #bookstagram #bookaholic #readmorebooks #tistheseason #bookworm #oakcity #booked #montlakeromance

Book Review: Single by KL Slater Release date: 11/25/19

5 Stars for Single by KL Slater. Y'all, I was trying to figure out just how many characters were legit crazy in this one. It was a great read and I had the hardest time trying to figure out who was lying and who was telling the truth and then BAM, BAM, BAM KL Slater threw in one twist after another.

Darcy lost her kids after her husband passed away. It broke her psychologically and her in-laws obtained custody of them while she recovered and got her life back on track. Once she was able to get her two boys back, she continued to have a very close relationship with her in-laws. That is, until a handsome doctor saved one of their lives in the park. Then, things started to get very interesting and multiple threads begin to unravel, leaving the reader wondering if Darcy has been lying to herself the entire time. Is this new guy is going to save Darcy and make all of her dreams come true? Are all of the people in Darcy's life are out to get her? Is she having another psychological break?

I wasn't sure what to believe until the last 30 pages of this ride, and I was shocked that Darcy was wrong about a lot of things. But, she was also right about a lot of things, too. Do we believe what we want to believe? At what cost? Is everyone out to get Darcy? Well, I guess you'll have to read to find out.

I was provided this book in exchange for an honest book review. Thank you, @klslaterauthor @bookouture @netgalley, please keep sending me great ones like this :)

#greatread #5stars #bookreview #single #newrelease #sendmebooks #ilovereading #oakcitybooks #booknerd #readmorebooks #bookstagram #readersofinsta #followme #bibliophile #bookworm #klslaterauthor #nerdalert @apothicredblends #winealert #readanddrink

Book Review: The Perfect Widow by A.M. Castle Release Date 11/15/19

2 stars for The Perfect Widow. I was anticipating that this would be one of my favorite fall books. I hate to say, I was really disappointed. I struggled the most with the back and forth with character perspectives and the flip flop between past and present. I kept pushing through, hoping that there would be one of the characters that I would like. Unfortunately, neither one of the main characters sucked me in. I spent most of the book trying to figure out the link between the women while understanding how the additional characters contributed to the overall story.

I don't take book reviews lightly and hate giving 2 stars. But, I can't sleep tonight without being honest. I was provided this book in exchange for an honest review. And, there wasn't a cover for me to even use and make a cutesy picture!

Thank you @Netgalley and @HQpublishing. #bookblog #bookreviews @oakcitybooks #oakcitybooks #weekendisbooked #readmorebooks #nextbook #booklover #booknerd #readgoodbooks #r
eader #theperfectwidow #sendmorebooks #loveabook

Review: The RBG Way by Rebecca Gibian Release Date 11/12/19

3 Stars for The RBG Way by Rebecca Gibian. I had really high hopes for this one. I was thinking this book would be a great break from my thrillers and suspenseful fiction. I have to say, I was pretty disappointed. This book had the right idea, but became very reference-y pretty quickly.

I thought this would be less about RBG's court cases and more about her grit. Some would probably argue with me and say there was an awful lot of mention of her grit in the pages of The RBG Way but there were so many quotes and referenced texts of other recent authors, it really felt like I was reading someone's research paper on RBG.

I must say, I did highlight a few passages that I liked. However, I lost interest quickly and was more interested in seeking out the other books and articles referenced than continuing to read this one. I liked Rebecca's' tone and voice, and did like reading about RBG's relationship with her husband, Marty. I was fascinated by the part of the book that discussed their love story, trials, and triumphs. I just couldn't stay interested in the case after case after case pieces in the book that continued from beginning to end.

If someone was looking for a good book on RBG that referenced lots of others, this would be perfect. And, I guess since Rebecca couldn't interview RBG for the book, she did the best she could with the data and information she had. It was clear that she spent a lot of time digging and putting pieces together. It just wasn't for me.

I was provided this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

#Netgalley @Netgalley #Skyhorsepublishing @skyhorsepublishing @RuthBaderGinsberg #currenteventbooks #politicalbook #politics #readtolearn #bookreview #3stars #poodle #lovemypoodle #reviewer #bookblog #booksofinsta #reviewsofinsta #loveabook #sendmemorebooks

Book Review: Off the Grid by John Hunt Release Date 10/31/19

5 Stars for Off the Grid by John Hunt! I didn't quite finish this one in time for Halloween but it's a great fall read, nonetheless! The first 5 pages were nauseatingly descriptive. So much so that I was hoping the gruesome details were only at the beginning and the rest of the book would be dedicated to resolution and justice. I was immediately hooked. 

John Hunt chooses an unlikely hero in this book, a survivor. A lonely recluse who lost it all, lives "off the grid," until he can no longer sit back and pretend he wasn't forever changed the day his family died in a mall shooting. He hates all things human, all things noise, and has carved out a life for himself in the middle of nowhere. Until he steps in and saves a little girl. 

Jodi knows there's something special about Graham. People in town turn away, cannot look him in the eye, and are disturbed by his physical scars and appearance. Graham realizes that Jodi is different too. They bond over coffee, wine, and books. When Jodi is called away in an emergency and her life may be in danger, Graham cannot sit by and wait to lose the only thing that has started to matter to him. 

Three seemingly ordinary friends (two of them brothers) are caught in a string of lies, crime, and unthinkable pasts. When the truth starts to unfold, one victim at a time, Jodi and Graham get caught in the middle. And, they end up back at the mall, where Graham lost his family. 

The last quarter of this book was a race. I flew through the end, ready to see what was going to happen to Graham, Jodi, and the malicious trio. John left me guessing, holding my breath, and begging for justice. 

This book was provided to me for free, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you @blackrosewriting and @netgalley. #bookreviews #5stars #johnhunt #offthegrid #needtoread #bookblogger #5stars #suspensefulread #sendmemorebooks #readmorebooks #booknerd @oakcitybooks #oakcitybooks

*This book had more drug use and very descriptive criminal activity, a lot more than I typically like to read. I found parts of it very disturbing. However, I think that's the effect and impact that John was going for.