Review: One Little Secret by Cate Holahan Release Date 7/19/2019

One Little Secret by Cate Holahan gets 4 stars from me! If you're looking for a thriller wrapped up in a few love triangles, this is your book! 
  
A few neighbors drop their kids off at camp and rent an expensive beach house to unwind. The book is called One Little Secret but holy cow, there are more secrets than you can count by the time you get to the middle of this book. Such and such is sleeping with whatsername and marriages that look, "normal," on the outside crumble at the beach on the FIRST NIGHT! 

I would have given this book 5 stars but I struggled with remembering who was married to whom and which kids were from which couples. Additionally, the book dragged just a bit for me in the middle. A few of the parts were predictable. However, like only a seasoned writer could do, the ending was NOT predictable. 

This is the first book I've read by Cate Holahan. It looks like she has a few more interesting-looking thrillers. After reading this one I'd definitely pick up one of her other books. She knows how to appeal to strong female readers, and her characters in One Little Secret are believable, easy to relate to, and you'll feel this story could easily happen in your neighborhood. 


I was provided One Little Secret in exchange for providing honest feedback. Thank you @Netgalley and @meryl_moss. I enjoyed this one, and can still feel the spray of the ocean on that jetty where Rachel died. Well-written, hard to put down, and page after page I caught myself reading with wide eyes! #thrillerreview #bookreview #netgalley #onelittlesecret @cateholahan #sendmemorebooks #booklover #4stars #loveareviewer #justfinishedreading 

Review: Good-Time Girl by Leslie M. Rollins

Well, I haven't had one of these in a long time. And, I don't take reviewing books
lightly. I mean, I'm trusted to provide honest feedback and at the same time, I am aware that my review goes into the overall pot of reviews for an average. Which may affect the number of readers a book has. So, when I say 1 star, understand that I really could not get attached enough to suggest it to anyone. Reviewer guilt is a real thing. I know someone poured their energy for an unknown amount of time into the book, teams of people believed in this book. And, maybe, MAYBE it has an amazing ending. But, after reading 30% (thank you, Kindle), I could not carry on.

The story starts out with an attempt to hook you using a bitter, headstrong, main character. She is unhappy about a lot of things. She uses odd names for people in her life, instead of their real names and that was difficult for me. She goes to a gunshow and buys a gun, that she then also names and tucks away in her closet. She becomes infatuated with it, the thoughts of it, and speaks almost to the power that she feels it gives her. She then starts to obsess over a young college boy that moves in across the street. The writing is so all over the place at the beginning and so much of it is bouncing around from her work, then the gunshow, then her time with her therapist... I couldn't do it, y'all.

Good-Time Girl gets 1 star from me.

I was provided this book in exchange for an honest review on @Netgalley. #dud #nextbookplease #bookreview #1star #goodtimegirl #honestreview #notmycupoftea

Review: Here to Stay by Mark Edwards Release date 9/1/2019

I started off the summer with book after book from @amazonpublishing because I had free kindle unlimited for 3 months. That meant, free books but most all of them were published by amazon. Can I tell you a secret? Well, what I thought was a secret? They've all been REALLY good books. Here to Stay by Mark Edwards was no exception.

5 stars for Here to Stay. And, since the last book I read was The Testaments, also 5 stars, you'd think I'd be maxing out at 3 stars for awhile. It's a good thing I flew through this one because I have chewed all of my nails off now. (I wonder the percentage of book reviewers and bloggers that have acrylic nails vs not?)

I really fell in love with Elliot, the main character in Here to Stay. He was such a likable guy, doing all the right things in life, teaching at risk kids about science, refinished his house, GARDENING, for goodness sake! Well, I was skeptical of Gemma from the beginning. It all seemed too good to be true. And, when the in-laws move in and won't leave, the author does a great job of showing how slowly even a nice man like Elliot can lose it. Well, let's just say they are the in-laws of all in-laws. And, just when I had the bad guys pegged, Mark Edwards flips the script at the end and wow, I knew something was coming but didn't expect THAT!

I recommend this one. It was long but I made my husband drive everywhere tonight so I could fit in the time to finish it by the time we got home tonight.

I was provided the book for free in exchange for an honest book review. Thank you @netgalley and @amazonpublishing #heretostay was a nailbiting #thriller #intense #bookblog #mustlovebooks #bookreview #5stars @markedwardsauthor

Review: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

It's so bittersweet to finally be writing a review for The Testaments. I read The Handmaid's Tale earlier this year at the urging of a few members of my mom-tribe. I don't typically read dystopian novels. It takes a lot for me to really dive into them and see what the writer sees. Not the Handmaid's Tale.

Like readers who first read The Handmaid's Tale over 30 years ago, I was stuck with the image of June getting into that car, not knowing if she was going to live or die. Not knowing what was going to happen to her two girls, to Luke. After growing to love her, feeling caught in all of the wrongdoings of Gilead with her, I had to wait. I'm glad I didn't have to wait 30 years, like others.

I pre-ordered The Testaments from Amazon on April 29th.  The wait until September seemed brutal.

5 stars. This 5 stars is an easy 5 for me. Everything else should be 4s. My new explanation of 5 stars should be "The Testaments." Why? Well, I was concerned when I realized the narrator was not June. I worried that I wasn't going to find out the answers to my questions. I still have a few about Luke, Moira, and Nick. Did I miss something with those?

On the other hand, Atwood's writing was superb. Her ability to transcend the 30 years and take us right back to the Marthas, Commanders, Aunt Lydia, and the Aunts without skipping a beat or changing tone is truly unreal. I read a LOT of books. I am always willing to try new writers. But, after reading the way Atwood writes, it is not an exaggeration to say that very few people can write like Atwood. The vocabulary used in her novels is so descriptive, so unusual and fresh, it feels like you're reading something both ancient and futuristic.

This book was suspenseful and packed with details. In the afterward, Margaret writes about how she wrote The Testaments in many different places. I just don't know how she did it. Did she work from the ending she wanted, backwards? Did she write all of Aunt Lydia's chapters first and then go back to the other narrators? I mean, it was seamless. It was genius. And, in my opinion it's one that you should have a 3D copy of that you can own and possess. It's a book of a different kind. It's rich with quotes that you'll want to highlight and reflect on, and one to pick up again in a few years.

5 stars to Margaret Atwood! Thank you @MargaretAtwood, for doing justice for the women of Gilead. by writing through their voices and their eyes. Remarkable! And, can we talk about the power of the book jacket? I didn't notice the back until I was about halfway through it. Beautiful, cover to cover.

Review: The Tenant by Katrine Engberg Release Date 1/14/2020

I just finished The Tenant and gave it 4 stars. I feel like the last half of the book was a cold-blooded game of endless cat and mouse. It was awesome! I haven't read a book like this in awhile with so many characters that were suspects, and they all looked guilty! This book had many characters, which I felt made it very complex. I feel like if it was a movie, it would be one that you learn something new each time you watch it. Do you know those kinds? All of a sudden, you have a Eureka moment and realize something that you missed in watching it the first time? This book was so well engineered. I mean, you have to pay attention or you'll miss a key piece of the puzzle. And, everyone seems to be connected to each other which makes it fascinating and bizarre.

This one was a nail-biter that will keep your heart pounding and your eyes flying through the words so you can figure out who's guilty. Literally, this one keeps you thinking when you put it down and have to return to life. I found myself having to back up a few pages each time I had to step away so that I could remember where I left off because it was so action-packed and eventful.

This book will be out in January. I have a long list of "to be reads," right now but was excited when I was approved for this one. This one will be good to snuggle up with in January!

Thanks to @Netgalley @Pocketbooks @Scoutpress for providing this book to me in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to @KatrineEngberg for thinking up such a believable and thrilling read. #literaryfiction #mystery #thriller #thetenant #netgalley

Review: Fish In A Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Fish In A Tree gets 5 stars from me. This book caught me off guard. I reached out to my son's 4th grade teacher to tell her I was excited to read books with him this year. She said they were reading Fish In A Tree in class and sent me some discussion questions for he and I to discuss at home. I don't know what I was expecting, exactly.

I read this book in 2 sittings. It was 290 pages, and they surprised me how fast they flew by. Lynda Mullaly Hunt really built some great characters and the narrator, Ally is a gem. I think the conflict and cornerstones in the book that Lynda weaves in are evergreen. We've all been there, we all wish from one time to another that we could be seen for our intent and our hearts, our drive and our perseverance. So many times, we aren't. So many times we are seen and see ourselves as failures. As an adult, I would argue that many of those things don't change, we just learn to focus on the positives that we have and surround ourselves with those who see them as well. We find our own team of misfits that suit us just fine, and strengthen us.

I was overwhelmed and fell in love with the metaphors and similes in this book. It was packed full of humor and emotion, written through the eyes of a child struggling with dyslexia. Written with the heart of someone who is able to see others for their strengths and understands the significance that our greatest teachers, leaders, employers, and friends are able to do the same. How much better this world would be if we all were gifted with teachers like Mr. Daniels.

I also felt connected to Ally in the way she missed her father and grandfather and also feel like it's great that she carried so much of his wisdom with her. And, I cherished the relationship she had with her brother and their limitless belief in each other's ability to overcome challenges and encourage each other.

This book is a must-read. For teachers. For children. For moms and dads. It's refreshing to read a book for a change that is not based on magic, myth, or fantasy for children. It's well-crafted and special and I'd love to know your thoughts.

A special thanks goes out to my son's teacher. To all the teachers. Who give so much of the praise-worthy things we cannot touch or measure.

#fishinatree #lyndamullalyhunt @lyndamullalyhunt #mustread #loveabook #readdifferently #differentways #quickread #cantputdown #teacherlove #grow

Review: The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan Release Date 9/10

The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan got 4 stars from me. I've been a busy bee with end of summer, back to school obligations and for some reason, my reading time has been chipped away little by little and I have really struggled to make reading the priority it usually is for me.

I've read 3 books this summer (ok, this is the last book that we can call summer) that all included a Nanny as one of the main characters.  This one had me guessing all the way until the end. As far as a review goes, I felt this book grabbed me at the beginning and it crawled a little more than I typically like in the middle. However, I found the ending (last 75-80 pages) to be extremely suspenseful and as the pages decreased I just couldn't figure out how it was going to end.

I had so many questions about the skull in the lake and the identity of the Nanny that abruptly disappeared and then  showed up just as she never left. I fell in love with the home and grounds of Lord and Lady Holt as I read descriptions of their historic home. I felt it was lavish and Gatsby-ish but full of secrets only Lady Holt knew. 

I could relate the most to Jo, the character who left the fortune and prominence of her family behind when she was old enough to, to make a life for herself that she didn't need her parent's money to support. I felt like the author did an amazing job making Jo into a "normal," struggling mom and widow and I found myself counting on a good ending for her and her daughter, Ruby.

This book and the ending did not disappoint. As expected, buried secrets about the past present themselves and threaten to tarnish the reputation and wealth the Holts are known for. Gilly does a superb job weaving the characters together in a seamless way so that by the last sentence, you understand the twists and turns, the details, and motives of the villain(s).

This was an awesome read, I highly recommend it. You'll be in the mansion, living the estate life right beside Jo and her mom. And, trying to put all of the pieces together.

I was provided this book by @Netgalley and @harpercollinspublisher in exchange for an honest review of this book. I appreciate the opportunity to get my hands on this page-turner before the rest of the world and appreciate @gillymacmillan for carving the characters out just right, detail by detail, fracture by fracture. This one was a great escape.

@netgalley
@gillymacmillan
#newrelease
#harpercollins
@harpercollinspublisher
#thriller #thenanny #trustnoone #yikes #quickread #lovebooks #bookreview #bookblog #blogabook

Review: Murder on Birchleaf Drive by Stephen Epstein

I finished Murder on Birchleaf Drive by Stephen Epstein back in July. I was able to snag a copy of it on Amazon after purchasing my new kindle. It was one of the (and I believe still is) titles available as part of the Kindle Unlimited free trial. 

Having grown up in Raleigh, NC, I was very familiar with the case of Michelle Young.  Please find my review below. 

I could not put this one down. I'm not a fan of true crime stories. However, I recall and closely followed this trial and remember how awful this story was then and still is. The book did a great job of providing details and providing backstory that I think was overlooked in the media coverage and did a superb job of shining light on the many different roads domestic violence can lead victims down. This book will stay with me awhile.

It was gripping, harrowing, and the details were intricately woven in a way not to persuade you as a reader one way or the other. I cannot imagine how difficult that would have been to do, given the evidence and circumstances. 

Sorry for the delay in sharing this one, I think the timing didn't work out so well with this one and the launch of my new blog. So, I wanted to add it, especially since it's still available on Amazon Kindle Unlimited.  I gave this one 4 stars!

Happy Reading! 

Review: The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert

The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert is not something I would typically pick up and read. However, I am fortunate enough to be part of a whiz-bang book club of pretty amazing women and, this was the book for August. If you host, you pick the title. I was hopeful it would be available on Overdrive to download from the library but had to resort to a 3D copy. This meant that I couldn't inhale the book, as I typically do for book club, writing, scribbling, highlighting and dog-earring every single passage that struck me. So, I opted for post-its. I actually liked this book so much that I bought a copy of it and will be transferring my trusted stickies over prior to sending my borrowed library copy back.

I gave this book 5 stars. It's exactly what you would assume it's about. The end of all end for us. Doom and gloom. No parts hope. All parts destruction. But, each chapter provides examples of disappearing species, most of which I had never heard about before this book. Additionally, I learned of faraway places that I'd love to one day visit, seeing these places described in great detail, with historical meaning.

I feel like this is a very thought-provoking and discussion-driving read. This book will forever hold a place on my shelf, out of respect and out of distinction. Just as everyone needs a good Field Guide to Birds Reference, everyone needs a copy of the Sixth Extinction.

Special thanks to my local library for hooking me up and always being a place of refuge, inspiration, and hope. Libraries change the world.

#SixthExtinction #ElizabethKolbert #globalwarming #oceanacidification #readtounderstand #bookworm #nerdlife #backtomythrillernow

Review: The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg

I was so excited to get my hands on this book by Elizabeth Berg. I've been a fan of hers for YEARS. I admit, that the last few books of hers I have not read and perhaps that's why I didn't LOVE this one. Also, I have come to realize that I love the grip of thrillers.

I thought this would be a nice treat, a quick read with beautiful descriptions of ladies similar to the Southern ones I've known all my life. I have to say, I struggled to finish this one. I struggled with all of the characters, their names felt unfitting for their ages and I found that each time I picked it back up, I had to re-acclimate myself with each of them.

For that reason, I gave The Confession Club 2 stars. It just wasn't my speed. And, that was difficult for me because I love the writing style of Elizabeth Berg so much, I follow her on FB because her updates are so beautifully written. 

Better luck next book! I received this digital ARC from NetGalley and Random House in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you to @Netgalley and @RandomHouse ! 

Review: The Doctor by Lisa Stone Release Date: 6/24/2019

Well, this picture just about sums it up. The Doctor by Lisa Stone was one of those books that I kept my nose buried in and even read while cooking dinner at night. That's one of the things that I love about reading on a kindle, compared to reading a 3D, "real," book. I like not having to hold the pages open. I've even lately been so engrossed that I read while drying my hair. Hey, I have a very long "to read," list.

This book gets 5 stars from me for a lot of reasons. It was so different from past thrillers and mysteries I've read and was mixed with futuristic topics. When a crazy doctor (no spoilers, promise) becomes obsessed with freezing his wife's body to preserve it, he'll stop at nothing. The book takes you to dark corners, closets, and hiding places that will leave you feeling desperate for someone to put all of the pieces together in time to save Alisha. It's pretty scary to think that scary situations like this can and probably do exist.

Thanks to @avon_books for the opportunity to get my hands on this one before the rest of the world and as always, thanks to @netgalley for arranging the introduction! Lisa Stone, I can't find you on instagram but, great job catching and describing details in such a way that I couldn't escape your pages!  #avonbooks #thedoctor #netgalley #scaryneighbors #lisastone #mustread #summerreading #bibliophile #bookguru #bookblog #blogabook #sendmebooks #readtolive #suspense #cryogenics #crazytrain @oakcitybooks #oakcitybooks

Happy Reading, friends!

Review: More to Life by ReShonda Tate Billingsley Release Date 9/27/2019

I took a break from my thrillers and picked up a book called #moretolife by @reshondatatebillingsley. I was really surprised by how engaging it was. The story (no spoilers, here) was about a woman feeling what I like to call a stirring. After 20 years of the perfect marriage to the perfect husband with grown, perfect kids, she just felt like she was missing something. She realized that she had spent the last 20 years pouring her heart, soul, time, and energy in to creating all of the perfectness that she didn't really know who she was anymore. She didn't have time for the things that made her feel alive because she had pushed them away for so many years.

This book is a really good one for a book club. I think that it's a great conversation starter because I think there will be readers who feel so validated when reading More to Life. And, there will be readers who disagree with the path Aja takes to find her own happiness. Regardless, I think most readers will agree that they can identify, relate, and find strength in Aja's story.

More to Life got 4 stars from me. It was a quick read with a "just like us," main character and a different plot than I think most people are used to reading.

I also really appreciated the afterward written by the author. I think this book really meant a lot to her to write. And, I'm not sure she realizes how many ripples in many lives it will inspire and fill with hope. Maybe that's why I loved it so much. The main character was believable, honest, and a friend we all need.

Thanks to @kensingtonbooks for helping me get a hold of this book to read, review, and love. Also, more love to @netgalley for arranging the introduction to @kensingtonbooks and its wonderful writers. Thanks for this book, @reshondatatebillingsley. I was really inspired by Aja and all that she overcame to love and accept herself just as she was. I am also inspired by YOUR Aja story. Cheers to grit, grace, and dreams.

Review: Perfect Stranger by Jake Cross

Perfect Stranger by Jake Cross really started out good. I was hooked. But, around the middle it really started to drag. In all fairness, it may have been entirely my fault. When I am working through a book and find that I have short car trips or 15 minute windows here and there to read, I find myself wanting to cut to the chase.

I gave Perfect Stranger 3 stars. The ending got really dark for me and I felt that the middle of the book was full of new characters, new crimes, and I really had a hard time putting all of the pieces together. At the end, the way the story played out, I could not justify and believe all of the coincidences and parallels. I also couldn't decide if the main character was a good guy or a bad guy.

There's a video that is viewed repeatedly in the book, and it's described many times. There were many times that I felt the story was dragging. I felt like I was introduced to many characters that kept showing back up in the book but they weren't significant. It was hard for me to discern that from the amount of time and emphasis placed on describing them. Additionally, there were so many jurisdictions, police officers, and geographies that I really couldn't recall which thing occurred where.

I was disappointed in this one, overall.  Have any of you read this one, yet? What did you think? Am I crazy? What am I missing here?

I'm thankful to @Netgalley and @Bookouture for the chance to get my hands on it for an honest review before the rest of the world.


#netgalley #bookouture #perfectstranger #bibliophile #bookreviews #readgoodbooks #readmore #loveabook #oakcitybooks @oakcitybooks #finishedreading #thriller

Review: Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

I'm sure that you're wondering how in the world everything I've read lately is worthy of 5 stars. All I can tell you is that, YES, they've all been THAT good. That being said, I've met some phenomenal characters over the last few months. I have been giving books star ratings longer than I have been writing reviews here or on my instagram page. Goodreads is a great resource for keeping track of books and this is my second year using it. I especially like the way you can see your, "year in review." All I can say is that I hope the great books keep finding their way to me :)

Thrillers and mysteries are my jam. So, it's been quite a while since I've read anything else. I do have a few other genres that a few publishers have sent over via NetGalley that I am interested in reading. Many of them have peaked my interest due to recommendations and reviews by many of you, my favorite instagram bookreview friends. I think we are a special kind of species.

Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson was a suspenseful book. It was very different than anything I've read in a while. I quickly found myself pulling for the teenagers at the beginning of the book. The overweight, teenage girl from a lot of money never felt good enough. The dirt poor, teenage boy with the brains with a guitar. Of course, they had a friendship that didn't need defining. Tragedy changes the course of both of their futures at the very start of the book. Secrets they paid their individual prices for as teenagers come back to haunt them years later as adults.

Amy has learned over the years that scuba diving is the only thing that allows her to release the feelings and secrets that haunt her. When she meets someone who says they have information the police may want, you can almost hear a clock ticking in the background. Amy stands to lose everything she has worked so hard and pushed so hard to feel deserving of in this cat and mouse chase.

5 STARS for this one. Joshilyn Jackson is a mastermind, clever, and fast-paced with lots of turns and unexpected details. She didn't forget anything with this one. I made my husband drive everywhere this weekend so that even while we were running errands, I didn't have to miss a beat. I finished this book in 2 days. I hated putting it down last night after reading into the wee hours of the morning but my eyelids couldn't keep up with the pace, and I wanted to treasure the details and not miss a thing.

As always, thank you to @netgalley for an amazing platform where all of my favorite publishers come together and give me the opportunity to do what I love best. And, thank you to @harpercollinsus for sending me this amazing summer read to review. We wouldn't have anything to discuss if it wasn't for @Joshilyn_Jackson and her dedication to building some amazing characters that I felt connected to from the very beginning.  #neverhaveiever #joshilynjackson #summerreads #booked #bibliophile #bookreview #5stars #thriller #bookworm #netgalley #harpercollins #readmorebooks

Review: The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

Friends. I've been waiting for this one to come out. Ruth Ware made a total fangirl out of me from the first 15 pages of The Woman in Cabin 10. From then on, I've purchased each book of hers on release day. Let me just tell you. The Turn of the Key gets 5 stars from me. And, it's really like a 5.5 out of 5.

The reason this book is so good is because you feel like you're in the main character's shoes. Rowan (no spoilers here, okay?) truly bonds with the little girls she is a Nanny for. She has no choice but to bond with the littles and make the best of it all when she's left the day after arriving to this big, locked up, secure, "smart," mansion out in the sticks.

Ruth tells the story using one long letter from jail and a few follow-up letters at the end of the book. You'll forget it's a letter. And, you'll find yourself immersed with Rowan in the dark, drafty hallway when the lights all go out. You'll find yourself wincing as you read about the technology that is not so, "smart," after all. You'll hold your breath as the key turns.

It felt a little bit like a game of Clue was unfolding as I met new characters. I was suspicious of them all, like a true fan of thrillers. But, then there are the girls. They will melt your heart. You'll feel for them. You'll want to look out for them the way she does.

Then, the twist. I mean, I knew it was coming. But, I didn't expect the one that came. And then, like a grand finale, one after another the fireworks started.

I finished this book in my car because I had to step away from it with 10 pages left. I sat in silence for a good 5 minutes when I swiped the last page.

Some books stay with you. This one will.

Thank you to @Netgalley @ruthwarewriter @gallerybooks @pocket_books for this advanced copy. I've never been so excited to tell others about a book they couldn't read yet. I'll have to wait until after release day,  8/6/19 to discuss it with all of my friends. Friends, do yourself a favor and order this one now.  It isn't like other things you've read.

#bookreviews #theturnofthekey #ruthware #thriller #readgoodbooks #ilovepageturners #weekendisbooked #5stars #netgalley #gallerybooks #pocketbooks #sendmeallthebooks #lovetoread #bibliophile #bookworm #readnext #justfinished

Review: Beneath The Attic by VC Andrews

I read my first VC Andrews book when I was a teenager. I'd guess I was 16 and I clearly remember it was Flowers in the Attic. Perhaps my love of reading started with VC Andrews. She has a way of roping you in, telling you secrets, and somehow you become so entangled with the characters, you lose all judgement for the decisions they make. Flowers in the Attic is the only book I remember vividly reading from VC Andrews. I am sure I read others, after Flowers in the Attic was so difficult to put down. But, as the years passed and I grew more and more busy with things other than reading, I haven't picked up one of her books since then.

When I saw Beneath the Attic by VC Andrews posted on @netgalley s website, I couldn't believe it. What did this book have to do with the characters from Flowers in the Attic? Was VC Andrews still alive? Had I missed other books she had written in the last few years? Would I even still be interested in her type of writing?

Well, I ravenously finished this book in 2 days. I think that speaks for itself. The book quickly transported me back to imagery akin to the Gatsby days with grandiose staircases and shiny chandeliers. Wealth, prestige, secrets, and desire are all woven into the story with artistry.

In all honesty, the book was predictable for the most part. Until the end. No spoilers here, but as the reader, you will be left hanging. And, you will be so caught up in the oddities and peculiarities of wealth that you won't be concerned that you think you know what is going to happen.

I give this book 5 stars. You don't have to be a fan of VC Andrews to be a fan of this book. Additionally, the book is crafted in such a way that you don't need to know anything about the other books that VC Andrews has written. This is a fantastic summer read. A great distraction and easy to fly through.

A huge thank you to @gallerybooks @netgalley @pocket_books for allowing me to review this amazing book that was ghostwritten by @neidermanandrew . The expected release date will be 8/27/2019.

#netgalley #gallerybooks #pocket_books #andrewneiderman #yournextread #summerreading #suspense #nerdlife #mustlovebooks #readmorebooks #oakcitybooks @oakcitybooks

Review: The Silent Ones by KL Slater

"The girls backed out of the room and had just stepped into the kitchen when they heard it...a scuffling sound, like the movement of feet."

I just finished The Silent Ones by KL Slater. It's described as "a gripping psychological thriller," and I would say, I 100% agree. Two little girls are seen leaving the scene of a crime, covered in blood and are pegged for the murder of an elderly woman and family friend in their village. When they're arrested, as the title alludes, they are speechless. Wound in knots, they appear to have made a pact with each other not to say a word. The pages that follow took me down a curvy road of questions, darkness, family secrets, and one twist after another. There are definitely a few psychos and creeps as characters! I don't know how KL Slater did it, pulling it all together so nicely at the end. But, wow, wow, wow, you need to add this one to the top of your priority read list. The characters you want so badly to trust will leave your head spinning. 5 Stars!!

A huge thanks to @KLSlaterauthor @bookouture and @netgalley for the opportunity to get a tight grip on this page-turner for a few days.

Review: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Well, after 3 recommendations from friends in 3 different circles of mine over the last month, I decided to crack this one open. A "book like this," is atypical for me. I'm not a big fan of dystopian books. And, part of that is probably self-preservation. I feel that reading is my one true escape, drowning out the noise, chaos, and connection to this overwhelming world. Many days, I find I have more questions about what is going on with humanity. And, I'm often left with no answers :) Reading helps me not worry about it. It allows me to think all it will all be okay. And, each ended book is a small victory, a journey neatly tied with twine. 


But this one. This book sucked me right in. I'm telling you, I honestly think that 15 years ago, it wouldn't have been as great a read. But, because (unfortunately) of the way things have been going lately, it's incredibly easy and likewise frightening that this book could be a lot closer to really happening than it was when written so long ago.


Each time I stopped to put this one down, I found that I was able to talk to others about it. And, that's another reason that I probably loved it so much. This book begs to be a topic of discussion. And, can we just agree that anyone who dreamt up this book more than 30 years ago and it just happens to be this relevant is either a psychic or a visionary unlike any I've ever heard of. 

It took me awhile to get the Marthas straight and understand the hierarchy of the society. And, it really impressed me the way that Atwood wove religion and faith into the writing in a way that you could dissect in a book club for weeks on end. Fascinating!


If you have read this book before, I wonder if you read the foreward that was added by the author in 2017. If not, you really should see if you can borrow it from a friend or view it online. 

Cheers to book recommendations, borrowed books, friends that know my heart, and dystopia.

Also, Margaret Atwood has written a SECOND book to follow this one. It's going to be called The Testaments and according to Amazon, it's going to be someone besides June as the narrator. It comes out in September and will be one of the books I'll review and post here. 

Review: The Ash Family by Molly Dektar

I gobbled this book up in about 2 days. The Ash Family showed up in my instagram account one day as a must-read by one of the accounts that I follow. After reading the intro, seeing a few references to NC and ASHeville, and hearing that the main character decides to leave mainstream life and join a "family," on a farm, I was all in.

It didn't take me long to fall in love with the descriptive words that Molly strings together. I could practically hear the crickets and goats while I was growing closer to Berie. I found myself underlining many passages, sentences, and words that created images for me that I thought I'd like to revisit someday. Maybe I'm the only one that has thought about what it would be like to live away from the rest of the world with my family, self-sustained and shut-off from the shackles of day to day life. Berie doesn't have it easy on the farm with her new family, and she quickly learns that she's faced with choices that have an impact on many of the things she has left behind. 

Being a NC native, I loved her references to Asheville, Duke Gardens, and the mountains. I think there's a lot more to this book than meets the eye and there's a lot of symbolism and truth that could easily be overlooked.

When I turned to the last page in this book, I was pretty sad to think that it was over. I felt I knew and had grown to relate and love Berie and didn't want the story to be over. This is Molly Dektar's first book. I selfishly hope she's in her cutesy Brooklyn apartment writing more books. And, when she does, I'll be one of the first to line up for them.

5 Stars. 

Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

I can't put this book down. I picked it up at the GW last week, with the intention of selling it to the used bookstore for more fiction. But, it has showed up so many times on my IG feed as a must-read that, I decided to give it a go. Y'all. Gripping. Full of despair with eqaul-parts hope. 

It's based on a true story. I'm smackdab in the middle and already give it 5 stars because I have this hope that these 2 are going to be okay in this war and devastation. But, we know how the story ends, don't we?  

The writing is superb. Detailed. You're going to be pulling for these characters from the very beginning. Then you're going to try to wrap your head around how this really happened. 

Disclaimer: Adding older posts from my insta while I'm finishing my current read. Stay tuned for that :)

Review: The Woman In Our House by Andrew Hart

I finished The Woman In Our House last week. It was another Kindle Unlimited find. I finally broke down and upgraded my 2012 Kindle Paperwhite for the new one. It's waterproof and holding to its hype this week while I'm on a staycation. 

The Woman in the House was a good one. I gave it 5 stars because it had a few really good and unexpected twists. The main character is a girl who stole her friend's identity when she found out she was heading out of the country for 2 years. Then, she used the fake ID become a NANNY for a couple in Charlotte with 2 young girls!!!! As the reader, you are taken down this path, questioning her motives and mental stability. You will worry constantly about those 2 little girls. In the big twist, you will see why she was acting so questionable, and it isn't anything you could dream up.

 I loved that it was based in Charlotte and felt like this one would be an awesome movie because it was so well- written. And, because I wasn't sure I would be casting Reese Witherspoon as the lead lady or as the questionable Nanny.   #5stars #thewomaninourhouse#loveagoodNCsetting 

Books give you somewhere to go when you have to stay here. So, pick a good book and a good here.

What am I doing here?

I think it's probably time that my love of books had a special place. This new blog will mirror a lot of the same information found on my new insta account @oakcitybooks.  I've always found it easier to spill my heart and thoughts out on a good blank document page so I expect that this blog will have more gusto and umph than my instagram account. 

I have a few reasons that I felt I needed to get a little more serious about book reviews. Stay tuned for those in a future blogpost. :)

Please be patient and check back frequently as I begin to drag some of my recent reviews over from Instagram with perhaps a little more color and passion. And, understand that it's constantly a battle for my free "me" time. Read? Write? Instagram? Amazon? 

As a creative person, like all other creatives, I find that I go through periods of time I am extremely inspired and driven to write and externalize the sunshine I have inside. Other times, I just want to read and be in a cozy nook with a hot tea or coffee. So, I would expect that I will have periods with lots of posts and periods with not so many. I will do my best, as I find the more books I read and blog about, the opportunity I have for more advanced reader copies and reviews. Which means, MORE BOOKS!

We all have different things we like to read. I bounce back and forth between fiction and non-fiction but prefer fiction because I like to read to escape the realty of the troubling and trying times we all face. Reading non-fiction requires me to really be in a place of peace and typically drains me in a way that causes me to need to take a few days or week breaks between my next book. Non-fiction stirs me because I usually feel really invested and connected to the writer and their battles/plights. However, fiction allows me to escape and dive in to a mystery that I can tell myself isn't real. It's a fine balance between the two. So, I think you'll find a pretty good mix of books here. 

I used to read a lot of romance chic-lit books. I loved a good love story from Nicholas Sparks and still do wait for his new books to come out. But, they can be so predictable and cliche' that I don't feel like I connect to them the same way I do to the more recent books I've read over the last few years. 

I hope that you find this blog refreshing and resourceful. A place you can come to see what I've been digging into. And, I hope you don't take offense if I hated something you loved and I won't take offense if you don't feel the same way about the books I love or don't love. I think that's one of the most fascinating things about books. They all move us in different directions and leave us differently. 

Happy reading, friends!

All my admiration,

Kim