Maria

Let me just start off by saying that if I would have read this book before finding my passion and true love for reading and mystery, suspense books of all kind, I would have without a doubt given this book five stars because it is a good, entertaining read. However, because I've read a bunch of mystery suspense novels before this one, this one just falls flat in comparison. It's kind of like watching a very entertaining, however not quite moving chick flick, you enjoy it at the moment but it doesn't stay with you past that. Also, because I did enjoy it nonetheless, I will be reading the other book in the series, just maybe not right away.

This novel is about a group of high school students who find themselves in detention together and after some things happen, one of them ends up dead. The rest of the story is trying to figure out who did it and why. It was an interesting plot, even if the characters were a bit cookie-cutter and the setting of it taking place in highschool just further proved to me that I have somewhat outgrown those kinds of stories. I did like how we get to the solution, it wasn't revealed all at once and it was gradual, even if I knew who the bad guy was from very early on. I'm not usually one to ever guess the ending but it was rather predictable and pretty obvious, even to me.

Further on, the characters were probably my favorite part of this novel. Even though they were kind of on the surface and pretty stereotypical, I still grew to care about them because of the things they went through together and the way their relationships formed and developed with each other. I think that is the strongest part of this novel, the relations the characters formed with each other throughout the novel. I also loved the amount of development the characters underwent and how they transformed all throughout the novel. For this reason I will be reading McManus' other novels and the rest in this series.

Finally, the writing style was simple but it worked for the setting and the overall vibe of this story. It got the story across without any problems and made for a well laid out and paced novel. I think it also helped with the characterization because even though the kids were in high school, we were able to see them progress and mature and develop without the writing style taking away from it. The characterization spoke for itself and the writing style did it's job at getting that across.

In conclusion, I would recommend this to the younger readers or to those just starting out with the mystery suspense genre. I wish I would have read it back in school because than I would have loved it for sure. All in all, not bad but not memorable either.

I adored this book and almost everything about it, it definitely reminded me of the Agatha Christie books I have read way back in the day and it was nice to remember those times. For starters, I loved that the book had a mystery within a mystery, I have not encountered that too many times before. The main character, Susan works for a publishing company and she is given a manuscript of the latest book written by the company's most famous writer and as she dives into the book, she realizes that there is a real world mystery that needs to be solved involving the author's death. It's a really fascinating plot and the execution was almost perfect in my opinion.

The reason I didn't give the book five stars was because I got so into the mystery in the manuscript of the novel, that I found it hard to abandon that initial storyline and switch over to the real life mystery, where Susan is the detective and the suspects are all different, as is the nature of the mystery itself. I was a bit frustrated because I had to know who the killer was in the novel and then I would have been a lot more calmer going into the mystery switch. The ending was definitely worth it in hindsight but at the time I was reading it, I found it difficult to go on at times because I wanted the solution to the first one.

The pace of the novel was pretty good, even with my frustration although there were a few instances when I wanted the story to move along a bit faster since I was dying to know the end of the manuscript that the book began with. Other than that I got no complaints. It was a genius story, I'm just a rather impatient person.

Moving on, the characters I grew very close to and fond of. I found a very relatable human aspect to almost all of them and grew to know them very well. Everything was explained in the end and I was grateful for being able to conclude everything with certainty and was not left to ponder much of anything. Most of the books I have read before have not given me this satisfaction and I loved every second of finding out why every individual acted the way that they did. Now I will not lose sleep over racking my brain as to who did it.

In addition, the style of the writing was simple yet refined. It helped the plot flow smoothly, yet there was an intelligence to it that is hard to pinpoint but is evident in the layout of the novel. There were no instances in which I found myself having to reread parts because something didn't make sense or I wasn't fully aware as to what was going on. I will definitely look into Horowitz's other works.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good who-done-it but with a twist that you don't initially see coming. It will grab your attention and you won't be able to stop because you will be invested in the story and it's intricate characters and you will have an undying need to find out who the perpetrator is of both mysteries!

YES! YES! YES! YES! Finally, a book that did not disappoint me. I haven't had much luck lately with finding books that blow me away and this one has changed my bad streak. I got this book in my first BookCase Club box and I am never cancelling that subscription! The reason I signed up for the subscription was that it was very reasonably priced and would expand my horizons in terms of what books I would try reading. I would have never picked this book up on my own and I have found a personal favorite mystery detective series. Yes, I have already ordered the first book in the Andy Carpenter series, even though this one can be read out of order.

This novel is about a lawyer, Andy Carpenter, who gets some evidence that is tied up in a high profile case that was never solved, regarding the abduction of a baby, Dylan. We then follow Andy as he looks into this past crime, with this new evidence and how it changes things in the case this time around. I absolutely loved the plot! I haven't read that many mysteries but this one kept me guessing the entire time and it's been a while since I wanted a book to last longer than it actually did. Usually, I want to get through the book and be done with it but not in this case. The plot was also pretty fast paced and never stretched longer than necessary and I loved how short the chapters were. I loved how things were revealed a little at a time, this made sure I didn't get bored, not even for one second.

Further on, the characterization is top notch. I loved how even though we were following this lawyer as he is looking into this past crime that was never solved, we got a good sense into his relationships with people outside of his work. This made Andy Carpenter all the more real and made me really care about him and his life's happiness. He is by far my favorite hero in a story I have ever read because he is quirky and sarcastic and I couldn't get enough of his psyche's ponderings and musings. I am just ecstatic that there are many more Andy Carpenter books out there for me to read and I will be reading all of them very soon. I can see myself picking up one every time I need something comforting and light but also something I know that I will enjoy and love!

Thirdly, the writing style is the best one I can possibly vibe with. It was written precisely and to the point without being too overly simplistic and the writing style really worked well together with this one-of-a-kind main character. I inhaled this book and I loved every single second of it. I loved that we got enough into Andy's mind and also into the goings on of the story itself.

In conclusion, this has quickly become one my favorite mystery detective series of all time and it will forever be special to me. I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good mystery detective story that will keep them guessing but also wants to feel comforted and smile all throughout. As I've mentioned before, even before finishing this book, I've already went and ordered the first book in this long series and I can't wait to get my hands on it! Just fantastic!

Wow, I haven't written a book review in what seems like forever but that's because life has a funny way of getting out of control sometimes. It's unfortunate that because of having a kid I don't have as much time to read anymore but I'm making the most of it and trying to get in as much reading as I possibly can before the second baby comes in November.

Now, I got this book off of the Book of the Month site and I have to say, I'm liking it so far. I signed up for this book delivery service because I have a bad habit of judging books by their covers and not picking up the ones with covers that don't appeal to me. I thought this might help me expand my book reading horizons. I would recommend this service to people who are into books definitely, without a doubt.

Now with Startup, I really didn't know what to expect whatsoever. The synopsis seemed like something I could potentially like but not exactly my cup of tea. And even though I enjoyed this book immensely and liked countless things about it, I was right about it not being my cup of tea. It's just the whole topic of the book and even the plot itself wasn't something that I find all that exciting or interesting. I mean, I enjoy technology but purely for enjoyment purposes and nothing beyond that. The entrepreneurial aspect of it was definitely eye opening and taught me some things I didn't know but I still probably won't pick up another book on the same subject.

Now, with that being said, I have no more negative things to say about this book because from every other standpoint- this book was completely brilliant. For one, the writing style was very intelligent and not overly simplistic without also being too drawn out and just tedious. This contributed to the flow of the book and even though we were jumping from character to character with each chapter, it was an effortless transition and didn't make us confused. I mean, being a busy mom and all, it's quite a miracle that I finished this book in about a month considering the fact that I barely even have time to read. I simply had to make time for this book because I wanted to know what happened next and I also couldn't stop reading it once I started.

Further on, I really enjoyed all the different characters and felt like I got a good sense of who they were on the inside most importantly. I was even able to picture them as concrete people in my head and that rarely happens because my imagination isn't all that good- you can probably attribute that to mom brain. Going off that, I loved the way that the characters intertwined in each other's lives, even if their connections didn't start off that close at all. They did, however, progress, grow and change as the story developed further and further on.

In summary, I would recommend this book especially to people who's interest in tech stuff goes beyond mere enjoyment of it or perhaps those who want to expand their knowledge base of it a little and maybe even learn something in the process. Masterfully written and laid out, this book serves as an excellent example of writing done right- in every which way.

Okay, so before I begin writing about the reasons why I did or didn't like the book I just noticed that this book took me exactly three months to read. I honestly think that it's a combination of the book not being my cup of tea (again) and the fact that I'm pregnant and have a two year old to keep up with on a daily basis.

Alright, so first of- when will I learn my lesson? This is the second book I have received from Book of the Month club and again I am a bit disappointed. This book was not my cup of tea whatsoever and I should have spent more time going through the synopsis and ruling out which one would have worked the best for me. I enjoyed these kinds of books when I was younger but as I have grown up a lot in the past few years, they just don't hold the same excitement for me anymore. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the book at all, there were times when I did enjoy it, it's just the book was in general not for me.

I do need to give credit where it's due though, this was my first book with the central romantic relationship being between two gay men and I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of it. However, with that said, some of the romance was a bit on the cheesy side along with the dialogue that accompanied it. Some but far from all.

The writing style of this book was more on the simpler side than I prefer. Even though it was written in a very concise and easy to understand manner, sometimes it seemed a little too simple. This contributed to the reason why this book took me so long to finish- the writing simply failed to keep me on the edge of my seat and in dire need to continue until the very end.

In addition, the topic itself wasn't one that I care to read a whole book about. Sure, romance is my favorite thing about books but in this case it was just too much and a lot of it ended up sounding forced and just not realistic.

Moving on, the characterization was probably my favorite thing about this whole book and it still lacked in this area for me. The characters were somewhere between two-dimensional and three-dimensional. This meaning that even though they weren't the most boring characters I've ever encountered in books, they failed to move me emotionally and I didn't feel worried or concerned for them in most instances.

Also, whilst the first three-fourths of the book dragged and made it very difficult to continue reading, the last fourth changed that significantly. At the climax I was finally able to get into the book a bit more and actually enjoyed myself somewhat.

All in all, this book failed to deliver to me in many ways, aside from not being a particularly liked genre of mine. I would recommend this book only to young teenagers that haven't yet experienced the more grown-up aspects of life.

I seriously can't believe it took me this long to read this book! I remember watching part of the movie a long time ago but it never went further than that. I am so glad that I finally got around to reading this book because it was a knockout for me. It had all the things that a great thriller has in my opinion: a twisted plot, messed up characters doing messed up things and an exhilarating climax that brought it all together in the end. I will be recommending this book for a long time to come and Paula Hawkins has officially become one of my favorite thriller authors and I will be automatically any new books that she comes out with in the future.

To begin with, The Girl on the Train is about a woman named Rachel, who takes the same commuter train every day and passes the same row of houses day in and day out. There is a house that interests her beyond all else and she makes up the perfect life that this couple lives in this perfect house and becomes obsessed with seeing them daily. One day, she sees the lady of the house kissing another man and then a short while later it turns out that that lady is missing so she goes to the police and things transpire from there. This plot was nonstop from beginning to end and even though it was a bit of a slow burn at some points, I didn't mind a bit. I loved seeing all the characters relationships between each other and seeing how things develop. There were so many different amazing layers to this plot that I never had any idea where this novel was going and did not have a clue as to who the murderer was until the very end of the book.

Secondly, the characterization was the strongest point of the book for me. Although all the other aspects were great too, the characters were just so imperfect and messed up that it was easy to relate to their humanity and get attached to them. They were depicted as real people, going through their own life obstacles and didn't always deal with it in the best way, which made for even more realistic individuals. I loved that the book was written from different perspectives because we got to see into the psyches of almost all of the characters in this book and were able to see where all of them were coming from.

Thirdly, the writing style was superb. Not too overly simplistic and yet not too wordy and drawn out either. It was a healthy balance and got the story across beautifully. I could envision all the scenes as they were happening in the book and felt as if I was the actual character going through it. I didn't find myself having to go back and reread any parts because the writing was clear and precise the first time.

In conclusion, this book has definitely made it into my favorite thrillers of all time and I will be reading everything that Paula Hawkins will ever come out with in the future. I would recommend it to anyone who loves domestic and suspenseful thrillers as much as I do because this book has got all the stuff that makes those grand. Really glad I finally gave this book a chance!

I remember running to Amazon and purchasing this second book in The Collector series right after I finished the first one because it was fantastic and totally messed up and I felt like the author really could do no wrong in my eyes. Well, almost a year later, I finally got to The Roses of May and let me just tell you, I have never been more disappointed in my life probably. Not only was the plot totally predictable but the writing really did not vibe well with me this time around. I might pick up the next book just because it has better reviews then this one but I am in no hurry to do so.

To begin with, The Roses of May picks up where the first book in the series ended and our favorite detectives are not investigating a serial killer who leaves flowers on his victims' doorstep and they realize that the clock is ticking and that it's almost time for him to kill again. I thought that the plot was interesting enough when I read the excerpt on the back of the book but in execution it was mediocre at best. For one, I was able to guess the killer correctly a few chapters in and that NEVER happens to me. On the contrary, I am usually the last one who can ever get that stuff right. I thought the pacing was also kind of slow and tedious in most parts and it took until the end of the book to get into some real action and the build up to that was not worth it in my opinion. After the first book was so unique and took my breath away, this one was a huge let down.

Further on, the characterization was probably the strongest point in this book and even that was just okay. The characters kind of let us see into their psyches but they still felt a bit standoffish and for this reason I just couldn't get to know them well enough to really care about what their fates would ultimately be. I feel like the author was keeping us at a distance and I don't think the writing helped either. The new characters definitely didn't stand out like the ones in the previous book did.

Finally, the writing was extremely problematic to me in this one. I don't remember how it was in the previous book but in this one it was choppy and didn't flow whatsoever. There were times when I had a hard time understanding what was happening or what the characters were talking about because phrases that I am not familiar with were used often. I had to reread quite a few paragraphs and for that reason couldn't finish this book as quickly as I really wanted to. It was on the shorter side for a novel and yet it stretched on endlessly because the writing style really did not do it any favors.

In conclusion, while the first book in this series was a home-run, the continuation was severely lacking and was not a joy to read. I thought that not only was the plot and murder rather predictable, but the characters and the writing style left much to be desired. I actually went to see what the next book was about and because the next one has much better ratings on Goodreads, I might pick it up just for that reason. However, this will not be happening anytime soon. While I recommend you read the first book ASAP, I would not recommend you pick up this second one in the series. What a major let down.

Wow! Now I get what all the hype is about, why every single person I know who loves reading thrillers, loves this book! I loved every single second of it even though I am going through a very difficult time in my life right now and it didn't take me long to finish it. The only reason I didn't finish it in one day is because the story itself was so messed up, I needed a little bit of time to process things as they happened and more messed up things were revealed, totally blowing my mind in ways I didn't think was possible.

This novel is about a man, called “The Gardener”, who kidnaps girls and makes them live in his contained “garden”, where he also marks them by tattooing butterfly wings onto their backs and transforming them into his own “butterflies”. This story is probably one of the most, if not the most messed up novel I have ever read and that is because the plot was seriously out of this world. I don't think it's possible to come up with a more twisted, psychologically terrifying plot and being the thriller lover that I am, I was there for it. This book will be going down as one of my favorites of all time and even though I heard that Dot Hutchison's other books in the series aren't as good, I am willing to give all her other books a chance because this one really just grabbed at my soul and permanently left a mark on me, no pun intended.

Further on, the characterization was perfection, in every which way. Most of the girls in the garden, even if they didn't play a major role in the novel itself, came alive through the stories that Maya told the detectives about them. I loved that they all had their various quirks and their intricate, complete personalities and I could imagine myself being one them and in their presence, as messed up as that might be. They weren't merely characters on a page for me, they were real, young girls, full of life and so much to live for, at least before they came to the garden. My heart broke for each and every one of them, even the ones who the least likeable, maybe even more for those.

Finally, Hutchison's writing style is what really brought this whole novel together for me and made me cling to each and every page with shaking breaths. The way she writes, it brings everything to life and it was easy to imagine everything as it was happening, even imagine myself being there, seeing it with my own two eyes. It wasn't overly complicated writing and yet it wasn't oversimplified, so it definitely added to atmosphere and the whole novel itself and was just the cherry on top. I would have read Hutchison's other novels just for her writing, that's how much I enjoyed it.

In conclusion, I can without a doubt say that The Butterfly Garden is for everyone and anyone who wants to be moved by a book in numerous ways. It is gut wrenching, terrifying and at moments beyond eerie but there are so many heartwarming moments in the messed-up chaos and so many great messages that it is definitely worth a read. A book that will change you from the inside-out, The Butterfly Garden is one that will forever be a part of me and will stay with me beyond the reading experience.

Wow! Finally, I read this book! I have been hearing people talk about this book for the longest time and about this crazy ending and now I am psyched to be in the loop, to know what everyone is talking about! I am actually watching the show now with my husband and really enjoying it but I am glad that I read the book first because I was entertained to say the least. I wouldn't say that it's my favorite domestic thriller of all time but it definitely delivers on the mindfuck aspect! That is for sure! This twist was something akin to the twist in The Silent Patient but even crazier and more out there! Definitely will be reading more from this new to me author in the future.

To begin with, Behind Her Eyes is about a single mom, named Louise, who has a passionate night with a stranger at a bar and then realizes the next day that this stranger is her new boss and is also married to a beautiful woman named Adele. Their lives intertwine and head in a direction that almost no-one can possibly see coming. I have never read a domestic thriller quite like this and was definitely intrigued from the very beginning. There is a trope in this book that is very new to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I have no other previous books to compare it to and see if it was done well. I thought the book started off very strong and it got my attention but the middle dragged a bit for me and that's where I started losing interest and hoping to get to the mind blowing ending soon, that everyone kept talking about. Unfortunately, it took until the very end to get to that mind-blowing ending and all the action was saved for the very conclusion as well. For this reason, I gave this book four stars and not five.

Further on, the characterization in this book was pretty good, nothing I can complain about. I liked getting to know all the characters and their complicated backgrounds and figuring out what made them the way that they are and the way that they relate to one another. I just wish we could have gotten to the very dark, sinful stuff a little earlier because it felt like it took forever to really show us who these people really were, at their very rotten cores and souls. I do applaud the author for not being afraid to go there though and to show us how humans really are, without sugarcoating or hiding anything.

Finally, the writing style is one that I had no problem with. It wasn't the most intricate or beautiful writing I've ever read but it got the story across without a hitch and the pages didn't stop turning until the very last page. There were a few awkward thoughts and sentences but those were very few and didn't take away from the overall story and reading experience.

In conclusion, I enjoyed this domestic thriller very much and would recommend it to anyone that wants to have their mind blown by a twist or twists that they didn't see coming. I wouldn't say it's rooted in reality but if you're willing to suspend your reality for a bit, this book could really wow you in many ways. It could have definitely been shortened a bit in order to pack more of a punch throughout the whole book itself, nonetheless, it's a book I will probably think about for years to come. Definitely recommend but with a grain of salt because it might not be for absolutely everyone.

The second installment in the Stacy Killain series is just as good as the first one and actually I liked this one a little bit more. Just like the first one, this one kept me on the edge of my seat and once again, the “Game Master” was actually revealed at the very end. If Erica Spindler does this in all the rest of her books, I can't wait to read them all!

This book was very different from the first one and the reason I found this book more exciting is because of the “roleplaying-game-come-to-life scenario”. I loved that idea, especially since I have some personal experience with roleplaying games and I can see how someone might get so caught up in the game and so addicted that it would blur their version of what is real and what is not. Sometimes I find myself getting lost in my roleplaying.

This book focuses on the heroine once again, ex-cop Stacy Killian who moves away from her old life in the hopes of escaping all the hardships that she had endured and starting over. I loved how right off the bat, in the first chapter, Stacy was thrust right back into the life she was trying to escape so hard from. I loved how her being a cop for ten years was more so a way of life than just a job she could easily bounce back from and forget all about. Actually, being a cop is so much a part of her life that she takes on the same job “unofficially” even though she's not even getting paid for it anymore.

The other perspective that it switches into is the perspective of Spencer Malone. I'm not going to lie, I was really rooting for Stacy to finally get the man that she deserves and to “live happily ever after”, at least the way she sees it. I loved their lives overlapping and how their perceptions of each other gradually changed from very negative to overly positive.

Again, Spindler's flawless writing style made me completely oblivious to how much of the book I already read and how much of it I still had to read. The book went by very quickly and another one of hers I couldn't put down to save my life.

And even though there were a lot of possibilities as to who was the real killer and what not, I only found that to be that much more exciting and a unique experience in my opinion. In this one, I was completely fooled by the red herring and didn't guess the actual mastermind of the whole game until I was on the actual page on which it was revealed.

Also, we can see how the previous book's (See Jane Die) events brought Stacy to that point and how it affected her further into this new scenario. The two books were connected but also not connected so strongly that you couldn't read the second without reading the first. Even if you read the second book first, you would still get as much out of it as reading the books in order. Although reading them in order gives you the whole story and that's something you can't beat.

The book wasn't quite as perfect as I wanted it to be because the ending was a bit rushed and once we found out who the ultimate “game master” was, we didn't get a chance for the two main characters to get a little more one-on-one time. There was I think a half of a page for them and then it was over. I was disappointed, especially because the next one is supposedly focused on Spencer's aunt and not on the life of Stacy Killian once again and her budding relationship with Spencer Malone.

In conclusion, this book is a very entertaining read for those who don't mind guessing until the very end and even then being surprised by what just happened and how the book is wrapped up.

This book definitely took the breath right out of me and had me grasping the edge of my seat the entire time, so there was no shortage of excitement in this novel. Fast paced, with twists and turns at every corner, I was sucked into its plot until the very end and my head is still spinning even though I am officially done with it. This has been my first Ruth Ware novel and it was definitely a terrific one, I will be picking up more novels by her without a doubt.

The thing I liked the most about this novel was the outstanding plot, not many books can give me high blood pressure like this one did, I literally had to catch my breath a few times. From the very beginning, it captivated my attention and I couldn't put the book down because the pacing of the plot was flawless and there was not a moment where I felt bored or like I couldn't keep reading any further. On the contrary, I felt like I had to keep going, had to keep finding out more and getting more answers to all the questions I had. The plot was unlike any I've ever encountered before and that is saying a lot.

The writing style was also very well done and it was quite an effortless read, the story flowing easily and coming alive right before my eyes. The sentences themselves weren't overly simplistic and yet not redundantly stretched out either, just how I like them to be. It was easy to imagine what was going on to the point that I was able to see the story as it unraveled from the heroines eyes.

Since my previous books were mostly from different characters' perspectives, this book was different in that regard and yet I was totally okay with that. The heroine was someone that I felt I could definitely relate to in many ways and she had many flaws as well, which made her even more real and concrete in my eyes. Many times I felt as though I was feeling what she was feeling, her pain and dread and whatever other emotions she was feeling, were my own. Hence, why I am pretty sure this book gave me high blood pressure a few times. In a good, exhilarating way of course.

In conclusion, this book is a terrific mystery thriller and I would recommend it to anyone who loves that genre. I would advise that you clear up some time to read it in a few sittings at the most though, because it will swallow you up from the very first page and not let you relax until you have finished it to the very end. The only thing is, I wish the ending was a little longer and a bit more extended but overall it was an exhilarating and very fast paced read!

It Ends With Us was another book I made a lot of assumptions about. I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading it and all I knew was that it was from the romance genre and highly regarded on Goodreads. I wanted something light and so I picked it up. In the beginning that's exactly what I thought this book was, nothing more than just a love triangle with sometimes cheesy dialogue. Well, I get a whole ton more than I bargained for! This books turned out to be so much more complicated, deep and trensending that I ever imagined possible from a romance novel and I absolutely inhaled it in a matter of days!

To begin with, the plot was interesting enough to me, especially because the romance genre is pretty new to me and I don't really have much to compare it to but I thought it was cute- nothing more, nothing less. Then, once I got through a good chunk of the book it dawned on me that this book was so much more. There was an overwhelming message that this book so wonderfully delivered that it just pulled at my heartstrings and I ended up loving it! It successfully illustrates an issue that is very serious and occurs very often in today's society and I got a much better understanding of it then I have ever gotten before. I love books that educate me and expand my mind. This is the first time that a book didn't really reveal the complexity of its plot to me until a good way into it and I am here for it, very nice surprise!

Further on, the characters, although they seemed somewhat superficial in the beginning and a bit cheesy with their sometimes cheesy dialogue, grew on me as they revealed more about themselves and their backgrounds and went through all the experiences that they encountered in the book which definitely made them grow and change into better people. Growth is something that definitely makes for some really in-depth characterization and the characters really grew on me and in the end I felt as though I understood each of them, even the least likable ones.

Next, the writing style was concise and to the point, just how I like it. There wasn't anything too complicated but it flowed smoothly and made for an easy reading time. It perfectly got the amazing story across.

All in all, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys heavier romances and books with a very big meaning behind them. This isn't some stupid romance story that, it's so much more than that. I was pleasantly surprised that a book I was a bit disappointed in at the beginning, really made a comeback and won me over by the end. Give it a chance, you won't regret it!

I wanted to give this book four stars, I really did but after struggling to finish the already short story I just couldn't lie to myself. I would actually rate this book on the higher spectrum of my three-star shelf but that doesn't erase the fact that it failed to move me in any way whatsoever.

Now, before getting into the details of why this book failed to deliver, I would just like to point out the fact that the synopsis is misleading. Deanna Beaufort, the main heroine of this novel is not that hard to manage as a wife, regardless of what the synopsis would have you believe. They make her out to be this spitfire when she is absolutely not. Mitchell is more true to the summary but even he is a little too quickly seduced and swayed by his deep feelings for Deanna.

I have to admit, it is partially my fault for jumping into this book because of the pretty cover and for buying it for free also for the same reason. I thought it would be a light, fun, easy romance to read but it was rather on the long, old fashioned/boring side. What I mean is that the book seemed rather long and I had a very hard time getting through it, even though the book itself wasn't long at all. The story was kind of stretched out even when it didn't need to be. I think this book could have achieved what it did in half of its actual length. And even though the main heroine was a huge traditionalist and very old fashioned in terms of her values and beliefs, I would still have liked to see a little more life and vivaciousness from her. I mean, she's supposed to be repressed by her grandma's wishes, isn't she? So why isn't she acting out against it?

I will say that even though the characters were not quite as full as I would have liked them to be, her writing was pretty solid. Even a little on the easy side, the story itself was written beautifully and showcased well in that aspect. It flowed smoothly and made getting through it a little easier.

Now, my main issue with the book was the overload of romance that was a bit on the cheesy side. I mean, I get that these two characters fall in love with each other quickly but not this quickly. I would have liked to see a little more resistance, at least from Deanna. It would have showed her as being more real and less cookie-cutter like. Also, the dialogue was a bit unrealistic at some places and this made the romance seem even more pretentious and cheesy.

The smut was, as everything else with this book, mediocre. It was not by any means the worst smut I have ever read but it also wasn't the best. It was, by lack of a better word, average. There wasn't much variation in the vocabulary or imagination in the sex scenes themselves. Not a book that will be engraved in my mind forever. Not even close.

I guess, what it comes down to is that the story seemed like merely a tiny portion of what it could truly be. I would recommend this only to people who like mediocre love stories, that have nothing else to offer. Simply put, there is nothing special about this book and it shows. And for this reason, I am in no hurry to read the next book in the series, even though I might give another one of Noelle's books a chance in the future. Just not the near future.

This was probably the hardest book I've ever gotten through. Not because it was badly written or had a boring plot, no, on the contrary, it was everything that a great mystery thriller should be. I can easily say that it's probably the best mystery thriller I have read so far and Karin Slaughter will forever be one of my favorite authors and I will be reading everything else by her shortly. I had a hard time getting through it because I was so invested in the characters and I was worried about what was going to happen to them. This novel is definitely not for the faint of heart and it will give me nightmares probably but it was also beautiful and very meaningful in so many profound ways. It follows the story of Claire and Lydia, who's sister disappeared a long time ago and when Clair's husband dies everything begins to unwind and things start becoming clear. It was turn after twist after turn and even though it was one of the longer books I have read, I couldn't put it down from beginning to end.

To begin with, Slaughter has created one of the most intricate, complicated yet exciting plots I have ever come across in my reading experience so far. There are just so many levels to the plots intricacy and the characters are beautifully interwoven into it and also to each other as well. We don't only get a sense into the main characters as stand alone individuals but also in relationship to each other and what significance that truly holds. The twists and turns didn't let up until I finished the book and I was on the edge of my seat, holding my breath the whole time because I was anxious about the characters' fates. They became deeply rooted in me and will not be letting up anytime soon. Shortly put, they weren't just characters on a page, they felt like tangible, real people and that made this book even harder to get through without being completely anxious.

In addition, the writing style is what I would call “sophisticated” but to the point. The sentences weren't too drawn out and long but they also weren't the shortest sentences I have ever come across as well. This made for a really vivid, heart wrenching reading experience and even though there were over 500 pages in this book, they flew by. As I have already stated, I will be reading all of Slaughter's other works. I am coming to the conclusion that booktube really gets my tastes and likes and I am beyond glad that I gave this novel a try.

In conclusion, this book is one of a kind. If you love mystery, thriller, suspense novels and aren't triggered by very heavy topics (torture, rape...etc.), you really should check this book out. It's definitely not light reading but I felt like I got a lot out of this novel and it will stay with me for sure. I may have to read something lighter next but I will be returning to this author.

Wow, I thought Redmerski's In the Company of Killers series couldn't get any better but I was wrong. She is a master at writing dark/romance/suspense novels and I can't believe I have to wait for the next book in these amazing series. Well, I am happy that there is another book, especially since this one left of with a bit of a cliffhanger at the end but I was never a patient person.

Let me just begin by saying that as much as I loved Fredrik's story in the pervious book, this one topped that for me. Partly because I missed Izabel's and Victor's story but also because it was nice to see so much interaction between all of the amazingly developed characters, especially in such an interesting and at the same time infuriating setting with another horrifying character introduced in this book, Nora. Oh, Nora. I hate her but I also love her because she added so much intrigue and depth to the other characters that she was very much needed in this book, at least in my opinion. Also, I loved how we got to follow each character as they developed and changed and were molded by the secrets they revealed, with their past laid out on the table for everyone else to see. I don't think any of them remained the same, they all progressed or regressed in some significant way.

The stakes were higher and this book was on a whole new level. I loved that each character was forced to reveal a part of their past that we didn't know anything about by confessing their secret to Nora. It made them even more three-dimensional and they literally jumped off the page at me. I could feel everything they were feeling, and their emotions were so complicated and intense and I just loved it, I couldn't get enough. This book swallowed me whole and didn't spit me back out until I was done.

Of course, the writing was flawless, as it always is with Redmerski's books and it was a very smooth read all the way through.

And as angry as I am by the abrupt cliffhangers (yes, more than one) at the end, I still think the book ended in a perfect place, I'm just not used to having to wait for the next book since most of the books I read this year have been out for a while already and the sequels too.

I am so glad that I'm going to end this year with a bang, since this is probably the last book I will read in 2014 and it was by far one of the best. I just hope my next year's books will be just as amazing as this year's have been. This year has opened me entirely to the wonderful world of books and now I am literally hooked. I have become much less picky about the books I read and for this reason I am willing to give almost all books a chance, since so many have pleasantly surprised me in the past.

Anyways, I recommend this book to anyone who loves amazing and complicated characters along with those who love books full of suspence and thrills that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book of the series didn't have as much smut as the previous ones but that didn't make it any less amazing or sexy. I recommend this book to everyone!

This was an interesting read, very deep and thoughtful and it definitely filled me with raw emotion. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book but the cover drew me in and I gave it a chance and I am definitely very glad I did. Even though I disagree that this book should be labeled under the genre of mystery, it nonetheless delivered a fast-paced, detailed look into what it's like being a girl in a male-dominated society.

To start of, the plot was amazing, delving into many aspects of today's society that is not really talked about. As a woman who can relate to some of the things that the main character has had to go through, this made it a bit more difficult for me to read because it brought back a lot of emotions and reminders about the truths of being a woman in today's modern world. However, it was the good kind of hard and I strongly believe that this book should be read by all, regardless of gender or individual experiences because it's very eye-opening in a lot of ways. Not the typical mystery novel but fantastic in its own way.

The story itself moved at a very comfortable pace and I liked the way the author started with where Ani was at a later time in her life and how she remembered what happened back in the past and how it changed her life forever. I enjoyed seeing the story through her eyes because she isn't your average, cookie-cutter heroine and there are many intricacies to her, many of which we only discover later, as the story progresses and more things are revealed. It was obvious from the beginning that she was far from perfect and yet as we progressed through her story it started to be revealed why she was the way that she was. This really was the strongest aspect for me because as human beings we have many, many layers and I always ponder why someone is the way that they are and how life made them that way.

Further, the writing style was great too and the sentences flowed seamlessly from chapter to chapter. I was able to picture everything as it was happening and there was just enough detail without being too much and taking away from the main storyline. Definitely will be checking out Jessica Knoll's other books in the future.

All in all, even though this book was definitely not what I expected it to be and seemed like a totally different genre all together, it was a phenomenal read and opened my eyes to many of the sad/hard truths in today's modern world. The way that it approaches difficult topics and ties them into an exciting plot, full of twists and turns, makes it a truly one-of-a-kind book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to grow as a human being and is not afraid to open their minds to hard topics and painful truths, regardless of that person's gender. This book was one of those instances where I was expecting one thing and got a lot more of something even better.

I really went into this book blind and I am so glad I did because it did not disappoint, at least for the most part. I read this book as a buddy read with a good bookstagram friend Tierney, after she so kindly gifted me a copy off my Amazon wishlist for my 30th birthday this year! I can't wait to talk about it with her. I am starting to realize that while I enjoy spooky mansion mysteries/thrillers, they are definitely not my favorite and I think for that reason this book ended up being a four star for me and not a five star. I thought it had a very unique plot and the ending was fire, but the first half of the book dragged for me and it took quite a while to get going and into the swing of things.

To begin with, Girls of Brackenhill is about a woman, Hannah, who seems to have everything going for her in life- a fiancé, a good job, a seemingly perfect life. That is, until she is called back to the Brackenhill castle, where she spent a few summers as a child, because her aunt has died and she's the only family left. Hannah thought she escaped Brackenhill and the weird pull off this odd place, a place where her sister disappeared long ago. However, it seems there are a lot more secrets buried in Brackenhill than she could have ever imagined. I really liked this plot and the premise. It kept me interested, even if the first half of the book was a little slow going for me and it took me a while to really get invested in the story. However, the ending of the book was amazing and the pacing was extremely on point and that almost made up for the first half. I loved that there were so many things entwined in the plot and how those things came together in the end, and not in a perfect bow at all. Overall, this was great.

In continuation, the characterization in this book is great. I loved seeing what was going on in Hannah's head and her psyche and then also getting flashbacks to the past and seeing how her psyche got to where it is at presently. This book was a great example of flawed people doing very messed up things, even if at first glance they didn't seem all that extremely flawed. Moretti was not afraid to dive deep into the darkest recesses of the human mind and it made the characters so much more relatable for that very reason. I also loved the complicated relationships all the characters had developed with each other because they felt very accurate, the most intimate relationships are usually the messiest of all. I will definitely be picking up Moretti's other books soon and have a few saved on my Scribd app already.

Finally, the writing style was pretty good in my opinion. It painted a very vivid picture of this creepy Brackenhill castle and all the weird and creepy things that seem to be going on in there. I was able to picture myself in the scene as it was happening and that definitely spiked my anxiety a bit as well. It was only a bit more intricate than I usually prefer my writing style to be but that didn't bother me much and I was able to get through the book without a problem anyways.

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend this book because it's a very well done castle suspense/mystery trope. There aren't many things I would change about this novel, aside from speeding the pace up in the first half of the book. But even with that, I think it's a book that all my thriller/mystery/suspense lovers would devour in a few sittings. And the short chapters definitely don't hurt either.

Oh man, I had high expectations for this book, I really did. It didn't help that the last book I read was so extraordinary in my eyes and I was really hoping for another book afterwards to blow me away. Oh well, guess we can't always get what we want. The book itself wasn't too bad, it was just....mediocre.

The plot wasn't anything too creative but it was interesting enough to keep me reading because I was curious to see how it unfold and ends. I liked that the chapters were short but even with the short chapters, the story stretched on and was unnecessarily dragged out. I would have liked to see more excitement and action in equal amounts all throughout the book and I would have liked to be given more in terms of trying to figure out who killed Rosalind, so I could solve it for myself. I am very clueless and usually can't figure out who the killer is in most cases but in this case, I don't think we were given anything for a long time to lead us in the right direction of who the actual killer is.

In addition, the style of the writing would have been much better in my eyes if it wasn't written in “present” tense. It made the book a little more confusing for me and it took me a little bit to get used to it. It's very possible that it just wasn't my cup of tea but this alone might deter me from reading the rest of the books in the series and by the same author. I guess it also depends what you're used to but this tense made me feel uncomfortable and affected how the story flowed for me and unfolded. In my opinion it was the biggest negative aspect of this book.

Further on, the characterization is also lacking in my eyes. The characters have potential to transcend beyond the book and into the real world but they don't quite make it there. It's almost like they are only partially completed and I would have liked to see more of their soul peak through. There was some depth there and I got to know the main heroine of the story to an extent but she didn't quite become real in my eyes.

I actually think that the book for me is closer to three stars then four but it definitely has potential and the raw material that could have been turned into something exceptional. I will try to give more of Bailey's books a chance in the future but for now, I am going to need a break. All in all, the book wasn't bad, it jut wasn't particularly great. I would recommend it to people who are not bothered by the “present” tense and who like books with less action and less on the crazy and twisted side. It could potentially be an enjoyable read if you aren't expecting the book to be life changing in any way.

Let me start of by saying, I enjoyed this book, I really did but I think because I've been reading so many similar books lately, I almost didn't give this book a fair review. I guess I'm getting to the point where I have a greater appreciation for what I find makes the book the most compelling in my eyes and it's not as easy to give a stellar review anymore. However, even though I have more books to compare from, this book really was well written and a good story in its entirety.

First of, the plot was good. It wasn't the most exciting plot in the world but it definitely was nowhere near bad and was very complete with just enough in the beginning, the middle and the end. Some books don't give enough time for the reader to work through everything that happened and cut the ending very abruptly but this novel did a good job at tying everything in and just bringing it all to a good place. I am more of a fan of plots where the villain isn't so obvious and takes me by surprise but because this story was so well written and orchestrated, I almost didn't mind that here.

Further on, the style of the writing is not my favorite but it works for this book and it got the story across in a satisfactory way. I usually prefer writing that takes us directly into the person's psyche and is more personal from each character's point of view but nevertheless this style was adequate for me and I didn't have much issues with finding the drive to finish the novel all the way through.

In addition, the characterization was also good but not great. I feel like I got a good sense of the characters but I would have liked to get to know them better, I feel like the book just scratched the surface of everything those people are. I think it goes back to the style of writing, first person point of view would have improved this book tremendously in my eyes. With that said, as far as second person point of views go, it was on the higher side.

All in all, this was not a bad book but it didn't wow me either. It was just, “eh”. I would recommend it to someone who wants a lighter, not really mystery novel that will be easy to read but also easy to forget. Definitely not one of the best I have read but also not the worst either. Just mediocre.

Well, it was about time I read another Shari Lapena book! I read An Unwanted Guest and I have to say, I enjoyed this one quite a bit more. I mean they were both good but this one dared to go where the other one did not, it was dark and twisted and the characters were rotten to the core. I have been in a bit of a reading slump due to personal stuff going on in my life and if it hadn't been for that, I would have definitely finished this book much faster. It had almost everything I ever want in my thrillers and it did not disappoint. I will definitely be picking up the rest of Lapena's books very soon.

To begin with, The Couple Next Door is about a couple, Anne and Marco, who have an infant daughter and one night they go to a dinner party next door and leave their baby in her crib whilst keeping an eye on her through the baby monitor. In a shocking turn of events, the baby goes missing and things start to unravel for all the parties involved. I freaking loved this plot! I thought it was unique and fresh and there were nonstop thrills all throughout this book. I prefer my thrillers to contain shock value all throughout and this book did not disappoint on that front. It definitely kept me reading and holding onto the edge of my seat because I wanted to know what would happen and the fate of all the characters involved.

Further on, the characterization was good. I didn't think it was extraordinarily great but it was good, above average. I got to know the characters and their dark flaws and secrets but there was still the feeling of being kept at a distance, in my opinion. It might have also had something to do with the writing style. For this reason, I didn't get too attached to the characters but because the story was so exciting and thrilled me to the bone, I still wanted to find out what the outcome would be for all of them. Either way, it was not bad, not bad at all.

Finally, the writing style is the thing that I have most trouble with in Lapena's novels. It is a very particular style choice and takes a while to get used to but once you get used to it, the story definitely begins to flow. I find her writing a bit over simplistic, even for me and I often feel- the simpler, the better. But not in this case. Also, the tense it's written in might have something to do with that as well, it just doesn't seem to flow as well with this tense choice. Either way, it wasn't bad and didn't take away my enjoyment of the book and the story itself.

In conclusion, I absolutely loved this book and am not surprised that it's a New York Times Bestseller because the plot was something else entirely, in a good way. I would recommend this book to any and all thriller lovers, especially those looking for a very exciting and unputdownable read. You won't be disappointed!

Hmmmmm.....I really enjoyed this book, I really did. Is it a new favorite? Definitely not. I just don't think that the pacing of this book was as fast as I would have liked it to be. I really prefer thrillers that reveal concrete things all throughout the book, like little nuggets of information that give you another puzzle piece as to who the killer is and what happened. I feel like it did that a little bit but it was few and far in between. I am happy that I didn't guess the ending and all the different povs were easy to follow but this book just didn't give me the five star feeling. Also, the way it was written took me out of the story a bit too and I couldn't connect fully to the characters for this reason. Overall it was a very enjoyable thriller but nothing special or mind blowing.

This was my first novel by Shari Lapena and it did not disappoint. I don't think it was anything magical or extraordinary but it did all the things I want my thriller novels to do- it shocked, excited and took me unawares. I have never had an easier time getting through a novel and I am officially in love with Lapena's writing style and will be reading all her other works as soon as possible. I don't think it was the most shocking or mind blowing thriller ever but it still took me by surprise and I was not able to foresee the ending, even a little bit. Consider me a fan!

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena is about a group of people who get snowed in inside of a beautiful hotel and as people start getting murdered, things transpire and nerves run rampant. This is not my first “locked-in”, murderer amongst them novel and yet it was extremely enjoyable. The plot isn't anything amazing or earth-shattering but the way that the story was delivered, it was more than able to keep my attention for the long haul. It also really helped that I could not guess who the murderer was for the life of me, so I am an instant fan. Also the snowed-in atmosphere aspect of it was very enjoyable.

Further on, the characterization was above average. Because Shari Lapena's writing is very direct and to the point, we weren't able to get as in-depth into the characters as I would have preferred and yet I found all the different individuals fascinating and they didn't aggravate me in the least. Also, I had no problem remembering who was who and that made the reading experience even better. We definitely got a good taste into who all the people were, if not really into their souls or beyond. All in all, not bad.

Thirdly, the writing style was my favorite part of this whole novel. Often, I have a hard time just letting go and escaping into a story because I feel like I have to go back and reread parts of the novel for fear of having missed something crucial because the writing was so complex. Not with this book. On the contrary, I sped through the book like I've never sped through a book before in my life and I was able to finish it in record time for me. I love that Lapena's writing is so direct and to the point and she never beats around the bush. What a treat! I will be picking up her other novels, if only just for that.

In conclusion, this novel was extremely enjoyable to me even if the premise was somewhat predictable and overdone. I wasn't able to guess who the murderer was but maybe other more seasoned thriller readers would be able to. It's not a book that I would undoubtedly recommend to everyone but for people getting into the thriller genre I think it would be more than enjoyable.

I didn't know it was possible but I can say with all honesty that this book was a little too much for me. I wanted to give it the full five stars but there were some things and some parts of the book that just didn't do it for me, although in all this book is fantastic and a very intense, dark read.

It took me finishing the whole book to understand what made me feel that the book was too much for me, it was the lack of different perspectives and seeing things from different character's eyes. At first, I took the main character's truth as the actual truth but soon realized that he was very biased and deluded in his love for the heroine, V. This not being able to trust him and his words anymore really made me feel uneasy and didn't give me any real sense of closure, since his obsessiveness with V didn't let go for even a moment and we never really found out the actual truth, just what we could construct from his overly false sense of it.

The plot was also not the most exciting one, although it did have some more exciting moments towards the end, after starting off very slowly. I prefer books with a real mystery in it but this was just a simple crime, followed by everyone's different versions and reconstructions of the events that led up to the main crime. I hate that even after the book has been read, I have no concrete knowledge of who is lying and who is telling the truth, just my own opinions. I came out of this book with more questions than I started with and that is something I am not used to when it comes to reading novels.

The main character, Mike, he is very well developed and because we are always in his head, we get a very complete sense of who he is, although we can't be sure that what he is saying and also thinking is completely accurate to the events as they transpire. I have not come across such a complicated, conflicted and wonderfully intricate character in a novel in a very long time and that really pushed me to keep reading, even when the plot was mediocre at best.

The writing style was pretty good too, although it didn't flow as effortlessly as I would have preferred and the sentences themselves could have been cut down and made just a tiny bit more simple. Although now that I am writing this, I realize that the style of the writing makes more sense when I think about who's head all these thoughts are happening in and in that case, the writing fits very well in this individual situation.

All in all, this book had a lot of things I loved and also some that I didn't really care for. Maybe because I am already quite an intense and emotional person myself, the point of view of the main character was a bit too overwhelming for me, especially since it extended for the whole book. Maybe it just feels unnerving to me because as crazy as the main character is, I can also understand and see his perspective, even if I don't quite agree with it. I would recommend this book for someone who is looking for an INTENSE reading experience and wants to be completely immersed into the mind of someone obsessed with another person, not really someone looking for the most unique and exciting plot. I quite enjoyed it but it was definitely not a personal favorite.

I have been meaning to read an Alafair Burke novel for quite some time, since I have seen my favorite YouTuber (Audrey from Chapters and Converse) talk about her, and I am so glad that I finally did! I chose this book at random through my books-that-I-already-own-on-my-shelf wheel and am so glad that I did! It didn't completely blow me away but it was a very strong and solid court procedural type of thriller, where we try to figure out the truth amidst “he-said, she-said”. I haven't read that many court type of novels and they're definitely not my favorite but I really enjoyed this book and was pretty invested in the story.

To begin with, The Wife is about this woman, Angela, who's famous husband gets accused of sexual assault by a young intern. When he gets accused of something even more sinister, Angela has to chose whether to stand behind her man or put herself and her son first and keep her own secrets safe. I haven't read that many law procedural novels and wasn't sure how I was going to feel going into this but I definitely liked it. I would say that this particular trope in thrillers and mysteries isn't my absolute favorite but I still had a fun time reading it. I thought the pacing could've been a little faster to add a little more shock value to the story but it wasn't bad by any means. I prefer my novels to have a lot more twists and turns than this one had but I thought it was very well written and even though I was able to guess the ending halfway through the book, there were minor twists that I didn't guess or see coming whatsoever. In all, it wasn't bad.

Further on, the characterization was okay. It wasn't particularly memorable and the characters didn't resonate with me all that much but it was fun to be shocked by the actions of this woman who made absolutely no sense to me and whom is still a mystery because of the actions that she took and the way that she chose to act in particular situations. I thought that we could have gone more in depth into her psyche, especially given her tragic background but even so, I enjoyed getting to know this complicated woman and peeling the layers, one at a time. Nothing extraordinary but enjoyable nonetheless.

Finally, the writing style is what resonated with me the most in this novel. It propelled me forward and made me keep reading, even when I wasn't the most intrigued as to what was happening in the book. As I have stated multiple times, I love writing that is precise and to the point, without being choppy, and that is what I found to be the case in this book. I could picture things as they were happening and the author didn't go into too much description, for which I am grateful because that can to be a little too much in my opinion.

In conclusion, even though this book isn't one of my favorite court procedural mysteries of all time, it's not a bad one, especially for beginners to the genre, who are still trying to see if that whole trope is for them or not. Also, it's a relatively quick read so I would give it a try if you're curious and the synopsis catches your interest.

This book definitely redeemed itself a little in the very end but it took way too long to get there. I'm glad I didn't DNF but it didn't need to be this dang long! Also, it was a bit repetitive in the first 70% of it. Enjoyable when I got to the end but mediocre at best.