Book Review: A Stranger on the Beach: A Novel by Michelle Campbell. Thriller/Suspense

Hello dear Readers,

My book review of A Stranger on the Beach: A Novel by Michelle Campbell.

Title: A Stranger on the Beach: A Novel 

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Author: Michelle Campbell

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: July 23, 2019

Language: English

Hardcover: 352 pages
Meet the Author: Michelle Campbell
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

From bestselling author Michele Campbell comes A Stranger on the Beach, an edge-of-your seat story of passion and intrigue that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Caroline Stark’s beach house was supposed to be her crowning achievement: a lavish, expensive space to showcase what she thought was her perfect family. But after a very public fight with her husband, she realizes things may not be as perfect as they seem: her husband is lying to her, the money is disappearing, and there’s a stranger on the beach outside her house.

As Caroline’s marriage and her carefully constructed lifestyle begin to collapse around her, she turns to Aidan, the stranger, for comfort…and revenge. After a brief and desperate fling that means nothing to Caroline and everything to him, Aidan’s infatuation with Caroline, her family, and her house becomes more and more destructive. But who is manipulating whom in this deadly game of obsession and control? Who will take the blame when someone ends up dead…and what is Caroline hiding?

My Thoughts

While it was an enjoyable and intriguing read, I found myself confused at times and struggling to connect with the characters and keeping up with the story. Kind of a slow start for me, then it picked up but in general, struggled a lot with the writing. 

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the free advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Wendy

Book Review: The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke-Thriller/Suspense

Hello dear Readers,

My book review of The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke.

Title: The Two Lila Bennetts

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Author: Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Publication Date: July 23, 2019

Language: English

Paperback: 320 pages
Meet the Author: Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

“One fateful decision. Two unexpected endings. A perfect summer read!” —Wendy Walker, bestselling author of The Night Before

Lila Bennett’s bad choices have finally caught up with her. And one of those decisions has split her life in two. Literally.

In one life, she’s taken hostage by someone who appears to be a stranger but knows too much. As she’s trapped in a concrete cell, her kidnapper forces her to face what she’s done or be killed. In an alternate life, she eludes her captor but is hunted by someone who is dismantling her happiness, exposing one secret at a time.

Lila’s decorated career as a criminal defense attorney, her marriage, and her life are on the line. She must make a list of those she’s wronged—both in and out of the courtroom—to determine who is out to get her before it’s too late. But even if she can pinpoint her assailant, will she survive? And if she does, which parts of her life are worth saving, and which parts must die? Because one thing’s for certain—life as Lila Bennett knew it is over.

My Thoughts

"Stop. No one is all good or all bad. And life isn't black and white. You of all people should understand that. We do our best."
"But what if I haven't'? Done my best?" I whisper.
"Then go fix it," she says simply. "That's all we can do when we make mistakes. Try to make them right."

And it gets better with every book this writing duo publishes. Liz and Lisa managed to delivery another perfect, clever read. 

Love these books where we have multiple POV's, the what ifs, the possible scenarios, the possible endings, the twists in events and the totally unexpected ending. Love that Lisa and Liz always prove me wrong when it comes to believing that I "had it figure out", when in fact, I was not nearly close to it, and we end up with that unexpected outcome which always surprises me, in a good way.

What I love the most about the Two Lila Bennetts is the main character itself, Lila. Her determination to right her wrongs, to change, to do what is right despite the possibility of losing everything. How the subject of the decisions we make in life is present throughout the whole book, the importance of family, how we deal with our decisions and how these affect the people around us, our love ones. How one good or bad decision can change our lives forever. 

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the free advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Wendy

Book Review: Lock Every Door: A Novel-by Riley Sager-Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Hello dear Readers,

My book review of Lock Every Door: A Novel by Riley Sager.

Title: Lock Every Door: A Novel

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

Author: Riley Sager

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: July 02, 2019

Language: English

Hardcover: 384 pages
Meet the Author: Riley Sager
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

The next heart-pounding thriller from New York Times bestselling author Riley Sager follows a young woman whose new job apartment sitting in one of New York’s oldest and most glamorous buildings may cost more than it pays.

No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen’s new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind.

As she gets to know the residents and staff of the Bartholomew, Jules finds herself drawn to fellow apartment sitter Ingrid, who comfortingly reminds her of the sister she lost eight years ago. When Ingrid confides that the Bartholomew is not what it seems and the dark history hidden beneath its gleaming facade is starting to frighten her, Jules brushes it off as a harmless ghost story . . . until the next day, when Ingrid disappears.

Searching for the truth about Ingrid’s disappearance, Jules digs deeper into the Bartholomew's sordid past and into the secrets kept within its walls. What she discovers pits Jules against the clock as she races to unmask a killer, expose the building’s hidden past, and escape the Bartholomew before her temporary status becomes permanent.

My Thoughts

One of my most anticipated releases of 2019 and soo happy and lucky I got an early copy. Thank you so so much Dutton and Netgalley.

I love Riley Sager's books, there is no other way to put it. His writing, the characters, the setting, always on point and deliver not only a great story but an unforgettable one.

Lock Every Door. No visitors. No nights spent away from the apartment. No disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both. These are the only rules for Jules Larsen’s new job as an apartment sitter at the Bartholomew, one of Manhattan's most high-profile and mysterious buildings. Recently heartbroken and just plain broke, Jules is taken in by the splendor of her surroundings and accepts the terms, ready to leave her past life behind.

And with this, we embark ourselves in finding out if it is that good to be true. And what we find? What Jules finds? Oh man, something totally unexpected, twisted, dark. She finds herself having to pay a really high prize to be there. She starts seeing things, suspecting things, which take her on this journey of finding the true, the reality of what the Bartholomew and its residents hide.

Lock Every Door is all you want to see on a great thriller and more. As a said, I love Riley's books but have to say this is my favorite out of the three. Jules is a character that whether with like it or not, gets in our minds and is almost like we are there with her, going through all she goes through. And I loved the turn in events, because I was definitely not expecting what was hidden behind doors a the Bartholomew. 

Thanks to the Author for another treasure of a book. Keep them coming.

Thank you Dutton and Netgalley for the free advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Wendy

Book Review: We Came Here to Forget: A Novel by Andrea Dunlop-Contemporary/Fiction

Hello dear Readers,

My book review of We Came Here to Forget: A Novel by Andrea Dunlop.

Title: We Came Here to Forget: A Novel

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary/Fiction

Author: Andrea Dunlop

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: July 02, 2019

Language: English

Hardcover: 320 pages
Meet the Author: Andrea Dunlop
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

From the author of She Regrets Nothing, which BuzzFeed called a “sharp, glittering story of wealth, family, and fate,” comes a vivid novel about a young Olympic skier who loses everything and escapes to Buenos Aires, where she reinvents herself, meets a colorful group of ex-pats, and becomes enmeshed with a man keeping dark secrets of his own.

Katie Cleary has always known exactly what she wants: to be the best skier in the world. As a teenager, she leaves her home to live and train full time with her two best friends, all-American brothers Luke and Blair, whose wealthy father has hired the best coaches money can buy. Together, they are the USA’s best shot at bringing home Olympic gold.

But as the upward trajectory of Katie’s elite skiing career nears its zenith, a terrifying truth about her sister becomes impossible to ignore—one that will lay ruin not only to Katie’s career but to her family and her relationship with Luke and Blair.

With her life shattered and nothing left to lose, Katie flees the snowy mountainsides of home for Buenos Aires. There, she reinvents herself as Liz Sullivan, and meets a colorful group of ex-pats and the alluring, charismatic Gianluca Fortunado, a tango teacher with secrets of his own. This beautiful city, with its dark history and wild promise, seems like the perfect refuge, but can she really outrun her demons?

In alternating chapters, Katie grows up, falls in love, and races down the highest peaks on the planet—while Liz is reborn, falls into lust, and sinks into the underground tango scene at the bottom of the world. From the moneyed ski chalets of the American West to the dimly lit milongas of Argentina, We Came Here to Forget explores what it means to dream, to desire, to achieve—and what’s left behind after it all disappears.

My Thoughts

This was my first Andrea Dunlop book and I enjoyed it a lot. Liked the dual perspective, alternating chapters. A surprisingly emotional read for me. Fast paced and a very interesting plot. 

Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the free advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Wendy