Review: Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

Title: Something in the Water 

Author:  Catherine Steadman
Publisher: Ballantine Books

Publishing Date:  June 5th, 2018

Pages: 352
Genre: Adult Suspense Thriller

Series: Stand Alone
Source:  Audio

 

A shocking discovery on a honeymoon in paradise changes the lives of a picture-perfect couple in this taut psychological thriller debut--for readers of Ruth Ware, Paula Hawkins, and Shari Lapena.
Erin and Mark seem to have it all: he's a successful banker, she's a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough; they're young and in love, about to embark on their dream honeymoon to Bora Bora. But when, after a blissful day of scuba diving, they discover a mysterious bag filled with incalculable riches, their subsequent choices trigger a sequence of events that will change their lives--and their marriage--forever.

This was a really good read. I enjoyed the mystery, the twists, the psychological terror.
I hardly find a psychological thriller that actually makes me worry, bite my nails, and tremble in my seat. This book was all of that. It really had me is some horrible suspense. 

Erin and Mark are on their honeymoon. They have planned their wedding and honeymoon for months now and things fell apart a bit for the wedding. Things had to change when money became an issue. They decided to take their honeymoon as planned. While on honeymoon many things happen, the most important is what they found when they were scuba diving. This can change their lives forever. The only issue, danger comes with it. A danger that can kill them. This event that happened on their honeymoon seems to put stress on their new marriage and things just seem to go all wrong. 

This was a very good read. It did start off a little slow for me. Maybe not slow enough to keep me uninterested. The story was building around Mark and Erin. The kind of life they lived, the way the felt for each other, the worries that seem to surround them. The mystery was a bit to take off. It seemed to take a bit to get to their honeymoon and the thing they find. The entire premise of the book is wrapped around this event, to me, it seemed to take longer than I would want to get to this event. That is okay though because once it did the story just took off and I couldn't put it down. 

The story was interesting, the mystery riveting, but really had me on edge was the suspense. I just didn't know what was going to happen. To be honest for the second half of the book I was just always on edge waiting for something to jump out at me and scream BOO. It's been a while since a book has done this to me. The author did an excellent job of freaking me out for sure. 

I didn't quite connect to the characters as I would have liked. I liked Erin well enough. The story is told from her point of view and I was able to get to know her. She made some bad choices and seemed to have some deeper issues, but I liked her and I was rooting for her. 

Mark, I didn't really feel at all. I guess I just couldn't because I couldn't get into his head. I couldn't understand him or get a good feel for him. He seemed to just be there at times. In the end, I guess this wasn't an issue since the story felt more like Erin's story really. 

The only issue besides the slow start that I had a hard time with was the ending. There were some things that just weren't wrapped up for me and I had so many questions at the end. I feel there were loose ends. I needed to know who the bad guys were and what they wanted. I didn't get this. But there was closure for Erin and Mark's story. So that was good. 

I can say the ending was exciting and I was panicky and shocked and everything I like to feel in an ending to a thriller. So that was good. The story was also full of twists and turns. This part of a psychological thriller was fulfilled. 

Really this was a very good read and it hit all the major points for me. 

Loved It! 

Catherine Steadman is an actress and writer based in North London. She is known for her roles in Downton Abbey and Tutankhamun, starring alongside Sam Neill, as well as shows including Breathless, The Inbetweeners, The Tudors, and Fresh Meat.

In 2017 she will feature in political thriller Fearless and new BBC comedy Bucket. She also has appeared on stage in the West End including Oppenheimer for the RSC, for which she was nominated for a 2016 Laurence Olivier Award.

Something in the Water is her first novel.

Review: Monday's Not Coming By Tiffany D. Jackson

Title:  Monday's Not Coming

Author:  Tiffany D. Jackson
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books 

Publishing Date:  May 28th, 2018

Pages: 448
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction, Mystery

Series:  Stand Alone
Source:  Audio

 

A gripping, relentless, and timely new novel from the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly, Tiffany D. Jackson, about the complex mystery of one teenage girl’s disappearance and the traumatic effects of the truth.
Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable—more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn’t turn up for the first day of school, Claudia’s worried. When she doesn’t show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn’t just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year’s rumors and not with her grades on the line. Now Claudia needs her best—and only—friend more than ever. But Monday’s mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday’s sister April is even less help.
As Claudia digs deeper into her friend’s disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone?

I received this book as an ARC but I wasn't sure I was going to read it. I think the only reason why is the cover looks boring to me. I know I know don't judge a book by its cover. Anyways, it came out on audio and I have heard amazing things about this author... so I decided to give it a try. Oh, my goodness. I loved this book. It was hard, it was difficult, it made me cry, it made me yell, it made me want to throw something but it was so so so amazing and beautifully written. 

Monday and Claudia have been friends for a very long time. They know each other's secrets, they are there for each other, they love each other.  The only time they are apart for a long period of time is when Claudia spends the summer with her grandmother. This summer when Claudia returns, Monday is missing. She doesn't show up at school, her phone is disconnected, no one seems to know where she is. Claudia sets out on a mission to find Monday and finds out that Monday had secrets. Horrible secrets.

This book was so good but so hard to read. It was difficult to get through because of the hurt and the damage and the things that are so wrong in the lives of some kids. This book brings light to all those things. The things we know exist but if we don't see it we can pretend it's not happening. This book lit it all up and boy did it hurt, but it was also beautiful. 

This story was beautiful because it was about family and friendship and love. Claudia had these things and didn't realize not everyone did. She had a good family, they loved her and they kept her safe and fed and happy. She had a best friend that loved her for who she was. She had a good life. Until Monday went missing. 

The story is told from Claudia's point of view, and it rotates between timelines of when Monday was around, Monday missing, and after they find out why Monday was missing. It does get confusing at times. But in the end, it all makes sense and comes together. I love the mixed timeline and even though it did confuse me at times, I felt it added to the intensity. 

Claudia was a great character. I felt she didn't know how beautiful or smart or wonderful she was. She went to a school with mean kids and she just didn't have the self-worth she needed. She found her self-worth in Monday. Monday came off like she had confidence but really had no self-worth either. This kind of characters just saddens me because there are so many teenagers and kids out there that feel this and just need someone to look out for them. 

That is what made me mad in this story. No one was looking out for Monday. There were signs of her home life everywhere. She was bruised, she was distant, she was dirty, the signs were there. No one knew of the bullying, the name calling, the rumors. No one knew these things because no one cared to look, or if they did they didn't see the severity because they didn't know what to do. So just ignore the problem, maybe it will go away. 

This book was real and raw and hard and damaged and so much heartache. BUT it was so worth the read.

Just so good! So so GOOD!

Tiffany D. Jackson is a TV professional by day, novelist by night, awkward black girl 24/7. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Film from Howard University and her Master of Arts in Media Studies from The New School University. A Brooklyn native, she is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves with her adorable chihuahua Oscar, most likely multitasking.

Review: Puddin' by Julie Murphy

Title: Puddin

Author:  Julie Murphy
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Publishing Date:  May 8th, 2018

Pages: 448
Genre: YA Contemporary, Coming of Age

Series:  Dumplin #2
Source:  Audio

 

It is a companion novel to Dumplin', which follows supporting characters from the first book in the months after Willowdean's star turn in the Clover City pageant.

Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every year since she was a girl. Not this year. This year she has new plans to chase her secret dream—and to kiss her crush. Callie Reyes is the pretty girl who is next in line for dance team captain and has the popular boyfriend. But when it comes to other girls, she’s more frenemy than a friend. When circumstances bring the girls together over the course of a semester, they will surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realizing they might have more in common than they ever imagined.

I was so excited to see that Julie Murphy was coming out with another book in the Dumplin' world. I absolutely adored Dumplin. The second one did not disappoint. I loved this one even more than the first if that was even possible. More humor, more characters to love, more fun to be had. This book was just more and I loved it. 

Millie is a big girl. She has lived with this her entire life. She has learned to ignore the jokes, deal with fat people clothes, and just be herself. She was always true to herself. This summer there is a chance to start her dreams with a summer class at the University of Texas. Her mother wants her to go to fat camp once instead. She has that to worry about, but there are more. She feels her friends are getting distant from her, her uncle's gym was vandalized, and the mean girl is now working with her. This year is full of stressful things, but Millie learns how to stand up for herself and be there for others. 

Callie is the popular girl, on the dance team, hot boyfriend, her life seems to be going well. That is until everything falls apart, the dance team loses funding, she decided to vandalize private property, and she gets caught. Now she has to quite the dance team, lose her boyfriend, friends, and freedom, and she has to work at the gym she destroyed, with the fat annoying girl. Except maybe she's not that girl and just maybe Callie could use some different kind of friends and different kind of fun. 

I so adored this book! This book, yup, it owns my heart. I adored the first one but this one is even more. More fun, more love, more good stuff, more teary-eyed moments. This book is about loving yourself, being yourself, friendship, truths, and just finding your way in the world. I love these type of books. I think these stories are so good for teens. I mean this is pretty much the life problems of a teen. At least it was for me. Finding real friends, not giving into the social hierarchy of high school, finding who you are and what you want, and most of all loving yourself. This book was so positive. More positivity in life, please. 

What I loved about Mille, I loved her uplifting words, her outlook on life, her love for all things. Even when faced with bullies, and people who don't accept her, and hard times in life, she finds a way to be positive and joyful. She refused to let life get her down. She made her way, she made her happiness! 

Callie is great too. Well not at first. At first, she is very shallow and self-centered and whiny. But her life changes and its good for her, even if she can't see it at first. She needs to find who she wants to be, what she wants in life. She needs definition. With all the things that blind her gone, she is able to do this... with the help of Millie and the other misfits of course. She turns into a pretty cool person. It takes forever, but she gets there and in the end, I loved her! 

So the old crew is back. They are essential in the story, but not the focus. I mean friendship is the focus and they are a part of that, but they are in the background most of the time. I do wish they would have been in the story more often. I loved the slumber parties with all the girls. They are quite a bandit of misfits and its so much fun. I really do hope there are a few more books because I just love these girls. I think I would love a story from Hannah's POV. 

There is also some romance in this story, it's not as prominent as it was in Dumplin, but it's there and it's sweet and it's fun. There is a bit for Millie and a small tiny bit for Callie. It's barely there but what is there is just right. 

I really can't say enough about what is good in this book and how much I loved this book. It's just so good for the soul and so much feel good. I just can't get enough of this world and I need more. So please Ms. Murphy... there needs to be more. 

So much love... so much love! 

Julie lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her, her dog who adores her, and her cat who tolerates her. When she's not writing or trying to catch stray cats, she works at an academic library. Side Effects May Vary is Julie's debut novel.

Review: Daddy Darkest by Ellery Kane

Title: Daddy Darkest 

Author:  Ellery Kane
Publisher: Ellery Kane Publishing

Publishing Date:  June 1st, 2017

Pages: 358
Genre: Adult Psychological Thriller 

Series:  Doctors of Darkness #1
Source:  Audio

 

BURY YOUR SECRETS. BURY THEM DEEP.
A month after her high school graduation, small-town-girl Samantha "Sam" Bronwyn boards a plane with her best friend, Ginny. Destination: San Francisco. But when Ginny disappears inside an airport bathroom wearing Sam's letterman jacket, it doesn't take her long to figure out she was the intended target. Alone in a strange city, Sam's on a run for her life--drawn into a dark past she never knew existed. A past where secrets aren't all that's buried and where revenge comes at the highest price.
Who is Sam really--and who can she trust? The mysterious stranger in 4A who secreted a gun in his backpack? The guilty ex-con? The disarming FBI agent? Her own mother?
Only one thing is certain. Someone is after her. Someone who knows more about her than she does. Someone who wants to teach her a hard lesson: There are worse things than murder.
Daddy Darkest is a standalone and the first in the Doctors of Darkness series by forensic psychologist and author, Ellery Kane. Betrayal, lust, revenge, murder...These doctors earned their degrees from the dark side.

I found this book on Netgalley and thought it sounded pretty creepy so I grabbed it. I ended up listening to it on audio though since I have more time for audio in my life. I really enjoyed this book. It was creepy and it was dark. It was what I was looking for. I did feel it was a little long and had some pacing issues in the middle. But all in all, it was a really good read. 

Sam just turned 18 and has graduated high school. Her and her best friend, Jenny, decide to take a trip to San Fransisco before they start off to college. Starting from when the plane lands, trouble starts up. In the airport, Jenny disappears and on her phone are some strange messages left for Sam's mom, Claire. Speaking of Sam's mom, she didn't want Sam to take this trip. She wouldn't give a reason, but it was on the can't do it list. Sam didn't listen because she didn't know her mother had a good reason. When Sam goes looking for Jenny with a friend from the plane, Levi, she learns her mother has secrets. Lots of them and are they doozies, secrets that have a connection to a killer and one that has recently escaped from prison in San Fransisco. 

I really don't know where to start with this review. This book was creepy and freaky and really dark. I love books that have to do with the mind, and killers and everything dark. I love it when the lines are crossed or blurred. This book is that. Lines are blurred and definitely crossed, there are lots of crazies in this book. I didn't know how to feel for most of the book. In a good way though. It was just bad in a good way. 

The story, the plot, it was good. It was well written and really well done. Everything flowed nicely and left nothing to question. It was easy to follow and even though it was easy to see where the story was going there were things that were still up in the air until the entire story unfolded.

The story was told in present told from Sam's POV and the past from Claires POV,  both sides coming together to spill the entire story. As I have said before, I love these kind of stories. They just keep me invested when little bits are told at a time. I also think it gives me lots of time and space to get a feel for the characters and connect. 

I can say that I connected with Claire much easier than I did with Sam. I think Claire's POV was much more interesting and I was so into her story. Claire was so broken and lost. It was easy to see why she was making the choices she was making and it was easy to want to yell at her for making those choices. She had me so torn. I was rooting for her but I was also feeling the crazy from her. 

Sam was a pretty stable character. I think this is why I didn't connect with her as easily. She didn't need sympathy or encouragement. She didn't see herself as strong, independent, bold, or courageous, but she was. This entire event of her best friend missing really brought it out in her. She was exactly who she needed to be when she needed to be her.  

Levi was a great character. I just fell in love with him. He had ulterior motives the entire time but he also cared about Jenny and Sam. He knew what he was getting himself into and even though it started off with something he needed to do for him, he really felt for the girls and wanted to help where he could. He was a little rebellious and so charming. Loved him! 

There was romance in the book but I didn't feel like it was the focus of the story. Well, at least the present wasn't. The romance between Sam and Levi was okay, but really they didn't have time to really build that romance. They were running for lives and chasing down bad guys, and searching for Jenny most of the time. So it was on the sidelines. 

The other romance was in the past and it was a focus but I didn't care for it. It was needed for the story and was central to the story but I didn't like it. I think that was the point though, where the dark and twisted comes into the story. 

The only real issue I had with this book, the pacing, it was a little off for more and the book seemed to of dragged a bit in the middle. I was able to stay interested but I do think it was a little slow at times. 

The ending was just really good and I was so happy with the ending. I did have some feels in this book and I was torn in what I felt by the end. I look forward to more from this author. 

Really creepy and entertaining read.

Forensic psychologist by day, novelist by night, Ellery Kane has been writing--professionally and creatively--for as long as she can remember. Just like many of her main characters, Ellery loves to ask why, which is the reason she became a psychologist in the first place. Real life really is stranger than fiction, and Ellery's writing is often inspired by her day job. Evaluating violent criminals and treating trauma victims, she has gained a unique perspective on the past and its indelible influence on the individual. And she's heard her fair share of real life thrillers. An avid short story writer as a teenager, Ellery recently began writing for enjoyment again, and she hasn't stopped since.

Ellery's debut novel, Legacy, has received several awards, including winning the Gold Medal in the Independent Publisher Book Awards, young adult, e-book category, and the Gold Medal in the 2017 Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards, teenage category. In 2016, Ellery was selected as one of ten semifinalists in the MasterClass James Patterson Co-Author Competition.

Review: Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Title: Heartless 

Author:  Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends 

Publishing Date:  November 8th, 2016

Pages: 453
Genre: YA Fairytale Retelling

Series:  Stand Alone
Source:  Audio

 

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.
Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.
Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.
In her first stand-alone teen novel, the New York Times-bestselling author dazzles us with a prequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

I am ashamed to say it took me forever to read this book. I am so ashamed. Meyers is one of my favorites ever authors and I was so excited when I was able to get a signed ARC of this book at BEA. I fangirl ugly cried. Yes, there is an entire story behind it. Anyways. That was in May 2016. Well life happened, I wasn't able to read much for a long time and this book got lost on my shelves. I recently bought the audio to make time for his book and it so did not disappoint. This book rocked. It has the same signature as all her books, you don't know how far you are into it until you are 2am obsessed. Lots of feelings, great writing, and quite an adventure. 

This is the story about the Queen of Hearts before she became the Queen of Hearts. The story of when she was a sweet girl who would do anything for her parents, wanted to own a bakery and fell in love with a court joker. The story before it all went bad and she becomes something else, something evil, something changed. This is the story where heartache and loss breaks a heart that would never mend. 

I know I am late with this read, most have already read this book, but for those that have not or those that just want to know my thoughts... here is my review. I LOVED this book. I think I would love anything Meyers wrote, even her shopping list would make me feel. I really don't think there is anything she writes I wouldn't like. There is something special and beautiful and just heartfelt about her writing. Her characters are so alive and so unique. I feel everything they feel and see all they see. This book, of course, was all that and a dessert too.  

I adored Catherine. She was so brave and smart, and curious, and sweet. I adored the idea of a bakery. I loved how she treated others. She was a sweet innocent girl before she was ruined. She was mistreated by the ones she loved and treated and she put up with it with a smile. I know her parents had the best intentions for her but they didn't take the time to know her, to really see her. This broke my heart, the first of many in this book. Catherine was a sweet soul and she wanted to be loved and to love. To be happy. To be accepted. 

This happened when she met Jest, the court joker. I can't even put into words how much I totally loved Jest. He was fun. Just so much fun. He didn't start off with the best intentions but he fell hard for Catherine, and once this happened all bets were off. They only wanted their happily ever after. 

Now we all now that Catherine is going to become the nasty Queen of Hearts that yells "Off With their heads!" So we all know something is going to happen to see the events that make this sweet girl heartless. I knew it would happen but I was not prepared for it. The entire read, like an idiot, I was still rooting for a happy ending. I loved Catherine so much I just couldn't and wouldn't believe it would all go to hell. Of course, I was in denial. It does and it's heartwrenching and it made me rethink my life. Then the book ended and I didn't, truly didn't, know what to do with my life. 

Tears, yelling, dying inside... it all happened... So many feels! The end!

A favorite and will always be a favorite. I couldn't have wanted anything more from this book. 

I live in Tacoma, Washington, with my husband and beautiful twin daughters. Represented by Jill Grinberg. Learn more about me and my upcoming books at http://www.marissameyer.com.