Mindy

After enjoying Sager's debut novel, Final Girls, I was excited to get my hands on his follow-up novel.

The Last Time I Lied follows Emma, who after a traumatic visit to summer camp in which 3 campers when missing when she was 13, decides to go back and face her demons. Back at camp, things are definitely not what they seem, especially as she questions who was responsible for her missing bunkmates - Vivian, Natalie, and Allison. As strange occurrence happen around the camp, Emma is convinced that the person behind the disappearance of her friends is back for more.

Sager's second novel is a great mystery that will leave you guessing with every page you turn. I'll admit that I didn't see the ending coming, and it left me pleasantly surprised. The writing is fantastic, and the story is strong. If you want a good mystery, definitely give this one a try.

I have to start by saying that I adore Joe Biden and Barack Obama. And to have a book that is a buddy adventure mystery novel is probably the greatest thing to happen since the two left office. Seriously, if you love B-rack and Joey-B, this is definitely the book for you.

I loved seeing an “inside look” at how Joe looks up to Barack and misses him once they left office and went their respective ways. The book is a fun adventure with jokes and witticisms that left me chuckling. I think the Shaffer did a great job of providing us with a fun adventure, and honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing more of these adventures.

What a fantastic book!

I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel, as it was an advanced reader copy, but I am super excited to have read it!

The book follows Finn, whose girlfriend disappeared 12 years earlier. He has moved on, and after announcing his engagement to his girlfriend's sister, mementos begin to appear. Is his former girlfriend back, or is there a far more sinister plot going on?

As I said, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I greatly enjoyed this book. It features a well-told mystery and plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing throughout. Based on how much I enjoyed this novel, I definitely want to check out other works by B.A. Paris.

I want to start by saying that I was given an advanced reader copy of this novel.

We've read books or seen movies about the evil child wreaking havoc upon families while acting like a sweet little angel when called out on their behavior. Baby Teeth takes this model and amps it up to 11. You have Hannah, precious angel to her father and demonic beast to her mother.

I think what sets Baby Teeth apart from similar stories is the fact that Hannah is seven and she cannot speak. The terror she inflicts upon her mother is cunning and calculating, far more frightening due to her young age and refusal to speak to her family. She plays her father like a fool, endearing herself to him so that he cannot possibly take his wife's side whenever Hannah causes problems. But will it always be that way?

Zoje Stage has crafted a fantastic tale of mother and daughter, leaving you to question what's really happening in this family's home. And for a first novel, Stage knocks it out of the park. The book is cleverly crafted, and the writing is wonderful. When this book comes out, you should definitely grab a copy. It'll keep you riveted until the very end, and then some. Seriously, I need there to be a sequel to this fantastic thriller.

#BabyTeethBook #BadSeed

This book uses the unlikeable narrator who learns to be a better person plot device. Unfortunately, the narrator is such a horrific human being that I struggled for any way to relate to her. The book, itself, is well-written, though the plot is cliche. I wanted to like it, as I'm a huge fan of Jen Lancaster. This one, unfortunately, just wasn't for me.

I want to start by acknowledging that I received an advanced readers' edition of this book from the publisher.

My Ex-Life tells the tale of Julie, her daughter Mandy, and her first husband David, whose coming out ended their marriage. As Julie's world begins to fall apart following her separation from her second husband, Mandy reaches out to David in the hopes that he can set things right. What follows is the story of a summer filled with ups and downs for all three as they navigate modern issues, including Airbnb, dating, and burgeoning sexuality.

This book is definitely an interesting read. McCauley approaches the age in which we live with with humor and a sharp wit. Having never read his works, I appreciated that way in which he crafted his characters and their approaches to life. Of course, I struggled with how I felt about this book overall. It is well crafted, but it is a slow read. I stepped away from the book quite a few times since I started reading it nearly a month ago, because I struggled to connect with it. I also struggled to describe it whenever anyone asked what it was about, because it just seems a little too much like a regular, somewhat boring life.

If you're a fan of McCauley or are interested in perspectives on modern life, I encourage you to read this. Just because I didn't fully love it, doesn't mean that you won't.

FBI agent Riley Lambert has been working to find her sister, who was abducted fifteen years earlier. When Thayne Blackwood calls asking for Riley's help to find his missing sister, she can't help but rush to his side. As they track Cheyenne, Riley finds herself wondering if the same man who took her sister might be responsible. Great pacing and a slow burn plot. The romantic tension between Riley & Thayne is fantastic.

I've been both a Jonathan Maberry and Joe Ledger fan for about a decade or so, and I'll be honest, this is yet another fantastic story in the series. The plot follows Ledger as the Department of Military Sciences is falling apart, losing case after case. As Ledger and his team struggle to find out what's happening, they go on a wild, science fiction ride.

If you've followed the Ledger series, you know they've taken on terrifyingly real versions of paranormal threats, and this book is no exception. Mayberry does a great job of reeling in readers and stringing them along as the mystery is solved and the day is (hopefully) saved.

For those who have never read Mayberry or have only read the Rot & Ruin or Pine Deep series, I recommend starting with the first Ledger book. If you love thrilling action and a great mystery, you will not be disappointed with any of the 8 books in the series.

Read this book!

2016 had seen the publishing of some incredible books, and this is one of the best. Reading the description on the dust jacket doesn't even begin to set you up for the support contained within the pages. It's a whirlwind of a journey as you learn more about the library and it's inhabitants, and honestly, it was hard to stop reading. I loved seeing this world, and I'm thankful to the author for giving us this look at Carolyn, Steve and the others. I'd love any future looks at this world. High recommend.

Jess Moulson is accused of a horrific crime that she has no memory of. After being found guilty, she is sent to Fellside, a women's prison in the Yorkshire moors. While there, she has to battle her demons and the inmates of the prison.

I don't want to say too much about this book, as Carey has written a phenomenal tale that will catch you by surprise in several ways. I will say this, though. If you like supernatural tales, then Fellside is a great read. The writing is superb, and the end, while surprising, was compelling. Check it out.

Normally, with anthologies, I find myself all over the map with the stories inside. Some, I adore; others, just fail to catch me. This is one of the few that kept my attention all throughout, whose stories all entertained me. If you're a fan of ghost stories, who doesn't necessarily need to be scared, then this is for you. The stories range from terrifying to comedic, and they all are great reads.

Alex Chen is one of the hottest chefs in the area of French haute cuisine, but his love for food is waning. When Eden Monroe joins his kitchen, he finds that the adorably perky sous chef is sparking his interest, not just for food but also in her. But Eden has a secret: she never finished culinary school. If she's found out, her career would be over, and she'd never get the money she needs to find her family. Can these two chefs navigate the kitchen and their growing feelings, or will everything implode?

I absolutely loved this book. Kwan does an excellent job of building incredibly likable characters and putting them in a high-stakes setting while building a beautiful romance. She does a great job of building the tension as the stakes grow, and I was so worried, she would break my heart with an awful third-act breakup. Spoiler alert: thankfully, there isn't one (I hate them so much!). Instead, readers get a great story about two characters finding themselves and learning what is important. I highly recommend this read!

For those of us Millenials who grew up loving shows like Dawson's Creek, you'll love this novel.

Brynn's life sucks. She's newly divorced and unlucky at love. On the night of her 30th birthday, she goes out with “friends” and finds herself promptly ignored. Thankfully, she's saved from a disastrous night by her roommate, Josh, at the bar where he works. Josh gets her home safe, where she can watch her favorite show, Carson's Cove. But a birthday wish for a better life winds up with both Brynn and Josh being sucked into Carson's Cove. Not only do they have to navigate this new world, but Brynn is required to give the show's leads the happy ending they never got. But threatening that is her newfound feelings for Josh. Can she save the show and get them back to the real world?

I absolutely love this book. The main characters are relatable and fun, and the premise is literally out of this world. Kate Robb tells a great story filled with humor, passion, and magic. I love this so much I now want to check out Robb's first book.

A fun and engaging murder mystery that kept me turning the pages.

Capri's grandfather is the notorious Overkill Bill, but for as long as she's known about her grandfather's crimes, she has been convinced that he was innocent. Years after his death, a woman is brutally murdered using Overkill Bill's M.O. And then another, this time, Capri's monster-in-law. With the focus of the murders on her and her daughter, Capri knows it's up to her to find the killer and clear her grandfather's name.

As I said, this is a fun read. While the murders are dark, Capri is a ray of light and makes the story quite engaging. The cast of supporting characters kept the story fresh, and of course, the city of San Francisco is its own character here. Really recommend this to anyone who loves a good murder mystery that, while its subject matter is dark, manages to keep the whole thing light and refreshing.

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I opened this book, but I immediately found myself drawn into this world. Mathieu follows the employees of Baldwin High School in the aftermath of the death of a beloved former teacher, who had been serving as a substitute. Each chapter shines a spotlight on one of the employees, from the brand new teacher who found the body to the principal who is trying to keep the district officials off his back. The chapters run the gamut from heartbreaking to hopeful and everywhere in between. I connected with each character and understood their experiences and choices.

If you're looking for a fairly quick read with a cast of motley characters, this is the book for you. Mathieu's experience working as a K-12 educator brings this book to life. I highly recommend it.

When Molly inherits her late aunt's horse ranch, she also inherits Shani, the grumpy farrier who expected to receive the business. Molly plans to fix up the farm and sell it to fund her event planning business, much to Shani's chagrin.

This is a cute enemies to lovers spicy romcom. While I don't usually like enemies to lovers as a trope, this one really worked for me. I think it also helped that Molly was out of her depth but still fought to make things right. My only issue with the book is that Molly's best friend did something unforgivable, but it was never resolved, but that didn't detract from the overall story. I still highly recommend it.

What a fun and clever murder mystery.

Annie is called to the house of her eccentric aunt Frances to learn about the elder woman's updated will. Of course, before they meet for the first time, Frances is found dead, Even more interesting, her death had been predicted when she was a teen by a local psychic. Frances had spent the rest of her life trying to solve it. Of course, there are quite the cast of characters who could be behind the murder. A budding mystery writer, Annie decides it's on her to figure out who killed her aunt.

This story is a delightful read. The cast is quite fun, and the plot is quite clever. As you read, you're not only learning about Annie's investigation but about Frances' youth as well, especially how her best friend goes missing around the time she meets her husband.

I have nothing negative to say about this book. It's that good!

What an incredible debut novel. I found myself in love with every piece of this book. The world is so wonderfully built. The story is absolutely gripping. And the characters, oh my, gripe characters are so well-developed.

Nora is your everywoman. She's so relatable, and the. She gets pulled into the incredible world and is allowed to do things every woman has dreamt about. I could go on and on about how easy it is to fall into Nora's world and join her for the adventures she undertakes.

It's weird how much I fell in love with this book. Emily Croy Barker created such an incredible world. It was hard not to just lose myself in the world the same way Nora did. I haven't had a book pull me in so deep since last summer when I read The Fireman by Joe Hill. We need more books and worlds like these to get lost in. They're just perfect.

But seriously, I need the sequel to come out now. I need more!!

I just discovered Rainbow Rowell's books, and I'm already booked. She has a tremendous way with words and an instructor ability to draw you into the story. Her characters are damaged but in incredibly believable ways.

In Fangirl, she manages to bring readers a strong story of love, loss, and geekdom. Cather is someone any person who has ever experienced anxiety, grief, and love will connect with instantly. And the story managed to give me butterflies, something I never expected.

I'm excited to read Carry On, which stems from this novel. And I'm excited to read more of Rowell's works.

This was a very intriguing read. Overall, I enjoyed it. I've not read anything by North before, but I definitely will check out her other works.

This book started off a bit slow as a family is turned on its head with the revelation that a girl has come forward claiming to be their long, lost daughter. But about midway through, North throws something at you that completely changes the trajectory of the book. She had hinted at it, but she left you questioning what was going on. And honestly, even after the twist, she continues to string you along with hints that something is going on. After a few more twists and turns, you're left with a stunning reveal. Even if you saw the end coming, the ride is wild enough that you don't even care. Seriously, this was an enjoyable book.

Kate Bishop has had many adventures, but when she takes on Kingpin and a children's book series that has the ability to hypnotize people, she faces one of the more unique challenges of her career as a superhero. Can she keep the books from falling into Kingpin's hands while battling the effects of the hypnotism?

What I love about this book is that you get to see Kate's heart. And you get to see a wonderful cast of supporting characters, including America Chavez, Clint Barton, and Kamala Khan. The case she's trying to solve is a great adventure.

I love Ashley Poston's fiction work, especially Geekarella. It's great to see her take on the Marvel world. She's crafted a fun and creative adventure. I loved reading this and seeing what crazy new thing was going to happen next. Plus, she did a phenomenal job of bringing this diverse cast of characters to life. I highly recommend this read.