My Mother, Munchausen's and Me

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I am a lover of true stories (although I usually lean more towards true crime), I couldn't not pick up this book. I have always been fascinated with women who have Munchausen's (and Munchhausen's by proxy). Its a captivating topic and this book did not disappoint. Throw in some good old fashioned narcissism and you've got the makings of a great book.

This book could have been called: But she's my mother.....

Helen is a woman whose mother lied to her for decades feigning illness and gathering sympathies from a myriad of people in their lives. Even going so far as to cut out those who challenged her. Helens mother states she has ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ("Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"), which severely limits her childhood as she is basically just a caretaker for her mother and the house as her mother cannot do normal activities such as housework. Over the years, after Helen marries and has kids, her mothers illness morphs into Parkinson's, which again sucks all the life from their relationship, this time ignoring the grandkids, using her more major illness as a excuse to not partake in their lives.

As the years tick by, Helen, starts to realize that her mother may be making up a lot of her symptoms. When she starts asking her mothers friends about this they respond by validating her suspicions. Even a nurse assigned to her mother says she's making it all up. The ME, the Parkinson's, its all been for show. To gain attention. She's a narcissist at her core. 

The revelation that her mother is a bold faced liar is almost too much. After her mother passes she able to read through her mothers journals that started in the 1960's and she that she's been obsessed with her health from a very early age. Even within her own journals she admits she's faking. 

I really enjoyed this book. It was sad, fascinating and a harrowing tale of a daughters devotion to her mother, only ending once she realized the horrific truth of her life. I would definitely read more by this author.

The Scarlet Pen

I really enjoyed this story. A little history and a little fiction. I love the 1800s era and this did not disappoint.

Stephen Dee Richards, donned "the Ted Bundy of the Old West" is a man from Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and is engaged to a young lady named Emma Draycott. Emma is the daughter of a local banker and does not like Stephen very much but cannot put his finger on why. When a series of counterfeit bills start showing up in town it brings Clay Timmons in. Clay is a Secret Service agent who has worked for the Pony Express in the past. He quickly finds out that Stephen has passed a few of these bills within town but has left with a companion to travel west for "business" or at least that what he's told Emma.

In reality, Stephen is a cold blooded killer. Killing 9 people over the course of three years and two states. He even killed a woman and her three children. Emma, thankfully, was informed of his misdeeds and in the end did not marry him. Instead she ends up marrying the kind and courageous Clay.

I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story, even with the changes to the history a little bit, I found the story to be well written, suspenseful and it definitely held my interest. I am a huge fan of true crime and just when I've thought I had heard about almost every serial killer out there, I am shown a new one. I had not heard of this killer or his crimes. At the end of the book the author is nice enough to show where she made the changes to the story and why.

This was a great book and I will definitely be checking out more from this author.

Couple Found Slain

When I first saw the title of this book, I was intrigued. I love a good true crime story and even better if they have photo's within the book, macabre maybe but hey what can I say, I am fascinated with that kind of stuff. Thank you to Netgalley.

However, this story is not so much about the incident, the brutal slaying of a married couple in their home by their son, but instead its about the aftermath. What happens to a man who murders his parents in a state of insanity?

Brian Bechtolds life was horrible. His parents were garbage people by all accounts. He was the last of 5 kids, a menopause baby, to a woman who didn't give a crap about being a mom let alone one so late in life. She was a horrible housekeeper, lazy and relied on her older daughters to play caretaker to the young child. One incident stuck out to me " Brian and his sister Cathy were at the local pool, when another boy dropped a watering can on his head cutting it open. The mother of the boy took Cathy and Brian home, their mother on the phone couldn't be bothered to come outside to check on him, so Cathy asked the woman to take them to the hospital so her could be treated." What kind of mother does this? Not to mention the father who was an alcoholic abusive belligerent man who beat not only his kids but his wife, punching her in the stomach when she was pregnant with Brian (gotta wonder if that played into his issues later in life).

In 1992, Brian has been living back at home after leaving DeVry college. He had been on probation on a drug charge and his probation officer said he had violated his parole by moving out of state to attend college. His father stopped paying the tuition instead of helping him to work things out with the courts so he could continue college. His life quickly fell apart after this. His mothers health had declined, she had breast cancer (karma?) and was very ill. In turn, the house deteriorated even more than before. She was unable to keep it up and his dad, who literally never helped anyway, certainly wasn't going to life a finger now even though she was dying.

Its at this time he has a breakdown and kills his parents. Shooting them with a shotgun. His dad in the kitchen and mom in her recliner. He then leaves and drives to Florida where he turns himself in to the police and confesses his crime after having read the bible for three days, Believing he had been possessed and now saved by Jesus (whose to say that didn't happen though?)

He has a trial where he is found "not criminally responsible". From here he is sent to Clifton T. Perkins, Marylands only maximum security forensic psychiatric facility. He remains here for decades while other inmates, some of whom had done just as bad or worse things, are released around him. He is seen by umpteen doctors, most of which only see his mental illness, not him, and in turn only repeat what the previous doctor has said.

The author not only speaks of Brian's misjustice, and that's how I view this story, a misjustice, but also of the ongoing abuse of patients and how they are basically just swept away into oblivion. The author states "no federal agency is charged with monitoring them; no registry or organization tracks how long they've been incarcerated, or why.....some held indefinitely." I have my own views on whether or not the government should be involved in stuff like this but at the very least there needs to be some kind of accountability. 

I found this book to be fascinating and sad all at the same time. I cannot begin to imagine what its like to have a psychotic break, to know that you committed a crime, but to also know that you wont ever do it again, only to have doctors over and over say that you aren't capable of rejoining society because you a threat to others.. I only wish the ending of the book had been more positive. I was really hoping he would get out, finally, after years of appeals, court cases and his "compliance" with the doctor in regards to medication. 

I felt the story was a compelling one, a fast read, well paced with loads of information, maybe too much at times, but still a worthy read. Especially if you, like me, have suffered from or know someone who has a mental illness. 

Have You Seen Me?

I recieved this book for free for an honest review, thank you Booksirens.

I was on the waiting list for this book for a few weeks when I was finally chosen and boy was it worth the wait.

This is a classic mystery story with a little bit of a teen slasher and romance thrown in there. I literally could not stop reading it and thought for sure I knew who the killer was only to discover I was wrong. The twist ending is something I did not see coming.

Aubrey LaRoux is a woman who once attended Waverly Prep school. While she was attending the school as a teen, a fellow student went missing, as well as several students from the 90's. She's back at the school, this time as a history teacher. She's immediately drawn in by some of the students who are investigating the recent disappearance of a girl named, Lindsey. One by one the students she's helping start dying and she's now in a race against time to uncover the truth of the school and find the murderer.

I really enjoyed this story. At its core, its a murder mystery. I love a good murder mystery and even better is one that is action packed and keeps you guessing until the very end. Its also suspenseful and has a little romance in it that revolved around the teacher, Aubrey and the town sheriff Mason. I'm a sucker for a happy ending and this one did not disappoint. I really liked that it takes place in a real place, Louisiana. It brings things to life especially since I've been to Louisiana and I know what its like there.

All together I felt this was a really good story and it even kind of ends on a cliff hanger. I could definitely see a sequel, Id like to see what happens with Aubrey and Mason and what happens to the school. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Here Comes The Homicide

This is the first book I have read by this author. Apparently this is a stand alone in what is called The Wedding Crasher series.

I love a good mystery. Especially ones that keep me guessing. Glory is a wedding planner in a small town. When she hit the town center statue with her car, she is horrified to see a dead body underneath, the dead body of her uncle. Her parents were killed when she was 5 in a car accident. Now there's rumors her father was involved in her uncles death. Can she clear her fathers name before its too late?

Overall I really enjoyed the story aspect. A family mystery, two rival towns, a wedding and a chicken romance. It had its moments where I chuckled and the mystery aspect was on point. But this is the third book in a row (not by this author) that has had the same "all men are worthless cheaters" trope and I'm over it. I could have done without the male bashing and lines like "I need to wash the taste of testosterone out of my mouth" and "boys will be boys".

I'm not sure if Ill check out the other two books in this series but Im thankful to have had the opportunity to read this one.

Goodreads=A Good Year

 At the beginning of the year, I made the decision to once again participate in the Goodreads year long reading challenge. I have participated in the past but have always kind of faltered and never completed my goal. 

I set a goal of 50 books for the year 2021. I never really expected to get close to it. I am a slow reader and as the title of my blog states, reading makes me sleepy. I don't know why but it does. These days, I often have a cup of coffee, while I am reading and it seems to help. 

I recently came across ARC books (advanced reader copy) books. I had no idea it was a thing and was a tad excited to make the discovery. I have been using Booksirens and just this week signed up for Netgalley. I like Booksirens better right now. For the month of July alone, I have read 17 books, which is unheard of for me, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the books I have been allowed to read in advance.

My goal is surpass my goal of 50. How far, I'm not sure. 

Destroy Me (SPOILERS)

 I received this book courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for a free review.

On the surface, I chose this book because the story sounded intriguing.

Catherine Bayntun, a recently separated mother, is horrified to see a police sketch of what looks exactly like her, down to the mole on her cheek, on the evening news. She is being sought after a woman, Charlie, is found murdered. Catherine and Charlie were school friends but she hasn't seen her in over 17 years. 

Seventeen years ago they were at a party when Catherine discovered Charlie having sex with a guy she had a crush on. Catherine takes off from the party, walking home when she is chased down my Charlie in a car, a car that isn't hers, its Catherines. They have an argument and then make-up, deciding to go home as they are both very drunk. As Catherine is driving, a dog runs out in front of them and then a 5 year old little girl, Daisy. She tries to stop but its too late, suddenly theres a thud and Daisy is flying though the air. They stop and realize she's already dead. Charlie doesn't have her phone and Catherines phone battery is dead, or so she says (we find out later it wasn't). They decide the girl is already dead and an ambulance wouldn't help her, plus it would ruin their lives. So they leave. They leave a 5 year old little girl, dead in the street.

Fast forward 17 years, Catherine has a 5 year old son, Dylan. One day he comes home from school and she's checking his backpack when she finds an envelope with a photo in it of the park near her house. Then she receives another one of the road where the girl died, the exact spot. She soon realizes that someone from the girls family is targeting her. It all goes south when Charlie is murdered and she is now a suspect. She's eventually cleared but then her son is taken. Once she realizes who took him she has to get him back without alerting the police. Alerting them could harm him and would end her life as the hit and run would come out. 

Daisy's sister, Beth, killed Charlie and targeted Catherine by taking Dylan, so that she would go to the police and confess her killing of Daisy. An intense car chase ensues and Catherine crashes, waking in the hospital. She finds out Beth was apprehended and Dylan is safe but she has a spinal injury and nothing will ever be the same. Her soon to be ex says he'd like to come back and take care of her and Dylan and she agrees to forgive him (he had cheated on her).

The book ends with a rehashing of a previous entry where Catherine was remembering the night she hit Daisy. She tells Charlie that her phone battery is dead but it wasn't. She could have called an ambulance but chose not to to save her own life. 

I really disliked the ending. I felt it didn't really wrap anything up. Yes, the woman targeting her was arrested but then Catherine didn't have to take responsibility for the murder of a 5 year old. I don't care if it was 17 years ago. As a mom, I don't know that I could have gotten past that. It is a quick read but I'm not sure if I will read anything else from this author, I will have to play it by ear. 

The New Home

 

I received this book for free from Netgalley for an honest review.
When I first chose this book, I chose it for the description. The mystery of a missing person and her daughter. A husband who isn't what he seems and the possibility that he's a murderer.

Here's, what I liked about the book. I really enjoyed the base story. A woman, Freya and her fiancé Jack, moved in next door to a family, Michael, Emily and their daughter Thea. Everything seems perfect with them until they are invited over for dinner and see that things between Michael and Emily aren't at all what they seem. Some days later, Emily and her daughter are missing and the husband seems to be hiding something. The truth is much darker and I truly enjoyed and did not see the twist ending coming. I felt the pacing was nice and the suspense literally had me turning the pages quickly. It took me about 3 hours to read this book. The felt like I got to know the characters and I was really happy with the ending. I felt it wrapped up nicely.

All in all, it comes down to the story for me. I did enjoy the mystery, suspense aspect of the story was great. I literally was on the edge of my seat and could not stop reading. I was determined to find out what happened to Emily and her daughter.. I honestly don't know if Ill read anything from this author again but I'm thankful I got the chance to review this book.

Hide and Seek: Book 2

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens.

This is the sequel book to Lost and Found. Another one that I read in a few hours.

Its three months later and Phoebe is still dealing with the fallout from her missing friend, Adele. Alan hasn't spoken to her since he left the hospital and she hates her job. She's still wanting to find out where her friend is, when she starts receiving letters from her, or are they from her?

The book picks up literally months after the last book ended and the continuation is well done. There's a lot of build up to the climax, a twist ending I didn't see coming until I was 3/4 of the way through and an ending that has closure, what more could you ask for?

I love how well the characters are plotted out. In depth, allowing us to get to know Alan and Phoebe better throughout, as well as Adele. The story is laid out really well, with emotional turmoil and heartbreak you can feel oozing from the pages. The suspense throughout literally had be turning pages quickly, so much that I felt I couldn't wait to find out what had happened to Adele.

Phoebes world start to unravel and she doesn't know who she can trust, and in turn neither do we. But in the end, the truth is exposed and lives will be destroyed.

I really liked both of these stories. I felt the pacing was nice and the suspense really kept me on the edge of my seat.

Lost and Found: Book 1

 

Oh my gosh! What can I say about this book!? It was fantastic! I read it in three hours. I just could not stop. I even powered through an ocular migraine, that's how much I wanted to find out what happened to Adele.

Phoebe and Adele are friends and have known each other since they were children and are now roommates attending university. Phoebe has a crush on Alan, who lives across the street and is crushed when she finds out Adele is sleeping with him. Suddenly, Adele goes missing and strange things start happening surrounding Alan. Phoebe keeps seeing a woman who looks just like her lurking around. She begins to think its Adele in disguise. What happened to Adele? Who is the woman that seems to be stalking her? Why cant she find anything out about Alan online?

This story literally kept me on the edge of my seat. I was really surprised at the ending. I did not see the twist coming. At first I thought it might be some kind of Single White Female thing but it wasn't. In fact, the book ends on a cliffhanger! I cannot wait to read the next one. I will definitely be looking for more from this author!

The Woman He Used to Know

 I love a good mystery. Especially one that keeps me guessing until the very end.

Nick Ryan is a detective in Denver, Colorado. One night he's dispatched to a homicide only to discover not only does he know the victim, he has a sordid past with the victims wife, Elizabeth. As the spouse, she's automatically the prime suspect, despite protesting her innocence. Can Detective Ryan prove her innocence and uncover why her husband was killed before Elizabeth is arrested?

The story is written really well. The chemistry between Nick and Elizabeth is electric. I could definitely feel it. The pacing is fast and the chapters are short, which I like. It was a fast read, I had a really hard time putting it down. There are a few sex scene, fairly explicit, so if that's something you're not into then this might not be a good read for you. I felt the mystery aspect of it was written perfectly. I literally had no idea who it might be, although I had a few suspects. The romance part was nice too, and I'm a sucker for a happy ending. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be looking for more from this author. Available September 1, 2021.

Broken Silence

I received an advanced copy for free for a honest review. Thank you Booksirens.

This story has a true crime vibe which is what led me to choosing it in the first place.

Isobel McKenzie is a psychotherapist recovering from cancer treatment. While out walking one day by the Shannon River she discovers a body, unknowingly this will set off an avalanche she never expected. Its not a one off rape and murder, its a serial case. The perpetrator is deviant, meticulous about forensics, leaving none and calculating. It'll take more than she knows to catch The Shadow, as he has been named. Can she help the Garda catch The Shadow before he takes more victims?

This book is well written, the pacing moved quick. It takes place in Ireland, a part of the world I absolutely love. It gave the story a real feel to it, knowing that the places are real. The characters are fleshed out in a way that I found myself wanting more from this group of unlikely allies. Isobel is a likeable character. Her bought with cancer hit home as my mother in law has had cancer and I know the fears that can come with subsequent doctors visits. I was really hoping she'd end up with Garda Eoin (pronounced Owen, I had to look it up). I felt the story was a really good one. A serial rapist is targeting women and needs to be stopped. Unfortunately a lot of rapes go unreported especially when they are threatened with harm afterwards. In this story he even goes so far as to threaten their families, sending pictures of one victims kids to her after she tried to commit suicide and he thought she might have told someone at the hospital.

There isn't too much that I didn't like about the story. Its a sad story, given that so many of these types of crimes do go unreported, but I also felt like the story might give hope to someone who has experienced a rape or assault. That taking the risk to tell someone could lead to the capture of the perpetrator. If one of the girls hadn't told Isobel, then none of the other women would have been found and he would still be attacking and it would continue escalating.

This is the first book from this author that I have read. There is a book before this one called What lies Hidden and involved Isobel again, where she is working a different case, which is mentioned in this book. All in all, I gave it 5 stars and will not only be getting the first book but I will be looking for more books from this author.

Bear Grylls Adventures

 I bought this book series for the survival curriculum we are using for our homeschool year 2021-2022.

 

The first book revolves around a kid named Olly who has been sent to camp and is thrust into a group with two other kids, Omar and Jack. Olly doesn't want to be there and doesn't want to participate in the activities. They are supposed to build a den and he instead wanders off back to his tent. He is given a compass by another kid on his way back. Unaware that the compass is magic he is transported to the snowy mountains where he meets Bear Grylls. An approaching blizzard is coming and he and Olly need to figure out how to survive the storm. 

This book is the first of twelve books that revolve around Bear Grylls. In each book has a similar format of a child being transported into a wilderness adventure with Bear and they teach basic survival skills as well as showing personal growth within the child. 

Even though I have only read the first book, I am very happy with them. They are written in a cute way but also in a way that shows kids how to overcome challenges, whether they be location, situation or personal. The books appear to show kids how to resolve problems they may be facing in real life, i.e. laziness or a fear of creepy crawlies. 

I am very much looking forward to completing the series with my kids. They themselves are already enjoying the stories.

Tabby Trouble: A Cat Aunt Cozy Mystery

 

This book was really cute. I'll admit that I decided to try it because I like the cats, I have cats and the premise of a character that can talk to cats was intriguing.

Kat lives in a small town so when her neighbor is murdered, everyone notices. After an accident, Kat can suddenly talk to and understand cats, more importantly, the dead lady's cat, Rusty. Rusty wants her murder solved so Kat is tasked with trying to figure out who did it.

I really enjoyed this story. It was a quick read, I think it took me two hours. I love the idea of being able to understand what cats are saying. It had funny moments as well and I could totally see in my mind the reactions the cats were having as they were interacting with her.

If I had any kind of suggestion it might be to add a few twists to it, I was able to figure it out fairly easily. Otherwise, I am very much excited to see more stories about Kat and her ability to communicate with cats and solve mysteries.

A Dottie Manderson Mystery: Night and Day

I received this book from Voracious Readers Only.

I was grabbed by the description of the plot. Dottie Manderson is walking home one night when she stumbles upon a man she believes to be drunk in the street only to find out he has been stabbed and is dying. She stays with him while help comes but alas he passes. She is met by a D.S. William Hardy who after some time comes to fancy her.

What happens henceforth is more of a romance novel than a detective novel which is not what I was thinking it was. Dottie is a young girl whose mother believes she should be looking to be married already. Lots of talk about eligible men and fashion. Some detecting but not what enough for me I guess. 

I also had issues with the breaks in the scenes. One moment we'd be in Dotties house and then we'd be in Detective Hardys office with just a paragraph change. I would have preferred an obvious break in the scenes. Thats just a matter of opinion though.

Not a terrible start to a mystery series, I think though that I would like more mystery and detection than who should marry who or what dress is for what occasion. That being said, I did enjoy the character of Dottie and the first book does end on a cliff hanger so of course I am now wanting to find out what happens next.

A Devil In Eden

I received this book via the author when I subscribed to her newsletter.  

This book is part of the Penny Wright series. Penny Wright is a medium, whose father created the Ashton Paranormal Society. When she was 5, her father took her to Eden, a town that has a violent past, to see if she could see and hear the ghosts there to get proof that they exist and maybe find out the truth about what happened on the famed, Devils Night back in 1864. 

When you read the first book, Devils Night, there are excerpts from this book within that book. I love that the author took the extra step to actually write the fictional book within her fictional book. It really brings the story and the characters to life. 

If you get the chance to read any of these books, Devils Night, Angel Eyes or this one A Devil in Eden, I would highly recommend you do so.

Angel Eyes: A Penny Wright Novel

 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens.

A.N. Willis has done it again! Penny Wright is back with a fantastic new story.

Penny Wright is a medium who can see ghosts. She's living in L.A. when she decides to return home for Thanksgiving. While home a mystery unfolds surrounding a house, January House. A house that has a tumultuous past and rumors of ghosts living there. An artist living there died under seemingly normal circumstances, but of course, there's more to it.

This book takes Pennys abilities to a whole new level. New characters are fleshed out and old ones become more developed. One thing I really love about this authors books, is the use of past writing. In her other stories, they were conveyed through past letters, in this book we see the past though an online interview and some letters as well. It gives the reader glimpses of the past that the characters aren't aware of yet.

Suspenseful, emotional (I was crying during the last few chapters) and filled with detailed descriptions, this is a fast paced ride that I was more than willing to take. I am hopeful that there will be more from Penny Wright. This book kind of ended on a cliff hanger and I am more than excited to read the next book in this series.

Devils Night

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Another great read from A.N. Willis.

I do not normally read ghost stories. I do not like being scared while reading, which I guess is weird since I like horror and ghost story movies. But there's something different about reading a ghost story vs watching one.  I'm very visual and when I read its like a movie playing out and I'm easily scared. 

That being said, I was intrigued but this story.

Penny is a young girl who has a job as a PR rep with a history of seeing ghosts, starting when she was 5 years old. She pitches an ad campaign set in Eden, a town with a violent history. For her, its coming home to her past, to deal with her family, a lost love and the ghosts of not just her past but that of the town too. 

Along side her story, is a story set in the late 1800s ( I really have a thing with that time period). I loved the back and forth. The story taking place in 2019 and the story taking place in 1894. The author does a great job of dual story telling, really transporting you back to that time.

This book has a lot going for it. Mystery, paranormal, romance, and suspense. I literally did not want to put it down. There were a few times I got teary eyed and I found myself yearning for Penny to finally end up with her lost love. 

This is a series that I am definitely looking forward to more of. In fact I have the next book ready to go to start tomorrow. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

 

Under Glass and Stone: The Complete Gothic Mystery Set

I had no idea what to expect when I was offered this book. It sounded interesting enough. Evelyn lives across the street from a huge, looming house which she has an inexplicable connection to. There is so much to unpack in this book: a missing school friend, a missing uncle, rumors of ghosts and missing kids inside walls as well as a labyrinth of hidden tunnels that span the town of Castle Heights.

The story take place in the present (or at least I think it does) but there are also letters written in the late 1800's early 1900's that make the story that much richer. As I have always been fascinated with that time period, I loved reading these letters for a glimpse into the past. They also provide clues to what Evelyn is determined to uncover.

Again, I did not realize I was reading a young adult story but I absolutely loved it. The way Evelyn spoke about her love Alex reminded me all to well of how I felt of my boyfriend (now husband) when I was 17. This is classified as young adult gothic horror. I dont normally read gothic horror but I really loved this story.

The pacing of this book is wonderful. The imagery was so vivid it was like watching a movie play out in my mind. I read this in two days and could not put it down.

I highly recommend this book and will absolutely be looking for more from this author.

 

Emma and the Minotaur

I have to admit I was originally interested in this book because my daughters name is Emma. Aside from that I have a love of mythical creatures. Centaurs and unicorns are my favorite. The minotaur have always seemed menacing and boy is he in this book. I did not realize I had chosen a young adult novel but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be looking for the next book in the series.

Emma is an 11 year old little girl, (my daughter turns 11 this year) and she's fairly ordinary. She lives at home with her dad and brother. One day at school she sees a boy she thinks is a wizard because he seems to disappear. She follows him and they become friends when he tells her his father went missing after being in the local woods. Soon others from the town are missing and strange creatures start to immerge. (I wont give too much else lest I spoil things.) 

A young, fierce and brave girl, can Emma save the people and find her purpose before its too late?

I wasn't sure what to expect when I came across this book. I literally could not put it down. The pacing is wonderful and it is definitely a page turner. I also did not realize that its a series and it kind of ends on a cliff hanger and I am very anxious to see what happens in the next book. I will absolutely be looking to pick up the next book and look forward to the third book due out this year.

 

Deadly Illusions

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens

As I sit here reeling from reading this book all I can think is: I am stunned.

I usually stick to the same authors and don't go outside of my comfort zone often so when I decided to try ARC reading, I wasnt sure what I was in for. The description of this book was intriguing and Im so glad I opted to try it. The romance/suspense genre being new for me.

Jenna is an ordinary woman who believes she has met "the one", until one day he lashes out at her and everything changes. The story is so real. The characters are so alive.

The over arching story is one of survival and resilience, a love story but not in a fairytale way. I can definitely relate to the electric connection between Jenna and her savior, Damian.

I believe this to be a novel that no one should dismiss as just another romance novel. It is so much more than that. I was on the edge of my seat the entire read and got teary eyed near the end. I will definitely be checking out more from this author. This book releases 12/10/2021.

 

Thrifty Junkie

 Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a thrift store junkie. I have been literally all my life. My parent used to take us to flea markets when we lived in Florida. Im talking about miles of stalls, not just a few inside an expo building. As a child, I collected unicorn statues, I still have a lot of them. I am a saver, especially of sentimental items. 

Lately though, Ive been adding to my ever growing library. A few years back I decided to get back in to reading, a pastime I greatly enjoy but had gotten away from as an adult. 

Yesterday, I went out the flea market to pick up some things I had previously purchased, and ended up with some books instead. I also went to an independent bookstore, For the Love of Books. A great little place, owned by some very nice ladies and really great prices. 

I also love to collect Frankoma pottery, strawberry items for my kitchen and the occasional mid-century item if I can find it. 

Homeschooling During Transition

 We are in the middle of packing to hopefully move at the end of this month. Our home has way too many repair needs and we've decided wed like to get out of Tulsa. Maybe find a little town not too far away where we can have some distance between the neighbors. 

Nearly 90% of our house is currently sitting in boxes. I packed up the school room pretty early, like in April anticipating moving in early June. Well that's not going to happen so I figured I'd look for the school books, at least the core books, so we could go ahead and start. I spent about two hours looking to no avail. I'm thinking they may have gotten taken to the storage unit and looking through it would be an all day thing so I'm going to wait until we get moved.

In the mean time I decided wed go ahead and start something. Enter, Waldock Way. I ran across her page years ago in a search at the time for Harry Potter type curriculum. She had a sale recently and I took the plunge and bought not only the Harry Potter curriculum but the Survival curriculum, and several of the
Who Was/Is unit studies. I also joined a group called Curiosity Untamed, a sort of scouts type curriculum where the kids can earn badges. 

My goal is to start July 12th and then add in math the next week. We use Teaching Textbooks and I know at least my daughter is excited to restart her math.

For our first unit study I decided on Stan Lee. We are huge Marvel/DC fans here and when I saw this I just knew we had to have it. My oldest, although graduated already, is going to partake in several of the curriculums I purchased. Hes interested in reading the Stan Lee books and helping once we start the Wizards and Wands curriculum in December. He himself being a huge Harry Potter fan.

For our second unit study, I chose Edgar Allan Poe. I am a lifelong reader of his stories, my favorites being Cask of Amontillado, Tell Tale Heart and Fall of the House of Usher, I know all the cliché popular ones. That being said, the kids are excited to learn about him and Im happy to expose them to more of the classics.

All in all, despite not having their core curriculum, I am fired up to start some new things and have a routine back again. As much as I love summer and the warm, lazy days it brings, I am ready to get back into a regular schedule. 

Small Forgotten Moments

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Booksirens. If I had to chose only one word to describe this book, it would be intense. Artist Jo Mckye suffers from amnesia but she also has phantom from memories lost. Who is Zenna? Is she real, was she real or is she just a figment of the artists imagination? When Jo decides to return to her seaside Cornish village, all hell breaks loose. Memories come flooding back and a haunting realization is made. As a mother, this story was heart wrenching. I literally had tears in my eyes as I read the last few chapters. As someone who has had issues with my memories from childhood, it was both sad and fascinating. I often wonder why I am missing so many memories from my own life. I highly recommend this book and I will definitely be checking out more from this author. The book is set to release on August 31, 2021.

The Dead Letter

I received this book free from Poison Pen Press for an honest review. 

The cover states this book is from the Library of Congress Crime Classics. Crime writing came about in 1841, when Edgar Allen Poe penned 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue.' This book, by Seeley Register, pseudonym of Metta Victoria Fuller Victor, was written in 1866 and was not only the first American crime fiction novel written, but the first one written by a woman. 

A man found dead in New York with no sign of reason for his murder. A legendary detective, a rumor of a ghost and a "dead letter" that has clues to lead to his killer, this book has all the trappings of a good mystery. 

I enjoyed the way the book was written, I felt it flowed well and even though the language is of the time, it was easy to follow. Although, Ill admit there were a few times I had to get out my dictionary. Throughout the book there are little notations at the bottom of the pages to either explain a word or something that is from that era that we no longer use, as in one case of derogatory remarks about Mexicans the notation remarked about how these terms are no longer used. I do not have a problem reading books from other eras where certain words or expression were offensive and are now not. 

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It kept me guessing all the way through. I had pretty much made up my mind who the killer was but was still surprised when, it was discovered that he was not the actual killer but just had a hand in it through payments. I really enjoyed the daughter of the detectives name: Lenore. Im not sure if the author named her that as an homage to Poe or not, none the less, I liked it. And it made me think of Poe, whom I enjoy reading as well. My only complaint would be that the detective, which is supposed to be so legendary, is killed off in the last chapter. I would have liked to have read more with him in it. Also, when I started it, I believed the book to be centered around the detective, kind of like Sherlock Holmes, but this was not the case.

If you are as interested in 1800's-1900's as I am then this is a book you may well enjoy. If you love a good mystery book then I highly recommend this book. I look forward to seeing what other books they release from the Library of Congress Crime Collection.

It Takes Two to Tango

 

** spoiler alert ** I received this book when I chose it from a list of ARC books I signed up to read on a whim. I tore through this book in one day. I could not put it down.

A magazine editor by the name of Plum Lockhart is fired from her high paying, stress filled job in New York out of the blue and is unsure of how to proceed in her life. She has no opportunities on the horizons and is offered a job by a contact she has in the Caribbean. The job is out of her purview, renting villas at a seaside resort. It meant to be temporary while she desperately searches for something in her preferred field of the fashion world.

She goes against policy and rents to some people she shouldn't, one of whom ends up dead. She immediately suspicious that its a murder but convincing the local police proves to be a difficult process. Plum pairs up with the resort head of security and starts fleshing out the murderer. She faces a small town where everyone knows everyone's business, a horrendous coworker dead set on sabotaging her and has to deal with threats on her life. Can she help catch the killer before they leave the island?

Ill be honest, the cover of the book was a huge draw to me. When I read the story on the back, I was intrigued to say the least. The main character in the story, Plum is literally nothing like me. She's a single, working woman, who has done nothing but focus on her career and has little to show for it. I wasn't sure I could relate. That being said, there were a few things she said within the story that I can definitely relate to and in the end, I ended up really liking her. The author redeemed her so to speak in the end and she gave vibrant descriptions of the food, clothes and the setting that made visions like a movie in my head.

The mystery part of the story was well written and definitely kept me guessing. There were more than a few times that I thought I had the killer pegged and then didn't! I love mysteries that are a surprise.

I highly recommend this book. It is the first I have read by Carrie Doyle but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will absolutely look into her other series.

The Sleepy Reader

As the title infers, I am a sleepy reader, reading makes me sleepy but I surely enjoy it. I have always loved reading. I really remember picking up reading a lot when I was around 12. My dad had a stack of true crime novels and I saw one that caught my eye. The Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking Inside Story of  Serial Killer Ted Bundy by Ann Rule. I was immediately hooked on true crime. I thoroughly enjoy the genre, especially the books with pictures, macabre I know but I am absolutely fascinated with serial killers. Probably why my favorite tv show is Dexter. 

I also enjoy mysteries. Going back to that time when I was 12, I also started reading Sherlock Holmes. I have had a pretty good obsession with all things British for as long as I can remember. 

I consider myself quite the anglophile. Along with Sherlock Holmes, I also enjoy reading books by Sue Grafton. She is by far one of my favorite authors. Sadly she passed away in 2017, leaving her alphabet series of books, incomplete, stopping at Y. 

Despite having a love of reading, once I had kids, I kind of stopped. I guess it just wasn't a priority anymore. Fast forward several years and I'm finding that with older children, I have a lot of time on my hands. So a few years back I decided to change that and started to read again. Unfortunately I find that too often it makes me sleepy and I can only read a little at a time. Coffee helps, lol. 

I recently signed up to do some ARC (advanced reader copy) reviews. I find it interesting and Im looking forward to finding new authors in the genres I prefer.