Book Review: "Mothered" By Zoje Stage

 

This was one of those books in which I've been trying to track down for quite some time. I've read previous books by Zoje Stage and have loved them but this fell flat in the end.

It starts with Grace and her mom finding white feathers. Freakish yes, but not uncommon.
Then it transfers ownership over to a connection between the death of a sibling being born with cerebral palsy and those very same pillow feathers (hint).

Ok, well folks we then starts to wonder what happened to Haley and what is going on with this back and forth nonsense.

Didn't we claim that pneumonia was to blame...right?
Oh, well mom has some explaining to do but sadly we can't talk to her anymore because she's gone -no permanently.

Wth? No, really she's not coming back and she had to be taken down. All in the name of love and war or contagious or not...or was that because it's all but a dream.
Nope...Nope....Nope....

I'm done.

Book Review: "Bright and Deadly Things" by Lexie Elliott

Well, what can one say when you're at the Chalet...

Seriously, friend or foe is the name of the game with a widow seeking safety after a recent break-in.
It's the usual teacher/student cross-over blend with very little to capture the imagination and a ticking of the clock. Nope, the grandfather clock.

Look if you want excitement this ain't for you but if you like a slow burn and an even slower reveal process than you found the one.

I was between two and three stars on this one and gave the benefit of the doubt as Lexie is a good writer but sometimes she misses
the mark.

Book Review: "One Night" By Georgina Cross

 

Imagine if you will there's a dead body and 10 yrs. later you're receiving letters to meet in one night to discuss the circumstances.

Could someone so close be so far?
A high school sweetheart gone astray?
A one night stand?

The killer -a high school boyfriend- has been found-in his car-unconscious after striking a tree. Was this foul play?
WTH?

So, now we wait and ponder why? Is he the one who contacted them to meet on the Oregon coast?
To help or to hurt-that's the question.

Or, is the killer someone with closer ties to the family?

YIKES!
Thank you to Georgina Cross, the publisher, Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Behold the Monster By Jillian Lauren

 Let me start out by saying: As a survivor of domestic violence and after having been married and happily divorced since 2013 to a malignant narcissist after being raised as a 'scapegoat' from a family of narcs the best thing I can say on this topic is -Do Not Feed the Narcs!

These individuals need attention, they need a source of supply, they need people to feel for them to take away the compassion for their victims whom they killed!

The last thing these MONSTERS need is a book about their actions as KILLERS!

They prey upon the unsuspecting targets -Women- and often these women are bottom feeders that are seen as easily disposable. Sadly, those women are often prostitutes or drug addicts whom these disgusting men whom attack and or murder for their own self pleasure.

The main problem I had with this book is the fact of these women didn't ask for this type of abuse. They didn't deserve to be killed, mutilated, or destroyed and tossed away without a moment's hesitation.
For me books like this shouldn't be written as they honestly stir up more controversy than assitance to those left behind or those studying serial killers.

I honestly am not fascinated by the minds of such ill individuals but thought perhaps this would be written in a manner conducive to learning and educating the public and less about the personal interest or lack thereof from the mind of Sam Little.

Thankfully, he perished in prison but not before tax payers dollars were wasted upon him to keep him alive.
This is a fine example of why we need to utilize the death penalty upon this man known simply as, "The ultimate psychopath."

Sexual crimes and crimes of passion such as this should not be spotlighted but rather condemned. The world today allows societal norms to be moved farther and farther away from human conscious and psyche and because of that we no longer uphold the rights of every man, woman, and or child.

Instead we view people in general as disposable and it's why we are seeing the escalation of said 'hate' crimes and 'crimes of passion' being committed.

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Book Review: "Palazzo" by Danielle Steel

 

Danielle Steel keeps putting out such amazing work that's truly mind blowing to partake in such splendor!

It's no secret by now. Danielle Steel is my fan favorite of authors because of the way she writes and appears to make everything stand out so effortlessly.

What we have here is a new situation involving Palazzo and the fires that burn from within because truly everything is lit.

Palazzo is more or less a treasure, a Venice hot-spot, and a place where memories are made but also taken away.

Whether we wish to acknowledge the sacrifices that one must expend to partake is such joys is also at stake.
Selling a share isn't all that crucial unless you're talking about a family heirloom or a travesty of injustice and then it becomes the main storyline.

The characters in this one are full of splendor, exuding charisma, and yes, that sweet spot of danger and trepidation around every corner.

What will become of these characters. Who will save Palazzo? Who will walk away and who will walk in faith, love, and beauty for all to behold?
LOVED IT!

Thank you so much to my fav-Danielle Steel, the publisher Random House, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: "Don't Forget The Girl" By Rebecca McKanna

Could it be true? Abby Hartman killed by Jon Allan Blue?

Really, that cut and dry...or is there something far more dangerous and alluring creeping in the bushes?

What's one to do but ponder the meaning of life, however, there's something up with the girl's group, this trio of sorts that seems elusive and yet, daring.

Blue after all was a teacher. A person that had gained the girl's trust and gain trust may be the key to unlocking this mystery.

Bree, Chelsea, Rachel are more than just friends and may have a secret or two hiding between them and it's up to the reader to discern the tale of the trio.

Thank you to Rebecca, the publisher, Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review

Book Review: "The Water Tower" By Amy Young

 

As a debut novel this was a good and moving piece with just enough suspense to keep your mind seeking the next level of awareness.

It started off with a main character with insomnia and a young student who fell tragically to her death with from a water tower.

As a teenager there's always t hat possibility that perhaps something more is at play. Social circles begin to come into sight, possible motives with past relationships, could there be involvement in extracurricular activities and fun times ie. drugs, partying, or the like.

What if mental health was to be at the front and center of this growing dilemma in trying to uncovert the hidden truths.

Is someone being framed for a crime here or is there so much more we have yet to learn?

One thing is for sure, the real action comes closer to the end when the truths will be exposed and the reality sets in for more than one individual because someone must pay for killing the politician's daughter.

Thank you to Amy Young, Level Best Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.