Review: Come by Water: A Retelling of Tam Lin (Tales from Karneesia #2) by Claire Trella Hill

About the Book

“Why have you come to Carterhaugh?”

Seven years ago, after a mysterious fire and tragedy, Janet’s childhood friend Tam was presumed dead, leaving her desolate. Now of marriageable age, Janet asks her father for the ruined Lane family estate as a wedding dowry. But when she arrives on the water-soaked and blooming grounds of Carterhaugh, she encounters a man who looks eerily familiar. Stranger still, he insists the roses she tries to pick are his.

Janet discovers Tam Lane is not dead—he has been trapped by the Faefolk Queen of the Bog, destined for a horrible fate… unless Janet can muster her courage to save her best friend—and perhaps true love—from the clutches of the bog.

Come by Water is a closed door fantasy romance novella retelling of Tam Lin, perfect for fans of Robin McKinley and Juliet Marillier. It is the second in the Tales from Karneesia series, standalone novellas set in the world of the Karneesia Chronicles.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was such a beautifully written story. It’s my first Tam Lin retelling, and I was completely enchanted by it. The rich descriptions made the story come to life.

I liked Janet. She’s exactly the kind of heroine I like to read about. Smart, fierce, and determined. Nothing could stop her once she set her heart on something.

This story might be on the shorter side, but it packed a big punch. I absolutely loved it and was sad when it ended. I’m a big fan of this author and am always eager for more from her.

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Vacation Friends by Christy Barritt

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over.

This week I'm featuring Vacation Friends by Christy Barritt. This is Christy Barritt at her finest. I'm loving this standalone thriller! 

About the Book

Explore the dark side of paradise, where sun-soaked beaches hide deadly secrets . . .

When Maddie Waters joins her fiancé, Josh Harding, in Hawaii for his company’s luxurious weeklong corporate retreat, Josh wants her to help him secure the prestigious role of CEO for the high-tech firm. However, someone with a dark secret has other plans, and everything changes when a series of deaths and near-fatal “accidents” plague the event.

With a determined detective circling and her relationship with Josh unraveling, Maddie finds refuge in a new group of friends. She soon forms an uneasy alliance with the handsome and mysterious Brody, hoping he can help her uncover the truth.

As secrets are exposed, tension mounts and relationships crumble. Maddie finds herself nearly drowning in a riptide of lies and deception. She must unravel a complex conspiracy and confront her own past—or risk becoming the next victim.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

You shouldn't have walked into a place you weren't supposed to be.

Friday 56

Today's excursion was a kayaking trip down the river, followed by a hike through the jungle, ending at a waterfall with a swimming holed beneath it.

What have you been reading lately?

Can't Wait Wednesday: The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter releasing September 24. I've loved everything I've read by this author, so I'm super excited for this new release! It sounds like so much fun!  

About the Book

Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room two days before Christmas.

Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:

She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.

He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.

That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.

She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?

As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.

Assuming they don’t kill each other first.

What upcoming release are you eagerly anticipating? 

Review: A Death in Door County (Monster Hunter Mysteries #1) by Annelise Ryan

About the Book

A Wisconsin bookstore owner and cryptozoologist is asked to investigate a series of deaths that just might be proof of a fabled lake monster in this first installment of a new mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Annelise Ryan.

Morgan Carter, owner of the Odds and Ends bookstore in Door County, Wisconsin, has a hobby. When she’s not tending the store, she’s hunting cryptids—creatures whose existence is rumored, but never proven to be real. It’s a hobby that cost her parents their lives, but one she’ll never give up on.

So when a number of bodies turn up on the shores of Lake Michigan with injuries that look like bites from a giant unknown animal, police chief Jon Flanders turns to Morgan for help. A skeptic at heart, Morgan can’t turn down the opportunity to find proof of an entity whose existence she can’t definitively rule out. She and her beloved rescue dog, Newt, journey to the Death's Door strait to hunt for a homicidal monster in the lake—but if they’re not careful, they just might be its next victims.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I’ve always been fascinated by cryptids, the legends behind them, and all that stuff, so this book was right up my alley.

There have been a series of suspicious deaths on Lake Michigan, and cryptozoologist Morgan Carter is called to the scene to try to figure out what might’ve happened. Was it an elusive lake monster? Or was it something more ordinary but no less deadly?

One of my favorite parts of the book, well, other than Morgan’s dog Newt, was trying to figure out if the lake monster was actually real or not. Like Morgan, I’m a bit skeptical about these things, but there’s always the question of what if, and how did the legend start? That’s always intrigued me with things like this.

I thought the mystery was good but predictable. The pace was slowed down by long descriptions of the scenery and the history of the area. But other than that, this was an entertaining read. I’m looking forward to the next one!

3.5 STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Flashback (Chasing Fire: Montana #3) by Michelle Sass Aleckson

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. Freda is taking a hiatus right now, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over in the meantime.

This week I'm featuring Flashback (Chasing Fire: Montana #3) by Michelle Sass Aleckson.

About the Book

SECRETS. BETRAYAL. SACRIFICE.
THIS TIME, THEY'RE NOT JUST FIGHTING FIRE.

An original series created by bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips.

He’s the last person she wants to see…

Allie Monroe is desperate for a fresh start. Grieving the loss of her first SAR dog, she’s gone to Montana to train her new K9, Scout. And when two boys go missing during a wildfire, she’s brought on board to find them.

But the one person tasked to help her is the last person she wants to see—arrogant and dangerous Dakota Masterson.

It’ll take exactly this man to save everything she loves.

Former SWAT officer Dakota Masterson is a new man after confronting the demons of his past, including his first unfortunate meeting with Allie. But admittedly, she’s the last person he thought he’d see again…or have to work with. Still, maybe this is his chance to prove to her that he’s a different man—because she’s the one woman he can’t seem to forget.

However, with the flames closing in, finding the boys might mean confronting the painful memories of their short-lived relationship. Then, Allie’s dog goes missing, suddenly someone is shooting at them, and they find themselves in a race against a wildfire and a threat that wants them dead. More, when Allie goes missing, Dakota’s past—and his issues—come roaring back.

It’ll take the SWAT officer in him to save the day, but will it cost them a future they both long for?

Get ready to be swept away in a world where survival, redemption, and second chances collide in book three of the Chasing Fire: Montana series.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

These mountains were Allie Monroe's last hope. They weren't nearly enough to escape her past, but then again, nothing was. At least here she had the best shot at getting away and focusing on her search and rescue work. It's really all she had, and she'd been out of it for far too long. She'd settle for a good training session with Scout so she could get back to it.

Friday 56

Dawn was a welcome sight. Allie didn't think she could take any more hours lying awake in the dark.

What have you been reading lately? 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White releasing September 3.

About the Book

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn't seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their old friendship would kindle into something more--but that was before she heard that Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will finally be the heir her stepfather needs, but she'll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Due to misunderstandings, Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself torn between his affection for her and her family's distance toward him because of Lady Pearl, a woman he'd rather forget. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah's hand by Christmas . . . and to disgrace Cyril in the process.

Inspired by The Nutcracker, this Edwardian-era historical romance is a tale of holiday spirit, love, and the power of family and friendship from bestselling and award-winning author Roseanna M. White.

What upcoming release are you eagerly anticipating?

Review: In This Moment (Timeless #2) by Gabrielle Meyer

About the Book

Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until, that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious British gentleman. The prickly, demanding doctor. The charming young congressman. She's drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer.

With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I was very eager to pick up this sequel! It was so good and just as unique and fascinating as book one.

Maggie lives in three different times: 1861, 1941, and 2001. On her 21st birthday, she has to choose which time to stay in. Forever. What a hard decision! She had three fantastic lives, so I didn’t know how she’d choose! I can’t even imagine how hard it had to be to keep everything straight, but Maggie did it with aplomb and grace.

In 1861, America is on the cusp of the Civil War. And as a senator’s daughter, she’s right in the thick of things. In 1941, America is on the brink of entering WWII, and Maggie and her sister are nurse recruits for the US Navy. In 2001, Maggie’s in medical school and living a relatively peaceful life, the most peaceful of her three lives. But the peaceful world she's used to will change forever.

While I enjoyed all three timelines, I was more invested in 1941 and 2001. I’ve always loved books set during WWII, and it was really interesting to relive 2001. Plus, I’ve just never really been drawn to Civil War stories. But, I will say, this one was good.

This book was an emotional roller coaster. I was happy, sad, heartbroken, and full of joy. I don't want to say too much, but there was one thing that happened that completely rocked me to my core. My goodness, I was not prepared! But, all in all, I enjoyed this story and look forward to the next one.

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: A Death in Door County (Monster Hunter Mysteries #1) by Annelise Ryan

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. Freda is taking a hiatus right now, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over in the meantime.

This week I'm featuring A Death in Door County (Monster Hunter Mysteries #1) by Annelise Ryan.

About the Book

A Wisconsin bookstore owner and cryptozoologist is asked to investigate a series of deaths that just might be proof of a fabled lake monster in this first installment of a new mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Annelise Ryan.

Morgan Carter, owner of the Odds and Ends bookstore in Door County, Wisconsin, has a hobby. When she’s not tending the store, she’s hunting cryptids—creatures whose existence is rumored, but never proven to be real. It’s a hobby that cost her parents their lives, but one she’ll never give up on.

So when a number of bodies turn up on the shores of Lake Michigan with injuries that look like bites from a giant unknown animal, police chief Jon Flanders turns to Morgan for help. A skeptic at heart, Morgan can’t turn down the opportunity to find proof of an entity whose existence she can’t definitively rule out. She and her beloved rescue dog, Newt, journey to the Death's Door strait to hunt for a homicidal monster in the lake—but if they’re not careful, they just might be its next victims.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

He shut down the motor and let the boat drift, one hand on his pole, the other grabbing his nearly empty beer.

Friday 56

Newt cocked his head sideways, staring at Jon as if he, too, were waiting for whatever edict was about to be handed down.

What have you been reading lately? 

Can't Wait Wednesday: Ignite (The Phoenix Flame #1) by Kara Swanson

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Ignite (The Phoenix Flame #1) by Kara Swanson releasing August 20.

About the Book

Can Mara survive in a world where the fire in her veins is worth killing for?

In a frozen wasteland suffocating beneath a dying sun, Mara is a young phoenix raised by her father to explode at his command. He’s the only one who can help her control her fire, and Mara desperately follows his orders to protect their phoenix family from relentless human hunters.

Her sheltered existence is shattered when her family mysteriously vanishes, thrusting Mara into a perilous quest to find them. Along the way, she unravels a devastating truth: her people may not be the innocent victims she's been taught to believe.

When she comes face-to-face with the kindhearted Eli, she begins to wonder if the humans aren’t the monsters she's always feared. What if the greatest danger doesn’t lie in the icy world outside—but in the truth of who Mara really is?

Fire and ice collide in this thrilling tale of a phoenix girl born with the power of a dying sun.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Furballs and Felonies (A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery #3) by DeAnna Drake

About the Book
What’s worse than a murder victim on your doorstep?

For Rebecca Cuthbert, it’s finding a cursed Egyptian charm tucked into the dead woman’s pocket. The ominous discovery propels the fearless shopkeeper and her immortal, chatty cat on a perilous hunt for the killer and another piece of the missing magical collection.

Unfortunately, Citrus Grove’s annual summer festival is tying up police department resources—including Rebecca’s new beau, Detective Nick Devon—which leaves Rebecca, her grandfather’s wisdom, and Aneksi’s mystical powers to crack the case.

As her investigation delves into the amulet’s eerie peculiarities and the deceased’s shocking connections with a menacing foe, as well as an unwelcome old flame from Rebecca’s past, Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust. Can she rely on her newfound friends in her adopted hometown, or will deadly revelations turn her into the killer’s next target?

Prepare to journey through unexpected twists, ancient mysteries, and a dash of romance in this cozy mystery that will keep you guessing till the very end!

Amazon / Goodreads / Author Website

MY THOUGHTS

This has quickly become one of my favorite cozy mystery series. The mysteries are always intriguing and keep me guessing, the characters are realistic and likable, and the town is inviting and full of charm.

After helping best friend Luna paint her new bakery, Rebecca finds a dead woman right outside her grandfather’s shop. One of her grandfather’s missing artifacts is found in the woman’s pocket. What was she doing with it? And did it have anything to do with her murder?

Along with this new mystery and the powerful and dangerous cursed artifact, Rebecca also had to deal with her ex-fiancé coming into town. What a jerk! I didn’t like him before, and meeting him sure didn’t raise my opinion of him. I’m so glad Rebecca has moved on from him.

I was completely stumped by the mystery. There were plenty of suspects, but I couldn't figure out who the guilty party was.

This book ended with a surprise, which has me so excited for book four. I can’t wait! This series is sure to delight fans of paranormal cozy mysteries. I highly recommend it!

I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

4.5 STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: In This Moment (Timeless #2) by Gabrielle Meyer

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. Freda is taking a hiatus right now, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over in the meantime.

This week I'm featuring In This Moment (Timeless #2) by Gabrielle Meyer. This is such a unique and interesting series. I'm loving it! 

About the Book

Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until, that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she's asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious British gentleman. The prickly, demanding doctor. The charming young congressman. She's drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer.

With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

April 18, 1861

Washington, DC

Most days, I could pretend that my life was normal. I was a twenty-year-old woman searching for my place in the world, trying to decide my future. The only difference was that I had three normal lives, and on my twenty-first birthday, just eight and a half months from now, I would have to choose which one to keep and which to forfeit. Forever.

Friday 56

Darkness had fallen, and a blanket of clouds covered the sky, making it a moonless and starless night. The heat was still oppressive and promised a miserable night of sleep.

What have you been reading lately?

Review: The Secrets She Kept (True Crime Junkies #7) by Christy Barritt

About the Book

In the Land of the Midnight Sun, secrets cast long shadows.

Former Army investigator Duke McAllister remains determined to uncover the truth behind his fiancée’s mysterious disappearance two years ago. Joined by his friend and podcast teammate, Andi Slade, Duke delves into Celeste Dawson’s past and soon uncovers a mind-bending conspiracy.

When a shocking news report names Celeste as a suspect in a series of murders, Duke must grapple with the mounting evidence that his fiancée may not be the person he thought she was. The stakes rise to terrifying new heights when bodies start piling up and the podcast team becomes a target.

Duke and Andi must navigate a labyrinth of secrets, betrayal, and murder to unravel the web of deceit that reaches far beyond anything they ever imagined. Will they find the answers before it’s too late? Or will the secrets Celeste kept destroy them all?

Amazon / Goodreads

Available in Kindle Unlimited

MY THOUGHTS

This was another fast-paced and exciting addition to the series. In my opinion, it’s the best one yet. I know I sound like a broken record, but this series is Christy Barritt at her finest.

The opening chapter was tense and full of urgency. I was instantly invested and reading as fast as possible.

The mystery surrounding Duke’s missing fiancée comes to a head, and we finally get some answers. And, wow, it was not what I expected! I was shocked by the turn of events.

There’s so much more I want to say, but I don’t want to spoil anything. Just be prepared for a wild and surprising thrill ride! I can’t wait to dive into the next book, the conclusion to this thrilling series.

This is not a standalone, so I recommend starting with book one. If you’re a fan of riveting mysteries and thrillers, you won’t be disappointed.

FIVE STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: Regency & Regicide by J. J. Fischer

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Regency & Regicide by J. J. Fischer releasing August 15.

About the Book

Regicide at Four. Supper Strictly at Eight.

When aspiring young novelist Miss Diana Crewe falls asleep on her manuscript in early nineteenth century England, the last thing she expects is to wake in the middle of the world she’s created…a world in which, she’s horrified to discover, she’s both venerated as a goddess and decried as a villain. Pulled into the story alongside her is her closest childhood friend and rival author, Ignatius (Nash) Sinclair, who has spent the last year keeping Diana at a distance, seeming to prefer the company of his abolitionist friends.

But when the dream doesn’t end as expected and the tumultuous world around Diana and Nash proves to be all too real, the friends must put aside their differences to find a way home…even as Diana’s budding attachment to the dashing outlaw Locke Moray rapidly erodes her desire to leave. But not all heroes are as they seem, and when the characters of Diana’s imagination overstep their bounds and threaten her very life, Diana is forced to realize that the resolution she so deeply desires might have been right in front of her this whole time…

Regency & Regicide is a standalone romantic historical fantasy adventure in which Jane Austen's Emma meets Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe. J. J. Fischer is the award-winning author of Calor, which won the 2023 Realm Award Book of the Year and the Realm Award for Best Fantasy.

What upcoming release are you eagerly anticipating?

Review: The Nightmare Virus by Nadine Brandes

About the Book

Some viruses go after the body. But the Nightmare Virus goes after the mind.

When dream technology goes wrong, a virus spreads across the globe, trapping people in a universal dreamscape. They call it the Nightmare Virus.

Cain Cross is determined to find a cure . . . if he can decipher his brother’s chicken-scratch formula notes. But when he gets infected, he has only 22 days until he’s trapped in the mental prison forever. Now, every time he falls asleep, he must fight in a Nightmare Arena until he earns his freedom to live in the “new world” that exists only in the mind.

Then he finds a way to manipulate the Nightmare—to change it by mere thought.

Forced to navigate a world of nightbeasts, mistblades, and half-truths, Cain turns his focus to survival. When the Emperor offers him a LifeSuPod—and access to a cure—in exchange for a dangerous favor, Cain thinks he’s found a way out. But Cain’s new power threatens to take him on paths that jeopardize his very soul.

Will he continue searching for a cure, or will he swear allegiance to the Nightmare? And the bigger question might be . . . will he even have a choice?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I’ve loved all of Nadine Brandes’ books, so I had very high expectations for this one. It did not disappoint. It exceeded all of my expectations, and, I’ve gotta say, this is my new favorite.

This was such an imaginative and unique story. It captivated me from the beginning, pulled at my heartstrings, and, in a concerning turn of events, even invaded my dreams. Or should I say nightmares?

This was fast-paced, exciting, and impossible to put down. My anxiety grew as time ran short. The characters were in serious peril, and I couldn’t figure out how everything would turn out alright in the end. There were twists and turns galore; I never knew what to expect next.

While Cain was likable, he started off the story very bitter and angry. Which was understandable considering all the chaos and uncertainty surrounding him. Things were bleak, and it didn’t feel like there was any hope left. But, something to remember, something that I think most people tend to forget in times of trouble—there is always, always hope! Sometimes you have to look a little harder, but it’s always there.

This was such a powerful and impactful story. One of light vs. dark. Of finding hope even in the most hopeless of situations. I loved it so much and know it will stay with me for a long time to come. I highly, highly recommend it!

FIVE STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: The Secrets She Kept (True Crime Junkies #7) by Christy Barritt

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. Freda is taking a hiatus right now, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over in the meantime.

This week I'm featuring The Secrets She Kept (True Crime Junkies #7) by Christy Barritt. This series just keeps getting better! 

About the Book

In the Land of the Midnight Sun, secrets cast long shadows.

Former Army investigator Duke McAllister remains determined to uncover the truth behind his fiancée’s mysterious disappearance two years ago. Joined by his friend and podcast teammate, Andi Slade, Duke delves into Celeste Dawson’s past and soon uncovers a mind-bending conspiracy.

When a shocking news report names Celeste as a suspect in a series of murders, Duke must grapple with the mounting evidence that his fiancée may not be the person he thought she was. The stakes rise to terrifying new heights when bodies start piling up and the podcast team becomes a target.

Duke and Andi must navigate a labyrinth of secrets, betrayal, and murder to unravel the web of deceit that reaches far beyond anything they ever imagined. Will they find the answers before it’s too late? Or will the secrets Celeste kept destroy them all?

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

She ran as fast as she could down the dim corridor.

Friday 56

The team was clearly starting to make someone nervous.

Nervous criminals did stupid things.

What have you been reading lately?