{Book Review}: For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt

 

🏖 🌊 Quick synopsis: Natalie and Will Clarke, on their first date while in law school contemplate if they would ever be able to theoretically get away with murder. Years later after being married with their one son, this is put to the test as Natalie would do anything to protect her family. This tests their marriage in many ways as Will decides to go along for the ride or not…

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Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. I thought this book was a very fast read and some parts a bit disturbing (meant to be). I felt empathetic to Natalie even though she was supposed to seem a bit irrational – but what wouldn’t you do to protect your family especially if you think you can outsmart the law, right?

{Book Review}: Sophia, Princess Among Beasts by James Patterson & Emily Raymond

 

Sophia, Princess Among Beasts by James Patterson and Emily Raymond: I read this in about 3 days. I needed a break from crime thrillers and thought it looked interesting: a game of thrones meets outlander. ⚔️Also it was available at my local library which was great 👍🏼

Synopsis: In a kingdom besieged with poverty, war, and despair, a princess must do whatever it takes to bring peace to her people.

My review: it was a fast read and great storytelling. It wasn’t really marketed as YA book but it is. I thought the writing was enticing and very easy to read but I felt nothing for the characters and the story itself. The heroine, Sophia is a young naive princess who lost both her parents and was pressured to be the new queen where she knows nothing about her people and their despair. With an enemy army approaching led by Ares – she is left to figure out how to keep her kingdom from another war.

I give it a ⭐️⭐️.5/5.

I really wanted to like it and as compelling as the writing was, I had no sympathy for the character and the romance between her and the peasant Raphael.

{Book Review}: Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

 

📚 🔐 Lock Every Door by Riley Sager: Talk about a nail-biting and suspenseful good time! To put it into perspective, I took a benedryl last night as I had about 💯 pages to go and powered through the drowsiness because it was that addicting.
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Quick synopsis: Recently broke and homeless from a bad break up, Jules Larson accepts a temporary job as an apt sitter at the mysterious and lavish Bartholomew despite very strict rules including no visitors – ever. However due to her financial constraints, she accepts the job. Then the weirdness starts including the disappearance of a fellow apt sitter, Ingrid, who she befriends upon her first few days on the job.
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. I loved it. Suspenseful and I was glued to the pages through all the different twists and surprises. I have not ready other booms (yet) by Sager and now I know I have to! *

{Book Review}: Finding Mrs. Ford by Deborah Goodrich Royce

 

 

 

 

My very sweet fiancé had noticed that I had admired this book, Finding Mrs. Ford on IG, and bought it for me last week. I read it in 2 DAYS!

My review: the story is about an affluent woman named Susan Ford who seemingly has a wonderful blessed life. One day the FBI shows up to ask her about an Iraqi Chaldean – and her ties to him. She claims to not know him at all – and then we delve into her summer back in 1979 where two young college girls meet: Annie and Susan. The story weaves back and forth from the past to the present seamlessly. And the twist towards the end!

 

I rate it : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Fast and enticing to read, however I felt the ending felt rushed and tried to tie up too many loose ends that I wasn’t quite satisfied with it. This is #deborahgoodrichroyce first book and it was still a great pleasure to read.

{Book Review}: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

I finished the Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides a few weeks ago – and I loved it. It was sitting in my @bookofthemonth stack for a while and I finally got to reading it. 😬 It’s a great combination of some of my favorite things incl. murder mystery and thriller. It follows the story of painter Alicia Berenson who suddenly stops speaking to anyone after allegedly shooting her husband multiple times in the face. She is being questioned by a criminal psychotherapist Theo who takes a great interest in her case at the hospital. The twist ending and mystery unfolding is a wild ride. Highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5👌🏻

About Me

 

Hi all! My name is Tina!

As you can tell, I am an avid reader of books (hardcovers, paperbacks, e-books via my trusty Kindle). Typically crime thrillers and historical fiction are my jam – however I will read most if I get enough good recommendations.

I welcome ideas for my ever expanding TBR stack of books.

As a Brooklynite, I have no real room for a big library. I keep only the classics and absolute favorites, then either pass on my books to someone else or donate. VERY envious of anyone with a real big, floor to ceiling library. Also it does not help that my fiance is allergic to old books.

One of my favorite things to do when I’m very early to an event/meeting (in this case, my ballet class), is to sprawl out somewhere and read. 📚 📖 🐛

{Book Review}: Gods of Jade & Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Reading definitely transports your mind to another magical place especially when you are doing something mundane as waiting for laundry to dry at the laundromat. Her storytelling really is mesmerizing and I love all the Mayan-mythology/ Mexican folklore that somehow modernizes this Cinderella-Esque story. I was utterly sad but satisfied with the ending and yearning for a sequel.

5/5 stars

{Book Review}: The Trespasser by Tana French

 

The Trespasser by Tana French : I had this book on my shelf for a while and finally got around to reading it. I give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. I was completely immersed in the Dublin murder squad world of Antoinette Conway and her partner Steve Moran investigating the curious death of Aislinn Murray. For some reason it was not as fast read for me, and took me much longer than anticipated. However, the whole story was well-told and I can’t wait to read another of French’s books. Did you read this and what did you think?

{Book Review}: American Predator by Maureen Callahan

If you are big into true crime, then you definitely have to read this by Maureen Callahan. Israel Keyes is the serial killer that no one has really heard of and will inevitably creep you out. From his meticulous kill kits throughout the country and his well thought out routes to different areas to hide everything. The book delves into his mind to see how he came to be and how he blended into his surroundings and world while caring for his daughter (the only person he actually cares about). I found myself reading this in just a little over a day, creeping me out the entire time. How could a human being be capable of such horrors?? Highly recommended for those lovers of true crime.

4.5/5 stars