The Survivors by Jane Harper

The Survivors by Jane Harper
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Personal Rating: C+

I received this book on Audio from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

This is my first book by Jane Harper, I have heard wonderful things about her ability to create a vivid atmosphere in her books. This by far is the #1 attribute of this book. The setting of Evelyn Bay, a small coastal town on the Tasmanian Coast, was so beautifully written - i felt I was seeing it first hand. The descriptions were vivid and beautifully done.

As for the storyline and pace, these I was a bit disappointed in and I didn't feel invested in the characters at all. This book was a miss for me. However, I will give Jane Harper another try because I've heard so many good things about her other books, but this one is just not one I would recommend - even with the amazing atmosphere.

#Macmillan Audio #NetGalley


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THE WIFE UPSTAIRS by Rachel Hawkins

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
My letter rating: C- BELOW AVERAGE

I received this book on Audio from NetGalley as an Advanced Readers Copy for a fair and honest review.

Psychological Thriller has been my go to genre for some time because I love surprises and twisty turns in a book. However, recently this genre has been fading for me and I feel like a nitpicky customer when it comes to the genre these days, but it's being over run with books that are just 'meh' and this book is just another on the list for me.

None of these characters are likeable, and a good book needs one likeable person to cheer for. But - even so, i continued to read on. Yes, there were twists, but this book does some stretching of the imagination to pull it off and I just couldn't suspend belief in several areas, and this ruined the book for me.

This is where if you haven't read the book and don't want spoilers you should not read on:
1) There is a panic room upstairs that the people inside can't get out. Panic rooms are built for people to not be able to get in NOT to keep people in. If it was built with the intention to keep people in, that is one thing - BUT, in the end it was shown to be a normal panic room - it would have made more sense if Eddie was the "bad" guy and built it with this intention.
2) How can someone shower in the panic room and no one in the house hears running water through the pipes or the water heater kicking on?
3) I get that "Jane" is making a new start but how in the world is she able to take on the inheritance (including Bea's business) from Eddie and Bea with an alter ego, it's not like they left her cash. Wouldn't she need to prove who she was? (SS#,bank accounts, birth cert?)
4) If Bea and Eddie are not dead, how do they move on when "jane" has all their money and now owns Bea's business? it's not like they planned to run away and were able to put money in an account for this.

There are more but these are my top 4.

It had potential with the premise, but it really missed the mark for me - like so many Psych thrillers have these days.

#NetGalley

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THE PERFECT MARRIAGE by Jeneva Rose

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this book on Audio from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

I love twists and turns but I also love likeable characters in a book. I didn't really like any of the characters in this story- and maybe that was by design, but I need that in order to love a book, I need someone to root for. Adam was sex crazed and immature (Mama's boy) and hearing his inner thoughts was frustrating - he deserves everything that he is getting in my opinion. I also am not a huge fan of the F word for the sake of using the F word... when other words will do.

What I did really like about this book were what I would consider a well deserved ending and the different Points of View in the book.

I will read more by Jeneva Rose.

#DreamscapeMedia #NetGalley

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THE RESIDENCE by Andrew Pyper

The Residence by Andrew Pyper
My GoodReads rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received an Advanced Readers Copy e-book from Net Galley for a fair and honest review.

I really get upset when I get an ARC and I don't like a book. I am sad to say that I did not enjoy this book much. The Premise of a white house haunting based on some true historical facts made me excited to jump in but it didn't hold my attention very long There were a few creepy, haunting moments that made me hold on. But in the end I just couldn't hold my attention and I kept thinking about what I could be reading. I didn't care much for the characters in the story either - which I think makes a big difference. I love the elements of true story in here, but the horror/haunting pieces didn't work for me.

I see so many good reviews for this book and I'm glad that those folks found this book. Not every book is for everyone - is something that I feel like I'm saying a lot these days... on to the next.

#NetGalley #TheResidence

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THE NESTING by C.J. Cooke

The Nesting by C.J. Cooke
My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars

My Personal Rating: 4/10 (C)

I recieved this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

This book took off to a very good start, it had all the right makings of a Psychological Thriller but in the end it took a turn into more of a Gothic Thriller and just didn't land where I was looking to go.

Lexi's character was sufficiently flawed and there were some good creepy elements, which i love. The author is a great writer and you really felt that gothic atmosphere feeling in the writing but pulling it together in the end - fell short for me.

I do think I would try another by C.J. Cooke.

#TheNesting #NetGalley

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ATHENA'S CHOICE by Adam Boostrom

Athena's Choice by Adam Boostrom
My Goodreads rating: 4 of 5 stars

My Personal Rating: 8/10 Great!

I received an ARC on audio from NetGalley to provide an honest review.

What would the world look like 50 years in the future after a virus wiped out all of the men on earth? Pretty darn awesome. This was such an enjoyable and super fun read - I loved every minute of this book. I do think it would be better reading than listening but I was fully engaged and had no issues stretching my imagination to fit in this dystopian world that Athena lives in. I would love to continue books in this world and learn more about the how the past 50 years developed and what happens next as time goes on. Lots of great imagination in this one and a suprise that a world full of women was written so well by a man.

I will look forward to reading more from Adam Boostrom - Please do so soon Adam!

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IN THE QUICK by Kate Hope Day

In the Quick by Kate Hope Day
My Goodreads Rating: 1 of 5 stars
My Personal Rating: 2/10 (D)... Disappointing.

I received this book as an Advance Readers Copy for an honest review.

This storyline had me so intrigued from the start. Written with an alternate future - a brilliant and troubled young girl enters an astronaut training program in the hopes of one day becoming an Astraunat. She is haunted by an event that happens when she is twelve years old.

I wanted to love this book - I dove right in with hope and excitement but June got the best of me. She was not a likeable character at all. She was a very difficult girl who followed no rules but her own - there are rule breakers and rebels, but she was beyond belief in her ability to just do whatever she wanted to do with minimum consequence. The book required the reader to suspend more belief than I was confortable or able to do. I love books that stretch our minds with alternative futures and ideas, but this was too much for me.

I hate writing bad reviews because I know the author put time and effort into this story and I can appreciate what Kate Hope Day is trying to do here because it's a great premise. I wanted more excitement in space re: Saving Inquiry and less of June's troubles.

I am not clear if this is YA or not - it read very much like a YA book but there was at least one sex scene that to me was not YA considerate (or maybe I am prudish!).

#NetGalley #InTheQuick

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The Switch by Beth O'Leary

The Switch by Beth O'Leary
My Goodreads rating: 2 of 5 stars
Personal rating: 4/10 - C (Average)

I received this Advanced Readers Copy on audio for a fair and honest review.

Eileen Cotton and her namesake granddaughter Leena have decided to switch lives for a short period. Eileen has always wanted to experience London but gave it up to raise a family and Leena is on a much needed forced break from work, so has decided to go back to her home town.

In this swap, they both learn much about their own selves lives and the lives of those around them that they would have otherwise taken for granted.

This was a cute story of a grandmother living out dreams of living uninhibited and a young woman finding her happiness and it often reminded me of a Hallmark Movie, which I do enjoy. But these characters and their stories just didn't pull me in, they fell a little flat for me. It was a nice break from my normal, heavier, type reads so I don't regret reading it. However, I won't be pressing this one into anyone's hands. #NetGalley #TheSwitch

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The Love Poems of Rumi: Translated by Nader Khalili

The Love Poems of Rumi: Translated by Nader Khalili by Rumi
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I received this book as an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Rumi ever since I was introduced to his work 6 years ago when I was planning my wedding. I was researching quotes and poems and came across Rumi's work over and over again, consistently wonderful quotes and poems. So when I saw this available as an ARC, i jumped at the chance to get my hands on it.

The pages themselves are simply beautiful and are worthy of being framed. It is a gorgeous book - however, the poems were not what I was expecting of Rumi's work as I know it. I know not every work a Poet writes is going to be for everyone - so there is probably something in here for everyone.

My favorite of this group of poems is "If you seek eternity". I still adore Rumi - this book doesn't change that.


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