The Finalists (David Bell)

 

The Finalists
David Bell
⭐: 4/5

Pros: great plot idea, loved the historical background, loved the diverse characters. I kind of had a feeling from the start of "who done it", but was wrong, so that was nice.

I was kept guessing the whole while. Props for that.

Cons: politics are not my most favorite subject ever and it felt like they were a light undertone in this. It's good to bring attention to things and I felt it wasn't overdone, I just thought, "really?" several times. Then again, that's how I feel in general with them, so this point may be completely irrelevant for some of y'all.

Conclusion: if you want a fairly fast paced "who done it", see if you like this. You've seen my pros and cons, so hopefully they help!

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Someone We Know (Shari Lapena)

 

Someone We Know
Shari Lapena
⭐: 4/5

Just... WHOA.

Pros: tech isn't really my thing, but I was sucked in from page one of this! The story relies heavily on technology, but still also is character driven and well written.

I had my suspicions throughout about "who done it", though I was quite surprised at the ending! When I wasn't able to be reading, my mind was still soaked up into this twisted tale!

Cons: I really can't think of any. The writing style is unique when it comes to character povs and that might bother some, but it didn't me.

Conclusion: if you're interested in a twisty story with several plausible, get-to-the-point, of-course-they-think-the-husband-did-it, this is your book. Every question I'd have asked in others, this one immediately poses and answers. I loved the rawness of that aspect! This was definitely a great impulse grocery store buy!

Cleopatra's Vendetta (Avanti Centrae)

 Cleopatra's Vendetta
Avanti Centrae
⭐: 5/5

Pros: okay, this isn't my usual kind of read, but the history the entire plot is rooted in definitely caught my attention when I was asked to be an ARC!

I was surprised at how well researched all the aspects of this story are, but furthermore, how beautifully sewn into Centrae's imagination they were. She took me on a journey that included becoming invested in the characters, their well-beings, backgrounds, and overall development. In addition to that, I was drawn into the dark world of human trafficking, something that I've been meaning to learn more about in general.

Overall, the plot and character development, writing style, and delivery is definitely a five out of five. You can tell when an author is meticulous with their work and sets the bar! I was impressed with the ending, too. There was absolutely nothing rushed about it and it felt thorough through the very last line.

Cons: I'm not a huge fan of espionage, modern day, covert operations stories, so it was a little difficult, at first, to stay focused. This con can be easily overlooked, as the nature of interactions between the characters and the story itself became irresistible as it progressed.

Conclusion: if you're looking for history-meets-modern day (without too much of a dual timeline), give this read a shot! Just be prepared to have your heart broken and mended a couple of times, though! Also, if you're passionate about women's rights and leads, this book will feed you in all the right ways!

Shadowspeak (Raven Eckman) - Review

Shadowspeak
Raven Eckman
⭐: 5/5
Purchase your copy here!
To see an interview with Raven, click here!

This book hit me right in the "feels"! 

Pros: from the very start, I immediately resonated with the "others", shadows, and abandonment. I KNEW I HAD to read Shadowspeak! 

At first, I got a kind of Hunger Games vibe, but as the story progressed, the plot became something original and enticing unlike anything I've seen or read before (and I read a LOT).

Until the very end, I felt myself falling in love with Rune, her struggles and triumphs alike, as well as the entire world Eckman created. In ways, it even helped me to understand my own world and experiences that “shadow” Rune’s.

The characters are wholly consistent, Eckman is a true wordsmith (one of my most FAVORITE things about this book is how well written it is), and there are scenes I just didn't see coming but that were more than welcomed and needed for a cohesive, unrushed ending. I always love when authors take their time with tying everything up and make it worthwhile to read.

Cons: I had a little trouble at first understanding this world, but the more I read, the easier it was to get. It was complicated, not unlike our own, but well worth the time reading. 

Conclusion: if you're looking for a read that's original, has action, is well written, and will still manage to grab your heartstrings (with its shadowy threads), this is IT.

(You'll get the shadowy reference once you give this one a read!)

The Perfect Place to Die (Bryce Moore) - Review

The Perfect Place to Die
Bryce Moore
⭐: 3/5

This one has me on the fence. On the one hand, anything H.H. Holmes fascinates me, but on the other, the plot itself didn't have me playing the famous "just one more chapter" game. I hardly thought about it between reading sessions, even.

Pros: this book is fairly well written, the plot is centered around Holmes and the World's Fair, and it was nice to read some historical fiction about it finally! All I've been able to find are fiction or documentary reads, so I welcomed this one. I appreciated the MC's resilience and growth, though. That was nicely executed. There are also excerpts at the start of every chapter written by Holmes himself. I absolutely loved those.

Cons: maybe it was the mood I was in, but it felt a little predictable overall. I also felt like the MC did a lot more thinking and calculating than anything and it felt drug out. I understand some investigations in real life could take a while, but I skimmed over these thinking parts the last 40% of the book. By 50% in, I was ready to have an answer already.

Conclusion : if you're interested in historical fiction based on the content above, as well as a not so quite murder mystery but still one with intriguing details in The Castle, this book could be for you. Just be aware that it can feel a little repetitive and like a slow burn at times. The ending is also pretty predictable, which is fine if that's your thing, but I was hoping for something a little less easy to see coming.

Behind Closed Doors (B.A. Paris) - Review

Behind Closed Doors
B.A. Paris
⭐: 4/5

Pros: as usual, Paris has the ultimate plot twists that leave goosebumps on your arms and you thinking, "what the HECK just happened? Let me go reread that!"

I really loved how forward Jack (one of the MC) was with Grace (another MC). I don't remember seeing a lot of psychopaths in other reads being so honest in his delusions and appreciated that. I also appreciated how resilient Grace was despite having had the life before and during this ordeal that she did.

Cons: there were some edits that were missed such as at one point, it says she heard his phone ringing, but then was mad when he didn't answer it? There are other times like this, too, but if you can just keep going, it's worth it.

You should NOT read this if you're easily triggered by domestic violence.

Conclusion: overall, I'd give this a 4/5. It was my most favorite read ever, but it's one I'd recommend to those who enjoy a good "wtf" book.

The Breakdown (B.A. Paris) - Review

The Breakdown
B.A. Paris
⭐:5/5

Okay, WOW. I've been seeing Paris recommendations all over, but now I see what the hype was and have no regrets! As usual, let's head into the pros/cons style.

Pros: the character development was on par. Everything was believable about them and their interactions. The plot itself absolutely blew me away. I'm usually able to sort of predict where something is going, but I was blindsided in this one! I will tell you, if you're the one who talks to themselves through a book, especially when it's crazy, you're probably going to be saying, "what... the... __" more than just a few times!

Cons: my only big con here is sometimes the writing isn't easy to follow, especially when there are text message exchanges. I had to reread a few times to be sure the right messages matched the right people, but was pretty positive it mixed up at one point.

Conclusion: first, I get the hype and think more of you than not will, too. Second, if you're looking for a medium-paced book with plot twists and turns, as well as a "who in the world did this?" The Breakdown is your go-to!