Tag Archives: books

Oct30

Lil Red’s Book Club: One By One By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: One By One By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a super short and sweet thriller by Freida McFadden called One By One. This book was just under two hundred and sixty pages and I finished it in one day! It was definitely hard to put down as One By One was a full fledged whodoneit and I loves me a twisty murder mystery. Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on One By One for child abuse, suicide, and graphic violence. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Claire and Noah have been married since they graduated college and were once the textbook definition of a happy couple. They each have jobs they love, two beautiful children, and a wonderful home. Then, somewhere along the way, their relationship began to falter and Claire is convinced that both of them hate each other. Between their growing animosity and Noah’s constant hurtful comments, it made it very easy for Claire to begin an affair with Noah’s best friend, Jack. In fact, it was a welcome reprieve and Claire plans to tell Noah all about it… After their friend group vacation, that is.

For one full week, Claire and Noah, Jack and his wife Michelle, and Claire’s best friend Lindsay and her new boyfriend will be enjoying a stay at a cozy inn in the woods. There will be hiking, hunting, fishing, and lots of relaxing in the hot tub and Claire can’t wait. She needs a getaway, wants some steamy alone time with her fling, and is eager to end things with Noah. It’s only a four hour drive to the inn and the group piles into Claire’s mini van to hit the road. After a few stops and a crazy awkward car ride, they are close to their destination when the battery to Claire’s car dies.

According to the map, they are close to the inn and have no signal to call for help with the car. So, the friends decide to ditch the van and hoof it to the inn. Lindsay’s boyfriend handles reading the map, Jack navigates with his compass, and soon they are all happily chatting about hitting the Jacuzzi as soon as they arrive. Although the walk in the woods is strenuous, the group has been at it for hours and know that they should have made it to the inn in a shorter period of time. And it’s also starting to get dark.

Rather than wander around in the pitch black, everyone agrees to set up camp for the night and start fresh in the morning. Sleep doesn’t come easy and Claire cannot shake the feeling of being hunted by something or someone. She can hear wolves or coyotes howling and has seen multiple deep gashes from claws on trees. If they don’t make it to civilization soon, she fears that some of them won’t make it home alive. There is danger close by but who or what is it? And will the vacationers survive to tell the tale? Read One By One to find out!

One By One was a lighting fast read and was quite enjoyable! It wasn’t the best Freida McFadden I have read but I liked the plot well enough and appreciated a few of the twists that I didn’t see coming. This was your classic “lost in the woods” trope and McFadden was able to put her own twist on it to make it feel somewhat fresh but overall very exciting. When the setting is in the woods, there is danger lurking at every turn. It could be from the elements, animals, or the very people you are with and McFadden locked into that paranoia to leave the reader questioning every little thing that went bump in the night.

While some members in our cast of characters left a lot to be desired *Cough* Warner (Lindsay’s boyfriend) sucks *Cough*, I did like Claire as the leading lady. Despite her transgressions, no one can say that she didn’t try to make it work with her husband and even the characters in the book couldn’t fault her for cheating. Her moments of weakness were made up for by terrific feats of strength that she didn’t even know she possessed and it was hard not to root for her. As their days in the woods continued, her primary thoughts were always on her children and I just had to finish it to see if her ending would be a happy one!

Overall, I am going to rate One By One with a six out of ten stars. If you are looking for a pretty good read that you can easily finish in one sitting, then go for it! If you aren’t interested in a stuck in the woods scenario, then don’t go for it lol!

What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? Do you like murder mysteries? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct26

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Coworker By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Coworker By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! We will return to Italy tomorrow. 🙂 In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a pretty good thriller by Freida McFadden called The Coworker. Was this the best McFadden book I read? Not by a long shot. However, The Coworker certainly kept me turning the pages and I finished it in one day! Unputdownable? Yes. Perfectly average? Also yes! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Coworker for bullying, self harm, and suicide. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Natalie is thirty years old and has everything going for her. She’s young, drop dead gorgeous, and is the top salesperson at her job as a sales rep for a supplement company. She’s the kind of woman that other girls want to be and who guys want to be with. That’s not to say that she doesn’t have her flaws, of course. Behind her sweet smile lurks a mean streak that has been present since she was a child. Now, Natalie just knows how to cover it up better but will always find joy in targeting the weak link.

Dawn is new to the company and works as an accountant in the cubicle beside Natalie. Dawn falls somewhere on the spectrum, is homely in appearance, and finds conversation difficult if the topic isn’t turtles. She’s desperate for friends as she only has one and she lives across the country. Dawn thinks Natalie would be the perfect person to have the occasional lunch or coffee with and does her best to get her glamorous coworker to like her. All of her efforts make her the butt of the joke but Dawn has something that will definitely get Natalie’s attention.

Dawn has a matter that she must discuss with Natalie and their boss urgently but fails to show up to work the following day. Natalie finds this strange as you can tell time based on Dawn’s schedule: She arrives early, uses the bathroom at a certain time, eats lunch at the same time every day, and so on, and so forth. Natalie might not like her coworker but she is worried and decides to stop by Dawn’s home to check in on her. There is no answer at the door so Natalie lets herself in and is greeted by a pool of blood on the carpet.

Natalie’s coworker is nowhere to be found but the blood points to murder or at the very least foul play. And who is at the center of the investigation? Natalie. Her concern over her coworker could be a cover up and the cops aren’t buying her good girl persona. Natalie knows she did nothing to Dawn but all of the evidence points otherwise and jail seems inevitable. Little does Natalie know, there is something tying her and Dawn together but the question is what? And will Natalie figure it out before she lands herself in jail for life? Read The Coworker to find out!

I can’t say too much in my personal thoughts as I don’t want to ruin the grand reveal. What I will say, is that I figured it out quickly and I think you will too if you read it. And, when you do, I’m sure your thoughts will be something along the lines of “good for her” lol. The Coworker was a classic case of a chronic mean girl getting a taste of her own medicine and it was delicious but all very sad. Dawn had her quirks, as we all do, but Natalie and the other coworkers alike made her into a laughing stock and it was hard to read the particularly cruel parts of their torment. This could be very triggering for anyone who has experienced a similar situation so read with caution.

What I did like about this book is that it left you questioning who the real villain was and gave a lot of thought to chew on. Natalie was forthright about being a generally awful person but for other characters, it wasn’t as transparent. This made the reveals still shocking even if they were somewhat predictable. One of Freida McFadden’s gifts as a writer is to lure her readers into a false sense of security by thinking they know it all already. Then, she expertly turns everything you thought you knew on its head. If you don’t enjoy playing amateur detective, I think you will be shook. If you figured out the twist, you will still enjoy the read but find it slightly above average like I did!

Overall, I am going to rate The Coworker with a six out of ten stars. This was a classic McFadden thriller through and through and, although predictable, it was still a fun and fast read!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct18

Lil Red’s Book Club: Ours Is A Tale Of Murder By Nora Murphy Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Ours Is A Tale Of Murder By Nora Murphy Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a highly disturbing and difficult to read thriller by Nora Murphy called Ours Is A Tale Of Murder. I read this book in one sitting on my return flight home from Italy and we will dive right into my vacation adventures tomorrow. I didn’t want to forget anything about this book to write the review which is why we’re chatting about it now! Before we begin, I will be placing a massive trigger warning on Ours Is A Tale Of Murder for child abuse, domestic violence, miscarriages, stalking, sexual violence, and cruelty to animals. This is NOT a book for the faint of heart and I advise you to read at your own discretion. You ready? Let’s do this:

Klara is a woman in her mid thirties who is more than happy to be married to her job as a personal injury lawyer. She has her heart set on making partner at her firm this year and that is what she will be focusing all of her time and effort on. Klara recently got out of a long term relationship and the last thing she has on her mind is dating – especially because she is firm on not wanting children. That all changes when she meets Troy at a networking event for other lawyers in the area. Troy has had his sights set on Klara for a long time, she just doesn’t know it and their meeting was anything but a chance encounter. Initially, Klara shrugs Troy’s advances off but, hey, she is single and very lonely and why not date the charming, wealthy man who is trying to woo her?

After their first date, Klara and Troy are inseparable and a whirlwind romance ensues. To Troy, this is exactly what he planned. To Klara, she is feeling smothered but also realizes this might be as good as it gets. Little by little, Troy takes away her life. First it’s her home when he moves in almost immediately. Next goes her friends as he isolates her to the point where she only can depend on him. Finally, comes marriage, the house in the suburbs, and a baby? Yes, Klara is pregnant and she has no idea how it could have possibly happened as she is religious about her birth control routine.

In the suburbs, Klara is pregnant and alone. She no longer works because Troy insisted she doesn’t and spends her days cooped up inside. Sometimes she’ll run an occasional errand or garden in her yard. More often that not, however, she is completely by herself in an empty house. She’s not alone, though, not really. Henry, her odd neighbor is always watching. He knows her routine, he knows when she comes and goes, and most importantly: He knows that Klara is not happy. He could make her happy, though. He’s sure of it. All it will take is removing Troy from the equation and Klara will be all his. She just doesn’t know it yet. There are two men who have made it their mission to have Klara all to themselves. How will she possibly break free from this impossible situation? Read Ours Is A Tale Of Murder to find out!

Okay, let me first start by saying that Ours Is A Tale Of Murder was jacked TF up. It was one of the most difficult and upsetting books I have read in recent memory and there were several parts where I truly didn’t think I could take anymore. Of course, I never start a book without finishing it and here I am now talking to all of you about it. While this book shook me to my absolute core, I genuinely couldn’t have abandoned Klara even though she is an entirely made up character. What she was going through, however, felt so incredibly real – especially as we are living in the increasing times of incel culture and violence against women. And what’s the main rule when you are with a friend? Never, ever leave them.

Ours Is A Tale Of Murder featured a twist that I would have never saw coming from a mile away and I did like that. It also ended on a note that I was more than satisfied with and that was great too. The question is – Was it worth the read? Was it worth the mental anguish with every page? Yes and no. I say “yes” because the plot points felt all too relevant and sometimes you just have to look evil in the eye. I also say “no” because I can wholeheartedly understand why this book causes pain on a cellular level because I experienced it firsthand. This is not me pushing this book one way or the other, I just can’t advise enough to proceed with caution. If anything said in this review would cause you pain to read it then please, please don’t. If you do read it – we will have a lot to discuss together!

Overall, I am going to rate Ours Is A Tale Of Murder with a four out of ten stars. The four stars go to the excellent writing of Nora Murphy, a holy shit twist, and the creation of a character that you want to protect. It was all A LOT, though, even for me and I can’t in good conscience rate it any higher.

Who is your favorite author? What did you think if you read this book? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct17

Lil Red’s Book Club: Want To Know A Secret? By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Want To Know A Secret? By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing yet another Freida McFadden thriller called Want To Know A Secret? In case you haven’t noticed, I have been on a big McFadden kick lately. Her books are just so easy to read and finish quickly and they are pretty fun more often than not. Want To Know A Secret? was perfectly average but I enjoyed it well enough and finished it in three sittings. Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning for general violence and disturbing content in a nursing home setting. You ready? Let’s do it:

April lives an exceptionally charmed life. Her husband is a lawyer, they live in a gorgeous home with their little boy, and April even has a successful YouTube channel called Sweet Secrets. In her show, April shares her baking secrets with the world and each episode is packed with tips on how to make the best brownies or ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies. The rest of April’s secrets? She won’t be advertising them on YouTube, that’s for sure. 

On the outside, April is a perfect neighbor and charms everyone with her sweet smile and baked goods. She has even made a new friend, her name is Maria and her family just purchased the house next door. The two ladies and their sons strike up a fast friendship and everything is of the status quo… Until the text messages begin. 

Since Maria has moved in, April has been receiving texts asking if she’d like to know a secret. Each text reveals major issues that she has been long determined to keep buried. If they were to go public, her show and husband’s career would be gone in an instant. But who would want to hurt April like that? Could it be her newfound friend and neighbor? Read Want To Know A Secret? to find out!

I have read A LOT of Freida McFadden books. So much so that Want To Know A Secret? honestly felt like I had read it before. You know the same old thing – stalker vibe texts, a new love interest or neighbor, and life as our primary character knows it going swiftly downhill. I must admit that I liked the premise of April having a YouTube show because I always enjoy a social media twist. The rest of Want To Know A Secret? was just a case of been there, read that. 

This is not to say that this book wasn’t entertaining because it was. It wasn’t a leave my jaw on the floor level thriller, though, and that is what I have come to expect from Freida McFadden books. When she misses the mark, she really misses it and this one didn’t do it for me. If you are a fan of McFadden books, this is one that you aren’t missing out on by skipping. 

Overall, I am going to rate Want To Know A Secret? with a four out of ten stars. Read it or don’t but if you do I’m sure you will find it to be average at best!

Who is your favorite author? Have you read anything by Freida McFadden recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct13

Lil Red’s Book Club: You First By Caroline Kepnes Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: You First By Caroline Kepnes Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the prequel to the You series by Caroline Kepnes called You First. I have read two of the books in the series and have seen the entire show on Netflix so I was looking forward to finding out about the early years of Joe Goldberg. And, honestly, I wish I hadn’t lol. If you thought that Joe couldn’t possibly be more messed up, then this prequel will be as shocking for you as it was for me. I truly felt nauseous after the first few pages and I am SO glad to be done with it. Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on You First for violent and obsessive behavior, highly disturbing content, and statutory rape. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Seventeen year old Joe Goldberg wandered into a bookstore called Mooney’s Books in New York City when he was twelve years old and hasn’t left since. His parents didn’t care for him or want him to begin with so he simply vanished and never looked back. Mr. Mooney took him under his wing and taught him all of the wrong lessons: That women are only good for one thing and that being punished means being locked in a box in the bookstore basement. Everyone has rejected Joe and he has no one outside of Mr. Mooney and all of the books that he considers to be his friends. Then, the world began to shift to the internet.

Compliments of Craigslist, Joe has begun writing Missed Connections posts to any and every woman he has encountered, even if it was for a moment. He checks his email religiously for replies and not a single post he made has ever been answered. There is a lot that is missing from Joe’s character but he is convinced that someone loving him will set him straight. And, wouldn’t you know, a beautiful young woman enters Mooney’s Books. She is not a customer but she sure needs to use the bathroom and Joe covers for her so she can relieve herself without facing the wrath of Mr. Mooney. Joe is instantly enamored by her but doesn’t have the guts to ask her out himself.

His prayers are answered as he scours Craigslist because there is a new Missed Connections post from the bookstore woman herself. Her name is Vail and she felt something for Joe in the bookstore too. They end up going on a date and then a few more and before you know it, Joe is in full on Goldberg mode and will do any and everything to make her stay. Vail might be older than Joe but her decisions in their relationship are anything but wise. Joe can feel her pulling away for another man and all the while he was thinking that he was her only man. As we all know, Joe holds onto his relationships tightly and this is not going to end well for those in this love triangle. Who will make it out alive? Read You First to find out!

Reading the thoughts of a teenage Joe Goldberg in You First was honestly like reading the diary of an incel and it was just plain gross. Joe has an insatiable appetite for sex although he is a virgin and loathes himself for not being the object of a woman’s affection. You First felt like a constant loop of think about sex, obsess over Vail, hate himself, and skewing his own twisted thoughts to turn him into the victim. Prequel Joe is a pressure cooker ready to explode and is tamped down as long as his relationship with Vail is going okay. When it’s not? There is no telling what he was going to do and there came a point when I simply didn’t care to find out even though I finished the book.

I applaud Caroline Kepnes as her writing was excellent and she perfectly portrays Joe as he begins to succumb to his sickness for the first time. However, the subject matter just wasn’t for me and this is not a Netflix show. It’s not watered down with fluff and celebrities. It is words on pages and they were often incredibly hard to read. If you are familiar with the show You or the books, then I’m sure you already have an idea of what direction You First is going to take. Hell, I knew it from the jump. That little bit of hope for things to turn out differently was the only reason I kept reading. And, when I was done, I just felt disappointed and empty. You First was a harrowing read that I would not recommend unless you know what you are getting yourself into. If I did, I probably wouldn’t have bothered reading it!

Overall, I am going to rate You First with a two out of ten stars. These stars were given strictly because I enjoyed the writing style of Caroline Kepnes and negative infinity stars go to Joe Goldberg for being a vile piece of trash!

How do you feel about the You series? Have you read the books, watched the show, or both? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct4

Lil Red’s Book Club: Do Not Disturb By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Do Not Disturb By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a Freida McFadden thriller called Do Not Disturb. In case you couldn’t tell, I have been on a HUGE McFadden kick as of late. Some were good, some not so much but I really enjoyed Do Not Disturb! I finished it in two sittings flat and the grand reveal left my jaw on the floor. I totally did not see it coming and it made for an excellent finale. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Do Not Disturb for domestic violence and miscarriages. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Quinn Alexander just killed her husband, Derek. She stabbed him to death and she is not mad about it in the slightest. Derek abused her physically and mentally and after a brutal fight, she was the one left standing. She could call the cops and turn herself in or she could run. Option B is her choice and she quickly packs a bag and flees as a snowstorm hits. There is only one person Quinn will miss when she crosses the border into Canada – her big sister, Claudia. She’s all Quinn can think about as she begins her life as a fugitive from the law. Then, her getaway comes to an abrupt halt barely two hours in: The snowstorm has turned into a full on blizzard.

Quinn’s small car is no match for the heavy snow and she knows she must pull over for the night and start fresh in the morning. She needs a place that’s well off the beaten path and finds Baxter’s Motel, a ramshackle establishment with a sign you can barely make out from the road. It’s perfect. Although the lodging leaves a lot to be desired, the handsome owner of Baxter’s, Nick, is kind and even fixes Quinn some dinner. She eats her fill, falls into a restless sleep, and will surely be back on the road by daybreak.

Rosalie is Nick’s wife and suffers from a rare and progressive form of multiple sclerosis. She loves her husband but he is a murderer and a cheater too. As Nick goes about his day at the motel, she sits in the window and watches. Rosalie can see it all through the lenses of her binoculars and was treated to a private viewing of Nick’s infidelity. And just one day later, his other woman is stabbed to death. The police could never prove Nick’s involvement and their relationship has been more of a caregiver and patient ever since. Old feelings of jealousy constantly pester Rosalie and she grows even more resentful when she sees Nick being so nice to pretty and young Quinn.

As Quinn hunkers down in the motel, she learns from the news that she is a wanted person and is a sitting duck. She needs to make a move and fast. All the while, Claudia is searching for her as she is convinced that Quinn is innocent and the police won’t do their job correctly. She, too, ends up at Baxter’s based on Quinn’s last known whereabouts and is taken aback by Nick’s harsh demeanor and the silhouette of Rosalie in the window. Quinn is nowhere to be found and she is certain the couple knows more than they are letting on and she intends to find out. Quinn is Claudia’s baby sister after all and they love each other, right? … Right? What will become of Quinn? Will she end up in jail for the rest of her life or be able to make a great escape? Read Do Not Disturb to find out!

Do Not Disturb was giving ALL of the Psycho vibes and I was so there for it! This book absolutely drew inspiration from the cinematic masterpiece complete with the seedy motel, a skeletal women in a window, and references to the infamous shower scene. It was a tale that felt deeply familiar but was refreshed with an intriguing story line that made Do Not Disturb uniquely its own. What’s that old saying again? Steal from the best and make it your own and Freida McFadden did exactly that with this unputdownable thriller.

So as not to reveal spoilers, I have to be vague here but I will say that the plot twists left me one thousand percent shook. I think I was focusing and enjoying the Psycho angle so much that hints and clues simply slipped by without any thought to them. This was a book that I just wanted to read and delight in as the saga of Quinn progressed. Our three key players in Do Not Disturb were Quinn, Nick, and Rosalie and as their stories intertwined, a clear picture of what was going to happen next began to form. That is, until Freida McFadden incorporated a genius twist that took the book in an entirely different direction. Do Not Disturb kept me guessing and turning the pages till the very end and I loved it!

I am going to award Do Not Disturb with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was one of the strongest McFadden books I have read and I highly recommend it if you are a thriller fan too!

How often do you read? What is your favorite book? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct1

Lil Red’s Book Club: Never Lie By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Never Lie By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing an ultra twisty thriller by Freida McFadden called Never Lie. As you all know, I fancy myself an amateur detective when I read and this book really through me for a loop. I saw the one twist coming from a mile away but the major reveal left me absolutely SHOOKETH. This is one of the best Freida McFadden books I’ve read in recent memory and I finished it on one day. Once I started I literally couldn’t stop to save my own life! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Never Lie for graphic violence, mentions of sexual violence, and disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Tricia and Ethan are newly married after a brief whirlwind romance and have only known each other for less than a year. Despite not knowing everything about each other, they are moving full steam ahead and plan on purchasing a new home. In fact, they are heading to a showing of a remote estate when the snow starts to fall. They barely make it to the sprawling mansion as the conditions turn dangerous and their car peters out in the lengthy driveway. Their real estate agent is nowhere to be found, surely ditching their viewing due to the blizzard, and Tricia and Ethan are stuck. The only option is to find shelter in their potential dream home and wait out the storm.

As they explore their lodging for hopefully just the night, they learn that this is no ordinary home at all. It once belonged to the famous psychologist and author, Dr. Adrienne Hale. She was well known for her critically acclaimed book The Anatomy of Fear but even better known for her disappearance roughly three years ago. Her body has never been located and the world thinks her boyfriend, Luke, was to blame for her demise. Tricia is thoroughly creeped out to spend the night in a dead woman’s home but Ethan is in love with the house and wants to put an offer in. This is going to be a long night.

Throughout the evening, strange noises throughout the home startle the young couple and they search the premises for who or whatever is making the ruckus. Their mission proves to be futile and Tricia decides to take her mind off of her fear by tucking into a book from Dr. Hale’s library. She opts for her favorite, The Shining by Stephen King, and when she attempts to pluck the book from the shelf, a secret room is revealed. A room that houses all of the recordings Dr. Hale has made as she sees patients.

Tricia is a curious one and believes that she can solve the doctor’s murder based on the tapes that are hidden away. As the snow continues to fall, she dives into the saga of the sessions leading up to Dr. Hale’s disappearance. Upon her discovery, she learns about a problematic patient named EJ. A man who threatened and stalked the doctor in the weeks before she fell off the face of the earth. The man’s voice on the tape sounds familiar to Tricia but she just can’t place it. The one thing that she knows for sure, though, is that the doctor’s killer is still out there. And he might just be in this very house. Will Tricia solve the case of the missing doctor before it’s too late? Or will she, too, become a victim while stranded in the snow? Read Never Lie to find out!

Holy WOW was this book good and it is, easily, one of my favorite Frieda McFadden books yet. I rarely finish a book in just one day and that honestly tells you everything you need to know. Never Lie was fast paced, eerily claustrophobic, and featured a major twist that left my jaw on the floor. Funnily enough, I was bragging about having everything all figured out about halfway through and I was dead wrong. Never Lie was Red Herring central and it lured me into a false sense of complacency thinking I knew it all. The rug was pulled right under my feet and I landed flat on my fanny when I learned how wrong I was!

Whenever I read a Frieda McFadden book, I never feel a real connection to any of the characters because they all lightweight suck lol. That was very much the case with Never Lie and I could not be bothered to give a hoot about any of the key players. That’s okay, though, because McFadden’s writing style is all plot based. Every character in this book played their part to keep the story going at a rapid pace and it didn’t even matter how unlikable they were. All that mattered was getting to that end reveal and I think you will all agree if you read Never Lie that it was a doozy and then some. Highly recommend!

Overall, I am going to award Never Lie with the coveted ten out of ten stars. If you are a McFadden fan, this is a must read. You are going to love it!

What are you currently reading? What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep25

Lil Red’s Book Club: Brain Damage By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Brain Damage By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a Freida McFadden thriller called Brain Damage. Freida McFadden books are either good or bad, in my opinion, and I either love them or can’t be bothered. Brain Damage, however, was very different because it just made me sad. This was an incredibly hard book to read and I will be placing a massive trigger warning for domestic violence, severe brain injury, and HIGHLY disturbing and upsetting content. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Dr. Charly McKenna is a dermatologist in New York City. She loves her job, has a fabulous apartment right across the street from Central Park, and is content with her life as a single woman. That’s not to say that dating wouldn’t be nice, though, especially if it was a date with her new patient, Clark. Although she has a strict policy to not date her patients, Charly’s heart stops when she sees handsome and fit Clark for an appointment. To her utter surprise, he asks her out and she declines. But she does tell him that in three months they could go out when he is discharged as a patient.

Charly has been looking forward to this date for a long time and spent a small fortune on a dress to impress. Unfortunately for Charly, their date won’t even make it beyond her apartment because Clark is unforgivably rude. She asks him to leave and is more than ready to never see him again. Until a few weeks later. In the waiting room of her practice, a disgruntled ex of a former patient threatens Charly and who is there to save her but Clark? He steps between Charly and the man charging towards her, diffuses the situation, and Charly figures that one more date can’t hurt. In fact, it helped. After a brief whirlwind romance, Charly and Clark are engaged to be married.

Their wedding is small and simple at a courthouse and after their slightly disastrous honeymoon, Charly and Clark are back in the city. Then, their relationship begins to spiral rapidly and Charly is convinced that she never knew Clark at all. A divorce is imminent but all of Charly’s plans are immediately halted. Upon returning to their apartment late one evening, Charly opens her door and suffers a gunshot wound to the head. When she comes to, she awakes in a hospital bed and cannot even speak.

As Charly progresses through rehab and eventually finds her voice, she is still none the wiser about who hurt her. Some days, she can barely remember her name. It sure comes as a shock for her to learn that she is married when Clark shows up for sporadic and brief visits! Although Charly is making gains, she will still not be able to live independently and Clark offers to be her caretaker. The arrangement does not benefit Charly in the slightest but she doesn’t want to end up in a nursing home. Even if that means staying with Clark and allowing for another uninvited guest to live in her apartment. Everyone at the rehab facility can see that something is up with Clark but Charly feels like she doesn’t even have a choice. Will she improve enough to remove herself from his “care”? Or will Charly be subjected to a lifetime with the man she was going to divorce? Read Brain Damage to find out!

Brain Damage took place in the Before and After. In the Before, we learn everything that led up to Charly’s tragic injury. In the After, we meet her dazed and confused after an almost fatal shooting. Before Charly is strong, confident, and smart as a whip. After Charly is meek, fully dependent on caretakers, and can barely form sentences. And it was all very, very sad. If you have ever experienced a loved one being gravely injured or ill, this book is going to trigger you without fail. It did for me and I almost considered not finishing it after a few chapters in the After. You all know that I can’t not finish a book though and had to see it through.

For all of the bad in this book, Charly was an absolute star and she was the only reason why I kept reading. I wanted to see her improve. I wanted to see her get justice. And I wanted her to achieve the best possible outcome in life because she was handed the shortest end of the straw humanly possible. If you can’t rally around Charly while reading Brain Damage, you might not have a soul lol. Although this book was incredibly upsetting for me, it was a solid read and an intriguing story line. There is no arguing that. The subject matter was just not for me which will explain my low star rating.

Overall, I am going to rate Brain Damage with a three out of ten stars. The three are for the book being pretty good but I couldn’t wait to be done with it. Read at your own discretion!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep15

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Anniversary By Alex Finlay Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Anniversary By Alex Finlay Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a thriller by Alex Finlay called The Anniversary. Although I wouldn’t call this book great, it was pretty good and the twisty cat and mouse plot was intriguing. My main qualm wasn’t so much with the contents of the book itself, rather with the at times, disjointed writing style of Alex Finlay. We’ll get to that more after the synopsis, though! Before we begin our chat about The Anniversary, I will be placing a trigger warning for graphic violence, disturbing content, sexual and physical assault, and combat in war. You ready? Let’s go:

High schoolers Jules and Quinn have seemingly nothing in common. Jules is beautiful, popular, and the star of the school. Quinn, on the other hand, is solitary, introverted, and prefers the company of books to people. However, these polar opposites formed a bond by semi-flirting their way through study hall before returning back to their normal crowds or lack thereof. While their interests are far from the same, the night of May first 1992 will forge their paths together for years to come to solve the mystery of what happened that fateful night and all of the tragedies to follow.

On May first, Quinn was sent to a juvenile detention center for almost killing a kid in a fight. On May first, Jules was kidnapped by the May Day Killer but he let her live. Life was never the same since. While Quinn was incarcerated, his mother was murdered and his brother’s health began to fail. With nowhere else to go upon his release, Quinn joined the army. As Quinn serves his country, Jules is serving looks and has a blossoming career as a young model. Her life might look glamorous on the outside but on the inside, Jules is almost always in the haze of a drug or alcohol induced stupor to shield herself from the memories of her narrow escape.

The May Day Killer was never found after Jules’ abduction and he continues to strike every year like clockwork. Some girls are spared, some are never seen from again. The FBI is desperate to close this case and Jules and two other May Day survivors begin to assist by trying to remember every detail from their encounter with the serial killer. Meanwhile, Quinn is working a case of his own. Before her murder, his mom uncovered something hinky going on at the factory she worked at. The day she was going to spill was the day of her death. His mom’s findings are meaningless to Quinn and leave him with more questions than answers. Little does he know, his mom’s murder and the May Day Killer are more connected than anyone thought possible. Will Jules and Quinn crack the cases to their own trauma? Or will a serial killer continue to walk free? Read The Anniversary to find out!

I am very much a fan of a good wild goose chase between a killer and the victims and The Anniversary really scratched that itch. The plot for The Anniversary was juicy to say the least and it kept me turning the pages. In fact, I finished it in three sittings. To a point, I enjoyed the story and the characters both major and minor. The biggest turn off of this book all came down to the way it was written. The Anniversary was marked through the passage of time with chunks of the book taking place one year or up to ten years later. This pieced together approach was somewhat confusing because so much could happen within that time frame! Once the next year took place, you basically had to remeet the characters with where they were at instead of where they have been which only left me wanting more. More information, more cohesion. More something to make this book feel like a completed work rather than a second or third draft.

Although I truly didn’t care for the way this book was set up, it doesn’t take away from the fact that it was still a slightly above average thriller. The grand reveals were shocking, it was fun to play detective along with the FBI, and it was almost like reading an episode of Law & Order: SVU. I will say that I felt like Jules’ character was a bit one dimensional but that was made up for in spades with Quinn. I don’t think it’s possible for him to not tug at your heart strings! The Anniversary had all of the fixings for a semi high Lil Red’s Book Club star rating. It really did fall short on the choppy writing, though, as it completely took away from a fully positive reader experience.

Overall, I am going to rate The Anniversary with a five out of ten stars. This was a perfectly average thriller that deserves a perfectly average rating. You’re not missing out on anything if you don’t read it, but you’re not going to hate it if you do give it a go!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug28

Lil Red’s Book Club: Ambush By Colleen Coble Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Ambush By Colleen Coble Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a sort of thriller, sort of romance, sort of religious (Yuck!) book by Colleen Coble called Ambush. Had I known that Coble was known for Christian literature, I would have vetoed it from the jump. However, I was too far into the book to abandon it and saw it through. Ambush was a below average read that appears to be the first part of a series. Will I read the next one when it comes out? The jury is still out but let’s discuss anyways! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Ambush for sexual violence, graphic crime scene descriptions, and general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Paradise has had a tough go in life. After losing both of her parents she was bounced from foster home to foster home, each one being worse than the last. The only high point in those years was her relationship with Blake which came to a crashing halt when his attempt to help her failed. The two high school sweethearts never spoke again afterwards but Paradise’s past is about to catch up to her fifteen years later. Since her and Blake’s falling out, she went on to become a vet specializing in wild and exotic animals. Although she loves her job, an almost deadly attack by a big cat has left her broken and she takes the first opportunity she is offered to get her groove back. She will now be the vet at The Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary is exactly what it sounds like – a place for wild animals that were injured to roam, heal, and live the rest of their lives under expert care. It would be perfect minus the fact that Blake’s mother is the owner of The Sanctuary and he has returned in the wake of tragedy after the suspicious death of his father. Tensions are, indeed, high at The Sanctuary as the two former flames meet again but it is softened by Blake’s two younger brothers and his caring mom, Jenna. Paradise’s world at The Sanctuary revolves around caring for the animals and avoiding Blake at all costs. Soon, her avoidance of the man she has held a grudge against for so long will be the least important thing on her mind.

Since Paradise began her job, strange things have been happening at The Sanctuary and the surrounding properties. A body was found at a nearby ranch and angry activists have targeted The Sanctuary, committing break ins, arson, and shootings. The detective on the case feels no sympathy for Blake and his family and makes it clear that Blake and Jenna are his prime suspects in the murder at the ranch. With no help to be found for The Sanctuary from the police, the team decides to investigate themselves and that includes Paradise. As her and Blake work together to solve their own mysteries, they continue to grow closer and closer. If a flame is rekindling, it must wait until The Sanctuary’s problems are solved and Blake and his mom are in the clear. Will Paradise finally have the happy ending that she so needs and deserves? Read Ambush to find out!

In theory, Ambush offered a little bit of everything I like in a book. A juicy mystery, old love blossoming, and crooked cops. In practice, it was just very okay. My main qualm had nothing to do with the religious aspect of Ambush but had everything to do with the writing. Throughout the book, Colleen Coble made the decision to regurgitate the exact same phrases, words, and descriptions that had already been used several times over. It was verbatim and it drove me absolutely bonkers because lazy writing is the one thing I won’t stand for. There were countless times when it felt like I was rereading the same pages over again and it got to the point that it was laughable.

So the writing wasn’t great but what about the characters? Meh lol. Paradise as a leading lady was neither here nor there for me as she was extremely milquetoast. The personality factor was definitely lacking and she often read as bland and bored. Blake and his family, on the other hand, was too perfect and it was so unrealistic. I’m sure one would argue that god was on their side as they were ultra religious. What I mean by too perfect is that in the midst of all of this violence at The Sanctuary, no one got angry. Lives could have been lost and not one voice was ever raised. I don’t know about all of you, but I would be PISSED if I ended up being almost mauled by hyenas! Once again, I chalk this up to lazy writing to not even bother hinting at conflict within themselves and Ambush often read as a first draft as opposed to a published book.

Overall, I am going to rate Ambush with a two and a half out of ten stars. This is one that can certainly be skipped on but I’d be a liar if I said I don’t want to find out what happens in the next book!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah