Tag Archives: reading

Feb19

Sunny Days Ahead

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Sunny Days Ahead

Hello! Is it just me or has this winter left a lot to be desired? January felt like it was five months long and February was particularly rough due to the passing of our beloved neighbor. I feel so mentally and physically drained. However, I did perk up this morning when I checked the weather because guess what?! It is going to be almost sixty degrees in Akron, Ohio and that sounds like just what the doctor ordered. It’s amazing what a bit of warmth and sunshine can do to boost your mood and it had me thinking of all of the things I can’t wait to do in the spring. Like the following:

Spring Hiking Spree:

My brother and I are avid hikers and it is our go to activity as soon as the weather warms up. During the winter, we hit the gym for our workouts but in the spring you can always catch us on the trails! The metro parks in our neck of the woods offers a fall and spring hiking spree and we can’t wait to participate in both of them. This will be our second year of completing the spring spree and the third year for the fall. It’s hard not to feel good when you’re immersed in nature, taking a leisurely stroll, and enjoying great company. Bring it on!

Planting Flowers:

My dad has two green thumbs and I love to help him plant flowers in the garden as soon as the appropriate weather strikes. Whether we are scattering seeds in the wildflower patch, making arrangements in raised planters, or simply cleaning up the debris from the winter – it is fun because we’re together! It’s exciting to start a project and watch it grow and come to life. The best of all is when I show up at my mom and dad’s and see the beautiful bouquets he creates from our handiwork as a greeting on the kitchen table. ❤

Warm Weather Clothing:

As much as I adore breaking out my coats, heavy sweaters, and winter accessories for OOTDs, I am SO over it lol. What started out as a mild winter went into a stretch of frigid days and lots of snow in mid January. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fan of summer but I have been begging for it since then! It is going to be so glorious to step outside in shorts and a T-shirt for work or flouncy sundresses for a weekend date with my main squeeze. Seventy degrees and sunny is my ideal temperature but if it were a hundred degrees tomorrow you would not find me complaining. I don’t do well in really hot weather but trust and believe I would be basking in it like a lizard lol.

Playing Outside:

Johnny and I have three sweet nieces who live nearby and there is nothing better than playing outside all together. I revel in unleashing my inner child with my favorite old hobbies of blowing bubbles, picking flowers, drawing with chalk, and running around the yard like crazy people. Whether we are hitting up the park or staying close to home, the piece de resistance is a frozen treat or something cold to drink afterwards. The cool down is wonderful until it’s back outdoors for more warm weather activities! I am particularly excited to go bunny watching with them in my parents’ yard because there are always a bunch come springtime. ❤

Reading Outside:

As you all know, reading is one of my most treasured hobbies and it is such a simple pleasure to be able to read outside. When it’s nice out, I love to sit on our little patio at the apartment with a glass of lemonade and a good book. Feeling the sunshine on my face as I get lost in a story just makes the whole world disappear and it’s so damn nice to check out for a little while. As much as I love curling up on the couch with whatever book I’m working on, I plan on taking the majority of my reading outdoors whenever the weather is ready!

After a crummy few months, I just know that there are Sunny Days Ahead and I have been chomping at the bit since yesterday!

What is your favorite springtime activity? What are you looking forward to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb16

Lil Red’s Book Club: A Killing Cold By Kate Alice Marshall Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: A Killing Cold By Kate Alice Marshall 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 Kate Alice Marshall called A Killing Cold. My sister, mom, and I tend to read the same books and this was passed down to me from my big sis once she was done reading it. About halfway through the book, she told me she was enjoying it. Then, upon completion she changed her sentiment as it was far too far fetched for her liking. I agree with this wholeheartedly. It started strong enough but I was SO ready for it to be over when there was about sixty pages left. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on A Killing Cold for domestic violence, general violence, child abuse, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Theo and Connor met at a party and both of them felt like they had seen each other before. But where? And when? Call it fate, but a whirlwind romance began and after six short months they are engaged to be married. Theo came from a troubled background. She has no idea who her real parents are and is permanently estranged from her adoptive family after years of trauma they caused. Connor, on the other hand, lived a life of wealth and privilege. His family, the Daltons, are powerful in ways that regular people would never understand. They protect their own, keep secrets buried, and go through life with the air of those who are untouchable.

Every Christmas, the Daltons spend two weeks in their luxury mountain retreat and it will be Theo’s first time meeting them. As she braces herself for their interrogations, she begins receiving texts that warn her to stay far away from Connor. She chalks it up to a jealous ex or perhaps one of Connor’s siblings looking out for him for moving too fast. Besides, it’s too late to cancel the trip now and she is head over heels for her fiance. To the mountains they go and upon their arrival, Theo can’t help but feel that she has been there before.

Her welcome from her new family is icy, if not frigid. They are sizing her up and appear to have every intention of scaring her away. After all, Theo is a poor girl who now has unimaginable wealth falling into her lap. As much as she would like to turn on her heels and run, she holds firm. Of course, she is there for Connor, but for the first time fragments of memories from her early childhood are returning to her. What used to be dicey images pulled from nightmares are piecing together. Real or imagined, one thing is for sure: The Dalton family has something to hide.

As the days on the mountain drag on, Theo begins to explore. She is particularly drawn to an abandoned cabin that the family no longer has use for. In this cabin, a small semblance of truth is revealed. Theo can remember the small bed with flowers on the sheets. It was hers. And, tucked away, she finds a photo of a little girl with Connor’s late father smiling in the snow. There is no longer any denying it. Theo’s childhood began and ended in the mountains. She remembers fleeting moments of her and her mother pretending they live in an enchanted forest. Until it all came to an abrupt halt because her mother was wearing a blue scarf that turned red. What happened to Theo’s mother? And how far will the Daltons go to keep the truth buried? Read A Killing Cold to find out!

A Killing Cold was a shining example of a disappointing thriller. Sure, it had the twists and turns. Were they any good? Not really lol. When I am reading a novel of suspense, I love when they are just plausible enough to have some truth to it. Alice Kate Marshall spun a story with A Killing Cold but it was a plot that couldn’t stand on solid ground. As I read, all I could think about was the example of a Hallmark movie where a girl ends up with her childhood pen pal. It’s a story, yes, but it is as unlikely as the grass being purple.

As I turned the pages, A Killing Cold became more and more convoluted and there came a point when I just had enough. With a quarter of the book left, I was damn near begging for it to be over. The poorly placed Red Herrings, overplayed dysfunctional family trope, and the constant shifting of blame was just too much. It felt like Kate Alice Marshall threw Every. Single. classic thriller writing tool at the wall to see what stuck. Sadly, few of these attempts helped push the painstakingly slow plot forward and I felt nothing but sheer relief by the time the last page was read. A Killing Cold was a total and complete dud.

In a shocking plot twist of my own, I will be rating A Killing Cold with zero out of ten stars. I understand this book has received a fair amount of hype and I promise you it is not worth it. I wasted my time so you don’t have to waste yours! ❤

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

Feb1

Lil Red’s Book Club: Anatomy Of An Alibi By Ashley Elston Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Anatomy Of An Alibi By Ashley Elston 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 Anatomy Of An Alibi by Ashley Elston. I have been reading a fair share of Stephen King and was excited to give Anatomy Of An Alibi a go. I love horror but I also love a twisty thriller and was ready for a change of pace. I have also never read anything by Ashley Elston and it’s fun to explore new authors. I suspect this will be the last thing I read by Elston, however, because this book was not it for me in the slightest. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Anatomy Of An Alibi for car accidents and general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

From the outside, Camille’s life looks picture perfect. She is married to a successful defense lawyer named Ben, has a gorgeous home, and a bank account with more money than she knows what to do with. Everything would be perfect if the people in her life were too. Ben is a controlling husband who watches her every step and tracks her phone. This is rich because Camille has done nothing wrong but has every reason to believe that Ben is up to no good. He is secretive, spends hours tucked away in his home office, and their marriage is disintegrating. She could divorce him but there is a clause in the prenup she signed that she can only have her cut if there is wrongdoing. IE: Ben cheating on her or abusing her.

After some snooping, Camille thinks she has her way out. She finds a woman named Aubrey’s name, home address, and work address on a napkin in Ben’s briefcase. Jackpot! She’ll meet the woman he is cheating on her with, have her admit it, and get this divorce moving. Camille decides to pay Aubrey a visit at the bar she tends at and learns that she is not a cheater at all. She only knows Ben’s name as he’s somewhat of a local celebrity. But Ben certainly knows her.

Aubrey was orphaned at sixteen when her parents got hit by a drunk driver. Paul Granger is the man who was convicted of the hit and run but he has maintained his innocence. In a letter he wrote to Aubrey, he informs her that there has been new evidence in his case that was given to him by a dirty cop. A dirty cop who is dying and wishes to make good with anyone he harmed. With this information, Aubrey makes it her mission to uncover who really killed her parents while Camille focuses on finding a way to escape her husband.

As the story weaves on, the ladies find common ground and must work together to prove that Ben isn’t who he says he is. He either killed Aubrey’s parents or is covering it up. What they need is a plan to prove Paul’s innocence and force Ben to spill what he knows. So they concoct a perfect alibi. One that will allow Aubrey to pose as Camille while Camille spies on Ben through security cameras. Then, the unthinkable happens. Ben is murdered while Aubrey and Camille touch down at their meet up spot and both of their lives are now on the line. Will they get the information they need? Or is one of them going down for murder? Read Anatomy Of An Alibi to find out! (Or don’t lol)

I absolutely love thriller novels and I say the twistier the better. I revel in the surprises and being at the edge of my seat. Anatomy Of An Alibi was twisty, yes, but it was a mess. This book was so incredibly convoluted and read like the twists were just being thrown in for the sake of having them. Every page felt like an eternity to read for a story that just wasn’t that good to begin with. This book was exhausting and, to be frank, poorly written. For all of the poorly crafted plot twists, there was a character that was equally as poorly crafted and I didn’t care for any of them. Normally I can live with one or the other but when both the plot and characters don’t move me, reading feels like a chore rather than something enjoyable.

I finished this book during my surprise snow day and almost didn’t bother with it. It was boring and predictable. The only saving grace was the budding relationship between Aubrey and one of her roommates. Who doesn’t like a little romance?! Other than those fiery moments, Anatomy Of An Alibi was a snooze fest through and through. Perhaps it would have been better written by another author because I think Ashley Elston bit off a bit more than she could chew with this book!

Overall, I am going to rate Anatomy Of An Alibi with a zero out of ten stars. Do not waste your time on this one because it was one of the worst books I have read in recent memory!

What is your favorite twisty thriller? 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

Jan31

Surprise Snow Day

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Surprise Snow Day

Hello! This past weekend was christened “snowmagedden” in good ol Akron, Ohio. We had a huge snow storm on Sunday and are now treated to single digit temperatures. It sucks. What didn’t suck, however, was getting a surprise snow day on Monday! The neighborhood one of my clients lives in literally never gets plowed so they let me know that I had the day off because safety first. It was so sweet! For the duration of winter, I would jokingly ask where the adult snow days are at and I finally got one. I rarely take a day off for myself and while I was disappointed to not go to work, I decided to make the most of the me time and had an amazing time. 😀

After working on the computer for the first part of the morning, my day was wide open to do whatever I would like from the comfort of my heated blanket. So, I opened a book and power read the last one hundred and thirty pages or so of the one I was working on. Peep a brand new Lil Red’s Book Club for the review tomorrow! I still had several hours to spare once I was done reading before Johnny got home from work and my next order of business was to play some Vampire Survivors. Johnny purchased this game over our holiday break for a whole two dollars and it has been an endless source of entertainment. And, rather than have to switch off to Johnny when my level was over, I just got to keep playing. It was freaking awesome!

When I had my fill of Vampire Survivors after two rounds, I wound my afternoon down with a viewing of MTV’s Teen Wolf. One of my clients got me addicted to that show and I can’t stop watching to save my own life. It’s surprisingly well done, has a fair share of gross out and scary moments, and a strong cast of actors. My favorite character is Stiles, hands down, but I love Lydia too! I usually like to watch documentaries when I have the TV to myself and it’s really nice to have a show to put on that’s just for fun. Teen Wolf is that for me to the T and I always look forward to the next episode. I’m hoping to find the MTV Scream series on streaming at some point so I can watch that next. If it’s as good as Teen Wolf then I know I am in for a treat. 🙂

Life handed me lemons with a snow storm that kept me from work but lemonade was made with my snow day. Once I got the text from my client’s family to take the day off, I considered it a sign from the universe that a day off was just what I needed. And you know what? It really was! I got to spend the whole day doing all of the things that I enjoy. I was snugly warm in my blanket, had the space heater blasting, and was in a cocoon of comfort. The following day I woke up feeling well rested and so excited to get back to work and that sealed my snow day success. Hey, everyone needs a day off sometimes!

Instead of braving the winter wonderland, I spent an entire day in creating my own fun. The January blues were definitely getting me down and I felt like a brand new Lil Red!

What is a perfect day off like for you? What is winter weather like in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan26

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Running Man By Stephen King As Richard Bachman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Running Man By Stephen King As Richard Bachman 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 Running Man by Stephan King writing as Richard Bachman. Johnny and I live for an Arnold Schwarzenegger flick and one of our all time favorites has got to be The Running Man. Who loves you and who do you love? DAMON! Oddly enough, neither of us has read the book and I decided to rectify that. I am so glad I did because it was excellent and I will be looking forward to seeing the new(ish) movie as I understand it follows the book more closely. Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Running Man for graphic violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get into it:

Ben Richards and his family are destitute. Ben is currently unemployed while his wife turns tricks to make ends meet. Their baby daughter, Cathy, is incredibly sick and needs a doctor like three days ago. Of course, they will never be able to afford the care she needs and she seems to be getting worse by the second. There is only one thing that Ben or really anyone in his dilapidated neighborhood can do for money. To head to the Games Network headquarters and apply to be a contestant.

The games that the Network hosts are not like The Price Is Right. No, they are violent, dangerous, and could potentially kill you all for trying to make a buck. But it’s Ben’s only option and he takes it. After a grueling process, Ben lands a spot on the most popular show on the Games Network – The Running Man. In this show, contestants are free to move and travel wherever they please and all the while they are being hunted. For every hour a contestant lives, money is earned. Should a contestant make it the entire thirty day challenge, they will be rewarded handsomely. This has never been done before.

At the start of The Running Man, Ben will get a grace period of twelve hours to get as far away as humanly possible. To create a disguise, get weapons, and formulate some semblance of a plan. After the twelve hours are up, Ben is fair game to be hunted. Winning won’t come easily and his daughter’s life is on the line. But if no one has won before, why not Ben? He is savvy, creative, and strong. But will that be enough to last thirty days on the run? Read The Running Man to find out!

Can I just start out by saying that The Hunger Games is literally just The Running Man? There, I said it. It’s so true, though! Down on their luck people competing for stability all for the entertainment of the rich. I just know that Suzanne Collins is a Stephen King fan! Having said all that, holy WOW was The Running Man good. It was so fast paced and something new was happening with every turn of the page. Ben’s situation was dire and as it was nothing like my beloved Schwarzenegger movie, I had no idea what was going to happen. I seriously couldn’t stop reading and my jaw dropped on the last page!

The Running Man really is an underdog story and it is impossible to read this book and not root for Ben every step of the way. This is his chance to save his family. His chance to stick it to the man. And his chance to maybe bring some changes to the messed up world that they live in. Every step back was agonizing but every step forward was one closer to the ultimate prize. I was on the edge of my seat to see if he could pull it off. As a funny anecdote, The Running Man is set in the future (now past) year of 2025. This book came out in 1982 and, honestly, Stephen King was definitely onto something with his glimpse into the future. Just my brief synopsis alone is enough to make you see why. -_-

Overall, I am going to rate The Running Man with an eight out of ten stars. It wasn’t my favorite Stephen King/Richard Bachman novel but it was very, very good!

Have you seen either of The Running Man movies? What did you think of the newest one? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan10

Lil Red’s Book Club: Wild Dark Shore By Charlotte McConaghy Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Wild Dark Shore By Charlotte McConaghy 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 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. This book had it all – suspense, romance, and a riveting whodoneit. It was, at times, painfully sad but I enjoyed every moment of this three hundred page powerhouse. Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Wild Dark Shore for natural disasters, animal cruelty, general violence, and sexual assault. Now, let’s get to it:

Dominic Salt lives and works on remote Shearwater Island with his three children, Orly, Fen, and Raff. Dom is the caretaker to this island that is home to wondrous animals like seals, albatrosses, and penguins as well as a seed bank should the world ever fall into a time when plants would need to be restored. Once a bustling place with scientists and researchers is now left to the Salt family. Everyone else has fled the island or vanished and it is up to them to maintain the seed bank until they are scheduled for extraction. They have their tasks and routines down to a science until it goes haywire when a woman washes up on shore.

Despite her hatred of the water, Rowan must get to Shearwater Island for someone she wants back desperately. She hires a boat and a captain and sets sail into rough waters. Then, catastrophe strikes when a major storm hits, destroying the boat and sending Rowan into the sea. By some miracle, she is rescued by Fen who mans the beach at Shearwater. She is barely conscious, badly injured, and is nursed back to health by the Salt family with a lot of help from the youngest, Orly, who refuses to leave her side.

After Rowan returns to the land of the living, she can’t help but shake the feeling that the Salt family is lying to her. They tell her that all sources of communication have been destroyed, they are the only people on the island, and Rowan must stay until their extraction date. As the days continue and Rowan recovers, she finds that she cannot stay still with idle hands for weeks. While she investigates her cause, she begins to grow a fondness for the family through their shared labor, living quarters, and experiences. She might even be growing fond of the patriarch, Dom.

Of course, feelings are always subject to change and as her love for the Salt family blooms, she begins to uncover their lies. There is no way off the island. No way to reach anyone and Rowan is stranded and in probable danger. Were these lies meant to cover something sinister? Or were they to protect Rowan from a hard truth? Read Wild Dark Shore to find out!

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I began reading Wild Dark Shore. This is the first book by Charlotte McConaghy that I have read and I suspect it won’t be my last because this book was excellent. Wild Dark Shore flip flopped between Dom, Rowan, Orly, Fen, and Raff with chapters that were short and sweet. It was no secret that the Salts were hiding a secret and each point of view came together to paint a clear picture. It kept me turning the pages SO quickly and I also liked that I didn’t figure out the grand reveal completely. While this was a family based plot with a delicious “Will they, won’t they?”, this was still a novel of suspense through and through. It was a welcome change of pace from my usual thrillers and I have to say that the make you blush sex scene was a nice touch too! 😀

The cast of characters in Wild Dark Shore has zero complaints from me because I honestly loved them all. I adored Orly and his passion for nature. I related to Fen as she healed from trauma. I rooted for Raff as he battled his anger. And although I didn’t know the lie keeping Dom and Rowan at arm’s length, I was pulling for their relationship every step of the way. These characters were expertly crafted and the book was beautifully written. From McConaghy’s vivid descriptions, it felt like I was right there on Shearwater too. I marveled at its splendor as Rowan took it all in with fresh eyes. I mourned for the losses the island experienced. I kept my hopes up that this broken woman and family would find peace in any way they could salvage. And I closed this book feeling sad but immensely satisfied by this profound read.

Overall I am going to award Wild Dark Shore with the coveted ten out of ten stars. I can’t put into words how fantastic this book was. You are just going to have to trust me and read it for yourself!

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

Dec29

Lil Red’s Book Club: Never Flinch By Stephen King Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Never Flinch By Stephen King 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 the horror king and literal king, Stephen King’s, newest book called Never Flinch. This book revisited a few beloved characters who were in Stephen King books that I unfortunately never read. However, this did not deter from my enjoyment of Never Flinch a bit and I devoured it in three sittings. Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Never Flinch for graphic violence and child abuse. Now, let’s get to it:

An innocent man was wrongfully convicted, went to jail, and was murdered by an inmate. But who is the guiltiest of all? Do they even feel guilt? Trig wants to know and is going to seek revenge. For every guilty party who took place in the trial, an innocent person will be killed in their name. His murders are random, fast paced, and there is officially a serial killer on the loose. Trig knows he will die during his mission but wants a grand finale anyways. And what better way to end his spree than with two celebrities?

As the police and detectives work the Surrogate Juror Murders case, private investigator Holly Gibney is busy tracking down someone too. Holly was recently offered a new gig – to serve as bodyguard to controversial women’s rights activist Kate McKay. After a series of attacks during her lecture tour, Holly has been recruited to protect both McKay and her personal assistant. Their stalker has trailed them unseen throughout the tour and the attacks are becoming increasingly violent. Holly has decided she hates this job, but will see it through. Until the tour touches ground in her hometown at least, where the Surrogate Juror Murders are taking place.

Despite a serial killer running rampant, business as usual must continue. In Wherever, Ohio there are three big shows coming up. Sista Bessie, a gospel and soul singer, has come out of retirement to tour again. Kate McKay is lecturing and there is also the much anticipated Guns And Hoses charity softball game between the police and fire departments. Trig wants a grand finale to his spree and his stage has been set perfectly. Will he succeed in avenging the death of an innocent man? Or will real justice prevail? Read Never Flinch to find out!

I absolutely LOVE a cat and mouse plot and Never Flinch was excellent. It was actually quite an interesting change of pace because this book read more as a thriller than a true horror novel which we all know Stephen King specializes in. It had its moments of terror, sure, but this was a novel of suspense through and through and is a testament to the fact that King can write anything he pleases and it will still be great. Never Flinch was fast paced with a double cat and mouse plot and you all know I live for a multiple narrator setup. The book was told from the perspective of Trig, Holly, and Detective Jaynes, as well as two other characters. The flip flopping narrators kept me turning the pages until the very last.

Never Flinch was expertly written and provided good guy characters that were so easy to root for. Every page was one step closer to both the stalker and the killer being caught and I wanted to see it happen. Holly and Detective Jaynes were so plucky and resourceful and any scenes of danger involving them had my heart in my throat. I also deeply appreciated the local to my neck of the woods references like the Cleveland Cavs, the Guards, and the go to grocery store Giant Eagle. Stephen King put Ohio on the map, baby, and that was SO fun for my forever in Ohio self to read!

Overall I am going to rate Never Flinch with an eight out of ten stars. This was a delicious dive into a thriller Stephen King’s way and I highly recommend it!

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

Dec17

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

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Inmate 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 another Frieda McFadden thriller called The Inmate. This is the second McFadden book I have read in a row and like its predecessor and all those that came before it, The Inmate was very average. However, it was a quick read and Freida McFadden is the author I turn to when I want a twisty tale that can be read in a sitting or two. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Inmate for general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Brooke has returned to her hometown called Raker with her son, Josh, to live in her recently deceased parents’ home. After horrible bullying at his old school, Brooke thinks Josh needs a fresh start although a new beginning for him means going back into her past. Brooke is the survivor of a terrible string of murders and Josh’s father is none other than the perpetrator. Her parents all but disowned her after deciding to keep the baby and they barely communicated since. Before this all took place, however, the small town she grew up in was a happy place and she hopes the same for Josh.

Prior to the move, Brooke applied as a nurse practitioner to every medical facility in the area and received no calls back… Except from Raker Penitentiary. This was her last resort option and now her only option. She accepts the job and crosses her fingers that her former boyfriend and Josh’s father, Shane, will never end up as one of her patients. Of course, it was bound to happen and Shane ends up in the exam room for stitches on her very first day. She does her job, tries not to notice how good he still looks, heeds the warning from her colleagues that Shane is a “manipulative” person, and sends him on his way.

Shane is not the only ghost from her past that she encounters upon her return to Raker. There is Tim, her next door neighbor, first best friend, and was an attendant at the party in their teens that turned deadly. He is the assistant principal at Josh’s school, has turned into quite the looker, and is still as madly in love with Brooke now as he was back in the day. After a few dates, Tim becomes a staple in their household and Josh adores spending time with him. Life is teetering on being actually good and Brooke could get used to this, if she could just keep her racing thoughts out of her head.

Brooke feels like she is missing something from the night of the murders. A critical piece of information that might make Shane innocent after all. There is something suspicious about Tim and as Brooke removes Shane’s stitches at work, he claims that it was not him but her new boyfriend who committed the crimes. Did Brooke really put an innocent man in prison with her testimony? If she did, she needs to make it right but whodoneit? Her first love and the father of her son or her new flame? Read The Inmate to find out!

I like to fancy myself an amateur detective and every twist that occurred in The Inmate was seen from a thousand miles away. Do I like when this happens? Not necessarily although I like to pat myself on the back lol. I prefer to be surprised and there were no real surprises to The Inmate… until the final twist. And, the final twist is always where my problem lies with Freida McFadden books. The shockers leading up to the grand reveal are so transparent and when the reveal happens it’s so out of left field that it barely makes sense. That was very much the case with The Inmate. BAM here’s what happened and now the story is over. In a way, this feels like a cop out on McFadden’s part. To write an entire book, throw some random ending in, and then just be done. It explains why I always feel unsatisfied after finishing her thrillers!

My other qualm with The Inmate and Freida McFadden books in general are the characters. They are all so simple with nothing special about them and it makes it hard to feel anything for them. The characters in The Inmate felt wildly underdeveloped and it almost read like a first draft rather than completed product. In a crazy thriller scenario, the characters were dull and the sense of urgency of a potentially innocent man in prison was nonexistent. The Inmate was an alright story but it felt so incomplete and, therefore, I was unimpressed.

Overall, I am going to rate The Inmate with a four out of ten stars. This was not McFadden’s best and I would not recommend this one!

What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? 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

Dec8

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

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Intruder 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 the most recent thriller by Freida McFadden called The Intruder. I have a love/hate relationship with Freida McFadden books. I love how quick and easy they are to read. I hate how perfectly average they always are and The Intruder very much held those sentiments. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Intruder for graphic violence, disturbing content, and child abuse. Now, let’s get to it:

Casey lives in a cabin in the woods in the middle of nowhere, New Hampshire. Since her beloved father’s passing, life has been on a downward spiral. Casey promptly lost her teaching job and decided to go off the grid to a ramshackle cabin she could barely afford. The cabin’s roof is falling apart, a huge tree in the yard is on the verge of falling, and oh yeah – there is a dangerous storm on the way. With no help from her landlord, Casey must face the storm on her own and pray that the cabin remains in one piece for the night.

As Casey prepares for the upcoming downpour, she notices movement outside of her cabin and even thinks she sees a face in the window. She chalks it up to paranoia until she sees light coming from the decrepit tool shed. Casey investigates herself thinking that someone might be injured or lost and finds a painfully skinny girl who is soaked in blood and clutching a knife. She promises the girl that she will not let anyone know that she is there as long as she stays in the cabin for the night where it is relatively safe.

After attempts at conversation that feel like pulling teeth, Casey learns that the girl is named Eleanor. The whole situation seems insane and Casey is fearful of her new guest. However, after she sees bruises and burn marks on Eleanor’s arm she knows that she can’t send her back to wherever she came from. Casey and her visitor share a meal and while Eleanor is in the bathroom, she takes it upon herself to snoop. In Eleanor’s blood soaked backpack is a notebook filled with horrific drawings. Scenes of torture upon a woman who looks like Casey as well as a hand drawn map leading to her home. Is Casey the intended target of Eleanor? Or is she just a pawn in a much bigger plan? Read The Intruder to find out!

I breezed through The Intruder in two sittings and after I was done, I simply said “oh”. It was the definition of a good but not great book. The funny thing about Freida McFadden’s books is that I like the plots of them. I think I just don’t care for McFadden’s writing style which I often feel verges on amateurish. The Intruder featured one of her most twisty plots out of her recent work and I actually didn’t see the biggest reveal of all coming. I love when that happens because I’m usually very good at working it out for myself. Regardless, The Intruder fell short for me.

One of my main qualms about The Intruder was the length of the book as it barely reached two hundred and seventy pages. Don’t get me wrong, I like a short and sweet book as much as the next. However, it just felt incomplete. I understand the fast pacing as Eleanor’s visit occurred during the span of one night. But the book flip flopped between past and present and I was hungry for more information on the past. These flashbacks were when The Intruder really shined with the grit of an excellent suspense novel. I just wish The Intruder maintained that momentum in the present day.

Overall, I am going to rate The Intruder with a five out of ten stars. If you like Freida McFadden, I’m sure you’ll read it. If not, you’re not missing out on anything!

What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? Do you have plans to see The Housemaid in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov25

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Regulators By Stephen King As Richard Bachman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Regulators By Stephen King As Richard Bachman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! After accidentally borrowing a book from the library I had read before, I was in a literature limbo. So, I decided to consult mine and Johnny’s own library for a new book. We have been really enjoying watching Welcome To Derry and I had Stephen King on the mind. From Johnny’s collection of his works, I chose The Regulators which was written as Richard Bachman. The kooky cover screamed out at me and I devoured the almost five hundred page book in three sittings. This will be a spoiler free setting, as always. Before we begin, however, a big fat trigger warning will be placed on The Regulators for highly disturbing content, suicide, and violence in all possible forms. Now, let’s get to it:

Poplar Street is the perfect slice of suburbia located near Columbus, Ohio. A place where neighbors barbecue, talk sports over their fences, and kids toss frisbees and footballs all summer long. It is a buzzing community and everyone is constantly out enjoying the weather and freedom of sweet summertime. Except for Audrey and her little nephew, Seth. The neighbors haven’t seen much of them since Audrey’s husband committed suicide and their house sits like a storm cloud on picturesque Poplar Street.

If the house looks uninviting from the outside, just imagine the state indoors. Audrey and her late husband took Seth in after his entire family was killed in a freak drive by shooting. Seth has autism and inside his secret world in his mind and body is the host to something terrible. A vampire named Tak. Tak called to Seth on a family road trip and the little boy answered back. Tak desires strength, to procreate, and shares a passion for everything Seth loves: Chocolate milk and Chef Boyardee and his favorite forms of entertainment. Old westerns like Bonanza and The Regulators as well as a cartoon called MotoKop 2200.

An evil unlike anything the world has ever known is living in her home. A home that is littered with trash, ant infestations, and rotting food. When Tak goes away, Seth is still the same sweet little boy that Audrey loves with all her heart. When Tak returns, he has the power to make people hurt themselves. To slap themselves silly, fall down the stairs, and even end their own life. Tak is growing stronger by the day no matter how hard Audrey and Seth try to block their minds to hinder him. The vampire feeds on pain and negativity and he needs more than what this poor aunt and nephew can provide. So, he takes matters to the streets.

In Tak’s world, anything goes. All he has to do is call on what is already in Seth’s imagination: Outlaws in a shootout and cartoon MotoKops saving the world from destruction. In this skewed reality, the residents of Poplar Street are dead center in a mishmash of Seth’s favorite things. Cowboys and cops wreak havoc on the once quiet neighborhood. Destroying homes, causing fires, and killing everyone that stands in their way. As Tak feeds on the dead, his power increases and he transforms the entire world around them. They are no longer on Poplar Street but a world where Tak reigns supreme. Will the survivors live another hour let alone another minute? Will Seth forever be doomed to be Tak’s host? Read The Regulators to find out!

WOW. What a whacky story right?! Totally and completely insane. And you know what? I loved it! The Regulators was so unlike anything I have ever read before or seen in a movie or show and I couldn’t stop turning the page to save my own life. In a way, Richard Bachman created a dream scenario – a child whose favorite shows have come to life. It’s a fantastical idea but the cause and cost are so horrific that the dream is a full fledged nightmare.

My heart absolutely shattered for Seth and Audrey during the entirety of my binge read. This family has already been through so much and now a vampire is added to the mix?! And all they could do was suffer on their own because who would believe a story like this? All the while, life on Poplar Street continued as normal as evil festered a few houses down. It just goes to show that you never know what is going on behind closed doors.

The Regulators was action packed and was a cross between vampire horror, sci-fi, and bang bang shoot em’ up westerns. Right off the jump, this book kicked it into overdrive. So much so, that it took a while to gather my bearings around the other residents of Poplar Street. As this book dealt with so many people, it was hard to get a grip on who was who and form any meaningful connections with them. For me, this didn’t happen until beyond halfway through for some of the key players. At times, it made comprehending everything a bit difficult because all of the insanity was happening to people whose names I barely remembered. However, chaos was exactly what Bachman wanted and The Regulators had it in spades!

Overall, I am going to rate The Regulators with an eight and a half out of ten stars. The story was excellent but I could have done without the countless character overload!

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